1 \input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
2 @c Copyright 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998,
4 @c Free Software Foundation, Inc.
7 @c makeinfo ignores cmds prev to setfilename, so its arg cannot make use
8 @c of @set vars. However, you can override filename with makeinfo -o.
13 @settitle Debugging with @value{GDBN}
14 @setchapternewpage odd
25 @c readline appendices use @vindex, @findex and @ftable,
26 @c annotate.texi and gdbmi use @findex.
30 @c !!set GDB manual's edition---not the same as GDB version!
33 @c !!set GDB manual's revision date
36 @c THIS MANUAL REQUIRES TEXINFO 3.12 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 Programming & development tools.
42 * Gdb: (gdb). The @sc{gnu} debugger.
46 This file documents the @sc{gnu} debugger @value{GDBN}.
49 This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, @value{DATE},
50 of @cite{Debugging with @value{GDBN}: the @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger}
51 for @value{GDBN} Version @value{GDBVN}.
53 Copyright (C) 1988,1989,1990,1991,1992,1993,1994,1995,1996,1998,1999,2000,2001
54 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
56 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
57 under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1 or
58 any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with the
59 Invariant Sections being ``A Sample GDB Session'' and ``Free
60 Software'', with the Front-Cover texts being ``A GNU Manual,'' and
61 with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below.
63 (a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You have freedom to copy and modify
64 this GNU Manual, like GNU software. Copies published by the Free
65 Software Foundation raise funds for GNU development.''
69 @title Debugging with @value{GDBN}
70 @subtitle The @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger
72 @subtitle @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN}
73 @subtitle @value{DATE}
74 @author Richard Stallman, Roland Pesch, Stan Shebs, et al.
78 \hfill (Send bugs and comments on @value{GDBN} to bug-gdb\@gnu.org.)\par
79 \hfill {\it Debugging with @value{GDBN}}\par
80 \hfill \TeX{}info \texinfoversion\par
84 @vskip 0pt plus 1filll
85 Copyright @copyright{} 1988,1989,1990,1991,1992,1993,1994,1995,1996,1998,1999,2000,2001
86 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
88 Published by the Free Software Foundation @*
89 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, @*
90 Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA @*
93 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
94 under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1 or
95 any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with the
96 Invariant Sections being ``A Sample GDB Session'' and ``Free
97 Software'', with the Front-Cover texts being ``A GNU Manual,'' and
98 with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below.
100 (a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You have freedom to copy and modify
101 this GNU Manual, like GNU software. Copies published by the Free
102 Software Foundation raise funds for GNU development.''
107 @node Top, Summary, (dir), (dir)
109 @top Debugging with @value{GDBN}
111 This file describes @value{GDBN}, the @sc{gnu} symbolic debugger.
113 This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, @value{DATE}, for @value{GDBN} Version
116 Copyright (C) 1988-2001 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
119 * Summary:: Summary of @value{GDBN}
120 * Sample Session:: A sample @value{GDBN} session
122 * Invocation:: Getting in and out of @value{GDBN}
123 * Commands:: @value{GDBN} commands
124 * Running:: Running programs under @value{GDBN}
125 * Stopping:: Stopping and continuing
126 * Stack:: Examining the stack
127 * Source:: Examining source files
128 * Data:: Examining data
129 * Tracepoints:: Debugging remote targets non-intrusively
131 * Languages:: Using @value{GDBN} with different languages
133 * Symbols:: Examining the symbol table
134 * Altering:: Altering execution
135 * GDB Files:: @value{GDBN} files
136 * Targets:: Specifying a debugging target
137 * Configurations:: Configuration-specific information
138 * Controlling GDB:: Controlling @value{GDBN}
139 * Sequences:: Canned sequences of commands
140 * TUI:: @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
141 * Emacs:: Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
142 * Annotations:: @value{GDBN}'s annotation interface.
143 * GDB/MI:: @value{GDBN}'s Machine Interface.
145 * GDB Bugs:: Reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
146 * Formatting Documentation:: How to format and print @value{GDBN} documentation
148 * Command Line Editing:: Command Line Editing
149 * Using History Interactively:: Using History Interactively
150 * Installing GDB:: Installing GDB
156 @c the replication sucks, but this avoids a texinfo 3.12 lameness
161 @top Debugging with @value{GDBN}
163 This file describes @value{GDBN}, the @sc{gnu} symbolic debugger.
165 This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, @value{DATE}, for @value{GDBN} Version
168 Copyright (C) 1988-2000 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
171 * Summary:: Summary of @value{GDBN}
172 * Sample Session:: A sample @value{GDBN} session
174 * Invocation:: Getting in and out of @value{GDBN}
175 * Commands:: @value{GDBN} commands
176 * Running:: Running programs under @value{GDBN}
177 * Stopping:: Stopping and continuing
178 * Stack:: Examining the stack
179 * Source:: Examining source files
180 * Data:: Examining data
181 * Tracepoints:: Debugging remote targets non-intrusively
183 * Languages:: Using @value{GDBN} with different languages
185 * Symbols:: Examining the symbol table
186 * Altering:: Altering execution
187 * GDB Files:: @value{GDBN} files
188 * Targets:: Specifying a debugging target
189 * Configurations:: Configuration-specific information
190 * Controlling GDB:: Controlling @value{GDBN}
191 * Sequences:: Canned sequences of commands
192 * TUI:: @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
193 * Emacs:: Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
194 * Annotations:: @value{GDBN}'s annotation interface.
195 * GDB/MI:: @value{GDBN}'s Machine Interface.
197 * GDB Bugs:: Reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
198 * Formatting Documentation:: How to format and print @value{GDBN} documentation
200 * Command Line Editing:: Command Line Editing
201 * Using History Interactively:: Using History Interactively
202 * Installing GDB:: Installing GDB
208 @c TeX can handle the contents at the start but makeinfo 3.12 can not
214 @unnumbered Summary of @value{GDBN}
216 The purpose of a debugger such as @value{GDBN} is to allow you to see what is
217 going on ``inside'' another program while it executes---or what another
218 program was doing at the moment it crashed.
220 @value{GDBN} can do four main kinds of things (plus other things in support of
221 these) to help you catch bugs in the act:
225 Start your program, specifying anything that might affect its behavior.
228 Make your program stop on specified conditions.
231 Examine what has happened, when your program has stopped.
234 Change things in your program, so you can experiment with correcting the
235 effects of one bug and go on to learn about another.
238 You can use @value{GDBN} to debug programs written in C and C++.
239 For more information, see @ref{Support,,Supported languages}.
240 For more information, see @ref{C,,C and C++}.
244 Support for Modula-2 and Chill is partial. For information on Modula-2,
245 see @ref{Modula-2,,Modula-2}. For information on Chill, see @ref{Chill}.
248 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
249 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
250 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
254 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, although
255 it may be necessary to refer to some variables with a trailing
259 * Free Software:: Freely redistributable software
260 * Contributors:: Contributors to GDB
264 @unnumberedsec Free software
266 @value{GDBN} is @dfn{free software}, protected by the @sc{gnu}
267 General Public License
268 (GPL). The GPL gives you the freedom to copy or adapt a licensed
269 program---but every person getting a copy also gets with it the
270 freedom to modify that copy (which means that they must get access to
271 the source code), and the freedom to distribute further copies.
272 Typical software companies use copyrights to limit your freedoms; the
273 Free Software Foundation uses the GPL to preserve these freedoms.
275 Fundamentally, the General Public License is a license which says that
276 you have these freedoms and that you cannot take these freedoms away
280 @unnumberedsec Contributors to @value{GDBN}
282 Richard Stallman was the original author of @value{GDBN}, and of many
283 other @sc{gnu} programs. Many others have contributed to its
284 development. This section attempts to credit major contributors. One
285 of the virtues of free software is that everyone is free to contribute
286 to it; with regret, we cannot actually acknowledge everyone here. The
287 file @file{ChangeLog} in the @value{GDBN} distribution approximates a
288 blow-by-blow account.
290 Changes much prior to version 2.0 are lost in the mists of time.
293 @emph{Plea:} Additions to this section are particularly welcome. If you
294 or your friends (or enemies, to be evenhanded) have been unfairly
295 omitted from this list, we would like to add your names!
298 So that they may not regard their many labors as thankless, we
299 particularly thank those who shepherded @value{GDBN} through major
301 Andrew Cagney (releases 5.0 and 5.1);
302 Jim Blandy (release 4.18);
303 Jason Molenda (release 4.17);
304 Stan Shebs (release 4.14);
305 Fred Fish (releases 4.16, 4.15, 4.13, 4.12, 4.11, 4.10, and 4.9);
306 Stu Grossman and John Gilmore (releases 4.8, 4.7, 4.6, 4.5, and 4.4);
307 John Gilmore (releases 4.3, 4.2, 4.1, 4.0, and 3.9);
308 Jim Kingdon (releases 3.5, 3.4, and 3.3);
309 and Randy Smith (releases 3.2, 3.1, and 3.0).
311 Richard Stallman, assisted at various times by Peter TerMaat, Chris
312 Hanson, and Richard Mlynarik, handled releases through 2.8.
314 Michael Tiemann is the author of most of the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} support
315 in @value{GDBN}, with significant additional contributions from Per
316 Bothner and Daniel Berlin. James Clark wrote the @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
317 demangler. Early work on C@t{++} was by Peter TerMaat (who also did
318 much general update work leading to release 3.0).
320 @value{GDBN} uses the BFD subroutine library to examine multiple
321 object-file formats; BFD was a joint project of David V.
322 Henkel-Wallace, Rich Pixley, Steve Chamberlain, and John Gilmore.
324 David Johnson wrote the original COFF support; Pace Willison did
325 the original support for encapsulated COFF.
327 Brent Benson of Harris Computer Systems contributed DWARF2 support.
329 Adam de Boor and Bradley Davis contributed the ISI Optimum V support.
330 Per Bothner, Noboyuki Hikichi, and Alessandro Forin contributed MIPS
332 Jean-Daniel Fekete contributed Sun 386i support.
333 Chris Hanson improved the HP9000 support.
334 Noboyuki Hikichi and Tomoyuki Hasei contributed Sony/News OS 3 support.
335 David Johnson contributed Encore Umax support.
336 Jyrki Kuoppala contributed Altos 3068 support.
337 Jeff Law contributed HP PA and SOM support.
338 Keith Packard contributed NS32K support.
339 Doug Rabson contributed Acorn Risc Machine support.
340 Bob Rusk contributed Harris Nighthawk CX-UX support.
341 Chris Smith contributed Convex support (and Fortran debugging).
342 Jonathan Stone contributed Pyramid support.
343 Michael Tiemann contributed SPARC support.
344 Tim Tucker contributed support for the Gould NP1 and Gould Powernode.
345 Pace Willison contributed Intel 386 support.
346 Jay Vosburgh contributed Symmetry support.
348 Andreas Schwab contributed M68K Linux support.
350 Rich Schaefer and Peter Schauer helped with support of SunOS shared
353 Jay Fenlason and Roland McGrath ensured that @value{GDBN} and GAS agree
354 about several machine instruction sets.
356 Patrick Duval, Ted Goldstein, Vikram Koka and Glenn Engel helped develop
357 remote debugging. Intel Corporation, Wind River Systems, AMD, and ARM
358 contributed remote debugging modules for the i960, VxWorks, A29K UDI,
359 and RDI targets, respectively.
361 Brian Fox is the author of the readline libraries providing
362 command-line editing and command history.
364 Andrew Beers of SUNY Buffalo wrote the language-switching code, the
365 Modula-2 support, and contributed the Languages chapter of this manual.
367 Fred Fish wrote most of the support for Unix System Vr4.
368 He also enhanced the command-completion support to cover C@t{++} overloaded
371 Hitachi America, Ltd. sponsored the support for H8/300, H8/500, and
374 NEC sponsored the support for the v850, Vr4xxx, and Vr5xxx processors.
376 Mitsubishi sponsored the support for D10V, D30V, and M32R/D processors.
378 Toshiba sponsored the support for the TX39 Mips processor.
380 Matsushita sponsored the support for the MN10200 and MN10300 processors.
382 Fujitsu sponsored the support for SPARClite and FR30 processors.
384 Kung Hsu, Jeff Law, and Rick Sladkey added support for hardware
387 Michael Snyder added support for tracepoints.
389 Stu Grossman wrote gdbserver.
391 Jim Kingdon, Peter Schauer, Ian Taylor, and Stu Grossman made
392 nearly innumerable bug fixes and cleanups throughout @value{GDBN}.
394 The following people at the Hewlett-Packard Company contributed
395 support for the PA-RISC 2.0 architecture, HP-UX 10.20, 10.30, and 11.0
396 (narrow mode), HP's implementation of kernel threads, HP's aC@t{++}
397 compiler, and the terminal user interface: Ben Krepp, Richard Title,
398 John Bishop, Susan Macchia, Kathy Mann, Satish Pai, India Paul, Steve
399 Rehrauer, and Elena Zannoni. Kim Haase provided HP-specific
400 information in this manual.
402 DJ Delorie ported @value{GDBN} to MS-DOS, for the DJGPP project.
403 Robert Hoehne made significant contributions to the DJGPP port.
405 Cygnus Solutions has sponsored @value{GDBN} maintenance and much of its
406 development since 1991. Cygnus engineers who have worked on @value{GDBN}
407 fulltime include Mark Alexander, Jim Blandy, Per Bothner, Kevin
408 Buettner, Edith Epstein, Chris Faylor, Fred Fish, Martin Hunt, Jim
409 Ingham, John Gilmore, Stu Grossman, Kung Hsu, Jim Kingdon, John Metzler,
410 Fernando Nasser, Geoffrey Noer, Dawn Perchik, Rich Pixley, Zdenek
411 Radouch, Keith Seitz, Stan Shebs, David Taylor, and Elena Zannoni. In
412 addition, Dave Brolley, Ian Carmichael, Steve Chamberlain, Nick Clifton,
413 JT Conklin, Stan Cox, DJ Delorie, Ulrich Drepper, Frank Eigler, Doug
414 Evans, Sean Fagan, David Henkel-Wallace, Richard Henderson, Jeff
415 Holcomb, Jeff Law, Jim Lemke, Tom Lord, Bob Manson, Michael Meissner,
416 Jason Merrill, Catherine Moore, Drew Moseley, Ken Raeburn, Gavin
417 Romig-Koch, Rob Savoye, Jamie Smith, Mike Stump, Ian Taylor, Angela
418 Thomas, Michael Tiemann, Tom Tromey, Ron Unrau, Jim Wilson, and David
419 Zuhn have made contributions both large and small.
423 @chapter A Sample @value{GDBN} Session
425 You can use this manual at your leisure to read all about @value{GDBN}.
426 However, a handful of commands are enough to get started using the
427 debugger. This chapter illustrates those commands.
430 In this sample session, we emphasize user input like this: @b{input},
431 to make it easier to pick out from the surrounding output.
434 @c FIXME: this example may not be appropriate for some configs, where
435 @c FIXME...primary interest is in remote use.
437 One of the preliminary versions of @sc{gnu} @code{m4} (a generic macro
438 processor) exhibits the following bug: sometimes, when we change its
439 quote strings from the default, the commands used to capture one macro
440 definition within another stop working. In the following short @code{m4}
441 session, we define a macro @code{foo} which expands to @code{0000}; we
442 then use the @code{m4} built-in @code{defn} to define @code{bar} as the
443 same thing. However, when we change the open quote string to
444 @code{<QUOTE>} and the close quote string to @code{<UNQUOTE>}, the same
445 procedure fails to define a new synonym @code{baz}:
454 @b{define(bar,defn(`foo'))}
458 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
460 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
463 m4: End of input: 0: fatal error: EOF in string
467 Let us use @value{GDBN} to try to see what is going on.
470 $ @b{@value{GDBP} m4}
471 @c FIXME: this falsifies the exact text played out, to permit smallbook
472 @c FIXME... format to come out better.
473 @value{GDBN} is free software and you are welcome to distribute copies
474 of it under certain conditions; type "show copying" to see
476 There is absolutely no warranty for @value{GDBN}; type "show warranty"
479 @value{GDBN} @value{GDBVN}, Copyright 1999 Free Software Foundation, Inc...
484 @value{GDBN} reads only enough symbol data to know where to find the
485 rest when needed; as a result, the first prompt comes up very quickly.
486 We now tell @value{GDBN} to use a narrower display width than usual, so
487 that examples fit in this manual.
490 (@value{GDBP}) @b{set width 70}
494 We need to see how the @code{m4} built-in @code{changequote} works.
495 Having looked at the source, we know the relevant subroutine is
496 @code{m4_changequote}, so we set a breakpoint there with the @value{GDBN}
497 @code{break} command.
500 (@value{GDBP}) @b{break m4_changequote}
501 Breakpoint 1 at 0x62f4: file builtin.c, line 879.
505 Using the @code{run} command, we start @code{m4} running under @value{GDBN}
506 control; as long as control does not reach the @code{m4_changequote}
507 subroutine, the program runs as usual:
510 (@value{GDBP}) @b{run}
511 Starting program: /work/Editorial/gdb/gnu/m4/m4
519 To trigger the breakpoint, we call @code{changequote}. @value{GDBN}
520 suspends execution of @code{m4}, displaying information about the
521 context where it stops.
524 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
526 Breakpoint 1, m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
528 879 if (bad_argc(TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[0]),argc,1,3))
532 Now we use the command @code{n} (@code{next}) to advance execution to
533 the next line of the current function.
537 882 set_quotes((argc >= 2) ? TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[1])\
542 @code{set_quotes} looks like a promising subroutine. We can go into it
543 by using the command @code{s} (@code{step}) instead of @code{next}.
544 @code{step} goes to the next line to be executed in @emph{any}
545 subroutine, so it steps into @code{set_quotes}.
549 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
551 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
555 The display that shows the subroutine where @code{m4} is now
556 suspended (and its arguments) is called a stack frame display. It
557 shows a summary of the stack. We can use the @code{backtrace}
558 command (which can also be spelled @code{bt}), to see where we are
559 in the stack as a whole: the @code{backtrace} command displays a
560 stack frame for each active subroutine.
563 (@value{GDBP}) @b{bt}
564 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
566 #1 0x6344 in m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
568 #2 0x8174 in expand_macro (sym=0x33320) at macro.c:242
569 #3 0x7a88 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=209696, td=0xf7fffa30)
571 #4 0x79dc in expand_input () at macro.c:40
572 #5 0x2930 in main (argc=0, argv=0xf7fffb20) at m4.c:195
576 We step through a few more lines to see what happens. The first two
577 times, we can use @samp{s}; the next two times we use @code{n} to avoid
578 falling into the @code{xstrdup} subroutine.
582 0x3b5c 532 if (rquote != def_rquote)
584 0x3b80 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? \
585 def_lquote : xstrdup(lq);
587 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
590 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
594 The last line displayed looks a little odd; we can examine the variables
595 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} to see if they are in fact the new left
596 and right quotes we specified. We use the command @code{p}
597 (@code{print}) to see their values.
600 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p lquote}
601 $1 = 0x35d40 "<QUOTE>"
602 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p rquote}
603 $2 = 0x35d50 "<UNQUOTE>"
607 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} are indeed the new left and right quotes.
608 To look at some context, we can display ten lines of source
609 surrounding the current line with the @code{l} (@code{list}) command.
615 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? def_lquote\
617 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
620 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
621 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
628 Let us step past the two lines that set @code{len_lquote} and
629 @code{len_rquote}, and then examine the values of those variables.
633 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
636 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote}
638 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote}
643 That certainly looks wrong, assuming @code{len_lquote} and
644 @code{len_rquote} are meant to be the lengths of @code{lquote} and
645 @code{rquote} respectively. We can set them to better values using
646 the @code{p} command, since it can print the value of
647 any expression---and that expression can include subroutine calls and
651 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote=strlen(lquote)}
653 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote=strlen(rquote)}
658 Is that enough to fix the problem of using the new quotes with the
659 @code{m4} built-in @code{defn}? We can allow @code{m4} to continue
660 executing with the @code{c} (@code{continue}) command, and then try the
661 example that caused trouble initially:
667 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
674 Success! The new quotes now work just as well as the default ones. The
675 problem seems to have been just the two typos defining the wrong
676 lengths. We allow @code{m4} exit by giving it an EOF as input:
680 Program exited normally.
684 The message @samp{Program exited normally.} is from @value{GDBN}; it
685 indicates @code{m4} has finished executing. We can end our @value{GDBN}
686 session with the @value{GDBN} @code{quit} command.
689 (@value{GDBP}) @b{quit}
693 @chapter Getting In and Out of @value{GDBN}
695 This chapter discusses how to start @value{GDBN}, and how to get out of it.
699 type @samp{@value{GDBP}} to start @value{GDBN}.
701 type @kbd{quit} or @kbd{C-d} to exit.
705 * Invoking GDB:: How to start @value{GDBN}
706 * Quitting GDB:: How to quit @value{GDBN}
707 * Shell Commands:: How to use shell commands inside @value{GDBN}
711 @section Invoking @value{GDBN}
713 Invoke @value{GDBN} by running the program @code{@value{GDBP}}. Once started,
714 @value{GDBN} reads commands from the terminal until you tell it to exit.
716 You can also run @code{@value{GDBP}} with a variety of arguments and options,
717 to specify more of your debugging environment at the outset.
719 The command-line options described here are designed
720 to cover a variety of situations; in some environments, some of these
721 options may effectively be unavailable.
723 The most usual way to start @value{GDBN} is with one argument,
724 specifying an executable program:
727 @value{GDBP} @var{program}
731 You can also start with both an executable program and a core file
735 @value{GDBP} @var{program} @var{core}
738 You can, instead, specify a process ID as a second argument, if you want
739 to debug a running process:
742 @value{GDBP} @var{program} 1234
746 would attach @value{GDBN} to process @code{1234} (unless you also have a file
747 named @file{1234}; @value{GDBN} does check for a core file first).
749 Taking advantage of the second command-line argument requires a fairly
750 complete operating system; when you use @value{GDBN} as a remote
751 debugger attached to a bare board, there may not be any notion of
752 ``process'', and there is often no way to get a core dump. @value{GDBN}
753 will warn you if it is unable to attach or to read core dumps.
755 You can optionally have @code{@value{GDBP}} pass any arguments after the
756 executable file to the inferior using @code{--args}. This option stops
759 gdb --args gcc -O2 -c foo.c
761 This will cause @code{@value{GDBP}} to debug @code{gcc}, and to set
762 @code{gcc}'s command-line arguments (@pxref{Arguments}) to @samp{-O2 -c foo.c}.
764 You can run @code{@value{GDBP}} without printing the front material, which describes
765 @value{GDBN}'s non-warranty, by specifying @code{-silent}:
772 You can further control how @value{GDBN} starts up by using command-line
773 options. @value{GDBN} itself can remind you of the options available.
783 to display all available options and briefly describe their use
784 (@samp{@value{GDBP} -h} is a shorter equivalent).
786 All options and command line arguments you give are processed
787 in sequential order. The order makes a difference when the
788 @samp{-x} option is used.
792 * File Options:: Choosing files
793 * Mode Options:: Choosing modes
797 @subsection Choosing files
799 When @value{GDBN} starts, it reads any arguments other than options as
800 specifying an executable file and core file (or process ID). This is
801 the same as if the arguments were specified by the @samp{-se} and
802 @samp{-c} options respectively. (@value{GDBN} reads the first argument
803 that does not have an associated option flag as equivalent to the
804 @samp{-se} option followed by that argument; and the second argument
805 that does not have an associated option flag, if any, as equivalent to
806 the @samp{-c} option followed by that argument.)
808 If @value{GDBN} has not been configured to included core file support,
809 such as for most embedded targets, then it will complain about a second
810 argument and ignore it.
812 Many options have both long and short forms; both are shown in the
813 following list. @value{GDBN} also recognizes the long forms if you truncate
814 them, so long as enough of the option is present to be unambiguous.
815 (If you prefer, you can flag option arguments with @samp{--} rather
816 than @samp{-}, though we illustrate the more usual convention.)
818 @c NOTE: the @cindex entries here use double dashes ON PURPOSE. This
819 @c way, both those who look for -foo and --foo in the index, will find
823 @item -symbols @var{file}
825 @cindex @code{--symbols}
827 Read symbol table from file @var{file}.
829 @item -exec @var{file}
831 @cindex @code{--exec}
833 Use file @var{file} as the executable file to execute when appropriate,
834 and for examining pure data in conjunction with a core dump.
838 Read symbol table from file @var{file} and use it as the executable
841 @item -core @var{file}
843 @cindex @code{--core}
845 Use file @var{file} as a core dump to examine.
847 @item -c @var{number}
848 Connect to process ID @var{number}, as with the @code{attach} command
849 (unless there is a file in core-dump format named @var{number}, in which
850 case @samp{-c} specifies that file as a core dump to read).
852 @item -command @var{file}
854 @cindex @code{--command}
856 Execute @value{GDBN} commands from file @var{file}. @xref{Command
857 Files,, Command files}.
859 @item -directory @var{directory}
860 @itemx -d @var{directory}
861 @cindex @code{--directory}
863 Add @var{directory} to the path to search for source files.
867 @cindex @code{--mapped}
869 @emph{Warning: this option depends on operating system facilities that are not
870 supported on all systems.}@*
871 If memory-mapped files are available on your system through the @code{mmap}
872 system call, you can use this option
873 to have @value{GDBN} write the symbols from your
874 program into a reusable file in the current directory. If the program you are debugging is
875 called @file{/tmp/fred}, the mapped symbol file is @file{/tmp/fred.syms}.
876 Future @value{GDBN} debugging sessions notice the presence of this file,
877 and can quickly map in symbol information from it, rather than reading
878 the symbol table from the executable program.
880 The @file{.syms} file is specific to the host machine where @value{GDBN}
881 is run. It holds an exact image of the internal @value{GDBN} symbol
882 table. It cannot be shared across multiple host platforms.
886 @cindex @code{--readnow}
888 Read each symbol file's entire symbol table immediately, rather than
889 the default, which is to read it incrementally as it is needed.
890 This makes startup slower, but makes future operations faster.
894 You typically combine the @code{-mapped} and @code{-readnow} options in
895 order to build a @file{.syms} file that contains complete symbol
896 information. (@xref{Files,,Commands to specify files}, for information
897 on @file{.syms} files.) A simple @value{GDBN} invocation to do nothing
898 but build a @file{.syms} file for future use is:
901 gdb -batch -nx -mapped -readnow programname
905 @subsection Choosing modes
907 You can run @value{GDBN} in various alternative modes---for example, in
908 batch mode or quiet mode.
915 Do not execute commands found in any initialization files (normally
916 called @file{.gdbinit}, or @file{gdb.ini} on PCs). Normally,
917 @value{GDBN} executes the commands in these files after all the command
918 options and arguments have been processed. @xref{Command Files,,Command
924 @cindex @code{--quiet}
925 @cindex @code{--silent}
927 ``Quiet''. Do not print the introductory and copyright messages. These
928 messages are also suppressed in batch mode.
931 @cindex @code{--batch}
932 Run in batch mode. Exit with status @code{0} after processing all the
933 command files specified with @samp{-x} (and all commands from
934 initialization files, if not inhibited with @samp{-n}). Exit with
935 nonzero status if an error occurs in executing the @value{GDBN} commands
936 in the command files.
938 Batch mode may be useful for running @value{GDBN} as a filter, for
939 example to download and run a program on another computer; in order to
940 make this more useful, the message
943 Program exited normally.
947 (which is ordinarily issued whenever a program running under
948 @value{GDBN} control terminates) is not issued when running in batch
953 @cindex @code{--nowindows}
955 ``No windows''. If @value{GDBN} comes with a graphical user interface
956 (GUI) built in, then this option tells @value{GDBN} to only use the command-line
957 interface. If no GUI is available, this option has no effect.
961 @cindex @code{--windows}
963 If @value{GDBN} includes a GUI, then this option requires it to be
966 @item -cd @var{directory}
968 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its working directory,
969 instead of the current directory.
973 @cindex @code{--fullname}
975 @sc{gnu} Emacs sets this option when it runs @value{GDBN} as a
976 subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to output the full file name and line
977 number in a standard, recognizable fashion each time a stack frame is
978 displayed (which includes each time your program stops). This
979 recognizable format looks like two @samp{\032} characters, followed by
980 the file name, line number and character position separated by colons,
981 and a newline. The Emacs-to-@value{GDBN} interface program uses the two
982 @samp{\032} characters as a signal to display the source code for the
986 @cindex @code{--epoch}
987 The Epoch Emacs-@value{GDBN} interface sets this option when it runs
988 @value{GDBN} as a subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to modify its print
989 routines so as to allow Epoch to display values of expressions in a
992 @item -annotate @var{level}
993 @cindex @code{--annotate}
994 This option sets the @dfn{annotation level} inside @value{GDBN}. Its
995 effect is identical to using @samp{set annotate @var{level}}
996 (@pxref{Annotations}).
997 Annotation level controls how much information does @value{GDBN} print
998 together with its prompt, values of expressions, source lines, and other
999 types of output. Level 0 is the normal, level 1 is for use when
1000 @value{GDBN} is run as a subprocess of @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 2 is the
1001 maximum annotation suitable for programs that control @value{GDBN}.
1004 @cindex @code{--async}
1005 Use the asynchronous event loop for the command-line interface.
1006 @value{GDBN} processes all events, such as user keyboard input, via a
1007 special event loop. This allows @value{GDBN} to accept and process user
1008 commands in parallel with the debugged process being
1009 run@footnote{@value{GDBN} built with @sc{djgpp} tools for
1010 MS-DOS/MS-Windows supports this mode of operation, but the event loop is
1011 suspended when the debuggee runs.}, so you don't need to wait for
1012 control to return to @value{GDBN} before you type the next command.
1013 (@emph{Note:} as of version 5.1, the target side of the asynchronous
1014 operation is not yet in place, so @samp{-async} does not work fully
1016 @c FIXME: when the target side of the event loop is done, the above NOTE
1017 @c should be removed.
1019 When the standard input is connected to a terminal device, @value{GDBN}
1020 uses the asynchronous event loop by default, unless disabled by the
1021 @samp{-noasync} option.
1024 @cindex @code{--noasync}
1025 Disable the asynchronous event loop for the command-line interface.
1028 @cindex @code{--args}
1029 Change interpretation of command line so that arguments following the
1030 executable file are passed as command line arguments to the inferior.
1031 This option stops option processing.
1033 @item -baud @var{bps}
1035 @cindex @code{--baud}
1037 Set the line speed (baud rate or bits per second) of any serial
1038 interface used by @value{GDBN} for remote debugging.
1040 @item -tty @var{device}
1041 @itemx -t @var{device}
1042 @cindex @code{--tty}
1044 Run using @var{device} for your program's standard input and output.
1045 @c FIXME: kingdon thinks there is more to -tty. Investigate.
1047 @c resolve the situation of these eventually
1049 @cindex @code{--tui}
1050 Activate the Terminal User Interface when starting.
1051 The Terminal User Interface manages several text windows on the terminal,
1052 showing source, assembly, registers and @value{GDBN} command outputs
1053 (@pxref{TUI, ,@value{GDBN} Text User Interface}).
1054 Do not use this option if you run @value{GDBN} from Emacs
1055 (@pxref{Emacs, ,Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}).
1058 @c @cindex @code{--xdb}
1059 @c Run in XDB compatibility mode, allowing the use of certain XDB commands.
1060 @c For information, see the file @file{xdb_trans.html}, which is usually
1061 @c installed in the directory @code{/opt/langtools/wdb/doc} on HP-UX
1064 @item -interpreter @var{interp}
1065 @cindex @code{--interpreter}
1066 Use the interpreter @var{interp} for interface with the controlling
1067 program or device. This option is meant to be set by programs which
1068 communicate with @value{GDBN} using it as a back end.
1070 @samp{--interpreter=mi} (or @samp{--interpreter=mi1}) causes
1071 @value{GDBN} to use the @dfn{gdb/mi interface} (@pxref{GDB/MI, , The
1072 @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}). The older @sc{gdb/mi} interface, included in
1073 @value{GDBN} version 5.0 can be selected with @samp{--interpreter=mi0}.
1076 @cindex @code{--write}
1077 Open the executable and core files for both reading and writing. This
1078 is equivalent to the @samp{set write on} command inside @value{GDBN}
1082 @cindex @code{--statistics}
1083 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print statistics about time and
1084 memory usage after it completes each command and returns to the prompt.
1087 @cindex @code{--version}
1088 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print its version number and
1089 no-warranty blurb, and exit.
1094 @section Quitting @value{GDBN}
1095 @cindex exiting @value{GDBN}
1096 @cindex leaving @value{GDBN}
1099 @kindex quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1100 @kindex q @r{(@code{quit})}
1101 @item quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1103 To exit @value{GDBN}, use the @code{quit} command (abbreviated
1104 @code{q}), or type an end-of-file character (usually @kbd{C-d}). If you
1105 do not supply @var{expression}, @value{GDBN} will terminate normally;
1106 otherwise it will terminate using the result of @var{expression} as the
1111 An interrupt (often @kbd{C-c}) does not exit from @value{GDBN}, but rather
1112 terminates the action of any @value{GDBN} command that is in progress and
1113 returns to @value{GDBN} command level. It is safe to type the interrupt
1114 character at any time because @value{GDBN} does not allow it to take effect
1115 until a time when it is safe.
1117 If you have been using @value{GDBN} to control an attached process or
1118 device, you can release it with the @code{detach} command
1119 (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an already-running process}).
1121 @node Shell Commands
1122 @section Shell commands
1124 If you need to execute occasional shell commands during your
1125 debugging session, there is no need to leave or suspend @value{GDBN}; you can
1126 just use the @code{shell} command.
1130 @cindex shell escape
1131 @item shell @var{command string}
1132 Invoke a standard shell to execute @var{command string}.
1133 If it exists, the environment variable @code{SHELL} determines which
1134 shell to run. Otherwise @value{GDBN} uses the default shell
1135 (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix systems, @file{COMMAND.COM} on MS-DOS, etc.).
1138 The utility @code{make} is often needed in development environments.
1139 You do not have to use the @code{shell} command for this purpose in
1144 @cindex calling make
1145 @item make @var{make-args}
1146 Execute the @code{make} program with the specified
1147 arguments. This is equivalent to @samp{shell make @var{make-args}}.
1151 @chapter @value{GDBN} Commands
1153 You can abbreviate a @value{GDBN} command to the first few letters of the command
1154 name, if that abbreviation is unambiguous; and you can repeat certain
1155 @value{GDBN} commands by typing just @key{RET}. You can also use the @key{TAB}
1156 key to get @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest of a word in a command (or to
1157 show you the alternatives available, if there is more than one possibility).
1160 * Command Syntax:: How to give commands to @value{GDBN}
1161 * Completion:: Command completion
1162 * Help:: How to ask @value{GDBN} for help
1165 @node Command Syntax
1166 @section Command syntax
1168 A @value{GDBN} command is a single line of input. There is no limit on
1169 how long it can be. It starts with a command name, which is followed by
1170 arguments whose meaning depends on the command name. For example, the
1171 command @code{step} accepts an argument which is the number of times to
1172 step, as in @samp{step 5}. You can also use the @code{step} command
1173 with no arguments. Some commands do not allow any arguments.
1175 @cindex abbreviation
1176 @value{GDBN} command names may always be truncated if that abbreviation is
1177 unambiguous. Other possible command abbreviations are listed in the
1178 documentation for individual commands. In some cases, even ambiguous
1179 abbreviations are allowed; for example, @code{s} is specially defined as
1180 equivalent to @code{step} even though there are other commands whose
1181 names start with @code{s}. You can test abbreviations by using them as
1182 arguments to the @code{help} command.
1184 @cindex repeating commands
1185 @kindex RET @r{(repeat last command)}
1186 A blank line as input to @value{GDBN} (typing just @key{RET}) means to
1187 repeat the previous command. Certain commands (for example, @code{run})
1188 will not repeat this way; these are commands whose unintentional
1189 repetition might cause trouble and which you are unlikely to want to
1192 The @code{list} and @code{x} commands, when you repeat them with
1193 @key{RET}, construct new arguments rather than repeating
1194 exactly as typed. This permits easy scanning of source or memory.
1196 @value{GDBN} can also use @key{RET} in another way: to partition lengthy
1197 output, in a way similar to the common utility @code{more}
1198 (@pxref{Screen Size,,Screen size}). Since it is easy to press one
1199 @key{RET} too many in this situation, @value{GDBN} disables command
1200 repetition after any command that generates this sort of display.
1202 @kindex # @r{(a comment)}
1204 Any text from a @kbd{#} to the end of the line is a comment; it does
1205 nothing. This is useful mainly in command files (@pxref{Command
1206 Files,,Command files}).
1209 @section Command completion
1212 @cindex word completion
1213 @value{GDBN} can fill in the rest of a word in a command for you, if there is
1214 only one possibility; it can also show you what the valid possibilities
1215 are for the next word in a command, at any time. This works for @value{GDBN}
1216 commands, @value{GDBN} subcommands, and the names of symbols in your program.
1218 Press the @key{TAB} key whenever you want @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest
1219 of a word. If there is only one possibility, @value{GDBN} fills in the
1220 word, and waits for you to finish the command (or press @key{RET} to
1221 enter it). For example, if you type
1223 @c FIXME "@key" does not distinguish its argument sufficiently to permit
1224 @c complete accuracy in these examples; space introduced for clarity.
1225 @c If texinfo enhancements make it unnecessary, it would be nice to
1226 @c replace " @key" by "@key" in the following...
1228 (@value{GDBP}) info bre @key{TAB}
1232 @value{GDBN} fills in the rest of the word @samp{breakpoints}, since that is
1233 the only @code{info} subcommand beginning with @samp{bre}:
1236 (@value{GDBP}) info breakpoints
1240 You can either press @key{RET} at this point, to run the @code{info
1241 breakpoints} command, or backspace and enter something else, if
1242 @samp{breakpoints} does not look like the command you expected. (If you
1243 were sure you wanted @code{info breakpoints} in the first place, you
1244 might as well just type @key{RET} immediately after @samp{info bre},
1245 to exploit command abbreviations rather than command completion).
1247 If there is more than one possibility for the next word when you press
1248 @key{TAB}, @value{GDBN} sounds a bell. You can either supply more
1249 characters and try again, or just press @key{TAB} a second time;
1250 @value{GDBN} displays all the possible completions for that word. For
1251 example, you might want to set a breakpoint on a subroutine whose name
1252 begins with @samp{make_}, but when you type @kbd{b make_@key{TAB}} @value{GDBN}
1253 just sounds the bell. Typing @key{TAB} again displays all the
1254 function names in your program that begin with those characters, for
1258 (@value{GDBP}) b make_ @key{TAB}
1259 @exdent @value{GDBN} sounds bell; press @key{TAB} again, to see:
1260 make_a_section_from_file make_environ
1261 make_abs_section make_function_type
1262 make_blockvector make_pointer_type
1263 make_cleanup make_reference_type
1264 make_command make_symbol_completion_list
1265 (@value{GDBP}) b make_
1269 After displaying the available possibilities, @value{GDBN} copies your
1270 partial input (@samp{b make_} in the example) so you can finish the
1273 If you just want to see the list of alternatives in the first place, you
1274 can press @kbd{M-?} rather than pressing @key{TAB} twice. @kbd{M-?}
1275 means @kbd{@key{META} ?}. You can type this either by holding down a
1276 key designated as the @key{META} shift on your keyboard (if there is
1277 one) while typing @kbd{?}, or as @key{ESC} followed by @kbd{?}.
1279 @cindex quotes in commands
1280 @cindex completion of quoted strings
1281 Sometimes the string you need, while logically a ``word'', may contain
1282 parentheses or other characters that @value{GDBN} normally excludes from
1283 its notion of a word. To permit word completion to work in this
1284 situation, you may enclose words in @code{'} (single quote marks) in
1285 @value{GDBN} commands.
1287 The most likely situation where you might need this is in typing the
1288 name of a C@t{++} function. This is because C@t{++} allows function
1289 overloading (multiple definitions of the same function, distinguished
1290 by argument type). For example, when you want to set a breakpoint you
1291 may need to distinguish whether you mean the version of @code{name}
1292 that takes an @code{int} parameter, @code{name(int)}, or the version
1293 that takes a @code{float} parameter, @code{name(float)}. To use the
1294 word-completion facilities in this situation, type a single quote
1295 @code{'} at the beginning of the function name. This alerts
1296 @value{GDBN} that it may need to consider more information than usual
1297 when you press @key{TAB} or @kbd{M-?} to request word completion:
1300 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble( @kbd{M-?}
1301 bubble(double,double) bubble(int,int)
1302 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1305 In some cases, @value{GDBN} can tell that completing a name requires using
1306 quotes. When this happens, @value{GDBN} inserts the quote for you (while
1307 completing as much as it can) if you do not type the quote in the first
1311 (@value{GDBP}) b bub @key{TAB}
1312 @exdent @value{GDBN} alters your input line to the following, and rings a bell:
1313 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1317 In general, @value{GDBN} can tell that a quote is needed (and inserts it) if
1318 you have not yet started typing the argument list when you ask for
1319 completion on an overloaded symbol.
1321 For more information about overloaded functions, see @ref{C plus plus
1322 expressions, ,C@t{++} expressions}. You can use the command @code{set
1323 overload-resolution off} to disable overload resolution;
1324 see @ref{Debugging C plus plus, ,@value{GDBN} features for C@t{++}}.
1328 @section Getting help
1329 @cindex online documentation
1332 You can always ask @value{GDBN} itself for information on its commands,
1333 using the command @code{help}.
1336 @kindex h @r{(@code{help})}
1339 You can use @code{help} (abbreviated @code{h}) with no arguments to
1340 display a short list of named classes of commands:
1344 List of classes of commands:
1346 aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1347 breakpoints -- Making program stop at certain points
1348 data -- Examining data
1349 files -- Specifying and examining files
1350 internals -- Maintenance commands
1351 obscure -- Obscure features
1352 running -- Running the program
1353 stack -- Examining the stack
1354 status -- Status inquiries
1355 support -- Support facilities
1356 tracepoints -- Tracing of program execution without@*
1357 stopping the program
1358 user-defined -- User-defined commands
1360 Type "help" followed by a class name for a list of
1361 commands in that class.
1362 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1364 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1367 @c the above line break eliminates huge line overfull...
1369 @item help @var{class}
1370 Using one of the general help classes as an argument, you can get a
1371 list of the individual commands in that class. For example, here is the
1372 help display for the class @code{status}:
1375 (@value{GDBP}) help status
1380 @c Line break in "show" line falsifies real output, but needed
1381 @c to fit in smallbook page size.
1382 info -- Generic command for showing things
1383 about the program being debugged
1384 show -- Generic command for showing things
1387 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1389 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1393 @item help @var{command}
1394 With a command name as @code{help} argument, @value{GDBN} displays a
1395 short paragraph on how to use that command.
1398 @item apropos @var{args}
1399 The @code{apropos @var{args}} command searches through all of the @value{GDBN}
1400 commands, and their documentation, for the regular expression specified in
1401 @var{args}. It prints out all matches found. For example:
1412 set symbol-reloading -- Set dynamic symbol table reloading
1413 multiple times in one run
1414 show symbol-reloading -- Show dynamic symbol table reloading
1415 multiple times in one run
1420 @item complete @var{args}
1421 The @code{complete @var{args}} command lists all the possible completions
1422 for the beginning of a command. Use @var{args} to specify the beginning of the
1423 command you want completed. For example:
1429 @noindent results in:
1440 @noindent This is intended for use by @sc{gnu} Emacs.
1443 In addition to @code{help}, you can use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{info}
1444 and @code{show} to inquire about the state of your program, or the state
1445 of @value{GDBN} itself. Each command supports many topics of inquiry; this
1446 manual introduces each of them in the appropriate context. The listings
1447 under @code{info} and under @code{show} in the Index point to
1448 all the sub-commands. @xref{Index}.
1453 @kindex i @r{(@code{info})}
1455 This command (abbreviated @code{i}) is for describing the state of your
1456 program. For example, you can list the arguments given to your program
1457 with @code{info args}, list the registers currently in use with @code{info
1458 registers}, or list the breakpoints you have set with @code{info breakpoints}.
1459 You can get a complete list of the @code{info} sub-commands with
1460 @w{@code{help info}}.
1464 You can assign the result of an expression to an environment variable with
1465 @code{set}. For example, you can set the @value{GDBN} prompt to a $-sign with
1466 @code{set prompt $}.
1470 In contrast to @code{info}, @code{show} is for describing the state of
1471 @value{GDBN} itself.
1472 You can change most of the things you can @code{show}, by using the
1473 related command @code{set}; for example, you can control what number
1474 system is used for displays with @code{set radix}, or simply inquire
1475 which is currently in use with @code{show radix}.
1478 To display all the settable parameters and their current
1479 values, you can use @code{show} with no arguments; you may also use
1480 @code{info set}. Both commands produce the same display.
1481 @c FIXME: "info set" violates the rule that "info" is for state of
1482 @c FIXME...program. Ck w/ GNU: "info set" to be called something else,
1483 @c FIXME...or change desc of rule---eg "state of prog and debugging session"?
1487 Here are three miscellaneous @code{show} subcommands, all of which are
1488 exceptional in lacking corresponding @code{set} commands:
1491 @kindex show version
1492 @cindex version number
1494 Show what version of @value{GDBN} is running. You should include this
1495 information in @value{GDBN} bug-reports. If multiple versions of
1496 @value{GDBN} are in use at your site, you may need to determine which
1497 version of @value{GDBN} you are running; as @value{GDBN} evolves, new
1498 commands are introduced, and old ones may wither away. Also, many
1499 system vendors ship variant versions of @value{GDBN}, and there are
1500 variant versions of @value{GDBN} in @sc{gnu}/Linux distributions as well.
1501 The version number is the same as the one announced when you start
1504 @kindex show copying
1506 Display information about permission for copying @value{GDBN}.
1508 @kindex show warranty
1510 Display the @sc{gnu} ``NO WARRANTY'' statement, or a warranty,
1511 if your version of @value{GDBN} comes with one.
1516 @chapter Running Programs Under @value{GDBN}
1518 When you run a program under @value{GDBN}, you must first generate
1519 debugging information when you compile it.
1521 You may start @value{GDBN} with its arguments, if any, in an environment
1522 of your choice. If you are doing native debugging, you may redirect
1523 your program's input and output, debug an already running process, or
1524 kill a child process.
1527 * Compilation:: Compiling for debugging
1528 * Starting:: Starting your program
1529 * Arguments:: Your program's arguments
1530 * Environment:: Your program's environment
1532 * Working Directory:: Your program's working directory
1533 * Input/Output:: Your program's input and output
1534 * Attach:: Debugging an already-running process
1535 * Kill Process:: Killing the child process
1537 * Threads:: Debugging programs with multiple threads
1538 * Processes:: Debugging programs with multiple processes
1542 @section Compiling for debugging
1544 In order to debug a program effectively, you need to generate
1545 debugging information when you compile it. This debugging information
1546 is stored in the object file; it describes the data type of each
1547 variable or function and the correspondence between source line numbers
1548 and addresses in the executable code.
1550 To request debugging information, specify the @samp{-g} option when you run
1553 Many C compilers are unable to handle the @samp{-g} and @samp{-O}
1554 options together. Using those compilers, you cannot generate optimized
1555 executables containing debugging information.
1557 @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C compiler, supports @samp{-g} with or
1558 without @samp{-O}, making it possible to debug optimized code. We
1559 recommend that you @emph{always} use @samp{-g} whenever you compile a
1560 program. You may think your program is correct, but there is no sense
1561 in pushing your luck.
1563 @cindex optimized code, debugging
1564 @cindex debugging optimized code
1565 When you debug a program compiled with @samp{-g -O}, remember that the
1566 optimizer is rearranging your code; the debugger shows you what is
1567 really there. Do not be too surprised when the execution path does not
1568 exactly match your source file! An extreme example: if you define a
1569 variable, but never use it, @value{GDBN} never sees that
1570 variable---because the compiler optimizes it out of existence.
1572 Some things do not work as well with @samp{-g -O} as with just
1573 @samp{-g}, particularly on machines with instruction scheduling. If in
1574 doubt, recompile with @samp{-g} alone, and if this fixes the problem,
1575 please report it to us as a bug (including a test case!).
1577 Older versions of the @sc{gnu} C compiler permitted a variant option
1578 @w{@samp{-gg}} for debugging information. @value{GDBN} no longer supports this
1579 format; if your @sc{gnu} C compiler has this option, do not use it.
1583 @section Starting your program
1589 @kindex r @r{(@code{run})}
1592 Use the @code{run} command to start your program under @value{GDBN}.
1593 You must first specify the program name (except on VxWorks) with an
1594 argument to @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Invocation, ,Getting In and Out of
1595 @value{GDBN}}), or by using the @code{file} or @code{exec-file} command
1596 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to specify files}).
1600 If you are running your program in an execution environment that
1601 supports processes, @code{run} creates an inferior process and makes
1602 that process run your program. (In environments without processes,
1603 @code{run} jumps to the start of your program.)
1605 The execution of a program is affected by certain information it
1606 receives from its superior. @value{GDBN} provides ways to specify this
1607 information, which you must do @emph{before} starting your program. (You
1608 can change it after starting your program, but such changes only affect
1609 your program the next time you start it.) This information may be
1610 divided into four categories:
1613 @item The @emph{arguments.}
1614 Specify the arguments to give your program as the arguments of the
1615 @code{run} command. If a shell is available on your target, the shell
1616 is used to pass the arguments, so that you may use normal conventions
1617 (such as wildcard expansion or variable substitution) in describing
1619 In Unix systems, you can control which shell is used with the
1620 @code{SHELL} environment variable.
1621 @xref{Arguments, ,Your program's arguments}.
1623 @item The @emph{environment.}
1624 Your program normally inherits its environment from @value{GDBN}, but you can
1625 use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{set environment} and @code{unset
1626 environment} to change parts of the environment that affect
1627 your program. @xref{Environment, ,Your program's environment}.
1629 @item The @emph{working directory.}
1630 Your program inherits its working directory from @value{GDBN}. You can set
1631 the @value{GDBN} working directory with the @code{cd} command in @value{GDBN}.
1632 @xref{Working Directory, ,Your program's working directory}.
1634 @item The @emph{standard input and output.}
1635 Your program normally uses the same device for standard input and
1636 standard output as @value{GDBN} is using. You can redirect input and output
1637 in the @code{run} command line, or you can use the @code{tty} command to
1638 set a different device for your program.
1639 @xref{Input/Output, ,Your program's input and output}.
1642 @emph{Warning:} While input and output redirection work, you cannot use
1643 pipes to pass the output of the program you are debugging to another
1644 program; if you attempt this, @value{GDBN} is likely to wind up debugging the
1648 When you issue the @code{run} command, your program begins to execute
1649 immediately. @xref{Stopping, ,Stopping and continuing}, for discussion
1650 of how to arrange for your program to stop. Once your program has
1651 stopped, you may call functions in your program, using the @code{print}
1652 or @code{call} commands. @xref{Data, ,Examining Data}.
1654 If the modification time of your symbol file has changed since the last
1655 time @value{GDBN} read its symbols, @value{GDBN} discards its symbol
1656 table, and reads it again. When it does this, @value{GDBN} tries to retain
1657 your current breakpoints.
1660 @section Your program's arguments
1662 @cindex arguments (to your program)
1663 The arguments to your program can be specified by the arguments of the
1665 They are passed to a shell, which expands wildcard characters and
1666 performs redirection of I/O, and thence to your program. Your
1667 @code{SHELL} environment variable (if it exists) specifies what shell
1668 @value{GDBN} uses. If you do not define @code{SHELL}, @value{GDBN} uses
1669 the default shell (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix).
1671 On non-Unix systems, the program is usually invoked directly by
1672 @value{GDBN}, which emulates I/O redirection via the appropriate system
1673 calls, and the wildcard characters are expanded by the startup code of
1674 the program, not by the shell.
1676 @code{run} with no arguments uses the same arguments used by the previous
1677 @code{run}, or those set by the @code{set args} command.
1682 Specify the arguments to be used the next time your program is run. If
1683 @code{set args} has no arguments, @code{run} executes your program
1684 with no arguments. Once you have run your program with arguments,
1685 using @code{set args} before the next @code{run} is the only way to run
1686 it again without arguments.
1690 Show the arguments to give your program when it is started.
1694 @section Your program's environment
1696 @cindex environment (of your program)
1697 The @dfn{environment} consists of a set of environment variables and
1698 their values. Environment variables conventionally record such things as
1699 your user name, your home directory, your terminal type, and your search
1700 path for programs to run. Usually you set up environment variables with
1701 the shell and they are inherited by all the other programs you run. When
1702 debugging, it can be useful to try running your program with a modified
1703 environment without having to start @value{GDBN} over again.
1707 @item path @var{directory}
1708 Add @var{directory} to the front of the @code{PATH} environment variable
1709 (the search path for executables) that will be passed to your program.
1710 The value of @code{PATH} used by @value{GDBN} does not change.
1711 You may specify several directory names, separated by whitespace or by a
1712 system-dependent separator character (@samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on
1713 MS-DOS and MS-Windows). If @var{directory} is already in the path, it
1714 is moved to the front, so it is searched sooner.
1716 You can use the string @samp{$cwd} to refer to whatever is the current
1717 working directory at the time @value{GDBN} searches the path. If you
1718 use @samp{.} instead, it refers to the directory where you executed the
1719 @code{path} command. @value{GDBN} replaces @samp{.} in the
1720 @var{directory} argument (with the current path) before adding
1721 @var{directory} to the search path.
1722 @c 'path' is explicitly nonrepeatable, but RMS points out it is silly to
1723 @c document that, since repeating it would be a no-op.
1727 Display the list of search paths for executables (the @code{PATH}
1728 environment variable).
1730 @kindex show environment
1731 @item show environment @r{[}@var{varname}@r{]}
1732 Print the value of environment variable @var{varname} to be given to
1733 your program when it starts. If you do not supply @var{varname},
1734 print the names and values of all environment variables to be given to
1735 your program. You can abbreviate @code{environment} as @code{env}.
1737 @kindex set environment
1738 @item set environment @var{varname} @r{[}=@var{value}@r{]}
1739 Set environment variable @var{varname} to @var{value}. The value
1740 changes for your program only, not for @value{GDBN} itself. @var{value} may
1741 be any string; the values of environment variables are just strings, and
1742 any interpretation is supplied by your program itself. The @var{value}
1743 parameter is optional; if it is eliminated, the variable is set to a
1745 @c "any string" here does not include leading, trailing
1746 @c blanks. Gnu asks: does anyone care?
1748 For example, this command:
1755 tells the debugged program, when subsequently run, that its user is named
1756 @samp{foo}. (The spaces around @samp{=} are used for clarity here; they
1757 are not actually required.)
1759 @kindex unset environment
1760 @item unset environment @var{varname}
1761 Remove variable @var{varname} from the environment to be passed to your
1762 program. This is different from @samp{set env @var{varname} =};
1763 @code{unset environment} removes the variable from the environment,
1764 rather than assigning it an empty value.
