1 \input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
2 @c Copyright (C) 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998,
3 @c 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
4 @c Free Software Foundation, Inc.
7 @c makeinfo ignores cmds prev to setfilename, so its arg cannot make use
8 @c of @set vars. However, you can override filename with makeinfo -o.
13 @settitle Debugging with @value{GDBN}
14 @setchapternewpage odd
26 @c readline appendices use @vindex, @findex and @ftable,
27 @c annotate.texi and gdbmi use @findex.
31 @c !!set GDB manual's edition---not the same as GDB version!
32 @c This is updated by GNU Press.
35 @c !!set GDB edit command default editor
38 @c THIS MANUAL REQUIRES TEXINFO 4.0 OR LATER.
40 @c This is a dir.info fragment to support semi-automated addition of
41 @c manuals to an info tree.
42 @dircategory Software development
44 * Gdb: (gdb). The GNU debugger.
48 Copyright @copyright{} 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996,
49 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
50 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
52 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
53 under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1 or
54 any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with the
55 Invariant Sections being ``Free Software'' and ``Free Software Needs
56 Free Documentation'', with the Front-Cover Texts being ``A GNU Manual,''
57 and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below.
59 (a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You are free to copy and modify
60 this GNU Manual. Buying copies from GNU Press supports the FSF in
61 developing GNU and promoting software freedom.''
65 This file documents the @sc{gnu} debugger @value{GDBN}.
67 This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, of @cite{Debugging with
68 @value{GDBN}: the @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger} for @value{GDBN}
69 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
70 @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
72 Version @value{GDBVN}.
78 @title Debugging with @value{GDBN}
79 @subtitle The @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger
81 @subtitle @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN}
82 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
84 @subtitle @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
86 @author Richard Stallman, Roland Pesch, Stan Shebs, et al.
90 \hfill (Send bugs and comments on @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.)\par
91 \hfill {\it Debugging with @value{GDBN}}\par
92 \hfill \TeX{}info \texinfoversion\par
96 @vskip 0pt plus 1filll
97 Published by the Free Software Foundation @*
98 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor,
99 Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA@*
100 ISBN 1-882114-77-9 @*
104 This edition of the GDB manual is dedicated to the memory of Fred
105 Fish. Fred was a long-standing contributor to GDB and to Free
106 software in general. We will miss him.
111 @node Top, Summary, (dir), (dir)
113 @top Debugging with @value{GDBN}
115 This file describes @value{GDBN}, the @sc{gnu} symbolic debugger.
117 This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN}
118 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
119 @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
121 Version @value{GDBVN}.
123 Copyright (C) 1988-2010 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
125 This edition of the GDB manual is dedicated to the memory of Fred
126 Fish. Fred was a long-standing contributor to GDB and to Free
127 software in general. We will miss him.
130 * Summary:: Summary of @value{GDBN}
131 * Sample Session:: A sample @value{GDBN} session
133 * Invocation:: Getting in and out of @value{GDBN}
134 * Commands:: @value{GDBN} commands
135 * Running:: Running programs under @value{GDBN}
136 * Stopping:: Stopping and continuing
137 * Reverse Execution:: Running programs backward
138 * Process Record and Replay:: Recording inferior's execution and replaying it
139 * Stack:: Examining the stack
140 * Source:: Examining source files
141 * Data:: Examining data
142 * Optimized Code:: Debugging optimized code
143 * Macros:: Preprocessor Macros
144 * Tracepoints:: Debugging remote targets non-intrusively
145 * Overlays:: Debugging programs that use overlays
147 * Languages:: Using @value{GDBN} with different languages
149 * Symbols:: Examining the symbol table
150 * Altering:: Altering execution
151 * GDB Files:: @value{GDBN} files
152 * Targets:: Specifying a debugging target
153 * Remote Debugging:: Debugging remote programs
154 * Configurations:: Configuration-specific information
155 * Controlling GDB:: Controlling @value{GDBN}
156 * Extending GDB:: Extending @value{GDBN}
157 * Interpreters:: Command Interpreters
158 * TUI:: @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
159 * Emacs:: Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
160 * GDB/MI:: @value{GDBN}'s Machine Interface.
161 * Annotations:: @value{GDBN}'s annotation interface.
162 * JIT Interface:: Using the JIT debugging interface.
164 * GDB Bugs:: Reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
166 * Command Line Editing:: Command Line Editing
167 * Using History Interactively:: Using History Interactively
168 * Formatting Documentation:: How to format and print @value{GDBN} documentation
169 * Installing GDB:: Installing GDB
170 * Maintenance Commands:: Maintenance Commands
171 * Remote Protocol:: GDB Remote Serial Protocol
172 * Agent Expressions:: The GDB Agent Expression Mechanism
173 * Target Descriptions:: How targets can describe themselves to
175 * Operating System Information:: Getting additional information from
177 * Copying:: GNU General Public License says
178 how you can copy and share GDB
179 * GNU Free Documentation License:: The license for this documentation
188 @unnumbered Summary of @value{GDBN}
190 The purpose of a debugger such as @value{GDBN} is to allow you to see what is
191 going on ``inside'' another program while it executes---or what another
192 program was doing at the moment it crashed.
194 @value{GDBN} can do four main kinds of things (plus other things in support of
195 these) to help you catch bugs in the act:
199 Start your program, specifying anything that might affect its behavior.
202 Make your program stop on specified conditions.
205 Examine what has happened, when your program has stopped.
208 Change things in your program, so you can experiment with correcting the
209 effects of one bug and go on to learn about another.
212 You can use @value{GDBN} to debug programs written in C and C@t{++}.
213 For more information, see @ref{Supported Languages,,Supported Languages}.
214 For more information, see @ref{C,,C and C++}.
217 Support for Modula-2 is partial. For information on Modula-2, see
218 @ref{Modula-2,,Modula-2}.
221 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
222 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
223 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
227 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, although
228 it may be necessary to refer to some variables with a trailing
231 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Objective-C,
232 using either the Apple/NeXT or the GNU Objective-C runtime.
235 * Free Software:: Freely redistributable software
236 * Contributors:: Contributors to GDB
240 @unnumberedsec Free Software
242 @value{GDBN} is @dfn{free software}, protected by the @sc{gnu}
243 General Public License
244 (GPL). The GPL gives you the freedom to copy or adapt a licensed
245 program---but every person getting a copy also gets with it the
246 freedom to modify that copy (which means that they must get access to
247 the source code), and the freedom to distribute further copies.
248 Typical software companies use copyrights to limit your freedoms; the
249 Free Software Foundation uses the GPL to preserve these freedoms.
251 Fundamentally, the General Public License is a license which says that
252 you have these freedoms and that you cannot take these freedoms away
255 @unnumberedsec Free Software Needs Free Documentation
257 The biggest deficiency in the free software community today is not in
258 the software---it is the lack of good free documentation that we can
259 include with the free software. Many of our most important
260 programs do not come with free reference manuals and free introductory
261 texts. Documentation is an essential part of any software package;
262 when an important free software package does not come with a free
263 manual and a free tutorial, that is a major gap. We have many such
266 Consider Perl, for instance. The tutorial manuals that people
267 normally use are non-free. How did this come about? Because the
268 authors of those manuals published them with restrictive terms---no
269 copying, no modification, source files not available---which exclude
270 them from the free software world.
272 That wasn't the first time this sort of thing happened, and it was far
273 from the last. Many times we have heard a GNU user eagerly describe a
274 manual that he is writing, his intended contribution to the community,
275 only to learn that he had ruined everything by signing a publication
276 contract to make it non-free.
278 Free documentation, like free software, is a matter of freedom, not
279 price. The problem with the non-free manual is not that publishers
280 charge a price for printed copies---that in itself is fine. (The Free
281 Software Foundation sells printed copies of manuals, too.) The
282 problem is the restrictions on the use of the manual. Free manuals
283 are available in source code form, and give you permission to copy and
284 modify. Non-free manuals do not allow this.
286 The criteria of freedom for a free manual are roughly the same as for
287 free software. Redistribution (including the normal kinds of
288 commercial redistribution) must be permitted, so that the manual can
289 accompany every copy of the program, both on-line and on paper.
291 Permission for modification of the technical content is crucial too.
292 When people modify the software, adding or changing features, if they
293 are conscientious they will change the manual too---so they can
294 provide accurate and clear documentation for the modified program. A
295 manual that leaves you no choice but to write a new manual to document
296 a changed version of the program is not really available to our
299 Some kinds of limits on the way modification is handled are
300 acceptable. For example, requirements to preserve the original
301 author's copyright notice, the distribution terms, or the list of
302 authors, are ok. It is also no problem to require modified versions
303 to include notice that they were modified. Even entire sections that
304 may not be deleted or changed are acceptable, as long as they deal
305 with nontechnical topics (like this one). These kinds of restrictions
306 are acceptable because they don't obstruct the community's normal use
309 However, it must be possible to modify all the @emph{technical}
310 content of the manual, and then distribute the result in all the usual
311 media, through all the usual channels. Otherwise, the restrictions
312 obstruct the use of the manual, it is not free, and we need another
313 manual to replace it.
315 Please spread the word about this issue. Our community continues to
316 lose manuals to proprietary publishing. If we spread the word that
317 free software needs free reference manuals and free tutorials, perhaps
318 the next person who wants to contribute by writing documentation will
319 realize, before it is too late, that only free manuals contribute to
320 the free software community.
322 If you are writing documentation, please insist on publishing it under
323 the GNU Free Documentation License or another free documentation
324 license. Remember that this decision requires your approval---you
325 don't have to let the publisher decide. Some commercial publishers
326 will use a free license if you insist, but they will not propose the
327 option; it is up to you to raise the issue and say firmly that this is
328 what you want. If the publisher you are dealing with refuses, please
329 try other publishers. If you're not sure whether a proposed license
330 is free, write to @email{licensing@@gnu.org}.
332 You can encourage commercial publishers to sell more free, copylefted
333 manuals and tutorials by buying them, and particularly by buying
334 copies from the publishers that paid for their writing or for major
335 improvements. Meanwhile, try to avoid buying non-free documentation
336 at all. Check the distribution terms of a manual before you buy it,
337 and insist that whoever seeks your business must respect your freedom.
338 Check the history of the book, and try to reward the publishers that
339 have paid or pay the authors to work on it.
341 The Free Software Foundation maintains a list of free documentation
342 published by other publishers, at
343 @url{http://www.fsf.org/doc/other-free-books.html}.
346 @unnumberedsec Contributors to @value{GDBN}
348 Richard Stallman was the original author of @value{GDBN}, and of many
349 other @sc{gnu} programs. Many others have contributed to its
350 development. This section attempts to credit major contributors. One
351 of the virtues of free software is that everyone is free to contribute
352 to it; with regret, we cannot actually acknowledge everyone here. The
353 file @file{ChangeLog} in the @value{GDBN} distribution approximates a
354 blow-by-blow account.
356 Changes much prior to version 2.0 are lost in the mists of time.
359 @emph{Plea:} Additions to this section are particularly welcome. If you
360 or your friends (or enemies, to be evenhanded) have been unfairly
361 omitted from this list, we would like to add your names!
364 So that they may not regard their many labors as thankless, we
365 particularly thank those who shepherded @value{GDBN} through major
367 Andrew Cagney (releases 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1 and 5.0);
368 Jim Blandy (release 4.18);
369 Jason Molenda (release 4.17);
370 Stan Shebs (release 4.14);
371 Fred Fish (releases 4.16, 4.15, 4.13, 4.12, 4.11, 4.10, and 4.9);
372 Stu Grossman and John Gilmore (releases 4.8, 4.7, 4.6, 4.5, and 4.4);
373 John Gilmore (releases 4.3, 4.2, 4.1, 4.0, and 3.9);
374 Jim Kingdon (releases 3.5, 3.4, and 3.3);
375 and Randy Smith (releases 3.2, 3.1, and 3.0).
377 Richard Stallman, assisted at various times by Peter TerMaat, Chris
378 Hanson, and Richard Mlynarik, handled releases through 2.8.
380 Michael Tiemann is the author of most of the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} support
381 in @value{GDBN}, with significant additional contributions from Per
382 Bothner and Daniel Berlin. James Clark wrote the @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
383 demangler. Early work on C@t{++} was by Peter TerMaat (who also did
384 much general update work leading to release 3.0).
386 @value{GDBN} uses the BFD subroutine library to examine multiple
387 object-file formats; BFD was a joint project of David V.
388 Henkel-Wallace, Rich Pixley, Steve Chamberlain, and John Gilmore.
390 David Johnson wrote the original COFF support; Pace Willison did
391 the original support for encapsulated COFF.
393 Brent Benson of Harris Computer Systems contributed DWARF 2 support.
395 Adam de Boor and Bradley Davis contributed the ISI Optimum V support.
396 Per Bothner, Noboyuki Hikichi, and Alessandro Forin contributed MIPS
398 Jean-Daniel Fekete contributed Sun 386i support.
399 Chris Hanson improved the HP9000 support.
400 Noboyuki Hikichi and Tomoyuki Hasei contributed Sony/News OS 3 support.
401 David Johnson contributed Encore Umax support.
402 Jyrki Kuoppala contributed Altos 3068 support.
403 Jeff Law contributed HP PA and SOM support.
404 Keith Packard contributed NS32K support.
405 Doug Rabson contributed Acorn Risc Machine support.
406 Bob Rusk contributed Harris Nighthawk CX-UX support.
407 Chris Smith contributed Convex support (and Fortran debugging).
408 Jonathan Stone contributed Pyramid support.
409 Michael Tiemann contributed SPARC support.
410 Tim Tucker contributed support for the Gould NP1 and Gould Powernode.
411 Pace Willison contributed Intel 386 support.
412 Jay Vosburgh contributed Symmetry support.
413 Marko Mlinar contributed OpenRISC 1000 support.
415 Andreas Schwab contributed M68K @sc{gnu}/Linux support.
417 Rich Schaefer and Peter Schauer helped with support of SunOS shared
420 Jay Fenlason and Roland McGrath ensured that @value{GDBN} and GAS agree
421 about several machine instruction sets.
423 Patrick Duval, Ted Goldstein, Vikram Koka and Glenn Engel helped develop
424 remote debugging. Intel Corporation, Wind River Systems, AMD, and ARM
425 contributed remote debugging modules for the i960, VxWorks, A29K UDI,
426 and RDI targets, respectively.
428 Brian Fox is the author of the readline libraries providing
429 command-line editing and command history.
431 Andrew Beers of SUNY Buffalo wrote the language-switching code, the
432 Modula-2 support, and contributed the Languages chapter of this manual.
434 Fred Fish wrote most of the support for Unix System Vr4.
435 He also enhanced the command-completion support to cover C@t{++} overloaded
438 Hitachi America (now Renesas America), Ltd. sponsored the support for
439 H8/300, H8/500, and Super-H processors.
441 NEC sponsored the support for the v850, Vr4xxx, and Vr5xxx processors.
443 Mitsubishi (now Renesas) sponsored the support for D10V, D30V, and M32R/D
446 Toshiba sponsored the support for the TX39 Mips processor.
448 Matsushita sponsored the support for the MN10200 and MN10300 processors.
450 Fujitsu sponsored the support for SPARClite and FR30 processors.
452 Kung Hsu, Jeff Law, and Rick Sladkey added support for hardware
455 Michael Snyder added support for tracepoints.
457 Stu Grossman wrote gdbserver.
459 Jim Kingdon, Peter Schauer, Ian Taylor, and Stu Grossman made
460 nearly innumerable bug fixes and cleanups throughout @value{GDBN}.
462 The following people at the Hewlett-Packard Company contributed
463 support for the PA-RISC 2.0 architecture, HP-UX 10.20, 10.30, and 11.0
464 (narrow mode), HP's implementation of kernel threads, HP's aC@t{++}
465 compiler, and the Text User Interface (nee Terminal User Interface):
466 Ben Krepp, Richard Title, John Bishop, Susan Macchia, Kathy Mann,
467 Satish Pai, India Paul, Steve Rehrauer, and Elena Zannoni. Kim Haase
468 provided HP-specific information in this manual.
470 DJ Delorie ported @value{GDBN} to MS-DOS, for the DJGPP project.
471 Robert Hoehne made significant contributions to the DJGPP port.
473 Cygnus Solutions has sponsored @value{GDBN} maintenance and much of its
474 development since 1991. Cygnus engineers who have worked on @value{GDBN}
475 fulltime include Mark Alexander, Jim Blandy, Per Bothner, Kevin
476 Buettner, Edith Epstein, Chris Faylor, Fred Fish, Martin Hunt, Jim
477 Ingham, John Gilmore, Stu Grossman, Kung Hsu, Jim Kingdon, John Metzler,
478 Fernando Nasser, Geoffrey Noer, Dawn Perchik, Rich Pixley, Zdenek
479 Radouch, Keith Seitz, Stan Shebs, David Taylor, and Elena Zannoni. In
480 addition, Dave Brolley, Ian Carmichael, Steve Chamberlain, Nick Clifton,
481 JT Conklin, Stan Cox, DJ Delorie, Ulrich Drepper, Frank Eigler, Doug
482 Evans, Sean Fagan, David Henkel-Wallace, Richard Henderson, Jeff
483 Holcomb, Jeff Law, Jim Lemke, Tom Lord, Bob Manson, Michael Meissner,
484 Jason Merrill, Catherine Moore, Drew Moseley, Ken Raeburn, Gavin
485 Romig-Koch, Rob Savoye, Jamie Smith, Mike Stump, Ian Taylor, Angela
486 Thomas, Michael Tiemann, Tom Tromey, Ron Unrau, Jim Wilson, and David
487 Zuhn have made contributions both large and small.
489 Andrew Cagney, Fernando Nasser, and Elena Zannoni, while working for
490 Cygnus Solutions, implemented the original @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
492 Jim Blandy added support for preprocessor macros, while working for Red
495 Andrew Cagney designed @value{GDBN}'s architecture vector. Many
496 people including Andrew Cagney, Stephane Carrez, Randolph Chung, Nick
497 Duffek, Richard Henderson, Mark Kettenis, Grace Sainsbury, Kei
498 Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Andreas Schwab, Jason
499 Thorpe, Corinna Vinschen, Ulrich Weigand, and Elena Zannoni, helped
500 with the migration of old architectures to this new framework.
502 Andrew Cagney completely re-designed and re-implemented @value{GDBN}'s
503 unwinder framework, this consisting of a fresh new design featuring
504 frame IDs, independent frame sniffers, and the sentinel frame. Mark
505 Kettenis implemented the @sc{dwarf 2} unwinder, Jeff Johnston the
506 libunwind unwinder, and Andrew Cagney the dummy, sentinel, tramp, and
507 trad unwinders. The architecture-specific changes, each involving a
508 complete rewrite of the architecture's frame code, were carried out by
509 Jim Blandy, Joel Brobecker, Kevin Buettner, Andrew Cagney, Stephane
510 Carrez, Randolph Chung, Orjan Friberg, Richard Henderson, Daniel
511 Jacobowitz, Jeff Johnston, Mark Kettenis, Theodore A. Roth, Kei
512 Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Corinna Vinschen, and Ulrich
515 Christian Zankel, Ross Morley, Bob Wilson, and Maxim Grigoriev from
516 Tensilica, Inc.@: contributed support for Xtensa processors. Others
517 who have worked on the Xtensa port of @value{GDBN} in the past include
518 Steve Tjiang, John Newlin, and Scott Foehner.
520 Michael Eager and staff of Xilinx, Inc., contributed support for the
521 Xilinx MicroBlaze architecture.
524 @chapter A Sample @value{GDBN} Session
526 You can use this manual at your leisure to read all about @value{GDBN}.
527 However, a handful of commands are enough to get started using the
528 debugger. This chapter illustrates those commands.
531 In this sample session, we emphasize user input like this: @b{input},
532 to make it easier to pick out from the surrounding output.
535 @c FIXME: this example may not be appropriate for some configs, where
536 @c FIXME...primary interest is in remote use.
538 One of the preliminary versions of @sc{gnu} @code{m4} (a generic macro
539 processor) exhibits the following bug: sometimes, when we change its
540 quote strings from the default, the commands used to capture one macro
541 definition within another stop working. In the following short @code{m4}
542 session, we define a macro @code{foo} which expands to @code{0000}; we
543 then use the @code{m4} built-in @code{defn} to define @code{bar} as the
544 same thing. However, when we change the open quote string to
545 @code{<QUOTE>} and the close quote string to @code{<UNQUOTE>}, the same
546 procedure fails to define a new synonym @code{baz}:
555 @b{define(bar,defn(`foo'))}
559 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
561 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
564 m4: End of input: 0: fatal error: EOF in string
568 Let us use @value{GDBN} to try to see what is going on.
571 $ @b{@value{GDBP} m4}
572 @c FIXME: this falsifies the exact text played out, to permit smallbook
573 @c FIXME... format to come out better.
574 @value{GDBN} is free software and you are welcome to distribute copies
575 of it under certain conditions; type "show copying" to see
577 There is absolutely no warranty for @value{GDBN}; type "show warranty"
580 @value{GDBN} @value{GDBVN}, Copyright 1999 Free Software Foundation, Inc...
585 @value{GDBN} reads only enough symbol data to know where to find the
586 rest when needed; as a result, the first prompt comes up very quickly.
587 We now tell @value{GDBN} to use a narrower display width than usual, so
588 that examples fit in this manual.
591 (@value{GDBP}) @b{set width 70}
595 We need to see how the @code{m4} built-in @code{changequote} works.
596 Having looked at the source, we know the relevant subroutine is
597 @code{m4_changequote}, so we set a breakpoint there with the @value{GDBN}
598 @code{break} command.
601 (@value{GDBP}) @b{break m4_changequote}
602 Breakpoint 1 at 0x62f4: file builtin.c, line 879.
606 Using the @code{run} command, we start @code{m4} running under @value{GDBN}
607 control; as long as control does not reach the @code{m4_changequote}
608 subroutine, the program runs as usual:
611 (@value{GDBP}) @b{run}
612 Starting program: /work/Editorial/gdb/gnu/m4/m4
620 To trigger the breakpoint, we call @code{changequote}. @value{GDBN}
621 suspends execution of @code{m4}, displaying information about the
622 context where it stops.
625 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
627 Breakpoint 1, m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
629 879 if (bad_argc(TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[0]),argc,1,3))
633 Now we use the command @code{n} (@code{next}) to advance execution to
634 the next line of the current function.
638 882 set_quotes((argc >= 2) ? TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[1])\
643 @code{set_quotes} looks like a promising subroutine. We can go into it
644 by using the command @code{s} (@code{step}) instead of @code{next}.
645 @code{step} goes to the next line to be executed in @emph{any}
646 subroutine, so it steps into @code{set_quotes}.
650 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
652 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
656 The display that shows the subroutine where @code{m4} is now
657 suspended (and its arguments) is called a stack frame display. It
658 shows a summary of the stack. We can use the @code{backtrace}
659 command (which can also be spelled @code{bt}), to see where we are
660 in the stack as a whole: the @code{backtrace} command displays a
661 stack frame for each active subroutine.
664 (@value{GDBP}) @b{bt}
665 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
667 #1 0x6344 in m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
669 #2 0x8174 in expand_macro (sym=0x33320) at macro.c:242
670 #3 0x7a88 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=209696, td=0xf7fffa30)
672 #4 0x79dc in expand_input () at macro.c:40
673 #5 0x2930 in main (argc=0, argv=0xf7fffb20) at m4.c:195
677 We step through a few more lines to see what happens. The first two
678 times, we can use @samp{s}; the next two times we use @code{n} to avoid
679 falling into the @code{xstrdup} subroutine.
683 0x3b5c 532 if (rquote != def_rquote)
685 0x3b80 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? \
686 def_lquote : xstrdup(lq);
688 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
691 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
695 The last line displayed looks a little odd; we can examine the variables
696 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} to see if they are in fact the new left
697 and right quotes we specified. We use the command @code{p}
698 (@code{print}) to see their values.
701 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p lquote}
702 $1 = 0x35d40 "<QUOTE>"
703 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p rquote}
704 $2 = 0x35d50 "<UNQUOTE>"
708 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} are indeed the new left and right quotes.
709 To look at some context, we can display ten lines of source
710 surrounding the current line with the @code{l} (@code{list}) command.
716 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? def_lquote\
718 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
721 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
722 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
729 Let us step past the two lines that set @code{len_lquote} and
730 @code{len_rquote}, and then examine the values of those variables.
734 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
737 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote}
739 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote}
744 That certainly looks wrong, assuming @code{len_lquote} and
745 @code{len_rquote} are meant to be the lengths of @code{lquote} and
746 @code{rquote} respectively. We can set them to better values using
747 the @code{p} command, since it can print the value of
748 any expression---and that expression can include subroutine calls and
752 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote=strlen(lquote)}
754 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote=strlen(rquote)}
759 Is that enough to fix the problem of using the new quotes with the
760 @code{m4} built-in @code{defn}? We can allow @code{m4} to continue
761 executing with the @code{c} (@code{continue}) command, and then try the
762 example that caused trouble initially:
768 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
775 Success! The new quotes now work just as well as the default ones. The
776 problem seems to have been just the two typos defining the wrong
777 lengths. We allow @code{m4} exit by giving it an EOF as input:
781 Program exited normally.
785 The message @samp{Program exited normally.} is from @value{GDBN}; it
786 indicates @code{m4} has finished executing. We can end our @value{GDBN}
787 session with the @value{GDBN} @code{quit} command.
790 (@value{GDBP}) @b{quit}
794 @chapter Getting In and Out of @value{GDBN}
796 This chapter discusses how to start @value{GDBN}, and how to get out of it.
800 type @samp{@value{GDBP}} to start @value{GDBN}.
802 type @kbd{quit} or @kbd{Ctrl-d} to exit.
806 * Invoking GDB:: How to start @value{GDBN}
807 * Quitting GDB:: How to quit @value{GDBN}
808 * Shell Commands:: How to use shell commands inside @value{GDBN}
809 * Logging Output:: How to log @value{GDBN}'s output to a file
813 @section Invoking @value{GDBN}
815 Invoke @value{GDBN} by running the program @code{@value{GDBP}}. Once started,
816 @value{GDBN} reads commands from the terminal until you tell it to exit.
818 You can also run @code{@value{GDBP}} with a variety of arguments and options,
819 to specify more of your debugging environment at the outset.
821 The command-line options described here are designed
822 to cover a variety of situations; in some environments, some of these
823 options may effectively be unavailable.
825 The most usual way to start @value{GDBN} is with one argument,
826 specifying an executable program:
829 @value{GDBP} @var{program}
833 You can also start with both an executable program and a core file
837 @value{GDBP} @var{program} @var{core}
840 You can, instead, specify a process ID as a second argument, if you want
841 to debug a running process:
844 @value{GDBP} @var{program} 1234
848 would attach @value{GDBN} to process @code{1234} (unless you also have a file
849 named @file{1234}; @value{GDBN} does check for a core file first).
851 Taking advantage of the second command-line argument requires a fairly
852 complete operating system; when you use @value{GDBN} as a remote
853 debugger attached to a bare board, there may not be any notion of
854 ``process'', and there is often no way to get a core dump. @value{GDBN}
855 will warn you if it is unable to attach or to read core dumps.
857 You can optionally have @code{@value{GDBP}} pass any arguments after the
858 executable file to the inferior using @code{--args}. This option stops
861 @value{GDBP} --args gcc -O2 -c foo.c
863 This will cause @code{@value{GDBP}} to debug @code{gcc}, and to set
864 @code{gcc}'s command-line arguments (@pxref{Arguments}) to @samp{-O2 -c foo.c}.
866 You can run @code{@value{GDBP}} without printing the front material, which describes
867 @value{GDBN}'s non-warranty, by specifying @code{-silent}:
874 You can further control how @value{GDBN} starts up by using command-line
875 options. @value{GDBN} itself can remind you of the options available.
885 to display all available options and briefly describe their use
886 (@samp{@value{GDBP} -h} is a shorter equivalent).
888 All options and command line arguments you give are processed
889 in sequential order. The order makes a difference when the
890 @samp{-x} option is used.
894 * File Options:: Choosing files
895 * Mode Options:: Choosing modes
896 * Startup:: What @value{GDBN} does during startup
900 @subsection Choosing Files
902 When @value{GDBN} starts, it reads any arguments other than options as
903 specifying an executable file and core file (or process ID). This is
904 the same as if the arguments were specified by the @samp{-se} and
905 @samp{-c} (or @samp{-p}) options respectively. (@value{GDBN} reads the
906 first argument that does not have an associated option flag as
907 equivalent to the @samp{-se} option followed by that argument; and the
908 second argument that does not have an associated option flag, if any, as
909 equivalent to the @samp{-c}/@samp{-p} option followed by that argument.)
910 If the second argument begins with a decimal digit, @value{GDBN} will
911 first attempt to attach to it as a process, and if that fails, attempt
912 to open it as a corefile. If you have a corefile whose name begins with
913 a digit, you can prevent @value{GDBN} from treating it as a pid by
914 prefixing it with @file{./}, e.g.@: @file{./12345}.
916 If @value{GDBN} has not been configured to included core file support,
917 such as for most embedded targets, then it will complain about a second
918 argument and ignore it.
920 Many options have both long and short forms; both are shown in the
921 following list. @value{GDBN} also recognizes the long forms if you truncate
922 them, so long as enough of the option is present to be unambiguous.
923 (If you prefer, you can flag option arguments with @samp{--} rather
924 than @samp{-}, though we illustrate the more usual convention.)
926 @c NOTE: the @cindex entries here use double dashes ON PURPOSE. This
927 @c way, both those who look for -foo and --foo in the index, will find
931 @item -symbols @var{file}
933 @cindex @code{--symbols}
935 Read symbol table from file @var{file}.
937 @item -exec @var{file}
939 @cindex @code{--exec}
941 Use file @var{file} as the executable file to execute when appropriate,
942 and for examining pure data in conjunction with a core dump.
946 Read symbol table from file @var{file} and use it as the executable
949 @item -core @var{file}
951 @cindex @code{--core}
953 Use file @var{file} as a core dump to examine.
955 @item -pid @var{number}
956 @itemx -p @var{number}
959 Connect to process ID @var{number}, as with the @code{attach} command.
961 @item -command @var{file}
963 @cindex @code{--command}
965 Execute @value{GDBN} commands from file @var{file}. @xref{Command
966 Files,, Command files}.
968 @item -eval-command @var{command}
969 @itemx -ex @var{command}
970 @cindex @code{--eval-command}
972 Execute a single @value{GDBN} command.
974 This option may be used multiple times to call multiple commands. It may
975 also be interleaved with @samp{-command} as required.
978 @value{GDBP} -ex 'target sim' -ex 'load' \
979 -x setbreakpoints -ex 'run' a.out
982 @item -directory @var{directory}
983 @itemx -d @var{directory}
984 @cindex @code{--directory}
986 Add @var{directory} to the path to search for source and script files.
990 @cindex @code{--readnow}
992 Read each symbol file's entire symbol table immediately, rather than
993 the default, which is to read it incrementally as it is needed.
994 This makes startup slower, but makes future operations faster.
999 @subsection Choosing Modes
1001 You can run @value{GDBN} in various alternative modes---for example, in
1002 batch mode or quiet mode.
1009 Do not execute commands found in any initialization files. Normally,
1010 @value{GDBN} executes the commands in these files after all the command
1011 options and arguments have been processed. @xref{Command Files,,Command
1017 @cindex @code{--quiet}
1018 @cindex @code{--silent}
1020 ``Quiet''. Do not print the introductory and copyright messages. These
1021 messages are also suppressed in batch mode.
1024 @cindex @code{--batch}
1025 Run in batch mode. Exit with status @code{0} after processing all the
1026 command files specified with @samp{-x} (and all commands from
1027 initialization files, if not inhibited with @samp{-n}). Exit with
1028 nonzero status if an error occurs in executing the @value{GDBN} commands
1029 in the command files.
1031 Batch mode may be useful for running @value{GDBN} as a filter, for
1032 example to download and run a program on another computer; in order to
1033 make this more useful, the message
1036 Program exited normally.
1040 (which is ordinarily issued whenever a program running under
1041 @value{GDBN} control terminates) is not issued when running in batch
1045 @cindex @code{--batch-silent}
1046 Run in batch mode exactly like @samp{-batch}, but totally silently. All
1047 @value{GDBN} output to @code{stdout} is prevented (@code{stderr} is
1048 unaffected). This is much quieter than @samp{-silent} and would be useless
1049 for an interactive session.
1051 This is particularly useful when using targets that give @samp{Loading section}
1052 messages, for example.
1054 Note that targets that give their output via @value{GDBN}, as opposed to
1055 writing directly to @code{stdout}, will also be made silent.
1057 @item -return-child-result
1058 @cindex @code{--return-child-result}
1059 The return code from @value{GDBN} will be the return code from the child
1060 process (the process being debugged), with the following exceptions:
1064 @value{GDBN} exits abnormally. E.g., due to an incorrect argument or an
1065 internal error. In this case the exit code is the same as it would have been
1066 without @samp{-return-child-result}.
1068 The user quits with an explicit value. E.g., @samp{quit 1}.
1070 The child process never runs, or is not allowed to terminate, in which case
1071 the exit code will be -1.
1074 This option is useful in conjunction with @samp{-batch} or @samp{-batch-silent},
1075 when @value{GDBN} is being used as a remote program loader or simulator
1080 @cindex @code{--nowindows}
1082 ``No windows''. If @value{GDBN} comes with a graphical user interface
1083 (GUI) built in, then this option tells @value{GDBN} to only use the command-line
1084 interface. If no GUI is available, this option has no effect.
1088 @cindex @code{--windows}
1090 If @value{GDBN} includes a GUI, then this option requires it to be
1093 @item -cd @var{directory}
1095 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its working directory,
1096 instead of the current directory.
1100 @cindex @code{--fullname}
1102 @sc{gnu} Emacs sets this option when it runs @value{GDBN} as a
1103 subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to output the full file name and line
1104 number in a standard, recognizable fashion each time a stack frame is
1105 displayed (which includes each time your program stops). This
1106 recognizable format looks like two @samp{\032} characters, followed by
1107 the file name, line number and character position separated by colons,
1108 and a newline. The Emacs-to-@value{GDBN} interface program uses the two
1109 @samp{\032} characters as a signal to display the source code for the
1113 @cindex @code{--epoch}
1114 The Epoch Emacs-@value{GDBN} interface sets this option when it runs
1115 @value{GDBN} as a subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to modify its print
1116 routines so as to allow Epoch to display values of expressions in a
1119 @item -annotate @var{level}
1120 @cindex @code{--annotate}
1121 This option sets the @dfn{annotation level} inside @value{GDBN}. Its
1122 effect is identical to using @samp{set annotate @var{level}}
1123 (@pxref{Annotations}). The annotation @var{level} controls how much
1124 information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt, values of
1125 expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0 is the
1126 normal, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a subprocess of
1127 @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable for programs
1128 that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 has been deprecated.
1130 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
1134 @cindex @code{--args}
1135 Change interpretation of command line so that arguments following the
1136 executable file are passed as command line arguments to the inferior.
1137 This option stops option processing.
1139 @item -baud @var{bps}
1141 @cindex @code{--baud}
1143 Set the line speed (baud rate or bits per second) of any serial
1144 interface used by @value{GDBN} for remote debugging.
1146 @item -l @var{timeout}
1148 Set the timeout (in seconds) of any communication used by @value{GDBN}
1149 for remote debugging.
1151 @item -tty @var{device}
1152 @itemx -t @var{device}
1153 @cindex @code{--tty}
1155 Run using @var{device} for your program's standard input and output.
1156 @c FIXME: kingdon thinks there is more to -tty. Investigate.
1158 @c resolve the situation of these eventually
1160 @cindex @code{--tui}
1161 Activate the @dfn{Text User Interface} when starting. The Text User
1162 Interface manages several text windows on the terminal, showing
1163 source, assembly, registers and @value{GDBN} command outputs
1164 (@pxref{TUI, ,@value{GDBN} Text User Interface}). Alternatively, the
1165 Text User Interface can be enabled by invoking the program
1166 @samp{@value{GDBTUI}}. Do not use this option if you run @value{GDBN} from
1167 Emacs (@pxref{Emacs, ,Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}).
1170 @c @cindex @code{--xdb}
1171 @c Run in XDB compatibility mode, allowing the use of certain XDB commands.
1172 @c For information, see the file @file{xdb_trans.html}, which is usually
1173 @c installed in the directory @code{/opt/langtools/wdb/doc} on HP-UX
1176 @item -interpreter @var{interp}
1177 @cindex @code{--interpreter}
1178 Use the interpreter @var{interp} for interface with the controlling
1179 program or device. This option is meant to be set by programs which
1180 communicate with @value{GDBN} using it as a back end.
1181 @xref{Interpreters, , Command Interpreters}.
1183 @samp{--interpreter=mi} (or @samp{--interpreter=mi2}) causes
1184 @value{GDBN} to use the @dfn{@sc{gdb/mi} interface} (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,
1185 The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}) included since @value{GDBN} version 6.0. The
1186 previous @sc{gdb/mi} interface, included in @value{GDBN} version 5.3 and
1187 selected with @samp{--interpreter=mi1}, is deprecated. Earlier
1188 @sc{gdb/mi} interfaces are no longer supported.
1191 @cindex @code{--write}
1192 Open the executable and core files for both reading and writing. This
1193 is equivalent to the @samp{set write on} command inside @value{GDBN}
1197 @cindex @code{--statistics}
1198 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print statistics about time and
1199 memory usage after it completes each command and returns to the prompt.
1202 @cindex @code{--version}
1203 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print its version number and
1204 no-warranty blurb, and exit.
1209 @subsection What @value{GDBN} Does During Startup
1210 @cindex @value{GDBN} startup
1212 Here's the description of what @value{GDBN} does during session startup:
1216 Sets up the command interpreter as specified by the command line
1217 (@pxref{Mode Options, interpreter}).
1221 Reads the system-wide @dfn{init file} (if @option{--with-system-gdbinit} was
1222 used when building @value{GDBN}; @pxref{System-wide configuration,
1223 ,System-wide configuration and settings}) and executes all the commands in
1227 Reads the init file (if any) in your home directory@footnote{On
1228 DOS/Windows systems, the home directory is the one pointed to by the
1229 @code{HOME} environment variable.} and executes all the commands in
1233 Processes command line options and operands.
1236 Reads and executes the commands from init file (if any) in the current
1237 working directory. This is only done if the current directory is
1238 different from your home directory. Thus, you can have more than one
1239 init file, one generic in your home directory, and another, specific
1240 to the program you are debugging, in the directory where you invoke
1244 Reads command files specified by the @samp{-x} option. @xref{Command
1245 Files}, for more details about @value{GDBN} command files.
1248 Reads the command history recorded in the @dfn{history file}.
1249 @xref{Command History}, for more details about the command history and the
1250 files where @value{GDBN} records it.
1253 Init files use the same syntax as @dfn{command files} (@pxref{Command
1254 Files}) and are processed by @value{GDBN} in the same way. The init
1255 file in your home directory can set options (such as @samp{set
1256 complaints}) that affect subsequent processing of command line options
1257 and operands. Init files are not executed if you use the @samp{-nx}
1258 option (@pxref{Mode Options, ,Choosing Modes}).
1260 To display the list of init files loaded by gdb at startup, you
1261 can use @kbd{gdb --help}.
1263 @cindex init file name
1264 @cindex @file{.gdbinit}
1265 @cindex @file{gdb.ini}
1266 The @value{GDBN} init files are normally called @file{.gdbinit}.
1267 The DJGPP port of @value{GDBN} uses the name @file{gdb.ini}, due to
1268 the limitations of file names imposed by DOS filesystems. The Windows
1269 ports of @value{GDBN} use the standard name, but if they find a
1270 @file{gdb.ini} file, they warn you about that and suggest to rename
1271 the file to the standard name.
1275 @section Quitting @value{GDBN}
1276 @cindex exiting @value{GDBN}
1277 @cindex leaving @value{GDBN}
1280 @kindex quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1281 @kindex q @r{(@code{quit})}
1282 @item quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1284 To exit @value{GDBN}, use the @code{quit} command (abbreviated
1285 @code{q}), or type an end-of-file character (usually @kbd{Ctrl-d}). If you
1286 do not supply @var{expression}, @value{GDBN} will terminate normally;
1287 otherwise it will terminate using the result of @var{expression} as the
1292 An interrupt (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}) does not exit from @value{GDBN}, but rather
1293 terminates the action of any @value{GDBN} command that is in progress and
1294 returns to @value{GDBN} command level. It is safe to type the interrupt
1295 character at any time because @value{GDBN} does not allow it to take effect
1296 until a time when it is safe.
1298 If you have been using @value{GDBN} to control an attached process or
1299 device, you can release it with the @code{detach} command
1300 (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
1302 @node Shell Commands
1303 @section Shell Commands
1305 If you need to execute occasional shell commands during your
1306 debugging session, there is no need to leave or suspend @value{GDBN}; you can
1307 just use the @code{shell} command.
1311 @cindex shell escape
1312 @item shell @var{command string}
1313 Invoke a standard shell to execute @var{command string}.
1314 If it exists, the environment variable @code{SHELL} determines which
1315 shell to run. Otherwise @value{GDBN} uses the default shell
1316 (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix systems, @file{COMMAND.COM} on MS-DOS, etc.).
1319 The utility @code{make} is often needed in development environments.
1320 You do not have to use the @code{shell} command for this purpose in
1325 @cindex calling make
1326 @item make @var{make-args}
1327 Execute the @code{make} program with the specified
1328 arguments. This is equivalent to @samp{shell make @var{make-args}}.
1331 @node Logging Output
1332 @section Logging Output
1333 @cindex logging @value{GDBN} output
1334 @cindex save @value{GDBN} output to a file
1336 You may want to save the output of @value{GDBN} commands to a file.
1337 There are several commands to control @value{GDBN}'s logging.
1341 @item set logging on
1343 @item set logging off
1345 @cindex logging file name
1346 @item set logging file @var{file}
1347 Change the name of the current logfile. The default logfile is @file{gdb.txt}.
1348 @item set logging overwrite [on|off]
1349 By default, @value{GDBN} will append to the logfile. Set @code{overwrite} if
1350 you want @code{set logging on} to overwrite the logfile instead.
1351 @item set logging redirect [on|off]
1352 By default, @value{GDBN} output will go to both the terminal and the logfile.
1353 Set @code{redirect} if you want output to go only to the log file.
1354 @kindex show logging
1356 Show the current values of the logging settings.
1360 @chapter @value{GDBN} Commands
1362 You can abbreviate a @value{GDBN} command to the first few letters of the command
1363 name, if that abbreviation is unambiguous; and you can repeat certain
1364 @value{GDBN} commands by typing just @key{RET}. You can also use the @key{TAB}
1365 key to get @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest of a word in a command (or to
1366 show you the alternatives available, if there is more than one possibility).
1369 * Command Syntax:: How to give commands to @value{GDBN}
1370 * Completion:: Command completion
1371 * Help:: How to ask @value{GDBN} for help
1374 @node Command Syntax
1375 @section Command Syntax
1377 A @value{GDBN} command is a single line of input. There is no limit on
1378 how long it can be. It starts with a command name, which is followed by
1379 arguments whose meaning depends on the command name. For example, the
1380 command @code{step} accepts an argument which is the number of times to
1381 step, as in @samp{step 5}. You can also use the @code{step} command
1382 with no arguments. Some commands do not allow any arguments.
1384 @cindex abbreviation
1385 @value{GDBN} command names may always be truncated if that abbreviation is
1386 unambiguous. Other possible command abbreviations are listed in the
1387 documentation for individual commands. In some cases, even ambiguous
1388 abbreviations are allowed; for example, @code{s} is specially defined as
1389 equivalent to @code{step} even though there are other commands whose
1390 names start with @code{s}. You can test abbreviations by using them as
1391 arguments to the @code{help} command.
1393 @cindex repeating commands
1394 @kindex RET @r{(repeat last command)}
1395 A blank line as input to @value{GDBN} (typing just @key{RET}) means to
1396 repeat the previous command. Certain commands (for example, @code{run})
1397 will not repeat this way; these are commands whose unintentional
1398 repetition might cause trouble and which you are unlikely to want to
1399 repeat. User-defined commands can disable this feature; see
1400 @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
1402 The @code{list} and @code{x} commands, when you repeat them with
1403 @key{RET}, construct new arguments rather than repeating
1404 exactly as typed. This permits easy scanning of source or memory.
1406 @value{GDBN} can also use @key{RET} in another way: to partition lengthy
1407 output, in a way similar to the common utility @code{more}
1408 (@pxref{Screen Size,,Screen Size}). Since it is easy to press one
1409 @key{RET} too many in this situation, @value{GDBN} disables command
1410 repetition after any command that generates this sort of display.
1412 @kindex # @r{(a comment)}
1414 Any text from a @kbd{#} to the end of the line is a comment; it does
1415 nothing. This is useful mainly in command files (@pxref{Command
1416 Files,,Command Files}).
1418 @cindex repeating command sequences
1419 @kindex Ctrl-o @r{(operate-and-get-next)}
1420 The @kbd{Ctrl-o} binding is useful for repeating a complex sequence of
1421 commands. This command accepts the current line, like @key{RET}, and
1422 then fetches the next line relative to the current line from the history
1426 @section Command Completion
1429 @cindex word completion
1430 @value{GDBN} can fill in the rest of a word in a command for you, if there is
1431 only one possibility; it can also show you what the valid possibilities
1432 are for the next word in a command, at any time. This works for @value{GDBN}
1433 commands, @value{GDBN} subcommands, and the names of symbols in your program.
1435 Press the @key{TAB} key whenever you want @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest
1436 of a word. If there is only one possibility, @value{GDBN} fills in the
1437 word, and waits for you to finish the command (or press @key{RET} to
1438 enter it). For example, if you type
1440 @c FIXME "@key" does not distinguish its argument sufficiently to permit
1441 @c complete accuracy in these examples; space introduced for clarity.
1442 @c If texinfo enhancements make it unnecessary, it would be nice to
1443 @c replace " @key" by "@key" in the following...
1445 (@value{GDBP}) info bre @key{TAB}
1449 @value{GDBN} fills in the rest of the word @samp{breakpoints}, since that is
1450 the only @code{info} subcommand beginning with @samp{bre}:
1453 (@value{GDBP}) info breakpoints
1457 You can either press @key{RET} at this point, to run the @code{info
1458 breakpoints} command, or backspace and enter something else, if
1459 @samp{breakpoints} does not look like the command you expected. (If you
1460 were sure you wanted @code{info breakpoints} in the first place, you
1461 might as well just type @key{RET} immediately after @samp{info bre},
1462 to exploit command abbreviations rather than command completion).
1464 If there is more than one possibility for the next word when you press
1465 @key{TAB}, @value{GDBN} sounds a bell. You can either supply more
1466 characters and try again, or just press @key{TAB} a second time;
1467 @value{GDBN} displays all the possible completions for that word. For
1468 example, you might want to set a breakpoint on a subroutine whose name
1469 begins with @samp{make_}, but when you type @kbd{b make_@key{TAB}} @value{GDBN}
1470 just sounds the bell. Typing @key{TAB} again displays all the
1471 function names in your program that begin with those characters, for
1475 (@value{GDBP}) b make_ @key{TAB}
1476 @exdent @value{GDBN} sounds bell; press @key{TAB} again, to see:
1477 make_a_section_from_file make_environ
1478 make_abs_section make_function_type
1479 make_blockvector make_pointer_type
1480 make_cleanup make_reference_type
1481 make_command make_symbol_completion_list
1482 (@value{GDBP}) b make_
1486 After displaying the available possibilities, @value{GDBN} copies your
1487 partial input (@samp{b make_} in the example) so you can finish the
1490 If you just want to see the list of alternatives in the first place, you
1491 can press @kbd{M-?} rather than pressing @key{TAB} twice. @kbd{M-?}
1492 means @kbd{@key{META} ?}. You can type this either by holding down a
1493 key designated as the @key{META} shift on your keyboard (if there is
1494 one) while typing @kbd{?}, or as @key{ESC} followed by @kbd{?}.
1496 @cindex quotes in commands
1497 @cindex completion of quoted strings
1498 Sometimes the string you need, while logically a ``word'', may contain
1499 parentheses or other characters that @value{GDBN} normally excludes from
1500 its notion of a word. To permit word completion to work in this
1501 situation, you may enclose words in @code{'} (single quote marks) in
1502 @value{GDBN} commands.
1504 The most likely situation where you might need this is in typing the
1505 name of a C@t{++} function. This is because C@t{++} allows function
1506 overloading (multiple definitions of the same function, distinguished
1507 by argument type). For example, when you want to set a breakpoint you
1508 may need to distinguish whether you mean the version of @code{name}
1509 that takes an @code{int} parameter, @code{name(int)}, or the version
1510 that takes a @code{float} parameter, @code{name(float)}. To use the
1511 word-completion facilities in this situation, type a single quote
1512 @code{'} at the beginning of the function name. This alerts
1513 @value{GDBN} that it may need to consider more information than usual
1514 when you press @key{TAB} or @kbd{M-?} to request word completion:
1517 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble( @kbd{M-?}
1518 bubble(double,double) bubble(int,int)
1519 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1522 In some cases, @value{GDBN} can tell that completing a name requires using
1523 quotes. When this happens, @value{GDBN} inserts the quote for you (while
1524 completing as much as it can) if you do not type the quote in the first
1528 (@value{GDBP}) b bub @key{TAB}
1529 @exdent @value{GDBN} alters your input line to the following, and rings a bell:
1530 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1534 In general, @value{GDBN} can tell that a quote is needed (and inserts it) if
1535 you have not yet started typing the argument list when you ask for
1536 completion on an overloaded symbol.
1538 For more information about overloaded functions, see @ref{C Plus Plus
1539 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}. You can use the command @code{set
1540 overload-resolution off} to disable overload resolution;
1541 see @ref{Debugging C Plus Plus, ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
1543 @cindex completion of structure field names
1544 @cindex structure field name completion
1545 @cindex completion of union field names
1546 @cindex union field name completion
1547 When completing in an expression which looks up a field in a
1548 structure, @value{GDBN} also tries@footnote{The completer can be
1549 confused by certain kinds of invalid expressions. Also, it only
1550 examines the static type of the expression, not the dynamic type.} to
1551 limit completions to the field names available in the type of the
1555 (@value{GDBP}) p gdb_stdout.@kbd{M-?}
1556 magic to_delete to_fputs to_put to_rewind
1557 to_data to_flush to_isatty to_read to_write
1561 This is because the @code{gdb_stdout} is a variable of the type
1562 @code{struct ui_file} that is defined in @value{GDBN} sources as
1569 ui_file_flush_ftype *to_flush;
1570 ui_file_write_ftype *to_write;
1571 ui_file_fputs_ftype *to_fputs;
1572 ui_file_read_ftype *to_read;
1573 ui_file_delete_ftype *to_delete;
1574 ui_file_isatty_ftype *to_isatty;
1575 ui_file_rewind_ftype *to_rewind;
1576 ui_file_put_ftype *to_put;
1583 @section Getting Help
1584 @cindex online documentation
1587 You can always ask @value{GDBN} itself for information on its commands,
1588 using the command @code{help}.
1591 @kindex h @r{(@code{help})}
1594 You can use @code{help} (abbreviated @code{h}) with no arguments to
1595 display a short list of named classes of commands:
1599 List of classes of commands:
1601 aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1602 breakpoints -- Making program stop at certain points
1603 data -- Examining data
1604 files -- Specifying and examining files
1605 internals -- Maintenance commands
1606 obscure -- Obscure features
1607 running -- Running the program
1608 stack -- Examining the stack
1609 status -- Status inquiries
1610 support -- Support facilities
1611 tracepoints -- Tracing of program execution without
1612 stopping the program
1613 user-defined -- User-defined commands
1615 Type "help" followed by a class name for a list of
1616 commands in that class.
1617 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1619 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1622 @c the above line break eliminates huge line overfull...
1624 @item help @var{class}
1625 Using one of the general help classes as an argument, you can get a
1626 list of the individual commands in that class. For example, here is the
1627 help display for the class @code{status}:
1630 (@value{GDBP}) help status
1635 @c Line break in "show" line falsifies real output, but needed
1636 @c to fit in smallbook page size.
1637 info -- Generic command for showing things
1638 about the program being debugged
1639 show -- Generic command for showing things
1642 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1644 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1648 @item help @var{command}
1649 With a command name as @code{help} argument, @value{GDBN} displays a
1650 short paragraph on how to use that command.
1653 @item apropos @var{args}
1654 The @code{apropos} command searches through all of the @value{GDBN}
1655 commands, and their documentation, for the regular expression specified in
1656 @var{args}. It prints out all matches found. For example:
1667 set symbol-reloading -- Set dynamic symbol table reloading
1668 multiple times in one run
1669 show symbol-reloading -- Show dynamic symbol table reloading
1670 multiple times in one run
1675 @item complete @var{args}
1676 The @code{complete @var{args}} command lists all the possible completions
1677 for the beginning of a command. Use @var{args} to specify the beginning of the
1678 command you want completed. For example:
1684 @noindent results in:
1695 @noindent This is intended for use by @sc{gnu} Emacs.
1698 In addition to @code{help}, you can use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{info}
1699 and @code{show} to inquire about the state of your program, or the state
1700 of @value{GDBN} itself. Each command supports many topics of inquiry; this
1701 manual introduces each of them in the appropriate context. The listings
1702 under @code{info} and under @code{show} in the Index point to
1703 all the sub-commands. @xref{Index}.
1708 @kindex i @r{(@code{info})}
1710 This command (abbreviated @code{i}) is for describing the state of your
1711 program. For example, you can show the arguments passed to a function
1712 with @code{info args}, list the registers currently in use with @code{info
1713 registers}, or list the breakpoints you have set with @code{info breakpoints}.
1714 You can get a complete list of the @code{info} sub-commands with
1715 @w{@code{help info}}.
1719 You can assign the result of an expression to an environment variable with
1720 @code{set}. For example, you can set the @value{GDBN} prompt to a $-sign with
1721 @code{set prompt $}.
1725 In contrast to @code{info}, @code{show} is for describing the state of
1726 @value{GDBN} itself.
1727 You can change most of the things you can @code{show}, by using the
1728 related command @code{set}; for example, you can control what number
1729 system is used for displays with @code{set radix}, or simply inquire
1730 which is currently in use with @code{show radix}.
1733 To display all the settable parameters and their current
1734 values, you can use @code{show} with no arguments; you may also use
1735 @code{info set}. Both commands produce the same display.
1736 @c FIXME: "info set" violates the rule that "info" is for state of
1737 @c FIXME...program. Ck w/ GNU: "info set" to be called something else,
1738 @c FIXME...or change desc of rule---eg "state of prog and debugging session"?
1742 Here are three miscellaneous @code{show} subcommands, all of which are
1743 exceptional in lacking corresponding @code{set} commands:
1746 @kindex show version
1747 @cindex @value{GDBN} version number
1749 Show what version of @value{GDBN} is running. You should include this
1750 information in @value{GDBN} bug-reports. If multiple versions of
1751 @value{GDBN} are in use at your site, you may need to determine which
1752 version of @value{GDBN} you are running; as @value{GDBN} evolves, new
1753 commands are introduced, and old ones may wither away. Also, many
1754 system vendors ship variant versions of @value{GDBN}, and there are
1755 variant versions of @value{GDBN} in @sc{gnu}/Linux distributions as well.
1756 The version number is the same as the one announced when you start
1759 @kindex show copying
1760 @kindex info copying
1761 @cindex display @value{GDBN} copyright
1764 Display information about permission for copying @value{GDBN}.
1766 @kindex show warranty
1767 @kindex info warranty
1769 @itemx info warranty
1770 Display the @sc{gnu} ``NO WARRANTY'' statement, or a warranty,
1771 if your version of @value{GDBN} comes with one.
1776 @chapter Running Programs Under @value{GDBN}
1778 When you run a program under @value{GDBN}, you must first generate
1779 debugging information when you compile it.
1781 You may start @value{GDBN} with its arguments, if any, in an environment
1782 of your choice. If you are doing native debugging, you may redirect
1783 your program's input and output, debug an already running process, or
1784 kill a child process.
1787 * Compilation:: Compiling for debugging
1788 * Starting:: Starting your program
1789 * Arguments:: Your program's arguments
1790 * Environment:: Your program's environment
1792 * Working Directory:: Your program's working directory
1793 * Input/Output:: Your program's input and output
1794 * Attach:: Debugging an already-running process
1795 * Kill Process:: Killing the child process
1797 * Inferiors and Programs:: Debugging multiple inferiors and programs
1798 * Threads:: Debugging programs with multiple threads
1799 * Forks:: Debugging forks
1800 * Checkpoint/Restart:: Setting a @emph{bookmark} to return to later
1804 @section Compiling for Debugging
1806 In order to debug a program effectively, you need to generate
1807 debugging information when you compile it. This debugging information
1808 is stored in the object file; it describes the data type of each
1809 variable or function and the correspondence between source line numbers
1810 and addresses in the executable code.
1812 To request debugging information, specify the @samp{-g} option when you run
1815 Programs that are to be shipped to your customers are compiled with
1816 optimizations, using the @samp{-O} compiler option. However, some
1817 compilers are unable to handle the @samp{-g} and @samp{-O} options
1818 together. Using those compilers, you cannot generate optimized
1819 executables containing debugging information.
1821 @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C/C@t{++} compiler, supports @samp{-g} with or
1822 without @samp{-O}, making it possible to debug optimized code. We
1823 recommend that you @emph{always} use @samp{-g} whenever you compile a
1824 program. You may think your program is correct, but there is no sense
1825 in pushing your luck. For more information, see @ref{Optimized Code}.
1827 Older versions of the @sc{gnu} C compiler permitted a variant option
1828 @w{@samp{-gg}} for debugging information. @value{GDBN} no longer supports this
1829 format; if your @sc{gnu} C compiler has this option, do not use it.
1831 @value{GDBN} knows about preprocessor macros and can show you their
1832 expansion (@pxref{Macros}). Most compilers do not include information
1833 about preprocessor macros in the debugging information if you specify
1834 the @option{-g} flag alone, because this information is rather large.
1835 Version 3.1 and later of @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C compiler,
1836 provides macro information if you specify the options
1837 @option{-gdwarf-2} and @option{-g3}; the former option requests
1838 debugging information in the Dwarf 2 format, and the latter requests
1839 ``extra information''. In the future, we hope to find more compact
1840 ways to represent macro information, so that it can be included with
1845 @section Starting your Program
1851 @kindex r @r{(@code{run})}
1854 Use the @code{run} command to start your program under @value{GDBN}.
1855 You must first specify the program name (except on VxWorks) with an
1856 argument to @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Invocation, ,Getting In and Out of
1857 @value{GDBN}}), or by using the @code{file} or @code{exec-file} command
1858 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
1862 If you are running your program in an execution environment that
1863 supports processes, @code{run} creates an inferior process and makes
1864 that process run your program. In some environments without processes,
1865 @code{run} jumps to the start of your program. Other targets,
1866 like @samp{remote}, are always running. If you get an error
1867 message like this one:
1870 The "remote" target does not support "run".
1871 Try "help target" or "continue".
1875 then use @code{continue} to run your program. You may need @code{load}
1876 first (@pxref{load}).
1878 The execution of a program is affected by certain information it
1879 receives from its superior. @value{GDBN} provides ways to specify this
1880 information, which you must do @emph{before} starting your program. (You
1881 can change it after starting your program, but such changes only affect
1882 your program the next time you start it.) This information may be
1883 divided into four categories:
1886 @item The @emph{arguments.}
1887 Specify the arguments to give your program as the arguments of the
1888 @code{run} command. If a shell is available on your target, the shell
1889 is used to pass the arguments, so that you may use normal conventions
1890 (such as wildcard expansion or variable substitution) in describing
1892 In Unix systems, you can control which shell is used with the
1893 @code{SHELL} environment variable.
1894 @xref{Arguments, ,Your Program's Arguments}.
1896 @item The @emph{environment.}
1897 Your program normally inherits its environment from @value{GDBN}, but you can
1898 use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{set environment} and @code{unset
1899 environment} to change parts of the environment that affect
1900 your program. @xref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}.
1902 @item The @emph{working directory.}
1903 Your program inherits its working directory from @value{GDBN}. You can set
1904 the @value{GDBN} working directory with the @code{cd} command in @value{GDBN}.
1905 @xref{Working Directory, ,Your Program's Working Directory}.
1907 @item The @emph{standard input and output.}
1908 Your program normally uses the same device for standard input and
1909 standard output as @value{GDBN} is using. You can redirect input and output
1910 in the @code{run} command line, or you can use the @code{tty} command to
1911 set a different device for your program.
1912 @xref{Input/Output, ,Your Program's Input and Output}.
1915 @emph{Warning:} While input and output redirection work, you cannot use
1916 pipes to pass the output of the program you are debugging to another
1917 program; if you attempt this, @value{GDBN} is likely to wind up debugging the
1921 When you issue the @code{run} command, your program begins to execute
1922 immediately. @xref{Stopping, ,Stopping and Continuing}, for discussion
1923 of how to arrange for your program to stop. Once your program has
1924 stopped, you may call functions in your program, using the @code{print}
1925 or @code{call} commands. @xref{Data, ,Examining Data}.
1927 If the modification time of your symbol file has changed since the last
1928 time @value{GDBN} read its symbols, @value{GDBN} discards its symbol
1929 table, and reads it again. When it does this, @value{GDBN} tries to retain
1930 your current breakpoints.
1935 @cindex run to main procedure
1936 The name of the main procedure can vary from language to language.
1937 With C or C@t{++}, the main procedure name is always @code{main}, but
1938 other languages such as Ada do not require a specific name for their
1939 main procedure. The debugger provides a convenient way to start the
1940 execution of the program and to stop at the beginning of the main
1941 procedure, depending on the language used.
1943 The @samp{start} command does the equivalent of setting a temporary
1944 breakpoint at the beginning of the main procedure and then invoking
1945 the @samp{run} command.
1947 @cindex elaboration phase
1948 Some programs contain an @dfn{elaboration} phase where some startup code is
1949 executed before the main procedure is called. This depends on the
1950 languages used to write your program. In C@t{++}, for instance,
1951 constructors for static and global objects are executed before
1952 @code{main} is called. It is therefore possible that the debugger stops
1953 before reaching the main procedure. However, the temporary breakpoint
1954 will remain to halt execution.
1956 Specify the arguments to give to your program as arguments to the
1957 @samp{start} command. These arguments will be given verbatim to the
1958 underlying @samp{run} command. Note that the same arguments will be
1959 reused if no argument is provided during subsequent calls to
1960 @samp{start} or @samp{run}.
1962 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration. In
1963 these cases, using the @code{start} command would stop the execution of
1964 your program too late, as the program would have already completed the
1965 elaboration phase. Under these circumstances, insert breakpoints in your
1966 elaboration code before running your program.
1968 @kindex set exec-wrapper
1969 @item set exec-wrapper @var{wrapper}
1970 @itemx show exec-wrapper
1971 @itemx unset exec-wrapper
1972 When @samp{exec-wrapper} is set, the specified wrapper is used to
1973 launch programs for debugging. @value{GDBN} starts your program
1974 with a shell command of the form @kbd{exec @var{wrapper}
1975 @var{program}}. Quoting is added to @var{program} and its
1976 arguments, but not to @var{wrapper}, so you should add quotes if
1977 appropriate for your shell. The wrapper runs until it executes
1978 your program, and then @value{GDBN} takes control.
1980 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
1981 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
1982 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
1983 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
1985 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
1986 the debugged program, without setting the variable in your shell's
1990 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper env 'LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so'
1994 This command is available when debugging locally on most targets, excluding
1995 @sc{djgpp}, Cygwin, MS Windows, and QNX Neutrino.
1997 @kindex set disable-randomization
1998 @item set disable-randomization
1999 @itemx set disable-randomization on
2000 This option (enabled by default in @value{GDBN}) will turn off the native
2001 randomization of the virtual address space of the started program. This option
2002 is useful for multiple debugging sessions to make the execution better
2003 reproducible and memory addresses reusable across debugging sessions.
2005 This feature is implemented only on @sc{gnu}/Linux. You can get the same
2009 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper setarch `uname -m` -R
2012 @item set disable-randomization off
2013 Leave the behavior of the started executable unchanged. Some bugs rear their
2014 ugly heads only when the program is loaded at certain addresses. If your bug
2015 disappears when you run the program under @value{GDBN}, that might be because
2016 @value{GDBN} by default disables the address randomization on platforms, such
2017 as @sc{gnu}/Linux, which do that for stand-alone programs. Use @kbd{set
2018 disable-randomization off} to try to reproduce such elusive bugs.
2020 The virtual address space randomization is implemented only on @sc{gnu}/Linux.
2021 It protects the programs against some kinds of security attacks. In these
2022 cases the attacker needs to know the exact location of a concrete executable
2023 code. Randomizing its location makes it impossible to inject jumps misusing
2024 a code at its expected addresses.
2026 Prelinking shared libraries provides a startup performance advantage but it
2027 makes addresses in these libraries predictable for privileged processes by
2028 having just unprivileged access at the target system. Reading the shared
2029 library binary gives enough information for assembling the malicious code
2030 misusing it. Still even a prelinked shared library can get loaded at a new
2031 random address just requiring the regular relocation process during the
2032 startup. Shared libraries not already prelinked are always loaded at
2033 a randomly chosen address.
2035 Position independent executables (PIE) contain position independent code
2036 similar to the shared libraries and therefore such executables get loaded at
2037 a randomly chosen address upon startup. PIE executables always load even
2038 already prelinked shared libraries at a random address. You can build such
2039 executable using @command{gcc -fPIE -pie}.
2041 Heap (malloc storage), stack and custom mmap areas are always placed randomly
2042 (as long as the randomization is enabled).
2044 @item show disable-randomization
2045 Show the current setting of the explicit disable of the native randomization of
2046 the virtual address space of the started program.
2051 @section Your Program's Arguments
2053 @cindex arguments (to your program)
2054 The arguments to your program can be specified by the arguments of the
2056 They are passed to a shell, which expands wildcard characters and
2057 performs redirection of I/O, and thence to your program. Your
2058 @code{SHELL} environment variable (if it exists) specifies what shell
2059 @value{GDBN} uses. If you do not define @code{SHELL}, @value{GDBN} uses
2060 the default shell (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix).
2062 On non-Unix systems, the program is usually invoked directly by
2063 @value{GDBN}, which emulates I/O redirection via the appropriate system
2064 calls, and the wildcard characters are expanded by the startup code of
2065 the program, not by the shell.
2067 @code{run} with no arguments uses the same arguments used by the previous
2068 @code{run}, or those set by the @code{set args} command.
2073 Specify the arguments to be used the next time your program is run. If
2074 @code{set args} has no arguments, @code{run} executes your program
2075 with no arguments. Once you have run your program with arguments,
2076 using @code{set args} before the next @code{run} is the only way to run
2077 it again without arguments.
2081 Show the arguments to give your program when it is started.
2085 @section Your Program's Environment
2087 @cindex environment (of your program)
2088 The @dfn{environment} consists of a set of environment variables and
2089 their values. Environment variables conventionally record such things as
2090 your user name, your home directory, your terminal type, and your search
2091 path for programs to run. Usually you set up environment variables with
2092 the shell and they are inherited by all the other programs you run. When
2093 debugging, it can be useful to try running your program with a modified
2094 environment without having to start @value{GDBN} over again.
2098 @item path @var{directory}
2099 Add @var{directory} to the front of the @code{PATH} environment variable
2100 (the search path for executables) that will be passed to your program.
2101 The value of @code{PATH} used by @value{GDBN} does not change.
2102 You may specify several directory names, separated by whitespace or by a
2103 system-dependent separator character (@samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on
2104 MS-DOS and MS-Windows). If @var{directory} is already in the path, it
2105 is moved to the front, so it is searched sooner.
2107 You can use the string @samp{$cwd} to refer to whatever is the current
2108 working directory at the time @value{GDBN} searches the path. If you
2109 use @samp{.} instead, it refers to the directory where you executed the
2110 @code{path} command. @value{GDBN} replaces @samp{.} in the
2111 @var{directory} argument (with the current path) before adding
2112 @var{directory} to the search path.
2113 @c 'path' is explicitly nonrepeatable, but RMS points out it is silly to
2114 @c document that, since repeating it would be a no-op.
2118 Display the list of search paths for executables (the @code{PATH}
2119 environment variable).
2121 @kindex show environment
2122 @item show environment @r{[}@var{varname}@r{]}
2123 Print the value of environment variable @var{varname} to be given to
2124 your program when it starts. If you do not supply @var{varname},
2125 print the names and values of all environment variables to be given to
2126 your program. You can abbreviate @code{environment} as @code{env}.
2128 @kindex set environment
2129 @item set environment @var{varname} @r{[}=@var{value}@r{]}
2130 Set environment variable @var{varname} to @var{value}. The value
2131 changes for your program only, not for @value{GDBN} itself. @var{value} may
2132 be any string; the values of environment variables are just strings, and
2133 any interpretation is supplied by your program itself. The @var{value}
2134 parameter is optional; if it is eliminated, the variable is set to a
2136 @c "any string" here does not include leading, trailing
2137 @c blanks. Gnu asks: does anyone care?
2139 For example, this command:
2146 tells the debugged program, when subsequently run, that its user is named
2147 @samp{foo}. (The spaces around @samp{=} are used for clarity here; they
2148 are not actually required.)
2150 @kindex unset environment
2151 @item unset environment @var{varname}
2152 Remove variable @var{varname} from the environment to be passed to your
2153 program. This is different from @samp{set env @var{varname} =};
2154 @code{unset environment} removes the variable from the environment,
2155 rather than assigning it an empty value.
2158 @emph{Warning:} On Unix systems, @value{GDBN} runs your program using
2160 by your @code{SHELL} environment variable if it exists (or
2161 @code{/bin/sh} if not). If your @code{SHELL} variable names a shell
2162 that runs an initialization file---such as @file{.cshrc} for C-shell, or
2163 @file{.bashrc} for BASH---any variables you set in that file affect
2164 your program. You may wish to move setting of environment variables to
2165 files that are only run when you sign on, such as @file{.login} or
2168 @node Working Directory
2169 @section Your Program's Working Directory
2171 @cindex working directory (of your program)
2172 Each time you start your program with @code{run}, it inherits its
2173 working directory from the current working directory of @value{GDBN}.
2174 The @value{GDBN} working directory is initially whatever it inherited
2175 from its parent process (typically the shell), but you can specify a new
2176 working directory in @value{GDBN} with the @code{cd} command.
2178 The @value{GDBN} working directory also serves as a default for the commands
2179 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2184 @cindex change working directory
2185 @item cd @var{directory}
2186 Set the @value{GDBN} working directory to @var{directory}.
2190 Print the @value{GDBN} working directory.
2193 It is generally impossible to find the current working directory of
2194 the process being debugged (since a program can change its directory
2195 during its run). If you work on a system where @value{GDBN} is
2196 configured with the @file{/proc} support, you can use the @code{info
2197 proc} command (@pxref{SVR4 Process Information}) to find out the
2198 current working directory of the debuggee.
2201 @section Your Program's Input and Output
2206 By default, the program you run under @value{GDBN} does input and output to
2207 the same terminal that @value{GDBN} uses. @value{GDBN} switches the terminal
2208 to its own terminal modes to interact with you, but it records the terminal
2209 modes your program was using and switches back to them when you continue
2210 running your program.
2213 @kindex info terminal
2215 Displays information recorded by @value{GDBN} about the terminal modes your
2219 You can redirect your program's input and/or output using shell
2220 redirection with the @code{run} command. For example,
2227 starts your program, diverting its output to the file @file{outfile}.
2230 @cindex controlling terminal
2231 Another way to specify where your program should do input and output is
2232 with the @code{tty} command. This command accepts a file name as
2233 argument, and causes this file to be the default for future @code{run}
2234 commands. It also resets the controlling terminal for the child
2235 process, for future @code{run} commands. For example,
2242 directs that processes started with subsequent @code{run} commands
2243 default to do input and output on the terminal @file{/dev/ttyb} and have
2244 that as their controlling terminal.
2246 An explicit redirection in @code{run} overrides the @code{tty} command's
2247 effect on the input/output device, but not its effect on the controlling
2250 When you use the @code{tty} command or redirect input in the @code{run}
2251 command, only the input @emph{for your program} is affected. The input
2252 for @value{GDBN} still comes from your terminal. @code{tty} is an alias
2253 for @code{set inferior-tty}.
2255 @cindex inferior tty
2256 @cindex set inferior controlling terminal
2257 You can use the @code{show inferior-tty} command to tell @value{GDBN} to
2258 display the name of the terminal that will be used for future runs of your
2262 @item set inferior-tty /dev/ttyb
2263 @kindex set inferior-tty
2264 Set the tty for the program being debugged to /dev/ttyb.
2266 @item show inferior-tty
2267 @kindex show inferior-tty
2268 Show the current tty for the program being debugged.
2272 @section Debugging an Already-running Process
2277 @item attach @var{process-id}
2278 This command attaches to a running process---one that was started
2279 outside @value{GDBN}. (@code{info files} shows your active
2280 targets.) The command takes as argument a process ID. The usual way to
2281 find out the @var{process-id} of a Unix process is with the @code{ps} utility,
2282 or with the @samp{jobs -l} shell command.
2284 @code{attach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} a second time after
2285 executing the command.
2288 To use @code{attach}, your program must be running in an environment
2289 which supports processes; for example, @code{attach} does not work for
2290 programs on bare-board targets that lack an operating system. You must
2291 also have permission to send the process a signal.
2293 When you use @code{attach}, the debugger finds the program running in
2294 the process first by looking in the current working directory, then (if
2295 the program is not found) by using the source file search path
2296 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}). You can also use
2297 the @code{file} command to load the program. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2300 The first thing @value{GDBN} does after arranging to debug the specified
2301 process is to stop it. You can examine and modify an attached process
2302 with all the @value{GDBN} commands that are ordinarily available when
2303 you start processes with @code{run}. You can insert breakpoints; you
2304 can step and continue; you can modify storage. If you would rather the
2305 process continue running, you may use the @code{continue} command after
2306 attaching @value{GDBN} to the process.
2311 When you have finished debugging the attached process, you can use the
2312 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control. Detaching
2313 the process continues its execution. After the @code{detach} command,
2314 that process and @value{GDBN} become completely independent once more, and you
2315 are ready to @code{attach} another process or start one with @code{run}.
2316 @code{detach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
2317 executing the command.
2320 If you exit @value{GDBN} while you have an attached process, you detach
2321 that process. If you use the @code{run} command, you kill that process.
2322 By default, @value{GDBN} asks for confirmation if you try to do either of these
2323 things; you can control whether or not you need to confirm by using the
2324 @code{set confirm} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
2328 @section Killing the Child Process
2333 Kill the child process in which your program is running under @value{GDBN}.
2336 This command is useful if you wish to debug a core dump instead of a
2337 running process. @value{GDBN} ignores any core dump file while your program
2340 On some operating systems, a program cannot be executed outside @value{GDBN}
2341 while you have breakpoints set on it inside @value{GDBN}. You can use the
2342 @code{kill} command in this situation to permit running your program
2343 outside the debugger.
2345 The @code{kill} command is also useful if you wish to recompile and
2346 relink your program, since on many systems it is impossible to modify an
2347 executable file while it is running in a process. In this case, when you
2348 next type @code{run}, @value{GDBN} notices that the file has changed, and
2349 reads the symbol table again (while trying to preserve your current
2350 breakpoint settings).
2352 @node Inferiors and Programs
2353 @section Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs
2355 @value{GDBN} lets you run and debug multiple programs in a single
2356 session. In addition, @value{GDBN} on some systems may let you run
2357 several programs simultaneously (otherwise you have to exit from one
2358 before starting another). In the most general case, you can have
2359 multiple threads of execution in each of multiple processes, launched
2360 from multiple executables.
2363 @value{GDBN} represents the state of each program execution with an
2364 object called an @dfn{inferior}. An inferior typically corresponds to
2365 a process, but is more general and applies also to targets that do not
2366 have processes. Inferiors may be created before a process runs, and
2367 may be retained after a process exits. Inferiors have unique
2368 identifiers that are different from process ids. Usually each
2369 inferior will also have its own distinct address space, although some
2370 embedded targets may have several inferiors running in different parts
2371 of a single address space. Each inferior may in turn have multiple
2372 threads running in it.
2374 To find out what inferiors exist at any moment, use @w{@code{info
2378 @kindex info inferiors
2379 @item info inferiors
2380 Print a list of all inferiors currently being managed by @value{GDBN}.
2382 @value{GDBN} displays for each inferior (in this order):
2386 the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2389 the target system's inferior identifier
2392 the name of the executable the inferior is running.
2397 An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} inferior number
2398 indicates the current inferior.
2402 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2405 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2406 Num Description Executable
2407 2 process 2307 hello
2408 * 1 process 3401 goodbye
2411 To switch focus between inferiors, use the @code{inferior} command:
2414 @kindex inferior @var{infno}
2415 @item inferior @var{infno}
2416 Make inferior number @var{infno} the current inferior. The argument
2417 @var{infno} is the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}, as shown
2418 in the first field of the @samp{info inferiors} display.
2422 You can get multiple executables into a debugging session via the
2423 @code{add-inferior} and @w{@code{clone-inferior}} commands. On some
2424 systems @value{GDBN} can add inferiors to the debug session
2425 automatically by following calls to @code{fork} and @code{exec}. To
2426 remove inferiors from the debugging session use the
2427 @w{@code{remove-inferior}} command.
2430 @kindex add-inferior
2431 @item add-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ -exec @var{executable} ]
2432 Adds @var{n} inferiors to be run using @var{executable} as the
2433 executable. @var{n} defaults to 1. If no executable is specified,
2434 the inferiors begins empty, with no program. You can still assign or
2435 change the program assigned to the inferior at any time by using the
2436 @code{file} command with the executable name as its argument.
2438 @kindex clone-inferior
2439 @item clone-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ @var{infno} ]
2440 Adds @var{n} inferiors ready to execute the same program as inferior
2441 @var{infno}. @var{n} defaults to 1. @var{infno} defaults to the
2442 number of the current inferior. This is a convenient command when you
2443 want to run another instance of the inferior you are debugging.
2446 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2447 Num Description Executable
2448 * 1 process 29964 helloworld
2449 (@value{GDBP}) clone-inferior
2452 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2453 Num Description Executable
2455 * 1 process 29964 helloworld
2458 You can now simply switch focus to inferior 2 and run it.
2460 @kindex remove-inferior
2461 @item remove-inferior @var{infno}
2462 Removes the inferior @var{infno}. It is not possible to remove an
2463 inferior that is running with this command. For those, use the
2464 @code{kill} or @code{detach} command first.
2468 To quit debugging one of the running inferiors that is not the current
2469 inferior, you can either detach from it by using the @w{@code{detach
2470 inferior}} command (allowing it to run independently), or kill it
2471 using the @w{@code{kill inferior}} command:
2474 @kindex detach inferior @var{infno}
2475 @item detach inferior @var{infno}
2476 Detach from the inferior identified by @value{GDBN} inferior number
2477 @var{infno}, and remove it from the inferior list.
2479 @kindex kill inferior @var{infno}
2480 @item kill inferior @var{infno}
2481 Kill the inferior identified by @value{GDBN} inferior number
2482 @var{infno}, and remove it from the inferior list.
2485 After the successful completion of a command such as @code{detach},
2486 @code{detach inferior}, @code{kill} or @code{kill inferior}, or after
2487 a normal process exit, the inferior is still valid and listed with
2488 @code{info inferiors}, ready to be restarted.
2491 To be notified when inferiors are started or exit under @value{GDBN}'s
2492 control use @w{@code{set print inferior-events}}:
2495 @kindex set print inferior-events
2496 @cindex print messages on inferior start and exit
2497 @item set print inferior-events
2498 @itemx set print inferior-events on
2499 @itemx set print inferior-events off
2500 The @code{set print inferior-events} command allows you to enable or
2501 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new
2502 inferiors have started or that inferiors have exited or have been
2503 detached. By default, these messages will not be printed.
2505 @kindex show print inferior-events
2506 @item show print inferior-events
2507 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that
2508 inferiors have started, exited or have been detached.
2511 Many commands will work the same with multiple programs as with a
2512 single program: e.g., @code{print myglobal} will simply display the
2513 value of @code{myglobal} in the current inferior.
2516 Occasionaly, when debugging @value{GDBN} itself, it may be useful to
2517 get more info about the relationship of inferiors, programs, address
2518 spaces in a debug session. You can do that with the @w{@code{maint
2519 info program-spaces}} command.
2522 @kindex maint info program-spaces
2523 @item maint info program-spaces
2524 Print a list of all program spaces currently being managed by
2527 @value{GDBN} displays for each program space (in this order):
2531 the program space number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2534 the name of the executable loaded into the program space, with e.g.,
2535 the @code{file} command.
2540 An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} program space number
2541 indicates the current program space.
2543 In addition, below each program space line, @value{GDBN} prints extra
2544 information that isn't suitable to display in tabular form. For
2545 example, the list of inferiors bound to the program space.
2548 (@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2551 Bound inferiors: ID 1 (process 21561)
2555 Here we can see that no inferior is running the program @code{hello},
2556 while @code{process 21561} is running the program @code{goodbye}. On
2557 some targets, it is possible that multiple inferiors are bound to the
2558 same program space. The most common example is that of debugging both
2559 the parent and child processes of a @code{vfork} call. For example,
2562 (@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2565 Bound inferiors: ID 2 (process 18050), ID 1 (process 18045)
2568 Here, both inferior 2 and inferior 1 are running in the same program
2569 space as a result of inferior 1 having executed a @code{vfork} call.
2573 @section Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads
2575 @cindex threads of execution
2576 @cindex multiple threads
2577 @cindex switching threads
2578 In some operating systems, such as HP-UX and Solaris, a single program
2579 may have more than one @dfn{thread} of execution. The precise semantics
2580 of threads differ from one operating system to another, but in general
2581 the threads of a single program are akin to multiple processes---except
2582 that they share one address space (that is, they can all examine and
2583 modify the same variables). On the other hand, each thread has its own
2584 registers and execution stack, and perhaps private memory.
2586 @value{GDBN} provides these facilities for debugging multi-thread
2590 @item automatic notification of new threads
2591 @item @samp{thread @var{threadno}}, a command to switch among threads
2592 @item @samp{info threads}, a command to inquire about existing threads
2593 @item @samp{thread apply [@var{threadno}] [@var{all}] @var{args}},
2594 a command to apply a command to a list of threads
2595 @item thread-specific breakpoints
2596 @item @samp{set print thread-events}, which controls printing of
2597 messages on thread start and exit.
2598 @item @samp{set libthread-db-search-path @var{path}}, which lets
2599 the user specify which @code{libthread_db} to use if the default choice
2600 isn't compatible with the program.
2604 @emph{Warning:} These facilities are not yet available on every
2605 @value{GDBN} configuration where the operating system supports threads.
2606 If your @value{GDBN} does not support threads, these commands have no
2607 effect. For example, a system without thread support shows no output
2608 from @samp{info threads}, and always rejects the @code{thread} command,
2612 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2613 (@value{GDBP}) thread 1
2614 Thread ID 1 not known. Use the "info threads" command to
2615 see the IDs of currently known threads.
2617 @c FIXME to implementors: how hard would it be to say "sorry, this GDB
2618 @c doesn't support threads"?
2621 @cindex focus of debugging
2622 @cindex current thread
2623 The @value{GDBN} thread debugging facility allows you to observe all
2624 threads while your program runs---but whenever @value{GDBN} takes
2625 control, one thread in particular is always the focus of debugging.
2626 This thread is called the @dfn{current thread}. Debugging commands show
2627 program information from the perspective of the current thread.
2629 @cindex @code{New} @var{systag} message
2630 @cindex thread identifier (system)
2631 @c FIXME-implementors!! It would be more helpful if the [New...] message
2632 @c included GDB's numeric thread handle, so you could just go to that
2633 @c thread without first checking `info threads'.
2634 Whenever @value{GDBN} detects a new thread in your program, it displays
2635 the target system's identification for the thread with a message in the
2636 form @samp{[New @var{systag}]}. @var{systag} is a thread identifier
2637 whose form varies depending on the particular system. For example, on
2638 @sc{gnu}/Linux, you might see
2641 [New Thread 46912507313328 (LWP 25582)]
2645 when @value{GDBN} notices a new thread. In contrast, on an SGI system,
2646 the @var{systag} is simply something like @samp{process 368}, with no
2649 @c FIXME!! (1) Does the [New...] message appear even for the very first
2650 @c thread of a program, or does it only appear for the
2651 @c second---i.e.@: when it becomes obvious we have a multithread
2653 @c (2) *Is* there necessarily a first thread always? Or do some
2654 @c multithread systems permit starting a program with multiple
2655 @c threads ab initio?
2657 @cindex thread number
2658 @cindex thread identifier (GDB)
2659 For debugging purposes, @value{GDBN} associates its own thread
2660 number---always a single integer---with each thread in your program.
2663 @kindex info threads
2665 Display a summary of all threads currently in your
2666 program. @value{GDBN} displays for each thread (in this order):
2670 the thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2673 the target system's thread identifier (@var{systag})
2676 the current stack frame summary for that thread
2680 An asterisk @samp{*} to the left of the @value{GDBN} thread number
2681 indicates the current thread.
2685 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2688 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2689 3 process 35 thread 27 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2690 2 process 35 thread 23 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2691 * 1 process 35 thread 13 main (argc=1, argv=0x7ffffff8)
2697 @cindex debugging multithreaded programs (on HP-UX)
2698 @cindex thread identifier (GDB), on HP-UX
2699 For debugging purposes, @value{GDBN} associates its own thread
2700 number---a small integer assigned in thread-creation order---with each
2701 thread in your program.
2703 @cindex @code{New} @var{systag} message, on HP-UX
2704 @cindex thread identifier (system), on HP-UX
2705 @c FIXME-implementors!! It would be more helpful if the [New...] message
2706 @c included GDB's numeric thread handle, so you could just go to that
2707 @c thread without first checking `info threads'.
2708 Whenever @value{GDBN} detects a new thread in your program, it displays
2709 both @value{GDBN}'s thread number and the target system's identification for the thread with a message in the
2710 form @samp{[New @var{systag}]}. @var{systag} is a thread identifier
2711 whose form varies depending on the particular system. For example, on
2715 [New thread 2 (system thread 26594)]
2719 when @value{GDBN} notices a new thread.
2722 @kindex info threads (HP-UX)
2724 Display a summary of all threads currently in your
2725 program. @value{GDBN} displays for each thread (in this order):
2728 @item the thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2730 @item the target system's thread identifier (@var{systag})
2732 @item the current stack frame summary for that thread
2736 An asterisk @samp{*} to the left of the @value{GDBN} thread number
2737 indicates the current thread.
2741 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2744 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2745 * 3 system thread 26607 worker (wptr=0x7b09c318 "@@") \@*
2747 2 system thread 26606 0x7b0030d8 in __ksleep () \@*
2748 from /usr/lib/libc.2
2749 1 system thread 27905 0x7b003498 in _brk () \@*
2750 from /usr/lib/libc.2
2753 On Solaris, you can display more information about user threads with a
2754 Solaris-specific command:
2757 @item maint info sol-threads
2758 @kindex maint info sol-threads
2759 @cindex thread info (Solaris)
2760 Display info on Solaris user threads.
2764 @kindex thread @var{threadno}
2765 @item thread @var{threadno}
2766 Make thread number @var{threadno} the current thread. The command
2767 argument @var{threadno} is the internal @value{GDBN} thread number, as
2768 shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display.
2769 @value{GDBN} responds by displaying the system identifier of the thread
2770 you selected, and its current stack frame summary:
2773 @c FIXME!! This example made up; find a @value{GDBN} w/threads and get real one
2774 (@value{GDBP}) thread 2
2775 [Switching to process 35 thread 23]
2776 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2780 As with the @samp{[New @dots{}]} message, the form of the text after
2781 @samp{Switching to} depends on your system's conventions for identifying
2784 @kindex thread apply
2785 @cindex apply command to several threads
2786 @item thread apply [@var{threadno}] [@var{all}] @var{command}
2787 The @code{thread apply} command allows you to apply the named
2788 @var{command} to one or more threads. Specify the numbers of the
2789 threads that you want affected with the command argument
2790 @var{threadno}. It can be a single thread number, one of the numbers
2791 shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display; or it
2792 could be a range of thread numbers, as in @code{2-4}. To apply a
2793 command to all threads, type @kbd{thread apply all @var{command}}.
2795 @kindex set print thread-events
2796 @cindex print messages on thread start and exit
2797 @item set print thread-events
2798 @itemx set print thread-events on
2799 @itemx set print thread-events off
2800 The @code{set print thread-events} command allows you to enable or
2801 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new threads have
2802 started or that threads have exited. By default, these messages will
2803 be printed if detection of these events is supported by the target.
2804 Note that these messages cannot be disabled on all targets.
2806 @kindex show print thread-events
2807 @item show print thread-events
2808 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that threads
2809 have started and exited.
2812 @xref{Thread Stops,,Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs}, for
2813 more information about how @value{GDBN} behaves when you stop and start
2814 programs with multiple threads.
2816 @xref{Set Watchpoints,,Setting Watchpoints}, for information about
2817 watchpoints in programs with multiple threads.
2820 @kindex set libthread-db-search-path
2821 @cindex search path for @code{libthread_db}
2822 @item set libthread-db-search-path @r{[}@var{path}@r{]}
2823 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
2824 directories @value{GDBN} will use to search for @code{libthread_db}.
2825 If you omit @var{path}, @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to
2828 On @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems, @value{GDBN} uses a ``helper''
2829 @code{libthread_db} library to obtain information about threads in the
2830 inferior process. @value{GDBN} will use @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2831 to find @code{libthread_db}. If that fails, @value{GDBN} will continue
2832 with default system shared library directories, and finally the directory
2833 from which @code{libpthread} was loaded in the inferior process.
2835 For any @code{libthread_db} library @value{GDBN} finds in above directories,
2836 @value{GDBN} attempts to initialize it with the current inferior process.
2837 If this initialization fails (which could happen because of a version
2838 mismatch between @code{libthread_db} and @code{libpthread}), @value{GDBN}
2839 will unload @code{libthread_db}, and continue with the next directory.
2840 If none of @code{libthread_db} libraries initialize successfully,
2841 @value{GDBN} will issue a warning and thread debugging will be disabled.
2843 Setting @code{libthread-db-search-path} is currently implemented
2844 only on some platforms.
2846 @kindex show libthread-db-search-path
2847 @item show libthread-db-search-path
2848 Display current libthread_db search path.
2852 @section Debugging Forks
2854 @cindex fork, debugging programs which call
2855 @cindex multiple processes
2856 @cindex processes, multiple
2857 On most systems, @value{GDBN} has no special support for debugging
2858 programs which create additional processes using the @code{fork}
2859 function. When a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug the
2860 parent process and the child process will run unimpeded. If you have
2861 set a breakpoint in any code which the child then executes, the child
2862 will get a @code{SIGTRAP} signal which (unless it catches the signal)
2863 will cause it to terminate.
2865 However, if you want to debug the child process there is a workaround
2866 which isn't too painful. Put a call to @code{sleep} in the code which
2867 the child process executes after the fork. It may be useful to sleep
2868 only if a certain environment variable is set, or a certain file exists,
2869 so that the delay need not occur when you don't want to run @value{GDBN}
2870 on the child. While the child is sleeping, use the @code{ps} program to
2871 get its process ID. Then tell @value{GDBN} (a new invocation of
2872 @value{GDBN} if you are also debugging the parent process) to attach to
2873 the child process (@pxref{Attach}). From that point on you can debug
2874 the child process just like any other process which you attached to.
2876 On some systems, @value{GDBN} provides support for debugging programs that
2877 create additional processes using the @code{fork} or @code{vfork} functions.
2878 Currently, the only platforms with this feature are HP-UX (11.x and later
2879 only?) and @sc{gnu}/Linux (kernel version 2.5.60 and later).
2881 By default, when a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug
2882 the parent process and the child process will run unimpeded.
2884 If you want to follow the child process instead of the parent process,
2885 use the command @w{@code{set follow-fork-mode}}.
2888 @kindex set follow-fork-mode
2889 @item set follow-fork-mode @var{mode}
2890 Set the debugger response to a program call of @code{fork} or
2891 @code{vfork}. A call to @code{fork} or @code{vfork} creates a new
2892 process. The @var{mode} argument can be:
2896 The original process is debugged after a fork. The child process runs
2897 unimpeded. This is the default.
2900 The new process is debugged after a fork. The parent process runs
2905 @kindex show follow-fork-mode
2906 @item show follow-fork-mode
2907 Display the current debugger response to a @code{fork} or @code{vfork} call.
2910 @cindex debugging multiple processes
2911 On Linux, if you want to debug both the parent and child processes, use the
2912 command @w{@code{set detach-on-fork}}.
2915 @kindex set detach-on-fork
2916 @item set detach-on-fork @var{mode}
2917 Tells gdb whether to detach one of the processes after a fork, or
2918 retain debugger control over them both.
2922 The child process (or parent process, depending on the value of
2923 @code{follow-fork-mode}) will be detached and allowed to run
2924 independently. This is the default.
2927 Both processes will be held under the control of @value{GDBN}.
2928 One process (child or parent, depending on the value of
2929 @code{follow-fork-mode}) is debugged as usual, while the other
2934 @kindex show detach-on-fork
2935 @item show detach-on-fork
2936 Show whether detach-on-fork mode is on/off.
2939 If you choose to set @samp{detach-on-fork} mode off, then @value{GDBN}
2940 will retain control of all forked processes (including nested forks).
2941 You can list the forked processes under the control of @value{GDBN} by
2942 using the @w{@code{info inferiors}} command, and switch from one fork
2943 to another by using the @code{inferior} command (@pxref{Inferiors and
2944 Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs}).
2946 To quit debugging one of the forked processes, you can either detach
2947 from it by using the @w{@code{detach inferior}} command (allowing it
2948 to run independently), or kill it using the @w{@code{kill inferior}}
2949 command. @xref{Inferiors and Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors
2952 If you ask to debug a child process and a @code{vfork} is followed by an
2953 @code{exec}, @value{GDBN} executes the new target up to the first
2954 breakpoint in the new target. If you have a breakpoint set on
2955 @code{main} in your original program, the breakpoint will also be set on
2956 the child process's @code{main}.
2958 On some systems, when a child process is spawned by @code{vfork}, you
2959 cannot debug the child or parent until an @code{exec} call completes.
2961 If you issue a @code{run} command to @value{GDBN} after an @code{exec}
2962 call executes, the new target restarts. To restart the parent
2963 process, use the @code{file} command with the parent executable name
2964 as its argument. By default, after an @code{exec} call executes,
2965 @value{GDBN} discards the symbols of the previous executable image.
2966 You can change this behaviour with the @w{@code{set follow-exec-mode}}
2970 @kindex set follow-exec-mode
2971 @item set follow-exec-mode @var{mode}
2973 Set debugger response to a program call of @code{exec}. An
2974 @code{exec} call replaces the program image of a process.
2976 @code{follow-exec-mode} can be:
2980 @value{GDBN} creates a new inferior and rebinds the process to this
2981 new inferior. The program the process was running before the
2982 @code{exec} call can be restarted afterwards by restarting the
2988 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2990 Id Description Executable
2993 process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
2994 Program exited normally.
2995 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2996 Id Description Executable
3002 @value{GDBN} keeps the process bound to the same inferior. The new
3003 executable image replaces the previous executable loaded in the
3004 inferior. Restarting the inferior after the @code{exec} call, with
3005 e.g., the @code{run} command, restarts the executable the process was
3006 running after the @code{exec} call. This is the default mode.
3011 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3012 Id Description Executable
3015 process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3016 Program exited normally.
3017 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3018 Id Description Executable
3025 You can use the @code{catch} command to make @value{GDBN} stop whenever
3026 a @code{fork}, @code{vfork}, or @code{exec} call is made. @xref{Set
3027 Catchpoints, ,Setting Catchpoints}.
3029 @node Checkpoint/Restart
3030 @section Setting a @emph{Bookmark} to Return to Later
3035 @cindex snapshot of a process
3036 @cindex rewind program state
3038 On certain operating systems@footnote{Currently, only
3039 @sc{gnu}/Linux.}, @value{GDBN} is able to save a @dfn{snapshot} of a
3040 program's state, called a @dfn{checkpoint}, and come back to it
3043 Returning to a checkpoint effectively undoes everything that has
3044 happened in the program since the @code{checkpoint} was saved. This
3045 includes changes in memory, registers, and even (within some limits)
3046 system state. Effectively, it is like going back in time to the
3047 moment when the checkpoint was saved.
3049 Thus, if you're stepping thru a program and you think you're
3050 getting close to the point where things go wrong, you can save
3051 a checkpoint. Then, if you accidentally go too far and miss
3052 the critical statement, instead of having to restart your program
3053 from the beginning, you can just go back to the checkpoint and
3054 start again from there.
3056 This can be especially useful if it takes a lot of time or
3057 steps to reach the point where you think the bug occurs.
3059 To use the @code{checkpoint}/@code{restart} method of debugging:
3064 Save a snapshot of the debugged program's current execution state.
3065 The @code{checkpoint} command takes no arguments, but each checkpoint
3066 is assigned a small integer id, similar to a breakpoint id.
3068 @kindex info checkpoints
3069 @item info checkpoints
3070 List the checkpoints that have been saved in the current debugging
3071 session. For each checkpoint, the following information will be
3078 @item Source line, or label
3081 @kindex restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3082 @item restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3083 Restore the program state that was saved as checkpoint number
3084 @var{checkpoint-id}. All program variables, registers, stack frames
3085 etc.@: will be returned to the values that they had when the checkpoint
3086 was saved. In essence, gdb will ``wind back the clock'' to the point
3087 in time when the checkpoint was saved.
3089 Note that breakpoints, @value{GDBN} variables, command history etc.
3090 are not affected by restoring a checkpoint. In general, a checkpoint
3091 only restores things that reside in the program being debugged, not in
3094 @kindex delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3095 @item delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3096 Delete the previously-saved checkpoint identified by @var{checkpoint-id}.
3100 Returning to a previously saved checkpoint will restore the user state
3101 of the program being debugged, plus a significant subset of the system
3102 (OS) state, including file pointers. It won't ``un-write'' data from
3103 a file, but it will rewind the file pointer to the previous location,
3104 so that the previously written data can be overwritten. For files
3105 opened in read mode, the pointer will also be restored so that the
3106 previously read data can be read again.
3108 Of course, characters that have been sent to a printer (or other
3109 external device) cannot be ``snatched back'', and characters received
3110 from eg.@: a serial device can be removed from internal program buffers,
3111 but they cannot be ``pushed back'' into the serial pipeline, ready to
3112 be received again. Similarly, the actual contents of files that have
3113 been changed cannot be restored (at this time).
3115 However, within those constraints, you actually can ``rewind'' your
3116 program to a previously saved point in time, and begin debugging it
3117 again --- and you can change the course of events so as to debug a
3118 different execution path this time.
3120 @cindex checkpoints and process id
3121 Finally, there is one bit of internal program state that will be
3122 different when you return to a checkpoint --- the program's process
3123 id. Each checkpoint will have a unique process id (or @var{pid}),
3124 and each will be different from the program's original @var{pid}.
3125 If your program has saved a local copy of its process id, this could
3126 potentially pose a problem.
3128 @subsection A Non-obvious Benefit of Using Checkpoints
3130 On some systems such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, address space randomization
3131 is performed on new processes for security reasons. This makes it
3132 difficult or impossible to set a breakpoint, or watchpoint, on an
3133 absolute address if you have to restart the program, since the
3134 absolute location of a symbol will change from one execution to the
3137 A checkpoint, however, is an @emph{identical} copy of a process.
3138 Therefore if you create a checkpoint at (eg.@:) the start of main,
3139 and simply return to that checkpoint instead of restarting the
3140 process, you can avoid the effects of address randomization and
3141 your symbols will all stay in the same place.
3144 @chapter Stopping and Continuing
3146 The principal purposes of using a debugger are so that you can stop your
3147 program before it terminates; or so that, if your program runs into
3148 trouble, you can investigate and find out why.
3150 Inside @value{GDBN}, your program may stop for any of several reasons,
3151 such as a signal, a breakpoint, or reaching a new line after a
3152 @value{GDBN} command such as @code{step}. You may then examine and
3153 change variables, set new breakpoints or remove old ones, and then
3154 continue execution. Usually, the messages shown by @value{GDBN} provide
3155 ample explanation of the status of your program---but you can also
3156 explicitly request this information at any time.
3159 @kindex info program
3161 Display information about the status of your program: whether it is
3162 running or not, what process it is, and why it stopped.
3166 * Breakpoints:: Breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints
3167 * Continuing and Stepping:: Resuming execution
3169 * Thread Stops:: Stopping and starting multi-thread programs
3173 @section Breakpoints, Watchpoints, and Catchpoints
3176 A @dfn{breakpoint} makes your program stop whenever a certain point in
3177 the program is reached. For each breakpoint, you can add conditions to
3178 control in finer detail whether your program stops. You can set
3179 breakpoints with the @code{break} command and its variants (@pxref{Set
3180 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}), to specify the place where your program
3181 should stop by line number, function name or exact address in the
3184 On some systems, you can set breakpoints in shared libraries before
3185 the executable is run. There is a minor limitation on HP-UX systems:
3186 you must wait until the executable is run in order to set breakpoints
3187 in shared library routines that are not called directly by the program
3188 (for example, routines that are arguments in a @code{pthread_create}
3192 @cindex data breakpoints
3193 @cindex memory tracing
3194 @cindex breakpoint on memory address
3195 @cindex breakpoint on variable modification
3196 A @dfn{watchpoint} is a special breakpoint that stops your program
3197 when the value of an expression changes. The expression may be a value
3198 of a variable, or it could involve values of one or more variables
3199 combined by operators, such as @samp{a + b}. This is sometimes called
3200 @dfn{data breakpoints}. You must use a different command to set
3201 watchpoints (@pxref{Set Watchpoints, ,Setting Watchpoints}), but aside
3202 from that, you can manage a watchpoint like any other breakpoint: you
3203 enable, disable, and delete both breakpoints and watchpoints using the
3206 You can arrange to have values from your program displayed automatically
3207 whenever @value{GDBN} stops at a breakpoint. @xref{Auto Display,,
3211 @cindex breakpoint on events
3212 A @dfn{catchpoint} is another special breakpoint that stops your program
3213 when a certain kind of event occurs, such as the throwing of a C@t{++}
3214 exception or the loading of a library. As with watchpoints, you use a
3215 different command to set a catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints, ,Setting
3216 Catchpoints}), but aside from that, you can manage a catchpoint like any
3217 other breakpoint. (To stop when your program receives a signal, use the
3218 @code{handle} command; see @ref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
3220 @cindex breakpoint numbers
3221 @cindex numbers for breakpoints
3222 @value{GDBN} assigns a number to each breakpoint, watchpoint, or
3223 catchpoint when you create it; these numbers are successive integers
3224 starting with one. In many of the commands for controlling various
3225 features of breakpoints you use the breakpoint number to say which
3226 breakpoint you want to change. Each breakpoint may be @dfn{enabled} or
3227 @dfn{disabled}; if disabled, it has no effect on your program until you
3230 @cindex breakpoint ranges
3231 @cindex ranges of breakpoints
3232 Some @value{GDBN} commands accept a range of breakpoints on which to
3233 operate. A breakpoint range is either a single breakpoint number, like
3234 @samp{5}, or two such numbers, in increasing order, separated by a
3235 hyphen, like @samp{5-7}. When a breakpoint range is given to a command,
3236 all breakpoints in that range are operated on.
3239 * Set Breaks:: Setting breakpoints
3240 * Set Watchpoints:: Setting watchpoints
3241 * Set Catchpoints:: Setting catchpoints
3242 * Delete Breaks:: Deleting breakpoints
3243 * Disabling:: Disabling breakpoints
3244 * Conditions:: Break conditions
3245 * Break Commands:: Breakpoint command lists
3246 * Error in Breakpoints:: ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
3247 * Breakpoint-related Warnings:: ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
3251 @subsection Setting Breakpoints
3253 @c FIXME LMB what does GDB do if no code on line of breakpt?
3254 @c consider in particular declaration with/without initialization.
3256 @c FIXME 2 is there stuff on this already? break at fun start, already init?
3259 @kindex b @r{(@code{break})}
3260 @vindex $bpnum@r{, convenience variable}
3261 @cindex latest breakpoint
3262 Breakpoints are set with the @code{break} command (abbreviated
3263 @code{b}). The debugger convenience variable @samp{$bpnum} records the
3264 number of the breakpoint you've set most recently; see @ref{Convenience
3265 Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for a discussion of what you can do with
3266 convenience variables.
3269 @item break @var{location}
3270 Set a breakpoint at the given @var{location}, which can specify a
3271 function name, a line number, or an address of an instruction.
3272 (@xref{Specify Location}, for a list of all the possible ways to
3273 specify a @var{location}.) The breakpoint will stop your program just
3274 before it executes any of the code in the specified @var{location}.
3276 When using source languages that permit overloading of symbols, such as
3277 C@t{++}, a function name may refer to more than one possible place to break.
3278 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}, for a discussion of
3281 It is also possible to insert a breakpoint that will stop the program
3282 only if a specific thread (@pxref{Thread-Specific Breakpoints})
3283 or a specific task (@pxref{Ada Tasks}) hits that breakpoint.
3286 When called without any arguments, @code{break} sets a breakpoint at
3287 the next instruction to be executed in the selected stack frame
3288 (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}). In any selected frame but the
3289 innermost, this makes your program stop as soon as control
3290 returns to that frame. This is similar to the effect of a
3291 @code{finish} command in the frame inside the selected frame---except
3292 that @code{finish} does not leave an active breakpoint. If you use
3293 @code{break} without an argument in the innermost frame, @value{GDBN} stops
3294 the next time it reaches the current location; this may be useful
3297 @value{GDBN} normally ignores breakpoints when it resumes execution, until at
3298 least one instruction has been executed. If it did not do this, you
3299 would be unable to proceed past a breakpoint without first disabling the
3300 breakpoint. This rule applies whether or not the breakpoint already
3301 existed when your program stopped.
3303 @item break @dots{} if @var{cond}
3304 Set a breakpoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
3305 @var{cond} each time the breakpoint is reached, and stop only if the
3306 value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
3307 @samp{@dots{}} stands for one of the possible arguments described
3308 above (or no argument) specifying where to break. @xref{Conditions,
3309 ,Break Conditions}, for more information on breakpoint conditions.
3312 @item tbreak @var{args}
3313 Set a breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args} are the
3314 same as for the @code{break} command, and the breakpoint is set in the same
3315 way, but the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the first time your
3316 program stops there. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3319 @cindex hardware breakpoints
3320 @item hbreak @var{args}
3321 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint. @var{args} are the same as for the
3322 @code{break} command and the breakpoint is set in the same way, but the
3323 breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware may not
3324 have this support. The main purpose of this is EPROM/ROM code
3325 debugging, so you can set a breakpoint at an instruction without
3326 changing the instruction. This can be used with the new trap-generation
3327 provided by SPARClite DSU and most x86-based targets. These targets
3328 will generate traps when a program accesses some data or instruction
3329 address that is assigned to the debug registers. However the hardware
3330 breakpoint registers can take a limited number of breakpoints. For
3331 example, on the DSU, only two data breakpoints can be set at a time, and
3332 @value{GDBN} will reject this command if more than two are used. Delete
3333 or disable unused hardware breakpoints before setting new ones
3334 (@pxref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}).
3335 @xref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3336 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3337 breakpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3338 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3341 @item thbreak @var{args}
3342 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args}
3343 are the same as for the @code{hbreak} command and the breakpoint is set in
3344 the same way. However, like the @code{tbreak} command,
3345 the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the
3346 first time your program stops there. Also, like the @code{hbreak}
3347 command, the breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware
3348 may not have this support. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3349 See also @ref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3352 @cindex regular expression
3353 @cindex breakpoints in functions matching a regexp
3354 @cindex set breakpoints in many functions
3355 @item rbreak @var{regex}
3356 Set breakpoints on all functions matching the regular expression
3357 @var{regex}. This command sets an unconditional breakpoint on all
3358 matches, printing a list of all breakpoints it set. Once these
3359 breakpoints are set, they are treated just like the breakpoints set with
3360 the @code{break} command. You can delete them, disable them, or make
3361 them conditional the same way as any other breakpoint.
3363 The syntax of the regular expression is the standard one used with tools
3364 like @file{grep}. Note that this is different from the syntax used by
3365 shells, so for instance @code{foo*} matches all functions that include
3366 an @code{fo} followed by zero or more @code{o}s. There is an implicit
3367 @code{.*} leading and trailing the regular expression you supply, so to
3368 match only functions that begin with @code{foo}, use @code{^foo}.
3370 @cindex non-member C@t{++} functions, set breakpoint in
3371 When debugging C@t{++} programs, @code{rbreak} is useful for setting
3372 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
3375 @cindex set breakpoints on all functions
3376 The @code{rbreak} command can be used to set breakpoints in
3377 @strong{all} the functions in a program, like this:
3380 (@value{GDBP}) rbreak .
3383 @kindex info breakpoints
3384 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info breakpoints}
3385 @item info breakpoints @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
3386 @itemx info break @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
3387 @itemx info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
3388 Print a table of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints set and
3389 not deleted. Optional argument @var{n} means print information only
3390 about the specified breakpoint (or watchpoint or catchpoint). For
3391 each breakpoint, following columns are printed:
3394 @item Breakpoint Numbers
3396 Breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint.
3398 Whether the breakpoint is marked to be disabled or deleted when hit.
3399 @item Enabled or Disabled
3400 Enabled breakpoints are marked with @samp{y}. @samp{n} marks breakpoints
3401 that are not enabled.
3403 Where the breakpoint is in your program, as a memory address. For a
3404 pending breakpoint whose address is not yet known, this field will
3405 contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Such breakpoint won't fire until a shared
3406 library that has the symbol or line referred by breakpoint is loaded.
3407 See below for details. A breakpoint with several locations will
3408 have @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in this field---see below for details.
3410 Where the breakpoint is in the source for your program, as a file and
3411 line number. For a pending breakpoint, the original string passed to
3412 the breakpoint command will be listed as it cannot be resolved until
3413 the appropriate shared library is loaded in the future.
3417 If a breakpoint is conditional, @code{info break} shows the condition on
3418 the line following the affected breakpoint; breakpoint commands, if any,
3419 are listed after that. A pending breakpoint is allowed to have a condition
3420 specified for it. The condition is not parsed for validity until a shared
3421 library is loaded that allows the pending breakpoint to resolve to a
3425 @code{info break} with a breakpoint
3426 number @var{n} as argument lists only that breakpoint. The
3427 convenience variable @code{$_} and the default examining-address for
3428 the @code{x} command are set to the address of the last breakpoint
3429 listed (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}).
3432 @code{info break} displays a count of the number of times the breakpoint
3433 has been hit. This is especially useful in conjunction with the
3434 @code{ignore} command. You can ignore a large number of breakpoint
3435 hits, look at the breakpoint info to see how many times the breakpoint
3436 was hit, and then run again, ignoring one less than that number. This
3437 will get you quickly to the last hit of that breakpoint.
3440 @value{GDBN} allows you to set any number of breakpoints at the same place in
3441 your program. There is nothing silly or meaningless about this. When
3442 the breakpoints are conditional, this is even useful
3443 (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
3445 @cindex multiple locations, breakpoints
3446 @cindex breakpoints, multiple locations
3447 It is possible that a breakpoint corresponds to several locations
3448 in your program. Examples of this situation are:
3452 For a C@t{++} constructor, the @value{NGCC} compiler generates several
3453 instances of the function body, used in different cases.
3456 For a C@t{++} template function, a given line in the function can
3457 correspond to any number of instantiations.
3460 For an inlined function, a given source line can correspond to
3461 several places where that function is inlined.
3464 In all those cases, @value{GDBN} will insert a breakpoint at all
3465 the relevant locations@footnote{
3466 As of this writing, multiple-location breakpoints work only if there's
3467 line number information for all the locations. This means that they
3468 will generally not work in system libraries, unless you have debug
3469 info with line numbers for them.}.
3471 A breakpoint with multiple locations is displayed in the breakpoint
3472 table using several rows---one header row, followed by one row for
3473 each breakpoint location. The header row has @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in the
3474 address column. The rows for individual locations contain the actual
3475 addresses for locations, and show the functions to which those
3476 locations belong. The number column for a location is of the form
3477 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number}.
3482 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
3483 1 breakpoint keep y <MULTIPLE>
3485 breakpoint already hit 1 time
3486 1.1 y 0x080486a2 in void foo<int>() at t.cc:8
3487 1.2 y 0x080486ca in void foo<double>() at t.cc:8
3490 Each location can be individually enabled or disabled by passing
3491 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number} as argument to the
3492 @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands. Note that you cannot
3493 delete the individual locations from the list, you can only delete the
3494 entire list of locations that belong to their parent breakpoint (with
3495 the @kbd{delete @var{num}} command, where @var{num} is the number of
3496 the parent breakpoint, 1 in the above example). Disabling or enabling
3497 the parent breakpoint (@pxref{Disabling}) affects all of the locations
3498 that belong to that breakpoint.
3500 @cindex pending breakpoints
3501 It's quite common to have a breakpoint inside a shared library.
3502 Shared libraries can be loaded and unloaded explicitly,
3503 and possibly repeatedly, as the program is executed. To support
3504 this use case, @value{GDBN} updates breakpoint locations whenever
3505 any shared library is loaded or unloaded. Typically, you would
3506 set a breakpoint in a shared library at the beginning of your
3507 debugging session, when the library is not loaded, and when the
3508 symbols from the library are not available. When you try to set
3509 breakpoint, @value{GDBN} will ask you if you want to set
3510 a so called @dfn{pending breakpoint}---breakpoint whose address
3511 is not yet resolved.
3513 After the program is run, whenever a new shared library is loaded,
3514 @value{GDBN} reevaluates all the breakpoints. When a newly loaded
3515 shared library contains the symbol or line referred to by some
3516 pending breakpoint, that breakpoint is resolved and becomes an
3517 ordinary breakpoint. When a library is unloaded, all breakpoints
3518 that refer to its symbols or source lines become pending again.
3520 This logic works for breakpoints with multiple locations, too. For
3521 example, if you have a breakpoint in a C@t{++} template function, and
3522 a newly loaded shared library has an instantiation of that template,
3523 a new location is added to the list of locations for the breakpoint.
3525 Except for having unresolved address, pending breakpoints do not
3526 differ from regular breakpoints. You can set conditions or commands,
3527 enable and disable them and perform other breakpoint operations.
3529 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling what
3530 happens when the @samp{break} command cannot resolve breakpoint
3531 address specification to an address:
3533 @kindex set breakpoint pending
3534 @kindex show breakpoint pending
3536 @item set breakpoint pending auto
3537 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} cannot find the breakpoint
3538 location, it queries you whether a pending breakpoint should be created.
3540 @item set breakpoint pending on
3541 This indicates that an unrecognized breakpoint location should automatically
3542 result in a pending breakpoint being created.
3544 @item set breakpoint pending off
3545 This indicates that pending breakpoints are not to be created. Any
3546 unrecognized breakpoint location results in an error. This setting does
3547 not affect any pending breakpoints previously created.
3549 @item show breakpoint pending
3550 Show the current behavior setting for creating pending breakpoints.
3553 The settings above only affect the @code{break} command and its
3554 variants. Once breakpoint is set, it will be automatically updated
3555 as shared libraries are loaded and unloaded.
3557 @cindex automatic hardware breakpoints
3558 For some targets, @value{GDBN} can automatically decide if hardware or
3559 software breakpoints should be used, depending on whether the
3560 breakpoint address is read-only or read-write. This applies to
3561 breakpoints set with the @code{break} command as well as to internal
3562 breakpoints set by commands like @code{next} and @code{finish}. For
3563 breakpoints set with @code{hbreak}, @value{GDBN} will always use hardware
3566 You can control this automatic behaviour with the following commands::
3568 @kindex set breakpoint auto-hw
3569 @kindex show breakpoint auto-hw
3571 @item set breakpoint auto-hw on
3572 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} sets a breakpoint, it
3573 will try to use the target memory map to decide if software or hardware
3574 breakpoint must be used.
3576 @item set breakpoint auto-hw off
3577 This indicates @value{GDBN} should not automatically select breakpoint
3578 type. If the target provides a memory map, @value{GDBN} will warn when
3579 trying to set software breakpoint at a read-only address.
3582 @value{GDBN} normally implements breakpoints by replacing the program code
3583 at the breakpoint address with a special instruction, which, when
3584 executed, given control to the debugger. By default, the program
3585 code is so modified only when the program is resumed. As soon as
3586 the program stops, @value{GDBN} restores the original instructions. This
3587 behaviour guards against leaving breakpoints inserted in the
3588 target should gdb abrubptly disconnect. However, with slow remote
3589 targets, inserting and removing breakpoint can reduce the performance.
3590 This behavior can be controlled with the following commands::
3592 @kindex set breakpoint always-inserted
3593 @kindex show breakpoint always-inserted
3595 @item set breakpoint always-inserted off
3596 All breakpoints, including newly added by the user, are inserted in
3597 the target only when the target is resumed. All breakpoints are
3598 removed from the target when it stops.
3600 @item set breakpoint always-inserted on
3601 Causes all breakpoints to be inserted in the target at all times. If
3602 the user adds a new breakpoint, or changes an existing breakpoint, the
3603 breakpoints in the target are updated immediately. A breakpoint is
3604 removed from the target only when breakpoint itself is removed.
3606 @cindex non-stop mode, and @code{breakpoint always-inserted}
3607 @item set breakpoint always-inserted auto
3608 This is the default mode. If @value{GDBN} is controlling the inferior
3609 in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}), gdb behaves as if
3610 @code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is on. If @value{GDBN} is
3611 controlling the inferior in all-stop mode, @value{GDBN} behaves as if
3612 @code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is off.
3615 @cindex negative breakpoint numbers
3616 @cindex internal @value{GDBN} breakpoints
3617 @value{GDBN} itself sometimes sets breakpoints in your program for
3618 special purposes, such as proper handling of @code{longjmp} (in C
3619 programs). These internal breakpoints are assigned negative numbers,
3620 starting with @code{-1}; @samp{info breakpoints} does not display them.
3621 You can see these breakpoints with the @value{GDBN} maintenance command
3622 @samp{maint info breakpoints} (@pxref{maint info breakpoints}).
3625 @node Set Watchpoints
3626 @subsection Setting Watchpoints
3628 @cindex setting watchpoints
3629 You can use a watchpoint to stop execution whenever the value of an
3630 expression changes, without having to predict a particular place where
3631 this may happen. (This is sometimes called a @dfn{data breakpoint}.)
3632 The expression may be as simple as the value of a single variable, or
3633 as complex as many variables combined by operators. Examples include:
3637 A reference to the value of a single variable.
3640 An address cast to an appropriate data type. For example,
3641 @samp{*(int *)0x12345678} will watch a 4-byte region at the specified
3642 address (assuming an @code{int} occupies 4 bytes).
3645 An arbitrarily complex expression, such as @samp{a*b + c/d}. The
3646 expression can use any operators valid in the program's native
3647 language (@pxref{Languages}).
3650 You can set a watchpoint on an expression even if the expression can
3651 not be evaluated yet. For instance, you can set a watchpoint on
3652 @samp{*global_ptr} before @samp{global_ptr} is initialized.
