1 \input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
2 @c Copyright (C) 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998,
3 @c 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
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!
31 @c This is updated by GNU Press.
34 @c !!set GDB edit command default editor
37 @c THIS MANUAL REQUIRES TEXINFO 4.0 OR LATER.
39 @c This is a dir.info fragment to support semi-automated addition of
40 @c manuals to an info tree.
41 @dircategory Software development
43 * Gdb: (gdb). The GNU debugger.
47 This file documents the @sc{gnu} debugger @value{GDBN}.
50 This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, of @cite{Debugging with
51 @value{GDBN}: the @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger} for @value{GDBN}
52 Version @value{GDBVN}.
54 Copyright (C) 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998,@*
55 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006@*
56 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
58 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
59 under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1 or
60 any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with the
61 Invariant Sections being ``Free Software'' and ``Free Software Needs
62 Free Documentation'', with the Front-Cover Texts being ``A GNU Manual,''
63 and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below.
65 (a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You are free to copy and modify
66 this GNU Manual. Buying copies from GNU Press supports the FSF in
67 developing GNU and promoting software freedom.''
71 @title Debugging with @value{GDBN}
72 @subtitle The @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger
74 @subtitle @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN}
75 @author Richard Stallman, Roland Pesch, Stan Shebs, et al.
79 \hfill (Send bugs and comments on @value{GDBN} to bug-gdb\@gnu.org.)\par
80 \hfill {\it Debugging with @value{GDBN}}\par
81 \hfill \TeX{}info \texinfoversion\par
85 @vskip 0pt plus 1filll
86 Copyright @copyright{} 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995,
87 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006
88 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
90 Published by the Free Software Foundation @*
91 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor,
92 Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA@*
95 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
96 under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1 or
97 any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with the
98 Invariant Sections being ``Free Software'' and ``Free Software Needs
99 Free Documentation'', with the Front-Cover Texts being ``A GNU Manual,''
100 and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below.
102 (a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You are free to copy and modify
103 this GNU Manual. Buying copies from GNU Press supports the FSF in
104 developing GNU and promoting software freedom.''
106 This edition of the GDB manual is dedicated to the memory of Fred
107 Fish. Fred was a long-standing contributor to GDB and to Free
108 software in general. We will miss him.
113 @node Top, Summary, (dir), (dir)
115 @top Debugging with @value{GDBN}
117 This file describes @value{GDBN}, the @sc{gnu} symbolic debugger.
119 This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN} Version
122 Copyright (C) 1988-2006 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
124 This edition of the GDB manual is dedicated to the memory of Fred
125 Fish. Fred was a long-standing contributor to GDB and to Free
126 software in general. We will miss him.
129 * Summary:: Summary of @value{GDBN}
130 * Sample Session:: A sample @value{GDBN} session
132 * Invocation:: Getting in and out of @value{GDBN}
133 * Commands:: @value{GDBN} commands
134 * Running:: Running programs under @value{GDBN}
135 * Stopping:: Stopping and continuing
136 * Stack:: Examining the stack
137 * Source:: Examining source files
138 * Data:: Examining data
139 * Macros:: Preprocessor Macros
140 * Tracepoints:: Debugging remote targets non-intrusively
141 * Overlays:: Debugging programs that use overlays
143 * Languages:: Using @value{GDBN} with different languages
145 * Symbols:: Examining the symbol table
146 * Altering:: Altering execution
147 * GDB Files:: @value{GDBN} files
148 * Targets:: Specifying a debugging target
149 * Remote Debugging:: Debugging remote programs
150 * Configurations:: Configuration-specific information
151 * Controlling GDB:: Controlling @value{GDBN}
152 * Sequences:: Canned sequences of commands
153 * Interpreters:: Command Interpreters
154 * TUI:: @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
155 * Emacs:: Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
156 * GDB/MI:: @value{GDBN}'s Machine Interface.
157 * Annotations:: @value{GDBN}'s annotation interface.
