1 \input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
2 @c Copyright (C) 1988-1996, 1998-2012 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
5 @c makeinfo ignores cmds prev to setfilename, so its arg cannot make use
6 @c of @set vars. However, you can override filename with makeinfo -o.
11 @settitle Debugging with @value{GDBN}
12 @setchapternewpage odd
24 @c readline appendices use @vindex, @findex and @ftable,
25 @c annotate.texi and gdbmi use @findex.
29 @c !!set GDB manual's edition---not the same as GDB version!
30 @c This is updated by GNU Press.
33 @c !!set GDB edit command default editor
36 @c THIS MANUAL REQUIRES TEXINFO 4.0 OR LATER.
38 @c This is a dir.info fragment to support semi-automated addition of
39 @c manuals to an info tree.
40 @dircategory Software development
42 * Gdb: (gdb). The GNU debugger.
46 Copyright @copyright{} 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996,
47 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
48 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
50 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
51 under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3 or
52 any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with the
53 Invariant Sections being ``Free Software'' and ``Free Software Needs
54 Free Documentation'', with the Front-Cover Texts being ``A GNU Manual,''
55 and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below.
57 (a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You are free to copy and modify
58 this GNU Manual. Buying copies from GNU Press supports the FSF in
59 developing GNU and promoting software freedom.''
63 This file documents the @sc{gnu} debugger @value{GDBN}.
65 This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, of @cite{Debugging with
66 @value{GDBN}: the @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger} for @value{GDBN}
67 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
68 @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
70 Version @value{GDBVN}.
76 @title Debugging with @value{GDBN}
77 @subtitle The @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger
79 @subtitle @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN}
80 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
82 @subtitle @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
84 @author Richard Stallman, Roland Pesch, Stan Shebs, et al.
88 \hfill (Send bugs and comments on @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.)\par
89 \hfill {\it Debugging with @value{GDBN}}\par
90 \hfill \TeX{}info \texinfoversion\par
94 @vskip 0pt plus 1filll
95 Published by the Free Software Foundation @*
96 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor,
97 Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA@*
98 ISBN 978-0-9831592-3-0 @*
105 @node Top, Summary, (dir), (dir)
107 @top Debugging with @value{GDBN}
109 This file describes @value{GDBN}, the @sc{gnu} symbolic debugger.
111 This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN}
112 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
113 @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
115 Version @value{GDBVN}.
117 Copyright (C) 1988-2010 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
119 This edition of the GDB manual is dedicated to the memory of Fred
120 Fish. Fred was a long-standing contributor to GDB and to Free
121 software in general. We will miss him.
124 * Summary:: Summary of @value{GDBN}
125 * Sample Session:: A sample @value{GDBN} session
127 * Invocation:: Getting in and out of @value{GDBN}
128 * Commands:: @value{GDBN} commands
129 * Running:: Running programs under @value{GDBN}
130 * Stopping:: Stopping and continuing
131 * Reverse Execution:: Running programs backward
132 * Process Record and Replay:: Recording inferior's execution and replaying it
133 * Stack:: Examining the stack
134 * Source:: Examining source files
135 * Data:: Examining data
136 * Optimized Code:: Debugging optimized code
137 * Macros:: Preprocessor Macros
138 * Tracepoints:: Debugging remote targets non-intrusively
139 * Overlays:: Debugging programs that use overlays
141 * Languages:: Using @value{GDBN} with different languages
143 * Symbols:: Examining the symbol table
144 * Altering:: Altering execution
145 * GDB Files:: @value{GDBN} files
146 * Targets:: Specifying a debugging target
147 * Remote Debugging:: Debugging remote programs
148 * Configurations:: Configuration-specific information
149 * Controlling GDB:: Controlling @value{GDBN}
150 * Extending GDB:: Extending @value{GDBN}
151 * Interpreters:: Command Interpreters
152 * TUI:: @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
153 * Emacs:: Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
154 * GDB/MI:: @value{GDBN}'s Machine Interface.
155 * Annotations:: @value{GDBN}'s annotation interface.
156 * JIT Interface:: Using the JIT debugging interface.
157 * In-Process Agent:: In-Process Agent
159 * GDB Bugs:: Reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
161 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
162 * Command Line Editing: (rluserman). Command Line Editing
163 * Using History Interactively: (history). Using History Interactively
165 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
166 * Command Line Editing:: Command Line Editing
167 * Using History Interactively:: Using History Interactively
169 * In Memoriam:: In Memoriam
170 * Formatting Documentation:: How to format and print @value{GDBN} documentation
171 * Installing GDB:: Installing GDB
172 * Maintenance Commands:: Maintenance Commands
173 * Remote Protocol:: GDB Remote Serial Protocol
174 * Agent Expressions:: The GDB Agent Expression Mechanism
175 * Target Descriptions:: How targets can describe themselves to
177 * Operating System Information:: Getting additional information from
179 * Trace File Format:: GDB trace file format
180 * Index Section Format:: .gdb_index section format
181 * Copying:: GNU General Public License says
182 how you can copy and share GDB
183 * GNU Free Documentation License:: The license for this documentation
192 @unnumbered Summary of @value{GDBN}
194 The purpose of a debugger such as @value{GDBN} is to allow you to see what is
195 going on ``inside'' another program while it executes---or what another
196 program was doing at the moment it crashed.
198 @value{GDBN} can do four main kinds of things (plus other things in support of
199 these) to help you catch bugs in the act:
203 Start your program, specifying anything that might affect its behavior.
206 Make your program stop on specified conditions.
209 Examine what has happened, when your program has stopped.
212 Change things in your program, so you can experiment with correcting the
213 effects of one bug and go on to learn about another.
216 You can use @value{GDBN} to debug programs written in C and C@t{++}.
217 For more information, see @ref{Supported Languages,,Supported Languages}.
218 For more information, see @ref{C,,C and C++}.
220 Support for D is partial. For information on D, see
224 Support for Modula-2 is partial. For information on Modula-2, see
225 @ref{Modula-2,,Modula-2}.
227 Support for OpenCL C is partial. For information on OpenCL C, see
228 @ref{OpenCL C,,OpenCL C}.
231 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
232 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
233 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
237 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, although
238 it may be necessary to refer to some variables with a trailing
241 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Objective-C,
242 using either the Apple/NeXT or the GNU Objective-C runtime.
245 * Free Software:: Freely redistributable software
246 * Contributors:: Contributors to GDB
250 @unnumberedsec Free Software
252 @value{GDBN} is @dfn{free software}, protected by the @sc{gnu}
253 General Public License
254 (GPL). The GPL gives you the freedom to copy or adapt a licensed
255 program---but every person getting a copy also gets with it the
256 freedom to modify that copy (which means that they must get access to
257 the source code), and the freedom to distribute further copies.
258 Typical software companies use copyrights to limit your freedoms; the
259 Free Software Foundation uses the GPL to preserve these freedoms.
261 Fundamentally, the General Public License is a license which says that
262 you have these freedoms and that you cannot take these freedoms away
265 @unnumberedsec Free Software Needs Free Documentation
267 The biggest deficiency in the free software community today is not in
268 the software---it is the lack of good free documentation that we can
269 include with the free software. Many of our most important
270 programs do not come with free reference manuals and free introductory
271 texts. Documentation is an essential part of any software package;
272 when an important free software package does not come with a free
273 manual and a free tutorial, that is a major gap. We have many such
276 Consider Perl, for instance. The tutorial manuals that people
277 normally use are non-free. How did this come about? Because the
278 authors of those manuals published them with restrictive terms---no
279 copying, no modification, source files not available---which exclude
280 them from the free software world.
282 That wasn't the first time this sort of thing happened, and it was far
283 from the last. Many times we have heard a GNU user eagerly describe a
284 manual that he is writing, his intended contribution to the community,
285 only to learn that he had ruined everything by signing a publication
286 contract to make it non-free.
288 Free documentation, like free software, is a matter of freedom, not
289 price. The problem with the non-free manual is not that publishers
290 charge a price for printed copies---that in itself is fine. (The Free
291 Software Foundation sells printed copies of manuals, too.) The
292 problem is the restrictions on the use of the manual. Free manuals
293 are available in source code form, and give you permission to copy and
294 modify. Non-free manuals do not allow this.
296 The criteria of freedom for a free manual are roughly the same as for
297 free software. Redistribution (including the normal kinds of
298 commercial redistribution) must be permitted, so that the manual can
299 accompany every copy of the program, both on-line and on paper.
301 Permission for modification of the technical content is crucial too.
302 When people modify the software, adding or changing features, if they
303 are conscientious they will change the manual too---so they can
304 provide accurate and clear documentation for the modified program. A
305 manual that leaves you no choice but to write a new manual to document
306 a changed version of the program is not really available to our
309 Some kinds of limits on the way modification is handled are
310 acceptable. For example, requirements to preserve the original
311 author's copyright notice, the distribution terms, or the list of
312 authors, are ok. It is also no problem to require modified versions
313 to include notice that they were modified. Even entire sections that
314 may not be deleted or changed are acceptable, as long as they deal
315 with nontechnical topics (like this one). These kinds of restrictions
316 are acceptable because they don't obstruct the community's normal use
319 However, it must be possible to modify all the @emph{technical}
320 content of the manual, and then distribute the result in all the usual
321 media, through all the usual channels. Otherwise, the restrictions
322 obstruct the use of the manual, it is not free, and we need another
323 manual to replace it.
325 Please spread the word about this issue. Our community continues to
326 lose manuals to proprietary publishing. If we spread the word that
327 free software needs free reference manuals and free tutorials, perhaps
328 the next person who wants to contribute by writing documentation will
329 realize, before it is too late, that only free manuals contribute to
330 the free software community.
332 If you are writing documentation, please insist on publishing it under
333 the GNU Free Documentation License or another free documentation
334 license. Remember that this decision requires your approval---you
335 don't have to let the publisher decide. Some commercial publishers
336 will use a free license if you insist, but they will not propose the
337 option; it is up to you to raise the issue and say firmly that this is
338 what you want. If the publisher you are dealing with refuses, please
339 try other publishers. If you're not sure whether a proposed license
340 is free, write to @email{licensing@@gnu.org}.
342 You can encourage commercial publishers to sell more free, copylefted
343 manuals and tutorials by buying them, and particularly by buying
344 copies from the publishers that paid for their writing or for major
345 improvements. Meanwhile, try to avoid buying non-free documentation
346 at all. Check the distribution terms of a manual before you buy it,
347 and insist that whoever seeks your business must respect your freedom.
348 Check the history of the book, and try to reward the publishers that
349 have paid or pay the authors to work on it.
351 The Free Software Foundation maintains a list of free documentation
352 published by other publishers, at
353 @url{http://www.fsf.org/doc/other-free-books.html}.
356 @unnumberedsec Contributors to @value{GDBN}
358 Richard Stallman was the original author of @value{GDBN}, and of many
359 other @sc{gnu} programs. Many others have contributed to its
360 development. This section attempts to credit major contributors. One
361 of the virtues of free software is that everyone is free to contribute
362 to it; with regret, we cannot actually acknowledge everyone here. The
363 file @file{ChangeLog} in the @value{GDBN} distribution approximates a
364 blow-by-blow account.
366 Changes much prior to version 2.0 are lost in the mists of time.
369 @emph{Plea:} Additions to this section are particularly welcome. If you
370 or your friends (or enemies, to be evenhanded) have been unfairly
371 omitted from this list, we would like to add your names!
374 So that they may not regard their many labors as thankless, we
375 particularly thank those who shepherded @value{GDBN} through major
377 Andrew Cagney (releases 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1 and 5.0);
378 Jim Blandy (release 4.18);
379 Jason Molenda (release 4.17);
380 Stan Shebs (release 4.14);
381 Fred Fish (releases 4.16, 4.15, 4.13, 4.12, 4.11, 4.10, and 4.9);
382 Stu Grossman and John Gilmore (releases 4.8, 4.7, 4.6, 4.5, and 4.4);
383 John Gilmore (releases 4.3, 4.2, 4.1, 4.0, and 3.9);
384 Jim Kingdon (releases 3.5, 3.4, and 3.3);
385 and Randy Smith (releases 3.2, 3.1, and 3.0).
387 Richard Stallman, assisted at various times by Peter TerMaat, Chris
388 Hanson, and Richard Mlynarik, handled releases through 2.8.
390 Michael Tiemann is the author of most of the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} support
391 in @value{GDBN}, with significant additional contributions from Per
392 Bothner and Daniel Berlin. James Clark wrote the @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
393 demangler. Early work on C@t{++} was by Peter TerMaat (who also did
394 much general update work leading to release 3.0).
396 @value{GDBN} uses the BFD subroutine library to examine multiple
397 object-file formats; BFD was a joint project of David V.
398 Henkel-Wallace, Rich Pixley, Steve Chamberlain, and John Gilmore.
400 David Johnson wrote the original COFF support; Pace Willison did
401 the original support for encapsulated COFF.
403 Brent Benson of Harris Computer Systems contributed DWARF 2 support.
405 Adam de Boor and Bradley Davis contributed the ISI Optimum V support.
406 Per Bothner, Noboyuki Hikichi, and Alessandro Forin contributed MIPS
408 Jean-Daniel Fekete contributed Sun 386i support.
409 Chris Hanson improved the HP9000 support.
410 Noboyuki Hikichi and Tomoyuki Hasei contributed Sony/News OS 3 support.
411 David Johnson contributed Encore Umax support.
412 Jyrki Kuoppala contributed Altos 3068 support.
413 Jeff Law contributed HP PA and SOM support.
414 Keith Packard contributed NS32K support.
415 Doug Rabson contributed Acorn Risc Machine support.
416 Bob Rusk contributed Harris Nighthawk CX-UX support.
417 Chris Smith contributed Convex support (and Fortran debugging).
418 Jonathan Stone contributed Pyramid support.
419 Michael Tiemann contributed SPARC support.
420 Tim Tucker contributed support for the Gould NP1 and Gould Powernode.
421 Pace Willison contributed Intel 386 support.
422 Jay Vosburgh contributed Symmetry support.
423 Marko Mlinar contributed OpenRISC 1000 support.
425 Andreas Schwab contributed M68K @sc{gnu}/Linux support.
427 Rich Schaefer and Peter Schauer helped with support of SunOS shared
430 Jay Fenlason and Roland McGrath ensured that @value{GDBN} and GAS agree
431 about several machine instruction sets.
433 Patrick Duval, Ted Goldstein, Vikram Koka and Glenn Engel helped develop
434 remote debugging. Intel Corporation, Wind River Systems, AMD, and ARM
435 contributed remote debugging modules for the i960, VxWorks, A29K UDI,
436 and RDI targets, respectively.
438 Brian Fox is the author of the readline libraries providing
439 command-line editing and command history.
441 Andrew Beers of SUNY Buffalo wrote the language-switching code, the
442 Modula-2 support, and contributed the Languages chapter of this manual.
444 Fred Fish wrote most of the support for Unix System Vr4.
445 He also enhanced the command-completion support to cover C@t{++} overloaded
448 Hitachi America (now Renesas America), Ltd. sponsored the support for
449 H8/300, H8/500, and Super-H processors.
451 NEC sponsored the support for the v850, Vr4xxx, and Vr5xxx processors.
453 Mitsubishi (now Renesas) sponsored the support for D10V, D30V, and M32R/D
456 Toshiba sponsored the support for the TX39 Mips processor.
458 Matsushita sponsored the support for the MN10200 and MN10300 processors.
460 Fujitsu sponsored the support for SPARClite and FR30 processors.
462 Kung Hsu, Jeff Law, and Rick Sladkey added support for hardware
465 Michael Snyder added support for tracepoints.
467 Stu Grossman wrote gdbserver.
469 Jim Kingdon, Peter Schauer, Ian Taylor, and Stu Grossman made
470 nearly innumerable bug fixes and cleanups throughout @value{GDBN}.
472 The following people at the Hewlett-Packard Company contributed
473 support for the PA-RISC 2.0 architecture, HP-UX 10.20, 10.30, and 11.0
474 (narrow mode), HP's implementation of kernel threads, HP's aC@t{++}
475 compiler, and the Text User Interface (nee Terminal User Interface):
476 Ben Krepp, Richard Title, John Bishop, Susan Macchia, Kathy Mann,
477 Satish Pai, India Paul, Steve Rehrauer, and Elena Zannoni. Kim Haase
478 provided HP-specific information in this manual.
480 DJ Delorie ported @value{GDBN} to MS-DOS, for the DJGPP project.
481 Robert Hoehne made significant contributions to the DJGPP port.
483 Cygnus Solutions has sponsored @value{GDBN} maintenance and much of its
484 development since 1991. Cygnus engineers who have worked on @value{GDBN}
485 fulltime include Mark Alexander, Jim Blandy, Per Bothner, Kevin
486 Buettner, Edith Epstein, Chris Faylor, Fred Fish, Martin Hunt, Jim
487 Ingham, John Gilmore, Stu Grossman, Kung Hsu, Jim Kingdon, John Metzler,
488 Fernando Nasser, Geoffrey Noer, Dawn Perchik, Rich Pixley, Zdenek
489 Radouch, Keith Seitz, Stan Shebs, David Taylor, and Elena Zannoni. In
490 addition, Dave Brolley, Ian Carmichael, Steve Chamberlain, Nick Clifton,
491 JT Conklin, Stan Cox, DJ Delorie, Ulrich Drepper, Frank Eigler, Doug
492 Evans, Sean Fagan, David Henkel-Wallace, Richard Henderson, Jeff
493 Holcomb, Jeff Law, Jim Lemke, Tom Lord, Bob Manson, Michael Meissner,
494 Jason Merrill, Catherine Moore, Drew Moseley, Ken Raeburn, Gavin
495 Romig-Koch, Rob Savoye, Jamie Smith, Mike Stump, Ian Taylor, Angela
496 Thomas, Michael Tiemann, Tom Tromey, Ron Unrau, Jim Wilson, and David
497 Zuhn have made contributions both large and small.
499 Andrew Cagney, Fernando Nasser, and Elena Zannoni, while working for
500 Cygnus Solutions, implemented the original @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
502 Jim Blandy added support for preprocessor macros, while working for Red
505 Andrew Cagney designed @value{GDBN}'s architecture vector. Many
506 people including Andrew Cagney, Stephane Carrez, Randolph Chung, Nick
507 Duffek, Richard Henderson, Mark Kettenis, Grace Sainsbury, Kei
508 Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Andreas Schwab, Jason
509 Thorpe, Corinna Vinschen, Ulrich Weigand, and Elena Zannoni, helped
510 with the migration of old architectures to this new framework.
512 Andrew Cagney completely re-designed and re-implemented @value{GDBN}'s
513 unwinder framework, this consisting of a fresh new design featuring
514 frame IDs, independent frame sniffers, and the sentinel frame. Mark
515 Kettenis implemented the @sc{dwarf 2} unwinder, Jeff Johnston the
516 libunwind unwinder, and Andrew Cagney the dummy, sentinel, tramp, and
517 trad unwinders. The architecture-specific changes, each involving a
518 complete rewrite of the architecture's frame code, were carried out by
519 Jim Blandy, Joel Brobecker, Kevin Buettner, Andrew Cagney, Stephane
520 Carrez, Randolph Chung, Orjan Friberg, Richard Henderson, Daniel
521 Jacobowitz, Jeff Johnston, Mark Kettenis, Theodore A. Roth, Kei
522 Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Corinna Vinschen, and Ulrich
525 Christian Zankel, Ross Morley, Bob Wilson, and Maxim Grigoriev from
526 Tensilica, Inc.@: contributed support for Xtensa processors. Others
527 who have worked on the Xtensa port of @value{GDBN} in the past include
528 Steve Tjiang, John Newlin, and Scott Foehner.
530 Michael Eager and staff of Xilinx, Inc., contributed support for the
531 Xilinx MicroBlaze architecture.
534 @chapter A Sample @value{GDBN} Session
536 You can use this manual at your leisure to read all about @value{GDBN}.
537 However, a handful of commands are enough to get started using the
538 debugger. This chapter illustrates those commands.
541 In this sample session, we emphasize user input like this: @b{input},
542 to make it easier to pick out from the surrounding output.
545 @c FIXME: this example may not be appropriate for some configs, where
546 @c FIXME...primary interest is in remote use.
548 One of the preliminary versions of @sc{gnu} @code{m4} (a generic macro
549 processor) exhibits the following bug: sometimes, when we change its
550 quote strings from the default, the commands used to capture one macro
551 definition within another stop working. In the following short @code{m4}
552 session, we define a macro @code{foo} which expands to @code{0000}; we
553 then use the @code{m4} built-in @code{defn} to define @code{bar} as the
554 same thing. However, when we change the open quote string to
555 @code{<QUOTE>} and the close quote string to @code{<UNQUOTE>}, the same
556 procedure fails to define a new synonym @code{baz}:
565 @b{define(bar,defn(`foo'))}
569 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
571 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
574 m4: End of input: 0: fatal error: EOF in string
578 Let us use @value{GDBN} to try to see what is going on.
581 $ @b{@value{GDBP} m4}
582 @c FIXME: this falsifies the exact text played out, to permit smallbook
583 @c FIXME... format to come out better.
584 @value{GDBN} is free software and you are welcome to distribute copies
585 of it under certain conditions; type "show copying" to see
587 There is absolutely no warranty for @value{GDBN}; type "show warranty"
590 @value{GDBN} @value{GDBVN}, Copyright 1999 Free Software Foundation, Inc...
595 @value{GDBN} reads only enough symbol data to know where to find the
596 rest when needed; as a result, the first prompt comes up very quickly.
597 We now tell @value{GDBN} to use a narrower display width than usual, so
598 that examples fit in this manual.
601 (@value{GDBP}) @b{set width 70}
605 We need to see how the @code{m4} built-in @code{changequote} works.
606 Having looked at the source, we know the relevant subroutine is
607 @code{m4_changequote}, so we set a breakpoint there with the @value{GDBN}
608 @code{break} command.
611 (@value{GDBP}) @b{break m4_changequote}
612 Breakpoint 1 at 0x62f4: file builtin.c, line 879.
616 Using the @code{run} command, we start @code{m4} running under @value{GDBN}
617 control; as long as control does not reach the @code{m4_changequote}
618 subroutine, the program runs as usual:
621 (@value{GDBP}) @b{run}
622 Starting program: /work/Editorial/gdb/gnu/m4/m4
630 To trigger the breakpoint, we call @code{changequote}. @value{GDBN}
631 suspends execution of @code{m4}, displaying information about the
632 context where it stops.
635 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
637 Breakpoint 1, m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
639 879 if (bad_argc(TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[0]),argc,1,3))
643 Now we use the command @code{n} (@code{next}) to advance execution to
644 the next line of the current function.
648 882 set_quotes((argc >= 2) ? TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[1])\
653 @code{set_quotes} looks like a promising subroutine. We can go into it
654 by using the command @code{s} (@code{step}) instead of @code{next}.
655 @code{step} goes to the next line to be executed in @emph{any}
656 subroutine, so it steps into @code{set_quotes}.
660 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
662 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
666 The display that shows the subroutine where @code{m4} is now
667 suspended (and its arguments) is called a stack frame display. It
668 shows a summary of the stack. We can use the @code{backtrace}
669 command (which can also be spelled @code{bt}), to see where we are
670 in the stack as a whole: the @code{backtrace} command displays a
671 stack frame for each active subroutine.
674 (@value{GDBP}) @b{bt}
675 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
677 #1 0x6344 in m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
679 #2 0x8174 in expand_macro (sym=0x33320) at macro.c:242
680 #3 0x7a88 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=209696, td=0xf7fffa30)
682 #4 0x79dc in expand_input () at macro.c:40
683 #5 0x2930 in main (argc=0, argv=0xf7fffb20) at m4.c:195
687 We step through a few more lines to see what happens. The first two
688 times, we can use @samp{s}; the next two times we use @code{n} to avoid
689 falling into the @code{xstrdup} subroutine.
693 0x3b5c 532 if (rquote != def_rquote)
695 0x3b80 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? \
696 def_lquote : xstrdup(lq);
698 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
701 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
705 The last line displayed looks a little odd; we can examine the variables
706 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} to see if they are in fact the new left
707 and right quotes we specified. We use the command @code{p}
708 (@code{print}) to see their values.
711 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p lquote}
712 $1 = 0x35d40 "<QUOTE>"
713 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p rquote}
714 $2 = 0x35d50 "<UNQUOTE>"
718 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} are indeed the new left and right quotes.
719 To look at some context, we can display ten lines of source
720 surrounding the current line with the @code{l} (@code{list}) command.
726 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? def_lquote\
728 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
731 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
732 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
739 Let us step past the two lines that set @code{len_lquote} and
740 @code{len_rquote}, and then examine the values of those variables.
744 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
747 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote}
749 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote}
754 That certainly looks wrong, assuming @code{len_lquote} and
755 @code{len_rquote} are meant to be the lengths of @code{lquote} and
756 @code{rquote} respectively. We can set them to better values using
757 the @code{p} command, since it can print the value of
758 any expression---and that expression can include subroutine calls and
762 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote=strlen(lquote)}
764 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote=strlen(rquote)}
769 Is that enough to fix the problem of using the new quotes with the
770 @code{m4} built-in @code{defn}? We can allow @code{m4} to continue
771 executing with the @code{c} (@code{continue}) command, and then try the
772 example that caused trouble initially:
778 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
785 Success! The new quotes now work just as well as the default ones. The
786 problem seems to have been just the two typos defining the wrong
787 lengths. We allow @code{m4} exit by giving it an EOF as input:
791 Program exited normally.
795 The message @samp{Program exited normally.} is from @value{GDBN}; it
796 indicates @code{m4} has finished executing. We can end our @value{GDBN}
797 session with the @value{GDBN} @code{quit} command.
800 (@value{GDBP}) @b{quit}
804 @chapter Getting In and Out of @value{GDBN}
806 This chapter discusses how to start @value{GDBN}, and how to get out of it.
810 type @samp{@value{GDBP}} to start @value{GDBN}.
812 type @kbd{quit} or @kbd{Ctrl-d} to exit.
816 * Invoking GDB:: How to start @value{GDBN}
817 * Quitting GDB:: How to quit @value{GDBN}
818 * Shell Commands:: How to use shell commands inside @value{GDBN}
819 * Logging Output:: How to log @value{GDBN}'s output to a file
823 @section Invoking @value{GDBN}
825 Invoke @value{GDBN} by running the program @code{@value{GDBP}}. Once started,
826 @value{GDBN} reads commands from the terminal until you tell it to exit.
828 You can also run @code{@value{GDBP}} with a variety of arguments and options,
829 to specify more of your debugging environment at the outset.
831 The command-line options described here are designed
832 to cover a variety of situations; in some environments, some of these
833 options may effectively be unavailable.
835 The most usual way to start @value{GDBN} is with one argument,
836 specifying an executable program:
839 @value{GDBP} @var{program}
843 You can also start with both an executable program and a core file
847 @value{GDBP} @var{program} @var{core}
850 You can, instead, specify a process ID as a second argument, if you want
851 to debug a running process:
854 @value{GDBP} @var{program} 1234
858 would attach @value{GDBN} to process @code{1234} (unless you also have a file
859 named @file{1234}; @value{GDBN} does check for a core file first).
861 Taking advantage of the second command-line argument requires a fairly
862 complete operating system; when you use @value{GDBN} as a remote
863 debugger attached to a bare board, there may not be any notion of
864 ``process'', and there is often no way to get a core dump. @value{GDBN}
865 will warn you if it is unable to attach or to read core dumps.
867 You can optionally have @code{@value{GDBP}} pass any arguments after the
868 executable file to the inferior using @code{--args}. This option stops
871 @value{GDBP} --args gcc -O2 -c foo.c
873 This will cause @code{@value{GDBP}} to debug @code{gcc}, and to set
874 @code{gcc}'s command-line arguments (@pxref{Arguments}) to @samp{-O2 -c foo.c}.
876 You can run @code{@value{GDBP}} without printing the front material, which describes
877 @value{GDBN}'s non-warranty, by specifying @code{-silent}:
884 You can further control how @value{GDBN} starts up by using command-line
885 options. @value{GDBN} itself can remind you of the options available.
895 to display all available options and briefly describe their use
896 (@samp{@value{GDBP} -h} is a shorter equivalent).
898 All options and command line arguments you give are processed
899 in sequential order. The order makes a difference when the
900 @samp{-x} option is used.
904 * File Options:: Choosing files
905 * Mode Options:: Choosing modes
906 * Startup:: What @value{GDBN} does during startup
910 @subsection Choosing Files
912 When @value{GDBN} starts, it reads any arguments other than options as
913 specifying an executable file and core file (or process ID). This is
914 the same as if the arguments were specified by the @samp{-se} and
915 @samp{-c} (or @samp{-p}) options respectively. (@value{GDBN} reads the
916 first argument that does not have an associated option flag as
917 equivalent to the @samp{-se} option followed by that argument; and the
918 second argument that does not have an associated option flag, if any, as
919 equivalent to the @samp{-c}/@samp{-p} option followed by that argument.)
920 If the second argument begins with a decimal digit, @value{GDBN} will
921 first attempt to attach to it as a process, and if that fails, attempt
922 to open it as a corefile. If you have a corefile whose name begins with
923 a digit, you can prevent @value{GDBN} from treating it as a pid by
924 prefixing it with @file{./}, e.g.@: @file{./12345}.
926 If @value{GDBN} has not been configured to included core file support,
927 such as for most embedded targets, then it will complain about a second
928 argument and ignore it.
930 Many options have both long and short forms; both are shown in the
931 following list. @value{GDBN} also recognizes the long forms if you truncate
932 them, so long as enough of the option is present to be unambiguous.
933 (If you prefer, you can flag option arguments with @samp{--} rather
934 than @samp{-}, though we illustrate the more usual convention.)
936 @c NOTE: the @cindex entries here use double dashes ON PURPOSE. This
937 @c way, both those who look for -foo and --foo in the index, will find
941 @item -symbols @var{file}
943 @cindex @code{--symbols}
945 Read symbol table from file @var{file}.
947 @item -exec @var{file}
949 @cindex @code{--exec}
951 Use file @var{file} as the executable file to execute when appropriate,
952 and for examining pure data in conjunction with a core dump.
956 Read symbol table from file @var{file} and use it as the executable
959 @item -core @var{file}
961 @cindex @code{--core}
963 Use file @var{file} as a core dump to examine.
965 @item -pid @var{number}
966 @itemx -p @var{number}
969 Connect to process ID @var{number}, as with the @code{attach} command.
971 @item -command @var{file}
973 @cindex @code{--command}
975 Execute commands from file @var{file}. The contents of this file is
976 evaluated exactly as the @code{source} command would.
977 @xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
979 @item -eval-command @var{command}
980 @itemx -ex @var{command}
981 @cindex @code{--eval-command}
983 Execute a single @value{GDBN} command.
985 This option may be used multiple times to call multiple commands. It may
986 also be interleaved with @samp{-command} as required.
989 @value{GDBP} -ex 'target sim' -ex 'load' \
990 -x setbreakpoints -ex 'run' a.out
993 @item -init-command @var{file}
994 @itemx -ix @var{file}
995 @cindex @code{--init-command}
997 Execute commands from file @var{file} before loading gdbinit files or the
1001 @item -init-eval-command @var{command}
1002 @itemx -iex @var{command}
1003 @cindex @code{--init-eval-command}
1005 Execute a single @value{GDBN} command before loading gdbinit files or the
1009 @item -directory @var{directory}
1010 @itemx -d @var{directory}
1011 @cindex @code{--directory}
1013 Add @var{directory} to the path to search for source and script files.
1017 @cindex @code{--readnow}
1019 Read each symbol file's entire symbol table immediately, rather than
1020 the default, which is to read it incrementally as it is needed.
1021 This makes startup slower, but makes future operations faster.
1026 @subsection Choosing Modes
1028 You can run @value{GDBN} in various alternative modes---for example, in
1029 batch mode or quiet mode.
1037 Do not execute commands found in any initialization files. Normally,
1038 @value{GDBN} executes the commands in these files after all the command
1039 options and arguments have been processed. @xref{Command Files,,Command
1045 @cindex @code{--quiet}
1046 @cindex @code{--silent}
1048 ``Quiet''. Do not print the introductory and copyright messages. These
1049 messages are also suppressed in batch mode.
1052 @cindex @code{--batch}
1053 Run in batch mode. Exit with status @code{0} after processing all the
1054 command files specified with @samp{-x} (and all commands from
1055 initialization files, if not inhibited with @samp{-n}). Exit with
1056 nonzero status if an error occurs in executing the @value{GDBN} commands
1057 in the command files. Batch mode also disables pagination, sets unlimited
1058 terminal width and height @pxref{Screen Size}, and acts as if @kbd{set confirm
1059 off} were in effect (@pxref{Messages/Warnings}).
1061 Batch mode may be useful for running @value{GDBN} as a filter, for
1062 example to download and run a program on another computer; in order to
1063 make this more useful, the message
1066 Program exited normally.
1070 (which is ordinarily issued whenever a program running under
1071 @value{GDBN} control terminates) is not issued when running in batch
1075 @cindex @code{--batch-silent}
1076 Run in batch mode exactly like @samp{-batch}, but totally silently. All
1077 @value{GDBN} output to @code{stdout} is prevented (@code{stderr} is
1078 unaffected). This is much quieter than @samp{-silent} and would be useless
1079 for an interactive session.
1081 This is particularly useful when using targets that give @samp{Loading section}
1082 messages, for example.
1084 Note that targets that give their output via @value{GDBN}, as opposed to
1085 writing directly to @code{stdout}, will also be made silent.
1087 @item -return-child-result
1088 @cindex @code{--return-child-result}
1089 The return code from @value{GDBN} will be the return code from the child
1090 process (the process being debugged), with the following exceptions:
1094 @value{GDBN} exits abnormally. E.g., due to an incorrect argument or an
1095 internal error. In this case the exit code is the same as it would have been
1096 without @samp{-return-child-result}.
1098 The user quits with an explicit value. E.g., @samp{quit 1}.
1100 The child process never runs, or is not allowed to terminate, in which case
1101 the exit code will be -1.
1104 This option is useful in conjunction with @samp{-batch} or @samp{-batch-silent},
1105 when @value{GDBN} is being used as a remote program loader or simulator
1110 @cindex @code{--nowindows}
1112 ``No windows''. If @value{GDBN} comes with a graphical user interface
1113 (GUI) built in, then this option tells @value{GDBN} to only use the command-line
1114 interface. If no GUI is available, this option has no effect.
1118 @cindex @code{--windows}
1120 If @value{GDBN} includes a GUI, then this option requires it to be
1123 @item -cd @var{directory}
1125 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its working directory,
1126 instead of the current directory.
1128 @item -data-directory @var{directory}
1129 @cindex @code{--data-directory}
1130 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its data directory.
1131 The data directory is where @value{GDBN} searches for its
1132 auxiliary files. @xref{Data Files}.
1136 @cindex @code{--fullname}
1138 @sc{gnu} Emacs sets this option when it runs @value{GDBN} as a
1139 subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to output the full file name and line
1140 number in a standard, recognizable fashion each time a stack frame is
1141 displayed (which includes each time your program stops). This
1142 recognizable format looks like two @samp{\032} characters, followed by
1143 the file name, line number and character position separated by colons,
1144 and a newline. The Emacs-to-@value{GDBN} interface program uses the two
1145 @samp{\032} characters as a signal to display the source code for the
1149 @cindex @code{--epoch}
1150 The Epoch Emacs-@value{GDBN} interface sets this option when it runs
1151 @value{GDBN} as a subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to modify its print
1152 routines so as to allow Epoch to display values of expressions in a
1155 @item -annotate @var{level}
1156 @cindex @code{--annotate}
1157 This option sets the @dfn{annotation level} inside @value{GDBN}. Its
1158 effect is identical to using @samp{set annotate @var{level}}
1159 (@pxref{Annotations}). The annotation @var{level} controls how much
1160 information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt, values of
1161 expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0 is the
1162 normal, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a subprocess of
1163 @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable for programs
1164 that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 has been deprecated.
1166 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
1170 @cindex @code{--args}
1171 Change interpretation of command line so that arguments following the
1172 executable file are passed as command line arguments to the inferior.
1173 This option stops option processing.
1175 @item -baud @var{bps}
1177 @cindex @code{--baud}
1179 Set the line speed (baud rate or bits per second) of any serial
1180 interface used by @value{GDBN} for remote debugging.
1182 @item -l @var{timeout}
1184 Set the timeout (in seconds) of any communication used by @value{GDBN}
1185 for remote debugging.
1187 @item -tty @var{device}
1188 @itemx -t @var{device}
1189 @cindex @code{--tty}
1191 Run using @var{device} for your program's standard input and output.
1192 @c FIXME: kingdon thinks there is more to -tty. Investigate.
1194 @c resolve the situation of these eventually
1196 @cindex @code{--tui}
1197 Activate the @dfn{Text User Interface} when starting. The Text User
1198 Interface manages several text windows on the terminal, showing
1199 source, assembly, registers and @value{GDBN} command outputs
1200 (@pxref{TUI, ,@value{GDBN} Text User Interface}). Do not use this
1201 option if you run @value{GDBN} from Emacs (@pxref{Emacs, ,
1202 Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}).
1205 @c @cindex @code{--xdb}
1206 @c Run in XDB compatibility mode, allowing the use of certain XDB commands.
1207 @c For information, see the file @file{xdb_trans.html}, which is usually
1208 @c installed in the directory @code{/opt/langtools/wdb/doc} on HP-UX
1211 @item -interpreter @var{interp}
1212 @cindex @code{--interpreter}
1213 Use the interpreter @var{interp} for interface with the controlling
1214 program or device. This option is meant to be set by programs which
1215 communicate with @value{GDBN} using it as a back end.
1216 @xref{Interpreters, , Command Interpreters}.
1218 @samp{--interpreter=mi} (or @samp{--interpreter=mi2}) causes
1219 @value{GDBN} to use the @dfn{@sc{gdb/mi} interface} (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,
1220 The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}) included since @value{GDBN} version 6.0. The
1221 previous @sc{gdb/mi} interface, included in @value{GDBN} version 5.3 and
1222 selected with @samp{--interpreter=mi1}, is deprecated. Earlier
1223 @sc{gdb/mi} interfaces are no longer supported.
1226 @cindex @code{--write}
1227 Open the executable and core files for both reading and writing. This
1228 is equivalent to the @samp{set write on} command inside @value{GDBN}
1232 @cindex @code{--statistics}
1233 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print statistics about time and
1234 memory usage after it completes each command and returns to the prompt.
1237 @cindex @code{--version}
1238 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print its version number and
1239 no-warranty blurb, and exit.
1241 @item -use-deprecated-index-sections
1242 @cindex @code{--use-deprecated-index-sections}
1243 This option causes @value{GDBN} to read and use deprecated
1244 @samp{.gdb_index} sections from symbol files. This can speed up
1245 startup, but may result in some functionality being lost.
1246 @xref{Index Section Format}.
1251 @subsection What @value{GDBN} Does During Startup
1252 @cindex @value{GDBN} startup
1254 Here's the description of what @value{GDBN} does during session startup:
1258 Sets up the command interpreter as specified by the command line
1259 (@pxref{Mode Options, interpreter}).
1261 @anchor{Option -init-eval-command}
1263 Executes commands and command files specified by the @samp{-iex} and
1264 @samp{-ix} options in their specified order. Usually you should use the
1265 @samp{-ex} and @samp{-x} options instead, but this way you can apply
1266 settings before @value{GDBN} init files get executed and before inferior
1271 Reads the system-wide @dfn{init file} (if @option{--with-system-gdbinit} was
1272 used when building @value{GDBN}; @pxref{System-wide configuration,
1273 ,System-wide configuration and settings}) and executes all the commands in
1276 @anchor{Home Directory Init File}
1278 Reads the init file (if any) in your home directory@footnote{On
1279 DOS/Windows systems, the home directory is the one pointed to by the
1280 @code{HOME} environment variable.} and executes all the commands in
1284 Processes command line options and operands.
1286 @anchor{Init File in the Current Directory during Startup}
1288 Reads and executes the commands from init file (if any) in the current
1289 working directory as long as @samp{set auto-load local-gdbinit} is set to
1290 @samp{on} (@pxref{Init File in the Current Directory}).
1291 This is only done if the current directory is
1292 different from your home directory. Thus, you can have more than one
1293 init file, one generic in your home directory, and another, specific
1294 to the program you are debugging, in the directory where you invoke
1298 If the command line specified a program to debug, or a process to
1299 attach to, or a core file, @value{GDBN} loads any auto-loaded
1300 scripts provided for the program or for its loaded shared libraries.
1301 @xref{Auto-loading}.
1303 If you wish to disable the auto-loading during startup,
1304 you must do something like the following:
1307 $ gdb -iex "set auto-load python-scripts off" myprogram
1310 Option @samp{-ex} does not work because the auto-loading is then turned
1314 Executes commands and command files specified by the @samp{-ex} and
1315 @samp{-x} options in their specified order. @xref{Command Files}, for
1316 more details about @value{GDBN} command files.
1319 Reads the command history recorded in the @dfn{history file}.
1320 @xref{Command History}, for more details about the command history and the
1321 files where @value{GDBN} records it.
1324 Init files use the same syntax as @dfn{command files} (@pxref{Command
1325 Files}) and are processed by @value{GDBN} in the same way. The init
1326 file in your home directory can set options (such as @samp{set
1327 complaints}) that affect subsequent processing of command line options
1328 and operands. Init files are not executed if you use the @samp{-nx}
1329 option (@pxref{Mode Options, ,Choosing Modes}).
1331 To display the list of init files loaded by gdb at startup, you
1332 can use @kbd{gdb --help}.
1334 @cindex init file name
1335 @cindex @file{.gdbinit}
1336 @cindex @file{gdb.ini}
1337 The @value{GDBN} init files are normally called @file{.gdbinit}.
1338 The DJGPP port of @value{GDBN} uses the name @file{gdb.ini}, due to
1339 the limitations of file names imposed by DOS filesystems. The Windows
1340 ports of @value{GDBN} use the standard name, but if they find a
1341 @file{gdb.ini} file, they warn you about that and suggest to rename
1342 the file to the standard name.
1346 @section Quitting @value{GDBN}
1347 @cindex exiting @value{GDBN}
1348 @cindex leaving @value{GDBN}
1351 @kindex quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1352 @kindex q @r{(@code{quit})}
1353 @item quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1355 To exit @value{GDBN}, use the @code{quit} command (abbreviated
1356 @code{q}), or type an end-of-file character (usually @kbd{Ctrl-d}). If you
1357 do not supply @var{expression}, @value{GDBN} will terminate normally;
1358 otherwise it will terminate using the result of @var{expression} as the
1363 An interrupt (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}) does not exit from @value{GDBN}, but rather
1364 terminates the action of any @value{GDBN} command that is in progress and
1365 returns to @value{GDBN} command level. It is safe to type the interrupt
1366 character at any time because @value{GDBN} does not allow it to take effect
1367 until a time when it is safe.
1369 If you have been using @value{GDBN} to control an attached process or
1370 device, you can release it with the @code{detach} command
1371 (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
1373 @node Shell Commands
1374 @section Shell Commands
1376 If you need to execute occasional shell commands during your
1377 debugging session, there is no need to leave or suspend @value{GDBN}; you can
1378 just use the @code{shell} command.
1383 @cindex shell escape
1384 @item shell @var{command-string}
1385 @itemx !@var{command-string}
1386 Invoke a standard shell to execute @var{command-string}.
1387 Note that no space is needed between @code{!} and @var{command-string}.
1388 If it exists, the environment variable @code{SHELL} determines which
1389 shell to run. Otherwise @value{GDBN} uses the default shell
1390 (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix systems, @file{COMMAND.COM} on MS-DOS, etc.).
1393 The utility @code{make} is often needed in development environments.
1394 You do not have to use the @code{shell} command for this purpose in
1399 @cindex calling make
1400 @item make @var{make-args}
1401 Execute the @code{make} program with the specified
1402 arguments. This is equivalent to @samp{shell make @var{make-args}}.
1405 @node Logging Output
1406 @section Logging Output
1407 @cindex logging @value{GDBN} output
1408 @cindex save @value{GDBN} output to a file
1410 You may want to save the output of @value{GDBN} commands to a file.
1411 There are several commands to control @value{GDBN}'s logging.
1415 @item set logging on
1417 @item set logging off
1419 @cindex logging file name
1420 @item set logging file @var{file}
1421 Change the name of the current logfile. The default logfile is @file{gdb.txt}.
1422 @item set logging overwrite [on|off]
1423 By default, @value{GDBN} will append to the logfile. Set @code{overwrite} if
1424 you want @code{set logging on} to overwrite the logfile instead.
1425 @item set logging redirect [on|off]
1426 By default, @value{GDBN} output will go to both the terminal and the logfile.
1427 Set @code{redirect} if you want output to go only to the log file.
1428 @kindex show logging
1430 Show the current values of the logging settings.
1434 @chapter @value{GDBN} Commands
1436 You can abbreviate a @value{GDBN} command to the first few letters of the command
1437 name, if that abbreviation is unambiguous; and you can repeat certain
1438 @value{GDBN} commands by typing just @key{RET}. You can also use the @key{TAB}
1439 key to get @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest of a word in a command (or to
1440 show you the alternatives available, if there is more than one possibility).
1443 * Command Syntax:: How to give commands to @value{GDBN}
1444 * Completion:: Command completion
1445 * Help:: How to ask @value{GDBN} for help
1448 @node Command Syntax
1449 @section Command Syntax
1451 A @value{GDBN} command is a single line of input. There is no limit on
1452 how long it can be. It starts with a command name, which is followed by
1453 arguments whose meaning depends on the command name. For example, the
1454 command @code{step} accepts an argument which is the number of times to
1455 step, as in @samp{step 5}. You can also use the @code{step} command
1456 with no arguments. Some commands do not allow any arguments.
1458 @cindex abbreviation
1459 @value{GDBN} command names may always be truncated if that abbreviation is
1460 unambiguous. Other possible command abbreviations are listed in the
1461 documentation for individual commands. In some cases, even ambiguous
1462 abbreviations are allowed; for example, @code{s} is specially defined as
1463 equivalent to @code{step} even though there are other commands whose
1464 names start with @code{s}. You can test abbreviations by using them as
1465 arguments to the @code{help} command.
1467 @cindex repeating commands
1468 @kindex RET @r{(repeat last command)}
1469 A blank line as input to @value{GDBN} (typing just @key{RET}) means to
1470 repeat the previous command. Certain commands (for example, @code{run})
1471 will not repeat this way; these are commands whose unintentional
1472 repetition might cause trouble and which you are unlikely to want to
1473 repeat. User-defined commands can disable this feature; see
1474 @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
1476 The @code{list} and @code{x} commands, when you repeat them with
1477 @key{RET}, construct new arguments rather than repeating
1478 exactly as typed. This permits easy scanning of source or memory.
1480 @value{GDBN} can also use @key{RET} in another way: to partition lengthy
1481 output, in a way similar to the common utility @code{more}
1482 (@pxref{Screen Size,,Screen Size}). Since it is easy to press one
1483 @key{RET} too many in this situation, @value{GDBN} disables command
1484 repetition after any command that generates this sort of display.
1486 @kindex # @r{(a comment)}
1488 Any text from a @kbd{#} to the end of the line is a comment; it does
1489 nothing. This is useful mainly in command files (@pxref{Command
1490 Files,,Command Files}).
1492 @cindex repeating command sequences
1493 @kindex Ctrl-o @r{(operate-and-get-next)}
1494 The @kbd{Ctrl-o} binding is useful for repeating a complex sequence of
1495 commands. This command accepts the current line, like @key{RET}, and
1496 then fetches the next line relative to the current line from the history
1500 @section Command Completion
1503 @cindex word completion
1504 @value{GDBN} can fill in the rest of a word in a command for you, if there is
1505 only one possibility; it can also show you what the valid possibilities
1506 are for the next word in a command, at any time. This works for @value{GDBN}
1507 commands, @value{GDBN} subcommands, and the names of symbols in your program.
1509 Press the @key{TAB} key whenever you want @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest
1510 of a word. If there is only one possibility, @value{GDBN} fills in the
1511 word, and waits for you to finish the command (or press @key{RET} to
1512 enter it). For example, if you type
1514 @c FIXME "@key" does not distinguish its argument sufficiently to permit
1515 @c complete accuracy in these examples; space introduced for clarity.
1516 @c If texinfo enhancements make it unnecessary, it would be nice to
1517 @c replace " @key" by "@key" in the following...
1519 (@value{GDBP}) info bre @key{TAB}
1523 @value{GDBN} fills in the rest of the word @samp{breakpoints}, since that is
1524 the only @code{info} subcommand beginning with @samp{bre}:
1527 (@value{GDBP}) info breakpoints
1531 You can either press @key{RET} at this point, to run the @code{info
1532 breakpoints} command, or backspace and enter something else, if
1533 @samp{breakpoints} does not look like the command you expected. (If you
1534 were sure you wanted @code{info breakpoints} in the first place, you
1535 might as well just type @key{RET} immediately after @samp{info bre},
1536 to exploit command abbreviations rather than command completion).
1538 If there is more than one possibility for the next word when you press
1539 @key{TAB}, @value{GDBN} sounds a bell. You can either supply more
1540 characters and try again, or just press @key{TAB} a second time;
1541 @value{GDBN} displays all the possible completions for that word. For
1542 example, you might want to set a breakpoint on a subroutine whose name
1543 begins with @samp{make_}, but when you type @kbd{b make_@key{TAB}} @value{GDBN}
1544 just sounds the bell. Typing @key{TAB} again displays all the
1545 function names in your program that begin with those characters, for
1549 (@value{GDBP}) b make_ @key{TAB}
1550 @exdent @value{GDBN} sounds bell; press @key{TAB} again, to see:
1551 make_a_section_from_file make_environ
1552 make_abs_section make_function_type
1553 make_blockvector make_pointer_type
1554 make_cleanup make_reference_type
1555 make_command make_symbol_completion_list
1556 (@value{GDBP}) b make_
1560 After displaying the available possibilities, @value{GDBN} copies your
1561 partial input (@samp{b make_} in the example) so you can finish the
1564 If you just want to see the list of alternatives in the first place, you
1565 can press @kbd{M-?} rather than pressing @key{TAB} twice. @kbd{M-?}
1566 means @kbd{@key{META} ?}. You can type this either by holding down a
1567 key designated as the @key{META} shift on your keyboard (if there is
1568 one) while typing @kbd{?}, or as @key{ESC} followed by @kbd{?}.
1570 @cindex quotes in commands
1571 @cindex completion of quoted strings
1572 Sometimes the string you need, while logically a ``word'', may contain
1573 parentheses or other characters that @value{GDBN} normally excludes from
1574 its notion of a word. To permit word completion to work in this
1575 situation, you may enclose words in @code{'} (single quote marks) in
1576 @value{GDBN} commands.
1578 The most likely situation where you might need this is in typing the
1579 name of a C@t{++} function. This is because C@t{++} allows function
1580 overloading (multiple definitions of the same function, distinguished
1581 by argument type). For example, when you want to set a breakpoint you
1582 may need to distinguish whether you mean the version of @code{name}
1583 that takes an @code{int} parameter, @code{name(int)}, or the version
1584 that takes a @code{float} parameter, @code{name(float)}. To use the
1585 word-completion facilities in this situation, type a single quote
1586 @code{'} at the beginning of the function name. This alerts
1587 @value{GDBN} that it may need to consider more information than usual
1588 when you press @key{TAB} or @kbd{M-?} to request word completion:
1591 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble( @kbd{M-?}
1592 bubble(double,double) bubble(int,int)
1593 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1596 In some cases, @value{GDBN} can tell that completing a name requires using
1597 quotes. When this happens, @value{GDBN} inserts the quote for you (while
1598 completing as much as it can) if you do not type the quote in the first
1602 (@value{GDBP}) b bub @key{TAB}
1603 @exdent @value{GDBN} alters your input line to the following, and rings a bell:
1604 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1608 In general, @value{GDBN} can tell that a quote is needed (and inserts it) if
1609 you have not yet started typing the argument list when you ask for
1610 completion on an overloaded symbol.
1612 For more information about overloaded functions, see @ref{C Plus Plus
1613 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}. You can use the command @code{set
1614 overload-resolution off} to disable overload resolution;
1615 see @ref{Debugging C Plus Plus, ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
1617 @cindex completion of structure field names
1618 @cindex structure field name completion
1619 @cindex completion of union field names
1620 @cindex union field name completion
1621 When completing in an expression which looks up a field in a
1622 structure, @value{GDBN} also tries@footnote{The completer can be
1623 confused by certain kinds of invalid expressions. Also, it only
1624 examines the static type of the expression, not the dynamic type.} to
1625 limit completions to the field names available in the type of the
1629 (@value{GDBP}) p gdb_stdout.@kbd{M-?}
1630 magic to_fputs to_rewind
1631 to_data to_isatty to_write
1632 to_delete to_put to_write_async_safe
1637 This is because the @code{gdb_stdout} is a variable of the type
1638 @code{struct ui_file} that is defined in @value{GDBN} sources as
1645 ui_file_flush_ftype *to_flush;
1646 ui_file_write_ftype *to_write;
1647 ui_file_write_async_safe_ftype *to_write_async_safe;
1648 ui_file_fputs_ftype *to_fputs;
1649 ui_file_read_ftype *to_read;
1650 ui_file_delete_ftype *to_delete;
1651 ui_file_isatty_ftype *to_isatty;
1652 ui_file_rewind_ftype *to_rewind;
1653 ui_file_put_ftype *to_put;
1660 @section Getting Help
1661 @cindex online documentation
1664 You can always ask @value{GDBN} itself for information on its commands,
1665 using the command @code{help}.
1668 @kindex h @r{(@code{help})}
1671 You can use @code{help} (abbreviated @code{h}) with no arguments to
1672 display a short list of named classes of commands:
1676 List of classes of commands:
1678 aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1679 breakpoints -- Making program stop at certain points
1680 data -- Examining data
1681 files -- Specifying and examining files
1682 internals -- Maintenance commands
1683 obscure -- Obscure features
1684 running -- Running the program
1685 stack -- Examining the stack
1686 status -- Status inquiries
1687 support -- Support facilities
1688 tracepoints -- Tracing of program execution without
1689 stopping the program
1690 user-defined -- User-defined commands
1692 Type "help" followed by a class name for a list of
1693 commands in that class.
1694 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1696 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1699 @c the above line break eliminates huge line overfull...
1701 @item help @var{class}
1702 Using one of the general help classes as an argument, you can get a
1703 list of the individual commands in that class. For example, here is the
1704 help display for the class @code{status}:
1707 (@value{GDBP}) help status
1712 @c Line break in "show" line falsifies real output, but needed
1713 @c to fit in smallbook page size.
1714 info -- Generic command for showing things
1715 about the program being debugged
1716 show -- Generic command for showing things
1719 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1721 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1725 @item help @var{command}
1726 With a command name as @code{help} argument, @value{GDBN} displays a
1727 short paragraph on how to use that command.
1730 @item apropos @var{args}
1731 The @code{apropos} command searches through all of the @value{GDBN}
1732 commands, and their documentation, for the regular expression specified in
1733 @var{args}. It prints out all matches found. For example:
1744 alias -- Define a new command that is an alias of an existing command
1745 aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1746 d -- Delete some breakpoints or auto-display expressions
1747 del -- Delete some breakpoints or auto-display expressions
1748 delete -- Delete some breakpoints or auto-display expressions
1753 @item complete @var{args}
1754 The @code{complete @var{args}} command lists all the possible completions
1755 for the beginning of a command. Use @var{args} to specify the beginning of the
1756 command you want completed. For example:
1762 @noindent results in:
1773 @noindent This is intended for use by @sc{gnu} Emacs.
1776 In addition to @code{help}, you can use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{info}
1777 and @code{show} to inquire about the state of your program, or the state
1778 of @value{GDBN} itself. Each command supports many topics of inquiry; this
1779 manual introduces each of them in the appropriate context. The listings
1780 under @code{info} and under @code{show} in the Index point to
1781 all the sub-commands. @xref{Index}.
1786 @kindex i @r{(@code{info})}
1788 This command (abbreviated @code{i}) is for describing the state of your
1789 program. For example, you can show the arguments passed to a function
1790 with @code{info args}, list the registers currently in use with @code{info
1791 registers}, or list the breakpoints you have set with @code{info breakpoints}.
1792 You can get a complete list of the @code{info} sub-commands with
1793 @w{@code{help info}}.
1797 You can assign the result of an expression to an environment variable with
1798 @code{set}. For example, you can set the @value{GDBN} prompt to a $-sign with
1799 @code{set prompt $}.
1803 In contrast to @code{info}, @code{show} is for describing the state of
1804 @value{GDBN} itself.
1805 You can change most of the things you can @code{show}, by using the
1806 related command @code{set}; for example, you can control what number
1807 system is used for displays with @code{set radix}, or simply inquire
1808 which is currently in use with @code{show radix}.
1811 To display all the settable parameters and their current
1812 values, you can use @code{show} with no arguments; you may also use
1813 @code{info set}. Both commands produce the same display.
1814 @c FIXME: "info set" violates the rule that "info" is for state of
1815 @c FIXME...program. Ck w/ GNU: "info set" to be called something else,
1816 @c FIXME...or change desc of rule---eg "state of prog and debugging session"?
1820 Here are three miscellaneous @code{show} subcommands, all of which are
1821 exceptional in lacking corresponding @code{set} commands:
1824 @kindex show version
1825 @cindex @value{GDBN} version number
1827 Show what version of @value{GDBN} is running. You should include this
1828 information in @value{GDBN} bug-reports. If multiple versions of
1829 @value{GDBN} are in use at your site, you may need to determine which
1830 version of @value{GDBN} you are running; as @value{GDBN} evolves, new
1831 commands are introduced, and old ones may wither away. Also, many
1832 system vendors ship variant versions of @value{GDBN}, and there are
1833 variant versions of @value{GDBN} in @sc{gnu}/Linux distributions as well.
1834 The version number is the same as the one announced when you start
1837 @kindex show copying
1838 @kindex info copying
1839 @cindex display @value{GDBN} copyright
1842 Display information about permission for copying @value{GDBN}.
1844 @kindex show warranty
1845 @kindex info warranty
1847 @itemx info warranty
1848 Display the @sc{gnu} ``NO WARRANTY'' statement, or a warranty,
1849 if your version of @value{GDBN} comes with one.
1854 @chapter Running Programs Under @value{GDBN}
1856 When you run a program under @value{GDBN}, you must first generate
1857 debugging information when you compile it.
1859 You may start @value{GDBN} with its arguments, if any, in an environment
1860 of your choice. If you are doing native debugging, you may redirect
1861 your program's input and output, debug an already running process, or
1862 kill a child process.
1865 * Compilation:: Compiling for debugging
1866 * Starting:: Starting your program
1867 * Arguments:: Your program's arguments
1868 * Environment:: Your program's environment
1870 * Working Directory:: Your program's working directory
1871 * Input/Output:: Your program's input and output
1872 * Attach:: Debugging an already-running process
1873 * Kill Process:: Killing the child process
1875 * Inferiors and Programs:: Debugging multiple inferiors and programs
1876 * Threads:: Debugging programs with multiple threads
1877 * Forks:: Debugging forks
1878 * Checkpoint/Restart:: Setting a @emph{bookmark} to return to later
1882 @section Compiling for Debugging
1884 In order to debug a program effectively, you need to generate
1885 debugging information when you compile it. This debugging information
1886 is stored in the object file; it describes the data type of each
1887 variable or function and the correspondence between source line numbers
1888 and addresses in the executable code.
1890 To request debugging information, specify the @samp{-g} option when you run
1893 Programs that are to be shipped to your customers are compiled with
1894 optimizations, using the @samp{-O} compiler option. However, some
1895 compilers are unable to handle the @samp{-g} and @samp{-O} options
1896 together. Using those compilers, you cannot generate optimized
1897 executables containing debugging information.
1899 @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C/C@t{++} compiler, supports @samp{-g} with or
1900 without @samp{-O}, making it possible to debug optimized code. We
1901 recommend that you @emph{always} use @samp{-g} whenever you compile a
1902 program. You may think your program is correct, but there is no sense
1903 in pushing your luck. For more information, see @ref{Optimized Code}.
1905 Older versions of the @sc{gnu} C compiler permitted a variant option
1906 @w{@samp{-gg}} for debugging information. @value{GDBN} no longer supports this
1907 format; if your @sc{gnu} C compiler has this option, do not use it.
1909 @value{GDBN} knows about preprocessor macros and can show you their
1910 expansion (@pxref{Macros}). Most compilers do not include information
1911 about preprocessor macros in the debugging information if you specify
1912 the @option{-g} flag alone. Version 3.1 and later of @value{NGCC},
1913 the @sc{gnu} C compiler, provides macro information if you are using
1914 the DWARF debugging format, and specify the option @option{-g3}.
1916 @xref{Debugging Options,,Options for Debugging Your Program or GCC,
1917 gcc.info, Using the @sc{gnu} Compiler Collection (GCC)}, for more
1918 information on @value{NGCC} options affecting debug information.
1920 You will have the best debugging experience if you use the latest
1921 version of the DWARF debugging format that your compiler supports.
1922 DWARF is currently the most expressive and best supported debugging
1923 format in @value{GDBN}.
1927 @section Starting your Program
1933 @kindex r @r{(@code{run})}
1936 Use the @code{run} command to start your program under @value{GDBN}.
1937 You must first specify the program name (except on VxWorks) with an
1938 argument to @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Invocation, ,Getting In and Out of
1939 @value{GDBN}}), or by using the @code{file} or @code{exec-file} command
1940 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
1944 If you are running your program in an execution environment that
1945 supports processes, @code{run} creates an inferior process and makes
1946 that process run your program. In some environments without processes,
1947 @code{run} jumps to the start of your program. Other targets,
1948 like @samp{remote}, are always running. If you get an error
1949 message like this one:
1952 The "remote" target does not support "run".
1953 Try "help target" or "continue".
1957 then use @code{continue} to run your program. You may need @code{load}
1958 first (@pxref{load}).
1960 The execution of a program is affected by certain information it
1961 receives from its superior. @value{GDBN} provides ways to specify this
1962 information, which you must do @emph{before} starting your program. (You
1963 can change it after starting your program, but such changes only affect
1964 your program the next time you start it.) This information may be
1965 divided into four categories:
1968 @item The @emph{arguments.}
1969 Specify the arguments to give your program as the arguments of the
1970 @code{run} command. If a shell is available on your target, the shell
1971 is used to pass the arguments, so that you may use normal conventions
1972 (such as wildcard expansion or variable substitution) in describing
1974 In Unix systems, you can control which shell is used with the
1975 @code{SHELL} environment variable.
1976 @xref{Arguments, ,Your Program's Arguments}.
1978 @item The @emph{environment.}
1979 Your program normally inherits its environment from @value{GDBN}, but you can
1980 use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{set environment} and @code{unset
1981 environment} to change parts of the environment that affect
1982 your program. @xref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}.
1984 @item The @emph{working directory.}
1985 Your program inherits its working directory from @value{GDBN}. You can set
1986 the @value{GDBN} working directory with the @code{cd} command in @value{GDBN}.
1987 @xref{Working Directory, ,Your Program's Working Directory}.
1989 @item The @emph{standard input and output.}
1990 Your program normally uses the same device for standard input and
1991 standard output as @value{GDBN} is using. You can redirect input and output
1992 in the @code{run} command line, or you can use the @code{tty} command to
1993 set a different device for your program.
1994 @xref{Input/Output, ,Your Program's Input and Output}.
1997 @emph{Warning:} While input and output redirection work, you cannot use
1998 pipes to pass the output of the program you are debugging to another
1999 program; if you attempt this, @value{GDBN} is likely to wind up debugging the
2003 When you issue the @code{run} command, your program begins to execute
2004 immediately. @xref{Stopping, ,Stopping and Continuing}, for discussion
2005 of how to arrange for your program to stop. Once your program has
2006 stopped, you may call functions in your program, using the @code{print}
2007 or @code{call} commands. @xref{Data, ,Examining Data}.
2009 If the modification time of your symbol file has changed since the last
2010 time @value{GDBN} read its symbols, @value{GDBN} discards its symbol
2011 table, and reads it again. When it does this, @value{GDBN} tries to retain
2012 your current breakpoints.
2017 @cindex run to main procedure
2018 The name of the main procedure can vary from language to language.
2019 With C or C@t{++}, the main procedure name is always @code{main}, but
2020 other languages such as Ada do not require a specific name for their
2021 main procedure. The debugger provides a convenient way to start the
2022 execution of the program and to stop at the beginning of the main
2023 procedure, depending on the language used.
2025 The @samp{start} command does the equivalent of setting a temporary
2026 breakpoint at the beginning of the main procedure and then invoking
2027 the @samp{run} command.
2029 @cindex elaboration phase
2030 Some programs contain an @dfn{elaboration} phase where some startup code is
2031 executed before the main procedure is called. This depends on the
2032 languages used to write your program. In C@t{++}, for instance,
2033 constructors for static and global objects are executed before
2034 @code{main} is called. It is therefore possible that the debugger stops
2035 before reaching the main procedure. However, the temporary breakpoint
2036 will remain to halt execution.
2038 Specify the arguments to give to your program as arguments to the
2039 @samp{start} command. These arguments will be given verbatim to the
2040 underlying @samp{run} command. Note that the same arguments will be
2041 reused if no argument is provided during subsequent calls to
2042 @samp{start} or @samp{run}.
2044 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration. In
2045 these cases, using the @code{start} command would stop the execution of
2046 your program too late, as the program would have already completed the
2047 elaboration phase. Under these circumstances, insert breakpoints in your
2048 elaboration code before running your program.
2050 @kindex set exec-wrapper
2051 @item set exec-wrapper @var{wrapper}
2052 @itemx show exec-wrapper
2053 @itemx unset exec-wrapper
2054 When @samp{exec-wrapper} is set, the specified wrapper is used to
2055 launch programs for debugging. @value{GDBN} starts your program
2056 with a shell command of the form @kbd{exec @var{wrapper}
2057 @var{program}}. Quoting is added to @var{program} and its
2058 arguments, but not to @var{wrapper}, so you should add quotes if
2059 appropriate for your shell. The wrapper runs until it executes
2060 your program, and then @value{GDBN} takes control.
2062 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
2063 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
2064 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
2065 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
2067 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
2068 the debugged program, without setting the variable in your shell's
2072 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper env 'LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so'
2076 This command is available when debugging locally on most targets, excluding
2077 @sc{djgpp}, Cygwin, MS Windows, and QNX Neutrino.
2079 @kindex set disable-randomization
2080 @item set disable-randomization
2081 @itemx set disable-randomization on
2082 This option (enabled by default in @value{GDBN}) will turn off the native
2083 randomization of the virtual address space of the started program. This option
2084 is useful for multiple debugging sessions to make the execution better
2085 reproducible and memory addresses reusable across debugging sessions.
2087 This feature is implemented only on certain targets, including @sc{gnu}/Linux.
2088 On @sc{gnu}/Linux you can get the same behavior using
2091 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper setarch `uname -m` -R
2094 @item set disable-randomization off
2095 Leave the behavior of the started executable unchanged. Some bugs rear their
2096 ugly heads only when the program is loaded at certain addresses. If your bug
2097 disappears when you run the program under @value{GDBN}, that might be because
2098 @value{GDBN} by default disables the address randomization on platforms, such
2099 as @sc{gnu}/Linux, which do that for stand-alone programs. Use @kbd{set
2100 disable-randomization off} to try to reproduce such elusive bugs.
2102 On targets where it is available, virtual address space randomization
2103 protects the programs against certain kinds of security attacks. In these
2104 cases the attacker needs to know the exact location of a concrete executable
2105 code. Randomizing its location makes it impossible to inject jumps misusing
2106 a code at its expected addresses.
2108 Prelinking shared libraries provides a startup performance advantage but it
2109 makes addresses in these libraries predictable for privileged processes by
2110 having just unprivileged access at the target system. Reading the shared
2111 library binary gives enough information for assembling the malicious code
2112 misusing it. Still even a prelinked shared library can get loaded at a new
2113 random address just requiring the regular relocation process during the
2114 startup. Shared libraries not already prelinked are always loaded at
2115 a randomly chosen address.
2117 Position independent executables (PIE) contain position independent code
2118 similar to the shared libraries and therefore such executables get loaded at
2119 a randomly chosen address upon startup. PIE executables always load even
2120 already prelinked shared libraries at a random address. You can build such
2121 executable using @command{gcc -fPIE -pie}.
2123 Heap (malloc storage), stack and custom mmap areas are always placed randomly
2124 (as long as the randomization is enabled).
2126 @item show disable-randomization
2127 Show the current setting of the explicit disable of the native randomization of
2128 the virtual address space of the started program.
2133 @section Your Program's Arguments
2135 @cindex arguments (to your program)
2136 The arguments to your program can be specified by the arguments of the
2138 They are passed to a shell, which expands wildcard characters and
2139 performs redirection of I/O, and thence to your program. Your
2140 @code{SHELL} environment variable (if it exists) specifies what shell
2141 @value{GDBN} uses. If you do not define @code{SHELL}, @value{GDBN} uses
2142 the default shell (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix).
2144 On non-Unix systems, the program is usually invoked directly by
2145 @value{GDBN}, which emulates I/O redirection via the appropriate system
2146 calls, and the wildcard characters are expanded by the startup code of
2147 the program, not by the shell.
2149 @code{run} with no arguments uses the same arguments used by the previous
2150 @code{run}, or those set by the @code{set args} command.
2155 Specify the arguments to be used the next time your program is run. If
2156 @code{set args} has no arguments, @code{run} executes your program
2157 with no arguments. Once you have run your program with arguments,
2158 using @code{set args} before the next @code{run} is the only way to run
2159 it again without arguments.
2163 Show the arguments to give your program when it is started.
2167 @section Your Program's Environment
2169 @cindex environment (of your program)
2170 The @dfn{environment} consists of a set of environment variables and
2171 their values. Environment variables conventionally record such things as
2172 your user name, your home directory, your terminal type, and your search
2173 path for programs to run. Usually you set up environment variables with
2174 the shell and they are inherited by all the other programs you run. When
2175 debugging, it can be useful to try running your program with a modified
2176 environment without having to start @value{GDBN} over again.
2180 @item path @var{directory}
2181 Add @var{directory} to the front of the @code{PATH} environment variable
2182 (the search path for executables) that will be passed to your program.
2183 The value of @code{PATH} used by @value{GDBN} does not change.
2184 You may specify several directory names, separated by whitespace or by a
2185 system-dependent separator character (@samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on
2186 MS-DOS and MS-Windows). If @var{directory} is already in the path, it
2187 is moved to the front, so it is searched sooner.
2189 You can use the string @samp{$cwd} to refer to whatever is the current
2190 working directory at the time @value{GDBN} searches the path. If you
2191 use @samp{.} instead, it refers to the directory where you executed the
2192 @code{path} command. @value{GDBN} replaces @samp{.} in the
2193 @var{directory} argument (with the current path) before adding
2194 @var{directory} to the search path.
2195 @c 'path' is explicitly nonrepeatable, but RMS points out it is silly to
2196 @c document that, since repeating it would be a no-op.
2200 Display the list of search paths for executables (the @code{PATH}
2201 environment variable).
2203 @kindex show environment
2204 @item show environment @r{[}@var{varname}@r{]}
2205 Print the value of environment variable @var{varname} to be given to
2206 your program when it starts. If you do not supply @var{varname},
2207 print the names and values of all environment variables to be given to
2208 your program. You can abbreviate @code{environment} as @code{env}.
2210 @kindex set environment
2211 @item set environment @var{varname} @r{[}=@var{value}@r{]}
2212 Set environment variable @var{varname} to @var{value}. The value
2213 changes for your program only, not for @value{GDBN} itself. @var{value} may
2214 be any string; the values of environment variables are just strings, and
2215 any interpretation is supplied by your program itself. The @var{value}
2216 parameter is optional; if it is eliminated, the variable is set to a
2218 @c "any string" here does not include leading, trailing
2219 @c blanks. Gnu asks: does anyone care?
2221 For example, this command:
2228 tells the debugged program, when subsequently run, that its user is named
2229 @samp{foo}. (The spaces around @samp{=} are used for clarity here; they
2230 are not actually required.)
2232 @kindex unset environment
2233 @item unset environment @var{varname}
2234 Remove variable @var{varname} from the environment to be passed to your
2235 program. This is different from @samp{set env @var{varname} =};
2236 @code{unset environment} removes the variable from the environment,
2237 rather than assigning it an empty value.
2240 @emph{Warning:} On Unix systems, @value{GDBN} runs your program using
2242 by your @code{SHELL} environment variable if it exists (or
2243 @code{/bin/sh} if not). If your @code{SHELL} variable names a shell
2244 that runs an initialization file---such as @file{.cshrc} for C-shell, or
2245 @file{.bashrc} for BASH---any variables you set in that file affect
2246 your program. You may wish to move setting of environment variables to
2247 files that are only run when you sign on, such as @file{.login} or
2250 @node Working Directory
2251 @section Your Program's Working Directory
2253 @cindex working directory (of your program)
2254 Each time you start your program with @code{run}, it inherits its
2255 working directory from the current working directory of @value{GDBN}.
2256 The @value{GDBN} working directory is initially whatever it inherited
2257 from its parent process (typically the shell), but you can specify a new
2258 working directory in @value{GDBN} with the @code{cd} command.
2260 The @value{GDBN} working directory also serves as a default for the commands
2261 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2266 @cindex change working directory
2267 @item cd @var{directory}
2268 Set the @value{GDBN} working directory to @var{directory}.
2272 Print the @value{GDBN} working directory.
2275 It is generally impossible to find the current working directory of
2276 the process being debugged (since a program can change its directory
2277 during its run). If you work on a system where @value{GDBN} is
2278 configured with the @file{/proc} support, you can use the @code{info
2279 proc} command (@pxref{SVR4 Process Information}) to find out the
2280 current working directory of the debuggee.
2283 @section Your Program's Input and Output
2288 By default, the program you run under @value{GDBN} does input and output to
2289 the same terminal that @value{GDBN} uses. @value{GDBN} switches the terminal
2290 to its own terminal modes to interact with you, but it records the terminal
2291 modes your program was using and switches back to them when you continue
2292 running your program.
2295 @kindex info terminal
2297 Displays information recorded by @value{GDBN} about the terminal modes your
2301 You can redirect your program's input and/or output using shell
2302 redirection with the @code{run} command. For example,
2309 starts your program, diverting its output to the file @file{outfile}.
2312 @cindex controlling terminal
2313 Another way to specify where your program should do input and output is
2314 with the @code{tty} command. This command accepts a file name as
2315 argument, and causes this file to be the default for future @code{run}
2316 commands. It also resets the controlling terminal for the child
2317 process, for future @code{run} commands. For example,
2324 directs that processes started with subsequent @code{run} commands
2325 default to do input and output on the terminal @file{/dev/ttyb} and have
2326 that as their controlling terminal.
2328 An explicit redirection in @code{run} overrides the @code{tty} command's
2329 effect on the input/output device, but not its effect on the controlling
2332 When you use the @code{tty} command or redirect input in the @code{run}
2333 command, only the input @emph{for your program} is affected. The input
2334 for @value{GDBN} still comes from your terminal. @code{tty} is an alias
2335 for @code{set inferior-tty}.
2337 @cindex inferior tty
2338 @cindex set inferior controlling terminal
2339 You can use the @code{show inferior-tty} command to tell @value{GDBN} to
2340 display the name of the terminal that will be used for future runs of your
2344 @item set inferior-tty /dev/ttyb
2345 @kindex set inferior-tty
2346 Set the tty for the program being debugged to /dev/ttyb.
2348 @item show inferior-tty
2349 @kindex show inferior-tty
2350 Show the current tty for the program being debugged.
2354 @section Debugging an Already-running Process
2359 @item attach @var{process-id}
2360 This command attaches to a running process---one that was started
2361 outside @value{GDBN}. (@code{info files} shows your active
2362 targets.) The command takes as argument a process ID. The usual way to
2363 find out the @var{process-id} of a Unix process is with the @code{ps} utility,
2364 or with the @samp{jobs -l} shell command.
2366 @code{attach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} a second time after
2367 executing the command.
2370 To use @code{attach}, your program must be running in an environment
2371 which supports processes; for example, @code{attach} does not work for
2372 programs on bare-board targets that lack an operating system. You must
2373 also have permission to send the process a signal.
2375 When you use @code{attach}, the debugger finds the program running in
2376 the process first by looking in the current working directory, then (if
2377 the program is not found) by using the source file search path
2378 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}). You can also use
2379 the @code{file} command to load the program. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2382 The first thing @value{GDBN} does after arranging to debug the specified
2383 process is to stop it. You can examine and modify an attached process
2384 with all the @value{GDBN} commands that are ordinarily available when
2385 you start processes with @code{run}. You can insert breakpoints; you
2386 can step and continue; you can modify storage. If you would rather the
2387 process continue running, you may use the @code{continue} command after
2388 attaching @value{GDBN} to the process.
2393 When you have finished debugging the attached process, you can use the
2394 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control. Detaching
2395 the process continues its execution. After the @code{detach} command,
2396 that process and @value{GDBN} become completely independent once more, and you
2397 are ready to @code{attach} another process or start one with @code{run}.
2398 @code{detach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
2399 executing the command.
2402 If you exit @value{GDBN} while you have an attached process, you detach
2403 that process. If you use the @code{run} command, you kill that process.
2404 By default, @value{GDBN} asks for confirmation if you try to do either of these
2405 things; you can control whether or not you need to confirm by using the
2406 @code{set confirm} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
2410 @section Killing the Child Process
2415 Kill the child process in which your program is running under @value{GDBN}.
2418 This command is useful if you wish to debug a core dump instead of a
2419 running process. @value{GDBN} ignores any core dump file while your program
2422 On some operating systems, a program cannot be executed outside @value{GDBN}
2423 while you have breakpoints set on it inside @value{GDBN}. You can use the
2424 @code{kill} command in this situation to permit running your program
2425 outside the debugger.
2427 The @code{kill} command is also useful if you wish to recompile and
2428 relink your program, since on many systems it is impossible to modify an
2429 executable file while it is running in a process. In this case, when you
2430 next type @code{run}, @value{GDBN} notices that the file has changed, and
2431 reads the symbol table again (while trying to preserve your current
2432 breakpoint settings).
2434 @node Inferiors and Programs
2435 @section Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs
2437 @value{GDBN} lets you run and debug multiple programs in a single
2438 session. In addition, @value{GDBN} on some systems may let you run
2439 several programs simultaneously (otherwise you have to exit from one
2440 before starting another). In the most general case, you can have
2441 multiple threads of execution in each of multiple processes, launched
2442 from multiple executables.
2445 @value{GDBN} represents the state of each program execution with an
2446 object called an @dfn{inferior}. An inferior typically corresponds to
2447 a process, but is more general and applies also to targets that do not
2448 have processes. Inferiors may be created before a process runs, and
2449 may be retained after a process exits. Inferiors have unique
2450 identifiers that are different from process ids. Usually each
2451 inferior will also have its own distinct address space, although some
2452 embedded targets may have several inferiors running in different parts
2453 of a single address space. Each inferior may in turn have multiple
2454 threads running in it.
2456 To find out what inferiors exist at any moment, use @w{@code{info
2460 @kindex info inferiors
2461 @item info inferiors
2462 Print a list of all inferiors currently being managed by @value{GDBN}.
2464 @value{GDBN} displays for each inferior (in this order):
2468 the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2471 the target system's inferior identifier
2474 the name of the executable the inferior is running.
2479 An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} inferior number
2480 indicates the current inferior.
2484 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2487 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2488 Num Description Executable
2489 2 process 2307 hello
2490 * 1 process 3401 goodbye
2493 To switch focus between inferiors, use the @code{inferior} command:
2496 @kindex inferior @var{infno}
2497 @item inferior @var{infno}
2498 Make inferior number @var{infno} the current inferior. The argument
2499 @var{infno} is the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}, as shown
2500 in the first field of the @samp{info inferiors} display.
2504 You can get multiple executables into a debugging session via the
2505 @code{add-inferior} and @w{@code{clone-inferior}} commands. On some
2506 systems @value{GDBN} can add inferiors to the debug session
2507 automatically by following calls to @code{fork} and @code{exec}. To
2508 remove inferiors from the debugging session use the
2509 @w{@code{remove-inferiors}} command.
2512 @kindex add-inferior
2513 @item add-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ -exec @var{executable} ]
2514 Adds @var{n} inferiors to be run using @var{executable} as the
2515 executable. @var{n} defaults to 1. If no executable is specified,
2516 the inferiors begins empty, with no program. You can still assign or
2517 change the program assigned to the inferior at any time by using the
2518 @code{file} command with the executable name as its argument.
2520 @kindex clone-inferior
2521 @item clone-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ @var{infno} ]
2522 Adds @var{n} inferiors ready to execute the same program as inferior
2523 @var{infno}. @var{n} defaults to 1. @var{infno} defaults to the
2524 number of the current inferior. This is a convenient command when you
2525 want to run another instance of the inferior you are debugging.
2528 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2529 Num Description Executable
2530 * 1 process 29964 helloworld
2531 (@value{GDBP}) clone-inferior
2534 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2535 Num Description Executable
2537 * 1 process 29964 helloworld
2540 You can now simply switch focus to inferior 2 and run it.
2542 @kindex remove-inferiors
2543 @item remove-inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2544 Removes the inferior or inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}. It is not
2545 possible to remove an inferior that is running with this command. For
2546 those, use the @code{kill} or @code{detach} command first.
2550 To quit debugging one of the running inferiors that is not the current
2551 inferior, you can either detach from it by using the @w{@code{detach
2552 inferior}} command (allowing it to run independently), or kill it
2553 using the @w{@code{kill inferiors}} command:
2556 @kindex detach inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2557 @item detach inferior @var{infno}@dots{}
2558 Detach from the inferior or inferiors identified by @value{GDBN}
2559 inferior number(s) @var{infno}@dots{}. Note that the inferior's entry
2560 still stays on the list of inferiors shown by @code{info inferiors},
2561 but its Description will show @samp{<null>}.
2563 @kindex kill inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2564 @item kill inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2565 Kill the inferior or inferiors identified by @value{GDBN} inferior
2566 number(s) @var{infno}@dots{}. Note that the inferior's entry still
2567 stays on the list of inferiors shown by @code{info inferiors}, but its
2568 Description will show @samp{<null>}.
2571 After the successful completion of a command such as @code{detach},
2572 @code{detach inferiors}, @code{kill} or @code{kill inferiors}, or after
2573 a normal process exit, the inferior is still valid and listed with
2574 @code{info inferiors}, ready to be restarted.
2577 To be notified when inferiors are started or exit under @value{GDBN}'s
2578 control use @w{@code{set print inferior-events}}:
2581 @kindex set print inferior-events
2582 @cindex print messages on inferior start and exit
2583 @item set print inferior-events
2584 @itemx set print inferior-events on
2585 @itemx set print inferior-events off
2586 The @code{set print inferior-events} command allows you to enable or
2587 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new
2588 inferiors have started or that inferiors have exited or have been
2589 detached. By default, these messages will not be printed.
2591 @kindex show print inferior-events
2592 @item show print inferior-events
2593 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that
2594 inferiors have started, exited or have been detached.
2597 Many commands will work the same with multiple programs as with a
2598 single program: e.g., @code{print myglobal} will simply display the
2599 value of @code{myglobal} in the current inferior.
2602 Occasionaly, when debugging @value{GDBN} itself, it may be useful to
2603 get more info about the relationship of inferiors, programs, address
2604 spaces in a debug session. You can do that with the @w{@code{maint
2605 info program-spaces}} command.
2608 @kindex maint info program-spaces
2609 @item maint info program-spaces
2610 Print a list of all program spaces currently being managed by
2613 @value{GDBN} displays for each program space (in this order):
2617 the program space number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2620 the name of the executable loaded into the program space, with e.g.,
2621 the @code{file} command.
2626 An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} program space number
2627 indicates the current program space.
2629 In addition, below each program space line, @value{GDBN} prints extra
2630 information that isn't suitable to display in tabular form. For
2631 example, the list of inferiors bound to the program space.
2634 (@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2637 Bound inferiors: ID 1 (process 21561)
2641 Here we can see that no inferior is running the program @code{hello},
2642 while @code{process 21561} is running the program @code{goodbye}. On
2643 some targets, it is possible that multiple inferiors are bound to the
2644 same program space. The most common example is that of debugging both
2645 the parent and child processes of a @code{vfork} call. For example,
2648 (@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2651 Bound inferiors: ID 2 (process 18050), ID 1 (process 18045)
2654 Here, both inferior 2 and inferior 1 are running in the same program
2655 space as a result of inferior 1 having executed a @code{vfork} call.
2659 @section Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads
2661 @cindex threads of execution
2662 @cindex multiple threads
2663 @cindex switching threads
2664 In some operating systems, such as HP-UX and Solaris, a single program
2665 may have more than one @dfn{thread} of execution. The precise semantics
2666 of threads differ from one operating system to another, but in general
2667 the threads of a single program are akin to multiple processes---except
2668 that they share one address space (that is, they can all examine and
2669 modify the same variables). On the other hand, each thread has its own
2670 registers and execution stack, and perhaps private memory.
2672 @value{GDBN} provides these facilities for debugging multi-thread
2676 @item automatic notification of new threads
2677 @item @samp{thread @var{threadno}}, a command to switch among threads
2678 @item @samp{info threads}, a command to inquire about existing threads
2679 @item @samp{thread apply [@var{threadno}] [@var{all}] @var{args}},
2680 a command to apply a command to a list of threads
2681 @item thread-specific breakpoints
2682 @item @samp{set print thread-events}, which controls printing of
2683 messages on thread start and exit.
2684 @item @samp{set libthread-db-search-path @var{path}}, which lets
2685 the user specify which @code{libthread_db} to use if the default choice
2686 isn't compatible with the program.
2690 @emph{Warning:} These facilities are not yet available on every
2691 @value{GDBN} configuration where the operating system supports threads.
2692 If your @value{GDBN} does not support threads, these commands have no
2693 effect. For example, a system without thread support shows no output
2694 from @samp{info threads}, and always rejects the @code{thread} command,
2698 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2699 (@value{GDBP}) thread 1
2700 Thread ID 1 not known. Use the "info threads" command to
2701 see the IDs of currently known threads.
2703 @c FIXME to implementors: how hard would it be to say "sorry, this GDB
2704 @c doesn't support threads"?
2707 @cindex focus of debugging
2708 @cindex current thread
2709 The @value{GDBN} thread debugging facility allows you to observe all
2710 threads while your program runs---but whenever @value{GDBN} takes
2711 control, one thread in particular is always the focus of debugging.
2712 This thread is called the @dfn{current thread}. Debugging commands show
2713 program information from the perspective of the current thread.
2715 @cindex @code{New} @var{systag} message
2716 @cindex thread identifier (system)
2717 @c FIXME-implementors!! It would be more helpful if the [New...] message
2718 @c included GDB's numeric thread handle, so you could just go to that
2719 @c thread without first checking `info threads'.
2720 Whenever @value{GDBN} detects a new thread in your program, it displays
2721 the target system's identification for the thread with a message in the
2722 form @samp{[New @var{systag}]}. @var{systag} is a thread identifier
2723 whose form varies depending on the particular system. For example, on
2724 @sc{gnu}/Linux, you might see
2727 [New Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 25582)]
2731 when @value{GDBN} notices a new thread. In contrast, on an SGI system,
2732 the @var{systag} is simply something like @samp{process 368}, with no
2735 @c FIXME!! (1) Does the [New...] message appear even for the very first
2736 @c thread of a program, or does it only appear for the
2737 @c second---i.e.@: when it becomes obvious we have a multithread
2739 @c (2) *Is* there necessarily a first thread always? Or do some
2740 @c multithread systems permit starting a program with multiple
2741 @c threads ab initio?
2743 @cindex thread number
2744 @cindex thread identifier (GDB)
2745 For debugging purposes, @value{GDBN} associates its own thread
2746 number---always a single integer---with each thread in your program.
2749 @kindex info threads
2750 @item info threads @r{[}@var{id}@dots{}@r{]}
2751 Display a summary of all threads currently in your program. Optional
2752 argument @var{id}@dots{} is one or more thread ids separated by spaces, and
2753 means to print information only about the specified thread or threads.
2754 @value{GDBN} displays for each thread (in this order):
2758 the thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2761 the target system's thread identifier (@var{systag})
2764 the thread's name, if one is known. A thread can either be named by
2765 the user (see @code{thread name}, below), or, in some cases, by the
2769 the current stack frame summary for that thread
2773 An asterisk @samp{*} to the left of the @value{GDBN} thread number
2774 indicates the current thread.
2778 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2781 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2783 3 process 35 thread 27 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2784 2 process 35 thread 23 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2785 * 1 process 35 thread 13 main (argc=1, argv=0x7ffffff8)
2789 On Solaris, you can display more information about user threads with a
2790 Solaris-specific command:
2793 @item maint info sol-threads
2794 @kindex maint info sol-threads
2795 @cindex thread info (Solaris)
2796 Display info on Solaris user threads.
2800 @kindex thread @var{threadno}
2801 @item thread @var{threadno}
2802 Make thread number @var{threadno} the current thread. The command
2803 argument @var{threadno} is the internal @value{GDBN} thread number, as
2804 shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display.
2805 @value{GDBN} responds by displaying the system identifier of the thread
2806 you selected, and its current stack frame summary:
2809 (@value{GDBP}) thread 2
2810 [Switching to thread 2 (Thread 0xb7fdab70 (LWP 12747))]
2811 #0 some_function (ignore=0x0) at example.c:8
2812 8 printf ("hello\n");
2816 As with the @samp{[New @dots{}]} message, the form of the text after
2817 @samp{Switching to} depends on your system's conventions for identifying
2820 @vindex $_thread@r{, convenience variable}
2821 The debugger convenience variable @samp{$_thread} contains the number
2822 of the current thread. You may find this useful in writing breakpoint
2823 conditional expressions, command scripts, and so forth. See
2824 @xref{Convenience Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for general
2825 information on convenience variables.
2827 @kindex thread apply
2828 @cindex apply command to several threads
2829 @item thread apply [@var{threadno} | all] @var{command}
2830 The @code{thread apply} command allows you to apply the named
2831 @var{command} to one or more threads. Specify the numbers of the
2832 threads that you want affected with the command argument
2833 @var{threadno}. It can be a single thread number, one of the numbers
2834 shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display; or it
2835 could be a range of thread numbers, as in @code{2-4}. To apply a
2836 command to all threads, type @kbd{thread apply all @var{command}}.
2839 @cindex name a thread
2840 @item thread name [@var{name}]
2841 This command assigns a name to the current thread. If no argument is
2842 given, any existing user-specified name is removed. The thread name
2843 appears in the @samp{info threads} display.
2845 On some systems, such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, @value{GDBN} is able to
2846 determine the name of the thread as given by the OS. On these
2847 systems, a name specified with @samp{thread name} will override the
2848 system-give name, and removing the user-specified name will cause
2849 @value{GDBN} to once again display the system-specified name.
2852 @cindex search for a thread
2853 @item thread find [@var{regexp}]
2854 Search for and display thread ids whose name or @var{systag}
2855 matches the supplied regular expression.
2857 As well as being the complement to the @samp{thread name} command,
2858 this command also allows you to identify a thread by its target
2859 @var{systag}. For instance, on @sc{gnu}/Linux, the target @var{systag}
2863 (@value{GDBN}) thread find 26688
2864 Thread 4 has target id 'Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 26688)'
2865 (@value{GDBN}) info thread 4
2867 4 Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 26688) 0x00000031ca6cd372 in select ()
2870 @kindex set print thread-events
2871 @cindex print messages on thread start and exit
2872 @item set print thread-events
2873 @itemx set print thread-events on
2874 @itemx set print thread-events off
2875 The @code{set print thread-events} command allows you to enable or
2876 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new threads have
2877 started or that threads have exited. By default, these messages will
2878 be printed if detection of these events is supported by the target.
2879 Note that these messages cannot be disabled on all targets.
2881 @kindex show print thread-events
2882 @item show print thread-events
2883 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that threads
2884 have started and exited.
2887 @xref{Thread Stops,,Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs}, for
2888 more information about how @value{GDBN} behaves when you stop and start
2889 programs with multiple threads.
2891 @xref{Set Watchpoints,,Setting Watchpoints}, for information about
2892 watchpoints in programs with multiple threads.
2894 @anchor{set libthread-db-search-path}
2896 @kindex set libthread-db-search-path
2897 @cindex search path for @code{libthread_db}
2898 @item set libthread-db-search-path @r{[}@var{path}@r{]}
2899 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
2900 directories @value{GDBN} will use to search for @code{libthread_db}.
2901 If you omit @var{path}, @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to
2902 its default value (@code{$sdir:$pdir} on @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems).
2903 Internally, the default value comes from the @code{LIBTHREAD_DB_SEARCH_PATH}
2906 On @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems, @value{GDBN} uses a ``helper''
2907 @code{libthread_db} library to obtain information about threads in the
2908 inferior process. @value{GDBN} will use @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2909 to find @code{libthread_db}. @value{GDBN} also consults first if inferior
2910 specific thread debugging library loading is enabled
2911 by @samp{set auto-load libthread-db} (@pxref{libthread_db.so.1 file}).
2913 A special entry @samp{$sdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2914 refers to the default system directories that are
2915 normally searched for loading shared libraries. The @samp{$sdir} entry
2916 is the only kind not needing to be enabled by @samp{set auto-load libthread-db}
2917 (@pxref{libthread_db.so.1 file}).
2919 A special entry @samp{$pdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2920 refers to the directory from which @code{libpthread}
2921 was loaded in the inferior process.
2923 For any @code{libthread_db} library @value{GDBN} finds in above directories,
2924 @value{GDBN} attempts to initialize it with the current inferior process.
2925 If this initialization fails (which could happen because of a version
2926 mismatch between @code{libthread_db} and @code{libpthread}), @value{GDBN}
2927 will unload @code{libthread_db}, and continue with the next directory.
2928 If none of @code{libthread_db} libraries initialize successfully,
2929 @value{GDBN} will issue a warning and thread debugging will be disabled.
2931 Setting @code{libthread-db-search-path} is currently implemented
2932 only on some platforms.
2934 @kindex show libthread-db-search-path
2935 @item show libthread-db-search-path
2936 Display current libthread_db search path.
2938 @kindex set debug libthread-db
2939 @kindex show debug libthread-db
2940 @cindex debugging @code{libthread_db}
2941 @item set debug libthread-db
2942 @itemx show debug libthread-db
2943 Turns on or off display of @code{libthread_db}-related events.
2944 Use @code{1} to enable, @code{0} to disable.
2948 @section Debugging Forks
2950 @cindex fork, debugging programs which call
2951 @cindex multiple processes
2952 @cindex processes, multiple
2953 On most systems, @value{GDBN} has no special support for debugging
2954 programs which create additional processes using the @code{fork}
2955 function. When a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug the
2956 parent process and the child process will run unimpeded. If you have
2957 set a breakpoint in any code which the child then executes, the child
2958 will get a @code{SIGTRAP} signal which (unless it catches the signal)
2959 will cause it to terminate.
2961 However, if you want to debug the child process there is a workaround
2962 which isn't too painful. Put a call to @code{sleep} in the code which
2963 the child process executes after the fork. It may be useful to sleep
2964 only if a certain environment variable is set, or a certain file exists,
2965 so that the delay need not occur when you don't want to run @value{GDBN}
2966 on the child. While the child is sleeping, use the @code{ps} program to
2967 get its process ID. Then tell @value{GDBN} (a new invocation of
2968 @value{GDBN} if you are also debugging the parent process) to attach to
2969 the child process (@pxref{Attach}). From that point on you can debug
2970 the child process just like any other process which you attached to.
2972 On some systems, @value{GDBN} provides support for debugging programs that
2973 create additional processes using the @code{fork} or @code{vfork} functions.
2974 Currently, the only platforms with this feature are HP-UX (11.x and later
2975 only?) and @sc{gnu}/Linux (kernel version 2.5.60 and later).
2977 By default, when a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug
2978 the parent process and the child process will run unimpeded.
2980 If you want to follow the child process instead of the parent process,
2981 use the command @w{@code{set follow-fork-mode}}.
2984 @kindex set follow-fork-mode
2985 @item set follow-fork-mode @var{mode}
2986 Set the debugger response to a program call of @code{fork} or
2987 @code{vfork}. A call to @code{fork} or @code{vfork} creates a new
2988 process. The @var{mode} argument can be:
2992 The original process is debugged after a fork. The child process runs
2993 unimpeded. This is the default.
2996 The new process is debugged after a fork. The parent process runs
3001 @kindex show follow-fork-mode
3002 @item show follow-fork-mode
3003 Display the current debugger response to a @code{fork} or @code{vfork} call.
3006 @cindex debugging multiple processes
3007 On Linux, if you want to debug both the parent and child processes, use the
3008 command @w{@code{set detach-on-fork}}.
3011 @kindex set detach-on-fork
3012 @item set detach-on-fork @var{mode}
3013 Tells gdb whether to detach one of the processes after a fork, or
3014 retain debugger control over them both.
3018 The child process (or parent process, depending on the value of
3019 @code{follow-fork-mode}) will be detached and allowed to run
3020 independently. This is the default.
3023 Both processes will be held under the control of @value{GDBN}.
3024 One process (child or parent, depending on the value of
3025 @code{follow-fork-mode}) is debugged as usual, while the other
3030 @kindex show detach-on-fork
3031 @item show detach-on-fork
3032 Show whether detach-on-fork mode is on/off.
3035 If you choose to set @samp{detach-on-fork} mode off, then @value{GDBN}
3036 will retain control of all forked processes (including nested forks).
3037 You can list the forked processes under the control of @value{GDBN} by
3038 using the @w{@code{info inferiors}} command, and switch from one fork
3039 to another by using the @code{inferior} command (@pxref{Inferiors and
3040 Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs}).
3042 To quit debugging one of the forked processes, you can either detach
3043 from it by using the @w{@code{detach inferiors}} command (allowing it
3044 to run independently), or kill it using the @w{@code{kill inferiors}}
3045 command. @xref{Inferiors and Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors
3048 If you ask to debug a child process and a @code{vfork} is followed by an
3049 @code{exec}, @value{GDBN} executes the new target up to the first
3050 breakpoint in the new target. If you have a breakpoint set on
3051 @code{main} in your original program, the breakpoint will also be set on
3052 the child process's @code{main}.
3054 On some systems, when a child process is spawned by @code{vfork}, you
3055 cannot debug the child or parent until an @code{exec} call completes.
3057 If you issue a @code{run} command to @value{GDBN} after an @code{exec}
3058 call executes, the new target restarts. To restart the parent
3059 process, use the @code{file} command with the parent executable name
3060 as its argument. By default, after an @code{exec} call executes,
3061 @value{GDBN} discards the symbols of the previous executable image.
3062 You can change this behaviour with the @w{@code{set follow-exec-mode}}
3066 @kindex set follow-exec-mode
3067 @item set follow-exec-mode @var{mode}
3069 Set debugger response to a program call of @code{exec}. An
3070 @code{exec} call replaces the program image of a process.
3072 @code{follow-exec-mode} can be:
3076 @value{GDBN} creates a new inferior and rebinds the process to this
3077 new inferior. The program the process was running before the
3078 @code{exec} call can be restarted afterwards by restarting the
3084 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3086 Id Description Executable
3089 process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3090 Program exited normally.
3091 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3092 Id Description Executable
3098 @value{GDBN} keeps the process bound to the same inferior. The new
3099 executable image replaces the previous executable loaded in the
3100 inferior. Restarting the inferior after the @code{exec} call, with
3101 e.g., the @code{run} command, restarts the executable the process was
3102 running after the @code{exec} call. This is the default mode.
3107 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3108 Id Description Executable
3111 process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3112 Program exited normally.
3113 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3114 Id Description Executable
3121 You can use the @code{catch} command to make @value{GDBN} stop whenever
3122 a @code{fork}, @code{vfork}, or @code{exec} call is made. @xref{Set
3123 Catchpoints, ,Setting Catchpoints}.
3125 @node Checkpoint/Restart
3126 @section Setting a @emph{Bookmark} to Return to Later
3131 @cindex snapshot of a process
3132 @cindex rewind program state
3134 On certain operating systems@footnote{Currently, only
3135 @sc{gnu}/Linux.}, @value{GDBN} is able to save a @dfn{snapshot} of a
3136 program's state, called a @dfn{checkpoint}, and come back to it
3139 Returning to a checkpoint effectively undoes everything that has
3140 happened in the program since the @code{checkpoint} was saved. This
3141 includes changes in memory, registers, and even (within some limits)
3142 system state. Effectively, it is like going back in time to the
3143 moment when the checkpoint was saved.
3145 Thus, if you're stepping thru a program and you think you're
3146 getting close to the point where things go wrong, you can save
3147 a checkpoint. Then, if you accidentally go too far and miss
3148 the critical statement, instead of having to restart your program
3149 from the beginning, you can just go back to the checkpoint and
3150 start again from there.
3152 This can be especially useful if it takes a lot of time or
3153 steps to reach the point where you think the bug occurs.
3155 To use the @code{checkpoint}/@code{restart} method of debugging:
3160 Save a snapshot of the debugged program's current execution state.
3161 The @code{checkpoint} command takes no arguments, but each checkpoint
3162 is assigned a small integer id, similar to a breakpoint id.
3164 @kindex info checkpoints
3165 @item info checkpoints
3166 List the checkpoints that have been saved in the current debugging
3167 session. For each checkpoint, the following information will be
3174 @item Source line, or label
3177 @kindex restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3178 @item restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3179 Restore the program state that was saved as checkpoint number
3180 @var{checkpoint-id}. All program variables, registers, stack frames
3181 etc.@: will be returned to the values that they had when the checkpoint
3182 was saved. In essence, gdb will ``wind back the clock'' to the point
3183 in time when the checkpoint was saved.
3185 Note that breakpoints, @value{GDBN} variables, command history etc.
3186 are not affected by restoring a checkpoint. In general, a checkpoint
3187 only restores things that reside in the program being debugged, not in
3190 @kindex delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3191 @item delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3192 Delete the previously-saved checkpoint identified by @var{checkpoint-id}.
3196 Returning to a previously saved checkpoint will restore the user state
3197 of the program being debugged, plus a significant subset of the system
3198 (OS) state, including file pointers. It won't ``un-write'' data from
3199 a file, but it will rewind the file pointer to the previous location,
3200 so that the previously written data can be overwritten. For files
3201 opened in read mode, the pointer will also be restored so that the
3202 previously read data can be read again.
3204 Of course, characters that have been sent to a printer (or other
3205 external device) cannot be ``snatched back'', and characters received
3206 from eg.@: a serial device can be removed from internal program buffers,
3207 but they cannot be ``pushed back'' into the serial pipeline, ready to
3208 be received again. Similarly, the actual contents of files that have
3209 been changed cannot be restored (at this time).
3211 However, within those constraints, you actually can ``rewind'' your
3212 program to a previously saved point in time, and begin debugging it
3213 again --- and you can change the course of events so as to debug a
3214 different execution path this time.
3216 @cindex checkpoints and process id
3217 Finally, there is one bit of internal program state that will be
3218 different when you return to a checkpoint --- the program's process
3219 id. Each checkpoint will have a unique process id (or @var{pid}),
3220 and each will be different from the program's original @var{pid}.
3221 If your program has saved a local copy of its process id, this could
3222 potentially pose a problem.
3224 @subsection A Non-obvious Benefit of Using Checkpoints
3226 On some systems such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, address space randomization
3227 is performed on new processes for security reasons. This makes it
3228 difficult or impossible to set a breakpoint, or watchpoint, on an
3229 absolute address if you have to restart the program, since the
3230 absolute location of a symbol will change from one execution to the
3233 A checkpoint, however, is an @emph{identical} copy of a process.
3234 Therefore if you create a checkpoint at (eg.@:) the start of main,
3235 and simply return to that checkpoint instead of restarting the
3236 process, you can avoid the effects of address randomization and
3237 your symbols will all stay in the same place.
3240 @chapter Stopping and Continuing
3242 The principal purposes of using a debugger are so that you can stop your
3243 program before it terminates; or so that, if your program runs into
3244 trouble, you can investigate and find out why.
3246 Inside @value{GDBN}, your program may stop for any of several reasons,
3247 such as a signal, a breakpoint, or reaching a new line after a
3248 @value{GDBN} command such as @code{step}. You may then examine and
3249 change variables, set new breakpoints or remove old ones, and then
3250 continue execution. Usually, the messages shown by @value{GDBN} provide
3251 ample explanation of the status of your program---but you can also
3252 explicitly request this information at any time.
3255 @kindex info program
3257 Display information about the status of your program: whether it is
3258 running or not, what process it is, and why it stopped.
3262 * Breakpoints:: Breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints
3263 * Continuing and Stepping:: Resuming execution
3264 * Skipping Over Functions and Files::
3265 Skipping over functions and files
3267 * Thread Stops:: Stopping and starting multi-thread programs
3271 @section Breakpoints, Watchpoints, and Catchpoints
3274 A @dfn{breakpoint} makes your program stop whenever a certain point in
3275 the program is reached. For each breakpoint, you can add conditions to
3276 control in finer detail whether your program stops. You can set
3277 breakpoints with the @code{break} command and its variants (@pxref{Set
3278 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}), to specify the place where your program
3279 should stop by line number, function name or exact address in the
3282 On some systems, you can set breakpoints in shared libraries before
3283 the executable is run. There is a minor limitation on HP-UX systems:
3284 you must wait until the executable is run in order to set breakpoints
3285 in shared library routines that are not called directly by the program
3286 (for example, routines that are arguments in a @code{pthread_create}
3290 @cindex data breakpoints
3291 @cindex memory tracing
3292 @cindex breakpoint on memory address
3293 @cindex breakpoint on variable modification
3294 A @dfn{watchpoint} is a special breakpoint that stops your program
3295 when the value of an expression changes. The expression may be a value
3296 of a variable, or it could involve values of one or more variables
3297 combined by operators, such as @samp{a + b}. This is sometimes called
3298 @dfn{data breakpoints}. You must use a different command to set
3299 watchpoints (@pxref{Set Watchpoints, ,Setting Watchpoints}), but aside
3300 from that, you can manage a watchpoint like any other breakpoint: you
3301 enable, disable, and delete both breakpoints and watchpoints using the
3304 You can arrange to have values from your program displayed automatically
3305 whenever @value{GDBN} stops at a breakpoint. @xref{Auto Display,,
3309 @cindex breakpoint on events
3310 A @dfn{catchpoint} is another special breakpoint that stops your program
3311 when a certain kind of event occurs, such as the throwing of a C@t{++}
3312 exception or the loading of a library. As with watchpoints, you use a
3313 different command to set a catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints, ,Setting
3314 Catchpoints}), but aside from that, you can manage a catchpoint like any
3315 other breakpoint. (To stop when your program receives a signal, use the
3316 @code{handle} command; see @ref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
3318 @cindex breakpoint numbers
3319 @cindex numbers for breakpoints
3320 @value{GDBN} assigns a number to each breakpoint, watchpoint, or
3321 catchpoint when you create it; these numbers are successive integers
3322 starting with one. In many of the commands for controlling various
3323 features of breakpoints you use the breakpoint number to say which
3324 breakpoint you want to change. Each breakpoint may be @dfn{enabled} or
3325 @dfn{disabled}; if disabled, it has no effect on your program until you
3328 @cindex breakpoint ranges
3329 @cindex ranges of breakpoints
3330 Some @value{GDBN} commands accept a range of breakpoints on which to
3331 operate. A breakpoint range is either a single breakpoint number, like
3332 @samp{5}, or two such numbers, in increasing order, separated by a
3333 hyphen, like @samp{5-7}. When a breakpoint range is given to a command,
3334 all breakpoints in that range are operated on.
3337 * Set Breaks:: Setting breakpoints
3338 * Set Watchpoints:: Setting watchpoints
3339 * Set Catchpoints:: Setting catchpoints
3340 * Delete Breaks:: Deleting breakpoints
3341 * Disabling:: Disabling breakpoints
3342 * Conditions:: Break conditions
3343 * Break Commands:: Breakpoint command lists
3344 * Save Breakpoints:: How to save breakpoints in a file
3345 * Static Probe Points:: Listing static probe points
3346 * Error in Breakpoints:: ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
3347 * Breakpoint-related Warnings:: ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
3351 @subsection Setting Breakpoints
3353 @c FIXME LMB what does GDB do if no code on line of breakpt?
3354 @c consider in particular declaration with/without initialization.
3356 @c FIXME 2 is there stuff on this already? break at fun start, already init?
3359 @kindex b @r{(@code{break})}
3360 @vindex $bpnum@r{, convenience variable}
3361 @cindex latest breakpoint
3362 Breakpoints are set with the @code{break} command (abbreviated
3363 @code{b}). The debugger convenience variable @samp{$bpnum} records the
3364 number of the breakpoint you've set most recently; see @ref{Convenience
3365 Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for a discussion of what you can do with
3366 convenience variables.
3369 @item break @var{location}
3370 Set a breakpoint at the given @var{location}, which can specify a
3371 function name, a line number, or an address of an instruction.
3372 (@xref{Specify Location}, for a list of all the possible ways to
3373 specify a @var{location}.) The breakpoint will stop your program just
3374 before it executes any of the code in the specified @var{location}.
3376 When using source languages that permit overloading of symbols, such as
3377 C@t{++}, a function name may refer to more than one possible place to break.
3378 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}, for a discussion of
3381 It is also possible to insert a breakpoint that will stop the program
3382 only if a specific thread (@pxref{Thread-Specific Breakpoints})
3383 or a specific task (@pxref{Ada Tasks}) hits that breakpoint.
3386 When called without any arguments, @code{break} sets a breakpoint at
3387 the next instruction to be executed in the selected stack frame
3388 (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}). In any selected frame but the
3389 innermost, this makes your program stop as soon as control
3390 returns to that frame. This is similar to the effect of a
3391 @code{finish} command in the frame inside the selected frame---except
3392 that @code{finish} does not leave an active breakpoint. If you use
3393 @code{break} without an argument in the innermost frame, @value{GDBN} stops
3394 the next time it reaches the current location; this may be useful
3397 @value{GDBN} normally ignores breakpoints when it resumes execution, until at
3398 least one instruction has been executed. If it did not do this, you
3399 would be unable to proceed past a breakpoint without first disabling the
3400 breakpoint. This rule applies whether or not the breakpoint already
3401 existed when your program stopped.
3403 @item break @dots{} if @var{cond}
3404 Set a breakpoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
3405 @var{cond} each time the breakpoint is reached, and stop only if the
3406 value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
3407 @samp{@dots{}} stands for one of the possible arguments described
3408 above (or no argument) specifying where to break. @xref{Conditions,
3409 ,Break Conditions}, for more information on breakpoint conditions.
3412 @item tbreak @var{args}
3413 Set a breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args} are the
3414 same as for the @code{break} command, and the breakpoint is set in the same
3415 way, but the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the first time your
3416 program stops there. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3419 @cindex hardware breakpoints
3420 @item hbreak @var{args}
3421 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint. @var{args} are the same as for the
3422 @code{break} command and the breakpoint is set in the same way, but the
3423 breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware may not
3424 have this support. The main purpose of this is EPROM/ROM code
3425 debugging, so you can set a breakpoint at an instruction without
3426 changing the instruction. This can be used with the new trap-generation
3427 provided by SPARClite DSU and most x86-based targets. These targets
3428 will generate traps when a program accesses some data or instruction
3429 address that is assigned to the debug registers. However the hardware
3430 breakpoint registers can take a limited number of breakpoints. For
3431 example, on the DSU, only two data breakpoints can be set at a time, and
3432 @value{GDBN} will reject this command if more than two are used. Delete
3433 or disable unused hardware breakpoints before setting new ones
3434 (@pxref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}).
3435 @xref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3436 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3437 breakpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3438 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3441 @item thbreak @var{args}
3442 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args}
3443 are the same as for the @code{hbreak} command and the breakpoint is set in
3444 the same way. However, like the @code{tbreak} command,
3445 the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the
3446 first time your program stops there. Also, like the @code{hbreak}
3447 command, the breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware
3448 may not have this support. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3449 See also @ref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3452 @cindex regular expression
3453 @cindex breakpoints at functions matching a regexp
3454 @cindex set breakpoints in many functions
3455 @item rbreak @var{regex}
3456 Set breakpoints on all functions matching the regular expression
3457 @var{regex}. This command sets an unconditional breakpoint on all
3458 matches, printing a list of all breakpoints it set. Once these
3459 breakpoints are set, they are treated just like the breakpoints set with
3460 the @code{break} command. You can delete them, disable them, or make
3461 them conditional the same way as any other breakpoint.
3463 The syntax of the regular expression is the standard one used with tools
3464 like @file{grep}. Note that this is different from the syntax used by
3465 shells, so for instance @code{foo*} matches all functions that include
3466 an @code{fo} followed by zero or more @code{o}s. There is an implicit
3467 @code{.*} leading and trailing the regular expression you supply, so to
3468 match only functions that begin with @code{foo}, use @code{^foo}.
3470 @cindex non-member C@t{++} functions, set breakpoint in
3471 When debugging C@t{++} programs, @code{rbreak} is useful for setting
3472 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
3475 @cindex set breakpoints on all functions
3476 The @code{rbreak} command can be used to set breakpoints in
3477 @strong{all} the functions in a program, like this:
3480 (@value{GDBP}) rbreak .
3483 @item rbreak @var{file}:@var{regex}
3484 If @code{rbreak} is called with a filename qualification, it limits
3485 the search for functions matching the given regular expression to the
3486 specified @var{file}. This can be used, for example, to set breakpoints on
3487 every function in a given file:
3490 (@value{GDBP}) rbreak file.c:.
3493 The colon separating the filename qualifier from the regex may
3494 optionally be surrounded by spaces.
3496 @kindex info breakpoints
3497 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info breakpoints}
3498 @item info breakpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3499 @itemx info break @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3500 Print a table of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints set and
3501 not deleted. Optional argument @var{n} means print information only
3502 about the specified breakpoint(s) (or watchpoint(s) or catchpoint(s)).
3503 For each breakpoint, following columns are printed:
3506 @item Breakpoint Numbers
3508 Breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint.
3510 Whether the breakpoint is marked to be disabled or deleted when hit.
3511 @item Enabled or Disabled
3512 Enabled breakpoints are marked with @samp{y}. @samp{n} marks breakpoints
3513 that are not enabled.
3515 Where the breakpoint is in your program, as a memory address. For a
3516 pending breakpoint whose address is not yet known, this field will
3517 contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Such breakpoint won't fire until a shared
3518 library that has the symbol or line referred by breakpoint is loaded.
3519 See below for details. A breakpoint with several locations will
3520 have @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in this field---see below for details.
3522 Where the breakpoint is in the source for your program, as a file and
3523 line number. For a pending breakpoint, the original string passed to
3524 the breakpoint command will be listed as it cannot be resolved until
3525 the appropriate shared library is loaded in the future.
3529 If a breakpoint is conditional, there are two evaluation modes: ``host'' and
3530 ``target''. If mode is ``host'', breakpoint condition evaluation is done by
3531 @value{GDBN} on the host's side. If it is ``target'', then the condition
3532 is evaluated by the target. The @code{info break} command shows
3533 the condition on the line following the affected breakpoint, together with
3534 its condition evaluation mode in between parentheses.
3536 Breakpoint commands, if any, are listed after that. A pending breakpoint is
3537 allowed to have a condition specified for it. The condition is not parsed for
3538 validity until a shared library is loaded that allows the pending
3539 breakpoint to resolve to a valid location.
3542 @code{info break} with a breakpoint
3543 number @var{n} as argument lists only that breakpoint. The
3544 convenience variable @code{$_} and the default examining-address for
3545 the @code{x} command are set to the address of the last breakpoint
3546 listed (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}).
3549 @code{info break} displays a count of the number of times the breakpoint
3550 has been hit. This is especially useful in conjunction with the
3551 @code{ignore} command. You can ignore a large number of breakpoint
3552 hits, look at the breakpoint info to see how many times the breakpoint
3553 was hit, and then run again, ignoring one less than that number. This
3554 will get you quickly to the last hit of that breakpoint.
3557 For a breakpoints with an enable count (xref) greater than 1,
3558 @code{info break} also displays that count.
3562 @value{GDBN} allows you to set any number of breakpoints at the same place in
3563 your program. There is nothing silly or meaningless about this. When
3564 the breakpoints are conditional, this is even useful
3565 (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
3567 @cindex multiple locations, breakpoints
3568 @cindex breakpoints, multiple locations
3569 It is possible that a breakpoint corresponds to several locations
3570 in your program. Examples of this situation are:
3574 Multiple functions in the program may have the same name.
3577 For a C@t{++} constructor, the @value{NGCC} compiler generates several
3578 instances of the function body, used in different cases.
3581 For a C@t{++} template function, a given line in the function can
3582 correspond to any number of instantiations.
3585 For an inlined function, a given source line can correspond to
3586 several places where that function is inlined.
3589 In all those cases, @value{GDBN} will insert a breakpoint at all
3590 the relevant locations.
3592 A breakpoint with multiple locations is displayed in the breakpoint
3593 table using several rows---one header row, followed by one row for
3594 each breakpoint location. The header row has @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in the
3595 address column. The rows for individual locations contain the actual
3596 addresses for locations, and show the functions to which those
3597 locations belong. The number column for a location is of the form
3598 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number}.
3603 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
3604 1 breakpoint keep y <MULTIPLE>
3606 breakpoint already hit 1 time
3607 1.1 y 0x080486a2 in void foo<int>() at t.cc:8
3608 1.2 y 0x080486ca in void foo<double>() at t.cc:8
3611 Each location can be individually enabled or disabled by passing
3612 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number} as argument to the
3613 @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands. Note that you cannot
3614 delete the individual locations from the list, you can only delete the
3615 entire list of locations that belong to their parent breakpoint (with
3616 the @kbd{delete @var{num}} command, where @var{num} is the number of
3617 the parent breakpoint, 1 in the above example). Disabling or enabling
3618 the parent breakpoint (@pxref{Disabling}) affects all of the locations
3619 that belong to that breakpoint.
3621 @cindex pending breakpoints
3622 It's quite common to have a breakpoint inside a shared library.
3623 Shared libraries can be loaded and unloaded explicitly,
3624 and possibly repeatedly, as the program is executed. To support
3625 this use case, @value{GDBN} updates breakpoint locations whenever
3626 any shared library is loaded or unloaded. Typically, you would
3627 set a breakpoint in a shared library at the beginning of your
3628 debugging session, when the library is not loaded, and when the
3629 symbols from the library are not available. When you try to set
3630 breakpoint, @value{GDBN} will ask you if you want to set
3631 a so called @dfn{pending breakpoint}---breakpoint whose address
3632 is not yet resolved.
3634 After the program is run, whenever a new shared library is loaded,
3635 @value{GDBN} reevaluates all the breakpoints. When a newly loaded
3636 shared library contains the symbol or line referred to by some
3637 pending breakpoint, that breakpoint is resolved and becomes an
3638 ordinary breakpoint. When a library is unloaded, all breakpoints
3639 that refer to its symbols or source lines become pending again.
3641 This logic works for breakpoints with multiple locations, too. For
3642 example, if you have a breakpoint in a C@t{++} template function, and
3643 a newly loaded shared library has an instantiation of that template,
3644 a new location is added to the list of locations for the breakpoint.
3646 Except for having unresolved address, pending breakpoints do not
3647 differ from regular breakpoints. You can set conditions or commands,
3648 enable and disable them and perform other breakpoint operations.
3650 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling what
3651 happens when the @samp{break} command cannot resolve breakpoint
3652 address specification to an address:
3654 @kindex set breakpoint pending
3655 @kindex show breakpoint pending
3657 @item set breakpoint pending auto
3658 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} cannot find the breakpoint
3659 location, it queries you whether a pending breakpoint should be created.
3661 @item set breakpoint pending on
3662 This indicates that an unrecognized breakpoint location should automatically
3663 result in a pending breakpoint being created.
3665 @item set breakpoint pending off
3666 This indicates that pending breakpoints are not to be created. Any
3667 unrecognized breakpoint location results in an error. This setting does
3668 not affect any pending breakpoints previously created.
3670 @item show breakpoint pending
3671 Show the current behavior setting for creating pending breakpoints.
3674 The settings above only affect the @code{break} command and its
3675 variants. Once breakpoint is set, it will be automatically updated
3676 as shared libraries are loaded and unloaded.
3678 @cindex automatic hardware breakpoints
3679 For some targets, @value{GDBN} can automatically decide if hardware or
3680 software breakpoints should be used, depending on whether the
3681 breakpoint address is read-only or read-write. This applies to
3682 breakpoints set with the @code{break} command as well as to internal
3683 breakpoints set by commands like @code{next} and @code{finish}. For
3684 breakpoints set with @code{hbreak}, @value{GDBN} will always use hardware
3687 You can control this automatic behaviour with the following commands::
3689 @kindex set breakpoint auto-hw
3690 @kindex show breakpoint auto-hw
3692 @item set breakpoint auto-hw on
3693 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} sets a breakpoint, it
3694 will try to use the target memory map to decide if software or hardware
3695 breakpoint must be used.
3697 @item set breakpoint auto-hw off
3698 This indicates @value{GDBN} should not automatically select breakpoint
3699 type. If the target provides a memory map, @value{GDBN} will warn when
3700 trying to set software breakpoint at a read-only address.
3703 @value{GDBN} normally implements breakpoints by replacing the program code
3704 at the breakpoint address with a special instruction, which, when
3705 executed, given control to the debugger. By default, the program
3706 code is so modified only when the program is resumed. As soon as
3707 the program stops, @value{GDBN} restores the original instructions. This
3708 behaviour guards against leaving breakpoints inserted in the
3709 target should gdb abrubptly disconnect. However, with slow remote
3710 targets, inserting and removing breakpoint can reduce the performance.
3711 This behavior can be controlled with the following commands::
3713 @kindex set breakpoint always-inserted
3714 @kindex show breakpoint always-inserted
3716 @item set breakpoint always-inserted off
3717 All breakpoints, including newly added by the user, are inserted in
3718 the target only when the target is resumed. All breakpoints are
3719 removed from the target when it stops.
3721 @item set breakpoint always-inserted on
3722 Causes all breakpoints to be inserted in the target at all times. If
3723 the user adds a new breakpoint, or changes an existing breakpoint, the
3724 breakpoints in the target are updated immediately. A breakpoint is
3725 removed from the target only when breakpoint itself is removed.
3727 @cindex non-stop mode, and @code{breakpoint always-inserted}
3728 @item set breakpoint always-inserted auto
3729 This is the default mode. If @value{GDBN} is controlling the inferior
3730 in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}), gdb behaves as if
3731 @code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is on. If @value{GDBN} is
3732 controlling the inferior in all-stop mode, @value{GDBN} behaves as if
3733 @code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is off.
3736 @value{GDBN} handles conditional breakpoints by evaluating these conditions
3737 when a breakpoint breaks. If the condition is true, then the process being
3738 debugged stops, otherwise the process is resumed.
3740 If the target supports evaluating conditions on its end, @value{GDBN} may
3741 download the breakpoint, together with its conditions, to it.
3743 This feature can be controlled via the following commands:
3745 @kindex set breakpoint condition-evaluation
3746 @kindex show breakpoint condition-evaluation
3748 @item set breakpoint condition-evaluation host
3749 This option commands @value{GDBN} to evaluate the breakpoint
3750 conditions on the host's side. Unconditional breakpoints are sent to
3751 the target which in turn receives the triggers and reports them back to GDB
3752 for condition evaluation. This is the standard evaluation mode.
3754 @item set breakpoint condition-evaluation target
3755 This option commands @value{GDBN} to download breakpoint conditions
3756 to the target at the moment of their insertion. The target
3757 is responsible for evaluating the conditional expression and reporting
3758 breakpoint stop events back to @value{GDBN} whenever the condition
3759 is true. Due to limitations of target-side evaluation, some conditions
3760 cannot be evaluated there, e.g., conditions that depend on local data
3761 that is only known to the host. Examples include
3762 conditional expressions involving convenience variables, complex types
3763 that cannot be handled by the agent expression parser and expressions
3764 that are too long to be sent over to the target, specially when the
3765 target is a remote system. In these cases, the conditions will be
3766 evaluated by @value{GDBN}.
3768 @item set breakpoint condition-evaluation auto
3769 This is the default mode. If the target supports evaluating breakpoint
3770 conditions on its end, @value{GDBN} will download breakpoint conditions to
3771 the target (limitations mentioned previously apply). If the target does
3772 not support breakpoint condition evaluation, then @value{GDBN} will fallback
3773 to evaluating all these conditions on the host's side.
3777 @cindex negative breakpoint numbers
3778 @cindex internal @value{GDBN} breakpoints
3779 @value{GDBN} itself sometimes sets breakpoints in your program for
3780 special purposes, such as proper handling of @code{longjmp} (in C
3781 programs). These internal breakpoints are assigned negative numbers,
3782 starting with @code{-1}; @samp{info breakpoints} does not display them.
3783 You can see these breakpoints with the @value{GDBN} maintenance command
3784 @samp{maint info breakpoints} (@pxref{maint info breakpoints}).
3787 @node Set Watchpoints
3788 @subsection Setting Watchpoints
3790 @cindex setting watchpoints
3791 You can use a watchpoint to stop execution whenever the value of an
3792 expression changes, without having to predict a particular place where
3793 this may happen. (This is sometimes called a @dfn{data breakpoint}.)
3794 The expression may be as simple as the value of a single variable, or
3795 as complex as many variables combined by operators. Examples include:
3799 A reference to the value of a single variable.
3802 An address cast to an appropriate data type. For example,
3803 @samp{*(int *)0x12345678} will watch a 4-byte region at the specified
3804 address (assuming an @code{int} occupies 4 bytes).
3807 An arbitrarily complex expression, such as @samp{a*b + c/d}. The
3808 expression can use any operators valid in the program's native
3809 language (@pxref{Languages}).
3812 You can set a watchpoint on an expression even if the expression can
3813 not be evaluated yet. For instance, you can set a watchpoint on
3814 @samp{*global_ptr} before @samp{global_ptr} is initialized.
3815 @value{GDBN} will stop when your program sets @samp{global_ptr} and
3816 the expression produces a valid value. If the expression becomes
3817 valid in some other way than changing a variable (e.g.@: if the memory
3818 pointed to by @samp{*global_ptr} becomes readable as the result of a
3819 @code{malloc} call), @value{GDBN} may not stop until the next time
3820 the expression changes.
3822 @cindex software watchpoints
3823 @cindex hardware watchpoints
3824 Depending on your system, watchpoints may be implemented in software or
3825 hardware. @value{GDBN} does software watchpointing by single-stepping your
3826 program and testing the variable's value each time, which is hundreds of
3827 times slower than normal execution. (But this may still be worth it, to
3828 catch errors where you have no clue what part of your program is the
3831 On some systems, such as HP-UX, PowerPC, @sc{gnu}/Linux and most other
3832 x86-based targets, @value{GDBN} includes support for hardware
3833 watchpoints, which do not slow down the running of your program.
3837 @item watch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
3838 Set a watchpoint for an expression. @value{GDBN} will break when the
3839 expression @var{expr} is written into by the program and its value
3840 changes. The simplest (and the most popular) use of this command is
3841 to watch the value of a single variable:
3844 (@value{GDBP}) watch foo
3847 If the command includes a @code{@r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}}
3848 argument, @value{GDBN} breaks only when the thread identified by
3849 @var{threadnum} changes the value of @var{expr}. If any other threads
3850 change the value of @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} will not break. Note
3851 that watchpoints restricted to a single thread in this way only work
3852 with Hardware Watchpoints.
3854 Ordinarily a watchpoint respects the scope of variables in @var{expr}
3855 (see below). The @code{-location} argument tells @value{GDBN} to
3856 instead watch the memory referred to by @var{expr}. In this case,
3857 @value{GDBN} will evaluate @var{expr}, take the address of the result,
3858 and watch the memory at that address. The type of the result is used
3859 to determine the size of the watched memory. If the expression's
3860 result does not have an address, then @value{GDBN} will print an
3863 The @code{@r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}} argument allows creation
3864 of masked watchpoints, if the current architecture supports this
3865 feature (e.g., PowerPC Embedded architecture, see @ref{PowerPC
3866 Embedded}.) A @dfn{masked watchpoint} specifies a mask in addition
3867 to an address to watch. The mask specifies that some bits of an address
3868 (the bits which are reset in the mask) should be ignored when matching
3869 the address accessed by the inferior against the watchpoint address.
3870 Thus, a masked watchpoint watches many addresses simultaneously---those
3871 addresses whose unmasked bits are identical to the unmasked bits in the
3872 watchpoint address. The @code{mask} argument implies @code{-location}.
3876 (@value{GDBP}) watch foo mask 0xffff00ff
3877 (@value{GDBP}) watch *0xdeadbeef mask 0xffffff00
3881 @item rwatch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
3882 Set a watchpoint that will break when the value of @var{expr} is read
3886 @item awatch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
3887 Set a watchpoint that will break when @var{expr} is either read from
3888 or written into by the program.
3890 @kindex info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3891 @item info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3892 This command prints a list of watchpoints, using the same format as
3893 @code{info break} (@pxref{Set Breaks}).
3896 If you watch for a change in a numerically entered address you need to
3897 dereference it, as the address itself is just a constant number which will
3898 never change. @value{GDBN} refuses to create a watchpoint that watches
3899 a never-changing value:
3902 (@value{GDBP}) watch 0x600850
3903 Cannot watch constant value 0x600850.
3904 (@value{GDBP}) watch *(int *) 0x600850
3905 Watchpoint 1: *(int *) 6293584
3908 @value{GDBN} sets a @dfn{hardware watchpoint} if possible. Hardware
3909 watchpoints execute very quickly, and the debugger reports a change in
3910 value at the exact instruction where the change occurs. If @value{GDBN}
3911 cannot set a hardware watchpoint, it sets a software watchpoint, which
3912 executes more slowly and reports the change in value at the next
3913 @emph{statement}, not the instruction, after the change occurs.
3915 @cindex use only software watchpoints
3916 You can force @value{GDBN} to use only software watchpoints with the
3917 @kbd{set can-use-hw-watchpoints 0} command. With this variable set to
3918 zero, @value{GDBN} will never try to use hardware watchpoints, even if
3919 the underlying system supports them. (Note that hardware-assisted
3920 watchpoints that were set @emph{before} setting
3921 @code{can-use-hw-watchpoints} to zero will still use the hardware
3922 mechanism of watching expression values.)
3925 @item set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3926 @kindex set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3927 Set whether or not to use hardware watchpoints.
3929 @item show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3930 @kindex show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3931 Show the current mode of using hardware watchpoints.
3934 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3935 watchpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3936 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3938 When you issue the @code{watch} command, @value{GDBN} reports
3941 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: @var{expr}
3945 if it was able to set a hardware watchpoint.
3947 Currently, the @code{awatch} and @code{rwatch} commands can only set
3948 hardware watchpoints, because accesses to data that don't change the
3949 value of the watched expression cannot be detected without examining
3950 every instruction as it is being executed, and @value{GDBN} does not do
3951 that currently. If @value{GDBN} finds that it is unable to set a
3952 hardware breakpoint with the @code{awatch} or @code{rwatch} command, it
3953 will print a message like this:
3956 Expression cannot be implemented with read/access watchpoint.
3959 Sometimes, @value{GDBN} cannot set a hardware watchpoint because the
3960 data type of the watched expression is wider than what a hardware
3961 watchpoint on the target machine can handle. For example, some systems
3962 can only watch regions that are up to 4 bytes wide; on such systems you
3963 cannot set hardware watchpoints for an expression that yields a
3964 double-precision floating-point number (which is typically 8 bytes
3965 wide). As a work-around, it might be possible to break the large region
3966 into a series of smaller ones and watch them with separate watchpoints.
3968 If you set too many hardware watchpoints, @value{GDBN} might be unable
3969 to insert all of them when you resume the execution of your program.
3970 Since the precise number of active watchpoints is unknown until such
3971 time as the program is about to be resumed, @value{GDBN} might not be
3972 able to warn you about this when you set the watchpoints, and the
3973 warning will be printed only when the program is resumed:
3976 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: Could not insert watchpoint
3980 If this happens, delete or disable some of the watchpoints.
3982 Watching complex expressions that reference many variables can also
3983 exhaust the resources available for hardware-assisted watchpoints.
3984 That's because @value{GDBN} needs to watch every variable in the
3985 expression with separately allocated resources.
3987 If you call a function interactively using @code{print} or @code{call},
3988 any watchpoints you have set will be inactive until @value{GDBN} reaches another
3989 kind of breakpoint or the call completes.
3991 @value{GDBN} automatically deletes watchpoints that watch local
3992 (automatic) variables, or expressions that involve such variables, when
3993 they go out of scope, that is, when the execution leaves the block in
3994 which these variables were defined. In particular, when the program
3995 being debugged terminates, @emph{all} local variables go out of scope,
3996 and so only watchpoints that watch global variables remain set. If you
3997 rerun the program, you will need to set all such watchpoints again. One
3998 way of doing that would be to set a code breakpoint at the entry to the
3999 @code{main} function and when it breaks, set all the watchpoints.
4001 @cindex watchpoints and threads
4002 @cindex threads and watchpoints
4003 In multi-threaded programs, watchpoints will detect changes to the
4004 watched expression from every thread.
4007 @emph{Warning:} In multi-threaded programs, software watchpoints
4008 have only limited usefulness. If @value{GDBN} creates a software
4009 watchpoint, it can only watch the value of an expression @emph{in a
4010 single thread}. If you are confident that the expression can only
4011 change due to the current thread's activity (and if you are also
4012 confident that no other thread can become current), then you can use
4013 software watchpoints as usual. However, @value{GDBN} may not notice
4014 when a non-current thread's activity changes the expression. (Hardware
4015 watchpoints, in contrast, watch an expression in all threads.)
4018 @xref{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}.
4020 @node Set Catchpoints
4021 @subsection Setting Catchpoints
4022 @cindex catchpoints, setting
4023 @cindex exception handlers
4024 @cindex event handling
4026 You can use @dfn{catchpoints} to cause the debugger to stop for certain
4027 kinds of program events, such as C@t{++} exceptions or the loading of a
4028 shared library. Use the @code{catch} command to set a catchpoint.
4032 @item catch @var{event}
4033 Stop when @var{event} occurs. @var{event} can be any of the following:
4036 @cindex stop on C@t{++} exceptions
4037 The throwing of a C@t{++} exception.
4040 The catching of a C@t{++} exception.
4043 @cindex Ada exception catching
4044 @cindex catch Ada exceptions
4045 An Ada exception being raised. If an exception name is specified
4046 at the end of the command (eg @code{catch exception Program_Error}),
4047 the debugger will stop only when this specific exception is raised.
4048 Otherwise, the debugger stops execution when any Ada exception is raised.
4050 When inserting an exception catchpoint on a user-defined exception whose
4051 name is identical to one of the exceptions defined by the language, the
4052 fully qualified name must be used as the exception name. Otherwise,
4053 @value{GDBN} will assume that it should stop on the pre-defined exception
4054 rather than the user-defined one. For instance, assuming an exception
4055 called @code{Constraint_Error} is defined in package @code{Pck}, then
4056 the command to use to catch such exceptions is @kbd{catch exception
4057 Pck.Constraint_Error}.
4059 @item exception unhandled
4060 An exception that was raised but is not handled by the program.
4063 A failed Ada assertion.
4066 @cindex break on fork/exec
4067 A call to @code{exec}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4071 @itemx syscall @r{[}@var{name} @r{|} @var{number}@r{]} @dots{}
4072 @cindex break on a system call.
4073 A call to or return from a system call, a.k.a.@: @dfn{syscall}. A
4074 syscall is a mechanism for application programs to request a service
4075 from the operating system (OS) or one of the OS system services.
4076 @value{GDBN} can catch some or all of the syscalls issued by the
4077 debuggee, and show the related information for each syscall. If no
4078 argument is specified, calls to and returns from all system calls
4081 @var{name} can be any system call name that is valid for the
4082 underlying OS. Just what syscalls are valid depends on the OS. On
4083 GNU and Unix systems, you can find the full list of valid syscall
4084 names on @file{/usr/include/asm/unistd.h}.
4086 @c For MS-Windows, the syscall names and the corresponding numbers
4087 @c can be found, e.g., on this URL:
4088 @c http://www.metasploit.com/users/opcode/syscalls.html
4089 @c but we don't support Windows syscalls yet.
4091 Normally, @value{GDBN} knows in advance which syscalls are valid for
4092 each OS, so you can use the @value{GDBN} command-line completion
4093 facilities (@pxref{Completion,, command completion}) to list the
4096 You may also specify the system call numerically. A syscall's
4097 number is the value passed to the OS's syscall dispatcher to
4098 identify the requested service. When you specify the syscall by its
4099 name, @value{GDBN} uses its database of syscalls to convert the name
4100 into the corresponding numeric code, but using the number directly
4101 may be useful if @value{GDBN}'s database does not have the complete
4102 list of syscalls on your system (e.g., because @value{GDBN} lags
4103 behind the OS upgrades).
4105 The example below illustrates how this command works if you don't provide
4109 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
4110 Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
4112 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4114 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'close'), \
4115 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4119 Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'close'), \
4120 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4124 Here is an example of catching a system call by name:
4127 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall chroot
4128 Catchpoint 1 (syscall 'chroot' [61])
4130 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4132 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'chroot'), \
4133 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4137 Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'chroot'), \
4138 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4142 An example of specifying a system call numerically. In the case
4143 below, the syscall number has a corresponding entry in the XML
4144 file, so @value{GDBN} finds its name and prints it:
4147 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
4148 Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 'exit_group')
4150 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4152 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'exit_group'), \
4153 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4157 Program exited normally.
4161 However, there can be situations when there is no corresponding name
4162 in XML file for that syscall number. In this case, @value{GDBN} prints
4163 a warning message saying that it was not able to find the syscall name,
4164 but the catchpoint will be set anyway. See the example below:
4167 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 764
4168 warning: The number '764' does not represent a known syscall.
4169 Catchpoint 2 (syscall 764)
4173 If you configure @value{GDBN} using the @samp{--without-expat} option,
4174 it will not be able to display syscall names. Also, if your
4175 architecture does not have an XML file describing its system calls,
4176 you will not be able to see the syscall names. It is important to
4177 notice that these two features are used for accessing the syscall
4178 name database. In either case, you will see a warning like this:
4181 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
4182 warning: Could not open "syscalls/i386-linux.xml"
4183 warning: Could not load the syscall XML file 'syscalls/i386-linux.xml'.
4184 GDB will not be able to display syscall names.
4185 Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
4189 Of course, the file name will change depending on your architecture and system.
4191 Still using the example above, you can also try to catch a syscall by its
4192 number. In this case, you would see something like:
4195 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
4196 Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 252)
4199 Again, in this case @value{GDBN} would not be able to display syscall's names.
4202 A call to @code{fork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4206 A call to @code{vfork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4209 @item load @r{[}regexp@r{]}
4210 @itemx unload @r{[}regexp@r{]}
4211 The loading or unloading of a shared library. If @var{regexp} is
4212 given, then the catchpoint will stop only if the regular expression
4213 matches one of the affected libraries.
4217 @item tcatch @var{event}
4218 Set a catchpoint that is enabled only for one stop. The catchpoint is
4219 automatically deleted after the first time the event is caught.
4223 Use the @code{info break} command to list the current catchpoints.
4225 There are currently some limitations to C@t{++} exception handling
4226 (@code{catch throw} and @code{catch catch}) in @value{GDBN}:
4230 If you call a function interactively, @value{GDBN} normally returns
4231 control to you when the function has finished executing. If the call
4232 raises an exception, however, the call may bypass the mechanism that
4233 returns control to you and cause your program either to abort or to
4234 simply continue running until it hits a breakpoint, catches a signal
4235 that @value{GDBN} is listening for, or exits. This is the case even if
4236 you set a catchpoint for the exception; catchpoints on exceptions are
4237 disabled within interactive calls.
4240 You cannot raise an exception interactively.
4243 You cannot install an exception handler interactively.
4246 @cindex raise exceptions
4247 Sometimes @code{catch} is not the best way to debug exception handling:
4248 if you need to know exactly where an exception is raised, it is better to
4249 stop @emph{before} the exception handler is called, since that way you
4250 can see the stack before any unwinding takes place. If you set a
4251 breakpoint in an exception handler instead, it may not be easy to find
4252 out where the exception was raised.
4254 To stop just before an exception handler is called, you need some
4255 knowledge of the implementation. In the case of @sc{gnu} C@t{++}, exceptions are
4256 raised by calling a library function named @code{__raise_exception}
4257 which has the following ANSI C interface:
4260 /* @var{addr} is where the exception identifier is stored.
4261 @var{id} is the exception identifier. */
4262 void __raise_exception (void **addr, void *id);
4266 To make the debugger catch all exceptions before any stack
4267 unwinding takes place, set a breakpoint on @code{__raise_exception}
4268 (@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Exceptions}).
4270 With a conditional breakpoint (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions})
4271 that depends on the value of @var{id}, you can stop your program when
4272 a specific exception is raised. You can use multiple conditional
4273 breakpoints to stop your program when any of a number of exceptions are
4278 @subsection Deleting Breakpoints
4280 @cindex clearing breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4281 @cindex deleting breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4282 It is often necessary to eliminate a breakpoint, watchpoint, or
4283 catchpoint once it has done its job and you no longer want your program
4284 to stop there. This is called @dfn{deleting} the breakpoint. A
4285 breakpoint that has been deleted no longer exists; it is forgotten.
4287 With the @code{clear} command you can delete breakpoints according to
4288 where they are in your program. With the @code{delete} command you can
4289 delete individual breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints by specifying
4290 their breakpoint numbers.
4292 It is not necessary to delete a breakpoint to proceed past it. @value{GDBN}
4293 automatically ignores breakpoints on the first instruction to be executed
4294 when you continue execution without changing the execution address.
4299 Delete any breakpoints at the next instruction to be executed in the
4300 selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). When
4301 the innermost frame is selected, this is a good way to delete a
4302 breakpoint where your program just stopped.
4304 @item clear @var{location}
4305 Delete any breakpoints set at the specified @var{location}.
4306 @xref{Specify Location}, for the various forms of @var{location}; the
4307 most useful ones are listed below:
4310 @item clear @var{function}
4311 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{function}
4312 Delete any breakpoints set at entry to the named @var{function}.
4314 @item clear @var{linenum}
4315 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
4316 Delete any breakpoints set at or within the code of the specified
4317 @var{linenum} of the specified @var{filename}.
4320 @cindex delete breakpoints
4322 @kindex d @r{(@code{delete})}
4323 @item delete @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4324 Delete the breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints of the breakpoint
4325 ranges specified as arguments. If no argument is specified, delete all
4326 breakpoints (@value{GDBN} asks confirmation, unless you have @code{set
4327 confirm off}). You can abbreviate this command as @code{d}.
4331 @subsection Disabling Breakpoints
4333 @cindex enable/disable a breakpoint
4334 Rather than deleting a breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint, you might
4335 prefer to @dfn{disable} it. This makes the breakpoint inoperative as if
4336 it had been deleted, but remembers the information on the breakpoint so
4337 that you can @dfn{enable} it again later.
4339 You disable and enable breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints with
4340 the @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands, optionally specifying
4341 one or more breakpoint numbers as arguments. Use @code{info break} to
4342 print a list of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints if you
4343 do not know which numbers to use.
4345 Disabling and enabling a breakpoint that has multiple locations
4346 affects all of its locations.
4348 A breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint can have any of several
4349 different states of enablement:
4353 Enabled. The breakpoint stops your program. A breakpoint set
4354 with the @code{break} command starts out in this state.
4356 Disabled. The breakpoint has no effect on your program.
4358 Enabled once. The breakpoint stops your program, but then becomes
4361 Enabled for a count. The breakpoint stops your program for the next
4362 N times, then becomes disabled.
4364 Enabled for deletion. The breakpoint stops your program, but
4365 immediately after it does so it is deleted permanently. A breakpoint
4366 set with the @code{tbreak} command starts out in this state.
4369 You can use the following commands to enable or disable breakpoints,
4370 watchpoints, and catchpoints:
4374 @kindex dis @r{(@code{disable})}
4375 @item disable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4376 Disable the specified breakpoints---or all breakpoints, if none are
4377 listed. A disabled breakpoint has no effect but is not forgotten. All
4378 options such as ignore-counts, conditions and commands are remembered in
4379 case the breakpoint is enabled again later. You may abbreviate
4380 @code{disable} as @code{dis}.
4383 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4384 Enable the specified breakpoints (or all defined breakpoints). They
4385 become effective once again in stopping your program.
4387 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} once @var{range}@dots{}
4388 Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} disables any
4389 of these breakpoints immediately after stopping your program.
4391 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} count @var{count} @var{range}@dots{}
4392 Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} records
4393 @var{count} with each of the specified breakpoints, and decrements a
4394 breakpoint's count when it is hit. When any count reaches 0,
4395 @value{GDBN} disables that breakpoint. If a breakpoint has an ignore
4396 count (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}), that will be
4397 decremented to 0 before @var{count} is affected.
4399 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} delete @var{range}@dots{}
4400 Enable the specified breakpoints to work once, then die. @value{GDBN}
4401 deletes any of these breakpoints as soon as your program stops there.
4402 Breakpoints set by the @code{tbreak} command start out in this state.
4405 @c FIXME: I think the following ``Except for [...] @code{tbreak}'' is
4406 @c confusing: tbreak is also initially enabled.
4407 Except for a breakpoint set with @code{tbreak} (@pxref{Set Breaks,
4408 ,Setting Breakpoints}), breakpoints that you set are initially enabled;
4409 subsequently, they become disabled or enabled only when you use one of
4410 the commands above. (The command @code{until} can set and delete a
4411 breakpoint of its own, but it does not change the state of your other
4412 breakpoints; see @ref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and
4416 @subsection Break Conditions
4417 @cindex conditional breakpoints
4418 @cindex breakpoint conditions
4420 @c FIXME what is scope of break condition expr? Context where wanted?
4421 @c in particular for a watchpoint?
4422 The simplest sort of breakpoint breaks every time your program reaches a
4423 specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for a
4424 breakpoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
4425 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A breakpoint with
4426 a condition evaluates the expression each time your program reaches it,
4427 and your program stops only if the condition is @emph{true}.
4429 This is the converse of using assertions for program validation; in that
4430 situation, you want to stop when the assertion is violated---that is,
4431 when the condition is false. In C, if you want to test an assertion expressed
4432 by the condition @var{assert}, you should set the condition
4433 @samp{! @var{assert}} on the appropriate breakpoint.
4435 Conditions are also accepted for watchpoints; you may not need them,
4436 since a watchpoint is inspecting the value of an expression anyhow---but
4437 it might be simpler, say, to just set a watchpoint on a variable name,
4438 and specify a condition that tests whether the new value is an interesting
4441 Break conditions can have side effects, and may even call functions in
4442 your program. This can be useful, for example, to activate functions
4443 that log program progress, or to use your own print functions to
4444 format special data structures. The effects are completely predictable
4445 unless there is another enabled breakpoint at the same address. (In
4446 that case, @value{GDBN} might see the other breakpoint first and stop your
4447 program without checking the condition of this one.) Note that
4448 breakpoint commands are usually more convenient and flexible than break
4450 purpose of performing side effects when a breakpoint is reached
4451 (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}).
4453 Breakpoint conditions can also be evaluated on the target's side if
4454 the target supports it. Instead of evaluating the conditions locally,
4455 @value{GDBN} encodes the expression into an agent expression
4456 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}) suitable for execution on the target,
4457 independently of @value{GDBN}. Global variables become raw memory
4458 locations, locals become stack accesses, and so forth.
4460 In this case, @value{GDBN} will only be notified of a breakpoint trigger
4461 when its condition evaluates to true. This mechanism may provide faster
4462 response times depending on the performance characteristics of the target
4463 since it does not need to keep @value{GDBN} informed about
4464 every breakpoint trigger, even those with false conditions.
4466 Break conditions can be specified when a breakpoint is set, by using
4467 @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{break} command. @xref{Set
4468 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}. They can also be changed at any time
4469 with the @code{condition} command.
4471 You can also use the @code{if} keyword with the @code{watch} command.
4472 The @code{catch} command does not recognize the @code{if} keyword;
4473 @code{condition} is the only way to impose a further condition on a
4478 @item condition @var{bnum} @var{expression}
4479 Specify @var{expression} as the break condition for breakpoint,
4480 watchpoint, or catchpoint number @var{bnum}. After you set a condition,
4481 breakpoint @var{bnum} stops your program only if the value of
4482 @var{expression} is true (nonzero, in C). When you use
4483 @code{condition}, @value{GDBN} checks @var{expression} immediately for
4484 syntactic correctness, and to determine whether symbols in it have
4485 referents in the context of your breakpoint. If @var{expression} uses
4486 symbols not referenced in the context of the breakpoint, @value{GDBN}
4487 prints an error message:
4490 No symbol "foo" in current context.
4495 not actually evaluate @var{expression} at the time the @code{condition}
4496 command (or a command that sets a breakpoint with a condition, like
4497 @code{break if @dots{}}) is given, however. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
4499 @item condition @var{bnum}
4500 Remove the condition from breakpoint number @var{bnum}. It becomes
4501 an ordinary unconditional breakpoint.
4504 @cindex ignore count (of breakpoint)
4505 A special case of a breakpoint condition is to stop only when the
4506 breakpoint has been reached a certain number of times. This is so
4507 useful that there is a special way to do it, using the @dfn{ignore
4508 count} of the breakpoint. Every breakpoint has an ignore count, which
4509 is an integer. Most of the time, the ignore count is zero, and
4510 therefore has no effect. But if your program reaches a breakpoint whose
4511 ignore count is positive, then instead of stopping, it just decrements
4512 the ignore count by one and continues. As a result, if the ignore count
4513 value is @var{n}, the breakpoint does not stop the next @var{n} times
4514 your program reaches it.