3653 @value{GDBN} will stop when your program sets @samp{global_ptr} and
3654 the expression produces a valid value. If the expression becomes
3655 valid in some other way than changing a variable (e.g.@: if the memory
3656 pointed to by @samp{*global_ptr} becomes readable as the result of a
3657 @code{malloc} call), @value{GDBN} may not stop until the next time
3658 the expression changes.
3660 @cindex software watchpoints
3661 @cindex hardware watchpoints
3662 Depending on your system, watchpoints may be implemented in software or
3663 hardware. @value{GDBN} does software watchpointing by single-stepping your
3664 program and testing the variable's value each time, which is hundreds of
3665 times slower than normal execution. (But this may still be worth it, to
3666 catch errors where you have no clue what part of your program is the
3669 On some systems, such as HP-UX, PowerPC, @sc{gnu}/Linux and most other
3670 x86-based targets, @value{GDBN} includes support for hardware
3671 watchpoints, which do not slow down the running of your program.
3675 @item watch @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}
3676 Set a watchpoint for an expression. @value{GDBN} will break when the
3677 expression @var{expr} is written into by the program and its value
3678 changes. The simplest (and the most popular) use of this command is
3679 to watch the value of a single variable:
3682 (@value{GDBP}) watch foo
3685 If the command includes a @code{@r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}}
3686 clause, @value{GDBN} breaks only when the thread identified by
3687 @var{threadnum} changes the value of @var{expr}. If any other threads
3688 change the value of @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} will not break. Note
3689 that watchpoints restricted to a single thread in this way only work
3690 with Hardware Watchpoints.
3693 @item rwatch @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}
3694 Set a watchpoint that will break when the value of @var{expr} is read
3698 @item awatch @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}
3699 Set a watchpoint that will break when @var{expr} is either read from
3700 or written into by the program.
3702 @kindex info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
3703 @item info watchpoints
3704 This command prints a list of watchpoints, breakpoints, and catchpoints;
3705 it is the same as @code{info break} (@pxref{Set Breaks}).
3708 @value{GDBN} sets a @dfn{hardware watchpoint} if possible. Hardware
3709 watchpoints execute very quickly, and the debugger reports a change in
3710 value at the exact instruction where the change occurs. If @value{GDBN}
3711 cannot set a hardware watchpoint, it sets a software watchpoint, which
3712 executes more slowly and reports the change in value at the next
3713 @emph{statement}, not the instruction, after the change occurs.
3715 @cindex use only software watchpoints
3716 You can force @value{GDBN} to use only software watchpoints with the
3717 @kbd{set can-use-hw-watchpoints 0} command. With this variable set to
3718 zero, @value{GDBN} will never try to use hardware watchpoints, even if
3719 the underlying system supports them. (Note that hardware-assisted
3720 watchpoints that were set @emph{before} setting
3721 @code{can-use-hw-watchpoints} to zero will still use the hardware
3722 mechanism of watching expression values.)
3725 @item set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3726 @kindex set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3727 Set whether or not to use hardware watchpoints.
3729 @item show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3730 @kindex show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3731 Show the current mode of using hardware watchpoints.
3734 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3735 watchpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3736 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3738 When you issue the @code{watch} command, @value{GDBN} reports
3741 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: @var{expr}
3745 if it was able to set a hardware watchpoint.
3747 Currently, the @code{awatch} and @code{rwatch} commands can only set
3748 hardware watchpoints, because accesses to data that don't change the
3749 value of the watched expression cannot be detected without examining
3750 every instruction as it is being executed, and @value{GDBN} does not do
3751 that currently. If @value{GDBN} finds that it is unable to set a
3752 hardware breakpoint with the @code{awatch} or @code{rwatch} command, it
3753 will print a message like this:
3756 Expression cannot be implemented with read/access watchpoint.
3759 Sometimes, @value{GDBN} cannot set a hardware watchpoint because the
3760 data type of the watched expression is wider than what a hardware
3761 watchpoint on the target machine can handle. For example, some systems
3762 can only watch regions that are up to 4 bytes wide; on such systems you
3763 cannot set hardware watchpoints for an expression that yields a
3764 double-precision floating-point number (which is typically 8 bytes
3765 wide). As a work-around, it might be possible to break the large region
3766 into a series of smaller ones and watch them with separate watchpoints.
3768 If you set too many hardware watchpoints, @value{GDBN} might be unable
3769 to insert all of them when you resume the execution of your program.
3770 Since the precise number of active watchpoints is unknown until such
3771 time as the program is about to be resumed, @value{GDBN} might not be
3772 able to warn you about this when you set the watchpoints, and the
3773 warning will be printed only when the program is resumed:
3776 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: Could not insert watchpoint
3780 If this happens, delete or disable some of the watchpoints.
3782 Watching complex expressions that reference many variables can also
3783 exhaust the resources available for hardware-assisted watchpoints.
3784 That's because @value{GDBN} needs to watch every variable in the
3785 expression with separately allocated resources.
3787 If you call a function interactively using @code{print} or @code{call},
3788 any watchpoints you have set will be inactive until @value{GDBN} reaches another
3789 kind of breakpoint or the call completes.
3791 @value{GDBN} automatically deletes watchpoints that watch local
3792 (automatic) variables, or expressions that involve such variables, when
3793 they go out of scope, that is, when the execution leaves the block in
3794 which these variables were defined. In particular, when the program
3795 being debugged terminates, @emph{all} local variables go out of scope,
3796 and so only watchpoints that watch global variables remain set. If you
3797 rerun the program, you will need to set all such watchpoints again. One
3798 way of doing that would be to set a code breakpoint at the entry to the
3799 @code{main} function and when it breaks, set all the watchpoints.
3801 @cindex watchpoints and threads
3802 @cindex threads and watchpoints
3803 In multi-threaded programs, watchpoints will detect changes to the
3804 watched expression from every thread.
3807 @emph{Warning:} In multi-threaded programs, software watchpoints
3808 have only limited usefulness. If @value{GDBN} creates a software
3809 watchpoint, it can only watch the value of an expression @emph{in a
3810 single thread}. If you are confident that the expression can only
3811 change due to the current thread's activity (and if you are also
3812 confident that no other thread can become current), then you can use
3813 software watchpoints as usual. However, @value{GDBN} may not notice
3814 when a non-current thread's activity changes the expression. (Hardware
3815 watchpoints, in contrast, watch an expression in all threads.)
3818 @xref{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}.
3820 @node Set Catchpoints
3821 @subsection Setting Catchpoints
3822 @cindex catchpoints, setting
3823 @cindex exception handlers
3824 @cindex event handling
3826 You can use @dfn{catchpoints} to cause the debugger to stop for certain
3827 kinds of program events, such as C@t{++} exceptions or the loading of a
3828 shared library. Use the @code{catch} command to set a catchpoint.
3832 @item catch @var{event}
3833 Stop when @var{event} occurs. @var{event} can be any of the following:
3836 @cindex stop on C@t{++} exceptions
3837 The throwing of a C@t{++} exception.
3840 The catching of a C@t{++} exception.
3843 @cindex Ada exception catching
3844 @cindex catch Ada exceptions
3845 An Ada exception being raised. If an exception name is specified
3846 at the end of the command (eg @code{catch exception Program_Error}),
3847 the debugger will stop only when this specific exception is raised.
3848 Otherwise, the debugger stops execution when any Ada exception is raised.
3850 When inserting an exception catchpoint on a user-defined exception whose
3851 name is identical to one of the exceptions defined by the language, the
3852 fully qualified name must be used as the exception name. Otherwise,
3853 @value{GDBN} will assume that it should stop on the pre-defined exception
3854 rather than the user-defined one. For instance, assuming an exception
3855 called @code{Constraint_Error} is defined in package @code{Pck}, then
3856 the command to use to catch such exceptions is @kbd{catch exception
3857 Pck.Constraint_Error}.
3859 @item exception unhandled
3860 An exception that was raised but is not handled by the program.
3863 A failed Ada assertion.
3866 @cindex break on fork/exec
3867 A call to @code{exec}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
3871 @itemx syscall @r{[}@var{name} @r{|} @var{number}@r{]} @r{...}
3872 @cindex break on a system call.
3873 A call to or return from a system call, a.k.a.@: @dfn{syscall}. A
3874 syscall is a mechanism for application programs to request a service
3875 from the operating system (OS) or one of the OS system services.
3876 @value{GDBN} can catch some or all of the syscalls issued by the
3877 debuggee, and show the related information for each syscall. If no
3878 argument is specified, calls to and returns from all system calls
3881 @var{name} can be any system call name that is valid for the
3882 underlying OS. Just what syscalls are valid depends on the OS. On
3883 GNU and Unix systems, you can find the full list of valid syscall
3884 names on @file{/usr/include/asm/unistd.h}.
3886 @c For MS-Windows, the syscall names and the corresponding numbers
3887 @c can be found, e.g., on this URL:
3888 @c http://www.metasploit.com/users/opcode/syscalls.html
3889 @c but we don't support Windows syscalls yet.
3891 Normally, @value{GDBN} knows in advance which syscalls are valid for
3892 each OS, so you can use the @value{GDBN} command-line completion
3893 facilities (@pxref{Completion,, command completion}) to list the
3896 You may also specify the system call numerically. A syscall's
3897 number is the value passed to the OS's syscall dispatcher to
3898 identify the requested service. When you specify the syscall by its
3899 name, @value{GDBN} uses its database of syscalls to convert the name
3900 into the corresponding numeric code, but using the number directly
3901 may be useful if @value{GDBN}'s database does not have the complete
3902 list of syscalls on your system (e.g., because @value{GDBN} lags
3903 behind the OS upgrades).
3905 The example below illustrates how this command works if you don't provide
3909 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
3910 Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
3912 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
3914 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'close'), \
3915 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
3919 Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'close'), \
3920 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
3924 Here is an example of catching a system call by name:
3927 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall chroot
3928 Catchpoint 1 (syscall 'chroot' [61])
3930 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
3932 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'chroot'), \
3933 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
3937 Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'chroot'), \
3938 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
3942 An example of specifying a system call numerically. In the case
3943 below, the syscall number has a corresponding entry in the XML
3944 file, so @value{GDBN} finds its name and prints it:
3947 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
3948 Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 'exit_group')
3950 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
3952 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'exit_group'), \
3953 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
3957 Program exited normally.
3961 However, there can be situations when there is no corresponding name
3962 in XML file for that syscall number. In this case, @value{GDBN} prints
3963 a warning message saying that it was not able to find the syscall name,
3964 but the catchpoint will be set anyway. See the example below:
3967 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 764
3968 warning: The number '764' does not represent a known syscall.
3969 Catchpoint 2 (syscall 764)
3973 If you configure @value{GDBN} using the @samp{--without-expat} option,
3974 it will not be able to display syscall names. Also, if your
3975 architecture does not have an XML file describing its system calls,
3976 you will not be able to see the syscall names. It is important to
3977 notice that these two features are used for accessing the syscall
3978 name database. In either case, you will see a warning like this:
3981 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
3982 warning: Could not open "syscalls/i386-linux.xml"
3983 warning: Could not load the syscall XML file 'syscalls/i386-linux.xml'.
3984 GDB will not be able to display syscall names.
3985 Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
3989 Of course, the file name will change depending on your architecture and system.
3991 Still using the example above, you can also try to catch a syscall by its
3992 number. In this case, you would see something like:
3995 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
3996 Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 252)
3999 Again, in this case @value{GDBN} would not be able to display syscall's names.
4002 A call to @code{fork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4006 A call to @code{vfork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4011 @item tcatch @var{event}
4012 Set a catchpoint that is enabled only for one stop. The catchpoint is
4013 automatically deleted after the first time the event is caught.
4017 Use the @code{info break} command to list the current catchpoints.
4019 There are currently some limitations to C@t{++} exception handling
4020 (@code{catch throw} and @code{catch catch}) in @value{GDBN}:
4024 If you call a function interactively, @value{GDBN} normally returns
4025 control to you when the function has finished executing. If the call
4026 raises an exception, however, the call may bypass the mechanism that
4027 returns control to you and cause your program either to abort or to
4028 simply continue running until it hits a breakpoint, catches a signal
4029 that @value{GDBN} is listening for, or exits. This is the case even if
4030 you set a catchpoint for the exception; catchpoints on exceptions are
4031 disabled within interactive calls.
4034 You cannot raise an exception interactively.
4037 You cannot install an exception handler interactively.
4040 @cindex raise exceptions
4041 Sometimes @code{catch} is not the best way to debug exception handling:
4042 if you need to know exactly where an exception is raised, it is better to
4043 stop @emph{before} the exception handler is called, since that way you
4044 can see the stack before any unwinding takes place. If you set a
4045 breakpoint in an exception handler instead, it may not be easy to find
4046 out where the exception was raised.
4048 To stop just before an exception handler is called, you need some
4049 knowledge of the implementation. In the case of @sc{gnu} C@t{++}, exceptions are
4050 raised by calling a library function named @code{__raise_exception}
4051 which has the following ANSI C interface:
4054 /* @var{addr} is where the exception identifier is stored.
4055 @var{id} is the exception identifier. */
4056 void __raise_exception (void **addr, void *id);
4060 To make the debugger catch all exceptions before any stack
4061 unwinding takes place, set a breakpoint on @code{__raise_exception}
4062 (@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Exceptions}).
4064 With a conditional breakpoint (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions})
4065 that depends on the value of @var{id}, you can stop your program when
4066 a specific exception is raised. You can use multiple conditional
4067 breakpoints to stop your program when any of a number of exceptions are
4072 @subsection Deleting Breakpoints
4074 @cindex clearing breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4075 @cindex deleting breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4076 It is often necessary to eliminate a breakpoint, watchpoint, or
4077 catchpoint once it has done its job and you no longer want your program
4078 to stop there. This is called @dfn{deleting} the breakpoint. A
4079 breakpoint that has been deleted no longer exists; it is forgotten.
4081 With the @code{clear} command you can delete breakpoints according to
4082 where they are in your program. With the @code{delete} command you can
4083 delete individual breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints by specifying
4084 their breakpoint numbers.
4086 It is not necessary to delete a breakpoint to proceed past it. @value{GDBN}
4087 automatically ignores breakpoints on the first instruction to be executed
4088 when you continue execution without changing the execution address.
4093 Delete any breakpoints at the next instruction to be executed in the
4094 selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). When
4095 the innermost frame is selected, this is a good way to delete a
4096 breakpoint where your program just stopped.
4098 @item clear @var{location}
4099 Delete any breakpoints set at the specified @var{location}.
4100 @xref{Specify Location}, for the various forms of @var{location}; the
4101 most useful ones are listed below:
4104 @item clear @var{function}
4105 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{function}
4106 Delete any breakpoints set at entry to the named @var{function}.
4108 @item clear @var{linenum}
4109 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
4110 Delete any breakpoints set at or within the code of the specified
4111 @var{linenum} of the specified @var{filename}.
4114 @cindex delete breakpoints
4116 @kindex d @r{(@code{delete})}
4117 @item delete @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4118 Delete the breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints of the breakpoint
4119 ranges specified as arguments. If no argument is specified, delete all
4120 breakpoints (@value{GDBN} asks confirmation, unless you have @code{set
4121 confirm off}). You can abbreviate this command as @code{d}.
4125 @subsection Disabling Breakpoints
4127 @cindex enable/disable a breakpoint
4128 Rather than deleting a breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint, you might
4129 prefer to @dfn{disable} it. This makes the breakpoint inoperative as if
4130 it had been deleted, but remembers the information on the breakpoint so
4131 that you can @dfn{enable} it again later.
4133 You disable and enable breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints with
4134 the @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands, optionally specifying one
4135 or more breakpoint numbers as arguments. Use @code{info break} or
4136 @code{info watch} to print a list of breakpoints, watchpoints, and
4137 catchpoints if you do not know which numbers to use.
4139 Disabling and enabling a breakpoint that has multiple locations
4140 affects all of its locations.
4142 A breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint can have any of four different
4143 states of enablement:
4147 Enabled. The breakpoint stops your program. A breakpoint set
4148 with the @code{break} command starts out in this state.
4150 Disabled. The breakpoint has no effect on your program.
4152 Enabled once. The breakpoint stops your program, but then becomes
4155 Enabled for deletion. The breakpoint stops your program, but
4156 immediately after it does so it is deleted permanently. A breakpoint
4157 set with the @code{tbreak} command starts out in this state.
4160 You can use the following commands to enable or disable breakpoints,
4161 watchpoints, and catchpoints:
4165 @kindex dis @r{(@code{disable})}
4166 @item disable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4167 Disable the specified breakpoints---or all breakpoints, if none are
4168 listed. A disabled breakpoint has no effect but is not forgotten. All
4169 options such as ignore-counts, conditions and commands are remembered in
4170 case the breakpoint is enabled again later. You may abbreviate
4171 @code{disable} as @code{dis}.
4174 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4175 Enable the specified breakpoints (or all defined breakpoints). They
4176 become effective once again in stopping your program.
4178 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} once @var{range}@dots{}
4179 Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} disables any
4180 of these breakpoints immediately after stopping your program.
4182 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} delete @var{range}@dots{}
4183 Enable the specified breakpoints to work once, then die. @value{GDBN}
4184 deletes any of these breakpoints as soon as your program stops there.
4185 Breakpoints set by the @code{tbreak} command start out in this state.
4188 @c FIXME: I think the following ``Except for [...] @code{tbreak}'' is
4189 @c confusing: tbreak is also initially enabled.
4190 Except for a breakpoint set with @code{tbreak} (@pxref{Set Breaks,
4191 ,Setting Breakpoints}), breakpoints that you set are initially enabled;
4192 subsequently, they become disabled or enabled only when you use one of
4193 the commands above. (The command @code{until} can set and delete a
4194 breakpoint of its own, but it does not change the state of your other
4195 breakpoints; see @ref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and
4199 @subsection Break Conditions
4200 @cindex conditional breakpoints
4201 @cindex breakpoint conditions
4203 @c FIXME what is scope of break condition expr? Context where wanted?
4204 @c in particular for a watchpoint?
4205 The simplest sort of breakpoint breaks every time your program reaches a
4206 specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for a
4207 breakpoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
4208 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A breakpoint with
4209 a condition evaluates the expression each time your program reaches it,
4210 and your program stops only if the condition is @emph{true}.
4212 This is the converse of using assertions for program validation; in that
4213 situation, you want to stop when the assertion is violated---that is,
4214 when the condition is false. In C, if you want to test an assertion expressed
4215 by the condition @var{assert}, you should set the condition
4216 @samp{! @var{assert}} on the appropriate breakpoint.
4218 Conditions are also accepted for watchpoints; you may not need them,
4219 since a watchpoint is inspecting the value of an expression anyhow---but
4220 it might be simpler, say, to just set a watchpoint on a variable name,
4221 and specify a condition that tests whether the new value is an interesting
4224 Break conditions can have side effects, and may even call functions in
4225 your program. This can be useful, for example, to activate functions
4226 that log program progress, or to use your own print functions to
4227 format special data structures. The effects are completely predictable
4228 unless there is another enabled breakpoint at the same address. (In
4229 that case, @value{GDBN} might see the other breakpoint first and stop your
4230 program without checking the condition of this one.) Note that
4231 breakpoint commands are usually more convenient and flexible than break
4233 purpose of performing side effects when a breakpoint is reached
4234 (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}).
4236 Break conditions can be specified when a breakpoint is set, by using
4237 @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{break} command. @xref{Set
4238 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}. They can also be changed at any time
4239 with the @code{condition} command.
4241 You can also use the @code{if} keyword with the @code{watch} command.
4242 The @code{catch} command does not recognize the @code{if} keyword;
4243 @code{condition} is the only way to impose a further condition on a
4248 @item condition @var{bnum} @var{expression}
4249 Specify @var{expression} as the break condition for breakpoint,
4250 watchpoint, or catchpoint number @var{bnum}. After you set a condition,
4251 breakpoint @var{bnum} stops your program only if the value of
4252 @var{expression} is true (nonzero, in C). When you use
4253 @code{condition}, @value{GDBN} checks @var{expression} immediately for
4254 syntactic correctness, and to determine whether symbols in it have
4255 referents in the context of your breakpoint. If @var{expression} uses
4256 symbols not referenced in the context of the breakpoint, @value{GDBN}
4257 prints an error message:
4260 No symbol "foo" in current context.
4265 not actually evaluate @var{expression} at the time the @code{condition}
4266 command (or a command that sets a breakpoint with a condition, like
4267 @code{break if @dots{}}) is given, however. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
4269 @item condition @var{bnum}
4270 Remove the condition from breakpoint number @var{bnum}. It becomes
4271 an ordinary unconditional breakpoint.
4274 @cindex ignore count (of breakpoint)
4275 A special case of a breakpoint condition is to stop only when the
4276 breakpoint has been reached a certain number of times. This is so
4277 useful that there is a special way to do it, using the @dfn{ignore
4278 count} of the breakpoint. Every breakpoint has an ignore count, which
4279 is an integer. Most of the time, the ignore count is zero, and
4280 therefore has no effect. But if your program reaches a breakpoint whose
4281 ignore count is positive, then instead of stopping, it just decrements
4282 the ignore count by one and continues. As a result, if the ignore count
4283 value is @var{n}, the breakpoint does not stop the next @var{n} times
4284 your program reaches it.
4288 @item ignore @var{bnum} @var{count}
4289 Set the ignore count of breakpoint number @var{bnum} to @var{count}.
4290 The next @var{count} times the breakpoint is reached, your program's
4291 execution does not stop; other than to decrement the ignore count, @value{GDBN}
4294 To make the breakpoint stop the next time it is reached, specify
4297 When you use @code{continue} to resume execution of your program from a
4298 breakpoint, you can specify an ignore count directly as an argument to
4299 @code{continue}, rather than using @code{ignore}. @xref{Continuing and
4300 Stepping,,Continuing and Stepping}.
4302 If a breakpoint has a positive ignore count and a condition, the
4303 condition is not checked. Once the ignore count reaches zero,
4304 @value{GDBN} resumes checking the condition.
4306 You could achieve the effect of the ignore count with a condition such
4307 as @w{@samp{$foo-- <= 0}} using a debugger convenience variable that
4308 is decremented each time. @xref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
4312 Ignore counts apply to breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints.
4315 @node Break Commands
4316 @subsection Breakpoint Command Lists
4318 @cindex breakpoint commands
4319 You can give any breakpoint (or watchpoint or catchpoint) a series of
4320 commands to execute when your program stops due to that breakpoint. For
4321 example, you might want to print the values of certain expressions, or
4322 enable other breakpoints.
4326 @kindex end@r{ (breakpoint commands)}
4327 @item commands @r{[}@var{bnum}@r{]}
4328 @itemx @dots{} @var{command-list} @dots{}
4330 Specify a list of commands for breakpoint number @var{bnum}. The commands
4331 themselves appear on the following lines. Type a line containing just
4332 @code{end} to terminate the commands.
4334 To remove all commands from a breakpoint, type @code{commands} and
4335 follow it immediately with @code{end}; that is, give no commands.
4337 With no @var{bnum} argument, @code{commands} refers to the last
4338 breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint set (not to the breakpoint most
4339 recently encountered).
4342 Pressing @key{RET} as a means of repeating the last @value{GDBN} command is
4343 disabled within a @var{command-list}.
4345 You can use breakpoint commands to start your program up again. Simply
4346 use the @code{continue} command, or @code{step}, or any other command
4347 that resumes execution.
4349 Any other commands in the command list, after a command that resumes
4350 execution, are ignored. This is because any time you resume execution
4351 (even with a simple @code{next} or @code{step}), you may encounter
4352 another breakpoint---which could have its own command list, leading to
4353 ambiguities about which list to execute.
4356 If the first command you specify in a command list is @code{silent}, the
4357 usual message about stopping at a breakpoint is not printed. This may
4358 be desirable for breakpoints that are to print a specific message and
4359 then continue. If none of the remaining commands print anything, you
4360 see no sign that the breakpoint was reached. @code{silent} is
4361 meaningful only at the beginning of a breakpoint command list.
4363 The commands @code{echo}, @code{output}, and @code{printf} allow you to
4364 print precisely controlled output, and are often useful in silent
4365 breakpoints. @xref{Output, ,Commands for Controlled Output}.
4367 For example, here is how you could use breakpoint commands to print the
4368 value of @code{x} at entry to @code{foo} whenever @code{x} is positive.
4374 printf "x is %d\n",x
4379 One application for breakpoint commands is to compensate for one bug so
4380 you can test for another. Put a breakpoint just after the erroneous line
4381 of code, give it a condition to detect the case in which something
4382 erroneous has been done, and give it commands to assign correct values
4383 to any variables that need them. End with the @code{continue} command
4384 so that your program does not stop, and start with the @code{silent}
4385 command so that no output is produced. Here is an example:
4396 @c @ifclear BARETARGET
4397 @node Error in Breakpoints
4398 @subsection ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
4400 If you request too many active hardware-assisted breakpoints and
4401 watchpoints, you will see this error message:
4403 @c FIXME: the precise wording of this message may change; the relevant
4404 @c source change is not committed yet (Sep 3, 1999).
4406 Stopped; cannot insert breakpoints.
4407 You may have requested too many hardware breakpoints and watchpoints.
4411 This message is printed when you attempt to resume the program, since
4412 only then @value{GDBN} knows exactly how many hardware breakpoints and
4413 watchpoints it needs to insert.
4415 When this message is printed, you need to disable or remove some of the
4416 hardware-assisted breakpoints and watchpoints, and then continue.
4418 @node Breakpoint-related Warnings
4419 @subsection ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
4420 @cindex breakpoint address adjusted
4422 Some processor architectures place constraints on the addresses at
4423 which breakpoints may be placed. For architectures thus constrained,
4424 @value{GDBN} will attempt to adjust the breakpoint's address to comply
4425 with the constraints dictated by the architecture.
4427 One example of such an architecture is the Fujitsu FR-V. The FR-V is
4428 a VLIW architecture in which a number of RISC-like instructions may be
4429 bundled together for parallel execution. The FR-V architecture
4430 constrains the location of a breakpoint instruction within such a
4431 bundle to the instruction with the lowest address. @value{GDBN}
4432 honors this constraint by adjusting a breakpoint's address to the
4433 first in the bundle.
4435 It is not uncommon for optimized code to have bundles which contain
4436 instructions from different source statements, thus it may happen that
4437 a breakpoint's address will be adjusted from one source statement to
4438 another. Since this adjustment may significantly alter @value{GDBN}'s
4439 breakpoint related behavior from what the user expects, a warning is
4440 printed when the breakpoint is first set and also when the breakpoint
4443 A warning like the one below is printed when setting a breakpoint
4444 that's been subject to address adjustment:
4447 warning: Breakpoint address adjusted from 0x00010414 to 0x00010410.
4450 Such warnings are printed both for user settable and @value{GDBN}'s
4451 internal breakpoints. If you see one of these warnings, you should
4452 verify that a breakpoint set at the adjusted address will have the
4453 desired affect. If not, the breakpoint in question may be removed and
4454 other breakpoints may be set which will have the desired behavior.
4455 E.g., it may be sufficient to place the breakpoint at a later
4456 instruction. A conditional breakpoint may also be useful in some
4457 cases to prevent the breakpoint from triggering too often.
4459 @value{GDBN} will also issue a warning when stopping at one of these
4460 adjusted breakpoints:
4463 warning: Breakpoint 1 address previously adjusted from 0x00010414
4467 When this warning is encountered, it may be too late to take remedial
4468 action except in cases where the breakpoint is hit earlier or more
4469 frequently than expected.
4471 @node Continuing and Stepping
4472 @section Continuing and Stepping
4476 @cindex resuming execution
4477 @dfn{Continuing} means resuming program execution until your program
4478 completes normally. In contrast, @dfn{stepping} means executing just
4479 one more ``step'' of your program, where ``step'' may mean either one
4480 line of source code, or one machine instruction (depending on what
4481 particular command you use). Either when continuing or when stepping,
4482 your program may stop even sooner, due to a breakpoint or a signal. (If
4483 it stops due to a signal, you may want to use @code{handle}, or use
4484 @samp{signal 0} to resume execution. @xref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
4488 @kindex c @r{(@code{continue})}
4489 @kindex fg @r{(resume foreground execution)}
4490 @item continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4491 @itemx c @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4492 @itemx fg @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4493 Resume program execution, at the address where your program last stopped;
4494 any breakpoints set at that address are bypassed. The optional argument
4495 @var{ignore-count} allows you to specify a further number of times to
4496 ignore a breakpoint at this location; its effect is like that of
4497 @code{ignore} (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
4499 The argument @var{ignore-count} is meaningful only when your program
4500 stopped due to a breakpoint. At other times, the argument to
4501 @code{continue} is ignored.
4503 The synonyms @code{c} and @code{fg} (for @dfn{foreground}, as the
4504 debugged program is deemed to be the foreground program) are provided
4505 purely for convenience, and have exactly the same behavior as
4509 To resume execution at a different place, you can use @code{return}
4510 (@pxref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}) to go back to the
4511 calling function; or @code{jump} (@pxref{Jumping, ,Continuing at a
4512 Different Address}) to go to an arbitrary location in your program.
4514 A typical technique for using stepping is to set a breakpoint
4515 (@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Catchpoints}) at the
4516 beginning of the function or the section of your program where a problem
4517 is believed to lie, run your program until it stops at that breakpoint,
4518 and then step through the suspect area, examining the variables that are
4519 interesting, until you see the problem happen.
4523 @kindex s @r{(@code{step})}
4525 Continue running your program until control reaches a different source
4526 line, then stop it and return control to @value{GDBN}. This command is
4527 abbreviated @code{s}.
4530 @c "without debugging information" is imprecise; actually "without line
4531 @c numbers in the debugging information". (gcc -g1 has debugging info but
4532 @c not line numbers). But it seems complex to try to make that
4533 @c distinction here.
4534 @emph{Warning:} If you use the @code{step} command while control is
4535 within a function that was compiled without debugging information,
4536 execution proceeds until control reaches a function that does have
4537 debugging information. Likewise, it will not step into a function which
4538 is compiled without debugging information. To step through functions
4539 without debugging information, use the @code{stepi} command, described
4543 The @code{step} command only stops at the first instruction of a source
4544 line. This prevents the multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
4545 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc. @code{step} continues
4546 to stop if a function that has debugging information is called within
4547 the line. In other words, @code{step} @emph{steps inside} any functions
4548 called within the line.
4550 Also, the @code{step} command only enters a function if there is line
4551 number information for the function. Otherwise it acts like the
4552 @code{next} command. This avoids problems when using @code{cc -gl}
4553 on MIPS machines. Previously, @code{step} entered subroutines if there
4554 was any debugging information about the routine.
4556 @item step @var{count}
4557 Continue running as in @code{step}, but do so @var{count} times. If a
4558 breakpoint is reached, or a signal not related to stepping occurs before
4559 @var{count} steps, stepping stops right away.
4562 @kindex n @r{(@code{next})}
4563 @item next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
4564 Continue to the next source line in the current (innermost) stack frame.
4565 This is similar to @code{step}, but function calls that appear within
4566 the line of code are executed without stopping. Execution stops when
4567 control reaches a different line of code at the original stack level
4568 that was executing when you gave the @code{next} command. This command
4569 is abbreviated @code{n}.
4571 An argument @var{count} is a repeat count, as for @code{step}.
4574 @c FIX ME!! Do we delete this, or is there a way it fits in with
4575 @c the following paragraph? --- Vctoria
4577 @c @code{next} within a function that lacks debugging information acts like
4578 @c @code{step}, but any function calls appearing within the code of the
4579 @c function are executed without stopping.
4581 The @code{next} command only stops at the first instruction of a
4582 source line. This prevents multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
4583 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc.
4585 @kindex set step-mode
4587 @cindex functions without line info, and stepping
4588 @cindex stepping into functions with no line info
4589 @itemx set step-mode on
4590 The @code{set step-mode on} command causes the @code{step} command to
4591 stop at the first instruction of a function which contains no debug line
4592 information rather than stepping over it.
4594 This is useful in cases where you may be interested in inspecting the
4595 machine instructions of a function which has no symbolic info and do not
4596 want @value{GDBN} to automatically skip over this function.
4598 @item set step-mode off
4599 Causes the @code{step} command to step over any functions which contains no
4600 debug information. This is the default.
4602 @item show step-mode
4603 Show whether @value{GDBN} will stop in or step over functions without
4604 source line debug information.
4607 @kindex fin @r{(@code{finish})}
4609 Continue running until just after function in the selected stack frame
4610 returns. Print the returned value (if any). This command can be
4611 abbreviated as @code{fin}.
4613 Contrast this with the @code{return} command (@pxref{Returning,
4614 ,Returning from a Function}).
4617 @kindex u @r{(@code{until})}
4618 @cindex run until specified location
4621 Continue running until a source line past the current line, in the
4622 current stack frame, is reached. This command is used to avoid single
4623 stepping through a loop more than once. It is like the @code{next}
4624 command, except that when @code{until} encounters a jump, it
4625 automatically continues execution until the program counter is greater
4626 than the address of the jump.
4628 This means that when you reach the end of a loop after single stepping
4629 though it, @code{until} makes your program continue execution until it
4630 exits the loop. In contrast, a @code{next} command at the end of a loop
4631 simply steps back to the beginning of the loop, which forces you to step
4632 through the next iteration.
4634 @code{until} always stops your program if it attempts to exit the current
4637 @code{until} may produce somewhat counterintuitive results if the order
4638 of machine code does not match the order of the source lines. For
4639 example, in the following excerpt from a debugging session, the @code{f}
4640 (@code{frame}) command shows that execution is stopped at line
4641 @code{206}; yet when we use @code{until}, we get to line @code{195}:
4645 #0 main (argc=4, argv=0xf7fffae8) at m4.c:206
4647 (@value{GDBP}) until
4648 195 for ( ; argc > 0; NEXTARG) @{
4651 This happened because, for execution efficiency, the compiler had
4652 generated code for the loop closure test at the end, rather than the
4653 start, of the loop---even though the test in a C @code{for}-loop is
4654 written before the body of the loop. The @code{until} command appeared
4655 to step back to the beginning of the loop when it advanced to this
4656 expression; however, it has not really gone to an earlier
4657 statement---not in terms of the actual machine code.
4659 @code{until} with no argument works by means of single
4660 instruction stepping, and hence is slower than @code{until} with an
4663 @item until @var{location}
4664 @itemx u @var{location}
4665 Continue running your program until either the specified location is
4666 reached, or the current stack frame returns. @var{location} is any of
4667 the forms described in @ref{Specify Location}.
4668 This form of the command uses temporary breakpoints, and
4669 hence is quicker than @code{until} without an argument. The specified
4670 location is actually reached only if it is in the current frame. This
4671 implies that @code{until} can be used to skip over recursive function
4672 invocations. For instance in the code below, if the current location is
4673 line @code{96}, issuing @code{until 99} will execute the program up to
4674 line @code{99} in the same invocation of factorial, i.e., after the inner
4675 invocations have returned.
4678 94 int factorial (int value)
4680 96 if (value > 1) @{
4681 97 value *= factorial (value - 1);
4688 @kindex advance @var{location}
4689 @itemx advance @var{location}
4690 Continue running the program up to the given @var{location}. An argument is
4691 required, which should be of one of the forms described in
4692 @ref{Specify Location}.
4693 Execution will also stop upon exit from the current stack
4694 frame. This command is similar to @code{until}, but @code{advance} will
4695 not skip over recursive function calls, and the target location doesn't
4696 have to be in the same frame as the current one.
4700 @kindex si @r{(@code{stepi})}
4702 @itemx stepi @var{arg}
4704 Execute one machine instruction, then stop and return to the debugger.
4706 It is often useful to do @samp{display/i $pc} when stepping by machine
4707 instructions. This makes @value{GDBN} automatically display the next
4708 instruction to be executed, each time your program stops. @xref{Auto
4709 Display,, Automatic Display}.
4711 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{step}.
4715 @kindex ni @r{(@code{nexti})}
4717 @itemx nexti @var{arg}
4719 Execute one machine instruction, but if it is a function call,
4720 proceed until the function returns.
4722 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{next}.
4729 A signal is an asynchronous event that can happen in a program. The
4730 operating system defines the possible kinds of signals, and gives each
4731 kind a name and a number. For example, in Unix @code{SIGINT} is the
4732 signal a program gets when you type an interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c});
4733 @code{SIGSEGV} is the signal a program gets from referencing a place in
4734 memory far away from all the areas in use; @code{SIGALRM} occurs when
4735 the alarm clock timer goes off (which happens only if your program has
4736 requested an alarm).
4738 @cindex fatal signals
4739 Some signals, including @code{SIGALRM}, are a normal part of the
4740 functioning of your program. Others, such as @code{SIGSEGV}, indicate
4741 errors; these signals are @dfn{fatal} (they kill your program immediately) if the
4742 program has not specified in advance some other way to handle the signal.
4743 @code{SIGINT} does not indicate an error in your program, but it is normally
4744 fatal so it can carry out the purpose of the interrupt: to kill the program.
4746 @value{GDBN} has the ability to detect any occurrence of a signal in your
4747 program. You can tell @value{GDBN} in advance what to do for each kind of
4750 @cindex handling signals
4751 Normally, @value{GDBN} is set up to let the non-erroneous signals like
4752 @code{SIGALRM} be silently passed to your program
4753 (so as not to interfere with their role in the program's functioning)
4754 but to stop your program immediately whenever an error signal happens.
4755 You can change these settings with the @code{handle} command.
4758 @kindex info signals
4762 Print a table of all the kinds of signals and how @value{GDBN} has been told to
4763 handle each one. You can use this to see the signal numbers of all
4764 the defined types of signals.
4766 @item info signals @var{sig}
4767 Similar, but print information only about the specified signal number.
4769 @code{info handle} is an alias for @code{info signals}.
4772 @item handle @var{signal} @r{[}@var{keywords}@dots{}@r{]}
4773 Change the way @value{GDBN} handles signal @var{signal}. @var{signal}
4774 can be the number of a signal or its name (with or without the
4775 @samp{SIG} at the beginning); a list of signal numbers of the form
4776 @samp{@var{low}-@var{high}}; or the word @samp{all}, meaning all the
4777 known signals. Optional arguments @var{keywords}, described below,
4778 say what change to make.
4782 The keywords allowed by the @code{handle} command can be abbreviated.
4783 Their full names are:
4787 @value{GDBN} should not stop your program when this signal happens. It may
4788 still print a message telling you that the signal has come in.
4791 @value{GDBN} should stop your program when this signal happens. This implies
4792 the @code{print} keyword as well.
4795 @value{GDBN} should print a message when this signal happens.
4798 @value{GDBN} should not mention the occurrence of the signal at all. This
4799 implies the @code{nostop} keyword as well.
4803 @value{GDBN} should allow your program to see this signal; your program
4804 can handle the signal, or else it may terminate if the signal is fatal
4805 and not handled. @code{pass} and @code{noignore} are synonyms.
4809 @value{GDBN} should not allow your program to see this signal.
4810 @code{nopass} and @code{ignore} are synonyms.
4814 When a signal stops your program, the signal is not visible to the
4816 continue. Your program sees the signal then, if @code{pass} is in
4817 effect for the signal in question @emph{at that time}. In other words,
4818 after @value{GDBN} reports a signal, you can use the @code{handle}
4819 command with @code{pass} or @code{nopass} to control whether your
4820 program sees that signal when you continue.
4822 The default is set to @code{nostop}, @code{noprint}, @code{pass} for
4823 non-erroneous signals such as @code{SIGALRM}, @code{SIGWINCH} and
4824 @code{SIGCHLD}, and to @code{stop}, @code{print}, @code{pass} for the
4827 You can also use the @code{signal} command to prevent your program from
4828 seeing a signal, or cause it to see a signal it normally would not see,
4829 or to give it any signal at any time. For example, if your program stopped
4830 due to some sort of memory reference error, you might store correct
4831 values into the erroneous variables and continue, hoping to see more
4832 execution; but your program would probably terminate immediately as
4833 a result of the fatal signal once it saw the signal. To prevent this,
4834 you can continue with @samp{signal 0}. @xref{Signaling, ,Giving your
4837 @cindex extra signal information
4838 @anchor{extra signal information}
4840 On some targets, @value{GDBN} can inspect extra signal information
4841 associated with the intercepted signal, before it is actually
4842 delivered to the program being debugged. This information is exported
4843 by the convenience variable @code{$_siginfo}, and consists of data
4844 that is passed by the kernel to the signal handler at the time of the
4845 receipt of a signal. The data type of the information itself is
4846 target dependent. You can see the data type using the @code{ptype
4847 $_siginfo} command. On Unix systems, it typically corresponds to the
4848 standard @code{siginfo_t} type, as defined in the @file{signal.h}
4851 Here's an example, on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, printing the stray
4852 referenced address that raised a segmentation fault.
4856 (@value{GDBP}) continue
4857 Program received signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
4858 0x0000000000400766 in main ()
4860 (@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo
4867 struct @{...@} _kill;
4868 struct @{...@} _timer;
4870 struct @{...@} _sigchld;
4871 struct @{...@} _sigfault;
4872 struct @{...@} _sigpoll;
4875 (@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault
4879 (@value{GDBP}) p $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault.si_addr
4880 $1 = (void *) 0x7ffff7ff7000
4884 Depending on target support, @code{$_siginfo} may also be writable.
4887 @section Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs
4889 @cindex stopped threads
4890 @cindex threads, stopped
4892 @cindex continuing threads
4893 @cindex threads, continuing
4895 @value{GDBN} supports debugging programs with multiple threads
4896 (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads}). There
4897 are two modes of controlling execution of your program within the
4898 debugger. In the default mode, referred to as @dfn{all-stop mode},
4899 when any thread in your program stops (for example, at a breakpoint
4900 or while being stepped), all other threads in the program are also stopped by
4901 @value{GDBN}. On some targets, @value{GDBN} also supports
4902 @dfn{non-stop mode}, in which other threads can continue to run freely while
4903 you examine the stopped thread in the debugger.
4906 * All-Stop Mode:: All threads stop when GDB takes control
4907 * Non-Stop Mode:: Other threads continue to execute
4908 * Background Execution:: Running your program asynchronously
4909 * Thread-Specific Breakpoints:: Controlling breakpoints
4910 * Interrupted System Calls:: GDB may interfere with system calls
4914 @subsection All-Stop Mode
4916 @cindex all-stop mode
4918 In all-stop mode, whenever your program stops under @value{GDBN} for any reason,
4919 @emph{all} threads of execution stop, not just the current thread. This
4920 allows you to examine the overall state of the program, including
4921 switching between threads, without worrying that things may change
4924 Conversely, whenever you restart the program, @emph{all} threads start
4925 executing. @emph{This is true even when single-stepping} with commands
4926 like @code{step} or @code{next}.
4928 In particular, @value{GDBN} cannot single-step all threads in lockstep.
4929 Since thread scheduling is up to your debugging target's operating
4930 system (not controlled by @value{GDBN}), other threads may
4931 execute more than one statement while the current thread completes a
4932 single step. Moreover, in general other threads stop in the middle of a
4933 statement, rather than at a clean statement boundary, when the program
4936 You might even find your program stopped in another thread after
4937 continuing or even single-stepping. This happens whenever some other
4938 thread runs into a breakpoint, a signal, or an exception before the
4939 first thread completes whatever you requested.
4941 @cindex automatic thread selection
4942 @cindex switching threads automatically
4943 @cindex threads, automatic switching
4944 Whenever @value{GDBN} stops your program, due to a breakpoint or a
4945 signal, it automatically selects the thread where that breakpoint or
4946 signal happened. @value{GDBN} alerts you to the context switch with a
4947 message such as @samp{[Switching to Thread @var{n}]} to identify the
4950 On some OSes, you can modify @value{GDBN}'s default behavior by
4951 locking the OS scheduler to allow only a single thread to run.
4954 @item set scheduler-locking @var{mode}
4955 @cindex scheduler locking mode
4956 @cindex lock scheduler
4957 Set the scheduler locking mode. If it is @code{off}, then there is no
4958 locking and any thread may run at any time. If @code{on}, then only the
4959 current thread may run when the inferior is resumed. The @code{step}
4960 mode optimizes for single-stepping; it prevents other threads
4961 from preempting the current thread while you are stepping, so that
4962 the focus of debugging does not change unexpectedly.
4963 Other threads only rarely (or never) get a chance to run
4964 when you step. They are more likely to run when you @samp{next} over a
4965 function call, and they are completely free to run when you use commands
4966 like @samp{continue}, @samp{until}, or @samp{finish}. However, unless another
4967 thread hits a breakpoint during its timeslice, @value{GDBN} does not change
4968 the current thread away from the thread that you are debugging.
4970 @item show scheduler-locking
4971 Display the current scheduler locking mode.
4974 @cindex resume threads of multiple processes simultaneously
4975 By default, when you issue one of the execution commands such as
4976 @code{continue}, @code{next} or @code{step}, @value{GDBN} allows only
4977 threads of the current inferior to run. For example, if @value{GDBN}
4978 is attached to two inferiors, each with two threads, the
4979 @code{continue} command resumes only the two threads of the current
4980 inferior. This is useful, for example, when you debug a program that
4981 forks and you want to hold the parent stopped (so that, for instance,
4982 it doesn't run to exit), while you debug the child. In other
4983 situations, you may not be interested in inspecting the current state
4984 of any of the processes @value{GDBN} is attached to, and you may want
4985 to resume them all until some breakpoint is hit. In the latter case,
4986 you can instruct @value{GDBN} to allow all threads of all the
4987 inferiors to run with the @w{@code{set schedule-multiple}} command.
4990 @kindex set schedule-multiple
4991 @item set schedule-multiple
4992 Set the mode for allowing threads of multiple processes to be resumed
4993 when an execution command is issued. When @code{on}, all threads of
4994 all processes are allowed to run. When @code{off}, only the threads
4995 of the current process are resumed. The default is @code{off}. The
4996 @code{scheduler-locking} mode takes precedence when set to @code{on},
4997 or while you are stepping and set to @code{step}.
4999 @item show schedule-multiple
5000 Display the current mode for resuming the execution of threads of
5005 @subsection Non-Stop Mode
5007 @cindex non-stop mode
5009 @c This section is really only a place-holder, and needs to be expanded
5010 @c with more details.
5012 For some multi-threaded targets, @value{GDBN} supports an optional
5013 mode of operation in which you can examine stopped program threads in
5014 the debugger while other threads continue to execute freely. This
5015 minimizes intrusion when debugging live systems, such as programs
5016 where some threads have real-time constraints or must continue to
5017 respond to external events. This is referred to as @dfn{non-stop} mode.
5019 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops to report a debugging event,
5020 @emph{only} that thread is stopped; @value{GDBN} does not stop other
5021 threads as well, in contrast to the all-stop mode behavior. Additionally,
5022 execution commands such as @code{continue} and @code{step} apply by default
5023 only to the current thread in non-stop mode, rather than all threads as
5024 in all-stop mode. This allows you to control threads explicitly in
5025 ways that are not possible in all-stop mode --- for example, stepping
5026 one thread while allowing others to run freely, stepping
5027 one thread while holding all others stopped, or stepping several threads
5028 independently and simultaneously.
5030 To enter non-stop mode, use this sequence of commands before you run
5031 or attach to your program:
5034 # Enable the async interface.
5037 # If using the CLI, pagination breaks non-stop.
5040 # Finally, turn it on!
5044 You can use these commands to manipulate the non-stop mode setting:
5047 @kindex set non-stop
5048 @item set non-stop on
5049 Enable selection of non-stop mode.
5050 @item set non-stop off
5051 Disable selection of non-stop mode.
5052 @kindex show non-stop
5054 Show the current non-stop enablement setting.
5057 Note these commands only reflect whether non-stop mode is enabled,
5058 not whether the currently-executing program is being run in non-stop mode.
5059 In particular, the @code{set non-stop} preference is only consulted when
5060 @value{GDBN} starts or connects to the target program, and it is generally
5061 not possible to switch modes once debugging has started. Furthermore,
5062 since not all targets support non-stop mode, even when you have enabled
5063 non-stop mode, @value{GDBN} may still fall back to all-stop operation by
5066 In non-stop mode, all execution commands apply only to the current thread
5067 by default. That is, @code{continue} only continues one thread.
5068 To continue all threads, issue @code{continue -a} or @code{c -a}.
5070 You can use @value{GDBN}'s background execution commands
5071 (@pxref{Background Execution}) to run some threads in the background
5072 while you continue to examine or step others from @value{GDBN}.
5073 The MI execution commands (@pxref{GDB/MI Program Execution}) are
5074 always executed asynchronously in non-stop mode.
5076 Suspending execution is done with the @code{interrupt} command when
5077 running in the background, or @kbd{Ctrl-c} during foreground execution.
5078 In all-stop mode, this stops the whole process;
5079 but in non-stop mode the interrupt applies only to the current thread.
5080 To stop the whole program, use @code{interrupt -a}.
5082 Other execution commands do not currently support the @code{-a} option.
5084 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops, @value{GDBN} doesn't automatically make
5085 that thread current, as it does in all-stop mode. This is because the
5086 thread stop notifications are asynchronous with respect to @value{GDBN}'s
5087 command interpreter, and it would be confusing if @value{GDBN} unexpectedly
5088 changed to a different thread just as you entered a command to operate on the
5089 previously current thread.
5091 @node Background Execution
5092 @subsection Background Execution
5094 @cindex foreground execution
5095 @cindex background execution
5096 @cindex asynchronous execution
5097 @cindex execution, foreground, background and asynchronous
5099 @value{GDBN}'s execution commands have two variants: the normal
5100 foreground (synchronous) behavior, and a background
5101 (asynchronous) behavior. In foreground execution, @value{GDBN} waits for
5102 the program to report that some thread has stopped before prompting for
5103 another command. In background execution, @value{GDBN} immediately gives
5104 a command prompt so that you can issue other commands while your program runs.
5106 You need to explicitly enable asynchronous mode before you can use
5107 background execution commands. You can use these commands to
5108 manipulate the asynchronous mode setting:
5111 @kindex set target-async
5112 @item set target-async on
5113 Enable asynchronous mode.
5114 @item set target-async off
5115 Disable asynchronous mode.
5116 @kindex show target-async
5117 @item show target-async
5118 Show the current target-async setting.
5121 If the target doesn't support async mode, @value{GDBN} issues an error
5122 message if you attempt to use the background execution commands.
5124 To specify background execution, add a @code{&} to the command. For example,
5125 the background form of the @code{continue} command is @code{continue&}, or
5126 just @code{c&}. The execution commands that accept background execution
5132 @xref{Starting, , Starting your Program}.
5136 @xref{Attach, , Debugging an Already-running Process}.
5140 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, step}.
5144 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, stepi}.
5148 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, next}.
5152 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, nexti}.
5156 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, continue}.
5160 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, finish}.
5164 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, until}.
5168 Background execution is especially useful in conjunction with non-stop
5169 mode for debugging programs with multiple threads; see @ref{Non-Stop Mode}.
5170 However, you can also use these commands in the normal all-stop mode with
5171 the restriction that you cannot issue another execution command until the
5172 previous one finishes. Examples of commands that are valid in all-stop
5173 mode while the program is running include @code{help} and @code{info break}.
5175 You can interrupt your program while it is running in the background by
5176 using the @code{interrupt} command.
5183 Suspend execution of the running program. In all-stop mode,
5184 @code{interrupt} stops the whole process, but in non-stop mode, it stops
5185 only the current thread. To stop the whole program in non-stop mode,
5186 use @code{interrupt -a}.
5189 @node Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5190 @subsection Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5192 When your program has multiple threads (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging
5193 Programs with Multiple Threads}), you can choose whether to set
5194 breakpoints on all threads, or on a particular thread.
5197 @cindex breakpoints and threads
5198 @cindex thread breakpoints
5199 @kindex break @dots{} thread @var{threadno}
5200 @item break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno}
5201 @itemx break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno} if @dots{}
5202 @var{linespec} specifies source lines; there are several ways of
5203 writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always to
5204 specify some source line.
5206 Use the qualifier @samp{thread @var{threadno}} with a breakpoint command
5207 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
5208 particular thread reaches this breakpoint. @var{threadno} is one of the
5209 numeric thread identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
5210 column of the @samp{info threads} display.
5212 If you do not specify @samp{thread @var{threadno}} when you set a
5213 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} threads of your
5216 You can use the @code{thread} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
5217 well; in this case, place @samp{thread @var{threadno}} before or
5218 after the breakpoint condition, like this:
5221 (@value{GDBP}) break frik.c:13 thread 28 if bartab > lim
5226 @node Interrupted System Calls
5227 @subsection Interrupted System Calls
5229 @cindex thread breakpoints and system calls
5230 @cindex system calls and thread breakpoints
5231 @cindex premature return from system calls
5232 There is an unfortunate side effect when using @value{GDBN} to debug
5233 multi-threaded programs. If one thread stops for a
5234 breakpoint, or for some other reason, and another thread is blocked in a
5235 system call, then the system call may return prematurely. This is a
5236 consequence of the interaction between multiple threads and the signals
5237 that @value{GDBN} uses to implement breakpoints and other events that
5240 To handle this problem, your program should check the return value of
5241 each system call and react appropriately. This is good programming
5244 For example, do not write code like this:
5250 The call to @code{sleep} will return early if a different thread stops
5251 at a breakpoint or for some other reason.
5253 Instead, write this:
5258 unslept = sleep (unslept);
5261 A system call is allowed to return early, so the system is still
5262 conforming to its specification. But @value{GDBN} does cause your
5263 multi-threaded program to behave differently than it would without
5266 Also, @value{GDBN} uses internal breakpoints in the thread library to
5267 monitor certain events such as thread creation and thread destruction.
5268 When such an event happens, a system call in another thread may return
5269 prematurely, even though your program does not appear to stop.
5272 @node Reverse Execution
5273 @chapter Running programs backward
5274 @cindex reverse execution
5275 @cindex running programs backward
5277 When you are debugging a program, it is not unusual to realize that
5278 you have gone too far, and some event of interest has already happened.
5279 If the target environment supports it, @value{GDBN} can allow you to
5280 ``rewind'' the program by running it backward.
5282 A target environment that supports reverse execution should be able
5283 to ``undo'' the changes in machine state that have taken place as the
5284 program was executing normally. Variables, registers etc.@: should
5285 revert to their previous values. Obviously this requires a great
5286 deal of sophistication on the part of the target environment; not
5287 all target environments can support reverse execution.
5289 When a program is executed in reverse, the instructions that
5290 have most recently been executed are ``un-executed'', in reverse
5291 order. The program counter runs backward, following the previous
5292 thread of execution in reverse. As each instruction is ``un-executed'',
5293 the values of memory and/or registers that were changed by that
5294 instruction are reverted to their previous states. After executing
5295 a piece of source code in reverse, all side effects of that code
5296 should be ``undone'', and all variables should be returned to their
5297 prior values@footnote{
5298 Note that some side effects are easier to undo than others. For instance,
5299 memory and registers are relatively easy, but device I/O is hard. Some
5300 targets may be able undo things like device I/O, and some may not.
5302 The contract between @value{GDBN} and the reverse executing target
5303 requires only that the target do something reasonable when
5304 @value{GDBN} tells it to execute backwards, and then report the
5305 results back to @value{GDBN}. Whatever the target reports back to
5306 @value{GDBN}, @value{GDBN} will report back to the user. @value{GDBN}
5307 assumes that the memory and registers that the target reports are in a
5308 consistant state, but @value{GDBN} accepts whatever it is given.
5311 If you are debugging in a target environment that supports
5312 reverse execution, @value{GDBN} provides the following commands.
5315 @kindex reverse-continue
5316 @kindex rc @r{(@code{reverse-continue})}
5317 @item reverse-continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5318 @itemx rc @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5319 Beginning at the point where your program last stopped, start executing
5320 in reverse. Reverse execution will stop for breakpoints and synchronous
5321 exceptions (signals), just like normal execution. Behavior of
5322 asynchronous signals depends on the target environment.
5324 @kindex reverse-step
5325 @kindex rs @r{(@code{step})}
5326 @item reverse-step @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5327 Run the program backward until control reaches the start of a
5328 different source line; then stop it, and return control to @value{GDBN}.
5330 Like the @code{step} command, @code{reverse-step} will only stop
5331 at the beginning of a source line. It ``un-executes'' the previously
5332 executed source line. If the previous source line included calls to
5333 debuggable functions, @code{reverse-step} will step (backward) into
5334 the called function, stopping at the beginning of the @emph{last}
5335 statement in the called function (typically a return statement).
5337 Also, as with the @code{step} command, if non-debuggable functions are
5338 called, @code{reverse-step} will run thru them backward without stopping.
5340 @kindex reverse-stepi
5341 @kindex rsi @r{(@code{reverse-stepi})}
5342 @item reverse-stepi @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5343 Reverse-execute one machine instruction. Note that the instruction
5344 to be reverse-executed is @emph{not} the one pointed to by the program
5345 counter, but the instruction executed prior to that one. For instance,
5346 if the last instruction was a jump, @code{reverse-stepi} will take you
5347 back from the destination of the jump to the jump instruction itself.
5349 @kindex reverse-next
5350 @kindex rn @r{(@code{reverse-next})}
5351 @item reverse-next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5352 Run backward to the beginning of the previous line executed in
5353 the current (innermost) stack frame. If the line contains function
5354 calls, they will be ``un-executed'' without stopping. Starting from
5355 the first line of a function, @code{reverse-next} will take you back
5356 to the caller of that function, @emph{before} the function was called,
5357 just as the normal @code{next} command would take you from the last
5358 line of a function back to its return to its caller
5359 @footnote{Unless the code is too heavily optimized.}.
5361 @kindex reverse-nexti
5362 @kindex rni @r{(@code{reverse-nexti})}
5363 @item reverse-nexti @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5364 Like @code{nexti}, @code{reverse-nexti} executes a single instruction
5365 in reverse, except that called functions are ``un-executed'' atomically.
5366 That is, if the previously executed instruction was a return from
5367 another instruction, @code{reverse-nexti} will continue to execute
5368 in reverse until the call to that function (from the current stack
5371 @kindex reverse-finish
5372 @item reverse-finish
5373 Just as the @code{finish} command takes you to the point where the
5374 current function returns, @code{reverse-finish} takes you to the point
5375 where it was called. Instead of ending up at the end of the current
5376 function invocation, you end up at the beginning.
5378 @kindex set exec-direction
5379 @item set exec-direction
5380 Set the direction of target execution.
5381 @itemx set exec-direction reverse
5382 @cindex execute forward or backward in time
5383 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in reverse, until the
5384 exec-direction mode is changed to ``forward''. Affected commands include
5385 @code{step, stepi, next, nexti, continue, and finish}. The @code{return}
5386 command cannot be used in reverse mode.
5387 @item set exec-direction forward
5388 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in the normal fashion.
5389 This is the default.
5393 @node Process Record and Replay
5394 @chapter Recording Inferior's Execution and Replaying It
5395 @cindex process record and replay
5396 @cindex recording inferior's execution and replaying it
5398 On some platforms, @value{GDBN} provides a special @dfn{process record
5399 and replay} target that can record a log of the process execution, and
5400 replay it later with both forward and reverse execution commands.
5403 When this target is in use, if the execution log includes the record
5404 for the next instruction, @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{replay
5405 mode}. In the replay mode, the inferior does not really execute code
5406 instructions. Instead, all the events that normally happen during
5407 code execution are taken from the execution log. While code is not
5408 really executed in replay mode, the values of registers (including the
5409 program counter register) and the memory of the inferior are still
5410 changed as they normally would. Their contents are taken from the
5414 If the record for the next instruction is not in the execution log,
5415 @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{record mode}. In this mode, the
5416 inferior executes normally, and @value{GDBN} records the execution log
5419 The process record and replay target supports reverse execution
5420 (@pxref{Reverse Execution}), even if the platform on which the
5421 inferior runs does not. However, the reverse execution is limited in
5422 this case by the range of the instructions recorded in the execution
5423 log. In other words, reverse execution on platforms that don't
5424 support it directly can only be done in the replay mode.
5426 When debugging in the reverse direction, @value{GDBN} will work in
5427 replay mode as long as the execution log includes the record for the
5428 previous instruction; otherwise, it will work in record mode, if the
5429 platform supports reverse execution, or stop if not.
5431 For architecture environments that support process record and replay,
5432 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands:
5435 @kindex target record
5439 This command starts the process record and replay target. The process
5440 record and replay target can only debug a process that is already
5441 running. Therefore, you need first to start the process with the
5442 @kbd{run} or @kbd{start} commands, and then start the recording with
5443 the @kbd{target record} command.
5445 Both @code{record} and @code{rec} are aliases of @code{target record}.
5447 @cindex displaced stepping, and process record and replay
5448 Displaced stepping (@pxref{Maintenance Commands,, displaced stepping})
5449 will be automatically disabled when process record and replay target
5450 is started. That's because the process record and replay target
5451 doesn't support displaced stepping.
5453 @cindex non-stop mode, and process record and replay
5454 @cindex asynchronous execution, and process record and replay
5455 If the inferior is in the non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) or in
5456 the asynchronous execution mode (@pxref{Background Execution}), the
5457 process record and replay target cannot be started because it doesn't
5458 support these two modes.
5463 Stop the process record and replay target. When process record and
5464 replay target stops, the entire execution log will be deleted and the
5465 inferior will either be terminated, or will remain in its final state.
5467 When you stop the process record and replay target in record mode (at
5468 the end of the execution log), the inferior will be stopped at the
5469 next instruction that would have been recorded. In other words, if
5470 you record for a while and then stop recording, the inferior process
5471 will be left in the same state as if the recording never happened.
5473 On the other hand, if the process record and replay target is stopped
5474 while in replay mode (that is, not at the end of the execution log,
5475 but at some earlier point), the inferior process will become ``live''
5476 at that earlier state, and it will then be possible to continue the
5477 usual ``live'' debugging of the process from that state.
5479 When the inferior process exits, or @value{GDBN} detaches from it,
5480 process record and replay target will automatically stop itself.
5482 @kindex set record insn-number-max
5483 @item set record insn-number-max @var{limit}
5484 Set the limit of instructions to be recorded. Default value is 200000.
5486 If @var{limit} is a positive number, then @value{GDBN} will start
5487 deleting instructions from the log once the number of the record
5488 instructions becomes greater than @var{limit}. For every new recorded
5489 instruction, @value{GDBN} will delete the earliest recorded
5490 instruction to keep the number of recorded instructions at the limit.
5491 (Since deleting recorded instructions loses information, @value{GDBN}
5492 lets you control what happens when the limit is reached, by means of
5493 the @code{stop-at-limit} option, described below.)
5495 If @var{limit} is zero, @value{GDBN} will never delete recorded
5496 instructions from the execution log. The number of recorded
5497 instructions is unlimited in this case.
5499 @kindex show record insn-number-max
5500 @item show record insn-number-max
5501 Show the limit of instructions to be recorded.
5503 @kindex set record stop-at-limit
5504 @item set record stop-at-limit
5505 Control the behavior when the number of recorded instructions reaches
5506 the limit. If ON (the default), @value{GDBN} will stop when the limit
5507 is reached for the first time and ask you whether you want to stop the
5508 inferior or continue running it and recording the execution log. If
5509 you decide to continue recording, each new recorded instruction will
5510 cause the oldest one to be deleted.
5512 If this option is OFF, @value{GDBN} will automatically delete the
5513 oldest record to make room for each new one, without asking.
5515 @kindex show record stop-at-limit
5516 @item show record stop-at-limit
5517 Show the current setting of @code{stop-at-limit}.
5521 Show various statistics about the state of process record and its
5522 in-memory execution log buffer, including:
5526 Whether in record mode or replay mode.
5528 Lowest recorded instruction number (counting from when the current execution log started recording instructions).
5530 Highest recorded instruction number.
5532 Current instruction about to be replayed (if in replay mode).
5534 Number of instructions contained in the execution log.
5536 Maximum number of instructions that may be contained in the execution log.
5539 @kindex record delete
5542 When record target runs in replay mode (``in the past''), delete the
5543 subsequent execution log and begin to record a new execution log starting
5544 from the current address. This means you will abandon the previously
5545 recorded ``future'' and begin recording a new ``future''.
5550 @chapter Examining the Stack
5552 When your program has stopped, the first thing you need to know is where it
5553 stopped and how it got there.
5556 Each time your program performs a function call, information about the call
5558 That information includes the location of the call in your program,
5559 the arguments of the call,
5560 and the local variables of the function being called.
5561 The information is saved in a block of data called a @dfn{stack frame}.
5562 The stack frames are allocated in a region of memory called the @dfn{call
5565 When your program stops, the @value{GDBN} commands for examining the
5566 stack allow you to see all of this information.
5568 @cindex selected frame
5569 One of the stack frames is @dfn{selected} by @value{GDBN} and many
5570 @value{GDBN} commands refer implicitly to the selected frame. In
5571 particular, whenever you ask @value{GDBN} for the value of a variable in
5572 your program, the value is found in the selected frame. There are
5573 special @value{GDBN} commands to select whichever frame you are
5574 interested in. @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
5576 When your program stops, @value{GDBN} automatically selects the
5577 currently executing frame and describes it briefly, similar to the
5578 @code{frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}).
5581 * Frames:: Stack frames
5582 * Backtrace:: Backtraces
5583 * Selection:: Selecting a frame
5584 * Frame Info:: Information on a frame
5589 @section Stack Frames
5591 @cindex frame, definition
5593 The call stack is divided up into contiguous pieces called @dfn{stack
5594 frames}, or @dfn{frames} for short; each frame is the data associated
5595 with one call to one function. The frame contains the arguments given
5596 to the function, the function's local variables, and the address at
5597 which the function is executing.
5599 @cindex initial frame
5600 @cindex outermost frame
5601 @cindex innermost frame
5602 When your program is started, the stack has only one frame, that of the
5603 function @code{main}. This is called the @dfn{initial} frame or the
5604 @dfn{outermost} frame. Each time a function is called, a new frame is
5605 made. Each time a function returns, the frame for that function invocation
5606 is eliminated. If a function is recursive, there can be many frames for
5607 the same function. The frame for the function in which execution is
5608 actually occurring is called the @dfn{innermost} frame. This is the most
5609 recently created of all the stack frames that still exist.
5611 @cindex frame pointer
5612 Inside your program, stack frames are identified by their addresses. A
5613 stack frame consists of many bytes, each of which has its own address; each
5614 kind of computer has a convention for choosing one byte whose
5615 address serves as the address of the frame. Usually this address is kept
5616 in a register called the @dfn{frame pointer register}
5617 (@pxref{Registers, $fp}) while execution is going on in that frame.
5619 @cindex frame number
5620 @value{GDBN} assigns numbers to all existing stack frames, starting with
5621 zero for the innermost frame, one for the frame that called it,
5622 and so on upward. These numbers do not really exist in your program;
5623 they are assigned by @value{GDBN} to give you a way of designating stack
5624 frames in @value{GDBN} commands.
5626 @c The -fomit-frame-pointer below perennially causes hbox overflow
5627 @c underflow problems.
5628 @cindex frameless execution
5629 Some compilers provide a way to compile functions so that they operate
5630 without stack frames. (For example, the @value{NGCC} option
5632 @samp{-fomit-frame-pointer}
5634 generates functions without a frame.)
5635 This is occasionally done with heavily used library functions to save
5636 the frame setup time. @value{GDBN} has limited facilities for dealing
5637 with these function invocations. If the innermost function invocation
5638 has no stack frame, @value{GDBN} nevertheless regards it as though
5639 it had a separate frame, which is numbered zero as usual, allowing
5640 correct tracing of the function call chain. However, @value{GDBN} has
5641 no provision for frameless functions elsewhere in the stack.
5644 @kindex frame@r{, command}
5645 @cindex current stack frame
5646 @item frame @var{args}
5647 The @code{frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame to another,
5648 and to print the stack frame you select. @var{args} may be either the
5649 address of the frame or the stack frame number. Without an argument,
5650 @code{frame} prints the current stack frame.
5652 @kindex select-frame
5653 @cindex selecting frame silently
5655 The @code{select-frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame
5656 to another without printing the frame. This is the silent version of
5664 @cindex call stack traces
5665 A backtrace is a summary of how your program got where it is. It shows one
5666 line per frame, for many frames, starting with the currently executing
5667 frame (frame zero), followed by its caller (frame one), and on up the
5672 @kindex bt @r{(@code{backtrace})}
5675 Print a backtrace of the entire stack: one line per frame for all
5676 frames in the stack.
5678 You can stop the backtrace at any time by typing the system interrupt
5679 character, normally @kbd{Ctrl-c}.
5681 @item backtrace @var{n}
5683 Similar, but print only the innermost @var{n} frames.
5685 @item backtrace -@var{n}
5687 Similar, but print only the outermost @var{n} frames.
5689 @item backtrace full
5691 @itemx bt full @var{n}
5692 @itemx bt full -@var{n}
5693 Print the values of the local variables also. @var{n} specifies the
5694 number of frames to print, as described above.
5699 The names @code{where} and @code{info stack} (abbreviated @code{info s})
5700 are additional aliases for @code{backtrace}.
5702 @cindex multiple threads, backtrace
5703 In a multi-threaded program, @value{GDBN} by default shows the
5704 backtrace only for the current thread. To display the backtrace for
5705 several or all of the threads, use the command @code{thread apply}
5706 (@pxref{Threads, thread apply}). For example, if you type @kbd{thread
5707 apply all backtrace}, @value{GDBN} will display the backtrace for all
5708 the threads; this is handy when you debug a core dump of a
5709 multi-threaded program.
5711 Each line in the backtrace shows the frame number and the function name.
5712 The program counter value is also shown---unless you use @code{set
5713 print address off}. The backtrace also shows the source file name and
5714 line number, as well as the arguments to the function. The program
5715 counter value is omitted if it is at the beginning of the code for that
5718 Here is an example of a backtrace. It was made with the command
5719 @samp{bt 3}, so it shows the innermost three frames.
5723 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
5725 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=0x2b600, data=...) at macro.c:242
5726 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=177664, td=0xf7fffb08)
5728 (More stack frames follow...)
5733 The display for frame zero does not begin with a program counter
5734 value, indicating that your program has stopped at the beginning of the
5735 code for line @code{993} of @code{builtin.c}.
5738 The value of parameter @code{data} in frame 1 has been replaced by
5739 @code{@dots{}}. By default, @value{GDBN} prints the value of a parameter
5740 only if it is a scalar (integer, pointer, enumeration, etc). See command
5741 @kbd{set print frame-arguments} in @ref{Print Settings} for more details
5742 on how to configure the way function parameter values are printed.
5744 @cindex value optimized out, in backtrace
5745 @cindex function call arguments, optimized out
5746 If your program was compiled with optimizations, some compilers will
5747 optimize away arguments passed to functions if those arguments are
5748 never used after the call. Such optimizations generate code that
5749 passes arguments through registers, but doesn't store those arguments
5750 in the stack frame. @value{GDBN} has no way of displaying such
5751 arguments in stack frames other than the innermost one. Here's what
5752 such a backtrace might look like:
5756 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
5758 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=<value optimized out>) at macro.c:242
5759 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=<value optimized out>, td=0xf7fffb08)
5761 (More stack frames follow...)
5766 The values of arguments that were not saved in their stack frames are
5767 shown as @samp{<value optimized out>}.
5769 If you need to display the values of such optimized-out arguments,
5770 either deduce that from other variables whose values depend on the one
5771 you are interested in, or recompile without optimizations.
5773 @cindex backtrace beyond @code{main} function
5774 @cindex program entry point
5775 @cindex startup code, and backtrace
5776 Most programs have a standard user entry point---a place where system
5777 libraries and startup code transition into user code. For C this is
5778 @code{main}@footnote{
5779 Note that embedded programs (the so-called ``free-standing''
5780 environment) are not required to have a @code{main} function as the
5781 entry point. They could even have multiple entry points.}.
5782 When @value{GDBN} finds the entry function in a backtrace
5783 it will terminate the backtrace, to avoid tracing into highly
5784 system-specific (and generally uninteresting) code.
5786 If you need to examine the startup code, or limit the number of levels
5787 in a backtrace, you can change this behavior:
5790 @item set backtrace past-main
5791 @itemx set backtrace past-main on
5792 @kindex set backtrace
5793 Backtraces will continue past the user entry point.
5795 @item set backtrace past-main off
5796 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the user entry point. This is the
5799 @item show backtrace past-main
5800 @kindex show backtrace
5801 Display the current user entry point backtrace policy.
5803 @item set backtrace past-entry
5804 @itemx set backtrace past-entry on
5805 Backtraces will continue past the internal entry point of an application.
5806 This entry point is encoded by the linker when the application is built,
5807 and is likely before the user entry point @code{main} (or equivalent) is called.
5809 @item set backtrace past-entry off
5810 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the internal entry point of an
5811 application. This is the default.
5813 @item show backtrace past-entry
5814 Display the current internal entry point backtrace policy.
5816 @item set backtrace limit @var{n}
5817 @itemx set backtrace limit 0
5818 @cindex backtrace limit
5819 Limit the backtrace to @var{n} levels. A value of zero means
5822 @item show backtrace limit
5823 Display the current limit on backtrace levels.
5827 @section Selecting a Frame
5829 Most commands for examining the stack and other data in your program work on
5830 whichever stack frame is selected at the moment. Here are the commands for
5831 selecting a stack frame; all of them finish by printing a brief description
5832 of the stack frame just selected.
5835 @kindex frame@r{, selecting}
5836 @kindex f @r{(@code{frame})}
5839 Select frame number @var{n}. Recall that frame zero is the innermost
5840 (currently executing) frame, frame one is the frame that called the
5841 innermost one, and so on. The highest-numbered frame is the one for
5844 @item frame @var{addr}
5846 Select the frame at address @var{addr}. This is useful mainly if the
5847 chaining of stack frames has been damaged by a bug, making it
5848 impossible for @value{GDBN} to assign numbers properly to all frames. In
5849 addition, this can be useful when your program has multiple stacks and
5850 switches between them.
5852 On the SPARC architecture, @code{frame} needs two addresses to
5853 select an arbitrary frame: a frame pointer and a stack pointer.
5855 On the MIPS and Alpha architecture, it needs two addresses: a stack
5856 pointer and a program counter.
5858 On the 29k architecture, it needs three addresses: a register stack
5859 pointer, a program counter, and a memory stack pointer.
5863 Move @var{n} frames up the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
5864 advances toward the outermost frame, to higher frame numbers, to frames
5865 that have existed longer. @var{n} defaults to one.
5868 @kindex do @r{(@code{down})}
5870 Move @var{n} frames down the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
5871 advances toward the innermost frame, to lower frame numbers, to frames
5872 that were created more recently. @var{n} defaults to one. You may
5873 abbreviate @code{down} as @code{do}.
5876 All of these commands end by printing two lines of output describing the
5877 frame. The first line shows the frame number, the function name, the
5878 arguments, and the source file and line number of execution in that
5879 frame. The second line shows the text of that source line.
5887 #1 0x22f0 in main (argc=1, argv=0xf7fffbf4, env=0xf7fffbfc)
5889 10 read_input_file (argv[i]);
5893 After such a printout, the @code{list} command with no arguments
5894 prints ten lines centered on the point of execution in the frame.
5895 You can also edit the program at the point of execution with your favorite
5896 editing program by typing @code{edit}.
5897 @xref{List, ,Printing Source Lines},
5901 @kindex down-silently
5903 @item up-silently @var{n}
5904 @itemx down-silently @var{n}
5905 These two commands are variants of @code{up} and @code{down},
5906 respectively; they differ in that they do their work silently, without
5907 causing display of the new frame. They are intended primarily for use
5908 in @value{GDBN} command scripts, where the output might be unnecessary and
5913 @section Information About a Frame
5915 There are several other commands to print information about the selected
5921 When used without any argument, this command does not change which
5922 frame is selected, but prints a brief description of the currently
5923 selected stack frame. It can be abbreviated @code{f}. With an
5924 argument, this command is used to select a stack frame.
5925 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
5928 @kindex info f @r{(@code{info frame})}
5931 This command prints a verbose description of the selected stack frame,
5936 the address of the frame
5938 the address of the next frame down (called by this frame)
5940 the address of the next frame up (caller of this frame)
5942 the language in which the source code corresponding to this frame is written
5944 the address of the frame's arguments
5946 the address of the frame's local variables
5948 the program counter saved in it (the address of execution in the caller frame)
5950 which registers were saved in the frame
5953 @noindent The verbose description is useful when
5954 something has gone wrong that has made the stack format fail to fit
5955 the usual conventions.
5957 @item info frame @var{addr}
5958 @itemx info f @var{addr}
5959 Print a verbose description of the frame at address @var{addr}, without
5960 selecting that frame. The selected frame remains unchanged by this
5961 command. This requires the same kind of address (more than one for some
5962 architectures) that you specify in the @code{frame} command.
5963 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
5967 Print the arguments of the selected frame, each on a separate line.
5971 Print the local variables of the selected frame, each on a separate
5972 line. These are all variables (declared either static or automatic)
5973 accessible at the point of execution of the selected frame.
5976 @cindex catch exceptions, list active handlers
5977 @cindex exception handlers, how to list
5979 Print a list of all the exception handlers that are active in the
5980 current stack frame at the current point of execution. To see other
5981 exception handlers, visit the associated frame (using the @code{up},
5982 @code{down}, or @code{frame} commands); then type @code{info catch}.
5983 @xref{Set Catchpoints, , Setting Catchpoints}.
5989 @chapter Examining Source Files
5991 @value{GDBN} can print parts of your program's source, since the debugging
5992 information recorded in the program tells @value{GDBN} what source files were
5993 used to build it. When your program stops, @value{GDBN} spontaneously prints
5994 the line where it stopped. Likewise, when you select a stack frame
5995 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}), @value{GDBN} prints the line where
5996 execution in that frame has stopped. You can print other portions of
5997 source files by explicit command.
5999 If you use @value{GDBN} through its @sc{gnu} Emacs interface, you may
6000 prefer to use Emacs facilities to view source; see @ref{Emacs, ,Using
6001 @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}.
6004 * List:: Printing source lines
6005 * Specify Location:: How to specify code locations
6006 * Edit:: Editing source files
6007 * Search:: Searching source files
6008 * Source Path:: Specifying source directories
6009 * Machine Code:: Source and machine code
6013 @section Printing Source Lines
6016 @kindex l @r{(@code{list})}
6017 To print lines from a source file, use the @code{list} command
6018 (abbreviated @code{l}). By default, ten lines are printed.
6019 There are several ways to specify what part of the file you want to
6020 print; see @ref{Specify Location}, for the full list.
6022 Here are the forms of the @code{list} command most commonly used:
6025 @item list @var{linenum}
6026 Print lines centered around line number @var{linenum} in the
6027 current source file.
6029 @item list @var{function}
6030 Print lines centered around the beginning of function
6034 Print more lines. If the last lines printed were printed with a
6035 @code{list} command, this prints lines following the last lines
6036 printed; however, if the last line printed was a solitary line printed
6037 as part of displaying a stack frame (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the
6038 Stack}), this prints lines centered around that line.
6041 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
6044 @cindex @code{list}, how many lines to display
6045 By default, @value{GDBN} prints ten source lines with any of these forms of
6046 the @code{list} command. You can change this using @code{set listsize}:
6049 @kindex set listsize
6050 @item set listsize @var{count}
6051 Make the @code{list} command display @var{count} source lines (unless
6052 the @code{list} argument explicitly specifies some other number).
6054 @kindex show listsize
6056 Display the number of lines that @code{list} prints.
6059 Repeating a @code{list} command with @key{RET} discards the argument,
6060 so it is equivalent to typing just @code{list}. This is more useful
6061 than listing the same lines again. An exception is made for an
6062 argument of @samp{-}; that argument is preserved in repetition so that
6063 each repetition moves up in the source file.
6065 In general, the @code{list} command expects you to supply zero, one or two
6066 @dfn{linespecs}. Linespecs specify source lines; there are several ways
6067 of writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always
6068 to specify some source line.
6070 Here is a complete description of the possible arguments for @code{list}:
6073 @item list @var{linespec}
6074 Print lines centered around the line specified by @var{linespec}.
6076 @item list @var{first},@var{last}
6077 Print lines from @var{first} to @var{last}. Both arguments are
6078 linespecs. When a @code{list} command has two linespecs, and the
6079 source file of the second linespec is omitted, this refers to
6080 the same source file as the first linespec.
6082 @item list ,@var{last}
6083 Print lines ending with @var{last}.
6085 @item list @var{first},
6086 Print lines starting with @var{first}.
6089 Print lines just after the lines last printed.
6092 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
6095 As described in the preceding table.
6098 @node Specify Location
6099 @section Specifying a Location
6100 @cindex specifying location
6103 Several @value{GDBN} commands accept arguments that specify a location
6104 of your program's code. Since @value{GDBN} is a source-level
6105 debugger, a location usually specifies some line in the source code;
6106 for that reason, locations are also known as @dfn{linespecs}.
6108 Here are all the different ways of specifying a code location that
6109 @value{GDBN} understands:
6113 Specifies the line number @var{linenum} of the current source file.
6116 @itemx +@var{offset}
6117 Specifies the line @var{offset} lines before or after the @dfn{current
6118 line}. For the @code{list} command, the current line is the last one
6119 printed; for the breakpoint commands, this is the line at which
6120 execution stopped in the currently selected @dfn{stack frame}
6121 (@pxref{Frames, ,Frames}, for a description of stack frames.) When
6122 used as the second of the two linespecs in a @code{list} command,
6123 this specifies the line @var{offset} lines up or down from the first
6126 @item @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
6127 Specifies the line @var{linenum} in the source file @var{filename}.
6129 @item @var{function}
6130 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}.
6131 For example, in C, this is the line with the open brace.
6133 @item @var{filename}:@var{function}
6134 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}
6135 in the file @var{filename}. You only need the file name with a
6136 function name to avoid ambiguity when there are identically named
6137 functions in different source files.
6139 @item *@var{address}
6140 Specifies the program address @var{address}. For line-oriented
6141 commands, such as @code{list} and @code{edit}, this specifies a source
6142 line that contains @var{address}. For @code{break} and other
6143 breakpoint oriented commands, this can be used to set breakpoints in
6144 parts of your program which do not have debugging information or
6147 Here @var{address} may be any expression valid in the current working
6148 language (@pxref{Languages, working language}) that specifies a code
6149 address. In addition, as a convenience, @value{GDBN} extends the
6150 semantics of expressions used in locations to cover the situations
6151 that frequently happen during debugging. Here are the various forms
6155 @item @var{expression}
6156 Any expression valid in the current working language.
6158 @item @var{funcaddr}
6159 An address of a function or procedure derived from its name. In C,
6160 C@t{++}, Java, Objective-C, Fortran, minimal, and assembly, this is
6161 simply the function's name @var{function} (and actually a special case
6162 of a valid expression). In Pascal and Modula-2, this is
6163 @code{&@var{function}}. In Ada, this is @code{@var{function}'Address}
6164 (although the Pascal form also works).
6166 This form specifies the address of the function's first instruction,
6167 before the stack frame and arguments have been set up.
6169 @item '@var{filename}'::@var{funcaddr}
6170 Like @var{funcaddr} above, but also specifies the name of the source
6171 file explicitly. This is useful if the name of the function does not
6172 specify the function unambiguously, e.g., if there are several
6173 functions with identical names in different source files.
6180 @section Editing Source Files
6181 @cindex editing source files
6184 @kindex e @r{(@code{edit})}
6185 To edit the lines in a source file, use the @code{edit} command.
6186 The editing program of your choice
6187 is invoked with the current line set to
6188 the active line in the program.
6189 Alternatively, there are several ways to specify what part of the file you
6190 want to print if you want to see other parts of the program:
6193 @item edit @var{location}
6194 Edit the source file specified by @code{location}. Editing starts at
6195 that @var{location}, e.g., at the specified source line of the
6196 specified file. @xref{Specify Location}, for all the possible forms
6197 of the @var{location} argument; here are the forms of the @code{edit}
6198 command most commonly used:
6201 @item edit @var{number}
6202 Edit the current source file with @var{number} as the active line number.
6204 @item edit @var{function}
6205 Edit the file containing @var{function} at the beginning of its definition.
6210 @subsection Choosing your Editor
6211 You can customize @value{GDBN} to use any editor you want
6213 The only restriction is that your editor (say @code{ex}), recognizes the
6214 following command-line syntax:
6216 ex +@var{number} file
6218 The optional numeric value +@var{number} specifies the number of the line in
6219 the file where to start editing.}.
6220 By default, it is @file{@value{EDITOR}}, but you can change this
6221 by setting the environment variable @code{EDITOR} before using
6222 @value{GDBN}. For example, to configure @value{GDBN} to use the
6223 @code{vi} editor, you could use these commands with the @code{sh} shell:
6229 or in the @code{csh} shell,
6231 setenv EDITOR /usr/bin/vi
6236 @section Searching Source Files
6237 @cindex searching source files
6239 There are two commands for searching through the current source file for a
6244 @kindex forward-search
6245 @item forward-search @var{regexp}
6246 @itemx search @var{regexp}
6247 The command @samp{forward-search @var{regexp}} checks each line,
6248 starting with the one following the last line listed, for a match for
6249 @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can use the
6250 synonym @samp{search @var{regexp}} or abbreviate the command name as
6253 @kindex reverse-search
6254 @item reverse-search @var{regexp}
6255 The command @samp{reverse-search @var{regexp}} checks each line, starting
6256 with the one before the last line listed and going backward, for a match
6257 for @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can abbreviate
6258 this command as @code{rev}.
6262 @section Specifying Source Directories
6265 @cindex directories for source files
6266 Executable programs sometimes do not record the directories of the source
6267 files from which they were compiled, just the names. Even when they do,
6268 the directories could be moved between the compilation and your debugging
6269 session. @value{GDBN} has a list of directories to search for source files;
6270 this is called the @dfn{source path}. Each time @value{GDBN} wants a source file,
6271 it tries all the directories in the list, in the order they are present
6272 in the list, until it finds a file with the desired name.
6274 For example, suppose an executable references the file
6275 @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}, and our source path is
6276 @file{/mnt/cross}. The file is first looked up literally; if this
6277 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} is tried; if this
6278 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/foo.c} is opened; if this fails, an error
6279 message is printed. @value{GDBN} does not look up the parts of the
6280 source file name, such as @file{/mnt/cross/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}.
6281 Likewise, the subdirectories of the source path are not searched: if
6282 the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the binary refers to
6283 @file{foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would not find it under
6284 @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib}.
6286 Plain file names, relative file names with leading directories, file
6287 names containing dots, etc.@: are all treated as described above; for
6288 instance, if the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the source file
6289 is recorded as @file{../lib/foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would first try
6290 @file{../lib/foo.c}, then @file{/mnt/cross/../lib/foo.c}, and after
6291 that---@file{/mnt/cross/foo.c}.
6293 Note that the executable search path is @emph{not} used to locate the
6296 Whenever you reset or rearrange the source path, @value{GDBN} clears out
6297 any information it has cached about where source files are found and where
6298 each line is in the file.
6302 When you start @value{GDBN}, its source path includes only @samp{cdir}
6303 and @samp{cwd}, in that order.
6304 To add other directories, use the @code{directory} command.
6306 The search path is used to find both program source files and @value{GDBN}
6307 script files (read using the @samp{-command} option and @samp{source} command).
6309 In addition to the source path, @value{GDBN} provides a set of commands
6310 that manage a list of source path substitution rules. A @dfn{substitution
6311 rule} specifies how to rewrite source directories stored in the program's
6312 debug information in case the sources were moved to a different
6313 directory between compilation and debugging. A rule is made of
6314 two strings, the first specifying what needs to be rewritten in
6315 the path, and the second specifying how it should be rewritten.
6316 In @ref{set substitute-path}, we name these two parts @var{from} and
6317 @var{to} respectively. @value{GDBN} does a simple string replacement
6318 of @var{from} with @var{to} at the start of the directory part of the
6319 source file name, and uses that result instead of the original file
6320 name to look up the sources.
6322 Using the previous example, suppose the @file{foo-1.0} tree has been
6323 moved from @file{/usr/src} to @file{/mnt/cross}, then you can tell
6324 @value{GDBN} to replace @file{/usr/src} in all source path names with
6325 @file{/mnt/cross}. The first lookup will then be
6326 @file{/mnt/cross/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} in place of the original location
6327 of @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}. To define a source path
6328 substitution rule, use the @code{set substitute-path} command
6329 (@pxref{set substitute-path}).
6331 To avoid unexpected substitution results, a rule is applied only if the
6332 @var{from} part of the directory name ends at a directory separator.
6333 For instance, a rule substituting @file{/usr/source} into
6334 @file{/mnt/cross} will be applied to @file{/usr/source/foo-1.0} but
6335 not to @file{/usr/sourceware/foo-2.0}. And because the substitution
6336 is applied only at the beginning of the directory name, this rule will
6337 not be applied to @file{/root/usr/source/baz.c} either.
6339 In many cases, you can achieve the same result using the @code{directory}
6340 command. However, @code{set substitute-path} can be more efficient in
6341 the case where the sources are organized in a complex tree with multiple
6342 subdirectories. With the @code{directory} command, you need to add each
6343 subdirectory of your project. If you moved the entire tree while
6344 preserving its internal organization, then @code{set substitute-path}
6345 allows you to direct the debugger to all the sources with one single
6348 @code{set substitute-path} is also more than just a shortcut command.
6349 The source path is only used if the file at the original location no
6350 longer exists. On the other hand, @code{set substitute-path} modifies
6351 the debugger behavior to look at the rewritten location instead. So, if
6352 for any reason a source file that is not relevant to your executable is
6353 located at the original location, a substitution rule is the only
6354 method available to point @value{GDBN} at the new location.
6356 @cindex @samp{--with-relocated-sources}
6357 @cindex default source path substitution
6358 You can configure a default source path substitution rule by
6359 configuring @value{GDBN} with the
6360 @samp{--with-relocated-sources=@var{dir}} option. The @var{dir}
6361 should be the name of a directory under @value{GDBN}'s configured
6362 prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or @samp{--exec-prefix}), and
6363 directory names in debug information under @var{dir} will be adjusted
6364 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
6365 location. This is useful if @value{GDBN}, libraries or executables
6366 with debug information and corresponding source code are being moved
6370 @item directory @var{dirname} @dots{}
6371 @item dir @var{dirname} @dots{}
6372 Add directory @var{dirname} to the front of the source path. Several
6373 directory names may be given to this command, separated by @samp{:}
6374 (@samp{;} on MS-DOS and MS-Windows, where @samp{:} usually appears as
6375 part of absolute file names) or
6376 whitespace. You may specify a directory that is already in the source
6377 path; this moves it forward, so @value{GDBN} searches it sooner.
6381 @vindex $cdir@r{, convenience variable}
6382 @vindex $cwd@r{, convenience variable}
6383 @cindex compilation directory
6384 @cindex current directory
6385 @cindex working directory
6386 @cindex directory, current
6387 @cindex directory, compilation
6388 You can use the string @samp{$cdir} to refer to the compilation
6389 directory (if one is recorded), and @samp{$cwd} to refer to the current
6390 working directory. @samp{$cwd} is not the same as @samp{.}---the former
6391 tracks the current working directory as it changes during your @value{GDBN}
6392 session, while the latter is immediately expanded to the current
6393 directory at the time you add an entry to the source path.
6396 Reset the source path to its default value (@samp{$cdir:$cwd} on Unix systems). This requires confirmation.
6398 @c RET-repeat for @code{directory} is explicitly disabled, but since
6399 @c repeating it would be a no-op we do not say that. (thanks to RMS)
6401 @item show directories
6402 @kindex show directories
6403 Print the source path: show which directories it contains.
6405 @anchor{set substitute-path}
6406 @item set substitute-path @var{from} @var{to}
6407 @kindex set substitute-path
6408 Define a source path substitution rule, and add it at the end of the
6409 current list of existing substitution rules. If a rule with the same
6410 @var{from} was already defined, then the old rule is also deleted.
6412 For example, if the file @file{/foo/bar/baz.c} was moved to
6413 @file{/mnt/cross/baz.c}, then the command
6416 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/cross
6420 will tell @value{GDBN} to replace @samp{/usr/src} with
6421 @samp{/mnt/cross}, which will allow @value{GDBN} to find the file
6422 @file{baz.c} even though it was moved.
6424 In the case when more than one substitution rule have been defined,
6425 the rules are evaluated one by one in the order where they have been
6426 defined. The first one matching, if any, is selected to perform
6429 For instance, if we had entered the following commands:
6432 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src/include /mnt/include
6433 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/src
6437 @value{GDBN} would then rewrite @file{/usr/src/include/defs.h} into
6438 @file{/mnt/include/defs.h} by using the first rule. However, it would
6439 use the second rule to rewrite @file{/usr/src/lib/foo.c} into
6440 @file{/mnt/src/lib/foo.c}.
6443 @item unset substitute-path [path]
6444 @kindex unset substitute-path
6445 If a path is specified, search the current list of substitution rules
6446 for a rule that would rewrite that path. Delete that rule if found.
6447 A warning is emitted by the debugger if no rule could be found.
6449 If no path is specified, then all substitution rules are deleted.
6451 @item show substitute-path [path]
6452 @kindex show substitute-path
6453 If a path is specified, then print the source path substitution rule
6454 which would rewrite that path, if any.
6456 If no path is specified, then print all existing source path substitution
6461 If your source path is cluttered with directories that are no longer of
6462 interest, @value{GDBN} may sometimes cause confusion by finding the wrong
6463 versions of source. You can correct the situation as follows:
6467 Use @code{directory} with no argument to reset the source path to its default value.
6470 Use @code{directory} with suitable arguments to reinstall the
6471 directories you want in the source path. You can add all the
6472 directories in one command.
6476 @section Source and Machine Code
6477 @cindex source line and its code address
6479 You can use the command @code{info line} to map source lines to program
6480 addresses (and vice versa), and the command @code{disassemble} to display
6481 a range of addresses as machine instructions. You can use the command
6482 @code{set disassemble-next-line} to set whether to disassemble next
6483 source line when execution stops. When run under @sc{gnu} Emacs
6484 mode, the @code{info line} command causes the arrow to point to the
6485 line specified. Also, @code{info line} prints addresses in symbolic form as
6490 @item info line @var{linespec}
6491 Print the starting and ending addresses of the compiled code for
6492 source line @var{linespec}. You can specify source lines in any of
6493 the ways documented in @ref{Specify Location}.
6496 For example, we can use @code{info line} to discover the location of
6497 the object code for the first line of function
6498 @code{m4_changequote}:
6500 @c FIXME: I think this example should also show the addresses in
6501 @c symbolic form, as they usually would be displayed.
6503 (@value{GDBP}) info line m4_changequote
6504 Line 895 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x634c and ends at 0x6350.
6508 @cindex code address and its source line
6509 We can also inquire (using @code{*@var{addr}} as the form for
6510 @var{linespec}) what source line covers a particular address:
6512 (@value{GDBP}) info line *0x63ff
6513 Line 926 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x63e4 and ends at 0x6404.
6516 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info line}
6517 @cindex @code{x} command, default address
6518 @kindex x@r{(examine), and} info line
6519 After @code{info line}, the default address for the @code{x} command
6520 is changed to the starting address of the line, so that @samp{x/i} is
6521 sufficient to begin examining the machine code (@pxref{Memory,
6522 ,Examining Memory}). Also, this address is saved as the value of the
6523 convenience variable @code{$_} (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
6528 @cindex assembly instructions
6529 @cindex instructions, assembly
6530 @cindex machine instructions
6531 @cindex listing machine instructions
6533 @itemx disassemble /m
6534 @itemx disassemble /r
6535 This specialized command dumps a range of memory as machine
6536 instructions. It can also print mixed source+disassembly by specifying
6537 the @code{/m} modifier and print the raw instructions in hex as well as
6538 in symbolic form by specifying the @code{/r}.
6539 The default memory range is the function surrounding the
6540 program counter of the selected frame. A single argument to this
6541 command is a program counter value; @value{GDBN} dumps the function
6542 surrounding this value. When two arguments are given, they should
6543 be separated by a comma, possibly surrounded by whitespace. The
6544 arguments specify a range of addresses (first inclusive, second exclusive)
6545 to dump. In that case, the name of the function is also printed (since
6546 there could be several functions in the given range).
6548 The argument(s) can be any expression yielding a numeric value, such as
6549 @samp{0x32c4}, @samp{&main+10} or @samp{$pc - 8}.
6551 If the range of memory being disassembled contains current program counter,
6552 the instruction at that location is shown with a @code{=>} marker.
6555 The following example shows the disassembly of a range of addresses of
6556 HP PA-RISC 2.0 code:
6559 (@value{GDBP}) disas 0x32c4, 0x32e4
6560 Dump of assembler code from 0x32c4 to 0x32e4:
6561 0x32c4 <main+204>: addil 0,dp
6562 0x32c8 <main+208>: ldw 0x22c(sr0,r1),r26
6563 0x32cc <main+212>: ldil 0x3000,r31
6564 0x32d0 <main+216>: ble 0x3f8(sr4,r31)
6565 0x32d4 <main+220>: ldo 0(r31),rp
6566 0x32d8 <main+224>: addil -0x800,dp
6567 0x32dc <main+228>: ldo 0x588(r1),r26
6568 0x32e0 <main+232>: ldil 0x3000,r31
6569 End of assembler dump.
6572 Here is an example showing mixed source+assembly for Intel x86, when the
6573 program is stopped just after function prologue:
6576 (@value{GDBP}) disas /m main
6577 Dump of assembler code for function main:
6579 0x08048330 <+0>: push %ebp
6580 0x08048331 <+1>: mov %esp,%ebp
6581 0x08048333 <+3>: sub $0x8,%esp
6582 0x08048336 <+6>: and $0xfffffff0,%esp
6583 0x08048339 <+9>: sub $0x10,%esp
6585 6 printf ("Hello.\n");
6586 => 0x0804833c <+12>: movl $0x8048440,(%esp)
6587 0x08048343 <+19>: call 0x8048284 <puts@@plt>
6591 0x08048348 <+24>: mov $0x0,%eax
6592 0x0804834d <+29>: leave
6593 0x0804834e <+30>: ret
6595 End of assembler dump.
6598 Some architectures have more than one commonly-used set of instruction
6599 mnemonics or other syntax.
6601 For programs that were dynamically linked and use shared libraries,
6602 instructions that call functions or branch to locations in the shared
6603 libraries might show a seemingly bogus location---it's actually a
6604 location of the relocation table. On some architectures, @value{GDBN}
6605 might be able to resolve these to actual function names.
6608 @kindex set disassembly-flavor
6609 @cindex Intel disassembly flavor
6610 @cindex AT&T disassembly flavor
6611 @item set disassembly-flavor @var{instruction-set}
6612 Select the instruction set to use when disassembling the
6613 program via the @code{disassemble} or @code{x/i} commands.
6615 Currently this command is only defined for the Intel x86 family. You
6616 can set @var{instruction-set} to either @code{intel} or @code{att}.
6617 The default is @code{att}, the AT&T flavor used by default by Unix
6618 assemblers for x86-based targets.
6620 @kindex show disassembly-flavor
6621 @item show disassembly-flavor
6622 Show the current setting of the disassembly flavor.
6626 @kindex set disassemble-next-line
6627 @kindex show disassemble-next-line
6628 @item set disassemble-next-line
6629 @itemx show disassemble-next-line
6630 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will disassemble the next source
6631 line or instruction when execution stops. If ON, @value{GDBN} will
6632 display disassembly of the next source line when execution of the
6633 program being debugged stops. This is @emph{in addition} to
6634 displaying the source line itself, which @value{GDBN} always does if
6635 possible. If the next source line cannot be displayed for some reason
6636 (e.g., if @value{GDBN} cannot find the source file, or there's no line
6637 info in the debug info), @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of the
6638 next @emph{instruction} instead of showing the next source line. If
6639 AUTO, @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of next instruction only
6640 if the source line cannot be displayed. This setting causes
6641 @value{GDBN} to display some feedback when you step through a function
6642 with no line info or whose source file is unavailable. The default is
6643 OFF, which means never display the disassembly of the next line or
6649 @chapter Examining Data
6651 @cindex printing data
6652 @cindex examining data
6655 @c "inspect" is not quite a synonym if you are using Epoch, which we do not
6656 @c document because it is nonstandard... Under Epoch it displays in a
6657 @c different window or something like that.
6658 The usual way to examine data in your program is with the @code{print}
6659 command (abbreviated @code{p}), or its synonym @code{inspect}. It
6660 evaluates and prints the value of an expression of the language your
6661 program is written in (@pxref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with
6662 Different Languages}).
6665 @item print @var{expr}
6666 @itemx print /@var{f} @var{expr}
6667 @var{expr} is an expression (in the source language). By default the
6668 value of @var{expr} is printed in a format appropriate to its data type;
6669 you can choose a different format by specifying @samp{/@var{f}}, where
6670 @var{f} is a letter specifying the format; see @ref{Output Formats,,Output
6674 @itemx print /@var{f}
6675 @cindex reprint the last value
6676 If you omit @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} displays the last value again (from the
6677 @dfn{value history}; @pxref{Value History, ,Value History}). This allows you to
6678 conveniently inspect the same value in an alternative format.
6681 A more low-level way of examining data is with the @code{x} command.
6682 It examines data in memory at a specified address and prints it in a
6683 specified format. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
6685 If you are interested in information about types, or about how the
6686 fields of a struct or a class are declared, use the @code{ptype @var{exp}}
6687 command rather than @code{print}. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol
6691 * Expressions:: Expressions
6692 * Ambiguous Expressions:: Ambiguous Expressions
6693 * Variables:: Program variables
6694 * Arrays:: Artificial arrays
6695 * Output Formats:: Output formats
6696 * Memory:: Examining memory
6697 * Auto Display:: Automatic display
6698 * Print Settings:: Print settings
6699 * Value History:: Value history
6700 * Convenience Vars:: Convenience variables
6701 * Registers:: Registers
6702 * Floating Point Hardware:: Floating point hardware
6703 * Vector Unit:: Vector Unit
6704 * OS Information:: Auxiliary data provided by operating system
6705 * Memory Region Attributes:: Memory region attributes
6706 * Dump/Restore Files:: Copy between memory and a file
6707 * Core File Generation:: Cause a program dump its core
6708 * Character Sets:: Debugging programs that use a different
6709 character set than GDB does
6710 * Caching Remote Data:: Data caching for remote targets
6711 * Searching Memory:: Searching memory for a sequence of bytes
6715 @section Expressions
6718 @code{print} and many other @value{GDBN} commands accept an expression and
6719 compute its value. Any kind of constant, variable or operator defined
6720 by the programming language you are using is valid in an expression in
6721 @value{GDBN}. This includes conditional expressions, function calls,
6722 casts, and string constants. It also includes preprocessor macros, if
6723 you compiled your program to include this information; see
6726 @cindex arrays in expressions
6727 @value{GDBN} supports array constants in expressions input by
6728 the user. The syntax is @{@var{element}, @var{element}@dots{}@}. For example,
6729 you can use the command @code{print @{1, 2, 3@}} to create an array
6730 of three integers. If you pass an array to a function or assign it
6731 to a program variable, @value{GDBN} copies the array to memory that
6732 is @code{malloc}ed in the target program.
6734 Because C is so widespread, most of the expressions shown in examples in
6735 this manual are in C. @xref{Languages, , Using @value{GDBN} with Different
6736 Languages}, for information on how to use expressions in other
6739 In this section, we discuss operators that you can use in @value{GDBN}
6740 expressions regardless of your programming language.
6742 @cindex casts, in expressions
6743 Casts are supported in all languages, not just in C, because it is so
6744 useful to cast a number into a pointer in order to examine a structure
6745 at that address in memory.
6746 @c FIXME: casts supported---Mod2 true?
6748 @value{GDBN} supports these operators, in addition to those common
6749 to programming languages:
6753 @samp{@@} is a binary operator for treating parts of memory as arrays.
6754 @xref{Arrays, ,Artificial Arrays}, for more information.
6757 @samp{::} allows you to specify a variable in terms of the file or
6758 function where it is defined. @xref{Variables, ,Program Variables}.
6760 @cindex @{@var{type}@}
6761 @cindex type casting memory
6762 @cindex memory, viewing as typed object
6763 @cindex casts, to view memory
6764 @item @{@var{type}@} @var{addr}
6765 Refers to an object of type @var{type} stored at address @var{addr} in
6766 memory. @var{addr} may be any expression whose value is an integer or
6767 pointer (but parentheses are required around binary operators, just as in
6768 a cast). This construct is allowed regardless of what kind of data is
6769 normally supposed to reside at @var{addr}.
6772 @node Ambiguous Expressions
6773 @section Ambiguous Expressions
6774 @cindex ambiguous expressions
6776 Expressions can sometimes contain some ambiguous elements. For instance,
6777 some programming languages (notably Ada, C@t{++} and Objective-C) permit
6778 a single function name to be defined several times, for application in
6779 different contexts. This is called @dfn{overloading}. Another example
6780 involving Ada is generics. A @dfn{generic package} is similar to C@t{++}
6781 templates and is typically instantiated several times, resulting in
6782 the same function name being defined in different contexts.
6784 In some cases and depending on the language, it is possible to adjust
6785 the expression to remove the ambiguity. For instance in C@t{++}, you
6786 can specify the signature of the function you want to break on, as in
6787 @kbd{break @var{function}(@var{types})}. In Ada, using the fully
6788 qualified name of your function often makes the expression unambiguous
6791 When an ambiguity that needs to be resolved is detected, the debugger
6792 has the capability to display a menu of numbered choices for each
6793 possibility, and then waits for the selection with the prompt @samp{>}.
6794 The first option is always @samp{[0] cancel}, and typing @kbd{0 @key{RET}}
6795 aborts the current command. If the command in which the expression was
6796 used allows more than one choice to be selected, the next option in the
6797 menu is @samp{[1] all}, and typing @kbd{1 @key{RET}} selects all possible
6800 For example, the following session excerpt shows an attempt to set a
6801 breakpoint at the overloaded symbol @code{String::after}.
6802 We choose three particular definitions of that function name:
6804 @c FIXME! This is likely to change to show arg type lists, at least
6807 (@value{GDBP}) b String::after
6810 [2] file:String.cc; line number:867
6811 [3] file:String.cc; line number:860
6812 [4] file:String.cc; line number:875
6813 [5] file:String.cc; line number:853
6814 [6] file:String.cc; line number:846
6815 [7] file:String.cc; line number:735
6817 Breakpoint 1 at 0xb26c: file String.cc, line 867.
6818 Breakpoint 2 at 0xb344: file String.cc, line 875.
6819 Breakpoint 3 at 0xafcc: file String.cc, line 846.
6820 Multiple breakpoints were set.
6821 Use the "delete" command to delete unwanted
6828 @kindex set multiple-symbols
6829 @item set multiple-symbols @var{mode}
6830 @cindex multiple-symbols menu
6832 This option allows you to adjust the debugger behavior when an expression
6835 By default, @var{mode} is set to @code{all}. If the command with which
6836 the expression is used allows more than one choice, then @value{GDBN}
6837 automatically selects all possible choices. For instance, inserting
6838 a breakpoint on a function using an ambiguous name results in a breakpoint
6839 inserted on each possible match. However, if a unique choice must be made,
6840 then @value{GDBN} uses the menu to help you disambiguate the expression.
6841 For instance, printing the address of an overloaded function will result
6842 in the use of the menu.
6844 When @var{mode} is set to @code{ask}, the debugger always uses the menu
6845 when an ambiguity is detected.
6847 Finally, when @var{mode} is set to @code{cancel}, the debugger reports
6848 an error due to the ambiguity and the command is aborted.
6850 @kindex show multiple-symbols
6851 @item show multiple-symbols
6852 Show the current value of the @code{multiple-symbols} setting.
6856 @section Program Variables
6858 The most common kind of expression to use is the name of a variable
6861 Variables in expressions are understood in the selected stack frame
6862 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}); they must be either:
6866 global (or file-static)
6873 visible according to the scope rules of the
6874 programming language from the point of execution in that frame
6877 @noindent This means that in the function
6892 you can examine and use the variable @code{a} whenever your program is
6893 executing within the function @code{foo}, but you can only use or
6894 examine the variable @code{b} while your program is executing inside
6895 the block where @code{b} is declared.
6897 @cindex variable name conflict
6898 There is an exception: you can refer to a variable or function whose
6899 scope is a single source file even if the current execution point is not
6900 in this file. But it is possible to have more than one such variable or
6901 function with the same name (in different source files). If that
6902 happens, referring to that name has unpredictable effects. If you wish,
6903 you can specify a static variable in a particular function or file,
6904 using the colon-colon (@code{::}) notation:
6906 @cindex colon-colon, context for variables/functions
6908 @c info cannot cope with a :: index entry, but why deprive hard copy readers?
6909 @cindex @code{::}, context for variables/functions
6912 @var{file}::@var{variable}
6913 @var{function}::@var{variable}
6917 Here @var{file} or @var{function} is the name of the context for the
6918 static @var{variable}. In the case of file names, you can use quotes to
6919 make sure @value{GDBN} parses the file name as a single word---for example,
6920 to print a global value of @code{x} defined in @file{f2.c}:
6923 (@value{GDBP}) p 'f2.c'::x
6926 @cindex C@t{++} scope resolution
6927 This use of @samp{::} is very rarely in conflict with the very similar
6928 use of the same notation in C@t{++}. @value{GDBN} also supports use of the C@t{++}
6929 scope resolution operator in @value{GDBN} expressions.
6930 @c FIXME: Um, so what happens in one of those rare cases where it's in
6933 @cindex wrong values
6934 @cindex variable values, wrong
6935 @cindex function entry/exit, wrong values of variables
6936 @cindex optimized code, wrong values of variables
6938 @emph{Warning:} Occasionally, a local variable may appear to have the
6939 wrong value at certain points in a function---just after entry to a new
6940 scope, and just before exit.
6942 You may see this problem when you are stepping by machine instructions.
6943 This is because, on most machines, it takes more than one instruction to
6944 set up a stack frame (including local variable definitions); if you are
6945 stepping by machine instructions, variables may appear to have the wrong
6946 values until the stack frame is completely built. On exit, it usually
6947 also takes more than one machine instruction to destroy a stack frame;
6948 after you begin stepping through that group of instructions, local
6949 variable definitions may be gone.
6951 This may also happen when the compiler does significant optimizations.
6952 To be sure of always seeing accurate values, turn off all optimization
6955 @cindex ``No symbol "foo" in current context''
6956 Another possible effect of compiler optimizations is to optimize
6957 unused variables out of existence, or assign variables to registers (as
6958 opposed to memory addresses). Depending on the support for such cases
6959 offered by the debug info format used by the compiler, @value{GDBN}
6960 might not be able to display values for such local variables. If that
6961 happens, @value{GDBN} will print a message like this:
6964 No symbol "foo" in current context.
6967 To solve such problems, either recompile without optimizations, or use a
6968 different debug info format, if the compiler supports several such
6969 formats. For example, @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C/C@t{++} compiler,
6970 usually supports the @option{-gstabs+} option. @option{-gstabs+}
6971 produces debug info in a format that is superior to formats such as
6972 COFF. You may be able to use DWARF 2 (@option{-gdwarf-2}), which is also
6973 an effective form for debug info. @xref{Debugging Options,,Options
6974 for Debugging Your Program or GCC, gcc.info, Using the @sc{gnu}
6975 Compiler Collection (GCC)}.
6976 @xref{C, ,C and C@t{++}}, for more information about debug info formats
6977 that are best suited to C@t{++} programs.
6979 If you ask to print an object whose contents are unknown to
6980 @value{GDBN}, e.g., because its data type is not completely specified
6981 by the debug information, @value{GDBN} will say @samp{<incomplete
6982 type>}. @xref{Symbols, incomplete type}, for more about this.
6984 Strings are identified as arrays of @code{char} values without specified
6985 signedness. Arrays of either @code{signed char} or @code{unsigned char} get
6986 printed as arrays of 1 byte sized integers. @code{-fsigned-char} or
6987 @code{-funsigned-char} @value{NGCC} options have no effect as @value{GDBN}
6988 defines literal string type @code{"char"} as @code{char} without a sign.
6993 signed char var1[] = "A";
6996 You get during debugging
7001 $2 = @{65 'A', 0 '\0'@}
7005 @section Artificial Arrays
7007 @cindex artificial array
7009 @kindex @@@r{, referencing memory as an array}
7010 It is often useful to print out several successive objects of the
7011 same type in memory; a section of an array, or an array of
7012 dynamically determined size for which only a pointer exists in the
7015 You can do this by referring to a contiguous span of memory as an
7016 @dfn{artificial array}, using the binary operator @samp{@@}. The left
7017 operand of @samp{@@} should be the first element of the desired array
7018 and be an individual object. The right operand should be the desired length
7019 of the array. The result is an array value whose elements are all of
7020 the type of the left argument. The first element is actually the left
7021 argument; the second element comes from bytes of memory immediately
7022 following those that hold the first element, and so on. Here is an
7023 example. If a program says
7026 int *array = (int *) malloc (len * sizeof (int));
7030 you can print the contents of @code{array} with
7036 The left operand of @samp{@@} must reside in memory. Array values made
7037 with @samp{@@} in this way behave just like other arrays in terms of
7038 subscripting, and are coerced to pointers when used in expressions.
7039 Artificial arrays most often appear in expressions via the value history
7040 (@pxref{Value History, ,Value History}), after printing one out.
7042 Another way to create an artificial array is to use a cast.
7043 This re-interprets a value as if it were an array.
7044 The value need not be in memory:
7046 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[2])0x12345678
7047 $1 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
7050 As a convenience, if you leave the array length out (as in
7051 @samp{(@var{type}[])@var{value}}) @value{GDBN} calculates the size to fill
7052 the value (as @samp{sizeof(@var{value})/sizeof(@var{type})}:
7054 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[])0x12345678
7055 $2 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
7058 Sometimes the artificial array mechanism is not quite enough; in
7059 moderately complex data structures, the elements of interest may not
7060 actually be adjacent---for example, if you are interested in the values
7061 of pointers in an array. One useful work-around in this situation is
7062 to use a convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
7063 Variables}) as a counter in an expression that prints the first
7064 interesting value, and then repeat that expression via @key{RET}. For
7065 instance, suppose you have an array @code{dtab} of pointers to
7066 structures, and you are interested in the values of a field @code{fv}
7067 in each structure. Here is an example of what you might type:
7077 @node Output Formats
7078 @section Output Formats
7080 @cindex formatted output
7081 @cindex output formats
7082 By default, @value{GDBN} prints a value according to its data type. Sometimes
7083 this is not what you want. For example, you might want to print a number
7084 in hex, or a pointer in decimal. Or you might want to view data in memory
7085 at a certain address as a character string or as an instruction. To do
7086 these things, specify an @dfn{output format} when you print a value.
7088 The simplest use of output formats is to say how to print a value
7089 already computed. This is done by starting the arguments of the
7090 @code{print} command with a slash and a format letter. The format
7091 letters supported are:
7095 Regard the bits of the value as an integer, and print the integer in
7099 Print as integer in signed decimal.
7102 Print as integer in unsigned decimal.
7105 Print as integer in octal.
7108 Print as integer in binary. The letter @samp{t} stands for ``two''.
7109 @footnote{@samp{b} cannot be used because these format letters are also
7110 used with the @code{x} command, where @samp{b} stands for ``byte'';
7111 see @ref{Memory,,Examining Memory}.}
7114 @cindex unknown address, locating
7115 @cindex locate address
7116 Print as an address, both absolute in hexadecimal and as an offset from
7117 the nearest preceding symbol. You can use this format used to discover
7118 where (in what function) an unknown address is located:
7121 (@value{GDBP}) p/a 0x54320
7122 $3 = 0x54320 <_initialize_vx+396>
7126 The command @code{info symbol 0x54320} yields similar results.
7127 @xref{Symbols, info symbol}.
7130 Regard as an integer and print it as a character constant. This
7131 prints both the numerical value and its character representation. The
7132 character representation is replaced with the octal escape @samp{\nnn}
7133 for characters outside the 7-bit @sc{ascii} range.
7135 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays @code{char},
7136 @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} data as character
7137 constants. Single-byte members of vectors are displayed as integer
7141 Regard the bits of the value as a floating point number and print
7142 using typical floating point syntax.
7145 @cindex printing strings
7146 @cindex printing byte arrays
7147 Regard as a string, if possible. With this format, pointers to single-byte
7148 data are displayed as null-terminated strings and arrays of single-byte data
7149 are displayed as fixed-length strings. Other values are displayed in their
7152 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays pointers to and arrays of
7153 @code{char}, @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} as
7154 strings. Single-byte members of a vector are displayed as an integer
7158 @cindex raw printing
7159 Print using the @samp{raw} formatting. By default, @value{GDBN} will
7160 use a type-specific pretty-printer. The @samp{r} format bypasses any
7161 pretty-printer which might exist for the value's type.
7164 For example, to print the program counter in hex (@pxref{Registers}), type
7171 Note that no space is required before the slash; this is because command
7172 names in @value{GDBN} cannot contain a slash.
7174 To reprint the last value in the value history with a different format,
7175 you can use the @code{print} command with just a format and no
7176 expression. For example, @samp{p/x} reprints the last value in hex.
7179 @section Examining Memory
7181 You can use the command @code{x} (for ``examine'') to examine memory in
7182 any of several formats, independently of your program's data types.
7184 @cindex examining memory
7186 @kindex x @r{(examine memory)}
7187 @item x/@var{nfu} @var{addr}
7190 Use the @code{x} command to examine memory.
7193 @var{n}, @var{f}, and @var{u} are all optional parameters that specify how
7194 much memory to display and how to format it; @var{addr} is an
7195 expression giving the address where you want to start displaying memory.
7196 If you use defaults for @var{nfu}, you need not type the slash @samp{/}.
7197 Several commands set convenient defaults for @var{addr}.
7200 @item @var{n}, the repeat count
7201 The repeat count is a decimal integer; the default is 1. It specifies
7202 how much memory (counting by units @var{u}) to display.
7203 @c This really is **decimal**; unaffected by 'set radix' as of GDB
7206 @item @var{f}, the display format
7207 The display format is one of the formats used by @code{print}
7208 (@samp{x}, @samp{d}, @samp{u}, @samp{o}, @samp{t}, @samp{a}, @samp{c},
7209 @samp{f}, @samp{s}), and in addition @samp{i} (for machine instructions).
7210 The default is @samp{x} (hexadecimal) initially. The default changes
7211 each time you use either @code{x} or @code{print}.
7213 @item @var{u}, the unit size
7214 The unit size is any of
7220 Halfwords (two bytes).
7222 Words (four bytes). This is the initial default.
7224 Giant words (eight bytes).
7227 Each time you specify a unit size with @code{x}, that size becomes the
7228 default unit the next time you use @code{x}. (For the @samp{s} and
7229 @samp{i} formats, the unit size is ignored and is normally not written.)
7231 @item @var{addr}, starting display address
7232 @var{addr} is the address where you want @value{GDBN} to begin displaying
7233 memory. The expression need not have a pointer value (though it may);
7234 it is always interpreted as an integer address of a byte of memory.
7235 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information on expressions. The default for
7236 @var{addr} is usually just after the last address examined---but several
7237 other commands also set the default address: @code{info breakpoints} (to
7238 the address of the last breakpoint listed), @code{info line} (to the
7239 starting address of a line), and @code{print} (if you use it to display
7240 a value from memory).
7243 For example, @samp{x/3uh 0x54320} is a request to display three halfwords
7244 (@code{h}) of memory, formatted as unsigned decimal integers (@samp{u}),
7245 starting at address @code{0x54320}. @samp{x/4xw $sp} prints the four
7246 words (@samp{w}) of memory above the stack pointer (here, @samp{$sp};
7247 @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}) in hexadecimal (@samp{x}).