1767 @emph{Warning:} On Unix systems, @value{GDBN} runs your program using
1769 by your @code{SHELL} environment variable if it exists (or
1770 @code{/bin/sh} if not). If your @code{SHELL} variable names a shell
1771 that runs an initialization file---such as @file{.cshrc} for C-shell, or
1772 @file{.bashrc} for BASH---any variables you set in that file affect
1773 your program. You may wish to move setting of environment variables to
1774 files that are only run when you sign on, such as @file{.login} or
1777 @node Working Directory
1778 @section Your program's working directory
1780 @cindex working directory (of your program)
1781 Each time you start your program with @code{run}, it inherits its
1782 working directory from the current working directory of @value{GDBN}.
1783 The @value{GDBN} working directory is initially whatever it inherited
1784 from its parent process (typically the shell), but you can specify a new
1785 working directory in @value{GDBN} with the @code{cd} command.
1787 The @value{GDBN} working directory also serves as a default for the commands
1788 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
1793 @item cd @var{directory}
1794 Set the @value{GDBN} working directory to @var{directory}.
1798 Print the @value{GDBN} working directory.
1802 @section Your program's input and output
1807 By default, the program you run under @value{GDBN} does input and output to
1808 the same terminal that @value{GDBN} uses. @value{GDBN} switches the terminal
1809 to its own terminal modes to interact with you, but it records the terminal
1810 modes your program was using and switches back to them when you continue
1811 running your program.
1814 @kindex info terminal
1816 Displays information recorded by @value{GDBN} about the terminal modes your
1820 You can redirect your program's input and/or output using shell
1821 redirection with the @code{run} command. For example,
1828 starts your program, diverting its output to the file @file{outfile}.
1831 @cindex controlling terminal
1832 Another way to specify where your program should do input and output is
1833 with the @code{tty} command. This command accepts a file name as
1834 argument, and causes this file to be the default for future @code{run}
1835 commands. It also resets the controlling terminal for the child
1836 process, for future @code{run} commands. For example,
1843 directs that processes started with subsequent @code{run} commands
1844 default to do input and output on the terminal @file{/dev/ttyb} and have
1845 that as their controlling terminal.
1847 An explicit redirection in @code{run} overrides the @code{tty} command's
1848 effect on the input/output device, but not its effect on the controlling
1851 When you use the @code{tty} command or redirect input in the @code{run}
1852 command, only the input @emph{for your program} is affected. The input
1853 for @value{GDBN} still comes from your terminal.
1856 @section Debugging an already-running process
1861 @item attach @var{process-id}
1862 This command attaches to a running process---one that was started
1863 outside @value{GDBN}. (@code{info files} shows your active
1864 targets.) The command takes as argument a process ID. The usual way to
1865 find out the process-id of a Unix process is with the @code{ps} utility,
1866 or with the @samp{jobs -l} shell command.
1868 @code{attach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} a second time after
1869 executing the command.
1872 To use @code{attach}, your program must be running in an environment
1873 which supports processes; for example, @code{attach} does not work for
1874 programs on bare-board targets that lack an operating system. You must
1875 also have permission to send the process a signal.
1877 When you use @code{attach}, the debugger finds the program running in
1878 the process first by looking in the current working directory, then (if
1879 the program is not found) by using the source file search path
1880 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying source directories}). You can also use
1881 the @code{file} command to load the program. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
1884 The first thing @value{GDBN} does after arranging to debug the specified
1885 process is to stop it. You can examine and modify an attached process
1886 with all the @value{GDBN} commands that are ordinarily available when
1887 you start processes with @code{run}. You can insert breakpoints; you
1888 can step and continue; you can modify storage. If you would rather the
1889 process continue running, you may use the @code{continue} command after
1890 attaching @value{GDBN} to the process.
1895 When you have finished debugging the attached process, you can use the
1896 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control. Detaching
1897 the process continues its execution. After the @code{detach} command,
1898 that process and @value{GDBN} become completely independent once more, and you
1899 are ready to @code{attach} another process or start one with @code{run}.
1900 @code{detach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
1901 executing the command.
1904 If you exit @value{GDBN} or use the @code{run} command while you have an
1905 attached process, you kill that process. By default, @value{GDBN} asks
1906 for confirmation if you try to do either of these things; you can
1907 control whether or not you need to confirm by using the @code{set
1908 confirm} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional warnings and
1912 @section Killing the child process
1917 Kill the child process in which your program is running under @value{GDBN}.
1920 This command is useful if you wish to debug a core dump instead of a
1921 running process. @value{GDBN} ignores any core dump file while your program
1924 On some operating systems, a program cannot be executed outside @value{GDBN}
1925 while you have breakpoints set on it inside @value{GDBN}. You can use the
1926 @code{kill} command in this situation to permit running your program
1927 outside the debugger.
1929 The @code{kill} command is also useful if you wish to recompile and
1930 relink your program, since on many systems it is impossible to modify an
1931 executable file while it is running in a process. In this case, when you
1932 next type @code{run}, @value{GDBN} notices that the file has changed, and
1933 reads the symbol table again (while trying to preserve your current
1934 breakpoint settings).
1937 @section Debugging programs with multiple threads
1939 @cindex threads of execution
1940 @cindex multiple threads
1941 @cindex switching threads
1942 In some operating systems, such as HP-UX and Solaris, a single program
1943 may have more than one @dfn{thread} of execution. The precise semantics
1944 of threads differ from one operating system to another, but in general
1945 the threads of a single program are akin to multiple processes---except
1946 that they share one address space (that is, they can all examine and
1947 modify the same variables). On the other hand, each thread has its own
1948 registers and execution stack, and perhaps private memory.
1950 @value{GDBN} provides these facilities for debugging multi-thread
1954 @item automatic notification of new threads
1955 @item @samp{thread @var{threadno}}, a command to switch among threads
1956 @item @samp{info threads}, a command to inquire about existing threads
1957 @item @samp{thread apply [@var{threadno}] [@var{all}] @var{args}},
1958 a command to apply a command to a list of threads
1959 @item thread-specific breakpoints
1963 @emph{Warning:} These facilities are not yet available on every
1964 @value{GDBN} configuration where the operating system supports threads.
1965 If your @value{GDBN} does not support threads, these commands have no
1966 effect. For example, a system without thread support shows no output
1967 from @samp{info threads}, and always rejects the @code{thread} command,
1971 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
1972 (@value{GDBP}) thread 1
1973 Thread ID 1 not known. Use the "info threads" command to
1974 see the IDs of currently known threads.
1976 @c FIXME to implementors: how hard would it be to say "sorry, this GDB
1977 @c doesn't support threads"?
1980 @cindex focus of debugging
1981 @cindex current thread
1982 The @value{GDBN} thread debugging facility allows you to observe all
1983 threads while your program runs---but whenever @value{GDBN} takes
1984 control, one thread in particular is always the focus of debugging.
1985 This thread is called the @dfn{current thread}. Debugging commands show
1986 program information from the perspective of the current thread.
1988 @cindex @code{New} @var{systag} message
1989 @cindex thread identifier (system)
1990 @c FIXME-implementors!! It would be more helpful if the [New...] message
1991 @c included GDB's numeric thread handle, so you could just go to that
1992 @c thread without first checking `info threads'.
1993 Whenever @value{GDBN} detects a new thread in your program, it displays
1994 the target system's identification for the thread with a message in the
1995 form @samp{[New @var{systag}]}. @var{systag} is a thread identifier
1996 whose form varies depending on the particular system. For example, on
1997 LynxOS, you might see
2000 [New process 35 thread 27]
2004 when @value{GDBN} notices a new thread. In contrast, on an SGI system,
2005 the @var{systag} is simply something like @samp{process 368}, with no
2008 @c FIXME!! (1) Does the [New...] message appear even for the very first
2009 @c thread of a program, or does it only appear for the
2010 @c second---i.e., when it becomes obvious we have a multithread
2012 @c (2) *Is* there necessarily a first thread always? Or do some
2013 @c multithread systems permit starting a program with multiple
2014 @c threads ab initio?
2016 @cindex thread number
2017 @cindex thread identifier (GDB)
2018 For debugging purposes, @value{GDBN} associates its own thread
2019 number---always a single integer---with each thread in your program.
2022 @kindex info threads
2024 Display a summary of all threads currently in your
2025 program. @value{GDBN} displays for each thread (in this order):
2028 @item the thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2030 @item the target system's thread identifier (@var{systag})
2032 @item the current stack frame summary for that thread
2036 An asterisk @samp{*} to the left of the @value{GDBN} thread number
2037 indicates the current thread.
2041 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2044 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2045 3 process 35 thread 27 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2046 2 process 35 thread 23 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2047 * 1 process 35 thread 13 main (argc=1, argv=0x7ffffff8)
2053 @cindex thread number
2054 @cindex thread identifier (GDB)
2055 For debugging purposes, @value{GDBN} associates its own thread
2056 number---a small integer assigned in thread-creation order---with each
2057 thread in your program.
2059 @cindex @code{New} @var{systag} message, on HP-UX
2060 @cindex thread identifier (system), on HP-UX
2061 @c FIXME-implementors!! It would be more helpful if the [New...] message
2062 @c included GDB's numeric thread handle, so you could just go to that
2063 @c thread without first checking `info threads'.
2064 Whenever @value{GDBN} detects a new thread in your program, it displays
2065 both @value{GDBN}'s thread number and the target system's identification for the thread with a message in the
2066 form @samp{[New @var{systag}]}. @var{systag} is a thread identifier
2067 whose form varies depending on the particular system. For example, on
2071 [New thread 2 (system thread 26594)]
2075 when @value{GDBN} notices a new thread.
2078 @kindex info threads
2080 Display a summary of all threads currently in your
2081 program. @value{GDBN} displays for each thread (in this order):
2084 @item the thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2086 @item the target system's thread identifier (@var{systag})
2088 @item the current stack frame summary for that thread
2092 An asterisk @samp{*} to the left of the @value{GDBN} thread number
2093 indicates the current thread.
2097 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2100 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2101 * 3 system thread 26607 worker (wptr=0x7b09c318 "@@") \@*
2103 2 system thread 26606 0x7b0030d8 in __ksleep () \@*
2104 from /usr/lib/libc.2
2105 1 system thread 27905 0x7b003498 in _brk () \@*
2106 from /usr/lib/libc.2
2110 @kindex thread @var{threadno}
2111 @item thread @var{threadno}
2112 Make thread number @var{threadno} the current thread. The command
2113 argument @var{threadno} is the internal @value{GDBN} thread number, as
2114 shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display.
2115 @value{GDBN} responds by displaying the system identifier of the thread
2116 you selected, and its current stack frame summary:
2119 @c FIXME!! This example made up; find a @value{GDBN} w/threads and get real one
2120 (@value{GDBP}) thread 2
2121 [Switching to process 35 thread 23]
2122 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2126 As with the @samp{[New @dots{}]} message, the form of the text after
2127 @samp{Switching to} depends on your system's conventions for identifying
2130 @kindex thread apply
2131 @item thread apply [@var{threadno}] [@var{all}] @var{args}
2132 The @code{thread apply} command allows you to apply a command to one or
2133 more threads. Specify the numbers of the threads that you want affected
2134 with the command argument @var{threadno}. @var{threadno} is the internal
2135 @value{GDBN} thread number, as shown in the first field of the @samp{info
2136 threads} display. To apply a command to all threads, use
2137 @code{thread apply all} @var{args}.
2140 @cindex automatic thread selection
2141 @cindex switching threads automatically
2142 @cindex threads, automatic switching
2143 Whenever @value{GDBN} stops your program, due to a breakpoint or a
2144 signal, it automatically selects the thread where that breakpoint or
2145 signal happened. @value{GDBN} alerts you to the context switch with a
2146 message of the form @samp{[Switching to @var{systag}]} to identify the
2149 @xref{Thread Stops,,Stopping and starting multi-thread programs}, for
2150 more information about how @value{GDBN} behaves when you stop and start
2151 programs with multiple threads.
2153 @xref{Set Watchpoints,,Setting watchpoints}, for information about
2154 watchpoints in programs with multiple threads.
2157 @section Debugging programs with multiple processes
2159 @cindex fork, debugging programs which call
2160 @cindex multiple processes
2161 @cindex processes, multiple
2162 On most systems, @value{GDBN} has no special support for debugging
2163 programs which create additional processes using the @code{fork}
2164 function. When a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug the
2165 parent process and the child process will run unimpeded. If you have
2166 set a breakpoint in any code which the child then executes, the child
2167 will get a @code{SIGTRAP} signal which (unless it catches the signal)
2168 will cause it to terminate.
2170 However, if you want to debug the child process there is a workaround
2171 which isn't too painful. Put a call to @code{sleep} in the code which
2172 the child process executes after the fork. It may be useful to sleep
2173 only if a certain environment variable is set, or a certain file exists,
2174 so that the delay need not occur when you don't want to run @value{GDBN}
2175 on the child. While the child is sleeping, use the @code{ps} program to
2176 get its process ID. Then tell @value{GDBN} (a new invocation of
2177 @value{GDBN} if you are also debugging the parent process) to attach to
2178 the child process (@pxref{Attach}). From that point on you can debug
2179 the child process just like any other process which you attached to.
2181 On HP-UX (11.x and later only?), @value{GDBN} provides support for
2182 debugging programs that create additional processes using the
2183 @code{fork} or @code{vfork} function.
2185 By default, when a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug
2186 the parent process and the child process will run unimpeded.
2188 If you want to follow the child process instead of the parent process,
2189 use the command @w{@code{set follow-fork-mode}}.
2192 @kindex set follow-fork-mode
2193 @item set follow-fork-mode @var{mode}
2194 Set the debugger response to a program call of @code{fork} or
2195 @code{vfork}. A call to @code{fork} or @code{vfork} creates a new
2196 process. The @var{mode} can be:
2200 The original process is debugged after a fork. The child process runs
2201 unimpeded. This is the default.
2204 The new process is debugged after a fork. The parent process runs
2208 The debugger will ask for one of the above choices.
2211 @item show follow-fork-mode
2212 Display the current debugger response to a @code{fork} or @code{vfork} call.
2215 If you ask to debug a child process and a @code{vfork} is followed by an
2216 @code{exec}, @value{GDBN} executes the new target up to the first
2217 breakpoint in the new target. If you have a breakpoint set on
2218 @code{main} in your original program, the breakpoint will also be set on
2219 the child process's @code{main}.
2221 When a child process is spawned by @code{vfork}, you cannot debug the
2222 child or parent until an @code{exec} call completes.
2224 If you issue a @code{run} command to @value{GDBN} after an @code{exec}
2225 call executes, the new target restarts. To restart the parent process,
2226 use the @code{file} command with the parent executable name as its
2229 You can use the @code{catch} command to make @value{GDBN} stop whenever
2230 a @code{fork}, @code{vfork}, or @code{exec} call is made. @xref{Set
2231 Catchpoints, ,Setting catchpoints}.
2234 @chapter Stopping and Continuing
2236 The principal purposes of using a debugger are so that you can stop your
2237 program before it terminates; or so that, if your program runs into
2238 trouble, you can investigate and find out why.
2240 Inside @value{GDBN}, your program may stop for any of several reasons,
2241 such as a signal, a breakpoint, or reaching a new line after a
2242 @value{GDBN} command such as @code{step}. You may then examine and
2243 change variables, set new breakpoints or remove old ones, and then
2244 continue execution. Usually, the messages shown by @value{GDBN} provide
2245 ample explanation of the status of your program---but you can also
2246 explicitly request this information at any time.
2249 @kindex info program
2251 Display information about the status of your program: whether it is
2252 running or not, what process it is, and why it stopped.
2256 * Breakpoints:: Breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints
2257 * Continuing and Stepping:: Resuming execution
2259 * Thread Stops:: Stopping and starting multi-thread programs
2263 @section Breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints
2266 A @dfn{breakpoint} makes your program stop whenever a certain point in
2267 the program is reached. For each breakpoint, you can add conditions to
2268 control in finer detail whether your program stops. You can set
2269 breakpoints with the @code{break} command and its variants (@pxref{Set
2270 Breaks, ,Setting breakpoints}), to specify the place where your program
2271 should stop by line number, function name or exact address in the
2274 In HP-UX, SunOS 4.x, SVR4, and Alpha OSF/1 configurations, you can set
2275 breakpoints in shared libraries before the executable is run. There is
2276 a minor limitation on HP-UX systems: you must wait until the executable
2277 is run in order to set breakpoints in shared library routines that are
2278 not called directly by the program (for example, routines that are
2279 arguments in a @code{pthread_create} call).
2282 @cindex memory tracing
2283 @cindex breakpoint on memory address
2284 @cindex breakpoint on variable modification
2285 A @dfn{watchpoint} is a special breakpoint that stops your program
2286 when the value of an expression changes. You must use a different
2287 command to set watchpoints (@pxref{Set Watchpoints, ,Setting
2288 watchpoints}), but aside from that, you can manage a watchpoint like
2289 any other breakpoint: you enable, disable, and delete both breakpoints
2290 and watchpoints using the same commands.
2292 You can arrange to have values from your program displayed automatically
2293 whenever @value{GDBN} stops at a breakpoint. @xref{Auto Display,,
2297 @cindex breakpoint on events
2298 A @dfn{catchpoint} is another special breakpoint that stops your program
2299 when a certain kind of event occurs, such as the throwing of a C@t{++}
2300 exception or the loading of a library. As with watchpoints, you use a
2301 different command to set a catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints, ,Setting
2302 catchpoints}), but aside from that, you can manage a catchpoint like any
2303 other breakpoint. (To stop when your program receives a signal, use the
2304 @code{handle} command; see @ref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
2306 @cindex breakpoint numbers
2307 @cindex numbers for breakpoints
2308 @value{GDBN} assigns a number to each breakpoint, watchpoint, or
2309 catchpoint when you create it; these numbers are successive integers
2310 starting with one. In many of the commands for controlling various
2311 features of breakpoints you use the breakpoint number to say which
2312 breakpoint you want to change. Each breakpoint may be @dfn{enabled} or
2313 @dfn{disabled}; if disabled, it has no effect on your program until you
2316 @cindex breakpoint ranges
2317 @cindex ranges of breakpoints
2318 Some @value{GDBN} commands accept a range of breakpoints on which to
2319 operate. A breakpoint range is either a single breakpoint number, like
2320 @samp{5}, or two such numbers, in increasing order, separated by a
2321 hyphen, like @samp{5-7}. When a breakpoint range is given to a command,
2322 all breakpoint in that range are operated on.
2325 * Set Breaks:: Setting breakpoints
2326 * Set Watchpoints:: Setting watchpoints
2327 * Set Catchpoints:: Setting catchpoints
2328 * Delete Breaks:: Deleting breakpoints
2329 * Disabling:: Disabling breakpoints
2330 * Conditions:: Break conditions
2331 * Break Commands:: Breakpoint command lists
2332 * Breakpoint Menus:: Breakpoint menus
2333 * Error in Breakpoints:: ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
2337 @subsection Setting breakpoints
2339 @c FIXME LMB what does GDB do if no code on line of breakpt?
2340 @c consider in particular declaration with/without initialization.
2342 @c FIXME 2 is there stuff on this already? break at fun start, already init?
2345 @kindex b @r{(@code{break})}
2346 @vindex $bpnum@r{, convenience variable}
2347 @cindex latest breakpoint
2348 Breakpoints are set with the @code{break} command (abbreviated
2349 @code{b}). The debugger convenience variable @samp{$bpnum} records the
2350 number of the breakpoint you've set most recently; see @ref{Convenience
2351 Vars,, Convenience variables}, for a discussion of what you can do with
2352 convenience variables.
2354 You have several ways to say where the breakpoint should go.
2357 @item break @var{function}
2358 Set a breakpoint at entry to function @var{function}.
2359 When using source languages that permit overloading of symbols, such as
2360 C@t{++}, @var{function} may refer to more than one possible place to break.
2361 @xref{Breakpoint Menus,,Breakpoint menus}, for a discussion of that situation.
2363 @item break +@var{offset}
2364 @itemx break -@var{offset}
2365 Set a breakpoint some number of lines forward or back from the position
2366 at which execution stopped in the currently selected @dfn{stack frame}.
2367 (@xref{Frames, ,Frames}, for a description of stack frames.)
2369 @item break @var{linenum}
2370 Set a breakpoint at line @var{linenum} in the current source file.
2371 The current source file is the last file whose source text was printed.
2372 The breakpoint will stop your program just before it executes any of the
2375 @item break @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
2376 Set a breakpoint at line @var{linenum} in source file @var{filename}.
2378 @item break @var{filename}:@var{function}
2379 Set a breakpoint at entry to function @var{function} found in file
2380 @var{filename}. Specifying a file name as well as a function name is
2381 superfluous except when multiple files contain similarly named
2384 @item break *@var{address}
2385 Set a breakpoint at address @var{address}. You can use this to set
2386 breakpoints in parts of your program which do not have debugging
2387 information or source files.
2390 When called without any arguments, @code{break} sets a breakpoint at
2391 the next instruction to be executed in the selected stack frame
2392 (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}). In any selected frame but the
2393 innermost, this makes your program stop as soon as control
2394 returns to that frame. This is similar to the effect of a
2395 @code{finish} command in the frame inside the selected frame---except
2396 that @code{finish} does not leave an active breakpoint. If you use
2397 @code{break} without an argument in the innermost frame, @value{GDBN} stops
2398 the next time it reaches the current location; this may be useful
2401 @value{GDBN} normally ignores breakpoints when it resumes execution, until at
2402 least one instruction has been executed. If it did not do this, you
2403 would be unable to proceed past a breakpoint without first disabling the
2404 breakpoint. This rule applies whether or not the breakpoint already
2405 existed when your program stopped.
2407 @item break @dots{} if @var{cond}
2408 Set a breakpoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
2409 @var{cond} each time the breakpoint is reached, and stop only if the
2410 value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
2411 @samp{@dots{}} stands for one of the possible arguments described
2412 above (or no argument) specifying where to break. @xref{Conditions,
2413 ,Break conditions}, for more information on breakpoint conditions.
2416 @item tbreak @var{args}
2417 Set a breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args} are the
2418 same as for the @code{break} command, and the breakpoint is set in the same
2419 way, but the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the first time your
2420 program stops there. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling breakpoints}.
2423 @item hbreak @var{args}
2424 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint. @var{args} are the same as for the
2425 @code{break} command and the breakpoint is set in the same way, but the
2426 breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware may not
2427 have this support. The main purpose of this is EPROM/ROM code
2428 debugging, so you can set a breakpoint at an instruction without
2429 changing the instruction. This can be used with the new trap-generation
2430 provided by SPARClite DSU and some x86-based targets. These targets
2431 will generate traps when a program accesses some data or instruction
2432 address that is assigned to the debug registers. However the hardware
2433 breakpoint registers can take a limited number of breakpoints. For
2434 example, on the DSU, only two data breakpoints can be set at a time, and
2435 @value{GDBN} will reject this command if more than two are used. Delete
2436 or disable unused hardware breakpoints before setting new ones
2437 (@pxref{Disabling, ,Disabling}). @xref{Conditions, ,Break conditions}.
2440 @item thbreak @var{args}
2441 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args}
2442 are the same as for the @code{hbreak} command and the breakpoint is set in
2443 the same way. However, like the @code{tbreak} command,
2444 the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the
2445 first time your program stops there. Also, like the @code{hbreak}
2446 command, the breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware
2447 may not have this support. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling breakpoints}.
2448 See also @ref{Conditions, ,Break conditions}.
2451 @cindex regular expression
2452 @item rbreak @var{regex}
2453 Set breakpoints on all functions matching the regular expression
2454 @var{regex}. This command sets an unconditional breakpoint on all
2455 matches, printing a list of all breakpoints it set. Once these
2456 breakpoints are set, they are treated just like the breakpoints set with
2457 the @code{break} command. You can delete them, disable them, or make
2458 them conditional the same way as any other breakpoint.
2460 The syntax of the regular expression is the standard one used with tools
2461 like @file{grep}. Note that this is different from the syntax used by
2462 shells, so for instance @code{foo*} matches all functions that include
2463 an @code{fo} followed by zero or more @code{o}s. There is an implicit
2464 @code{.*} leading and trailing the regular expression you supply, so to
2465 match only functions that begin with @code{foo}, use @code{^foo}.
2467 When debugging C@t{++} programs, @code{rbreak} is useful for setting
2468 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
2471 @kindex info breakpoints
2472 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info breakpoints}
2473 @item info breakpoints @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
2474 @itemx info break @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
2475 @itemx info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
2476 Print a table of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints set and
2477 not deleted, with the following columns for each breakpoint:
2480 @item Breakpoint Numbers
2482 Breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint.
2484 Whether the breakpoint is marked to be disabled or deleted when hit.
2485 @item Enabled or Disabled
2486 Enabled breakpoints are marked with @samp{y}. @samp{n} marks breakpoints
2487 that are not enabled.
2489 Where the breakpoint is in your program, as a memory address.
2491 Where the breakpoint is in the source for your program, as a file and
2496 If a breakpoint is conditional, @code{info break} shows the condition on
2497 the line following the affected breakpoint; breakpoint commands, if any,
2498 are listed after that.
2501 @code{info break} with a breakpoint
2502 number @var{n} as argument lists only that breakpoint. The
2503 convenience variable @code{$_} and the default examining-address for
2504 the @code{x} command are set to the address of the last breakpoint
2505 listed (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining memory}).
2508 @code{info break} displays a count of the number of times the breakpoint
2509 has been hit. This is especially useful in conjunction with the
2510 @code{ignore} command. You can ignore a large number of breakpoint
2511 hits, look at the breakpoint info to see how many times the breakpoint
2512 was hit, and then run again, ignoring one less than that number. This
2513 will get you quickly to the last hit of that breakpoint.
2516 @value{GDBN} allows you to set any number of breakpoints at the same place in
2517 your program. There is nothing silly or meaningless about this. When
2518 the breakpoints are conditional, this is even useful
2519 (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break conditions}).
2521 @cindex negative breakpoint numbers
2522 @cindex internal @value{GDBN} breakpoints
2523 @value{GDBN} itself sometimes sets breakpoints in your program for special
2524 purposes, such as proper handling of @code{longjmp} (in C programs).
2525 These internal breakpoints are assigned negative numbers, starting with
2526 @code{-1}; @samp{info breakpoints} does not display them.
2528 You can see these breakpoints with the @value{GDBN} maintenance command
2529 @samp{maint info breakpoints}.
2532 @kindex maint info breakpoints
2533 @item maint info breakpoints
2534 Using the same format as @samp{info breakpoints}, display both the
2535 breakpoints you've set explicitly, and those @value{GDBN} is using for
2536 internal purposes. Internal breakpoints are shown with negative
2537 breakpoint numbers. The type column identifies what kind of breakpoint
2542 Normal, explicitly set breakpoint.
2545 Normal, explicitly set watchpoint.
2548 Internal breakpoint, used to handle correctly stepping through
2549 @code{longjmp} calls.
2551 @item longjmp resume
2552 Internal breakpoint at the target of a @code{longjmp}.
2555 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{until} command.
2558 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{finish} command.
2561 Shared library events.
2568 @node Set Watchpoints
2569 @subsection Setting watchpoints
2571 @cindex setting watchpoints
2572 @cindex software watchpoints
2573 @cindex hardware watchpoints
2574 You can use a watchpoint to stop execution whenever the value of an
2575 expression changes, without having to predict a particular place where
2578 Depending on your system, watchpoints may be implemented in software or
2579 hardware. @value{GDBN} does software watchpointing by single-stepping your
2580 program and testing the variable's value each time, which is hundreds of
2581 times slower than normal execution. (But this may still be worth it, to
2582 catch errors where you have no clue what part of your program is the
2585 On some systems, such as HP-UX, Linux and some other x86-based targets,
2586 @value{GDBN} includes support for
2587 hardware watchpoints, which do not slow down the running of your
2592 @item watch @var{expr}
2593 Set a watchpoint for an expression. @value{GDBN} will break when @var{expr}
2594 is written into by the program and its value changes.
2597 @item rwatch @var{expr}
2598 Set a watchpoint that will break when watch @var{expr} is read by the program.
2601 @item awatch @var{expr}
2602 Set a watchpoint that will break when @var{expr} is either read or written into
2605 @kindex info watchpoints
2606 @item info watchpoints
2607 This command prints a list of watchpoints, breakpoints, and catchpoints;
2608 it is the same as @code{info break}.
2611 @value{GDBN} sets a @dfn{hardware watchpoint} if possible. Hardware
2612 watchpoints execute very quickly, and the debugger reports a change in
2613 value at the exact instruction where the change occurs. If @value{GDBN}
2614 cannot set a hardware watchpoint, it sets a software watchpoint, which
2615 executes more slowly and reports the change in value at the next
2616 statement, not the instruction, after the change occurs.
2618 When you issue the @code{watch} command, @value{GDBN} reports
2621 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: @var{expr}
2625 if it was able to set a hardware watchpoint.
2627 Currently, the @code{awatch} and @code{rwatch} commands can only set
2628 hardware watchpoints, because accesses to data that don't change the
2629 value of the watched expression cannot be detected without examining
2630 every instruction as it is being executed, and @value{GDBN} does not do
2631 that currently. If @value{GDBN} finds that it is unable to set a
2632 hardware breakpoint with the @code{awatch} or @code{rwatch} command, it
2633 will print a message like this:
2636 Expression cannot be implemented with read/access watchpoint.
2639 Sometimes, @value{GDBN} cannot set a hardware watchpoint because the
2640 data type of the watched expression is wider than what a hardware
2641 watchpoint on the target machine can handle. For example, some systems
2642 can only watch regions that are up to 4 bytes wide; on such systems you
2643 cannot set hardware watchpoints for an expression that yields a
2644 double-precision floating-point number (which is typically 8 bytes
2645 wide). As a work-around, it might be possible to break the large region
2646 into a series of smaller ones and watch them with separate watchpoints.
2648 If you set too many hardware watchpoints, @value{GDBN} might be unable
2649 to insert all of them when you resume the execution of your program.
2650 Since the precise number of active watchpoints is unknown until such
2651 time as the program is about to be resumed, @value{GDBN} might not be
2652 able to warn you about this when you set the watchpoints, and the
2653 warning will be printed only when the program is resumed:
2656 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: Could not insert watchpoint
2660 If this happens, delete or disable some of the watchpoints.
2662 The SPARClite DSU will generate traps when a program accesses some data
2663 or instruction address that is assigned to the debug registers. For the
2664 data addresses, DSU facilitates the @code{watch} command. However the
2665 hardware breakpoint registers can only take two data watchpoints, and
2666 both watchpoints must be the same kind. For example, you can set two
2667 watchpoints with @code{watch} commands, two with @code{rwatch} commands,
2668 @strong{or} two with @code{awatch} commands, but you cannot set one
2669 watchpoint with one command and the other with a different command.
2670 @value{GDBN} will reject the command if you try to mix watchpoints.
2671 Delete or disable unused watchpoint commands before setting new ones.
2673 If you call a function interactively using @code{print} or @code{call},
2674 any watchpoints you have set will be inactive until @value{GDBN} reaches another
2675 kind of breakpoint or the call completes.
2677 @value{GDBN} automatically deletes watchpoints that watch local
2678 (automatic) variables, or expressions that involve such variables, when
2679 they go out of scope, that is, when the execution leaves the block in
2680 which these variables were defined. In particular, when the program
2681 being debugged terminates, @emph{all} local variables go out of scope,
2682 and so only watchpoints that watch global variables remain set. If you
2683 rerun the program, you will need to set all such watchpoints again. One
2684 way of doing that would be to set a code breakpoint at the entry to the
2685 @code{main} function and when it breaks, set all the watchpoints.
2688 @cindex watchpoints and threads
2689 @cindex threads and watchpoints
2690 @emph{Warning:} In multi-thread programs, watchpoints have only limited
2691 usefulness. With the current watchpoint implementation, @value{GDBN}
2692 can only watch the value of an expression @emph{in a single thread}. If
2693 you are confident that the expression can only change due to the current
2694 thread's activity (and if you are also confident that no other thread
2695 can become current), then you can use watchpoints as usual. However,
2696 @value{GDBN} may not notice when a non-current thread's activity changes
2699 @c FIXME: this is almost identical to the previous paragraph.
2700 @emph{HP-UX Warning:} In multi-thread programs, software watchpoints
2701 have only limited usefulness. If @value{GDBN} creates a software
2702 watchpoint, it can only watch the value of an expression @emph{in a
2703 single thread}. If you are confident that the expression can only
2704 change due to the current thread's activity (and if you are also
2705 confident that no other thread can become current), then you can use
2706 software watchpoints as usual. However, @value{GDBN} may not notice
2707 when a non-current thread's activity changes the expression. (Hardware
2708 watchpoints, in contrast, watch an expression in all threads.)
2711 @node Set Catchpoints
2712 @subsection Setting catchpoints
2713 @cindex catchpoints, setting
2714 @cindex exception handlers
2715 @cindex event handling
2717 You can use @dfn{catchpoints} to cause the debugger to stop for certain
2718 kinds of program events, such as C@t{++} exceptions or the loading of a
2719 shared library. Use the @code{catch} command to set a catchpoint.
2723 @item catch @var{event}
2724 Stop when @var{event} occurs. @var{event} can be any of the following:
2728 The throwing of a C@t{++} exception.
2732 The catching of a C@t{++} exception.
2736 A call to @code{exec}. This is currently only available for HP-UX.
2740 A call to @code{fork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX.
2744 A call to @code{vfork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX.
2747 @itemx load @var{libname}
2749 The dynamic loading of any shared library, or the loading of the library
2750 @var{libname}. This is currently only available for HP-UX.
2753 @itemx unload @var{libname}
2754 @kindex catch unload
2755 The unloading of any dynamically loaded shared library, or the unloading
2756 of the library @var{libname}. This is currently only available for HP-UX.
2759 @item tcatch @var{event}
2760 Set a catchpoint that is enabled only for one stop. The catchpoint is
2761 automatically deleted after the first time the event is caught.
2765 Use the @code{info break} command to list the current catchpoints.
2767 There are currently some limitations to C@t{++} exception handling
2768 (@code{catch throw} and @code{catch catch}) in @value{GDBN}:
2772 If you call a function interactively, @value{GDBN} normally returns
2773 control to you when the function has finished executing. If the call
2774 raises an exception, however, the call may bypass the mechanism that
2775 returns control to you and cause your program either to abort or to
2776 simply continue running until it hits a breakpoint, catches a signal
2777 that @value{GDBN} is listening for, or exits. This is the case even if
2778 you set a catchpoint for the exception; catchpoints on exceptions are
2779 disabled within interactive calls.
2782 You cannot raise an exception interactively.
2785 You cannot install an exception handler interactively.
2788 @cindex raise exceptions
2789 Sometimes @code{catch} is not the best way to debug exception handling:
2790 if you need to know exactly where an exception is raised, it is better to
2791 stop @emph{before} the exception handler is called, since that way you
2792 can see the stack before any unwinding takes place. If you set a
2793 breakpoint in an exception handler instead, it may not be easy to find
2794 out where the exception was raised.
2796 To stop just before an exception handler is called, you need some
2797 knowledge of the implementation. In the case of @sc{gnu} C@t{++}, exceptions are
2798 raised by calling a library function named @code{__raise_exception}
2799 which has the following ANSI C interface:
2802 /* @var{addr} is where the exception identifier is stored.
2803 @var{id} is the exception identifier. */
2804 void __raise_exception (void **addr, void *id);
2808 To make the debugger catch all exceptions before any stack
2809 unwinding takes place, set a breakpoint on @code{__raise_exception}
2810 (@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; watchpoints; and exceptions}).
2812 With a conditional breakpoint (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break conditions})
2813 that depends on the value of @var{id}, you can stop your program when
2814 a specific exception is raised. You can use multiple conditional
2815 breakpoints to stop your program when any of a number of exceptions are
2820 @subsection Deleting breakpoints
2822 @cindex clearing breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
2823 @cindex deleting breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
2824 It is often necessary to eliminate a breakpoint, watchpoint, or
2825 catchpoint once it has done its job and you no longer want your program
2826 to stop there. This is called @dfn{deleting} the breakpoint. A
2827 breakpoint that has been deleted no longer exists; it is forgotten.
2829 With the @code{clear} command you can delete breakpoints according to
2830 where they are in your program. With the @code{delete} command you can
2831 delete individual breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints by specifying
2832 their breakpoint numbers.
2834 It is not necessary to delete a breakpoint to proceed past it. @value{GDBN}
2835 automatically ignores breakpoints on the first instruction to be executed
2836 when you continue execution without changing the execution address.
2841 Delete any breakpoints at the next instruction to be executed in the
2842 selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a frame}). When
2843 the innermost frame is selected, this is a good way to delete a
2844 breakpoint where your program just stopped.
2846 @item clear @var{function}
2847 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{function}
2848 Delete any breakpoints set at entry to the function @var{function}.
2850 @item clear @var{linenum}
2851 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
2852 Delete any breakpoints set at or within the code of the specified line.
2854 @cindex delete breakpoints
2856 @kindex d @r{(@code{delete})}
2857 @item delete @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
2858 Delete the breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints of the breakpoint
2859 ranges specified as arguments. If no argument is specified, delete all
2860 breakpoints (@value{GDBN} asks confirmation, unless you have @code{set
2861 confirm off}). You can abbreviate this command as @code{d}.
2865 @subsection Disabling breakpoints
2867 @kindex disable breakpoints
2868 @kindex enable breakpoints
2869 Rather than deleting a breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint, you might
2870 prefer to @dfn{disable} it. This makes the breakpoint inoperative as if
2871 it had been deleted, but remembers the information on the breakpoint so
2872 that you can @dfn{enable} it again later.
2874 You disable and enable breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints with
2875 the @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands, optionally specifying one
2876 or more breakpoint numbers as arguments. Use @code{info break} or
2877 @code{info watch} to print a list of breakpoints, watchpoints, and
2878 catchpoints if you do not know which numbers to use.
2880 A breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint can have any of four different
2881 states of enablement:
2885 Enabled. The breakpoint stops your program. A breakpoint set
2886 with the @code{break} command starts out in this state.
2888 Disabled. The breakpoint has no effect on your program.
2890 Enabled once. The breakpoint stops your program, but then becomes
2893 Enabled for deletion. The breakpoint stops your program, but
2894 immediately after it does so it is deleted permanently. A breakpoint
2895 set with the @code{tbreak} command starts out in this state.
2898 You can use the following commands to enable or disable breakpoints,
2899 watchpoints, and catchpoints:
2902 @kindex disable breakpoints
2904 @kindex dis @r{(@code{disable})}
2905 @item disable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
2906 Disable the specified breakpoints---or all breakpoints, if none are
2907 listed. A disabled breakpoint has no effect but is not forgotten. All
2908 options such as ignore-counts, conditions and commands are remembered in
2909 case the breakpoint is enabled again later. You may abbreviate
2910 @code{disable} as @code{dis}.
2912 @kindex enable breakpoints
2914 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
2915 Enable the specified breakpoints (or all defined breakpoints). They
2916 become effective once again in stopping your program.
2918 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} once @var{range}@dots{}
2919 Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} disables any
2920 of these breakpoints immediately after stopping your program.
2922 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} delete @var{range}@dots{}
2923 Enable the specified breakpoints to work once, then die. @value{GDBN}
2924 deletes any of these breakpoints as soon as your program stops there.
2927 @c FIXME: I think the following ``Except for [...] @code{tbreak}'' is
2928 @c confusing: tbreak is also initially enabled.
2929 Except for a breakpoint set with @code{tbreak} (@pxref{Set Breaks,
2930 ,Setting breakpoints}), breakpoints that you set are initially enabled;
2931 subsequently, they become disabled or enabled only when you use one of
2932 the commands above. (The command @code{until} can set and delete a
2933 breakpoint of its own, but it does not change the state of your other
2934 breakpoints; see @ref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and
2938 @subsection Break conditions
2939 @cindex conditional breakpoints
2940 @cindex breakpoint conditions
2942 @c FIXME what is scope of break condition expr? Context where wanted?
2943 @c in particular for a watchpoint?
2944 The simplest sort of breakpoint breaks every time your program reaches a
2945 specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for a
2946 breakpoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
2947 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A breakpoint with
2948 a condition evaluates the expression each time your program reaches it,
2949 and your program stops only if the condition is @emph{true}.
2951 This is the converse of using assertions for program validation; in that
2952 situation, you want to stop when the assertion is violated---that is,
2953 when the condition is false. In C, if you want to test an assertion expressed
2954 by the condition @var{assert}, you should set the condition
2955 @samp{! @var{assert}} on the appropriate breakpoint.
2957 Conditions are also accepted for watchpoints; you may not need them,
2958 since a watchpoint is inspecting the value of an expression anyhow---but
2959 it might be simpler, say, to just set a watchpoint on a variable name,
2960 and specify a condition that tests whether the new value is an interesting
2963 Break conditions can have side effects, and may even call functions in
2964 your program. This can be useful, for example, to activate functions
2965 that log program progress, or to use your own print functions to
2966 format special data structures. The effects are completely predictable
2967 unless there is another enabled breakpoint at the same address. (In
2968 that case, @value{GDBN} might see the other breakpoint first and stop your
2969 program without checking the condition of this one.) Note that
2970 breakpoint commands are usually more convenient and flexible than break
2972 purpose of performing side effects when a breakpoint is reached
2973 (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint command lists}).
2975 Break conditions can be specified when a breakpoint is set, by using
2976 @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{break} command. @xref{Set
2977 Breaks, ,Setting breakpoints}. They can also be changed at any time
2978 with the @code{condition} command.
2980 You can also use the @code{if} keyword with the @code{watch} command.
2981 The @code{catch} command does not recognize the @code{if} keyword;
2982 @code{condition} is the only way to impose a further condition on a
2987 @item condition @var{bnum} @var{expression}
2988 Specify @var{expression} as the break condition for breakpoint,
2989 watchpoint, or catchpoint number @var{bnum}. After you set a condition,
2990 breakpoint @var{bnum} stops your program only if the value of
2991 @var{expression} is true (nonzero, in C). When you use
2992 @code{condition}, @value{GDBN} checks @var{expression} immediately for
2993 syntactic correctness, and to determine whether symbols in it have
2994 referents in the context of your breakpoint. If @var{expression} uses
2995 symbols not referenced in the context of the breakpoint, @value{GDBN}
2996 prints an error message:
2999 No symbol "foo" in current context.
3004 not actually evaluate @var{expression} at the time the @code{condition}
3005 command (or a command that sets a breakpoint with a condition, like
3006 @code{break if @dots{}}) is given, however. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
3008 @item condition @var{bnum}
3009 Remove the condition from breakpoint number @var{bnum}. It becomes
3010 an ordinary unconditional breakpoint.
3013 @cindex ignore count (of breakpoint)
3014 A special case of a breakpoint condition is to stop only when the
3015 breakpoint has been reached a certain number of times. This is so
3016 useful that there is a special way to do it, using the @dfn{ignore
3017 count} of the breakpoint. Every breakpoint has an ignore count, which
3018 is an integer. Most of the time, the ignore count is zero, and
3019 therefore has no effect. But if your program reaches a breakpoint whose
3020 ignore count is positive, then instead of stopping, it just decrements
3021 the ignore count by one and continues. As a result, if the ignore count
3022 value is @var{n}, the breakpoint does not stop the next @var{n} times
3023 your program reaches it.
3027 @item ignore @var{bnum} @var{count}
3028 Set the ignore count of breakpoint number @var{bnum} to @var{count}.
3029 The next @var{count} times the breakpoint is reached, your program's
3030 execution does not stop; other than to decrement the ignore count, @value{GDBN}
3033 To make the breakpoint stop the next time it is reached, specify
3036 When you use @code{continue} to resume execution of your program from a
3037 breakpoint, you can specify an ignore count directly as an argument to
3038 @code{continue}, rather than using @code{ignore}. @xref{Continuing and
3039 Stepping,,Continuing and stepping}.
3041 If a breakpoint has a positive ignore count and a condition, the
3042 condition is not checked. Once the ignore count reaches zero,
3043 @value{GDBN} resumes checking the condition.
3045 You could achieve the effect of the ignore count with a condition such
3046 as @w{@samp{$foo-- <= 0}} using a debugger convenience variable that
3047 is decremented each time. @xref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
3051 Ignore counts apply to breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints.
3054 @node Break Commands
3055 @subsection Breakpoint command lists
3057 @cindex breakpoint commands
3058 You can give any breakpoint (or watchpoint or catchpoint) a series of
3059 commands to execute when your program stops due to that breakpoint. For
3060 example, you might want to print the values of certain expressions, or
3061 enable other breakpoints.
3066 @item commands @r{[}@var{bnum}@r{]}
3067 @itemx @dots{} @var{command-list} @dots{}
3069 Specify a list of commands for breakpoint number @var{bnum}. The commands
3070 themselves appear on the following lines. Type a line containing just
3071 @code{end} to terminate the commands.
3073 To remove all commands from a breakpoint, type @code{commands} and
3074 follow it immediately with @code{end}; that is, give no commands.
3076 With no @var{bnum} argument, @code{commands} refers to the last
3077 breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint set (not to the breakpoint most
3078 recently encountered).
3081 Pressing @key{RET} as a means of repeating the last @value{GDBN} command is
3082 disabled within a @var{command-list}.
3084 You can use breakpoint commands to start your program up again. Simply
3085 use the @code{continue} command, or @code{step}, or any other command
3086 that resumes execution.
3088 Any other commands in the command list, after a command that resumes
3089 execution, are ignored. This is because any time you resume execution
3090 (even with a simple @code{next} or @code{step}), you may encounter
3091 another breakpoint---which could have its own command list, leading to
3092 ambiguities about which list to execute.
3095 If the first command you specify in a command list is @code{silent}, the
3096 usual message about stopping at a breakpoint is not printed. This may
3097 be desirable for breakpoints that are to print a specific message and
3098 then continue. If none of the remaining commands print anything, you
3099 see no sign that the breakpoint was reached. @code{silent} is
3100 meaningful only at the beginning of a breakpoint command list.
3102 The commands @code{echo}, @code{output}, and @code{printf} allow you to
3103 print precisely controlled output, and are often useful in silent
3104 breakpoints. @xref{Output, ,Commands for controlled output}.
3106 For example, here is how you could use breakpoint commands to print the
3107 value of @code{x} at entry to @code{foo} whenever @code{x} is positive.
3113 printf "x is %d\n",x
3118 One application for breakpoint commands is to compensate for one bug so
3119 you can test for another. Put a breakpoint just after the erroneous line
3120 of code, give it a condition to detect the case in which something
3121 erroneous has been done, and give it commands to assign correct values
3122 to any variables that need them. End with the @code{continue} command
3123 so that your program does not stop, and start with the @code{silent}
3124 command so that no output is produced. Here is an example:
3135 @node Breakpoint Menus
3136 @subsection Breakpoint menus
3138 @cindex symbol overloading
3140 Some programming languages (notably C@t{++}) permit a single function name
3141 to be defined several times, for application in different contexts.
3142 This is called @dfn{overloading}. When a function name is overloaded,
3143 @samp{break @var{function}} is not enough to tell @value{GDBN} where you want
3144 a breakpoint. If you realize this is a problem, you can use
3145 something like @samp{break @var{function}(@var{types})} to specify which
3146 particular version of the function you want. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} offers
3147 you a menu of numbered choices for different possible breakpoints, and
3148 waits for your selection with the prompt @samp{>}. The first two
3149 options are always @samp{[0] cancel} and @samp{[1] all}. Typing @kbd{1}
3150 sets a breakpoint at each definition of @var{function}, and typing
3151 @kbd{0} aborts the @code{break} command without setting any new
3154 For example, the following session excerpt shows an attempt to set a
3155 breakpoint at the overloaded symbol @code{String::after}.
3156 We choose three particular definitions of that function name:
3158 @c FIXME! This is likely to change to show arg type lists, at least
3161 (@value{GDBP}) b String::after
3164 [2] file:String.cc; line number:867
3165 [3] file:String.cc; line number:860
3166 [4] file:String.cc; line number:875
3167 [5] file:String.cc; line number:853
3168 [6] file:String.cc; line number:846
3169 [7] file:String.cc; line number:735
3171 Breakpoint 1 at 0xb26c: file String.cc, line 867.
3172 Breakpoint 2 at 0xb344: file String.cc, line 875.
3173 Breakpoint 3 at 0xafcc: file String.cc, line 846.
3174 Multiple breakpoints were set.
3175 Use the "delete" command to delete unwanted
3181 @c @ifclear BARETARGET
3182 @node Error in Breakpoints
3183 @subsection ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
3185 @c FIXME!! 14/6/95 Is there a real example of this? Let's use it.
3187 Under some operating systems, breakpoints cannot be used in a program if
3188 any other process is running that program. In this situation,
3189 attempting to run or continue a program with a breakpoint causes
3190 @value{GDBN} to print an error message:
3193 Cannot insert breakpoints.
3194 The same program may be running in another process.
3197 When this happens, you have three ways to proceed:
3201 Remove or disable the breakpoints, then continue.
3204 Suspend @value{GDBN}, and copy the file containing your program to a new
3205 name. Resume @value{GDBN} and use the @code{exec-file} command to specify
3206 that @value{GDBN} should run your program under that name.
3207 Then start your program again.
3210 Relink your program so that the text segment is nonsharable, using the
3211 linker option @samp{-N}. The operating system limitation may not apply
3212 to nonsharable executables.
3216 A similar message can be printed if you request too many active
3217 hardware-assisted breakpoints and watchpoints:
3219 @c FIXME: the precise wording of this message may change; the relevant
3220 @c source change is not committed yet (Sep 3, 1999).
3222 Stopped; cannot insert breakpoints.
3223 You may have requested too many hardware breakpoints and watchpoints.
3227 This message is printed when you attempt to resume the program, since
3228 only then @value{GDBN} knows exactly how many hardware breakpoints and
3229 watchpoints it needs to insert.
3231 When this message is printed, you need to disable or remove some of the
3232 hardware-assisted breakpoints and watchpoints, and then continue.
3235 @node Continuing and Stepping
3236 @section Continuing and stepping
3240 @cindex resuming execution
3241 @dfn{Continuing} means resuming program execution until your program
3242 completes normally. In contrast, @dfn{stepping} means executing just
3243 one more ``step'' of your program, where ``step'' may mean either one
3244 line of source code, or one machine instruction (depending on what
3245 particular command you use). Either when continuing or when stepping,
3246 your program may stop even sooner, due to a breakpoint or a signal. (If
3247 it stops due to a signal, you may want to use @code{handle}, or use
3248 @samp{signal 0} to resume execution. @xref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
3252 @kindex c @r{(@code{continue})}
3253 @kindex fg @r{(resume foreground execution)}
3254 @item continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
3255 @itemx c @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
3256 @itemx fg @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
3257 Resume program execution, at the address where your program last stopped;
3258 any breakpoints set at that address are bypassed. The optional argument
3259 @var{ignore-count} allows you to specify a further number of times to
3260 ignore a breakpoint at this location; its effect is like that of
3261 @code{ignore} (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break conditions}).
3263 The argument @var{ignore-count} is meaningful only when your program
3264 stopped due to a breakpoint. At other times, the argument to
3265 @code{continue} is ignored.
3267 The synonyms @code{c} and @code{fg} (for @dfn{foreground}, as the
3268 debugged program is deemed to be the foreground program) are provided
3269 purely for convenience, and have exactly the same behavior as
3273 To resume execution at a different place, you can use @code{return}
3274 (@pxref{Returning, ,Returning from a function}) to go back to the
3275 calling function; or @code{jump} (@pxref{Jumping, ,Continuing at a
3276 different address}) to go to an arbitrary location in your program.
3278 A typical technique for using stepping is to set a breakpoint
3279 (@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; watchpoints; and catchpoints}) at the
3280 beginning of the function or the section of your program where a problem
3281 is believed to lie, run your program until it stops at that breakpoint,
3282 and then step through the suspect area, examining the variables that are
3283 interesting, until you see the problem happen.
3287 @kindex s @r{(@code{step})}
3289 Continue running your program until control reaches a different source
3290 line, then stop it and return control to @value{GDBN}. This command is
3291 abbreviated @code{s}.
3294 @c "without debugging information" is imprecise; actually "without line
3295 @c numbers in the debugging information". (gcc -g1 has debugging info but
3296 @c not line numbers). But it seems complex to try to make that
3297 @c distinction here.
3298 @emph{Warning:} If you use the @code{step} command while control is
3299 within a function that was compiled without debugging information,
3300 execution proceeds until control reaches a function that does have
3301 debugging information. Likewise, it will not step into a function which
3302 is compiled without debugging information. To step through functions
3303 without debugging information, use the @code{stepi} command, described
3307 The @code{step} command only stops at the first instruction of a source
3308 line. This prevents the multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
3309 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc. @code{step} continues
3310 to stop if a function that has debugging information is called within
3311 the line. In other words, @code{step} @emph{steps inside} any functions
3312 called within the line.
3314 Also, the @code{step} command only enters a function if there is line
3315 number information for the function. Otherwise it acts like the
3316 @code{next} command. This avoids problems when using @code{cc -gl}
3317 on MIPS machines. Previously, @code{step} entered subroutines if there
3318 was any debugging information about the routine.
3320 @item step @var{count}
3321 Continue running as in @code{step}, but do so @var{count} times. If a
3322 breakpoint is reached, or a signal not related to stepping occurs before
3323 @var{count} steps, stepping stops right away.
3326 @kindex n @r{(@code{next})}
3327 @item next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
3328 Continue to the next source line in the current (innermost) stack frame.
3329 This is similar to @code{step}, but function calls that appear within
3330 the line of code are executed without stopping. Execution stops when
3331 control reaches a different line of code at the original stack level
3332 that was executing when you gave the @code{next} command. This command
3333 is abbreviated @code{n}.
3335 An argument @var{count} is a repeat count, as for @code{step}.
3338 @c FIX ME!! Do we delete this, or is there a way it fits in with
3339 @c the following paragraph? --- Vctoria
3341 @c @code{next} within a function that lacks debugging information acts like
3342 @c @code{step}, but any function calls appearing within the code of the
3343 @c function are executed without stopping.
3345 The @code{next} command only stops at the first instruction of a
3346 source line. This prevents multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
3347 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc.
3349 @kindex set step-mode
3351 @cindex functions without line info, and stepping
3352 @cindex stepping into functions with no line info
3353 @itemx set step-mode on
3354 The @code{set step-mode on} command causes the @code{step} command to
3355 stop at the first instruction of a function which contains no debug line
3356 information rather than stepping over it.
3358 This is useful in cases where you may be interested in inspecting the
3359 machine instructions of a function which has no symbolic info and do not
3360 want @value{GDBN} to automatically skip over this function.
3362 @item set step-mode off
3363 Causes the @code{step} command to step over any functions which contains no
3364 debug information. This is the default.
3368 Continue running until just after function in the selected stack frame
3369 returns. Print the returned value (if any).
3371 Contrast this with the @code{return} command (@pxref{Returning,
3372 ,Returning from a function}).
3375 @kindex u @r{(@code{until})}
3378 Continue running until a source line past the current line, in the
3379 current stack frame, is reached. This command is used to avoid single
3380 stepping through a loop more than once. It is like the @code{next}
3381 command, except that when @code{until} encounters a jump, it
3382 automatically continues execution until the program counter is greater
3383 than the address of the jump.