159 * GDB Bugs:: Reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
161 * Command Line Editing:: Command Line Editing
162 * Using History Interactively:: Using History Interactively
163 * Formatting Documentation:: How to format and print @value{GDBN} documentation
164 * Installing GDB:: Installing GDB
165 * Maintenance Commands:: Maintenance Commands
166 * Remote Protocol:: GDB Remote Serial Protocol
167 * Agent Expressions:: The GDB Agent Expression Mechanism
168 * Target Descriptions:: How targets can describe themselves to
170 * Copying:: GNU General Public License says
171 how you can copy and share GDB
172 * GNU Free Documentation License:: The license for this documentation
181 @unnumbered Summary of @value{GDBN}
183 The purpose of a debugger such as @value{GDBN} is to allow you to see what is
184 going on ``inside'' another program while it executes---or what another
185 program was doing at the moment it crashed.
187 @value{GDBN} can do four main kinds of things (plus other things in support of
188 these) to help you catch bugs in the act:
192 Start your program, specifying anything that might affect its behavior.
195 Make your program stop on specified conditions.
198 Examine what has happened, when your program has stopped.
201 Change things in your program, so you can experiment with correcting the
202 effects of one bug and go on to learn about another.
205 You can use @value{GDBN} to debug programs written in C and C@t{++}.
206 For more information, see @ref{Supported Languages,,Supported Languages}.
207 For more information, see @ref{C,,C and C++}.
210 Support for Modula-2 is partial. For information on Modula-2, see
211 @ref{Modula-2,,Modula-2}.
214 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
215 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
216 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
220 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, although
221 it may be necessary to refer to some variables with a trailing
224 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Objective-C,
225 using either the Apple/NeXT or the GNU Objective-C runtime.
228 * Free Software:: Freely redistributable software
229 * Contributors:: Contributors to GDB
233 @unnumberedsec Free Software
235 @value{GDBN} is @dfn{free software}, protected by the @sc{gnu}
236 General Public License
237 (GPL). The GPL gives you the freedom to copy or adapt a licensed
238 program---but every person getting a copy also gets with it the
239 freedom to modify that copy (which means that they must get access to
240 the source code), and the freedom to distribute further copies.
241 Typical software companies use copyrights to limit your freedoms; the
242 Free Software Foundation uses the GPL to preserve these freedoms.
244 Fundamentally, the General Public License is a license which says that
245 you have these freedoms and that you cannot take these freedoms away
248 @unnumberedsec Free Software Needs Free Documentation
250 The biggest deficiency in the free software community today is not in
251 the software---it is the lack of good free documentation that we can
252 include with the free software. Many of our most important
253 programs do not come with free reference manuals and free introductory
254 texts. Documentation is an essential part of any software package;
255 when an important free software package does not come with a free
256 manual and a free tutorial, that is a major gap. We have many such
259 Consider Perl, for instance. The tutorial manuals that people
260 normally use are non-free. How did this come about? Because the
261 authors of those manuals published them with restrictive terms---no
262 copying, no modification, source files not available---which exclude
263 them from the free software world.
265 That wasn't the first time this sort of thing happened, and it was far
266 from the last. Many times we have heard a GNU user eagerly describe a
267 manual that he is writing, his intended contribution to the community,
268 only to learn that he had ruined everything by signing a publication
269 contract to make it non-free.
271 Free documentation, like free software, is a matter of freedom, not
272 price. The problem with the non-free manual is not that publishers
273 charge a price for printed copies---that in itself is fine. (The Free
274 Software Foundation sells printed copies of manuals, too.) The
275 problem is the restrictions on the use of the manual. Free manuals
276 are available in source code form, and give you permission to copy and
277 modify. Non-free manuals do not allow this.
279 The criteria of freedom for a free manual are roughly the same as for
280 free software. Redistribution (including the normal kinds of
281 commercial redistribution) must be permitted, so that the manual can
282 accompany every copy of the program, both on-line and on paper.