7249 Since the letters indicating unit sizes are all distinct from the
7250 letters specifying output formats, you do not have to remember whether
7251 unit size or format comes first; either order works. The output
7252 specifications @samp{4xw} and @samp{4wx} mean exactly the same thing.
7253 (However, the count @var{n} must come first; @samp{wx4} does not work.)
7255 Even though the unit size @var{u} is ignored for the formats @samp{s}
7256 and @samp{i}, you might still want to use a count @var{n}; for example,
7257 @samp{3i} specifies that you want to see three machine instructions,
7258 including any operands. For convenience, especially when used with
7259 the @code{display} command, the @samp{i} format also prints branch delay
7260 slot instructions, if any, beyond the count specified, which immediately
7261 follow the last instruction that is within the count. The command
7262 @code{disassemble} gives an alternative way of inspecting machine
7263 instructions; see @ref{Machine Code,,Source and Machine Code}.
7265 All the defaults for the arguments to @code{x} are designed to make it
7266 easy to continue scanning memory with minimal specifications each time
7267 you use @code{x}. For example, after you have inspected three machine
7268 instructions with @samp{x/3i @var{addr}}, you can inspect the next seven
7269 with just @samp{x/7}. If you use @key{RET} to repeat the @code{x} command,
7270 the repeat count @var{n} is used again; the other arguments default as
7271 for successive uses of @code{x}.
7273 When examining machine instructions, the instruction at current program
7274 counter is shown with a @code{=>} marker. For example:
7277 (@value{GDBP}) x/5i $pc-6
7278 0x804837f <main+11>: mov %esp,%ebp
7279 0x8048381 <main+13>: push %ecx
7280 0x8048382 <main+14>: sub $0x4,%esp
7281 => 0x8048385 <main+17>: movl $0x8048460,(%esp)
7282 0x804838c <main+24>: call 0x80482d4 <puts@@plt>
7285 @cindex @code{$_}, @code{$__}, and value history
7286 The addresses and contents printed by the @code{x} command are not saved
7287 in the value history because there is often too much of them and they
7288 would get in the way. Instead, @value{GDBN} makes these values available for
7289 subsequent use in expressions as values of the convenience variables
7290 @code{$_} and @code{$__}. After an @code{x} command, the last address
7291 examined is available for use in expressions in the convenience variable
7292 @code{$_}. The contents of that address, as examined, are available in
7293 the convenience variable @code{$__}.
7295 If the @code{x} command has a repeat count, the address and contents saved
7296 are from the last memory unit printed; this is not the same as the last
7297 address printed if several units were printed on the last line of output.
7299 @cindex remote memory comparison
7300 @cindex verify remote memory image
7301 When you are debugging a program running on a remote target machine
7302 (@pxref{Remote Debugging}), you may wish to verify the program's image in the
7303 remote machine's memory against the executable file you downloaded to
7304 the target. The @code{compare-sections} command is provided for such
7308 @kindex compare-sections
7309 @item compare-sections @r{[}@var{section-name}@r{]}
7310 Compare the data of a loadable section @var{section-name} in the
7311 executable file of the program being debugged with the same section in
7312 the remote machine's memory, and report any mismatches. With no
7313 arguments, compares all loadable sections. This command's
7314 availability depends on the target's support for the @code{"qCRC"}
7319 @section Automatic Display
7320 @cindex automatic display
7321 @cindex display of expressions
7323 If you find that you want to print the value of an expression frequently
7324 (to see how it changes), you might want to add it to the @dfn{automatic
7325 display list} so that @value{GDBN} prints its value each time your program stops.
7326 Each expression added to the list is given a number to identify it;
7327 to remove an expression from the list, you specify that number.
7328 The automatic display looks like this:
7332 3: bar[5] = (struct hack *) 0x3804
7336 This display shows item numbers, expressions and their current values. As with
7337 displays you request manually using @code{x} or @code{print}, you can
7338 specify the output format you prefer; in fact, @code{display} decides
7339 whether to use @code{print} or @code{x} depending your format
7340 specification---it uses @code{x} if you specify either the @samp{i}
7341 or @samp{s} format, or a unit size; otherwise it uses @code{print}.
7345 @item display @var{expr}
7346 Add the expression @var{expr} to the list of expressions to display
7347 each time your program stops. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
7349 @code{display} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
7351 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{expr}
7352 For @var{fmt} specifying only a display format and not a size or
7353 count, add the expression @var{expr} to the auto-display list but
7354 arrange to display it each time in the specified format @var{fmt}.
7355 @xref{Output Formats,,Output Formats}.
7357 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{addr}
7358 For @var{fmt} @samp{i} or @samp{s}, or including a unit-size or a
7359 number of units, add the expression @var{addr} as a memory address to
7360 be examined each time your program stops. Examining means in effect
7361 doing @samp{x/@var{fmt} @var{addr}}. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
7364 For example, @samp{display/i $pc} can be helpful, to see the machine
7365 instruction about to be executed each time execution stops (@samp{$pc}
7366 is a common name for the program counter; @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
7369 @kindex delete display
7371 @item undisplay @var{dnums}@dots{}
7372 @itemx delete display @var{dnums}@dots{}
7373 Remove item numbers @var{dnums} from the list of expressions to display.
7375 @code{undisplay} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
7376 (Otherwise you would just get the error @samp{No display number @dots{}}.)
7378 @kindex disable display
7379 @item disable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
7380 Disable the display of item numbers @var{dnums}. A disabled display
7381 item is not printed automatically, but is not forgotten. It may be
7382 enabled again later.
7384 @kindex enable display
7385 @item enable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
7386 Enable display of item numbers @var{dnums}. It becomes effective once
7387 again in auto display of its expression, until you specify otherwise.
7390 Display the current values of the expressions on the list, just as is
7391 done when your program stops.
7393 @kindex info display
7395 Print the list of expressions previously set up to display
7396 automatically, each one with its item number, but without showing the
7397 values. This includes disabled expressions, which are marked as such.
7398 It also includes expressions which would not be displayed right now
7399 because they refer to automatic variables not currently available.
7402 @cindex display disabled out of scope
7403 If a display expression refers to local variables, then it does not make
7404 sense outside the lexical context for which it was set up. Such an
7405 expression is disabled when execution enters a context where one of its
7406 variables is not defined. For example, if you give the command
7407 @code{display last_char} while inside a function with an argument
7408 @code{last_char}, @value{GDBN} displays this argument while your program
7409 continues to stop inside that function. When it stops elsewhere---where
7410 there is no variable @code{last_char}---the display is disabled
7411 automatically. The next time your program stops where @code{last_char}
7412 is meaningful, you can enable the display expression once again.
7414 @node Print Settings
7415 @section Print Settings
7417 @cindex format options
7418 @cindex print settings
7419 @value{GDBN} provides the following ways to control how arrays, structures,
7420 and symbols are printed.
7423 These settings are useful for debugging programs in any language:
7427 @item set print address
7428 @itemx set print address on
7429 @cindex print/don't print memory addresses
7430 @value{GDBN} prints memory addresses showing the location of stack
7431 traces, structure values, pointer values, breakpoints, and so forth,
7432 even when it also displays the contents of those addresses. The default
7433 is @code{on}. For example, this is what a stack frame display looks like with
7434 @code{set print address on}:
7439 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<<", rq=0x34c88 ">>")
7441 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
7445 @item set print address off
7446 Do not print addresses when displaying their contents. For example,
7447 this is the same stack frame displayed with @code{set print address off}:
7451 (@value{GDBP}) set print addr off
7453 #0 set_quotes (lq="<<", rq=">>") at input.c:530
7454 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
7458 You can use @samp{set print address off} to eliminate all machine
7459 dependent displays from the @value{GDBN} interface. For example, with
7460 @code{print address off}, you should get the same text for backtraces on
7461 all machines---whether or not they involve pointer arguments.
7464 @item show print address
7465 Show whether or not addresses are to be printed.
7468 When @value{GDBN} prints a symbolic address, it normally prints the
7469 closest earlier symbol plus an offset. If that symbol does not uniquely
7470 identify the address (for example, it is a name whose scope is a single
7471 source file), you may need to clarify. One way to do this is with
7472 @code{info line}, for example @samp{info line *0x4537}. Alternately,
7473 you can set @value{GDBN} to print the source file and line number when
7474 it prints a symbolic address:
7477 @item set print symbol-filename on
7478 @cindex source file and line of a symbol
7479 @cindex symbol, source file and line
7480 Tell @value{GDBN} to print the source file name and line number of a
7481 symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
7483 @item set print symbol-filename off
7484 Do not print source file name and line number of a symbol. This is the
7487 @item show print symbol-filename
7488 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} will print the source file name and
7489 line number of a symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
7492 Another situation where it is helpful to show symbol filenames and line
7493 numbers is when disassembling code; @value{GDBN} shows you the line
7494 number and source file that corresponds to each instruction.
7496 Also, you may wish to see the symbolic form only if the address being
7497 printed is reasonably close to the closest earlier symbol:
7500 @item set print max-symbolic-offset @var{max-offset}
7501 @cindex maximum value for offset of closest symbol
7502 Tell @value{GDBN} to only display the symbolic form of an address if the
7503 offset between the closest earlier symbol and the address is less than
7504 @var{max-offset}. The default is 0, which tells @value{GDBN}
7505 to always print the symbolic form of an address if any symbol precedes it.
7507 @item show print max-symbolic-offset
7508 Ask how large the maximum offset is that @value{GDBN} prints in a
7512 @cindex wild pointer, interpreting
7513 @cindex pointer, finding referent
7514 If you have a pointer and you are not sure where it points, try
7515 @samp{set print symbol-filename on}. Then you can determine the name
7516 and source file location of the variable where it points, using
7517 @samp{p/a @var{pointer}}. This interprets the address in symbolic form.
7518 For example, here @value{GDBN} shows that a variable @code{ptt} points
7519 at another variable @code{t}, defined in @file{hi2.c}:
7522 (@value{GDBP}) set print symbol-filename on
7523 (@value{GDBP}) p/a ptt
7524 $4 = 0xe008 <t in hi2.c>
7528 @emph{Warning:} For pointers that point to a local variable, @samp{p/a}
7529 does not show the symbol name and filename of the referent, even with
7530 the appropriate @code{set print} options turned on.
7533 Other settings control how different kinds of objects are printed:
7536 @item set print array
7537 @itemx set print array on
7538 @cindex pretty print arrays
7539 Pretty print arrays. This format is more convenient to read,
7540 but uses more space. The default is off.
7542 @item set print array off
7543 Return to compressed format for arrays.
7545 @item show print array
7546 Show whether compressed or pretty format is selected for displaying
7549 @cindex print array indexes
7550 @item set print array-indexes
7551 @itemx set print array-indexes on
7552 Print the index of each element when displaying arrays. May be more
7553 convenient to locate a given element in the array or quickly find the
7554 index of a given element in that printed array. The default is off.
7556 @item set print array-indexes off
7557 Stop printing element indexes when displaying arrays.
7559 @item show print array-indexes
7560 Show whether the index of each element is printed when displaying
7563 @item set print elements @var{number-of-elements}
7564 @cindex number of array elements to print
7565 @cindex limit on number of printed array elements
7566 Set a limit on how many elements of an array @value{GDBN} will print.
7567 If @value{GDBN} is printing a large array, it stops printing after it has
7568 printed the number of elements set by the @code{set print elements} command.
7569 This limit also applies to the display of strings.
7570 When @value{GDBN} starts, this limit is set to 200.
7571 Setting @var{number-of-elements} to zero means that the printing is unlimited.
7573 @item show print elements
7574 Display the number of elements of a large array that @value{GDBN} will print.
7575 If the number is 0, then the printing is unlimited.
7577 @item set print frame-arguments @var{value}
7578 @kindex set print frame-arguments
7579 @cindex printing frame argument values
7580 @cindex print all frame argument values
7581 @cindex print frame argument values for scalars only
7582 @cindex do not print frame argument values
7583 This command allows to control how the values of arguments are printed
7584 when the debugger prints a frame (@pxref{Frames}). The possible
7589 The values of all arguments are printed.
7592 Print the value of an argument only if it is a scalar. The value of more
7593 complex arguments such as arrays, structures, unions, etc, is replaced
7594 by @code{@dots{}}. This is the default. Here is an example where
7595 only scalar arguments are shown:
7598 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=3, s=@dots{}, ss=0xbf8d508c, u=@dots{}, e=green)
7603 None of the argument values are printed. Instead, the value of each argument
7604 is replaced by @code{@dots{}}. In this case, the example above now becomes:
7607 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=@dots{}, s=@dots{}, ss=@dots{}, u=@dots{}, e=@dots{})
7612 By default, only scalar arguments are printed. This command can be used
7613 to configure the debugger to print the value of all arguments, regardless
7614 of their type. However, it is often advantageous to not print the value
7615 of more complex parameters. For instance, it reduces the amount of
7616 information printed in each frame, making the backtrace more readable.
7617 Also, it improves performance when displaying Ada frames, because
7618 the computation of large arguments can sometimes be CPU-intensive,
7619 especially in large applications. Setting @code{print frame-arguments}
7620 to @code{scalars} (the default) or @code{none} avoids this computation,
7621 thus speeding up the display of each Ada frame.
7623 @item show print frame-arguments
7624 Show how the value of arguments should be displayed when printing a frame.
7626 @item set print repeats
7627 @cindex repeated array elements
7628 Set the threshold for suppressing display of repeated array
7629 elements. When the number of consecutive identical elements of an
7630 array exceeds the threshold, @value{GDBN} prints the string
7631 @code{"<repeats @var{n} times>"}, where @var{n} is the number of
7632 identical repetitions, instead of displaying the identical elements
7633 themselves. Setting the threshold to zero will cause all elements to
7634 be individually printed. The default threshold is 10.
7636 @item show print repeats
7637 Display the current threshold for printing repeated identical
7640 @item set print null-stop
7641 @cindex @sc{null} elements in arrays
7642 Cause @value{GDBN} to stop printing the characters of an array when the first
7643 @sc{null} is encountered. This is useful when large arrays actually
7644 contain only short strings.
7647 @item show print null-stop
7648 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops printing an array on the first
7649 @sc{null} character.
7651 @item set print pretty on
7652 @cindex print structures in indented form
7653 @cindex indentation in structure display
7654 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in an indented format with one member
7655 per line, like this:
7670 @item set print pretty off
7671 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in a compact format, like this:
7675 $1 = @{next = 0x0, flags = @{sweet = 1, sour = 1@}, \
7676 meat = 0x54 "Pork"@}
7681 This is the default format.
7683 @item show print pretty
7684 Show which format @value{GDBN} is using to print structures.
7686 @item set print sevenbit-strings on
7687 @cindex eight-bit characters in strings
7688 @cindex octal escapes in strings
7689 Print using only seven-bit characters; if this option is set,
7690 @value{GDBN} displays any eight-bit characters (in strings or
7691 character values) using the notation @code{\}@var{nnn}. This setting is
7692 best if you are working in English (@sc{ascii}) and you use the
7693 high-order bit of characters as a marker or ``meta'' bit.
7695 @item set print sevenbit-strings off
7696 Print full eight-bit characters. This allows the use of more
7697 international character sets, and is the default.
7699 @item show print sevenbit-strings
7700 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} is printing only seven-bit characters.
7702 @item set print union on
7703 @cindex unions in structures, printing
7704 Tell @value{GDBN} to print unions which are contained in structures
7705 and other unions. This is the default setting.
7707 @item set print union off
7708 Tell @value{GDBN} not to print unions which are contained in
7709 structures and other unions. @value{GDBN} will print @code{"@{...@}"}
7712 @item show print union
7713 Ask @value{GDBN} whether or not it will print unions which are contained in
7714 structures and other unions.
7716 For example, given the declarations
7719 typedef enum @{Tree, Bug@} Species;
7720 typedef enum @{Big_tree, Acorn, Seedling@} Tree_forms;
7721 typedef enum @{Caterpillar, Cocoon, Butterfly@}
7732 struct thing foo = @{Tree, @{Acorn@}@};
7736 with @code{set print union on} in effect @samp{p foo} would print
7739 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{tree = Acorn, bug = Cocoon@}@}
7743 and with @code{set print union off} in effect it would print
7746 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{...@}@}
7750 @code{set print union} affects programs written in C-like languages
7756 These settings are of interest when debugging C@t{++} programs:
7759 @cindex demangling C@t{++} names
7760 @item set print demangle
7761 @itemx set print demangle on
7762 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than in the encoded
7763 (``mangled'') form passed to the assembler and linker for type-safe
7764 linkage. The default is on.
7766 @item show print demangle
7767 Show whether C@t{++} names are printed in mangled or demangled form.
7769 @item set print asm-demangle
7770 @itemx set print asm-demangle on
7771 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than their mangled form, even
7772 in assembler code printouts such as instruction disassemblies.
7775 @item show print asm-demangle
7776 Show whether C@t{++} names in assembly listings are printed in mangled
7779 @cindex C@t{++} symbol decoding style
7780 @cindex symbol decoding style, C@t{++}
7781 @kindex set demangle-style
7782 @item set demangle-style @var{style}
7783 Choose among several encoding schemes used by different compilers to
7784 represent C@t{++} names. The choices for @var{style} are currently:
7788 Allow @value{GDBN} to choose a decoding style by inspecting your program.
7791 Decode based on the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler (@code{g++}) encoding algorithm.
7792 This is the default.
7795 Decode based on the HP ANSI C@t{++} (@code{aCC}) encoding algorithm.
7798 Decode based on the Lucid C@t{++} compiler (@code{lcc}) encoding algorithm.
7801 Decode using the algorithm in the @cite{C@t{++} Annotated Reference Manual}.
7802 @strong{Warning:} this setting alone is not sufficient to allow
7803 debugging @code{cfront}-generated executables. @value{GDBN} would
7804 require further enhancement to permit that.
7807 If you omit @var{style}, you will see a list of possible formats.
7809 @item show demangle-style
7810 Display the encoding style currently in use for decoding C@t{++} symbols.
7812 @item set print object
7813 @itemx set print object on
7814 @cindex derived type of an object, printing
7815 @cindex display derived types
7816 When displaying a pointer to an object, identify the @emph{actual}
7817 (derived) type of the object rather than the @emph{declared} type, using
7818 the virtual function table.
7820 @item set print object off
7821 Display only the declared type of objects, without reference to the
7822 virtual function table. This is the default setting.
7824 @item show print object
7825 Show whether actual, or declared, object types are displayed.
7827 @item set print static-members
7828 @itemx set print static-members on
7829 @cindex static members of C@t{++} objects
7830 Print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object. The default is on.
7832 @item set print static-members off
7833 Do not print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object.
7835 @item show print static-members
7836 Show whether C@t{++} static members are printed or not.
7838 @item set print pascal_static-members
7839 @itemx set print pascal_static-members on
7840 @cindex static members of Pascal objects
7841 @cindex Pascal objects, static members display
7842 Print static members when displaying a Pascal object. The default is on.
7844 @item set print pascal_static-members off
7845 Do not print static members when displaying a Pascal object.
7847 @item show print pascal_static-members
7848 Show whether Pascal static members are printed or not.
7850 @c These don't work with HP ANSI C++ yet.
7851 @item set print vtbl
7852 @itemx set print vtbl on
7853 @cindex pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables
7854 @cindex virtual functions (C@t{++}) display
7855 @cindex VTBL display
7856 Pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables. The default is off.
7857 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
7858 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
7860 @item set print vtbl off
7861 Do not pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables.
7863 @item show print vtbl
7864 Show whether C@t{++} virtual function tables are pretty printed, or not.
7868 @section Value History
7870 @cindex value history
7871 @cindex history of values printed by @value{GDBN}
7872 Values printed by the @code{print} command are saved in the @value{GDBN}
7873 @dfn{value history}. This allows you to refer to them in other expressions.
7874 Values are kept until the symbol table is re-read or discarded
7875 (for example with the @code{file} or @code{symbol-file} commands).
7876 When the symbol table changes, the value history is discarded,
7877 since the values may contain pointers back to the types defined in the
7882 @cindex history number
7883 The values printed are given @dfn{history numbers} by which you can
7884 refer to them. These are successive integers starting with one.
7885 @code{print} shows you the history number assigned to a value by
7886 printing @samp{$@var{num} = } before the value; here @var{num} is the
7889 To refer to any previous value, use @samp{$} followed by the value's
7890 history number. The way @code{print} labels its output is designed to
7891 remind you of this. Just @code{$} refers to the most recent value in
7892 the history, and @code{$$} refers to the value before that.
7893 @code{$$@var{n}} refers to the @var{n}th value from the end; @code{$$2}
7894 is the value just prior to @code{$$}, @code{$$1} is equivalent to
7895 @code{$$}, and @code{$$0} is equivalent to @code{$}.
7897 For example, suppose you have just printed a pointer to a structure and
7898 want to see the contents of the structure. It suffices to type
7904 If you have a chain of structures where the component @code{next} points
7905 to the next one, you can print the contents of the next one with this:
7912 You can print successive links in the chain by repeating this
7913 command---which you can do by just typing @key{RET}.
7915 Note that the history records values, not expressions. If the value of
7916 @code{x} is 4 and you type these commands:
7924 then the value recorded in the value history by the @code{print} command
7925 remains 4 even though the value of @code{x} has changed.
7930 Print the last ten values in the value history, with their item numbers.
7931 This is like @samp{p@ $$9} repeated ten times, except that @code{show
7932 values} does not change the history.
7934 @item show values @var{n}
7935 Print ten history values centered on history item number @var{n}.
7938 Print ten history values just after the values last printed. If no more
7939 values are available, @code{show values +} produces no display.
7942 Pressing @key{RET} to repeat @code{show values @var{n}} has exactly the
7943 same effect as @samp{show values +}.
7945 @node Convenience Vars
7946 @section Convenience Variables
7948 @cindex convenience variables
7949 @cindex user-defined variables
7950 @value{GDBN} provides @dfn{convenience variables} that you can use within
7951 @value{GDBN} to hold on to a value and refer to it later. These variables
7952 exist entirely within @value{GDBN}; they are not part of your program, and
7953 setting a convenience variable has no direct effect on further execution
7954 of your program. That is why you can use them freely.
7956 Convenience variables are prefixed with @samp{$}. Any name preceded by
7957 @samp{$} can be used for a convenience variable, unless it is one of
7958 the predefined machine-specific register names (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
7959 (Value history references, in contrast, are @emph{numbers} preceded
7960 by @samp{$}. @xref{Value History, ,Value History}.)
7962 You can save a value in a convenience variable with an assignment
7963 expression, just as you would set a variable in your program.
7967 set $foo = *object_ptr
7971 would save in @code{$foo} the value contained in the object pointed to by
7974 Using a convenience variable for the first time creates it, but its
7975 value is @code{void} until you assign a new value. You can alter the
7976 value with another assignment at any time.
7978 Convenience variables have no fixed types. You can assign a convenience
7979 variable any type of value, including structures and arrays, even if
7980 that variable already has a value of a different type. The convenience
7981 variable, when used as an expression, has the type of its current value.
7984 @kindex show convenience
7985 @cindex show all user variables
7986 @item show convenience
7987 Print a list of convenience variables used so far, and their values.
7988 Abbreviated @code{show conv}.
7990 @kindex init-if-undefined
7991 @cindex convenience variables, initializing
7992 @item init-if-undefined $@var{variable} = @var{expression}
7993 Set a convenience variable if it has not already been set. This is useful
7994 for user-defined commands that keep some state. It is similar, in concept,
7995 to using local static variables with initializers in C (except that
7996 convenience variables are global). It can also be used to allow users to
7997 override default values used in a command script.
7999 If the variable is already defined then the expression is not evaluated so
8000 any side-effects do not occur.
8003 One of the ways to use a convenience variable is as a counter to be
8004 incremented or a pointer to be advanced. For example, to print
8005 a field from successive elements of an array of structures:
8009 print bar[$i++]->contents
8013 Repeat that command by typing @key{RET}.
8015 Some convenience variables are created automatically by @value{GDBN} and given
8016 values likely to be useful.
8019 @vindex $_@r{, convenience variable}
8021 The variable @code{$_} is automatically set by the @code{x} command to
8022 the last address examined (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}). Other
8023 commands which provide a default address for @code{x} to examine also
8024 set @code{$_} to that address; these commands include @code{info line}
8025 and @code{info breakpoint}. The type of @code{$_} is @code{void *}
8026 except when set by the @code{x} command, in which case it is a pointer
8027 to the type of @code{$__}.
8029 @vindex $__@r{, convenience variable}
8031 The variable @code{$__} is automatically set by the @code{x} command
8032 to the value found in the last address examined. Its type is chosen
8033 to match the format in which the data was printed.
8036 @vindex $_exitcode@r{, convenience variable}
8037 The variable @code{$_exitcode} is automatically set to the exit code when
8038 the program being debugged terminates.
8041 @vindex $_siginfo@r{, convenience variable}
8042 The variable @code{$_siginfo} contains extra signal information
8043 (@pxref{extra signal information}). Note that @code{$_siginfo}
8044 could be empty, if the application has not yet received any signals.
8045 For example, it will be empty before you execute the @code{run} command.
8048 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
8049 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
8050 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
8052 @cindex convenience functions
8053 @value{GDBN} also supplies some @dfn{convenience functions}. These
8054 have a syntax similar to convenience variables. A convenience
8055 function can be used in an expression just like an ordinary function;
8056 however, a convenience function is implemented internally to
8061 @kindex help function
8062 @cindex show all convenience functions
8063 Print a list of all convenience functions.
8070 You can refer to machine register contents, in expressions, as variables
8071 with names starting with @samp{$}. The names of registers are different
8072 for each machine; use @code{info registers} to see the names used on
8076 @kindex info registers
8077 @item info registers
8078 Print the names and values of all registers except floating-point
8079 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
8081 @kindex info all-registers
8082 @cindex floating point registers
8083 @item info all-registers
8084 Print the names and values of all registers, including floating-point
8085 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
8087 @item info registers @var{regname} @dots{}
8088 Print the @dfn{relativized} value of each specified register @var{regname}.
8089 As discussed in detail below, register values are normally relative to
8090 the selected stack frame. @var{regname} may be any register name valid on
8091 the machine you are using, with or without the initial @samp{$}.
8094 @cindex stack pointer register
8095 @cindex program counter register
8096 @cindex process status register
8097 @cindex frame pointer register
8098 @cindex standard registers
8099 @value{GDBN} has four ``standard'' register names that are available (in
8100 expressions) on most machines---whenever they do not conflict with an
8101 architecture's canonical mnemonics for registers. The register names
8102 @code{$pc} and @code{$sp} are used for the program counter register and
8103 the stack pointer. @code{$fp} is used for a register that contains a
8104 pointer to the current stack frame, and @code{$ps} is used for a
8105 register that contains the processor status. For example,
8106 you could print the program counter in hex with
8113 or print the instruction to be executed next with
8120 or add four to the stack pointer@footnote{This is a way of removing
8121 one word from the stack, on machines where stacks grow downward in
8122 memory (most machines, nowadays). This assumes that the innermost
8123 stack frame is selected; setting @code{$sp} is not allowed when other
8124 stack frames are selected. To pop entire frames off the stack,
8125 regardless of machine architecture, use @code{return};
8126 see @ref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}.} with
8132 Whenever possible, these four standard register names are available on
8133 your machine even though the machine has different canonical mnemonics,
8134 so long as there is no conflict. The @code{info registers} command
8135 shows the canonical names. For example, on the SPARC, @code{info
8136 registers} displays the processor status register as @code{$psr} but you
8137 can also refer to it as @code{$ps}; and on x86-based machines @code{$ps}
8138 is an alias for the @sc{eflags} register.
8140 @value{GDBN} always considers the contents of an ordinary register as an
8141 integer when the register is examined in this way. Some machines have
8142 special registers which can hold nothing but floating point; these
8143 registers are considered to have floating point values. There is no way
8144 to refer to the contents of an ordinary register as floating point value
8145 (although you can @emph{print} it as a floating point value with
8146 @samp{print/f $@var{regname}}).
8148 Some registers have distinct ``raw'' and ``virtual'' data formats. This
8149 means that the data format in which the register contents are saved by
8150 the operating system is not the same one that your program normally
8151 sees. For example, the registers of the 68881 floating point
8152 coprocessor are always saved in ``extended'' (raw) format, but all C
8153 programs expect to work with ``double'' (virtual) format. In such
8154 cases, @value{GDBN} normally works with the virtual format only (the format
8155 that makes sense for your program), but the @code{info registers} command
8156 prints the data in both formats.
8158 @cindex SSE registers (x86)
8159 @cindex MMX registers (x86)
8160 Some machines have special registers whose contents can be interpreted
8161 in several different ways. For example, modern x86-based machines
8162 have SSE and MMX registers that can hold several values packed
8163 together in several different formats. @value{GDBN} refers to such
8164 registers in @code{struct} notation:
8167 (@value{GDBP}) print $xmm1
8169 v4_float = @{0, 3.43859137e-038, 1.54142831e-044, 1.821688e-044@},
8170 v2_double = @{9.92129282474342e-303, 2.7585945287983262e-313@},
8171 v16_int8 = "\000\000\000\000\3706;\001\v\000\000\000\r\000\000",
8172 v8_int16 = @{0, 0, 14072, 315, 11, 0, 13, 0@},
8173 v4_int32 = @{0, 20657912, 11, 13@},
8174 v2_int64 = @{88725056443645952, 55834574859@},
8175 uint128 = 0x0000000d0000000b013b36f800000000
8180 To set values of such registers, you need to tell @value{GDBN} which
8181 view of the register you wish to change, as if you were assigning
8182 value to a @code{struct} member:
8185 (@value{GDBP}) set $xmm1.uint128 = 0x000000000000000000000000FFFFFFFF
8188 Normally, register values are relative to the selected stack frame
8189 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). This means that you get the
8190 value that the register would contain if all stack frames farther in
8191 were exited and their saved registers restored. In order to see the
8192 true contents of hardware registers, you must select the innermost
8193 frame (with @samp{frame 0}).
8195 However, @value{GDBN} must deduce where registers are saved, from the machine
8196 code generated by your compiler. If some registers are not saved, or if
8197 @value{GDBN} is unable to locate the saved registers, the selected stack
8198 frame makes no difference.
8200 @node Floating Point Hardware
8201 @section Floating Point Hardware
8202 @cindex floating point
8204 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give
8205 you more information about the status of the floating point hardware.
8210 Display hardware-dependent information about the floating
8211 point unit. The exact contents and layout vary depending on the
8212 floating point chip. Currently, @samp{info float} is supported on
8213 the ARM and x86 machines.
8217 @section Vector Unit
8220 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give you
8221 more information about the status of the vector unit.
8226 Display information about the vector unit. The exact contents and
8227 layout vary depending on the hardware.
8230 @node OS Information
8231 @section Operating System Auxiliary Information
8232 @cindex OS information
8234 @value{GDBN} provides interfaces to useful OS facilities that can help
8235 you debug your program.
8237 @cindex @code{ptrace} system call
8238 @cindex @code{struct user} contents
8239 When @value{GDBN} runs on a @dfn{Posix system} (such as GNU or Unix
8240 machines), it interfaces with the inferior via the @code{ptrace}
8241 system call. The operating system creates a special sata structure,
8242 called @code{struct user}, for this interface. You can use the
8243 command @code{info udot} to display the contents of this data
8249 Display the contents of the @code{struct user} maintained by the OS
8250 kernel for the program being debugged. @value{GDBN} displays the
8251 contents of @code{struct user} as a list of hex numbers, similar to
8252 the @code{examine} command.
8255 @cindex auxiliary vector
8256 @cindex vector, auxiliary
8257 Some operating systems supply an @dfn{auxiliary vector} to programs at
8258 startup. This is akin to the arguments and environment that you
8259 specify for a program, but contains a system-dependent variety of
8260 binary values that tell system libraries important details about the
8261 hardware, operating system, and process. Each value's purpose is
8262 identified by an integer tag; the meanings are well-known but system-specific.
8263 Depending on the configuration and operating system facilities,
8264 @value{GDBN} may be able to show you this information. For remote
8265 targets, this functionality may further depend on the remote stub's
8266 support of the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet, see
8267 @ref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}.
8272 Display the auxiliary vector of the inferior, which can be either a
8273 live process or a core dump file. @value{GDBN} prints each tag value
8274 numerically, and also shows names and text descriptions for recognized
8275 tags. Some values in the vector are numbers, some bit masks, and some
8276 pointers to strings or other data. @value{GDBN} displays each value in the
8277 most appropriate form for a recognized tag, and in hexadecimal for
8278 an unrecognized tag.
8281 On some targets, @value{GDBN} can access operating-system-specific information
8282 and display it to user, without interpretation. For remote targets,
8283 this functionality depends on the remote stub's support of the
8284 @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet, see @ref{qXfer osdata read}.
8287 @kindex info os processes
8288 @item info os processes
8289 Display the list of processes on the target. For each process,
8290 @value{GDBN} prints the process identifier, the name of the user, and
8291 the command corresponding to the process.
8294 @node Memory Region Attributes
8295 @section Memory Region Attributes
8296 @cindex memory region attributes
8298 @dfn{Memory region attributes} allow you to describe special handling
8299 required by regions of your target's memory. @value{GDBN} uses
8300 attributes to determine whether to allow certain types of memory
8301 accesses; whether to use specific width accesses; and whether to cache
8302 target memory. By default the description of memory regions is
8303 fetched from the target (if the current target supports this), but the
8304 user can override the fetched regions.
8306 Defined memory regions can be individually enabled and disabled. When a
8307 memory region is disabled, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when
8308 accessing memory in that region. Similarly, if no memory regions have
8309 been defined, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when accessing
8312 When a memory region is defined, it is given a number to identify it;
8313 to enable, disable, or remove a memory region, you specify that number.
8317 @item mem @var{lower} @var{upper} @var{attributes}@dots{}
8318 Define a memory region bounded by @var{lower} and @var{upper} with
8319 attributes @var{attributes}@dots{}, and add it to the list of regions
8320 monitored by @value{GDBN}. Note that @var{upper} == 0 is a special
8321 case: it is treated as the target's maximum memory address.
8322 (0xffff on 16 bit targets, 0xffffffff on 32 bit targets, etc.)
8325 Discard any user changes to the memory regions and use target-supplied
8326 regions, if available, or no regions if the target does not support.
8329 @item delete mem @var{nums}@dots{}
8330 Remove memory regions @var{nums}@dots{} from the list of regions
8331 monitored by @value{GDBN}.
8334 @item disable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
8335 Disable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
8336 A disabled memory region is not forgotten.
8337 It may be enabled again later.
8340 @item enable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
8341 Enable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
8345 Print a table of all defined memory regions, with the following columns
8349 @item Memory Region Number
8350 @item Enabled or Disabled.
8351 Enabled memory regions are marked with @samp{y}.
8352 Disabled memory regions are marked with @samp{n}.
8355 The address defining the inclusive lower bound of the memory region.
8358 The address defining the exclusive upper bound of the memory region.
8361 The list of attributes set for this memory region.
8366 @subsection Attributes
8368 @subsubsection Memory Access Mode
8369 The access mode attributes set whether @value{GDBN} may make read or
8370 write accesses to a memory region.
8372 While these attributes prevent @value{GDBN} from performing invalid
8373 memory accesses, they do nothing to prevent the target system, I/O DMA,
8374 etc.@: from accessing memory.
8378 Memory is read only.
8380 Memory is write only.
8382 Memory is read/write. This is the default.
8385 @subsubsection Memory Access Size
8386 The access size attribute tells @value{GDBN} to use specific sized
8387 accesses in the memory region. Often memory mapped device registers
8388 require specific sized accesses. If no access size attribute is
8389 specified, @value{GDBN} may use accesses of any size.
8393 Use 8 bit memory accesses.
8395 Use 16 bit memory accesses.
8397 Use 32 bit memory accesses.
8399 Use 64 bit memory accesses.
8402 @c @subsubsection Hardware/Software Breakpoints
8403 @c The hardware/software breakpoint attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
8404 @c will use hardware or software breakpoints for the internal breakpoints
8405 @c used by the step, next, finish, until, etc. commands.
8409 @c Always use hardware breakpoints
8410 @c @item swbreak (default)
8413 @subsubsection Data Cache
8414 The data cache attributes set whether @value{GDBN} will cache target
8415 memory. While this generally improves performance by reducing debug
8416 protocol overhead, it can lead to incorrect results because @value{GDBN}
8417 does not know about volatile variables or memory mapped device
8422 Enable @value{GDBN} to cache target memory.
8424 Disable @value{GDBN} from caching target memory. This is the default.
8427 @subsection Memory Access Checking
8428 @value{GDBN} can be instructed to refuse accesses to memory that is
8429 not explicitly described. This can be useful if accessing such
8430 regions has undesired effects for a specific target, or to provide
8431 better error checking. The following commands control this behaviour.
8434 @kindex set mem inaccessible-by-default
8435 @item set mem inaccessible-by-default [on|off]
8436 If @code{on} is specified, make @value{GDBN} treat memory not
8437 explicitly described by the memory ranges as non-existent and refuse accesses
8438 to such memory. The checks are only performed if there's at least one
8439 memory range defined. If @code{off} is specified, make @value{GDBN}
8440 treat the memory not explicitly described by the memory ranges as RAM.
8441 The default value is @code{on}.
8442 @kindex show mem inaccessible-by-default
8443 @item show mem inaccessible-by-default
8444 Show the current handling of accesses to unknown memory.
8448 @c @subsubsection Memory Write Verification
8449 @c The memory write verification attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
8450 @c will re-reads data after each write to verify the write was successful.
8454 @c @item noverify (default)
8457 @node Dump/Restore Files
8458 @section Copy Between Memory and a File
8459 @cindex dump/restore files
8460 @cindex append data to a file
8461 @cindex dump data to a file
8462 @cindex restore data from a file
8464 You can use the commands @code{dump}, @code{append}, and
8465 @code{restore} to copy data between target memory and a file. The
8466 @code{dump} and @code{append} commands write data to a file, and the
8467 @code{restore} command reads data from a file back into the inferior's
8468 memory. Files may be in binary, Motorola S-record, Intel hex, or
8469 Tektronix Hex format; however, @value{GDBN} can only append to binary
8475 @item dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
8476 @itemx dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
8477 Dump the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
8478 or the value of @var{expr}, to @var{filename} in the given format.
8480 The @var{format} parameter may be any one of:
8487 Motorola S-record format.
8489 Tektronix Hex format.
8492 @value{GDBN} uses the same definitions of these formats as the
8493 @sc{gnu} binary utilities, like @samp{objdump} and @samp{objcopy}. If
8494 @var{format} is omitted, @value{GDBN} dumps the data in raw binary
8498 @item append @r{[}binary@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
8499 @itemx append @r{[}binary@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
8500 Append the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
8501 or the value of @var{expr}, to the file @var{filename}, in raw binary form.
8502 (@value{GDBN} can only append data to files in raw binary form.)
8505 @item restore @var{filename} @r{[}binary@r{]} @var{bias} @var{start} @var{end}
8506 Restore the contents of file @var{filename} into memory. The
8507 @code{restore} command can automatically recognize any known @sc{bfd}
8508 file format, except for raw binary. To restore a raw binary file you
8509 must specify the optional keyword @code{binary} after the filename.
8511 If @var{bias} is non-zero, its value will be added to the addresses
8512 contained in the file. Binary files always start at address zero, so
8513 they will be restored at address @var{bias}. Other bfd files have
8514 a built-in location; they will be restored at offset @var{bias}
8517 If @var{start} and/or @var{end} are non-zero, then only data between
8518 file offset @var{start} and file offset @var{end} will be restored.
8519 These offsets are relative to the addresses in the file, before
8520 the @var{bias} argument is applied.
8524 @node Core File Generation
8525 @section How to Produce a Core File from Your Program
8526 @cindex dump core from inferior
8528 A @dfn{core file} or @dfn{core dump} is a file that records the memory
8529 image of a running process and its process status (register values
8530 etc.). Its primary use is post-mortem debugging of a program that
8531 crashed while it ran outside a debugger. A program that crashes
8532 automatically produces a core file, unless this feature is disabled by
8533 the user. @xref{Files}, for information on invoking @value{GDBN} in
8534 the post-mortem debugging mode.
8536 Occasionally, you may wish to produce a core file of the program you
8537 are debugging in order to preserve a snapshot of its state.
8538 @value{GDBN} has a special command for that.
8542 @kindex generate-core-file
8543 @item generate-core-file [@var{file}]
8544 @itemx gcore [@var{file}]
8545 Produce a core dump of the inferior process. The optional argument
8546 @var{file} specifies the file name where to put the core dump. If not
8547 specified, the file name defaults to @file{core.@var{pid}}, where
8548 @var{pid} is the inferior process ID.
8550 Note that this command is implemented only for some systems (as of
8551 this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, Unixware, and S390).
8554 @node Character Sets
8555 @section Character Sets
8556 @cindex character sets
8558 @cindex translating between character sets
8559 @cindex host character set
8560 @cindex target character set
8562 If the program you are debugging uses a different character set to
8563 represent characters and strings than the one @value{GDBN} uses itself,
8564 @value{GDBN} can automatically translate between the character sets for
8565 you. The character set @value{GDBN} uses we call the @dfn{host
8566 character set}; the one the inferior program uses we call the
8567 @dfn{target character set}.
8569 For example, if you are running @value{GDBN} on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, which
8570 uses the ISO Latin 1 character set, but you are using @value{GDBN}'s
8571 remote protocol (@pxref{Remote Debugging}) to debug a program
8572 running on an IBM mainframe, which uses the @sc{ebcdic} character set,
8573 then the host character set is Latin-1, and the target character set is
8574 @sc{ebcdic}. If you give @value{GDBN} the command @code{set
8575 target-charset EBCDIC-US}, then @value{GDBN} translates between
8576 @sc{ebcdic} and Latin 1 as you print character or string values, or use
8577 character and string literals in expressions.
8579 @value{GDBN} has no way to automatically recognize which character set
8580 the inferior program uses; you must tell it, using the @code{set
8581 target-charset} command, described below.
8583 Here are the commands for controlling @value{GDBN}'s character set
8587 @item set target-charset @var{charset}
8588 @kindex set target-charset
8589 Set the current target character set to @var{charset}. To display the
8590 list of supported target character sets, type
8591 @kbd{@w{set target-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
8593 @item set host-charset @var{charset}
8594 @kindex set host-charset
8595 Set the current host character set to @var{charset}.
8597 By default, @value{GDBN} uses a host character set appropriate to the
8598 system it is running on; you can override that default using the
8599 @code{set host-charset} command. On some systems, @value{GDBN} cannot
8600 automatically determine the appropriate host character set. In this
8601 case, @value{GDBN} uses @samp{UTF-8}.
8603 @value{GDBN} can only use certain character sets as its host character
8604 set. If you type @kbd{@w{set target-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
8605 @value{GDBN} will list the host character sets it supports.
8607 @item set charset @var{charset}
8609 Set the current host and target character sets to @var{charset}. As
8610 above, if you type @kbd{@w{set charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
8611 @value{GDBN} will list the names of the character sets that can be used
8612 for both host and target.
8615 @kindex show charset
8616 Show the names of the current host and target character sets.
8618 @item show host-charset
8619 @kindex show host-charset
8620 Show the name of the current host character set.
8622 @item show target-charset
8623 @kindex show target-charset
8624 Show the name of the current target character set.
8626 @item set target-wide-charset @var{charset}
8627 @kindex set target-wide-charset
8628 Set the current target's wide character set to @var{charset}. This is
8629 the character set used by the target's @code{wchar_t} type. To
8630 display the list of supported wide character sets, type
8631 @kbd{@w{set target-wide-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
8633 @item show target-wide-charset
8634 @kindex show target-wide-charset
8635 Show the name of the current target's wide character set.
8638 Here is an example of @value{GDBN}'s character set support in action.
8639 Assume that the following source code has been placed in the file
8640 @file{charset-test.c}:
8646 = @{72, 101, 108, 108, 111, 44, 32, 119,
8647 111, 114, 108, 100, 33, 10, 0@};
8648 char ibm1047_hello[]
8649 = @{200, 133, 147, 147, 150, 107, 64, 166,
8650 150, 153, 147, 132, 90, 37, 0@};
8654 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
8658 In this program, @code{ascii_hello} and @code{ibm1047_hello} are arrays
8659 containing the string @samp{Hello, world!} followed by a newline,
8660 encoded in the @sc{ascii} and @sc{ibm1047} character sets.
8662 We compile the program, and invoke the debugger on it:
8665 $ gcc -g charset-test.c -o charset-test
8666 $ gdb -nw charset-test
8667 GNU gdb 2001-12-19-cvs
8668 Copyright 2001 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
8673 We can use the @code{show charset} command to see what character sets
8674 @value{GDBN} is currently using to interpret and display characters and
8678 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
8679 The current host and target character set is `ISO-8859-1'.
8683 For the sake of printing this manual, let's use @sc{ascii} as our
8684 initial character set:
8686 (@value{GDBP}) set charset ASCII
8687 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
8688 The current host and target character set is `ASCII'.
8692 Let's assume that @sc{ascii} is indeed the correct character set for our
8693 host system --- in other words, let's assume that if @value{GDBN} prints
8694 characters using the @sc{ascii} character set, our terminal will display
8695 them properly. Since our current target character set is also
8696 @sc{ascii}, the contents of @code{ascii_hello} print legibly:
8699 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
8700 $1 = 0x401698 "Hello, world!\n"
8701 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
8706 @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and string
8707 literals you use in expressions:
8710 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
8715 The @sc{ascii} character set uses the number 43 to encode the @samp{+}
8718 @value{GDBN} relies on the user to tell it which character set the
8719 target program uses. If we print @code{ibm1047_hello} while our target
8720 character set is still @sc{ascii}, we get jibberish:
8723 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
8724 $4 = 0x4016a8 "\310\205\223\223\226k@@\246\226\231\223\204Z%"
8725 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
8730 If we invoke the @code{set target-charset} followed by @key{TAB}@key{TAB},
8731 @value{GDBN} tells us the character sets it supports:
8734 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
8735 ASCII EBCDIC-US IBM1047 ISO-8859-1
8736 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
8739 We can select @sc{ibm1047} as our target character set, and examine the
8740 program's strings again. Now the @sc{ascii} string is wrong, but
8741 @value{GDBN} translates the contents of @code{ibm1047_hello} from the
8742 target character set, @sc{ibm1047}, to the host character set,
8743 @sc{ascii}, and they display correctly:
8746 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset IBM1047
8747 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
8748 The current host character set is `ASCII'.
8749 The current target character set is `IBM1047'.
8750 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
8751 $6 = 0x401698 "\110\145%%?\054\040\167?\162%\144\041\012"
8752 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
8754 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
8755 $8 = 0x4016a8 "Hello, world!\n"
8756 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
8761 As above, @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and
8762 string literals you use in expressions:
8765 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
8770 The @sc{ibm1047} character set uses the number 78 to encode the @samp{+}
8773 @node Caching Remote Data
8774 @section Caching Data of Remote Targets
8775 @cindex caching data of remote targets
8777 @value{GDBN} caches data exchanged between the debugger and a
8778 remote target (@pxref{Remote Debugging}). Such caching generally improves
8779 performance, because it reduces the overhead of the remote protocol by
8780 bundling memory reads and writes into large chunks. Unfortunately, simply
8781 caching everything would lead to incorrect results, since @value{GDBN}
8782 does not necessarily know anything about volatile values, memory-mapped I/O
8783 addresses, etc. Furthermore, in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode})
8784 memory can be changed @emph{while} a gdb command is executing.
8785 Therefore, by default, @value{GDBN} only caches data
8786 known to be on the stack@footnote{In non-stop mode, it is moderately
8787 rare for a running thread to modify the stack of a stopped thread
8788 in a way that would interfere with a backtrace, and caching of
8789 stack reads provides a significant speed up of remote backtraces.}.
8790 Other regions of memory can be explicitly marked as
8791 cacheable; see @pxref{Memory Region Attributes}.
8794 @kindex set remotecache
8795 @item set remotecache on
8796 @itemx set remotecache off
8797 This option no longer does anything; it exists for compatibility
8800 @kindex show remotecache
8801 @item show remotecache
8802 Show the current state of the obsolete remotecache flag.
8804 @kindex set stack-cache
8805 @item set stack-cache on
8806 @itemx set stack-cache off
8807 Enable or disable caching of stack accesses. When @code{ON}, use
8808 caching. By default, this option is @code{ON}.
8810 @kindex show stack-cache
8811 @item show stack-cache
8812 Show the current state of data caching for memory accesses.
8815 @item info dcache @r{[}line@r{]}
8816 Print the information about the data cache performance. The
8817 information displayed includes the dcache width and depth, and for
8818 each cache line, its number, address, and how many times it was
8819 referenced. This command is useful for debugging the data cache
8822 If a line number is specified, the contents of that line will be
8826 @node Searching Memory
8827 @section Search Memory
8828 @cindex searching memory
8830 Memory can be searched for a particular sequence of bytes with the
8831 @code{find} command.
8835 @item find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, +@var{len}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
8836 @itemx find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, @var{end_addr}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
8837 Search memory for the sequence of bytes specified by @var{val1}, @var{val2},
8838 etc. The search begins at address @var{start_addr} and continues for either
8839 @var{len} bytes or through to @var{end_addr} inclusive.
8842 @var{s} and @var{n} are optional parameters.
8843 They may be specified in either order, apart or together.
8846 @item @var{s}, search query size
8847 The size of each search query value.
8853 halfwords (two bytes)
8857 giant words (eight bytes)
8860 All values are interpreted in the current language.
8861 This means, for example, that if the current source language is C/C@t{++}
8862 then searching for the string ``hello'' includes the trailing '\0'.
8864 If the value size is not specified, it is taken from the
8865 value's type in the current language.
8866 This is useful when one wants to specify the search
8867 pattern as a mixture of types.
8868 Note that this means, for example, that in the case of C-like languages
8869 a search for an untyped 0x42 will search for @samp{(int) 0x42}
8870 which is typically four bytes.
8872 @item @var{n}, maximum number of finds
8873 The maximum number of matches to print. The default is to print all finds.
8876 You can use strings as search values. Quote them with double-quotes
8878 The string value is copied into the search pattern byte by byte,
8879 regardless of the endianness of the target and the size specification.
8881 The address of each match found is printed as well as a count of the
8882 number of matches found.
8884 The address of the last value found is stored in convenience variable
8886 A count of the number of matches is stored in @samp{$numfound}.
8888 For example, if stopped at the @code{printf} in this function:
8894 static char hello[] = "hello-hello";
8895 static struct @{ char c; short s; int i; @}
8896 __attribute__ ((packed)) mixed
8897 = @{ 'c', 0x1234, 0x87654321 @};
8898 printf ("%s\n", hello);
8903 you get during debugging:
8906 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), "hello"
8907 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
8909 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o'
8910 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
8911 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
8913 (gdb) find /b1 &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 0x65, 'l'
8914 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
8916 (gdb) find &mixed, +sizeof(mixed), (char) 'c', (short) 0x1234, (int) 0x87654321
8917 0x8049560 <mixed.1625>
8919 (gdb) print $numfound
8922 $2 = (void *) 0x8049560
8925 @node Optimized Code
8926 @chapter Debugging Optimized Code
8927 @cindex optimized code, debugging
8928 @cindex debugging optimized code
8930 Almost all compilers support optimization. With optimization
8931 disabled, the compiler generates assembly code that corresponds
8932 directly to your source code, in a simplistic way. As the compiler
8933 applies more powerful optimizations, the generated assembly code
8934 diverges from your original source code. With help from debugging
8935 information generated by the compiler, @value{GDBN} can map from
8936 the running program back to constructs from your original source.
8938 @value{GDBN} is more accurate with optimization disabled. If you
8939 can recompile without optimization, it is easier to follow the
8940 progress of your program during debugging. But, there are many cases
8941 where you may need to debug an optimized version.
8943 When you debug a program compiled with @samp{-g -O}, remember that the
8944 optimizer has rearranged your code; the debugger shows you what is
8945 really there. Do not be too surprised when the execution path does not
8946 exactly match your source file! An extreme example: if you define a
8947 variable, but never use it, @value{GDBN} never sees that
8948 variable---because the compiler optimizes it out of existence.
8950 Some things do not work as well with @samp{-g -O} as with just
8951 @samp{-g}, particularly on machines with instruction scheduling. If in
8952 doubt, recompile with @samp{-g} alone, and if this fixes the problem,
8953 please report it to us as a bug (including a test case!).
8954 @xref{Variables}, for more information about debugging optimized code.
8957 * Inline Functions:: How @value{GDBN} presents inlining
8960 @node Inline Functions
8961 @section Inline Functions
8962 @cindex inline functions, debugging
8964 @dfn{Inlining} is an optimization that inserts a copy of the function
8965 body directly at each call site, instead of jumping to a shared
8966 routine. @value{GDBN} displays inlined functions just like
8967 non-inlined functions. They appear in backtraces. You can view their
8968 arguments and local variables, step into them with @code{step}, skip
8969 them with @code{next}, and escape from them with @code{finish}.
8970 You can check whether a function was inlined by using the
8971 @code{info frame} command.
8973 For @value{GDBN} to support inlined functions, the compiler must
8974 record information about inlining in the debug information ---
8975 @value{NGCC} using the @sc{dwarf 2} format does this, and several
8976 other compilers do also. @value{GDBN} only supports inlined functions
8977 when using @sc{dwarf 2}. Versions of @value{NGCC} before 4.1
8978 do not emit two required attributes (@samp{DW_AT_call_file} and
8979 @samp{DW_AT_call_line}); @value{GDBN} does not display inlined
8980 function calls with earlier versions of @value{NGCC}. It instead
8981 displays the arguments and local variables of inlined functions as
8982 local variables in the caller.
8984 The body of an inlined function is directly included at its call site;
8985 unlike a non-inlined function, there are no instructions devoted to
8986 the call. @value{GDBN} still pretends that the call site and the
8987 start of the inlined function are different instructions. Stepping to
8988 the call site shows the call site, and then stepping again shows
8989 the first line of the inlined function, even though no additional
8990 instructions are executed.
8992 This makes source-level debugging much clearer; you can see both the
8993 context of the call and then the effect of the call. Only stepping by
8994 a single instruction using @code{stepi} or @code{nexti} does not do
8995 this; single instruction steps always show the inlined body.
8997 There are some ways that @value{GDBN} does not pretend that inlined
8998 function calls are the same as normal calls:
9002 You cannot set breakpoints on inlined functions. @value{GDBN}
9003 either reports that there is no symbol with that name, or else sets the
9004 breakpoint only on non-inlined copies of the function. This limitation
9005 will be removed in a future version of @value{GDBN}; until then,
9006 set a breakpoint by line number on the first line of the inlined
9010 Setting breakpoints at the call site of an inlined function may not
9011 work, because the call site does not contain any code. @value{GDBN}
9012 may incorrectly move the breakpoint to the next line of the enclosing
9013 function, after the call. This limitation will be removed in a future
9014 version of @value{GDBN}; until then, set a breakpoint on an earlier line
9015 or inside the inlined function instead.
9018 @value{GDBN} cannot locate the return value of inlined calls after
9019 using the @code{finish} command. This is a limitation of compiler-generated
9020 debugging information; after @code{finish}, you can step to the next line
9021 and print a variable where your program stored the return value.
9027 @chapter C Preprocessor Macros
9029 Some languages, such as C and C@t{++}, provide a way to define and invoke
9030 ``preprocessor macros'' which expand into strings of tokens.
9031 @value{GDBN} can evaluate expressions containing macro invocations, show
9032 the result of macro expansion, and show a macro's definition, including
9033 where it was defined.
9035 You may need to compile your program specially to provide @value{GDBN}
9036 with information about preprocessor macros. Most compilers do not
9037 include macros in their debugging information, even when you compile
9038 with the @option{-g} flag. @xref{Compilation}.
9040 A program may define a macro at one point, remove that definition later,
9041 and then provide a different definition after that. Thus, at different
9042 points in the program, a macro may have different definitions, or have
9043 no definition at all. If there is a current stack frame, @value{GDBN}
9044 uses the macros in scope at that frame's source code line. Otherwise,
9045 @value{GDBN} uses the macros in scope at the current listing location;
9048 Whenever @value{GDBN} evaluates an expression, it always expands any
9049 macro invocations present in the expression. @value{GDBN} also provides
9050 the following commands for working with macros explicitly.
9054 @kindex macro expand
9055 @cindex macro expansion, showing the results of preprocessor
9056 @cindex preprocessor macro expansion, showing the results of
9057 @cindex expanding preprocessor macros
9058 @item macro expand @var{expression}
9059 @itemx macro exp @var{expression}
9060 Show the results of expanding all preprocessor macro invocations in
9061 @var{expression}. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does
9062 not parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression;
9063 it can be any string of tokens.
9066 @item macro expand-once @var{expression}
9067 @itemx macro exp1 @var{expression}
9068 @cindex expand macro once
9069 @i{(This command is not yet implemented.)} Show the results of
9070 expanding those preprocessor macro invocations that appear explicitly in
9071 @var{expression}. Macro invocations appearing in that expansion are
9072 left unchanged. This command allows you to see the effect of a
9073 particular macro more clearly, without being confused by further
9074 expansions. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does not
9075 parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression; it
9076 can be any string of tokens.
9079 @cindex macro definition, showing
9080 @cindex definition, showing a macro's
9081 @item info macro @var{macro}
9082 Show the definition of the macro named @var{macro}, and describe the
9083 source location or compiler command-line where that definition was established.
9085 @kindex macro define
9086 @cindex user-defined macros
9087 @cindex defining macros interactively
9088 @cindex macros, user-defined
9089 @item macro define @var{macro} @var{replacement-list}
9090 @itemx macro define @var{macro}(@var{arglist}) @var{replacement-list}
9091 Introduce a definition for a preprocessor macro named @var{macro},
9092 invocations of which are replaced by the tokens given in
9093 @var{replacement-list}. The first form of this command defines an
9094 ``object-like'' macro, which takes no arguments; the second form
9095 defines a ``function-like'' macro, which takes the arguments given in
9098 A definition introduced by this command is in scope in every
9099 expression evaluated in @value{GDBN}, until it is removed with the
9100 @code{macro undef} command, described below. The definition overrides
9101 all definitions for @var{macro} present in the program being debugged,
9102 as well as any previous user-supplied definition.
9105 @item macro undef @var{macro}
9106 Remove any user-supplied definition for the macro named @var{macro}.
9107 This command only affects definitions provided with the @code{macro
9108 define} command, described above; it cannot remove definitions present
9109 in the program being debugged.
9113 List all the macros defined using the @code{macro define} command.
9116 @cindex macros, example of debugging with
9117 Here is a transcript showing the above commands in action. First, we
9118 show our source files:
9126 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
9131 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
9133 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
9135 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
9142 Now, we compile the program using the @sc{gnu} C compiler, @value{NGCC}.
9143 We pass the @option{-gdwarf-2} and @option{-g3} flags to ensure the
9144 compiler includes information about preprocessor macros in the debugging
9148 $ gcc -gdwarf-2 -g3 sample.c -o sample
9152 Now, we start @value{GDBN} on our sample program:
9156 GNU gdb 2002-05-06-cvs
9157 Copyright 2002 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
9158 GDB is free software, @dots{}
9162 We can expand macros and examine their definitions, even when the
9163 program is not running. @value{GDBN} uses the current listing position
9164 to decide which macro definitions are in scope:
9167 (@value{GDBP}) list main
9170 5 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
9175 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
9177 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
9178 (@value{GDBP}) info macro ADD
9179 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:5
9180 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
9181 (@value{GDBP}) info macro Q
9182 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.h:1
9183 included at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:2
9185 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand ADD(1)
9186 expands to: (42 + 1)
9187 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand-once ADD(1)
9188 expands to: once (M + 1)
9192 In the example above, note that @code{macro expand-once} expands only
9193 the macro invocation explicit in the original text --- the invocation of
9194 @code{ADD} --- but does not expand the invocation of the macro @code{M},
9195 which was introduced by @code{ADD}.
9197 Once the program is running, @value{GDBN} uses the macro definitions in
9198 force at the source line of the current stack frame:
9201 (@value{GDBP}) break main
9202 Breakpoint 1 at 0x8048370: file sample.c, line 10.
9204 Starting program: /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample
9206 Breakpoint 1, main () at sample.c:10
9207 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
9211 At line 10, the definition of the macro @code{N} at line 9 is in force:
9214 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
9215 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:9
9217 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
9219 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
9224 As we step over directives that remove @code{N}'s definition, and then
9225 give it a new definition, @value{GDBN} finds the definition (or lack
9226 thereof) in force at each point:
9231 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
9232 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
9233 The symbol `N' has no definition as a C/C++ preprocessor macro
9234 at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:12
9237 14 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
9238 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
9239 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:13
9241 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
9242 expands to: 1729 < 42
9243 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
9248 In addition to source files, macros can be defined on the compilation command
9249 line using the @option{-D@var{name}=@var{value}} syntax. For macros defined in
9250 such a way, @value{GDBN} displays the location of their definition as line zero
9251 of the source file submitted to the compiler.
9254 (@value{GDBP}) info macro __STDC__
9255 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:0
9262 @chapter Tracepoints
9263 @c This chapter is based on the documentation written by Michael
9264 @c Snyder, David Taylor, Jim Blandy, and Elena Zannoni.
9267 In some applications, it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt
9268 the program's execution long enough for the developer to learn
9269 anything helpful about its behavior. If the program's correctness
9270 depends on its real-time behavior, delays introduced by a debugger
9271 might cause the program to change its behavior drastically, or perhaps
9272 fail, even when the code itself is correct. It is useful to be able
9273 to observe the program's behavior without interrupting it.
9275 Using @value{GDBN}'s @code{trace} and @code{collect} commands, you can
9276 specify locations in the program, called @dfn{tracepoints}, and
9277 arbitrary expressions to evaluate when those tracepoints are reached.
9278 Later, using the @code{tfind} command, you can examine the values
9279 those expressions had when the program hit the tracepoints. The
9280 expressions may also denote objects in memory---structures or arrays,
9281 for example---whose values @value{GDBN} should record; while visiting
9282 a particular tracepoint, you may inspect those objects as if they were
9283 in memory at that moment. However, because @value{GDBN} records these
9284 values without interacting with you, it can do so quickly and
9285 unobtrusively, hopefully not disturbing the program's behavior.
9287 The tracepoint facility is currently available only for remote
9288 targets. @xref{Targets}. In addition, your remote target must know
9289 how to collect trace data. This functionality is implemented in the
9290 remote stub; however, none of the stubs distributed with @value{GDBN}
9291 support tracepoints as of this writing. The format of the remote
9292 packets used to implement tracepoints are described in @ref{Tracepoint
9295 This chapter describes the tracepoint commands and features.
9299 * Analyze Collected Data::
9300 * Tracepoint Variables::
9303 @node Set Tracepoints
9304 @section Commands to Set Tracepoints
9306 Before running such a @dfn{trace experiment}, an arbitrary number of
9307 tracepoints can be set. A tracepoint is actually a special type of
9308 breakpoint (@pxref{Set Breaks}), so you can manipulate it using
9309 standard breakpoint commands. For instance, as with breakpoints,
9310 tracepoint numbers are successive integers starting from one, and many
9311 of the commands associated with tracepoints take the tracepoint number
9312 as their argument, to identify which tracepoint to work on.
9314 For each tracepoint, you can specify, in advance, some arbitrary set
9315 of data that you want the target to collect in the trace buffer when
9316 it hits that tracepoint. The collected data can include registers,
9317 local variables, or global data. Later, you can use @value{GDBN}
9318 commands to examine the values these data had at the time the
9321 Tracepoints do not support every breakpoint feature. Conditional
9322 expressions and ignore counts on tracepoints have no effect, and
9323 tracepoints cannot run @value{GDBN} commands when they are
9324 hit. Tracepoints may not be thread-specific either.
9326 @cindex fast tracepoints
9327 Some targets may support @dfn{fast tracepoints}, which are inserted in
9328 a different way (such as with a jump instead of a trap), that is
9329 faster but possibly restricted in where they may be installed.
9331 This section describes commands to set tracepoints and associated
9332 conditions and actions.
9335 * Create and Delete Tracepoints::
9336 * Enable and Disable Tracepoints::
9337 * Tracepoint Passcounts::
9338 * Tracepoint Conditions::
9339 * Trace State Variables::
9340 * Tracepoint Actions::
9341 * Listing Tracepoints::
9342 * Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments::
9345 @node Create and Delete Tracepoints
9346 @subsection Create and Delete Tracepoints
9349 @cindex set tracepoint
9351 @item trace @var{location}
9352 The @code{trace} command is very similar to the @code{break} command.
9353 Its argument @var{location} can be a source line, a function name, or
9354 an address in the target program. @xref{Specify Location}. The
9355 @code{trace} command defines a tracepoint, which is a point in the
9356 target program where the debugger will briefly stop, collect some
9357 data, and then allow the program to continue. Setting a tracepoint or
9358 changing its actions doesn't take effect until the next @code{tstart}
9359 command, and once a trace experiment is running, further changes will
9360 not have any effect until the next trace experiment starts.
9362 Here are some examples of using the @code{trace} command:
9365 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo.c:121} // a source file and line number
9367 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace +2} // 2 lines forward
9369 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace my_function} // first source line of function
9371 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *my_function} // EXACT start address of function
9373 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *0x2117c4} // an address
9377 You can abbreviate @code{trace} as @code{tr}.
9379 @item trace @var{location} if @var{cond}
9380 Set a tracepoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
9381 @var{cond} each time the tracepoint is reached, and collect data only
9382 if the value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
9383 @xref{Tracepoint Conditions, ,Tracepoint Conditions}, for more
9384 information on tracepoint conditions.
9386 @item ftrace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
9387 @cindex set fast tracepoint
9389 The @code{ftrace} command sets a fast tracepoint. For targets that
9390 support them, fast tracepoints will use a more efficient but possibly
9391 less general technique to trigger data collection, such as a jump
9392 instruction instead of a trap, or some sort of hardware support. It
9393 may not be possible to create a fast tracepoint at the desired
9394 location, in which case the command will exit with an explanatory
9397 @value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{ftrace} exactly as for
9401 @cindex last tracepoint number
9402 @cindex recent tracepoint number
9403 @cindex tracepoint number
9404 The convenience variable @code{$tpnum} records the tracepoint number
9405 of the most recently set tracepoint.
9407 @kindex delete tracepoint
9408 @cindex tracepoint deletion
9409 @item delete tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
9410 Permanently delete one or more tracepoints. With no argument, the
9411 default is to delete all tracepoints. Note that the regular
9412 @code{delete} command can remove tracepoints also.
9417 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace 1 2 3} // remove three tracepoints
9419 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace} // remove all tracepoints
9423 You can abbreviate this command as @code{del tr}.
9426 @node Enable and Disable Tracepoints
9427 @subsection Enable and Disable Tracepoints
9429 These commands are deprecated; they are equivalent to plain @code{disable} and @code{enable}.
9432 @kindex disable tracepoint
9433 @item disable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
9434 Disable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints if no argument
9435 @var{num} is given. A disabled tracepoint will have no effect during
9436 the next trace experiment, but it is not forgotten. You can re-enable
9437 a disabled tracepoint using the @code{enable tracepoint} command.
9439 @kindex enable tracepoint
9440 @item enable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
9441 Enable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints. The enabled
9442 tracepoints will become effective the next time a trace experiment is
9446 @node Tracepoint Passcounts
9447 @subsection Tracepoint Passcounts
9451 @cindex tracepoint pass count
9452 @item passcount @r{[}@var{n} @r{[}@var{num}@r{]]}
9453 Set the @dfn{passcount} of a tracepoint. The passcount is a way to
9454 automatically stop a trace experiment. If a tracepoint's passcount is
9455 @var{n}, then the trace experiment will be automatically stopped on
9456 the @var{n}'th time that tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number
9457 @var{num} is not specified, the @code{passcount} command sets the
9458 passcount of the most recently defined tracepoint. If no passcount is
9459 given, the trace experiment will run until stopped explicitly by the
9465 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 5 2} // Stop on the 5th execution of
9466 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// tracepoint 2}
9468 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 12} // Stop on the 12th execution of the
9469 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// most recently defined tracepoint.}
9470 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
9471 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 3}
9472 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace bar}
9473 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 2}
9474 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace baz}
9475 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 1} // Stop tracing when foo has been
9476 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// executed 3 times OR when bar has}
9477 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// been executed 2 times}
9478 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// OR when baz has been executed 1 time.}
9482 @node Tracepoint Conditions
9483 @subsection Tracepoint Conditions
9484 @cindex conditional tracepoints
9485 @cindex tracepoint conditions
9487 The simplest sort of tracepoint collects data every time your program
9488 reaches a specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for
9489 a tracepoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
9490 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A
9491 tracepoint with a condition evaluates the expression each time your
9492 program reaches it, and data collection happens only if the condition
9495 Tracepoint conditions can be specified when a tracepoint is set, by
9496 using @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{trace} command.
9497 @xref{Create and Delete Tracepoints, ,Setting Tracepoints}. They can
9498 also be set or changed at any time with the @code{condition} command,
9499 just as with breakpoints.
9501 Unlike breakpoint conditions, @value{GDBN} does not actually evaluate
9502 the conditional expression itself. Instead, @value{GDBN} encodes the
9503 expression into an agent expression (@pxref{Agent Expressions}
9504 suitable for execution on the target, independently of @value{GDBN}.
9505 Global variables become raw memory locations, locals become stack
9506 accesses, and so forth.
9508 For instance, suppose you have a function that is usually called
9509 frequently, but should not be called after an error has occurred. You
9510 could use the following tracepoint command to collect data about calls
9511 of that function that happen while the error code is propagating
9512 through the program; an unconditional tracepoint could end up
9513 collecting thousands of useless trace frames that you would have to
9517 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{trace normal_operation if errcode > 0}
9520 @node Trace State Variables
9521 @subsection Trace State Variables
9522 @cindex trace state variables
9524 A @dfn{trace state variable} is a special type of variable that is
9525 created and managed by target-side code. The syntax is the same as
9526 that for GDB's convenience variables (a string prefixed with ``$''),
9527 but they are stored on the target. They must be created explicitly,
9528 using a @code{tvariable} command. They are always 64-bit signed
9531 Trace state variables are remembered by @value{GDBN}, and downloaded
9532 to the target along with tracepoint information when the trace
9533 experiment starts. There are no intrinsic limits on the number of
9534 trace state variables, beyond memory limitations of the target.
9536 @cindex convenience variables, and trace state variables
9537 Although trace state variables are managed by the target, you can use
9538 them in print commands and expressions as if they were convenience
9539 variables; @value{GDBN} will get the current value from the target
9540 while the trace experiment is running. Trace state variables share
9541 the same namespace as other ``$'' variables, which means that you
9542 cannot have trace state variables with names like @code{$23} or
9543 @code{$pc}, nor can you have a trace state variable and a convenience
9544 variable with the same name.
9548 @item tvariable $@var{name} [ = @var{expression} ]
9550 The @code{tvariable} command creates a new trace state variable named
9551 @code{$@var{name}}, and optionally gives it an initial value of
9552 @var{expression}. @var{expression} is evaluated when this command is
9553 entered; the result will be converted to an integer if possible,
9554 otherwise @value{GDBN} will report an error. A subsequent
9555 @code{tvariable} command specifying the same name does not create a
9556 variable, but instead assigns the supplied initial value to the
9557 existing variable of that name, overwriting any previous initial
9558 value. The default initial value is 0.
9560 @item info tvariables
9561 @kindex info tvariables
9562 List all the trace state variables along with their initial values.
9563 Their current values may also be displayed, if the trace experiment is
9566 @item delete tvariable @r{[} $@var{name} @dots{} @r{]}
9567 @kindex delete tvariable
9568 Delete the given trace state variables, or all of them if no arguments
9573 @node Tracepoint Actions
9574 @subsection Tracepoint Action Lists
9578 @cindex tracepoint actions
9579 @item actions @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
9580 This command will prompt for a list of actions to be taken when the
9581 tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number @var{num} is not
9582 specified, this command sets the actions for the one that was most
9583 recently defined (so that you can define a tracepoint and then say
9584 @code{actions} without bothering about its number). You specify the
9585 actions themselves on the following lines, one action at a time, and
9586 terminate the actions list with a line containing just @code{end}. So
9587 far, the only defined actions are @code{collect} and
9588 @code{while-stepping}.
9590 @cindex remove actions from a tracepoint
9591 To remove all actions from a tracepoint, type @samp{actions @var{num}}
9592 and follow it immediately with @samp{end}.
9595 (@value{GDBP}) @b{collect @var{data}} // collect some data
9597 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while-stepping 5} // single-step 5 times, collect data
9599 (@value{GDBP}) @b{end} // signals the end of actions.
9602 In the following example, the action list begins with @code{collect}
9603 commands indicating the things to be collected when the tracepoint is
9604 hit. Then, in order to single-step and collect additional data
9605 following the tracepoint, a @code{while-stepping} command is used,
9606 followed by the list of things to be collected while stepping. The
9607 @code{while-stepping} command is terminated by its own separate
9608 @code{end} command. Lastly, the action list is terminated by an
9612 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
9613 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
9614 Enter actions for tracepoint 1, one per line:
9623 @kindex collect @r{(tracepoints)}
9624 @item collect @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
9625 Collect values of the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit.
9626 This command accepts a comma-separated list of any valid expressions.
9627 In addition to global, static, or local variables, the following
9628 special arguments are supported:
9632 collect all registers
9635 collect all function arguments
9638 collect all local variables.
9641 You can give several consecutive @code{collect} commands, each one
9642 with a single argument, or one @code{collect} command with several
9643 arguments separated by commas: the effect is the same.
9645 The command @code{info scope} (@pxref{Symbols, info scope}) is
9646 particularly useful for figuring out what data to collect.
9648 @kindex teval @r{(tracepoints)}
9649 @item teval @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
9650 Evaluate the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit. This
9651 command accepts a comma-separated list of expressions. The results
9652 are discarded, so this is mainly useful for assigning values to trace
9653 state variables (@pxref{Trace State Variables}) without adding those
9654 values to the trace buffer, as would be the case if the @code{collect}
9657 @kindex while-stepping @r{(tracepoints)}
9658 @item while-stepping @var{n}
9659 Perform @var{n} single-step traces after the tracepoint, collecting
9660 new data at each step. The @code{while-stepping} command is
9661 followed by the list of what to collect while stepping (followed by
9662 its own @code{end} command):
9666 > collect $regs, myglobal
9672 You may abbreviate @code{while-stepping} as @code{ws} or
9675 @item set default-collect @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
9676 @kindex set default-collect
9677 @cindex default collection action
9678 This variable is a list of expressions to collect at each tracepoint
9679 hit. It is effectively an additional @code{collect} action prepended
9680 to every tracepoint action list. The expressions are parsed
9681 individually for each tracepoint, so for instance a variable named
9682 @code{xyz} may be interpreted as a global for one tracepoint, and a
9683 local for another, as appropriate to the tracepoint's location.
9685 @item show default-collect
9686 @kindex show default-collect
9687 Show the list of expressions that are collected by default at each
9692 @node Listing Tracepoints
9693 @subsection Listing Tracepoints
9696 @kindex info tracepoints
9698 @cindex information about tracepoints
9699 @item info tracepoints @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
9700 Display information about the tracepoint @var{num}. If you don't
9701 specify a tracepoint number, displays information about all the
9702 tracepoints defined so far. The format is similar to that used for
9703 @code{info breakpoints}; in fact, @code{info tracepoints} is the same
9704 command, simply restricting itself to tracepoints.
9706 A tracepoint's listing may include additional information specific to
9711 its passcount as given by the @code{passcount @var{n}} command
9713 its step count as given by the @code{while-stepping @var{n}} command
9715 its action list as given by the @code{actions} command. The actions
9716 are prefixed with an @samp{A} so as to distinguish them from commands.
9720 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info trace}
9721 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
9722 1 tracepoint keep y 0x0804ab57 in foo() at main.cxx:7
9726 A collect globfoo, $regs
9734 This command can be abbreviated @code{info tp}.
9737 @node Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
9738 @subsection Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
9742 @cindex start a new trace experiment
9743 @cindex collected data discarded
9745 This command takes no arguments. It starts the trace experiment, and
9746 begins collecting data. This has the side effect of discarding all
9747 the data collected in the trace buffer during the previous trace
9751 @cindex stop a running trace experiment
9753 This command takes no arguments. It ends the trace experiment, and
9754 stops collecting data.
9756 @strong{Note}: a trace experiment and data collection may stop
9757 automatically if any tracepoint's passcount is reached
9758 (@pxref{Tracepoint Passcounts}), or if the trace buffer becomes full.
9761 @cindex status of trace data collection
9762 @cindex trace experiment, status of
9764 This command displays the status of the current trace data
9768 Here is an example of the commands we described so far:
9771 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace gdb_c_test}
9772 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
9773 Enter actions for tracepoint #1, one per line.
9774 > collect $regs,$locals,$args
9779 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
9780 [time passes @dots{}]
9781 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstop}
9785 @node Analyze Collected Data
9786 @section Using the Collected Data
9788 After the tracepoint experiment ends, you use @value{GDBN} commands
9789 for examining the trace data. The basic idea is that each tracepoint
9790 collects a trace @dfn{snapshot} every time it is hit and another
9791 snapshot every time it single-steps. All these snapshots are
9792 consecutively numbered from zero and go into a buffer, and you can
9793 examine them later. The way you examine them is to @dfn{focus} on a
9794 specific trace snapshot. When the remote stub is focused on a trace
9795 snapshot, it will respond to all @value{GDBN} requests for memory and
9796 registers by reading from the buffer which belongs to that snapshot,
9797 rather than from @emph{real} memory or registers of the program being
9798 debugged. This means that @strong{all} @value{GDBN} commands
9799 (@code{print}, @code{info registers}, @code{backtrace}, etc.) will
9800 behave as if we were currently debugging the program state as it was
9801 when the tracepoint occurred. Any requests for data that are not in
9802 the buffer will fail.
9805 * tfind:: How to select a trace snapshot
9806 * tdump:: How to display all data for a snapshot
9807 * save-tracepoints:: How to save tracepoints for a future run
9811 @subsection @code{tfind @var{n}}
9814 @cindex select trace snapshot
9815 @cindex find trace snapshot
9816 The basic command for selecting a trace snapshot from the buffer is
9817 @code{tfind @var{n}}, which finds trace snapshot number @var{n},
9818 counting from zero. If no argument @var{n} is given, the next
9819 snapshot is selected.
9821 Here are the various forms of using the @code{tfind} command.
9825 Find the first snapshot in the buffer. This is a synonym for
9826 @code{tfind 0} (since 0 is the number of the first snapshot).
9829 Stop debugging trace snapshots, resume @emph{live} debugging.
9832 Same as @samp{tfind none}.
9835 No argument means find the next trace snapshot.
9838 Find the previous trace snapshot before the current one. This permits
9839 retracing earlier steps.
9841 @item tfind tracepoint @var{num}
9842 Find the next snapshot associated with tracepoint @var{num}. Search
9843 proceeds forward from the last examined trace snapshot. If no
9844 argument @var{num} is given, it means find the next snapshot collected
9845 for the same tracepoint as the current snapshot.
9847 @item tfind pc @var{addr}
9848 Find the next snapshot associated with the value @var{addr} of the
9849 program counter. Search proceeds forward from the last examined trace
9850 snapshot. If no argument @var{addr} is given, it means find the next
9851 snapshot with the same value of PC as the current snapshot.
9853 @item tfind outside @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
9854 Find the next snapshot whose PC is outside the given range of
9857 @item tfind range @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
9858 Find the next snapshot whose PC is between @var{addr1} and
9859 @var{addr2}. @c FIXME: Is the range inclusive or exclusive?
9861 @item tfind line @r{[}@var{file}:@r{]}@var{n}
9862 Find the next snapshot associated with the source line @var{n}. If
9863 the optional argument @var{file} is given, refer to line @var{n} in
9864 that source file. Search proceeds forward from the last examined
9865 trace snapshot. If no argument @var{n} is given, it means find the
9866 next line other than the one currently being examined; thus saying
9867 @code{tfind line} repeatedly can appear to have the same effect as
9868 stepping from line to line in a @emph{live} debugging session.
9871 The default arguments for the @code{tfind} commands are specifically
9872 designed to make it easy to scan through the trace buffer. For
9873 instance, @code{tfind} with no argument selects the next trace
9874 snapshot, and @code{tfind -} with no argument selects the previous
9875 trace snapshot. So, by giving one @code{tfind} command, and then
9876 simply hitting @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine all the trace
9877 snapshots in order. Or, by saying @code{tfind -} and then hitting
9878 @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine the snapshots in reverse order.
9879 The @code{tfind line} command with no argument selects the snapshot
9880 for the next source line executed. The @code{tfind pc} command with
9881 no argument selects the next snapshot with the same program counter
9882 (PC) as the current frame. The @code{tfind tracepoint} command with
9883 no argument selects the next trace snapshot collected by the same
9884 tracepoint as the current one.
9886 In addition to letting you scan through the trace buffer manually,
9887 these commands make it easy to construct @value{GDBN} scripts that
9888 scan through the trace buffer and print out whatever collected data
9889 you are interested in. Thus, if we want to examine the PC, FP, and SP
9890 registers from each trace frame in the buffer, we can say this:
9893 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
9894 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
9895 > printf "Frame %d, PC = %08X, SP = %08X, FP = %08X\n", \
9896 $trace_frame, $pc, $sp, $fp
9900 Frame 0, PC = 0020DC64, SP = 0030BF3C, FP = 0030BF44
9901 Frame 1, PC = 0020DC6C, SP = 0030BF38, FP = 0030BF44
9902 Frame 2, PC = 0020DC70, SP = 0030BF34, FP = 0030BF44
9903 Frame 3, PC = 0020DC74, SP = 0030BF30, FP = 0030BF44
9904 Frame 4, PC = 0020DC78, SP = 0030BF2C, FP = 0030BF44
9905 Frame 5, PC = 0020DC7C, SP = 0030BF28, FP = 0030BF44
9906 Frame 6, PC = 0020DC80, SP = 0030BF24, FP = 0030BF44
9907 Frame 7, PC = 0020DC84, SP = 0030BF20, FP = 0030BF44
9908 Frame 8, PC = 0020DC88, SP = 0030BF1C, FP = 0030BF44
9909 Frame 9, PC = 0020DC8E, SP = 0030BF18, FP = 0030BF44
9910 Frame 10, PC = 00203F6C, SP = 0030BE3C, FP = 0030BF14
9913 Or, if we want to examine the variable @code{X} at each source line in
9917 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
9918 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
9919 > printf "Frame %d, X == %d\n", $trace_frame, X
9929 @subsection @code{tdump}
9931 @cindex dump all data collected at tracepoint
9932 @cindex tracepoint data, display
9934 This command takes no arguments. It prints all the data collected at
9935 the current trace snapshot.
9938 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace 444}
9939 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
9940 Enter actions for tracepoint #2, one per line:
9941 > collect $regs, $locals, $args, gdb_long_test
9944 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
9946 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind line 444}
9947 #0 gdb_test (p1=0x11, p2=0x22, p3=0x33, p4=0x44, p5=0x55, p6=0x66)
9949 444 printp( "%s: arguments = 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X\n", )
9951 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tdump}
9952 Data collected at tracepoint 2, trace frame 1:
9953 d0 0xc4aa0085 -995491707
9957 d4 0x71aea3d 119204413
9962 a1 0x3000668 50333288
9965 a4 0x3000698 50333336
9967 fp 0x30bf3c 0x30bf3c
9968 sp 0x30bf34 0x30bf34
9970 pc 0x20b2c8 0x20b2c8
9974 p = 0x20e5b4 "gdb-test"
9981 gdb_long_test = 17 '\021'
9986 @node save-tracepoints
9987 @subsection @code{save-tracepoints @var{filename}}
9988 @kindex save-tracepoints
9989 @cindex save tracepoints for future sessions
9991 This command saves all current tracepoint definitions together with
9992 their actions and passcounts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
9993 suitable for use in a later debugging session. To read the saved
9994 tracepoint definitions, use the @code{source} command (@pxref{Command
9997 @node Tracepoint Variables
9998 @section Convenience Variables for Tracepoints
9999 @cindex tracepoint variables
10000 @cindex convenience variables for tracepoints
10003 @vindex $trace_frame
10004 @item (int) $trace_frame
10005 The current trace snapshot (a.k.a.@: @dfn{frame}) number, or -1 if no
10006 snapshot is selected.
10008 @vindex $tracepoint
10009 @item (int) $tracepoint
10010 The tracepoint for the current trace snapshot.
10012 @vindex $trace_line
10013 @item (int) $trace_line
10014 The line number for the current trace snapshot.
10016 @vindex $trace_file
10017 @item (char []) $trace_file
10018 The source file for the current trace snapshot.
10020 @vindex $trace_func
10021 @item (char []) $trace_func
10022 The name of the function containing @code{$tracepoint}.
10025 Note: @code{$trace_file} is not suitable for use in @code{printf},
10026 use @code{output} instead.
10028 Here's a simple example of using these convenience variables for
10029 stepping through all the trace snapshots and printing some of their
10030 data. Note that these are not the same as trace state variables,
10031 which are managed by the target.
10034 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
10036 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while $trace_frame != -1}
10037 > output $trace_file
10038 > printf ", line %d (tracepoint #%d)\n", $trace_line, $tracepoint
10044 @chapter Debugging Programs That Use Overlays
10047 If your program is too large to fit completely in your target system's
10048 memory, you can sometimes use @dfn{overlays} to work around this
10049 problem. @value{GDBN} provides some support for debugging programs that
10053 * How Overlays Work:: A general explanation of overlays.
10054 * Overlay Commands:: Managing overlays in @value{GDBN}.
10055 * Automatic Overlay Debugging:: @value{GDBN} can find out which overlays are
10056 mapped by asking the inferior.
10057 * Overlay Sample Program:: A sample program using overlays.
10060 @node How Overlays Work
10061 @section How Overlays Work
10062 @cindex mapped overlays
10063 @cindex unmapped overlays
10064 @cindex load address, overlay's
10065 @cindex mapped address
10066 @cindex overlay area
10068 Suppose you have a computer whose instruction address space is only 64
10069 kilobytes long, but which has much more memory which can be accessed by
10070 other means: special instructions, segment registers, or memory
10071 management hardware, for example. Suppose further that you want to
10072 adapt a program which is larger than 64 kilobytes to run on this system.
10074 One solution is to identify modules of your program which are relatively
10075 independent, and need not call each other directly; call these modules
10076 @dfn{overlays}. Separate the overlays from the main program, and place
10077 their machine code in the larger memory. Place your main program in
10078 instruction memory, but leave at least enough space there to hold the
10079 largest overlay as well.
10081 Now, to call a function located in an overlay, you must first copy that
10082 overlay's machine code from the large memory into the space set aside
10083 for it in the instruction memory, and then jump to its entry point
10086 @c NB: In the below the mapped area's size is greater or equal to the
10087 @c size of all overlays. This is intentional to remind the developer
10088 @c that overlays don't necessarily need to be the same size.
10092 Data Instruction Larger
10093 Address Space Address Space Address Space
10094 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+
10096 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+<-- overlay 1
10097 | program | | main | .----| overlay 1 | load address
10098 | variables | | program | | +-----------+
10099 | and heap | | | | | |
10100 +-----------+ | | | +-----------+<-- overlay 2
10101 | | +-----------+ | | | load address
10102 +-----------+ | | | .-| overlay 2 |
10104 mapped --->+-----------+ | | +-----------+
10105 address | | | | | |
10106 | overlay | <-' | | |
10107 | area | <---' +-----------+<-- overlay 3
10108 | | <---. | | load address
10109 +-----------+ `--| overlay 3 |
10116 @anchor{A code overlay}A code overlay
10120 The diagram (@pxref{A code overlay}) shows a system with separate data
10121 and instruction address spaces. To map an overlay, the program copies
10122 its code from the larger address space to the instruction address space.
10123 Since the overlays shown here all use the same mapped address, only one
10124 may be mapped at a time. For a system with a single address space for
10125 data and instructions, the diagram would be similar, except that the
10126 program variables and heap would share an address space with the main
10127 program and the overlay area.
10129 An overlay loaded into instruction memory and ready for use is called a
10130 @dfn{mapped} overlay; its @dfn{mapped address} is its address in the
10131 instruction memory. An overlay not present (or only partially present)
10132 in instruction memory is called @dfn{unmapped}; its @dfn{load address}
10133 is its address in the larger memory. The mapped address is also called
10134 the @dfn{virtual memory address}, or @dfn{VMA}; the load address is also
10135 called the @dfn{load memory address}, or @dfn{LMA}.
10137 Unfortunately, overlays are not a completely transparent way to adapt a
10138 program to limited instruction memory. They introduce a new set of
10139 global constraints you must keep in mind as you design your program:
10144 Before calling or returning to a function in an overlay, your program
10145 must make sure that overlay is actually mapped. Otherwise, the call or
10146 return will transfer control to the right address, but in the wrong
10147 overlay, and your program will probably crash.
10150 If the process of mapping an overlay is expensive on your system, you
10151 will need to choose your overlays carefully to minimize their effect on
10152 your program's performance.
10155 The executable file you load onto your system must contain each
10156 overlay's instructions, appearing at the overlay's load address, not its
10157 mapped address. However, each overlay's instructions must be relocated
10158 and its symbols defined as if the overlay were at its mapped address.
10159 You can use GNU linker scripts to specify different load and relocation
10160 addresses for pieces of your program; see @ref{Overlay Description,,,
10161 ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}.
10164 The procedure for loading executable files onto your system must be able
10165 to load their contents into the larger address space as well as the
10166 instruction and data spaces.
10170 The overlay system described above is rather simple, and could be
10171 improved in many ways:
10176 If your system has suitable bank switch registers or memory management
10177 hardware, you could use those facilities to make an overlay's load area
10178 contents simply appear at their mapped address in instruction space.
10179 This would probably be faster than copying the overlay to its mapped
10180 area in the usual way.
10183 If your overlays are small enough, you could set aside more than one
10184 overlay area, and have more than one overlay mapped at a time.
10187 You can use overlays to manage data, as well as instructions. In
10188 general, data overlays are even less transparent to your design than
10189 code overlays: whereas code overlays only require care when you call or
10190 return to functions, data overlays require care every time you access
10191 the data. Also, if you change the contents of a data overlay, you
10192 must copy its contents back out to its load address before you can copy a
10193 different data overlay into the same mapped area.
10198 @node Overlay Commands
10199 @section Overlay Commands
10201 To use @value{GDBN}'s overlay support, each overlay in your program must
10202 correspond to a separate section of the executable file. The section's
10203 virtual memory address and load memory address must be the overlay's
10204 mapped and load addresses. Identifying overlays with sections allows
10205 @value{GDBN} to determine the appropriate address of a function or
10206 variable, depending on whether the overlay is mapped or not.
10208 @value{GDBN}'s overlay commands all start with the word @code{overlay};
10209 you can abbreviate this as @code{ov} or @code{ovly}. The commands are:
10214 Disable @value{GDBN}'s overlay support. When overlay support is
10215 disabled, @value{GDBN} assumes that all functions and variables are
10216 always present at their mapped addresses. By default, @value{GDBN}'s
10217 overlay support is disabled.
10219 @item overlay manual
10220 @cindex manual overlay debugging
10221 Enable @dfn{manual} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
10222 relies on you to tell it which overlays are mapped, and which are not,
10223 using the @code{overlay map-overlay} and @code{overlay unmap-overlay}
10224 commands described below.
10226 @item overlay map-overlay @var{overlay}
10227 @itemx overlay map @var{overlay}
10228 @cindex map an overlay
10229 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is now mapped; @var{overlay} must
10230 be the name of the object file section containing the overlay. When an
10231 overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the overlay's
10232 functions and variables at their mapped addresses. @value{GDBN} assumes
10233 that any other overlays whose mapped ranges overlap that of
10234 @var{overlay} are now unmapped.
10236 @item overlay unmap-overlay @var{overlay}
10237 @itemx overlay unmap @var{overlay}
10238 @cindex unmap an overlay
10239 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is no longer mapped; @var{overlay}
10240 must be the name of the object file section containing the overlay.
10241 When an overlay is unmapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the
10242 overlay's functions and variables at their load addresses.
10245 Enable @dfn{automatic} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
10246 consults a data structure the overlay manager maintains in the inferior
10247 to see which overlays are mapped. For details, see @ref{Automatic
10248 Overlay Debugging}.
10250 @item overlay load-target
10251 @itemx overlay load
10252 @cindex reloading the overlay table
10253 Re-read the overlay table from the inferior. Normally, @value{GDBN}
10254 re-reads the table @value{GDBN} automatically each time the inferior
10255 stops, so this command should only be necessary if you have changed the
10256 overlay mapping yourself using @value{GDBN}. This command is only
10257 useful when using automatic overlay debugging.
10259 @item overlay list-overlays
10260 @itemx overlay list
10261 @cindex listing mapped overlays
10262 Display a list of the overlays currently mapped, along with their mapped
10263 addresses, load addresses, and sizes.
10267 Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a code address, it includes the name
10268 of the function the address falls in:
10271 (@value{GDBP}) print main
10272 $3 = @{int ()@} 0x11a0 <main>
10275 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} recognizes code in
10276 unmapped overlays, and prints the names of unmapped functions with
10277 asterisks around them. For example, if @code{foo} is a function in an
10278 unmapped overlay, @value{GDBN} prints it this way:
10281 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
10282 No sections are mapped.
10283 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
10284 $5 = @{int (int)@} 0x100000 <*foo*>
10287 When @code{foo}'s overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} prints the function's
10291 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
10292 Section .ov.foo.text, loaded at 0x100000 - 0x100034,
10293 mapped at 0x1016 - 0x104a
10294 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
10295 $6 = @{int (int)@} 0x1016 <foo>
10298 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} can find the correct
10299 address for functions and variables in an overlay, whether or not the
10300 overlay is mapped. This allows most @value{GDBN} commands, like
10301 @code{break} and @code{disassemble}, to work normally, even on unmapped
10302 code. However, @value{GDBN}'s breakpoint support has some limitations:
10306 @cindex breakpoints in overlays
10307 @cindex overlays, setting breakpoints in
10308 You can set breakpoints in functions in unmapped overlays, as long as
10309 @value{GDBN} can write to the overlay at its load address.
10311 @value{GDBN} can not set hardware or simulator-based breakpoints in
10312 unmapped overlays. However, if you set a breakpoint at the end of your
10313 overlay manager (and tell @value{GDBN} which overlays are now mapped, if
10314 you are using manual overlay management), @value{GDBN} will re-set its
10315 breakpoints properly.
10319 @node Automatic Overlay Debugging
10320 @section Automatic Overlay Debugging
10321 @cindex automatic overlay debugging
10323 @value{GDBN} can automatically track which overlays are mapped and which
10324 are not, given some simple co-operation from the overlay manager in the
10325 inferior. If you enable automatic overlay debugging with the
10326 @code{overlay auto} command (@pxref{Overlay Commands}), @value{GDBN}
10327 looks in the inferior's memory for certain variables describing the
10328 current state of the overlays.
10330 Here are the variables your overlay manager must define to support
10331 @value{GDBN}'s automatic overlay debugging:
10335 @item @code{_ovly_table}:
10336 This variable must be an array of the following structures:
10341 /* The overlay's mapped address. */
10344 /* The size of the overlay, in bytes. */
10345 unsigned long size;
10347 /* The overlay's load address. */
10350 /* Non-zero if the overlay is currently mapped;
10352 unsigned long mapped;
10356 @item @code{_novlys}:
10357 This variable must be a four-byte signed integer, holding the total
10358 number of elements in @code{_ovly_table}.
10362 To decide whether a particular overlay is mapped or not, @value{GDBN}
10363 looks for an entry in @w{@code{_ovly_table}} whose @code{vma} and
10364 @code{lma} members equal the VMA and LMA of the overlay's section in the
10365 executable file. When @value{GDBN} finds a matching entry, it consults
10366 the entry's @code{mapped} member to determine whether the overlay is
10369 In addition, your overlay manager may define a function called
10370 @code{_ovly_debug_event}. If this function is defined, @value{GDBN}
10371 will silently set a breakpoint there. If the overlay manager then
10372 calls this function whenever it has changed the overlay table, this
10373 will enable @value{GDBN} to accurately keep track of which overlays
10374 are in program memory, and update any breakpoints that may be set
10375 in overlays. This will allow breakpoints to work even if the
10376 overlays are kept in ROM or other non-writable memory while they
10377 are not being executed.
10379 @node Overlay Sample Program
10380 @section Overlay Sample Program
10381 @cindex overlay example program
10383 When linking a program which uses overlays, you must place the overlays
10384 at their load addresses, while relocating them to run at their mapped
10385 addresses. To do this, you must write a linker script (@pxref{Overlay
10386 Description,,, ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}). Unfortunately,
10387 since linker scripts are specific to a particular host system, target
10388 architecture, and target memory layout, this manual cannot provide
10389 portable sample code demonstrating @value{GDBN}'s overlay support.
10391 However, the @value{GDBN} source distribution does contain an overlaid
10392 program, with linker scripts for a few systems, as part of its test
10393 suite. The program consists of the following files from
10394 @file{gdb/testsuite/gdb.base}:
10398 The main program file.
10400 A simple overlay manager, used by @file{overlays.c}.
10405 Overlay modules, loaded and used by @file{overlays.c}.
10408 Linker scripts for linking the test program on the @code{d10v-elf}
10409 and @code{m32r-elf} targets.
10412 You can build the test program using the @code{d10v-elf} GCC
10413 cross-compiler like this:
10416 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c overlays.c
10417 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c ovlymgr.c
10418 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c foo.c
10419 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c bar.c
10420 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c baz.c
10421 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c grbx.c
10422 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g overlays.o ovlymgr.o foo.o bar.o \
10423 baz.o grbx.o -Wl,-Td10v.ld -o overlays
10426 The build process is identical for any other architecture, except that
10427 you must substitute the appropriate compiler and linker script for the
10428 target system for @code{d10v-elf-gcc} and @code{d10v.ld}.
10432 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages
10435 Although programming languages generally have common aspects, they are
10436 rarely expressed in the same manner. For instance, in ANSI C,
10437 dereferencing a pointer @code{p} is accomplished by @code{*p}, but in
10438 Modula-2, it is accomplished by @code{p^}. Values can also be
10439 represented (and displayed) differently. Hex numbers in C appear as
10440 @samp{0x1ae}, while in Modula-2 they appear as @samp{1AEH}.
10442 @cindex working language
10443 Language-specific information is built into @value{GDBN} for some languages,
10444 allowing you to express operations like the above in your program's
10445 native language, and allowing @value{GDBN} to output values in a manner
10446 consistent with the syntax of your program's native language. The
10447 language you use to build expressions is called the @dfn{working
10451 * Setting:: Switching between source languages
10452 * Show:: Displaying the language
10453 * Checks:: Type and range checks
10454 * Supported Languages:: Supported languages
10455 * Unsupported Languages:: Unsupported languages
10459 @section Switching Between Source Languages
10461 There are two ways to control the working language---either have @value{GDBN}
10462 set it automatically, or select it manually yourself. You can use the
10463 @code{set language} command for either purpose. On startup, @value{GDBN}
10464 defaults to setting the language automatically. The working language is
10465 used to determine how expressions you type are interpreted, how values
10468 In addition to the working language, every source file that
10469 @value{GDBN} knows about has its own working language. For some object
10470 file formats, the compiler might indicate which language a particular
10471 source file is in. However, most of the time @value{GDBN} infers the
10472 language from the name of the file. The language of a source file
10473 controls whether C@t{++} names are demangled---this way @code{backtrace} can
10474 show each frame appropriately for its own language. There is no way to
10475 set the language of a source file from within @value{GDBN}, but you can
10476 set the language associated with a filename extension. @xref{Show, ,
10477 Displaying the Language}.
10479 This is most commonly a problem when you use a program, such
10480 as @code{cfront} or @code{f2c}, that generates C but is written in
10481 another language. In that case, make the
10482 program use @code{#line} directives in its C output; that way
10483 @value{GDBN} will know the correct language of the source code of the original
10484 program, and will display that source code, not the generated C code.
10487 * Filenames:: Filename extensions and languages.
10488 * Manually:: Setting the working language manually
10489 * Automatically:: Having @value{GDBN} infer the source language
10493 @subsection List of Filename Extensions and Languages
10495 If a source file name ends in one of the following extensions, then
10496 @value{GDBN} infers that its language is the one indicated.
10514 C@t{++} source file
10517 Objective-C source file
10521 Fortran source file
10524 Modula-2 source file
10528 Assembler source file. This actually behaves almost like C, but
10529 @value{GDBN} does not skip over function prologues when stepping.
10532 In addition, you may set the language associated with a filename
10533 extension. @xref{Show, , Displaying the Language}.
10536 @subsection Setting the Working Language
10538 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically,
10539 expressions are interpreted the same way in your debugging session and
10542 @kindex set language
10543 If you wish, you may set the language manually. To do this, issue the
10544 command @samp{set language @var{lang}}, where @var{lang} is the name of
10545 a language, such as
10546 @code{c} or @code{modula-2}.
10547 For a list of the supported languages, type @samp{set language}.
10549 Setting the language manually prevents @value{GDBN} from updating the working
10550 language automatically. This can lead to confusion if you try
10551 to debug a program when the working language is not the same as the
10552 source language, when an expression is acceptable to both
10553 languages---but means different things. For instance, if the current
10554 source file were written in C, and @value{GDBN} was parsing Modula-2, a
10562 might not have the effect you intended. In C, this means to add
10563 @code{b} and @code{c} and place the result in @code{a}. The result
10564 printed would be the value of @code{a}. In Modula-2, this means to compare
10565 @code{a} to the result of @code{b+c}, yielding a @code{BOOLEAN} value.
10567 @node Automatically
10568 @subsection Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language
10570 To have @value{GDBN} set the working language automatically, use
10571 @samp{set language local} or @samp{set language auto}. @value{GDBN}
10572 then infers the working language. That is, when your program stops in a
10573 frame (usually by encountering a breakpoint), @value{GDBN} sets the
10574 working language to the language recorded for the function in that
10575 frame. If the language for a frame is unknown (that is, if the function
10576 or block corresponding to the frame was defined in a source file that
10577 does not have a recognized extension), the current working language is
10578 not changed, and @value{GDBN} issues a warning.
10580 This may not seem necessary for most programs, which are written
10581 entirely in one source language. However, program modules and libraries
10582 written in one source language can be used by a main program written in
10583 a different source language. Using @samp{set language auto} in this
10584 case frees you from having to set the working language manually.
10587 @section Displaying the Language
10589 The following commands help you find out which language is the
10590 working language, and also what language source files were written in.
10593 @item show language
10594 @kindex show language
10595 Display the current working language. This is the
10596 language you can use with commands such as @code{print} to
10597 build and compute expressions that may involve variables in your program.
10600 @kindex info frame@r{, show the source language}
10601 Display the source language for this frame. This language becomes the
10602 working language if you use an identifier from this frame.
10603 @xref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}, to identify the other
10604 information listed here.
10607 @kindex info source@r{, show the source language}
10608 Display the source language of this source file.
10609 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, to identify the other
10610 information listed here.
10613 In unusual circumstances, you may have source files with extensions
10614 not in the standard list. You can then set the extension associated
10615 with a language explicitly:
10618 @item set extension-language @var{ext} @var{language}
10619 @kindex set extension-language
10620 Tell @value{GDBN} that source files with extension @var{ext} are to be
10621 assumed as written in the source language @var{language}.
10623 @item info extensions
10624 @kindex info extensions
10625 List all the filename extensions and the associated languages.
10629 @section Type and Range Checking
10632 @emph{Warning:} In this release, the @value{GDBN} commands for type and range
10633 checking are included, but they do not yet have any effect. This
10634 section documents the intended facilities.
10636 @c FIXME remove warning when type/range code added
10638 Some languages are designed to guard you against making seemingly common
10639 errors through a series of compile- and run-time checks. These include
10640 checking the type of arguments to functions and operators, and making
10641 sure mathematical overflows are caught at run time. Checks such as
10642 these help to ensure a program's correctness once it has been compiled
10643 by eliminating type mismatches, and providing active checks for range
10644 errors when your program is running.
10646 @value{GDBN} can check for conditions like the above if you wish.
10647 Although @value{GDBN} does not check the statements in your program,
10648 it can check expressions entered directly into @value{GDBN} for
10649 evaluation via the @code{print} command, for example. As with the
10650 working language, @value{GDBN} can also decide whether or not to check
10651 automatically based on your program's source language.
10652 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default
10653 settings of supported languages.
10656 * Type Checking:: An overview of type checking
10657 * Range Checking:: An overview of range checking
10660 @cindex type checking
10661 @cindex checks, type
10662 @node Type Checking
10663 @subsection An Overview of Type Checking
10665 Some languages, such as Modula-2, are strongly typed, meaning that the
10666 arguments to operators and functions have to be of the correct type,
10667 otherwise an error occurs. These checks prevent type mismatch
10668 errors from ever causing any run-time problems. For example,
10676 The second example fails because the @code{CARDINAL} 1 is not
10677 type-compatible with the @code{REAL} 2.3.
10679 For the expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell the
10680 @value{GDBN} type checker to skip checking;
10681 to treat any mismatches as errors and abandon the expression;
10682 or to only issue warnings when type mismatches occur,
10683 but evaluate the expression anyway. When you choose the last of
10684 these, @value{GDBN} evaluates expressions like the second example above, but
10685 also issues a warning.
10687 Even if you turn type checking off, there may be other reasons
10688 related to type that prevent @value{GDBN} from evaluating an expression.
10689 For instance, @value{GDBN} does not know how to add an @code{int} and
10690 a @code{struct foo}. These particular type errors have nothing to do
10691 with the language in use, and usually arise from expressions, such as
10692 the one described above, which make little sense to evaluate anyway.
10694 Each language defines to what degree it is strict about type. For
10695 instance, both Modula-2 and C require the arguments to arithmetical
10696 operators to be numbers. In C, enumerated types and pointers can be
10697 represented as numbers, so that they are valid arguments to mathematical
10698 operators. @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for further
10699 details on specific languages.
10701 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the type checker:
10703 @kindex set check type
10704 @kindex show check type
10706 @item set check type auto
10707 Set type checking on or off based on the current working language.
10708 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
10711 @item set check type on
10712 @itemx set check type off
10713 Set type checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
10714 current working language. Issue a warning if the setting does not
10715 match the language default. If any type mismatches occur in
10716 evaluating an expression while type checking is on, @value{GDBN} prints a
10717 message and aborts evaluation of the expression.
10719 @item set check type warn
10720 Cause the type checker to issue warnings, but to always attempt to
10721 evaluate the expression. Evaluating the expression may still
10722 be impossible for other reasons. For example, @value{GDBN} cannot add
10723 numbers and structures.
10726 Show the current setting of the type checker, and whether or not @value{GDBN}
10727 is setting it automatically.
10730 @cindex range checking
10731 @cindex checks, range
10732 @node Range Checking
10733 @subsection An Overview of Range Checking
10735 In some languages (such as Modula-2), it is an error to exceed the
10736 bounds of a type; this is enforced with run-time checks. Such range
10737 checking is meant to ensure program correctness by making sure
10738 computations do not overflow, or indices on an array element access do
10739 not exceed the bounds of the array.
10741 For expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell
10742 @value{GDBN} to treat range errors in one of three ways: ignore them,
10743 always treat them as errors and abandon the expression, or issue
10744 warnings but evaluate the expression anyway.
10746 A range error can result from numerical overflow, from exceeding an
10747 array index bound, or when you type a constant that is not a member
10748 of any type. Some languages, however, do not treat overflows as an
10749 error. In many implementations of C, mathematical overflow causes the
10750 result to ``wrap around'' to lower values---for example, if @var{m} is
10751 the largest integer value, and @var{s} is the smallest, then
10754 @var{m} + 1 @result{} @var{s}
10757 This, too, is specific to individual languages, and in some cases
10758 specific to individual compilers or machines. @xref{Supported Languages, ,
10759 Supported Languages}, for further details on specific languages.
10761 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the range checker:
10763 @kindex set check range
10764 @kindex show check range
10766 @item set check range auto
10767 Set range checking on or off based on the current working language.
10768 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
10771 @item set check range on
10772 @itemx set check range off
10773 Set range checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
10774 current working language. A warning is issued if the setting does not
10775 match the language default. If a range error occurs and range checking is on,
10776 then a message is printed and evaluation of the expression is aborted.
10778 @item set check range warn
10779 Output messages when the @value{GDBN} range checker detects a range error,
10780 but attempt to evaluate the expression anyway. Evaluating the
10781 expression may still be impossible for other reasons, such as accessing
10782 memory that the process does not own (a typical example from many Unix
10786 Show the current setting of the range checker, and whether or not it is
10787 being set automatically by @value{GDBN}.
10790 @node Supported Languages
10791 @section Supported Languages
10793 @value{GDBN} supports C, C@t{++}, Objective-C, Fortran, Java, Pascal,
10794 assembly, Modula-2, and Ada.
10795 @c This is false ...
10796 Some @value{GDBN} features may be used in expressions regardless of the
10797 language you use: the @value{GDBN} @code{@@} and @code{::} operators,
10798 and the @samp{@{type@}addr} construct (@pxref{Expressions,
10799 ,Expressions}) can be used with the constructs of any supported
10802 The following sections detail to what degree each source language is
10803 supported by @value{GDBN}. These sections are not meant to be language
10804 tutorials or references, but serve only as a reference guide to what the
10805 @value{GDBN} expression parser accepts, and what input and output
10806 formats should look like for different languages. There are many good
10807 books written on each of these languages; please look to these for a
10808 language reference or tutorial.
10811 * C:: C and C@t{++}
10812 * Objective-C:: Objective-C
10813 * Fortran:: Fortran
10815 * Modula-2:: Modula-2
10820 @subsection C and C@t{++}
10822 @cindex C and C@t{++}
10823 @cindex expressions in C or C@t{++}
10825 Since C and C@t{++} are so closely related, many features of @value{GDBN} apply
10826 to both languages. Whenever this is the case, we discuss those languages
10830 @cindex @code{g++}, @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler
10831 @cindex @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
10832 The C@t{++} debugging facilities are jointly implemented by the C@t{++}
10833 compiler and @value{GDBN}. Therefore, to debug your C@t{++} code
10834 effectively, you must compile your C@t{++} programs with a supported
10835 C@t{++} compiler, such as @sc{gnu} @code{g++}, or the HP ANSI C@t{++}
10836 compiler (@code{aCC}).
10838 For best results when using @sc{gnu} C@t{++}, use the DWARF 2 debugging
10839 format; if it doesn't work on your system, try the stabs+ debugging
10840 format. You can select those formats explicitly with the @code{g++}
10841 command-line options @option{-gdwarf-2} and @option{-gstabs+}.
10842 @xref{Debugging Options,,Options for Debugging Your Program or GCC,
10843 gcc.info, Using the @sc{gnu} Compiler Collection (GCC)}.
10846 * C Operators:: C and C@t{++} operators
10847 * C Constants:: C and C@t{++} constants
10848 * C Plus Plus Expressions:: C@t{++} expressions
10849 * C Defaults:: Default settings for C and C@t{++}
10850 * C Checks:: C and C@t{++} type and range checks
10851 * Debugging C:: @value{GDBN} and C
10852 * Debugging C Plus Plus:: @value{GDBN} features for C@t{++}
10853 * Decimal Floating Point:: Numbers in Decimal Floating Point format
10857 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Operators
10859 @cindex C and C@t{++} operators
10861 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
10862 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
10863 often defined on groups of types.
10865 For the purposes of C and C@t{++}, the following definitions hold:
10870 @emph{Integral types} include @code{int} with any of its storage-class
10871 specifiers; @code{char}; @code{enum}; and, for C@t{++}, @code{bool}.
10874 @emph{Floating-point types} include @code{float}, @code{double}, and
10875 @code{long double} (if supported by the target platform).
10878 @emph{Pointer types} include all types defined as @code{(@var{type} *)}.
10881 @emph{Scalar types} include all of the above.
10886 The following operators are supported. They are listed here
10887 in order of increasing precedence:
10891 The comma or sequencing operator. Expressions in a comma-separated list
10892 are evaluated from left to right, with the result of the entire
10893 expression being the last expression evaluated.
10896 Assignment. The value of an assignment expression is the value
10897 assigned. Defined on scalar types.
10900 Used in an expression of the form @w{@code{@var{a} @var{op}= @var{b}}},
10901 and translated to @w{@code{@var{a} = @var{a op b}}}.
10902 @w{@code{@var{op}=}} and @code{=} have the same precedence.
10903 @var{op} is any one of the operators @code{|}, @code{^}, @code{&},
10904 @code{<<}, @code{>>}, @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{%}.
10907 The ternary operator. @code{@var{a} ? @var{b} : @var{c}} can be thought
10908 of as: if @var{a} then @var{b} else @var{c}. @var{a} should be of an
10912 Logical @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
10915 Logical @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
10918 Bitwise @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
10921 Bitwise exclusive-@sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
10924 Bitwise @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
10927 Equality and inequality. Defined on scalar types. The value of these
10928 expressions is 0 for false and non-zero for true.
10930 @item <@r{, }>@r{, }<=@r{, }>=
10931 Less than, greater than, less than or equal, greater than or equal.
10932 Defined on scalar types. The value of these expressions is 0 for false
10933 and non-zero for true.
10936 left shift, and right shift. Defined on integral types.
10939 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
10942 Addition and subtraction. Defined on integral types, floating-point types and
10945 @item *@r{, }/@r{, }%
10946 Multiplication, division, and modulus. Multiplication and division are
10947 defined on integral and floating-point types. Modulus is defined on
10951 Increment and decrement. When appearing before a variable, the
10952 operation is performed before the variable is used in an expression;
10953 when appearing after it, the variable's value is used before the
10954 operation takes place.
10957 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types. Same precedence as
10961 Address operator. Defined on variables. Same precedence as @code{++}.
10963 For debugging C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} implements a use of @samp{&} beyond what is
10964 allowed in the C@t{++} language itself: you can use @samp{&(&@var{ref})}
10965 to examine the address
10966 where a C@t{++} reference variable (declared with @samp{&@var{ref}}) is
10970 Negative. Defined on integral and floating-point types. Same
10971 precedence as @code{++}.
10974 Logical negation. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
10978 Bitwise complement operator. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
10983 Structure member, and pointer-to-structure member. For convenience,
10984 @value{GDBN} regards the two as equivalent, choosing whether to dereference a
10985 pointer based on the stored type information.
10986 Defined on @code{struct} and @code{union} data.
10989 Dereferences of pointers to members.
10992 Array indexing. @code{@var{a}[@var{i}]} is defined as
10993 @code{*(@var{a}+@var{i})}. Same precedence as @code{->}.
10996 Function parameter list. Same precedence as @code{->}.
10999 C@t{++} scope resolution operator. Defined on @code{struct}, @code{union},
11000 and @code{class} types.
11003 Doubled colons also represent the @value{GDBN} scope operator
11004 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). Same precedence as @code{::},
11008 If an operator is redefined in the user code, @value{GDBN} usually
11009 attempts to invoke the redefined version instead of using the operator's
11010 predefined meaning.
11013 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Constants
11015 @cindex C and C@t{++} constants
11017 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of C and C@t{++} in the
11022 Integer constants are a sequence of digits. Octal constants are
11023 specified by a leading @samp{0} (i.e.@: zero), and hexadecimal constants
11024 by a leading @samp{0x} or @samp{0X}. Constants may also end with a letter
11025 @samp{l}, specifying that the constant should be treated as a
11029 Floating point constants are a sequence of digits, followed by a decimal
11030 point, followed by a sequence of digits, and optionally followed by an
11031 exponent. An exponent is of the form:
11032 @samp{@w{e@r{[[}+@r{]|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}}, where @var{nnn} is another
11033 sequence of digits. The @samp{+} is optional for positive exponents.
11034 A floating-point constant may also end with a letter @samp{f} or
11035 @samp{F}, specifying that the constant should be treated as being of
11036 the @code{float} (as opposed to the default @code{double}) type; or with
11037 a letter @samp{l} or @samp{L}, which specifies a @code{long double}
11041 Enumerated constants consist of enumerated identifiers, or their
11042 integral equivalents.
11045 Character constants are a single character surrounded by single quotes
11046 (@code{'}), or a number---the ordinal value of the corresponding character
11047 (usually its @sc{ascii} value). Within quotes, the single character may
11048 be represented by a letter or by @dfn{escape sequences}, which are of
11049 the form @samp{\@var{nnn}}, where @var{nnn} is the octal representation
11050 of the character's ordinal value; or of the form @samp{\@var{x}}, where
11051 @samp{@var{x}} is a predefined special character---for example,
11052 @samp{\n} for newline.
11055 String constants are a sequence of character constants surrounded by
11056 double quotes (@code{"}). Any valid character constant (as described
11057 above) may appear. Double quotes within the string must be preceded by
11058 a backslash, so for instance @samp{"a\"b'c"} is a string of five
11062 Pointer constants are an integral value. You can also write pointers
11063 to constants using the C operator @samp{&}.
11066 Array constants are comma-separated lists surrounded by braces @samp{@{}
11067 and @samp{@}}; for example, @samp{@{1,2,3@}} is a three-element array of
11068 integers, @samp{@{@{1,2@}, @{3,4@}, @{5,6@}@}} is a three-by-two array,
11069 and @samp{@{&"hi", &"there", &"fred"@}} is a three-element array of pointers.
11072 @node C Plus Plus Expressions
11073 @subsubsection C@t{++} Expressions
11075 @cindex expressions in C@t{++}
11076 @value{GDBN} expression handling can interpret most C@t{++} expressions.
11078 @cindex debugging C@t{++} programs
11079 @cindex C@t{++} compilers
11080 @cindex debug formats and C@t{++}
11081 @cindex @value{NGCC} and C@t{++}
11083 @emph{Warning:} @value{GDBN} can only debug C@t{++} code if you use the
11084 proper compiler and the proper debug format. Currently, @value{GDBN}
11085 works best when debugging C@t{++} code that is compiled with
11086 @value{NGCC} 2.95.3 or with @value{NGCC} 3.1 or newer, using the options
11087 @option{-gdwarf-2} or @option{-gstabs+}. DWARF 2 is preferred over
11088 stabs+. Most configurations of @value{NGCC} emit either DWARF 2 or
11089 stabs+ as their default debug format, so you usually don't need to
11090 specify a debug format explicitly. Other compilers and/or debug formats
11091 are likely to work badly or not at all when using @value{GDBN} to debug
11097 @cindex member functions
11099 Member function calls are allowed; you can use expressions like
11102 count = aml->GetOriginal(x, y)
11105 @vindex this@r{, inside C@t{++} member functions}
11106 @cindex namespace in C@t{++}
11108 While a member function is active (in the selected stack frame), your
11109 expressions have the same namespace available as the member function;
11110 that is, @value{GDBN} allows implicit references to the class instance
11111 pointer @code{this} following the same rules as C@t{++}.
11113 @cindex call overloaded functions
11114 @cindex overloaded functions, calling
11115 @cindex type conversions in C@t{++}
11117 You can call overloaded functions; @value{GDBN} resolves the function
11118 call to the right definition, with some restrictions. @value{GDBN} does not
11119 perform overload resolution involving user-defined type conversions,
11120 calls to constructors, or instantiations of templates that do not exist
11121 in the program. It also cannot handle ellipsis argument lists or
11124 It does perform integral conversions and promotions, floating-point
11125 promotions, arithmetic conversions, pointer conversions, conversions of
11126 class objects to base classes, and standard conversions such as those of
11127 functions or arrays to pointers; it requires an exact match on the
11128 number of function arguments.