4518 @item ignore @var{bnum} @var{count}
4519 Set the ignore count of breakpoint number @var{bnum} to @var{count}.
4520 The next @var{count} times the breakpoint is reached, your program's
4521 execution does not stop; other than to decrement the ignore count, @value{GDBN}
4524 To make the breakpoint stop the next time it is reached, specify
4527 When you use @code{continue} to resume execution of your program from a
4528 breakpoint, you can specify an ignore count directly as an argument to
4529 @code{continue}, rather than using @code{ignore}. @xref{Continuing and
4530 Stepping,,Continuing and Stepping}.
4532 If a breakpoint has a positive ignore count and a condition, the
4533 condition is not checked. Once the ignore count reaches zero,
4534 @value{GDBN} resumes checking the condition.
4536 You could achieve the effect of the ignore count with a condition such
4537 as @w{@samp{$foo-- <= 0}} using a debugger convenience variable that
4538 is decremented each time. @xref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
4542 Ignore counts apply to breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints.
4545 @node Break Commands
4546 @subsection Breakpoint Command Lists
4548 @cindex breakpoint commands
4549 You can give any breakpoint (or watchpoint or catchpoint) a series of
4550 commands to execute when your program stops due to that breakpoint. For
4551 example, you might want to print the values of certain expressions, or
4552 enable other breakpoints.
4556 @kindex end@r{ (breakpoint commands)}
4557 @item commands @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4558 @itemx @dots{} @var{command-list} @dots{}
4560 Specify a list of commands for the given breakpoints. The commands
4561 themselves appear on the following lines. Type a line containing just
4562 @code{end} to terminate the commands.
4564 To remove all commands from a breakpoint, type @code{commands} and
4565 follow it immediately with @code{end}; that is, give no commands.
4567 With no argument, @code{commands} refers to the last breakpoint,
4568 watchpoint, or catchpoint set (not to the breakpoint most recently
4569 encountered). If the most recent breakpoints were set with a single
4570 command, then the @code{commands} will apply to all the breakpoints
4571 set by that command. This applies to breakpoints set by
4572 @code{rbreak}, and also applies when a single @code{break} command
4573 creates multiple breakpoints (@pxref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous
4577 Pressing @key{RET} as a means of repeating the last @value{GDBN} command is
4578 disabled within a @var{command-list}.
4580 You can use breakpoint commands to start your program up again. Simply
4581 use the @code{continue} command, or @code{step}, or any other command
4582 that resumes execution.
4584 Any other commands in the command list, after a command that resumes
4585 execution, are ignored. This is because any time you resume execution
4586 (even with a simple @code{next} or @code{step}), you may encounter
4587 another breakpoint---which could have its own command list, leading to
4588 ambiguities about which list to execute.
4591 If the first command you specify in a command list is @code{silent}, the
4592 usual message about stopping at a breakpoint is not printed. This may
4593 be desirable for breakpoints that are to print a specific message and
4594 then continue. If none of the remaining commands print anything, you
4595 see no sign that the breakpoint was reached. @code{silent} is
4596 meaningful only at the beginning of a breakpoint command list.
4598 The commands @code{echo}, @code{output}, and @code{printf} allow you to
4599 print precisely controlled output, and are often useful in silent
4600 breakpoints. @xref{Output, ,Commands for Controlled Output}.
4602 For example, here is how you could use breakpoint commands to print the
4603 value of @code{x} at entry to @code{foo} whenever @code{x} is positive.
4609 printf "x is %d\n",x
4614 One application for breakpoint commands is to compensate for one bug so
4615 you can test for another. Put a breakpoint just after the erroneous line
4616 of code, give it a condition to detect the case in which something
4617 erroneous has been done, and give it commands to assign correct values
4618 to any variables that need them. End with the @code{continue} command
4619 so that your program does not stop, and start with the @code{silent}
4620 command so that no output is produced. Here is an example:
4631 @node Save Breakpoints
4632 @subsection How to save breakpoints to a file
4634 To save breakpoint definitions to a file use the @w{@code{save
4635 breakpoints}} command.
4638 @kindex save breakpoints
4639 @cindex save breakpoints to a file for future sessions
4640 @item save breakpoints [@var{filename}]
4641 This command saves all current breakpoint definitions together with
4642 their commands and ignore counts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
4643 suitable for use in a later debugging session. This includes all
4644 types of breakpoints (breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints,
4645 tracepoints). To read the saved breakpoint definitions, use the
4646 @code{source} command (@pxref{Command Files}). Note that watchpoints
4647 with expressions involving local variables may fail to be recreated
4648 because it may not be possible to access the context where the
4649 watchpoint is valid anymore. Because the saved breakpoint definitions
4650 are simply a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands that recreate the
4651 breakpoints, you can edit the file in your favorite editing program,
4652 and remove the breakpoint definitions you're not interested in, or
4653 that can no longer be recreated.
4656 @node Static Probe Points
4657 @subsection Static Probe Points
4659 @cindex static probe point, SystemTap
4660 @value{GDBN} supports @dfn{SDT} probes in the code. @acronym{SDT} stands
4661 for Statically Defined Tracing, and the probes are designed to have a tiny
4662 runtime code and data footprint, and no dynamic relocations. They are
4663 usable from assembly, C and C@t{++} languages. See
4664 @uref{http://sourceware.org/systemtap/wiki/UserSpaceProbeImplementation}
4665 for a good reference on how the @acronym{SDT} probes are implemented.
4667 Currently, @code{SystemTap} (@uref{http://sourceware.org/systemtap/})
4668 @acronym{SDT} probes are supported on ELF-compatible systems. See
4669 @uref{http://sourceware.org/systemtap/wiki/AddingUserSpaceProbingToApps}
4670 for more information on how to add @code{SystemTap} @acronym{SDT} probes
4671 in your applications.
4673 @cindex semaphores on static probe points
4674 Some probes have an associated semaphore variable; for instance, this
4675 happens automatically if you defined your probe using a DTrace-style
4676 @file{.d} file. If your probe has a semaphore, @value{GDBN} will
4677 automatically enable it when you specify a breakpoint using the
4678 @samp{-probe-stap} notation. But, if you put a breakpoint at a probe's
4679 location by some other method (e.g., @code{break file:line}), then
4680 @value{GDBN} will not automatically set the semaphore.
4682 You can examine the available static static probes using @code{info
4683 probes}, with optional arguments:
4687 @item info probes stap @r{[}@var{provider} @r{[}@var{name} @r{[}@var{objfile}@r{]}@r{]}@r{]}
4688 If given, @var{provider} is a regular expression used to match against provider
4689 names when selecting which probes to list. If omitted, probes by all
4690 probes from all providers are listed.
4692 If given, @var{name} is a regular expression to match against probe names
4693 when selecting which probes to list. If omitted, probe names are not
4694 considered when deciding whether to display them.
4696 If given, @var{objfile} is a regular expression used to select which
4697 object files (executable or shared libraries) to examine. If not
4698 given, all object files are considered.
4700 @item info probes all
4701 List the available static probes, from all types.
4704 @vindex $_probe_arg@r{, convenience variable}
4705 A probe may specify up to twelve arguments. These are available at the
4706 point at which the probe is defined---that is, when the current PC is
4707 at the probe's location. The arguments are available using the
4708 convenience variables (@pxref{Convenience Vars})
4709 @code{$_probe_arg0}@dots{}@code{$_probe_arg11}. Each probe argument is
4710 an integer of the appropriate size; types are not preserved. The
4711 convenience variable @code{$_probe_argc} holds the number of arguments
4712 at the current probe point.
4714 These variables are always available, but attempts to access them at
4715 any location other than a probe point will cause @value{GDBN} to give
4719 @c @ifclear BARETARGET
4720 @node Error in Breakpoints
4721 @subsection ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
4723 If you request too many active hardware-assisted breakpoints and
4724 watchpoints, you will see this error message:
4726 @c FIXME: the precise wording of this message may change; the relevant
4727 @c source change is not committed yet (Sep 3, 1999).
4729 Stopped; cannot insert breakpoints.
4730 You may have requested too many hardware breakpoints and watchpoints.
4734 This message is printed when you attempt to resume the program, since
4735 only then @value{GDBN} knows exactly how many hardware breakpoints and
4736 watchpoints it needs to insert.
4738 When this message is printed, you need to disable or remove some of the
4739 hardware-assisted breakpoints and watchpoints, and then continue.
4741 @node Breakpoint-related Warnings
4742 @subsection ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
4743 @cindex breakpoint address adjusted
4745 Some processor architectures place constraints on the addresses at
4746 which breakpoints may be placed. For architectures thus constrained,
4747 @value{GDBN} will attempt to adjust the breakpoint's address to comply
4748 with the constraints dictated by the architecture.
4750 One example of such an architecture is the Fujitsu FR-V. The FR-V is
4751 a VLIW architecture in which a number of RISC-like instructions may be
4752 bundled together for parallel execution. The FR-V architecture
4753 constrains the location of a breakpoint instruction within such a
4754 bundle to the instruction with the lowest address. @value{GDBN}
4755 honors this constraint by adjusting a breakpoint's address to the
4756 first in the bundle.
4758 It is not uncommon for optimized code to have bundles which contain
4759 instructions from different source statements, thus it may happen that
4760 a breakpoint's address will be adjusted from one source statement to
4761 another. Since this adjustment may significantly alter @value{GDBN}'s
4762 breakpoint related behavior from what the user expects, a warning is
4763 printed when the breakpoint is first set and also when the breakpoint
4766 A warning like the one below is printed when setting a breakpoint
4767 that's been subject to address adjustment:
4770 warning: Breakpoint address adjusted from 0x00010414 to 0x00010410.
4773 Such warnings are printed both for user settable and @value{GDBN}'s
4774 internal breakpoints. If you see one of these warnings, you should
4775 verify that a breakpoint set at the adjusted address will have the
4776 desired affect. If not, the breakpoint in question may be removed and
4777 other breakpoints may be set which will have the desired behavior.
4778 E.g., it may be sufficient to place the breakpoint at a later
4779 instruction. A conditional breakpoint may also be useful in some
4780 cases to prevent the breakpoint from triggering too often.
4782 @value{GDBN} will also issue a warning when stopping at one of these
4783 adjusted breakpoints:
4786 warning: Breakpoint 1 address previously adjusted from 0x00010414
4790 When this warning is encountered, it may be too late to take remedial
4791 action except in cases where the breakpoint is hit earlier or more
4792 frequently than expected.
4794 @node Continuing and Stepping
4795 @section Continuing and Stepping
4799 @cindex resuming execution
4800 @dfn{Continuing} means resuming program execution until your program
4801 completes normally. In contrast, @dfn{stepping} means executing just
4802 one more ``step'' of your program, where ``step'' may mean either one
4803 line of source code, or one machine instruction (depending on what
4804 particular command you use). Either when continuing or when stepping,
4805 your program may stop even sooner, due to a breakpoint or a signal. (If
4806 it stops due to a signal, you may want to use @code{handle}, or use
4807 @samp{signal 0} to resume execution. @xref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
4811 @kindex c @r{(@code{continue})}
4812 @kindex fg @r{(resume foreground execution)}
4813 @item continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4814 @itemx c @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4815 @itemx fg @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4816 Resume program execution, at the address where your program last stopped;
4817 any breakpoints set at that address are bypassed. The optional argument
4818 @var{ignore-count} allows you to specify a further number of times to
4819 ignore a breakpoint at this location; its effect is like that of
4820 @code{ignore} (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
4822 The argument @var{ignore-count} is meaningful only when your program
4823 stopped due to a breakpoint. At other times, the argument to
4824 @code{continue} is ignored.
4826 The synonyms @code{c} and @code{fg} (for @dfn{foreground}, as the
4827 debugged program is deemed to be the foreground program) are provided
4828 purely for convenience, and have exactly the same behavior as
4832 To resume execution at a different place, you can use @code{return}
4833 (@pxref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}) to go back to the
4834 calling function; or @code{jump} (@pxref{Jumping, ,Continuing at a
4835 Different Address}) to go to an arbitrary location in your program.
4837 A typical technique for using stepping is to set a breakpoint
4838 (@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Catchpoints}) at the
4839 beginning of the function or the section of your program where a problem
4840 is believed to lie, run your program until it stops at that breakpoint,
4841 and then step through the suspect area, examining the variables that are
4842 interesting, until you see the problem happen.
4846 @kindex s @r{(@code{step})}
4848 Continue running your program until control reaches a different source
4849 line, then stop it and return control to @value{GDBN}. This command is
4850 abbreviated @code{s}.
4853 @c "without debugging information" is imprecise; actually "without line
4854 @c numbers in the debugging information". (gcc -g1 has debugging info but
4855 @c not line numbers). But it seems complex to try to make that
4856 @c distinction here.
4857 @emph{Warning:} If you use the @code{step} command while control is
4858 within a function that was compiled without debugging information,
4859 execution proceeds until control reaches a function that does have
4860 debugging information. Likewise, it will not step into a function which
4861 is compiled without debugging information. To step through functions
4862 without debugging information, use the @code{stepi} command, described
4866 The @code{step} command only stops at the first instruction of a source
4867 line. This prevents the multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
4868 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc. @code{step} continues
4869 to stop if a function that has debugging information is called within
4870 the line. In other words, @code{step} @emph{steps inside} any functions
4871 called within the line.
4873 Also, the @code{step} command only enters a function if there is line
4874 number information for the function. Otherwise it acts like the
4875 @code{next} command. This avoids problems when using @code{cc -gl}
4876 on MIPS machines. Previously, @code{step} entered subroutines if there
4877 was any debugging information about the routine.
4879 @item step @var{count}
4880 Continue running as in @code{step}, but do so @var{count} times. If a
4881 breakpoint is reached, or a signal not related to stepping occurs before
4882 @var{count} steps, stepping stops right away.
4885 @kindex n @r{(@code{next})}
4886 @item next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
4887 Continue to the next source line in the current (innermost) stack frame.
4888 This is similar to @code{step}, but function calls that appear within
4889 the line of code are executed without stopping. Execution stops when
4890 control reaches a different line of code at the original stack level
4891 that was executing when you gave the @code{next} command. This command
4892 is abbreviated @code{n}.
4894 An argument @var{count} is a repeat count, as for @code{step}.
4897 @c FIX ME!! Do we delete this, or is there a way it fits in with
4898 @c the following paragraph? --- Vctoria
4900 @c @code{next} within a function that lacks debugging information acts like
4901 @c @code{step}, but any function calls appearing within the code of the
4902 @c function are executed without stopping.
4904 The @code{next} command only stops at the first instruction of a
4905 source line. This prevents multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
4906 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc.
4908 @kindex set step-mode
4910 @cindex functions without line info, and stepping
4911 @cindex stepping into functions with no line info
4912 @itemx set step-mode on
4913 The @code{set step-mode on} command causes the @code{step} command to
4914 stop at the first instruction of a function which contains no debug line
4915 information rather than stepping over it.
4917 This is useful in cases where you may be interested in inspecting the
4918 machine instructions of a function which has no symbolic info and do not
4919 want @value{GDBN} to automatically skip over this function.
4921 @item set step-mode off
4922 Causes the @code{step} command to step over any functions which contains no
4923 debug information. This is the default.
4925 @item show step-mode
4926 Show whether @value{GDBN} will stop in or step over functions without
4927 source line debug information.
4930 @kindex fin @r{(@code{finish})}
4932 Continue running until just after function in the selected stack frame
4933 returns. Print the returned value (if any). This command can be
4934 abbreviated as @code{fin}.
4936 Contrast this with the @code{return} command (@pxref{Returning,
4937 ,Returning from a Function}).
4940 @kindex u @r{(@code{until})}
4941 @cindex run until specified location
4944 Continue running until a source line past the current line, in the
4945 current stack frame, is reached. This command is used to avoid single
4946 stepping through a loop more than once. It is like the @code{next}
4947 command, except that when @code{until} encounters a jump, it
4948 automatically continues execution until the program counter is greater
4949 than the address of the jump.
4951 This means that when you reach the end of a loop after single stepping
4952 though it, @code{until} makes your program continue execution until it
4953 exits the loop. In contrast, a @code{next} command at the end of a loop
4954 simply steps back to the beginning of the loop, which forces you to step
4955 through the next iteration.
4957 @code{until} always stops your program if it attempts to exit the current
4960 @code{until} may produce somewhat counterintuitive results if the order
4961 of machine code does not match the order of the source lines. For
4962 example, in the following excerpt from a debugging session, the @code{f}
4963 (@code{frame}) command shows that execution is stopped at line
4964 @code{206}; yet when we use @code{until}, we get to line @code{195}:
4968 #0 main (argc=4, argv=0xf7fffae8) at m4.c:206
4970 (@value{GDBP}) until
4971 195 for ( ; argc > 0; NEXTARG) @{
4974 This happened because, for execution efficiency, the compiler had
4975 generated code for the loop closure test at the end, rather than the
4976 start, of the loop---even though the test in a C @code{for}-loop is
4977 written before the body of the loop. The @code{until} command appeared
4978 to step back to the beginning of the loop when it advanced to this
4979 expression; however, it has not really gone to an earlier
4980 statement---not in terms of the actual machine code.
4982 @code{until} with no argument works by means of single
4983 instruction stepping, and hence is slower than @code{until} with an
4986 @item until @var{location}
4987 @itemx u @var{location}
4988 Continue running your program until either the specified location is
4989 reached, or the current stack frame returns. @var{location} is any of
4990 the forms described in @ref{Specify Location}.
4991 This form of the command uses temporary breakpoints, and
4992 hence is quicker than @code{until} without an argument. The specified
4993 location is actually reached only if it is in the current frame. This
4994 implies that @code{until} can be used to skip over recursive function
4995 invocations. For instance in the code below, if the current location is
4996 line @code{96}, issuing @code{until 99} will execute the program up to
4997 line @code{99} in the same invocation of factorial, i.e., after the inner
4998 invocations have returned.
5001 94 int factorial (int value)
5003 96 if (value > 1) @{
5004 97 value *= factorial (value - 1);
5011 @kindex advance @var{location}
5012 @itemx advance @var{location}
5013 Continue running the program up to the given @var{location}. An argument is
5014 required, which should be of one of the forms described in
5015 @ref{Specify Location}.
5016 Execution will also stop upon exit from the current stack
5017 frame. This command is similar to @code{until}, but @code{advance} will
5018 not skip over recursive function calls, and the target location doesn't
5019 have to be in the same frame as the current one.
5023 @kindex si @r{(@code{stepi})}
5025 @itemx stepi @var{arg}
5027 Execute one machine instruction, then stop and return to the debugger.
5029 It is often useful to do @samp{display/i $pc} when stepping by machine
5030 instructions. This makes @value{GDBN} automatically display the next
5031 instruction to be executed, each time your program stops. @xref{Auto
5032 Display,, Automatic Display}.
5034 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{step}.
5038 @kindex ni @r{(@code{nexti})}
5040 @itemx nexti @var{arg}
5042 Execute one machine instruction, but if it is a function call,
5043 proceed until the function returns.
5045 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{next}.
5048 @node Skipping Over Functions and Files
5049 @section Skipping Over Functions and Files
5050 @cindex skipping over functions and files
5052 The program you are debugging may contain some functions which are
5053 uninteresting to debug. The @code{skip} comand lets you tell @value{GDBN} to
5054 skip a function or all functions in a file when stepping.
5056 For example, consider the following C function:
5067 Suppose you wish to step into the functions @code{foo} and @code{bar}, but you
5068 are not interested in stepping through @code{boring}. If you run @code{step}
5069 at line 103, you'll enter @code{boring()}, but if you run @code{next}, you'll
5070 step over both @code{foo} and @code{boring}!
5072 One solution is to @code{step} into @code{boring} and use the @code{finish}
5073 command to immediately exit it. But this can become tedious if @code{boring}
5074 is called from many places.
5076 A more flexible solution is to execute @kbd{skip boring}. This instructs
5077 @value{GDBN} never to step into @code{boring}. Now when you execute
5078 @code{step} at line 103, you'll step over @code{boring} and directly into
5081 You can also instruct @value{GDBN} to skip all functions in a file, with, for
5082 example, @code{skip file boring.c}.
5085 @kindex skip function
5086 @item skip @r{[}@var{linespec}@r{]}
5087 @itemx skip function @r{[}@var{linespec}@r{]}
5088 After running this command, the function named by @var{linespec} or the
5089 function containing the line named by @var{linespec} will be skipped over when
5090 stepping. @xref{Specify Location}.
5092 If you do not specify @var{linespec}, the function you're currently debugging
5095 (If you have a function called @code{file} that you want to skip, use
5096 @kbd{skip function file}.)
5099 @item skip file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
5100 After running this command, any function whose source lives in @var{filename}
5101 will be skipped over when stepping.
5103 If you do not specify @var{filename}, functions whose source lives in the file
5104 you're currently debugging will be skipped.
5107 Skips can be listed, deleted, disabled, and enabled, much like breakpoints.
5108 These are the commands for managing your list of skips:
5112 @item info skip @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5113 Print details about the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified,
5114 print a table with details about all functions and files marked for skipping.
5115 @code{info skip} prints the following information about each skip:
5119 A number identifying this skip.
5121 The type of this skip, either @samp{function} or @samp{file}.
5122 @item Enabled or Disabled
5123 Enabled skips are marked with @samp{y}. Disabled skips are marked with @samp{n}.
5125 For function skips, this column indicates the address in memory of the function
5126 being skipped. If you've set a function skip on a function which has not yet
5127 been loaded, this field will contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Once a shared library
5128 which has the function is loaded, @code{info skip} will show the function's
5131 For file skips, this field contains the filename being skipped. For functions
5132 skips, this field contains the function name and its line number in the file
5133 where it is defined.
5137 @item skip delete @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5138 Delete the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, delete all
5142 @item skip enable @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5143 Enable the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, enable all
5146 @kindex skip disable
5147 @item skip disable @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5148 Disable the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, disable all
5157 A signal is an asynchronous event that can happen in a program. The
5158 operating system defines the possible kinds of signals, and gives each
5159 kind a name and a number. For example, in Unix @code{SIGINT} is the
5160 signal a program gets when you type an interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c});
5161 @code{SIGSEGV} is the signal a program gets from referencing a place in
5162 memory far away from all the areas in use; @code{SIGALRM} occurs when
5163 the alarm clock timer goes off (which happens only if your program has
5164 requested an alarm).
5166 @cindex fatal signals
5167 Some signals, including @code{SIGALRM}, are a normal part of the
5168 functioning of your program. Others, such as @code{SIGSEGV}, indicate
5169 errors; these signals are @dfn{fatal} (they kill your program immediately) if the
5170 program has not specified in advance some other way to handle the signal.
5171 @code{SIGINT} does not indicate an error in your program, but it is normally
5172 fatal so it can carry out the purpose of the interrupt: to kill the program.
5174 @value{GDBN} has the ability to detect any occurrence of a signal in your
5175 program. You can tell @value{GDBN} in advance what to do for each kind of
5178 @cindex handling signals
5179 Normally, @value{GDBN} is set up to let the non-erroneous signals like
5180 @code{SIGALRM} be silently passed to your program
5181 (so as not to interfere with their role in the program's functioning)
5182 but to stop your program immediately whenever an error signal happens.
5183 You can change these settings with the @code{handle} command.
5186 @kindex info signals
5190 Print a table of all the kinds of signals and how @value{GDBN} has been told to
5191 handle each one. You can use this to see the signal numbers of all
5192 the defined types of signals.
5194 @item info signals @var{sig}
5195 Similar, but print information only about the specified signal number.
5197 @code{info handle} is an alias for @code{info signals}.
5200 @item handle @var{signal} @r{[}@var{keywords}@dots{}@r{]}
5201 Change the way @value{GDBN} handles signal @var{signal}. @var{signal}
5202 can be the number of a signal or its name (with or without the
5203 @samp{SIG} at the beginning); a list of signal numbers of the form
5204 @samp{@var{low}-@var{high}}; or the word @samp{all}, meaning all the
5205 known signals. Optional arguments @var{keywords}, described below,
5206 say what change to make.
5210 The keywords allowed by the @code{handle} command can be abbreviated.
5211 Their full names are:
5215 @value{GDBN} should not stop your program when this signal happens. It may
5216 still print a message telling you that the signal has come in.
5219 @value{GDBN} should stop your program when this signal happens. This implies
5220 the @code{print} keyword as well.
5223 @value{GDBN} should print a message when this signal happens.
5226 @value{GDBN} should not mention the occurrence of the signal at all. This
5227 implies the @code{nostop} keyword as well.
5231 @value{GDBN} should allow your program to see this signal; your program
5232 can handle the signal, or else it may terminate if the signal is fatal
5233 and not handled. @code{pass} and @code{noignore} are synonyms.
5237 @value{GDBN} should not allow your program to see this signal.
5238 @code{nopass} and @code{ignore} are synonyms.
5242 When a signal stops your program, the signal is not visible to the
5244 continue. Your program sees the signal then, if @code{pass} is in
5245 effect for the signal in question @emph{at that time}. In other words,
5246 after @value{GDBN} reports a signal, you can use the @code{handle}
5247 command with @code{pass} or @code{nopass} to control whether your
5248 program sees that signal when you continue.
5250 The default is set to @code{nostop}, @code{noprint}, @code{pass} for
5251 non-erroneous signals such as @code{SIGALRM}, @code{SIGWINCH} and
5252 @code{SIGCHLD}, and to @code{stop}, @code{print}, @code{pass} for the
5255 You can also use the @code{signal} command to prevent your program from
5256 seeing a signal, or cause it to see a signal it normally would not see,
5257 or to give it any signal at any time. For example, if your program stopped
5258 due to some sort of memory reference error, you might store correct
5259 values into the erroneous variables and continue, hoping to see more
5260 execution; but your program would probably terminate immediately as
5261 a result of the fatal signal once it saw the signal. To prevent this,
5262 you can continue with @samp{signal 0}. @xref{Signaling, ,Giving your
5265 @cindex extra signal information
5266 @anchor{extra signal information}
5268 On some targets, @value{GDBN} can inspect extra signal information
5269 associated with the intercepted signal, before it is actually
5270 delivered to the program being debugged. This information is exported
5271 by the convenience variable @code{$_siginfo}, and consists of data
5272 that is passed by the kernel to the signal handler at the time of the
5273 receipt of a signal. The data type of the information itself is
5274 target dependent. You can see the data type using the @code{ptype
5275 $_siginfo} command. On Unix systems, it typically corresponds to the
5276 standard @code{siginfo_t} type, as defined in the @file{signal.h}
5279 Here's an example, on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, printing the stray
5280 referenced address that raised a segmentation fault.
5284 (@value{GDBP}) continue
5285 Program received signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
5286 0x0000000000400766 in main ()
5288 (@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo
5295 struct @{...@} _kill;
5296 struct @{...@} _timer;
5298 struct @{...@} _sigchld;
5299 struct @{...@} _sigfault;
5300 struct @{...@} _sigpoll;
5303 (@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault
5307 (@value{GDBP}) p $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault.si_addr
5308 $1 = (void *) 0x7ffff7ff7000
5312 Depending on target support, @code{$_siginfo} may also be writable.
5315 @section Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs
5317 @cindex stopped threads
5318 @cindex threads, stopped
5320 @cindex continuing threads
5321 @cindex threads, continuing
5323 @value{GDBN} supports debugging programs with multiple threads
5324 (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads}). There
5325 are two modes of controlling execution of your program within the
5326 debugger. In the default mode, referred to as @dfn{all-stop mode},
5327 when any thread in your program stops (for example, at a breakpoint
5328 or while being stepped), all other threads in the program are also stopped by
5329 @value{GDBN}. On some targets, @value{GDBN} also supports
5330 @dfn{non-stop mode}, in which other threads can continue to run freely while
5331 you examine the stopped thread in the debugger.
5334 * All-Stop Mode:: All threads stop when GDB takes control
5335 * Non-Stop Mode:: Other threads continue to execute
5336 * Background Execution:: Running your program asynchronously
5337 * Thread-Specific Breakpoints:: Controlling breakpoints
5338 * Interrupted System Calls:: GDB may interfere with system calls
5339 * Observer Mode:: GDB does not alter program behavior
5343 @subsection All-Stop Mode
5345 @cindex all-stop mode
5347 In all-stop mode, whenever your program stops under @value{GDBN} for any reason,
5348 @emph{all} threads of execution stop, not just the current thread. This
5349 allows you to examine the overall state of the program, including
5350 switching between threads, without worrying that things may change
5353 Conversely, whenever you restart the program, @emph{all} threads start
5354 executing. @emph{This is true even when single-stepping} with commands
5355 like @code{step} or @code{next}.
5357 In particular, @value{GDBN} cannot single-step all threads in lockstep.
5358 Since thread scheduling is up to your debugging target's operating
5359 system (not controlled by @value{GDBN}), other threads may
5360 execute more than one statement while the current thread completes a
5361 single step. Moreover, in general other threads stop in the middle of a
5362 statement, rather than at a clean statement boundary, when the program
5365 You might even find your program stopped in another thread after
5366 continuing or even single-stepping. This happens whenever some other
5367 thread runs into a breakpoint, a signal, or an exception before the
5368 first thread completes whatever you requested.
5370 @cindex automatic thread selection
5371 @cindex switching threads automatically
5372 @cindex threads, automatic switching
5373 Whenever @value{GDBN} stops your program, due to a breakpoint or a
5374 signal, it automatically selects the thread where that breakpoint or
5375 signal happened. @value{GDBN} alerts you to the context switch with a
5376 message such as @samp{[Switching to Thread @var{n}]} to identify the
5379 On some OSes, you can modify @value{GDBN}'s default behavior by
5380 locking the OS scheduler to allow only a single thread to run.
5383 @item set scheduler-locking @var{mode}
5384 @cindex scheduler locking mode
5385 @cindex lock scheduler
5386 Set the scheduler locking mode. If it is @code{off}, then there is no
5387 locking and any thread may run at any time. If @code{on}, then only the
5388 current thread may run when the inferior is resumed. The @code{step}
5389 mode optimizes for single-stepping; it prevents other threads
5390 from preempting the current thread while you are stepping, so that
5391 the focus of debugging does not change unexpectedly.
5392 Other threads only rarely (or never) get a chance to run
5393 when you step. They are more likely to run when you @samp{next} over a
5394 function call, and they are completely free to run when you use commands
5395 like @samp{continue}, @samp{until}, or @samp{finish}. However, unless another
5396 thread hits a breakpoint during its timeslice, @value{GDBN} does not change
5397 the current thread away from the thread that you are debugging.
5399 @item show scheduler-locking
5400 Display the current scheduler locking mode.
5403 @cindex resume threads of multiple processes simultaneously
5404 By default, when you issue one of the execution commands such as
5405 @code{continue}, @code{next} or @code{step}, @value{GDBN} allows only
5406 threads of the current inferior to run. For example, if @value{GDBN}
5407 is attached to two inferiors, each with two threads, the
5408 @code{continue} command resumes only the two threads of the current
5409 inferior. This is useful, for example, when you debug a program that
5410 forks and you want to hold the parent stopped (so that, for instance,
5411 it doesn't run to exit), while you debug the child. In other
5412 situations, you may not be interested in inspecting the current state
5413 of any of the processes @value{GDBN} is attached to, and you may want
5414 to resume them all until some breakpoint is hit. In the latter case,
5415 you can instruct @value{GDBN} to allow all threads of all the
5416 inferiors to run with the @w{@code{set schedule-multiple}} command.
5419 @kindex set schedule-multiple
5420 @item set schedule-multiple
5421 Set the mode for allowing threads of multiple processes to be resumed
5422 when an execution command is issued. When @code{on}, all threads of
5423 all processes are allowed to run. When @code{off}, only the threads
5424 of the current process are resumed. The default is @code{off}. The
5425 @code{scheduler-locking} mode takes precedence when set to @code{on},
5426 or while you are stepping and set to @code{step}.
5428 @item show schedule-multiple
5429 Display the current mode for resuming the execution of threads of
5434 @subsection Non-Stop Mode
5436 @cindex non-stop mode
5438 @c This section is really only a place-holder, and needs to be expanded
5439 @c with more details.
5441 For some multi-threaded targets, @value{GDBN} supports an optional
5442 mode of operation in which you can examine stopped program threads in
5443 the debugger while other threads continue to execute freely. This
5444 minimizes intrusion when debugging live systems, such as programs
5445 where some threads have real-time constraints or must continue to
5446 respond to external events. This is referred to as @dfn{non-stop} mode.
5448 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops to report a debugging event,
5449 @emph{only} that thread is stopped; @value{GDBN} does not stop other
5450 threads as well, in contrast to the all-stop mode behavior. Additionally,
5451 execution commands such as @code{continue} and @code{step} apply by default
5452 only to the current thread in non-stop mode, rather than all threads as
5453 in all-stop mode. This allows you to control threads explicitly in
5454 ways that are not possible in all-stop mode --- for example, stepping
5455 one thread while allowing others to run freely, stepping
5456 one thread while holding all others stopped, or stepping several threads
5457 independently and simultaneously.
5459 To enter non-stop mode, use this sequence of commands before you run
5460 or attach to your program:
5463 # Enable the async interface.
5466 # If using the CLI, pagination breaks non-stop.
5469 # Finally, turn it on!
5473 You can use these commands to manipulate the non-stop mode setting:
5476 @kindex set non-stop
5477 @item set non-stop on
5478 Enable selection of non-stop mode.
5479 @item set non-stop off
5480 Disable selection of non-stop mode.
5481 @kindex show non-stop
5483 Show the current non-stop enablement setting.
5486 Note these commands only reflect whether non-stop mode is enabled,
5487 not whether the currently-executing program is being run in non-stop mode.
5488 In particular, the @code{set non-stop} preference is only consulted when
5489 @value{GDBN} starts or connects to the target program, and it is generally
5490 not possible to switch modes once debugging has started. Furthermore,
5491 since not all targets support non-stop mode, even when you have enabled
5492 non-stop mode, @value{GDBN} may still fall back to all-stop operation by
5495 In non-stop mode, all execution commands apply only to the current thread
5496 by default. That is, @code{continue} only continues one thread.
5497 To continue all threads, issue @code{continue -a} or @code{c -a}.
5499 You can use @value{GDBN}'s background execution commands
5500 (@pxref{Background Execution}) to run some threads in the background
5501 while you continue to examine or step others from @value{GDBN}.
5502 The MI execution commands (@pxref{GDB/MI Program Execution}) are
5503 always executed asynchronously in non-stop mode.
5505 Suspending execution is done with the @code{interrupt} command when
5506 running in the background, or @kbd{Ctrl-c} during foreground execution.
5507 In all-stop mode, this stops the whole process;
5508 but in non-stop mode the interrupt applies only to the current thread.
5509 To stop the whole program, use @code{interrupt -a}.
5511 Other execution commands do not currently support the @code{-a} option.
5513 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops, @value{GDBN} doesn't automatically make
5514 that thread current, as it does in all-stop mode. This is because the
5515 thread stop notifications are asynchronous with respect to @value{GDBN}'s
5516 command interpreter, and it would be confusing if @value{GDBN} unexpectedly
5517 changed to a different thread just as you entered a command to operate on the
5518 previously current thread.
5520 @node Background Execution
5521 @subsection Background Execution
5523 @cindex foreground execution
5524 @cindex background execution
5525 @cindex asynchronous execution
5526 @cindex execution, foreground, background and asynchronous
5528 @value{GDBN}'s execution commands have two variants: the normal
5529 foreground (synchronous) behavior, and a background
5530 (asynchronous) behavior. In foreground execution, @value{GDBN} waits for
5531 the program to report that some thread has stopped before prompting for
5532 another command. In background execution, @value{GDBN} immediately gives
5533 a command prompt so that you can issue other commands while your program runs.
5535 You need to explicitly enable asynchronous mode before you can use
5536 background execution commands. You can use these commands to
5537 manipulate the asynchronous mode setting:
5540 @kindex set target-async
5541 @item set target-async on
5542 Enable asynchronous mode.
5543 @item set target-async off
5544 Disable asynchronous mode.
5545 @kindex show target-async
5546 @item show target-async
5547 Show the current target-async setting.
5550 If the target doesn't support async mode, @value{GDBN} issues an error
5551 message if you attempt to use the background execution commands.
5553 To specify background execution, add a @code{&} to the command. For example,
5554 the background form of the @code{continue} command is @code{continue&}, or
5555 just @code{c&}. The execution commands that accept background execution
5561 @xref{Starting, , Starting your Program}.
5565 @xref{Attach, , Debugging an Already-running Process}.
5569 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, step}.
5573 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, stepi}.
5577 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, next}.
5581 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, nexti}.
5585 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, continue}.
5589 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, finish}.
5593 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, until}.
5597 Background execution is especially useful in conjunction with non-stop
5598 mode for debugging programs with multiple threads; see @ref{Non-Stop Mode}.
5599 However, you can also use these commands in the normal all-stop mode with
5600 the restriction that you cannot issue another execution command until the
5601 previous one finishes. Examples of commands that are valid in all-stop
5602 mode while the program is running include @code{help} and @code{info break}.
5604 You can interrupt your program while it is running in the background by
5605 using the @code{interrupt} command.
5612 Suspend execution of the running program. In all-stop mode,
5613 @code{interrupt} stops the whole process, but in non-stop mode, it stops
5614 only the current thread. To stop the whole program in non-stop mode,
5615 use @code{interrupt -a}.
5618 @node Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5619 @subsection Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5621 When your program has multiple threads (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging
5622 Programs with Multiple Threads}), you can choose whether to set
5623 breakpoints on all threads, or on a particular thread.
5626 @cindex breakpoints and threads
5627 @cindex thread breakpoints
5628 @kindex break @dots{} thread @var{threadno}
5629 @item break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno}
5630 @itemx break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno} if @dots{}
5631 @var{linespec} specifies source lines; there are several ways of
5632 writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always to
5633 specify some source line.
5635 Use the qualifier @samp{thread @var{threadno}} with a breakpoint command
5636 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
5637 particular thread reaches this breakpoint. @var{threadno} is one of the
5638 numeric thread identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
5639 column of the @samp{info threads} display.
5641 If you do not specify @samp{thread @var{threadno}} when you set a
5642 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} threads of your
5645 You can use the @code{thread} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
5646 well; in this case, place @samp{thread @var{threadno}} before or
5647 after the breakpoint condition, like this:
5650 (@value{GDBP}) break frik.c:13 thread 28 if bartab > lim
5655 @node Interrupted System Calls
5656 @subsection Interrupted System Calls
5658 @cindex thread breakpoints and system calls
5659 @cindex system calls and thread breakpoints
5660 @cindex premature return from system calls
5661 There is an unfortunate side effect when using @value{GDBN} to debug
5662 multi-threaded programs. If one thread stops for a
5663 breakpoint, or for some other reason, and another thread is blocked in a
5664 system call, then the system call may return prematurely. This is a
5665 consequence of the interaction between multiple threads and the signals
5666 that @value{GDBN} uses to implement breakpoints and other events that
5669 To handle this problem, your program should check the return value of
5670 each system call and react appropriately. This is good programming
5673 For example, do not write code like this:
5679 The call to @code{sleep} will return early if a different thread stops
5680 at a breakpoint or for some other reason.
5682 Instead, write this:
5687 unslept = sleep (unslept);
5690 A system call is allowed to return early, so the system is still
5691 conforming to its specification. But @value{GDBN} does cause your
5692 multi-threaded program to behave differently than it would without
5695 Also, @value{GDBN} uses internal breakpoints in the thread library to
5696 monitor certain events such as thread creation and thread destruction.
5697 When such an event happens, a system call in another thread may return
5698 prematurely, even though your program does not appear to stop.
5701 @subsection Observer Mode
5703 If you want to build on non-stop mode and observe program behavior
5704 without any chance of disruption by @value{GDBN}, you can set
5705 variables to disable all of the debugger's attempts to modify state,
5706 whether by writing memory, inserting breakpoints, etc. These operate
5707 at a low level, intercepting operations from all commands.
5709 When all of these are set to @code{off}, then @value{GDBN} is said to
5710 be @dfn{observer mode}. As a convenience, the variable
5711 @code{observer} can be set to disable these, plus enable non-stop
5714 Note that @value{GDBN} will not prevent you from making nonsensical
5715 combinations of these settings. For instance, if you have enabled
5716 @code{may-insert-breakpoints} but disabled @code{may-write-memory},
5717 then breakpoints that work by writing trap instructions into the code
5718 stream will still not be able to be placed.
5723 @item set observer on
5724 @itemx set observer off
5725 When set to @code{on}, this disables all the permission variables
5726 below (except for @code{insert-fast-tracepoints}), plus enables
5727 non-stop debugging. Setting this to @code{off} switches back to
5728 normal debugging, though remaining in non-stop mode.
5731 Show whether observer mode is on or off.
5733 @kindex may-write-registers
5734 @item set may-write-registers on
5735 @itemx set may-write-registers off
5736 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the values of
5737 registers, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}, or the
5738 @code{jump} command. It defaults to @code{on}.
5740 @item show may-write-registers
5741 Show the current permission to write registers.
5743 @kindex may-write-memory
5744 @item set may-write-memory on
5745 @itemx set may-write-memory off
5746 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the contents
5747 of memory, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}. It
5748 defaults to @code{on}.
5750 @item show may-write-memory
5751 Show the current permission to write memory.
5753 @kindex may-insert-breakpoints
5754 @item set may-insert-breakpoints on
5755 @itemx set may-insert-breakpoints off
5756 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert breakpoints.
5757 This affects all breakpoints, including internal breakpoints defined
5758 by @value{GDBN}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5760 @item show may-insert-breakpoints
5761 Show the current permission to insert breakpoints.
5763 @kindex may-insert-tracepoints
5764 @item set may-insert-tracepoints on
5765 @itemx set may-insert-tracepoints off
5766 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert (regular)
5767 tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
5768 non-fast tracepoints, fast tracepoints being under the control of
5769 @code{may-insert-fast-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5771 @item show may-insert-tracepoints
5772 Show the current permission to insert tracepoints.
5774 @kindex may-insert-fast-tracepoints
5775 @item set may-insert-fast-tracepoints on
5776 @itemx set may-insert-fast-tracepoints off
5777 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert fast
5778 tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
5779 fast tracepoints, regular (non-fast) tracepoints being under the
5780 control of @code{may-insert-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5782 @item show may-insert-fast-tracepoints
5783 Show the current permission to insert fast tracepoints.
5785 @kindex may-interrupt
5786 @item set may-interrupt on
5787 @itemx set may-interrupt off
5788 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to interrupt or stop
5789 program execution. When this variable is @code{off}, the
5790 @code{interrupt} command will have no effect, nor will
5791 @kbd{Ctrl-c}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5793 @item show may-interrupt
5794 Show the current permission to interrupt or stop the program.
5798 @node Reverse Execution
5799 @chapter Running programs backward
5800 @cindex reverse execution
5801 @cindex running programs backward
5803 When you are debugging a program, it is not unusual to realize that
5804 you have gone too far, and some event of interest has already happened.
5805 If the target environment supports it, @value{GDBN} can allow you to
5806 ``rewind'' the program by running it backward.
5808 A target environment that supports reverse execution should be able
5809 to ``undo'' the changes in machine state that have taken place as the
5810 program was executing normally. Variables, registers etc.@: should
5811 revert to their previous values. Obviously this requires a great
5812 deal of sophistication on the part of the target environment; not
5813 all target environments can support reverse execution.
5815 When a program is executed in reverse, the instructions that
5816 have most recently been executed are ``un-executed'', in reverse
5817 order. The program counter runs backward, following the previous
5818 thread of execution in reverse. As each instruction is ``un-executed'',
5819 the values of memory and/or registers that were changed by that
5820 instruction are reverted to their previous states. After executing
5821 a piece of source code in reverse, all side effects of that code
5822 should be ``undone'', and all variables should be returned to their
5823 prior values@footnote{
5824 Note that some side effects are easier to undo than others. For instance,
5825 memory and registers are relatively easy, but device I/O is hard. Some
5826 targets may be able undo things like device I/O, and some may not.
5828 The contract between @value{GDBN} and the reverse executing target
5829 requires only that the target do something reasonable when
5830 @value{GDBN} tells it to execute backwards, and then report the
5831 results back to @value{GDBN}. Whatever the target reports back to
5832 @value{GDBN}, @value{GDBN} will report back to the user. @value{GDBN}
5833 assumes that the memory and registers that the target reports are in a
5834 consistant state, but @value{GDBN} accepts whatever it is given.
5837 If you are debugging in a target environment that supports
5838 reverse execution, @value{GDBN} provides the following commands.
5841 @kindex reverse-continue
5842 @kindex rc @r{(@code{reverse-continue})}
5843 @item reverse-continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5844 @itemx rc @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5845 Beginning at the point where your program last stopped, start executing
5846 in reverse. Reverse execution will stop for breakpoints and synchronous
5847 exceptions (signals), just like normal execution. Behavior of
5848 asynchronous signals depends on the target environment.
5850 @kindex reverse-step
5851 @kindex rs @r{(@code{step})}
5852 @item reverse-step @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5853 Run the program backward until control reaches the start of a
5854 different source line; then stop it, and return control to @value{GDBN}.
5856 Like the @code{step} command, @code{reverse-step} will only stop
5857 at the beginning of a source line. It ``un-executes'' the previously
5858 executed source line. If the previous source line included calls to
5859 debuggable functions, @code{reverse-step} will step (backward) into
5860 the called function, stopping at the beginning of the @emph{last}
5861 statement in the called function (typically a return statement).
5863 Also, as with the @code{step} command, if non-debuggable functions are
5864 called, @code{reverse-step} will run thru them backward without stopping.
5866 @kindex reverse-stepi
5867 @kindex rsi @r{(@code{reverse-stepi})}
5868 @item reverse-stepi @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5869 Reverse-execute one machine instruction. Note that the instruction
5870 to be reverse-executed is @emph{not} the one pointed to by the program
5871 counter, but the instruction executed prior to that one. For instance,
5872 if the last instruction was a jump, @code{reverse-stepi} will take you
5873 back from the destination of the jump to the jump instruction itself.
5875 @kindex reverse-next
5876 @kindex rn @r{(@code{reverse-next})}
5877 @item reverse-next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5878 Run backward to the beginning of the previous line executed in
5879 the current (innermost) stack frame. If the line contains function
5880 calls, they will be ``un-executed'' without stopping. Starting from
5881 the first line of a function, @code{reverse-next} will take you back
5882 to the caller of that function, @emph{before} the function was called,
5883 just as the normal @code{next} command would take you from the last
5884 line of a function back to its return to its caller
5885 @footnote{Unless the code is too heavily optimized.}.
5887 @kindex reverse-nexti
5888 @kindex rni @r{(@code{reverse-nexti})}
5889 @item reverse-nexti @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5890 Like @code{nexti}, @code{reverse-nexti} executes a single instruction
5891 in reverse, except that called functions are ``un-executed'' atomically.
5892 That is, if the previously executed instruction was a return from
5893 another function, @code{reverse-nexti} will continue to execute
5894 in reverse until the call to that function (from the current stack
5897 @kindex reverse-finish
5898 @item reverse-finish
5899 Just as the @code{finish} command takes you to the point where the
5900 current function returns, @code{reverse-finish} takes you to the point
5901 where it was called. Instead of ending up at the end of the current
5902 function invocation, you end up at the beginning.
5904 @kindex set exec-direction
5905 @item set exec-direction
5906 Set the direction of target execution.
5907 @itemx set exec-direction reverse
5908 @cindex execute forward or backward in time
5909 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in reverse, until the
5910 exec-direction mode is changed to ``forward''. Affected commands include
5911 @code{step, stepi, next, nexti, continue, and finish}. The @code{return}
5912 command cannot be used in reverse mode.
5913 @item set exec-direction forward
5914 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in the normal fashion.
5915 This is the default.
5919 @node Process Record and Replay
5920 @chapter Recording Inferior's Execution and Replaying It
5921 @cindex process record and replay
5922 @cindex recording inferior's execution and replaying it
5924 On some platforms, @value{GDBN} provides a special @dfn{process record
5925 and replay} target that can record a log of the process execution, and
5926 replay it later with both forward and reverse execution commands.
5929 When this target is in use, if the execution log includes the record
5930 for the next instruction, @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{replay
5931 mode}. In the replay mode, the inferior does not really execute code
5932 instructions. Instead, all the events that normally happen during
5933 code execution are taken from the execution log. While code is not
5934 really executed in replay mode, the values of registers (including the
5935 program counter register) and the memory of the inferior are still
5936 changed as they normally would. Their contents are taken from the
5940 If the record for the next instruction is not in the execution log,
5941 @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{record mode}. In this mode, the
5942 inferior executes normally, and @value{GDBN} records the execution log
5945 The process record and replay target supports reverse execution
5946 (@pxref{Reverse Execution}), even if the platform on which the
5947 inferior runs does not. However, the reverse execution is limited in
5948 this case by the range of the instructions recorded in the execution
5949 log. In other words, reverse execution on platforms that don't
5950 support it directly can only be done in the replay mode.
5952 When debugging in the reverse direction, @value{GDBN} will work in
5953 replay mode as long as the execution log includes the record for the
5954 previous instruction; otherwise, it will work in record mode, if the
5955 platform supports reverse execution, or stop if not.
5957 For architecture environments that support process record and replay,
5958 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands:
5961 @kindex target record
5965 This command starts the process record and replay target. The process
5966 record and replay target can only debug a process that is already
5967 running. Therefore, you need first to start the process with the
5968 @kbd{run} or @kbd{start} commands, and then start the recording with
5969 the @kbd{target record} command.
5971 Both @code{record} and @code{rec} are aliases of @code{target record}.
5973 @cindex displaced stepping, and process record and replay
5974 Displaced stepping (@pxref{Maintenance Commands,, displaced stepping})
5975 will be automatically disabled when process record and replay target
5976 is started. That's because the process record and replay target
5977 doesn't support displaced stepping.
5979 @cindex non-stop mode, and process record and replay
5980 @cindex asynchronous execution, and process record and replay
5981 If the inferior is in the non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) or in
5982 the asynchronous execution mode (@pxref{Background Execution}), the
5983 process record and replay target cannot be started because it doesn't
5984 support these two modes.
5989 Stop the process record and replay target. When process record and
5990 replay target stops, the entire execution log will be deleted and the
5991 inferior will either be terminated, or will remain in its final state.
5993 When you stop the process record and replay target in record mode (at
5994 the end of the execution log), the inferior will be stopped at the
5995 next instruction that would have been recorded. In other words, if
5996 you record for a while and then stop recording, the inferior process
5997 will be left in the same state as if the recording never happened.
5999 On the other hand, if the process record and replay target is stopped
6000 while in replay mode (that is, not at the end of the execution log,
6001 but at some earlier point), the inferior process will become ``live''
6002 at that earlier state, and it will then be possible to continue the
6003 usual ``live'' debugging of the process from that state.
6005 When the inferior process exits, or @value{GDBN} detaches from it,
6006 process record and replay target will automatically stop itself.
6009 @item record save @var{filename}
6010 Save the execution log to a file @file{@var{filename}}.
6011 Default filename is @file{gdb_record.@var{process_id}}, where
6012 @var{process_id} is the process ID of the inferior.
6014 @kindex record restore
6015 @item record restore @var{filename}
6016 Restore the execution log from a file @file{@var{filename}}.
6017 File must have been created with @code{record save}.
6019 @kindex set record insn-number-max
6020 @item set record insn-number-max @var{limit}
6021 Set the limit of instructions to be recorded. Default value is 200000.
6023 If @var{limit} is a positive number, then @value{GDBN} will start
6024 deleting instructions from the log once the number of the record
6025 instructions becomes greater than @var{limit}. For every new recorded
6026 instruction, @value{GDBN} will delete the earliest recorded
6027 instruction to keep the number of recorded instructions at the limit.
6028 (Since deleting recorded instructions loses information, @value{GDBN}
6029 lets you control what happens when the limit is reached, by means of
6030 the @code{stop-at-limit} option, described below.)
6032 If @var{limit} is zero, @value{GDBN} will never delete recorded
6033 instructions from the execution log. The number of recorded
6034 instructions is unlimited in this case.
6036 @kindex show record insn-number-max
6037 @item show record insn-number-max
6038 Show the limit of instructions to be recorded.
6040 @kindex set record stop-at-limit
6041 @item set record stop-at-limit
6042 Control the behavior when the number of recorded instructions reaches
6043 the limit. If ON (the default), @value{GDBN} will stop when the limit
6044 is reached for the first time and ask you whether you want to stop the
6045 inferior or continue running it and recording the execution log. If
6046 you decide to continue recording, each new recorded instruction will
6047 cause the oldest one to be deleted.
6049 If this option is OFF, @value{GDBN} will automatically delete the
6050 oldest record to make room for each new one, without asking.
6052 @kindex show record stop-at-limit
6053 @item show record stop-at-limit
6054 Show the current setting of @code{stop-at-limit}.
6056 @kindex set record memory-query
6057 @item set record memory-query
6058 Control the behavior when @value{GDBN} is unable to record memory
6059 changes caused by an instruction. If ON, @value{GDBN} will query
6060 whether to stop the inferior in that case.
6062 If this option is OFF (the default), @value{GDBN} will automatically
6063 ignore the effect of such instructions on memory. Later, when
6064 @value{GDBN} replays this execution log, it will mark the log of this
6065 instruction as not accessible, and it will not affect the replay
6068 @kindex show record memory-query
6069 @item show record memory-query
6070 Show the current setting of @code{memory-query}.
6074 Show various statistics about the state of process record and its
6075 in-memory execution log buffer, including:
6079 Whether in record mode or replay mode.
6081 Lowest recorded instruction number (counting from when the current execution log started recording instructions).
6083 Highest recorded instruction number.
6085 Current instruction about to be replayed (if in replay mode).
6087 Number of instructions contained in the execution log.
6089 Maximum number of instructions that may be contained in the execution log.
6092 @kindex record delete
6095 When record target runs in replay mode (``in the past''), delete the
6096 subsequent execution log and begin to record a new execution log starting
6097 from the current address. This means you will abandon the previously
6098 recorded ``future'' and begin recording a new ``future''.
6103 @chapter Examining the Stack
6105 When your program has stopped, the first thing you need to know is where it
6106 stopped and how it got there.
6109 Each time your program performs a function call, information about the call
6111 That information includes the location of the call in your program,
6112 the arguments of the call,
6113 and the local variables of the function being called.
6114 The information is saved in a block of data called a @dfn{stack frame}.
6115 The stack frames are allocated in a region of memory called the @dfn{call
6118 When your program stops, the @value{GDBN} commands for examining the
6119 stack allow you to see all of this information.
6121 @cindex selected frame
6122 One of the stack frames is @dfn{selected} by @value{GDBN} and many
6123 @value{GDBN} commands refer implicitly to the selected frame. In
6124 particular, whenever you ask @value{GDBN} for the value of a variable in
6125 your program, the value is found in the selected frame. There are
6126 special @value{GDBN} commands to select whichever frame you are
6127 interested in. @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
6129 When your program stops, @value{GDBN} automatically selects the
6130 currently executing frame and describes it briefly, similar to the
6131 @code{frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}).
6134 * Frames:: Stack frames
6135 * Backtrace:: Backtraces
6136 * Selection:: Selecting a frame
6137 * Frame Info:: Information on a frame
6142 @section Stack Frames
6144 @cindex frame, definition
6146 The call stack is divided up into contiguous pieces called @dfn{stack
6147 frames}, or @dfn{frames} for short; each frame is the data associated
6148 with one call to one function. The frame contains the arguments given
6149 to the function, the function's local variables, and the address at
6150 which the function is executing.
6152 @cindex initial frame
6153 @cindex outermost frame
6154 @cindex innermost frame
6155 When your program is started, the stack has only one frame, that of the
6156 function @code{main}. This is called the @dfn{initial} frame or the
6157 @dfn{outermost} frame. Each time a function is called, a new frame is
6158 made. Each time a function returns, the frame for that function invocation
6159 is eliminated. If a function is recursive, there can be many frames for
6160 the same function. The frame for the function in which execution is
6161 actually occurring is called the @dfn{innermost} frame. This is the most
6162 recently created of all the stack frames that still exist.
6164 @cindex frame pointer
6165 Inside your program, stack frames are identified by their addresses. A
6166 stack frame consists of many bytes, each of which has its own address; each
6167 kind of computer has a convention for choosing one byte whose
6168 address serves as the address of the frame. Usually this address is kept
6169 in a register called the @dfn{frame pointer register}
6170 (@pxref{Registers, $fp}) while execution is going on in that frame.
6172 @cindex frame number
6173 @value{GDBN} assigns numbers to all existing stack frames, starting with
6174 zero for the innermost frame, one for the frame that called it,
6175 and so on upward. These numbers do not really exist in your program;
6176 they are assigned by @value{GDBN} to give you a way of designating stack
6177 frames in @value{GDBN} commands.
6179 @c The -fomit-frame-pointer below perennially causes hbox overflow
6180 @c underflow problems.
6181 @cindex frameless execution
6182 Some compilers provide a way to compile functions so that they operate
6183 without stack frames. (For example, the @value{NGCC} option
6185 @samp{-fomit-frame-pointer}
6187 generates functions without a frame.)
6188 This is occasionally done with heavily used library functions to save
6189 the frame setup time. @value{GDBN} has limited facilities for dealing
6190 with these function invocations. If the innermost function invocation
6191 has no stack frame, @value{GDBN} nevertheless regards it as though
6192 it had a separate frame, which is numbered zero as usual, allowing
6193 correct tracing of the function call chain. However, @value{GDBN} has
6194 no provision for frameless functions elsewhere in the stack.
6197 @kindex frame@r{, command}
6198 @cindex current stack frame
6199 @item frame @var{args}
6200 The @code{frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame to another,
6201 and to print the stack frame you select. @var{args} may be either the
6202 address of the frame or the stack frame number. Without an argument,
6203 @code{frame} prints the current stack frame.
6205 @kindex select-frame
6206 @cindex selecting frame silently
6208 The @code{select-frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame
6209 to another without printing the frame. This is the silent version of
6217 @cindex call stack traces
6218 A backtrace is a summary of how your program got where it is. It shows one
6219 line per frame, for many frames, starting with the currently executing
6220 frame (frame zero), followed by its caller (frame one), and on up the
6225 @kindex bt @r{(@code{backtrace})}
6228 Print a backtrace of the entire stack: one line per frame for all
6229 frames in the stack.
6231 You can stop the backtrace at any time by typing the system interrupt
6232 character, normally @kbd{Ctrl-c}.
6234 @item backtrace @var{n}
6236 Similar, but print only the innermost @var{n} frames.
6238 @item backtrace -@var{n}
6240 Similar, but print only the outermost @var{n} frames.
6242 @item backtrace full
6244 @itemx bt full @var{n}
6245 @itemx bt full -@var{n}
6246 Print the values of the local variables also. @var{n} specifies the
6247 number of frames to print, as described above.
6252 The names @code{where} and @code{info stack} (abbreviated @code{info s})
6253 are additional aliases for @code{backtrace}.
6255 @cindex multiple threads, backtrace
6256 In a multi-threaded program, @value{GDBN} by default shows the
6257 backtrace only for the current thread. To display the backtrace for
6258 several or all of the threads, use the command @code{thread apply}
6259 (@pxref{Threads, thread apply}). For example, if you type @kbd{thread
6260 apply all backtrace}, @value{GDBN} will display the backtrace for all
6261 the threads; this is handy when you debug a core dump of a
6262 multi-threaded program.
6264 Each line in the backtrace shows the frame number and the function name.
6265 The program counter value is also shown---unless you use @code{set
6266 print address off}. The backtrace also shows the source file name and
6267 line number, as well as the arguments to the function. The program
6268 counter value is omitted if it is at the beginning of the code for that
6271 Here is an example of a backtrace. It was made with the command
6272 @samp{bt 3}, so it shows the innermost three frames.
6276 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
6278 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=0x2b600, data=...) at macro.c:242
6279 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=177664, td=0xf7fffb08)
6281 (More stack frames follow...)
6286 The display for frame zero does not begin with a program counter
6287 value, indicating that your program has stopped at the beginning of the
6288 code for line @code{993} of @code{builtin.c}.
6291 The value of parameter @code{data} in frame 1 has been replaced by
6292 @code{@dots{}}. By default, @value{GDBN} prints the value of a parameter
6293 only if it is a scalar (integer, pointer, enumeration, etc). See command
6294 @kbd{set print frame-arguments} in @ref{Print Settings} for more details
6295 on how to configure the way function parameter values are printed.
6297 @cindex optimized out, in backtrace
6298 @cindex function call arguments, optimized out
6299 If your program was compiled with optimizations, some compilers will
6300 optimize away arguments passed to functions if those arguments are
6301 never used after the call. Such optimizations generate code that
6302 passes arguments through registers, but doesn't store those arguments
6303 in the stack frame. @value{GDBN} has no way of displaying such
6304 arguments in stack frames other than the innermost one. Here's what
6305 such a backtrace might look like:
6309 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
6311 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=<optimized out>) at macro.c:242
6312 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=<optimized out>, td=0xf7fffb08)
6314 (More stack frames follow...)
6319 The values of arguments that were not saved in their stack frames are
6320 shown as @samp{<optimized out>}.
6322 If you need to display the values of such optimized-out arguments,
6323 either deduce that from other variables whose values depend on the one
6324 you are interested in, or recompile without optimizations.
6326 @cindex backtrace beyond @code{main} function
6327 @cindex program entry point
6328 @cindex startup code, and backtrace
6329 Most programs have a standard user entry point---a place where system
6330 libraries and startup code transition into user code. For C this is
6331 @code{main}@footnote{
6332 Note that embedded programs (the so-called ``free-standing''
6333 environment) are not required to have a @code{main} function as the
6334 entry point. They could even have multiple entry points.}.
6335 When @value{GDBN} finds the entry function in a backtrace
6336 it will terminate the backtrace, to avoid tracing into highly
6337 system-specific (and generally uninteresting) code.
6339 If you need to examine the startup code, or limit the number of levels
6340 in a backtrace, you can change this behavior:
6343 @item set backtrace past-main
6344 @itemx set backtrace past-main on
6345 @kindex set backtrace
6346 Backtraces will continue past the user entry point.
6348 @item set backtrace past-main off
6349 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the user entry point. This is the
6352 @item show backtrace past-main
6353 @kindex show backtrace
6354 Display the current user entry point backtrace policy.
6356 @item set backtrace past-entry
6357 @itemx set backtrace past-entry on
6358 Backtraces will continue past the internal entry point of an application.
6359 This entry point is encoded by the linker when the application is built,
6360 and is likely before the user entry point @code{main} (or equivalent) is called.
6362 @item set backtrace past-entry off
6363 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the internal entry point of an
6364 application. This is the default.
6366 @item show backtrace past-entry
6367 Display the current internal entry point backtrace policy.
6369 @item set backtrace limit @var{n}
6370 @itemx set backtrace limit 0
6371 @cindex backtrace limit
6372 Limit the backtrace to @var{n} levels. A value of zero means
6375 @item show backtrace limit
6376 Display the current limit on backtrace levels.
6380 @section Selecting a Frame
6382 Most commands for examining the stack and other data in your program work on
6383 whichever stack frame is selected at the moment. Here are the commands for
6384 selecting a stack frame; all of them finish by printing a brief description
6385 of the stack frame just selected.
6388 @kindex frame@r{, selecting}
6389 @kindex f @r{(@code{frame})}
6392 Select frame number @var{n}. Recall that frame zero is the innermost
6393 (currently executing) frame, frame one is the frame that called the
6394 innermost one, and so on. The highest-numbered frame is the one for
6397 @item frame @var{addr}
6399 Select the frame at address @var{addr}. This is useful mainly if the
6400 chaining of stack frames has been damaged by a bug, making it
6401 impossible for @value{GDBN} to assign numbers properly to all frames. In
6402 addition, this can be useful when your program has multiple stacks and
6403 switches between them.
6405 On the SPARC architecture, @code{frame} needs two addresses to
6406 select an arbitrary frame: a frame pointer and a stack pointer.
6408 On the MIPS and Alpha architecture, it needs two addresses: a stack
6409 pointer and a program counter.
6411 On the 29k architecture, it needs three addresses: a register stack
6412 pointer, a program counter, and a memory stack pointer.
6416 Move @var{n} frames up the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
6417 advances toward the outermost frame, to higher frame numbers, to frames
6418 that have existed longer. @var{n} defaults to one.
6421 @kindex do @r{(@code{down})}
6423 Move @var{n} frames down the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
6424 advances toward the innermost frame, to lower frame numbers, to frames
6425 that were created more recently. @var{n} defaults to one. You may
6426 abbreviate @code{down} as @code{do}.
6429 All of these commands end by printing two lines of output describing the
6430 frame. The first line shows the frame number, the function name, the
6431 arguments, and the source file and line number of execution in that
6432 frame. The second line shows the text of that source line.
6440 #1 0x22f0 in main (argc=1, argv=0xf7fffbf4, env=0xf7fffbfc)
6442 10 read_input_file (argv[i]);
6446 After such a printout, the @code{list} command with no arguments
6447 prints ten lines centered on the point of execution in the frame.
6448 You can also edit the program at the point of execution with your favorite
6449 editing program by typing @code{edit}.
6450 @xref{List, ,Printing Source Lines},
6454 @kindex down-silently
6456 @item up-silently @var{n}
6457 @itemx down-silently @var{n}
6458 These two commands are variants of @code{up} and @code{down},
6459 respectively; they differ in that they do their work silently, without
6460 causing display of the new frame. They are intended primarily for use
6461 in @value{GDBN} command scripts, where the output might be unnecessary and
6466 @section Information About a Frame
6468 There are several other commands to print information about the selected
6474 When used without any argument, this command does not change which
6475 frame is selected, but prints a brief description of the currently
6476 selected stack frame. It can be abbreviated @code{f}. With an
6477 argument, this command is used to select a stack frame.
6478 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
6481 @kindex info f @r{(@code{info frame})}
6484 This command prints a verbose description of the selected stack frame,
6489 the address of the frame
6491 the address of the next frame down (called by this frame)
6493 the address of the next frame up (caller of this frame)
6495 the language in which the source code corresponding to this frame is written
6497 the address of the frame's arguments
6499 the address of the frame's local variables
6501 the program counter saved in it (the address of execution in the caller frame)
6503 which registers were saved in the frame
6506 @noindent The verbose description is useful when
6507 something has gone wrong that has made the stack format fail to fit
6508 the usual conventions.
6510 @item info frame @var{addr}
6511 @itemx info f @var{addr}
6512 Print a verbose description of the frame at address @var{addr}, without
6513 selecting that frame. The selected frame remains unchanged by this
6514 command. This requires the same kind of address (more than one for some
6515 architectures) that you specify in the @code{frame} command.
6516 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
6520 Print the arguments of the selected frame, each on a separate line.
6524 Print the local variables of the selected frame, each on a separate
6525 line. These are all variables (declared either static or automatic)
6526 accessible at the point of execution of the selected frame.
6532 @chapter Examining Source Files
6534 @value{GDBN} can print parts of your program's source, since the debugging
6535 information recorded in the program tells @value{GDBN} what source files were
6536 used to build it. When your program stops, @value{GDBN} spontaneously prints
6537 the line where it stopped. Likewise, when you select a stack frame
6538 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}), @value{GDBN} prints the line where
6539 execution in that frame has stopped. You can print other portions of
6540 source files by explicit command.
6542 If you use @value{GDBN} through its @sc{gnu} Emacs interface, you may
6543 prefer to use Emacs facilities to view source; see @ref{Emacs, ,Using
6544 @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}.
6547 * List:: Printing source lines
6548 * Specify Location:: How to specify code locations
6549 * Edit:: Editing source files
6550 * Search:: Searching source files
6551 * Source Path:: Specifying source directories
6552 * Machine Code:: Source and machine code
6556 @section Printing Source Lines
6559 @kindex l @r{(@code{list})}
6560 To print lines from a source file, use the @code{list} command
6561 (abbreviated @code{l}). By default, ten lines are printed.
6562 There are several ways to specify what part of the file you want to
6563 print; see @ref{Specify Location}, for the full list.
6565 Here are the forms of the @code{list} command most commonly used:
6568 @item list @var{linenum}
6569 Print lines centered around line number @var{linenum} in the
6570 current source file.
6572 @item list @var{function}
6573 Print lines centered around the beginning of function
6577 Print more lines. If the last lines printed were printed with a
6578 @code{list} command, this prints lines following the last lines
6579 printed; however, if the last line printed was a solitary line printed
6580 as part of displaying a stack frame (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the
6581 Stack}), this prints lines centered around that line.
6584 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
6587 @cindex @code{list}, how many lines to display
6588 By default, @value{GDBN} prints ten source lines with any of these forms of
6589 the @code{list} command. You can change this using @code{set listsize}:
6592 @kindex set listsize
6593 @item set listsize @var{count}
6594 Make the @code{list} command display @var{count} source lines (unless
6595 the @code{list} argument explicitly specifies some other number).
6597 @kindex show listsize
6599 Display the number of lines that @code{list} prints.
6602 Repeating a @code{list} command with @key{RET} discards the argument,
6603 so it is equivalent to typing just @code{list}. This is more useful
6604 than listing the same lines again. An exception is made for an
6605 argument of @samp{-}; that argument is preserved in repetition so that
6606 each repetition moves up in the source file.
6608 In general, the @code{list} command expects you to supply zero, one or two
6609 @dfn{linespecs}. Linespecs specify source lines; there are several ways
6610 of writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always
6611 to specify some source line.
6613 Here is a complete description of the possible arguments for @code{list}:
6616 @item list @var{linespec}
6617 Print lines centered around the line specified by @var{linespec}.
6619 @item list @var{first},@var{last}
6620 Print lines from @var{first} to @var{last}. Both arguments are
6621 linespecs. When a @code{list} command has two linespecs, and the
6622 source file of the second linespec is omitted, this refers to
6623 the same source file as the first linespec.
6625 @item list ,@var{last}
6626 Print lines ending with @var{last}.
6628 @item list @var{first},
6629 Print lines starting with @var{first}.
6632 Print lines just after the lines last printed.
6635 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
6638 As described in the preceding table.
6641 @node Specify Location
6642 @section Specifying a Location
6643 @cindex specifying location
6646 Several @value{GDBN} commands accept arguments that specify a location
6647 of your program's code. Since @value{GDBN} is a source-level
6648 debugger, a location usually specifies some line in the source code;
6649 for that reason, locations are also known as @dfn{linespecs}.
6651 Here are all the different ways of specifying a code location that
6652 @value{GDBN} understands:
6656 Specifies the line number @var{linenum} of the current source file.
6659 @itemx +@var{offset}
6660 Specifies the line @var{offset} lines before or after the @dfn{current
6661 line}. For the @code{list} command, the current line is the last one
6662 printed; for the breakpoint commands, this is the line at which
6663 execution stopped in the currently selected @dfn{stack frame}
6664 (@pxref{Frames, ,Frames}, for a description of stack frames.) When
6665 used as the second of the two linespecs in a @code{list} command,
6666 this specifies the line @var{offset} lines up or down from the first
6669 @item @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
6670 Specifies the line @var{linenum} in the source file @var{filename}.
6671 If @var{filename} is a relative file name, then it will match any
6672 source file name with the same trailing components. For example, if
6673 @var{filename} is @samp{gcc/expr.c}, then it will match source file
6674 name of @file{/build/trunk/gcc/expr.c}, but not
6675 @file{/build/trunk/libcpp/expr.c} or @file{/build/trunk/gcc/x-expr.c}.
6677 @item @var{function}
6678 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}.
6679 For example, in C, this is the line with the open brace.
6681 @item @var{function}:@var{label}
6682 Specifies the line where @var{label} appears in @var{function}.
6684 @item @var{filename}:@var{function}
6685 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}
6686 in the file @var{filename}. You only need the file name with a
6687 function name to avoid ambiguity when there are identically named
6688 functions in different source files.
6691 Specifies the line at which the label named @var{label} appears.
6692 @value{GDBN} searches for the label in the function corresponding to
6693 the currently selected stack frame. If there is no current selected
6694 stack frame (for instance, if the inferior is not running), then
6695 @value{GDBN} will not search for a label.
6697 @item *@var{address}
6698 Specifies the program address @var{address}. For line-oriented
6699 commands, such as @code{list} and @code{edit}, this specifies a source
6700 line that contains @var{address}. For @code{break} and other
6701 breakpoint oriented commands, this can be used to set breakpoints in
6702 parts of your program which do not have debugging information or
6705 Here @var{address} may be any expression valid in the current working
6706 language (@pxref{Languages, working language}) that specifies a code
6707 address. In addition, as a convenience, @value{GDBN} extends the
6708 semantics of expressions used in locations to cover the situations
6709 that frequently happen during debugging. Here are the various forms
6713 @item @var{expression}
6714 Any expression valid in the current working language.
6716 @item @var{funcaddr}
6717 An address of a function or procedure derived from its name. In C,
6718 C@t{++}, Java, Objective-C, Fortran, minimal, and assembly, this is
6719 simply the function's name @var{function} (and actually a special case
6720 of a valid expression). In Pascal and Modula-2, this is
6721 @code{&@var{function}}. In Ada, this is @code{@var{function}'Address}
6722 (although the Pascal form also works).
6724 This form specifies the address of the function's first instruction,
6725 before the stack frame and arguments have been set up.
6727 @item '@var{filename}'::@var{funcaddr}
6728 Like @var{funcaddr} above, but also specifies the name of the source
6729 file explicitly. This is useful if the name of the function does not
6730 specify the function unambiguously, e.g., if there are several
6731 functions with identical names in different source files.
6734 @cindex breakpoint at static probe point
6735 @item -pstap|-probe-stap @r{[}@var{objfile}:@r{[}@var{provider}:@r{]}@r{]}@var{name}
6736 The @sc{gnu}/Linux tool @code{SystemTap} provides a way for
6737 applications to embed static probes. @xref{Static Probe Points}, for more
6738 information on finding and using static probes. This form of linespec
6739 specifies the location of such a static probe.
6741 If @var{objfile} is given, only probes coming from that shared library
6742 or executable matching @var{objfile} as a regular expression are considered.
6743 If @var{provider} is given, then only probes from that provider are considered.
6744 If several probes match the spec, @value{GDBN} will insert a breakpoint at
6745 each one of those probes.
6751 @section Editing Source Files
6752 @cindex editing source files
6755 @kindex e @r{(@code{edit})}
6756 To edit the lines in a source file, use the @code{edit} command.
6757 The editing program of your choice
6758 is invoked with the current line set to
6759 the active line in the program.
6760 Alternatively, there are several ways to specify what part of the file you
6761 want to print if you want to see other parts of the program:
6764 @item edit @var{location}
6765 Edit the source file specified by @code{location}. Editing starts at
6766 that @var{location}, e.g., at the specified source line of the
6767 specified file. @xref{Specify Location}, for all the possible forms
6768 of the @var{location} argument; here are the forms of the @code{edit}
6769 command most commonly used:
6772 @item edit @var{number}
6773 Edit the current source file with @var{number} as the active line number.
6775 @item edit @var{function}
6776 Edit the file containing @var{function} at the beginning of its definition.
6781 @subsection Choosing your Editor
6782 You can customize @value{GDBN} to use any editor you want
6784 The only restriction is that your editor (say @code{ex}), recognizes the
6785 following command-line syntax:
6787 ex +@var{number} file
6789 The optional numeric value +@var{number} specifies the number of the line in
6790 the file where to start editing.}.
6791 By default, it is @file{@value{EDITOR}}, but you can change this
6792 by setting the environment variable @code{EDITOR} before using
6793 @value{GDBN}. For example, to configure @value{GDBN} to use the
6794 @code{vi} editor, you could use these commands with the @code{sh} shell:
6800 or in the @code{csh} shell,
6802 setenv EDITOR /usr/bin/vi
6807 @section Searching Source Files
6808 @cindex searching source files
6810 There are two commands for searching through the current source file for a
6815 @kindex forward-search
6816 @item forward-search @var{regexp}
6817 @itemx search @var{regexp}
6818 The command @samp{forward-search @var{regexp}} checks each line,
6819 starting with the one following the last line listed, for a match for
6820 @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can use the
6821 synonym @samp{search @var{regexp}} or abbreviate the command name as
6824 @kindex reverse-search
6825 @item reverse-search @var{regexp}
6826 The command @samp{reverse-search @var{regexp}} checks each line, starting
6827 with the one before the last line listed and going backward, for a match
6828 for @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can abbreviate
6829 this command as @code{rev}.
6833 @section Specifying Source Directories
6836 @cindex directories for source files
6837 Executable programs sometimes do not record the directories of the source
6838 files from which they were compiled, just the names. Even when they do,
6839 the directories could be moved between the compilation and your debugging
6840 session. @value{GDBN} has a list of directories to search for source files;
6841 this is called the @dfn{source path}. Each time @value{GDBN} wants a source file,
6842 it tries all the directories in the list, in the order they are present
6843 in the list, until it finds a file with the desired name.
6845 For example, suppose an executable references the file
6846 @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}, and our source path is
6847 @file{/mnt/cross}. The file is first looked up literally; if this
6848 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} is tried; if this
6849 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/foo.c} is opened; if this fails, an error
6850 message is printed. @value{GDBN} does not look up the parts of the
6851 source file name, such as @file{/mnt/cross/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}.
6852 Likewise, the subdirectories of the source path are not searched: if
6853 the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the binary refers to
6854 @file{foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would not find it under
6855 @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib}.
6857 Plain file names, relative file names with leading directories, file
6858 names containing dots, etc.@: are all treated as described above; for
6859 instance, if the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the source file
6860 is recorded as @file{../lib/foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would first try
6861 @file{../lib/foo.c}, then @file{/mnt/cross/../lib/foo.c}, and after
6862 that---@file{/mnt/cross/foo.c}.
6864 Note that the executable search path is @emph{not} used to locate the
6867 Whenever you reset or rearrange the source path, @value{GDBN} clears out
6868 any information it has cached about where source files are found and where
6869 each line is in the file.
6873 When you start @value{GDBN}, its source path includes only @samp{cdir}
6874 and @samp{cwd}, in that order.
6875 To add other directories, use the @code{directory} command.
6877 The search path is used to find both program source files and @value{GDBN}
6878 script files (read using the @samp{-command} option and @samp{source} command).
6880 In addition to the source path, @value{GDBN} provides a set of commands
6881 that manage a list of source path substitution rules. A @dfn{substitution
6882 rule} specifies how to rewrite source directories stored in the program's
6883 debug information in case the sources were moved to a different
6884 directory between compilation and debugging. A rule is made of
6885 two strings, the first specifying what needs to be rewritten in
6886 the path, and the second specifying how it should be rewritten.
6887 In @ref{set substitute-path}, we name these two parts @var{from} and
6888 @var{to} respectively. @value{GDBN} does a simple string replacement
6889 of @var{from} with @var{to} at the start of the directory part of the
6890 source file name, and uses that result instead of the original file
6891 name to look up the sources.
6893 Using the previous example, suppose the @file{foo-1.0} tree has been
6894 moved from @file{/usr/src} to @file{/mnt/cross}, then you can tell
6895 @value{GDBN} to replace @file{/usr/src} in all source path names with
6896 @file{/mnt/cross}. The first lookup will then be
6897 @file{/mnt/cross/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} in place of the original location
6898 of @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}. To define a source path
6899 substitution rule, use the @code{set substitute-path} command
6900 (@pxref{set substitute-path}).
6902 To avoid unexpected substitution results, a rule is applied only if the
6903 @var{from} part of the directory name ends at a directory separator.
6904 For instance, a rule substituting @file{/usr/source} into
6905 @file{/mnt/cross} will be applied to @file{/usr/source/foo-1.0} but
6906 not to @file{/usr/sourceware/foo-2.0}. And because the substitution
6907 is applied only at the beginning of the directory name, this rule will
6908 not be applied to @file{/root/usr/source/baz.c} either.
6910 In many cases, you can achieve the same result using the @code{directory}
6911 command. However, @code{set substitute-path} can be more efficient in
6912 the case where the sources are organized in a complex tree with multiple
6913 subdirectories. With the @code{directory} command, you need to add each
6914 subdirectory of your project. If you moved the entire tree while
6915 preserving its internal organization, then @code{set substitute-path}
6916 allows you to direct the debugger to all the sources with one single
6919 @code{set substitute-path} is also more than just a shortcut command.
6920 The source path is only used if the file at the original location no
6921 longer exists. On the other hand, @code{set substitute-path} modifies
6922 the debugger behavior to look at the rewritten location instead. So, if
6923 for any reason a source file that is not relevant to your executable is
6924 located at the original location, a substitution rule is the only
6925 method available to point @value{GDBN} at the new location.
6927 @cindex @samp{--with-relocated-sources}
6928 @cindex default source path substitution
6929 You can configure a default source path substitution rule by
6930 configuring @value{GDBN} with the
6931 @samp{--with-relocated-sources=@var{dir}} option. The @var{dir}
6932 should be the name of a directory under @value{GDBN}'s configured
6933 prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or @samp{--exec-prefix}), and
6934 directory names in debug information under @var{dir} will be adjusted
6935 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
6936 location. This is useful if @value{GDBN}, libraries or executables
6937 with debug information and corresponding source code are being moved
6941 @item directory @var{dirname} @dots{}
6942 @item dir @var{dirname} @dots{}
6943 Add directory @var{dirname} to the front of the source path. Several
6944 directory names may be given to this command, separated by @samp{:}
6945 (@samp{;} on MS-DOS and MS-Windows, where @samp{:} usually appears as
6946 part of absolute file names) or
6947 whitespace. You may specify a directory that is already in the source
6948 path; this moves it forward, so @value{GDBN} searches it sooner.
6952 @vindex $cdir@r{, convenience variable}
6953 @vindex $cwd@r{, convenience variable}
6954 @cindex compilation directory
6955 @cindex current directory
6956 @cindex working directory
6957 @cindex directory, current
6958 @cindex directory, compilation
6959 You can use the string @samp{$cdir} to refer to the compilation
6960 directory (if one is recorded), and @samp{$cwd} to refer to the current
6961 working directory. @samp{$cwd} is not the same as @samp{.}---the former
6962 tracks the current working directory as it changes during your @value{GDBN}
6963 session, while the latter is immediately expanded to the current
6964 directory at the time you add an entry to the source path.
6967 Reset the source path to its default value (@samp{$cdir:$cwd} on Unix systems). This requires confirmation.
6969 @c RET-repeat for @code{directory} is explicitly disabled, but since
6970 @c repeating it would be a no-op we do not say that. (thanks to RMS)
6972 @item set directories @var{path-list}
6973 @kindex set directories
6974 Set the source path to @var{path-list}.
6975 @samp{$cdir:$cwd} are added if missing.
6977 @item show directories
6978 @kindex show directories
6979 Print the source path: show which directories it contains.
6981 @anchor{set substitute-path}
6982 @item set substitute-path @var{from} @var{to}
6983 @kindex set substitute-path
6984 Define a source path substitution rule, and add it at the end of the
6985 current list of existing substitution rules. If a rule with the same
6986 @var{from} was already defined, then the old rule is also deleted.
6988 For example, if the file @file{/foo/bar/baz.c} was moved to
6989 @file{/mnt/cross/baz.c}, then the command
6992 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/cross
6996 will tell @value{GDBN} to replace @samp{/usr/src} with
6997 @samp{/mnt/cross}, which will allow @value{GDBN} to find the file
6998 @file{baz.c} even though it was moved.
7000 In the case when more than one substitution rule have been defined,
7001 the rules are evaluated one by one in the order where they have been
7002 defined. The first one matching, if any, is selected to perform
7005 For instance, if we had entered the following commands:
7008 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src/include /mnt/include
7009 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/src
7013 @value{GDBN} would then rewrite @file{/usr/src/include/defs.h} into
7014 @file{/mnt/include/defs.h} by using the first rule. However, it would
7015 use the second rule to rewrite @file{/usr/src/lib/foo.c} into
7016 @file{/mnt/src/lib/foo.c}.
7019 @item unset substitute-path [path]
7020 @kindex unset substitute-path
7021 If a path is specified, search the current list of substitution rules
7022 for a rule that would rewrite that path. Delete that rule if found.
7023 A warning is emitted by the debugger if no rule could be found.
7025 If no path is specified, then all substitution rules are deleted.
7027 @item show substitute-path [path]
7028 @kindex show substitute-path
7029 If a path is specified, then print the source path substitution rule
7030 which would rewrite that path, if any.
7032 If no path is specified, then print all existing source path substitution
7037 If your source path is cluttered with directories that are no longer of
7038 interest, @value{GDBN} may sometimes cause confusion by finding the wrong
7039 versions of source. You can correct the situation as follows:
7043 Use @code{directory} with no argument to reset the source path to its default value.
7046 Use @code{directory} with suitable arguments to reinstall the
7047 directories you want in the source path. You can add all the
7048 directories in one command.
7052 @section Source and Machine Code
7053 @cindex source line and its code address
7055 You can use the command @code{info line} to map source lines to program
7056 addresses (and vice versa), and the command @code{disassemble} to display
7057 a range of addresses as machine instructions. You can use the command
7058 @code{set disassemble-next-line} to set whether to disassemble next
7059 source line when execution stops. When run under @sc{gnu} Emacs
7060 mode, the @code{info line} command causes the arrow to point to the
7061 line specified. Also, @code{info line} prints addresses in symbolic form as
7066 @item info line @var{linespec}
7067 Print the starting and ending addresses of the compiled code for
7068 source line @var{linespec}. You can specify source lines in any of
7069 the ways documented in @ref{Specify Location}.
7072 For example, we can use @code{info line} to discover the location of
7073 the object code for the first line of function
7074 @code{m4_changequote}:
7076 @c FIXME: I think this example should also show the addresses in
7077 @c symbolic form, as they usually would be displayed.
7079 (@value{GDBP}) info line m4_changequote
7080 Line 895 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x634c and ends at 0x6350.
7084 @cindex code address and its source line
7085 We can also inquire (using @code{*@var{addr}} as the form for
7086 @var{linespec}) what source line covers a particular address:
7088 (@value{GDBP}) info line *0x63ff
7089 Line 926 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x63e4 and ends at 0x6404.
7092 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info line}
7093 @cindex @code{x} command, default address
7094 @kindex x@r{(examine), and} info line
7095 After @code{info line}, the default address for the @code{x} command
7096 is changed to the starting address of the line, so that @samp{x/i} is
7097 sufficient to begin examining the machine code (@pxref{Memory,
7098 ,Examining Memory}). Also, this address is saved as the value of the
7099 convenience variable @code{$_} (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
7104 @cindex assembly instructions
7105 @cindex instructions, assembly
7106 @cindex machine instructions
7107 @cindex listing machine instructions
7109 @itemx disassemble /m
7110 @itemx disassemble /r
7111 This specialized command dumps a range of memory as machine
7112 instructions. It can also print mixed source+disassembly by specifying
7113 the @code{/m} modifier and print the raw instructions in hex as well as
7114 in symbolic form by specifying the @code{/r}.
7115 The default memory range is the function surrounding the
7116 program counter of the selected frame. A single argument to this
7117 command is a program counter value; @value{GDBN} dumps the function
7118 surrounding this value. When two arguments are given, they should
7119 be separated by a comma, possibly surrounded by whitespace. The
7120 arguments specify a range of addresses to dump, in one of two forms:
7123 @item @var{start},@var{end}
7124 the addresses from @var{start} (inclusive) to @var{end} (exclusive)
7125 @item @var{start},+@var{length}
7126 the addresses from @var{start} (inclusive) to
7127 @code{@var{start}+@var{length}} (exclusive).
7131 When 2 arguments are specified, the name of the function is also
7132 printed (since there could be several functions in the given range).
7134 The argument(s) can be any expression yielding a numeric value, such as
7135 @samp{0x32c4}, @samp{&main+10} or @samp{$pc - 8}.
7137 If the range of memory being disassembled contains current program counter,
7138 the instruction at that location is shown with a @code{=>} marker.
7141 The following example shows the disassembly of a range of addresses of
7142 HP PA-RISC 2.0 code:
7145 (@value{GDBP}) disas 0x32c4, 0x32e4
7146 Dump of assembler code from 0x32c4 to 0x32e4:
7147 0x32c4 <main+204>: addil 0,dp
7148 0x32c8 <main+208>: ldw 0x22c(sr0,r1),r26
7149 0x32cc <main+212>: ldil 0x3000,r31
7150 0x32d0 <main+216>: ble 0x3f8(sr4,r31)
7151 0x32d4 <main+220>: ldo 0(r31),rp
7152 0x32d8 <main+224>: addil -0x800,dp
7153 0x32dc <main+228>: ldo 0x588(r1),r26
7154 0x32e0 <main+232>: ldil 0x3000,r31
7155 End of assembler dump.
7158 Here is an example showing mixed source+assembly for Intel x86, when the
7159 program is stopped just after function prologue:
7162 (@value{GDBP}) disas /m main
7163 Dump of assembler code for function main:
7165 0x08048330 <+0>: push %ebp
7166 0x08048331 <+1>: mov %esp,%ebp
7167 0x08048333 <+3>: sub $0x8,%esp
7168 0x08048336 <+6>: and $0xfffffff0,%esp
7169 0x08048339 <+9>: sub $0x10,%esp
7171 6 printf ("Hello.\n");
7172 => 0x0804833c <+12>: movl $0x8048440,(%esp)
7173 0x08048343 <+19>: call 0x8048284 <puts@@plt>
7177 0x08048348 <+24>: mov $0x0,%eax
7178 0x0804834d <+29>: leave
7179 0x0804834e <+30>: ret
7181 End of assembler dump.
7184 Here is another example showing raw instructions in hex for AMD x86-64,
7187 (gdb) disas /r 0x400281,+10
7188 Dump of assembler code from 0x400281 to 0x40028b:
7189 0x0000000000400281: 38 36 cmp %dh,(%rsi)
7190 0x0000000000400283: 2d 36 34 2e 73 sub $0x732e3436,%eax
7191 0x0000000000400288: 6f outsl %ds:(%rsi),(%dx)
7192 0x0000000000400289: 2e 32 00 xor %cs:(%rax),%al
7193 End of assembler dump.
7196 Some architectures have more than one commonly-used set of instruction
7197 mnemonics or other syntax.
7199 For programs that were dynamically linked and use shared libraries,
7200 instructions that call functions or branch to locations in the shared
7201 libraries might show a seemingly bogus location---it's actually a
7202 location of the relocation table. On some architectures, @value{GDBN}
7203 might be able to resolve these to actual function names.
7206 @kindex set disassembly-flavor
7207 @cindex Intel disassembly flavor
7208 @cindex AT&T disassembly flavor
7209 @item set disassembly-flavor @var{instruction-set}
7210 Select the instruction set to use when disassembling the
7211 program via the @code{disassemble} or @code{x/i} commands.
7213 Currently this command is only defined for the Intel x86 family. You
7214 can set @var{instruction-set} to either @code{intel} or @code{att}.
7215 The default is @code{att}, the AT&T flavor used by default by Unix
7216 assemblers for x86-based targets.
7218 @kindex show disassembly-flavor
7219 @item show disassembly-flavor
7220 Show the current setting of the disassembly flavor.
7224 @kindex set disassemble-next-line
7225 @kindex show disassemble-next-line
7226 @item set disassemble-next-line
7227 @itemx show disassemble-next-line
7228 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will disassemble the next source
7229 line or instruction when execution stops. If ON, @value{GDBN} will
7230 display disassembly of the next source line when execution of the
7231 program being debugged stops. This is @emph{in addition} to
7232 displaying the source line itself, which @value{GDBN} always does if
7233 possible. If the next source line cannot be displayed for some reason
7234 (e.g., if @value{GDBN} cannot find the source file, or there's no line
7235 info in the debug info), @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of the
7236 next @emph{instruction} instead of showing the next source line. If
7237 AUTO, @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of next instruction only
7238 if the source line cannot be displayed. This setting causes
7239 @value{GDBN} to display some feedback when you step through a function
7240 with no line info or whose source file is unavailable. The default is
7241 OFF, which means never display the disassembly of the next line or
7247 @chapter Examining Data
7249 @cindex printing data
7250 @cindex examining data
7253 @c "inspect" is not quite a synonym if you are using Epoch, which we do not
7254 @c document because it is nonstandard... Under Epoch it displays in a
7255 @c different window or something like that.
7256 The usual way to examine data in your program is with the @code{print}
7257 command (abbreviated @code{p}), or its synonym @code{inspect}. It
7258 evaluates and prints the value of an expression of the language your
7259 program is written in (@pxref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with
7260 Different Languages}). It may also print the expression using a
7261 Python-based pretty-printer (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
7264 @item print @var{expr}
7265 @itemx print /@var{f} @var{expr}
7266 @var{expr} is an expression (in the source language). By default the
7267 value of @var{expr} is printed in a format appropriate to its data type;
7268 you can choose a different format by specifying @samp{/@var{f}}, where
7269 @var{f} is a letter specifying the format; see @ref{Output Formats,,Output
7273 @itemx print /@var{f}
7274 @cindex reprint the last value
7275 If you omit @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} displays the last value again (from the
7276 @dfn{value history}; @pxref{Value History, ,Value History}). This allows you to
7277 conveniently inspect the same value in an alternative format.
7280 A more low-level way of examining data is with the @code{x} command.
7281 It examines data in memory at a specified address and prints it in a
7282 specified format. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
7284 If you are interested in information about types, or about how the
7285 fields of a struct or a class are declared, use the @code{ptype @var{exp}}
7286 command rather than @code{print}. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol
7289 @cindex exploring hierarchical data structures
7291 Another way of examining values of expressions and type information is
7292 through the Python extension command @code{explore} (available only if
7293 the @value{GDBN} build is configured with @code{--with-python}). It
7294 offers an interactive way to start at the highest level (or, the most
7295 abstract level) of the data type of an expression (or, the data type
7296 itself) and explore all the way down to leaf scalar values/fields
7297 embedded in the higher level data types.
7300 @item explore @var{arg}
7301 @var{arg} is either an expression (in the source language), or a type
7302 visible in the current context of the program being debugged.
7305 The working of the @code{explore} command can be illustrated with an
7306 example. If a data type @code{struct ComplexStruct} is defined in your
7316 struct ComplexStruct
7318 struct SimpleStruct *ss_p;
7324 followed by variable declarations as
7327 struct SimpleStruct ss = @{ 10, 1.11 @};
7328 struct ComplexStruct cs = @{ &ss, @{ 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 @} @};
7332 then, the value of the variable @code{cs} can be explored using the
7333 @code{explore} command as follows.
7337 The value of `cs' is a struct/class of type `struct ComplexStruct' with
7338 the following fields:
7340 ss_p = <Enter 0 to explore this field of type `struct SimpleStruct *'>
7341 arr = <Enter 1 to explore this field of type `int [10]'>
7343 Enter the field number of choice:
7347 Since the fields of @code{cs} are not scalar values, you are being
7348 prompted to chose the field you want to explore. Let's say you choose
7349 the field @code{ss_p} by entering @code{0}. Then, since this field is a
7350 pointer, you will be asked if it is pointing to a single value. From
7351 the declaration of @code{cs} above, it is indeed pointing to a single
7352 value, hence you enter @code{y}. If you enter @code{n}, then you will
7353 be asked if it were pointing to an array of values, in which case this
7354 field will be explored as if it were an array.
7357 `cs.ss_p' is a pointer to a value of type `struct SimpleStruct'
7358 Continue exploring it as a pointer to a single value [y/n]: y
7359 The value of `*(cs.ss_p)' is a struct/class of type `struct
7360 SimpleStruct' with the following fields:
7362 i = 10 .. (Value of type `int')
7363 d = 1.1100000000000001 .. (Value of type `double')
7365 Press enter to return to parent value:
7369 If the field @code{arr} of @code{cs} was chosen for exploration by
7370 entering @code{1} earlier, then since it is as array, you will be
7371 prompted to enter the index of the element in the array that you want
7375 `cs.arr' is an array of `int'.
7376 Enter the index of the element you want to explore in `cs.arr': 5
7378 `(cs.arr)[5]' is a scalar value of type `int'.
7382 Press enter to return to parent value:
7385 In general, at any stage of exploration, you can go deeper towards the
7386 leaf values by responding to the prompts appropriately, or hit the
7387 return key to return to the enclosing data structure (the @i{higher}
7388 level data structure).
7390 Similar to exploring values, you can use the @code{explore} command to
7391 explore types. Instead of specifying a value (which is typically a
7392 variable name or an expression valid in the current context of the
7393 program being debugged), you specify a type name. If you consider the
7394 same example as above, your can explore the type
7395 @code{struct ComplexStruct} by passing the argument
7396 @code{struct ComplexStruct} to the @code{explore} command.
7399 (gdb) explore struct ComplexStruct
7403 By responding to the prompts appropriately in the subsequent interactive
7404 session, you can explore the type @code{struct ComplexStruct} in a
7405 manner similar to how the value @code{cs} was explored in the above
7408 The @code{explore} command also has two sub-commands,
7409 @code{explore value} and @code{explore type}. The former sub-command is
7410 a way to explicitly specify that value exploration of the argument is
7411 being invoked, while the latter is a way to explicitly specify that type
7412 exploration of the argument is being invoked.
7415 @item explore value @var{expr}
7416 @cindex explore value
7417 This sub-command of @code{explore} explores the value of the
7418 expression @var{expr} (if @var{expr} is an expression valid in the
7419 current context of the program being debugged). The behavior of this
7420 command is identical to that of the behavior of the @code{explore}
7421 command being passed the argument @var{expr}.
7423 @item explore type @var{arg}
7424 @cindex explore type
7425 This sub-command of @code{explore} explores the type of @var{arg} (if
7426 @var{arg} is a type visible in the current context of program being
7427 debugged), or the type of the value/expression @var{arg} (if @var{arg}
7428 is an expression valid in the current context of the program being
7429 debugged). If @var{arg} is a type, then the behavior of this command is
7430 identical to that of the @code{explore} command being passed the
7431 argument @var{arg}. If @var{arg} is an expression, then the behavior of
7432 this command will be identical to that of the @code{explore} command
7433 being passed the type of @var{arg} as the argument.
7437 * Expressions:: Expressions
7438 * Ambiguous Expressions:: Ambiguous Expressions
7439 * Variables:: Program variables
7440 * Arrays:: Artificial arrays
7441 * Output Formats:: Output formats
7442 * Memory:: Examining memory
7443 * Auto Display:: Automatic display
7444 * Print Settings:: Print settings
7445 * Pretty Printing:: Python pretty printing
7446 * Value History:: Value history
7447 * Convenience Vars:: Convenience variables
7448 * Registers:: Registers
7449 * Floating Point Hardware:: Floating point hardware
7450 * Vector Unit:: Vector Unit
7451 * OS Information:: Auxiliary data provided by operating system
7452 * Memory Region Attributes:: Memory region attributes
7453 * Dump/Restore Files:: Copy between memory and a file
7454 * Core File Generation:: Cause a program dump its core
7455 * Character Sets:: Debugging programs that use a different
7456 character set than GDB does
7457 * Caching Remote Data:: Data caching for remote targets
7458 * Searching Memory:: Searching memory for a sequence of bytes
7462 @section Expressions
7465 @code{print} and many other @value{GDBN} commands accept an expression and
7466 compute its value. Any kind of constant, variable or operator defined
7467 by the programming language you are using is valid in an expression in
7468 @value{GDBN}. This includes conditional expressions, function calls,
7469 casts, and string constants. It also includes preprocessor macros, if
7470 you compiled your program to include this information; see
7473 @cindex arrays in expressions
7474 @value{GDBN} supports array constants in expressions input by
7475 the user. The syntax is @{@var{element}, @var{element}@dots{}@}. For example,
7476 you can use the command @code{print @{1, 2, 3@}} to create an array
7477 of three integers. If you pass an array to a function or assign it
7478 to a program variable, @value{GDBN} copies the array to memory that
7479 is @code{malloc}ed in the target program.
7481 Because C is so widespread, most of the expressions shown in examples in
7482 this manual are in C. @xref{Languages, , Using @value{GDBN} with Different
7483 Languages}, for information on how to use expressions in other
7486 In this section, we discuss operators that you can use in @value{GDBN}
7487 expressions regardless of your programming language.
7489 @cindex casts, in expressions
7490 Casts are supported in all languages, not just in C, because it is so
7491 useful to cast a number into a pointer in order to examine a structure
7492 at that address in memory.
7493 @c FIXME: casts supported---Mod2 true?
7495 @value{GDBN} supports these operators, in addition to those common
7496 to programming languages:
7500 @samp{@@} is a binary operator for treating parts of memory as arrays.
7501 @xref{Arrays, ,Artificial Arrays}, for more information.
7504 @samp{::} allows you to specify a variable in terms of the file or
7505 function where it is defined. @xref{Variables, ,Program Variables}.
7507 @cindex @{@var{type}@}
7508 @cindex type casting memory
7509 @cindex memory, viewing as typed object
7510 @cindex casts, to view memory
7511 @item @{@var{type}@} @var{addr}
7512 Refers to an object of type @var{type} stored at address @var{addr} in
7513 memory. @var{addr} may be any expression whose value is an integer or
7514 pointer (but parentheses are required around binary operators, just as in
7515 a cast). This construct is allowed regardless of what kind of data is
7516 normally supposed to reside at @var{addr}.
7519 @node Ambiguous Expressions
7520 @section Ambiguous Expressions
7521 @cindex ambiguous expressions
7523 Expressions can sometimes contain some ambiguous elements. For instance,
7524 some programming languages (notably Ada, C@t{++} and Objective-C) permit
7525 a single function name to be defined several times, for application in
7526 different contexts. This is called @dfn{overloading}. Another example
7527 involving Ada is generics. A @dfn{generic package} is similar to C@t{++}
7528 templates and is typically instantiated several times, resulting in
7529 the same function name being defined in different contexts.
7531 In some cases and depending on the language, it is possible to adjust
7532 the expression to remove the ambiguity. For instance in C@t{++}, you
7533 can specify the signature of the function you want to break on, as in
7534 @kbd{break @var{function}(@var{types})}. In Ada, using the fully
7535 qualified name of your function often makes the expression unambiguous
7538 When an ambiguity that needs to be resolved is detected, the debugger
7539 has the capability to display a menu of numbered choices for each
7540 possibility, and then waits for the selection with the prompt @samp{>}.
7541 The first option is always @samp{[0] cancel}, and typing @kbd{0 @key{RET}}
7542 aborts the current command. If the command in which the expression was
7543 used allows more than one choice to be selected, the next option in the
7544 menu is @samp{[1] all}, and typing @kbd{1 @key{RET}} selects all possible
7547 For example, the following session excerpt shows an attempt to set a
7548 breakpoint at the overloaded symbol @code{String::after}.
7549 We choose three particular definitions of that function name:
7551 @c FIXME! This is likely to change to show arg type lists, at least
7554 (@value{GDBP}) b String::after
7557 [2] file:String.cc; line number:867
7558 [3] file:String.cc; line number:860
7559 [4] file:String.cc; line number:875
7560 [5] file:String.cc; line number:853
7561 [6] file:String.cc; line number:846
7562 [7] file:String.cc; line number:735
7564 Breakpoint 1 at 0xb26c: file String.cc, line 867.
7565 Breakpoint 2 at 0xb344: file String.cc, line 875.
7566 Breakpoint 3 at 0xafcc: file String.cc, line 846.
7567 Multiple breakpoints were set.
7568 Use the "delete" command to delete unwanted
7575 @kindex set multiple-symbols
7576 @item set multiple-symbols @var{mode}
7577 @cindex multiple-symbols menu
7579 This option allows you to adjust the debugger behavior when an expression
7582 By default, @var{mode} is set to @code{all}. If the command with which
7583 the expression is used allows more than one choice, then @value{GDBN}
7584 automatically selects all possible choices. For instance, inserting
7585 a breakpoint on a function using an ambiguous name results in a breakpoint
7586 inserted on each possible match. However, if a unique choice must be made,
7587 then @value{GDBN} uses the menu to help you disambiguate the expression.
7588 For instance, printing the address of an overloaded function will result
7589 in the use of the menu.
7591 When @var{mode} is set to @code{ask}, the debugger always uses the menu
7592 when an ambiguity is detected.
7594 Finally, when @var{mode} is set to @code{cancel}, the debugger reports
7595 an error due to the ambiguity and the command is aborted.
7597 @kindex show multiple-symbols
7598 @item show multiple-symbols
7599 Show the current value of the @code{multiple-symbols} setting.
7603 @section Program Variables
7605 The most common kind of expression to use is the name of a variable
7608 Variables in expressions are understood in the selected stack frame
7609 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}); they must be either:
7613 global (or file-static)
7620 visible according to the scope rules of the
7621 programming language from the point of execution in that frame
7624 @noindent This means that in the function
7639 you can examine and use the variable @code{a} whenever your program is
7640 executing within the function @code{foo}, but you can only use or
7641 examine the variable @code{b} while your program is executing inside
7642 the block where @code{b} is declared.
7644 @cindex variable name conflict
7645 There is an exception: you can refer to a variable or function whose
7646 scope is a single source file even if the current execution point is not
7647 in this file. But it is possible to have more than one such variable or
7648 function with the same name (in different source files). If that
7649 happens, referring to that name has unpredictable effects. If you wish,
7650 you can specify a static variable in a particular function or file by
7651 using the colon-colon (@code{::}) notation:
7653 @cindex colon-colon, context for variables/functions
7655 @c info cannot cope with a :: index entry, but why deprive hard copy readers?
7656 @cindex @code{::}, context for variables/functions
7659 @var{file}::@var{variable}
7660 @var{function}::@var{variable}
7664 Here @var{file} or @var{function} is the name of the context for the
7665 static @var{variable}. In the case of file names, you can use quotes to
7666 make sure @value{GDBN} parses the file name as a single word---for example,
7667 to print a global value of @code{x} defined in @file{f2.c}:
7670 (@value{GDBP}) p 'f2.c'::x
7673 The @code{::} notation is normally used for referring to
7674 static variables, since you typically disambiguate uses of local variables
7675 in functions by selecting the appropriate frame and using the
7676 simple name of the variable. However, you may also use this notation
7677 to refer to local variables in frames enclosing the selected frame:
7686 process (a); /* Stop here */
7697 For example, if there is a breakpoint at the commented line,
7698 here is what you might see
7699 when the program stops after executing the call @code{bar(0)}:
7704 (@value{GDBP}) p bar::a
7707 #2 0x080483d0 in foo (a=5) at foobar.c:12
7710 (@value{GDBP}) p bar::a
7714 @cindex C@t{++} scope resolution
7715 These uses of @samp{::} are very rarely in conflict with the very similar
7716 use of the same notation in C@t{++}. @value{GDBN} also supports use of the C@t{++}
7717 scope resolution operator in @value{GDBN} expressions.
7718 @c FIXME: Um, so what happens in one of those rare cases where it's in
7721 @cindex wrong values
7722 @cindex variable values, wrong
7723 @cindex function entry/exit, wrong values of variables
7724 @cindex optimized code, wrong values of variables
7726 @emph{Warning:} Occasionally, a local variable may appear to have the
7727 wrong value at certain points in a function---just after entry to a new
7728 scope, and just before exit.
7730 You may see this problem when you are stepping by machine instructions.
7731 This is because, on most machines, it takes more than one instruction to
7732 set up a stack frame (including local variable definitions); if you are
7733 stepping by machine instructions, variables may appear to have the wrong
7734 values until the stack frame is completely built. On exit, it usually
7735 also takes more than one machine instruction to destroy a stack frame;
7736 after you begin stepping through that group of instructions, local
7737 variable definitions may be gone.
7739 This may also happen when the compiler does significant optimizations.
7740 To be sure of always seeing accurate values, turn off all optimization
7743 @cindex ``No symbol "foo" in current context''
7744 Another possible effect of compiler optimizations is to optimize
7745 unused variables out of existence, or assign variables to registers (as
7746 opposed to memory addresses). Depending on the support for such cases
7747 offered by the debug info format used by the compiler, @value{GDBN}
7748 might not be able to display values for such local variables. If that
7749 happens, @value{GDBN} will print a message like this:
7752 No symbol "foo" in current context.
7755 To solve such problems, either recompile without optimizations, or use a
7756 different debug info format, if the compiler supports several such
7757 formats. @xref{Compilation}, for more information on choosing compiler
7758 options. @xref{C, ,C and C@t{++}}, for more information about debug
7759 info formats that are best suited to C@t{++} programs.
7761 If you ask to print an object whose contents are unknown to
7762 @value{GDBN}, e.g., because its data type is not completely specified
7763 by the debug information, @value{GDBN} will say @samp{<incomplete
7764 type>}. @xref{Symbols, incomplete type}, for more about this.
7766 If you append @kbd{@@entry} string to a function parameter name you get its
7767 value at the time the function got called. If the value is not available an
7768 error message is printed. Entry values are available only with some compilers.
7769 Entry values are normally also printed at the function parameter list according
7770 to @ref{set print entry-values}.
7773 Breakpoint 1, d (i=30) at gdb.base/entry-value.c:29
7779 (gdb) print i@@entry
7783 Strings are identified as arrays of @code{char} values without specified
7784 signedness. Arrays of either @code{signed char} or @code{unsigned char} get
7785 printed as arrays of 1 byte sized integers. @code{-fsigned-char} or
7786 @code{-funsigned-char} @value{NGCC} options have no effect as @value{GDBN}
7787 defines literal string type @code{"char"} as @code{char} without a sign.
7792 signed char var1[] = "A";
7795 You get during debugging
7800 $2 = @{65 'A', 0 '\0'@}
7804 @section Artificial Arrays
7806 @cindex artificial array
7808 @kindex @@@r{, referencing memory as an array}
7809 It is often useful to print out several successive objects of the
7810 same type in memory; a section of an array, or an array of
7811 dynamically determined size for which only a pointer exists in the
7814 You can do this by referring to a contiguous span of memory as an
7815 @dfn{artificial array}, using the binary operator @samp{@@}. The left
7816 operand of @samp{@@} should be the first element of the desired array
7817 and be an individual object. The right operand should be the desired length
7818 of the array. The result is an array value whose elements are all of
7819 the type of the left argument. The first element is actually the left
7820 argument; the second element comes from bytes of memory immediately
7821 following those that hold the first element, and so on. Here is an
7822 example. If a program says
7825 int *array = (int *) malloc (len * sizeof (int));
7829 you can print the contents of @code{array} with
7835 The left operand of @samp{@@} must reside in memory. Array values made
7836 with @samp{@@} in this way behave just like other arrays in terms of
7837 subscripting, and are coerced to pointers when used in expressions.
7838 Artificial arrays most often appear in expressions via the value history
7839 (@pxref{Value History, ,Value History}), after printing one out.
7841 Another way to create an artificial array is to use a cast.
7842 This re-interprets a value as if it were an array.
7843 The value need not be in memory:
7845 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[2])0x12345678
7846 $1 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
7849 As a convenience, if you leave the array length out (as in
7850 @samp{(@var{type}[])@var{value}}) @value{GDBN} calculates the size to fill
7851 the value (as @samp{sizeof(@var{value})/sizeof(@var{type})}:
7853 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[])0x12345678
7854 $2 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
7857 Sometimes the artificial array mechanism is not quite enough; in
7858 moderately complex data structures, the elements of interest may not
7859 actually be adjacent---for example, if you are interested in the values
7860 of pointers in an array. One useful work-around in this situation is
7861 to use a convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
7862 Variables}) as a counter in an expression that prints the first
7863 interesting value, and then repeat that expression via @key{RET}. For
7864 instance, suppose you have an array @code{dtab} of pointers to
7865 structures, and you are interested in the values of a field @code{fv}
7866 in each structure. Here is an example of what you might type:
7876 @node Output Formats
7877 @section Output Formats
7879 @cindex formatted output
7880 @cindex output formats
7881 By default, @value{GDBN} prints a value according to its data type. Sometimes
7882 this is not what you want. For example, you might want to print a number
7883 in hex, or a pointer in decimal. Or you might want to view data in memory
7884 at a certain address as a character string or as an instruction. To do
7885 these things, specify an @dfn{output format} when you print a value.
7887 The simplest use of output formats is to say how to print a value
7888 already computed. This is done by starting the arguments of the
7889 @code{print} command with a slash and a format letter. The format
7890 letters supported are:
7894 Regard the bits of the value as an integer, and print the integer in
7898 Print as integer in signed decimal.
7901 Print as integer in unsigned decimal.
7904 Print as integer in octal.
7907 Print as integer in binary. The letter @samp{t} stands for ``two''.
7908 @footnote{@samp{b} cannot be used because these format letters are also
7909 used with the @code{x} command, where @samp{b} stands for ``byte'';
7910 see @ref{Memory,,Examining Memory}.}
7913 @cindex unknown address, locating
7914 @cindex locate address
7915 Print as an address, both absolute in hexadecimal and as an offset from
7916 the nearest preceding symbol. You can use this format used to discover
7917 where (in what function) an unknown address is located:
7920 (@value{GDBP}) p/a 0x54320
7921 $3 = 0x54320 <_initialize_vx+396>
7925 The command @code{info symbol 0x54320} yields similar results.
7926 @xref{Symbols, info symbol}.
7929 Regard as an integer and print it as a character constant. This
7930 prints both the numerical value and its character representation. The
7931 character representation is replaced with the octal escape @samp{\nnn}
7932 for characters outside the 7-bit @sc{ascii} range.
7934 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays @code{char},
7935 @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} data as character
7936 constants. Single-byte members of vectors are displayed as integer
7940 Regard the bits of the value as a floating point number and print
7941 using typical floating point syntax.
7944 @cindex printing strings
7945 @cindex printing byte arrays
7946 Regard as a string, if possible. With this format, pointers to single-byte
7947 data are displayed as null-terminated strings and arrays of single-byte data
7948 are displayed as fixed-length strings. Other values are displayed in their
7951 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays pointers to and arrays of
7952 @code{char}, @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} as
7953 strings. Single-byte members of a vector are displayed as an integer
7957 @cindex raw printing
7958 Print using the @samp{raw} formatting. By default, @value{GDBN} will
7959 use a Python-based pretty-printer, if one is available (@pxref{Pretty
7960 Printing}). This typically results in a higher-level display of the
7961 value's contents. The @samp{r} format bypasses any Python
7962 pretty-printer which might exist.
7965 For example, to print the program counter in hex (@pxref{Registers}), type
7972 Note that no space is required before the slash; this is because command
7973 names in @value{GDBN} cannot contain a slash.
7975 To reprint the last value in the value history with a different format,
7976 you can use the @code{print} command with just a format and no
7977 expression. For example, @samp{p/x} reprints the last value in hex.
7980 @section Examining Memory
7982 You can use the command @code{x} (for ``examine'') to examine memory in
7983 any of several formats, independently of your program's data types.
7985 @cindex examining memory
7987 @kindex x @r{(examine memory)}
7988 @item x/@var{nfu} @var{addr}
7991 Use the @code{x} command to examine memory.
7994 @var{n}, @var{f}, and @var{u} are all optional parameters that specify how
7995 much memory to display and how to format it; @var{addr} is an
7996 expression giving the address where you want to start displaying memory.
7997 If you use defaults for @var{nfu}, you need not type the slash @samp{/}.
7998 Several commands set convenient defaults for @var{addr}.
8001 @item @var{n}, the repeat count
8002 The repeat count is a decimal integer; the default is 1. It specifies
8003 how much memory (counting by units @var{u}) to display.
8004 @c This really is **decimal**; unaffected by 'set radix' as of GDB
8007 @item @var{f}, the display format
8008 The display format is one of the formats used by @code{print}
8009 (@samp{x}, @samp{d}, @samp{u}, @samp{o}, @samp{t}, @samp{a}, @samp{c},
8010 @samp{f}, @samp{s}), and in addition @samp{i} (for machine instructions).
8011 The default is @samp{x} (hexadecimal) initially. The default changes
8012 each time you use either @code{x} or @code{print}.
8014 @item @var{u}, the unit size
8015 The unit size is any of
8021 Halfwords (two bytes).
8023 Words (four bytes). This is the initial default.
8025 Giant words (eight bytes).
8028 Each time you specify a unit size with @code{x}, that size becomes the
8029 default unit the next time you use @code{x}. For the @samp{i} format,
8030 the unit size is ignored and is normally not written. For the @samp{s} format,
8031 the unit size defaults to @samp{b}, unless it is explicitly given.
8032 Use @kbd{x /hs} to display 16-bit char strings and @kbd{x /ws} to display
8033 32-bit strings. The next use of @kbd{x /s} will again display 8-bit strings.
8034 Note that the results depend on the programming language of the
8035 current compilation unit. If the language is C, the @samp{s}
8036 modifier will use the UTF-16 encoding while @samp{w} will use
8037 UTF-32. The encoding is set by the programming language and cannot
8040 @item @var{addr}, starting display address
8041 @var{addr} is the address where you want @value{GDBN} to begin displaying
8042 memory. The expression need not have a pointer value (though it may);
8043 it is always interpreted as an integer address of a byte of memory.
8044 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information on expressions. The default for
8045 @var{addr} is usually just after the last address examined---but several
8046 other commands also set the default address: @code{info breakpoints} (to
8047 the address of the last breakpoint listed), @code{info line} (to the
8048 starting address of a line), and @code{print} (if you use it to display
8049 a value from memory).
8052 For example, @samp{x/3uh 0x54320} is a request to display three halfwords
8053 (@code{h}) of memory, formatted as unsigned decimal integers (@samp{u}),
8054 starting at address @code{0x54320}. @samp{x/4xw $sp} prints the four
8055 words (@samp{w}) of memory above the stack pointer (here, @samp{$sp};
8056 @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}) in hexadecimal (@samp{x}).
8058 Since the letters indicating unit sizes are all distinct from the
8059 letters specifying output formats, you do not have to remember whether
8060 unit size or format comes first; either order works. The output
8061 specifications @samp{4xw} and @samp{4wx} mean exactly the same thing.
8062 (However, the count @var{n} must come first; @samp{wx4} does not work.)
8064 Even though the unit size @var{u} is ignored for the formats @samp{s}
8065 and @samp{i}, you might still want to use a count @var{n}; for example,
8066 @samp{3i} specifies that you want to see three machine instructions,
8067 including any operands. For convenience, especially when used with
8068 the @code{display} command, the @samp{i} format also prints branch delay
8069 slot instructions, if any, beyond the count specified, which immediately
8070 follow the last instruction that is within the count. The command
8071 @code{disassemble} gives an alternative way of inspecting machine
8072 instructions; see @ref{Machine Code,,Source and Machine Code}.
8074 All the defaults for the arguments to @code{x} are designed to make it
8075 easy to continue scanning memory with minimal specifications each time
8076 you use @code{x}. For example, after you have inspected three machine
8077 instructions with @samp{x/3i @var{addr}}, you can inspect the next seven
8078 with just @samp{x/7}. If you use @key{RET} to repeat the @code{x} command,
8079 the repeat count @var{n} is used again; the other arguments default as
8080 for successive uses of @code{x}.
8082 When examining machine instructions, the instruction at current program
8083 counter is shown with a @code{=>} marker. For example:
8086 (@value{GDBP}) x/5i $pc-6
8087 0x804837f <main+11>: mov %esp,%ebp
8088 0x8048381 <main+13>: push %ecx
8089 0x8048382 <main+14>: sub $0x4,%esp
8090 => 0x8048385 <main+17>: movl $0x8048460,(%esp)
8091 0x804838c <main+24>: call 0x80482d4 <puts@@plt>
8094 @cindex @code{$_}, @code{$__}, and value history
8095 The addresses and contents printed by the @code{x} command are not saved
8096 in the value history because there is often too much of them and they
8097 would get in the way. Instead, @value{GDBN} makes these values available for
8098 subsequent use in expressions as values of the convenience variables
8099 @code{$_} and @code{$__}. After an @code{x} command, the last address
8100 examined is available for use in expressions in the convenience variable
8101 @code{$_}. The contents of that address, as examined, are available in
8102 the convenience variable @code{$__}.
8104 If the @code{x} command has a repeat count, the address and contents saved
8105 are from the last memory unit printed; this is not the same as the last
8106 address printed if several units were printed on the last line of output.
8108 @cindex remote memory comparison
8109 @cindex verify remote memory image
8110 When you are debugging a program running on a remote target machine
8111 (@pxref{Remote Debugging}), you may wish to verify the program's image in the
8112 remote machine's memory against the executable file you downloaded to
8113 the target. The @code{compare-sections} command is provided for such
8117 @kindex compare-sections
8118 @item compare-sections @r{[}@var{section-name}@r{]}
8119 Compare the data of a loadable section @var{section-name} in the
8120 executable file of the program being debugged with the same section in
8121 the remote machine's memory, and report any mismatches. With no
8122 arguments, compares all loadable sections. This command's
8123 availability depends on the target's support for the @code{"qCRC"}
8128 @section Automatic Display
8129 @cindex automatic display
8130 @cindex display of expressions
8132 If you find that you want to print the value of an expression frequently
8133 (to see how it changes), you might want to add it to the @dfn{automatic
8134 display list} so that @value{GDBN} prints its value each time your program stops.
8135 Each expression added to the list is given a number to identify it;
8136 to remove an expression from the list, you specify that number.
8137 The automatic display looks like this:
8141 3: bar[5] = (struct hack *) 0x3804
8145 This display shows item numbers, expressions and their current values. As with
8146 displays you request manually using @code{x} or @code{print}, you can
8147 specify the output format you prefer; in fact, @code{display} decides
8148 whether to use @code{print} or @code{x} depending your format
8149 specification---it uses @code{x} if you specify either the @samp{i}
8150 or @samp{s} format, or a unit size; otherwise it uses @code{print}.
8154 @item display @var{expr}
8155 Add the expression @var{expr} to the list of expressions to display
8156 each time your program stops. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
8158 @code{display} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
8160 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{expr}
8161 For @var{fmt} specifying only a display format and not a size or
8162 count, add the expression @var{expr} to the auto-display list but
8163 arrange to display it each time in the specified format @var{fmt}.
8164 @xref{Output Formats,,Output Formats}.
8166 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{addr}
8167 For @var{fmt} @samp{i} or @samp{s}, or including a unit-size or a
8168 number of units, add the expression @var{addr} as a memory address to
8169 be examined each time your program stops. Examining means in effect
8170 doing @samp{x/@var{fmt} @var{addr}}. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
8173 For example, @samp{display/i $pc} can be helpful, to see the machine
8174 instruction about to be executed each time execution stops (@samp{$pc}
8175 is a common name for the program counter; @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
8178 @kindex delete display
8180 @item undisplay @var{dnums}@dots{}
8181 @itemx delete display @var{dnums}@dots{}
8182 Remove items from the list of expressions to display. Specify the
8183 numbers of the displays that you want affected with the command
8184 argument @var{dnums}. It can be a single display number, one of the
8185 numbers shown in the first field of the @samp{info display} display;
8186 or it could be a range of display numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
8188 @code{undisplay} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
8189 (Otherwise you would just get the error @samp{No display number @dots{}}.)
8191 @kindex disable display
8192 @item disable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
8193 Disable the display of item numbers @var{dnums}. A disabled display
8194 item is not printed automatically, but is not forgotten. It may be
8195 enabled again later. Specify the numbers of the displays that you
8196 want affected with the command argument @var{dnums}. It can be a
8197 single display number, one of the numbers shown in the first field of
8198 the @samp{info display} display; or it could be a range of display
8199 numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
8201 @kindex enable display
8202 @item enable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
8203 Enable display of item numbers @var{dnums}. It becomes effective once
8204 again in auto display of its expression, until you specify otherwise.
8205 Specify the numbers of the displays that you want affected with the
8206 command argument @var{dnums}. It can be a single display number, one
8207 of the numbers shown in the first field of the @samp{info display}
8208 display; or it could be a range of display numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
8211 Display the current values of the expressions on the list, just as is
8212 done when your program stops.
8214 @kindex info display
8216 Print the list of expressions previously set up to display
8217 automatically, each one with its item number, but without showing the
8218 values. This includes disabled expressions, which are marked as such.
8219 It also includes expressions which would not be displayed right now
8220 because they refer to automatic variables not currently available.
8223 @cindex display disabled out of scope
8224 If a display expression refers to local variables, then it does not make
8225 sense outside the lexical context for which it was set up. Such an
8226 expression is disabled when execution enters a context where one of its
8227 variables is not defined. For example, if you give the command
8228 @code{display last_char} while inside a function with an argument
8229 @code{last_char}, @value{GDBN} displays this argument while your program
8230 continues to stop inside that function. When it stops elsewhere---where
8231 there is no variable @code{last_char}---the display is disabled
8232 automatically. The next time your program stops where @code{last_char}
8233 is meaningful, you can enable the display expression once again.
8235 @node Print Settings
8236 @section Print Settings
8238 @cindex format options
8239 @cindex print settings
8240 @value{GDBN} provides the following ways to control how arrays, structures,
8241 and symbols are printed.
8244 These settings are useful for debugging programs in any language:
8248 @item set print address
8249 @itemx set print address on
8250 @cindex print/don't print memory addresses
8251 @value{GDBN} prints memory addresses showing the location of stack
8252 traces, structure values, pointer values, breakpoints, and so forth,
8253 even when it also displays the contents of those addresses. The default
8254 is @code{on}. For example, this is what a stack frame display looks like with
8255 @code{set print address on}:
8260 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<<", rq=0x34c88 ">>")
8262 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
8266 @item set print address off
8267 Do not print addresses when displaying their contents. For example,
8268 this is the same stack frame displayed with @code{set print address off}:
8272 (@value{GDBP}) set print addr off
8274 #0 set_quotes (lq="<<", rq=">>") at input.c:530
8275 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
8279 You can use @samp{set print address off} to eliminate all machine
8280 dependent displays from the @value{GDBN} interface. For example, with
8281 @code{print address off}, you should get the same text for backtraces on
8282 all machines---whether or not they involve pointer arguments.
8285 @item show print address
8286 Show whether or not addresses are to be printed.
8289 When @value{GDBN} prints a symbolic address, it normally prints the
8290 closest earlier symbol plus an offset. If that symbol does not uniquely
8291 identify the address (for example, it is a name whose scope is a single
8292 source file), you may need to clarify. One way to do this is with
8293 @code{info line}, for example @samp{info line *0x4537}. Alternately,
8294 you can set @value{GDBN} to print the source file and line number when
8295 it prints a symbolic address:
8298 @item set print symbol-filename on
8299 @cindex source file and line of a symbol
8300 @cindex symbol, source file and line
8301 Tell @value{GDBN} to print the source file name and line number of a
8302 symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
8304 @item set print symbol-filename off
8305 Do not print source file name and line number of a symbol. This is the
8308 @item show print symbol-filename
8309 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} will print the source file name and
8310 line number of a symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
8313 Another situation where it is helpful to show symbol filenames and line
8314 numbers is when disassembling code; @value{GDBN} shows you the line
8315 number and source file that corresponds to each instruction.
8317 Also, you may wish to see the symbolic form only if the address being
8318 printed is reasonably close to the closest earlier symbol:
8321 @item set print max-symbolic-offset @var{max-offset}
8322 @cindex maximum value for offset of closest symbol
8323 Tell @value{GDBN} to only display the symbolic form of an address if the
8324 offset between the closest earlier symbol and the address is less than
8325 @var{max-offset}. The default is 0, which tells @value{GDBN}
8326 to always print the symbolic form of an address if any symbol precedes it.
8328 @item show print max-symbolic-offset
8329 Ask how large the maximum offset is that @value{GDBN} prints in a
8333 @cindex wild pointer, interpreting
8334 @cindex pointer, finding referent
8335 If you have a pointer and you are not sure where it points, try
8336 @samp{set print symbol-filename on}. Then you can determine the name
8337 and source file location of the variable where it points, using
8338 @samp{p/a @var{pointer}}. This interprets the address in symbolic form.
8339 For example, here @value{GDBN} shows that a variable @code{ptt} points
8340 at another variable @code{t}, defined in @file{hi2.c}:
8343 (@value{GDBP}) set print symbol-filename on
8344 (@value{GDBP}) p/a ptt
8345 $4 = 0xe008 <t in hi2.c>
8349 @emph{Warning:} For pointers that point to a local variable, @samp{p/a}
8350 does not show the symbol name and filename of the referent, even with
8351 the appropriate @code{set print} options turned on.
8354 Other settings control how different kinds of objects are printed:
8357 @item set print array
8358 @itemx set print array on
8359 @cindex pretty print arrays
8360 Pretty print arrays. This format is more convenient to read,
8361 but uses more space. The default is off.
8363 @item set print array off
8364 Return to compressed format for arrays.
8366 @item show print array
8367 Show whether compressed or pretty format is selected for displaying
8370 @cindex print array indexes
8371 @item set print array-indexes
8372 @itemx set print array-indexes on
8373 Print the index of each element when displaying arrays. May be more
8374 convenient to locate a given element in the array or quickly find the
8375 index of a given element in that printed array. The default is off.
8377 @item set print array-indexes off
8378 Stop printing element indexes when displaying arrays.
8380 @item show print array-indexes
8381 Show whether the index of each element is printed when displaying
8384 @item set print elements @var{number-of-elements}
8385 @cindex number of array elements to print
8386 @cindex limit on number of printed array elements
8387 Set a limit on how many elements of an array @value{GDBN} will print.
8388 If @value{GDBN} is printing a large array, it stops printing after it has
8389 printed the number of elements set by the @code{set print elements} command.
8390 This limit also applies to the display of strings.
8391 When @value{GDBN} starts, this limit is set to 200.
8392 Setting @var{number-of-elements} to zero means that the printing is unlimited.
8394 @item show print elements
8395 Display the number of elements of a large array that @value{GDBN} will print.
8396 If the number is 0, then the printing is unlimited.
8398 @item set print frame-arguments @var{value}
8399 @kindex set print frame-arguments
8400 @cindex printing frame argument values
8401 @cindex print all frame argument values
8402 @cindex print frame argument values for scalars only
8403 @cindex do not print frame argument values
8404 This command allows to control how the values of arguments are printed
8405 when the debugger prints a frame (@pxref{Frames}). The possible
8410 The values of all arguments are printed.
8413 Print the value of an argument only if it is a scalar. The value of more
8414 complex arguments such as arrays, structures, unions, etc, is replaced
8415 by @code{@dots{}}. This is the default. Here is an example where
8416 only scalar arguments are shown:
8419 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=3, s=@dots{}, ss=0xbf8d508c, u=@dots{}, e=green)
8424 None of the argument values are printed. Instead, the value of each argument
8425 is replaced by @code{@dots{}}. In this case, the example above now becomes:
8428 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=@dots{}, s=@dots{}, ss=@dots{}, u=@dots{}, e=@dots{})
8433 By default, only scalar arguments are printed. This command can be used
8434 to configure the debugger to print the value of all arguments, regardless
8435 of their type. However, it is often advantageous to not print the value
8436 of more complex parameters. For instance, it reduces the amount of
8437 information printed in each frame, making the backtrace more readable.
8438 Also, it improves performance when displaying Ada frames, because
8439 the computation of large arguments can sometimes be CPU-intensive,
8440 especially in large applications. Setting @code{print frame-arguments}
8441 to @code{scalars} (the default) or @code{none} avoids this computation,
8442 thus speeding up the display of each Ada frame.
8444 @item show print frame-arguments
8445 Show how the value of arguments should be displayed when printing a frame.
8447 @anchor{set print entry-values}
8448 @item set print entry-values @var{value}
8449 @kindex set print entry-values
8450 Set printing of frame argument values at function entry. In some cases
8451 @value{GDBN} can determine the value of function argument which was passed by
8452 the function caller, even if the value was modified inside the called function
8453 and therefore is different. With optimized code, the current value could be
8454 unavailable, but the entry value may still be known.
8456 The default value is @code{default} (see below for its description). Older
8457 @value{GDBN} behaved as with the setting @code{no}. Compilers not supporting
8458 this feature will behave in the @code{default} setting the same way as with the
8461 This functionality is currently supported only by DWARF 2 debugging format and
8462 the compiler has to produce @samp{DW_TAG_GNU_call_site} tags. With
8463 @value{NGCC}, you need to specify @option{-O -g} during compilation, to get
8466 The @var{value} parameter can be one of the following:
8470 Print only actual parameter values, never print values from function entry
8474 #0 different (val=6)
8475 #0 lost (val=<optimized out>)
8477 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
8481 Print only parameter values from function entry point. The actual parameter
8482 values are never printed.
8484 #0 equal (val@@entry=5)
8485 #0 different (val@@entry=5)
8486 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
8487 #0 born (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
8488 #0 invalid (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
8492 Print only parameter values from function entry point. If value from function
8493 entry point is not known while the actual value is known, print the actual
8494 value for such parameter.
8496 #0 equal (val@@entry=5)
8497 #0 different (val@@entry=5)
8498 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
8500 #0 invalid (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
8504 Print actual parameter values. If actual parameter value is not known while
8505 value from function entry point is known, print the entry point value for such
8509 #0 different (val=6)
8510 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
8512 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
8516 Always print both the actual parameter value and its value from function entry
8517 point, even if values of one or both are not available due to compiler
8520 #0 equal (val=5, val@@entry=5)
8521 #0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
8522 #0 lost (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=5)
8523 #0 born (val=10, val@@entry=<optimized out>)
8524 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=<optimized out>)
8528 Print the actual parameter value if it is known and also its value from
8529 function entry point if it is known. If neither is known, print for the actual
8530 value @code{<optimized out>}. If not in MI mode (@pxref{GDB/MI}) and if both
8531 values are known and identical, print the shortened
8532 @code{param=param@@entry=VALUE} notation.
8534 #0 equal (val=val@@entry=5)
8535 #0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
8536 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
8538 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
8542 Always print the actual parameter value. Print also its value from function
8543 entry point, but only if it is known. If not in MI mode (@pxref{GDB/MI}) and
8544 if both values are known and identical, print the shortened
8545 @code{param=param@@entry=VALUE} notation.
8547 #0 equal (val=val@@entry=5)
8548 #0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
8549 #0 lost (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=5)
8551 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
8555 For analysis messages on possible failures of frame argument values at function
8556 entry resolution see @ref{set debug entry-values}.
8558 @item show print entry-values
8559 Show the method being used for printing of frame argument values at function
8562 @item set print repeats
8563 @cindex repeated array elements
8564 Set the threshold for suppressing display of repeated array
8565 elements. When the number of consecutive identical elements of an
8566 array exceeds the threshold, @value{GDBN} prints the string
8567 @code{"<repeats @var{n} times>"}, where @var{n} is the number of
8568 identical repetitions, instead of displaying the identical elements
8569 themselves. Setting the threshold to zero will cause all elements to
8570 be individually printed. The default threshold is 10.
8572 @item show print repeats
8573 Display the current threshold for printing repeated identical
8576 @item set print null-stop
8577 @cindex @sc{null} elements in arrays
8578 Cause @value{GDBN} to stop printing the characters of an array when the first
8579 @sc{null} is encountered. This is useful when large arrays actually
8580 contain only short strings.
8583 @item show print null-stop
8584 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops printing an array on the first
8585 @sc{null} character.
8587 @item set print pretty on
8588 @cindex print structures in indented form
8589 @cindex indentation in structure display
8590 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in an indented format with one member
8591 per line, like this:
8606 @item set print pretty off
8607 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in a compact format, like this:
8611 $1 = @{next = 0x0, flags = @{sweet = 1, sour = 1@}, \
8612 meat = 0x54 "Pork"@}
8617 This is the default format.
8619 @item show print pretty
8620 Show which format @value{GDBN} is using to print structures.
8622 @item set print sevenbit-strings on
8623 @cindex eight-bit characters in strings
8624 @cindex octal escapes in strings
8625 Print using only seven-bit characters; if this option is set,
8626 @value{GDBN} displays any eight-bit characters (in strings or
8627 character values) using the notation @code{\}@var{nnn}. This setting is
8628 best if you are working in English (@sc{ascii}) and you use the
8629 high-order bit of characters as a marker or ``meta'' bit.
8631 @item set print sevenbit-strings off
8632 Print full eight-bit characters. This allows the use of more
8633 international character sets, and is the default.
8635 @item show print sevenbit-strings
8636 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} is printing only seven-bit characters.
8638 @item set print union on
8639 @cindex unions in structures, printing
8640 Tell @value{GDBN} to print unions which are contained in structures
8641 and other unions. This is the default setting.
8643 @item set print union off
8644 Tell @value{GDBN} not to print unions which are contained in
8645 structures and other unions. @value{GDBN} will print @code{"@{...@}"}
8648 @item show print union
8649 Ask @value{GDBN} whether or not it will print unions which are contained in
8650 structures and other unions.
8652 For example, given the declarations
8655 typedef enum @{Tree, Bug@} Species;
8656 typedef enum @{Big_tree, Acorn, Seedling@} Tree_forms;
8657 typedef enum @{Caterpillar, Cocoon, Butterfly@}
8668 struct thing foo = @{Tree, @{Acorn@}@};
8672 with @code{set print union on} in effect @samp{p foo} would print
8675 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{tree = Acorn, bug = Cocoon@}@}
8679 and with @code{set print union off} in effect it would print
8682 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{...@}@}
8686 @code{set print union} affects programs written in C-like languages
8692 These settings are of interest when debugging C@t{++} programs:
8695 @cindex demangling C@t{++} names
8696 @item set print demangle
8697 @itemx set print demangle on
8698 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than in the encoded
8699 (``mangled'') form passed to the assembler and linker for type-safe
8700 linkage. The default is on.
8702 @item show print demangle
8703 Show whether C@t{++} names are printed in mangled or demangled form.
8705 @item set print asm-demangle
8706 @itemx set print asm-demangle on
8707 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than their mangled form, even
8708 in assembler code printouts such as instruction disassemblies.
8711 @item show print asm-demangle
8712 Show whether C@t{++} names in assembly listings are printed in mangled
8715 @cindex C@t{++} symbol decoding style
8716 @cindex symbol decoding style, C@t{++}
8717 @kindex set demangle-style
8718 @item set demangle-style @var{style}
8719 Choose among several encoding schemes used by different compilers to
8720 represent C@t{++} names. The choices for @var{style} are currently:
8724 Allow @value{GDBN} to choose a decoding style by inspecting your program.
8727 Decode based on the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler (@code{g++}) encoding algorithm.
8728 This is the default.
8731 Decode based on the HP ANSI C@t{++} (@code{aCC}) encoding algorithm.
8734 Decode based on the Lucid C@t{++} compiler (@code{lcc}) encoding algorithm.
8737 Decode using the algorithm in the @cite{C@t{++} Annotated Reference Manual}.
8738 @strong{Warning:} this setting alone is not sufficient to allow
8739 debugging @code{cfront}-generated executables. @value{GDBN} would
8740 require further enhancement to permit that.
8743 If you omit @var{style}, you will see a list of possible formats.
8745 @item show demangle-style
8746 Display the encoding style currently in use for decoding C@t{++} symbols.
8748 @item set print object
8749 @itemx set print object on
8750 @cindex derived type of an object, printing
8751 @cindex display derived types
8752 When displaying a pointer to an object, identify the @emph{actual}
8753 (derived) type of the object rather than the @emph{declared} type, using
8754 the virtual function table. Note that the virtual function table is
8755 required---this feature can only work for objects that have run-time
8756 type identification; a single virtual method in the object's declared
8757 type is sufficient. Note that this setting is also taken into account when
8758 working with variable objects via MI (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
8760 @item set print object off
8761 Display only the declared type of objects, without reference to the
8762 virtual function table. This is the default setting.
8764 @item show print object
8765 Show whether actual, or declared, object types are displayed.
8767 @item set print static-members
8768 @itemx set print static-members on
8769 @cindex static members of C@t{++} objects
8770 Print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object. The default is on.
8772 @item set print static-members off
8773 Do not print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object.
8775 @item show print static-members
8776 Show whether C@t{++} static members are printed or not.
8778 @item set print pascal_static-members
8779 @itemx set print pascal_static-members on
8780 @cindex static members of Pascal objects
8781 @cindex Pascal objects, static members display
8782 Print static members when displaying a Pascal object. The default is on.
8784 @item set print pascal_static-members off
8785 Do not print static members when displaying a Pascal object.
8787 @item show print pascal_static-members
8788 Show whether Pascal static members are printed or not.
8790 @c These don't work with HP ANSI C++ yet.
8791 @item set print vtbl
8792 @itemx set print vtbl on
8793 @cindex pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables
8794 @cindex virtual functions (C@t{++}) display
8795 @cindex VTBL display
8796 Pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables. The default is off.
8797 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
8798 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
8800 @item set print vtbl off
8801 Do not pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables.
8803 @item show print vtbl
8804 Show whether C@t{++} virtual function tables are pretty printed, or not.
8807 @node Pretty Printing
8808 @section Pretty Printing
8810 @value{GDBN} provides a mechanism to allow pretty-printing of values using
8811 Python code. It greatly simplifies the display of complex objects. This
8812 mechanism works for both MI and the CLI.
8815 * Pretty-Printer Introduction:: Introduction to pretty-printers
8816 * Pretty-Printer Example:: An example pretty-printer
8817 * Pretty-Printer Commands:: Pretty-printer commands
8820 @node Pretty-Printer Introduction
8821 @subsection Pretty-Printer Introduction
8823 When @value{GDBN} prints a value, it first sees if there is a pretty-printer
8824 registered for the value. If there is then @value{GDBN} invokes the
8825 pretty-printer to print the value. Otherwise the value is printed normally.
8827 Pretty-printers are normally named. This makes them easy to manage.
8828 The @samp{info pretty-printer} command will list all the installed
8829 pretty-printers with their names.
8830 If a pretty-printer can handle multiple data types, then its
8831 @dfn{subprinters} are the printers for the individual data types.
8832 Each such subprinter has its own name.
8833 The format of the name is @var{printer-name};@var{subprinter-name}.
8835 Pretty-printers are installed by @dfn{registering} them with @value{GDBN}.
8836 Typically they are automatically loaded and registered when the corresponding
8837 debug information is loaded, thus making them available without having to
8838 do anything special.
8840 There are three places where a pretty-printer can be registered.
8844 Pretty-printers registered globally are available when debugging
8848 Pretty-printers registered with a program space are available only
8849 when debugging that program.
8850 @xref{Progspaces In Python}, for more details on program spaces in Python.
8853 Pretty-printers registered with an objfile are loaded and unloaded
8854 with the corresponding objfile (e.g., shared library).
8855 @xref{Objfiles In Python}, for more details on objfiles in Python.
8858 @xref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}, for further information on how
8859 pretty-printers are selected,
8861 @xref{Writing a Pretty-Printer}, for implementing pretty printers
8864 @node Pretty-Printer Example
8865 @subsection Pretty-Printer Example
8867 Here is how a C@t{++} @code{std::string} looks without a pretty-printer:
8870 (@value{GDBP}) print s
8872 static npos = 4294967295,
8874 <std::allocator<char>> = @{
8875 <__gnu_cxx::new_allocator<char>> = @{
8876 <No data fields>@}, <No data fields>
8878 members of std::basic_string<char, std::char_traits<char>,
8879 std::allocator<char> >::_Alloc_hider:
8880 _M_p = 0x804a014 "abcd"
8885 With a pretty-printer for @code{std::string} only the contents are printed:
8888 (@value{GDBP}) print s
8892 @node Pretty-Printer Commands
8893 @subsection Pretty-Printer Commands
8894 @cindex pretty-printer commands
8897 @kindex info pretty-printer
8898 @item info pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
8899 Print the list of installed pretty-printers.
8900 This includes disabled pretty-printers, which are marked as such.
8902 @var{object-regexp} is a regular expression matching the objects
8903 whose pretty-printers to list.
8904 Objects can be @code{global}, the program space's file
8905 (@pxref{Progspaces In Python}),
8906 and the object files within that program space (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}).
8907 @xref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}, for details on how @value{GDBN}
8908 looks up a printer from these three objects.
8910 @var{name-regexp} is a regular expression matching the name of the printers
8913 @kindex disable pretty-printer
8914 @item disable pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
8915 Disable pretty-printers matching @var{object-regexp} and @var{name-regexp}.
8916 A disabled pretty-printer is not forgotten, it may be enabled again later.
8918 @kindex enable pretty-printer
8919 @item enable pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
8920 Enable pretty-printers matching @var{object-regexp} and @var{name-regexp}.
8925 Suppose we have three pretty-printers installed: one from library1.so
8926 named @code{foo} that prints objects of type @code{foo}, and
8927 another from library2.so named @code{bar} that prints two types of objects,
8928 @code{bar1} and @code{bar2}.
8931 (gdb) info pretty-printer
8938 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
8943 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library1
8945 2 of 3 printers enabled
8946 (gdb) info pretty-printer
8953 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library2 bar:bar1
8955 1 of 3 printers enabled
8956 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
8963 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library2 bar
8965 0 of 3 printers enabled
8966 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
8975 Note that for @code{bar} the entire printer can be disabled,
8976 as can each individual subprinter.
8979 @section Value History
8981 @cindex value history
8982 @cindex history of values printed by @value{GDBN}
8983 Values printed by the @code{print} command are saved in the @value{GDBN}
8984 @dfn{value history}. This allows you to refer to them in other expressions.
8985 Values are kept until the symbol table is re-read or discarded
8986 (for example with the @code{file} or @code{symbol-file} commands).
8987 When the symbol table changes, the value history is discarded,
8988 since the values may contain pointers back to the types defined in the
8993 @cindex history number
8994 The values printed are given @dfn{history numbers} by which you can
8995 refer to them. These are successive integers starting with one.
8996 @code{print} shows you the history number assigned to a value by
8997 printing @samp{$@var{num} = } before the value; here @var{num} is the
9000 To refer to any previous value, use @samp{$} followed by the value's
9001 history number. The way @code{print} labels its output is designed to
9002 remind you of this. Just @code{$} refers to the most recent value in
9003 the history, and @code{$$} refers to the value before that.
9004 @code{$$@var{n}} refers to the @var{n}th value from the end; @code{$$2}
9005 is the value just prior to @code{$$}, @code{$$1} is equivalent to
9006 @code{$$}, and @code{$$0} is equivalent to @code{$}.
9008 For example, suppose you have just printed a pointer to a structure and
9009 want to see the contents of the structure. It suffices to type
9015 If you have a chain of structures where the component @code{next} points
9016 to the next one, you can print the contents of the next one with this:
9023 You can print successive links in the chain by repeating this
9024 command---which you can do by just typing @key{RET}.
9026 Note that the history records values, not expressions. If the value of
9027 @code{x} is 4 and you type these commands:
9035 then the value recorded in the value history by the @code{print} command
9036 remains 4 even though the value of @code{x} has changed.
9041 Print the last ten values in the value history, with their item numbers.
9042 This is like @samp{p@ $$9} repeated ten times, except that @code{show
9043 values} does not change the history.
9045 @item show values @var{n}
9046 Print ten history values centered on history item number @var{n}.
9049 Print ten history values just after the values last printed. If no more
9050 values are available, @code{show values +} produces no display.
9053 Pressing @key{RET} to repeat @code{show values @var{n}} has exactly the
9054 same effect as @samp{show values +}.
9056 @node Convenience Vars
9057 @section Convenience Variables
9059 @cindex convenience variables
9060 @cindex user-defined variables
9061 @value{GDBN} provides @dfn{convenience variables} that you can use within
9062 @value{GDBN} to hold on to a value and refer to it later. These variables
9063 exist entirely within @value{GDBN}; they are not part of your program, and
9064 setting a convenience variable has no direct effect on further execution
9065 of your program. That is why you can use them freely.
9067 Convenience variables are prefixed with @samp{$}. Any name preceded by
9068 @samp{$} can be used for a convenience variable, unless it is one of
9069 the predefined machine-specific register names (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
9070 (Value history references, in contrast, are @emph{numbers} preceded
9071 by @samp{$}. @xref{Value History, ,Value History}.)
9073 You can save a value in a convenience variable with an assignment
9074 expression, just as you would set a variable in your program.
9078 set $foo = *object_ptr
9082 would save in @code{$foo} the value contained in the object pointed to by
9085 Using a convenience variable for the first time creates it, but its
9086 value is @code{void} until you assign a new value. You can alter the
9087 value with another assignment at any time.
9089 Convenience variables have no fixed types. You can assign a convenience
9090 variable any type of value, including structures and arrays, even if
9091 that variable already has a value of a different type. The convenience
9092 variable, when used as an expression, has the type of its current value.
9095 @kindex show convenience
9096 @cindex show all user variables
9097 @item show convenience
9098 Print a list of convenience variables used so far, and their values.
9099 Abbreviated @code{show conv}.
9101 @kindex init-if-undefined
9102 @cindex convenience variables, initializing
9103 @item init-if-undefined $@var{variable} = @var{expression}
9104 Set a convenience variable if it has not already been set. This is useful
9105 for user-defined commands that keep some state. It is similar, in concept,
9106 to using local static variables with initializers in C (except that
9107 convenience variables are global). It can also be used to allow users to
9108 override default values used in a command script.
9110 If the variable is already defined then the expression is not evaluated so
9111 any side-effects do not occur.
9114 One of the ways to use a convenience variable is as a counter to be
9115 incremented or a pointer to be advanced. For example, to print
9116 a field from successive elements of an array of structures:
9120 print bar[$i++]->contents
9124 Repeat that command by typing @key{RET}.
9126 Some convenience variables are created automatically by @value{GDBN} and given
9127 values likely to be useful.
9130 @vindex $_@r{, convenience variable}
9132 The variable @code{$_} is automatically set by the @code{x} command to
9133 the last address examined (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}). Other
9134 commands which provide a default address for @code{x} to examine also
9135 set @code{$_} to that address; these commands include @code{info line}
9136 and @code{info breakpoint}. The type of @code{$_} is @code{void *}
9137 except when set by the @code{x} command, in which case it is a pointer
9138 to the type of @code{$__}.
9140 @vindex $__@r{, convenience variable}
9142 The variable @code{$__} is automatically set by the @code{x} command
9143 to the value found in the last address examined. Its type is chosen
9144 to match the format in which the data was printed.
9147 @vindex $_exitcode@r{, convenience variable}
9148 The variable @code{$_exitcode} is automatically set to the exit code when
9149 the program being debugged terminates.
9152 @itemx $_probe_arg0@dots{}$_probe_arg11
9153 Arguments to a static probe. @xref{Static Probe Points}.
9156 @vindex $_sdata@r{, inspect, convenience variable}
9157 The variable @code{$_sdata} contains extra collected static tracepoint
9158 data. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}. Note that
9159 @code{$_sdata} could be empty, if not inspecting a trace buffer, or
9160 if extra static tracepoint data has not been collected.
9163 @vindex $_siginfo@r{, convenience variable}
9164 The variable @code{$_siginfo} contains extra signal information
9165 (@pxref{extra signal information}). Note that @code{$_siginfo}
9166 could be empty, if the application has not yet received any signals.