3385 This means that when you reach the end of a loop after single stepping
3386 though it, @code{until} makes your program continue execution until it
3387 exits the loop. In contrast, a @code{next} command at the end of a loop
3388 simply steps back to the beginning of the loop, which forces you to step
3389 through the next iteration.
3391 @code{until} always stops your program if it attempts to exit the current
3394 @code{until} may produce somewhat counterintuitive results if the order
3395 of machine code does not match the order of the source lines. For
3396 example, in the following excerpt from a debugging session, the @code{f}
3397 (@code{frame}) command shows that execution is stopped at line
3398 @code{206}; yet when we use @code{until}, we get to line @code{195}:
3402 #0 main (argc=4, argv=0xf7fffae8) at m4.c:206
3404 (@value{GDBP}) until
3405 195 for ( ; argc > 0; NEXTARG) @{
3408 This happened because, for execution efficiency, the compiler had
3409 generated code for the loop closure test at the end, rather than the
3410 start, of the loop---even though the test in a C @code{for}-loop is
3411 written before the body of the loop. The @code{until} command appeared
3412 to step back to the beginning of the loop when it advanced to this
3413 expression; however, it has not really gone to an earlier
3414 statement---not in terms of the actual machine code.
3416 @code{until} with no argument works by means of single
3417 instruction stepping, and hence is slower than @code{until} with an
3420 @item until @var{location}
3421 @itemx u @var{location}
3422 Continue running your program until either the specified location is
3423 reached, or the current stack frame returns. @var{location} is any of
3424 the forms of argument acceptable to @code{break} (@pxref{Set Breaks,
3425 ,Setting breakpoints}). This form of the command uses breakpoints,
3426 and hence is quicker than @code{until} without an argument.
3429 @kindex si @r{(@code{stepi})}
3431 @itemx stepi @var{arg}
3433 Execute one machine instruction, then stop and return to the debugger.
3435 It is often useful to do @samp{display/i $pc} when stepping by machine
3436 instructions. This makes @value{GDBN} automatically display the next
3437 instruction to be executed, each time your program stops. @xref{Auto
3438 Display,, Automatic display}.
3440 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{step}.
3444 @kindex ni @r{(@code{nexti})}
3446 @itemx nexti @var{arg}
3448 Execute one machine instruction, but if it is a function call,
3449 proceed until the function returns.
3451 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{next}.
3458 A signal is an asynchronous event that can happen in a program. The
3459 operating system defines the possible kinds of signals, and gives each
3460 kind a name and a number. For example, in Unix @code{SIGINT} is the
3461 signal a program gets when you type an interrupt character (often @kbd{C-c});
3462 @code{SIGSEGV} is the signal a program gets from referencing a place in
3463 memory far away from all the areas in use; @code{SIGALRM} occurs when
3464 the alarm clock timer goes off (which happens only if your program has
3465 requested an alarm).
3467 @cindex fatal signals
3468 Some signals, including @code{SIGALRM}, are a normal part of the
3469 functioning of your program. Others, such as @code{SIGSEGV}, indicate
3470 errors; these signals are @dfn{fatal} (they kill your program immediately) if the
3471 program has not specified in advance some other way to handle the signal.
3472 @code{SIGINT} does not indicate an error in your program, but it is normally
3473 fatal so it can carry out the purpose of the interrupt: to kill the program.
3475 @value{GDBN} has the ability to detect any occurrence of a signal in your
3476 program. You can tell @value{GDBN} in advance what to do for each kind of
3479 @cindex handling signals
3480 Normally, @value{GDBN} is set up to let the non-erroneous signals like
3481 @code{SIGALRM} be silently passed to your program
3482 (so as not to interfere with their role in the program's functioning)
3483 but to stop your program immediately whenever an error signal happens.
3484 You can change these settings with the @code{handle} command.
3487 @kindex info signals
3490 Print a table of all the kinds of signals and how @value{GDBN} has been told to
3491 handle each one. You can use this to see the signal numbers of all
3492 the defined types of signals.
3494 @code{info handle} is an alias for @code{info signals}.
3497 @item handle @var{signal} @var{keywords}@dots{}
3498 Change the way @value{GDBN} handles signal @var{signal}. @var{signal}
3499 can be the number of a signal or its name (with or without the
3500 @samp{SIG} at the beginning); a list of signal numbers of the form
3501 @samp{@var{low}-@var{high}}; or the word @samp{all}, meaning all the
3502 known signals. The @var{keywords} say what change to make.
3506 The keywords allowed by the @code{handle} command can be abbreviated.
3507 Their full names are:
3511 @value{GDBN} should not stop your program when this signal happens. It may
3512 still print a message telling you that the signal has come in.
3515 @value{GDBN} should stop your program when this signal happens. This implies
3516 the @code{print} keyword as well.
3519 @value{GDBN} should print a message when this signal happens.
3522 @value{GDBN} should not mention the occurrence of the signal at all. This
3523 implies the @code{nostop} keyword as well.
3527 @value{GDBN} should allow your program to see this signal; your program
3528 can handle the signal, or else it may terminate if the signal is fatal
3529 and not handled. @code{pass} and @code{noignore} are synonyms.
3533 @value{GDBN} should not allow your program to see this signal.
3534 @code{nopass} and @code{ignore} are synonyms.
3538 When a signal stops your program, the signal is not visible to the
3540 continue. Your program sees the signal then, if @code{pass} is in
3541 effect for the signal in question @emph{at that time}. In other words,
3542 after @value{GDBN} reports a signal, you can use the @code{handle}
3543 command with @code{pass} or @code{nopass} to control whether your
3544 program sees that signal when you continue.
3546 The default is set to @code{nostop}, @code{noprint}, @code{pass} for
3547 non-erroneous signals such as @code{SIGALRM}, @code{SIGWINCH} and
3548 @code{SIGCHLD}, and to @code{stop}, @code{print}, @code{pass} for the
3551 You can also use the @code{signal} command to prevent your program from
3552 seeing a signal, or cause it to see a signal it normally would not see,
3553 or to give it any signal at any time. For example, if your program stopped
3554 due to some sort of memory reference error, you might store correct
3555 values into the erroneous variables and continue, hoping to see more
3556 execution; but your program would probably terminate immediately as
3557 a result of the fatal signal once it saw the signal. To prevent this,
3558 you can continue with @samp{signal 0}. @xref{Signaling, ,Giving your
3562 @section Stopping and starting multi-thread programs
3564 When your program has multiple threads (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging
3565 programs with multiple threads}), you can choose whether to set
3566 breakpoints on all threads, or on a particular thread.
3569 @cindex breakpoints and threads
3570 @cindex thread breakpoints
3571 @kindex break @dots{} thread @var{threadno}
3572 @item break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno}
3573 @itemx break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno} if @dots{}
3574 @var{linespec} specifies source lines; there are several ways of
3575 writing them, but the effect is always to specify some source line.
3577 Use the qualifier @samp{thread @var{threadno}} with a breakpoint command
3578 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
3579 particular thread reaches this breakpoint. @var{threadno} is one of the
3580 numeric thread identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
3581 column of the @samp{info threads} display.
3583 If you do not specify @samp{thread @var{threadno}} when you set a
3584 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} threads of your
3587 You can use the @code{thread} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
3588 well; in this case, place @samp{thread @var{threadno}} before the
3589 breakpoint condition, like this:
3592 (@value{GDBP}) break frik.c:13 thread 28 if bartab > lim
3597 @cindex stopped threads
3598 @cindex threads, stopped
3599 Whenever your program stops under @value{GDBN} for any reason,
3600 @emph{all} threads of execution stop, not just the current thread. This
3601 allows you to examine the overall state of the program, including
3602 switching between threads, without worrying that things may change
3605 @cindex continuing threads
3606 @cindex threads, continuing
3607 Conversely, whenever you restart the program, @emph{all} threads start
3608 executing. @emph{This is true even when single-stepping} with commands
3609 like @code{step} or @code{next}.
3611 In particular, @value{GDBN} cannot single-step all threads in lockstep.
3612 Since thread scheduling is up to your debugging target's operating
3613 system (not controlled by @value{GDBN}), other threads may
3614 execute more than one statement while the current thread completes a
3615 single step. Moreover, in general other threads stop in the middle of a
3616 statement, rather than at a clean statement boundary, when the program
3619 You might even find your program stopped in another thread after
3620 continuing or even single-stepping. This happens whenever some other
3621 thread runs into a breakpoint, a signal, or an exception before the
3622 first thread completes whatever you requested.
3624 On some OSes, you can lock the OS scheduler and thus allow only a single
3628 @item set scheduler-locking @var{mode}
3629 Set the scheduler locking mode. If it is @code{off}, then there is no
3630 locking and any thread may run at any time. If @code{on}, then only the
3631 current thread may run when the inferior is resumed. The @code{step}
3632 mode optimizes for single-stepping. It stops other threads from
3633 ``seizing the prompt'' by preempting the current thread while you are
3634 stepping. Other threads will only rarely (or never) get a chance to run
3635 when you step. They are more likely to run when you @samp{next} over a
3636 function call, and they are completely free to run when you use commands
3637 like @samp{continue}, @samp{until}, or @samp{finish}. However, unless another
3638 thread hits a breakpoint during its timeslice, they will never steal the
3639 @value{GDBN} prompt away from the thread that you are debugging.
3641 @item show scheduler-locking
3642 Display the current scheduler locking mode.
3647 @chapter Examining the Stack
3649 When your program has stopped, the first thing you need to know is where it
3650 stopped and how it got there.
3653 Each time your program performs a function call, information about the call
3655 That information includes the location of the call in your program,
3656 the arguments of the call,
3657 and the local variables of the function being called.
3658 The information is saved in a block of data called a @dfn{stack frame}.
3659 The stack frames are allocated in a region of memory called the @dfn{call
3662 When your program stops, the @value{GDBN} commands for examining the
3663 stack allow you to see all of this information.
3665 @cindex selected frame
3666 One of the stack frames is @dfn{selected} by @value{GDBN} and many
3667 @value{GDBN} commands refer implicitly to the selected frame. In
3668 particular, whenever you ask @value{GDBN} for the value of a variable in
3669 your program, the value is found in the selected frame. There are
3670 special @value{GDBN} commands to select whichever frame you are
3671 interested in. @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a frame}.
3673 When your program stops, @value{GDBN} automatically selects the
3674 currently executing frame and describes it briefly, similar to the
3675 @code{frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info, ,Information about a frame}).
3678 * Frames:: Stack frames
3679 * Backtrace:: Backtraces
3680 * Selection:: Selecting a frame
3681 * Frame Info:: Information on a frame
3686 @section Stack frames
3688 @cindex frame, definition
3690 The call stack is divided up into contiguous pieces called @dfn{stack
3691 frames}, or @dfn{frames} for short; each frame is the data associated
3692 with one call to one function. The frame contains the arguments given
3693 to the function, the function's local variables, and the address at
3694 which the function is executing.
3696 @cindex initial frame
3697 @cindex outermost frame
3698 @cindex innermost frame
3699 When your program is started, the stack has only one frame, that of the
3700 function @code{main}. This is called the @dfn{initial} frame or the
3701 @dfn{outermost} frame. Each time a function is called, a new frame is
3702 made. Each time a function returns, the frame for that function invocation
3703 is eliminated. If a function is recursive, there can be many frames for
3704 the same function. The frame for the function in which execution is
3705 actually occurring is called the @dfn{innermost} frame. This is the most
3706 recently created of all the stack frames that still exist.
3708 @cindex frame pointer
3709 Inside your program, stack frames are identified by their addresses. A
3710 stack frame consists of many bytes, each of which has its own address; each
3711 kind of computer has a convention for choosing one byte whose
3712 address serves as the address of the frame. Usually this address is kept
3713 in a register called the @dfn{frame pointer register} while execution is
3714 going on in that frame.
3716 @cindex frame number
3717 @value{GDBN} assigns numbers to all existing stack frames, starting with
3718 zero for the innermost frame, one for the frame that called it,
3719 and so on upward. These numbers do not really exist in your program;
3720 they are assigned by @value{GDBN} to give you a way of designating stack
3721 frames in @value{GDBN} commands.
3723 @c The -fomit-frame-pointer below perennially causes hbox overflow
3724 @c underflow problems.
3725 @cindex frameless execution
3726 Some compilers provide a way to compile functions so that they operate
3727 without stack frames. (For example, the @value{GCC} option
3729 @samp{-fomit-frame-pointer}
3731 generates functions without a frame.)
3732 This is occasionally done with heavily used library functions to save
3733 the frame setup time. @value{GDBN} has limited facilities for dealing
3734 with these function invocations. If the innermost function invocation
3735 has no stack frame, @value{GDBN} nevertheless regards it as though
3736 it had a separate frame, which is numbered zero as usual, allowing
3737 correct tracing of the function call chain. However, @value{GDBN} has
3738 no provision for frameless functions elsewhere in the stack.
3741 @kindex frame@r{, command}
3742 @cindex current stack frame
3743 @item frame @var{args}
3744 The @code{frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame to another,
3745 and to print the stack frame you select. @var{args} may be either the
3746 address of the frame or the stack frame number. Without an argument,
3747 @code{frame} prints the current stack frame.
3749 @kindex select-frame
3750 @cindex selecting frame silently
3752 The @code{select-frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame
3753 to another without printing the frame. This is the silent version of
3762 @cindex stack traces
3763 A backtrace is a summary of how your program got where it is. It shows one
3764 line per frame, for many frames, starting with the currently executing
3765 frame (frame zero), followed by its caller (frame one), and on up the
3770 @kindex bt @r{(@code{backtrace})}
3773 Print a backtrace of the entire stack: one line per frame for all
3774 frames in the stack.
3776 You can stop the backtrace at any time by typing the system interrupt
3777 character, normally @kbd{C-c}.
3779 @item backtrace @var{n}
3781 Similar, but print only the innermost @var{n} frames.
3783 @item backtrace -@var{n}
3785 Similar, but print only the outermost @var{n} frames.
3790 @kindex info s @r{(@code{info stack})}
3791 The names @code{where} and @code{info stack} (abbreviated @code{info s})
3792 are additional aliases for @code{backtrace}.
3794 Each line in the backtrace shows the frame number and the function name.
3795 The program counter value is also shown---unless you use @code{set
3796 print address off}. The backtrace also shows the source file name and
3797 line number, as well as the arguments to the function. The program
3798 counter value is omitted if it is at the beginning of the code for that
3801 Here is an example of a backtrace. It was made with the command
3802 @samp{bt 3}, so it shows the innermost three frames.
3806 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
3808 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=0x2b600) at macro.c:242
3809 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=177664, td=0xf7fffb08)
3811 (More stack frames follow...)
3816 The display for frame zero does not begin with a program counter
3817 value, indicating that your program has stopped at the beginning of the
3818 code for line @code{993} of @code{builtin.c}.
3821 @section Selecting a frame
3823 Most commands for examining the stack and other data in your program work on
3824 whichever stack frame is selected at the moment. Here are the commands for
3825 selecting a stack frame; all of them finish by printing a brief description
3826 of the stack frame just selected.
3829 @kindex frame@r{, selecting}
3830 @kindex f @r{(@code{frame})}
3833 Select frame number @var{n}. Recall that frame zero is the innermost
3834 (currently executing) frame, frame one is the frame that called the
3835 innermost one, and so on. The highest-numbered frame is the one for
3838 @item frame @var{addr}
3840 Select the frame at address @var{addr}. This is useful mainly if the
3841 chaining of stack frames has been damaged by a bug, making it
3842 impossible for @value{GDBN} to assign numbers properly to all frames. In
3843 addition, this can be useful when your program has multiple stacks and
3844 switches between them.
3846 On the SPARC architecture, @code{frame} needs two addresses to
3847 select an arbitrary frame: a frame pointer and a stack pointer.
3849 On the MIPS and Alpha architecture, it needs two addresses: a stack
3850 pointer and a program counter.
3852 On the 29k architecture, it needs three addresses: a register stack
3853 pointer, a program counter, and a memory stack pointer.
3854 @c note to future updaters: this is conditioned on a flag
3855 @c SETUP_ARBITRARY_FRAME in the tm-*.h files. The above is up to date
3856 @c as of 27 Jan 1994.
3860 Move @var{n} frames up the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
3861 advances toward the outermost frame, to higher frame numbers, to frames
3862 that have existed longer. @var{n} defaults to one.
3865 @kindex do @r{(@code{down})}
3867 Move @var{n} frames down the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
3868 advances toward the innermost frame, to lower frame numbers, to frames
3869 that were created more recently. @var{n} defaults to one. You may
3870 abbreviate @code{down} as @code{do}.
3873 All of these commands end by printing two lines of output describing the
3874 frame. The first line shows the frame number, the function name, the
3875 arguments, and the source file and line number of execution in that
3876 frame. The second line shows the text of that source line.
3884 #1 0x22f0 in main (argc=1, argv=0xf7fffbf4, env=0xf7fffbfc)
3886 10 read_input_file (argv[i]);
3890 After such a printout, the @code{list} command with no arguments
3891 prints ten lines centered on the point of execution in the frame.
3892 @xref{List, ,Printing source lines}.
3895 @kindex down-silently
3897 @item up-silently @var{n}
3898 @itemx down-silently @var{n}
3899 These two commands are variants of @code{up} and @code{down},
3900 respectively; they differ in that they do their work silently, without
3901 causing display of the new frame. They are intended primarily for use
3902 in @value{GDBN} command scripts, where the output might be unnecessary and
3907 @section Information about a frame
3909 There are several other commands to print information about the selected
3915 When used without any argument, this command does not change which
3916 frame is selected, but prints a brief description of the currently
3917 selected stack frame. It can be abbreviated @code{f}. With an
3918 argument, this command is used to select a stack frame.
3919 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a frame}.
3922 @kindex info f @r{(@code{info frame})}
3925 This command prints a verbose description of the selected stack frame,
3930 the address of the frame
3932 the address of the next frame down (called by this frame)
3934 the address of the next frame up (caller of this frame)
3936 the language in which the source code corresponding to this frame is written
3938 the address of the frame's arguments
3940 the address of the frame's local variables
3942 the program counter saved in it (the address of execution in the caller frame)
3944 which registers were saved in the frame
3947 @noindent The verbose description is useful when
3948 something has gone wrong that has made the stack format fail to fit
3949 the usual conventions.
3951 @item info frame @var{addr}
3952 @itemx info f @var{addr}
3953 Print a verbose description of the frame at address @var{addr}, without
3954 selecting that frame. The selected frame remains unchanged by this
3955 command. This requires the same kind of address (more than one for some
3956 architectures) that you specify in the @code{frame} command.
3957 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a frame}.
3961 Print the arguments of the selected frame, each on a separate line.
3965 Print the local variables of the selected frame, each on a separate
3966 line. These are all variables (declared either static or automatic)
3967 accessible at the point of execution of the selected frame.
3970 @cindex catch exceptions, list active handlers
3971 @cindex exception handlers, how to list
3973 Print a list of all the exception handlers that are active in the
3974 current stack frame at the current point of execution. To see other
3975 exception handlers, visit the associated frame (using the @code{up},
3976 @code{down}, or @code{frame} commands); then type @code{info catch}.
3977 @xref{Set Catchpoints, , Setting catchpoints}.
3983 @chapter Examining Source Files
3985 @value{GDBN} can print parts of your program's source, since the debugging
3986 information recorded in the program tells @value{GDBN} what source files were
3987 used to build it. When your program stops, @value{GDBN} spontaneously prints
3988 the line where it stopped. Likewise, when you select a stack frame
3989 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a frame}), @value{GDBN} prints the line where
3990 execution in that frame has stopped. You can print other portions of
3991 source files by explicit command.
3993 If you use @value{GDBN} through its @sc{gnu} Emacs interface, you may
3994 prefer to use Emacs facilities to view source; see @ref{Emacs, ,Using
3995 @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}.
3998 * List:: Printing source lines
3999 * Search:: Searching source files
4000 * Source Path:: Specifying source directories
4001 * Machine Code:: Source and machine code
4005 @section Printing source lines
4008 @kindex l @r{(@code{list})}
4009 To print lines from a source file, use the @code{list} command
4010 (abbreviated @code{l}). By default, ten lines are printed.
4011 There are several ways to specify what part of the file you want to print.
4013 Here are the forms of the @code{list} command most commonly used:
4016 @item list @var{linenum}
4017 Print lines centered around line number @var{linenum} in the
4018 current source file.
4020 @item list @var{function}
4021 Print lines centered around the beginning of function
4025 Print more lines. If the last lines printed were printed with a
4026 @code{list} command, this prints lines following the last lines
4027 printed; however, if the last line printed was a solitary line printed
4028 as part of displaying a stack frame (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the
4029 Stack}), this prints lines centered around that line.
4032 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
4035 By default, @value{GDBN} prints ten source lines with any of these forms of
4036 the @code{list} command. You can change this using @code{set listsize}:
4039 @kindex set listsize
4040 @item set listsize @var{count}
4041 Make the @code{list} command display @var{count} source lines (unless
4042 the @code{list} argument explicitly specifies some other number).
4044 @kindex show listsize
4046 Display the number of lines that @code{list} prints.
4049 Repeating a @code{list} command with @key{RET} discards the argument,
4050 so it is equivalent to typing just @code{list}. This is more useful
4051 than listing the same lines again. An exception is made for an
4052 argument of @samp{-}; that argument is preserved in repetition so that
4053 each repetition moves up in the source file.
4056 In general, the @code{list} command expects you to supply zero, one or two
4057 @dfn{linespecs}. Linespecs specify source lines; there are several ways
4058 of writing them, but the effect is always to specify some source line.
4059 Here is a complete description of the possible arguments for @code{list}:
4062 @item list @var{linespec}
4063 Print lines centered around the line specified by @var{linespec}.
4065 @item list @var{first},@var{last}
4066 Print lines from @var{first} to @var{last}. Both arguments are
4069 @item list ,@var{last}
4070 Print lines ending with @var{last}.
4072 @item list @var{first},
4073 Print lines starting with @var{first}.
4076 Print lines just after the lines last printed.
4079 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
4082 As described in the preceding table.
4085 Here are the ways of specifying a single source line---all the
4090 Specifies line @var{number} of the current source file.
4091 When a @code{list} command has two linespecs, this refers to
4092 the same source file as the first linespec.
4095 Specifies the line @var{offset} lines after the last line printed.
4096 When used as the second linespec in a @code{list} command that has
4097 two, this specifies the line @var{offset} lines down from the
4101 Specifies the line @var{offset} lines before the last line printed.
4103 @item @var{filename}:@var{number}
4104 Specifies line @var{number} in the source file @var{filename}.
4106 @item @var{function}
4107 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}.
4108 For example: in C, this is the line with the open brace.
4110 @item @var{filename}:@var{function}
4111 Specifies the line of the open-brace that begins the body of the
4112 function @var{function} in the file @var{filename}. You only need the
4113 file name with a function name to avoid ambiguity when there are
4114 identically named functions in different source files.
4116 @item *@var{address}
4117 Specifies the line containing the program address @var{address}.
4118 @var{address} may be any expression.
4122 @section Searching source files
4124 @kindex reverse-search
4126 There are two commands for searching through the current source file for a
4131 @kindex forward-search
4132 @item forward-search @var{regexp}
4133 @itemx search @var{regexp}
4134 The command @samp{forward-search @var{regexp}} checks each line,
4135 starting with the one following the last line listed, for a match for
4136 @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can use the
4137 synonym @samp{search @var{regexp}} or abbreviate the command name as
4140 @item reverse-search @var{regexp}
4141 The command @samp{reverse-search @var{regexp}} checks each line, starting
4142 with the one before the last line listed and going backward, for a match
4143 for @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can abbreviate
4144 this command as @code{rev}.
4148 @section Specifying source directories
4151 @cindex directories for source files
4152 Executable programs sometimes do not record the directories of the source
4153 files from which they were compiled, just the names. Even when they do,
4154 the directories could be moved between the compilation and your debugging
4155 session. @value{GDBN} has a list of directories to search for source files;
4156 this is called the @dfn{source path}. Each time @value{GDBN} wants a source file,
4157 it tries all the directories in the list, in the order they are present
4158 in the list, until it finds a file with the desired name. Note that
4159 the executable search path is @emph{not} used for this purpose. Neither is
4160 the current working directory, unless it happens to be in the source
4163 If @value{GDBN} cannot find a source file in the source path, and the
4164 object program records a directory, @value{GDBN} tries that directory
4165 too. If the source path is empty, and there is no record of the
4166 compilation directory, @value{GDBN} looks in the current directory as a
4169 Whenever you reset or rearrange the source path, @value{GDBN} clears out
4170 any information it has cached about where source files are found and where
4171 each line is in the file.
4175 When you start @value{GDBN}, its source path includes only @samp{cdir}
4176 and @samp{cwd}, in that order.
4177 To add other directories, use the @code{directory} command.
4180 @item directory @var{dirname} @dots{}
4181 @item dir @var{dirname} @dots{}
4182 Add directory @var{dirname} to the front of the source path. Several
4183 directory names may be given to this command, separated by @samp{:}
4184 (@samp{;} on MS-DOS and MS-Windows, where @samp{:} usually appears as
4185 part of absolute file names) or
4186 whitespace. You may specify a directory that is already in the source
4187 path; this moves it forward, so @value{GDBN} searches it sooner.
4191 @vindex $cdir@r{, convenience variable}
4192 @vindex $cwdr@r{, convenience variable}
4193 @cindex compilation directory
4194 @cindex current directory
4195 @cindex working directory
4196 @cindex directory, current
4197 @cindex directory, compilation
4198 You can use the string @samp{$cdir} to refer to the compilation
4199 directory (if one is recorded), and @samp{$cwd} to refer to the current
4200 working directory. @samp{$cwd} is not the same as @samp{.}---the former
4201 tracks the current working directory as it changes during your @value{GDBN}
4202 session, while the latter is immediately expanded to the current
4203 directory at the time you add an entry to the source path.
4206 Reset the source path to empty again. This requires confirmation.
4208 @c RET-repeat for @code{directory} is explicitly disabled, but since
4209 @c repeating it would be a no-op we do not say that. (thanks to RMS)
4211 @item show directories
4212 @kindex show directories
4213 Print the source path: show which directories it contains.
4216 If your source path is cluttered with directories that are no longer of
4217 interest, @value{GDBN} may sometimes cause confusion by finding the wrong
4218 versions of source. You can correct the situation as follows:
4222 Use @code{directory} with no argument to reset the source path to empty.
4225 Use @code{directory} with suitable arguments to reinstall the
4226 directories you want in the source path. You can add all the
4227 directories in one command.
4231 @section Source and machine code
4233 You can use the command @code{info line} to map source lines to program
4234 addresses (and vice versa), and the command @code{disassemble} to display
4235 a range of addresses as machine instructions. When run under @sc{gnu} Emacs
4236 mode, the @code{info line} command causes the arrow to point to the
4237 line specified. Also, @code{info line} prints addresses in symbolic form as
4242 @item info line @var{linespec}
4243 Print the starting and ending addresses of the compiled code for
4244 source line @var{linespec}. You can specify source lines in any of
4245 the ways understood by the @code{list} command (@pxref{List, ,Printing
4249 For example, we can use @code{info line} to discover the location of
4250 the object code for the first line of function
4251 @code{m4_changequote}:
4253 @c FIXME: I think this example should also show the addresses in
4254 @c symbolic form, as they usually would be displayed.
4256 (@value{GDBP}) info line m4_changequote
4257 Line 895 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x634c and ends at 0x6350.
4261 We can also inquire (using @code{*@var{addr}} as the form for
4262 @var{linespec}) what source line covers a particular address:
4264 (@value{GDBP}) info line *0x63ff
4265 Line 926 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x63e4 and ends at 0x6404.
4268 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info line}
4269 @kindex x@r{(examine), and} info line
4270 After @code{info line}, the default address for the @code{x} command
4271 is changed to the starting address of the line, so that @samp{x/i} is
4272 sufficient to begin examining the machine code (@pxref{Memory,
4273 ,Examining memory}). Also, this address is saved as the value of the
4274 convenience variable @code{$_} (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
4279 @cindex assembly instructions
4280 @cindex instructions, assembly
4281 @cindex machine instructions
4282 @cindex listing machine instructions
4284 This specialized command dumps a range of memory as machine
4285 instructions. The default memory range is the function surrounding the
4286 program counter of the selected frame. A single argument to this
4287 command is a program counter value; @value{GDBN} dumps the function
4288 surrounding this value. Two arguments specify a range of addresses
4289 (first inclusive, second exclusive) to dump.
4292 The following example shows the disassembly of a range of addresses of
4293 HP PA-RISC 2.0 code:
4296 (@value{GDBP}) disas 0x32c4 0x32e4
4297 Dump of assembler code from 0x32c4 to 0x32e4:
4298 0x32c4 <main+204>: addil 0,dp
4299 0x32c8 <main+208>: ldw 0x22c(sr0,r1),r26
4300 0x32cc <main+212>: ldil 0x3000,r31
4301 0x32d0 <main+216>: ble 0x3f8(sr4,r31)
4302 0x32d4 <main+220>: ldo 0(r31),rp
4303 0x32d8 <main+224>: addil -0x800,dp
4304 0x32dc <main+228>: ldo 0x588(r1),r26
4305 0x32e0 <main+232>: ldil 0x3000,r31
4306 End of assembler dump.
4309 Some architectures have more than one commonly-used set of instruction
4310 mnemonics or other syntax.
4313 @kindex set disassembly-flavor
4314 @cindex assembly instructions
4315 @cindex instructions, assembly
4316 @cindex machine instructions
4317 @cindex listing machine instructions
4318 @cindex Intel disassembly flavor
4319 @cindex AT&T disassembly flavor
4320 @item set disassembly-flavor @var{instruction-set}
4321 Select the instruction set to use when disassembling the
4322 program via the @code{disassemble} or @code{x/i} commands.
4324 Currently this command is only defined for the Intel x86 family. You
4325 can set @var{instruction-set} to either @code{intel} or @code{att}.
4326 The default is @code{att}, the AT&T flavor used by default by Unix
4327 assemblers for x86-based targets.
4332 @chapter Examining Data
4334 @cindex printing data
4335 @cindex examining data
4338 @c "inspect" is not quite a synonym if you are using Epoch, which we do not
4339 @c document because it is nonstandard... Under Epoch it displays in a
4340 @c different window or something like that.
4341 The usual way to examine data in your program is with the @code{print}
4342 command (abbreviated @code{p}), or its synonym @code{inspect}. It
4343 evaluates and prints the value of an expression of the language your
4344 program is written in (@pxref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with
4345 Different Languages}).
4348 @item print @var{expr}
4349 @itemx print /@var{f} @var{expr}
4350 @var{expr} is an expression (in the source language). By default the
4351 value of @var{expr} is printed in a format appropriate to its data type;
4352 you can choose a different format by specifying @samp{/@var{f}}, where
4353 @var{f} is a letter specifying the format; see @ref{Output Formats,,Output
4357 @itemx print /@var{f}
4358 If you omit @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} displays the last value again (from the
4359 @dfn{value history}; @pxref{Value History, ,Value history}). This allows you to
4360 conveniently inspect the same value in an alternative format.
4363 A more low-level way of examining data is with the @code{x} command.
4364 It examines data in memory at a specified address and prints it in a
4365 specified format. @xref{Memory, ,Examining memory}.
4367 If you are interested in information about types, or about how the
4368 fields of a struct or a class are declared, use the @code{ptype @var{exp}}
4369 command rather than @code{print}. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol
4373 * Expressions:: Expressions
4374 * Variables:: Program variables
4375 * Arrays:: Artificial arrays
4376 * Output Formats:: Output formats
4377 * Memory:: Examining memory
4378 * Auto Display:: Automatic display
4379 * Print Settings:: Print settings
4380 * Value History:: Value history
4381 * Convenience Vars:: Convenience variables
4382 * Registers:: Registers
4383 * Floating Point Hardware:: Floating point hardware
4384 * Memory Region Attributes:: Memory region attributes
4388 @section Expressions
4391 @code{print} and many other @value{GDBN} commands accept an expression and
4392 compute its value. Any kind of constant, variable or operator defined
4393 by the programming language you are using is valid in an expression in
4394 @value{GDBN}. This includes conditional expressions, function calls, casts
4395 and string constants. It unfortunately does not include symbols defined
4396 by preprocessor @code{#define} commands.
4398 @value{GDBN} supports array constants in expressions input by
4399 the user. The syntax is @{@var{element}, @var{element}@dots{}@}. For example,
4400 you can use the command @code{print @{1, 2, 3@}} to build up an array in
4401 memory that is @code{malloc}ed in the target program.
4403 Because C is so widespread, most of the expressions shown in examples in
4404 this manual are in C. @xref{Languages, , Using @value{GDBN} with Different
4405 Languages}, for information on how to use expressions in other
4408 In this section, we discuss operators that you can use in @value{GDBN}
4409 expressions regardless of your programming language.
4411 Casts are supported in all languages, not just in C, because it is so
4412 useful to cast a number into a pointer in order to examine a structure
4413 at that address in memory.
4414 @c FIXME: casts supported---Mod2 true?
4416 @value{GDBN} supports these operators, in addition to those common
4417 to programming languages:
4421 @samp{@@} is a binary operator for treating parts of memory as arrays.
4422 @xref{Arrays, ,Artificial arrays}, for more information.
4425 @samp{::} allows you to specify a variable in terms of the file or
4426 function where it is defined. @xref{Variables, ,Program variables}.
4428 @cindex @{@var{type}@}
4429 @cindex type casting memory
4430 @cindex memory, viewing as typed object
4431 @cindex casts, to view memory
4432 @item @{@var{type}@} @var{addr}
4433 Refers to an object of type @var{type} stored at address @var{addr} in
4434 memory. @var{addr} may be any expression whose value is an integer or
4435 pointer (but parentheses are required around binary operators, just as in
4436 a cast). This construct is allowed regardless of what kind of data is
4437 normally supposed to reside at @var{addr}.
4441 @section Program variables
4443 The most common kind of expression to use is the name of a variable
4446 Variables in expressions are understood in the selected stack frame
4447 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a frame}); they must be either:
4451 global (or file-static)
4458 visible according to the scope rules of the
4459 programming language from the point of execution in that frame
4462 @noindent This means that in the function
4477 you can examine and use the variable @code{a} whenever your program is
4478 executing within the function @code{foo}, but you can only use or
4479 examine the variable @code{b} while your program is executing inside
4480 the block where @code{b} is declared.
4482 @cindex variable name conflict
4483 There is an exception: you can refer to a variable or function whose
4484 scope is a single source file even if the current execution point is not
4485 in this file. But it is possible to have more than one such variable or
4486 function with the same name (in different source files). If that
4487 happens, referring to that name has unpredictable effects. If you wish,
4488 you can specify a static variable in a particular function or file,
4489 using the colon-colon notation:
4491 @cindex colon-colon, context for variables/functions
4493 @c info cannot cope with a :: index entry, but why deprive hard copy readers?
4494 @cindex @code{::}, context for variables/functions
4497 @var{file}::@var{variable}
4498 @var{function}::@var{variable}
4502 Here @var{file} or @var{function} is the name of the context for the
4503 static @var{variable}. In the case of file names, you can use quotes to
4504 make sure @value{GDBN} parses the file name as a single word---for example,
4505 to print a global value of @code{x} defined in @file{f2.c}:
4508 (@value{GDBP}) p 'f2.c'::x
4511 @cindex C@t{++} scope resolution
4512 This use of @samp{::} is very rarely in conflict with the very similar
4513 use of the same notation in C@t{++}. @value{GDBN} also supports use of the C@t{++}
4514 scope resolution operator in @value{GDBN} expressions.
4515 @c FIXME: Um, so what happens in one of those rare cases where it's in
4518 @cindex wrong values
4519 @cindex variable values, wrong
4521 @emph{Warning:} Occasionally, a local variable may appear to have the
4522 wrong value at certain points in a function---just after entry to a new
4523 scope, and just before exit.
4525 You may see this problem when you are stepping by machine instructions.
4526 This is because, on most machines, it takes more than one instruction to
4527 set up a stack frame (including local variable definitions); if you are
4528 stepping by machine instructions, variables may appear to have the wrong
4529 values until the stack frame is completely built. On exit, it usually
4530 also takes more than one machine instruction to destroy a stack frame;
4531 after you begin stepping through that group of instructions, local
4532 variable definitions may be gone.
4534 This may also happen when the compiler does significant optimizations.
4535 To be sure of always seeing accurate values, turn off all optimization
4538 @cindex ``No symbol "foo" in current context''
4539 Another possible effect of compiler optimizations is to optimize
4540 unused variables out of existence, or assign variables to registers (as
4541 opposed to memory addresses). Depending on the support for such cases
4542 offered by the debug info format used by the compiler, @value{GDBN}
4543 might not be able to display values for such local variables. If that
4544 happens, @value{GDBN} will print a message like this:
4547 No symbol "foo" in current context.
4550 To solve such problems, either recompile without optimizations, or use a
4551 different debug info format, if the compiler supports several such
4552 formats. For example, @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C/C@t{++} compiler usually
4553 supports the @samp{-gstabs} option. @samp{-gstabs} produces debug info
4554 in a format that is superior to formats such as COFF. You may be able
4555 to use DWARF2 (@samp{-gdwarf-2}), which is also an effective form for
4556 debug info. See @ref{Debugging Options,,Options for Debugging Your
4557 Program or @sc{gnu} CC, gcc.info, Using @sc{gnu} CC}, for more
4562 @section Artificial arrays
4564 @cindex artificial array
4565 @kindex @@@r{, referencing memory as an array}
4566 It is often useful to print out several successive objects of the
4567 same type in memory; a section of an array, or an array of
4568 dynamically determined size for which only a pointer exists in the
4571 You can do this by referring to a contiguous span of memory as an
4572 @dfn{artificial array}, using the binary operator @samp{@@}. The left
4573 operand of @samp{@@} should be the first element of the desired array
4574 and be an individual object. The right operand should be the desired length
4575 of the array. The result is an array value whose elements are all of
4576 the type of the left argument. The first element is actually the left
4577 argument; the second element comes from bytes of memory immediately
4578 following those that hold the first element, and so on. Here is an
4579 example. If a program says
4582 int *array = (int *) malloc (len * sizeof (int));
4586 you can print the contents of @code{array} with
4592 The left operand of @samp{@@} must reside in memory. Array values made
4593 with @samp{@@} in this way behave just like other arrays in terms of
4594 subscripting, and are coerced to pointers when used in expressions.
4595 Artificial arrays most often appear in expressions via the value history
4596 (@pxref{Value History, ,Value history}), after printing one out.
4598 Another way to create an artificial array is to use a cast.
4599 This re-interprets a value as if it were an array.
4600 The value need not be in memory:
4602 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[2])0x12345678
4603 $1 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
4606 As a convenience, if you leave the array length out (as in
4607 @samp{(@var{type}[])@var{value}}) @value{GDBN} calculates the size to fill
4608 the value (as @samp{sizeof(@var{value})/sizeof(@var{type})}:
4610 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[])0x12345678
4611 $2 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
4614 Sometimes the artificial array mechanism is not quite enough; in
4615 moderately complex data structures, the elements of interest may not
4616 actually be adjacent---for example, if you are interested in the values
4617 of pointers in an array. One useful work-around in this situation is
4618 to use a convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
4619 variables}) as a counter in an expression that prints the first
4620 interesting value, and then repeat that expression via @key{RET}. For
4621 instance, suppose you have an array @code{dtab} of pointers to
4622 structures, and you are interested in the values of a field @code{fv}
4623 in each structure. Here is an example of what you might type:
4633 @node Output Formats
4634 @section Output formats
4636 @cindex formatted output
4637 @cindex output formats
4638 By default, @value{GDBN} prints a value according to its data type. Sometimes
4639 this is not what you want. For example, you might want to print a number
4640 in hex, or a pointer in decimal. Or you might want to view data in memory
4641 at a certain address as a character string or as an instruction. To do
4642 these things, specify an @dfn{output format} when you print a value.
4644 The simplest use of output formats is to say how to print a value
4645 already computed. This is done by starting the arguments of the
4646 @code{print} command with a slash and a format letter. The format
4647 letters supported are:
4651 Regard the bits of the value as an integer, and print the integer in
4655 Print as integer in signed decimal.
4658 Print as integer in unsigned decimal.
4661 Print as integer in octal.
4664 Print as integer in binary. The letter @samp{t} stands for ``two''.
4665 @footnote{@samp{b} cannot be used because these format letters are also
4666 used with the @code{x} command, where @samp{b} stands for ``byte'';
4667 see @ref{Memory,,Examining memory}.}
4670 @cindex unknown address, locating
4671 @cindex locate address
4672 Print as an address, both absolute in hexadecimal and as an offset from
4673 the nearest preceding symbol. You can use this format used to discover
4674 where (in what function) an unknown address is located:
4677 (@value{GDBP}) p/a 0x54320
4678 $3 = 0x54320 <_initialize_vx+396>
4682 The command @code{info symbol 0x54320} yields similar results.
4683 @xref{Symbols, info symbol}.
4686 Regard as an integer and print it as a character constant.
4689 Regard the bits of the value as a floating point number and print
4690 using typical floating point syntax.
4693 For example, to print the program counter in hex (@pxref{Registers}), type
4700 Note that no space is required before the slash; this is because command
4701 names in @value{GDBN} cannot contain a slash.
4703 To reprint the last value in the value history with a different format,
4704 you can use the @code{print} command with just a format and no
4705 expression. For example, @samp{p/x} reprints the last value in hex.
4708 @section Examining memory
4710 You can use the command @code{x} (for ``examine'') to examine memory in
4711 any of several formats, independently of your program's data types.
4713 @cindex examining memory
4715 @kindex x @r{(examine memory)}
4716 @item x/@var{nfu} @var{addr}
4719 Use the @code{x} command to examine memory.
4722 @var{n}, @var{f}, and @var{u} are all optional parameters that specify how
4723 much memory to display and how to format it; @var{addr} is an
4724 expression giving the address where you want to start displaying memory.
4725 If you use defaults for @var{nfu}, you need not type the slash @samp{/}.
4726 Several commands set convenient defaults for @var{addr}.
4729 @item @var{n}, the repeat count
4730 The repeat count is a decimal integer; the default is 1. It specifies
4731 how much memory (counting by units @var{u}) to display.
4732 @c This really is **decimal**; unaffected by 'set radix' as of GDB
4735 @item @var{f}, the display format
4736 The display format is one of the formats used by @code{print},
4737 @samp{s} (null-terminated string), or @samp{i} (machine instruction).
4738 The default is @samp{x} (hexadecimal) initially.
4739 The default changes each time you use either @code{x} or @code{print}.
4741 @item @var{u}, the unit size
4742 The unit size is any of
4748 Halfwords (two bytes).
4750 Words (four bytes). This is the initial default.
4752 Giant words (eight bytes).
4755 Each time you specify a unit size with @code{x}, that size becomes the
4756 default unit the next time you use @code{x}. (For the @samp{s} and
4757 @samp{i} formats, the unit size is ignored and is normally not written.)
4759 @item @var{addr}, starting display address
4760 @var{addr} is the address where you want @value{GDBN} to begin displaying
4761 memory. The expression need not have a pointer value (though it may);
4762 it is always interpreted as an integer address of a byte of memory.
4763 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information on expressions. The default for
4764 @var{addr} is usually just after the last address examined---but several
4765 other commands also set the default address: @code{info breakpoints} (to
4766 the address of the last breakpoint listed), @code{info line} (to the
4767 starting address of a line), and @code{print} (if you use it to display
4768 a value from memory).
4771 For example, @samp{x/3uh 0x54320} is a request to display three halfwords
4772 (@code{h}) of memory, formatted as unsigned decimal integers (@samp{u}),
4773 starting at address @code{0x54320}. @samp{x/4xw $sp} prints the four
4774 words (@samp{w}) of memory above the stack pointer (here, @samp{$sp};
4775 @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}) in hexadecimal (@samp{x}).
4777 Since the letters indicating unit sizes are all distinct from the
4778 letters specifying output formats, you do not have to remember whether
4779 unit size or format comes first; either order works. The output
4780 specifications @samp{4xw} and @samp{4wx} mean exactly the same thing.
4781 (However, the count @var{n} must come first; @samp{wx4} does not work.)
4783 Even though the unit size @var{u} is ignored for the formats @samp{s}
4784 and @samp{i}, you might still want to use a count @var{n}; for example,
4785 @samp{3i} specifies that you want to see three machine instructions,
4786 including any operands. The command @code{disassemble} gives an
4787 alternative way of inspecting machine instructions; see @ref{Machine
4788 Code,,Source and machine code}.
4790 All the defaults for the arguments to @code{x} are designed to make it
4791 easy to continue scanning memory with minimal specifications each time
4792 you use @code{x}. For example, after you have inspected three machine
4793 instructions with @samp{x/3i @var{addr}}, you can inspect the next seven
4794 with just @samp{x/7}. If you use @key{RET} to repeat the @code{x} command,
4795 the repeat count @var{n} is used again; the other arguments default as
4796 for successive uses of @code{x}.
4798 @cindex @code{$_}, @code{$__}, and value history
4799 The addresses and contents printed by the @code{x} command are not saved
4800 in the value history because there is often too much of them and they
4801 would get in the way. Instead, @value{GDBN} makes these values available for
4802 subsequent use in expressions as values of the convenience variables
4803 @code{$_} and @code{$__}. After an @code{x} command, the last address
4804 examined is available for use in expressions in the convenience variable
4805 @code{$_}. The contents of that address, as examined, are available in
4806 the convenience variable @code{$__}.
4808 If the @code{x} command has a repeat count, the address and contents saved
4809 are from the last memory unit printed; this is not the same as the last
4810 address printed if several units were printed on the last line of output.
4813 @section Automatic display
4814 @cindex automatic display
4815 @cindex display of expressions
4817 If you find that you want to print the value of an expression frequently
4818 (to see how it changes), you might want to add it to the @dfn{automatic
4819 display list} so that @value{GDBN} prints its value each time your program stops.
4820 Each expression added to the list is given a number to identify it;
4821 to remove an expression from the list, you specify that number.
4822 The automatic display looks like this:
4826 3: bar[5] = (struct hack *) 0x3804
4830 This display shows item numbers, expressions and their current values. As with
4831 displays you request manually using @code{x} or @code{print}, you can
4832 specify the output format you prefer; in fact, @code{display} decides
4833 whether to use @code{print} or @code{x} depending on how elaborate your
4834 format specification is---it uses @code{x} if you specify a unit size,
4835 or one of the two formats (@samp{i} and @samp{s}) that are only
4836 supported by @code{x}; otherwise it uses @code{print}.
4840 @item display @var{expr}
4841 Add the expression @var{expr} to the list of expressions to display
4842 each time your program stops. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
4844 @code{display} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
4846 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{expr}
4847 For @var{fmt} specifying only a display format and not a size or
4848 count, add the expression @var{expr} to the auto-display list but
4849 arrange to display it each time in the specified format @var{fmt}.
4850 @xref{Output Formats,,Output formats}.
4852 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{addr}
4853 For @var{fmt} @samp{i} or @samp{s}, or including a unit-size or a
4854 number of units, add the expression @var{addr} as a memory address to
4855 be examined each time your program stops. Examining means in effect
4856 doing @samp{x/@var{fmt} @var{addr}}. @xref{Memory, ,Examining memory}.
4859 For example, @samp{display/i $pc} can be helpful, to see the machine
4860 instruction about to be executed each time execution stops (@samp{$pc}
4861 is a common name for the program counter; @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
4864 @kindex delete display
4866 @item undisplay @var{dnums}@dots{}
4867 @itemx delete display @var{dnums}@dots{}
4868 Remove item numbers @var{dnums} from the list of expressions to display.
4870 @code{undisplay} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
4871 (Otherwise you would just get the error @samp{No display number @dots{}}.)
4873 @kindex disable display
4874 @item disable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
4875 Disable the display of item numbers @var{dnums}. A disabled display
4876 item is not printed automatically, but is not forgotten. It may be
4877 enabled again later.
4879 @kindex enable display
4880 @item enable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
4881 Enable display of item numbers @var{dnums}. It becomes effective once
4882 again in auto display of its expression, until you specify otherwise.
4885 Display the current values of the expressions on the list, just as is
4886 done when your program stops.
4888 @kindex info display
4890 Print the list of expressions previously set up to display
4891 automatically, each one with its item number, but without showing the
4892 values. This includes disabled expressions, which are marked as such.
4893 It also includes expressions which would not be displayed right now
4894 because they refer to automatic variables not currently available.
4897 If a display expression refers to local variables, then it does not make
4898 sense outside the lexical context for which it was set up. Such an
4899 expression is disabled when execution enters a context where one of its
4900 variables is not defined. For example, if you give the command
4901 @code{display last_char} while inside a function with an argument
4902 @code{last_char}, @value{GDBN} displays this argument while your program
4903 continues to stop inside that function. When it stops elsewhere---where
4904 there is no variable @code{last_char}---the display is disabled
4905 automatically. The next time your program stops where @code{last_char}
4906 is meaningful, you can enable the display expression once again.
4908 @node Print Settings
4909 @section Print settings
4911 @cindex format options
4912 @cindex print settings
4913 @value{GDBN} provides the following ways to control how arrays, structures,
4914 and symbols are printed.
4917 These settings are useful for debugging programs in any language:
4920 @kindex set print address
4921 @item set print address
4922 @itemx set print address on
4923 @value{GDBN} prints memory addresses showing the location of stack
4924 traces, structure values, pointer values, breakpoints, and so forth,
4925 even when it also displays the contents of those addresses. The default
4926 is @code{on}. For example, this is what a stack frame display looks like with
4927 @code{set print address on}:
4932 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<<", rq=0x34c88 ">>")
4934 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
4938 @item set print address off
4939 Do not print addresses when displaying their contents. For example,
4940 this is the same stack frame displayed with @code{set print address off}:
4944 (@value{GDBP}) set print addr off
4946 #0 set_quotes (lq="<<", rq=">>") at input.c:530
4947 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
4951 You can use @samp{set print address off} to eliminate all machine
4952 dependent displays from the @value{GDBN} interface. For example, with
4953 @code{print address off}, you should get the same text for backtraces on
4954 all machines---whether or not they involve pointer arguments.
4956 @kindex show print address
4957 @item show print address
4958 Show whether or not addresses are to be printed.
4961 When @value{GDBN} prints a symbolic address, it normally prints the
4962 closest earlier symbol plus an offset. If that symbol does not uniquely
4963 identify the address (for example, it is a name whose scope is a single
4964 source file), you may need to clarify. One way to do this is with
4965 @code{info line}, for example @samp{info line *0x4537}. Alternately,
4966 you can set @value{GDBN} to print the source file and line number when
4967 it prints a symbolic address:
4970 @kindex set print symbol-filename
4971 @item set print symbol-filename on
4972 Tell @value{GDBN} to print the source file name and line number of a
4973 symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
4975 @item set print symbol-filename off
4976 Do not print source file name and line number of a symbol. This is the
4979 @kindex show print symbol-filename
4980 @item show print symbol-filename
4981 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} will print the source file name and
4982 line number of a symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
4985 Another situation where it is helpful to show symbol filenames and line
4986 numbers is when disassembling code; @value{GDBN} shows you the line
4987 number and source file that corresponds to each instruction.
4989 Also, you may wish to see the symbolic form only if the address being
4990 printed is reasonably close to the closest earlier symbol:
4993 @kindex set print max-symbolic-offset
4994 @item set print max-symbolic-offset @var{max-offset}
4995 Tell @value{GDBN} to only display the symbolic form of an address if the
4996 offset between the closest earlier symbol and the address is less than
4997 @var{max-offset}. The default is 0, which tells @value{GDBN}
4998 to always print the symbolic form of an address if any symbol precedes it.
5000 @kindex show print max-symbolic-offset
5001 @item show print max-symbolic-offset
5002 Ask how large the maximum offset is that @value{GDBN} prints in a
5006 @cindex wild pointer, interpreting
5007 @cindex pointer, finding referent
5008 If you have a pointer and you are not sure where it points, try
5009 @samp{set print symbol-filename on}. Then you can determine the name
5010 and source file location of the variable where it points, using
5011 @samp{p/a @var{pointer}}. This interprets the address in symbolic form.
5012 For example, here @value{GDBN} shows that a variable @code{ptt} points
5013 at another variable @code{t}, defined in @file{hi2.c}:
5016 (@value{GDBP}) set print symbol-filename on
5017 (@value{GDBP}) p/a ptt
5018 $4 = 0xe008 <t in hi2.c>
5022 @emph{Warning:} For pointers that point to a local variable, @samp{p/a}
5023 does not show the symbol name and filename of the referent, even with
5024 the appropriate @code{set print} options turned on.
5027 Other settings control how different kinds of objects are printed:
5030 @kindex set print array
5031 @item set print array
5032 @itemx set print array on
5033 Pretty print arrays. This format is more convenient to read,
5034 but uses more space. The default is off.
5036 @item set print array off
5037 Return to compressed format for arrays.
5039 @kindex show print array
5040 @item show print array
5041 Show whether compressed or pretty format is selected for displaying
5044 @kindex set print elements
5045 @item set print elements @var{number-of-elements}
5046 Set a limit on how many elements of an array @value{GDBN} will print.
5047 If @value{GDBN} is printing a large array, it stops printing after it has
5048 printed the number of elements set by the @code{set print elements} command.
5049 This limit also applies to the display of strings.
5050 When @value{GDBN} starts, this limit is set to 200.
5051 Setting @var{number-of-elements} to zero means that the printing is unlimited.
5053 @kindex show print elements
5054 @item show print elements
5055 Display the number of elements of a large array that @value{GDBN} will print.
5056 If the number is 0, then the printing is unlimited.
5058 @kindex set print null-stop
5059 @item set print null-stop
5060 Cause @value{GDBN} to stop printing the characters of an array when the first
5061 @sc{null} is encountered. This is useful when large arrays actually
5062 contain only short strings.
5065 @kindex set print pretty
5066 @item set print pretty on
5067 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in an indented format with one member
5068 per line, like this:
5083 @item set print pretty off
5084 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in a compact format, like this:
5088 $1 = @{next = 0x0, flags = @{sweet = 1, sour = 1@}, \
5089 meat = 0x54 "Pork"@}
5094 This is the default format.
5096 @kindex show print pretty
5097 @item show print pretty
5098 Show which format @value{GDBN} is using to print structures.
5100 @kindex set print sevenbit-strings
5101 @item set print sevenbit-strings on
5102 Print using only seven-bit characters; if this option is set,
5103 @value{GDBN} displays any eight-bit characters (in strings or
5104 character values) using the notation @code{\}@var{nnn}. This setting is
5105 best if you are working in English (@sc{ascii}) and you use the
5106 high-order bit of characters as a marker or ``meta'' bit.
5108 @item set print sevenbit-strings off
5109 Print full eight-bit characters. This allows the use of more
5110 international character sets, and is the default.
5112 @kindex show print sevenbit-strings
5113 @item show print sevenbit-strings
5114 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} is printing only seven-bit characters.
5116 @kindex set print union
5117 @item set print union on
5118 Tell @value{GDBN} to print unions which are contained in structures. This
5119 is the default setting.