11130 Overload resolution is always performed, unless you have specified
11131 @code{set overload-resolution off}. @xref{Debugging C Plus Plus,
11132 ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
11134 You must specify @code{set overload-resolution off} in order to use an
11135 explicit function signature to call an overloaded function, as in
11137 p 'foo(char,int)'('x', 13)
11140 The @value{GDBN} command-completion facility can simplify this;
11141 see @ref{Completion, ,Command Completion}.
11143 @cindex reference declarations
11145 @value{GDBN} understands variables declared as C@t{++} references; you can use
11146 them in expressions just as you do in C@t{++} source---they are automatically
11149 In the parameter list shown when @value{GDBN} displays a frame, the values of
11150 reference variables are not displayed (unlike other variables); this
11151 avoids clutter, since references are often used for large structures.
11152 The @emph{address} of a reference variable is always shown, unless
11153 you have specified @samp{set print address off}.
11156 @value{GDBN} supports the C@t{++} name resolution operator @code{::}---your
11157 expressions can use it just as expressions in your program do. Since
11158 one scope may be defined in another, you can use @code{::} repeatedly if
11159 necessary, for example in an expression like
11160 @samp{@var{scope1}::@var{scope2}::@var{name}}. @value{GDBN} also allows
11161 resolving name scope by reference to source files, in both C and C@t{++}
11162 debugging (@pxref{Variables, ,Program Variables}).
11165 In addition, when used with HP's C@t{++} compiler, @value{GDBN} supports
11166 calling virtual functions correctly, printing out virtual bases of
11167 objects, calling functions in a base subobject, casting objects, and
11168 invoking user-defined operators.
11171 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Defaults
11173 @cindex C and C@t{++} defaults
11175 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set type and range checking automatically, they
11176 both default to @code{off} whenever the working language changes to
11177 C or C@t{++}. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
11178 selects the working language.
11180 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, it
11181 recognizes source files whose names end with @file{.c}, @file{.C}, or
11182 @file{.cc}, etc, and when @value{GDBN} enters code compiled from one of
11183 these files, it sets the working language to C or C@t{++}.
11184 @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language},
11185 for further details.
11187 @c Type checking is (a) primarily motivated by Modula-2, and (b)
11188 @c unimplemented. If (b) changes, it might make sense to let this node
11189 @c appear even if Mod-2 does not, but meanwhile ignore it. roland 16jul93.
11192 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Type and Range Checks
11194 @cindex C and C@t{++} checks
11196 By default, when @value{GDBN} parses C or C@t{++} expressions, type checking
11197 is not used. However, if you turn type checking on, @value{GDBN}
11198 considers two variables type equivalent if:
11202 The two variables are structured and have the same structure, union, or
11206 The two variables have the same type name, or types that have been
11207 declared equivalent through @code{typedef}.
11210 @c leaving this out because neither J Gilmore nor R Pesch understand it.
11213 The two @code{struct}, @code{union}, or @code{enum} variables are
11214 declared in the same declaration. (Note: this may not be true for all C
11219 Range checking, if turned on, is done on mathematical operations. Array
11220 indices are not checked, since they are often used to index a pointer
11221 that is not itself an array.
11224 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and C
11226 The @code{set print union} and @code{show print union} commands apply to
11227 the @code{union} type. When set to @samp{on}, any @code{union} that is
11228 inside a @code{struct} or @code{class} is also printed. Otherwise, it
11229 appears as @samp{@{...@}}.
11231 The @code{@@} operator aids in the debugging of dynamic arrays, formed
11232 with pointers and a memory allocation function. @xref{Expressions,
11235 @node Debugging C Plus Plus
11236 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}
11238 @cindex commands for C@t{++}
11240 Some @value{GDBN} commands are particularly useful with C@t{++}, and some are
11241 designed specifically for use with C@t{++}. Here is a summary:
11244 @cindex break in overloaded functions
11245 @item @r{breakpoint menus}
11246 When you want a breakpoint in a function whose name is overloaded,
11247 @value{GDBN} has the capability to display a menu of possible breakpoint
11248 locations to help you specify which function definition you want.
11249 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}.
11251 @cindex overloading in C@t{++}
11252 @item rbreak @var{regex}
11253 Setting breakpoints using regular expressions is helpful for setting
11254 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
11256 @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
11258 @cindex C@t{++} exception handling
11261 Debug C@t{++} exception handling using these commands. @xref{Set
11262 Catchpoints, , Setting Catchpoints}.
11264 @cindex inheritance
11265 @item ptype @var{typename}
11266 Print inheritance relationships as well as other information for type
11268 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
11270 @cindex C@t{++} symbol display
11271 @item set print demangle
11272 @itemx show print demangle
11273 @itemx set print asm-demangle
11274 @itemx show print asm-demangle
11275 Control whether C@t{++} symbols display in their source form, both when
11276 displaying code as C@t{++} source and when displaying disassemblies.
11277 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
11279 @item set print object
11280 @itemx show print object
11281 Choose whether to print derived (actual) or declared types of objects.
11282 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
11284 @item set print vtbl
11285 @itemx show print vtbl
11286 Control the format for printing virtual function tables.
11287 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
11288 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
11289 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
11291 @kindex set overload-resolution
11292 @cindex overloaded functions, overload resolution
11293 @item set overload-resolution on
11294 Enable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. The default
11295 is on. For overloaded functions, @value{GDBN} evaluates the arguments
11296 and searches for a function whose signature matches the argument types,
11297 using the standard C@t{++} conversion rules (see @ref{C Plus Plus
11298 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}, for details).
11299 If it cannot find a match, it emits a message.
11301 @item set overload-resolution off
11302 Disable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. For
11303 overloaded functions that are not class member functions, @value{GDBN}
11304 chooses the first function of the specified name that it finds in the
11305 symbol table, whether or not its arguments are of the correct type. For
11306 overloaded functions that are class member functions, @value{GDBN}
11307 searches for a function whose signature @emph{exactly} matches the
11310 @kindex show overload-resolution
11311 @item show overload-resolution
11312 Show the current setting of overload resolution.
11314 @item @r{Overloaded symbol names}
11315 You can specify a particular definition of an overloaded symbol, using
11316 the same notation that is used to declare such symbols in C@t{++}: type
11317 @code{@var{symbol}(@var{types})} rather than just @var{symbol}. You can
11318 also use the @value{GDBN} command-line word completion facilities to list the
11319 available choices, or to finish the type list for you.
11320 @xref{Completion,, Command Completion}, for details on how to do this.
11323 @node Decimal Floating Point
11324 @subsubsection Decimal Floating Point format
11325 @cindex decimal floating point format
11327 @value{GDBN} can examine, set and perform computations with numbers in
11328 decimal floating point format, which in the C language correspond to the
11329 @code{_Decimal32}, @code{_Decimal64} and @code{_Decimal128} types as
11330 specified by the extension to support decimal floating-point arithmetic.
11332 There are two encodings in use, depending on the architecture: BID (Binary
11333 Integer Decimal) for x86 and x86-64, and DPD (Densely Packed Decimal) for
11334 PowerPC. @value{GDBN} will use the appropriate encoding for the configured
11337 Because of a limitation in @file{libdecnumber}, the library used by @value{GDBN}
11338 to manipulate decimal floating point numbers, it is not possible to convert
11339 (using a cast, for example) integers wider than 32-bit to decimal float.
11341 In addition, in order to imitate @value{GDBN}'s behaviour with binary floating
11342 point computations, error checking in decimal float operations ignores
11343 underflow, overflow and divide by zero exceptions.
11345 In the PowerPC architecture, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers
11346 to inspect @code{_Decimal128} values stored in floating point registers.
11347 See @ref{PowerPC,,PowerPC} for more details.
11350 @subsection Objective-C
11352 @cindex Objective-C
11353 This section provides information about some commands and command
11354 options that are useful for debugging Objective-C code. See also
11355 @ref{Symbols, info classes}, and @ref{Symbols, info selectors}, for a
11356 few more commands specific to Objective-C support.
11359 * Method Names in Commands::
11360 * The Print Command with Objective-C::
11363 @node Method Names in Commands
11364 @subsubsection Method Names in Commands
11366 The following commands have been extended to accept Objective-C method
11367 names as line specifications:
11369 @kindex clear@r{, and Objective-C}
11370 @kindex break@r{, and Objective-C}
11371 @kindex info line@r{, and Objective-C}
11372 @kindex jump@r{, and Objective-C}
11373 @kindex list@r{, and Objective-C}
11377 @item @code{info line}
11382 A fully qualified Objective-C method name is specified as
11385 -[@var{Class} @var{methodName}]
11388 where the minus sign is used to indicate an instance method and a
11389 plus sign (not shown) is used to indicate a class method. The class
11390 name @var{Class} and method name @var{methodName} are enclosed in
11391 brackets, similar to the way messages are specified in Objective-C
11392 source code. For example, to set a breakpoint at the @code{create}
11393 instance method of class @code{Fruit} in the program currently being
11397 break -[Fruit create]
11400 To list ten program lines around the @code{initialize} class method,
11404 list +[NSText initialize]
11407 In the current version of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus sign is
11408 required. In future versions of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus
11409 sign will be optional, but you can use it to narrow the search. It
11410 is also possible to specify just a method name:
11416 You must specify the complete method name, including any colons. If
11417 your program's source files contain more than one @code{create} method,
11418 you'll be presented with a numbered list of classes that implement that
11419 method. Indicate your choice by number, or type @samp{0} to exit if
11422 As another example, to clear a breakpoint established at the
11423 @code{makeKeyAndOrderFront:} method of the @code{NSWindow} class, enter:
11426 clear -[NSWindow makeKeyAndOrderFront:]
11429 @node The Print Command with Objective-C
11430 @subsubsection The Print Command With Objective-C
11431 @cindex Objective-C, print objects
11432 @kindex print-object
11433 @kindex po @r{(@code{print-object})}
11435 The print command has also been extended to accept methods. For example:
11438 print -[@var{object} hash]
11441 @cindex print an Objective-C object description
11442 @cindex @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, and printing Objective-C objects
11444 will tell @value{GDBN} to send the @code{hash} message to @var{object}
11445 and print the result. Also, an additional command has been added,
11446 @code{print-object} or @code{po} for short, which is meant to print
11447 the description of an object. However, this command may only work
11448 with certain Objective-C libraries that have a particular hook
11449 function, @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, defined.
11452 @subsection Fortran
11453 @cindex Fortran-specific support in @value{GDBN}
11455 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, but it
11456 currently supports only the features of Fortran 77 language.
11458 @cindex trailing underscore, in Fortran symbols
11459 Some Fortran compilers (@sc{gnu} Fortran 77 and Fortran 95 compilers
11460 among them) append an underscore to the names of variables and
11461 functions. When you debug programs compiled by those compilers, you
11462 will need to refer to variables and functions with a trailing
11466 * Fortran Operators:: Fortran operators and expressions
11467 * Fortran Defaults:: Default settings for Fortran
11468 * Special Fortran Commands:: Special @value{GDBN} commands for Fortran
11471 @node Fortran Operators
11472 @subsubsection Fortran Operators and Expressions
11474 @cindex Fortran operators and expressions
11476 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
11477 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on characters or other non-
11478 arithmetic types. Operators are often defined on groups of types.
11482 The exponentiation operator. It raises the first operand to the power
11486 The range operator. Normally used in the form of array(low:high) to
11487 represent a section of array.
11490 The access component operator. Normally used to access elements in derived
11491 types. Also suitable for unions. As unions aren't part of regular Fortran,
11492 this can only happen when accessing a register that uses a gdbarch-defined
11496 @node Fortran Defaults
11497 @subsubsection Fortran Defaults
11499 @cindex Fortran Defaults
11501 Fortran symbols are usually case-insensitive, so @value{GDBN} by
11502 default uses case-insensitive matches for Fortran symbols. You can
11503 change that with the @samp{set case-insensitive} command, see
11504 @ref{Symbols}, for the details.
11506 @node Special Fortran Commands
11507 @subsubsection Special Fortran Commands
11509 @cindex Special Fortran commands
11511 @value{GDBN} has some commands to support Fortran-specific features,
11512 such as displaying common blocks.
11515 @cindex @code{COMMON} blocks, Fortran
11516 @kindex info common
11517 @item info common @r{[}@var{common-name}@r{]}
11518 This command prints the values contained in the Fortran @code{COMMON}
11519 block whose name is @var{common-name}. With no argument, the names of
11520 all @code{COMMON} blocks visible at the current program location are
11527 @cindex Pascal support in @value{GDBN}, limitations
11528 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
11529 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
11530 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
11533 The Pascal-specific command @code{set print pascal_static-members}
11534 controls whether static members of Pascal objects are displayed.
11535 @xref{Print Settings, pascal_static-members}.
11538 @subsection Modula-2
11540 @cindex Modula-2, @value{GDBN} support
11542 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} to support Modula-2 only support
11543 output from the @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler (which is currently being
11544 developed). Other Modula-2 compilers are not currently supported, and
11545 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
11546 to give an error as @value{GDBN} reads in the executable's symbol
11549 @cindex expressions in Modula-2
11551 * M2 Operators:: Built-in operators
11552 * Built-In Func/Proc:: Built-in functions and procedures
11553 * M2 Constants:: Modula-2 constants
11554 * M2 Types:: Modula-2 types
11555 * M2 Defaults:: Default settings for Modula-2
11556 * Deviations:: Deviations from standard Modula-2
11557 * M2 Checks:: Modula-2 type and range checks
11558 * M2 Scope:: The scope operators @code{::} and @code{.}
11559 * GDB/M2:: @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
11563 @subsubsection Operators
11564 @cindex Modula-2 operators
11566 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
11567 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
11568 often defined on groups of types. For the purposes of Modula-2, the
11569 following definitions hold:
11574 @emph{Integral types} consist of @code{INTEGER}, @code{CARDINAL}, and
11578 @emph{Character types} consist of @code{CHAR} and its subranges.
11581 @emph{Floating-point types} consist of @code{REAL}.
11584 @emph{Pointer types} consist of anything declared as @code{POINTER TO
11588 @emph{Scalar types} consist of all of the above.
11591 @emph{Set types} consist of @code{SET} and @code{BITSET} types.
11594 @emph{Boolean types} consist of @code{BOOLEAN}.
11598 The following operators are supported, and appear in order of
11599 increasing precedence:
11603 Function argument or array index separator.
11606 Assignment. The value of @var{var} @code{:=} @var{value} is
11610 Less than, greater than on integral, floating-point, or enumerated
11614 Less than or equal to, greater than or equal to
11615 on integral, floating-point and enumerated types, or set inclusion on
11616 set types. Same precedence as @code{<}.
11618 @item =@r{, }<>@r{, }#
11619 Equality and two ways of expressing inequality, valid on scalar types.
11620 Same precedence as @code{<}. In @value{GDBN} scripts, only @code{<>} is
11621 available for inequality, since @code{#} conflicts with the script
11625 Set membership. Defined on set types and the types of their members.
11626 Same precedence as @code{<}.
11629 Boolean disjunction. Defined on boolean types.
11632 Boolean conjunction. Defined on boolean types.
11635 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
11638 Addition and subtraction on integral and floating-point types, or union
11639 and difference on set types.
11642 Multiplication on integral and floating-point types, or set intersection
11646 Division on floating-point types, or symmetric set difference on set
11647 types. Same precedence as @code{*}.
11650 Integer division and remainder. Defined on integral types. Same
11651 precedence as @code{*}.
11654 Negative. Defined on @code{INTEGER} and @code{REAL} data.
11657 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types.
11660 Boolean negation. Defined on boolean types. Same precedence as
11664 @code{RECORD} field selector. Defined on @code{RECORD} data. Same
11665 precedence as @code{^}.
11668 Array indexing. Defined on @code{ARRAY} data. Same precedence as @code{^}.
11671 Procedure argument list. Defined on @code{PROCEDURE} objects. Same precedence
11675 @value{GDBN} and Modula-2 scope operators.
11679 @emph{Warning:} Set expressions and their operations are not yet supported, so @value{GDBN}
11680 treats the use of the operator @code{IN}, or the use of operators
11681 @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{=}, , @code{<>}, @code{#},
11682 @code{<=}, and @code{>=} on sets as an error.
11686 @node Built-In Func/Proc
11687 @subsubsection Built-in Functions and Procedures
11688 @cindex Modula-2 built-ins
11690 Modula-2 also makes available several built-in procedures and functions.
11691 In describing these, the following metavariables are used:
11696 represents an @code{ARRAY} variable.
11699 represents a @code{CHAR} constant or variable.
11702 represents a variable or constant of integral type.
11705 represents an identifier that belongs to a set. Generally used in the
11706 same function with the metavariable @var{s}. The type of @var{s} should
11707 be @code{SET OF @var{mtype}} (where @var{mtype} is the type of @var{m}).
11710 represents a variable or constant of integral or floating-point type.
11713 represents a variable or constant of floating-point type.
11719 represents a variable.
11722 represents a variable or constant of one of many types. See the
11723 explanation of the function for details.
11726 All Modula-2 built-in procedures also return a result, described below.
11730 Returns the absolute value of @var{n}.
11733 If @var{c} is a lower case letter, it returns its upper case
11734 equivalent, otherwise it returns its argument.
11737 Returns the character whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
11740 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
11742 @item DEC(@var{v},@var{i})
11743 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
11746 @item EXCL(@var{m},@var{s})
11747 Removes the element @var{m} from the set @var{s}. Returns the new
11750 @item FLOAT(@var{i})
11751 Returns the floating point equivalent of the integer @var{i}.
11753 @item HIGH(@var{a})
11754 Returns the index of the last member of @var{a}.
11757 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
11759 @item INC(@var{v},@var{i})
11760 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
11763 @item INCL(@var{m},@var{s})
11764 Adds the element @var{m} to the set @var{s} if it is not already
11765 there. Returns the new set.
11768 Returns the maximum value of the type @var{t}.
11771 Returns the minimum value of the type @var{t}.
11774 Returns boolean TRUE if @var{i} is an odd number.
11777 Returns the ordinal value of its argument. For example, the ordinal
11778 value of a character is its @sc{ascii} value (on machines supporting the
11779 @sc{ascii} character set). @var{x} must be of an ordered type, which include
11780 integral, character and enumerated types.
11782 @item SIZE(@var{x})
11783 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
11785 @item TRUNC(@var{r})
11786 Returns the integral part of @var{r}.
11788 @item TSIZE(@var{x})
11789 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
11791 @item VAL(@var{t},@var{i})
11792 Returns the member of the type @var{t} whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
11796 @emph{Warning:} Sets and their operations are not yet supported, so
11797 @value{GDBN} treats the use of procedures @code{INCL} and @code{EXCL} as
11801 @cindex Modula-2 constants
11803 @subsubsection Constants
11805 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of Modula-2 in the following
11811 Integer constants are simply a sequence of digits. When used in an
11812 expression, a constant is interpreted to be type-compatible with the
11813 rest of the expression. Hexadecimal integers are specified by a
11814 trailing @samp{H}, and octal integers by a trailing @samp{B}.
11817 Floating point constants appear as a sequence of digits, followed by a
11818 decimal point and another sequence of digits. An optional exponent can
11819 then be specified, in the form @samp{E@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}, where
11820 @samp{@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}} is the desired exponent. All of the
11821 digits of the floating point constant must be valid decimal (base 10)
11825 Character constants consist of a single character enclosed by a pair of
11826 like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}). They may
11827 also be expressed by their ordinal value (their @sc{ascii} value, usually)
11828 followed by a @samp{C}.
11831 String constants consist of a sequence of characters enclosed by a
11832 pair of like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}).
11833 Escape sequences in the style of C are also allowed. @xref{C
11834 Constants, ,C and C@t{++} Constants}, for a brief explanation of escape
11838 Enumerated constants consist of an enumerated identifier.
11841 Boolean constants consist of the identifiers @code{TRUE} and
11845 Pointer constants consist of integral values only.
11848 Set constants are not yet supported.
11852 @subsubsection Modula-2 Types
11853 @cindex Modula-2 types
11855 Currently @value{GDBN} can print the following data types in Modula-2
11856 syntax: array types, record types, set types, pointer types, procedure
11857 types, enumerated types, subrange types and base types. You can also
11858 print the contents of variables declared using these type.
11859 This section gives a number of simple source code examples together with
11860 sample @value{GDBN} sessions.
11862 The first example contains the following section of code:
11871 and you can request @value{GDBN} to interrogate the type and value of
11872 @code{r} and @code{s}.
11875 (@value{GDBP}) print s
11877 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
11879 (@value{GDBP}) print r
11881 (@value{GDBP}) ptype r
11886 Likewise if your source code declares @code{s} as:
11890 s: SET ['A'..'Z'] ;
11894 then you may query the type of @code{s} by:
11897 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
11898 type = SET ['A'..'Z']
11902 Note that at present you cannot interactively manipulate set
11903 expressions using the debugger.
11905 The following example shows how you might declare an array in Modula-2
11906 and how you can interact with @value{GDBN} to print its type and contents:
11910 s: ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR ;
11914 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
11915 ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR
11918 Note that the array handling is not yet complete and although the type
11919 is printed correctly, expression handling still assumes that all
11920 arrays have a lower bound of zero and not @code{-10} as in the example
11923 Here are some more type related Modula-2 examples:
11927 colour = (blue, red, yellow, green) ;
11928 t = [blue..yellow] ;
11936 The @value{GDBN} interaction shows how you can query the data type
11937 and value of a variable.
11940 (@value{GDBP}) print s
11942 (@value{GDBP}) ptype t
11943 type = [blue..yellow]
11947 In this example a Modula-2 array is declared and its contents
11948 displayed. Observe that the contents are written in the same way as
11949 their @code{C} counterparts.
11953 s: ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
11959 (@value{GDBP}) print s
11960 $1 = @{1, 0, 0, 0, 0@}
11961 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
11962 type = ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
11965 The Modula-2 language interface to @value{GDBN} also understands
11966 pointer types as shown in this example:
11970 s: POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
11977 and you can request that @value{GDBN} describes the type of @code{s}.
11980 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
11981 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
11984 @value{GDBN} handles compound types as we can see in this example.
11985 Here we combine array types, record types, pointer types and subrange
11996 myarray = ARRAY myrange OF CARDINAL ;
11997 myrange = [-2..2] ;
11999 s: POINTER TO ARRAY myrange OF foo ;
12003 and you can ask @value{GDBN} to describe the type of @code{s} as shown
12007 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
12008 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [-2..2] OF foo = RECORD
12011 f3 : ARRAY [-2..2] OF CARDINAL;
12016 @subsubsection Modula-2 Defaults
12017 @cindex Modula-2 defaults
12019 If type and range checking are set automatically by @value{GDBN}, they
12020 both default to @code{on} whenever the working language changes to
12021 Modula-2. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
12022 selected the working language.
12024 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, then entering
12025 code compiled from a file whose name ends with @file{.mod} sets the
12026 working language to Modula-2. @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN}
12027 Infer the Source Language}, for further details.
12030 @subsubsection Deviations from Standard Modula-2
12031 @cindex Modula-2, deviations from
12033 A few changes have been made to make Modula-2 programs easier to debug.
12034 This is done primarily via loosening its type strictness:
12038 Unlike in standard Modula-2, pointer constants can be formed by
12039 integers. This allows you to modify pointer variables during
12040 debugging. (In standard Modula-2, the actual address contained in a
12041 pointer variable is hidden from you; it can only be modified
12042 through direct assignment to another pointer variable or expression that
12043 returned a pointer.)
12046 C escape sequences can be used in strings and characters to represent
12047 non-printable characters. @value{GDBN} prints out strings with these
12048 escape sequences embedded. Single non-printable characters are
12049 printed using the @samp{CHR(@var{nnn})} format.
12052 The assignment operator (@code{:=}) returns the value of its right-hand
12056 All built-in procedures both modify @emph{and} return their argument.
12060 @subsubsection Modula-2 Type and Range Checks
12061 @cindex Modula-2 checks
12064 @emph{Warning:} in this release, @value{GDBN} does not yet perform type or
12067 @c FIXME remove warning when type/range checks added
12069 @value{GDBN} considers two Modula-2 variables type equivalent if:
12073 They are of types that have been declared equivalent via a @code{TYPE
12074 @var{t1} = @var{t2}} statement
12077 They have been declared on the same line. (Note: This is true of the
12078 @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler, but it may not be true of other compilers.)
12081 As long as type checking is enabled, any attempt to combine variables
12082 whose types are not equivalent is an error.
12084 Range checking is done on all mathematical operations, assignment, array
12085 index bounds, and all built-in functions and procedures.
12088 @subsubsection The Scope Operators @code{::} and @code{.}
12090 @cindex @code{.}, Modula-2 scope operator
12091 @cindex colon, doubled as scope operator
12093 @vindex colon-colon@r{, in Modula-2}
12094 @c Info cannot handle :: but TeX can.
12097 @vindex ::@r{, in Modula-2}
12100 There are a few subtle differences between the Modula-2 scope operator
12101 (@code{.}) and the @value{GDBN} scope operator (@code{::}). The two have
12106 @var{module} . @var{id}
12107 @var{scope} :: @var{id}
12111 where @var{scope} is the name of a module or a procedure,
12112 @var{module} the name of a module, and @var{id} is any declared
12113 identifier within your program, except another module.
12115 Using the @code{::} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the scope
12116 specified by @var{scope} for the identifier @var{id}. If it is not
12117 found in the specified scope, then @value{GDBN} searches all scopes
12118 enclosing the one specified by @var{scope}.
12120 Using the @code{.} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the current scope for
12121 the identifier specified by @var{id} that was imported from the
12122 definition module specified by @var{module}. With this operator, it is
12123 an error if the identifier @var{id} was not imported from definition
12124 module @var{module}, or if @var{id} is not an identifier in
12128 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
12130 Some @value{GDBN} commands have little use when debugging Modula-2 programs.
12131 Five subcommands of @code{set print} and @code{show print} apply
12132 specifically to C and C@t{++}: @samp{vtbl}, @samp{demangle},
12133 @samp{asm-demangle}, @samp{object}, and @samp{union}. The first four
12134 apply to C@t{++}, and the last to the C @code{union} type, which has no direct
12135 analogue in Modula-2.
12137 The @code{@@} operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), while available
12138 with any language, is not useful with Modula-2. Its
12139 intent is to aid the debugging of @dfn{dynamic arrays}, which cannot be
12140 created in Modula-2 as they can in C or C@t{++}. However, because an
12141 address can be specified by an integral constant, the construct
12142 @samp{@{@var{type}@}@var{adrexp}} is still useful.
12144 @cindex @code{#} in Modula-2
12145 In @value{GDBN} scripts, the Modula-2 inequality operator @code{#} is
12146 interpreted as the beginning of a comment. Use @code{<>} instead.
12152 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} for Ada only support
12153 output from the @sc{gnu} Ada (GNAT) compiler.
12154 Other Ada compilers are not currently supported, and
12155 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
12159 @cindex expressions in Ada
12161 * Ada Mode Intro:: General remarks on the Ada syntax
12162 and semantics supported by Ada mode
12164 * Omissions from Ada:: Restrictions on the Ada expression syntax.
12165 * Additions to Ada:: Extensions of the Ada expression syntax.
12166 * Stopping Before Main Program:: Debugging the program during elaboration.
12167 * Ada Tasks:: Listing and setting breakpoints in tasks.
12168 * Ada Tasks and Core Files:: Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
12169 * Ada Glitches:: Known peculiarities of Ada mode.
12172 @node Ada Mode Intro
12173 @subsubsection Introduction
12174 @cindex Ada mode, general
12176 The Ada mode of @value{GDBN} supports a fairly large subset of Ada expression
12177 syntax, with some extensions.
12178 The philosophy behind the design of this subset is
12182 That @value{GDBN} should provide basic literals and access to operations for
12183 arithmetic, dereferencing, field selection, indexing, and subprogram calls,
12184 leaving more sophisticated computations to subprograms written into the
12185 program (which therefore may be called from @value{GDBN}).
12188 That type safety and strict adherence to Ada language restrictions
12189 are not particularly important to the @value{GDBN} user.
12192 That brevity is important to the @value{GDBN} user.
12195 Thus, for brevity, the debugger acts as if all names declared in
12196 user-written packages are directly visible, even if they are not visible
12197 according to Ada rules, thus making it unnecessary to fully qualify most
12198 names with their packages, regardless of context. Where this causes
12199 ambiguity, @value{GDBN} asks the user's intent.
12201 The debugger will start in Ada mode if it detects an Ada main program.
12202 As for other languages, it will enter Ada mode when stopped in a program that
12203 was translated from an Ada source file.
12205 While in Ada mode, you may use `@t{--}' for comments. This is useful
12206 mostly for documenting command files. The standard @value{GDBN} comment
12207 (@samp{#}) still works at the beginning of a line in Ada mode, but not in the
12208 middle (to allow based literals).
12210 The debugger supports limited overloading. Given a subprogram call in which
12211 the function symbol has multiple definitions, it will use the number of
12212 actual parameters and some information about their types to attempt to narrow
12213 the set of definitions. It also makes very limited use of context, preferring
12214 procedures to functions in the context of the @code{call} command, and
12215 functions to procedures elsewhere.
12217 @node Omissions from Ada
12218 @subsubsection Omissions from Ada
12219 @cindex Ada, omissions from
12221 Here are the notable omissions from the subset:
12225 Only a subset of the attributes are supported:
12229 @t{'First}, @t{'Last}, and @t{'Length}
12230 on array objects (not on types and subtypes).
12233 @t{'Min} and @t{'Max}.
12236 @t{'Pos} and @t{'Val}.
12242 @t{'Range} on array objects (not subtypes), but only as the right
12243 operand of the membership (@code{in}) operator.
12246 @t{'Access}, @t{'Unchecked_Access}, and
12247 @t{'Unrestricted_Access} (a GNAT extension).
12255 @code{Characters.Latin_1} are not available and
12256 concatenation is not implemented. Thus, escape characters in strings are
12257 not currently available.
12260 Equality tests (@samp{=} and @samp{/=}) on arrays test for bitwise
12261 equality of representations. They will generally work correctly
12262 for strings and arrays whose elements have integer or enumeration types.
12263 They may not work correctly for arrays whose element
12264 types have user-defined equality, for arrays of real values
12265 (in particular, IEEE-conformant floating point, because of negative
12266 zeroes and NaNs), and for arrays whose elements contain unused bits with
12267 indeterminate values.
12270 The other component-by-component array operations (@code{and}, @code{or},
12271 @code{xor}, @code{not}, and relational tests other than equality)
12272 are not implemented.
12275 @cindex array aggregates (Ada)
12276 @cindex record aggregates (Ada)
12277 @cindex aggregates (Ada)
12278 There is limited support for array and record aggregates. They are
12279 permitted only on the right sides of assignments, as in these examples:
12282 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
12283 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, others => 0)
12284 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (0|4 => 1, 1..3 => 2, 5 => 6)
12285 (@value{GDBP}) set A_2D_Array := ((1, 2, 3), (4, 5, 6), (7, 8, 9))
12286 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (1, "Peter", True);
12287 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (Name => "Peter", Id => 1, Alive => True)
12291 discriminant's value by assigning an aggregate has an
12292 undefined effect if that discriminant is used within the record.
12293 However, you can first modify discriminants by directly assigning to
12294 them (which normally would not be allowed in Ada), and then performing an
12295 aggregate assignment. For example, given a variable @code{A_Rec}
12296 declared to have a type such as:
12299 type Rec (Len : Small_Integer := 0) is record
12301 Vals : IntArray (1 .. Len);
12305 you can assign a value with a different size of @code{Vals} with two
12309 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec.Len := 4
12310 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec := (Id => 42, Vals => (1, 2, 3, 4))
12313 As this example also illustrates, @value{GDBN} is very loose about the usual
12314 rules concerning aggregates. You may leave out some of the
12315 components of an array or record aggregate (such as the @code{Len}
12316 component in the assignment to @code{A_Rec} above); they will retain their
12317 original values upon assignment. You may freely use dynamic values as
12318 indices in component associations. You may even use overlapping or
12319 redundant component associations, although which component values are
12320 assigned in such cases is not defined.
12323 Calls to dispatching subprograms are not implemented.
12326 The overloading algorithm is much more limited (i.e., less selective)
12327 than that of real Ada. It makes only limited use of the context in
12328 which a subexpression appears to resolve its meaning, and it is much
12329 looser in its rules for allowing type matches. As a result, some
12330 function calls will be ambiguous, and the user will be asked to choose
12331 the proper resolution.
12334 The @code{new} operator is not implemented.
12337 Entry calls are not implemented.
12340 Aside from printing, arithmetic operations on the native VAX floating-point
12341 formats are not supported.
12344 It is not possible to slice a packed array.
12347 The names @code{True} and @code{False}, when not part of a qualified name,
12348 are interpreted as if implicitly prefixed by @code{Standard}, regardless of
12350 Should your program
12351 redefine these names in a package or procedure (at best a dubious practice),
12352 you will have to use fully qualified names to access their new definitions.
12355 @node Additions to Ada
12356 @subsubsection Additions to Ada
12357 @cindex Ada, deviations from
12359 As it does for other languages, @value{GDBN} makes certain generic
12360 extensions to Ada (@pxref{Expressions}):
12364 If the expression @var{E} is a variable residing in memory (typically
12365 a local variable or array element) and @var{N} is a positive integer,
12366 then @code{@var{E}@@@var{N}} displays the values of @var{E} and the
12367 @var{N}-1 adjacent variables following it in memory as an array. In
12368 Ada, this operator is generally not necessary, since its prime use is
12369 in displaying parts of an array, and slicing will usually do this in
12370 Ada. However, there are occasional uses when debugging programs in
12371 which certain debugging information has been optimized away.
12374 @code{@var{B}::@var{var}} means ``the variable named @var{var} that
12375 appears in function or file @var{B}.'' When @var{B} is a file name,
12376 you must typically surround it in single quotes.
12379 The expression @code{@{@var{type}@} @var{addr}} means ``the variable of type
12380 @var{type} that appears at address @var{addr}.''
12383 A name starting with @samp{$} is a convenience variable
12384 (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) or a machine register (@pxref{Registers}).
12387 In addition, @value{GDBN} provides a few other shortcuts and outright
12388 additions specific to Ada:
12392 The assignment statement is allowed as an expression, returning
12393 its right-hand operand as its value. Thus, you may enter
12396 (@value{GDBP}) set x := y + 3
12397 (@value{GDBP}) print A(tmp := y + 1)
12401 The semicolon is allowed as an ``operator,'' returning as its value
12402 the value of its right-hand operand.
12403 This allows, for example,
12404 complex conditional breaks:
12407 (@value{GDBP}) break f
12408 (@value{GDBP}) condition 1 (report(i); k += 1; A(k) > 100)
12412 Rather than use catenation and symbolic character names to introduce special
12413 characters into strings, one may instead use a special bracket notation,
12414 which is also used to print strings. A sequence of characters of the form
12415 @samp{["@var{XX}"]} within a string or character literal denotes the
12416 (single) character whose numeric encoding is @var{XX} in hexadecimal. The
12417 sequence of characters @samp{["""]} also denotes a single quotation mark
12418 in strings. For example,
12420 "One line.["0a"]Next line.["0a"]"
12423 contains an ASCII newline character (@code{Ada.Characters.Latin_1.LF})
12427 The subtype used as a prefix for the attributes @t{'Pos}, @t{'Min}, and
12428 @t{'Max} is optional (and is ignored in any case). For example, it is valid
12432 (@value{GDBP}) print 'max(x, y)
12436 When printing arrays, @value{GDBN} uses positional notation when the
12437 array has a lower bound of 1, and uses a modified named notation otherwise.
12438 For example, a one-dimensional array of three integers with a lower bound
12439 of 3 might print as
12446 That is, in contrast to valid Ada, only the first component has a @code{=>}
12450 You may abbreviate attributes in expressions with any unique,
12451 multi-character subsequence of
12452 their names (an exact match gets preference).
12453 For example, you may use @t{a'len}, @t{a'gth}, or @t{a'lh}
12454 in place of @t{a'length}.
12457 @cindex quoting Ada internal identifiers
12458 Since Ada is case-insensitive, the debugger normally maps identifiers you type
12459 to lower case. The GNAT compiler uses upper-case characters for
12460 some of its internal identifiers, which are normally of no interest to users.
12461 For the rare occasions when you actually have to look at them,
12462 enclose them in angle brackets to avoid the lower-case mapping.
12465 (@value{GDBP}) print <JMPBUF_SAVE>[0]
12469 Printing an object of class-wide type or dereferencing an
12470 access-to-class-wide value will display all the components of the object's
12471 specific type (as indicated by its run-time tag). Likewise, component
12472 selection on such a value will operate on the specific type of the
12477 @node Stopping Before Main Program
12478 @subsubsection Stopping at the Very Beginning
12480 @cindex breakpointing Ada elaboration code
12481 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration, and
12482 before reaching the main procedure.
12483 As defined in the Ada Reference
12484 Manual, the elaboration code is invoked from a procedure called
12485 @code{adainit}. To run your program up to the beginning of
12486 elaboration, simply use the following two commands:
12487 @code{tbreak adainit} and @code{run}.
12490 @subsubsection Extensions for Ada Tasks
12491 @cindex Ada, tasking
12493 Support for Ada tasks is analogous to that for threads (@pxref{Threads}).
12494 @value{GDBN} provides the following task-related commands:
12499 This command shows a list of current Ada tasks, as in the following example:
12506 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
12507 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
12508 1 8088000 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
12509 2 80a4000 1 15 Accept Statement b
12510 3 809a800 1 15 Child Activation Wait a
12511 * 4 80ae800 3 15 Runnable c
12516 In this listing, the asterisk before the last task indicates it to be the
12517 task currently being inspected.
12521 Represents @value{GDBN}'s internal task number.
12527 The parent's task ID (@value{GDBN}'s internal task number).
12530 The base priority of the task.
12533 Current state of the task.
12537 The task has been created but has not been activated. It cannot be
12541 The task is not blocked for any reason known to Ada. (It may be waiting
12542 for a mutex, though.) It is conceptually "executing" in normal mode.
12545 The task is terminated, in the sense of ARM 9.3 (5). Any dependents
12546 that were waiting on terminate alternatives have been awakened and have
12547 terminated themselves.
12549 @item Child Activation Wait
12550 The task is waiting for created tasks to complete activation.
12552 @item Accept Statement
12553 The task is waiting on an accept or selective wait statement.
12555 @item Waiting on entry call
12556 The task is waiting on an entry call.
12558 @item Async Select Wait
12559 The task is waiting to start the abortable part of an asynchronous
12563 The task is waiting on a select statement with only a delay
12566 @item Child Termination Wait
12567 The task is sleeping having completed a master within itself, and is
12568 waiting for the tasks dependent on that master to become terminated or
12569 waiting on a terminate Phase.
12571 @item Wait Child in Term Alt
12572 The task is sleeping waiting for tasks on terminate alternatives to
12573 finish terminating.
12575 @item Accepting RV with @var{taskno}
12576 The task is accepting a rendez-vous with the task @var{taskno}.
12580 Name of the task in the program.
12584 @kindex info task @var{taskno}
12585 @item info task @var{taskno}
12586 This command shows detailled informations on the specified task, as in
12587 the following example:
12592 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
12593 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
12594 1 8077880 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
12595 * 2 807c468 1 15 Runnable task_1
12596 (@value{GDBP}) info task 2
12597 Ada Task: 0x807c468
12600 Parent: 1 (main_task)
12606 @kindex task@r{ (Ada)}
12607 @cindex current Ada task ID
12608 This command prints the ID of the current task.
12614 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
12615 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
12616 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
12617 * 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
12618 (@value{GDBP}) task
12619 [Current task is 2]
12622 @item task @var{taskno}
12623 @cindex Ada task switching
12624 This command is like the @code{thread @var{threadno}}
12625 command (@pxref{Threads}). It switches the context of debugging
12626 from the current task to the given task.
12632 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
12633 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
12634 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
12635 * 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
12636 (@value{GDBP}) task 1
12637 [Switching to task 1]
12638 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
12640 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
12641 #1 0x8056714 in system.os_interface.pthread_cond_wait ()
12642 #2 0x805cb63 in system.task_primitives.operations.sleep ()
12643 #3 0x806153e in system.tasking.stages.activate_tasks ()
12644 #4 0x804aacc in un () at un.adb:5
12647 @item break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno}
12648 @itemx break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno} if @dots{}
12649 @cindex breakpoints and tasks, in Ada
12650 @cindex task breakpoints, in Ada
12651 @kindex break @dots{} task @var{taskno}@r{ (Ada)}
12652 These commands are like the @code{break @dots{} thread @dots{}}
12653 command (@pxref{Thread Stops}).
12654 @var{linespec} specifies source lines, as described
12655 in @ref{Specify Location}.
12657 Use the qualifier @samp{task @var{taskno}} with a breakpoint command
12658 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
12659 particular Ada task reaches this breakpoint. @var{taskno} is one of the
12660 numeric task identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
12661 column of the @samp{info tasks} display.
12663 If you do not specify @samp{task @var{taskno}} when you set a
12664 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} tasks of your
12667 You can use the @code{task} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
12668 well; in this case, place @samp{task @var{taskno}} before the
12669 breakpoint condition (before the @code{if}).
12677 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
12678 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
12679 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
12680 2 140045060 1 15 Accept/Select Wait t2
12681 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
12682 * 4 140056040 1 15 Runnable t3
12683 (@value{GDBP}) b 15 task 2
12684 Breakpoint 5 at 0x120044cb0: file test_task_debug.adb, line 15.
12685 (@value{GDBP}) cont
12690 Breakpoint 5, test_task_debug () at test_task_debug.adb:15
12692 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
12693 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
12694 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
12695 * 2 140045060 1 15 Runnable t2
12696 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
12697 4 140056040 1 15 Delay Sleep t3
12701 @node Ada Tasks and Core Files
12702 @subsubsection Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
12703 @cindex Ada tasking and core file debugging
12705 When inspecting a core file, as opposed to debugging a live program,
12706 tasking support may be limited or even unavailable, depending on
12707 the platform being used.
12708 For instance, on x86-linux, the list of tasks is available, but task
12709 switching is not supported. On Tru64, however, task switching will work
12712 On certain platforms, including Tru64, the debugger needs to perform some
12713 memory writes in order to provide Ada tasking support. When inspecting
12714 a core file, this means that the core file must be opened with read-write
12715 privileges, using the command @samp{"set write on"} (@pxref{Patching}).
12716 Under these circumstances, you should make a backup copy of the core
12717 file before inspecting it with @value{GDBN}.
12720 @subsubsection Known Peculiarities of Ada Mode
12721 @cindex Ada, problems
12723 Besides the omissions listed previously (@pxref{Omissions from Ada}),
12724 we know of several problems with and limitations of Ada mode in
12726 some of which will be fixed with planned future releases of the debugger
12727 and the GNU Ada compiler.
12731 Currently, the debugger
12732 has insufficient information to determine whether certain pointers represent
12733 pointers to objects or the objects themselves.
12734 Thus, the user may have to tack an extra @code{.all} after an expression
12735 to get it printed properly.
12738 Static constants that the compiler chooses not to materialize as objects in
12739 storage are invisible to the debugger.
12742 Named parameter associations in function argument lists are ignored (the
12743 argument lists are treated as positional).
12746 Many useful library packages are currently invisible to the debugger.
12749 Fixed-point arithmetic, conversions, input, and output is carried out using
12750 floating-point arithmetic, and may give results that only approximate those on
12754 The GNAT compiler never generates the prefix @code{Standard} for any of
12755 the standard symbols defined by the Ada language. @value{GDBN} knows about
12756 this: it will strip the prefix from names when you use it, and will never
12757 look for a name you have so qualified among local symbols, nor match against
12758 symbols in other packages or subprograms. If you have
12759 defined entities anywhere in your program other than parameters and
12760 local variables whose simple names match names in @code{Standard},
12761 GNAT's lack of qualification here can cause confusion. When this happens,
12762 you can usually resolve the confusion
12763 by qualifying the problematic names with package
12764 @code{Standard} explicitly.
12767 @node Unsupported Languages
12768 @section Unsupported Languages
12770 @cindex unsupported languages
12771 @cindex minimal language
12772 In addition to the other fully-supported programming languages,
12773 @value{GDBN} also provides a pseudo-language, called @code{minimal}.
12774 It does not represent a real programming language, but provides a set
12775 of capabilities close to what the C or assembly languages provide.
12776 This should allow most simple operations to be performed while debugging
12777 an application that uses a language currently not supported by @value{GDBN}.
12779 If the language is set to @code{auto}, @value{GDBN} will automatically
12780 select this language if the current frame corresponds to an unsupported
12784 @chapter Examining the Symbol Table
12786 The commands described in this chapter allow you to inquire about the
12787 symbols (names of variables, functions and types) defined in your
12788 program. This information is inherent in the text of your program and
12789 does not change as your program executes. @value{GDBN} finds it in your
12790 program's symbol table, in the file indicated when you started @value{GDBN}
12791 (@pxref{File Options, ,Choosing Files}), or by one of the
12792 file-management commands (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
12794 @cindex symbol names
12795 @cindex names of symbols
12796 @cindex quoting names
12797 Occasionally, you may need to refer to symbols that contain unusual
12798 characters, which @value{GDBN} ordinarily treats as word delimiters. The
12799 most frequent case is in referring to static variables in other
12800 source files (@pxref{Variables,,Program Variables}). File names
12801 are recorded in object files as debugging symbols, but @value{GDBN} would
12802 ordinarily parse a typical file name, like @file{foo.c}, as the three words
12803 @samp{foo} @samp{.} @samp{c}. To allow @value{GDBN} to recognize
12804 @samp{foo.c} as a single symbol, enclose it in single quotes; for example,
12811 looks up the value of @code{x} in the scope of the file @file{foo.c}.
12814 @cindex case-insensitive symbol names
12815 @cindex case sensitivity in symbol names
12816 @kindex set case-sensitive
12817 @item set case-sensitive on
12818 @itemx set case-sensitive off
12819 @itemx set case-sensitive auto
12820 Normally, when @value{GDBN} looks up symbols, it matches their names
12821 with case sensitivity determined by the current source language.
12822 Occasionally, you may wish to control that. The command @code{set
12823 case-sensitive} lets you do that by specifying @code{on} for
12824 case-sensitive matches or @code{off} for case-insensitive ones. If
12825 you specify @code{auto}, case sensitivity is reset to the default
12826 suitable for the source language. The default is case-sensitive
12827 matches for all languages except for Fortran, for which the default is
12828 case-insensitive matches.
12830 @kindex show case-sensitive
12831 @item show case-sensitive
12832 This command shows the current setting of case sensitivity for symbols
12835 @kindex info address
12836 @cindex address of a symbol
12837 @item info address @var{symbol}
12838 Describe where the data for @var{symbol} is stored. For a register
12839 variable, this says which register it is kept in. For a non-register
12840 local variable, this prints the stack-frame offset at which the variable
12843 Note the contrast with @samp{print &@var{symbol}}, which does not work
12844 at all for a register variable, and for a stack local variable prints
12845 the exact address of the current instantiation of the variable.
12847 @kindex info symbol
12848 @cindex symbol from address
12849 @cindex closest symbol and offset for an address
12850 @item info symbol @var{addr}
12851 Print the name of a symbol which is stored at the address @var{addr}.
12852 If no symbol is stored exactly at @var{addr}, @value{GDBN} prints the
12853 nearest symbol and an offset from it:
12856 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x54320
12857 _initialize_vx + 396 in section .text
12861 This is the opposite of the @code{info address} command. You can use
12862 it to find out the name of a variable or a function given its address.
12864 For dynamically linked executables, the name of executable or shared
12865 library containing the symbol is also printed:
12868 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x400225
12869 _start + 5 in section .text of /tmp/a.out
12870 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x2aaaac2811cf
12871 __read_nocancel + 6 in section .text of /usr/lib64/libc.so.6
12875 @item whatis [@var{arg}]
12876 Print the data type of @var{arg}, which can be either an expression or
12877 a data type. With no argument, print the data type of @code{$}, the
12878 last value in the value history. If @var{arg} is an expression, it is
12879 not actually evaluated, and any side-effecting operations (such as
12880 assignments or function calls) inside it do not take place. If
12881 @var{arg} is a type name, it may be the name of a type or typedef, or
12882 for C code it may have the form @samp{class @var{class-name}},
12883 @samp{struct @var{struct-tag}}, @samp{union @var{union-tag}} or
12884 @samp{enum @var{enum-tag}}.
12885 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
12888 @item ptype [@var{arg}]
12889 @code{ptype} accepts the same arguments as @code{whatis}, but prints a
12890 detailed description of the type, instead of just the name of the type.
12891 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
12893 For example, for this variable declaration:
12896 struct complex @{double real; double imag;@} v;
12900 the two commands give this output:
12904 (@value{GDBP}) whatis v
12905 type = struct complex
12906 (@value{GDBP}) ptype v
12907 type = struct complex @{
12915 As with @code{whatis}, using @code{ptype} without an argument refers to
12916 the type of @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
12918 @cindex incomplete type
12919 Sometimes, programs use opaque data types or incomplete specifications
12920 of complex data structure. If the debug information included in the
12921 program does not allow @value{GDBN} to display a full declaration of
12922 the data type, it will say @samp{<incomplete type>}. For example,
12923 given these declarations:
12927 struct foo *fooptr;
12931 but no definition for @code{struct foo} itself, @value{GDBN} will say:
12934 (@value{GDBP}) ptype foo
12935 $1 = <incomplete type>
12939 ``Incomplete type'' is C terminology for data types that are not
12940 completely specified.
12943 @item info types @var{regexp}
12945 Print a brief description of all types whose names match the regular
12946 expression @var{regexp} (or all types in your program, if you supply
12947 no argument). Each complete typename is matched as though it were a
12948 complete line; thus, @samp{i type value} gives information on all
12949 types in your program whose names include the string @code{value}, but
12950 @samp{i type ^value$} gives information only on types whose complete
12951 name is @code{value}.
12953 This command differs from @code{ptype} in two ways: first, like
12954 @code{whatis}, it does not print a detailed description; second, it
12955 lists all source files where a type is defined.
12958 @cindex local variables
12959 @item info scope @var{location}
12960 List all the variables local to a particular scope. This command
12961 accepts a @var{location} argument---a function name, a source line, or
12962 an address preceded by a @samp{*}, and prints all the variables local
12963 to the scope defined by that location. (@xref{Specify Location}, for
12964 details about supported forms of @var{location}.) For example:
12967 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info scope command_line_handler}
12968 Scope for command_line_handler:
12969 Symbol rl is an argument at stack/frame offset 8, length 4.
12970 Symbol linebuffer is in static storage at address 0x150a18, length 4.
12971 Symbol linelength is in static storage at address 0x150a1c, length 4.
12972 Symbol p is a local variable in register $esi, length 4.
12973 Symbol p1 is a local variable in register $ebx, length 4.
12974 Symbol nline is a local variable in register $edx, length 4.
12975 Symbol repeat is a local variable at frame offset -8, length 4.
12979 This command is especially useful for determining what data to collect
12980 during a @dfn{trace experiment}, see @ref{Tracepoint Actions,
12983 @kindex info source
12985 Show information about the current source file---that is, the source file for
12986 the function containing the current point of execution:
12989 the name of the source file, and the directory containing it,
12991 the directory it was compiled in,
12993 its length, in lines,
12995 which programming language it is written in,
12997 whether the executable includes debugging information for that file, and
12998 if so, what format the information is in (e.g., STABS, Dwarf 2, etc.), and
13000 whether the debugging information includes information about
13001 preprocessor macros.
13005 @kindex info sources
13007 Print the names of all source files in your program for which there is
13008 debugging information, organized into two lists: files whose symbols
13009 have already been read, and files whose symbols will be read when needed.
13011 @kindex info functions
13012 @item info functions
13013 Print the names and data types of all defined functions.
13015 @item info functions @var{regexp}
13016 Print the names and data types of all defined functions
13017 whose names contain a match for regular expression @var{regexp}.
13018 Thus, @samp{info fun step} finds all functions whose names
13019 include @code{step}; @samp{info fun ^step} finds those whose names
13020 start with @code{step}. If a function name contains characters
13021 that conflict with the regular expression language (e.g.@:
13022 @samp{operator*()}), they may be quoted with a backslash.
13024 @kindex info variables
13025 @item info variables
13026 Print the names and data types of all variables that are defined
13027 outside of functions (i.e.@: excluding local variables).
13029 @item info variables @var{regexp}
13030 Print the names and data types of all variables (except for local
13031 variables) whose names contain a match for regular expression
13034 @kindex info classes
13035 @cindex Objective-C, classes and selectors
13037 @itemx info classes @var{regexp}
13038 Display all Objective-C classes in your program, or
13039 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
13042 @kindex info selectors
13043 @item info selectors
13044 @itemx info selectors @var{regexp}
13045 Display all Objective-C selectors in your program, or
13046 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
13050 This was never implemented.
13051 @kindex info methods
13053 @itemx info methods @var{regexp}
13054 The @code{info methods} command permits the user to examine all defined
13055 methods within C@t{++} program, or (with the @var{regexp} argument) a
13056 specific set of methods found in the various C@t{++} classes. Many
13057 C@t{++} classes provide a large number of methods. Thus, the output
13058 from the @code{ptype} command can be overwhelming and hard to use. The
13059 @code{info-methods} command filters the methods, printing only those
13060 which match the regular-expression @var{regexp}.
13063 @cindex reloading symbols
13064 Some systems allow individual object files that make up your program to
13065 be replaced without stopping and restarting your program. For example,
13066 in VxWorks you can simply recompile a defective object file and keep on
13067 running. If you are running on one of these systems, you can allow
13068 @value{GDBN} to reload the symbols for automatically relinked modules:
13071 @kindex set symbol-reloading
13072 @item set symbol-reloading on
13073 Replace symbol definitions for the corresponding source file when an
13074 object file with a particular name is seen again.
13076 @item set symbol-reloading off
13077 Do not replace symbol definitions when encountering object files of the
13078 same name more than once. This is the default state; if you are not
13079 running on a system that permits automatic relinking of modules, you
13080 should leave @code{symbol-reloading} off, since otherwise @value{GDBN}
13081 may discard symbols when linking large programs, that may contain
13082 several modules (from different directories or libraries) with the same
13085 @kindex show symbol-reloading
13086 @item show symbol-reloading
13087 Show the current @code{on} or @code{off} setting.
13090 @cindex opaque data types
13091 @kindex set opaque-type-resolution
13092 @item set opaque-type-resolution on
13093 Tell @value{GDBN} to resolve opaque types. An opaque type is a type
13094 declared as a pointer to a @code{struct}, @code{class}, or
13095 @code{union}---for example, @code{struct MyType *}---that is used in one
13096 source file although the full declaration of @code{struct MyType} is in
13097 another source file. The default is on.
13099 A change in the setting of this subcommand will not take effect until
13100 the next time symbols for a file are loaded.
13102 @item set opaque-type-resolution off
13103 Tell @value{GDBN} not to resolve opaque types. In this case, the type
13104 is printed as follows:
13106 @{<no data fields>@}
13109 @kindex show opaque-type-resolution
13110 @item show opaque-type-resolution
13111 Show whether opaque types are resolved or not.
13113 @kindex maint print symbols
13114 @cindex symbol dump
13115 @kindex maint print psymbols
13116 @cindex partial symbol dump
13117 @item maint print symbols @var{filename}
13118 @itemx maint print psymbols @var{filename}
13119 @itemx maint print msymbols @var{filename}
13120 Write a dump of debugging symbol data into the file @var{filename}.
13121 These commands are used to debug the @value{GDBN} symbol-reading code. Only
13122 symbols with debugging data are included. If you use @samp{maint print
13123 symbols}, @value{GDBN} includes all the symbols for which it has already
13124 collected full details: that is, @var{filename} reflects symbols for
13125 only those files whose symbols @value{GDBN} has read. You can use the
13126 command @code{info sources} to find out which files these are. If you
13127 use @samp{maint print psymbols} instead, the dump shows information about
13128 symbols that @value{GDBN} only knows partially---that is, symbols defined in
13129 files that @value{GDBN} has skimmed, but not yet read completely. Finally,
13130 @samp{maint print msymbols} dumps just the minimal symbol information
13131 required for each object file from which @value{GDBN} has read some symbols.
13132 @xref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}, for a discussion of how
13133 @value{GDBN} reads symbols (in the description of @code{symbol-file}).
13135 @kindex maint info symtabs
13136 @kindex maint info psymtabs
13137 @cindex listing @value{GDBN}'s internal symbol tables
13138 @cindex symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
13139 @cindex full symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
13140 @cindex partial symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
13141 @item maint info symtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
13142 @itemx maint info psymtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
13144 List the @code{struct symtab} or @code{struct partial_symtab}
13145 structures whose names match @var{regexp}. If @var{regexp} is not
13146 given, list them all. The output includes expressions which you can
13147 copy into a @value{GDBN} debugging this one to examine a particular
13148 structure in more detail. For example:
13151 (@value{GDBP}) maint info psymtabs dwarf2read
13152 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
13153 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
13154 @{ psymtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
13155 ((struct partial_symtab *) 0x8474b10)
13158 text addresses 0x814d3c8 -- 0x8158074
13159 globals (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x8507a08 @@ 9)
13160 statics (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x40e95b78 @@ 2882)
13161 dependencies (none)
13164 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
13168 We see that there is one partial symbol table whose filename contains
13169 the string @samp{dwarf2read}, belonging to the @samp{gdb} executable;
13170 and we see that @value{GDBN} has not read in any symtabs yet at all.
13171 If we set a breakpoint on a function, that will cause @value{GDBN} to
13172 read the symtab for the compilation unit containing that function:
13175 (@value{GDBP}) break dwarf2_psymtab_to_symtab
13176 Breakpoint 1 at 0x814e5da: file /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c,
13178 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
13179 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
13180 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
13181 @{ symtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
13182 ((struct symtab *) 0x86c1f38)
13185 blockvector ((struct blockvector *) 0x86c1bd0) (primary)
13186 linetable ((struct linetable *) 0x8370fa0)
13187 debugformat DWARF 2
13196 @chapter Altering Execution
13198 Once you think you have found an error in your program, you might want to
13199 find out for certain whether correcting the apparent error would lead to
13200 correct results in the rest of the run. You can find the answer by
13201 experiment, using the @value{GDBN} features for altering execution of the
13204 For example, you can store new values into variables or memory
13205 locations, give your program a signal, restart it at a different
13206 address, or even return prematurely from a function.
13209 * Assignment:: Assignment to variables
13210 * Jumping:: Continuing at a different address
13211 * Signaling:: Giving your program a signal
13212 * Returning:: Returning from a function
13213 * Calling:: Calling your program's functions
13214 * Patching:: Patching your program
13218 @section Assignment to Variables
13221 @cindex setting variables
13222 To alter the value of a variable, evaluate an assignment expression.
13223 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}. For example,
13230 stores the value 4 into the variable @code{x}, and then prints the
13231 value of the assignment expression (which is 4).
13232 @xref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages}, for more
13233 information on operators in supported languages.
13235 @kindex set variable
13236 @cindex variables, setting
13237 If you are not interested in seeing the value of the assignment, use the
13238 @code{set} command instead of the @code{print} command. @code{set} is
13239 really the same as @code{print} except that the expression's value is
13240 not printed and is not put in the value history (@pxref{Value History,
13241 ,Value History}). The expression is evaluated only for its effects.
13243 If the beginning of the argument string of the @code{set} command
13244 appears identical to a @code{set} subcommand, use the @code{set
13245 variable} command instead of just @code{set}. This command is identical
13246 to @code{set} except for its lack of subcommands. For example, if your
13247 program has a variable @code{width}, you get an error if you try to set
13248 a new value with just @samp{set width=13}, because @value{GDBN} has the
13249 command @code{set width}:
13252 (@value{GDBP}) whatis width
13254 (@value{GDBP}) p width
13256 (@value{GDBP}) set width=47
13257 Invalid syntax in expression.
13261 The invalid expression, of course, is @samp{=47}. In
13262 order to actually set the program's variable @code{width}, use
13265 (@value{GDBP}) set var width=47
13268 Because the @code{set} command has many subcommands that can conflict
13269 with the names of program variables, it is a good idea to use the
13270 @code{set variable} command instead of just @code{set}. For example, if
13271 your program has a variable @code{g}, you run into problems if you try
13272 to set a new value with just @samp{set g=4}, because @value{GDBN} has
13273 the command @code{set gnutarget}, abbreviated @code{set g}:
13277 (@value{GDBP}) whatis g
13281 (@value{GDBP}) set g=4
13285 The program being debugged has been started already.
13286 Start it from the beginning? (y or n) y
13287 Starting program: /home/smith/cc_progs/a.out
13288 "/home/smith/cc_progs/a.out": can't open to read symbols:
13289 Invalid bfd target.
13290 (@value{GDBP}) show g
13291 The current BFD target is "=4".
13296 The program variable @code{g} did not change, and you silently set the
13297 @code{gnutarget} to an invalid value. In order to set the variable
13301 (@value{GDBP}) set var g=4
13304 @value{GDBN} allows more implicit conversions in assignments than C; you can
13305 freely store an integer value into a pointer variable or vice versa,
13306 and you can convert any structure to any other structure that is the
13307 same length or shorter.
13308 @comment FIXME: how do structs align/pad in these conversions?
13311 To store values into arbitrary places in memory, use the @samp{@{@dots{}@}}
13312 construct to generate a value of specified type at a specified address
13313 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). For example, @code{@{int@}0x83040} refers
13314 to memory location @code{0x83040} as an integer (which implies a certain size
13315 and representation in memory), and
13318 set @{int@}0x83040 = 4
13322 stores the value 4 into that memory location.
13325 @section Continuing at a Different Address
13327 Ordinarily, when you continue your program, you do so at the place where
13328 it stopped, with the @code{continue} command. You can instead continue at
13329 an address of your own choosing, with the following commands:
13333 @item jump @var{linespec}
13334 @itemx jump @var{location}
13335 Resume execution at line @var{linespec} or at address given by
13336 @var{location}. Execution stops again immediately if there is a
13337 breakpoint there. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
13338 different forms of @var{linespec} and @var{location}. It is common
13339 practice to use the @code{tbreak} command in conjunction with
13340 @code{jump}. @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
13342 The @code{jump} command does not change the current stack frame, or
13343 the stack pointer, or the contents of any memory location or any
13344 register other than the program counter. If line @var{linespec} is in
13345 a different function from the one currently executing, the results may
13346 be bizarre if the two functions expect different patterns of arguments or
13347 of local variables. For this reason, the @code{jump} command requests
13348 confirmation if the specified line is not in the function currently
13349 executing. However, even bizarre results are predictable if you are
13350 well acquainted with the machine-language code of your program.
13353 @c Doesn't work on HP-UX; have to set $pcoqh and $pcoqt.
13354 On many systems, you can get much the same effect as the @code{jump}
13355 command by storing a new value into the register @code{$pc}. The
13356 difference is that this does not start your program running; it only
13357 changes the address of where it @emph{will} run when you continue. For
13365 makes the next @code{continue} command or stepping command execute at
13366 address @code{0x485}, rather than at the address where your program stopped.
13367 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}.
13369 The most common occasion to use the @code{jump} command is to back
13370 up---perhaps with more breakpoints set---over a portion of a program
13371 that has already executed, in order to examine its execution in more
13376 @section Giving your Program a Signal
13377 @cindex deliver a signal to a program
13381 @item signal @var{signal}
13382 Resume execution where your program stopped, but immediately give it the
13383 signal @var{signal}. @var{signal} can be the name or the number of a
13384 signal. For example, on many systems @code{signal 2} and @code{signal
13385 SIGINT} are both ways of sending an interrupt signal.
13387 Alternatively, if @var{signal} is zero, continue execution without
13388 giving a signal. This is useful when your program stopped on account of
13389 a signal and would ordinary see the signal when resumed with the
13390 @code{continue} command; @samp{signal 0} causes it to resume without a
13393 @code{signal} does not repeat when you press @key{RET} a second time
13394 after executing the command.
13398 Invoking the @code{signal} command is not the same as invoking the
13399 @code{kill} utility from the shell. Sending a signal with @code{kill}
13400 causes @value{GDBN} to decide what to do with the signal depending on
13401 the signal handling tables (@pxref{Signals}). The @code{signal} command
13402 passes the signal directly to your program.
13406 @section Returning from a Function
13409 @cindex returning from a function
13412 @itemx return @var{expression}
13413 You can cancel execution of a function call with the @code{return}
13414 command. If you give an
13415 @var{expression} argument, its value is used as the function's return
13419 When you use @code{return}, @value{GDBN} discards the selected stack frame
13420 (and all frames within it). You can think of this as making the
13421 discarded frame return prematurely. If you wish to specify a value to
13422 be returned, give that value as the argument to @code{return}.
13424 This pops the selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a
13425 Frame}), and any other frames inside of it, leaving its caller as the
13426 innermost remaining frame. That frame becomes selected. The
13427 specified value is stored in the registers used for returning values
13430 The @code{return} command does not resume execution; it leaves the
13431 program stopped in the state that would exist if the function had just
13432 returned. In contrast, the @code{finish} command (@pxref{Continuing
13433 and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}) resumes execution until the
13434 selected stack frame returns naturally.
13436 @value{GDBN} needs to know how the @var{expression} argument should be set for
13437 the inferior. The concrete registers assignment depends on the OS ABI and the
13438 type being returned by the selected stack frame. For example it is common for
13439 OS ABI to return floating point values in FPU registers while integer values in
13440 CPU registers. Still some ABIs return even floating point values in CPU
13441 registers. Larger integer widths (such as @code{long long int}) also have
13442 specific placement rules. @value{GDBN} already knows the OS ABI from its
13443 current target so it needs to find out also the type being returned to make the
13444 assignment into the right register(s).
13446 Normally, the selected stack frame has debug info. @value{GDBN} will always
13447 use the debug info instead of the implicit type of @var{expression} when the
13448 debug info is available. For example, if you type @kbd{return -1}, and the
13449 function in the current stack frame is declared to return a @code{long long
13450 int}, @value{GDBN} transparently converts the implicit @code{int} value of -1
13451 into a @code{long long int}:
13454 Breakpoint 1, func () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:29
13456 (@value{GDBP}) return -1
13457 Make func return now? (y or n) y
13458 #0 0x004004f6 in main () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:43
13459 43 printf ("result=%lld\n", func ());
13463 However, if the selected stack frame does not have a debug info, e.g., if the
13464 function was compiled without debug info, @value{GDBN} has to find out the type
13465 to return from user. Specifying a different type by mistake may set the value
13466 in different inferior registers than the caller code expects. For example,
13467 typing @kbd{return -1} with its implicit type @code{int} would set only a part
13468 of a @code{long long int} result for a debug info less function (on 32-bit
13469 architectures). Therefore the user is required to specify the return type by
13470 an appropriate cast explicitly:
13473 Breakpoint 2, 0x0040050b in func ()
13474 (@value{GDBP}) return -1
13475 Return value type not available for selected stack frame.
13476 Please use an explicit cast of the value to return.
13477 (@value{GDBP}) return (long long int) -1
13478 Make selected stack frame return now? (y or n) y
13479 #0 0x00400526 in main ()
13484 @section Calling Program Functions
13487 @cindex calling functions
13488 @cindex inferior functions, calling
13489 @item print @var{expr}
13490 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} and display the resulting value.
13491 @var{expr} may include calls to functions in the program being
13495 @item call @var{expr}
13496 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} without displaying @code{void}
13499 You can use this variant of the @code{print} command if you want to
13500 execute a function from your program that does not return anything
13501 (a.k.a.@: @dfn{a void function}), but without cluttering the output
13502 with @code{void} returned values that @value{GDBN} will otherwise
13503 print. If the result is not void, it is printed and saved in the
13507 It is possible for the function you call via the @code{print} or
13508 @code{call} command to generate a signal (e.g., if there's a bug in
13509 the function, or if you passed it incorrect arguments). What happens
13510 in that case is controlled by the @code{set unwindonsignal} command.
13512 Similarly, with a C@t{++} program it is possible for the function you
13513 call via the @code{print} or @code{call} command to generate an
13514 exception that is not handled due to the constraints of the dummy
13515 frame. In this case, any exception that is raised in the frame, but has
13516 an out-of-frame exception handler will not be found. GDB builds a
13517 dummy-frame for the inferior function call, and the unwinder cannot
13518 seek for exception handlers outside of this dummy-frame. What happens
13519 in that case is controlled by the
13520 @code{set unwind-on-terminating-exception} command.
13523 @item set unwindonsignal
13524 @kindex set unwindonsignal
13525 @cindex unwind stack in called functions
13526 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding
13527 Set unwinding of the stack if a signal is received while in a function
13528 that @value{GDBN} called in the program being debugged. If set to on,
13529 @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack it created for the call and restores
13530 the context to what it was before the call. If set to off (the
13531 default), @value{GDBN} stops in the frame where the signal was
13534 @item show unwindonsignal
13535 @kindex show unwindonsignal
13536 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
13539 @item set unwind-on-terminating-exception
13540 @kindex set unwind-on-terminating-exception
13541 @cindex unwind stack in called functions with unhandled exceptions
13542 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding on unhandled exception.
13543 Set unwinding of the stack if a C@t{++} exception is raised, but left
13544 unhandled while in a function that @value{GDBN} called in the program being
13545 debugged. If set to on (the default), @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack
13546 it created for the call and restores the context to what it was before
13547 the call. If set to off, @value{GDBN} the exception is delivered to
13548 the default C@t{++} exception handler and the inferior terminated.
13550 @item show unwind-on-terminating-exception
13551 @kindex show unwind-on-terminating-exception
13552 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
13557 @cindex weak alias functions
13558 Sometimes, a function you wish to call is actually a @dfn{weak alias}
13559 for another function. In such case, @value{GDBN} might not pick up
13560 the type information, including the types of the function arguments,
13561 which causes @value{GDBN} to call the inferior function incorrectly.
13562 As a result, the called function will function erroneously and may
13563 even crash. A solution to that is to use the name of the aliased
13567 @section Patching Programs
13569 @cindex patching binaries
13570 @cindex writing into executables
13571 @cindex writing into corefiles
13573 By default, @value{GDBN} opens the file containing your program's
13574 executable code (or the corefile) read-only. This prevents accidental
13575 alterations to machine code; but it also prevents you from intentionally
13576 patching your program's binary.
13578 If you'd like to be able to patch the binary, you can specify that
13579 explicitly with the @code{set write} command. For example, you might
13580 want to turn on internal debugging flags, or even to make emergency
13586 @itemx set write off
13587 If you specify @samp{set write on}, @value{GDBN} opens executable and
13588 core files for both reading and writing; if you specify @kbd{set write
13589 off} (the default), @value{GDBN} opens them read-only.
13591 If you have already loaded a file, you must load it again (using the
13592 @code{exec-file} or @code{core-file} command) after changing @code{set
13593 write}, for your new setting to take effect.
13597 Display whether executable files and core files are opened for writing
13598 as well as reading.
13602 @chapter @value{GDBN} Files
13604 @value{GDBN} needs to know the file name of the program to be debugged,
13605 both in order to read its symbol table and in order to start your
13606 program. To debug a core dump of a previous run, you must also tell
13607 @value{GDBN} the name of the core dump file.
13610 * Files:: Commands to specify files
13611 * Separate Debug Files:: Debugging information in separate files
13612 * Symbol Errors:: Errors reading symbol files
13613 * Data Files:: GDB data files
13617 @section Commands to Specify Files
13619 @cindex symbol table
13620 @cindex core dump file
13622 You may want to specify executable and core dump file names. The usual
13623 way to do this is at start-up time, using the arguments to
13624 @value{GDBN}'s start-up commands (@pxref{Invocation, , Getting In and
13625 Out of @value{GDBN}}).
13627 Occasionally it is necessary to change to a different file during a
13628 @value{GDBN} session. Or you may run @value{GDBN} and forget to
13629 specify a file you want to use. Or you are debugging a remote target
13630 via @code{gdbserver} (@pxref{Server, file, Using the @code{gdbserver}
13631 Program}). In these situations the @value{GDBN} commands to specify
13632 new files are useful.
13635 @cindex executable file
13637 @item file @var{filename}
13638 Use @var{filename} as the program to be debugged. It is read for its
13639 symbols and for the contents of pure memory. It is also the program
13640 executed when you use the @code{run} command. If you do not specify a
13641 directory and the file is not found in the @value{GDBN} working directory,
13642 @value{GDBN} uses the environment variable @code{PATH} as a list of
13643 directories to search, just as the shell does when looking for a program
13644 to run. You can change the value of this variable, for both @value{GDBN}
13645 and your program, using the @code{path} command.
13647 @cindex unlinked object files
13648 @cindex patching object files
13649 You can load unlinked object @file{.o} files into @value{GDBN} using
13650 the @code{file} command. You will not be able to ``run'' an object
13651 file, but you can disassemble functions and inspect variables. Also,
13652 if the underlying BFD functionality supports it, you could use
13653 @kbd{gdb -write} to patch object files using this technique. Note
13654 that @value{GDBN} can neither interpret nor modify relocations in this
13655 case, so branches and some initialized variables will appear to go to
13656 the wrong place. But this feature is still handy from time to time.
13659 @code{file} with no argument makes @value{GDBN} discard any information it
13660 has on both executable file and the symbol table.
13663 @item exec-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
13664 Specify that the program to be run (but not the symbol table) is found
13665 in @var{filename}. @value{GDBN} searches the environment variable @code{PATH}
13666 if necessary to locate your program. Omitting @var{filename} means to
13667 discard information on the executable file.
13669 @kindex symbol-file
13670 @item symbol-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
13671 Read symbol table information from file @var{filename}. @code{PATH} is
13672 searched when necessary. Use the @code{file} command to get both symbol
13673 table and program to run from the same file.
13675 @code{symbol-file} with no argument clears out @value{GDBN} information on your
13676 program's symbol table.
13678 The @code{symbol-file} command causes @value{GDBN} to forget the contents of
13679 some breakpoints and auto-display expressions. This is because they may
13680 contain pointers to the internal data recording symbols and data types,
13681 which are part of the old symbol table data being discarded inside
13684 @code{symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
13687 When @value{GDBN} is configured for a particular environment, it
13688 understands debugging information in whatever format is the standard
13689 generated for that environment; you may use either a @sc{gnu} compiler, or
13690 other compilers that adhere to the local conventions.
13691 Best results are usually obtained from @sc{gnu} compilers; for example,
13692 using @code{@value{NGCC}} you can generate debugging information for
13695 For most kinds of object files, with the exception of old SVR3 systems
13696 using COFF, the @code{symbol-file} command does not normally read the
13697 symbol table in full right away. Instead, it scans the symbol table
13698 quickly to find which source files and which symbols are present. The
13699 details are read later, one source file at a time, as they are needed.
13701 The purpose of this two-stage reading strategy is to make @value{GDBN}
13702 start up faster. For the most part, it is invisible except for
13703 occasional pauses while the symbol table details for a particular source
13704 file are being read. (The @code{set verbose} command can turn these
13705 pauses into messages if desired. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional
13706 Warnings and Messages}.)
13708 We have not implemented the two-stage strategy for COFF yet. When the
13709 symbol table is stored in COFF format, @code{symbol-file} reads the
13710 symbol table data in full right away. Note that ``stabs-in-COFF''
13711 still does the two-stage strategy, since the debug info is actually
13715 @cindex reading symbols immediately
13716 @cindex symbols, reading immediately
13717 @item symbol-file @var{filename} @r{[} -readnow @r{]}
13718 @itemx file @var{filename} @r{[} -readnow @r{]}
13719 You can override the @value{GDBN} two-stage strategy for reading symbol
13720 tables by using the @samp{-readnow} option with any of the commands that
13721 load symbol table information, if you want to be sure @value{GDBN} has the
13722 entire symbol table available.
13724 @c FIXME: for now no mention of directories, since this seems to be in
13725 @c flux. 13mar1992 status is that in theory GDB would look either in
13726 @c current dir or in same dir as myprog; but issues like competing
13727 @c GDB's, or clutter in system dirs, mean that in practice right now
13728 @c only current dir is used. FFish says maybe a special GDB hierarchy
13729 @c (eg rooted in val of env var GDBSYMS) could exist for mappable symbol
13733 @item core-file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
13735 Specify the whereabouts of a core dump file to be used as the ``contents
13736 of memory''. Traditionally, core files contain only some parts of the
13737 address space of the process that generated them; @value{GDBN} can access the
13738 executable file itself for other parts.
13740 @code{core-file} with no argument specifies that no core file is
13743 Note that the core file is ignored when your program is actually running
13744 under @value{GDBN}. So, if you have been running your program and you
13745 wish to debug a core file instead, you must kill the subprocess in which
13746 the program is running. To do this, use the @code{kill} command
13747 (@pxref{Kill Process, ,Killing the Child Process}).
13749 @kindex add-symbol-file
13750 @cindex dynamic linking
13751 @item add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address}
13752 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} @r{[} -readnow @r{]}
13753 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @r{-s}@var{section} @var{address} @dots{}
13754 The @code{add-symbol-file} command reads additional symbol table
13755 information from the file @var{filename}. You would use this command
13756 when @var{filename} has been dynamically loaded (by some other means)
13757 into the program that is running. @var{address} should be the memory
13758 address at which the file has been loaded; @value{GDBN} cannot figure
13759 this out for itself. You can additionally specify an arbitrary number
13760 of @samp{@r{-s}@var{section} @var{address}} pairs, to give an explicit
13761 section name and base address for that section. You can specify any
13762 @var{address} as an expression.
13764 The symbol table of the file @var{filename} is added to the symbol table
13765 originally read with the @code{symbol-file} command. You can use the
13766 @code{add-symbol-file} command any number of times; the new symbol data
13767 thus read keeps adding to the old. To discard all old symbol data
13768 instead, use the @code{symbol-file} command without any arguments.
13770 @cindex relocatable object files, reading symbols from
13771 @cindex object files, relocatable, reading symbols from
13772 @cindex reading symbols from relocatable object files
13773 @cindex symbols, reading from relocatable object files
13774 @cindex @file{.o} files, reading symbols from
13775 Although @var{filename} is typically a shared library file, an
13776 executable file, or some other object file which has been fully
13777 relocated for loading into a process, you can also load symbolic
13778 information from relocatable @file{.o} files, as long as:
13782 the file's symbolic information refers only to linker symbols defined in
13783 that file, not to symbols defined by other object files,
13785 every section the file's symbolic information refers to has actually
13786 been loaded into the inferior, as it appears in the file, and
13788 you can determine the address at which every section was loaded, and
13789 provide these to the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
13793 Some embedded operating systems, like Sun Chorus and VxWorks, can load
13794 relocatable files into an already running program; such systems
13795 typically make the requirements above easy to meet. However, it's
13796 important to recognize that many native systems use complex link
13797 procedures (@code{.linkonce} section factoring and C@t{++} constructor table
13798 assembly, for example) that make the requirements difficult to meet. In
13799 general, one cannot assume that using @code{add-symbol-file} to read a
13800 relocatable object file's symbolic information will have the same effect
13801 as linking the relocatable object file into the program in the normal
13804 @code{add-symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
13806 @kindex add-symbol-file-from-memory
13807 @cindex @code{syscall DSO}
13808 @cindex load symbols from memory
13809 @item add-symbol-file-from-memory @var{address}
13810 Load symbols from the given @var{address} in a dynamically loaded
13811 object file whose image is mapped directly into the inferior's memory.
13812 For example, the Linux kernel maps a @code{syscall DSO} into each
13813 process's address space; this DSO provides kernel-specific code for
13814 some system calls. The argument can be any expression whose
13815 evaluation yields the address of the file's shared object file header.
13816 For this command to work, you must have used @code{symbol-file} or
13817 @code{exec-file} commands in advance.
13819 @kindex add-shared-symbol-files
13821 @item add-shared-symbol-files @var{library-file}
13822 @itemx assf @var{library-file}
13823 The @code{add-shared-symbol-files} command can currently be used only
13824 in the Cygwin build of @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows OS, where it is an
13825 alias for the @code{dll-symbols} command (@pxref{Cygwin Native}).
13826 @value{GDBN} automatically looks for shared libraries, however if
13827 @value{GDBN} does not find yours, you can invoke
13828 @code{add-shared-symbol-files}. It takes one argument: the shared
13829 library's file name. @code{assf} is a shorthand alias for
13830 @code{add-shared-symbol-files}.
13833 @item section @var{section} @var{addr}
13834 The @code{section} command changes the base address of the named
13835 @var{section} of the exec file to @var{addr}. This can be used if the
13836 exec file does not contain section addresses, (such as in the
13837 @code{a.out} format), or when the addresses specified in the file
13838 itself are wrong. Each section must be changed separately. The
13839 @code{info files} command, described below, lists all the sections and
13843 @kindex info target
13846 @code{info files} and @code{info target} are synonymous; both print the
13847 current target (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}),
13848 including the names of the executable and core dump files currently in
13849 use by @value{GDBN}, and the files from which symbols were loaded. The
13850 command @code{help target} lists all possible targets rather than
13853 @kindex maint info sections
13854 @item maint info sections
13855 Another command that can give you extra information about program sections
13856 is @code{maint info sections}. In addition to the section information
13857 displayed by @code{info files}, this command displays the flags and file
13858 offset of each section in the executable and core dump files. In addition,
13859 @code{maint info sections} provides the following command options (which
13860 may be arbitrarily combined):
13864 Display sections for all loaded object files, including shared libraries.
13865 @item @var{sections}
13866 Display info only for named @var{sections}.
13867 @item @var{section-flags}
13868 Display info only for sections for which @var{section-flags} are true.
13869 The section flags that @value{GDBN} currently knows about are:
13872 Section will have space allocated in the process when loaded.
13873 Set for all sections except those containing debug information.
13875 Section will be loaded from the file into the child process memory.
13876 Set for pre-initialized code and data, clear for @code{.bss} sections.
13878 Section needs to be relocated before loading.
13880 Section cannot be modified by the child process.
13882 Section contains executable code only.
13884 Section contains data only (no executable code).
13886 Section will reside in ROM.
13888 Section contains data for constructor/destructor lists.
13890 Section is not empty.
13892 An instruction to the linker to not output the section.
13893 @item COFF_SHARED_LIBRARY
13894 A notification to the linker that the section contains
13895 COFF shared library information.
13897 Section contains common symbols.
13900 @kindex set trust-readonly-sections
13901 @cindex read-only sections
13902 @item set trust-readonly-sections on
13903 Tell @value{GDBN} that readonly sections in your object file
13904 really are read-only (i.e.@: that their contents will not change).
13905 In that case, @value{GDBN} can fetch values from these sections
13906 out of the object file, rather than from the target program.
13907 For some targets (notably embedded ones), this can be a significant
13908 enhancement to debugging performance.
13910 The default is off.
13912 @item set trust-readonly-sections off
13913 Tell @value{GDBN} not to trust readonly sections. This means that
13914 the contents of the section might change while the program is running,
13915 and must therefore be fetched from the target when needed.
13917 @item show trust-readonly-sections
13918 Show the current setting of trusting readonly sections.
13921 All file-specifying commands allow both absolute and relative file names
13922 as arguments. @value{GDBN} always converts the file name to an absolute file
13923 name and remembers it that way.
13925 @cindex shared libraries
13926 @anchor{Shared Libraries}
13927 @value{GDBN} supports @sc{gnu}/Linux, MS-Windows, HP-UX, SunOS, SVr4, Irix,
13928 and IBM RS/6000 AIX shared libraries.
13930 On MS-Windows @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support
13931 shared libraries. @xref{Expat}.
13933 @value{GDBN} automatically loads symbol definitions from shared libraries
13934 when you use the @code{run} command, or when you examine a core file.
13935 (Before you issue the @code{run} command, @value{GDBN} does not understand
13936 references to a function in a shared library, however---unless you are
13937 debugging a core file).
13939 On HP-UX, if the program loads a library explicitly, @value{GDBN}
13940 automatically loads the symbols at the time of the @code{shl_load} call.
13942 @c FIXME: some @value{GDBN} release may permit some refs to undef
13943 @c FIXME...symbols---eg in a break cmd---assuming they are from a shared
13944 @c FIXME...lib; check this from time to time when updating manual
13946 There are times, however, when you may wish to not automatically load
13947 symbol definitions from shared libraries, such as when they are
13948 particularly large or there are many of them.
13950 To control the automatic loading of shared library symbols, use the
13954 @kindex set auto-solib-add
13955 @item set auto-solib-add @var{mode}
13956 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, symbols from all shared object libraries
13957 will be loaded automatically when the inferior begins execution, you
13958 attach to an independently started inferior, or when the dynamic linker
13959 informs @value{GDBN} that a new library has been loaded. If @var{mode}
13960 is @code{off}, symbols must be loaded manually, using the
13961 @code{sharedlibrary} command. The default value is @code{on}.
13963 @cindex memory used for symbol tables
13964 If your program uses lots of shared libraries with debug info that
13965 takes large amounts of memory, you can decrease the @value{GDBN}
13966 memory footprint by preventing it from automatically loading the
13967 symbols from shared libraries. To that end, type @kbd{set
13968 auto-solib-add off} before running the inferior, then load each
13969 library whose debug symbols you do need with @kbd{sharedlibrary
13970 @var{regexp}}, where @var{regexp} is a regular expression that matches
13971 the libraries whose symbols you want to be loaded.
13973 @kindex show auto-solib-add
13974 @item show auto-solib-add
13975 Display the current autoloading mode.
13978 @cindex load shared library
13979 To explicitly load shared library symbols, use the @code{sharedlibrary}
13983 @kindex info sharedlibrary
13985 @item info share @var{regex}
13986 @itemx info sharedlibrary @var{regex}
13987 Print the names of the shared libraries which are currently loaded
13988 that match @var{regex}. If @var{regex} is omitted then print
13989 all shared libraries that are loaded.
13991 @kindex sharedlibrary
13993 @item sharedlibrary @var{regex}
13994 @itemx share @var{regex}
13995 Load shared object library symbols for files matching a
13996 Unix regular expression.
13997 As with files loaded automatically, it only loads shared libraries
13998 required by your program for a core file or after typing @code{run}. If
13999 @var{regex} is omitted all shared libraries required by your program are
14002 @item nosharedlibrary
14003 @kindex nosharedlibrary
14004 @cindex unload symbols from shared libraries
14005 Unload all shared object library symbols. This discards all symbols
14006 that have been loaded from all shared libraries. Symbols from shared
14007 libraries that were loaded by explicit user requests are not
14011 Sometimes you may wish that @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control
14012 when any of shared library events happen. Use the @code{set
14013 stop-on-solib-events} command for this:
14016 @item set stop-on-solib-events
14017 @kindex set stop-on-solib-events
14018 This command controls whether @value{GDBN} should give you control
14019 when the dynamic linker notifies it about some shared library event.
14020 The most common event of interest is loading or unloading of a new
14023 @item show stop-on-solib-events
14024 @kindex show stop-on-solib-events
14025 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control when shared
14026 library events happen.
14029 Shared libraries are also supported in many cross or remote debugging
14030 configurations. @value{GDBN} needs to have access to the target's libraries;
14031 this can be accomplished either by providing copies of the libraries
14032 on the host system, or by asking @value{GDBN} to automatically retrieve the
14033 libraries from the target. If copies of the target libraries are
14034 provided, they need to be the same as the target libraries, although the
14035 copies on the target can be stripped as long as the copies on the host are
14038 @cindex where to look for shared libraries
14039 For remote debugging, you need to tell @value{GDBN} where the target
14040 libraries are, so that it can load the correct copies---otherwise, it
14041 may try to load the host's libraries. @value{GDBN} has two variables
14042 to specify the search directories for target libraries.
14045 @cindex prefix for shared library file names
14046 @cindex system root, alternate
14047 @kindex set solib-absolute-prefix
14048 @kindex set sysroot
14049 @item set sysroot @var{path}
14050 Use @var{path} as the system root for the program being debugged. Any
14051 absolute shared library paths will be prefixed with @var{path}; many
14052 runtime loaders store the absolute paths to the shared library in the
14053 target program's memory. If you use @code{set sysroot} to find shared
14054 libraries, they need to be laid out in the same way that they are on
14055 the target, with e.g.@: a @file{/lib} and @file{/usr/lib} hierarchy
14058 If @var{path} starts with the sequence @file{remote:}, @value{GDBN} will
14059 retrieve the target libraries from the remote system. This is only
14060 supported when using a remote target that supports the @code{remote get}
14061 command (@pxref{File Transfer,,Sending files to a remote system}).
14062 The part of @var{path} following the initial @file{remote:}
14063 (if present) is used as system root prefix on the remote file system.
14064 @footnote{If you want to specify a local system root using a directory
14065 that happens to be named @file{remote:}, you need to use some equivalent
14066 variant of the name like @file{./remote:}.}
14068 The @code{set solib-absolute-prefix} command is an alias for @code{set
14071 @cindex default system root
14072 @cindex @samp{--with-sysroot}
14073 You can set the default system root by using the configure-time
14074 @samp{--with-sysroot} option. If the system root is inside
14075 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
14076 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default system root will be updated
14077 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
14080 @kindex show sysroot
14082 Display the current shared library prefix.
14084 @kindex set solib-search-path
14085 @item set solib-search-path @var{path}
14086 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
14087 directories to search for shared libraries. @samp{solib-search-path}
14088 is used after @samp{sysroot} fails to locate the library, or if the
14089 path to the library is relative instead of absolute. If you want to
14090 use @samp{solib-search-path} instead of @samp{sysroot}, be sure to set
14091 @samp{sysroot} to a nonexistent directory to prevent @value{GDBN} from
14092 finding your host's libraries. @samp{sysroot} is preferred; setting
14093 it to a nonexistent directory may interfere with automatic loading
14094 of shared library symbols.
14096 @kindex show solib-search-path
14097 @item show solib-search-path
14098 Display the current shared library search path.
14102 @node Separate Debug Files
14103 @section Debugging Information in Separate Files
14104 @cindex separate debugging information files
14105 @cindex debugging information in separate files
14106 @cindex @file{.debug} subdirectories
14107 @cindex debugging information directory, global
14108 @cindex global debugging information directory
14109 @cindex build ID, and separate debugging files
14110 @cindex @file{.build-id} directory
14112 @value{GDBN} allows you to put a program's debugging information in a
14113 file separate from the executable itself, in a way that allows
14114 @value{GDBN} to find and load the debugging information automatically.
14115 Since debugging information can be very large---sometimes larger
14116 than the executable code itself---some systems distribute debugging
14117 information for their executables in separate files, which users can
14118 install only when they need to debug a problem.
14120 @value{GDBN} supports two ways of specifying the separate debug info
14125 The executable contains a @dfn{debug link} that specifies the name of
14126 the separate debug info file. The separate debug file's name is
14127 usually @file{@var{executable}.debug}, where @var{executable} is the
14128 name of the corresponding executable file without leading directories
14129 (e.g., @file{ls.debug} for @file{/usr/bin/ls}). In addition, the
14130 debug link specifies a 32-bit @dfn{Cyclic Redundancy Check} (CRC)
14131 checksum for the debug file, which @value{GDBN} uses to validate that
14132 the executable and the debug file came from the same build.
14135 The executable contains a @dfn{build ID}, a unique bit string that is
14136 also present in the corresponding debug info file. (This is supported
14137 only on some operating systems, notably those which use the ELF format
14138 for binary files and the @sc{gnu} Binutils.) For more details about
14139 this feature, see the description of the @option{--build-id}
14140 command-line option in @ref{Options, , Command Line Options, ld.info,
14141 The GNU Linker}. The debug info file's name is not specified
14142 explicitly by the build ID, but can be computed from the build ID, see
14146 Depending on the way the debug info file is specified, @value{GDBN}
14147 uses two different methods of looking for the debug file:
14151 For the ``debug link'' method, @value{GDBN} looks up the named file in
14152 the directory of the executable file, then in a subdirectory of that
14153 directory named @file{.debug}, and finally under the global debug
14154 directory, in a subdirectory whose name is identical to the leading
14155 directories of the executable's absolute file name.
14158 For the ``build ID'' method, @value{GDBN} looks in the
14159 @file{.build-id} subdirectory of the global debug directory for a file
14160 named @file{@var{nn}/@var{nnnnnnnn}.debug}, where @var{nn} are the
14161 first 2 hex characters of the build ID bit string, and @var{nnnnnnnn}
14162 are the rest of the bit string. (Real build ID strings are 32 or more
14163 hex characters, not 10.)
14166 So, for example, suppose you ask @value{GDBN} to debug
14167 @file{/usr/bin/ls}, which has a debug link that specifies the
14168 file @file{ls.debug}, and a build ID whose value in hex is
14169 @code{abcdef1234}. If the global debug directory is
14170 @file{/usr/lib/debug}, then @value{GDBN} will look for the following
14171 debug information files, in the indicated order:
14175 @file{/usr/lib/debug/.build-id/ab/cdef1234.debug}
14177 @file{/usr/bin/ls.debug}
14179 @file{/usr/bin/.debug/ls.debug}
14181 @file{/usr/lib/debug/usr/bin/ls.debug}.
14184 You can set the global debugging info directory's name, and view the
14185 name @value{GDBN} is currently using.
14189 @kindex set debug-file-directory
14190 @item set debug-file-directory @var{directories}
14191 Set the directories which @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
14192 information files to @var{directory}. Multiple directory components can be set
14193 concatenating them by a directory separator.
14195 @kindex show debug-file-directory
14196 @item show debug-file-directory
14197 Show the directories @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
14202 @cindex @code{.gnu_debuglink} sections
14203 @cindex debug link sections
14204 A debug link is a special section of the executable file named
14205 @code{.gnu_debuglink}. The section must contain:
14209 A filename, with any leading directory components removed, followed by
14212 zero to three bytes of padding, as needed to reach the next four-byte
14213 boundary within the section, and
14215 a four-byte CRC checksum, stored in the same endianness used for the
14216 executable file itself. The checksum is computed on the debugging
14217 information file's full contents by the function given below, passing
14218 zero as the @var{crc} argument.
14221 Any executable file format can carry a debug link, as long as it can
14222 contain a section named @code{.gnu_debuglink} with the contents
14225 @cindex @code{.note.gnu.build-id} sections
14226 @cindex build ID sections
14227 The build ID is a special section in the executable file (and in other
14228 ELF binary files that @value{GDBN} may consider). This section is
14229 often named @code{.note.gnu.build-id}, but that name is not mandatory.
14230 It contains unique identification for the built files---the ID remains
14231 the same across multiple builds of the same build tree. The default
14232 algorithm SHA1 produces 160 bits (40 hexadecimal characters) of the
14233 content for the build ID string. The same section with an identical
14234 value is present in the original built binary with symbols, in its
14235 stripped variant, and in the separate debugging information file.
14237 The debugging information file itself should be an ordinary
14238 executable, containing a full set of linker symbols, sections, and
14239 debugging information. The sections of the debugging information file
14240 should have the same names, addresses, and sizes as the original file,
14241 but they need not contain any data---much like a @code{.bss} section
14242 in an ordinary executable.
14244 The @sc{gnu} binary utilities (Binutils) package includes the
14245 @samp{objcopy} utility that can produce
14246 the separated executable / debugging information file pairs using the
14247 following commands:
14250 @kbd{objcopy --only-keep-debug foo foo.debug}
14255 These commands remove the debugging
14256 information from the executable file @file{foo} and place it in the file
14257 @file{foo.debug}. You can use the first, second or both methods to link the
14262 The debug link method needs the following additional command to also leave
14263 behind a debug link in @file{foo}:
14266 @kbd{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.debug foo}
14269 Ulrich Drepper's @file{elfutils} package, starting with version 0.53, contains
14270 a version of the @code{strip} command such that the command @kbd{strip foo -f
14271 foo.debug} has the same functionality as the two @code{objcopy} commands and
14272 the @code{ln -s} command above, together.
14275 Build ID gets embedded into the main executable using @code{ld --build-id} or
14276 the @value{NGCC} counterpart @code{gcc -Wl,--build-id}. Build ID support plus
14277 compatibility fixes for debug files separation are present in @sc{gnu} binary
14278 utilities (Binutils) package since version 2.18.
14283 @cindex CRC algorithm definition
14284 The CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink} is the CRC-32 defined in
14285 IEEE 802.3 using the polynomial:
14287 @c TexInfo requires naked braces for multi-digit exponents for Tex
14288 @c output, but this causes HTML output to barf. HTML has to be set using
14289 @c raw commands. So we end up having to specify this equation in 2
14294 <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>
14295 + <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
14301 @math{x^{32} + x^{26} + x^{23} + x^{22} + x^{16} + x^{12} + x^{11}}
14302 @math{+ x^{10} + x^8 + x^7 + x^5 + x^4 + x^2 + x + 1}
14306 The function is computed byte at a time, taking the least
14307 significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern
14308 @code{0xffffffff} is used, to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC and
14309 the final result is inverted to ensure trailing zeros also affect the
14312 @emph{Note:} This is the same CRC polynomial as used in handling the
14313 @dfn{Remote Serial Protocol} @code{qCRC} packet (@pxref{Remote Protocol,
14314 , @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol}). However in the
14315 case of the Remote Serial Protocol, the CRC is computed @emph{most}
14316 significant bit first, and the result is not inverted, so trailing
14317 zeros have no effect on the CRC value.
14319 To complete the description, we show below the code of the function
14320 which produces the CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink}. Inverting the
14321 initially supplied @code{crc} argument means that an initial call to
14322 this function passing in zero will start computing the CRC using
14325 @kindex gnu_debuglink_crc32
14328 gnu_debuglink_crc32 (unsigned long crc,
14329 unsigned char *buf, size_t len)
14331 static const unsigned long crc32_table[256] =
14333 0x00000000, 0x77073096, 0xee0e612c, 0x990951ba, 0x076dc419,
14334 0x706af48f, 0xe963a535, 0x9e6495a3, 0x0edb8832, 0x79dcb8a4,
14335 0xe0d5e91e, 0x97d2d988, 0x09b64c2b, 0x7eb17cbd, 0xe7b82d07,
14336 0x90bf1d91, 0x1db71064, 0x6ab020f2, 0xf3b97148, 0x84be41de,
14337 0x1adad47d, 0x6ddde4eb, 0xf4d4b551, 0x83d385c7, 0x136c9856,
14338 0x646ba8c0, 0xfd62f97a, 0x8a65c9ec, 0x14015c4f, 0x63066cd9,
14339 0xfa0f3d63, 0x8d080df5, 0x3b6e20c8, 0x4c69105e, 0xd56041e4,
14340 0xa2677172, 0x3c03e4d1, 0x4b04d447, 0xd20d85fd, 0xa50ab56b,
14341 0x35b5a8fa, 0x42b2986c, 0xdbbbc9d6, 0xacbcf940, 0x32d86ce3,
14342 0x45df5c75, 0xdcd60dcf, 0xabd13d59, 0x26d930ac, 0x51de003a,
14343 0xc8d75180, 0xbfd06116, 0x21b4f4b5, 0x56b3c423, 0xcfba9599,
14344 0xb8bda50f, 0x2802b89e, 0x5f058808, 0xc60cd9b2, 0xb10be924,
14345 0x2f6f7c87, 0x58684c11, 0xc1611dab, 0xb6662d3d, 0x76dc4190,
14346 0x01db7106, 0x98d220bc, 0xefd5102a, 0x71b18589, 0x06b6b51f,
14347 0x9fbfe4a5, 0xe8b8d433, 0x7807c9a2, 0x0f00f934, 0x9609a88e,
14348 0xe10e9818, 0x7f6a0dbb, 0x086d3d2d, 0x91646c97, 0xe6635c01,
14349 0x6b6b51f4, 0x1c6c6162, 0x856530d8, 0xf262004e, 0x6c0695ed,
14350 0x1b01a57b, 0x8208f4c1, 0xf50fc457, 0x65b0d9c6, 0x12b7e950,
14351 0x8bbeb8ea, 0xfcb9887c, 0x62dd1ddf, 0x15da2d49, 0x8cd37cf3,
14352 0xfbd44c65, 0x4db26158, 0x3ab551ce, 0xa3bc0074, 0xd4bb30e2,
14353 0x4adfa541, 0x3dd895d7, 0xa4d1c46d, 0xd3d6f4fb, 0x4369e96a,
14354 0x346ed9fc, 0xad678846, 0xda60b8d0, 0x44042d73, 0x33031de5,
14355 0xaa0a4c5f, 0xdd0d7cc9, 0x5005713c, 0x270241aa, 0xbe0b1010,
14356 0xc90c2086, 0x5768b525, 0x206f85b3, 0xb966d409, 0xce61e49f,
14357 0x5edef90e, 0x29d9c998, 0xb0d09822, 0xc7d7a8b4, 0x59b33d17,
14358 0x2eb40d81, 0xb7bd5c3b, 0xc0ba6cad, 0xedb88320, 0x9abfb3b6,
14359 0x03b6e20c, 0x74b1d29a, 0xead54739, 0x9dd277af, 0x04db2615,
14360 0x73dc1683, 0xe3630b12, 0x94643b84, 0x0d6d6a3e, 0x7a6a5aa8,
14361 0xe40ecf0b, 0x9309ff9d, 0x0a00ae27, 0x7d079eb1, 0xf00f9344,
14362 0x8708a3d2, 0x1e01f268, 0x6906c2fe, 0xf762575d, 0x806567cb,
14363 0x196c3671, 0x6e6b06e7, 0xfed41b76, 0x89d32be0, 0x10da7a5a,
14364 0x67dd4acc, 0xf9b9df6f, 0x8ebeeff9, 0x17b7be43, 0x60b08ed5,
14365 0xd6d6a3e8, 0xa1d1937e, 0x38d8c2c4, 0x4fdff252, 0xd1bb67f1,
14366 0xa6bc5767, 0x3fb506dd, 0x48b2364b, 0xd80d2bda, 0xaf0a1b4c,
14367 0x36034af6, 0x41047a60, 0xdf60efc3, 0xa867df55, 0x316e8eef,
14368 0x4669be79, 0xcb61b38c, 0xbc66831a, 0x256fd2a0, 0x5268e236,
14369 0xcc0c7795, 0xbb0b4703, 0x220216b9, 0x5505262f, 0xc5ba3bbe,
14370 0xb2bd0b28, 0x2bb45a92, 0x5cb36a04, 0xc2d7ffa7, 0xb5d0cf31,
14371 0x2cd99e8b, 0x5bdeae1d, 0x9b64c2b0, 0xec63f226, 0x756aa39c,
14372 0x026d930a, 0x9c0906a9, 0xeb0e363f, 0x72076785, 0x05005713,
14373 0x95bf4a82, 0xe2b87a14, 0x7bb12bae, 0x0cb61b38, 0x92d28e9b,
14374 0xe5d5be0d, 0x7cdcefb7, 0x0bdbdf21, 0x86d3d2d4, 0xf1d4e242,
14375 0x68ddb3f8, 0x1fda836e, 0x81be16cd, 0xf6b9265b, 0x6fb077e1,
14376 0x18b74777, 0x88085ae6, 0xff0f6a70, 0x66063bca, 0x11010b5c,
14377 0x8f659eff, 0xf862ae69, 0x616bffd3, 0x166ccf45, 0xa00ae278,
14378 0xd70dd2ee, 0x4e048354, 0x3903b3c2, 0xa7672661, 0xd06016f7,
14379 0x4969474d, 0x3e6e77db, 0xaed16a4a, 0xd9d65adc, 0x40df0b66,
14380 0x37d83bf0, 0xa9bcae53, 0xdebb9ec5, 0x47b2cf7f, 0x30b5ffe9,
14381 0xbdbdf21c, 0xcabac28a, 0x53b39330, 0x24b4a3a6, 0xbad03605,
14382 0xcdd70693, 0x54de5729, 0x23d967bf, 0xb3667a2e, 0xc4614ab8,
14383 0x5d681b02, 0x2a6f2b94, 0xb40bbe37, 0xc30c8ea1, 0x5a05df1b,
14386 unsigned char *end;
14388 crc = ~crc & 0xffffffff;
14389 for (end = buf + len; buf < end; ++buf)
14390 crc = crc32_table[(crc ^ *buf) & 0xff] ^ (crc >> 8);
14391 return ~crc & 0xffffffff;
14396 This computation does not apply to the ``build ID'' method.
14399 @node Symbol Errors
14400 @section Errors Reading Symbol Files
14402 While reading a symbol file, @value{GDBN} occasionally encounters problems,
14403 such as symbol types it does not recognize, or known bugs in compiler
14404 output. By default, @value{GDBN} does not notify you of such problems, since
14405 they are relatively common and primarily of interest to people
14406 debugging compilers. If you are interested in seeing information
14407 about ill-constructed symbol tables, you can either ask @value{GDBN} to print
14408 only one message about each such type of problem, no matter how many
14409 times the problem occurs; or you can ask @value{GDBN} to print more messages,
14410 to see how many times the problems occur, with the @code{set
14411 complaints} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
14414 The messages currently printed, and their meanings, include:
14417 @item inner block not inside outer block in @var{symbol}
14419 The symbol information shows where symbol scopes begin and end
14420 (such as at the start of a function or a block of statements). This
14421 error indicates that an inner scope block is not fully contained
14422 in its outer scope blocks.
14424 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the inner block as if it had
14425 the same scope as the outer block. In the error message, @var{symbol}
14426 may be shown as ``@code{(don't know)}'' if the outer block is not a
14429 @item block at @var{address} out of order
14431 The symbol information for symbol scope blocks should occur in
14432 order of increasing addresses. This error indicates that it does not
14435 @value{GDBN} does not circumvent this problem, and has trouble
14436 locating symbols in the source file whose symbols it is reading. (You
14437 can often determine what source file is affected by specifying
14438 @code{set verbose on}. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
14441 @item bad block start address patched
14443 The symbol information for a symbol scope block has a start address
14444 smaller than the address of the preceding source line. This is known
14445 to occur in the SunOS 4.1.1 (and earlier) C compiler.
14447 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the symbol scope block as
14448 starting on the previous source line.
14450 @item bad string table offset in symbol @var{n}
14453 Symbol number @var{n} contains a pointer into the string table which is
14454 larger than the size of the string table.
14456 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by considering the symbol to have the
14457 name @code{foo}, which may cause other problems if many symbols end up
14460 @item unknown symbol type @code{0x@var{nn}}
14462 The symbol information contains new data types that @value{GDBN} does
14463 not yet know how to read. @code{0x@var{nn}} is the symbol type of the
14464 uncomprehended information, in hexadecimal.
14466 @value{GDBN} circumvents the error by ignoring this symbol information.
14467 This usually allows you to debug your program, though certain symbols
14468 are not accessible. If you encounter such a problem and feel like
14469 debugging it, you can debug @code{@value{GDBP}} with itself, breakpoint
14470 on @code{complain}, then go up to the function @code{read_dbx_symtab}
14471 and examine @code{*bufp} to see the symbol.
14473 @item stub type has NULL name
14475 @value{GDBN} could not find the full definition for a struct or class.
14477 @item const/volatile indicator missing (ok if using g++ v1.x), got@dots{}
14478 The symbol information for a C@t{++} member function is missing some
14479 information that recent versions of the compiler should have output for
14482 @item info mismatch between compiler and debugger
14484 @value{GDBN} could not parse a type specification output by the compiler.
14489 @section GDB Data Files
14491 @cindex prefix for data files
14492 @value{GDBN} will sometimes read an auxiliary data file. These files
14493 are kept in a directory known as the @dfn{data directory}.
14495 You can set the data directory's name, and view the name @value{GDBN}
14496 is currently using.
14499 @kindex set data-directory
14500 @item set data-directory @var{directory}
14501 Set the directory which @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files
14502 to @var{directory}.
14504 @kindex show data-directory
14505 @item show data-directory
14506 Show the directory @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files.
14509 @cindex default data directory
14510 @cindex @samp{--with-gdb-datadir}
14511 You can set the default data directory by using the configure-time
14512 @samp{--with-gdb-datadir} option. If the data directory is inside
14513 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
14514 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default data directory will be updated
14515 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
14519 @chapter Specifying a Debugging Target
14521 @cindex debugging target
14522 A @dfn{target} is the execution environment occupied by your program.
14524 Often, @value{GDBN} runs in the same host environment as your program;
14525 in that case, the debugging target is specified as a side effect when
14526 you use the @code{file} or @code{core} commands. When you need more
14527 flexibility---for example, running @value{GDBN} on a physically separate
14528 host, or controlling a standalone system over a serial port or a
14529 realtime system over a TCP/IP connection---you can use the @code{target}
14530 command to specify one of the target types configured for @value{GDBN}
14531 (@pxref{Target Commands, ,Commands for Managing Targets}).
14533 @cindex target architecture
14534 It is possible to build @value{GDBN} for several different @dfn{target
14535 architectures}. When @value{GDBN} is built like that, you can choose
14536 one of the available architectures with the @kbd{set architecture}
14540 @kindex set architecture
14541 @kindex show architecture
14542 @item set architecture @var{arch}
14543 This command sets the current target architecture to @var{arch}. The
14544 value of @var{arch} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition to one of the
14545 supported architectures.
14547 @item show architecture
14548 Show the current target architecture.
14550 @item set processor
14552 @kindex set processor
14553 @kindex show processor
14554 These are alias commands for, respectively, @code{set architecture}
14555 and @code{show architecture}.
14559 * Active Targets:: Active targets
14560 * Target Commands:: Commands for managing targets
14561 * Byte Order:: Choosing target byte order
14564 @node Active Targets
14565 @section Active Targets
14567 @cindex stacking targets
14568 @cindex active targets
14569 @cindex multiple targets
14571 There are three classes of targets: processes, core files, and
14572 executable files. @value{GDBN} can work concurrently on up to three
14573 active targets, one in each class. This allows you to (for example)
14574 start a process and inspect its activity without abandoning your work on
14577 For example, if you execute @samp{gdb a.out}, then the executable file
14578 @code{a.out} is the only active target. If you designate a core file as
14579 well---presumably from a prior run that crashed and coredumped---then
14580 @value{GDBN} has two active targets and uses them in tandem, looking
14581 first in the corefile target, then in the executable file, to satisfy
14582 requests for memory addresses. (Typically, these two classes of target
14583 are complementary, since core files contain only a program's
14584 read-write memory---variables and so on---plus machine status, while
14585 executable files contain only the program text and initialized data.)
14587 When you type @code{run}, your executable file becomes an active process
14588 target as well. When a process target is active, all @value{GDBN}
14589 commands requesting memory addresses refer to that target; addresses in
14590 an active core file or executable file target are obscured while the
14591 process target is active.
14593 Use the @code{core-file} and @code{exec-file} commands to select a new
14594 core file or executable target (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify
14595 Files}). To specify as a target a process that is already running, use
14596 the @code{attach} command (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running
14599 @node Target Commands
14600 @section Commands for Managing Targets
14603 @item target @var{type} @var{parameters}
14604 Connects the @value{GDBN} host environment to a target machine or
14605 process. A target is typically a protocol for talking to debugging
14606 facilities. You use the argument @var{type} to specify the type or
14607 protocol of the target machine.
14609 Further @var{parameters} are interpreted by the target protocol, but
14610 typically include things like device names or host names to connect
14611 with, process numbers, and baud rates.
14613 The @code{target} command does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again
14614 after executing the command.
14616 @kindex help target
14618 Displays the names of all targets available. To display targets
14619 currently selected, use either @code{info target} or @code{info files}
14620 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
14622 @item help target @var{name}
14623 Describe a particular target, including any parameters necessary to
14626 @kindex set gnutarget
14627 @item set gnutarget @var{args}
14628 @value{GDBN} uses its own library BFD to read your files. @value{GDBN}
14629 knows whether it is reading an @dfn{executable},
14630 a @dfn{core}, or a @dfn{.o} file; however, you can specify the file format
14631 with the @code{set gnutarget} command. Unlike most @code{target} commands,
14632 with @code{gnutarget} the @code{target} refers to a program, not a machine.
14635 @emph{Warning:} To specify a file format with @code{set gnutarget},
14636 you must know the actual BFD name.
14640 @xref{Files, , Commands to Specify Files}.
14642 @kindex show gnutarget
14643 @item show gnutarget
14644 Use the @code{show gnutarget} command to display what file format
14645 @code{gnutarget} is set to read. If you have not set @code{gnutarget},
14646 @value{GDBN} will determine the file format for each file automatically,
14647 and @code{show gnutarget} displays @samp{The current BDF target is "auto"}.
14650 @cindex common targets
14651 Here are some common targets (available, or not, depending on the GDB
14656 @item target exec @var{program}
14657 @cindex executable file target
14658 An executable file. @samp{target exec @var{program}} is the same as
14659 @samp{exec-file @var{program}}.
14661 @item target core @var{filename}
14662 @cindex core dump file target
14663 A core dump file. @samp{target core @var{filename}} is the same as
14664 @samp{core-file @var{filename}}.
14666 @item target remote @var{medium}
14667 @cindex remote target
14668 A remote system connected to @value{GDBN} via a serial line or network
14669 connection. This command tells @value{GDBN} to use its own remote
14670 protocol over @var{medium} for debugging. @xref{Remote Debugging}.
14672 For example, if you have a board connected to @file{/dev/ttya} on the
14673 machine running @value{GDBN}, you could say:
14676 target remote /dev/ttya
14679 @code{target remote} supports the @code{load} command. This is only
14680 useful if you have some other way of getting the stub to the target
14681 system, and you can put it somewhere in memory where it won't get
14682 clobbered by the download.
14685 @cindex built-in simulator target
14686 Builtin CPU simulator. @value{GDBN} includes simulators for most architectures.
14694 works; however, you cannot assume that a specific memory map, device
14695 drivers, or even basic I/O is available, although some simulators do
14696 provide these. For info about any processor-specific simulator details,
14697 see the appropriate section in @ref{Embedded Processors, ,Embedded
14702 Some configurations may include these targets as well:
14706 @item target nrom @var{dev}
14707 @cindex NetROM ROM emulator target
14708 NetROM ROM emulator. This target only supports downloading.
14712 Different targets are available on different configurations of @value{GDBN};
14713 your configuration may have more or fewer targets.
14715 Many remote targets require you to download the executable's code once
14716 you've successfully established a connection. You may wish to control
14717 various aspects of this process.
14722 @kindex set hash@r{, for remote monitors}
14723 @cindex hash mark while downloading
14724 This command controls whether a hash mark @samp{#} is displayed while
14725 downloading a file to the remote monitor. If on, a hash mark is
14726 displayed after each S-record is successfully downloaded to the
14730 @kindex show hash@r{, for remote monitors}
14731 Show the current status of displaying the hash mark.
14733 @item set debug monitor
14734 @kindex set debug monitor
14735 @cindex display remote monitor communications
14736 Enable or disable display of communications messages between
14737 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
14739 @item show debug monitor
14740 @kindex show debug monitor
14741 Show the current status of displaying communications between
14742 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
14747 @kindex load @var{filename}
14748 @item load @var{filename}
14750 Depending on what remote debugging facilities are configured into
14751 @value{GDBN}, the @code{load} command may be available. Where it exists, it
14752 is meant to make @var{filename} (an executable) available for debugging
14753 on the remote system---by downloading, or dynamic linking, for example.
14754 @code{load} also records the @var{filename} symbol table in @value{GDBN}, like
14755 the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
14757 If your @value{GDBN} does not have a @code{load} command, attempting to
14758 execute it gets the error message ``@code{You can't do that when your
14759 target is @dots{}}''
14761 The file is loaded at whatever address is specified in the executable.
14762 For some object file formats, you can specify the load address when you
14763 link the program; for other formats, like a.out, the object file format
14764 specifies a fixed address.
14765 @c FIXME! This would be a good place for an xref to the GNU linker doc.
14767 Depending on the remote side capabilities, @value{GDBN} may be able to
14768 load programs into flash memory.
14770 @code{load} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
14774 @section Choosing Target Byte Order
14776 @cindex choosing target byte order
14777 @cindex target byte order
14779 Some types of processors, such as the MIPS, PowerPC, and Renesas SH,
14780 offer the ability to run either big-endian or little-endian byte
14781 orders. Usually the executable or symbol will include a bit to
14782 designate the endian-ness, and you will not need to worry about
14783 which to use. However, you may still find it useful to adjust
14784 @value{GDBN}'s idea of processor endian-ness manually.
14788 @item set endian big
14789 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is big-endian.
14791 @item set endian little
14792 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is little-endian.
14794 @item set endian auto
14795 Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the byte order associated with the
14799 Display @value{GDBN}'s current idea of the target byte order.
14803 Note that these commands merely adjust interpretation of symbolic
14804 data on the host, and that they have absolutely no effect on the
14808 @node Remote Debugging
14809 @chapter Debugging Remote Programs
14810 @cindex remote debugging
14812 If you are trying to debug a program running on a machine that cannot run
14813 @value{GDBN} in the usual way, it is often useful to use remote debugging.
14814 For example, you might use remote debugging on an operating system kernel,
14815 or on a small system which does not have a general purpose operating system
14816 powerful enough to run a full-featured debugger.
14818 Some configurations of @value{GDBN} have special serial or TCP/IP interfaces
14819 to make this work with particular debugging targets. In addition,
14820 @value{GDBN} comes with a generic serial protocol (specific to @value{GDBN},
14821 but not specific to any particular target system) which you can use if you
14822 write the remote stubs---the code that runs on the remote system to
14823 communicate with @value{GDBN}.
14825 Other remote targets may be available in your
14826 configuration of @value{GDBN}; use @code{help target} to list them.
14829 * Connecting:: Connecting to a remote target
14830 * File Transfer:: Sending files to a remote system
14831 * Server:: Using the gdbserver program
14832 * Remote Configuration:: Remote configuration
14833 * Remote Stub:: Implementing a remote stub
14837 @section Connecting to a Remote Target
14839 On the @value{GDBN} host machine, you will need an unstripped copy of
14840 your program, since @value{GDBN} needs symbol and debugging information.
14841 Start up @value{GDBN} as usual, using the name of the local copy of your
14842 program as the first argument.
14844 @cindex @code{target remote}
14845 @value{GDBN} can communicate with the target over a serial line, or
14846 over an @acronym{IP} network using @acronym{TCP} or @acronym{UDP}. In
14847 each case, @value{GDBN} uses the same protocol for debugging your
14848 program; only the medium carrying the debugging packets varies. The
14849 @code{target remote} command establishes a connection to the target.
14850 Its arguments indicate which medium to use:
14854 @item target remote @var{serial-device}
14855 @cindex serial line, @code{target remote}
14856 Use @var{serial-device} to communicate with the target. For example,
14857 to use a serial line connected to the device named @file{/dev/ttyb}:
14860 target remote /dev/ttyb
14863 If you're using a serial line, you may want to give @value{GDBN} the
14864 @w{@samp{--baud}} option, or use the @code{set remotebaud} command
14865 (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remotebaud}) before the
14866 @code{target} command.
14868 @item target remote @code{@var{host}:@var{port}}
14869 @itemx target remote @code{tcp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
14870 @cindex @acronym{TCP} port, @code{target remote}
14871 Debug using a @acronym{TCP} connection to @var{port} on @var{host}.
14872 The @var{host} may be either a host name or a numeric @acronym{IP}
14873 address; @var{port} must be a decimal number. The @var{host} could be
14874 the target machine itself, if it is directly connected to the net, or
14875 it might be a terminal server which in turn has a serial line to the
14878 For example, to connect to port 2828 on a terminal server named
14882 target remote manyfarms:2828
14885 If your remote target is actually running on the same machine as your
14886 debugger session (e.g.@: a simulator for your target running on the
14887 same host), you can omit the hostname. For example, to connect to
14888 port 1234 on your local machine:
14891 target remote :1234
14895 Note that the colon is still required here.
14897 @item target remote @code{udp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
14898 @cindex @acronym{UDP} port, @code{target remote}
14899 Debug using @acronym{UDP} packets to @var{port} on @var{host}. For example, to
14900 connect to @acronym{UDP} port 2828 on a terminal server named @code{manyfarms}:
14903 target remote udp:manyfarms:2828
14906 When using a @acronym{UDP} connection for remote debugging, you should
14907 keep in mind that the `U' stands for ``Unreliable''. @acronym{UDP}
14908 can silently drop packets on busy or unreliable networks, which will
14909 cause havoc with your debugging session.