9167 For example, it will be empty before you execute the @code{run} command.
9170 @vindex $_tlb@r{, convenience variable}
9171 The variable @code{$_tlb} is automatically set when debugging
9172 applications running on MS-Windows in native mode or connected to
9173 gdbserver that supports the @code{qGetTIBAddr} request.
9174 @xref{General Query Packets}.
9175 This variable contains the address of the thread information block.
9179 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
9180 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
9181 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
9183 @cindex convenience functions
9184 @value{GDBN} also supplies some @dfn{convenience functions}. These
9185 have a syntax similar to convenience variables. A convenience
9186 function can be used in an expression just like an ordinary function;
9187 however, a convenience function is implemented internally to
9192 @kindex help function
9193 @cindex show all convenience functions
9194 Print a list of all convenience functions.
9201 You can refer to machine register contents, in expressions, as variables
9202 with names starting with @samp{$}. The names of registers are different
9203 for each machine; use @code{info registers} to see the names used on
9207 @kindex info registers
9208 @item info registers
9209 Print the names and values of all registers except floating-point
9210 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
9212 @kindex info all-registers
9213 @cindex floating point registers
9214 @item info all-registers
9215 Print the names and values of all registers, including floating-point
9216 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
9218 @item info registers @var{regname} @dots{}
9219 Print the @dfn{relativized} value of each specified register @var{regname}.
9220 As discussed in detail below, register values are normally relative to
9221 the selected stack frame. @var{regname} may be any register name valid on
9222 the machine you are using, with or without the initial @samp{$}.
9225 @cindex stack pointer register
9226 @cindex program counter register
9227 @cindex process status register
9228 @cindex frame pointer register
9229 @cindex standard registers
9230 @value{GDBN} has four ``standard'' register names that are available (in
9231 expressions) on most machines---whenever they do not conflict with an
9232 architecture's canonical mnemonics for registers. The register names
9233 @code{$pc} and @code{$sp} are used for the program counter register and
9234 the stack pointer. @code{$fp} is used for a register that contains a
9235 pointer to the current stack frame, and @code{$ps} is used for a
9236 register that contains the processor status. For example,
9237 you could print the program counter in hex with
9244 or print the instruction to be executed next with
9251 or add four to the stack pointer@footnote{This is a way of removing
9252 one word from the stack, on machines where stacks grow downward in
9253 memory (most machines, nowadays). This assumes that the innermost
9254 stack frame is selected; setting @code{$sp} is not allowed when other
9255 stack frames are selected. To pop entire frames off the stack,
9256 regardless of machine architecture, use @code{return};
9257 see @ref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}.} with
9263 Whenever possible, these four standard register names are available on
9264 your machine even though the machine has different canonical mnemonics,
9265 so long as there is no conflict. The @code{info registers} command
9266 shows the canonical names. For example, on the SPARC, @code{info
9267 registers} displays the processor status register as @code{$psr} but you
9268 can also refer to it as @code{$ps}; and on x86-based machines @code{$ps}
9269 is an alias for the @sc{eflags} register.
9271 @value{GDBN} always considers the contents of an ordinary register as an
9272 integer when the register is examined in this way. Some machines have
9273 special registers which can hold nothing but floating point; these
9274 registers are considered to have floating point values. There is no way
9275 to refer to the contents of an ordinary register as floating point value
9276 (although you can @emph{print} it as a floating point value with
9277 @samp{print/f $@var{regname}}).
9279 Some registers have distinct ``raw'' and ``virtual'' data formats. This
9280 means that the data format in which the register contents are saved by
9281 the operating system is not the same one that your program normally
9282 sees. For example, the registers of the 68881 floating point
9283 coprocessor are always saved in ``extended'' (raw) format, but all C
9284 programs expect to work with ``double'' (virtual) format. In such
9285 cases, @value{GDBN} normally works with the virtual format only (the format
9286 that makes sense for your program), but the @code{info registers} command
9287 prints the data in both formats.
9289 @cindex SSE registers (x86)
9290 @cindex MMX registers (x86)
9291 Some machines have special registers whose contents can be interpreted
9292 in several different ways. For example, modern x86-based machines
9293 have SSE and MMX registers that can hold several values packed
9294 together in several different formats. @value{GDBN} refers to such
9295 registers in @code{struct} notation:
9298 (@value{GDBP}) print $xmm1
9300 v4_float = @{0, 3.43859137e-038, 1.54142831e-044, 1.821688e-044@},
9301 v2_double = @{9.92129282474342e-303, 2.7585945287983262e-313@},
9302 v16_int8 = "\000\000\000\000\3706;\001\v\000\000\000\r\000\000",
9303 v8_int16 = @{0, 0, 14072, 315, 11, 0, 13, 0@},
9304 v4_int32 = @{0, 20657912, 11, 13@},
9305 v2_int64 = @{88725056443645952, 55834574859@},
9306 uint128 = 0x0000000d0000000b013b36f800000000
9311 To set values of such registers, you need to tell @value{GDBN} which
9312 view of the register you wish to change, as if you were assigning
9313 value to a @code{struct} member:
9316 (@value{GDBP}) set $xmm1.uint128 = 0x000000000000000000000000FFFFFFFF
9319 Normally, register values are relative to the selected stack frame
9320 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). This means that you get the
9321 value that the register would contain if all stack frames farther in
9322 were exited and their saved registers restored. In order to see the
9323 true contents of hardware registers, you must select the innermost
9324 frame (with @samp{frame 0}).
9326 However, @value{GDBN} must deduce where registers are saved, from the machine
9327 code generated by your compiler. If some registers are not saved, or if
9328 @value{GDBN} is unable to locate the saved registers, the selected stack
9329 frame makes no difference.
9331 @node Floating Point Hardware
9332 @section Floating Point Hardware
9333 @cindex floating point
9335 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give
9336 you more information about the status of the floating point hardware.
9341 Display hardware-dependent information about the floating
9342 point unit. The exact contents and layout vary depending on the
9343 floating point chip. Currently, @samp{info float} is supported on
9344 the ARM and x86 machines.
9348 @section Vector Unit
9351 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give you
9352 more information about the status of the vector unit.
9357 Display information about the vector unit. The exact contents and
9358 layout vary depending on the hardware.
9361 @node OS Information
9362 @section Operating System Auxiliary Information
9363 @cindex OS information
9365 @value{GDBN} provides interfaces to useful OS facilities that can help
9366 you debug your program.
9368 @cindex @code{ptrace} system call
9369 @cindex @code{struct user} contents
9370 When @value{GDBN} runs on a @dfn{Posix system} (such as GNU or Unix
9371 machines), it interfaces with the inferior via the @code{ptrace}
9372 system call. The operating system creates a special sata structure,
9373 called @code{struct user}, for this interface. You can use the
9374 command @code{info udot} to display the contents of this data
9380 Display the contents of the @code{struct user} maintained by the OS
9381 kernel for the program being debugged. @value{GDBN} displays the
9382 contents of @code{struct user} as a list of hex numbers, similar to
9383 the @code{examine} command.
9386 @cindex auxiliary vector
9387 @cindex vector, auxiliary
9388 Some operating systems supply an @dfn{auxiliary vector} to programs at
9389 startup. This is akin to the arguments and environment that you
9390 specify for a program, but contains a system-dependent variety of
9391 binary values that tell system libraries important details about the
9392 hardware, operating system, and process. Each value's purpose is
9393 identified by an integer tag; the meanings are well-known but system-specific.
9394 Depending on the configuration and operating system facilities,
9395 @value{GDBN} may be able to show you this information. For remote
9396 targets, this functionality may further depend on the remote stub's
9397 support of the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet, see
9398 @ref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}.
9403 Display the auxiliary vector of the inferior, which can be either a
9404 live process or a core dump file. @value{GDBN} prints each tag value
9405 numerically, and also shows names and text descriptions for recognized
9406 tags. Some values in the vector are numbers, some bit masks, and some
9407 pointers to strings or other data. @value{GDBN} displays each value in the
9408 most appropriate form for a recognized tag, and in hexadecimal for
9409 an unrecognized tag.
9412 On some targets, @value{GDBN} can access operating system-specific
9413 information and show it to you. The types of information available
9414 will differ depending on the type of operating system running on the
9415 target. The mechanism used to fetch the data is described in
9416 @ref{Operating System Information}. For remote targets, this
9417 functionality depends on the remote stub's support of the
9418 @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet, see @ref{qXfer osdata read}.
9422 @item info os @var{infotype}
9424 Display OS information of the requested type.
9426 On @sc{gnu}/Linux, the following values of @var{infotype} are valid:
9428 @anchor{linux info os infotypes}
9430 @kindex info os processes
9432 Display the list of processes on the target. For each process,
9433 @value{GDBN} prints the process identifier, the name of the user, the
9434 command corresponding to the process, and the list of processor cores
9435 that the process is currently running on. (To understand what these
9436 properties mean, for this and the following info types, please consult
9437 the general @sc{gnu}/Linux documentation.)
9439 @kindex info os procgroups
9441 Display the list of process groups on the target. For each process,
9442 @value{GDBN} prints the identifier of the process group that it belongs
9443 to, the command corresponding to the process group leader, the process
9444 identifier, and the command line of the process. The list is sorted
9445 first by the process group identifier, then by the process identifier,
9446 so that processes belonging to the same process group are grouped together
9447 and the process group leader is listed first.
9449 @kindex info os threads
9451 Display the list of threads running on the target. For each thread,
9452 @value{GDBN} prints the identifier of the process that the thread
9453 belongs to, the command of the process, the thread identifier, and the
9454 processor core that it is currently running on. The main thread of a
9455 process is not listed.
9457 @kindex info os files
9459 Display the list of open file descriptors on the target. For each
9460 file descriptor, @value{GDBN} prints the identifier of the process
9461 owning the descriptor, the command of the owning process, the value
9462 of the descriptor, and the target of the descriptor.
9464 @kindex info os sockets
9466 Display the list of Internet-domain sockets on the target. For each
9467 socket, @value{GDBN} prints the address and port of the local and
9468 remote endpoints, the current state of the connection, the creator of
9469 the socket, the IP address family of the socket, and the type of the
9474 Display the list of all System V shared-memory regions on the target.
9475 For each shared-memory region, @value{GDBN} prints the region key,
9476 the shared-memory identifier, the access permissions, the size of the
9477 region, the process that created the region, the process that last
9478 attached to or detached from the region, the current number of live
9479 attaches to the region, and the times at which the region was last
9480 attached to, detach from, and changed.
9482 @kindex info os semaphores
9484 Display the list of all System V semaphore sets on the target. For each
9485 semaphore set, @value{GDBN} prints the semaphore set key, the semaphore
9486 set identifier, the access permissions, the number of semaphores in the
9487 set, the user and group of the owner and creator of the semaphore set,
9488 and the times at which the semaphore set was operated upon and changed.
9492 Display the list of all System V message queues on the target. For each
9493 message queue, @value{GDBN} prints the message queue key, the message
9494 queue identifier, the access permissions, the current number of bytes
9495 on the queue, the current number of messages on the queue, the processes
9496 that last sent and received a message on the queue, the user and group
9497 of the owner and creator of the message queue, the times at which a
9498 message was last sent and received on the queue, and the time at which
9499 the message queue was last changed.
9501 @kindex info os modules
9503 Display the list of all loaded kernel modules on the target. For each
9504 module, @value{GDBN} prints the module name, the size of the module in
9505 bytes, the number of times the module is used, the dependencies of the
9506 module, the status of the module, and the address of the loaded module
9511 If @var{infotype} is omitted, then list the possible values for
9512 @var{infotype} and the kind of OS information available for each
9513 @var{infotype}. If the target does not return a list of possible
9514 types, this command will report an error.
9517 @node Memory Region Attributes
9518 @section Memory Region Attributes
9519 @cindex memory region attributes
9521 @dfn{Memory region attributes} allow you to describe special handling
9522 required by regions of your target's memory. @value{GDBN} uses
9523 attributes to determine whether to allow certain types of memory
9524 accesses; whether to use specific width accesses; and whether to cache
9525 target memory. By default the description of memory regions is
9526 fetched from the target (if the current target supports this), but the
9527 user can override the fetched regions.
9529 Defined memory regions can be individually enabled and disabled. When a
9530 memory region is disabled, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when
9531 accessing memory in that region. Similarly, if no memory regions have
9532 been defined, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when accessing
9535 When a memory region is defined, it is given a number to identify it;
9536 to enable, disable, or remove a memory region, you specify that number.
9540 @item mem @var{lower} @var{upper} @var{attributes}@dots{}
9541 Define a memory region bounded by @var{lower} and @var{upper} with
9542 attributes @var{attributes}@dots{}, and add it to the list of regions
9543 monitored by @value{GDBN}. Note that @var{upper} == 0 is a special
9544 case: it is treated as the target's maximum memory address.
9545 (0xffff on 16 bit targets, 0xffffffff on 32 bit targets, etc.)
9548 Discard any user changes to the memory regions and use target-supplied
9549 regions, if available, or no regions if the target does not support.
9552 @item delete mem @var{nums}@dots{}
9553 Remove memory regions @var{nums}@dots{} from the list of regions
9554 monitored by @value{GDBN}.
9557 @item disable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
9558 Disable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
9559 A disabled memory region is not forgotten.
9560 It may be enabled again later.
9563 @item enable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
9564 Enable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
9568 Print a table of all defined memory regions, with the following columns
9572 @item Memory Region Number
9573 @item Enabled or Disabled.
9574 Enabled memory regions are marked with @samp{y}.
9575 Disabled memory regions are marked with @samp{n}.
9578 The address defining the inclusive lower bound of the memory region.
9581 The address defining the exclusive upper bound of the memory region.
9584 The list of attributes set for this memory region.
9589 @subsection Attributes
9591 @subsubsection Memory Access Mode
9592 The access mode attributes set whether @value{GDBN} may make read or
9593 write accesses to a memory region.
9595 While these attributes prevent @value{GDBN} from performing invalid
9596 memory accesses, they do nothing to prevent the target system, I/O DMA,
9597 etc.@: from accessing memory.
9601 Memory is read only.
9603 Memory is write only.
9605 Memory is read/write. This is the default.
9608 @subsubsection Memory Access Size
9609 The access size attribute tells @value{GDBN} to use specific sized
9610 accesses in the memory region. Often memory mapped device registers
9611 require specific sized accesses. If no access size attribute is
9612 specified, @value{GDBN} may use accesses of any size.
9616 Use 8 bit memory accesses.
9618 Use 16 bit memory accesses.
9620 Use 32 bit memory accesses.
9622 Use 64 bit memory accesses.
9625 @c @subsubsection Hardware/Software Breakpoints
9626 @c The hardware/software breakpoint attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
9627 @c will use hardware or software breakpoints for the internal breakpoints
9628 @c used by the step, next, finish, until, etc. commands.
9632 @c Always use hardware breakpoints
9633 @c @item swbreak (default)
9636 @subsubsection Data Cache
9637 The data cache attributes set whether @value{GDBN} will cache target
9638 memory. While this generally improves performance by reducing debug
9639 protocol overhead, it can lead to incorrect results because @value{GDBN}
9640 does not know about volatile variables or memory mapped device
9645 Enable @value{GDBN} to cache target memory.
9647 Disable @value{GDBN} from caching target memory. This is the default.
9650 @subsection Memory Access Checking
9651 @value{GDBN} can be instructed to refuse accesses to memory that is
9652 not explicitly described. This can be useful if accessing such
9653 regions has undesired effects for a specific target, or to provide
9654 better error checking. The following commands control this behaviour.
9657 @kindex set mem inaccessible-by-default
9658 @item set mem inaccessible-by-default [on|off]
9659 If @code{on} is specified, make @value{GDBN} treat memory not
9660 explicitly described by the memory ranges as non-existent and refuse accesses
9661 to such memory. The checks are only performed if there's at least one
9662 memory range defined. If @code{off} is specified, make @value{GDBN}
9663 treat the memory not explicitly described by the memory ranges as RAM.
9664 The default value is @code{on}.
9665 @kindex show mem inaccessible-by-default
9666 @item show mem inaccessible-by-default
9667 Show the current handling of accesses to unknown memory.
9671 @c @subsubsection Memory Write Verification
9672 @c The memory write verification attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
9673 @c will re-reads data after each write to verify the write was successful.
9677 @c @item noverify (default)
9680 @node Dump/Restore Files
9681 @section Copy Between Memory and a File
9682 @cindex dump/restore files
9683 @cindex append data to a file
9684 @cindex dump data to a file
9685 @cindex restore data from a file
9687 You can use the commands @code{dump}, @code{append}, and
9688 @code{restore} to copy data between target memory and a file. The
9689 @code{dump} and @code{append} commands write data to a file, and the
9690 @code{restore} command reads data from a file back into the inferior's
9691 memory. Files may be in binary, Motorola S-record, Intel hex, or
9692 Tektronix Hex format; however, @value{GDBN} can only append to binary
9698 @item dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
9699 @itemx dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
9700 Dump the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
9701 or the value of @var{expr}, to @var{filename} in the given format.
9703 The @var{format} parameter may be any one of:
9710 Motorola S-record format.
9712 Tektronix Hex format.
9715 @value{GDBN} uses the same definitions of these formats as the
9716 @sc{gnu} binary utilities, like @samp{objdump} and @samp{objcopy}. If
9717 @var{format} is omitted, @value{GDBN} dumps the data in raw binary
9721 @item append @r{[}binary@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
9722 @itemx append @r{[}binary@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
9723 Append the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
9724 or the value of @var{expr}, to the file @var{filename}, in raw binary form.
9725 (@value{GDBN} can only append data to files in raw binary form.)
9728 @item restore @var{filename} @r{[}binary@r{]} @var{bias} @var{start} @var{end}
9729 Restore the contents of file @var{filename} into memory. The
9730 @code{restore} command can automatically recognize any known @sc{bfd}
9731 file format, except for raw binary. To restore a raw binary file you
9732 must specify the optional keyword @code{binary} after the filename.
9734 If @var{bias} is non-zero, its value will be added to the addresses
9735 contained in the file. Binary files always start at address zero, so
9736 they will be restored at address @var{bias}. Other bfd files have
9737 a built-in location; they will be restored at offset @var{bias}
9740 If @var{start} and/or @var{end} are non-zero, then only data between
9741 file offset @var{start} and file offset @var{end} will be restored.
9742 These offsets are relative to the addresses in the file, before
9743 the @var{bias} argument is applied.
9747 @node Core File Generation
9748 @section How to Produce a Core File from Your Program
9749 @cindex dump core from inferior
9751 A @dfn{core file} or @dfn{core dump} is a file that records the memory
9752 image of a running process and its process status (register values
9753 etc.). Its primary use is post-mortem debugging of a program that
9754 crashed while it ran outside a debugger. A program that crashes
9755 automatically produces a core file, unless this feature is disabled by
9756 the user. @xref{Files}, for information on invoking @value{GDBN} in
9757 the post-mortem debugging mode.
9759 Occasionally, you may wish to produce a core file of the program you
9760 are debugging in order to preserve a snapshot of its state.
9761 @value{GDBN} has a special command for that.
9765 @kindex generate-core-file
9766 @item generate-core-file [@var{file}]
9767 @itemx gcore [@var{file}]
9768 Produce a core dump of the inferior process. The optional argument
9769 @var{file} specifies the file name where to put the core dump. If not
9770 specified, the file name defaults to @file{core.@var{pid}}, where
9771 @var{pid} is the inferior process ID.
9773 Note that this command is implemented only for some systems (as of
9774 this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, Unixware, and S390).
9777 @node Character Sets
9778 @section Character Sets
9779 @cindex character sets
9781 @cindex translating between character sets
9782 @cindex host character set
9783 @cindex target character set
9785 If the program you are debugging uses a different character set to
9786 represent characters and strings than the one @value{GDBN} uses itself,
9787 @value{GDBN} can automatically translate between the character sets for
9788 you. The character set @value{GDBN} uses we call the @dfn{host
9789 character set}; the one the inferior program uses we call the
9790 @dfn{target character set}.
9792 For example, if you are running @value{GDBN} on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, which
9793 uses the ISO Latin 1 character set, but you are using @value{GDBN}'s
9794 remote protocol (@pxref{Remote Debugging}) to debug a program
9795 running on an IBM mainframe, which uses the @sc{ebcdic} character set,
9796 then the host character set is Latin-1, and the target character set is
9797 @sc{ebcdic}. If you give @value{GDBN} the command @code{set
9798 target-charset EBCDIC-US}, then @value{GDBN} translates between
9799 @sc{ebcdic} and Latin 1 as you print character or string values, or use
9800 character and string literals in expressions.
9802 @value{GDBN} has no way to automatically recognize which character set
9803 the inferior program uses; you must tell it, using the @code{set
9804 target-charset} command, described below.
9806 Here are the commands for controlling @value{GDBN}'s character set
9810 @item set target-charset @var{charset}
9811 @kindex set target-charset
9812 Set the current target character set to @var{charset}. To display the
9813 list of supported target character sets, type
9814 @kbd{@w{set target-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
9816 @item set host-charset @var{charset}
9817 @kindex set host-charset
9818 Set the current host character set to @var{charset}.
9820 By default, @value{GDBN} uses a host character set appropriate to the
9821 system it is running on; you can override that default using the
9822 @code{set host-charset} command. On some systems, @value{GDBN} cannot
9823 automatically determine the appropriate host character set. In this
9824 case, @value{GDBN} uses @samp{UTF-8}.
9826 @value{GDBN} can only use certain character sets as its host character
9827 set. If you type @kbd{@w{set host-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
9828 @value{GDBN} will list the host character sets it supports.
9830 @item set charset @var{charset}
9832 Set the current host and target character sets to @var{charset}. As
9833 above, if you type @kbd{@w{set charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
9834 @value{GDBN} will list the names of the character sets that can be used
9835 for both host and target.
9838 @kindex show charset
9839 Show the names of the current host and target character sets.
9841 @item show host-charset
9842 @kindex show host-charset
9843 Show the name of the current host character set.
9845 @item show target-charset
9846 @kindex show target-charset
9847 Show the name of the current target character set.
9849 @item set target-wide-charset @var{charset}
9850 @kindex set target-wide-charset
9851 Set the current target's wide character set to @var{charset}. This is
9852 the character set used by the target's @code{wchar_t} type. To
9853 display the list of supported wide character sets, type
9854 @kbd{@w{set target-wide-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
9856 @item show target-wide-charset
9857 @kindex show target-wide-charset
9858 Show the name of the current target's wide character set.
9861 Here is an example of @value{GDBN}'s character set support in action.
9862 Assume that the following source code has been placed in the file
9863 @file{charset-test.c}:
9869 = @{72, 101, 108, 108, 111, 44, 32, 119,
9870 111, 114, 108, 100, 33, 10, 0@};
9871 char ibm1047_hello[]
9872 = @{200, 133, 147, 147, 150, 107, 64, 166,
9873 150, 153, 147, 132, 90, 37, 0@};
9877 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
9881 In this program, @code{ascii_hello} and @code{ibm1047_hello} are arrays
9882 containing the string @samp{Hello, world!} followed by a newline,
9883 encoded in the @sc{ascii} and @sc{ibm1047} character sets.
9885 We compile the program, and invoke the debugger on it:
9888 $ gcc -g charset-test.c -o charset-test
9889 $ gdb -nw charset-test
9890 GNU gdb 2001-12-19-cvs
9891 Copyright 2001 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
9896 We can use the @code{show charset} command to see what character sets
9897 @value{GDBN} is currently using to interpret and display characters and
9901 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
9902 The current host and target character set is `ISO-8859-1'.
9906 For the sake of printing this manual, let's use @sc{ascii} as our
9907 initial character set:
9909 (@value{GDBP}) set charset ASCII
9910 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
9911 The current host and target character set is `ASCII'.
9915 Let's assume that @sc{ascii} is indeed the correct character set for our
9916 host system --- in other words, let's assume that if @value{GDBN} prints
9917 characters using the @sc{ascii} character set, our terminal will display
9918 them properly. Since our current target character set is also
9919 @sc{ascii}, the contents of @code{ascii_hello} print legibly:
9922 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
9923 $1 = 0x401698 "Hello, world!\n"
9924 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
9929 @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and string
9930 literals you use in expressions:
9933 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
9938 The @sc{ascii} character set uses the number 43 to encode the @samp{+}
9941 @value{GDBN} relies on the user to tell it which character set the
9942 target program uses. If we print @code{ibm1047_hello} while our target
9943 character set is still @sc{ascii}, we get jibberish:
9946 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
9947 $4 = 0x4016a8 "\310\205\223\223\226k@@\246\226\231\223\204Z%"
9948 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
9953 If we invoke the @code{set target-charset} followed by @key{TAB}@key{TAB},
9954 @value{GDBN} tells us the character sets it supports:
9957 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
9958 ASCII EBCDIC-US IBM1047 ISO-8859-1
9959 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
9962 We can select @sc{ibm1047} as our target character set, and examine the
9963 program's strings again. Now the @sc{ascii} string is wrong, but
9964 @value{GDBN} translates the contents of @code{ibm1047_hello} from the
9965 target character set, @sc{ibm1047}, to the host character set,
9966 @sc{ascii}, and they display correctly:
9969 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset IBM1047
9970 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
9971 The current host character set is `ASCII'.
9972 The current target character set is `IBM1047'.
9973 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
9974 $6 = 0x401698 "\110\145%%?\054\040\167?\162%\144\041\012"
9975 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
9977 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
9978 $8 = 0x4016a8 "Hello, world!\n"
9979 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
9984 As above, @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and
9985 string literals you use in expressions:
9988 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
9993 The @sc{ibm1047} character set uses the number 78 to encode the @samp{+}
9996 @node Caching Remote Data
9997 @section Caching Data of Remote Targets
9998 @cindex caching data of remote targets
10000 @value{GDBN} caches data exchanged between the debugger and a
10001 remote target (@pxref{Remote Debugging}). Such caching generally improves
10002 performance, because it reduces the overhead of the remote protocol by
10003 bundling memory reads and writes into large chunks. Unfortunately, simply
10004 caching everything would lead to incorrect results, since @value{GDBN}
10005 does not necessarily know anything about volatile values, memory-mapped I/O
10006 addresses, etc. Furthermore, in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode})
10007 memory can be changed @emph{while} a gdb command is executing.
10008 Therefore, by default, @value{GDBN} only caches data
10009 known to be on the stack@footnote{In non-stop mode, it is moderately
10010 rare for a running thread to modify the stack of a stopped thread
10011 in a way that would interfere with a backtrace, and caching of
10012 stack reads provides a significant speed up of remote backtraces.}.
10013 Other regions of memory can be explicitly marked as
10014 cacheable; see @pxref{Memory Region Attributes}.
10017 @kindex set remotecache
10018 @item set remotecache on
10019 @itemx set remotecache off
10020 This option no longer does anything; it exists for compatibility
10023 @kindex show remotecache
10024 @item show remotecache
10025 Show the current state of the obsolete remotecache flag.
10027 @kindex set stack-cache
10028 @item set stack-cache on
10029 @itemx set stack-cache off
10030 Enable or disable caching of stack accesses. When @code{ON}, use
10031 caching. By default, this option is @code{ON}.
10033 @kindex show stack-cache
10034 @item show stack-cache
10035 Show the current state of data caching for memory accesses.
10037 @kindex info dcache
10038 @item info dcache @r{[}line@r{]}
10039 Print the information about the data cache performance. The
10040 information displayed includes the dcache width and depth, and for
10041 each cache line, its number, address, and how many times it was
10042 referenced. This command is useful for debugging the data cache
10045 If a line number is specified, the contents of that line will be
10048 @item set dcache size @var{size}
10049 @cindex dcache size
10050 @kindex set dcache size
10051 Set maximum number of entries in dcache (dcache depth above).
10053 @item set dcache line-size @var{line-size}
10054 @cindex dcache line-size
10055 @kindex set dcache line-size
10056 Set number of bytes each dcache entry caches (dcache width above).
10057 Must be a power of 2.
10059 @item show dcache size
10060 @kindex show dcache size
10061 Show maximum number of dcache entries. See also @ref{Caching Remote Data, info dcache}.
10063 @item show dcache line-size
10064 @kindex show dcache line-size
10065 Show default size of dcache lines. See also @ref{Caching Remote Data, info dcache}.
10069 @node Searching Memory
10070 @section Search Memory
10071 @cindex searching memory
10073 Memory can be searched for a particular sequence of bytes with the
10074 @code{find} command.
10078 @item find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, +@var{len}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
10079 @itemx find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, @var{end_addr}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
10080 Search memory for the sequence of bytes specified by @var{val1}, @var{val2},
10081 etc. The search begins at address @var{start_addr} and continues for either
10082 @var{len} bytes or through to @var{end_addr} inclusive.
10085 @var{s} and @var{n} are optional parameters.
10086 They may be specified in either order, apart or together.
10089 @item @var{s}, search query size
10090 The size of each search query value.
10096 halfwords (two bytes)
10100 giant words (eight bytes)
10103 All values are interpreted in the current language.
10104 This means, for example, that if the current source language is C/C@t{++}
10105 then searching for the string ``hello'' includes the trailing '\0'.
10107 If the value size is not specified, it is taken from the
10108 value's type in the current language.
10109 This is useful when one wants to specify the search
10110 pattern as a mixture of types.
10111 Note that this means, for example, that in the case of C-like languages
10112 a search for an untyped 0x42 will search for @samp{(int) 0x42}
10113 which is typically four bytes.
10115 @item @var{n}, maximum number of finds
10116 The maximum number of matches to print. The default is to print all finds.
10119 You can use strings as search values. Quote them with double-quotes
10121 The string value is copied into the search pattern byte by byte,
10122 regardless of the endianness of the target and the size specification.
10124 The address of each match found is printed as well as a count of the
10125 number of matches found.
10127 The address of the last value found is stored in convenience variable
10129 A count of the number of matches is stored in @samp{$numfound}.
10131 For example, if stopped at the @code{printf} in this function:
10137 static char hello[] = "hello-hello";
10138 static struct @{ char c; short s; int i; @}
10139 __attribute__ ((packed)) mixed
10140 = @{ 'c', 0x1234, 0x87654321 @};
10141 printf ("%s\n", hello);
10146 you get during debugging:
10149 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), "hello"
10150 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
10152 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o'
10153 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
10154 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
10156 (gdb) find /b1 &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 0x65, 'l'
10157 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
10159 (gdb) find &mixed, +sizeof(mixed), (char) 'c', (short) 0x1234, (int) 0x87654321
10160 0x8049560 <mixed.1625>
10162 (gdb) print $numfound
10165 $2 = (void *) 0x8049560
10168 @node Optimized Code
10169 @chapter Debugging Optimized Code
10170 @cindex optimized code, debugging
10171 @cindex debugging optimized code
10173 Almost all compilers support optimization. With optimization
10174 disabled, the compiler generates assembly code that corresponds
10175 directly to your source code, in a simplistic way. As the compiler
10176 applies more powerful optimizations, the generated assembly code
10177 diverges from your original source code. With help from debugging
10178 information generated by the compiler, @value{GDBN} can map from
10179 the running program back to constructs from your original source.
10181 @value{GDBN} is more accurate with optimization disabled. If you
10182 can recompile without optimization, it is easier to follow the
10183 progress of your program during debugging. But, there are many cases
10184 where you may need to debug an optimized version.
10186 When you debug a program compiled with @samp{-g -O}, remember that the
10187 optimizer has rearranged your code; the debugger shows you what is
10188 really there. Do not be too surprised when the execution path does not
10189 exactly match your source file! An extreme example: if you define a
10190 variable, but never use it, @value{GDBN} never sees that
10191 variable---because the compiler optimizes it out of existence.
10193 Some things do not work as well with @samp{-g -O} as with just
10194 @samp{-g}, particularly on machines with instruction scheduling. If in
10195 doubt, recompile with @samp{-g} alone, and if this fixes the problem,
10196 please report it to us as a bug (including a test case!).
10197 @xref{Variables}, for more information about debugging optimized code.
10200 * Inline Functions:: How @value{GDBN} presents inlining
10201 * Tail Call Frames:: @value{GDBN} analysis of jumps to functions
10204 @node Inline Functions
10205 @section Inline Functions
10206 @cindex inline functions, debugging
10208 @dfn{Inlining} is an optimization that inserts a copy of the function
10209 body directly at each call site, instead of jumping to a shared
10210 routine. @value{GDBN} displays inlined functions just like
10211 non-inlined functions. They appear in backtraces. You can view their
10212 arguments and local variables, step into them with @code{step}, skip
10213 them with @code{next}, and escape from them with @code{finish}.
10214 You can check whether a function was inlined by using the
10215 @code{info frame} command.
10217 For @value{GDBN} to support inlined functions, the compiler must
10218 record information about inlining in the debug information ---
10219 @value{NGCC} using the @sc{dwarf 2} format does this, and several
10220 other compilers do also. @value{GDBN} only supports inlined functions
10221 when using @sc{dwarf 2}. Versions of @value{NGCC} before 4.1
10222 do not emit two required attributes (@samp{DW_AT_call_file} and
10223 @samp{DW_AT_call_line}); @value{GDBN} does not display inlined
10224 function calls with earlier versions of @value{NGCC}. It instead
10225 displays the arguments and local variables of inlined functions as
10226 local variables in the caller.
10228 The body of an inlined function is directly included at its call site;
10229 unlike a non-inlined function, there are no instructions devoted to
10230 the call. @value{GDBN} still pretends that the call site and the
10231 start of the inlined function are different instructions. Stepping to
10232 the call site shows the call site, and then stepping again shows
10233 the first line of the inlined function, even though no additional
10234 instructions are executed.
10236 This makes source-level debugging much clearer; you can see both the
10237 context of the call and then the effect of the call. Only stepping by
10238 a single instruction using @code{stepi} or @code{nexti} does not do
10239 this; single instruction steps always show the inlined body.
10241 There are some ways that @value{GDBN} does not pretend that inlined
10242 function calls are the same as normal calls:
10246 Setting breakpoints at the call site of an inlined function may not
10247 work, because the call site does not contain any code. @value{GDBN}
10248 may incorrectly move the breakpoint to the next line of the enclosing
10249 function, after the call. This limitation will be removed in a future
10250 version of @value{GDBN}; until then, set a breakpoint on an earlier line
10251 or inside the inlined function instead.
10254 @value{GDBN} cannot locate the return value of inlined calls after
10255 using the @code{finish} command. This is a limitation of compiler-generated
10256 debugging information; after @code{finish}, you can step to the next line
10257 and print a variable where your program stored the return value.
10261 @node Tail Call Frames
10262 @section Tail Call Frames
10263 @cindex tail call frames, debugging
10265 Function @code{B} can call function @code{C} in its very last statement. In
10266 unoptimized compilation the call of @code{C} is immediately followed by return
10267 instruction at the end of @code{B} code. Optimizing compiler may replace the
10268 call and return in function @code{B} into one jump to function @code{C}
10269 instead. Such use of a jump instruction is called @dfn{tail call}.
10271 During execution of function @code{C}, there will be no indication in the
10272 function call stack frames that it was tail-called from @code{B}. If function
10273 @code{A} regularly calls function @code{B} which tail-calls function @code{C},
10274 then @value{GDBN} will see @code{A} as the caller of @code{C}. However, in
10275 some cases @value{GDBN} can determine that @code{C} was tail-called from
10276 @code{B}, and it will then create fictitious call frame for that, with the
10277 return address set up as if @code{B} called @code{C} normally.
10279 This functionality is currently supported only by DWARF 2 debugging format and
10280 the compiler has to produce @samp{DW_TAG_GNU_call_site} tags. With
10281 @value{NGCC}, you need to specify @option{-O -g} during compilation, to get
10284 @kbd{info frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info}) will indicate the tail call frame
10285 kind by text @code{tail call frame} such as in this sample @value{GDBN} output:
10289 0x40066b <b(int, double)+11>: jmp 0x400640 <c(int, double)>
10291 Stack level 1, frame at 0x7fffffffda30:
10292 rip = 0x40066d in b (amd64-entry-value.cc:59); saved rip 0x4004c5
10293 tail call frame, caller of frame at 0x7fffffffda30
10294 source language c++.
10295 Arglist at unknown address.
10296 Locals at unknown address, Previous frame's sp is 0x7fffffffda30
10299 The detection of all the possible code path executions can find them ambiguous.
10300 There is no execution history stored (possible @ref{Reverse Execution} is never
10301 used for this purpose) and the last known caller could have reached the known
10302 callee by multiple different jump sequences. In such case @value{GDBN} still
10303 tries to show at least all the unambiguous top tail callers and all the
10304 unambiguous bottom tail calees, if any.
10307 @anchor{set debug entry-values}
10308 @item set debug entry-values
10309 @kindex set debug entry-values
10310 When set to on, enables printing of analysis messages for both frame argument
10311 values at function entry and tail calls. It will show all the possible valid
10312 tail calls code paths it has considered. It will also print the intersection
10313 of them with the final unambiguous (possibly partial or even empty) code path
10316 @item show debug entry-values
10317 @kindex show debug entry-values
10318 Show the current state of analysis messages printing for both frame argument
10319 values at function entry and tail calls.
10322 The analysis messages for tail calls can for example show why the virtual tail
10323 call frame for function @code{c} has not been recognized (due to the indirect
10324 reference by variable @code{x}):
10327 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void);
10328 void (*x) (void) = c;
10329 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ x++; @}
10330 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void) @{ a (); @}
10331 int main (void) @{ x (); return 0; @}
10333 Breakpoint 1, DW_OP_GNU_entry_value resolving cannot find
10334 DW_TAG_GNU_call_site 0x40039a in main
10336 3 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ x++; @}
10339 #1 0x000000000040039a in main () at t.c:5
10342 Another possibility is an ambiguous virtual tail call frames resolution:
10346 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) f (void) @{ i++; @}
10347 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) e (void) @{ f (); @}
10348 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) d (void) @{ f (); @}
10349 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void) @{ d (); @}
10350 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) b (void)
10351 @{ if (i) c (); else e (); @}
10352 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ b (); @}
10353 int main (void) @{ a (); return 0; @}
10355 tailcall: initial: 0x4004d2(a) 0x4004ce(b) 0x4004b2(c) 0x4004a2(d)
10356 tailcall: compare: 0x4004d2(a) 0x4004cc(b) 0x400492(e)
10357 tailcall: reduced: 0x4004d2(a) |
10360 #1 0x00000000004004d2 in a () at t.c:8
10361 #2 0x0000000000400395 in main () at t.c:9
10364 @set CALLSEQ1A @code{main@value{ARROW}a@value{ARROW}b@value{ARROW}c@value{ARROW}d@value{ARROW}f}
10365 @set CALLSEQ2A @code{main@value{ARROW}a@value{ARROW}b@value{ARROW}e@value{ARROW}f}
10367 @c Convert CALLSEQ#A to CALLSEQ#B depending on HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK.
10368 @ifset HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK
10369 @set ARROW @click{}
10370 @set CALLSEQ1B @clicksequence{@value{CALLSEQ1A}}
10371 @set CALLSEQ2B @clicksequence{@value{CALLSEQ2A}}
10373 @ifclear HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK
10375 @set CALLSEQ1B @value{CALLSEQ1A}
10376 @set CALLSEQ2B @value{CALLSEQ2A}
10379 Frames #0 and #2 are real, #1 is a virtual tail call frame.
10380 The code can have possible execution paths @value{CALLSEQ1B} or
10381 @value{CALLSEQ2B}, @value{GDBN} cannot find which one from the inferior state.
10383 @code{initial:} state shows some random possible calling sequence @value{GDBN}
10384 has found. It then finds another possible calling sequcen - that one is
10385 prefixed by @code{compare:}. The non-ambiguous intersection of these two is
10386 printed as the @code{reduced:} calling sequence. That one could have many
10387 futher @code{compare:} and @code{reduced:} statements as long as there remain
10388 any non-ambiguous sequence entries.
10390 For the frame of function @code{b} in both cases there are different possible
10391 @code{$pc} values (@code{0x4004cc} or @code{0x4004ce}), therefore this frame is
10392 also ambigous. The only non-ambiguous frame is the one for function @code{a},
10393 therefore this one is displayed to the user while the ambiguous frames are
10396 There can be also reasons why printing of frame argument values at function
10401 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (int i) @{ v++; @}
10402 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (int i);
10403 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) b (int i) @{ a (i); @}
10404 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (int i)
10405 @{ if (i) b (i - 1); else c (0); @}
10406 int main (void) @{ a (5); return 0; @}
10409 #0 c (i=i@@entry=0) at t.c:2
10410 #1 0x0000000000400428 in a (DW_OP_GNU_entry_value resolving has found
10411 function "a" at 0x400420 can call itself via tail calls
10412 i=<optimized out>) at t.c:6
10413 #2 0x000000000040036e in main () at t.c:7
10416 @value{GDBN} cannot find out from the inferior state if and how many times did
10417 function @code{a} call itself (via function @code{b}) as these calls would be
10418 tail calls. Such tail calls would modify thue @code{i} variable, therefore
10419 @value{GDBN} cannot be sure the value it knows would be right - @value{GDBN}
10420 prints @code{<optimized out>} instead.
10423 @chapter C Preprocessor Macros
10425 Some languages, such as C and C@t{++}, provide a way to define and invoke
10426 ``preprocessor macros'' which expand into strings of tokens.
10427 @value{GDBN} can evaluate expressions containing macro invocations, show
10428 the result of macro expansion, and show a macro's definition, including
10429 where it was defined.
10431 You may need to compile your program specially to provide @value{GDBN}
10432 with information about preprocessor macros. Most compilers do not
10433 include macros in their debugging information, even when you compile
10434 with the @option{-g} flag. @xref{Compilation}.
10436 A program may define a macro at one point, remove that definition later,
10437 and then provide a different definition after that. Thus, at different
10438 points in the program, a macro may have different definitions, or have
10439 no definition at all. If there is a current stack frame, @value{GDBN}
10440 uses the macros in scope at that frame's source code line. Otherwise,
10441 @value{GDBN} uses the macros in scope at the current listing location;
10444 Whenever @value{GDBN} evaluates an expression, it always expands any
10445 macro invocations present in the expression. @value{GDBN} also provides
10446 the following commands for working with macros explicitly.
10450 @kindex macro expand
10451 @cindex macro expansion, showing the results of preprocessor
10452 @cindex preprocessor macro expansion, showing the results of
10453 @cindex expanding preprocessor macros
10454 @item macro expand @var{expression}
10455 @itemx macro exp @var{expression}
10456 Show the results of expanding all preprocessor macro invocations in
10457 @var{expression}. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does
10458 not parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression;
10459 it can be any string of tokens.
10462 @item macro expand-once @var{expression}
10463 @itemx macro exp1 @var{expression}
10464 @cindex expand macro once
10465 @i{(This command is not yet implemented.)} Show the results of
10466 expanding those preprocessor macro invocations that appear explicitly in
10467 @var{expression}. Macro invocations appearing in that expansion are
10468 left unchanged. This command allows you to see the effect of a
10469 particular macro more clearly, without being confused by further
10470 expansions. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does not
10471 parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression; it
10472 can be any string of tokens.
10475 @cindex macro definition, showing
10476 @cindex definition of a macro, showing
10477 @cindex macros, from debug info
10478 @item info macro [-a|-all] [--] @var{macro}
10479 Show the current definition or all definitions of the named @var{macro},
10480 and describe the source location or compiler command-line where that
10481 definition was established. The optional double dash is to signify the end of
10482 argument processing and the beginning of @var{macro} for non C-like macros where
10483 the macro may begin with a hyphen.
10485 @kindex info macros
10486 @item info macros @var{linespec}
10487 Show all macro definitions that are in effect at the location specified
10488 by @var{linespec}, and describe the source location or compiler
10489 command-line where those definitions were established.
10491 @kindex macro define
10492 @cindex user-defined macros
10493 @cindex defining macros interactively
10494 @cindex macros, user-defined
10495 @item macro define @var{macro} @var{replacement-list}
10496 @itemx macro define @var{macro}(@var{arglist}) @var{replacement-list}
10497 Introduce a definition for a preprocessor macro named @var{macro},
10498 invocations of which are replaced by the tokens given in
10499 @var{replacement-list}. The first form of this command defines an
10500 ``object-like'' macro, which takes no arguments; the second form
10501 defines a ``function-like'' macro, which takes the arguments given in
10504 A definition introduced by this command is in scope in every
10505 expression evaluated in @value{GDBN}, until it is removed with the
10506 @code{macro undef} command, described below. The definition overrides
10507 all definitions for @var{macro} present in the program being debugged,
10508 as well as any previous user-supplied definition.
10510 @kindex macro undef
10511 @item macro undef @var{macro}
10512 Remove any user-supplied definition for the macro named @var{macro}.
10513 This command only affects definitions provided with the @code{macro
10514 define} command, described above; it cannot remove definitions present
10515 in the program being debugged.
10519 List all the macros defined using the @code{macro define} command.
10522 @cindex macros, example of debugging with
10523 Here is a transcript showing the above commands in action. First, we
10524 show our source files:
10529 #include "sample.h"
10532 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
10537 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
10539 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
10541 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
10548 Now, we compile the program using the @sc{gnu} C compiler,
10549 @value{NGCC}. We pass the @option{-gdwarf-2}@footnote{This is the
10550 minimum. Recent versions of @value{NGCC} support @option{-gdwarf-3}
10551 and @option{-gdwarf-4}; we recommend always choosing the most recent
10552 version of DWARF.} @emph{and} @option{-g3} flags to ensure the compiler
10553 includes information about preprocessor macros in the debugging
10557 $ gcc -gdwarf-2 -g3 sample.c -o sample
10561 Now, we start @value{GDBN} on our sample program:
10565 GNU gdb 2002-05-06-cvs
10566 Copyright 2002 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
10567 GDB is free software, @dots{}
10571 We can expand macros and examine their definitions, even when the
10572 program is not running. @value{GDBN} uses the current listing position
10573 to decide which macro definitions are in scope:
10576 (@value{GDBP}) list main
10579 5 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
10584 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
10586 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
10587 (@value{GDBP}) info macro ADD
10588 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:5
10589 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
10590 (@value{GDBP}) info macro Q
10591 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.h:1
10592 included at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:2
10594 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand ADD(1)
10595 expands to: (42 + 1)
10596 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand-once ADD(1)
10597 expands to: once (M + 1)
10601 In the example above, note that @code{macro expand-once} expands only
10602 the macro invocation explicit in the original text --- the invocation of
10603 @code{ADD} --- but does not expand the invocation of the macro @code{M},
10604 which was introduced by @code{ADD}.
10606 Once the program is running, @value{GDBN} uses the macro definitions in
10607 force at the source line of the current stack frame:
10610 (@value{GDBP}) break main
10611 Breakpoint 1 at 0x8048370: file sample.c, line 10.
10613 Starting program: /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample
10615 Breakpoint 1, main () at sample.c:10
10616 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
10620 At line 10, the definition of the macro @code{N} at line 9 is in force:
10623 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
10624 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:9
10626 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
10627 expands to: 28 < 42
10628 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
10633 As we step over directives that remove @code{N}'s definition, and then
10634 give it a new definition, @value{GDBN} finds the definition (or lack
10635 thereof) in force at each point:
10638 (@value{GDBP}) next
10640 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
10641 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
10642 The symbol `N' has no definition as a C/C++ preprocessor macro
10643 at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:12
10644 (@value{GDBP}) next
10646 14 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
10647 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
10648 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:13
10650 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
10651 expands to: 1729 < 42
10652 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
10657 In addition to source files, macros can be defined on the compilation command
10658 line using the @option{-D@var{name}=@var{value}} syntax. For macros defined in
10659 such a way, @value{GDBN} displays the location of their definition as line zero
10660 of the source file submitted to the compiler.
10663 (@value{GDBP}) info macro __STDC__
10664 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:0
10671 @chapter Tracepoints
10672 @c This chapter is based on the documentation written by Michael
10673 @c Snyder, David Taylor, Jim Blandy, and Elena Zannoni.
10675 @cindex tracepoints
10676 In some applications, it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt
10677 the program's execution long enough for the developer to learn
10678 anything helpful about its behavior. If the program's correctness
10679 depends on its real-time behavior, delays introduced by a debugger
10680 might cause the program to change its behavior drastically, or perhaps
10681 fail, even when the code itself is correct. It is useful to be able
10682 to observe the program's behavior without interrupting it.
10684 Using @value{GDBN}'s @code{trace} and @code{collect} commands, you can
10685 specify locations in the program, called @dfn{tracepoints}, and
10686 arbitrary expressions to evaluate when those tracepoints are reached.
10687 Later, using the @code{tfind} command, you can examine the values
10688 those expressions had when the program hit the tracepoints. The
10689 expressions may also denote objects in memory---structures or arrays,
10690 for example---whose values @value{GDBN} should record; while visiting
10691 a particular tracepoint, you may inspect those objects as if they were
10692 in memory at that moment. However, because @value{GDBN} records these
10693 values without interacting with you, it can do so quickly and
10694 unobtrusively, hopefully not disturbing the program's behavior.
10696 The tracepoint facility is currently available only for remote
10697 targets. @xref{Targets}. In addition, your remote target must know
10698 how to collect trace data. This functionality is implemented in the
10699 remote stub; however, none of the stubs distributed with @value{GDBN}
10700 support tracepoints as of this writing. The format of the remote
10701 packets used to implement tracepoints are described in @ref{Tracepoint
10704 It is also possible to get trace data from a file, in a manner reminiscent
10705 of corefiles; you specify the filename, and use @code{tfind} to search
10706 through the file. @xref{Trace Files}, for more details.
10708 This chapter describes the tracepoint commands and features.
10711 * Set Tracepoints::
10712 * Analyze Collected Data::
10713 * Tracepoint Variables::
10717 @node Set Tracepoints
10718 @section Commands to Set Tracepoints
10720 Before running such a @dfn{trace experiment}, an arbitrary number of
10721 tracepoints can be set. A tracepoint is actually a special type of
10722 breakpoint (@pxref{Set Breaks}), so you can manipulate it using
10723 standard breakpoint commands. For instance, as with breakpoints,
10724 tracepoint numbers are successive integers starting from one, and many
10725 of the commands associated with tracepoints take the tracepoint number
10726 as their argument, to identify which tracepoint to work on.
10728 For each tracepoint, you can specify, in advance, some arbitrary set
10729 of data that you want the target to collect in the trace buffer when
10730 it hits that tracepoint. The collected data can include registers,
10731 local variables, or global data. Later, you can use @value{GDBN}
10732 commands to examine the values these data had at the time the
10733 tracepoint was hit.
10735 Tracepoints do not support every breakpoint feature. Ignore counts on
10736 tracepoints have no effect, and tracepoints cannot run @value{GDBN}
10737 commands when they are hit. Tracepoints may not be thread-specific
10740 @cindex fast tracepoints
10741 Some targets may support @dfn{fast tracepoints}, which are inserted in
10742 a different way (such as with a jump instead of a trap), that is
10743 faster but possibly restricted in where they may be installed.
10745 @cindex static tracepoints
10746 @cindex markers, static tracepoints
10747 @cindex probing markers, static tracepoints
10748 Regular and fast tracepoints are dynamic tracing facilities, meaning
10749 that they can be used to insert tracepoints at (almost) any location
10750 in the target. Some targets may also support controlling @dfn{static
10751 tracepoints} from @value{GDBN}. With static tracing, a set of
10752 instrumentation points, also known as @dfn{markers}, are embedded in
10753 the target program, and can be activated or deactivated by name or
10754 address. These are usually placed at locations which facilitate
10755 investigating what the target is actually doing. @value{GDBN}'s
10756 support for static tracing includes being able to list instrumentation
10757 points, and attach them with @value{GDBN} defined high level
10758 tracepoints that expose the whole range of convenience of
10759 @value{GDBN}'s tracepoints support. Namely, support for collecting
10760 registers values and values of global or local (to the instrumentation
10761 point) variables; tracepoint conditions and trace state variables.
10762 The act of installing a @value{GDBN} static tracepoint on an
10763 instrumentation point, or marker, is referred to as @dfn{probing} a
10764 static tracepoint marker.
10766 @code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints on some target systems.
10767 @xref{Server,,Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}}.
10769 This section describes commands to set tracepoints and associated
10770 conditions and actions.
10773 * Create and Delete Tracepoints::
10774 * Enable and Disable Tracepoints::
10775 * Tracepoint Passcounts::
10776 * Tracepoint Conditions::
10777 * Trace State Variables::
10778 * Tracepoint Actions::
10779 * Listing Tracepoints::
10780 * Listing Static Tracepoint Markers::
10781 * Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments::
10782 * Tracepoint Restrictions::
10785 @node Create and Delete Tracepoints
10786 @subsection Create and Delete Tracepoints
10789 @cindex set tracepoint
10791 @item trace @var{location}
10792 The @code{trace} command is very similar to the @code{break} command.
10793 Its argument @var{location} can be a source line, a function name, or
10794 an address in the target program. @xref{Specify Location}. The
10795 @code{trace} command defines a tracepoint, which is a point in the
10796 target program where the debugger will briefly stop, collect some
10797 data, and then allow the program to continue. Setting a tracepoint or
10798 changing its actions takes effect immediately if the remote stub
10799 supports the @samp{InstallInTrace} feature (@pxref{install tracepoint
10801 If remote stub doesn't support the @samp{InstallInTrace} feature, all
10802 these changes don't take effect until the next @code{tstart}
10803 command, and once a trace experiment is running, further changes will
10804 not have any effect until the next trace experiment starts. In addition,
10805 @value{GDBN} supports @dfn{pending tracepoints}---tracepoints whose
10806 address is not yet resolved. (This is similar to pending breakpoints.)
10807 Pending tracepoints are not downloaded to the target and not installed
10808 until they are resolved. The resolution of pending tracepoints requires
10809 @value{GDBN} support---when debugging with the remote target, and
10810 @value{GDBN} disconnects from the remote stub (@pxref{disconnected
10811 tracing}), pending tracepoints can not be resolved (and downloaded to
10812 the remote stub) while @value{GDBN} is disconnected.
10814 Here are some examples of using the @code{trace} command:
10817 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo.c:121} // a source file and line number
10819 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace +2} // 2 lines forward
10821 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace my_function} // first source line of function
10823 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *my_function} // EXACT start address of function
10825 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *0x2117c4} // an address
10829 You can abbreviate @code{trace} as @code{tr}.
10831 @item trace @var{location} if @var{cond}
10832 Set a tracepoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
10833 @var{cond} each time the tracepoint is reached, and collect data only
10834 if the value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
10835 @xref{Tracepoint Conditions, ,Tracepoint Conditions}, for more
10836 information on tracepoint conditions.
10838 @item ftrace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
10839 @cindex set fast tracepoint
10840 @cindex fast tracepoints, setting
10842 The @code{ftrace} command sets a fast tracepoint. For targets that
10843 support them, fast tracepoints will use a more efficient but possibly
10844 less general technique to trigger data collection, such as a jump
10845 instruction instead of a trap, or some sort of hardware support. It
10846 may not be possible to create a fast tracepoint at the desired
10847 location, in which case the command will exit with an explanatory
10850 @value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{ftrace} exactly as for
10853 On 32-bit x86-architecture systems, fast tracepoints normally need to
10854 be placed at an instruction that is 5 bytes or longer, but can be
10855 placed at 4-byte instructions if the low 64K of memory of the target
10856 program is available to install trampolines. Some Unix-type systems,
10857 such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, exclude low addresses from the program's
10858 address space; but for instance with the Linux kernel it is possible
10859 to let @value{GDBN} use this area by doing a @command{sysctl} command
10860 to set the @code{mmap_min_addr} kernel parameter, as in
10863 sudo sysctl -w vm.mmap_min_addr=32768
10867 which sets the low address to 32K, which leaves plenty of room for
10868 trampolines. The minimum address should be set to a page boundary.
10870 @item strace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
10871 @cindex set static tracepoint
10872 @cindex static tracepoints, setting
10873 @cindex probe static tracepoint marker
10875 The @code{strace} command sets a static tracepoint. For targets that
10876 support it, setting a static tracepoint probes a static
10877 instrumentation point, or marker, found at @var{location}. It may not
10878 be possible to set a static tracepoint at the desired location, in
10879 which case the command will exit with an explanatory message.
10881 @value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{strace} exactly as for
10882 @code{trace}, with the addition that the user can also specify
10883 @code{-m @var{marker}} as @var{location}. This probes the marker
10884 identified by the @var{marker} string identifier. This identifier
10885 depends on the static tracepoint backend library your program is
10886 using. You can find all the marker identifiers in the @samp{ID} field
10887 of the @code{info static-tracepoint-markers} command output.
10888 @xref{Listing Static Tracepoint Markers,,Listing Static Tracepoint
10889 Markers}. For example, in the following small program using the UST
10895 trace_mark(ust, bar33, "str %s", "FOOBAZ");
10900 the marker id is composed of joining the first two arguments to the
10901 @code{trace_mark} call with a slash, which translates to:
10904 (@value{GDBP}) info static-tracepoint-markers
10905 Cnt Enb ID Address What
10906 1 n ust/bar33 0x0000000000400ddc in main at stexample.c:22
10912 so you may probe the marker above with:
10915 (@value{GDBP}) strace -m ust/bar33
10918 Static tracepoints accept an extra collect action --- @code{collect
10919 $_sdata}. This collects arbitrary user data passed in the probe point
10920 call to the tracing library. In the UST example above, you'll see
10921 that the third argument to @code{trace_mark} is a printf-like format
10922 string. The user data is then the result of running that formating
10923 string against the following arguments. Note that @code{info
10924 static-tracepoint-markers} command output lists that format string in
10925 the @samp{Data:} field.
10927 You can inspect this data when analyzing the trace buffer, by printing
10928 the $_sdata variable like any other variable available to
10929 @value{GDBN}. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}.
10932 @cindex last tracepoint number
10933 @cindex recent tracepoint number
10934 @cindex tracepoint number
10935 The convenience variable @code{$tpnum} records the tracepoint number
10936 of the most recently set tracepoint.
10938 @kindex delete tracepoint
10939 @cindex tracepoint deletion
10940 @item delete tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
10941 Permanently delete one or more tracepoints. With no argument, the
10942 default is to delete all tracepoints. Note that the regular
10943 @code{delete} command can remove tracepoints also.
10948 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace 1 2 3} // remove three tracepoints
10950 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace} // remove all tracepoints
10954 You can abbreviate this command as @code{del tr}.
10957 @node Enable and Disable Tracepoints
10958 @subsection Enable and Disable Tracepoints
10960 These commands are deprecated; they are equivalent to plain @code{disable} and @code{enable}.
10963 @kindex disable tracepoint
10964 @item disable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
10965 Disable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints if no argument
10966 @var{num} is given. A disabled tracepoint will have no effect during
10967 a trace experiment, but it is not forgotten. You can re-enable
10968 a disabled tracepoint using the @code{enable tracepoint} command.
10969 If the command is issued during a trace experiment and the debug target
10970 has support for disabling tracepoints during a trace experiment, then the
10971 change will be effective immediately. Otherwise, it will be applied to the
10972 next trace experiment.
10974 @kindex enable tracepoint
10975 @item enable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
10976 Enable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints. If this command is
10977 issued during a trace experiment and the debug target supports enabling
10978 tracepoints during a trace experiment, then the enabled tracepoints will
10979 become effective immediately. Otherwise, they will become effective the
10980 next time a trace experiment is run.
10983 @node Tracepoint Passcounts
10984 @subsection Tracepoint Passcounts
10988 @cindex tracepoint pass count
10989 @item passcount @r{[}@var{n} @r{[}@var{num}@r{]]}
10990 Set the @dfn{passcount} of a tracepoint. The passcount is a way to
10991 automatically stop a trace experiment. If a tracepoint's passcount is
10992 @var{n}, then the trace experiment will be automatically stopped on
10993 the @var{n}'th time that tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number
10994 @var{num} is not specified, the @code{passcount} command sets the
10995 passcount of the most recently defined tracepoint. If no passcount is
10996 given, the trace experiment will run until stopped explicitly by the
11002 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 5 2} // Stop on the 5th execution of
11003 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// tracepoint 2}
11005 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 12} // Stop on the 12th execution of the
11006 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// most recently defined tracepoint.}
11007 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
11008 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 3}
11009 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace bar}
11010 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 2}
11011 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace baz}
11012 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 1} // Stop tracing when foo has been
11013 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// executed 3 times OR when bar has}
11014 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// been executed 2 times}
11015 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// OR when baz has been executed 1 time.}
11019 @node Tracepoint Conditions
11020 @subsection Tracepoint Conditions
11021 @cindex conditional tracepoints
11022 @cindex tracepoint conditions
11024 The simplest sort of tracepoint collects data every time your program
11025 reaches a specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for
11026 a tracepoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
11027 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A
11028 tracepoint with a condition evaluates the expression each time your
11029 program reaches it, and data collection happens only if the condition
11032 Tracepoint conditions can be specified when a tracepoint is set, by
11033 using @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{trace} command.
11034 @xref{Create and Delete Tracepoints, ,Setting Tracepoints}. They can
11035 also be set or changed at any time with the @code{condition} command,
11036 just as with breakpoints.
11038 Unlike breakpoint conditions, @value{GDBN} does not actually evaluate
11039 the conditional expression itself. Instead, @value{GDBN} encodes the
11040 expression into an agent expression (@pxref{Agent Expressions})
11041 suitable for execution on the target, independently of @value{GDBN}.
11042 Global variables become raw memory locations, locals become stack
11043 accesses, and so forth.
11045 For instance, suppose you have a function that is usually called
11046 frequently, but should not be called after an error has occurred. You
11047 could use the following tracepoint command to collect data about calls
11048 of that function that happen while the error code is propagating
11049 through the program; an unconditional tracepoint could end up
11050 collecting thousands of useless trace frames that you would have to
11054 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{trace normal_operation if errcode > 0}
11057 @node Trace State Variables
11058 @subsection Trace State Variables
11059 @cindex trace state variables
11061 A @dfn{trace state variable} is a special type of variable that is
11062 created and managed by target-side code. The syntax is the same as
11063 that for GDB's convenience variables (a string prefixed with ``$''),
11064 but they are stored on the target. They must be created explicitly,
11065 using a @code{tvariable} command. They are always 64-bit signed
11068 Trace state variables are remembered by @value{GDBN}, and downloaded
11069 to the target along with tracepoint information when the trace
11070 experiment starts. There are no intrinsic limits on the number of
11071 trace state variables, beyond memory limitations of the target.
11073 @cindex convenience variables, and trace state variables
11074 Although trace state variables are managed by the target, you can use
11075 them in print commands and expressions as if they were convenience
11076 variables; @value{GDBN} will get the current value from the target
11077 while the trace experiment is running. Trace state variables share
11078 the same namespace as other ``$'' variables, which means that you
11079 cannot have trace state variables with names like @code{$23} or
11080 @code{$pc}, nor can you have a trace state variable and a convenience
11081 variable with the same name.
11085 @item tvariable $@var{name} [ = @var{expression} ]
11087 The @code{tvariable} command creates a new trace state variable named
11088 @code{$@var{name}}, and optionally gives it an initial value of
11089 @var{expression}. @var{expression} is evaluated when this command is
11090 entered; the result will be converted to an integer if possible,
11091 otherwise @value{GDBN} will report an error. A subsequent
11092 @code{tvariable} command specifying the same name does not create a
11093 variable, but instead assigns the supplied initial value to the
11094 existing variable of that name, overwriting any previous initial
11095 value. The default initial value is 0.
11097 @item info tvariables
11098 @kindex info tvariables
11099 List all the trace state variables along with their initial values.
11100 Their current values may also be displayed, if the trace experiment is
11103 @item delete tvariable @r{[} $@var{name} @dots{} @r{]}
11104 @kindex delete tvariable
11105 Delete the given trace state variables, or all of them if no arguments
11110 @node Tracepoint Actions
11111 @subsection Tracepoint Action Lists
11115 @cindex tracepoint actions
11116 @item actions @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
11117 This command will prompt for a list of actions to be taken when the
11118 tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number @var{num} is not
11119 specified, this command sets the actions for the one that was most
11120 recently defined (so that you can define a tracepoint and then say
11121 @code{actions} without bothering about its number). You specify the
11122 actions themselves on the following lines, one action at a time, and
11123 terminate the actions list with a line containing just @code{end}. So
11124 far, the only defined actions are @code{collect}, @code{teval}, and
11125 @code{while-stepping}.
11127 @code{actions} is actually equivalent to @code{commands} (@pxref{Break
11128 Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}), except that only the defined
11129 actions are allowed; any other @value{GDBN} command is rejected.
11131 @cindex remove actions from a tracepoint
11132 To remove all actions from a tracepoint, type @samp{actions @var{num}}
11133 and follow it immediately with @samp{end}.
11136 (@value{GDBP}) @b{collect @var{data}} // collect some data
11138 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while-stepping 5} // single-step 5 times, collect data
11140 (@value{GDBP}) @b{end} // signals the end of actions.
11143 In the following example, the action list begins with @code{collect}
11144 commands indicating the things to be collected when the tracepoint is
11145 hit. Then, in order to single-step and collect additional data
11146 following the tracepoint, a @code{while-stepping} command is used,
11147 followed by the list of things to be collected after each step in a
11148 sequence of single steps. The @code{while-stepping} command is
11149 terminated by its own separate @code{end} command. Lastly, the action
11150 list is terminated by an @code{end} command.
11153 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
11154 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
11155 Enter actions for tracepoint 1, one per line:
11158 > while-stepping 12
11159 > collect $pc, arr[i]
11164 @kindex collect @r{(tracepoints)}
11165 @item collect@r{[}/@var{mods}@r{]} @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
11166 Collect values of the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit.
11167 This command accepts a comma-separated list of any valid expressions.
11168 In addition to global, static, or local variables, the following
11169 special arguments are supported:
11173 Collect all registers.
11176 Collect all function arguments.
11179 Collect all local variables.
11182 Collect the return address. This is helpful if you want to see more
11186 Collects the number of arguments from the static probe at which the
11187 tracepoint is located.
11188 @xref{Static Probe Points}.
11190 @item $_probe_arg@var{n}
11191 @var{n} is an integer between 0 and 11. Collects the @var{n}th argument
11192 from the static probe at which the tracepoint is located.
11193 @xref{Static Probe Points}.
11196 @vindex $_sdata@r{, collect}
11197 Collect static tracepoint marker specific data. Only available for
11198 static tracepoints. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action
11199 Lists}. On the UST static tracepoints library backend, an
11200 instrumentation point resembles a @code{printf} function call. The
11201 tracing library is able to collect user specified data formatted to a
11202 character string using the format provided by the programmer that
11203 instrumented the program. Other backends have similar mechanisms.
11204 Here's an example of a UST marker call:
11207 const char master_name[] = "$your_name";
11208 trace_mark(channel1, marker1, "hello %s", master_name)
11211 In this case, collecting @code{$_sdata} collects the string
11212 @samp{hello $yourname}. When analyzing the trace buffer, you can
11213 inspect @samp{$_sdata} like any other variable available to
11217 You can give several consecutive @code{collect} commands, each one
11218 with a single argument, or one @code{collect} command with several
11219 arguments separated by commas; the effect is the same.
11221 The optional @var{mods} changes the usual handling of the arguments.
11222 @code{s} requests that pointers to chars be handled as strings, in
11223 particular collecting the contents of the memory being pointed at, up
11224 to the first zero. The upper bound is by default the value of the
11225 @code{print elements} variable; if @code{s} is followed by a decimal
11226 number, that is the upper bound instead. So for instance
11227 @samp{collect/s25 mystr} collects as many as 25 characters at
11230 The command @code{info scope} (@pxref{Symbols, info scope}) is
11231 particularly useful for figuring out what data to collect.
11233 @kindex teval @r{(tracepoints)}
11234 @item teval @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
11235 Evaluate the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit. This
11236 command accepts a comma-separated list of expressions. The results
11237 are discarded, so this is mainly useful for assigning values to trace
11238 state variables (@pxref{Trace State Variables}) without adding those
11239 values to the trace buffer, as would be the case if the @code{collect}
11242 @kindex while-stepping @r{(tracepoints)}
11243 @item while-stepping @var{n}
11244 Perform @var{n} single-step instruction traces after the tracepoint,
11245 collecting new data after each step. The @code{while-stepping}
11246 command is followed by the list of what to collect while stepping
11247 (followed by its own @code{end} command):
11250 > while-stepping 12
11251 > collect $regs, myglobal
11257 Note that @code{$pc} is not automatically collected by
11258 @code{while-stepping}; you need to explicitly collect that register if
11259 you need it. You may abbreviate @code{while-stepping} as @code{ws} or
11262 @item set default-collect @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
11263 @kindex set default-collect
11264 @cindex default collection action
11265 This variable is a list of expressions to collect at each tracepoint
11266 hit. It is effectively an additional @code{collect} action prepended
11267 to every tracepoint action list. The expressions are parsed
11268 individually for each tracepoint, so for instance a variable named
11269 @code{xyz} may be interpreted as a global for one tracepoint, and a
11270 local for another, as appropriate to the tracepoint's location.
11272 @item show default-collect
11273 @kindex show default-collect
11274 Show the list of expressions that are collected by default at each
11279 @node Listing Tracepoints
11280 @subsection Listing Tracepoints
11283 @kindex info tracepoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
11284 @kindex info tp @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
11285 @cindex information about tracepoints
11286 @item info tracepoints @r{[}@var{num}@dots{}@r{]}
11287 Display information about the tracepoint @var{num}. If you don't
11288 specify a tracepoint number, displays information about all the
11289 tracepoints defined so far. The format is similar to that used for
11290 @code{info breakpoints}; in fact, @code{info tracepoints} is the same
11291 command, simply restricting itself to tracepoints.
11293 A tracepoint's listing may include additional information specific to
11298 its passcount as given by the @code{passcount @var{n}} command
11302 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info trace}
11303 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
11304 1 tracepoint keep y 0x0804ab57 in foo() at main.cxx:7
11306 collect globfoo, $regs
11315 This command can be abbreviated @code{info tp}.
11318 @node Listing Static Tracepoint Markers
11319 @subsection Listing Static Tracepoint Markers
11322 @kindex info static-tracepoint-markers
11323 @cindex information about static tracepoint markers
11324 @item info static-tracepoint-markers
11325 Display information about all static tracepoint markers defined in the
11328 For each marker, the following columns are printed:
11332 An incrementing counter, output to help readability. This is not a
11335 The marker ID, as reported by the target.
11336 @item Enabled or Disabled
11337 Probed markers are tagged with @samp{y}. @samp{n} identifies marks
11338 that are not enabled.
11340 Where the marker is in your program, as a memory address.
11342 Where the marker is in the source for your program, as a file and line
11343 number. If the debug information included in the program does not
11344 allow @value{GDBN} to locate the source of the marker, this column
11345 will be left blank.
11349 In addition, the following information may be printed for each marker:
11353 User data passed to the tracing library by the marker call. In the
11354 UST backend, this is the format string passed as argument to the
11356 @item Static tracepoints probing the marker
11357 The list of static tracepoints attached to the marker.
11361 (@value{GDBP}) info static-tracepoint-markers
11362 Cnt ID Enb Address What
11363 1 ust/bar2 y 0x0000000000400e1a in main at stexample.c:25
11364 Data: number1 %d number2 %d
11365 Probed by static tracepoints: #2
11366 2 ust/bar33 n 0x0000000000400c87 in main at stexample.c:24
11372 @node Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
11373 @subsection Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
11376 @kindex tstart [ @var{notes} ]
11377 @cindex start a new trace experiment
11378 @cindex collected data discarded
11380 This command starts the trace experiment, and begins collecting data.
11381 It has the side effect of discarding all the data collected in the
11382 trace buffer during the previous trace experiment. If any arguments
11383 are supplied, they are taken as a note and stored with the trace
11384 experiment's state. The notes may be arbitrary text, and are
11385 especially useful with disconnected tracing in a multi-user context;
11386 the notes can explain what the trace is doing, supply user contact
11387 information, and so forth.
11389 @kindex tstop [ @var{notes} ]
11390 @cindex stop a running trace experiment
11392 This command stops the trace experiment. If any arguments are
11393 supplied, they are recorded with the experiment as a note. This is
11394 useful if you are stopping a trace started by someone else, for
11395 instance if the trace is interfering with the system's behavior and
11396 needs to be stopped quickly.
11398 @strong{Note}: a trace experiment and data collection may stop
11399 automatically if any tracepoint's passcount is reached
11400 (@pxref{Tracepoint Passcounts}), or if the trace buffer becomes full.
11403 @cindex status of trace data collection
11404 @cindex trace experiment, status of
11406 This command displays the status of the current trace data
11410 Here is an example of the commands we described so far:
11413 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace gdb_c_test}
11414 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
11415 Enter actions for tracepoint #1, one per line.
11416 > collect $regs,$locals,$args
11417 > while-stepping 11
11421 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
11422 [time passes @dots{}]
11423 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstop}
11426 @anchor{disconnected tracing}
11427 @cindex disconnected tracing
11428 You can choose to continue running the trace experiment even if
11429 @value{GDBN} disconnects from the target, voluntarily or
11430 involuntarily. For commands such as @code{detach}, the debugger will
11431 ask what you want to do with the trace. But for unexpected
11432 terminations (@value{GDBN} crash, network outage), it would be
11433 unfortunate to lose hard-won trace data, so the variable
11434 @code{disconnected-tracing} lets you decide whether the trace should
11435 continue running without @value{GDBN}.
11438 @item set disconnected-tracing on
11439 @itemx set disconnected-tracing off
11440 @kindex set disconnected-tracing
11441 Choose whether a tracing run should continue to run if @value{GDBN}
11442 has disconnected from the target. Note that @code{detach} or
11443 @code{quit} will ask you directly what to do about a running trace no
11444 matter what this variable's setting, so the variable is mainly useful
11445 for handling unexpected situations, such as loss of the network.
11447 @item show disconnected-tracing
11448 @kindex show disconnected-tracing
11449 Show the current choice for disconnected tracing.
11453 When you reconnect to the target, the trace experiment may or may not
11454 still be running; it might have filled the trace buffer in the
11455 meantime, or stopped for one of the other reasons. If it is running,
11456 it will continue after reconnection.
11458 Upon reconnection, the target will upload information about the
11459 tracepoints in effect. @value{GDBN} will then compare that
11460 information to the set of tracepoints currently defined, and attempt
11461 to match them up, allowing for the possibility that the numbers may
11462 have changed due to creation and deletion in the meantime. If one of
11463 the target's tracepoints does not match any in @value{GDBN}, the
11464 debugger will create a new tracepoint, so that you have a number with
11465 which to specify that tracepoint. This matching-up process is
11466 necessarily heuristic, and it may result in useless tracepoints being
11467 created; you may simply delete them if they are of no use.
11469 @cindex circular trace buffer
11470 If your target agent supports a @dfn{circular trace buffer}, then you
11471 can run a trace experiment indefinitely without filling the trace
11472 buffer; when space runs out, the agent deletes already-collected trace
11473 frames, oldest first, until there is enough room to continue
11474 collecting. This is especially useful if your tracepoints are being
11475 hit too often, and your trace gets terminated prematurely because the
11476 buffer is full. To ask for a circular trace buffer, simply set
11477 @samp{circular-trace-buffer} to on. You can set this at any time,
11478 including during tracing; if the agent can do it, it will change
11479 buffer handling on the fly, otherwise it will not take effect until
11483 @item set circular-trace-buffer on
11484 @itemx set circular-trace-buffer off
11485 @kindex set circular-trace-buffer
11486 Choose whether a tracing run should use a linear or circular buffer
11487 for trace data. A linear buffer will not lose any trace data, but may
11488 fill up prematurely, while a circular buffer will discard old trace
11489 data, but it will have always room for the latest tracepoint hits.
11491 @item show circular-trace-buffer
11492 @kindex show circular-trace-buffer
11493 Show the current choice for the trace buffer. Note that this may not
11494 match the agent's current buffer handling, nor is it guaranteed to
11495 match the setting that might have been in effect during a past run,
11496 for instance if you are looking at frames from a trace file.
11501 @item set trace-user @var{text}
11502 @kindex set trace-user
11504 @item show trace-user
11505 @kindex show trace-user
11507 @item set trace-notes @var{text}
11508 @kindex set trace-notes
11509 Set the trace run's notes.
11511 @item show trace-notes
11512 @kindex show trace-notes
11513 Show the trace run's notes.
11515 @item set trace-stop-notes @var{text}
11516 @kindex set trace-stop-notes
11517 Set the trace run's stop notes. The handling of the note is as for
11518 @code{tstop} arguments; the set command is convenient way to fix a
11519 stop note that is mistaken or incomplete.
11521 @item show trace-stop-notes
11522 @kindex show trace-stop-notes
11523 Show the trace run's stop notes.
11527 @node Tracepoint Restrictions
11528 @subsection Tracepoint Restrictions
11530 @cindex tracepoint restrictions
11531 There are a number of restrictions on the use of tracepoints. As
11532 described above, tracepoint data gathering occurs on the target
11533 without interaction from @value{GDBN}. Thus the full capabilities of
11534 the debugger are not available during data gathering, and then at data
11535 examination time, you will be limited by only having what was
11536 collected. The following items describe some common problems, but it
11537 is not exhaustive, and you may run into additional difficulties not
11543 Tracepoint expressions are intended to gather objects (lvalues). Thus
11544 the full flexibility of GDB's expression evaluator is not available.
11545 You cannot call functions, cast objects to aggregate types, access
11546 convenience variables or modify values (except by assignment to trace
11547 state variables). Some language features may implicitly call
11548 functions (for instance Objective-C fields with accessors), and therefore
11549 cannot be collected either.
11552 Collection of local variables, either individually or in bulk with
11553 @code{$locals} or @code{$args}, during @code{while-stepping} may
11554 behave erratically. The stepping action may enter a new scope (for
11555 instance by stepping into a function), or the location of the variable
11556 may change (for instance it is loaded into a register). The
11557 tracepoint data recorded uses the location information for the
11558 variables that is correct for the tracepoint location. When the
11559 tracepoint is created, it is not possible, in general, to determine
11560 where the steps of a @code{while-stepping} sequence will advance the
11561 program---particularly if a conditional branch is stepped.
11564 Collection of an incompletely-initialized or partially-destroyed object
11565 may result in something that @value{GDBN} cannot display, or displays
11566 in a misleading way.
11569 When @value{GDBN} displays a pointer to character it automatically
11570 dereferences the pointer to also display characters of the string
11571 being pointed to. However, collecting the pointer during tracing does
11572 not automatically collect the string. You need to explicitly
11573 dereference the pointer and provide size information if you want to
11574 collect not only the pointer, but the memory pointed to. For example,
11575 @code{*ptr@@50} can be used to collect the 50 element array pointed to
11579 It is not possible to collect a complete stack backtrace at a
11580 tracepoint. Instead, you may collect the registers and a few hundred
11581 bytes from the stack pointer with something like @code{*(unsigned char *)$esp@@300}
11582 (adjust to use the name of the actual stack pointer register on your
11583 target architecture, and the amount of stack you wish to capture).
11584 Then the @code{backtrace} command will show a partial backtrace when
11585 using a trace frame. The number of stack frames that can be examined
11586 depends on the sizes of the frames in the collected stack. Note that
11587 if you ask for a block so large that it goes past the bottom of the
11588 stack, the target agent may report an error trying to read from an
11592 If you do not collect registers at a tracepoint, @value{GDBN} can
11593 infer that the value of @code{$pc} must be the same as the address of
11594 the tracepoint and use that when you are looking at a trace frame
11595 for that tracepoint. However, this cannot work if the tracepoint has
11596 multiple locations (for instance if it was set in a function that was
11597 inlined), or if it has a @code{while-stepping} loop. In those cases
11598 @value{GDBN} will warn you that it can't infer @code{$pc}, and default
11603 @node Analyze Collected Data
11604 @section Using the Collected Data
11606 After the tracepoint experiment ends, you use @value{GDBN} commands
11607 for examining the trace data. The basic idea is that each tracepoint
11608 collects a trace @dfn{snapshot} every time it is hit and another
11609 snapshot every time it single-steps. All these snapshots are
11610 consecutively numbered from zero and go into a buffer, and you can
11611 examine them later. The way you examine them is to @dfn{focus} on a
11612 specific trace snapshot. When the remote stub is focused on a trace
11613 snapshot, it will respond to all @value{GDBN} requests for memory and
11614 registers by reading from the buffer which belongs to that snapshot,
11615 rather than from @emph{real} memory or registers of the program being
11616 debugged. This means that @strong{all} @value{GDBN} commands
11617 (@code{print}, @code{info registers}, @code{backtrace}, etc.) will
11618 behave as if we were currently debugging the program state as it was
11619 when the tracepoint occurred. Any requests for data that are not in
11620 the buffer will fail.
11623 * tfind:: How to select a trace snapshot
11624 * tdump:: How to display all data for a snapshot
11625 * save tracepoints:: How to save tracepoints for a future run
11629 @subsection @code{tfind @var{n}}
11632 @cindex select trace snapshot
11633 @cindex find trace snapshot
11634 The basic command for selecting a trace snapshot from the buffer is
11635 @code{tfind @var{n}}, which finds trace snapshot number @var{n},
11636 counting from zero. If no argument @var{n} is given, the next
11637 snapshot is selected.
11639 Here are the various forms of using the @code{tfind} command.
11643 Find the first snapshot in the buffer. This is a synonym for
11644 @code{tfind 0} (since 0 is the number of the first snapshot).
11647 Stop debugging trace snapshots, resume @emph{live} debugging.
11650 Same as @samp{tfind none}.
11653 No argument means find the next trace snapshot.
11656 Find the previous trace snapshot before the current one. This permits
11657 retracing earlier steps.
11659 @item tfind tracepoint @var{num}
11660 Find the next snapshot associated with tracepoint @var{num}. Search
11661 proceeds forward from the last examined trace snapshot. If no
11662 argument @var{num} is given, it means find the next snapshot collected
11663 for the same tracepoint as the current snapshot.
11665 @item tfind pc @var{addr}
11666 Find the next snapshot associated with the value @var{addr} of the
11667 program counter. Search proceeds forward from the last examined trace
11668 snapshot. If no argument @var{addr} is given, it means find the next
11669 snapshot with the same value of PC as the current snapshot.
11671 @item tfind outside @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
11672 Find the next snapshot whose PC is outside the given range of
11673 addresses (exclusive).
11675 @item tfind range @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
11676 Find the next snapshot whose PC is between @var{addr1} and
11677 @var{addr2} (inclusive).
11679 @item tfind line @r{[}@var{file}:@r{]}@var{n}
11680 Find the next snapshot associated with the source line @var{n}. If
11681 the optional argument @var{file} is given, refer to line @var{n} in
11682 that source file. Search proceeds forward from the last examined
11683 trace snapshot. If no argument @var{n} is given, it means find the
11684 next line other than the one currently being examined; thus saying
11685 @code{tfind line} repeatedly can appear to have the same effect as
11686 stepping from line to line in a @emph{live} debugging session.
11689 The default arguments for the @code{tfind} commands are specifically
11690 designed to make it easy to scan through the trace buffer. For
11691 instance, @code{tfind} with no argument selects the next trace
11692 snapshot, and @code{tfind -} with no argument selects the previous
11693 trace snapshot. So, by giving one @code{tfind} command, and then
11694 simply hitting @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine all the trace
11695 snapshots in order. Or, by saying @code{tfind -} and then hitting
11696 @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine the snapshots in reverse order.
11697 The @code{tfind line} command with no argument selects the snapshot
11698 for the next source line executed. The @code{tfind pc} command with
11699 no argument selects the next snapshot with the same program counter
11700 (PC) as the current frame. The @code{tfind tracepoint} command with
11701 no argument selects the next trace snapshot collected by the same
11702 tracepoint as the current one.
11704 In addition to letting you scan through the trace buffer manually,
11705 these commands make it easy to construct @value{GDBN} scripts that
11706 scan through the trace buffer and print out whatever collected data
11707 you are interested in. Thus, if we want to examine the PC, FP, and SP
11708 registers from each trace frame in the buffer, we can say this:
11711 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
11712 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
11713 > printf "Frame %d, PC = %08X, SP = %08X, FP = %08X\n", \
11714 $trace_frame, $pc, $sp, $fp
11718 Frame 0, PC = 0020DC64, SP = 0030BF3C, FP = 0030BF44
11719 Frame 1, PC = 0020DC6C, SP = 0030BF38, FP = 0030BF44
11720 Frame 2, PC = 0020DC70, SP = 0030BF34, FP = 0030BF44
11721 Frame 3, PC = 0020DC74, SP = 0030BF30, FP = 0030BF44
11722 Frame 4, PC = 0020DC78, SP = 0030BF2C, FP = 0030BF44
11723 Frame 5, PC = 0020DC7C, SP = 0030BF28, FP = 0030BF44
11724 Frame 6, PC = 0020DC80, SP = 0030BF24, FP = 0030BF44
11725 Frame 7, PC = 0020DC84, SP = 0030BF20, FP = 0030BF44
11726 Frame 8, PC = 0020DC88, SP = 0030BF1C, FP = 0030BF44
11727 Frame 9, PC = 0020DC8E, SP = 0030BF18, FP = 0030BF44
11728 Frame 10, PC = 00203F6C, SP = 0030BE3C, FP = 0030BF14
11731 Or, if we want to examine the variable @code{X} at each source line in
11735 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
11736 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
11737 > printf "Frame %d, X == %d\n", $trace_frame, X
11747 @subsection @code{tdump}
11749 @cindex dump all data collected at tracepoint
11750 @cindex tracepoint data, display
11752 This command takes no arguments. It prints all the data collected at
11753 the current trace snapshot.
11756 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace 444}
11757 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
11758 Enter actions for tracepoint #2, one per line:
11759 > collect $regs, $locals, $args, gdb_long_test
11762 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
11764 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind line 444}
11765 #0 gdb_test (p1=0x11, p2=0x22, p3=0x33, p4=0x44, p5=0x55, p6=0x66)
11767 444 printp( "%s: arguments = 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X\n", )
11769 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tdump}
11770 Data collected at tracepoint 2, trace frame 1:
11771 d0 0xc4aa0085 -995491707
11775 d4 0x71aea3d 119204413
11778 d7 0x380035 3670069
11779 a0 0x19e24a 1696330
11780 a1 0x3000668 50333288
11782 a3 0x322000 3284992
11783 a4 0x3000698 50333336
11784 a5 0x1ad3cc 1758156
11785 fp 0x30bf3c 0x30bf3c
11786 sp 0x30bf34 0x30bf34
11788 pc 0x20b2c8 0x20b2c8
11792 p = 0x20e5b4 "gdb-test"
11799 gdb_long_test = 17 '\021'
11804 @code{tdump} works by scanning the tracepoint's current collection
11805 actions and printing the value of each expression listed. So
11806 @code{tdump} can fail, if after a run, you change the tracepoint's
11807 actions to mention variables that were not collected during the run.
11809 Also, for tracepoints with @code{while-stepping} loops, @code{tdump}
11810 uses the collected value of @code{$pc} to distinguish between trace
11811 frames that were collected at the tracepoint hit, and frames that were
11812 collected while stepping. This allows it to correctly choose whether
11813 to display the basic list of collections, or the collections from the
11814 body of the while-stepping loop. However, if @code{$pc} was not collected,
11815 then @code{tdump} will always attempt to dump using the basic collection
11816 list, and may fail if a while-stepping frame does not include all the
11817 same data that is collected at the tracepoint hit.
11818 @c This is getting pretty arcane, example would be good.
11820 @node save tracepoints
11821 @subsection @code{save tracepoints @var{filename}}
11822 @kindex save tracepoints
11823 @kindex save-tracepoints
11824 @cindex save tracepoints for future sessions
11826 This command saves all current tracepoint definitions together with
11827 their actions and passcounts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
11828 suitable for use in a later debugging session. To read the saved
11829 tracepoint definitions, use the @code{source} command (@pxref{Command
11830 Files}). The @w{@code{save-tracepoints}} command is a deprecated
11831 alias for @w{@code{save tracepoints}}
11833 @node Tracepoint Variables
11834 @section Convenience Variables for Tracepoints
11835 @cindex tracepoint variables
11836 @cindex convenience variables for tracepoints
11839 @vindex $trace_frame
11840 @item (int) $trace_frame
11841 The current trace snapshot (a.k.a.@: @dfn{frame}) number, or -1 if no
11842 snapshot is selected.
11844 @vindex $tracepoint
11845 @item (int) $tracepoint
11846 The tracepoint for the current trace snapshot.
11848 @vindex $trace_line
11849 @item (int) $trace_line
11850 The line number for the current trace snapshot.
11852 @vindex $trace_file
11853 @item (char []) $trace_file
11854 The source file for the current trace snapshot.
11856 @vindex $trace_func
11857 @item (char []) $trace_func
11858 The name of the function containing @code{$tracepoint}.
11861 Note: @code{$trace_file} is not suitable for use in @code{printf},
11862 use @code{output} instead.
11864 Here's a simple example of using these convenience variables for
11865 stepping through all the trace snapshots and printing some of their
11866 data. Note that these are not the same as trace state variables,
11867 which are managed by the target.
11870 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
11872 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while $trace_frame != -1}
11873 > output $trace_file
11874 > printf ", line %d (tracepoint #%d)\n", $trace_line, $tracepoint
11880 @section Using Trace Files
11881 @cindex trace files
11883 In some situations, the target running a trace experiment may no
11884 longer be available; perhaps it crashed, or the hardware was needed
11885 for a different activity. To handle these cases, you can arrange to
11886 dump the trace data into a file, and later use that file as a source
11887 of trace data, via the @code{target tfile} command.
11892 @item tsave [ -r ] @var{filename}
11893 Save the trace data to @var{filename}. By default, this command
11894 assumes that @var{filename} refers to the host filesystem, so if
11895 necessary @value{GDBN} will copy raw trace data up from the target and
11896 then save it. If the target supports it, you can also supply the
11897 optional argument @code{-r} (``remote'') to direct the target to save
11898 the data directly into @var{filename} in its own filesystem, which may be
11899 more efficient if the trace buffer is very large. (Note, however, that
11900 @code{target tfile} can only read from files accessible to the host.)
11902 @kindex target tfile
11904 @item target tfile @var{filename}
11905 Use the file named @var{filename} as a source of trace data. Commands
11906 that examine data work as they do with a live target, but it is not
11907 possible to run any new trace experiments. @code{tstatus} will report
11908 the state of the trace run at the moment the data was saved, as well
11909 as the current trace frame you are examining. @var{filename} must be
11910 on a filesystem accessible to the host.
11915 @chapter Debugging Programs That Use Overlays
11918 If your program is too large to fit completely in your target system's
11919 memory, you can sometimes use @dfn{overlays} to work around this
11920 problem. @value{GDBN} provides some support for debugging programs that
11924 * How Overlays Work:: A general explanation of overlays.
11925 * Overlay Commands:: Managing overlays in @value{GDBN}.
11926 * Automatic Overlay Debugging:: @value{GDBN} can find out which overlays are
11927 mapped by asking the inferior.
11928 * Overlay Sample Program:: A sample program using overlays.
11931 @node How Overlays Work
11932 @section How Overlays Work
11933 @cindex mapped overlays
11934 @cindex unmapped overlays
11935 @cindex load address, overlay's
11936 @cindex mapped address
11937 @cindex overlay area
11939 Suppose you have a computer whose instruction address space is only 64
11940 kilobytes long, but which has much more memory which can be accessed by
11941 other means: special instructions, segment registers, or memory
11942 management hardware, for example. Suppose further that you want to
11943 adapt a program which is larger than 64 kilobytes to run on this system.
11945 One solution is to identify modules of your program which are relatively
11946 independent, and need not call each other directly; call these modules
11947 @dfn{overlays}. Separate the overlays from the main program, and place
11948 their machine code in the larger memory. Place your main program in
11949 instruction memory, but leave at least enough space there to hold the
11950 largest overlay as well.
11952 Now, to call a function located in an overlay, you must first copy that
11953 overlay's machine code from the large memory into the space set aside
11954 for it in the instruction memory, and then jump to its entry point
11957 @c NB: In the below the mapped area's size is greater or equal to the
11958 @c size of all overlays. This is intentional to remind the developer
11959 @c that overlays don't necessarily need to be the same size.
11963 Data Instruction Larger
11964 Address Space Address Space Address Space
11965 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+
11967 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+<-- overlay 1
11968 | program | | main | .----| overlay 1 | load address
11969 | variables | | program | | +-----------+
11970 | and heap | | | | | |
11971 +-----------+ | | | +-----------+<-- overlay 2
11972 | | +-----------+ | | | load address
11973 +-----------+ | | | .-| overlay 2 |
11975 mapped --->+-----------+ | | +-----------+
11976 address | | | | | |
11977 | overlay | <-' | | |
11978 | area | <---' +-----------+<-- overlay 3
11979 | | <---. | | load address
11980 +-----------+ `--| overlay 3 |
11987 @anchor{A code overlay}A code overlay
11991 The diagram (@pxref{A code overlay}) shows a system with separate data
11992 and instruction address spaces. To map an overlay, the program copies
11993 its code from the larger address space to the instruction address space.
11994 Since the overlays shown here all use the same mapped address, only one
11995 may be mapped at a time. For a system with a single address space for
11996 data and instructions, the diagram would be similar, except that the
11997 program variables and heap would share an address space with the main
11998 program and the overlay area.
12000 An overlay loaded into instruction memory and ready for use is called a
12001 @dfn{mapped} overlay; its @dfn{mapped address} is its address in the
12002 instruction memory. An overlay not present (or only partially present)
12003 in instruction memory is called @dfn{unmapped}; its @dfn{load address}
12004 is its address in the larger memory. The mapped address is also called
12005 the @dfn{virtual memory address}, or @dfn{VMA}; the load address is also
12006 called the @dfn{load memory address}, or @dfn{LMA}.
12008 Unfortunately, overlays are not a completely transparent way to adapt a
12009 program to limited instruction memory. They introduce a new set of
12010 global constraints you must keep in mind as you design your program:
12015 Before calling or returning to a function in an overlay, your program
12016 must make sure that overlay is actually mapped. Otherwise, the call or
12017 return will transfer control to the right address, but in the wrong
12018 overlay, and your program will probably crash.
12021 If the process of mapping an overlay is expensive on your system, you
12022 will need to choose your overlays carefully to minimize their effect on
12023 your program's performance.
12026 The executable file you load onto your system must contain each
12027 overlay's instructions, appearing at the overlay's load address, not its
12028 mapped address. However, each overlay's instructions must be relocated
12029 and its symbols defined as if the overlay were at its mapped address.
12030 You can use GNU linker scripts to specify different load and relocation
12031 addresses for pieces of your program; see @ref{Overlay Description,,,
12032 ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}.
12035 The procedure for loading executable files onto your system must be able
12036 to load their contents into the larger address space as well as the
12037 instruction and data spaces.
12041 The overlay system described above is rather simple, and could be
12042 improved in many ways:
12047 If your system has suitable bank switch registers or memory management
12048 hardware, you could use those facilities to make an overlay's load area
12049 contents simply appear at their mapped address in instruction space.
12050 This would probably be faster than copying the overlay to its mapped
12051 area in the usual way.
12054 If your overlays are small enough, you could set aside more than one
12055 overlay area, and have more than one overlay mapped at a time.
12058 You can use overlays to manage data, as well as instructions. In
12059 general, data overlays are even less transparent to your design than
12060 code overlays: whereas code overlays only require care when you call or
12061 return to functions, data overlays require care every time you access
12062 the data. Also, if you change the contents of a data overlay, you
12063 must copy its contents back out to its load address before you can copy a
12064 different data overlay into the same mapped area.
12069 @node Overlay Commands
12070 @section Overlay Commands
12072 To use @value{GDBN}'s overlay support, each overlay in your program must
12073 correspond to a separate section of the executable file. The section's
12074 virtual memory address and load memory address must be the overlay's
12075 mapped and load addresses. Identifying overlays with sections allows
12076 @value{GDBN} to determine the appropriate address of a function or
12077 variable, depending on whether the overlay is mapped or not.
12079 @value{GDBN}'s overlay commands all start with the word @code{overlay};
12080 you can abbreviate this as @code{ov} or @code{ovly}. The commands are:
12085 Disable @value{GDBN}'s overlay support. When overlay support is
12086 disabled, @value{GDBN} assumes that all functions and variables are
12087 always present at their mapped addresses. By default, @value{GDBN}'s
12088 overlay support is disabled.
12090 @item overlay manual
12091 @cindex manual overlay debugging
12092 Enable @dfn{manual} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
12093 relies on you to tell it which overlays are mapped, and which are not,
12094 using the @code{overlay map-overlay} and @code{overlay unmap-overlay}
12095 commands described below.
12097 @item overlay map-overlay @var{overlay}
12098 @itemx overlay map @var{overlay}
12099 @cindex map an overlay
12100 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is now mapped; @var{overlay} must
12101 be the name of the object file section containing the overlay. When an
12102 overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the overlay's
12103 functions and variables at their mapped addresses. @value{GDBN} assumes
12104 that any other overlays whose mapped ranges overlap that of
12105 @var{overlay} are now unmapped.
12107 @item overlay unmap-overlay @var{overlay}
12108 @itemx overlay unmap @var{overlay}
12109 @cindex unmap an overlay
12110 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is no longer mapped; @var{overlay}
12111 must be the name of the object file section containing the overlay.
12112 When an overlay is unmapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the
12113 overlay's functions and variables at their load addresses.
12116 Enable @dfn{automatic} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
12117 consults a data structure the overlay manager maintains in the inferior
12118 to see which overlays are mapped. For details, see @ref{Automatic
12119 Overlay Debugging}.
12121 @item overlay load-target
12122 @itemx overlay load
12123 @cindex reloading the overlay table
12124 Re-read the overlay table from the inferior. Normally, @value{GDBN}
12125 re-reads the table @value{GDBN} automatically each time the inferior
12126 stops, so this command should only be necessary if you have changed the
12127 overlay mapping yourself using @value{GDBN}. This command is only
12128 useful when using automatic overlay debugging.
12130 @item overlay list-overlays
12131 @itemx overlay list
12132 @cindex listing mapped overlays
12133 Display a list of the overlays currently mapped, along with their mapped
12134 addresses, load addresses, and sizes.
12138 Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a code address, it includes the name
12139 of the function the address falls in:
12142 (@value{GDBP}) print main
12143 $3 = @{int ()@} 0x11a0 <main>
12146 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} recognizes code in
12147 unmapped overlays, and prints the names of unmapped functions with
12148 asterisks around them. For example, if @code{foo} is a function in an
12149 unmapped overlay, @value{GDBN} prints it this way:
12152 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
12153 No sections are mapped.
12154 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
12155 $5 = @{int (int)@} 0x100000 <*foo*>
12158 When @code{foo}'s overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} prints the function's
12162 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
12163 Section .ov.foo.text, loaded at 0x100000 - 0x100034,
12164 mapped at 0x1016 - 0x104a
12165 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
12166 $6 = @{int (int)@} 0x1016 <foo>
12169 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} can find the correct
12170 address for functions and variables in an overlay, whether or not the
12171 overlay is mapped. This allows most @value{GDBN} commands, like
12172 @code{break} and @code{disassemble}, to work normally, even on unmapped
12173 code. However, @value{GDBN}'s breakpoint support has some limitations:
12177 @cindex breakpoints in overlays
12178 @cindex overlays, setting breakpoints in
12179 You can set breakpoints in functions in unmapped overlays, as long as
12180 @value{GDBN} can write to the overlay at its load address.
12182 @value{GDBN} can not set hardware or simulator-based breakpoints in
12183 unmapped overlays. However, if you set a breakpoint at the end of your
12184 overlay manager (and tell @value{GDBN} which overlays are now mapped, if
12185 you are using manual overlay management), @value{GDBN} will re-set its
12186 breakpoints properly.
12190 @node Automatic Overlay Debugging
12191 @section Automatic Overlay Debugging
12192 @cindex automatic overlay debugging
12194 @value{GDBN} can automatically track which overlays are mapped and which
12195 are not, given some simple co-operation from the overlay manager in the
12196 inferior. If you enable automatic overlay debugging with the
12197 @code{overlay auto} command (@pxref{Overlay Commands}), @value{GDBN}
12198 looks in the inferior's memory for certain variables describing the
12199 current state of the overlays.
12201 Here are the variables your overlay manager must define to support
12202 @value{GDBN}'s automatic overlay debugging:
12206 @item @code{_ovly_table}:
12207 This variable must be an array of the following structures:
12212 /* The overlay's mapped address. */
12215 /* The size of the overlay, in bytes. */
12216 unsigned long size;
12218 /* The overlay's load address. */
12221 /* Non-zero if the overlay is currently mapped;
12223 unsigned long mapped;
12227 @item @code{_novlys}:
12228 This variable must be a four-byte signed integer, holding the total
12229 number of elements in @code{_ovly_table}.
12233 To decide whether a particular overlay is mapped or not, @value{GDBN}
12234 looks for an entry in @w{@code{_ovly_table}} whose @code{vma} and
12235 @code{lma} members equal the VMA and LMA of the overlay's section in the
12236 executable file. When @value{GDBN} finds a matching entry, it consults
12237 the entry's @code{mapped} member to determine whether the overlay is
12240 In addition, your overlay manager may define a function called
12241 @code{_ovly_debug_event}. If this function is defined, @value{GDBN}
12242 will silently set a breakpoint there. If the overlay manager then
12243 calls this function whenever it has changed the overlay table, this
12244 will enable @value{GDBN} to accurately keep track of which overlays
12245 are in program memory, and update any breakpoints that may be set
12246 in overlays. This will allow breakpoints to work even if the
12247 overlays are kept in ROM or other non-writable memory while they
12248 are not being executed.
12250 @node Overlay Sample Program
12251 @section Overlay Sample Program
12252 @cindex overlay example program
12254 When linking a program which uses overlays, you must place the overlays
12255 at their load addresses, while relocating them to run at their mapped
12256 addresses. To do this, you must write a linker script (@pxref{Overlay
12257 Description,,, ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}). Unfortunately,
12258 since linker scripts are specific to a particular host system, target
12259 architecture, and target memory layout, this manual cannot provide
12260 portable sample code demonstrating @value{GDBN}'s overlay support.
12262 However, the @value{GDBN} source distribution does contain an overlaid
12263 program, with linker scripts for a few systems, as part of its test
12264 suite. The program consists of the following files from
12265 @file{gdb/testsuite/gdb.base}:
12269 The main program file.
12271 A simple overlay manager, used by @file{overlays.c}.
12276 Overlay modules, loaded and used by @file{overlays.c}.
12279 Linker scripts for linking the test program on the @code{d10v-elf}
12280 and @code{m32r-elf} targets.
12283 You can build the test program using the @code{d10v-elf} GCC
12284 cross-compiler like this:
12287 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c overlays.c
12288 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c ovlymgr.c
12289 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c foo.c
12290 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c bar.c
12291 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c baz.c
12292 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c grbx.c
12293 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g overlays.o ovlymgr.o foo.o bar.o \
12294 baz.o grbx.o -Wl,-Td10v.ld -o overlays
12297 The build process is identical for any other architecture, except that
12298 you must substitute the appropriate compiler and linker script for the
12299 target system for @code{d10v-elf-gcc} and @code{d10v.ld}.
12303 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages
12306 Although programming languages generally have common aspects, they are
12307 rarely expressed in the same manner. For instance, in ANSI C,
12308 dereferencing a pointer @code{p} is accomplished by @code{*p}, but in
12309 Modula-2, it is accomplished by @code{p^}. Values can also be
12310 represented (and displayed) differently. Hex numbers in C appear as
12311 @samp{0x1ae}, while in Modula-2 they appear as @samp{1AEH}.
12313 @cindex working language
12314 Language-specific information is built into @value{GDBN} for some languages,
12315 allowing you to express operations like the above in your program's
12316 native language, and allowing @value{GDBN} to output values in a manner
12317 consistent with the syntax of your program's native language. The
12318 language you use to build expressions is called the @dfn{working
12322 * Setting:: Switching between source languages
12323 * Show:: Displaying the language
12324 * Checks:: Type and range checks
12325 * Supported Languages:: Supported languages
12326 * Unsupported Languages:: Unsupported languages
12330 @section Switching Between Source Languages
12332 There are two ways to control the working language---either have @value{GDBN}
12333 set it automatically, or select it manually yourself. You can use the
12334 @code{set language} command for either purpose. On startup, @value{GDBN}
12335 defaults to setting the language automatically. The working language is
12336 used to determine how expressions you type are interpreted, how values
12339 In addition to the working language, every source file that
12340 @value{GDBN} knows about has its own working language. For some object
12341 file formats, the compiler might indicate which language a particular
12342 source file is in. However, most of the time @value{GDBN} infers the
12343 language from the name of the file. The language of a source file
12344 controls whether C@t{++} names are demangled---this way @code{backtrace} can
12345 show each frame appropriately for its own language. There is no way to
12346 set the language of a source file from within @value{GDBN}, but you can
12347 set the language associated with a filename extension. @xref{Show, ,
12348 Displaying the Language}.
12350 This is most commonly a problem when you use a program, such
12351 as @code{cfront} or @code{f2c}, that generates C but is written in
12352 another language. In that case, make the
12353 program use @code{#line} directives in its C output; that way
12354 @value{GDBN} will know the correct language of the source code of the original
12355 program, and will display that source code, not the generated C code.
12358 * Filenames:: Filename extensions and languages.
12359 * Manually:: Setting the working language manually
12360 * Automatically:: Having @value{GDBN} infer the source language
12364 @subsection List of Filename Extensions and Languages
12366 If a source file name ends in one of the following extensions, then
12367 @value{GDBN} infers that its language is the one indicated.
12385 C@t{++} source file
12391 Objective-C source file
12395 Fortran source file
12398 Modula-2 source file
12402 Assembler source file. This actually behaves almost like C, but
12403 @value{GDBN} does not skip over function prologues when stepping.
12406 In addition, you may set the language associated with a filename
12407 extension. @xref{Show, , Displaying the Language}.
12410 @subsection Setting the Working Language
12412 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically,
12413 expressions are interpreted the same way in your debugging session and
12416 @kindex set language
12417 If you wish, you may set the language manually. To do this, issue the
12418 command @samp{set language @var{lang}}, where @var{lang} is the name of
12419 a language, such as
12420 @code{c} or @code{modula-2}.
12421 For a list of the supported languages, type @samp{set language}.
12423 Setting the language manually prevents @value{GDBN} from updating the working
12424 language automatically. This can lead to confusion if you try
12425 to debug a program when the working language is not the same as the
12426 source language, when an expression is acceptable to both
12427 languages---but means different things. For instance, if the current
12428 source file were written in C, and @value{GDBN} was parsing Modula-2, a
12436 might not have the effect you intended. In C, this means to add
12437 @code{b} and @code{c} and place the result in @code{a}. The result
12438 printed would be the value of @code{a}. In Modula-2, this means to compare
12439 @code{a} to the result of @code{b+c}, yielding a @code{BOOLEAN} value.
12441 @node Automatically
12442 @subsection Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language
12444 To have @value{GDBN} set the working language automatically, use
12445 @samp{set language local} or @samp{set language auto}. @value{GDBN}
12446 then infers the working language. That is, when your program stops in a
12447 frame (usually by encountering a breakpoint), @value{GDBN} sets the
12448 working language to the language recorded for the function in that
12449 frame. If the language for a frame is unknown (that is, if the function
12450 or block corresponding to the frame was defined in a source file that
12451 does not have a recognized extension), the current working language is
12452 not changed, and @value{GDBN} issues a warning.
12454 This may not seem necessary for most programs, which are written
12455 entirely in one source language. However, program modules and libraries
12456 written in one source language can be used by a main program written in
12457 a different source language. Using @samp{set language auto} in this
12458 case frees you from having to set the working language manually.
12461 @section Displaying the Language
12463 The following commands help you find out which language is the
12464 working language, and also what language source files were written in.
12467 @item show language
12468 @kindex show language
12469 Display the current working language. This is the
12470 language you can use with commands such as @code{print} to
12471 build and compute expressions that may involve variables in your program.
12474 @kindex info frame@r{, show the source language}
12475 Display the source language for this frame. This language becomes the
12476 working language if you use an identifier from this frame.
12477 @xref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}, to identify the other
12478 information listed here.
12481 @kindex info source@r{, show the source language}
12482 Display the source language of this source file.
12483 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, to identify the other
12484 information listed here.
12487 In unusual circumstances, you may have source files with extensions
12488 not in the standard list. You can then set the extension associated
12489 with a language explicitly:
12492 @item set extension-language @var{ext} @var{language}
12493 @kindex set extension-language
12494 Tell @value{GDBN} that source files with extension @var{ext} are to be
12495 assumed as written in the source language @var{language}.
12497 @item info extensions
12498 @kindex info extensions
12499 List all the filename extensions and the associated languages.
12503 @section Type and Range Checking
12506 @emph{Warning:} In this release, the @value{GDBN} commands for type and range
12507 checking are included, but they do not yet have any effect. This
12508 section documents the intended facilities.
12510 @c FIXME remove warning when type/range code added
12512 Some languages are designed to guard you against making seemingly common
12513 errors through a series of compile- and run-time checks. These include
12514 checking the type of arguments to functions and operators, and making
12515 sure mathematical overflows are caught at run time. Checks such as
12516 these help to ensure a program's correctness once it has been compiled
12517 by eliminating type mismatches, and providing active checks for range
12518 errors when your program is running.
12520 @value{GDBN} can check for conditions like the above if you wish.
12521 Although @value{GDBN} does not check the statements in your program,
12522 it can check expressions entered directly into @value{GDBN} for
12523 evaluation via the @code{print} command, for example. As with the
12524 working language, @value{GDBN} can also decide whether or not to check
12525 automatically based on your program's source language.
12526 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default
12527 settings of supported languages.
12530 * Type Checking:: An overview of type checking
12531 * Range Checking:: An overview of range checking
12534 @cindex type checking
12535 @cindex checks, type
12536 @node Type Checking
12537 @subsection An Overview of Type Checking
12539 Some languages, such as Modula-2, are strongly typed, meaning that the
12540 arguments to operators and functions have to be of the correct type,
12541 otherwise an error occurs. These checks prevent type mismatch
12542 errors from ever causing any run-time problems. For example,
12550 The second example fails because the @code{CARDINAL} 1 is not
12551 type-compatible with the @code{REAL} 2.3.
12553 For the expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell the
12554 @value{GDBN} type checker to skip checking;
12555 to treat any mismatches as errors and abandon the expression;
12556 or to only issue warnings when type mismatches occur,
12557 but evaluate the expression anyway. When you choose the last of
12558 these, @value{GDBN} evaluates expressions like the second example above, but
12559 also issues a warning.
12561 Even if you turn type checking off, there may be other reasons
12562 related to type that prevent @value{GDBN} from evaluating an expression.
12563 For instance, @value{GDBN} does not know how to add an @code{int} and
12564 a @code{struct foo}. These particular type errors have nothing to do
12565 with the language in use, and usually arise from expressions, such as
12566 the one described above, which make little sense to evaluate anyway.
12568 Each language defines to what degree it is strict about type. For
12569 instance, both Modula-2 and C require the arguments to arithmetical
12570 operators to be numbers. In C, enumerated types and pointers can be
12571 represented as numbers, so that they are valid arguments to mathematical
12572 operators. @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for further
12573 details on specific languages.
12575 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the type checker:
12577 @kindex set check type
12578 @kindex show check type
12580 @item set check type auto
12581 Set type checking on or off based on the current working language.
12582 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
12585 @item set check type on
12586 @itemx set check type off
12587 Set type checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
12588 current working language. Issue a warning if the setting does not
12589 match the language default. If any type mismatches occur in
12590 evaluating an expression while type checking is on, @value{GDBN} prints a
12591 message and aborts evaluation of the expression.
12593 @item set check type warn
12594 Cause the type checker to issue warnings, but to always attempt to
12595 evaluate the expression. Evaluating the expression may still
12596 be impossible for other reasons. For example, @value{GDBN} cannot add
12597 numbers and structures.
12600 Show the current setting of the type checker, and whether or not @value{GDBN}
12601 is setting it automatically.
12604 @cindex range checking
12605 @cindex checks, range
12606 @node Range Checking
12607 @subsection An Overview of Range Checking
12609 In some languages (such as Modula-2), it is an error to exceed the
12610 bounds of a type; this is enforced with run-time checks. Such range
12611 checking is meant to ensure program correctness by making sure
12612 computations do not overflow, or indices on an array element access do
12613 not exceed the bounds of the array.
12615 For expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell
12616 @value{GDBN} to treat range errors in one of three ways: ignore them,
12617 always treat them as errors and abandon the expression, or issue
12618 warnings but evaluate the expression anyway.
12620 A range error can result from numerical overflow, from exceeding an
12621 array index bound, or when you type a constant that is not a member
12622 of any type. Some languages, however, do not treat overflows as an
12623 error. In many implementations of C, mathematical overflow causes the
12624 result to ``wrap around'' to lower values---for example, if @var{m} is
12625 the largest integer value, and @var{s} is the smallest, then
12628 @var{m} + 1 @result{} @var{s}
12631 This, too, is specific to individual languages, and in some cases
12632 specific to individual compilers or machines. @xref{Supported Languages, ,
12633 Supported Languages}, for further details on specific languages.
12635 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the range checker:
12637 @kindex set check range
12638 @kindex show check range
12640 @item set check range auto
12641 Set range checking on or off based on the current working language.
12642 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
12645 @item set check range on
12646 @itemx set check range off
12647 Set range checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
12648 current working language. A warning is issued if the setting does not
12649 match the language default. If a range error occurs and range checking is on,
12650 then a message is printed and evaluation of the expression is aborted.
12652 @item set check range warn
12653 Output messages when the @value{GDBN} range checker detects a range error,
12654 but attempt to evaluate the expression anyway. Evaluating the
12655 expression may still be impossible for other reasons, such as accessing
12656 memory that the process does not own (a typical example from many Unix
12660 Show the current setting of the range checker, and whether or not it is
12661 being set automatically by @value{GDBN}.
12664 @node Supported Languages
12665 @section Supported Languages
12667 @value{GDBN} supports C, C@t{++}, D, Go, Objective-C, Fortran, Java,
12668 OpenCL C, Pascal, assembly, Modula-2, and Ada.
12669 @c This is false ...
12670 Some @value{GDBN} features may be used in expressions regardless of the
12671 language you use: the @value{GDBN} @code{@@} and @code{::} operators,
12672 and the @samp{@{type@}addr} construct (@pxref{Expressions,
12673 ,Expressions}) can be used with the constructs of any supported
12676 The following sections detail to what degree each source language is
12677 supported by @value{GDBN}. These sections are not meant to be language
12678 tutorials or references, but serve only as a reference guide to what the
12679 @value{GDBN} expression parser accepts, and what input and output
12680 formats should look like for different languages. There are many good
12681 books written on each of these languages; please look to these for a
12682 language reference or tutorial.
12685 * C:: C and C@t{++}
12688 * Objective-C:: Objective-C
12689 * OpenCL C:: OpenCL C
12690 * Fortran:: Fortran
12692 * Modula-2:: Modula-2
12697 @subsection C and C@t{++}
12699 @cindex C and C@t{++}
12700 @cindex expressions in C or C@t{++}
12702 Since C and C@t{++} are so closely related, many features of @value{GDBN} apply
12703 to both languages. Whenever this is the case, we discuss those languages
12707 @cindex @code{g++}, @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler
12708 @cindex @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
12709 The C@t{++} debugging facilities are jointly implemented by the C@t{++}
12710 compiler and @value{GDBN}. Therefore, to debug your C@t{++} code
12711 effectively, you must compile your C@t{++} programs with a supported
12712 C@t{++} compiler, such as @sc{gnu} @code{g++}, or the HP ANSI C@t{++}
12713 compiler (@code{aCC}).
12716 * C Operators:: C and C@t{++} operators
12717 * C Constants:: C and C@t{++} constants
12718 * C Plus Plus Expressions:: C@t{++} expressions
12719 * C Defaults:: Default settings for C and C@t{++}
12720 * C Checks:: C and C@t{++} type and range checks
12721 * Debugging C:: @value{GDBN} and C
12722 * Debugging C Plus Plus:: @value{GDBN} features for C@t{++}
12723 * Decimal Floating Point:: Numbers in Decimal Floating Point format
12727 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Operators
12729 @cindex C and C@t{++} operators
12731 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
12732 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
12733 often defined on groups of types.
12735 For the purposes of C and C@t{++}, the following definitions hold:
12740 @emph{Integral types} include @code{int} with any of its storage-class
12741 specifiers; @code{char}; @code{enum}; and, for C@t{++}, @code{bool}.
12744 @emph{Floating-point types} include @code{float}, @code{double}, and
12745 @code{long double} (if supported by the target platform).
12748 @emph{Pointer types} include all types defined as @code{(@var{type} *)}.
12751 @emph{Scalar types} include all of the above.
12756 The following operators are supported. They are listed here
12757 in order of increasing precedence:
12761 The comma or sequencing operator. Expressions in a comma-separated list
12762 are evaluated from left to right, with the result of the entire
12763 expression being the last expression evaluated.
12766 Assignment. The value of an assignment expression is the value
12767 assigned. Defined on scalar types.
12770 Used in an expression of the form @w{@code{@var{a} @var{op}= @var{b}}},
12771 and translated to @w{@code{@var{a} = @var{a op b}}}.
12772 @w{@code{@var{op}=}} and @code{=} have the same precedence.
12773 @var{op} is any one of the operators @code{|}, @code{^}, @code{&},
12774 @code{<<}, @code{>>}, @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{%}.
12777 The ternary operator. @code{@var{a} ? @var{b} : @var{c}} can be thought
12778 of as: if @var{a} then @var{b} else @var{c}. @var{a} should be of an
12782 Logical @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
12785 Logical @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
12788 Bitwise @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
12791 Bitwise exclusive-@sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
12794 Bitwise @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
12797 Equality and inequality. Defined on scalar types. The value of these
12798 expressions is 0 for false and non-zero for true.
12800 @item <@r{, }>@r{, }<=@r{, }>=
12801 Less than, greater than, less than or equal, greater than or equal.
12802 Defined on scalar types. The value of these expressions is 0 for false
12803 and non-zero for true.
12806 left shift, and right shift. Defined on integral types.
12809 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
12812 Addition and subtraction. Defined on integral types, floating-point types and
12815 @item *@r{, }/@r{, }%
12816 Multiplication, division, and modulus. Multiplication and division are
12817 defined on integral and floating-point types. Modulus is defined on
12821 Increment and decrement. When appearing before a variable, the
12822 operation is performed before the variable is used in an expression;
12823 when appearing after it, the variable's value is used before the
12824 operation takes place.
12827 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types. Same precedence as
12831 Address operator. Defined on variables. Same precedence as @code{++}.
12833 For debugging C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} implements a use of @samp{&} beyond what is
12834 allowed in the C@t{++} language itself: you can use @samp{&(&@var{ref})}
12835 to examine the address
12836 where a C@t{++} reference variable (declared with @samp{&@var{ref}}) is
12840 Negative. Defined on integral and floating-point types. Same
12841 precedence as @code{++}.
12844 Logical negation. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
12848 Bitwise complement operator. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
12853 Structure member, and pointer-to-structure member. For convenience,
12854 @value{GDBN} regards the two as equivalent, choosing whether to dereference a
12855 pointer based on the stored type information.
12856 Defined on @code{struct} and @code{union} data.
12859 Dereferences of pointers to members.
12862 Array indexing. @code{@var{a}[@var{i}]} is defined as
12863 @code{*(@var{a}+@var{i})}. Same precedence as @code{->}.
12866 Function parameter list. Same precedence as @code{->}.
12869 C@t{++} scope resolution operator. Defined on @code{struct}, @code{union},
12870 and @code{class} types.
12873 Doubled colons also represent the @value{GDBN} scope operator
12874 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). Same precedence as @code{::},
12878 If an operator is redefined in the user code, @value{GDBN} usually
12879 attempts to invoke the redefined version instead of using the operator's
12880 predefined meaning.
12883 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Constants
12885 @cindex C and C@t{++} constants
12887 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of C and C@t{++} in the
12892 Integer constants are a sequence of digits. Octal constants are
12893 specified by a leading @samp{0} (i.e.@: zero), and hexadecimal constants
12894 by a leading @samp{0x} or @samp{0X}. Constants may also end with a letter
12895 @samp{l}, specifying that the constant should be treated as a
12899 Floating point constants are a sequence of digits, followed by a decimal
12900 point, followed by a sequence of digits, and optionally followed by an
12901 exponent. An exponent is of the form:
12902 @samp{@w{e@r{[[}+@r{]|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}}, where @var{nnn} is another
12903 sequence of digits. The @samp{+} is optional for positive exponents.
12904 A floating-point constant may also end with a letter @samp{f} or
12905 @samp{F}, specifying that the constant should be treated as being of
12906 the @code{float} (as opposed to the default @code{double}) type; or with
12907 a letter @samp{l} or @samp{L}, which specifies a @code{long double}
12911 Enumerated constants consist of enumerated identifiers, or their
12912 integral equivalents.
12915 Character constants are a single character surrounded by single quotes
12916 (@code{'}), or a number---the ordinal value of the corresponding character
12917 (usually its @sc{ascii} value). Within quotes, the single character may
12918 be represented by a letter or by @dfn{escape sequences}, which are of
12919 the form @samp{\@var{nnn}}, where @var{nnn} is the octal representation
12920 of the character's ordinal value; or of the form @samp{\@var{x}}, where
12921 @samp{@var{x}} is a predefined special character---for example,
12922 @samp{\n} for newline.
12924 Wide character constants can be written by prefixing a character
12925 constant with @samp{L}, as in C. For example, @samp{L'x'} is the wide
12926 form of @samp{x}. The target wide character set is used when
12927 computing the value of this constant (@pxref{Character Sets}).
12930 String constants are a sequence of character constants surrounded by
12931 double quotes (@code{"}). Any valid character constant (as described
12932 above) may appear. Double quotes within the string must be preceded by
12933 a backslash, so for instance @samp{"a\"b'c"} is a string of five
12936 Wide string constants can be written by prefixing a string constant
12937 with @samp{L}, as in C. The target wide character set is used when
12938 computing the value of this constant (@pxref{Character Sets}).
12941 Pointer constants are an integral value. You can also write pointers
12942 to constants using the C operator @samp{&}.
12945 Array constants are comma-separated lists surrounded by braces @samp{@{}
12946 and @samp{@}}; for example, @samp{@{1,2,3@}} is a three-element array of
12947 integers, @samp{@{@{1,2@}, @{3,4@}, @{5,6@}@}} is a three-by-two array,
12948 and @samp{@{&"hi", &"there", &"fred"@}} is a three-element array of pointers.
12951 @node C Plus Plus Expressions
12952 @subsubsection C@t{++} Expressions
12954 @cindex expressions in C@t{++}
12955 @value{GDBN} expression handling can interpret most C@t{++} expressions.
12957 @cindex debugging C@t{++} programs
12958 @cindex C@t{++} compilers
12959 @cindex debug formats and C@t{++}
12960 @cindex @value{NGCC} and C@t{++}
12962 @emph{Warning:} @value{GDBN} can only debug C@t{++} code if you use
12963 the proper compiler and the proper debug format. Currently,
12964 @value{GDBN} works best when debugging C@t{++} code that is compiled
12965 with the most recent version of @value{NGCC} possible. The DWARF
12966 debugging format is preferred; @value{NGCC} defaults to this on most
12967 popular platforms. Other compilers and/or debug formats are likely to
12968 work badly or not at all when using @value{GDBN} to debug C@t{++}
12969 code. @xref{Compilation}.
12974 @cindex member functions
12976 Member function calls are allowed; you can use expressions like
12979 count = aml->GetOriginal(x, y)
12982 @vindex this@r{, inside C@t{++} member functions}
12983 @cindex namespace in C@t{++}
12985 While a member function is active (in the selected stack frame), your
12986 expressions have the same namespace available as the member function;
12987 that is, @value{GDBN} allows implicit references to the class instance
12988 pointer @code{this} following the same rules as C@t{++}. @code{using}
12989 declarations in the current scope are also respected by @value{GDBN}.
12991 @cindex call overloaded functions
12992 @cindex overloaded functions, calling
12993 @cindex type conversions in C@t{++}
12995 You can call overloaded functions; @value{GDBN} resolves the function
12996 call to the right definition, with some restrictions. @value{GDBN} does not
12997 perform overload resolution involving user-defined type conversions,
12998 calls to constructors, or instantiations of templates that do not exist
12999 in the program. It also cannot handle ellipsis argument lists or
13002 It does perform integral conversions and promotions, floating-point
13003 promotions, arithmetic conversions, pointer conversions, conversions of
13004 class objects to base classes, and standard conversions such as those of
13005 functions or arrays to pointers; it requires an exact match on the
13006 number of function arguments.
13008 Overload resolution is always performed, unless you have specified
13009 @code{set overload-resolution off}. @xref{Debugging C Plus Plus,
13010 ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
13012 You must specify @code{set overload-resolution off} in order to use an
13013 explicit function signature to call an overloaded function, as in
13015 p 'foo(char,int)'('x', 13)
13018 The @value{GDBN} command-completion facility can simplify this;
13019 see @ref{Completion, ,Command Completion}.
13021 @cindex reference declarations
13023 @value{GDBN} understands variables declared as C@t{++} references; you can use
13024 them in expressions just as you do in C@t{++} source---they are automatically
13027 In the parameter list shown when @value{GDBN} displays a frame, the values of
13028 reference variables are not displayed (unlike other variables); this
13029 avoids clutter, since references are often used for large structures.
13030 The @emph{address} of a reference variable is always shown, unless
13031 you have specified @samp{set print address off}.
13034 @value{GDBN} supports the C@t{++} name resolution operator @code{::}---your
13035 expressions can use it just as expressions in your program do. Since
13036 one scope may be defined in another, you can use @code{::} repeatedly if
13037 necessary, for example in an expression like
13038 @samp{@var{scope1}::@var{scope2}::@var{name}}. @value{GDBN} also allows
13039 resolving name scope by reference to source files, in both C and C@t{++}
13040 debugging (@pxref{Variables, ,Program Variables}).
13043 @value{GDBN} performs argument-dependent lookup, following the C@t{++}
13048 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Defaults
13050 @cindex C and C@t{++} defaults
13052 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set type and range checking automatically, they
13053 both default to @code{off} whenever the working language changes to
13054 C or C@t{++}. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
13055 selects the working language.
13057 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, it
13058 recognizes source files whose names end with @file{.c}, @file{.C}, or
13059 @file{.cc}, etc, and when @value{GDBN} enters code compiled from one of
13060 these files, it sets the working language to C or C@t{++}.
13061 @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language},
13062 for further details.
13064 @c Type checking is (a) primarily motivated by Modula-2, and (b)
13065 @c unimplemented. If (b) changes, it might make sense to let this node
13066 @c appear even if Mod-2 does not, but meanwhile ignore it. roland 16jul93.
13069 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Type and Range Checks
13071 @cindex C and C@t{++} checks
13073 By default, when @value{GDBN} parses C or C@t{++} expressions, type checking
13074 is not used. However, if you turn type checking on, @value{GDBN}
13075 considers two variables type equivalent if:
13079 The two variables are structured and have the same structure, union, or
13083 The two variables have the same type name, or types that have been
13084 declared equivalent through @code{typedef}.
13087 @c leaving this out because neither J Gilmore nor R Pesch understand it.
13090 The two @code{struct}, @code{union}, or @code{enum} variables are
13091 declared in the same declaration. (Note: this may not be true for all C
13096 Range checking, if turned on, is done on mathematical operations. Array
13097 indices are not checked, since they are often used to index a pointer
13098 that is not itself an array.
13101 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and C
13103 The @code{set print union} and @code{show print union} commands apply to
13104 the @code{union} type. When set to @samp{on}, any @code{union} that is
13105 inside a @code{struct} or @code{class} is also printed. Otherwise, it
13106 appears as @samp{@{...@}}.
13108 The @code{@@} operator aids in the debugging of dynamic arrays, formed
13109 with pointers and a memory allocation function. @xref{Expressions,
13112 @node Debugging C Plus Plus
13113 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}
13115 @cindex commands for C@t{++}
13117 Some @value{GDBN} commands are particularly useful with C@t{++}, and some are
13118 designed specifically for use with C@t{++}. Here is a summary:
13121 @cindex break in overloaded functions
13122 @item @r{breakpoint menus}
13123 When you want a breakpoint in a function whose name is overloaded,
13124 @value{GDBN} has the capability to display a menu of possible breakpoint
13125 locations to help you specify which function definition you want.
13126 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}.
13128 @cindex overloading in C@t{++}
13129 @item rbreak @var{regex}
13130 Setting breakpoints using regular expressions is helpful for setting
13131 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
13133 @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
13135 @cindex C@t{++} exception handling
13138 Debug C@t{++} exception handling using these commands. @xref{Set
13139 Catchpoints, , Setting Catchpoints}.
13141 @cindex inheritance
13142 @item ptype @var{typename}
13143 Print inheritance relationships as well as other information for type
13145 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
13147 @item info vtbl @var{expression}.
13148 The @code{info vtbl} command can be used to display the virtual
13149 method tables of the object computed by @var{expression}. This shows
13150 one entry per virtual table; there may be multiple virtual tables when
13151 multiple inheritance is in use.
13153 @cindex C@t{++} symbol display
13154 @item set print demangle
13155 @itemx show print demangle
13156 @itemx set print asm-demangle
13157 @itemx show print asm-demangle
13158 Control whether C@t{++} symbols display in their source form, both when
13159 displaying code as C@t{++} source and when displaying disassemblies.
13160 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
13162 @item set print object
13163 @itemx show print object
13164 Choose whether to print derived (actual) or declared types of objects.
13165 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
13167 @item set print vtbl
13168 @itemx show print vtbl
13169 Control the format for printing virtual function tables.
13170 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
13171 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
13172 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
13174 @kindex set overload-resolution
13175 @cindex overloaded functions, overload resolution
13176 @item set overload-resolution on
13177 Enable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. The default
13178 is on. For overloaded functions, @value{GDBN} evaluates the arguments
13179 and searches for a function whose signature matches the argument types,
13180 using the standard C@t{++} conversion rules (see @ref{C Plus Plus
13181 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}, for details).
13182 If it cannot find a match, it emits a message.
13184 @item set overload-resolution off
13185 Disable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. For
13186 overloaded functions that are not class member functions, @value{GDBN}
13187 chooses the first function of the specified name that it finds in the
13188 symbol table, whether or not its arguments are of the correct type. For
13189 overloaded functions that are class member functions, @value{GDBN}
13190 searches for a function whose signature @emph{exactly} matches the
13193 @kindex show overload-resolution
13194 @item show overload-resolution
13195 Show the current setting of overload resolution.
13197 @item @r{Overloaded symbol names}
13198 You can specify a particular definition of an overloaded symbol, using
13199 the same notation that is used to declare such symbols in C@t{++}: type
13200 @code{@var{symbol}(@var{types})} rather than just @var{symbol}. You can
13201 also use the @value{GDBN} command-line word completion facilities to list the
13202 available choices, or to finish the type list for you.
13203 @xref{Completion,, Command Completion}, for details on how to do this.
13206 @node Decimal Floating Point
13207 @subsubsection Decimal Floating Point format
13208 @cindex decimal floating point format
13210 @value{GDBN} can examine, set and perform computations with numbers in
13211 decimal floating point format, which in the C language correspond to the
13212 @code{_Decimal32}, @code{_Decimal64} and @code{_Decimal128} types as
13213 specified by the extension to support decimal floating-point arithmetic.
13215 There are two encodings in use, depending on the architecture: BID (Binary
13216 Integer Decimal) for x86 and x86-64, and DPD (Densely Packed Decimal) for
13217 PowerPC. @value{GDBN} will use the appropriate encoding for the configured
13220 Because of a limitation in @file{libdecnumber}, the library used by @value{GDBN}
13221 to manipulate decimal floating point numbers, it is not possible to convert
13222 (using a cast, for example) integers wider than 32-bit to decimal float.
13224 In addition, in order to imitate @value{GDBN}'s behaviour with binary floating
13225 point computations, error checking in decimal float operations ignores
13226 underflow, overflow and divide by zero exceptions.
13228 In the PowerPC architecture, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers
13229 to inspect @code{_Decimal128} values stored in floating point registers.
13230 See @ref{PowerPC,,PowerPC} for more details.
13236 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in D and compiled with
13237 GDC, LDC or DMD compilers. Currently @value{GDBN} supports only one D
13238 specific feature --- dynamic arrays.
13243 @cindex Go (programming language)
13244 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Go and compiled with
13245 @file{gccgo} or @file{6g} compilers.
13247 Here is a summary of the Go-specific features and restrictions:
13250 @cindex current Go package
13251 @item The current Go package
13252 The name of the current package does not need to be specified when
13253 specifying global variables and functions.
13255 For example, given the program:
13259 var myglob = "Shall we?"
13265 When stopped inside @code{main} either of these work:
13269 (gdb) p main.myglob
13272 @cindex builtin Go types
13273 @item Builtin Go types
13274 The @code{string} type is recognized by @value{GDBN} and is printed
13277 @cindex builtin Go functions
13278 @item Builtin Go functions
13279 The @value{GDBN} expression parser recognizes the @code{unsafe.Sizeof}
13280 function and handles it internally.
13282 @cindex restrictions on Go expressions
13283 @item Restrictions on Go expressions
13284 All Go operators are supported except @code{&^}.
13285 The Go @code{_} ``blank identifier'' is not supported.
13286 Automatic dereferencing of pointers is not supported.
13290 @subsection Objective-C
13292 @cindex Objective-C
13293 This section provides information about some commands and command
13294 options that are useful for debugging Objective-C code. See also
13295 @ref{Symbols, info classes}, and @ref{Symbols, info selectors}, for a
13296 few more commands specific to Objective-C support.
13299 * Method Names in Commands::
13300 * The Print Command with Objective-C::
13303 @node Method Names in Commands
13304 @subsubsection Method Names in Commands
13306 The following commands have been extended to accept Objective-C method
13307 names as line specifications:
13309 @kindex clear@r{, and Objective-C}
13310 @kindex break@r{, and Objective-C}
13311 @kindex info line@r{, and Objective-C}
13312 @kindex jump@r{, and Objective-C}
13313 @kindex list@r{, and Objective-C}
13317 @item @code{info line}
13322 A fully qualified Objective-C method name is specified as
13325 -[@var{Class} @var{methodName}]
13328 where the minus sign is used to indicate an instance method and a
13329 plus sign (not shown) is used to indicate a class method. The class
13330 name @var{Class} and method name @var{methodName} are enclosed in
13331 brackets, similar to the way messages are specified in Objective-C
13332 source code. For example, to set a breakpoint at the @code{create}
13333 instance method of class @code{Fruit} in the program currently being
13337 break -[Fruit create]
13340 To list ten program lines around the @code{initialize} class method,
13344 list +[NSText initialize]
13347 In the current version of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus sign is
13348 required. In future versions of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus
13349 sign will be optional, but you can use it to narrow the search. It
13350 is also possible to specify just a method name:
13356 You must specify the complete method name, including any colons. If
13357 your program's source files contain more than one @code{create} method,
13358 you'll be presented with a numbered list of classes that implement that
13359 method. Indicate your choice by number, or type @samp{0} to exit if
13362 As another example, to clear a breakpoint established at the
13363 @code{makeKeyAndOrderFront:} method of the @code{NSWindow} class, enter:
13366 clear -[NSWindow makeKeyAndOrderFront:]
13369 @node The Print Command with Objective-C
13370 @subsubsection The Print Command With Objective-C
13371 @cindex Objective-C, print objects
13372 @kindex print-object
13373 @kindex po @r{(@code{print-object})}
13375 The print command has also been extended to accept methods. For example:
13378 print -[@var{object} hash]
13381 @cindex print an Objective-C object description
13382 @cindex @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, and printing Objective-C objects
13384 will tell @value{GDBN} to send the @code{hash} message to @var{object}
13385 and print the result. Also, an additional command has been added,
13386 @code{print-object} or @code{po} for short, which is meant to print
13387 the description of an object. However, this command may only work
13388 with certain Objective-C libraries that have a particular hook
13389 function, @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, defined.
13392 @subsection OpenCL C
13395 This section provides information about @value{GDBN}s OpenCL C support.
13398 * OpenCL C Datatypes::
13399 * OpenCL C Expressions::
13400 * OpenCL C Operators::
13403 @node OpenCL C Datatypes
13404 @subsubsection OpenCL C Datatypes
13406 @cindex OpenCL C Datatypes
13407 @value{GDBN} supports the builtin scalar and vector datatypes specified
13408 by OpenCL 1.1. In addition the half- and double-precision floating point
13409 data types of the @code{cl_khr_fp16} and @code{cl_khr_fp64} OpenCL
13410 extensions are also known to @value{GDBN}.
13412 @node OpenCL C Expressions
13413 @subsubsection OpenCL C Expressions
13415 @cindex OpenCL C Expressions
13416 @value{GDBN} supports accesses to vector components including the access as
13417 lvalue where possible. Since OpenCL C is based on C99 most C expressions
13418 supported by @value{GDBN} can be used as well.
13420 @node OpenCL C Operators
13421 @subsubsection OpenCL C Operators
13423 @cindex OpenCL C Operators
13424 @value{GDBN} supports the operators specified by OpenCL 1.1 for scalar and
13428 @subsection Fortran
13429 @cindex Fortran-specific support in @value{GDBN}
13431 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, but it
13432 currently supports only the features of Fortran 77 language.
13434 @cindex trailing underscore, in Fortran symbols
13435 Some Fortran compilers (@sc{gnu} Fortran 77 and Fortran 95 compilers
13436 among them) append an underscore to the names of variables and
13437 functions. When you debug programs compiled by those compilers, you
13438 will need to refer to variables and functions with a trailing
13442 * Fortran Operators:: Fortran operators and expressions
13443 * Fortran Defaults:: Default settings for Fortran
13444 * Special Fortran Commands:: Special @value{GDBN} commands for Fortran
13447 @node Fortran Operators
13448 @subsubsection Fortran Operators and Expressions
13450 @cindex Fortran operators and expressions
13452 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
13453 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on characters or other non-
13454 arithmetic types. Operators are often defined on groups of types.
13458 The exponentiation operator. It raises the first operand to the power
13462 The range operator. Normally used in the form of array(low:high) to
13463 represent a section of array.
13466 The access component operator. Normally used to access elements in derived
13467 types. Also suitable for unions. As unions aren't part of regular Fortran,
13468 this can only happen when accessing a register that uses a gdbarch-defined
13472 @node Fortran Defaults
13473 @subsubsection Fortran Defaults
13475 @cindex Fortran Defaults
13477 Fortran symbols are usually case-insensitive, so @value{GDBN} by
13478 default uses case-insensitive matches for Fortran symbols. You can
13479 change that with the @samp{set case-insensitive} command, see
13480 @ref{Symbols}, for the details.
13482 @node Special Fortran Commands
13483 @subsubsection Special Fortran Commands
13485 @cindex Special Fortran commands
13487 @value{GDBN} has some commands to support Fortran-specific features,
13488 such as displaying common blocks.
13491 @cindex @code{COMMON} blocks, Fortran
13492 @kindex info common
13493 @item info common @r{[}@var{common-name}@r{]}
13494 This command prints the values contained in the Fortran @code{COMMON}
13495 block whose name is @var{common-name}. With no argument, the names of
13496 all @code{COMMON} blocks visible at the current program location are
13503 @cindex Pascal support in @value{GDBN}, limitations
13504 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
13505 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
13506 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
13509 The Pascal-specific command @code{set print pascal_static-members}
13510 controls whether static members of Pascal objects are displayed.
13511 @xref{Print Settings, pascal_static-members}.
13514 @subsection Modula-2
13516 @cindex Modula-2, @value{GDBN} support
13518 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} to support Modula-2 only support
13519 output from the @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler (which is currently being
13520 developed). Other Modula-2 compilers are not currently supported, and
13521 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
13522 to give an error as @value{GDBN} reads in the executable's symbol
13525 @cindex expressions in Modula-2
13527 * M2 Operators:: Built-in operators
13528 * Built-In Func/Proc:: Built-in functions and procedures
13529 * M2 Constants:: Modula-2 constants
13530 * M2 Types:: Modula-2 types
13531 * M2 Defaults:: Default settings for Modula-2
13532 * Deviations:: Deviations from standard Modula-2
13533 * M2 Checks:: Modula-2 type and range checks
13534 * M2 Scope:: The scope operators @code{::} and @code{.}
13535 * GDB/M2:: @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
13539 @subsubsection Operators
13540 @cindex Modula-2 operators
13542 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
13543 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
13544 often defined on groups of types. For the purposes of Modula-2, the
13545 following definitions hold:
13550 @emph{Integral types} consist of @code{INTEGER}, @code{CARDINAL}, and
13554 @emph{Character types} consist of @code{CHAR} and its subranges.
13557 @emph{Floating-point types} consist of @code{REAL}.
13560 @emph{Pointer types} consist of anything declared as @code{POINTER TO
13564 @emph{Scalar types} consist of all of the above.
13567 @emph{Set types} consist of @code{SET} and @code{BITSET} types.
13570 @emph{Boolean types} consist of @code{BOOLEAN}.
13574 The following operators are supported, and appear in order of
13575 increasing precedence:
13579 Function argument or array index separator.
13582 Assignment. The value of @var{var} @code{:=} @var{value} is
13586 Less than, greater than on integral, floating-point, or enumerated
13590 Less than or equal to, greater than or equal to
13591 on integral, floating-point and enumerated types, or set inclusion on
13592 set types. Same precedence as @code{<}.
13594 @item =@r{, }<>@r{, }#
13595 Equality and two ways of expressing inequality, valid on scalar types.
13596 Same precedence as @code{<}. In @value{GDBN} scripts, only @code{<>} is
13597 available for inequality, since @code{#} conflicts with the script
13601 Set membership. Defined on set types and the types of their members.
13602 Same precedence as @code{<}.
13605 Boolean disjunction. Defined on boolean types.
13608 Boolean conjunction. Defined on boolean types.
13611 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
13614 Addition and subtraction on integral and floating-point types, or union
13615 and difference on set types.
13618 Multiplication on integral and floating-point types, or set intersection
13622 Division on floating-point types, or symmetric set difference on set
13623 types. Same precedence as @code{*}.
13626 Integer division and remainder. Defined on integral types. Same
13627 precedence as @code{*}.
13630 Negative. Defined on @code{INTEGER} and @code{REAL} data.
13633 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types.
13636 Boolean negation. Defined on boolean types. Same precedence as
13640 @code{RECORD} field selector. Defined on @code{RECORD} data. Same
13641 precedence as @code{^}.
13644 Array indexing. Defined on @code{ARRAY} data. Same precedence as @code{^}.
13647 Procedure argument list. Defined on @code{PROCEDURE} objects. Same precedence
13651 @value{GDBN} and Modula-2 scope operators.
13655 @emph{Warning:} Set expressions and their operations are not yet supported, so @value{GDBN}
13656 treats the use of the operator @code{IN}, or the use of operators
13657 @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{=}, , @code{<>}, @code{#},
13658 @code{<=}, and @code{>=} on sets as an error.
13662 @node Built-In Func/Proc
13663 @subsubsection Built-in Functions and Procedures
13664 @cindex Modula-2 built-ins
13666 Modula-2 also makes available several built-in procedures and functions.
13667 In describing these, the following metavariables are used:
13672 represents an @code{ARRAY} variable.
13675 represents a @code{CHAR} constant or variable.
13678 represents a variable or constant of integral type.
13681 represents an identifier that belongs to a set. Generally used in the
13682 same function with the metavariable @var{s}. The type of @var{s} should
13683 be @code{SET OF @var{mtype}} (where @var{mtype} is the type of @var{m}).
13686 represents a variable or constant of integral or floating-point type.
13689 represents a variable or constant of floating-point type.
13695 represents a variable.
13698 represents a variable or constant of one of many types. See the
13699 explanation of the function for details.
13702 All Modula-2 built-in procedures also return a result, described below.
13706 Returns the absolute value of @var{n}.
13709 If @var{c} is a lower case letter, it returns its upper case
13710 equivalent, otherwise it returns its argument.
13713 Returns the character whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
13716 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
13718 @item DEC(@var{v},@var{i})
13719 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
13722 @item EXCL(@var{m},@var{s})
13723 Removes the element @var{m} from the set @var{s}. Returns the new
13726 @item FLOAT(@var{i})
13727 Returns the floating point equivalent of the integer @var{i}.
13729 @item HIGH(@var{a})
13730 Returns the index of the last member of @var{a}.
13733 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
13735 @item INC(@var{v},@var{i})
13736 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
13739 @item INCL(@var{m},@var{s})
13740 Adds the element @var{m} to the set @var{s} if it is not already
13741 there. Returns the new set.
13744 Returns the maximum value of the type @var{t}.
13747 Returns the minimum value of the type @var{t}.
13750 Returns boolean TRUE if @var{i} is an odd number.
13753 Returns the ordinal value of its argument. For example, the ordinal
13754 value of a character is its @sc{ascii} value (on machines supporting the
13755 @sc{ascii} character set). @var{x} must be of an ordered type, which include
13756 integral, character and enumerated types.
13758 @item SIZE(@var{x})
13759 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
13761 @item TRUNC(@var{r})
13762 Returns the integral part of @var{r}.
13764 @item TSIZE(@var{x})
13765 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
13767 @item VAL(@var{t},@var{i})
13768 Returns the member of the type @var{t} whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
13772 @emph{Warning:} Sets and their operations are not yet supported, so
13773 @value{GDBN} treats the use of procedures @code{INCL} and @code{EXCL} as
13777 @cindex Modula-2 constants
13779 @subsubsection Constants
13781 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of Modula-2 in the following
13787 Integer constants are simply a sequence of digits. When used in an
13788 expression, a constant is interpreted to be type-compatible with the
13789 rest of the expression. Hexadecimal integers are specified by a
13790 trailing @samp{H}, and octal integers by a trailing @samp{B}.
13793 Floating point constants appear as a sequence of digits, followed by a
13794 decimal point and another sequence of digits. An optional exponent can
13795 then be specified, in the form @samp{E@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}, where
13796 @samp{@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}} is the desired exponent. All of the
13797 digits of the floating point constant must be valid decimal (base 10)
13801 Character constants consist of a single character enclosed by a pair of
13802 like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}). They may
13803 also be expressed by their ordinal value (their @sc{ascii} value, usually)
13804 followed by a @samp{C}.
13807 String constants consist of a sequence of characters enclosed by a
13808 pair of like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}).
13809 Escape sequences in the style of C are also allowed. @xref{C
13810 Constants, ,C and C@t{++} Constants}, for a brief explanation of escape
13814 Enumerated constants consist of an enumerated identifier.
13817 Boolean constants consist of the identifiers @code{TRUE} and
13821 Pointer constants consist of integral values only.
13824 Set constants are not yet supported.
13828 @subsubsection Modula-2 Types
13829 @cindex Modula-2 types
13831 Currently @value{GDBN} can print the following data types in Modula-2
13832 syntax: array types, record types, set types, pointer types, procedure
13833 types, enumerated types, subrange types and base types. You can also
13834 print the contents of variables declared using these type.
13835 This section gives a number of simple source code examples together with
13836 sample @value{GDBN} sessions.
13838 The first example contains the following section of code:
13847 and you can request @value{GDBN} to interrogate the type and value of
13848 @code{r} and @code{s}.
13851 (@value{GDBP}) print s
13853 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
13855 (@value{GDBP}) print r
13857 (@value{GDBP}) ptype r
13862 Likewise if your source code declares @code{s} as:
13866 s: SET ['A'..'Z'] ;
13870 then you may query the type of @code{s} by:
13873 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
13874 type = SET ['A'..'Z']
13878 Note that at present you cannot interactively manipulate set
13879 expressions using the debugger.
13881 The following example shows how you might declare an array in Modula-2
13882 and how you can interact with @value{GDBN} to print its type and contents:
13886 s: ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR ;
13890 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
13891 ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR
13894 Note that the array handling is not yet complete and although the type
13895 is printed correctly, expression handling still assumes that all
13896 arrays have a lower bound of zero and not @code{-10} as in the example
13899 Here are some more type related Modula-2 examples:
13903 colour = (blue, red, yellow, green) ;
13904 t = [blue..yellow] ;
13912 The @value{GDBN} interaction shows how you can query the data type
13913 and value of a variable.
13916 (@value{GDBP}) print s
13918 (@value{GDBP}) ptype t
13919 type = [blue..yellow]
13923 In this example a Modula-2 array is declared and its contents
13924 displayed. Observe that the contents are written in the same way as
13925 their @code{C} counterparts.
13929 s: ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
13935 (@value{GDBP}) print s
13936 $1 = @{1, 0, 0, 0, 0@}
13937 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
13938 type = ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
13941 The Modula-2 language interface to @value{GDBN} also understands
13942 pointer types as shown in this example:
13946 s: POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
13953 and you can request that @value{GDBN} describes the type of @code{s}.
13956 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
13957 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
13960 @value{GDBN} handles compound types as we can see in this example.
13961 Here we combine array types, record types, pointer types and subrange
13972 myarray = ARRAY myrange OF CARDINAL ;
13973 myrange = [-2..2] ;
13975 s: POINTER TO ARRAY myrange OF foo ;
13979 and you can ask @value{GDBN} to describe the type of @code{s} as shown
13983 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
13984 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [-2..2] OF foo = RECORD
13987 f3 : ARRAY [-2..2] OF CARDINAL;
13992 @subsubsection Modula-2 Defaults
13993 @cindex Modula-2 defaults
13995 If type and range checking are set automatically by @value{GDBN}, they
13996 both default to @code{on} whenever the working language changes to
13997 Modula-2. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
13998 selected the working language.
14000 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, then entering
14001 code compiled from a file whose name ends with @file{.mod} sets the
14002 working language to Modula-2. @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN}
14003 Infer the Source Language}, for further details.
14006 @subsubsection Deviations from Standard Modula-2
14007 @cindex Modula-2, deviations from
14009 A few changes have been made to make Modula-2 programs easier to debug.
14010 This is done primarily via loosening its type strictness:
14014 Unlike in standard Modula-2, pointer constants can be formed by
14015 integers. This allows you to modify pointer variables during
14016 debugging. (In standard Modula-2, the actual address contained in a
14017 pointer variable is hidden from you; it can only be modified
14018 through direct assignment to another pointer variable or expression that
14019 returned a pointer.)
14022 C escape sequences can be used in strings and characters to represent
14023 non-printable characters. @value{GDBN} prints out strings with these
14024 escape sequences embedded. Single non-printable characters are
14025 printed using the @samp{CHR(@var{nnn})} format.