284 Permission for modification of the technical content is crucial too.
285 When people modify the software, adding or changing features, if they
286 are conscientious they will change the manual too---so they can
287 provide accurate and clear documentation for the modified program. A
288 manual that leaves you no choice but to write a new manual to document
289 a changed version of the program is not really available to our
292 Some kinds of limits on the way modification is handled are
293 acceptable. For example, requirements to preserve the original
294 author's copyright notice, the distribution terms, or the list of
295 authors, are ok. It is also no problem to require modified versions
296 to include notice that they were modified. Even entire sections that
297 may not be deleted or changed are acceptable, as long as they deal
298 with nontechnical topics (like this one). These kinds of restrictions
299 are acceptable because they don't obstruct the community's normal use
302 However, it must be possible to modify all the @emph{technical}
303 content of the manual, and then distribute the result in all the usual
304 media, through all the usual channels. Otherwise, the restrictions
305 obstruct the use of the manual, it is not free, and we need another
306 manual to replace it.
308 Please spread the word about this issue. Our community continues to
309 lose manuals to proprietary publishing. If we spread the word that
310 free software needs free reference manuals and free tutorials, perhaps
311 the next person who wants to contribute by writing documentation will
312 realize, before it is too late, that only free manuals contribute to
313 the free software community.
315 If you are writing documentation, please insist on publishing it under
316 the GNU Free Documentation License or another free documentation
317 license. Remember that this decision requires your approval---you
318 don't have to let the publisher decide. Some commercial publishers
319 will use a free license if you insist, but they will not propose the
320 option; it is up to you to raise the issue and say firmly that this is
321 what you want. If the publisher you are dealing with refuses, please
322 try other publishers. If you're not sure whether a proposed license
323 is free, write to @email{licensing@@gnu.org}.
325 You can encourage commercial publishers to sell more free, copylefted
326 manuals and tutorials by buying them, and particularly by buying
327 copies from the publishers that paid for their writing or for major
328 improvements. Meanwhile, try to avoid buying non-free documentation
329 at all. Check the distribution terms of a manual before you buy it,
330 and insist that whoever seeks your business must respect your freedom.
331 Check the history of the book, and try to reward the publishers that
332 have paid or pay the authors to work on it.
334 The Free Software Foundation maintains a list of free documentation
335 published by other publishers, at
336 @url{http://www.fsf.org/doc/other-free-books.html}.
339 @unnumberedsec Contributors to @value{GDBN}
341 Richard Stallman was the original author of @value{GDBN}, and of many
342 other @sc{gnu} programs. Many others have contributed to its
343 development. This section attempts to credit major contributors. One
344 of the virtues of free software is that everyone is free to contribute
345 to it; with regret, we cannot actually acknowledge everyone here. The
346 file @file{ChangeLog} in the @value{GDBN} distribution approximates a
347 blow-by-blow account.
349 Changes much prior to version 2.0 are lost in the mists of time.
352 @emph{Plea:} Additions to this section are particularly welcome. If you
353 or your friends (or enemies, to be evenhanded) have been unfairly
354 omitted from this list, we would like to add your names!
357 So that they may not regard their many labors as thankless, we
358 particularly thank those who shepherded @value{GDBN} through major
360 Andrew Cagney (releases 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1 and 5.0);
361 Jim Blandy (release 4.18);
362 Jason Molenda (release 4.17);
363 Stan Shebs (release 4.14);
364 Fred Fish (releases 4.16, 4.15, 4.13, 4.12, 4.11, 4.10, and 4.9);
365 Stu Grossman and John Gilmore (releases 4.8, 4.7, 4.6, 4.5, and 4.4);
366 John Gilmore (releases 4.3, 4.2, 4.1, 4.0, and 3.9);
367 Jim Kingdon (releases 3.5, 3.4, and 3.3);
368 and Randy Smith (releases 3.2, 3.1, and 3.0).
370 Richard Stallman, assisted at various times by Peter TerMaat, Chris
371 Hanson, and Richard Mlynarik, handled releases through 2.8.
373 Michael Tiemann is the author of most of the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} support
374 in @value{GDBN}, with significant additional contributions from Per
375 Bothner and Daniel Berlin. James Clark wrote the @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
376 demangler. Early work on C@t{++} was by Peter TerMaat (who also did
377 much general update work leading to release 3.0).