14911 @item target remote | @var{command}
14912 @cindex pipe, @code{target remote} to
14913 Run @var{command} in the background and communicate with it using a
14914 pipe. The @var{command} is a shell command, to be parsed and expanded
14915 by the system's command shell, @code{/bin/sh}; it should expect remote
14916 protocol packets on its standard input, and send replies on its
14917 standard output. You could use this to run a stand-alone simulator
14918 that speaks the remote debugging protocol, to make net connections
14919 using programs like @code{ssh}, or for other similar tricks.
14921 If @var{command} closes its standard output (perhaps by exiting),
14922 @value{GDBN} will try to send it a @code{SIGTERM} signal. (If the
14923 program has already exited, this will have no effect.)
14927 Once the connection has been established, you can use all the usual
14928 commands to examine and change data. The remote program is already
14929 running; you can use @kbd{step} and @kbd{continue}, and you do not
14930 need to use @kbd{run}.
14932 @cindex interrupting remote programs
14933 @cindex remote programs, interrupting
14934 Whenever @value{GDBN} is waiting for the remote program, if you type the
14935 interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}), @value{GDBN} attempts to stop the
14936 program. This may or may not succeed, depending in part on the hardware
14937 and the serial drivers the remote system uses. If you type the
14938 interrupt character once again, @value{GDBN} displays this prompt:
14941 Interrupted while waiting for the program.
14942 Give up (and stop debugging it)? (y or n)
14945 If you type @kbd{y}, @value{GDBN} abandons the remote debugging session.
14946 (If you decide you want to try again later, you can use @samp{target
14947 remote} again to connect once more.) If you type @kbd{n}, @value{GDBN}
14948 goes back to waiting.
14951 @kindex detach (remote)
14953 When you have finished debugging the remote program, you can use the
14954 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control.
14955 Detaching from the target normally resumes its execution, but the results
14956 will depend on your particular remote stub. After the @code{detach}
14957 command, @value{GDBN} is free to connect to another target.
14961 The @code{disconnect} command behaves like @code{detach}, except that
14962 the target is generally not resumed. It will wait for @value{GDBN}
14963 (this instance or another one) to connect and continue debugging. After
14964 the @code{disconnect} command, @value{GDBN} is again free to connect to
14967 @cindex send command to remote monitor
14968 @cindex extend @value{GDBN} for remote targets
14969 @cindex add new commands for external monitor
14971 @item monitor @var{cmd}
14972 This command allows you to send arbitrary commands directly to the
14973 remote monitor. Since @value{GDBN} doesn't care about the commands it
14974 sends like this, this command is the way to extend @value{GDBN}---you
14975 can add new commands that only the external monitor will understand
14979 @node File Transfer
14980 @section Sending files to a remote system
14981 @cindex remote target, file transfer
14982 @cindex file transfer
14983 @cindex sending files to remote systems
14985 Some remote targets offer the ability to transfer files over the same
14986 connection used to communicate with @value{GDBN}. This is convenient
14987 for targets accessible through other means, e.g.@: @sc{gnu}/Linux systems
14988 running @code{gdbserver} over a network interface. For other targets,
14989 e.g.@: embedded devices with only a single serial port, this may be
14990 the only way to upload or download files.
14992 Not all remote targets support these commands.
14996 @item remote put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
14997 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
14998 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
15001 @item remote get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
15002 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
15003 on the host system.
15005 @kindex remote delete
15006 @item remote delete @var{targetfile}
15007 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
15012 @section Using the @code{gdbserver} Program
15015 @cindex remote connection without stubs
15016 @code{gdbserver} is a control program for Unix-like systems, which
15017 allows you to connect your program with a remote @value{GDBN} via
15018 @code{target remote}---but without linking in the usual debugging stub.
15020 @code{gdbserver} is not a complete replacement for the debugging stubs,
15021 because it requires essentially the same operating-system facilities
15022 that @value{GDBN} itself does. In fact, a system that can run
15023 @code{gdbserver} to connect to a remote @value{GDBN} could also run
15024 @value{GDBN} locally! @code{gdbserver} is sometimes useful nevertheless,
15025 because it is a much smaller program than @value{GDBN} itself. It is
15026 also easier to port than all of @value{GDBN}, so you may be able to get
15027 started more quickly on a new system by using @code{gdbserver}.
15028 Finally, if you develop code for real-time systems, you may find that
15029 the tradeoffs involved in real-time operation make it more convenient to
15030 do as much development work as possible on another system, for example
15031 by cross-compiling. You can use @code{gdbserver} to make a similar
15032 choice for debugging.
15034 @value{GDBN} and @code{gdbserver} communicate via either a serial line
15035 or a TCP connection, using the standard @value{GDBN} remote serial
15039 @emph{Warning:} @code{gdbserver} does not have any built-in security.
15040 Do not run @code{gdbserver} connected to any public network; a
15041 @value{GDBN} connection to @code{gdbserver} provides access to the
15042 target system with the same privileges as the user running
15046 @subsection Running @code{gdbserver}
15047 @cindex arguments, to @code{gdbserver}
15049 Run @code{gdbserver} on the target system. You need a copy of the
15050 program you want to debug, including any libraries it requires.
15051 @code{gdbserver} does not need your program's symbol table, so you can
15052 strip the program if necessary to save space. @value{GDBN} on the host
15053 system does all the symbol handling.
15055 To use the server, you must tell it how to communicate with @value{GDBN};
15056 the name of your program; and the arguments for your program. The usual
15060 target> gdbserver @var{comm} @var{program} [ @var{args} @dots{} ]
15063 @var{comm} is either a device name (to use a serial line) or a TCP
15064 hostname and portnumber. For example, to debug Emacs with the argument
15065 @samp{foo.txt} and communicate with @value{GDBN} over the serial port
15069 target> gdbserver /dev/com1 emacs foo.txt
15072 @code{gdbserver} waits passively for the host @value{GDBN} to communicate
15075 To use a TCP connection instead of a serial line:
15078 target> gdbserver host:2345 emacs foo.txt
15081 The only difference from the previous example is the first argument,
15082 specifying that you are communicating with the host @value{GDBN} via
15083 TCP. The @samp{host:2345} argument means that @code{gdbserver} is to
15084 expect a TCP connection from machine @samp{host} to local TCP port 2345.
15085 (Currently, the @samp{host} part is ignored.) You can choose any number
15086 you want for the port number as long as it does not conflict with any
15087 TCP ports already in use on the target system (for example, @code{23} is
15088 reserved for @code{telnet}).@footnote{If you choose a port number that
15089 conflicts with another service, @code{gdbserver} prints an error message
15090 and exits.} You must use the same port number with the host @value{GDBN}
15091 @code{target remote} command.
15093 @subsubsection Attaching to a Running Program
15095 On some targets, @code{gdbserver} can also attach to running programs.
15096 This is accomplished via the @code{--attach} argument. The syntax is:
15099 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
15102 @var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't necessary
15103 to point @code{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
15106 @cindex attach to a program by name
15107 You can debug processes by name instead of process ID if your target has the
15108 @code{pidof} utility:
15111 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} `pidof @var{program}`
15114 In case more than one copy of @var{program} is running, or @var{program}
15115 has multiple threads, most versions of @code{pidof} support the
15116 @code{-s} option to only return the first process ID.
15118 @subsubsection Multi-Process Mode for @code{gdbserver}
15119 @cindex gdbserver, multiple processes
15120 @cindex multiple processes with gdbserver
15122 When you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target remote},
15123 @code{gdbserver} debugs the specified program only once. When the
15124 program exits, or you detach from it, @value{GDBN} closes the connection
15125 and @code{gdbserver} exits.
15127 If you connect using @kbd{target extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver}
15128 enters multi-process mode. When the debugged program exits, or you
15129 detach from it, @value{GDBN} stays connected to @code{gdbserver} even
15130 though no program is running. The @code{run} and @code{attach}
15131 commands instruct @code{gdbserver} to run or attach to a new program.
15132 The @code{run} command uses @code{set remote exec-file} (@pxref{set
15133 remote exec-file}) to select the program to run. Command line
15134 arguments are supported, except for wildcard expansion and I/O
15135 redirection (@pxref{Arguments}).
15137 To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
15138 or process ID to attach, use the @option{--multi} command line option.
15139 Then you can connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} and start
15140 the program you want to debug.
15142 @code{gdbserver} does not automatically exit in multi-process mode.
15143 You can terminate it by using @code{monitor exit}
15144 (@pxref{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}).
15146 @subsubsection Other Command-Line Arguments for @code{gdbserver}
15148 The @option{--debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display extra
15149 status information about the debugging process. The
15150 @option{--remote-debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display
15151 remote protocol debug output. These options are intended for
15152 @code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to the developers.
15154 The @option{--wrapper} option specifies a wrapper to launch programs
15155 for debugging. The option should be followed by the name of the
15156 wrapper, then any command-line arguments to pass to the wrapper, then
15157 @kbd{--} indicating the end of the wrapper arguments.
15159 @code{gdbserver} runs the specified wrapper program with a combined
15160 command line including the wrapper arguments, then the name of the
15161 program to debug, then any arguments to the program. The wrapper
15162 runs until it executes your program, and then @value{GDBN} gains control.
15164 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
15165 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
15166 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
15167 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
15169 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
15170 the debugged program, without setting the variable in @code{gdbserver}'s
15174 $ gdbserver --wrapper env LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so -- :2222 ./testprog
15177 @subsection Connecting to @code{gdbserver}
15179 Run @value{GDBN} on the host system.
15181 First make sure you have the necessary symbol files. Load symbols for
15182 your application using the @code{file} command before you connect. Use
15183 @code{set sysroot} to locate target libraries (unless your @value{GDBN}
15184 was compiled with the correct sysroot using @code{--with-sysroot}).
15186 The symbol file and target libraries must exactly match the executable
15187 and libraries on the target, with one exception: the files on the host
15188 system should not be stripped, even if the files on the target system
15189 are. Mismatched or missing files will lead to confusing results
15190 during debugging. On @sc{gnu}/Linux targets, mismatched or missing
15191 files may also prevent @code{gdbserver} from debugging multi-threaded
15194 Connect to your target (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
15195 For TCP connections, you must start up @code{gdbserver} prior to using
15196 the @code{target remote} command. Otherwise you may get an error whose
15197 text depends on the host system, but which usually looks something like
15198 @samp{Connection refused}. Don't use the @code{load}
15199 command in @value{GDBN} when using @code{gdbserver}, since the program is
15200 already on the target.
15202 @subsection Monitor Commands for @code{gdbserver}
15203 @cindex monitor commands, for @code{gdbserver}
15204 @anchor{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}
15206 During a @value{GDBN} session using @code{gdbserver}, you can use the
15207 @code{monitor} command to send special requests to @code{gdbserver}.
15208 Here are the available commands.
15212 List the available monitor commands.
15214 @item monitor set debug 0
15215 @itemx monitor set debug 1
15216 Disable or enable general debugging messages.
15218 @item monitor set remote-debug 0
15219 @itemx monitor set remote-debug 1
15220 Disable or enable specific debugging messages associated with the remote
15221 protocol (@pxref{Remote Protocol}).
15223 @item monitor set libthread-db-search-path [PATH]
15224 @cindex gdbserver, search path for @code{libthread_db}
15225 When this command is issued, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
15226 directories to search for @code{libthread_db} (@pxref{Threads,,set
15227 libthread-db-search-path}). If you omit @var{path},
15228 @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to an empty list.
15231 Tell gdbserver to exit immediately. This command should be followed by
15232 @code{disconnect} to close the debugging session. @code{gdbserver} will
15233 detach from any attached processes and kill any processes it created.
15234 Use @code{monitor exit} to terminate @code{gdbserver} at the end
15235 of a multi-process mode debug session.
15239 @node Remote Configuration
15240 @section Remote Configuration
15243 @kindex show remote
15244 This section documents the configuration options available when
15245 debugging remote programs. For the options related to the File I/O
15246 extensions of the remote protocol, see @ref{system,
15247 system-call-allowed}.
15250 @item set remoteaddresssize @var{bits}
15251 @cindex address size for remote targets
15252 @cindex bits in remote address
15253 Set the maximum size of address in a memory packet to the specified
15254 number of bits. @value{GDBN} will mask off the address bits above
15255 that number, when it passes addresses to the remote target. The
15256 default value is the number of bits in the target's address.
15258 @item show remoteaddresssize
15259 Show the current value of remote address size in bits.
15261 @item set remotebaud @var{n}
15262 @cindex baud rate for remote targets
15263 Set the baud rate for the remote serial I/O to @var{n} baud. The
15264 value is used to set the speed of the serial port used for debugging
15267 @item show remotebaud
15268 Show the current speed of the remote connection.
15270 @item set remotebreak
15271 @cindex interrupt remote programs
15272 @cindex BREAK signal instead of Ctrl-C
15273 @anchor{set remotebreak}
15274 If set to on, @value{GDBN} sends a @code{BREAK} signal to the remote
15275 when you type @kbd{Ctrl-c} to interrupt the program running
15276 on the remote. If set to off, @value{GDBN} sends the @samp{Ctrl-C}
15277 character instead. The default is off, since most remote systems
15278 expect to see @samp{Ctrl-C} as the interrupt signal.
15280 @item show remotebreak
15281 Show whether @value{GDBN} sends @code{BREAK} or @samp{Ctrl-C} to
15282 interrupt the remote program.
15284 @item set remoteflow on
15285 @itemx set remoteflow off
15286 @kindex set remoteflow
15287 Enable or disable hardware flow control (@code{RTS}/@code{CTS})
15288 on the serial port used to communicate to the remote target.
15290 @item show remoteflow
15291 @kindex show remoteflow
15292 Show the current setting of hardware flow control.
15294 @item set remotelogbase @var{base}
15295 Set the base (a.k.a.@: radix) of logging serial protocol
15296 communications to @var{base}. Supported values of @var{base} are:
15297 @code{ascii}, @code{octal}, and @code{hex}. The default is
15300 @item show remotelogbase
15301 Show the current setting of the radix for logging remote serial
15304 @item set remotelogfile @var{file}
15305 @cindex record serial communications on file
15306 Record remote serial communications on the named @var{file}. The
15307 default is not to record at all.
15309 @item show remotelogfile.
15310 Show the current setting of the file name on which to record the
15311 serial communications.
15313 @item set remotetimeout @var{num}
15314 @cindex timeout for serial communications
15315 @cindex remote timeout
15316 Set the timeout limit to wait for the remote target to respond to
15317 @var{num} seconds. The default is 2 seconds.
15319 @item show remotetimeout
15320 Show the current number of seconds to wait for the remote target
15323 @cindex limit hardware breakpoints and watchpoints
15324 @cindex remote target, limit break- and watchpoints
15325 @anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}
15326 @anchor{set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit}
15327 @item set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit @var{limit}
15328 @itemx set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit @var{limit}
15329 Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} remote hardware breakpoint or
15330 watchpoints. A limit of -1, the default, is treated as unlimited.
15332 @item set remote exec-file @var{filename}
15333 @itemx show remote exec-file
15334 @anchor{set remote exec-file}
15335 @cindex executable file, for remote target
15336 Select the file used for @code{run} with @code{target
15337 extended-remote}. This should be set to a filename valid on the
15338 target system. If it is not set, the target will use a default
15339 filename (e.g.@: the last program run).
15341 @item set remote interrupt-sequence
15342 @cindex interrupt remote programs
15343 @cindex select Ctrl-C, BREAK or BREAK-g
15344 Allow the user to select one of @samp{Ctrl-C}, a @code{BREAK} or
15345 @samp{BREAK-g} as the
15346 sequence to the remote target in order to interrupt the execution.
15347 @samp{Ctrl-C} is a default. Some system prefers @code{BREAK} which
15348 is high level of serial line for some certain time.
15349 Linux kernel prefers @samp{BREAK-g}, a.k.a Magic SysRq g.
15350 It is @code{BREAK} signal followed by character @code{g}.
15352 @item show interrupt-sequence
15353 Show which of @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or @code{BREAK-g}
15354 is sent by @value{GDBN} to interrupt the remote program.
15355 @code{BREAK-g} is BREAK signal followed by @code{g} and
15356 also known as Magic SysRq g.
15358 @item set remote interrupt-on-connect
15359 @cindex send interrupt-sequence on start
15360 Specify whether interrupt-sequence is sent to remote target when
15361 @value{GDBN} connects to it. This is mostly needed when you debug
15362 Linux kernel. Linux kernel expects @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g}
15363 which is known as Magic SysRq g in order to connect @value{GDBN}.
15365 @item show interrupt-on-connect
15366 Show whether interrupt-sequence is sent
15367 to remote target when @value{GDBN} connects to it.
15371 @item set tcp auto-retry on
15372 @cindex auto-retry, for remote TCP target
15373 Enable auto-retry for remote TCP connections. This is useful if the remote
15374 debugging agent is launched in parallel with @value{GDBN}; there is a race
15375 condition because the agent may not become ready to accept the connection
15376 before @value{GDBN} attempts to connect. When auto-retry is
15377 enabled, if the initial attempt to connect fails, @value{GDBN} reattempts
15378 to establish the connection using the timeout specified by
15379 @code{set tcp connect-timeout}.
15381 @item set tcp auto-retry off
15382 Do not auto-retry failed TCP connections.
15384 @item show tcp auto-retry
15385 Show the current auto-retry setting.
15387 @item set tcp connect-timeout @var{seconds}
15388 @cindex connection timeout, for remote TCP target
15389 @cindex timeout, for remote target connection
15390 Set the timeout for establishing a TCP connection to the remote target to
15391 @var{seconds}. The timeout affects both polling to retry failed connections
15392 (enabled by @code{set tcp auto-retry on}) and waiting for connections
15393 that are merely slow to complete, and represents an approximate cumulative
15396 @item show tcp connect-timeout
15397 Show the current connection timeout setting.
15400 @cindex remote packets, enabling and disabling
15401 The @value{GDBN} remote protocol autodetects the packets supported by
15402 your debugging stub. If you need to override the autodetection, you
15403 can use these commands to enable or disable individual packets. Each
15404 packet can be set to @samp{on} (the remote target supports this
15405 packet), @samp{off} (the remote target does not support this packet),
15406 or @samp{auto} (detect remote target support for this packet). They
15407 all default to @samp{auto}. For more information about each packet,
15408 see @ref{Remote Protocol}.
15410 During normal use, you should not have to use any of these commands.
15411 If you do, that may be a bug in your remote debugging stub, or a bug
15412 in @value{GDBN}. You may want to report the problem to the
15413 @value{GDBN} developers.
15415 For each packet @var{name}, the command to enable or disable the
15416 packet is @code{set remote @var{name}-packet}. The available settings
15419 @multitable @columnfractions 0.28 0.32 0.25
15422 @tab Related Features
15424 @item @code{fetch-register}
15426 @tab @code{info registers}
15428 @item @code{set-register}
15432 @item @code{binary-download}
15434 @tab @code{load}, @code{set}
15436 @item @code{read-aux-vector}
15437 @tab @code{qXfer:auxv:read}
15438 @tab @code{info auxv}
15440 @item @code{symbol-lookup}
15441 @tab @code{qSymbol}
15442 @tab Detecting multiple threads
15444 @item @code{attach}
15445 @tab @code{vAttach}
15448 @item @code{verbose-resume}
15450 @tab Stepping or resuming multiple threads
15456 @item @code{software-breakpoint}
15460 @item @code{hardware-breakpoint}
15464 @item @code{write-watchpoint}
15468 @item @code{read-watchpoint}
15472 @item @code{access-watchpoint}
15476 @item @code{target-features}
15477 @tab @code{qXfer:features:read}
15478 @tab @code{set architecture}
15480 @item @code{library-info}
15481 @tab @code{qXfer:libraries:read}
15482 @tab @code{info sharedlibrary}
15484 @item @code{memory-map}
15485 @tab @code{qXfer:memory-map:read}
15486 @tab @code{info mem}
15488 @item @code{read-spu-object}
15489 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:read}
15490 @tab @code{info spu}
15492 @item @code{write-spu-object}
15493 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:write}
15494 @tab @code{info spu}
15496 @item @code{read-siginfo-object}
15497 @tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:read}
15498 @tab @code{print $_siginfo}
15500 @item @code{write-siginfo-object}
15501 @tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:write}
15502 @tab @code{set $_siginfo}
15504 @item @code{get-thread-local-@*storage-address}
15505 @tab @code{qGetTLSAddr}
15506 @tab Displaying @code{__thread} variables
15508 @item @code{search-memory}
15509 @tab @code{qSearch:memory}
15512 @item @code{supported-packets}
15513 @tab @code{qSupported}
15514 @tab Remote communications parameters
15516 @item @code{pass-signals}
15517 @tab @code{QPassSignals}
15518 @tab @code{handle @var{signal}}
15520 @item @code{hostio-close-packet}
15521 @tab @code{vFile:close}
15522 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
15524 @item @code{hostio-open-packet}
15525 @tab @code{vFile:open}
15526 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
15528 @item @code{hostio-pread-packet}
15529 @tab @code{vFile:pread}
15530 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
15532 @item @code{hostio-pwrite-packet}
15533 @tab @code{vFile:pwrite}
15534 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
15536 @item @code{hostio-unlink-packet}
15537 @tab @code{vFile:unlink}
15538 @tab @code{remote delete}
15540 @item @code{noack-packet}
15541 @tab @code{QStartNoAckMode}
15542 @tab Packet acknowledgment
15544 @item @code{osdata}
15545 @tab @code{qXfer:osdata:read}
15546 @tab @code{info os}
15548 @item @code{query-attached}
15549 @tab @code{qAttached}
15550 @tab Querying remote process attach state.
15554 @section Implementing a Remote Stub
15556 @cindex debugging stub, example
15557 @cindex remote stub, example
15558 @cindex stub example, remote debugging
15559 The stub files provided with @value{GDBN} implement the target side of the
15560 communication protocol, and the @value{GDBN} side is implemented in the
15561 @value{GDBN} source file @file{remote.c}. Normally, you can simply allow
15562 these subroutines to communicate, and ignore the details. (If you're
15563 implementing your own stub file, you can still ignore the details: start
15564 with one of the existing stub files. @file{sparc-stub.c} is the best
15565 organized, and therefore the easiest to read.)
15567 @cindex remote serial debugging, overview
15568 To debug a program running on another machine (the debugging
15569 @dfn{target} machine), you must first arrange for all the usual
15570 prerequisites for the program to run by itself. For example, for a C
15575 A startup routine to set up the C runtime environment; these usually
15576 have a name like @file{crt0}. The startup routine may be supplied by
15577 your hardware supplier, or you may have to write your own.
15580 A C subroutine library to support your program's
15581 subroutine calls, notably managing input and output.
15584 A way of getting your program to the other machine---for example, a
15585 download program. These are often supplied by the hardware
15586 manufacturer, but you may have to write your own from hardware
15590 The next step is to arrange for your program to use a serial port to
15591 communicate with the machine where @value{GDBN} is running (the @dfn{host}
15592 machine). In general terms, the scheme looks like this:
15596 @value{GDBN} already understands how to use this protocol; when everything
15597 else is set up, you can simply use the @samp{target remote} command
15598 (@pxref{Targets,,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
15600 @item On the target,
15601 you must link with your program a few special-purpose subroutines that
15602 implement the @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol. The file containing these
15603 subroutines is called a @dfn{debugging stub}.
15605 On certain remote targets, you can use an auxiliary program
15606 @code{gdbserver} instead of linking a stub into your program.
15607 @xref{Server,,Using the @code{gdbserver} Program}, for details.
15610 The debugging stub is specific to the architecture of the remote
15611 machine; for example, use @file{sparc-stub.c} to debug programs on
15614 @cindex remote serial stub list
15615 These working remote stubs are distributed with @value{GDBN}:
15620 @cindex @file{i386-stub.c}
15623 For Intel 386 and compatible architectures.
15626 @cindex @file{m68k-stub.c}
15627 @cindex Motorola 680x0
15629 For Motorola 680x0 architectures.
15632 @cindex @file{sh-stub.c}
15635 For Renesas SH architectures.
15638 @cindex @file{sparc-stub.c}
15640 For @sc{sparc} architectures.
15642 @item sparcl-stub.c
15643 @cindex @file{sparcl-stub.c}
15646 For Fujitsu @sc{sparclite} architectures.
15650 The @file{README} file in the @value{GDBN} distribution may list other
15651 recently added stubs.
15654 * Stub Contents:: What the stub can do for you
15655 * Bootstrapping:: What you must do for the stub
15656 * Debug Session:: Putting it all together
15659 @node Stub Contents
15660 @subsection What the Stub Can Do for You
15662 @cindex remote serial stub
15663 The debugging stub for your architecture supplies these three
15667 @item set_debug_traps
15668 @findex set_debug_traps
15669 @cindex remote serial stub, initialization
15670 This routine arranges for @code{handle_exception} to run when your
15671 program stops. You must call this subroutine explicitly near the
15672 beginning of your program.
15674 @item handle_exception
15675 @findex handle_exception
15676 @cindex remote serial stub, main routine
15677 This is the central workhorse, but your program never calls it
15678 explicitly---the setup code arranges for @code{handle_exception} to
15679 run when a trap is triggered.
15681 @code{handle_exception} takes control when your program stops during
15682 execution (for example, on a breakpoint), and mediates communications
15683 with @value{GDBN} on the host machine. This is where the communications
15684 protocol is implemented; @code{handle_exception} acts as the @value{GDBN}
15685 representative on the target machine. It begins by sending summary
15686 information on the state of your program, then continues to execute,
15687 retrieving and transmitting any information @value{GDBN} needs, until you
15688 execute a @value{GDBN} command that makes your program resume; at that point,
15689 @code{handle_exception} returns control to your own code on the target
15693 @cindex @code{breakpoint} subroutine, remote
15694 Use this auxiliary subroutine to make your program contain a
15695 breakpoint. Depending on the particular situation, this may be the only
15696 way for @value{GDBN} to get control. For instance, if your target
15697 machine has some sort of interrupt button, you won't need to call this;
15698 pressing the interrupt button transfers control to
15699 @code{handle_exception}---in effect, to @value{GDBN}. On some machines,
15700 simply receiving characters on the serial port may also trigger a trap;
15701 again, in that situation, you don't need to call @code{breakpoint} from
15702 your own program---simply running @samp{target remote} from the host
15703 @value{GDBN} session gets control.
15705 Call @code{breakpoint} if none of these is true, or if you simply want
15706 to make certain your program stops at a predetermined point for the
15707 start of your debugging session.
15710 @node Bootstrapping
15711 @subsection What You Must Do for the Stub
15713 @cindex remote stub, support routines
15714 The debugging stubs that come with @value{GDBN} are set up for a particular
15715 chip architecture, but they have no information about the rest of your
15716 debugging target machine.
15718 First of all you need to tell the stub how to communicate with the
15722 @item int getDebugChar()
15723 @findex getDebugChar
15724 Write this subroutine to read a single character from the serial port.
15725 It may be identical to @code{getchar} for your target system; a
15726 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
15728 @item void putDebugChar(int)
15729 @findex putDebugChar
15730 Write this subroutine to write a single character to the serial port.
15731 It may be identical to @code{putchar} for your target system; a
15732 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
15735 @cindex control C, and remote debugging
15736 @cindex interrupting remote targets
15737 If you want @value{GDBN} to be able to stop your program while it is
15738 running, you need to use an interrupt-driven serial driver, and arrange
15739 for it to stop when it receives a @code{^C} (@samp{\003}, the control-C
15740 character). That is the character which @value{GDBN} uses to tell the
15741 remote system to stop.
15743 Getting the debugging target to return the proper status to @value{GDBN}
15744 probably requires changes to the standard stub; one quick and dirty way
15745 is to just execute a breakpoint instruction (the ``dirty'' part is that
15746 @value{GDBN} reports a @code{SIGTRAP} instead of a @code{SIGINT}).
15748 Other routines you need to supply are:
15751 @item void exceptionHandler (int @var{exception_number}, void *@var{exception_address})
15752 @findex exceptionHandler
15753 Write this function to install @var{exception_address} in the exception
15754 handling tables. You need to do this because the stub does not have any
15755 way of knowing what the exception handling tables on your target system
15756 are like (for example, the processor's table might be in @sc{rom},
15757 containing entries which point to a table in @sc{ram}).
15758 @var{exception_number} is the exception number which should be changed;
15759 its meaning is architecture-dependent (for example, different numbers
15760 might represent divide by zero, misaligned access, etc). When this
15761 exception occurs, control should be transferred directly to
15762 @var{exception_address}, and the processor state (stack, registers,
15763 and so on) should be just as it is when a processor exception occurs. So if
15764 you want to use a jump instruction to reach @var{exception_address}, it
15765 should be a simple jump, not a jump to subroutine.
15767 For the 386, @var{exception_address} should be installed as an interrupt
15768 gate so that interrupts are masked while the handler runs. The gate
15769 should be at privilege level 0 (the most privileged level). The
15770 @sc{sparc} and 68k stubs are able to mask interrupts themselves without
15771 help from @code{exceptionHandler}.
15773 @item void flush_i_cache()
15774 @findex flush_i_cache
15775 On @sc{sparc} and @sc{sparclite} only, write this subroutine to flush the
15776 instruction cache, if any, on your target machine. If there is no
15777 instruction cache, this subroutine may be a no-op.
15779 On target machines that have instruction caches, @value{GDBN} requires this
15780 function to make certain that the state of your program is stable.
15784 You must also make sure this library routine is available:
15787 @item void *memset(void *, int, int)
15789 This is the standard library function @code{memset} that sets an area of
15790 memory to a known value. If you have one of the free versions of
15791 @code{libc.a}, @code{memset} can be found there; otherwise, you must
15792 either obtain it from your hardware manufacturer, or write your own.
15795 If you do not use the GNU C compiler, you may need other standard
15796 library subroutines as well; this varies from one stub to another,
15797 but in general the stubs are likely to use any of the common library
15798 subroutines which @code{@value{NGCC}} generates as inline code.
15801 @node Debug Session
15802 @subsection Putting it All Together
15804 @cindex remote serial debugging summary
15805 In summary, when your program is ready to debug, you must follow these
15810 Make sure you have defined the supporting low-level routines
15811 (@pxref{Bootstrapping,,What You Must Do for the Stub}):
15813 @code{getDebugChar}, @code{putDebugChar},
15814 @code{flush_i_cache}, @code{memset}, @code{exceptionHandler}.
15818 Insert these lines near the top of your program:
15826 For the 680x0 stub only, you need to provide a variable called
15827 @code{exceptionHook}. Normally you just use:
15830 void (*exceptionHook)() = 0;
15834 but if before calling @code{set_debug_traps}, you set it to point to a
15835 function in your program, that function is called when
15836 @code{@value{GDBN}} continues after stopping on a trap (for example, bus
15837 error). The function indicated by @code{exceptionHook} is called with
15838 one parameter: an @code{int} which is the exception number.
15841 Compile and link together: your program, the @value{GDBN} debugging stub for
15842 your target architecture, and the supporting subroutines.
15845 Make sure you have a serial connection between your target machine and
15846 the @value{GDBN} host, and identify the serial port on the host.
15849 @c The "remote" target now provides a `load' command, so we should
15850 @c document that. FIXME.
15851 Download your program to your target machine (or get it there by
15852 whatever means the manufacturer provides), and start it.
15855 Start @value{GDBN} on the host, and connect to the target
15856 (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
15860 @node Configurations
15861 @chapter Configuration-Specific Information
15863 While nearly all @value{GDBN} commands are available for all native and
15864 cross versions of the debugger, there are some exceptions. This chapter
15865 describes things that are only available in certain configurations.
15867 There are three major categories of configurations: native
15868 configurations, where the host and target are the same, embedded
15869 operating system configurations, which are usually the same for several
15870 different processor architectures, and bare embedded processors, which
15871 are quite different from each other.
15876 * Embedded Processors::
15883 This section describes details specific to particular native
15888 * BSD libkvm Interface:: Debugging BSD kernel memory images
15889 * SVR4 Process Information:: SVR4 process information
15890 * DJGPP Native:: Features specific to the DJGPP port
15891 * Cygwin Native:: Features specific to the Cygwin port
15892 * Hurd Native:: Features specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd
15893 * Neutrino:: Features specific to QNX Neutrino
15894 * Darwin:: Features specific to Darwin
15900 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
15901 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
15902 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
15905 @node BSD libkvm Interface
15906 @subsection BSD libkvm Interface
15909 @cindex kernel memory image
15910 @cindex kernel crash dump
15912 BSD-derived systems (FreeBSD/NetBSD/OpenBSD) have a kernel memory
15913 interface that provides a uniform interface for accessing kernel virtual
15914 memory images, including live systems and crash dumps. @value{GDBN}
15915 uses this interface to allow you to debug live kernels and kernel crash
15916 dumps on many native BSD configurations. This is implemented as a
15917 special @code{kvm} debugging target. For debugging a live system, load
15918 the currently running kernel into @value{GDBN} and connect to the
15922 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm}
15925 For debugging crash dumps, provide the file name of the crash dump as an
15929 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm /var/crash/bsd.0}
15932 Once connected to the @code{kvm} target, the following commands are
15938 Set current context from the @dfn{Process Control Block} (PCB) address.
15941 Set current context from proc address. This command isn't available on
15942 modern FreeBSD systems.
15945 @node SVR4 Process Information
15946 @subsection SVR4 Process Information
15948 @cindex examine process image
15949 @cindex process info via @file{/proc}
15951 Many versions of SVR4 and compatible systems provide a facility called
15952 @samp{/proc} that can be used to examine the image of a running
15953 process using file-system subroutines. If @value{GDBN} is configured
15954 for an operating system with this facility, the command @code{info
15955 proc} is available to report information about the process running
15956 your program, or about any process running on your system. @code{info
15957 proc} works only on SVR4 systems that include the @code{procfs} code.
15958 This includes, as of this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, OSF/1 (Digital
15959 Unix), Solaris, Irix, and Unixware, but not HP-UX, for example.
15965 @itemx info proc @var{process-id}
15966 Summarize available information about any running process. If a
15967 process ID is specified by @var{process-id}, display information about
15968 that process; otherwise display information about the program being
15969 debugged. The summary includes the debugged process ID, the command
15970 line used to invoke it, its current working directory, and its
15971 executable file's absolute file name.
15973 On some systems, @var{process-id} can be of the form
15974 @samp{[@var{pid}]/@var{tid}} which specifies a certain thread ID
15975 within a process. If the optional @var{pid} part is missing, it means
15976 a thread from the process being debugged (the leading @samp{/} still
15977 needs to be present, or else @value{GDBN} will interpret the number as
15978 a process ID rather than a thread ID).
15980 @item info proc mappings
15981 @cindex memory address space mappings
15982 Report the memory address space ranges accessible in the program, with
15983 information on whether the process has read, write, or execute access
15984 rights to each range. On @sc{gnu}/Linux systems, each memory range
15985 includes the object file which is mapped to that range, instead of the
15986 memory access rights to that range.
15988 @item info proc stat
15989 @itemx info proc status
15990 @cindex process detailed status information
15991 These subcommands are specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux systems. They show
15992 the process-related information, including the user ID and group ID;
15993 how many threads are there in the process; its virtual memory usage;
15994 the signals that are pending, blocked, and ignored; its TTY; its
15995 consumption of system and user time; its stack size; its @samp{nice}
15996 value; etc. For more information, see the @samp{proc} man page
15997 (type @kbd{man 5 proc} from your shell prompt).
15999 @item info proc all
16000 Show all the information about the process described under all of the
16001 above @code{info proc} subcommands.
16004 @comment These sub-options of 'info proc' were not included when
16005 @comment procfs.c was re-written. Keep their descriptions around
16006 @comment against the day when someone finds the time to put them back in.
16007 @kindex info proc times
16008 @item info proc times
16009 Starting time, user CPU time, and system CPU time for your program and
16012 @kindex info proc id
16014 Report on the process IDs related to your program: its own process ID,
16015 the ID of its parent, the process group ID, and the session ID.
16018 @item set procfs-trace
16019 @kindex set procfs-trace
16020 @cindex @code{procfs} API calls
16021 This command enables and disables tracing of @code{procfs} API calls.
16023 @item show procfs-trace
16024 @kindex show procfs-trace
16025 Show the current state of @code{procfs} API call tracing.
16027 @item set procfs-file @var{file}
16028 @kindex set procfs-file
16029 Tell @value{GDBN} to write @code{procfs} API trace to the named
16030 @var{file}. @value{GDBN} appends the trace info to the previous
16031 contents of the file. The default is to display the trace on the
16034 @item show procfs-file
16035 @kindex show procfs-file
16036 Show the file to which @code{procfs} API trace is written.
16038 @item proc-trace-entry
16039 @itemx proc-trace-exit
16040 @itemx proc-untrace-entry
16041 @itemx proc-untrace-exit
16042 @kindex proc-trace-entry
16043 @kindex proc-trace-exit
16044 @kindex proc-untrace-entry
16045 @kindex proc-untrace-exit
16046 These commands enable and disable tracing of entries into and exits
16047 from the @code{syscall} interface.
16050 @kindex info pidlist
16051 @cindex process list, QNX Neutrino
16052 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all the
16053 processes and all the threads within each process.
16056 @kindex info meminfo
16057 @cindex mapinfo list, QNX Neutrino
16058 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all mapinfos.
16062 @subsection Features for Debugging @sc{djgpp} Programs
16063 @cindex @sc{djgpp} debugging
16064 @cindex native @sc{djgpp} debugging
16065 @cindex MS-DOS-specific commands
16068 @sc{djgpp} is a port of the @sc{gnu} development tools to MS-DOS and
16069 MS-Windows. @sc{djgpp} programs are 32-bit protected-mode programs
16070 that use the @dfn{DPMI} (DOS Protected-Mode Interface) API to run on
16071 top of real-mode DOS systems and their emulations.
16073 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of @sc{djgpp} programs, and
16074 defines a few commands specific to the @sc{djgpp} port. This
16075 subsection describes those commands.
16080 This is a prefix of @sc{djgpp}-specific commands which print
16081 information about the target system and important OS structures.
16084 @cindex MS-DOS system info
16085 @cindex free memory information (MS-DOS)
16086 @item info dos sysinfo
16087 This command displays assorted information about the underlying
16088 platform: the CPU type and features, the OS version and flavor, the
16089 DPMI version, and the available conventional and DPMI memory.
16094 @cindex segment descriptor tables
16095 @cindex descriptor tables display
16097 @itemx info dos ldt
16098 @itemx info dos idt
16099 These 3 commands display entries from, respectively, Global, Local,
16100 and Interrupt Descriptor Tables (GDT, LDT, and IDT). The descriptor
16101 tables are data structures which store a descriptor for each segment
16102 that is currently in use. The segment's selector is an index into a
16103 descriptor table; the table entry for that index holds the
16104 descriptor's base address and limit, and its attributes and access
16107 A typical @sc{djgpp} program uses 3 segments: a code segment, a data
16108 segment (used for both data and the stack), and a DOS segment (which
16109 allows access to DOS/BIOS data structures and absolute addresses in
16110 conventional memory). However, the DPMI host will usually define
16111 additional segments in order to support the DPMI environment.
16113 @cindex garbled pointers
16114 These commands allow to display entries from the descriptor tables.
16115 Without an argument, all entries from the specified table are
16116 displayed. An argument, which should be an integer expression, means
16117 display a single entry whose index is given by the argument. For
16118 example, here's a convenient way to display information about the
16119 debugged program's data segment:
16122 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos ldt $ds}
16123 @exdent @code{0x13f: base=0x11970000 limit=0x0009ffff 32-Bit Data (Read/Write, Exp-up)}
16127 This comes in handy when you want to see whether a pointer is outside
16128 the data segment's limit (i.e.@: @dfn{garbled}).
16130 @cindex page tables display (MS-DOS)
16132 @itemx info dos pte
16133 These two commands display entries from, respectively, the Page
16134 Directory and the Page Tables. Page Directories and Page Tables are
16135 data structures which control how virtual memory addresses are mapped
16136 into physical addresses. A Page Table includes an entry for every
16137 page of memory that is mapped into the program's address space; there
16138 may be several Page Tables, each one holding up to 4096 entries. A
16139 Page Directory has up to 4096 entries, one each for every Page Table
16140 that is currently in use.
16142 Without an argument, @kbd{info dos pde} displays the entire Page
16143 Directory, and @kbd{info dos pte} displays all the entries in all of
16144 the Page Tables. An argument, an integer expression, given to the
16145 @kbd{info dos pde} command means display only that entry from the Page
16146 Directory table. An argument given to the @kbd{info dos pte} command
16147 means display entries from a single Page Table, the one pointed to by
16148 the specified entry in the Page Directory.
16150 @cindex direct memory access (DMA) on MS-DOS
16151 These commands are useful when your program uses @dfn{DMA} (Direct
16152 Memory Access), which needs physical addresses to program the DMA
16155 These commands are supported only with some DPMI servers.
16157 @cindex physical address from linear address
16158 @item info dos address-pte @var{addr}
16159 This command displays the Page Table entry for a specified linear
16160 address. The argument @var{addr} is a linear address which should
16161 already have the appropriate segment's base address added to it,
16162 because this command accepts addresses which may belong to @emph{any}
16163 segment. For example, here's how to display the Page Table entry for
16164 the page where a variable @code{i} is stored:
16167 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte __djgpp_base_address + (char *)&i}
16168 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x11a00d30:}
16169 @exdent @code{Base=0x02698000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0xd30}
16173 This says that @code{i} is stored at offset @code{0xd30} from the page
16174 whose physical base address is @code{0x02698000}, and shows all the
16175 attributes of that page.
16177 Note that you must cast the addresses of variables to a @code{char *},
16178 since otherwise the value of @code{__djgpp_base_address}, the base
16179 address of all variables and functions in a @sc{djgpp} program, will
16180 be added using the rules of C pointer arithmetics: if @code{i} is
16181 declared an @code{int}, @value{GDBN} will add 4 times the value of
16182 @code{__djgpp_base_address} to the address of @code{i}.
16184 Here's another example, it displays the Page Table entry for the
16188 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte *((unsigned *)&_go32_info_block + 3)}
16189 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x29110:}
16190 @exdent @code{Base=0x00029000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0x110}
16194 (The @code{+ 3} offset is because the transfer buffer's address is the
16195 3rd member of the @code{_go32_info_block} structure.) The output
16196 clearly shows that this DPMI server maps the addresses in conventional
16197 memory 1:1, i.e.@: the physical (@code{0x00029000} + @code{0x110}) and
16198 linear (@code{0x29110}) addresses are identical.
16200 This command is supported only with some DPMI servers.
16203 @cindex DOS serial data link, remote debugging
16204 In addition to native debugging, the DJGPP port supports remote
16205 debugging via a serial data link. The following commands are specific
16206 to remote serial debugging in the DJGPP port of @value{GDBN}.
16209 @kindex set com1base
16210 @kindex set com1irq
16211 @kindex set com2base
16212 @kindex set com2irq
16213 @kindex set com3base
16214 @kindex set com3irq
16215 @kindex set com4base
16216 @kindex set com4irq
16217 @item set com1base @var{addr}
16218 This command sets the base I/O port address of the @file{COM1} serial
16221 @item set com1irq @var{irq}
16222 This command sets the @dfn{Interrupt Request} (@code{IRQ}) line to use
16223 for the @file{COM1} serial port.
16225 There are similar commands @samp{set com2base}, @samp{set com3irq},
16226 etc.@: for setting the port address and the @code{IRQ} lines for the
16229 @kindex show com1base
16230 @kindex show com1irq
16231 @kindex show com2base
16232 @kindex show com2irq
16233 @kindex show com3base
16234 @kindex show com3irq
16235 @kindex show com4base
16236 @kindex show com4irq
16237 The related commands @samp{show com1base}, @samp{show com1irq} etc.@:
16238 display the current settings of the base address and the @code{IRQ}
16239 lines used by the COM ports.
16242 @kindex info serial
16243 @cindex DOS serial port status
16244 This command prints the status of the 4 DOS serial ports. For each
16245 port, it prints whether it's active or not, its I/O base address and
16246 IRQ number, whether it uses a 16550-style FIFO, its baudrate, and the
16247 counts of various errors encountered so far.
16251 @node Cygwin Native
16252 @subsection Features for Debugging MS Windows PE Executables
16253 @cindex MS Windows debugging
16254 @cindex native Cygwin debugging
16255 @cindex Cygwin-specific commands
16257 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of MS Windows programs, including
16258 DLLs with and without symbolic debugging information.
16260 @cindex Ctrl-BREAK, MS-Windows
16261 @cindex interrupt debuggee on MS-Windows
16262 MS-Windows programs that call @code{SetConsoleMode} to switch off the
16263 special meaning of the @samp{Ctrl-C} keystroke cannot be interrupted
16264 by typing @kbd{C-c}. For this reason, @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows
16265 supports @kbd{C-@key{BREAK}} as an alternative interrupt key
16266 sequence, which can be used to interrupt the debuggee even if it
16269 There are various additional Cygwin-specific commands, described in
16270 this section. Working with DLLs that have no debugging symbols is
16271 described in @ref{Non-debug DLL Symbols}.
16276 This is a prefix of MS Windows-specific commands which print
16277 information about the target system and important OS structures.
16279 @item info w32 selector
16280 This command displays information returned by
16281 the Win32 API @code{GetThreadSelectorEntry} function.
16282 It takes an optional argument that is evaluated to
16283 a long value to give the information about this given selector.
16284 Without argument, this command displays information
16285 about the six segment registers.
16289 This is a Cygwin-specific alias of @code{info shared}.
16291 @kindex dll-symbols
16293 This command loads symbols from a dll similarly to
16294 add-sym command but without the need to specify a base address.
16296 @kindex set cygwin-exceptions
16297 @cindex debugging the Cygwin DLL
16298 @cindex Cygwin DLL, debugging
16299 @item set cygwin-exceptions @var{mode}
16300 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that
16301 happen inside the Cygwin DLL. If @var{mode} is @code{off},
16302 @value{GDBN} will delay recognition of exceptions, and may ignore some
16303 exceptions which seem to be caused by internal Cygwin DLL
16304 ``bookkeeping''. This option is meant primarily for debugging the
16305 Cygwin DLL itself; the default value is @code{off} to avoid annoying
16306 @value{GDBN} users with false @code{SIGSEGV} signals.
16308 @kindex show cygwin-exceptions
16309 @item show cygwin-exceptions
16310 Displays whether @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that happen
16311 inside the Cygwin DLL itself.
16313 @kindex set new-console
16314 @item set new-console @var{mode}
16315 If @var{mode} is @code{on} the debuggee will
16316 be started in a new console on next start.
16317 If @var{mode} is @code{off}i, the debuggee will
16318 be started in the same console as the debugger.
16320 @kindex show new-console
16321 @item show new-console
16322 Displays whether a new console is used
16323 when the debuggee is started.
16325 @kindex set new-group
16326 @item set new-group @var{mode}
16327 This boolean value controls whether the debuggee should
16328 start a new group or stay in the same group as the debugger.
16329 This affects the way the Windows OS handles
16332 @kindex show new-group
16333 @item show new-group
16334 Displays current value of new-group boolean.
16336 @kindex set debugevents
16337 @item set debugevents
16338 This boolean value adds debug output concerning kernel events related
16339 to the debuggee seen by the debugger. This includes events that
16340 signal thread and process creation and exit, DLL loading and
16341 unloading, console interrupts, and debugging messages produced by the
16342 Windows @code{OutputDebugString} API call.
16344 @kindex set debugexec
16345 @item set debugexec
16346 This boolean value adds debug output concerning execute events
16347 (such as resume thread) seen by the debugger.
16349 @kindex set debugexceptions
16350 @item set debugexceptions
16351 This boolean value adds debug output concerning exceptions in the
16352 debuggee seen by the debugger.
16354 @kindex set debugmemory
16355 @item set debugmemory
16356 This boolean value adds debug output concerning debuggee memory reads
16357 and writes by the debugger.
16361 This boolean values specifies whether the debuggee is called
16362 via a shell or directly (default value is on).
16366 Displays if the debuggee will be started with a shell.
16371 * Non-debug DLL Symbols:: Support for DLLs without debugging symbols
16374 @node Non-debug DLL Symbols
16375 @subsubsection Support for DLLs without Debugging Symbols
16376 @cindex DLLs with no debugging symbols
16377 @cindex Minimal symbols and DLLs
16379 Very often on windows, some of the DLLs that your program relies on do
16380 not include symbolic debugging information (for example,
16381 @file{kernel32.dll}). When @value{GDBN} doesn't recognize any debugging
16382 symbols in a DLL, it relies on the minimal amount of symbolic
16383 information contained in the DLL's export table. This section
16384 describes working with such symbols, known internally to @value{GDBN} as
16385 ``minimal symbols''.
16387 Note that before the debugged program has started execution, no DLLs
16388 will have been loaded. The easiest way around this problem is simply to
16389 start the program --- either by setting a breakpoint or letting the
16390 program run once to completion. It is also possible to force
16391 @value{GDBN} to load a particular DLL before starting the executable ---
16392 see the shared library information in @ref{Files}, or the
16393 @code{dll-symbols} command in @ref{Cygwin Native}. Currently,
16394 explicitly loading symbols from a DLL with no debugging information will
16395 cause the symbol names to be duplicated in @value{GDBN}'s lookup table,
16396 which may adversely affect symbol lookup performance.
16398 @subsubsection DLL Name Prefixes
16400 In keeping with the naming conventions used by the Microsoft debugging
16401 tools, DLL export symbols are made available with a prefix based on the
16402 DLL name, for instance @code{KERNEL32!CreateFileA}. The plain name is
16403 also entered into the symbol table, so @code{CreateFileA} is often
16404 sufficient. In some cases there will be name clashes within a program
16405 (particularly if the executable itself includes full debugging symbols)
16406 necessitating the use of the fully qualified name when referring to the
16407 contents of the DLL. Use single-quotes around the name to avoid the
16408 exclamation mark (``!'') being interpreted as a language operator.
16410 Note that the internal name of the DLL may be all upper-case, even
16411 though the file name of the DLL is lower-case, or vice-versa. Since
16412 symbols within @value{GDBN} are @emph{case-sensitive} this may cause
16413 some confusion. If in doubt, try the @code{info functions} and
16414 @code{info variables} commands or even @code{maint print msymbols}
16415 (@pxref{Symbols}). Here's an example:
16418 (@value{GDBP}) info function CreateFileA
16419 All functions matching regular expression "CreateFileA":
16421 Non-debugging symbols:
16422 0x77e885f4 CreateFileA
16423 0x77e885f4 KERNEL32!CreateFileA
16427 (@value{GDBP}) info function !
16428 All functions matching regular expression "!":
16430 Non-debugging symbols:
16431 0x6100114c cygwin1!__assert
16432 0x61004034 cygwin1!_dll_crt0@@0
16433 0x61004240 cygwin1!dll_crt0(per_process *)
16437 @subsubsection Working with Minimal Symbols
16439 Symbols extracted from a DLL's export table do not contain very much
16440 type information. All that @value{GDBN} can do is guess whether a symbol
16441 refers to a function or variable depending on the linker section that
16442 contains the symbol. Also note that the actual contents of the memory
16443 contained in a DLL are not available unless the program is running. This
16444 means that you cannot examine the contents of a variable or disassemble
16445 a function within a DLL without a running program.
16447 Variables are generally treated as pointers and dereferenced
16448 automatically. For this reason, it is often necessary to prefix a
16449 variable name with the address-of operator (``&'') and provide explicit
16450 type information in the command. Here's an example of the type of
16454 (@value{GDBP}) print 'cygwin1!__argv'
16459 (@value{GDBP}) x 'cygwin1!__argv'
16460 0x10021610: "\230y\""
16463 And two possible solutions:
16466 (@value{GDBP}) print ((char **)'cygwin1!__argv')[0]
16467 $2 = 0x22fd98 "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
16471 (@value{GDBP}) x/2x &'cygwin1!__argv'
16472 0x610c0aa8 <cygwin1!__argv>: 0x10021608 0x00000000
16473 (@value{GDBP}) x/x 0x10021608
16474 0x10021608: 0x0022fd98
16475 (@value{GDBP}) x/s 0x0022fd98
16476 0x22fd98: "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
16479 Setting a break point within a DLL is possible even before the program
16480 starts execution. However, under these circumstances, @value{GDBN} can't
16481 examine the initial instructions of the function in order to skip the
16482 function's frame set-up code. You can work around this by using ``*&''
16483 to set the breakpoint at a raw memory address:
16486 (@value{GDBP}) break *&'python22!PyOS_Readline'
16487 Breakpoint 1 at 0x1e04eff0
16490 The author of these extensions is not entirely convinced that setting a
16491 break point within a shared DLL like @file{kernel32.dll} is completely
16495 @subsection Commands Specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd Systems
16496 @cindex @sc{gnu} Hurd debugging
16498 This subsection describes @value{GDBN} commands specific to the
16499 @sc{gnu} Hurd native debugging.
16504 @kindex set signals@r{, Hurd command}
16505 @kindex set sigs@r{, Hurd command}
16506 This command toggles the state of inferior signal interception by
16507 @value{GDBN}. Mach exceptions, such as breakpoint traps, are not
16508 affected by this command. @code{sigs} is a shorthand alias for
16513 @kindex show signals@r{, Hurd command}
16514 @kindex show sigs@r{, Hurd command}
16515 Show the current state of intercepting inferior's signals.
16517 @item set signal-thread
16518 @itemx set sigthread
16519 @kindex set signal-thread
16520 @kindex set sigthread
16521 This command tells @value{GDBN} which thread is the @code{libc} signal
16522 thread. That thread is run when a signal is delivered to a running
16523 process. @code{set sigthread} is the shorthand alias of @code{set
16526 @item show signal-thread
16527 @itemx show sigthread
16528 @kindex show signal-thread
16529 @kindex show sigthread
16530 These two commands show which thread will run when the inferior is
16531 delivered a signal.
16534 @kindex set stopped@r{, Hurd command}
16535 This commands tells @value{GDBN} that the inferior process is stopped,
16536 as with the @code{SIGSTOP} signal. The stopped process can be
16537 continued by delivering a signal to it.
16540 @kindex show stopped@r{, Hurd command}
16541 This command shows whether @value{GDBN} thinks the debuggee is
16544 @item set exceptions
16545 @kindex set exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
16546 Use this command to turn off trapping of exceptions in the inferior.
16547 When exception trapping is off, neither breakpoints nor
16548 single-stepping will work. To restore the default, set exception
16551 @item show exceptions
16552 @kindex show exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
16553 Show the current state of trapping exceptions in the inferior.
16555 @item set task pause
16556 @kindex set task@r{, Hurd commands}
16557 @cindex task attributes (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
16558 @cindex pause current task (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
16559 This command toggles task suspension when @value{GDBN} has control.
16560 Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the task is suspended
16561 whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to off will take
16562 effect the next time the inferior is continued. If this option is set
16563 to off, you can use @code{set thread default pause on} or @code{set
16564 thread pause on} (see below) to pause individual threads.
16566 @item show task pause
16567 @kindex show task@r{, Hurd commands}
16568 Show the current state of task suspension.
16570 @item set task detach-suspend-count
16571 @cindex task suspend count
16572 @cindex detach from task, @sc{gnu} Hurd
16573 This command sets the suspend count the task will be left with when
16574 @value{GDBN} detaches from it.
16576 @item show task detach-suspend-count
16577 Show the suspend count the task will be left with when detaching.
16579 @item set task exception-port
16580 @itemx set task excp
16581 @cindex task exception port, @sc{gnu} Hurd
16582 This command sets the task exception port to which @value{GDBN} will
16583 forward exceptions. The argument should be the value of the @dfn{send
16584 rights} of the task. @code{set task excp} is a shorthand alias.
16586 @item set noninvasive
16587 @cindex noninvasive task options
16588 This command switches @value{GDBN} to a mode that is the least
16589 invasive as far as interfering with the inferior is concerned. This
16590 is the same as using @code{set task pause}, @code{set exceptions}, and
16591 @code{set signals} to values opposite to the defaults.
16593 @item info send-rights
16594 @itemx info receive-rights
16595 @itemx info port-rights
16596 @itemx info port-sets
16597 @itemx info dead-names
16600 @cindex send rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
16601 @cindex receive rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
16602 @cindex port rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
16603 @cindex port sets, @sc{gnu} Hurd
16604 @cindex dead names, @sc{gnu} Hurd
16605 These commands display information about, respectively, send rights,
16606 receive rights, port rights, port sets, and dead names of a task.
16607 There are also shorthand aliases: @code{info ports} for @code{info
16608 port-rights} and @code{info psets} for @code{info port-sets}.
16610 @item set thread pause
16611 @kindex set thread@r{, Hurd command}
16612 @cindex thread properties, @sc{gnu} Hurd
16613 @cindex pause current thread (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
16614 This command toggles current thread suspension when @value{GDBN} has
16615 control. Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the current
16616 thread is suspended whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to
16617 off will take effect the next time the inferior is continued.
16618 Normally, this command has no effect, since when @value{GDBN} has
16619 control, the whole task is suspended. However, if you used @code{set
16620 task pause off} (see above), this command comes in handy to suspend
16621 only the current thread.
16623 @item show thread pause
16624 @kindex show thread@r{, Hurd command}
16625 This command shows the state of current thread suspension.
16627 @item set thread run
16628 This command sets whether the current thread is allowed to run.
16630 @item show thread run
16631 Show whether the current thread is allowed to run.
16633 @item set thread detach-suspend-count
16634 @cindex thread suspend count, @sc{gnu} Hurd
16635 @cindex detach from thread, @sc{gnu} Hurd
16636 This command sets the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on a
16637 thread when detaching. This number is relative to the suspend count
16638 found by @value{GDBN} when it notices the thread; use @code{set thread
16639 takeover-suspend-count} to force it to an absolute value.
16641 @item show thread detach-suspend-count
16642 Show the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on the thread when
16645 @item set thread exception-port
16646 @itemx set thread excp
16647 Set the thread exception port to which to forward exceptions. This
16648 overrides the port set by @code{set task exception-port} (see above).
16649 @code{set thread excp} is the shorthand alias.
16651 @item set thread takeover-suspend-count
16652 Normally, @value{GDBN}'s thread suspend counts are relative to the
16653 value @value{GDBN} finds when it notices each thread. This command
16654 changes the suspend counts to be absolute instead.
16656 @item set thread default
16657 @itemx show thread default
16658 @cindex thread default settings, @sc{gnu} Hurd
16659 Each of the above @code{set thread} commands has a @code{set thread
16660 default} counterpart (e.g., @code{set thread default pause}, @code{set
16661 thread default exception-port}, etc.). The @code{thread default}
16662 variety of commands sets the default thread properties for all
16663 threads; you can then change the properties of individual threads with
16664 the non-default commands.
16669 @subsection QNX Neutrino
16670 @cindex QNX Neutrino
16672 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the QNX
16676 @item set debug nto-debug
16677 @kindex set debug nto-debug
16678 When set to on, enables debugging messages specific to the QNX
16681 @item show debug nto-debug
16682 @kindex show debug nto-debug
16683 Show the current state of QNX Neutrino messages.
16690 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the Darwin target:
16693 @item set debug darwin @var{num}
16694 @kindex set debug darwin
16695 When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages specific to
16696 the Darwin support. Higher values produce more verbose output.
16698 @item show debug darwin
16699 @kindex show debug darwin
16700 Show the current state of Darwin messages.
16702 @item set debug mach-o @var{num}
16703 @kindex set debug mach-o
16704 When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages while
16705 @value{GDBN} is reading Darwin object files. (@dfn{Mach-O} is the
16706 file format used on Darwin for object and executable files.) Higher
16707 values produce more verbose output. This is a command to diagnose
16708 problems internal to @value{GDBN} and should not be needed in normal
16711 @item show debug mach-o
16712 @kindex show debug mach-o
16713 Show the current state of Mach-O file messages.
16715 @item set mach-exceptions on
16716 @itemx set mach-exceptions off
16717 @kindex set mach-exceptions
16718 On Darwin, faults are first reported as a Mach exception and are then
16719 mapped to a Posix signal. Use this command to turn on trapping of
16720 Mach exceptions in the inferior. This might be sometimes useful to
16721 better understand the cause of a fault. The default is off.
16723 @item show mach-exceptions
16724 @kindex show mach-exceptions
16725 Show the current state of exceptions trapping.
16730 @section Embedded Operating Systems
16732 This section describes configurations involving the debugging of
16733 embedded operating systems that are available for several different
16737 * VxWorks:: Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
16740 @value{GDBN} includes the ability to debug programs running on
16741 various real-time operating systems.
16744 @subsection Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
16750 @kindex target vxworks
16751 @item target vxworks @var{machinename}
16752 A VxWorks system, attached via TCP/IP. The argument @var{machinename}
16753 is the target system's machine name or IP address.
16757 On VxWorks, @code{load} links @var{filename} dynamically on the
16758 current target system as well as adding its symbols in @value{GDBN}.
16760 @value{GDBN} enables developers to spawn and debug tasks running on networked
16761 VxWorks targets from a Unix host. Already-running tasks spawned from
16762 the VxWorks shell can also be debugged. @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
16763 both the Unix host and on the VxWorks target. The program
16764 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host. (It may be
16765 installed with the name @code{vxgdb}, to distinguish it from a
16766 @value{GDBN} for debugging programs on the host itself.)
16769 @item VxWorks-timeout @var{args}
16770 @kindex vxworks-timeout
16771 All VxWorks-based targets now support the option @code{vxworks-timeout}.
16772 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
16773 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses to rpc's. You might use this if
16774 your VxWorks target is a slow software simulator or is on the far side
16775 of a thin network line.
16778 The following information on connecting to VxWorks was current when
16779 this manual was produced; newer releases of VxWorks may use revised
16782 @findex INCLUDE_RDB
16783 To use @value{GDBN} with VxWorks, you must rebuild your VxWorks kernel
16784 to include the remote debugging interface routines in the VxWorks
16785 library @file{rdb.a}. To do this, define @code{INCLUDE_RDB} in the
16786 VxWorks configuration file @file{configAll.h} and rebuild your VxWorks
16787 kernel. The resulting kernel contains @file{rdb.a}, and spawns the
16788 source debugging task @code{tRdbTask} when VxWorks is booted. For more
16789 information on configuring and remaking VxWorks, see the manufacturer's
16791 @c VxWorks, see the @cite{VxWorks Programmer's Guide}.
16793 Once you have included @file{rdb.a} in your VxWorks system image and set
16794 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
16795 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}} (or
16796 @code{vxgdb}, depending on your installation).
16798 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
16805 * VxWorks Connection:: Connecting to VxWorks
16806 * VxWorks Download:: VxWorks download
16807 * VxWorks Attach:: Running tasks
16810 @node VxWorks Connection
16811 @subsubsection Connecting to VxWorks
16813 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a VxWorks target on the
16814 network. To connect to a target whose host name is ``@code{tt}'', type:
16817 (vxgdb) target vxworks tt
16821 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
16824 Attaching remote machine across net...
16829 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol tables of any object modules
16830 loaded into the VxWorks target since it was last booted. @value{GDBN} locates
16831 these files by searching the directories listed in the command search
16832 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}); if it fails
16833 to find an object file, it displays a message such as:
16836 prog.o: No such file or directory.
16839 When this happens, add the appropriate directory to the search path with
16840 the @value{GDBN} command @code{path}, and execute the @code{target}
16843 @node VxWorks Download
16844 @subsubsection VxWorks Download
16846 @cindex download to VxWorks
16847 If you have connected to the VxWorks target and you want to debug an
16848 object that has not yet been loaded, you can use the @value{GDBN}
16849 @code{load} command to download a file from Unix to VxWorks
16850 incrementally. The object file given as an argument to the @code{load}
16851 command is actually opened twice: first by the VxWorks target in order
16852 to download the code, then by @value{GDBN} in order to read the symbol
16853 table. This can lead to problems if the current working directories on
16854 the two systems differ. If both systems have NFS mounted the same
16855 filesystems, you can avoid these problems by using absolute paths.
16856 Otherwise, it is simplest to set the working directory on both systems
16857 to the directory in which the object file resides, and then to reference
16858 the file by its name, without any path. For instance, a program
16859 @file{prog.o} may reside in @file{@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb} in VxWorks
16860 and in @file{@var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb} on the host. To load this
16861 program, type this on VxWorks:
16864 -> cd "@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb"
16868 Then, in @value{GDBN}, type:
16871 (vxgdb) cd @var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb
16872 (vxgdb) load prog.o
16875 @value{GDBN} displays a response similar to this:
16878 Reading symbol data from wherever/vw/demo/rdb/prog.o... done.
16881 You can also use the @code{load} command to reload an object module
16882 after editing and recompiling the corresponding source file. Note that
16883 this makes @value{GDBN} delete all currently-defined breakpoints,
16884 auto-displays, and convenience variables, and to clear the value
16885 history. (This is necessary in order to preserve the integrity of
16886 debugger's data structures that reference the target system's symbol
16889 @node VxWorks Attach
16890 @subsubsection Running Tasks
16892 @cindex running VxWorks tasks
16893 You can also attach to an existing task using the @code{attach} command as
16897 (vxgdb) attach @var{task}
16901 where @var{task} is the VxWorks hexadecimal task ID. The task can be running
16902 or suspended when you attach to it. Running tasks are suspended at
16903 the time of attachment.
16905 @node Embedded Processors
16906 @section Embedded Processors
16908 This section goes into details specific to particular embedded
16911 @cindex send command to simulator
16912 Whenever a specific embedded processor has a simulator, @value{GDBN}
16913 allows to send an arbitrary command to the simulator.
16916 @item sim @var{command}
16917 @kindex sim@r{, a command}
16918 Send an arbitrary @var{command} string to the simulator. Consult the
16919 documentation for the specific simulator in use for information about
16920 acceptable commands.
16926 * M32R/D:: Renesas M32R/D
16927 * M68K:: Motorola M68K
16928 * MicroBlaze:: Xilinx MicroBlaze
16929 * MIPS Embedded:: MIPS Embedded
16930 * OpenRISC 1000:: OpenRisc 1000
16931 * PA:: HP PA Embedded
16932 * PowerPC Embedded:: PowerPC Embedded
16933 * Sparclet:: Tsqware Sparclet
16934 * Sparclite:: Fujitsu Sparclite
16935 * Z8000:: Zilog Z8000
16938 * Super-H:: Renesas Super-H
16947 @item target rdi @var{dev}
16948 ARM Angel monitor, via RDI library interface to ADP protocol. You may
16949 use this target to communicate with both boards running the Angel
16950 monitor, or with the EmbeddedICE JTAG debug device.
16953 @item target rdp @var{dev}
16958 @value{GDBN} provides the following ARM-specific commands:
16961 @item set arm disassembler
16963 This commands selects from a list of disassembly styles. The
16964 @code{"std"} style is the standard style.
16966 @item show arm disassembler
16968 Show the current disassembly style.
16970 @item set arm apcs32
16971 @cindex ARM 32-bit mode
16972 This command toggles ARM operation mode between 32-bit and 26-bit.
16974 @item show arm apcs32
16975 Display the current usage of the ARM 32-bit mode.
16977 @item set arm fpu @var{fputype}
16978 This command sets the ARM floating-point unit (FPU) type. The
16979 argument @var{fputype} can be one of these:
16983 Determine the FPU type by querying the OS ABI.
16985 Software FPU, with mixed-endian doubles on little-endian ARM
16988 GCC-compiled FPA co-processor.
16990 Software FPU with pure-endian doubles.
16996 Show the current type of the FPU.
16999 This command forces @value{GDBN} to use the specified ABI.
17002 Show the currently used ABI.
17004 @item set arm fallback-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
17005 @value{GDBN} uses the symbol table, when available, to determine
17006 whether instructions are ARM or Thumb. This command controls
17007 @value{GDBN}'s default behavior when the symbol table is not
17008 available. The default is @samp{auto}, which causes @value{GDBN} to
17009 use the current execution mode (from the @code{T} bit in the @code{CPSR}
17012 @item show arm fallback-mode
17013 Show the current fallback instruction mode.
17015 @item set arm force-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
17016 This command overrides use of the symbol table to determine whether
17017 instructions are ARM or Thumb. The default is @samp{auto}, which
17018 causes @value{GDBN} to use the symbol table and then the setting
17019 of @samp{set arm fallback-mode}.
17021 @item show arm force-mode
17022 Show the current forced instruction mode.
17024 @item set debug arm
17025 Toggle whether to display ARM-specific debugging messages from the ARM
17026 target support subsystem.
17028 @item show debug arm
17029 Show whether ARM-specific debugging messages are enabled.
17032 The following commands are available when an ARM target is debugged
17033 using the RDI interface:
17036 @item rdilogfile @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
17038 @cindex ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) logging
17039 Set the filename for the ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) packet log.
17040 With an argument, sets the log file to the specified @var{file}. With
17041 no argument, show the current log file name. The default log file is
17044 @item rdilogenable @r{[}@var{arg}@r{]}
17045 @kindex rdilogenable
17046 Control logging of ADP packets. With an argument of 1 or @code{"yes"}
17047 enables logging, with an argument 0 or @code{"no"} disables it. With
17048 no arguments displays the current setting. When logging is enabled,
17049 ADP packets exchanged between @value{GDBN} and the RDI target device
17050 are logged to a file.
17052 @item set rdiromatzero
17053 @kindex set rdiromatzero
17054 @cindex ROM at zero address, RDI
17055 Tell @value{GDBN} whether the target has ROM at address 0. If on,
17056 vector catching is disabled, so that zero address can be used. If off
17057 (the default), vector catching is enabled. For this command to take
17058 effect, it needs to be invoked prior to the @code{target rdi} command.
17060 @item show rdiromatzero
17061 @kindex show rdiromatzero
17062 Show the current setting of ROM at zero address.
17064 @item set rdiheartbeat
17065 @kindex set rdiheartbeat
17066 @cindex RDI heartbeat
17067 Enable or disable RDI heartbeat packets. It is not recommended to
17068 turn on this option, since it confuses ARM and EPI JTAG interface, as
17069 well as the Angel monitor.
17071 @item show rdiheartbeat
17072 @kindex show rdiheartbeat
17073 Show the setting of RDI heartbeat packets.
17078 @subsection Renesas M32R/D and M32R/SDI
17081 @kindex target m32r
17082 @item target m32r @var{dev}
17083 Renesas M32R/D ROM monitor.
17085 @kindex target m32rsdi
17086 @item target m32rsdi @var{dev}
17087 Renesas M32R SDI server, connected via parallel port to the board.
17090 The following @value{GDBN} commands are specific to the M32R monitor:
17093 @item set download-path @var{path}
17094 @kindex set download-path
17095 @cindex find downloadable @sc{srec} files (M32R)
17096 Set the default path for finding downloadable @sc{srec} files.
17098 @item show download-path
17099 @kindex show download-path
17100 Show the default path for downloadable @sc{srec} files.
17102 @item set board-address @var{addr}
17103 @kindex set board-address
17104 @cindex M32-EVA target board address
17105 Set the IP address for the M32R-EVA target board.
17107 @item show board-address
17108 @kindex show board-address
17109 Show the current IP address of the target board.
17111 @item set server-address @var{addr}
17112 @kindex set server-address
17113 @cindex download server address (M32R)
17114 Set the IP address for the download server, which is the @value{GDBN}'s
17117 @item show server-address
17118 @kindex show server-address
17119 Display the IP address of the download server.
17121 @item upload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
17122 @kindex upload@r{, M32R}
17123 Upload the specified @sc{srec} @var{file} via the monitor's Ethernet
17124 upload capability. If no @var{file} argument is given, the current
17125 executable file is uploaded.
17127 @item tload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
17128 @kindex tload@r{, M32R}
17129 Test the @code{upload} command.
17132 The following commands are available for M32R/SDI:
17137 @cindex reset SDI connection, M32R
17138 This command resets the SDI connection.
17142 This command shows the SDI connection status.
17145 @kindex debug_chaos
17146 @cindex M32R/Chaos debugging
17147 Instructs the remote that M32R/Chaos debugging is to be used.
17149 @item use_debug_dma
17150 @kindex use_debug_dma
17151 Instructs the remote to use the DEBUG_DMA method of accessing memory.
17154 @kindex use_mon_code
17155 Instructs the remote to use the MON_CODE method of accessing memory.
17158 @kindex use_ib_break
17159 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by IB break.
17161 @item use_dbt_break
17162 @kindex use_dbt_break
17163 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by DBT.
17169 The Motorola m68k configuration includes ColdFire support, and a
17170 target command for the following ROM monitor.
17174 @kindex target dbug
17175 @item target dbug @var{dev}
17176 dBUG ROM monitor for Motorola ColdFire.
17181 @subsection MicroBlaze
17182 @cindex Xilinx MicroBlaze
17183 @cindex XMD, Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger
17185 The MicroBlaze is a soft-core processor supported on various Xilinx
17186 FPGAs, such as Spartan or Virtex series. Boards with these processors
17187 usually have JTAG ports which connect to a host system running the Xilinx
17188 Embedded Development Kit (EDK) or Software Development Kit (SDK).
17189 This host system is used to download the configuration bitstream to
17190 the target FPGA. The Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger (XMD) program
17191 communicates with the target board using the JTAG interface and
17192 presents a @code{gdbserver} interface to the board. By default
17193 @code{xmd} uses port @code{1234}. (While it is possible to change
17194 this default port, it requires the use of undocumented @code{xmd}
17195 commands. Contact Xilinx support if you need to do this.)
17197 Use these GDB commands to connect to the MicroBlaze target processor.
17200 @item target remote :1234
17201 Use this command to connect to the target if you are running @value{GDBN}
17202 on the same system as @code{xmd}.
17204 @item target remote @var{xmd-host}:1234
17205 Use this command to connect to the target if it is connected to @code{xmd}
17206 running on a different system named @var{xmd-host}.
17209 Use this command to download a program to the MicroBlaze target.
17211 @item set debug microblaze @var{n}
17212 Enable MicroBlaze-specific debugging messages if non-zero.
17214 @item show debug microblaze @var{n}
17215 Show MicroBlaze-specific debugging level.
17218 @node MIPS Embedded
17219 @subsection MIPS Embedded
17221 @cindex MIPS boards
17222 @value{GDBN} can use the MIPS remote debugging protocol to talk to a
17223 MIPS board attached to a serial line. This is available when
17224 you configure @value{GDBN} with @samp{--target=mips-idt-ecoff}.
17227 Use these @value{GDBN} commands to specify the connection to your target board:
17230 @item target mips @var{port}
17231 @kindex target mips @var{port}
17232 To run a program on the board, start up @code{@value{GDBP}} with the
17233 name of your program as the argument. To connect to the board, use the
17234 command @samp{target mips @var{port}}, where @var{port} is the name of
17235 the serial port connected to the board. If the program has not already
17236 been downloaded to the board, you may use the @code{load} command to
17237 download it. You can then use all the usual @value{GDBN} commands.
17239 For example, this sequence connects to the target board through a serial
17240 port, and loads and runs a program called @var{prog} through the
17244 host$ @value{GDBP} @var{prog}
17245 @value{GDBN} is free software and @dots{}
17246 (@value{GDBP}) target mips /dev/ttyb
17247 (@value{GDBP}) load @var{prog}
17251 @item target mips @var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}
17252 On some @value{GDBN} host configurations, you can specify a TCP
17253 connection (for instance, to a serial line managed by a terminal
17254 concentrator) instead of a serial port, using the syntax
17255 @samp{@var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}}.
17257 @item target pmon @var{port}
17258 @kindex target pmon @var{port}
17261 @item target ddb @var{port}
17262 @kindex target ddb @var{port}
17263 NEC's DDB variant of PMON for Vr4300.
17265 @item target lsi @var{port}
17266 @kindex target lsi @var{port}
17267 LSI variant of PMON.
17269 @kindex target r3900
17270 @item target r3900 @var{dev}
17271 Densan DVE-R3900 ROM monitor for Toshiba R3900 Mips.
17273 @kindex target array
17274 @item target array @var{dev}
17275 Array Tech LSI33K RAID controller board.
17281 @value{GDBN} also supports these special commands for MIPS targets:
17284 @item set mipsfpu double
17285 @itemx set mipsfpu single
17286 @itemx set mipsfpu none
17287 @itemx set mipsfpu auto
17288 @itemx show mipsfpu
17289 @kindex set mipsfpu
17290 @kindex show mipsfpu
17291 @cindex MIPS remote floating point
17292 @cindex floating point, MIPS remote
17293 If your target board does not support the MIPS floating point
17294 coprocessor, you should use the command @samp{set mipsfpu none} (if you
17295 need this, you may wish to put the command in your @value{GDBN} init
17296 file). This tells @value{GDBN} how to find the return value of
17297 functions which return floating point values. It also allows
17298 @value{GDBN} to avoid saving the floating point registers when calling
17299 functions on the board. If you are using a floating point coprocessor
17300 with only single precision floating point support, as on the @sc{r4650}
17301 processor, use the command @samp{set mipsfpu single}. The default
17302 double precision floating point coprocessor may be selected using
17303 @samp{set mipsfpu double}.
17305 In previous versions the only choices were double precision or no
17306 floating point, so @samp{set mipsfpu on} will select double precision
17307 and @samp{set mipsfpu off} will select no floating point.
17309 As usual, you can inquire about the @code{mipsfpu} variable with
17310 @samp{show mipsfpu}.
17312 @item set timeout @var{seconds}
17313 @itemx set retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}
17314 @itemx show timeout
17315 @itemx show retransmit-timeout
17316 @cindex @code{timeout}, MIPS protocol
17317 @cindex @code{retransmit-timeout}, MIPS protocol
17318 @kindex set timeout
17319 @kindex show timeout
17320 @kindex set retransmit-timeout
17321 @kindex show retransmit-timeout
17322 You can control the timeout used while waiting for a packet, in the MIPS
17323 remote protocol, with the @code{set timeout @var{seconds}} command. The
17324 default is 5 seconds. Similarly, you can control the timeout used while
17325 waiting for an acknowledgment of a packet with the @code{set
17326 retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}} command. The default is 3 seconds.
17327 You can inspect both values with @code{show timeout} and @code{show
17328 retransmit-timeout}. (These commands are @emph{only} available when
17329 @value{GDBN} is configured for @samp{--target=mips-idt-ecoff}.)
17331 The timeout set by @code{set timeout} does not apply when @value{GDBN}
17332 is waiting for your program to stop. In that case, @value{GDBN} waits
17333 forever because it has no way of knowing how long the program is going
17334 to run before stopping.
17336 @item set syn-garbage-limit @var{num}
17337 @kindex set syn-garbage-limit@r{, MIPS remote}
17338 @cindex synchronize with remote MIPS target
17339 Limit the maximum number of characters @value{GDBN} should ignore when
17340 it tries to synchronize with the remote target. The default is 10
17341 characters. Setting the limit to -1 means there's no limit.
17343 @item show syn-garbage-limit
17344 @kindex show syn-garbage-limit@r{, MIPS remote}
17345 Show the current limit on the number of characters to ignore when
17346 trying to synchronize with the remote system.
17348 @item set monitor-prompt @var{prompt}
17349 @kindex set monitor-prompt@r{, MIPS remote}
17350 @cindex remote monitor prompt
17351 Tell @value{GDBN} to expect the specified @var{prompt} string from the
17352 remote monitor. The default depends on the target:
17362 @item show monitor-prompt
17363 @kindex show monitor-prompt@r{, MIPS remote}
17364 Show the current strings @value{GDBN} expects as the prompt from the
17367 @item set monitor-warnings
17368 @kindex set monitor-warnings@r{, MIPS remote}
17369 Enable or disable monitor warnings about hardware breakpoints. This
17370 has effect only for the @code{lsi} target. When on, @value{GDBN} will
17371 display warning messages whose codes are returned by the @code{lsi}
17372 PMON monitor for breakpoint commands.
17374 @item show monitor-warnings
17375 @kindex show monitor-warnings@r{, MIPS remote}
17376 Show the current setting of printing monitor warnings.
17378 @item pmon @var{command}
17379 @kindex pmon@r{, MIPS remote}
17380 @cindex send PMON command
17381 This command allows sending an arbitrary @var{command} string to the
17382 monitor. The monitor must be in debug mode for this to work.
17385 @node OpenRISC 1000
17386 @subsection OpenRISC 1000
17387 @cindex OpenRISC 1000
17389 @cindex or1k boards
17390 See OR1k Architecture document (@uref{www.opencores.org}) for more information
17391 about platform and commands.
17395 @kindex target jtag
17396 @item target jtag jtag://@var{host}:@var{port}
17398 Connects to remote JTAG server.
17399 JTAG remote server can be either an or1ksim or JTAG server,
17400 connected via parallel port to the board.
17402 Example: @code{target jtag jtag://localhost:9999}
17405 @item or1ksim @var{command}
17406 If connected to @code{or1ksim} OpenRISC 1000 Architectural
17407 Simulator, proprietary commands can be executed.
17409 @kindex info or1k spr
17410 @item info or1k spr
17411 Displays spr groups.
17413 @item info or1k spr @var{group}
17414 @itemx info or1k spr @var{groupno}
17415 Displays register names in selected group.
17417 @item info or1k spr @var{group} @var{register}
17418 @itemx info or1k spr @var{register}
17419 @itemx info or1k spr @var{groupno} @var{registerno}
17420 @itemx info or1k spr @var{registerno}
17421 Shows information about specified spr register.
17424 @item spr @var{group} @var{register} @var{value}
17425 @itemx spr @var{register @var{value}}
17426 @itemx spr @var{groupno} @var{registerno @var{value}}
17427 @itemx spr @var{registerno @var{value}}
17428 Writes @var{value} to specified spr register.
17431 Some implementations of OpenRISC 1000 Architecture also have hardware trace.
17432 It is very similar to @value{GDBN} trace, except it does not interfere with normal
17433 program execution and is thus much faster. Hardware breakpoints/watchpoint
17434 triggers can be set using:
17437 Load effective address/data
17439 Store effective address/data
17441 Access effective address ($SEA or $LEA) or data ($SDATA/$LDATA)
17446 When triggered, it can capture low level data, like: @code{PC}, @code{LSEA},
17447 @code{LDATA}, @code{SDATA}, @code{READSPR}, @code{WRITESPR}, @code{INSTR}.
17449 @code{htrace} commands:
17450 @cindex OpenRISC 1000 htrace
17453 @item hwatch @var{conditional}
17454 Set hardware watchpoint on combination of Load/Store Effective Address(es)
17455 or Data. For example:
17457 @code{hwatch ($LEA == my_var) && ($LDATA < 50) || ($SEA == my_var) && ($SDATA >= 50)}
17459 @code{hwatch ($LEA == my_var) && ($LDATA < 50) || ($SEA == my_var) && ($SDATA >= 50)}
17463 Display information about current HW trace configuration.
17465 @item htrace trigger @var{conditional}
17466 Set starting criteria for HW trace.
17468 @item htrace qualifier @var{conditional}
17469 Set acquisition qualifier for HW trace.
17471 @item htrace stop @var{conditional}
17472 Set HW trace stopping criteria.
17474 @item htrace record [@var{data}]*
17475 Selects the data to be recorded, when qualifier is met and HW trace was
17478 @item htrace enable
17479 @itemx htrace disable
17480 Enables/disables the HW trace.
17482 @item htrace rewind [@var{filename}]
17483 Clears currently recorded trace data.
17485 If filename is specified, new trace file is made and any newly collected data
17486 will be written there.
17488 @item htrace print [@var{start} [@var{len}]]
17489 Prints trace buffer, using current record configuration.
17491 @item htrace mode continuous
17492 Set continuous trace mode.
17494 @item htrace mode suspend
17495 Set suspend trace mode.
17499 @node PowerPC Embedded
17500 @subsection PowerPC Embedded
17502 @value{GDBN} provides the following PowerPC-specific commands:
17505 @kindex set powerpc
17506 @item set powerpc soft-float
17507 @itemx show powerpc soft-float
17508 Force @value{GDBN} to use (or not use) a software floating point calling
17509 convention. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention based
17510 on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
17512 @item set powerpc vector-abi
17513 @itemx show powerpc vector-abi
17514 Force @value{GDBN} to use the specified calling convention for vector
17515 arguments and return values. The valid options are @samp{auto};
17516 @samp{generic}, to avoid vector registers even if they are present;
17517 @samp{altivec}, to use AltiVec registers; and @samp{spe} to use SPE
17518 registers. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention
17519 based on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
17521 @kindex target dink32
17522 @item target dink32 @var{dev}
17523 DINK32 ROM monitor.
17525 @kindex target ppcbug
17526 @item target ppcbug @var{dev}
17527 @kindex target ppcbug1
17528 @item target ppcbug1 @var{dev}
17529 PPCBUG ROM monitor for PowerPC.
17532 @item target sds @var{dev}
17533 SDS monitor, running on a PowerPC board (such as Motorola's ADS).
17536 @cindex SDS protocol
17537 The following commands specific to the SDS protocol are supported
17541 @item set sdstimeout @var{nsec}
17542 @kindex set sdstimeout
17543 Set the timeout for SDS protocol reads to be @var{nsec} seconds. The
17544 default is 2 seconds.
17546 @item show sdstimeout
17547 @kindex show sdstimeout
17548 Show the current value of the SDS timeout.
17550 @item sds @var{command}
17551 @kindex sds@r{, a command}
17552 Send the specified @var{command} string to the SDS monitor.
17557 @subsection HP PA Embedded
17561 @kindex target op50n
17562 @item target op50n @var{dev}
17563 OP50N monitor, running on an OKI HPPA board.
17565 @kindex target w89k
17566 @item target w89k @var{dev}
17567 W89K monitor, running on a Winbond HPPA board.
17572 @subsection Tsqware Sparclet
17576 @value{GDBN} enables developers to debug tasks running on
17577 Sparclet targets from a Unix host.
17578 @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
17579 both the Unix host and on the Sparclet target. The program
17580 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host.
17583 @item remotetimeout @var{args}
17584 @kindex remotetimeout
17585 @value{GDBN} supports the option @code{remotetimeout}.
17586 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
17587 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses.
17590 @cindex compiling, on Sparclet
17591 When compiling for debugging, include the options @samp{-g} to get debug
17592 information and @samp{-Ttext} to relocate the program to where you wish to
17593 load it on the target. You may also want to add the options @samp{-n} or
17594 @samp{-N} in order to reduce the size of the sections. Example:
17597 sparclet-aout-gcc prog.c -Ttext 0x12010000 -g -o prog -N
17600 You can use @code{objdump} to verify that the addresses are what you intended:
17603 sparclet-aout-objdump --headers --syms prog
17606 @cindex running, on Sparclet
17608 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
17609 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}}
17610 (or @code{sparclet-aout-gdb}, depending on your installation).
17612 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
17619 * Sparclet File:: Setting the file to debug
17620 * Sparclet Connection:: Connecting to Sparclet
17621 * Sparclet Download:: Sparclet download
17622 * Sparclet Execution:: Running and debugging
17625 @node Sparclet File
17626 @subsubsection Setting File to Debug
17628 The @value{GDBN} command @code{file} lets you choose with program to debug.
17631 (gdbslet) file prog
17635 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol table of @file{prog}.
17636 @value{GDBN} locates
17637 the file by searching the directories listed in the command search
17639 If the file was compiled with debug information (option @samp{-g}), source
17640 files will be searched as well.
17641 @value{GDBN} locates
17642 the source files by searching the directories listed in the directory search
17643 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}).
17645 to find a file, it displays a message such as:
17648 prog: No such file or directory.
17651 When this happens, add the appropriate directories to the search paths with
17652 the @value{GDBN} commands @code{path} and @code{dir}, and execute the
17653 @code{target} command again.
17655 @node Sparclet Connection
17656 @subsubsection Connecting to Sparclet
17658 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a Sparclet target.
17659 To connect to a target on serial port ``@code{ttya}'', type:
17662 (gdbslet) target sparclet /dev/ttya
17663 Remote target sparclet connected to /dev/ttya
17664 main () at ../prog.c:3
17668 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
17674 @node Sparclet Download
17675 @subsubsection Sparclet Download
17677 @cindex download to Sparclet
17678 Once connected to the Sparclet target,
17679 you can use the @value{GDBN}
17680 @code{load} command to download the file from the host to the target.
17681 The file name and load offset should be given as arguments to the @code{load}
17683 Since the file format is aout, the program must be loaded to the starting
17684 address. You can use @code{objdump} to find out what this value is. The load
17685 offset is an offset which is added to the VMA (virtual memory address)
17686 of each of the file's sections.
17687 For instance, if the program
17688 @file{prog} was linked to text address 0x1201000, with data at 0x12010160
17689 and bss at 0x12010170, in @value{GDBN}, type:
17692 (gdbslet) load prog 0x12010000
17693 Loading section .text, size 0xdb0 vma 0x12010000
17696 If the code is loaded at a different address then what the program was linked
17697 to, you may need to use the @code{section} and @code{add-symbol-file} commands
17698 to tell @value{GDBN} where to map the symbol table.
17700 @node Sparclet Execution
17701 @subsubsection Running and Debugging
17703 @cindex running and debugging Sparclet programs
17704 You can now begin debugging the task using @value{GDBN}'s execution control
17705 commands, @code{b}, @code{step}, @code{run}, etc. See the @value{GDBN}
17706 manual for the list of commands.
17710 Breakpoint 1 at 0x12010000: file prog.c, line 3.
17712 Starting program: prog
17713 Breakpoint 1, main (argc=1, argv=0xeffff21c) at prog.c:3
17714 3 char *symarg = 0;
17716 4 char *execarg = "hello!";
17721 @subsection Fujitsu Sparclite
17725 @kindex target sparclite
17726 @item target sparclite @var{dev}
17727 Fujitsu sparclite boards, used only for the purpose of loading.
17728 You must use an additional command to debug the program.
17729 For example: target remote @var{dev} using @value{GDBN} standard
17735 @subsection Zilog Z8000
17738 @cindex simulator, Z8000
17739 @cindex Zilog Z8000 simulator
17741 When configured for debugging Zilog Z8000 targets, @value{GDBN} includes
17744 For the Z8000 family, @samp{target sim} simulates either the Z8002 (the
17745 unsegmented variant of the Z8000 architecture) or the Z8001 (the
17746 segmented variant). The simulator recognizes which architecture is
17747 appropriate by inspecting the object code.
17750 @item target sim @var{args}
17752 @kindex target sim@r{, with Z8000}
17753 Debug programs on a simulated CPU. If the simulator supports setup
17754 options, specify them via @var{args}.
17758 After specifying this target, you can debug programs for the simulated
17759 CPU in the same style as programs for your host computer; use the
17760 @code{file} command to load a new program image, the @code{run} command
17761 to run your program, and so on.
17763 As well as making available all the usual machine registers
17764 (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}), the Z8000 simulator provides three
17765 additional items of information as specially named registers:
17770 Counts clock-ticks in the simulator.
17773 Counts instructions run in the simulator.
17776 Execution time in 60ths of a second.
17780 You can refer to these values in @value{GDBN} expressions with the usual
17781 conventions; for example, @w{@samp{b fputc if $cycles>5000}} sets a
17782 conditional breakpoint that suspends only after at least 5000
17783 simulated clock ticks.
17786 @subsection Atmel AVR
17789 When configured for debugging the Atmel AVR, @value{GDBN} supports the
17790 following AVR-specific commands:
17793 @item info io_registers
17794 @kindex info io_registers@r{, AVR}
17795 @cindex I/O registers (Atmel AVR)
17796 This command displays information about the AVR I/O registers. For
17797 each register, @value{GDBN} prints its number and value.
17804 When configured for debugging CRIS, @value{GDBN} provides the
17805 following CRIS-specific commands:
17808 @item set cris-version @var{ver}
17809 @cindex CRIS version
17810 Set the current CRIS version to @var{ver}, either @samp{10} or @samp{32}.
17811 The CRIS version affects register names and sizes. This command is useful in
17812 case autodetection of the CRIS version fails.
17814 @item show cris-version
17815 Show the current CRIS version.
17817 @item set cris-dwarf2-cfi
17818 @cindex DWARF-2 CFI and CRIS
17819 Set the usage of DWARF-2 CFI for CRIS debugging. The default is @samp{on}.
17820 Change to @samp{off} when using @code{gcc-cris} whose version is below
17823 @item show cris-dwarf2-cfi
17824 Show the current state of using DWARF-2 CFI.
17826 @item set cris-mode @var{mode}
17828 Set the current CRIS mode to @var{mode}. It should only be changed when
17829 debugging in guru mode, in which case it should be set to
17830 @samp{guru} (the default is @samp{normal}).
17832 @item show cris-mode
17833 Show the current CRIS mode.
17837 @subsection Renesas Super-H
17840 For the Renesas Super-H processor, @value{GDBN} provides these
17845 @kindex regs@r{, Super-H}
17846 Show the values of all Super-H registers.
17848 @item set sh calling-convention @var{convention}
17849 @kindex set sh calling-convention
17850 Set the calling-convention used when calling functions from @value{GDBN}.
17851 Allowed values are @samp{gcc}, which is the default setting, and @samp{renesas}.
17852 With the @samp{gcc} setting, functions are called using the @value{NGCC} calling
17853 convention. If the DWARF-2 information of the called function specifies
17854 that the function follows the Renesas calling convention, the function
17855 is called using the Renesas calling convention. If the calling convention
17856 is set to @samp{renesas}, the Renesas calling convention is always used,
17857 regardless of the DWARF-2 information. This can be used to override the
17858 default of @samp{gcc} if debug information is missing, or the compiler
17859 does not emit the DWARF-2 calling convention entry for a function.
17861 @item show sh calling-convention
17862 @kindex show sh calling-convention
17863 Show the current calling convention setting.
17868 @node Architectures
17869 @section Architectures
17871 This section describes characteristics of architectures that affect
17872 all uses of @value{GDBN} with the architecture, both native and cross.
17879 * HPPA:: HP PA architecture
17880 * SPU:: Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
17885 @subsection x86 Architecture-specific Issues
17888 @item set struct-convention @var{mode}
17889 @kindex set struct-convention
17890 @cindex struct return convention
17891 @cindex struct/union returned in registers
17892 Set the convention used by the inferior to return @code{struct}s and
17893 @code{union}s from functions to @var{mode}. Possible values of
17894 @var{mode} are @code{"pcc"}, @code{"reg"}, and @code{"default"} (the
17895 default). @code{"default"} or @code{"pcc"} means that @code{struct}s
17896 are returned on the stack, while @code{"reg"} means that a
17897 @code{struct} or a @code{union} whose size is 1, 2, 4, or 8 bytes will
17898 be returned in a register.
17900 @item show struct-convention
17901 @kindex show struct-convention
17902 Show the current setting of the convention to return @code{struct}s
17911 @kindex set rstack_high_address
17912 @cindex AMD 29K register stack
17913 @cindex register stack, AMD29K
17914 @item set rstack_high_address @var{address}
17915 On AMD 29000 family processors, registers are saved in a separate
17916 @dfn{register stack}. There is no way for @value{GDBN} to determine the
17917 extent of this stack. Normally, @value{GDBN} just assumes that the
17918 stack is ``large enough''. This may result in @value{GDBN} referencing
17919 memory locations that do not exist. If necessary, you can get around
17920 this problem by specifying the ending address of the register stack with
17921 the @code{set rstack_high_address} command. The argument should be an
17922 address, which you probably want to precede with @samp{0x} to specify in
17925 @kindex show rstack_high_address
17926 @item show rstack_high_address
17927 Display the current limit of the register stack, on AMD 29000 family
17935 See the following section.
17940 @cindex stack on Alpha
17941 @cindex stack on MIPS
17942 @cindex Alpha stack
17944 Alpha- and MIPS-based computers use an unusual stack frame, which
17945 sometimes requires @value{GDBN} to search backward in the object code to
17946 find the beginning of a function.
17948 @cindex response time, MIPS debugging
17949 To improve response time (especially for embedded applications, where
17950 @value{GDBN} may be restricted to a slow serial line for this search)
17951 you may want to limit the size of this search, using one of these
17955 @cindex @code{heuristic-fence-post} (Alpha, MIPS)
17956 @item set heuristic-fence-post @var{limit}
17957 Restrict @value{GDBN} to examining at most @var{limit} bytes in its
17958 search for the beginning of a function. A value of @var{0} (the
17959 default) means there is no limit. However, except for @var{0}, the
17960 larger the limit the more bytes @code{heuristic-fence-post} must search
17961 and therefore the longer it takes to run. You should only need to use
17962 this command when debugging a stripped executable.
17964 @item show heuristic-fence-post
17965 Display the current limit.
17969 These commands are available @emph{only} when @value{GDBN} is configured
17970 for debugging programs on Alpha or MIPS processors.
17972 Several MIPS-specific commands are available when debugging MIPS
17976 @item set mips abi @var{arg}
17977 @kindex set mips abi
17978 @cindex set ABI for MIPS
17979 Tell @value{GDBN} which MIPS ABI is used by the inferior. Possible
17980 values of @var{arg} are:
17984 The default ABI associated with the current binary (this is the
17995 @item show mips abi
17996 @kindex show mips abi
17997 Show the MIPS ABI used by @value{GDBN} to debug the inferior.
18000 @itemx show mipsfpu
18001 @xref{MIPS Embedded, set mipsfpu}.
18003 @item set mips mask-address @var{arg}
18004 @kindex set mips mask-address
18005 @cindex MIPS addresses, masking
18006 This command determines whether the most-significant 32 bits of 64-bit
18007 MIPS addresses are masked off. The argument @var{arg} can be
18008 @samp{on}, @samp{off}, or @samp{auto}. The latter is the default
18009 setting, which lets @value{GDBN} determine the correct value.
18011 @item show mips mask-address
18012 @kindex show mips mask-address
18013 Show whether the upper 32 bits of MIPS addresses are masked off or
18016 @item set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
18017 @kindex set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
18018 This command controls compatibility with 64-bit MIPS targets that
18019 transfer data in 32-bit quantities. If you have an old MIPS 64 target
18020 that transfers 32 bits for some registers, like @sc{sr} and @sc{fsr},
18021 and 64 bits for other registers, set this option to @samp{on}.
18023 @item show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
18024 @kindex show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
18025 Show the current setting of compatibility with older MIPS 64 targets.
18027 @item set debug mips
18028 @kindex set debug mips
18029 This command turns on and off debugging messages for the MIPS-specific
18030 target code in @value{GDBN}.
18032 @item show debug mips
18033 @kindex show debug mips
18034 Show the current setting of MIPS debugging messages.
18040 @cindex HPPA support
18042 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the HP PA architecture, it provides the
18043 following special commands:
18046 @item set debug hppa
18047 @kindex set debug hppa
18048 This command determines whether HPPA architecture-specific debugging
18049 messages are to be displayed.
18051 @item show debug hppa
18052 Show whether HPPA debugging messages are displayed.
18054 @item maint print unwind @var{address}
18055 @kindex maint print unwind@r{, HPPA}
18056 This command displays the contents of the unwind table entry at the
18057 given @var{address}.
18063 @subsection Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
18064 @cindex Cell Broadband Engine
18067 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture,
18068 it provides the following special commands:
18071 @item info spu event
18073 Display SPU event facility status. Shows current event mask
18074 and pending event status.
18076 @item info spu signal
18077 Display SPU signal notification facility status. Shows pending
18078 signal-control word and signal notification mode of both signal
18079 notification channels.
18081 @item info spu mailbox
18082 Display SPU mailbox facility status. Shows all pending entries,
18083 in order of processing, in each of the SPU Write Outbound,
18084 SPU Write Outbound Interrupt, and SPU Read Inbound mailboxes.
18087 Display MFC DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
18088 DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
18089 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
18091 @item info spu proxydma
18092 Display MFC Proxy-DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
18093 Proxy-DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
18094 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
18098 When @value{GDBN} is debugging a combined PowerPC/SPU application
18099 on the Cell Broadband Engine, it provides in addition the following
18103 @item set spu stop-on-load @var{arg}
18105 Set whether to stop for new SPE threads. When set to @code{on}, @value{GDBN}
18106 will give control to the user when a new SPE thread enters its @code{main}
18107 function. The default is @code{off}.
18109 @item show spu stop-on-load
18111 Show whether to stop for new SPE threads.
18113 @item set spu auto-flush-cache @var{arg}
18114 Set whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache. When set to
18115 @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will automatically cause the SPE software-managed
18116 cache to be flushed whenever SPE execution stops. This provides a consistent
18117 view of PowerPC memory that is accessed via the cache. If an application
18118 does not use the software-managed cache, this option has no effect.
18120 @item show spu auto-flush-cache
18121 Show whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache.
18126 @subsection PowerPC
18127 @cindex PowerPC architecture
18129 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the PowerPC architecture, it provides a set of
18130 pseudo-registers to enable inspection of 128-bit wide Decimal Floating Point
18131 numbers stored in the floating point registers. These values must be stored
18132 in two consecutive registers, always starting at an even register like
18133 @code{f0} or @code{f2}.
18135 The pseudo-registers go from @code{$dl0} through @code{$dl15}, and are formed
18136 by joining the even/odd register pairs @code{f0} and @code{f1} for @code{$dl0},
18137 @code{f2} and @code{f3} for @code{$dl1} and so on.
18139 For POWER7 processors, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers, the 64-bit
18140 wide Extended Floating Point Registers (@samp{f32} through @samp{f63}).
18143 @node Controlling GDB
18144 @chapter Controlling @value{GDBN}
18146 You can alter the way @value{GDBN} interacts with you by using the
18147 @code{set} command. For commands controlling how @value{GDBN} displays
18148 data, see @ref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}. Other settings are
18153 * Editing:: Command editing
18154 * Command History:: Command history
18155 * Screen Size:: Screen size
18156 * Numbers:: Numbers
18157 * ABI:: Configuring the current ABI
18158 * Messages/Warnings:: Optional warnings and messages
18159 * Debugging Output:: Optional messages about internal happenings
18160 * Other Misc Settings:: Other Miscellaneous Settings
18168 @value{GDBN} indicates its readiness to read a command by printing a string
18169 called the @dfn{prompt}. This string is normally @samp{(@value{GDBP})}. You
18170 can change the prompt string with the @code{set prompt} command. For
18171 instance, when debugging @value{GDBN} with @value{GDBN}, it is useful to change
18172 the prompt in one of the @value{GDBN} sessions so that you can always tell
18173 which one you are talking to.
18175 @emph{Note:} @code{set prompt} does not add a space for you after the
18176 prompt you set. This allows you to set a prompt which ends in a space
18177 or a prompt that does not.
18181 @item set prompt @var{newprompt}
18182 Directs @value{GDBN} to use @var{newprompt} as its prompt string henceforth.
18184 @kindex show prompt
18186 Prints a line of the form: @samp{Gdb's prompt is: @var{your-prompt}}
18190 @section Command Editing
18192 @cindex command line editing
18194 @value{GDBN} reads its input commands via the @dfn{Readline} interface. This
18195 @sc{gnu} library provides consistent behavior for programs which provide a
18196 command line interface to the user. Advantages are @sc{gnu} Emacs-style
18197 or @dfn{vi}-style inline editing of commands, @code{csh}-like history
18198 substitution, and a storage and recall of command history across
18199 debugging sessions.
18201 You may control the behavior of command line editing in @value{GDBN} with the
18202 command @code{set}.
18205 @kindex set editing
18208 @itemx set editing on
18209 Enable command line editing (enabled by default).
18211 @item set editing off
18212 Disable command line editing.
18214 @kindex show editing
18216 Show whether command line editing is enabled.
18219 @xref{Command Line Editing}, for more details about the Readline
18220 interface. Users unfamiliar with @sc{gnu} Emacs or @code{vi} are
18221 encouraged to read that chapter.
18223 @node Command History
18224 @section Command History
18225 @cindex command history
18227 @value{GDBN} can keep track of the commands you type during your
18228 debugging sessions, so that you can be certain of precisely what
18229 happened. Use these commands to manage the @value{GDBN} command
18232 @value{GDBN} uses the @sc{gnu} History library, a part of the Readline
18233 package, to provide the history facility. @xref{Using History
18234 Interactively}, for the detailed description of the History library.
18236 To issue a command to @value{GDBN} without affecting certain aspects of
18237 the state which is seen by users, prefix it with @samp{server }
18238 (@pxref{Server Prefix}). This
18239 means that this command will not affect the command history, nor will it
18240 affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which command to repeat if @key{RET} is
18241 pressed on a line by itself.
18243 @cindex @code{server}, command prefix
18244 The server prefix does not affect the recording of values into the value
18245 history; to print a value without recording it into the value history,
18246 use the @code{output} command instead of the @code{print} command.
18248 Here is the description of @value{GDBN} commands related to command
18252 @cindex history substitution
18253 @cindex history file
18254 @kindex set history filename
18255 @cindex @env{GDBHISTFILE}, environment variable
18256 @item set history filename @var{fname}
18257 Set the name of the @value{GDBN} command history file to @var{fname}.
18258 This is the file where @value{GDBN} reads an initial command history
18259 list, and where it writes the command history from this session when it
18260 exits. You can access this list through history expansion or through
18261 the history command editing characters listed below. This file defaults
18262 to the value of the environment variable @code{GDBHISTFILE}, or to
18263 @file{./.gdb_history} (@file{./_gdb_history} on MS-DOS) if this variable
18266 @cindex save command history
18267 @kindex set history save
18268 @item set history save
18269 @itemx set history save on
18270 Record command history in a file, whose name may be specified with the
18271 @code{set history filename} command. By default, this option is disabled.
18273 @item set history save off
18274 Stop recording command history in a file.
18276 @cindex history size
18277 @kindex set history size
18278 @cindex @env{HISTSIZE}, environment variable
18279 @item set history size @var{size}
18280 Set the number of commands which @value{GDBN} keeps in its history list.
18281 This defaults to the value of the environment variable
18282 @code{HISTSIZE}, or to 256 if this variable is not set.
18285 History expansion assigns special meaning to the character @kbd{!}.
18286 @xref{Event Designators}, for more details.
18288 @cindex history expansion, turn on/off
18289 Since @kbd{!} is also the logical not operator in C, history expansion
18290 is off by default. If you decide to enable history expansion with the
18291 @code{set history expansion on} command, you may sometimes need to
18292 follow @kbd{!} (when it is used as logical not, in an expression) with
18293 a space or a tab to prevent it from being expanded. The readline
18294 history facilities do not attempt substitution on the strings
18295 @kbd{!=} and @kbd{!(}, even when history expansion is enabled.
18297 The commands to control history expansion are:
18300 @item set history expansion on
18301 @itemx set history expansion
18302 @kindex set history expansion
18303 Enable history expansion. History expansion is off by default.
18305 @item set history expansion off
18306 Disable history expansion.
18309 @kindex show history
18311 @itemx show history filename
18312 @itemx show history save
18313 @itemx show history size
18314 @itemx show history expansion
18315 These commands display the state of the @value{GDBN} history parameters.
18316 @code{show history} by itself displays all four states.
18321 @kindex show commands
18322 @cindex show last commands
18323 @cindex display command history
18324 @item show commands
18325 Display the last ten commands in the command history.
18327 @item show commands @var{n}
18328 Print ten commands centered on command number @var{n}.
18330 @item show commands +
18331 Print ten commands just after the commands last printed.
18335 @section Screen Size
18336 @cindex size of screen
18337 @cindex pauses in output
18339 Certain commands to @value{GDBN} may produce large amounts of
18340 information output to the screen. To help you read all of it,
18341 @value{GDBN} pauses and asks you for input at the end of each page of
18342 output. Type @key{RET} when you want to continue the output, or @kbd{q}
18343 to discard the remaining output. Also, the screen width setting
18344 determines when to wrap lines of output. Depending on what is being
18345 printed, @value{GDBN} tries to break the line at a readable place,
18346 rather than simply letting it overflow onto the following line.
18348 Normally @value{GDBN} knows the size of the screen from the terminal
18349 driver software. For example, on Unix @value{GDBN} uses the termcap data base
18350 together with the value of the @code{TERM} environment variable and the
18351 @code{stty rows} and @code{stty cols} settings. If this is not correct,
18352 you can override it with the @code{set height} and @code{set
18359 @kindex show height
18360 @item set height @var{lpp}
18362 @itemx set width @var{cpl}
18364 These @code{set} commands specify a screen height of @var{lpp} lines and
18365 a screen width of @var{cpl} characters. The associated @code{show}
18366 commands display the current settings.
18368 If you specify a height of zero lines, @value{GDBN} does not pause during
18369 output no matter how long the output is. This is useful if output is to a
18370 file or to an editor buffer.
18372 Likewise, you can specify @samp{set width 0} to prevent @value{GDBN}
18373 from wrapping its output.
18375 @item set pagination on
18376 @itemx set pagination off
18377 @kindex set pagination
18378 Turn the output pagination on or off; the default is on. Turning
18379 pagination off is the alternative to @code{set height 0}.
18381 @item show pagination
18382 @kindex show pagination
18383 Show the current pagination mode.
18388 @cindex number representation
18389 @cindex entering numbers
18391 You can always enter numbers in octal, decimal, or hexadecimal in
18392 @value{GDBN} by the usual conventions: octal numbers begin with
18393 @samp{0}, decimal numbers end with @samp{.}, and hexadecimal numbers
18394 begin with @samp{0x}. Numbers that neither begin with @samp{0} or
18395 @samp{0x}, nor end with a @samp{.} are, by default, entered in base
18396 10; likewise, the default display for numbers---when no particular
18397 format is specified---is base 10. You can change the default base for
18398 both input and output with the commands described below.
18401 @kindex set input-radix
18402 @item set input-radix @var{base}
18403 Set the default base for numeric input. Supported choices
18404 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
18405 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix; for
18409 set input-radix 012
18410 set input-radix 10.
18411 set input-radix 0xa
18415 sets the input base to decimal. On the other hand, @samp{set input-radix 10}
18416 leaves the input radix unchanged, no matter what it was, since
18417 @samp{10}, being without any leading or trailing signs of its base, is
18418 interpreted in the current radix. Thus, if the current radix is 16,
18419 @samp{10} is interpreted in hex, i.e.@: as 16 decimal, which doesn't
18422 @kindex set output-radix
18423 @item set output-radix @var{base}
18424 Set the default base for numeric display. Supported choices
18425 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
18426 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix.
18428 @kindex show input-radix
18429 @item show input-radix
18430 Display the current default base for numeric input.
18432 @kindex show output-radix
18433 @item show output-radix
18434 Display the current default base for numeric display.
18436 @item set radix @r{[}@var{base}@r{]}
18440 These commands set and show the default base for both input and output
18441 of numbers. @code{set radix} sets the radix of input and output to
18442 the same base; without an argument, it resets the radix back to its
18443 default value of 10.
18448 @section Configuring the Current ABI
18450 @value{GDBN} can determine the @dfn{ABI} (Application Binary Interface) of your
18451 application automatically. However, sometimes you need to override its
18452 conclusions. Use these commands to manage @value{GDBN}'s view of the
18459 One @value{GDBN} configuration can debug binaries for multiple operating
18460 system targets, either via remote debugging or native emulation.
18461 @value{GDBN} will autodetect the @dfn{OS ABI} (Operating System ABI) in use,
18462 but you can override its conclusion using the @code{set osabi} command.
18463 One example where this is useful is in debugging of binaries which use
18464 an alternate C library (e.g.@: @sc{uClibc} for @sc{gnu}/Linux) which does
18465 not have the same identifying marks that the standard C library for your
18470 Show the OS ABI currently in use.
18473 With no argument, show the list of registered available OS ABI's.
18475 @item set osabi @var{abi}
18476 Set the current OS ABI to @var{abi}.
18479 @cindex float promotion
18481 Generally, the way that an argument of type @code{float} is passed to a
18482 function depends on whether the function is prototyped. For a prototyped
18483 (i.e.@: ANSI/ISO style) function, @code{float} arguments are passed unchanged,
18484 according to the architecture's convention for @code{float}. For unprototyped
18485 (i.e.@: K&R style) functions, @code{float} arguments are first promoted to type
18486 @code{double} and then passed.
18488 Unfortunately, some forms of debug information do not reliably indicate whether
18489 a function is prototyped. If @value{GDBN} calls a function that is not marked
18490 as prototyped, it consults @kbd{set coerce-float-to-double}.
18493 @kindex set coerce-float-to-double
18494 @item set coerce-float-to-double
18495 @itemx set coerce-float-to-double on
18496 Arguments of type @code{float} will be promoted to @code{double} when passed
18497 to an unprototyped function. This is the default setting.
18499 @item set coerce-float-to-double off
18500 Arguments of type @code{float} will be passed directly to unprototyped
18503 @kindex show coerce-float-to-double
18504 @item show coerce-float-to-double
18505 Show the current setting of promoting @code{float} to @code{double}.
18509 @kindex show cp-abi
18510 @value{GDBN} needs to know the ABI used for your program's C@t{++}
18511 objects. The correct C@t{++} ABI depends on which C@t{++} compiler was
18512 used to build your application. @value{GDBN} only fully supports
18513 programs with a single C@t{++} ABI; if your program contains code using
18514 multiple C@t{++} ABI's or if @value{GDBN} can not identify your
18515 program's ABI correctly, you can tell @value{GDBN} which ABI to use.
18516 Currently supported ABI's include ``gnu-v2'', for @code{g++} versions
18517 before 3.0, ``gnu-v3'', for @code{g++} versions 3.0 and later, and
18518 ``hpaCC'' for the HP ANSI C@t{++} compiler. Other C@t{++} compilers may
18519 use the ``gnu-v2'' or ``gnu-v3'' ABI's as well. The default setting is
18524 Show the C@t{++} ABI currently in use.
18527 With no argument, show the list of supported C@t{++} ABI's.
18529 @item set cp-abi @var{abi}
18530 @itemx set cp-abi auto
18531 Set the current C@t{++} ABI to @var{abi}, or return to automatic detection.
18534 @node Messages/Warnings
18535 @section Optional Warnings and Messages
18537 @cindex verbose operation
18538 @cindex optional warnings
18539 By default, @value{GDBN} is silent about its inner workings. If you are
18540 running on a slow machine, you may want to use the @code{set verbose}
18541 command. This makes @value{GDBN} tell you when it does a lengthy
18542 internal operation, so you will not think it has crashed.
18544 Currently, the messages controlled by @code{set verbose} are those
18545 which announce that the symbol table for a source file is being read;
18546 see @code{symbol-file} in @ref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}.
18549 @kindex set verbose
18550 @item set verbose on
18551 Enables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
18553 @item set verbose off
18554 Disables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
18556 @kindex show verbose
18558 Displays whether @code{set verbose} is on or off.
18561 By default, if @value{GDBN} encounters bugs in the symbol table of an
18562 object file, it is silent; but if you are debugging a compiler, you may
18563 find this information useful (@pxref{Symbol Errors, ,Errors Reading
18568 @kindex set complaints
18569 @item set complaints @var{limit}
18570 Permits @value{GDBN} to output @var{limit} complaints about each type of
18571 unusual symbols before becoming silent about the problem. Set
18572 @var{limit} to zero to suppress all complaints; set it to a large number
18573 to prevent complaints from being suppressed.
18575 @kindex show complaints
18576 @item show complaints
18577 Displays how many symbol complaints @value{GDBN} is permitted to produce.
18581 @anchor{confirmation requests}
18582 By default, @value{GDBN} is cautious, and asks what sometimes seems to be a
18583 lot of stupid questions to confirm certain commands. For example, if
18584 you try to run a program which is already running:
18588 The program being debugged has been started already.
18589 Start it from the beginning? (y or n)
18592 If you are willing to unflinchingly face the consequences of your own
18593 commands, you can disable this ``feature'':
18597 @kindex set confirm
18599 @cindex confirmation
18600 @cindex stupid questions
18601 @item set confirm off
18602 Disables confirmation requests.
18604 @item set confirm on
18605 Enables confirmation requests (the default).
18607 @kindex show confirm
18609 Displays state of confirmation requests.
18613 @cindex command tracing
18614 If you need to debug user-defined commands or sourced files you may find it
18615 useful to enable @dfn{command tracing}. In this mode each command will be
18616 printed as it is executed, prefixed with one or more @samp{+} symbols, the
18617 quantity denoting the call depth of each command.
18620 @kindex set trace-commands
18621 @cindex command scripts, debugging
18622 @item set trace-commands on
18623 Enable command tracing.
18624 @item set trace-commands off
18625 Disable command tracing.
18626 @item show trace-commands
18627 Display the current state of command tracing.
18630 @node Debugging Output
18631 @section Optional Messages about Internal Happenings
18632 @cindex optional debugging messages
18634 @value{GDBN} has commands that enable optional debugging messages from
18635 various @value{GDBN} subsystems; normally these commands are of
18636 interest to @value{GDBN} maintainers, or when reporting a bug. This
18637 section documents those commands.
18640 @kindex set exec-done-display
18641 @item set exec-done-display
18642 Turns on or off the notification of asynchronous commands'
18643 completion. When on, @value{GDBN} will print a message when an
18644 asynchronous command finishes its execution. The default is off.
18645 @kindex show exec-done-display
18646 @item show exec-done-display
18647 Displays the current setting of asynchronous command completion
18650 @cindex gdbarch debugging info
18651 @cindex architecture debugging info
18652 @item set debug arch
18653 Turns on or off display of gdbarch debugging info. The default is off
18655 @item show debug arch
18656 Displays the current state of displaying gdbarch debugging info.
18657 @item set debug aix-thread
18658 @cindex AIX threads
18659 Display debugging messages about inner workings of the AIX thread
18661 @item show debug aix-thread
18662 Show the current state of AIX thread debugging info display.
18663 @item set debug dwarf2-die
18664 @cindex DWARF2 DIEs
18665 Dump DWARF2 DIEs after they are read in.
18666 The value is the number of nesting levels to print.
18667 A value of zero turns off the display.
18668 @item show debug dwarf2-die
18669 Show the current state of DWARF2 DIE debugging.
18670 @item set debug displaced
18671 @cindex displaced stepping debugging info
18672 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for the
18673 displaced stepping support. The default is off.
18674 @item show debug displaced
18675 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} debugging info
18676 related to displaced stepping.
18677 @item set debug event
18678 @cindex event debugging info
18679 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} event debugging info. The
18681 @item show debug event
18682 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} event debugging
18684 @item set debug expression
18685 @cindex expression debugging info
18686 Turns on or off display of debugging info about @value{GDBN}
18687 expression parsing. The default is off.
18688 @item show debug expression
18689 Displays the current state of displaying debugging info about
18690 @value{GDBN} expression parsing.
18691 @item set debug frame
18692 @cindex frame debugging info
18693 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} frame debugging info. The
18695 @item show debug frame
18696 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} frame debugging
18698 @item set debug gnu-nat
18699 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug messages
18700 Turns on or off debugging messages from the @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug support.
18701 @item show debug gnu-nat
18702 Show the current state of @sc{gnu}/Hurd debugging messages.
18703 @item set debug infrun
18704 @cindex inferior debugging info
18705 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for running the inferior.
18706 The default is off. @file{infrun.c} contains GDB's runtime state machine used
18707 for implementing operations such as single-stepping the inferior.
18708 @item show debug infrun
18709 Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} inferior debugging.