14028 The assignment operator (@code{:=}) returns the value of its right-hand
14032 All built-in procedures both modify @emph{and} return their argument.
14036 @subsubsection Modula-2 Type and Range Checks
14037 @cindex Modula-2 checks
14040 @emph{Warning:} in this release, @value{GDBN} does not yet perform type or
14043 @c FIXME remove warning when type/range checks added
14045 @value{GDBN} considers two Modula-2 variables type equivalent if:
14049 They are of types that have been declared equivalent via a @code{TYPE
14050 @var{t1} = @var{t2}} statement
14053 They have been declared on the same line. (Note: This is true of the
14054 @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler, but it may not be true of other compilers.)
14057 As long as type checking is enabled, any attempt to combine variables
14058 whose types are not equivalent is an error.
14060 Range checking is done on all mathematical operations, assignment, array
14061 index bounds, and all built-in functions and procedures.
14064 @subsubsection The Scope Operators @code{::} and @code{.}
14066 @cindex @code{.}, Modula-2 scope operator
14067 @cindex colon, doubled as scope operator
14069 @vindex colon-colon@r{, in Modula-2}
14070 @c Info cannot handle :: but TeX can.
14073 @vindex ::@r{, in Modula-2}
14076 There are a few subtle differences between the Modula-2 scope operator
14077 (@code{.}) and the @value{GDBN} scope operator (@code{::}). The two have
14082 @var{module} . @var{id}
14083 @var{scope} :: @var{id}
14087 where @var{scope} is the name of a module or a procedure,
14088 @var{module} the name of a module, and @var{id} is any declared
14089 identifier within your program, except another module.
14091 Using the @code{::} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the scope
14092 specified by @var{scope} for the identifier @var{id}. If it is not
14093 found in the specified scope, then @value{GDBN} searches all scopes
14094 enclosing the one specified by @var{scope}.
14096 Using the @code{.} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the current scope for
14097 the identifier specified by @var{id} that was imported from the
14098 definition module specified by @var{module}. With this operator, it is
14099 an error if the identifier @var{id} was not imported from definition
14100 module @var{module}, or if @var{id} is not an identifier in
14104 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
14106 Some @value{GDBN} commands have little use when debugging Modula-2 programs.
14107 Five subcommands of @code{set print} and @code{show print} apply
14108 specifically to C and C@t{++}: @samp{vtbl}, @samp{demangle},
14109 @samp{asm-demangle}, @samp{object}, and @samp{union}. The first four
14110 apply to C@t{++}, and the last to the C @code{union} type, which has no direct
14111 analogue in Modula-2.
14113 The @code{@@} operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), while available
14114 with any language, is not useful with Modula-2. Its
14115 intent is to aid the debugging of @dfn{dynamic arrays}, which cannot be
14116 created in Modula-2 as they can in C or C@t{++}. However, because an
14117 address can be specified by an integral constant, the construct
14118 @samp{@{@var{type}@}@var{adrexp}} is still useful.
14120 @cindex @code{#} in Modula-2
14121 In @value{GDBN} scripts, the Modula-2 inequality operator @code{#} is
14122 interpreted as the beginning of a comment. Use @code{<>} instead.
14128 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} for Ada only support
14129 output from the @sc{gnu} Ada (GNAT) compiler.
14130 Other Ada compilers are not currently supported, and
14131 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
14135 @cindex expressions in Ada
14137 * Ada Mode Intro:: General remarks on the Ada syntax
14138 and semantics supported by Ada mode
14140 * Omissions from Ada:: Restrictions on the Ada expression syntax.
14141 * Additions to Ada:: Extensions of the Ada expression syntax.
14142 * Stopping Before Main Program:: Debugging the program during elaboration.
14143 * Ada Tasks:: Listing and setting breakpoints in tasks.
14144 * Ada Tasks and Core Files:: Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
14145 * Ravenscar Profile:: Tasking Support when using the Ravenscar
14147 * Ada Glitches:: Known peculiarities of Ada mode.
14150 @node Ada Mode Intro
14151 @subsubsection Introduction
14152 @cindex Ada mode, general
14154 The Ada mode of @value{GDBN} supports a fairly large subset of Ada expression
14155 syntax, with some extensions.
14156 The philosophy behind the design of this subset is
14160 That @value{GDBN} should provide basic literals and access to operations for
14161 arithmetic, dereferencing, field selection, indexing, and subprogram calls,
14162 leaving more sophisticated computations to subprograms written into the
14163 program (which therefore may be called from @value{GDBN}).
14166 That type safety and strict adherence to Ada language restrictions
14167 are not particularly important to the @value{GDBN} user.
14170 That brevity is important to the @value{GDBN} user.
14173 Thus, for brevity, the debugger acts as if all names declared in
14174 user-written packages are directly visible, even if they are not visible
14175 according to Ada rules, thus making it unnecessary to fully qualify most
14176 names with their packages, regardless of context. Where this causes
14177 ambiguity, @value{GDBN} asks the user's intent.
14179 The debugger will start in Ada mode if it detects an Ada main program.
14180 As for other languages, it will enter Ada mode when stopped in a program that
14181 was translated from an Ada source file.
14183 While in Ada mode, you may use `@t{--}' for comments. This is useful
14184 mostly for documenting command files. The standard @value{GDBN} comment
14185 (@samp{#}) still works at the beginning of a line in Ada mode, but not in the
14186 middle (to allow based literals).
14188 The debugger supports limited overloading. Given a subprogram call in which
14189 the function symbol has multiple definitions, it will use the number of
14190 actual parameters and some information about their types to attempt to narrow
14191 the set of definitions. It also makes very limited use of context, preferring
14192 procedures to functions in the context of the @code{call} command, and
14193 functions to procedures elsewhere.
14195 @node Omissions from Ada
14196 @subsubsection Omissions from Ada
14197 @cindex Ada, omissions from
14199 Here are the notable omissions from the subset:
14203 Only a subset of the attributes are supported:
14207 @t{'First}, @t{'Last}, and @t{'Length}
14208 on array objects (not on types and subtypes).
14211 @t{'Min} and @t{'Max}.
14214 @t{'Pos} and @t{'Val}.
14220 @t{'Range} on array objects (not subtypes), but only as the right
14221 operand of the membership (@code{in}) operator.
14224 @t{'Access}, @t{'Unchecked_Access}, and
14225 @t{'Unrestricted_Access} (a GNAT extension).
14233 @code{Characters.Latin_1} are not available and
14234 concatenation is not implemented. Thus, escape characters in strings are
14235 not currently available.
14238 Equality tests (@samp{=} and @samp{/=}) on arrays test for bitwise
14239 equality of representations. They will generally work correctly
14240 for strings and arrays whose elements have integer or enumeration types.
14241 They may not work correctly for arrays whose element
14242 types have user-defined equality, for arrays of real values
14243 (in particular, IEEE-conformant floating point, because of negative
14244 zeroes and NaNs), and for arrays whose elements contain unused bits with
14245 indeterminate values.
14248 The other component-by-component array operations (@code{and}, @code{or},
14249 @code{xor}, @code{not}, and relational tests other than equality)
14250 are not implemented.
14253 @cindex array aggregates (Ada)
14254 @cindex record aggregates (Ada)
14255 @cindex aggregates (Ada)
14256 There is limited support for array and record aggregates. They are
14257 permitted only on the right sides of assignments, as in these examples:
14260 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
14261 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, others => 0)
14262 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (0|4 => 1, 1..3 => 2, 5 => 6)
14263 (@value{GDBP}) set A_2D_Array := ((1, 2, 3), (4, 5, 6), (7, 8, 9))
14264 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (1, "Peter", True);
14265 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (Name => "Peter", Id => 1, Alive => True)
14269 discriminant's value by assigning an aggregate has an
14270 undefined effect if that discriminant is used within the record.
14271 However, you can first modify discriminants by directly assigning to
14272 them (which normally would not be allowed in Ada), and then performing an
14273 aggregate assignment. For example, given a variable @code{A_Rec}
14274 declared to have a type such as:
14277 type Rec (Len : Small_Integer := 0) is record
14279 Vals : IntArray (1 .. Len);
14283 you can assign a value with a different size of @code{Vals} with two
14287 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec.Len := 4
14288 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec := (Id => 42, Vals => (1, 2, 3, 4))
14291 As this example also illustrates, @value{GDBN} is very loose about the usual
14292 rules concerning aggregates. You may leave out some of the
14293 components of an array or record aggregate (such as the @code{Len}
14294 component in the assignment to @code{A_Rec} above); they will retain their
14295 original values upon assignment. You may freely use dynamic values as
14296 indices in component associations. You may even use overlapping or
14297 redundant component associations, although which component values are
14298 assigned in such cases is not defined.
14301 Calls to dispatching subprograms are not implemented.
14304 The overloading algorithm is much more limited (i.e., less selective)
14305 than that of real Ada. It makes only limited use of the context in
14306 which a subexpression appears to resolve its meaning, and it is much
14307 looser in its rules for allowing type matches. As a result, some
14308 function calls will be ambiguous, and the user will be asked to choose
14309 the proper resolution.
14312 The @code{new} operator is not implemented.
14315 Entry calls are not implemented.
14318 Aside from printing, arithmetic operations on the native VAX floating-point
14319 formats are not supported.
14322 It is not possible to slice a packed array.
14325 The names @code{True} and @code{False}, when not part of a qualified name,
14326 are interpreted as if implicitly prefixed by @code{Standard}, regardless of
14328 Should your program
14329 redefine these names in a package or procedure (at best a dubious practice),
14330 you will have to use fully qualified names to access their new definitions.
14333 @node Additions to Ada
14334 @subsubsection Additions to Ada
14335 @cindex Ada, deviations from
14337 As it does for other languages, @value{GDBN} makes certain generic
14338 extensions to Ada (@pxref{Expressions}):
14342 If the expression @var{E} is a variable residing in memory (typically
14343 a local variable or array element) and @var{N} is a positive integer,
14344 then @code{@var{E}@@@var{N}} displays the values of @var{E} and the
14345 @var{N}-1 adjacent variables following it in memory as an array. In
14346 Ada, this operator is generally not necessary, since its prime use is
14347 in displaying parts of an array, and slicing will usually do this in
14348 Ada. However, there are occasional uses when debugging programs in
14349 which certain debugging information has been optimized away.
14352 @code{@var{B}::@var{var}} means ``the variable named @var{var} that
14353 appears in function or file @var{B}.'' When @var{B} is a file name,
14354 you must typically surround it in single quotes.
14357 The expression @code{@{@var{type}@} @var{addr}} means ``the variable of type
14358 @var{type} that appears at address @var{addr}.''
14361 A name starting with @samp{$} is a convenience variable
14362 (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) or a machine register (@pxref{Registers}).
14365 In addition, @value{GDBN} provides a few other shortcuts and outright
14366 additions specific to Ada:
14370 The assignment statement is allowed as an expression, returning
14371 its right-hand operand as its value. Thus, you may enter
14374 (@value{GDBP}) set x := y + 3
14375 (@value{GDBP}) print A(tmp := y + 1)
14379 The semicolon is allowed as an ``operator,'' returning as its value
14380 the value of its right-hand operand.
14381 This allows, for example,
14382 complex conditional breaks:
14385 (@value{GDBP}) break f
14386 (@value{GDBP}) condition 1 (report(i); k += 1; A(k) > 100)
14390 Rather than use catenation and symbolic character names to introduce special
14391 characters into strings, one may instead use a special bracket notation,
14392 which is also used to print strings. A sequence of characters of the form
14393 @samp{["@var{XX}"]} within a string or character literal denotes the
14394 (single) character whose numeric encoding is @var{XX} in hexadecimal. The
14395 sequence of characters @samp{["""]} also denotes a single quotation mark
14396 in strings. For example,
14398 "One line.["0a"]Next line.["0a"]"
14401 contains an ASCII newline character (@code{Ada.Characters.Latin_1.LF})
14405 The subtype used as a prefix for the attributes @t{'Pos}, @t{'Min}, and
14406 @t{'Max} is optional (and is ignored in any case). For example, it is valid
14410 (@value{GDBP}) print 'max(x, y)
14414 When printing arrays, @value{GDBN} uses positional notation when the
14415 array has a lower bound of 1, and uses a modified named notation otherwise.
14416 For example, a one-dimensional array of three integers with a lower bound
14417 of 3 might print as
14424 That is, in contrast to valid Ada, only the first component has a @code{=>}
14428 You may abbreviate attributes in expressions with any unique,
14429 multi-character subsequence of
14430 their names (an exact match gets preference).
14431 For example, you may use @t{a'len}, @t{a'gth}, or @t{a'lh}
14432 in place of @t{a'length}.
14435 @cindex quoting Ada internal identifiers
14436 Since Ada is case-insensitive, the debugger normally maps identifiers you type
14437 to lower case. The GNAT compiler uses upper-case characters for
14438 some of its internal identifiers, which are normally of no interest to users.
14439 For the rare occasions when you actually have to look at them,
14440 enclose them in angle brackets to avoid the lower-case mapping.
14443 (@value{GDBP}) print <JMPBUF_SAVE>[0]
14447 Printing an object of class-wide type or dereferencing an
14448 access-to-class-wide value will display all the components of the object's
14449 specific type (as indicated by its run-time tag). Likewise, component
14450 selection on such a value will operate on the specific type of the
14455 @node Stopping Before Main Program
14456 @subsubsection Stopping at the Very Beginning
14458 @cindex breakpointing Ada elaboration code
14459 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration, and
14460 before reaching the main procedure.
14461 As defined in the Ada Reference
14462 Manual, the elaboration code is invoked from a procedure called
14463 @code{adainit}. To run your program up to the beginning of
14464 elaboration, simply use the following two commands:
14465 @code{tbreak adainit} and @code{run}.
14468 @subsubsection Extensions for Ada Tasks
14469 @cindex Ada, tasking
14471 Support for Ada tasks is analogous to that for threads (@pxref{Threads}).
14472 @value{GDBN} provides the following task-related commands:
14477 This command shows a list of current Ada tasks, as in the following example:
14484 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
14485 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
14486 1 8088000 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
14487 2 80a4000 1 15 Accept Statement b
14488 3 809a800 1 15 Child Activation Wait a
14489 * 4 80ae800 3 15 Runnable c
14494 In this listing, the asterisk before the last task indicates it to be the
14495 task currently being inspected.
14499 Represents @value{GDBN}'s internal task number.
14505 The parent's task ID (@value{GDBN}'s internal task number).
14508 The base priority of the task.
14511 Current state of the task.
14515 The task has been created but has not been activated. It cannot be
14519 The task is not blocked for any reason known to Ada. (It may be waiting
14520 for a mutex, though.) It is conceptually "executing" in normal mode.
14523 The task is terminated, in the sense of ARM 9.3 (5). Any dependents
14524 that were waiting on terminate alternatives have been awakened and have
14525 terminated themselves.
14527 @item Child Activation Wait
14528 The task is waiting for created tasks to complete activation.
14530 @item Accept Statement
14531 The task is waiting on an accept or selective wait statement.
14533 @item Waiting on entry call
14534 The task is waiting on an entry call.
14536 @item Async Select Wait
14537 The task is waiting to start the abortable part of an asynchronous
14541 The task is waiting on a select statement with only a delay
14544 @item Child Termination Wait
14545 The task is sleeping having completed a master within itself, and is
14546 waiting for the tasks dependent on that master to become terminated or
14547 waiting on a terminate Phase.
14549 @item Wait Child in Term Alt
14550 The task is sleeping waiting for tasks on terminate alternatives to
14551 finish terminating.
14553 @item Accepting RV with @var{taskno}
14554 The task is accepting a rendez-vous with the task @var{taskno}.
14558 Name of the task in the program.
14562 @kindex info task @var{taskno}
14563 @item info task @var{taskno}
14564 This command shows detailled informations on the specified task, as in
14565 the following example:
14570 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
14571 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
14572 1 8077880 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
14573 * 2 807c468 1 15 Runnable task_1
14574 (@value{GDBP}) info task 2
14575 Ada Task: 0x807c468
14578 Parent: 1 (main_task)
14584 @kindex task@r{ (Ada)}
14585 @cindex current Ada task ID
14586 This command prints the ID of the current task.
14592 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
14593 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
14594 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
14595 * 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
14596 (@value{GDBP}) task
14597 [Current task is 2]
14600 @item task @var{taskno}
14601 @cindex Ada task switching
14602 This command is like the @code{thread @var{threadno}}
14603 command (@pxref{Threads}). It switches the context of debugging
14604 from the current task to the given task.
14610 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
14611 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
14612 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
14613 * 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
14614 (@value{GDBP}) task 1
14615 [Switching to task 1]
14616 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
14618 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
14619 #1 0x8056714 in system.os_interface.pthread_cond_wait ()
14620 #2 0x805cb63 in system.task_primitives.operations.sleep ()
14621 #3 0x806153e in system.tasking.stages.activate_tasks ()
14622 #4 0x804aacc in un () at un.adb:5
14625 @item break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno}
14626 @itemx break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno} if @dots{}
14627 @cindex breakpoints and tasks, in Ada
14628 @cindex task breakpoints, in Ada
14629 @kindex break @dots{} task @var{taskno}@r{ (Ada)}
14630 These commands are like the @code{break @dots{} thread @dots{}}
14631 command (@pxref{Thread Stops}).
14632 @var{linespec} specifies source lines, as described
14633 in @ref{Specify Location}.
14635 Use the qualifier @samp{task @var{taskno}} with a breakpoint command
14636 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
14637 particular Ada task reaches this breakpoint. @var{taskno} is one of the
14638 numeric task identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
14639 column of the @samp{info tasks} display.
14641 If you do not specify @samp{task @var{taskno}} when you set a
14642 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} tasks of your
14645 You can use the @code{task} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
14646 well; in this case, place @samp{task @var{taskno}} before the
14647 breakpoint condition (before the @code{if}).
14655 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
14656 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
14657 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
14658 2 140045060 1 15 Accept/Select Wait t2
14659 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
14660 * 4 140056040 1 15 Runnable t3
14661 (@value{GDBP}) b 15 task 2
14662 Breakpoint 5 at 0x120044cb0: file test_task_debug.adb, line 15.
14663 (@value{GDBP}) cont
14668 Breakpoint 5, test_task_debug () at test_task_debug.adb:15
14670 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
14671 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
14672 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
14673 * 2 140045060 1 15 Runnable t2
14674 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
14675 4 140056040 1 15 Delay Sleep t3
14679 @node Ada Tasks and Core Files
14680 @subsubsection Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
14681 @cindex Ada tasking and core file debugging
14683 When inspecting a core file, as opposed to debugging a live program,
14684 tasking support may be limited or even unavailable, depending on
14685 the platform being used.
14686 For instance, on x86-linux, the list of tasks is available, but task
14687 switching is not supported. On Tru64, however, task switching will work
14690 On certain platforms, including Tru64, the debugger needs to perform some
14691 memory writes in order to provide Ada tasking support. When inspecting
14692 a core file, this means that the core file must be opened with read-write
14693 privileges, using the command @samp{"set write on"} (@pxref{Patching}).
14694 Under these circumstances, you should make a backup copy of the core
14695 file before inspecting it with @value{GDBN}.
14697 @node Ravenscar Profile
14698 @subsubsection Tasking Support when using the Ravenscar Profile
14699 @cindex Ravenscar Profile
14701 The @dfn{Ravenscar Profile} is a subset of the Ada tasking features,
14702 specifically designed for systems with safety-critical real-time
14706 @kindex set ravenscar task-switching on
14707 @cindex task switching with program using Ravenscar Profile
14708 @item set ravenscar task-switching on
14709 Allows task switching when debugging a program that uses the Ravenscar
14710 Profile. This is the default.
14712 @kindex set ravenscar task-switching off
14713 @item set ravenscar task-switching off
14714 Turn off task switching when debugging a program that uses the Ravenscar
14715 Profile. This is mostly intended to disable the code that adds support
14716 for the Ravenscar Profile, in case a bug in either @value{GDBN} or in
14717 the Ravenscar runtime is preventing @value{GDBN} from working properly.
14718 To be effective, this command should be run before the program is started.
14720 @kindex show ravenscar task-switching
14721 @item show ravenscar task-switching
14722 Show whether it is possible to switch from task to task in a program
14723 using the Ravenscar Profile.
14728 @subsubsection Known Peculiarities of Ada Mode
14729 @cindex Ada, problems
14731 Besides the omissions listed previously (@pxref{Omissions from Ada}),
14732 we know of several problems with and limitations of Ada mode in
14734 some of which will be fixed with planned future releases of the debugger
14735 and the GNU Ada compiler.
14739 Static constants that the compiler chooses not to materialize as objects in
14740 storage are invisible to the debugger.
14743 Named parameter associations in function argument lists are ignored (the
14744 argument lists are treated as positional).
14747 Many useful library packages are currently invisible to the debugger.
14750 Fixed-point arithmetic, conversions, input, and output is carried out using
14751 floating-point arithmetic, and may give results that only approximate those on
14755 The GNAT compiler never generates the prefix @code{Standard} for any of
14756 the standard symbols defined by the Ada language. @value{GDBN} knows about
14757 this: it will strip the prefix from names when you use it, and will never
14758 look for a name you have so qualified among local symbols, nor match against
14759 symbols in other packages or subprograms. If you have
14760 defined entities anywhere in your program other than parameters and
14761 local variables whose simple names match names in @code{Standard},
14762 GNAT's lack of qualification here can cause confusion. When this happens,
14763 you can usually resolve the confusion
14764 by qualifying the problematic names with package
14765 @code{Standard} explicitly.
14768 Older versions of the compiler sometimes generate erroneous debugging
14769 information, resulting in the debugger incorrectly printing the value
14770 of affected entities. In some cases, the debugger is able to work
14771 around an issue automatically. In other cases, the debugger is able
14772 to work around the issue, but the work-around has to be specifically
14775 @kindex set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
14776 @kindex show ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
14779 @item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS on
14780 Configure GDB to strictly follow the GNAT encoding when computing the
14781 value of Ada entities, particularly when @code{PAD} and @code{PAD___XVS}
14782 types are involved (see @code{ada/exp_dbug.ads} in the GCC sources for
14783 a complete description of the encoding used by the GNAT compiler).
14784 This is the default.
14786 @item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS off
14787 This is related to the encoding using by the GNAT compiler. If @value{GDBN}
14788 sometimes prints the wrong value for certain entities, changing @code{ada
14789 trust-PAD-over-XVS} to @code{off} activates a work-around which may fix
14790 the issue. It is always safe to set @code{ada trust-PAD-over-XVS} to
14791 @code{off}, but this incurs a slight performance penalty, so it is
14792 recommended to leave this setting to @code{on} unless necessary.
14796 @node Unsupported Languages
14797 @section Unsupported Languages
14799 @cindex unsupported languages
14800 @cindex minimal language
14801 In addition to the other fully-supported programming languages,
14802 @value{GDBN} also provides a pseudo-language, called @code{minimal}.
14803 It does not represent a real programming language, but provides a set
14804 of capabilities close to what the C or assembly languages provide.
14805 This should allow most simple operations to be performed while debugging
14806 an application that uses a language currently not supported by @value{GDBN}.
14808 If the language is set to @code{auto}, @value{GDBN} will automatically
14809 select this language if the current frame corresponds to an unsupported
14813 @chapter Examining the Symbol Table
14815 The commands described in this chapter allow you to inquire about the
14816 symbols (names of variables, functions and types) defined in your
14817 program. This information is inherent in the text of your program and
14818 does not change as your program executes. @value{GDBN} finds it in your
14819 program's symbol table, in the file indicated when you started @value{GDBN}
14820 (@pxref{File Options, ,Choosing Files}), or by one of the
14821 file-management commands (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
14823 @cindex symbol names
14824 @cindex names of symbols
14825 @cindex quoting names
14826 Occasionally, you may need to refer to symbols that contain unusual
14827 characters, which @value{GDBN} ordinarily treats as word delimiters. The
14828 most frequent case is in referring to static variables in other
14829 source files (@pxref{Variables,,Program Variables}). File names
14830 are recorded in object files as debugging symbols, but @value{GDBN} would
14831 ordinarily parse a typical file name, like @file{foo.c}, as the three words
14832 @samp{foo} @samp{.} @samp{c}. To allow @value{GDBN} to recognize
14833 @samp{foo.c} as a single symbol, enclose it in single quotes; for example,
14840 looks up the value of @code{x} in the scope of the file @file{foo.c}.
14843 @cindex case-insensitive symbol names
14844 @cindex case sensitivity in symbol names
14845 @kindex set case-sensitive
14846 @item set case-sensitive on
14847 @itemx set case-sensitive off
14848 @itemx set case-sensitive auto
14849 Normally, when @value{GDBN} looks up symbols, it matches their names
14850 with case sensitivity determined by the current source language.
14851 Occasionally, you may wish to control that. The command @code{set
14852 case-sensitive} lets you do that by specifying @code{on} for
14853 case-sensitive matches or @code{off} for case-insensitive ones. If
14854 you specify @code{auto}, case sensitivity is reset to the default
14855 suitable for the source language. The default is case-sensitive
14856 matches for all languages except for Fortran, for which the default is
14857 case-insensitive matches.
14859 @kindex show case-sensitive
14860 @item show case-sensitive
14861 This command shows the current setting of case sensitivity for symbols
14864 @kindex info address
14865 @cindex address of a symbol
14866 @item info address @var{symbol}
14867 Describe where the data for @var{symbol} is stored. For a register
14868 variable, this says which register it is kept in. For a non-register
14869 local variable, this prints the stack-frame offset at which the variable
14872 Note the contrast with @samp{print &@var{symbol}}, which does not work
14873 at all for a register variable, and for a stack local variable prints
14874 the exact address of the current instantiation of the variable.
14876 @kindex info symbol
14877 @cindex symbol from address
14878 @cindex closest symbol and offset for an address
14879 @item info symbol @var{addr}
14880 Print the name of a symbol which is stored at the address @var{addr}.
14881 If no symbol is stored exactly at @var{addr}, @value{GDBN} prints the
14882 nearest symbol and an offset from it:
14885 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x54320
14886 _initialize_vx + 396 in section .text
14890 This is the opposite of the @code{info address} command. You can use
14891 it to find out the name of a variable or a function given its address.
14893 For dynamically linked executables, the name of executable or shared
14894 library containing the symbol is also printed:
14897 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x400225
14898 _start + 5 in section .text of /tmp/a.out
14899 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x2aaaac2811cf
14900 __read_nocancel + 6 in section .text of /usr/lib64/libc.so.6
14904 @item whatis [@var{arg}]
14905 Print the data type of @var{arg}, which can be either an expression
14906 or a name of a data type. With no argument, print the data type of
14907 @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
14909 If @var{arg} is an expression (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), it
14910 is not actually evaluated, and any side-effecting operations (such as
14911 assignments or function calls) inside it do not take place.
14913 If @var{arg} is a variable or an expression, @code{whatis} prints its
14914 literal type as it is used in the source code. If the type was
14915 defined using a @code{typedef}, @code{whatis} will @emph{not} print
14916 the data type underlying the @code{typedef}. If the type of the
14917 variable or the expression is a compound data type, such as
14918 @code{struct} or @code{class}, @code{whatis} never prints their
14919 fields or methods. It just prints the @code{struct}/@code{class}
14920 name (a.k.a.@: its @dfn{tag}). If you want to see the members of
14921 such a compound data type, use @code{ptype}.
14923 If @var{arg} is a type name that was defined using @code{typedef},
14924 @code{whatis} @dfn{unrolls} only one level of that @code{typedef}.
14925 Unrolling means that @code{whatis} will show the underlying type used
14926 in the @code{typedef} declaration of @var{arg}. However, if that
14927 underlying type is also a @code{typedef}, @code{whatis} will not
14930 For C code, the type names may also have the form @samp{class
14931 @var{class-name}}, @samp{struct @var{struct-tag}}, @samp{union
14932 @var{union-tag}} or @samp{enum @var{enum-tag}}.
14935 @item ptype [@var{arg}]
14936 @code{ptype} accepts the same arguments as @code{whatis}, but prints a
14937 detailed description of the type, instead of just the name of the type.
14938 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
14940 Contrary to @code{whatis}, @code{ptype} always unrolls any
14941 @code{typedef}s in its argument declaration, whether the argument is
14942 a variable, expression, or a data type. This means that @code{ptype}
14943 of a variable or an expression will not print literally its type as
14944 present in the source code---use @code{whatis} for that. @code{typedef}s at
14945 the pointer or reference targets are also unrolled. Only @code{typedef}s of
14946 fields, methods and inner @code{class typedef}s of @code{struct}s,
14947 @code{class}es and @code{union}s are not unrolled even with @code{ptype}.
14949 For example, for this variable declaration:
14952 typedef double real_t;
14953 struct complex @{ real_t real; double imag; @};
14954 typedef struct complex complex_t;
14956 real_t *real_pointer_var;
14960 the two commands give this output:
14964 (@value{GDBP}) whatis var
14966 (@value{GDBP}) ptype var
14967 type = struct complex @{
14971 (@value{GDBP}) whatis complex_t
14972 type = struct complex
14973 (@value{GDBP}) whatis struct complex
14974 type = struct complex
14975 (@value{GDBP}) ptype struct complex
14976 type = struct complex @{
14980 (@value{GDBP}) whatis real_pointer_var
14982 (@value{GDBP}) ptype real_pointer_var
14988 As with @code{whatis}, using @code{ptype} without an argument refers to
14989 the type of @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
14991 @cindex incomplete type
14992 Sometimes, programs use opaque data types or incomplete specifications
14993 of complex data structure. If the debug information included in the
14994 program does not allow @value{GDBN} to display a full declaration of
14995 the data type, it will say @samp{<incomplete type>}. For example,
14996 given these declarations:
15000 struct foo *fooptr;
15004 but no definition for @code{struct foo} itself, @value{GDBN} will say:
15007 (@value{GDBP}) ptype foo
15008 $1 = <incomplete type>
15012 ``Incomplete type'' is C terminology for data types that are not
15013 completely specified.
15016 @item info types @var{regexp}
15018 Print a brief description of all types whose names match the regular
15019 expression @var{regexp} (or all types in your program, if you supply
15020 no argument). Each complete typename is matched as though it were a
15021 complete line; thus, @samp{i type value} gives information on all
15022 types in your program whose names include the string @code{value}, but
15023 @samp{i type ^value$} gives information only on types whose complete
15024 name is @code{value}.
15026 This command differs from @code{ptype} in two ways: first, like
15027 @code{whatis}, it does not print a detailed description; second, it
15028 lists all source files where a type is defined.
15031 @cindex local variables
15032 @item info scope @var{location}
15033 List all the variables local to a particular scope. This command
15034 accepts a @var{location} argument---a function name, a source line, or
15035 an address preceded by a @samp{*}, and prints all the variables local
15036 to the scope defined by that location. (@xref{Specify Location}, for
15037 details about supported forms of @var{location}.) For example:
15040 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info scope command_line_handler}
15041 Scope for command_line_handler:
15042 Symbol rl is an argument at stack/frame offset 8, length 4.
15043 Symbol linebuffer is in static storage at address 0x150a18, length 4.
15044 Symbol linelength is in static storage at address 0x150a1c, length 4.
15045 Symbol p is a local variable in register $esi, length 4.
15046 Symbol p1 is a local variable in register $ebx, length 4.
15047 Symbol nline is a local variable in register $edx, length 4.
15048 Symbol repeat is a local variable at frame offset -8, length 4.
15052 This command is especially useful for determining what data to collect
15053 during a @dfn{trace experiment}, see @ref{Tracepoint Actions,
15056 @kindex info source
15058 Show information about the current source file---that is, the source file for
15059 the function containing the current point of execution:
15062 the name of the source file, and the directory containing it,
15064 the directory it was compiled in,
15066 its length, in lines,
15068 which programming language it is written in,
15070 whether the executable includes debugging information for that file, and
15071 if so, what format the information is in (e.g., STABS, Dwarf 2, etc.), and
15073 whether the debugging information includes information about
15074 preprocessor macros.
15078 @kindex info sources
15080 Print the names of all source files in your program for which there is
15081 debugging information, organized into two lists: files whose symbols
15082 have already been read, and files whose symbols will be read when needed.
15084 @kindex info functions
15085 @item info functions
15086 Print the names and data types of all defined functions.
15088 @item info functions @var{regexp}
15089 Print the names and data types of all defined functions
15090 whose names contain a match for regular expression @var{regexp}.
15091 Thus, @samp{info fun step} finds all functions whose names
15092 include @code{step}; @samp{info fun ^step} finds those whose names
15093 start with @code{step}. If a function name contains characters
15094 that conflict with the regular expression language (e.g.@:
15095 @samp{operator*()}), they may be quoted with a backslash.
15097 @kindex info variables
15098 @item info variables
15099 Print the names and data types of all variables that are defined
15100 outside of functions (i.e.@: excluding local variables).
15102 @item info variables @var{regexp}
15103 Print the names and data types of all variables (except for local
15104 variables) whose names contain a match for regular expression
15107 @kindex info classes
15108 @cindex Objective-C, classes and selectors
15110 @itemx info classes @var{regexp}
15111 Display all Objective-C classes in your program, or
15112 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
15115 @kindex info selectors
15116 @item info selectors
15117 @itemx info selectors @var{regexp}
15118 Display all Objective-C selectors in your program, or
15119 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
15123 This was never implemented.
15124 @kindex info methods
15126 @itemx info methods @var{regexp}
15127 The @code{info methods} command permits the user to examine all defined
15128 methods within C@t{++} program, or (with the @var{regexp} argument) a
15129 specific set of methods found in the various C@t{++} classes. Many
15130 C@t{++} classes provide a large number of methods. Thus, the output
15131 from the @code{ptype} command can be overwhelming and hard to use. The
15132 @code{info-methods} command filters the methods, printing only those
15133 which match the regular-expression @var{regexp}.
15136 @cindex opaque data types
15137 @kindex set opaque-type-resolution
15138 @item set opaque-type-resolution on
15139 Tell @value{GDBN} to resolve opaque types. An opaque type is a type
15140 declared as a pointer to a @code{struct}, @code{class}, or
15141 @code{union}---for example, @code{struct MyType *}---that is used in one
15142 source file although the full declaration of @code{struct MyType} is in
15143 another source file. The default is on.
15145 A change in the setting of this subcommand will not take effect until
15146 the next time symbols for a file are loaded.
15148 @item set opaque-type-resolution off
15149 Tell @value{GDBN} not to resolve opaque types. In this case, the type
15150 is printed as follows:
15152 @{<no data fields>@}
15155 @kindex show opaque-type-resolution
15156 @item show opaque-type-resolution
15157 Show whether opaque types are resolved or not.
15159 @kindex maint print symbols
15160 @cindex symbol dump
15161 @kindex maint print psymbols
15162 @cindex partial symbol dump
15163 @item maint print symbols @var{filename}
15164 @itemx maint print psymbols @var{filename}
15165 @itemx maint print msymbols @var{filename}
15166 Write a dump of debugging symbol data into the file @var{filename}.
15167 These commands are used to debug the @value{GDBN} symbol-reading code. Only
15168 symbols with debugging data are included. If you use @samp{maint print
15169 symbols}, @value{GDBN} includes all the symbols for which it has already
15170 collected full details: that is, @var{filename} reflects symbols for
15171 only those files whose symbols @value{GDBN} has read. You can use the
15172 command @code{info sources} to find out which files these are. If you
15173 use @samp{maint print psymbols} instead, the dump shows information about
15174 symbols that @value{GDBN} only knows partially---that is, symbols defined in
15175 files that @value{GDBN} has skimmed, but not yet read completely. Finally,
15176 @samp{maint print msymbols} dumps just the minimal symbol information
15177 required for each object file from which @value{GDBN} has read some symbols.
15178 @xref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}, for a discussion of how
15179 @value{GDBN} reads symbols (in the description of @code{symbol-file}).
15181 @kindex maint info symtabs
15182 @kindex maint info psymtabs
15183 @cindex listing @value{GDBN}'s internal symbol tables
15184 @cindex symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
15185 @cindex full symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
15186 @cindex partial symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
15187 @item maint info symtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
15188 @itemx maint info psymtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
15190 List the @code{struct symtab} or @code{struct partial_symtab}
15191 structures whose names match @var{regexp}. If @var{regexp} is not
15192 given, list them all. The output includes expressions which you can
15193 copy into a @value{GDBN} debugging this one to examine a particular
15194 structure in more detail. For example:
15197 (@value{GDBP}) maint info psymtabs dwarf2read
15198 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
15199 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
15200 @{ psymtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
15201 ((struct partial_symtab *) 0x8474b10)
15204 text addresses 0x814d3c8 -- 0x8158074
15205 globals (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x8507a08 @@ 9)
15206 statics (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x40e95b78 @@ 2882)
15207 dependencies (none)
15210 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
15214 We see that there is one partial symbol table whose filename contains
15215 the string @samp{dwarf2read}, belonging to the @samp{gdb} executable;
15216 and we see that @value{GDBN} has not read in any symtabs yet at all.
15217 If we set a breakpoint on a function, that will cause @value{GDBN} to
15218 read the symtab for the compilation unit containing that function:
15221 (@value{GDBP}) break dwarf2_psymtab_to_symtab
15222 Breakpoint 1 at 0x814e5da: file /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c,
15224 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
15225 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
15226 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
15227 @{ symtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
15228 ((struct symtab *) 0x86c1f38)
15231 blockvector ((struct blockvector *) 0x86c1bd0) (primary)
15232 linetable ((struct linetable *) 0x8370fa0)
15233 debugformat DWARF 2
15242 @chapter Altering Execution
15244 Once you think you have found an error in your program, you might want to
15245 find out for certain whether correcting the apparent error would lead to
15246 correct results in the rest of the run. You can find the answer by
15247 experiment, using the @value{GDBN} features for altering execution of the
15250 For example, you can store new values into variables or memory
15251 locations, give your program a signal, restart it at a different
15252 address, or even return prematurely from a function.
15255 * Assignment:: Assignment to variables
15256 * Jumping:: Continuing at a different address
15257 * Signaling:: Giving your program a signal
15258 * Returning:: Returning from a function
15259 * Calling:: Calling your program's functions
15260 * Patching:: Patching your program
15264 @section Assignment to Variables
15267 @cindex setting variables
15268 To alter the value of a variable, evaluate an assignment expression.
15269 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}. For example,
15276 stores the value 4 into the variable @code{x}, and then prints the
15277 value of the assignment expression (which is 4).
15278 @xref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages}, for more
15279 information on operators in supported languages.
15281 @kindex set variable
15282 @cindex variables, setting
15283 If you are not interested in seeing the value of the assignment, use the
15284 @code{set} command instead of the @code{print} command. @code{set} is
15285 really the same as @code{print} except that the expression's value is
15286 not printed and is not put in the value history (@pxref{Value History,
15287 ,Value History}). The expression is evaluated only for its effects.
15289 If the beginning of the argument string of the @code{set} command
15290 appears identical to a @code{set} subcommand, use the @code{set
15291 variable} command instead of just @code{set}. This command is identical
15292 to @code{set} except for its lack of subcommands. For example, if your
15293 program has a variable @code{width}, you get an error if you try to set
15294 a new value with just @samp{set width=13}, because @value{GDBN} has the
15295 command @code{set width}:
15298 (@value{GDBP}) whatis width
15300 (@value{GDBP}) p width
15302 (@value{GDBP}) set width=47
15303 Invalid syntax in expression.
15307 The invalid expression, of course, is @samp{=47}. In
15308 order to actually set the program's variable @code{width}, use
15311 (@value{GDBP}) set var width=47
15314 Because the @code{set} command has many subcommands that can conflict
15315 with the names of program variables, it is a good idea to use the
15316 @code{set variable} command instead of just @code{set}. For example, if
15317 your program has a variable @code{g}, you run into problems if you try
15318 to set a new value with just @samp{set g=4}, because @value{GDBN} has
15319 the command @code{set gnutarget}, abbreviated @code{set g}:
15323 (@value{GDBP}) whatis g
15327 (@value{GDBP}) set g=4
15331 The program being debugged has been started already.
15332 Start it from the beginning? (y or n) y
15333 Starting program: /home/smith/cc_progs/a.out
15334 "/home/smith/cc_progs/a.out": can't open to read symbols:
15335 Invalid bfd target.
15336 (@value{GDBP}) show g
15337 The current BFD target is "=4".
15342 The program variable @code{g} did not change, and you silently set the
15343 @code{gnutarget} to an invalid value. In order to set the variable
15347 (@value{GDBP}) set var g=4
15350 @value{GDBN} allows more implicit conversions in assignments than C; you can
15351 freely store an integer value into a pointer variable or vice versa,
15352 and you can convert any structure to any other structure that is the
15353 same length or shorter.
15354 @comment FIXME: how do structs align/pad in these conversions?
15357 To store values into arbitrary places in memory, use the @samp{@{@dots{}@}}
15358 construct to generate a value of specified type at a specified address
15359 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). For example, @code{@{int@}0x83040} refers
15360 to memory location @code{0x83040} as an integer (which implies a certain size
15361 and representation in memory), and
15364 set @{int@}0x83040 = 4
15368 stores the value 4 into that memory location.
15371 @section Continuing at a Different Address
15373 Ordinarily, when you continue your program, you do so at the place where
15374 it stopped, with the @code{continue} command. You can instead continue at
15375 an address of your own choosing, with the following commands:
15379 @item jump @var{linespec}
15380 @itemx jump @var{location}
15381 Resume execution at line @var{linespec} or at address given by
15382 @var{location}. Execution stops again immediately if there is a
15383 breakpoint there. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
15384 different forms of @var{linespec} and @var{location}. It is common
15385 practice to use the @code{tbreak} command in conjunction with
15386 @code{jump}. @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
15388 The @code{jump} command does not change the current stack frame, or
15389 the stack pointer, or the contents of any memory location or any
15390 register other than the program counter. If line @var{linespec} is in
15391 a different function from the one currently executing, the results may
15392 be bizarre if the two functions expect different patterns of arguments or
15393 of local variables. For this reason, the @code{jump} command requests
15394 confirmation if the specified line is not in the function currently
15395 executing. However, even bizarre results are predictable if you are
15396 well acquainted with the machine-language code of your program.
15399 @c Doesn't work on HP-UX; have to set $pcoqh and $pcoqt.
15400 On many systems, you can get much the same effect as the @code{jump}
15401 command by storing a new value into the register @code{$pc}. The
15402 difference is that this does not start your program running; it only
15403 changes the address of where it @emph{will} run when you continue. For
15411 makes the next @code{continue} command or stepping command execute at
15412 address @code{0x485}, rather than at the address where your program stopped.
15413 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}.
15415 The most common occasion to use the @code{jump} command is to back
15416 up---perhaps with more breakpoints set---over a portion of a program
15417 that has already executed, in order to examine its execution in more
15422 @section Giving your Program a Signal
15423 @cindex deliver a signal to a program
15427 @item signal @var{signal}
15428 Resume execution where your program stopped, but immediately give it the
15429 signal @var{signal}. @var{signal} can be the name or the number of a
15430 signal. For example, on many systems @code{signal 2} and @code{signal
15431 SIGINT} are both ways of sending an interrupt signal.
15433 Alternatively, if @var{signal} is zero, continue execution without
15434 giving a signal. This is useful when your program stopped on account of
15435 a signal and would ordinary see the signal when resumed with the
15436 @code{continue} command; @samp{signal 0} causes it to resume without a
15439 @code{signal} does not repeat when you press @key{RET} a second time
15440 after executing the command.
15444 Invoking the @code{signal} command is not the same as invoking the
15445 @code{kill} utility from the shell. Sending a signal with @code{kill}
15446 causes @value{GDBN} to decide what to do with the signal depending on
15447 the signal handling tables (@pxref{Signals}). The @code{signal} command
15448 passes the signal directly to your program.
15452 @section Returning from a Function
15455 @cindex returning from a function
15458 @itemx return @var{expression}
15459 You can cancel execution of a function call with the @code{return}
15460 command. If you give an
15461 @var{expression} argument, its value is used as the function's return
15465 When you use @code{return}, @value{GDBN} discards the selected stack frame
15466 (and all frames within it). You can think of this as making the
15467 discarded frame return prematurely. If you wish to specify a value to
15468 be returned, give that value as the argument to @code{return}.
15470 This pops the selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a
15471 Frame}), and any other frames inside of it, leaving its caller as the
15472 innermost remaining frame. That frame becomes selected. The
15473 specified value is stored in the registers used for returning values
15476 The @code{return} command does not resume execution; it leaves the
15477 program stopped in the state that would exist if the function had just
15478 returned. In contrast, the @code{finish} command (@pxref{Continuing
15479 and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}) resumes execution until the
15480 selected stack frame returns naturally.
15482 @value{GDBN} needs to know how the @var{expression} argument should be set for
15483 the inferior. The concrete registers assignment depends on the OS ABI and the
15484 type being returned by the selected stack frame. For example it is common for
15485 OS ABI to return floating point values in FPU registers while integer values in
15486 CPU registers. Still some ABIs return even floating point values in CPU
15487 registers. Larger integer widths (such as @code{long long int}) also have
15488 specific placement rules. @value{GDBN} already knows the OS ABI from its
15489 current target so it needs to find out also the type being returned to make the
15490 assignment into the right register(s).
15492 Normally, the selected stack frame has debug info. @value{GDBN} will always
15493 use the debug info instead of the implicit type of @var{expression} when the
15494 debug info is available. For example, if you type @kbd{return -1}, and the
15495 function in the current stack frame is declared to return a @code{long long
15496 int}, @value{GDBN} transparently converts the implicit @code{int} value of -1
15497 into a @code{long long int}:
15500 Breakpoint 1, func () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:29
15502 (@value{GDBP}) return -1
15503 Make func return now? (y or n) y
15504 #0 0x004004f6 in main () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:43
15505 43 printf ("result=%lld\n", func ());
15509 However, if the selected stack frame does not have a debug info, e.g., if the
15510 function was compiled without debug info, @value{GDBN} has to find out the type
15511 to return from user. Specifying a different type by mistake may set the value
15512 in different inferior registers than the caller code expects. For example,
15513 typing @kbd{return -1} with its implicit type @code{int} would set only a part
15514 of a @code{long long int} result for a debug info less function (on 32-bit
15515 architectures). Therefore the user is required to specify the return type by
15516 an appropriate cast explicitly:
15519 Breakpoint 2, 0x0040050b in func ()
15520 (@value{GDBP}) return -1
15521 Return value type not available for selected stack frame.
15522 Please use an explicit cast of the value to return.
15523 (@value{GDBP}) return (long long int) -1
15524 Make selected stack frame return now? (y or n) y
15525 #0 0x00400526 in main ()
15530 @section Calling Program Functions
15533 @cindex calling functions
15534 @cindex inferior functions, calling
15535 @item print @var{expr}
15536 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} and display the resulting value.
15537 @var{expr} may include calls to functions in the program being
15541 @item call @var{expr}
15542 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} without displaying @code{void}
15545 You can use this variant of the @code{print} command if you want to
15546 execute a function from your program that does not return anything
15547 (a.k.a.@: @dfn{a void function}), but without cluttering the output
15548 with @code{void} returned values that @value{GDBN} will otherwise
15549 print. If the result is not void, it is printed and saved in the
15553 It is possible for the function you call via the @code{print} or
15554 @code{call} command to generate a signal (e.g., if there's a bug in
15555 the function, or if you passed it incorrect arguments). What happens
15556 in that case is controlled by the @code{set unwindonsignal} command.
15558 Similarly, with a C@t{++} program it is possible for the function you
15559 call via the @code{print} or @code{call} command to generate an
15560 exception that is not handled due to the constraints of the dummy
15561 frame. In this case, any exception that is raised in the frame, but has
15562 an out-of-frame exception handler will not be found. GDB builds a
15563 dummy-frame for the inferior function call, and the unwinder cannot
15564 seek for exception handlers outside of this dummy-frame. What happens
15565 in that case is controlled by the
15566 @code{set unwind-on-terminating-exception} command.
15569 @item set unwindonsignal
15570 @kindex set unwindonsignal
15571 @cindex unwind stack in called functions
15572 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding
15573 Set unwinding of the stack if a signal is received while in a function
15574 that @value{GDBN} called in the program being debugged. If set to on,
15575 @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack it created for the call and restores
15576 the context to what it was before the call. If set to off (the
15577 default), @value{GDBN} stops in the frame where the signal was
15580 @item show unwindonsignal
15581 @kindex show unwindonsignal
15582 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
15585 @item set unwind-on-terminating-exception
15586 @kindex set unwind-on-terminating-exception
15587 @cindex unwind stack in called functions with unhandled exceptions
15588 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding on unhandled exception.
15589 Set unwinding of the stack if a C@t{++} exception is raised, but left
15590 unhandled while in a function that @value{GDBN} called in the program being
15591 debugged. If set to on (the default), @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack
15592 it created for the call and restores the context to what it was before
15593 the call. If set to off, @value{GDBN} the exception is delivered to
15594 the default C@t{++} exception handler and the inferior terminated.
15596 @item show unwind-on-terminating-exception
15597 @kindex show unwind-on-terminating-exception
15598 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
15603 @cindex weak alias functions
15604 Sometimes, a function you wish to call is actually a @dfn{weak alias}
15605 for another function. In such case, @value{GDBN} might not pick up
15606 the type information, including the types of the function arguments,
15607 which causes @value{GDBN} to call the inferior function incorrectly.
15608 As a result, the called function will function erroneously and may
15609 even crash. A solution to that is to use the name of the aliased
15613 @section Patching Programs
15615 @cindex patching binaries
15616 @cindex writing into executables
15617 @cindex writing into corefiles
15619 By default, @value{GDBN} opens the file containing your program's
15620 executable code (or the corefile) read-only. This prevents accidental
15621 alterations to machine code; but it also prevents you from intentionally
15622 patching your program's binary.
15624 If you'd like to be able to patch the binary, you can specify that
15625 explicitly with the @code{set write} command. For example, you might
15626 want to turn on internal debugging flags, or even to make emergency
15632 @itemx set write off
15633 If you specify @samp{set write on}, @value{GDBN} opens executable and
15634 core files for both reading and writing; if you specify @kbd{set write
15635 off} (the default), @value{GDBN} opens them read-only.
15637 If you have already loaded a file, you must load it again (using the
15638 @code{exec-file} or @code{core-file} command) after changing @code{set
15639 write}, for your new setting to take effect.
15643 Display whether executable files and core files are opened for writing
15644 as well as reading.
15648 @chapter @value{GDBN} Files
15650 @value{GDBN} needs to know the file name of the program to be debugged,
15651 both in order to read its symbol table and in order to start your
15652 program. To debug a core dump of a previous run, you must also tell
15653 @value{GDBN} the name of the core dump file.
15656 * Files:: Commands to specify files
15657 * Separate Debug Files:: Debugging information in separate files
15658 * Index Files:: Index files speed up GDB
15659 * Symbol Errors:: Errors reading symbol files
15660 * Data Files:: GDB data files
15664 @section Commands to Specify Files
15666 @cindex symbol table
15667 @cindex core dump file
15669 You may want to specify executable and core dump file names. The usual
15670 way to do this is at start-up time, using the arguments to
15671 @value{GDBN}'s start-up commands (@pxref{Invocation, , Getting In and
15672 Out of @value{GDBN}}).
15674 Occasionally it is necessary to change to a different file during a
15675 @value{GDBN} session. Or you may run @value{GDBN} and forget to
15676 specify a file you want to use. Or you are debugging a remote target
15677 via @code{gdbserver} (@pxref{Server, file, Using the @code{gdbserver}
15678 Program}). In these situations the @value{GDBN} commands to specify
15679 new files are useful.
15682 @cindex executable file
15684 @item file @var{filename}
15685 Use @var{filename} as the program to be debugged. It is read for its
15686 symbols and for the contents of pure memory. It is also the program
15687 executed when you use the @code{run} command. If you do not specify a
15688 directory and the file is not found in the @value{GDBN} working directory,
15689 @value{GDBN} uses the environment variable @code{PATH} as a list of
15690 directories to search, just as the shell does when looking for a program
15691 to run. You can change the value of this variable, for both @value{GDBN}
15692 and your program, using the @code{path} command.
15694 @cindex unlinked object files
15695 @cindex patching object files
15696 You can load unlinked object @file{.o} files into @value{GDBN} using
15697 the @code{file} command. You will not be able to ``run'' an object
15698 file, but you can disassemble functions and inspect variables. Also,
15699 if the underlying BFD functionality supports it, you could use
15700 @kbd{gdb -write} to patch object files using this technique. Note
15701 that @value{GDBN} can neither interpret nor modify relocations in this
15702 case, so branches and some initialized variables will appear to go to
15703 the wrong place. But this feature is still handy from time to time.
15706 @code{file} with no argument makes @value{GDBN} discard any information it
15707 has on both executable file and the symbol table.
15710 @item exec-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
15711 Specify that the program to be run (but not the symbol table) is found
15712 in @var{filename}. @value{GDBN} searches the environment variable @code{PATH}
15713 if necessary to locate your program. Omitting @var{filename} means to
15714 discard information on the executable file.
15716 @kindex symbol-file
15717 @item symbol-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
15718 Read symbol table information from file @var{filename}. @code{PATH} is
15719 searched when necessary. Use the @code{file} command to get both symbol
15720 table and program to run from the same file.
15722 @code{symbol-file} with no argument clears out @value{GDBN} information on your
15723 program's symbol table.
15725 The @code{symbol-file} command causes @value{GDBN} to forget the contents of
15726 some breakpoints and auto-display expressions. This is because they may
15727 contain pointers to the internal data recording symbols and data types,
15728 which are part of the old symbol table data being discarded inside
15731 @code{symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
15734 When @value{GDBN} is configured for a particular environment, it
15735 understands debugging information in whatever format is the standard
15736 generated for that environment; you may use either a @sc{gnu} compiler, or
15737 other compilers that adhere to the local conventions.
15738 Best results are usually obtained from @sc{gnu} compilers; for example,
15739 using @code{@value{NGCC}} you can generate debugging information for
15742 For most kinds of object files, with the exception of old SVR3 systems
15743 using COFF, the @code{symbol-file} command does not normally read the
15744 symbol table in full right away. Instead, it scans the symbol table
15745 quickly to find which source files and which symbols are present. The
15746 details are read later, one source file at a time, as they are needed.
15748 The purpose of this two-stage reading strategy is to make @value{GDBN}
15749 start up faster. For the most part, it is invisible except for
15750 occasional pauses while the symbol table details for a particular source
15751 file are being read. (The @code{set verbose} command can turn these
15752 pauses into messages if desired. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional
15753 Warnings and Messages}.)
15755 We have not implemented the two-stage strategy for COFF yet. When the
15756 symbol table is stored in COFF format, @code{symbol-file} reads the
15757 symbol table data in full right away. Note that ``stabs-in-COFF''
15758 still does the two-stage strategy, since the debug info is actually
15762 @cindex reading symbols immediately
15763 @cindex symbols, reading immediately
15764 @item symbol-file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
15765 @itemx file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
15766 You can override the @value{GDBN} two-stage strategy for reading symbol
15767 tables by using the @samp{-readnow} option with any of the commands that
15768 load symbol table information, if you want to be sure @value{GDBN} has the
15769 entire symbol table available.
15771 @c FIXME: for now no mention of directories, since this seems to be in
15772 @c flux. 13mar1992 status is that in theory GDB would look either in
15773 @c current dir or in same dir as myprog; but issues like competing
15774 @c GDB's, or clutter in system dirs, mean that in practice right now
15775 @c only current dir is used. FFish says maybe a special GDB hierarchy
15776 @c (eg rooted in val of env var GDBSYMS) could exist for mappable symbol
15780 @item core-file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
15782 Specify the whereabouts of a core dump file to be used as the ``contents
15783 of memory''. Traditionally, core files contain only some parts of the
15784 address space of the process that generated them; @value{GDBN} can access the
15785 executable file itself for other parts.
15787 @code{core-file} with no argument specifies that no core file is
15790 Note that the core file is ignored when your program is actually running
15791 under @value{GDBN}. So, if you have been running your program and you
15792 wish to debug a core file instead, you must kill the subprocess in which
15793 the program is running. To do this, use the @code{kill} command
15794 (@pxref{Kill Process, ,Killing the Child Process}).
15796 @kindex add-symbol-file
15797 @cindex dynamic linking
15798 @item add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address}
15799 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} @r{[} -readnow @r{]}
15800 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} -s @var{section} @var{address} @dots{}
15801 The @code{add-symbol-file} command reads additional symbol table
15802 information from the file @var{filename}. You would use this command
15803 when @var{filename} has been dynamically loaded (by some other means)
15804 into the program that is running. @var{address} should be the memory
15805 address at which the file has been loaded; @value{GDBN} cannot figure
15806 this out for itself. You can additionally specify an arbitrary number
15807 of @samp{-s @var{section} @var{address}} pairs, to give an explicit
15808 section name and base address for that section. You can specify any
15809 @var{address} as an expression.
15811 The symbol table of the file @var{filename} is added to the symbol table
15812 originally read with the @code{symbol-file} command. You can use the
15813 @code{add-symbol-file} command any number of times; the new symbol data
15814 thus read keeps adding to the old. To discard all old symbol data
15815 instead, use the @code{symbol-file} command without any arguments.
15817 @cindex relocatable object files, reading symbols from
15818 @cindex object files, relocatable, reading symbols from
15819 @cindex reading symbols from relocatable object files
15820 @cindex symbols, reading from relocatable object files
15821 @cindex @file{.o} files, reading symbols from
15822 Although @var{filename} is typically a shared library file, an
15823 executable file, or some other object file which has been fully
15824 relocated for loading into a process, you can also load symbolic
15825 information from relocatable @file{.o} files, as long as:
15829 the file's symbolic information refers only to linker symbols defined in
15830 that file, not to symbols defined by other object files,
15832 every section the file's symbolic information refers to has actually
15833 been loaded into the inferior, as it appears in the file, and
15835 you can determine the address at which every section was loaded, and
15836 provide these to the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
15840 Some embedded operating systems, like Sun Chorus and VxWorks, can load
15841 relocatable files into an already running program; such systems
15842 typically make the requirements above easy to meet. However, it's
15843 important to recognize that many native systems use complex link
15844 procedures (@code{.linkonce} section factoring and C@t{++} constructor table
15845 assembly, for example) that make the requirements difficult to meet. In
15846 general, one cannot assume that using @code{add-symbol-file} to read a
15847 relocatable object file's symbolic information will have the same effect
15848 as linking the relocatable object file into the program in the normal
15851 @code{add-symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
15853 @kindex add-symbol-file-from-memory
15854 @cindex @code{syscall DSO}
15855 @cindex load symbols from memory
15856 @item add-symbol-file-from-memory @var{address}
15857 Load symbols from the given @var{address} in a dynamically loaded
15858 object file whose image is mapped directly into the inferior's memory.
15859 For example, the Linux kernel maps a @code{syscall DSO} into each
15860 process's address space; this DSO provides kernel-specific code for
15861 some system calls. The argument can be any expression whose
15862 evaluation yields the address of the file's shared object file header.
15863 For this command to work, you must have used @code{symbol-file} or
15864 @code{exec-file} commands in advance.
15866 @kindex add-shared-symbol-files
15868 @item add-shared-symbol-files @var{library-file}
15869 @itemx assf @var{library-file}
15870 The @code{add-shared-symbol-files} command can currently be used only
15871 in the Cygwin build of @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows OS, where it is an
15872 alias for the @code{dll-symbols} command (@pxref{Cygwin Native}).
15873 @value{GDBN} automatically looks for shared libraries, however if
15874 @value{GDBN} does not find yours, you can invoke
15875 @code{add-shared-symbol-files}. It takes one argument: the shared
15876 library's file name. @code{assf} is a shorthand alias for
15877 @code{add-shared-symbol-files}.
15880 @item section @var{section} @var{addr}
15881 The @code{section} command changes the base address of the named
15882 @var{section} of the exec file to @var{addr}. This can be used if the
15883 exec file does not contain section addresses, (such as in the
15884 @code{a.out} format), or when the addresses specified in the file
15885 itself are wrong. Each section must be changed separately. The
15886 @code{info files} command, described below, lists all the sections and
15890 @kindex info target
15893 @code{info files} and @code{info target} are synonymous; both print the
15894 current target (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}),
15895 including the names of the executable and core dump files currently in
15896 use by @value{GDBN}, and the files from which symbols were loaded. The
15897 command @code{help target} lists all possible targets rather than
15900 @kindex maint info sections
15901 @item maint info sections
15902 Another command that can give you extra information about program sections
15903 is @code{maint info sections}. In addition to the section information
15904 displayed by @code{info files}, this command displays the flags and file
15905 offset of each section in the executable and core dump files. In addition,
15906 @code{maint info sections} provides the following command options (which
15907 may be arbitrarily combined):
15911 Display sections for all loaded object files, including shared libraries.
15912 @item @var{sections}
15913 Display info only for named @var{sections}.
15914 @item @var{section-flags}
15915 Display info only for sections for which @var{section-flags} are true.
15916 The section flags that @value{GDBN} currently knows about are:
15919 Section will have space allocated in the process when loaded.
15920 Set for all sections except those containing debug information.
15922 Section will be loaded from the file into the child process memory.
15923 Set for pre-initialized code and data, clear for @code{.bss} sections.
15925 Section needs to be relocated before loading.
15927 Section cannot be modified by the child process.
15929 Section contains executable code only.
15931 Section contains data only (no executable code).
15933 Section will reside in ROM.
15935 Section contains data for constructor/destructor lists.
15937 Section is not empty.
15939 An instruction to the linker to not output the section.
15940 @item COFF_SHARED_LIBRARY
15941 A notification to the linker that the section contains
15942 COFF shared library information.
15944 Section contains common symbols.
15947 @kindex set trust-readonly-sections
15948 @cindex read-only sections
15949 @item set trust-readonly-sections on
15950 Tell @value{GDBN} that readonly sections in your object file
15951 really are read-only (i.e.@: that their contents will not change).
15952 In that case, @value{GDBN} can fetch values from these sections
15953 out of the object file, rather than from the target program.
15954 For some targets (notably embedded ones), this can be a significant
15955 enhancement to debugging performance.
15957 The default is off.
15959 @item set trust-readonly-sections off
15960 Tell @value{GDBN} not to trust readonly sections. This means that
15961 the contents of the section might change while the program is running,
15962 and must therefore be fetched from the target when needed.
15964 @item show trust-readonly-sections
15965 Show the current setting of trusting readonly sections.
15968 All file-specifying commands allow both absolute and relative file names
15969 as arguments. @value{GDBN} always converts the file name to an absolute file
15970 name and remembers it that way.
15972 @cindex shared libraries
15973 @anchor{Shared Libraries}
15974 @value{GDBN} supports @sc{gnu}/Linux, MS-Windows, HP-UX, SunOS, SVr4, Irix,
15975 and IBM RS/6000 AIX shared libraries.
15977 On MS-Windows @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support
15978 shared libraries. @xref{Expat}.
15980 @value{GDBN} automatically loads symbol definitions from shared libraries
15981 when you use the @code{run} command, or when you examine a core file.
15982 (Before you issue the @code{run} command, @value{GDBN} does not understand
15983 references to a function in a shared library, however---unless you are
15984 debugging a core file).
15986 On HP-UX, if the program loads a library explicitly, @value{GDBN}
15987 automatically loads the symbols at the time of the @code{shl_load} call.
15989 @c FIXME: some @value{GDBN} release may permit some refs to undef
15990 @c FIXME...symbols---eg in a break cmd---assuming they are from a shared
15991 @c FIXME...lib; check this from time to time when updating manual
15993 There are times, however, when you may wish to not automatically load
15994 symbol definitions from shared libraries, such as when they are
15995 particularly large or there are many of them.
15997 To control the automatic loading of shared library symbols, use the
16001 @kindex set auto-solib-add
16002 @item set auto-solib-add @var{mode}
16003 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, symbols from all shared object libraries
16004 will be loaded automatically when the inferior begins execution, you
16005 attach to an independently started inferior, or when the dynamic linker
16006 informs @value{GDBN} that a new library has been loaded. If @var{mode}
16007 is @code{off}, symbols must be loaded manually, using the
16008 @code{sharedlibrary} command. The default value is @code{on}.
16010 @cindex memory used for symbol tables
16011 If your program uses lots of shared libraries with debug info that
16012 takes large amounts of memory, you can decrease the @value{GDBN}
16013 memory footprint by preventing it from automatically loading the
16014 symbols from shared libraries. To that end, type @kbd{set
16015 auto-solib-add off} before running the inferior, then load each
16016 library whose debug symbols you do need with @kbd{sharedlibrary
16017 @var{regexp}}, where @var{regexp} is a regular expression that matches
16018 the libraries whose symbols you want to be loaded.
16020 @kindex show auto-solib-add
16021 @item show auto-solib-add
16022 Display the current autoloading mode.
16025 @cindex load shared library
16026 To explicitly load shared library symbols, use the @code{sharedlibrary}
16030 @kindex info sharedlibrary
16032 @item info share @var{regex}
16033 @itemx info sharedlibrary @var{regex}
16034 Print the names of the shared libraries which are currently loaded
16035 that match @var{regex}. If @var{regex} is omitted then print
16036 all shared libraries that are loaded.
16038 @kindex sharedlibrary
16040 @item sharedlibrary @var{regex}
16041 @itemx share @var{regex}
16042 Load shared object library symbols for files matching a
16043 Unix regular expression.
16044 As with files loaded automatically, it only loads shared libraries
16045 required by your program for a core file or after typing @code{run}. If
16046 @var{regex} is omitted all shared libraries required by your program are
16049 @item nosharedlibrary
16050 @kindex nosharedlibrary
16051 @cindex unload symbols from shared libraries
16052 Unload all shared object library symbols. This discards all symbols
16053 that have been loaded from all shared libraries. Symbols from shared
16054 libraries that were loaded by explicit user requests are not
16058 Sometimes you may wish that @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control
16059 when any of shared library events happen. The best way to do this is
16060 to use @code{catch load} and @code{catch unload} (@pxref{Set
16063 @value{GDBN} also supports the the @code{set stop-on-solib-events}
16064 command for this. This command exists for historical reasons. It is
16065 less useful than setting a catchpoint, because it does not allow for
16066 conditions or commands as a catchpoint does.
16069 @item set stop-on-solib-events
16070 @kindex set stop-on-solib-events
16071 This command controls whether @value{GDBN} should give you control
16072 when the dynamic linker notifies it about some shared library event.
16073 The most common event of interest is loading or unloading of a new
16076 @item show stop-on-solib-events
16077 @kindex show stop-on-solib-events
16078 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control when shared
16079 library events happen.
16082 Shared libraries are also supported in many cross or remote debugging
16083 configurations. @value{GDBN} needs to have access to the target's libraries;
16084 this can be accomplished either by providing copies of the libraries
16085 on the host system, or by asking @value{GDBN} to automatically retrieve the
16086 libraries from the target. If copies of the target libraries are
16087 provided, they need to be the same as the target libraries, although the
16088 copies on the target can be stripped as long as the copies on the host are
16091 @cindex where to look for shared libraries
16092 For remote debugging, you need to tell @value{GDBN} where the target
16093 libraries are, so that it can load the correct copies---otherwise, it
16094 may try to load the host's libraries. @value{GDBN} has two variables
16095 to specify the search directories for target libraries.
16098 @cindex prefix for shared library file names
16099 @cindex system root, alternate
16100 @kindex set solib-absolute-prefix
16101 @kindex set sysroot
16102 @item set sysroot @var{path}
16103 Use @var{path} as the system root for the program being debugged. Any
16104 absolute shared library paths will be prefixed with @var{path}; many
16105 runtime loaders store the absolute paths to the shared library in the
16106 target program's memory. If you use @code{set sysroot} to find shared
16107 libraries, they need to be laid out in the same way that they are on
16108 the target, with e.g.@: a @file{/lib} and @file{/usr/lib} hierarchy
16111 If @var{path} starts with the sequence @file{remote:}, @value{GDBN} will
16112 retrieve the target libraries from the remote system. This is only
16113 supported when using a remote target that supports the @code{remote get}
16114 command (@pxref{File Transfer,,Sending files to a remote system}).
16115 The part of @var{path} following the initial @file{remote:}
16116 (if present) is used as system root prefix on the remote file system.
16117 @footnote{If you want to specify a local system root using a directory
16118 that happens to be named @file{remote:}, you need to use some equivalent
16119 variant of the name like @file{./remote:}.}
16121 For targets with an MS-DOS based filesystem, such as MS-Windows and
16122 SymbianOS, @value{GDBN} tries prefixing a few variants of the target
16123 absolute file name with @var{path}. But first, on Unix hosts,
16124 @value{GDBN} converts all backslash directory separators into forward
16125 slashes, because the backslash is not a directory separator on Unix:
16128 c:\foo\bar.dll @result{} c:/foo/bar.dll
16131 Then, @value{GDBN} attempts prefixing the target file name with
16132 @var{path}, and looks for the resulting file name in the host file
16136 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c:/foo/bar.dll
16139 If that does not find the shared library, @value{GDBN} tries removing
16140 the @samp{:} character from the drive spec, both for convenience, and,
16141 for the case of the host file system not supporting file names with
16145 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c/foo/bar.dll
16148 This makes it possible to have a system root that mirrors a target
16149 with more than one drive. E.g., you may want to setup your local
16150 copies of the target system shared libraries like so (note @samp{c} vs
16154 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/foo.dll}
16155 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/bar.dll}
16156 @file{/path/to/sysroot/z/sys/bin/bar.dll}
16160 and point the system root at @file{/path/to/sysroot}, so that
16161 @value{GDBN} can find the correct copies of both
16162 @file{c:\sys\bin\foo.dll}, and @file{z:\sys\bin\bar.dll}.
16164 If that still does not find the shared library, @value{GDBN} tries
16165 removing the whole drive spec from the target file name:
16168 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/foo/bar.dll
16171 This last lookup makes it possible to not care about the drive name,
16172 if you don't want or need to.
16174 The @code{set solib-absolute-prefix} command is an alias for @code{set
16177 @cindex default system root
16178 @cindex @samp{--with-sysroot}
16179 You can set the default system root by using the configure-time
16180 @samp{--with-sysroot} option. If the system root is inside
16181 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
16182 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default system root will be updated
16183 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
16186 @kindex show sysroot
16188 Display the current shared library prefix.
16190 @kindex set solib-search-path
16191 @item set solib-search-path @var{path}
16192 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
16193 directories to search for shared libraries. @samp{solib-search-path}
16194 is used after @samp{sysroot} fails to locate the library, or if the
16195 path to the library is relative instead of absolute. If you want to
16196 use @samp{solib-search-path} instead of @samp{sysroot}, be sure to set
16197 @samp{sysroot} to a nonexistent directory to prevent @value{GDBN} from
16198 finding your host's libraries. @samp{sysroot} is preferred; setting
16199 it to a nonexistent directory may interfere with automatic loading
16200 of shared library symbols.
16202 @kindex show solib-search-path
16203 @item show solib-search-path
16204 Display the current shared library search path.
16206 @cindex DOS file-name semantics of file names.
16207 @kindex set target-file-system-kind (unix|dos-based|auto)
16208 @kindex show target-file-system-kind
16209 @item set target-file-system-kind @var{kind}
16210 Set assumed file system kind for target reported file names.
16212 Shared library file names as reported by the target system may not
16213 make sense as is on the system @value{GDBN} is running on. For
16214 example, when remote debugging a target that has MS-DOS based file
16215 system semantics, from a Unix host, the target may be reporting to
16216 @value{GDBN} a list of loaded shared libraries with file names such as
16217 @file{c:\Windows\kernel32.dll}. On Unix hosts, there's no concept of
16218 drive letters, so the @samp{c:\} prefix is not normally understood as
16219 indicating an absolute file name, and neither is the backslash
16220 normally considered a directory separator character. In that case,
16221 the native file system would interpret this whole absolute file name
16222 as a relative file name with no directory components. This would make
16223 it impossible to point @value{GDBN} at a copy of the remote target's
16224 shared libraries on the host using @code{set sysroot}, and impractical
16225 with @code{set solib-search-path}. Setting
16226 @code{target-file-system-kind} to @code{dos-based} tells @value{GDBN}
16227 to interpret such file names similarly to how the target would, and to
16228 map them to file names valid on @value{GDBN}'s native file system
16229 semantics. The value of @var{kind} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition
16230 to one of the supported file system kinds. In that case, @value{GDBN}
16231 tries to determine the appropriate file system variant based on the
16232 current target's operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the
16233 Current ABI}). The supported file system settings are:
16237 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is of Unix
16238 kind. Only file names starting the forward slash (@samp{/}) character
16239 are considered absolute, and the directory separator character is also
16243 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is DOS based.
16244 File names starting with either a forward slash, or a drive letter
16245 followed by a colon (e.g., @samp{c:}), are considered absolute, and
16246 both the slash (@samp{/}) and the backslash (@samp{\\}) characters are
16247 considered directory separators.
16250 Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the file system kind associated with the
16251 target operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
16252 This is the default.
16256 @cindex file name canonicalization
16257 @cindex base name differences
16258 When processing file names provided by the user, @value{GDBN}
16259 frequently needs to compare them to the file names recorded in the
16260 program's debug info. Normally, @value{GDBN} compares just the
16261 @dfn{base names} of the files as strings, which is reasonably fast
16262 even for very large programs. (The base name of a file is the last
16263 portion of its name, after stripping all the leading directories.)
16264 This shortcut in comparison is based upon the assumption that files
16265 cannot have more than one base name. This is usually true, but
16266 references to files that use symlinks or similar filesystem
16267 facilities violate that assumption. If your program records files
16268 using such facilities, or if you provide file names to @value{GDBN}
16269 using symlinks etc., you can set @code{basenames-may-differ} to
16270 @code{true} to instruct @value{GDBN} to completely canonicalize each
16271 pair of file names it needs to compare. This will make file-name
16272 comparisons accurate, but at a price of a significant slowdown.
16275 @item set basenames-may-differ
16276 @kindex set basenames-may-differ
16277 Set whether a source file may have multiple base names.
16279 @item show basenames-may-differ
16280 @kindex show basenames-may-differ
16281 Show whether a source file may have multiple base names.
16284 @node Separate Debug Files
16285 @section Debugging Information in Separate Files
16286 @cindex separate debugging information files
16287 @cindex debugging information in separate files
16288 @cindex @file{.debug} subdirectories
16289 @cindex debugging information directory, global
16290 @cindex global debugging information directory
16291 @cindex build ID, and separate debugging files
16292 @cindex @file{.build-id} directory
16294 @value{GDBN} allows you to put a program's debugging information in a
16295 file separate from the executable itself, in a way that allows
16296 @value{GDBN} to find and load the debugging information automatically.
16297 Since debugging information can be very large---sometimes larger
16298 than the executable code itself---some systems distribute debugging
16299 information for their executables in separate files, which users can
16300 install only when they need to debug a problem.
16302 @value{GDBN} supports two ways of specifying the separate debug info
16307 The executable contains a @dfn{debug link} that specifies the name of
16308 the separate debug info file. The separate debug file's name is
16309 usually @file{@var{executable}.debug}, where @var{executable} is the
16310 name of the corresponding executable file without leading directories
16311 (e.g., @file{ls.debug} for @file{/usr/bin/ls}). In addition, the
16312 debug link specifies a 32-bit @dfn{Cyclic Redundancy Check} (CRC)
16313 checksum for the debug file, which @value{GDBN} uses to validate that
16314 the executable and the debug file came from the same build.
16317 The executable contains a @dfn{build ID}, a unique bit string that is
16318 also present in the corresponding debug info file. (This is supported
16319 only on some operating systems, notably those which use the ELF format
16320 for binary files and the @sc{gnu} Binutils.) For more details about
16321 this feature, see the description of the @option{--build-id}
16322 command-line option in @ref{Options, , Command Line Options, ld.info,
16323 The GNU Linker}. The debug info file's name is not specified
16324 explicitly by the build ID, but can be computed from the build ID, see
16328 Depending on the way the debug info file is specified, @value{GDBN}
16329 uses two different methods of looking for the debug file:
16333 For the ``debug link'' method, @value{GDBN} looks up the named file in
16334 the directory of the executable file, then in a subdirectory of that
16335 directory named @file{.debug}, and finally under the global debug
16336 directory, in a subdirectory whose name is identical to the leading
16337 directories of the executable's absolute file name.
16340 For the ``build ID'' method, @value{GDBN} looks in the
16341 @file{.build-id} subdirectory of the global debug directory for a file
16342 named @file{@var{nn}/@var{nnnnnnnn}.debug}, where @var{nn} are the
16343 first 2 hex characters of the build ID bit string, and @var{nnnnnnnn}
16344 are the rest of the bit string. (Real build ID strings are 32 or more
16345 hex characters, not 10.)
16348 So, for example, suppose you ask @value{GDBN} to debug
16349 @file{/usr/bin/ls}, which has a debug link that specifies the
16350 file @file{ls.debug}, and a build ID whose value in hex is
16351 @code{abcdef1234}. If the global debug directory is
16352 @file{/usr/lib/debug}, then @value{GDBN} will look for the following
16353 debug information files, in the indicated order:
16357 @file{/usr/lib/debug/.build-id/ab/cdef1234.debug}
16359 @file{/usr/bin/ls.debug}
16361 @file{/usr/bin/.debug/ls.debug}
16363 @file{/usr/lib/debug/usr/bin/ls.debug}.
16366 You can set the global debugging info directory's name, and view the
16367 name @value{GDBN} is currently using.
16371 @kindex set debug-file-directory
16372 @item set debug-file-directory @var{directories}
16373 Set the directories which @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
16374 information files to @var{directory}. Multiple path components can be set
16375 concatenating them by a path separator.
16377 @kindex show debug-file-directory
16378 @item show debug-file-directory
16379 Show the directories @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
16384 @cindex @code{.gnu_debuglink} sections
16385 @cindex debug link sections
16386 A debug link is a special section of the executable file named
16387 @code{.gnu_debuglink}. The section must contain:
16391 A filename, with any leading directory components removed, followed by
16394 zero to three bytes of padding, as needed to reach the next four-byte
16395 boundary within the section, and
16397 a four-byte CRC checksum, stored in the same endianness used for the
16398 executable file itself. The checksum is computed on the debugging
16399 information file's full contents by the function given below, passing
16400 zero as the @var{crc} argument.
16403 Any executable file format can carry a debug link, as long as it can
16404 contain a section named @code{.gnu_debuglink} with the contents
16407 @cindex @code{.note.gnu.build-id} sections
16408 @cindex build ID sections
16409 The build ID is a special section in the executable file (and in other
16410 ELF binary files that @value{GDBN} may consider). This section is
16411 often named @code{.note.gnu.build-id}, but that name is not mandatory.
16412 It contains unique identification for the built files---the ID remains
16413 the same across multiple builds of the same build tree. The default
16414 algorithm SHA1 produces 160 bits (40 hexadecimal characters) of the
16415 content for the build ID string. The same section with an identical
16416 value is present in the original built binary with symbols, in its
16417 stripped variant, and in the separate debugging information file.
16419 The debugging information file itself should be an ordinary
16420 executable, containing a full set of linker symbols, sections, and
16421 debugging information. The sections of the debugging information file
16422 should have the same names, addresses, and sizes as the original file,
16423 but they need not contain any data---much like a @code{.bss} section
16424 in an ordinary executable.
16426 The @sc{gnu} binary utilities (Binutils) package includes the
16427 @samp{objcopy} utility that can produce
16428 the separated executable / debugging information file pairs using the
16429 following commands:
16432 @kbd{objcopy --only-keep-debug foo foo.debug}
16437 These commands remove the debugging
16438 information from the executable file @file{foo} and place it in the file
16439 @file{foo.debug}. You can use the first, second or both methods to link the
16444 The debug link method needs the following additional command to also leave
16445 behind a debug link in @file{foo}:
16448 @kbd{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.debug foo}
16451 Ulrich Drepper's @file{elfutils} package, starting with version 0.53, contains
16452 a version of the @code{strip} command such that the command @kbd{strip foo -f
16453 foo.debug} has the same functionality as the two @code{objcopy} commands and
16454 the @code{ln -s} command above, together.
16457 Build ID gets embedded into the main executable using @code{ld --build-id} or
16458 the @value{NGCC} counterpart @code{gcc -Wl,--build-id}. Build ID support plus
16459 compatibility fixes for debug files separation are present in @sc{gnu} binary
16460 utilities (Binutils) package since version 2.18.
16465 @cindex CRC algorithm definition
16466 The CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink} is the CRC-32 defined in
16467 IEEE 802.3 using the polynomial:
16469 @c TexInfo requires naked braces for multi-digit exponents for Tex
16470 @c output, but this causes HTML output to barf. HTML has to be set using
16471 @c raw commands. So we end up having to specify this equation in 2
16476 <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>
16477 + <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
16483 @math{x^{32} + x^{26} + x^{23} + x^{22} + x^{16} + x^{12} + x^{11}}
16484 @math{+ x^{10} + x^8 + x^7 + x^5 + x^4 + x^2 + x + 1}
16488 The function is computed byte at a time, taking the least
16489 significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern
16490 @code{0xffffffff} is used, to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC and
16491 the final result is inverted to ensure trailing zeros also affect the
16494 @emph{Note:} This is the same CRC polynomial as used in handling the
16495 @dfn{Remote Serial Protocol} @code{qCRC} packet (@pxref{Remote Protocol,
16496 , @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol}). However in the
16497 case of the Remote Serial Protocol, the CRC is computed @emph{most}
16498 significant bit first, and the result is not inverted, so trailing
16499 zeros have no effect on the CRC value.
16501 To complete the description, we show below the code of the function
16502 which produces the CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink}. Inverting the
16503 initially supplied @code{crc} argument means that an initial call to
16504 this function passing in zero will start computing the CRC using
16507 @kindex gnu_debuglink_crc32
16510 gnu_debuglink_crc32 (unsigned long crc,
16511 unsigned char *buf, size_t len)
16513 static const unsigned long crc32_table[256] =
16515 0x00000000, 0x77073096, 0xee0e612c, 0x990951ba, 0x076dc419,
16516 0x706af48f, 0xe963a535, 0x9e6495a3, 0x0edb8832, 0x79dcb8a4,
16517 0xe0d5e91e, 0x97d2d988, 0x09b64c2b, 0x7eb17cbd, 0xe7b82d07,
16518 0x90bf1d91, 0x1db71064, 0x6ab020f2, 0xf3b97148, 0x84be41de,
16519 0x1adad47d, 0x6ddde4eb, 0xf4d4b551, 0x83d385c7, 0x136c9856,
16520 0x646ba8c0, 0xfd62f97a, 0x8a65c9ec, 0x14015c4f, 0x63066cd9,
16521 0xfa0f3d63, 0x8d080df5, 0x3b6e20c8, 0x4c69105e, 0xd56041e4,
16522 0xa2677172, 0x3c03e4d1, 0x4b04d447, 0xd20d85fd, 0xa50ab56b,
16523 0x35b5a8fa, 0x42b2986c, 0xdbbbc9d6, 0xacbcf940, 0x32d86ce3,
16524 0x45df5c75, 0xdcd60dcf, 0xabd13d59, 0x26d930ac, 0x51de003a,
16525 0xc8d75180, 0xbfd06116, 0x21b4f4b5, 0x56b3c423, 0xcfba9599,
16526 0xb8bda50f, 0x2802b89e, 0x5f058808, 0xc60cd9b2, 0xb10be924,
16527 0x2f6f7c87, 0x58684c11, 0xc1611dab, 0xb6662d3d, 0x76dc4190,
16528 0x01db7106, 0x98d220bc, 0xefd5102a, 0x71b18589, 0x06b6b51f,
16529 0x9fbfe4a5, 0xe8b8d433, 0x7807c9a2, 0x0f00f934, 0x9609a88e,
16530 0xe10e9818, 0x7f6a0dbb, 0x086d3d2d, 0x91646c97, 0xe6635c01,
16531 0x6b6b51f4, 0x1c6c6162, 0x856530d8, 0xf262004e, 0x6c0695ed,
16532 0x1b01a57b, 0x8208f4c1, 0xf50fc457, 0x65b0d9c6, 0x12b7e950,
16533 0x8bbeb8ea, 0xfcb9887c, 0x62dd1ddf, 0x15da2d49, 0x8cd37cf3,
16534 0xfbd44c65, 0x4db26158, 0x3ab551ce, 0xa3bc0074, 0xd4bb30e2,
16535 0x4adfa541, 0x3dd895d7, 0xa4d1c46d, 0xd3d6f4fb, 0x4369e96a,
16536 0x346ed9fc, 0xad678846, 0xda60b8d0, 0x44042d73, 0x33031de5,
16537 0xaa0a4c5f, 0xdd0d7cc9, 0x5005713c, 0x270241aa, 0xbe0b1010,
16538 0xc90c2086, 0x5768b525, 0x206f85b3, 0xb966d409, 0xce61e49f,
16539 0x5edef90e, 0x29d9c998, 0xb0d09822, 0xc7d7a8b4, 0x59b33d17,
16540 0x2eb40d81, 0xb7bd5c3b, 0xc0ba6cad, 0xedb88320, 0x9abfb3b6,
16541 0x03b6e20c, 0x74b1d29a, 0xead54739, 0x9dd277af, 0x04db2615,
16542 0x73dc1683, 0xe3630b12, 0x94643b84, 0x0d6d6a3e, 0x7a6a5aa8,
16543 0xe40ecf0b, 0x9309ff9d, 0x0a00ae27, 0x7d079eb1, 0xf00f9344,
16544 0x8708a3d2, 0x1e01f268, 0x6906c2fe, 0xf762575d, 0x806567cb,
16545 0x196c3671, 0x6e6b06e7, 0xfed41b76, 0x89d32be0, 0x10da7a5a,
16546 0x67dd4acc, 0xf9b9df6f, 0x8ebeeff9, 0x17b7be43, 0x60b08ed5,
16547 0xd6d6a3e8, 0xa1d1937e, 0x38d8c2c4, 0x4fdff252, 0xd1bb67f1,
16548 0xa6bc5767, 0x3fb506dd, 0x48b2364b, 0xd80d2bda, 0xaf0a1b4c,
16549 0x36034af6, 0x41047a60, 0xdf60efc3, 0xa867df55, 0x316e8eef,
16550 0x4669be79, 0xcb61b38c, 0xbc66831a, 0x256fd2a0, 0x5268e236,
16551 0xcc0c7795, 0xbb0b4703, 0x220216b9, 0x5505262f, 0xc5ba3bbe,
16552 0xb2bd0b28, 0x2bb45a92, 0x5cb36a04, 0xc2d7ffa7, 0xb5d0cf31,
16553 0x2cd99e8b, 0x5bdeae1d, 0x9b64c2b0, 0xec63f226, 0x756aa39c,
16554 0x026d930a, 0x9c0906a9, 0xeb0e363f, 0x72076785, 0x05005713,
16555 0x95bf4a82, 0xe2b87a14, 0x7bb12bae, 0x0cb61b38, 0x92d28e9b,
16556 0xe5d5be0d, 0x7cdcefb7, 0x0bdbdf21, 0x86d3d2d4, 0xf1d4e242,
16557 0x68ddb3f8, 0x1fda836e, 0x81be16cd, 0xf6b9265b, 0x6fb077e1,
16558 0x18b74777, 0x88085ae6, 0xff0f6a70, 0x66063bca, 0x11010b5c,
16559 0x8f659eff, 0xf862ae69, 0x616bffd3, 0x166ccf45, 0xa00ae278,
16560 0xd70dd2ee, 0x4e048354, 0x3903b3c2, 0xa7672661, 0xd06016f7,
16561 0x4969474d, 0x3e6e77db, 0xaed16a4a, 0xd9d65adc, 0x40df0b66,
16562 0x37d83bf0, 0xa9bcae53, 0xdebb9ec5, 0x47b2cf7f, 0x30b5ffe9,
16563 0xbdbdf21c, 0xcabac28a, 0x53b39330, 0x24b4a3a6, 0xbad03605,
16564 0xcdd70693, 0x54de5729, 0x23d967bf, 0xb3667a2e, 0xc4614ab8,
16565 0x5d681b02, 0x2a6f2b94, 0xb40bbe37, 0xc30c8ea1, 0x5a05df1b,
16568 unsigned char *end;
16570 crc = ~crc & 0xffffffff;
16571 for (end = buf + len; buf < end; ++buf)
16572 crc = crc32_table[(crc ^ *buf) & 0xff] ^ (crc >> 8);
16573 return ~crc & 0xffffffff;
16578 This computation does not apply to the ``build ID'' method.
16582 @section Index Files Speed Up @value{GDBN}
16583 @cindex index files
16584 @cindex @samp{.gdb_index} section
16586 When @value{GDBN} finds a symbol file, it scans the symbols in the
16587 file in order to construct an internal symbol table. This lets most
16588 @value{GDBN} operations work quickly---at the cost of a delay early
16589 on. For large programs, this delay can be quite lengthy, so
16590 @value{GDBN} provides a way to build an index, which speeds up
16593 The index is stored as a section in the symbol file. @value{GDBN} can
16594 write the index to a file, then you can put it into the symbol file
16595 using @command{objcopy}.
16597 To create an index file, use the @code{save gdb-index} command:
16600 @item save gdb-index @var{directory}
16601 @kindex save gdb-index
16602 Create an index file for each symbol file currently known by
16603 @value{GDBN}. Each file is named after its corresponding symbol file,
16604 with @samp{.gdb-index} appended, and is written into the given
16608 Once you have created an index file you can merge it into your symbol
16609 file, here named @file{symfile}, using @command{objcopy}:
16612 $ objcopy --add-section .gdb_index=symfile.gdb-index \
16613 --set-section-flags .gdb_index=readonly symfile symfile
16616 There are currently some limitation on indices. They only work when
16617 for DWARF debugging information, not stabs. And, they do not
16618 currently work for programs using Ada.
16620 @node Symbol Errors
16621 @section Errors Reading Symbol Files
16623 While reading a symbol file, @value{GDBN} occasionally encounters problems,
16624 such as symbol types it does not recognize, or known bugs in compiler
16625 output. By default, @value{GDBN} does not notify you of such problems, since
16626 they are relatively common and primarily of interest to people
16627 debugging compilers. If you are interested in seeing information
16628 about ill-constructed symbol tables, you can either ask @value{GDBN} to print
16629 only one message about each such type of problem, no matter how many
16630 times the problem occurs; or you can ask @value{GDBN} to print more messages,
16631 to see how many times the problems occur, with the @code{set
16632 complaints} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
16635 The messages currently printed, and their meanings, include:
16638 @item inner block not inside outer block in @var{symbol}
16640 The symbol information shows where symbol scopes begin and end
16641 (such as at the start of a function or a block of statements). This
16642 error indicates that an inner scope block is not fully contained
16643 in its outer scope blocks.
16645 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the inner block as if it had
16646 the same scope as the outer block. In the error message, @var{symbol}
16647 may be shown as ``@code{(don't know)}'' if the outer block is not a
16650 @item block at @var{address} out of order
16652 The symbol information for symbol scope blocks should occur in
16653 order of increasing addresses. This error indicates that it does not
16656 @value{GDBN} does not circumvent this problem, and has trouble
16657 locating symbols in the source file whose symbols it is reading. (You
16658 can often determine what source file is affected by specifying
16659 @code{set verbose on}. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
16662 @item bad block start address patched
16664 The symbol information for a symbol scope block has a start address
16665 smaller than the address of the preceding source line. This is known
16666 to occur in the SunOS 4.1.1 (and earlier) C compiler.
16668 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the symbol scope block as
16669 starting on the previous source line.
16671 @item bad string table offset in symbol @var{n}
16674 Symbol number @var{n} contains a pointer into the string table which is
16675 larger than the size of the string table.
16677 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by considering the symbol to have the
16678 name @code{foo}, which may cause other problems if many symbols end up
16681 @item unknown symbol type @code{0x@var{nn}}
16683 The symbol information contains new data types that @value{GDBN} does
16684 not yet know how to read. @code{0x@var{nn}} is the symbol type of the
16685 uncomprehended information, in hexadecimal.
16687 @value{GDBN} circumvents the error by ignoring this symbol information.
16688 This usually allows you to debug your program, though certain symbols
16689 are not accessible. If you encounter such a problem and feel like
16690 debugging it, you can debug @code{@value{GDBP}} with itself, breakpoint
16691 on @code{complain}, then go up to the function @code{read_dbx_symtab}
16692 and examine @code{*bufp} to see the symbol.
16694 @item stub type has NULL name
16696 @value{GDBN} could not find the full definition for a struct or class.
16698 @item const/volatile indicator missing (ok if using g++ v1.x), got@dots{}
16699 The symbol information for a C@t{++} member function is missing some
16700 information that recent versions of the compiler should have output for
16703 @item info mismatch between compiler and debugger
16705 @value{GDBN} could not parse a type specification output by the compiler.
16710 @section GDB Data Files
16712 @cindex prefix for data files
16713 @value{GDBN} will sometimes read an auxiliary data file. These files
16714 are kept in a directory known as the @dfn{data directory}.
16716 You can set the data directory's name, and view the name @value{GDBN}
16717 is currently using.
16720 @kindex set data-directory
16721 @item set data-directory @var{directory}
16722 Set the directory which @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files
16723 to @var{directory}.
16725 @kindex show data-directory
16726 @item show data-directory
16727 Show the directory @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files.
16730 @cindex default data directory
16731 @cindex @samp{--with-gdb-datadir}
16732 You can set the default data directory by using the configure-time
16733 @samp{--with-gdb-datadir} option. If the data directory is inside
16734 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
16735 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default data directory will be updated
16736 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
16739 The data directory may also be specified with the
16740 @code{--data-directory} command line option.
16741 @xref{Mode Options}.
16744 @chapter Specifying a Debugging Target
16746 @cindex debugging target
16747 A @dfn{target} is the execution environment occupied by your program.
16749 Often, @value{GDBN} runs in the same host environment as your program;
16750 in that case, the debugging target is specified as a side effect when
16751 you use the @code{file} or @code{core} commands. When you need more
16752 flexibility---for example, running @value{GDBN} on a physically separate
16753 host, or controlling a standalone system over a serial port or a
16754 realtime system over a TCP/IP connection---you can use the @code{target}
16755 command to specify one of the target types configured for @value{GDBN}
16756 (@pxref{Target Commands, ,Commands for Managing Targets}).
16758 @cindex target architecture
16759 It is possible to build @value{GDBN} for several different @dfn{target
16760 architectures}. When @value{GDBN} is built like that, you can choose
16761 one of the available architectures with the @kbd{set architecture}
16765 @kindex set architecture
16766 @kindex show architecture
16767 @item set architecture @var{arch}
16768 This command sets the current target architecture to @var{arch}. The
16769 value of @var{arch} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition to one of the
16770 supported architectures.
16772 @item show architecture
16773 Show the current target architecture.
16775 @item set processor
16777 @kindex set processor
16778 @kindex show processor
16779 These are alias commands for, respectively, @code{set architecture}
16780 and @code{show architecture}.
16784 * Active Targets:: Active targets
16785 * Target Commands:: Commands for managing targets
16786 * Byte Order:: Choosing target byte order
16789 @node Active Targets
16790 @section Active Targets
16792 @cindex stacking targets
16793 @cindex active targets
16794 @cindex multiple targets
16796 There are multiple classes of targets such as: processes, executable files or
16797 recording sessions. Core files belong to the process class, making core file
16798 and process mutually exclusive. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} can work concurrently
16799 on multiple active targets, one in each class. This allows you to (for
16800 example) start a process and inspect its activity, while still having access to
16801 the executable file after the process finishes. Or if you start process
16802 recording (@pxref{Reverse Execution}) and @code{reverse-step} there, you are
16803 presented a virtual layer of the recording target, while the process target
16804 remains stopped at the chronologically last point of the process execution.
16806 Use the @code{core-file} and @code{exec-file} commands to select a new core
16807 file or executable target (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}). To
16808 specify as a target a process that is already running, use the @code{attach}
16809 command (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
16811 @node Target Commands
16812 @section Commands for Managing Targets
16815 @item target @var{type} @var{parameters}
16816 Connects the @value{GDBN} host environment to a target machine or
16817 process. A target is typically a protocol for talking to debugging
16818 facilities. You use the argument @var{type} to specify the type or
16819 protocol of the target machine.
16821 Further @var{parameters} are interpreted by the target protocol, but
16822 typically include things like device names or host names to connect
16823 with, process numbers, and baud rates.
16825 The @code{target} command does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again
16826 after executing the command.
16828 @kindex help target
16830 Displays the names of all targets available. To display targets
16831 currently selected, use either @code{info target} or @code{info files}
16832 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
16834 @item help target @var{name}
16835 Describe a particular target, including any parameters necessary to
16838 @kindex set gnutarget
16839 @item set gnutarget @var{args}
16840 @value{GDBN} uses its own library BFD to read your files. @value{GDBN}
16841 knows whether it is reading an @dfn{executable},
16842 a @dfn{core}, or a @dfn{.o} file; however, you can specify the file format
16843 with the @code{set gnutarget} command. Unlike most @code{target} commands,
16844 with @code{gnutarget} the @code{target} refers to a program, not a machine.
16847 @emph{Warning:} To specify a file format with @code{set gnutarget},
16848 you must know the actual BFD name.
16852 @xref{Files, , Commands to Specify Files}.
16854 @kindex show gnutarget
16855 @item show gnutarget
16856 Use the @code{show gnutarget} command to display what file format
16857 @code{gnutarget} is set to read. If you have not set @code{gnutarget},
16858 @value{GDBN} will determine the file format for each file automatically,
16859 and @code{show gnutarget} displays @samp{The current BDF target is "auto"}.
16862 @cindex common targets
16863 Here are some common targets (available, or not, depending on the GDB
16868 @item target exec @var{program}
16869 @cindex executable file target
16870 An executable file. @samp{target exec @var{program}} is the same as
16871 @samp{exec-file @var{program}}.
16873 @item target core @var{filename}
16874 @cindex core dump file target
16875 A core dump file. @samp{target core @var{filename}} is the same as
16876 @samp{core-file @var{filename}}.
16878 @item target remote @var{medium}
16879 @cindex remote target
16880 A remote system connected to @value{GDBN} via a serial line or network
16881 connection. This command tells @value{GDBN} to use its own remote
16882 protocol over @var{medium} for debugging. @xref{Remote Debugging}.
16884 For example, if you have a board connected to @file{/dev/ttya} on the
16885 machine running @value{GDBN}, you could say:
16888 target remote /dev/ttya
16891 @code{target remote} supports the @code{load} command. This is only
16892 useful if you have some other way of getting the stub to the target
16893 system, and you can put it somewhere in memory where it won't get
16894 clobbered by the download.
16896 @item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
16897 @cindex built-in simulator target
16898 Builtin CPU simulator. @value{GDBN} includes simulators for most architectures.
16906 works; however, you cannot assume that a specific memory map, device
16907 drivers, or even basic I/O is available, although some simulators do
16908 provide these. For info about any processor-specific simulator details,
16909 see the appropriate section in @ref{Embedded Processors, ,Embedded
16914 Some configurations may include these targets as well:
16918 @item target nrom @var{dev}
16919 @cindex NetROM ROM emulator target
16920 NetROM ROM emulator. This target only supports downloading.
16924 Different targets are available on different configurations of @value{GDBN};
16925 your configuration may have more or fewer targets.
16927 Many remote targets require you to download the executable's code once
16928 you've successfully established a connection. You may wish to control
16929 various aspects of this process.
16934 @kindex set hash@r{, for remote monitors}
16935 @cindex hash mark while downloading
16936 This command controls whether a hash mark @samp{#} is displayed while
16937 downloading a file to the remote monitor. If on, a hash mark is
16938 displayed after each S-record is successfully downloaded to the
16942 @kindex show hash@r{, for remote monitors}
16943 Show the current status of displaying the hash mark.
16945 @item set debug monitor
16946 @kindex set debug monitor
16947 @cindex display remote monitor communications
16948 Enable or disable display of communications messages between
16949 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
16951 @item show debug monitor
16952 @kindex show debug monitor
16953 Show the current status of displaying communications between
16954 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
16959 @kindex load @var{filename}
16960 @item load @var{filename}
16962 Depending on what remote debugging facilities are configured into
16963 @value{GDBN}, the @code{load} command may be available. Where it exists, it
16964 is meant to make @var{filename} (an executable) available for debugging
16965 on the remote system---by downloading, or dynamic linking, for example.
16966 @code{load} also records the @var{filename} symbol table in @value{GDBN}, like
16967 the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
16969 If your @value{GDBN} does not have a @code{load} command, attempting to
16970 execute it gets the error message ``@code{You can't do that when your
16971 target is @dots{}}''
16973 The file is loaded at whatever address is specified in the executable.
16974 For some object file formats, you can specify the load address when you
16975 link the program; for other formats, like a.out, the object file format
16976 specifies a fixed address.
16977 @c FIXME! This would be a good place for an xref to the GNU linker doc.
16979 Depending on the remote side capabilities, @value{GDBN} may be able to
16980 load programs into flash memory.
16982 @code{load} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
16986 @section Choosing Target Byte Order
16988 @cindex choosing target byte order
16989 @cindex target byte order
16991 Some types of processors, such as the MIPS, PowerPC, and Renesas SH,
16992 offer the ability to run either big-endian or little-endian byte
16993 orders. Usually the executable or symbol will include a bit to
16994 designate the endian-ness, and you will not need to worry about
16995 which to use. However, you may still find it useful to adjust
16996 @value{GDBN}'s idea of processor endian-ness manually.
17000 @item set endian big
17001 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is big-endian.
17003 @item set endian little
17004 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is little-endian.
17006 @item set endian auto
17007 Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the byte order associated with the
17011 Display @value{GDBN}'s current idea of the target byte order.
17015 Note that these commands merely adjust interpretation of symbolic
17016 data on the host, and that they have absolutely no effect on the
17020 @node Remote Debugging
17021 @chapter Debugging Remote Programs
17022 @cindex remote debugging
17024 If you are trying to debug a program running on a machine that cannot run
17025 @value{GDBN} in the usual way, it is often useful to use remote debugging.
17026 For example, you might use remote debugging on an operating system kernel,
17027 or on a small system which does not have a general purpose operating system
17028 powerful enough to run a full-featured debugger.
17030 Some configurations of @value{GDBN} have special serial or TCP/IP interfaces
17031 to make this work with particular debugging targets. In addition,
17032 @value{GDBN} comes with a generic serial protocol (specific to @value{GDBN},
17033 but not specific to any particular target system) which you can use if you
17034 write the remote stubs---the code that runs on the remote system to
17035 communicate with @value{GDBN}.
17037 Other remote targets may be available in your
17038 configuration of @value{GDBN}; use @code{help target} to list them.
17041 * Connecting:: Connecting to a remote target
17042 * File Transfer:: Sending files to a remote system
17043 * Server:: Using the gdbserver program
17044 * Remote Configuration:: Remote configuration
17045 * Remote Stub:: Implementing a remote stub
17049 @section Connecting to a Remote Target
17051 On the @value{GDBN} host machine, you will need an unstripped copy of
17052 your program, since @value{GDBN} needs symbol and debugging information.
17053 Start up @value{GDBN} as usual, using the name of the local copy of your
17054 program as the first argument.
17056 @cindex @code{target remote}
17057 @value{GDBN} can communicate with the target over a serial line, or
17058 over an @acronym{IP} network using @acronym{TCP} or @acronym{UDP}. In
17059 each case, @value{GDBN} uses the same protocol for debugging your
17060 program; only the medium carrying the debugging packets varies. The
17061 @code{target remote} command establishes a connection to the target.
17062 Its arguments indicate which medium to use:
17066 @item target remote @var{serial-device}
17067 @cindex serial line, @code{target remote}
17068 Use @var{serial-device} to communicate with the target. For example,
17069 to use a serial line connected to the device named @file{/dev/ttyb}:
17072 target remote /dev/ttyb
17075 If you're using a serial line, you may want to give @value{GDBN} the
17076 @w{@samp{--baud}} option, or use the @code{set remotebaud} command
17077 (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remotebaud}) before the
17078 @code{target} command.
17080 @item target remote @code{@var{host}:@var{port}}
17081 @itemx target remote @code{tcp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
17082 @cindex @acronym{TCP} port, @code{target remote}
17083 Debug using a @acronym{TCP} connection to @var{port} on @var{host}.
17084 The @var{host} may be either a host name or a numeric @acronym{IP}
17085 address; @var{port} must be a decimal number. The @var{host} could be
17086 the target machine itself, if it is directly connected to the net, or
17087 it might be a terminal server which in turn has a serial line to the
17090 For example, to connect to port 2828 on a terminal server named
17094 target remote manyfarms:2828
17097 If your remote target is actually running on the same machine as your
17098 debugger session (e.g.@: a simulator for your target running on the
17099 same host), you can omit the hostname. For example, to connect to
17100 port 1234 on your local machine:
17103 target remote :1234
17107 Note that the colon is still required here.
17109 @item target remote @code{udp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
17110 @cindex @acronym{UDP} port, @code{target remote}
17111 Debug using @acronym{UDP} packets to @var{port} on @var{host}. For example, to
17112 connect to @acronym{UDP} port 2828 on a terminal server named @code{manyfarms}:
17115 target remote udp:manyfarms:2828
17118 When using a @acronym{UDP} connection for remote debugging, you should
17119 keep in mind that the `U' stands for ``Unreliable''. @acronym{UDP}
17120 can silently drop packets on busy or unreliable networks, which will
17121 cause havoc with your debugging session.
17123 @item target remote | @var{command}
17124 @cindex pipe, @code{target remote} to
17125 Run @var{command} in the background and communicate with it using a
17126 pipe. The @var{command} is a shell command, to be parsed and expanded
17127 by the system's command shell, @code{/bin/sh}; it should expect remote
17128 protocol packets on its standard input, and send replies on its
17129 standard output. You could use this to run a stand-alone simulator
17130 that speaks the remote debugging protocol, to make net connections
17131 using programs like @code{ssh}, or for other similar tricks.
17133 If @var{command} closes its standard output (perhaps by exiting),
17134 @value{GDBN} will try to send it a @code{SIGTERM} signal. (If the
17135 program has already exited, this will have no effect.)
17139 Once the connection has been established, you can use all the usual
17140 commands to examine and change data. The remote program is already
17141 running; you can use @kbd{step} and @kbd{continue}, and you do not
17142 need to use @kbd{run}.
17144 @cindex interrupting remote programs
17145 @cindex remote programs, interrupting
17146 Whenever @value{GDBN} is waiting for the remote program, if you type the
17147 interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}), @value{GDBN} attempts to stop the
17148 program. This may or may not succeed, depending in part on the hardware
17149 and the serial drivers the remote system uses. If you type the
17150 interrupt character once again, @value{GDBN} displays this prompt:
17153 Interrupted while waiting for the program.
17154 Give up (and stop debugging it)? (y or n)
17157 If you type @kbd{y}, @value{GDBN} abandons the remote debugging session.
17158 (If you decide you want to try again later, you can use @samp{target
17159 remote} again to connect once more.) If you type @kbd{n}, @value{GDBN}
17160 goes back to waiting.
17163 @kindex detach (remote)
17165 When you have finished debugging the remote program, you can use the
17166 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control.
17167 Detaching from the target normally resumes its execution, but the results
17168 will depend on your particular remote stub. After the @code{detach}
17169 command, @value{GDBN} is free to connect to another target.
17173 The @code{disconnect} command behaves like @code{detach}, except that
17174 the target is generally not resumed. It will wait for @value{GDBN}
17175 (this instance or another one) to connect and continue debugging. After
17176 the @code{disconnect} command, @value{GDBN} is again free to connect to
17179 @cindex send command to remote monitor
17180 @cindex extend @value{GDBN} for remote targets
17181 @cindex add new commands for external monitor
17183 @item monitor @var{cmd}
17184 This command allows you to send arbitrary commands directly to the
17185 remote monitor. Since @value{GDBN} doesn't care about the commands it
17186 sends like this, this command is the way to extend @value{GDBN}---you
17187 can add new commands that only the external monitor will understand
17191 @node File Transfer
17192 @section Sending files to a remote system
17193 @cindex remote target, file transfer
17194 @cindex file transfer
17195 @cindex sending files to remote systems
17197 Some remote targets offer the ability to transfer files over the same
17198 connection used to communicate with @value{GDBN}. This is convenient
17199 for targets accessible through other means, e.g.@: @sc{gnu}/Linux systems
17200 running @code{gdbserver} over a network interface. For other targets,
17201 e.g.@: embedded devices with only a single serial port, this may be
17202 the only way to upload or download files.
17204 Not all remote targets support these commands.
17208 @item remote put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
17209 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
17210 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
17213 @item remote get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
17214 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
17215 on the host system.
17217 @kindex remote delete
17218 @item remote delete @var{targetfile}
17219 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
17224 @section Using the @code{gdbserver} Program
17227 @cindex remote connection without stubs
17228 @code{gdbserver} is a control program for Unix-like systems, which
17229 allows you to connect your program with a remote @value{GDBN} via
17230 @code{target remote}---but without linking in the usual debugging stub.
17232 @code{gdbserver} is not a complete replacement for the debugging stubs,
17233 because it requires essentially the same operating-system facilities
17234 that @value{GDBN} itself does. In fact, a system that can run
17235 @code{gdbserver} to connect to a remote @value{GDBN} could also run
17236 @value{GDBN} locally! @code{gdbserver} is sometimes useful nevertheless,
17237 because it is a much smaller program than @value{GDBN} itself. It is
17238 also easier to port than all of @value{GDBN}, so you may be able to get
17239 started more quickly on a new system by using @code{gdbserver}.
17240 Finally, if you develop code for real-time systems, you may find that
17241 the tradeoffs involved in real-time operation make it more convenient to
17242 do as much development work as possible on another system, for example
17243 by cross-compiling. You can use @code{gdbserver} to make a similar
17244 choice for debugging.
17246 @value{GDBN} and @code{gdbserver} communicate via either a serial line
17247 or a TCP connection, using the standard @value{GDBN} remote serial
17251 @emph{Warning:} @code{gdbserver} does not have any built-in security.
17252 Do not run @code{gdbserver} connected to any public network; a
17253 @value{GDBN} connection to @code{gdbserver} provides access to the
17254 target system with the same privileges as the user running
17258 @subsection Running @code{gdbserver}
17259 @cindex arguments, to @code{gdbserver}
17260 @cindex @code{gdbserver}, command-line arguments
17262 Run @code{gdbserver} on the target system. You need a copy of the
17263 program you want to debug, including any libraries it requires.
17264 @code{gdbserver} does not need your program's symbol table, so you can
17265 strip the program if necessary to save space. @value{GDBN} on the host
17266 system does all the symbol handling.
17268 To use the server, you must tell it how to communicate with @value{GDBN};
17269 the name of your program; and the arguments for your program. The usual
17273 target> gdbserver @var{comm} @var{program} [ @var{args} @dots{} ]
17276 @var{comm} is either a device name (to use a serial line), or a TCP
17277 hostname and portnumber, or @code{-} or @code{stdio} to use
17278 stdin/stdout of @code{gdbserver}.
17279 For example, to debug Emacs with the argument
17280 @samp{foo.txt} and communicate with @value{GDBN} over the serial port
17284 target> gdbserver /dev/com1 emacs foo.txt
17287 @code{gdbserver} waits passively for the host @value{GDBN} to communicate
17290 To use a TCP connection instead of a serial line:
17293 target> gdbserver host:2345 emacs foo.txt
17296 The only difference from the previous example is the first argument,
17297 specifying that you are communicating with the host @value{GDBN} via
17298 TCP. The @samp{host:2345} argument means that @code{gdbserver} is to
17299 expect a TCP connection from machine @samp{host} to local TCP port 2345.
17300 (Currently, the @samp{host} part is ignored.) You can choose any number
17301 you want for the port number as long as it does not conflict with any
17302 TCP ports already in use on the target system (for example, @code{23} is
17303 reserved for @code{telnet}).@footnote{If you choose a port number that
17304 conflicts with another service, @code{gdbserver} prints an error message
17305 and exits.} You must use the same port number with the host @value{GDBN}
17306 @code{target remote} command.
17308 The @code{stdio} connection is useful when starting @code{gdbserver}
17312 (gdb) target remote | ssh -T hostname gdbserver - hello
17315 The @samp{-T} option to ssh is provided because we don't need a remote pty,
17316 and we don't want escape-character handling. Ssh does this by default when
17317 a command is provided, the flag is provided to make it explicit.
17318 You could elide it if you want to.
17320 Programs started with stdio-connected gdbserver have @file{/dev/null} for
17321 @code{stdin}, and @code{stdout},@code{stderr} are sent back to gdb for
17322 display through a pipe connected to gdbserver.
17323 Both @code{stdout} and @code{stderr} use the same pipe.
17325 @subsubsection Attaching to a Running Program
17326 @cindex attach to a program, @code{gdbserver}
17327 @cindex @option{--attach}, @code{gdbserver} option
17329 On some targets, @code{gdbserver} can also attach to running programs.
17330 This is accomplished via the @code{--attach} argument. The syntax is:
17333 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
17336 @var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't necessary
17337 to point @code{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
17340 You can debug processes by name instead of process ID if your target has the
17341 @code{pidof} utility:
17344 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} `pidof @var{program}`
17347 In case more than one copy of @var{program} is running, or @var{program}
17348 has multiple threads, most versions of @code{pidof} support the
17349 @code{-s} option to only return the first process ID.
17351 @subsubsection Multi-Process Mode for @code{gdbserver}
17352 @cindex @code{gdbserver}, multiple processes
17353 @cindex multiple processes with @code{gdbserver}
17355 When you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target remote},
17356 @code{gdbserver} debugs the specified program only once. When the
17357 program exits, or you detach from it, @value{GDBN} closes the connection
17358 and @code{gdbserver} exits.
17360 If you connect using @kbd{target extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver}
17361 enters multi-process mode. When the debugged program exits, or you
17362 detach from it, @value{GDBN} stays connected to @code{gdbserver} even
17363 though no program is running. The @code{run} and @code{attach}
17364 commands instruct @code{gdbserver} to run or attach to a new program.
17365 The @code{run} command uses @code{set remote exec-file} (@pxref{set
17366 remote exec-file}) to select the program to run. Command line
17367 arguments are supported, except for wildcard expansion and I/O
17368 redirection (@pxref{Arguments}).
17370 @cindex @option{--multi}, @code{gdbserver} option
17371 To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
17372 or process ID to attach, use the @option{--multi} command line option.
17373 Then you can connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} and start
17374 the program you want to debug.
17376 In multi-process mode @code{gdbserver} does not automatically exit unless you
17377 use the option @option{--once}. You can terminate it by using
17378 @code{monitor exit} (@pxref{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}). Note that the
17379 conditions under which @code{gdbserver} terminates depend on how @value{GDBN}
17380 connects to it (@kbd{target remote} or @kbd{target extended-remote}). The
17381 @option{--multi} option to @code{gdbserver} has no influence on that.
17383 @subsubsection TCP port allocation lifecycle of @code{gdbserver}
17385 This section applies only when @code{gdbserver} is run to listen on a TCP port.
17387 @code{gdbserver} normally terminates after all of its debugged processes have
17388 terminated in @kbd{target remote} mode. On the other hand, for @kbd{target
17389 extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver} stays running even with no processes left.
17390 @value{GDBN} normally terminates the spawned debugged process on its exit,
17391 which normally also terminates @code{gdbserver} in the @kbd{target remote}
17392 mode. Therefore, when the connection drops unexpectedly, and @value{GDBN}
17393 cannot ask @code{gdbserver} to kill its debugged processes, @code{gdbserver}
17394 stays running even in the @kbd{target remote} mode.
17396 When @code{gdbserver} stays running, @value{GDBN} can connect to it again later.
17397 Such reconnecting is useful for features like @ref{disconnected tracing}. For
17398 completeness, at most one @value{GDBN} can be connected at a time.
17400 @cindex @option{--once}, @code{gdbserver} option
17401 By default, @code{gdbserver} keeps the listening TCP port open, so that
17402 additional connections are possible. However, if you start @code{gdbserver}
17403 with the @option{--once} option, it will stop listening for any further
17404 connection attempts after connecting to the first @value{GDBN} session. This
17405 means no further connections to @code{gdbserver} will be possible after the
17406 first one. It also means @code{gdbserver} will terminate after the first
17407 connection with remote @value{GDBN} has closed, even for unexpectedly closed
17408 connections and even in the @kbd{target extended-remote} mode. The
17409 @option{--once} option allows reusing the same port number for connecting to
17410 multiple instances of @code{gdbserver} running on the same host, since each
17411 instance closes its port after the first connection.
17413 @subsubsection Other Command-Line Arguments for @code{gdbserver}
17415 @cindex @option{--debug}, @code{gdbserver} option
17416 The @option{--debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display extra
17417 status information about the debugging process.
17418 @cindex @option{--remote-debug}, @code{gdbserver} option
17419 The @option{--remote-debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display
17420 remote protocol debug output. These options are intended for
17421 @code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to the developers.
17423 @cindex @option{--wrapper}, @code{gdbserver} option
17424 The @option{--wrapper} option specifies a wrapper to launch programs
17425 for debugging. The option should be followed by the name of the
17426 wrapper, then any command-line arguments to pass to the wrapper, then
17427 @kbd{--} indicating the end of the wrapper arguments.
17429 @code{gdbserver} runs the specified wrapper program with a combined
17430 command line including the wrapper arguments, then the name of the
17431 program to debug, then any arguments to the program. The wrapper
17432 runs until it executes your program, and then @value{GDBN} gains control.
17434 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
17435 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
17436 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
17437 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
17439 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
17440 the debugged program, without setting the variable in @code{gdbserver}'s
17444 $ gdbserver --wrapper env LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so -- :2222 ./testprog
17447 @subsection Connecting to @code{gdbserver}
17449 Run @value{GDBN} on the host system.
17451 First make sure you have the necessary symbol files. Load symbols for
17452 your application using the @code{file} command before you connect. Use
17453 @code{set sysroot} to locate target libraries (unless your @value{GDBN}
17454 was compiled with the correct sysroot using @code{--with-sysroot}).
17456 The symbol file and target libraries must exactly match the executable
17457 and libraries on the target, with one exception: the files on the host
17458 system should not be stripped, even if the files on the target system
17459 are. Mismatched or missing files will lead to confusing results
17460 during debugging. On @sc{gnu}/Linux targets, mismatched or missing
17461 files may also prevent @code{gdbserver} from debugging multi-threaded
17464 Connect to your target (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
17465 For TCP connections, you must start up @code{gdbserver} prior to using
17466 the @code{target remote} command. Otherwise you may get an error whose
17467 text depends on the host system, but which usually looks something like
17468 @samp{Connection refused}. Don't use the @code{load}
17469 command in @value{GDBN} when using @code{gdbserver}, since the program is
17470 already on the target.
17472 @subsection Monitor Commands for @code{gdbserver}
17473 @cindex monitor commands, for @code{gdbserver}
17474 @anchor{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}
17476 During a @value{GDBN} session using @code{gdbserver}, you can use the
17477 @code{monitor} command to send special requests to @code{gdbserver}.
17478 Here are the available commands.
17482 List the available monitor commands.
17484 @item monitor set debug 0
17485 @itemx monitor set debug 1
17486 Disable or enable general debugging messages.
17488 @item monitor set remote-debug 0
17489 @itemx monitor set remote-debug 1
17490 Disable or enable specific debugging messages associated with the remote
17491 protocol (@pxref{Remote Protocol}).
17493 @item monitor set libthread-db-search-path [PATH]
17494 @cindex gdbserver, search path for @code{libthread_db}
17495 When this command is issued, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
17496 directories to search for @code{libthread_db} (@pxref{Threads,,set
17497 libthread-db-search-path}). If you omit @var{path},
17498 @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to its default value.
17500 The special entry @samp{$pdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path} is
17501 not supported in @code{gdbserver}.
17504 Tell gdbserver to exit immediately. This command should be followed by
17505 @code{disconnect} to close the debugging session. @code{gdbserver} will
17506 detach from any attached processes and kill any processes it created.
17507 Use @code{monitor exit} to terminate @code{gdbserver} at the end
17508 of a multi-process mode debug session.
17512 @subsection Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
17513 @cindex tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
17515 On some targets, @code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints, fast
17516 tracepoints and static tracepoints.
17518 For fast or static tracepoints to work, a special library called the
17519 @dfn{in-process agent} (IPA), must be loaded in the inferior process.
17520 This library is built and distributed as an integral part of
17521 @code{gdbserver}. In addition, support for static tracepoints
17522 requires building the in-process agent library with static tracepoints
17523 support. At present, the UST (LTTng Userspace Tracer,
17524 @url{http://lttng.org/ust}) tracing engine is supported. This support
17525 is automatically available if UST development headers are found in the
17526 standard include path when @code{gdbserver} is built, or if
17527 @code{gdbserver} was explicitly configured using @option{--with-ust}
17528 to point at such headers. You can explicitly disable the support
17529 using @option{--with-ust=no}.
17531 There are several ways to load the in-process agent in your program:
17534 @item Specifying it as dependency at link time
17536 You can link your program dynamically with the in-process agent
17537 library. On most systems, this is accomplished by adding
17538 @code{-linproctrace} to the link command.
17540 @item Using the system's preloading mechanisms
17542 You can force loading the in-process agent at startup time by using
17543 your system's support for preloading shared libraries. Many Unixes
17544 support the concept of preloading user defined libraries. In most
17545 cases, you do that by specifying @code{LD_PRELOAD=libinproctrace.so}
17546 in the environment. See also the description of @code{gdbserver}'s
17547 @option{--wrapper} command line option.
17549 @item Using @value{GDBN} to force loading the agent at run time
17551 On some systems, you can force the inferior to load a shared library,
17552 by calling a dynamic loader function in the inferior that takes care
17553 of dynamically looking up and loading a shared library. On most Unix
17554 systems, the function is @code{dlopen}. You'll use the @code{call}
17555 command for that. For example:
17558 (@value{GDBP}) call dlopen ("libinproctrace.so", ...)
17561 Note that on most Unix systems, for the @code{dlopen} function to be
17562 available, the program needs to be linked with @code{-ldl}.
17565 On systems that have a userspace dynamic loader, like most Unix
17566 systems, when you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target
17567 remote}, you'll find that the program is stopped at the dynamic
17568 loader's entry point, and no shared library has been loaded in the
17569 program's address space yet, including the in-process agent. In that
17570 case, before being able to use any of the fast or static tracepoints
17571 features, you need to let the loader run and load the shared
17572 libraries. The simplest way to do that is to run the program to the
17573 main procedure. E.g., if debugging a C or C@t{++} program, start
17574 @code{gdbserver} like so:
17577 $ gdbserver :9999 myprogram
17580 Start GDB and connect to @code{gdbserver} like so, and run to main:
17584 (@value{GDBP}) target remote myhost:9999
17585 0x00007f215893ba60 in ?? () from /lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2
17586 (@value{GDBP}) b main
17587 (@value{GDBP}) continue
17590 The in-process tracing agent library should now be loaded into the
17591 process; you can confirm it with the @code{info sharedlibrary}
17592 command, which will list @file{libinproctrace.so} as loaded in the
17593 process. You are now ready to install fast tracepoints, list static
17594 tracepoint markers, probe static tracepoints markers, and start
17597 @node Remote Configuration
17598 @section Remote Configuration
17601 @kindex show remote
17602 This section documents the configuration options available when
17603 debugging remote programs. For the options related to the File I/O
17604 extensions of the remote protocol, see @ref{system,
17605 system-call-allowed}.
17608 @item set remoteaddresssize @var{bits}
17609 @cindex address size for remote targets
17610 @cindex bits in remote address
17611 Set the maximum size of address in a memory packet to the specified
17612 number of bits. @value{GDBN} will mask off the address bits above
17613 that number, when it passes addresses to the remote target. The
17614 default value is the number of bits in the target's address.
17616 @item show remoteaddresssize
17617 Show the current value of remote address size in bits.
17619 @item set remotebaud @var{n}
17620 @cindex baud rate for remote targets
17621 Set the baud rate for the remote serial I/O to @var{n} baud. The
17622 value is used to set the speed of the serial port used for debugging
17625 @item show remotebaud
17626 Show the current speed of the remote connection.
17628 @item set remotebreak
17629 @cindex interrupt remote programs
17630 @cindex BREAK signal instead of Ctrl-C
17631 @anchor{set remotebreak}
17632 If set to on, @value{GDBN} sends a @code{BREAK} signal to the remote
17633 when you type @kbd{Ctrl-c} to interrupt the program running
17634 on the remote. If set to off, @value{GDBN} sends the @samp{Ctrl-C}
17635 character instead. The default is off, since most remote systems
17636 expect to see @samp{Ctrl-C} as the interrupt signal.
17638 @item show remotebreak
17639 Show whether @value{GDBN} sends @code{BREAK} or @samp{Ctrl-C} to
17640 interrupt the remote program.
17642 @item set remoteflow on
17643 @itemx set remoteflow off
17644 @kindex set remoteflow
17645 Enable or disable hardware flow control (@code{RTS}/@code{CTS})
17646 on the serial port used to communicate to the remote target.
17648 @item show remoteflow
17649 @kindex show remoteflow
17650 Show the current setting of hardware flow control.
17652 @item set remotelogbase @var{base}
17653 Set the base (a.k.a.@: radix) of logging serial protocol
17654 communications to @var{base}. Supported values of @var{base} are:
17655 @code{ascii}, @code{octal}, and @code{hex}. The default is
17658 @item show remotelogbase
17659 Show the current setting of the radix for logging remote serial
17662 @item set remotelogfile @var{file}
17663 @cindex record serial communications on file
17664 Record remote serial communications on the named @var{file}. The
17665 default is not to record at all.
17667 @item show remotelogfile.
17668 Show the current setting of the file name on which to record the
17669 serial communications.
17671 @item set remotetimeout @var{num}
17672 @cindex timeout for serial communications
17673 @cindex remote timeout
17674 Set the timeout limit to wait for the remote target to respond to
17675 @var{num} seconds. The default is 2 seconds.
17677 @item show remotetimeout
17678 Show the current number of seconds to wait for the remote target
17681 @cindex limit hardware breakpoints and watchpoints
17682 @cindex remote target, limit break- and watchpoints
17683 @anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}
17684 @anchor{set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit}
17685 @item set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit @var{limit}
17686 @itemx set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit @var{limit}
17687 Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} remote hardware breakpoint or
17688 watchpoints. A limit of -1, the default, is treated as unlimited.
17690 @cindex limit hardware watchpoints length
17691 @cindex remote target, limit watchpoints length
17692 @anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit}
17693 @item set remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit @var{limit}
17694 Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} bytes for the maximum length of
17695 a remote hardware watchpoint. A limit of -1, the default, is treated
17698 @item show remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit
17699 Show the current limit (in bytes) of the maximum length of
17700 a remote hardware watchpoint.
17702 @item set remote exec-file @var{filename}
17703 @itemx show remote exec-file
17704 @anchor{set remote exec-file}
17705 @cindex executable file, for remote target
17706 Select the file used for @code{run} with @code{target
17707 extended-remote}. This should be set to a filename valid on the
17708 target system. If it is not set, the target will use a default
17709 filename (e.g.@: the last program run).
17711 @item set remote interrupt-sequence
17712 @cindex interrupt remote programs
17713 @cindex select Ctrl-C, BREAK or BREAK-g
17714 Allow the user to select one of @samp{Ctrl-C}, a @code{BREAK} or
17715 @samp{BREAK-g} as the
17716 sequence to the remote target in order to interrupt the execution.
17717 @samp{Ctrl-C} is a default. Some system prefers @code{BREAK} which
17718 is high level of serial line for some certain time.
17719 Linux kernel prefers @samp{BREAK-g}, a.k.a Magic SysRq g.
17720 It is @code{BREAK} signal followed by character @code{g}.
17722 @item show interrupt-sequence
17723 Show which of @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or @code{BREAK-g}
17724 is sent by @value{GDBN} to interrupt the remote program.
17725 @code{BREAK-g} is BREAK signal followed by @code{g} and
17726 also known as Magic SysRq g.
17728 @item set remote interrupt-on-connect
17729 @cindex send interrupt-sequence on start
17730 Specify whether interrupt-sequence is sent to remote target when
17731 @value{GDBN} connects to it. This is mostly needed when you debug
17732 Linux kernel. Linux kernel expects @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g}
17733 which is known as Magic SysRq g in order to connect @value{GDBN}.
17735 @item show interrupt-on-connect
17736 Show whether interrupt-sequence is sent
17737 to remote target when @value{GDBN} connects to it.
17741 @item set tcp auto-retry on
17742 @cindex auto-retry, for remote TCP target
17743 Enable auto-retry for remote TCP connections. This is useful if the remote
17744 debugging agent is launched in parallel with @value{GDBN}; there is a race
17745 condition because the agent may not become ready to accept the connection
17746 before @value{GDBN} attempts to connect. When auto-retry is
17747 enabled, if the initial attempt to connect fails, @value{GDBN} reattempts
17748 to establish the connection using the timeout specified by
17749 @code{set tcp connect-timeout}.
17751 @item set tcp auto-retry off
17752 Do not auto-retry failed TCP connections.
17754 @item show tcp auto-retry
17755 Show the current auto-retry setting.
17757 @item set tcp connect-timeout @var{seconds}
17758 @cindex connection timeout, for remote TCP target
17759 @cindex timeout, for remote target connection
17760 Set the timeout for establishing a TCP connection to the remote target to
17761 @var{seconds}. The timeout affects both polling to retry failed connections
17762 (enabled by @code{set tcp auto-retry on}) and waiting for connections
17763 that are merely slow to complete, and represents an approximate cumulative
17766 @item show tcp connect-timeout
17767 Show the current connection timeout setting.
17770 @cindex remote packets, enabling and disabling
17771 The @value{GDBN} remote protocol autodetects the packets supported by
17772 your debugging stub. If you need to override the autodetection, you
17773 can use these commands to enable or disable individual packets. Each
17774 packet can be set to @samp{on} (the remote target supports this
17775 packet), @samp{off} (the remote target does not support this packet),
17776 or @samp{auto} (detect remote target support for this packet). They
17777 all default to @samp{auto}. For more information about each packet,
17778 see @ref{Remote Protocol}.
17780 During normal use, you should not have to use any of these commands.
17781 If you do, that may be a bug in your remote debugging stub, or a bug
17782 in @value{GDBN}. You may want to report the problem to the
17783 @value{GDBN} developers.
17785 For each packet @var{name}, the command to enable or disable the
17786 packet is @code{set remote @var{name}-packet}. The available settings
17789 @multitable @columnfractions 0.28 0.32 0.25
17792 @tab Related Features
17794 @item @code{fetch-register}
17796 @tab @code{info registers}
17798 @item @code{set-register}
17802 @item @code{binary-download}
17804 @tab @code{load}, @code{set}
17806 @item @code{read-aux-vector}
17807 @tab @code{qXfer:auxv:read}
17808 @tab @code{info auxv}
17810 @item @code{symbol-lookup}
17811 @tab @code{qSymbol}
17812 @tab Detecting multiple threads
17814 @item @code{attach}
17815 @tab @code{vAttach}
17818 @item @code{verbose-resume}
17820 @tab Stepping or resuming multiple threads
17826 @item @code{software-breakpoint}
17830 @item @code{hardware-breakpoint}
17834 @item @code{write-watchpoint}
17838 @item @code{read-watchpoint}
17842 @item @code{access-watchpoint}
17846 @item @code{target-features}
17847 @tab @code{qXfer:features:read}
17848 @tab @code{set architecture}
17850 @item @code{library-info}
17851 @tab @code{qXfer:libraries:read}
17852 @tab @code{info sharedlibrary}
17854 @item @code{memory-map}
17855 @tab @code{qXfer:memory-map:read}
17856 @tab @code{info mem}
17858 @item @code{read-sdata-object}
17859 @tab @code{qXfer:sdata:read}
17860 @tab @code{print $_sdata}
17862 @item @code{read-spu-object}
17863 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:read}
17864 @tab @code{info spu}
17866 @item @code{write-spu-object}
17867 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:write}
17868 @tab @code{info spu}
17870 @item @code{read-siginfo-object}
17871 @tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:read}
17872 @tab @code{print $_siginfo}
17874 @item @code{write-siginfo-object}
17875 @tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:write}
17876 @tab @code{set $_siginfo}
17878 @item @code{threads}
17879 @tab @code{qXfer:threads:read}
17880 @tab @code{info threads}
17882 @item @code{get-thread-local-@*storage-address}
17883 @tab @code{qGetTLSAddr}
17884 @tab Displaying @code{__thread} variables
17886 @item @code{get-thread-information-block-address}
17887 @tab @code{qGetTIBAddr}
17888 @tab Display MS-Windows Thread Information Block.
17890 @item @code{search-memory}
17891 @tab @code{qSearch:memory}
17894 @item @code{supported-packets}
17895 @tab @code{qSupported}
17896 @tab Remote communications parameters
17898 @item @code{pass-signals}
17899 @tab @code{QPassSignals}
17900 @tab @code{handle @var{signal}}
17902 @item @code{program-signals}
17903 @tab @code{QProgramSignals}
17904 @tab @code{handle @var{signal}}
17906 @item @code{hostio-close-packet}
17907 @tab @code{vFile:close}
17908 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
17910 @item @code{hostio-open-packet}
17911 @tab @code{vFile:open}
17912 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
17914 @item @code{hostio-pread-packet}
17915 @tab @code{vFile:pread}
17916 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
17918 @item @code{hostio-pwrite-packet}
17919 @tab @code{vFile:pwrite}
17920 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
17922 @item @code{hostio-unlink-packet}
17923 @tab @code{vFile:unlink}
17924 @tab @code{remote delete}
17926 @item @code{hostio-readlink-packet}
17927 @tab @code{vFile:readlink}
17930 @item @code{noack-packet}
17931 @tab @code{QStartNoAckMode}
17932 @tab Packet acknowledgment
17934 @item @code{osdata}
17935 @tab @code{qXfer:osdata:read}
17936 @tab @code{info os}
17938 @item @code{query-attached}
17939 @tab @code{qAttached}
17940 @tab Querying remote process attach state.
17942 @item @code{traceframe-info}
17943 @tab @code{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
17944 @tab Traceframe info
17946 @item @code{install-in-trace}
17947 @tab @code{InstallInTrace}
17948 @tab Install tracepoint in tracing
17950 @item @code{disable-randomization}
17951 @tab @code{QDisableRandomization}
17952 @tab @code{set disable-randomization}
17954 @item @code{conditional-breakpoints-packet}
17955 @tab @code{Z0 and Z1}
17956 @tab @code{Support for target-side breakpoint condition evaluation}
17960 @section Implementing a Remote Stub
17962 @cindex debugging stub, example
17963 @cindex remote stub, example
17964 @cindex stub example, remote debugging
17965 The stub files provided with @value{GDBN} implement the target side of the
17966 communication protocol, and the @value{GDBN} side is implemented in the
17967 @value{GDBN} source file @file{remote.c}. Normally, you can simply allow
17968 these subroutines to communicate, and ignore the details. (If you're
17969 implementing your own stub file, you can still ignore the details: start
17970 with one of the existing stub files. @file{sparc-stub.c} is the best
17971 organized, and therefore the easiest to read.)
17973 @cindex remote serial debugging, overview
17974 To debug a program running on another machine (the debugging
17975 @dfn{target} machine), you must first arrange for all the usual
17976 prerequisites for the program to run by itself. For example, for a C
17981 A startup routine to set up the C runtime environment; these usually
17982 have a name like @file{crt0}. The startup routine may be supplied by
17983 your hardware supplier, or you may have to write your own.
17986 A C subroutine library to support your program's
17987 subroutine calls, notably managing input and output.
17990 A way of getting your program to the other machine---for example, a
17991 download program. These are often supplied by the hardware
17992 manufacturer, but you may have to write your own from hardware
17996 The next step is to arrange for your program to use a serial port to
17997 communicate with the machine where @value{GDBN} is running (the @dfn{host}
17998 machine). In general terms, the scheme looks like this:
18002 @value{GDBN} already understands how to use this protocol; when everything
18003 else is set up, you can simply use the @samp{target remote} command
18004 (@pxref{Targets,,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
18006 @item On the target,
18007 you must link with your program a few special-purpose subroutines that
18008 implement the @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol. The file containing these
18009 subroutines is called a @dfn{debugging stub}.
18011 On certain remote targets, you can use an auxiliary program
18012 @code{gdbserver} instead of linking a stub into your program.
18013 @xref{Server,,Using the @code{gdbserver} Program}, for details.
18016 The debugging stub is specific to the architecture of the remote
18017 machine; for example, use @file{sparc-stub.c} to debug programs on
18020 @cindex remote serial stub list
18021 These working remote stubs are distributed with @value{GDBN}:
18026 @cindex @file{i386-stub.c}
18029 For Intel 386 and compatible architectures.
18032 @cindex @file{m68k-stub.c}
18033 @cindex Motorola 680x0
18035 For Motorola 680x0 architectures.
18038 @cindex @file{sh-stub.c}
18041 For Renesas SH architectures.
18044 @cindex @file{sparc-stub.c}
18046 For @sc{sparc} architectures.
18048 @item sparcl-stub.c
18049 @cindex @file{sparcl-stub.c}
18052 For Fujitsu @sc{sparclite} architectures.
18056 The @file{README} file in the @value{GDBN} distribution may list other
18057 recently added stubs.
18060 * Stub Contents:: What the stub can do for you
18061 * Bootstrapping:: What you must do for the stub
18062 * Debug Session:: Putting it all together
18065 @node Stub Contents
18066 @subsection What the Stub Can Do for You
18068 @cindex remote serial stub
18069 The debugging stub for your architecture supplies these three
18073 @item set_debug_traps
18074 @findex set_debug_traps
18075 @cindex remote serial stub, initialization
18076 This routine arranges for @code{handle_exception} to run when your
18077 program stops. You must call this subroutine explicitly in your
18078 program's startup code.
18080 @item handle_exception
18081 @findex handle_exception
18082 @cindex remote serial stub, main routine
18083 This is the central workhorse, but your program never calls it
18084 explicitly---the setup code arranges for @code{handle_exception} to
18085 run when a trap is triggered.
18087 @code{handle_exception} takes control when your program stops during
18088 execution (for example, on a breakpoint), and mediates communications
18089 with @value{GDBN} on the host machine. This is where the communications
18090 protocol is implemented; @code{handle_exception} acts as the @value{GDBN}
18091 representative on the target machine. It begins by sending summary
18092 information on the state of your program, then continues to execute,
18093 retrieving and transmitting any information @value{GDBN} needs, until you
18094 execute a @value{GDBN} command that makes your program resume; at that point,
18095 @code{handle_exception} returns control to your own code on the target
18099 @cindex @code{breakpoint} subroutine, remote
18100 Use this auxiliary subroutine to make your program contain a
18101 breakpoint. Depending on the particular situation, this may be the only
18102 way for @value{GDBN} to get control. For instance, if your target
18103 machine has some sort of interrupt button, you won't need to call this;
18104 pressing the interrupt button transfers control to
18105 @code{handle_exception}---in effect, to @value{GDBN}. On some machines,
18106 simply receiving characters on the serial port may also trigger a trap;
18107 again, in that situation, you don't need to call @code{breakpoint} from
18108 your own program---simply running @samp{target remote} from the host
18109 @value{GDBN} session gets control.
18111 Call @code{breakpoint} if none of these is true, or if you simply want
18112 to make certain your program stops at a predetermined point for the
18113 start of your debugging session.
18116 @node Bootstrapping
18117 @subsection What You Must Do for the Stub
18119 @cindex remote stub, support routines
18120 The debugging stubs that come with @value{GDBN} are set up for a particular
18121 chip architecture, but they have no information about the rest of your
18122 debugging target machine.
18124 First of all you need to tell the stub how to communicate with the
18128 @item int getDebugChar()
18129 @findex getDebugChar
18130 Write this subroutine to read a single character from the serial port.
18131 It may be identical to @code{getchar} for your target system; a
18132 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
18134 @item void putDebugChar(int)
18135 @findex putDebugChar
18136 Write this subroutine to write a single character to the serial port.
18137 It may be identical to @code{putchar} for your target system; a
18138 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
18141 @cindex control C, and remote debugging
18142 @cindex interrupting remote targets
18143 If you want @value{GDBN} to be able to stop your program while it is
18144 running, you need to use an interrupt-driven serial driver, and arrange
18145 for it to stop when it receives a @code{^C} (@samp{\003}, the control-C
18146 character). That is the character which @value{GDBN} uses to tell the
18147 remote system to stop.
18149 Getting the debugging target to return the proper status to @value{GDBN}
18150 probably requires changes to the standard stub; one quick and dirty way
18151 is to just execute a breakpoint instruction (the ``dirty'' part is that
18152 @value{GDBN} reports a @code{SIGTRAP} instead of a @code{SIGINT}).
18154 Other routines you need to supply are:
18157 @item void exceptionHandler (int @var{exception_number}, void *@var{exception_address})
18158 @findex exceptionHandler
18159 Write this function to install @var{exception_address} in the exception
18160 handling tables. You need to do this because the stub does not have any
18161 way of knowing what the exception handling tables on your target system
18162 are like (for example, the processor's table might be in @sc{rom},
18163 containing entries which point to a table in @sc{ram}).
18164 @var{exception_number} is the exception number which should be changed;
18165 its meaning is architecture-dependent (for example, different numbers
18166 might represent divide by zero, misaligned access, etc). When this
18167 exception occurs, control should be transferred directly to
18168 @var{exception_address}, and the processor state (stack, registers,
18169 and so on) should be just as it is when a processor exception occurs. So if
18170 you want to use a jump instruction to reach @var{exception_address}, it
18171 should be a simple jump, not a jump to subroutine.
18173 For the 386, @var{exception_address} should be installed as an interrupt
18174 gate so that interrupts are masked while the handler runs. The gate
18175 should be at privilege level 0 (the most privileged level). The
18176 @sc{sparc} and 68k stubs are able to mask interrupts themselves without
18177 help from @code{exceptionHandler}.
18179 @item void flush_i_cache()
18180 @findex flush_i_cache
18181 On @sc{sparc} and @sc{sparclite} only, write this subroutine to flush the
18182 instruction cache, if any, on your target machine. If there is no
18183 instruction cache, this subroutine may be a no-op.
18185 On target machines that have instruction caches, @value{GDBN} requires this
18186 function to make certain that the state of your program is stable.
18190 You must also make sure this library routine is available:
18193 @item void *memset(void *, int, int)
18195 This is the standard library function @code{memset} that sets an area of
18196 memory to a known value. If you have one of the free versions of
18197 @code{libc.a}, @code{memset} can be found there; otherwise, you must
18198 either obtain it from your hardware manufacturer, or write your own.
18201 If you do not use the GNU C compiler, you may need other standard
18202 library subroutines as well; this varies from one stub to another,
18203 but in general the stubs are likely to use any of the common library
18204 subroutines which @code{@value{NGCC}} generates as inline code.
18207 @node Debug Session
18208 @subsection Putting it All Together
18210 @cindex remote serial debugging summary
18211 In summary, when your program is ready to debug, you must follow these
18216 Make sure you have defined the supporting low-level routines
18217 (@pxref{Bootstrapping,,What You Must Do for the Stub}):
18219 @code{getDebugChar}, @code{putDebugChar},
18220 @code{flush_i_cache}, @code{memset}, @code{exceptionHandler}.
18224 Insert these lines in your program's startup code, before the main
18225 procedure is called:
18232 On some machines, when a breakpoint trap is raised, the hardware
18233 automatically makes the PC point to the instruction after the
18234 breakpoint. If your machine doesn't do that, you may need to adjust
18235 @code{handle_exception} to arrange for it to return to the instruction
18236 after the breakpoint on this first invocation, so that your program
18237 doesn't keep hitting the initial breakpoint instead of making
18241 For the 680x0 stub only, you need to provide a variable called
18242 @code{exceptionHook}. Normally you just use:
18245 void (*exceptionHook)() = 0;
18249 but if before calling @code{set_debug_traps}, you set it to point to a
18250 function in your program, that function is called when
18251 @code{@value{GDBN}} continues after stopping on a trap (for example, bus
18252 error). The function indicated by @code{exceptionHook} is called with
18253 one parameter: an @code{int} which is the exception number.
18256 Compile and link together: your program, the @value{GDBN} debugging stub for
18257 your target architecture, and the supporting subroutines.
18260 Make sure you have a serial connection between your target machine and
18261 the @value{GDBN} host, and identify the serial port on the host.
18264 @c The "remote" target now provides a `load' command, so we should
18265 @c document that. FIXME.
18266 Download your program to your target machine (or get it there by
18267 whatever means the manufacturer provides), and start it.
18270 Start @value{GDBN} on the host, and connect to the target
18271 (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
18275 @node Configurations
18276 @chapter Configuration-Specific Information
18278 While nearly all @value{GDBN} commands are available for all native and
18279 cross versions of the debugger, there are some exceptions. This chapter
18280 describes things that are only available in certain configurations.
18282 There are three major categories of configurations: native
18283 configurations, where the host and target are the same, embedded
18284 operating system configurations, which are usually the same for several
18285 different processor architectures, and bare embedded processors, which
18286 are quite different from each other.
18291 * Embedded Processors::
18298 This section describes details specific to particular native
18303 * BSD libkvm Interface:: Debugging BSD kernel memory images
18304 * SVR4 Process Information:: SVR4 process information
18305 * DJGPP Native:: Features specific to the DJGPP port
18306 * Cygwin Native:: Features specific to the Cygwin port
18307 * Hurd Native:: Features specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd
18308 * Neutrino:: Features specific to QNX Neutrino
18309 * Darwin:: Features specific to Darwin
18315 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
18316 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
18317 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
18320 @node BSD libkvm Interface
18321 @subsection BSD libkvm Interface
18324 @cindex kernel memory image
18325 @cindex kernel crash dump
18327 BSD-derived systems (FreeBSD/NetBSD/OpenBSD) have a kernel memory
18328 interface that provides a uniform interface for accessing kernel virtual
18329 memory images, including live systems and crash dumps. @value{GDBN}
18330 uses this interface to allow you to debug live kernels and kernel crash
18331 dumps on many native BSD configurations. This is implemented as a
18332 special @code{kvm} debugging target. For debugging a live system, load
18333 the currently running kernel into @value{GDBN} and connect to the
18337 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm}
18340 For debugging crash dumps, provide the file name of the crash dump as an
18344 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm /var/crash/bsd.0}
18347 Once connected to the @code{kvm} target, the following commands are
18353 Set current context from the @dfn{Process Control Block} (PCB) address.
18356 Set current context from proc address. This command isn't available on
18357 modern FreeBSD systems.
18360 @node SVR4 Process Information
18361 @subsection SVR4 Process Information
18363 @cindex examine process image
18364 @cindex process info via @file{/proc}
18366 Many versions of SVR4 and compatible systems provide a facility called
18367 @samp{/proc} that can be used to examine the image of a running
18368 process using file-system subroutines. If @value{GDBN} is configured
18369 for an operating system with this facility, the command @code{info
18370 proc} is available to report information about the process running
18371 your program, or about any process running on your system. @code{info
18372 proc} works only on SVR4 systems that include the @code{procfs} code.
18373 This includes, as of this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, OSF/1 (Digital
18374 Unix), Solaris, Irix, and Unixware, but not HP-UX, for example.
18380 @itemx info proc @var{process-id}
18381 Summarize available information about any running process. If a
18382 process ID is specified by @var{process-id}, display information about
18383 that process; otherwise display information about the program being
18384 debugged. The summary includes the debugged process ID, the command
18385 line used to invoke it, its current working directory, and its
18386 executable file's absolute file name.
18388 On some systems, @var{process-id} can be of the form
18389 @samp{[@var{pid}]/@var{tid}} which specifies a certain thread ID
18390 within a process. If the optional @var{pid} part is missing, it means
18391 a thread from the process being debugged (the leading @samp{/} still
18392 needs to be present, or else @value{GDBN} will interpret the number as
18393 a process ID rather than a thread ID).
18395 @item info proc mappings
18396 @cindex memory address space mappings
18397 Report the memory address space ranges accessible in the program, with
18398 information on whether the process has read, write, or execute access
18399 rights to each range. On @sc{gnu}/Linux systems, each memory range
18400 includes the object file which is mapped to that range, instead of the
18401 memory access rights to that range.
18403 @item info proc stat
18404 @itemx info proc status
18405 @cindex process detailed status information
18406 These subcommands are specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux systems. They show
18407 the process-related information, including the user ID and group ID;
18408 how many threads are there in the process; its virtual memory usage;
18409 the signals that are pending, blocked, and ignored; its TTY; its
18410 consumption of system and user time; its stack size; its @samp{nice}
18411 value; etc. For more information, see the @samp{proc} man page
18412 (type @kbd{man 5 proc} from your shell prompt).
18414 @item info proc all
18415 Show all the information about the process described under all of the
18416 above @code{info proc} subcommands.
18419 @comment These sub-options of 'info proc' were not included when
18420 @comment procfs.c was re-written. Keep their descriptions around
18421 @comment against the day when someone finds the time to put them back in.
18422 @kindex info proc times
18423 @item info proc times
18424 Starting time, user CPU time, and system CPU time for your program and
18427 @kindex info proc id
18429 Report on the process IDs related to your program: its own process ID,
18430 the ID of its parent, the process group ID, and the session ID.
18433 @item set procfs-trace
18434 @kindex set procfs-trace
18435 @cindex @code{procfs} API calls
18436 This command enables and disables tracing of @code{procfs} API calls.
18438 @item show procfs-trace
18439 @kindex show procfs-trace
18440 Show the current state of @code{procfs} API call tracing.
18442 @item set procfs-file @var{file}
18443 @kindex set procfs-file
18444 Tell @value{GDBN} to write @code{procfs} API trace to the named
18445 @var{file}. @value{GDBN} appends the trace info to the previous
18446 contents of the file. The default is to display the trace on the
18449 @item show procfs-file
18450 @kindex show procfs-file
18451 Show the file to which @code{procfs} API trace is written.
18453 @item proc-trace-entry
18454 @itemx proc-trace-exit
18455 @itemx proc-untrace-entry
18456 @itemx proc-untrace-exit
18457 @kindex proc-trace-entry
18458 @kindex proc-trace-exit
18459 @kindex proc-untrace-entry
18460 @kindex proc-untrace-exit
18461 These commands enable and disable tracing of entries into and exits
18462 from the @code{syscall} interface.