379 @value{GDBN} uses the BFD subroutine library to examine multiple
380 object-file formats; BFD was a joint project of David V.
381 Henkel-Wallace, Rich Pixley, Steve Chamberlain, and John Gilmore.
383 David Johnson wrote the original COFF support; Pace Willison did
384 the original support for encapsulated COFF.
386 Brent Benson of Harris Computer Systems contributed DWARF 2 support.
388 Adam de Boor and Bradley Davis contributed the ISI Optimum V support.
389 Per Bothner, Noboyuki Hikichi, and Alessandro Forin contributed MIPS
391 Jean-Daniel Fekete contributed Sun 386i support.
392 Chris Hanson improved the HP9000 support.
393 Noboyuki Hikichi and Tomoyuki Hasei contributed Sony/News OS 3 support.
394 David Johnson contributed Encore Umax support.
395 Jyrki Kuoppala contributed Altos 3068 support.
396 Jeff Law contributed HP PA and SOM support.
397 Keith Packard contributed NS32K support.
398 Doug Rabson contributed Acorn Risc Machine support.
399 Bob Rusk contributed Harris Nighthawk CX-UX support.
400 Chris Smith contributed Convex support (and Fortran debugging).
401 Jonathan Stone contributed Pyramid support.
402 Michael Tiemann contributed SPARC support.
403 Tim Tucker contributed support for the Gould NP1 and Gould Powernode.
404 Pace Willison contributed Intel 386 support.
405 Jay Vosburgh contributed Symmetry support.
406 Marko Mlinar contributed OpenRISC 1000 support.
408 Andreas Schwab contributed M68K @sc{gnu}/Linux support.
410 Rich Schaefer and Peter Schauer helped with support of SunOS shared
413 Jay Fenlason and Roland McGrath ensured that @value{GDBN} and GAS agree
414 about several machine instruction sets.
416 Patrick Duval, Ted Goldstein, Vikram Koka and Glenn Engel helped develop
417 remote debugging. Intel Corporation, Wind River Systems, AMD, and ARM
418 contributed remote debugging modules for the i960, VxWorks, A29K UDI,
419 and RDI targets, respectively.
421 Brian Fox is the author of the readline libraries providing
422 command-line editing and command history.
424 Andrew Beers of SUNY Buffalo wrote the language-switching code, the
425 Modula-2 support, and contributed the Languages chapter of this manual.
427 Fred Fish wrote most of the support for Unix System Vr4.
428 He also enhanced the command-completion support to cover C@t{++} overloaded
431 Hitachi America (now Renesas America), Ltd. sponsored the support for
432 H8/300, H8/500, and Super-H processors.
434 NEC sponsored the support for the v850, Vr4xxx, and Vr5xxx processors.
436 Mitsubishi (now Renesas) sponsored the support for D10V, D30V, and M32R/D
439 Toshiba sponsored the support for the TX39 Mips processor.
441 Matsushita sponsored the support for the MN10200 and MN10300 processors.
443 Fujitsu sponsored the support for SPARClite and FR30 processors.
445 Kung Hsu, Jeff Law, and Rick Sladkey added support for hardware
448 Michael Snyder added support for tracepoints.
450 Stu Grossman wrote gdbserver.
452 Jim Kingdon, Peter Schauer, Ian Taylor, and Stu Grossman made
453 nearly innumerable bug fixes and cleanups throughout @value{GDBN}.
455 The following people at the Hewlett-Packard Company contributed
456 support for the PA-RISC 2.0 architecture, HP-UX 10.20, 10.30, and 11.0
457 (narrow mode), HP's implementation of kernel threads, HP's aC@t{++}
458 compiler, and the Text User Interface (nee Terminal User Interface):
459 Ben Krepp, Richard Title, John Bishop, Susan Macchia, Kathy Mann,
460 Satish Pai, India Paul, Steve Rehrauer, and Elena Zannoni. Kim Haase
461 provided HP-specific information in this manual.