5121 @item set print union off
5122 Tell @value{GDBN} not to print unions which are contained in structures.
5124 @kindex show print union
5125 @item show print union
5126 Ask @value{GDBN} whether or not it will print unions which are contained in
5129 For example, given the declarations
5132 typedef enum @{Tree, Bug@} Species;
5133 typedef enum @{Big_tree, Acorn, Seedling@} Tree_forms;
5134 typedef enum @{Caterpillar, Cocoon, Butterfly@}
5145 struct thing foo = @{Tree, @{Acorn@}@};
5149 with @code{set print union on} in effect @samp{p foo} would print
5152 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{tree = Acorn, bug = Cocoon@}@}
5156 and with @code{set print union off} in effect it would print
5159 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{...@}@}
5165 These settings are of interest when debugging C@t{++} programs:
5169 @kindex set print demangle
5170 @item set print demangle
5171 @itemx set print demangle on
5172 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than in the encoded
5173 (``mangled'') form passed to the assembler and linker for type-safe
5174 linkage. The default is on.
5176 @kindex show print demangle
5177 @item show print demangle
5178 Show whether C@t{++} names are printed in mangled or demangled form.
5180 @kindex set print asm-demangle
5181 @item set print asm-demangle
5182 @itemx set print asm-demangle on
5183 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than their mangled form, even
5184 in assembler code printouts such as instruction disassemblies.
5187 @kindex show print asm-demangle
5188 @item show print asm-demangle
5189 Show whether C@t{++} names in assembly listings are printed in mangled
5192 @kindex set demangle-style
5193 @cindex C@t{++} symbol decoding style
5194 @cindex symbol decoding style, C@t{++}
5195 @item set demangle-style @var{style}
5196 Choose among several encoding schemes used by different compilers to
5197 represent C@t{++} names. The choices for @var{style} are currently:
5201 Allow @value{GDBN} to choose a decoding style by inspecting your program.
5204 Decode based on the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler (@code{g++}) encoding algorithm.
5205 This is the default.
5208 Decode based on the HP ANSI C@t{++} (@code{aCC}) encoding algorithm.
5211 Decode based on the Lucid C@t{++} compiler (@code{lcc}) encoding algorithm.
5214 Decode using the algorithm in the @cite{C@t{++} Annotated Reference Manual}.
5215 @strong{Warning:} this setting alone is not sufficient to allow
5216 debugging @code{cfront}-generated executables. @value{GDBN} would
5217 require further enhancement to permit that.
5220 If you omit @var{style}, you will see a list of possible formats.
5222 @kindex show demangle-style
5223 @item show demangle-style
5224 Display the encoding style currently in use for decoding C@t{++} symbols.
5226 @kindex set print object
5227 @item set print object
5228 @itemx set print object on
5229 When displaying a pointer to an object, identify the @emph{actual}
5230 (derived) type of the object rather than the @emph{declared} type, using
5231 the virtual function table.
5233 @item set print object off
5234 Display only the declared type of objects, without reference to the
5235 virtual function table. This is the default setting.
5237 @kindex show print object
5238 @item show print object
5239 Show whether actual, or declared, object types are displayed.
5241 @kindex set print static-members
5242 @item set print static-members
5243 @itemx set print static-members on
5244 Print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object. The default is on.
5246 @item set print static-members off
5247 Do not print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object.
5249 @kindex show print static-members
5250 @item show print static-members
5251 Show whether C@t{++} static members are printed, or not.
5253 @c These don't work with HP ANSI C++ yet.
5254 @kindex set print vtbl
5255 @item set print vtbl
5256 @itemx set print vtbl on
5257 Pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables. The default is off.
5258 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
5259 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
5261 @item set print vtbl off
5262 Do not pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables.
5264 @kindex show print vtbl
5265 @item show print vtbl
5266 Show whether C@t{++} virtual function tables are pretty printed, or not.
5270 @section Value history
5272 @cindex value history
5273 Values printed by the @code{print} command are saved in the @value{GDBN}
5274 @dfn{value history}. This allows you to refer to them in other expressions.
5275 Values are kept until the symbol table is re-read or discarded
5276 (for example with the @code{file} or @code{symbol-file} commands).
5277 When the symbol table changes, the value history is discarded,
5278 since the values may contain pointers back to the types defined in the
5283 @cindex history number
5284 The values printed are given @dfn{history numbers} by which you can
5285 refer to them. These are successive integers starting with one.
5286 @code{print} shows you the history number assigned to a value by
5287 printing @samp{$@var{num} = } before the value; here @var{num} is the
5290 To refer to any previous value, use @samp{$} followed by the value's
5291 history number. The way @code{print} labels its output is designed to
5292 remind you of this. Just @code{$} refers to the most recent value in
5293 the history, and @code{$$} refers to the value before that.
5294 @code{$$@var{n}} refers to the @var{n}th value from the end; @code{$$2}
5295 is the value just prior to @code{$$}, @code{$$1} is equivalent to
5296 @code{$$}, and @code{$$0} is equivalent to @code{$}.
5298 For example, suppose you have just printed a pointer to a structure and
5299 want to see the contents of the structure. It suffices to type
5305 If you have a chain of structures where the component @code{next} points
5306 to the next one, you can print the contents of the next one with this:
5313 You can print successive links in the chain by repeating this
5314 command---which you can do by just typing @key{RET}.
5316 Note that the history records values, not expressions. If the value of
5317 @code{x} is 4 and you type these commands:
5325 then the value recorded in the value history by the @code{print} command
5326 remains 4 even though the value of @code{x} has changed.
5331 Print the last ten values in the value history, with their item numbers.
5332 This is like @samp{p@ $$9} repeated ten times, except that @code{show
5333 values} does not change the history.
5335 @item show values @var{n}
5336 Print ten history values centered on history item number @var{n}.
5339 Print ten history values just after the values last printed. If no more
5340 values are available, @code{show values +} produces no display.
5343 Pressing @key{RET} to repeat @code{show values @var{n}} has exactly the
5344 same effect as @samp{show values +}.
5346 @node Convenience Vars
5347 @section Convenience variables
5349 @cindex convenience variables
5350 @value{GDBN} provides @dfn{convenience variables} that you can use within
5351 @value{GDBN} to hold on to a value and refer to it later. These variables
5352 exist entirely within @value{GDBN}; they are not part of your program, and
5353 setting a convenience variable has no direct effect on further execution
5354 of your program. That is why you can use them freely.
5356 Convenience variables are prefixed with @samp{$}. Any name preceded by
5357 @samp{$} can be used for a convenience variable, unless it is one of
5358 the predefined machine-specific register names (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
5359 (Value history references, in contrast, are @emph{numbers} preceded
5360 by @samp{$}. @xref{Value History, ,Value history}.)
5362 You can save a value in a convenience variable with an assignment
5363 expression, just as you would set a variable in your program.
5367 set $foo = *object_ptr
5371 would save in @code{$foo} the value contained in the object pointed to by
5374 Using a convenience variable for the first time creates it, but its
5375 value is @code{void} until you assign a new value. You can alter the
5376 value with another assignment at any time.
5378 Convenience variables have no fixed types. You can assign a convenience
5379 variable any type of value, including structures and arrays, even if
5380 that variable already has a value of a different type. The convenience
5381 variable, when used as an expression, has the type of its current value.
5384 @kindex show convenience
5385 @item show convenience
5386 Print a list of convenience variables used so far, and their values.
5387 Abbreviated @code{show conv}.
5390 One of the ways to use a convenience variable is as a counter to be
5391 incremented or a pointer to be advanced. For example, to print
5392 a field from successive elements of an array of structures:
5396 print bar[$i++]->contents
5400 Repeat that command by typing @key{RET}.
5402 Some convenience variables are created automatically by @value{GDBN} and given
5403 values likely to be useful.
5406 @vindex $_@r{, convenience variable}
5408 The variable @code{$_} is automatically set by the @code{x} command to
5409 the last address examined (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining memory}). Other
5410 commands which provide a default address for @code{x} to examine also
5411 set @code{$_} to that address; these commands include @code{info line}
5412 and @code{info breakpoint}. The type of @code{$_} is @code{void *}
5413 except when set by the @code{x} command, in which case it is a pointer
5414 to the type of @code{$__}.
5416 @vindex $__@r{, convenience variable}
5418 The variable @code{$__} is automatically set by the @code{x} command
5419 to the value found in the last address examined. Its type is chosen
5420 to match the format in which the data was printed.
5423 @vindex $_exitcode@r{, convenience variable}
5424 The variable @code{$_exitcode} is automatically set to the exit code when
5425 the program being debugged terminates.
5428 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
5429 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
5430 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
5436 You can refer to machine register contents, in expressions, as variables
5437 with names starting with @samp{$}. The names of registers are different
5438 for each machine; use @code{info registers} to see the names used on
5442 @kindex info registers
5443 @item info registers
5444 Print the names and values of all registers except floating-point
5445 registers (in the selected stack frame).
5447 @kindex info all-registers
5448 @cindex floating point registers
5449 @item info all-registers
5450 Print the names and values of all registers, including floating-point
5453 @item info registers @var{regname} @dots{}
5454 Print the @dfn{relativized} value of each specified register @var{regname}.
5455 As discussed in detail below, register values are normally relative to
5456 the selected stack frame. @var{regname} may be any register name valid on
5457 the machine you are using, with or without the initial @samp{$}.
5460 @value{GDBN} has four ``standard'' register names that are available (in
5461 expressions) on most machines---whenever they do not conflict with an
5462 architecture's canonical mnemonics for registers. The register names
5463 @code{$pc} and @code{$sp} are used for the program counter register and
5464 the stack pointer. @code{$fp} is used for a register that contains a
5465 pointer to the current stack frame, and @code{$ps} is used for a
5466 register that contains the processor status. For example,
5467 you could print the program counter in hex with
5474 or print the instruction to be executed next with
5481 or add four to the stack pointer@footnote{This is a way of removing
5482 one word from the stack, on machines where stacks grow downward in
5483 memory (most machines, nowadays). This assumes that the innermost
5484 stack frame is selected; setting @code{$sp} is not allowed when other
5485 stack frames are selected. To pop entire frames off the stack,
5486 regardless of machine architecture, use @code{return};
5487 see @ref{Returning, ,Returning from a function}.} with
5493 Whenever possible, these four standard register names are available on
5494 your machine even though the machine has different canonical mnemonics,
5495 so long as there is no conflict. The @code{info registers} command
5496 shows the canonical names. For example, on the SPARC, @code{info
5497 registers} displays the processor status register as @code{$psr} but you
5498 can also refer to it as @code{$ps}; and on x86-based machines @code{$ps}
5499 is an alias for the @sc{eflags} register.
5501 @value{GDBN} always considers the contents of an ordinary register as an
5502 integer when the register is examined in this way. Some machines have
5503 special registers which can hold nothing but floating point; these
5504 registers are considered to have floating point values. There is no way
5505 to refer to the contents of an ordinary register as floating point value
5506 (although you can @emph{print} it as a floating point value with
5507 @samp{print/f $@var{regname}}).
5509 Some registers have distinct ``raw'' and ``virtual'' data formats. This
5510 means that the data format in which the register contents are saved by
5511 the operating system is not the same one that your program normally
5512 sees. For example, the registers of the 68881 floating point
5513 coprocessor are always saved in ``extended'' (raw) format, but all C
5514 programs expect to work with ``double'' (virtual) format. In such
5515 cases, @value{GDBN} normally works with the virtual format only (the format
5516 that makes sense for your program), but the @code{info registers} command
5517 prints the data in both formats.
5519 Normally, register values are relative to the selected stack frame
5520 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a frame}). This means that you get the
5521 value that the register would contain if all stack frames farther in
5522 were exited and their saved registers restored. In order to see the
5523 true contents of hardware registers, you must select the innermost
5524 frame (with @samp{frame 0}).
5526 However, @value{GDBN} must deduce where registers are saved, from the machine
5527 code generated by your compiler. If some registers are not saved, or if
5528 @value{GDBN} is unable to locate the saved registers, the selected stack
5529 frame makes no difference.
5531 @node Floating Point Hardware
5532 @section Floating point hardware
5533 @cindex floating point
5535 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give
5536 you more information about the status of the floating point hardware.
5541 Display hardware-dependent information about the floating
5542 point unit. The exact contents and layout vary depending on the
5543 floating point chip. Currently, @samp{info float} is supported on
5544 the ARM and x86 machines.
5547 @node Memory Region Attributes
5548 @section Memory Region Attributes
5549 @cindex memory region attributes
5551 @dfn{Memory region attributes} allow you to describe special handling
5552 required by regions of your target's memory. @value{GDBN} uses attributes
5553 to determine whether to allow certain types of memory accesses; whether to
5554 use specific width accesses; and whether to cache target memory.
5556 Defined memory regions can be individually enabled and disabled. When a
5557 memory region is disabled, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when
5558 accessing memory in that region. Similarly, if no memory regions have
5559 been defined, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when accessing
5562 When a memory region is defined, it is given a number to identify it;
5563 to enable, disable, or remove a memory region, you specify that number.
5567 @item mem @var{address1} @var{address1} @var{attributes}@dots{}
5568 Define memory region bounded by @var{address1} and @var{address2}
5569 with attributes @var{attributes}@dots{}.
5572 @item delete mem @var{nums}@dots{}
5573 Remove memory region numbers @var{nums}.
5576 @item disable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
5577 Disable memory region numbers @var{nums}.
5578 A disabled memory region is not forgotten.
5579 It may be enabled again later.
5582 @item enable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
5583 Enable memory region numbers @var{nums}.
5587 Print a table of all defined memory regions, with the following columns
5591 @item Memory Region Number
5592 @item Enabled or Disabled.
5593 Enabled memory regions are marked with @samp{y}.
5594 Disabled memory regions are marked with @samp{n}.
5597 The address defining the inclusive lower bound of the memory region.
5600 The address defining the exclusive upper bound of the memory region.
5603 The list of attributes set for this memory region.
5608 @subsection Attributes
5610 @subsubsection Memory Access Mode
5611 The access mode attributes set whether @value{GDBN} may make read or
5612 write accesses to a memory region.
5614 While these attributes prevent @value{GDBN} from performing invalid
5615 memory accesses, they do nothing to prevent the target system, I/O DMA,
5616 etc. from accessing memory.
5620 Memory is read only.
5622 Memory is write only.
5624 Memory is read/write (default).
5627 @subsubsection Memory Access Size
5628 The acccess size attributes tells @value{GDBN} to use specific sized
5629 accesses in the memory region. Often memory mapped device registers
5630 require specific sized accesses. If no access size attribute is
5631 specified, @value{GDBN} may use accesses of any size.
5635 Use 8 bit memory accesses.
5637 Use 16 bit memory accesses.
5639 Use 32 bit memory accesses.
5641 Use 64 bit memory accesses.
5644 @c @subsubsection Hardware/Software Breakpoints
5645 @c The hardware/software breakpoint attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
5646 @c will use hardware or software breakpoints for the internal breakpoints
5647 @c used by the step, next, finish, until, etc. commands.
5651 @c Always use hardware breakpoints
5652 @c @item swbreak (default)
5655 @subsubsection Data Cache
5656 The data cache attributes set whether @value{GDBN} will cache target
5657 memory. While this generally improves performance by reducing debug
5658 protocol overhead, it can lead to incorrect results because @value{GDBN}
5659 does not know about volatile variables or memory mapped device
5664 Enable @value{GDBN} to cache target memory.
5665 @item nocache (default)
5666 Disable @value{GDBN} from caching target memory.
5669 @c @subsubsection Memory Write Verification
5670 @c The memory write verification attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
5671 @c will re-reads data after each write to verify the write was successful.
5675 @c @item noverify (default)
5679 @chapter Tracepoints
5680 @c This chapter is based on the documentation written by Michael
5681 @c Snyder, David Taylor, Jim Blandy, and Elena Zannoni.
5684 In some applications, it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt
5685 the program's execution long enough for the developer to learn
5686 anything helpful about its behavior. If the program's correctness
5687 depends on its real-time behavior, delays introduced by a debugger
5688 might cause the program to change its behavior drastically, or perhaps
5689 fail, even when the code itself is correct. It is useful to be able
5690 to observe the program's behavior without interrupting it.
5692 Using @value{GDBN}'s @code{trace} and @code{collect} commands, you can
5693 specify locations in the program, called @dfn{tracepoints}, and
5694 arbitrary expressions to evaluate when those tracepoints are reached.
5695 Later, using the @code{tfind} command, you can examine the values
5696 those expressions had when the program hit the tracepoints. The
5697 expressions may also denote objects in memory---structures or arrays,
5698 for example---whose values @value{GDBN} should record; while visiting
5699 a particular tracepoint, you may inspect those objects as if they were
5700 in memory at that moment. However, because @value{GDBN} records these
5701 values without interacting with you, it can do so quickly and
5702 unobtrusively, hopefully not disturbing the program's behavior.
5704 The tracepoint facility is currently available only for remote
5705 targets. @xref{Targets}.
5707 This chapter describes the tracepoint commands and features.
5711 * Analyze Collected Data::
5712 * Tracepoint Variables::
5715 @node Set Tracepoints
5716 @section Commands to Set Tracepoints
5718 Before running such a @dfn{trace experiment}, an arbitrary number of
5719 tracepoints can be set. Like a breakpoint (@pxref{Set Breaks}), a
5720 tracepoint has a number assigned to it by @value{GDBN}. Like with
5721 breakpoints, tracepoint numbers are successive integers starting from
5722 one. Many of the commands associated with tracepoints take the
5723 tracepoint number as their argument, to identify which tracepoint to
5726 For each tracepoint, you can specify, in advance, some arbitrary set
5727 of data that you want the target to collect in the trace buffer when
5728 it hits that tracepoint. The collected data can include registers,
5729 local variables, or global data. Later, you can use @value{GDBN}
5730 commands to examine the values these data had at the time the
5733 This section describes commands to set tracepoints and associated
5734 conditions and actions.
5737 * Create and Delete Tracepoints::
5738 * Enable and Disable Tracepoints::
5739 * Tracepoint Passcounts::
5740 * Tracepoint Actions::
5741 * Listing Tracepoints::
5742 * Starting and Stopping Trace Experiment::
5745 @node Create and Delete Tracepoints
5746 @subsection Create and Delete Tracepoints
5749 @cindex set tracepoint
5752 The @code{trace} command is very similar to the @code{break} command.
5753 Its argument can be a source line, a function name, or an address in
5754 the target program. @xref{Set Breaks}. The @code{trace} command
5755 defines a tracepoint, which is a point in the target program where the
5756 debugger will briefly stop, collect some data, and then allow the
5757 program to continue. Setting a tracepoint or changing its commands
5758 doesn't take effect until the next @code{tstart} command; thus, you
5759 cannot change the tracepoint attributes once a trace experiment is
5762 Here are some examples of using the @code{trace} command:
5765 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo.c:121} // a source file and line number
5767 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace +2} // 2 lines forward
5769 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace my_function} // first source line of function
5771 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *my_function} // EXACT start address of function
5773 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *0x2117c4} // an address
5777 You can abbreviate @code{trace} as @code{tr}.
5780 @cindex last tracepoint number
5781 @cindex recent tracepoint number
5782 @cindex tracepoint number
5783 The convenience variable @code{$tpnum} records the tracepoint number
5784 of the most recently set tracepoint.
5786 @kindex delete tracepoint
5787 @cindex tracepoint deletion
5788 @item delete tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
5789 Permanently delete one or more tracepoints. With no argument, the
5790 default is to delete all tracepoints.
5795 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace 1 2 3} // remove three tracepoints
5797 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace} // remove all tracepoints
5801 You can abbreviate this command as @code{del tr}.
5804 @node Enable and Disable Tracepoints
5805 @subsection Enable and Disable Tracepoints
5808 @kindex disable tracepoint
5809 @item disable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
5810 Disable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints if no argument
5811 @var{num} is given. A disabled tracepoint will have no effect during
5812 the next trace experiment, but it is not forgotten. You can re-enable
5813 a disabled tracepoint using the @code{enable tracepoint} command.
5815 @kindex enable tracepoint
5816 @item enable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
5817 Enable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints. The enabled
5818 tracepoints will become effective the next time a trace experiment is
5822 @node Tracepoint Passcounts
5823 @subsection Tracepoint Passcounts
5827 @cindex tracepoint pass count
5828 @item passcount @r{[}@var{n} @r{[}@var{num}@r{]]}
5829 Set the @dfn{passcount} of a tracepoint. The passcount is a way to
5830 automatically stop a trace experiment. If a tracepoint's passcount is
5831 @var{n}, then the trace experiment will be automatically stopped on
5832 the @var{n}'th time that tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number
5833 @var{num} is not specified, the @code{passcount} command sets the
5834 passcount of the most recently defined tracepoint. If no passcount is
5835 given, the trace experiment will run until stopped explicitly by the
5841 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 5 2} // Stop on the 5th execution of tracepoint 2
5843 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 12} // Stop on the 12th execution of the
5844 // most recently defined tracepoint.
5845 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
5846 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 3}
5847 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace bar}
5848 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 2}
5849 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace baz}
5850 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 1} // Stop tracing when foo has been
5851 // executed 3 times OR when bar has
5852 // been executed 2 times
5853 // OR when baz has been executed 1 time.
5857 @node Tracepoint Actions
5858 @subsection Tracepoint Action Lists
5862 @cindex tracepoint actions
5863 @item actions @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
5864 This command will prompt for a list of actions to be taken when the
5865 tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number @var{num} is not
5866 specified, this command sets the actions for the one that was most
5867 recently defined (so that you can define a tracepoint and then say
5868 @code{actions} without bothering about its number). You specify the
5869 actions themselves on the following lines, one action at a time, and
5870 terminate the actions list with a line containing just @code{end}. So
5871 far, the only defined actions are @code{collect} and
5872 @code{while-stepping}.
5874 @cindex remove actions from a tracepoint
5875 To remove all actions from a tracepoint, type @samp{actions @var{num}}
5876 and follow it immediately with @samp{end}.
5879 (@value{GDBP}) @b{collect @var{data}} // collect some data
5881 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while-stepping 5} // single-step 5 times and collect data
5883 (@value{GDBP}) @b{end} // signals the end of actions.
5886 In the following example, the action list begins with @code{collect}
5887 commands indicating the things to be collected when the tracepoint is
5888 hit. Then, in order to single-step and collect additional data
5889 following the tracepoint, a @code{while-stepping} command is used,
5890 followed by the list of things to be collected while stepping. The
5891 @code{while-stepping} command is terminated by its own separate
5892 @code{end} command. Lastly, the action list is terminated by an
5896 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
5897 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
5898 Enter actions for tracepoint 1, one per line:
5907 @kindex collect @r{(tracepoints)}
5908 @item collect @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
5909 Collect values of the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit.
5910 This command accepts a comma-separated list of any valid expressions.
5911 In addition to global, static, or local variables, the following
5912 special arguments are supported:
5916 collect all registers
5919 collect all function arguments
5922 collect all local variables.
5925 You can give several consecutive @code{collect} commands, each one
5926 with a single argument, or one @code{collect} command with several
5927 arguments separated by commas: the effect is the same.
5929 The command @code{info scope} (@pxref{Symbols, info scope}) is
5930 particularly useful for figuring out what data to collect.
5932 @kindex while-stepping @r{(tracepoints)}
5933 @item while-stepping @var{n}
5934 Perform @var{n} single-step traces after the tracepoint, collecting
5935 new data at each step. The @code{while-stepping} command is
5936 followed by the list of what to collect while stepping (followed by
5937 its own @code{end} command):
5941 > collect $regs, myglobal
5947 You may abbreviate @code{while-stepping} as @code{ws} or
5951 @node Listing Tracepoints
5952 @subsection Listing Tracepoints
5955 @kindex info tracepoints
5956 @cindex information about tracepoints
5957 @item info tracepoints @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
5958 Display information the tracepoint @var{num}. If you don't specify a
5959 tracepoint number displays information about all the tracepoints
5960 defined so far. For each tracepoint, the following information is
5967 whether it is enabled or disabled
5971 its passcount as given by the @code{passcount @var{n}} command
5973 its step count as given by the @code{while-stepping @var{n}} command
5975 where in the source files is the tracepoint set
5977 its action list as given by the @code{actions} command
5981 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info trace}
5982 Num Enb Address PassC StepC What
5983 1 y 0x002117c4 0 0 <gdb_asm>
5984 2 y 0x0020dc64 0 0 in gdb_test at gdb_test.c:375
5985 3 y 0x0020b1f4 0 0 in collect_data at ../foo.c:1741
5990 This command can be abbreviated @code{info tp}.
5993 @node Starting and Stopping Trace Experiment
5994 @subsection Starting and Stopping Trace Experiment
5998 @cindex start a new trace experiment
5999 @cindex collected data discarded
6001 This command takes no arguments. It starts the trace experiment, and
6002 begins collecting data. This has the side effect of discarding all
6003 the data collected in the trace buffer during the previous trace
6007 @cindex stop a running trace experiment
6009 This command takes no arguments. It ends the trace experiment, and
6010 stops collecting data.
6012 @strong{Note:} a trace experiment and data collection may stop
6013 automatically if any tracepoint's passcount is reached
6014 (@pxref{Tracepoint Passcounts}), or if the trace buffer becomes full.
6017 @cindex status of trace data collection
6018 @cindex trace experiment, status of
6020 This command displays the status of the current trace data
6024 Here is an example of the commands we described so far:
6027 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace gdb_c_test}
6028 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
6029 Enter actions for tracepoint #1, one per line.
6030 > collect $regs,$locals,$args
6035 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
6036 [time passes @dots{}]
6037 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstop}
6041 @node Analyze Collected Data
6042 @section Using the collected data
6044 After the tracepoint experiment ends, you use @value{GDBN} commands
6045 for examining the trace data. The basic idea is that each tracepoint
6046 collects a trace @dfn{snapshot} every time it is hit and another
6047 snapshot every time it single-steps. All these snapshots are
6048 consecutively numbered from zero and go into a buffer, and you can
6049 examine them later. The way you examine them is to @dfn{focus} on a
6050 specific trace snapshot. When the remote stub is focused on a trace
6051 snapshot, it will respond to all @value{GDBN} requests for memory and
6052 registers by reading from the buffer which belongs to that snapshot,
6053 rather than from @emph{real} memory or registers of the program being
6054 debugged. This means that @strong{all} @value{GDBN} commands
6055 (@code{print}, @code{info registers}, @code{backtrace}, etc.) will
6056 behave as if we were currently debugging the program state as it was
6057 when the tracepoint occurred. Any requests for data that are not in
6058 the buffer will fail.
6061 * tfind:: How to select a trace snapshot
6062 * tdump:: How to display all data for a snapshot
6063 * save-tracepoints:: How to save tracepoints for a future run
6067 @subsection @code{tfind @var{n}}
6070 @cindex select trace snapshot
6071 @cindex find trace snapshot
6072 The basic command for selecting a trace snapshot from the buffer is
6073 @code{tfind @var{n}}, which finds trace snapshot number @var{n},
6074 counting from zero. If no argument @var{n} is given, the next
6075 snapshot is selected.
6077 Here are the various forms of using the @code{tfind} command.
6081 Find the first snapshot in the buffer. This is a synonym for
6082 @code{tfind 0} (since 0 is the number of the first snapshot).
6085 Stop debugging trace snapshots, resume @emph{live} debugging.
6088 Same as @samp{tfind none}.
6091 No argument means find the next trace snapshot.
6094 Find the previous trace snapshot before the current one. This permits
6095 retracing earlier steps.
6097 @item tfind tracepoint @var{num}
6098 Find the next snapshot associated with tracepoint @var{num}. Search
6099 proceeds forward from the last examined trace snapshot. If no
6100 argument @var{num} is given, it means find the next snapshot collected
6101 for the same tracepoint as the current snapshot.
6103 @item tfind pc @var{addr}
6104 Find the next snapshot associated with the value @var{addr} of the
6105 program counter. Search proceeds forward from the last examined trace
6106 snapshot. If no argument @var{addr} is given, it means find the next
6107 snapshot with the same value of PC as the current snapshot.
6109 @item tfind outside @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
6110 Find the next snapshot whose PC is outside the given range of
6113 @item tfind range @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
6114 Find the next snapshot whose PC is between @var{addr1} and
6115 @var{addr2}. @c FIXME: Is the range inclusive or exclusive?
6117 @item tfind line @r{[}@var{file}:@r{]}@var{n}
6118 Find the next snapshot associated with the source line @var{n}. If
6119 the optional argument @var{file} is given, refer to line @var{n} in
6120 that source file. Search proceeds forward from the last examined
6121 trace snapshot. If no argument @var{n} is given, it means find the
6122 next line other than the one currently being examined; thus saying
6123 @code{tfind line} repeatedly can appear to have the same effect as
6124 stepping from line to line in a @emph{live} debugging session.
6127 The default arguments for the @code{tfind} commands are specifically
6128 designed to make it easy to scan through the trace buffer. For
6129 instance, @code{tfind} with no argument selects the next trace
6130 snapshot, and @code{tfind -} with no argument selects the previous
6131 trace snapshot. So, by giving one @code{tfind} command, and then
6132 simply hitting @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine all the trace
6133 snapshots in order. Or, by saying @code{tfind -} and then hitting
6134 @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine the snapshots in reverse order.
6135 The @code{tfind line} command with no argument selects the snapshot
6136 for the next source line executed. The @code{tfind pc} command with
6137 no argument selects the next snapshot with the same program counter
6138 (PC) as the current frame. The @code{tfind tracepoint} command with
6139 no argument selects the next trace snapshot collected by the same
6140 tracepoint as the current one.
6142 In addition to letting you scan through the trace buffer manually,
6143 these commands make it easy to construct @value{GDBN} scripts that
6144 scan through the trace buffer and print out whatever collected data
6145 you are interested in. Thus, if we want to examine the PC, FP, and SP
6146 registers from each trace frame in the buffer, we can say this:
6149 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
6150 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
6151 > printf "Frame %d, PC = %08X, SP = %08X, FP = %08X\n", \
6152 $trace_frame, $pc, $sp, $fp
6156 Frame 0, PC = 0020DC64, SP = 0030BF3C, FP = 0030BF44
6157 Frame 1, PC = 0020DC6C, SP = 0030BF38, FP = 0030BF44
6158 Frame 2, PC = 0020DC70, SP = 0030BF34, FP = 0030BF44
6159 Frame 3, PC = 0020DC74, SP = 0030BF30, FP = 0030BF44
6160 Frame 4, PC = 0020DC78, SP = 0030BF2C, FP = 0030BF44
6161 Frame 5, PC = 0020DC7C, SP = 0030BF28, FP = 0030BF44
6162 Frame 6, PC = 0020DC80, SP = 0030BF24, FP = 0030BF44
6163 Frame 7, PC = 0020DC84, SP = 0030BF20, FP = 0030BF44
6164 Frame 8, PC = 0020DC88, SP = 0030BF1C, FP = 0030BF44
6165 Frame 9, PC = 0020DC8E, SP = 0030BF18, FP = 0030BF44
6166 Frame 10, PC = 00203F6C, SP = 0030BE3C, FP = 0030BF14
6169 Or, if we want to examine the variable @code{X} at each source line in
6173 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
6174 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
6175 > printf "Frame %d, X == %d\n", $trace_frame, X
6185 @subsection @code{tdump}
6187 @cindex dump all data collected at tracepoint
6188 @cindex tracepoint data, display
6190 This command takes no arguments. It prints all the data collected at
6191 the current trace snapshot.
6194 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace 444}
6195 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
6196 Enter actions for tracepoint #2, one per line:
6197 > collect $regs, $locals, $args, gdb_long_test
6200 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
6202 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind line 444}
6203 #0 gdb_test (p1=0x11, p2=0x22, p3=0x33, p4=0x44, p5=0x55, p6=0x66)
6205 444 printp( "%s: arguments = 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X\n", )
6207 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tdump}
6208 Data collected at tracepoint 2, trace frame 1:
6209 d0 0xc4aa0085 -995491707
6213 d4 0x71aea3d 119204413
6218 a1 0x3000668 50333288
6221 a4 0x3000698 50333336
6223 fp 0x30bf3c 0x30bf3c
6224 sp 0x30bf34 0x30bf34
6226 pc 0x20b2c8 0x20b2c8
6230 p = 0x20e5b4 "gdb-test"
6237 gdb_long_test = 17 '\021'
6242 @node save-tracepoints
6243 @subsection @code{save-tracepoints @var{filename}}
6244 @kindex save-tracepoints
6245 @cindex save tracepoints for future sessions
6247 This command saves all current tracepoint definitions together with
6248 their actions and passcounts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
6249 suitable for use in a later debugging session. To read the saved
6250 tracepoint definitions, use the @code{source} command (@pxref{Command
6253 @node Tracepoint Variables
6254 @section Convenience Variables for Tracepoints
6255 @cindex tracepoint variables
6256 @cindex convenience variables for tracepoints
6259 @vindex $trace_frame
6260 @item (int) $trace_frame
6261 The current trace snapshot (a.k.a.@: @dfn{frame}) number, or -1 if no
6262 snapshot is selected.
6265 @item (int) $tracepoint
6266 The tracepoint for the current trace snapshot.
6269 @item (int) $trace_line
6270 The line number for the current trace snapshot.
6273 @item (char []) $trace_file
6274 The source file for the current trace snapshot.
6277 @item (char []) $trace_func
6278 The name of the function containing @code{$tracepoint}.
6281 Note: @code{$trace_file} is not suitable for use in @code{printf},
6282 use @code{output} instead.
6284 Here's a simple example of using these convenience variables for
6285 stepping through all the trace snapshots and printing some of their
6289 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
6291 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while $trace_frame != -1}
6292 > output $trace_file
6293 > printf ", line %d (tracepoint #%d)\n", $trace_line, $tracepoint
6299 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages
6302 Although programming languages generally have common aspects, they are
6303 rarely expressed in the same manner. For instance, in ANSI C,
6304 dereferencing a pointer @code{p} is accomplished by @code{*p}, but in
6305 Modula-2, it is accomplished by @code{p^}. Values can also be
6306 represented (and displayed) differently. Hex numbers in C appear as
6307 @samp{0x1ae}, while in Modula-2 they appear as @samp{1AEH}.
6309 @cindex working language
6310 Language-specific information is built into @value{GDBN} for some languages,
6311 allowing you to express operations like the above in your program's
6312 native language, and allowing @value{GDBN} to output values in a manner
6313 consistent with the syntax of your program's native language. The
6314 language you use to build expressions is called the @dfn{working
6318 * Setting:: Switching between source languages
6319 * Show:: Displaying the language
6320 * Checks:: Type and range checks
6321 * Support:: Supported languages
6325 @section Switching between source languages
6327 There are two ways to control the working language---either have @value{GDBN}
6328 set it automatically, or select it manually yourself. You can use the
6329 @code{set language} command for either purpose. On startup, @value{GDBN}
6330 defaults to setting the language automatically. The working language is
6331 used to determine how expressions you type are interpreted, how values
6334 In addition to the working language, every source file that
6335 @value{GDBN} knows about has its own working language. For some object
6336 file formats, the compiler might indicate which language a particular
6337 source file is in. However, most of the time @value{GDBN} infers the
6338 language from the name of the file. The language of a source file
6339 controls whether C@t{++} names are demangled---this way @code{backtrace} can
6340 show each frame appropriately for its own language. There is no way to
6341 set the language of a source file from within @value{GDBN}, but you can
6342 set the language associated with a filename extension. @xref{Show, ,
6343 Displaying the language}.
6345 This is most commonly a problem when you use a program, such
6346 as @code{cfront} or @code{f2c}, that generates C but is written in
6347 another language. In that case, make the
6348 program use @code{#line} directives in its C output; that way
6349 @value{GDBN} will know the correct language of the source code of the original
6350 program, and will display that source code, not the generated C code.
6353 * Filenames:: Filename extensions and languages.
6354 * Manually:: Setting the working language manually
6355 * Automatically:: Having @value{GDBN} infer the source language
6359 @subsection List of filename extensions and languages
6361 If a source file name ends in one of the following extensions, then
6362 @value{GDBN} infers that its language is the one indicated.
6387 Modula-2 source file
6391 Assembler source file. This actually behaves almost like C, but
6392 @value{GDBN} does not skip over function prologues when stepping.
6395 In addition, you may set the language associated with a filename
6396 extension. @xref{Show, , Displaying the language}.
6399 @subsection Setting the working language
6401 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically,
6402 expressions are interpreted the same way in your debugging session and
6405 @kindex set language
6406 If you wish, you may set the language manually. To do this, issue the
6407 command @samp{set language @var{lang}}, where @var{lang} is the name of
6409 @code{c} or @code{modula-2}.
6410 For a list of the supported languages, type @samp{set language}.
6412 Setting the language manually prevents @value{GDBN} from updating the working
6413 language automatically. This can lead to confusion if you try
6414 to debug a program when the working language is not the same as the
6415 source language, when an expression is acceptable to both
6416 languages---but means different things. For instance, if the current
6417 source file were written in C, and @value{GDBN} was parsing Modula-2, a
6425 might not have the effect you intended. In C, this means to add
6426 @code{b} and @code{c} and place the result in @code{a}. The result
6427 printed would be the value of @code{a}. In Modula-2, this means to compare
6428 @code{a} to the result of @code{b+c}, yielding a @code{BOOLEAN} value.
6431 @subsection Having @value{GDBN} infer the source language
6433 To have @value{GDBN} set the working language automatically, use
6434 @samp{set language local} or @samp{set language auto}. @value{GDBN}
6435 then infers the working language. That is, when your program stops in a
6436 frame (usually by encountering a breakpoint), @value{GDBN} sets the
6437 working language to the language recorded for the function in that
6438 frame. If the language for a frame is unknown (that is, if the function
6439 or block corresponding to the frame was defined in a source file that
6440 does not have a recognized extension), the current working language is
6441 not changed, and @value{GDBN} issues a warning.
6443 This may not seem necessary for most programs, which are written
6444 entirely in one source language. However, program modules and libraries
6445 written in one source language can be used by a main program written in
6446 a different source language. Using @samp{set language auto} in this
6447 case frees you from having to set the working language manually.
6450 @section Displaying the language
6452 The following commands help you find out which language is the
6453 working language, and also what language source files were written in.
6455 @kindex show language
6456 @kindex info frame@r{, show the source language}
6457 @kindex info source@r{, show the source language}
6460 Display the current working language. This is the
6461 language you can use with commands such as @code{print} to
6462 build and compute expressions that may involve variables in your program.
6465 Display the source language for this frame. This language becomes the
6466 working language if you use an identifier from this frame.
6467 @xref{Frame Info, ,Information about a frame}, to identify the other
6468 information listed here.
6471 Display the source language of this source file.
6472 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, to identify the other
6473 information listed here.
6476 In unusual circumstances, you may have source files with extensions
6477 not in the standard list. You can then set the extension associated
6478 with a language explicitly:
6480 @kindex set extension-language
6481 @kindex info extensions
6483 @item set extension-language @var{.ext} @var{language}
6484 Set source files with extension @var{.ext} to be assumed to be in
6485 the source language @var{language}.
6487 @item info extensions
6488 List all the filename extensions and the associated languages.
6492 @section Type and range checking
6495 @emph{Warning:} In this release, the @value{GDBN} commands for type and range
6496 checking are included, but they do not yet have any effect. This
6497 section documents the intended facilities.
6499 @c FIXME remove warning when type/range code added
6501 Some languages are designed to guard you against making seemingly common
6502 errors through a series of compile- and run-time checks. These include
6503 checking the type of arguments to functions and operators, and making
6504 sure mathematical overflows are caught at run time. Checks such as
6505 these help to ensure a program's correctness once it has been compiled
6506 by eliminating type mismatches, and providing active checks for range
6507 errors when your program is running.
6509 @value{GDBN} can check for conditions like the above if you wish.
6510 Although @value{GDBN} does not check the statements in your program, it
6511 can check expressions entered directly into @value{GDBN} for evaluation via
6512 the @code{print} command, for example. As with the working language,
6513 @value{GDBN} can also decide whether or not to check automatically based on
6514 your program's source language. @xref{Support, ,Supported languages},
6515 for the default settings of supported languages.
6518 * Type Checking:: An overview of type checking
6519 * Range Checking:: An overview of range checking
6522 @cindex type checking
6523 @cindex checks, type
6525 @subsection An overview of type checking
6527 Some languages, such as Modula-2, are strongly typed, meaning that the
6528 arguments to operators and functions have to be of the correct type,
6529 otherwise an error occurs. These checks prevent type mismatch
6530 errors from ever causing any run-time problems. For example,
6538 The second example fails because the @code{CARDINAL} 1 is not
6539 type-compatible with the @code{REAL} 2.3.
6541 For the expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell the
6542 @value{GDBN} type checker to skip checking;
6543 to treat any mismatches as errors and abandon the expression;
6544 or to only issue warnings when type mismatches occur,
6545 but evaluate the expression anyway. When you choose the last of
6546 these, @value{GDBN} evaluates expressions like the second example above, but
6547 also issues a warning.
6549 Even if you turn type checking off, there may be other reasons
6550 related to type that prevent @value{GDBN} from evaluating an expression.
6551 For instance, @value{GDBN} does not know how to add an @code{int} and
6552 a @code{struct foo}. These particular type errors have nothing to do
6553 with the language in use, and usually arise from expressions, such as
6554 the one described above, which make little sense to evaluate anyway.
6556 Each language defines to what degree it is strict about type. For
6557 instance, both Modula-2 and C require the arguments to arithmetical
6558 operators to be numbers. In C, enumerated types and pointers can be
6559 represented as numbers, so that they are valid arguments to mathematical
6560 operators. @xref{Support, ,Supported languages}, for further
6561 details on specific languages.
6563 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the type checker:
6565 @kindex set check@r{, type}
6566 @kindex set check type
6567 @kindex show check type
6569 @item set check type auto
6570 Set type checking on or off based on the current working language.
6571 @xref{Support, ,Supported languages}, for the default settings for
6574 @item set check type on
6575 @itemx set check type off
6576 Set type checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
6577 current working language. Issue a warning if the setting does not
6578 match the language default. If any type mismatches occur in
6579 evaluating an expression while type checking is on, @value{GDBN} prints a
6580 message and aborts evaluation of the expression.
6582 @item set check type warn
6583 Cause the type checker to issue warnings, but to always attempt to
6584 evaluate the expression. Evaluating the expression may still
6585 be impossible for other reasons. For example, @value{GDBN} cannot add
6586 numbers and structures.
6589 Show the current setting of the type checker, and whether or not @value{GDBN}
6590 is setting it automatically.
6593 @cindex range checking
6594 @cindex checks, range
6595 @node Range Checking
6596 @subsection An overview of range checking
6598 In some languages (such as Modula-2), it is an error to exceed the
6599 bounds of a type; this is enforced with run-time checks. Such range
6600 checking is meant to ensure program correctness by making sure
6601 computations do not overflow, or indices on an array element access do
6602 not exceed the bounds of the array.
6604 For expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell
6605 @value{GDBN} to treat range errors in one of three ways: ignore them,
6606 always treat them as errors and abandon the expression, or issue
6607 warnings but evaluate the expression anyway.
6609 A range error can result from numerical overflow, from exceeding an
6610 array index bound, or when you type a constant that is not a member
6611 of any type. Some languages, however, do not treat overflows as an
6612 error. In many implementations of C, mathematical overflow causes the
6613 result to ``wrap around'' to lower values---for example, if @var{m} is
6614 the largest integer value, and @var{s} is the smallest, then
6617 @var{m} + 1 @result{} @var{s}
6620 This, too, is specific to individual languages, and in some cases
6621 specific to individual compilers or machines. @xref{Support, ,
6622 Supported languages}, for further details on specific languages.
6624 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the range checker:
6626 @kindex set check@r{, range}
6627 @kindex set check range
6628 @kindex show check range
6630 @item set check range auto
6631 Set range checking on or off based on the current working language.
6632 @xref{Support, ,Supported languages}, for the default settings for
6635 @item set check range on
6636 @itemx set check range off
6637 Set range checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
6638 current working language. A warning is issued if the setting does not
6639 match the language default. If a range error occurs and range checking is on,
6640 then a message is printed and evaluation of the expression is aborted.
6642 @item set check range warn
6643 Output messages when the @value{GDBN} range checker detects a range error,
6644 but attempt to evaluate the expression anyway. Evaluating the
6645 expression may still be impossible for other reasons, such as accessing
6646 memory that the process does not own (a typical example from many Unix
6650 Show the current setting of the range checker, and whether or not it is
6651 being set automatically by @value{GDBN}.
6655 @section Supported languages
6657 @value{GDBN} supports C, C@t{++}, Fortran, Java, Chill, assembly, and Modula-2.
6658 @c This is false ...
6659 Some @value{GDBN} features may be used in expressions regardless of the
6660 language you use: the @value{GDBN} @code{@@} and @code{::} operators,
6661 and the @samp{@{type@}addr} construct (@pxref{Expressions,
6662 ,Expressions}) can be used with the constructs of any supported
6665 The following sections detail to what degree each source language is
6666 supported by @value{GDBN}. These sections are not meant to be language
6667 tutorials or references, but serve only as a reference guide to what the
6668 @value{GDBN} expression parser accepts, and what input and output
6669 formats should look like for different languages. There are many good
6670 books written on each of these languages; please look to these for a
6671 language reference or tutorial.
6675 * Modula-2:: Modula-2
6680 @subsection C and C@t{++}
6682 @cindex C and C@t{++}
6683 @cindex expressions in C or C@t{++}
6685 Since C and C@t{++} are so closely related, many features of @value{GDBN} apply
6686 to both languages. Whenever this is the case, we discuss those languages
6690 @cindex @code{g++}, @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler
6691 @cindex @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
6692 The C@t{++} debugging facilities are jointly implemented by the C@t{++}
6693 compiler and @value{GDBN}. Therefore, to debug your C@t{++} code
6694 effectively, you must compile your C@t{++} programs with a supported
6695 C@t{++} compiler, such as @sc{gnu} @code{g++}, or the HP ANSI C@t{++}
6696 compiler (@code{aCC}).
6698 For best results when using @sc{gnu} C@t{++}, use the stabs debugging
6699 format. You can select that format explicitly with the @code{g++}
6700 command-line options @samp{-gstabs} or @samp{-gstabs+}. See
6701 @ref{Debugging Options,,Options for Debugging Your Program or @sc{gnu}
6702 CC, gcc.info, Using @sc{gnu} CC}, for more information.
6705 * C Operators:: C and C@t{++} operators
6706 * C Constants:: C and C@t{++} constants
6707 * C plus plus expressions:: C@t{++} expressions
6708 * C Defaults:: Default settings for C and C@t{++}
6709 * C Checks:: C and C@t{++} type and range checks
6710 * Debugging C:: @value{GDBN} and C
6711 * Debugging C plus plus:: @value{GDBN} features for C@t{++}
6715 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} operators
6717 @cindex C and C@t{++} operators
6719 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
6720 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
6721 often defined on groups of types.
6723 For the purposes of C and C@t{++}, the following definitions hold:
6728 @emph{Integral types} include @code{int} with any of its storage-class
6729 specifiers; @code{char}; @code{enum}; and, for C@t{++}, @code{bool}.
6732 @emph{Floating-point types} include @code{float}, @code{double}, and
6733 @code{long double} (if supported by the target platform).
6736 @emph{Pointer types} include all types defined as @code{(@var{type} *)}.
6739 @emph{Scalar types} include all of the above.
6744 The following operators are supported. They are listed here
6745 in order of increasing precedence:
6749 The comma or sequencing operator. Expressions in a comma-separated list
6750 are evaluated from left to right, with the result of the entire
6751 expression being the last expression evaluated.
6754 Assignment. The value of an assignment expression is the value
6755 assigned. Defined on scalar types.
6758 Used in an expression of the form @w{@code{@var{a} @var{op}= @var{b}}},
6759 and translated to @w{@code{@var{a} = @var{a op b}}}.
6760 @w{@code{@var{op}=}} and @code{=} have the same precedence.
6761 @var{op} is any one of the operators @code{|}, @code{^}, @code{&},
6762 @code{<<}, @code{>>}, @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{%}.
6765 The ternary operator. @code{@var{a} ? @var{b} : @var{c}} can be thought
6766 of as: if @var{a} then @var{b} else @var{c}. @var{a} should be of an
6770 Logical @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
6773 Logical @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
6776 Bitwise @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
6779 Bitwise exclusive-@sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
6782 Bitwise @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
6785 Equality and inequality. Defined on scalar types. The value of these
6786 expressions is 0 for false and non-zero for true.
6788 @item <@r{, }>@r{, }<=@r{, }>=
6789 Less than, greater than, less than or equal, greater than or equal.
6790 Defined on scalar types. The value of these expressions is 0 for false
6791 and non-zero for true.
6794 left shift, and right shift. Defined on integral types.
6797 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
6800 Addition and subtraction. Defined on integral types, floating-point types and
6803 @item *@r{, }/@r{, }%
6804 Multiplication, division, and modulus. Multiplication and division are
6805 defined on integral and floating-point types. Modulus is defined on
6809 Increment and decrement. When appearing before a variable, the
6810 operation is performed before the variable is used in an expression;
6811 when appearing after it, the variable's value is used before the
6812 operation takes place.
6815 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types. Same precedence as
6819 Address operator. Defined on variables. Same precedence as @code{++}.
6821 For debugging C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} implements a use of @samp{&} beyond what is
6822 allowed in the C@t{++} language itself: you can use @samp{&(&@var{ref})}
6823 (or, if you prefer, simply @samp{&&@var{ref}}) to examine the address
6824 where a C@t{++} reference variable (declared with @samp{&@var{ref}}) is
6828 Negative. Defined on integral and floating-point types. Same
6829 precedence as @code{++}.
6832 Logical negation. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
6836 Bitwise complement operator. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
6841 Structure member, and pointer-to-structure member. For convenience,
6842 @value{GDBN} regards the two as equivalent, choosing whether to dereference a
6843 pointer based on the stored type information.
6844 Defined on @code{struct} and @code{union} data.
6847 Dereferences of pointers to members.
6850 Array indexing. @code{@var{a}[@var{i}]} is defined as
6851 @code{*(@var{a}+@var{i})}. Same precedence as @code{->}.
6854 Function parameter list. Same precedence as @code{->}.
6857 C@t{++} scope resolution operator. Defined on @code{struct}, @code{union},
6858 and @code{class} types.
6861 Doubled colons also represent the @value{GDBN} scope operator
6862 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). Same precedence as @code{::},
6866 If an operator is redefined in the user code, @value{GDBN} usually
6867 attempts to invoke the redefined version instead of using the operator's
6875 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} constants
6877 @cindex C and C@t{++} constants
6879 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of C and C@t{++} in the
6884 Integer constants are a sequence of digits. Octal constants are
6885 specified by a leading @samp{0} (i.e. zero), and hexadecimal constants by
6886 a leading @samp{0x} or @samp{0X}. Constants may also end with a letter
6887 @samp{l}, specifying that the constant should be treated as a
6891 Floating point constants are a sequence of digits, followed by a decimal
6892 point, followed by a sequence of digits, and optionally followed by an
6893 exponent. An exponent is of the form:
6894 @samp{@w{e@r{[[}+@r{]|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}}, where @var{nnn} is another
6895 sequence of digits. The @samp{+} is optional for positive exponents.
6896 A floating-point constant may also end with a letter @samp{f} or
6897 @samp{F}, specifying that the constant should be treated as being of
6898 the @code{float} (as opposed to the default @code{double}) type; or with
6899 a letter @samp{l} or @samp{L}, which specifies a @code{long double}
6903 Enumerated constants consist of enumerated identifiers, or their
6904 integral equivalents.
6907 Character constants are a single character surrounded by single quotes
6908 (@code{'}), or a number---the ordinal value of the corresponding character
6909 (usually its @sc{ascii} value). Within quotes, the single character may
6910 be represented by a letter or by @dfn{escape sequences}, which are of
6911 the form @samp{\@var{nnn}}, where @var{nnn} is the octal representation
6912 of the character's ordinal value; or of the form @samp{\@var{x}}, where
6913 @samp{@var{x}} is a predefined special character---for example,
6914 @samp{\n} for newline.
6917 String constants are a sequence of character constants surrounded by
6918 double quotes (@code{"}). Any valid character constant (as described
6919 above) may appear. Double quotes within the string must be preceded by
6920 a backslash, so for instance @samp{"a\"b'c"} is a string of five
6924 Pointer constants are an integral value. You can also write pointers
6925 to constants using the C operator @samp{&}.
6928 Array constants are comma-separated lists surrounded by braces @samp{@{}
6929 and @samp{@}}; for example, @samp{@{1,2,3@}} is a three-element array of
6930 integers, @samp{@{@{1,2@}, @{3,4@}, @{5,6@}@}} is a three-by-two array,
6931 and @samp{@{&"hi", &"there", &"fred"@}} is a three-element array of pointers.
6935 * C plus plus expressions::
6942 @node C plus plus expressions
6943 @subsubsection C@t{++} expressions
6945 @cindex expressions in C@t{++}
6946 @value{GDBN} expression handling can interpret most C@t{++} expressions.
6948 @cindex C@t{++} support, not in @sc{coff}
6949 @cindex @sc{coff} versus C@t{++}
6950 @cindex C@t{++} and object formats
6951 @cindex object formats and C@t{++}
6952 @cindex a.out and C@t{++}
6953 @cindex @sc{ecoff} and C@t{++}
6954 @cindex @sc{xcoff} and C@t{++}
6955 @cindex @sc{elf}/stabs and C@t{++}
6956 @cindex @sc{elf}/@sc{dwarf} and C@t{++}
6957 @c FIXME!! GDB may eventually be able to debug C++ using DWARF; check
6958 @c periodically whether this has happened...
6960 @emph{Warning:} @value{GDBN} can only debug C@t{++} code if you use the
6961 proper compiler. Typically, C@t{++} debugging depends on the use of
6962 additional debugging information in the symbol table, and thus requires
6963 special support. In particular, if your compiler generates a.out, MIPS
6964 @sc{ecoff}, RS/6000 @sc{xcoff}, or @sc{elf} with stabs extensions to the
6965 symbol table, these facilities are all available. (With @sc{gnu} CC,
6966 you can use the @samp{-gstabs} option to request stabs debugging
6967 extensions explicitly.) Where the object code format is standard
6968 @sc{coff} or @sc{dwarf} in @sc{elf}, on the other hand, most of the C@t{++}
6969 support in @value{GDBN} does @emph{not} work.
6974 @cindex member functions
6976 Member function calls are allowed; you can use expressions like
6979 count = aml->GetOriginal(x, y)
6982 @vindex this@r{, inside C@t{++} member functions}
6983 @cindex namespace in C@t{++}
6985 While a member function is active (in the selected stack frame), your
6986 expressions have the same namespace available as the member function;
6987 that is, @value{GDBN} allows implicit references to the class instance
6988 pointer @code{this} following the same rules as C@t{++}.
6990 @cindex call overloaded functions
6991 @cindex overloaded functions, calling
6992 @cindex type conversions in C@t{++}
6994 You can call overloaded functions; @value{GDBN} resolves the function
6995 call to the right definition, with some restrictions. @value{GDBN} does not
6996 perform overload resolution involving user-defined type conversions,
6997 calls to constructors, or instantiations of templates that do not exist
6998 in the program. It also cannot handle ellipsis argument lists or
7001 It does perform integral conversions and promotions, floating-point
7002 promotions, arithmetic conversions, pointer conversions, conversions of
7003 class objects to base classes, and standard conversions such as those of
7004 functions or arrays to pointers; it requires an exact match on the
7005 number of function arguments.