18465 @kindex info pidlist
18466 @cindex process list, QNX Neutrino
18467 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all the
18468 processes and all the threads within each process.
18471 @kindex info meminfo
18472 @cindex mapinfo list, QNX Neutrino
18473 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all mapinfos.
18477 @subsection Features for Debugging @sc{djgpp} Programs
18478 @cindex @sc{djgpp} debugging
18479 @cindex native @sc{djgpp} debugging
18480 @cindex MS-DOS-specific commands
18483 @sc{djgpp} is a port of the @sc{gnu} development tools to MS-DOS and
18484 MS-Windows. @sc{djgpp} programs are 32-bit protected-mode programs
18485 that use the @dfn{DPMI} (DOS Protected-Mode Interface) API to run on
18486 top of real-mode DOS systems and their emulations.
18488 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of @sc{djgpp} programs, and
18489 defines a few commands specific to the @sc{djgpp} port. This
18490 subsection describes those commands.
18495 This is a prefix of @sc{djgpp}-specific commands which print
18496 information about the target system and important OS structures.
18499 @cindex MS-DOS system info
18500 @cindex free memory information (MS-DOS)
18501 @item info dos sysinfo
18502 This command displays assorted information about the underlying
18503 platform: the CPU type and features, the OS version and flavor, the
18504 DPMI version, and the available conventional and DPMI memory.
18509 @cindex segment descriptor tables
18510 @cindex descriptor tables display
18512 @itemx info dos ldt
18513 @itemx info dos idt
18514 These 3 commands display entries from, respectively, Global, Local,
18515 and Interrupt Descriptor Tables (GDT, LDT, and IDT). The descriptor
18516 tables are data structures which store a descriptor for each segment
18517 that is currently in use. The segment's selector is an index into a
18518 descriptor table; the table entry for that index holds the
18519 descriptor's base address and limit, and its attributes and access
18522 A typical @sc{djgpp} program uses 3 segments: a code segment, a data
18523 segment (used for both data and the stack), and a DOS segment (which
18524 allows access to DOS/BIOS data structures and absolute addresses in
18525 conventional memory). However, the DPMI host will usually define
18526 additional segments in order to support the DPMI environment.
18528 @cindex garbled pointers
18529 These commands allow to display entries from the descriptor tables.
18530 Without an argument, all entries from the specified table are
18531 displayed. An argument, which should be an integer expression, means
18532 display a single entry whose index is given by the argument. For
18533 example, here's a convenient way to display information about the
18534 debugged program's data segment:
18537 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos ldt $ds}
18538 @exdent @code{0x13f: base=0x11970000 limit=0x0009ffff 32-Bit Data (Read/Write, Exp-up)}
18542 This comes in handy when you want to see whether a pointer is outside
18543 the data segment's limit (i.e.@: @dfn{garbled}).
18545 @cindex page tables display (MS-DOS)
18547 @itemx info dos pte
18548 These two commands display entries from, respectively, the Page
18549 Directory and the Page Tables. Page Directories and Page Tables are
18550 data structures which control how virtual memory addresses are mapped
18551 into physical addresses. A Page Table includes an entry for every
18552 page of memory that is mapped into the program's address space; there
18553 may be several Page Tables, each one holding up to 4096 entries. A
18554 Page Directory has up to 4096 entries, one each for every Page Table
18555 that is currently in use.
18557 Without an argument, @kbd{info dos pde} displays the entire Page
18558 Directory, and @kbd{info dos pte} displays all the entries in all of
18559 the Page Tables. An argument, an integer expression, given to the
18560 @kbd{info dos pde} command means display only that entry from the Page
18561 Directory table. An argument given to the @kbd{info dos pte} command
18562 means display entries from a single Page Table, the one pointed to by
18563 the specified entry in the Page Directory.
18565 @cindex direct memory access (DMA) on MS-DOS
18566 These commands are useful when your program uses @dfn{DMA} (Direct
18567 Memory Access), which needs physical addresses to program the DMA
18570 These commands are supported only with some DPMI servers.
18572 @cindex physical address from linear address
18573 @item info dos address-pte @var{addr}
18574 This command displays the Page Table entry for a specified linear
18575 address. The argument @var{addr} is a linear address which should
18576 already have the appropriate segment's base address added to it,
18577 because this command accepts addresses which may belong to @emph{any}
18578 segment. For example, here's how to display the Page Table entry for
18579 the page where a variable @code{i} is stored:
18582 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte __djgpp_base_address + (char *)&i}
18583 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x11a00d30:}
18584 @exdent @code{Base=0x02698000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0xd30}
18588 This says that @code{i} is stored at offset @code{0xd30} from the page
18589 whose physical base address is @code{0x02698000}, and shows all the
18590 attributes of that page.
18592 Note that you must cast the addresses of variables to a @code{char *},
18593 since otherwise the value of @code{__djgpp_base_address}, the base
18594 address of all variables and functions in a @sc{djgpp} program, will
18595 be added using the rules of C pointer arithmetics: if @code{i} is
18596 declared an @code{int}, @value{GDBN} will add 4 times the value of
18597 @code{__djgpp_base_address} to the address of @code{i}.
18599 Here's another example, it displays the Page Table entry for the
18603 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte *((unsigned *)&_go32_info_block + 3)}
18604 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x29110:}
18605 @exdent @code{Base=0x00029000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0x110}
18609 (The @code{+ 3} offset is because the transfer buffer's address is the
18610 3rd member of the @code{_go32_info_block} structure.) The output
18611 clearly shows that this DPMI server maps the addresses in conventional
18612 memory 1:1, i.e.@: the physical (@code{0x00029000} + @code{0x110}) and
18613 linear (@code{0x29110}) addresses are identical.
18615 This command is supported only with some DPMI servers.
18618 @cindex DOS serial data link, remote debugging
18619 In addition to native debugging, the DJGPP port supports remote
18620 debugging via a serial data link. The following commands are specific
18621 to remote serial debugging in the DJGPP port of @value{GDBN}.
18624 @kindex set com1base
18625 @kindex set com1irq
18626 @kindex set com2base
18627 @kindex set com2irq
18628 @kindex set com3base
18629 @kindex set com3irq
18630 @kindex set com4base
18631 @kindex set com4irq
18632 @item set com1base @var{addr}
18633 This command sets the base I/O port address of the @file{COM1} serial
18636 @item set com1irq @var{irq}
18637 This command sets the @dfn{Interrupt Request} (@code{IRQ}) line to use
18638 for the @file{COM1} serial port.
18640 There are similar commands @samp{set com2base}, @samp{set com3irq},
18641 etc.@: for setting the port address and the @code{IRQ} lines for the
18644 @kindex show com1base
18645 @kindex show com1irq
18646 @kindex show com2base
18647 @kindex show com2irq
18648 @kindex show com3base
18649 @kindex show com3irq
18650 @kindex show com4base
18651 @kindex show com4irq
18652 The related commands @samp{show com1base}, @samp{show com1irq} etc.@:
18653 display the current settings of the base address and the @code{IRQ}
18654 lines used by the COM ports.
18657 @kindex info serial
18658 @cindex DOS serial port status
18659 This command prints the status of the 4 DOS serial ports. For each
18660 port, it prints whether it's active or not, its I/O base address and
18661 IRQ number, whether it uses a 16550-style FIFO, its baudrate, and the
18662 counts of various errors encountered so far.
18666 @node Cygwin Native
18667 @subsection Features for Debugging MS Windows PE Executables
18668 @cindex MS Windows debugging
18669 @cindex native Cygwin debugging
18670 @cindex Cygwin-specific commands
18672 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of MS Windows programs, including
18673 DLLs with and without symbolic debugging information.
18675 @cindex Ctrl-BREAK, MS-Windows
18676 @cindex interrupt debuggee on MS-Windows
18677 MS-Windows programs that call @code{SetConsoleMode} to switch off the
18678 special meaning of the @samp{Ctrl-C} keystroke cannot be interrupted
18679 by typing @kbd{C-c}. For this reason, @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows
18680 supports @kbd{C-@key{BREAK}} as an alternative interrupt key
18681 sequence, which can be used to interrupt the debuggee even if it
18684 There are various additional Cygwin-specific commands, described in
18685 this section. Working with DLLs that have no debugging symbols is
18686 described in @ref{Non-debug DLL Symbols}.
18691 This is a prefix of MS Windows-specific commands which print
18692 information about the target system and important OS structures.
18694 @item info w32 selector
18695 This command displays information returned by
18696 the Win32 API @code{GetThreadSelectorEntry} function.
18697 It takes an optional argument that is evaluated to
18698 a long value to give the information about this given selector.
18699 Without argument, this command displays information
18700 about the six segment registers.
18702 @item info w32 thread-information-block
18703 This command displays thread specific information stored in the
18704 Thread Information Block (readable on the X86 CPU family using @code{$fs}
18705 selector for 32-bit programs and @code{$gs} for 64-bit programs).
18709 This is a Cygwin-specific alias of @code{info shared}.
18711 @kindex dll-symbols
18713 This command loads symbols from a dll similarly to
18714 add-sym command but without the need to specify a base address.
18716 @kindex set cygwin-exceptions
18717 @cindex debugging the Cygwin DLL
18718 @cindex Cygwin DLL, debugging
18719 @item set cygwin-exceptions @var{mode}
18720 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that
18721 happen inside the Cygwin DLL. If @var{mode} is @code{off},
18722 @value{GDBN} will delay recognition of exceptions, and may ignore some
18723 exceptions which seem to be caused by internal Cygwin DLL
18724 ``bookkeeping''. This option is meant primarily for debugging the
18725 Cygwin DLL itself; the default value is @code{off} to avoid annoying
18726 @value{GDBN} users with false @code{SIGSEGV} signals.
18728 @kindex show cygwin-exceptions
18729 @item show cygwin-exceptions
18730 Displays whether @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that happen
18731 inside the Cygwin DLL itself.
18733 @kindex set new-console
18734 @item set new-console @var{mode}
18735 If @var{mode} is @code{on} the debuggee will
18736 be started in a new console on next start.
18737 If @var{mode} is @code{off}, the debuggee will
18738 be started in the same console as the debugger.
18740 @kindex show new-console
18741 @item show new-console
18742 Displays whether a new console is used
18743 when the debuggee is started.
18745 @kindex set new-group
18746 @item set new-group @var{mode}
18747 This boolean value controls whether the debuggee should
18748 start a new group or stay in the same group as the debugger.
18749 This affects the way the Windows OS handles
18752 @kindex show new-group
18753 @item show new-group
18754 Displays current value of new-group boolean.
18756 @kindex set debugevents
18757 @item set debugevents
18758 This boolean value adds debug output concerning kernel events related
18759 to the debuggee seen by the debugger. This includes events that
18760 signal thread and process creation and exit, DLL loading and
18761 unloading, console interrupts, and debugging messages produced by the
18762 Windows @code{OutputDebugString} API call.
18764 @kindex set debugexec
18765 @item set debugexec
18766 This boolean value adds debug output concerning execute events
18767 (such as resume thread) seen by the debugger.
18769 @kindex set debugexceptions
18770 @item set debugexceptions
18771 This boolean value adds debug output concerning exceptions in the
18772 debuggee seen by the debugger.
18774 @kindex set debugmemory
18775 @item set debugmemory
18776 This boolean value adds debug output concerning debuggee memory reads
18777 and writes by the debugger.
18781 This boolean values specifies whether the debuggee is called
18782 via a shell or directly (default value is on).
18786 Displays if the debuggee will be started with a shell.
18791 * Non-debug DLL Symbols:: Support for DLLs without debugging symbols
18794 @node Non-debug DLL Symbols
18795 @subsubsection Support for DLLs without Debugging Symbols
18796 @cindex DLLs with no debugging symbols
18797 @cindex Minimal symbols and DLLs
18799 Very often on windows, some of the DLLs that your program relies on do
18800 not include symbolic debugging information (for example,
18801 @file{kernel32.dll}). When @value{GDBN} doesn't recognize any debugging
18802 symbols in a DLL, it relies on the minimal amount of symbolic
18803 information contained in the DLL's export table. This section
18804 describes working with such symbols, known internally to @value{GDBN} as
18805 ``minimal symbols''.
18807 Note that before the debugged program has started execution, no DLLs
18808 will have been loaded. The easiest way around this problem is simply to
18809 start the program --- either by setting a breakpoint or letting the
18810 program run once to completion. It is also possible to force
18811 @value{GDBN} to load a particular DLL before starting the executable ---
18812 see the shared library information in @ref{Files}, or the
18813 @code{dll-symbols} command in @ref{Cygwin Native}. Currently,
18814 explicitly loading symbols from a DLL with no debugging information will
18815 cause the symbol names to be duplicated in @value{GDBN}'s lookup table,
18816 which may adversely affect symbol lookup performance.
18818 @subsubsection DLL Name Prefixes
18820 In keeping with the naming conventions used by the Microsoft debugging
18821 tools, DLL export symbols are made available with a prefix based on the
18822 DLL name, for instance @code{KERNEL32!CreateFileA}. The plain name is
18823 also entered into the symbol table, so @code{CreateFileA} is often
18824 sufficient. In some cases there will be name clashes within a program
18825 (particularly if the executable itself includes full debugging symbols)
18826 necessitating the use of the fully qualified name when referring to the
18827 contents of the DLL. Use single-quotes around the name to avoid the
18828 exclamation mark (``!'') being interpreted as a language operator.
18830 Note that the internal name of the DLL may be all upper-case, even
18831 though the file name of the DLL is lower-case, or vice-versa. Since
18832 symbols within @value{GDBN} are @emph{case-sensitive} this may cause
18833 some confusion. If in doubt, try the @code{info functions} and
18834 @code{info variables} commands or even @code{maint print msymbols}
18835 (@pxref{Symbols}). Here's an example:
18838 (@value{GDBP}) info function CreateFileA
18839 All functions matching regular expression "CreateFileA":
18841 Non-debugging symbols:
18842 0x77e885f4 CreateFileA
18843 0x77e885f4 KERNEL32!CreateFileA
18847 (@value{GDBP}) info function !
18848 All functions matching regular expression "!":
18850 Non-debugging symbols:
18851 0x6100114c cygwin1!__assert
18852 0x61004034 cygwin1!_dll_crt0@@0
18853 0x61004240 cygwin1!dll_crt0(per_process *)
18857 @subsubsection Working with Minimal Symbols
18859 Symbols extracted from a DLL's export table do not contain very much
18860 type information. All that @value{GDBN} can do is guess whether a symbol
18861 refers to a function or variable depending on the linker section that
18862 contains the symbol. Also note that the actual contents of the memory
18863 contained in a DLL are not available unless the program is running. This
18864 means that you cannot examine the contents of a variable or disassemble
18865 a function within a DLL without a running program.
18867 Variables are generally treated as pointers and dereferenced
18868 automatically. For this reason, it is often necessary to prefix a
18869 variable name with the address-of operator (``&'') and provide explicit
18870 type information in the command. Here's an example of the type of
18874 (@value{GDBP}) print 'cygwin1!__argv'
18879 (@value{GDBP}) x 'cygwin1!__argv'
18880 0x10021610: "\230y\""
18883 And two possible solutions:
18886 (@value{GDBP}) print ((char **)'cygwin1!__argv')[0]
18887 $2 = 0x22fd98 "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
18891 (@value{GDBP}) x/2x &'cygwin1!__argv'
18892 0x610c0aa8 <cygwin1!__argv>: 0x10021608 0x00000000
18893 (@value{GDBP}) x/x 0x10021608
18894 0x10021608: 0x0022fd98
18895 (@value{GDBP}) x/s 0x0022fd98
18896 0x22fd98: "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
18899 Setting a break point within a DLL is possible even before the program
18900 starts execution. However, under these circumstances, @value{GDBN} can't
18901 examine the initial instructions of the function in order to skip the
18902 function's frame set-up code. You can work around this by using ``*&''
18903 to set the breakpoint at a raw memory address:
18906 (@value{GDBP}) break *&'python22!PyOS_Readline'
18907 Breakpoint 1 at 0x1e04eff0
18910 The author of these extensions is not entirely convinced that setting a
18911 break point within a shared DLL like @file{kernel32.dll} is completely
18915 @subsection Commands Specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd Systems
18916 @cindex @sc{gnu} Hurd debugging
18918 This subsection describes @value{GDBN} commands specific to the
18919 @sc{gnu} Hurd native debugging.
18924 @kindex set signals@r{, Hurd command}
18925 @kindex set sigs@r{, Hurd command}
18926 This command toggles the state of inferior signal interception by
18927 @value{GDBN}. Mach exceptions, such as breakpoint traps, are not
18928 affected by this command. @code{sigs} is a shorthand alias for
18933 @kindex show signals@r{, Hurd command}
18934 @kindex show sigs@r{, Hurd command}
18935 Show the current state of intercepting inferior's signals.
18937 @item set signal-thread
18938 @itemx set sigthread
18939 @kindex set signal-thread
18940 @kindex set sigthread
18941 This command tells @value{GDBN} which thread is the @code{libc} signal
18942 thread. That thread is run when a signal is delivered to a running
18943 process. @code{set sigthread} is the shorthand alias of @code{set
18946 @item show signal-thread
18947 @itemx show sigthread
18948 @kindex show signal-thread
18949 @kindex show sigthread
18950 These two commands show which thread will run when the inferior is
18951 delivered a signal.
18954 @kindex set stopped@r{, Hurd command}
18955 This commands tells @value{GDBN} that the inferior process is stopped,
18956 as with the @code{SIGSTOP} signal. The stopped process can be
18957 continued by delivering a signal to it.
18960 @kindex show stopped@r{, Hurd command}
18961 This command shows whether @value{GDBN} thinks the debuggee is
18964 @item set exceptions
18965 @kindex set exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
18966 Use this command to turn off trapping of exceptions in the inferior.
18967 When exception trapping is off, neither breakpoints nor
18968 single-stepping will work. To restore the default, set exception
18971 @item show exceptions
18972 @kindex show exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
18973 Show the current state of trapping exceptions in the inferior.
18975 @item set task pause
18976 @kindex set task@r{, Hurd commands}
18977 @cindex task attributes (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
18978 @cindex pause current task (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
18979 This command toggles task suspension when @value{GDBN} has control.
18980 Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the task is suspended
18981 whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to off will take
18982 effect the next time the inferior is continued. If this option is set
18983 to off, you can use @code{set thread default pause on} or @code{set
18984 thread pause on} (see below) to pause individual threads.
18986 @item show task pause
18987 @kindex show task@r{, Hurd commands}
18988 Show the current state of task suspension.
18990 @item set task detach-suspend-count
18991 @cindex task suspend count
18992 @cindex detach from task, @sc{gnu} Hurd
18993 This command sets the suspend count the task will be left with when
18994 @value{GDBN} detaches from it.
18996 @item show task detach-suspend-count
18997 Show the suspend count the task will be left with when detaching.
18999 @item set task exception-port
19000 @itemx set task excp
19001 @cindex task exception port, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19002 This command sets the task exception port to which @value{GDBN} will
19003 forward exceptions. The argument should be the value of the @dfn{send
19004 rights} of the task. @code{set task excp} is a shorthand alias.
19006 @item set noninvasive
19007 @cindex noninvasive task options
19008 This command switches @value{GDBN} to a mode that is the least
19009 invasive as far as interfering with the inferior is concerned. This
19010 is the same as using @code{set task pause}, @code{set exceptions}, and
19011 @code{set signals} to values opposite to the defaults.
19013 @item info send-rights
19014 @itemx info receive-rights
19015 @itemx info port-rights
19016 @itemx info port-sets
19017 @itemx info dead-names
19020 @cindex send rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19021 @cindex receive rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19022 @cindex port rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19023 @cindex port sets, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19024 @cindex dead names, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19025 These commands display information about, respectively, send rights,
19026 receive rights, port rights, port sets, and dead names of a task.
19027 There are also shorthand aliases: @code{info ports} for @code{info
19028 port-rights} and @code{info psets} for @code{info port-sets}.
19030 @item set thread pause
19031 @kindex set thread@r{, Hurd command}
19032 @cindex thread properties, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19033 @cindex pause current thread (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
19034 This command toggles current thread suspension when @value{GDBN} has
19035 control. Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the current
19036 thread is suspended whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to
19037 off will take effect the next time the inferior is continued.
19038 Normally, this command has no effect, since when @value{GDBN} has
19039 control, the whole task is suspended. However, if you used @code{set
19040 task pause off} (see above), this command comes in handy to suspend
19041 only the current thread.
19043 @item show thread pause
19044 @kindex show thread@r{, Hurd command}
19045 This command shows the state of current thread suspension.
19047 @item set thread run
19048 This command sets whether the current thread is allowed to run.
19050 @item show thread run
19051 Show whether the current thread is allowed to run.
19053 @item set thread detach-suspend-count
19054 @cindex thread suspend count, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19055 @cindex detach from thread, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19056 This command sets the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on a
19057 thread when detaching. This number is relative to the suspend count
19058 found by @value{GDBN} when it notices the thread; use @code{set thread
19059 takeover-suspend-count} to force it to an absolute value.
19061 @item show thread detach-suspend-count
19062 Show the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on the thread when
19065 @item set thread exception-port
19066 @itemx set thread excp
19067 Set the thread exception port to which to forward exceptions. This
19068 overrides the port set by @code{set task exception-port} (see above).
19069 @code{set thread excp} is the shorthand alias.
19071 @item set thread takeover-suspend-count
19072 Normally, @value{GDBN}'s thread suspend counts are relative to the
19073 value @value{GDBN} finds when it notices each thread. This command
19074 changes the suspend counts to be absolute instead.
19076 @item set thread default
19077 @itemx show thread default
19078 @cindex thread default settings, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19079 Each of the above @code{set thread} commands has a @code{set thread
19080 default} counterpart (e.g., @code{set thread default pause}, @code{set
19081 thread default exception-port}, etc.). The @code{thread default}
19082 variety of commands sets the default thread properties for all
19083 threads; you can then change the properties of individual threads with
19084 the non-default commands.
19089 @subsection QNX Neutrino
19090 @cindex QNX Neutrino
19092 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the QNX
19096 @item set debug nto-debug
19097 @kindex set debug nto-debug
19098 When set to on, enables debugging messages specific to the QNX
19101 @item show debug nto-debug
19102 @kindex show debug nto-debug
19103 Show the current state of QNX Neutrino messages.
19110 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the Darwin target:
19113 @item set debug darwin @var{num}
19114 @kindex set debug darwin
19115 When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages specific to
19116 the Darwin support. Higher values produce more verbose output.
19118 @item show debug darwin
19119 @kindex show debug darwin
19120 Show the current state of Darwin messages.
19122 @item set debug mach-o @var{num}
19123 @kindex set debug mach-o
19124 When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages while
19125 @value{GDBN} is reading Darwin object files. (@dfn{Mach-O} is the
19126 file format used on Darwin for object and executable files.) Higher
19127 values produce more verbose output. This is a command to diagnose
19128 problems internal to @value{GDBN} and should not be needed in normal
19131 @item show debug mach-o
19132 @kindex show debug mach-o
19133 Show the current state of Mach-O file messages.
19135 @item set mach-exceptions on
19136 @itemx set mach-exceptions off
19137 @kindex set mach-exceptions
19138 On Darwin, faults are first reported as a Mach exception and are then
19139 mapped to a Posix signal. Use this command to turn on trapping of
19140 Mach exceptions in the inferior. This might be sometimes useful to
19141 better understand the cause of a fault. The default is off.
19143 @item show mach-exceptions
19144 @kindex show mach-exceptions
19145 Show the current state of exceptions trapping.
19150 @section Embedded Operating Systems
19152 This section describes configurations involving the debugging of
19153 embedded operating systems that are available for several different
19157 * VxWorks:: Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
19160 @value{GDBN} includes the ability to debug programs running on
19161 various real-time operating systems.
19164 @subsection Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
19170 @kindex target vxworks
19171 @item target vxworks @var{machinename}
19172 A VxWorks system, attached via TCP/IP. The argument @var{machinename}
19173 is the target system's machine name or IP address.
19177 On VxWorks, @code{load} links @var{filename} dynamically on the
19178 current target system as well as adding its symbols in @value{GDBN}.
19180 @value{GDBN} enables developers to spawn and debug tasks running on networked
19181 VxWorks targets from a Unix host. Already-running tasks spawned from
19182 the VxWorks shell can also be debugged. @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
19183 both the Unix host and on the VxWorks target. The program
19184 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host. (It may be
19185 installed with the name @code{vxgdb}, to distinguish it from a
19186 @value{GDBN} for debugging programs on the host itself.)
19189 @item VxWorks-timeout @var{args}
19190 @kindex vxworks-timeout
19191 All VxWorks-based targets now support the option @code{vxworks-timeout}.
19192 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
19193 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses to rpc's. You might use this if
19194 your VxWorks target is a slow software simulator or is on the far side
19195 of a thin network line.
19198 The following information on connecting to VxWorks was current when
19199 this manual was produced; newer releases of VxWorks may use revised
19202 @findex INCLUDE_RDB
19203 To use @value{GDBN} with VxWorks, you must rebuild your VxWorks kernel
19204 to include the remote debugging interface routines in the VxWorks
19205 library @file{rdb.a}. To do this, define @code{INCLUDE_RDB} in the
19206 VxWorks configuration file @file{configAll.h} and rebuild your VxWorks
19207 kernel. The resulting kernel contains @file{rdb.a}, and spawns the
19208 source debugging task @code{tRdbTask} when VxWorks is booted. For more
19209 information on configuring and remaking VxWorks, see the manufacturer's
19211 @c VxWorks, see the @cite{VxWorks Programmer's Guide}.
19213 Once you have included @file{rdb.a} in your VxWorks system image and set
19214 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
19215 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}} (or
19216 @code{vxgdb}, depending on your installation).
19218 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
19225 * VxWorks Connection:: Connecting to VxWorks
19226 * VxWorks Download:: VxWorks download
19227 * VxWorks Attach:: Running tasks
19230 @node VxWorks Connection
19231 @subsubsection Connecting to VxWorks
19233 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a VxWorks target on the
19234 network. To connect to a target whose host name is ``@code{tt}'', type:
19237 (vxgdb) target vxworks tt
19241 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
19244 Attaching remote machine across net...
19249 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol tables of any object modules
19250 loaded into the VxWorks target since it was last booted. @value{GDBN} locates
19251 these files by searching the directories listed in the command search
19252 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}); if it fails
19253 to find an object file, it displays a message such as:
19256 prog.o: No such file or directory.
19259 When this happens, add the appropriate directory to the search path with
19260 the @value{GDBN} command @code{path}, and execute the @code{target}
19263 @node VxWorks Download
19264 @subsubsection VxWorks Download
19266 @cindex download to VxWorks
19267 If you have connected to the VxWorks target and you want to debug an
19268 object that has not yet been loaded, you can use the @value{GDBN}
19269 @code{load} command to download a file from Unix to VxWorks
19270 incrementally. The object file given as an argument to the @code{load}
19271 command is actually opened twice: first by the VxWorks target in order
19272 to download the code, then by @value{GDBN} in order to read the symbol
19273 table. This can lead to problems if the current working directories on
19274 the two systems differ. If both systems have NFS mounted the same
19275 filesystems, you can avoid these problems by using absolute paths.
19276 Otherwise, it is simplest to set the working directory on both systems
19277 to the directory in which the object file resides, and then to reference
19278 the file by its name, without any path. For instance, a program
19279 @file{prog.o} may reside in @file{@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb} in VxWorks
19280 and in @file{@var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb} on the host. To load this
19281 program, type this on VxWorks:
19284 -> cd "@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb"
19288 Then, in @value{GDBN}, type:
19291 (vxgdb) cd @var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb
19292 (vxgdb) load prog.o
19295 @value{GDBN} displays a response similar to this:
19298 Reading symbol data from wherever/vw/demo/rdb/prog.o... done.
19301 You can also use the @code{load} command to reload an object module
19302 after editing and recompiling the corresponding source file. Note that
19303 this makes @value{GDBN} delete all currently-defined breakpoints,
19304 auto-displays, and convenience variables, and to clear the value
19305 history. (This is necessary in order to preserve the integrity of
19306 debugger's data structures that reference the target system's symbol
19309 @node VxWorks Attach
19310 @subsubsection Running Tasks
19312 @cindex running VxWorks tasks
19313 You can also attach to an existing task using the @code{attach} command as
19317 (vxgdb) attach @var{task}
19321 where @var{task} is the VxWorks hexadecimal task ID. The task can be running
19322 or suspended when you attach to it. Running tasks are suspended at
19323 the time of attachment.
19325 @node Embedded Processors
19326 @section Embedded Processors
19328 This section goes into details specific to particular embedded
19331 @cindex send command to simulator
19332 Whenever a specific embedded processor has a simulator, @value{GDBN}
19333 allows to send an arbitrary command to the simulator.
19336 @item sim @var{command}
19337 @kindex sim@r{, a command}
19338 Send an arbitrary @var{command} string to the simulator. Consult the
19339 documentation for the specific simulator in use for information about
19340 acceptable commands.
19346 * M32R/D:: Renesas M32R/D
19347 * M68K:: Motorola M68K
19348 * MicroBlaze:: Xilinx MicroBlaze
19349 * MIPS Embedded:: MIPS Embedded
19350 * OpenRISC 1000:: OpenRisc 1000
19351 * PA:: HP PA Embedded
19352 * PowerPC Embedded:: PowerPC Embedded
19353 * Sparclet:: Tsqware Sparclet
19354 * Sparclite:: Fujitsu Sparclite
19355 * Z8000:: Zilog Z8000
19358 * Super-H:: Renesas Super-H
19367 @item target rdi @var{dev}
19368 ARM Angel monitor, via RDI library interface to ADP protocol. You may
19369 use this target to communicate with both boards running the Angel
19370 monitor, or with the EmbeddedICE JTAG debug device.
19373 @item target rdp @var{dev}
19378 @value{GDBN} provides the following ARM-specific commands:
19381 @item set arm disassembler
19383 This commands selects from a list of disassembly styles. The
19384 @code{"std"} style is the standard style.
19386 @item show arm disassembler
19388 Show the current disassembly style.
19390 @item set arm apcs32
19391 @cindex ARM 32-bit mode
19392 This command toggles ARM operation mode between 32-bit and 26-bit.
19394 @item show arm apcs32
19395 Display the current usage of the ARM 32-bit mode.
19397 @item set arm fpu @var{fputype}
19398 This command sets the ARM floating-point unit (FPU) type. The
19399 argument @var{fputype} can be one of these:
19403 Determine the FPU type by querying the OS ABI.
19405 Software FPU, with mixed-endian doubles on little-endian ARM
19408 GCC-compiled FPA co-processor.
19410 Software FPU with pure-endian doubles.
19416 Show the current type of the FPU.
19419 This command forces @value{GDBN} to use the specified ABI.
19422 Show the currently used ABI.
19424 @item set arm fallback-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
19425 @value{GDBN} uses the symbol table, when available, to determine
19426 whether instructions are ARM or Thumb. This command controls
19427 @value{GDBN}'s default behavior when the symbol table is not
19428 available. The default is @samp{auto}, which causes @value{GDBN} to
19429 use the current execution mode (from the @code{T} bit in the @code{CPSR}
19432 @item show arm fallback-mode
19433 Show the current fallback instruction mode.
19435 @item set arm force-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
19436 This command overrides use of the symbol table to determine whether
19437 instructions are ARM or Thumb. The default is @samp{auto}, which
19438 causes @value{GDBN} to use the symbol table and then the setting
19439 of @samp{set arm fallback-mode}.
19441 @item show arm force-mode
19442 Show the current forced instruction mode.
19444 @item set debug arm
19445 Toggle whether to display ARM-specific debugging messages from the ARM
19446 target support subsystem.
19448 @item show debug arm
19449 Show whether ARM-specific debugging messages are enabled.
19452 The following commands are available when an ARM target is debugged
19453 using the RDI interface:
19456 @item rdilogfile @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
19458 @cindex ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) logging
19459 Set the filename for the ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) packet log.
19460 With an argument, sets the log file to the specified @var{file}. With
19461 no argument, show the current log file name. The default log file is
19464 @item rdilogenable @r{[}@var{arg}@r{]}
19465 @kindex rdilogenable
19466 Control logging of ADP packets. With an argument of 1 or @code{"yes"}
19467 enables logging, with an argument 0 or @code{"no"} disables it. With
19468 no arguments displays the current setting. When logging is enabled,
19469 ADP packets exchanged between @value{GDBN} and the RDI target device
19470 are logged to a file.
19472 @item set rdiromatzero
19473 @kindex set rdiromatzero
19474 @cindex ROM at zero address, RDI
19475 Tell @value{GDBN} whether the target has ROM at address 0. If on,
19476 vector catching is disabled, so that zero address can be used. If off
19477 (the default), vector catching is enabled. For this command to take
19478 effect, it needs to be invoked prior to the @code{target rdi} command.
19480 @item show rdiromatzero
19481 @kindex show rdiromatzero
19482 Show the current setting of ROM at zero address.
19484 @item set rdiheartbeat
19485 @kindex set rdiheartbeat
19486 @cindex RDI heartbeat
19487 Enable or disable RDI heartbeat packets. It is not recommended to
19488 turn on this option, since it confuses ARM and EPI JTAG interface, as
19489 well as the Angel monitor.
19491 @item show rdiheartbeat
19492 @kindex show rdiheartbeat
19493 Show the setting of RDI heartbeat packets.
19497 @item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
19498 The @value{GDBN} ARM simulator accepts the following optional arguments.
19501 @item --swi-support=@var{type}
19502 Tell the simulator which SWI interfaces to support.
19503 @var{type} may be a comma separated list of the following values.
19504 The default value is @code{all}.
19517 @subsection Renesas M32R/D and M32R/SDI
19520 @kindex target m32r
19521 @item target m32r @var{dev}
19522 Renesas M32R/D ROM monitor.
19524 @kindex target m32rsdi
19525 @item target m32rsdi @var{dev}
19526 Renesas M32R SDI server, connected via parallel port to the board.
19529 The following @value{GDBN} commands are specific to the M32R monitor:
19532 @item set download-path @var{path}
19533 @kindex set download-path
19534 @cindex find downloadable @sc{srec} files (M32R)
19535 Set the default path for finding downloadable @sc{srec} files.
19537 @item show download-path
19538 @kindex show download-path
19539 Show the default path for downloadable @sc{srec} files.
19541 @item set board-address @var{addr}
19542 @kindex set board-address
19543 @cindex M32-EVA target board address
19544 Set the IP address for the M32R-EVA target board.
19546 @item show board-address
19547 @kindex show board-address
19548 Show the current IP address of the target board.
19550 @item set server-address @var{addr}
19551 @kindex set server-address
19552 @cindex download server address (M32R)
19553 Set the IP address for the download server, which is the @value{GDBN}'s
19556 @item show server-address
19557 @kindex show server-address
19558 Display the IP address of the download server.
19560 @item upload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
19561 @kindex upload@r{, M32R}
19562 Upload the specified @sc{srec} @var{file} via the monitor's Ethernet
19563 upload capability. If no @var{file} argument is given, the current
19564 executable file is uploaded.
19566 @item tload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
19567 @kindex tload@r{, M32R}
19568 Test the @code{upload} command.
19571 The following commands are available for M32R/SDI:
19576 @cindex reset SDI connection, M32R
19577 This command resets the SDI connection.
19581 This command shows the SDI connection status.
19584 @kindex debug_chaos
19585 @cindex M32R/Chaos debugging
19586 Instructs the remote that M32R/Chaos debugging is to be used.
19588 @item use_debug_dma
19589 @kindex use_debug_dma
19590 Instructs the remote to use the DEBUG_DMA method of accessing memory.
19593 @kindex use_mon_code
19594 Instructs the remote to use the MON_CODE method of accessing memory.
19597 @kindex use_ib_break
19598 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by IB break.
19600 @item use_dbt_break
19601 @kindex use_dbt_break
19602 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by DBT.
19608 The Motorola m68k configuration includes ColdFire support, and a
19609 target command for the following ROM monitor.
19613 @kindex target dbug
19614 @item target dbug @var{dev}
19615 dBUG ROM monitor for Motorola ColdFire.
19620 @subsection MicroBlaze
19621 @cindex Xilinx MicroBlaze
19622 @cindex XMD, Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger
19624 The MicroBlaze is a soft-core processor supported on various Xilinx
19625 FPGAs, such as Spartan or Virtex series. Boards with these processors
19626 usually have JTAG ports which connect to a host system running the Xilinx
19627 Embedded Development Kit (EDK) or Software Development Kit (SDK).
19628 This host system is used to download the configuration bitstream to
19629 the target FPGA. The Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger (XMD) program
19630 communicates with the target board using the JTAG interface and
19631 presents a @code{gdbserver} interface to the board. By default
19632 @code{xmd} uses port @code{1234}. (While it is possible to change
19633 this default port, it requires the use of undocumented @code{xmd}
19634 commands. Contact Xilinx support if you need to do this.)
19636 Use these GDB commands to connect to the MicroBlaze target processor.
19639 @item target remote :1234
19640 Use this command to connect to the target if you are running @value{GDBN}
19641 on the same system as @code{xmd}.
19643 @item target remote @var{xmd-host}:1234
19644 Use this command to connect to the target if it is connected to @code{xmd}
19645 running on a different system named @var{xmd-host}.
19648 Use this command to download a program to the MicroBlaze target.
19650 @item set debug microblaze @var{n}
19651 Enable MicroBlaze-specific debugging messages if non-zero.
19653 @item show debug microblaze @var{n}
19654 Show MicroBlaze-specific debugging level.
19657 @node MIPS Embedded
19658 @subsection MIPS Embedded
19660 @cindex MIPS boards
19661 @value{GDBN} can use the MIPS remote debugging protocol to talk to a
19662 MIPS board attached to a serial line. This is available when
19663 you configure @value{GDBN} with @samp{--target=mips-elf}.
19666 Use these @value{GDBN} commands to specify the connection to your target board:
19669 @item target mips @var{port}
19670 @kindex target mips @var{port}
19671 To run a program on the board, start up @code{@value{GDBP}} with the
19672 name of your program as the argument. To connect to the board, use the
19673 command @samp{target mips @var{port}}, where @var{port} is the name of
19674 the serial port connected to the board. If the program has not already
19675 been downloaded to the board, you may use the @code{load} command to
19676 download it. You can then use all the usual @value{GDBN} commands.
19678 For example, this sequence connects to the target board through a serial
19679 port, and loads and runs a program called @var{prog} through the
19683 host$ @value{GDBP} @var{prog}
19684 @value{GDBN} is free software and @dots{}
19685 (@value{GDBP}) target mips /dev/ttyb
19686 (@value{GDBP}) load @var{prog}
19690 @item target mips @var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}
19691 On some @value{GDBN} host configurations, you can specify a TCP
19692 connection (for instance, to a serial line managed by a terminal
19693 concentrator) instead of a serial port, using the syntax
19694 @samp{@var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}}.
19696 @item target pmon @var{port}
19697 @kindex target pmon @var{port}
19700 @item target ddb @var{port}
19701 @kindex target ddb @var{port}
19702 NEC's DDB variant of PMON for Vr4300.
19704 @item target lsi @var{port}
19705 @kindex target lsi @var{port}
19706 LSI variant of PMON.
19708 @kindex target r3900
19709 @item target r3900 @var{dev}
19710 Densan DVE-R3900 ROM monitor for Toshiba R3900 Mips.
19712 @kindex target array
19713 @item target array @var{dev}
19714 Array Tech LSI33K RAID controller board.
19720 @value{GDBN} also supports these special commands for MIPS targets:
19723 @item set mipsfpu double
19724 @itemx set mipsfpu single
19725 @itemx set mipsfpu none
19726 @itemx set mipsfpu auto
19727 @itemx show mipsfpu
19728 @kindex set mipsfpu
19729 @kindex show mipsfpu
19730 @cindex MIPS remote floating point
19731 @cindex floating point, MIPS remote
19732 If your target board does not support the MIPS floating point
19733 coprocessor, you should use the command @samp{set mipsfpu none} (if you
19734 need this, you may wish to put the command in your @value{GDBN} init
19735 file). This tells @value{GDBN} how to find the return value of
19736 functions which return floating point values. It also allows
19737 @value{GDBN} to avoid saving the floating point registers when calling
19738 functions on the board. If you are using a floating point coprocessor
19739 with only single precision floating point support, as on the @sc{r4650}
19740 processor, use the command @samp{set mipsfpu single}. The default
19741 double precision floating point coprocessor may be selected using
19742 @samp{set mipsfpu double}.
19744 In previous versions the only choices were double precision or no
19745 floating point, so @samp{set mipsfpu on} will select double precision
19746 and @samp{set mipsfpu off} will select no floating point.
19748 As usual, you can inquire about the @code{mipsfpu} variable with
19749 @samp{show mipsfpu}.
19751 @item set timeout @var{seconds}
19752 @itemx set retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}
19753 @itemx show timeout
19754 @itemx show retransmit-timeout
19755 @cindex @code{timeout}, MIPS protocol
19756 @cindex @code{retransmit-timeout}, MIPS protocol
19757 @kindex set timeout
19758 @kindex show timeout
19759 @kindex set retransmit-timeout
19760 @kindex show retransmit-timeout
19761 You can control the timeout used while waiting for a packet, in the MIPS
19762 remote protocol, with the @code{set timeout @var{seconds}} command. The
19763 default is 5 seconds. Similarly, you can control the timeout used while
19764 waiting for an acknowledgment of a packet with the @code{set
19765 retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}} command. The default is 3 seconds.
19766 You can inspect both values with @code{show timeout} and @code{show
19767 retransmit-timeout}. (These commands are @emph{only} available when
19768 @value{GDBN} is configured for @samp{--target=mips-elf}.)
19770 The timeout set by @code{set timeout} does not apply when @value{GDBN}
19771 is waiting for your program to stop. In that case, @value{GDBN} waits
19772 forever because it has no way of knowing how long the program is going
19773 to run before stopping.
19775 @item set syn-garbage-limit @var{num}
19776 @kindex set syn-garbage-limit@r{, MIPS remote}
19777 @cindex synchronize with remote MIPS target
19778 Limit the maximum number of characters @value{GDBN} should ignore when
19779 it tries to synchronize with the remote target. The default is 10
19780 characters. Setting the limit to -1 means there's no limit.
19782 @item show syn-garbage-limit
19783 @kindex show syn-garbage-limit@r{, MIPS remote}
19784 Show the current limit on the number of characters to ignore when
19785 trying to synchronize with the remote system.
19787 @item set monitor-prompt @var{prompt}
19788 @kindex set monitor-prompt@r{, MIPS remote}
19789 @cindex remote monitor prompt
19790 Tell @value{GDBN} to expect the specified @var{prompt} string from the
19791 remote monitor. The default depends on the target:
19801 @item show monitor-prompt
19802 @kindex show monitor-prompt@r{, MIPS remote}
19803 Show the current strings @value{GDBN} expects as the prompt from the
19806 @item set monitor-warnings
19807 @kindex set monitor-warnings@r{, MIPS remote}
19808 Enable or disable monitor warnings about hardware breakpoints. This
19809 has effect only for the @code{lsi} target. When on, @value{GDBN} will
19810 display warning messages whose codes are returned by the @code{lsi}
19811 PMON monitor for breakpoint commands.
19813 @item show monitor-warnings
19814 @kindex show monitor-warnings@r{, MIPS remote}
19815 Show the current setting of printing monitor warnings.
19817 @item pmon @var{command}
19818 @kindex pmon@r{, MIPS remote}
19819 @cindex send PMON command
19820 This command allows sending an arbitrary @var{command} string to the
19821 monitor. The monitor must be in debug mode for this to work.
19824 @node OpenRISC 1000
19825 @subsection OpenRISC 1000
19826 @cindex OpenRISC 1000
19828 @cindex or1k boards
19829 See OR1k Architecture document (@uref{www.opencores.org}) for more information
19830 about platform and commands.
19834 @kindex target jtag
19835 @item target jtag jtag://@var{host}:@var{port}
19837 Connects to remote JTAG server.
19838 JTAG remote server can be either an or1ksim or JTAG server,
19839 connected via parallel port to the board.
19841 Example: @code{target jtag jtag://localhost:9999}
19844 @item or1ksim @var{command}
19845 If connected to @code{or1ksim} OpenRISC 1000 Architectural
19846 Simulator, proprietary commands can be executed.
19848 @kindex info or1k spr
19849 @item info or1k spr
19850 Displays spr groups.
19852 @item info or1k spr @var{group}
19853 @itemx info or1k spr @var{groupno}
19854 Displays register names in selected group.
19856 @item info or1k spr @var{group} @var{register}
19857 @itemx info or1k spr @var{register}
19858 @itemx info or1k spr @var{groupno} @var{registerno}
19859 @itemx info or1k spr @var{registerno}
19860 Shows information about specified spr register.
19863 @item spr @var{group} @var{register} @var{value}
19864 @itemx spr @var{register @var{value}}
19865 @itemx spr @var{groupno} @var{registerno @var{value}}
19866 @itemx spr @var{registerno @var{value}}
19867 Writes @var{value} to specified spr register.
19870 Some implementations of OpenRISC 1000 Architecture also have hardware trace.
19871 It is very similar to @value{GDBN} trace, except it does not interfere with normal
19872 program execution and is thus much faster. Hardware breakpoints/watchpoint
19873 triggers can be set using:
19876 Load effective address/data
19878 Store effective address/data
19880 Access effective address ($SEA or $LEA) or data ($SDATA/$LDATA)
19885 When triggered, it can capture low level data, like: @code{PC}, @code{LSEA},
19886 @code{LDATA}, @code{SDATA}, @code{READSPR}, @code{WRITESPR}, @code{INSTR}.
19888 @code{htrace} commands:
19889 @cindex OpenRISC 1000 htrace
19892 @item hwatch @var{conditional}
19893 Set hardware watchpoint on combination of Load/Store Effective Address(es)
19894 or Data. For example:
19896 @code{hwatch ($LEA == my_var) && ($LDATA < 50) || ($SEA == my_var) && ($SDATA >= 50)}
19898 @code{hwatch ($LEA == my_var) && ($LDATA < 50) || ($SEA == my_var) && ($SDATA >= 50)}
19902 Display information about current HW trace configuration.
19904 @item htrace trigger @var{conditional}
19905 Set starting criteria for HW trace.
19907 @item htrace qualifier @var{conditional}
19908 Set acquisition qualifier for HW trace.
19910 @item htrace stop @var{conditional}
19911 Set HW trace stopping criteria.
19913 @item htrace record [@var{data}]*
19914 Selects the data to be recorded, when qualifier is met and HW trace was
19917 @item htrace enable
19918 @itemx htrace disable
19919 Enables/disables the HW trace.
19921 @item htrace rewind [@var{filename}]
19922 Clears currently recorded trace data.
19924 If filename is specified, new trace file is made and any newly collected data
19925 will be written there.
19927 @item htrace print [@var{start} [@var{len}]]
19928 Prints trace buffer, using current record configuration.
19930 @item htrace mode continuous
19931 Set continuous trace mode.
19933 @item htrace mode suspend
19934 Set suspend trace mode.
19938 @node PowerPC Embedded
19939 @subsection PowerPC Embedded
19941 @cindex DVC register
19942 @value{GDBN} supports using the DVC (Data Value Compare) register to
19943 implement in hardware simple hardware watchpoint conditions of the form:
19946 (@value{GDBP}) watch @var{ADDRESS|VARIABLE} \
19947 if @var{ADDRESS|VARIABLE} == @var{CONSTANT EXPRESSION}
19950 The DVC register will be automatically used when @value{GDBN} detects
19951 such pattern in a condition expression, and the created watchpoint uses one
19952 debug register (either the @code{exact-watchpoints} option is on and the
19953 variable is scalar, or the variable has a length of one byte). This feature
19954 is available in native @value{GDBN} running on a Linux kernel version 2.6.34
19957 When running on PowerPC embedded processors, @value{GDBN} automatically uses
19958 ranged hardware watchpoints, unless the @code{exact-watchpoints} option is on,
19959 in which case watchpoints using only one debug register are created when
19960 watching variables of scalar types.
19962 You can create an artificial array to watch an arbitrary memory
19963 region using one of the following commands (@pxref{Expressions}):
19966 (@value{GDBP}) watch *((char *) @var{address})@@@var{length}
19967 (@value{GDBP}) watch @{char[@var{length}]@} @var{address}
19970 PowerPC embedded processors support masked watchpoints. See the discussion
19971 about the @code{mask} argument in @ref{Set Watchpoints}.
19973 @cindex ranged breakpoint
19974 PowerPC embedded processors support hardware accelerated
19975 @dfn{ranged breakpoints}. A ranged breakpoint stops execution of
19976 the inferior whenever it executes an instruction at any address within
19977 the range it specifies. To set a ranged breakpoint in @value{GDBN},
19978 use the @code{break-range} command.
19980 @value{GDBN} provides the following PowerPC-specific commands:
19983 @kindex break-range
19984 @item break-range @var{start-location}, @var{end-location}
19985 Set a breakpoint for an address range.
19986 @var{start-location} and @var{end-location} can specify a function name,
19987 a line number, an offset of lines from the current line or from the start
19988 location, or an address of an instruction (see @ref{Specify Location},
19989 for a list of all the possible ways to specify a @var{location}.)
19990 The breakpoint will stop execution of the inferior whenever it
19991 executes an instruction at any address within the specified range,
19992 (including @var{start-location} and @var{end-location}.)
19994 @kindex set powerpc
19995 @item set powerpc soft-float
19996 @itemx show powerpc soft-float
19997 Force @value{GDBN} to use (or not use) a software floating point calling
19998 convention. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention based
19999 on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
20001 @item set powerpc vector-abi
20002 @itemx show powerpc vector-abi
20003 Force @value{GDBN} to use the specified calling convention for vector
20004 arguments and return values. The valid options are @samp{auto};
20005 @samp{generic}, to avoid vector registers even if they are present;
20006 @samp{altivec}, to use AltiVec registers; and @samp{spe} to use SPE
20007 registers. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention
20008 based on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
20010 @item set powerpc exact-watchpoints
20011 @itemx show powerpc exact-watchpoints
20012 Allow @value{GDBN} to use only one debug register when watching a variable
20013 of scalar type, thus assuming that the variable is accessed through the
20014 address of its first byte.
20016 @kindex target dink32
20017 @item target dink32 @var{dev}
20018 DINK32 ROM monitor.
20020 @kindex target ppcbug
20021 @item target ppcbug @var{dev}
20022 @kindex target ppcbug1
20023 @item target ppcbug1 @var{dev}
20024 PPCBUG ROM monitor for PowerPC.
20027 @item target sds @var{dev}
20028 SDS monitor, running on a PowerPC board (such as Motorola's ADS).
20031 @cindex SDS protocol
20032 The following commands specific to the SDS protocol are supported
20036 @item set sdstimeout @var{nsec}
20037 @kindex set sdstimeout
20038 Set the timeout for SDS protocol reads to be @var{nsec} seconds. The
20039 default is 2 seconds.
20041 @item show sdstimeout
20042 @kindex show sdstimeout
20043 Show the current value of the SDS timeout.
20045 @item sds @var{command}
20046 @kindex sds@r{, a command}
20047 Send the specified @var{command} string to the SDS monitor.
20052 @subsection HP PA Embedded
20056 @kindex target op50n
20057 @item target op50n @var{dev}
20058 OP50N monitor, running on an OKI HPPA board.
20060 @kindex target w89k
20061 @item target w89k @var{dev}
20062 W89K monitor, running on a Winbond HPPA board.
20067 @subsection Tsqware Sparclet
20071 @value{GDBN} enables developers to debug tasks running on
20072 Sparclet targets from a Unix host.
20073 @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
20074 both the Unix host and on the Sparclet target. The program
20075 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host.
20078 @item remotetimeout @var{args}
20079 @kindex remotetimeout
20080 @value{GDBN} supports the option @code{remotetimeout}.
20081 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
20082 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses.
20085 @cindex compiling, on Sparclet
20086 When compiling for debugging, include the options @samp{-g} to get debug
20087 information and @samp{-Ttext} to relocate the program to where you wish to
20088 load it on the target. You may also want to add the options @samp{-n} or
20089 @samp{-N} in order to reduce the size of the sections. Example:
20092 sparclet-aout-gcc prog.c -Ttext 0x12010000 -g -o prog -N
20095 You can use @code{objdump} to verify that the addresses are what you intended:
20098 sparclet-aout-objdump --headers --syms prog
20101 @cindex running, on Sparclet
20103 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
20104 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}}
20105 (or @code{sparclet-aout-gdb}, depending on your installation).
20107 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
20114 * Sparclet File:: Setting the file to debug
20115 * Sparclet Connection:: Connecting to Sparclet
20116 * Sparclet Download:: Sparclet download
20117 * Sparclet Execution:: Running and debugging
20120 @node Sparclet File
20121 @subsubsection Setting File to Debug
20123 The @value{GDBN} command @code{file} lets you choose with program to debug.
20126 (gdbslet) file prog
20130 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol table of @file{prog}.
20131 @value{GDBN} locates
20132 the file by searching the directories listed in the command search
20134 If the file was compiled with debug information (option @samp{-g}), source
20135 files will be searched as well.
20136 @value{GDBN} locates
20137 the source files by searching the directories listed in the directory search
20138 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}).
20140 to find a file, it displays a message such as:
20143 prog: No such file or directory.
20146 When this happens, add the appropriate directories to the search paths with
20147 the @value{GDBN} commands @code{path} and @code{dir}, and execute the
20148 @code{target} command again.
20150 @node Sparclet Connection
20151 @subsubsection Connecting to Sparclet
20153 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a Sparclet target.
20154 To connect to a target on serial port ``@code{ttya}'', type:
20157 (gdbslet) target sparclet /dev/ttya
20158 Remote target sparclet connected to /dev/ttya
20159 main () at ../prog.c:3
20163 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
20169 @node Sparclet Download
20170 @subsubsection Sparclet Download
20172 @cindex download to Sparclet
20173 Once connected to the Sparclet target,
20174 you can use the @value{GDBN}
20175 @code{load} command to download the file from the host to the target.
20176 The file name and load offset should be given as arguments to the @code{load}
20178 Since the file format is aout, the program must be loaded to the starting
20179 address. You can use @code{objdump} to find out what this value is. The load
20180 offset is an offset which is added to the VMA (virtual memory address)
20181 of each of the file's sections.
20182 For instance, if the program
20183 @file{prog} was linked to text address 0x1201000, with data at 0x12010160
20184 and bss at 0x12010170, in @value{GDBN}, type:
20187 (gdbslet) load prog 0x12010000
20188 Loading section .text, size 0xdb0 vma 0x12010000
20191 If the code is loaded at a different address then what the program was linked
20192 to, you may need to use the @code{section} and @code{add-symbol-file} commands
20193 to tell @value{GDBN} where to map the symbol table.
20195 @node Sparclet Execution
20196 @subsubsection Running and Debugging
20198 @cindex running and debugging Sparclet programs
20199 You can now begin debugging the task using @value{GDBN}'s execution control
20200 commands, @code{b}, @code{step}, @code{run}, etc. See the @value{GDBN}
20201 manual for the list of commands.
20205 Breakpoint 1 at 0x12010000: file prog.c, line 3.
20207 Starting program: prog
20208 Breakpoint 1, main (argc=1, argv=0xeffff21c) at prog.c:3
20209 3 char *symarg = 0;
20211 4 char *execarg = "hello!";
20216 @subsection Fujitsu Sparclite
20220 @kindex target sparclite
20221 @item target sparclite @var{dev}
20222 Fujitsu sparclite boards, used only for the purpose of loading.
20223 You must use an additional command to debug the program.
20224 For example: target remote @var{dev} using @value{GDBN} standard
20230 @subsection Zilog Z8000
20233 @cindex simulator, Z8000
20234 @cindex Zilog Z8000 simulator
20236 When configured for debugging Zilog Z8000 targets, @value{GDBN} includes
20239 For the Z8000 family, @samp{target sim} simulates either the Z8002 (the
20240 unsegmented variant of the Z8000 architecture) or the Z8001 (the
20241 segmented variant). The simulator recognizes which architecture is
20242 appropriate by inspecting the object code.
20245 @item target sim @var{args}
20247 @kindex target sim@r{, with Z8000}
20248 Debug programs on a simulated CPU. If the simulator supports setup
20249 options, specify them via @var{args}.
20253 After specifying this target, you can debug programs for the simulated
20254 CPU in the same style as programs for your host computer; use the
20255 @code{file} command to load a new program image, the @code{run} command
20256 to run your program, and so on.
20258 As well as making available all the usual machine registers
20259 (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}), the Z8000 simulator provides three
20260 additional items of information as specially named registers:
20265 Counts clock-ticks in the simulator.
20268 Counts instructions run in the simulator.
20271 Execution time in 60ths of a second.
20275 You can refer to these values in @value{GDBN} expressions with the usual
20276 conventions; for example, @w{@samp{b fputc if $cycles>5000}} sets a
20277 conditional breakpoint that suspends only after at least 5000
20278 simulated clock ticks.
20281 @subsection Atmel AVR
20284 When configured for debugging the Atmel AVR, @value{GDBN} supports the
20285 following AVR-specific commands:
20288 @item info io_registers
20289 @kindex info io_registers@r{, AVR}
20290 @cindex I/O registers (Atmel AVR)
20291 This command displays information about the AVR I/O registers. For
20292 each register, @value{GDBN} prints its number and value.
20299 When configured for debugging CRIS, @value{GDBN} provides the
20300 following CRIS-specific commands:
20303 @item set cris-version @var{ver}
20304 @cindex CRIS version
20305 Set the current CRIS version to @var{ver}, either @samp{10} or @samp{32}.
20306 The CRIS version affects register names and sizes. This command is useful in
20307 case autodetection of the CRIS version fails.
20309 @item show cris-version
20310 Show the current CRIS version.
20312 @item set cris-dwarf2-cfi
20313 @cindex DWARF-2 CFI and CRIS
20314 Set the usage of DWARF-2 CFI for CRIS debugging. The default is @samp{on}.
20315 Change to @samp{off} when using @code{gcc-cris} whose version is below
20318 @item show cris-dwarf2-cfi
20319 Show the current state of using DWARF-2 CFI.
20321 @item set cris-mode @var{mode}
20323 Set the current CRIS mode to @var{mode}. It should only be changed when
20324 debugging in guru mode, in which case it should be set to
20325 @samp{guru} (the default is @samp{normal}).
20327 @item show cris-mode
20328 Show the current CRIS mode.
20332 @subsection Renesas Super-H
20335 For the Renesas Super-H processor, @value{GDBN} provides these
20340 @kindex regs@r{, Super-H}
20341 Show the values of all Super-H registers.
20343 @item set sh calling-convention @var{convention}
20344 @kindex set sh calling-convention
20345 Set the calling-convention used when calling functions from @value{GDBN}.
20346 Allowed values are @samp{gcc}, which is the default setting, and @samp{renesas}.
20347 With the @samp{gcc} setting, functions are called using the @value{NGCC} calling
20348 convention. If the DWARF-2 information of the called function specifies
20349 that the function follows the Renesas calling convention, the function
20350 is called using the Renesas calling convention. If the calling convention
20351 is set to @samp{renesas}, the Renesas calling convention is always used,
20352 regardless of the DWARF-2 information. This can be used to override the
20353 default of @samp{gcc} if debug information is missing, or the compiler
20354 does not emit the DWARF-2 calling convention entry for a function.
20356 @item show sh calling-convention
20357 @kindex show sh calling-convention
20358 Show the current calling convention setting.
20363 @node Architectures
20364 @section Architectures
20366 This section describes characteristics of architectures that affect
20367 all uses of @value{GDBN} with the architecture, both native and cross.
20373 * HPPA:: HP PA architecture
20374 * SPU:: Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
20379 @subsection x86 Architecture-specific Issues
20382 @item set struct-convention @var{mode}
20383 @kindex set struct-convention
20384 @cindex struct return convention
20385 @cindex struct/union returned in registers
20386 Set the convention used by the inferior to return @code{struct}s and
20387 @code{union}s from functions to @var{mode}. Possible values of
20388 @var{mode} are @code{"pcc"}, @code{"reg"}, and @code{"default"} (the
20389 default). @code{"default"} or @code{"pcc"} means that @code{struct}s
20390 are returned on the stack, while @code{"reg"} means that a
20391 @code{struct} or a @code{union} whose size is 1, 2, 4, or 8 bytes will
20392 be returned in a register.
20394 @item show struct-convention
20395 @kindex show struct-convention
20396 Show the current setting of the convention to return @code{struct}s
20403 See the following section.
20408 @cindex stack on Alpha
20409 @cindex stack on MIPS
20410 @cindex Alpha stack
20412 Alpha- and MIPS-based computers use an unusual stack frame, which
20413 sometimes requires @value{GDBN} to search backward in the object code to
20414 find the beginning of a function.
20416 @cindex response time, MIPS debugging
20417 To improve response time (especially for embedded applications, where
20418 @value{GDBN} may be restricted to a slow serial line for this search)
20419 you may want to limit the size of this search, using one of these
20423 @cindex @code{heuristic-fence-post} (Alpha, MIPS)
20424 @item set heuristic-fence-post @var{limit}
20425 Restrict @value{GDBN} to examining at most @var{limit} bytes in its
20426 search for the beginning of a function. A value of @var{0} (the
20427 default) means there is no limit. However, except for @var{0}, the
20428 larger the limit the more bytes @code{heuristic-fence-post} must search
20429 and therefore the longer it takes to run. You should only need to use
20430 this command when debugging a stripped executable.
20432 @item show heuristic-fence-post
20433 Display the current limit.
20437 These commands are available @emph{only} when @value{GDBN} is configured
20438 for debugging programs on Alpha or MIPS processors.
20440 Several MIPS-specific commands are available when debugging MIPS
20444 @item set mips abi @var{arg}
20445 @kindex set mips abi
20446 @cindex set ABI for MIPS
20447 Tell @value{GDBN} which MIPS ABI is used by the inferior. Possible
20448 values of @var{arg} are:
20452 The default ABI associated with the current binary (this is the
20462 @item show mips abi
20463 @kindex show mips abi
20464 Show the MIPS ABI used by @value{GDBN} to debug the inferior.
20467 @itemx show mipsfpu
20468 @xref{MIPS Embedded, set mipsfpu}.
20470 @item set mips mask-address @var{arg}
20471 @kindex set mips mask-address
20472 @cindex MIPS addresses, masking
20473 This command determines whether the most-significant 32 bits of 64-bit
20474 MIPS addresses are masked off. The argument @var{arg} can be
20475 @samp{on}, @samp{off}, or @samp{auto}. The latter is the default
20476 setting, which lets @value{GDBN} determine the correct value.
20478 @item show mips mask-address
20479 @kindex show mips mask-address
20480 Show whether the upper 32 bits of MIPS addresses are masked off or
20483 @item set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
20484 @kindex set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
20485 This command controls compatibility with 64-bit MIPS targets that
20486 transfer data in 32-bit quantities. If you have an old MIPS 64 target
20487 that transfers 32 bits for some registers, like @sc{sr} and @sc{fsr},
20488 and 64 bits for other registers, set this option to @samp{on}.
20490 @item show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
20491 @kindex show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
20492 Show the current setting of compatibility with older MIPS 64 targets.
20494 @item set debug mips
20495 @kindex set debug mips
20496 This command turns on and off debugging messages for the MIPS-specific
20497 target code in @value{GDBN}.
20499 @item show debug mips
20500 @kindex show debug mips
20501 Show the current setting of MIPS debugging messages.
20507 @cindex HPPA support
20509 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the HP PA architecture, it provides the
20510 following special commands:
20513 @item set debug hppa
20514 @kindex set debug hppa
20515 This command determines whether HPPA architecture-specific debugging
20516 messages are to be displayed.
20518 @item show debug hppa
20519 Show whether HPPA debugging messages are displayed.
20521 @item maint print unwind @var{address}
20522 @kindex maint print unwind@r{, HPPA}
20523 This command displays the contents of the unwind table entry at the
20524 given @var{address}.
20530 @subsection Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
20531 @cindex Cell Broadband Engine
20534 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture,
20535 it provides the following special commands:
20538 @item info spu event
20540 Display SPU event facility status. Shows current event mask
20541 and pending event status.
20543 @item info spu signal
20544 Display SPU signal notification facility status. Shows pending
20545 signal-control word and signal notification mode of both signal
20546 notification channels.
20548 @item info spu mailbox
20549 Display SPU mailbox facility status. Shows all pending entries,
20550 in order of processing, in each of the SPU Write Outbound,
20551 SPU Write Outbound Interrupt, and SPU Read Inbound mailboxes.
20554 Display MFC DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
20555 DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
20556 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
20558 @item info spu proxydma
20559 Display MFC Proxy-DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
20560 Proxy-DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
20561 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
20565 When @value{GDBN} is debugging a combined PowerPC/SPU application
20566 on the Cell Broadband Engine, it provides in addition the following
20570 @item set spu stop-on-load @var{arg}
20572 Set whether to stop for new SPE threads. When set to @code{on}, @value{GDBN}
20573 will give control to the user when a new SPE thread enters its @code{main}
20574 function. The default is @code{off}.
20576 @item show spu stop-on-load
20578 Show whether to stop for new SPE threads.
20580 @item set spu auto-flush-cache @var{arg}
20581 Set whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache. When set to
20582 @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will automatically cause the SPE software-managed
20583 cache to be flushed whenever SPE execution stops. This provides a consistent
20584 view of PowerPC memory that is accessed via the cache. If an application
20585 does not use the software-managed cache, this option has no effect.
20587 @item show spu auto-flush-cache
20588 Show whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache.
20593 @subsection PowerPC
20594 @cindex PowerPC architecture
20596 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the PowerPC architecture, it provides a set of
20597 pseudo-registers to enable inspection of 128-bit wide Decimal Floating Point
20598 numbers stored in the floating point registers. These values must be stored
20599 in two consecutive registers, always starting at an even register like
20600 @code{f0} or @code{f2}.
20602 The pseudo-registers go from @code{$dl0} through @code{$dl15}, and are formed
20603 by joining the even/odd register pairs @code{f0} and @code{f1} for @code{$dl0},
20604 @code{f2} and @code{f3} for @code{$dl1} and so on.
20606 For POWER7 processors, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers, the 64-bit
20607 wide Extended Floating Point Registers (@samp{f32} through @samp{f63}).
20610 @node Controlling GDB
20611 @chapter Controlling @value{GDBN}
20613 You can alter the way @value{GDBN} interacts with you by using the
20614 @code{set} command. For commands controlling how @value{GDBN} displays
20615 data, see @ref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}. Other settings are
20620 * Editing:: Command editing
20621 * Command History:: Command history
20622 * Screen Size:: Screen size
20623 * Numbers:: Numbers
20624 * ABI:: Configuring the current ABI
20625 * Auto-loading:: Automatically loading associated files
20626 * Messages/Warnings:: Optional warnings and messages
20627 * Debugging Output:: Optional messages about internal happenings
20628 * Other Misc Settings:: Other Miscellaneous Settings
20636 @value{GDBN} indicates its readiness to read a command by printing a string
20637 called the @dfn{prompt}. This string is normally @samp{(@value{GDBP})}. You
20638 can change the prompt string with the @code{set prompt} command. For
20639 instance, when debugging @value{GDBN} with @value{GDBN}, it is useful to change
20640 the prompt in one of the @value{GDBN} sessions so that you can always tell
20641 which one you are talking to.
20643 @emph{Note:} @code{set prompt} does not add a space for you after the
20644 prompt you set. This allows you to set a prompt which ends in a space
20645 or a prompt that does not.
20649 @item set prompt @var{newprompt}
20650 Directs @value{GDBN} to use @var{newprompt} as its prompt string henceforth.
20652 @kindex show prompt
20654 Prints a line of the form: @samp{Gdb's prompt is: @var{your-prompt}}
20657 Versions of @value{GDBN} that ship with Python scripting enabled have
20658 prompt extensions. The commands for interacting with these extensions
20662 @kindex set extended-prompt
20663 @item set extended-prompt @var{prompt}
20664 Set an extended prompt that allows for substitutions.
20665 @xref{gdb.prompt}, for a list of escape sequences that can be used for
20666 substitution. Any escape sequences specified as part of the prompt
20667 string are replaced with the corresponding strings each time the prompt
20673 set extended-prompt Current working directory: \w (gdb)
20676 Note that when an extended-prompt is set, it takes control of the
20677 @var{prompt_hook} hook. @xref{prompt_hook}, for further information.
20679 @kindex show extended-prompt
20680 @item show extended-prompt
20681 Prints the extended prompt. Any escape sequences specified as part of
20682 the prompt string with @code{set extended-prompt}, are replaced with the
20683 corresponding strings each time the prompt is displayed.
20687 @section Command Editing
20689 @cindex command line editing
20691 @value{GDBN} reads its input commands via the @dfn{Readline} interface. This
20692 @sc{gnu} library provides consistent behavior for programs which provide a
20693 command line interface to the user. Advantages are @sc{gnu} Emacs-style
20694 or @dfn{vi}-style inline editing of commands, @code{csh}-like history
20695 substitution, and a storage and recall of command history across
20696 debugging sessions.
20698 You may control the behavior of command line editing in @value{GDBN} with the
20699 command @code{set}.
20702 @kindex set editing
20705 @itemx set editing on
20706 Enable command line editing (enabled by default).
20708 @item set editing off
20709 Disable command line editing.
20711 @kindex show editing
20713 Show whether command line editing is enabled.
20716 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
20717 @xref{Command Line Editing, , , rluserman, GNU Readline Library},
20719 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
20720 @xref{Command Line Editing},
20722 for more details about the Readline
20723 interface. Users unfamiliar with @sc{gnu} Emacs or @code{vi} are
20724 encouraged to read that chapter.
20726 @node Command History
20727 @section Command History
20728 @cindex command history
20730 @value{GDBN} can keep track of the commands you type during your
20731 debugging sessions, so that you can be certain of precisely what
20732 happened. Use these commands to manage the @value{GDBN} command
20735 @value{GDBN} uses the @sc{gnu} History library, a part of the Readline
20736 package, to provide the history facility.
20737 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
20738 @xref{Using History Interactively, , , history, GNU History Library},
20740 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
20741 @xref{Using History Interactively},
20743 for the detailed description of the History library.
20745 To issue a command to @value{GDBN} without affecting certain aspects of
20746 the state which is seen by users, prefix it with @samp{server }
20747 (@pxref{Server Prefix}). This
20748 means that this command will not affect the command history, nor will it
20749 affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which command to repeat if @key{RET} is
20750 pressed on a line by itself.
20752 @cindex @code{server}, command prefix
20753 The server prefix does not affect the recording of values into the value
20754 history; to print a value without recording it into the value history,
20755 use the @code{output} command instead of the @code{print} command.
20757 Here is the description of @value{GDBN} commands related to command
20761 @cindex history substitution
20762 @cindex history file
20763 @kindex set history filename
20764 @cindex @env{GDBHISTFILE}, environment variable
20765 @item set history filename @var{fname}
20766 Set the name of the @value{GDBN} command history file to @var{fname}.
20767 This is the file where @value{GDBN} reads an initial command history
20768 list, and where it writes the command history from this session when it
20769 exits. You can access this list through history expansion or through
20770 the history command editing characters listed below. This file defaults
20771 to the value of the environment variable @code{GDBHISTFILE}, or to
20772 @file{./.gdb_history} (@file{./_gdb_history} on MS-DOS) if this variable
20775 @cindex save command history
20776 @kindex set history save
20777 @item set history save
20778 @itemx set history save on
20779 Record command history in a file, whose name may be specified with the
20780 @code{set history filename} command. By default, this option is disabled.
20782 @item set history save off
20783 Stop recording command history in a file.
20785 @cindex history size
20786 @kindex set history size
20787 @cindex @env{HISTSIZE}, environment variable
20788 @item set history size @var{size}
20789 Set the number of commands which @value{GDBN} keeps in its history list.
20790 This defaults to the value of the environment variable
20791 @code{HISTSIZE}, or to 256 if this variable is not set.
20794 History expansion assigns special meaning to the character @kbd{!}.
20795 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
20796 @xref{Event Designators, , , history, GNU History Library},
20798 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
20799 @xref{Event Designators},
20803 @cindex history expansion, turn on/off
20804 Since @kbd{!} is also the logical not operator in C, history expansion
20805 is off by default. If you decide to enable history expansion with the
20806 @code{set history expansion on} command, you may sometimes need to
20807 follow @kbd{!} (when it is used as logical not, in an expression) with
20808 a space or a tab to prevent it from being expanded. The readline
20809 history facilities do not attempt substitution on the strings
20810 @kbd{!=} and @kbd{!(}, even when history expansion is enabled.
20812 The commands to control history expansion are:
20815 @item set history expansion on
20816 @itemx set history expansion
20817 @kindex set history expansion
20818 Enable history expansion. History expansion is off by default.
20820 @item set history expansion off
20821 Disable history expansion.
20824 @kindex show history
20826 @itemx show history filename
20827 @itemx show history save
20828 @itemx show history size
20829 @itemx show history expansion
20830 These commands display the state of the @value{GDBN} history parameters.
20831 @code{show history} by itself displays all four states.
20836 @kindex show commands
20837 @cindex show last commands
20838 @cindex display command history
20839 @item show commands
20840 Display the last ten commands in the command history.
20842 @item show commands @var{n}
20843 Print ten commands centered on command number @var{n}.
20845 @item show commands +
20846 Print ten commands just after the commands last printed.
20850 @section Screen Size
20851 @cindex size of screen
20852 @cindex pauses in output
20854 Certain commands to @value{GDBN} may produce large amounts of
20855 information output to the screen. To help you read all of it,
20856 @value{GDBN} pauses and asks you for input at the end of each page of
20857 output. Type @key{RET} when you want to continue the output, or @kbd{q}
20858 to discard the remaining output. Also, the screen width setting
20859 determines when to wrap lines of output. Depending on what is being
20860 printed, @value{GDBN} tries to break the line at a readable place,
20861 rather than simply letting it overflow onto the following line.
20863 Normally @value{GDBN} knows the size of the screen from the terminal
20864 driver software. For example, on Unix @value{GDBN} uses the termcap data base
20865 together with the value of the @code{TERM} environment variable and the
20866 @code{stty rows} and @code{stty cols} settings. If this is not correct,
20867 you can override it with the @code{set height} and @code{set
20874 @kindex show height
20875 @item set height @var{lpp}
20877 @itemx set width @var{cpl}
20879 These @code{set} commands specify a screen height of @var{lpp} lines and
20880 a screen width of @var{cpl} characters. The associated @code{show}
20881 commands display the current settings.
20883 If you specify a height of zero lines, @value{GDBN} does not pause during
20884 output no matter how long the output is. This is useful if output is to a
20885 file or to an editor buffer.
20887 Likewise, you can specify @samp{set width 0} to prevent @value{GDBN}
20888 from wrapping its output.
20890 @item set pagination on
20891 @itemx set pagination off
20892 @kindex set pagination
20893 Turn the output pagination on or off; the default is on. Turning
20894 pagination off is the alternative to @code{set height 0}. Note that
20895 running @value{GDBN} with the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode
20896 Options, -batch}) also automatically disables pagination.
20898 @item show pagination
20899 @kindex show pagination
20900 Show the current pagination mode.
20905 @cindex number representation
20906 @cindex entering numbers
20908 You can always enter numbers in octal, decimal, or hexadecimal in
20909 @value{GDBN} by the usual conventions: octal numbers begin with
20910 @samp{0}, decimal numbers end with @samp{.}, and hexadecimal numbers
20911 begin with @samp{0x}. Numbers that neither begin with @samp{0} or
20912 @samp{0x}, nor end with a @samp{.} are, by default, entered in base
20913 10; likewise, the default display for numbers---when no particular
20914 format is specified---is base 10. You can change the default base for
20915 both input and output with the commands described below.
20918 @kindex set input-radix
20919 @item set input-radix @var{base}
20920 Set the default base for numeric input. Supported choices
20921 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
20922 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix; for
20926 set input-radix 012
20927 set input-radix 10.
20928 set input-radix 0xa
20932 sets the input base to decimal. On the other hand, @samp{set input-radix 10}
20933 leaves the input radix unchanged, no matter what it was, since
20934 @samp{10}, being without any leading or trailing signs of its base, is
20935 interpreted in the current radix. Thus, if the current radix is 16,
20936 @samp{10} is interpreted in hex, i.e.@: as 16 decimal, which doesn't
20939 @kindex set output-radix
20940 @item set output-radix @var{base}
20941 Set the default base for numeric display. Supported choices
20942 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
20943 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix.
20945 @kindex show input-radix
20946 @item show input-radix
20947 Display the current default base for numeric input.
20949 @kindex show output-radix
20950 @item show output-radix
20951 Display the current default base for numeric display.
20953 @item set radix @r{[}@var{base}@r{]}
20957 These commands set and show the default base for both input and output
20958 of numbers. @code{set radix} sets the radix of input and output to
20959 the same base; without an argument, it resets the radix back to its
20960 default value of 10.
20965 @section Configuring the Current ABI
20967 @value{GDBN} can determine the @dfn{ABI} (Application Binary Interface) of your
20968 application automatically. However, sometimes you need to override its
20969 conclusions. Use these commands to manage @value{GDBN}'s view of the
20976 One @value{GDBN} configuration can debug binaries for multiple operating
20977 system targets, either via remote debugging or native emulation.
20978 @value{GDBN} will autodetect the @dfn{OS ABI} (Operating System ABI) in use,
20979 but you can override its conclusion using the @code{set osabi} command.
20980 One example where this is useful is in debugging of binaries which use
20981 an alternate C library (e.g.@: @sc{uClibc} for @sc{gnu}/Linux) which does
20982 not have the same identifying marks that the standard C library for your
20987 Show the OS ABI currently in use.
20990 With no argument, show the list of registered available OS ABI's.
20992 @item set osabi @var{abi}
20993 Set the current OS ABI to @var{abi}.
20996 @cindex float promotion
20998 Generally, the way that an argument of type @code{float} is passed to a
20999 function depends on whether the function is prototyped. For a prototyped
21000 (i.e.@: ANSI/ISO style) function, @code{float} arguments are passed unchanged,
21001 according to the architecture's convention for @code{float}. For unprototyped
21002 (i.e.@: K&R style) functions, @code{float} arguments are first promoted to type
21003 @code{double} and then passed.
21005 Unfortunately, some forms of debug information do not reliably indicate whether
21006 a function is prototyped. If @value{GDBN} calls a function that is not marked
21007 as prototyped, it consults @kbd{set coerce-float-to-double}.
21010 @kindex set coerce-float-to-double
21011 @item set coerce-float-to-double
21012 @itemx set coerce-float-to-double on
21013 Arguments of type @code{float} will be promoted to @code{double} when passed
21014 to an unprototyped function. This is the default setting.
21016 @item set coerce-float-to-double off
21017 Arguments of type @code{float} will be passed directly to unprototyped
21020 @kindex show coerce-float-to-double
21021 @item show coerce-float-to-double
21022 Show the current setting of promoting @code{float} to @code{double}.
21026 @kindex show cp-abi
21027 @value{GDBN} needs to know the ABI used for your program's C@t{++}
21028 objects. The correct C@t{++} ABI depends on which C@t{++} compiler was
21029 used to build your application. @value{GDBN} only fully supports
21030 programs with a single C@t{++} ABI; if your program contains code using
21031 multiple C@t{++} ABI's or if @value{GDBN} can not identify your
21032 program's ABI correctly, you can tell @value{GDBN} which ABI to use.
21033 Currently supported ABI's include ``gnu-v2'', for @code{g++} versions
21034 before 3.0, ``gnu-v3'', for @code{g++} versions 3.0 and later, and
21035 ``hpaCC'' for the HP ANSI C@t{++} compiler. Other C@t{++} compilers may
21036 use the ``gnu-v2'' or ``gnu-v3'' ABI's as well. The default setting is
21041 Show the C@t{++} ABI currently in use.
21044 With no argument, show the list of supported C@t{++} ABI's.
21046 @item set cp-abi @var{abi}
21047 @itemx set cp-abi auto
21048 Set the current C@t{++} ABI to @var{abi}, or return to automatic detection.
21052 @section Automatically loading associated files
21053 @cindex auto-loading
21055 @value{GDBN} sometimes reads files with commands and settings automatically,
21056 without being explicitly told so by the user. We call this feature
21057 @dfn{auto-loading}. While auto-loading is useful for automatically adapting
21058 @value{GDBN} to the needs of your project, it can sometimes produce unexpected
21059 results or introduce security risks (e.g., if the file comes from untrusted
21062 Note that loading of these associated files (including the local @file{.gdbinit}
21063 file) requires accordingly configured @code{auto-load safe-path}
21064 (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
21066 For these reasons, @value{GDBN} includes commands and options to let you
21067 control when to auto-load files and which files should be auto-loaded.
21070 @anchor{set auto-load off}
21071 @kindex set auto-load off
21072 @item set auto-load off
21073 Globally disable loading of all auto-loaded files.
21074 You may want to use this command with the @samp{-iex} option
21075 (@pxref{Option -init-eval-command}) such as:
21077 $ @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load off" untrusted-executable corefile}
21080 Be aware that system init file (@pxref{System-wide configuration})
21081 and init files from your home directory (@pxref{Home Directory Init File})
21082 still get read (as they come from generally trusted directories).
21083 To prevent @value{GDBN} from auto-loading even those init files, use the
21084 @option{-nx} option (@pxref{Mode Options}), in addition to
21085 @code{set auto-load no}.
21087 @anchor{show auto-load}
21088 @kindex show auto-load
21089 @item show auto-load
21090 Show whether auto-loading of each specific @samp{auto-load} file(s) is enabled
21094 (gdb) show auto-load
21095 gdb-scripts: Auto-loading of canned sequences of commands scripts is on.
21096 libthread-db: Auto-loading of inferior specific libthread_db is on.
21097 local-gdbinit: Auto-loading of .gdbinit script from current directory
21099 python-scripts: Auto-loading of Python scripts is on.
21100 safe-path: List of directories from which it is safe to auto-load files
21101 is $ddir/auto-load.
21102 scripts-directory: List of directories from which to load auto-loaded scripts
21103 is $ddir/auto-load.
21106 @anchor{info auto-load}
21107 @kindex info auto-load
21108 @item info auto-load
21109 Print whether each specific @samp{auto-load} file(s) have been auto-loaded or
21113 (gdb) info auto-load
21116 Yes /home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.gdb
21117 libthread-db: No auto-loaded libthread-db.
21118 local-gdbinit: Local .gdbinit file "/home/user/gdb/.gdbinit" has been
21122 Yes /home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.py
21126 These are various kinds of files @value{GDBN} can automatically load:
21130 @xref{objfile-gdb.py file}, controlled by @ref{set auto-load python-scripts}.
21132 @xref{objfile-gdb.gdb file}, controlled by @ref{set auto-load gdb-scripts}.
21134 @xref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section},
21135 controlled by @ref{set auto-load python-scripts}.
21137 @xref{Init File in the Current Directory},
21138 controlled by @ref{set auto-load local-gdbinit}.
21140 @xref{libthread_db.so.1 file}, controlled by @ref{set auto-load libthread-db}.
21143 These are @value{GDBN} control commands for the auto-loading:
21145 @multitable @columnfractions .5 .5
21146 @item @xref{set auto-load off}.
21147 @tab Disable auto-loading globally.
21148 @item @xref{show auto-load}.
21149 @tab Show setting of all kinds of files.
21150 @item @xref{info auto-load}.
21151 @tab Show state of all kinds of files.
21152 @item @xref{set auto-load gdb-scripts}.
21153 @tab Control for @value{GDBN} command scripts.
21154 @item @xref{show auto-load gdb-scripts}.
21155 @tab Show setting of @value{GDBN} command scripts.
21156 @item @xref{info auto-load gdb-scripts}.
21157 @tab Show state of @value{GDBN} command scripts.
21158 @item @xref{set auto-load python-scripts}.
21159 @tab Control for @value{GDBN} Python scripts.
21160 @item @xref{show auto-load python-scripts}.
21161 @tab Show setting of @value{GDBN} Python scripts.
21162 @item @xref{info auto-load python-scripts}.
21163 @tab Show state of @value{GDBN} Python scripts.
21164 @item @xref{set auto-load scripts-directory}.
21165 @tab Control for @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location.
21166 @item @xref{show auto-load scripts-directory}.
21167 @tab Show @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location.
21168 @item @xref{set auto-load local-gdbinit}.
21169 @tab Control for init file in the current directory.
21170 @item @xref{show auto-load local-gdbinit}.
21171 @tab Show setting of init file in the current directory.
21172 @item @xref{info auto-load local-gdbinit}.
21173 @tab Show state of init file in the current directory.
21174 @item @xref{set auto-load libthread-db}.
21175 @tab Control for thread debugging library.
21176 @item @xref{show auto-load libthread-db}.
21177 @tab Show setting of thread debugging library.
21178 @item @xref{info auto-load libthread-db}.
21179 @tab Show state of thread debugging library.
21180 @item @xref{set auto-load safe-path}.
21181 @tab Control directories trusted for automatic loading.
21182 @item @xref{show auto-load safe-path}.
21183 @tab Show directories trusted for automatic loading.
21184 @item @xref{add-auto-load-safe-path}.
21185 @tab Add directory trusted for automatic loading.
21189 * Init File in the Current Directory:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load local-gdbinit}
21190 * libthread_db.so.1 file:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load libthread-db}
21191 * objfile-gdb.gdb file:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load gdb-script}
21192 * Auto-loading safe path:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load safe-path}
21193 * Auto-loading verbose mode:: @samp{set/show debug auto-load}
21194 @xref{Python Auto-loading}.
21197 @node Init File in the Current Directory
21198 @subsection Automatically loading init file in the current directory
21199 @cindex auto-loading init file in the current directory
21201 By default, @value{GDBN} reads and executes the canned sequences of commands
21202 from init file (if any) in the current working directory,
21203 see @ref{Init File in the Current Directory during Startup}.
21205 Note that loading of this local @file{.gdbinit} file also requires accordingly
21206 configured @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
21209 @anchor{set auto-load local-gdbinit}
21210 @kindex set auto-load local-gdbinit
21211 @item set auto-load local-gdbinit [on|off]
21212 Enable or disable the auto-loading of canned sequences of commands
21213 (@pxref{Sequences}) found in init file in the current directory.
21215 @anchor{show auto-load local-gdbinit}
21216 @kindex show auto-load local-gdbinit
21217 @item show auto-load local-gdbinit
21218 Show whether auto-loading of canned sequences of commands from init file in the
21219 current directory is enabled or disabled.
21221 @anchor{info auto-load local-gdbinit}
21222 @kindex info auto-load local-gdbinit
21223 @item info auto-load local-gdbinit
21224 Print whether canned sequences of commands from init file in the
21225 current directory have been auto-loaded.
21228 @node libthread_db.so.1 file
21229 @subsection Automatically loading thread debugging library
21230 @cindex auto-loading libthread_db.so.1
21232 This feature is currently present only on @sc{gnu}/Linux native hosts.
21234 @value{GDBN} reads in some cases thread debugging library from places specific
21235 to the inferior (@pxref{set libthread-db-search-path}).
21237 The special @samp{libthread-db-search-path} entry @samp{$sdir} is processed
21238 without checking this @samp{set auto-load libthread-db} switch as system
21239 libraries have to be trusted in general. In all other cases of
21240 @samp{libthread-db-search-path} entries @value{GDBN} checks first if @samp{set
21241 auto-load libthread-db} is enabled before trying to open such thread debugging
21244 Note that loading of this debugging library also requires accordingly configured
21245 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
21248 @anchor{set auto-load libthread-db}
21249 @kindex set auto-load libthread-db
21250 @item set auto-load libthread-db [on|off]
21251 Enable or disable the auto-loading of inferior specific thread debugging library.
21253 @anchor{show auto-load libthread-db}
21254 @kindex show auto-load libthread-db
21255 @item show auto-load libthread-db
21256 Show whether auto-loading of inferior specific thread debugging library is
21257 enabled or disabled.
21259 @anchor{info auto-load libthread-db}
21260 @kindex info auto-load libthread-db
21261 @item info auto-load libthread-db
21262 Print the list of all loaded inferior specific thread debugging libraries and
21263 for each such library print list of inferior @var{pid}s using it.
21266 @node objfile-gdb.gdb file
21267 @subsection The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.gdb} file
21268 @cindex auto-loading @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.gdb}
21270 @value{GDBN} tries to load an @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.gdb} file containing
21271 canned sequences of commands (@pxref{Sequences}), as long as @samp{set
21272 auto-load gdb-scripts} is set to @samp{on}.
21274 Note that loading of this script file also requires accordingly configured
21275 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
21277 For more background refer to the similar Python scripts auto-loading
21278 description (@pxref{objfile-gdb.py file}).
21281 @anchor{set auto-load gdb-scripts}
21282 @kindex set auto-load gdb-scripts
21283 @item set auto-load gdb-scripts [on|off]
21284 Enable or disable the auto-loading of canned sequences of commands scripts.
21286 @anchor{show auto-load gdb-scripts}
21287 @kindex show auto-load gdb-scripts
21288 @item show auto-load gdb-scripts
21289 Show whether auto-loading of canned sequences of commands scripts is enabled or
21292 @anchor{info auto-load gdb-scripts}
21293 @kindex info auto-load gdb-scripts
21294 @cindex print list of auto-loaded canned sequences of commands scripts
21295 @item info auto-load gdb-scripts [@var{regexp}]
21296 Print the list of all canned sequences of commands scripts that @value{GDBN}
21300 If @var{regexp} is supplied only canned sequences of commands scripts with
21301 matching names are printed.
21303 @node Auto-loading safe path
21304 @subsection Security restriction for auto-loading
21305 @cindex auto-loading safe-path
21307 As the files of inferior can come from untrusted source (such as submitted by
21308 an application user) @value{GDBN} does not always load any files automatically.
21309 @value{GDBN} provides the @samp{set auto-load safe-path} setting to list
21310 directories trusted for loading files not explicitly requested by user.
21312 If the path is not set properly you will see a warning and the file will not
21317 Reading symbols from /home/user/gdb/gdb...done.
21318 warning: File "/home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.gdb" auto-loading has been
21319 declined by your `auto-load safe-path' set to "$ddir/auto-load".
21320 warning: File "/home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.py" auto-loading has been
21321 declined by your `auto-load safe-path' set to "$ddir/auto-load".
21324 The list of trusted directories is controlled by the following commands:
21327 @anchor{set auto-load safe-path}
21328 @kindex set auto-load safe-path
21329 @item set auto-load safe-path @r{[}@var{directories}@r{]}
21330 Set the list of directories (and their subdirectories) trusted for automatic
21331 loading and execution of scripts. You can also enter a specific trusted file.
21332 If you omit @var{directories}, @samp{auto-load safe-path} will be reset to
21333 its default value as specified during @value{GDBN} compilation.
21335 The list of directories uses path separator (@samp{:} on GNU and Unix
21336 systems, @samp{;} on MS-Windows and MS-DOS) to separate directories, similarly
21337 to the @env{PATH} environment variable.
21339 @anchor{show auto-load safe-path}
21340 @kindex show auto-load safe-path
21341 @item show auto-load safe-path
21342 Show the list of directories trusted for automatic loading and execution of
21345 @anchor{add-auto-load-safe-path}
21346 @kindex add-auto-load-safe-path
21347 @item add-auto-load-safe-path
21348 Add an entry (or list of entries) the list of directories trusted for automatic
21349 loading and execution of scripts. Multiple entries may be delimited by the
21350 host platform path separator in use.
21353 This variable defaults to what @code{--with-auto-load-dir} has been configured
21354 to (@pxref{with-auto-load-dir}). @file{$ddir} substituation applies the same
21355 as for @xref{set auto-load scripts-directory}.
21356 The default @code{set
21357 auto-load safe-path} value can be also overriden by @value{GDBN} configuration
21358 option @option{--with-auto-load-safe-path}.
21360 Setting this variable to @file{/} disables this security protection,
21361 corresponding @value{GDBN} configuration option is
21362 @option{--without-auto-load-safe-path}.
21363 This variable is supposed to be set to the system directories writable by the
21364 system superuser only. Users can add their source directories in init files in
21365 their home directories (@pxref{Home Directory Init File}). See also deprecated
21366 init file in the current directory
21367 (@pxref{Init File in the Current Directory during Startup}).
21369 To force @value{GDBN} to load the files it declined to load in the previous
21370 example, you could use one of the following ways:
21373 @item @file{~/.gdbinit}: @samp{add-auto-load-safe-path ~/src/gdb}
21374 Specify this trusted directory (or a file) as additional component of the list.
21375 You have to specify also any existing directories displayed by
21376 by @samp{show auto-load safe-path} (such as @samp{/usr:/bin} in this example).
21378 @item @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load safe-path /usr:/bin:~/src/gdb" @dots{}}
21379 Specify this directory as in the previous case but just for a single
21380 @value{GDBN} session.
21382 @item @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load safe-path /" @dots{}}
21383 Disable auto-loading safety for a single @value{GDBN} session.
21384 This assumes all the files you debug during this @value{GDBN} session will come
21385 from trusted sources.
21387 @item @kbd{./configure --without-auto-load-safe-path}
21388 During compilation of @value{GDBN} you may disable any auto-loading safety.
21389 This assumes all the files you will ever debug with this @value{GDBN} come from
21393 On the other hand you can also explicitly forbid automatic files loading which
21394 also suppresses any such warning messages:
21397 @item @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load no" @dots{}}
21398 You can use @value{GDBN} command-line option for a single @value{GDBN} session.
21400 @item @file{~/.gdbinit}: @samp{set auto-load no}
21401 Disable auto-loading globally for the user
21402 (@pxref{Home Directory Init File}). While it is improbable, you could also
21403 use system init file instead (@pxref{System-wide configuration}).
21406 This setting applies to the file names as entered by user. If no entry matches
21407 @value{GDBN} tries as a last resort to also resolve all the file names into
21408 their canonical form (typically resolving symbolic links) and compare the
21409 entries again. @value{GDBN} already canonicalizes most of the filenames on its
21410 own before starting the comparison so a canonical form of directories is
21411 recommended to be entered.
21413 @node Auto-loading verbose mode
21414 @subsection Displaying files tried for auto-load
21415 @cindex auto-loading verbose mode
21417 For better visibility of all the file locations where you can place scripts to
21418 be auto-loaded with inferior --- or to protect yourself against accidental
21419 execution of untrusted scripts --- @value{GDBN} provides a feature for printing
21420 all the files attempted to be loaded. Both existing and non-existing files may
21423 For example the list of directories from which it is safe to auto-load files
21424 (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}) applies also to canonicalized filenames which
21425 may not be too obvious while setting it up.
21428 (gdb) set debug auto-load on
21429 (gdb) file ~/src/t/true
21430 auto-load: Loading canned sequences of commands script "/tmp/true-gdb.gdb"
21431 for objfile "/tmp/true".
21432 auto-load: Updating directories of "/usr:/opt".
21433 auto-load: Using directory "/usr".
21434 auto-load: Using directory "/opt".
21435 warning: File "/tmp/true-gdb.gdb" auto-loading has been declined
21436 by your `auto-load safe-path' set to "/usr:/opt".
21440 @anchor{set debug auto-load}
21441 @kindex set debug auto-load
21442 @item set debug auto-load [on|off]
21443 Set whether to print the filenames attempted to be auto-loaded.
21445 @anchor{show debug auto-load}
21446 @kindex show debug auto-load
21447 @item show debug auto-load
21448 Show whether printing of the filenames attempted to be auto-loaded is turned
21452 @node Messages/Warnings
21453 @section Optional Warnings and Messages
21455 @cindex verbose operation
21456 @cindex optional warnings
21457 By default, @value{GDBN} is silent about its inner workings. If you are
21458 running on a slow machine, you may want to use the @code{set verbose}
21459 command. This makes @value{GDBN} tell you when it does a lengthy
21460 internal operation, so you will not think it has crashed.
21462 Currently, the messages controlled by @code{set verbose} are those
21463 which announce that the symbol table for a source file is being read;
21464 see @code{symbol-file} in @ref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}.
21467 @kindex set verbose
21468 @item set verbose on
21469 Enables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
21471 @item set verbose off
21472 Disables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
21474 @kindex show verbose
21476 Displays whether @code{set verbose} is on or off.
21479 By default, if @value{GDBN} encounters bugs in the symbol table of an
21480 object file, it is silent; but if you are debugging a compiler, you may
21481 find this information useful (@pxref{Symbol Errors, ,Errors Reading
21486 @kindex set complaints
21487 @item set complaints @var{limit}
21488 Permits @value{GDBN} to output @var{limit} complaints about each type of
21489 unusual symbols before becoming silent about the problem. Set
21490 @var{limit} to zero to suppress all complaints; set it to a large number
21491 to prevent complaints from being suppressed.
21493 @kindex show complaints
21494 @item show complaints
21495 Displays how many symbol complaints @value{GDBN} is permitted to produce.
21499 @anchor{confirmation requests}
21500 By default, @value{GDBN} is cautious, and asks what sometimes seems to be a
21501 lot of stupid questions to confirm certain commands. For example, if
21502 you try to run a program which is already running:
21506 The program being debugged has been started already.
21507 Start it from the beginning? (y or n)
21510 If you are willing to unflinchingly face the consequences of your own
21511 commands, you can disable this ``feature'':
21515 @kindex set confirm
21517 @cindex confirmation
21518 @cindex stupid questions
21519 @item set confirm off
21520 Disables confirmation requests. Note that running @value{GDBN} with
21521 the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode Options, -batch}) also
21522 automatically disables confirmation requests.
21524 @item set confirm on
21525 Enables confirmation requests (the default).
21527 @kindex show confirm
21529 Displays state of confirmation requests.
21533 @cindex command tracing
21534 If you need to debug user-defined commands or sourced files you may find it
21535 useful to enable @dfn{command tracing}. In this mode each command will be
21536 printed as it is executed, prefixed with one or more @samp{+} symbols, the
21537 quantity denoting the call depth of each command.
21540 @kindex set trace-commands
21541 @cindex command scripts, debugging
21542 @item set trace-commands on
21543 Enable command tracing.
21544 @item set trace-commands off
21545 Disable command tracing.
21546 @item show trace-commands
21547 Display the current state of command tracing.
21550 @node Debugging Output
21551 @section Optional Messages about Internal Happenings
21552 @cindex optional debugging messages
21554 @value{GDBN} has commands that enable optional debugging messages from
21555 various @value{GDBN} subsystems; normally these commands are of
21556 interest to @value{GDBN} maintainers, or when reporting a bug. This
21557 section documents those commands.
21560 @kindex set exec-done-display
21561 @item set exec-done-display
21562 Turns on or off the notification of asynchronous commands'
21563 completion. When on, @value{GDBN} will print a message when an
21564 asynchronous command finishes its execution. The default is off.
21565 @kindex show exec-done-display
21566 @item show exec-done-display
21567 Displays the current setting of asynchronous command completion
21570 @cindex gdbarch debugging info
21571 @cindex architecture debugging info
21572 @item set debug arch
21573 Turns on or off display of gdbarch debugging info. The default is off
21575 @item show debug arch
21576 Displays the current state of displaying gdbarch debugging info.
21577 @item set debug aix-thread
21578 @cindex AIX threads
21579 Display debugging messages about inner workings of the AIX thread
21581 @item show debug aix-thread
21582 Show the current state of AIX thread debugging info display.
21583 @item set debug check-physname
21585 Check the results of the ``physname'' computation. When reading DWARF
21586 debugging information for C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} attempts to compute
21587 each entity's name. @value{GDBN} can do this computation in two
21588 different ways, depending on exactly what information is present.
21589 When enabled, this setting causes @value{GDBN} to compute the names
21590 both ways and display any discrepancies.
21591 @item show debug check-physname
21592 Show the current state of ``physname'' checking.
21593 @item set debug dwarf2-die
21594 @cindex DWARF2 DIEs
21595 Dump DWARF2 DIEs after they are read in.
21596 The value is the number of nesting levels to print.
21597 A value of zero turns off the display.
21598 @item show debug dwarf2-die
21599 Show the current state of DWARF2 DIE debugging.
21600 @item set debug displaced
21601 @cindex displaced stepping debugging info
21602 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for the
21603 displaced stepping support. The default is off.
21604 @item show debug displaced
21605 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} debugging info
21606 related to displaced stepping.
21607 @item set debug event
21608 @cindex event debugging info
21609 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} event debugging info. The
21611 @item show debug event
21612 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} event debugging
21614 @item set debug expression
21615 @cindex expression debugging info
21616 Turns on or off display of debugging info about @value{GDBN}
21617 expression parsing. The default is off.
21618 @item show debug expression
21619 Displays the current state of displaying debugging info about
21620 @value{GDBN} expression parsing.
21621 @item set debug frame
21622 @cindex frame debugging info
21623 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} frame debugging info. The
21625 @item show debug frame
21626 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} frame debugging
21628 @item set debug gnu-nat
21629 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug messages
21630 Turns on or off debugging messages from the @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug support.
21631 @item show debug gnu-nat
21632 Show the current state of @sc{gnu}/Hurd debugging messages.
21633 @item set debug infrun
21634 @cindex inferior debugging info
21635 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for running the inferior.
21636 The default is off. @file{infrun.c} contains GDB's runtime state machine used
21637 for implementing operations such as single-stepping the inferior.
21638 @item show debug infrun
21639 Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} inferior debugging.
21640 @item set debug jit
21641 @cindex just-in-time compilation, debugging messages
21642 Turns on or off debugging messages from JIT debug support.
21643 @item show debug jit
21644 Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} JIT debugging.
21645 @item set debug lin-lwp
21646 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Linux LWP debug messages
21647 @cindex Linux lightweight processes
21648 Turns on or off debugging messages from the Linux LWP debug support.
21649 @item show debug lin-lwp
21650 Show the current state of Linux LWP debugging messages.
21651 @item set debug observer
21652 @cindex observer debugging info
21653 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} observer debugging. This
21654 includes info such as the notification of observable events.
21655 @item show debug observer
21656 Displays the current state of observer debugging.
21657 @item set debug overload
21658 @cindex C@t{++} overload debugging info
21659 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload debugging
21660 info. This includes info such as ranking of functions, etc. The default
21662 @item show debug overload
21663 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload
21665 @cindex expression parser, debugging info
21666 @cindex debug expression parser
21667 @item set debug parser
21668 Turns on or off the display of expression parser debugging output.
21669 Internally, this sets the @code{yydebug} variable in the expression
21670 parser. @xref{Tracing, , Tracing Your Parser, bison, Bison}, for
21671 details. The default is off.
21672 @item show debug parser
21673 Show the current state of expression parser debugging.
21674 @cindex packets, reporting on stdout
21675 @cindex serial connections, debugging
21676 @cindex debug remote protocol
21677 @cindex remote protocol debugging
21678 @cindex display remote packets
21679 @item set debug remote
21680 Turns on or off display of reports on all packets sent back and forth across
21681 the serial line to the remote machine. The info is printed on the
21682 @value{GDBN} standard output stream. The default is off.
21683 @item show debug remote
21684 Displays the state of display of remote packets.
21685 @item set debug serial
21686 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} serial debugging info. The
21688 @item show debug serial
21689 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} serial debugging
21691 @item set debug solib-frv
21692 @cindex FR-V shared-library debugging
21693 Turns on or off debugging messages for FR-V shared-library code.
21694 @item show debug solib-frv
21695 Display the current state of FR-V shared-library code debugging
21697 @item set debug target
21698 @cindex target debugging info
21699 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} target debugging info. This info
21700 includes what is going on at the target level of GDB, as it happens. The
21701 default is 0. Set it to 1 to track events, and to 2 to also track the
21702 value of large memory transfers. Changes to this flag do not take effect
21703 until the next time you connect to a target or use the @code{run} command.
21704 @item show debug target
21705 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} target debugging
21707 @item set debug timestamp
21708 @cindex timestampping debugging info
21709 Turns on or off display of timestamps with @value{GDBN} debugging info.
21710 When enabled, seconds and microseconds are displayed before each debugging
21712 @item show debug timestamp
21713 Displays the current state of displaying timestamps with @value{GDBN}
21715 @item set debugvarobj
21716 @cindex variable object debugging info
21717 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} variable object debugging
21718 info. The default is off.
21719 @item show debugvarobj
21720 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} variable object
21722 @item set debug xml
21723 @cindex XML parser debugging
21724 Turns on or off debugging messages for built-in XML parsers.
21725 @item show debug xml
21726 Displays the current state of XML debugging messages.
21729 @node Other Misc Settings
21730 @section Other Miscellaneous Settings
21731 @cindex miscellaneous settings
21734 @kindex set interactive-mode
21735 @item set interactive-mode
21736 If @code{on}, forces @value{GDBN} to assume that GDB was started
21737 in a terminal. In practice, this means that @value{GDBN} should wait
21738 for the user to answer queries generated by commands entered at
21739 the command prompt. If @code{off}, forces @value{GDBN} to operate
21740 in the opposite mode, and it uses the default answers to all queries.
21741 If @code{auto} (the default), @value{GDBN} tries to determine whether
21742 its standard input is a terminal, and works in interactive-mode if it
21743 is, non-interactively otherwise.
21745 In the vast majority of cases, the debugger should be able to guess
21746 correctly which mode should be used. But this setting can be useful
21747 in certain specific cases, such as running a MinGW @value{GDBN}
21748 inside a cygwin window.
21750 @kindex show interactive-mode
21751 @item show interactive-mode
21752 Displays whether the debugger is operating in interactive mode or not.
21755 @node Extending GDB
21756 @chapter Extending @value{GDBN}
21757 @cindex extending GDB
21759 @value{GDBN} provides three mechanisms for extension. The first is based
21760 on composition of @value{GDBN} commands, the second is based on the
21761 Python scripting language, and the third is for defining new aliases of
21764 To facilitate the use of the first two extensions, @value{GDBN} is capable
21765 of evaluating the contents of a file. When doing so, @value{GDBN}
21766 can recognize which scripting language is being used by looking at
21767 the filename extension. Files with an unrecognized filename extension
21768 are always treated as a @value{GDBN} Command Files.
21769 @xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
21771 You can control how @value{GDBN} evaluates these files with the following
21775 @kindex set script-extension
21776 @kindex show script-extension
21777 @item set script-extension off
21778 All scripts are always evaluated as @value{GDBN} Command Files.
21780 @item set script-extension soft
21781 The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
21782 extension. If this scripting language is supported, @value{GDBN}
21783 evaluates the script using that language. Otherwise, it evaluates
21784 the file as a @value{GDBN} Command File.
21786 @item set script-extension strict
21787 The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
21788 extension, and evaluates the script using that language. If the
21789 language is not supported, then the evaluation fails.
21791 @item show script-extension
21792 Display the current value of the @code{script-extension} option.
21797 * Sequences:: Canned Sequences of Commands
21798 * Python:: Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
21799 * Aliases:: Creating new spellings of existing commands
21803 @section Canned Sequences of Commands
21805 Aside from breakpoint commands (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint
21806 Command Lists}), @value{GDBN} provides two ways to store sequences of
21807 commands for execution as a unit: user-defined commands and command
21811 * Define:: How to define your own commands
21812 * Hooks:: Hooks for user-defined commands
21813 * Command Files:: How to write scripts of commands to be stored in a file
21814 * Output:: Commands for controlled output
21818 @subsection User-defined Commands
21820 @cindex user-defined command
21821 @cindex arguments, to user-defined commands
21822 A @dfn{user-defined command} is a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands to
21823 which you assign a new name as a command. This is done with the
21824 @code{define} command. User commands may accept up to 10 arguments
21825 separated by whitespace. Arguments are accessed within the user command
21826 via @code{$arg0@dots{}$arg9}. A trivial example:
21830 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
21835 To execute the command use:
21842 This defines the command @code{adder}, which prints the sum of
21843 its three arguments. Note the arguments are text substitutions, so they may
21844 reference variables, use complex expressions, or even perform inferior
21847 @cindex argument count in user-defined commands
21848 @cindex how many arguments (user-defined commands)
21849 In addition, @code{$argc} may be used to find out how many arguments have
21850 been passed. This expands to a number in the range 0@dots{}10.
21855 print $arg0 + $arg1
21858 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
21866 @item define @var{commandname}
21867 Define a command named @var{commandname}. If there is already a command
21868 by that name, you are asked to confirm that you want to redefine it.
21869 @var{commandname} may be a bare command name consisting of letters,
21870 numbers, dashes, and underscores. It may also start with any predefined
21871 prefix command. For example, @samp{define target my-target} creates
21872 a user-defined @samp{target my-target} command.
21874 The definition of the command is made up of other @value{GDBN} command lines,
21875 which are given following the @code{define} command. The end of these
21876 commands is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
21879 @kindex end@r{ (user-defined commands)}
21880 @item document @var{commandname}
21881 Document the user-defined command @var{commandname}, so that it can be
21882 accessed by @code{help}. The command @var{commandname} must already be
21883 defined. This command reads lines of documentation just as @code{define}
21884 reads the lines of the command definition, ending with @code{end}.
21885 After the @code{document} command is finished, @code{help} on command
21886 @var{commandname} displays the documentation you have written.
21888 You may use the @code{document} command again to change the
21889 documentation of a command. Redefining the command with @code{define}
21890 does not change the documentation.
21892 @kindex dont-repeat
21893 @cindex don't repeat command
21895 Used inside a user-defined command, this tells @value{GDBN} that this
21896 command should not be repeated when the user hits @key{RET}
21897 (@pxref{Command Syntax, repeat last command}).
21899 @kindex help user-defined
21900 @item help user-defined
21901 List all user-defined commands and all python commands defined in class
21902 COMAND_USER. The first line of the documentation or docstring is
21907 @itemx show user @var{commandname}
21908 Display the @value{GDBN} commands used to define @var{commandname} (but
21909 not its documentation). If no @var{commandname} is given, display the
21910 definitions for all user-defined commands.
21911 This does not work for user-defined python commands.
21913 @cindex infinite recursion in user-defined commands
21914 @kindex show max-user-call-depth
21915 @kindex set max-user-call-depth
21916 @item show max-user-call-depth
21917 @itemx set max-user-call-depth
21918 The value of @code{max-user-call-depth} controls how many recursion
21919 levels are allowed in user-defined commands before @value{GDBN} suspects an
21920 infinite recursion and aborts the command.
21921 This does not apply to user-defined python commands.
21924 In addition to the above commands, user-defined commands frequently
21925 use control flow commands, described in @ref{Command Files}.
21927 When user-defined commands are executed, the
21928 commands of the definition are not printed. An error in any command
21929 stops execution of the user-defined command.
21931 If used interactively, commands that would ask for confirmation proceed
21932 without asking when used inside a user-defined command. Many @value{GDBN}
21933 commands that normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the
21934 messages when used in a user-defined command.
21937 @subsection User-defined Command Hooks
21938 @cindex command hooks
21939 @cindex hooks, for commands
21940 @cindex hooks, pre-command
21943 You may define @dfn{hooks}, which are a special kind of user-defined
21944 command. Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined
21945 command @samp{hook-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments)
21946 before that command.
21948 @cindex hooks, post-command
21950 A hook may also be defined which is run after the command you executed.
21951 Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined command
21952 @samp{hookpost-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments) after
21953 that command. Post-execution hooks may exist simultaneously with
21954 pre-execution hooks, for the same command.
21956 It is valid for a hook to call the command which it hooks. If this
21957 occurs, the hook is not re-executed, thereby avoiding infinite recursion.
21959 @c It would be nice if hookpost could be passed a parameter indicating
21960 @c if the command it hooks executed properly or not. FIXME!
21962 @kindex stop@r{, a pseudo-command}
21963 In addition, a pseudo-command, @samp{stop} exists. Defining
21964 (@samp{hook-stop}) makes the associated commands execute every time
21965 execution stops in your program: before breakpoint commands are run,
21966 displays are printed, or the stack frame is printed.
21968 For example, to ignore @code{SIGALRM} signals while
21969 single-stepping, but treat them normally during normal execution,
21974 handle SIGALRM nopass
21978 handle SIGALRM pass
21981 define hook-continue
21982 handle SIGALRM pass
21986 As a further example, to hook at the beginning and end of the @code{echo}
21987 command, and to add extra text to the beginning and end of the message,
21995 define hookpost-echo
21999 (@value{GDBP}) echo Hello World
22000 <<<---Hello World--->>>
22005 You can define a hook for any single-word command in @value{GDBN}, but
22006 not for command aliases; you should define a hook for the basic command
22007 name, e.g.@: @code{backtrace} rather than @code{bt}.
22008 @c FIXME! So how does Joe User discover whether a command is an alias
22010 You can hook a multi-word command by adding @code{hook-} or
22011 @code{hookpost-} to the last word of the command, e.g.@:
22012 @samp{define target hook-remote} to add a hook to @samp{target remote}.
22014 If an error occurs during the execution of your hook, execution of
22015 @value{GDBN} commands stops and @value{GDBN} issues a prompt
22016 (before the command that you actually typed had a chance to run).
22018 If you try to define a hook which does not match any known command, you
22019 get a warning from the @code{define} command.
22021 @node Command Files
22022 @subsection Command Files
22024 @cindex command files
22025 @cindex scripting commands
22026 A command file for @value{GDBN} is a text file made of lines that are
22027 @value{GDBN} commands. Comments (lines starting with @kbd{#}) may
22028 also be included. An empty line in a command file does nothing; it
22029 does not mean to repeat the last command, as it would from the
22032 You can request the execution of a command file with the @code{source}
22033 command. Note that the @code{source} command is also used to evaluate
22034 scripts that are not Command Files. The exact behavior can be configured
22035 using the @code{script-extension} setting.
22036 @xref{Extending GDB,, Extending GDB}.
22040 @cindex execute commands from a file
22041 @item source [-s] [-v] @var{filename}
22042 Execute the command file @var{filename}.
22045 The lines in a command file are generally executed sequentially,
22046 unless the order of execution is changed by one of the
22047 @emph{flow-control commands} described below. The commands are not
22048 printed as they are executed. An error in any command terminates
22049 execution of the command file and control is returned to the console.
22051 @value{GDBN} first searches for @var{filename} in the current directory.
22052 If the file is not found there, and @var{filename} does not specify a
22053 directory, then @value{GDBN} also looks for the file on the source search path
22054 (specified with the @samp{directory} command);
22055 except that @file{$cdir} is not searched because the compilation directory
22056 is not relevant to scripts.
22058 If @code{-s} is specified, then @value{GDBN} searches for @var{filename}
22059 on the search path even if @var{filename} specifies a directory.
22060 The search is done by appending @var{filename} to each element of the
22061 search path. So, for example, if @var{filename} is @file{mylib/myscript}
22062 and the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
22063 look for the script @file{/home/user/mylib/myscript}.
22064 The search is also done if @var{filename} is an absolute path.
22065 For example, if @var{filename} is @file{/tmp/myscript} and
22066 the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
22067 look for the script @file{/home/user/tmp/myscript}.
22068 For DOS-like systems, if @var{filename} contains a drive specification,
22069 it is stripped before concatenation. For example, if @var{filename} is
22070 @file{d:myscript} and the search path contains @file{c:/tmp} then @value{GDBN}
22071 will look for the script @file{c:/tmp/myscript}.
22073 If @code{-v}, for verbose mode, is given then @value{GDBN} displays
22074 each command as it is executed. The option must be given before
22075 @var{filename}, and is interpreted as part of the filename anywhere else.
22077 Commands that would ask for confirmation if used interactively proceed
22078 without asking when used in a command file. Many @value{GDBN} commands that
22079 normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the messages
22080 when called from command files.
22082 @value{GDBN} also accepts command input from standard input. In this
22083 mode, normal output goes to standard output and error output goes to
22084 standard error. Errors in a command file supplied on standard input do
22085 not terminate execution of the command file---execution continues with
22089 gdb < cmds > log 2>&1
22092 (The syntax above will vary depending on the shell used.) This example
22093 will execute commands from the file @file{cmds}. All output and errors
22094 would be directed to @file{log}.
22096 Since commands stored on command files tend to be more general than
22097 commands typed interactively, they frequently need to deal with
22098 complicated situations, such as different or unexpected values of
22099 variables and symbols, changes in how the program being debugged is
22100 built, etc. @value{GDBN} provides a set of flow-control commands to
22101 deal with these complexities. Using these commands, you can write
22102 complex scripts that loop over data structures, execute commands
22103 conditionally, etc.
22110 This command allows to include in your script conditionally executed
22111 commands. The @code{if} command takes a single argument, which is an
22112 expression to evaluate. It is followed by a series of commands that
22113 are executed only if the expression is true (its value is nonzero).
22114 There can then optionally be an @code{else} line, followed by a series
22115 of commands that are only executed if the expression was false. The
22116 end of the list is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
22120 This command allows to write loops. Its syntax is similar to
22121 @code{if}: the command takes a single argument, which is an expression
22122 to evaluate, and must be followed by the commands to execute, one per
22123 line, terminated by an @code{end}. These commands are called the
22124 @dfn{body} of the loop. The commands in the body of @code{while} are
22125 executed repeatedly as long as the expression evaluates to true.
22129 This command exits the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included.
22130 Execution of the script continues after that @code{while}s @code{end}
22133 @kindex loop_continue
22134 @item loop_continue
22135 This command skips the execution of the rest of the body of commands
22136 in the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included. Execution
22137 branches to the beginning of the @code{while} loop, where it evaluates
22138 the controlling expression.
22140 @kindex end@r{ (if/else/while commands)}
22142 Terminate the block of commands that are the body of @code{if},
22143 @code{else}, or @code{while} flow-control commands.
22148 @subsection Commands for Controlled Output
22150 During the execution of a command file or a user-defined command, normal
22151 @value{GDBN} output is suppressed; the only output that appears is what is
22152 explicitly printed by the commands in the definition. This section
22153 describes three commands useful for generating exactly the output you
22158 @item echo @var{text}
22159 @c I do not consider backslash-space a standard C escape sequence
22160 @c because it is not in ANSI.
22161 Print @var{text}. Nonprinting characters can be included in
22162 @var{text} using C escape sequences, such as @samp{\n} to print a
22163 newline. @strong{No newline is printed unless you specify one.}
22164 In addition to the standard C escape sequences, a backslash followed
22165 by a space stands for a space. This is useful for displaying a
22166 string with spaces at the beginning or the end, since leading and
22167 trailing spaces are otherwise trimmed from all arguments.
22168 To print @samp{@w{ }and foo =@w{ }}, use the command
22169 @samp{echo \@w{ }and foo = \@w{ }}.
22171 A backslash at the end of @var{text} can be used, as in C, to continue
22172 the command onto subsequent lines. For example,
22175 echo This is some text\n\
22176 which is continued\n\
22177 onto several lines.\n
22180 produces the same output as
22183 echo This is some text\n
22184 echo which is continued\n
22185 echo onto several lines.\n
22189 @item output @var{expression}
22190 Print the value of @var{expression} and nothing but that value: no
22191 newlines, no @samp{$@var{nn} = }. The value is not entered in the
22192 value history either. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information
22195 @item output/@var{fmt} @var{expression}
22196 Print the value of @var{expression} in format @var{fmt}. You can use
22197 the same formats as for @code{print}. @xref{Output Formats,,Output
22198 Formats}, for more information.
22201 @item printf @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
22202 Print the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
22203 the string @var{template}. To print several values, make
22204 @var{expressions} be a comma-separated list of individual expressions,
22205 which may be either numbers or pointers. Their values are printed as
22206 specified by @var{template}, exactly as a C program would do by
22207 executing the code below:
22210 printf (@var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{});
22213 As in @code{C} @code{printf}, ordinary characters in @var{template}
22214 are printed verbatim, while @dfn{conversion specification} introduced
22215 by the @samp{%} character cause subsequent @var{expressions} to be
22216 evaluated, their values converted and formatted according to type and
22217 style information encoded in the conversion specifications, and then
22220 For example, you can print two values in hex like this:
22223 printf "foo, bar-foo = 0x%x, 0x%x\n", foo, bar-foo
22226 @code{printf} supports all the standard @code{C} conversion
22227 specifications, including the flags and modifiers between the @samp{%}
22228 character and the conversion letter, with the following exceptions:
22232 The argument-ordering modifiers, such as @samp{2$}, are not supported.
22235 The modifier @samp{*} is not supported for specifying precision or
22239 The @samp{'} flag (for separation of digits into groups according to
22240 @code{LC_NUMERIC'}) is not supported.
22243 The type modifiers @samp{hh}, @samp{j}, @samp{t}, and @samp{z} are not
22247 The conversion letter @samp{n} (as in @samp{%n}) is not supported.
22250 The conversion letters @samp{a} and @samp{A} are not supported.
22254 Note that the @samp{ll} type modifier is supported only if the
22255 underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} supports
22256 the @code{long long int} type, and the @samp{L} type modifier is
22257 supported only if @code{long double} type is available.
22259 As in @code{C}, @code{printf} supports simple backslash-escape
22260 sequences, such as @code{\n}, @samp{\t}, @samp{\\}, @samp{\"},
22261 @samp{\a}, and @samp{\f}, that consist of backslash followed by a
22262 single character. Octal and hexadecimal escape sequences are not
22265 Additionally, @code{printf} supports conversion specifications for DFP
22266 (@dfn{Decimal Floating Point}) types using the following length modifiers
22267 together with a floating point specifier.
22272 @samp{H} for printing @code{Decimal32} types.
22275 @samp{D} for printing @code{Decimal64} types.
22278 @samp{DD} for printing @code{Decimal128} types.
22281 If the underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} has
22282 support for the three length modifiers for DFP types, other modifiers
22283 such as width and precision will also be available for @value{GDBN} to use.
22285 In case there is no such @code{C} support, no additional modifiers will be
22286 available and the value will be printed in the standard way.
22288 Here's an example of printing DFP types using the above conversion letters:
22290 printf "D32: %Hf - D64: %Df - D128: %DDf\n",1.2345df,1.2E10dd,1.2E1dl
22294 @item eval @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
22295 Convert the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
22296 the string @var{template} to a command line, and call it.
22301 @section Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
22302 @cindex python scripting
22303 @cindex scripting with python
22305 You can script @value{GDBN} using the @uref{http://www.python.org/,
22306 Python programming language}. This feature is available only if
22307 @value{GDBN} was configured using @option{--with-python}.
22309 @cindex python directory
22310 Python scripts used by @value{GDBN} should be installed in
22311 @file{@var{data-directory}/python}, where @var{data-directory} is
22312 the data directory as determined at @value{GDBN} startup (@pxref{Data Files}).
22313 This directory, known as the @dfn{python directory},
22314 is automatically added to the Python Search Path in order to allow
22315 the Python interpreter to locate all scripts installed at this location.
22317 Additionally, @value{GDBN} commands and convenience functions which
22318 are written in Python and are located in the
22319 @file{@var{data-directory}/python/gdb/command} or
22320 @file{@var{data-directory}/python/gdb/function} directories are
22321 automatically imported when @value{GDBN} starts.
22324 * Python Commands:: Accessing Python from @value{GDBN}.
22325 * Python API:: Accessing @value{GDBN} from Python.
22326 * Python Auto-loading:: Automatically loading Python code.
22327 * Python modules:: Python modules provided by @value{GDBN}.
22330 @node Python Commands
22331 @subsection Python Commands
22332 @cindex python commands
22333 @cindex commands to access python
22335 @value{GDBN} provides one command for accessing the Python interpreter,
22336 and one related setting:
22340 @item python @r{[}@var{code}@r{]}
22341 The @code{python} command can be used to evaluate Python code.
22343 If given an argument, the @code{python} command will evaluate the
22344 argument as a Python command. For example:
22347 (@value{GDBP}) python print 23
22351 If you do not provide an argument to @code{python}, it will act as a
22352 multi-line command, like @code{define}. In this case, the Python
22353 script is made up of subsequent command lines, given after the
22354 @code{python} command. This command list is terminated using a line
22355 containing @code{end}. For example:
22358 (@value{GDBP}) python
22360 End with a line saying just "end".
22366 @kindex set python print-stack
22367 @item set python print-stack
22368 By default, @value{GDBN} will print only the message component of a
22369 Python exception when an error occurs in a Python script. This can be
22370 controlled using @code{set python print-stack}: if @code{full}, then
22371 full Python stack printing is enabled; if @code{none}, then Python stack
22372 and message printing is disabled; if @code{message}, the default, only
22373 the message component of the error is printed.
22376 It is also possible to execute a Python script from the @value{GDBN}
22380 @item source @file{script-name}
22381 The script name must end with @samp{.py} and @value{GDBN} must be configured
22382 to recognize the script language based on filename extension using
22383 the @code{script-extension} setting. @xref{Extending GDB, ,Extending GDB}.
22385 @item python execfile ("script-name")
22386 This method is based on the @code{execfile} Python built-in function,
22387 and thus is always available.
22391 @subsection Python API
22393 @cindex programming in python
22395 @cindex python stdout
22396 @cindex python pagination
22397 At startup, @value{GDBN} overrides Python's @code{sys.stdout} and
22398 @code{sys.stderr} to print using @value{GDBN}'s output-paging streams.
22399 A Python program which outputs to one of these streams may have its
22400 output interrupted by the user (@pxref{Screen Size}). In this
22401 situation, a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt} exception is thrown.
22404 * Basic Python:: Basic Python Functions.
22405 * Exception Handling:: How Python exceptions are translated.
22406 * Values From Inferior:: Python representation of values.
22407 * Types In Python:: Python representation of types.
22408 * Pretty Printing API:: Pretty-printing values.
22409 * Selecting Pretty-Printers:: How GDB chooses a pretty-printer.
22410 * Writing a Pretty-Printer:: Writing a Pretty-Printer.
22411 * Inferiors In Python:: Python representation of inferiors (processes)
22412 * Events In Python:: Listening for events from @value{GDBN}.
22413 * Threads In Python:: Accessing inferior threads from Python.
22414 * Commands In Python:: Implementing new commands in Python.
22415 * Parameters In Python:: Adding new @value{GDBN} parameters.
22416 * Functions In Python:: Writing new convenience functions.
22417 * Progspaces In Python:: Program spaces.
22418 * Objfiles In Python:: Object files.
22419 * Frames In Python:: Accessing inferior stack frames from Python.
22420 * Blocks In Python:: Accessing frame blocks from Python.
22421 * Symbols In Python:: Python representation of symbols.
22422 * Symbol Tables In Python:: Python representation of symbol tables.
22423 * Lazy Strings In Python:: Python representation of lazy strings.
22424 * Breakpoints In Python:: Manipulating breakpoints using Python.
22425 * Finish Breakpoints in Python:: Setting Breakpoints on function return
22430 @subsubsection Basic Python
22432 @cindex python functions
22433 @cindex python module
22435 @value{GDBN} introduces a new Python module, named @code{gdb}. All
22436 methods and classes added by @value{GDBN} are placed in this module.
22437 @value{GDBN} automatically @code{import}s the @code{gdb} module for
22438 use in all scripts evaluated by the @code{python} command.
22440 @findex gdb.PYTHONDIR
22441 @defvar gdb.PYTHONDIR
22442 A string containing the python directory (@pxref{Python}).
22445 @findex gdb.execute
22446 @defun gdb.execute (command @r{[}, from_tty @r{[}, to_string@r{]]})
22447 Evaluate @var{command}, a string, as a @value{GDBN} CLI command.
22448 If a GDB exception happens while @var{command} runs, it is
22449 translated as described in @ref{Exception Handling,,Exception Handling}.
22451 @var{from_tty} specifies whether @value{GDBN} ought to consider this
22452 command as having originated from the user invoking it interactively.
22453 It must be a boolean value. If omitted, it defaults to @code{False}.
22455 By default, any output produced by @var{command} is sent to
22456 @value{GDBN}'s standard output. If the @var{to_string} parameter is
22457 @code{True}, then output will be collected by @code{gdb.execute} and
22458 returned as a string. The default is @code{False}, in which case the
22459 return value is @code{None}. If @var{to_string} is @code{True}, the
22460 @value{GDBN} virtual terminal will be temporarily set to unlimited width
22461 and height, and its pagination will be disabled; @pxref{Screen Size}.
22464 @findex gdb.breakpoints
22465 @defun gdb.breakpoints ()
22466 Return a sequence holding all of @value{GDBN}'s breakpoints.
22467 @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for more information.
22470 @findex gdb.parameter
22471 @defun gdb.parameter (parameter)
22472 Return the value of a @value{GDBN} parameter. @var{parameter} is a
22473 string naming the parameter to look up; @var{parameter} may contain
22474 spaces if the parameter has a multi-part name. For example,
22475 @samp{print object} is a valid parameter name.
22477 If the named parameter does not exist, this function throws a
22478 @code{gdb.error} (@pxref{Exception Handling}). Otherwise, the
22479 parameter's value is converted to a Python value of the appropriate
22480 type, and returned.
22483 @findex gdb.history
22484 @defun gdb.history (number)
22485 Return a value from @value{GDBN}'s value history (@pxref{Value
22486 History}). @var{number} indicates which history element to return.
22487 If @var{number} is negative, then @value{GDBN} will take its absolute value
22488 and count backward from the last element (i.e., the most recent element) to
22489 find the value to return. If @var{number} is zero, then @value{GDBN} will
22490 return the most recent element. If the element specified by @var{number}
22491 doesn't exist in the value history, a @code{gdb.error} exception will be
22494 If no exception is raised, the return value is always an instance of
22495 @code{gdb.Value} (@pxref{Values From Inferior}).
22498 @findex gdb.parse_and_eval
22499 @defun gdb.parse_and_eval (expression)
22500 Parse @var{expression} as an expression in the current language,
22501 evaluate it, and return the result as a @code{gdb.Value}.
22502 @var{expression} must be a string.
22504 This function can be useful when implementing a new command
22505 (@pxref{Commands In Python}), as it provides a way to parse the
22506 command's argument as an expression. It is also useful simply to
22507 compute values, for example, it is the only way to get the value of a
22508 convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) as a @code{gdb.Value}.
22511 @findex gdb.post_event
22512 @defun gdb.post_event (event)
22513 Put @var{event}, a callable object taking no arguments, into
22514 @value{GDBN}'s internal event queue. This callable will be invoked at
22515 some later point, during @value{GDBN}'s event processing. Events
22516 posted using @code{post_event} will be run in the order in which they
22517 were posted; however, there is no way to know when they will be
22518 processed relative to other events inside @value{GDBN}.
22520 @value{GDBN} is not thread-safe. If your Python program uses multiple
22521 threads, you must be careful to only call @value{GDBN}-specific
22522 functions in the main @value{GDBN} thread. @code{post_event} ensures
22526 (@value{GDBP}) python
22530 > def __init__(self, message):
22531 > self.message = message;
22532 > def __call__(self):
22533 > gdb.write(self.message)
22535 >class MyThread1 (threading.Thread):
22537 > gdb.post_event(Writer("Hello "))
22539 >class MyThread2 (threading.Thread):
22541 > gdb.post_event(Writer("World\n"))
22543 >MyThread1().start()
22544 >MyThread2().start()
22546 (@value{GDBP}) Hello World
22551 @defun gdb.write (string @r{[}, stream{]})
22552 Print a string to @value{GDBN}'s paginated output stream. The
22553 optional @var{stream} determines the stream to print to. The default
22554 stream is @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream. Possible stream
22561 @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream.
22566 @value{GDBN}'s standard error stream.
22571 @value{GDBN}'s log stream (@pxref{Logging Output}).
22574 Writing to @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically
22575 call this function and will automatically direct the output to the
22580 @defun gdb.flush ()
22581 Flush the buffer of a @value{GDBN} paginated stream so that the
22582 contents are displayed immediately. @value{GDBN} will flush the
22583 contents of a stream automatically when it encounters a newline in the
22584 buffer. The optional @var{stream} determines the stream to flush. The
22585 default stream is @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream. Possible
22592 @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream.
22597 @value{GDBN}'s standard error stream.
22602 @value{GDBN}'s log stream (@pxref{Logging Output}).
22606 Flushing @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically
22607 call this function for the relevant stream.
22610 @findex gdb.target_charset
22611 @defun gdb.target_charset ()
22612 Return the name of the current target character set (@pxref{Character
22613 Sets}). This differs from @code{gdb.parameter('target-charset')} in
22614 that @samp{auto} is never returned.
22617 @findex gdb.target_wide_charset
22618 @defun gdb.target_wide_charset ()
22619 Return the name of the current target wide character set
22620 (@pxref{Character Sets}). This differs from
22621 @code{gdb.parameter('target-wide-charset')} in that @samp{auto} is
22625 @findex gdb.solib_name
22626 @defun gdb.solib_name (address)
22627 Return the name of the shared library holding the given @var{address}
22628 as a string, or @code{None}.
22631 @findex gdb.decode_line
22632 @defun gdb.decode_line @r{[}expression@r{]}
22633 Return locations of the line specified by @var{expression}, or of the
22634 current line if no argument was given. This function returns a Python
22635 tuple containing two elements. The first element contains a string
22636 holding any unparsed section of @var{expression} (or @code{None} if
22637 the expression has been fully parsed). The second element contains
22638 either @code{None} or another tuple that contains all the locations
22639 that match the expression represented as @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line}
22640 objects (@pxref{Symbol Tables In Python}). If @var{expression} is
22641 provided, it is decoded the way that @value{GDBN}'s inbuilt
22642 @code{break} or @code{edit} commands do (@pxref{Specify Location}).
22645 @defun gdb.prompt_hook (current_prompt)
22646 @anchor{prompt_hook}
22648 If @var{prompt_hook} is callable, @value{GDBN} will call the method
22649 assigned to this operation before a prompt is displayed by
22652 The parameter @code{current_prompt} contains the current @value{GDBN}
22653 prompt. This method must return a Python string, or @code{None}. If
22654 a string is returned, the @value{GDBN} prompt will be set to that
22655 string. If @code{None} is returned, @value{GDBN} will continue to use
22656 the current prompt.
22658 Some prompts cannot be substituted in @value{GDBN}. Secondary prompts
22659 such as those used by readline for command input, and annotation
22660 related prompts are prohibited from being changed.
22663 @node Exception Handling
22664 @subsubsection Exception Handling
22665 @cindex python exceptions
22666 @cindex exceptions, python
22668 When executing the @code{python} command, Python exceptions
22669 uncaught within the Python code are translated to calls to
22670 @value{GDBN} error-reporting mechanism. If the command that called
22671 @code{python} does not handle the error, @value{GDBN} will
22672 terminate it and print an error message containing the Python
22673 exception name, the associated value, and the Python call stack
22674 backtrace at the point where the exception was raised. Example:
22677 (@value{GDBP}) python print foo
22678 Traceback (most recent call last):
22679 File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
22680 NameError: name 'foo' is not defined
22683 @value{GDBN} errors that happen in @value{GDBN} commands invoked by
22684 Python code are converted to Python exceptions. The type of the
22685 Python exception depends on the error.
22689 This is the base class for most exceptions generated by @value{GDBN}.
22690 It is derived from @code{RuntimeError}, for compatibility with earlier
22691 versions of @value{GDBN}.
22693 If an error occurring in @value{GDBN} does not fit into some more
22694 specific category, then the generated exception will have this type.
22696 @item gdb.MemoryError
22697 This is a subclass of @code{gdb.error} which is thrown when an
22698 operation tried to access invalid memory in the inferior.
22700 @item KeyboardInterrupt
22701 User interrupt (via @kbd{C-c} or by typing @kbd{q} at a pagination
22702 prompt) is translated to a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt} exception.
22705 In all cases, your exception handler will see the @value{GDBN} error
22706 message as its value and the Python call stack backtrace at the Python
22707 statement closest to where the @value{GDBN} error occured as the
22710 @findex gdb.GdbError
22711 When implementing @value{GDBN} commands in Python via @code{gdb.Command},
22712 it is useful to be able to throw an exception that doesn't cause a
22713 traceback to be printed. For example, the user may have invoked the
22714 command incorrectly. Use the @code{gdb.GdbError} exception
22715 to handle this case. Example:
22719 >class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
22720 > """Greet the whole world."""
22721 > def __init__ (self):
22722 > super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_USER)
22723 > def invoke (self, args, from_tty):
22724 > argv = gdb.string_to_argv (args)
22725 > if len (argv) != 0:
22726 > raise gdb.GdbError ("hello-world takes no arguments")
22727 > print "Hello, World!"
22730 (gdb) hello-world 42
22731 hello-world takes no arguments
22734 @node Values From Inferior
22735 @subsubsection Values From Inferior
22736 @cindex values from inferior, with Python
22737 @cindex python, working with values from inferior
22739 @cindex @code{gdb.Value}
22740 @value{GDBN} provides values it obtains from the inferior program in
22741 an object of type @code{gdb.Value}. @value{GDBN} uses this object
22742 for its internal bookkeeping of the inferior's values, and for
22743 fetching values when necessary.
22745 Inferior values that are simple scalars can be used directly in
22746 Python expressions that are valid for the value's data type. Here's
22747 an example for an integer or floating-point value @code{some_val}:
22754 As result of this, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object
22755 whose values are of the same type as those of @code{some_val}.
22757 Inferior values that are structures or instances of some class can
22758 be accessed using the Python @dfn{dictionary syntax}. For example, if
22759 @code{some_val} is a @code{gdb.Value} instance holding a structure, you
22760 can access its @code{foo} element with:
22763 bar = some_val['foo']
22766 Again, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object.
22768 A @code{gdb.Value} that represents a function can be executed via
22769 inferior function call. Any arguments provided to the call must match
22770 the function's prototype, and must be provided in the order specified
22773 For example, @code{some_val} is a @code{gdb.Value} instance
22774 representing a function that takes two integers as arguments. To
22775 execute this function, call it like so:
22778 result = some_val (10,20)
22781 Any values returned from a function call will be stored as a
22784 The following attributes are provided:
22787 @defvar Value.address
22788 If this object is addressable, this read-only attribute holds a
22789 @code{gdb.Value} object representing the address. Otherwise,
22790 this attribute holds @code{None}.
22793 @cindex optimized out value in Python
22794 @defvar Value.is_optimized_out
22795 This read-only boolean attribute is true if the compiler optimized out
22796 this value, thus it is not available for fetching from the inferior.
22800 The type of this @code{gdb.Value}. The value of this attribute is a
22801 @code{gdb.Type} object (@pxref{Types In Python}).
22804 @defvar Value.dynamic_type
22805 The dynamic type of this @code{gdb.Value}. This uses C@t{++} run-time
22806 type information (@acronym{RTTI}) to determine the dynamic type of the
22807 value. If this value is of class type, it will return the class in
22808 which the value is embedded, if any. If this value is of pointer or
22809 reference to a class type, it will compute the dynamic type of the
22810 referenced object, and return a pointer or reference to that type,
22811 respectively. In all other cases, it will return the value's static
22814 Note that this feature will only work when debugging a C@t{++} program
22815 that includes @acronym{RTTI} for the object in question. Otherwise,
22816 it will just return the static type of the value as in @kbd{ptype foo}
22817 (@pxref{Symbols, ptype}).
22820 @defvar Value.is_lazy
22821 The value of this read-only boolean attribute is @code{True} if this
22822 @code{gdb.Value} has not yet been fetched from the inferior.
22823 @value{GDBN} does not fetch values until necessary, for efficiency.
22827 myval = gdb.parse_and_eval ('somevar')
22830 The value of @code{somevar} is not fetched at this time. It will be
22831 fetched when the value is needed, or when the @code{fetch_lazy}
22836 The following methods are provided:
22839 @defun Value.__init__ (@var{val})
22840 Many Python values can be converted directly to a @code{gdb.Value} via
22841 this object initializer. Specifically:
22844 @item Python boolean
22845 A Python boolean is converted to the boolean type from the current
22848 @item Python integer
22849 A Python integer is converted to the C @code{long} type for the
22850 current architecture.
22853 A Python long is converted to the C @code{long long} type for the
22854 current architecture.
22857 A Python float is converted to the C @code{double} type for the
22858 current architecture.
22860 @item Python string
22861 A Python string is converted to a target string, using the current
22864 @item @code{gdb.Value}
22865 If @code{val} is a @code{gdb.Value}, then a copy of the value is made.
22867 @item @code{gdb.LazyString}
22868 If @code{val} is a @code{gdb.LazyString} (@pxref{Lazy Strings In
22869 Python}), then the lazy string's @code{value} method is called, and
22870 its result is used.
22874 @defun Value.cast (type)
22875 Return a new instance of @code{gdb.Value} that is the result of
22876 casting this instance to the type described by @var{type}, which must
22877 be a @code{gdb.Type} object. If the cast cannot be performed for some
22878 reason, this method throws an exception.
22881 @defun Value.dereference ()
22882 For pointer data types, this method returns a new @code{gdb.Value} object
22883 whose contents is the object pointed to by the pointer. For example, if
22884 @code{foo} is a C pointer to an @code{int}, declared in your C program as
22891 then you can use the corresponding @code{gdb.Value} to access what
22892 @code{foo} points to like this:
22895 bar = foo.dereference ()
22898 The result @code{bar} will be a @code{gdb.Value} object holding the
22899 value pointed to by @code{foo}.
22901 A similar function @code{Value.referenced_value} exists which also
22902 returns @code{gdb.Value} objects corresonding to the values pointed to
22903 by pointer values (and additionally, values referenced by reference
22904 values). However, the behavior of @code{Value.dereference}
22905 differs from @code{Value.referenced_value} by the fact that the
22906 behavior of @code{Value.dereference} is identical to applying the C
22907 unary operator @code{*} on a given value. For example, consider a
22908 reference to a pointer @code{ptrref}, declared in your C@t{++} program
22912 typedef int *intptr;
22916 intptr &ptrref = ptr;
22919 Though @code{ptrref} is a reference value, one can apply the method
22920 @code{Value.dereference} to the @code{gdb.Value} object corresponding
22921 to it and obtain a @code{gdb.Value} which is identical to that
22922 corresponding to @code{val}. However, if you apply the method
22923 @code{Value.referenced_value}, the result would be a @code{gdb.Value}
22924 object identical to that corresponding to @code{ptr}.
22927 py_ptrref = gdb.parse_and_eval ("ptrref")
22928 py_val = py_ptrref.dereference ()
22929 py_ptr = py_ptrref.referenced_value ()
22932 The @code{gdb.Value} object @code{py_val} is identical to that
22933 corresponding to @code{val}, and @code{py_ptr} is identical to that
22934 corresponding to @code{ptr}. In general, @code{Value.dereference} can
22935 be applied whenever the C unary operator @code{*} can be applied
22936 to the corresponding C value. For those cases where applying both
22937 @code{Value.dereference} and @code{Value.referenced_value} is allowed,
22938 the results obtained need not be identical (as we have seen in the above
22939 example). The results are however identical when applied on
22940 @code{gdb.Value} objects corresponding to pointers (@code{gdb.Value}
22941 objects with type code @code{TYPE_CODE_PTR}) in a C/C@t{++} program.
22944 @defun Value.referenced_value ()
22945 For pointer or reference data types, this method returns a new
22946 @code{gdb.Value} object corresponding to the value referenced by the
22947 pointer/reference value. For pointer data types,
22948 @code{Value.dereference} and @code{Value.referenced_value} produce
22949 identical results. The difference between these methods is that
22950 @code{Value.dereference} cannot get the values referenced by reference
22951 values. For example, consider a reference to an @code{int}, declared
22952 in your C@t{++} program as
22960 then applying @code{Value.dereference} to the @code{gdb.Value} object
22961 corresponding to @code{ref} will result in an error, while applying
22962 @code{Value.referenced_value} will result in a @code{gdb.Value} object
22963 identical to that corresponding to @code{val}.
22966 py_ref = gdb.parse_and_eval ("ref")
22967 er_ref = py_ref.dereference () # Results in error
22968 py_val = py_ref.referenced_value () # Returns the referenced value
22971 The @code{gdb.Value} object @code{py_val} is identical to that
22972 corresponding to @code{val}.
22975 @defun Value.dynamic_cast (type)
22976 Like @code{Value.cast}, but works as if the C@t{++} @code{dynamic_cast}
22977 operator were used. Consult a C@t{++} reference for details.
22980 @defun Value.reinterpret_cast (type)
22981 Like @code{Value.cast}, but works as if the C@t{++} @code{reinterpret_cast}
22982 operator were used. Consult a C@t{++} reference for details.
22985 @defun Value.string (@r{[}encoding@r{[}, errors@r{[}, length@r{]]]})
22986 If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
22987 converts the contents to a Python string. Otherwise, this method will
22988 throw an exception.
22990 Strings are recognized in a language-specific way; whether a given
22991 @code{gdb.Value} represents a string is determined by the current
22994 For C-like languages, a value is a string if it is a pointer to or an
22995 array of characters or ints. The string is assumed to be terminated
22996 by a zero of the appropriate width. However if the optional length
22997 argument is given, the string will be converted to that given length,
22998 ignoring any embedded zeros that the string may contain.
23000 If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
23001 naming the encoding of the string in the @code{gdb.Value}, such as
23002 @code{"ascii"}, @code{"iso-8859-6"} or @code{"utf-8"}. It accepts
23003 the same encodings as the corresponding argument to Python's
23004 @code{string.decode} method, and the Python codec machinery will be used
23005 to convert the string. If @var{encoding} is not given, or if
23006 @var{encoding} is the empty string, then either the @code{target-charset}
23007 (@pxref{Character Sets}) will be used, or a language-specific encoding
23008 will be used, if the current language is able to supply one.
23010 The optional @var{errors} argument is the same as the corresponding
23011 argument to Python's @code{string.decode} method.
23013 If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
23014 fetched and converted to the given length.
23017 @defun Value.lazy_string (@r{[}encoding @r{[}, length@r{]]})
23018 If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
23019 converts the contents to a @code{gdb.LazyString} (@pxref{Lazy Strings
23020 In Python}). Otherwise, this method will throw an exception.
23022 If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
23023 naming the encoding of the @code{gdb.LazyString}. Some examples are:
23024 @samp{ascii}, @samp{iso-8859-6} or @samp{utf-8}. If the
23025 @var{encoding} argument is an encoding that @value{GDBN} does
23026 recognize, @value{GDBN} will raise an error.
23028 When a lazy string is printed, the @value{GDBN} encoding machinery is
23029 used to convert the string during printing. If the optional
23030 @var{encoding} argument is not provided, or is an empty string,
23031 @value{GDBN} will automatically select the encoding most suitable for
23032 the string type. For further information on encoding in @value{GDBN}
23033 please see @ref{Character Sets}.
23035 If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
23036 fetched and encoded to the length of characters specified. If
23037 the @var{length} argument is not provided, the string will be fetched
23038 and encoded until a null of appropriate width is found.
23041 @defun Value.fetch_lazy ()
23042 If the @code{gdb.Value} object is currently a lazy value
23043 (@code{gdb.Value.is_lazy} is @code{True}), then the value is
23044 fetched from the inferior. Any errors that occur in the process
23045 will produce a Python exception.
23047 If the @code{gdb.Value} object is not a lazy value, this method
23050 This method does not return a value.
23055 @node Types In Python
23056 @subsubsection Types In Python
23057 @cindex types in Python
23058 @cindex Python, working with types
23061 @value{GDBN} represents types from the inferior using the class
23064 The following type-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
23067 @findex gdb.lookup_type
23068 @defun gdb.lookup_type (name @r{[}, block@r{]})
23069 This function looks up a type by name. @var{name} is the name of the
23070 type to look up. It must be a string.
23072 If @var{block} is given, then @var{name} is looked up in that scope.
23073 Otherwise, it is searched for globally.
23075 Ordinarily, this function will return an instance of @code{gdb.Type}.
23076 If the named type cannot be found, it will throw an exception.
23079 If the type is a structure or class type, or an enum type, the fields
23080 of that type can be accessed using the Python @dfn{dictionary syntax}.
23081 For example, if @code{some_type} is a @code{gdb.Type} instance holding
23082 a structure type, you can access its @code{foo} field with:
23085 bar = some_type['foo']
23088 @code{bar} will be a @code{gdb.Field} object; see below under the
23089 description of the @code{Type.fields} method for a description of the
23090 @code{gdb.Field} class.
23092 An instance of @code{Type} has the following attributes:
23096 The type code for this type. The type code will be one of the
23097 @code{TYPE_CODE_} constants defined below.
23100 @defvar Type.sizeof
23101 The size of this type, in target @code{char} units. Usually, a
23102 target's @code{char} type will be an 8-bit byte. However, on some
23103 unusual platforms, this type may have a different size.
23107 The tag name for this type. The tag name is the name after
23108 @code{struct}, @code{union}, or @code{enum} in C and C@t{++}; not all
23109 languages have this concept. If this type has no tag name, then
23110 @code{None} is returned.
23114 The following methods are provided:
23117 @defun Type.fields ()
23118 For structure and union types, this method returns the fields. Range
23119 types have two fields, the minimum and maximum values. Enum types
23120 have one field per enum constant. Function and method types have one
23121 field per parameter. The base types of C@t{++} classes are also
23122 represented as fields. If the type has no fields, or does not fit
23123 into one of these categories, an empty sequence will be returned.
23125 Each field is a @code{gdb.Field} object, with some pre-defined attributes:
23128 This attribute is not available for @code{static} fields (as in
23129 C@t{++} or Java). For non-@code{static} fields, the value is the bit
23130 position of the field. For @code{enum} fields, the value is the
23131 enumeration member's integer representation.
23134 The name of the field, or @code{None} for anonymous fields.
23137 This is @code{True} if the field is artificial, usually meaning that
23138 it was provided by the compiler and not the user. This attribute is
23139 always provided, and is @code{False} if the field is not artificial.
23141 @item is_base_class
23142 This is @code{True} if the field represents a base class of a C@t{++}
23143 structure. This attribute is always provided, and is @code{False}
23144 if the field is not a base class of the type that is the argument of
23145 @code{fields}, or if that type was not a C@t{++} class.
23148 If the field is packed, or is a bitfield, then this will have a
23149 non-zero value, which is the size of the field in bits. Otherwise,
23150 this will be zero; in this case the field's size is given by its type.
23153 The type of the field. This is usually an instance of @code{Type},
23154 but it can be @code{None} in some situations.
23158 @defun Type.array (@var{n1} @r{[}, @var{n2}@r{]})
23159 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents an array of this
23160 type. If one argument is given, it is the inclusive upper bound of
23161 the array; in this case the lower bound is zero. If two arguments are
23162 given, the first argument is the lower bound of the array, and the
23163 second argument is the upper bound of the array. An array's length
23164 must not be negative, but the bounds can be.
23167 @defun Type.const ()
23168 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
23169 @code{const}-qualified variant of this type.