18710 @item set debug lin-lwp
18711 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Linux LWP debug messages
18712 @cindex Linux lightweight processes
18713 Turns on or off debugging messages from the Linux LWP debug support.
18714 @item show debug lin-lwp
18715 Show the current state of Linux LWP debugging messages.
18716 @item set debug lin-lwp-async
18717 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Linux LWP async debug messages
18718 @cindex Linux lightweight processes
18719 Turns on or off debugging messages from the Linux LWP async debug support.
18720 @item show debug lin-lwp-async
18721 Show the current state of Linux LWP async debugging messages.
18722 @item set debug observer
18723 @cindex observer debugging info
18724 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} observer debugging. This
18725 includes info such as the notification of observable events.
18726 @item show debug observer
18727 Displays the current state of observer debugging.
18728 @item set debug overload
18729 @cindex C@t{++} overload debugging info
18730 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload debugging
18731 info. This includes info such as ranking of functions, etc. The default
18733 @item show debug overload
18734 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload
18736 @cindex packets, reporting on stdout
18737 @cindex serial connections, debugging
18738 @cindex debug remote protocol
18739 @cindex remote protocol debugging
18740 @cindex display remote packets
18741 @item set debug remote
18742 Turns on or off display of reports on all packets sent back and forth across
18743 the serial line to the remote machine. The info is printed on the
18744 @value{GDBN} standard output stream. The default is off.
18745 @item show debug remote
18746 Displays the state of display of remote packets.
18747 @item set debug serial
18748 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} serial debugging info. The
18750 @item show debug serial
18751 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} serial debugging
18753 @item set debug solib-frv
18754 @cindex FR-V shared-library debugging
18755 Turns on or off debugging messages for FR-V shared-library code.
18756 @item show debug solib-frv
18757 Display the current state of FR-V shared-library code debugging
18759 @item set debug target
18760 @cindex target debugging info
18761 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} target debugging info. This info
18762 includes what is going on at the target level of GDB, as it happens. The
18763 default is 0. Set it to 1 to track events, and to 2 to also track the
18764 value of large memory transfers. Changes to this flag do not take effect
18765 until the next time you connect to a target or use the @code{run} command.
18766 @item show debug target
18767 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} target debugging
18769 @item set debug timestamp
18770 @cindex timestampping debugging info
18771 Turns on or off display of timestamps with @value{GDBN} debugging info.
18772 When enabled, seconds and microseconds are displayed before each debugging
18774 @item show debug timestamp
18775 Displays the current state of displaying timestamps with @value{GDBN}
18777 @item set debugvarobj
18778 @cindex variable object debugging info
18779 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} variable object debugging
18780 info. The default is off.
18781 @item show debugvarobj
18782 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} variable object
18784 @item set debug xml
18785 @cindex XML parser debugging
18786 Turns on or off debugging messages for built-in XML parsers.
18787 @item show debug xml
18788 Displays the current state of XML debugging messages.
18791 @node Other Misc Settings
18792 @section Other Miscellaneous Settings
18793 @cindex miscellaneous settings
18796 @kindex set interactive-mode
18797 @item set interactive-mode
18798 If @code{on}, forces @value{GDBN} to operate interactively.
18799 If @code{off}, forces @value{GDBN} to operate non-interactively,
18800 If @code{auto} (the default), @value{GDBN} guesses which mode to use,
18801 based on whether the debugger was started in a terminal or not.
18803 In the vast majority of cases, the debugger should be able to guess
18804 correctly which mode should be used. But this setting can be useful
18805 in certain specific cases, such as running a MinGW @value{GDBN}
18806 inside a cygwin window.
18808 @kindex show interactive-mode
18809 @item show interactive-mode
18810 Displays whether the debugger is operating in interactive mode or not.
18813 @node Extending GDB
18814 @chapter Extending @value{GDBN}
18815 @cindex extending GDB
18817 @value{GDBN} provides two mechanisms for extension. The first is based
18818 on composition of @value{GDBN} commands, and the second is based on the
18819 Python scripting language.
18822 * Sequences:: Canned Sequences of Commands
18823 * Python:: Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
18827 @section Canned Sequences of Commands
18829 Aside from breakpoint commands (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint
18830 Command Lists}), @value{GDBN} provides two ways to store sequences of
18831 commands for execution as a unit: user-defined commands and command
18835 * Define:: How to define your own commands
18836 * Hooks:: Hooks for user-defined commands
18837 * Command Files:: How to write scripts of commands to be stored in a file
18838 * Output:: Commands for controlled output
18842 @subsection User-defined Commands
18844 @cindex user-defined command
18845 @cindex arguments, to user-defined commands
18846 A @dfn{user-defined command} is a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands to
18847 which you assign a new name as a command. This is done with the
18848 @code{define} command. User commands may accept up to 10 arguments
18849 separated by whitespace. Arguments are accessed within the user command
18850 via @code{$arg0@dots{}$arg9}. A trivial example:
18854 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
18859 To execute the command use:
18866 This defines the command @code{adder}, which prints the sum of
18867 its three arguments. Note the arguments are text substitutions, so they may
18868 reference variables, use complex expressions, or even perform inferior
18871 @cindex argument count in user-defined commands
18872 @cindex how many arguments (user-defined commands)
18873 In addition, @code{$argc} may be used to find out how many arguments have
18874 been passed. This expands to a number in the range 0@dots{}10.
18879 print $arg0 + $arg1
18882 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
18890 @item define @var{commandname}
18891 Define a command named @var{commandname}. If there is already a command
18892 by that name, you are asked to confirm that you want to redefine it.
18893 @var{commandname} may be a bare command name consisting of letters,
18894 numbers, dashes, and underscores. It may also start with any predefined
18895 prefix command. For example, @samp{define target my-target} creates
18896 a user-defined @samp{target my-target} command.
18898 The definition of the command is made up of other @value{GDBN} command lines,
18899 which are given following the @code{define} command. The end of these
18900 commands is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
18903 @kindex end@r{ (user-defined commands)}
18904 @item document @var{commandname}
18905 Document the user-defined command @var{commandname}, so that it can be
18906 accessed by @code{help}. The command @var{commandname} must already be
18907 defined. This command reads lines of documentation just as @code{define}
18908 reads the lines of the command definition, ending with @code{end}.
18909 After the @code{document} command is finished, @code{help} on command
18910 @var{commandname} displays the documentation you have written.
18912 You may use the @code{document} command again to change the
18913 documentation of a command. Redefining the command with @code{define}
18914 does not change the documentation.
18916 @kindex dont-repeat
18917 @cindex don't repeat command
18919 Used inside a user-defined command, this tells @value{GDBN} that this
18920 command should not be repeated when the user hits @key{RET}
18921 (@pxref{Command Syntax, repeat last command}).
18923 @kindex help user-defined
18924 @item help user-defined
18925 List all user-defined commands, with the first line of the documentation
18930 @itemx show user @var{commandname}
18931 Display the @value{GDBN} commands used to define @var{commandname} (but
18932 not its documentation). If no @var{commandname} is given, display the
18933 definitions for all user-defined commands.
18935 @cindex infinite recursion in user-defined commands
18936 @kindex show max-user-call-depth
18937 @kindex set max-user-call-depth
18938 @item show max-user-call-depth
18939 @itemx set max-user-call-depth
18940 The value of @code{max-user-call-depth} controls how many recursion
18941 levels are allowed in user-defined commands before @value{GDBN} suspects an
18942 infinite recursion and aborts the command.
18945 In addition to the above commands, user-defined commands frequently
18946 use control flow commands, described in @ref{Command Files}.
18948 When user-defined commands are executed, the
18949 commands of the definition are not printed. An error in any command
18950 stops execution of the user-defined command.
18952 If used interactively, commands that would ask for confirmation proceed
18953 without asking when used inside a user-defined command. Many @value{GDBN}
18954 commands that normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the
18955 messages when used in a user-defined command.
18958 @subsection User-defined Command Hooks
18959 @cindex command hooks
18960 @cindex hooks, for commands
18961 @cindex hooks, pre-command
18964 You may define @dfn{hooks}, which are a special kind of user-defined
18965 command. Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined
18966 command @samp{hook-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments)
18967 before that command.
18969 @cindex hooks, post-command
18971 A hook may also be defined which is run after the command you executed.
18972 Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined command
18973 @samp{hookpost-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments) after
18974 that command. Post-execution hooks may exist simultaneously with
18975 pre-execution hooks, for the same command.
18977 It is valid for a hook to call the command which it hooks. If this
18978 occurs, the hook is not re-executed, thereby avoiding infinite recursion.
18980 @c It would be nice if hookpost could be passed a parameter indicating
18981 @c if the command it hooks executed properly or not. FIXME!
18983 @kindex stop@r{, a pseudo-command}
18984 In addition, a pseudo-command, @samp{stop} exists. Defining
18985 (@samp{hook-stop}) makes the associated commands execute every time
18986 execution stops in your program: before breakpoint commands are run,
18987 displays are printed, or the stack frame is printed.
18989 For example, to ignore @code{SIGALRM} signals while
18990 single-stepping, but treat them normally during normal execution,
18995 handle SIGALRM nopass
18999 handle SIGALRM pass
19002 define hook-continue
19003 handle SIGALRM pass
19007 As a further example, to hook at the beginning and end of the @code{echo}
19008 command, and to add extra text to the beginning and end of the message,
19016 define hookpost-echo
19020 (@value{GDBP}) echo Hello World
19021 <<<---Hello World--->>>
19026 You can define a hook for any single-word command in @value{GDBN}, but
19027 not for command aliases; you should define a hook for the basic command
19028 name, e.g.@: @code{backtrace} rather than @code{bt}.
19029 @c FIXME! So how does Joe User discover whether a command is an alias
19031 You can hook a multi-word command by adding @code{hook-} or
19032 @code{hookpost-} to the last word of the command, e.g.@:
19033 @samp{define target hook-remote} to add a hook to @samp{target remote}.
19035 If an error occurs during the execution of your hook, execution of
19036 @value{GDBN} commands stops and @value{GDBN} issues a prompt
19037 (before the command that you actually typed had a chance to run).
19039 If you try to define a hook which does not match any known command, you
19040 get a warning from the @code{define} command.
19042 @node Command Files
19043 @subsection Command Files
19045 @cindex command files
19046 @cindex scripting commands
19047 A command file for @value{GDBN} is a text file made of lines that are
19048 @value{GDBN} commands. Comments (lines starting with @kbd{#}) may
19049 also be included. An empty line in a command file does nothing; it
19050 does not mean to repeat the last command, as it would from the
19053 You can request the execution of a command file with the @code{source}
19058 @cindex execute commands from a file
19059 @item source [@code{-v}] @var{filename}
19060 Execute the command file @var{filename}.
19063 The lines in a command file are generally executed sequentially,
19064 unless the order of execution is changed by one of the
19065 @emph{flow-control commands} described below. The commands are not
19066 printed as they are executed. An error in any command terminates
19067 execution of the command file and control is returned to the console.
19069 @value{GDBN} searches for @var{filename} in the current directory and then
19070 on the search path (specified with the @samp{directory} command).
19072 If @code{-v}, for verbose mode, is given then @value{GDBN} displays
19073 each command as it is executed. The option must be given before
19074 @var{filename}, and is interpreted as part of the filename anywhere else.
19076 Commands that would ask for confirmation if used interactively proceed
19077 without asking when used in a command file. Many @value{GDBN} commands that
19078 normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the messages
19079 when called from command files.
19081 @value{GDBN} also accepts command input from standard input. In this
19082 mode, normal output goes to standard output and error output goes to
19083 standard error. Errors in a command file supplied on standard input do
19084 not terminate execution of the command file---execution continues with
19088 gdb < cmds > log 2>&1
19091 (The syntax above will vary depending on the shell used.) This example
19092 will execute commands from the file @file{cmds}. All output and errors
19093 would be directed to @file{log}.
19095 Since commands stored on command files tend to be more general than
19096 commands typed interactively, they frequently need to deal with
19097 complicated situations, such as different or unexpected values of
19098 variables and symbols, changes in how the program being debugged is
19099 built, etc. @value{GDBN} provides a set of flow-control commands to
19100 deal with these complexities. Using these commands, you can write
19101 complex scripts that loop over data structures, execute commands
19102 conditionally, etc.
19109 This command allows to include in your script conditionally executed
19110 commands. The @code{if} command takes a single argument, which is an
19111 expression to evaluate. It is followed by a series of commands that
19112 are executed only if the expression is true (its value is nonzero).
19113 There can then optionally be an @code{else} line, followed by a series
19114 of commands that are only executed if the expression was false. The
19115 end of the list is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
19119 This command allows to write loops. Its syntax is similar to
19120 @code{if}: the command takes a single argument, which is an expression
19121 to evaluate, and must be followed by the commands to execute, one per
19122 line, terminated by an @code{end}. These commands are called the
19123 @dfn{body} of the loop. The commands in the body of @code{while} are
19124 executed repeatedly as long as the expression evaluates to true.
19128 This command exits the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included.
19129 Execution of the script continues after that @code{while}s @code{end}
19132 @kindex loop_continue
19133 @item loop_continue
19134 This command skips the execution of the rest of the body of commands
19135 in the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included. Execution
19136 branches to the beginning of the @code{while} loop, where it evaluates
19137 the controlling expression.
19139 @kindex end@r{ (if/else/while commands)}
19141 Terminate the block of commands that are the body of @code{if},
19142 @code{else}, or @code{while} flow-control commands.
19147 @subsection Commands for Controlled Output
19149 During the execution of a command file or a user-defined command, normal
19150 @value{GDBN} output is suppressed; the only output that appears is what is
19151 explicitly printed by the commands in the definition. This section
19152 describes three commands useful for generating exactly the output you
19157 @item echo @var{text}
19158 @c I do not consider backslash-space a standard C escape sequence
19159 @c because it is not in ANSI.
19160 Print @var{text}. Nonprinting characters can be included in
19161 @var{text} using C escape sequences, such as @samp{\n} to print a
19162 newline. @strong{No newline is printed unless you specify one.}
19163 In addition to the standard C escape sequences, a backslash followed
19164 by a space stands for a space. This is useful for displaying a
19165 string with spaces at the beginning or the end, since leading and
19166 trailing spaces are otherwise trimmed from all arguments.
19167 To print @samp{@w{ }and foo =@w{ }}, use the command
19168 @samp{echo \@w{ }and foo = \@w{ }}.
19170 A backslash at the end of @var{text} can be used, as in C, to continue
19171 the command onto subsequent lines. For example,
19174 echo This is some text\n\
19175 which is continued\n\
19176 onto several lines.\n
19179 produces the same output as
19182 echo This is some text\n
19183 echo which is continued\n
19184 echo onto several lines.\n
19188 @item output @var{expression}
19189 Print the value of @var{expression} and nothing but that value: no
19190 newlines, no @samp{$@var{nn} = }. The value is not entered in the
19191 value history either. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information
19194 @item output/@var{fmt} @var{expression}
19195 Print the value of @var{expression} in format @var{fmt}. You can use
19196 the same formats as for @code{print}. @xref{Output Formats,,Output
19197 Formats}, for more information.
19200 @item printf @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
19201 Print the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
19202 the string @var{template}. To print several values, make
19203 @var{expressions} be a comma-separated list of individual expressions,
19204 which may be either numbers or pointers. Their values are printed as
19205 specified by @var{template}, exactly as a C program would do by
19206 executing the code below:
19209 printf (@var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{});
19212 As in @code{C} @code{printf}, ordinary characters in @var{template}
19213 are printed verbatim, while @dfn{conversion specification} introduced
19214 by the @samp{%} character cause subsequent @var{expressions} to be
19215 evaluated, their values converted and formatted according to type and
19216 style information encoded in the conversion specifications, and then
19219 For example, you can print two values in hex like this:
19222 printf "foo, bar-foo = 0x%x, 0x%x\n", foo, bar-foo
19225 @code{printf} supports all the standard @code{C} conversion
19226 specifications, including the flags and modifiers between the @samp{%}
19227 character and the conversion letter, with the following exceptions:
19231 The argument-ordering modifiers, such as @samp{2$}, are not supported.
19234 The modifier @samp{*} is not supported for specifying precision or
19238 The @samp{'} flag (for separation of digits into groups according to
19239 @code{LC_NUMERIC'}) is not supported.
19242 The type modifiers @samp{hh}, @samp{j}, @samp{t}, and @samp{z} are not
19246 The conversion letter @samp{n} (as in @samp{%n}) is not supported.
19249 The conversion letters @samp{a} and @samp{A} are not supported.
19253 Note that the @samp{ll} type modifier is supported only if the
19254 underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} supports
19255 the @code{long long int} type, and the @samp{L} type modifier is
19256 supported only if @code{long double} type is available.
19258 As in @code{C}, @code{printf} supports simple backslash-escape
19259 sequences, such as @code{\n}, @samp{\t}, @samp{\\}, @samp{\"},
19260 @samp{\a}, and @samp{\f}, that consist of backslash followed by a
19261 single character. Octal and hexadecimal escape sequences are not
19264 Additionally, @code{printf} supports conversion specifications for DFP
19265 (@dfn{Decimal Floating Point}) types using the following length modifiers
19266 together with a floating point specifier.
19271 @samp{H} for printing @code{Decimal32} types.
19274 @samp{D} for printing @code{Decimal64} types.
19277 @samp{DD} for printing @code{Decimal128} types.
19280 If the underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} has
19281 support for the three length modifiers for DFP types, other modifiers
19282 such as width and precision will also be available for @value{GDBN} to use.
19284 In case there is no such @code{C} support, no additional modifiers will be
19285 available and the value will be printed in the standard way.
19287 Here's an example of printing DFP types using the above conversion letters:
19289 printf "D32: %Hf - D64: %Df - D128: %DDf\n",1.2345df,1.2E10dd,1.2E1dl
19295 @section Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
19296 @cindex python scripting
19297 @cindex scripting with python
19299 You can script @value{GDBN} using the @uref{http://www.python.org/,
19300 Python programming language}. This feature is available only if
19301 @value{GDBN} was configured using @option{--with-python}.
19304 * Python Commands:: Accessing Python from @value{GDBN}.
19305 * Python API:: Accessing @value{GDBN} from Python.
19308 @node Python Commands
19309 @subsection Python Commands
19310 @cindex python commands
19311 @cindex commands to access python
19313 @value{GDBN} provides one command for accessing the Python interpreter,
19314 and one related setting:
19318 @item python @r{[}@var{code}@r{]}
19319 The @code{python} command can be used to evaluate Python code.
19321 If given an argument, the @code{python} command will evaluate the
19322 argument as a Python command. For example:
19325 (@value{GDBP}) python print 23
19329 If you do not provide an argument to @code{python}, it will act as a
19330 multi-line command, like @code{define}. In this case, the Python
19331 script is made up of subsequent command lines, given after the
19332 @code{python} command. This command list is terminated using a line
19333 containing @code{end}. For example:
19336 (@value{GDBP}) python
19338 End with a line saying just "end".
19344 @kindex maint set python print-stack
19345 @item maint set python print-stack
19346 By default, @value{GDBN} will print a stack trace when an error occurs
19347 in a Python script. This can be controlled using @code{maint set
19348 python print-stack}: if @code{on}, the default, then Python stack
19349 printing is enabled; if @code{off}, then Python stack printing is
19354 @subsection Python API
19356 @cindex programming in python
19358 @cindex python stdout
19359 @cindex python pagination
19360 At startup, @value{GDBN} overrides Python's @code{sys.stdout} and
19361 @code{sys.stderr} to print using @value{GDBN}'s output-paging streams.
19362 A Python program which outputs to one of these streams may have its
19363 output interrupted by the user (@pxref{Screen Size}). In this
19364 situation, a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt} exception is thrown.
19367 * Basic Python:: Basic Python Functions.
19368 * Exception Handling::
19369 * Auto-loading:: Automatically loading Python code.
19370 * Values From Inferior::
19371 * Types In Python:: Python representation of types.
19372 * Pretty Printing:: Pretty-printing values.
19373 * Selecting Pretty-Printers:: How GDB chooses a pretty-printer.
19374 * Commands In Python:: Implementing new commands in Python.
19375 * Functions In Python:: Writing new convenience functions.
19376 * Objfiles In Python:: Object files.
19377 * Frames In Python:: Acessing inferior stack frames from Python.
19381 @subsubsection Basic Python
19383 @cindex python functions
19384 @cindex python module
19386 @value{GDBN} introduces a new Python module, named @code{gdb}. All
19387 methods and classes added by @value{GDBN} are placed in this module.
19388 @value{GDBN} automatically @code{import}s the @code{gdb} module for
19389 use in all scripts evaluated by the @code{python} command.
19391 @findex gdb.execute
19392 @defun execute command [from_tty]
19393 Evaluate @var{command}, a string, as a @value{GDBN} CLI command.
19394 If a GDB exception happens while @var{command} runs, it is
19395 translated as described in @ref{Exception Handling,,Exception Handling}.
19396 If no exceptions occur, this function returns @code{None}.
19398 @var{from_tty} specifies whether @value{GDBN} ought to consider this
19399 command as having originated from the user invoking it interactively.
19400 It must be a boolean value. If omitted, it defaults to @code{False}.
19403 @findex gdb.parameter
19404 @defun parameter parameter
19405 Return the value of a @value{GDBN} parameter. @var{parameter} is a
19406 string naming the parameter to look up; @var{parameter} may contain
19407 spaces if the parameter has a multi-part name. For example,
19408 @samp{print object} is a valid parameter name.
19410 If the named parameter does not exist, this function throws a
19411 @code{RuntimeError}. Otherwise, the parameter's value is converted to
19412 a Python value of the appropriate type, and returned.
19415 @findex gdb.history
19416 @defun history number
19417 Return a value from @value{GDBN}'s value history (@pxref{Value
19418 History}). @var{number} indicates which history element to return.
19419 If @var{number} is negative, then @value{GDBN} will take its absolute value
19420 and count backward from the last element (i.e., the most recent element) to
19421 find the value to return. If @var{number} is zero, then @value{GDBN} will
19422 return the most recent element. If the element specified by @var{number}
19423 doesn't exist in the value history, a @code{RuntimeError} exception will be
19426 If no exception is raised, the return value is always an instance of
19427 @code{gdb.Value} (@pxref{Values From Inferior}).
19430 @findex gdb.parse_and_eval
19431 @defun parse_and_eval expression
19432 Parse @var{expression} as an expression in the current language,
19433 evaluate it, and return the result as a @code{gdb.Value}.
19434 @var{expression} must be a string.
19436 This function can be useful when implementing a new command
19437 (@pxref{Commands In Python}), as it provides a way to parse the
19438 command's argument as an expression. It is also useful simply to
19439 compute values, for example, it is the only way to get the value of a
19440 convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) as a @code{gdb.Value}.
19444 @defun write string
19445 Print a string to @value{GDBN}'s paginated standard output stream.
19446 Writing to @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically
19447 call this function.
19452 Flush @value{GDBN}'s paginated standard output stream. Flushing
19453 @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically call this
19457 @node Exception Handling
19458 @subsubsection Exception Handling
19459 @cindex python exceptions
19460 @cindex exceptions, python
19462 When executing the @code{python} command, Python exceptions
19463 uncaught within the Python code are translated to calls to
19464 @value{GDBN} error-reporting mechanism. If the command that called
19465 @code{python} does not handle the error, @value{GDBN} will
19466 terminate it and print an error message containing the Python
19467 exception name, the associated value, and the Python call stack
19468 backtrace at the point where the exception was raised. Example:
19471 (@value{GDBP}) python print foo
19472 Traceback (most recent call last):
19473 File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
19474 NameError: name 'foo' is not defined
19477 @value{GDBN} errors that happen in @value{GDBN} commands invoked by Python
19478 code are converted to Python @code{RuntimeError} exceptions. User
19479 interrupt (via @kbd{C-c} or by typing @kbd{q} at a pagination
19480 prompt) is translated to a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt}
19481 exception. If you catch these exceptions in your Python code, your
19482 exception handler will see @code{RuntimeError} or
19483 @code{KeyboardInterrupt} as the exception type, the @value{GDBN} error
19484 message as its value, and the Python call stack backtrace at the
19485 Python statement closest to where the @value{GDBN} error occured as the
19489 @subsubsection Auto-loading
19490 @cindex auto-loading, Python
19492 When a new object file is read (for example, due to the @code{file}
19493 command, or because the inferior has loaded a shared library),
19494 @value{GDBN} will look for a file named @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py},
19495 where @var{objfile} is the object file's real name, formed by ensuring
19496 that the file name is absolute, following all symlinks, and resolving
19497 @code{.} and @code{..} components. If this file exists and is
19498 readable, @value{GDBN} will evaluate it as a Python script.
19500 If this file does not exist, and if the parameter
19501 @code{debug-file-directory} is set (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}),
19502 then @value{GDBN} will use for its each separated directory component
19503 @code{component} the file named @file{@code{component}/@var{real-name}}, where
19504 @var{real-name} is the object file's real name, as described above.
19506 Finally, if this file does not exist, then @value{GDBN} will look for
19507 a file named @file{@var{data-directory}/python/auto-load/@var{real-name}}, where
19508 @var{data-directory} is @value{GDBN}'s data directory (available via
19509 @code{show data-directory}, @pxref{Data Files}), and @var{real-name}
19510 is the object file's real name, as described above.
19512 When reading an auto-loaded file, @value{GDBN} sets the ``current
19513 objfile''. This is available via the @code{gdb.current_objfile}
19514 function (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}). This can be useful for
19515 registering objfile-specific pretty-printers.
19517 The auto-loading feature is useful for supplying application-specific
19518 debugging commands and scripts. You can enable or disable this
19519 feature, and view its current state.
19522 @kindex maint set python auto-load
19523 @item maint set python auto-load [yes|no]
19524 Enable or disable the Python auto-loading feature.
19526 @kindex show python auto-load
19527 @item show python auto-load
19528 Show whether Python auto-loading is enabled or disabled.
19531 @value{GDBN} does not track which files it has already auto-loaded.
19532 So, your @samp{-gdb.py} file should take care to ensure that it may be
19533 evaluated multiple times without error.
19535 @node Values From Inferior
19536 @subsubsection Values From Inferior
19537 @cindex values from inferior, with Python
19538 @cindex python, working with values from inferior
19540 @cindex @code{gdb.Value}
19541 @value{GDBN} provides values it obtains from the inferior program in
19542 an object of type @code{gdb.Value}. @value{GDBN} uses this object
19543 for its internal bookkeeping of the inferior's values, and for
19544 fetching values when necessary.
19546 Inferior values that are simple scalars can be used directly in
19547 Python expressions that are valid for the value's data type. Here's
19548 an example for an integer or floating-point value @code{some_val}:
19555 As result of this, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object
19556 whose values are of the same type as those of @code{some_val}.
19558 Inferior values that are structures or instances of some class can
19559 be accessed using the Python @dfn{dictionary syntax}. For example, if
19560 @code{some_val} is a @code{gdb.Value} instance holding a structure, you
19561 can access its @code{foo} element with:
19564 bar = some_val['foo']
19567 Again, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object.
19569 The following attributes are provided:
19572 @defivar Value address
19573 If this object is addressable, this read-only attribute holds a
19574 @code{gdb.Value} object representing the address. Otherwise,
19575 this attribute holds @code{None}.
19578 @cindex optimized out value in Python
19579 @defivar Value is_optimized_out
19580 This read-only boolean attribute is true if the compiler optimized out
19581 this value, thus it is not available for fetching from the inferior.
19584 @defivar Value type
19585 The type of this @code{gdb.Value}. The value of this attribute is a
19586 @code{gdb.Type} object.
19590 The following methods are provided:
19593 @defmethod Value cast type
19594 Return a new instance of @code{gdb.Value} that is the result of
19595 casting this instance to the type described by @var{type}, which must
19596 be a @code{gdb.Type} object. If the cast cannot be performed for some
19597 reason, this method throws an exception.
19600 @defmethod Value dereference
19601 For pointer data types, this method returns a new @code{gdb.Value} object
19602 whose contents is the object pointed to by the pointer. For example, if
19603 @code{foo} is a C pointer to an @code{int}, declared in your C program as
19610 then you can use the corresponding @code{gdb.Value} to access what
19611 @code{foo} points to like this:
19614 bar = foo.dereference ()
19617 The result @code{bar} will be a @code{gdb.Value} object holding the
19618 value pointed to by @code{foo}.
19621 @defmethod Value string @r{[}encoding@r{]} @r{[}errors@r{]} @r{[}length@r{]}
19622 If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
19623 converts the contents to a Python string. Otherwise, this method will
19624 throw an exception.
19626 Strings are recognized in a language-specific way; whether a given
19627 @code{gdb.Value} represents a string is determined by the current
19630 For C-like languages, a value is a string if it is a pointer to or an
19631 array of characters or ints. The string is assumed to be terminated
19632 by a zero of the appropriate width. However if the optional length
19633 argument is given, the string will be converted to that given length,
19634 ignoring any embedded zeros that the string may contain.
19636 If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
19637 naming the encoding of the string in the @code{gdb.Value}, such as
19638 @code{"ascii"}, @code{"iso-8859-6"} or @code{"utf-8"}. It accepts
19639 the same encodings as the corresponding argument to Python's
19640 @code{string.decode} method, and the Python codec machinery will be used
19641 to convert the string. If @var{encoding} is not given, or if
19642 @var{encoding} is the empty string, then either the @code{target-charset}
19643 (@pxref{Character Sets}) will be used, or a language-specific encoding
19644 will be used, if the current language is able to supply one.
19646 The optional @var{errors} argument is the same as the corresponding
19647 argument to Python's @code{string.decode} method.
19649 If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
19650 fetched and converted to the given length.
19654 @node Types In Python
19655 @subsubsection Types In Python
19656 @cindex types in Python
19657 @cindex Python, working with types
19660 @value{GDBN} represents types from the inferior using the class
19663 The following type-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
19666 @findex gdb.lookup_type
19667 @defun lookup_type name [block]
19668 This function looks up a type by name. @var{name} is the name of the
19669 type to look up. It must be a string.
19671 Ordinarily, this function will return an instance of @code{gdb.Type}.
19672 If the named type cannot be found, it will throw an exception.
19675 An instance of @code{Type} has the following attributes:
19679 The type code for this type. The type code will be one of the
19680 @code{TYPE_CODE_} constants defined below.
19683 @defivar Type sizeof
19684 The size of this type, in target @code{char} units. Usually, a
19685 target's @code{char} type will be an 8-bit byte. However, on some
19686 unusual platforms, this type may have a different size.
19690 The tag name for this type. The tag name is the name after
19691 @code{struct}, @code{union}, or @code{enum} in C and C@t{++}; not all
19692 languages have this concept. If this type has no tag name, then
19693 @code{None} is returned.
19697 The following methods are provided:
19700 @defmethod Type fields
19701 For structure and union types, this method returns the fields. Range
19702 types have two fields, the minimum and maximum values. Enum types
19703 have one field per enum constant. Function and method types have one
19704 field per parameter. The base types of C@t{++} classes are also
19705 represented as fields. If the type has no fields, or does not fit
19706 into one of these categories, an empty sequence will be returned.
19708 Each field is an object, with some pre-defined attributes:
19711 This attribute is not available for @code{static} fields (as in
19712 C@t{++} or Java). For non-@code{static} fields, the value is the bit
19713 position of the field.
19716 The name of the field, or @code{None} for anonymous fields.
19719 This is @code{True} if the field is artificial, usually meaning that
19720 it was provided by the compiler and not the user. This attribute is
19721 always provided, and is @code{False} if the field is not artificial.
19723 @item is_base_class
19724 This is @code{True} if the field represents a base class of a C@t{++}
19725 structure. This attribute is always provided, and is @code{False}
19726 if the field is not a base class of the type that is the argument of
19727 @code{fields}, or if that type was not a C@t{++} class.
19730 If the field is packed, or is a bitfield, then this will have a
19731 non-zero value, which is the size of the field in bits. Otherwise,
19732 this will be zero; in this case the field's size is given by its type.
19735 The type of the field. This is usually an instance of @code{Type},
19736 but it can be @code{None} in some situations.
19740 @defmethod Type const
19741 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
19742 @code{const}-qualified variant of this type.
19745 @defmethod Type volatile
19746 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
19747 @code{volatile}-qualified variant of this type.
19750 @defmethod Type unqualified
19751 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents an unqualified
19752 variant of this type. That is, the result is neither @code{const} nor
19756 @defmethod Type range
19757 Return a Python @code{Tuple} object that contains two elements: the
19758 low bound of the argument type and the high bound of that type. If
19759 the type does not have a range, @value{GDBN} will raise a
19760 @code{RuntimeError} exception.
19763 @defmethod Type reference
19764 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a reference to this
19768 @defmethod Type pointer
19769 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a pointer to this
19773 @defmethod Type strip_typedefs
19774 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} that represents the real type,
19775 after removing all layers of typedefs.
19778 @defmethod Type target
19779 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents the target type
19782 For a pointer type, the target type is the type of the pointed-to
19783 object. For an array type (meaning C-like arrays), the target type is
19784 the type of the elements of the array. For a function or method type,
19785 the target type is the type of the return value. For a complex type,
19786 the target type is the type of the elements. For a typedef, the
19787 target type is the aliased type.
19789 If the type does not have a target, this method will throw an
19793 @defmethod Type template_argument n
19794 If this @code{gdb.Type} is an instantiation of a template, this will
19795 return a new @code{gdb.Type} which represents the type of the
19796 @var{n}th template argument.
19798 If this @code{gdb.Type} is not a template type, this will throw an
19799 exception. Ordinarily, only C@t{++} code will have template types.
19801 @var{name} is searched for globally.
19806 Each type has a code, which indicates what category this type falls
19807 into. The available type categories are represented by constants
19808 defined in the @code{gdb} module:
19811 @findex TYPE_CODE_PTR
19812 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_PTR
19813 @item TYPE_CODE_PTR
19814 The type is a pointer.
19816 @findex TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
19817 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
19818 @item TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
19819 The type is an array.
19821 @findex TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
19822 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
19823 @item TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
19824 The type is a structure.
19826 @findex TYPE_CODE_UNION
19827 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_UNION
19828 @item TYPE_CODE_UNION
19829 The type is a union.
19831 @findex TYPE_CODE_ENUM
19832 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ENUM
19833 @item TYPE_CODE_ENUM
19834 The type is an enum.
19836 @findex TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
19837 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
19838 @item TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
19839 A bit flags type, used for things such as status registers.
19841 @findex TYPE_CODE_FUNC
19842 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FUNC
19843 @item TYPE_CODE_FUNC
19844 The type is a function.
19846 @findex TYPE_CODE_INT
19847 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INT
19848 @item TYPE_CODE_INT
19849 The type is an integer type.
19851 @findex TYPE_CODE_FLT
19852 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLT
19853 @item TYPE_CODE_FLT
19854 A floating point type.
19856 @findex TYPE_CODE_VOID
19857 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_VOID
19858 @item TYPE_CODE_VOID
19859 The special type @code{void}.
19861 @findex TYPE_CODE_SET
19862 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_SET
19863 @item TYPE_CODE_SET
19866 @findex TYPE_CODE_RANGE
19867 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_RANGE
19868 @item TYPE_CODE_RANGE
19869 A range type, that is, an integer type with bounds.
19871 @findex TYPE_CODE_STRING
19872 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRING
19873 @item TYPE_CODE_STRING
19874 A string type. Note that this is only used for certain languages with
19875 language-defined string types; C strings are not represented this way.
19877 @findex TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
19878 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
19879 @item TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
19882 @findex TYPE_CODE_ERROR
19883 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ERROR
19884 @item TYPE_CODE_ERROR
19885 An unknown or erroneous type.
19887 @findex TYPE_CODE_METHOD
19888 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHOD
19889 @item TYPE_CODE_METHOD
19890 A method type, as found in C@t{++} or Java.
19892 @findex TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
19893 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
19894 @item TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
19895 A pointer-to-member-function.
19897 @findex TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
19898 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
19899 @item TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
19900 A pointer-to-member.
19902 @findex TYPE_CODE_REF
19903 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_REF
19904 @item TYPE_CODE_REF
19907 @findex TYPE_CODE_CHAR
19908 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_CHAR
19909 @item TYPE_CODE_CHAR
19912 @findex TYPE_CODE_BOOL
19913 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BOOL
19914 @item TYPE_CODE_BOOL
19917 @findex TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
19918 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
19919 @item TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
19920 A complex float type.
19922 @findex TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
19923 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
19924 @item TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
19925 A typedef to some other type.
19927 @findex TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
19928 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
19929 @item TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
19930 A C@t{++} namespace.
19932 @findex TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
19933 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
19934 @item TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
19935 A decimal floating point type.
19937 @findex TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
19938 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
19939 @item TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
19940 A function internal to @value{GDBN}. This is the type used to represent
19941 convenience functions.
19944 @node Pretty Printing
19945 @subsubsection Pretty Printing
19947 @value{GDBN} provides a mechanism to allow pretty-printing of values
19948 using Python code. The pretty-printer API allows application-specific
19949 code to greatly simplify the display of complex objects. This
19950 mechanism works for both MI and the CLI.
19952 For example, here is how a C@t{++} @code{std::string} looks without a
19956 (@value{GDBP}) print s
19958 static npos = 4294967295,
19960 <std::allocator<char>> = @{
19961 <__gnu_cxx::new_allocator<char>> = @{<No data fields>@}, <No data fields>@},
19962 members of std::basic_string<char, std::char_traits<char>, std::allocator<char> >::_Alloc_hider:
19963 _M_p = 0x804a014 "abcd"
19968 After a pretty-printer for @code{std::string} has been installed, only
19969 the contents are printed:
19972 (@value{GDBP}) print s
19976 A pretty-printer is just an object that holds a value and implements a
19977 specific interface, defined here.
19979 @defop Operation {pretty printer} children (self)
19980 @value{GDBN} will call this method on a pretty-printer to compute the
19981 children of the pretty-printer's value.
19983 This method must return an object conforming to the Python iterator
19984 protocol. Each item returned by the iterator must be a tuple holding
19985 two elements. The first element is the ``name'' of the child; the
19986 second element is the child's value. The value can be any Python
19987 object which is convertible to a @value{GDBN} value.
19989 This method is optional. If it does not exist, @value{GDBN} will act
19990 as though the value has no children.
19993 @defop Operation {pretty printer} display_hint (self)
19994 The CLI may call this method and use its result to change the
19995 formatting of a value. The result will also be supplied to an MI
19996 consumer as a @samp{displayhint} attribute of the variable being
19999 This method is optional. If it does exist, this method must return a
20002 Some display hints are predefined by @value{GDBN}:
20006 Indicate that the object being printed is ``array-like''. The CLI
20007 uses this to respect parameters such as @code{set print elements} and
20008 @code{set print array}.
20011 Indicate that the object being printed is ``map-like'', and that the
20012 children of this value can be assumed to alternate between keys and
20016 Indicate that the object being printed is ``string-like''. If the
20017 printer's @code{to_string} method returns a Python string of some
20018 kind, then @value{GDBN} will call its internal language-specific
20019 string-printing function to format the string. For the CLI this means
20020 adding quotation marks, possibly escaping some characters, respecting
20021 @code{set print elements}, and the like.
20025 @defop Operation {pretty printer} to_string (self)
20026 @value{GDBN} will call this method to display the string
20027 representation of the value passed to the object's constructor.
20029 When printing from the CLI, if the @code{to_string} method exists,
20030 then @value{GDBN} will prepend its result to the values returned by
20031 @code{children}. Exactly how this formatting is done is dependent on
20032 the display hint, and may change as more hints are added. Also,
20033 depending on the print settings (@pxref{Print Settings}), the CLI may
20034 print just the result of @code{to_string} in a stack trace, omitting
20035 the result of @code{children}.
20037 If this method returns a string, it is printed verbatim.
20039 Otherwise, if this method returns an instance of @code{gdb.Value},
20040 then @value{GDBN} prints this value. This may result in a call to
20041 another pretty-printer.
20043 If instead the method returns a Python value which is convertible to a
20044 @code{gdb.Value}, then @value{GDBN} performs the conversion and prints
20045 the resulting value. Again, this may result in a call to another
20046 pretty-printer. Python scalars (integers, floats, and booleans) and
20047 strings are convertible to @code{gdb.Value}; other types are not.
20049 If the result is not one of these types, an exception is raised.
20052 @node Selecting Pretty-Printers
20053 @subsubsection Selecting Pretty-Printers
20055 The Python list @code{gdb.pretty_printers} contains an array of
20056 functions that have been registered via addition as a pretty-printer.
20057 Each @code{gdb.Objfile} also contains a @code{pretty_printers}
20060 A function on one of these lists is passed a single @code{gdb.Value}
20061 argument and should return a pretty-printer object conforming to the
20062 interface definition above (@pxref{Pretty Printing}). If a function
20063 cannot create a pretty-printer for the value, it should return
20066 @value{GDBN} first checks the @code{pretty_printers} attribute of each
20067 @code{gdb.Objfile} and iteratively calls each function in the list for
20068 that @code{gdb.Objfile} until it receives a pretty-printer object.
20069 After these lists have been exhausted, it tries the global
20070 @code{gdb.pretty-printers} list, again calling each function until an
20071 object is returned.
20073 The order in which the objfiles are searched is not specified. For a
20074 given list, functions are always invoked from the head of the list,
20075 and iterated over sequentially until the end of the list, or a printer
20076 object is returned.
20078 Here is an example showing how a @code{std::string} printer might be
20082 class StdStringPrinter:
20083 "Print a std::string"
20085 def __init__ (self, val):
20088 def to_string (self):
20089 return self.val['_M_dataplus']['_M_p']
20091 def display_hint (self):
20095 And here is an example showing how a lookup function for the printer
20096 example above might be written.
20099 def str_lookup_function (val):
20101 lookup_tag = val.type.tag
20102 regex = re.compile ("^std::basic_string<char,.*>$")
20103 if lookup_tag == None:
20105 if regex.match (lookup_tag):
20106 return StdStringPrinter (val)
20111 The example lookup function extracts the value's type, and attempts to
20112 match it to a type that it can pretty-print. If it is a type the
20113 printer can pretty-print, it will return a printer object. If not, it
20114 returns @code{None}.
20116 We recommend that you put your core pretty-printers into a Python
20117 package. If your pretty-printers are for use with a library, we
20118 further recommend embedding a version number into the package name.
20119 This practice will enable @value{GDBN} to load multiple versions of
20120 your pretty-printers at the same time, because they will have
20123 You should write auto-loaded code (@pxref{Auto-loading}) such that it
20124 can be evaluated multiple times without changing its meaning. An
20125 ideal auto-load file will consist solely of @code{import}s of your
20126 printer modules, followed by a call to a register pretty-printers with
20127 the current objfile.
20129 Taken as a whole, this approach will scale nicely to multiple
20130 inferiors, each potentially using a different library version.
20131 Embedding a version number in the Python package name will ensure that
20132 @value{GDBN} is able to load both sets of printers simultaneously.
20133 Then, because the search for pretty-printers is done by objfile, and
20134 because your auto-loaded code took care to register your library's
20135 printers with a specific objfile, @value{GDBN} will find the correct
20136 printers for the specific version of the library used by each
20139 To continue the @code{std::string} example (@pxref{Pretty Printing}),
20140 this code might appear in @code{gdb.libstdcxx.v6}:
20143 def register_printers (objfile):
20144 objfile.pretty_printers.add (str_lookup_function)
20148 And then the corresponding contents of the auto-load file would be:
20151 import gdb.libstdcxx.v6
20152 gdb.libstdcxx.v6.register_printers (gdb.current_objfile ())
20155 @node Commands In Python
20156 @subsubsection Commands In Python
20158 @cindex commands in python
20159 @cindex python commands
20160 You can implement new @value{GDBN} CLI commands in Python. A CLI
20161 command is implemented using an instance of the @code{gdb.Command}
20162 class, most commonly using a subclass.
20164 @defmethod Command __init__ name @var{command_class} @r{[}@var{completer_class}@r{]} @r{[}@var{prefix}@r{]}
20165 The object initializer for @code{Command} registers the new command
20166 with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked from the
20167 subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
20169 @var{name} is the name of the command. If @var{name} consists of
20170 multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
20171 commands. In this case, if one of the prefix commands does not exist,
20172 an exception is raised.
20174 There is no support for multi-line commands.
20176 @var{command_class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
20177 defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to categorize the
20178 new command in the help system.
20180 @var{completer_class} is an optional argument. If given, it should be
20181 one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined below. This argument
20182 tells @value{GDBN} how to perform completion for this command. If not
20183 given, @value{GDBN} will attempt to complete using the object's
20184 @code{complete} method (see below); if no such method is found, an
20185 error will occur when completion is attempted.
20187 @var{prefix} is an optional argument. If @code{True}, then the new
20188 command is a prefix command; sub-commands of this command may be
20191 The help text for the new command is taken from the Python
20192 documentation string for the command's class, if there is one. If no
20193 documentation string is provided, the default value ``This command is
20194 not documented.'' is used.
20197 @cindex don't repeat Python command
20198 @defmethod Command dont_repeat
20199 By default, a @value{GDBN} command is repeated when the user enters a
20200 blank line at the command prompt. A command can suppress this
20201 behavior by invoking the @code{dont_repeat} method. This is similar
20202 to the user command @code{dont-repeat}, see @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
20205 @defmethod Command invoke argument from_tty
20206 This method is called by @value{GDBN} when this command is invoked.
20208 @var{argument} is a string. It is the argument to the command, after
20209 leading and trailing whitespace has been stripped.
20211 @var{from_tty} is a boolean argument. When true, this means that the
20212 command was entered by the user at the terminal; when false it means
20213 that the command came from elsewhere.
20215 If this method throws an exception, it is turned into a @value{GDBN}
20216 @code{error} call. Otherwise, the return value is ignored.
20219 @cindex completion of Python commands
20220 @defmethod Command complete text word
20221 This method is called by @value{GDBN} when the user attempts
20222 completion on this command. All forms of completion are handled by
20223 this method, that is, the @key{TAB} and @key{M-?} key bindings
20224 (@pxref{Completion}), and the @code{complete} command (@pxref{Help,
20227 The arguments @var{text} and @var{word} are both strings. @var{text}
20228 holds the complete command line up to the cursor's location.
20229 @var{word} holds the last word of the command line; this is computed
20230 using a word-breaking heuristic.
20232 The @code{complete} method can return several values:
20235 If the return value is a sequence, the contents of the sequence are
20236 used as the completions. It is up to @code{complete} to ensure that the
20237 contents actually do complete the word. A zero-length sequence is
20238 allowed, it means that there were no completions available. Only
20239 string elements of the sequence are used; other elements in the
20240 sequence are ignored.
20243 If the return value is one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined
20244 below, then the corresponding @value{GDBN}-internal completion
20245 function is invoked, and its result is used.
20248 All other results are treated as though there were no available
20253 When a new command is registered, it must be declared as a member of
20254 some general class of commands. This is used to classify top-level
20255 commands in the on-line help system; note that prefix commands are not
20256 listed under their own category but rather that of their top-level
20257 command. The available classifications are represented by constants
20258 defined in the @code{gdb} module:
20261 @findex COMMAND_NONE
20262 @findex gdb.COMMAND_NONE
20264 The command does not belong to any particular class. A command in
20265 this category will not be displayed in any of the help categories.
20267 @findex COMMAND_RUNNING
20268 @findex gdb.COMMAND_RUNNING
20269 @item COMMAND_RUNNING
20270 The command is related to running the inferior. For example,
20271 @code{start}, @code{step}, and @code{continue} are in this category.
20272 Type @kbd{help running} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
20273 commands in this category.
20275 @findex COMMAND_DATA
20276 @findex gdb.COMMAND_DATA
20278 The command is related to data or variables. For example,
20279 @code{call}, @code{find}, and @code{print} are in this category. Type
20280 @kbd{help data} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands
20283 @findex COMMAND_STACK
20284 @findex gdb.COMMAND_STACK
20285 @item COMMAND_STACK
20286 The command has to do with manipulation of the stack. For example,
20287 @code{backtrace}, @code{frame}, and @code{return} are in this
20288 category. Type @kbd{help stack} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a
20289 list of commands in this category.
20291 @findex COMMAND_FILES
20292 @findex gdb.COMMAND_FILES
20293 @item COMMAND_FILES
20294 This class is used for file-related commands. For example,
20295 @code{file}, @code{list} and @code{section} are in this category.
20296 Type @kbd{help files} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
20297 commands in this category.
20299 @findex COMMAND_SUPPORT
20300 @findex gdb.COMMAND_SUPPORT
20301 @item COMMAND_SUPPORT
20302 This should be used for ``support facilities'', generally meaning
20303 things that are useful to the user when interacting with @value{GDBN},
20304 but not related to the state of the inferior. For example,
20305 @code{help}, @code{make}, and @code{shell} are in this category. Type
20306 @kbd{help support} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
20307 commands in this category.
20309 @findex COMMAND_STATUS
20310 @findex gdb.COMMAND_STATUS
20311 @item COMMAND_STATUS
20312 The command is an @samp{info}-related command, that is, related to the
20313 state of @value{GDBN} itself. For example, @code{info}, @code{macro},
20314 and @code{show} are in this category. Type @kbd{help status} at the
20315 @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this category.
20317 @findex COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
20318 @findex gdb.COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
20319 @item COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
20320 The command has to do with breakpoints. For example, @code{break},
20321 @code{clear}, and @code{delete} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
20322 breakpoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in
20325 @findex COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
20326 @findex gdb.COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
20327 @item COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
20328 The command has to do with tracepoints. For example, @code{trace},
20329 @code{actions}, and @code{tfind} are in this category. Type
20330 @kbd{help tracepoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
20331 commands in this category.
20333 @findex COMMAND_OBSCURE
20334 @findex gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE
20335 @item COMMAND_OBSCURE
20336 The command is only used in unusual circumstances, or is not of
20337 general interest to users. For example, @code{checkpoint},
20338 @code{fork}, and @code{stop} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
20339 obscure} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this
20342 @findex COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
20343 @findex gdb.COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
20344 @item COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
20345 The command is only useful to @value{GDBN} maintainers. The
20346 @code{maintenance} and @code{flushregs} commands are in this category.
20347 Type @kbd{help internals} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
20348 commands in this category.
20351 A new command can use a predefined completion function, either by
20352 specifying it via an argument at initialization, or by returning it
20353 from the @code{complete} method. These predefined completion
20354 constants are all defined in the @code{gdb} module:
20357 @findex COMPLETE_NONE
20358 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_NONE
20359 @item COMPLETE_NONE
20360 This constant means that no completion should be done.
20362 @findex COMPLETE_FILENAME
20363 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_FILENAME
20364 @item COMPLETE_FILENAME
20365 This constant means that filename completion should be performed.
20367 @findex COMPLETE_LOCATION
20368 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_LOCATION
20369 @item COMPLETE_LOCATION
20370 This constant means that location completion should be done.
20371 @xref{Specify Location}.
20373 @findex COMPLETE_COMMAND
20374 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_COMMAND
20375 @item COMPLETE_COMMAND
20376 This constant means that completion should examine @value{GDBN}
20379 @findex COMPLETE_SYMBOL
20380 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_SYMBOL
20381 @item COMPLETE_SYMBOL
20382 This constant means that completion should be done using symbol names
20386 The following code snippet shows how a trivial CLI command can be
20387 implemented in Python:
20390 class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
20391 """Greet the whole world."""
20393 def __init__ (self):
20394 super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE)
20396 def invoke (self, arg, from_tty):
20397 print "Hello, World!"
20402 The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
20403 registration of the command with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
20404 Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
20405 @code{gdb} module explicitly.
20407 @node Functions In Python
20408 @subsubsection Writing new convenience functions
20410 @cindex writing convenience functions
20411 @cindex convenience functions in python
20412 @cindex python convenience functions
20413 @tindex gdb.Function
20415 You can implement new convenience functions (@pxref{Convenience Vars})
20416 in Python. A convenience function is an instance of a subclass of the
20417 class @code{gdb.Function}.
20419 @defmethod Function __init__ name
20420 The initializer for @code{Function} registers the new function with
20421 @value{GDBN}. The argument @var{name} is the name of the function,
20422 a string. The function will be visible to the user as a convenience
20423 variable of type @code{internal function}, whose name is the same as
20424 the given @var{name}.
20426 The documentation for the new function is taken from the documentation
20427 string for the new class.
20430 @defmethod Function invoke @var{*args}
20431 When a convenience function is evaluated, its arguments are converted
20432 to instances of @code{gdb.Value}, and then the function's
20433 @code{invoke} method is called. Note that @value{GDBN} does not
20434 predetermine the arity of convenience functions. Instead, all
20435 available arguments are passed to @code{invoke}, following the
20436 standard Python calling convention. In particular, a convenience
20437 function can have default values for parameters without ill effect.
20439 The return value of this method is used as its value in the enclosing
20440 expression. If an ordinary Python value is returned, it is converted
20441 to a @code{gdb.Value} following the usual rules.
20444 The following code snippet shows how a trivial convenience function can
20445 be implemented in Python:
20448 class Greet (gdb.Function):
20449 """Return string to greet someone.
20450 Takes a name as argument."""
20452 def __init__ (self):
20453 super (Greet, self).__init__ ("greet")
20455 def invoke (self, name):
20456 return "Hello, %s!" % name.string ()
20461 The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
20462 registration of the function with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
20463 Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
20464 @code{gdb} module explicitly.
20466 @node Objfiles In Python
20467 @subsubsection Objfiles In Python
20469 @cindex objfiles in python
20470 @tindex gdb.Objfile
20472 @value{GDBN} loads symbols for an inferior from various
20473 symbol-containing files (@pxref{Files}). These include the primary
20474 executable file, any shared libraries used by the inferior, and any
20475 separate debug info files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}).
20476 @value{GDBN} calls these symbol-containing files @dfn{objfiles}.
20478 The following objfile-related functions are available in the
20481 @findex gdb.current_objfile
20482 @defun current_objfile
20483 When auto-loading a Python script (@pxref{Auto-loading}), @value{GDBN}
20484 sets the ``current objfile'' to the corresponding objfile. This
20485 function returns the current objfile. If there is no current objfile,
20486 this function returns @code{None}.
20489 @findex gdb.objfiles
20491 Return a sequence of all the objfiles current known to @value{GDBN}.
20492 @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
20495 Each objfile is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Objfile}
20498 @defivar Objfile filename
20499 The file name of the objfile as a string.
20502 @defivar Objfile pretty_printers
20503 The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
20504 used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
20505 function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
20506 search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
20507 which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing}, for more
20511 @node Frames In Python
20512 @subsubsection Acessing inferior stack frames from Python.
20514 @cindex frames in python
20515 When the debugged program stops, @value{GDBN} is able to analyze its call
20516 stack (@pxref{Frames,,Stack frames}). The @code{gdb.Frame} class
20517 represents a frame in the stack. A @code{gdb.Frame} object is only valid
20518 while its corresponding frame exists in the inferior's stack. If you try
20519 to use an invalid frame object, @value{GDBN} will throw a @code{RuntimeError}
20522 Two @code{gdb.Frame} objects can be compared for equality with the @code{==}
20526 (@value{GDBP}) python print gdb.newest_frame() == gdb.selected_frame ()
20530 The following frame-related functions are available in the @code{gdb} module:
20532 @findex gdb.selected_frame
20533 @defun selected_frame
20534 Return the selected frame object. (@pxref{Selection,,Selecting a Frame}).
20537 @defun frame_stop_reason_string reason
20538 Return a string explaining the reason why @value{GDBN} stopped unwinding
20539 frames, as expressed by the given @var{reason} code (an integer, see the
20540 @code{unwind_stop_reason} method further down in this section).
20543 A @code{gdb.Frame} object has the following methods:
20546 @defmethod Frame is_valid
20547 Returns true if the @code{gdb.Frame} object is valid, false if not.
20548 A frame object can become invalid if the frame it refers to doesn't
20549 exist anymore in the inferior. All @code{gdb.Frame} methods will throw
20550 an exception if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
20553 @defmethod Frame name
20554 Returns the function name of the frame, or @code{None} if it can't be
20558 @defmethod Frame type
20559 Returns the type of the frame. The value can be one of
20560 @code{gdb.NORMAL_FRAME}, @code{gdb.DUMMY_FRAME}, @code{gdb.SIGTRAMP_FRAME}
20561 or @code{gdb.SENTINEL_FRAME}.
20564 @defmethod Frame unwind_stop_reason
20565 Return an integer representing the reason why it's not possible to find
20566 more frames toward the outermost frame. Use
20567 @code{gdb.frame_stop_reason_string} to convert the value returned by this
20568 function to a string.
20571 @defmethod Frame pc
20572 Returns the frame's resume address.
20575 @defmethod Frame older
20576 Return the frame that called this frame.
20579 @defmethod Frame newer
20580 Return the frame called by this frame.
20583 @defmethod Frame read_var variable
20584 Return the value of the given variable in this frame. @var{variable} must
20590 @chapter Command Interpreters
20591 @cindex command interpreters
20593 @value{GDBN} supports multiple command interpreters, and some command
20594 infrastructure to allow users or user interface writers to switch
20595 between interpreters or run commands in other interpreters.
20597 @value{GDBN} currently supports two command interpreters, the console
20598 interpreter (sometimes called the command-line interpreter or @sc{cli})
20599 and the machine interface interpreter (or @sc{gdb/mi}). This manual
20600 describes both of these interfaces in great detail.
20602 By default, @value{GDBN} will start with the console interpreter.
20603 However, the user may choose to start @value{GDBN} with another
20604 interpreter by specifying the @option{-i} or @option{--interpreter}
20605 startup options. Defined interpreters include:
20609 @cindex console interpreter
20610 The traditional console or command-line interpreter. This is the most often
20611 used interpreter with @value{GDBN}. With no interpreter specified at runtime,
20612 @value{GDBN} will use this interpreter.
20615 @cindex mi interpreter
20616 The newest @sc{gdb/mi} interface (currently @code{mi2}). Used primarily
20617 by programs wishing to use @value{GDBN} as a backend for a debugger GUI
20618 or an IDE. For more information, see @ref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi}
20622 @cindex mi2 interpreter
20623 The current @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
20626 @cindex mi1 interpreter
20627 The @sc{gdb/mi} interface included in @value{GDBN} 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3.
20631 @cindex invoke another interpreter
20632 The interpreter being used by @value{GDBN} may not be dynamically
20633 switched at runtime. Although possible, this could lead to a very
20634 precarious situation. Consider an IDE using @sc{gdb/mi}. If a user
20635 enters the command "interpreter-set console" in a console view,
20636 @value{GDBN} would switch to using the console interpreter, rendering
20637 the IDE inoperable!
20639 @kindex interpreter-exec
20640 Although you may only choose a single interpreter at startup, you may execute
20641 commands in any interpreter from the current interpreter using the appropriate
20642 command. If you are running the console interpreter, simply use the
20643 @code{interpreter-exec} command:
20646 interpreter-exec mi "-data-list-register-names"
20649 @sc{gdb/mi} has a similar command, although it is only available in versions of
20650 @value{GDBN} which support @sc{gdb/mi} version 2 (or greater).
20653 @chapter @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
20655 @cindex Text User Interface
20658 * TUI Overview:: TUI overview
20659 * TUI Keys:: TUI key bindings
20660 * TUI Single Key Mode:: TUI single key mode
20661 * TUI Commands:: TUI-specific commands
20662 * TUI Configuration:: TUI configuration variables
20665 The @value{GDBN} Text User Interface (TUI) is a terminal
20666 interface which uses the @code{curses} library to show the source
20667 file, the assembly output, the program registers and @value{GDBN}
20668 commands in separate text windows. The TUI mode is supported only
20669 on platforms where a suitable version of the @code{curses} library
20672 @pindex @value{GDBTUI}
20673 The TUI mode is enabled by default when you invoke @value{GDBN} as
20674 either @samp{@value{GDBTUI}} or @samp{@value{GDBP} -tui}.
20675 You can also switch in and out of TUI mode while @value{GDBN} runs by
20676 using various TUI commands and key bindings, such as @kbd{C-x C-a}.
20677 @xref{TUI Keys, ,TUI Key Bindings}.
20680 @section TUI Overview
20682 In TUI mode, @value{GDBN} can display several text windows:
20686 This window is the @value{GDBN} command window with the @value{GDBN}
20687 prompt and the @value{GDBN} output. The @value{GDBN} input is still
20688 managed using readline.
20691 The source window shows the source file of the program. The current
20692 line and active breakpoints are displayed in this window.
20695 The assembly window shows the disassembly output of the program.
20698 This window shows the processor registers. Registers are highlighted
20699 when their values change.
20702 The source and assembly windows show the current program position
20703 by highlighting the current line and marking it with a @samp{>} marker.
20704 Breakpoints are indicated with two markers. The first marker
20705 indicates the breakpoint type:
20709 Breakpoint which was hit at least once.
20712 Breakpoint which was never hit.
20715 Hardware breakpoint which was hit at least once.
20718 Hardware breakpoint which was never hit.
20721 The second marker indicates whether the breakpoint is enabled or not:
20725 Breakpoint is enabled.
20728 Breakpoint is disabled.
20731 The source, assembly and register windows are updated when the current
20732 thread changes, when the frame changes, or when the program counter
20735 These windows are not all visible at the same time. The command
20736 window is always visible. The others can be arranged in several
20747 source and assembly,
20750 source and registers, or
20753 assembly and registers.
20756 A status line above the command window shows the following information:
20760 Indicates the current @value{GDBN} target.
20761 (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
20764 Gives the current process or thread number.
20765 When no process is being debugged, this field is set to @code{No process}.
20768 Gives the current function name for the selected frame.
20769 The name is demangled if demangling is turned on (@pxref{Print Settings}).
20770 When there is no symbol corresponding to the current program counter,
20771 the string @code{??} is displayed.
20774 Indicates the current line number for the selected frame.
20775 When the current line number is not known, the string @code{??} is displayed.
20778 Indicates the current program counter address.
20782 @section TUI Key Bindings
20783 @cindex TUI key bindings
20785 The TUI installs several key bindings in the readline keymaps
20786 (@pxref{Command Line Editing}). The following key bindings
20787 are installed for both TUI mode and the @value{GDBN} standard mode.
20796 Enter or leave the TUI mode. When leaving the TUI mode,
20797 the curses window management stops and @value{GDBN} operates using
20798 its standard mode, writing on the terminal directly. When reentering
20799 the TUI mode, control is given back to the curses windows.
20800 The screen is then refreshed.
20804 Use a TUI layout with only one window. The layout will
20805 either be @samp{source} or @samp{assembly}. When the TUI mode
20806 is not active, it will switch to the TUI mode.
20808 Think of this key binding as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 1} binding.
20812 Use a TUI layout with at least two windows. When the current
20813 layout already has two windows, the next layout with two windows is used.
20814 When a new layout is chosen, one window will always be common to the
20815 previous layout and the new one.
20817 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 2} binding.
20821 Change the active window. The TUI associates several key bindings
20822 (like scrolling and arrow keys) with the active window. This command
20823 gives the focus to the next TUI window.
20825 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x o} binding.
20829 Switch in and out of the TUI SingleKey mode that binds single
20830 keys to @value{GDBN} commands (@pxref{TUI Single Key Mode}).
20833 The following key bindings only work in the TUI mode:
20838 Scroll the active window one page up.
20842 Scroll the active window one page down.
20846 Scroll the active window one line up.
20850 Scroll the active window one line down.
20854 Scroll the active window one column left.
20858 Scroll the active window one column right.
20862 Refresh the screen.
20865 Because the arrow keys scroll the active window in the TUI mode, they
20866 are not available for their normal use by readline unless the command
20867 window has the focus. When another window is active, you must use
20868 other readline key bindings such as @kbd{C-p}, @kbd{C-n}, @kbd{C-b}
20869 and @kbd{C-f} to control the command window.
20871 @node TUI Single Key Mode
20872 @section TUI Single Key Mode
20873 @cindex TUI single key mode
20875 The TUI also provides a @dfn{SingleKey} mode, which binds several
20876 frequently used @value{GDBN} commands to single keys. Type @kbd{C-x s} to
20877 switch into this mode, where the following key bindings are used:
20880 @kindex c @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
20884 @kindex d @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
20888 @kindex f @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
20892 @kindex n @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
20896 @kindex q @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
20898 exit the SingleKey mode.
20900 @kindex r @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
20904 @kindex s @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
20908 @kindex u @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
20912 @kindex v @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
20916 @kindex w @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
20921 Other keys temporarily switch to the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
20922 The key that was pressed is inserted in the editing buffer so that
20923 it is possible to type most @value{GDBN} commands without interaction
20924 with the TUI SingleKey mode. Once the command is entered the TUI
20925 SingleKey mode is restored. The only way to permanently leave
20926 this mode is by typing @kbd{q} or @kbd{C-x s}.
20930 @section TUI-specific Commands
20931 @cindex TUI commands
20933 The TUI has specific commands to control the text windows.
20934 These commands are always available, even when @value{GDBN} is not in
20935 the TUI mode. When @value{GDBN} is in the standard mode, most
20936 of these commands will automatically switch to the TUI mode.
20941 List and give the size of all displayed windows.
20945 Display the next layout.
20948 Display the previous layout.
20951 Display the source window only.
20954 Display the assembly window only.
20957 Display the source and assembly window.
20960 Display the register window together with the source or assembly window.
20964 Make the next window active for scrolling.
20967 Make the previous window active for scrolling.
20970 Make the source window active for scrolling.
20973 Make the assembly window active for scrolling.
20976 Make the register window active for scrolling.
20979 Make the command window active for scrolling.
20983 Refresh the screen. This is similar to typing @kbd{C-L}.
20985 @item tui reg float
20987 Show the floating point registers in the register window.
20989 @item tui reg general
20990 Show the general registers in the register window.
20993 Show the next register group. The list of register groups as well as
20994 their order is target specific. The predefined register groups are the
20995 following: @code{general}, @code{float}, @code{system}, @code{vector},
20996 @code{all}, @code{save}, @code{restore}.
20998 @item tui reg system
20999 Show the system registers in the register window.
21003 Update the source window and the current execution point.
21005 @item winheight @var{name} +@var{count}
21006 @itemx winheight @var{name} -@var{count}
21008 Change the height of the window @var{name} by @var{count}
21009 lines. Positive counts increase the height, while negative counts
21012 @item tabset @var{nchars}
21014 Set the width of tab stops to be @var{nchars} characters.
21017 @node TUI Configuration
21018 @section TUI Configuration Variables
21019 @cindex TUI configuration variables
21021 Several configuration variables control the appearance of TUI windows.
21024 @item set tui border-kind @var{kind}
21025 @kindex set tui border-kind
21026 Select the border appearance for the source, assembly and register windows.
21027 The possible values are the following:
21030 Use a space character to draw the border.
21033 Use @sc{ascii} characters @samp{+}, @samp{-} and @samp{|} to draw the border.
21036 Use the Alternate Character Set to draw the border. The border is
21037 drawn using character line graphics if the terminal supports them.
21040 @item set tui border-mode @var{mode}
21041 @kindex set tui border-mode
21042 @itemx set tui active-border-mode @var{mode}
21043 @kindex set tui active-border-mode
21044 Select the display attributes for the borders of the inactive windows
21045 or the active window. The @var{mode} can be one of the following:
21048 Use normal attributes to display the border.
21054 Use reverse video mode.
21057 Use half bright mode.
21059 @item half-standout
21060 Use half bright and standout mode.
21063 Use extra bright or bold mode.
21065 @item bold-standout
21066 Use extra bright or bold and standout mode.
21071 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
21074 @cindex @sc{gnu} Emacs
21075 A special interface allows you to use @sc{gnu} Emacs to view (and
21076 edit) the source files for the program you are debugging with
21079 To use this interface, use the command @kbd{M-x gdb} in Emacs. Give the
21080 executable file you want to debug as an argument. This command starts
21081 @value{GDBN} as a subprocess of Emacs, with input and output through a newly
21082 created Emacs buffer.
21083 @c (Do not use the @code{-tui} option to run @value{GDBN} from Emacs.)
21085 Running @value{GDBN} under Emacs can be just like running @value{GDBN} normally except for two
21090 All ``terminal'' input and output goes through an Emacs buffer, called
21093 This applies both to @value{GDBN} commands and their output, and to the input
21094 and output done by the program you are debugging.
21096 This is useful because it means that you can copy the text of previous
21097 commands and input them again; you can even use parts of the output
21100 All the facilities of Emacs' Shell mode are available for interacting
21101 with your program. In particular, you can send signals the usual
21102 way---for example, @kbd{C-c C-c} for an interrupt, @kbd{C-c C-z} for a
21106 @value{GDBN} displays source code through Emacs.
21108 Each time @value{GDBN} displays a stack frame, Emacs automatically finds the
21109 source file for that frame and puts an arrow (@samp{=>}) at the
21110 left margin of the current line. Emacs uses a separate buffer for
21111 source display, and splits the screen to show both your @value{GDBN} session
21114 Explicit @value{GDBN} @code{list} or search commands still produce output as
21115 usual, but you probably have no reason to use them from Emacs.
21118 We call this @dfn{text command mode}. Emacs 22.1, and later, also uses
21119 a graphical mode, enabled by default, which provides further buffers
21120 that can control the execution and describe the state of your program.
21121 @xref{GDB Graphical Interface,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}.
21123 If you specify an absolute file name when prompted for the @kbd{M-x
21124 gdb} argument, then Emacs sets your current working directory to where
21125 your program resides. If you only specify the file name, then Emacs
21126 sets your current working directory to to the directory associated
21127 with the previous buffer. In this case, @value{GDBN} may find your
21128 program by searching your environment's @code{PATH} variable, but on
21129 some operating systems it might not find the source. So, although the
21130 @value{GDBN} input and output session proceeds normally, the auxiliary
21131 buffer does not display the current source and line of execution.
21133 The initial working directory of @value{GDBN} is printed on the top
21134 line of the GUD buffer and this serves as a default for the commands
21135 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files,
21136 ,Commands to Specify Files}.
21138 By default, @kbd{M-x gdb} calls the program called @file{gdb}. If you
21139 need to call @value{GDBN} by a different name (for example, if you
21140 keep several configurations around, with different names) you can
21141 customize the Emacs variable @code{gud-gdb-command-name} to run the
21144 In the GUD buffer, you can use these special Emacs commands in
21145 addition to the standard Shell mode commands:
21149 Describe the features of Emacs' GUD Mode.
21152 Execute to another source line, like the @value{GDBN} @code{step} command; also
21153 update the display window to show the current file and location.
21156 Execute to next source line in this function, skipping all function
21157 calls, like the @value{GDBN} @code{next} command. Then update the display window
21158 to show the current file and location.
21161 Execute one instruction, like the @value{GDBN} @code{stepi} command; update
21162 display window accordingly.
21165 Execute until exit from the selected stack frame, like the @value{GDBN}
21166 @code{finish} command.
21169 Continue execution of your program, like the @value{GDBN} @code{continue}
21173 Go up the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument
21174 (@pxref{Arguments, , Numeric Arguments, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}),
21175 like the @value{GDBN} @code{up} command.
21178 Go down the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument, like the
21179 @value{GDBN} @code{down} command.
21182 In any source file, the Emacs command @kbd{C-x @key{SPC}} (@code{gud-break})
21183 tells @value{GDBN} to set a breakpoint on the source line point is on.
21185 In text command mode, if you type @kbd{M-x speedbar}, Emacs displays a
21186 separate frame which shows a backtrace when the GUD buffer is current.
21187 Move point to any frame in the stack and type @key{RET} to make it
21188 become the current frame and display the associated source in the
21189 source buffer. Alternatively, click @kbd{Mouse-2} to make the
21190 selected frame become the current one. In graphical mode, the
21191 speedbar displays watch expressions.
21193 If you accidentally delete the source-display buffer, an easy way to get
21194 it back is to type the command @code{f} in the @value{GDBN} buffer, to
21195 request a frame display; when you run under Emacs, this recreates
21196 the source buffer if necessary to show you the context of the current
21199 The source files displayed in Emacs are in ordinary Emacs buffers
21200 which are visiting the source files in the usual way. You can edit
21201 the files with these buffers if you wish; but keep in mind that @value{GDBN}
21202 communicates with Emacs in terms of line numbers. If you add or
21203 delete lines from the text, the line numbers that @value{GDBN} knows cease
21204 to correspond properly with the code.
21206 A more detailed description of Emacs' interaction with @value{GDBN} is
21207 given in the Emacs manual (@pxref{Debuggers,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu}
21210 @c The following dropped because Epoch is nonstandard. Reactivate
21213 @kindex Emacs Epoch environment
21217 Version 18 of @sc{gnu} Emacs has a built-in window system
21218 called the @code{epoch}
21219 environment. Users of this environment can use a new command,
21220 @code{inspect} which performs identically to @code{print} except that
21221 each value is printed in its own window.
21226 @chapter The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface
21228 @unnumberedsec Function and Purpose
21230 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, its purpose
21231 @sc{gdb/mi} is a line based machine oriented text interface to
21232 @value{GDBN} and is activated by specifying using the
21233 @option{--interpreter} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}). It
21234 is specifically intended to support the development of systems which
21235 use the debugger as just one small component of a larger system.
21237 This chapter is a specification of the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. It is written
21238 in the form of a reference manual.
21240 Note that @sc{gdb/mi} is still under construction, so some of the
21241 features described below are incomplete and subject to change
21242 (@pxref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, , @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends}).
21244 @unnumberedsec Notation and Terminology
21246 @cindex notational conventions, for @sc{gdb/mi}
21247 This chapter uses the following notation:
21251 @code{|} separates two alternatives.
21254 @code{[ @var{something} ]} indicates that @var{something} is optional:
21255 it may or may not be given.
21258 @code{( @var{group} )*} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
21259 may repeat zero or more times.
21262 @code{( @var{group} )+} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
21263 may repeat one or more times.
21266 @code{"@var{string}"} means a literal @var{string}.
21270 @heading Dependencies
21274 * GDB/MI General Design::
21275 * GDB/MI Command Syntax::
21276 * GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI::
21277 * GDB/MI Development and Front Ends::
21278 * GDB/MI Output Records::
21279 * GDB/MI Simple Examples::
21280 * GDB/MI Command Description Format::
21281 * GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands::
21282 * GDB/MI Program Context::
21283 * GDB/MI Thread Commands::
21284 * GDB/MI Program Execution::
21285 * GDB/MI Stack Manipulation::
21286 * GDB/MI Variable Objects::
21287 * GDB/MI Data Manipulation::
21288 * GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands::
21289 * GDB/MI Symbol Query::
21290 * GDB/MI File Commands::
21292 * GDB/MI Kod Commands::
21293 * GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands::
21294 * GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands::
21296 * GDB/MI Target Manipulation::
21297 * GDB/MI File Transfer Commands::
21298 * GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands::
21301 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
21302 @node GDB/MI General Design
21303 @section @sc{gdb/mi} General Design
21304 @cindex GDB/MI General Design
21306 Interaction of a @sc{GDB/MI} frontend with @value{GDBN} involves three
21307 parts---commands sent to @value{GDBN}, responses to those commands
21308 and notifications. Each command results in exactly one response,
21309 indicating either successful completion of the command, or an error.
21310 For the commands that do not resume the target, the response contains the
21311 requested information. For the commands that resume the target, the
21312 response only indicates whether the target was successfully resumed.
21313 Notifications is the mechanism for reporting changes in the state of the
21314 target, or in @value{GDBN} state, that cannot conveniently be associated with
21315 a command and reported as part of that command response.
21317 The important examples of notifications are:
21321 Exec notifications. These are used to report changes in
21322 target state---when a target is resumed, or stopped. It would not
21323 be feasible to include this information in response of resuming
21324 commands, because one resume commands can result in multiple events in
21325 different threads. Also, quite some time may pass before any event
21326 happens in the target, while a frontend needs to know whether the resuming
21327 command itself was successfully executed.
21330 Console output, and status notifications. Console output
21331 notifications are used to report output of CLI commands, as well as
21332 diagnostics for other commands. Status notifications are used to
21333 report the progress of a long-running operation. Naturally, including
21334 this information in command response would mean no output is produced
21335 until the command is finished, which is undesirable.
21338 General notifications. Commands may have various side effects on
21339 the @value{GDBN} or target state beyond their official purpose. For example,
21340 a command may change the selected thread. Although such changes can
21341 be included in command response, using notification allows for more
21342 orthogonal frontend design.
21346 There's no guarantee that whenever an MI command reports an error,
21347 @value{GDBN} or the target are in any specific state, and especially,
21348 the state is not reverted to the state before the MI command was
21349 processed. Therefore, whenever an MI command results in an error,
21350 we recommend that the frontend refreshes all the information shown in
21351 the user interface.
21355 * Context management::
21356 * Asynchronous and non-stop modes::
21360 @node Context management
21361 @subsection Context management
21363 In most cases when @value{GDBN} accesses the target, this access is
21364 done in context of a specific thread and frame (@pxref{Frames}).
21365 Often, even when accessing global data, the target requires that a thread
21366 be specified. The CLI interface maintains the selected thread and frame,
21367 and supplies them to target on each command. This is convenient,
21368 because a command line user would not want to specify that information
21369 explicitly on each command, and because user interacts with
21370 @value{GDBN} via a single terminal, so no confusion is possible as
21371 to what thread and frame are the current ones.
21373 In the case of MI, the concept of selected thread and frame is less
21374 useful. First, a frontend can easily remember this information
21375 itself. Second, a graphical frontend can have more than one window,
21376 each one used for debugging a different thread, and the frontend might
21377 want to access additional threads for internal purposes. This
21378 increases the risk that by relying on implicitly selected thread, the
21379 frontend may be operating on a wrong one. Therefore, each MI command
21380 should explicitly specify which thread and frame to operate on. To
21381 make it possible, each MI command accepts the @samp{--thread} and
21382 @samp{--frame} options, the value to each is @value{GDBN} identifier
21383 for thread and frame to operate on.
21385 Usually, each top-level window in a frontend allows the user to select
21386 a thread and a frame, and remembers the user selection for further
21387 operations. However, in some cases @value{GDBN} may suggest that the
21388 current thread be changed. For example, when stopping on a breakpoint
21389 it is reasonable to switch to the thread where breakpoint is hit. For
21390 another example, if the user issues the CLI @samp{thread} command via
21391 the frontend, it is desirable to change the frontend's selected thread to the
21392 one specified by user. @value{GDBN} communicates the suggestion to
21393 change current thread using the @samp{=thread-selected} notification.
21394 No such notification is available for the selected frame at the moment.
21396 Note that historically, MI shares the selected thread with CLI, so
21397 frontends used the @code{-thread-select} to execute commands in the
21398 right context. However, getting this to work right is cumbersome. The
21399 simplest way is for frontend to emit @code{-thread-select} command
21400 before every command. This doubles the number of commands that need
21401 to be sent. The alternative approach is to suppress @code{-thread-select}
21402 if the selected thread in @value{GDBN} is supposed to be identical to the
21403 thread the frontend wants to operate on. However, getting this
21404 optimization right can be tricky. In particular, if the frontend
21405 sends several commands to @value{GDBN}, and one of the commands changes the
21406 selected thread, then the behaviour of subsequent commands will
21407 change. So, a frontend should either wait for response from such
21408 problematic commands, or explicitly add @code{-thread-select} for
21409 all subsequent commands. No frontend is known to do this exactly
21410 right, so it is suggested to just always pass the @samp{--thread} and
21411 @samp{--frame} options.
21413 @node Asynchronous and non-stop modes
21414 @subsection Asynchronous command execution and non-stop mode
21416 On some targets, @value{GDBN} is capable of processing MI commands
21417 even while the target is running. This is called @dfn{asynchronous
21418 command execution} (@pxref{Background Execution}). The frontend may
21419 specify a preferrence for asynchronous execution using the
21420 @code{-gdb-set target-async 1} command, which should be emitted before
21421 either running the executable or attaching to the target. After the
21422 frontend has started the executable or attached to the target, it can
21423 find if asynchronous execution is enabled using the
21424 @code{-list-target-features} command.
21426 Even if @value{GDBN} can accept a command while target is running,
21427 many commands that access the target do not work when the target is
21428 running. Therefore, asynchronous command execution is most useful
21429 when combined with non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}). Then,
21430 it is possible to examine the state of one thread, while other threads
21433 When a given thread is running, MI commands that try to access the
21434 target in the context of that thread may not work, or may work only on
21435 some targets. In particular, commands that try to operate on thread's
21436 stack will not work, on any target. Commands that read memory, or
21437 modify breakpoints, may work or not work, depending on the target. Note
21438 that even commands that operate on global state, such as @code{print},
21439 @code{set}, and breakpoint commands, still access the target in the
21440 context of a specific thread, so frontend should try to find a
21441 stopped thread and perform the operation on that thread (using the
21442 @samp{--thread} option).
21444 Which commands will work in the context of a running thread is
21445 highly target dependent. However, the two commands
21446 @code{-exec-interrupt}, to stop a thread, and @code{-thread-info},
21447 to find the state of a thread, will always work.
21449 @node Thread groups
21450 @subsection Thread groups
21451 @value{GDBN} may be used to debug several processes at the same time.
21452 On some platfroms, @value{GDBN} may support debugging of several
21453 hardware systems, each one having several cores with several different
21454 processes running on each core. This section describes the MI
21455 mechanism to support such debugging scenarios.
21457 The key observation is that regardless of the structure of the
21458 target, MI can have a global list of threads, because most commands that
21459 accept the @samp{--thread} option do not need to know what process that
21460 thread belongs to. Therefore, it is not necessary to introduce
21461 neither additional @samp{--process} option, nor an notion of the
21462 current process in the MI interface. The only strictly new feature
21463 that is required is the ability to find how the threads are grouped
21466 To allow the user to discover such grouping, and to support arbitrary
21467 hierarchy of machines/cores/processes, MI introduces the concept of a
21468 @dfn{thread group}. Thread group is a collection of threads and other
21469 thread groups. A thread group always has a string identifier, a type,
21470 and may have additional attributes specific to the type. A new
21471 command, @code{-list-thread-groups}, returns the list of top-level
21472 thread groups, which correspond to processes that @value{GDBN} is
21473 debugging at the moment. By passing an identifier of a thread group
21474 to the @code{-list-thread-groups} command, it is possible to obtain
21475 the members of specific thread group.
21477 To allow the user to easily discover processes, and other objects, he
21478 wishes to debug, a concept of @dfn{available thread group} is
21479 introduced. Available thread group is an thread group that
21480 @value{GDBN} is not debugging, but that can be attached to, using the
21481 @code{-target-attach} command. The list of available top-level thread
21482 groups can be obtained using @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}.
21483 In general, the content of a thread group may be only retrieved only
21484 after attaching to that thread group.
21486 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
21487 @node GDB/MI Command Syntax
21488 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Syntax
21491 * GDB/MI Input Syntax::
21492 * GDB/MI Output Syntax::
21495 @node GDB/MI Input Syntax
21496 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Input Syntax
21498 @cindex input syntax for @sc{gdb/mi}
21499 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, input syntax
21501 @item @var{command} @expansion{}
21502 @code{@var{cli-command} | @var{mi-command}}
21504 @item @var{cli-command} @expansion{}
21505 @code{[ @var{token} ] @var{cli-command} @var{nl}}, where
21506 @var{cli-command} is any existing @value{GDBN} CLI command.
21508 @item @var{mi-command} @expansion{}
21509 @code{[ @var{token} ] "-" @var{operation} ( " " @var{option} )*
21510 @code{[} " --" @code{]} ( " " @var{parameter} )* @var{nl}}
21512 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
21513 "any sequence of digits"
21515 @item @var{option} @expansion{}
21516 @code{"-" @var{parameter} [ " " @var{parameter} ]}
21518 @item @var{parameter} @expansion{}
21519 @code{@var{non-blank-sequence} | @var{c-string}}
21521 @item @var{operation} @expansion{}
21522 @emph{any of the operations described in this chapter}
21524 @item @var{non-blank-sequence} @expansion{}
21525 @emph{anything, provided it doesn't contain special characters such as
21526 "-", @var{nl}, """ and of course " "}
21528 @item @var{c-string} @expansion{}
21529 @code{""" @var{seven-bit-iso-c-string-content} """}
21531 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
21540 The CLI commands are still handled by the @sc{mi} interpreter; their
21541 output is described below.
21544 The @code{@var{token}}, when present, is passed back when the command
21548 Some @sc{mi} commands accept optional arguments as part of the parameter
21549 list. Each option is identified by a leading @samp{-} (dash) and may be
21550 followed by an optional argument parameter. Options occur first in the
21551 parameter list and can be delimited from normal parameters using
21552 @samp{--} (this is useful when some parameters begin with a dash).
21559 We want easy access to the existing CLI syntax (for debugging).
21562 We want it to be easy to spot a @sc{mi} operation.
21565 @node GDB/MI Output Syntax
21566 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax
21568 @cindex output syntax of @sc{gdb/mi}
21569 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, output syntax
21570 The output from @sc{gdb/mi} consists of zero or more out-of-band records
21571 followed, optionally, by a single result record. This result record
21572 is for the most recent command. The sequence of output records is
21573 terminated by @samp{(gdb)}.
21575 If an input command was prefixed with a @code{@var{token}} then the
21576 corresponding output for that command will also be prefixed by that same
21580 @item @var{output} @expansion{}
21581 @code{( @var{out-of-band-record} )* [ @var{result-record} ] "(gdb)" @var{nl}}
21583 @item @var{result-record} @expansion{}
21584 @code{ [ @var{token} ] "^" @var{result-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
21586 @item @var{out-of-band-record} @expansion{}
21587 @code{@var{async-record} | @var{stream-record}}
21589 @item @var{async-record} @expansion{}
21590 @code{@var{exec-async-output} | @var{status-async-output} | @var{notify-async-output}}
21592 @item @var{exec-async-output} @expansion{}
21593 @code{[ @var{token} ] "*" @var{async-output}}
21595 @item @var{status-async-output} @expansion{}
21596 @code{[ @var{token} ] "+" @var{async-output}}
21598 @item @var{notify-async-output} @expansion{}
21599 @code{[ @var{token} ] "=" @var{async-output}}
21601 @item @var{async-output} @expansion{}
21602 @code{@var{async-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
21604 @item @var{result-class} @expansion{}
21605 @code{"done" | "running" | "connected" | "error" | "exit"}
21607 @item @var{async-class} @expansion{}
21608 @code{"stopped" | @var{others}} (where @var{others} will be added
21609 depending on the needs---this is still in development).
21611 @item @var{result} @expansion{}
21612 @code{ @var{variable} "=" @var{value}}
21614 @item @var{variable} @expansion{}
21615 @code{ @var{string} }
21617 @item @var{value} @expansion{}
21618 @code{ @var{const} | @var{tuple} | @var{list} }
21620 @item @var{const} @expansion{}
21621 @code{@var{c-string}}
21623 @item @var{tuple} @expansion{}
21624 @code{ "@{@}" | "@{" @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "@}" }
21626 @item @var{list} @expansion{}
21627 @code{ "[]" | "[" @var{value} ( "," @var{value} )* "]" | "["
21628 @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "]" }
21630 @item @var{stream-record} @expansion{}
21631 @code{@var{console-stream-output} | @var{target-stream-output} | @var{log-stream-output}}
21633 @item @var{console-stream-output} @expansion{}
21634 @code{"~" @var{c-string}}
21636 @item @var{target-stream-output} @expansion{}
21637 @code{"@@" @var{c-string}}
21639 @item @var{log-stream-output} @expansion{}
21640 @code{"&" @var{c-string}}
21642 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
21645 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
21646 @emph{any sequence of digits}.
21654 All output sequences end in a single line containing a period.
21657 The @code{@var{token}} is from the corresponding request. Note that
21658 for all async output, while the token is allowed by the grammar and
21659 may be output by future versions of @value{GDBN} for select async
21660 output messages, it is generally omitted. Frontends should treat
21661 all async output as reporting general changes in the state of the
21662 target and there should be no need to associate async output to any
21666 @cindex status output in @sc{gdb/mi}
21667 @var{status-async-output} contains on-going status information about the
21668 progress of a slow operation. It can be discarded. All status output is
21669 prefixed by @samp{+}.
21672 @cindex async output in @sc{gdb/mi}
21673 @var{exec-async-output} contains asynchronous state change on the target
21674 (stopped, started, disappeared). All async output is prefixed by
21678 @cindex notify output in @sc{gdb/mi}
21679 @var{notify-async-output} contains supplementary information that the
21680 client should handle (e.g., a new breakpoint information). All notify
21681 output is prefixed by @samp{=}.
21684 @cindex console output in @sc{gdb/mi}
21685 @var{console-stream-output} is output that should be displayed as is in the
21686 console. It is the textual response to a CLI command. All the console
21687 output is prefixed by @samp{~}.
21690 @cindex target output in @sc{gdb/mi}
21691 @var{target-stream-output} is the output produced by the target program.
21692 All the target output is prefixed by @samp{@@}.
21695 @cindex log output in @sc{gdb/mi}
21696 @var{log-stream-output} is output text coming from @value{GDBN}'s internals, for
21697 instance messages that should be displayed as part of an error log. All
21698 the log output is prefixed by @samp{&}.
21701 @cindex list output in @sc{gdb/mi}
21702 New @sc{gdb/mi} commands should only output @var{lists} containing
21708 @xref{GDB/MI Stream Records, , @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records}, for more
21709 details about the various output records.
21711 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
21712 @node GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI
21713 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Compatibility with CLI
21715 @cindex compatibility, @sc{gdb/mi} and CLI
21716 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, compatibility with CLI
21718 For the developers convenience CLI commands can be entered directly,
21719 but there may be some unexpected behaviour. For example, commands
21720 that query the user will behave as if the user replied yes, breakpoint
21721 command lists are not executed and some CLI commands, such as
21722 @code{if}, @code{when} and @code{define}, prompt for further input with
21723 @samp{>}, which is not valid MI output.
21725 This feature may be removed at some stage in the future and it is
21726 recommended that front ends use the @code{-interpreter-exec} command
21727 (@pxref{-interpreter-exec}).
21729 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
21730 @node GDB/MI Development and Front Ends
21731 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends
21732 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi} development
21734 The application which takes the MI output and presents the state of the
21735 program being debugged to the user is called a @dfn{front end}.
21737 Although @sc{gdb/mi} is still incomplete, it is currently being used
21738 by a variety of front ends to @value{GDBN}. This makes it difficult
21739 to introduce new functionality without breaking existing usage. This
21740 section tries to minimize the problems by describing how the protocol
21743 Some changes in MI need not break a carefully designed front end, and
21744 for these the MI version will remain unchanged. The following is a
21745 list of changes that may occur within one level, so front ends should
21746 parse MI output in a way that can handle them:
21750 New MI commands may be added.
21753 New fields may be added to the output of any MI command.
21756 The range of values for fields with specified values, e.g.,
21757 @code{in_scope} (@pxref{-var-update}) may be extended.
21759 @c The format of field's content e.g type prefix, may change so parse it
21760 @c at your own risk. Yes, in general?
21762 @c The order of fields may change? Shouldn't really matter but it might
21763 @c resolve inconsistencies.
21766 If the changes are likely to break front ends, the MI version level
21767 will be increased by one. This will allow the front end to parse the
21768 output according to the MI version. Apart from mi0, new versions of
21769 @value{GDBN} will not support old versions of MI and it will be the
21770 responsibility of the front end to work with the new one.
21772 @c Starting with mi3, add a new command -mi-version that prints the MI
21775 The best way to avoid unexpected changes in MI that might break your front
21776 end is to make your project known to @value{GDBN} developers and
21777 follow development on @email{gdb@@sourceware.org} and
21778 @email{gdb-patches@@sourceware.org}.
21779 @cindex mailing lists
21781 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
21782 @node GDB/MI Output Records
21783 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Output Records
21786 * GDB/MI Result Records::
21787 * GDB/MI Stream Records::
21788 * GDB/MI Async Records::
21789 * GDB/MI Frame Information::
21792 @node GDB/MI Result Records
21793 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Result Records
21795 @cindex result records in @sc{gdb/mi}
21796 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, result records
21797 In addition to a number of out-of-band notifications, the response to a
21798 @sc{gdb/mi} command includes one of the following result indications:
21802 @item "^done" [ "," @var{results} ]
21803 The synchronous operation was successful, @code{@var{results}} are the return
21808 @c Is this one correct? Should it be an out-of-band notification?
21809 The asynchronous operation was successfully started. The target is
21814 @value{GDBN} has connected to a remote target.
21816 @item "^error" "," @var{c-string}
21818 The operation failed. The @code{@var{c-string}} contains the corresponding
21823 @value{GDBN} has terminated.
21827 @node GDB/MI Stream Records
21828 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records
21830 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, stream records
21831 @cindex stream records in @sc{gdb/mi}
21832 @value{GDBN} internally maintains a number of output streams: the console, the
21833 target, and the log. The output intended for each of these streams is
21834 funneled through the @sc{gdb/mi} interface using @dfn{stream records}.
21836 Each stream record begins with a unique @dfn{prefix character} which
21837 identifies its stream (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, , @sc{gdb/mi} Output
21838 Syntax}). In addition to the prefix, each stream record contains a
21839 @code{@var{string-output}}. This is either raw text (with an implicit new
21840 line) or a quoted C string (which does not contain an implicit newline).
21843 @item "~" @var{string-output}
21844 The console output stream contains text that should be displayed in the
21845 CLI console window. It contains the textual responses to CLI commands.
21847 @item "@@" @var{string-output}
21848 The target output stream contains any textual output from the running
21849 target. This is only present when GDB's event loop is truly
21850 asynchronous, which is currently only the case for remote targets.
21852 @item "&" @var{string-output}
21853 The log stream contains debugging messages being produced by @value{GDBN}'s
21857 @node GDB/MI Async Records
21858 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Async Records
21860 @cindex async records in @sc{gdb/mi}
21861 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, async records
21862 @dfn{Async} records are used to notify the @sc{gdb/mi} client of
21863 additional changes that have occurred. Those changes can either be a
21864 consequence of @sc{gdb/mi} commands (e.g., a breakpoint modified) or a result of
21865 target activity (e.g., target stopped).
21867 The following is the list of possible async records:
21871 @item *running,thread-id="@var{thread}"
21872 The target is now running. The @var{thread} field tells which
21873 specific thread is now running, and can be @samp{all} if all threads
21874 are running. The frontend should assume that no interaction with a
21875 running thread is possible after this notification is produced.
21876 The frontend should not assume that this notification is output
21877 only once for any command. @value{GDBN} may emit this notification
21878 several times, either for different threads, because it cannot resume
21879 all threads together, or even for a single thread, if the thread must
21880 be stepped though some code before letting it run freely.
21882 @item *stopped,reason="@var{reason}",thread-id="@var{id}",stopped-threads="@var{stopped}"
21883 The target has stopped. The @var{reason} field can have one of the
21887 @item breakpoint-hit
21888 A breakpoint was reached.
21889 @item watchpoint-trigger
21890 A watchpoint was triggered.
21891 @item read-watchpoint-trigger
21892 A read watchpoint was triggered.
21893 @item access-watchpoint-trigger
21894 An access watchpoint was triggered.
21895 @item function-finished
21896 An -exec-finish or similar CLI command was accomplished.
21897 @item location-reached
21898 An -exec-until or similar CLI command was accomplished.
21899 @item watchpoint-scope
21900 A watchpoint has gone out of scope.
21901 @item end-stepping-range
21902 An -exec-next, -exec-next-instruction, -exec-step, -exec-step-instruction or
21903 similar CLI command was accomplished.
21904 @item exited-signalled
21905 The inferior exited because of a signal.
21907 The inferior exited.
21908 @item exited-normally
21909 The inferior exited normally.
21910 @item signal-received
21911 A signal was received by the inferior.
21914 The @var{id} field identifies the thread that directly caused the stop
21915 -- for example by hitting a breakpoint. Depending on whether all-stop
21916 mode is in effect (@pxref{All-Stop Mode}), @value{GDBN} may either
21917 stop all threads, or only the thread that directly triggered the stop.
21918 If all threads are stopped, the @var{stopped} field will have the
21919 value of @code{"all"}. Otherwise, the value of the @var{stopped}
21920 field will be a list of thread identifiers. Presently, this list will
21921 always include a single thread, but frontend should be prepared to see
21922 several threads in the list.
21924 @item =thread-group-created,id="@var{id}"
21925 @itemx =thread-group-exited,id="@var{id}"
21926 A thread thread group either was attached to, or has exited/detached
21927 from. The @var{id} field contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the
21930 @item =thread-created,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
21931 @itemx =thread-exited,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
21932 A thread either was created, or has exited. The @var{id} field
21933 contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread. The @var{gid}
21934 field identifies the thread group this thread belongs to.
21936 @item =thread-selected,id="@var{id}"
21937 Informs that the selected thread was changed as result of the last
21938 command. This notification is not emitted as result of @code{-thread-select}
21939 command but is emitted whenever an MI command that is not documented
21940 to change the selected thread actually changes it. In particular,
21941 invoking, directly or indirectly (via user-defined command), the CLI
21942 @code{thread} command, will generate this notification.
21944 We suggest that in response to this notification, front ends
21945 highlight the selected thread and cause subsequent commands to apply to
21948 @item =library-loaded,...
21949 Reports that a new library file was loaded by the program. This
21950 notification has 4 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name},
21951 @var{host-name}, and @var{symbols-loaded}. The @var{id} field is an
21952 opaque identifier of the library. For remote debugging case,
21953 @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} fields give the name of the
21954 library file on the target, and on the host respectively. For native
21955 debugging, both those fields have the same value. The
21956 @var{symbols-loaded} field reports if the debug symbols for this
21957 library are loaded.
21959 @item =library-unloaded,...
21960 Reports that a library was unloaded by the program. This notification
21961 has 3 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} with
21962 the same meaning as for the @code{=library-loaded} notification
21966 @node GDB/MI Frame Information
21967 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Frame Information
21969 Response from many MI commands includes an information about stack
21970 frame. This information is a tuple that may have the following
21975 The level of the stack frame. The innermost frame has the level of
21976 zero. This field is always present.
21979 The name of the function corresponding to the frame. This field may
21980 be absent if @value{GDBN} is unable to determine the function name.
21983 The code address for the frame. This field is always present.
21986 The name of the source files that correspond to the frame's code
21987 address. This field may be absent.
21990 The source line corresponding to the frames' code address. This field
21994 The name of the binary file (either executable or shared library) the
21995 corresponds to the frame's code address. This field may be absent.
22000 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
22001 @node GDB/MI Simple Examples
22002 @section Simple Examples of @sc{gdb/mi} Interaction
22003 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, simple examples
22005 This subsection presents several simple examples of interaction using
22006 the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. In these examples, @samp{->} means that the
22007 following line is passed to @sc{gdb/mi} as input, while @samp{<-} means
22008 the output received from @sc{gdb/mi}.
22010 Note the line breaks shown in the examples are here only for
22011 readability, they don't appear in the real output.
22013 @subheading Setting a Breakpoint
22015 Setting a breakpoint generates synchronous output which contains detailed
22016 information of the breakpoint.
22019 -> -break-insert main
22020 <- ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
22021 enabled="y",addr="0x08048564",func="main",file="myprog.c",
22022 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68",times="0"@}
22026 @subheading Program Execution
22028 Program execution generates asynchronous records and MI gives the
22029 reason that execution stopped.
22035 <- *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
22036 frame=@{addr="0x08048564",func="main",
22037 args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},@{name="argv",value="0xbfc4d4d4"@}],
22038 file="myprog.c",fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68"@}
22043 <- *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
22047 @subheading Quitting @value{GDBN}
22049 Quitting @value{GDBN} just prints the result class @samp{^exit}.
22057 Please note that @samp{^exit} is printed immediately, but it might
22058 take some time for @value{GDBN} to actually exit. During that time, @value{GDBN}
22059 performs necessary cleanups, including killing programs being debugged
22060 or disconnecting from debug hardware, so the frontend should wait till
22061 @value{GDBN} exits and should only forcibly kill @value{GDBN} if it
22062 fails to exit in reasonable time.
22064 @subheading A Bad Command
22066 Here's what happens if you pass a non-existent command:
22070 <- ^error,msg="Undefined MI command: rubbish"
22075 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
22076 @node GDB/MI Command Description Format
22077 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Description Format
22079 The remaining sections describe blocks of commands. Each block of
22080 commands is laid out in a fashion similar to this section.
22082 @subheading Motivation
22084 The motivation for this collection of commands.
22086 @subheading Introduction
22088 A brief introduction to this collection of commands as a whole.
22090 @subheading Commands
22092 For each command in the block, the following is described:
22094 @subsubheading Synopsis
22097 -command @var{args}@dots{}
22100 @subsubheading Result
22102 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22104 The corresponding @value{GDBN} CLI command(s), if any.
22106 @subsubheading Example
22108 Example(s) formatted for readability. Some of the described commands have
22109 not been implemented yet and these are labeled N.A.@: (not available).
22112 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
22113 @node GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands
22114 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Breakpoint Commands
22116 @cindex breakpoint commands for @sc{gdb/mi}
22117 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, breakpoint commands
22118 This section documents @sc{gdb/mi} commands for manipulating
22121 @subheading The @code{-break-after} Command
22122 @findex -break-after
22124 @subsubheading Synopsis
22127 -break-after @var{number} @var{count}
22130 The breakpoint number @var{number} is not in effect until it has been
22131 hit @var{count} times. To see how this is reflected in the output of
22132 the @samp{-break-list} command, see the description of the
22133 @samp{-break-list} command below.
22135 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22137 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ignore}.
22139 @subsubheading Example
22144 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
22145 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
22146 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",times="0"@}
22153 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
22154 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
22155 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
22156 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
22157 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
22158 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
22159 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
22160 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
22161 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
22162 line="5",times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
22167 @subheading The @code{-break-catch} Command
22168 @findex -break-catch
22171 @subheading The @code{-break-commands} Command
22172 @findex -break-commands
22174 @subsubheading Synopsis
22177 -break-commands @var{number} [ @var{command1} ... @var{commandN} ]
22180 Specifies the CLI commands that should be executed when breakpoint
22181 @var{number} is hit. The parameters @var{command1} to @var{commandN}
22182 are the commands. If no command is specified, any previously-set
22183 commands are cleared. @xref{Break Commands}. Typical use of this
22184 functionality is tracing a program, that is, printing of values of
22185 some variables whenever breakpoint is hit and then continuing.
22187 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22189 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{commands}.
22191 @subsubheading Example
22196 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
22197 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
22198 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",times="0"@}
22200 -break-commands 1 "print v" "continue"
22205 @subheading The @code{-break-condition} Command
22206 @findex -break-condition
22208 @subsubheading Synopsis
22211 -break-condition @var{number} @var{expr}
22214 Breakpoint @var{number} will stop the program only if the condition in
22215 @var{expr} is true. The condition becomes part of the
22216 @samp{-break-list} output (see the description of the @samp{-break-list}
22219 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22221 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{condition}.
22223 @subsubheading Example
22227 -break-condition 1 1
22231 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
22232 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
22233 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
22234 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
22235 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
22236 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
22237 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
22238 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
22239 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
22240 line="5",cond="1",times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
22244 @subheading The @code{-break-delete} Command
22245 @findex -break-delete
22247 @subsubheading Synopsis
22250 -break-delete ( @var{breakpoint} )+
22253 Delete the breakpoint(s) whose number(s) are specified in the argument
22254 list. This is obviously reflected in the breakpoint list.
22256 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22258 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{delete}.
22260 @subsubheading Example
22268 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
22269 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
22270 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
22271 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
22272 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
22273 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
22274 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
22279 @subheading The @code{-break-disable} Command
22280 @findex -break-disable
22282 @subsubheading Synopsis
22285 -break-disable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
22288 Disable the named @var{breakpoint}(s). The field @samp{enabled} in the
22289 break list is now set to @samp{n} for the named @var{breakpoint}(s).
22291 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22293 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disable}.
22295 @subsubheading Example
22303 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
22304 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
22305 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
22306 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
22307 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
22308 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
22309 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
22310 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="n",
22311 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
22312 line="5",times="0"@}]@}
22316 @subheading The @code{-break-enable} Command
22317 @findex -break-enable
22319 @subsubheading Synopsis
22322 -break-enable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
22325 Enable (previously disabled) @var{breakpoint}(s).
22327 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22329 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{enable}.
22331 @subsubheading Example
22339 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
22340 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
22341 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
22342 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
22343 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
22344 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
22345 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
22346 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
22347 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
22348 line="5",times="0"@}]@}
22352 @subheading The @code{-break-info} Command
22353 @findex -break-info
22355 @subsubheading Synopsis
22358 -break-info @var{breakpoint}
22362 Get information about a single breakpoint.
22364 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22366 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break @var{breakpoint}}.
22368 @subsubheading Example
22371 @subheading The @code{-break-insert} Command
22372 @findex -break-insert
22374 @subsubheading Synopsis
22377 -break-insert [ -t ] [ -h ] [ -f ] [ -d ]
22378 [ -c @var{condition} ] [ -i @var{ignore-count} ]
22379 [ -p @var{thread} ] [ @var{location} ]
22383 If specified, @var{location}, can be one of:
22390 @item filename:linenum
22391 @item filename:function
22395 The possible optional parameters of this command are:
22399 Insert a temporary breakpoint.
22401 Insert a hardware breakpoint.
22402 @item -c @var{condition}
22403 Make the breakpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
22404 @item -i @var{ignore-count}
22405 Initialize the @var{ignore-count}.
22407 If @var{location} cannot be parsed (for example if it
22408 refers to unknown files or functions), create a pending
22409 breakpoint. Without this flag, @value{GDBN} will report
22410 an error, and won't create a breakpoint, if @var{location}
22413 Create a disabled breakpoint.
22416 @subsubheading Result
22418 The result is in the form:
22421 ^done,bkpt=@{number="@var{number}",type="@var{type}",disp="del"|"keep",
22422 enabled="y"|"n",addr="@var{hex}",func="@var{funcname}",file="@var{filename}",
22423 fullname="@var{full_filename}",line="@var{lineno}",[thread="@var{threadno},]
22424 times="@var{times}"@}
22428 where @var{number} is the @value{GDBN} number for this breakpoint,
22429 @var{funcname} is the name of the function where the breakpoint was
22430 inserted, @var{filename} is the name of the source file which contains
22431 this function, @var{lineno} is the source line number within that file
22432 and @var{times} the number of times that the breakpoint has been hit
22433 (always 0 for -break-insert but may be greater for -break-info or -break-list
22434 which use the same output).
22436 Note: this format is open to change.
22437 @c An out-of-band breakpoint instead of part of the result?
22439 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22441 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{break}, @samp{tbreak},
22442 @samp{hbreak}, @samp{thbreak}, and @samp{rbreak}.
22444 @subsubheading Example
22449 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",
22450 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="4",times="0"@}
22452 -break-insert -t foo
22453 ^done,bkpt=@{number="2",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c",
22454 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="11",times="0"@}
22457 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
22458 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
22459 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
22460 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
22461 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
22462 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
22463 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
22464 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
22465 addr="0x0001072c", func="main",file="recursive2.c",
22466 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,"line="4",times="0"@},
22467 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",
22468 addr="0x00010774",func="foo",file="recursive2.c",
22469 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",times="0"@}]@}
22471 -break-insert -r foo.*
22472 ~int foo(int, int);
22473 ^done,bkpt=@{number="3",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c,
22474 "fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",times="0"@}
22478 @subheading The @code{-break-list} Command
22479 @findex -break-list
22481 @subsubheading Synopsis
22487 Displays the list of inserted breakpoints, showing the following fields:
22491 number of the breakpoint
22493 type of the breakpoint: @samp{breakpoint} or @samp{watchpoint}
22495 should the breakpoint be deleted or disabled when it is hit: @samp{keep}
22498 is the breakpoint enabled or no: @samp{y} or @samp{n}
22500 memory location at which the breakpoint is set
22502 logical location of the breakpoint, expressed by function name, file
22505 number of times the breakpoint has been hit
22508 If there are no breakpoints or watchpoints, the @code{BreakpointTable}
22509 @code{body} field is an empty list.
22511 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22513 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break}.
22515 @subsubheading Example
22520 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
22521 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
22522 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
22523 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
22524 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
22525 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
22526 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
22527 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
22528 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",line="5",times="0"@},
22529 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
22530 addr="0x00010114",func="foo",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
22531 line="13",times="0"@}]@}
22535 Here's an example of the result when there are no breakpoints:
22540 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
22541 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
22542 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
22543 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
22544 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
22545 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
22546 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
22551 @subheading The @code{-break-watch} Command
22552 @findex -break-watch
22554 @subsubheading Synopsis
22557 -break-watch [ -a | -r ]
22560 Create a watchpoint. With the @samp{-a} option it will create an
22561 @dfn{access} watchpoint, i.e., a watchpoint that triggers either on a
22562 read from or on a write to the memory location. With the @samp{-r}
22563 option, the watchpoint created is a @dfn{read} watchpoint, i.e., it will
22564 trigger only when the memory location is accessed for reading. Without
22565 either of the options, the watchpoint created is a regular watchpoint,
22566 i.e., it will trigger when the memory location is accessed for writing.
22567 @xref{Set Watchpoints, , Setting Watchpoints}.
22569 Note that @samp{-break-list} will report a single list of watchpoints and
22570 breakpoints inserted.
22572 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22574 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{watch}, @samp{awatch}, and
22577 @subsubheading Example
22579 Setting a watchpoint on a variable in the @code{main} function:
22584 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@}
22589 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@},
22590 value=@{old="-268439212",new="55"@},
22591 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
22592 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="5"@}
22596 Setting a watchpoint on a variable local to a function. @value{GDBN} will stop
22597 the program execution twice: first for the variable changing value, then
22598 for the watchpoint going out of scope.
22603 ^done,wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@}
22608 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",
22609 wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@},value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
22610 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
22611 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
22612 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
22617 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="5",
22618 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
22619 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
22620 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
22621 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
22625 Listing breakpoints and watchpoints, at different points in the program
22626 execution. Note that once the watchpoint goes out of scope, it is
22632 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@}
22635 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
22636 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
22637 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
22638 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
22639 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
22640 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
22641 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
22642 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
22643 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
22644 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
22645 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c"line="8",times="1"@},
22646 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
22647 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",times="0"@}]@}
22652 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@},
22653 value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
22654 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
22655 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
22656 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
22659 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
22660 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
22661 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
22662 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
22663 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
22664 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
22665 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
22666 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
22667 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
22668 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
22669 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",times="1"@},
22670 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
22671 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",times="-5"@}]@}
22675 ^done,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="2",
22676 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
22677 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
22678 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
22679 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
22682 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
22683 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
22684 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
22685 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
22686 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
22687 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
22688 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
22689 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
22690 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
22691 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
22692 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",
22697 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
22698 @node GDB/MI Program Context
22699 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Context
22701 @subheading The @code{-exec-arguments} Command
22702 @findex -exec-arguments
22705 @subsubheading Synopsis
22708 -exec-arguments @var{args}
22711 Set the inferior program arguments, to be used in the next
22714 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22716 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set args}.
22718 @subsubheading Example
22722 -exec-arguments -v word
22729 @subheading The @code{-exec-show-arguments} Command
22730 @findex -exec-show-arguments
22732 @subsubheading Synopsis
22735 -exec-show-arguments
22738 Print the arguments of the program.
22740 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22742 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show args}.
22744 @subsubheading Example
22749 @subheading The @code{-environment-cd} Command
22750 @findex -environment-cd
22752 @subsubheading Synopsis
22755 -environment-cd @var{pathdir}
22758 Set @value{GDBN}'s working directory.
22760 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22762 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{cd}.
22764 @subsubheading Example
22768 -environment-cd /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
22774 @subheading The @code{-environment-directory} Command
22775 @findex -environment-directory
22777 @subsubheading Synopsis
22780 -environment-directory [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
22783 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for source files.
22784 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the default
22785 search path. If directories @var{pathdir} are supplied in addition to the
22786 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
22788 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
22789 multiple directories in a single command
22790 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
22791 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
22792 If blanks are needed as
22793 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
22794 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
22795 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
22796 character must not be used
22797 in any directory name.
22798 If no directories are specified, the current search path is displayed.
22800 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22802 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{dir}.
22804 @subsubheading Example
22808 -environment-directory /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
22809 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
22811 -environment-directory ""
22812 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
22814 -environment-directory -r /home/jjohnstn/src/gdb /usr/src
22815 ^done,source-path="/home/jjohnstn/src/gdb:/usr/src:$cdir:$cwd"
22817 -environment-directory -r
22818 ^done,source-path="$cdir:$cwd"
22823 @subheading The @code{-environment-path} Command
22824 @findex -environment-path
22826 @subsubheading Synopsis
22829 -environment-path [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
22832 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for object files.
22833 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the original
22834 search path that existed at gdb start-up. If directories @var{pathdir} are
22835 supplied in addition to the
22836 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
22838 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
22839 multiple directories in a single command
22840 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
22841 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
22842 If blanks are needed as
22843 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
22844 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
22845 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
22846 character must not be used
22847 in any directory name.
22848 If no directories are specified, the current path is displayed.
22851 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22853 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{path}.
22855 @subsubheading Example
22860 ^done,path="/usr/bin"
22862 -environment-path /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb /bin
22863 ^done,path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb:/bin:/usr/bin"
22865 -environment-path -r /usr/local/bin
22866 ^done,path="/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin"
22871 @subheading The @code{-environment-pwd} Command
22872 @findex -environment-pwd
22874 @subsubheading Synopsis
22880 Show the current working directory.
22882 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22884 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{pwd}.
22886 @subsubheading Example
22891 ^done,cwd="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb"
22895 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
22896 @node GDB/MI Thread Commands
22897 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Commands
22900 @subheading The @code{-thread-info} Command
22901 @findex -thread-info
22903 @subsubheading Synopsis
22906 -thread-info [ @var{thread-id} ]
22909 Reports information about either a specific thread, if
22910 the @var{thread-id} parameter is present, or about all
22911 threads. When printing information about all threads,
22912 also reports the current thread.
22914 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22916 The @samp{info thread} command prints the same information
22919 @subsubheading Example
22924 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
22925 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",args=[]@},state="running"@},
22926 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
22927 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
22928 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},state="running"@}],
22929 current-thread-id="1"
22933 The @samp{state} field may have the following values:
22937 The thread is stopped. Frame information is available for stopped
22941 The thread is running. There's no frame information for running
22946 @subheading The @code{-thread-list-ids} Command
22947 @findex -thread-list-ids
22949 @subsubheading Synopsis
22955 Produces a list of the currently known @value{GDBN} thread ids. At the
22956 end of the list it also prints the total number of such threads.
22958 This command is retained for historical reasons, the
22959 @code{-thread-info} command should be used instead.
22961 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22963 Part of @samp{info threads} supplies the same information.
22965 @subsubheading Example
22970 ^done,thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
22971 current-thread-id="1",number-of-threads="3"
22976 @subheading The @code{-thread-select} Command
22977 @findex -thread-select
22979 @subsubheading Synopsis
22982 -thread-select @var{threadnum}
22985 Make @var{threadnum} the current thread. It prints the number of the new
22986 current thread, and the topmost frame for that thread.
22988 This command is deprecated in favor of explicitly using the
22989 @samp{--thread} option to each command.
22991 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22993 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{thread}.
22995 @subsubheading Example
23002 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",thread-id="2",line="187",
23003 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.threads/linux-dp.c"
23007 thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
23008 number-of-threads="3"
23011 ^done,new-thread-id="3",
23012 frame=@{level="0",func="vprintf",
23013 args=[@{name="format",value="0x8048e9c \"%*s%c %d %c\\n\""@},
23014 @{name="arg",value="0x2"@}],file="vprintf.c",line="31"@}
23018 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
23019 @node GDB/MI Program Execution
23020 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Execution
23022 These are the asynchronous commands which generate the out-of-band
23023 record @samp{*stopped}. Currently @value{GDBN} only really executes
23024 asynchronously with remote targets and this interaction is mimicked in
23027 @subheading The @code{-exec-continue} Command
23028 @findex -exec-continue
23030 @subsubheading Synopsis
23033 -exec-continue [--all|--thread-group N]
23036 Resumes the execution of the inferior program until a breakpoint is
23037 encountered, or until the inferior exits. In all-stop mode
23038 (@pxref{All-Stop Mode}), may resume only one thread, or all threads,
23039 depending on the value of the @samp{scheduler-locking} variable. In
23040 non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}), if the @samp{--all} is not
23041 specified, only the thread specified with the @samp{--thread} option
23042 (or current thread, if no @samp{--thread} is provided) is resumed. If
23043 @samp{--all} is specified, all threads will be resumed. The
23044 @samp{--all} option is ignored in all-stop mode. If the
23045 @samp{--thread-group} options is specified, then all threads in that
23046 thread group are resumed.
23048 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23050 The corresponding @value{GDBN} corresponding is @samp{continue}.
23052 @subsubheading Example
23059 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="2",frame=@{
23060 func="foo",args=[],file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",
23066 @subheading The @code{-exec-finish} Command
23067 @findex -exec-finish
23069 @subsubheading Synopsis
23075 Resumes the execution of the inferior program until the current
23076 function is exited. Displays the results returned by the function.
23078 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23080 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{finish}.
23082 @subsubheading Example
23084 Function returning @code{void}.
23091 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
23092 file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",line="7"@}
23096 Function returning other than @code{void}. The name of the internal
23097 @value{GDBN} variable storing the result is printed, together with the
23104 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{addr="0x000107b0",func="foo",
23105 args=[@{name="a",value="1"],@{name="b",value="9"@}@},
23106 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
23107 gdb-result-var="$1",return-value="0"
23112 @subheading The @code{-exec-interrupt} Command
23113 @findex -exec-interrupt
23115 @subsubheading Synopsis
23118 -exec-interrupt [--all|--thread-group N]
23121 Interrupts the background execution of the target. Note how the token
23122 associated with the stop message is the one for the execution command
23123 that has been interrupted. The token for the interrupt itself only
23124 appears in the @samp{^done} output. If the user is trying to
23125 interrupt a non-running program, an error message will be printed.
23127 Note that when asynchronous execution is enabled, this command is
23128 asynchronous just like other execution commands. That is, first the
23129 @samp{^done} response will be printed, and the target stop will be
23130 reported after that using the @samp{*stopped} notification.
23132 In non-stop mode, only the context thread is interrupted by default.
23133 All threads will be interrupted if the @samp{--all} option is
23134 specified. If the @samp{--thread-group} option is specified, all
23135 threads in that group will be interrupted.
23137 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23139 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interrupt}.
23141 @subsubheading Example
23152 111*stopped,signal-name="SIGINT",signal-meaning="Interrupt",
23153 frame=@{addr="0x00010140",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
23154 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="13"@}
23159 ^error,msg="mi_cmd_exec_interrupt: Inferior not executing."
23163 @subheading The @code{-exec-jump} Command
23166 @subsubheading Synopsis
23169 -exec-jump @var{location}
23172 Resumes execution of the inferior program at the location specified by
23173 parameter. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
23174 different forms of @var{location}.
23176 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23178 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{jump}.
23180 @subsubheading Example
23183 -exec-jump foo.c:10
23184 *running,thread-id="all"
23189 @subheading The @code{-exec-next} Command
23192 @subsubheading Synopsis
23198 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
23199 of the next source line is reached.
23201 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23203 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{next}.
23205 @subsubheading Example
23211 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="8",file="hello.c"
23216 @subheading The @code{-exec-next-instruction} Command
23217 @findex -exec-next-instruction
23219 @subsubheading Synopsis
23222 -exec-next-instruction
23225 Executes one machine instruction. If the instruction is a function
23226 call, continues until the function returns. If the program stops at an
23227 instruction in the middle of a source line, the address will be
23230 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23232 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{nexti}.
23234 @subsubheading Example
23238 -exec-next-instruction
23242 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
23243 addr="0x000100d4",line="5",file="hello.c"
23248 @subheading The @code{-exec-return} Command
23249 @findex -exec-return
23251 @subsubheading Synopsis
23257 Makes current function return immediately. Doesn't execute the inferior.
23258 Displays the new current frame.
23260 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23262 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{return}.