463 DJ Delorie ported @value{GDBN} to MS-DOS, for the DJGPP project.
464 Robert Hoehne made significant contributions to the DJGPP port.
466 Cygnus Solutions has sponsored @value{GDBN} maintenance and much of its
467 development since 1991. Cygnus engineers who have worked on @value{GDBN}
468 fulltime include Mark Alexander, Jim Blandy, Per Bothner, Kevin
469 Buettner, Edith Epstein, Chris Faylor, Fred Fish, Martin Hunt, Jim
470 Ingham, John Gilmore, Stu Grossman, Kung Hsu, Jim Kingdon, John Metzler,
471 Fernando Nasser, Geoffrey Noer, Dawn Perchik, Rich Pixley, Zdenek
472 Radouch, Keith Seitz, Stan Shebs, David Taylor, and Elena Zannoni. In
473 addition, Dave Brolley, Ian Carmichael, Steve Chamberlain, Nick Clifton,
474 JT Conklin, Stan Cox, DJ Delorie, Ulrich Drepper, Frank Eigler, Doug
475 Evans, Sean Fagan, David Henkel-Wallace, Richard Henderson, Jeff
476 Holcomb, Jeff Law, Jim Lemke, Tom Lord, Bob Manson, Michael Meissner,
477 Jason Merrill, Catherine Moore, Drew Moseley, Ken Raeburn, Gavin
478 Romig-Koch, Rob Savoye, Jamie Smith, Mike Stump, Ian Taylor, Angela
479 Thomas, Michael Tiemann, Tom Tromey, Ron Unrau, Jim Wilson, and David
480 Zuhn have made contributions both large and small.
482 Andrew Cagney, Fernando Nasser, and Elena Zannoni, while working for
483 Cygnus Solutions, implemented the original @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
485 Jim Blandy added support for preprocessor macros, while working for Red
488 Andrew Cagney designed @value{GDBN}'s architecture vector. Many
489 people including Andrew Cagney, Stephane Carrez, Randolph Chung, Nick
490 Duffek, Richard Henderson, Mark Kettenis, Grace Sainsbury, Kei
491 Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Andreas Schwab, Jason
492 Thorpe, Corinna Vinschen, Ulrich Weigand, and Elena Zannoni, helped
493 with the migration of old architectures to this new framework.
495 Andrew Cagney completely re-designed and re-implemented @value{GDBN}'s
496 unwinder framework, this consisting of a fresh new design featuring
497 frame IDs, independent frame sniffers, and the sentinel frame. Mark
498 Kettenis implemented the @sc{dwarf 2} unwinder, Jeff Johnston the
499 libunwind unwinder, and Andrew Cagney the dummy, sentinel, tramp, and
500 trad unwinders. The architecture-specific changes, each involving a
501 complete rewrite of the architecture's frame code, were carried out by
502 Jim Blandy, Joel Brobecker, Kevin Buettner, Andrew Cagney, Stephane
503 Carrez, Randolph Chung, Orjan Friberg, Richard Henderson, Daniel
504 Jacobowitz, Jeff Johnston, Mark Kettenis, Theodore A. Roth, Kei
505 Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Corinna Vinschen, and Ulrich
508 Christian Zankel, Ross Morley, Bob Wilson, and Maxim Grigoriev from
509 Tensilica, Inc.@: contributed support for Xtensa processors. Others
510 who have worked on the Xtensa port of @value{GDBN} in the past include
511 Steve Tjiang, John Newlin, and Scott Foehner.
514 @chapter A Sample @value{GDBN} Session
516 You can use this manual at your leisure to read all about @value{GDBN}.
517 However, a handful of commands are enough to get started using the
518 debugger. This chapter illustrates those commands.
521 In this sample session, we emphasize user input like this: @b{input},
522 to make it easier to pick out from the surrounding output.
525 @c FIXME: this example may not be appropriate for some configs, where
526 @c FIXME...primary interest is in remote use.