23172 @defun Type.volatile ()
23173 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
23174 @code{volatile}-qualified variant of this type.
23177 @defun Type.unqualified ()
23178 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents an unqualified
23179 variant of this type. That is, the result is neither @code{const} nor
23183 @defun Type.range ()
23184 Return a Python @code{Tuple} object that contains two elements: the
23185 low bound of the argument type and the high bound of that type. If
23186 the type does not have a range, @value{GDBN} will raise a
23187 @code{gdb.error} exception (@pxref{Exception Handling}).
23190 @defun Type.reference ()
23191 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a reference to this
23195 @defun Type.pointer ()
23196 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a pointer to this
23200 @defun Type.strip_typedefs ()
23201 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} that represents the real type,
23202 after removing all layers of typedefs.
23205 @defun Type.target ()
23206 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents the target type
23209 For a pointer type, the target type is the type of the pointed-to
23210 object. For an array type (meaning C-like arrays), the target type is
23211 the type of the elements of the array. For a function or method type,
23212 the target type is the type of the return value. For a complex type,
23213 the target type is the type of the elements. For a typedef, the
23214 target type is the aliased type.
23216 If the type does not have a target, this method will throw an
23220 @defun Type.template_argument (n @r{[}, block@r{]})
23221 If this @code{gdb.Type} is an instantiation of a template, this will
23222 return a new @code{gdb.Type} which represents the type of the
23223 @var{n}th template argument.
23225 If this @code{gdb.Type} is not a template type, this will throw an
23226 exception. Ordinarily, only C@t{++} code will have template types.
23228 If @var{block} is given, then @var{name} is looked up in that scope.
23229 Otherwise, it is searched for globally.
23234 Each type has a code, which indicates what category this type falls
23235 into. The available type categories are represented by constants
23236 defined in the @code{gdb} module:
23239 @findex TYPE_CODE_PTR
23240 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_PTR
23241 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_PTR
23242 The type is a pointer.
23244 @findex TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
23245 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
23246 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
23247 The type is an array.
23249 @findex TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
23250 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
23251 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
23252 The type is a structure.
23254 @findex TYPE_CODE_UNION
23255 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_UNION
23256 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_UNION
23257 The type is a union.
23259 @findex TYPE_CODE_ENUM
23260 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ENUM
23261 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_ENUM
23262 The type is an enum.
23264 @findex TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
23265 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
23266 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
23267 A bit flags type, used for things such as status registers.
23269 @findex TYPE_CODE_FUNC
23270 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FUNC
23271 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_FUNC
23272 The type is a function.
23274 @findex TYPE_CODE_INT
23275 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INT
23276 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_INT
23277 The type is an integer type.
23279 @findex TYPE_CODE_FLT
23280 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLT
23281 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLT
23282 A floating point type.
23284 @findex TYPE_CODE_VOID
23285 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_VOID
23286 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_VOID
23287 The special type @code{void}.
23289 @findex TYPE_CODE_SET
23290 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_SET
23291 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_SET
23294 @findex TYPE_CODE_RANGE
23295 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_RANGE
23296 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_RANGE
23297 A range type, that is, an integer type with bounds.
23299 @findex TYPE_CODE_STRING
23300 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRING
23301 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRING
23302 A string type. Note that this is only used for certain languages with
23303 language-defined string types; C strings are not represented this way.
23305 @findex TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
23306 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
23307 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
23310 @findex TYPE_CODE_ERROR
23311 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ERROR
23312 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_ERROR
23313 An unknown or erroneous type.
23315 @findex TYPE_CODE_METHOD
23316 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHOD
23317 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHOD
23318 A method type, as found in C@t{++} or Java.
23320 @findex TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
23321 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
23322 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
23323 A pointer-to-member-function.
23325 @findex TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
23326 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
23327 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
23328 A pointer-to-member.
23330 @findex TYPE_CODE_REF
23331 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_REF
23332 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_REF
23335 @findex TYPE_CODE_CHAR
23336 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_CHAR
23337 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_CHAR
23340 @findex TYPE_CODE_BOOL
23341 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BOOL
23342 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_BOOL
23345 @findex TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
23346 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
23347 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
23348 A complex float type.
23350 @findex TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
23351 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
23352 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
23353 A typedef to some other type.
23355 @findex TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
23356 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
23357 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
23358 A C@t{++} namespace.
23360 @findex TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
23361 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
23362 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
23363 A decimal floating point type.
23365 @findex TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
23366 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
23367 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
23368 A function internal to @value{GDBN}. This is the type used to represent
23369 convenience functions.
23372 Further support for types is provided in the @code{gdb.types}
23373 Python module (@pxref{gdb.types}).
23375 @node Pretty Printing API
23376 @subsubsection Pretty Printing API
23378 An example output is provided (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
23380 A pretty-printer is just an object that holds a value and implements a
23381 specific interface, defined here.
23383 @defun pretty_printer.children (self)
23384 @value{GDBN} will call this method on a pretty-printer to compute the
23385 children of the pretty-printer's value.
23387 This method must return an object conforming to the Python iterator
23388 protocol. Each item returned by the iterator must be a tuple holding
23389 two elements. The first element is the ``name'' of the child; the
23390 second element is the child's value. The value can be any Python
23391 object which is convertible to a @value{GDBN} value.
23393 This method is optional. If it does not exist, @value{GDBN} will act
23394 as though the value has no children.
23397 @defun pretty_printer.display_hint (self)
23398 The CLI may call this method and use its result to change the
23399 formatting of a value. The result will also be supplied to an MI
23400 consumer as a @samp{displayhint} attribute of the variable being
23403 This method is optional. If it does exist, this method must return a
23406 Some display hints are predefined by @value{GDBN}:
23410 Indicate that the object being printed is ``array-like''. The CLI
23411 uses this to respect parameters such as @code{set print elements} and
23412 @code{set print array}.
23415 Indicate that the object being printed is ``map-like'', and that the
23416 children of this value can be assumed to alternate between keys and
23420 Indicate that the object being printed is ``string-like''. If the
23421 printer's @code{to_string} method returns a Python string of some
23422 kind, then @value{GDBN} will call its internal language-specific
23423 string-printing function to format the string. For the CLI this means
23424 adding quotation marks, possibly escaping some characters, respecting
23425 @code{set print elements}, and the like.
23429 @defun pretty_printer.to_string (self)
23430 @value{GDBN} will call this method to display the string
23431 representation of the value passed to the object's constructor.
23433 When printing from the CLI, if the @code{to_string} method exists,
23434 then @value{GDBN} will prepend its result to the values returned by
23435 @code{children}. Exactly how this formatting is done is dependent on
23436 the display hint, and may change as more hints are added. Also,
23437 depending on the print settings (@pxref{Print Settings}), the CLI may
23438 print just the result of @code{to_string} in a stack trace, omitting
23439 the result of @code{children}.
23441 If this method returns a string, it is printed verbatim.
23443 Otherwise, if this method returns an instance of @code{gdb.Value},
23444 then @value{GDBN} prints this value. This may result in a call to
23445 another pretty-printer.
23447 If instead the method returns a Python value which is convertible to a
23448 @code{gdb.Value}, then @value{GDBN} performs the conversion and prints
23449 the resulting value. Again, this may result in a call to another
23450 pretty-printer. Python scalars (integers, floats, and booleans) and
23451 strings are convertible to @code{gdb.Value}; other types are not.
23453 Finally, if this method returns @code{None} then no further operations
23454 are peformed in this method and nothing is printed.
23456 If the result is not one of these types, an exception is raised.
23459 @value{GDBN} provides a function which can be used to look up the
23460 default pretty-printer for a @code{gdb.Value}:
23462 @findex gdb.default_visualizer
23463 @defun gdb.default_visualizer (value)
23464 This function takes a @code{gdb.Value} object as an argument. If a
23465 pretty-printer for this value exists, then it is returned. If no such
23466 printer exists, then this returns @code{None}.
23469 @node Selecting Pretty-Printers
23470 @subsubsection Selecting Pretty-Printers
23472 The Python list @code{gdb.pretty_printers} contains an array of
23473 functions or callable objects that have been registered via addition
23474 as a pretty-printer. Printers in this list are called @code{global}
23475 printers, they're available when debugging all inferiors.
23476 Each @code{gdb.Progspace} contains a @code{pretty_printers} attribute.
23477 Each @code{gdb.Objfile} also contains a @code{pretty_printers}
23480 Each function on these lists is passed a single @code{gdb.Value}
23481 argument and should return a pretty-printer object conforming to the
23482 interface definition above (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}). If a function
23483 cannot create a pretty-printer for the value, it should return
23486 @value{GDBN} first checks the @code{pretty_printers} attribute of each
23487 @code{gdb.Objfile} in the current program space and iteratively calls
23488 each enabled lookup routine in the list for that @code{gdb.Objfile}
23489 until it receives a pretty-printer object.
23490 If no pretty-printer is found in the objfile lists, @value{GDBN} then
23491 searches the pretty-printer list of the current program space,
23492 calling each enabled function until an object is returned.
23493 After these lists have been exhausted, it tries the global
23494 @code{gdb.pretty_printers} list, again calling each enabled function until an
23495 object is returned.
23497 The order in which the objfiles are searched is not specified. For a
23498 given list, functions are always invoked from the head of the list,
23499 and iterated over sequentially until the end of the list, or a printer
23500 object is returned.
23502 For various reasons a pretty-printer may not work.
23503 For example, the underlying data structure may have changed and
23504 the pretty-printer is out of date.
23506 The consequences of a broken pretty-printer are severe enough that
23507 @value{GDBN} provides support for enabling and disabling individual
23508 printers. For example, if @code{print frame-arguments} is on,
23509 a backtrace can become highly illegible if any argument is printed
23510 with a broken printer.
23512 Pretty-printers are enabled and disabled by attaching an @code{enabled}
23513 attribute to the registered function or callable object. If this attribute
23514 is present and its value is @code{False}, the printer is disabled, otherwise
23515 the printer is enabled.
23517 @node Writing a Pretty-Printer
23518 @subsubsection Writing a Pretty-Printer
23519 @cindex writing a pretty-printer
23521 A pretty-printer consists of two parts: a lookup function to detect
23522 if the type is supported, and the printer itself.
23524 Here is an example showing how a @code{std::string} printer might be
23525 written. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for details on the API this class
23529 class StdStringPrinter(object):
23530 "Print a std::string"
23532 def __init__(self, val):
23535 def to_string(self):
23536 return self.val['_M_dataplus']['_M_p']
23538 def display_hint(self):
23542 And here is an example showing how a lookup function for the printer
23543 example above might be written.
23546 def str_lookup_function(val):
23547 lookup_tag = val.type.tag
23548 if lookup_tag == None:
23550 regex = re.compile("^std::basic_string<char,.*>$")
23551 if regex.match(lookup_tag):
23552 return StdStringPrinter(val)
23556 The example lookup function extracts the value's type, and attempts to
23557 match it to a type that it can pretty-print. If it is a type the
23558 printer can pretty-print, it will return a printer object. If not, it
23559 returns @code{None}.
23561 We recommend that you put your core pretty-printers into a Python
23562 package. If your pretty-printers are for use with a library, we
23563 further recommend embedding a version number into the package name.
23564 This practice will enable @value{GDBN} to load multiple versions of
23565 your pretty-printers at the same time, because they will have
23568 You should write auto-loaded code (@pxref{Python Auto-loading}) such that it
23569 can be evaluated multiple times without changing its meaning. An
23570 ideal auto-load file will consist solely of @code{import}s of your
23571 printer modules, followed by a call to a register pretty-printers with
23572 the current objfile.
23574 Taken as a whole, this approach will scale nicely to multiple
23575 inferiors, each potentially using a different library version.
23576 Embedding a version number in the Python package name will ensure that
23577 @value{GDBN} is able to load both sets of printers simultaneously.
23578 Then, because the search for pretty-printers is done by objfile, and
23579 because your auto-loaded code took care to register your library's
23580 printers with a specific objfile, @value{GDBN} will find the correct
23581 printers for the specific version of the library used by each
23584 To continue the @code{std::string} example (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}),
23585 this code might appear in @code{gdb.libstdcxx.v6}:
23588 def register_printers(objfile):
23589 objfile.pretty_printers.append(str_lookup_function)
23593 And then the corresponding contents of the auto-load file would be:
23596 import gdb.libstdcxx.v6
23597 gdb.libstdcxx.v6.register_printers(gdb.current_objfile())
23600 The previous example illustrates a basic pretty-printer.
23601 There are a few things that can be improved on.
23602 The printer doesn't have a name, making it hard to identify in a
23603 list of installed printers. The lookup function has a name, but
23604 lookup functions can have arbitrary, even identical, names.
23606 Second, the printer only handles one type, whereas a library typically has
23607 several types. One could install a lookup function for each desired type
23608 in the library, but one could also have a single lookup function recognize
23609 several types. The latter is the conventional way this is handled.
23610 If a pretty-printer can handle multiple data types, then its
23611 @dfn{subprinters} are the printers for the individual data types.
23613 The @code{gdb.printing} module provides a formal way of solving these
23614 problems (@pxref{gdb.printing}).
23615 Here is another example that handles multiple types.
23617 These are the types we are going to pretty-print:
23620 struct foo @{ int a, b; @};
23621 struct bar @{ struct foo x, y; @};
23624 Here are the printers:
23628 """Print a foo object."""
23630 def __init__(self, val):
23633 def to_string(self):
23634 return ("a=<" + str(self.val["a"]) +
23635 "> b=<" + str(self.val["b"]) + ">")
23638 """Print a bar object."""
23640 def __init__(self, val):
23643 def to_string(self):
23644 return ("x=<" + str(self.val["x"]) +
23645 "> y=<" + str(self.val["y"]) + ">")
23648 This example doesn't need a lookup function, that is handled by the
23649 @code{gdb.printing} module. Instead a function is provided to build up
23650 the object that handles the lookup.
23653 import gdb.printing
23655 def build_pretty_printer():
23656 pp = gdb.printing.RegexpCollectionPrettyPrinter(
23658 pp.add_printer('foo', '^foo$', fooPrinter)
23659 pp.add_printer('bar', '^bar$', barPrinter)
23663 And here is the autoload support:
23666 import gdb.printing
23668 gdb.printing.register_pretty_printer(
23669 gdb.current_objfile(),
23670 my_library.build_pretty_printer())
23673 Finally, when this printer is loaded into @value{GDBN}, here is the
23674 corresponding output of @samp{info pretty-printer}:
23677 (gdb) info pretty-printer
23684 @node Inferiors In Python
23685 @subsubsection Inferiors In Python
23686 @cindex inferiors in Python
23688 @findex gdb.Inferior
23689 Programs which are being run under @value{GDBN} are called inferiors
23690 (@pxref{Inferiors and Programs}). Python scripts can access
23691 information about and manipulate inferiors controlled by @value{GDBN}
23692 via objects of the @code{gdb.Inferior} class.
23694 The following inferior-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
23697 @defun gdb.inferiors ()
23698 Return a tuple containing all inferior objects.
23701 @defun gdb.selected_inferior ()
23702 Return an object representing the current inferior.
23705 A @code{gdb.Inferior} object has the following attributes:
23708 @defvar Inferior.num
23709 ID of inferior, as assigned by GDB.
23712 @defvar Inferior.pid
23713 Process ID of the inferior, as assigned by the underlying operating
23717 @defvar Inferior.was_attached
23718 Boolean signaling whether the inferior was created using `attach', or
23719 started by @value{GDBN} itself.
23723 A @code{gdb.Inferior} object has the following methods:
23726 @defun Inferior.is_valid ()
23727 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Inferior} object is valid,
23728 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Inferior} object will become invalid
23729 if the inferior no longer exists within @value{GDBN}. All other
23730 @code{gdb.Inferior} methods will throw an exception if it is invalid
23731 at the time the method is called.
23734 @defun Inferior.threads ()
23735 This method returns a tuple holding all the threads which are valid
23736 when it is called. If there are no valid threads, the method will
23737 return an empty tuple.
23740 @findex gdb.read_memory
23741 @defun Inferior.read_memory (address, length)
23742 Read @var{length} bytes of memory from the inferior, starting at
23743 @var{address}. Returns a buffer object, which behaves much like an array
23744 or a string. It can be modified and given to the @code{gdb.write_memory}
23748 @findex gdb.write_memory
23749 @defun Inferior.write_memory (address, buffer @r{[}, length@r{]})
23750 Write the contents of @var{buffer} to the inferior, starting at
23751 @var{address}. The @var{buffer} parameter must be a Python object
23752 which supports the buffer protocol, i.e., a string, an array or the
23753 object returned from @code{gdb.read_memory}. If given, @var{length}
23754 determines the number of bytes from @var{buffer} to be written.
23757 @findex gdb.search_memory
23758 @defun Inferior.search_memory (address, length, pattern)
23759 Search a region of the inferior memory starting at @var{address} with
23760 the given @var{length} using the search pattern supplied in
23761 @var{pattern}. The @var{pattern} parameter must be a Python object
23762 which supports the buffer protocol, i.e., a string, an array or the
23763 object returned from @code{gdb.read_memory}. Returns a Python @code{Long}
23764 containing the address where the pattern was found, or @code{None} if
23765 the pattern could not be found.
23769 @node Events In Python
23770 @subsubsection Events In Python
23771 @cindex inferior events in Python
23773 @value{GDBN} provides a general event facility so that Python code can be
23774 notified of various state changes, particularly changes that occur in
23777 An @dfn{event} is just an object that describes some state change. The
23778 type of the object and its attributes will vary depending on the details
23779 of the change. All the existing events are described below.
23781 In order to be notified of an event, you must register an event handler
23782 with an @dfn{event registry}. An event registry is an object in the
23783 @code{gdb.events} module which dispatches particular events. A registry
23784 provides methods to register and unregister event handlers:
23787 @defun EventRegistry.connect (object)
23788 Add the given callable @var{object} to the registry. This object will be
23789 called when an event corresponding to this registry occurs.
23792 @defun EventRegistry.disconnect (object)
23793 Remove the given @var{object} from the registry. Once removed, the object
23794 will no longer receive notifications of events.
23798 Here is an example:
23801 def exit_handler (event):
23802 print "event type: exit"
23803 print "exit code: %d" % (event.exit_code)
23805 gdb.events.exited.connect (exit_handler)
23808 In the above example we connect our handler @code{exit_handler} to the
23809 registry @code{events.exited}. Once connected, @code{exit_handler} gets
23810 called when the inferior exits. The argument @dfn{event} in this example is
23811 of type @code{gdb.ExitedEvent}. As you can see in the example the
23812 @code{ExitedEvent} object has an attribute which indicates the exit code of
23815 The following is a listing of the event registries that are available and
23816 details of the events they emit:
23821 Emits @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
23823 Some events can be thread specific when @value{GDBN} is running in non-stop
23824 mode. When represented in Python, these events all extend
23825 @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}. Note, this event is not emitted directly; instead,
23826 events which are emitted by this or other modules might extend this event.
23827 Examples of these events are @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} and
23828 @code{gdb.ContinueEvent}.
23831 @defvar ThreadEvent.inferior_thread
23832 In non-stop mode this attribute will be set to the specific thread which was
23833 involved in the emitted event. Otherwise, it will be set to @code{None}.
23837 Emits @code{gdb.ContinueEvent} which extends @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
23839 This event indicates that the inferior has been continued after a stop. For
23840 inherited attribute refer to @code{gdb.ThreadEvent} above.
23842 @item events.exited
23843 Emits @code{events.ExitedEvent} which indicates that the inferior has exited.
23844 @code{events.ExitedEvent} has two attributes:
23846 @defvar ExitedEvent.exit_code
23847 An integer representing the exit code, if available, which the inferior
23848 has returned. (The exit code could be unavailable if, for example,
23849 @value{GDBN} detaches from the inferior.) If the exit code is unavailable,
23850 the attribute does not exist.
23852 @defvar ExitedEvent inferior
23853 A reference to the inferior which triggered the @code{exited} event.
23858 Emits @code{gdb.StopEvent} which extends @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
23860 Indicates that the inferior has stopped. All events emitted by this registry
23861 extend StopEvent. As a child of @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}, @code{gdb.StopEvent}
23862 will indicate the stopped thread when @value{GDBN} is running in non-stop
23863 mode. Refer to @code{gdb.ThreadEvent} above for more details.
23865 Emits @code{gdb.SignalEvent} which extends @code{gdb.StopEvent}.
23867 This event indicates that the inferior or one of its threads has received as
23868 signal. @code{gdb.SignalEvent} has the following attributes:
23871 @defvar SignalEvent.stop_signal
23872 A string representing the signal received by the inferior. A list of possible
23873 signal values can be obtained by running the command @code{info signals} in
23874 the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
23878 Also emits @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} which extends @code{gdb.StopEvent}.
23880 @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} event indicates that one or more breakpoints have
23881 been hit, and has the following attributes:
23884 @defvar BreakpointEvent.breakpoints
23885 A sequence containing references to all the breakpoints (type
23886 @code{gdb.Breakpoint}) that were hit.
23887 @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for details of the @code{gdb.Breakpoint} object.
23889 @defvar BreakpointEvent.breakpoint
23890 A reference to the first breakpoint that was hit.
23891 This function is maintained for backward compatibility and is now deprecated
23892 in favor of the @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent.breakpoints} attribute.
23896 @item events.new_objfile
23897 Emits @code{gdb.NewObjFileEvent} which indicates that a new object file has
23898 been loaded by @value{GDBN}. @code{gdb.NewObjFileEvent} has one attribute:
23901 @defvar NewObjFileEvent.new_objfile
23902 A reference to the object file (@code{gdb.Objfile}) which has been loaded.
23903 @xref{Objfiles In Python}, for details of the @code{gdb.Objfile} object.
23909 @node Threads In Python
23910 @subsubsection Threads In Python
23911 @cindex threads in python
23913 @findex gdb.InferiorThread
23914 Python scripts can access information about, and manipulate inferior threads
23915 controlled by @value{GDBN}, via objects of the @code{gdb.InferiorThread} class.
23917 The following thread-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
23920 @findex gdb.selected_thread
23921 @defun gdb.selected_thread ()
23922 This function returns the thread object for the selected thread. If there
23923 is no selected thread, this will return @code{None}.
23926 A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object has the following attributes:
23929 @defvar InferiorThread.name
23930 The name of the thread. If the user specified a name using
23931 @code{thread name}, then this returns that name. Otherwise, if an
23932 OS-supplied name is available, then it is returned. Otherwise, this
23933 returns @code{None}.
23935 This attribute can be assigned to. The new value must be a string
23936 object, which sets the new name, or @code{None}, which removes any
23937 user-specified thread name.
23940 @defvar InferiorThread.num
23941 ID of the thread, as assigned by GDB.
23944 @defvar InferiorThread.ptid
23945 ID of the thread, as assigned by the operating system. This attribute is a
23946 tuple containing three integers. The first is the Process ID (PID); the second
23947 is the Lightweight Process ID (LWPID), and the third is the Thread ID (TID).
23948 Either the LWPID or TID may be 0, which indicates that the operating system
23949 does not use that identifier.
23953 A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object has the following methods:
23956 @defun InferiorThread.is_valid ()
23957 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object is valid,
23958 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object will become
23959 invalid if the thread exits, or the inferior that the thread belongs
23960 is deleted. All other @code{gdb.InferiorThread} methods will throw an
23961 exception if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
23964 @defun InferiorThread.switch ()
23965 This changes @value{GDBN}'s currently selected thread to the one represented
23969 @defun InferiorThread.is_stopped ()
23970 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is stopped.
23973 @defun InferiorThread.is_running ()
23974 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is running.
23977 @defun InferiorThread.is_exited ()
23978 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is exited.
23982 @node Commands In Python
23983 @subsubsection Commands In Python
23985 @cindex commands in python
23986 @cindex python commands
23987 You can implement new @value{GDBN} CLI commands in Python. A CLI
23988 command is implemented using an instance of the @code{gdb.Command}
23989 class, most commonly using a subclass.
23991 @defun Command.__init__ (name, @var{command_class} @r{[}, @var{completer_class} @r{[}, @var{prefix}@r{]]})
23992 The object initializer for @code{Command} registers the new command
23993 with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked from the
23994 subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
23996 @var{name} is the name of the command. If @var{name} consists of
23997 multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
23998 commands. In this case, if one of the prefix commands does not exist,
23999 an exception is raised.
24001 There is no support for multi-line commands.
24003 @var{command_class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
24004 defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to categorize the
24005 new command in the help system.
24007 @var{completer_class} is an optional argument. If given, it should be
24008 one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined below. This argument
24009 tells @value{GDBN} how to perform completion for this command. If not
24010 given, @value{GDBN} will attempt to complete using the object's
24011 @code{complete} method (see below); if no such method is found, an
24012 error will occur when completion is attempted.
24014 @var{prefix} is an optional argument. If @code{True}, then the new
24015 command is a prefix command; sub-commands of this command may be
24018 The help text for the new command is taken from the Python
24019 documentation string for the command's class, if there is one. If no
24020 documentation string is provided, the default value ``This command is
24021 not documented.'' is used.
24024 @cindex don't repeat Python command
24025 @defun Command.dont_repeat ()
24026 By default, a @value{GDBN} command is repeated when the user enters a
24027 blank line at the command prompt. A command can suppress this
24028 behavior by invoking the @code{dont_repeat} method. This is similar
24029 to the user command @code{dont-repeat}, see @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
24032 @defun Command.invoke (argument, from_tty)
24033 This method is called by @value{GDBN} when this command is invoked.
24035 @var{argument} is a string. It is the argument to the command, after
24036 leading and trailing whitespace has been stripped.
24038 @var{from_tty} is a boolean argument. When true, this means that the
24039 command was entered by the user at the terminal; when false it means
24040 that the command came from elsewhere.
24042 If this method throws an exception, it is turned into a @value{GDBN}
24043 @code{error} call. Otherwise, the return value is ignored.
24045 @findex gdb.string_to_argv
24046 To break @var{argument} up into an argv-like string use
24047 @code{gdb.string_to_argv}. This function behaves identically to
24048 @value{GDBN}'s internal argument lexer @code{buildargv}.
24049 It is recommended to use this for consistency.
24050 Arguments are separated by spaces and may be quoted.
24054 print gdb.string_to_argv ("1 2\ \\\"3 '4 \"5' \"6 '7\"")
24055 ['1', '2 "3', '4 "5', "6 '7"]
24060 @cindex completion of Python commands
24061 @defun Command.complete (text, word)
24062 This method is called by @value{GDBN} when the user attempts
24063 completion on this command. All forms of completion are handled by
24064 this method, that is, the @key{TAB} and @key{M-?} key bindings
24065 (@pxref{Completion}), and the @code{complete} command (@pxref{Help,
24068 The arguments @var{text} and @var{word} are both strings. @var{text}
24069 holds the complete command line up to the cursor's location.
24070 @var{word} holds the last word of the command line; this is computed
24071 using a word-breaking heuristic.
24073 The @code{complete} method can return several values:
24076 If the return value is a sequence, the contents of the sequence are
24077 used as the completions. It is up to @code{complete} to ensure that the
24078 contents actually do complete the word. A zero-length sequence is
24079 allowed, it means that there were no completions available. Only
24080 string elements of the sequence are used; other elements in the
24081 sequence are ignored.
24084 If the return value is one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined
24085 below, then the corresponding @value{GDBN}-internal completion
24086 function is invoked, and its result is used.
24089 All other results are treated as though there were no available
24094 When a new command is registered, it must be declared as a member of
24095 some general class of commands. This is used to classify top-level
24096 commands in the on-line help system; note that prefix commands are not
24097 listed under their own category but rather that of their top-level
24098 command. The available classifications are represented by constants
24099 defined in the @code{gdb} module:
24102 @findex COMMAND_NONE
24103 @findex gdb.COMMAND_NONE
24104 @item gdb.COMMAND_NONE
24105 The command does not belong to any particular class. A command in
24106 this category will not be displayed in any of the help categories.
24108 @findex COMMAND_RUNNING
24109 @findex gdb.COMMAND_RUNNING
24110 @item gdb.COMMAND_RUNNING
24111 The command is related to running the inferior. For example,
24112 @code{start}, @code{step}, and @code{continue} are in this category.
24113 Type @kbd{help running} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
24114 commands in this category.
24116 @findex COMMAND_DATA
24117 @findex gdb.COMMAND_DATA
24118 @item gdb.COMMAND_DATA
24119 The command is related to data or variables. For example,
24120 @code{call}, @code{find}, and @code{print} are in this category. Type
24121 @kbd{help data} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands
24124 @findex COMMAND_STACK
24125 @findex gdb.COMMAND_STACK
24126 @item gdb.COMMAND_STACK
24127 The command has to do with manipulation of the stack. For example,
24128 @code{backtrace}, @code{frame}, and @code{return} are in this
24129 category. Type @kbd{help stack} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a
24130 list of commands in this category.
24132 @findex COMMAND_FILES
24133 @findex gdb.COMMAND_FILES
24134 @item gdb.COMMAND_FILES
24135 This class is used for file-related commands. For example,
24136 @code{file}, @code{list} and @code{section} are in this category.
24137 Type @kbd{help files} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
24138 commands in this category.
24140 @findex COMMAND_SUPPORT
24141 @findex gdb.COMMAND_SUPPORT
24142 @item gdb.COMMAND_SUPPORT
24143 This should be used for ``support facilities'', generally meaning
24144 things that are useful to the user when interacting with @value{GDBN},
24145 but not related to the state of the inferior. For example,
24146 @code{help}, @code{make}, and @code{shell} are in this category. Type
24147 @kbd{help support} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
24148 commands in this category.
24150 @findex COMMAND_STATUS
24151 @findex gdb.COMMAND_STATUS
24152 @item gdb.COMMAND_STATUS
24153 The command is an @samp{info}-related command, that is, related to the
24154 state of @value{GDBN} itself. For example, @code{info}, @code{macro},
24155 and @code{show} are in this category. Type @kbd{help status} at the
24156 @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this category.
24158 @findex COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
24159 @findex gdb.COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
24160 @item gdb.COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
24161 The command has to do with breakpoints. For example, @code{break},
24162 @code{clear}, and @code{delete} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
24163 breakpoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in
24166 @findex COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
24167 @findex gdb.COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
24168 @item gdb.COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
24169 The command has to do with tracepoints. For example, @code{trace},
24170 @code{actions}, and @code{tfind} are in this category. Type
24171 @kbd{help tracepoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
24172 commands in this category.
24174 @findex COMMAND_USER
24175 @findex gdb.COMMAND_USER
24176 @item gdb.COMMAND_USER
24177 The command is a general purpose command for the user, and typically
24178 does not fit in one of the other categories.
24179 Type @kbd{help user-defined} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see
24180 a list of commands in this category, as well as the list of gdb macros
24181 (@pxref{Sequences}).
24183 @findex COMMAND_OBSCURE
24184 @findex gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE
24185 @item gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE
24186 The command is only used in unusual circumstances, or is not of
24187 general interest to users. For example, @code{checkpoint},
24188 @code{fork}, and @code{stop} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
24189 obscure} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this
24192 @findex COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
24193 @findex gdb.COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
24194 @item gdb.COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
24195 The command is only useful to @value{GDBN} maintainers. The
24196 @code{maintenance} and @code{flushregs} commands are in this category.
24197 Type @kbd{help internals} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
24198 commands in this category.
24201 A new command can use a predefined completion function, either by
24202 specifying it via an argument at initialization, or by returning it
24203 from the @code{complete} method. These predefined completion
24204 constants are all defined in the @code{gdb} module:
24207 @findex COMPLETE_NONE
24208 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_NONE
24209 @item gdb.COMPLETE_NONE
24210 This constant means that no completion should be done.
24212 @findex COMPLETE_FILENAME
24213 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_FILENAME
24214 @item gdb.COMPLETE_FILENAME
24215 This constant means that filename completion should be performed.
24217 @findex COMPLETE_LOCATION
24218 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_LOCATION
24219 @item gdb.COMPLETE_LOCATION
24220 This constant means that location completion should be done.
24221 @xref{Specify Location}.
24223 @findex COMPLETE_COMMAND
24224 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_COMMAND
24225 @item gdb.COMPLETE_COMMAND
24226 This constant means that completion should examine @value{GDBN}
24229 @findex COMPLETE_SYMBOL
24230 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_SYMBOL
24231 @item gdb.COMPLETE_SYMBOL
24232 This constant means that completion should be done using symbol names
24236 The following code snippet shows how a trivial CLI command can be
24237 implemented in Python:
24240 class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
24241 """Greet the whole world."""
24243 def __init__ (self):
24244 super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_USER)
24246 def invoke (self, arg, from_tty):
24247 print "Hello, World!"
24252 The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
24253 registration of the command with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
24254 Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
24255 @code{gdb} module explicitly.
24257 @node Parameters In Python
24258 @subsubsection Parameters In Python
24260 @cindex parameters in python
24261 @cindex python parameters
24262 @tindex gdb.Parameter
24264 You can implement new @value{GDBN} parameters using Python. A new
24265 parameter is implemented as an instance of the @code{gdb.Parameter}
24268 Parameters are exposed to the user via the @code{set} and
24269 @code{show} commands. @xref{Help}.
24271 There are many parameters that already exist and can be set in
24272 @value{GDBN}. Two examples are: @code{set follow fork} and
24273 @code{set charset}. Setting these parameters influences certain
24274 behavior in @value{GDBN}. Similarly, you can define parameters that
24275 can be used to influence behavior in custom Python scripts and commands.
24277 @defun Parameter.__init__ (name, @var{command-class}, @var{parameter-class} @r{[}, @var{enum-sequence}@r{]})
24278 The object initializer for @code{Parameter} registers the new
24279 parameter with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked
24280 from the subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
24282 @var{name} is the name of the new parameter. If @var{name} consists
24283 of multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
24284 parameters. An example of this can be illustrated with the
24285 @code{set print} set of parameters. If @var{name} is
24286 @code{print foo}, then @code{print} will be searched as the prefix
24287 parameter. In this case the parameter can subsequently be accessed in
24288 @value{GDBN} as @code{set print foo}.
24290 If @var{name} consists of multiple words, and no prefix parameter group
24291 can be found, an exception is raised.
24293 @var{command-class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
24294 (@pxref{Commands In Python}). This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to
24295 categorize the new parameter in the help system.
24297 @var{parameter-class} should be one of the @samp{PARAM_} constants
24298 defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} the type of the new
24299 parameter; this information is used for input validation and
24302 If @var{parameter-class} is @code{PARAM_ENUM}, then
24303 @var{enum-sequence} must be a sequence of strings. These strings
24304 represent the possible values for the parameter.
24306 If @var{parameter-class} is not @code{PARAM_ENUM}, then the presence
24307 of a fourth argument will cause an exception to be thrown.
24309 The help text for the new parameter is taken from the Python
24310 documentation string for the parameter's class, if there is one. If
24311 there is no documentation string, a default value is used.
24314 @defvar Parameter.set_doc
24315 If this attribute exists, and is a string, then its value is used as
24316 the help text for this parameter's @code{set} command. The value is
24317 examined when @code{Parameter.__init__} is invoked; subsequent changes
24321 @defvar Parameter.show_doc
24322 If this attribute exists, and is a string, then its value is used as
24323 the help text for this parameter's @code{show} command. The value is
24324 examined when @code{Parameter.__init__} is invoked; subsequent changes
24328 @defvar Parameter.value
24329 The @code{value} attribute holds the underlying value of the
24330 parameter. It can be read and assigned to just as any other
24331 attribute. @value{GDBN} does validation when assignments are made.
24334 There are two methods that should be implemented in any
24335 @code{Parameter} class. These are:
24337 @defun Parameter.get_set_string (self)
24338 @value{GDBN} will call this method when a @var{parameter}'s value has
24339 been changed via the @code{set} API (for example, @kbd{set foo off}).
24340 The @code{value} attribute has already been populated with the new
24341 value and may be used in output. This method must return a string.
24344 @defun Parameter.get_show_string (self, svalue)
24345 @value{GDBN} will call this method when a @var{parameter}'s
24346 @code{show} API has been invoked (for example, @kbd{show foo}). The
24347 argument @code{svalue} receives the string representation of the
24348 current value. This method must return a string.
24351 When a new parameter is defined, its type must be specified. The
24352 available types are represented by constants defined in the @code{gdb}
24356 @findex PARAM_BOOLEAN
24357 @findex gdb.PARAM_BOOLEAN
24358 @item gdb.PARAM_BOOLEAN
24359 The value is a plain boolean. The Python boolean values, @code{True}
24360 and @code{False} are the only valid values.
24362 @findex PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
24363 @findex gdb.PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
24364 @item gdb.PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
24365 The value has three possible states: true, false, and @samp{auto}. In
24366 Python, true and false are represented using boolean constants, and
24367 @samp{auto} is represented using @code{None}.
24369 @findex PARAM_UINTEGER
24370 @findex gdb.PARAM_UINTEGER
24371 @item gdb.PARAM_UINTEGER
24372 The value is an unsigned integer. The value of 0 should be
24373 interpreted to mean ``unlimited''.
24375 @findex PARAM_INTEGER
24376 @findex gdb.PARAM_INTEGER
24377 @item gdb.PARAM_INTEGER
24378 The value is a signed integer. The value of 0 should be interpreted
24379 to mean ``unlimited''.
24381 @findex PARAM_STRING
24382 @findex gdb.PARAM_STRING
24383 @item gdb.PARAM_STRING
24384 The value is a string. When the user modifies the string, any escape
24385 sequences, such as @samp{\t}, @samp{\f}, and octal escapes, are
24386 translated into corresponding characters and encoded into the current
24389 @findex PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
24390 @findex gdb.PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
24391 @item gdb.PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
24392 The value is a string. When the user modifies the string, escapes are
24393 passed through untranslated.
24395 @findex PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
24396 @findex gdb.PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
24397 @item gdb.PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
24398 The value is a either a filename (a string), or @code{None}.
24400 @findex PARAM_FILENAME
24401 @findex gdb.PARAM_FILENAME
24402 @item gdb.PARAM_FILENAME
24403 The value is a filename. This is just like
24404 @code{PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE}, but uses file names for completion.
24406 @findex PARAM_ZINTEGER
24407 @findex gdb.PARAM_ZINTEGER
24408 @item gdb.PARAM_ZINTEGER
24409 The value is an integer. This is like @code{PARAM_INTEGER}, except 0
24410 is interpreted as itself.
24413 @findex gdb.PARAM_ENUM
24414 @item gdb.PARAM_ENUM
24415 The value is a string, which must be one of a collection string
24416 constants provided when the parameter is created.
24419 @node Functions In Python
24420 @subsubsection Writing new convenience functions
24422 @cindex writing convenience functions
24423 @cindex convenience functions in python
24424 @cindex python convenience functions
24425 @tindex gdb.Function
24427 You can implement new convenience functions (@pxref{Convenience Vars})
24428 in Python. A convenience function is an instance of a subclass of the
24429 class @code{gdb.Function}.
24431 @defun Function.__init__ (name)
24432 The initializer for @code{Function} registers the new function with
24433 @value{GDBN}. The argument @var{name} is the name of the function,
24434 a string. The function will be visible to the user as a convenience
24435 variable of type @code{internal function}, whose name is the same as
24436 the given @var{name}.
24438 The documentation for the new function is taken from the documentation
24439 string for the new class.
24442 @defun Function.invoke (@var{*args})
24443 When a convenience function is evaluated, its arguments are converted
24444 to instances of @code{gdb.Value}, and then the function's
24445 @code{invoke} method is called. Note that @value{GDBN} does not
24446 predetermine the arity of convenience functions. Instead, all
24447 available arguments are passed to @code{invoke}, following the
24448 standard Python calling convention. In particular, a convenience
24449 function can have default values for parameters without ill effect.
24451 The return value of this method is used as its value in the enclosing
24452 expression. If an ordinary Python value is returned, it is converted
24453 to a @code{gdb.Value} following the usual rules.
24456 The following code snippet shows how a trivial convenience function can
24457 be implemented in Python:
24460 class Greet (gdb.Function):
24461 """Return string to greet someone.
24462 Takes a name as argument."""
24464 def __init__ (self):
24465 super (Greet, self).__init__ ("greet")
24467 def invoke (self, name):
24468 return "Hello, %s!" % name.string ()
24473 The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
24474 registration of the function with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
24475 Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
24476 @code{gdb} module explicitly.
24478 @node Progspaces In Python
24479 @subsubsection Program Spaces In Python
24481 @cindex progspaces in python
24482 @tindex gdb.Progspace
24484 A program space, or @dfn{progspace}, represents a symbolic view
24485 of an address space.
24486 It consists of all of the objfiles of the program.
24487 @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
24488 @xref{Inferiors and Programs, program spaces}, for more details
24489 about program spaces.
24491 The following progspace-related functions are available in the
24494 @findex gdb.current_progspace
24495 @defun gdb.current_progspace ()
24496 This function returns the program space of the currently selected inferior.
24497 @xref{Inferiors and Programs}.
24500 @findex gdb.progspaces
24501 @defun gdb.progspaces ()
24502 Return a sequence of all the progspaces currently known to @value{GDBN}.
24505 Each progspace is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Progspace}
24508 @defvar Progspace.filename
24509 The file name of the progspace as a string.
24512 @defvar Progspace.pretty_printers
24513 The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
24514 used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
24515 function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
24516 search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
24517 which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for more
24521 @node Objfiles In Python
24522 @subsubsection Objfiles In Python
24524 @cindex objfiles in python
24525 @tindex gdb.Objfile
24527 @value{GDBN} loads symbols for an inferior from various
24528 symbol-containing files (@pxref{Files}). These include the primary
24529 executable file, any shared libraries used by the inferior, and any
24530 separate debug info files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}).
24531 @value{GDBN} calls these symbol-containing files @dfn{objfiles}.
24533 The following objfile-related functions are available in the
24536 @findex gdb.current_objfile
24537 @defun gdb.current_objfile ()
24538 When auto-loading a Python script (@pxref{Python Auto-loading}), @value{GDBN}
24539 sets the ``current objfile'' to the corresponding objfile. This
24540 function returns the current objfile. If there is no current objfile,
24541 this function returns @code{None}.
24544 @findex gdb.objfiles
24545 @defun gdb.objfiles ()
24546 Return a sequence of all the objfiles current known to @value{GDBN}.
24547 @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
24550 Each objfile is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Objfile}
24553 @defvar Objfile.filename
24554 The file name of the objfile as a string.
24557 @defvar Objfile.pretty_printers
24558 The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
24559 used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
24560 function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
24561 search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
24562 which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for more
24566 A @code{gdb.Objfile} object has the following methods:
24568 @defun Objfile.is_valid ()
24569 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Objfile} object is valid,
24570 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Objfile} object can become invalid
24571 if the object file it refers to is not loaded in @value{GDBN} any
24572 longer. All other @code{gdb.Objfile} methods will throw an exception
24573 if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
24576 @node Frames In Python
24577 @subsubsection Accessing inferior stack frames from Python.
24579 @cindex frames in python
24580 When the debugged program stops, @value{GDBN} is able to analyze its call
24581 stack (@pxref{Frames,,Stack frames}). The @code{gdb.Frame} class
24582 represents a frame in the stack. A @code{gdb.Frame} object is only valid
24583 while its corresponding frame exists in the inferior's stack. If you try
24584 to use an invalid frame object, @value{GDBN} will throw a @code{gdb.error}
24585 exception (@pxref{Exception Handling}).
24587 Two @code{gdb.Frame} objects can be compared for equality with the @code{==}
24591 (@value{GDBP}) python print gdb.newest_frame() == gdb.selected_frame ()
24595 The following frame-related functions are available in the @code{gdb} module:
24597 @findex gdb.selected_frame
24598 @defun gdb.selected_frame ()
24599 Return the selected frame object. (@pxref{Selection,,Selecting a Frame}).
24602 @findex gdb.newest_frame
24603 @defun gdb.newest_frame ()
24604 Return the newest frame object for the selected thread.
24607 @defun gdb.frame_stop_reason_string (reason)
24608 Return a string explaining the reason why @value{GDBN} stopped unwinding
24609 frames, as expressed by the given @var{reason} code (an integer, see the
24610 @code{unwind_stop_reason} method further down in this section).
24613 A @code{gdb.Frame} object has the following methods:
24616 @defun Frame.is_valid ()
24617 Returns true if the @code{gdb.Frame} object is valid, false if not.
24618 A frame object can become invalid if the frame it refers to doesn't
24619 exist anymore in the inferior. All @code{gdb.Frame} methods will throw
24620 an exception if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
24623 @defun Frame.name ()
24624 Returns the function name of the frame, or @code{None} if it can't be
24628 @defun Frame.type ()
24629 Returns the type of the frame. The value can be one of:
24631 @item gdb.NORMAL_FRAME
24632 An ordinary stack frame.
24634 @item gdb.DUMMY_FRAME
24635 A fake stack frame that was created by @value{GDBN} when performing an
24636 inferior function call.
24638 @item gdb.INLINE_FRAME
24639 A frame representing an inlined function. The function was inlined
24640 into a @code{gdb.NORMAL_FRAME} that is older than this one.
24642 @item gdb.TAILCALL_FRAME
24643 A frame representing a tail call. @xref{Tail Call Frames}.
24645 @item gdb.SIGTRAMP_FRAME
24646 A signal trampoline frame. This is the frame created by the OS when
24647 it calls into a signal handler.
24649 @item gdb.ARCH_FRAME
24650 A fake stack frame representing a cross-architecture call.
24652 @item gdb.SENTINEL_FRAME
24653 This is like @code{gdb.NORMAL_FRAME}, but it is only used for the
24658 @defun Frame.unwind_stop_reason ()
24659 Return an integer representing the reason why it's not possible to find
24660 more frames toward the outermost frame. Use
24661 @code{gdb.frame_stop_reason_string} to convert the value returned by this
24662 function to a string. The value can be one of:
24665 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_NO_REASON
24666 No particular reason (older frames should be available).
24668 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_NULL_ID
24669 The previous frame's analyzer returns an invalid result.
24671 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_OUTERMOST
24672 This frame is the outermost.
24674 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_UNAVAILABLE
24675 Cannot unwind further, because that would require knowing the
24676 values of registers or memory that have not been collected.
24678 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_INNER_ID
24679 This frame ID looks like it ought to belong to a NEXT frame,
24680 but we got it for a PREV frame. Normally, this is a sign of
24681 unwinder failure. It could also indicate stack corruption.
24683 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_SAME_ID
24684 This frame has the same ID as the previous one. That means
24685 that unwinding further would almost certainly give us another
24686 frame with exactly the same ID, so break the chain. Normally,
24687 this is a sign of unwinder failure. It could also indicate
24690 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_NO_SAVED_PC
24691 The frame unwinder did not find any saved PC, but we needed
24692 one to unwind further.
24694 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_FIRST_ERROR
24695 Any stop reason greater or equal to this value indicates some kind
24696 of error. This special value facilitates writing code that tests
24697 for errors in unwinding in a way that will work correctly even if
24698 the list of the other values is modified in future @value{GDBN}
24699 versions. Using it, you could write:
24701 reason = gdb.selected_frame().unwind_stop_reason ()
24702 reason_str = gdb.frame_stop_reason_string (reason)
24703 if reason >= gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_FIRST_ERROR:
24704 print "An error occured: %s" % reason_str
24711 Returns the frame's resume address.
24714 @defun Frame.block ()
24715 Return the frame's code block. @xref{Blocks In Python}.
24718 @defun Frame.function ()
24719 Return the symbol for the function corresponding to this frame.
24720 @xref{Symbols In Python}.
24723 @defun Frame.older ()
24724 Return the frame that called this frame.
24727 @defun Frame.newer ()
24728 Return the frame called by this frame.
24731 @defun Frame.find_sal ()
24732 Return the frame's symtab and line object.
24733 @xref{Symbol Tables In Python}.
24736 @defun Frame.read_var (variable @r{[}, block@r{]})
24737 Return the value of @var{variable} in this frame. If the optional
24738 argument @var{block} is provided, search for the variable from that
24739 block; otherwise start at the frame's current block (which is
24740 determined by the frame's current program counter). @var{variable}
24741 must be a string or a @code{gdb.Symbol} object. @var{block} must be a
24742 @code{gdb.Block} object.
24745 @defun Frame.select ()
24746 Set this frame to be the selected frame. @xref{Stack, ,Examining the
24751 @node Blocks In Python
24752 @subsubsection Accessing frame blocks from Python.
24754 @cindex blocks in python
24757 Within each frame, @value{GDBN} maintains information on each block
24758 stored in that frame. These blocks are organized hierarchically, and
24759 are represented individually in Python as a @code{gdb.Block}.
24760 Please see @ref{Frames In Python}, for a more in-depth discussion on
24761 frames. Furthermore, see @ref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}, for more
24762 detailed technical information on @value{GDBN}'s book-keeping of the
24765 A @code{gdb.Block} is iterable. The iterator returns the symbols
24766 (@pxref{Symbols In Python}) local to the block. Python programs
24767 should not assume that a specific block object will always contain a
24768 given symbol, since changes in @value{GDBN} features and
24769 infrastructure may cause symbols move across blocks in a symbol
24772 The following block-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
24775 @findex gdb.block_for_pc
24776 @defun gdb.block_for_pc (pc)
24777 Return the @code{gdb.Block} containing the given @var{pc} value. If the
24778 block cannot be found for the @var{pc} value specified, the function
24779 will return @code{None}.
24782 A @code{gdb.Block} object has the following methods:
24785 @defun Block.is_valid ()
24786 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Block} object is valid,
24787 @code{False} if not. A block object can become invalid if the block it
24788 refers to doesn't exist anymore in the inferior. All other
24789 @code{gdb.Block} methods will throw an exception if it is invalid at
24790 the time the method is called. The block's validity is also checked
24791 during iteration over symbols of the block.
24795 A @code{gdb.Block} object has the following attributes:
24798 @defvar Block.start
24799 The start address of the block. This attribute is not writable.
24803 The end address of the block. This attribute is not writable.
24806 @defvar Block.function
24807 The name of the block represented as a @code{gdb.Symbol}. If the
24808 block is not named, then this attribute holds @code{None}. This
24809 attribute is not writable.
24812 @defvar Block.superblock
24813 The block containing this block. If this parent block does not exist,
24814 this attribute holds @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
24817 @defvar Block.global_block
24818 The global block associated with this block. This attribute is not
24822 @defvar Block.static_block
24823 The static block associated with this block. This attribute is not
24827 @defvar Block.is_global
24828 @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Block} object is a global block,
24829 @code{False} if not. This attribute is not
24833 @defvar Block.is_static
24834 @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Block} object is a static block,
24835 @code{False} if not. This attribute is not writable.
24839 @node Symbols In Python
24840 @subsubsection Python representation of Symbols.
24842 @cindex symbols in python
24845 @value{GDBN} represents every variable, function and type as an
24846 entry in a symbol table. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
24847 Similarly, Python represents these symbols in @value{GDBN} with the
24848 @code{gdb.Symbol} object.
24850 The following symbol-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
24853 @findex gdb.lookup_symbol
24854 @defun gdb.lookup_symbol (name @r{[}, block @r{[}, domain@r{]]})
24855 This function searches for a symbol by name. The search scope can be
24856 restricted to the parameters defined in the optional domain and block
24859 @var{name} is the name of the symbol. It must be a string. The
24860 optional @var{block} argument restricts the search to symbols visible
24861 in that @var{block}. The @var{block} argument must be a
24862 @code{gdb.Block} object. If omitted, the block for the current frame
24863 is used. The optional @var{domain} argument restricts
24864 the search to the domain type. The @var{domain} argument must be a
24865 domain constant defined in the @code{gdb} module and described later
24868 The result is a tuple of two elements.
24869 The first element is a @code{gdb.Symbol} object or @code{None} if the symbol
24871 If the symbol is found, the second element is @code{True} if the symbol
24872 is a field of a method's object (e.g., @code{this} in C@t{++}),
24873 otherwise it is @code{False}.
24874 If the symbol is not found, the second element is @code{False}.
24877 @findex gdb.lookup_global_symbol
24878 @defun gdb.lookup_global_symbol (name @r{[}, domain@r{]})
24879 This function searches for a global symbol by name.
24880 The search scope can be restricted to by the domain argument.
24882 @var{name} is the name of the symbol. It must be a string.
24883 The optional @var{domain} argument restricts the search to the domain type.
24884 The @var{domain} argument must be a domain constant defined in the @code{gdb}
24885 module and described later in this chapter.
24887 The result is a @code{gdb.Symbol} object or @code{None} if the symbol
24891 A @code{gdb.Symbol} object has the following attributes:
24894 @defvar Symbol.type
24895 The type of the symbol or @code{None} if no type is recorded.
24896 This attribute is represented as a @code{gdb.Type} object.
24897 @xref{Types In Python}. This attribute is not writable.
24900 @defvar Symbol.symtab
24901 The symbol table in which the symbol appears. This attribute is
24902 represented as a @code{gdb.Symtab} object. @xref{Symbol Tables In
24903 Python}. This attribute is not writable.
24906 @defvar Symbol.line
24907 The line number in the source code at which the symbol was defined.
24908 This is an integer.
24911 @defvar Symbol.name
24912 The name of the symbol as a string. This attribute is not writable.
24915 @defvar Symbol.linkage_name
24916 The name of the symbol, as used by the linker (i.e., may be mangled).
24917 This attribute is not writable.
24920 @defvar Symbol.print_name
24921 The name of the symbol in a form suitable for output. This is either
24922 @code{name} or @code{linkage_name}, depending on whether the user
24923 asked @value{GDBN} to display demangled or mangled names.
24926 @defvar Symbol.addr_class
24927 The address class of the symbol. This classifies how to find the value
24928 of a symbol. Each address class is a constant defined in the
24929 @code{gdb} module and described later in this chapter.
24932 @defvar Symbol.needs_frame
24933 This is @code{True} if evaluating this symbol's value requires a frame
24934 (@pxref{Frames In Python}) and @code{False} otherwise. Typically,
24935 local variables will require a frame, but other symbols will not.
24938 @defvar Symbol.is_argument
24939 @code{True} if the symbol is an argument of a function.
24942 @defvar Symbol.is_constant
24943 @code{True} if the symbol is a constant.
24946 @defvar Symbol.is_function
24947 @code{True} if the symbol is a function or a method.
24950 @defvar Symbol.is_variable
24951 @code{True} if the symbol is a variable.
24955 A @code{gdb.Symbol} object has the following methods:
24958 @defun Symbol.is_valid ()
24959 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symbol} object is valid,
24960 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symbol} object can become invalid if
24961 the symbol it refers to does not exist in @value{GDBN} any longer.
24962 All other @code{gdb.Symbol} methods will throw an exception if it is
24963 invalid at the time the method is called.
24966 @defun Symbol.value (@r{[}frame@r{]})
24967 Compute the value of the symbol, as a @code{gdb.Value}. For
24968 functions, this computes the address of the function, cast to the
24969 appropriate type. If the symbol requires a frame in order to compute
24970 its value, then @var{frame} must be given. If @var{frame} is not
24971 given, or if @var{frame} is invalid, then this method will throw an
24976 The available domain categories in @code{gdb.Symbol} are represented
24977 as constants in the @code{gdb} module:
24980 @findex SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
24981 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
24982 @item gdb.SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
24983 This is used when a domain has not been discovered or none of the
24984 following domains apply. This usually indicates an error either
24985 in the symbol information or in @value{GDBN}'s handling of symbols.
24986 @findex SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
24987 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
24988 @item gdb.SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
24989 This domain contains variables, function names, typedef names and enum
24991 @findex SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
24992 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
24993 @item gdb.SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
24994 This domain holds struct, union and enum type names.
24995 @findex SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
24996 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
24997 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
24998 This domain contains names of labels (for gotos).
24999 @findex SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
25000 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
25001 @item gdb.SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
25002 This domain holds a subset of the @code{SYMBOLS_VAR_DOMAIN}; it
25003 contains everything minus functions and types.
25004 @findex SYMBOL_FUNCTIONS_DOMAIN
25005 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_FUNCTIONS_DOMAIN
25006 @item gdb.SYMBOL_FUNCTION_DOMAIN
25007 This domain contains all functions.
25008 @findex SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
25009 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
25010 @item gdb.SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
25011 This domain contains all types.
25014 The available address class categories in @code{gdb.Symbol} are represented
25015 as constants in the @code{gdb} module:
25018 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
25019 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
25020 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
25021 If this is returned by address class, it indicates an error either in
25022 the symbol information or in @value{GDBN}'s handling of symbols.
25023 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
25024 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
25025 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
25026 Value is constant int.
25027 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
25028 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
25029 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
25030 Value is at a fixed address.
25031 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
25032 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
25033 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
25034 Value is in a register.
25035 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
25036 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
25037 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
25038 Value is an argument. This value is at the offset stored within the
25039 symbol inside the frame's argument list.
25040 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
25041 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
25042 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
25043 Value address is stored in the frame's argument list. Just like
25044 @code{LOC_ARG} except that the value's address is stored at the
25045 offset, not the value itself.
25046 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
25047 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
25048 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
25049 Value is a specified register. Just like @code{LOC_REGISTER} except
25050 the register holds the address of the argument instead of the argument
25052 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
25053 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
25054 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
25055 Value is a local variable.
25056 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
25057 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
25058 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
25059 Value not used. Symbols in the domain @code{SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN} all
25061 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
25062 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
25063 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
25065 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
25066 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
25067 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
25068 Value is a byte-sequence.
25069 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
25070 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
25071 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
25072 Value is at a fixed address, but the address of the variable has to be
25073 determined from the minimal symbol table whenever the variable is
25075 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
25076 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
25077 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
25078 The value does not actually exist in the program.
25079 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
25080 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
25081 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
25082 The value's address is a computed location.
25085 @node Symbol Tables In Python
25086 @subsubsection Symbol table representation in Python.
25088 @cindex symbol tables in python
25090 @tindex gdb.Symtab_and_line
25092 Access to symbol table data maintained by @value{GDBN} on the inferior
25093 is exposed to Python via two objects: @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} and
25094 @code{gdb.Symtab}. Symbol table and line data for a frame is returned
25095 from the @code{find_sal} method in @code{gdb.Frame} object.
25096 @xref{Frames In Python}.
25098 For more information on @value{GDBN}'s symbol table management, see
25099 @ref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, for more information.
25101 A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object has the following attributes:
25104 @defvar Symtab_and_line.symtab
25105 The symbol table object (@code{gdb.Symtab}) for this frame.
25106 This attribute is not writable.
25109 @defvar Symtab_and_line.pc
25110 Indicates the current program counter address. This attribute is not
25114 @defvar Symtab_and_line.line
25115 Indicates the current line number for this object. This
25116 attribute is not writable.
25120 A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object has the following methods:
25123 @defun Symtab_and_line.is_valid ()
25124 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object is valid,
25125 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object can become
25126 invalid if the Symbol table and line object it refers to does not
25127 exist in @value{GDBN} any longer. All other
25128 @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} methods will throw an exception if it is
25129 invalid at the time the method is called.
25133 A @code{gdb.Symtab} object has the following attributes:
25136 @defvar Symtab.filename
25137 The symbol table's source filename. This attribute is not writable.
25140 @defvar Symtab.objfile
25141 The symbol table's backing object file. @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
25142 This attribute is not writable.
25146 A @code{gdb.Symtab} object has the following methods:
25149 @defun Symtab.is_valid ()
25150 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symtab} object is valid,
25151 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symtab} object can become invalid if
25152 the symbol table it refers to does not exist in @value{GDBN} any
25153 longer. All other @code{gdb.Symtab} methods will throw an exception
25154 if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
25157 @defun Symtab.fullname ()
25158 Return the symbol table's source absolute file name.
25161 @defun Symtab.global_block ()
25162 Return the global block of the underlying symbol table.
25163 @xref{Blocks In Python}.
25166 @defun Symtab.static_block ()
25167 Return the static block of the underlying symbol table.
25168 @xref{Blocks In Python}.
25172 @node Breakpoints In Python
25173 @subsubsection Manipulating breakpoints using Python
25175 @cindex breakpoints in python
25176 @tindex gdb.Breakpoint
25178 Python code can manipulate breakpoints via the @code{gdb.Breakpoint}
25181 @defun Breakpoint.__init__ (spec @r{[}, type @r{[}, wp_class @r{[},internal@r{]]]})
25182 Create a new breakpoint. @var{spec} is a string naming the
25183 location of the breakpoint, or an expression that defines a
25184 watchpoint. The contents can be any location recognized by the
25185 @code{break} command, or in the case of a watchpoint, by the @code{watch}
25186 command. The optional @var{type} denotes the breakpoint to create
25187 from the types defined later in this chapter. This argument can be
25188 either: @code{gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT} or @code{gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT}. @var{type}
25189 defaults to @code{gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT}. The optional @var{internal} argument
25190 allows the breakpoint to become invisible to the user. The breakpoint
25191 will neither be reported when created, nor will it be listed in the
25192 output from @code{info breakpoints} (but will be listed with the
25193 @code{maint info breakpoints} command). The optional @var{wp_class}
25194 argument defines the class of watchpoint to create, if @var{type} is
25195 @code{gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT}. If a watchpoint class is not provided, it is
25196 assumed to be a @code{gdb.WP_WRITE} class.
25199 @defun Breakpoint.stop (self)
25200 The @code{gdb.Breakpoint} class can be sub-classed and, in
25201 particular, you may choose to implement the @code{stop} method.
25202 If this method is defined as a sub-class of @code{gdb.Breakpoint},
25203 it will be called when the inferior reaches any location of a
25204 breakpoint which instantiates that sub-class. If the method returns
25205 @code{True}, the inferior will be stopped at the location of the
25206 breakpoint, otherwise the inferior will continue.
25208 If there are multiple breakpoints at the same location with a
25209 @code{stop} method, each one will be called regardless of the
25210 return status of the previous. This ensures that all @code{stop}
25211 methods have a chance to execute at that location. In this scenario
25212 if one of the methods returns @code{True} but the others return
25213 @code{False}, the inferior will still be stopped.
25215 You should not alter the execution state of the inferior (i.e.@:, step,
25216 next, etc.), alter the current frame context (i.e.@:, change the current
25217 active frame), or alter, add or delete any breakpoint. As a general
25218 rule, you should not alter any data within @value{GDBN} or the inferior
25221 Example @code{stop} implementation:
25224 class MyBreakpoint (gdb.Breakpoint):
25226 inf_val = gdb.parse_and_eval("foo")
25233 The available watchpoint types represented by constants are defined in the
25238 @findex gdb.WP_READ
25240 Read only watchpoint.
25243 @findex gdb.WP_WRITE
25245 Write only watchpoint.
25248 @findex gdb.WP_ACCESS
25249 @item gdb.WP_ACCESS
25250 Read/Write watchpoint.
25253 @defun Breakpoint.is_valid ()
25254 Return @code{True} if this @code{Breakpoint} object is valid,
25255 @code{False} otherwise. A @code{Breakpoint} object can become invalid
25256 if the user deletes the breakpoint. In this case, the object still
25257 exists, but the underlying breakpoint does not. In the cases of
25258 watchpoint scope, the watchpoint remains valid even if execution of the
25259 inferior leaves the scope of that watchpoint.
25262 @defun Breakpoint.delete
25263 Permanently deletes the @value{GDBN} breakpoint. This also
25264 invalidates the Python @code{Breakpoint} object. Any further access
25265 to this object's attributes or methods will raise an error.
25268 @defvar Breakpoint.enabled
25269 This attribute is @code{True} if the breakpoint is enabled, and
25270 @code{False} otherwise. This attribute is writable.
25273 @defvar Breakpoint.silent
25274 This attribute is @code{True} if the breakpoint is silent, and
25275 @code{False} otherwise. This attribute is writable.
25277 Note that a breakpoint can also be silent if it has commands and the
25278 first command is @code{silent}. This is not reported by the
25279 @code{silent} attribute.
25282 @defvar Breakpoint.thread
25283 If the breakpoint is thread-specific, this attribute holds the thread
25284 id. If the breakpoint is not thread-specific, this attribute is
25285 @code{None}. This attribute is writable.
25288 @defvar Breakpoint.task
25289 If the breakpoint is Ada task-specific, this attribute holds the Ada task
25290 id. If the breakpoint is not task-specific (or the underlying
25291 language is not Ada), this attribute is @code{None}. This attribute
25295 @defvar Breakpoint.ignore_count
25296 This attribute holds the ignore count for the breakpoint, an integer.
25297 This attribute is writable.
25300 @defvar Breakpoint.number
25301 This attribute holds the breakpoint's number --- the identifier used by
25302 the user to manipulate the breakpoint. This attribute is not writable.
25305 @defvar Breakpoint.type
25306 This attribute holds the breakpoint's type --- the identifier used to
25307 determine the actual breakpoint type or use-case. This attribute is not
25311 @defvar Breakpoint.visible
25312 This attribute tells whether the breakpoint is visible to the user
25313 when set, or when the @samp{info breakpoints} command is run. This
25314 attribute is not writable.
25317 The available types are represented by constants defined in the @code{gdb}
25321 @findex BP_BREAKPOINT
25322 @findex gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT
25323 @item gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT
25324 Normal code breakpoint.
25326 @findex BP_WATCHPOINT
25327 @findex gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT
25328 @item gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT
25329 Watchpoint breakpoint.
25331 @findex BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
25332 @findex gdb.BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
25333 @item gdb.BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
25334 Hardware assisted watchpoint.
25336 @findex BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
25337 @findex gdb.BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
25338 @item gdb.BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
25339 Hardware assisted read watchpoint.
25341 @findex BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
25342 @findex gdb.BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
25343 @item gdb.BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
25344 Hardware assisted access watchpoint.
25347 @defvar Breakpoint.hit_count
25348 This attribute holds the hit count for the breakpoint, an integer.
25349 This attribute is writable, but currently it can only be set to zero.
25352 @defvar Breakpoint.location
25353 This attribute holds the location of the breakpoint, as specified by
25354 the user. It is a string. If the breakpoint does not have a location
25355 (that is, it is a watchpoint) the attribute's value is @code{None}. This
25356 attribute is not writable.
25359 @defvar Breakpoint.expression
25360 This attribute holds a breakpoint expression, as specified by
25361 the user. It is a string. If the breakpoint does not have an
25362 expression (the breakpoint is not a watchpoint) the attribute's value
25363 is @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
25366 @defvar Breakpoint.condition
25367 This attribute holds the condition of the breakpoint, as specified by
25368 the user. It is a string. If there is no condition, this attribute's
25369 value is @code{None}. This attribute is writable.
25372 @defvar Breakpoint.commands
25373 This attribute holds the commands attached to the breakpoint. If
25374 there are commands, this attribute's value is a string holding all the
25375 commands, separated by newlines. If there are no commands, this
25376 attribute is @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
25379 @node Finish Breakpoints in Python
25380 @subsubsection Finish Breakpoints
25382 @cindex python finish breakpoints
25383 @tindex gdb.FinishBreakpoint
25385 A finish breakpoint is a temporary breakpoint set at the return address of
25386 a frame, based on the @code{finish} command. @code{gdb.FinishBreakpoint}
25387 extends @code{gdb.Breakpoint}. The underlying breakpoint will be disabled
25388 and deleted when the execution will run out of the breakpoint scope (i.e.@:
25389 @code{Breakpoint.stop} or @code{FinishBreakpoint.out_of_scope} triggered).
25390 Finish breakpoints are thread specific and must be create with the right
25393 @defun FinishBreakpoint.__init__ (@r{[}frame@r{]} @r{[}, internal@r{]})
25394 Create a finish breakpoint at the return address of the @code{gdb.Frame}
25395 object @var{frame}. If @var{frame} is not provided, this defaults to the
25396 newest frame. The optional @var{internal} argument allows the breakpoint to
25397 become invisible to the user. @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for further
25398 details about this argument.
25401 @defun FinishBreakpoint.out_of_scope (self)
25402 In some circumstances (e.g.@: @code{longjmp}, C@t{++} exceptions, @value{GDBN}
25403 @code{return} command, @dots{}), a function may not properly terminate, and
25404 thus never hit the finish breakpoint. When @value{GDBN} notices such a
25405 situation, the @code{out_of_scope} callback will be triggered.
25407 You may want to sub-class @code{gdb.FinishBreakpoint} and override this
25411 class MyFinishBreakpoint (gdb.FinishBreakpoint)
25413 print "normal finish"
25416 def out_of_scope ():
25417 print "abnormal finish"
25421 @defvar FinishBreakpoint.return_value
25422 When @value{GDBN} is stopped at a finish breakpoint and the frame
25423 used to build the @code{gdb.FinishBreakpoint} object had debug symbols, this
25424 attribute will contain a @code{gdb.Value} object corresponding to the return
25425 value of the function. The value will be @code{None} if the function return
25426 type is @code{void} or if the return value was not computable. This attribute
25430 @node Lazy Strings In Python
25431 @subsubsection Python representation of lazy strings.
25433 @cindex lazy strings in python
25434 @tindex gdb.LazyString
25436 A @dfn{lazy string} is a string whose contents is not retrieved or
25437 encoded until it is needed.
25439 A @code{gdb.LazyString} is represented in @value{GDBN} as an
25440 @code{address} that points to a region of memory, an @code{encoding}
25441 that will be used to encode that region of memory, and a @code{length}
25442 to delimit the region of memory that represents the string. The
25443 difference between a @code{gdb.LazyString} and a string wrapped within
25444 a @code{gdb.Value} is that a @code{gdb.LazyString} will be treated
25445 differently by @value{GDBN} when printing. A @code{gdb.LazyString} is
25446 retrieved and encoded during printing, while a @code{gdb.Value}
25447 wrapping a string is immediately retrieved and encoded on creation.
25449 A @code{gdb.LazyString} object has the following functions:
25451 @defun LazyString.value ()
25452 Convert the @code{gdb.LazyString} to a @code{gdb.Value}. This value
25453 will point to the string in memory, but will lose all the delayed
25454 retrieval, encoding and handling that @value{GDBN} applies to a
25455 @code{gdb.LazyString}.
25458 @defvar LazyString.address
25459 This attribute holds the address of the string. This attribute is not
25463 @defvar LazyString.length
25464 This attribute holds the length of the string in characters. If the
25465 length is -1, then the string will be fetched and encoded up to the
25466 first null of appropriate width. This attribute is not writable.
25469 @defvar LazyString.encoding
25470 This attribute holds the encoding that will be applied to the string
25471 when the string is printed by @value{GDBN}. If the encoding is not
25472 set, or contains an empty string, then @value{GDBN} will select the
25473 most appropriate encoding when the string is printed. This attribute
25477 @defvar LazyString.type
25478 This attribute holds the type that is represented by the lazy string's
25479 type. For a lazy string this will always be a pointer type. To
25480 resolve this to the lazy string's character type, use the type's
25481 @code{target} method. @xref{Types In Python}. This attribute is not
25485 @node Python Auto-loading
25486 @subsection Python Auto-loading
25487 @cindex Python auto-loading
25489 When a new object file is read (for example, due to the @code{file}
25490 command, or because the inferior has loaded a shared library),
25491 @value{GDBN} will look for Python support scripts in several ways:
25492 @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} (@pxref{objfile-gdb.py file})
25493 and @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
25494 (@pxref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section}).
25496 The auto-loading feature is useful for supplying application-specific
25497 debugging commands and scripts.
25499 Auto-loading can be enabled or disabled,
25500 and the list of auto-loaded scripts can be printed.
25503 @anchor{set auto-load python-scripts}
25504 @kindex set auto-load python-scripts
25505 @item set auto-load python-scripts [on|off]
25506 Enable or disable the auto-loading of Python scripts.
25508 @anchor{show auto-load python-scripts}
25509 @kindex show auto-load python-scripts
25510 @item show auto-load python-scripts
25511 Show whether auto-loading of Python scripts is enabled or disabled.
25513 @anchor{info auto-load python-scripts}
25514 @kindex info auto-load python-scripts
25515 @cindex print list of auto-loaded Python scripts
25516 @item info auto-load python-scripts [@var{regexp}]
25517 Print the list of all Python scripts that @value{GDBN} auto-loaded.
25519 Also printed is the list of Python scripts that were mentioned in
25520 the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section and were not found
25521 (@pxref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section}).
25522 This is useful because their names are not printed when @value{GDBN}
25523 tries to load them and fails. There may be many of them, and printing
25524 an error message for each one is problematic.
25526 If @var{regexp} is supplied only Python scripts with matching names are printed.
25531 (gdb) info auto-load python-scripts
25533 Yes py-section-script.py
25534 full name: /tmp/py-section-script.py
25535 No my-foo-pretty-printers.py
25539 When reading an auto-loaded file, @value{GDBN} sets the
25540 @dfn{current objfile}. This is available via the @code{gdb.current_objfile}
25541 function (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}). This can be useful for
25542 registering objfile-specific pretty-printers.
25545 * objfile-gdb.py file:: The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} file
25546 * dotdebug_gdb_scripts section:: The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
25547 * Which flavor to choose?::
25550 @node objfile-gdb.py file
25551 @subsubsection The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} file
25552 @cindex @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py}
25554 When a new object file is read, @value{GDBN} looks for
25555 a file named @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} (we call it @var{script-name} below),
25556 where @var{objfile} is the object file's real name, formed by ensuring
25557 that the file name is absolute, following all symlinks, and resolving
25558 @code{.} and @code{..} components. If this file exists and is
25559 readable, @value{GDBN} will evaluate it as a Python script.
25561 If this file does not exist, and if the parameter
25562 @code{debug-file-directory} is set (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}),
25563 then @value{GDBN} will look for @var{script-name} in all of the
25564 directories mentioned in the value of @code{debug-file-directory}.
25566 Finally, if this file does not exist, then @value{GDBN} will look for
25567 @var{script-name} file in all of the directories as specified below.
25569 Note that loading of this script file also requires accordingly configured
25570 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
25573 @anchor{set auto-load scripts-directory}
25574 @kindex set auto-load scripts-directory
25575 @item set auto-load scripts-directory @r{[}@var{directories}@r{]}
25576 Control @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location. Multiple directory entries
25577 may be delimited by the host platform path separator in use
25578 (@samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on MS-Windows and MS-DOS).
25580 Each entry here needs to be covered also by the security setting
25581 @code{set auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{set auto-load safe-path}).
25583 @anchor{with-auto-load-dir}
25584 This variable defaults to @file{$ddir/auto-load}. The default @code{set
25585 auto-load safe-path} value can be also overriden by @value{GDBN} configuration
25586 option @option{--with-auto-load-dir}.
25588 Any used string @file{$ddir} will get replaced by @var{data-directory} which is
25589 determined at @value{GDBN} startup (@pxref{Data Files}). @file{$ddir} must be
25590 be placed as a directory component --- either alone or delimited by @file{/} or
25591 @file{\} directory separators, depending on the host platform.
25593 The list of directories uses path separator (@samp{:} on GNU and Unix
25594 systems, @samp{;} on MS-Windows and MS-DOS) to separate directories, similarly
25595 to the @env{PATH} environment variable.
25597 @anchor{show auto-load scripts-directory}
25598 @kindex show auto-load scripts-directory
25599 @item show auto-load scripts-directory
25600 Show @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location.
25603 @value{GDBN} does not track which files it has already auto-loaded this way.
25604 @value{GDBN} will load the associated script every time the corresponding
25605 @var{objfile} is opened.
25606 So your @file{-gdb.py} file should be careful to avoid errors if it
25607 is evaluated more than once.
25609 @node dotdebug_gdb_scripts section
25610 @subsubsection The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
25611 @cindex @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
25613 For systems using file formats like ELF and COFF,
25614 when @value{GDBN} loads a new object file
25615 it will look for a special section named @samp{.debug_gdb_scripts}.
25616 If this section exists, its contents is a list of names of scripts to load.
25618 @value{GDBN} will look for each specified script file first in the
25619 current directory and then along the source search path
25620 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}),
25621 except that @file{$cdir} is not searched, since the compilation
25622 directory is not relevant to scripts.
25624 Entries can be placed in section @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} with,
25625 for example, this GCC macro:
25628 /* Note: The "MS" section flags are to remove duplicates. */
25629 #define DEFINE_GDB_SCRIPT(script_name) \
25631 .pushsection \".debug_gdb_scripts\", \"MS\",@@progbits,1\n\
25633 .asciz \"" script_name "\"\n\
25639 Then one can reference the macro in a header or source file like this:
25642 DEFINE_GDB_SCRIPT ("my-app-scripts.py")
25645 The script name may include directories if desired.
25647 Note that loading of this script file also requires accordingly configured
25648 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
25650 If the macro is put in a header, any application or library
25651 using this header will get a reference to the specified script.
25653 @node Which flavor to choose?
25654 @subsubsection Which flavor to choose?
25656 Given the multiple ways of auto-loading Python scripts, it might not always
25657 be clear which one to choose. This section provides some guidance.
25659 Benefits of the @file{-gdb.py} way:
25663 Can be used with file formats that don't support multiple sections.
25666 Ease of finding scripts for public libraries.
25668 Scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section are searched for
25669 in the source search path.
25670 For publicly installed libraries, e.g., @file{libstdc++}, there typically
25671 isn't a source directory in which to find the script.
25674 Doesn't require source code additions.
25677 Benefits of the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} way:
25681 Works with static linking.
25683 Scripts for libraries done the @file{-gdb.py} way require an objfile to
25684 trigger their loading. When an application is statically linked the only
25685 objfile available is the executable, and it is cumbersome to attach all the
25686 scripts from all the input libraries to the executable's @file{-gdb.py} script.
25689 Works with classes that are entirely inlined.
25691 Some classes can be entirely inlined, and thus there may not be an associated
25692 shared library to attach a @file{-gdb.py} script to.
25695 Scripts needn't be copied out of the source tree.
25697 In some circumstances, apps can be built out of large collections of internal
25698 libraries, and the build infrastructure necessary to install the
25699 @file{-gdb.py} scripts in a place where @value{GDBN} can find them is
25700 cumbersome. It may be easier to specify the scripts in the
25701 @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section as relative paths, and add a path to the
25702 top of the source tree to the source search path.
25705 @node Python modules
25706 @subsection Python modules
25707 @cindex python modules
25709 @value{GDBN} comes with several modules to assist writing Python code.
25712 * gdb.printing:: Building and registering pretty-printers.
25713 * gdb.types:: Utilities for working with types.
25714 * gdb.prompt:: Utilities for prompt value substitution.
25718 @subsubsection gdb.printing
25719 @cindex gdb.printing
25721 This module provides a collection of utilities for working with
25725 @item PrettyPrinter (@var{name}, @var{subprinters}=None)
25726 This class specifies the API that makes @samp{info pretty-printer},
25727 @samp{enable pretty-printer} and @samp{disable pretty-printer} work.
25728 Pretty-printers should generally inherit from this class.
25730 @item SubPrettyPrinter (@var{name})
25731 For printers that handle multiple types, this class specifies the
25732 corresponding API for the subprinters.
25734 @item RegexpCollectionPrettyPrinter (@var{name})
25735 Utility class for handling multiple printers, all recognized via
25736 regular expressions.
25737 @xref{Writing a Pretty-Printer}, for an example.
25739 @item FlagEnumerationPrinter (@var{name})
25740 A pretty-printer which handles printing of @code{enum} values. Unlike
25741 @value{GDBN}'s built-in @code{enum} printing, this printer attempts to
25742 work properly when there is some overlap between the enumeration
25743 constants. @var{name} is the name of the printer and also the name of
25744 the @code{enum} type to look up.
25746 @item register_pretty_printer (@var{obj}, @var{printer}, @var{replace}=False)
25747 Register @var{printer} with the pretty-printer list of @var{obj}.
25748 If @var{replace} is @code{True} then any existing copy of the printer
25749 is replaced. Otherwise a @code{RuntimeError} exception is raised
25750 if a printer with the same name already exists.
25754 @subsubsection gdb.types
25757 This module provides a collection of utilities for working with
25758 @code{gdb.Types} objects.
25761 @item get_basic_type (@var{type})
25762 Return @var{type} with const and volatile qualifiers stripped,
25763 and with typedefs and C@t{++} references converted to the underlying type.
25768 typedef const int const_int;
25770 const_int& foo_ref (foo);
25771 int main () @{ return 0; @}
25778 (gdb) python import gdb.types
25779 (gdb) python foo_ref = gdb.parse_and_eval("foo_ref")
25780 (gdb) python print gdb.types.get_basic_type(foo_ref.type)
25784 @item has_field (@var{type}, @var{field})
25785 Return @code{True} if @var{type}, assumed to be a type with fields
25786 (e.g., a structure or union), has field @var{field}.
25788 @item make_enum_dict (@var{enum_type})
25789 Return a Python @code{dictionary} type produced from @var{enum_type}.
25791 @item deep_items (@var{type})
25792 Returns a Python iterator similar to the standard
25793 @code{gdb.Type.iteritems} method, except that the iterator returned
25794 by @code{deep_items} will recursively traverse anonymous struct or
25795 union fields. For example:
25809 Then in @value{GDBN}:
25811 (@value{GDBP}) python import gdb.types
25812 (@value{GDBP}) python struct_a = gdb.lookup_type("struct A")
25813 (@value{GDBP}) python print struct_a.keys ()
25815 (@value{GDBP}) python print [k for k,v in gdb.types.deep_items(struct_a)]
25816 @{['a', 'b0', 'b1']@}
25822 @subsubsection gdb.prompt
25825 This module provides a method for prompt value-substitution.
25828 @item substitute_prompt (@var{string})
25829 Return @var{string} with escape sequences substituted by values. Some
25830 escape sequences take arguments. You can specify arguments inside
25831 ``@{@}'' immediately following the escape sequence.
25833 The escape sequences you can pass to this function are:
25837 Substitute a backslash.
25839 Substitute an ESC character.
25841 Substitute the selected frame; an argument names a frame parameter.
25843 Substitute a newline.
25845 Substitute a parameter's value; the argument names the parameter.
25847 Substitute a carriage return.
25849 Substitute the selected thread; an argument names a thread parameter.
25851 Substitute the version of GDB.
25853 Substitute the current working directory.
25855 Begin a sequence of non-printing characters. These sequences are
25856 typically used with the ESC character, and are not counted in the string
25857 length. Example: ``\[\e[0;34m\](gdb)\[\e[0m\]'' will return a
25858 blue-colored ``(gdb)'' prompt where the length is five.
25860 End a sequence of non-printing characters.
25866 substitute_prompt (``frame: \f,
25867 print arguments: \p@{print frame-arguments@}'')
25870 @exdent will return the string:
25873 "frame: main, print arguments: scalars"
25878 @section Creating new spellings of existing commands
25879 @cindex aliases for commands
25881 It is often useful to define alternate spellings of existing commands.
25882 For example, if a new @value{GDBN} command defined in Python has
25883 a long name to type, it is handy to have an abbreviated version of it
25884 that involves less typing.
25886 @value{GDBN} itself uses aliases. For example @samp{s} is an alias
25887 of the @samp{step} command even though it is otherwise an ambiguous
25888 abbreviation of other commands like @samp{set} and @samp{show}.
25890 Aliases are also used to provide shortened or more common versions
25891 of multi-word commands. For example, @value{GDBN} provides the
25892 @samp{tty} alias of the @samp{set inferior-tty} command.
25894 You can define a new alias with the @samp{alias} command.
25899 @item alias [-a] [--] @var{ALIAS} = @var{COMMAND}
25903 @var{ALIAS} specifies the name of the new alias.
25904 Each word of @var{ALIAS} must consist of letters, numbers, dashes and
25907 @var{COMMAND} specifies the name of an existing command
25908 that is being aliased.
25910 The @samp{-a} option specifies that the new alias is an abbreviation
25911 of the command. Abbreviations are not shown in command
25912 lists displayed by the @samp{help} command.
25914 The @samp{--} option specifies the end of options,
25915 and is useful when @var{ALIAS} begins with a dash.
25917 Here is a simple example showing how to make an abbreviation
25918 of a command so that there is less to type.
25919 Suppose you were tired of typing @samp{disas}, the current
25920 shortest unambiguous abbreviation of the @samp{disassemble} command
25921 and you wanted an even shorter version named @samp{di}.
25922 The following will accomplish this.
25925 (gdb) alias -a di = disas
25928 Note that aliases are different from user-defined commands.
25929 With a user-defined command, you also need to write documentation
25930 for it with the @samp{document} command.
25931 An alias automatically picks up the documentation of the existing command.
25933 Here is an example where we make @samp{elms} an abbreviation of
25934 @samp{elements} in the @samp{set print elements} command.
25935 This is to show that you can make an abbreviation of any part
25939 (gdb) alias -a set print elms = set print elements
25940 (gdb) alias -a show print elms = show print elements
25941 (gdb) set p elms 20
25943 Limit on string chars or array elements to print is 200.
25946 Note that if you are defining an alias of a @samp{set} command,
25947 and you want to have an alias for the corresponding @samp{show}
25948 command, then you need to define the latter separately.
25950 Unambiguously abbreviated commands are allowed in @var{COMMAND} and
25951 @var{ALIAS}, just as they are normally.
25954 (gdb) alias -a set pr elms = set p ele
25957 Finally, here is an example showing the creation of a one word
25958 alias for a more complex command.
25959 This creates alias @samp{spe} of the command @samp{set print elements}.
25962 (gdb) alias spe = set print elements
25967 @chapter Command Interpreters
25968 @cindex command interpreters
25970 @value{GDBN} supports multiple command interpreters, and some command
25971 infrastructure to allow users or user interface writers to switch
25972 between interpreters or run commands in other interpreters.
25974 @value{GDBN} currently supports two command interpreters, the console
25975 interpreter (sometimes called the command-line interpreter or @sc{cli})
25976 and the machine interface interpreter (or @sc{gdb/mi}). This manual
25977 describes both of these interfaces in great detail.
25979 By default, @value{GDBN} will start with the console interpreter.
25980 However, the user may choose to start @value{GDBN} with another
25981 interpreter by specifying the @option{-i} or @option{--interpreter}
25982 startup options. Defined interpreters include:
25986 @cindex console interpreter
25987 The traditional console or command-line interpreter. This is the most often
25988 used interpreter with @value{GDBN}. With no interpreter specified at runtime,
25989 @value{GDBN} will use this interpreter.
25992 @cindex mi interpreter
25993 The newest @sc{gdb/mi} interface (currently @code{mi2}). Used primarily
25994 by programs wishing to use @value{GDBN} as a backend for a debugger GUI
25995 or an IDE. For more information, see @ref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi}
25999 @cindex mi2 interpreter
26000 The current @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
26003 @cindex mi1 interpreter
26004 The @sc{gdb/mi} interface included in @value{GDBN} 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3.
26008 @cindex invoke another interpreter
26009 The interpreter being used by @value{GDBN} may not be dynamically
26010 switched at runtime. Although possible, this could lead to a very
26011 precarious situation. Consider an IDE using @sc{gdb/mi}. If a user
26012 enters the command "interpreter-set console" in a console view,
26013 @value{GDBN} would switch to using the console interpreter, rendering
26014 the IDE inoperable!
26016 @kindex interpreter-exec
26017 Although you may only choose a single interpreter at startup, you may execute
26018 commands in any interpreter from the current interpreter using the appropriate
26019 command. If you are running the console interpreter, simply use the
26020 @code{interpreter-exec} command:
26023 interpreter-exec mi "-data-list-register-names"
26026 @sc{gdb/mi} has a similar command, although it is only available in versions of
26027 @value{GDBN} which support @sc{gdb/mi} version 2 (or greater).
26030 @chapter @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
26032 @cindex Text User Interface
26035 * TUI Overview:: TUI overview
26036 * TUI Keys:: TUI key bindings
26037 * TUI Single Key Mode:: TUI single key mode
26038 * TUI Commands:: TUI-specific commands
26039 * TUI Configuration:: TUI configuration variables
26042 The @value{GDBN} Text User Interface (TUI) is a terminal
26043 interface which uses the @code{curses} library to show the source
26044 file, the assembly output, the program registers and @value{GDBN}
26045 commands in separate text windows. The TUI mode is supported only
26046 on platforms where a suitable version of the @code{curses} library
26049 The TUI mode is enabled by default when you invoke @value{GDBN} as
26050 @samp{@value{GDBP} -tui}.
26051 You can also switch in and out of TUI mode while @value{GDBN} runs by
26052 using various TUI commands and key bindings, such as @kbd{C-x C-a}.
26053 @xref{TUI Keys, ,TUI Key Bindings}.
26056 @section TUI Overview
26058 In TUI mode, @value{GDBN} can display several text windows:
26062 This window is the @value{GDBN} command window with the @value{GDBN}
26063 prompt and the @value{GDBN} output. The @value{GDBN} input is still
26064 managed using readline.
26067 The source window shows the source file of the program. The current
26068 line and active breakpoints are displayed in this window.
26071 The assembly window shows the disassembly output of the program.
26074 This window shows the processor registers. Registers are highlighted
26075 when their values change.
26078 The source and assembly windows show the current program position
26079 by highlighting the current line and marking it with a @samp{>} marker.
26080 Breakpoints are indicated with two markers. The first marker
26081 indicates the breakpoint type:
26085 Breakpoint which was hit at least once.
26088 Breakpoint which was never hit.
26091 Hardware breakpoint which was hit at least once.
26094 Hardware breakpoint which was never hit.
26097 The second marker indicates whether the breakpoint is enabled or not:
26101 Breakpoint is enabled.
26104 Breakpoint is disabled.
26107 The source, assembly and register windows are updated when the current
26108 thread changes, when the frame changes, or when the program counter
26111 These windows are not all visible at the same time. The command
26112 window is always visible. The others can be arranged in several
26123 source and assembly,
26126 source and registers, or
26129 assembly and registers.
26132 A status line above the command window shows the following information:
26136 Indicates the current @value{GDBN} target.
26137 (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
26140 Gives the current process or thread number.
26141 When no process is being debugged, this field is set to @code{No process}.
26144 Gives the current function name for the selected frame.
26145 The name is demangled if demangling is turned on (@pxref{Print Settings}).
26146 When there is no symbol corresponding to the current program counter,
26147 the string @code{??} is displayed.
26150 Indicates the current line number for the selected frame.
26151 When the current line number is not known, the string @code{??} is displayed.
26154 Indicates the current program counter address.
26158 @section TUI Key Bindings
26159 @cindex TUI key bindings
26161 The TUI installs several key bindings in the readline keymaps
26162 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
26163 (@pxref{Command Line Editing, , , rluserman, GNU Readline Library}).
26165 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
26166 (@pxref{Command Line Editing}).
26168 The following key bindings are installed for both TUI mode and the
26169 @value{GDBN} standard mode.
26178 Enter or leave the TUI mode. When leaving the TUI mode,
26179 the curses window management stops and @value{GDBN} operates using
26180 its standard mode, writing on the terminal directly. When reentering
26181 the TUI mode, control is given back to the curses windows.
26182 The screen is then refreshed.
26186 Use a TUI layout with only one window. The layout will
26187 either be @samp{source} or @samp{assembly}. When the TUI mode
26188 is not active, it will switch to the TUI mode.
26190 Think of this key binding as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 1} binding.
26194 Use a TUI layout with at least two windows. When the current
26195 layout already has two windows, the next layout with two windows is used.
26196 When a new layout is chosen, one window will always be common to the
26197 previous layout and the new one.
26199 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 2} binding.
26203 Change the active window. The TUI associates several key bindings
26204 (like scrolling and arrow keys) with the active window. This command
26205 gives the focus to the next TUI window.
26207 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x o} binding.
26211 Switch in and out of the TUI SingleKey mode that binds single
26212 keys to @value{GDBN} commands (@pxref{TUI Single Key Mode}).
26215 The following key bindings only work in the TUI mode:
26220 Scroll the active window one page up.
26224 Scroll the active window one page down.
26228 Scroll the active window one line up.
26232 Scroll the active window one line down.
26236 Scroll the active window one column left.
26240 Scroll the active window one column right.
26244 Refresh the screen.
26247 Because the arrow keys scroll the active window in the TUI mode, they
26248 are not available for their normal use by readline unless the command
26249 window has the focus. When another window is active, you must use
26250 other readline key bindings such as @kbd{C-p}, @kbd{C-n}, @kbd{C-b}
26251 and @kbd{C-f} to control the command window.
26253 @node TUI Single Key Mode
26254 @section TUI Single Key Mode
26255 @cindex TUI single key mode
26257 The TUI also provides a @dfn{SingleKey} mode, which binds several
26258 frequently used @value{GDBN} commands to single keys. Type @kbd{C-x s} to
26259 switch into this mode, where the following key bindings are used:
26262 @kindex c @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26266 @kindex d @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26270 @kindex f @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26274 @kindex n @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26278 @kindex q @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26280 exit the SingleKey mode.
26282 @kindex r @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26286 @kindex s @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26290 @kindex u @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26294 @kindex v @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26298 @kindex w @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26303 Other keys temporarily switch to the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
26304 The key that was pressed is inserted in the editing buffer so that
26305 it is possible to type most @value{GDBN} commands without interaction
26306 with the TUI SingleKey mode. Once the command is entered the TUI
26307 SingleKey mode is restored. The only way to permanently leave
26308 this mode is by typing @kbd{q} or @kbd{C-x s}.
26312 @section TUI-specific Commands
26313 @cindex TUI commands
26315 The TUI has specific commands to control the text windows.
26316 These commands are always available, even when @value{GDBN} is not in
26317 the TUI mode. When @value{GDBN} is in the standard mode, most
26318 of these commands will automatically switch to the TUI mode.
26320 Note that if @value{GDBN}'s @code{stdout} is not connected to a
26321 terminal, or @value{GDBN} has been started with the machine interface
26322 interpreter (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}), most of
26323 these commands will fail with an error, because it would not be
26324 possible or desirable to enable curses window management.
26329 List and give the size of all displayed windows.
26333 Display the next layout.
26336 Display the previous layout.
26339 Display the source window only.
26342 Display the assembly window only.
26345 Display the source and assembly window.
26348 Display the register window together with the source or assembly window.
26352 Make the next window active for scrolling.
26355 Make the previous window active for scrolling.
26358 Make the source window active for scrolling.
26361 Make the assembly window active for scrolling.
26364 Make the register window active for scrolling.
26367 Make the command window active for scrolling.
26371 Refresh the screen. This is similar to typing @kbd{C-L}.
26373 @item tui reg float
26375 Show the floating point registers in the register window.
26377 @item tui reg general
26378 Show the general registers in the register window.
26381 Show the next register group. The list of register groups as well as
26382 their order is target specific. The predefined register groups are the
26383 following: @code{general}, @code{float}, @code{system}, @code{vector},
26384 @code{all}, @code{save}, @code{restore}.
26386 @item tui reg system
26387 Show the system registers in the register window.
26391 Update the source window and the current execution point.
26393 @item winheight @var{name} +@var{count}
26394 @itemx winheight @var{name} -@var{count}
26396 Change the height of the window @var{name} by @var{count}
26397 lines. Positive counts increase the height, while negative counts
26400 @item tabset @var{nchars}
26402 Set the width of tab stops to be @var{nchars} characters.
26405 @node TUI Configuration
26406 @section TUI Configuration Variables
26407 @cindex TUI configuration variables
26409 Several configuration variables control the appearance of TUI windows.
26412 @item set tui border-kind @var{kind}
26413 @kindex set tui border-kind
26414 Select the border appearance for the source, assembly and register windows.
26415 The possible values are the following:
26418 Use a space character to draw the border.
26421 Use @sc{ascii} characters @samp{+}, @samp{-} and @samp{|} to draw the border.
26424 Use the Alternate Character Set to draw the border. The border is
26425 drawn using character line graphics if the terminal supports them.
26428 @item set tui border-mode @var{mode}
26429 @kindex set tui border-mode
26430 @itemx set tui active-border-mode @var{mode}
26431 @kindex set tui active-border-mode
26432 Select the display attributes for the borders of the inactive windows
26433 or the active window. The @var{mode} can be one of the following:
26436 Use normal attributes to display the border.
26442 Use reverse video mode.
26445 Use half bright mode.
26447 @item half-standout
26448 Use half bright and standout mode.
26451 Use extra bright or bold mode.
26453 @item bold-standout
26454 Use extra bright or bold and standout mode.
26459 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
26462 @cindex @sc{gnu} Emacs
26463 A special interface allows you to use @sc{gnu} Emacs to view (and
26464 edit) the source files for the program you are debugging with
26467 To use this interface, use the command @kbd{M-x gdb} in Emacs. Give the
26468 executable file you want to debug as an argument. This command starts
26469 @value{GDBN} as a subprocess of Emacs, with input and output through a newly
26470 created Emacs buffer.
26471 @c (Do not use the @code{-tui} option to run @value{GDBN} from Emacs.)
26473 Running @value{GDBN} under Emacs can be just like running @value{GDBN} normally except for two
26478 All ``terminal'' input and output goes through an Emacs buffer, called
26481 This applies both to @value{GDBN} commands and their output, and to the input
26482 and output done by the program you are debugging.
26484 This is useful because it means that you can copy the text of previous
26485 commands and input them again; you can even use parts of the output
26488 All the facilities of Emacs' Shell mode are available for interacting
26489 with your program. In particular, you can send signals the usual
26490 way---for example, @kbd{C-c C-c} for an interrupt, @kbd{C-c C-z} for a
26494 @value{GDBN} displays source code through Emacs.
26496 Each time @value{GDBN} displays a stack frame, Emacs automatically finds the
26497 source file for that frame and puts an arrow (@samp{=>}) at the
26498 left margin of the current line. Emacs uses a separate buffer for
26499 source display, and splits the screen to show both your @value{GDBN} session
26502 Explicit @value{GDBN} @code{list} or search commands still produce output as
26503 usual, but you probably have no reason to use them from Emacs.
26506 We call this @dfn{text command mode}. Emacs 22.1, and later, also uses
26507 a graphical mode, enabled by default, which provides further buffers
26508 that can control the execution and describe the state of your program.
26509 @xref{GDB Graphical Interface,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}.
26511 If you specify an absolute file name when prompted for the @kbd{M-x
26512 gdb} argument, then Emacs sets your current working directory to where
26513 your program resides. If you only specify the file name, then Emacs
26514 sets your current working directory to the directory associated
26515 with the previous buffer. In this case, @value{GDBN} may find your
26516 program by searching your environment's @code{PATH} variable, but on
26517 some operating systems it might not find the source. So, although the
26518 @value{GDBN} input and output session proceeds normally, the auxiliary
26519 buffer does not display the current source and line of execution.
26521 The initial working directory of @value{GDBN} is printed on the top
26522 line of the GUD buffer and this serves as a default for the commands
26523 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files,
26524 ,Commands to Specify Files}.
26526 By default, @kbd{M-x gdb} calls the program called @file{gdb}. If you
26527 need to call @value{GDBN} by a different name (for example, if you
26528 keep several configurations around, with different names) you can
26529 customize the Emacs variable @code{gud-gdb-command-name} to run the
26532 In the GUD buffer, you can use these special Emacs commands in
26533 addition to the standard Shell mode commands:
26537 Describe the features of Emacs' GUD Mode.
26540 Execute to another source line, like the @value{GDBN} @code{step} command; also
26541 update the display window to show the current file and location.
26544 Execute to next source line in this function, skipping all function
26545 calls, like the @value{GDBN} @code{next} command. Then update the display window
26546 to show the current file and location.
26549 Execute one instruction, like the @value{GDBN} @code{stepi} command; update
26550 display window accordingly.
26553 Execute until exit from the selected stack frame, like the @value{GDBN}
26554 @code{finish} command.
26557 Continue execution of your program, like the @value{GDBN} @code{continue}
26561 Go up the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument
26562 (@pxref{Arguments, , Numeric Arguments, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}),
26563 like the @value{GDBN} @code{up} command.
26566 Go down the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument, like the
26567 @value{GDBN} @code{down} command.
26570 In any source file, the Emacs command @kbd{C-x @key{SPC}} (@code{gud-break})
26571 tells @value{GDBN} to set a breakpoint on the source line point is on.
26573 In text command mode, if you type @kbd{M-x speedbar}, Emacs displays a
26574 separate frame which shows a backtrace when the GUD buffer is current.
26575 Move point to any frame in the stack and type @key{RET} to make it
26576 become the current frame and display the associated source in the
26577 source buffer. Alternatively, click @kbd{Mouse-2} to make the
26578 selected frame become the current one. In graphical mode, the
26579 speedbar displays watch expressions.
26581 If you accidentally delete the source-display buffer, an easy way to get
26582 it back is to type the command @code{f} in the @value{GDBN} buffer, to
26583 request a frame display; when you run under Emacs, this recreates
26584 the source buffer if necessary to show you the context of the current
26587 The source files displayed in Emacs are in ordinary Emacs buffers
26588 which are visiting the source files in the usual way. You can edit
26589 the files with these buffers if you wish; but keep in mind that @value{GDBN}
26590 communicates with Emacs in terms of line numbers. If you add or
26591 delete lines from the text, the line numbers that @value{GDBN} knows cease
26592 to correspond properly with the code.
26594 A more detailed description of Emacs' interaction with @value{GDBN} is
26595 given in the Emacs manual (@pxref{Debuggers,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu}
26598 @c The following dropped because Epoch is nonstandard. Reactivate
26601 @kindex Emacs Epoch environment
26605 Version 18 of @sc{gnu} Emacs has a built-in window system
26606 called the @code{epoch}
26607 environment. Users of this environment can use a new command,
26608 @code{inspect} which performs identically to @code{print} except that
26609 each value is printed in its own window.
26614 @chapter The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface
26616 @unnumberedsec Function and Purpose
26618 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, its purpose
26619 @sc{gdb/mi} is a line based machine oriented text interface to
26620 @value{GDBN} and is activated by specifying using the
26621 @option{--interpreter} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}). It
26622 is specifically intended to support the development of systems which
26623 use the debugger as just one small component of a larger system.
26625 This chapter is a specification of the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. It is written
26626 in the form of a reference manual.
26628 Note that @sc{gdb/mi} is still under construction, so some of the
26629 features described below are incomplete and subject to change
26630 (@pxref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, , @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends}).
26632 @unnumberedsec Notation and Terminology
26634 @cindex notational conventions, for @sc{gdb/mi}
26635 This chapter uses the following notation:
26639 @code{|} separates two alternatives.
26642 @code{[ @var{something} ]} indicates that @var{something} is optional:
26643 it may or may not be given.
26646 @code{( @var{group} )*} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
26647 may repeat zero or more times.
26650 @code{( @var{group} )+} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
26651 may repeat one or more times.
26654 @code{"@var{string}"} means a literal @var{string}.
26658 @heading Dependencies
26662 * GDB/MI General Design::
26663 * GDB/MI Command Syntax::
26664 * GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI::
26665 * GDB/MI Development and Front Ends::
26666 * GDB/MI Output Records::
26667 * GDB/MI Simple Examples::
26668 * GDB/MI Command Description Format::
26669 * GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands::
26670 * GDB/MI Program Context::
26671 * GDB/MI Thread Commands::
26672 * GDB/MI Ada Tasking Commands::
26673 * GDB/MI Program Execution::
26674 * GDB/MI Stack Manipulation::
26675 * GDB/MI Variable Objects::
26676 * GDB/MI Data Manipulation::
26677 * GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands::
26678 * GDB/MI Symbol Query::
26679 * GDB/MI File Commands::
26681 * GDB/MI Kod Commands::
26682 * GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands::
26683 * GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands::
26685 * GDB/MI Target Manipulation::
26686 * GDB/MI File Transfer Commands::
26687 * GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands::
26690 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26691 @node GDB/MI General Design
26692 @section @sc{gdb/mi} General Design
26693 @cindex GDB/MI General Design
26695 Interaction of a @sc{GDB/MI} frontend with @value{GDBN} involves three
26696 parts---commands sent to @value{GDBN}, responses to those commands
26697 and notifications. Each command results in exactly one response,
26698 indicating either successful completion of the command, or an error.
26699 For the commands that do not resume the target, the response contains the
26700 requested information. For the commands that resume the target, the
26701 response only indicates whether the target was successfully resumed.
26702 Notifications is the mechanism for reporting changes in the state of the
26703 target, or in @value{GDBN} state, that cannot conveniently be associated with
26704 a command and reported as part of that command response.
26706 The important examples of notifications are:
26710 Exec notifications. These are used to report changes in
26711 target state---when a target is resumed, or stopped. It would not
26712 be feasible to include this information in response of resuming
26713 commands, because one resume commands can result in multiple events in
26714 different threads. Also, quite some time may pass before any event
26715 happens in the target, while a frontend needs to know whether the resuming
26716 command itself was successfully executed.
26719 Console output, and status notifications. Console output
26720 notifications are used to report output of CLI commands, as well as
26721 diagnostics for other commands. Status notifications are used to
26722 report the progress of a long-running operation. Naturally, including
26723 this information in command response would mean no output is produced
26724 until the command is finished, which is undesirable.
26727 General notifications. Commands may have various side effects on
26728 the @value{GDBN} or target state beyond their official purpose. For example,
26729 a command may change the selected thread. Although such changes can
26730 be included in command response, using notification allows for more
26731 orthogonal frontend design.
26735 There's no guarantee that whenever an MI command reports an error,
26736 @value{GDBN} or the target are in any specific state, and especially,
26737 the state is not reverted to the state before the MI command was
26738 processed. Therefore, whenever an MI command results in an error,
26739 we recommend that the frontend refreshes all the information shown in
26740 the user interface.
26744 * Context management::
26745 * Asynchronous and non-stop modes::
26749 @node Context management
26750 @subsection Context management
26752 In most cases when @value{GDBN} accesses the target, this access is
26753 done in context of a specific thread and frame (@pxref{Frames}).
26754 Often, even when accessing global data, the target requires that a thread
26755 be specified. The CLI interface maintains the selected thread and frame,
26756 and supplies them to target on each command. This is convenient,
26757 because a command line user would not want to specify that information
26758 explicitly on each command, and because user interacts with
26759 @value{GDBN} via a single terminal, so no confusion is possible as
26760 to what thread and frame are the current ones.
26762 In the case of MI, the concept of selected thread and frame is less
26763 useful. First, a frontend can easily remember this information
26764 itself. Second, a graphical frontend can have more than one window,
26765 each one used for debugging a different thread, and the frontend might
26766 want to access additional threads for internal purposes. This
26767 increases the risk that by relying on implicitly selected thread, the
26768 frontend may be operating on a wrong one. Therefore, each MI command
26769 should explicitly specify which thread and frame to operate on. To
26770 make it possible, each MI command accepts the @samp{--thread} and
26771 @samp{--frame} options, the value to each is @value{GDBN} identifier
26772 for thread and frame to operate on.
26774 Usually, each top-level window in a frontend allows the user to select
26775 a thread and a frame, and remembers the user selection for further
26776 operations. However, in some cases @value{GDBN} may suggest that the
26777 current thread be changed. For example, when stopping on a breakpoint
26778 it is reasonable to switch to the thread where breakpoint is hit. For
26779 another example, if the user issues the CLI @samp{thread} command via
26780 the frontend, it is desirable to change the frontend's selected thread to the
26781 one specified by user. @value{GDBN} communicates the suggestion to
26782 change current thread using the @samp{=thread-selected} notification.
26783 No such notification is available for the selected frame at the moment.
26785 Note that historically, MI shares the selected thread with CLI, so
26786 frontends used the @code{-thread-select} to execute commands in the
26787 right context. However, getting this to work right is cumbersome. The
26788 simplest way is for frontend to emit @code{-thread-select} command
26789 before every command. This doubles the number of commands that need
26790 to be sent. The alternative approach is to suppress @code{-thread-select}
26791 if the selected thread in @value{GDBN} is supposed to be identical to the
26792 thread the frontend wants to operate on. However, getting this
26793 optimization right can be tricky. In particular, if the frontend
26794 sends several commands to @value{GDBN}, and one of the commands changes the
26795 selected thread, then the behaviour of subsequent commands will
26796 change. So, a frontend should either wait for response from such
26797 problematic commands, or explicitly add @code{-thread-select} for
26798 all subsequent commands. No frontend is known to do this exactly
26799 right, so it is suggested to just always pass the @samp{--thread} and
26800 @samp{--frame} options.
26802 @node Asynchronous and non-stop modes
26803 @subsection Asynchronous command execution and non-stop mode
26805 On some targets, @value{GDBN} is capable of processing MI commands
26806 even while the target is running. This is called @dfn{asynchronous
26807 command execution} (@pxref{Background Execution}). The frontend may
26808 specify a preferrence for asynchronous execution using the
26809 @code{-gdb-set target-async 1} command, which should be emitted before
26810 either running the executable or attaching to the target. After the
26811 frontend has started the executable or attached to the target, it can
26812 find if asynchronous execution is enabled using the
26813 @code{-list-target-features} command.
26815 Even if @value{GDBN} can accept a command while target is running,
26816 many commands that access the target do not work when the target is
26817 running. Therefore, asynchronous command execution is most useful
26818 when combined with non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}). Then,
26819 it is possible to examine the state of one thread, while other threads
26822 When a given thread is running, MI commands that try to access the
26823 target in the context of that thread may not work, or may work only on
26824 some targets. In particular, commands that try to operate on thread's
26825 stack will not work, on any target. Commands that read memory, or
26826 modify breakpoints, may work or not work, depending on the target. Note
26827 that even commands that operate on global state, such as @code{print},
26828 @code{set}, and breakpoint commands, still access the target in the
26829 context of a specific thread, so frontend should try to find a
26830 stopped thread and perform the operation on that thread (using the
26831 @samp{--thread} option).
26833 Which commands will work in the context of a running thread is
26834 highly target dependent. However, the two commands
26835 @code{-exec-interrupt}, to stop a thread, and @code{-thread-info},
26836 to find the state of a thread, will always work.
26838 @node Thread groups
26839 @subsection Thread groups
26840 @value{GDBN} may be used to debug several processes at the same time.
26841 On some platfroms, @value{GDBN} may support debugging of several
26842 hardware systems, each one having several cores with several different
26843 processes running on each core. This section describes the MI
26844 mechanism to support such debugging scenarios.
26846 The key observation is that regardless of the structure of the
26847 target, MI can have a global list of threads, because most commands that
26848 accept the @samp{--thread} option do not need to know what process that
26849 thread belongs to. Therefore, it is not necessary to introduce
26850 neither additional @samp{--process} option, nor an notion of the
26851 current process in the MI interface. The only strictly new feature
26852 that is required is the ability to find how the threads are grouped
26855 To allow the user to discover such grouping, and to support arbitrary
26856 hierarchy of machines/cores/processes, MI introduces the concept of a
26857 @dfn{thread group}. Thread group is a collection of threads and other
26858 thread groups. A thread group always has a string identifier, a type,
26859 and may have additional attributes specific to the type. A new
26860 command, @code{-list-thread-groups}, returns the list of top-level
26861 thread groups, which correspond to processes that @value{GDBN} is
26862 debugging at the moment. By passing an identifier of a thread group
26863 to the @code{-list-thread-groups} command, it is possible to obtain
26864 the members of specific thread group.
26866 To allow the user to easily discover processes, and other objects, he
26867 wishes to debug, a concept of @dfn{available thread group} is
26868 introduced. Available thread group is an thread group that
26869 @value{GDBN} is not debugging, but that can be attached to, using the
26870 @code{-target-attach} command. The list of available top-level thread
26871 groups can be obtained using @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}.
26872 In general, the content of a thread group may be only retrieved only
26873 after attaching to that thread group.
26875 Thread groups are related to inferiors (@pxref{Inferiors and
26876 Programs}). Each inferior corresponds to a thread group of a special
26877 type @samp{process}, and some additional operations are permitted on
26878 such thread groups.
26880 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26881 @node GDB/MI Command Syntax
26882 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Syntax
26885 * GDB/MI Input Syntax::
26886 * GDB/MI Output Syntax::
26889 @node GDB/MI Input Syntax
26890 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Input Syntax
26892 @cindex input syntax for @sc{gdb/mi}
26893 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, input syntax
26895 @item @var{command} @expansion{}
26896 @code{@var{cli-command} | @var{mi-command}}
26898 @item @var{cli-command} @expansion{}
26899 @code{[ @var{token} ] @var{cli-command} @var{nl}}, where
26900 @var{cli-command} is any existing @value{GDBN} CLI command.
26902 @item @var{mi-command} @expansion{}
26903 @code{[ @var{token} ] "-" @var{operation} ( " " @var{option} )*
26904 @code{[} " --" @code{]} ( " " @var{parameter} )* @var{nl}}
26906 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
26907 "any sequence of digits"
26909 @item @var{option} @expansion{}
26910 @code{"-" @var{parameter} [ " " @var{parameter} ]}
26912 @item @var{parameter} @expansion{}
26913 @code{@var{non-blank-sequence} | @var{c-string}}
26915 @item @var{operation} @expansion{}
26916 @emph{any of the operations described in this chapter}
26918 @item @var{non-blank-sequence} @expansion{}
26919 @emph{anything, provided it doesn't contain special characters such as
26920 "-", @var{nl}, """ and of course " "}
26922 @item @var{c-string} @expansion{}
26923 @code{""" @var{seven-bit-iso-c-string-content} """}
26925 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
26934 The CLI commands are still handled by the @sc{mi} interpreter; their
26935 output is described below.
26938 The @code{@var{token}}, when present, is passed back when the command
26942 Some @sc{mi} commands accept optional arguments as part of the parameter
26943 list. Each option is identified by a leading @samp{-} (dash) and may be
26944 followed by an optional argument parameter. Options occur first in the
26945 parameter list and can be delimited from normal parameters using
26946 @samp{--} (this is useful when some parameters begin with a dash).
26953 We want easy access to the existing CLI syntax (for debugging).
26956 We want it to be easy to spot a @sc{mi} operation.
26959 @node GDB/MI Output Syntax
26960 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax
26962 @cindex output syntax of @sc{gdb/mi}
26963 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, output syntax
26964 The output from @sc{gdb/mi} consists of zero or more out-of-band records
26965 followed, optionally, by a single result record. This result record
26966 is for the most recent command. The sequence of output records is
26967 terminated by @samp{(gdb)}.
26969 If an input command was prefixed with a @code{@var{token}} then the
26970 corresponding output for that command will also be prefixed by that same
26974 @item @var{output} @expansion{}
26975 @code{( @var{out-of-band-record} )* [ @var{result-record} ] "(gdb)" @var{nl}}
26977 @item @var{result-record} @expansion{}
26978 @code{ [ @var{token} ] "^" @var{result-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
26980 @item @var{out-of-band-record} @expansion{}
26981 @code{@var{async-record} | @var{stream-record}}
26983 @item @var{async-record} @expansion{}
26984 @code{@var{exec-async-output} | @var{status-async-output} | @var{notify-async-output}}
26986 @item @var{exec-async-output} @expansion{}
26987 @code{[ @var{token} ] "*" @var{async-output}}
26989 @item @var{status-async-output} @expansion{}
26990 @code{[ @var{token} ] "+" @var{async-output}}
26992 @item @var{notify-async-output} @expansion{}
26993 @code{[ @var{token} ] "=" @var{async-output}}
26995 @item @var{async-output} @expansion{}
26996 @code{@var{async-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
26998 @item @var{result-class} @expansion{}
26999 @code{"done" | "running" | "connected" | "error" | "exit"}
27001 @item @var{async-class} @expansion{}
27002 @code{"stopped" | @var{others}} (where @var{others} will be added
27003 depending on the needs---this is still in development).
27005 @item @var{result} @expansion{}
27006 @code{ @var{variable} "=" @var{value}}
27008 @item @var{variable} @expansion{}
27009 @code{ @var{string} }
27011 @item @var{value} @expansion{}
27012 @code{ @var{const} | @var{tuple} | @var{list} }
27014 @item @var{const} @expansion{}
27015 @code{@var{c-string}}
27017 @item @var{tuple} @expansion{}
27018 @code{ "@{@}" | "@{" @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "@}" }
27020 @item @var{list} @expansion{}
27021 @code{ "[]" | "[" @var{value} ( "," @var{value} )* "]" | "["
27022 @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "]" }
27024 @item @var{stream-record} @expansion{}
27025 @code{@var{console-stream-output} | @var{target-stream-output} | @var{log-stream-output}}
27027 @item @var{console-stream-output} @expansion{}
27028 @code{"~" @var{c-string}}
27030 @item @var{target-stream-output} @expansion{}
27031 @code{"@@" @var{c-string}}
27033 @item @var{log-stream-output} @expansion{}
27034 @code{"&" @var{c-string}}
27036 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
27039 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
27040 @emph{any sequence of digits}.
27048 All output sequences end in a single line containing a period.
27051 The @code{@var{token}} is from the corresponding request. Note that
27052 for all async output, while the token is allowed by the grammar and
27053 may be output by future versions of @value{GDBN} for select async
27054 output messages, it is generally omitted. Frontends should treat
27055 all async output as reporting general changes in the state of the
27056 target and there should be no need to associate async output to any
27060 @cindex status output in @sc{gdb/mi}
27061 @var{status-async-output} contains on-going status information about the
27062 progress of a slow operation. It can be discarded. All status output is
27063 prefixed by @samp{+}.
27066 @cindex async output in @sc{gdb/mi}
27067 @var{exec-async-output} contains asynchronous state change on the target
27068 (stopped, started, disappeared). All async output is prefixed by
27072 @cindex notify output in @sc{gdb/mi}
27073 @var{notify-async-output} contains supplementary information that the
27074 client should handle (e.g., a new breakpoint information). All notify
27075 output is prefixed by @samp{=}.
27078 @cindex console output in @sc{gdb/mi}
27079 @var{console-stream-output} is output that should be displayed as is in the
27080 console. It is the textual response to a CLI command. All the console
27081 output is prefixed by @samp{~}.
27084 @cindex target output in @sc{gdb/mi}
27085 @var{target-stream-output} is the output produced by the target program.
27086 All the target output is prefixed by @samp{@@}.
27089 @cindex log output in @sc{gdb/mi}
27090 @var{log-stream-output} is output text coming from @value{GDBN}'s internals, for
27091 instance messages that should be displayed as part of an error log. All
27092 the log output is prefixed by @samp{&}.
27095 @cindex list output in @sc{gdb/mi}
27096 New @sc{gdb/mi} commands should only output @var{lists} containing
27102 @xref{GDB/MI Stream Records, , @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records}, for more
27103 details about the various output records.
27105 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27106 @node GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI
27107 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Compatibility with CLI
27109 @cindex compatibility, @sc{gdb/mi} and CLI
27110 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, compatibility with CLI
27112 For the developers convenience CLI commands can be entered directly,
27113 but there may be some unexpected behaviour. For example, commands
27114 that query the user will behave as if the user replied yes, breakpoint
27115 command lists are not executed and some CLI commands, such as
27116 @code{if}, @code{when} and @code{define}, prompt for further input with
27117 @samp{>}, which is not valid MI output.
27119 This feature may be removed at some stage in the future and it is
27120 recommended that front ends use the @code{-interpreter-exec} command
27121 (@pxref{-interpreter-exec}).
27123 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27124 @node GDB/MI Development and Front Ends
27125 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends
27126 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi} development
27128 The application which takes the MI output and presents the state of the
27129 program being debugged to the user is called a @dfn{front end}.
27131 Although @sc{gdb/mi} is still incomplete, it is currently being used
27132 by a variety of front ends to @value{GDBN}. This makes it difficult
27133 to introduce new functionality without breaking existing usage. This
27134 section tries to minimize the problems by describing how the protocol
27137 Some changes in MI need not break a carefully designed front end, and
27138 for these the MI version will remain unchanged. The following is a
27139 list of changes that may occur within one level, so front ends should
27140 parse MI output in a way that can handle them:
27144 New MI commands may be added.
27147 New fields may be added to the output of any MI command.
27150 The range of values for fields with specified values, e.g.,
27151 @code{in_scope} (@pxref{-var-update}) may be extended.
27153 @c The format of field's content e.g type prefix, may change so parse it
27154 @c at your own risk. Yes, in general?
27156 @c The order of fields may change? Shouldn't really matter but it might
27157 @c resolve inconsistencies.
27160 If the changes are likely to break front ends, the MI version level
27161 will be increased by one. This will allow the front end to parse the
27162 output according to the MI version. Apart from mi0, new versions of
27163 @value{GDBN} will not support old versions of MI and it will be the
27164 responsibility of the front end to work with the new one.
27166 @c Starting with mi3, add a new command -mi-version that prints the MI
27169 The best way to avoid unexpected changes in MI that might break your front
27170 end is to make your project known to @value{GDBN} developers and
27171 follow development on @email{gdb@@sourceware.org} and
27172 @email{gdb-patches@@sourceware.org}.
27173 @cindex mailing lists
27175 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27176 @node GDB/MI Output Records
27177 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Output Records
27180 * GDB/MI Result Records::
27181 * GDB/MI Stream Records::
27182 * GDB/MI Async Records::
27183 * GDB/MI Frame Information::
27184 * GDB/MI Thread Information::
27185 * GDB/MI Ada Exception Information::
27188 @node GDB/MI Result Records
27189 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Result Records
27191 @cindex result records in @sc{gdb/mi}
27192 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, result records
27193 In addition to a number of out-of-band notifications, the response to a
27194 @sc{gdb/mi} command includes one of the following result indications:
27198 @item "^done" [ "," @var{results} ]
27199 The synchronous operation was successful, @code{@var{results}} are the return
27204 This result record is equivalent to @samp{^done}. Historically, it
27205 was output instead of @samp{^done} if the command has resumed the
27206 target. This behaviour is maintained for backward compatibility, but
27207 all frontends should treat @samp{^done} and @samp{^running}
27208 identically and rely on the @samp{*running} output record to determine
27209 which threads are resumed.
27213 @value{GDBN} has connected to a remote target.
27215 @item "^error" "," @var{c-string}
27217 The operation failed. The @code{@var{c-string}} contains the corresponding
27222 @value{GDBN} has terminated.
27226 @node GDB/MI Stream Records
27227 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records
27229 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, stream records
27230 @cindex stream records in @sc{gdb/mi}
27231 @value{GDBN} internally maintains a number of output streams: the console, the
27232 target, and the log. The output intended for each of these streams is
27233 funneled through the @sc{gdb/mi} interface using @dfn{stream records}.
27235 Each stream record begins with a unique @dfn{prefix character} which
27236 identifies its stream (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, , @sc{gdb/mi} Output
27237 Syntax}). In addition to the prefix, each stream record contains a
27238 @code{@var{string-output}}. This is either raw text (with an implicit new
27239 line) or a quoted C string (which does not contain an implicit newline).
27242 @item "~" @var{string-output}
27243 The console output stream contains text that should be displayed in the
27244 CLI console window. It contains the textual responses to CLI commands.
27246 @item "@@" @var{string-output}
27247 The target output stream contains any textual output from the running
27248 target. This is only present when GDB's event loop is truly
27249 asynchronous, which is currently only the case for remote targets.
27251 @item "&" @var{string-output}
27252 The log stream contains debugging messages being produced by @value{GDBN}'s
27256 @node GDB/MI Async Records
27257 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Async Records
27259 @cindex async records in @sc{gdb/mi}
27260 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, async records
27261 @dfn{Async} records are used to notify the @sc{gdb/mi} client of
27262 additional changes that have occurred. Those changes can either be a
27263 consequence of @sc{gdb/mi} commands (e.g., a breakpoint modified) or a result of
27264 target activity (e.g., target stopped).
27266 The following is the list of possible async records:
27270 @item *running,thread-id="@var{thread}"
27271 The target is now running. The @var{thread} field tells which
27272 specific thread is now running, and can be @samp{all} if all threads
27273 are running. The frontend should assume that no interaction with a
27274 running thread is possible after this notification is produced.
27275 The frontend should not assume that this notification is output
27276 only once for any command. @value{GDBN} may emit this notification
27277 several times, either for different threads, because it cannot resume
27278 all threads together, or even for a single thread, if the thread must
27279 be stepped though some code before letting it run freely.
27281 @item *stopped,reason="@var{reason}",thread-id="@var{id}",stopped-threads="@var{stopped}",core="@var{core}"
27282 The target has stopped. The @var{reason} field can have one of the
27286 @item breakpoint-hit
27287 A breakpoint was reached.
27288 @item watchpoint-trigger
27289 A watchpoint was triggered.
27290 @item read-watchpoint-trigger
27291 A read watchpoint was triggered.
27292 @item access-watchpoint-trigger
27293 An access watchpoint was triggered.
27294 @item function-finished
27295 An -exec-finish or similar CLI command was accomplished.
27296 @item location-reached
27297 An -exec-until or similar CLI command was accomplished.
27298 @item watchpoint-scope
27299 A watchpoint has gone out of scope.
27300 @item end-stepping-range
27301 An -exec-next, -exec-next-instruction, -exec-step, -exec-step-instruction or
27302 similar CLI command was accomplished.
27303 @item exited-signalled
27304 The inferior exited because of a signal.
27306 The inferior exited.
27307 @item exited-normally
27308 The inferior exited normally.
27309 @item signal-received
27310 A signal was received by the inferior.
27312 The inferior has stopped due to a library being loaded or unloaded.
27313 This can happen when @code{stop-on-solib-events} (@pxref{Files}) is
27314 set or when a @code{catch load} or @code{catch unload} catchpoint is
27315 in use (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}).
27317 The inferior has forked. This is reported when @code{catch fork}
27318 (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
27320 The inferior has vforked. This is reported in when @code{catch vfork}
27321 (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
27322 @item syscall-entry
27323 The inferior entered a system call. This is reported when @code{catch
27324 syscall} (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
27325 @item syscall-entry
27326 The inferior returned from a system call. This is reported when
27327 @code{catch syscall} (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
27329 The inferior called @code{exec}. This is reported when @code{catch exec}
27330 (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
27333 The @var{id} field identifies the thread that directly caused the stop
27334 -- for example by hitting a breakpoint. Depending on whether all-stop
27335 mode is in effect (@pxref{All-Stop Mode}), @value{GDBN} may either
27336 stop all threads, or only the thread that directly triggered the stop.
27337 If all threads are stopped, the @var{stopped} field will have the
27338 value of @code{"all"}. Otherwise, the value of the @var{stopped}
27339 field will be a list of thread identifiers. Presently, this list will
27340 always include a single thread, but frontend should be prepared to see
27341 several threads in the list. The @var{core} field reports the
27342 processor core on which the stop event has happened. This field may be absent
27343 if such information is not available.
27345 @item =thread-group-added,id="@var{id}"
27346 @itemx =thread-group-removed,id="@var{id}"
27347 A thread group was either added or removed. The @var{id} field
27348 contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. When a thread
27349 group is added, it generally might not be associated with a running
27350 process. When a thread group is removed, its id becomes invalid and
27351 cannot be used in any way.
27353 @item =thread-group-started,id="@var{id}",pid="@var{pid}"
27354 A thread group became associated with a running program,
27355 either because the program was just started or the thread group
27356 was attached to a program. The @var{id} field contains the
27357 @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. The @var{pid} field
27358 contains process identifier, specific to the operating system.
27360 @item =thread-group-exited,id="@var{id}"[,exit-code="@var{code}"]
27361 A thread group is no longer associated with a running program,
27362 either because the program has exited, or because it was detached
27363 from. The @var{id} field contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the
27364 thread group. @var{code} is the exit code of the inferior; it exists
27365 only when the inferior exited with some code.
27367 @item =thread-created,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
27368 @itemx =thread-exited,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
27369 A thread either was created, or has exited. The @var{id} field
27370 contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread. The @var{gid}
27371 field identifies the thread group this thread belongs to.
27373 @item =thread-selected,id="@var{id}"
27374 Informs that the selected thread was changed as result of the last
27375 command. This notification is not emitted as result of @code{-thread-select}
27376 command but is emitted whenever an MI command that is not documented
27377 to change the selected thread actually changes it. In particular,
27378 invoking, directly or indirectly (via user-defined command), the CLI
27379 @code{thread} command, will generate this notification.
27381 We suggest that in response to this notification, front ends
27382 highlight the selected thread and cause subsequent commands to apply to
27385 @item =library-loaded,...
27386 Reports that a new library file was loaded by the program. This
27387 notification has 4 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name},
27388 @var{host-name}, and @var{symbols-loaded}. The @var{id} field is an
27389 opaque identifier of the library. For remote debugging case,
27390 @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} fields give the name of the
27391 library file on the target, and on the host respectively. For native
27392 debugging, both those fields have the same value. The
27393 @var{symbols-loaded} field is emitted only for backward compatibility
27394 and should not be relied on to convey any useful information. The
27395 @var{thread-group} field, if present, specifies the id of the thread
27396 group in whose context the library was loaded. If the field is
27397 absent, it means the library was loaded in the context of all present
27400 @item =library-unloaded,...
27401 Reports that a library was unloaded by the program. This notification
27402 has 3 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} with
27403 the same meaning as for the @code{=library-loaded} notification.
27404 The @var{thread-group} field, if present, specifies the id of the
27405 thread group in whose context the library was unloaded. If the field is
27406 absent, it means the library was unloaded in the context of all present
27409 @item =breakpoint-created,bkpt=@{...@}
27410 @itemx =breakpoint-modified,bkpt=@{...@}
27411 @itemx =breakpoint-deleted,bkpt=@{...@}
27412 Reports that a breakpoint was created, modified, or deleted,
27413 respectively. Only user-visible breakpoints are reported to the MI
27416 The @var{bkpt} argument is of the same form as returned by the various
27417 breakpoint commands; @xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands}.
27419 Note that if a breakpoint is emitted in the result record of a
27420 command, then it will not also be emitted in an async record.
27424 @node GDB/MI Frame Information
27425 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Frame Information
27427 Response from many MI commands includes an information about stack
27428 frame. This information is a tuple that may have the following
27433 The level of the stack frame. The innermost frame has the level of
27434 zero. This field is always present.
27437 The name of the function corresponding to the frame. This field may
27438 be absent if @value{GDBN} is unable to determine the function name.
27441 The code address for the frame. This field is always present.
27444 The name of the source files that correspond to the frame's code
27445 address. This field may be absent.
27448 The source line corresponding to the frames' code address. This field
27452 The name of the binary file (either executable or shared library) the
27453 corresponds to the frame's code address. This field may be absent.
27457 @node GDB/MI Thread Information
27458 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Information
27460 Whenever @value{GDBN} has to report an information about a thread, it
27461 uses a tuple with the following fields:
27465 The numeric id assigned to the thread by @value{GDBN}. This field is
27469 Target-specific string identifying the thread. This field is always present.
27472 Additional information about the thread provided by the target.
27473 It is supposed to be human-readable and not interpreted by the
27474 frontend. This field is optional.
27477 Either @samp{stopped} or @samp{running}, depending on whether the
27478 thread is presently running. This field is always present.
27481 The value of this field is an integer number of the processor core the
27482 thread was last seen on. This field is optional.
27485 @node GDB/MI Ada Exception Information
27486 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Ada Exception Information
27488 Whenever a @code{*stopped} record is emitted because the program
27489 stopped after hitting an exception catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}),
27490 @value{GDBN} provides the name of the exception that was raised via
27491 the @code{exception-name} field.
27493 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27494 @node GDB/MI Simple Examples
27495 @section Simple Examples of @sc{gdb/mi} Interaction
27496 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, simple examples
27498 This subsection presents several simple examples of interaction using
27499 the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. In these examples, @samp{->} means that the
27500 following line is passed to @sc{gdb/mi} as input, while @samp{<-} means
27501 the output received from @sc{gdb/mi}.
27503 Note the line breaks shown in the examples are here only for
27504 readability, they don't appear in the real output.
27506 @subheading Setting a Breakpoint
27508 Setting a breakpoint generates synchronous output which contains detailed
27509 information of the breakpoint.
27512 -> -break-insert main
27513 <- ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
27514 enabled="y",addr="0x08048564",func="main",file="myprog.c",
27515 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68",times="0"@}
27519 @subheading Program Execution
27521 Program execution generates asynchronous records and MI gives the
27522 reason that execution stopped.
27528 <- *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
27529 frame=@{addr="0x08048564",func="main",
27530 args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},@{name="argv",value="0xbfc4d4d4"@}],
27531 file="myprog.c",fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68"@}
27536 <- *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
27540 @subheading Quitting @value{GDBN}
27542 Quitting @value{GDBN} just prints the result class @samp{^exit}.
27550 Please note that @samp{^exit} is printed immediately, but it might
27551 take some time for @value{GDBN} to actually exit. During that time, @value{GDBN}
27552 performs necessary cleanups, including killing programs being debugged
27553 or disconnecting from debug hardware, so the frontend should wait till
27554 @value{GDBN} exits and should only forcibly kill @value{GDBN} if it
27555 fails to exit in reasonable time.
27557 @subheading A Bad Command
27559 Here's what happens if you pass a non-existent command:
27563 <- ^error,msg="Undefined MI command: rubbish"
27568 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27569 @node GDB/MI Command Description Format
27570 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Description Format
27572 The remaining sections describe blocks of commands. Each block of
27573 commands is laid out in a fashion similar to this section.
27575 @subheading Motivation
27577 The motivation for this collection of commands.
27579 @subheading Introduction
27581 A brief introduction to this collection of commands as a whole.
27583 @subheading Commands
27585 For each command in the block, the following is described:
27587 @subsubheading Synopsis
27590 -command @var{args}@dots{}
27593 @subsubheading Result
27595 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27597 The corresponding @value{GDBN} CLI command(s), if any.
27599 @subsubheading Example
27601 Example(s) formatted for readability. Some of the described commands have
27602 not been implemented yet and these are labeled N.A.@: (not available).
27605 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27606 @node GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands
27607 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Breakpoint Commands
27609 @cindex breakpoint commands for @sc{gdb/mi}
27610 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, breakpoint commands
27611 This section documents @sc{gdb/mi} commands for manipulating
27614 @subheading The @code{-break-after} Command
27615 @findex -break-after
27617 @subsubheading Synopsis
27620 -break-after @var{number} @var{count}
27623 The breakpoint number @var{number} is not in effect until it has been
27624 hit @var{count} times. To see how this is reflected in the output of
27625 the @samp{-break-list} command, see the description of the
27626 @samp{-break-list} command below.
27628 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27630 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ignore}.
27632 @subsubheading Example
27637 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
27638 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
27639 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",times="0"@}
27646 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
27647 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
27648 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
27649 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
27650 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
27651 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
27652 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
27653 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
27654 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
27655 line="5",times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
27660 @subheading The @code{-break-catch} Command
27661 @findex -break-catch
27664 @subheading The @code{-break-commands} Command
27665 @findex -break-commands
27667 @subsubheading Synopsis
27670 -break-commands @var{number} [ @var{command1} ... @var{commandN} ]
27673 Specifies the CLI commands that should be executed when breakpoint
27674 @var{number} is hit. The parameters @var{command1} to @var{commandN}
27675 are the commands. If no command is specified, any previously-set
27676 commands are cleared. @xref{Break Commands}. Typical use of this
27677 functionality is tracing a program, that is, printing of values of
27678 some variables whenever breakpoint is hit and then continuing.
27680 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27682 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{commands}.
27684 @subsubheading Example
27689 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
27690 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
27691 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",times="0"@}
27693 -break-commands 1 "print v" "continue"
27698 @subheading The @code{-break-condition} Command
27699 @findex -break-condition
27701 @subsubheading Synopsis
27704 -break-condition @var{number} @var{expr}
27707 Breakpoint @var{number} will stop the program only if the condition in
27708 @var{expr} is true. The condition becomes part of the
27709 @samp{-break-list} output (see the description of the @samp{-break-list}
27712 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27714 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{condition}.
27716 @subsubheading Example
27720 -break-condition 1 1
27724 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
27725 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
27726 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
27727 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
27728 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
27729 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
27730 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
27731 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
27732 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
27733 line="5",cond="1",times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
27737 @subheading The @code{-break-delete} Command
27738 @findex -break-delete
27740 @subsubheading Synopsis
27743 -break-delete ( @var{breakpoint} )+
27746 Delete the breakpoint(s) whose number(s) are specified in the argument
27747 list. This is obviously reflected in the breakpoint list.
27749 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27751 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{delete}.
27753 @subsubheading Example
27761 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
27762 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
27763 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
27764 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
27765 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
27766 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
27767 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
27772 @subheading The @code{-break-disable} Command
27773 @findex -break-disable
27775 @subsubheading Synopsis
27778 -break-disable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
27781 Disable the named @var{breakpoint}(s). The field @samp{enabled} in the
27782 break list is now set to @samp{n} for the named @var{breakpoint}(s).
27784 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27786 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disable}.
27788 @subsubheading Example
27796 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
27797 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
27798 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
27799 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
27800 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
27801 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
27802 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
27803 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="n",
27804 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
27805 line="5",times="0"@}]@}
27809 @subheading The @code{-break-enable} Command
27810 @findex -break-enable
27812 @subsubheading Synopsis
27815 -break-enable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
27818 Enable (previously disabled) @var{breakpoint}(s).
27820 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27822 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{enable}.
27824 @subsubheading Example
27832 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
27833 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
27834 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
27835 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
27836 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
27837 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
27838 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
27839 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
27840 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
27841 line="5",times="0"@}]@}
27845 @subheading The @code{-break-info} Command
27846 @findex -break-info
27848 @subsubheading Synopsis
27851 -break-info @var{breakpoint}
27855 Get information about a single breakpoint.
27857 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27859 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break @var{breakpoint}}.
27861 @subsubheading Example
27864 @subheading The @code{-break-insert} Command
27865 @findex -break-insert
27867 @subsubheading Synopsis
27870 -break-insert [ -t ] [ -h ] [ -f ] [ -d ] [ -a ]
27871 [ -c @var{condition} ] [ -i @var{ignore-count} ]
27872 [ -p @var{thread} ] [ @var{location} ]
27876 If specified, @var{location}, can be one of:
27883 @item filename:linenum
27884 @item filename:function
27888 The possible optional parameters of this command are:
27892 Insert a temporary breakpoint.
27894 Insert a hardware breakpoint.
27895 @item -c @var{condition}
27896 Make the breakpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
27897 @item -i @var{ignore-count}
27898 Initialize the @var{ignore-count}.
27900 If @var{location} cannot be parsed (for example if it
27901 refers to unknown files or functions), create a pending
27902 breakpoint. Without this flag, @value{GDBN} will report
27903 an error, and won't create a breakpoint, if @var{location}
27906 Create a disabled breakpoint.
27908 Create a tracepoint. @xref{Tracepoints}. When this parameter
27909 is used together with @samp{-h}, a fast tracepoint is created.
27912 @subsubheading Result
27914 The result is in the form:
27917 ^done,bkpt=@{number="@var{number}",type="@var{type}",disp="del"|"keep",
27918 enabled="y"|"n",addr="@var{hex}",func="@var{funcname}",file="@var{filename}",
27919 fullname="@var{full_filename}",line="@var{lineno}",[thread="@var{threadno},]
27920 times="@var{times}"@}
27924 where @var{number} is the @value{GDBN} number for this breakpoint,
27925 @var{funcname} is the name of the function where the breakpoint was
27926 inserted, @var{filename} is the name of the source file which contains
27927 this function, @var{lineno} is the source line number within that file
27928 and @var{times} the number of times that the breakpoint has been hit
27929 (always 0 for -break-insert but may be greater for -break-info or -break-list
27930 which use the same output).
27932 Note: this format is open to change.
27933 @c An out-of-band breakpoint instead of part of the result?
27935 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27937 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{break}, @samp{tbreak},
27938 @samp{hbreak}, @samp{thbreak}, and @samp{rbreak}.
27940 @subsubheading Example
27945 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",
27946 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="4",times="0"@}
27948 -break-insert -t foo
27949 ^done,bkpt=@{number="2",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c",
27950 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="11",times="0"@}
27953 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
27954 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
27955 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
27956 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
27957 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
27958 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
27959 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
27960 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
27961 addr="0x0001072c", func="main",file="recursive2.c",
27962 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,"line="4",times="0"@},
27963 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",
27964 addr="0x00010774",func="foo",file="recursive2.c",
27965 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",times="0"@}]@}
27967 -break-insert -r foo.*
27968 ~int foo(int, int);
27969 ^done,bkpt=@{number="3",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c,
27970 "fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",times="0"@}
27974 @subheading The @code{-break-list} Command
27975 @findex -break-list
27977 @subsubheading Synopsis
27983 Displays the list of inserted breakpoints, showing the following fields:
27987 number of the breakpoint
27989 type of the breakpoint: @samp{breakpoint} or @samp{watchpoint}
27991 should the breakpoint be deleted or disabled when it is hit: @samp{keep}
27994 is the breakpoint enabled or no: @samp{y} or @samp{n}
27996 memory location at which the breakpoint is set
27998 logical location of the breakpoint, expressed by function name, file
28001 number of times the breakpoint has been hit
28004 If there are no breakpoints or watchpoints, the @code{BreakpointTable}
28005 @code{body} field is an empty list.
28007 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28009 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break}.
28011 @subsubheading Example
28016 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
28017 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
28018 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
28019 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
28020 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
28021 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
28022 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
28023 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
28024 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",line="5",times="0"@},
28025 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
28026 addr="0x00010114",func="foo",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
28027 line="13",times="0"@}]@}
28031 Here's an example of the result when there are no breakpoints:
28036 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
28037 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
28038 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
28039 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
28040 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
28041 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
28042 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
28047 @subheading The @code{-break-passcount} Command
28048 @findex -break-passcount
28050 @subsubheading Synopsis
28053 -break-passcount @var{tracepoint-number} @var{passcount}
28056 Set the passcount for tracepoint @var{tracepoint-number} to
28057 @var{passcount}. If the breakpoint referred to by @var{tracepoint-number}
28058 is not a tracepoint, error is emitted. This corresponds to CLI
28059 command @samp{passcount}.
28061 @subheading The @code{-break-watch} Command
28062 @findex -break-watch
28064 @subsubheading Synopsis
28067 -break-watch [ -a | -r ]
28070 Create a watchpoint. With the @samp{-a} option it will create an
28071 @dfn{access} watchpoint, i.e., a watchpoint that triggers either on a
28072 read from or on a write to the memory location. With the @samp{-r}
28073 option, the watchpoint created is a @dfn{read} watchpoint, i.e., it will
28074 trigger only when the memory location is accessed for reading. Without
28075 either of the options, the watchpoint created is a regular watchpoint,
28076 i.e., it will trigger when the memory location is accessed for writing.
28077 @xref{Set Watchpoints, , Setting Watchpoints}.
28079 Note that @samp{-break-list} will report a single list of watchpoints and
28080 breakpoints inserted.
28082 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28084 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{watch}, @samp{awatch}, and
28087 @subsubheading Example
28089 Setting a watchpoint on a variable in the @code{main} function:
28094 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@}
28099 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@},
28100 value=@{old="-268439212",new="55"@},
28101 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
28102 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="5"@}
28106 Setting a watchpoint on a variable local to a function. @value{GDBN} will stop
28107 the program execution twice: first for the variable changing value, then
28108 for the watchpoint going out of scope.
28113 ^done,wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@}
28118 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",
28119 wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@},value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
28120 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
28121 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28122 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
28127 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="5",
28128 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
28129 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
28130 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28131 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
28135 Listing breakpoints and watchpoints, at different points in the program
28136 execution. Note that once the watchpoint goes out of scope, it is
28142 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@}
28145 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
28146 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
28147 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
28148 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
28149 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
28150 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
28151 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
28152 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
28153 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
28154 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28155 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c"line="8",times="1"@},
28156 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
28157 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",times="0"@}]@}
28162 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@},
28163 value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
28164 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
28165 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28166 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
28169 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
28170 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
28171 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
28172 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
28173 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
28174 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
28175 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
28176 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
28177 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
28178 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28179 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",times="1"@},
28180 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
28181 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",times="-5"@}]@}
28185 ^done,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="2",
28186 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
28187 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
28188 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28189 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
28192 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
28193 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
28194 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
28195 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
28196 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
28197 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
28198 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
28199 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
28200 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
28201 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28202 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",
28207 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28208 @node GDB/MI Program Context
28209 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Context
28211 @subheading The @code{-exec-arguments} Command
28212 @findex -exec-arguments
28215 @subsubheading Synopsis
28218 -exec-arguments @var{args}
28221 Set the inferior program arguments, to be used in the next
28224 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28226 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set args}.
28228 @subsubheading Example
28232 -exec-arguments -v word
28239 @subheading The @code{-exec-show-arguments} Command
28240 @findex -exec-show-arguments
28242 @subsubheading Synopsis
28245 -exec-show-arguments
28248 Print the arguments of the program.
28250 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28252 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show args}.
28254 @subsubheading Example
28259 @subheading The @code{-environment-cd} Command
28260 @findex -environment-cd
28262 @subsubheading Synopsis
28265 -environment-cd @var{pathdir}
28268 Set @value{GDBN}'s working directory.
28270 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28272 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{cd}.
28274 @subsubheading Example
28278 -environment-cd /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
28284 @subheading The @code{-environment-directory} Command
28285 @findex -environment-directory
28287 @subsubheading Synopsis
28290 -environment-directory [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
28293 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for source files.
28294 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the default
28295 search path. If directories @var{pathdir} are supplied in addition to the
28296 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
28298 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
28299 multiple directories in a single command
28300 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
28301 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
28302 If blanks are needed as
28303 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
28304 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
28305 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
28306 character must not be used
28307 in any directory name.
28308 If no directories are specified, the current search path is displayed.
28310 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28312 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{dir}.
28314 @subsubheading Example
28318 -environment-directory /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
28319 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
28321 -environment-directory ""
28322 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
28324 -environment-directory -r /home/jjohnstn/src/gdb /usr/src
28325 ^done,source-path="/home/jjohnstn/src/gdb:/usr/src:$cdir:$cwd"
28327 -environment-directory -r
28328 ^done,source-path="$cdir:$cwd"
28333 @subheading The @code{-environment-path} Command
28334 @findex -environment-path
28336 @subsubheading Synopsis
28339 -environment-path [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
28342 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for object files.
28343 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the original
28344 search path that existed at gdb start-up. If directories @var{pathdir} are
28345 supplied in addition to the
28346 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
28348 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
28349 multiple directories in a single command
28350 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
28351 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
28352 If blanks are needed as
28353 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
28354 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
28355 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
28356 character must not be used
28357 in any directory name.
28358 If no directories are specified, the current path is displayed.
28361 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28363 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{path}.
28365 @subsubheading Example
28370 ^done,path="/usr/bin"
28372 -environment-path /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb /bin
28373 ^done,path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb:/bin:/usr/bin"
28375 -environment-path -r /usr/local/bin
28376 ^done,path="/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin"
28381 @subheading The @code{-environment-pwd} Command
28382 @findex -environment-pwd
28384 @subsubheading Synopsis
28390 Show the current working directory.
28392 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28394 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{pwd}.
28396 @subsubheading Example
28401 ^done,cwd="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb"
28405 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28406 @node GDB/MI Thread Commands
28407 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Commands
28410 @subheading The @code{-thread-info} Command
28411 @findex -thread-info
28413 @subsubheading Synopsis
28416 -thread-info [ @var{thread-id} ]
28419 Reports information about either a specific thread, if
28420 the @var{thread-id} parameter is present, or about all
28421 threads. When printing information about all threads,
28422 also reports the current thread.
28424 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28426 The @samp{info thread} command prints the same information
28429 @subsubheading Result
28431 The result is a list of threads. The following attributes are
28432 defined for a given thread:
28436 This field exists only for the current thread. It has the value @samp{*}.
28439 The identifier that @value{GDBN} uses to refer to the thread.
28442 The identifier that the target uses to refer to the thread.
28445 Extra information about the thread, in a target-specific format. This
28449 The name of the thread. If the user specified a name using the
28450 @code{thread name} command, then this name is given. Otherwise, if
28451 @value{GDBN} can extract the thread name from the target, then that
28452 name is given. If @value{GDBN} cannot find the thread name, then this
28456 The stack frame currently executing in the thread.
28459 The thread's state. The @samp{state} field may have the following
28464 The thread is stopped. Frame information is available for stopped
28468 The thread is running. There's no frame information for running
28474 If @value{GDBN} can find the CPU core on which this thread is running,
28475 then this field is the core identifier. This field is optional.
28479 @subsubheading Example
28484 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
28485 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",
28486 args=[]@},state="running"@},
28487 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
28488 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",
28489 args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
28490 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},
28491 state="running"@}],
28492 current-thread-id="1"
28496 @subheading The @code{-thread-list-ids} Command
28497 @findex -thread-list-ids
28499 @subsubheading Synopsis
28505 Produces a list of the currently known @value{GDBN} thread ids. At the
28506 end of the list it also prints the total number of such threads.
28508 This command is retained for historical reasons, the
28509 @code{-thread-info} command should be used instead.
28511 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28513 Part of @samp{info threads} supplies the same information.
28515 @subsubheading Example
28520 ^done,thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
28521 current-thread-id="1",number-of-threads="3"
28526 @subheading The @code{-thread-select} Command
28527 @findex -thread-select
28529 @subsubheading Synopsis
28532 -thread-select @var{threadnum}
28535 Make @var{threadnum} the current thread. It prints the number of the new
28536 current thread, and the topmost frame for that thread.
28538 This command is deprecated in favor of explicitly using the
28539 @samp{--thread} option to each command.
28541 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28543 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{thread}.
28545 @subsubheading Example
28552 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",thread-id="2",line="187",
28553 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.threads/linux-dp.c"
28557 thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
28558 number-of-threads="3"
28561 ^done,new-thread-id="3",
28562 frame=@{level="0",func="vprintf",
28563 args=[@{name="format",value="0x8048e9c \"%*s%c %d %c\\n\""@},
28564 @{name="arg",value="0x2"@}],file="vprintf.c",line="31"@}
28568 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28569 @node GDB/MI Ada Tasking Commands
28570 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Ada Tasking Commands
28572 @subheading The @code{-ada-task-info} Command
28573 @findex -ada-task-info
28575 @subsubheading Synopsis
28578 -ada-task-info [ @var{task-id} ]
28581 Reports information about either a specific Ada task, if the
28582 @var{task-id} parameter is present, or about all Ada tasks.
28584 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28586 The @samp{info tasks} command prints the same information
28587 about all Ada tasks (@pxref{Ada Tasks}).
28589 @subsubheading Result
28591 The result is a table of Ada tasks. The following columns are
28592 defined for each Ada task:
28596 This field exists only for the current thread. It has the value @samp{*}.
28599 The identifier that @value{GDBN} uses to refer to the Ada task.
28602 The identifier that the target uses to refer to the Ada task.
28605 The identifier of the thread corresponding to the Ada task.
28607 This field should always exist, as Ada tasks are always implemented
28608 on top of a thread. But if @value{GDBN} cannot find this corresponding
28609 thread for any reason, the field is omitted.