23264 @subsubheading Example
23268 200-break-insert callee4
23269 200^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x00010734",
23270 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
23275 000*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
23276 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
23277 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
23278 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
23284 111^done,frame=@{level="0",func="callee3",
23285 args=[@{name="strarg",
23286 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
23287 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
23288 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
23293 @subheading The @code{-exec-run} Command
23296 @subsubheading Synopsis
23302 Starts execution of the inferior from the beginning. The inferior
23303 executes until either a breakpoint is encountered or the program
23304 exits. In the latter case the output will include an exit code, if
23305 the program has exited exceptionally.
23307 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23309 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{run}.
23311 @subsubheading Examples
23316 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",line="4"@}
23321 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
23322 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
23323 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}
23328 Program exited normally:
23336 *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
23341 Program exited exceptionally:
23349 *stopped,reason="exited",exit-code="01"
23353 Another way the program can terminate is if it receives a signal such as
23354 @code{SIGINT}. In this case, @sc{gdb/mi} displays this:
23358 *stopped,reason="exited-signalled",signal-name="SIGINT",
23359 signal-meaning="Interrupt"
23363 @c @subheading -exec-signal
23366 @subheading The @code{-exec-step} Command
23369 @subsubheading Synopsis
23375 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
23376 of the next source line is reached, if the next source line is not a
23377 function call. If it is, stop at the first instruction of the called
23380 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23382 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{step}.
23384 @subsubheading Example
23386 Stepping into a function:
23392 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
23393 frame=@{func="foo",args=[@{name="a",value="10"@},
23394 @{name="b",value="0"@}],file="recursive2.c",
23395 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@}
23405 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="14",file="recursive2.c"
23410 @subheading The @code{-exec-step-instruction} Command
23411 @findex -exec-step-instruction
23413 @subsubheading Synopsis
23416 -exec-step-instruction
23419 Resumes the inferior which executes one machine instruction. The
23420 output, once @value{GDBN} has stopped, will vary depending on whether
23421 we have stopped in the middle of a source line or not. In the former
23422 case, the address at which the program stopped will be printed as
23425 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23427 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{stepi}.
23429 @subsubheading Example
23433 -exec-step-instruction
23437 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
23438 frame=@{func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
23439 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
23441 -exec-step-instruction
23445 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
23446 frame=@{addr="0x000100f4",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
23447 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
23452 @subheading The @code{-exec-until} Command
23453 @findex -exec-until
23455 @subsubheading Synopsis
23458 -exec-until [ @var{location} ]
23461 Executes the inferior until the @var{location} specified in the
23462 argument is reached. If there is no argument, the inferior executes
23463 until a source line greater than the current one is reached. The
23464 reason for stopping in this case will be @samp{location-reached}.
23466 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23468 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{until}.
23470 @subsubheading Example
23474 -exec-until recursive2.c:6
23478 *stopped,reason="location-reached",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
23479 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="6"@}
23484 @subheading -file-clear
23485 Is this going away????
23488 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
23489 @node GDB/MI Stack Manipulation
23490 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Stack Manipulation Commands
23493 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-frame} Command
23494 @findex -stack-info-frame
23496 @subsubheading Synopsis
23502 Get info on the selected frame.
23504 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23506 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info frame} or @samp{frame}
23507 (without arguments).
23509 @subsubheading Example
23514 ^done,frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
23515 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
23516 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@}
23520 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-depth} Command
23521 @findex -stack-info-depth
23523 @subsubheading Synopsis
23526 -stack-info-depth [ @var{max-depth} ]
23529 Return the depth of the stack. If the integer argument @var{max-depth}
23530 is specified, do not count beyond @var{max-depth} frames.
23532 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23534 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
23536 @subsubheading Example
23538 For a stack with frame levels 0 through 11:
23545 -stack-info-depth 4
23548 -stack-info-depth 12
23551 -stack-info-depth 11
23554 -stack-info-depth 13
23559 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-arguments} Command
23560 @findex -stack-list-arguments
23562 @subsubheading Synopsis
23565 -stack-list-arguments @var{print-values}
23566 [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
23569 Display a list of the arguments for the frames between @var{low-frame}
23570 and @var{high-frame} (inclusive). If @var{low-frame} and
23571 @var{high-frame} are not provided, list the arguments for the whole
23572 call stack. If the two arguments are equal, show the single frame
23573 at the corresponding level. It is an error if @var{low-frame} is
23574 larger than the actual number of frames. On the other hand,
23575 @var{high-frame} may be larger than the actual number of frames, in
23576 which case only existing frames will be returned.
23578 If @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
23579 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
23580 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
23581 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
23582 structures and unions.
23584 Use of this command to obtain arguments in a single frame is
23585 deprecated in favor of the @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
23587 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23589 @value{GDBN} does not have an equivalent command. @code{gdbtk} has a
23590 @samp{gdb_get_args} command which partially overlaps with the
23591 functionality of @samp{-stack-list-arguments}.
23593 @subsubheading Example
23600 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
23601 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
23602 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@},
23603 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
23604 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
23605 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@},
23606 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x0001078c",func="callee2",
23607 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
23608 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="22"@},
23609 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107b4",func="callee1",
23610 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
23611 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="27"@},
23612 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107e0",func="main",
23613 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
23614 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="32"@}]
23616 -stack-list-arguments 0
23619 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
23620 frame=@{level="1",args=[name="strarg"]@},
23621 frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@},
23622 frame=@{level="3",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg",name="fltarg"]@},
23623 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
23625 -stack-list-arguments 1
23628 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
23630 args=[@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
23631 frame=@{level="2",args=[
23632 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
23633 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
23634 @{frame=@{level="3",args=[
23635 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
23636 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@},
23637 @{name="fltarg",value="3.5"@}]@},
23638 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
23640 -stack-list-arguments 0 2 2
23641 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@}]
23643 -stack-list-arguments 1 2 2
23644 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",
23645 args=[@{name="intarg",value="2"@},
23646 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@}]
23650 @c @subheading -stack-list-exception-handlers
23653 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-frames} Command
23654 @findex -stack-list-frames
23656 @subsubheading Synopsis
23659 -stack-list-frames [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
23662 List the frames currently on the stack. For each frame it displays the
23667 The frame number, 0 being the topmost frame, i.e., the innermost function.
23669 The @code{$pc} value for that frame.
23673 File name of the source file where the function lives.
23675 Line number corresponding to the @code{$pc}.
23678 If invoked without arguments, this command prints a backtrace for the
23679 whole stack. If given two integer arguments, it shows the frames whose
23680 levels are between the two arguments (inclusive). If the two arguments
23681 are equal, it shows the single frame at the corresponding level. It is
23682 an error if @var{low-frame} is larger than the actual number of
23683 frames. On the other hand, @var{high-frame} may be larger than the
23684 actual number of frames, in which case only existing frames will be returned.
23686 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23688 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{backtrace} and @samp{where}.
23690 @subsubheading Example
23692 Full stack backtrace:
23698 [frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0001076c",func="foo",
23699 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@},
23700 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
23701 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
23702 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
23703 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
23704 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
23705 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
23706 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
23707 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
23708 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
23709 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
23710 frame=@{level="6",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
23711 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
23712 frame=@{level="7",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
23713 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
23714 frame=@{level="8",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
23715 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
23716 frame=@{level="9",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
23717 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
23718 frame=@{level="10",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
23719 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
23720 frame=@{level="11",addr="0x00010738",func="main",
23721 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}]
23725 Show frames between @var{low_frame} and @var{high_frame}:
23729 -stack-list-frames 3 5
23731 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
23732 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
23733 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
23734 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
23735 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
23736 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
23740 Show a single frame:
23744 -stack-list-frames 3 3
23746 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
23747 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
23752 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-locals} Command
23753 @findex -stack-list-locals
23755 @subsubheading Synopsis
23758 -stack-list-locals @var{print-values}
23761 Display the local variable names for the selected frame. If
23762 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
23763 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
23764 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
23765 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
23766 structures and unions. In this last case, a frontend can immediately
23767 display the value of simple data types and create variable objects for
23768 other data types when the user wishes to explore their values in
23771 This command is deprecated in favor of the
23772 @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
23774 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23776 @samp{info locals} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_get_locals} in @code{gdbtk}.
23778 @subsubheading Example
23782 -stack-list-locals 0
23783 ^done,locals=[name="A",name="B",name="C"]
23785 -stack-list-locals --all-values
23786 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",value="1"@},@{name="B",value="2"@},
23787 @{name="C",value="@{1, 2, 3@}"@}]
23788 -stack-list-locals --simple-values
23789 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",type="int",value="1"@},
23790 @{name="B",type="int",value="2"@},@{name="C",type="int [3]"@}]
23794 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-variables} Command
23795 @findex -stack-list-variables
23797 @subsubheading Synopsis
23800 -stack-list-variables @var{print-values}
23803 Display the names of local variables and function arguments for the selected frame. If
23804 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
23805 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
23806 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
23807 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
23808 structures and unions.
23810 @subsubheading Example
23814 -stack-list-variables --thread 1 --frame 0 --all-values
23815 ^done,variables=[@{name="x",value="11"@},@{name="s",value="@{a = 1, b = 2@}"@}]
23820 @subheading The @code{-stack-select-frame} Command
23821 @findex -stack-select-frame
23823 @subsubheading Synopsis
23826 -stack-select-frame @var{framenum}
23829 Change the selected frame. Select a different frame @var{framenum} on
23832 This command in deprecated in favor of passing the @samp{--frame}
23833 option to every command.
23835 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23837 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{frame}, @samp{up},
23838 @samp{down}, @samp{select-frame}, @samp{up-silent}, and @samp{down-silent}.
23840 @subsubheading Example
23844 -stack-select-frame 2
23849 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
23850 @node GDB/MI Variable Objects
23851 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Variable Objects
23855 @subheading Motivation for Variable Objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
23857 For the implementation of a variable debugger window (locals, watched
23858 expressions, etc.), we are proposing the adaptation of the existing code
23859 used by @code{Insight}.
23861 The two main reasons for that are:
23865 It has been proven in practice (it is already on its second generation).
23868 It will shorten development time (needless to say how important it is
23872 The original interface was designed to be used by Tcl code, so it was
23873 slightly changed so it could be used through @sc{gdb/mi}. This section
23874 describes the @sc{gdb/mi} operations that will be available and gives some
23875 hints about their use.
23877 @emph{Note}: In addition to the set of operations described here, we
23878 expect the @sc{gui} implementation of a variable window to require, at
23879 least, the following operations:
23882 @item @code{-gdb-show} @code{output-radix}
23883 @item @code{-stack-list-arguments}
23884 @item @code{-stack-list-locals}
23885 @item @code{-stack-select-frame}
23890 @subheading Introduction to Variable Objects
23892 @cindex variable objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
23894 Variable objects are "object-oriented" MI interface for examining and
23895 changing values of expressions. Unlike some other MI interfaces that
23896 work with expressions, variable objects are specifically designed for
23897 simple and efficient presentation in the frontend. A variable object
23898 is identified by string name. When a variable object is created, the
23899 frontend specifies the expression for that variable object. The
23900 expression can be a simple variable, or it can be an arbitrary complex
23901 expression, and can even involve CPU registers. After creating a
23902 variable object, the frontend can invoke other variable object
23903 operations---for example to obtain or change the value of a variable
23904 object, or to change display format.
23906 Variable objects have hierarchical tree structure. Any variable object
23907 that corresponds to a composite type, such as structure in C, has
23908 a number of child variable objects, for example corresponding to each
23909 element of a structure. A child variable object can itself have
23910 children, recursively. Recursion ends when we reach
23911 leaf variable objects, which always have built-in types. Child variable
23912 objects are created only by explicit request, so if a frontend
23913 is not interested in the children of a particular variable object, no
23914 child will be created.
23916 For a leaf variable object it is possible to obtain its value as a
23917 string, or set the value from a string. String value can be also
23918 obtained for a non-leaf variable object, but it's generally a string
23919 that only indicates the type of the object, and does not list its
23920 contents. Assignment to a non-leaf variable object is not allowed.
23922 A frontend does not need to read the values of all variable objects each time
23923 the program stops. Instead, MI provides an update command that lists all
23924 variable objects whose values has changed since the last update
23925 operation. This considerably reduces the amount of data that must
23926 be transferred to the frontend. As noted above, children variable
23927 objects are created on demand, and only leaf variable objects have a
23928 real value. As result, gdb will read target memory only for leaf
23929 variables that frontend has created.
23931 The automatic update is not always desirable. For example, a frontend
23932 might want to keep a value of some expression for future reference,
23933 and never update it. For another example, fetching memory is
23934 relatively slow for embedded targets, so a frontend might want
23935 to disable automatic update for the variables that are either not
23936 visible on the screen, or ``closed''. This is possible using so
23937 called ``frozen variable objects''. Such variable objects are never
23938 implicitly updated.
23940 Variable objects can be either @dfn{fixed} or @dfn{floating}. For the
23941 fixed variable object, the expression is parsed when the variable
23942 object is created, including associating identifiers to specific
23943 variables. The meaning of expression never changes. For a floating
23944 variable object the values of variables whose names appear in the
23945 expressions are re-evaluated every time in the context of the current
23946 frame. Consider this example:
23951 struct work_state state;
23958 If a fixed variable object for the @code{state} variable is created in
23959 this function, and we enter the recursive call, the the variable
23960 object will report the value of @code{state} in the top-level
23961 @code{do_work} invocation. On the other hand, a floating variable
23962 object will report the value of @code{state} in the current frame.
23964 If an expression specified when creating a fixed variable object
23965 refers to a local variable, the variable object becomes bound to the
23966 thread and frame in which the variable object is created. When such
23967 variable object is updated, @value{GDBN} makes sure that the
23968 thread/frame combination the variable object is bound to still exists,
23969 and re-evaluates the variable object in context of that thread/frame.
23971 The following is the complete set of @sc{gdb/mi} operations defined to
23972 access this functionality:
23974 @multitable @columnfractions .4 .6
23975 @item @strong{Operation}
23976 @tab @strong{Description}
23978 @item @code{-enable-pretty-printing}
23979 @tab enable Python-based pretty-printing
23980 @item @code{-var-create}
23981 @tab create a variable object
23982 @item @code{-var-delete}
23983 @tab delete the variable object and/or its children
23984 @item @code{-var-set-format}
23985 @tab set the display format of this variable
23986 @item @code{-var-show-format}
23987 @tab show the display format of this variable
23988 @item @code{-var-info-num-children}
23989 @tab tells how many children this object has
23990 @item @code{-var-list-children}
23991 @tab return a list of the object's children
23992 @item @code{-var-info-type}
23993 @tab show the type of this variable object
23994 @item @code{-var-info-expression}
23995 @tab print parent-relative expression that this variable object represents
23996 @item @code{-var-info-path-expression}
23997 @tab print full expression that this variable object represents
23998 @item @code{-var-show-attributes}
23999 @tab is this variable editable? does it exist here?
24000 @item @code{-var-evaluate-expression}
24001 @tab get the value of this variable
24002 @item @code{-var-assign}
24003 @tab set the value of this variable
24004 @item @code{-var-update}
24005 @tab update the variable and its children
24006 @item @code{-var-set-frozen}
24007 @tab set frozeness attribute
24008 @item @code{-var-set-update-range}
24009 @tab set range of children to display on update
24012 In the next subsection we describe each operation in detail and suggest
24013 how it can be used.
24015 @subheading Description And Use of Operations on Variable Objects
24017 @subheading The @code{-enable-pretty-printing} Command
24018 @findex -enable-pretty-printing
24021 -enable-pretty-printing
24024 @value{GDBN} allows Python-based visualizers to affect the output of the
24025 MI variable object commands. However, because there was no way to
24026 implement this in a fully backward-compatible way, a front end must
24027 request that this functionality be enabled.
24029 Once enabled, this feature cannot be disabled.
24031 Note that if Python support has not been compiled into @value{GDBN},
24032 this command will still succeed (and do nothing).
24034 This feature is currently (as of @value{GDBN} 7.0) experimental, and
24035 may work differently in future versions of @value{GDBN}.
24037 @subheading The @code{-var-create} Command
24038 @findex -var-create
24040 @subsubheading Synopsis
24043 -var-create @{@var{name} | "-"@}
24044 @{@var{frame-addr} | "*" | "@@"@} @var{expression}
24047 This operation creates a variable object, which allows the monitoring of
24048 a variable, the result of an expression, a memory cell or a CPU
24051 The @var{name} parameter is the string by which the object can be
24052 referenced. It must be unique. If @samp{-} is specified, the varobj
24053 system will generate a string ``varNNNNNN'' automatically. It will be
24054 unique provided that one does not specify @var{name} of that format.
24055 The command fails if a duplicate name is found.
24057 The frame under which the expression should be evaluated can be
24058 specified by @var{frame-addr}. A @samp{*} indicates that the current
24059 frame should be used. A @samp{@@} indicates that a floating variable
24060 object must be created.
24062 @var{expression} is any expression valid on the current language set (must not
24063 begin with a @samp{*}), or one of the following:
24067 @samp{*@var{addr}}, where @var{addr} is the address of a memory cell
24070 @samp{*@var{addr}-@var{addr}} --- a memory address range (TBD)
24073 @samp{$@var{regname}} --- a CPU register name
24076 @cindex dynamic varobj
24077 A varobj's contents may be provided by a Python-based pretty-printer. In this
24078 case the varobj is known as a @dfn{dynamic varobj}. Dynamic varobjs
24079 have slightly different semantics in some cases. If the
24080 @code{-enable-pretty-printing} command is not sent, then @value{GDBN}
24081 will never create a dynamic varobj. This ensures backward
24082 compatibility for existing clients.
24084 @subsubheading Result
24086 This operation returns attributes of the newly-created varobj. These
24091 The name of the varobj.
24094 The number of children of the varobj. This number is not necessarily
24095 reliable for a dynamic varobj. Instead, you must examine the
24096 @samp{has_more} attribute.
24099 The varobj's scalar value. For a varobj whose type is some sort of
24100 aggregate (e.g., a @code{struct}), or for a dynamic varobj, this value
24101 will not be interesting.
24104 The varobj's type. This is a string representation of the type, as
24105 would be printed by the @value{GDBN} CLI.
24108 If a variable object is bound to a specific thread, then this is the
24109 thread's identifier.
24112 For a dynamic varobj, this indicates whether there appear to be any
24113 children available. For a non-dynamic varobj, this will be 0.
24116 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
24117 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
24118 then this attribute will not be present.
24121 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
24122 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
24123 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing}.
24126 Typical output will look like this:
24129 name="@var{name}",numchild="@var{N}",type="@var{type}",thread-id="@var{M}",
24130 has_more="@var{has_more}"
24134 @subheading The @code{-var-delete} Command
24135 @findex -var-delete
24137 @subsubheading Synopsis
24140 -var-delete [ -c ] @var{name}
24143 Deletes a previously created variable object and all of its children.
24144 With the @samp{-c} option, just deletes the children.
24146 Returns an error if the object @var{name} is not found.
24149 @subheading The @code{-var-set-format} Command
24150 @findex -var-set-format
24152 @subsubheading Synopsis
24155 -var-set-format @var{name} @var{format-spec}
24158 Sets the output format for the value of the object @var{name} to be
24161 @anchor{-var-set-format}
24162 The syntax for the @var{format-spec} is as follows:
24165 @var{format-spec} @expansion{}
24166 @{binary | decimal | hexadecimal | octal | natural@}
24169 The natural format is the default format choosen automatically
24170 based on the variable type (like decimal for an @code{int}, hex
24171 for pointers, etc.).
24173 For a variable with children, the format is set only on the
24174 variable itself, and the children are not affected.
24176 @subheading The @code{-var-show-format} Command
24177 @findex -var-show-format
24179 @subsubheading Synopsis
24182 -var-show-format @var{name}
24185 Returns the format used to display the value of the object @var{name}.
24188 @var{format} @expansion{}
24193 @subheading The @code{-var-info-num-children} Command
24194 @findex -var-info-num-children
24196 @subsubheading Synopsis
24199 -var-info-num-children @var{name}
24202 Returns the number of children of a variable object @var{name}:
24208 Note that this number is not completely reliable for a dynamic varobj.
24209 It will return the current number of children, but more children may
24213 @subheading The @code{-var-list-children} Command
24214 @findex -var-list-children
24216 @subsubheading Synopsis
24219 -var-list-children [@var{print-values}] @var{name} [@var{from} @var{to}]
24221 @anchor{-var-list-children}
24223 Return a list of the children of the specified variable object and
24224 create variable objects for them, if they do not already exist. With
24225 a single argument or if @var{print-values} has a value for of 0 or
24226 @code{--no-values}, print only the names of the variables; if
24227 @var{print-values} is 1 or @code{--all-values}, also print their
24228 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values} print the name and
24229 value for simple data types and just the name for arrays, structures
24232 @var{from} and @var{to}, if specified, indicate the range of children
24233 to report. If @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is
24234 reset and all children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting
24235 at @var{from} (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be
24238 If a child range is requested, it will only affect the current call to
24239 @code{-var-list-children}, but not future calls to @code{-var-update}.
24240 For this, you must instead use @code{-var-set-update-range}. The
24241 intent of this approach is to enable a front end to implement any
24242 update approach it likes; for example, scrolling a view may cause the
24243 front end to request more children with @code{-var-list-children}, and
24244 then the front end could call @code{-var-set-update-range} with a
24245 different range to ensure that future updates are restricted to just
24248 For each child the following results are returned:
24253 Name of the variable object created for this child.
24256 The expression to be shown to the user by the front end to designate this child.
24257 For example this may be the name of a structure member.
24259 For a dynamic varobj, this value cannot be used to form an
24260 expression. There is no way to do this at all with a dynamic varobj.
24262 For C/C@t{++} structures there are several pseudo children returned to
24263 designate access qualifiers. For these pseudo children @var{exp} is
24264 @samp{public}, @samp{private}, or @samp{protected}. In this case the
24265 type and value are not present.
24267 A dynamic varobj will not report the access qualifying
24268 pseudo-children, regardless of the language. This information is not
24269 available at all with a dynamic varobj.
24272 Number of children this child has. For a dynamic varobj, this will be
24276 The type of the child.
24279 If values were requested, this is the value.
24282 If this variable object is associated with a thread, this is the thread id.
24283 Otherwise this result is not present.
24286 If the variable object is frozen, this variable will be present with a value of 1.
24289 The result may have its own attributes:
24293 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
24294 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
24295 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing}.
24298 This is an integer attribute which is nonzero if there are children
24299 remaining after the end of the selected range.
24302 @subsubheading Example
24306 -var-list-children n
24307 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
24308 numchild=@var{n},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
24310 -var-list-children --all-values n
24311 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
24312 numchild=@var{n},value=@var{value},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
24316 @subheading The @code{-var-info-type} Command
24317 @findex -var-info-type
24319 @subsubheading Synopsis
24322 -var-info-type @var{name}
24325 Returns the type of the specified variable @var{name}. The type is
24326 returned as a string in the same format as it is output by the
24330 type=@var{typename}
24334 @subheading The @code{-var-info-expression} Command
24335 @findex -var-info-expression
24337 @subsubheading Synopsis
24340 -var-info-expression @var{name}
24343 Returns a string that is suitable for presenting this
24344 variable object in user interface. The string is generally
24345 not valid expression in the current language, and cannot be evaluated.
24347 For example, if @code{a} is an array, and variable object
24348 @code{A} was created for @code{a}, then we'll get this output:
24351 (gdb) -var-info-expression A.1
24352 ^done,lang="C",exp="1"
24356 Here, the values of @code{lang} can be @code{@{"C" | "C++" | "Java"@}}.
24358 Note that the output of the @code{-var-list-children} command also
24359 includes those expressions, so the @code{-var-info-expression} command
24362 @subheading The @code{-var-info-path-expression} Command
24363 @findex -var-info-path-expression
24365 @subsubheading Synopsis
24368 -var-info-path-expression @var{name}
24371 Returns an expression that can be evaluated in the current
24372 context and will yield the same value that a variable object has.
24373 Compare this with the @code{-var-info-expression} command, which
24374 result can be used only for UI presentation. Typical use of
24375 the @code{-var-info-path-expression} command is creating a
24376 watchpoint from a variable object.
24378 This command is currently not valid for children of a dynamic varobj,
24379 and will give an error when invoked on one.
24381 For example, suppose @code{C} is a C@t{++} class, derived from class
24382 @code{Base}, and that the @code{Base} class has a member called
24383 @code{m_size}. Assume a variable @code{c} is has the type of
24384 @code{C} and a variable object @code{C} was created for variable
24385 @code{c}. Then, we'll get this output:
24387 (gdb) -var-info-path-expression C.Base.public.m_size
24388 ^done,path_expr=((Base)c).m_size)
24391 @subheading The @code{-var-show-attributes} Command
24392 @findex -var-show-attributes
24394 @subsubheading Synopsis
24397 -var-show-attributes @var{name}
24400 List attributes of the specified variable object @var{name}:
24403 status=@var{attr} [ ( ,@var{attr} )* ]
24407 where @var{attr} is @code{@{ @{ editable | noneditable @} | TBD @}}.
24409 @subheading The @code{-var-evaluate-expression} Command
24410 @findex -var-evaluate-expression
24412 @subsubheading Synopsis
24415 -var-evaluate-expression [-f @var{format-spec}] @var{name}
24418 Evaluates the expression that is represented by the specified variable
24419 object and returns its value as a string. The format of the string
24420 can be specified with the @samp{-f} option. The possible values of
24421 this option are the same as for @code{-var-set-format}
24422 (@pxref{-var-set-format}). If the @samp{-f} option is not specified,
24423 the current display format will be used. The current display format
24424 can be changed using the @code{-var-set-format} command.
24430 Note that one must invoke @code{-var-list-children} for a variable
24431 before the value of a child variable can be evaluated.
24433 @subheading The @code{-var-assign} Command
24434 @findex -var-assign
24436 @subsubheading Synopsis
24439 -var-assign @var{name} @var{expression}
24442 Assigns the value of @var{expression} to the variable object specified
24443 by @var{name}. The object must be @samp{editable}. If the variable's
24444 value is altered by the assign, the variable will show up in any
24445 subsequent @code{-var-update} list.
24447 @subsubheading Example
24455 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",in_scope="true",type_changed="false"@}]
24459 @subheading The @code{-var-update} Command
24460 @findex -var-update
24462 @subsubheading Synopsis
24465 -var-update [@var{print-values}] @{@var{name} | "*"@}
24468 Reevaluate the expressions corresponding to the variable object
24469 @var{name} and all its direct and indirect children, and return the
24470 list of variable objects whose values have changed; @var{name} must
24471 be a root variable object. Here, ``changed'' means that the result of
24472 @code{-var-evaluate-expression} before and after the
24473 @code{-var-update} is different. If @samp{*} is used as the variable
24474 object names, all existing variable objects are updated, except
24475 for frozen ones (@pxref{-var-set-frozen}). The option
24476 @var{print-values} determines whether both names and values, or just
24477 names are printed. The possible values of this option are the same
24478 as for @code{-var-list-children} (@pxref{-var-list-children}). It is
24479 recommended to use the @samp{--all-values} option, to reduce the
24480 number of MI commands needed on each program stop.
24482 With the @samp{*} parameter, if a variable object is bound to a
24483 currently running thread, it will not be updated, without any
24486 If @code{-var-set-update-range} was previously used on a varobj, then
24487 only the selected range of children will be reported.
24489 @code{-var-update} reports all the changed varobjs in a tuple named
24492 Each item in the change list is itself a tuple holding:
24496 The name of the varobj.
24499 If values were requested for this update, then this field will be
24500 present and will hold the value of the varobj.
24503 @anchor{-var-update}
24504 This field is a string which may take one of three values:
24508 The variable object's current value is valid.
24511 The variable object does not currently hold a valid value but it may
24512 hold one in the future if its associated expression comes back into
24516 The variable object no longer holds a valid value.
24517 This can occur when the executable file being debugged has changed,
24518 either through recompilation or by using the @value{GDBN} @code{file}
24519 command. The front end should normally choose to delete these variable
24523 In the future new values may be added to this list so the front should
24524 be prepared for this possibility. @xref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, ,@sc{GDB/MI} Development and Front Ends}.
24527 This is only present if the varobj is still valid. If the type
24528 changed, then this will be the string @samp{true}; otherwise it will
24532 If the varobj's type changed, then this field will be present and will
24535 @item new_num_children
24536 For a dynamic varobj, if the number of children changed, or if the
24537 type changed, this will be the new number of children.
24539 The @samp{numchild} field in other varobj responses is generally not
24540 valid for a dynamic varobj -- it will show the number of children that
24541 @value{GDBN} knows about, but because dynamic varobjs lazily
24542 instantiate their children, this will not reflect the number of
24543 children which may be available.
24545 The @samp{new_num_children} attribute only reports changes to the
24546 number of children known by @value{GDBN}. This is the only way to
24547 detect whether an update has removed children (which necessarily can
24548 only happen at the end of the update range).
24551 The display hint, if any.
24554 This is an integer value, which will be 1 if there are more children
24555 available outside the varobj's update range.
24558 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
24559 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
24560 then this attribute will not be present.
24563 If new children were added to a dynamic varobj within the selected
24564 update range (as set by @code{-var-set-update-range}), then they will
24565 be listed in this attribute.
24568 @subsubheading Example
24575 -var-update --all-values var1
24576 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",value="3",in_scope="true",
24577 type_changed="false"@}]
24581 @subheading The @code{-var-set-frozen} Command
24582 @findex -var-set-frozen
24583 @anchor{-var-set-frozen}
24585 @subsubheading Synopsis
24588 -var-set-frozen @var{name} @var{flag}
24591 Set the frozenness flag on the variable object @var{name}. The
24592 @var{flag} parameter should be either @samp{1} to make the variable
24593 frozen or @samp{0} to make it unfrozen. If a variable object is
24594 frozen, then neither itself, nor any of its children, are
24595 implicitly updated by @code{-var-update} of
24596 a parent variable or by @code{-var-update *}. Only
24597 @code{-var-update} of the variable itself will update its value and
24598 values of its children. After a variable object is unfrozen, it is
24599 implicitly updated by all subsequent @code{-var-update} operations.
24600 Unfreezing a variable does not update it, only subsequent
24601 @code{-var-update} does.
24603 @subsubheading Example
24607 -var-set-frozen V 1
24612 @subheading The @code{-var-set-update-range} command
24613 @findex -var-set-update-range
24614 @anchor{-var-set-update-range}
24616 @subsubheading Synopsis
24619 -var-set-update-range @var{name} @var{from} @var{to}
24622 Set the range of children to be returned by future invocations of
24623 @code{-var-update}.
24625 @var{from} and @var{to} indicate the range of children to report. If
24626 @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is reset and all
24627 children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting at @var{from}
24628 (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be reported.
24630 @subsubheading Example
24634 -var-set-update-range V 1 2
24638 @subheading The @code{-var-set-visualizer} command
24639 @findex -var-set-visualizer
24640 @anchor{-var-set-visualizer}
24642 @subsubheading Synopsis
24645 -var-set-visualizer @var{name} @var{visualizer}
24648 Set a visualizer for the variable object @var{name}.
24650 @var{visualizer} is the visualizer to use. The special value
24651 @samp{None} means to disable any visualizer in use.
24653 If not @samp{None}, @var{visualizer} must be a Python expression.
24654 This expression must evaluate to a callable object which accepts a
24655 single argument. @value{GDBN} will call this object with the value of
24656 the varobj @var{name} as an argument (this is done so that the same
24657 Python pretty-printing code can be used for both the CLI and MI).
24658 When called, this object must return an object which conforms to the
24659 pretty-printing interface (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
24661 The pre-defined function @code{gdb.default_visualizer} may be used to
24662 select a visualizer by following the built-in process
24663 (@pxref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}). This is done automatically when
24664 a varobj is created, and so ordinarily is not needed.
24666 This feature is only available if Python support is enabled. The MI
24667 command @code{-list-features} (@pxref{GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands})
24668 can be used to check this.
24670 @subsubheading Example
24672 Resetting the visualizer:
24676 -var-set-visualizer V None
24680 Reselecting the default (type-based) visualizer:
24684 -var-set-visualizer V gdb.default_visualizer
24688 Suppose @code{SomeClass} is a visualizer class. A lambda expression
24689 can be used to instantiate this class for a varobj:
24693 -var-set-visualizer V "lambda val: SomeClass()"
24697 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
24698 @node GDB/MI Data Manipulation
24699 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Data Manipulation
24701 @cindex data manipulation, in @sc{gdb/mi}
24702 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, data manipulation
24703 This section describes the @sc{gdb/mi} commands that manipulate data:
24704 examine memory and registers, evaluate expressions, etc.
24706 @c REMOVED FROM THE INTERFACE.
24707 @c @subheading -data-assign
24708 @c Change the value of a program variable. Plenty of side effects.
24709 @c @subsubheading GDB Command
24711 @c @subsubheading Example
24714 @subheading The @code{-data-disassemble} Command
24715 @findex -data-disassemble
24717 @subsubheading Synopsis
24721 [ -s @var{start-addr} -e @var{end-addr} ]
24722 | [ -f @var{filename} -l @var{linenum} [ -n @var{lines} ] ]
24730 @item @var{start-addr}
24731 is the beginning address (or @code{$pc})
24732 @item @var{end-addr}
24734 @item @var{filename}
24735 is the name of the file to disassemble
24736 @item @var{linenum}
24737 is the line number to disassemble around
24739 is the number of disassembly lines to be produced. If it is -1,
24740 the whole function will be disassembled, in case no @var{end-addr} is
24741 specified. If @var{end-addr} is specified as a non-zero value, and
24742 @var{lines} is lower than the number of disassembly lines between
24743 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only @var{lines} lines are
24744 displayed; if @var{lines} is higher than the number of lines between
24745 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only the lines up to @var{end-addr}
24748 is either 0 (meaning only disassembly) or 1 (meaning mixed source and
24752 @subsubheading Result
24754 The output for each instruction is composed of four fields:
24763 Note that whatever included in the instruction field, is not manipulated
24764 directly by @sc{gdb/mi}, i.e., it is not possible to adjust its format.
24766 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24768 There's no direct mapping from this command to the CLI.
24770 @subsubheading Example
24772 Disassemble from the current value of @code{$pc} to @code{$pc + 20}:
24776 -data-disassemble -s $pc -e "$pc + 20" -- 0
24779 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
24780 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
24781 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
24782 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
24783 @{address="0x000107c8",func-name="main",offset="12",
24784 inst="or %o2, 0x140, %o1\t! 0x11940 <_lib_version+8>"@},
24785 @{address="0x000107cc",func-name="main",offset="16",
24786 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
24787 @{address="0x000107d0",func-name="main",offset="20",
24788 inst="or %o2, 0x168, %o4\t! 0x11968 <_lib_version+48>"@}]
24792 Disassemble the whole @code{main} function. Line 32 is part of
24796 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -- 0
24798 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
24799 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
24800 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
24801 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
24802 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
24803 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
24805 @{address="0x0001081c",func-name="main",offset="96",inst="ret "@},
24806 @{address="0x00010820",func-name="main",offset="100",inst="restore "@}]
24810 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main}:
24814 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 0
24816 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
24817 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
24818 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
24819 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
24820 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
24821 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]
24825 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main} in mixed mode:
24829 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 1
24831 src_and_asm_line=@{line="31",
24832 file="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb/ \
24833 testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line_asm_insn=[
24834 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
24835 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@}]@},
24836 src_and_asm_line=@{line="32",
24837 file="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb/ \
24838 testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line_asm_insn=[
24839 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
24840 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
24841 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
24842 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]@}]
24847 @subheading The @code{-data-evaluate-expression} Command
24848 @findex -data-evaluate-expression
24850 @subsubheading Synopsis
24853 -data-evaluate-expression @var{expr}
24856 Evaluate @var{expr} as an expression. The expression could contain an
24857 inferior function call. The function call will execute synchronously.
24858 If the expression contains spaces, it must be enclosed in double quotes.
24860 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24862 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{print}, @samp{output}, and
24863 @samp{call}. In @code{gdbtk} only, there's a corresponding
24864 @samp{gdb_eval} command.
24866 @subsubheading Example
24868 In the following example, the numbers that precede the commands are the
24869 @dfn{tokens} described in @ref{GDB/MI Command Syntax, ,@sc{gdb/mi}
24870 Command Syntax}. Notice how @sc{gdb/mi} returns the same tokens in its
24874 211-data-evaluate-expression A
24877 311-data-evaluate-expression &A
24878 311^done,value="0xefffeb7c"
24880 411-data-evaluate-expression A+3
24883 511-data-evaluate-expression "A + 3"
24889 @subheading The @code{-data-list-changed-registers} Command
24890 @findex -data-list-changed-registers
24892 @subsubheading Synopsis
24895 -data-list-changed-registers
24898 Display a list of the registers that have changed.
24900 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24902 @value{GDBN} doesn't have a direct analog for this command; @code{gdbtk}
24903 has the corresponding command @samp{gdb_changed_register_list}.
24905 @subsubheading Example
24907 On a PPC MBX board:
24915 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",frame=@{
24916 func="main",args=[],file="try.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",
24919 -data-list-changed-registers
24920 ^done,changed-registers=["0","1","2","4","5","6","7","8","9",
24921 "10","11","13","14","15","16","17","18","19","20","21","22","23",
24922 "24","25","26","27","28","30","31","64","65","66","67","69"]
24927 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-names} Command
24928 @findex -data-list-register-names
24930 @subsubheading Synopsis
24933 -data-list-register-names [ ( @var{regno} )+ ]
24936 Show a list of register names for the current target. If no arguments
24937 are given, it shows a list of the names of all the registers. If
24938 integer numbers are given as arguments, it will print a list of the
24939 names of the registers corresponding to the arguments. To ensure
24940 consistency between a register name and its number, the output list may
24941 include empty register names.
24943 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24945 @value{GDBN} does not have a command which corresponds to
24946 @samp{-data-list-register-names}. In @code{gdbtk} there is a
24947 corresponding command @samp{gdb_regnames}.
24949 @subsubheading Example
24951 For the PPC MBX board:
24954 -data-list-register-names
24955 ^done,register-names=["r0","r1","r2","r3","r4","r5","r6","r7",
24956 "r8","r9","r10","r11","r12","r13","r14","r15","r16","r17","r18",
24957 "r19","r20","r21","r22","r23","r24","r25","r26","r27","r28","r29",
24958 "r30","r31","f0","f1","f2","f3","f4","f5","f6","f7","f8","f9",
24959 "f10","f11","f12","f13","f14","f15","f16","f17","f18","f19","f20",
24960 "f21","f22","f23","f24","f25","f26","f27","f28","f29","f30","f31",
24961 "", "pc","ps","cr","lr","ctr","xer"]
24963 -data-list-register-names 1 2 3
24964 ^done,register-names=["r1","r2","r3"]
24968 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-values} Command
24969 @findex -data-list-register-values
24971 @subsubheading Synopsis
24974 -data-list-register-values @var{fmt} [ ( @var{regno} )*]
24977 Display the registers' contents. @var{fmt} is the format according to
24978 which the registers' contents are to be returned, followed by an optional
24979 list of numbers specifying the registers to display. A missing list of
24980 numbers indicates that the contents of all the registers must be returned.
24982 Allowed formats for @var{fmt} are:
24999 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25001 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{info reg}, @samp{info
25002 all-reg}, and (in @code{gdbtk}) @samp{gdb_fetch_registers}.
25004 @subsubheading Example
25006 For a PPC MBX board (note: line breaks are for readability only, they
25007 don't appear in the actual output):
25011 -data-list-register-values r 64 65
25012 ^done,register-values=[@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
25013 @{number="65",value="0x00029002"@}]
25015 -data-list-register-values x
25016 ^done,register-values=[@{number="0",value="0xfe0043c8"@},
25017 @{number="1",value="0x3fff88"@},@{number="2",value="0xfffffffe"@},
25018 @{number="3",value="0x0"@},@{number="4",value="0xa"@},
25019 @{number="5",value="0x3fff68"@},@{number="6",value="0x3fff58"@},
25020 @{number="7",value="0xfe011e98"@},@{number="8",value="0x2"@},
25021 @{number="9",value="0xfa202820"@},@{number="10",value="0xfa202808"@},
25022 @{number="11",value="0x1"@},@{number="12",value="0x0"@},
25023 @{number="13",value="0x4544"@},@{number="14",value="0xffdfffff"@},
25024 @{number="15",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="16",value="0xfffffeff"@},
25025 @{number="17",value="0xefffffed"@},@{number="18",value="0xfffffffe"@},
25026 @{number="19",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="20",value="0xffffffff"@},
25027 @{number="21",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="22",value="0xfffffff7"@},
25028 @{number="23",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="24",value="0xffffffff"@},
25029 @{number="25",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="26",value="0xfffffffb"@},
25030 @{number="27",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="28",value="0xf7bfffff"@},
25031 @{number="29",value="0x0"@},@{number="30",value="0xfe010000"@},
25032 @{number="31",value="0x0"@},@{number="32",value="0x0"@},
25033 @{number="33",value="0x0"@},@{number="34",value="0x0"@},
25034 @{number="35",value="0x0"@},@{number="36",value="0x0"@},
25035 @{number="37",value="0x0"@},@{number="38",value="0x0"@},
25036 @{number="39",value="0x0"@},@{number="40",value="0x0"@},
25037 @{number="41",value="0x0"@},@{number="42",value="0x0"@},
25038 @{number="43",value="0x0"@},@{number="44",value="0x0"@},
25039 @{number="45",value="0x0"@},@{number="46",value="0x0"@},
25040 @{number="47",value="0x0"@},@{number="48",value="0x0"@},
25041 @{number="49",value="0x0"@},@{number="50",value="0x0"@},
25042 @{number="51",value="0x0"@},@{number="52",value="0x0"@},
25043 @{number="53",value="0x0"@},@{number="54",value="0x0"@},
25044 @{number="55",value="0x0"@},@{number="56",value="0x0"@},
25045 @{number="57",value="0x0"@},@{number="58",value="0x0"@},
25046 @{number="59",value="0x0"@},@{number="60",value="0x0"@},
25047 @{number="61",value="0x0"@},@{number="62",value="0x0"@},
25048 @{number="63",value="0x0"@},@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
25049 @{number="65",value="0x29002"@},@{number="66",value="0x202f04b5"@},
25050 @{number="67",value="0xfe0043b0"@},@{number="68",value="0xfe00b3e4"@},
25051 @{number="69",value="0x20002b03"@}]
25056 @subheading The @code{-data-read-memory} Command
25057 @findex -data-read-memory
25059 @subsubheading Synopsis
25062 -data-read-memory [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
25063 @var{address} @var{word-format} @var{word-size}
25064 @var{nr-rows} @var{nr-cols} [ @var{aschar} ]
25071 @item @var{address}
25072 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
25073 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
25074 quoted using the C convention.
25076 @item @var{word-format}
25077 The format to be used to print the memory words. The notation is the
25078 same as for @value{GDBN}'s @code{print} command (@pxref{Output Formats,
25081 @item @var{word-size}
25082 The size of each memory word in bytes.
25084 @item @var{nr-rows}
25085 The number of rows in the output table.
25087 @item @var{nr-cols}
25088 The number of columns in the output table.
25091 If present, indicates that each row should include an @sc{ascii} dump. The
25092 value of @var{aschar} is used as a padding character when a byte is not a
25093 member of the printable @sc{ascii} character set (printable @sc{ascii}
25094 characters are those whose code is between 32 and 126, inclusively).
25096 @item @var{byte-offset}
25097 An offset to add to the @var{address} before fetching memory.
25100 This command displays memory contents as a table of @var{nr-rows} by
25101 @var{nr-cols} words, each word being @var{word-size} bytes. In total,
25102 @code{@var{nr-rows} * @var{nr-cols} * @var{word-size}} bytes are read
25103 (returned as @samp{total-bytes}). Should less than the requested number
25104 of bytes be returned by the target, the missing words are identified
25105 using @samp{N/A}. The number of bytes read from the target is returned
25106 in @samp{nr-bytes} and the starting address used to read memory in
25109 The address of the next/previous row or page is available in
25110 @samp{next-row} and @samp{prev-row}, @samp{next-page} and
25113 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25115 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}. @code{gdbtk} has
25116 @samp{gdb_get_mem} memory read command.
25118 @subsubheading Example
25120 Read six bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+6} but then offset by
25121 @code{-6} bytes. Format as three rows of two columns. One byte per
25122 word. Display each word in hex.
25126 9-data-read-memory -o -6 -- bytes+6 x 1 3 2
25127 9^done,addr="0x00001390",nr-bytes="6",total-bytes="6",
25128 next-row="0x00001396",prev-row="0x0000138e",next-page="0x00001396",
25129 prev-page="0x0000138a",memory=[
25130 @{addr="0x00001390",data=["0x00","0x01"]@},
25131 @{addr="0x00001392",data=["0x02","0x03"]@},
25132 @{addr="0x00001394",data=["0x04","0x05"]@}]
25136 Read two bytes of memory starting at address @code{shorts + 64} and
25137 display as a single word formatted in decimal.
25141 5-data-read-memory shorts+64 d 2 1 1
25142 5^done,addr="0x00001510",nr-bytes="2",total-bytes="2",
25143 next-row="0x00001512",prev-row="0x0000150e",
25144 next-page="0x00001512",prev-page="0x0000150e",memory=[
25145 @{addr="0x00001510",data=["128"]@}]
25149 Read thirty two bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+16} and format
25150 as eight rows of four columns. Include a string encoding with @samp{x}
25151 used as the non-printable character.
25155 4-data-read-memory bytes+16 x 1 8 4 x
25156 4^done,addr="0x000013a0",nr-bytes="32",total-bytes="32",
25157 next-row="0x000013c0",prev-row="0x0000139c",
25158 next-page="0x000013c0",prev-page="0x00001380",memory=[
25159 @{addr="0x000013a0",data=["0x10","0x11","0x12","0x13"],ascii="xxxx"@},
25160 @{addr="0x000013a4",data=["0x14","0x15","0x16","0x17"],ascii="xxxx"@},
25161 @{addr="0x000013a8",data=["0x18","0x19","0x1a","0x1b"],ascii="xxxx"@},
25162 @{addr="0x000013ac",data=["0x1c","0x1d","0x1e","0x1f"],ascii="xxxx"@},
25163 @{addr="0x000013b0",data=["0x20","0x21","0x22","0x23"],ascii=" !\"#"@},
25164 @{addr="0x000013b4",data=["0x24","0x25","0x26","0x27"],ascii="$%&'"@},
25165 @{addr="0x000013b8",data=["0x28","0x29","0x2a","0x2b"],ascii="()*+"@},
25166 @{addr="0x000013bc",data=["0x2c","0x2d","0x2e","0x2f"],ascii=",-./"@}]
25170 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25171 @node GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands
25172 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Tracepoint Commands
25174 The tracepoint commands are not yet implemented.
25176 @c @subheading -trace-actions
25178 @c @subheading -trace-delete
25180 @c @subheading -trace-disable
25182 @c @subheading -trace-dump
25184 @c @subheading -trace-enable
25186 @c @subheading -trace-exists
25188 @c @subheading -trace-find
25190 @c @subheading -trace-frame-number
25192 @c @subheading -trace-info
25194 @c @subheading -trace-insert
25196 @c @subheading -trace-list
25198 @c @subheading -trace-pass-count
25200 @c @subheading -trace-save
25202 @c @subheading -trace-start
25204 @c @subheading -trace-stop
25207 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25208 @node GDB/MI Symbol Query
25209 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Symbol Query Commands
25213 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-address} Command
25214 @findex -symbol-info-address
25216 @subsubheading Synopsis
25219 -symbol-info-address @var{symbol}
25222 Describe where @var{symbol} is stored.
25224 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25226 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info address}.
25228 @subsubheading Example
25232 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-file} Command
25233 @findex -symbol-info-file
25235 @subsubheading Synopsis
25241 Show the file for the symbol.
25243 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25245 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command. @code{gdbtk} has
25246 @samp{gdb_find_file}.
25248 @subsubheading Example
25252 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-function} Command
25253 @findex -symbol-info-function
25255 @subsubheading Synopsis
25258 -symbol-info-function
25261 Show which function the symbol lives in.
25263 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25265 @samp{gdb_get_function} in @code{gdbtk}.
25267 @subsubheading Example
25271 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-line} Command
25272 @findex -symbol-info-line
25274 @subsubheading Synopsis
25280 Show the core addresses of the code for a source line.
25282 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25284 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info line}.
25285 @code{gdbtk} has the @samp{gdb_get_line} and @samp{gdb_get_file} commands.
25287 @subsubheading Example
25291 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-symbol} Command
25292 @findex -symbol-info-symbol
25294 @subsubheading Synopsis
25297 -symbol-info-symbol @var{addr}
25300 Describe what symbol is at location @var{addr}.
25302 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25304 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info symbol}.
25306 @subsubheading Example
25310 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-functions} Command
25311 @findex -symbol-list-functions
25313 @subsubheading Synopsis
25316 -symbol-list-functions
25319 List the functions in the executable.
25321 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25323 @samp{info functions} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_listfunc} and
25324 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
25326 @subsubheading Example
25331 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-lines} Command
25332 @findex -symbol-list-lines
25334 @subsubheading Synopsis
25337 -symbol-list-lines @var{filename}
25340 Print the list of lines that contain code and their associated program
25341 addresses for the given source filename. The entries are sorted in
25342 ascending PC order.
25344 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25346 There is no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
25348 @subsubheading Example
25351 -symbol-list-lines basics.c
25352 ^done,lines=[@{pc="0x08048554",line="7"@},@{pc="0x0804855a",line="8"@}]
25358 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-types} Command
25359 @findex -symbol-list-types
25361 @subsubheading Synopsis
25367 List all the type names.
25369 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25371 The corresponding commands are @samp{info types} in @value{GDBN},
25372 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
25374 @subsubheading Example
25378 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-variables} Command
25379 @findex -symbol-list-variables
25381 @subsubheading Synopsis
25384 -symbol-list-variables
25387 List all the global and static variable names.
25389 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25391 @samp{info variables} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
25393 @subsubheading Example
25397 @subheading The @code{-symbol-locate} Command
25398 @findex -symbol-locate
25400 @subsubheading Synopsis
25406 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25408 @samp{gdb_loc} in @code{gdbtk}.
25410 @subsubheading Example
25414 @subheading The @code{-symbol-type} Command
25415 @findex -symbol-type
25417 @subsubheading Synopsis
25420 -symbol-type @var{variable}
25423 Show type of @var{variable}.
25425 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25427 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ptype}, @code{gdbtk} has
25428 @samp{gdb_obj_variable}.
25430 @subsubheading Example
25435 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25436 @node GDB/MI File Commands
25437 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Commands
25439 This section describes the GDB/MI commands to specify executable file names
25440 and to read in and obtain symbol table information.
25442 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-and-symbols} Command
25443 @findex -file-exec-and-symbols
25445 @subsubheading Synopsis
25448 -file-exec-and-symbols @var{file}
25451 Specify the executable file to be debugged. This file is the one from
25452 which the symbol table is also read. If no file is specified, the
25453 command clears the executable and symbol information. If breakpoints
25454 are set when using this command with no arguments, @value{GDBN} will produce
25455 error messages. Otherwise, no output is produced, except a completion
25458 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25460 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{file}.
25462 @subsubheading Example
25466 -file-exec-and-symbols /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
25472 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-file} Command
25473 @findex -file-exec-file
25475 @subsubheading Synopsis
25478 -file-exec-file @var{file}
25481 Specify the executable file to be debugged. Unlike
25482 @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols}, the symbol table is @emph{not} read
25483 from this file. If used without argument, @value{GDBN} clears the information
25484 about the executable file. No output is produced, except a completion
25487 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25489 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{exec-file}.
25491 @subsubheading Example
25495 -file-exec-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
25502 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-sections} Command
25503 @findex -file-list-exec-sections
25505 @subsubheading Synopsis
25508 -file-list-exec-sections
25511 List the sections of the current executable file.
25513 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25515 The @value{GDBN} command @samp{info file} shows, among the rest, the same
25516 information as this command. @code{gdbtk} has a corresponding command
25517 @samp{gdb_load_info}.
25519 @subsubheading Example
25524 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-file} Command
25525 @findex -file-list-exec-source-file
25527 @subsubheading Synopsis
25530 -file-list-exec-source-file
25533 List the line number, the current source file, and the absolute path
25534 to the current source file for the current executable. The macro
25535 information field has a value of @samp{1} or @samp{0} depending on
25536 whether or not the file includes preprocessor macro information.
25538 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25540 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info source}
25542 @subsubheading Example
25546 123-file-list-exec-source-file
25547 123^done,line="1",file="foo.c",fullname="/home/bar/foo.c,macro-info="1"
25552 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-files} Command
25553 @findex -file-list-exec-source-files
25555 @subsubheading Synopsis
25558 -file-list-exec-source-files
25561 List the source files for the current executable.
25563 It will always output the filename, but only when @value{GDBN} can find
25564 the absolute file name of a source file, will it output the fullname.
25566 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25568 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info sources}.
25569 @code{gdbtk} has an analogous command @samp{gdb_listfiles}.
25571 @subsubheading Example
25574 -file-list-exec-source-files
25576 @{file=foo.c,fullname=/home/foo.c@},
25577 @{file=/home/bar.c,fullname=/home/bar.c@},
25578 @{file=gdb_could_not_find_fullpath.c@}]
25583 @subheading The @code{-file-list-shared-libraries} Command
25584 @findex -file-list-shared-libraries
25586 @subsubheading Synopsis
25589 -file-list-shared-libraries
25592 List the shared libraries in the program.
25594 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25596 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info shared}.
25598 @subsubheading Example
25602 @subheading The @code{-file-list-symbol-files} Command
25603 @findex -file-list-symbol-files
25605 @subsubheading Synopsis
25608 -file-list-symbol-files
25613 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25615 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info file} (part of it).
25617 @subsubheading Example
25622 @subheading The @code{-file-symbol-file} Command
25623 @findex -file-symbol-file
25625 @subsubheading Synopsis
25628 -file-symbol-file @var{file}
25631 Read symbol table info from the specified @var{file} argument. When
25632 used without arguments, clears @value{GDBN}'s symbol table info. No output is
25633 produced, except for a completion notification.
25635 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25637 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{symbol-file}.
25639 @subsubheading Example
25643 -file-symbol-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
25649 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25650 @node GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands
25651 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Memory Overlay Commands
25653 The memory overlay commands are not implemented.
25655 @c @subheading -overlay-auto
25657 @c @subheading -overlay-list-mapping-state
25659 @c @subheading -overlay-list-overlays
25661 @c @subheading -overlay-map
25663 @c @subheading -overlay-off
25665 @c @subheading -overlay-on
25667 @c @subheading -overlay-unmap
25669 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25670 @node GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands
25671 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Signal Handling Commands
25673 Signal handling commands are not implemented.
25675 @c @subheading -signal-handle
25677 @c @subheading -signal-list-handle-actions
25679 @c @subheading -signal-list-signal-types
25683 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25684 @node GDB/MI Target Manipulation
25685 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Target Manipulation Commands
25688 @subheading The @code{-target-attach} Command
25689 @findex -target-attach
25691 @subsubheading Synopsis
25694 -target-attach @var{pid} | @var{gid} | @var{file}
25697 Attach to a process @var{pid} or a file @var{file} outside of
25698 @value{GDBN}, or a thread group @var{gid}. If attaching to a thread
25699 group, the id previously returned by
25700 @samp{-list-thread-groups --available} must be used.
25702 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25704 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{attach}.
25706 @subsubheading Example
25710 =thread-created,id="1"
25711 *stopped,thread-id="1",frame=@{addr="0xb7f7e410",func="bar",args=[]@}
25717 @subheading The @code{-target-compare-sections} Command
25718 @findex -target-compare-sections
25720 @subsubheading Synopsis
25723 -target-compare-sections [ @var{section} ]
25726 Compare data of section @var{section} on target to the exec file.
25727 Without the argument, all sections are compared.
25729 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25731 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{compare-sections}.
25733 @subsubheading Example
25738 @subheading The @code{-target-detach} Command
25739 @findex -target-detach
25741 @subsubheading Synopsis
25744 -target-detach [ @var{pid} | @var{gid} ]
25747 Detach from the remote target which normally resumes its execution.
25748 If either @var{pid} or @var{gid} is specified, detaches from either
25749 the specified process, or specified thread group. There's no output.
25751 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25753 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{detach}.
25755 @subsubheading Example
25765 @subheading The @code{-target-disconnect} Command
25766 @findex -target-disconnect
25768 @subsubheading Synopsis
25774 Disconnect from the remote target. There's no output and the target is
25775 generally not resumed.
25777 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25779 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disconnect}.
25781 @subsubheading Example
25791 @subheading The @code{-target-download} Command
25792 @findex -target-download
25794 @subsubheading Synopsis
25800 Loads the executable onto the remote target.
25801 It prints out an update message every half second, which includes the fields:
25805 The name of the section.
25807 The size of what has been sent so far for that section.
25809 The size of the section.
25811 The total size of what was sent so far (the current and the previous sections).
25813 The size of the overall executable to download.
25817 Each message is sent as status record (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, ,
25818 @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax}).
25820 In addition, it prints the name and size of the sections, as they are
25821 downloaded. These messages include the following fields:
25825 The name of the section.
25827 The size of the section.
25829 The size of the overall executable to download.
25833 At the end, a summary is printed.
25835 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25837 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{load}.
25839 @subsubheading Example
25841 Note: each status message appears on a single line. Here the messages
25842 have been broken down so that they can fit onto a page.
25847 +download,@{section=".text",section-size="6668",total-size="9880"@}
25848 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="512",section-size="6668",
25849 total-sent="512",total-size="9880"@}
25850 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1024",section-size="6668",
25851 total-sent="1024",total-size="9880"@}
25852 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1536",section-size="6668",
25853 total-sent="1536",total-size="9880"@}
25854 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2048",section-size="6668",
25855 total-sent="2048",total-size="9880"@}
25856 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2560",section-size="6668",
25857 total-sent="2560",total-size="9880"@}
25858 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3072",section-size="6668",
25859 total-sent="3072",total-size="9880"@}
25860 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3584",section-size="6668",
25861 total-sent="3584",total-size="9880"@}
25862 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4096",section-size="6668",
25863 total-sent="4096",total-size="9880"@}
25864 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4608",section-size="6668",
25865 total-sent="4608",total-size="9880"@}
25866 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5120",section-size="6668",
25867 total-sent="5120",total-size="9880"@}
25868 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5632",section-size="6668",
25869 total-sent="5632",total-size="9880"@}
25870 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6144",section-size="6668",
25871 total-sent="6144",total-size="9880"@}
25872 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6656",section-size="6668",
25873 total-sent="6656",total-size="9880"@}
25874 +download,@{section=".init",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
25875 +download,@{section=".fini",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
25876 +download,@{section=".data",section-size="3156",total-size="9880"@}
25877 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="512",section-size="3156",
25878 total-sent="7236",total-size="9880"@}
25879 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1024",section-size="3156",
25880 total-sent="7748",total-size="9880"@}
25881 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1536",section-size="3156",
25882 total-sent="8260",total-size="9880"@}
25883 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2048",section-size="3156",
25884 total-sent="8772",total-size="9880"@}
25885 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2560",section-size="3156",
25886 total-sent="9284",total-size="9880"@}
25887 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="3072",section-size="3156",
25888 total-sent="9796",total-size="9880"@}
25889 ^done,address="0x10004",load-size="9880",transfer-rate="6586",
25896 @subheading The @code{-target-exec-status} Command
25897 @findex -target-exec-status
25899 @subsubheading Synopsis
25902 -target-exec-status
25905 Provide information on the state of the target (whether it is running or
25906 not, for instance).
25908 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25910 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
25912 @subsubheading Example
25916 @subheading The @code{-target-list-available-targets} Command
25917 @findex -target-list-available-targets
25919 @subsubheading Synopsis
25922 -target-list-available-targets
25925 List the possible targets to connect to.
25927 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25929 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{help target}.
25931 @subsubheading Example
25935 @subheading The @code{-target-list-current-targets} Command
25936 @findex -target-list-current-targets
25938 @subsubheading Synopsis
25941 -target-list-current-targets
25944 Describe the current target.
25946 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25948 The corresponding information is printed by @samp{info file} (among
25951 @subsubheading Example
25955 @subheading The @code{-target-list-parameters} Command
25956 @findex -target-list-parameters
25958 @subsubheading Synopsis
25961 -target-list-parameters
25967 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25971 @subsubheading Example
25975 @subheading The @code{-target-select} Command
25976 @findex -target-select
25978 @subsubheading Synopsis
25981 -target-select @var{type} @var{parameters @dots{}}
25984 Connect @value{GDBN} to the remote target. This command takes two args:
25988 The type of target, for instance @samp{remote}, etc.
25989 @item @var{parameters}
25990 Device names, host names and the like. @xref{Target Commands, ,
25991 Commands for Managing Targets}, for more details.
25994 The output is a connection notification, followed by the address at
25995 which the target program is, in the following form:
25998 ^connected,addr="@var{address}",func="@var{function name}",
25999 args=[@var{arg list}]
26002 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26004 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{target}.
26006 @subsubheading Example
26010 -target-select remote /dev/ttya
26011 ^connected,addr="0xfe00a300",func="??",args=[]
26015 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26016 @node GDB/MI File Transfer Commands
26017 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Transfer Commands
26020 @subheading The @code{-target-file-put} Command
26021 @findex -target-file-put
26023 @subsubheading Synopsis
26026 -target-file-put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
26029 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
26030 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
26032 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26034 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote put}.
26036 @subsubheading Example
26040 -target-file-put localfile remotefile
26046 @subheading The @code{-target-file-get} Command
26047 @findex -target-file-get
26049 @subsubheading Synopsis
26052 -target-file-get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
26055 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
26056 on the host system.
26058 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26060 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote get}.
26062 @subsubheading Example
26066 -target-file-get remotefile localfile
26072 @subheading The @code{-target-file-delete} Command
26073 @findex -target-file-delete
26075 @subsubheading Synopsis
26078 -target-file-delete @var{targetfile}
26081 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
26083 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26085 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote delete}.
26087 @subsubheading Example
26091 -target-file-delete remotefile
26097 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26098 @node GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands
26099 @section Miscellaneous @sc{gdb/mi} Commands
26101 @c @subheading -gdb-complete
26103 @subheading The @code{-gdb-exit} Command
26106 @subsubheading Synopsis
26112 Exit @value{GDBN} immediately.
26114 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26116 Approximately corresponds to @samp{quit}.
26118 @subsubheading Example
26128 @subheading The @code{-exec-abort} Command
26129 @findex -exec-abort
26131 @subsubheading Synopsis
26137 Kill the inferior running program.
26139 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26141 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{kill}.
26143 @subsubheading Example
26148 @subheading The @code{-gdb-set} Command
26151 @subsubheading Synopsis
26157 Set an internal @value{GDBN} variable.
26158 @c IS THIS A DOLLAR VARIABLE? OR SOMETHING LIKE ANNOTATE ?????
26160 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26162 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set}.
26164 @subsubheading Example
26174 @subheading The @code{-gdb-show} Command
26177 @subsubheading Synopsis
26183 Show the current value of a @value{GDBN} variable.
26185 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26187 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show}.
26189 @subsubheading Example
26198 @c @subheading -gdb-source
26201 @subheading The @code{-gdb-version} Command
26202 @findex -gdb-version
26204 @subsubheading Synopsis
26210 Show version information for @value{GDBN}. Used mostly in testing.
26212 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26214 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{show version}. @value{GDBN} by
26215 default shows this information when you start an interactive session.
26217 @subsubheading Example
26219 @c This example modifies the actual output from GDB to avoid overfull
26225 ~Copyright 2000 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
26226 ~GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License, and
26227 ~you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it under
26228 ~ certain conditions.
26229 ~Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
26230 ~There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty" for
26232 ~This GDB was configured as
26233 "--host=sparc-sun-solaris2.5.1 --target=ppc-eabi".
26238 @subheading The @code{-list-features} Command
26239 @findex -list-features
26241 Returns a list of particular features of the MI protocol that
26242 this version of gdb implements. A feature can be a command,
26243 or a new field in an output of some command, or even an
26244 important bugfix. While a frontend can sometimes detect presence
26245 of a feature at runtime, it is easier to perform detection at debugger
26248 The command returns a list of strings, with each string naming an
26249 available feature. Each returned string is just a name, it does not
26250 have any internal structure. The list of possible feature names
26256 (gdb) -list-features
26257 ^done,result=["feature1","feature2"]
26260 The current list of features is:
26263 @item frozen-varobjs
26264 Indicates presence of the @code{-var-set-frozen} command, as well
26265 as possible presense of the @code{frozen} field in the output
26266 of @code{-varobj-create}.
26267 @item pending-breakpoints
26268 Indicates presence of the @option{-f} option to the @code{-break-insert} command.
26270 Indicates presence of Python scripting support, Python-based
26271 pretty-printing commands, and possible presence of the
26272 @samp{display_hint} field in the output of @code{-var-list-children}
26274 Indicates presence of the @code{-thread-info} command.
26278 @subheading The @code{-list-target-features} Command
26279 @findex -list-target-features
26281 Returns a list of particular features that are supported by the
26282 target. Those features affect the permitted MI commands, but
26283 unlike the features reported by the @code{-list-features} command, the
26284 features depend on which target GDB is using at the moment. Whenever
26285 a target can change, due to commands such as @code{-target-select},
26286 @code{-target-attach} or @code{-exec-run}, the list of target features
26287 may change, and the frontend should obtain it again.
26291 (gdb) -list-features
26292 ^done,result=["async"]
26295 The current list of features is:
26299 Indicates that the target is capable of asynchronous command
26300 execution, which means that @value{GDBN} will accept further commands
26301 while the target is running.
26305 @subheading The @code{-list-thread-groups} Command
26306 @findex -list-thread-groups
26308 @subheading Synopsis
26311 -list-thread-groups [ --available ] [ @var{group} ]
26314 When used without the @var{group} parameter, lists top-level thread
26315 groups that are being debugged. When used with the @var{group}
26316 parameter, the children of the specified group are listed. The
26317 children can be either threads, or other groups. At present,
26318 @value{GDBN} will not report both threads and groups as children at
26319 the same time, but it may change in future.
26321 With the @samp{--available} option, instead of reporting groups that
26322 are been debugged, GDB will report all thread groups available on the
26323 target. Using the @samp{--available} option together with @var{group}
26326 @subheading Example
26330 -list-thread-groups
26331 ^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2"@}]
26332 -list-thread-groups 17
26333 ^done,threads=[@{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
26334 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",args=[]@},state="running"@},
26335 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
26336 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
26337 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},state="running"@}]]
26340 @subheading The @code{-interpreter-exec} Command
26341 @findex -interpreter-exec
26343 @subheading Synopsis
26346 -interpreter-exec @var{interpreter} @var{command}
26348 @anchor{-interpreter-exec}
26350 Execute the specified @var{command} in the given @var{interpreter}.
26352 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
26354 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interpreter-exec}.
26356 @subheading Example
26360 -interpreter-exec console "break main"
26361 &"During symbol reading, couldn't parse type; debugger out of date?.\n"
26362 &"During symbol reading, bad structure-type format.\n"
26363 ~"Breakpoint 1 at 0x8074fc6: file ../../src/gdb/main.c, line 743.\n"
26368 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-set} Command
26369 @findex -inferior-tty-set
26371 @subheading Synopsis
26374 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
26377 Set terminal for future runs of the program being debugged.
26379 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
26381 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set inferior-tty} /dev/pts/1.
26383 @subheading Example
26387 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
26392 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-show} Command
26393 @findex -inferior-tty-show
26395 @subheading Synopsis
26401 Show terminal for future runs of program being debugged.
26403 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
26405 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show inferior-tty}.
26407 @subheading Example
26411 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
26415 ^done,inferior_tty_terminal="/dev/pts/1"
26419 @subheading The @code{-enable-timings} Command
26420 @findex -enable-timings
26422 @subheading Synopsis
26425 -enable-timings [yes | no]
26428 Toggle the printing of the wallclock, user and system times for an MI
26429 command as a field in its output. This command is to help frontend
26430 developers optimize the performance of their code. No argument is
26431 equivalent to @samp{yes}.
26433 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
26437 @subheading Example
26445 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
26446 addr="0x080484ed",func="main",file="myprog.c",
26447 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73",times="0"@},
26448 time=@{wallclock="0.05185",user="0.00800",system="0.00000"@}
26456 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
26457 frame=@{addr="0x080484ed",func="main",args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},
26458 @{name="argv",value="0xbfb60364"@}],file="myprog.c",
26459 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73"@}
26464 @chapter @value{GDBN} Annotations
26466 This chapter describes annotations in @value{GDBN}. Annotations were
26467 designed to interface @value{GDBN} to graphical user interfaces or other
26468 similar programs which want to interact with @value{GDBN} at a
26469 relatively high level.
26471 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
26475 This is Edition @value{EDITION}, @value{DATE}.
26479 * Annotations Overview:: What annotations are; the general syntax.
26480 * Server Prefix:: Issuing a command without affecting user state.
26481 * Prompting:: Annotations marking @value{GDBN}'s need for input.
26482 * Errors:: Annotations for error messages.
26483 * Invalidation:: Some annotations describe things now invalid.
26484 * Annotations for Running::
26485 Whether the program is running, how it stopped, etc.
26486 * Source Annotations:: Annotations describing source code.
26489 @node Annotations Overview
26490 @section What is an Annotation?
26491 @cindex annotations
26493 Annotations start with a newline character, two @samp{control-z}
26494 characters, and the name of the annotation. If there is no additional
26495 information associated with this annotation, the name of the annotation
26496 is followed immediately by a newline. If there is additional
26497 information, the name of the annotation is followed by a space, the
26498 additional information, and a newline. The additional information
26499 cannot contain newline characters.
26501 Any output not beginning with a newline and two @samp{control-z}
26502 characters denotes literal output from @value{GDBN}. Currently there is
26503 no need for @value{GDBN} to output a newline followed by two
26504 @samp{control-z} characters, but if there was such a need, the
26505 annotations could be extended with an @samp{escape} annotation which
26506 means those three characters as output.
26508 The annotation @var{level}, which is specified using the
26509 @option{--annotate} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}), controls
26510 how much information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt,
26511 values of expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0
26512 is for no annotations, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a
26513 subprocess of @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable
26514 for programs that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 annotations have
26515 been made obsolete (@pxref{Limitations, , Limitations of the Annotation
26516 Interface, annotate, GDB's Obsolete Annotations}).
26519 @kindex set annotate
26520 @item set annotate @var{level}
26521 The @value{GDBN} command @code{set annotate} sets the level of
26522 annotations to the specified @var{level}.
26524 @item show annotate
26525 @kindex show annotate
26526 Show the current annotation level.
26529 This chapter describes level 3 annotations.
26531 A simple example of starting up @value{GDBN} with annotations is:
26534 $ @kbd{gdb --annotate=3}
26536 Copyright 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
26537 GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License,
26538 and you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it
26539 under certain conditions.
26540 Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
26541 There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty"
26543 This GDB was configured as "i386-pc-linux-gnu"
26554 Here @samp{quit} is input to @value{GDBN}; the rest is output from
26555 @value{GDBN}. The three lines beginning @samp{^Z^Z} (where @samp{^Z}
26556 denotes a @samp{control-z} character) are annotations; the rest is
26557 output from @value{GDBN}.
26559 @node Server Prefix
26560 @section The Server Prefix
26561 @cindex server prefix
26563 If you prefix a command with @samp{server } then it will not affect
26564 the command history, nor will it affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which
26565 command to repeat if @key{RET} is pressed on a line by itself. This
26566 means that commands can be run behind a user's back by a front-end in
26567 a transparent manner.
26569 The @code{server } prefix does not affect the recording of values into
26570 the value history; to print a value without recording it into the
26571 value history, use the @code{output} command instead of the
26572 @code{print} command.
26574 Using this prefix also disables confirmation requests
26575 (@pxref{confirmation requests}).
26578 @section Annotation for @value{GDBN} Input
26580 @cindex annotations for prompts
26581 When @value{GDBN} prompts for input, it annotates this fact so it is possible
26582 to know when to send output, when the output from a given command is
26585 Different kinds of input each have a different @dfn{input type}. Each
26586 input type has three annotations: a @code{pre-} annotation, which
26587 denotes the beginning of any prompt which is being output, a plain
26588 annotation, which denotes the end of the prompt, and then a @code{post-}
26589 annotation which denotes the end of any echo which may (or may not) be
26590 associated with the input. For example, the @code{prompt} input type
26591 features the following annotations:
26599 The input types are
26602 @findex pre-prompt annotation
26603 @findex prompt annotation
26604 @findex post-prompt annotation
26606 When @value{GDBN} is prompting for a command (the main @value{GDBN} prompt).
26608 @findex pre-commands annotation
26609 @findex commands annotation
26610 @findex post-commands annotation
26612 When @value{GDBN} prompts for a set of commands, like in the @code{commands}
26613 command. The annotations are repeated for each command which is input.
26615 @findex pre-overload-choice annotation
26616 @findex overload-choice annotation
26617 @findex post-overload-choice annotation
26618 @item overload-choice
26619 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to select between various overloaded functions.
26621 @findex pre-query annotation
26622 @findex query annotation
26623 @findex post-query annotation
26625 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to confirm a potentially dangerous operation.
26627 @findex pre-prompt-for-continue annotation
26628 @findex prompt-for-continue annotation
26629 @findex post-prompt-for-continue annotation
26630 @item prompt-for-continue
26631 When @value{GDBN} is asking the user to press return to continue. Note: Don't
26632 expect this to work well; instead use @code{set height 0} to disable
26633 prompting. This is because the counting of lines is buggy in the
26634 presence of annotations.
26639 @cindex annotations for errors, warnings and interrupts
26641 @findex quit annotation
26646 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an interrupt.
26648 @findex error annotation
26653 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an error.
26655 Quit and error annotations indicate that any annotations which @value{GDBN} was
26656 in the middle of may end abruptly. For example, if a
26657 @code{value-history-begin} annotation is followed by a @code{error}, one
26658 cannot expect to receive the matching @code{value-history-end}. One
26659 cannot expect not to receive it either, however; an error annotation
26660 does not necessarily mean that @value{GDBN} is immediately returning all the way
26663 @findex error-begin annotation
26664 A quit or error annotation may be preceded by
26670 Any output between that and the quit or error annotation is the error
26673 Warning messages are not yet annotated.
26674 @c If we want to change that, need to fix warning(), type_error(),
26675 @c range_error(), and possibly other places.
26678 @section Invalidation Notices
26680 @cindex annotations for invalidation messages
26681 The following annotations say that certain pieces of state may have
26685 @findex frames-invalid annotation
26686 @item ^Z^Zframes-invalid
26688 The frames (for example, output from the @code{backtrace} command) may
26691 @findex breakpoints-invalid annotation
26692 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoints-invalid
26694 The breakpoints may have changed. For example, the user just added or
26695 deleted a breakpoint.
26698 @node Annotations for Running
26699 @section Running the Program
26700 @cindex annotations for running programs
26702 @findex starting annotation
26703 @findex stopping annotation
26704 When the program starts executing due to a @value{GDBN} command such as
26705 @code{step} or @code{continue},
26711 is output. When the program stops,
26717 is output. Before the @code{stopped} annotation, a variety of
26718 annotations describe how the program stopped.
26721 @findex exited annotation
26722 @item ^Z^Zexited @var{exit-status}
26723 The program exited, and @var{exit-status} is the exit status (zero for
26724 successful exit, otherwise nonzero).
26726 @findex signalled annotation
26727 @findex signal-name annotation
26728 @findex signal-name-end annotation
26729 @findex signal-string annotation
26730 @findex signal-string-end annotation
26731 @item ^Z^Zsignalled
26732 The program exited with a signal. After the @code{^Z^Zsignalled}, the
26733 annotation continues:
26739 ^Z^Zsignal-name-end
26743 ^Z^Zsignal-string-end
26748 where @var{name} is the name of the signal, such as @code{SIGILL} or
26749 @code{SIGSEGV}, and @var{string} is the explanation of the signal, such
26750 as @code{Illegal Instruction} or @code{Segmentation fault}.
26751 @var{intro-text}, @var{middle-text}, and @var{end-text} are for the
26752 user's benefit and have no particular format.
26754 @findex signal annotation
26756 The syntax of this annotation is just like @code{signalled}, but @value{GDBN} is
26757 just saying that the program received the signal, not that it was
26758 terminated with it.
26760 @findex breakpoint annotation
26761 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoint @var{number}
26762 The program hit breakpoint number @var{number}.
26764 @findex watchpoint annotation
26765 @item ^Z^Zwatchpoint @var{number}
26766 The program hit watchpoint number @var{number}.
26769 @node Source Annotations
26770 @section Displaying Source
26771 @cindex annotations for source display
26773 @findex source annotation
26774 The following annotation is used instead of displaying source code:
26777 ^Z^Zsource @var{filename}:@var{line}:@var{character}:@var{middle}:@var{addr}
26780 where @var{filename} is an absolute file name indicating which source
26781 file, @var{line} is the line number within that file (where 1 is the
26782 first line in the file), @var{character} is the character position
26783 within the file (where 0 is the first character in the file) (for most
26784 debug formats this will necessarily point to the beginning of a line),
26785 @var{middle} is @samp{middle} if @var{addr} is in the middle of the
26786 line, or @samp{beg} if @var{addr} is at the beginning of the line, and
26787 @var{addr} is the address in the target program associated with the
26788 source which is being displayed. @var{addr} is in the form @samp{0x}
26789 followed by one or more lowercase hex digits (note that this does not
26790 depend on the language).
26792 @node JIT Interface
26793 @chapter JIT Compilation Interface
26794 @cindex just-in-time compilation
26795 @cindex JIT compilation interface
26797 This chapter documents @value{GDBN}'s @dfn{just-in-time} (JIT) compilation
26798 interface. A JIT compiler is a program or library that generates native
26799 executable code at runtime and executes it, usually in order to achieve good
26800 performance while maintaining platform independence.
26802 Programs that use JIT compilation are normally difficult to debug because
26803 portions of their code are generated at runtime, instead of being loaded from
26804 object files, which is where @value{GDBN} normally finds the program's symbols
26805 and debug information. In order to debug programs that use JIT compilation,
26806 @value{GDBN} has an interface that allows the program to register in-memory
26807 symbol files with @value{GDBN} at runtime.
26809 If you are using @value{GDBN} to debug a program that uses this interface, then
26810 it should work transparently so long as you have not stripped the binary. If
26811 you are developing a JIT compiler, then the interface is documented in the rest
26812 of this chapter. At this time, the only known client of this interface is the
26815 Broadly speaking, the JIT interface mirrors the dynamic loader interface. The
26816 JIT compiler communicates with @value{GDBN} by writing data into a global
26817 variable and calling a fuction at a well-known symbol. When @value{GDBN}
26818 attaches, it reads a linked list of symbol files from the global variable to
26819 find existing code, and puts a breakpoint in the function so that it can find
26820 out about additional code.
26823 * Declarations:: Relevant C struct declarations
26824 * Registering Code:: Steps to register code
26825 * Unregistering Code:: Steps to unregister code
26829 @section JIT Declarations
26831 These are the relevant struct declarations that a C program should include to
26832 implement the interface:
26842 struct jit_code_entry
26844 struct jit_code_entry *next_entry;
26845 struct jit_code_entry *prev_entry;
26846 const char *symfile_addr;
26847 uint64_t symfile_size;
26850 struct jit_descriptor
26853 /* This type should be jit_actions_t, but we use uint32_t
26854 to be explicit about the bitwidth. */
26855 uint32_t action_flag;
26856 struct jit_code_entry *relevant_entry;
26857 struct jit_code_entry *first_entry;
26860 /* GDB puts a breakpoint in this function. */
26861 void __attribute__((noinline)) __jit_debug_register_code() @{ @};
26863 /* Make sure to specify the version statically, because the
26864 debugger may check the version before we can set it. */
26865 struct jit_descriptor __jit_debug_descriptor = @{ 1, 0, 0, 0 @};
26868 If the JIT is multi-threaded, then it is important that the JIT synchronize any
26869 modifications to this global data properly, which can easily be done by putting
26870 a global mutex around modifications to these structures.
26872 @node Registering Code
26873 @section Registering Code
26875 To register code with @value{GDBN}, the JIT should follow this protocol:
26879 Generate an object file in memory with symbols and other desired debug
26880 information. The file must include the virtual addresses of the sections.
26883 Create a code entry for the file, which gives the start and size of the symbol
26887 Add it to the linked list in the JIT descriptor.
26890 Point the relevant_entry field of the descriptor at the entry.
26893 Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_REGISTER} and call
26894 @code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
26897 When @value{GDBN} is attached and the breakpoint fires, @value{GDBN} uses the
26898 @code{relevant_entry} pointer so it doesn't have to walk the list looking for
26899 new code. However, the linked list must still be maintained in order to allow
26900 @value{GDBN} to attach to a running process and still find the symbol files.
26902 @node Unregistering Code
26903 @section Unregistering Code
26905 If code is freed, then the JIT should use the following protocol:
26909 Remove the code entry corresponding to the code from the linked list.
26912 Point the @code{relevant_entry} field of the descriptor at the code entry.
26915 Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_UNREGISTER} and call
26916 @code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
26919 If the JIT frees or recompiles code without unregistering it, then @value{GDBN}
26920 and the JIT will leak the memory used for the associated symbol files.
26923 @chapter Reporting Bugs in @value{GDBN}
26924 @cindex bugs in @value{GDBN}
26925 @cindex reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
26927 Your bug reports play an essential role in making @value{GDBN} reliable.
26929 Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or it
26930 may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is to help
26931 the entire community by making the next version of @value{GDBN} work better. Bug
26932 reports are your contribution to the maintenance of @value{GDBN}.
26934 In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
26935 information that enables us to fix the bug.
26938 * Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
26939 * Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
26943 @section Have You Found a Bug?
26944 @cindex bug criteria
26946 If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
26949 @cindex fatal signal
26950 @cindex debugger crash
26951 @cindex crash of debugger
26953 If the debugger gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is a
26954 @value{GDBN} bug. Reliable debuggers never crash.
26956 @cindex error on valid input
26958 If @value{GDBN} produces an error message for valid input, that is a
26959 bug. (Note that if you're cross debugging, the problem may also be
26960 somewhere in the connection to the target.)
26962 @cindex invalid input
26964 If @value{GDBN} does not produce an error message for invalid input,
26965 that is a bug. However, you should note that your idea of
26966 ``invalid input'' might be our idea of ``an extension'' or ``support
26967 for traditional practice''.
26970 If you are an experienced user of debugging tools, your suggestions
26971 for improvement of @value{GDBN} are welcome in any case.
26974 @node Bug Reporting
26975 @section How to Report Bugs
26976 @cindex bug reports
26977 @cindex @value{GDBN} bugs, reporting
26979 A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu} products.
26980 If you obtained @value{GDBN} from a support organization, we recommend you
26981 contact that organization first.
26983 You can find contact information for many support companies and
26984 individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
26986 @c should add a web page ref...
26989 @ifset BUGURL_DEFAULT
26990 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
26991 @value{GDBN}. The preferred method is to submit them directly using
26992 @uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/bugs/, @value{GDBN}'s Bugs web
26993 page}. Alternatively, the @email{bug-gdb@@gnu.org, e-mail gateway} can
26996 @strong{Do not send bug reports to @samp{info-gdb}, or to
26997 @samp{help-gdb}, or to any newsgroups.} Most users of @value{GDBN} do
26998 not want to receive bug reports. Those that do have arranged to receive
27001 The mailing list @samp{bug-gdb} has a newsgroup @samp{gnu.gdb.bug} which
27002 serves as a repeater. The mailing list and the newsgroup carry exactly
27003 the same messages. Often people think of posting bug reports to the
27004 newsgroup instead of mailing them. This appears to work, but it has one
27005 problem which can be crucial: a newsgroup posting often lacks a mail
27006 path back to the sender. Thus, if we need to ask for more information,
27007 we may be unable to reach you. For this reason, it is better to send
27008 bug reports to the mailing list.
27010 @ifclear BUGURL_DEFAULT
27011 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
27012 @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.
27016 The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
27017 @strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
27018 fact or leave it out, state it!
27020 Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
27021 problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
27022 assume that the name of the variable you use in an example does not matter.
27023 Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is a
27024 stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where that
27025 name is stored in memory; perhaps, if the name were different, the contents
27026 of that location would fool the debugger into doing the right thing despite
27027 the bug. Play it safe and give a specific, complete example. That is the
27028 easiest thing for you to do, and the most helpful.
27030 Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the
27031 bug. It may be that the bug has been reported previously, but neither
27032 you nor we can know that unless your bug report is complete and
27035 Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
27036 bell?'' Those bug reports are useless, and we urge everyone to
27037 @emph{refuse to respond to them} except to chide the sender to report
27040 To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
27044 The version of @value{GDBN}. @value{GDBN} announces it if you start
27045 with no arguments; you can also print it at any time using @code{show
27048 Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
27049 the bug in the current version of @value{GDBN}.
27052 The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
27056 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile @value{GDBN}---e.g.@:
27057 ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1''.
27060 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the program you are
27061 debugging---e.g.@: ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1'', or ``HP92453-01 A.10.32.03 HP
27062 C Compiler''. For @value{NGCC}, you can say @kbd{@value{GCC} --version}
27063 to get this information; for other compilers, see the documentation for
27067 The command arguments you gave the compiler to compile your example and
27068 observe the bug. For example, did you use @samp{-O}? To guarantee
27069 you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy of the
27070 Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
27072 If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
27073 and then we might not encounter the bug.
27076 A complete input script, and all necessary source files, that will
27080 A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
27081 incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
27083 Of course, if the bug is that @value{GDBN} gets a fatal signal, then we
27084 will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
27085 not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
27086 a chance to make a mistake.
27088 Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
27089 say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as, your
27090 copy of @value{GDBN} is out of synch, or you have encountered a bug in
27091 the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
27092 crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
27093 ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
27094 us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
27095 to draw any conclusion from our observations.
27098 @cindex recording a session script
27099 To collect all this information, you can use a session recording program
27100 such as @command{script}, which is available on many Unix systems.
27101 Just run your @value{GDBN} session inside @command{script} and then
27102 include the @file{typescript} file with your bug report.
27104 Another way to record a @value{GDBN} session is to run @value{GDBN}
27105 inside Emacs and then save the entire buffer to a file.
27108 If you wish to suggest changes to the @value{GDBN} source, send us context
27109 diffs. If you even discuss something in the @value{GDBN} source, refer to
27110 it by context, not by line number.
27112 The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
27113 sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
27117 Here are some things that are not necessary:
27121 A description of the envelope of the bug.
27123 Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
27124 which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
27125 changes will not affect it.
27127 This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
27128 will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
27129 with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
27130 We recommend that you save your time for something else.
27132 Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
27133 of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
27134 output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
27135 less time, and so on.
27137 However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
27138 report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
27141 A patch for the bug.
27143 A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
27144 the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
27145 a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
27146 to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
27148 Sometimes with a program as complicated as @value{GDBN} it is very hard to
27149 construct an example that will make the program follow a certain path
27150 through the code. If you do not send us the example, we will not be able
27151 to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that the bug is fixed.
27153 And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
27154 patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
27155 help us to understand.
27158 A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
27160 Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
27161 things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
27164 @c The readline documentation is distributed with the readline code
27165 @c and consists of the two following files:
27167 @c inc-hist.texinfo
27168 @c Use -I with makeinfo to point to the appropriate directory,
27169 @c environment var TEXINPUTS with TeX.
27170 @include rluser.texi
27171 @include inc-hist.texinfo
27174 @node Formatting Documentation
27175 @appendix Formatting Documentation
27177 @cindex @value{GDBN} reference card
27178 @cindex reference card
27179 The @value{GDBN} 4 release includes an already-formatted reference card, ready
27180 for printing with PostScript or Ghostscript, in the @file{gdb}
27181 subdirectory of the main source directory@footnote{In
27182 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/refcard.ps} of the version @value{GDBVN}
27183 release.}. If you can use PostScript or Ghostscript with your printer,
27184 you can print the reference card immediately with @file{refcard.ps}.
27186 The release also includes the source for the reference card. You
27187 can format it, using @TeX{}, by typing:
27193 The @value{GDBN} reference card is designed to print in @dfn{landscape}
27194 mode on US ``letter'' size paper;
27195 that is, on a sheet 11 inches wide by 8.5 inches
27196 high. You will need to specify this form of printing as an option to
27197 your @sc{dvi} output program.
27199 @cindex documentation
27201 All the documentation for @value{GDBN} comes as part of the machine-readable
27202 distribution. The documentation is written in Texinfo format, which is
27203 a documentation system that uses a single source file to produce both
27204 on-line information and a printed manual. You can use one of the Info
27205 formatting commands to create the on-line version of the documentation
27206 and @TeX{} (or @code{texi2roff}) to typeset the printed version.
27208 @value{GDBN} includes an already formatted copy of the on-line Info
27209 version of this manual in the @file{gdb} subdirectory. The main Info
27210 file is @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/gdb.info}, and it refers to
27211 subordinate files matching @samp{gdb.info*} in the same directory. If
27212 necessary, you can print out these files, or read them with any editor;
27213 but they are easier to read using the @code{info} subsystem in @sc{gnu}
27214 Emacs or the standalone @code{info} program, available as part of the
27215 @sc{gnu} Texinfo distribution.
27217 If you want to format these Info files yourself, you need one of the
27218 Info formatting programs, such as @code{texinfo-format-buffer} or
27221 If you have @code{makeinfo} installed, and are in the top level
27222 @value{GDBN} source directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, in the case of
27223 version @value{GDBVN}), you can make the Info file by typing:
27230 If you want to typeset and print copies of this manual, you need @TeX{},
27231 a program to print its @sc{dvi} output files, and @file{texinfo.tex}, the
27232 Texinfo definitions file.
27234 @TeX{} is a typesetting program; it does not print files directly, but
27235 produces output files called @sc{dvi} files. To print a typeset
27236 document, you need a program to print @sc{dvi} files. If your system
27237 has @TeX{} installed, chances are it has such a program. The precise
27238 command to use depends on your system; @kbd{lpr -d} is common; another
27239 (for PostScript devices) is @kbd{dvips}. The @sc{dvi} print command may
27240 require a file name without any extension or a @samp{.dvi} extension.
27242 @TeX{} also requires a macro definitions file called
27243 @file{texinfo.tex}. This file tells @TeX{} how to typeset a document
27244 written in Texinfo format. On its own, @TeX{} cannot either read or
27245 typeset a Texinfo file. @file{texinfo.tex} is distributed with GDB
27246 and is located in the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}/texinfo}
27249 If you have @TeX{} and a @sc{dvi} printer program installed, you can
27250 typeset and print this manual. First switch to the @file{gdb}
27251 subdirectory of the main source directory (for example, to
27252 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb}) and type:
27258 Then give @file{gdb.dvi} to your @sc{dvi} printing program.
27260 @node Installing GDB
27261 @appendix Installing @value{GDBN}
27262 @cindex installation
27265 * Requirements:: Requirements for building @value{GDBN}
27266 * Running Configure:: Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} script
27267 * Separate Objdir:: Compiling @value{GDBN} in another directory
27268 * Config Names:: Specifying names for hosts and targets
27269 * Configure Options:: Summary of options for configure
27270 * System-wide configuration:: Having a system-wide init file
27274 @section Requirements for Building @value{GDBN}
27275 @cindex building @value{GDBN}, requirements for
27277 Building @value{GDBN} requires various tools and packages to be available.
27278 Other packages will be used only if they are found.
27280 @heading Tools/Packages Necessary for Building @value{GDBN}
27282 @item ISO C90 compiler
27283 @value{GDBN} is written in ISO C90. It should be buildable with any
27284 working C90 compiler, e.g.@: GCC.
27288 @heading Tools/Packages Optional for Building @value{GDBN}
27292 @value{GDBN} can use the Expat XML parsing library. This library may be
27293 included with your operating system distribution; if it is not, you
27294 can get the latest version from @url{http://expat.sourceforge.net}.
27295 The @file{configure} script will search for this library in several
27296 standard locations; if it is installed in an unusual path, you can
27297 use the @option{--with-libexpat-prefix} option to specify its location.
27303 Remote protocol memory maps (@pxref{Memory Map Format})
27305 Target descriptions (@pxref{Target Descriptions})
27307 Remote shared library lists (@pxref{Library List Format})
27309 MS-Windows shared libraries (@pxref{Shared Libraries})
27313 @cindex compressed debug sections
27314 @value{GDBN} will use the @samp{zlib} library, if available, to read
27315 compressed debug sections. Some linkers, such as GNU gold, are capable
27316 of producing binaries with compressed debug sections. If @value{GDBN}
27317 is compiled with @samp{zlib}, it will be able to read the debug
27318 information in such binaries.
27320 The @samp{zlib} library is likely included with your operating system
27321 distribution; if it is not, you can get the latest version from
27322 @url{http://zlib.net}.
27325 @value{GDBN}'s features related to character sets (@pxref{Character
27326 Sets}) require a functioning @code{iconv} implementation. If you are
27327 on a GNU system, then this is provided by the GNU C Library. Some
27328 other systems also provide a working @code{iconv}.
27330 On systems with @code{iconv}, you can install GNU Libiconv. If you
27331 have previously installed Libiconv, you can use the
27332 @option{--with-libiconv-prefix} option to configure.
27334 @value{GDBN}'s top-level @file{configure} and @file{Makefile} will
27335 arrange to build Libiconv if a directory named @file{libiconv} appears
27336 in the top-most source directory. If Libiconv is built this way, and
27337 if the operating system does not provide a suitable @code{iconv}
27338 implementation, then the just-built library will automatically be used
27339 by @value{GDBN}. One easy way to set this up is to download GNU
27340 Libiconv, unpack it, and then rename the directory holding the
27341 Libiconv source code to @samp{libiconv}.
27344 @node Running Configure
27345 @section Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} Script
27346 @cindex configuring @value{GDBN}
27347 @value{GDBN} comes with a @file{configure} script that automates the process
27348 of preparing @value{GDBN} for installation; you can then use @code{make} to
27349 build the @code{gdb} program.
27351 @c irrelevant in info file; it's as current as the code it lives with.
27352 @footnote{If you have a more recent version of @value{GDBN} than @value{GDBVN},
27353 look at the @file{README} file in the sources; we may have improved the
27354 installation procedures since publishing this manual.}
27357 The @value{GDBN} distribution includes all the source code you need for
27358 @value{GDBN} in a single directory, whose name is usually composed by
27359 appending the version number to @samp{gdb}.
27361 For example, the @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN} distribution is in the
27362 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory. That directory contains:
27365 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure @r{(and supporting files)}
27366 script for configuring @value{GDBN} and all its supporting libraries
27368 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb
27369 the source specific to @value{GDBN} itself
27371 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/bfd
27372 source for the Binary File Descriptor library
27374 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/include
27375 @sc{gnu} include files
27377 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/libiberty
27378 source for the @samp{-liberty} free software library
27380 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/opcodes
27381 source for the library of opcode tables and disassemblers
27383 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/readline
27384 source for the @sc{gnu} command-line interface
27386 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/glob
27387 source for the @sc{gnu} filename pattern-matching subroutine
27389 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/mmalloc
27390 source for the @sc{gnu} memory-mapped malloc package
27393 The simplest way to configure and build @value{GDBN} is to run @file{configure}
27394 from the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory, which in
27395 this example is the @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory.
27397 First switch to the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory
27398 if you are not already in it; then run @file{configure}. Pass the
27399 identifier for the platform on which @value{GDBN} will run as an
27405 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
27406 ./configure @var{host}
27411 where @var{host} is an identifier such as @samp{sun4} or
27412 @samp{decstation}, that identifies the platform where @value{GDBN} will run.
27413 (You can often leave off @var{host}; @file{configure} tries to guess the
27414 correct value by examining your system.)
27416 Running @samp{configure @var{host}} and then running @code{make} builds the
27417 @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, @file{mmalloc}, and @file{libiberty}
27418 libraries, then @code{gdb} itself. The configured source files, and the
27419 binaries, are left in the corresponding source directories.
27422 @file{configure} is a Bourne-shell (@code{/bin/sh}) script; if your
27423 system does not recognize this automatically when you run a different
27424 shell, you may need to run @code{sh} on it explicitly:
27427 sh configure @var{host}
27430 If you run @file{configure} from a directory that contains source
27431 directories for multiple libraries or programs, such as the
27432 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} source directory for version @value{GDBVN},
27434 creates configuration files for every directory level underneath (unless
27435 you tell it not to, with the @samp{--norecursion} option).
27437 You should run the @file{configure} script from the top directory in the
27438 source tree, the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory. If you run
27439 @file{configure} from one of the subdirectories, you will configure only
27440 that subdirectory. That is usually not what you want. In particular,
27441 if you run the first @file{configure} from the @file{gdb} subdirectory
27442 of the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory, you will omit the
27443 configuration of @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, and other sibling
27444 directories of the @file{gdb} subdirectory. This leads to build errors
27445 about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
27447 You can install @code{@value{GDBP}} anywhere; it has no hardwired paths.
27448 However, you should make sure that the shell on your path (named by
27449 the @samp{SHELL} environment variable) is publicly readable. Remember
27450 that @value{GDBN} uses the shell to start your program---some systems refuse to
27451 let @value{GDBN} debug child processes whose programs are not readable.
27453 @node Separate Objdir
27454 @section Compiling @value{GDBN} in Another Directory
27456 If you want to run @value{GDBN} versions for several host or target machines,
27457 you need a different @code{gdb} compiled for each combination of
27458 host and target. @file{configure} is designed to make this easy by
27459 allowing you to generate each configuration in a separate subdirectory,
27460 rather than in the source directory. If your @code{make} program
27461 handles the @samp{VPATH} feature (@sc{gnu} @code{make} does), running
27462 @code{make} in each of these directories builds the @code{gdb}
27463 program specified there.
27465 To build @code{gdb} in a separate directory, run @file{configure}
27466 with the @samp{--srcdir} option to specify where to find the source.
27467 (You also need to specify a path to find @file{configure}
27468 itself from your working directory. If the path to @file{configure}
27469 would be the same as the argument to @samp{--srcdir}, you can leave out
27470 the @samp{--srcdir} option; it is assumed.)
27472 For example, with version @value{GDBVN}, you can build @value{GDBN} in a
27473 separate directory for a Sun 4 like this:
27477 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
27480 ../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure sun4
27485 When @file{configure} builds a configuration using a remote source
27486 directory, it creates a tree for the binaries with the same structure
27487 (and using the same names) as the tree under the source directory. In
27488 the example, you'd find the Sun 4 library @file{libiberty.a} in the
27489 directory @file{gdb-sun4/libiberty}, and @value{GDBN} itself in
27490 @file{gdb-sun4/gdb}.
27492 Make sure that your path to the @file{configure} script has just one
27493 instance of @file{gdb} in it. If your path to @file{configure} looks
27494 like @file{../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/configure}, you are configuring only
27495 one subdirectory of @value{GDBN}, not the whole package. This leads to
27496 build errors about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
27498 One popular reason to build several @value{GDBN} configurations in separate
27499 directories is to configure @value{GDBN} for cross-compiling (where
27500 @value{GDBN} runs on one machine---the @dfn{host}---while debugging
27501 programs that run on another machine---the @dfn{target}).
27502 You specify a cross-debugging target by
27503 giving the @samp{--target=@var{target}} option to @file{configure}.
27505 When you run @code{make} to build a program or library, you must run
27506 it in a configured directory---whatever directory you were in when you
27507 called @file{configure} (or one of its subdirectories).
27509 The @code{Makefile} that @file{configure} generates in each source
27510 directory also runs recursively. If you type @code{make} in a source
27511 directory such as @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} (or in a separate configured
27512 directory configured with @samp{--srcdir=@var{dirname}/gdb-@value{GDBVN}}), you
27513 will build all the required libraries, and then build GDB.
27515 When you have multiple hosts or targets configured in separate
27516 directories, you can run @code{make} on them in parallel (for example,
27517 if they are NFS-mounted on each of the hosts); they will not interfere
27521 @section Specifying Names for Hosts and Targets
27523 The specifications used for hosts and targets in the @file{configure}
27524 script are based on a three-part naming scheme, but some short predefined
27525 aliases are also supported. The full naming scheme encodes three pieces
27526 of information in the following pattern:
27529 @var{architecture}-@var{vendor}-@var{os}
27532 For example, you can use the alias @code{sun4} as a @var{host} argument,
27533 or as the value for @var{target} in a @code{--target=@var{target}}
27534 option. The equivalent full name is @samp{sparc-sun-sunos4}.
27536 The @file{configure} script accompanying @value{GDBN} does not provide
27537 any query facility to list all supported host and target names or
27538 aliases. @file{configure} calls the Bourne shell script
27539 @code{config.sub} to map abbreviations to full names; you can read the
27540 script, if you wish, or you can use it to test your guesses on
27541 abbreviations---for example:
27544 % sh config.sub i386-linux
27546 % sh config.sub alpha-linux
27547 alpha-unknown-linux-gnu
27548 % sh config.sub hp9k700
27550 % sh config.sub sun4
27551 sparc-sun-sunos4.1.1
27552 % sh config.sub sun3
27553 m68k-sun-sunos4.1.1
27554 % sh config.sub i986v
27555 Invalid configuration `i986v': machine `i986v' not recognized
27559 @code{config.sub} is also distributed in the @value{GDBN} source
27560 directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, for version @value{GDBVN}).
27562 @node Configure Options
27563 @section @file{configure} Options
27565 Here is a summary of the @file{configure} options and arguments that
27566 are most often useful for building @value{GDBN}. @file{configure} also has
27567 several other options not listed here. @inforef{What Configure
27568 Does,,configure.info}, for a full explanation of @file{configure}.
27571 configure @r{[}--help@r{]}
27572 @r{[}--prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
27573 @r{[}--exec-prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
27574 @r{[}--srcdir=@var{dirname}@r{]}
27575 @r{[}--norecursion@r{]} @r{[}--rm@r{]}
27576 @r{[}--target=@var{target}@r{]}
27581 You may introduce options with a single @samp{-} rather than
27582 @samp{--} if you prefer; but you may abbreviate option names if you use
27587 Display a quick summary of how to invoke @file{configure}.
27589 @item --prefix=@var{dir}
27590 Configure the source to install programs and files under directory
27593 @item --exec-prefix=@var{dir}
27594 Configure the source to install programs under directory
27597 @c avoid splitting the warning from the explanation:
27599 @item --srcdir=@var{dirname}
27600 @strong{Warning: using this option requires @sc{gnu} @code{make}, or another
27601 @code{make} that implements the @code{VPATH} feature.}@*
27602 Use this option to make configurations in directories separate from the
27603 @value{GDBN} source directories. Among other things, you can use this to
27604 build (or maintain) several configurations simultaneously, in separate
27605 directories. @file{configure} writes configuration-specific files in
27606 the current directory, but arranges for them to use the source in the
27607 directory @var{dirname}. @file{configure} creates directories under
27608 the working directory in parallel to the source directories below
27611 @item --norecursion
27612 Configure only the directory level where @file{configure} is executed; do not
27613 propagate configuration to subdirectories.
27615 @item --target=@var{target}
27616 Configure @value{GDBN} for cross-debugging programs running on the specified
27617 @var{target}. Without this option, @value{GDBN} is configured to debug
27618 programs that run on the same machine (@var{host}) as @value{GDBN} itself.
27620 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available targets.
27622 @item @var{host} @dots{}
27623 Configure @value{GDBN} to run on the specified @var{host}.
27625 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available hosts.
27628 There are many other options available as well, but they are generally
27629 needed for special purposes only.
27631 @node System-wide configuration
27632 @section System-wide configuration and settings
27633 @cindex system-wide init file
27635 @value{GDBN} can be configured to have a system-wide init file;
27636 this file will be read and executed at startup (@pxref{Startup, , What
27637 @value{GDBN} does during startup}).
27639 Here is the corresponding configure option:
27642 @item --with-system-gdbinit=@var{file}
27643 Specify that the default location of the system-wide init file is
27647 If @value{GDBN} has been configured with the option @option{--prefix=$prefix},
27648 it may be subject to relocation. Two possible cases:
27652 If the default location of this init file contains @file{$prefix},
27653 it will be subject to relocation. Suppose that the configure options
27654 are @option{--prefix=$prefix --with-system-gdbinit=$prefix/etc/gdbinit};
27655 if @value{GDBN} is moved from @file{$prefix} to @file{$install}, the system
27656 init file is looked for as @file{$install/etc/gdbinit} instead of
27657 @file{$prefix/etc/gdbinit}.
27660 By contrast, if the default location does not contain the prefix,
27661 it will not be relocated. E.g.@: if @value{GDBN} has been configured with
27662 @option{--prefix=/usr/local --with-system-gdbinit=/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
27663 then @value{GDBN} will always look for @file{/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
27664 wherever @value{GDBN} is installed.
27667 @node Maintenance Commands
27668 @appendix Maintenance Commands
27669 @cindex maintenance commands
27670 @cindex internal commands
27672 In addition to commands intended for @value{GDBN} users, @value{GDBN}
27673 includes a number of commands intended for @value{GDBN} developers,
27674 that are not documented elsewhere in this manual. These commands are
27675 provided here for reference. (For commands that turn on debugging
27676 messages, see @ref{Debugging Output}.)
27679 @kindex maint agent
27680 @kindex maint agent-eval
27681 @item maint agent @var{expression}
27682 @itemx maint agent-eval @var{expression}
27683 Translate the given @var{expression} into remote agent bytecodes.
27684 This command is useful for debugging the Agent Expression mechanism
27685 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}). The @samp{agent} version produces an
27686 expression useful for data collection, such as by tracepoints, while
27687 @samp{maint agent-eval} produces an expression that evaluates directly
27688 to a result. For instance, a collection expression for @code{globa +
27689 globb} will include bytecodes to record four bytes of memory at each
27690 of the addresses of @code{globa} and @code{globb}, while discarding
27691 the result of the addition, while an evaluation expression will do the
27692 addition and return the sum.
27694 @kindex maint info breakpoints
27695 @item @anchor{maint info breakpoints}maint info breakpoints
27696 Using the same format as @samp{info breakpoints}, display both the
27697 breakpoints you've set explicitly, and those @value{GDBN} is using for
27698 internal purposes. Internal breakpoints are shown with negative
27699 breakpoint numbers. The type column identifies what kind of breakpoint
27704 Normal, explicitly set breakpoint.
27707 Normal, explicitly set watchpoint.
27710 Internal breakpoint, used to handle correctly stepping through
27711 @code{longjmp} calls.
27713 @item longjmp resume
27714 Internal breakpoint at the target of a @code{longjmp}.
27717 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{until} command.
27720 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{finish} command.
27723 Shared library events.
27727 @kindex set displaced-stepping
27728 @kindex show displaced-stepping
27729 @cindex displaced stepping support
27730 @cindex out-of-line single-stepping
27731 @item set displaced-stepping
27732 @itemx show displaced-stepping
27733 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will do @dfn{displaced stepping}
27734 if the target supports it. Displaced stepping is a way to single-step
27735 over breakpoints without removing them from the inferior, by executing
27736 an out-of-line copy of the instruction that was originally at the
27737 breakpoint location. It is also known as out-of-line single-stepping.
27740 @item set displaced-stepping on
27741 If the target architecture supports it, @value{GDBN} will use
27742 displaced stepping to step over breakpoints.
27744 @item set displaced-stepping off
27745 @value{GDBN} will not use displaced stepping to step over breakpoints,
27746 even if such is supported by the target architecture.
27748 @cindex non-stop mode, and @samp{set displaced-stepping}
27749 @item set displaced-stepping auto
27750 This is the default mode. @value{GDBN} will use displaced stepping
27751 only if non-stop mode is active (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) and the target
27752 architecture supports displaced stepping.
27755 @kindex maint check-symtabs
27756 @item maint check-symtabs
27757 Check the consistency of psymtabs and symtabs.
27759 @kindex maint cplus first_component
27760 @item maint cplus first_component @var{name}
27761 Print the first C@t{++} class/namespace component of @var{name}.
27763 @kindex maint cplus namespace
27764 @item maint cplus namespace
27765 Print the list of possible C@t{++} namespaces.
27767 @kindex maint demangle
27768 @item maint demangle @var{name}
27769 Demangle a C@t{++} or Objective-C mangled @var{name}.
27771 @kindex maint deprecate
27772 @kindex maint undeprecate
27773 @cindex deprecated commands
27774 @item maint deprecate @var{command} @r{[}@var{replacement}@r{]}
27775 @itemx maint undeprecate @var{command}
27776 Deprecate or undeprecate the named @var{command}. Deprecated commands
27777 cause @value{GDBN} to issue a warning when you use them. The optional
27778 argument @var{replacement} says which newer command should be used in
27779 favor of the deprecated one; if it is given, @value{GDBN} will mention
27780 the replacement as part of the warning.
27782 @kindex maint dump-me
27783 @item maint dump-me
27784 @cindex @code{SIGQUIT} signal, dump core of @value{GDBN}
27785 Cause a fatal signal in the debugger and force it to dump its core.
27786 This is supported only on systems which support aborting a program
27787 with the @code{SIGQUIT} signal.
27789 @kindex maint internal-error
27790 @kindex maint internal-warning
27791 @item maint internal-error @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
27792 @itemx maint internal-warning @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
27793 Cause @value{GDBN} to call the internal function @code{internal_error}
27794 or @code{internal_warning} and hence behave as though an internal error
27795 or internal warning has been detected. In addition to reporting the
27796 internal problem, these functions give the user the opportunity to
27797 either quit @value{GDBN} or create a core file of the current
27798 @value{GDBN} session.
27800 These commands take an optional parameter @var{message-text} that is
27801 used as the text of the error or warning message.
27803 Here's an example of using @code{internal-error}:
27806 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint internal-error testing, 1, 2}
27807 @dots{}/maint.c:121: internal-error: testing, 1, 2
27808 A problem internal to GDB has been detected. Further
27809 debugging may prove unreliable.
27810 Quit this debugging session? (y or n) @kbd{n}
27811 Create a core file? (y or n) @kbd{n}
27815 @cindex @value{GDBN} internal error
27816 @cindex internal errors, control of @value{GDBN} behavior
27818 @kindex maint set internal-error
27819 @kindex maint show internal-error
27820 @kindex maint set internal-warning
27821 @kindex maint show internal-warning
27822 @item maint set internal-error @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
27823 @itemx maint show internal-error @var{action}
27824 @itemx maint set internal-warning @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
27825 @itemx maint show internal-warning @var{action}
27826 When @value{GDBN} reports an internal problem (error or warning) it
27827 gives the user the opportunity to both quit @value{GDBN} and create a
27828 core file of the current @value{GDBN} session. These commands let you
27829 override the default behaviour for each particular @var{action},
27830 described in the table below.
27834 You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
27835 quit. The default is to ask the user what to do.
27838 You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
27839 create a core file. The default is to ask the user what to do.
27842 @kindex maint packet
27843 @item maint packet @var{text}
27844 If @value{GDBN} is talking to an inferior via the serial protocol,
27845 then this command sends the string @var{text} to the inferior, and
27846 displays the response packet. @value{GDBN} supplies the initial
27847 @samp{$} character, the terminating @samp{#} character, and the
27850 @kindex maint print architecture
27851 @item maint print architecture @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
27852 Print the entire architecture configuration. The optional argument
27853 @var{file} names the file where the output goes.
27855 @kindex maint print c-tdesc
27856 @item maint print c-tdesc
27857 Print the current target description (@pxref{Target Descriptions}) as
27858 a C source file. The created source file can be used in @value{GDBN}
27859 when an XML parser is not available to parse the description.
27861 @kindex maint print dummy-frames
27862 @item maint print dummy-frames
27863 Prints the contents of @value{GDBN}'s internal dummy-frame stack.
27866 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{b add}
27868 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{print add(2,3)}
27869 Breakpoint 2, add (a=2, b=3) at @dots{}
27871 The program being debugged stopped while in a function called from GDB.
27873 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print dummy-frames}
27874 0x1a57c80: pc=0x01014068 fp=0x0200bddc sp=0x0200bdd6
27875 top=0x0200bdd4 id=@{stack=0x200bddc,code=0x101405c@}
27876 call_lo=0x01014000 call_hi=0x01014001
27880 Takes an optional file parameter.
27882 @kindex maint print registers
27883 @kindex maint print raw-registers
27884 @kindex maint print cooked-registers
27885 @kindex maint print register-groups
27886 @item maint print registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
27887 @itemx maint print raw-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
27888 @itemx maint print cooked-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
27889 @itemx maint print register-groups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
27890 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register data structures.
27892 The command @code{maint print raw-registers} includes the contents of
27893 the raw register cache; the command @code{maint print cooked-registers}
27894 includes the (cooked) value of all registers; and the command
27895 @code{maint print register-groups} includes the groups that each
27896 register is a member of. @xref{Registers,, Registers, gdbint,
27897 @value{GDBN} Internals}.
27899 These commands take an optional parameter, a file name to which to
27900 write the information.
27902 @kindex maint print reggroups
27903 @item maint print reggroups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
27904 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register group data structures. The
27905 optional argument @var{file} tells to what file to write the
27908 The register groups info looks like this:
27911 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print reggroups}
27924 This command forces @value{GDBN} to flush its internal register cache.
27926 @kindex maint print objfiles
27927 @cindex info for known object files
27928 @item maint print objfiles
27929 Print a dump of all known object files. For each object file, this
27930 command prints its name, address in memory, and all of its psymtabs
27933 @kindex maint print statistics
27934 @cindex bcache statistics
27935 @item maint print statistics
27936 This command prints, for each object file in the program, various data
27937 about that object file followed by the byte cache (@dfn{bcache})
27938 statistics for the object file. The objfile data includes the number
27939 of minimal, partial, full, and stabs symbols, the number of types
27940 defined by the objfile, the number of as yet unexpanded psym tables,
27941 the number of line tables and string tables, and the amount of memory
27942 used by the various tables. The bcache statistics include the counts,
27943 sizes, and counts of duplicates of all and unique objects, max,
27944 average, and median entry size, total memory used and its overhead and
27945 savings, and various measures of the hash table size and chain
27948 @kindex maint print target-stack
27949 @cindex target stack description
27950 @item maint print target-stack
27951 A @dfn{target} is an interface between the debugger and a particular
27952 kind of file or process. Targets can be stacked in @dfn{strata},
27953 so that more than one target can potentially respond to a request.
27954 In particular, memory accesses will walk down the stack of targets
27955 until they find a target that is interested in handling that particular
27958 This command prints a short description of each layer that was pushed on
27959 the @dfn{target stack}, starting from the top layer down to the bottom one.
27961 @kindex maint print type
27962 @cindex type chain of a data type
27963 @item maint print type @var{expr}
27964 Print the type chain for a type specified by @var{expr}. The argument
27965 can be either a type name or a symbol. If it is a symbol, the type of
27966 that symbol is described. The type chain produced by this command is
27967 a recursive definition of the data type as stored in @value{GDBN}'s
27968 data structures, including its flags and contained types.
27970 @kindex maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
27971 @kindex maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
27972 @item maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
27973 @itemx maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
27974 Control the DWARF 2 compilation unit cache.
27976 @cindex DWARF 2 compilation units cache
27977 In object files with inter-compilation-unit references, such as those
27978 produced by the GCC option @samp{-feliminate-dwarf2-dups}, the DWARF 2
27979 reader needs to frequently refer to previously read compilation units.
27980 This setting controls how long a compilation unit will remain in the
27981 cache if it is not referenced. A higher limit means that cached
27982 compilation units will be stored in memory longer, and more total
27983 memory will be used. Setting it to zero disables caching, which will
27984 slow down @value{GDBN} startup, but reduce memory consumption.
27986 @kindex maint set profile
27987 @kindex maint show profile
27988 @cindex profiling GDB
27989 @item maint set profile
27990 @itemx maint show profile
27991 Control profiling of @value{GDBN}.
27993 Profiling will be disabled until you use the @samp{maint set profile}
27994 command to enable it. When you enable profiling, the system will begin
27995 collecting timing and execution count data; when you disable profiling or
27996 exit @value{GDBN}, the results will be written to a log file. Remember that
27997 if you use profiling, @value{GDBN} will overwrite the profiling log file
27998 (often called @file{gmon.out}). If you have a record of important profiling
27999 data in a @file{gmon.out} file, be sure to move it to a safe location.
28001 Configuring with @samp{--enable-profiling} arranges for @value{GDBN} to be
28002 compiled with the @samp{-pg} compiler option.
28004 @kindex maint set show-debug-regs
28005 @kindex maint show show-debug-regs
28006 @cindex hardware debug registers
28007 @item maint set show-debug-regs
28008 @itemx maint show show-debug-regs
28009 Control whether to show variables that mirror the hardware debug
28010 registers. Use @code{ON} to enable, @code{OFF} to disable. If
28011 enabled, the debug registers values are shown when @value{GDBN} inserts or
28012 removes a hardware breakpoint or watchpoint, and when the inferior
28013 triggers a hardware-assisted breakpoint or watchpoint.
28015 @kindex maint space
28016 @cindex memory used by commands
28018 Control whether to display memory usage for each command. If set to a
28019 nonzero value, @value{GDBN} will display how much memory each command
28020 took, following the command's own output. This can also be requested
28021 by invoking @value{GDBN} with the @option{--statistics} command-line
28022 switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
28025 @cindex time of command execution
28027 Control whether to display the execution time for each command. If
28028 set to a nonzero value, @value{GDBN} will display how much time it
28029 took to execute each command, following the command's own output.
28030 The time is not printed for the commands that run the target, since
28031 there's no mechanism currently to compute how much time was spend
28032 by @value{GDBN} and how much time was spend by the program been debugged.
28033 it's not possibly currently
28034 This can also be requested by invoking @value{GDBN} with the
28035 @option{--statistics} command-line switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
28037 @kindex maint translate-address
28038 @item maint translate-address @r{[}@var{section}@r{]} @var{addr}
28039 Find the symbol stored at the location specified by the address
28040 @var{addr} and an optional section name @var{section}. If found,
28041 @value{GDBN} prints the name of the closest symbol and an offset from
28042 the symbol's location to the specified address. This is similar to
28043 the @code{info address} command (@pxref{Symbols}), except that this
28044 command also allows to find symbols in other sections.
28046 If section was not specified, the section in which the symbol was found
28047 is also printed. For dynamically linked executables, the name of
28048 executable or shared library containing the symbol is printed as well.
28052 The following command is useful for non-interactive invocations of
28053 @value{GDBN}, such as in the test suite.
28056 @item set watchdog @var{nsec}
28057 @kindex set watchdog
28058 @cindex watchdog timer
28059 @cindex timeout for commands
28060 Set the maximum number of seconds @value{GDBN} will wait for the
28061 target operation to finish. If this time expires, @value{GDBN}
28062 reports and error and the command is aborted.
28064 @item show watchdog
28065 Show the current setting of the target wait timeout.
28068 @node Remote Protocol
28069 @appendix @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol
28074 * Stop Reply Packets::
28075 * General Query Packets::
28076 * Register Packet Format::
28077 * Tracepoint Packets::
28078 * Host I/O Packets::
28080 * Notification Packets::
28081 * Remote Non-Stop::
28082 * Packet Acknowledgment::
28084 * File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension::
28085 * Library List Format::
28086 * Memory Map Format::
28092 There may be occasions when you need to know something about the
28093 protocol---for example, if there is only one serial port to your target
28094 machine, you might want your program to do something special if it
28095 recognizes a packet meant for @value{GDBN}.
28097 In the examples below, @samp{->} and @samp{<-} are used to indicate
28098 transmitted and received data, respectively.