7007 Overload resolution is always performed, unless you have specified
7008 @code{set overload-resolution off}. @xref{Debugging C plus plus,
7009 ,@value{GDBN} features for C@t{++}}.
7011 You must specify @code{set overload-resolution off} in order to use an
7012 explicit function signature to call an overloaded function, as in
7014 p 'foo(char,int)'('x', 13)
7017 The @value{GDBN} command-completion facility can simplify this;
7018 see @ref{Completion, ,Command completion}.
7020 @cindex reference declarations
7022 @value{GDBN} understands variables declared as C@t{++} references; you can use
7023 them in expressions just as you do in C@t{++} source---they are automatically
7026 In the parameter list shown when @value{GDBN} displays a frame, the values of
7027 reference variables are not displayed (unlike other variables); this
7028 avoids clutter, since references are often used for large structures.
7029 The @emph{address} of a reference variable is always shown, unless
7030 you have specified @samp{set print address off}.
7033 @value{GDBN} supports the C@t{++} name resolution operator @code{::}---your
7034 expressions can use it just as expressions in your program do. Since
7035 one scope may be defined in another, you can use @code{::} repeatedly if
7036 necessary, for example in an expression like
7037 @samp{@var{scope1}::@var{scope2}::@var{name}}. @value{GDBN} also allows
7038 resolving name scope by reference to source files, in both C and C@t{++}
7039 debugging (@pxref{Variables, ,Program variables}).
7042 In addition, when used with HP's C@t{++} compiler, @value{GDBN} supports
7043 calling virtual functions correctly, printing out virtual bases of
7044 objects, calling functions in a base subobject, casting objects, and
7045 invoking user-defined operators.
7048 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} defaults
7050 @cindex C and C@t{++} defaults
7052 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set type and range checking automatically, they
7053 both default to @code{off} whenever the working language changes to
7054 C or C@t{++}. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
7055 selects the working language.
7057 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, it
7058 recognizes source files whose names end with @file{.c}, @file{.C}, or
7059 @file{.cc}, etc, and when @value{GDBN} enters code compiled from one of
7060 these files, it sets the working language to C or C@t{++}.
7061 @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN} infer the source language},
7062 for further details.
7064 @c Type checking is (a) primarily motivated by Modula-2, and (b)
7065 @c unimplemented. If (b) changes, it might make sense to let this node
7066 @c appear even if Mod-2 does not, but meanwhile ignore it. roland 16jul93.
7069 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} type and range checks
7071 @cindex C and C@t{++} checks
7073 By default, when @value{GDBN} parses C or C@t{++} expressions, type checking
7074 is not used. However, if you turn type checking on, @value{GDBN}
7075 considers two variables type equivalent if:
7079 The two variables are structured and have the same structure, union, or
7083 The two variables have the same type name, or types that have been
7084 declared equivalent through @code{typedef}.
7087 @c leaving this out because neither J Gilmore nor R Pesch understand it.
7090 The two @code{struct}, @code{union}, or @code{enum} variables are
7091 declared in the same declaration. (Note: this may not be true for all C
7096 Range checking, if turned on, is done on mathematical operations. Array
7097 indices are not checked, since they are often used to index a pointer
7098 that is not itself an array.
7101 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and C
7103 The @code{set print union} and @code{show print union} commands apply to
7104 the @code{union} type. When set to @samp{on}, any @code{union} that is
7105 inside a @code{struct} or @code{class} is also printed. Otherwise, it
7106 appears as @samp{@{...@}}.
7108 The @code{@@} operator aids in the debugging of dynamic arrays, formed
7109 with pointers and a memory allocation function. @xref{Expressions,
7113 * Debugging C plus plus::
7116 @node Debugging C plus plus
7117 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} features for C@t{++}
7119 @cindex commands for C@t{++}
7121 Some @value{GDBN} commands are particularly useful with C@t{++}, and some are
7122 designed specifically for use with C@t{++}. Here is a summary:
7125 @cindex break in overloaded functions
7126 @item @r{breakpoint menus}
7127 When you want a breakpoint in a function whose name is overloaded,
7128 @value{GDBN} breakpoint menus help you specify which function definition
7129 you want. @xref{Breakpoint Menus,,Breakpoint menus}.
7131 @cindex overloading in C@t{++}
7132 @item rbreak @var{regex}
7133 Setting breakpoints using regular expressions is helpful for setting
7134 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
7136 @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting breakpoints}.
7138 @cindex C@t{++} exception handling
7141 Debug C@t{++} exception handling using these commands. @xref{Set
7142 Catchpoints, , Setting catchpoints}.
7145 @item ptype @var{typename}
7146 Print inheritance relationships as well as other information for type
7148 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
7150 @cindex C@t{++} symbol display
7151 @item set print demangle
7152 @itemx show print demangle
7153 @itemx set print asm-demangle
7154 @itemx show print asm-demangle
7155 Control whether C@t{++} symbols display in their source form, both when
7156 displaying code as C@t{++} source and when displaying disassemblies.
7157 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print settings}.
7159 @item set print object
7160 @itemx show print object
7161 Choose whether to print derived (actual) or declared types of objects.
7162 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print settings}.
7164 @item set print vtbl
7165 @itemx show print vtbl
7166 Control the format for printing virtual function tables.
7167 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print settings}.
7168 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
7169 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
7171 @kindex set overload-resolution
7172 @cindex overloaded functions, overload resolution
7173 @item set overload-resolution on
7174 Enable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. The default
7175 is on. For overloaded functions, @value{GDBN} evaluates the arguments
7176 and searches for a function whose signature matches the argument types,
7177 using the standard C@t{++} conversion rules (see @ref{C plus plus expressions, ,C@t{++}
7178 expressions}, for details). If it cannot find a match, it emits a
7181 @item set overload-resolution off
7182 Disable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. For
7183 overloaded functions that are not class member functions, @value{GDBN}
7184 chooses the first function of the specified name that it finds in the
7185 symbol table, whether or not its arguments are of the correct type. For
7186 overloaded functions that are class member functions, @value{GDBN}
7187 searches for a function whose signature @emph{exactly} matches the
7190 @item @r{Overloaded symbol names}
7191 You can specify a particular definition of an overloaded symbol, using
7192 the same notation that is used to declare such symbols in C@t{++}: type
7193 @code{@var{symbol}(@var{types})} rather than just @var{symbol}. You can
7194 also use the @value{GDBN} command-line word completion facilities to list the
7195 available choices, or to finish the type list for you.
7196 @xref{Completion,, Command completion}, for details on how to do this.
7200 @subsection Modula-2
7202 @cindex Modula-2, @value{GDBN} support
7204 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} to support Modula-2 only support
7205 output from the @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler (which is currently being
7206 developed). Other Modula-2 compilers are not currently supported, and
7207 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
7208 to give an error as @value{GDBN} reads in the executable's symbol
7211 @cindex expressions in Modula-2
7213 * M2 Operators:: Built-in operators
7214 * Built-In Func/Proc:: Built-in functions and procedures
7215 * M2 Constants:: Modula-2 constants
7216 * M2 Defaults:: Default settings for Modula-2
7217 * Deviations:: Deviations from standard Modula-2
7218 * M2 Checks:: Modula-2 type and range checks
7219 * M2 Scope:: The scope operators @code{::} and @code{.}
7220 * GDB/M2:: @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
7224 @subsubsection Operators
7225 @cindex Modula-2 operators
7227 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
7228 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
7229 often defined on groups of types. For the purposes of Modula-2, the
7230 following definitions hold:
7235 @emph{Integral types} consist of @code{INTEGER}, @code{CARDINAL}, and
7239 @emph{Character types} consist of @code{CHAR} and its subranges.
7242 @emph{Floating-point types} consist of @code{REAL}.
7245 @emph{Pointer types} consist of anything declared as @code{POINTER TO
7249 @emph{Scalar types} consist of all of the above.
7252 @emph{Set types} consist of @code{SET} and @code{BITSET} types.
7255 @emph{Boolean types} consist of @code{BOOLEAN}.
7259 The following operators are supported, and appear in order of
7260 increasing precedence:
7264 Function argument or array index separator.
7267 Assignment. The value of @var{var} @code{:=} @var{value} is
7271 Less than, greater than on integral, floating-point, or enumerated
7275 Less than or equal to, greater than or equal to
7276 on integral, floating-point and enumerated types, or set inclusion on
7277 set types. Same precedence as @code{<}.
7279 @item =@r{, }<>@r{, }#
7280 Equality and two ways of expressing inequality, valid on scalar types.
7281 Same precedence as @code{<}. In @value{GDBN} scripts, only @code{<>} is
7282 available for inequality, since @code{#} conflicts with the script
7286 Set membership. Defined on set types and the types of their members.
7287 Same precedence as @code{<}.
7290 Boolean disjunction. Defined on boolean types.
7293 Boolean conjunction. Defined on boolean types.
7296 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
7299 Addition and subtraction on integral and floating-point types, or union
7300 and difference on set types.
7303 Multiplication on integral and floating-point types, or set intersection
7307 Division on floating-point types, or symmetric set difference on set
7308 types. Same precedence as @code{*}.
7311 Integer division and remainder. Defined on integral types. Same
7312 precedence as @code{*}.
7315 Negative. Defined on @code{INTEGER} and @code{REAL} data.
7318 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types.
7321 Boolean negation. Defined on boolean types. Same precedence as
7325 @code{RECORD} field selector. Defined on @code{RECORD} data. Same
7326 precedence as @code{^}.
7329 Array indexing. Defined on @code{ARRAY} data. Same precedence as @code{^}.
7332 Procedure argument list. Defined on @code{PROCEDURE} objects. Same precedence
7336 @value{GDBN} and Modula-2 scope operators.
7340 @emph{Warning:} Sets and their operations are not yet supported, so @value{GDBN}
7341 treats the use of the operator @code{IN}, or the use of operators
7342 @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{=}, , @code{<>}, @code{#},
7343 @code{<=}, and @code{>=} on sets as an error.
7347 @node Built-In Func/Proc
7348 @subsubsection Built-in functions and procedures
7349 @cindex Modula-2 built-ins
7351 Modula-2 also makes available several built-in procedures and functions.
7352 In describing these, the following metavariables are used:
7357 represents an @code{ARRAY} variable.
7360 represents a @code{CHAR} constant or variable.
7363 represents a variable or constant of integral type.
7366 represents an identifier that belongs to a set. Generally used in the
7367 same function with the metavariable @var{s}. The type of @var{s} should
7368 be @code{SET OF @var{mtype}} (where @var{mtype} is the type of @var{m}).
7371 represents a variable or constant of integral or floating-point type.
7374 represents a variable or constant of floating-point type.
7380 represents a variable.
7383 represents a variable or constant of one of many types. See the
7384 explanation of the function for details.
7387 All Modula-2 built-in procedures also return a result, described below.
7391 Returns the absolute value of @var{n}.
7394 If @var{c} is a lower case letter, it returns its upper case
7395 equivalent, otherwise it returns its argument.
7398 Returns the character whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
7401 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
7403 @item DEC(@var{v},@var{i})
7404 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
7407 @item EXCL(@var{m},@var{s})
7408 Removes the element @var{m} from the set @var{s}. Returns the new
7411 @item FLOAT(@var{i})
7412 Returns the floating point equivalent of the integer @var{i}.
7415 Returns the index of the last member of @var{a}.
7418 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
7420 @item INC(@var{v},@var{i})
7421 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
7424 @item INCL(@var{m},@var{s})
7425 Adds the element @var{m} to the set @var{s} if it is not already
7426 there. Returns the new set.
7429 Returns the maximum value of the type @var{t}.
7432 Returns the minimum value of the type @var{t}.
7435 Returns boolean TRUE if @var{i} is an odd number.
7438 Returns the ordinal value of its argument. For example, the ordinal
7439 value of a character is its @sc{ascii} value (on machines supporting the
7440 @sc{ascii} character set). @var{x} must be of an ordered type, which include
7441 integral, character and enumerated types.
7444 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
7446 @item TRUNC(@var{r})
7447 Returns the integral part of @var{r}.
7449 @item VAL(@var{t},@var{i})
7450 Returns the member of the type @var{t} whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
7454 @emph{Warning:} Sets and their operations are not yet supported, so
7455 @value{GDBN} treats the use of procedures @code{INCL} and @code{EXCL} as
7459 @cindex Modula-2 constants
7461 @subsubsection Constants
7463 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of Modula-2 in the following
7469 Integer constants are simply a sequence of digits. When used in an
7470 expression, a constant is interpreted to be type-compatible with the
7471 rest of the expression. Hexadecimal integers are specified by a
7472 trailing @samp{H}, and octal integers by a trailing @samp{B}.
7475 Floating point constants appear as a sequence of digits, followed by a
7476 decimal point and another sequence of digits. An optional exponent can
7477 then be specified, in the form @samp{E@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}, where
7478 @samp{@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}} is the desired exponent. All of the
7479 digits of the floating point constant must be valid decimal (base 10)
7483 Character constants consist of a single character enclosed by a pair of
7484 like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}). They may
7485 also be expressed by their ordinal value (their @sc{ascii} value, usually)
7486 followed by a @samp{C}.
7489 String constants consist of a sequence of characters enclosed by a
7490 pair of like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}).
7491 Escape sequences in the style of C are also allowed. @xref{C
7492 Constants, ,C and C@t{++} constants}, for a brief explanation of escape
7496 Enumerated constants consist of an enumerated identifier.
7499 Boolean constants consist of the identifiers @code{TRUE} and
7503 Pointer constants consist of integral values only.
7506 Set constants are not yet supported.
7510 @subsubsection Modula-2 defaults
7511 @cindex Modula-2 defaults
7513 If type and range checking are set automatically by @value{GDBN}, they
7514 both default to @code{on} whenever the working language changes to
7515 Modula-2. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
7516 selected the working language.
7518 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, then entering
7519 code compiled from a file whose name ends with @file{.mod} sets the
7520 working language to Modula-2. @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN} set
7521 the language automatically}, for further details.
7524 @subsubsection Deviations from standard Modula-2
7525 @cindex Modula-2, deviations from
7527 A few changes have been made to make Modula-2 programs easier to debug.
7528 This is done primarily via loosening its type strictness:
7532 Unlike in standard Modula-2, pointer constants can be formed by
7533 integers. This allows you to modify pointer variables during
7534 debugging. (In standard Modula-2, the actual address contained in a
7535 pointer variable is hidden from you; it can only be modified
7536 through direct assignment to another pointer variable or expression that
7537 returned a pointer.)
7540 C escape sequences can be used in strings and characters to represent
7541 non-printable characters. @value{GDBN} prints out strings with these
7542 escape sequences embedded. Single non-printable characters are
7543 printed using the @samp{CHR(@var{nnn})} format.
7546 The assignment operator (@code{:=}) returns the value of its right-hand
7550 All built-in procedures both modify @emph{and} return their argument.
7554 @subsubsection Modula-2 type and range checks
7555 @cindex Modula-2 checks
7558 @emph{Warning:} in this release, @value{GDBN} does not yet perform type or
7561 @c FIXME remove warning when type/range checks added
7563 @value{GDBN} considers two Modula-2 variables type equivalent if:
7567 They are of types that have been declared equivalent via a @code{TYPE
7568 @var{t1} = @var{t2}} statement
7571 They have been declared on the same line. (Note: This is true of the
7572 @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler, but it may not be true of other compilers.)
7575 As long as type checking is enabled, any attempt to combine variables
7576 whose types are not equivalent is an error.
7578 Range checking is done on all mathematical operations, assignment, array
7579 index bounds, and all built-in functions and procedures.
7582 @subsubsection The scope operators @code{::} and @code{.}
7584 @cindex @code{.}, Modula-2 scope operator
7585 @cindex colon, doubled as scope operator
7587 @vindex colon-colon@r{, in Modula-2}
7588 @c Info cannot handle :: but TeX can.
7591 @vindex ::@r{, in Modula-2}
7594 There are a few subtle differences between the Modula-2 scope operator
7595 (@code{.}) and the @value{GDBN} scope operator (@code{::}). The two have
7600 @var{module} . @var{id}
7601 @var{scope} :: @var{id}
7605 where @var{scope} is the name of a module or a procedure,
7606 @var{module} the name of a module, and @var{id} is any declared
7607 identifier within your program, except another module.
7609 Using the @code{::} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the scope
7610 specified by @var{scope} for the identifier @var{id}. If it is not
7611 found in the specified scope, then @value{GDBN} searches all scopes
7612 enclosing the one specified by @var{scope}.
7614 Using the @code{.} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the current scope for
7615 the identifier specified by @var{id} that was imported from the
7616 definition module specified by @var{module}. With this operator, it is
7617 an error if the identifier @var{id} was not imported from definition
7618 module @var{module}, or if @var{id} is not an identifier in
7622 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
7624 Some @value{GDBN} commands have little use when debugging Modula-2 programs.
7625 Five subcommands of @code{set print} and @code{show print} apply
7626 specifically to C and C@t{++}: @samp{vtbl}, @samp{demangle},
7627 @samp{asm-demangle}, @samp{object}, and @samp{union}. The first four
7628 apply to C@t{++}, and the last to the C @code{union} type, which has no direct
7629 analogue in Modula-2.
7631 The @code{@@} operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), while available
7632 with any language, is not useful with Modula-2. Its
7633 intent is to aid the debugging of @dfn{dynamic arrays}, which cannot be
7634 created in Modula-2 as they can in C or C@t{++}. However, because an
7635 address can be specified by an integral constant, the construct
7636 @samp{@{@var{type}@}@var{adrexp}} is still useful.
7638 @cindex @code{#} in Modula-2
7639 In @value{GDBN} scripts, the Modula-2 inequality operator @code{#} is
7640 interpreted as the beginning of a comment. Use @code{<>} instead.
7645 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} to support Chill only support output
7646 from the @sc{gnu} Chill compiler. Other Chill compilers are not currently
7647 supported, and attempting to debug executables produced by them is most
7648 likely to give an error as @value{GDBN} reads in the executable's symbol
7651 @c This used to say "... following Chill related topics ...", but since
7652 @c menus are not shown in the printed manual, it would look awkward.
7653 This section covers the Chill related topics and the features
7654 of @value{GDBN} which support these topics.
7657 * How modes are displayed:: How modes are displayed
7658 * Locations:: Locations and their accesses
7659 * Values and their Operations:: Values and their Operations
7660 * Chill type and range checks::
7664 @node How modes are displayed
7665 @subsubsection How modes are displayed
7667 The Chill Datatype- (Mode) support of @value{GDBN} is directly related
7668 with the functionality of the @sc{gnu} Chill compiler, and therefore deviates
7669 slightly from the standard specification of the Chill language. The
7672 @c FIXME: this @table's contents effectively disable @code by using @r
7673 @c on every @item. So why does it need @code?
7675 @item @r{@emph{Discrete modes:}}
7678 @emph{Integer Modes} which are predefined by @code{BYTE, UBYTE, INT,
7681 @emph{Boolean Mode} which is predefined by @code{BOOL},
7683 @emph{Character Mode} which is predefined by @code{CHAR},
7685 @emph{Set Mode} which is displayed by the keyword @code{SET}.
7687 (@value{GDBP}) ptype x
7688 type = SET (karli = 10, susi = 20, fritzi = 100)
7690 If the type is an unnumbered set the set element values are omitted.
7692 @emph{Range Mode} which is displayed by
7694 @code{type = <basemode>(<lower bound> : <upper bound>)}
7696 where @code{<lower bound>, <upper bound>} can be of any discrete literal
7697 expression (e.g. set element names).
7700 @item @r{@emph{Powerset Mode:}}
7701 A Powerset Mode is displayed by the keyword @code{POWERSET} followed by
7702 the member mode of the powerset. The member mode can be any discrete mode.
7704 (@value{GDBP}) ptype x
7705 type = POWERSET SET (egon, hugo, otto)
7708 @item @r{@emph{Reference Modes:}}
7711 @emph{Bound Reference Mode} which is displayed by the keyword @code{REF}
7712 followed by the mode name to which the reference is bound.
7714 @emph{Free Reference Mode} which is displayed by the keyword @code{PTR}.
7717 @item @r{@emph{Procedure mode}}
7718 The procedure mode is displayed by @code{type = PROC(<parameter list>)
7719 <return mode> EXCEPTIONS (<exception list>)}. The @code{<parameter
7720 list>} is a list of the parameter modes. @code{<return mode>} indicates
7721 the mode of the result of the procedure if any. The exceptionlist lists
7722 all possible exceptions which can be raised by the procedure.
7725 @item @r{@emph{Instance mode}}
7726 The instance mode is represented by a structure, which has a static
7727 type, and is therefore not really of interest.
7730 @item @r{@emph{Synchronization Modes:}}
7733 @emph{Event Mode} which is displayed by
7735 @code{EVENT (<event length>)}
7737 where @code{(<event length>)} is optional.
7739 @emph{Buffer Mode} which is displayed by
7741 @code{BUFFER (<buffer length>)<buffer element mode>}
7743 where @code{(<buffer length>)} is optional.
7746 @item @r{@emph{Timing Modes:}}
7749 @emph{Duration Mode} which is predefined by @code{DURATION}
7751 @emph{Absolute Time Mode} which is predefined by @code{TIME}
7754 @item @r{@emph{Real Modes:}}
7755 Real Modes are predefined with @code{REAL} and @code{LONG_REAL}.
7757 @item @r{@emph{String Modes:}}
7760 @emph{Character String Mode} which is displayed by
7762 @code{CHARS(<string length>)}
7764 followed by the keyword @code{VARYING} if the String Mode is a varying
7767 @emph{Bit String Mode} which is displayed by
7774 @item @r{@emph{Array Mode:}}
7775 The Array Mode is displayed by the keyword @code{ARRAY(<range>)}
7776 followed by the element mode (which may in turn be an array mode).
7778 (@value{GDBP}) ptype x
7781 SET (karli = 10, susi = 20, fritzi = 100)
7784 @item @r{@emph{Structure Mode}}
7785 The Structure mode is displayed by the keyword @code{STRUCT(<field
7786 list>)}. The @code{<field list>} consists of names and modes of fields
7787 of the structure. Variant structures have the keyword @code{CASE <field>
7788 OF <variant fields> ESAC} in their field list. Since the current version
7789 of the GNU Chill compiler doesn't implement tag processing (no runtime
7790 checks of variant fields, and therefore no debugging info), the output
7791 always displays all variant fields.
7793 (@value{GDBP}) ptype str
7808 @subsubsection Locations and their accesses
7810 A location in Chill is an object which can contain values.
7812 A value of a location is generally accessed by the (declared) name of
7813 the location. The output conforms to the specification of values in
7814 Chill programs. How values are specified
7815 is the topic of the next section, @ref{Values and their Operations}.
7817 The pseudo-location @code{RESULT} (or @code{result}) can be used to
7818 display or change the result of a currently-active procedure:
7825 This does the same as the Chill action @code{RESULT EXPR} (which
7826 is not available in @value{GDBN}).
7828 Values of reference mode locations are printed by @code{PTR(<hex
7829 value>)} in case of a free reference mode, and by @code{(REF <reference
7830 mode>) (<hex-value>)} in case of a bound reference. @code{<hex value>}
7831 represents the address where the reference points to. To access the
7832 value of the location referenced by the pointer, use the dereference
7835 Values of procedure mode locations are displayed by
7838 (<argument modes> ) <return mode> @} <address> <name of procedure
7841 @code{<argument modes>} is a list of modes according to the parameter
7842 specification of the procedure and @code{<address>} shows the address of
7846 Locations of instance modes are displayed just like a structure with two
7847 fields specifying the @emph{process type} and the @emph{copy number} of
7848 the investigated instance location@footnote{This comes from the current
7849 implementation of instances. They are implemented as a structure (no
7850 na). The output should be something like @code{[<name of the process>;
7851 <instance number>]}.}. The field names are @code{__proc_type} and
7854 Locations of synchronization modes are displayed like a structure with
7855 the field name @code{__event_data} in case of a event mode location, and
7856 like a structure with the field @code{__buffer_data} in case of a buffer
7857 mode location (refer to previous paragraph).
7859 Structure Mode locations are printed by @code{[.<field name>: <value>,
7860 ...]}. The @code{<field name>} corresponds to the structure mode
7861 definition and the layout of @code{<value>} varies depending of the mode
7862 of the field. If the investigated structure mode location is of variant
7863 structure mode, the variant parts of the structure are enclosed in curled
7864 braces (@samp{@{@}}). Fields enclosed by @samp{@{,@}} are residing
7865 on the same memory location and represent the current values of the
7866 memory location in their specific modes. Since no tag processing is done
7867 all variants are displayed. A variant field is printed by
7868 @code{(<variant name>) = .<field name>: <value>}. (who implements the
7871 (@value{GDBP}) print str1 $4 = [.as: 0, .bs: karli, .<TAG>: { (karli) =
7872 [.cs: []], (susi) = [.ds: susi]}]
7876 Substructures of string mode-, array mode- or structure mode-values
7877 (e.g. array slices, fields of structure locations) are accessed using
7878 certain operations which are described in the next section, @ref{Values
7879 and their Operations}.
7881 A location value may be interpreted as having a different mode using the
7882 location conversion. This mode conversion is written as @code{<mode
7883 name>(<location>)}. The user has to consider that the sizes of the modes
7884 have to be equal otherwise an error occurs. Furthermore, no range
7885 checking of the location against the destination mode is performed, and
7886 therefore the result can be quite confusing.
7889 (@value{GDBP}) print int (s(3 up 4)) XXX TO be filled in !! XXX
7892 @node Values and their Operations
7893 @subsubsection Values and their Operations
7895 Values are used to alter locations, to investigate complex structures in
7896 more detail or to filter relevant information out of a large amount of
7897 data. There are several (mode dependent) operations defined which enable
7898 such investigations. These operations are not only applicable to
7899 constant values but also to locations, which can become quite useful
7900 when debugging complex structures. During parsing the command line
7901 (e.g. evaluating an expression) @value{GDBN} treats location names as
7902 the values behind these locations.
7904 This section describes how values have to be specified and which
7905 operations are legal to be used with such values.
7908 @item Literal Values
7909 Literal values are specified in the same manner as in @sc{gnu} Chill programs.
7910 For detailed specification refer to the @sc{gnu} Chill implementation Manual
7912 @c FIXME: if the Chill Manual is a Texinfo documents, the above should
7913 @c be converted to a @ref.
7918 @emph{Integer Literals} are specified in the same manner as in Chill
7919 programs (refer to the Chill Standard z200/88 chpt 5.2.4.2)
7921 @emph{Boolean Literals} are defined by @code{TRUE} and @code{FALSE}.
7923 @emph{Character Literals} are defined by @code{'<character>'}. (e.g.
7926 @emph{Set Literals} are defined by a name which was specified in a set
7927 mode. The value delivered by a Set Literal is the set value. This is
7928 comparable to an enumeration in C/C@t{++} language.
7930 @emph{Emptiness Literal} is predefined by @code{NULL}. The value of the
7931 emptiness literal delivers either the empty reference value, the empty
7932 procedure value or the empty instance value.
7935 @emph{Character String Literals} are defined by a sequence of characters
7936 enclosed in single- or double quotes. If a single- or double quote has
7937 to be part of the string literal it has to be stuffed (specified twice).
7939 @emph{Bitstring Literals} are specified in the same manner as in Chill
7940 programs (refer z200/88 chpt 5.2.4.8).
7942 @emph{Floating point literals} are specified in the same manner as in
7943 (gnu-)Chill programs (refer @sc{gnu} Chill implementation Manual chapter 1.5).
7948 A tuple is specified by @code{<mode name>[<tuple>]}, where @code{<mode
7949 name>} can be omitted if the mode of the tuple is unambiguous. This
7950 unambiguity is derived from the context of a evaluated expression.
7951 @code{<tuple>} can be one of the following:
7954 @item @emph{Powerset Tuple}
7955 @item @emph{Array Tuple}
7956 @item @emph{Structure Tuple}
7957 Powerset tuples, array tuples and structure tuples are specified in the
7958 same manner as in Chill programs refer to z200/88 chpt 5.2.5.
7961 @item String Element Value
7962 A string element value is specified by
7964 @code{<string value>(<index>)}
7966 where @code{<index>} is a integer expression. It delivers a character
7967 value which is equivalent to the character indexed by @code{<index>} in
7970 @item String Slice Value
7971 A string slice value is specified by @code{<string value>(<slice
7972 spec>)}, where @code{<slice spec>} can be either a range of integer
7973 expressions or specified by @code{<start expr> up <size>}.
7974 @code{<size>} denotes the number of elements which the slice contains.
7975 The delivered value is a string value, which is part of the specified
7978 @item Array Element Values
7979 An array element value is specified by @code{<array value>(<expr>)} and
7980 delivers a array element value of the mode of the specified array.
7982 @item Array Slice Values
7983 An array slice is specified by @code{<array value>(<slice spec>)}, where
7984 @code{<slice spec>} can be either a range specified by expressions or by
7985 @code{<start expr> up <size>}. @code{<size>} denotes the number of
7986 arrayelements the slice contains. The delivered value is an array value
7987 which is part of the specified array.
7989 @item Structure Field Values
7990 A structure field value is derived by @code{<structure value>.<field
7991 name>}, where @code{<field name>} indicates the name of a field specified
7992 in the mode definition of the structure. The mode of the delivered value
7993 corresponds to this mode definition in the structure definition.
7995 @item Procedure Call Value
7996 The procedure call value is derived from the return value of the
7997 procedure@footnote{If a procedure call is used for instance in an
7998 expression, then this procedure is called with all its side
7999 effects. This can lead to confusing results if used carelessly.}.
8001 Values of duration mode locations are represented by @code{ULONG} literals.
8003 Values of time mode locations appear as
8005 @code{TIME(<secs>:<nsecs>)}
8010 This is not implemented yet:
8011 @item Built-in Value
8013 The following built in functions are provided:
8025 @item @code{UPPER()}
8026 @item @code{LOWER()}
8027 @item @code{LENGTH()}
8031 @item @code{ARCSIN()}
8032 @item @code{ARCCOS()}
8033 @item @code{ARCTAN()}
8040 For a detailed description refer to the GNU Chill implementation manual
8044 @item Zero-adic Operator Value
8045 The zero-adic operator value is derived from the instance value for the
8046 current active process.
8048 @item Expression Values
8049 The value delivered by an expression is the result of the evaluation of
8050 the specified expression. If there are error conditions (mode
8051 incompatibility, etc.) the evaluation of expressions is aborted with a
8052 corresponding error message. Expressions may be parenthesised which
8053 causes the evaluation of this expression before any other expression
8054 which uses the result of the parenthesised expression. The following
8055 operators are supported by @value{GDBN}:
8058 @item @code{OR, ORIF, XOR}
8059 @itemx @code{AND, ANDIF}
8061 Logical operators defined over operands of boolean mode.
8064 Equality and inequality operators defined over all modes.
8068 Relational operators defined over predefined modes.
8071 @itemx @code{*, /, MOD, REM}
8072 Arithmetic operators defined over predefined modes.
8075 Change sign operator.
8078 String concatenation operator.
8081 String repetition operator.
8084 Referenced location operator which can be used either to take the
8085 address of a location (@code{->loc}), or to dereference a reference
8086 location (@code{loc->}).
8088 @item @code{OR, XOR}
8091 Powerset and bitstring operators.
8095 Powerset inclusion operators.
8098 Membership operator.
8102 @node Chill type and range checks
8103 @subsubsection Chill type and range checks
8105 @value{GDBN} considers two Chill variables mode equivalent if the sizes
8106 of the two modes are equal. This rule applies recursively to more
8107 complex datatypes which means that complex modes are treated
8108 equivalent if all element modes (which also can be complex modes like
8109 structures, arrays, etc.) have the same size.
8111 Range checking is done on all mathematical operations, assignment, array
8112 index bounds and all built in procedures.
8114 Strong type checks are forced using the @value{GDBN} command @code{set
8115 check strong}. This enforces strong type and range checks on all
8116 operations where Chill constructs are used (expressions, built in
8117 functions, etc.) in respect to the semantics as defined in the z.200
8118 language specification.
8120 All checks can be disabled by the @value{GDBN} command @code{set check
8124 @c Deviations from the Chill Standard Z200/88
8125 see last paragraph ?
8128 @node Chill defaults
8129 @subsubsection Chill defaults
8131 If type and range checking are set automatically by @value{GDBN}, they
8132 both default to @code{on} whenever the working language changes to
8133 Chill. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
8134 selected the working language.
8136 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, then entering
8137 code compiled from a file whose name ends with @file{.ch} sets the
8138 working language to Chill. @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN} set
8139 the language automatically}, for further details.
8142 @chapter Examining the Symbol Table
8144 The commands described in this chapter allow you to inquire about the
8145 symbols (names of variables, functions and types) defined in your
8146 program. This information is inherent in the text of your program and
8147 does not change as your program executes. @value{GDBN} finds it in your
8148 program's symbol table, in the file indicated when you started @value{GDBN}
8149 (@pxref{File Options, ,Choosing files}), or by one of the
8150 file-management commands (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to specify files}).
8152 @cindex symbol names
8153 @cindex names of symbols
8154 @cindex quoting names
8155 Occasionally, you may need to refer to symbols that contain unusual
8156 characters, which @value{GDBN} ordinarily treats as word delimiters. The
8157 most frequent case is in referring to static variables in other
8158 source files (@pxref{Variables,,Program variables}). File names
8159 are recorded in object files as debugging symbols, but @value{GDBN} would
8160 ordinarily parse a typical file name, like @file{foo.c}, as the three words
8161 @samp{foo} @samp{.} @samp{c}. To allow @value{GDBN} to recognize
8162 @samp{foo.c} as a single symbol, enclose it in single quotes; for example,
8169 looks up the value of @code{x} in the scope of the file @file{foo.c}.
8172 @kindex info address
8173 @cindex address of a symbol
8174 @item info address @var{symbol}
8175 Describe where the data for @var{symbol} is stored. For a register
8176 variable, this says which register it is kept in. For a non-register
8177 local variable, this prints the stack-frame offset at which the variable
8180 Note the contrast with @samp{print &@var{symbol}}, which does not work
8181 at all for a register variable, and for a stack local variable prints
8182 the exact address of the current instantiation of the variable.
8185 @cindex symbol from address
8186 @item info symbol @var{addr}
8187 Print the name of a symbol which is stored at the address @var{addr}.
8188 If no symbol is stored exactly at @var{addr}, @value{GDBN} prints the
8189 nearest symbol and an offset from it:
8192 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x54320
8193 _initialize_vx + 396 in section .text
8197 This is the opposite of the @code{info address} command. You can use
8198 it to find out the name of a variable or a function given its address.
8201 @item whatis @var{expr}
8202 Print the data type of expression @var{expr}. @var{expr} is not
8203 actually evaluated, and any side-effecting operations (such as
8204 assignments or function calls) inside it do not take place.
8205 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
8208 Print the data type of @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
8211 @item ptype @var{typename}
8212 Print a description of data type @var{typename}. @var{typename} may be
8213 the name of a type, or for C code it may have the form @samp{class
8214 @var{class-name}}, @samp{struct @var{struct-tag}}, @samp{union
8215 @var{union-tag}} or @samp{enum @var{enum-tag}}.
8217 @item ptype @var{expr}
8219 Print a description of the type of expression @var{expr}. @code{ptype}
8220 differs from @code{whatis} by printing a detailed description, instead
8221 of just the name of the type.
8223 For example, for this variable declaration:
8226 struct complex @{double real; double imag;@} v;
8230 the two commands give this output:
8234 (@value{GDBP}) whatis v
8235 type = struct complex
8236 (@value{GDBP}) ptype v
8237 type = struct complex @{
8245 As with @code{whatis}, using @code{ptype} without an argument refers to
8246 the type of @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
8249 @item info types @var{regexp}
8251 Print a brief description of all types whose names match @var{regexp}
8252 (or all types in your program, if you supply no argument). Each
8253 complete typename is matched as though it were a complete line; thus,
8254 @samp{i type value} gives information on all types in your program whose
8255 names include the string @code{value}, but @samp{i type ^value$} gives
8256 information only on types whose complete name is @code{value}.
8258 This command differs from @code{ptype} in two ways: first, like
8259 @code{whatis}, it does not print a detailed description; second, it
8260 lists all source files where a type is defined.
8263 @cindex local variables
8264 @item info scope @var{addr}
8265 List all the variables local to a particular scope. This command
8266 accepts a location---a function name, a source line, or an address
8267 preceded by a @samp{*}, and prints all the variables local to the
8268 scope defined by that location. For example:
8271 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info scope command_line_handler}
8272 Scope for command_line_handler:
8273 Symbol rl is an argument at stack/frame offset 8, length 4.
8274 Symbol linebuffer is in static storage at address 0x150a18, length 4.
8275 Symbol linelength is in static storage at address 0x150a1c, length 4.
8276 Symbol p is a local variable in register $esi, length 4.
8277 Symbol p1 is a local variable in register $ebx, length 4.
8278 Symbol nline is a local variable in register $edx, length 4.
8279 Symbol repeat is a local variable at frame offset -8, length 4.
8283 This command is especially useful for determining what data to collect
8284 during a @dfn{trace experiment}, see @ref{Tracepoint Actions,
8289 Show the name of the current source file---that is, the source file for
8290 the function containing the current point of execution---and the language
8293 @kindex info sources
8295 Print the names of all source files in your program for which there is
8296 debugging information, organized into two lists: files whose symbols
8297 have already been read, and files whose symbols will be read when needed.
8299 @kindex info functions
8300 @item info functions
8301 Print the names and data types of all defined functions.
8303 @item info functions @var{regexp}
8304 Print the names and data types of all defined functions
8305 whose names contain a match for regular expression @var{regexp}.
8306 Thus, @samp{info fun step} finds all functions whose names
8307 include @code{step}; @samp{info fun ^step} finds those whose names
8308 start with @code{step}. If a function name contains characters
8309 that conflict with the regular expression language (eg.
8310 @samp{operator*()}), they may be quoted with a backslash.
8312 @kindex info variables
8313 @item info variables
8314 Print the names and data types of all variables that are declared
8315 outside of functions (i.e., excluding local variables).
8317 @item info variables @var{regexp}
8318 Print the names and data types of all variables (except for local
8319 variables) whose names contain a match for regular expression
8323 This was never implemented.
8324 @kindex info methods
8326 @itemx info methods @var{regexp}
8327 The @code{info methods} command permits the user to examine all defined
8328 methods within C@t{++} program, or (with the @var{regexp} argument) a
8329 specific set of methods found in the various C@t{++} classes. Many
8330 C@t{++} classes provide a large number of methods. Thus, the output
8331 from the @code{ptype} command can be overwhelming and hard to use. The
8332 @code{info-methods} command filters the methods, printing only those
8333 which match the regular-expression @var{regexp}.
8336 @cindex reloading symbols
8337 Some systems allow individual object files that make up your program to
8338 be replaced without stopping and restarting your program. For example,
8339 in VxWorks you can simply recompile a defective object file and keep on
8340 running. If you are running on one of these systems, you can allow
8341 @value{GDBN} to reload the symbols for automatically relinked modules:
8344 @kindex set symbol-reloading
8345 @item set symbol-reloading on
8346 Replace symbol definitions for the corresponding source file when an
8347 object file with a particular name is seen again.
8349 @item set symbol-reloading off
8350 Do not replace symbol definitions when encountering object files of the
8351 same name more than once. This is the default state; if you are not
8352 running on a system that permits automatic relinking of modules, you
8353 should leave @code{symbol-reloading} off, since otherwise @value{GDBN}
8354 may discard symbols when linking large programs, that may contain
8355 several modules (from different directories or libraries) with the same
8358 @kindex show symbol-reloading
8359 @item show symbol-reloading
8360 Show the current @code{on} or @code{off} setting.
8363 @kindex set opaque-type-resolution
8364 @item set opaque-type-resolution on
8365 Tell @value{GDBN} to resolve opaque types. An opaque type is a type
8366 declared as a pointer to a @code{struct}, @code{class}, or
8367 @code{union}---for example, @code{struct MyType *}---that is used in one
8368 source file although the full declaration of @code{struct MyType} is in
8369 another source file. The default is on.
8371 A change in the setting of this subcommand will not take effect until
8372 the next time symbols for a file are loaded.
8374 @item set opaque-type-resolution off
8375 Tell @value{GDBN} not to resolve opaque types. In this case, the type
8376 is printed as follows:
8378 @{<no data fields>@}
8381 @kindex show opaque-type-resolution
8382 @item show opaque-type-resolution
8383 Show whether opaque types are resolved or not.
8385 @kindex maint print symbols
8387 @kindex maint print psymbols
8388 @cindex partial symbol dump
8389 @item maint print symbols @var{filename}
8390 @itemx maint print psymbols @var{filename}
8391 @itemx maint print msymbols @var{filename}
8392 Write a dump of debugging symbol data into the file @var{filename}.
8393 These commands are used to debug the @value{GDBN} symbol-reading code. Only
8394 symbols with debugging data are included. If you use @samp{maint print
8395 symbols}, @value{GDBN} includes all the symbols for which it has already
8396 collected full details: that is, @var{filename} reflects symbols for
8397 only those files whose symbols @value{GDBN} has read. You can use the
8398 command @code{info sources} to find out which files these are. If you
8399 use @samp{maint print psymbols} instead, the dump shows information about
8400 symbols that @value{GDBN} only knows partially---that is, symbols defined in
8401 files that @value{GDBN} has skimmed, but not yet read completely. Finally,
8402 @samp{maint print msymbols} dumps just the minimal symbol information
8403 required for each object file from which @value{GDBN} has read some symbols.
8404 @xref{Files, ,Commands to specify files}, for a discussion of how
8405 @value{GDBN} reads symbols (in the description of @code{symbol-file}).
8409 @chapter Altering Execution
8411 Once you think you have found an error in your program, you might want to
8412 find out for certain whether correcting the apparent error would lead to
8413 correct results in the rest of the run. You can find the answer by
8414 experiment, using the @value{GDBN} features for altering execution of the
8417 For example, you can store new values into variables or memory
8418 locations, give your program a signal, restart it at a different
8419 address, or even return prematurely from a function.
8422 * Assignment:: Assignment to variables
8423 * Jumping:: Continuing at a different address
8424 * Signaling:: Giving your program a signal
8425 * Returning:: Returning from a function
8426 * Calling:: Calling your program's functions
8427 * Patching:: Patching your program
8431 @section Assignment to variables
8434 @cindex setting variables
8435 To alter the value of a variable, evaluate an assignment expression.
8436 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}. For example,
8443 stores the value 4 into the variable @code{x}, and then prints the
8444 value of the assignment expression (which is 4).
8445 @xref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages}, for more
8446 information on operators in supported languages.
8448 @kindex set variable
8449 @cindex variables, setting
8450 If you are not interested in seeing the value of the assignment, use the
8451 @code{set} command instead of the @code{print} command. @code{set} is
8452 really the same as @code{print} except that the expression's value is
8453 not printed and is not put in the value history (@pxref{Value History,
8454 ,Value history}). The expression is evaluated only for its effects.
8456 If the beginning of the argument string of the @code{set} command
8457 appears identical to a @code{set} subcommand, use the @code{set
8458 variable} command instead of just @code{set}. This command is identical
8459 to @code{set} except for its lack of subcommands. For example, if your
8460 program has a variable @code{width}, you get an error if you try to set
8461 a new value with just @samp{set width=13}, because @value{GDBN} has the
8462 command @code{set width}:
8465 (@value{GDBP}) whatis width
8467 (@value{GDBP}) p width
8469 (@value{GDBP}) set width=47
8470 Invalid syntax in expression.
8474 The invalid expression, of course, is @samp{=47}. In
8475 order to actually set the program's variable @code{width}, use
8478 (@value{GDBP}) set var width=47
8481 Because the @code{set} command has many subcommands that can conflict
8482 with the names of program variables, it is a good idea to use the
8483 @code{set variable} command instead of just @code{set}. For example, if
8484 your program has a variable @code{g}, you run into problems if you try
8485 to set a new value with just @samp{set g=4}, because @value{GDBN} has
8486 the command @code{set gnutarget}, abbreviated @code{set g}:
8490 (@value{GDBP}) whatis g
8494 (@value{GDBP}) set g=4
8498 The program being debugged has been started already.
8499 Start it from the beginning? (y or n) y
8500 Starting program: /home/smith/cc_progs/a.out
8501 "/home/smith/cc_progs/a.out": can't open to read symbols:
8503 (@value{GDBP}) show g
8504 The current BFD target is "=4".
8509 The program variable @code{g} did not change, and you silently set the
8510 @code{gnutarget} to an invalid value. In order to set the variable
8514 (@value{GDBP}) set var g=4
8517 @value{GDBN} allows more implicit conversions in assignments than C; you can
8518 freely store an integer value into a pointer variable or vice versa,
8519 and you can convert any structure to any other structure that is the
8520 same length or shorter.
8521 @comment FIXME: how do structs align/pad in these conversions?
8524 To store values into arbitrary places in memory, use the @samp{@{@dots{}@}}
8525 construct to generate a value of specified type at a specified address
8526 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). For example, @code{@{int@}0x83040} refers
8527 to memory location @code{0x83040} as an integer (which implies a certain size
8528 and representation in memory), and
8531 set @{int@}0x83040 = 4
8535 stores the value 4 into that memory location.
8538 @section Continuing at a different address
8540 Ordinarily, when you continue your program, you do so at the place where
8541 it stopped, with the @code{continue} command. You can instead continue at
8542 an address of your own choosing, with the following commands:
8546 @item jump @var{linespec}
8547 Resume execution at line @var{linespec}. Execution stops again
8548 immediately if there is a breakpoint there. @xref{List, ,Printing
8549 source lines}, for a description of the different forms of
8550 @var{linespec}. It is common practice to use the @code{tbreak} command
8551 in conjunction with @code{jump}. @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting
8554 The @code{jump} command does not change the current stack frame, or
8555 the stack pointer, or the contents of any memory location or any
8556 register other than the program counter. If line @var{linespec} is in
8557 a different function from the one currently executing, the results may
8558 be bizarre if the two functions expect different patterns of arguments or
8559 of local variables. For this reason, the @code{jump} command requests
8560 confirmation if the specified line is not in the function currently
8561 executing. However, even bizarre results are predictable if you are
8562 well acquainted with the machine-language code of your program.
8564 @item jump *@var{address}
8565 Resume execution at the instruction at address @var{address}.
8568 @c Doesn't work on HP-UX; have to set $pcoqh and $pcoqt.
8569 On many systems, you can get much the same effect as the @code{jump}
8570 command by storing a new value into the register @code{$pc}. The
8571 difference is that this does not start your program running; it only
8572 changes the address of where it @emph{will} run when you continue. For
8580 makes the next @code{continue} command or stepping command execute at
8581 address @code{0x485}, rather than at the address where your program stopped.
8582 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and stepping}.
8584 The most common occasion to use the @code{jump} command is to back
8585 up---perhaps with more breakpoints set---over a portion of a program
8586 that has already executed, in order to examine its execution in more
8591 @section Giving your program a signal
8595 @item signal @var{signal}
8596 Resume execution where your program stopped, but immediately give it the
8597 signal @var{signal}. @var{signal} can be the name or the number of a
8598 signal. For example, on many systems @code{signal 2} and @code{signal
8599 SIGINT} are both ways of sending an interrupt signal.
8601 Alternatively, if @var{signal} is zero, continue execution without
8602 giving a signal. This is useful when your program stopped on account of
8603 a signal and would ordinary see the signal when resumed with the
8604 @code{continue} command; @samp{signal 0} causes it to resume without a
8607 @code{signal} does not repeat when you press @key{RET} a second time
8608 after executing the command.
8612 Invoking the @code{signal} command is not the same as invoking the
8613 @code{kill} utility from the shell. Sending a signal with @code{kill}
8614 causes @value{GDBN} to decide what to do with the signal depending on
8615 the signal handling tables (@pxref{Signals}). The @code{signal} command
8616 passes the signal directly to your program.
8620 @section Returning from a function
8623 @cindex returning from a function
8626 @itemx return @var{expression}
8627 You can cancel execution of a function call with the @code{return}
8628 command. If you give an
8629 @var{expression} argument, its value is used as the function's return
8633 When you use @code{return}, @value{GDBN} discards the selected stack frame
8634 (and all frames within it). You can think of this as making the
8635 discarded frame return prematurely. If you wish to specify a value to
8636 be returned, give that value as the argument to @code{return}.
8638 This pops the selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a
8639 frame}), and any other frames inside of it, leaving its caller as the
8640 innermost remaining frame. That frame becomes selected. The
8641 specified value is stored in the registers used for returning values
8644 The @code{return} command does not resume execution; it leaves the
8645 program stopped in the state that would exist if the function had just
8646 returned. In contrast, the @code{finish} command (@pxref{Continuing
8647 and Stepping, ,Continuing and stepping}) resumes execution until the
8648 selected stack frame returns naturally.
8651 @section Calling program functions
8653 @cindex calling functions
8656 @item call @var{expr}
8657 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} without displaying @code{void}
8661 You can use this variant of the @code{print} command if you want to
8662 execute a function from your program, but without cluttering the output
8663 with @code{void} returned values. If the result is not void, it
8664 is printed and saved in the value history.
8666 For the A29K, a user-controlled variable @code{call_scratch_address},
8667 specifies the location of a scratch area to be used when @value{GDBN}
8668 calls a function in the target. This is necessary because the usual
8669 method of putting the scratch area on the stack does not work in systems
8670 that have separate instruction and data spaces.
8673 @section Patching programs
8675 @cindex patching binaries
8676 @cindex writing into executables
8677 @cindex writing into corefiles
8679 By default, @value{GDBN} opens the file containing your program's
8680 executable code (or the corefile) read-only. This prevents accidental
8681 alterations to machine code; but it also prevents you from intentionally
8682 patching your program's binary.
8684 If you'd like to be able to patch the binary, you can specify that
8685 explicitly with the @code{set write} command. For example, you might
8686 want to turn on internal debugging flags, or even to make emergency
8692 @itemx set write off
8693 If you specify @samp{set write on}, @value{GDBN} opens executable and
8694 core files for both reading and writing; if you specify @samp{set write
8695 off} (the default), @value{GDBN} opens them read-only.
8697 If you have already loaded a file, you must load it again (using the
8698 @code{exec-file} or @code{core-file} command) after changing @code{set
8699 write}, for your new setting to take effect.
8703 Display whether executable files and core files are opened for writing
8708 @chapter @value{GDBN} Files
8710 @value{GDBN} needs to know the file name of the program to be debugged,
8711 both in order to read its symbol table and in order to start your
8712 program. To debug a core dump of a previous run, you must also tell
8713 @value{GDBN} the name of the core dump file.
8716 * Files:: Commands to specify files
8717 * Symbol Errors:: Errors reading symbol files
8721 @section Commands to specify files
8723 @cindex symbol table
8724 @cindex core dump file
8726 You may want to specify executable and core dump file names. The usual
8727 way to do this is at start-up time, using the arguments to
8728 @value{GDBN}'s start-up commands (@pxref{Invocation, , Getting In and
8729 Out of @value{GDBN}}).
8731 Occasionally it is necessary to change to a different file during a
8732 @value{GDBN} session. Or you may run @value{GDBN} and forget to specify
8733 a file you want to use. In these situations the @value{GDBN} commands
8734 to specify new files are useful.
8737 @cindex executable file
8739 @item file @var{filename}
8740 Use @var{filename} as the program to be debugged. It is read for its
8741 symbols and for the contents of pure memory. It is also the program
8742 executed when you use the @code{run} command. If you do not specify a
8743 directory and the file is not found in the @value{GDBN} working directory,
8744 @value{GDBN} uses the environment variable @code{PATH} as a list of
8745 directories to search, just as the shell does when looking for a program
8746 to run. You can change the value of this variable, for both @value{GDBN}
8747 and your program, using the @code{path} command.
8749 On systems with memory-mapped files, an auxiliary file named
8750 @file{@var{filename}.syms} may hold symbol table information for
8751 @var{filename}. If so, @value{GDBN} maps in the symbol table from
8752 @file{@var{filename}.syms}, starting up more quickly. See the
8753 descriptions of the file options @samp{-mapped} and @samp{-readnow}
8754 (available on the command line, and with the commands @code{file},
8755 @code{symbol-file}, or @code{add-symbol-file}, described below),
8756 for more information.
8759 @code{file} with no argument makes @value{GDBN} discard any information it
8760 has on both executable file and the symbol table.
8763 @item exec-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
8764 Specify that the program to be run (but not the symbol table) is found
8765 in @var{filename}. @value{GDBN} searches the environment variable @code{PATH}
8766 if necessary to locate your program. Omitting @var{filename} means to
8767 discard information on the executable file.
8770 @item symbol-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
8771 Read symbol table information from file @var{filename}. @code{PATH} is
8772 searched when necessary. Use the @code{file} command to get both symbol
8773 table and program to run from the same file.
8775 @code{symbol-file} with no argument clears out @value{GDBN} information on your
8776 program's symbol table.
8778 The @code{symbol-file} command causes @value{GDBN} to forget the contents
8779 of its convenience variables, the value history, and all breakpoints and
8780 auto-display expressions. This is because they may contain pointers to
8781 the internal data recording symbols and data types, which are part of
8782 the old symbol table data being discarded inside @value{GDBN}.
8784 @code{symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
8787 When @value{GDBN} is configured for a particular environment, it
8788 understands debugging information in whatever format is the standard
8789 generated for that environment; you may use either a @sc{gnu} compiler, or
8790 other compilers that adhere to the local conventions.
8791 Best results are usually obtained from @sc{gnu} compilers; for example,
8792 using @code{@value{GCC}} you can generate debugging information for
8795 For most kinds of object files, with the exception of old SVR3 systems
8796 using COFF, the @code{symbol-file} command does not normally read the
8797 symbol table in full right away. Instead, it scans the symbol table
8798 quickly to find which source files and which symbols are present. The
8799 details are read later, one source file at a time, as they are needed.
8801 The purpose of this two-stage reading strategy is to make @value{GDBN}
8802 start up faster. For the most part, it is invisible except for
8803 occasional pauses while the symbol table details for a particular source
8804 file are being read. (The @code{set verbose} command can turn these
8805 pauses into messages if desired. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional
8806 warnings and messages}.)
8808 We have not implemented the two-stage strategy for COFF yet. When the
8809 symbol table is stored in COFF format, @code{symbol-file} reads the
8810 symbol table data in full right away. Note that ``stabs-in-COFF''
8811 still does the two-stage strategy, since the debug info is actually
8815 @cindex reading symbols immediately
8816 @cindex symbols, reading immediately
8818 @cindex memory-mapped symbol file
8819 @cindex saving symbol table
8820 @item symbol-file @var{filename} @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @r{[} -mapped @r{]}
8821 @itemx file @var{filename} @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @r{[} -mapped @r{]}
8822 You can override the @value{GDBN} two-stage strategy for reading symbol
8823 tables by using the @samp{-readnow} option with any of the commands that
8824 load symbol table information, if you want to be sure @value{GDBN} has the
8825 entire symbol table available.