28612 This field exists only when the task was created by another task.
28613 In this case, it provides the ID of the parent task.
28616 The base priority of the task.
28619 The current state of the task. For a detailed description of the
28620 possible states, see @ref{Ada Tasks}.
28623 The name of the task.
28627 @subsubheading Example
28631 ^done,tasks=@{nr_rows="3",nr_cols="8",
28632 hdr=[@{width="1",alignment="-1",col_name="current",colhdr=""@},
28633 @{width="3",alignment="1",col_name="id",colhdr="ID"@},
28634 @{width="9",alignment="1",col_name="task-id",colhdr="TID"@},
28635 @{width="4",alignment="1",col_name="thread-id",colhdr=""@},
28636 @{width="4",alignment="1",col_name="parent-id",colhdr="P-ID"@},
28637 @{width="3",alignment="1",col_name="priority",colhdr="Pri"@},
28638 @{width="22",alignment="-1",col_name="state",colhdr="State"@},
28639 @{width="1",alignment="2",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@}],
28640 body=[@{current="*",id="1",task-id=" 644010",thread-id="1",priority="48",
28641 state="Child Termination Wait",name="main_task"@}]@}
28645 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28646 @node GDB/MI Program Execution
28647 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Execution
28649 These are the asynchronous commands which generate the out-of-band
28650 record @samp{*stopped}. Currently @value{GDBN} only really executes
28651 asynchronously with remote targets and this interaction is mimicked in
28654 @subheading The @code{-exec-continue} Command
28655 @findex -exec-continue
28657 @subsubheading Synopsis
28660 -exec-continue [--reverse] [--all|--thread-group N]
28663 Resumes the execution of the inferior program, which will continue
28664 to execute until it reaches a debugger stop event. If the
28665 @samp{--reverse} option is specified, execution resumes in reverse until
28666 it reaches a stop event. Stop events may include
28669 breakpoints or watchpoints
28671 signals or exceptions
28673 the end of the process (or its beginning under @samp{--reverse})
28675 the end or beginning of a replay log if one is being used.
28677 In all-stop mode (@pxref{All-Stop
28678 Mode}), may resume only one thread, or all threads, depending on the
28679 value of the @samp{scheduler-locking} variable. If @samp{--all} is
28680 specified, all threads (in all inferiors) will be resumed. The @samp{--all} option is
28681 ignored in all-stop mode. If the @samp{--thread-group} options is
28682 specified, then all threads in that thread group are resumed.
28684 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28686 The corresponding @value{GDBN} corresponding is @samp{continue}.
28688 @subsubheading Example
28695 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="2",frame=@{
28696 func="foo",args=[],file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",
28702 @subheading The @code{-exec-finish} Command
28703 @findex -exec-finish
28705 @subsubheading Synopsis
28708 -exec-finish [--reverse]
28711 Resumes the execution of the inferior program until the current
28712 function is exited. Displays the results returned by the function.
28713 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes the reverse
28714 execution of the inferior program until the point where current
28715 function was called.
28717 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28719 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{finish}.
28721 @subsubheading Example
28723 Function returning @code{void}.
28730 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
28731 file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",line="7"@}
28735 Function returning other than @code{void}. The name of the internal
28736 @value{GDBN} variable storing the result is printed, together with the
28743 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{addr="0x000107b0",func="foo",
28744 args=[@{name="a",value="1"],@{name="b",value="9"@}@},
28745 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28746 gdb-result-var="$1",return-value="0"
28751 @subheading The @code{-exec-interrupt} Command
28752 @findex -exec-interrupt
28754 @subsubheading Synopsis
28757 -exec-interrupt [--all|--thread-group N]
28760 Interrupts the background execution of the target. Note how the token
28761 associated with the stop message is the one for the execution command
28762 that has been interrupted. The token for the interrupt itself only
28763 appears in the @samp{^done} output. If the user is trying to
28764 interrupt a non-running program, an error message will be printed.
28766 Note that when asynchronous execution is enabled, this command is
28767 asynchronous just like other execution commands. That is, first the
28768 @samp{^done} response will be printed, and the target stop will be
28769 reported after that using the @samp{*stopped} notification.
28771 In non-stop mode, only the context thread is interrupted by default.
28772 All threads (in all inferiors) will be interrupted if the
28773 @samp{--all} option is specified. If the @samp{--thread-group}
28774 option is specified, all threads in that group will be interrupted.
28776 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28778 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interrupt}.
28780 @subsubheading Example
28791 111*stopped,signal-name="SIGINT",signal-meaning="Interrupt",
28792 frame=@{addr="0x00010140",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
28793 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="13"@}
28798 ^error,msg="mi_cmd_exec_interrupt: Inferior not executing."
28802 @subheading The @code{-exec-jump} Command
28805 @subsubheading Synopsis
28808 -exec-jump @var{location}
28811 Resumes execution of the inferior program at the location specified by
28812 parameter. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
28813 different forms of @var{location}.
28815 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28817 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{jump}.
28819 @subsubheading Example
28822 -exec-jump foo.c:10
28823 *running,thread-id="all"
28828 @subheading The @code{-exec-next} Command
28831 @subsubheading Synopsis
28834 -exec-next [--reverse]
28837 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
28838 of the next source line is reached.
28840 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
28841 of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the previous
28842 source line. If you issue this command on the first line of a
28843 function, it will take you back to the caller of that function, to the
28844 source line where the function was called.
28847 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28849 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{next}.
28851 @subsubheading Example
28857 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="8",file="hello.c"
28862 @subheading The @code{-exec-next-instruction} Command
28863 @findex -exec-next-instruction
28865 @subsubheading Synopsis
28868 -exec-next-instruction [--reverse]
28871 Executes one machine instruction. If the instruction is a function
28872 call, continues until the function returns. If the program stops at an
28873 instruction in the middle of a source line, the address will be
28876 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
28877 of the inferior program, stopping at the previous instruction. If the
28878 previously executed instruction was a return from another function,
28879 it will continue to execute in reverse until the call to that function
28880 (from the current stack frame) is reached.
28882 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28884 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{nexti}.
28886 @subsubheading Example
28890 -exec-next-instruction
28894 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
28895 addr="0x000100d4",line="5",file="hello.c"
28900 @subheading The @code{-exec-return} Command
28901 @findex -exec-return
28903 @subsubheading Synopsis
28909 Makes current function return immediately. Doesn't execute the inferior.
28910 Displays the new current frame.
28912 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28914 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{return}.
28916 @subsubheading Example
28920 200-break-insert callee4
28921 200^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x00010734",
28922 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
28927 000*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
28928 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
28929 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28930 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
28936 111^done,frame=@{level="0",func="callee3",
28937 args=[@{name="strarg",
28938 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
28939 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28940 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
28945 @subheading The @code{-exec-run} Command
28948 @subsubheading Synopsis
28951 -exec-run [--all | --thread-group N]
28954 Starts execution of the inferior from the beginning. The inferior
28955 executes until either a breakpoint is encountered or the program
28956 exits. In the latter case the output will include an exit code, if
28957 the program has exited exceptionally.
28959 When no option is specified, the current inferior is started. If the
28960 @samp{--thread-group} option is specified, it should refer to a thread
28961 group of type @samp{process}, and that thread group will be started.
28962 If the @samp{--all} option is specified, then all inferiors will be started.
28964 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28966 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{run}.
28968 @subsubheading Examples
28973 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",line="4"@}
28978 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
28979 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
28980 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}
28985 Program exited normally:
28993 *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
28998 Program exited exceptionally:
29006 *stopped,reason="exited",exit-code="01"
29010 Another way the program can terminate is if it receives a signal such as
29011 @code{SIGINT}. In this case, @sc{gdb/mi} displays this:
29015 *stopped,reason="exited-signalled",signal-name="SIGINT",
29016 signal-meaning="Interrupt"
29020 @c @subheading -exec-signal
29023 @subheading The @code{-exec-step} Command
29026 @subsubheading Synopsis
29029 -exec-step [--reverse]
29032 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
29033 of the next source line is reached, if the next source line is not a
29034 function call. If it is, stop at the first instruction of the called
29035 function. If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse
29036 execution of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the
29037 previously executed source line.
29039 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29041 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{step}.
29043 @subsubheading Example
29045 Stepping into a function:
29051 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
29052 frame=@{func="foo",args=[@{name="a",value="10"@},
29053 @{name="b",value="0"@}],file="recursive2.c",
29054 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@}
29064 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="14",file="recursive2.c"
29069 @subheading The @code{-exec-step-instruction} Command
29070 @findex -exec-step-instruction
29072 @subsubheading Synopsis
29075 -exec-step-instruction [--reverse]
29078 Resumes the inferior which executes one machine instruction. If the
29079 @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution of the
29080 inferior program, stopping at the previously executed instruction.
29081 The output, once @value{GDBN} has stopped, will vary depending on
29082 whether we have stopped in the middle of a source line or not. In the
29083 former case, the address at which the program stopped will be printed
29086 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29088 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{stepi}.
29090 @subsubheading Example
29094 -exec-step-instruction
29098 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
29099 frame=@{func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
29100 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
29102 -exec-step-instruction
29106 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
29107 frame=@{addr="0x000100f4",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
29108 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
29113 @subheading The @code{-exec-until} Command
29114 @findex -exec-until
29116 @subsubheading Synopsis
29119 -exec-until [ @var{location} ]
29122 Executes the inferior until the @var{location} specified in the
29123 argument is reached. If there is no argument, the inferior executes
29124 until a source line greater than the current one is reached. The
29125 reason for stopping in this case will be @samp{location-reached}.
29127 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29129 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{until}.
29131 @subsubheading Example
29135 -exec-until recursive2.c:6
29139 *stopped,reason="location-reached",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
29140 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="6"@}
29145 @subheading -file-clear
29146 Is this going away????
29149 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29150 @node GDB/MI Stack Manipulation
29151 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Stack Manipulation Commands
29154 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-frame} Command
29155 @findex -stack-info-frame
29157 @subsubheading Synopsis
29163 Get info on the selected frame.
29165 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29167 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info frame} or @samp{frame}
29168 (without arguments).
29170 @subsubheading Example
29175 ^done,frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
29176 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29177 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@}
29181 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-depth} Command
29182 @findex -stack-info-depth
29184 @subsubheading Synopsis
29187 -stack-info-depth [ @var{max-depth} ]
29190 Return the depth of the stack. If the integer argument @var{max-depth}
29191 is specified, do not count beyond @var{max-depth} frames.
29193 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29195 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
29197 @subsubheading Example
29199 For a stack with frame levels 0 through 11:
29206 -stack-info-depth 4
29209 -stack-info-depth 12
29212 -stack-info-depth 11
29215 -stack-info-depth 13
29220 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-arguments} Command
29221 @findex -stack-list-arguments
29223 @subsubheading Synopsis
29226 -stack-list-arguments @var{print-values}
29227 [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
29230 Display a list of the arguments for the frames between @var{low-frame}
29231 and @var{high-frame} (inclusive). If @var{low-frame} and
29232 @var{high-frame} are not provided, list the arguments for the whole
29233 call stack. If the two arguments are equal, show the single frame
29234 at the corresponding level. It is an error if @var{low-frame} is
29235 larger than the actual number of frames. On the other hand,
29236 @var{high-frame} may be larger than the actual number of frames, in
29237 which case only existing frames will be returned.
29239 If @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
29240 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
29241 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
29242 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
29243 structures and unions.
29245 Use of this command to obtain arguments in a single frame is
29246 deprecated in favor of the @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
29248 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29250 @value{GDBN} does not have an equivalent command. @code{gdbtk} has a
29251 @samp{gdb_get_args} command which partially overlaps with the
29252 functionality of @samp{-stack-list-arguments}.
29254 @subsubheading Example
29261 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
29262 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29263 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@},
29264 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
29265 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29266 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@},
29267 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x0001078c",func="callee2",
29268 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29269 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="22"@},
29270 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107b4",func="callee1",
29271 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29272 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="27"@},
29273 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107e0",func="main",
29274 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29275 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="32"@}]
29277 -stack-list-arguments 0
29280 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
29281 frame=@{level="1",args=[name="strarg"]@},
29282 frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@},
29283 frame=@{level="3",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg",name="fltarg"]@},
29284 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
29286 -stack-list-arguments 1
29289 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
29291 args=[@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
29292 frame=@{level="2",args=[
29293 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
29294 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
29295 @{frame=@{level="3",args=[
29296 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
29297 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@},
29298 @{name="fltarg",value="3.5"@}]@},
29299 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
29301 -stack-list-arguments 0 2 2
29302 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@}]
29304 -stack-list-arguments 1 2 2
29305 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",
29306 args=[@{name="intarg",value="2"@},
29307 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@}]
29311 @c @subheading -stack-list-exception-handlers
29314 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-frames} Command
29315 @findex -stack-list-frames
29317 @subsubheading Synopsis
29320 -stack-list-frames [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
29323 List the frames currently on the stack. For each frame it displays the
29328 The frame number, 0 being the topmost frame, i.e., the innermost function.
29330 The @code{$pc} value for that frame.
29334 File name of the source file where the function lives.
29335 @item @var{fullname}
29336 The full file name of the source file where the function lives.
29338 Line number corresponding to the @code{$pc}.
29340 The shared library where this function is defined. This is only given
29341 if the frame's function is not known.
29344 If invoked without arguments, this command prints a backtrace for the
29345 whole stack. If given two integer arguments, it shows the frames whose
29346 levels are between the two arguments (inclusive). If the two arguments
29347 are equal, it shows the single frame at the corresponding level. It is
29348 an error if @var{low-frame} is larger than the actual number of
29349 frames. On the other hand, @var{high-frame} may be larger than the
29350 actual number of frames, in which case only existing frames will be returned.
29352 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29354 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{backtrace} and @samp{where}.
29356 @subsubheading Example
29358 Full stack backtrace:
29364 [frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0001076c",func="foo",
29365 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@},
29366 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29367 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29368 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29369 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29370 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29371 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29372 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29373 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29374 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29375 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29376 frame=@{level="6",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29377 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29378 frame=@{level="7",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29379 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29380 frame=@{level="8",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29381 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29382 frame=@{level="9",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29383 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29384 frame=@{level="10",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29385 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29386 frame=@{level="11",addr="0x00010738",func="main",
29387 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}]
29391 Show frames between @var{low_frame} and @var{high_frame}:
29395 -stack-list-frames 3 5
29397 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29398 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29399 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29400 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29401 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29402 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
29406 Show a single frame:
29410 -stack-list-frames 3 3
29412 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29413 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
29418 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-locals} Command
29419 @findex -stack-list-locals
29421 @subsubheading Synopsis
29424 -stack-list-locals @var{print-values}
29427 Display the local variable names for the selected frame. If
29428 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
29429 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
29430 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
29431 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
29432 structures and unions. In this last case, a frontend can immediately
29433 display the value of simple data types and create variable objects for
29434 other data types when the user wishes to explore their values in
29437 This command is deprecated in favor of the
29438 @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
29440 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29442 @samp{info locals} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_get_locals} in @code{gdbtk}.
29444 @subsubheading Example
29448 -stack-list-locals 0
29449 ^done,locals=[name="A",name="B",name="C"]
29451 -stack-list-locals --all-values
29452 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",value="1"@},@{name="B",value="2"@},
29453 @{name="C",value="@{1, 2, 3@}"@}]
29454 -stack-list-locals --simple-values
29455 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",type="int",value="1"@},
29456 @{name="B",type="int",value="2"@},@{name="C",type="int [3]"@}]
29460 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-variables} Command
29461 @findex -stack-list-variables
29463 @subsubheading Synopsis
29466 -stack-list-variables @var{print-values}
29469 Display the names of local variables and function arguments for the selected frame. If
29470 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
29471 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
29472 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
29473 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
29474 structures and unions.
29476 @subsubheading Example
29480 -stack-list-variables --thread 1 --frame 0 --all-values
29481 ^done,variables=[@{name="x",value="11"@},@{name="s",value="@{a = 1, b = 2@}"@}]
29486 @subheading The @code{-stack-select-frame} Command
29487 @findex -stack-select-frame
29489 @subsubheading Synopsis
29492 -stack-select-frame @var{framenum}
29495 Change the selected frame. Select a different frame @var{framenum} on
29498 This command in deprecated in favor of passing the @samp{--frame}
29499 option to every command.
29501 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29503 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{frame}, @samp{up},
29504 @samp{down}, @samp{select-frame}, @samp{up-silent}, and @samp{down-silent}.
29506 @subsubheading Example
29510 -stack-select-frame 2
29515 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29516 @node GDB/MI Variable Objects
29517 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Variable Objects
29521 @subheading Motivation for Variable Objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
29523 For the implementation of a variable debugger window (locals, watched
29524 expressions, etc.), we are proposing the adaptation of the existing code
29525 used by @code{Insight}.
29527 The two main reasons for that are:
29531 It has been proven in practice (it is already on its second generation).
29534 It will shorten development time (needless to say how important it is
29538 The original interface was designed to be used by Tcl code, so it was
29539 slightly changed so it could be used through @sc{gdb/mi}. This section
29540 describes the @sc{gdb/mi} operations that will be available and gives some
29541 hints about their use.
29543 @emph{Note}: In addition to the set of operations described here, we
29544 expect the @sc{gui} implementation of a variable window to require, at
29545 least, the following operations:
29548 @item @code{-gdb-show} @code{output-radix}
29549 @item @code{-stack-list-arguments}
29550 @item @code{-stack-list-locals}
29551 @item @code{-stack-select-frame}
29556 @subheading Introduction to Variable Objects
29558 @cindex variable objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
29560 Variable objects are "object-oriented" MI interface for examining and
29561 changing values of expressions. Unlike some other MI interfaces that
29562 work with expressions, variable objects are specifically designed for
29563 simple and efficient presentation in the frontend. A variable object
29564 is identified by string name. When a variable object is created, the
29565 frontend specifies the expression for that variable object. The
29566 expression can be a simple variable, or it can be an arbitrary complex
29567 expression, and can even involve CPU registers. After creating a
29568 variable object, the frontend can invoke other variable object
29569 operations---for example to obtain or change the value of a variable
29570 object, or to change display format.
29572 Variable objects have hierarchical tree structure. Any variable object
29573 that corresponds to a composite type, such as structure in C, has
29574 a number of child variable objects, for example corresponding to each
29575 element of a structure. A child variable object can itself have
29576 children, recursively. Recursion ends when we reach
29577 leaf variable objects, which always have built-in types. Child variable
29578 objects are created only by explicit request, so if a frontend
29579 is not interested in the children of a particular variable object, no
29580 child will be created.
29582 For a leaf variable object it is possible to obtain its value as a
29583 string, or set the value from a string. String value can be also
29584 obtained for a non-leaf variable object, but it's generally a string
29585 that only indicates the type of the object, and does not list its
29586 contents. Assignment to a non-leaf variable object is not allowed.
29588 A frontend does not need to read the values of all variable objects each time
29589 the program stops. Instead, MI provides an update command that lists all
29590 variable objects whose values has changed since the last update
29591 operation. This considerably reduces the amount of data that must
29592 be transferred to the frontend. As noted above, children variable
29593 objects are created on demand, and only leaf variable objects have a
29594 real value. As result, gdb will read target memory only for leaf
29595 variables that frontend has created.
29597 The automatic update is not always desirable. For example, a frontend
29598 might want to keep a value of some expression for future reference,
29599 and never update it. For another example, fetching memory is
29600 relatively slow for embedded targets, so a frontend might want
29601 to disable automatic update for the variables that are either not
29602 visible on the screen, or ``closed''. This is possible using so
29603 called ``frozen variable objects''. Such variable objects are never
29604 implicitly updated.
29606 Variable objects can be either @dfn{fixed} or @dfn{floating}. For the
29607 fixed variable object, the expression is parsed when the variable
29608 object is created, including associating identifiers to specific
29609 variables. The meaning of expression never changes. For a floating
29610 variable object the values of variables whose names appear in the
29611 expressions are re-evaluated every time in the context of the current
29612 frame. Consider this example:
29617 struct work_state state;
29624 If a fixed variable object for the @code{state} variable is created in
29625 this function, and we enter the recursive call, the variable
29626 object will report the value of @code{state} in the top-level
29627 @code{do_work} invocation. On the other hand, a floating variable
29628 object will report the value of @code{state} in the current frame.
29630 If an expression specified when creating a fixed variable object
29631 refers to a local variable, the variable object becomes bound to the
29632 thread and frame in which the variable object is created. When such
29633 variable object is updated, @value{GDBN} makes sure that the
29634 thread/frame combination the variable object is bound to still exists,
29635 and re-evaluates the variable object in context of that thread/frame.
29637 The following is the complete set of @sc{gdb/mi} operations defined to
29638 access this functionality:
29640 @multitable @columnfractions .4 .6
29641 @item @strong{Operation}
29642 @tab @strong{Description}
29644 @item @code{-enable-pretty-printing}
29645 @tab enable Python-based pretty-printing
29646 @item @code{-var-create}
29647 @tab create a variable object
29648 @item @code{-var-delete}
29649 @tab delete the variable object and/or its children
29650 @item @code{-var-set-format}
29651 @tab set the display format of this variable
29652 @item @code{-var-show-format}
29653 @tab show the display format of this variable
29654 @item @code{-var-info-num-children}
29655 @tab tells how many children this object has
29656 @item @code{-var-list-children}
29657 @tab return a list of the object's children
29658 @item @code{-var-info-type}
29659 @tab show the type of this variable object
29660 @item @code{-var-info-expression}
29661 @tab print parent-relative expression that this variable object represents
29662 @item @code{-var-info-path-expression}
29663 @tab print full expression that this variable object represents
29664 @item @code{-var-show-attributes}
29665 @tab is this variable editable? does it exist here?
29666 @item @code{-var-evaluate-expression}
29667 @tab get the value of this variable
29668 @item @code{-var-assign}
29669 @tab set the value of this variable
29670 @item @code{-var-update}
29671 @tab update the variable and its children
29672 @item @code{-var-set-frozen}
29673 @tab set frozeness attribute
29674 @item @code{-var-set-update-range}
29675 @tab set range of children to display on update
29678 In the next subsection we describe each operation in detail and suggest
29679 how it can be used.
29681 @subheading Description And Use of Operations on Variable Objects
29683 @subheading The @code{-enable-pretty-printing} Command
29684 @findex -enable-pretty-printing
29687 -enable-pretty-printing
29690 @value{GDBN} allows Python-based visualizers to affect the output of the
29691 MI variable object commands. However, because there was no way to
29692 implement this in a fully backward-compatible way, a front end must
29693 request that this functionality be enabled.
29695 Once enabled, this feature cannot be disabled.
29697 Note that if Python support has not been compiled into @value{GDBN},
29698 this command will still succeed (and do nothing).
29700 This feature is currently (as of @value{GDBN} 7.0) experimental, and
29701 may work differently in future versions of @value{GDBN}.
29703 @subheading The @code{-var-create} Command
29704 @findex -var-create
29706 @subsubheading Synopsis
29709 -var-create @{@var{name} | "-"@}
29710 @{@var{frame-addr} | "*" | "@@"@} @var{expression}
29713 This operation creates a variable object, which allows the monitoring of
29714 a variable, the result of an expression, a memory cell or a CPU
29717 The @var{name} parameter is the string by which the object can be
29718 referenced. It must be unique. If @samp{-} is specified, the varobj
29719 system will generate a string ``varNNNNNN'' automatically. It will be
29720 unique provided that one does not specify @var{name} of that format.
29721 The command fails if a duplicate name is found.
29723 The frame under which the expression should be evaluated can be
29724 specified by @var{frame-addr}. A @samp{*} indicates that the current
29725 frame should be used. A @samp{@@} indicates that a floating variable
29726 object must be created.
29728 @var{expression} is any expression valid on the current language set (must not
29729 begin with a @samp{*}), or one of the following:
29733 @samp{*@var{addr}}, where @var{addr} is the address of a memory cell
29736 @samp{*@var{addr}-@var{addr}} --- a memory address range (TBD)
29739 @samp{$@var{regname}} --- a CPU register name
29742 @cindex dynamic varobj
29743 A varobj's contents may be provided by a Python-based pretty-printer. In this
29744 case the varobj is known as a @dfn{dynamic varobj}. Dynamic varobjs
29745 have slightly different semantics in some cases. If the
29746 @code{-enable-pretty-printing} command is not sent, then @value{GDBN}
29747 will never create a dynamic varobj. This ensures backward
29748 compatibility for existing clients.
29750 @subsubheading Result
29752 This operation returns attributes of the newly-created varobj. These
29757 The name of the varobj.
29760 The number of children of the varobj. This number is not necessarily
29761 reliable for a dynamic varobj. Instead, you must examine the
29762 @samp{has_more} attribute.
29765 The varobj's scalar value. For a varobj whose type is some sort of
29766 aggregate (e.g., a @code{struct}), or for a dynamic varobj, this value
29767 will not be interesting.
29770 The varobj's type. This is a string representation of the type, as
29771 would be printed by the @value{GDBN} CLI. If @samp{print object}
29772 (@pxref{Print Settings, set print object}) is set to @code{on}, the
29773 @emph{actual} (derived) type of the object is shown rather than the
29774 @emph{declared} one.
29777 If a variable object is bound to a specific thread, then this is the
29778 thread's identifier.
29781 For a dynamic varobj, this indicates whether there appear to be any
29782 children available. For a non-dynamic varobj, this will be 0.
29785 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
29786 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
29787 then this attribute will not be present.
29790 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
29791 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
29792 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
29795 Typical output will look like this:
29798 name="@var{name}",numchild="@var{N}",type="@var{type}",thread-id="@var{M}",
29799 has_more="@var{has_more}"
29803 @subheading The @code{-var-delete} Command
29804 @findex -var-delete
29806 @subsubheading Synopsis
29809 -var-delete [ -c ] @var{name}
29812 Deletes a previously created variable object and all of its children.
29813 With the @samp{-c} option, just deletes the children.
29815 Returns an error if the object @var{name} is not found.
29818 @subheading The @code{-var-set-format} Command
29819 @findex -var-set-format
29821 @subsubheading Synopsis
29824 -var-set-format @var{name} @var{format-spec}
29827 Sets the output format for the value of the object @var{name} to be
29830 @anchor{-var-set-format}
29831 The syntax for the @var{format-spec} is as follows:
29834 @var{format-spec} @expansion{}
29835 @{binary | decimal | hexadecimal | octal | natural@}
29838 The natural format is the default format choosen automatically
29839 based on the variable type (like decimal for an @code{int}, hex
29840 for pointers, etc.).
29842 For a variable with children, the format is set only on the
29843 variable itself, and the children are not affected.
29845 @subheading The @code{-var-show-format} Command
29846 @findex -var-show-format
29848 @subsubheading Synopsis
29851 -var-show-format @var{name}
29854 Returns the format used to display the value of the object @var{name}.
29857 @var{format} @expansion{}
29862 @subheading The @code{-var-info-num-children} Command
29863 @findex -var-info-num-children
29865 @subsubheading Synopsis
29868 -var-info-num-children @var{name}
29871 Returns the number of children of a variable object @var{name}:
29877 Note that this number is not completely reliable for a dynamic varobj.
29878 It will return the current number of children, but more children may
29882 @subheading The @code{-var-list-children} Command
29883 @findex -var-list-children
29885 @subsubheading Synopsis
29888 -var-list-children [@var{print-values}] @var{name} [@var{from} @var{to}]
29890 @anchor{-var-list-children}
29892 Return a list of the children of the specified variable object and
29893 create variable objects for them, if they do not already exist. With
29894 a single argument or if @var{print-values} has a value of 0 or
29895 @code{--no-values}, print only the names of the variables; if
29896 @var{print-values} is 1 or @code{--all-values}, also print their
29897 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values} print the name and
29898 value for simple data types and just the name for arrays, structures
29901 @var{from} and @var{to}, if specified, indicate the range of children
29902 to report. If @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is
29903 reset and all children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting
29904 at @var{from} (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be
29907 If a child range is requested, it will only affect the current call to
29908 @code{-var-list-children}, but not future calls to @code{-var-update}.
29909 For this, you must instead use @code{-var-set-update-range}. The
29910 intent of this approach is to enable a front end to implement any
29911 update approach it likes; for example, scrolling a view may cause the
29912 front end to request more children with @code{-var-list-children}, and
29913 then the front end could call @code{-var-set-update-range} with a
29914 different range to ensure that future updates are restricted to just
29917 For each child the following results are returned:
29922 Name of the variable object created for this child.
29925 The expression to be shown to the user by the front end to designate this child.
29926 For example this may be the name of a structure member.
29928 For a dynamic varobj, this value cannot be used to form an
29929 expression. There is no way to do this at all with a dynamic varobj.
29931 For C/C@t{++} structures there are several pseudo children returned to
29932 designate access qualifiers. For these pseudo children @var{exp} is
29933 @samp{public}, @samp{private}, or @samp{protected}. In this case the
29934 type and value are not present.
29936 A dynamic varobj will not report the access qualifying
29937 pseudo-children, regardless of the language. This information is not
29938 available at all with a dynamic varobj.
29941 Number of children this child has. For a dynamic varobj, this will be
29945 The type of the child. If @samp{print object}
29946 (@pxref{Print Settings, set print object}) is set to @code{on}, the
29947 @emph{actual} (derived) type of the object is shown rather than the
29948 @emph{declared} one.
29951 If values were requested, this is the value.
29954 If this variable object is associated with a thread, this is the thread id.
29955 Otherwise this result is not present.
29958 If the variable object is frozen, this variable will be present with a value of 1.
29961 The result may have its own attributes:
29965 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
29966 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
29967 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
29970 This is an integer attribute which is nonzero if there are children
29971 remaining after the end of the selected range.
29974 @subsubheading Example
29978 -var-list-children n
29979 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
29980 numchild=@var{n},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
29982 -var-list-children --all-values n
29983 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
29984 numchild=@var{n},value=@var{value},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
29988 @subheading The @code{-var-info-type} Command
29989 @findex -var-info-type
29991 @subsubheading Synopsis
29994 -var-info-type @var{name}
29997 Returns the type of the specified variable @var{name}. The type is
29998 returned as a string in the same format as it is output by the
30002 type=@var{typename}
30006 @subheading The @code{-var-info-expression} Command
30007 @findex -var-info-expression
30009 @subsubheading Synopsis
30012 -var-info-expression @var{name}
30015 Returns a string that is suitable for presenting this
30016 variable object in user interface. The string is generally
30017 not valid expression in the current language, and cannot be evaluated.
30019 For example, if @code{a} is an array, and variable object
30020 @code{A} was created for @code{a}, then we'll get this output:
30023 (gdb) -var-info-expression A.1
30024 ^done,lang="C",exp="1"
30028 Here, the values of @code{lang} can be @code{@{"C" | "C++" | "Java"@}}.
30030 Note that the output of the @code{-var-list-children} command also
30031 includes those expressions, so the @code{-var-info-expression} command
30034 @subheading The @code{-var-info-path-expression} Command
30035 @findex -var-info-path-expression
30037 @subsubheading Synopsis
30040 -var-info-path-expression @var{name}
30043 Returns an expression that can be evaluated in the current
30044 context and will yield the same value that a variable object has.
30045 Compare this with the @code{-var-info-expression} command, which
30046 result can be used only for UI presentation. Typical use of
30047 the @code{-var-info-path-expression} command is creating a
30048 watchpoint from a variable object.
30050 This command is currently not valid for children of a dynamic varobj,
30051 and will give an error when invoked on one.
30053 For example, suppose @code{C} is a C@t{++} class, derived from class
30054 @code{Base}, and that the @code{Base} class has a member called
30055 @code{m_size}. Assume a variable @code{c} is has the type of
30056 @code{C} and a variable object @code{C} was created for variable
30057 @code{c}. Then, we'll get this output:
30059 (gdb) -var-info-path-expression C.Base.public.m_size
30060 ^done,path_expr=((Base)c).m_size)
30063 @subheading The @code{-var-show-attributes} Command
30064 @findex -var-show-attributes
30066 @subsubheading Synopsis
30069 -var-show-attributes @var{name}
30072 List attributes of the specified variable object @var{name}:
30075 status=@var{attr} [ ( ,@var{attr} )* ]
30079 where @var{attr} is @code{@{ @{ editable | noneditable @} | TBD @}}.
30081 @subheading The @code{-var-evaluate-expression} Command
30082 @findex -var-evaluate-expression
30084 @subsubheading Synopsis
30087 -var-evaluate-expression [-f @var{format-spec}] @var{name}
30090 Evaluates the expression that is represented by the specified variable
30091 object and returns its value as a string. The format of the string
30092 can be specified with the @samp{-f} option. The possible values of
30093 this option are the same as for @code{-var-set-format}
30094 (@pxref{-var-set-format}). If the @samp{-f} option is not specified,
30095 the current display format will be used. The current display format
30096 can be changed using the @code{-var-set-format} command.
30102 Note that one must invoke @code{-var-list-children} for a variable
30103 before the value of a child variable can be evaluated.
30105 @subheading The @code{-var-assign} Command
30106 @findex -var-assign
30108 @subsubheading Synopsis
30111 -var-assign @var{name} @var{expression}
30114 Assigns the value of @var{expression} to the variable object specified
30115 by @var{name}. The object must be @samp{editable}. If the variable's
30116 value is altered by the assign, the variable will show up in any
30117 subsequent @code{-var-update} list.
30119 @subsubheading Example
30127 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",in_scope="true",type_changed="false"@}]
30131 @subheading The @code{-var-update} Command
30132 @findex -var-update
30134 @subsubheading Synopsis
30137 -var-update [@var{print-values}] @{@var{name} | "*"@}
30140 Reevaluate the expressions corresponding to the variable object
30141 @var{name} and all its direct and indirect children, and return the
30142 list of variable objects whose values have changed; @var{name} must
30143 be a root variable object. Here, ``changed'' means that the result of
30144 @code{-var-evaluate-expression} before and after the
30145 @code{-var-update} is different. If @samp{*} is used as the variable
30146 object names, all existing variable objects are updated, except
30147 for frozen ones (@pxref{-var-set-frozen}). The option
30148 @var{print-values} determines whether both names and values, or just
30149 names are printed. The possible values of this option are the same
30150 as for @code{-var-list-children} (@pxref{-var-list-children}). It is
30151 recommended to use the @samp{--all-values} option, to reduce the
30152 number of MI commands needed on each program stop.
30154 With the @samp{*} parameter, if a variable object is bound to a
30155 currently running thread, it will not be updated, without any
30158 If @code{-var-set-update-range} was previously used on a varobj, then
30159 only the selected range of children will be reported.
30161 @code{-var-update} reports all the changed varobjs in a tuple named
30164 Each item in the change list is itself a tuple holding:
30168 The name of the varobj.
30171 If values were requested for this update, then this field will be
30172 present and will hold the value of the varobj.
30175 @anchor{-var-update}
30176 This field is a string which may take one of three values:
30180 The variable object's current value is valid.
30183 The variable object does not currently hold a valid value but it may
30184 hold one in the future if its associated expression comes back into
30188 The variable object no longer holds a valid value.
30189 This can occur when the executable file being debugged has changed,
30190 either through recompilation or by using the @value{GDBN} @code{file}
30191 command. The front end should normally choose to delete these variable
30195 In the future new values may be added to this list so the front should
30196 be prepared for this possibility. @xref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, ,@sc{GDB/MI} Development and Front Ends}.
30199 This is only present if the varobj is still valid. If the type
30200 changed, then this will be the string @samp{true}; otherwise it will
30203 When a varobj's type changes, its children are also likely to have
30204 become incorrect. Therefore, the varobj's children are automatically
30205 deleted when this attribute is @samp{true}. Also, the varobj's update
30206 range, when set using the @code{-var-set-update-range} command, is
30210 If the varobj's type changed, then this field will be present and will
30213 @item new_num_children
30214 For a dynamic varobj, if the number of children changed, or if the
30215 type changed, this will be the new number of children.
30217 The @samp{numchild} field in other varobj responses is generally not
30218 valid for a dynamic varobj -- it will show the number of children that
30219 @value{GDBN} knows about, but because dynamic varobjs lazily
30220 instantiate their children, this will not reflect the number of
30221 children which may be available.
30223 The @samp{new_num_children} attribute only reports changes to the
30224 number of children known by @value{GDBN}. This is the only way to
30225 detect whether an update has removed children (which necessarily can
30226 only happen at the end of the update range).
30229 The display hint, if any.
30232 This is an integer value, which will be 1 if there are more children
30233 available outside the varobj's update range.
30236 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
30237 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
30238 then this attribute will not be present.
30241 If new children were added to a dynamic varobj within the selected
30242 update range (as set by @code{-var-set-update-range}), then they will
30243 be listed in this attribute.
30246 @subsubheading Example
30253 -var-update --all-values var1
30254 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",value="3",in_scope="true",
30255 type_changed="false"@}]
30259 @subheading The @code{-var-set-frozen} Command
30260 @findex -var-set-frozen
30261 @anchor{-var-set-frozen}
30263 @subsubheading Synopsis
30266 -var-set-frozen @var{name} @var{flag}
30269 Set the frozenness flag on the variable object @var{name}. The
30270 @var{flag} parameter should be either @samp{1} to make the variable
30271 frozen or @samp{0} to make it unfrozen. If a variable object is
30272 frozen, then neither itself, nor any of its children, are
30273 implicitly updated by @code{-var-update} of
30274 a parent variable or by @code{-var-update *}. Only
30275 @code{-var-update} of the variable itself will update its value and
30276 values of its children. After a variable object is unfrozen, it is
30277 implicitly updated by all subsequent @code{-var-update} operations.
30278 Unfreezing a variable does not update it, only subsequent
30279 @code{-var-update} does.
30281 @subsubheading Example
30285 -var-set-frozen V 1
30290 @subheading The @code{-var-set-update-range} command
30291 @findex -var-set-update-range
30292 @anchor{-var-set-update-range}
30294 @subsubheading Synopsis
30297 -var-set-update-range @var{name} @var{from} @var{to}
30300 Set the range of children to be returned by future invocations of
30301 @code{-var-update}.
30303 @var{from} and @var{to} indicate the range of children to report. If
30304 @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is reset and all
30305 children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting at @var{from}
30306 (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be reported.
30308 @subsubheading Example
30312 -var-set-update-range V 1 2
30316 @subheading The @code{-var-set-visualizer} command
30317 @findex -var-set-visualizer
30318 @anchor{-var-set-visualizer}
30320 @subsubheading Synopsis
30323 -var-set-visualizer @var{name} @var{visualizer}
30326 Set a visualizer for the variable object @var{name}.
30328 @var{visualizer} is the visualizer to use. The special value
30329 @samp{None} means to disable any visualizer in use.
30331 If not @samp{None}, @var{visualizer} must be a Python expression.
30332 This expression must evaluate to a callable object which accepts a
30333 single argument. @value{GDBN} will call this object with the value of
30334 the varobj @var{name} as an argument (this is done so that the same
30335 Python pretty-printing code can be used for both the CLI and MI).
30336 When called, this object must return an object which conforms to the
30337 pretty-printing interface (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}).
30339 The pre-defined function @code{gdb.default_visualizer} may be used to
30340 select a visualizer by following the built-in process
30341 (@pxref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}). This is done automatically when
30342 a varobj is created, and so ordinarily is not needed.
30344 This feature is only available if Python support is enabled. The MI
30345 command @code{-list-features} (@pxref{GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands})
30346 can be used to check this.
30348 @subsubheading Example
30350 Resetting the visualizer:
30354 -var-set-visualizer V None
30358 Reselecting the default (type-based) visualizer:
30362 -var-set-visualizer V gdb.default_visualizer
30366 Suppose @code{SomeClass} is a visualizer class. A lambda expression
30367 can be used to instantiate this class for a varobj:
30371 -var-set-visualizer V "lambda val: SomeClass()"
30375 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30376 @node GDB/MI Data Manipulation
30377 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Data Manipulation
30379 @cindex data manipulation, in @sc{gdb/mi}
30380 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, data manipulation
30381 This section describes the @sc{gdb/mi} commands that manipulate data:
30382 examine memory and registers, evaluate expressions, etc.
30384 @c REMOVED FROM THE INTERFACE.
30385 @c @subheading -data-assign
30386 @c Change the value of a program variable. Plenty of side effects.
30387 @c @subsubheading GDB Command
30389 @c @subsubheading Example
30392 @subheading The @code{-data-disassemble} Command
30393 @findex -data-disassemble
30395 @subsubheading Synopsis
30399 [ -s @var{start-addr} -e @var{end-addr} ]
30400 | [ -f @var{filename} -l @var{linenum} [ -n @var{lines} ] ]
30408 @item @var{start-addr}
30409 is the beginning address (or @code{$pc})
30410 @item @var{end-addr}
30412 @item @var{filename}
30413 is the name of the file to disassemble
30414 @item @var{linenum}
30415 is the line number to disassemble around
30417 is the number of disassembly lines to be produced. If it is -1,
30418 the whole function will be disassembled, in case no @var{end-addr} is
30419 specified. If @var{end-addr} is specified as a non-zero value, and
30420 @var{lines} is lower than the number of disassembly lines between
30421 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only @var{lines} lines are
30422 displayed; if @var{lines} is higher than the number of lines between
30423 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only the lines up to @var{end-addr}
30426 is either 0 (meaning only disassembly), 1 (meaning mixed source and
30427 disassembly), 2 (meaning disassembly with raw opcodes), or 3 (meaning
30428 mixed source and disassembly with raw opcodes).
30431 @subsubheading Result
30433 The output for each instruction is composed of four fields:
30442 Note that whatever included in the instruction field, is not manipulated
30443 directly by @sc{gdb/mi}, i.e., it is not possible to adjust its format.
30445 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30447 There's no direct mapping from this command to the CLI.
30449 @subsubheading Example
30451 Disassemble from the current value of @code{$pc} to @code{$pc + 20}:
30455 -data-disassemble -s $pc -e "$pc + 20" -- 0
30458 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
30459 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
30460 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
30461 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
30462 @{address="0x000107c8",func-name="main",offset="12",
30463 inst="or %o2, 0x140, %o1\t! 0x11940 <_lib_version+8>"@},
30464 @{address="0x000107cc",func-name="main",offset="16",
30465 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
30466 @{address="0x000107d0",func-name="main",offset="20",
30467 inst="or %o2, 0x168, %o4\t! 0x11968 <_lib_version+48>"@}]
30471 Disassemble the whole @code{main} function. Line 32 is part of
30475 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -- 0
30477 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
30478 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
30479 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
30480 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
30481 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
30482 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
30484 @{address="0x0001081c",func-name="main",offset="96",inst="ret "@},
30485 @{address="0x00010820",func-name="main",offset="100",inst="restore "@}]
30489 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main}:
30493 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 0
30495 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
30496 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
30497 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
30498 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
30499 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
30500 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]
30504 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main} in mixed mode:
30508 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 1
30510 src_and_asm_line=@{line="31",
30511 file="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb/ \
30512 testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line_asm_insn=[
30513 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
30514 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@}]@},
30515 src_and_asm_line=@{line="32",
30516 file="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb/ \
30517 testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line_asm_insn=[
30518 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
30519 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
30520 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
30521 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]@}]
30526 @subheading The @code{-data-evaluate-expression} Command
30527 @findex -data-evaluate-expression
30529 @subsubheading Synopsis
30532 -data-evaluate-expression @var{expr}
30535 Evaluate @var{expr} as an expression. The expression could contain an
30536 inferior function call. The function call will execute synchronously.
30537 If the expression contains spaces, it must be enclosed in double quotes.
30539 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30541 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{print}, @samp{output}, and
30542 @samp{call}. In @code{gdbtk} only, there's a corresponding
30543 @samp{gdb_eval} command.
30545 @subsubheading Example
30547 In the following example, the numbers that precede the commands are the
30548 @dfn{tokens} described in @ref{GDB/MI Command Syntax, ,@sc{gdb/mi}
30549 Command Syntax}. Notice how @sc{gdb/mi} returns the same tokens in its
30553 211-data-evaluate-expression A
30556 311-data-evaluate-expression &A
30557 311^done,value="0xefffeb7c"
30559 411-data-evaluate-expression A+3
30562 511-data-evaluate-expression "A + 3"
30568 @subheading The @code{-data-list-changed-registers} Command
30569 @findex -data-list-changed-registers
30571 @subsubheading Synopsis
30574 -data-list-changed-registers
30577 Display a list of the registers that have changed.
30579 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30581 @value{GDBN} doesn't have a direct analog for this command; @code{gdbtk}
30582 has the corresponding command @samp{gdb_changed_register_list}.
30584 @subsubheading Example
30586 On a PPC MBX board:
30594 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",frame=@{
30595 func="main",args=[],file="try.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",
30598 -data-list-changed-registers
30599 ^done,changed-registers=["0","1","2","4","5","6","7","8","9",
30600 "10","11","13","14","15","16","17","18","19","20","21","22","23",
30601 "24","25","26","27","28","30","31","64","65","66","67","69"]
30606 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-names} Command
30607 @findex -data-list-register-names
30609 @subsubheading Synopsis
30612 -data-list-register-names [ ( @var{regno} )+ ]
30615 Show a list of register names for the current target. If no arguments
30616 are given, it shows a list of the names of all the registers. If
30617 integer numbers are given as arguments, it will print a list of the
30618 names of the registers corresponding to the arguments. To ensure
30619 consistency between a register name and its number, the output list may
30620 include empty register names.
30622 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30624 @value{GDBN} does not have a command which corresponds to
30625 @samp{-data-list-register-names}. In @code{gdbtk} there is a
30626 corresponding command @samp{gdb_regnames}.
30628 @subsubheading Example
30630 For the PPC MBX board:
30633 -data-list-register-names
30634 ^done,register-names=["r0","r1","r2","r3","r4","r5","r6","r7",
30635 "r8","r9","r10","r11","r12","r13","r14","r15","r16","r17","r18",
30636 "r19","r20","r21","r22","r23","r24","r25","r26","r27","r28","r29",
30637 "r30","r31","f0","f1","f2","f3","f4","f5","f6","f7","f8","f9",
30638 "f10","f11","f12","f13","f14","f15","f16","f17","f18","f19","f20",
30639 "f21","f22","f23","f24","f25","f26","f27","f28","f29","f30","f31",
30640 "", "pc","ps","cr","lr","ctr","xer"]
30642 -data-list-register-names 1 2 3
30643 ^done,register-names=["r1","r2","r3"]
30647 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-values} Command
30648 @findex -data-list-register-values
30650 @subsubheading Synopsis
30653 -data-list-register-values @var{fmt} [ ( @var{regno} )*]
30656 Display the registers' contents. @var{fmt} is the format according to
30657 which the registers' contents are to be returned, followed by an optional
30658 list of numbers specifying the registers to display. A missing list of
30659 numbers indicates that the contents of all the registers must be returned.
30661 Allowed formats for @var{fmt} are:
30678 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30680 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{info reg}, @samp{info
30681 all-reg}, and (in @code{gdbtk}) @samp{gdb_fetch_registers}.
30683 @subsubheading Example
30685 For a PPC MBX board (note: line breaks are for readability only, they
30686 don't appear in the actual output):
30690 -data-list-register-values r 64 65
30691 ^done,register-values=[@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
30692 @{number="65",value="0x00029002"@}]
30694 -data-list-register-values x
30695 ^done,register-values=[@{number="0",value="0xfe0043c8"@},
30696 @{number="1",value="0x3fff88"@},@{number="2",value="0xfffffffe"@},
30697 @{number="3",value="0x0"@},@{number="4",value="0xa"@},
30698 @{number="5",value="0x3fff68"@},@{number="6",value="0x3fff58"@},
30699 @{number="7",value="0xfe011e98"@},@{number="8",value="0x2"@},
30700 @{number="9",value="0xfa202820"@},@{number="10",value="0xfa202808"@},
30701 @{number="11",value="0x1"@},@{number="12",value="0x0"@},
30702 @{number="13",value="0x4544"@},@{number="14",value="0xffdfffff"@},
30703 @{number="15",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="16",value="0xfffffeff"@},
30704 @{number="17",value="0xefffffed"@},@{number="18",value="0xfffffffe"@},
30705 @{number="19",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="20",value="0xffffffff"@},
30706 @{number="21",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="22",value="0xfffffff7"@},
30707 @{number="23",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="24",value="0xffffffff"@},
30708 @{number="25",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="26",value="0xfffffffb"@},
30709 @{number="27",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="28",value="0xf7bfffff"@},
30710 @{number="29",value="0x0"@},@{number="30",value="0xfe010000"@},
30711 @{number="31",value="0x0"@},@{number="32",value="0x0"@},
30712 @{number="33",value="0x0"@},@{number="34",value="0x0"@},
30713 @{number="35",value="0x0"@},@{number="36",value="0x0"@},
30714 @{number="37",value="0x0"@},@{number="38",value="0x0"@},
30715 @{number="39",value="0x0"@},@{number="40",value="0x0"@},
30716 @{number="41",value="0x0"@},@{number="42",value="0x0"@},
30717 @{number="43",value="0x0"@},@{number="44",value="0x0"@},
30718 @{number="45",value="0x0"@},@{number="46",value="0x0"@},
30719 @{number="47",value="0x0"@},@{number="48",value="0x0"@},
30720 @{number="49",value="0x0"@},@{number="50",value="0x0"@},
30721 @{number="51",value="0x0"@},@{number="52",value="0x0"@},
30722 @{number="53",value="0x0"@},@{number="54",value="0x0"@},
30723 @{number="55",value="0x0"@},@{number="56",value="0x0"@},
30724 @{number="57",value="0x0"@},@{number="58",value="0x0"@},
30725 @{number="59",value="0x0"@},@{number="60",value="0x0"@},
30726 @{number="61",value="0x0"@},@{number="62",value="0x0"@},
30727 @{number="63",value="0x0"@},@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
30728 @{number="65",value="0x29002"@},@{number="66",value="0x202f04b5"@},
30729 @{number="67",value="0xfe0043b0"@},@{number="68",value="0xfe00b3e4"@},
30730 @{number="69",value="0x20002b03"@}]
30735 @subheading The @code{-data-read-memory} Command
30736 @findex -data-read-memory
30738 This command is deprecated, use @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} instead.
30740 @subsubheading Synopsis
30743 -data-read-memory [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
30744 @var{address} @var{word-format} @var{word-size}
30745 @var{nr-rows} @var{nr-cols} [ @var{aschar} ]
30752 @item @var{address}
30753 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
30754 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
30755 quoted using the C convention.
30757 @item @var{word-format}
30758 The format to be used to print the memory words. The notation is the
30759 same as for @value{GDBN}'s @code{print} command (@pxref{Output Formats,
30762 @item @var{word-size}
30763 The size of each memory word in bytes.
30765 @item @var{nr-rows}
30766 The number of rows in the output table.
30768 @item @var{nr-cols}
30769 The number of columns in the output table.
30772 If present, indicates that each row should include an @sc{ascii} dump. The
30773 value of @var{aschar} is used as a padding character when a byte is not a
30774 member of the printable @sc{ascii} character set (printable @sc{ascii}
30775 characters are those whose code is between 32 and 126, inclusively).
30777 @item @var{byte-offset}
30778 An offset to add to the @var{address} before fetching memory.
30781 This command displays memory contents as a table of @var{nr-rows} by
30782 @var{nr-cols} words, each word being @var{word-size} bytes. In total,
30783 @code{@var{nr-rows} * @var{nr-cols} * @var{word-size}} bytes are read
30784 (returned as @samp{total-bytes}). Should less than the requested number
30785 of bytes be returned by the target, the missing words are identified
30786 using @samp{N/A}. The number of bytes read from the target is returned
30787 in @samp{nr-bytes} and the starting address used to read memory in
30790 The address of the next/previous row or page is available in
30791 @samp{next-row} and @samp{prev-row}, @samp{next-page} and
30794 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30796 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}. @code{gdbtk} has
30797 @samp{gdb_get_mem} memory read command.
30799 @subsubheading Example
30801 Read six bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+6} but then offset by
30802 @code{-6} bytes. Format as three rows of two columns. One byte per
30803 word. Display each word in hex.
30807 9-data-read-memory -o -6 -- bytes+6 x 1 3 2
30808 9^done,addr="0x00001390",nr-bytes="6",total-bytes="6",
30809 next-row="0x00001396",prev-row="0x0000138e",next-page="0x00001396",
30810 prev-page="0x0000138a",memory=[
30811 @{addr="0x00001390",data=["0x00","0x01"]@},
30812 @{addr="0x00001392",data=["0x02","0x03"]@},
30813 @{addr="0x00001394",data=["0x04","0x05"]@}]
30817 Read two bytes of memory starting at address @code{shorts + 64} and
30818 display as a single word formatted in decimal.
30822 5-data-read-memory shorts+64 d 2 1 1
30823 5^done,addr="0x00001510",nr-bytes="2",total-bytes="2",
30824 next-row="0x00001512",prev-row="0x0000150e",
30825 next-page="0x00001512",prev-page="0x0000150e",memory=[
30826 @{addr="0x00001510",data=["128"]@}]
30830 Read thirty two bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+16} and format
30831 as eight rows of four columns. Include a string encoding with @samp{x}
30832 used as the non-printable character.
30836 4-data-read-memory bytes+16 x 1 8 4 x
30837 4^done,addr="0x000013a0",nr-bytes="32",total-bytes="32",
30838 next-row="0x000013c0",prev-row="0x0000139c",
30839 next-page="0x000013c0",prev-page="0x00001380",memory=[
30840 @{addr="0x000013a0",data=["0x10","0x11","0x12","0x13"],ascii="xxxx"@},
30841 @{addr="0x000013a4",data=["0x14","0x15","0x16","0x17"],ascii="xxxx"@},
30842 @{addr="0x000013a8",data=["0x18","0x19","0x1a","0x1b"],ascii="xxxx"@},
30843 @{addr="0x000013ac",data=["0x1c","0x1d","0x1e","0x1f"],ascii="xxxx"@},
30844 @{addr="0x000013b0",data=["0x20","0x21","0x22","0x23"],ascii=" !\"#"@},
30845 @{addr="0x000013b4",data=["0x24","0x25","0x26","0x27"],ascii="$%&'"@},
30846 @{addr="0x000013b8",data=["0x28","0x29","0x2a","0x2b"],ascii="()*+"@},
30847 @{addr="0x000013bc",data=["0x2c","0x2d","0x2e","0x2f"],ascii=",-./"@}]
30851 @subheading The @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} Command
30852 @findex -data-read-memory-bytes
30854 @subsubheading Synopsis
30857 -data-read-memory-bytes [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
30858 @var{address} @var{count}
30865 @item @var{address}
30866 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
30867 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
30868 quoted using the C convention.
30871 The number of bytes to read. This should be an integer literal.
30873 @item @var{byte-offset}
30874 The offsets in bytes relative to @var{address} at which to start
30875 reading. This should be an integer literal. This option is provided
30876 so that a frontend is not required to first evaluate address and then
30877 perform address arithmetics itself.
30881 This command attempts to read all accessible memory regions in the
30882 specified range. First, all regions marked as unreadable in the memory
30883 map (if one is defined) will be skipped. @xref{Memory Region
30884 Attributes}. Second, @value{GDBN} will attempt to read the remaining
30885 regions. For each one, if reading full region results in an errors,
30886 @value{GDBN} will try to read a subset of the region.
30888 In general, every single byte in the region may be readable or not,
30889 and the only way to read every readable byte is to try a read at
30890 every address, which is not practical. Therefore, @value{GDBN} will
30891 attempt to read all accessible bytes at either beginning or the end
30892 of the region, using a binary division scheme. This heuristic works
30893 well for reading accross a memory map boundary. Note that if a region
30894 has a readable range that is neither at the beginning or the end,
30895 @value{GDBN} will not read it.
30897 The result record (@pxref{GDB/MI Result Records}) that is output of
30898 the command includes a field named @samp{memory} whose content is a
30899 list of tuples. Each tuple represent a successfully read memory block
30900 and has the following fields:
30904 The start address of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal.
30907 The end address of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal.
30910 The offset of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal, relative to
30911 the start address passed to @code{-data-read-memory-bytes}.
30914 The contents of the memory block, in hex.
30920 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30922 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}.
30924 @subsubheading Example
30928 -data-read-memory-bytes &a 10
30929 ^done,memory=[@{begin="0xbffff154",offset="0x00000000",
30931 contents="01000000020000000300"@}]
30936 @subheading The @code{-data-write-memory-bytes} Command
30937 @findex -data-write-memory-bytes
30939 @subsubheading Synopsis
30942 -data-write-memory-bytes @var{address} @var{contents}
30949 @item @var{address}
30950 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
30951 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
30952 quoted using the C convention.
30954 @item @var{contents}
30955 The hex-encoded bytes to write.
30959 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30961 There's no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
30963 @subsubheading Example
30967 -data-write-memory-bytes &a "aabbccdd"
30973 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30974 @node GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands
30975 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Tracepoint Commands
30977 The commands defined in this section implement MI support for
30978 tracepoints. For detailed introduction, see @ref{Tracepoints}.
30980 @subheading The @code{-trace-find} Command
30981 @findex -trace-find
30983 @subsubheading Synopsis
30986 -trace-find @var{mode} [@var{parameters}@dots{}]
30989 Find a trace frame using criteria defined by @var{mode} and
30990 @var{parameters}. The following table lists permissible
30991 modes and their parameters. For details of operation, see @ref{tfind}.
30996 No parameters are required. Stops examining trace frames.
30999 An integer is required as parameter. Selects tracepoint frame with
31002 @item tracepoint-number
31003 An integer is required as parameter. Finds next
31004 trace frame that corresponds to tracepoint with the specified number.
31007 An address is required as parameter. Finds
31008 next trace frame that corresponds to any tracepoint at the specified
31011 @item pc-inside-range
31012 Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds next trace
31013 frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address inside the
31014 specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
31016 @item pc-outside-range
31017 Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds
31018 next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address outside
31019 the specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
31022 Line specification is required as parameter. @xref{Specify Location}.
31023 Finds next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at
31024 the specified location.
31028 If @samp{none} was passed as @var{mode}, the response does not
31029 have fields. Otherwise, the response may have the following fields:
31033 This field has either @samp{0} or @samp{1} as the value, depending
31034 on whether a matching tracepoint was found.
31037 The index of the found traceframe. This field is present iff
31038 the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
31041 The index of the found tracepoint. This field is present iff
31042 the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
31045 The information about the frame corresponding to the found trace
31046 frame. This field is present only if a trace frame was found.
31047 @xref{GDB/MI Frame Information}, for description of this field.
31051 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31053 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tfind}.
31055 @subheading -trace-define-variable
31056 @findex -trace-define-variable
31058 @subsubheading Synopsis
31061 -trace-define-variable @var{name} [ @var{value} ]
31064 Create trace variable @var{name} if it does not exist. If
31065 @var{value} is specified, sets the initial value of the specified
31066 trace variable to that value. Note that the @var{name} should start
31067 with the @samp{$} character.
31069 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31071 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariable}.
31073 @subheading -trace-list-variables
31074 @findex -trace-list-variables
31076 @subsubheading Synopsis
31079 -trace-list-variables
31082 Return a table of all defined trace variables. Each element of the
31083 table has the following fields:
31087 The name of the trace variable. This field is always present.
31090 The initial value. This is a 64-bit signed integer. This
31091 field is always present.
31094 The value the trace variable has at the moment. This is a 64-bit
31095 signed integer. This field is absent iff current value is
31096 not defined, for example if the trace was never run, or is
31101 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31103 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariables}.
31105 @subsubheading Example
31109 -trace-list-variables
31110 ^done,trace-variables=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="3",
31111 hdr=[@{width="15",alignment="-1",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@},
31112 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="initial",colhdr="Initial"@},
31113 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="current",colhdr="Current"@}],
31114 body=[variable=@{name="$trace_timestamp",initial="0"@}
31115 variable=@{name="$foo",initial="10",current="15"@}]@}
31119 @subheading -trace-save
31120 @findex -trace-save
31122 @subsubheading Synopsis
31125 -trace-save [-r ] @var{filename}
31128 Saves the collected trace data to @var{filename}. Without the
31129 @samp{-r} option, the data is downloaded from the target and saved
31130 in a local file. With the @samp{-r} option the target is asked
31131 to perform the save.
31133 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31135 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tsave}.
31138 @subheading -trace-start
31139 @findex -trace-start
31141 @subsubheading Synopsis
31147 Starts a tracing experiments. The result of this command does not
31150 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31152 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstart}.
31154 @subheading -trace-status
31155 @findex -trace-status
31157 @subsubheading Synopsis
31163 Obtains the status of a tracing experiment. The result may include
31164 the following fields:
31169 May have a value of either @samp{0}, when no tracing operations are
31170 supported, @samp{1}, when all tracing operations are supported, or
31171 @samp{file} when examining trace file. In the latter case, examining
31172 of trace frame is possible but new tracing experiement cannot be
31173 started. This field is always present.
31176 May have a value of either @samp{0} or @samp{1} depending on whether
31177 tracing experiement is in progress on target. This field is present
31178 if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
31181 Report the reason why the tracing was stopped last time. This field
31182 may be absent iff tracing was never stopped on target yet. The
31183 value of @samp{request} means the tracing was stopped as result of
31184 the @code{-trace-stop} command. The value of @samp{overflow} means
31185 the tracing buffer is full. The value of @samp{disconnection} means
31186 tracing was automatically stopped when @value{GDBN} has disconnected.
31187 The value of @samp{passcount} means tracing was stopped when a
31188 tracepoint was passed a maximal number of times for that tracepoint.
31189 This field is present if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
31191 @item stopping-tracepoint
31192 The number of tracepoint whose passcount as exceeded. This field is
31193 present iff the @samp{stop-reason} field has the value of
31197 @itemx frames-created
31198 The @samp{frames} field is a count of the total number of trace frames
31199 in the trace buffer, while @samp{frames-created} is the total created
31200 during the run, including ones that were discarded, such as when a
31201 circular trace buffer filled up. Both fields are optional.
31205 These fields tell the current size of the tracing buffer and the
31206 remaining space. These fields are optional.
31209 The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
31210 trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
31211 necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
31215 The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
31216 tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
31217 that the trace run will stop.
31221 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31223 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstatus}.
31225 @subheading -trace-stop
31226 @findex -trace-stop
31228 @subsubheading Synopsis
31234 Stops a tracing experiment. The result of this command has the same
31235 fields as @code{-trace-status}, except that the @samp{supported} and
31236 @samp{running} fields are not output.
31238 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31240 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstop}.
31243 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31244 @node GDB/MI Symbol Query
31245 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Symbol Query Commands
31249 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-address} Command
31250 @findex -symbol-info-address
31252 @subsubheading Synopsis
31255 -symbol-info-address @var{symbol}
31258 Describe where @var{symbol} is stored.
31260 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31262 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info address}.
31264 @subsubheading Example
31268 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-file} Command
31269 @findex -symbol-info-file
31271 @subsubheading Synopsis
31277 Show the file for the symbol.
31279 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31281 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command. @code{gdbtk} has
31282 @samp{gdb_find_file}.
31284 @subsubheading Example
31288 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-function} Command
31289 @findex -symbol-info-function
31291 @subsubheading Synopsis
31294 -symbol-info-function
31297 Show which function the symbol lives in.
31299 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31301 @samp{gdb_get_function} in @code{gdbtk}.
31303 @subsubheading Example
31307 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-line} Command
31308 @findex -symbol-info-line
31310 @subsubheading Synopsis
31316 Show the core addresses of the code for a source line.
31318 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31320 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info line}.
31321 @code{gdbtk} has the @samp{gdb_get_line} and @samp{gdb_get_file} commands.
31323 @subsubheading Example
31327 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-symbol} Command
31328 @findex -symbol-info-symbol
31330 @subsubheading Synopsis
31333 -symbol-info-symbol @var{addr}
31336 Describe what symbol is at location @var{addr}.
31338 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31340 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info symbol}.
31342 @subsubheading Example
31346 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-functions} Command
31347 @findex -symbol-list-functions
31349 @subsubheading Synopsis
31352 -symbol-list-functions
31355 List the functions in the executable.
31357 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31359 @samp{info functions} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_listfunc} and
31360 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
31362 @subsubheading Example
31367 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-lines} Command
31368 @findex -symbol-list-lines
31370 @subsubheading Synopsis
31373 -symbol-list-lines @var{filename}
31376 Print the list of lines that contain code and their associated program
31377 addresses for the given source filename. The entries are sorted in
31378 ascending PC order.
31380 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31382 There is no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
31384 @subsubheading Example
31387 -symbol-list-lines basics.c
31388 ^done,lines=[@{pc="0x08048554",line="7"@},@{pc="0x0804855a",line="8"@}]
31394 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-types} Command
31395 @findex -symbol-list-types
31397 @subsubheading Synopsis
31403 List all the type names.
31405 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31407 The corresponding commands are @samp{info types} in @value{GDBN},
31408 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
31410 @subsubheading Example
31414 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-variables} Command
31415 @findex -symbol-list-variables
31417 @subsubheading Synopsis
31420 -symbol-list-variables
31423 List all the global and static variable names.
31425 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31427 @samp{info variables} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
31429 @subsubheading Example
31433 @subheading The @code{-symbol-locate} Command
31434 @findex -symbol-locate
31436 @subsubheading Synopsis
31442 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31444 @samp{gdb_loc} in @code{gdbtk}.
31446 @subsubheading Example
31450 @subheading The @code{-symbol-type} Command
31451 @findex -symbol-type
31453 @subsubheading Synopsis
31456 -symbol-type @var{variable}
31459 Show type of @var{variable}.
31461 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31463 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ptype}, @code{gdbtk} has
31464 @samp{gdb_obj_variable}.
31466 @subsubheading Example
31471 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31472 @node GDB/MI File Commands
31473 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Commands
31475 This section describes the GDB/MI commands to specify executable file names
31476 and to read in and obtain symbol table information.
31478 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-and-symbols} Command
31479 @findex -file-exec-and-symbols
31481 @subsubheading Synopsis
31484 -file-exec-and-symbols @var{file}
31487 Specify the executable file to be debugged. This file is the one from
31488 which the symbol table is also read. If no file is specified, the
31489 command clears the executable and symbol information. If breakpoints
31490 are set when using this command with no arguments, @value{GDBN} will produce
31491 error messages. Otherwise, no output is produced, except a completion
31494 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31496 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{file}.
31498 @subsubheading Example
31502 -file-exec-and-symbols /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
31508 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-file} Command
31509 @findex -file-exec-file
31511 @subsubheading Synopsis
31514 -file-exec-file @var{file}
31517 Specify the executable file to be debugged. Unlike
31518 @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols}, the symbol table is @emph{not} read
31519 from this file. If used without argument, @value{GDBN} clears the information
31520 about the executable file. No output is produced, except a completion
31523 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31525 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{exec-file}.
31527 @subsubheading Example
31531 -file-exec-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
31538 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-sections} Command
31539 @findex -file-list-exec-sections
31541 @subsubheading Synopsis
31544 -file-list-exec-sections
31547 List the sections of the current executable file.
31549 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31551 The @value{GDBN} command @samp{info file} shows, among the rest, the same
31552 information as this command. @code{gdbtk} has a corresponding command
31553 @samp{gdb_load_info}.
31555 @subsubheading Example
31560 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-file} Command
31561 @findex -file-list-exec-source-file
31563 @subsubheading Synopsis
31566 -file-list-exec-source-file
31569 List the line number, the current source file, and the absolute path
31570 to the current source file for the current executable. The macro
31571 information field has a value of @samp{1} or @samp{0} depending on
31572 whether or not the file includes preprocessor macro information.
31574 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31576 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info source}
31578 @subsubheading Example
31582 123-file-list-exec-source-file
31583 123^done,line="1",file="foo.c",fullname="/home/bar/foo.c,macro-info="1"
31588 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-files} Command
31589 @findex -file-list-exec-source-files
31591 @subsubheading Synopsis
31594 -file-list-exec-source-files
31597 List the source files for the current executable.
31599 It will always output the filename, but only when @value{GDBN} can find
31600 the absolute file name of a source file, will it output the fullname.
31602 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31604 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info sources}.
31605 @code{gdbtk} has an analogous command @samp{gdb_listfiles}.
31607 @subsubheading Example
31610 -file-list-exec-source-files
31612 @{file=foo.c,fullname=/home/foo.c@},
31613 @{file=/home/bar.c,fullname=/home/bar.c@},
31614 @{file=gdb_could_not_find_fullpath.c@}]
31619 @subheading The @code{-file-list-shared-libraries} Command
31620 @findex -file-list-shared-libraries
31622 @subsubheading Synopsis
31625 -file-list-shared-libraries
31628 List the shared libraries in the program.
31630 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31632 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info shared}.
31634 @subsubheading Example
31638 @subheading The @code{-file-list-symbol-files} Command
31639 @findex -file-list-symbol-files
31641 @subsubheading Synopsis
31644 -file-list-symbol-files
31649 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31651 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info file} (part of it).
31653 @subsubheading Example
31658 @subheading The @code{-file-symbol-file} Command
31659 @findex -file-symbol-file
31661 @subsubheading Synopsis
31664 -file-symbol-file @var{file}
31667 Read symbol table info from the specified @var{file} argument. When
31668 used without arguments, clears @value{GDBN}'s symbol table info. No output is
31669 produced, except for a completion notification.
31671 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31673 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{symbol-file}.
31675 @subsubheading Example
31679 -file-symbol-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
31685 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31686 @node GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands
31687 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Memory Overlay Commands
31689 The memory overlay commands are not implemented.
31691 @c @subheading -overlay-auto
31693 @c @subheading -overlay-list-mapping-state
31695 @c @subheading -overlay-list-overlays
31697 @c @subheading -overlay-map
31699 @c @subheading -overlay-off
31701 @c @subheading -overlay-on
31703 @c @subheading -overlay-unmap
31705 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31706 @node GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands
31707 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Signal Handling Commands
31709 Signal handling commands are not implemented.
31711 @c @subheading -signal-handle
31713 @c @subheading -signal-list-handle-actions
31715 @c @subheading -signal-list-signal-types
31719 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31720 @node GDB/MI Target Manipulation
31721 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Target Manipulation Commands
31724 @subheading The @code{-target-attach} Command
31725 @findex -target-attach
31727 @subsubheading Synopsis
31730 -target-attach @var{pid} | @var{gid} | @var{file}
31733 Attach to a process @var{pid} or a file @var{file} outside of
31734 @value{GDBN}, or a thread group @var{gid}. If attaching to a thread
31735 group, the id previously returned by
31736 @samp{-list-thread-groups --available} must be used.
31738 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31740 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{attach}.
31742 @subsubheading Example
31746 =thread-created,id="1"
31747 *stopped,thread-id="1",frame=@{addr="0xb7f7e410",func="bar",args=[]@}
31753 @subheading The @code{-target-compare-sections} Command
31754 @findex -target-compare-sections
31756 @subsubheading Synopsis
31759 -target-compare-sections [ @var{section} ]
31762 Compare data of section @var{section} on target to the exec file.
31763 Without the argument, all sections are compared.
31765 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31767 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{compare-sections}.
31769 @subsubheading Example
31774 @subheading The @code{-target-detach} Command
31775 @findex -target-detach
31777 @subsubheading Synopsis
31780 -target-detach [ @var{pid} | @var{gid} ]
31783 Detach from the remote target which normally resumes its execution.
31784 If either @var{pid} or @var{gid} is specified, detaches from either
31785 the specified process, or specified thread group. There's no output.
31787 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31789 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{detach}.
31791 @subsubheading Example
31801 @subheading The @code{-target-disconnect} Command
31802 @findex -target-disconnect
31804 @subsubheading Synopsis
31810 Disconnect from the remote target. There's no output and the target is
31811 generally not resumed.
31813 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31815 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disconnect}.
31817 @subsubheading Example
31827 @subheading The @code{-target-download} Command
31828 @findex -target-download
31830 @subsubheading Synopsis
31836 Loads the executable onto the remote target.
31837 It prints out an update message every half second, which includes the fields:
31841 The name of the section.
31843 The size of what has been sent so far for that section.
31845 The size of the section.
31847 The total size of what was sent so far (the current and the previous sections).
31849 The size of the overall executable to download.
31853 Each message is sent as status record (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, ,
31854 @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax}).
31856 In addition, it prints the name and size of the sections, as they are
31857 downloaded. These messages include the following fields:
31861 The name of the section.
31863 The size of the section.
31865 The size of the overall executable to download.
31869 At the end, a summary is printed.
31871 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31873 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{load}.
31875 @subsubheading Example
31877 Note: each status message appears on a single line. Here the messages
31878 have been broken down so that they can fit onto a page.
31883 +download,@{section=".text",section-size="6668",total-size="9880"@}
31884 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="512",section-size="6668",
31885 total-sent="512",total-size="9880"@}
31886 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1024",section-size="6668",
31887 total-sent="1024",total-size="9880"@}
31888 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1536",section-size="6668",
31889 total-sent="1536",total-size="9880"@}
31890 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2048",section-size="6668",
31891 total-sent="2048",total-size="9880"@}
31892 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2560",section-size="6668",
31893 total-sent="2560",total-size="9880"@}
31894 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3072",section-size="6668",
31895 total-sent="3072",total-size="9880"@}
31896 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3584",section-size="6668",
31897 total-sent="3584",total-size="9880"@}
31898 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4096",section-size="6668",
31899 total-sent="4096",total-size="9880"@}
31900 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4608",section-size="6668",
31901 total-sent="4608",total-size="9880"@}
31902 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5120",section-size="6668",
31903 total-sent="5120",total-size="9880"@}
31904 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5632",section-size="6668",
31905 total-sent="5632",total-size="9880"@}
31906 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6144",section-size="6668",
31907 total-sent="6144",total-size="9880"@}
31908 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6656",section-size="6668",
31909 total-sent="6656",total-size="9880"@}
31910 +download,@{section=".init",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
31911 +download,@{section=".fini",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
31912 +download,@{section=".data",section-size="3156",total-size="9880"@}
31913 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="512",section-size="3156",
31914 total-sent="7236",total-size="9880"@}
31915 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1024",section-size="3156",
31916 total-sent="7748",total-size="9880"@}
31917 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1536",section-size="3156",
31918 total-sent="8260",total-size="9880"@}
31919 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2048",section-size="3156",
31920 total-sent="8772",total-size="9880"@}
31921 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2560",section-size="3156",
31922 total-sent="9284",total-size="9880"@}
31923 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="3072",section-size="3156",
31924 total-sent="9796",total-size="9880"@}
31925 ^done,address="0x10004",load-size="9880",transfer-rate="6586",
31932 @subheading The @code{-target-exec-status} Command
31933 @findex -target-exec-status
31935 @subsubheading Synopsis
31938 -target-exec-status
31941 Provide information on the state of the target (whether it is running or
31942 not, for instance).
31944 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31946 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
31948 @subsubheading Example
31952 @subheading The @code{-target-list-available-targets} Command
31953 @findex -target-list-available-targets
31955 @subsubheading Synopsis
31958 -target-list-available-targets
31961 List the possible targets to connect to.
31963 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31965 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{help target}.
31967 @subsubheading Example
31971 @subheading The @code{-target-list-current-targets} Command
31972 @findex -target-list-current-targets
31974 @subsubheading Synopsis
31977 -target-list-current-targets
31980 Describe the current target.
31982 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31984 The corresponding information is printed by @samp{info file} (among
31987 @subsubheading Example
31991 @subheading The @code{-target-list-parameters} Command
31992 @findex -target-list-parameters
31994 @subsubheading Synopsis
31997 -target-list-parameters
32003 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32007 @subsubheading Example
32011 @subheading The @code{-target-select} Command
32012 @findex -target-select
32014 @subsubheading Synopsis
32017 -target-select @var{type} @var{parameters @dots{}}
32020 Connect @value{GDBN} to the remote target. This command takes two args:
32024 The type of target, for instance @samp{remote}, etc.
32025 @item @var{parameters}
32026 Device names, host names and the like. @xref{Target Commands, ,
32027 Commands for Managing Targets}, for more details.
32030 The output is a connection notification, followed by the address at
32031 which the target program is, in the following form:
32034 ^connected,addr="@var{address}",func="@var{function name}",
32035 args=[@var{arg list}]
32038 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32040 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{target}.
32042 @subsubheading Example
32046 -target-select remote /dev/ttya
32047 ^connected,addr="0xfe00a300",func="??",args=[]
32051 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
32052 @node GDB/MI File Transfer Commands
32053 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Transfer Commands
32056 @subheading The @code{-target-file-put} Command
32057 @findex -target-file-put
32059 @subsubheading Synopsis
32062 -target-file-put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
32065 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
32066 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
32068 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32070 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote put}.
32072 @subsubheading Example
32076 -target-file-put localfile remotefile
32082 @subheading The @code{-target-file-get} Command
32083 @findex -target-file-get
32085 @subsubheading Synopsis
32088 -target-file-get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
32091 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
32092 on the host system.
32094 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32096 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote get}.
32098 @subsubheading Example
32102 -target-file-get remotefile localfile
32108 @subheading The @code{-target-file-delete} Command
32109 @findex -target-file-delete
32111 @subsubheading Synopsis
32114 -target-file-delete @var{targetfile}
32117 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
32119 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32121 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote delete}.
32123 @subsubheading Example
32127 -target-file-delete remotefile
32133 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
32134 @node GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands
32135 @section Miscellaneous @sc{gdb/mi} Commands
32137 @c @subheading -gdb-complete
32139 @subheading The @code{-gdb-exit} Command
32142 @subsubheading Synopsis
32148 Exit @value{GDBN} immediately.
32150 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32152 Approximately corresponds to @samp{quit}.
32154 @subsubheading Example
32164 @subheading The @code{-exec-abort} Command
32165 @findex -exec-abort
32167 @subsubheading Synopsis
32173 Kill the inferior running program.
32175 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32177 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{kill}.
32179 @subsubheading Example
32184 @subheading The @code{-gdb-set} Command
32187 @subsubheading Synopsis
32193 Set an internal @value{GDBN} variable.
32194 @c IS THIS A DOLLAR VARIABLE? OR SOMETHING LIKE ANNOTATE ?????
32196 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32198 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set}.
32200 @subsubheading Example
32210 @subheading The @code{-gdb-show} Command
32213 @subsubheading Synopsis
32219 Show the current value of a @value{GDBN} variable.
32221 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32223 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show}.
32225 @subsubheading Example
32234 @c @subheading -gdb-source
32237 @subheading The @code{-gdb-version} Command
32238 @findex -gdb-version
32240 @subsubheading Synopsis
32246 Show version information for @value{GDBN}. Used mostly in testing.
32248 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32250 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{show version}. @value{GDBN} by
32251 default shows this information when you start an interactive session.
32253 @subsubheading Example
32255 @c This example modifies the actual output from GDB to avoid overfull
32261 ~Copyright 2000 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
32262 ~GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License, and
32263 ~you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it under
32264 ~ certain conditions.
32265 ~Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
32266 ~There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty" for
32268 ~This GDB was configured as
32269 "--host=sparc-sun-solaris2.5.1 --target=ppc-eabi".
32274 @subheading The @code{-list-features} Command
32275 @findex -list-features
32277 Returns a list of particular features of the MI protocol that
32278 this version of gdb implements. A feature can be a command,
32279 or a new field in an output of some command, or even an
32280 important bugfix. While a frontend can sometimes detect presence
32281 of a feature at runtime, it is easier to perform detection at debugger
32284 The command returns a list of strings, with each string naming an
32285 available feature. Each returned string is just a name, it does not
32286 have any internal structure. The list of possible feature names
32292 (gdb) -list-features
32293 ^done,result=["feature1","feature2"]
32296 The current list of features is:
32299 @item frozen-varobjs
32300 Indicates support for the @code{-var-set-frozen} command, as well
32301 as possible presense of the @code{frozen} field in the output
32302 of @code{-varobj-create}.
32303 @item pending-breakpoints
32304 Indicates support for the @option{-f} option to the @code{-break-insert}
32307 Indicates Python scripting support, Python-based
32308 pretty-printing commands, and possible presence of the
32309 @samp{display_hint} field in the output of @code{-var-list-children}
32311 Indicates support for the @code{-thread-info} command.
32312 @item data-read-memory-bytes
32313 Indicates support for the @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} and the
32314 @code{-data-write-memory-bytes} commands.
32315 @item breakpoint-notifications
32316 Indicates that changes to breakpoints and breakpoints created via the
32317 CLI will be announced via async records.
32318 @item ada-task-info
32319 Indicates support for the @code{-ada-task-info} command.
32322 @subheading The @code{-list-target-features} Command
32323 @findex -list-target-features
32325 Returns a list of particular features that are supported by the
32326 target. Those features affect the permitted MI commands, but
32327 unlike the features reported by the @code{-list-features} command, the
32328 features depend on which target GDB is using at the moment. Whenever
32329 a target can change, due to commands such as @code{-target-select},
32330 @code{-target-attach} or @code{-exec-run}, the list of target features
32331 may change, and the frontend should obtain it again.
32335 (gdb) -list-features
32336 ^done,result=["async"]
32339 The current list of features is:
32343 Indicates that the target is capable of asynchronous command
32344 execution, which means that @value{GDBN} will accept further commands
32345 while the target is running.
32348 Indicates that the target is capable of reverse execution.
32349 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
32353 @subheading The @code{-list-thread-groups} Command
32354 @findex -list-thread-groups
32356 @subheading Synopsis
32359 -list-thread-groups [ --available ] [ --recurse 1 ] [ @var{group} ... ]
32362 Lists thread groups (@pxref{Thread groups}). When a single thread
32363 group is passed as the argument, lists the children of that group.
32364 When several thread group are passed, lists information about those
32365 thread groups. Without any parameters, lists information about all
32366 top-level thread groups.
32368 Normally, thread groups that are being debugged are reported.
32369 With the @samp{--available} option, @value{GDBN} reports thread groups
32370 available on the target.
32372 The output of this command may have either a @samp{threads} result or
32373 a @samp{groups} result. The @samp{thread} result has a list of tuples
32374 as value, with each tuple describing a thread (@pxref{GDB/MI Thread
32375 Information}). The @samp{groups} result has a list of tuples as value,
32376 each tuple describing a thread group. If top-level groups are
32377 requested (that is, no parameter is passed), or when several groups
32378 are passed, the output always has a @samp{groups} result. The format
32379 of the @samp{group} result is described below.
32381 To reduce the number of roundtrips it's possible to list thread groups
32382 together with their children, by passing the @samp{--recurse} option
32383 and the recursion depth. Presently, only recursion depth of 1 is
32384 permitted. If this option is present, then every reported thread group
32385 will also include its children, either as @samp{group} or
32386 @samp{threads} field.
32388 In general, any combination of option and parameters is permitted, with
32389 the following caveats:
32393 When a single thread group is passed, the output will typically
32394 be the @samp{threads} result. Because threads may not contain
32395 anything, the @samp{recurse} option will be ignored.
32398 When the @samp{--available} option is passed, limited information may
32399 be available. In particular, the list of threads of a process might
32400 be inaccessible. Further, specifying specific thread groups might
32401 not give any performance advantage over listing all thread groups.
32402 The frontend should assume that @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}
32403 is always an expensive operation and cache the results.
32407 The @samp{groups} result is a list of tuples, where each tuple may
32408 have the following fields:
32412 Identifier of the thread group. This field is always present.
32413 The identifier is an opaque string; frontends should not try to
32414 convert it to an integer, even though it might look like one.
32417 The type of the thread group. At present, only @samp{process} is a
32421 The target-specific process identifier. This field is only present
32422 for thread groups of type @samp{process} and only if the process exists.
32425 The number of children this thread group has. This field may be
32426 absent for an available thread group.
32429 This field has a list of tuples as value, each tuple describing a
32430 thread. It may be present if the @samp{--recurse} option is
32431 specified, and it's actually possible to obtain the threads.
32434 This field is a list of integers, each identifying a core that one
32435 thread of the group is running on. This field may be absent if
32436 such information is not available.
32439 The name of the executable file that corresponds to this thread group.
32440 The field is only present for thread groups of type @samp{process},
32441 and only if there is a corresponding executable file.
32445 @subheading Example
32449 -list-thread-groups
32450 ^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2"@}]
32451 -list-thread-groups 17
32452 ^done,threads=[@{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
32453 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",args=[]@},state="running"@},
32454 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
32455 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
32456 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},state="running"@}]]
32457 -list-thread-groups --available
32458 ^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2]@}]
32459 -list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1
32460 ^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
32461 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
32462 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},..]
32463 -list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1 17 18
32464 ^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
32465 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
32466 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},...]
32470 @subheading The @code{-add-inferior} Command
32471 @findex -add-inferior
32473 @subheading Synopsis
32479 Creates a new inferior (@pxref{Inferiors and Programs}). The created
32480 inferior is not associated with any executable. Such association may
32481 be established with the @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols} command
32482 (@pxref{GDB/MI File Commands}). The command response has a single
32483 field, @samp{thread-group}, whose value is the identifier of the
32484 thread group corresponding to the new inferior.
32486 @subheading Example
32491 ^done,thread-group="i3"
32494 @subheading The @code{-interpreter-exec} Command
32495 @findex -interpreter-exec
32497 @subheading Synopsis
32500 -interpreter-exec @var{interpreter} @var{command}
32502 @anchor{-interpreter-exec}
32504 Execute the specified @var{command} in the given @var{interpreter}.
32506 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
32508 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interpreter-exec}.
32510 @subheading Example
32514 -interpreter-exec console "break main"
32515 &"During symbol reading, couldn't parse type; debugger out of date?.\n"
32516 &"During symbol reading, bad structure-type format.\n"
32517 ~"Breakpoint 1 at 0x8074fc6: file ../../src/gdb/main.c, line 743.\n"
32522 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-set} Command
32523 @findex -inferior-tty-set
32525 @subheading Synopsis
32528 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
32531 Set terminal for future runs of the program being debugged.
32533 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
32535 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set inferior-tty} /dev/pts/1.
32537 @subheading Example
32541 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
32546 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-show} Command
32547 @findex -inferior-tty-show
32549 @subheading Synopsis
32555 Show terminal for future runs of program being debugged.
32557 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
32559 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show inferior-tty}.
32561 @subheading Example
32565 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
32569 ^done,inferior_tty_terminal="/dev/pts/1"
32573 @subheading The @code{-enable-timings} Command
32574 @findex -enable-timings
32576 @subheading Synopsis
32579 -enable-timings [yes | no]
32582 Toggle the printing of the wallclock, user and system times for an MI
32583 command as a field in its output. This command is to help frontend
32584 developers optimize the performance of their code. No argument is
32585 equivalent to @samp{yes}.
32587 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
32591 @subheading Example
32599 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
32600 addr="0x080484ed",func="main",file="myprog.c",
32601 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73",times="0"@},
32602 time=@{wallclock="0.05185",user="0.00800",system="0.00000"@}
32610 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
32611 frame=@{addr="0x080484ed",func="main",args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},
32612 @{name="argv",value="0xbfb60364"@}],file="myprog.c",
32613 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73"@}
32618 @chapter @value{GDBN} Annotations
32620 This chapter describes annotations in @value{GDBN}. Annotations were
32621 designed to interface @value{GDBN} to graphical user interfaces or other
32622 similar programs which want to interact with @value{GDBN} at a
32623 relatively high level.
32625 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
32629 This is Edition @value{EDITION}, @value{DATE}.
32633 * Annotations Overview:: What annotations are; the general syntax.
32634 * Server Prefix:: Issuing a command without affecting user state.
32635 * Prompting:: Annotations marking @value{GDBN}'s need for input.
32636 * Errors:: Annotations for error messages.
32637 * Invalidation:: Some annotations describe things now invalid.
32638 * Annotations for Running::
32639 Whether the program is running, how it stopped, etc.
32640 * Source Annotations:: Annotations describing source code.
32643 @node Annotations Overview
32644 @section What is an Annotation?
32645 @cindex annotations
32647 Annotations start with a newline character, two @samp{control-z}
32648 characters, and the name of the annotation. If there is no additional
32649 information associated with this annotation, the name of the annotation
32650 is followed immediately by a newline. If there is additional
32651 information, the name of the annotation is followed by a space, the
32652 additional information, and a newline. The additional information
32653 cannot contain newline characters.
32655 Any output not beginning with a newline and two @samp{control-z}
32656 characters denotes literal output from @value{GDBN}. Currently there is
32657 no need for @value{GDBN} to output a newline followed by two
32658 @samp{control-z} characters, but if there was such a need, the
32659 annotations could be extended with an @samp{escape} annotation which
32660 means those three characters as output.
32662 The annotation @var{level}, which is specified using the
32663 @option{--annotate} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}), controls
32664 how much information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt,
32665 values of expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0
32666 is for no annotations, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a
32667 subprocess of @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable
32668 for programs that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 annotations have
32669 been made obsolete (@pxref{Limitations, , Limitations of the Annotation
32670 Interface, annotate, GDB's Obsolete Annotations}).
32673 @kindex set annotate
32674 @item set annotate @var{level}
32675 The @value{GDBN} command @code{set annotate} sets the level of
32676 annotations to the specified @var{level}.
32678 @item show annotate
32679 @kindex show annotate
32680 Show the current annotation level.
32683 This chapter describes level 3 annotations.
32685 A simple example of starting up @value{GDBN} with annotations is:
32688 $ @kbd{gdb --annotate=3}
32690 Copyright 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
32691 GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License,
32692 and you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it
32693 under certain conditions.
32694 Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
32695 There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty"
32697 This GDB was configured as "i386-pc-linux-gnu"
32708 Here @samp{quit} is input to @value{GDBN}; the rest is output from
32709 @value{GDBN}. The three lines beginning @samp{^Z^Z} (where @samp{^Z}
32710 denotes a @samp{control-z} character) are annotations; the rest is
32711 output from @value{GDBN}.
32713 @node Server Prefix
32714 @section The Server Prefix
32715 @cindex server prefix
32717 If you prefix a command with @samp{server } then it will not affect
32718 the command history, nor will it affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which
32719 command to repeat if @key{RET} is pressed on a line by itself. This
32720 means that commands can be run behind a user's back by a front-end in
32721 a transparent manner.
32723 The @code{server } prefix does not affect the recording of values into
32724 the value history; to print a value without recording it into the
32725 value history, use the @code{output} command instead of the
32726 @code{print} command.
32728 Using this prefix also disables confirmation requests
32729 (@pxref{confirmation requests}).
32732 @section Annotation for @value{GDBN} Input
32734 @cindex annotations for prompts
32735 When @value{GDBN} prompts for input, it annotates this fact so it is possible
32736 to know when to send output, when the output from a given command is
32739 Different kinds of input each have a different @dfn{input type}. Each
32740 input type has three annotations: a @code{pre-} annotation, which
32741 denotes the beginning of any prompt which is being output, a plain
32742 annotation, which denotes the end of the prompt, and then a @code{post-}
32743 annotation which denotes the end of any echo which may (or may not) be
32744 associated with the input. For example, the @code{prompt} input type
32745 features the following annotations:
32753 The input types are
32756 @findex pre-prompt annotation
32757 @findex prompt annotation
32758 @findex post-prompt annotation
32760 When @value{GDBN} is prompting for a command (the main @value{GDBN} prompt).
32762 @findex pre-commands annotation
32763 @findex commands annotation
32764 @findex post-commands annotation
32766 When @value{GDBN} prompts for a set of commands, like in the @code{commands}
32767 command. The annotations are repeated for each command which is input.
32769 @findex pre-overload-choice annotation
32770 @findex overload-choice annotation
32771 @findex post-overload-choice annotation
32772 @item overload-choice
32773 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to select between various overloaded functions.
32775 @findex pre-query annotation
32776 @findex query annotation
32777 @findex post-query annotation
32779 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to confirm a potentially dangerous operation.
32781 @findex pre-prompt-for-continue annotation
32782 @findex prompt-for-continue annotation
32783 @findex post-prompt-for-continue annotation
32784 @item prompt-for-continue
32785 When @value{GDBN} is asking the user to press return to continue. Note: Don't
32786 expect this to work well; instead use @code{set height 0} to disable
32787 prompting. This is because the counting of lines is buggy in the
32788 presence of annotations.
32793 @cindex annotations for errors, warnings and interrupts
32795 @findex quit annotation
32800 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an interrupt.
32802 @findex error annotation
32807 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an error.
32809 Quit and error annotations indicate that any annotations which @value{GDBN} was
32810 in the middle of may end abruptly. For example, if a
32811 @code{value-history-begin} annotation is followed by a @code{error}, one
32812 cannot expect to receive the matching @code{value-history-end}. One
32813 cannot expect not to receive it either, however; an error annotation
32814 does not necessarily mean that @value{GDBN} is immediately returning all the way
32817 @findex error-begin annotation
32818 A quit or error annotation may be preceded by
32824 Any output between that and the quit or error annotation is the error
32827 Warning messages are not yet annotated.
32828 @c If we want to change that, need to fix warning(), type_error(),
32829 @c range_error(), and possibly other places.
32832 @section Invalidation Notices
32834 @cindex annotations for invalidation messages
32835 The following annotations say that certain pieces of state may have
32839 @findex frames-invalid annotation
32840 @item ^Z^Zframes-invalid
32842 The frames (for example, output from the @code{backtrace} command) may
32845 @findex breakpoints-invalid annotation
32846 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoints-invalid
32848 The breakpoints may have changed. For example, the user just added or
32849 deleted a breakpoint.
32852 @node Annotations for Running
32853 @section Running the Program
32854 @cindex annotations for running programs
32856 @findex starting annotation
32857 @findex stopping annotation
32858 When the program starts executing due to a @value{GDBN} command such as
32859 @code{step} or @code{continue},
32865 is output. When the program stops,
32871 is output. Before the @code{stopped} annotation, a variety of
32872 annotations describe how the program stopped.
32875 @findex exited annotation
32876 @item ^Z^Zexited @var{exit-status}
32877 The program exited, and @var{exit-status} is the exit status (zero for
32878 successful exit, otherwise nonzero).
32880 @findex signalled annotation
32881 @findex signal-name annotation
32882 @findex signal-name-end annotation
32883 @findex signal-string annotation
32884 @findex signal-string-end annotation
32885 @item ^Z^Zsignalled
32886 The program exited with a signal. After the @code{^Z^Zsignalled}, the
32887 annotation continues:
32893 ^Z^Zsignal-name-end
32897 ^Z^Zsignal-string-end
32902 where @var{name} is the name of the signal, such as @code{SIGILL} or
32903 @code{SIGSEGV}, and @var{string} is the explanation of the signal, such
32904 as @code{Illegal Instruction} or @code{Segmentation fault}.
32905 @var{intro-text}, @var{middle-text}, and @var{end-text} are for the
32906 user's benefit and have no particular format.
32908 @findex signal annotation
32910 The syntax of this annotation is just like @code{signalled}, but @value{GDBN} is
32911 just saying that the program received the signal, not that it was
32912 terminated with it.
32914 @findex breakpoint annotation
32915 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoint @var{number}
32916 The program hit breakpoint number @var{number}.
32918 @findex watchpoint annotation
32919 @item ^Z^Zwatchpoint @var{number}
32920 The program hit watchpoint number @var{number}.
32923 @node Source Annotations
32924 @section Displaying Source
32925 @cindex annotations for source display
32927 @findex source annotation
32928 The following annotation is used instead of displaying source code:
32931 ^Z^Zsource @var{filename}:@var{line}:@var{character}:@var{middle}:@var{addr}
32934 where @var{filename} is an absolute file name indicating which source
32935 file, @var{line} is the line number within that file (where 1 is the
32936 first line in the file), @var{character} is the character position
32937 within the file (where 0 is the first character in the file) (for most
32938 debug formats this will necessarily point to the beginning of a line),
32939 @var{middle} is @samp{middle} if @var{addr} is in the middle of the
32940 line, or @samp{beg} if @var{addr} is at the beginning of the line, and
32941 @var{addr} is the address in the target program associated with the
32942 source which is being displayed. @var{addr} is in the form @samp{0x}
32943 followed by one or more lowercase hex digits (note that this does not
32944 depend on the language).
32946 @node JIT Interface
32947 @chapter JIT Compilation Interface
32948 @cindex just-in-time compilation
32949 @cindex JIT compilation interface
32951 This chapter documents @value{GDBN}'s @dfn{just-in-time} (JIT) compilation
32952 interface. A JIT compiler is a program or library that generates native
32953 executable code at runtime and executes it, usually in order to achieve good
32954 performance while maintaining platform independence.
32956 Programs that use JIT compilation are normally difficult to debug because
32957 portions of their code are generated at runtime, instead of being loaded from
32958 object files, which is where @value{GDBN} normally finds the program's symbols
32959 and debug information. In order to debug programs that use JIT compilation,
32960 @value{GDBN} has an interface that allows the program to register in-memory
32961 symbol files with @value{GDBN} at runtime.
32963 If you are using @value{GDBN} to debug a program that uses this interface, then
32964 it should work transparently so long as you have not stripped the binary. If
32965 you are developing a JIT compiler, then the interface is documented in the rest
32966 of this chapter. At this time, the only known client of this interface is the
32969 Broadly speaking, the JIT interface mirrors the dynamic loader interface. The
32970 JIT compiler communicates with @value{GDBN} by writing data into a global
32971 variable and calling a fuction at a well-known symbol. When @value{GDBN}
32972 attaches, it reads a linked list of symbol files from the global variable to
32973 find existing code, and puts a breakpoint in the function so that it can find
32974 out about additional code.
32977 * Declarations:: Relevant C struct declarations
32978 * Registering Code:: Steps to register code
32979 * Unregistering Code:: Steps to unregister code
32980 * Custom Debug Info:: Emit debug information in a custom format
32984 @section JIT Declarations
32986 These are the relevant struct declarations that a C program should include to
32987 implement the interface:
32997 struct jit_code_entry
32999 struct jit_code_entry *next_entry;
33000 struct jit_code_entry *prev_entry;
33001 const char *symfile_addr;
33002 uint64_t symfile_size;
33005 struct jit_descriptor
33008 /* This type should be jit_actions_t, but we use uint32_t
33009 to be explicit about the bitwidth. */
33010 uint32_t action_flag;
33011 struct jit_code_entry *relevant_entry;
33012 struct jit_code_entry *first_entry;
33015 /* GDB puts a breakpoint in this function. */
33016 void __attribute__((noinline)) __jit_debug_register_code() @{ @};
33018 /* Make sure to specify the version statically, because the
33019 debugger may check the version before we can set it. */
33020 struct jit_descriptor __jit_debug_descriptor = @{ 1, 0, 0, 0 @};
33023 If the JIT is multi-threaded, then it is important that the JIT synchronize any
33024 modifications to this global data properly, which can easily be done by putting
33025 a global mutex around modifications to these structures.
33027 @node Registering Code
33028 @section Registering Code
33030 To register code with @value{GDBN}, the JIT should follow this protocol:
33034 Generate an object file in memory with symbols and other desired debug
33035 information. The file must include the virtual addresses of the sections.
33038 Create a code entry for the file, which gives the start and size of the symbol
33042 Add it to the linked list in the JIT descriptor.
33045 Point the relevant_entry field of the descriptor at the entry.
33048 Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_REGISTER} and call
33049 @code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
33052 When @value{GDBN} is attached and the breakpoint fires, @value{GDBN} uses the
33053 @code{relevant_entry} pointer so it doesn't have to walk the list looking for
33054 new code. However, the linked list must still be maintained in order to allow
33055 @value{GDBN} to attach to a running process and still find the symbol files.
33057 @node Unregistering Code
33058 @section Unregistering Code
33060 If code is freed, then the JIT should use the following protocol:
33064 Remove the code entry corresponding to the code from the linked list.
33067 Point the @code{relevant_entry} field of the descriptor at the code entry.
33070 Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_UNREGISTER} and call
33071 @code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
33074 If the JIT frees or recompiles code without unregistering it, then @value{GDBN}
33075 and the JIT will leak the memory used for the associated symbol files.
33077 @node Custom Debug Info
33078 @section Custom Debug Info
33079 @cindex custom JIT debug info
33080 @cindex JIT debug info reader
33082 Generating debug information in platform-native file formats (like ELF
33083 or COFF) may be an overkill for JIT compilers; especially if all the
33084 debug info is used for is displaying a meaningful backtrace. The
33085 issue can be resolved by having the JIT writers decide on a debug info
33086 format and also provide a reader that parses the debug info generated
33087 by the JIT compiler. This section gives a brief overview on writing
33088 such a parser. More specific details can be found in the source file
33089 @file{gdb/jit-reader.in}, which is also installed as a header at
33090 @file{@var{includedir}/gdb/jit-reader.h} for easy inclusion.
33092 The reader is implemented as a shared object (so this functionality is
33093 not available on platforms which don't allow loading shared objects at
33094 runtime). Two @value{GDBN} commands, @code{jit-reader-load} and
33095 @code{jit-reader-unload} are provided, to be used to load and unload
33096 the readers from a preconfigured directory. Once loaded, the shared
33097 object is used the parse the debug information emitted by the JIT
33101 * Using JIT Debug Info Readers:: How to use supplied readers correctly
33102 * Writing JIT Debug Info Readers:: Creating a debug-info reader
33105 @node Using JIT Debug Info Readers
33106 @subsection Using JIT Debug Info Readers
33107 @kindex jit-reader-load
33108 @kindex jit-reader-unload
33110 Readers can be loaded and unloaded using the @code{jit-reader-load}
33111 and @code{jit-reader-unload} commands.
33114 @item jit-reader-load @var{reader-name}
33115 Load the JIT reader named @var{reader-name}. On a UNIX system, this
33116 will usually load @file{@var{libdir}/gdb/@var{reader-name}}, where
33117 @var{libdir} is the system library directory, usually
33118 @file{/usr/local/lib}. Only one reader can be active at a time;
33119 trying to load a second reader when one is already loaded will result
33120 in @value{GDBN} reporting an error. A new JIT reader can be loaded by
33121 first unloading the current one using @code{jit-reader-load} and then
33122 invoking @code{jit-reader-load}.
33124 @item jit-reader-unload
33125 Unload the currently loaded JIT reader.
33129 @node Writing JIT Debug Info Readers
33130 @subsection Writing JIT Debug Info Readers
33131 @cindex writing JIT debug info readers
33133 As mentioned, a reader is essentially a shared object conforming to a
33134 certain ABI. This ABI is described in @file{jit-reader.h}.
33136 @file{jit-reader.h} defines the structures, macros and functions
33137 required to write a reader. It is installed (along with
33138 @value{GDBN}), in @file{@var{includedir}/gdb} where @var{includedir} is
33139 the system include directory.
33141 Readers need to be released under a GPL compatible license. A reader
33142 can be declared as released under such a license by placing the macro
33143 @code{GDB_DECLARE_GPL_COMPATIBLE_READER} in a source file.
33145 The entry point for readers is the symbol @code{gdb_init_reader},
33146 which is expected to be a function with the prototype
33148 @findex gdb_init_reader
33150 extern struct gdb_reader_funcs *gdb_init_reader (void);
33153 @cindex @code{struct gdb_reader_funcs}
33155 @code{struct gdb_reader_funcs} contains a set of pointers to callback
33156 functions. These functions are executed to read the debug info
33157 generated by the JIT compiler (@code{read}), to unwind stack frames
33158 (@code{unwind}) and to create canonical frame IDs
33159 (@code{get_Frame_id}). It also has a callback that is called when the
33160 reader is being unloaded (@code{destroy}). The struct looks like this
33163 struct gdb_reader_funcs
33165 /* Must be set to GDB_READER_INTERFACE_VERSION. */
33166 int reader_version;
33168 /* For use by the reader. */
33171 gdb_read_debug_info *read;
33172 gdb_unwind_frame *unwind;
33173 gdb_get_frame_id *get_frame_id;
33174 gdb_destroy_reader *destroy;
33178 @cindex @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks}
33179 @cindex @code{struct gdb_unwind_callbacks}
33181 The callbacks are provided with another set of callbacks by
33182 @value{GDBN} to do their job. For @code{read}, these callbacks are
33183 passed in a @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks} and for @code{unwind}
33184 and @code{get_frame_id}, in a @code{struct gdb_unwind_callbacks}.
33185 @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks} has callbacks to create new object
33186 files and new symbol tables inside those object files. @code{struct
33187 gdb_unwind_callbacks} has callbacks to read registers off the current
33188 frame and to write out the values of the registers in the previous
33189 frame. Both have a callback (@code{target_read}) to read bytes off the
33190 target's address space.
33192 @node In-Process Agent
33193 @chapter In-Process Agent
33194 @cindex debugging agent
33195 The traditional debugging model is conceptually low-speed, but works fine,
33196 because most bugs can be reproduced in debugging-mode execution. However,
33197 as multi-core or many-core processors are becoming mainstream, and
33198 multi-threaded programs become more and more popular, there should be more
33199 and more bugs that only manifest themselves at normal-mode execution, for
33200 example, thread races, because debugger's interference with the program's
33201 timing may conceal the bugs. On the other hand, in some applications,
33202 it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt the program's execution
33203 long enough for the developer to learn anything helpful about its behavior.
33204 If the program's correctness depends on its real-time behavior, delays
33205 introduced by a debugger might cause the program to fail, even when the
33206 code itself is correct. It is useful to be able to observe the program's
33207 behavior without interrupting it.
33209 Therefore, traditional debugging model is too intrusive to reproduce
33210 some bugs. In order to reduce the interference with the program, we can
33211 reduce the number of operations performed by debugger. The
33212 @dfn{In-Process Agent}, a shared library, is running within the same
33213 process with inferior, and is able to perform some debugging operations
33214 itself. As a result, debugger is only involved when necessary, and
33215 performance of debugging can be improved accordingly. Note that
33216 interference with program can be reduced but can't be removed completely,
33217 because the in-process agent will still stop or slow down the program.
33219 The in-process agent can interpret and execute Agent Expressions
33220 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}) during performing debugging operations. The
33221 agent expressions can be used for different purposes, such as collecting
33222 data in tracepoints, and condition evaluation in breakpoints.
33224 @anchor{Control Agent}
33225 You can control whether the in-process agent is used as an aid for
33226 debugging with the following commands:
33229 @kindex set agent on
33231 Causes the in-process agent to perform some operations on behalf of the
33232 debugger. Just which operations requested by the user will be done
33233 by the in-process agent depends on the its capabilities. For example,
33234 if you request to evaluate breakpoint conditions in the in-process agent,
33235 and the in-process agent has such capability as well, then breakpoint
33236 conditions will be evaluated in the in-process agent.
33238 @kindex set agent off
33239 @item set agent off
33240 Disables execution of debugging operations by the in-process agent. All
33241 of the operations will be performed by @value{GDBN}.
33245 Display the current setting of execution of debugging operations by
33246 the in-process agent.
33250 @chapter Reporting Bugs in @value{GDBN}
33251 @cindex bugs in @value{GDBN}
33252 @cindex reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
33254 Your bug reports play an essential role in making @value{GDBN} reliable.
33256 Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or it
33257 may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is to help
33258 the entire community by making the next version of @value{GDBN} work better. Bug
33259 reports are your contribution to the maintenance of @value{GDBN}.
33261 In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
33262 information that enables us to fix the bug.
33265 * Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
33266 * Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
33270 @section Have You Found a Bug?
33271 @cindex bug criteria
33273 If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
33276 @cindex fatal signal
33277 @cindex debugger crash
33278 @cindex crash of debugger
33280 If the debugger gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is a
33281 @value{GDBN} bug. Reliable debuggers never crash.
33283 @cindex error on valid input
33285 If @value{GDBN} produces an error message for valid input, that is a
33286 bug. (Note that if you're cross debugging, the problem may also be
33287 somewhere in the connection to the target.)
33289 @cindex invalid input
33291 If @value{GDBN} does not produce an error message for invalid input,
33292 that is a bug. However, you should note that your idea of
33293 ``invalid input'' might be our idea of ``an extension'' or ``support
33294 for traditional practice''.
33297 If you are an experienced user of debugging tools, your suggestions
33298 for improvement of @value{GDBN} are welcome in any case.
33301 @node Bug Reporting
33302 @section How to Report Bugs
33303 @cindex bug reports
33304 @cindex @value{GDBN} bugs, reporting
33306 A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu} products.
33307 If you obtained @value{GDBN} from a support organization, we recommend you
33308 contact that organization first.
33310 You can find contact information for many support companies and
33311 individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
33313 @c should add a web page ref...
33316 @ifset BUGURL_DEFAULT
33317 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
33318 @value{GDBN}. The preferred method is to submit them directly using
33319 @uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/bugs/, @value{GDBN}'s Bugs web
33320 page}. Alternatively, the @email{bug-gdb@@gnu.org, e-mail gateway} can
33323 @strong{Do not send bug reports to @samp{info-gdb}, or to
33324 @samp{help-gdb}, or to any newsgroups.} Most users of @value{GDBN} do
33325 not want to receive bug reports. Those that do have arranged to receive
33328 The mailing list @samp{bug-gdb} has a newsgroup @samp{gnu.gdb.bug} which
33329 serves as a repeater. The mailing list and the newsgroup carry exactly
33330 the same messages. Often people think of posting bug reports to the
33331 newsgroup instead of mailing them. This appears to work, but it has one
33332 problem which can be crucial: a newsgroup posting often lacks a mail
33333 path back to the sender. Thus, if we need to ask for more information,
33334 we may be unable to reach you. For this reason, it is better to send
33335 bug reports to the mailing list.
33337 @ifclear BUGURL_DEFAULT
33338 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
33339 @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.
33343 The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
33344 @strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
33345 fact or leave it out, state it!
33347 Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
33348 problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
33349 assume that the name of the variable you use in an example does not matter.
33350 Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is a
33351 stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where that
33352 name is stored in memory; perhaps, if the name were different, the contents
33353 of that location would fool the debugger into doing the right thing despite
33354 the bug. Play it safe and give a specific, complete example. That is the
33355 easiest thing for you to do, and the most helpful.
33357 Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the
33358 bug. It may be that the bug has been reported previously, but neither
33359 you nor we can know that unless your bug report is complete and
33362 Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
33363 bell?'' Those bug reports are useless, and we urge everyone to
33364 @emph{refuse to respond to them} except to chide the sender to report
33367 To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
33371 The version of @value{GDBN}. @value{GDBN} announces it if you start
33372 with no arguments; you can also print it at any time using @code{show
33375 Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
33376 the bug in the current version of @value{GDBN}.
33379 The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
33383 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile @value{GDBN}---e.g.@:
33384 ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1''.
33387 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the program you are
33388 debugging---e.g.@: ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1'', or ``HP92453-01 A.10.32.03 HP
33389 C Compiler''. For @value{NGCC}, you can say @kbd{@value{GCC} --version}
33390 to get this information; for other compilers, see the documentation for
33394 The command arguments you gave the compiler to compile your example and
33395 observe the bug. For example, did you use @samp{-O}? To guarantee
33396 you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy of the
33397 Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
33399 If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
33400 and then we might not encounter the bug.
33403 A complete input script, and all necessary source files, that will
33407 A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
33408 incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
33410 Of course, if the bug is that @value{GDBN} gets a fatal signal, then we
33411 will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
33412 not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
33413 a chance to make a mistake.
33415 Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
33416 say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as, your
33417 copy of @value{GDBN} is out of synch, or you have encountered a bug in
33418 the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
33419 crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
33420 ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
33421 us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
33422 to draw any conclusion from our observations.
33425 @cindex recording a session script
33426 To collect all this information, you can use a session recording program
33427 such as @command{script}, which is available on many Unix systems.
33428 Just run your @value{GDBN} session inside @command{script} and then
33429 include the @file{typescript} file with your bug report.
33431 Another way to record a @value{GDBN} session is to run @value{GDBN}
33432 inside Emacs and then save the entire buffer to a file.
33435 If you wish to suggest changes to the @value{GDBN} source, send us context
33436 diffs. If you even discuss something in the @value{GDBN} source, refer to
33437 it by context, not by line number.
33439 The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
33440 sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
33444 Here are some things that are not necessary:
33448 A description of the envelope of the bug.
33450 Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
33451 which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
33452 changes will not affect it.
33454 This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
33455 will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
33456 with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
33457 We recommend that you save your time for something else.
33459 Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
33460 of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
33461 output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
33462 less time, and so on.
33464 However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
33465 report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
33468 A patch for the bug.
33470 A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
33471 the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
33472 a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
33473 to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
33475 Sometimes with a program as complicated as @value{GDBN} it is very hard to
33476 construct an example that will make the program follow a certain path
33477 through the code. If you do not send us the example, we will not be able
33478 to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that the bug is fixed.
33480 And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
33481 patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
33482 help us to understand.
33485 A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
33487 Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
33488 things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
33491 @c The readline documentation is distributed with the readline code
33492 @c and consists of the two following files:
33495 @c Use -I with makeinfo to point to the appropriate directory,
33496 @c environment var TEXINPUTS with TeX.
33497 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
33498 @include rluser.texi
33499 @include hsuser.texi
33503 @appendix In Memoriam
33505 The @value{GDBN} project mourns the loss of the following long-time
33510 Fred was a long-standing contributor to @value{GDBN} (1991-2006), and
33511 to Free Software in general. Outside of @value{GDBN}, he was known in
33512 the Amiga world for his series of Fish Disks, and the GeekGadget project.
33514 @item Michael Snyder
33515 Michael was one of the Global Maintainers of the @value{GDBN} project,
33516 with contributions recorded as early as 1996, until 2011. In addition
33517 to his day to day participation, he was a large driving force behind
33518 adding Reverse Debugging to @value{GDBN}.
33521 Beyond their technical contributions to the project, they were also
33522 enjoyable members of the Free Software Community. We will miss them.
33524 @node Formatting Documentation
33525 @appendix Formatting Documentation
33527 @cindex @value{GDBN} reference card
33528 @cindex reference card
33529 The @value{GDBN} 4 release includes an already-formatted reference card, ready
33530 for printing with PostScript or Ghostscript, in the @file{gdb}
33531 subdirectory of the main source directory@footnote{In
33532 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/refcard.ps} of the version @value{GDBVN}
33533 release.}. If you can use PostScript or Ghostscript with your printer,
33534 you can print the reference card immediately with @file{refcard.ps}.
33536 The release also includes the source for the reference card. You
33537 can format it, using @TeX{}, by typing:
33543 The @value{GDBN} reference card is designed to print in @dfn{landscape}
33544 mode on US ``letter'' size paper;
33545 that is, on a sheet 11 inches wide by 8.5 inches
33546 high. You will need to specify this form of printing as an option to
33547 your @sc{dvi} output program.
33549 @cindex documentation
33551 All the documentation for @value{GDBN} comes as part of the machine-readable
33552 distribution. The documentation is written in Texinfo format, which is
33553 a documentation system that uses a single source file to produce both
33554 on-line information and a printed manual. You can use one of the Info
33555 formatting commands to create the on-line version of the documentation
33556 and @TeX{} (or @code{texi2roff}) to typeset the printed version.
33558 @value{GDBN} includes an already formatted copy of the on-line Info
33559 version of this manual in the @file{gdb} subdirectory. The main Info
33560 file is @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/gdb.info}, and it refers to
33561 subordinate files matching @samp{gdb.info*} in the same directory. If
33562 necessary, you can print out these files, or read them with any editor;
33563 but they are easier to read using the @code{info} subsystem in @sc{gnu}
33564 Emacs or the standalone @code{info} program, available as part of the
33565 @sc{gnu} Texinfo distribution.
33567 If you want to format these Info files yourself, you need one of the
33568 Info formatting programs, such as @code{texinfo-format-buffer} or
33571 If you have @code{makeinfo} installed, and are in the top level
33572 @value{GDBN} source directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, in the case of
33573 version @value{GDBVN}), you can make the Info file by typing:
33580 If you want to typeset and print copies of this manual, you need @TeX{},
33581 a program to print its @sc{dvi} output files, and @file{texinfo.tex}, the
33582 Texinfo definitions file.
33584 @TeX{} is a typesetting program; it does not print files directly, but
33585 produces output files called @sc{dvi} files. To print a typeset
33586 document, you need a program to print @sc{dvi} files. If your system
33587 has @TeX{} installed, chances are it has such a program. The precise
33588 command to use depends on your system; @kbd{lpr -d} is common; another
33589 (for PostScript devices) is @kbd{dvips}. The @sc{dvi} print command may
33590 require a file name without any extension or a @samp{.dvi} extension.
33592 @TeX{} also requires a macro definitions file called
33593 @file{texinfo.tex}. This file tells @TeX{} how to typeset a document
33594 written in Texinfo format. On its own, @TeX{} cannot either read or
33595 typeset a Texinfo file. @file{texinfo.tex} is distributed with GDB
33596 and is located in the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}/texinfo}
33599 If you have @TeX{} and a @sc{dvi} printer program installed, you can
33600 typeset and print this manual. First switch to the @file{gdb}
33601 subdirectory of the main source directory (for example, to
33602 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb}) and type:
33608 Then give @file{gdb.dvi} to your @sc{dvi} printing program.
33610 @node Installing GDB
33611 @appendix Installing @value{GDBN}
33612 @cindex installation
33615 * Requirements:: Requirements for building @value{GDBN}
33616 * Running Configure:: Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} script
33617 * Separate Objdir:: Compiling @value{GDBN} in another directory
33618 * Config Names:: Specifying names for hosts and targets
33619 * Configure Options:: Summary of options for configure
33620 * System-wide configuration:: Having a system-wide init file
33624 @section Requirements for Building @value{GDBN}
33625 @cindex building @value{GDBN}, requirements for
33627 Building @value{GDBN} requires various tools and packages to be available.
33628 Other packages will be used only if they are found.
33630 @heading Tools/Packages Necessary for Building @value{GDBN}
33632 @item ISO C90 compiler
33633 @value{GDBN} is written in ISO C90. It should be buildable with any
33634 working C90 compiler, e.g.@: GCC.
33638 @heading Tools/Packages Optional for Building @value{GDBN}
33642 @value{GDBN} can use the Expat XML parsing library. This library may be
33643 included with your operating system distribution; if it is not, you
33644 can get the latest version from @url{http://expat.sourceforge.net}.
33645 The @file{configure} script will search for this library in several
33646 standard locations; if it is installed in an unusual path, you can
33647 use the @option{--with-libexpat-prefix} option to specify its location.
33653 Remote protocol memory maps (@pxref{Memory Map Format})
33655 Target descriptions (@pxref{Target Descriptions})
33657 Remote shared library lists (@xref{Library List Format},
33658 or alternatively @pxref{Library List Format for SVR4 Targets})
33660 MS-Windows shared libraries (@pxref{Shared Libraries})
33662 Traceframe info (@pxref{Traceframe Info Format})
33666 @cindex compressed debug sections
33667 @value{GDBN} will use the @samp{zlib} library, if available, to read
33668 compressed debug sections. Some linkers, such as GNU gold, are capable
33669 of producing binaries with compressed debug sections. If @value{GDBN}
33670 is compiled with @samp{zlib}, it will be able to read the debug
33671 information in such binaries.
33673 The @samp{zlib} library is likely included with your operating system
33674 distribution; if it is not, you can get the latest version from
33675 @url{http://zlib.net}.
33678 @value{GDBN}'s features related to character sets (@pxref{Character
33679 Sets}) require a functioning @code{iconv} implementation. If you are
33680 on a GNU system, then this is provided by the GNU C Library. Some
33681 other systems also provide a working @code{iconv}.
33683 If @value{GDBN} is using the @code{iconv} program which is installed
33684 in a non-standard place, you will need to tell @value{GDBN} where to find it.
33685 This is done with @option{--with-iconv-bin} which specifies the
33686 directory that contains the @code{iconv} program.
33688 On systems without @code{iconv}, you can install GNU Libiconv. If you
33689 have previously installed Libiconv, you can use the
33690 @option{--with-libiconv-prefix} option to configure.
33692 @value{GDBN}'s top-level @file{configure} and @file{Makefile} will
33693 arrange to build Libiconv if a directory named @file{libiconv} appears
33694 in the top-most source directory. If Libiconv is built this way, and
33695 if the operating system does not provide a suitable @code{iconv}
33696 implementation, then the just-built library will automatically be used
33697 by @value{GDBN}. One easy way to set this up is to download GNU
33698 Libiconv, unpack it, and then rename the directory holding the
33699 Libiconv source code to @samp{libiconv}.
33702 @node Running Configure
33703 @section Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} Script
33704 @cindex configuring @value{GDBN}
33705 @value{GDBN} comes with a @file{configure} script that automates the process
33706 of preparing @value{GDBN} for installation; you can then use @code{make} to
33707 build the @code{gdb} program.
33709 @c irrelevant in info file; it's as current as the code it lives with.
33710 @footnote{If you have a more recent version of @value{GDBN} than @value{GDBVN},
33711 look at the @file{README} file in the sources; we may have improved the
33712 installation procedures since publishing this manual.}
33715 The @value{GDBN} distribution includes all the source code you need for
33716 @value{GDBN} in a single directory, whose name is usually composed by
33717 appending the version number to @samp{gdb}.
33719 For example, the @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN} distribution is in the
33720 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory. That directory contains:
33723 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure @r{(and supporting files)}
33724 script for configuring @value{GDBN} and all its supporting libraries
33726 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb
33727 the source specific to @value{GDBN} itself
33729 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/bfd
33730 source for the Binary File Descriptor library
33732 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/include
33733 @sc{gnu} include files
33735 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/libiberty
33736 source for the @samp{-liberty} free software library
33738 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/opcodes
33739 source for the library of opcode tables and disassemblers
33741 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/readline
33742 source for the @sc{gnu} command-line interface
33744 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/glob
33745 source for the @sc{gnu} filename pattern-matching subroutine
33747 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/mmalloc
33748 source for the @sc{gnu} memory-mapped malloc package
33751 The simplest way to configure and build @value{GDBN} is to run @file{configure}
33752 from the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory, which in
33753 this example is the @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory.
33755 First switch to the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory
33756 if you are not already in it; then run @file{configure}. Pass the
33757 identifier for the platform on which @value{GDBN} will run as an
33763 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
33764 ./configure @var{host}
33769 where @var{host} is an identifier such as @samp{sun4} or
33770 @samp{decstation}, that identifies the platform where @value{GDBN} will run.
33771 (You can often leave off @var{host}; @file{configure} tries to guess the
33772 correct value by examining your system.)
33774 Running @samp{configure @var{host}} and then running @code{make} builds the
33775 @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, @file{mmalloc}, and @file{libiberty}
33776 libraries, then @code{gdb} itself. The configured source files, and the
33777 binaries, are left in the corresponding source directories.
33780 @file{configure} is a Bourne-shell (@code{/bin/sh}) script; if your
33781 system does not recognize this automatically when you run a different
33782 shell, you may need to run @code{sh} on it explicitly:
33785 sh configure @var{host}
33788 If you run @file{configure} from a directory that contains source
33789 directories for multiple libraries or programs, such as the
33790 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} source directory for version @value{GDBVN},
33792 creates configuration files for every directory level underneath (unless
33793 you tell it not to, with the @samp{--norecursion} option).
33795 You should run the @file{configure} script from the top directory in the
33796 source tree, the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory. If you run
33797 @file{configure} from one of the subdirectories, you will configure only
33798 that subdirectory. That is usually not what you want. In particular,
33799 if you run the first @file{configure} from the @file{gdb} subdirectory
33800 of the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory, you will omit the
33801 configuration of @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, and other sibling
33802 directories of the @file{gdb} subdirectory. This leads to build errors
33803 about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
33805 You can install @code{@value{GDBP}} anywhere; it has no hardwired paths.
33806 However, you should make sure that the shell on your path (named by
33807 the @samp{SHELL} environment variable) is publicly readable. Remember
33808 that @value{GDBN} uses the shell to start your program---some systems refuse to
33809 let @value{GDBN} debug child processes whose programs are not readable.
33811 @node Separate Objdir
33812 @section Compiling @value{GDBN} in Another Directory
33814 If you want to run @value{GDBN} versions for several host or target machines,
33815 you need a different @code{gdb} compiled for each combination of
33816 host and target. @file{configure} is designed to make this easy by
33817 allowing you to generate each configuration in a separate subdirectory,
33818 rather than in the source directory. If your @code{make} program
33819 handles the @samp{VPATH} feature (@sc{gnu} @code{make} does), running
33820 @code{make} in each of these directories builds the @code{gdb}
33821 program specified there.
33823 To build @code{gdb} in a separate directory, run @file{configure}
33824 with the @samp{--srcdir} option to specify where to find the source.
33825 (You also need to specify a path to find @file{configure}
33826 itself from your working directory. If the path to @file{configure}
33827 would be the same as the argument to @samp{--srcdir}, you can leave out
33828 the @samp{--srcdir} option; it is assumed.)
33830 For example, with version @value{GDBVN}, you can build @value{GDBN} in a
33831 separate directory for a Sun 4 like this:
33835 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
33838 ../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure sun4
33843 When @file{configure} builds a configuration using a remote source
33844 directory, it creates a tree for the binaries with the same structure
33845 (and using the same names) as the tree under the source directory. In
33846 the example, you'd find the Sun 4 library @file{libiberty.a} in the
33847 directory @file{gdb-sun4/libiberty}, and @value{GDBN} itself in
33848 @file{gdb-sun4/gdb}.
33850 Make sure that your path to the @file{configure} script has just one
33851 instance of @file{gdb} in it. If your path to @file{configure} looks
33852 like @file{../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/configure}, you are configuring only
33853 one subdirectory of @value{GDBN}, not the whole package. This leads to
33854 build errors about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
33856 One popular reason to build several @value{GDBN} configurations in separate
33857 directories is to configure @value{GDBN} for cross-compiling (where
33858 @value{GDBN} runs on one machine---the @dfn{host}---while debugging
33859 programs that run on another machine---the @dfn{target}).
33860 You specify a cross-debugging target by
33861 giving the @samp{--target=@var{target}} option to @file{configure}.
33863 When you run @code{make} to build a program or library, you must run
33864 it in a configured directory---whatever directory you were in when you
33865 called @file{configure} (or one of its subdirectories).
33867 The @code{Makefile} that @file{configure} generates in each source
33868 directory also runs recursively. If you type @code{make} in a source
33869 directory such as @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} (or in a separate configured
33870 directory configured with @samp{--srcdir=@var{dirname}/gdb-@value{GDBVN}}), you
33871 will build all the required libraries, and then build GDB.
33873 When you have multiple hosts or targets configured in separate
33874 directories, you can run @code{make} on them in parallel (for example,
33875 if they are NFS-mounted on each of the hosts); they will not interfere
33879 @section Specifying Names for Hosts and Targets
33881 The specifications used for hosts and targets in the @file{configure}
33882 script are based on a three-part naming scheme, but some short predefined
33883 aliases are also supported. The full naming scheme encodes three pieces
33884 of information in the following pattern:
33887 @var{architecture}-@var{vendor}-@var{os}
33890 For example, you can use the alias @code{sun4} as a @var{host} argument,
33891 or as the value for @var{target} in a @code{--target=@var{target}}
33892 option. The equivalent full name is @samp{sparc-sun-sunos4}.
33894 The @file{configure} script accompanying @value{GDBN} does not provide
33895 any query facility to list all supported host and target names or
33896 aliases. @file{configure} calls the Bourne shell script
33897 @code{config.sub} to map abbreviations to full names; you can read the
33898 script, if you wish, or you can use it to test your guesses on
33899 abbreviations---for example:
33902 % sh config.sub i386-linux
33904 % sh config.sub alpha-linux
33905 alpha-unknown-linux-gnu
33906 % sh config.sub hp9k700
33908 % sh config.sub sun4
33909 sparc-sun-sunos4.1.1
33910 % sh config.sub sun3
33911 m68k-sun-sunos4.1.1
33912 % sh config.sub i986v
33913 Invalid configuration `i986v': machine `i986v' not recognized
33917 @code{config.sub} is also distributed in the @value{GDBN} source
33918 directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, for version @value{GDBVN}).
33920 @node Configure Options
33921 @section @file{configure} Options
33923 Here is a summary of the @file{configure} options and arguments that
33924 are most often useful for building @value{GDBN}. @file{configure} also has
33925 several other options not listed here. @inforef{What Configure
33926 Does,,configure.info}, for a full explanation of @file{configure}.
33929 configure @r{[}--help@r{]}
33930 @r{[}--prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
33931 @r{[}--exec-prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
33932 @r{[}--srcdir=@var{dirname}@r{]}
33933 @r{[}--norecursion@r{]} @r{[}--rm@r{]}
33934 @r{[}--target=@var{target}@r{]}
33939 You may introduce options with a single @samp{-} rather than
33940 @samp{--} if you prefer; but you may abbreviate option names if you use
33945 Display a quick summary of how to invoke @file{configure}.
33947 @item --prefix=@var{dir}
33948 Configure the source to install programs and files under directory
33951 @item --exec-prefix=@var{dir}
33952 Configure the source to install programs under directory
33955 @c avoid splitting the warning from the explanation:
33957 @item --srcdir=@var{dirname}
33958 @strong{Warning: using this option requires @sc{gnu} @code{make}, or another
33959 @code{make} that implements the @code{VPATH} feature.}@*
33960 Use this option to make configurations in directories separate from the
33961 @value{GDBN} source directories. Among other things, you can use this to
33962 build (or maintain) several configurations simultaneously, in separate
33963 directories. @file{configure} writes configuration-specific files in
33964 the current directory, but arranges for them to use the source in the
33965 directory @var{dirname}. @file{configure} creates directories under
33966 the working directory in parallel to the source directories below
33969 @item --norecursion
33970 Configure only the directory level where @file{configure} is executed; do not
33971 propagate configuration to subdirectories.
33973 @item --target=@var{target}
33974 Configure @value{GDBN} for cross-debugging programs running on the specified
33975 @var{target}. Without this option, @value{GDBN} is configured to debug
33976 programs that run on the same machine (@var{host}) as @value{GDBN} itself.
33978 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available targets.
33980 @item @var{host} @dots{}
33981 Configure @value{GDBN} to run on the specified @var{host}.
33983 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available hosts.
33986 There are many other options available as well, but they are generally
33987 needed for special purposes only.
33989 @node System-wide configuration
33990 @section System-wide configuration and settings
33991 @cindex system-wide init file
33993 @value{GDBN} can be configured to have a system-wide init file;
33994 this file will be read and executed at startup (@pxref{Startup, , What
33995 @value{GDBN} does during startup}).
33997 Here is the corresponding configure option:
34000 @item --with-system-gdbinit=@var{file}
34001 Specify that the default location of the system-wide init file is
34005 If @value{GDBN} has been configured with the option @option{--prefix=$prefix},
34006 it may be subject to relocation. Two possible cases:
34010 If the default location of this init file contains @file{$prefix},
34011 it will be subject to relocation. Suppose that the configure options
34012 are @option{--prefix=$prefix --with-system-gdbinit=$prefix/etc/gdbinit};
34013 if @value{GDBN} is moved from @file{$prefix} to @file{$install}, the system
34014 init file is looked for as @file{$install/etc/gdbinit} instead of
34015 @file{$prefix/etc/gdbinit}.
34018 By contrast, if the default location does not contain the prefix,
34019 it will not be relocated. E.g.@: if @value{GDBN} has been configured with
34020 @option{--prefix=/usr/local --with-system-gdbinit=/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
34021 then @value{GDBN} will always look for @file{/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
34022 wherever @value{GDBN} is installed.
34025 @node Maintenance Commands
34026 @appendix Maintenance Commands
34027 @cindex maintenance commands
34028 @cindex internal commands
34030 In addition to commands intended for @value{GDBN} users, @value{GDBN}
34031 includes a number of commands intended for @value{GDBN} developers,
34032 that are not documented elsewhere in this manual. These commands are
34033 provided here for reference. (For commands that turn on debugging
34034 messages, see @ref{Debugging Output}.)
34037 @kindex maint agent
34038 @kindex maint agent-eval
34039 @item maint agent @var{expression}
34040 @itemx maint agent-eval @var{expression}
34041 Translate the given @var{expression} into remote agent bytecodes.
34042 This command is useful for debugging the Agent Expression mechanism
34043 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}). The @samp{agent} version produces an
34044 expression useful for data collection, such as by tracepoints, while
34045 @samp{maint agent-eval} produces an expression that evaluates directly
34046 to a result. For instance, a collection expression for @code{globa +
34047 globb} will include bytecodes to record four bytes of memory at each
34048 of the addresses of @code{globa} and @code{globb}, while discarding
34049 the result of the addition, while an evaluation expression will do the
34050 addition and return the sum.
34052 @kindex maint info breakpoints
34053 @item @anchor{maint info breakpoints}maint info breakpoints
34054 Using the same format as @samp{info breakpoints}, display both the
34055 breakpoints you've set explicitly, and those @value{GDBN} is using for
34056 internal purposes. Internal breakpoints are shown with negative
34057 breakpoint numbers. The type column identifies what kind of breakpoint
34062 Normal, explicitly set breakpoint.
34065 Normal, explicitly set watchpoint.
34068 Internal breakpoint, used to handle correctly stepping through
34069 @code{longjmp} calls.
34071 @item longjmp resume
34072 Internal breakpoint at the target of a @code{longjmp}.
34075 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{until} command.
34078 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{finish} command.
34081 Shared library events.
34085 @kindex set displaced-stepping
34086 @kindex show displaced-stepping
34087 @cindex displaced stepping support
34088 @cindex out-of-line single-stepping
34089 @item set displaced-stepping
34090 @itemx show displaced-stepping
34091 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will do @dfn{displaced stepping}
34092 if the target supports it. Displaced stepping is a way to single-step
34093 over breakpoints without removing them from the inferior, by executing
34094 an out-of-line copy of the instruction that was originally at the
34095 breakpoint location. It is also known as out-of-line single-stepping.
34098 @item set displaced-stepping on
34099 If the target architecture supports it, @value{GDBN} will use
34100 displaced stepping to step over breakpoints.
34102 @item set displaced-stepping off
34103 @value{GDBN} will not use displaced stepping to step over breakpoints,
34104 even if such is supported by the target architecture.
34106 @cindex non-stop mode, and @samp{set displaced-stepping}
34107 @item set displaced-stepping auto
34108 This is the default mode. @value{GDBN} will use displaced stepping
34109 only if non-stop mode is active (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) and the target
34110 architecture supports displaced stepping.
34113 @kindex maint check-symtabs
34114 @item maint check-symtabs
34115 Check the consistency of psymtabs and symtabs.
34117 @kindex maint cplus first_component
34118 @item maint cplus first_component @var{name}
34119 Print the first C@t{++} class/namespace component of @var{name}.
34121 @kindex maint cplus namespace
34122 @item maint cplus namespace
34123 Print the list of possible C@t{++} namespaces.
34125 @kindex maint demangle
34126 @item maint demangle @var{name}
34127 Demangle a C@t{++} or Objective-C mangled @var{name}.
34129 @kindex maint deprecate
34130 @kindex maint undeprecate
34131 @cindex deprecated commands
34132 @item maint deprecate @var{command} @r{[}@var{replacement}@r{]}
34133 @itemx maint undeprecate @var{command}
34134 Deprecate or undeprecate the named @var{command}. Deprecated commands
34135 cause @value{GDBN} to issue a warning when you use them. The optional
34136 argument @var{replacement} says which newer command should be used in
34137 favor of the deprecated one; if it is given, @value{GDBN} will mention
34138 the replacement as part of the warning.
34140 @kindex maint dump-me
34141 @item maint dump-me
34142 @cindex @code{SIGQUIT} signal, dump core of @value{GDBN}
34143 Cause a fatal signal in the debugger and force it to dump its core.
34144 This is supported only on systems which support aborting a program
34145 with the @code{SIGQUIT} signal.
34147 @kindex maint internal-error
34148 @kindex maint internal-warning
34149 @item maint internal-error @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
34150 @itemx maint internal-warning @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
34151 Cause @value{GDBN} to call the internal function @code{internal_error}
34152 or @code{internal_warning} and hence behave as though an internal error
34153 or internal warning has been detected. In addition to reporting the
34154 internal problem, these functions give the user the opportunity to
34155 either quit @value{GDBN} or create a core file of the current
34156 @value{GDBN} session.
34158 These commands take an optional parameter @var{message-text} that is
34159 used as the text of the error or warning message.
34161 Here's an example of using @code{internal-error}:
34164 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint internal-error testing, 1, 2}
34165 @dots{}/maint.c:121: internal-error: testing, 1, 2
34166 A problem internal to GDB has been detected. Further
34167 debugging may prove unreliable.
34168 Quit this debugging session? (y or n) @kbd{n}
34169 Create a core file? (y or n) @kbd{n}
34173 @cindex @value{GDBN} internal error
34174 @cindex internal errors, control of @value{GDBN} behavior
34176 @kindex maint set internal-error
34177 @kindex maint show internal-error
34178 @kindex maint set internal-warning
34179 @kindex maint show internal-warning
34180 @item maint set internal-error @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
34181 @itemx maint show internal-error @var{action}
34182 @itemx maint set internal-warning @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
34183 @itemx maint show internal-warning @var{action}
34184 When @value{GDBN} reports an internal problem (error or warning) it
34185 gives the user the opportunity to both quit @value{GDBN} and create a
34186 core file of the current @value{GDBN} session. These commands let you
34187 override the default behaviour for each particular @var{action},
34188 described in the table below.
34192 You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
34193 quit. The default is to ask the user what to do.
34196 You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
34197 create a core file. The default is to ask the user what to do.
34200 @kindex maint packet
34201 @item maint packet @var{text}
34202 If @value{GDBN} is talking to an inferior via the serial protocol,
34203 then this command sends the string @var{text} to the inferior, and
34204 displays the response packet. @value{GDBN} supplies the initial
34205 @samp{$} character, the terminating @samp{#} character, and the
34208 @kindex maint print architecture
34209 @item maint print architecture @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
34210 Print the entire architecture configuration. The optional argument
34211 @var{file} names the file where the output goes.
34213 @kindex maint print c-tdesc
34214 @item maint print c-tdesc
34215 Print the current target description (@pxref{Target Descriptions}) as
34216 a C source file. The created source file can be used in @value{GDBN}
34217 when an XML parser is not available to parse the description.
34219 @kindex maint print dummy-frames
34220 @item maint print dummy-frames
34221 Prints the contents of @value{GDBN}'s internal dummy-frame stack.
34224 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{b add}
34226 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{print add(2,3)}
34227 Breakpoint 2, add (a=2, b=3) at @dots{}
34229 The program being debugged stopped while in a function called from GDB.
34231 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print dummy-frames}
34232 0x1a57c80: pc=0x01014068 fp=0x0200bddc sp=0x0200bdd6
34233 top=0x0200bdd4 id=@{stack=0x200bddc,code=0x101405c@}
34234 call_lo=0x01014000 call_hi=0x01014001
34238 Takes an optional file parameter.
34240 @kindex maint print registers
34241 @kindex maint print raw-registers
34242 @kindex maint print cooked-registers
34243 @kindex maint print register-groups
34244 @kindex maint print remote-registers
34245 @item maint print registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
34246 @itemx maint print raw-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
34247 @itemx maint print cooked-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
34248 @itemx maint print register-groups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
34249 @itemx maint print remote-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
34250 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register data structures.
34252 The command @code{maint print raw-registers} includes the contents of
34253 the raw register cache; the command @code{maint print
34254 cooked-registers} includes the (cooked) value of all registers,
34255 including registers which aren't available on the target nor visible
34256 to user; the command @code{maint print register-groups} includes the
34257 groups that each register is a member of; and the command @code{maint
34258 print remote-registers} includes the remote target's register numbers
34259 and offsets in the `G' packets. @xref{Registers,, Registers, gdbint,
34260 @value{GDBN} Internals}.
34262 These commands take an optional parameter, a file name to which to
34263 write the information.
34265 @kindex maint print reggroups
34266 @item maint print reggroups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
34267 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register group data structures. The
34268 optional argument @var{file} tells to what file to write the
34271 The register groups info looks like this:
34274 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print reggroups}
34287 This command forces @value{GDBN} to flush its internal register cache.
34289 @kindex maint print objfiles
34290 @cindex info for known object files
34291 @item maint print objfiles
34292 Print a dump of all known object files. For each object file, this
34293 command prints its name, address in memory, and all of its psymtabs
34296 @kindex maint print section-scripts
34297 @cindex info for known .debug_gdb_scripts-loaded scripts
34298 @item maint print section-scripts [@var{regexp}]
34299 Print a dump of scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_section} section.
34300 If @var{regexp} is specified, only print scripts loaded by object files
34301 matching @var{regexp}.
34302 For each script, this command prints its name as specified in the objfile,
34303 and the full path if known.
34304 @xref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section}.
34306 @kindex maint print statistics
34307 @cindex bcache statistics
34308 @item maint print statistics
34309 This command prints, for each object file in the program, various data
34310 about that object file followed by the byte cache (@dfn{bcache})
34311 statistics for the object file. The objfile data includes the number
34312 of minimal, partial, full, and stabs symbols, the number of types
34313 defined by the objfile, the number of as yet unexpanded psym tables,
34314 the number of line tables and string tables, and the amount of memory
34315 used by the various tables. The bcache statistics include the counts,
34316 sizes, and counts of duplicates of all and unique objects, max,
34317 average, and median entry size, total memory used and its overhead and
34318 savings, and various measures of the hash table size and chain
34321 @kindex maint print target-stack
34322 @cindex target stack description
34323 @item maint print target-stack
34324 A @dfn{target} is an interface between the debugger and a particular
34325 kind of file or process. Targets can be stacked in @dfn{strata},
34326 so that more than one target can potentially respond to a request.
34327 In particular, memory accesses will walk down the stack of targets
34328 until they find a target that is interested in handling that particular
34331 This command prints a short description of each layer that was pushed on
34332 the @dfn{target stack}, starting from the top layer down to the bottom one.
34334 @kindex maint print type
34335 @cindex type chain of a data type
34336 @item maint print type @var{expr}
34337 Print the type chain for a type specified by @var{expr}. The argument
34338 can be either a type name or a symbol. If it is a symbol, the type of
34339 that symbol is described. The type chain produced by this command is
34340 a recursive definition of the data type as stored in @value{GDBN}'s
34341 data structures, including its flags and contained types.
34343 @kindex maint set dwarf2 always-disassemble
34344 @kindex maint show dwarf2 always-disassemble
34345 @item maint set dwarf2 always-disassemble
34346 @item maint show dwarf2 always-disassemble
34347 Control the behavior of @code{info address} when using DWARF debugging
34350 The default is @code{off}, which means that @value{GDBN} should try to
34351 describe a variable's location in an easily readable format. When
34352 @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will instead display the DWARF location
34353 expression in an assembly-like format. Note that some locations are
34354 too complex for @value{GDBN} to describe simply; in this case you will
34355 always see the disassembly form.
34357 Here is an example of the resulting disassembly:
34360 (gdb) info addr argc
34361 Symbol "argc" is a complex DWARF expression:
34365 For more information on these expressions, see
34366 @uref{http://www.dwarfstd.org/, the DWARF standard}.
34368 @kindex maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
34369 @kindex maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
34370 @item maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
34371 @itemx maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
34372 Control the DWARF 2 compilation unit cache.
34374 @cindex DWARF 2 compilation units cache
34375 In object files with inter-compilation-unit references, such as those
34376 produced by the GCC option @samp{-feliminate-dwarf2-dups}, the DWARF 2
34377 reader needs to frequently refer to previously read compilation units.
34378 This setting controls how long a compilation unit will remain in the
34379 cache if it is not referenced. A higher limit means that cached
34380 compilation units will be stored in memory longer, and more total
34381 memory will be used. Setting it to zero disables caching, which will
34382 slow down @value{GDBN} startup, but reduce memory consumption.
34384 @kindex maint set profile
34385 @kindex maint show profile
34386 @cindex profiling GDB
34387 @item maint set profile
34388 @itemx maint show profile
34389 Control profiling of @value{GDBN}.
34391 Profiling will be disabled until you use the @samp{maint set profile}
34392 command to enable it. When you enable profiling, the system will begin
34393 collecting timing and execution count data; when you disable profiling or
34394 exit @value{GDBN}, the results will be written to a log file. Remember that
34395 if you use profiling, @value{GDBN} will overwrite the profiling log file
34396 (often called @file{gmon.out}). If you have a record of important profiling
34397 data in a @file{gmon.out} file, be sure to move it to a safe location.
34399 Configuring with @samp{--enable-profiling} arranges for @value{GDBN} to be
34400 compiled with the @samp{-pg} compiler option.
34402 @kindex maint set show-debug-regs
34403 @kindex maint show show-debug-regs
34404 @cindex hardware debug registers
34405 @item maint set show-debug-regs
34406 @itemx maint show show-debug-regs
34407 Control whether to show variables that mirror the hardware debug
34408 registers. Use @code{ON} to enable, @code{OFF} to disable. If
34409 enabled, the debug registers values are shown when @value{GDBN} inserts or
34410 removes a hardware breakpoint or watchpoint, and when the inferior
34411 triggers a hardware-assisted breakpoint or watchpoint.
34413 @kindex maint set show-all-tib
34414 @kindex maint show show-all-tib
34415 @item maint set show-all-tib
34416 @itemx maint show show-all-tib
34417 Control whether to show all non zero areas within a 1k block starting
34418 at thread local base, when using the @samp{info w32 thread-information-block}
34421 @kindex maint space
34422 @cindex memory used by commands
34424 Control whether to display memory usage for each command. If set to a
34425 nonzero value, @value{GDBN} will display how much memory each command
34426 took, following the command's own output. This can also be requested
34427 by invoking @value{GDBN} with the @option{--statistics} command-line
34428 switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
34431 @cindex time of command execution
34433 Control whether to display the execution time of @value{GDBN} for each command.
34434 If set to a nonzero value, @value{GDBN} will display how much time it
34435 took to execute each command, following the command's own output.
34436 Both CPU time and wallclock time are printed.
34437 Printing both is useful when trying to determine whether the cost is
34438 CPU or, e.g., disk/network, latency.
34439 Note that the CPU time printed is for @value{GDBN} only, it does not include
34440 the execution time of the inferior because there's no mechanism currently
34441 to compute how much time was spent by @value{GDBN} and how much time was
34442 spent by the program been debugged.
34443 This can also be requested by invoking @value{GDBN} with the
34444 @option{--statistics} command-line switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
34446 @kindex maint translate-address
34447 @item maint translate-address @r{[}@var{section}@r{]} @var{addr}
34448 Find the symbol stored at the location specified by the address
34449 @var{addr} and an optional section name @var{section}. If found,
34450 @value{GDBN} prints the name of the closest symbol and an offset from
34451 the symbol's location to the specified address. This is similar to
34452 the @code{info address} command (@pxref{Symbols}), except that this
34453 command also allows to find symbols in other sections.
34455 If section was not specified, the section in which the symbol was found
34456 is also printed. For dynamically linked executables, the name of
34457 executable or shared library containing the symbol is printed as well.
34461 The following command is useful for non-interactive invocations of
34462 @value{GDBN}, such as in the test suite.
34465 @item set watchdog @var{nsec}
34466 @kindex set watchdog
34467 @cindex watchdog timer
34468 @cindex timeout for commands
34469 Set the maximum number of seconds @value{GDBN} will wait for the
34470 target operation to finish. If this time expires, @value{GDBN}
34471 reports and error and the command is aborted.
34473 @item show watchdog
34474 Show the current setting of the target wait timeout.
34477 @node Remote Protocol
34478 @appendix @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol
34483 * Stop Reply Packets::
34484 * General Query Packets::
34485 * Architecture-Specific Protocol Details::
34486 * Tracepoint Packets::
34487 * Host I/O Packets::
34489 * Notification Packets::
34490 * Remote Non-Stop::
34491 * Packet Acknowledgment::
34493 * File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension::
34494 * Library List Format::
34495 * Library List Format for SVR4 Targets::
34496 * Memory Map Format::
34497 * Thread List Format::
34498 * Traceframe Info Format::
34504 There may be occasions when you need to know something about the
34505 protocol---for example, if there is only one serial port to your target
34506 machine, you might want your program to do something special if it
34507 recognizes a packet meant for @value{GDBN}.
34509 In the examples below, @samp{->} and @samp{<-} are used to indicate
34510 transmitted and received data, respectively.
34512 @cindex protocol, @value{GDBN} remote serial
34513 @cindex serial protocol, @value{GDBN} remote
34514 @cindex remote serial protocol
34515 All @value{GDBN} commands and responses (other than acknowledgments
34516 and notifications, see @ref{Notification Packets}) are sent as a
34517 @var{packet}. A @var{packet} is introduced with the character
34518 @samp{$}, the actual @var{packet-data}, and the terminating character
34519 @samp{#} followed by a two-digit @var{checksum}:
34522 @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
34526 @cindex checksum, for @value{GDBN} remote
34528 The two-digit @var{checksum} is computed as the modulo 256 sum of all
34529 characters between the leading @samp{$} and the trailing @samp{#} (an
34530 eight bit unsigned checksum).
34532 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0 the protocol
34533 specification also included an optional two-digit @var{sequence-id}:
34536 @code{$}@var{sequence-id}@code{:}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
34539 @cindex sequence-id, for @value{GDBN} remote
34541 That @var{sequence-id} was appended to the acknowledgment. @value{GDBN}
34542 has never output @var{sequence-id}s. Stubs that handle packets added
34543 since @value{GDBN} 5.0 must not accept @var{sequence-id}.
34545 When either the host or the target machine receives a packet, the first
34546 response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
34547 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request
34551 -> @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
34556 The @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments can be disabled
34557 once a connection is established.
34558 @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}, for details.
34560 The host (@value{GDBN}) sends @var{command}s, and the target (the
34561 debugging stub incorporated in your program) sends a @var{response}. In
34562 the case of step and continue @var{command}s, the response is only sent
34563 when the operation has completed, and the target has again stopped all
34564 threads in all attached processes. This is the default all-stop mode
34565 behavior, but the remote protocol also supports @value{GDBN}'s non-stop
34566 execution mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}, for details.
34568 @var{packet-data} consists of a sequence of characters with the
34569 exception of @samp{#} and @samp{$} (see @samp{X} packet for additional
34572 @cindex remote protocol, field separator
34573 Fields within the packet should be separated using @samp{,} @samp{;} or
34574 @samp{:}. Except where otherwise noted all numbers are represented in
34575 @sc{hex} with leading zeros suppressed.
34577 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0, the character
34578 @samp{:} could not appear as the third character in a packet (as it
34579 would potentially conflict with the @var{sequence-id}).
34581 @cindex remote protocol, binary data
34582 @anchor{Binary Data}
34583 Binary data in most packets is encoded either as two hexadecimal
34584 digits per byte of binary data. This allowed the traditional remote
34585 protocol to work over connections which were only seven-bit clean.