528 One of the preliminary versions of @sc{gnu} @code{m4} (a generic macro
529 processor) exhibits the following bug: sometimes, when we change its
530 quote strings from the default, the commands used to capture one macro
531 definition within another stop working. In the following short @code{m4}
532 session, we define a macro @code{foo} which expands to @code{0000}; we
533 then use the @code{m4} built-in @code{defn} to define @code{bar} as the
534 same thing. However, when we change the open quote string to
535 @code{<QUOTE>} and the close quote string to @code{<UNQUOTE>}, the same
536 procedure fails to define a new synonym @code{baz}:
545 @b{define(bar,defn(`foo'))}
549 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
551 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
554 m4: End of input: 0: fatal error: EOF in string
558 Let us use @value{GDBN} to try to see what is going on.
561 $ @b{@value{GDBP} m4}
562 @c FIXME: this falsifies the exact text played out, to permit smallbook
563 @c FIXME... format to come out better.
564 @value{GDBN} is free software and you are welcome to distribute copies
565 of it under certain conditions; type "show copying" to see
567 There is absolutely no warranty for @value{GDBN}; type "show warranty"
570 @value{GDBN} @value{GDBVN}, Copyright 1999 Free Software Foundation, Inc...
575 @value{GDBN} reads only enough symbol data to know where to find the
576 rest when needed; as a result, the first prompt comes up very quickly.
577 We now tell @value{GDBN} to use a narrower display width than usual, so
578 that examples fit in this manual.
581 (@value{GDBP}) @b{set width 70}
585 We need to see how the @code{m4} built-in @code{changequote} works.
586 Having looked at the source, we know the relevant subroutine is
587 @code{m4_changequote}, so we set a breakpoint there with the @value{GDBN}
588 @code{break} command.
591 (@value{GDBP}) @b{break m4_changequote}
592 Breakpoint 1 at 0x62f4: file builtin.c, line 879.
596 Using the @code{run} command, we start @code{m4} running under @value{GDBN}
597 control; as long as control does not reach the @code{m4_changequote}
598 subroutine, the program runs as usual:
601 (@value{GDBP}) @b{run}
602 Starting program: /work/Editorial/gdb/gnu/m4/m4
610 To trigger the breakpoint, we call @code{changequote}. @value{GDBN}
611 suspends execution of @code{m4}, displaying information about the
612 context where it stops.
615 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
617 Breakpoint 1, m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
619 879 if (bad_argc(TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[0]),argc,1,3))
623 Now we use the command @code{n} (@code{next}) to advance execution to
624 the next line of the current function.
628 882 set_quotes((argc >= 2) ? TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[1])\
633 @code{set_quotes} looks like a promising subroutine. We can go into it
634 by using the command @code{s} (@code{step}) instead of @code{next}.
635 @code{step} goes to the next line to be executed in @emph{any}
636 subroutine, so it steps into @code{set_quotes}.
640 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
642 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
646 The display that shows the subroutine where @code{m4} is now
647 suspended (and its arguments) is called a stack frame display. It
648 shows a summary of the stack. We can use the @code{backtrace}
649 command (which can also be spelled @code{bt}), to see where we are
650 in the stack as a whole: the @code{backtrace} command displays a
651 stack frame for each active subroutine.
654 (@value{GDBP}) @b{bt}
655 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
657 #1 0x6344 in m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
659 #2 0x8174 in expand_macro (sym=0x33320) at macro.c:242
660 #3 0x7a88 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=209696, td=0xf7fffa30)
662 #4 0x79dc in expand_input () at macro.c:40
663 #5 0x2930 in main (argc=0, argv=0xf7fffb20) at m4.c:195
667 We step through a few more lines to see what happens. The first two
668 times, we can use @samp{s}; the next two times we use @code{n} to avoid
669 falling into the @code{xstrdup} subroutine.
673 0x3b5c 532 if (rquote != def_rquote)
675 0x3b80 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? \
676 def_lquote : xstrdup(lq);
678 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
681 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
685 The last line displayed looks a little odd; we can examine the variables
686 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} to see if they are in fact the new left
687 and right quotes we specified. We use the command @code{p}
688 (@code{print}) to see their values.