8827 If memory-mapped files are available on your system through the
8828 @code{mmap} system call, you can use another option, @samp{-mapped}, to
8829 cause @value{GDBN} to write the symbols for your program into a reusable
8830 file. Future @value{GDBN} debugging sessions map in symbol information
8831 from this auxiliary symbol file (if the program has not changed), rather
8832 than spending time reading the symbol table from the executable
8833 program. Using the @samp{-mapped} option has the same effect as
8834 starting @value{GDBN} with the @samp{-mapped} command-line option.
8836 You can use both options together, to make sure the auxiliary symbol
8837 file has all the symbol information for your program.
8839 The auxiliary symbol file for a program called @var{myprog} is called
8840 @samp{@var{myprog}.syms}. Once this file exists (so long as it is newer
8841 than the corresponding executable), @value{GDBN} always attempts to use
8842 it when you debug @var{myprog}; no special options or commands are
8845 The @file{.syms} file is specific to the host machine where you run
8846 @value{GDBN}. It holds an exact image of the internal @value{GDBN}
8847 symbol table. It cannot be shared across multiple host platforms.
8849 @c FIXME: for now no mention of directories, since this seems to be in
8850 @c flux. 13mar1992 status is that in theory GDB would look either in
8851 @c current dir or in same dir as myprog; but issues like competing
8852 @c GDB's, or clutter in system dirs, mean that in practice right now
8853 @c only current dir is used. FFish says maybe a special GDB hierarchy
8854 @c (eg rooted in val of env var GDBSYMS) could exist for mappable symbol
8859 @item core-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
8860 Specify the whereabouts of a core dump file to be used as the ``contents
8861 of memory''. Traditionally, core files contain only some parts of the
8862 address space of the process that generated them; @value{GDBN} can access the
8863 executable file itself for other parts.
8865 @code{core-file} with no argument specifies that no core file is
8868 Note that the core file is ignored when your program is actually running
8869 under @value{GDBN}. So, if you have been running your program and you
8870 wish to debug a core file instead, you must kill the subprocess in which
8871 the program is running. To do this, use the @code{kill} command
8872 (@pxref{Kill Process, ,Killing the child process}).
8874 @kindex add-symbol-file
8875 @cindex dynamic linking
8876 @item add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address}
8877 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @r{[} -mapped @r{]}
8878 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @r{-s}@var{section} @var{address} @dots{}
8879 The @code{add-symbol-file} command reads additional symbol table
8880 information from the file @var{filename}. You would use this command
8881 when @var{filename} has been dynamically loaded (by some other means)
8882 into the program that is running. @var{address} should be the memory
8883 address at which the file has been loaded; @value{GDBN} cannot figure
8884 this out for itself. You can additionally specify an arbitrary number
8885 of @samp{@r{-s}@var{section} @var{address}} pairs, to give an explicit
8886 section name and base address for that section. You can specify any
8887 @var{address} as an expression.
8889 The symbol table of the file @var{filename} is added to the symbol table
8890 originally read with the @code{symbol-file} command. You can use the
8891 @code{add-symbol-file} command any number of times; the new symbol data
8892 thus read keeps adding to the old. To discard all old symbol data
8893 instead, use the @code{symbol-file} command without any arguments.
8895 @cindex relocatable object files, reading symbols from
8896 @cindex object files, relocatable, reading symbols from
8897 @cindex reading symbols from relocatable object files
8898 @cindex symbols, reading from relocatable object files
8899 @cindex @file{.o} files, reading symbols from
8900 Although @var{filename} is typically a shared library file, an
8901 executable file, or some other object file which has been fully
8902 relocated for loading into a process, you can also load symbolic
8903 information from relocatable @file{.o} files, as long as:
8907 the file's symbolic information refers only to linker symbols defined in
8908 that file, not to symbols defined by other object files,
8910 every section the file's symbolic information refers to has actually
8911 been loaded into the inferior, as it appears in the file, and
8913 you can determine the address at which every section was loaded, and
8914 provide these to the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
8918 Some embedded operating systems, like Sun Chorus and VxWorks, can load
8919 relocatable files into an already running program; such systems
8920 typically make the requirements above easy to meet. However, it's
8921 important to recognize that many native systems use complex link
8922 procedures (@code{.linkonce} section factoring and C++ constructor table
8923 assembly, for example) that make the requirements difficult to meet. In
8924 general, one cannot assume that using @code{add-symbol-file} to read a
8925 relocatable object file's symbolic information will have the same effect
8926 as linking the relocatable object file into the program in the normal
8929 @code{add-symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
8931 You can use the @samp{-mapped} and @samp{-readnow} options just as with
8932 the @code{symbol-file} command, to change how @value{GDBN} manages the symbol
8933 table information for @var{filename}.
8935 @kindex add-shared-symbol-file
8936 @item add-shared-symbol-file
8937 The @code{add-shared-symbol-file} command can be used only under Harris' CXUX
8938 operating system for the Motorola 88k. @value{GDBN} automatically looks for
8939 shared libraries, however if @value{GDBN} does not find yours, you can run
8940 @code{add-shared-symbol-file}. It takes no arguments.
8944 The @code{section} command changes the base address of section SECTION of
8945 the exec file to ADDR. This can be used if the exec file does not contain
8946 section addresses, (such as in the a.out format), or when the addresses
8947 specified in the file itself are wrong. Each section must be changed
8948 separately. The @code{info files} command, described below, lists all
8949 the sections and their addresses.
8955 @code{info files} and @code{info target} are synonymous; both print the
8956 current target (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}),
8957 including the names of the executable and core dump files currently in
8958 use by @value{GDBN}, and the files from which symbols were loaded. The
8959 command @code{help target} lists all possible targets rather than
8964 All file-specifying commands allow both absolute and relative file names
8965 as arguments. @value{GDBN} always converts the file name to an absolute file
8966 name and remembers it that way.
8968 @cindex shared libraries
8969 @value{GDBN} supports HP-UX, SunOS, SVr4, Irix 5, and IBM RS/6000 shared
8972 @value{GDBN} automatically loads symbol definitions from shared libraries
8973 when you use the @code{run} command, or when you examine a core file.
8974 (Before you issue the @code{run} command, @value{GDBN} does not understand
8975 references to a function in a shared library, however---unless you are
8976 debugging a core file).
8978 On HP-UX, if the program loads a library explicitly, @value{GDBN}
8979 automatically loads the symbols at the time of the @code{shl_load} call.
8981 @c FIXME: some @value{GDBN} release may permit some refs to undef
8982 @c FIXME...symbols---eg in a break cmd---assuming they are from a shared
8983 @c FIXME...lib; check this from time to time when updating manual
8985 There are times, however, when you may wish to not automatically load
8986 symbol definitions from shared libraries, such as when they are
8987 particularly large or there are many of them.
8989 To control the automatic loading of shared library symbols, use the
8993 @kindex set auto-solib-add
8994 @item set auto-solib-add @var{mode}
8995 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, symbols from all shared object libraries
8996 will be loaded automatically when the inferior begins execution, you
8997 attach to an independently started inferior, or when the dynamic linker
8998 informs @value{GDBN} that a new library has been loaded. If @var{mode}
8999 is @code{off}, symbols must be loaded manually, using the
9000 @code{sharedlibrary} command. The default value is @code{on}.
9002 @kindex show auto-solib-add
9003 @item show auto-solib-add
9004 Display the current autoloading mode.
9007 To explicitly load shared library symbols, use the @code{sharedlibrary}
9011 @kindex info sharedlibrary
9014 @itemx info sharedlibrary
9015 Print the names of the shared libraries which are currently loaded.
9017 @kindex sharedlibrary
9019 @item sharedlibrary @var{regex}
9020 @itemx share @var{regex}
9021 Load shared object library symbols for files matching a
9022 Unix regular expression.
9023 As with files loaded automatically, it only loads shared libraries
9024 required by your program for a core file or after typing @code{run}. If
9025 @var{regex} is omitted all shared libraries required by your program are
9029 On some systems, such as HP-UX systems, @value{GDBN} supports
9030 autoloading shared library symbols until a limiting threshold size is
9031 reached. This provides the benefit of allowing autoloading to remain on
9032 by default, but avoids autoloading excessively large shared libraries,
9033 up to a threshold that is initially set, but which you can modify if you
9036 Beyond that threshold, symbols from shared libraries must be explicitly
9037 loaded. To load these symbols, use the command @code{sharedlibrary
9038 @var{filename}}. The base address of the shared library is determined
9039 automatically by @value{GDBN} and need not be specified.
9041 To display or set the threshold, use the commands:
9044 @kindex set auto-solib-limit
9045 @item set auto-solib-limit @var{threshold}
9046 Set the autoloading size threshold, in an integral number of megabytes.
9047 If @var{threshold} is nonzero and shared library autoloading is enabled,
9048 symbols from all shared object libraries will be loaded until the total
9049 size of the loaded shared library symbols exceeds this threshold.
9050 Otherwise, symbols must be loaded manually, using the
9051 @code{sharedlibrary} command. The default threshold is 100 (i.e. 100
9054 @kindex show auto-solib-limit
9055 @item show auto-solib-limit
9056 Display the current autoloading size threshold, in megabytes.
9060 @section Errors reading symbol files
9062 While reading a symbol file, @value{GDBN} occasionally encounters problems,
9063 such as symbol types it does not recognize, or known bugs in compiler
9064 output. By default, @value{GDBN} does not notify you of such problems, since
9065 they are relatively common and primarily of interest to people
9066 debugging compilers. If you are interested in seeing information
9067 about ill-constructed symbol tables, you can either ask @value{GDBN} to print
9068 only one message about each such type of problem, no matter how many
9069 times the problem occurs; or you can ask @value{GDBN} to print more messages,
9070 to see how many times the problems occur, with the @code{set
9071 complaints} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional warnings and
9074 The messages currently printed, and their meanings, include:
9077 @item inner block not inside outer block in @var{symbol}
9079 The symbol information shows where symbol scopes begin and end
9080 (such as at the start of a function or a block of statements). This
9081 error indicates that an inner scope block is not fully contained
9082 in its outer scope blocks.
9084 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the inner block as if it had
9085 the same scope as the outer block. In the error message, @var{symbol}
9086 may be shown as ``@code{(don't know)}'' if the outer block is not a
9089 @item block at @var{address} out of order
9091 The symbol information for symbol scope blocks should occur in
9092 order of increasing addresses. This error indicates that it does not
9095 @value{GDBN} does not circumvent this problem, and has trouble
9096 locating symbols in the source file whose symbols it is reading. (You
9097 can often determine what source file is affected by specifying
9098 @code{set verbose on}. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional warnings and
9101 @item bad block start address patched
9103 The symbol information for a symbol scope block has a start address
9104 smaller than the address of the preceding source line. This is known
9105 to occur in the SunOS 4.1.1 (and earlier) C compiler.
9107 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the symbol scope block as
9108 starting on the previous source line.
9110 @item bad string table offset in symbol @var{n}
9113 Symbol number @var{n} contains a pointer into the string table which is
9114 larger than the size of the string table.
9116 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by considering the symbol to have the
9117 name @code{foo}, which may cause other problems if many symbols end up
9120 @item unknown symbol type @code{0x@var{nn}}
9122 The symbol information contains new data types that @value{GDBN} does
9123 not yet know how to read. @code{0x@var{nn}} is the symbol type of the
9124 uncomprehended information, in hexadecimal.
9126 @value{GDBN} circumvents the error by ignoring this symbol information.
9127 This usually allows you to debug your program, though certain symbols
9128 are not accessible. If you encounter such a problem and feel like
9129 debugging it, you can debug @code{@value{GDBP}} with itself, breakpoint
9130 on @code{complain}, then go up to the function @code{read_dbx_symtab}
9131 and examine @code{*bufp} to see the symbol.
9133 @item stub type has NULL name
9135 @value{GDBN} could not find the full definition for a struct or class.
9137 @item const/volatile indicator missing (ok if using g++ v1.x), got@dots{}
9138 The symbol information for a C@t{++} member function is missing some
9139 information that recent versions of the compiler should have output for
9142 @item info mismatch between compiler and debugger
9144 @value{GDBN} could not parse a type specification output by the compiler.
9149 @chapter Specifying a Debugging Target
9151 @cindex debugging target
9154 A @dfn{target} is the execution environment occupied by your program.
9156 Often, @value{GDBN} runs in the same host environment as your program;
9157 in that case, the debugging target is specified as a side effect when
9158 you use the @code{file} or @code{core} commands. When you need more
9159 flexibility---for example, running @value{GDBN} on a physically separate
9160 host, or controlling a standalone system over a serial port or a
9161 realtime system over a TCP/IP connection---you can use the @code{target}
9162 command to specify one of the target types configured for @value{GDBN}
9163 (@pxref{Target Commands, ,Commands for managing targets}).
9166 * Active Targets:: Active targets
9167 * Target Commands:: Commands for managing targets
9168 * Byte Order:: Choosing target byte order
9169 * Remote:: Remote debugging
9170 * KOD:: Kernel Object Display
9174 @node Active Targets
9175 @section Active targets
9177 @cindex stacking targets
9178 @cindex active targets
9179 @cindex multiple targets
9181 There are three classes of targets: processes, core files, and
9182 executable files. @value{GDBN} can work concurrently on up to three
9183 active targets, one in each class. This allows you to (for example)
9184 start a process and inspect its activity without abandoning your work on
9187 For example, if you execute @samp{gdb a.out}, then the executable file
9188 @code{a.out} is the only active target. If you designate a core file as
9189 well---presumably from a prior run that crashed and coredumped---then
9190 @value{GDBN} has two active targets and uses them in tandem, looking
9191 first in the corefile target, then in the executable file, to satisfy
9192 requests for memory addresses. (Typically, these two classes of target
9193 are complementary, since core files contain only a program's
9194 read-write memory---variables and so on---plus machine status, while
9195 executable files contain only the program text and initialized data.)
9197 When you type @code{run}, your executable file becomes an active process
9198 target as well. When a process target is active, all @value{GDBN}
9199 commands requesting memory addresses refer to that target; addresses in
9200 an active core file or executable file target are obscured while the
9201 process target is active.
9203 Use the @code{core-file} and @code{exec-file} commands to select a new
9204 core file or executable target (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to specify
9205 files}). To specify as a target a process that is already running, use
9206 the @code{attach} command (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an already-running
9209 @node Target Commands
9210 @section Commands for managing targets
9213 @item target @var{type} @var{parameters}
9214 Connects the @value{GDBN} host environment to a target machine or
9215 process. A target is typically a protocol for talking to debugging
9216 facilities. You use the argument @var{type} to specify the type or
9217 protocol of the target machine.
9219 Further @var{parameters} are interpreted by the target protocol, but
9220 typically include things like device names or host names to connect
9221 with, process numbers, and baud rates.
9223 The @code{target} command does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again
9224 after executing the command.
9228 Displays the names of all targets available. To display targets
9229 currently selected, use either @code{info target} or @code{info files}
9230 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to specify files}).
9232 @item help target @var{name}
9233 Describe a particular target, including any parameters necessary to
9236 @kindex set gnutarget
9237 @item set gnutarget @var{args}
9238 @value{GDBN} uses its own library BFD to read your files. @value{GDBN}
9239 knows whether it is reading an @dfn{executable},
9240 a @dfn{core}, or a @dfn{.o} file; however, you can specify the file format
9241 with the @code{set gnutarget} command. Unlike most @code{target} commands,
9242 with @code{gnutarget} the @code{target} refers to a program, not a machine.
9245 @emph{Warning:} To specify a file format with @code{set gnutarget},
9246 you must know the actual BFD name.
9250 @xref{Files, , Commands to specify files}.
9252 @kindex show gnutarget
9253 @item show gnutarget
9254 Use the @code{show gnutarget} command to display what file format
9255 @code{gnutarget} is set to read. If you have not set @code{gnutarget},
9256 @value{GDBN} will determine the file format for each file automatically,
9257 and @code{show gnutarget} displays @samp{The current BDF target is "auto"}.
9260 Here are some common targets (available, or not, depending on the GDB
9265 @item target exec @var{program}
9266 An executable file. @samp{target exec @var{program}} is the same as
9267 @samp{exec-file @var{program}}.
9270 @item target core @var{filename}
9271 A core dump file. @samp{target core @var{filename}} is the same as
9272 @samp{core-file @var{filename}}.
9274 @kindex target remote
9275 @item target remote @var{dev}
9276 Remote serial target in GDB-specific protocol. The argument @var{dev}
9277 specifies what serial device to use for the connection (e.g.
9278 @file{/dev/ttya}). @xref{Remote, ,Remote debugging}. @code{target remote}
9279 supports the @code{load} command. This is only useful if you have
9280 some other way of getting the stub to the target system, and you can put
9281 it somewhere in memory where it won't get clobbered by the download.
9285 Builtin CPU simulator. @value{GDBN} includes simulators for most architectures.
9293 works; however, you cannot assume that a specific memory map, device
9294 drivers, or even basic I/O is available, although some simulators do
9295 provide these. For info about any processor-specific simulator details,
9296 see the appropriate section in @ref{Embedded Processors, ,Embedded
9301 Some configurations may include these targets as well:
9306 @item target nrom @var{dev}
9307 NetROM ROM emulator. This target only supports downloading.
9311 Different targets are available on different configurations of @value{GDBN};
9312 your configuration may have more or fewer targets.
9314 Many remote targets require you to download the executable's code
9315 once you've successfully established a connection.
9319 @kindex load @var{filename}
9320 @item load @var{filename}
9321 Depending on what remote debugging facilities are configured into
9322 @value{GDBN}, the @code{load} command may be available. Where it exists, it
9323 is meant to make @var{filename} (an executable) available for debugging
9324 on the remote system---by downloading, or dynamic linking, for example.
9325 @code{load} also records the @var{filename} symbol table in @value{GDBN}, like
9326 the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
9328 If your @value{GDBN} does not have a @code{load} command, attempting to
9329 execute it gets the error message ``@code{You can't do that when your
9330 target is @dots{}}''
9332 The file is loaded at whatever address is specified in the executable.
9333 For some object file formats, you can specify the load address when you
9334 link the program; for other formats, like a.out, the object file format
9335 specifies a fixed address.
9336 @c FIXME! This would be a good place for an xref to the GNU linker doc.
9338 @code{load} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
9342 @section Choosing target byte order
9344 @cindex choosing target byte order
9345 @cindex target byte order
9347 Some types of processors, such as the MIPS, PowerPC, and Hitachi SH,
9348 offer the ability to run either big-endian or little-endian byte
9349 orders. Usually the executable or symbol will include a bit to
9350 designate the endian-ness, and you will not need to worry about
9351 which to use. However, you may still find it useful to adjust
9352 @value{GDBN}'s idea of processor endian-ness manually.
9355 @kindex set endian big
9356 @item set endian big
9357 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is big-endian.
9359 @kindex set endian little
9360 @item set endian little
9361 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is little-endian.
9363 @kindex set endian auto
9364 @item set endian auto
9365 Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the byte order associated with the
9369 Display @value{GDBN}'s current idea of the target byte order.
9373 Note that these commands merely adjust interpretation of symbolic
9374 data on the host, and that they have absolutely no effect on the
9378 @section Remote debugging
9379 @cindex remote debugging
9381 If you are trying to debug a program running on a machine that cannot run
9382 @value{GDBN} in the usual way, it is often useful to use remote debugging.
9383 For example, you might use remote debugging on an operating system kernel,
9384 or on a small system which does not have a general purpose operating system
9385 powerful enough to run a full-featured debugger.
9387 Some configurations of @value{GDBN} have special serial or TCP/IP interfaces
9388 to make this work with particular debugging targets. In addition,
9389 @value{GDBN} comes with a generic serial protocol (specific to @value{GDBN},
9390 but not specific to any particular target system) which you can use if you
9391 write the remote stubs---the code that runs on the remote system to
9392 communicate with @value{GDBN}.
9394 Other remote targets may be available in your
9395 configuration of @value{GDBN}; use @code{help target} to list them.
9398 * Remote Serial:: @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol
9402 @subsection The @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol
9404 @cindex remote serial debugging, overview
9405 To debug a program running on another machine (the debugging
9406 @dfn{target} machine), you must first arrange for all the usual
9407 prerequisites for the program to run by itself. For example, for a C
9412 A startup routine to set up the C runtime environment; these usually
9413 have a name like @file{crt0}. The startup routine may be supplied by
9414 your hardware supplier, or you may have to write your own.
9417 A C subroutine library to support your program's
9418 subroutine calls, notably managing input and output.
9421 A way of getting your program to the other machine---for example, a
9422 download program. These are often supplied by the hardware
9423 manufacturer, but you may have to write your own from hardware
9427 The next step is to arrange for your program to use a serial port to
9428 communicate with the machine where @value{GDBN} is running (the @dfn{host}
9429 machine). In general terms, the scheme looks like this:
9433 @value{GDBN} already understands how to use this protocol; when everything
9434 else is set up, you can simply use the @samp{target remote} command
9435 (@pxref{Targets,,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
9437 @item On the target,
9438 you must link with your program a few special-purpose subroutines that
9439 implement the @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol. The file containing these
9440 subroutines is called a @dfn{debugging stub}.
9442 On certain remote targets, you can use an auxiliary program
9443 @code{gdbserver} instead of linking a stub into your program.
9444 @xref{Server,,Using the @code{gdbserver} program}, for details.
9447 The debugging stub is specific to the architecture of the remote
9448 machine; for example, use @file{sparc-stub.c} to debug programs on
9451 @cindex remote serial stub list
9452 These working remote stubs are distributed with @value{GDBN}:
9457 @cindex @file{i386-stub.c}
9460 For Intel 386 and compatible architectures.
9463 @cindex @file{m68k-stub.c}
9464 @cindex Motorola 680x0
9466 For Motorola 680x0 architectures.
9469 @cindex @file{sh-stub.c}
9472 For Hitachi SH architectures.
9475 @cindex @file{sparc-stub.c}
9477 For @sc{sparc} architectures.
9480 @cindex @file{sparcl-stub.c}
9483 For Fujitsu @sc{sparclite} architectures.
9487 The @file{README} file in the @value{GDBN} distribution may list other
9488 recently added stubs.
9491 * Stub Contents:: What the stub can do for you
9492 * Bootstrapping:: What you must do for the stub
9493 * Debug Session:: Putting it all together
9494 * Protocol:: Definition of the communication protocol
9495 * Server:: Using the `gdbserver' program
9496 * NetWare:: Using the `gdbserve.nlm' program
9500 @subsubsection What the stub can do for you
9502 @cindex remote serial stub
9503 The debugging stub for your architecture supplies these three
9507 @item set_debug_traps
9508 @kindex set_debug_traps
9509 @cindex remote serial stub, initialization
9510 This routine arranges for @code{handle_exception} to run when your
9511 program stops. You must call this subroutine explicitly near the
9512 beginning of your program.
9514 @item handle_exception
9515 @kindex handle_exception
9516 @cindex remote serial stub, main routine
9517 This is the central workhorse, but your program never calls it
9518 explicitly---the setup code arranges for @code{handle_exception} to
9519 run when a trap is triggered.
9521 @code{handle_exception} takes control when your program stops during
9522 execution (for example, on a breakpoint), and mediates communications
9523 with @value{GDBN} on the host machine. This is where the communications
9524 protocol is implemented; @code{handle_exception} acts as the @value{GDBN}
9525 representative on the target machine. It begins by sending summary
9526 information on the state of your program, then continues to execute,
9527 retrieving and transmitting any information @value{GDBN} needs, until you
9528 execute a @value{GDBN} command that makes your program resume; at that point,
9529 @code{handle_exception} returns control to your own code on the target
9533 @cindex @code{breakpoint} subroutine, remote
9534 Use this auxiliary subroutine to make your program contain a
9535 breakpoint. Depending on the particular situation, this may be the only
9536 way for @value{GDBN} to get control. For instance, if your target
9537 machine has some sort of interrupt button, you won't need to call this;
9538 pressing the interrupt button transfers control to
9539 @code{handle_exception}---in effect, to @value{GDBN}. On some machines,
9540 simply receiving characters on the serial port may also trigger a trap;
9541 again, in that situation, you don't need to call @code{breakpoint} from
9542 your own program---simply running @samp{target remote} from the host
9543 @value{GDBN} session gets control.
9545 Call @code{breakpoint} if none of these is true, or if you simply want
9546 to make certain your program stops at a predetermined point for the
9547 start of your debugging session.
9551 @subsubsection What you must do for the stub
9553 @cindex remote stub, support routines
9554 The debugging stubs that come with @value{GDBN} are set up for a particular
9555 chip architecture, but they have no information about the rest of your
9556 debugging target machine.
9558 First of all you need to tell the stub how to communicate with the
9562 @item int getDebugChar()
9563 @kindex getDebugChar
9564 Write this subroutine to read a single character from the serial port.
9565 It may be identical to @code{getchar} for your target system; a
9566 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
9568 @item void putDebugChar(int)
9569 @kindex putDebugChar
9570 Write this subroutine to write a single character to the serial port.
9571 It may be identical to @code{putchar} for your target system; a
9572 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
9575 @cindex control C, and remote debugging
9576 @cindex interrupting remote targets
9577 If you want @value{GDBN} to be able to stop your program while it is
9578 running, you need to use an interrupt-driven serial driver, and arrange
9579 for it to stop when it receives a @code{^C} (@samp{\003}, the control-C
9580 character). That is the character which @value{GDBN} uses to tell the
9581 remote system to stop.
9583 Getting the debugging target to return the proper status to @value{GDBN}
9584 probably requires changes to the standard stub; one quick and dirty way
9585 is to just execute a breakpoint instruction (the ``dirty'' part is that
9586 @value{GDBN} reports a @code{SIGTRAP} instead of a @code{SIGINT}).
9588 Other routines you need to supply are:
9591 @item void exceptionHandler (int @var{exception_number}, void *@var{exception_address})
9592 @kindex exceptionHandler
9593 Write this function to install @var{exception_address} in the exception
9594 handling tables. You need to do this because the stub does not have any
9595 way of knowing what the exception handling tables on your target system
9596 are like (for example, the processor's table might be in @sc{rom},
9597 containing entries which point to a table in @sc{ram}).
9598 @var{exception_number} is the exception number which should be changed;
9599 its meaning is architecture-dependent (for example, different numbers
9600 might represent divide by zero, misaligned access, etc). When this
9601 exception occurs, control should be transferred directly to
9602 @var{exception_address}, and the processor state (stack, registers,
9603 and so on) should be just as it is when a processor exception occurs. So if
9604 you want to use a jump instruction to reach @var{exception_address}, it
9605 should be a simple jump, not a jump to subroutine.
9607 For the 386, @var{exception_address} should be installed as an interrupt
9608 gate so that interrupts are masked while the handler runs. The gate
9609 should be at privilege level 0 (the most privileged level). The
9610 @sc{sparc} and 68k stubs are able to mask interrupts themselves without
9611 help from @code{exceptionHandler}.
9613 @item void flush_i_cache()
9614 @kindex flush_i_cache
9615 On @sc{sparc} and @sc{sparclite} only, write this subroutine to flush the
9616 instruction cache, if any, on your target machine. If there is no
9617 instruction cache, this subroutine may be a no-op.
9619 On target machines that have instruction caches, @value{GDBN} requires this
9620 function to make certain that the state of your program is stable.
9624 You must also make sure this library routine is available:
9627 @item void *memset(void *, int, int)
9629 This is the standard library function @code{memset} that sets an area of
9630 memory to a known value. If you have one of the free versions of
9631 @code{libc.a}, @code{memset} can be found there; otherwise, you must
9632 either obtain it from your hardware manufacturer, or write your own.
9635 If you do not use the GNU C compiler, you may need other standard
9636 library subroutines as well; this varies from one stub to another,
9637 but in general the stubs are likely to use any of the common library
9638 subroutines which @code{@value{GCC}} generates as inline code.
9642 @subsubsection Putting it all together
9644 @cindex remote serial debugging summary
9645 In summary, when your program is ready to debug, you must follow these
9650 Make sure you have defined the supporting low-level routines
9651 (@pxref{Bootstrapping,,What you must do for the stub}):
9653 @code{getDebugChar}, @code{putDebugChar},
9654 @code{flush_i_cache}, @code{memset}, @code{exceptionHandler}.
9658 Insert these lines near the top of your program:
9666 For the 680x0 stub only, you need to provide a variable called
9667 @code{exceptionHook}. Normally you just use:
9670 void (*exceptionHook)() = 0;
9674 but if before calling @code{set_debug_traps}, you set it to point to a
9675 function in your program, that function is called when
9676 @code{@value{GDBN}} continues after stopping on a trap (for example, bus
9677 error). The function indicated by @code{exceptionHook} is called with
9678 one parameter: an @code{int} which is the exception number.
9681 Compile and link together: your program, the @value{GDBN} debugging stub for
9682 your target architecture, and the supporting subroutines.
9685 Make sure you have a serial connection between your target machine and
9686 the @value{GDBN} host, and identify the serial port on the host.
9689 @c The "remote" target now provides a `load' command, so we should
9690 @c document that. FIXME.
9691 Download your program to your target machine (or get it there by
9692 whatever means the manufacturer provides), and start it.
9695 To start remote debugging, run @value{GDBN} on the host machine, and specify
9696 as an executable file the program that is running in the remote machine.
9697 This tells @value{GDBN} how to find your program's symbols and the contents
9701 @cindex serial line, @code{target remote}
9702 Establish communication using the @code{target remote} command.
9703 Its argument specifies how to communicate with the target
9704 machine---either via a devicename attached to a direct serial line, or a
9705 TCP port (usually to a terminal server which in turn has a serial line
9706 to the target). For example, to use a serial line connected to the
9707 device named @file{/dev/ttyb}:
9710 target remote /dev/ttyb
9713 @cindex TCP port, @code{target remote}
9714 To use a TCP connection, use an argument of the form
9715 @code{@var{host}:port}. For example, to connect to port 2828 on a
9716 terminal server named @code{manyfarms}:
9719 target remote manyfarms:2828
9722 If your remote target is actually running on the same machine as
9723 your debugger session (e.g.@: a simulator of your target running on
9724 the same host), you can omit the hostname. For example, to connect
9725 to port 1234 on your local machine:
9732 Note that the colon is still required here.
9735 Now you can use all the usual commands to examine and change data and to
9736 step and continue the remote program.
9738 To resume the remote program and stop debugging it, use the @code{detach}
9741 @cindex interrupting remote programs
9742 @cindex remote programs, interrupting
9743 Whenever @value{GDBN} is waiting for the remote program, if you type the
9744 interrupt character (often @key{C-C}), @value{GDBN} attempts to stop the
9745 program. This may or may not succeed, depending in part on the hardware
9746 and the serial drivers the remote system uses. If you type the
9747 interrupt character once again, @value{GDBN} displays this prompt:
9750 Interrupted while waiting for the program.
9751 Give up (and stop debugging it)? (y or n)
9754 If you type @kbd{y}, @value{GDBN} abandons the remote debugging session.
9755 (If you decide you want to try again later, you can use @samp{target
9756 remote} again to connect once more.) If you type @kbd{n}, @value{GDBN}
9757 goes back to waiting.
9760 @subsubsection Communication protocol
9762 @cindex debugging stub, example
9763 @cindex remote stub, example
9764 @cindex stub example, remote debugging
9765 The stub files provided with @value{GDBN} implement the target side of the
9766 communication protocol, and the @value{GDBN} side is implemented in the
9767 @value{GDBN} source file @file{remote.c}. Normally, you can simply allow
9768 these subroutines to communicate, and ignore the details. (If you're
9769 implementing your own stub file, you can still ignore the details: start
9770 with one of the existing stub files. @file{sparc-stub.c} is the best
9771 organized, and therefore the easiest to read.)
9773 However, there may be occasions when you need to know something about
9774 the protocol---for example, if there is only one serial port to your
9775 target machine, you might want your program to do something special if
9776 it recognizes a packet meant for @value{GDBN}.
9778 In the examples below, @samp{<-} and @samp{->} are used to indicate
9779 transmitted and received data respectfully.
9781 @cindex protocol, @value{GDBN} remote serial
9782 @cindex serial protocol, @value{GDBN} remote
9783 @cindex remote serial protocol
9784 All @value{GDBN} commands and responses (other than acknowledgments) are
9785 sent as a @var{packet}. A @var{packet} is introduced with the character
9786 @samp{$}, the actual @var{packet-data}, and the terminating character
9787 @samp{#} followed by a two-digit @var{checksum}:
9790 @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
9794 @cindex checksum, for @value{GDBN} remote
9796 The two-digit @var{checksum} is computed as the modulo 256 sum of all
9797 characters between the leading @samp{$} and the trailing @samp{#} (an
9798 eight bit unsigned checksum).
9800 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0 the protocol
9801 specification also included an optional two-digit @var{sequence-id}:
9804 @code{$}@var{sequence-id}@code{:}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
9807 @cindex sequence-id, for @value{GDBN} remote
9809 That @var{sequence-id} was appended to the acknowledgment. @value{GDBN}
9810 has never output @var{sequence-id}s. Stubs that handle packets added
9811 since @value{GDBN} 5.0 must not accept @var{sequence-id}.
9813 @cindex acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
9814 When either the host or the target machine receives a packet, the first
9815 response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
9816 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request
9820 <- @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
9825 The host (@value{GDBN}) sends @var{command}s, and the target (the
9826 debugging stub incorporated in your program) sends a @var{response}. In
9827 the case of step and continue @var{command}s, the response is only sent
9828 when the operation has completed (the target has again stopped).
9830 @var{packet-data} consists of a sequence of characters with the
9831 exception of @samp{#} and @samp{$} (see @samp{X} packet for additional
9834 Fields within the packet should be separated using @samp{,} @samp{;} or
9835 @samp{:}. Except where otherwise noted all numbers are represented in
9836 HEX with leading zeros suppressed.
9838 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0, the character
9839 @samp{:} could not appear as the third character in a packet (as it
9840 would potentially conflict with the @var{sequence-id}).
9842 Response @var{data} can be run-length encoded to save space. A @samp{*}
9843 means that the next character is an @sc{ascii} encoding giving a repeat count
9844 which stands for that many repetitions of the character preceding the
9845 @samp{*}. The encoding is @code{n+29}, yielding a printable character
9846 where @code{n >=3} (which is where rle starts to win). The printable
9847 characters @samp{$}, @samp{#}, @samp{+} and @samp{-} or with a numeric
9848 value greater than 126 should not be used.
9850 Some remote systems have used a different run-length encoding mechanism
9851 loosely refered to as the cisco encoding. Following the @samp{*}
9852 character are two hex digits that indicate the size of the packet.
9859 means the same as "0000".
9861 The error response returned for some packets includes a two character
9862 error number. That number is not well defined.
9864 For any @var{command} not supported by the stub, an empty response
9865 (@samp{$#00}) should be returned. That way it is possible to extend the
9866 protocol. A newer @value{GDBN} can tell if a packet is supported based
9869 A stub is required to support the @samp{g}, @samp{G}, @samp{m}, @samp{M},
9870 @samp{c}, and @samp{s} @var{command}s. All other @var{command}s are
9873 Below is a complete list of all currently defined @var{command}s and
9874 their corresponding response @var{data}:
9876 @multitable @columnfractions .30 .30 .40
9884 Enable extended mode. In extended mode, the remote server is made
9885 persistent. The @samp{R} packet is used to restart the program being
9888 @tab reply @samp{OK}
9890 The remote target both supports and has enabled extended mode.
9895 Indicate the reason the target halted. The reply is the same as for step
9904 @tab Reserved for future use
9906 @item set program arguments @strong{(reserved)}
9907 @tab @code{A}@var{arglen}@code{,}@var{argnum}@code{,}@var{arg}@code{,...}
9912 Initialized @samp{argv[]} array passed into program. @var{arglen}
9913 specifies the number of bytes in the hex encoded byte stream @var{arg}.
9914 See @file{gdbserver} for more details.
9916 @tab reply @code{OK}
9918 @tab reply @code{E}@var{NN}
9920 @item set baud @strong{(deprecated)}
9921 @tab @code{b}@var{baud}
9923 Change the serial line speed to @var{baud}. JTC: @emph{When does the
9924 transport layer state change? When it's received, or after the ACK is
9925 transmitted. In either case, there are problems if the command or the
9926 acknowledgment packet is dropped.} Stan: @emph{If people really wanted
9927 to add something like this, and get it working for the first time, they
9928 ought to modify ser-unix.c to send some kind of out-of-band message to a
9929 specially-setup stub and have the switch happen "in between" packets, so
9930 that from remote protocol's point of view, nothing actually
9933 @item set breakpoint @strong{(deprecated)}
9934 @tab @code{B}@var{addr},@var{mode}
9936 Set (@var{mode} is @samp{S}) or clear (@var{mode} is @samp{C}) a
9937 breakpoint at @var{addr}. @emph{This has been replaced by the @samp{Z} and
9941 @tab @code{c}@var{addr}
9943 @var{addr} is address to resume. If @var{addr} is omitted, resume at
9949 @item continue with signal
9950 @tab @code{C}@var{sig}@code{;}@var{addr}
9952 Continue with signal @var{sig} (hex signal number). If
9953 @code{;}@var{addr} is omitted, resume at same address.
9958 @item toggle debug @strong{(deprecated)}
9966 Detach @value{GDBN} from the remote system. Sent to the remote target before
9967 @value{GDBN} disconnects.
9969 @tab reply @emph{no response}
9971 @value{GDBN} does not check for any response after sending this packet.
9975 @tab Reserved for future use
9979 @tab Reserved for future use
9983 @tab Reserved for future use
9987 @tab Reserved for future use
9989 @item read registers
9991 @tab Read general registers.
9993 @tab reply @var{XX...}
9995 Each byte of register data is described by two hex digits. The bytes
9996 with the register are transmitted in target byte order. The size of
9997 each register and their position within the @samp{g} @var{packet} are
9998 determined by the @value{GDBN} internal macros @var{REGISTER_RAW_SIZE} and
9999 @var{REGISTER_NAME} macros. The specification of several standard
10000 @code{g} packets is specified below.
10002 @tab @code{E}@var{NN}
10006 @tab @code{G}@var{XX...}
10008 See @samp{g} for a description of the @var{XX...} data.
10010 @tab reply @code{OK}
10013 @tab reply @code{E}@var{NN}
10018 @tab Reserved for future use
10021 @tab @code{H}@var{c}@var{t...}
10023 Set thread for subsequent operations (@samp{m}, @samp{M}, @samp{g},
10024 @samp{G}, et.al.). @var{c} = @samp{c} for thread used in step and
10025 continue; @var{t...} can be -1 for all threads. @var{c} = @samp{g} for
10026 thread used in other operations. If zero, pick a thread, any thread.
10028 @tab reply @code{OK}
10031 @tab reply @code{E}@var{NN}
10035 @c 'H': How restrictive (or permissive) is the thread model. If a
10036 @c thread is selected and stopped, are other threads allowed
10037 @c to continue to execute? As I mentioned above, I think the
10038 @c semantics of each command when a thread is selected must be
10039 @c described. For example:
10041 @c 'g': If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
10042 @c selected, returns the register block from that thread;
10043 @c otherwise returns current registers.
10045 @c 'G' If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
10046 @c selected, sets the registers of the register block of
10047 @c that thread; otherwise sets current registers.
10049 @item cycle step @strong{(draft)}
10050 @tab @code{i}@var{addr}@code{,}@var{nnn}
10052 Step the remote target by a single clock cycle. If @code{,}@var{nnn} is
10053 present, cycle step @var{nnn} cycles. If @var{addr} is present, cycle
10054 step starting at that address.
10056 @item signal then cycle step @strong{(reserved)}
10059 See @samp{i} and @samp{S} for likely syntax and semantics.
10063 @tab Reserved for future use
10067 @tab Reserved for future use
10072 FIXME: @emph{There is no description of how operate when a specific
10073 thread context has been selected (ie. does 'k' kill only that thread?)}.
10077 @tab Reserved for future use
10081 @tab Reserved for future use
10084 @tab @code{m}@var{addr}@code{,}@var{length}
10086 Read @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
10087 Neither @value{GDBN} nor the stub assume that sized memory transfers are assumed
10088 using word alligned accesses. FIXME: @emph{A word aligned memory
10089 transfer mechanism is needed.}
10091 @tab reply @var{XX...}
10093 @var{XX...} is mem contents. Can be fewer bytes than requested if able
10094 to read only part of the data. Neither @value{GDBN} nor the stub assume that
10095 sized memory transfers are assumed using word alligned accesses. FIXME:
10096 @emph{A word aligned memory transfer mechanism is needed.}
10098 @tab reply @code{E}@var{NN}
10099 @tab @var{NN} is errno
10102 @tab @code{M}@var{addr},@var{length}@code{:}@var{XX...}
10104 Write @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
10105 @var{XX...} is the data.
10107 @tab reply @code{OK}
10110 @tab reply @code{E}@var{NN}
10112 for an error (this includes the case where only part of the data was
10117 @tab Reserved for future use
10121 @tab Reserved for future use
10125 @tab Reserved for future use
10129 @tab Reserved for future use
10131 @item read reg @strong{(reserved)}
10132 @tab @code{p}@var{n...}
10134 See write register.
10136 @tab return @var{r....}
10137 @tab The hex encoded value of the register in target byte order.
10140 @tab @code{P}@var{n...}@code{=}@var{r...}
10142 Write register @var{n...} with value @var{r...}, which contains two hex
10143 digits for each byte in the register (target byte order).
10145 @tab reply @code{OK}
10148 @tab reply @code{E}@var{NN}
10151 @item general query
10152 @tab @code{q}@var{query}
10154 Request info about @var{query}. In general @value{GDBN} queries
10155 have a leading upper case letter. Custom vendor queries should use a
10156 company prefix (in lower case) ex: @samp{qfsf.var}. @var{query} may
10157 optionally be followed by a @samp{,} or @samp{;} separated list. Stubs
10158 must ensure that they match the full @var{query} name.
10160 @tab reply @code{XX...}
10161 @tab Hex encoded data from query. The reply can not be empty.
10163 @tab reply @code{E}@var{NN}
10167 @tab Indicating an unrecognized @var{query}.
10170 @tab @code{Q}@var{var}@code{=}@var{val}
10172 Set value of @var{var} to @var{val}. See @samp{q} for a discussing of
10173 naming conventions.
10175 @item reset @strong{(deprecated)}
10178 Reset the entire system.
10180 @item remote restart
10181 @tab @code{R}@var{XX}
10183 Restart the program being debugged. @var{XX}, while needed, is ignored.
10184 This packet is only available in extended mode.
10189 The @samp{R} packet has no reply.
10192 @tab @code{s}@var{addr}
10194 @var{addr} is address to resume. If @var{addr} is omitted, resume at
10200 @item step with signal
10201 @tab @code{S}@var{sig}@code{;}@var{addr}
10203 Like @samp{C} but step not continue.
10209 @tab @code{t}@var{addr}@code{:}@var{PP}@code{,}@var{MM}
10211 Search backwards starting at address @var{addr} for a match with pattern
10212 @var{PP} and mask @var{MM}. @var{PP} and @var{MM} are 4
10213 bytes. @var{addr} must be at least 3 digits.
10216 @tab @code{T}@var{XX}
10217 @tab Find out if the thread XX is alive.
10219 @tab reply @code{OK}
10220 @tab thread is still alive
10222 @tab reply @code{E}@var{NN}
10223 @tab thread is dead
10227 @tab Reserved for future use
10231 @tab Reserved for future use
10235 @tab Reserved for future use
10239 @tab Reserved for future use
10243 @tab Reserved for future use
10247 @tab Reserved for future use
10251 @tab Reserved for future use
10253 @item write mem (binary)
10254 @tab @code{X}@var{addr}@code{,}@var{length}@var{:}@var{XX...}
10256 @var{addr} is address, @var{length} is number of bytes, @var{XX...} is
10257 binary data. The characters @code{$}, @code{#}, and @code{0x7d} are
10258 escaped using @code{0x7d}.
10260 @tab reply @code{OK}
10263 @tab reply @code{E}@var{NN}
10268 @tab Reserved for future use
10272 @tab Reserved for future use
10274 @item remove break or watchpoint @strong{(draft)}
10275 @tab @code{z}@var{t}@code{,}@var{addr}@code{,}@var{length}
10279 @item insert break or watchpoint @strong{(draft)}
10280 @tab @code{Z}@var{t}@code{,}@var{addr}@code{,}@var{length}
10282 @var{t} is type: @samp{0} - software breakpoint, @samp{1} - hardware
10283 breakpoint, @samp{2} - write watchpoint, @samp{3} - read watchpoint,
10284 @samp{4} - access watchpoint; @var{addr} is address; @var{length} is in
10285 bytes. For a software breakpoint, @var{length} specifies the size of
10286 the instruction to be patched. For hardware breakpoints and watchpoints
10287 @var{length} specifies the memory region to be monitored. To avoid
10288 potential problems with duplicate packets, the operations should be
10289 implemented in an idempotent way.
10291 @tab reply @code{E}@var{NN}
10294 @tab reply @code{OK}
10298 @tab If not supported.
10302 @tab Reserved for future use
10306 The @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}, @samp{s} and @samp{?} packets can
10307 receive any of the below as a reply. In the case of the @samp{C},
10308 @samp{c}, @samp{S} and @samp{s} packets, that reply is only returned
10309 when the target halts. In the below the exact meaning of @samp{signal
10310 number} is poorly defined. In general one of the UNIX signal numbering
10311 conventions is used.
10313 @multitable @columnfractions .4 .6
10315 @item @code{S}@var{AA}
10316 @tab @var{AA} is the signal number
10318 @item @code{T}@var{AA}@var{n...}@code{:}@var{r...}@code{;}@var{n...}@code{:}@var{r...}@code{;}@var{n...}@code{:}@var{r...}@code{;}
10320 @var{AA} = two hex digit signal number; @var{n...} = register number
10321 (hex), @var{r...} = target byte ordered register contents, size defined
10322 by @code{REGISTER_RAW_SIZE}; @var{n...} = @samp{thread}, @var{r...} =
10323 thread process ID, this is a hex integer; @var{n...} = other string not
10324 starting with valid hex digit. @value{GDBN} should ignore this
10325 @var{n...}, @var{r...} pair and go on to the next. This way we can
10326 extend the protocol.
10328 @item @code{W}@var{AA}
10330 The process exited, and @var{AA} is the exit status. This is only
10331 applicable for certains sorts of targets.
10333 @item @code{X}@var{AA}
10335 The process terminated with signal @var{AA}.
10337 @item @code{N}@var{AA}@code{;}@var{t...}@code{;}@var{d...}@code{;}@var{b...} @strong{(obsolete)}
10339 @var{AA} = signal number; @var{t...} = address of symbol "_start";
10340 @var{d...} = base of data section; @var{b...} = base of bss section.
10341 @emph{Note: only used by Cisco Systems targets. The difference between
10342 this reply and the "qOffsets" query is that the 'N' packet may arrive
10343 spontaneously whereas the 'qOffsets' is a query initiated by the host
10346 @item @code{O}@var{XX...}
10348 @var{XX...} is hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data. This can happen at any time
10349 while the program is running and the debugger should continue to wait
10354 The following set and query packets have already been defined.
10356 @multitable @columnfractions .2 .2 .6
10358 @item current thread
10359 @tab @code{q}@code{C}
10360 @tab Return the current thread id.
10362 @tab reply @code{QC}@var{pid}
10364 Where @var{pid} is a HEX encoded 16 bit process id.
10367 @tab Any other reply implies the old pid.
10369 @item all thread ids
10370 @tab @code{q}@code{fThreadInfo}
10372 @tab @code{q}@code{sThreadInfo}
10374 Obtain a list of active thread ids from the target (OS). Since there
10375 may be too many active threads to fit into one reply packet, this query
10376 works iteratively: it may require more than one query/reply sequence to
10377 obtain the entire list of threads. The first query of the sequence will
10378 be the @code{qf}@code{ThreadInfo} query; subsequent queries in the
10379 sequence will be the @code{qs}@code{ThreadInfo} query.
10382 @tab NOTE: replaces the @code{qL} query (see below).
10384 @tab reply @code{m}@var{<id>}
10385 @tab A single thread id
10387 @tab reply @code{m}@var{<id>},@var{<id>...}
10388 @tab a comma-separated list of thread ids
10390 @tab reply @code{l}
10391 @tab (lower case 'el') denotes end of list.
10395 In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one
10396 or more thread ids, in big-endian hex, separated by commas. GDB will
10397 respond to each reply with a request for more thread ids (using the
10398 @code{qs} form of the query), until the target responds with @code{l}
10399 (lower-case el, for @code{'last'}).
10401 @item extra thread info
10402 @tab @code{q}@code{ThreadExtraInfo}@code{,}@var{id}
10407 Where @var{<id>} is a thread-id in big-endian hex.
10408 Obtain a printable string description of a thread's attributes from
10409 the target OS. This string may contain anything that the target OS
10410 thinks is interesting for @value{GDBN} to tell the user about the thread.
10411 The string is displayed in @value{GDBN}'s @samp{info threads} display.
10412 Some examples of possible thread extra info strings are "Runnable", or
10413 "Blocked on Mutex".
10415 @tab reply @var{XX...}
10417 Where @var{XX...} is a hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data, comprising the
10418 printable string containing the extra information about the thread's
10421 @item query @var{LIST} or @var{threadLIST} @strong{(deprecated)}
10422 @tab @code{q}@code{L}@var{startflag}@var{threadcount}@var{nextthread}
10427 Obtain thread information from RTOS. Where: @var{startflag} (one hex
10428 digit) is one to indicate the first query and zero to indicate a
10429 subsequent query; @var{threadcount} (two hex digits) is the maximum
10430 number of threads the response packet can contain; and @var{nextthread}
10431 (eight hex digits), for subsequent queries (@var{startflag} is zero), is
10432 returned in the response as @var{argthread}.
10435 @tab NOTE: this query is replaced by the @code{q}@code{fThreadInfo}
10438 @tab reply @code{q}@code{M}@var{count}@var{done}@var{argthread}@var{thread...}
10443 Where: @var{count} (two hex digits) is the number of threads being
10444 returned; @var{done} (one hex digit) is zero to indicate more threads
10445 and one indicates no further threads; @var{argthreadid} (eight hex
10446 digits) is @var{nextthread} from the request packet; @var{thread...} is
10447 a sequence of thread IDs from the target. @var{threadid} (eight hex
10448 digits). See @code{remote.c:parse_threadlist_response()}.
10450 @item compute CRC of memory block
10451 @tab @code{q}@code{CRC:}@var{addr}@code{,}@var{length}
10454 @tab reply @code{E}@var{NN}
10455 @tab An error (such as memory fault)
10457 @tab reply @code{C}@var{CRC32}
10458 @tab A 32 bit cyclic redundancy check of the specified memory region.
10460 @item query sect offs
10461 @tab @code{q}@code{Offsets}
10463 Get section offsets that the target used when re-locating the downloaded
10464 image. @emph{Note: while a @code{Bss} offset is included in the
10465 response, @value{GDBN} ignores this and instead applies the @code{Data}
10466 offset to the @code{Bss} section.}
10468 @tab reply @code{Text=}@var{xxx}@code{;Data=}@var{yyy}@code{;Bss=}@var{zzz}
10470 @item thread info request
10471 @tab @code{q}@code{P}@var{mode}@var{threadid}
10476 Returns information on @var{threadid}. Where: @var{mode} is a hex
10477 encoded 32 bit mode; @var{threadid} is a hex encoded 64 bit thread ID.
10481 See @code{remote.c:remote_unpack_thread_info_response()}.
10483 @item remote command
10484 @tab @code{q}@code{Rcmd,}@var{COMMAND}
10489 @var{COMMAND} (hex encoded) is passed to the local interpreter for
10490 execution. Invalid commands should be reported using the output string.
10491 Before the final result packet, the target may also respond with a
10492 number of intermediate @code{O}@var{OUTPUT} console output
10493 packets. @emph{Implementors should note that providing access to a
10494 stubs's interpreter may have security implications}.
10496 @tab reply @code{OK}
10498 A command response with no output.
10500 @tab reply @var{OUTPUT}
10502 A command response with the hex encoded output string @var{OUTPUT}.
10504 @tab reply @code{E}@var{NN}
10506 Indicate a badly formed request.
10511 When @samp{q}@samp{Rcmd} is not recognized.
10513 @item symbol lookup
10514 @tab @code{qSymbol::}
10516 Notify the target that @value{GDBN} is prepared to serve symbol lookup
10517 requests. Accept requests from the target for the values of symbols.
10522 @tab reply @code{OK}
10524 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
10526 @tab reply @code{qSymbol:}@var{sym_name}
10528 The target requests the value of symbol @var{sym_name} (hex encoded).
10529 @value{GDBN} may provide the value by using the
10530 @code{qSymbol:}@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}
10531 message, described below.
10534 @tab @code{qSymbol:}@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}
10536 Set the value of SYM_NAME to SYM_VALUE.
10540 @var{sym_name} (hex encoded) is the name of a symbol whose value
10541 the target has previously requested.
10545 @var{sym_value} (hex) is the value for symbol @var{sym_name}.
10546 If @value{GDBN} cannot supply a value for @var{sym_name}, then this
10547 field will be empty.
10549 @tab reply @code{OK}
10551 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
10553 @tab reply @code{qSymbol:}@var{sym_name}
10555 The target requests the value of a new symbol @var{sym_name} (hex encoded).
10556 @value{GDBN} will continue to supply the values of symbols (if available),
10557 until the target ceases to request them.
10561 The following @samp{g}/@samp{G} packets have previously been defined.
10562 In the below, some thirty-two bit registers are transferred as sixty-four
10563 bits. Those registers should be zero/sign extended (which?) to fill the
10564 space allocated. Register bytes are transfered in target byte order.
10565 The two nibbles within a register byte are transfered most-significant -
10568 @multitable @columnfractions .5 .5
10572 All registers are transfered as thirty-two bit quantities in the order:
10573 32 general-purpose; sr; lo; hi; bad; cause; pc; 32 floating-point
10574 registers; fsr; fir; fp.
10578 All registers are transfered as sixty-four bit quantities (including
10579 thirty-two bit registers such as @code{sr}). The ordering is the same
10584 Example sequence of a target being re-started. Notice how the restart
10585 does not get any direct output:
10590 @emph{target restarts}
10593 -> @code{T001:1234123412341234}
10597 Example sequence of a target being stepped by a single instruction:
10605 -> @code{T001:1234123412341234}
10614 @subsubsection Using the @code{gdbserver} program
10617 @cindex remote connection without stubs
10618 @code{gdbserver} is a control program for Unix-like systems, which
10619 allows you to connect your program with a remote @value{GDBN} via
10620 @code{target remote}---but without linking in the usual debugging stub.
10622 @code{gdbserver} is not a complete replacement for the debugging stubs,
10623 because it requires essentially the same operating-system facilities
10624 that @value{GDBN} itself does. In fact, a system that can run
10625 @code{gdbserver} to connect to a remote @value{GDBN} could also run
10626 @value{GDBN} locally! @code{gdbserver} is sometimes useful nevertheless,
10627 because it is a much smaller program than @value{GDBN} itself. It is
10628 also easier to port than all of @value{GDBN}, so you may be able to get
10629 started more quickly on a new system by using @code{gdbserver}.