34586 Some packets designed more recently assume an eight-bit clean
34587 connection, and use a more efficient encoding to send and receive
34590 The binary data representation uses @code{7d} (@sc{ascii} @samp{@}})
34591 as an escape character. Any escaped byte is transmitted as the escape
34592 character followed by the original character XORed with @code{0x20}.
34593 For example, the byte @code{0x7d} would be transmitted as the two
34594 bytes @code{0x7d 0x5d}. The bytes @code{0x23} (@sc{ascii} @samp{#}),
34595 @code{0x24} (@sc{ascii} @samp{$}), and @code{0x7d} (@sc{ascii}
34596 @samp{@}}) must always be escaped. Responses sent by the stub
34597 must also escape @code{0x2a} (@sc{ascii} @samp{*}), so that it
34598 is not interpreted as the start of a run-length encoded sequence
34601 Response @var{data} can be run-length encoded to save space.
34602 Run-length encoding replaces runs of identical characters with one
34603 instance of the repeated character, followed by a @samp{*} and a
34604 repeat count. The repeat count is itself sent encoded, to avoid
34605 binary characters in @var{data}: a value of @var{n} is sent as
34606 @code{@var{n}+29}. For a repeat count greater or equal to 3, this
34607 produces a printable @sc{ascii} character, e.g.@: a space (@sc{ascii}
34608 code 32) for a repeat count of 3. (This is because run-length
34609 encoding starts to win for counts 3 or more.) Thus, for example,
34610 @samp{0* } is a run-length encoding of ``0000'': the space character
34611 after @samp{*} means repeat the leading @code{0} @w{@code{32 - 29 =
34614 The printable characters @samp{#} and @samp{$} or with a numeric value
34615 greater than 126 must not be used. Runs of six repeats (@samp{#}) or
34616 seven repeats (@samp{$}) can be expanded using a repeat count of only
34617 five (@samp{"}). For example, @samp{00000000} can be encoded as
34620 The error response returned for some packets includes a two character
34621 error number. That number is not well defined.
34623 @cindex empty response, for unsupported packets
34624 For any @var{command} not supported by the stub, an empty response
34625 (@samp{$#00}) should be returned. That way it is possible to extend the
34626 protocol. A newer @value{GDBN} can tell if a packet is supported based
34629 At a minimum, a stub is required to support the @samp{g} and @samp{G}
34630 commands for register access, and the @samp{m} and @samp{M} commands
34631 for memory access. Stubs that only control single-threaded targets
34632 can implement run control with the @samp{c} (continue), and @samp{s}
34633 (step) commands. Stubs that support multi-threading targets should
34634 support the @samp{vCont} command. All other commands are optional.
34639 The following table provides a complete list of all currently defined
34640 @var{command}s and their corresponding response @var{data}.
34641 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for details about the File
34642 I/O extension of the remote protocol.
34644 Each packet's description has a template showing the packet's overall
34645 syntax, followed by an explanation of the packet's meaning. We
34646 include spaces in some of the templates for clarity; these are not
34647 part of the packet's syntax. No @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to
34648 separate its components. For example, a template like @samp{foo
34649 @var{bar} @var{baz}} describes a packet beginning with the three ASCII
34650 bytes @samp{foo}, followed by a @var{bar}, followed directly by a
34651 @var{baz}. @value{GDBN} does not transmit a space character between the
34652 @samp{foo} and the @var{bar}, or between the @var{bar} and the
34655 @cindex @var{thread-id}, in remote protocol
34656 @anchor{thread-id syntax}
34657 Several packets and replies include a @var{thread-id} field to identify
34658 a thread. Normally these are positive numbers with a target-specific
34659 interpretation, formatted as big-endian hex strings. A @var{thread-id}
34660 can also be a literal @samp{-1} to indicate all threads, or @samp{0} to
34663 In addition, the remote protocol supports a multiprocess feature in
34664 which the @var{thread-id} syntax is extended to optionally include both
34665 process and thread ID fields, as @samp{p@var{pid}.@var{tid}}.
34666 The @var{pid} (process) and @var{tid} (thread) components each have the
34667 format described above: a positive number with target-specific
34668 interpretation formatted as a big-endian hex string, literal @samp{-1}
34669 to indicate all processes or threads (respectively), or @samp{0} to
34670 indicate an arbitrary process or thread. Specifying just a process, as
34671 @samp{p@var{pid}}, is equivalent to @samp{p@var{pid}.-1}. It is an
34672 error to specify all processes but a specific thread, such as
34673 @samp{p-1.@var{tid}}. Note that the @samp{p} prefix is @emph{not} used
34674 for those packets and replies explicitly documented to include a process
34675 ID, rather than a @var{thread-id}.
34677 The multiprocess @var{thread-id} syntax extensions are only used if both
34678 @value{GDBN} and the stub report support for the @samp{multiprocess}
34679 feature using @samp{qSupported}. @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for
34682 Note that all packet forms beginning with an upper- or lower-case
34683 letter, other than those described here, are reserved for future use.
34685 Here are the packet descriptions.
34690 @cindex @samp{!} packet
34691 @anchor{extended mode}
34692 Enable extended mode. In extended mode, the remote server is made
34693 persistent. The @samp{R} packet is used to restart the program being
34699 The remote target both supports and has enabled extended mode.
34703 @cindex @samp{?} packet
34704 Indicate the reason the target halted. The reply is the same as for
34705 step and continue. This packet has a special interpretation when the
34706 target is in non-stop mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}.
34709 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
34711 @item A @var{arglen},@var{argnum},@var{arg},@dots{}
34712 @cindex @samp{A} packet
34713 Initialized @code{argv[]} array passed into program. @var{arglen}
34714 specifies the number of bytes in the hex encoded byte stream
34715 @var{arg}. See @code{gdbserver} for more details.
34720 The arguments were set.
34726 @cindex @samp{b} packet
34727 (Don't use this packet; its behavior is not well-defined.)
34728 Change the serial line speed to @var{baud}.
34730 JTC: @emph{When does the transport layer state change? When it's
34731 received, or after the ACK is transmitted. In either case, there are
34732 problems if the command or the acknowledgment packet is dropped.}
34734 Stan: @emph{If people really wanted to add something like this, and get
34735 it working for the first time, they ought to modify ser-unix.c to send
34736 some kind of out-of-band message to a specially-setup stub and have the
34737 switch happen "in between" packets, so that from remote protocol's point
34738 of view, nothing actually happened.}
34740 @item B @var{addr},@var{mode}
34741 @cindex @samp{B} packet
34742 Set (@var{mode} is @samp{S}) or clear (@var{mode} is @samp{C}) a
34743 breakpoint at @var{addr}.
34745 Don't use this packet. Use the @samp{Z} and @samp{z} packets instead
34746 (@pxref{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}).
34748 @cindex @samp{bc} packet
34751 Backward continue. Execute the target system in reverse. No parameter.
34752 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
34755 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
34757 @cindex @samp{bs} packet
34760 Backward single step. Execute one instruction in reverse. No parameter.
34761 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
34764 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
34766 @item c @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
34767 @cindex @samp{c} packet
34768 Continue. @var{addr} is address to resume. If @var{addr} is omitted,
34769 resume at current address.
34771 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
34775 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
34777 @item C @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
34778 @cindex @samp{C} packet
34779 Continue with signal @var{sig} (hex signal number). If
34780 @samp{;@var{addr}} is omitted, resume at same address.
34782 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
34786 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
34789 @cindex @samp{d} packet
34792 Don't use this packet; instead, define a general set packet
34793 (@pxref{General Query Packets}).
34797 @cindex @samp{D} packet
34798 The first form of the packet is used to detach @value{GDBN} from the
34799 remote system. It is sent to the remote target
34800 before @value{GDBN} disconnects via the @code{detach} command.
34802 The second form, including a process ID, is used when multiprocess
34803 protocol extensions are enabled (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}), to
34804 detach only a specific process. The @var{pid} is specified as a
34805 big-endian hex string.
34815 @item F @var{RC},@var{EE},@var{CF};@var{XX}
34816 @cindex @samp{F} packet
34817 A reply from @value{GDBN} to an @samp{F} packet sent by the target.
34818 This is part of the File-I/O protocol extension. @xref{File-I/O
34819 Remote Protocol Extension}, for the specification.
34822 @anchor{read registers packet}
34823 @cindex @samp{g} packet
34824 Read general registers.
34828 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
34829 Each byte of register data is described by two hex digits. The bytes
34830 with the register are transmitted in target byte order. The size of
34831 each register and their position within the @samp{g} packet are
34832 determined by the @value{GDBN} internal gdbarch functions
34833 @code{DEPRECATED_REGISTER_RAW_SIZE} and @code{gdbarch_register_name}. The
34834 specification of several standard @samp{g} packets is specified below.
34836 When reading registers from a trace frame (@pxref{Analyze Collected
34837 Data,,Using the Collected Data}), the stub may also return a string of
34838 literal @samp{x}'s in place of the register data digits, to indicate
34839 that the corresponding register has not been collected, thus its value
34840 is unavailable. For example, for an architecture with 4 registers of
34841 4 bytes each, the following reply indicates to @value{GDBN} that
34842 registers 0 and 2 have not been collected, while registers 1 and 3
34843 have been collected, and both have zero value:
34847 <- @code{xxxxxxxx00000000xxxxxxxx00000000}
34854 @item G @var{XX@dots{}}
34855 @cindex @samp{G} packet
34856 Write general registers. @xref{read registers packet}, for a
34857 description of the @var{XX@dots{}} data.
34867 @item H @var{op} @var{thread-id}
34868 @cindex @samp{H} packet
34869 Set thread for subsequent operations (@samp{m}, @samp{M}, @samp{g},
34870 @samp{G}, et.al.). @var{op} depends on the operation to be performed:
34871 it should be @samp{c} for step and continue operations (note that this
34872 is deprecated, supporting the @samp{vCont} command is a better
34873 option), @samp{g} for other operations. The thread designator
34874 @var{thread-id} has the format and interpretation described in
34875 @ref{thread-id syntax}.
34886 @c 'H': How restrictive (or permissive) is the thread model. If a
34887 @c thread is selected and stopped, are other threads allowed
34888 @c to continue to execute? As I mentioned above, I think the
34889 @c semantics of each command when a thread is selected must be
34890 @c described. For example:
34892 @c 'g': If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
34893 @c selected, returns the register block from that thread;
34894 @c otherwise returns current registers.
34896 @c 'G' If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
34897 @c selected, sets the registers of the register block of
34898 @c that thread; otherwise sets current registers.
34900 @item i @r{[}@var{addr}@r{[},@var{nnn}@r{]]}
34901 @anchor{cycle step packet}
34902 @cindex @samp{i} packet
34903 Step the remote target by a single clock cycle. If @samp{,@var{nnn}} is
34904 present, cycle step @var{nnn} cycles. If @var{addr} is present, cycle
34905 step starting at that address.
34908 @cindex @samp{I} packet
34909 Signal, then cycle step. @xref{step with signal packet}. @xref{cycle
34913 @cindex @samp{k} packet
34916 FIXME: @emph{There is no description of how to operate when a specific
34917 thread context has been selected (i.e.@: does 'k' kill only that
34920 @item m @var{addr},@var{length}
34921 @cindex @samp{m} packet
34922 Read @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
34923 Note that @var{addr} may not be aligned to any particular boundary.
34925 The stub need not use any particular size or alignment when gathering
34926 data from memory for the response; even if @var{addr} is word-aligned
34927 and @var{length} is a multiple of the word size, the stub is free to
34928 use byte accesses, or not. For this reason, this packet may not be
34929 suitable for accessing memory-mapped I/O devices.
34930 @cindex alignment of remote memory accesses
34931 @cindex size of remote memory accesses
34932 @cindex memory, alignment and size of remote accesses
34936 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
34937 Memory contents; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit hexadecimal
34938 number. The reply may contain fewer bytes than requested if the
34939 server was able to read only part of the region of memory.
34944 @item M @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
34945 @cindex @samp{M} packet
34946 Write @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
34947 @var{XX@dots{}} is the data; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit
34948 hexadecimal number.
34955 for an error (this includes the case where only part of the data was
34960 @cindex @samp{p} packet
34961 Read the value of register @var{n}; @var{n} is in hex.
34962 @xref{read registers packet}, for a description of how the returned
34963 register value is encoded.
34967 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
34968 the register's value
34972 Indicating an unrecognized @var{query}.
34975 @item P @var{n@dots{}}=@var{r@dots{}}
34976 @anchor{write register packet}
34977 @cindex @samp{P} packet
34978 Write register @var{n@dots{}} with value @var{r@dots{}}. The register
34979 number @var{n} is in hexadecimal, and @var{r@dots{}} contains two hex
34980 digits for each byte in the register (target byte order).
34990 @item q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
34991 @itemx Q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
34992 @cindex @samp{q} packet
34993 @cindex @samp{Q} packet
34994 General query (@samp{q}) and set (@samp{Q}). These packets are
34995 described fully in @ref{General Query Packets}.
34998 @cindex @samp{r} packet
34999 Reset the entire system.
35001 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{R} packet instead.
35004 @cindex @samp{R} packet
35005 Restart the program being debugged. @var{XX}, while needed, is ignored.
35006 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
35008 The @samp{R} packet has no reply.
35010 @item s @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
35011 @cindex @samp{s} packet
35012 Single step. @var{addr} is the address at which to resume. If
35013 @var{addr} is omitted, resume at same address.
35015 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
35019 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
35021 @item S @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
35022 @anchor{step with signal packet}
35023 @cindex @samp{S} packet
35024 Step with signal. This is analogous to the @samp{C} packet, but
35025 requests a single-step, rather than a normal resumption of execution.
35027 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
35031 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
35033 @item t @var{addr}:@var{PP},@var{MM}
35034 @cindex @samp{t} packet
35035 Search backwards starting at address @var{addr} for a match with pattern
35036 @var{PP} and mask @var{MM}. @var{PP} and @var{MM} are 4 bytes.
35037 @var{addr} must be at least 3 digits.
35039 @item T @var{thread-id}
35040 @cindex @samp{T} packet
35041 Find out if the thread @var{thread-id} is alive. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
35046 thread is still alive
35052 Packets starting with @samp{v} are identified by a multi-letter name,
35053 up to the first @samp{;} or @samp{?} (or the end of the packet).
35055 @item vAttach;@var{pid}
35056 @cindex @samp{vAttach} packet
35057 Attach to a new process with the specified process ID @var{pid}.
35058 The process ID is a
35059 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. In all-stop mode, all
35060 threads in the attached process are stopped; in non-stop mode, it may be
35061 attached without being stopped if that is supported by the target.
35063 @c In non-stop mode, on a successful vAttach, the stub should set the
35064 @c current thread to a thread of the newly-attached process. After
35065 @c attaching, GDB queries for the attached process's thread ID with qC.
35066 @c Also note that, from a user perspective, whether or not the
35067 @c target is stopped on attach in non-stop mode depends on whether you
35068 @c use the foreground or background version of the attach command, not
35069 @c on what vAttach does; GDB does the right thing with respect to either
35070 @c stopping or restarting threads.
35072 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
35078 @item @r{Any stop packet}
35079 for success in all-stop mode (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
35081 for success in non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop})
35084 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@r{[}:@var{thread-id}@r{]]}@dots{}
35085 @cindex @samp{vCont} packet
35086 @anchor{vCont packet}
35087 Resume the inferior, specifying different actions for each thread.
35088 If an action is specified with no @var{thread-id}, then it is applied to any
35089 threads that don't have a specific action specified; if no default action is
35090 specified then other threads should remain stopped in all-stop mode and
35091 in their current state in non-stop mode.
35092 Specifying multiple
35093 default actions is an error; specifying no actions is also an error.
35094 Thread IDs are specified using the syntax described in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
35096 Currently supported actions are:
35102 Continue with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
35106 Step with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
35111 The optional argument @var{addr} normally associated with the
35112 @samp{c}, @samp{C}, @samp{s}, and @samp{S} packets is
35113 not supported in @samp{vCont}.
35115 The @samp{t} action is only relevant in non-stop mode
35116 (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}) and may be ignored by the stub otherwise.
35117 A stop reply should be generated for any affected thread not already stopped.
35118 When a thread is stopped by means of a @samp{t} action,
35119 the corresponding stop reply should indicate that the thread has stopped with
35120 signal @samp{0}, regardless of whether the target uses some other signal
35121 as an implementation detail.
35123 The stub must support @samp{vCont} if it reports support for
35124 multiprocess extensions (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}). Note that in
35125 this case @samp{vCont} actions can be specified to apply to all threads
35126 in a process by using the @samp{p@var{pid}.-1} form of the
35130 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
35133 @cindex @samp{vCont?} packet
35134 Request a list of actions supported by the @samp{vCont} packet.
35138 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@dots{}@r{]}
35139 The @samp{vCont} packet is supported. Each @var{action} is a supported
35140 command in the @samp{vCont} packet.
35142 The @samp{vCont} packet is not supported.
35145 @item vFile:@var{operation}:@var{parameter}@dots{}
35146 @cindex @samp{vFile} packet
35147 Perform a file operation on the target system. For details,
35148 see @ref{Host I/O Packets}.
35150 @item vFlashErase:@var{addr},@var{length}
35151 @cindex @samp{vFlashErase} packet
35152 Direct the stub to erase @var{length} bytes of flash starting at
35153 @var{addr}. The region may enclose any number of flash blocks, but
35154 its start and end must fall on block boundaries, as indicated by the
35155 flash block size appearing in the memory map (@pxref{Memory Map
35156 Format}). @value{GDBN} groups flash memory programming operations
35157 together, and sends a @samp{vFlashDone} request after each group; the
35158 stub is allowed to delay erase operation until the @samp{vFlashDone}
35159 packet is received.
35169 @item vFlashWrite:@var{addr}:@var{XX@dots{}}
35170 @cindex @samp{vFlashWrite} packet
35171 Direct the stub to write data to flash address @var{addr}. The data
35172 is passed in binary form using the same encoding as for the @samp{X}
35173 packet (@pxref{Binary Data}). The memory ranges specified by
35174 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets preceding a @samp{vFlashDone} packet must
35175 not overlap, and must appear in order of increasing addresses
35176 (although @samp{vFlashErase} packets for higher addresses may already
35177 have been received; the ordering is guaranteed only between
35178 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets). If a packet writes to an address that was
35179 neither erased by a preceding @samp{vFlashErase} packet nor by some other
35180 target-specific method, the results are unpredictable.
35188 for vFlashWrite addressing non-flash memory
35194 @cindex @samp{vFlashDone} packet
35195 Indicate to the stub that flash programming operation is finished.
35196 The stub is permitted to delay or batch the effects of a group of
35197 @samp{vFlashErase} and @samp{vFlashWrite} packets until a
35198 @samp{vFlashDone} packet is received. The contents of the affected
35199 regions of flash memory are unpredictable until the @samp{vFlashDone}
35200 request is completed.
35202 @item vKill;@var{pid}
35203 @cindex @samp{vKill} packet
35204 Kill the process with the specified process ID. @var{pid} is a
35205 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. This packet is used in
35206 preference to @samp{k} when multiprocess protocol extensions are
35207 supported; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
35217 @item vRun;@var{filename}@r{[};@var{argument}@r{]}@dots{}
35218 @cindex @samp{vRun} packet
35219 Run the program @var{filename}, passing it each @var{argument} on its
35220 command line. The file and arguments are hex-encoded strings. If
35221 @var{filename} is an empty string, the stub may use a default program
35222 (e.g.@: the last program run). The program is created in the stopped
35225 @c FIXME: What about non-stop mode?
35227 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
35233 @item @r{Any stop packet}
35234 for success (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
35238 @anchor{vStopped packet}
35239 @cindex @samp{vStopped} packet
35241 In non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}), acknowledge a previous stop
35242 reply and prompt for the stub to report another one.
35246 @item @r{Any stop packet}
35247 if there is another unreported stop event (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
35249 if there are no unreported stop events
35252 @item X @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
35254 @cindex @samp{X} packet
35255 Write data to memory, where the data is transmitted in binary.
35256 @var{addr} is address, @var{length} is number of bytes,
35257 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
35267 @item z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
35268 @itemx Z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
35269 @anchor{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}
35270 @cindex @samp{z} packet
35271 @cindex @samp{Z} packets
35272 Insert (@samp{Z}) or remove (@samp{z}) a @var{type} breakpoint or
35273 watchpoint starting at address @var{address} of kind @var{kind}.
35275 Each breakpoint and watchpoint packet @var{type} is documented
35278 @emph{Implementation notes: A remote target shall return an empty string
35279 for an unrecognized breakpoint or watchpoint packet @var{type}. A
35280 remote target shall support either both or neither of a given
35281 @samp{Z@var{type}@dots{}} and @samp{z@var{type}@dots{}} packet pair. To
35282 avoid potential problems with duplicate packets, the operations should
35283 be implemented in an idempotent way.}
35285 @item z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}
35286 @itemx Z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}@r{[};@var{cond_list}@dots{}@r{]}
35287 @cindex @samp{z0} packet
35288 @cindex @samp{Z0} packet
35289 Insert (@samp{Z0}) or remove (@samp{z0}) a memory breakpoint at address
35290 @var{addr} of type @var{kind}.
35292 A memory breakpoint is implemented by replacing the instruction at
35293 @var{addr} with a software breakpoint or trap instruction. The
35294 @var{kind} is target-specific and typically indicates the size of
35295 the breakpoint in bytes that should be inserted. E.g., the @sc{arm}
35296 and @sc{mips} can insert either a 2 or 4 byte breakpoint. Some
35297 architectures have additional meanings for @var{kind};
35298 @var{cond_list} is an optional list of conditional expressions in bytecode
35299 form that should be evaluated on the target's side. These are the
35300 conditions that should be taken into consideration when deciding if
35301 the breakpoint trigger should be reported back to @var{GDBN}.
35303 The @var{cond_list} parameter is comprised of a series of expressions,
35304 concatenated without separators. Each expression has the following form:
35308 @item X @var{len},@var{expr}
35309 @var{len} is the length of the bytecode expression and @var{expr} is the
35310 actual conditional expression in bytecode form.
35314 see @ref{Architecture-Specific Protocol Details}.
35316 @emph{Implementation note: It is possible for a target to copy or move
35317 code that contains memory breakpoints (e.g., when implementing
35318 overlays). The behavior of this packet, in the presence of such a
35319 target, is not defined.}
35331 @item z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}
35332 @itemx Z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}@r{[};@var{cond_list}@dots{}@r{]}
35333 @cindex @samp{z1} packet
35334 @cindex @samp{Z1} packet
35335 Insert (@samp{Z1}) or remove (@samp{z1}) a hardware breakpoint at
35336 address @var{addr}.
35338 A hardware breakpoint is implemented using a mechanism that is not
35339 dependant on being able to modify the target's memory. @var{kind}
35340 and @var{cond_list} have the same meaning as in @samp{Z0} packets.
35342 @emph{Implementation note: A hardware breakpoint is not affected by code
35355 @item z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
35356 @itemx Z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
35357 @cindex @samp{z2} packet
35358 @cindex @samp{Z2} packet
35359 Insert (@samp{Z2}) or remove (@samp{z2}) a write watchpoint at @var{addr}.
35360 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
35372 @item z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
35373 @itemx Z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
35374 @cindex @samp{z3} packet
35375 @cindex @samp{Z3} packet
35376 Insert (@samp{Z3}) or remove (@samp{z3}) a read watchpoint at @var{addr}.
35377 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
35389 @item z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
35390 @itemx Z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
35391 @cindex @samp{z4} packet
35392 @cindex @samp{Z4} packet
35393 Insert (@samp{Z4}) or remove (@samp{z4}) an access watchpoint at @var{addr}.
35394 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
35408 @node Stop Reply Packets
35409 @section Stop Reply Packets
35410 @cindex stop reply packets
35412 The @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}, @samp{s}, @samp{vCont},
35413 @samp{vAttach}, @samp{vRun}, @samp{vStopped}, and @samp{?} packets can
35414 receive any of the below as a reply. Except for @samp{?}
35415 and @samp{vStopped}, that reply is only returned
35416 when the target halts. In the below the exact meaning of @dfn{signal
35417 number} is defined by the header @file{include/gdb/signals.h} in the
35418 @value{GDBN} source code.
35420 As in the description of request packets, we include spaces in the
35421 reply templates for clarity; these are not part of the reply packet's
35422 syntax. No @value{GDBN} stop reply packet uses spaces to separate its
35428 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
35429 number). This is equivalent to a @samp{T} response with no
35430 @var{n}:@var{r} pairs.
35432 @item T @var{AA} @var{n1}:@var{r1};@var{n2}:@var{r2};@dots{}
35433 @cindex @samp{T} packet reply
35434 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
35435 number). This is equivalent to an @samp{S} response, except that the
35436 @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pairs can carry values of important registers
35437 and other information directly in the stop reply packet, reducing
35438 round-trip latency. Single-step and breakpoint traps are reported
35439 this way. Each @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair is interpreted as follows:
35443 If @var{n} is a hexadecimal number, it is a register number, and the
35444 corresponding @var{r} gives that register's value. @var{r} is a
35445 series of bytes in target byte order, with each byte given by a
35446 two-digit hex number.
35449 If @var{n} is @samp{thread}, then @var{r} is the @var{thread-id} of
35450 the stopped thread, as specified in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
35453 If @var{n} is @samp{core}, then @var{r} is the hexadecimal number of
35454 the core on which the stop event was detected.
35457 If @var{n} is a recognized @dfn{stop reason}, it describes a more
35458 specific event that stopped the target. The currently defined stop
35459 reasons are listed below. @var{aa} should be @samp{05}, the trap
35460 signal. At most one stop reason should be present.
35463 Otherwise, @value{GDBN} should ignore this @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair
35464 and go on to the next; this allows us to extend the protocol in the
35468 The currently defined stop reasons are:
35474 The packet indicates a watchpoint hit, and @var{r} is the data address, in
35477 @cindex shared library events, remote reply
35479 The packet indicates that the loaded libraries have changed.
35480 @value{GDBN} should use @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} to fetch a new
35481 list of loaded libraries. @var{r} is ignored.
35483 @cindex replay log events, remote reply
35485 The packet indicates that the target cannot continue replaying
35486 logged execution events, because it has reached the end (or the
35487 beginning when executing backward) of the log. The value of @var{r}
35488 will be either @samp{begin} or @samp{end}. @xref{Reverse Execution},
35489 for more information.
35493 @itemx W @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
35494 The process exited, and @var{AA} is the exit status. This is only
35495 applicable to certain targets.
35497 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the exited
35498 process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported support for
35499 multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
35500 The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
35503 @itemx X @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
35504 The process terminated with signal @var{AA}.
35506 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the
35507 terminated process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported
35508 support for multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess
35509 extensions}. The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
35511 @item O @var{XX}@dots{}
35512 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data, to be
35513 written as the program's console output. This can happen at any time
35514 while the program is running and the debugger should continue to wait
35515 for @samp{W}, @samp{T}, etc. This reply is not permitted in non-stop mode.
35517 @item F @var{call-id},@var{parameter}@dots{}
35518 @var{call-id} is the identifier which says which host system call should
35519 be called. This is just the name of the function. Translation into the
35520 correct system call is only applicable as it's defined in @value{GDBN}.
35521 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for a list of implemented
35524 @samp{@var{parameter}@dots{}} is a list of parameters as defined for
35525 this very system call.
35527 The target replies with this packet when it expects @value{GDBN} to
35528 call a host system call on behalf of the target. @value{GDBN} replies
35529 with an appropriate @samp{F} packet and keeps up waiting for the next
35530 reply packet from the target. The latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
35531 or @samp{s} action is expected to be continued. @xref{File-I/O Remote
35532 Protocol Extension}, for more details.
35536 @node General Query Packets
35537 @section General Query Packets
35538 @cindex remote query requests
35540 Packets starting with @samp{q} are @dfn{general query packets};
35541 packets starting with @samp{Q} are @dfn{general set packets}. General
35542 query and set packets are a semi-unified form for retrieving and
35543 sending information to and from the stub.
35545 The initial letter of a query or set packet is followed by a name
35546 indicating what sort of thing the packet applies to. For example,
35547 @value{GDBN} may use a @samp{qSymbol} packet to exchange symbol
35548 definitions with the stub. These packet names follow some
35553 The name must not contain commas, colons or semicolons.
35555 Most @value{GDBN} query and set packets have a leading upper case
35558 The names of custom vendor packets should use a company prefix, in
35559 lower case, followed by a period. For example, packets designed at
35560 the Acme Corporation might begin with @samp{qacme.foo} (for querying
35561 foos) or @samp{Qacme.bar} (for setting bars).
35564 The name of a query or set packet should be separated from any
35565 parameters by a @samp{:}; the parameters themselves should be
35566 separated by @samp{,} or @samp{;}. Stubs must be careful to match the
35567 full packet name, and check for a separator or the end of the packet,
35568 in case two packet names share a common prefix. New packets should not begin
35569 with @samp{qC}, @samp{qP}, or @samp{qL}@footnote{The @samp{qP} and @samp{qL}
35570 packets predate these conventions, and have arguments without any terminator
35571 for the packet name; we suspect they are in widespread use in places that
35572 are difficult to upgrade. The @samp{qC} packet has no arguments, but some
35573 existing stubs (e.g.@: RedBoot) are known to not check for the end of the
35576 Like the descriptions of the other packets, each description here
35577 has a template showing the packet's overall syntax, followed by an
35578 explanation of the packet's meaning. We include spaces in some of the
35579 templates for clarity; these are not part of the packet's syntax. No
35580 @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to separate its components.
35582 Here are the currently defined query and set packets:
35588 Turn on or off the agent as a helper to perform some debugging operations
35589 delegated from @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Control Agent}).
35591 @item QAllow:@var{op}:@var{val}@dots{}
35592 @cindex @samp{QAllow} packet
35593 Specify which operations @value{GDBN} expects to request of the
35594 target, as a semicolon-separated list of operation name and value
35595 pairs. Possible values for @var{op} include @samp{WriteReg},
35596 @samp{WriteMem}, @samp{InsertBreak}, @samp{InsertTrace},
35597 @samp{InsertFastTrace}, and @samp{Stop}. @var{val} is either 0,
35598 indicating that @value{GDBN} will not request the operation, or 1,
35599 indicating that it may. (The target can then use this to set up its
35600 own internals optimally, for instance if the debugger never expects to
35601 insert breakpoints, it may not need to install its own trap handler.)
35604 @cindex current thread, remote request
35605 @cindex @samp{qC} packet
35606 Return the current thread ID.
35610 @item QC @var{thread-id}
35611 Where @var{thread-id} is a thread ID as documented in
35612 @ref{thread-id syntax}.
35613 @item @r{(anything else)}
35614 Any other reply implies the old thread ID.
35617 @item qCRC:@var{addr},@var{length}
35618 @cindex CRC of memory block, remote request
35619 @cindex @samp{qCRC} packet
35620 Compute the CRC checksum of a block of memory using CRC-32 defined in
35621 IEEE 802.3. The CRC is computed byte at a time, taking the most
35622 significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern code
35623 @code{0xffffffff} is used to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC.
35625 @emph{Note:} This is the same CRC used in validating separate debug
35626 files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files, , Debugging Information in Separate
35627 Files}). However the algorithm is slightly different. When validating
35628 separate debug files, the CRC is computed taking the @emph{least}
35629 significant bit of each byte first, and the final result is inverted to
35630 detect trailing zeros.
35635 An error (such as memory fault)
35636 @item C @var{crc32}
35637 The specified memory region's checksum is @var{crc32}.
35640 @item QDisableRandomization:@var{value}
35641 @cindex disable address space randomization, remote request
35642 @cindex @samp{QDisableRandomization} packet
35643 Some target operating systems will randomize the virtual address space
35644 of the inferior process as a security feature, but provide a feature
35645 to disable such randomization, e.g.@: to allow for a more deterministic
35646 debugging experience. On such systems, this packet with a @var{value}
35647 of 1 directs the target to disable address space randomization for
35648 processes subsequently started via @samp{vRun} packets, while a packet
35649 with a @var{value} of 0 tells the target to enable address space
35652 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
35657 The request succeeded.
35660 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
35663 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QDisableRandomization} is not supported
35667 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35668 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
35669 This should only be done on targets that actually support disabling
35670 address space randomization.
35673 @itemx qsThreadInfo
35674 @cindex list active threads, remote request
35675 @cindex @samp{qfThreadInfo} packet
35676 @cindex @samp{qsThreadInfo} packet
35677 Obtain a list of all active thread IDs from the target (OS). Since there
35678 may be too many active threads to fit into one reply packet, this query
35679 works iteratively: it may require more than one query/reply sequence to
35680 obtain the entire list of threads. The first query of the sequence will
35681 be the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query; subsequent queries in the
35682 sequence will be the @samp{qsThreadInfo} query.
35684 NOTE: This packet replaces the @samp{qL} query (see below).
35688 @item m @var{thread-id}
35690 @item m @var{thread-id},@var{thread-id}@dots{}
35691 a comma-separated list of thread IDs
35693 (lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
35696 In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
35697 more thread IDs, separated by commas.
35698 @value{GDBN} will respond to each reply with a request for more thread
35699 ids (using the @samp{qs} form of the query), until the target responds
35700 with @samp{l} (lower-case ell, for @dfn{last}).
35701 Refer to @ref{thread-id syntax}, for the format of the @var{thread-id}
35704 @item qGetTLSAddr:@var{thread-id},@var{offset},@var{lm}
35705 @cindex get thread-local storage address, remote request
35706 @cindex @samp{qGetTLSAddr} packet
35707 Fetch the address associated with thread local storage specified
35708 by @var{thread-id}, @var{offset}, and @var{lm}.
35710 @var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the
35711 thread for which to fetch the TLS address. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
35713 @var{offset} is the (big endian, hex encoded) offset associated with the
35714 thread local variable. (This offset is obtained from the debug
35715 information associated with the variable.)
35717 @var{lm} is the (big endian, hex encoded) OS/ABI-specific encoding of the
35718 load module associated with the thread local storage. For example,
35719 a @sc{gnu}/Linux system will pass the link map address of the shared
35720 object associated with the thread local storage under consideration.
35721 Other operating environments may choose to represent the load module
35722 differently, so the precise meaning of this parameter will vary.
35726 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
35727 Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the address of the thread
35728 local storage requested.
35731 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
35734 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTLSAddr} is not supported by the stub.
35737 @item qGetTIBAddr:@var{thread-id}
35738 @cindex get thread information block address
35739 @cindex @samp{qGetTIBAddr} packet
35740 Fetch address of the Windows OS specific Thread Information Block.
35742 @var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the thread.
35746 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
35747 Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the linear address of the
35748 thread information block.
35751 An error occured. This means that either the thread was not found, or the
35752 address could not be retrieved.
35755 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTIBAddr} is not supported by the stub.
35758 @item qL @var{startflag} @var{threadcount} @var{nextthread}
35759 Obtain thread information from RTOS. Where: @var{startflag} (one hex
35760 digit) is one to indicate the first query and zero to indicate a
35761 subsequent query; @var{threadcount} (two hex digits) is the maximum
35762 number of threads the response packet can contain; and @var{nextthread}
35763 (eight hex digits), for subsequent queries (@var{startflag} is zero), is
35764 returned in the response as @var{argthread}.
35766 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query instead (see above).
35770 @item qM @var{count} @var{done} @var{argthread} @var{thread}@dots{}
35771 Where: @var{count} (two hex digits) is the number of threads being
35772 returned; @var{done} (one hex digit) is zero to indicate more threads
35773 and one indicates no further threads; @var{argthreadid} (eight hex
35774 digits) is @var{nextthread} from the request packet; @var{thread}@dots{}
35775 is a sequence of thread IDs from the target. @var{threadid} (eight hex
35776 digits). See @code{remote.c:parse_threadlist_response()}.
35780 @cindex section offsets, remote request
35781 @cindex @samp{qOffsets} packet
35782 Get section offsets that the target used when relocating the downloaded
35787 @item Text=@var{xxx};Data=@var{yyy}@r{[};Bss=@var{zzz}@r{]}
35788 Relocate the @code{Text} section by @var{xxx} from its original address.
35789 Relocate the @code{Data} section by @var{yyy} from its original address.
35790 If the object file format provides segment information (e.g.@: @sc{elf}
35791 @samp{PT_LOAD} program headers), @value{GDBN} will relocate entire
35792 segments by the supplied offsets.
35794 @emph{Note: while a @code{Bss} offset may be included in the response,
35795 @value{GDBN} ignores this and instead applies the @code{Data} offset
35796 to the @code{Bss} section.}
35798 @item TextSeg=@var{xxx}@r{[};DataSeg=@var{yyy}@r{]}
35799 Relocate the first segment of the object file, which conventionally
35800 contains program code, to a starting address of @var{xxx}. If
35801 @samp{DataSeg} is specified, relocate the second segment, which
35802 conventionally contains modifiable data, to a starting address of
35803 @var{yyy}. @value{GDBN} will report an error if the object file
35804 does not contain segment information, or does not contain at least
35805 as many segments as mentioned in the reply. Extra segments are
35806 kept at fixed offsets relative to the last relocated segment.
35809 @item qP @var{mode} @var{thread-id}
35810 @cindex thread information, remote request
35811 @cindex @samp{qP} packet
35812 Returns information on @var{thread-id}. Where: @var{mode} is a hex
35813 encoded 32 bit mode; @var{thread-id} is a thread ID
35814 (@pxref{thread-id syntax}).
35816 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} query instead
35819 Reply: see @code{remote.c:remote_unpack_thread_info_response()}.
35823 @cindex non-stop mode, remote request
35824 @cindex @samp{QNonStop} packet
35826 Enter non-stop (@samp{QNonStop:1}) or all-stop (@samp{QNonStop:0}) mode.
35827 @xref{Remote Non-Stop}, for more information.
35832 The request succeeded.
35835 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
35838 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QNonStop} is not supported by
35842 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35843 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
35844 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set non-stop} command;
35845 @pxref{Non-Stop Mode}.
35847 @item QPassSignals: @var{signal} @r{[};@var{signal}@r{]}@dots{}
35848 @cindex pass signals to inferior, remote request
35849 @cindex @samp{QPassSignals} packet
35850 @anchor{QPassSignals}
35851 Each listed @var{signal} should be passed directly to the inferior process.
35852 Signals are numbered identically to continue packets and stop replies
35853 (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}). Each @var{signal} list item should be
35854 strictly greater than the previous item. These signals do not need to stop
35855 the inferior, or be reported to @value{GDBN}. All other signals should be
35856 reported to @value{GDBN}. Multiple @samp{QPassSignals} packets do not
35857 combine; any earlier @samp{QPassSignals} list is completely replaced by the
35858 new list. This packet improves performance when using @samp{handle
35859 @var{signal} nostop noprint pass}.
35864 The request succeeded.
35867 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
35870 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QPassSignals} is not supported by
35874 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote pass-signals}
35875 command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote pass-signals}).
35876 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35877 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
35879 @item QProgramSignals: @var{signal} @r{[};@var{signal}@r{]}@dots{}
35880 @cindex signals the inferior may see, remote request
35881 @cindex @samp{QProgramSignals} packet
35882 @anchor{QProgramSignals}
35883 Each listed @var{signal} may be delivered to the inferior process.
35884 Others should be silently discarded.
35886 In some cases, the remote stub may need to decide whether to deliver a
35887 signal to the program or not without @value{GDBN} involvement. One
35888 example of that is while detaching --- the program's threads may have
35889 stopped for signals that haven't yet had a chance of being reported to
35890 @value{GDBN}, and so the remote stub can use the signal list specified
35891 by this packet to know whether to deliver or ignore those pending
35894 This does not influence whether to deliver a signal as requested by a
35895 resumption packet (@pxref{vCont packet}).
35897 Signals are numbered identically to continue packets and stop replies
35898 (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}). Each @var{signal} list item should be
35899 strictly greater than the previous item. Multiple
35900 @samp{QProgramSignals} packets do not combine; any earlier
35901 @samp{QProgramSignals} list is completely replaced by the new list.
35906 The request succeeded.
35909 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
35912 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QProgramSignals} is not supported
35916 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote program-signals}
35917 command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote program-signals}).
35918 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35919 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
35921 @item qRcmd,@var{command}
35922 @cindex execute remote command, remote request
35923 @cindex @samp{qRcmd} packet
35924 @var{command} (hex encoded) is passed to the local interpreter for
35925 execution. Invalid commands should be reported using the output
35926 string. Before the final result packet, the target may also respond
35927 with a number of intermediate @samp{O@var{output}} console output
35928 packets. @emph{Implementors should note that providing access to a
35929 stubs's interpreter may have security implications}.
35934 A command response with no output.
35936 A command response with the hex encoded output string @var{OUTPUT}.
35938 Indicate a badly formed request.
35940 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qRcmd} is not recognized.
35943 (Note that the @code{qRcmd} packet's name is separated from the
35944 command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
35945 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
35948 @item qSearch:memory:@var{address};@var{length};@var{search-pattern}
35949 @cindex searching memory, in remote debugging
35950 @cindex @samp{qSearch:memory} packet
35951 @anchor{qSearch memory}
35952 Search @var{length} bytes at @var{address} for @var{search-pattern}.
35953 @var{address} and @var{length} are encoded in hex.
35954 @var{search-pattern} is a sequence of bytes, hex encoded.
35959 The pattern was not found.
35961 The pattern was found at @var{address}.
35963 A badly formed request or an error was encountered while searching memory.
35965 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSearch:memory} is not recognized.
35968 @item QStartNoAckMode
35969 @cindex @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet
35970 @anchor{QStartNoAckMode}
35971 Request that the remote stub disable the normal @samp{+}/@samp{-}
35972 protocol acknowledgments (@pxref{Packet Acknowledgment}).
35977 The stub has switched to no-acknowledgment mode.
35978 @value{GDBN} acknowledges this reponse,
35979 but neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or expect further
35980 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments in the current connection.
35982 An empty reply indicates that the stub does not support no-acknowledgment mode.
35985 @item qSupported @r{[}:@var{gdbfeature} @r{[};@var{gdbfeature}@r{]}@dots{} @r{]}
35986 @cindex supported packets, remote query
35987 @cindex features of the remote protocol
35988 @cindex @samp{qSupported} packet
35989 @anchor{qSupported}
35990 Tell the remote stub about features supported by @value{GDBN}, and
35991 query the stub for features it supports. This packet allows
35992 @value{GDBN} and the remote stub to take advantage of each others'
35993 features. @samp{qSupported} also consolidates multiple feature probes
35994 at startup, to improve @value{GDBN} performance---a single larger
35995 packet performs better than multiple smaller probe packets on
35996 high-latency links. Some features may enable behavior which must not
35997 be on by default, e.g.@: because it would confuse older clients or
35998 stubs. Other features may describe packets which could be
35999 automatically probed for, but are not. These features must be
36000 reported before @value{GDBN} will use them. This ``default
36001 unsupported'' behavior is not appropriate for all packets, but it
36002 helps to keep the initial connection time under control with new
36003 versions of @value{GDBN} which support increasing numbers of packets.
36007 @item @var{stubfeature} @r{[};@var{stubfeature}@r{]}@dots{}
36008 The stub supports or does not support each returned @var{stubfeature},
36009 depending on the form of each @var{stubfeature} (see below for the
36012 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSupported} is not recognized,
36013 or that no features needed to be reported to @value{GDBN}.
36016 The allowed forms for each feature (either a @var{gdbfeature} in the
36017 @samp{qSupported} packet, or a @var{stubfeature} in the response)
36021 @item @var{name}=@var{value}
36022 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and associated
36023 with the specified @var{value}. The format of @var{value} depends
36024 on the feature, but it must not include a semicolon.
36026 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and does not
36027 need an associated value.
36029 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is not supported.
36031 The remote protocol feature @var{name} may be supported, and
36032 @value{GDBN} should auto-detect support in some other way when it is
36033 needed. This form will not be used for @var{gdbfeature} notifications,
36034 but may be used for @var{stubfeature} responses.
36037 Whenever the stub receives a @samp{qSupported} request, the
36038 supplied set of @value{GDBN} features should override any previous
36039 request. This allows @value{GDBN} to put the stub in a known
36040 state, even if the stub had previously been communicating with
36041 a different version of @value{GDBN}.
36043 The following values of @var{gdbfeature} (for the packet sent by @value{GDBN})
36048 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports multiprocess
36049 extensions to the remote protocol. @value{GDBN} does not use such
36050 extensions unless the stub also reports that it supports them by
36051 including @samp{multiprocess+} in its @samp{qSupported} reply.
36052 @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for details.
36055 This feature indicates that @value{GDBN} supports the XML target
36056 description. If the stub sees @samp{xmlRegisters=} with target
36057 specific strings separated by a comma, it will report register
36061 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports the
36062 @samp{qRelocInsn} packet (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
36063 instruction reply packet}).
36066 Stubs should ignore any unknown values for
36067 @var{gdbfeature}. Any @value{GDBN} which sends a @samp{qSupported}
36068 packet supports receiving packets of unlimited length (earlier
36069 versions of @value{GDBN} may reject overly long responses). Additional values
36070 for @var{gdbfeature} may be defined in the future to let the stub take
36071 advantage of new features in @value{GDBN}, e.g.@: incompatible
36072 improvements in the remote protocol---the @samp{multiprocess} feature is
36073 an example of such a feature. The stub's reply should be independent
36074 of the @var{gdbfeature} entries sent by @value{GDBN}; first @value{GDBN}
36075 describes all the features it supports, and then the stub replies with
36076 all the features it supports.
36078 Similarly, @value{GDBN} will silently ignore unrecognized stub feature
36079 responses, as long as each response uses one of the standard forms.
36081 Some features are flags. A stub which supports a flag feature
36082 should respond with a @samp{+} form response. Other features
36083 require values, and the stub should respond with an @samp{=}
36086 Each feature has a default value, which @value{GDBN} will use if
36087 @samp{qSupported} is not available or if the feature is not mentioned
36088 in the @samp{qSupported} response. The default values are fixed; a
36089 stub is free to omit any feature responses that match the defaults.
36091 Not all features can be probed, but for those which can, the probing
36092 mechanism is useful: in some cases, a stub's internal
36093 architecture may not allow the protocol layer to know some information
36094 about the underlying target in advance. This is especially common in
36095 stubs which may be configured for multiple targets.
36097 These are the currently defined stub features and their properties:
36099 @multitable @columnfractions 0.35 0.2 0.12 0.2
36100 @c NOTE: The first row should be @headitem, but we do not yet require
36101 @c a new enough version of Texinfo (4.7) to use @headitem.
36103 @tab Value Required
36107 @item @samp{PacketSize}
36112 @item @samp{qXfer:auxv:read}
36117 @item @samp{qXfer:features:read}
36122 @item @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
36127 @item @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
36132 @item @samp{qXfer:sdata:read}
36137 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:read}
36142 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:write}
36147 @item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read}
36152 @item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write}
36157 @item @samp{qXfer:threads:read}
36162 @item @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
36167 @item @samp{qXfer:uib:read}
36172 @item @samp{qXfer:fdpic:read}
36177 @item @samp{QNonStop}
36182 @item @samp{QPassSignals}
36187 @item @samp{QStartNoAckMode}
36192 @item @samp{multiprocess}
36197 @item @samp{ConditionalBreakpoints}
36202 @item @samp{ConditionalTracepoints}
36207 @item @samp{ReverseContinue}
36212 @item @samp{ReverseStep}
36217 @item @samp{TracepointSource}
36222 @item @samp{QAgent}
36227 @item @samp{QAllow}
36232 @item @samp{QDisableRandomization}
36237 @item @samp{EnableDisableTracepoints}
36242 @item @samp{tracenz}
36249 These are the currently defined stub features, in more detail:
36252 @cindex packet size, remote protocol
36253 @item PacketSize=@var{bytes}
36254 The remote stub can accept packets up to at least @var{bytes} in
36255 length. @value{GDBN} will send packets up to this size for bulk
36256 transfers, and will never send larger packets. This is a limit on the
36257 data characters in the packet, including the frame and checksum.
36258 There is no trailing NUL byte in a remote protocol packet; if the stub
36259 stores packets in a NUL-terminated format, it should allow an extra
36260 byte in its buffer for the NUL. If this stub feature is not supported,
36261 @value{GDBN} guesses based on the size of the @samp{g} packet response.
36263 @item qXfer:auxv:read
36264 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet
36265 (@pxref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}).
36267 @item qXfer:features:read
36268 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:features:read} packet
36269 (@pxref{qXfer target description read}).
36271 @item qXfer:libraries:read
36272 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet
36273 (@pxref{qXfer library list read}).
36275 @item qXfer:libraries-svr4:read
36276 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read} packet
36277 (@pxref{qXfer svr4 library list read}).
36279 @item qXfer:memory-map:read
36280 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read} packet
36281 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}).
36283 @item qXfer:sdata:read
36284 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:sdata:read} packet
36285 (@pxref{qXfer sdata read}).
36287 @item qXfer:spu:read
36288 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:read} packet
36289 (@pxref{qXfer spu read}).
36291 @item qXfer:spu:write
36292 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:write} packet
36293 (@pxref{qXfer spu write}).
36295 @item qXfer:siginfo:read
36296 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read} packet
36297 (@pxref{qXfer siginfo read}).
36299 @item qXfer:siginfo:write
36300 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write} packet
36301 (@pxref{qXfer siginfo write}).
36303 @item qXfer:threads:read
36304 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
36305 (@pxref{qXfer threads read}).
36307 @item qXfer:traceframe-info:read
36308 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
36309 packet (@pxref{qXfer traceframe info read}).
36311 @item qXfer:uib:read
36312 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:uib:read}
36313 packet (@pxref{qXfer unwind info block}).
36315 @item qXfer:fdpic:read
36316 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:fdpic:read}
36317 packet (@pxref{qXfer fdpic loadmap read}).
36320 The remote stub understands the @samp{QNonStop} packet
36321 (@pxref{QNonStop}).
36324 The remote stub understands the @samp{QPassSignals} packet
36325 (@pxref{QPassSignals}).
36327 @item QStartNoAckMode
36328 The remote stub understands the @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet and
36329 prefers to operate in no-acknowledgment mode. @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}.
36332 @anchor{multiprocess extensions}
36333 @cindex multiprocess extensions, in remote protocol
36334 The remote stub understands the multiprocess extensions to the remote
36335 protocol syntax. The multiprocess extensions affect the syntax of
36336 thread IDs in both packets and replies (@pxref{thread-id syntax}), and
36337 add process IDs to the @samp{D} packet and @samp{W} and @samp{X}
36338 replies. Note that reporting this feature indicates support for the
36339 syntactic extensions only, not that the stub necessarily supports
36340 debugging of more than one process at a time. The stub must not use
36341 multiprocess extensions in packet replies unless @value{GDBN} has also
36342 indicated it supports them in its @samp{qSupported} request.
36344 @item qXfer:osdata:read
36345 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet
36346 ((@pxref{qXfer osdata read}).
36348 @item ConditionalBreakpoints
36349 The target accepts and implements evaluation of conditional expressions
36350 defined for breakpoints. The target will only report breakpoint triggers
36351 when such conditions are true (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
36353 @item ConditionalTracepoints
36354 The remote stub accepts and implements conditional expressions defined
36355 for tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoint Conditions}).
36357 @item ReverseContinue
36358 The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse continue packet
36362 The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse step packet
36365 @item TracepointSource
36366 The remote stub understands the @samp{QTDPsrc} packet that supplies
36367 the source form of tracepoint definitions.
36370 The remote stub understands the @samp{QAgent} packet.
36373 The remote stub understands the @samp{QAllow} packet.
36375 @item QDisableRandomization
36376 The remote stub understands the @samp{QDisableRandomization} packet.
36378 @item StaticTracepoint
36379 @cindex static tracepoints, in remote protocol
36380 The remote stub supports static tracepoints.
36382 @item InstallInTrace
36383 @anchor{install tracepoint in tracing}
36384 The remote stub supports installing tracepoint in tracing.
36386 @item EnableDisableTracepoints
36387 The remote stub supports the @samp{QTEnable} (@pxref{QTEnable}) and
36388 @samp{QTDisable} (@pxref{QTDisable}) packets that allow tracepoints
36389 to be enabled and disabled while a trace experiment is running.
36392 @cindex string tracing, in remote protocol
36393 The remote stub supports the @samp{tracenz} bytecode for collecting strings.
36394 See @ref{Bytecode Descriptions} for details about the bytecode.
36399 @cindex symbol lookup, remote request
36400 @cindex @samp{qSymbol} packet
36401 Notify the target that @value{GDBN} is prepared to serve symbol lookup
36402 requests. Accept requests from the target for the values of symbols.
36407 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
36408 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
36409 The target requests the value of symbol @var{sym_name} (hex encoded).
36410 @value{GDBN} may provide the value by using the
36411 @samp{qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}} message, described
36415 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}
36416 Set the value of @var{sym_name} to @var{sym_value}.
36418 @var{sym_name} (hex encoded) is the name of a symbol whose value the
36419 target has previously requested.
36421 @var{sym_value} (hex) is the value for symbol @var{sym_name}. If
36422 @value{GDBN} cannot supply a value for @var{sym_name}, then this field
36428 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
36429 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
36430 The target requests the value of a new symbol @var{sym_name} (hex
36431 encoded). @value{GDBN} will continue to supply the values of symbols
36432 (if available), until the target ceases to request them.
36437 @item QTDisconnected
36444 @itemx qTMinFTPILen
36446 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
36448 @item qThreadExtraInfo,@var{thread-id}
36449 @cindex thread attributes info, remote request
36450 @cindex @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} packet
36451 Obtain a printable string description of a thread's attributes from
36452 the target OS. @var{thread-id} is a thread ID;
36453 see @ref{thread-id syntax}. This
36454 string may contain anything that the target OS thinks is interesting
36455 for @value{GDBN} to tell the user about the thread. The string is
36456 displayed in @value{GDBN}'s @code{info threads} display. Some
36457 examples of possible thread extra info strings are @samp{Runnable}, or
36458 @samp{Blocked on Mutex}.
36462 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
36463 Where @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is a hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data,
36464 comprising the printable string containing the extra information about
36465 the thread's attributes.
36468 (Note that the @code{qThreadExtraInfo} packet's name is separated from
36469 the command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
36470 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
36489 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
36491 @item qXfer:@var{object}:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
36492 @cindex read special object, remote request
36493 @cindex @samp{qXfer} packet
36494 @anchor{qXfer read}
36495 Read uninterpreted bytes from the target's special data area
36496 identified by the keyword @var{object}. Request @var{length} bytes
36497 starting at @var{offset} bytes into the data. The content and
36498 encoding of @var{annex} is specific to @var{object}; it can supply
36499 additional details about what data to access.
36501 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
36502 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:read:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
36503 formats, listed below.
36506 @item qXfer:auxv:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
36507 @anchor{qXfer auxiliary vector read}
36508 Access the target's @dfn{auxiliary vector}. @xref{OS Information,
36509 auxiliary vector}. Note @var{annex} must be empty.
36511 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36512 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36514 @item qXfer:features:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
36515 @anchor{qXfer target description read}
36516 Access the @dfn{target description}. @xref{Target Descriptions}. The
36517 annex specifies which XML document to access. The main description is
36518 always loaded from the @samp{target.xml} annex.
36520 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36521 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36523 @item qXfer:libraries:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
36524 @anchor{qXfer library list read}
36525 Access the target's list of loaded libraries. @xref{Library List Format}.
36526 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
36527 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
36529 Targets which maintain a list of libraries in the program's memory do
36530 not need to implement this packet; it is designed for platforms where
36531 the operating system manages the list of loaded libraries.
36533 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36534 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36536 @item qXfer:libraries-svr4:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
36537 @anchor{qXfer svr4 library list read}
36538 Access the target's list of loaded libraries when the target is an SVR4
36539 platform. @xref{Library List Format for SVR4 Targets}. The annex part
36540 of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
36542 This packet is optional for better performance on SVR4 targets.
36543 @value{GDBN} uses memory read packets to read the SVR4 library list otherwise.
36545 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36546 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36548 @item qXfer:memory-map:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
36549 @anchor{qXfer memory map read}
36550 Access the target's @dfn{memory-map}. @xref{Memory Map Format}. The
36551 annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
36552 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
36554 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36555 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36557 @item qXfer:sdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
36558 @anchor{qXfer sdata read}
36560 Read contents of the extra collected static tracepoint marker
36561 information. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must
36562 be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}). @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint
36565 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36566 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
36567 (@pxref{qSupported}).
36569 @item qXfer:siginfo:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
36570 @anchor{qXfer siginfo read}
36571 Read contents of the extra signal information on the target
36572 system. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
36573 empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
36575 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36576 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
36577 (@pxref{qSupported}).
36579 @item qXfer:spu:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
36580 @anchor{qXfer spu read}
36581 Read contents of an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
36582 annex specifies which file to read; it must be of the form
36583 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
36584 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
36585 in that context to be accessed.
36587 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36588 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
36589 (@pxref{qSupported}).
36591 @item qXfer:threads:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
36592 @anchor{qXfer threads read}
36593 Access the list of threads on target. @xref{Thread List Format}. The
36594 annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
36595 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
36597 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36598 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36600 @item qXfer:traceframe-info:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
36601 @anchor{qXfer traceframe info read}
36603 Return a description of the current traceframe's contents.
36604 @xref{Traceframe Info Format}. The annex part of the generic
36605 @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
36607 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36608 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36610 @item qXfer:uib:read:@var{pc}:@var{offset},@var{length}
36611 @anchor{qXfer unwind info block}
36613 Return the unwind information block for @var{pc}. This packet is used
36614 on OpenVMS/ia64 to ask the kernel unwind information.
36616 This packet is not probed by default.
36618 @item qXfer:fdpic:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
36619 @anchor{qXfer fdpic loadmap read}
36620 Read contents of @code{loadmap}s on the target system. The
36621 annex, either @samp{exec} or @samp{interp}, specifies which @code{loadmap},
36622 executable @code{loadmap} or interpreter @code{loadmap} to read.
36624 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36625 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36627 @item qXfer:osdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
36628 @anchor{qXfer osdata read}
36629 Access the target's @dfn{operating system information}.
36630 @xref{Operating System Information}.
36637 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the
36638 target. There may be more data at a higher address (although
36639 it is permitted to return @samp{m} even for the last valid
36640 block of data, as long as at least one byte of data was read).
36641 @var{data} may have fewer bytes than the @var{length} in the
36645 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the target.
36646 There is no more data to be read. @var{data} may have fewer bytes
36647 than the @var{length} in the request.
36650 The @var{offset} in the request is at the end of the data.
36651 There is no more data to be read.
36654 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
36657 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered reading the data.
36658 @var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
36661 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not recognized by
36662 the stub, or that the object does not support reading.
36665 @item qXfer:@var{object}:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
36666 @cindex write data into object, remote request
36667 @anchor{qXfer write}
36668 Write uninterpreted bytes into the target's special data area
36669 identified by the keyword @var{object}, starting at @var{offset} bytes
36670 into the data. @var{data}@dots{} is the binary-encoded data
36671 (@pxref{Binary Data}) to be written. The content and encoding of @var{annex}
36672 is specific to @var{object}; it can supply additional details about what data
36675 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
36676 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:write:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
36677 formats, listed below.
36680 @item qXfer:siginfo:write::@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
36681 @anchor{qXfer siginfo write}
36682 Write @var{data} to the extra signal information on the target system.
36683 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
36684 empty (@pxref{qXfer write}).
36686 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36687 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
36688 (@pxref{qSupported}).
36690 @item qXfer:spu:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
36691 @anchor{qXfer spu write}
36692 Write @var{data} to an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
36693 annex specifies which file to write; it must be of the form
36694 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
36695 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
36696 in that context to be accessed.
36698 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36699 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36705 @var{nn} (hex encoded) is the number of bytes written.
36706 This may be fewer bytes than supplied in the request.
36709 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
36712 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered writing the data.
36713 @var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
36716 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not
36717 recognized by the stub, or that the object does not support writing.
36720 @item qXfer:@var{object}:@var{operation}:@dots{}
36721 Requests of this form may be added in the future. When a stub does
36722 not recognize the @var{object} keyword, or its support for
36723 @var{object} does not recognize the @var{operation} keyword, the stub
36724 must respond with an empty packet.
36726 @item qAttached:@var{pid}
36727 @cindex query attached, remote request
36728 @cindex @samp{qAttached} packet
36729 Return an indication of whether the remote server attached to an
36730 existing process or created a new process. When the multiprocess
36731 protocol extensions are supported (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}),
36732 @var{pid} is an integer in hexadecimal format identifying the target
36733 process. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} will omit the @var{pid} field and
36734 the query packet will be simplified as @samp{qAttached}.
36736 This query is used, for example, to know whether the remote process
36737 should be detached or killed when a @value{GDBN} session is ended with
36738 the @code{quit} command.
36743 The remote server attached to an existing process.
36745 The remote server created a new process.
36747 A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
36752 @node Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
36753 @section Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
36755 This section describes how the remote protocol is applied to specific
36756 target architectures. Also see @ref{Standard Target Features}, for
36757 details of XML target descriptions for each architecture.
36761 @subsubsection Breakpoint Kinds
36763 These breakpoint kinds are defined for the @samp{Z0} and @samp{Z1} packets.
36768 16-bit Thumb mode breakpoint.
36771 32-bit Thumb mode (Thumb-2) breakpoint.
36774 32-bit ARM mode breakpoint.
36780 @subsubsection Register Packet Format
36782 The following @code{g}/@code{G} packets have previously been defined.
36783 In the below, some thirty-two bit registers are transferred as
36784 sixty-four bits. Those registers should be zero/sign extended (which?)
36785 to fill the space allocated. Register bytes are transferred in target
36786 byte order. The two nibbles within a register byte are transferred
36787 most-significant - least-significant.
36793 All registers are transferred as thirty-two bit quantities in the order:
36794 32 general-purpose; sr; lo; hi; bad; cause; pc; 32 floating-point
36795 registers; fsr; fir; fp.
36799 All registers are transferred as sixty-four bit quantities (including
36800 thirty-two bit registers such as @code{sr}). The ordering is the same
36805 @node Tracepoint Packets
36806 @section Tracepoint Packets
36807 @cindex tracepoint packets
36808 @cindex packets, tracepoint
36810 Here we describe the packets @value{GDBN} uses to implement
36811 tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoints}).
36815 @item QTDP:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{ena}:@var{step}:@var{pass}[:F@var{flen}][:X@var{len},@var{bytes}]@r{[}-@r{]}
36816 Create a new tracepoint, number @var{n}, at @var{addr}. If @var{ena}
36817 is @samp{E}, then the tracepoint is enabled; if it is @samp{D}, then
36818 the tracepoint is disabled. @var{step} is the tracepoint's step
36819 count, and @var{pass} is its pass count. If an @samp{F} is present,
36820 then the tracepoint is to be a fast tracepoint, and the @var{flen} is
36821 the number of bytes that the target should copy elsewhere to make room
36822 for the tracepoint. If an @samp{X} is present, it introduces a
36823 tracepoint condition, which consists of a hexadecimal length, followed
36824 by a comma and hex-encoded bytes, in a manner similar to action
36825 encodings as described below. If the trailing @samp{-} is present,
36826 further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow to specify this tracepoint's
36832 The packet was understood and carried out.
36834 @xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
36836 The packet was not recognized.
36839 @item QTDP:-@var{n}:@var{addr}:@r{[}S@r{]}@var{action}@dots{}@r{[}-@r{]}
36840 Define actions to be taken when a tracepoint is hit. @var{n} and
36841 @var{addr} must be the same as in the initial @samp{QTDP} packet for
36842 this tracepoint. This packet may only be sent immediately after
36843 another @samp{QTDP} packet that ended with a @samp{-}. If the
36844 trailing @samp{-} is present, further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow,
36845 specifying more actions for this tracepoint.
36847 In the series of action packets for a given tracepoint, at most one
36848 can have an @samp{S} before its first @var{action}. If such a packet
36849 is sent, it and the following packets define ``while-stepping''
36850 actions. Any prior packets define ordinary actions --- that is, those
36851 taken when the tracepoint is first hit. If no action packet has an
36852 @samp{S}, then all the packets in the series specify ordinary
36853 tracepoint actions.
36855 The @samp{@var{action}@dots{}} portion of the packet is a series of
36856 actions, concatenated without separators. Each action has one of the
36862 Collect the registers whose bits are set in @var{mask}. @var{mask} is
36863 a hexadecimal number whose @var{i}'th bit is set if register number
36864 @var{i} should be collected. (The least significant bit is numbered
36865 zero.) Note that @var{mask} may be any number of digits long; it may
36866 not fit in a 32-bit word.
36868 @item M @var{basereg},@var{offset},@var{len}
36869 Collect @var{len} bytes of memory starting at the address in register
36870 number @var{basereg}, plus @var{offset}. If @var{basereg} is
36871 @samp{-1}, then the range has a fixed address: @var{offset} is the
36872 address of the lowest byte to collect. The @var{basereg},
36873 @var{offset}, and @var{len} parameters are all unsigned hexadecimal
36874 values (the @samp{-1} value for @var{basereg} is a special case).
36876 @item X @var{len},@var{expr}
36877 Evaluate @var{expr}, whose length is @var{len}, and collect memory as
36878 it directs. @var{expr} is an agent expression, as described in
36879 @ref{Agent Expressions}. Each byte of the expression is encoded as a
36880 two-digit hex number in the packet; @var{len} is the number of bytes
36881 in the expression (and thus one-half the number of hex digits in the
36886 Any number of actions may be packed together in a single @samp{QTDP}
36887 packet, as long as the packet does not exceed the maximum packet
36888 length (400 bytes, for many stubs). There may be only one @samp{R}
36889 action per tracepoint, and it must precede any @samp{M} or @samp{X}
36890 actions. Any registers referred to by @samp{M} and @samp{X} actions
36891 must be collected by a preceding @samp{R} action. (The
36892 ``while-stepping'' actions are treated as if they were attached to a
36893 separate tracepoint, as far as these restrictions are concerned.)
36898 The packet was understood and carried out.
36900 @xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
36902 The packet was not recognized.
36905 @item QTDPsrc:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{type}:@var{start}:@var{slen}:@var{bytes}
36906 @cindex @samp{QTDPsrc} packet
36907 Specify a source string of tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr}.
36908 This is useful to get accurate reproduction of the tracepoints
36909 originally downloaded at the beginning of the trace run. @var{type}
36910 is the name of the tracepoint part, such as @samp{cond} for the
36911 tracepoint's conditional expression (see below for a list of types), while
36912 @var{bytes} is the string, encoded in hexadecimal.
36914 @var{start} is the offset of the @var{bytes} within the overall source
36915 string, while @var{slen} is the total length of the source string.
36916 This is intended for handling source strings that are longer than will
36917 fit in a single packet.
36918 @c Add detailed example when this info is moved into a dedicated
36919 @c tracepoint descriptions section.
36921 The available string types are @samp{at} for the location,
36922 @samp{cond} for the conditional, and @samp{cmd} for an action command.
36923 @value{GDBN} sends a separate packet for each command in the action
36924 list, in the same order in which the commands are stored in the list.
36926 The target does not need to do anything with source strings except
36927 report them back as part of the replies to the @samp{qTfP}/@samp{qTsP}
36930 Although this packet is optional, and @value{GDBN} will only send it
36931 if the target replies with @samp{TracepointSource} @xref{General
36932 Query Packets}, it makes both disconnected tracing and trace files
36933 much easier to use. Otherwise the user must be careful that the
36934 tracepoints in effect while looking at trace frames are identical to
36935 the ones in effect during the trace run; even a small discrepancy
36936 could cause @samp{tdump} not to work, or a particular trace frame not
36939 @item QTDV:@var{n}:@var{value}
36940 @cindex define trace state variable, remote request
36941 @cindex @samp{QTDV} packet
36942 Create a new trace state variable, number @var{n}, with an initial
36943 value of @var{value}, which is a 64-bit signed integer. Both @var{n}
36944 and @var{value} are encoded as hexadecimal values. @value{GDBN} has
36945 the option of not using this packet for initial values of zero; the
36946 target should simply create the trace state variables as they are
36947 mentioned in expressions.
36949 @item QTFrame:@var{n}
36950 Select the @var{n}'th tracepoint frame from the buffer, and use the
36951 register and memory contents recorded there to answer subsequent
36952 request packets from @value{GDBN}.
36954 A successful reply from the stub indicates that the stub has found the
36955 requested frame. The response is a series of parts, concatenated
36956 without separators, describing the frame we selected. Each part has
36957 one of the following forms:
36961 The selected frame is number @var{n} in the trace frame buffer;
36962 @var{f} is a hexadecimal number. If @var{f} is @samp{-1}, then there
36963 was no frame matching the criteria in the request packet.
36966 The selected trace frame records a hit of tracepoint number @var{t};
36967 @var{t} is a hexadecimal number.
36971 @item QTFrame:pc:@var{addr}
36972 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
36973 currently selected frame whose PC is @var{addr};
36974 @var{addr} is a hexadecimal number.
36976 @item QTFrame:tdp:@var{t}
36977 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
36978 currently selected frame that is a hit of tracepoint @var{t}; @var{t}
36979 is a hexadecimal number.
36981 @item QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}
36982 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
36983 currently selected frame whose PC is between @var{start} (inclusive)
36984 and @var{end} (inclusive); @var{start} and @var{end} are hexadecimal
36987 @item QTFrame:outside:@var{start}:@var{end}
36988 Like @samp{QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}}, but select the first
36989 frame @emph{outside} the given range of addresses (exclusive).
36992 This packet requests the minimum length of instruction at which a fast
36993 tracepoint (@pxref{Set Tracepoints}) may be placed. For instance, on
36994 the 32-bit x86 architecture, it is possible to use a 4-byte jump, but
36995 it depends on the target system being able to create trampolines in
36996 the first 64K of memory, which might or might not be possible for that
36997 system. So the reply to this packet will be 4 if it is able to
37004 The minimum instruction length is currently unknown.
37006 The minimum instruction length is @var{length}, where @var{length} is greater
37007 or equal to 1. @var{length} is a hexadecimal number. A reply of 1 means
37008 that a fast tracepoint may be placed on any instruction regardless of size.
37010 An error has occurred.
37012 An empty reply indicates that the request is not supported by the stub.
37016 Begin the tracepoint experiment. Begin collecting data from
37017 tracepoint hits in the trace frame buffer. This packet supports the
37018 @samp{qRelocInsn} reply (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
37019 instruction reply packet}).
37022 End the tracepoint experiment. Stop collecting trace frames.
37024 @item QTEnable:@var{n}:@var{addr}
37026 Enable tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr} in a started tracepoint
37027 experiment. If the tracepoint was previously disabled, then collection
37028 of data from it will resume.
37030 @item QTDisable:@var{n}:@var{addr}
37032 Disable tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr} in a started tracepoint
37033 experiment. No more data will be collected from the tracepoint unless
37034 @samp{QTEnable:@var{n}:@var{addr}} is subsequently issued.
37037 Clear the table of tracepoints, and empty the trace frame buffer.
37039 @item QTro:@var{start1},@var{end1}:@var{start2},@var{end2}:@dots{}
37040 Establish the given ranges of memory as ``transparent''. The stub
37041 will answer requests for these ranges from memory's current contents,
37042 if they were not collected as part of the tracepoint hit.
37044 @value{GDBN} uses this to mark read-only regions of memory, like those
37045 containing program code. Since these areas never change, they should
37046 still have the same contents they did when the tracepoint was hit, so
37047 there's no reason for the stub to refuse to provide their contents.
37049 @item QTDisconnected:@var{value}
37050 Set the choice to what to do with the tracing run when @value{GDBN}
37051 disconnects from the target. A @var{value} of 1 directs the target to
37052 continue the tracing run, while 0 tells the target to stop tracing if
37053 @value{GDBN} is no longer in the picture.
37056 Ask the stub if there is a trace experiment running right now.
37058 The reply has the form:
37062 @item T@var{running}@r{[};@var{field}@r{]}@dots{}
37063 @var{running} is a single digit @code{1} if the trace is presently
37064 running, or @code{0} if not. It is followed by semicolon-separated
37065 optional fields that an agent may use to report additional status.
37069 If the trace is not running, the agent may report any of several
37070 explanations as one of the optional fields:
37075 No trace has been run yet.
37077 @item tstop[:@var{text}]:0
37078 The trace was stopped by a user-originated stop command. The optional
37079 @var{text} field is a user-supplied string supplied as part of the
37080 stop command (for instance, an explanation of why the trace was
37081 stopped manually). It is hex-encoded.
37084 The trace stopped because the trace buffer filled up.
37086 @item tdisconnected:0
37087 The trace stopped because @value{GDBN} disconnected from the target.
37089 @item tpasscount:@var{tpnum}
37090 The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} exceeded its pass count.
37092 @item terror:@var{text}:@var{tpnum}
37093 The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} had an error. The
37094 string @var{text} is available to describe the nature of the error
37095 (for instance, a divide by zero in the condition expression).
37096 @var{text} is hex encoded.
37099 The trace stopped for some other reason.
37103 Additional optional fields supply statistical and other information.
37104 Although not required, they are extremely useful for users monitoring
37105 the progress of a trace run. If a trace has stopped, and these
37106 numbers are reported, they must reflect the state of the just-stopped
37111 @item tframes:@var{n}
37112 The number of trace frames in the buffer.
37114 @item tcreated:@var{n}
37115 The total number of trace frames created during the run. This may
37116 be larger than the trace frame count, if the buffer is circular.
37118 @item tsize:@var{n}
37119 The total size of the trace buffer, in bytes.
37121 @item tfree:@var{n}
37122 The number of bytes still unused in the buffer.
37124 @item circular:@var{n}
37125 The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
37126 trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
37127 necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
37130 @item disconn:@var{n}
37131 The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
37132 tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
37133 that the trace run will stop.
37137 @item qTP:@var{tp}:@var{addr}
37138 @cindex tracepoint status, remote request
37139 @cindex @samp{qTP} packet
37140 Ask the stub for the current state of tracepoint number @var{tp} at
37141 address @var{addr}.
37145 @item V@var{hits}:@var{usage}
37146 The tracepoint has been hit @var{hits} times so far during the trace
37147 run, and accounts for @var{usage} in the trace buffer. Note that
37148 @code{while-stepping} steps are not counted as separate hits, but the
37149 steps' space consumption is added into the usage number.
37153 @item qTV:@var{var}
37154 @cindex trace state variable value, remote request
37155 @cindex @samp{qTV} packet
37156 Ask the stub for the value of the trace state variable number @var{var}.
37161 The value of the variable is @var{value}. This will be the current
37162 value of the variable if the user is examining a running target, or a
37163 saved value if the variable was collected in the trace frame that the
37164 user is looking at. Note that multiple requests may result in
37165 different reply values, such as when requesting values while the
37166 program is running.
37169 The value of the variable is unknown. This would occur, for example,
37170 if the user is examining a trace frame in which the requested variable
37176 These packets request data about tracepoints that are being used by
37177 the target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfP} to get the first piece
37178 of data, and multiple @code{qTsP} to get additional pieces. Replies
37179 to these packets generally take the form of the @code{QTDP} packets
37180 that define tracepoints. (FIXME add detailed syntax)
37184 These packets request data about trace state variables that are on the
37185 target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfV} to get the first vari of data,
37186 and multiple @code{qTsV} to get additional variables. Replies to
37187 these packets follow the syntax of the @code{QTDV} packets that define
37188 trace state variables.
37192 These packets request data about static tracepoint markers that exist
37193 in the target program. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfSTM} to get the
37194 first piece of data, and multiple @code{qTsSTM} to get additional
37195 pieces. Replies to these packets take the following form:
37199 @item m @var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra}
37201 @item m @var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra},@var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra}@dots{}
37202 a comma-separated list of markers
37204 (lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
37206 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
37208 An empty reply indicates that the request is not supported by the
37212 @var{address} is encoded in hex.
37213 @var{id} and @var{extra} are strings encoded in hex.
37215 In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
37216 more markers, separated by commas. @value{GDBN} will respond to each
37217 reply with a request for more markers (using the @samp{qs} form of the
37218 query), until the target responds with @samp{l} (lower-case ell, for
37221 @item qTSTMat:@var{address}
37222 This packets requests data about static tracepoint markers in the
37223 target program at @var{address}. Replies to this packet follow the
37224 syntax of the @samp{qTfSTM} and @code{qTsSTM} packets that list static
37225 tracepoint markers.
37227 @item QTSave:@var{filename}
37228 This packet directs the target to save trace data to the file name
37229 @var{filename} in the target's filesystem. @var{filename} is encoded
37230 as a hex string; the interpretation of the file name (relative vs
37231 absolute, wild cards, etc) is up to the target.
37233 @item qTBuffer:@var{offset},@var{len}
37234 Return up to @var{len} bytes of the current contents of trace buffer,
37235 starting at @var{offset}. The trace buffer is treated as if it were
37236 a contiguous collection of traceframes, as per the trace file format.
37237 The reply consists as many hex-encoded bytes as the target can deliver
37238 in a packet; it is not an error to return fewer than were asked for.
37239 A reply consisting of just @code{l} indicates that no bytes are
37242 @item QTBuffer:circular:@var{value}
37243 This packet directs the target to use a circular trace buffer if
37244 @var{value} is 1, or a linear buffer if the value is 0.
37246 @item QTNotes:@r{[}@var{type}:@var{text}@r{]}@r{[};@var{type}:@var{text}@r{]}@dots{}
37247 This packet adds optional textual notes to the trace run. Allowable
37248 types include @code{user}, @code{notes}, and @code{tstop}, the
37249 @var{text} fields are arbitrary strings, hex-encoded.
37253 @subsection Relocate instruction reply packet
37254 When installing fast tracepoints in memory, the target may need to
37255 relocate the instruction currently at the tracepoint address to a
37256 different address in memory. For most instructions, a simple copy is
37257 enough, but, for example, call instructions that implicitly push the
37258 return address on the stack, and relative branches or other
37259 PC-relative instructions require offset adjustment, so that the effect
37260 of executing the instruction at a different address is the same as if
37261 it had executed in the original location.
37263 In response to several of the tracepoint packets, the target may also
37264 respond with a number of intermediate @samp{qRelocInsn} request
37265 packets before the final result packet, to have @value{GDBN} handle
37266 this relocation operation. If a packet supports this mechanism, its
37267 documentation will explicitly say so. See for example the above
37268 descriptions for the @samp{QTStart} and @samp{QTDP} packets. The
37269 format of the request is:
37272 @item qRelocInsn:@var{from};@var{to}
37274 This requests @value{GDBN} to copy instruction at address @var{from}
37275 to address @var{to}, possibly adjusted so that executing the
37276 instruction at @var{to} has the same effect as executing it at
37277 @var{from}. @value{GDBN} writes the adjusted instruction to target
37278 memory starting at @var{to}.
37283 @item qRelocInsn:@var{adjusted_size}
37284 Informs the stub the relocation is complete. @var{adjusted_size} is
37285 the length in bytes of resulting relocated instruction sequence.
37287 A badly formed request was detected, or an error was encountered while
37288 relocating the instruction.
37291 @node Host I/O Packets
37292 @section Host I/O Packets
37293 @cindex Host I/O, remote protocol
37294 @cindex file transfer, remote protocol
37296 The @dfn{Host I/O} packets allow @value{GDBN} to perform I/O
37297 operations on the far side of a remote link. For example, Host I/O is
37298 used to upload and download files to a remote target with its own
37299 filesystem. Host I/O uses the same constant values and data structure
37300 layout as the target-initiated File-I/O protocol. However, the
37301 Host I/O packets are structured differently. The target-initiated
37302 protocol relies on target memory to store parameters and buffers.
37303 Host I/O requests are initiated by @value{GDBN}, and the
37304 target's memory is not involved. @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol
37305 Extension}, for more details on the target-initiated protocol.
37307 The Host I/O request packets all encode a single operation along with
37308 its arguments. They have this format:
37312 @item vFile:@var{operation}: @var{parameter}@dots{}
37313 @var{operation} is the name of the particular request; the target
37314 should compare the entire packet name up to the second colon when checking
37315 for a supported operation. The format of @var{parameter} depends on
37316 the operation. Numbers are always passed in hexadecimal. Negative
37317 numbers have an explicit minus sign (i.e.@: two's complement is not
37318 used). Strings (e.g.@: filenames) are encoded as a series of
37319 hexadecimal bytes. The last argument to a system call may be a
37320 buffer of escaped binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
37324 The valid responses to Host I/O packets are:
37328 @item F @var{result} [, @var{errno}] [; @var{attachment}]
37329 @var{result} is the integer value returned by this operation, usually
37330 non-negative for success and -1 for errors. If an error has occured,
37331 @var{errno} will be included in the result. @var{errno} will have a
37332 value defined by the File-I/O protocol (@pxref{Errno Values}). For
37333 operations which return data, @var{attachment} supplies the data as a
37334 binary buffer. Binary buffers in response packets are escaped in the
37335 normal way (@pxref{Binary Data}). See the individual packet
37336 documentation for the interpretation of @var{result} and
37340 An empty response indicates that this operation is not recognized.
37344 These are the supported Host I/O operations:
37347 @item vFile:open: @var{pathname}, @var{flags}, @var{mode}
37348 Open a file at @var{pathname} and return a file descriptor for it, or
37349 return -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string,
37350 @var{flags} is an integer indicating a mask of open flags
37351 (@pxref{Open Flags}), and @var{mode} is an integer indicating a mask
37352 of mode bits to use if the file is created (@pxref{mode_t Values}).
37353 @xref{open}, for details of the open flags and mode values.
37355 @item vFile:close: @var{fd}
37356 Close the open file corresponding to @var{fd} and return 0, or
37357 -1 if an error occurs.
37359 @item vFile:pread: @var{fd}, @var{count}, @var{offset}
37360 Read data from the open file corresponding to @var{fd}. Up to
37361 @var{count} bytes will be read from the file, starting at @var{offset}
37362 relative to the start of the file. The target may read fewer bytes;
37363 common reasons include packet size limits and an end-of-file
37364 condition. The number of bytes read is returned. Zero should only be
37365 returned for a successful read at the end of the file, or if
37366 @var{count} was zero.
37368 The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
37369 If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
37370 attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
37371 number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
37372 some characters were escaped.
37374 @item vFile:pwrite: @var{fd}, @var{offset}, @var{data}
37375 Write @var{data} (a binary buffer) to the open file corresponding
37376 to @var{fd}. Start the write at @var{offset} from the start of the
37377 file. Unlike many @code{write} system calls, there is no
37378 separate @var{count} argument; the length of @var{data} in the
37379 packet is used. @samp{vFile:write} returns the number of bytes written,
37380 which may be shorter than the length of @var{data}, or -1 if an
37383 @item vFile:unlink: @var{pathname}
37384 Delete the file at @var{pathname} on the target. Return 0,
37385 or -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string.
37387 @item vFile:readlink: @var{filename}
37388 Read value of symbolic link @var{filename} on the target. Return
37389 the number of bytes read, or -1 if an error occurs.
37391 The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
37392 If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
37393 attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
37394 number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
37395 some characters were escaped.
37400 @section Interrupts
37401 @cindex interrupts (remote protocol)
37403 When a program on the remote target is running, @value{GDBN} may
37404 attempt to interrupt it by sending a @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or
37405 a @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g},
37406 control of which is specified via @value{GDBN}'s @samp{interrupt-sequence}.
37408 The precise meaning of @code{BREAK} is defined by the transport
37409 mechanism and may, in fact, be undefined. @value{GDBN} does not
37410 currently define a @code{BREAK} mechanism for any of the network
37411 interfaces except for TCP, in which case @value{GDBN} sends the
37412 @code{telnet} BREAK sequence.
37414 @samp{Ctrl-C}, on the other hand, is defined and implemented for all
37415 transport mechanisms. It is represented by sending the single byte
37416 @code{0x03} without any of the usual packet overhead described in
37417 the Overview section (@pxref{Overview}). When a @code{0x03} byte is
37418 transmitted as part of a packet, it is considered to be packet data
37419 and does @emph{not} represent an interrupt. E.g., an @samp{X} packet
37420 (@pxref{X packet}), used for binary downloads, may include an unescaped
37421 @code{0x03} as part of its packet.
37423 @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g} is also known as Magic SysRq g.
37424 When Linux kernel receives this sequence from serial port,
37425 it stops execution and connects to gdb.
37427 Stubs are not required to recognize these interrupt mechanisms and the
37428 precise meaning associated with receipt of the interrupt is
37429 implementation defined. If the target supports debugging of multiple
37430 threads and/or processes, it should attempt to interrupt all
37431 currently-executing threads and processes.
37432 If the stub is successful at interrupting the
37433 running program, it should send one of the stop
37434 reply packets (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}) to @value{GDBN} as a result
37435 of successfully stopping the program in all-stop mode, and a stop reply
37436 for each stopped thread in non-stop mode.
37437 Interrupts received while the
37438 program is stopped are discarded.
37440 @node Notification Packets
37441 @section Notification Packets
37442 @cindex notification packets
37443 @cindex packets, notification
37445 The @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol includes @dfn{notifications},
37446 packets that require no acknowledgment. Both the GDB and the stub
37447 may send notifications (although the only notifications defined at
37448 present are sent by the stub). Notifications carry information
37449 without incurring the round-trip latency of an acknowledgment, and so
37450 are useful for low-impact communications where occasional packet loss
37453 A notification packet has the form @samp{% @var{data} #
37454 @var{checksum}}, where @var{data} is the content of the notification,
37455 and @var{checksum} is a checksum of @var{data}, computed and formatted
37456 as for ordinary @value{GDBN} packets. A notification's @var{data}
37457 never contains @samp{$}, @samp{%} or @samp{#} characters. Upon
37458 receiving a notification, the recipient sends no @samp{+} or @samp{-}
37459 to acknowledge the notification's receipt or to report its corruption.
37461 Every notification's @var{data} begins with a name, which contains no
37462 colon characters, followed by a colon character.
37464 Recipients should silently ignore corrupted notifications and
37465 notifications they do not understand. Recipients should restart
37466 timeout periods on receipt of a well-formed notification, whether or
37467 not they understand it.
37469 Senders should only send the notifications described here when this
37470 protocol description specifies that they are permitted. In the
37471 future, we may extend the protocol to permit existing notifications in
37472 new contexts; this rule helps older senders avoid confusing newer
37475 (Older versions of @value{GDBN} ignore bytes received until they see
37476 the @samp{$} byte that begins an ordinary packet, so new stubs may
37477 transmit notifications without fear of confusing older clients. There
37478 are no notifications defined for @value{GDBN} to send at the moment, but we
37479 assume that most older stubs would ignore them, as well.)
37481 The following notification packets from the stub to @value{GDBN} are
37485 @item Stop: @var{reply}
37486 Report an asynchronous stop event in non-stop mode.
37487 The @var{reply} has the form of a stop reply, as
37488 described in @ref{Stop Reply Packets}. Refer to @ref{Remote Non-Stop},
37489 for information on how these notifications are acknowledged by
37493 @node Remote Non-Stop
37494 @section Remote Protocol Support for Non-Stop Mode
37496 @value{GDBN}'s remote protocol supports non-stop debugging of
37497 multi-threaded programs, as described in @ref{Non-Stop Mode}. If the stub
37498 supports non-stop mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN} by including
37499 @samp{QNonStop+} in its @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37501 @value{GDBN} typically sends a @samp{QNonStop} packet only when
37502 establishing a new connection with the stub. Entering non-stop mode
37503 does not alter the state of any currently-running threads, but targets
37504 must stop all threads in any already-attached processes when entering
37505 all-stop mode. @value{GDBN} uses the @samp{?} packet as necessary to
37506 probe the target state after a mode change.
37508 In non-stop mode, when an attached process encounters an event that
37509 would otherwise be reported with a stop reply, it uses the
37510 asynchronous notification mechanism (@pxref{Notification Packets}) to
37511 inform @value{GDBN}. In contrast to all-stop mode, where all threads
37512 in all processes are stopped when a stop reply is sent, in non-stop
37513 mode only the thread reporting the stop event is stopped. That is,
37514 when reporting a @samp{S} or @samp{T} response to indicate completion
37515 of a step operation, hitting a breakpoint, or a fault, only the
37516 affected thread is stopped; any other still-running threads continue
37517 to run. When reporting a @samp{W} or @samp{X} response, all running
37518 threads belonging to other attached processes continue to run.
37520 Only one stop reply notification at a time may be pending; if
37521 additional stop events occur before @value{GDBN} has acknowledged the
37522 previous notification, they must be queued by the stub for later
37523 synchronous transmission in response to @samp{vStopped} packets from
37524 @value{GDBN}. Because the notification mechanism is unreliable,
37525 the stub is permitted to resend a stop reply notification
37526 if it believes @value{GDBN} may not have received it. @value{GDBN}
37527 ignores additional stop reply notifications received before it has
37528 finished processing a previous notification and the stub has completed
37529 sending any queued stop events.
37531 Otherwise, @value{GDBN} must be prepared to receive a stop reply
37532 notification at any time. Specifically, they may appear when
37533 @value{GDBN} is not otherwise reading input from the stub, or when
37534 @value{GDBN} is expecting to read a normal synchronous response or a
37535 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgment to a packet it has sent.
37536 Notification packets are distinct from any other communication from
37537 the stub so there is no ambiguity.
37539 After receiving a stop reply notification, @value{GDBN} shall
37540 acknowledge it by sending a @samp{vStopped} packet (@pxref{vStopped packet})
37541 as a regular, synchronous request to the stub. Such acknowledgment
37542 is not required to happen immediately, as @value{GDBN} is permitted to
37543 send other, unrelated packets to the stub first, which the stub should
37546 Upon receiving a @samp{vStopped} packet, if the stub has other queued
37547 stop events to report to @value{GDBN}, it shall respond by sending a
37548 normal stop reply response. @value{GDBN} shall then send another
37549 @samp{vStopped} packet to solicit further responses; again, it is
37550 permitted to send other, unrelated packets as well which the stub
37551 should process normally.
37553 If the stub receives a @samp{vStopped} packet and there are no
37554 additional stop events to report, the stub shall return an @samp{OK}
37555 response. At this point, if further stop events occur, the stub shall
37556 send a new stop reply notification, @value{GDBN} shall accept the
37557 notification, and the process shall be repeated.
37559 In non-stop mode, the target shall respond to the @samp{?} packet as
37560 follows. First, any incomplete stop reply notification/@samp{vStopped}
37561 sequence in progress is abandoned. The target must begin a new
37562 sequence reporting stop events for all stopped threads, whether or not
37563 it has previously reported those events to @value{GDBN}. The first
37564 stop reply is sent as a synchronous reply to the @samp{?} packet, and
37565 subsequent stop replies are sent as responses to @samp{vStopped} packets
37566 using the mechanism described above. The target must not send
37567 asynchronous stop reply notifications until the sequence is complete.
37568 If all threads are running when the target receives the @samp{?} packet,
37569 or if the target is not attached to any process, it shall respond
37572 @node Packet Acknowledgment
37573 @section Packet Acknowledgment
37575 @cindex acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
37576 @cindex packet acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
37577 By default, when either the host or the target machine receives a packet,
37578 the first response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
37579 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request retransmission).
37580 This mechanism allows the @value{GDBN} remote protocol to operate over
37581 unreliable transport mechanisms, such as a serial line.
37583 In cases where the transport mechanism is itself reliable (such as a pipe or
37584 TCP connection), the @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are redundant.
37585 It may be desirable to disable them in that case to reduce communication
37586 overhead, or for other reasons. This can be accomplished by means of the
37587 @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet; @pxref{QStartNoAckMode}.
37589 When in no-acknowledgment mode, neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or
37590 expect @samp{+}/@samp{-} protocol acknowledgments. The packet
37591 and response format still includes the normal checksum, as described in
37592 @ref{Overview}, but the checksum may be ignored by the receiver.
37594 If the stub supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and prefers to operate in
37595 no-acknowledgment mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN}
37596 by including @samp{QStartNoAckMode+} in its response to @samp{qSupported};
37597 @pxref{qSupported}.
37598 If @value{GDBN} also supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and it has not been
37599 disabled via the @code{set remote noack-packet off} command
37600 (@pxref{Remote Configuration}),
37601 @value{GDBN} may then send a @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet to the stub.
37602 Only then may the stub actually turn off packet acknowledgments.
37603 @value{GDBN} sends a final @samp{+} acknowledgment of the stub's @samp{OK}
37604 response, which can be safely ignored by the stub.
37606 Note that @code{set remote noack-packet} command only affects negotiation
37607 between @value{GDBN} and the stub when subsequent connections are made;
37608 it does not affect the protocol acknowledgment state for any current
37610 Since @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are enabled by default when a
37611 new connection is established,
37612 there is also no protocol request to re-enable the acknowledgments
37613 for the current connection, once disabled.
37618 Example sequence of a target being re-started. Notice how the restart
37619 does not get any direct output:
37624 @emph{target restarts}
37627 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
37631 Example sequence of a target being stepped by a single instruction:
37634 -> @code{G1445@dots{}}
37639 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
37643 <- @code{1455@dots{}}
37647 @node File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
37648 @section File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
37649 @cindex File-I/O remote protocol extension
37652 * File-I/O Overview::
37653 * Protocol Basics::
37654 * The F Request Packet::
37655 * The F Reply Packet::
37656 * The Ctrl-C Message::
37658 * List of Supported Calls::
37659 * Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes::
37661 * File-I/O Examples::
37664 @node File-I/O Overview
37665 @subsection File-I/O Overview
37666 @cindex file-i/o overview
37668 The @dfn{File I/O remote protocol extension} (short: File-I/O) allows the
37669 target to use the host's file system and console I/O to perform various
37670 system calls. System calls on the target system are translated into a
37671 remote protocol packet to the host system, which then performs the needed
37672 actions and returns a response packet to the target system.
37673 This simulates file system operations even on targets that lack file systems.
37675 The protocol is defined to be independent of both the host and target systems.
37676 It uses its own internal representation of datatypes and values. Both
37677 @value{GDBN} and the target's @value{GDBN} stub are responsible for
37678 translating the system-dependent value representations into the internal
37679 protocol representations when data is transmitted.
37681 The communication is synchronous. A system call is possible only when
37682 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
37683 or @samp{s} packets. While @value{GDBN} handles the request for a system call,
37684 the target is stopped to allow deterministic access to the target's
37685 memory. Therefore File-I/O is not interruptible by target signals. On
37686 the other hand, it is possible to interrupt File-I/O by a user interrupt
37687 (@samp{Ctrl-C}) within @value{GDBN}.
37689 The target's request to perform a host system call does not finish
37690 the latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} action. That means,
37691 after finishing the system call, the target returns to continuing the
37692 previous activity (continue, step). No additional continue or step
37693 request from @value{GDBN} is required.
37696 (@value{GDBP}) continue
37697 <- target requests 'system call X'
37698 target is stopped, @value{GDBN} executes system call
37699 -> @value{GDBN} returns result
37700 ... target continues, @value{GDBN} returns to wait for the target
37701 <- target hits breakpoint and sends a Txx packet
37704 The protocol only supports I/O on the console and to regular files on
37705 the host file system. Character or block special devices, pipes,
37706 named pipes, sockets or any other communication method on the host
37707 system are not supported by this protocol.
37709 File I/O is not supported in non-stop mode.
37711 @node Protocol Basics
37712 @subsection Protocol Basics
37713 @cindex protocol basics, file-i/o
37715 The File-I/O protocol uses the @code{F} packet as the request as well
37716 as reply packet. Since a File-I/O system call can only occur when
37717 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the continuing or stepping target,
37718 the File-I/O request is a reply that @value{GDBN} has to expect as a result
37719 of a previous @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} packet.
37720 This @code{F} packet contains all information needed to allow @value{GDBN}
37721 to call the appropriate host system call:
37725 A unique identifier for the requested system call.
37728 All parameters to the system call. Pointers are given as addresses
37729 in the target memory address space. Pointers to strings are given as
37730 pointer/length pair. Numerical values are given as they are.
37731 Numerical control flags are given in a protocol-specific representation.
37735 At this point, @value{GDBN} has to perform the following actions.
37739 If the parameters include pointer values to data needed as input to a
37740 system call, @value{GDBN} requests this data from the target with a
37741 standard @code{m} packet request. This additional communication has to be
37742 expected by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{m}
37746 @value{GDBN} translates all value from protocol representation to host
37747 representation as needed. Datatypes are coerced into the host types.
37750 @value{GDBN} calls the system call.
37753 It then coerces datatypes back to protocol representation.
37756 If the system call is expected to return data in buffer space specified
37757 by pointer parameters to the call, the data is transmitted to the
37758 target using a @code{M} or @code{X} packet. This packet has to be expected
37759 by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{M} or @code{X}
37764 Eventually @value{GDBN} replies with another @code{F} packet which contains all
37765 necessary information for the target to continue. This at least contains
37772 @code{errno}, if has been changed by the system call.
37779 After having done the needed type and value coercion, the target continues
37780 the latest continue or step action.
37782 @node The F Request Packet
37783 @subsection The @code{F} Request Packet
37784 @cindex file-i/o request packet
37785 @cindex @code{F} request packet
37787 The @code{F} request packet has the following format:
37790 @item F@var{call-id},@var{parameter@dots{}}
37792 @var{call-id} is the identifier to indicate the host system call to be called.
37793 This is just the name of the function.
37795 @var{parameter@dots{}} are the parameters to the system call.
37796 Parameters are hexadecimal integer values, either the actual values in case
37797 of scalar datatypes, pointers to target buffer space in case of compound
37798 datatypes and unspecified memory areas, or pointer/length pairs in case
37799 of string parameters. These are appended to the @var{call-id} as a
37800 comma-delimited list. All values are transmitted in ASCII
37801 string representation, pointer/length pairs separated by a slash.
37807 @node The F Reply Packet
37808 @subsection The @code{F} Reply Packet
37809 @cindex file-i/o reply packet
37810 @cindex @code{F} reply packet
37812 The @code{F} reply packet has the following format:
37816 @item F@var{retcode},@var{errno},@var{Ctrl-C flag};@var{call-specific attachment}
37818 @var{retcode} is the return code of the system call as hexadecimal value.
37820 @var{errno} is the @code{errno} set by the call, in protocol-specific
37822 This parameter can be omitted if the call was successful.
37824 @var{Ctrl-C flag} is only sent if the user requested a break. In this
37825 case, @var{errno} must be sent as well, even if the call was successful.
37826 The @var{Ctrl-C flag} itself consists of the character @samp{C}:
37833 or, if the call was interrupted before the host call has been performed:
37840 assuming 4 is the protocol-specific representation of @code{EINTR}.
37845 @node The Ctrl-C Message
37846 @subsection The @samp{Ctrl-C} Message
37847 @cindex ctrl-c message, in file-i/o protocol
37849 If the @samp{Ctrl-C} flag is set in the @value{GDBN}
37850 reply packet (@pxref{The F Reply Packet}),
37851 the target should behave as if it had
37852 gotten a break message. The meaning for the target is ``system call
37853 interrupted by @code{SIGINT}''. Consequentially, the target should actually stop
37854 (as with a break message) and return to @value{GDBN} with a @code{T02}
37857 It's important for the target to know in which
37858 state the system call was interrupted. There are two possible cases:
37862 The system call hasn't been performed on the host yet.
37865 The system call on the host has been finished.
37869 These two states can be distinguished by the target by the value of the
37870 returned @code{errno}. If it's the protocol representation of @code{EINTR}, the system
37871 call hasn't been performed. This is equivalent to the @code{EINTR} handling
37872 on POSIX systems. In any other case, the target may presume that the
37873 system call has been finished --- successfully or not --- and should behave
37874 as if the break message arrived right after the system call.
37876 @value{GDBN} must behave reliably. If the system call has not been called
37877 yet, @value{GDBN} may send the @code{F} reply immediately, setting @code{EINTR} as
37878 @code{errno} in the packet. If the system call on the host has been finished
37879 before the user requests a break, the full action must be finished by
37880 @value{GDBN}. This requires sending @code{M} or @code{X} packets as necessary.
37881 The @code{F} packet may only be sent when either nothing has happened
37882 or the full action has been completed.
37885 @subsection Console I/O
37886 @cindex console i/o as part of file-i/o
37888 By default and if not explicitly closed by the target system, the file
37889 descriptors 0, 1 and 2 are connected to the @value{GDBN} console. Output
37890 on the @value{GDBN} console is handled as any other file output operation
37891 (@code{write(1, @dots{})} or @code{write(2, @dots{})}). Console input is handled
37892 by @value{GDBN} so that after the target read request from file descriptor
37893 0 all following typing is buffered until either one of the following
37898 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-c}. The behaviour is as explained above, and the
37900 system call is treated as finished.
37903 The user presses @key{RET}. This is treated as end of input with a trailing
37907 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-d}. This is treated as end of input. No trailing
37908 character (neither newline nor @samp{Ctrl-D}) is appended to the input.
37912 If the user has typed more characters than fit in the buffer given to
37913 the @code{read} call, the trailing characters are buffered in @value{GDBN} until
37914 either another @code{read(0, @dots{})} is requested by the target, or debugging
37915 is stopped at the user's request.
37918 @node List of Supported Calls
37919 @subsection List of Supported Calls
37920 @cindex list of supported file-i/o calls
37937 @unnumberedsubsubsec open
37938 @cindex open, file-i/o system call
37943 int open(const char *pathname, int flags);
37944 int open(const char *pathname, int flags, mode_t mode);
37948 @samp{Fopen,@var{pathptr}/@var{len},@var{flags},@var{mode}}
37951 @var{flags} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
37955 If the file does not exist it will be created. The host
37956 rules apply as far as file ownership and time stamps
37960 When used with @code{O_CREAT}, if the file already exists it is
37961 an error and open() fails.
37964 If the file already exists and the open mode allows
37965 writing (@code{O_RDWR} or @code{O_WRONLY} is given) it will be
37966 truncated to zero length.
37969 The file is opened in append mode.
37972 The file is opened for reading only.
37975 The file is opened for writing only.
37978 The file is opened for reading and writing.
37982 Other bits are silently ignored.
37986 @var{mode} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
37990 User has read permission.
37993 User has write permission.
37996 Group has read permission.
37999 Group has write permission.
38002 Others have read permission.
38005 Others have write permission.
38009 Other bits are silently ignored.
38012 @item Return value:
38013 @code{open} returns the new file descriptor or -1 if an error
38020 @var{pathname} already exists and @code{O_CREAT} and @code{O_EXCL} were used.
38023 @var{pathname} refers to a directory.
38026 The requested access is not allowed.
38029 @var{pathname} was too long.
38032 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
38035 @var{pathname} refers to a device, pipe, named pipe or socket.
38038 @var{pathname} refers to a file on a read-only filesystem and
38039 write access was requested.
38042 @var{pathname} is an invalid pointer value.
38045 No space on device to create the file.
38048 The process already has the maximum number of files open.
38051 The limit on the total number of files open on the system
38055 The call was interrupted by the user.
38061 @unnumberedsubsubsec close
38062 @cindex close, file-i/o system call
38071 @samp{Fclose,@var{fd}}
38073 @item Return value:
38074 @code{close} returns zero on success, or -1 if an error occurred.
38080 @var{fd} isn't a valid open file descriptor.
38083 The call was interrupted by the user.
38089 @unnumberedsubsubsec read
38090 @cindex read, file-i/o system call
38095 int read(int fd, void *buf, unsigned int count);
38099 @samp{Fread,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
38101 @item Return value:
38102 On success, the number of bytes read is returned.
38103 Zero indicates end of file. If count is zero, read
38104 returns zero as well. On error, -1 is returned.
38110 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
38114 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
38117 The call was interrupted by the user.
38123 @unnumberedsubsubsec write
38124 @cindex write, file-i/o system call
38129 int write(int fd, const void *buf, unsigned int count);
38133 @samp{Fwrite,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
38135 @item Return value:
38136 On success, the number of bytes written are returned.
38137 Zero indicates nothing was written. On error, -1
38144 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
38148 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
38151 An attempt was made to write a file that exceeds the
38152 host-specific maximum file size allowed.
38155 No space on device to write the data.
38158 The call was interrupted by the user.
38164 @unnumberedsubsubsec lseek
38165 @cindex lseek, file-i/o system call
38170 long lseek (int fd, long offset, int flag);
38174 @samp{Flseek,@var{fd},@var{offset},@var{flag}}
38176 @var{flag} is one of:
38180 The offset is set to @var{offset} bytes.
38183 The offset is set to its current location plus @var{offset}
38187 The offset is set to the size of the file plus @var{offset}
38191 @item Return value:
38192 On success, the resulting unsigned offset in bytes from
38193 the beginning of the file is returned. Otherwise, a
38194 value of -1 is returned.
38200 @var{fd} is not a valid open file descriptor.
38203 @var{fd} is associated with the @value{GDBN} console.
38206 @var{flag} is not a proper value.
38209 The call was interrupted by the user.
38215 @unnumberedsubsubsec rename
38216 @cindex rename, file-i/o system call
38221 int rename(const char *oldpath, const char *newpath);
38225 @samp{Frename,@var{oldpathptr}/@var{len},@var{newpathptr}/@var{len}}
38227 @item Return value:
38228 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
38234 @var{newpath} is an existing directory, but @var{oldpath} is not a
38238 @var{newpath} is a non-empty directory.
38241 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} is a directory that is in use by some
38245 An attempt was made to make a directory a subdirectory
38249 A component used as a directory in @var{oldpath} or new
38250 path is not a directory. Or @var{oldpath} is a directory
38251 and @var{newpath} exists but is not a directory.
38254 @var{oldpathptr} or @var{newpathptr} are invalid pointer values.
38257 No access to the file or the path of the file.
38261 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} was too long.
38264 A directory component in @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} does not exist.
38267 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
38270 The device containing the file has no room for the new
38274 The call was interrupted by the user.
38280 @unnumberedsubsubsec unlink
38281 @cindex unlink, file-i/o system call
38286 int unlink(const char *pathname);
38290 @samp{Funlink,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len}}
38292 @item Return value:
38293 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
38299 No access to the file or the path of the file.
38302 The system does not allow unlinking of directories.
38305 The file @var{pathname} cannot be unlinked because it's
38306 being used by another process.
38309 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
38312 @var{pathname} was too long.
38315 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
38318 A component of the path is not a directory.
38321 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
38324 The call was interrupted by the user.
38330 @unnumberedsubsubsec stat/fstat
38331 @cindex fstat, file-i/o system call
38332 @cindex stat, file-i/o system call
38337 int stat(const char *pathname, struct stat *buf);
38338 int fstat(int fd, struct stat *buf);
38342 @samp{Fstat,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len},@var{bufptr}}@*
38343 @samp{Ffstat,@var{fd},@var{bufptr}}
38345 @item Return value:
38346 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
38352 @var{fd} is not a valid open file.
38355 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist or the
38356 path is an empty string.
38359 A component of the path is not a directory.
38362 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
38365 No access to the file or the path of the file.
38368 @var{pathname} was too long.
38371 The call was interrupted by the user.
38377 @unnumberedsubsubsec gettimeofday
38378 @cindex gettimeofday, file-i/o system call
38383 int gettimeofday(struct timeval *tv, void *tz);
38387 @samp{Fgettimeofday,@var{tvptr},@var{tzptr}}
38389 @item Return value:
38390 On success, 0 is returned, -1 otherwise.
38396 @var{tz} is a non-NULL pointer.
38399 @var{tvptr} and/or @var{tzptr} is an invalid pointer value.
38405 @unnumberedsubsubsec isatty
38406 @cindex isatty, file-i/o system call
38411 int isatty(int fd);
38415 @samp{Fisatty,@var{fd}}
38417 @item Return value:
38418 Returns 1 if @var{fd} refers to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise.
38424 The call was interrupted by the user.
38429 Note that the @code{isatty} call is treated as a special case: it returns
38430 1 to the target if the file descriptor is attached
38431 to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise. Implementing through system calls
38432 would require implementing @code{ioctl} and would be more complex than
38437 @unnumberedsubsubsec system
38438 @cindex system, file-i/o system call
38443 int system(const char *command);
38447 @samp{Fsystem,@var{commandptr}/@var{len}}
38449 @item Return value:
38450 If @var{len} is zero, the return value indicates whether a shell is
38451 available. A zero return value indicates a shell is not available.
38452 For non-zero @var{len}, the value returned is -1 on error and the
38453 return status of the command otherwise. Only the exit status of the
38454 command is returned, which is extracted from the host's @code{system}
38455 return value by calling @code{WEXITSTATUS(retval)}. In case
38456 @file{/bin/sh} could not be executed, 127 is returned.
38462 The call was interrupted by the user.
38467 @value{GDBN} takes over the full task of calling the necessary host calls
38468 to perform the @code{system} call. The return value of @code{system} on
38469 the host is simplified before it's returned
38470 to the target. Any termination signal information from the child process
38471 is discarded, and the return value consists
38472 entirely of the exit status of the called command.
38474 Due to security concerns, the @code{system} call is by default refused
38475 by @value{GDBN}. The user has to allow this call explicitly with the
38476 @code{set remote system-call-allowed 1} command.
38479 @item set remote system-call-allowed
38480 @kindex set remote system-call-allowed
38481 Control whether to allow the @code{system} calls in the File I/O
38482 protocol for the remote target. The default is zero (disabled).
38484 @item show remote system-call-allowed
38485 @kindex show remote system-call-allowed
38486 Show whether the @code{system} calls are allowed in the File I/O
38490 @node Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
38491 @subsection Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
38492 @cindex protocol-specific representation of datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
38495 * Integral Datatypes::
38497 * Memory Transfer::
38502 @node Integral Datatypes
38503 @unnumberedsubsubsec Integral Datatypes
38504 @cindex integral datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
38506 The integral datatypes used in the system calls are @code{int},
38507 @code{unsigned int}, @code{long}, @code{unsigned long},
38508 @code{mode_t}, and @code{time_t}.
38510 @code{int}, @code{unsigned int}, @code{mode_t} and @code{time_t} are
38511 implemented as 32 bit values in this protocol.
38513 @code{long} and @code{unsigned long} are implemented as 64 bit types.
38515 @xref{Limits}, for corresponding MIN and MAX values (similar to those
38516 in @file{limits.h}) to allow range checking on host and target.
38518 @code{time_t} datatypes are defined as seconds since the Epoch.
38520 All integral datatypes transferred as part of a memory read or write of a
38521 structured datatype e.g.@: a @code{struct stat} have to be given in big endian
38524 @node Pointer Values
38525 @unnumberedsubsubsec Pointer Values
38526 @cindex pointer values, in file-i/o protocol
38528 Pointers to target data are transmitted as they are. An exception
38529 is made for pointers to buffers for which the length isn't
38530 transmitted as part of the function call, namely strings. Strings
38531 are transmitted as a pointer/length pair, both as hex values, e.g.@:
38538 which is a pointer to data of length 18 bytes at position 0x1aaf.
38539 The length is defined as the full string length in bytes, including
38540 the trailing null byte. For example, the string @code{"hello world"}
38541 at address 0x123456 is transmitted as
38547 @node Memory Transfer
38548 @unnumberedsubsubsec Memory Transfer
38549 @cindex memory transfer, in file-i/o protocol
38551 Structured data which is transferred using a memory read or write (for
38552 example, a @code{struct stat}) is expected to be in a protocol-specific format
38553 with all scalar multibyte datatypes being big endian. Translation to
38554 this representation needs to be done both by the target before the @code{F}
38555 packet is sent, and by @value{GDBN} before
38556 it transfers memory to the target. Transferred pointers to structured
38557 data should point to the already-coerced data at any time.
38561 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct stat
38562 @cindex struct stat, in file-i/o protocol
38564 The buffer of type @code{struct stat} used by the target and @value{GDBN}
38565 is defined as follows:
38569 unsigned int st_dev; /* device */
38570 unsigned int st_ino; /* inode */
38571 mode_t st_mode; /* protection */
38572 unsigned int st_nlink; /* number of hard links */
38573 unsigned int st_uid; /* user ID of owner */
38574 unsigned int st_gid; /* group ID of owner */
38575 unsigned int st_rdev; /* device type (if inode device) */
38576 unsigned long st_size; /* total size, in bytes */
38577 unsigned long st_blksize; /* blocksize for filesystem I/O */
38578 unsigned long st_blocks; /* number of blocks allocated */
38579 time_t st_atime; /* time of last access */
38580 time_t st_mtime; /* time of last modification */
38581 time_t st_ctime; /* time of last change */
38585 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
38586 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
38587 structure is of size 64 bytes.
38589 The values of several fields have a restricted meaning and/or
38595 A value of 0 represents a file, 1 the console.
38598 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
38601 Valid mode bits are described in @ref{Constants}. Any other
38602 bits have currently no meaning for the target.
38607 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
38612 These values have a host and file system dependent
38613 accuracy. Especially on Windows hosts, the file system may not
38614 support exact timing values.
38617 The target gets a @code{struct stat} of the above representation and is
38618 responsible for coercing it to the target representation before
38621 Note that due to size differences between the host, target, and protocol
38622 representations of @code{struct stat} members, these members could eventually
38623 get truncated on the target.
38625 @node struct timeval
38626 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct timeval
38627 @cindex struct timeval, in file-i/o protocol
38629 The buffer of type @code{struct timeval} used by the File-I/O protocol
38630 is defined as follows:
38634 time_t tv_sec; /* second */
38635 long tv_usec; /* microsecond */
38639 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
38640 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
38641 structure is of size 8 bytes.
38644 @subsection Constants
38645 @cindex constants, in file-i/o protocol
38647 The following values are used for the constants inside of the
38648 protocol. @value{GDBN} and target are responsible for translating these
38649 values before and after the call as needed.
38660 @unnumberedsubsubsec Open Flags
38661 @cindex open flags, in file-i/o protocol
38663 All values are given in hexadecimal representation.
38675 @node mode_t Values
38676 @unnumberedsubsubsec mode_t Values
38677 @cindex mode_t values, in file-i/o protocol
38679 All values are given in octal representation.
38696 @unnumberedsubsubsec Errno Values
38697 @cindex errno values, in file-i/o protocol
38699 All values are given in decimal representation.
38724 @code{EUNKNOWN} is used as a fallback error value if a host system returns
38725 any error value not in the list of supported error numbers.
38728 @unnumberedsubsubsec Lseek Flags
38729 @cindex lseek flags, in file-i/o protocol
38738 @unnumberedsubsubsec Limits
38739 @cindex limits, in file-i/o protocol
38741 All values are given in decimal representation.
38744 INT_MIN -2147483648
38746 UINT_MAX 4294967295
38747 LONG_MIN -9223372036854775808
38748 LONG_MAX 9223372036854775807
38749 ULONG_MAX 18446744073709551615
38752 @node File-I/O Examples
38753 @subsection File-I/O Examples
38754 @cindex file-i/o examples
38756 Example sequence of a write call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
38757 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be written:
38760 <- @code{Fwrite,3,1234,6}
38761 @emph{request memory read from target}
38764 @emph{return "6 bytes written"}
38768 Example sequence of a read call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
38769 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be read:
38772 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
38773 @emph{request memory write to target}
38774 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
38775 @emph{return "6 bytes read"}
38779 Example sequence of a read call, call fails on the host due to invalid
38780 file descriptor (@code{EBADF}):
38783 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
38787 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} before syscall on
38791 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
38796 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} after syscall on
38800 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
38801 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
38805 @node Library List Format
38806 @section Library List Format
38807 @cindex library list format, remote protocol
38809 On some platforms, a dynamic loader (e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) runs in the
38810 same process as your application to manage libraries. In this case,
38811 @value{GDBN} can use the loader's symbol table and normal memory
38812 operations to maintain a list of shared libraries. On other
38813 platforms, the operating system manages loaded libraries.
38814 @value{GDBN} can not retrieve the list of currently loaded libraries
38815 through memory operations, so it uses the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
38816 packet (@pxref{qXfer library list read}) instead. The remote stub
38817 queries the target's operating system and reports which libraries
38820 The @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet returns an XML document which
38821 lists loaded libraries and their offsets. Each library has an
38822 associated name and one or more segment or section base addresses,
38823 which report where the library was loaded in memory.
38825 For the common case of libraries that are fully linked binaries, the
38826 library should have a list of segments. If the target supports
38827 dynamic linking of a relocatable object file, its library XML element
38828 should instead include a list of allocated sections. The segment or
38829 section bases are start addresses, not relocation offsets; they do not
38830 depend on the library's link-time base addresses.
38832 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
38833 library lists. @xref{Expat}.
38835 A simple memory map, with one loaded library relocated by a single
38836 offset, looks like this:
38840 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6">
38841 <segment address="0x10000000"/>
38846 Another simple memory map, with one loaded library with three
38847 allocated sections (.text, .data, .bss), looks like this:
38851 <library name="sharedlib.o">
38852 <section address="0x10000000"/>
38853 <section address="0x20000000"/>
38854 <section address="0x30000000"/>
38859 The format of a library list is described by this DTD:
38862 <!-- library-list: Root element with versioning -->
38863 <!ELEMENT library-list (library)*>
38864 <!ATTLIST library-list version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
38865 <!ELEMENT library (segment*, section*)>
38866 <!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
38867 <!ELEMENT segment EMPTY>
38868 <!ATTLIST segment address CDATA #REQUIRED>
38869 <!ELEMENT section EMPTY>
38870 <!ATTLIST section address CDATA #REQUIRED>
38873 In addition, segments and section descriptors cannot be mixed within a
38874 single library element, and you must supply at least one segment or
38875 section for each library.
38877 @node Library List Format for SVR4 Targets
38878 @section Library List Format for SVR4 Targets
38879 @cindex library list format, remote protocol
38881 On SVR4 platforms @value{GDBN} can use the symbol table of a dynamic loader
38882 (e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) and normal memory operations to maintain a list of
38883 shared libraries. Still a special library list provided by this packet is
38884 more efficient for the @value{GDBN} remote protocol.
38886 The @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read} packet returns an XML document which lists
38887 loaded libraries and their SVR4 linker parameters. For each library on SVR4
38888 target, the following parameters are reported:
38892 @code{name}, the absolute file name from the @code{l_name} field of
38893 @code{struct link_map}.
38895 @code{lm} with address of @code{struct link_map} used for TLS
38896 (Thread Local Storage) access.
38898 @code{l_addr}, the displacement as read from the field @code{l_addr} of
38899 @code{struct link_map}. For prelinked libraries this is not an absolute
38900 memory address. It is a displacement of absolute memory address against
38901 address the file was prelinked to during the library load.
38903 @code{l_ld}, which is memory address of the @code{PT_DYNAMIC} segment
38906 Additionally the single @code{main-lm} attribute specifies address of
38907 @code{struct link_map} used for the main executable. This parameter is used
38908 for TLS access and its presence is optional.
38910 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
38911 SVR4 library lists. @xref{Expat}.
38913 A simple memory map, with two loaded libraries (which do not use prelink),
38917 <library-list-svr4 version="1.0" main-lm="0xe4f8f8">
38918 <library name="/lib/ld-linux.so.2" lm="0xe4f51c" l_addr="0xe2d000"
38920 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6" lm="0xe4fbe8" l_addr="0x154000"
38922 </library-list-svr>
38925 The format of an SVR4 library list is described by this DTD:
38928 <!-- library-list-svr4: Root element with versioning -->
38929 <!ELEMENT library-list-svr4 (library)*>
38930 <!ATTLIST library-list-svr4 version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
38931 <!ATTLIST library-list-svr4 main-lm CDATA #IMPLIED>
38932 <!ELEMENT library EMPTY>
38933 <!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
38934 <!ATTLIST library lm CDATA #REQUIRED>
38935 <!ATTLIST library l_addr CDATA #REQUIRED>
38936 <!ATTLIST library l_ld CDATA #REQUIRED>
38939 @node Memory Map Format
38940 @section Memory Map Format
38941 @cindex memory map format
38943 To be able to write into flash memory, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain a
38944 memory map from the target. This section describes the format of the
38947 The memory map is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
38948 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}) packet and is an XML document that
38949 lists memory regions.
38951 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
38952 memory maps. @xref{Expat}.
38954 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
38957 <?xml version="1.0"?>
38958 <!DOCTYPE memory-map
38959 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
38960 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-memory-map.dtd">
38966 Each region can be either:
38971 A region of RAM starting at @var{addr} and extending for @var{length}
38975 <memory type="ram" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
38980 A region of read-only memory:
38983 <memory type="rom" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
38988 A region of flash memory, with erasure blocks @var{blocksize}
38992 <memory type="flash" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}">
38993 <property name="blocksize">@var{blocksize}</property>
38999 Regions must not overlap. @value{GDBN} assumes that areas of memory not covered
39000 by the memory map are RAM, and uses the ordinary @samp{M} and @samp{X}
39001 packets to write to addresses in such ranges.
39003 The formal DTD for memory map format is given below:
39006 <!-- ................................................... -->
39007 <!-- Memory Map XML DTD ................................ -->
39008 <!-- File: memory-map.dtd .............................. -->
39009 <!-- .................................... .............. -->
39010 <!-- memory-map.dtd -->
39011 <!-- memory-map: Root element with versioning -->
39012 <!ELEMENT memory-map (memory | property)>
39013 <!ATTLIST memory-map version CDATA #FIXED "1.0.0">
39014 <!ELEMENT memory (property)>
39015 <!-- memory: Specifies a memory region,
39016 and its type, or device. -->
39017 <!ATTLIST memory type CDATA #REQUIRED
39018 start CDATA #REQUIRED
39019 length CDATA #REQUIRED
39020 device CDATA #IMPLIED>
39021 <!-- property: Generic attribute tag -->
39022 <!ELEMENT property (#PCDATA | property)*>
39023 <!ATTLIST property name CDATA #REQUIRED>
39026 @node Thread List Format
39027 @section Thread List Format
39028 @cindex thread list format
39030 To efficiently update the list of threads and their attributes,
39031 @value{GDBN} issues the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
39032 (@pxref{qXfer threads read}) and obtains the XML document with
39033 the following structure:
39036 <?xml version="1.0"?>
39038 <thread id="id" core="0">
39039 ... description ...
39044 Each @samp{thread} element must have the @samp{id} attribute that
39045 identifies the thread (@pxref{thread-id syntax}). The
39046 @samp{core} attribute, if present, specifies which processor core
39047 the thread was last executing on. The content of the of @samp{thread}
39048 element is interpreted as human-readable auxilliary information.
39050 @node Traceframe Info Format
39051 @section Traceframe Info Format
39052 @cindex traceframe info format
39054 To be able to know which objects in the inferior can be examined when
39055 inspecting a tracepoint hit, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain the list of
39056 memory ranges, registers and trace state variables that have been
39057 collected in a traceframe.
39059 This list is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
39060 (@pxref{qXfer traceframe info read}) packet and is an XML document.
39062 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
39063 traceframe info discovery. @xref{Expat}.
39065 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
39068 <?xml version="1.0"?>
39069 <!DOCTYPE traceframe-info
39070 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
39071 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-traceframe-info.dtd">
39077 Each traceframe block can be either:
39082 A region of collected memory starting at @var{addr} and extending for
39083 @var{length} bytes from there:
39086 <memory start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
39091 The formal DTD for the traceframe info format is given below:
39094 <!ELEMENT traceframe-info (memory)* >
39095 <!ATTLIST traceframe-info version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
39097 <!ELEMENT memory EMPTY>
39098 <!ATTLIST memory start CDATA #REQUIRED
39099 length CDATA #REQUIRED>
39102 @include agentexpr.texi
39104 @node Target Descriptions
39105 @appendix Target Descriptions
39106 @cindex target descriptions
39108 One of the challenges of using @value{GDBN} to debug embedded systems
39109 is that there are so many minor variants of each processor
39110 architecture in use. It is common practice for vendors to start with
39111 a standard processor core --- ARM, PowerPC, or MIPS, for example ---
39112 and then make changes to adapt it to a particular market niche. Some
39113 architectures have hundreds of variants, available from dozens of
39114 vendors. This leads to a number of problems:
39118 With so many different customized processors, it is difficult for
39119 the @value{GDBN} maintainers to keep up with the changes.
39121 Since individual variants may have short lifetimes or limited
39122 audiences, it may not be worthwhile to carry information about every
39123 variant in the @value{GDBN} source tree.
39125 When @value{GDBN} does support the architecture of the embedded system
39126 at hand, the task of finding the correct architecture name to give the
39127 @command{set architecture} command can be error-prone.
39130 To address these problems, the @value{GDBN} remote protocol allows a
39131 target system to not only identify itself to @value{GDBN}, but to
39132 actually describe its own features. This lets @value{GDBN} support
39133 processor variants it has never seen before --- to the extent that the
39134 descriptions are accurate, and that @value{GDBN} understands them.
39136 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
39137 target descriptions. @xref{Expat}.
39140 * Retrieving Descriptions:: How descriptions are fetched from a target.
39141 * Target Description Format:: The contents of a target description.
39142 * Predefined Target Types:: Standard types available for target
39144 * Standard Target Features:: Features @value{GDBN} knows about.
39147 @node Retrieving Descriptions
39148 @section Retrieving Descriptions
39150 Target descriptions can be read from the target automatically, or
39151 specified by the user manually. The default behavior is to read the
39152 description from the target. @value{GDBN} retrieves it via the remote
39153 protocol using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{General Query Packets,
39154 qXfer}). The @var{annex} in the @samp{qXfer} packet will be
39155 @samp{target.xml}. The contents of the @samp{target.xml} annex are an
39156 XML document, of the form described in @ref{Target Description
39159 Alternatively, you can specify a file to read for the target description.
39160 If a file is set, the target will not be queried. The commands to
39161 specify a file are:
39164 @cindex set tdesc filename
39165 @item set tdesc filename @var{path}
39166 Read the target description from @var{path}.
39168 @cindex unset tdesc filename
39169 @item unset tdesc filename
39170 Do not read the XML target description from a file. @value{GDBN}
39171 will use the description supplied by the current target.
39173 @cindex show tdesc filename
39174 @item show tdesc filename
39175 Show the filename to read for a target description, if any.
39179 @node Target Description Format
39180 @section Target Description Format
39181 @cindex target descriptions, XML format
39183 A target description annex is an @uref{http://www.w3.org/XML/, XML}
39184 document which complies with the Document Type Definition provided in
39185 the @value{GDBN} sources in @file{gdb/features/gdb-target.dtd}. This
39186 means you can use generally available tools like @command{xmllint} to
39187 check that your feature descriptions are well-formed and valid.
39188 However, to help people unfamiliar with XML write descriptions for
39189 their targets, we also describe the grammar here.
39191 Target descriptions can identify the architecture of the remote target
39192 and (for some architectures) provide information about custom register
39193 sets. They can also identify the OS ABI of the remote target.
39194 @value{GDBN} can use this information to autoconfigure for your
39195 target, or to warn you if you connect to an unsupported target.
39197 Here is a simple target description:
39200 <target version="1.0">
39201 <architecture>i386:x86-64</architecture>
39206 This minimal description only says that the target uses
39207 the x86-64 architecture.
39209 A target description has the following overall form, with [ ] marking
39210 optional elements and @dots{} marking repeatable elements. The elements
39211 are explained further below.
39214 <?xml version="1.0"?>
39215 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "gdb-target.dtd">
39216 <target version="1.0">
39217 @r{[}@var{architecture}@r{]}
39218 @r{[}@var{osabi}@r{]}
39219 @r{[}@var{compatible}@r{]}
39220 @r{[}@var{feature}@dots{}@r{]}
39225 The description is generally insensitive to whitespace and line
39226 breaks, under the usual common-sense rules. The XML version
39227 declaration and document type declaration can generally be omitted
39228 (@value{GDBN} does not require them), but specifying them may be
39229 useful for XML validation tools. The @samp{version} attribute for
39230 @samp{<target>} may also be omitted, but we recommend
39231 including it; if future versions of @value{GDBN} use an incompatible
39232 revision of @file{gdb-target.dtd}, they will detect and report
39233 the version mismatch.
39235 @subsection Inclusion
39236 @cindex target descriptions, inclusion
39239 @cindex <xi:include>
39242 It can sometimes be valuable to split a target description up into
39243 several different annexes, either for organizational purposes, or to
39244 share files between different possible target descriptions. You can
39245 divide a description into multiple files by replacing any element of
39246 the target description with an inclusion directive of the form:
39249 <xi:include href="@var{document}"/>
39253 When @value{GDBN} encounters an element of this form, it will retrieve
39254 the named XML @var{document}, and replace the inclusion directive with
39255 the contents of that document. If the current description was read
39256 using @samp{qXfer}, then so will be the included document;
39257 @var{document} will be interpreted as the name of an annex. If the
39258 current description was read from a file, @value{GDBN} will look for
39259 @var{document} as a file in the same directory where it found the
39260 original description.
39262 @subsection Architecture
39263 @cindex <architecture>
39265 An @samp{<architecture>} element has this form:
39268 <architecture>@var{arch}</architecture>
39271 @var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
39272 @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
39275 @cindex @code{<osabi>}
39277 This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
39278 Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
39280 An @samp{<osabi>} element has this form:
39283 <osabi>@var{abi-name}</osabi>
39286 @var{abi-name} is an OS ABI name from the same selection accepted by
39287 @w{@code{set osabi}} (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
39289 @subsection Compatible Architecture
39290 @cindex @code{<compatible>}
39292 This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
39293 Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
39295 A @samp{<compatible>} element has this form:
39298 <compatible>@var{arch}</compatible>
39301 @var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
39302 @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
39304 A @samp{<compatible>} element is used to specify that the target
39305 is able to run binaries in some other than the main target architecture
39306 given by the @samp{<architecture>} element. For example, on the
39307 Cell Broadband Engine, the main architecture is @code{powerpc:common}
39308 or @code{powerpc:common64}, but the system is able to run binaries
39309 in the @code{spu} architecture as well. The way to describe this
39310 capability with @samp{<compatible>} is as follows:
39313 <architecture>powerpc:common</architecture>
39314 <compatible>spu</compatible>
39317 @subsection Features
39320 Each @samp{<feature>} describes some logical portion of the target
39321 system. Features are currently used to describe available CPU
39322 registers and the types of their contents. A @samp{<feature>} element
39326 <feature name="@var{name}">
39327 @r{[}@var{type}@dots{}@r{]}
39333 Each feature's name should be unique within the description. The name
39334 of a feature does not matter unless @value{GDBN} has some special
39335 knowledge of the contents of that feature; if it does, the feature
39336 should have its standard name. @xref{Standard Target Features}.
39340 Any register's value is a collection of bits which @value{GDBN} must
39341 interpret. The default interpretation is a two's complement integer,
39342 but other types can be requested by name in the register description.
39343 Some predefined types are provided by @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Predefined
39344 Target Types}), and the description can define additional composite types.
39346 Each type element must have an @samp{id} attribute, which gives
39347 a unique (within the containing @samp{<feature>}) name to the type.
39348 Types must be defined before they are used.
39351 Some targets offer vector registers, which can be treated as arrays
39352 of scalar elements. These types are written as @samp{<vector>} elements,
39353 specifying the array element type, @var{type}, and the number of elements,
39357 <vector id="@var{id}" type="@var{type}" count="@var{count}"/>
39361 If a register's value is usefully viewed in multiple ways, define it
39362 with a union type containing the useful representations. The
39363 @samp{<union>} element contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements,
39364 each of which has a @var{name} and a @var{type}:
39367 <union id="@var{id}">
39368 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
39374 If a register's value is composed from several separate values, define
39375 it with a structure type. There are two forms of the @samp{<struct>}
39376 element; a @samp{<struct>} element must either contain only bitfields
39377 or contain no bitfields. If the structure contains only bitfields,
39378 its total size in bytes must be specified, each bitfield must have an
39379 explicit start and end, and bitfields are automatically assigned an
39380 integer type. The field's @var{start} should be less than or
39381 equal to its @var{end}, and zero represents the least significant bit.
39384 <struct id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
39385 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
39390 If the structure contains no bitfields, then each field has an
39391 explicit type, and no implicit padding is added.
39394 <struct id="@var{id}">
39395 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
39401 If a register's value is a series of single-bit flags, define it with
39402 a flags type. The @samp{<flags>} element has an explicit @var{size}
39403 and contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements. Each field has a
39404 @var{name}, a @var{start}, and an @var{end}. Only single-bit flags
39408 <flags id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
39409 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
39414 @subsection Registers
39417 Each register is represented as an element with this form:
39420 <reg name="@var{name}"
39421 bitsize="@var{size}"
39422 @r{[}regnum="@var{num}"@r{]}
39423 @r{[}save-restore="@var{save-restore}"@r{]}
39424 @r{[}type="@var{type}"@r{]}
39425 @r{[}group="@var{group}"@r{]}/>
39429 The components are as follows:
39434 The register's name; it must be unique within the target description.
39437 The register's size, in bits.
39440 The register's number. If omitted, a register's number is one greater
39441 than that of the previous register (either in the current feature or in
39442 a preceding feature); the first register in the target description
39443 defaults to zero. This register number is used to read or write
39444 the register; e.g.@: it is used in the remote @code{p} and @code{P}
39445 packets, and registers appear in the @code{g} and @code{G} packets
39446 in order of increasing register number.
39449 Whether the register should be preserved across inferior function
39450 calls; this must be either @code{yes} or @code{no}. The default is
39451 @code{yes}, which is appropriate for most registers except for
39452 some system control registers; this is not related to the target's
39456 The type of the register. @var{type} may be a predefined type, a type
39457 defined in the current feature, or one of the special types @code{int}
39458 and @code{float}. @code{int} is an integer type of the correct size
39459 for @var{bitsize}, and @code{float} is a floating point type (in the
39460 architecture's normal floating point format) of the correct size for
39461 @var{bitsize}. The default is @code{int}.
39464 The register group to which this register belongs. @var{group} must
39465 be either @code{general}, @code{float}, or @code{vector}. If no
39466 @var{group} is specified, @value{GDBN} will not display the register
39467 in @code{info registers}.
39471 @node Predefined Target Types
39472 @section Predefined Target Types
39473 @cindex target descriptions, predefined types
39475 Type definitions in the self-description can build up composite types
39476 from basic building blocks, but can not define fundamental types. Instead,
39477 standard identifiers are provided by @value{GDBN} for the fundamental
39478 types. The currently supported types are:
39487 Signed integer types holding the specified number of bits.
39494 Unsigned integer types holding the specified number of bits.
39498 Pointers to unspecified code and data. The program counter and
39499 any dedicated return address register may be marked as code
39500 pointers; printing a code pointer converts it into a symbolic
39501 address. The stack pointer and any dedicated address registers
39502 may be marked as data pointers.
39505 Single precision IEEE floating point.
39508 Double precision IEEE floating point.
39511 The 12-byte extended precision format used by ARM FPA registers.
39514 The 10-byte extended precision format used by x87 registers.
39517 32bit @sc{eflags} register used by x86.
39520 32bit @sc{mxcsr} register used by x86.
39524 @node Standard Target Features
39525 @section Standard Target Features
39526 @cindex target descriptions, standard features
39528 A target description must contain either no registers or all the
39529 target's registers. If the description contains no registers, then
39530 @value{GDBN} will assume a default register layout, selected based on
39531 the architecture. If the description contains any registers, the
39532 default layout will not be used; the standard registers must be
39533 described in the target description, in such a way that @value{GDBN}
39534 can recognize them.
39536 This is accomplished by giving specific names to feature elements
39537 which contain standard registers. @value{GDBN} will look for features
39538 with those names and verify that they contain the expected registers;
39539 if any known feature is missing required registers, or if any required
39540 feature is missing, @value{GDBN} will reject the target
39541 description. You can add additional registers to any of the
39542 standard features --- @value{GDBN} will display them just as if
39543 they were added to an unrecognized feature.
39545 This section lists the known features and their expected contents.
39546 Sample XML documents for these features are included in the
39547 @value{GDBN} source tree, in the directory @file{gdb/features}.
39549 Names recognized by @value{GDBN} should include the name of the
39550 company or organization which selected the name, and the overall
39551 architecture to which the feature applies; so e.g.@: the feature
39552 containing ARM core registers is named @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}.
39554 The names of registers are not case sensitive for the purpose
39555 of recognizing standard features, but @value{GDBN} will only display
39556 registers using the capitalization used in the description.
39563 * PowerPC Features::
39569 @subsection ARM Features
39570 @cindex target descriptions, ARM features
39572 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core} feature is required for non-M-profile
39574 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp},
39575 @samp{lr}, @samp{pc}, and @samp{cpsr}.
39577 For M-profile targets (e.g. Cortex-M3), the @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}
39578 feature is replaced by @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.m-profile}. It should contain
39579 registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp}, @samp{lr}, @samp{pc},
39582 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.fpa} feature is optional. If present, it
39583 should contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f7} and @samp{fps}.
39585 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.xscale.iwmmxt} feature is optional. If present,
39586 it should contain at least registers @samp{wR0} through @samp{wR15} and
39587 @samp{wCGR0} through @samp{wCGR3}. The @samp{wCID}, @samp{wCon},
39588 @samp{wCSSF}, and @samp{wCASF} registers are optional.
39590 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} feature is optional. If present, it
39591 should contain at least registers @samp{d0} through @samp{d15}. If
39592 they are present, @samp{d16} through @samp{d31} should also be included.
39593 @value{GDBN} will synthesize the single-precision registers from
39594 halves of the double-precision registers.
39596 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.neon} feature is optional. It does not
39597 need to contain registers; it instructs @value{GDBN} to display the
39598 VFP double-precision registers as vectors and to synthesize the
39599 quad-precision registers from pairs of double-precision registers.
39600 If this feature is present, @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} must also
39601 be present and include 32 double-precision registers.
39603 @node i386 Features
39604 @subsection i386 Features
39605 @cindex target descriptions, i386 features
39607 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.core} feature is required for i386/amd64
39608 targets. It should describe the following registers:
39612 @samp{eax} through @samp{edi} plus @samp{eip} for i386
39614 @samp{rax} through @samp{r15} plus @samp{rip} for amd64
39616 @samp{eflags}, @samp{cs}, @samp{ss}, @samp{ds}, @samp{es},
39617 @samp{fs}, @samp{gs}
39619 @samp{st0} through @samp{st7}
39621 @samp{fctrl}, @samp{fstat}, @samp{ftag}, @samp{fiseg}, @samp{fioff},
39622 @samp{foseg}, @samp{fooff} and @samp{fop}
39625 The register sets may be different, depending on the target.
39627 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature is optional. It should
39628 describe registers:
39632 @samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm7} for i386
39634 @samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm15} for amd64
39639 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.avx} feature is optional and requires the
39640 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature. It should
39641 describe the upper 128 bits of @sc{ymm} registers:
39645 @samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm7h} for i386
39647 @samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm15h} for amd64
39650 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.linux} feature is optional. It should
39651 describe a single register, @samp{orig_eax}.
39653 @node MIPS Features
39654 @subsection MIPS Features
39655 @cindex target descriptions, MIPS features
39657 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cpu} feature is required for MIPS targets.
39658 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31}, @samp{lo},
39659 @samp{hi}, and @samp{pc}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending
39662 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cp0} feature is also required. It should
39663 contain at least the @samp{status}, @samp{badvaddr}, and @samp{cause}
39664 registers. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
39666 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.fpu} feature is currently required, though
39667 it may be optional in a future version of @value{GDBN}. It should
39668 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31}, @samp{fcsr}, and
39669 @samp{fir}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
39671 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.dsp} feature is optional. It should
39672 contain registers @samp{hi1} through @samp{hi3}, @samp{lo1} through
39673 @samp{lo3}, and @samp{dspctl}. The @samp{dspctl} register should
39674 be 32-bit and the rest may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
39676 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.linux} feature is optional. It should
39677 contain a single register, @samp{restart}, which is used by the
39678 Linux kernel to control restartable syscalls.
39680 @node M68K Features
39681 @subsection M68K Features
39682 @cindex target descriptions, M68K features
39685 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.m68k.core}
39686 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.core}
39687 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.fido.core}
39688 One of those features must be always present.
39689 The feature that is present determines which flavor of m68k is
39690 used. The feature that is present should contain registers
39691 @samp{d0} through @samp{d7}, @samp{a0} through @samp{a5}, @samp{fp},
39692 @samp{sp}, @samp{ps} and @samp{pc}.
39694 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.fp}
39695 This feature is optional. If present, it should contain registers
39696 @samp{fp0} through @samp{fp7}, @samp{fpcontrol}, @samp{fpstatus} and
39700 @node PowerPC Features
39701 @subsection PowerPC Features
39702 @cindex target descriptions, PowerPC features
39704 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} feature is required for PowerPC
39705 targets. It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31},
39706 @samp{pc}, @samp{msr}, @samp{cr}, @samp{lr}, @samp{ctr}, and
39707 @samp{xer}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
39709 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.fpu} feature is optional. It should
39710 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31} and @samp{fpscr}.
39712 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.altivec} feature is optional. It should
39713 contain registers @samp{vr0} through @samp{vr31}, @samp{vscr},
39716 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.vsx} feature is optional. It should
39717 contain registers @samp{vs0h} through @samp{vs31h}. @value{GDBN}
39718 will combine these registers with the floating point registers
39719 (@samp{f0} through @samp{f31}) and the altivec registers (@samp{vr0}
39720 through @samp{vr31}) to present the 128-bit wide registers @samp{vs0}
39721 through @samp{vs63}, the set of vector registers for POWER7.
39723 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.spe} feature is optional. It should
39724 contain registers @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}, @samp{acc}, and
39725 @samp{spefscr}. SPE targets should provide 32-bit registers in
39726 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} and provide the upper halves in
39727 @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}. @value{GDBN} will combine
39728 these to present registers @samp{ev0} through @samp{ev31} to the
39731 @node TIC6x Features
39732 @subsection TMS320C6x Features
39733 @cindex target descriptions, TIC6x features
39734 @cindex target descriptions, TMS320C6x features
39735 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.core} feature is required for TMS320C6x
39736 targets. It should contain registers @samp{A0} through @samp{A15},
39737 registers @samp{B0} through @samp{B15}, @samp{CSR} and @samp{PC}.
39739 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.gp} feature is optional. It should
39740 contain registers @samp{A16} through @samp{A31} and @samp{B16}
39741 through @samp{B31}.
39743 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.c6xp} feature is optional. It should
39744 contain registers @samp{TSR}, @samp{ILC} and @samp{RILC}.
39746 @node Operating System Information
39747 @appendix Operating System Information
39748 @cindex operating system information
39754 Users of @value{GDBN} often wish to obtain information about the state of
39755 the operating system running on the target---for example the list of
39756 processes, or the list of open files. This section describes the
39757 mechanism that makes it possible. This mechanism is similar to the
39758 target features mechanism (@pxref{Target Descriptions}), but focuses
39759 on a different aspect of target.
39761 Operating system information is retrived from the target via the
39762 remote protocol, using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{qXfer osdata
39763 read}). The object name in the request should be @samp{osdata}, and
39764 the @var{annex} identifies the data to be fetched.
39767 @appendixsection Process list
39768 @cindex operating system information, process list
39770 When requesting the process list, the @var{annex} field in the
39771 @samp{qXfer} request should be @samp{processes}. The returned data is
39772 an XML document. The formal syntax of this document is defined in
39773 @file{gdb/features/osdata.dtd}.
39775 An example document is:
39778 <?xml version="1.0"?>
39779 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "osdata.dtd">
39780 <osdata type="processes">
39782 <column name="pid">1</column>
39783 <column name="user">root</column>
39784 <column name="command">/sbin/init</column>
39785 <column name="cores">1,2,3</column>
39790 Each item should include a column whose name is @samp{pid}. The value
39791 of that column should identify the process on the target. The
39792 @samp{user} and @samp{command} columns are optional, and will be
39793 displayed by @value{GDBN}. The @samp{cores} column, if present,
39794 should contain a comma-separated list of cores that this process
39795 is running on. Target may provide additional columns,
39796 which @value{GDBN} currently ignores.
39798 @node Trace File Format
39799 @appendix Trace File Format
39800 @cindex trace file format
39802 The trace file comes in three parts: a header, a textual description
39803 section, and a trace frame section with binary data.
39805 The header has the form @code{\x7fTRACE0\n}. The first byte is
39806 @code{0x7f} so as to indicate that the file contains binary data,
39807 while the @code{0} is a version number that may have different values
39810 The description section consists of multiple lines of @sc{ascii} text
39811 separated by newline characters (@code{0xa}). The lines may include a
39812 variety of optional descriptive or context-setting information, such
39813 as tracepoint definitions or register set size. @value{GDBN} will
39814 ignore any line that it does not recognize. An empty line marks the end
39817 @c FIXME add some specific types of data
39819 The trace frame section consists of a number of consecutive frames.
39820 Each frame begins with a two-byte tracepoint number, followed by a
39821 four-byte size giving the amount of data in the frame. The data in
39822 the frame consists of a number of blocks, each introduced by a
39823 character indicating its type (at least register, memory, and trace
39824 state variable). The data in this section is raw binary, not a
39825 hexadecimal or other encoding; its endianness matches the target's
39828 @c FIXME bi-arch may require endianness/arch info in description section
39831 @item R @var{bytes}
39832 Register block. The number and ordering of bytes matches that of a
39833 @code{g} packet in the remote protocol. Note that these are the
39834 actual bytes, in target order and @value{GDBN} register order, not a
39835 hexadecimal encoding.
39837 @item M @var{address} @var{length} @var{bytes}...
39838 Memory block. This is a contiguous block of memory, at the 8-byte
39839 address @var{address}, with a 2-byte length @var{length}, followed by
39840 @var{length} bytes.
39842 @item V @var{number} @var{value}
39843 Trace state variable block. This records the 8-byte signed value
39844 @var{value} of trace state variable numbered @var{number}.
39848 Future enhancements of the trace file format may include additional types
39851 @node Index Section Format
39852 @appendix @code{.gdb_index} section format
39853 @cindex .gdb_index section format
39854 @cindex index section format
39856 This section documents the index section that is created by @code{save
39857 gdb-index} (@pxref{Index Files}). The index section is
39858 DWARF-specific; some knowledge of DWARF is assumed in this
39861 The mapped index file format is designed to be directly
39862 @code{mmap}able on any architecture. In most cases, a datum is
39863 represented using a little-endian 32-bit integer value, called an
39864 @code{offset_type}. Big endian machines must byte-swap the values
39865 before using them. Exceptions to this rule are noted. The data is
39866 laid out such that alignment is always respected.
39868 A mapped index consists of several areas, laid out in order.
39872 The file header. This is a sequence of values, of @code{offset_type}
39873 unless otherwise noted:
39877 The version number, currently 6. Versions 1, 2 and 3 are obsolete.
39878 Version 4 uses a different hashing function from versions 5 and 6.
39879 Version 6 includes symbols for inlined functions, whereas versions
39880 4 and 5 do not. @value{GDBN} will only read version 4 and 5 indices
39881 if the @code{--use-deprecated-index-sections} option is used.
39884 The offset, from the start of the file, of the CU list.
39887 The offset, from the start of the file, of the types CU list. Note
39888 that this area can be empty, in which case this offset will be equal
39889 to the next offset.
39892 The offset, from the start of the file, of the address area.
39895 The offset, from the start of the file, of the symbol table.
39898 The offset, from the start of the file, of the constant pool.
39902 The CU list. This is a sequence of pairs of 64-bit little-endian
39903 values, sorted by the CU offset. The first element in each pair is
39904 the offset of a CU in the @code{.debug_info} section. The second
39905 element in each pair is the length of that CU. References to a CU
39906 elsewhere in the map are done using a CU index, which is just the
39907 0-based index into this table. Note that if there are type CUs, then
39908 conceptually CUs and type CUs form a single list for the purposes of
39912 The types CU list. This is a sequence of triplets of 64-bit
39913 little-endian values. In a triplet, the first value is the CU offset,
39914 the second value is the type offset in the CU, and the third value is
39915 the type signature. The types CU list is not sorted.
39918 The address area. The address area consists of a sequence of address
39919 entries. Each address entry has three elements:
39923 The low address. This is a 64-bit little-endian value.
39926 The high address. This is a 64-bit little-endian value. Like
39927 @code{DW_AT_high_pc}, the value is one byte beyond the end.
39930 The CU index. This is an @code{offset_type} value.
39934 The symbol table. This is an open-addressed hash table. The size of
39935 the hash table is always a power of 2.
39937 Each slot in the hash table consists of a pair of @code{offset_type}
39938 values. The first value is the offset of the symbol's name in the
39939 constant pool. The second value is the offset of the CU vector in the
39942 If both values are 0, then this slot in the hash table is empty. This
39943 is ok because while 0 is a valid constant pool index, it cannot be a
39944 valid index for both a string and a CU vector.
39946 The hash value for a table entry is computed by applying an
39947 iterative hash function to the symbol's name. Starting with an
39948 initial value of @code{r = 0}, each (unsigned) character @samp{c} in
39949 the string is incorporated into the hash using the formula depending on the
39954 The formula is @code{r = r * 67 + c - 113}.
39956 @item Versions 5 and 6
39957 The formula is @code{r = r * 67 + tolower (c) - 113}.
39960 The terminating @samp{\0} is not incorporated into the hash.
39962 The step size used in the hash table is computed via
39963 @code{((hash * 17) & (size - 1)) | 1}, where @samp{hash} is the hash
39964 value, and @samp{size} is the size of the hash table. The step size
39965 is used to find the next candidate slot when handling a hash
39968 The names of C@t{++} symbols in the hash table are canonicalized. We
39969 don't currently have a simple description of the canonicalization
39970 algorithm; if you intend to create new index sections, you must read
39974 The constant pool. This is simply a bunch of bytes. It is organized
39975 so that alignment is correct: CU vectors are stored first, followed by
39978 A CU vector in the constant pool is a sequence of @code{offset_type}
39979 values. The first value is the number of CU indices in the vector.
39980 Each subsequent value is the index of a CU in the CU list. This
39981 element in the hash table is used to indicate which CUs define the
39984 A string in the constant pool is zero-terminated.
39989 @node GNU Free Documentation License
39990 @appendix GNU Free Documentation License
39999 % I think something like @colophon should be in texinfo. In the
40001 \long\def\colophon{\hbox to0pt{}\vfill
40002 \centerline{The body of this manual is set in}
40003 \centerline{\fontname\tenrm,}
40004 \centerline{with headings in {\bf\fontname\tenbf}}
40005 \centerline{and examples in {\tt\fontname\tentt}.}
40006 \centerline{{\it\fontname\tenit\/},}
40007 \centerline{{\bf\fontname\tenbf}, and}
40008 \centerline{{\sl\fontname\tensl\/}}
40009 \centerline{are used for emphasis.}\vfill}