28100 @cindex protocol, @value{GDBN} remote serial
28101 @cindex serial protocol, @value{GDBN} remote
28102 @cindex remote serial protocol
28103 All @value{GDBN} commands and responses (other than acknowledgments
28104 and notifications, see @ref{Notification Packets}) are sent as a
28105 @var{packet}. A @var{packet} is introduced with the character
28106 @samp{$}, the actual @var{packet-data}, and the terminating character
28107 @samp{#} followed by a two-digit @var{checksum}:
28110 @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
28114 @cindex checksum, for @value{GDBN} remote
28116 The two-digit @var{checksum} is computed as the modulo 256 sum of all
28117 characters between the leading @samp{$} and the trailing @samp{#} (an
28118 eight bit unsigned checksum).
28120 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0 the protocol
28121 specification also included an optional two-digit @var{sequence-id}:
28124 @code{$}@var{sequence-id}@code{:}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
28127 @cindex sequence-id, for @value{GDBN} remote
28129 That @var{sequence-id} was appended to the acknowledgment. @value{GDBN}
28130 has never output @var{sequence-id}s. Stubs that handle packets added
28131 since @value{GDBN} 5.0 must not accept @var{sequence-id}.
28133 When either the host or the target machine receives a packet, the first
28134 response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
28135 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request
28139 -> @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
28144 The @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments can be disabled
28145 once a connection is established.
28146 @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}, for details.
28148 The host (@value{GDBN}) sends @var{command}s, and the target (the
28149 debugging stub incorporated in your program) sends a @var{response}. In
28150 the case of step and continue @var{command}s, the response is only sent
28151 when the operation has completed, and the target has again stopped all
28152 threads in all attached processes. This is the default all-stop mode
28153 behavior, but the remote protocol also supports @value{GDBN}'s non-stop
28154 execution mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}, for details.
28156 @var{packet-data} consists of a sequence of characters with the
28157 exception of @samp{#} and @samp{$} (see @samp{X} packet for additional
28160 @cindex remote protocol, field separator
28161 Fields within the packet should be separated using @samp{,} @samp{;} or
28162 @samp{:}. Except where otherwise noted all numbers are represented in
28163 @sc{hex} with leading zeros suppressed.
28165 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0, the character
28166 @samp{:} could not appear as the third character in a packet (as it
28167 would potentially conflict with the @var{sequence-id}).
28169 @cindex remote protocol, binary data
28170 @anchor{Binary Data}
28171 Binary data in most packets is encoded either as two hexadecimal
28172 digits per byte of binary data. This allowed the traditional remote
28173 protocol to work over connections which were only seven-bit clean.
28174 Some packets designed more recently assume an eight-bit clean
28175 connection, and use a more efficient encoding to send and receive
28178 The binary data representation uses @code{7d} (@sc{ascii} @samp{@}})
28179 as an escape character. Any escaped byte is transmitted as the escape
28180 character followed by the original character XORed with @code{0x20}.
28181 For example, the byte @code{0x7d} would be transmitted as the two
28182 bytes @code{0x7d 0x5d}. The bytes @code{0x23} (@sc{ascii} @samp{#}),
28183 @code{0x24} (@sc{ascii} @samp{$}), and @code{0x7d} (@sc{ascii}
28184 @samp{@}}) must always be escaped. Responses sent by the stub
28185 must also escape @code{0x2a} (@sc{ascii} @samp{*}), so that it
28186 is not interpreted as the start of a run-length encoded sequence
28189 Response @var{data} can be run-length encoded to save space.
28190 Run-length encoding replaces runs of identical characters with one
28191 instance of the repeated character, followed by a @samp{*} and a
28192 repeat count. The repeat count is itself sent encoded, to avoid
28193 binary characters in @var{data}: a value of @var{n} is sent as
28194 @code{@var{n}+29}. For a repeat count greater or equal to 3, this
28195 produces a printable @sc{ascii} character, e.g.@: a space (@sc{ascii}
28196 code 32) for a repeat count of 3. (This is because run-length
28197 encoding starts to win for counts 3 or more.) Thus, for example,
28198 @samp{0* } is a run-length encoding of ``0000'': the space character
28199 after @samp{*} means repeat the leading @code{0} @w{@code{32 - 29 =
28202 The printable characters @samp{#} and @samp{$} or with a numeric value
28203 greater than 126 must not be used. Runs of six repeats (@samp{#}) or
28204 seven repeats (@samp{$}) can be expanded using a repeat count of only
28205 five (@samp{"}). For example, @samp{00000000} can be encoded as
28208 The error response returned for some packets includes a two character
28209 error number. That number is not well defined.
28211 @cindex empty response, for unsupported packets
28212 For any @var{command} not supported by the stub, an empty response
28213 (@samp{$#00}) should be returned. That way it is possible to extend the
28214 protocol. A newer @value{GDBN} can tell if a packet is supported based
28217 A stub is required to support the @samp{g}, @samp{G}, @samp{m}, @samp{M},
28218 @samp{c}, and @samp{s} @var{command}s. All other @var{command}s are
28224 The following table provides a complete list of all currently defined
28225 @var{command}s and their corresponding response @var{data}.
28226 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for details about the File
28227 I/O extension of the remote protocol.
28229 Each packet's description has a template showing the packet's overall
28230 syntax, followed by an explanation of the packet's meaning. We
28231 include spaces in some of the templates for clarity; these are not
28232 part of the packet's syntax. No @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to
28233 separate its components. For example, a template like @samp{foo
28234 @var{bar} @var{baz}} describes a packet beginning with the three ASCII
28235 bytes @samp{foo}, followed by a @var{bar}, followed directly by a
28236 @var{baz}. @value{GDBN} does not transmit a space character between the
28237 @samp{foo} and the @var{bar}, or between the @var{bar} and the
28240 @cindex @var{thread-id}, in remote protocol
28241 @anchor{thread-id syntax}
28242 Several packets and replies include a @var{thread-id} field to identify
28243 a thread. Normally these are positive numbers with a target-specific
28244 interpretation, formatted as big-endian hex strings. A @var{thread-id}
28245 can also be a literal @samp{-1} to indicate all threads, or @samp{0} to
28248 In addition, the remote protocol supports a multiprocess feature in
28249 which the @var{thread-id} syntax is extended to optionally include both
28250 process and thread ID fields, as @samp{p@var{pid}.@var{tid}}.
28251 The @var{pid} (process) and @var{tid} (thread) components each have the
28252 format described above: a positive number with target-specific
28253 interpretation formatted as a big-endian hex string, literal @samp{-1}
28254 to indicate all processes or threads (respectively), or @samp{0} to
28255 indicate an arbitrary process or thread. Specifying just a process, as
28256 @samp{p@var{pid}}, is equivalent to @samp{p@var{pid}.-1}. It is an
28257 error to specify all processes but a specific thread, such as
28258 @samp{p-1.@var{tid}}. Note that the @samp{p} prefix is @emph{not} used
28259 for those packets and replies explicitly documented to include a process
28260 ID, rather than a @var{thread-id}.
28262 The multiprocess @var{thread-id} syntax extensions are only used if both
28263 @value{GDBN} and the stub report support for the @samp{multiprocess}
28264 feature using @samp{qSupported}. @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for
28267 Note that all packet forms beginning with an upper- or lower-case
28268 letter, other than those described here, are reserved for future use.
28270 Here are the packet descriptions.
28275 @cindex @samp{!} packet
28276 @anchor{extended mode}
28277 Enable extended mode. In extended mode, the remote server is made
28278 persistent. The @samp{R} packet is used to restart the program being
28284 The remote target both supports and has enabled extended mode.
28288 @cindex @samp{?} packet
28289 Indicate the reason the target halted. The reply is the same as for
28290 step and continue. This packet has a special interpretation when the
28291 target is in non-stop mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}.
28294 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
28296 @item A @var{arglen},@var{argnum},@var{arg},@dots{}
28297 @cindex @samp{A} packet
28298 Initialized @code{argv[]} array passed into program. @var{arglen}
28299 specifies the number of bytes in the hex encoded byte stream
28300 @var{arg}. See @code{gdbserver} for more details.
28305 The arguments were set.
28311 @cindex @samp{b} packet
28312 (Don't use this packet; its behavior is not well-defined.)
28313 Change the serial line speed to @var{baud}.
28315 JTC: @emph{When does the transport layer state change? When it's
28316 received, or after the ACK is transmitted. In either case, there are
28317 problems if the command or the acknowledgment packet is dropped.}
28319 Stan: @emph{If people really wanted to add something like this, and get
28320 it working for the first time, they ought to modify ser-unix.c to send
28321 some kind of out-of-band message to a specially-setup stub and have the
28322 switch happen "in between" packets, so that from remote protocol's point
28323 of view, nothing actually happened.}
28325 @item B @var{addr},@var{mode}
28326 @cindex @samp{B} packet
28327 Set (@var{mode} is @samp{S}) or clear (@var{mode} is @samp{C}) a
28328 breakpoint at @var{addr}.
28330 Don't use this packet. Use the @samp{Z} and @samp{z} packets instead
28331 (@pxref{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}).
28333 @cindex @samp{bc} packet
28336 Backward continue. Execute the target system in reverse. No parameter.
28337 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
28340 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
28342 @cindex @samp{bs} packet
28345 Backward single step. Execute one instruction in reverse. No parameter.
28346 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
28349 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
28351 @item c @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
28352 @cindex @samp{c} packet
28353 Continue. @var{addr} is address to resume. If @var{addr} is omitted,
28354 resume at current address.
28357 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
28359 @item C @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
28360 @cindex @samp{C} packet
28361 Continue with signal @var{sig} (hex signal number). If
28362 @samp{;@var{addr}} is omitted, resume at same address.
28365 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
28368 @cindex @samp{d} packet
28371 Don't use this packet; instead, define a general set packet
28372 (@pxref{General Query Packets}).
28376 @cindex @samp{D} packet
28377 The first form of the packet is used to detach @value{GDBN} from the
28378 remote system. It is sent to the remote target
28379 before @value{GDBN} disconnects via the @code{detach} command.
28381 The second form, including a process ID, is used when multiprocess
28382 protocol extensions are enabled (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}), to
28383 detach only a specific process. The @var{pid} is specified as a
28384 big-endian hex string.
28394 @item F @var{RC},@var{EE},@var{CF};@var{XX}
28395 @cindex @samp{F} packet
28396 A reply from @value{GDBN} to an @samp{F} packet sent by the target.
28397 This is part of the File-I/O protocol extension. @xref{File-I/O
28398 Remote Protocol Extension}, for the specification.
28401 @anchor{read registers packet}
28402 @cindex @samp{g} packet
28403 Read general registers.
28407 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
28408 Each byte of register data is described by two hex digits. The bytes
28409 with the register are transmitted in target byte order. The size of
28410 each register and their position within the @samp{g} packet are
28411 determined by the @value{GDBN} internal gdbarch functions
28412 @code{DEPRECATED_REGISTER_RAW_SIZE} and @code{gdbarch_register_name}. The
28413 specification of several standard @samp{g} packets is specified below.
28418 @item G @var{XX@dots{}}
28419 @cindex @samp{G} packet
28420 Write general registers. @xref{read registers packet}, for a
28421 description of the @var{XX@dots{}} data.
28431 @item H @var{c} @var{thread-id}
28432 @cindex @samp{H} packet
28433 Set thread for subsequent operations (@samp{m}, @samp{M}, @samp{g},
28434 @samp{G}, et.al.). @var{c} depends on the operation to be performed: it
28435 should be @samp{c} for step and continue operations, @samp{g} for other
28436 operations. The thread designator @var{thread-id} has the format and
28437 interpretation described in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
28448 @c 'H': How restrictive (or permissive) is the thread model. If a
28449 @c thread is selected and stopped, are other threads allowed
28450 @c to continue to execute? As I mentioned above, I think the
28451 @c semantics of each command when a thread is selected must be
28452 @c described. For example:
28454 @c 'g': If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
28455 @c selected, returns the register block from that thread;
28456 @c otherwise returns current registers.
28458 @c 'G' If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
28459 @c selected, sets the registers of the register block of
28460 @c that thread; otherwise sets current registers.
28462 @item i @r{[}@var{addr}@r{[},@var{nnn}@r{]]}
28463 @anchor{cycle step packet}
28464 @cindex @samp{i} packet
28465 Step the remote target by a single clock cycle. If @samp{,@var{nnn}} is
28466 present, cycle step @var{nnn} cycles. If @var{addr} is present, cycle
28467 step starting at that address.
28470 @cindex @samp{I} packet
28471 Signal, then cycle step. @xref{step with signal packet}. @xref{cycle
28475 @cindex @samp{k} packet
28478 FIXME: @emph{There is no description of how to operate when a specific
28479 thread context has been selected (i.e.@: does 'k' kill only that
28482 @item m @var{addr},@var{length}
28483 @cindex @samp{m} packet
28484 Read @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
28485 Note that @var{addr} may not be aligned to any particular boundary.
28487 The stub need not use any particular size or alignment when gathering
28488 data from memory for the response; even if @var{addr} is word-aligned
28489 and @var{length} is a multiple of the word size, the stub is free to
28490 use byte accesses, or not. For this reason, this packet may not be
28491 suitable for accessing memory-mapped I/O devices.
28492 @cindex alignment of remote memory accesses
28493 @cindex size of remote memory accesses
28494 @cindex memory, alignment and size of remote accesses
28498 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
28499 Memory contents; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit hexadecimal
28500 number. The reply may contain fewer bytes than requested if the
28501 server was able to read only part of the region of memory.
28506 @item M @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
28507 @cindex @samp{M} packet
28508 Write @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
28509 @var{XX@dots{}} is the data; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit
28510 hexadecimal number.
28517 for an error (this includes the case where only part of the data was
28522 @cindex @samp{p} packet
28523 Read the value of register @var{n}; @var{n} is in hex.
28524 @xref{read registers packet}, for a description of how the returned
28525 register value is encoded.
28529 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
28530 the register's value
28534 Indicating an unrecognized @var{query}.
28537 @item P @var{n@dots{}}=@var{r@dots{}}
28538 @anchor{write register packet}
28539 @cindex @samp{P} packet
28540 Write register @var{n@dots{}} with value @var{r@dots{}}. The register
28541 number @var{n} is in hexadecimal, and @var{r@dots{}} contains two hex
28542 digits for each byte in the register (target byte order).
28552 @item q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
28553 @itemx Q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
28554 @cindex @samp{q} packet
28555 @cindex @samp{Q} packet
28556 General query (@samp{q}) and set (@samp{Q}). These packets are
28557 described fully in @ref{General Query Packets}.
28560 @cindex @samp{r} packet
28561 Reset the entire system.
28563 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{R} packet instead.
28566 @cindex @samp{R} packet
28567 Restart the program being debugged. @var{XX}, while needed, is ignored.
28568 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
28570 The @samp{R} packet has no reply.
28572 @item s @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
28573 @cindex @samp{s} packet
28574 Single step. @var{addr} is the address at which to resume. If
28575 @var{addr} is omitted, resume at same address.
28578 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
28580 @item S @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
28581 @anchor{step with signal packet}
28582 @cindex @samp{S} packet
28583 Step with signal. This is analogous to the @samp{C} packet, but
28584 requests a single-step, rather than a normal resumption of execution.
28587 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
28589 @item t @var{addr}:@var{PP},@var{MM}
28590 @cindex @samp{t} packet
28591 Search backwards starting at address @var{addr} for a match with pattern
28592 @var{PP} and mask @var{MM}. @var{PP} and @var{MM} are 4 bytes.
28593 @var{addr} must be at least 3 digits.
28595 @item T @var{thread-id}
28596 @cindex @samp{T} packet
28597 Find out if the thread @var{thread-id} is alive. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
28602 thread is still alive
28608 Packets starting with @samp{v} are identified by a multi-letter name,
28609 up to the first @samp{;} or @samp{?} (or the end of the packet).
28611 @item vAttach;@var{pid}
28612 @cindex @samp{vAttach} packet
28613 Attach to a new process with the specified process ID @var{pid}.
28614 The process ID is a
28615 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. In all-stop mode, all
28616 threads in the attached process are stopped; in non-stop mode, it may be
28617 attached without being stopped if that is supported by the target.
28619 @c In non-stop mode, on a successful vAttach, the stub should set the
28620 @c current thread to a thread of the newly-attached process. After
28621 @c attaching, GDB queries for the attached process's thread ID with qC.
28622 @c Also note that, from a user perspective, whether or not the
28623 @c target is stopped on attach in non-stop mode depends on whether you
28624 @c use the foreground or background version of the attach command, not
28625 @c on what vAttach does; GDB does the right thing with respect to either
28626 @c stopping or restarting threads.
28628 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
28634 @item @r{Any stop packet}
28635 for success in all-stop mode (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
28637 for success in non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop})
28640 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@r{[}:@var{thread-id}@r{]]}@dots{}
28641 @cindex @samp{vCont} packet
28642 Resume the inferior, specifying different actions for each thread.
28643 If an action is specified with no @var{thread-id}, then it is applied to any
28644 threads that don't have a specific action specified; if no default action is
28645 specified then other threads should remain stopped in all-stop mode and
28646 in their current state in non-stop mode.
28647 Specifying multiple
28648 default actions is an error; specifying no actions is also an error.
28649 Thread IDs are specified using the syntax described in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
28651 Currently supported actions are:
28657 Continue with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
28661 Step with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
28666 The optional argument @var{addr} normally associated with the
28667 @samp{c}, @samp{C}, @samp{s}, and @samp{S} packets is
28668 not supported in @samp{vCont}.
28670 The @samp{t} action is only relevant in non-stop mode
28671 (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}) and may be ignored by the stub otherwise.
28672 A stop reply should be generated for any affected thread not already stopped.
28673 When a thread is stopped by means of a @samp{t} action,
28674 the corresponding stop reply should indicate that the thread has stopped with
28675 signal @samp{0}, regardless of whether the target uses some other signal
28676 as an implementation detail.
28679 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
28682 @cindex @samp{vCont?} packet
28683 Request a list of actions supported by the @samp{vCont} packet.
28687 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@dots{}@r{]}
28688 The @samp{vCont} packet is supported. Each @var{action} is a supported
28689 command in the @samp{vCont} packet.
28691 The @samp{vCont} packet is not supported.
28694 @item vFile:@var{operation}:@var{parameter}@dots{}
28695 @cindex @samp{vFile} packet
28696 Perform a file operation on the target system. For details,
28697 see @ref{Host I/O Packets}.
28699 @item vFlashErase:@var{addr},@var{length}
28700 @cindex @samp{vFlashErase} packet
28701 Direct the stub to erase @var{length} bytes of flash starting at
28702 @var{addr}. The region may enclose any number of flash blocks, but
28703 its start and end must fall on block boundaries, as indicated by the
28704 flash block size appearing in the memory map (@pxref{Memory Map
28705 Format}). @value{GDBN} groups flash memory programming operations
28706 together, and sends a @samp{vFlashDone} request after each group; the
28707 stub is allowed to delay erase operation until the @samp{vFlashDone}
28708 packet is received.
28710 The stub must support @samp{vCont} if it reports support for
28711 multiprocess extensions (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}). Note that in
28712 this case @samp{vCont} actions can be specified to apply to all threads
28713 in a process by using the @samp{p@var{pid}.-1} form of the
28724 @item vFlashWrite:@var{addr}:@var{XX@dots{}}
28725 @cindex @samp{vFlashWrite} packet
28726 Direct the stub to write data to flash address @var{addr}. The data
28727 is passed in binary form using the same encoding as for the @samp{X}
28728 packet (@pxref{Binary Data}). The memory ranges specified by
28729 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets preceding a @samp{vFlashDone} packet must
28730 not overlap, and must appear in order of increasing addresses
28731 (although @samp{vFlashErase} packets for higher addresses may already
28732 have been received; the ordering is guaranteed only between
28733 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets). If a packet writes to an address that was
28734 neither erased by a preceding @samp{vFlashErase} packet nor by some other
28735 target-specific method, the results are unpredictable.
28743 for vFlashWrite addressing non-flash memory
28749 @cindex @samp{vFlashDone} packet
28750 Indicate to the stub that flash programming operation is finished.
28751 The stub is permitted to delay or batch the effects of a group of
28752 @samp{vFlashErase} and @samp{vFlashWrite} packets until a
28753 @samp{vFlashDone} packet is received. The contents of the affected
28754 regions of flash memory are unpredictable until the @samp{vFlashDone}
28755 request is completed.
28757 @item vKill;@var{pid}
28758 @cindex @samp{vKill} packet
28759 Kill the process with the specified process ID. @var{pid} is a
28760 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. This packet is used in
28761 preference to @samp{k} when multiprocess protocol extensions are
28762 supported; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
28772 @item vRun;@var{filename}@r{[};@var{argument}@r{]}@dots{}
28773 @cindex @samp{vRun} packet
28774 Run the program @var{filename}, passing it each @var{argument} on its
28775 command line. The file and arguments are hex-encoded strings. If
28776 @var{filename} is an empty string, the stub may use a default program
28777 (e.g.@: the last program run). The program is created in the stopped
28780 @c FIXME: What about non-stop mode?
28782 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
28788 @item @r{Any stop packet}
28789 for success (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
28793 @anchor{vStopped packet}
28794 @cindex @samp{vStopped} packet
28796 In non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}), acknowledge a previous stop
28797 reply and prompt for the stub to report another one.
28801 @item @r{Any stop packet}
28802 if there is another unreported stop event (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
28804 if there are no unreported stop events
28807 @item X @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
28809 @cindex @samp{X} packet
28810 Write data to memory, where the data is transmitted in binary.
28811 @var{addr} is address, @var{length} is number of bytes,
28812 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
28822 @item z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{length}
28823 @itemx Z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{length}
28824 @anchor{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}
28825 @cindex @samp{z} packet
28826 @cindex @samp{Z} packets
28827 Insert (@samp{Z}) or remove (@samp{z}) a @var{type} breakpoint or
28828 watchpoint starting at address @var{address} and covering the next
28829 @var{length} bytes.
28831 Each breakpoint and watchpoint packet @var{type} is documented
28834 @emph{Implementation notes: A remote target shall return an empty string
28835 for an unrecognized breakpoint or watchpoint packet @var{type}. A
28836 remote target shall support either both or neither of a given
28837 @samp{Z@var{type}@dots{}} and @samp{z@var{type}@dots{}} packet pair. To
28838 avoid potential problems with duplicate packets, the operations should
28839 be implemented in an idempotent way.}
28841 @item z0,@var{addr},@var{length}
28842 @itemx Z0,@var{addr},@var{length}
28843 @cindex @samp{z0} packet
28844 @cindex @samp{Z0} packet
28845 Insert (@samp{Z0}) or remove (@samp{z0}) a memory breakpoint at address
28846 @var{addr} of size @var{length}.
28848 A memory breakpoint is implemented by replacing the instruction at
28849 @var{addr} with a software breakpoint or trap instruction. The
28850 @var{length} is used by targets that indicates the size of the
28851 breakpoint (in bytes) that should be inserted (e.g., the @sc{arm} and
28852 @sc{mips} can insert either a 2 or 4 byte breakpoint).
28854 @emph{Implementation note: It is possible for a target to copy or move
28855 code that contains memory breakpoints (e.g., when implementing
28856 overlays). The behavior of this packet, in the presence of such a
28857 target, is not defined.}
28869 @item z1,@var{addr},@var{length}
28870 @itemx Z1,@var{addr},@var{length}
28871 @cindex @samp{z1} packet
28872 @cindex @samp{Z1} packet
28873 Insert (@samp{Z1}) or remove (@samp{z1}) a hardware breakpoint at
28874 address @var{addr} of size @var{length}.
28876 A hardware breakpoint is implemented using a mechanism that is not
28877 dependant on being able to modify the target's memory.
28879 @emph{Implementation note: A hardware breakpoint is not affected by code
28892 @item z2,@var{addr},@var{length}
28893 @itemx Z2,@var{addr},@var{length}
28894 @cindex @samp{z2} packet
28895 @cindex @samp{Z2} packet
28896 Insert (@samp{Z2}) or remove (@samp{z2}) a write watchpoint.
28908 @item z3,@var{addr},@var{length}
28909 @itemx Z3,@var{addr},@var{length}
28910 @cindex @samp{z3} packet
28911 @cindex @samp{Z3} packet
28912 Insert (@samp{Z3}) or remove (@samp{z3}) a read watchpoint.
28924 @item z4,@var{addr},@var{length}
28925 @itemx Z4,@var{addr},@var{length}
28926 @cindex @samp{z4} packet
28927 @cindex @samp{Z4} packet
28928 Insert (@samp{Z4}) or remove (@samp{z4}) an access watchpoint.
28942 @node Stop Reply Packets
28943 @section Stop Reply Packets
28944 @cindex stop reply packets
28946 The @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}, @samp{s}, @samp{vCont},
28947 @samp{vAttach}, @samp{vRun}, @samp{vStopped}, and @samp{?} packets can
28948 receive any of the below as a reply. Except for @samp{?}
28949 and @samp{vStopped}, that reply is only returned
28950 when the target halts. In the below the exact meaning of @dfn{signal
28951 number} is defined by the header @file{include/gdb/signals.h} in the
28952 @value{GDBN} source code.
28954 As in the description of request packets, we include spaces in the
28955 reply templates for clarity; these are not part of the reply packet's
28956 syntax. No @value{GDBN} stop reply packet uses spaces to separate its
28962 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
28963 number). This is equivalent to a @samp{T} response with no
28964 @var{n}:@var{r} pairs.
28966 @item T @var{AA} @var{n1}:@var{r1};@var{n2}:@var{r2};@dots{}
28967 @cindex @samp{T} packet reply
28968 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
28969 number). This is equivalent to an @samp{S} response, except that the
28970 @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pairs can carry values of important registers
28971 and other information directly in the stop reply packet, reducing
28972 round-trip latency. Single-step and breakpoint traps are reported
28973 this way. Each @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair is interpreted as follows:
28977 If @var{n} is a hexadecimal number, it is a register number, and the
28978 corresponding @var{r} gives that register's value. @var{r} is a
28979 series of bytes in target byte order, with each byte given by a
28980 two-digit hex number.
28983 If @var{n} is @samp{thread}, then @var{r} is the @var{thread-id} of
28984 the stopped thread, as specified in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
28987 If @var{n} is a recognized @dfn{stop reason}, it describes a more
28988 specific event that stopped the target. The currently defined stop
28989 reasons are listed below. @var{aa} should be @samp{05}, the trap
28990 signal. At most one stop reason should be present.
28993 Otherwise, @value{GDBN} should ignore this @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair
28994 and go on to the next; this allows us to extend the protocol in the
28998 The currently defined stop reasons are:
29004 The packet indicates a watchpoint hit, and @var{r} is the data address, in
29007 @cindex shared library events, remote reply
29009 The packet indicates that the loaded libraries have changed.
29010 @value{GDBN} should use @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} to fetch a new
29011 list of loaded libraries. @var{r} is ignored.
29013 @cindex replay log events, remote reply
29015 The packet indicates that the target cannot continue replaying
29016 logged execution events, because it has reached the end (or the
29017 beginning when executing backward) of the log. The value of @var{r}
29018 will be either @samp{begin} or @samp{end}. @xref{Reverse Execution},
29019 for more information.
29025 @itemx W @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
29026 The process exited, and @var{AA} is the exit status. This is only
29027 applicable to certain targets.
29029 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the exited
29030 process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported support for
29031 multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
29032 The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
29035 @itemx X @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
29036 The process terminated with signal @var{AA}.
29038 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the
29039 terminated process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported
29040 support for multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess
29041 extensions}. The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
29043 @item O @var{XX}@dots{}
29044 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data, to be
29045 written as the program's console output. This can happen at any time
29046 while the program is running and the debugger should continue to wait
29047 for @samp{W}, @samp{T}, etc. This reply is not permitted in non-stop mode.
29049 @item F @var{call-id},@var{parameter}@dots{}
29050 @var{call-id} is the identifier which says which host system call should
29051 be called. This is just the name of the function. Translation into the
29052 correct system call is only applicable as it's defined in @value{GDBN}.
29053 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for a list of implemented
29056 @samp{@var{parameter}@dots{}} is a list of parameters as defined for
29057 this very system call.
29059 The target replies with this packet when it expects @value{GDBN} to
29060 call a host system call on behalf of the target. @value{GDBN} replies
29061 with an appropriate @samp{F} packet and keeps up waiting for the next
29062 reply packet from the target. The latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
29063 or @samp{s} action is expected to be continued. @xref{File-I/O Remote
29064 Protocol Extension}, for more details.
29068 @node General Query Packets
29069 @section General Query Packets
29070 @cindex remote query requests
29072 Packets starting with @samp{q} are @dfn{general query packets};
29073 packets starting with @samp{Q} are @dfn{general set packets}. General
29074 query and set packets are a semi-unified form for retrieving and
29075 sending information to and from the stub.
29077 The initial letter of a query or set packet is followed by a name
29078 indicating what sort of thing the packet applies to. For example,
29079 @value{GDBN} may use a @samp{qSymbol} packet to exchange symbol
29080 definitions with the stub. These packet names follow some
29085 The name must not contain commas, colons or semicolons.
29087 Most @value{GDBN} query and set packets have a leading upper case
29090 The names of custom vendor packets should use a company prefix, in
29091 lower case, followed by a period. For example, packets designed at
29092 the Acme Corporation might begin with @samp{qacme.foo} (for querying
29093 foos) or @samp{Qacme.bar} (for setting bars).
29096 The name of a query or set packet should be separated from any
29097 parameters by a @samp{:}; the parameters themselves should be
29098 separated by @samp{,} or @samp{;}. Stubs must be careful to match the
29099 full packet name, and check for a separator or the end of the packet,
29100 in case two packet names share a common prefix. New packets should not begin
29101 with @samp{qC}, @samp{qP}, or @samp{qL}@footnote{The @samp{qP} and @samp{qL}
29102 packets predate these conventions, and have arguments without any terminator
29103 for the packet name; we suspect they are in widespread use in places that
29104 are difficult to upgrade. The @samp{qC} packet has no arguments, but some
29105 existing stubs (e.g.@: RedBoot) are known to not check for the end of the
29108 Like the descriptions of the other packets, each description here
29109 has a template showing the packet's overall syntax, followed by an
29110 explanation of the packet's meaning. We include spaces in some of the
29111 templates for clarity; these are not part of the packet's syntax. No
29112 @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to separate its components.
29114 Here are the currently defined query and set packets:
29119 @cindex current thread, remote request
29120 @cindex @samp{qC} packet
29121 Return the current thread ID.
29125 @item QC @var{thread-id}
29126 Where @var{thread-id} is a thread ID as documented in
29127 @ref{thread-id syntax}.
29128 @item @r{(anything else)}
29129 Any other reply implies the old thread ID.
29132 @item qCRC:@var{addr},@var{length}
29133 @cindex CRC of memory block, remote request
29134 @cindex @samp{qCRC} packet
29135 Compute the CRC checksum of a block of memory using CRC-32 defined in
29136 IEEE 802.3. The CRC is computed byte at a time, taking the most
29137 significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern code
29138 @code{0xffffffff} is used to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC.
29140 @emph{Note:} This is the same CRC used in validating separate debug
29141 files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files, , Debugging Information in Separate
29142 Files}). However the algorithm is slightly different. When validating
29143 separate debug files, the CRC is computed taking the @emph{least}
29144 significant bit of each byte first, and the final result is inverted to
29145 detect trailing zeros.
29150 An error (such as memory fault)
29151 @item C @var{crc32}
29152 The specified memory region's checksum is @var{crc32}.
29156 @itemx qsThreadInfo
29157 @cindex list active threads, remote request
29158 @cindex @samp{qfThreadInfo} packet
29159 @cindex @samp{qsThreadInfo} packet
29160 Obtain a list of all active thread IDs from the target (OS). Since there
29161 may be too many active threads to fit into one reply packet, this query
29162 works iteratively: it may require more than one query/reply sequence to
29163 obtain the entire list of threads. The first query of the sequence will
29164 be the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query; subsequent queries in the
29165 sequence will be the @samp{qsThreadInfo} query.
29167 NOTE: This packet replaces the @samp{qL} query (see below).
29171 @item m @var{thread-id}
29173 @item m @var{thread-id},@var{thread-id}@dots{}
29174 a comma-separated list of thread IDs
29176 (lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
29179 In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
29180 more thread IDs, separated by commas.
29181 @value{GDBN} will respond to each reply with a request for more thread
29182 ids (using the @samp{qs} form of the query), until the target responds
29183 with @samp{l} (lower-case el, for @dfn{last}).
29184 Refer to @ref{thread-id syntax}, for the format of the @var{thread-id}
29187 @item qGetTLSAddr:@var{thread-id},@var{offset},@var{lm}
29188 @cindex get thread-local storage address, remote request
29189 @cindex @samp{qGetTLSAddr} packet
29190 Fetch the address associated with thread local storage specified
29191 by @var{thread-id}, @var{offset}, and @var{lm}.
29193 @var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the
29194 thread for which to fetch the TLS address. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
29196 @var{offset} is the (big endian, hex encoded) offset associated with the
29197 thread local variable. (This offset is obtained from the debug
29198 information associated with the variable.)
29200 @var{lm} is the (big endian, hex encoded) OS/ABI-specific encoding of the
29201 the load module associated with the thread local storage. For example,
29202 a @sc{gnu}/Linux system will pass the link map address of the shared
29203 object associated with the thread local storage under consideration.
29204 Other operating environments may choose to represent the load module
29205 differently, so the precise meaning of this parameter will vary.
29209 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
29210 Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the address of the thread
29211 local storage requested.
29214 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
29217 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTLSAddr} is not supported by the stub.
29220 @item qL @var{startflag} @var{threadcount} @var{nextthread}
29221 Obtain thread information from RTOS. Where: @var{startflag} (one hex
29222 digit) is one to indicate the first query and zero to indicate a
29223 subsequent query; @var{threadcount} (two hex digits) is the maximum
29224 number of threads the response packet can contain; and @var{nextthread}
29225 (eight hex digits), for subsequent queries (@var{startflag} is zero), is
29226 returned in the response as @var{argthread}.
29228 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query instead (see above).
29232 @item qM @var{count} @var{done} @var{argthread} @var{thread}@dots{}
29233 Where: @var{count} (two hex digits) is the number of threads being
29234 returned; @var{done} (one hex digit) is zero to indicate more threads
29235 and one indicates no further threads; @var{argthreadid} (eight hex
29236 digits) is @var{nextthread} from the request packet; @var{thread}@dots{}
29237 is a sequence of thread IDs from the target. @var{threadid} (eight hex
29238 digits). See @code{remote.c:parse_threadlist_response()}.
29242 @cindex section offsets, remote request
29243 @cindex @samp{qOffsets} packet
29244 Get section offsets that the target used when relocating the downloaded
29249 @item Text=@var{xxx};Data=@var{yyy}@r{[};Bss=@var{zzz}@r{]}
29250 Relocate the @code{Text} section by @var{xxx} from its original address.
29251 Relocate the @code{Data} section by @var{yyy} from its original address.
29252 If the object file format provides segment information (e.g.@: @sc{elf}
29253 @samp{PT_LOAD} program headers), @value{GDBN} will relocate entire
29254 segments by the supplied offsets.
29256 @emph{Note: while a @code{Bss} offset may be included in the response,
29257 @value{GDBN} ignores this and instead applies the @code{Data} offset
29258 to the @code{Bss} section.}
29260 @item TextSeg=@var{xxx}@r{[};DataSeg=@var{yyy}@r{]}
29261 Relocate the first segment of the object file, which conventionally
29262 contains program code, to a starting address of @var{xxx}. If
29263 @samp{DataSeg} is specified, relocate the second segment, which
29264 conventionally contains modifiable data, to a starting address of
29265 @var{yyy}. @value{GDBN} will report an error if the object file
29266 does not contain segment information, or does not contain at least
29267 as many segments as mentioned in the reply. Extra segments are
29268 kept at fixed offsets relative to the last relocated segment.
29271 @item qP @var{mode} @var{thread-id}
29272 @cindex thread information, remote request
29273 @cindex @samp{qP} packet
29274 Returns information on @var{thread-id}. Where: @var{mode} is a hex
29275 encoded 32 bit mode; @var{thread-id} is a thread ID
29276 (@pxref{thread-id syntax}).
29278 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} query instead
29281 Reply: see @code{remote.c:remote_unpack_thread_info_response()}.
29285 @cindex non-stop mode, remote request
29286 @cindex @samp{QNonStop} packet
29288 Enter non-stop (@samp{QNonStop:1}) or all-stop (@samp{QNonStop:0}) mode.
29289 @xref{Remote Non-Stop}, for more information.
29294 The request succeeded.
29297 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
29300 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QNonStop} is not supported by
29304 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
29305 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
29306 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set non-stop} command;
29307 @pxref{Non-Stop Mode}.
29309 @item QPassSignals: @var{signal} @r{[};@var{signal}@r{]}@dots{}
29310 @cindex pass signals to inferior, remote request
29311 @cindex @samp{QPassSignals} packet
29312 @anchor{QPassSignals}
29313 Each listed @var{signal} should be passed directly to the inferior process.
29314 Signals are numbered identically to continue packets and stop replies
29315 (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}). Each @var{signal} list item should be
29316 strictly greater than the previous item. These signals do not need to stop
29317 the inferior, or be reported to @value{GDBN}. All other signals should be
29318 reported to @value{GDBN}. Multiple @samp{QPassSignals} packets do not
29319 combine; any earlier @samp{QPassSignals} list is completely replaced by the
29320 new list. This packet improves performance when using @samp{handle
29321 @var{signal} nostop noprint pass}.
29326 The request succeeded.
29329 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
29332 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QPassSignals} is not supported by
29336 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote pass-signals}
29337 command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote pass-signals}).
29338 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
29339 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
29341 @item qRcmd,@var{command}
29342 @cindex execute remote command, remote request
29343 @cindex @samp{qRcmd} packet
29344 @var{command} (hex encoded) is passed to the local interpreter for
29345 execution. Invalid commands should be reported using the output
29346 string. Before the final result packet, the target may also respond
29347 with a number of intermediate @samp{O@var{output}} console output
29348 packets. @emph{Implementors should note that providing access to a
29349 stubs's interpreter may have security implications}.
29354 A command response with no output.
29356 A command response with the hex encoded output string @var{OUTPUT}.
29358 Indicate a badly formed request.
29360 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qRcmd} is not recognized.
29363 (Note that the @code{qRcmd} packet's name is separated from the
29364 command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
29365 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
29368 @item qSearch:memory:@var{address};@var{length};@var{search-pattern}
29369 @cindex searching memory, in remote debugging
29370 @cindex @samp{qSearch:memory} packet
29371 @anchor{qSearch memory}
29372 Search @var{length} bytes at @var{address} for @var{search-pattern}.
29373 @var{address} and @var{length} are encoded in hex.
29374 @var{search-pattern} is a sequence of bytes, hex encoded.
29379 The pattern was not found.
29381 The pattern was found at @var{address}.
29383 A badly formed request or an error was encountered while searching memory.
29385 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSearch:memory} is not recognized.
29388 @item QStartNoAckMode
29389 @cindex @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet
29390 @anchor{QStartNoAckMode}
29391 Request that the remote stub disable the normal @samp{+}/@samp{-}
29392 protocol acknowledgments (@pxref{Packet Acknowledgment}).
29397 The stub has switched to no-acknowledgment mode.
29398 @value{GDBN} acknowledges this reponse,
29399 but neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or expect further
29400 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments in the current connection.
29402 An empty reply indicates that the stub does not support no-acknowledgment mode.
29405 @item qSupported @r{[}:@var{gdbfeature} @r{[};@var{gdbfeature}@r{]}@dots{} @r{]}
29406 @cindex supported packets, remote query
29407 @cindex features of the remote protocol
29408 @cindex @samp{qSupported} packet
29409 @anchor{qSupported}
29410 Tell the remote stub about features supported by @value{GDBN}, and
29411 query the stub for features it supports. This packet allows
29412 @value{GDBN} and the remote stub to take advantage of each others'
29413 features. @samp{qSupported} also consolidates multiple feature probes
29414 at startup, to improve @value{GDBN} performance---a single larger
29415 packet performs better than multiple smaller probe packets on
29416 high-latency links. Some features may enable behavior which must not
29417 be on by default, e.g.@: because it would confuse older clients or
29418 stubs. Other features may describe packets which could be
29419 automatically probed for, but are not. These features must be
29420 reported before @value{GDBN} will use them. This ``default
29421 unsupported'' behavior is not appropriate for all packets, but it
29422 helps to keep the initial connection time under control with new
29423 versions of @value{GDBN} which support increasing numbers of packets.
29427 @item @var{stubfeature} @r{[};@var{stubfeature}@r{]}@dots{}
29428 The stub supports or does not support each returned @var{stubfeature},
29429 depending on the form of each @var{stubfeature} (see below for the
29432 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSupported} is not recognized,
29433 or that no features needed to be reported to @value{GDBN}.
29436 The allowed forms for each feature (either a @var{gdbfeature} in the
29437 @samp{qSupported} packet, or a @var{stubfeature} in the response)
29441 @item @var{name}=@var{value}
29442 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and associated
29443 with the specified @var{value}. The format of @var{value} depends
29444 on the feature, but it must not include a semicolon.
29446 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and does not
29447 need an associated value.
29449 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is not supported.
29451 The remote protocol feature @var{name} may be supported, and
29452 @value{GDBN} should auto-detect support in some other way when it is
29453 needed. This form will not be used for @var{gdbfeature} notifications,
29454 but may be used for @var{stubfeature} responses.
29457 Whenever the stub receives a @samp{qSupported} request, the
29458 supplied set of @value{GDBN} features should override any previous
29459 request. This allows @value{GDBN} to put the stub in a known
29460 state, even if the stub had previously been communicating with
29461 a different version of @value{GDBN}.
29463 The following values of @var{gdbfeature} (for the packet sent by @value{GDBN})
29468 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports multiprocess
29469 extensions to the remote protocol. @value{GDBN} does not use such
29470 extensions unless the stub also reports that it supports them by
29471 including @samp{multiprocess+} in its @samp{qSupported} reply.
29472 @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for details.
29475 Stubs should ignore any unknown values for
29476 @var{gdbfeature}. Any @value{GDBN} which sends a @samp{qSupported}
29477 packet supports receiving packets of unlimited length (earlier
29478 versions of @value{GDBN} may reject overly long responses). Additional values
29479 for @var{gdbfeature} may be defined in the future to let the stub take
29480 advantage of new features in @value{GDBN}, e.g.@: incompatible
29481 improvements in the remote protocol---the @samp{multiprocess} feature is
29482 an example of such a feature. The stub's reply should be independent
29483 of the @var{gdbfeature} entries sent by @value{GDBN}; first @value{GDBN}
29484 describes all the features it supports, and then the stub replies with
29485 all the features it supports.
29487 Similarly, @value{GDBN} will silently ignore unrecognized stub feature
29488 responses, as long as each response uses one of the standard forms.
29490 Some features are flags. A stub which supports a flag feature
29491 should respond with a @samp{+} form response. Other features
29492 require values, and the stub should respond with an @samp{=}
29495 Each feature has a default value, which @value{GDBN} will use if
29496 @samp{qSupported} is not available or if the feature is not mentioned
29497 in the @samp{qSupported} response. The default values are fixed; a
29498 stub is free to omit any feature responses that match the defaults.
29500 Not all features can be probed, but for those which can, the probing
29501 mechanism is useful: in some cases, a stub's internal
29502 architecture may not allow the protocol layer to know some information
29503 about the underlying target in advance. This is especially common in
29504 stubs which may be configured for multiple targets.
29506 These are the currently defined stub features and their properties:
29508 @multitable @columnfractions 0.35 0.2 0.12 0.2
29509 @c NOTE: The first row should be @headitem, but we do not yet require
29510 @c a new enough version of Texinfo (4.7) to use @headitem.
29512 @tab Value Required
29516 @item @samp{PacketSize}
29521 @item @samp{qXfer:auxv:read}
29526 @item @samp{qXfer:features:read}
29531 @item @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
29536 @item @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
29541 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:read}
29546 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:write}
29551 @item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read}
29556 @item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write}
29561 @item @samp{QNonStop}
29566 @item @samp{QPassSignals}
29571 @item @samp{QStartNoAckMode}
29576 @item @samp{multiprocess}
29581 @item @samp{ConditionalTracepoints}
29586 @item @samp{ReverseContinue}
29591 @item @samp{ReverseStep}
29598 These are the currently defined stub features, in more detail:
29601 @cindex packet size, remote protocol
29602 @item PacketSize=@var{bytes}
29603 The remote stub can accept packets up to at least @var{bytes} in
29604 length. @value{GDBN} will send packets up to this size for bulk
29605 transfers, and will never send larger packets. This is a limit on the
29606 data characters in the packet, including the frame and checksum.
29607 There is no trailing NUL byte in a remote protocol packet; if the stub
29608 stores packets in a NUL-terminated format, it should allow an extra
29609 byte in its buffer for the NUL. If this stub feature is not supported,
29610 @value{GDBN} guesses based on the size of the @samp{g} packet response.
29612 @item qXfer:auxv:read
29613 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet
29614 (@pxref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}).
29616 @item qXfer:features:read
29617 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:features:read} packet
29618 (@pxref{qXfer target description read}).
29620 @item qXfer:libraries:read
29621 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet
29622 (@pxref{qXfer library list read}).
29624 @item qXfer:memory-map:read
29625 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read} packet
29626 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}).
29628 @item qXfer:spu:read
29629 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:read} packet
29630 (@pxref{qXfer spu read}).
29632 @item qXfer:spu:write
29633 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:write} packet
29634 (@pxref{qXfer spu write}).
29636 @item qXfer:siginfo:read
29637 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read} packet
29638 (@pxref{qXfer siginfo read}).
29640 @item qXfer:siginfo:write
29641 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write} packet
29642 (@pxref{qXfer siginfo write}).
29645 The remote stub understands the @samp{QNonStop} packet
29646 (@pxref{QNonStop}).
29649 The remote stub understands the @samp{QPassSignals} packet
29650 (@pxref{QPassSignals}).
29652 @item QStartNoAckMode
29653 The remote stub understands the @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet and
29654 prefers to operate in no-acknowledgment mode. @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}.
29657 @anchor{multiprocess extensions}
29658 @cindex multiprocess extensions, in remote protocol
29659 The remote stub understands the multiprocess extensions to the remote
29660 protocol syntax. The multiprocess extensions affect the syntax of
29661 thread IDs in both packets and replies (@pxref{thread-id syntax}), and
29662 add process IDs to the @samp{D} packet and @samp{W} and @samp{X}
29663 replies. Note that reporting this feature indicates support for the
29664 syntactic extensions only, not that the stub necessarily supports
29665 debugging of more than one process at a time. The stub must not use
29666 multiprocess extensions in packet replies unless @value{GDBN} has also
29667 indicated it supports them in its @samp{qSupported} request.
29669 @item qXfer:osdata:read
29670 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet
29671 ((@pxref{qXfer osdata read}).
29673 @item ConditionalTracepoints
29674 The remote stub accepts and implements conditional expressions defined
29675 for tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoint Conditions}).
29677 @item ReverseContinue
29678 The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse continue packet
29682 The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse step packet
29688 @cindex symbol lookup, remote request
29689 @cindex @samp{qSymbol} packet
29690 Notify the target that @value{GDBN} is prepared to serve symbol lookup
29691 requests. Accept requests from the target for the values of symbols.
29696 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
29697 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
29698 The target requests the value of symbol @var{sym_name} (hex encoded).
29699 @value{GDBN} may provide the value by using the
29700 @samp{qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}} message, described
29704 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}
29705 Set the value of @var{sym_name} to @var{sym_value}.
29707 @var{sym_name} (hex encoded) is the name of a symbol whose value the
29708 target has previously requested.
29710 @var{sym_value} (hex) is the value for symbol @var{sym_name}. If
29711 @value{GDBN} cannot supply a value for @var{sym_name}, then this field
29717 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
29718 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
29719 The target requests the value of a new symbol @var{sym_name} (hex
29720 encoded). @value{GDBN} will continue to supply the values of symbols
29721 (if available), until the target ceases to request them.
29726 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
29728 @item qThreadExtraInfo,@var{thread-id}
29729 @cindex thread attributes info, remote request
29730 @cindex @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} packet
29731 Obtain a printable string description of a thread's attributes from
29732 the target OS. @var{thread-id} is a thread ID;
29733 see @ref{thread-id syntax}. This
29734 string may contain anything that the target OS thinks is interesting
29735 for @value{GDBN} to tell the user about the thread. The string is
29736 displayed in @value{GDBN}'s @code{info threads} display. Some
29737 examples of possible thread extra info strings are @samp{Runnable}, or
29738 @samp{Blocked on Mutex}.
29742 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
29743 Where @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is a hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data,
29744 comprising the printable string containing the extra information about
29745 the thread's attributes.
29748 (Note that the @code{qThreadExtraInfo} packet's name is separated from
29749 the command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
29750 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
29758 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
29760 @item qXfer:@var{object}:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
29761 @cindex read special object, remote request
29762 @cindex @samp{qXfer} packet
29763 @anchor{qXfer read}
29764 Read uninterpreted bytes from the target's special data area
29765 identified by the keyword @var{object}. Request @var{length} bytes
29766 starting at @var{offset} bytes into the data. The content and
29767 encoding of @var{annex} is specific to @var{object}; it can supply
29768 additional details about what data to access.
29770 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
29771 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:read:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
29772 formats, listed below.
29775 @item qXfer:auxv:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
29776 @anchor{qXfer auxiliary vector read}
29777 Access the target's @dfn{auxiliary vector}. @xref{OS Information,
29778 auxiliary vector}. Note @var{annex} must be empty.
29780 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
29781 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
29783 @item qXfer:features:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
29784 @anchor{qXfer target description read}
29785 Access the @dfn{target description}. @xref{Target Descriptions}. The
29786 annex specifies which XML document to access. The main description is
29787 always loaded from the @samp{target.xml} annex.
29789 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
29790 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
29792 @item qXfer:libraries:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
29793 @anchor{qXfer library list read}
29794 Access the target's list of loaded libraries. @xref{Library List Format}.
29795 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
29796 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
29798 Targets which maintain a list of libraries in the program's memory do
29799 not need to implement this packet; it is designed for platforms where
29800 the operating system manages the list of loaded libraries.
29802 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
29803 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
29805 @item qXfer:memory-map:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
29806 @anchor{qXfer memory map read}
29807 Access the target's @dfn{memory-map}. @xref{Memory Map Format}. The
29808 annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
29809 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
29811 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
29812 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
29814 @item qXfer:siginfo:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
29815 @anchor{qXfer siginfo read}
29816 Read contents of the extra signal information on the target
29817 system. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
29818 empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
29820 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
29821 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
29822 (@pxref{qSupported}).
29824 @item qXfer:spu:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
29825 @anchor{qXfer spu read}
29826 Read contents of an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
29827 annex specifies which file to read; it must be of the form
29828 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
29829 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
29830 in that context to be accessed.
29832 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
29833 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
29834 (@pxref{qSupported}).
29836 @item qXfer:osdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
29837 @anchor{qXfer osdata read}
29838 Access the target's @dfn{operating system information}.
29839 @xref{Operating System Information}.
29846 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the
29847 target. There may be more data at a higher address (although
29848 it is permitted to return @samp{m} even for the last valid
29849 block of data, as long as at least one byte of data was read).
29850 @var{data} may have fewer bytes than the @var{length} in the
29854 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the target.
29855 There is no more data to be read. @var{data} may have fewer bytes
29856 than the @var{length} in the request.
29859 The @var{offset} in the request is at the end of the data.
29860 There is no more data to be read.
29863 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
29866 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered reading the data.
29867 @var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
29870 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not recognized by
29871 the stub, or that the object does not support reading.
29874 @item qXfer:@var{object}:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
29875 @cindex write data into object, remote request
29876 @anchor{qXfer write}
29877 Write uninterpreted bytes into the target's special data area
29878 identified by the keyword @var{object}, starting at @var{offset} bytes
29879 into the data. @var{data}@dots{} is the binary-encoded data
29880 (@pxref{Binary Data}) to be written. The content and encoding of @var{annex}
29881 is specific to @var{object}; it can supply additional details about what data
29884 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
29885 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:write:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
29886 formats, listed below.
29889 @item qXfer:siginfo:write::@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
29890 @anchor{qXfer siginfo write}
29891 Write @var{data} to the extra signal information on the target system.
29892 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
29893 empty (@pxref{qXfer write}).
29895 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
29896 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
29897 (@pxref{qSupported}).
29899 @item qXfer:spu:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
29900 @anchor{qXfer spu write}
29901 Write @var{data} to an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
29902 annex specifies which file to write; it must be of the form
29903 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
29904 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
29905 in that context to be accessed.
29907 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
29908 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
29914 @var{nn} (hex encoded) is the number of bytes written.
29915 This may be fewer bytes than supplied in the request.
29918 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
29921 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered writing the data.
29922 @var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
29925 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not
29926 recognized by the stub, or that the object does not support writing.
29929 @item qXfer:@var{object}:@var{operation}:@dots{}
29930 Requests of this form may be added in the future. When a stub does
29931 not recognize the @var{object} keyword, or its support for
29932 @var{object} does not recognize the @var{operation} keyword, the stub
29933 must respond with an empty packet.
29935 @item qAttached:@var{pid}
29936 @cindex query attached, remote request
29937 @cindex @samp{qAttached} packet
29938 Return an indication of whether the remote server attached to an
29939 existing process or created a new process. When the multiprocess
29940 protocol extensions are supported (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}),
29941 @var{pid} is an integer in hexadecimal format identifying the target
29942 process. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} will omit the @var{pid} field and
29943 the query packet will be simplified as @samp{qAttached}.
29945 This query is used, for example, to know whether the remote process
29946 should be detached or killed when a @value{GDBN} session is ended with
29947 the @code{quit} command.
29952 The remote server attached to an existing process.
29954 The remote server created a new process.
29956 A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
29961 @node Register Packet Format
29962 @section Register Packet Format
29964 The following @code{g}/@code{G} packets have previously been defined.
29965 In the below, some thirty-two bit registers are transferred as
29966 sixty-four bits. Those registers should be zero/sign extended (which?)
29967 to fill the space allocated. Register bytes are transferred in target
29968 byte order. The two nibbles within a register byte are transferred
29969 most-significant - least-significant.
29975 All registers are transferred as thirty-two bit quantities in the order:
29976 32 general-purpose; sr; lo; hi; bad; cause; pc; 32 floating-point
29977 registers; fsr; fir; fp.
29981 All registers are transferred as sixty-four bit quantities (including
29982 thirty-two bit registers such as @code{sr}). The ordering is the same
29987 @node Tracepoint Packets
29988 @section Tracepoint Packets
29989 @cindex tracepoint packets
29990 @cindex packets, tracepoint
29992 Here we describe the packets @value{GDBN} uses to implement
29993 tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoints}).
29997 @item QTDP:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{ena}:@var{step}:@var{pass}[:F@var{flen}][:X@var{len},@var{bytes}]@r{[}-@r{]}
29998 Create a new tracepoint, number @var{n}, at @var{addr}. If @var{ena}
29999 is @samp{E}, then the tracepoint is enabled; if it is @samp{D}, then
30000 the tracepoint is disabled. @var{step} is the tracepoint's step
30001 count, and @var{pass} is its pass count. If an @samp{F} is present,
30002 then the tracepoint is to be a fast tracepoint, and the @var{flen} is
30003 the number of bytes that the target should copy elsewhere to make room
30004 for the tracepoint. If an @samp{X} is present, it introduces a
30005 tracepoint condition, which consists of a hexadecimal length, followed
30006 by a comma and hex-encoded bytes, in a manner similar to action
30007 encodings as described below. If the trailing @samp{-} is present,
30008 further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow to specify this tracepoint's
30014 The packet was understood and carried out.
30016 The packet was not recognized.
30019 @item QTDP:-@var{n}:@var{addr}:@r{[}S@r{]}@var{action}@dots{}@r{[}-@r{]}
30020 Define actions to be taken when a tracepoint is hit. @var{n} and
30021 @var{addr} must be the same as in the initial @samp{QTDP} packet for
30022 this tracepoint. This packet may only be sent immediately after
30023 another @samp{QTDP} packet that ended with a @samp{-}. If the
30024 trailing @samp{-} is present, further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow,
30025 specifying more actions for this tracepoint.
30027 In the series of action packets for a given tracepoint, at most one
30028 can have an @samp{S} before its first @var{action}. If such a packet
30029 is sent, it and the following packets define ``while-stepping''
30030 actions. Any prior packets define ordinary actions --- that is, those
30031 taken when the tracepoint is first hit. If no action packet has an
30032 @samp{S}, then all the packets in the series specify ordinary
30033 tracepoint actions.
30035 The @samp{@var{action}@dots{}} portion of the packet is a series of
30036 actions, concatenated without separators. Each action has one of the
30042 Collect the registers whose bits are set in @var{mask}. @var{mask} is
30043 a hexadecimal number whose @var{i}'th bit is set if register number
30044 @var{i} should be collected. (The least significant bit is numbered
30045 zero.) Note that @var{mask} may be any number of digits long; it may
30046 not fit in a 32-bit word.
30048 @item M @var{basereg},@var{offset},@var{len}
30049 Collect @var{len} bytes of memory starting at the address in register
30050 number @var{basereg}, plus @var{offset}. If @var{basereg} is
30051 @samp{-1}, then the range has a fixed address: @var{offset} is the
30052 address of the lowest byte to collect. The @var{basereg},
30053 @var{offset}, and @var{len} parameters are all unsigned hexadecimal
30054 values (the @samp{-1} value for @var{basereg} is a special case).
30056 @item X @var{len},@var{expr}
30057 Evaluate @var{expr}, whose length is @var{len}, and collect memory as
30058 it directs. @var{expr} is an agent expression, as described in
30059 @ref{Agent Expressions}. Each byte of the expression is encoded as a
30060 two-digit hex number in the packet; @var{len} is the number of bytes
30061 in the expression (and thus one-half the number of hex digits in the
30066 Any number of actions may be packed together in a single @samp{QTDP}
30067 packet, as long as the packet does not exceed the maximum packet
30068 length (400 bytes, for many stubs). There may be only one @samp{R}
30069 action per tracepoint, and it must precede any @samp{M} or @samp{X}
30070 actions. Any registers referred to by @samp{M} and @samp{X} actions
30071 must be collected by a preceding @samp{R} action. (The
30072 ``while-stepping'' actions are treated as if they were attached to a
30073 separate tracepoint, as far as these restrictions are concerned.)
30078 The packet was understood and carried out.
30080 The packet was not recognized.
30083 @item QTDV:@var{n}:@var{value}
30084 @cindex define trace state variable, remote request
30085 @cindex @samp{QTDV} packet
30086 Create a new trace state variable, number @var{n}, with an initial
30087 value of @var{value}, which is a 64-bit signed integer. Both @var{n}
30088 and @var{value} are encoded as hexadecimal values. @value{GDBN} has
30089 the option of not using this packet for initial values of zero; the
30090 target should simply create the trace state variables as they are
30091 mentioned in expressions.
30093 @item QTFrame:@var{n}
30094 Select the @var{n}'th tracepoint frame from the buffer, and use the
30095 register and memory contents recorded there to answer subsequent
30096 request packets from @value{GDBN}.
30098 A successful reply from the stub indicates that the stub has found the
30099 requested frame. The response is a series of parts, concatenated
30100 without separators, describing the frame we selected. Each part has
30101 one of the following forms:
30105 The selected frame is number @var{n} in the trace frame buffer;
30106 @var{f} is a hexadecimal number. If @var{f} is @samp{-1}, then there
30107 was no frame matching the criteria in the request packet.
30110 The selected trace frame records a hit of tracepoint number @var{t};
30111 @var{t} is a hexadecimal number.
30115 @item QTFrame:pc:@var{addr}
30116 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
30117 currently selected frame whose PC is @var{addr};
30118 @var{addr} is a hexadecimal number.
30120 @item QTFrame:tdp:@var{t}
30121 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
30122 currently selected frame that is a hit of tracepoint @var{t}; @var{t}
30123 is a hexadecimal number.
30125 @item QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}
30126 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
30127 currently selected frame whose PC is between @var{start} (inclusive)
30128 and @var{end} (exclusive); @var{start} and @var{end} are hexadecimal
30131 @item QTFrame:outside:@var{start}:@var{end}
30132 Like @samp{QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}}, but select the first
30133 frame @emph{outside} the given range of addresses.
30136 Begin the tracepoint experiment. Begin collecting data from tracepoint
30137 hits in the trace frame buffer.
30140 End the tracepoint experiment. Stop collecting trace frames.
30143 Clear the table of tracepoints, and empty the trace frame buffer.
30145 @item QTro:@var{start1},@var{end1}:@var{start2},@var{end2}:@dots{}
30146 Establish the given ranges of memory as ``transparent''. The stub
30147 will answer requests for these ranges from memory's current contents,
30148 if they were not collected as part of the tracepoint hit.
30150 @value{GDBN} uses this to mark read-only regions of memory, like those
30151 containing program code. Since these areas never change, they should
30152 still have the same contents they did when the tracepoint was hit, so
30153 there's no reason for the stub to refuse to provide their contents.
30156 Ask the stub if there is a trace experiment running right now.
30161 There is no trace experiment running.
30163 There is a trace experiment running.
30166 @item qTV:@var{var}
30167 @cindex trace state variable value, remote request
30168 @cindex @samp{qTV} packet
30169 Ask the stub for the value of the trace state variable number @var{var}.
30174 The value of the variable is @var{value}. This will be the current
30175 value of the variable if the user is examining a running target, or a
30176 saved value if the variable was collected in the trace frame that the
30177 user is looking at. Note that multiple requests may result in
30178 different reply values, such as when requesting values while the
30179 program is running.
30182 The value of the variable is unknown. This would occur, for example,
30183 if the user is examining a trace frame in which the requested variable
30189 @node Host I/O Packets
30190 @section Host I/O Packets
30191 @cindex Host I/O, remote protocol
30192 @cindex file transfer, remote protocol
30194 The @dfn{Host I/O} packets allow @value{GDBN} to perform I/O
30195 operations on the far side of a remote link. For example, Host I/O is
30196 used to upload and download files to a remote target with its own
30197 filesystem. Host I/O uses the same constant values and data structure
30198 layout as the target-initiated File-I/O protocol. However, the
30199 Host I/O packets are structured differently. The target-initiated
30200 protocol relies on target memory to store parameters and buffers.
30201 Host I/O requests are initiated by @value{GDBN}, and the
30202 target's memory is not involved. @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol
30203 Extension}, for more details on the target-initiated protocol.
30205 The Host I/O request packets all encode a single operation along with
30206 its arguments. They have this format:
30210 @item vFile:@var{operation}: @var{parameter}@dots{}
30211 @var{operation} is the name of the particular request; the target
30212 should compare the entire packet name up to the second colon when checking
30213 for a supported operation. The format of @var{parameter} depends on
30214 the operation. Numbers are always passed in hexadecimal. Negative
30215 numbers have an explicit minus sign (i.e.@: two's complement is not
30216 used). Strings (e.g.@: filenames) are encoded as a series of
30217 hexadecimal bytes. The last argument to a system call may be a
30218 buffer of escaped binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
30222 The valid responses to Host I/O packets are:
30226 @item F @var{result} [, @var{errno}] [; @var{attachment}]
30227 @var{result} is the integer value returned by this operation, usually
30228 non-negative for success and -1 for errors. If an error has occured,
30229 @var{errno} will be included in the result. @var{errno} will have a
30230 value defined by the File-I/O protocol (@pxref{Errno Values}). For
30231 operations which return data, @var{attachment} supplies the data as a
30232 binary buffer. Binary buffers in response packets are escaped in the
30233 normal way (@pxref{Binary Data}). See the individual packet
30234 documentation for the interpretation of @var{result} and
30238 An empty response indicates that this operation is not recognized.
30242 These are the supported Host I/O operations:
30245 @item vFile:open: @var{pathname}, @var{flags}, @var{mode}
30246 Open a file at @var{pathname} and return a file descriptor for it, or
30247 return -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string,
30248 @var{flags} is an integer indicating a mask of open flags
30249 (@pxref{Open Flags}), and @var{mode} is an integer indicating a mask
30250 of mode bits to use if the file is created (@pxref{mode_t Values}).
30251 @xref{open}, for details of the open flags and mode values.
30253 @item vFile:close: @var{fd}
30254 Close the open file corresponding to @var{fd} and return 0, or
30255 -1 if an error occurs.
30257 @item vFile:pread: @var{fd}, @var{count}, @var{offset}
30258 Read data from the open file corresponding to @var{fd}. Up to
30259 @var{count} bytes will be read from the file, starting at @var{offset}
30260 relative to the start of the file. The target may read fewer bytes;
30261 common reasons include packet size limits and an end-of-file
30262 condition. The number of bytes read is returned. Zero should only be
30263 returned for a successful read at the end of the file, or if
30264 @var{count} was zero.
30266 The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
30267 If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
30268 attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
30269 number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
30270 some characters were escaped.
30272 @item vFile:pwrite: @var{fd}, @var{offset}, @var{data}
30273 Write @var{data} (a binary buffer) to the open file corresponding
30274 to @var{fd}. Start the write at @var{offset} from the start of the
30275 file. Unlike many @code{write} system calls, there is no
30276 separate @var{count} argument; the length of @var{data} in the
30277 packet is used. @samp{vFile:write} returns the number of bytes written,
30278 which may be shorter than the length of @var{data}, or -1 if an
30281 @item vFile:unlink: @var{pathname}
30282 Delete the file at @var{pathname} on the target. Return 0,
30283 or -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string.
30288 @section Interrupts
30289 @cindex interrupts (remote protocol)
30291 When a program on the remote target is running, @value{GDBN} may
30292 attempt to interrupt it by sending a @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or
30293 a @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g},
30294 control of which is specified via @value{GDBN}'s @samp{interrupt-sequence}.
30296 The precise meaning of @code{BREAK} is defined by the transport
30297 mechanism and may, in fact, be undefined. @value{GDBN} does not
30298 currently define a @code{BREAK} mechanism for any of the network
30299 interfaces except for TCP, in which case @value{GDBN} sends the
30300 @code{telnet} BREAK sequence.
30302 @samp{Ctrl-C}, on the other hand, is defined and implemented for all
30303 transport mechanisms. It is represented by sending the single byte
30304 @code{0x03} without any of the usual packet overhead described in
30305 the Overview section (@pxref{Overview}). When a @code{0x03} byte is
30306 transmitted as part of a packet, it is considered to be packet data
30307 and does @emph{not} represent an interrupt. E.g., an @samp{X} packet
30308 (@pxref{X packet}), used for binary downloads, may include an unescaped
30309 @code{0x03} as part of its packet.
30311 @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g} is also known as Magic SysRq g.
30312 When Linux kernel receives this sequence from serial port,
30313 it stops execution and connects to gdb.
30315 Stubs are not required to recognize these interrupt mechanisms and the
30316 precise meaning associated with receipt of the interrupt is
30317 implementation defined. If the target supports debugging of multiple
30318 threads and/or processes, it should attempt to interrupt all
30319 currently-executing threads and processes.
30320 If the stub is successful at interrupting the
30321 running program, it should send one of the stop
30322 reply packets (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}) to @value{GDBN} as a result
30323 of successfully stopping the program in all-stop mode, and a stop reply
30324 for each stopped thread in non-stop mode.
30325 Interrupts received while the
30326 program is stopped are discarded.
30328 @node Notification Packets
30329 @section Notification Packets
30330 @cindex notification packets
30331 @cindex packets, notification
30333 The @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol includes @dfn{notifications},
30334 packets that require no acknowledgment. Both the GDB and the stub
30335 may send notifications (although the only notifications defined at
30336 present are sent by the stub). Notifications carry information
30337 without incurring the round-trip latency of an acknowledgment, and so
30338 are useful for low-impact communications where occasional packet loss
30341 A notification packet has the form @samp{% @var{data} #
30342 @var{checksum}}, where @var{data} is the content of the notification,
30343 and @var{checksum} is a checksum of @var{data}, computed and formatted
30344 as for ordinary @value{GDBN} packets. A notification's @var{data}
30345 never contains @samp{$}, @samp{%} or @samp{#} characters. Upon
30346 receiving a notification, the recipient sends no @samp{+} or @samp{-}
30347 to acknowledge the notification's receipt or to report its corruption.
30349 Every notification's @var{data} begins with a name, which contains no
30350 colon characters, followed by a colon character.
30352 Recipients should silently ignore corrupted notifications and
30353 notifications they do not understand. Recipients should restart
30354 timeout periods on receipt of a well-formed notification, whether or
30355 not they understand it.
30357 Senders should only send the notifications described here when this
30358 protocol description specifies that they are permitted. In the
30359 future, we may extend the protocol to permit existing notifications in
30360 new contexts; this rule helps older senders avoid confusing newer
30363 (Older versions of @value{GDBN} ignore bytes received until they see
30364 the @samp{$} byte that begins an ordinary packet, so new stubs may
30365 transmit notifications without fear of confusing older clients. There
30366 are no notifications defined for @value{GDBN} to send at the moment, but we
30367 assume that most older stubs would ignore them, as well.)
30369 The following notification packets from the stub to @value{GDBN} are
30373 @item Stop: @var{reply}
30374 Report an asynchronous stop event in non-stop mode.
30375 The @var{reply} has the form of a stop reply, as
30376 described in @ref{Stop Reply Packets}. Refer to @ref{Remote Non-Stop},
30377 for information on how these notifications are acknowledged by
30381 @node Remote Non-Stop
30382 @section Remote Protocol Support for Non-Stop Mode
30384 @value{GDBN}'s remote protocol supports non-stop debugging of
30385 multi-threaded programs, as described in @ref{Non-Stop Mode}. If the stub
30386 supports non-stop mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN} by including
30387 @samp{QNonStop+} in its @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
30389 @value{GDBN} typically sends a @samp{QNonStop} packet only when
30390 establishing a new connection with the stub. Entering non-stop mode
30391 does not alter the state of any currently-running threads, but targets
30392 must stop all threads in any already-attached processes when entering
30393 all-stop mode. @value{GDBN} uses the @samp{?} packet as necessary to
30394 probe the target state after a mode change.
30396 In non-stop mode, when an attached process encounters an event that
30397 would otherwise be reported with a stop reply, it uses the
30398 asynchronous notification mechanism (@pxref{Notification Packets}) to
30399 inform @value{GDBN}. In contrast to all-stop mode, where all threads
30400 in all processes are stopped when a stop reply is sent, in non-stop
30401 mode only the thread reporting the stop event is stopped. That is,
30402 when reporting a @samp{S} or @samp{T} response to indicate completion
30403 of a step operation, hitting a breakpoint, or a fault, only the
30404 affected thread is stopped; any other still-running threads continue
30405 to run. When reporting a @samp{W} or @samp{X} response, all running
30406 threads belonging to other attached processes continue to run.
30408 Only one stop reply notification at a time may be pending; if
30409 additional stop events occur before @value{GDBN} has acknowledged the
30410 previous notification, they must be queued by the stub for later
30411 synchronous transmission in response to @samp{vStopped} packets from
30412 @value{GDBN}. Because the notification mechanism is unreliable,
30413 the stub is permitted to resend a stop reply notification
30414 if it believes @value{GDBN} may not have received it. @value{GDBN}
30415 ignores additional stop reply notifications received before it has
30416 finished processing a previous notification and the stub has completed
30417 sending any queued stop events.
30419 Otherwise, @value{GDBN} must be prepared to receive a stop reply
30420 notification at any time. Specifically, they may appear when
30421 @value{GDBN} is not otherwise reading input from the stub, or when
30422 @value{GDBN} is expecting to read a normal synchronous response or a
30423 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgment to a packet it has sent.
30424 Notification packets are distinct from any other communication from
30425 the stub so there is no ambiguity.
30427 After receiving a stop reply notification, @value{GDBN} shall
30428 acknowledge it by sending a @samp{vStopped} packet (@pxref{vStopped packet})
30429 as a regular, synchronous request to the stub. Such acknowledgment
30430 is not required to happen immediately, as @value{GDBN} is permitted to
30431 send other, unrelated packets to the stub first, which the stub should
30434 Upon receiving a @samp{vStopped} packet, if the stub has other queued
30435 stop events to report to @value{GDBN}, it shall respond by sending a
30436 normal stop reply response. @value{GDBN} shall then send another
30437 @samp{vStopped} packet to solicit further responses; again, it is
30438 permitted to send other, unrelated packets as well which the stub
30439 should process normally.
30441 If the stub receives a @samp{vStopped} packet and there are no
30442 additional stop events to report, the stub shall return an @samp{OK}
30443 response. At this point, if further stop events occur, the stub shall
30444 send a new stop reply notification, @value{GDBN} shall accept the
30445 notification, and the process shall be repeated.
30447 In non-stop mode, the target shall respond to the @samp{?} packet as
30448 follows. First, any incomplete stop reply notification/@samp{vStopped}
30449 sequence in progress is abandoned. The target must begin a new
30450 sequence reporting stop events for all stopped threads, whether or not
30451 it has previously reported those events to @value{GDBN}. The first
30452 stop reply is sent as a synchronous reply to the @samp{?} packet, and
30453 subsequent stop replies are sent as responses to @samp{vStopped} packets
30454 using the mechanism described above. The target must not send
30455 asynchronous stop reply notifications until the sequence is complete.
30456 If all threads are running when the target receives the @samp{?} packet,
30457 or if the target is not attached to any process, it shall respond
30460 @node Packet Acknowledgment
30461 @section Packet Acknowledgment
30463 @cindex acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
30464 @cindex packet acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
30465 By default, when either the host or the target machine receives a packet,
30466 the first response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
30467 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request retransmission).
30468 This mechanism allows the @value{GDBN} remote protocol to operate over
30469 unreliable transport mechanisms, such as a serial line.
30471 In cases where the transport mechanism is itself reliable (such as a pipe or
30472 TCP connection), the @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are redundant.
30473 It may be desirable to disable them in that case to reduce communication
30474 overhead, or for other reasons. This can be accomplished by means of the
30475 @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet; @pxref{QStartNoAckMode}.
30477 When in no-acknowledgment mode, neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or
30478 expect @samp{+}/@samp{-} protocol acknowledgments. The packet
30479 and response format still includes the normal checksum, as described in
30480 @ref{Overview}, but the checksum may be ignored by the receiver.
30482 If the stub supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and prefers to operate in
30483 no-acknowledgment mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN}
30484 by including @samp{QStartNoAckMode+} in its response to @samp{qSupported};
30485 @pxref{qSupported}.
30486 If @value{GDBN} also supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and it has not been
30487 disabled via the @code{set remote noack-packet off} command
30488 (@pxref{Remote Configuration}),
30489 @value{GDBN} may then send a @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet to the stub.
30490 Only then may the stub actually turn off packet acknowledgments.
30491 @value{GDBN} sends a final @samp{+} acknowledgment of the stub's @samp{OK}
30492 response, which can be safely ignored by the stub.
30494 Note that @code{set remote noack-packet} command only affects negotiation
30495 between @value{GDBN} and the stub when subsequent connections are made;
30496 it does not affect the protocol acknowledgment state for any current
30498 Since @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are enabled by default when a
30499 new connection is established,
30500 there is also no protocol request to re-enable the acknowledgments
30501 for the current connection, once disabled.
30506 Example sequence of a target being re-started. Notice how the restart
30507 does not get any direct output:
30512 @emph{target restarts}
30515 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
30519 Example sequence of a target being stepped by a single instruction:
30522 -> @code{G1445@dots{}}
30527 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
30531 <- @code{1455@dots{}}
30535 @node File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
30536 @section File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
30537 @cindex File-I/O remote protocol extension
30540 * File-I/O Overview::
30541 * Protocol Basics::
30542 * The F Request Packet::
30543 * The F Reply Packet::
30544 * The Ctrl-C Message::
30546 * List of Supported Calls::
30547 * Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes::
30549 * File-I/O Examples::
30552 @node File-I/O Overview
30553 @subsection File-I/O Overview
30554 @cindex file-i/o overview
30556 The @dfn{File I/O remote protocol extension} (short: File-I/O) allows the
30557 target to use the host's file system and console I/O to perform various
30558 system calls. System calls on the target system are translated into a
30559 remote protocol packet to the host system, which then performs the needed
30560 actions and returns a response packet to the target system.
30561 This simulates file system operations even on targets that lack file systems.
30563 The protocol is defined to be independent of both the host and target systems.
30564 It uses its own internal representation of datatypes and values. Both
30565 @value{GDBN} and the target's @value{GDBN} stub are responsible for
30566 translating the system-dependent value representations into the internal
30567 protocol representations when data is transmitted.
30569 The communication is synchronous. A system call is possible only when
30570 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
30571 or @samp{s} packets. While @value{GDBN} handles the request for a system call,
30572 the target is stopped to allow deterministic access to the target's
30573 memory. Therefore File-I/O is not interruptible by target signals. On
30574 the other hand, it is possible to interrupt File-I/O by a user interrupt
30575 (@samp{Ctrl-C}) within @value{GDBN}.
30577 The target's request to perform a host system call does not finish
30578 the latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} action. That means,
30579 after finishing the system call, the target returns to continuing the
30580 previous activity (continue, step). No additional continue or step
30581 request from @value{GDBN} is required.
30584 (@value{GDBP}) continue
30585 <- target requests 'system call X'
30586 target is stopped, @value{GDBN} executes system call
30587 -> @value{GDBN} returns result
30588 ... target continues, @value{GDBN} returns to wait for the target
30589 <- target hits breakpoint and sends a Txx packet
30592 The protocol only supports I/O on the console and to regular files on
30593 the host file system. Character or block special devices, pipes,
30594 named pipes, sockets or any other communication method on the host
30595 system are not supported by this protocol.
30597 File I/O is not supported in non-stop mode.
30599 @node Protocol Basics
30600 @subsection Protocol Basics
30601 @cindex protocol basics, file-i/o
30603 The File-I/O protocol uses the @code{F} packet as the request as well
30604 as reply packet. Since a File-I/O system call can only occur when
30605 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the continuing or stepping target,
30606 the File-I/O request is a reply that @value{GDBN} has to expect as a result
30607 of a previous @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} packet.
30608 This @code{F} packet contains all information needed to allow @value{GDBN}
30609 to call the appropriate host system call:
30613 A unique identifier for the requested system call.
30616 All parameters to the system call. Pointers are given as addresses
30617 in the target memory address space. Pointers to strings are given as
30618 pointer/length pair. Numerical values are given as they are.
30619 Numerical control flags are given in a protocol-specific representation.
30623 At this point, @value{GDBN} has to perform the following actions.
30627 If the parameters include pointer values to data needed as input to a
30628 system call, @value{GDBN} requests this data from the target with a
30629 standard @code{m} packet request. This additional communication has to be
30630 expected by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{m}
30634 @value{GDBN} translates all value from protocol representation to host
30635 representation as needed. Datatypes are coerced into the host types.
30638 @value{GDBN} calls the system call.
30641 It then coerces datatypes back to protocol representation.
30644 If the system call is expected to return data in buffer space specified
30645 by pointer parameters to the call, the data is transmitted to the
30646 target using a @code{M} or @code{X} packet. This packet has to be expected
30647 by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{M} or @code{X}
30652 Eventually @value{GDBN} replies with another @code{F} packet which contains all
30653 necessary information for the target to continue. This at least contains
30660 @code{errno}, if has been changed by the system call.
30667 After having done the needed type and value coercion, the target continues
30668 the latest continue or step action.
30670 @node The F Request Packet
30671 @subsection The @code{F} Request Packet
30672 @cindex file-i/o request packet
30673 @cindex @code{F} request packet
30675 The @code{F} request packet has the following format:
30678 @item F@var{call-id},@var{parameter@dots{}}
30680 @var{call-id} is the identifier to indicate the host system call to be called.
30681 This is just the name of the function.
30683 @var{parameter@dots{}} are the parameters to the system call.
30684 Parameters are hexadecimal integer values, either the actual values in case
30685 of scalar datatypes, pointers to target buffer space in case of compound
30686 datatypes and unspecified memory areas, or pointer/length pairs in case
30687 of string parameters. These are appended to the @var{call-id} as a
30688 comma-delimited list. All values are transmitted in ASCII
30689 string representation, pointer/length pairs separated by a slash.
30695 @node The F Reply Packet
30696 @subsection The @code{F} Reply Packet
30697 @cindex file-i/o reply packet
30698 @cindex @code{F} reply packet
30700 The @code{F} reply packet has the following format:
30704 @item F@var{retcode},@var{errno},@var{Ctrl-C flag};@var{call-specific attachment}
30706 @var{retcode} is the return code of the system call as hexadecimal value.
30708 @var{errno} is the @code{errno} set by the call, in protocol-specific
30710 This parameter can be omitted if the call was successful.
30712 @var{Ctrl-C flag} is only sent if the user requested a break. In this
30713 case, @var{errno} must be sent as well, even if the call was successful.
30714 The @var{Ctrl-C flag} itself consists of the character @samp{C}:
30721 or, if the call was interrupted before the host call has been performed:
30728 assuming 4 is the protocol-specific representation of @code{EINTR}.
30733 @node The Ctrl-C Message
30734 @subsection The @samp{Ctrl-C} Message
30735 @cindex ctrl-c message, in file-i/o protocol
30737 If the @samp{Ctrl-C} flag is set in the @value{GDBN}
30738 reply packet (@pxref{The F Reply Packet}),
30739 the target should behave as if it had
30740 gotten a break message. The meaning for the target is ``system call
30741 interrupted by @code{SIGINT}''. Consequentially, the target should actually stop
30742 (as with a break message) and return to @value{GDBN} with a @code{T02}
30745 It's important for the target to know in which
30746 state the system call was interrupted. There are two possible cases:
30750 The system call hasn't been performed on the host yet.
30753 The system call on the host has been finished.
30757 These two states can be distinguished by the target by the value of the
30758 returned @code{errno}. If it's the protocol representation of @code{EINTR}, the system
30759 call hasn't been performed. This is equivalent to the @code{EINTR} handling
30760 on POSIX systems. In any other case, the target may presume that the
30761 system call has been finished --- successfully or not --- and should behave
30762 as if the break message arrived right after the system call.
30764 @value{GDBN} must behave reliably. If the system call has not been called
30765 yet, @value{GDBN} may send the @code{F} reply immediately, setting @code{EINTR} as
30766 @code{errno} in the packet. If the system call on the host has been finished
30767 before the user requests a break, the full action must be finished by
30768 @value{GDBN}. This requires sending @code{M} or @code{X} packets as necessary.
30769 The @code{F} packet may only be sent when either nothing has happened
30770 or the full action has been completed.
30773 @subsection Console I/O
30774 @cindex console i/o as part of file-i/o
30776 By default and if not explicitly closed by the target system, the file
30777 descriptors 0, 1 and 2 are connected to the @value{GDBN} console. Output
30778 on the @value{GDBN} console is handled as any other file output operation
30779 (@code{write(1, @dots{})} or @code{write(2, @dots{})}). Console input is handled
30780 by @value{GDBN} so that after the target read request from file descriptor
30781 0 all following typing is buffered until either one of the following
30786 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-c}. The behaviour is as explained above, and the
30788 system call is treated as finished.
30791 The user presses @key{RET}. This is treated as end of input with a trailing
30795 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-d}. This is treated as end of input. No trailing
30796 character (neither newline nor @samp{Ctrl-D}) is appended to the input.
30800 If the user has typed more characters than fit in the buffer given to
30801 the @code{read} call, the trailing characters are buffered in @value{GDBN} until
30802 either another @code{read(0, @dots{})} is requested by the target, or debugging
30803 is stopped at the user's request.
30806 @node List of Supported Calls
30807 @subsection List of Supported Calls
30808 @cindex list of supported file-i/o calls
30825 @unnumberedsubsubsec open
30826 @cindex open, file-i/o system call
30831 int open(const char *pathname, int flags);
30832 int open(const char *pathname, int flags, mode_t mode);
30836 @samp{Fopen,@var{pathptr}/@var{len},@var{flags},@var{mode}}
30839 @var{flags} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
30843 If the file does not exist it will be created. The host
30844 rules apply as far as file ownership and time stamps
30848 When used with @code{O_CREAT}, if the file already exists it is
30849 an error and open() fails.
30852 If the file already exists and the open mode allows
30853 writing (@code{O_RDWR} or @code{O_WRONLY} is given) it will be
30854 truncated to zero length.
30857 The file is opened in append mode.
30860 The file is opened for reading only.
30863 The file is opened for writing only.
30866 The file is opened for reading and writing.
30870 Other bits are silently ignored.
30874 @var{mode} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
30878 User has read permission.
30881 User has write permission.
30884 Group has read permission.
30887 Group has write permission.
30890 Others have read permission.
30893 Others have write permission.
30897 Other bits are silently ignored.
30900 @item Return value:
30901 @code{open} returns the new file descriptor or -1 if an error
30908 @var{pathname} already exists and @code{O_CREAT} and @code{O_EXCL} were used.
30911 @var{pathname} refers to a directory.
30914 The requested access is not allowed.
30917 @var{pathname} was too long.
30920 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
30923 @var{pathname} refers to a device, pipe, named pipe or socket.
30926 @var{pathname} refers to a file on a read-only filesystem and
30927 write access was requested.
30930 @var{pathname} is an invalid pointer value.
30933 No space on device to create the file.
30936 The process already has the maximum number of files open.
30939 The limit on the total number of files open on the system
30943 The call was interrupted by the user.
30949 @unnumberedsubsubsec close
30950 @cindex close, file-i/o system call
30959 @samp{Fclose,@var{fd}}
30961 @item Return value:
30962 @code{close} returns zero on success, or -1 if an error occurred.
30968 @var{fd} isn't a valid open file descriptor.
30971 The call was interrupted by the user.
30977 @unnumberedsubsubsec read
30978 @cindex read, file-i/o system call
30983 int read(int fd, void *buf, unsigned int count);
30987 @samp{Fread,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
30989 @item Return value:
30990 On success, the number of bytes read is returned.
30991 Zero indicates end of file. If count is zero, read
30992 returns zero as well. On error, -1 is returned.
30998 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
31002 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
31005 The call was interrupted by the user.
31011 @unnumberedsubsubsec write
31012 @cindex write, file-i/o system call
31017 int write(int fd, const void *buf, unsigned int count);
31021 @samp{Fwrite,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
31023 @item Return value:
31024 On success, the number of bytes written are returned.
31025 Zero indicates nothing was written. On error, -1
31032 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
31036 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
31039 An attempt was made to write a file that exceeds the
31040 host-specific maximum file size allowed.
31043 No space on device to write the data.
31046 The call was interrupted by the user.
31052 @unnumberedsubsubsec lseek
31053 @cindex lseek, file-i/o system call
31058 long lseek (int fd, long offset, int flag);
31062 @samp{Flseek,@var{fd},@var{offset},@var{flag}}
31064 @var{flag} is one of:
31068 The offset is set to @var{offset} bytes.
31071 The offset is set to its current location plus @var{offset}
31075 The offset is set to the size of the file plus @var{offset}
31079 @item Return value:
31080 On success, the resulting unsigned offset in bytes from
31081 the beginning of the file is returned. Otherwise, a
31082 value of -1 is returned.
31088 @var{fd} is not a valid open file descriptor.
31091 @var{fd} is associated with the @value{GDBN} console.
31094 @var{flag} is not a proper value.
31097 The call was interrupted by the user.
31103 @unnumberedsubsubsec rename
31104 @cindex rename, file-i/o system call
31109 int rename(const char *oldpath, const char *newpath);
31113 @samp{Frename,@var{oldpathptr}/@var{len},@var{newpathptr}/@var{len}}
31115 @item Return value:
31116 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
31122 @var{newpath} is an existing directory, but @var{oldpath} is not a
31126 @var{newpath} is a non-empty directory.
31129 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} is a directory that is in use by some
31133 An attempt was made to make a directory a subdirectory
31137 A component used as a directory in @var{oldpath} or new
31138 path is not a directory. Or @var{oldpath} is a directory
31139 and @var{newpath} exists but is not a directory.
31142 @var{oldpathptr} or @var{newpathptr} are invalid pointer values.
31145 No access to the file or the path of the file.
31149 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} was too long.
31152 A directory component in @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} does not exist.
31155 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
31158 The device containing the file has no room for the new
31162 The call was interrupted by the user.
31168 @unnumberedsubsubsec unlink
31169 @cindex unlink, file-i/o system call
31174 int unlink(const char *pathname);
31178 @samp{Funlink,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len}}
31180 @item Return value:
31181 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
31187 No access to the file or the path of the file.
31190 The system does not allow unlinking of directories.
31193 The file @var{pathname} cannot be unlinked because it's
31194 being used by another process.
31197 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
31200 @var{pathname} was too long.
31203 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
31206 A component of the path is not a directory.
31209 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
31212 The call was interrupted by the user.
31218 @unnumberedsubsubsec stat/fstat
31219 @cindex fstat, file-i/o system call
31220 @cindex stat, file-i/o system call
31225 int stat(const char *pathname, struct stat *buf);
31226 int fstat(int fd, struct stat *buf);
31230 @samp{Fstat,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len},@var{bufptr}}@*
31231 @samp{Ffstat,@var{fd},@var{bufptr}}
31233 @item Return value:
31234 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
31240 @var{fd} is not a valid open file.
31243 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist or the
31244 path is an empty string.
31247 A component of the path is not a directory.
31250 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
31253 No access to the file or the path of the file.
31256 @var{pathname} was too long.
31259 The call was interrupted by the user.
31265 @unnumberedsubsubsec gettimeofday
31266 @cindex gettimeofday, file-i/o system call
31271 int gettimeofday(struct timeval *tv, void *tz);
31275 @samp{Fgettimeofday,@var{tvptr},@var{tzptr}}
31277 @item Return value:
31278 On success, 0 is returned, -1 otherwise.
31284 @var{tz} is a non-NULL pointer.
31287 @var{tvptr} and/or @var{tzptr} is an invalid pointer value.
31293 @unnumberedsubsubsec isatty
31294 @cindex isatty, file-i/o system call
31299 int isatty(int fd);
31303 @samp{Fisatty,@var{fd}}
31305 @item Return value:
31306 Returns 1 if @var{fd} refers to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise.
31312 The call was interrupted by the user.
31317 Note that the @code{isatty} call is treated as a special case: it returns
31318 1 to the target if the file descriptor is attached
31319 to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise. Implementing through system calls
31320 would require implementing @code{ioctl} and would be more complex than
31325 @unnumberedsubsubsec system
31326 @cindex system, file-i/o system call
31331 int system(const char *command);
31335 @samp{Fsystem,@var{commandptr}/@var{len}}
31337 @item Return value:
31338 If @var{len} is zero, the return value indicates whether a shell is
31339 available. A zero return value indicates a shell is not available.
31340 For non-zero @var{len}, the value returned is -1 on error and the
31341 return status of the command otherwise. Only the exit status of the
31342 command is returned, which is extracted from the host's @code{system}
31343 return value by calling @code{WEXITSTATUS(retval)}. In case
31344 @file{/bin/sh} could not be executed, 127 is returned.
31350 The call was interrupted by the user.
31355 @value{GDBN} takes over the full task of calling the necessary host calls
31356 to perform the @code{system} call. The return value of @code{system} on
31357 the host is simplified before it's returned
31358 to the target. Any termination signal information from the child process
31359 is discarded, and the return value consists
31360 entirely of the exit status of the called command.
31362 Due to security concerns, the @code{system} call is by default refused
31363 by @value{GDBN}. The user has to allow this call explicitly with the
31364 @code{set remote system-call-allowed 1} command.
31367 @item set remote system-call-allowed
31368 @kindex set remote system-call-allowed
31369 Control whether to allow the @code{system} calls in the File I/O
31370 protocol for the remote target. The default is zero (disabled).
31372 @item show remote system-call-allowed
31373 @kindex show remote system-call-allowed
31374 Show whether the @code{system} calls are allowed in the File I/O
31378 @node Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
31379 @subsection Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
31380 @cindex protocol-specific representation of datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
31383 * Integral Datatypes::
31385 * Memory Transfer::
31390 @node Integral Datatypes
31391 @unnumberedsubsubsec Integral Datatypes
31392 @cindex integral datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
31394 The integral datatypes used in the system calls are @code{int},
31395 @code{unsigned int}, @code{long}, @code{unsigned long},
31396 @code{mode_t}, and @code{time_t}.
31398 @code{int}, @code{unsigned int}, @code{mode_t} and @code{time_t} are
31399 implemented as 32 bit values in this protocol.
31401 @code{long} and @code{unsigned long} are implemented as 64 bit types.
31403 @xref{Limits}, for corresponding MIN and MAX values (similar to those
31404 in @file{limits.h}) to allow range checking on host and target.
31406 @code{time_t} datatypes are defined as seconds since the Epoch.
31408 All integral datatypes transferred as part of a memory read or write of a
31409 structured datatype e.g.@: a @code{struct stat} have to be given in big endian
31412 @node Pointer Values
31413 @unnumberedsubsubsec Pointer Values
31414 @cindex pointer values, in file-i/o protocol
31416 Pointers to target data are transmitted as they are. An exception
31417 is made for pointers to buffers for which the length isn't
31418 transmitted as part of the function call, namely strings. Strings
31419 are transmitted as a pointer/length pair, both as hex values, e.g.@:
31426 which is a pointer to data of length 18 bytes at position 0x1aaf.
31427 The length is defined as the full string length in bytes, including
31428 the trailing null byte. For example, the string @code{"hello world"}
31429 at address 0x123456 is transmitted as
31435 @node Memory Transfer
31436 @unnumberedsubsubsec Memory Transfer
31437 @cindex memory transfer, in file-i/o protocol
31439 Structured data which is transferred using a memory read or write (for
31440 example, a @code{struct stat}) is expected to be in a protocol-specific format
31441 with all scalar multibyte datatypes being big endian. Translation to
31442 this representation needs to be done both by the target before the @code{F}
31443 packet is sent, and by @value{GDBN} before
31444 it transfers memory to the target. Transferred pointers to structured
31445 data should point to the already-coerced data at any time.
31449 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct stat
31450 @cindex struct stat, in file-i/o protocol
31452 The buffer of type @code{struct stat} used by the target and @value{GDBN}
31453 is defined as follows:
31457 unsigned int st_dev; /* device */
31458 unsigned int st_ino; /* inode */
31459 mode_t st_mode; /* protection */
31460 unsigned int st_nlink; /* number of hard links */
31461 unsigned int st_uid; /* user ID of owner */
31462 unsigned int st_gid; /* group ID of owner */
31463 unsigned int st_rdev; /* device type (if inode device) */
31464 unsigned long st_size; /* total size, in bytes */
31465 unsigned long st_blksize; /* blocksize for filesystem I/O */
31466 unsigned long st_blocks; /* number of blocks allocated */
31467 time_t st_atime; /* time of last access */
31468 time_t st_mtime; /* time of last modification */
31469 time_t st_ctime; /* time of last change */
31473 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
31474 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
31475 structure is of size 64 bytes.
31477 The values of several fields have a restricted meaning and/or
31483 A value of 0 represents a file, 1 the console.
31486 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
31489 Valid mode bits are described in @ref{Constants}. Any other
31490 bits have currently no meaning for the target.
31495 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
31500 These values have a host and file system dependent
31501 accuracy. Especially on Windows hosts, the file system may not
31502 support exact timing values.
31505 The target gets a @code{struct stat} of the above representation and is
31506 responsible for coercing it to the target representation before
31509 Note that due to size differences between the host, target, and protocol
31510 representations of @code{struct stat} members, these members could eventually
31511 get truncated on the target.
31513 @node struct timeval
31514 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct timeval
31515 @cindex struct timeval, in file-i/o protocol
31517 The buffer of type @code{struct timeval} used by the File-I/O protocol
31518 is defined as follows:
31522 time_t tv_sec; /* second */
31523 long tv_usec; /* microsecond */
31527 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
31528 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
31529 structure is of size 8 bytes.
31532 @subsection Constants
31533 @cindex constants, in file-i/o protocol
31535 The following values are used for the constants inside of the
31536 protocol. @value{GDBN} and target are responsible for translating these
31537 values before and after the call as needed.
31548 @unnumberedsubsubsec Open Flags
31549 @cindex open flags, in file-i/o protocol
31551 All values are given in hexadecimal representation.
31563 @node mode_t Values
31564 @unnumberedsubsubsec mode_t Values
31565 @cindex mode_t values, in file-i/o protocol
31567 All values are given in octal representation.
31584 @unnumberedsubsubsec Errno Values
31585 @cindex errno values, in file-i/o protocol
31587 All values are given in decimal representation.
31612 @code{EUNKNOWN} is used as a fallback error value if a host system returns
31613 any error value not in the list of supported error numbers.
31616 @unnumberedsubsubsec Lseek Flags
31617 @cindex lseek flags, in file-i/o protocol
31626 @unnumberedsubsubsec Limits
31627 @cindex limits, in file-i/o protocol
31629 All values are given in decimal representation.
31632 INT_MIN -2147483648
31634 UINT_MAX 4294967295
31635 LONG_MIN -9223372036854775808
31636 LONG_MAX 9223372036854775807
31637 ULONG_MAX 18446744073709551615
31640 @node File-I/O Examples
31641 @subsection File-I/O Examples
31642 @cindex file-i/o examples
31644 Example sequence of a write call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
31645 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be written:
31648 <- @code{Fwrite,3,1234,6}
31649 @emph{request memory read from target}
31652 @emph{return "6 bytes written"}
31656 Example sequence of a read call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
31657 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be read:
31660 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
31661 @emph{request memory write to target}
31662 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
31663 @emph{return "6 bytes read"}
31667 Example sequence of a read call, call fails on the host due to invalid
31668 file descriptor (@code{EBADF}):
31671 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
31675 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} before syscall on
31679 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
31684 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} after syscall on
31688 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
31689 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
31693 @node Library List Format
31694 @section Library List Format
31695 @cindex library list format, remote protocol
31697 On some platforms, a dynamic loader (e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) runs in the
31698 same process as your application to manage libraries. In this case,
31699 @value{GDBN} can use the loader's symbol table and normal memory
31700 operations to maintain a list of shared libraries. On other
31701 platforms, the operating system manages loaded libraries.
31702 @value{GDBN} can not retrieve the list of currently loaded libraries
31703 through memory operations, so it uses the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
31704 packet (@pxref{qXfer library list read}) instead. The remote stub
31705 queries the target's operating system and reports which libraries
31708 The @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet returns an XML document which
31709 lists loaded libraries and their offsets. Each library has an
31710 associated name and one or more segment or section base addresses,
31711 which report where the library was loaded in memory.
31713 For the common case of libraries that are fully linked binaries, the
31714 library should have a list of segments. If the target supports
31715 dynamic linking of a relocatable object file, its library XML element
31716 should instead include a list of allocated sections. The segment or
31717 section bases are start addresses, not relocation offsets; they do not
31718 depend on the library's link-time base addresses.
31720 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
31721 library lists. @xref{Expat}.
31723 A simple memory map, with one loaded library relocated by a single
31724 offset, looks like this:
31728 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6">
31729 <segment address="0x10000000"/>
31734 Another simple memory map, with one loaded library with three
31735 allocated sections (.text, .data, .bss), looks like this:
31739 <library name="sharedlib.o">
31740 <section address="0x10000000"/>
31741 <section address="0x20000000"/>
31742 <section address="0x30000000"/>
31747 The format of a library list is described by this DTD:
31750 <!-- library-list: Root element with versioning -->
31751 <!ELEMENT library-list (library)*>
31752 <!ATTLIST library-list version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
31753 <!ELEMENT library (segment*, section*)>
31754 <!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
31755 <!ELEMENT segment EMPTY>
31756 <!ATTLIST segment address CDATA #REQUIRED>
31757 <!ELEMENT section EMPTY>
31758 <!ATTLIST section address CDATA #REQUIRED>
31761 In addition, segments and section descriptors cannot be mixed within a
31762 single library element, and you must supply at least one segment or
31763 section for each library.
31765 @node Memory Map Format
31766 @section Memory Map Format
31767 @cindex memory map format
31769 To be able to write into flash memory, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain a
31770 memory map from the target. This section describes the format of the
31773 The memory map is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
31774 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}) packet and is an XML document that
31775 lists memory regions.
31777 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
31778 memory maps. @xref{Expat}.
31780 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
31783 <?xml version="1.0"?>
31784 <!DOCTYPE memory-map
31785 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
31786 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-memory-map.dtd">
31792 Each region can be either:
31797 A region of RAM starting at @var{addr} and extending for @var{length}
31801 <memory type="ram" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
31806 A region of read-only memory:
31809 <memory type="rom" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
31814 A region of flash memory, with erasure blocks @var{blocksize}
31818 <memory type="flash" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}">
31819 <property name="blocksize">@var{blocksize}</property>
31825 Regions must not overlap. @value{GDBN} assumes that areas of memory not covered
31826 by the memory map are RAM, and uses the ordinary @samp{M} and @samp{X}
31827 packets to write to addresses in such ranges.
31829 The formal DTD for memory map format is given below:
31832 <!-- ................................................... -->
31833 <!-- Memory Map XML DTD ................................ -->
31834 <!-- File: memory-map.dtd .............................. -->
31835 <!-- .................................... .............. -->
31836 <!-- memory-map.dtd -->
31837 <!-- memory-map: Root element with versioning -->
31838 <!ELEMENT memory-map (memory | property)>
31839 <!ATTLIST memory-map version CDATA #FIXED "1.0.0">
31840 <!ELEMENT memory (property)>
31841 <!-- memory: Specifies a memory region,
31842 and its type, or device. -->
31843 <!ATTLIST memory type CDATA #REQUIRED
31844 start CDATA #REQUIRED
31845 length CDATA #REQUIRED
31846 device CDATA #IMPLIED>
31847 <!-- property: Generic attribute tag -->
31848 <!ELEMENT property (#PCDATA | property)*>
31849 <!ATTLIST property name CDATA #REQUIRED>
31852 @include agentexpr.texi
31854 @node Target Descriptions
31855 @appendix Target Descriptions
31856 @cindex target descriptions
31858 @strong{Warning:} target descriptions are still under active development,
31859 and the contents and format may change between @value{GDBN} releases.
31860 The format is expected to stabilize in the future.
31862 One of the challenges of using @value{GDBN} to debug embedded systems
31863 is that there are so many minor variants of each processor
31864 architecture in use. It is common practice for vendors to start with
31865 a standard processor core --- ARM, PowerPC, or MIPS, for example ---
31866 and then make changes to adapt it to a particular market niche. Some
31867 architectures have hundreds of variants, available from dozens of
31868 vendors. This leads to a number of problems:
31872 With so many different customized processors, it is difficult for
31873 the @value{GDBN} maintainers to keep up with the changes.
31875 Since individual variants may have short lifetimes or limited
31876 audiences, it may not be worthwhile to carry information about every
31877 variant in the @value{GDBN} source tree.
31879 When @value{GDBN} does support the architecture of the embedded system
31880 at hand, the task of finding the correct architecture name to give the
31881 @command{set architecture} command can be error-prone.
31884 To address these problems, the @value{GDBN} remote protocol allows a
31885 target system to not only identify itself to @value{GDBN}, but to
31886 actually describe its own features. This lets @value{GDBN} support
31887 processor variants it has never seen before --- to the extent that the
31888 descriptions are accurate, and that @value{GDBN} understands them.
31890 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
31891 target descriptions. @xref{Expat}.
31894 * Retrieving Descriptions:: How descriptions are fetched from a target.
31895 * Target Description Format:: The contents of a target description.
31896 * Predefined Target Types:: Standard types available for target
31898 * Standard Target Features:: Features @value{GDBN} knows about.
31901 @node Retrieving Descriptions
31902 @section Retrieving Descriptions
31904 Target descriptions can be read from the target automatically, or
31905 specified by the user manually. The default behavior is to read the
31906 description from the target. @value{GDBN} retrieves it via the remote
31907 protocol using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{General Query Packets,
31908 qXfer}). The @var{annex} in the @samp{qXfer} packet will be
31909 @samp{target.xml}. The contents of the @samp{target.xml} annex are an
31910 XML document, of the form described in @ref{Target Description
31913 Alternatively, you can specify a file to read for the target description.
31914 If a file is set, the target will not be queried. The commands to
31915 specify a file are:
31918 @cindex set tdesc filename
31919 @item set tdesc filename @var{path}
31920 Read the target description from @var{path}.
31922 @cindex unset tdesc filename
31923 @item unset tdesc filename
31924 Do not read the XML target description from a file. @value{GDBN}
31925 will use the description supplied by the current target.
31927 @cindex show tdesc filename
31928 @item show tdesc filename
31929 Show the filename to read for a target description, if any.
31933 @node Target Description Format
31934 @section Target Description Format
31935 @cindex target descriptions, XML format
31937 A target description annex is an @uref{http://www.w3.org/XML/, XML}
31938 document which complies with the Document Type Definition provided in
31939 the @value{GDBN} sources in @file{gdb/features/gdb-target.dtd}. This
31940 means you can use generally available tools like @command{xmllint} to
31941 check that your feature descriptions are well-formed and valid.
31942 However, to help people unfamiliar with XML write descriptions for
31943 their targets, we also describe the grammar here.
31945 Target descriptions can identify the architecture of the remote target
31946 and (for some architectures) provide information about custom register
31947 sets. They can also identify the OS ABI of the remote target.
31948 @value{GDBN} can use this information to autoconfigure for your
31949 target, or to warn you if you connect to an unsupported target.
31951 Here is a simple target description:
31954 <target version="1.0">
31955 <architecture>i386:x86-64</architecture>
31960 This minimal description only says that the target uses
31961 the x86-64 architecture.
31963 A target description has the following overall form, with [ ] marking
31964 optional elements and @dots{} marking repeatable elements. The elements
31965 are explained further below.
31968 <?xml version="1.0"?>
31969 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "gdb-target.dtd">
31970 <target version="1.0">
31971 @r{[}@var{architecture}@r{]}
31972 @r{[}@var{osabi}@r{]}
31973 @r{[}@var{compatible}@r{]}
31974 @r{[}@var{feature}@dots{}@r{]}
31979 The description is generally insensitive to whitespace and line
31980 breaks, under the usual common-sense rules. The XML version
31981 declaration and document type declaration can generally be omitted
31982 (@value{GDBN} does not require them), but specifying them may be
31983 useful for XML validation tools. The @samp{version} attribute for
31984 @samp{<target>} may also be omitted, but we recommend
31985 including it; if future versions of @value{GDBN} use an incompatible
31986 revision of @file{gdb-target.dtd}, they will detect and report
31987 the version mismatch.
31989 @subsection Inclusion
31990 @cindex target descriptions, inclusion
31993 @cindex <xi:include>
31996 It can sometimes be valuable to split a target description up into
31997 several different annexes, either for organizational purposes, or to
31998 share files between different possible target descriptions. You can
31999 divide a description into multiple files by replacing any element of
32000 the target description with an inclusion directive of the form:
32003 <xi:include href="@var{document}"/>
32007 When @value{GDBN} encounters an element of this form, it will retrieve
32008 the named XML @var{document}, and replace the inclusion directive with
32009 the contents of that document. If the current description was read
32010 using @samp{qXfer}, then so will be the included document;
32011 @var{document} will be interpreted as the name of an annex. If the
32012 current description was read from a file, @value{GDBN} will look for
32013 @var{document} as a file in the same directory where it found the
32014 original description.
32016 @subsection Architecture
32017 @cindex <architecture>
32019 An @samp{<architecture>} element has this form:
32022 <architecture>@var{arch}</architecture>
32025 @var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
32026 @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
32029 @cindex @code{<osabi>}
32031 This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
32032 Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
32034 An @samp{<osabi>} element has this form:
32037 <osabi>@var{abi-name}</osabi>
32040 @var{abi-name} is an OS ABI name from the same selection accepted by
32041 @w{@code{set osabi}} (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
32043 @subsection Compatible Architecture
32044 @cindex @code{<compatible>}
32046 This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
32047 Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
32049 A @samp{<compatible>} element has this form:
32052 <compatible>@var{arch}</compatible>
32055 @var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
32056 @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
32058 A @samp{<compatible>} element is used to specify that the target
32059 is able to run binaries in some other than the main target architecture
32060 given by the @samp{<architecture>} element. For example, on the
32061 Cell Broadband Engine, the main architecture is @code{powerpc:common}
32062 or @code{powerpc:common64}, but the system is able to run binaries
32063 in the @code{spu} architecture as well. The way to describe this
32064 capability with @samp{<compatible>} is as follows:
32067 <architecture>powerpc:common</architecture>
32068 <compatible>spu</compatible>
32071 @subsection Features
32074 Each @samp{<feature>} describes some logical portion of the target
32075 system. Features are currently used to describe available CPU
32076 registers and the types of their contents. A @samp{<feature>} element
32080 <feature name="@var{name}">
32081 @r{[}@var{type}@dots{}@r{]}
32087 Each feature's name should be unique within the description. The name
32088 of a feature does not matter unless @value{GDBN} has some special
32089 knowledge of the contents of that feature; if it does, the feature
32090 should have its standard name. @xref{Standard Target Features}.
32094 Any register's value is a collection of bits which @value{GDBN} must
32095 interpret. The default interpretation is a two's complement integer,
32096 but other types can be requested by name in the register description.
32097 Some predefined types are provided by @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Predefined
32098 Target Types}), and the description can define additional composite types.
32100 Each type element must have an @samp{id} attribute, which gives
32101 a unique (within the containing @samp{<feature>}) name to the type.
32102 Types must be defined before they are used.
32105 Some targets offer vector registers, which can be treated as arrays
32106 of scalar elements. These types are written as @samp{<vector>} elements,
32107 specifying the array element type, @var{type}, and the number of elements,
32111 <vector id="@var{id}" type="@var{type}" count="@var{count}"/>
32115 If a register's value is usefully viewed in multiple ways, define it
32116 with a union type containing the useful representations. The
32117 @samp{<union>} element contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements,
32118 each of which has a @var{name} and a @var{type}:
32121 <union id="@var{id}">
32122 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
32127 @subsection Registers
32130 Each register is represented as an element with this form:
32133 <reg name="@var{name}"
32134 bitsize="@var{size}"
32135 @r{[}regnum="@var{num}"@r{]}
32136 @r{[}save-restore="@var{save-restore}"@r{]}
32137 @r{[}type="@var{type}"@r{]}
32138 @r{[}group="@var{group}"@r{]}/>
32142 The components are as follows:
32147 The register's name; it must be unique within the target description.
32150 The register's size, in bits.
32153 The register's number. If omitted, a register's number is one greater
32154 than that of the previous register (either in the current feature or in
32155 a preceeding feature); the first register in the target description
32156 defaults to zero. This register number is used to read or write
32157 the register; e.g.@: it is used in the remote @code{p} and @code{P}
32158 packets, and registers appear in the @code{g} and @code{G} packets
32159 in order of increasing register number.
32162 Whether the register should be preserved across inferior function
32163 calls; this must be either @code{yes} or @code{no}. The default is
32164 @code{yes}, which is appropriate for most registers except for
32165 some system control registers; this is not related to the target's
32169 The type of the register. @var{type} may be a predefined type, a type
32170 defined in the current feature, or one of the special types @code{int}
32171 and @code{float}. @code{int} is an integer type of the correct size
32172 for @var{bitsize}, and @code{float} is a floating point type (in the
32173 architecture's normal floating point format) of the correct size for
32174 @var{bitsize}. The default is @code{int}.
32177 The register group to which this register belongs. @var{group} must
32178 be either @code{general}, @code{float}, or @code{vector}. If no
32179 @var{group} is specified, @value{GDBN} will not display the register
32180 in @code{info registers}.
32184 @node Predefined Target Types
32185 @section Predefined Target Types
32186 @cindex target descriptions, predefined types
32188 Type definitions in the self-description can build up composite types
32189 from basic building blocks, but can not define fundamental types. Instead,
32190 standard identifiers are provided by @value{GDBN} for the fundamental
32191 types. The currently supported types are:
32200 Signed integer types holding the specified number of bits.
32207 Unsigned integer types holding the specified number of bits.
32211 Pointers to unspecified code and data. The program counter and
32212 any dedicated return address register may be marked as code
32213 pointers; printing a code pointer converts it into a symbolic
32214 address. The stack pointer and any dedicated address registers
32215 may be marked as data pointers.
32218 Single precision IEEE floating point.
32221 Double precision IEEE floating point.
32224 The 12-byte extended precision format used by ARM FPA registers.
32228 @node Standard Target Features
32229 @section Standard Target Features
32230 @cindex target descriptions, standard features
32232 A target description must contain either no registers or all the
32233 target's registers. If the description contains no registers, then
32234 @value{GDBN} will assume a default register layout, selected based on
32235 the architecture. If the description contains any registers, the
32236 default layout will not be used; the standard registers must be
32237 described in the target description, in such a way that @value{GDBN}
32238 can recognize them.
32240 This is accomplished by giving specific names to feature elements
32241 which contain standard registers. @value{GDBN} will look for features
32242 with those names and verify that they contain the expected registers;
32243 if any known feature is missing required registers, or if any required
32244 feature is missing, @value{GDBN} will reject the target
32245 description. You can add additional registers to any of the
32246 standard features --- @value{GDBN} will display them just as if
32247 they were added to an unrecognized feature.
32249 This section lists the known features and their expected contents.
32250 Sample XML documents for these features are included in the
32251 @value{GDBN} source tree, in the directory @file{gdb/features}.
32253 Names recognized by @value{GDBN} should include the name of the
32254 company or organization which selected the name, and the overall
32255 architecture to which the feature applies; so e.g.@: the feature
32256 containing ARM core registers is named @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}.
32258 The names of registers are not case sensitive for the purpose
32259 of recognizing standard features, but @value{GDBN} will only display
32260 registers using the capitalization used in the description.
32266 * PowerPC Features::
32271 @subsection ARM Features
32272 @cindex target descriptions, ARM features
32274 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core} feature is required for ARM targets.
32275 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp},
32276 @samp{lr}, @samp{pc}, and @samp{cpsr}.
32278 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.fpa} feature is optional. If present, it
32279 should contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f7} and @samp{fps}.
32281 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.xscale.iwmmxt} feature is optional. If present,
32282 it should contain at least registers @samp{wR0} through @samp{wR15} and
32283 @samp{wCGR0} through @samp{wCGR3}. The @samp{wCID}, @samp{wCon},
32284 @samp{wCSSF}, and @samp{wCASF} registers are optional.
32286 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} feature is optional. If present, it
32287 should contain at least registers @samp{d0} through @samp{d15}. If
32288 they are present, @samp{d16} through @samp{d31} should also be included.
32289 @value{GDBN} will synthesize the single-precision registers from
32290 halves of the double-precision registers.
32292 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.neon} feature is optional. It does not
32293 need to contain registers; it instructs @value{GDBN} to display the
32294 VFP double-precision registers as vectors and to synthesize the
32295 quad-precision registers from pairs of double-precision registers.
32296 If this feature is present, @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} must also
32297 be present and include 32 double-precision registers.
32299 @node MIPS Features
32300 @subsection MIPS Features
32301 @cindex target descriptions, MIPS features
32303 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cpu} feature is required for MIPS targets.
32304 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31}, @samp{lo},
32305 @samp{hi}, and @samp{pc}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending
32308 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cp0} feature is also required. It should
32309 contain at least the @samp{status}, @samp{badvaddr}, and @samp{cause}
32310 registers. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
32312 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.fpu} feature is currently required, though
32313 it may be optional in a future version of @value{GDBN}. It should
32314 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31}, @samp{fcsr}, and
32315 @samp{fir}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
32317 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.linux} feature is optional. It should
32318 contain a single register, @samp{restart}, which is used by the
32319 Linux kernel to control restartable syscalls.
32321 @node M68K Features
32322 @subsection M68K Features
32323 @cindex target descriptions, M68K features
32326 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.m68k.core}
32327 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.core}
32328 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.fido.core}
32329 One of those features must be always present.
32330 The feature that is present determines which flavor of m68k is
32331 used. The feature that is present should contain registers
32332 @samp{d0} through @samp{d7}, @samp{a0} through @samp{a5}, @samp{fp},
32333 @samp{sp}, @samp{ps} and @samp{pc}.
32335 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.fp}
32336 This feature is optional. If present, it should contain registers
32337 @samp{fp0} through @samp{fp7}, @samp{fpcontrol}, @samp{fpstatus} and
32341 @node PowerPC Features
32342 @subsection PowerPC Features
32343 @cindex target descriptions, PowerPC features
32345 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} feature is required for PowerPC
32346 targets. It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31},
32347 @samp{pc}, @samp{msr}, @samp{cr}, @samp{lr}, @samp{ctr}, and
32348 @samp{xer}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
32350 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.fpu} feature is optional. It should
32351 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31} and @samp{fpscr}.
32353 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.altivec} feature is optional. It should
32354 contain registers @samp{vr0} through @samp{vr31}, @samp{vscr},
32357 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.vsx} feature is optional. It should
32358 contain registers @samp{vs0h} through @samp{vs31h}. @value{GDBN}
32359 will combine these registers with the floating point registers
32360 (@samp{f0} through @samp{f31}) and the altivec registers (@samp{vr0}
32361 through @samp{vr31}) to present the 128-bit wide registers @samp{vs0}
32362 through @samp{vs63}, the set of vector registers for POWER7.
32364 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.spe} feature is optional. It should
32365 contain registers @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}, @samp{acc}, and
32366 @samp{spefscr}. SPE targets should provide 32-bit registers in
32367 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} and provide the upper halves in
32368 @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}. @value{GDBN} will combine
32369 these to present registers @samp{ev0} through @samp{ev31} to the
32372 @node Operating System Information
32373 @appendix Operating System Information
32374 @cindex operating system information
32380 Users of @value{GDBN} often wish to obtain information about the state of
32381 the operating system running on the target---for example the list of
32382 processes, or the list of open files. This section describes the
32383 mechanism that makes it possible. This mechanism is similar to the
32384 target features mechanism (@pxref{Target Descriptions}), but focuses
32385 on a different aspect of target.
32387 Operating system information is retrived from the target via the
32388 remote protocol, using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{qXfer osdata
32389 read}). The object name in the request should be @samp{osdata}, and
32390 the @var{annex} identifies the data to be fetched.
32393 @appendixsection Process list
32394 @cindex operating system information, process list
32396 When requesting the process list, the @var{annex} field in the
32397 @samp{qXfer} request should be @samp{processes}. The returned data is
32398 an XML document. The formal syntax of this document is defined in
32399 @file{gdb/features/osdata.dtd}.
32401 An example document is:
32404 <?xml version="1.0"?>
32405 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "osdata.dtd">
32406 <osdata type="processes">
32408 <column name="pid">1</column>
32409 <column name="user">root</column>
32410 <column name="command">/sbin/init</column>
32415 Each item should include a column whose name is @samp{pid}. The value
32416 of that column should identify the process on the target. The
32417 @samp{user} and @samp{command} columns are optional, and will be
32418 displayed by @value{GDBN}. Target may provide additional columns,
32419 which @value{GDBN} currently ignores.
32433 % I think something like @colophon should be in texinfo. In the
32435 \long\def\colophon{\hbox to0pt{}\vfill
32436 \centerline{The body of this manual is set in}
32437 \centerline{\fontname\tenrm,}
32438 \centerline{with headings in {\bf\fontname\tenbf}}
32439 \centerline{and examples in {\tt\fontname\tentt}.}
32440 \centerline{{\it\fontname\tenit\/},}
32441 \centerline{{\bf\fontname\tenbf}, and}
32442 \centerline{{\sl\fontname\tensl\/}}
32443 \centerline{are used for emphasis.}\vfill}