10630 Finally, if you develop code for real-time systems, you may find that
10631 the tradeoffs involved in real-time operation make it more convenient to
10632 do as much development work as possible on another system, for example
10633 by cross-compiling. You can use @code{gdbserver} to make a similar
10634 choice for debugging.
10636 @value{GDBN} and @code{gdbserver} communicate via either a serial line
10637 or a TCP connection, using the standard @value{GDBN} remote serial
10641 @item On the target machine,
10642 you need to have a copy of the program you want to debug.
10643 @code{gdbserver} does not need your program's symbol table, so you can
10644 strip the program if necessary to save space. @value{GDBN} on the host
10645 system does all the symbol handling.
10647 To use the server, you must tell it how to communicate with @value{GDBN};
10648 the name of your program; and the arguments for your program. The
10652 target> gdbserver @var{comm} @var{program} [ @var{args} @dots{} ]
10655 @var{comm} is either a device name (to use a serial line) or a TCP
10656 hostname and portnumber. For example, to debug Emacs with the argument
10657 @samp{foo.txt} and communicate with @value{GDBN} over the serial port
10661 target> gdbserver /dev/com1 emacs foo.txt
10664 @code{gdbserver} waits passively for the host @value{GDBN} to communicate
10667 To use a TCP connection instead of a serial line:
10670 target> gdbserver host:2345 emacs foo.txt
10673 The only difference from the previous example is the first argument,
10674 specifying that you are communicating with the host @value{GDBN} via
10675 TCP. The @samp{host:2345} argument means that @code{gdbserver} is to
10676 expect a TCP connection from machine @samp{host} to local TCP port 2345.
10677 (Currently, the @samp{host} part is ignored.) You can choose any number
10678 you want for the port number as long as it does not conflict with any
10679 TCP ports already in use on the target system (for example, @code{23} is
10680 reserved for @code{telnet}).@footnote{If you choose a port number that
10681 conflicts with another service, @code{gdbserver} prints an error message
10682 and exits.} You must use the same port number with the host @value{GDBN}
10683 @code{target remote} command.
10685 @item On the @value{GDBN} host machine,
10686 you need an unstripped copy of your program, since @value{GDBN} needs
10687 symbols and debugging information. Start up @value{GDBN} as usual,
10688 using the name of the local copy of your program as the first argument.
10689 (You may also need the @w{@samp{--baud}} option if the serial line is
10690 running at anything other than 9600@dmn{bps}.) After that, use @code{target
10691 remote} to establish communications with @code{gdbserver}. Its argument
10692 is either a device name (usually a serial device, like
10693 @file{/dev/ttyb}), or a TCP port descriptor in the form
10694 @code{@var{host}:@var{PORT}}. For example:
10697 (@value{GDBP}) target remote /dev/ttyb
10701 communicates with the server via serial line @file{/dev/ttyb}, and
10704 (@value{GDBP}) target remote the-target:2345
10708 communicates via a TCP connection to port 2345 on host @w{@file{the-target}}.
10709 For TCP connections, you must start up @code{gdbserver} prior to using
10710 the @code{target remote} command. Otherwise you may get an error whose
10711 text depends on the host system, but which usually looks something like
10712 @samp{Connection refused}.
10716 @subsubsection Using the @code{gdbserve.nlm} program
10718 @kindex gdbserve.nlm
10719 @code{gdbserve.nlm} is a control program for NetWare systems, which
10720 allows you to connect your program with a remote @value{GDBN} via
10721 @code{target remote}.
10723 @value{GDBN} and @code{gdbserve.nlm} communicate via a serial line,
10724 using the standard @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol.
10727 @item On the target machine,
10728 you need to have a copy of the program you want to debug.
10729 @code{gdbserve.nlm} does not need your program's symbol table, so you
10730 can strip the program if necessary to save space. @value{GDBN} on the
10731 host system does all the symbol handling.
10733 To use the server, you must tell it how to communicate with
10734 @value{GDBN}; the name of your program; and the arguments for your
10735 program. The syntax is:
10738 load gdbserve [ BOARD=@var{board} ] [ PORT=@var{port} ]
10739 [ BAUD=@var{baud} ] @var{program} [ @var{args} @dots{} ]
10742 @var{board} and @var{port} specify the serial line; @var{baud} specifies
10743 the baud rate used by the connection. @var{port} and @var{node} default
10744 to 0, @var{baud} defaults to 9600@dmn{bps}.
10746 For example, to debug Emacs with the argument @samp{foo.txt}and
10747 communicate with @value{GDBN} over serial port number 2 or board 1
10748 using a 19200@dmn{bps} connection:
10751 load gdbserve BOARD=1 PORT=2 BAUD=19200 emacs foo.txt
10754 @item On the @value{GDBN} host machine,
10755 you need an unstripped copy of your program, since @value{GDBN} needs
10756 symbols and debugging information. Start up @value{GDBN} as usual,
10757 using the name of the local copy of your program as the first argument.
10758 (You may also need the @w{@samp{--baud}} option if the serial line is
10759 running at anything other than 9600@dmn{bps}. After that, use @code{target
10760 remote} to establish communications with @code{gdbserve.nlm}. Its
10761 argument is a device name (usually a serial device, like
10762 @file{/dev/ttyb}). For example:
10765 (@value{GDBP}) target remote /dev/ttyb
10769 communications with the server via serial line @file{/dev/ttyb}.
10773 @section Kernel Object Display
10775 @cindex kernel object display
10776 @cindex kernel object
10779 Some targets support kernel object display. Using this facility,
10780 @value{GDBN} communicates specially with the underlying operating system
10781 and can display information about operating system-level objects such as
10782 mutexes and other synchronization objects. Exactly which objects can be
10783 displayed is determined on a per-OS basis.
10785 Use the @code{set os} command to set the operating system. This tells
10786 @value{GDBN} which kernel object display module to initialize:
10789 (@value{GDBP}) set os cisco
10792 If @code{set os} succeeds, @value{GDBN} will display some information
10793 about the operating system, and will create a new @code{info} command
10794 which can be used to query the target. The @code{info} command is named
10795 after the operating system:
10798 (@value{GDBP}) info cisco
10799 List of Cisco Kernel Objects
10801 any Any and all objects
10804 Further subcommands can be used to query about particular objects known
10807 There is currently no way to determine whether a given operating system
10808 is supported other than to try it.
10811 @node Configurations
10812 @chapter Configuration-Specific Information
10814 While nearly all @value{GDBN} commands are available for all native and
10815 cross versions of the debugger, there are some exceptions. This chapter
10816 describes things that are only available in certain configurations.
10818 There are three major categories of configurations: native
10819 configurations, where the host and target are the same, embedded
10820 operating system configurations, which are usually the same for several
10821 different processor architectures, and bare embedded processors, which
10822 are quite different from each other.
10827 * Embedded Processors::
10834 This section describes details specific to particular native
10839 * SVR4 Process Information:: SVR4 process information
10840 * DJGPP Native:: Features specific to the DJGPP port
10846 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
10847 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
10848 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
10850 @node SVR4 Process Information
10851 @subsection SVR4 process information
10854 @cindex process image
10856 Many versions of SVR4 provide a facility called @samp{/proc} that can be
10857 used to examine the image of a running process using file-system
10858 subroutines. If @value{GDBN} is configured for an operating system with
10859 this facility, the command @code{info proc} is available to report on
10860 several kinds of information about the process running your program.
10861 @code{info proc} works only on SVR4 systems that include the
10862 @code{procfs} code. This includes OSF/1 (Digital Unix), Solaris, Irix,
10863 and Unixware, but not HP-UX or Linux, for example.
10868 Summarize available information about the process.
10870 @kindex info proc mappings
10871 @item info proc mappings
10872 Report on the address ranges accessible in the program, with information
10873 on whether your program may read, write, or execute each range.
10875 @kindex info proc times
10876 @item info proc times
10877 Starting time, user CPU time, and system CPU time for your program and
10880 @kindex info proc id
10882 Report on the process IDs related to your program: its own process ID,
10883 the ID of its parent, the process group ID, and the session ID.
10885 @kindex info proc status
10886 @item info proc status
10887 General information on the state of the process. If the process is
10888 stopped, this report includes the reason for stopping, and any signal
10891 @item info proc all
10892 Show all the above information about the process.
10896 @subsection Features for Debugging @sc{djgpp} Programs
10897 @cindex @sc{djgpp} debugging
10898 @cindex native @sc{djgpp} debugging
10899 @cindex MS-DOS-specific commands
10901 @sc{djgpp} is the port of @sc{gnu} development tools to MS-DOS and
10902 MS-Windows. @sc{djgpp} programs are 32-bit protected-mode programs
10903 that use the @dfn{DPMI} (DOS Protected-Mode Interface) API to run on
10904 top of real-mode DOS systems and their emulations.
10906 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of @sc{djgpp} programs, and
10907 defines a few commands specific to the @sc{djgpp} port. This
10908 subsection describes those commands.
10913 This is a prefix of @sc{djgpp}-specific commands which print
10914 information about the target system and important OS structures.
10917 @cindex MS-DOS system info
10918 @cindex free memory information (MS-DOS)
10919 @item info dos sysinfo
10920 This command displays assorted information about the underlying
10921 platform: the CPU type and features, the OS version and flavor, the
10922 DPMI version, and the available conventional and DPMI memory.
10927 @cindex segment descriptor tables
10928 @cindex descriptor tables display
10930 @itemx info dos ldt
10931 @itemx info dos idt
10932 These 3 commands display entries from, respectively, Global, Local,
10933 and Interrupt Descriptor Tables (GDT, LDT, and IDT). The descriptor
10934 tables are data structures which store a descriptor for each segment
10935 that is currently in use. The segment's selector is an index into a
10936 descriptor table; the table entry for that index holds the
10937 descriptor's base address and limit, and its attributes and access
10940 A typical @sc{djgpp} program uses 3 segments: a code segment, a data
10941 segment (used for both data and the stack), and a DOS segment (which
10942 allows access to DOS/BIOS data structures and absolute addresses in
10943 conventional memory). However, the DPMI host will usually define
10944 additional segments in order to support the DPMI environment.
10946 @cindex garbled pointers
10947 These commands allow to display entries from the descriptor tables.
10948 Without an argument, all entries from the specified table are
10949 displayed. An argument, which should be an integer expression, means
10950 display a single entry whose index is given by the argument. For
10951 example, here's a convenient way to display information about the
10952 debugged program's data segment:
10955 (@value{GDBP}) info dos ldt $ds
10956 0x13f: base=0x11970000 limit=0x0009ffff 32-Bit Data (Read/Write, Exp-up)
10960 This comes in handy when you want to see whether a pointer is outside
10961 the data segment's limit (i.e.@: @dfn{garbled}).
10963 @cindex page tables display (MS-DOS)
10965 @itemx info dos pte
10966 These two commands display entries from, respectively, the Page
10967 Directory and the Page Tables. Page Directories and Page Tables are
10968 data structures which control how virtual memory addresses are mapped
10969 into physical addresses. A Page Table includes an entry for every
10970 page of memory that is mapped into the program's address space; there
10971 may be several Page Tables, each one holding up to 4096 entries. A
10972 Page Directory has up to 4096 entries, one each for every Page Table
10973 that is currently in use.
10975 Without an argument, @kbd{info dos pde} displays the entire Page
10976 Directory, and @kbd{info dos pte} displays all the entries in all of
10977 the Page Tables. An argument, an integer expression, given to the
10978 @kbd{info dos pde} command means display only that entry from the Page
10979 Directory table. An argument given to the @kbd{info dos pte} command
10980 means display entries from a single Page Table, the one pointed to by
10981 the specified entry in the Page Directory.
10983 These commands are useful when your program uses @dfn{DMA} (Direct
10984 Memory Access), which needs physical addresses to program the DMA
10987 These commands are supported only with some DPMI servers.
10989 @cindex physical address from linear address
10990 @item info dos address-pte
10991 This command displays the Page Table entry for a specified linear
10992 address. The argument linear address should already have the
10993 appropriate segment's base address added to it, because this command
10994 accepts addresses which may belong to @emph{any} segment. For
10995 example, here's how to display the Page Table entry for the page where
10996 the variable @code{i} is stored:
10999 (@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte __djgpp_base_address + (char *)&i
11000 Page Table entry for address 0x11a00d30:
11001 Base=0x02698000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0xd30
11005 This says that @code{i} is stored at offset @code{0xd30} from the page
11006 whose physical base address is @code{0x02698000}, and prints all the
11007 attributes of that page.
11009 Note that you must cast the addresses of variables to a @code{char *},
11010 since otherwise the value of @code{__djgpp_base_address}, the base
11011 address of all variables and functions in a @sc{djgpp} program, will
11012 be added using the rules of C pointer arithmetics: if @code{i} is
11013 declared an @code{int}, @value{GDBN} will add 4 times the value of
11014 @code{__djgpp_base_address} to the address of @code{i}.
11016 Here's another example, it displays the Page Table entry for the
11020 (@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte *((unsigned *)&_go32_info_block + 3)
11021 Page Table entry for address 0x29110:
11022 Base=0x00029000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0x110
11026 (The @code{+ 3} offset is because the transfer buffer's address is the
11027 3rd member of the @code{_go32_info_block} structure.) The output of
11028 this command clearly shows that addresses in conventional memory are
11029 mapped 1:1, i.e.@: the physical and linear addresses are identical.
11031 This command is supported only with some DPMI servers.
11035 @section Embedded Operating Systems
11037 This section describes configurations involving the debugging of
11038 embedded operating systems that are available for several different
11042 * VxWorks:: Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
11045 @value{GDBN} includes the ability to debug programs running on
11046 various real-time operating systems.
11049 @subsection Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
11055 @kindex target vxworks
11056 @item target vxworks @var{machinename}
11057 A VxWorks system, attached via TCP/IP. The argument @var{machinename}
11058 is the target system's machine name or IP address.
11062 On VxWorks, @code{load} links @var{filename} dynamically on the
11063 current target system as well as adding its symbols in @value{GDBN}.
11065 @value{GDBN} enables developers to spawn and debug tasks running on networked
11066 VxWorks targets from a Unix host. Already-running tasks spawned from
11067 the VxWorks shell can also be debugged. @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
11068 both the Unix host and on the VxWorks target. The program
11069 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host. (It may be
11070 installed with the name @code{vxgdb}, to distinguish it from a
11071 @value{GDBN} for debugging programs on the host itself.)
11074 @item VxWorks-timeout @var{args}
11075 @kindex vxworks-timeout
11076 All VxWorks-based targets now support the option @code{vxworks-timeout}.
11077 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
11078 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses to rpc's. You might use this if
11079 your VxWorks target is a slow software simulator or is on the far side
11080 of a thin network line.
11083 The following information on connecting to VxWorks was current when
11084 this manual was produced; newer releases of VxWorks may use revised
11087 @kindex INCLUDE_RDB
11088 To use @value{GDBN} with VxWorks, you must rebuild your VxWorks kernel
11089 to include the remote debugging interface routines in the VxWorks
11090 library @file{rdb.a}. To do this, define @code{INCLUDE_RDB} in the
11091 VxWorks configuration file @file{configAll.h} and rebuild your VxWorks
11092 kernel. The resulting kernel contains @file{rdb.a}, and spawns the
11093 source debugging task @code{tRdbTask} when VxWorks is booted. For more
11094 information on configuring and remaking VxWorks, see the manufacturer's
11096 @c VxWorks, see the @cite{VxWorks Programmer's Guide}.
11098 Once you have included @file{rdb.a} in your VxWorks system image and set
11099 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
11100 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}} (or
11101 @code{vxgdb}, depending on your installation).
11103 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
11110 * VxWorks Connection:: Connecting to VxWorks
11111 * VxWorks Download:: VxWorks download
11112 * VxWorks Attach:: Running tasks
11115 @node VxWorks Connection
11116 @subsubsection Connecting to VxWorks
11118 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a VxWorks target on the
11119 network. To connect to a target whose host name is ``@code{tt}'', type:
11122 (vxgdb) target vxworks tt
11126 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
11129 Attaching remote machine across net...
11134 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol tables of any object modules
11135 loaded into the VxWorks target since it was last booted. @value{GDBN} locates
11136 these files by searching the directories listed in the command search
11137 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your program's environment}); if it fails
11138 to find an object file, it displays a message such as:
11141 prog.o: No such file or directory.
11144 When this happens, add the appropriate directory to the search path with
11145 the @value{GDBN} command @code{path}, and execute the @code{target}
11148 @node VxWorks Download
11149 @subsubsection VxWorks download
11151 @cindex download to VxWorks
11152 If you have connected to the VxWorks target and you want to debug an
11153 object that has not yet been loaded, you can use the @value{GDBN}
11154 @code{load} command to download a file from Unix to VxWorks
11155 incrementally. The object file given as an argument to the @code{load}
11156 command is actually opened twice: first by the VxWorks target in order
11157 to download the code, then by @value{GDBN} in order to read the symbol
11158 table. This can lead to problems if the current working directories on
11159 the two systems differ. If both systems have NFS mounted the same
11160 filesystems, you can avoid these problems by using absolute paths.
11161 Otherwise, it is simplest to set the working directory on both systems
11162 to the directory in which the object file resides, and then to reference
11163 the file by its name, without any path. For instance, a program
11164 @file{prog.o} may reside in @file{@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb} in VxWorks
11165 and in @file{@var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb} on the host. To load this
11166 program, type this on VxWorks:
11169 -> cd "@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb"
11173 Then, in @value{GDBN}, type:
11176 (vxgdb) cd @var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb
11177 (vxgdb) load prog.o
11180 @value{GDBN} displays a response similar to this:
11183 Reading symbol data from wherever/vw/demo/rdb/prog.o... done.
11186 You can also use the @code{load} command to reload an object module
11187 after editing and recompiling the corresponding source file. Note that
11188 this makes @value{GDBN} delete all currently-defined breakpoints,
11189 auto-displays, and convenience variables, and to clear the value
11190 history. (This is necessary in order to preserve the integrity of
11191 debugger's data structures that reference the target system's symbol
11194 @node VxWorks Attach
11195 @subsubsection Running tasks
11197 @cindex running VxWorks tasks
11198 You can also attach to an existing task using the @code{attach} command as
11202 (vxgdb) attach @var{task}
11206 where @var{task} is the VxWorks hexadecimal task ID. The task can be running
11207 or suspended when you attach to it. Running tasks are suspended at
11208 the time of attachment.
11210 @node Embedded Processors
11211 @section Embedded Processors
11213 This section goes into details specific to particular embedded
11217 * A29K Embedded:: AMD A29K Embedded
11219 * H8/300:: Hitachi H8/300
11220 * H8/500:: Hitachi H8/500
11221 * i960:: Intel i960
11222 * M32R/D:: Mitsubishi M32R/D
11223 * M68K:: Motorola M68K
11224 * M88K:: Motorola M88K
11225 * MIPS Embedded:: MIPS Embedded
11226 * PA:: HP PA Embedded
11229 * Sparclet:: Tsqware Sparclet
11230 * Sparclite:: Fujitsu Sparclite
11231 * ST2000:: Tandem ST2000
11232 * Z8000:: Zilog Z8000
11235 @node A29K Embedded
11236 @subsection AMD A29K Embedded
11241 * Comms (EB29K):: Communications setup
11242 * gdb-EB29K:: EB29K cross-debugging
11243 * Remote Log:: Remote log
11248 @kindex target adapt
11249 @item target adapt @var{dev}
11250 Adapt monitor for A29K.
11252 @kindex target amd-eb
11253 @item target amd-eb @var{dev} @var{speed} @var{PROG}
11255 Remote PC-resident AMD EB29K board, attached over serial lines.
11256 @var{dev} is the serial device, as for @code{target remote};
11257 @var{speed} allows you to specify the linespeed; and @var{PROG} is the
11258 name of the program to be debugged, as it appears to DOS on the PC.
11259 @xref{A29K EB29K, ,EBMON protocol for AMD29K}.
11264 @subsubsection A29K UDI
11267 @cindex AMD29K via UDI
11269 @value{GDBN} supports AMD's UDI (``Universal Debugger Interface'')
11270 protocol for debugging the a29k processor family. To use this
11271 configuration with AMD targets running the MiniMON monitor, you need the
11272 program @code{MONTIP}, available from AMD at no charge. You can also
11273 use @value{GDBN} with the UDI-conformant a29k simulator program
11274 @code{ISSTIP}, also available from AMD.
11277 @item target udi @var{keyword}
11279 Select the UDI interface to a remote a29k board or simulator, where
11280 @var{keyword} is an entry in the AMD configuration file @file{udi_soc}.
11281 This file contains keyword entries which specify parameters used to
11282 connect to a29k targets. If the @file{udi_soc} file is not in your
11283 working directory, you must set the environment variable @samp{UDICONF}
11288 @subsubsection EBMON protocol for AMD29K
11290 @cindex EB29K board
11291 @cindex running 29K programs
11293 AMD distributes a 29K development board meant to fit in a PC, together
11294 with a DOS-hosted monitor program called @code{EBMON}. As a shorthand
11295 term, this development system is called the ``EB29K''. To use
11296 @value{GDBN} from a Unix system to run programs on the EB29K board, you
11297 must first connect a serial cable between the PC (which hosts the EB29K
11298 board) and a serial port on the Unix system. In the following, we
11299 assume you've hooked the cable between the PC's @file{COM1} port and
11300 @file{/dev/ttya} on the Unix system.
11302 @node Comms (EB29K)
11303 @subsubsection Communications setup
11305 The next step is to set up the PC's port, by doing something like this
11309 C:\> MODE com1:9600,n,8,1,none
11313 This example---run on an MS DOS 4.0 system---sets the PC port to 9600
11314 bps, no parity, eight data bits, one stop bit, and no ``retry'' action;
11315 you must match the communications parameters when establishing the Unix
11316 end of the connection as well.
11317 @c FIXME: Who knows what this "no retry action" crud from the DOS manual may
11320 @c It's optional, but it's unwise to omit it: who knows what is the
11321 @c default value set when the DOS machines boots? "No retry" means that
11322 @c the DOS serial device driver won't retry the operation if it fails;
11323 @c I understand that this is needed because the GDB serial protocol
11324 @c handles any errors and retransmissions itself. ---Eli Zaretskii, 3sep99
11326 To give control of the PC to the Unix side of the serial line, type
11327 the following at the DOS console:
11334 (Later, if you wish to return control to the DOS console, you can use
11335 the command @code{CTTY con}---but you must send it over the device that
11336 had control, in our example over the @file{COM1} serial line.)
11338 From the Unix host, use a communications program such as @code{tip} or
11339 @code{cu} to communicate with the PC; for example,
11342 cu -s 9600 -l /dev/ttya
11346 The @code{cu} options shown specify, respectively, the linespeed and the
11347 serial port to use. If you use @code{tip} instead, your command line
11348 may look something like the following:
11351 tip -9600 /dev/ttya
11355 Your system may require a different name where we show
11356 @file{/dev/ttya} as the argument to @code{tip}. The communications
11357 parameters, including which port to use, are associated with the
11358 @code{tip} argument in the ``remote'' descriptions file---normally the
11359 system table @file{/etc/remote}.
11360 @c FIXME: What if anything needs doing to match the "n,8,1,none" part of
11361 @c the DOS side's comms setup? cu can support -o (odd
11362 @c parity), -e (even parity)---apparently no settings for no parity or
11363 @c for character size. Taken from stty maybe...? John points out tip
11364 @c can set these as internal variables, eg ~s parity=none; man stty
11365 @c suggests that it *might* work to stty these options with stdin or
11368 @c There's nothing to be done for the "none" part of the DOS MODE
11369 @c command. The rest of the parameters should be matched by the
11370 @c baudrate, bits, and parity used by the Unix side. ---Eli Zaretskii, 3Sep99
11373 Using the @code{tip} or @code{cu} connection, change the DOS working
11374 directory to the directory containing a copy of your 29K program, then
11375 start the PC program @code{EBMON} (an EB29K control program supplied
11376 with your board by AMD). You should see an initial display from
11377 @code{EBMON} similar to the one that follows, ending with the
11378 @code{EBMON} prompt @samp{#}---
11383 G:\> CD \usr\joe\work29k
11385 G:\USR\JOE\WORK29K> EBMON
11386 Am29000 PC Coprocessor Board Monitor, version 3.0-18
11387 Copyright 1990 Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
11388 Written by Gibbons and Associates, Inc.
11390 Enter '?' or 'H' for help
11392 PC Coprocessor Type = EB29K
11394 Memory Base = 0xd0000
11396 Data Memory Size = 2048KB
11397 Available I-RAM Range = 0x8000 to 0x1fffff
11398 Available D-RAM Range = 0x80002000 to 0x801fffff
11401 Register Stack Size = 0x800
11402 Memory Stack Size = 0x1800
11405 Am29027 Available = No
11406 Byte Write Available = Yes
11411 Then exit the @code{cu} or @code{tip} program (done in the example by
11412 typing @code{~.} at the @code{EBMON} prompt). @code{EBMON} keeps
11413 running, ready for @value{GDBN} to take over.
11415 For this example, we've assumed what is probably the most convenient
11416 way to make sure the same 29K program is on both the PC and the Unix
11417 system: a PC/NFS connection that establishes ``drive @file{G:}'' on the
11418 PC as a file system on the Unix host. If you do not have PC/NFS or
11419 something similar connecting the two systems, you must arrange some
11420 other way---perhaps floppy-disk transfer---of getting the 29K program
11421 from the Unix system to the PC; @value{GDBN} does @emph{not} download it over the
11425 @subsubsection EB29K cross-debugging
11427 Finally, @code{cd} to the directory containing an image of your 29K
11428 program on the Unix system, and start @value{GDBN}---specifying as argument the
11429 name of your 29K program:
11432 cd /usr/joe/work29k
11437 Now you can use the @code{target} command:
11440 target amd-eb /dev/ttya 9600 MYFOO
11441 @c FIXME: test above 'target amd-eb' as spelled, with caps! caps are meant to
11442 @c emphasize that this is the name as seen by DOS (since I think DOS is
11447 In this example, we've assumed your program is in a file called
11448 @file{myfoo}. Note that the filename given as the last argument to
11449 @code{target amd-eb} should be the name of the program as it appears to DOS.
11450 In our example this is simply @code{MYFOO}, but in general it can include
11451 a DOS path, and depending on your transfer mechanism may not resemble
11452 the name on the Unix side.
11454 At this point, you can set any breakpoints you wish; when you are ready
11455 to see your program run on the 29K board, use the @value{GDBN} command
11458 To stop debugging the remote program, use the @value{GDBN} @code{detach}
11461 To return control of the PC to its console, use @code{tip} or @code{cu}
11462 once again, after your @value{GDBN} session has concluded, to attach to
11463 @code{EBMON}. You can then type the command @code{q} to shut down
11464 @code{EBMON}, returning control to the DOS command-line interpreter.
11465 Type @kbd{CTTY con} to return command input to the main DOS console,
11466 and type @kbd{~.} to leave @code{tip} or @code{cu}.
11469 @subsubsection Remote log
11470 @cindex @file{eb.log}, a log file for EB29K
11471 @cindex log file for EB29K
11473 The @code{target amd-eb} command creates a file @file{eb.log} in the
11474 current working directory, to help debug problems with the connection.
11475 @file{eb.log} records all the output from @code{EBMON}, including echoes
11476 of the commands sent to it. Running @samp{tail -f} on this file in
11477 another window often helps to understand trouble with @code{EBMON}, or
11478 unexpected events on the PC side of the connection.
11486 @item target rdi @var{dev}
11487 ARM Angel monitor, via RDI library interface to ADP protocol. You may
11488 use this target to communicate with both boards running the Angel
11489 monitor, or with the EmbeddedICE JTAG debug device.
11492 @item target rdp @var{dev}
11498 @subsection Hitachi H8/300
11502 @kindex target hms@r{, with H8/300}
11503 @item target hms @var{dev}
11504 A Hitachi SH, H8/300, or H8/500 board, attached via serial line to your host.
11505 Use special commands @code{device} and @code{speed} to control the serial
11506 line and the communications speed used.
11508 @kindex target e7000@r{, with H8/300}
11509 @item target e7000 @var{dev}
11510 E7000 emulator for Hitachi H8 and SH.
11512 @kindex target sh3@r{, with H8/300}
11513 @kindex target sh3e@r{, with H8/300}
11514 @item target sh3 @var{dev}
11515 @itemx target sh3e @var{dev}
11516 Hitachi SH-3 and SH-3E target systems.
11520 @cindex download to H8/300 or H8/500
11521 @cindex H8/300 or H8/500 download
11522 @cindex download to Hitachi SH
11523 @cindex Hitachi SH download
11524 When you select remote debugging to a Hitachi SH, H8/300, or H8/500
11525 board, the @code{load} command downloads your program to the Hitachi
11526 board and also opens it as the current executable target for
11527 @value{GDBN} on your host (like the @code{file} command).
11529 @value{GDBN} needs to know these things to talk to your
11530 Hitachi SH, H8/300, or H8/500:
11534 that you want to use @samp{target hms}, the remote debugging interface
11535 for Hitachi microprocessors, or @samp{target e7000}, the in-circuit
11536 emulator for the Hitachi SH and the Hitachi 300H. (@samp{target hms} is
11537 the default when @value{GDBN} is configured specifically for the Hitachi SH,
11538 H8/300, or H8/500.)
11541 what serial device connects your host to your Hitachi board (the first
11542 serial device available on your host is the default).
11545 what speed to use over the serial device.
11549 * Hitachi Boards:: Connecting to Hitachi boards.
11550 * Hitachi ICE:: Using the E7000 In-Circuit Emulator.
11551 * Hitachi Special:: Special @value{GDBN} commands for Hitachi micros.
11554 @node Hitachi Boards
11555 @subsubsection Connecting to Hitachi boards
11557 @c only for Unix hosts
11559 @cindex serial device, Hitachi micros
11560 Use the special @code{@value{GDBN}} command @samp{device @var{port}} if you
11561 need to explicitly set the serial device. The default @var{port} is the
11562 first available port on your host. This is only necessary on Unix
11563 hosts, where it is typically something like @file{/dev/ttya}.
11566 @cindex serial line speed, Hitachi micros
11567 @code{@value{GDBN}} has another special command to set the communications
11568 speed: @samp{speed @var{bps}}. This command also is only used from Unix
11569 hosts; on DOS hosts, set the line speed as usual from outside @value{GDBN} with
11570 the DOS @code{mode} command (for instance,
11571 @w{@kbd{mode com2:9600,n,8,1,p}} for a 9600@dmn{bps} connection).
11573 The @samp{device} and @samp{speed} commands are available only when you
11574 use a Unix host to debug your Hitachi microprocessor programs. If you
11576 @value{GDBN} depends on an auxiliary terminate-and-stay-resident program
11577 called @code{asynctsr} to communicate with the development board
11578 through a PC serial port. You must also use the DOS @code{mode} command
11579 to set up the serial port on the DOS side.
11581 The following sample session illustrates the steps needed to start a
11582 program under @value{GDBN} control on an H8/300. The example uses a
11583 sample H8/300 program called @file{t.x}. The procedure is the same for
11584 the Hitachi SH and the H8/500.
11586 First hook up your development board. In this example, we use a
11587 board attached to serial port @code{COM2}; if you use a different serial
11588 port, substitute its name in the argument of the @code{mode} command.
11589 When you call @code{asynctsr}, the auxiliary comms program used by the
11590 debugger, you give it just the numeric part of the serial port's name;
11591 for example, @samp{asyncstr 2} below runs @code{asyncstr} on
11595 C:\H8300\TEST> asynctsr 2
11596 C:\H8300\TEST> mode com2:9600,n,8,1,p
11598 Resident portion of MODE loaded
11600 COM2: 9600, n, 8, 1, p
11605 @emph{Warning:} We have noticed a bug in PC-NFS that conflicts with
11606 @code{asynctsr}. If you also run PC-NFS on your DOS host, you may need to
11607 disable it, or even boot without it, to use @code{asynctsr} to control
11608 your development board.
11611 @kindex target hms@r{, and serial protocol}
11612 Now that serial communications are set up, and the development board is
11613 connected, you can start up @value{GDBN}. Call @code{@value{GDBP}} with
11614 the name of your program as the argument. @code{@value{GDBN}} prompts
11615 you, as usual, with the prompt @samp{(@value{GDBP})}. Use two special
11616 commands to begin your debugging session: @samp{target hms} to specify
11617 cross-debugging to the Hitachi board, and the @code{load} command to
11618 download your program to the board. @code{load} displays the names of
11619 the program's sections, and a @samp{*} for each 2K of data downloaded.
11620 (If you want to refresh @value{GDBN} data on symbols or on the
11621 executable file without downloading, use the @value{GDBN} commands
11622 @code{file} or @code{symbol-file}. These commands, and @code{load}
11623 itself, are described in @ref{Files,,Commands to specify files}.)
11626 (eg-C:\H8300\TEST) @value{GDBP} t.x
11627 @value{GDBN} is free software and you are welcome to distribute copies
11628 of it under certain conditions; type "show copying" to see
11630 There is absolutely no warranty for @value{GDBN}; type "show warranty"
11632 @value{GDBN} @value{GDBVN}, Copyright 1992 Free Software Foundation, Inc...
11633 (@value{GDBP}) target hms
11634 Connected to remote H8/300 HMS system.
11635 (@value{GDBP}) load t.x
11636 .text : 0x8000 .. 0xabde ***********
11637 .data : 0xabde .. 0xad30 *
11638 .stack : 0xf000 .. 0xf014 *
11641 At this point, you're ready to run or debug your program. From here on,
11642 you can use all the usual @value{GDBN} commands. The @code{break} command
11643 sets breakpoints; the @code{run} command starts your program;
11644 @code{print} or @code{x} display data; the @code{continue} command
11645 resumes execution after stopping at a breakpoint. You can use the
11646 @code{help} command at any time to find out more about @value{GDBN} commands.
11648 Remember, however, that @emph{operating system} facilities aren't
11649 available on your development board; for example, if your program hangs,
11650 you can't send an interrupt---but you can press the @sc{reset} switch!
11652 Use the @sc{reset} button on the development board
11655 to interrupt your program (don't use @kbd{ctl-C} on the DOS host---it has
11656 no way to pass an interrupt signal to the development board); and
11659 to return to the @value{GDBN} command prompt after your program finishes
11660 normally. The communications protocol provides no other way for @value{GDBN}
11661 to detect program completion.
11664 In either case, @value{GDBN} sees the effect of a @sc{reset} on the
11665 development board as a ``normal exit'' of your program.
11668 @subsubsection Using the E7000 in-circuit emulator
11670 @kindex target e7000@r{, with Hitachi ICE}
11671 You can use the E7000 in-circuit emulator to develop code for either the
11672 Hitachi SH or the H8/300H. Use one of these forms of the @samp{target
11673 e7000} command to connect @value{GDBN} to your E7000:
11676 @item target e7000 @var{port} @var{speed}
11677 Use this form if your E7000 is connected to a serial port. The
11678 @var{port} argument identifies what serial port to use (for example,
11679 @samp{com2}). The third argument is the line speed in bits per second
11680 (for example, @samp{9600}).
11682 @item target e7000 @var{hostname}
11683 If your E7000 is installed as a host on a TCP/IP network, you can just
11684 specify its hostname; @value{GDBN} uses @code{telnet} to connect.
11687 @node Hitachi Special
11688 @subsubsection Special @value{GDBN} commands for Hitachi micros
11690 Some @value{GDBN} commands are available only for the H8/300:
11694 @kindex set machine
11695 @kindex show machine
11696 @item set machine h8300
11697 @itemx set machine h8300h
11698 Condition @value{GDBN} for one of the two variants of the H8/300
11699 architecture with @samp{set machine}. You can use @samp{show machine}
11700 to check which variant is currently in effect.
11709 @kindex set memory @var{mod}
11710 @cindex memory models, H8/500
11711 @item set memory @var{mod}
11713 Specify which H8/500 memory model (@var{mod}) you are using with
11714 @samp{set memory}; check which memory model is in effect with @samp{show
11715 memory}. The accepted values for @var{mod} are @code{small},
11716 @code{big}, @code{medium}, and @code{compact}.
11721 @subsection Intel i960
11725 @kindex target mon960
11726 @item target mon960 @var{dev}
11727 MON960 monitor for Intel i960.
11729 @kindex target nindy
11730 @item target nindy @var{devicename}
11731 An Intel 960 board controlled by a Nindy Monitor. @var{devicename} is
11732 the name of the serial device to use for the connection, e.g.
11739 @dfn{Nindy} is a ROM Monitor program for Intel 960 target systems. When
11740 @value{GDBN} is configured to control a remote Intel 960 using Nindy, you can
11741 tell @value{GDBN} how to connect to the 960 in several ways:
11745 Through command line options specifying serial port, version of the
11746 Nindy protocol, and communications speed;
11749 By responding to a prompt on startup;
11752 By using the @code{target} command at any point during your @value{GDBN}
11753 session. @xref{Target Commands, ,Commands for managing targets}.
11757 @cindex download to Nindy-960
11758 With the Nindy interface to an Intel 960 board, @code{load}
11759 downloads @var{filename} to the 960 as well as adding its symbols in
11763 * Nindy Startup:: Startup with Nindy
11764 * Nindy Options:: Options for Nindy
11765 * Nindy Reset:: Nindy reset command
11768 @node Nindy Startup
11769 @subsubsection Startup with Nindy
11771 If you simply start @code{@value{GDBP}} without using any command-line
11772 options, you are prompted for what serial port to use, @emph{before} you
11773 reach the ordinary @value{GDBN} prompt:
11776 Attach /dev/ttyNN -- specify NN, or "quit" to quit:
11780 Respond to the prompt with whatever suffix (after @samp{/dev/tty})
11781 identifies the serial port you want to use. You can, if you choose,
11782 simply start up with no Nindy connection by responding to the prompt
11783 with an empty line. If you do this and later wish to attach to Nindy,
11784 use @code{target} (@pxref{Target Commands, ,Commands for managing targets}).
11786 @node Nindy Options
11787 @subsubsection Options for Nindy
11789 These are the startup options for beginning your @value{GDBN} session with a
11790 Nindy-960 board attached:
11793 @item -r @var{port}
11794 Specify the serial port name of a serial interface to be used to connect
11795 to the target system. This option is only available when @value{GDBN} is
11796 configured for the Intel 960 target architecture. You may specify
11797 @var{port} as any of: a full pathname (e.g. @samp{-r /dev/ttya}), a
11798 device name in @file{/dev} (e.g. @samp{-r ttya}), or simply the unique
11799 suffix for a specific @code{tty} (e.g. @samp{-r a}).
11802 (An uppercase letter ``O'', not a zero.) Specify that @value{GDBN} should use
11803 the ``old'' Nindy monitor protocol to connect to the target system.
11804 This option is only available when @value{GDBN} is configured for the Intel 960
11805 target architecture.
11808 @emph{Warning:} if you specify @samp{-O}, but are actually trying to
11809 connect to a target system that expects the newer protocol, the connection
11810 fails, appearing to be a speed mismatch. @value{GDBN} repeatedly
11811 attempts to reconnect at several different line speeds. You can abort
11812 this process with an interrupt.
11816 Specify that @value{GDBN} should first send a @code{BREAK} signal to the target
11817 system, in an attempt to reset it, before connecting to a Nindy target.
11820 @emph{Warning:} Many target systems do not have the hardware that this
11821 requires; it only works with a few boards.
11825 The standard @samp{-b} option controls the line speed used on the serial
11830 @subsubsection Nindy reset command
11835 For a Nindy target, this command sends a ``break'' to the remote target
11836 system; this is only useful if the target has been equipped with a
11837 circuit to perform a hard reset (or some other interesting action) when
11838 a break is detected.
11843 @subsection Mitsubishi M32R/D
11847 @kindex target m32r
11848 @item target m32r @var{dev}
11849 Mitsubishi M32R/D ROM monitor.
11856 The Motorola m68k configuration includes ColdFire support, and
11857 target command for the following ROM monitors.
11861 @kindex target abug
11862 @item target abug @var{dev}
11863 ABug ROM monitor for M68K.
11865 @kindex target cpu32bug
11866 @item target cpu32bug @var{dev}
11867 CPU32BUG monitor, running on a CPU32 (M68K) board.
11869 @kindex target dbug
11870 @item target dbug @var{dev}
11871 dBUG ROM monitor for Motorola ColdFire.
11874 @item target est @var{dev}
11875 EST-300 ICE monitor, running on a CPU32 (M68K) board.
11877 @kindex target rom68k
11878 @item target rom68k @var{dev}
11879 ROM 68K monitor, running on an M68K IDP board.
11883 If @value{GDBN} is configured with @code{m68*-ericsson-*}, it will
11884 instead have only a single special target command:
11888 @kindex target es1800
11889 @item target es1800 @var{dev}
11890 ES-1800 emulator for M68K.
11898 @kindex target rombug
11899 @item target rombug @var{dev}
11900 ROMBUG ROM monitor for OS/9000.
11910 @item target bug @var{dev}
11911 BUG monitor, running on a MVME187 (m88k) board.
11915 @node MIPS Embedded
11916 @subsection MIPS Embedded
11918 @cindex MIPS boards
11919 @value{GDBN} can use the MIPS remote debugging protocol to talk to a
11920 MIPS board attached to a serial line. This is available when
11921 you configure @value{GDBN} with @samp{--target=mips-idt-ecoff}.
11924 Use these @value{GDBN} commands to specify the connection to your target board:
11927 @item target mips @var{port}
11928 @kindex target mips @var{port}
11929 To run a program on the board, start up @code{@value{GDBP}} with the
11930 name of your program as the argument. To connect to the board, use the
11931 command @samp{target mips @var{port}}, where @var{port} is the name of
11932 the serial port connected to the board. If the program has not already
11933 been downloaded to the board, you may use the @code{load} command to
11934 download it. You can then use all the usual @value{GDBN} commands.
11936 For example, this sequence connects to the target board through a serial
11937 port, and loads and runs a program called @var{prog} through the
11941 host$ @value{GDBP} @var{prog}
11942 @value{GDBN} is free software and @dots{}
11943 (@value{GDBP}) target mips /dev/ttyb
11944 (@value{GDBP}) load @var{prog}
11948 @item target mips @var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}
11949 On some @value{GDBN} host configurations, you can specify a TCP
11950 connection (for instance, to a serial line managed by a terminal
11951 concentrator) instead of a serial port, using the syntax
11952 @samp{@var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}}.
11954 @item target pmon @var{port}
11955 @kindex target pmon @var{port}
11958 @item target ddb @var{port}
11959 @kindex target ddb @var{port}
11960 NEC's DDB variant of PMON for Vr4300.
11962 @item target lsi @var{port}
11963 @kindex target lsi @var{port}
11964 LSI variant of PMON.
11966 @kindex target r3900
11967 @item target r3900 @var{dev}
11968 Densan DVE-R3900 ROM monitor for Toshiba R3900 Mips.
11970 @kindex target array
11971 @item target array @var{dev}
11972 Array Tech LSI33K RAID controller board.
11978 @value{GDBN} also supports these special commands for MIPS targets:
11981 @item set processor @var{args}
11982 @itemx show processor
11983 @kindex set processor @var{args}
11984 @kindex show processor
11985 Use the @code{set processor} command to set the type of MIPS
11986 processor when you want to access processor-type-specific registers.
11987 For example, @code{set processor @var{r3041}} tells @value{GDBN}
11988 to use the CPU registers appropriate for the 3041 chip.
11989 Use the @code{show processor} command to see what MIPS processor @value{GDBN}
11990 is using. Use the @code{info reg} command to see what registers
11991 @value{GDBN} is using.
11993 @item set mipsfpu double
11994 @itemx set mipsfpu single
11995 @itemx set mipsfpu none
11996 @itemx show mipsfpu
11997 @kindex set mipsfpu
11998 @kindex show mipsfpu
11999 @cindex MIPS remote floating point
12000 @cindex floating point, MIPS remote
12001 If your target board does not support the MIPS floating point
12002 coprocessor, you should use the command @samp{set mipsfpu none} (if you
12003 need this, you may wish to put the command in your @value{GDBN} init
12004 file). This tells @value{GDBN} how to find the return value of
12005 functions which return floating point values. It also allows
12006 @value{GDBN} to avoid saving the floating point registers when calling
12007 functions on the board. If you are using a floating point coprocessor
12008 with only single precision floating point support, as on the @sc{r4650}
12009 processor, use the command @samp{set mipsfpu single}. The default
12010 double precision floating point coprocessor may be selected using
12011 @samp{set mipsfpu double}.
12013 In previous versions the only choices were double precision or no
12014 floating point, so @samp{set mipsfpu on} will select double precision
12015 and @samp{set mipsfpu off} will select no floating point.
12017 As usual, you can inquire about the @code{mipsfpu} variable with
12018 @samp{show mipsfpu}.
12020 @item set remotedebug @var{n}
12021 @itemx show remotedebug
12022 @kindex set remotedebug@r{, MIPS protocol}
12023 @kindex show remotedebug@r{, MIPS protocol}
12024 @cindex @code{remotedebug}, MIPS protocol
12025 @cindex MIPS @code{remotedebug} protocol
12026 @c FIXME! For this to be useful, you must know something about the MIPS
12027 @c FIXME...protocol. Where is it described?
12028 You can see some debugging information about communications with the board
12029 by setting the @code{remotedebug} variable. If you set it to @code{1} using
12030 @samp{set remotedebug 1}, every packet is displayed. If you set it
12031 to @code{2}, every character is displayed. You can check the current value
12032 at any time with the command @samp{show remotedebug}.
12034 @item set timeout @var{seconds}
12035 @itemx set retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}
12036 @itemx show timeout
12037 @itemx show retransmit-timeout
12038 @cindex @code{timeout}, MIPS protocol
12039 @cindex @code{retransmit-timeout}, MIPS protocol
12040 @kindex set timeout
12041 @kindex show timeout
12042 @kindex set retransmit-timeout
12043 @kindex show retransmit-timeout
12044 You can control the timeout used while waiting for a packet, in the MIPS
12045 remote protocol, with the @code{set timeout @var{seconds}} command. The
12046 default is 5 seconds. Similarly, you can control the timeout used while
12047 waiting for an acknowledgement of a packet with the @code{set
12048 retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}} command. The default is 3 seconds.
12049 You can inspect both values with @code{show timeout} and @code{show
12050 retransmit-timeout}. (These commands are @emph{only} available when
12051 @value{GDBN} is configured for @samp{--target=mips-idt-ecoff}.)
12053 The timeout set by @code{set timeout} does not apply when @value{GDBN}
12054 is waiting for your program to stop. In that case, @value{GDBN} waits
12055 forever because it has no way of knowing how long the program is going
12056 to run before stopping.
12060 @subsection PowerPC
12064 @kindex target dink32
12065 @item target dink32 @var{dev}
12066 DINK32 ROM monitor.
12068 @kindex target ppcbug
12069 @item target ppcbug @var{dev}
12070 @kindex target ppcbug1
12071 @item target ppcbug1 @var{dev}
12072 PPCBUG ROM monitor for PowerPC.
12075 @item target sds @var{dev}
12076 SDS monitor, running on a PowerPC board (such as Motorola's ADS).
12081 @subsection HP PA Embedded
12085 @kindex target op50n
12086 @item target op50n @var{dev}
12087 OP50N monitor, running on an OKI HPPA board.
12089 @kindex target w89k
12090 @item target w89k @var{dev}
12091 W89K monitor, running on a Winbond HPPA board.
12096 @subsection Hitachi SH
12100 @kindex target hms@r{, with Hitachi SH}
12101 @item target hms @var{dev}
12102 A Hitachi SH board attached via serial line to your host. Use special
12103 commands @code{device} and @code{speed} to control the serial line and
12104 the communications speed used.
12106 @kindex target e7000@r{, with Hitachi SH}
12107 @item target e7000 @var{dev}
12108 E7000 emulator for Hitachi SH.
12110 @kindex target sh3@r{, with SH}
12111 @kindex target sh3e@r{, with SH}
12112 @item target sh3 @var{dev}
12113 @item target sh3e @var{dev}
12114 Hitachi SH-3 and SH-3E target systems.
12119 @subsection Tsqware Sparclet
12123 @value{GDBN} enables developers to debug tasks running on
12124 Sparclet targets from a Unix host.
12125 @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
12126 both the Unix host and on the Sparclet target. The program
12127 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host.
12130 @item remotetimeout @var{args}
12131 @kindex remotetimeout
12132 @value{GDBN} supports the option @code{remotetimeout}.
12133 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
12134 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses.
12137 @cindex compiling, on Sparclet
12138 When compiling for debugging, include the options @samp{-g} to get debug
12139 information and @samp{-Ttext} to relocate the program to where you wish to
12140 load it on the target. You may also want to add the options @samp{-n} or
12141 @samp{-N} in order to reduce the size of the sections. Example:
12144 sparclet-aout-gcc prog.c -Ttext 0x12010000 -g -o prog -N
12147 You can use @code{objdump} to verify that the addresses are what you intended:
12150 sparclet-aout-objdump --headers --syms prog
12153 @cindex running, on Sparclet
12155 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
12156 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}}
12157 (or @code{sparclet-aout-gdb}, depending on your installation).
12159 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
12166 * Sparclet File:: Setting the file to debug
12167 * Sparclet Connection:: Connecting to Sparclet
12168 * Sparclet Download:: Sparclet download
12169 * Sparclet Execution:: Running and debugging
12172 @node Sparclet File
12173 @subsubsection Setting file to debug
12175 The @value{GDBN} command @code{file} lets you choose with program to debug.
12178 (gdbslet) file prog
12182 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol table of @file{prog}.
12183 @value{GDBN} locates
12184 the file by searching the directories listed in the command search
12186 If the file was compiled with debug information (option "-g"), source
12187 files will be searched as well.
12188 @value{GDBN} locates
12189 the source files by searching the directories listed in the directory search
12190 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your program's environment}).
12192 to find a file, it displays a message such as:
12195 prog: No such file or directory.
12198 When this happens, add the appropriate directories to the search paths with
12199 the @value{GDBN} commands @code{path} and @code{dir}, and execute the
12200 @code{target} command again.
12202 @node Sparclet Connection
12203 @subsubsection Connecting to Sparclet
12205 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a Sparclet target.
12206 To connect to a target on serial port ``@code{ttya}'', type:
12209 (gdbslet) target sparclet /dev/ttya
12210 Remote target sparclet connected to /dev/ttya
12211 main () at ../prog.c:3
12215 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
12221 @node Sparclet Download
12222 @subsubsection Sparclet download
12224 @cindex download to Sparclet
12225 Once connected to the Sparclet target,
12226 you can use the @value{GDBN}
12227 @code{load} command to download the file from the host to the target.
12228 The file name and load offset should be given as arguments to the @code{load}
12230 Since the file format is aout, the program must be loaded to the starting
12231 address. You can use @code{objdump} to find out what this value is. The load
12232 offset is an offset which is added to the VMA (virtual memory address)
12233 of each of the file's sections.
12234 For instance, if the program
12235 @file{prog} was linked to text address 0x1201000, with data at 0x12010160
12236 and bss at 0x12010170, in @value{GDBN}, type:
12239 (gdbslet) load prog 0x12010000
12240 Loading section .text, size 0xdb0 vma 0x12010000
12243 If the code is loaded at a different address then what the program was linked
12244 to, you may need to use the @code{section} and @code{add-symbol-file} commands
12245 to tell @value{GDBN} where to map the symbol table.
12247 @node Sparclet Execution
12248 @subsubsection Running and debugging
12250 @cindex running and debugging Sparclet programs
12251 You can now begin debugging the task using @value{GDBN}'s execution control
12252 commands, @code{b}, @code{step}, @code{run}, etc. See the @value{GDBN}
12253 manual for the list of commands.
12257 Breakpoint 1 at 0x12010000: file prog.c, line 3.
12259 Starting program: prog
12260 Breakpoint 1, main (argc=1, argv=0xeffff21c) at prog.c:3
12261 3 char *symarg = 0;
12263 4 char *execarg = "hello!";
12268 @subsection Fujitsu Sparclite
12272 @kindex target sparclite
12273 @item target sparclite @var{dev}
12274 Fujitsu sparclite boards, used only for the purpose of loading.
12275 You must use an additional command to debug the program.
12276 For example: target remote @var{dev} using @value{GDBN} standard
12282 @subsection Tandem ST2000
12284 @value{GDBN} may be used with a Tandem ST2000 phone switch, running Tandem's
12287 To connect your ST2000 to the host system, see the manufacturer's
12288 manual. Once the ST2000 is physically attached, you can run:
12291 target st2000 @var{dev} @var{speed}
12295 to establish it as your debugging environment. @var{dev} is normally
12296 the name of a serial device, such as @file{/dev/ttya}, connected to the
12297 ST2000 via a serial line. You can instead specify @var{dev} as a TCP
12298 connection (for example, to a serial line attached via a terminal
12299 concentrator) using the syntax @code{@var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}}.
12301 The @code{load} and @code{attach} commands are @emph{not} defined for
12302 this target; you must load your program into the ST2000 as you normally
12303 would for standalone operation. @value{GDBN} reads debugging information
12304 (such as symbols) from a separate, debugging version of the program
12305 available on your host computer.
12306 @c FIXME!! This is terribly vague; what little content is here is
12307 @c basically hearsay.
12309 @cindex ST2000 auxiliary commands
12310 These auxiliary @value{GDBN} commands are available to help you with the ST2000
12314 @item st2000 @var{command}
12315 @kindex st2000 @var{cmd}
12316 @cindex STDBUG commands (ST2000)
12317 @cindex commands to STDBUG (ST2000)
12318 Send a @var{command} to the STDBUG monitor. See the manufacturer's
12319 manual for available commands.
12322 @cindex connect (to STDBUG)
12323 Connect the controlling terminal to the STDBUG command monitor. When
12324 you are done interacting with STDBUG, typing either of two character
12325 sequences gets you back to the @value{GDBN} command prompt:
12326 @kbd{@key{RET}~.} (Return, followed by tilde and period) or
12327 @kbd{@key{RET}~@key{C-d}} (Return, followed by tilde and control-D).
12331 @subsection Zilog Z8000
12334 @cindex simulator, Z8000
12335 @cindex Zilog Z8000 simulator
12337 When configured for debugging Zilog Z8000 targets, @value{GDBN} includes
12340 For the Z8000 family, @samp{target sim} simulates either the Z8002 (the
12341 unsegmented variant of the Z8000 architecture) or the Z8001 (the
12342 segmented variant). The simulator recognizes which architecture is
12343 appropriate by inspecting the object code.
12346 @item target sim @var{args}
12348 @kindex target sim@r{, with Z8000}
12349 Debug programs on a simulated CPU. If the simulator supports setup
12350 options, specify them via @var{args}.
12354 After specifying this target, you can debug programs for the simulated
12355 CPU in the same style as programs for your host computer; use the
12356 @code{file} command to load a new program image, the @code{run} command
12357 to run your program, and so on.
12359 As well as making available all the usual machine registers
12360 (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}), the Z8000 simulator provides three
12361 additional items of information as specially named registers:
12366 Counts clock-ticks in the simulator.
12369 Counts instructions run in the simulator.
12372 Execution time in 60ths of a second.
12376 You can refer to these values in @value{GDBN} expressions with the usual
12377 conventions; for example, @w{@samp{b fputc if $cycles>5000}} sets a
12378 conditional breakpoint that suspends only after at least 5000
12379 simulated clock ticks.
12381 @node Architectures
12382 @section Architectures
12384 This section describes characteristics of architectures that affect
12385 all uses of @value{GDBN} with the architecture, both native and cross.
12398 @kindex set rstack_high_address
12399 @cindex AMD 29K register stack
12400 @cindex register stack, AMD29K
12401 @item set rstack_high_address @var{address}
12402 On AMD 29000 family processors, registers are saved in a separate
12403 @dfn{register stack}. There is no way for @value{GDBN} to determine the
12404 extent of this stack. Normally, @value{GDBN} just assumes that the
12405 stack is ``large enough''. This may result in @value{GDBN} referencing
12406 memory locations that do not exist. If necessary, you can get around
12407 this problem by specifying the ending address of the register stack with
12408 the @code{set rstack_high_address} command. The argument should be an
12409 address, which you probably want to precede with @samp{0x} to specify in
12412 @kindex show rstack_high_address
12413 @item show rstack_high_address
12414 Display the current limit of the register stack, on AMD 29000 family
12422 See the following section.
12427 @cindex stack on Alpha
12428 @cindex stack on MIPS
12429 @cindex Alpha stack
12431 Alpha- and MIPS-based computers use an unusual stack frame, which
12432 sometimes requires @value{GDBN} to search backward in the object code to
12433 find the beginning of a function.
12435 @cindex response time, MIPS debugging
12436 To improve response time (especially for embedded applications, where
12437 @value{GDBN} may be restricted to a slow serial line for this search)
12438 you may want to limit the size of this search, using one of these
12442 @cindex @code{heuristic-fence-post} (Alpha, MIPS)
12443 @item set heuristic-fence-post @var{limit}
12444 Restrict @value{GDBN} to examining at most @var{limit} bytes in its
12445 search for the beginning of a function. A value of @var{0} (the
12446 default) means there is no limit. However, except for @var{0}, the
12447 larger the limit the more bytes @code{heuristic-fence-post} must search
12448 and therefore the longer it takes to run.
12450 @item show heuristic-fence-post
12451 Display the current limit.
12455 These commands are available @emph{only} when @value{GDBN} is configured
12456 for debugging programs on Alpha or MIPS processors.
12459 @node Controlling GDB
12460 @chapter Controlling @value{GDBN}
12462 You can alter the way @value{GDBN} interacts with you by using the
12463 @code{set} command. For commands controlling how @value{GDBN} displays
12464 data, see @ref{Print Settings, ,Print settings}. Other settings are
12469 * Editing:: Command editing
12470 * History:: Command history
12471 * Screen Size:: Screen size
12472 * Numbers:: Numbers
12473 * Messages/Warnings:: Optional warnings and messages
12474 * Debugging Output:: Optional messages about internal happenings
12482 @value{GDBN} indicates its readiness to read a command by printing a string
12483 called the @dfn{prompt}. This string is normally @samp{(@value{GDBP})}. You
12484 can change the prompt string with the @code{set prompt} command. For
12485 instance, when debugging @value{GDBN} with @value{GDBN}, it is useful to change
12486 the prompt in one of the @value{GDBN} sessions so that you can always tell
12487 which one you are talking to.
12489 @emph{Note:} @code{set prompt} does not add a space for you after the
12490 prompt you set. This allows you to set a prompt which ends in a space
12491 or a prompt that does not.
12495 @item set prompt @var{newprompt}
12496 Directs @value{GDBN} to use @var{newprompt} as its prompt string henceforth.
12498 @kindex show prompt
12500 Prints a line of the form: @samp{Gdb's prompt is: @var{your-prompt}}
12504 @section Command editing
12506 @cindex command line editing
12508 @value{GDBN} reads its input commands via the @dfn{readline} interface. This
12509 @sc{gnu} library provides consistent behavior for programs which provide a
12510 command line interface to the user. Advantages are @sc{gnu} Emacs-style
12511 or @dfn{vi}-style inline editing of commands, @code{csh}-like history
12512 substitution, and a storage and recall of command history across
12513 debugging sessions.
12515 You may control the behavior of command line editing in @value{GDBN} with the
12516 command @code{set}.
12519 @kindex set editing
12522 @itemx set editing on
12523 Enable command line editing (enabled by default).
12525 @item set editing off
12526 Disable command line editing.
12528 @kindex show editing
12530 Show whether command line editing is enabled.
12534 @section Command history
12536 @value{GDBN} can keep track of the commands you type during your
12537 debugging sessions, so that you can be certain of precisely what
12538 happened. Use these commands to manage the @value{GDBN} command
12542 @cindex history substitution
12543 @cindex history file
12544 @kindex set history filename
12545 @kindex GDBHISTFILE
12546 @item set history filename @var{fname}
12547 Set the name of the @value{GDBN} command history file to @var{fname}.
12548 This is the file where @value{GDBN} reads an initial command history
12549 list, and where it writes the command history from this session when it
12550 exits. You can access this list through history expansion or through
12551 the history command editing characters listed below. This file defaults
12552 to the value of the environment variable @code{GDBHISTFILE}, or to
12553 @file{./.gdb_history} (@file{./_gdb_history} on MS-DOS) if this variable
12556 @cindex history save
12557 @kindex set history save
12558 @item set history save
12559 @itemx set history save on
12560 Record command history in a file, whose name may be specified with the
12561 @code{set history filename} command. By default, this option is disabled.
12563 @item set history save off
12564 Stop recording command history in a file.
12566 @cindex history size
12567 @kindex set history size
12568 @item set history size @var{size}
12569 Set the number of commands which @value{GDBN} keeps in its history list.
12570 This defaults to the value of the environment variable
12571 @code{HISTSIZE}, or to 256 if this variable is not set.
12574 @cindex history expansion
12575 History expansion assigns special meaning to the character @kbd{!}.
12576 @ifset have-readline-appendices
12577 @xref{Event Designators}.
12580 Since @kbd{!} is also the logical not operator in C, history expansion
12581 is off by default. If you decide to enable history expansion with the
12582 @code{set history expansion on} command, you may sometimes need to
12583 follow @kbd{!} (when it is used as logical not, in an expression) with
12584 a space or a tab to prevent it from being expanded. The readline
12585 history facilities do not attempt substitution on the strings
12586 @kbd{!=} and @kbd{!(}, even when history expansion is enabled.
12588 The commands to control history expansion are:
12591 @kindex set history expansion
12592 @item set history expansion on
12593 @itemx set history expansion
12594 Enable history expansion. History expansion is off by default.
12596 @item set history expansion off
12597 Disable history expansion.
12599 The readline code comes with more complete documentation of
12600 editing and history expansion features. Users unfamiliar with @sc{gnu} Emacs
12601 or @code{vi} may wish to read it.
12602 @ifset have-readline-appendices
12603 @xref{Command Line Editing}.
12607 @kindex show history
12609 @itemx show history filename
12610 @itemx show history save
12611 @itemx show history size
12612 @itemx show history expansion
12613 These commands display the state of the @value{GDBN} history parameters.
12614 @code{show history} by itself displays all four states.
12620 @item show commands
12621 Display the last ten commands in the command history.
12623 @item show commands @var{n}
12624 Print ten commands centered on command number @var{n}.
12626 @item show commands +
12627 Print ten commands just after the commands last printed.
12631 @section Screen size
12632 @cindex size of screen
12633 @cindex pauses in output
12635 Certain commands to @value{GDBN} may produce large amounts of
12636 information output to the screen. To help you read all of it,
12637 @value{GDBN} pauses and asks you for input at the end of each page of
12638 output. Type @key{RET} when you want to continue the output, or @kbd{q}
12639 to discard the remaining output. Also, the screen width setting
12640 determines when to wrap lines of output. Depending on what is being
12641 printed, @value{GDBN} tries to break the line at a readable place,
12642 rather than simply letting it overflow onto the following line.
12644 Normally @value{GDBN} knows the size of the screen from the terminal
12645 driver software. For example, on Unix @value{GDBN} uses the termcap data base
12646 together with the value of the @code{TERM} environment variable and the
12647 @code{stty rows} and @code{stty cols} settings. If this is not correct,
12648 you can override it with the @code{set height} and @code{set
12655 @kindex show height
12656 @item set height @var{lpp}
12658 @itemx set width @var{cpl}
12660 These @code{set} commands specify a screen height of @var{lpp} lines and
12661 a screen width of @var{cpl} characters. The associated @code{show}
12662 commands display the current settings.
12664 If you specify a height of zero lines, @value{GDBN} does not pause during
12665 output no matter how long the output is. This is useful if output is to a
12666 file or to an editor buffer.
12668 Likewise, you can specify @samp{set width 0} to prevent @value{GDBN}
12669 from wrapping its output.
12674 @cindex number representation
12675 @cindex entering numbers
12677 You can always enter numbers in octal, decimal, or hexadecimal in
12678 @value{GDBN} by the usual conventions: octal numbers begin with
12679 @samp{0}, decimal numbers end with @samp{.}, and hexadecimal numbers
12680 begin with @samp{0x}. Numbers that begin with none of these are, by
12681 default, entered in base 10; likewise, the default display for
12682 numbers---when no particular format is specified---is base 10. You can
12683 change the default base for both input and output with the @code{set
12687 @kindex set input-radix
12688 @item set input-radix @var{base}
12689 Set the default base for numeric input. Supported choices
12690 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
12691 specified either unambiguously or using the current default radix; for
12701 sets the base to decimal. On the other hand, @samp{set radix 10}
12702 leaves the radix unchanged no matter what it was.
12704 @kindex set output-radix
12705 @item set output-radix @var{base}
12706 Set the default base for numeric display. Supported choices
12707 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
12708 specified either unambiguously or using the current default radix.
12710 @kindex show input-radix
12711 @item show input-radix
12712 Display the current default base for numeric input.
12714 @kindex show output-radix
12715 @item show output-radix
12716 Display the current default base for numeric display.
12719 @node Messages/Warnings
12720 @section Optional warnings and messages
12722 By default, @value{GDBN} is silent about its inner workings. If you are
12723 running on a slow machine, you may want to use the @code{set verbose}
12724 command. This makes @value{GDBN} tell you when it does a lengthy
12725 internal operation, so you will not think it has crashed.
12727 Currently, the messages controlled by @code{set verbose} are those
12728 which announce that the symbol table for a source file is being read;
12729 see @code{symbol-file} in @ref{Files, ,Commands to specify files}.
12732 @kindex set verbose
12733 @item set verbose on
12734 Enables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
12736 @item set verbose off
12737 Disables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
12739 @kindex show verbose
12741 Displays whether @code{set verbose} is on or off.
12744 By default, if @value{GDBN} encounters bugs in the symbol table of an
12745 object file, it is silent; but if you are debugging a compiler, you may
12746 find this information useful (@pxref{Symbol Errors, ,Errors reading
12751 @kindex set complaints
12752 @item set complaints @var{limit}
12753 Permits @value{GDBN} to output @var{limit} complaints about each type of
12754 unusual symbols before becoming silent about the problem. Set
12755 @var{limit} to zero to suppress all complaints; set it to a large number
12756 to prevent complaints from being suppressed.
12758 @kindex show complaints
12759 @item show complaints
12760 Displays how many symbol complaints @value{GDBN} is permitted to produce.
12764 By default, @value{GDBN} is cautious, and asks what sometimes seems to be a
12765 lot of stupid questions to confirm certain commands. For example, if
12766 you try to run a program which is already running:
12770 The program being debugged has been started already.
12771 Start it from the beginning? (y or n)
12774 If you are willing to unflinchingly face the consequences of your own
12775 commands, you can disable this ``feature'':
12779 @kindex set confirm
12781 @cindex confirmation
12782 @cindex stupid questions
12783 @item set confirm off
12784 Disables confirmation requests.
12786 @item set confirm on
12787 Enables confirmation requests (the default).
12789 @kindex show confirm
12791 Displays state of confirmation requests.
12795 @node Debugging Output
12796 @section Optional messages about internal happenings
12798 @kindex set debug arch
12799 @item set debug arch
12800 Turns on or off display of gdbarch debugging info. The default is off
12801 @kindex show debug arch
12802 @item show debug arch
12803 Displays the current state of displaying gdbarch debugging info.
12804 @kindex set debug event
12805 @item set debug event
12806 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} event debugging info. The
12808 @kindex show debug event
12809 @item show debug event
12810 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} event debugging
12812 @kindex set debug expression
12813 @item set debug expression
12814 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} expression debugging info. The
12816 @kindex show debug expression
12817 @item show debug expression
12818 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} expression
12820 @kindex set debug overload
12821 @item set debug overload
12822 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload debugging
12823 info. This includes info such as ranking of functions, etc. The default
12825 @kindex show debug overload
12826 @item show debug overload
12827 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload
12829 @kindex set debug remote
12830 @cindex packets, reporting on stdout
12831 @cindex serial connections, debugging
12832 @item set debug remote
12833 Turns on or off display of reports on all packets sent back and forth across
12834 the serial line to the remote machine. The info is printed on the
12835 @value{GDBN} standard output stream. The default is off.
12836 @kindex show debug remote
12837 @item show debug remote
12838 Displays the state of display of remote packets.
12839 @kindex set debug serial
12840 @item set debug serial
12841 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} serial debugging info. The
12843 @kindex show debug serial
12844 @item show debug serial
12845 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} serial debugging
12847 @kindex set debug target
12848 @item set debug target
12849 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} target debugging info. This info
12850 includes what is going on at the target level of GDB, as it happens. The
12852 @kindex show debug target
12853 @item show debug target
12854 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} target debugging
12856 @kindex set debug varobj
12857 @item set debug varobj
12858 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} variable object debugging
12859 info. The default is off.
12860 @kindex show debug varobj
12861 @item show debug varobj
12862 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} variable object
12867 @chapter Canned Sequences of Commands
12869 Aside from breakpoint commands (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint
12870 command lists}), @value{GDBN} provides two ways to store sequences of
12871 commands for execution as a unit: user-defined commands and command
12875 * Define:: User-defined commands
12876 * Hooks:: User-defined command hooks
12877 * Command Files:: Command files
12878 * Output:: Commands for controlled output
12882 @section User-defined commands
12884 @cindex user-defined command
12885 A @dfn{user-defined command} is a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands to
12886 which you assign a new name as a command. This is done with the
12887 @code{define} command. User commands may accept up to 10 arguments
12888 separated by whitespace. Arguments are accessed within the user command
12889 via @var{$arg0@dots{}$arg9}. A trivial example:
12893 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
12897 To execute the command use:
12904 This defines the command @code{adder}, which prints the sum of
12905 its three arguments. Note the arguments are text substitutions, so they may
12906 reference variables, use complex expressions, or even perform inferior
12912 @item define @var{commandname}
12913 Define a command named @var{commandname}. If there is already a command
12914 by that name, you are asked to confirm that you want to redefine it.
12916 The definition of the command is made up of other @value{GDBN} command lines,
12917 which are given following the @code{define} command. The end of these
12918 commands is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
12923 Takes a single argument, which is an expression to evaluate.
12924 It is followed by a series of commands that are executed
12925 only if the expression is true (nonzero).
12926 There can then optionally be a line @code{else}, followed
12927 by a series of commands that are only executed if the expression
12928 was false. The end of the list is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
12932 The syntax is similar to @code{if}: the command takes a single argument,
12933 which is an expression to evaluate, and must be followed by the commands to
12934 execute, one per line, terminated by an @code{end}.
12935 The commands are executed repeatedly as long as the expression
12939 @item document @var{commandname}
12940 Document the user-defined command @var{commandname}, so that it can be
12941 accessed by @code{help}. The command @var{commandname} must already be
12942 defined. This command reads lines of documentation just as @code{define}
12943 reads the lines of the command definition, ending with @code{end}.
12944 After the @code{document} command is finished, @code{help} on command
12945 @var{commandname} displays the documentation you have written.
12947 You may use the @code{document} command again to change the
12948 documentation of a command. Redefining the command with @code{define}
12949 does not change the documentation.
12951 @kindex help user-defined
12952 @item help user-defined
12953 List all user-defined commands, with the first line of the documentation
12958 @itemx show user @var{commandname}
12959 Display the @value{GDBN} commands used to define @var{commandname} (but
12960 not its documentation). If no @var{commandname} is given, display the
12961 definitions for all user-defined commands.
12965 When user-defined commands are executed, the
12966 commands of the definition are not printed. An error in any command
12967 stops execution of the user-defined command.
12969 If used interactively, commands that would ask for confirmation proceed
12970 without asking when used inside a user-defined command. Many @value{GDBN}
12971 commands that normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the
12972 messages when used in a user-defined command.
12975 @section User-defined command hooks
12976 @cindex command hooks
12977 @cindex hooks, for commands
12978 @cindex hooks, pre-command
12982 You may define @dfn{hooks}, which are a special kind of user-defined
12983 command. Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined
12984 command @samp{hook-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments)
12985 before that command.
12987 @cindex hooks, post-command
12990 A hook may also be defined which is run after the command you executed.
12991 Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined command
12992 @samp{hookpost-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments) after
12993 that command. Post-execution hooks may exist simultaneously with
12994 pre-execution hooks, for the same command.
12996 It is valid for a hook to call the command which it hooks. If this
12997 occurs, the hook is not re-executed, thereby avoiding infinte recursion.
12999 @c It would be nice if hookpost could be passed a parameter indicating
13000 @c if the command it hooks executed properly or not. FIXME!
13002 @kindex stop@r{, a pseudo-command}
13003 In addition, a pseudo-command, @samp{stop} exists. Defining
13004 (@samp{hook-stop}) makes the associated commands execute every time
13005 execution stops in your program: before breakpoint commands are run,
13006 displays are printed, or the stack frame is printed.
13008 For example, to ignore @code{SIGALRM} signals while
13009 single-stepping, but treat them normally during normal execution,
13014 handle SIGALRM nopass
13018 handle SIGALRM pass
13021 define hook-continue
13022 handle SIGLARM pass
13026 As a further example, to hook at the begining and end of the @code{echo}
13027 command, and to add extra text to the beginning and end of the message,
13035 define hookpost-echo
13039 (@value{GDBP}) echo Hello World
13040 <<<---Hello World--->>>
13045 You can define a hook for any single-word command in @value{GDBN}, but
13046 not for command aliases; you should define a hook for the basic command
13047 name, e.g. @code{backtrace} rather than @code{bt}.
13048 @c FIXME! So how does Joe User discover whether a command is an alias
13050 If an error occurs during the execution of your hook, execution of
13051 @value{GDBN} commands stops and @value{GDBN} issues a prompt
13052 (before the command that you actually typed had a chance to run).
13054 If you try to define a hook which does not match any known command, you
13055 get a warning from the @code{define} command.
13057 @node Command Files
13058 @section Command files
13060 @cindex command files
13061 A command file for @value{GDBN} is a file of lines that are @value{GDBN}
13062 commands. Comments (lines starting with @kbd{#}) may also be included.
13063 An empty line in a command file does nothing; it does not mean to repeat
13064 the last command, as it would from the terminal.
13067 @cindex @file{.gdbinit}
13068 @cindex @file{gdb.ini}
13069 When you start @value{GDBN}, it automatically executes commands from its
13070 @dfn{init files}. These are files named @file{.gdbinit} on Unix and
13071 @file{gdb.ini} on DOS/Windows. During startup, @value{GDBN} does the
13076 Reads the init file (if any) in your home directory@footnote{On
13077 DOS/Windows systems, the home directory is the one pointed to by the
13078 @code{HOME} environment variable.}.
13081 Processes command line options and operands.
13084 Reads the init file (if any) in the current working directory.
13087 Reads command files specified by the @samp{-x} option.
13090 The init file in your home directory can set options (such as @samp{set
13091 complaints}) that affect subsequent processing of command line options
13092 and operands. Init files are not executed if you use the @samp{-nx}
13093 option (@pxref{Mode Options, ,Choosing modes}).
13095 @cindex init file name
13096 On some configurations of @value{GDBN}, the init file is known by a
13097 different name (these are typically environments where a specialized
13098 form of @value{GDBN} may need to coexist with other forms, hence a
13099 different name for the specialized version's init file). These are the
13100 environments with special init file names:
13102 @cindex @file{.vxgdbinit}
13105 VxWorks (Wind River Systems real-time OS): @file{.vxgdbinit}
13107 @cindex @file{.os68gdbinit}
13109 OS68K (Enea Data Systems real-time OS): @file{.os68gdbinit}
13111 @cindex @file{.esgdbinit}
13113 ES-1800 (Ericsson Telecom AB M68000 emulator): @file{.esgdbinit}
13116 You can also request the execution of a command file with the
13117 @code{source} command:
13121 @item source @var{filename}
13122 Execute the command file @var{filename}.
13125 The lines in a command file are executed sequentially. They are not
13126 printed as they are executed. An error in any command terminates execution
13127 of the command file.
13129 Commands that would ask for confirmation if used interactively proceed
13130 without asking when used in a command file. Many @value{GDBN} commands that
13131 normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the messages
13132 when called from command files.
13134 @value{GDBN} also accepts command input from standard input. In this
13135 mode, normal output goes to standard output and error output goes to
13136 standard error. Errors in a command file supplied on standard input do
13137 not terminate execution of the command file --- execution continues with
13141 gdb < cmds > log 2>&1
13144 (The syntax above will vary depending on the shell used.) This example
13145 will execute commands from the file @file{cmds}. All output and errors
13146 would be directed to @file{log}.
13149 @section Commands for controlled output
13151 During the execution of a command file or a user-defined command, normal
13152 @value{GDBN} output is suppressed; the only output that appears is what is
13153 explicitly printed by the commands in the definition. This section
13154 describes three commands useful for generating exactly the output you
13159 @item echo @var{text}
13160 @c I do not consider backslash-space a standard C escape sequence
13161 @c because it is not in ANSI.
13162 Print @var{text}. Nonprinting characters can be included in
13163 @var{text} using C escape sequences, such as @samp{\n} to print a
13164 newline. @strong{No newline is printed unless you specify one.}
13165 In addition to the standard C escape sequences, a backslash followed
13166 by a space stands for a space. This is useful for displaying a
13167 string with spaces at the beginning or the end, since leading and
13168 trailing spaces are otherwise trimmed from all arguments.
13169 To print @samp{@w{ }and foo =@w{ }}, use the command
13170 @samp{echo \@w{ }and foo = \@w{ }}.
13172 A backslash at the end of @var{text} can be used, as in C, to continue
13173 the command onto subsequent lines. For example,
13176 echo This is some text\n\
13177 which is continued\n\
13178 onto several lines.\n
13181 produces the same output as
13184 echo This is some text\n
13185 echo which is continued\n
13186 echo onto several lines.\n
13190 @item output @var{expression}
13191 Print the value of @var{expression} and nothing but that value: no
13192 newlines, no @samp{$@var{nn} = }. The value is not entered in the
13193 value history either. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information
13196 @item output/@var{fmt} @var{expression}
13197 Print the value of @var{expression} in format @var{fmt}. You can use
13198 the same formats as for @code{print}. @xref{Output Formats,,Output
13199 formats}, for more information.
13202 @item printf @var{string}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
13203 Print the values of the @var{expressions} under the control of
13204 @var{string}. The @var{expressions} are separated by commas and may be
13205 either numbers or pointers. Their values are printed as specified by
13206 @var{string}, exactly as if your program were to execute the C
13208 @c FIXME: the above implies that at least all ANSI C formats are
13209 @c supported, but it isn't true: %E and %G don't work (or so it seems).
13210 @c Either this is a bug, or the manual should document what formats are
13214 printf (@var{string}, @var{expressions}@dots{});
13217 For example, you can print two values in hex like this:
13220 printf "foo, bar-foo = 0x%x, 0x%x\n", foo, bar-foo
13223 The only backslash-escape sequences that you can use in the format
13224 string are the simple ones that consist of backslash followed by a
13229 @chapter @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
13233 * TUI Overview:: TUI overview
13234 * TUI Keys:: TUI key bindings
13235 * TUI Commands:: TUI specific commands
13236 * TUI Configuration:: TUI configuration variables
13239 The @value{GDBN} Text User Interface, TUI in short,
13240 is a terminal interface which uses the @code{curses} library
13241 to show the source file, the assembly output, the program registers
13242 and @value{GDBN} commands in separate text windows.
13243 The TUI is available only when @value{GDBN} is configured
13244 with the @code{--enable-tui} configure option (@pxref{Configure Options}).
13247 @section TUI overview
13249 The TUI has two display modes that can be switched while
13254 A curses (or TUI) mode in which it displays several text
13255 windows on the terminal.
13258 A standard mode which corresponds to the @value{GDBN} configured without
13262 In the TUI mode, @value{GDBN} can display several text window
13267 This window is the @value{GDBN} command window with the @value{GDBN}
13268 prompt and the @value{GDBN} outputs. The @value{GDBN} input is still
13269 managed using readline but through the TUI. The @emph{command}
13270 window is always visible.
13273 The source window shows the source file of the program. The current
13274 line as well as active breakpoints are displayed in this window.
13275 The current program position is shown with the @samp{>} marker and
13276 active breakpoints are shown with @samp{*} markers.
13279 The assembly window shows the disassembly output of the program.
13282 This window shows the processor registers. It detects when
13283 a register is changed and when this is the case, registers that have
13284 changed are highlighted.
13288 The source, assembly and register windows are attached to the thread
13289 and the frame position. They are updated when the current thread
13290 changes, when the frame changes or when the program counter changes.
13291 These three windows are arranged by the TUI according to several
13292 layouts. The layout defines which of these three windows are visible.
13293 The following layouts are available:
13303 source and assembly
13306 source and registers
13309 assembly and registers
13314 @section TUI Key Bindings
13315 @cindex TUI key bindings
13317 The TUI installs several key bindings in the readline keymaps
13318 (@pxref{Command Line Editing}).
13319 They allow to leave or enter in the TUI mode or they operate
13320 directly on the TUI layout and windows. The following key bindings
13321 are installed for both TUI mode and the @value{GDBN} standard mode.
13330 Enter or leave the TUI mode. When the TUI mode is left,
13331 the curses window management is left and @value{GDBN} operates using
13332 its standard mode writing on the terminal directly. When the TUI
13333 mode is entered, the control is given back to the curses windows.
13334 The screen is then refreshed.
13338 Use a TUI layout with only one window. The layout will
13339 either be @samp{source} or @samp{assembly}. When the TUI mode
13340 is not active, it will switch to the TUI mode.
13342 Think of this key binding as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 1} binding.
13346 Use a TUI layout with at least two windows. When the current
13347 layout shows already two windows, a next layout with two windows is used.
13348 When a new layout is chosen, one window will always be common to the
13349 previous layout and the new one.
13351 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 2} binding.
13355 The following key bindings are handled only by the TUI mode:
13360 Scroll the active window one page up.
13364 Scroll the active window one page down.
13368 Scroll the active window one line up.
13372 Scroll the active window one line down.
13376 Scroll the active window one column left.
13380 Scroll the active window one column right.
13384 Refresh the screen.
13388 In the TUI mode, the arrow keys are used by the active window
13389 for scrolling. This means they are not available for readline. It is
13390 necessary to use other readline key bindings such as @key{C-p}, @key{C-n},
13391 @key{C-b} and @key{C-f}.
13394 @section TUI specific commands
13395 @cindex TUI commands
13397 The TUI has specific commands to control the text windows.
13398 These commands are always available, that is they do not depend on
13399 the current terminal mode in which @value{GDBN} runs. When @value{GDBN}
13400 is in the standard mode, using these commands will automatically switch
13405 @kindex layout next
13406 Display the next layout.
13409 @kindex layout prev
13410 Display the previous layout.
13414 Display the source window only.
13418 Display the assembly window only.
13421 @kindex layout split
13422 Display the source and assembly window.
13425 @kindex layout regs
13426 Display the register window together with the source or assembly window.
13428 @item focus next | prev | src | asm | regs | split
13430 Set the focus to the named window.
13431 This command allows to change the active window so that scrolling keys
13432 can be affected to another window.
13436 Refresh the screen. This is similar to using @key{C-L} key.
13440 Update the source window and the current execution point.
13442 @item winheight @var{name} +@var{count}
13443 @itemx winheight @var{name} -@var{count}
13445 Change the height of the window @var{name} by @var{count}
13446 lines. Positive counts increase the height, while negative counts
13451 @node TUI Configuration
13452 @section TUI configuration variables
13453 @cindex TUI configuration variables
13455 The TUI has several configuration variables that control the
13456 appearance of windows on the terminal.
13459 @item set tui border-kind @var{kind}
13460 @kindex set tui border-kind
13461 Select the border appearance for the source, assembly and register windows.
13462 The possible values are the following:
13465 Use a space character to draw the border.
13468 Use ascii characters + - and | to draw the border.
13471 Use the Alternate Character Set to draw the border. The border is
13472 drawn using character line graphics if the terminal supports them.
13476 @item set tui active-border-mode @var{mode}
13477 @kindex set tui active-border-mode
13478 Select the attributes to display the border of the active window.
13479 The possible values are @code{normal}, @code{standout}, @code{reverse},
13480 @code{half}, @code{half-standout}, @code{bold} and @code{bold-standout}.
13482 @item set tui border-mode @var{mode}
13483 @kindex set tui border-mode
13484 Select the attributes to display the border of other windows.
13485 The @var{mode} can be one of the following:
13488 Use normal attributes to display the border.
13494 Use reverse video mode.
13497 Use half bright mode.
13499 @item half-standout
13500 Use half bright and standout mode.
13503 Use extra bright or bold mode.
13505 @item bold-standout
13506 Use extra bright or bold and standout mode.
13513 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
13516 @cindex @sc{gnu} Emacs
13517 A special interface allows you to use @sc{gnu} Emacs to view (and
13518 edit) the source files for the program you are debugging with
13521 To use this interface, use the command @kbd{M-x gdb} in Emacs. Give the
13522 executable file you want to debug as an argument. This command starts
13523 @value{GDBN} as a subprocess of Emacs, with input and output through a newly
13524 created Emacs buffer.
13525 @c (Do not use the @code{-tui} option to run @value{GDBN} from Emacs.)
13527 Using @value{GDBN} under Emacs is just like using @value{GDBN} normally except for two
13532 All ``terminal'' input and output goes through the Emacs buffer.
13535 This applies both to @value{GDBN} commands and their output, and to the input
13536 and output done by the program you are debugging.
13538 This is useful because it means that you can copy the text of previous
13539 commands and input them again; you can even use parts of the output
13542 All the facilities of Emacs' Shell mode are available for interacting
13543 with your program. In particular, you can send signals the usual
13544 way---for example, @kbd{C-c C-c} for an interrupt, @kbd{C-c C-z} for a
13549 @value{GDBN} displays source code through Emacs.
13552 Each time @value{GDBN} displays a stack frame, Emacs automatically finds the
13553 source file for that frame and puts an arrow (@samp{=>}) at the
13554 left margin of the current line. Emacs uses a separate buffer for
13555 source display, and splits the screen to show both your @value{GDBN} session
13558 Explicit @value{GDBN} @code{list} or search commands still produce output as
13559 usual, but you probably have no reason to use them from Emacs.
13562 @emph{Warning:} If the directory where your program resides is not your
13563 current directory, it can be easy to confuse Emacs about the location of
13564 the source files, in which case the auxiliary display buffer does not
13565 appear to show your source. @value{GDBN} can find programs by searching your
13566 environment's @code{PATH} variable, so the @value{GDBN} input and output
13567 session proceeds normally; but Emacs does not get enough information
13568 back from @value{GDBN} to locate the source files in this situation. To
13569 avoid this problem, either start @value{GDBN} mode from the directory where
13570 your program resides, or specify an absolute file name when prompted for the
13571 @kbd{M-x gdb} argument.
13573 A similar confusion can result if you use the @value{GDBN} @code{file} command to
13574 switch to debugging a program in some other location, from an existing
13575 @value{GDBN} buffer in Emacs.
13578 By default, @kbd{M-x gdb} calls the program called @file{gdb}. If
13579 you need to call @value{GDBN} by a different name (for example, if you keep
13580 several configurations around, with different names) you can set the
13581 Emacs variable @code{gdb-command-name}; for example,
13584 (setq gdb-command-name "mygdb")
13588 (preceded by @kbd{M-:} or @kbd{ESC :}, or typed in the @code{*scratch*} buffer, or
13589 in your @file{.emacs} file) makes Emacs call the program named
13590 ``@code{mygdb}'' instead.
13592 In the @value{GDBN} I/O buffer, you can use these special Emacs commands in
13593 addition to the standard Shell mode commands:
13597 Describe the features of Emacs' @value{GDBN} Mode.
13600 Execute to another source line, like the @value{GDBN} @code{step} command; also
13601 update the display window to show the current file and location.
13604 Execute to next source line in this function, skipping all function
13605 calls, like the @value{GDBN} @code{next} command. Then update the display window
13606 to show the current file and location.
13609 Execute one instruction, like the @value{GDBN} @code{stepi} command; update
13610 display window accordingly.
13612 @item M-x gdb-nexti
13613 Execute to next instruction, using the @value{GDBN} @code{nexti} command; update
13614 display window accordingly.
13617 Execute until exit from the selected stack frame, like the @value{GDBN}
13618 @code{finish} command.
13621 Continue execution of your program, like the @value{GDBN} @code{continue}
13624 @emph{Warning:} In Emacs v19, this command is @kbd{C-c C-p}.
13627 Go up the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument
13628 (@pxref{Arguments, , Numeric Arguments, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}),
13629 like the @value{GDBN} @code{up} command.
13631 @emph{Warning:} In Emacs v19, this command is @kbd{C-c C-u}.
13634 Go down the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument, like the
13635 @value{GDBN} @code{down} command.
13637 @emph{Warning:} In Emacs v19, this command is @kbd{C-c C-d}.
13640 Read the number where the cursor is positioned, and insert it at the end
13641 of the @value{GDBN} I/O buffer. For example, if you wish to disassemble code
13642 around an address that was displayed earlier, type @kbd{disassemble};
13643 then move the cursor to the address display, and pick up the
13644 argument for @code{disassemble} by typing @kbd{C-x &}.
13646 You can customize this further by defining elements of the list
13647 @code{gdb-print-command}; once it is defined, you can format or
13648 otherwise process numbers picked up by @kbd{C-x &} before they are
13649 inserted. A numeric argument to @kbd{C-x &} indicates that you
13650 wish special formatting, and also acts as an index to pick an element of the
13651 list. If the list element is a string, the number to be inserted is
13652 formatted using the Emacs function @code{format}; otherwise the number
13653 is passed as an argument to the corresponding list element.
13656 In any source file, the Emacs command @kbd{C-x SPC} (@code{gdb-break})
13657 tells @value{GDBN} to set a breakpoint on the source line point is on.
13659 If you accidentally delete the source-display buffer, an easy way to get
13660 it back is to type the command @code{f} in the @value{GDBN} buffer, to
13661 request a frame display; when you run under Emacs, this recreates
13662 the source buffer if necessary to show you the context of the current
13665 The source files displayed in Emacs are in ordinary Emacs buffers
13666 which are visiting the source files in the usual way. You can edit
13667 the files with these buffers if you wish; but keep in mind that @value{GDBN}
13668 communicates with Emacs in terms of line numbers. If you add or
13669 delete lines from the text, the line numbers that @value{GDBN} knows cease
13670 to correspond properly with the code.
13672 @c The following dropped because Epoch is nonstandard. Reactivate
13675 @kindex Emacs Epoch environment
13679 Version 18 of @sc{gnu} Emacs has a built-in window system
13680 called the @code{epoch}
13681 environment. Users of this environment can use a new command,
13682 @code{inspect} which performs identically to @code{print} except that
13683 each value is printed in its own window.
13686 @include annotate.texi
13687 @include gdbmi.texinfo
13690 @chapter Reporting Bugs in @value{GDBN}
13691 @cindex bugs in @value{GDBN}
13692 @cindex reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
13694 Your bug reports play an essential role in making @value{GDBN} reliable.
13696 Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or it
13697 may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is to help
13698 the entire community by making the next version of @value{GDBN} work better. Bug
13699 reports are your contribution to the maintenance of @value{GDBN}.
13701 In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
13702 information that enables us to fix the bug.
13705 * Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
13706 * Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
13710 @section Have you found a bug?
13711 @cindex bug criteria
13713 If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
13716 @cindex fatal signal
13717 @cindex debugger crash
13718 @cindex crash of debugger
13720 If the debugger gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is a
13721 @value{GDBN} bug. Reliable debuggers never crash.
13723 @cindex error on valid input
13725 If @value{GDBN} produces an error message for valid input, that is a
13726 bug. (Note that if you're cross debugging, the problem may also be
13727 somewhere in the connection to the target.)
13729 @cindex invalid input
13731 If @value{GDBN} does not produce an error message for invalid input,
13732 that is a bug. However, you should note that your idea of
13733 ``invalid input'' might be our idea of ``an extension'' or ``support
13734 for traditional practice''.
13737 If you are an experienced user of debugging tools, your suggestions
13738 for improvement of @value{GDBN} are welcome in any case.
13741 @node Bug Reporting
13742 @section How to report bugs
13743 @cindex bug reports
13744 @cindex @value{GDBN} bugs, reporting
13746 A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu} products.
13747 If you obtained @value{GDBN} from a support organization, we recommend you
13748 contact that organization first.
13750 You can find contact information for many support companies and
13751 individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
13753 @c should add a web page ref...
13755 In any event, we also recommend that you send bug reports for
13756 @value{GDBN} to this addresses:
13762 @strong{Do not send bug reports to @samp{info-gdb}, or to
13763 @samp{help-gdb}, or to any newsgroups.} Most users of @value{GDBN} do
13764 not want to receive bug reports. Those that do have arranged to receive
13767 The mailing list @samp{bug-gdb} has a newsgroup @samp{gnu.gdb.bug} which
13768 serves as a repeater. The mailing list and the newsgroup carry exactly
13769 the same messages. Often people think of posting bug reports to the
13770 newsgroup instead of mailing them. This appears to work, but it has one
13771 problem which can be crucial: a newsgroup posting often lacks a mail
13772 path back to the sender. Thus, if we need to ask for more information,
13773 we may be unable to reach you. For this reason, it is better to send
13774 bug reports to the mailing list.
13776 As a last resort, send bug reports on paper to:
13779 @sc{gnu} Debugger Bugs
13780 Free Software Foundation Inc.
13781 59 Temple Place - Suite 330
13782 Boston, MA 02111-1307
13786 The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
13787 @strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
13788 fact or leave it out, state it!
13790 Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
13791 problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
13792 assume that the name of the variable you use in an example does not matter.
13793 Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is a
13794 stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where that
13795 name is stored in memory; perhaps, if the name were different, the contents
13796 of that location would fool the debugger into doing the right thing despite
13797 the bug. Play it safe and give a specific, complete example. That is the
13798 easiest thing for you to do, and the most helpful.
13800 Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the
13801 bug. It may be that the bug has been reported previously, but neither
13802 you nor we can know that unless your bug report is complete and
13805 Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
13806 bell?'' Those bug reports are useless, and we urge everyone to
13807 @emph{refuse to respond to them} except to chide the sender to report
13810 To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
13814 The version of @value{GDBN}. @value{GDBN} announces it if you start
13815 with no arguments; you can also print it at any time using @code{show
13818 Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
13819 the bug in the current version of @value{GDBN}.
13822 The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
13826 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile @value{GDBN}---e.g.
13827 ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1''.
13830 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the program you are
13831 debugging---e.g. ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1'', or ``HP92453-01 A.10.32.03 HP
13832 C Compiler''. For GCC, you can say @code{gcc --version} to get this
13833 information; for other compilers, see the documentation for those
13837 The command arguments you gave the compiler to compile your example and
13838 observe the bug. For example, did you use @samp{-O}? To guarantee
13839 you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy of the
13840 Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
13842 If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
13843 and then we might not encounter the bug.
13846 A complete input script, and all necessary source files, that will
13850 A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
13851 incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
13853 Of course, if the bug is that @value{GDBN} gets a fatal signal, then we
13854 will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
13855 not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
13856 a chance to make a mistake.
13858 Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
13859 say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as, your
13860 copy of @value{GDBN} is out of synch, or you have encountered a bug in
13861 the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
13862 crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
13863 ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
13864 us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
13865 to draw any conclusion from our observations.
13868 If you wish to suggest changes to the @value{GDBN} source, send us context
13869 diffs. If you even discuss something in the @value{GDBN} source, refer to
13870 it by context, not by line number.
13872 The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
13873 sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
13877 Here are some things that are not necessary:
13881 A description of the envelope of the bug.
13883 Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
13884 which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
13885 changes will not affect it.
13887 This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
13888 will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
13889 with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
13890 We recommend that you save your time for something else.
13892 Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
13893 of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
13894 output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
13895 less time, and so on.
13897 However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
13898 report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
13901 A patch for the bug.
13903 A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
13904 the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
13905 a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
13906 to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
13908 Sometimes with a program as complicated as @value{GDBN} it is very hard to
13909 construct an example that will make the program follow a certain path
13910 through the code. If you do not send us the example, we will not be able
13911 to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that the bug is fixed.
13913 And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
13914 patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
13915 help us to understand.
13918 A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
13920 Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
13921 things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
13924 @c The readline documentation is distributed with the readline code
13925 @c and consists of the two following files:
13927 @c inc-hist.texinfo
13928 @c Use -I with makeinfo to point to the appropriate directory,
13929 @c environment var TEXINPUTS with TeX.
13930 @include rluser.texinfo
13931 @include inc-hist.texinfo
13934 @node Formatting Documentation
13935 @appendix Formatting Documentation
13937 @cindex @value{GDBN} reference card
13938 @cindex reference card
13939 The @value{GDBN} 4 release includes an already-formatted reference card, ready
13940 for printing with PostScript or Ghostscript, in the @file{gdb}
13941 subdirectory of the main source directory@footnote{In
13942 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/refcard.ps} of the version @value{GDBVN}
13943 release.}. If you can use PostScript or Ghostscript with your printer,
13944 you can print the reference card immediately with @file{refcard.ps}.
13946 The release also includes the source for the reference card. You
13947 can format it, using @TeX{}, by typing:
13953 The @value{GDBN} reference card is designed to print in @dfn{landscape}
13954 mode on US ``letter'' size paper;
13955 that is, on a sheet 11 inches wide by 8.5 inches
13956 high. You will need to specify this form of printing as an option to
13957 your @sc{dvi} output program.
13959 @cindex documentation
13961 All the documentation for @value{GDBN} comes as part of the machine-readable
13962 distribution. The documentation is written in Texinfo format, which is
13963 a documentation system that uses a single source file to produce both
13964 on-line information and a printed manual. You can use one of the Info
13965 formatting commands to create the on-line version of the documentation
13966 and @TeX{} (or @code{texi2roff}) to typeset the printed version.
13968 @value{GDBN} includes an already formatted copy of the on-line Info
13969 version of this manual in the @file{gdb} subdirectory. The main Info
13970 file is @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/gdb.info}, and it refers to
13971 subordinate files matching @samp{gdb.info*} in the same directory. If
13972 necessary, you can print out these files, or read them with any editor;
13973 but they are easier to read using the @code{info} subsystem in @sc{gnu}
13974 Emacs or the standalone @code{info} program, available as part of the
13975 @sc{gnu} Texinfo distribution.
13977 If you want to format these Info files yourself, you need one of the
13978 Info formatting programs, such as @code{texinfo-format-buffer} or
13981 If you have @code{makeinfo} installed, and are in the top level
13982 @value{GDBN} source directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, in the case of
13983 version @value{GDBVN}), you can make the Info file by typing:
13990 If you want to typeset and print copies of this manual, you need @TeX{},
13991 a program to print its @sc{dvi} output files, and @file{texinfo.tex}, the
13992 Texinfo definitions file.
13994 @TeX{} is a typesetting program; it does not print files directly, but
13995 produces output files called @sc{dvi} files. To print a typeset
13996 document, you need a program to print @sc{dvi} files. If your system
13997 has @TeX{} installed, chances are it has such a program. The precise
13998 command to use depends on your system; @kbd{lpr -d} is common; another
13999 (for PostScript devices) is @kbd{dvips}. The @sc{dvi} print command may
14000 require a file name without any extension or a @samp{.dvi} extension.
14002 @TeX{} also requires a macro definitions file called
14003 @file{texinfo.tex}. This file tells @TeX{} how to typeset a document
14004 written in Texinfo format. On its own, @TeX{} cannot either read or
14005 typeset a Texinfo file. @file{texinfo.tex} is distributed with GDB
14006 and is located in the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}/texinfo}
14009 If you have @TeX{} and a @sc{dvi} printer program installed, you can
14010 typeset and print this manual. First switch to the the @file{gdb}
14011 subdirectory of the main source directory (for example, to
14012 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb}) and type:
14018 Then give @file{gdb.dvi} to your @sc{dvi} printing program.
14020 @node Installing GDB
14021 @appendix Installing @value{GDBN}
14022 @cindex configuring @value{GDBN}
14023 @cindex installation
14025 @value{GDBN} comes with a @code{configure} script that automates the process
14026 of preparing @value{GDBN} for installation; you can then use @code{make} to
14027 build the @code{gdb} program.
14029 @c irrelevant in info file; it's as current as the code it lives with.
14030 @footnote{If you have a more recent version of @value{GDBN} than @value{GDBVN},
14031 look at the @file{README} file in the sources; we may have improved the
14032 installation procedures since publishing this manual.}
14035 The @value{GDBN} distribution includes all the source code you need for
14036 @value{GDBN} in a single directory, whose name is usually composed by
14037 appending the version number to @samp{gdb}.
14039 For example, the @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN} distribution is in the
14040 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory. That directory contains:
14043 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure @r{(and supporting files)}
14044 script for configuring @value{GDBN} and all its supporting libraries
14046 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb
14047 the source specific to @value{GDBN} itself
14049 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/bfd
14050 source for the Binary File Descriptor library
14052 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/include
14053 @sc{gnu} include files
14055 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/libiberty
14056 source for the @samp{-liberty} free software library
14058 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/opcodes
14059 source for the library of opcode tables and disassemblers
14061 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/readline
14062 source for the @sc{gnu} command-line interface
14064 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/glob
14065 source for the @sc{gnu} filename pattern-matching subroutine
14067 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/mmalloc
14068 source for the @sc{gnu} memory-mapped malloc package
14071 The simplest way to configure and build @value{GDBN} is to run @code{configure}
14072 from the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory, which in
14073 this example is the @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory.
14075 First switch to the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory
14076 if you are not already in it; then run @code{configure}. Pass the
14077 identifier for the platform on which @value{GDBN} will run as an
14083 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
14084 ./configure @var{host}
14089 where @var{host} is an identifier such as @samp{sun4} or
14090 @samp{decstation}, that identifies the platform where @value{GDBN} will run.
14091 (You can often leave off @var{host}; @code{configure} tries to guess the
14092 correct value by examining your system.)
14094 Running @samp{configure @var{host}} and then running @code{make} builds the
14095 @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, @file{mmalloc}, and @file{libiberty}
14096 libraries, then @code{gdb} itself. The configured source files, and the
14097 binaries, are left in the corresponding source directories.
14100 @code{configure} is a Bourne-shell (@code{/bin/sh}) script; if your
14101 system does not recognize this automatically when you run a different
14102 shell, you may need to run @code{sh} on it explicitly:
14105 sh configure @var{host}
14108 If you run @code{configure} from a directory that contains source
14109 directories for multiple libraries or programs, such as the
14110 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} source directory for version @value{GDBVN}, @code{configure}
14111 creates configuration files for every directory level underneath (unless
14112 you tell it not to, with the @samp{--norecursion} option).
14114 You can run the @code{configure} script from any of the
14115 subordinate directories in the @value{GDBN} distribution if you only want to
14116 configure that subdirectory, but be sure to specify a path to it.
14118 For example, with version @value{GDBVN}, type the following to configure only
14119 the @code{bfd} subdirectory:
14123 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}/bfd
14124 ../configure @var{host}
14128 You can install @code{@value{GDBP}} anywhere; it has no hardwired paths.
14129 However, you should make sure that the shell on your path (named by
14130 the @samp{SHELL} environment variable) is publicly readable. Remember
14131 that @value{GDBN} uses the shell to start your program---some systems refuse to
14132 let @value{GDBN} debug child processes whose programs are not readable.
14135 * Separate Objdir:: Compiling @value{GDBN} in another directory
14136 * Config Names:: Specifying names for hosts and targets
14137 * Configure Options:: Summary of options for configure
14140 @node Separate Objdir
14141 @section Compiling @value{GDBN} in another directory
14143 If you want to run @value{GDBN} versions for several host or target machines,
14144 you need a different @code{gdb} compiled for each combination of
14145 host and target. @code{configure} is designed to make this easy by
14146 allowing you to generate each configuration in a separate subdirectory,
14147 rather than in the source directory. If your @code{make} program
14148 handles the @samp{VPATH} feature (@sc{gnu} @code{make} does), running
14149 @code{make} in each of these directories builds the @code{gdb}
14150 program specified there.
14152 To build @code{gdb} in a separate directory, run @code{configure}
14153 with the @samp{--srcdir} option to specify where to find the source.
14154 (You also need to specify a path to find @code{configure}
14155 itself from your working directory. If the path to @code{configure}
14156 would be the same as the argument to @samp{--srcdir}, you can leave out
14157 the @samp{--srcdir} option; it is assumed.)
14159 For example, with version @value{GDBVN}, you can build @value{GDBN} in a
14160 separate directory for a Sun 4 like this:
14164 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
14167 ../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure sun4
14172 When @code{configure} builds a configuration using a remote source
14173 directory, it creates a tree for the binaries with the same structure
14174 (and using the same names) as the tree under the source directory. In
14175 the example, you'd find the Sun 4 library @file{libiberty.a} in the
14176 directory @file{gdb-sun4/libiberty}, and @value{GDBN} itself in
14177 @file{gdb-sun4/gdb}.
14179 One popular reason to build several @value{GDBN} configurations in separate
14180 directories is to configure @value{GDBN} for cross-compiling (where
14181 @value{GDBN} runs on one machine---the @dfn{host}---while debugging
14182 programs that run on another machine---the @dfn{target}).
14183 You specify a cross-debugging target by
14184 giving the @samp{--target=@var{target}} option to @code{configure}.
14186 When you run @code{make} to build a program or library, you must run
14187 it in a configured directory---whatever directory you were in when you
14188 called @code{configure} (or one of its subdirectories).
14190 The @code{Makefile} that @code{configure} generates in each source
14191 directory also runs recursively. If you type @code{make} in a source
14192 directory such as @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} (or in a separate configured
14193 directory configured with @samp{--srcdir=@var{dirname}/gdb-@value{GDBVN}}), you
14194 will build all the required libraries, and then build GDB.
14196 When you have multiple hosts or targets configured in separate
14197 directories, you can run @code{make} on them in parallel (for example,
14198 if they are NFS-mounted on each of the hosts); they will not interfere
14202 @section Specifying names for hosts and targets
14204 The specifications used for hosts and targets in the @code{configure}
14205 script are based on a three-part naming scheme, but some short predefined
14206 aliases are also supported. The full naming scheme encodes three pieces
14207 of information in the following pattern:
14210 @var{architecture}-@var{vendor}-@var{os}
14213 For example, you can use the alias @code{sun4} as a @var{host} argument,
14214 or as the value for @var{target} in a @code{--target=@var{target}}
14215 option. The equivalent full name is @samp{sparc-sun-sunos4}.
14217 The @code{configure} script accompanying @value{GDBN} does not provide
14218 any query facility to list all supported host and target names or
14219 aliases. @code{configure} calls the Bourne shell script
14220 @code{config.sub} to map abbreviations to full names; you can read the
14221 script, if you wish, or you can use it to test your guesses on
14222 abbreviations---for example:
14225 % sh config.sub i386-linux
14227 % sh config.sub alpha-linux
14228 alpha-unknown-linux-gnu
14229 % sh config.sub hp9k700
14231 % sh config.sub sun4
14232 sparc-sun-sunos4.1.1
14233 % sh config.sub sun3
14234 m68k-sun-sunos4.1.1
14235 % sh config.sub i986v
14236 Invalid configuration `i986v': machine `i986v' not recognized
14240 @code{config.sub} is also distributed in the @value{GDBN} source
14241 directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, for version @value{GDBVN}).
14243 @node Configure Options
14244 @section @code{configure} options
14246 Here is a summary of the @code{configure} options and arguments that
14247 are most often useful for building @value{GDBN}. @code{configure} also has
14248 several other options not listed here. @inforef{What Configure
14249 Does,,configure.info}, for a full explanation of @code{configure}.
14252 configure @r{[}--help@r{]}
14253 @r{[}--prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
14254 @r{[}--exec-prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
14255 @r{[}--srcdir=@var{dirname}@r{]}
14256 @r{[}--norecursion@r{]} @r{[}--rm@r{]}
14257 @r{[}--target=@var{target}@r{]}
14262 You may introduce options with a single @samp{-} rather than
14263 @samp{--} if you prefer; but you may abbreviate option names if you use
14268 Display a quick summary of how to invoke @code{configure}.
14270 @item --prefix=@var{dir}
14271 Configure the source to install programs and files under directory
14274 @item --exec-prefix=@var{dir}
14275 Configure the source to install programs under directory
14278 @c avoid splitting the warning from the explanation:
14280 @item --srcdir=@var{dirname}
14281 @strong{Warning: using this option requires @sc{gnu} @code{make}, or another
14282 @code{make} that implements the @code{VPATH} feature.}@*
14283 Use this option to make configurations in directories separate from the
14284 @value{GDBN} source directories. Among other things, you can use this to
14285 build (or maintain) several configurations simultaneously, in separate
14286 directories. @code{configure} writes configuration specific files in
14287 the current directory, but arranges for them to use the source in the
14288 directory @var{dirname}. @code{configure} creates directories under
14289 the working directory in parallel to the source directories below
14292 @item --norecursion
14293 Configure only the directory level where @code{configure} is executed; do not
14294 propagate configuration to subdirectories.
14296 @item --target=@var{target}
14297 Configure @value{GDBN} for cross-debugging programs running on the specified
14298 @var{target}. Without this option, @value{GDBN} is configured to debug
14299 programs that run on the same machine (@var{host}) as @value{GDBN} itself.
14301 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available targets.
14303 @item @var{host} @dots{}
14304 Configure @value{GDBN} to run on the specified @var{host}.
14306 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available hosts.
14309 There are many other options available as well, but they are generally
14310 needed for special purposes only.
14318 % I think something like @colophon should be in texinfo. In the
14320 \long\def\colophon{\hbox to0pt{}\vfill
14321 \centerline{The body of this manual is set in}
14322 \centerline{\fontname\tenrm,}
14323 \centerline{with headings in {\bf\fontname\tenbf}}
14324 \centerline{and examples in {\tt\fontname\tentt}.}
14325 \centerline{{\it\fontname\tenit\/},}
14326 \centerline{{\bf\fontname\tenbf}, and}
14327 \centerline{{\sl\fontname\tensl\/}}
14328 \centerline{are used for emphasis.}\vfill}
14333 @c TeX can handle the contents at the start but makeinfo 3.12 can not