691 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p lquote}
692 $1 = 0x35d40 "<QUOTE>"
693 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p rquote}
694 $2 = 0x35d50 "<UNQUOTE>"
698 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} are indeed the new left and right quotes.
699 To look at some context, we can display ten lines of source
700 surrounding the current line with the @code{l} (@code{list}) command.
706 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? def_lquote\
708 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
711 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
712 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
719 Let us step past the two lines that set @code{len_lquote} and
720 @code{len_rquote}, and then examine the values of those variables.
724 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
727 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote}
729 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote}
734 That certainly looks wrong, assuming @code{len_lquote} and
735 @code{len_rquote} are meant to be the lengths of @code{lquote} and
736 @code{rquote} respectively. We can set them to better values using
737 the @code{p} command, since it can print the value of
738 any expression---and that expression can include subroutine calls and
742 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote=strlen(lquote)}
744 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote=strlen(rquote)}
749 Is that enough to fix the problem of using the new quotes with the
750 @code{m4} built-in @code{defn}? We can allow @code{m4} to continue
751 executing with the @code{c} (@code{continue}) command, and then try the
752 example that caused trouble initially:
758 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
765 Success! The new quotes now work just as well as the default ones. The
766 problem seems to have been just the two typos defining the wrong
767 lengths. We allow @code{m4} exit by giving it an EOF as input:
771 Program exited normally.
775 The message @samp{Program exited normally.} is from @value{GDBN}; it
776 indicates @code{m4} has finished executing. We can end our @value{GDBN}
777 session with the @value{GDBN} @code{quit} command.
780 (@value{GDBP}) @b{quit}
784 @chapter Getting In and Out of @value{GDBN}
786 This chapter discusses how to start @value{GDBN}, and how to get out of it.
790 type @samp{@value{GDBP}} to start @value{GDBN}.
792 type @kbd{quit} or @kbd{Ctrl-d} to exit.
796 * Invoking GDB:: How to start @value{GDBN}
797 * Quitting GDB:: How to quit @value{GDBN}
798 * Shell Commands:: How to use shell commands inside @value{GDBN}
799 * Logging Output:: How to log @value{GDBN}'s output to a file
803 @section Invoking @value{GDBN}
805 Invoke @value{GDBN} by running the program @code{@value{GDBP}}. Once started,
806 @value{GDBN} reads commands from the terminal until you tell it to exit.
808 You can also run @code{@value{GDBP}} with a variety of arguments and options,
809 to specify more of your debugging environment at the outset.
811 The command-line options described here are designed
812 to cover a variety of situations; in some environments, some of these
813 options may effectively be unavailable.
815 The most usual way to start @value{GDBN} is with one argument,
816 specifying an executable program:
819 @value{GDBP} @var{program}
823 You can also start with both an executable program and a core file
827 @value{GDBP} @var{program} @var{core}
830 You can, instead, specify a process ID as a second argument, if you want
831 to debug a running process:
834 @value{GDBP} @var{program} 1234
838 would attach @value{GDBN} to process @code{1234} (unless you also have a file
839 named @file{1234}; @value{GDBN} does check for a core file first).
841 Taking advantage of the second command-line argument requires a fairly
842 complete operating system; when you use @value{GDBN} as a remote
843 debugger attached to a bare board, there may not be any notion of
844 ``process'', and there is often no way to get a core dump. @value{GDBN}
845 will warn you if it is unable to attach or to read core dumps.
847 You can optionally have @code{@value{GDBP}} pass any arguments after the
848 executable file to the inferior using @code{--args}. This option stops
851 @value{GDBP} --args gcc -O2 -c foo.c
853 This will cause @code{@value{GDBP}} to debug @code{gcc}, and to set
854 @code{gcc}'s command-line arguments (@pxref{Arguments}) to @samp{-O2 -c foo.c}.
856 You can run @code{@value{GDBP}} without printing the front material, which describes
857 @value{GDBN}'s non-warranty, by specifying @code{-silent}:
864 You can further control how @value{GDBN} starts up by using command-line
865 options. @value{GDBN} itself can remind you of the options available.
875 to display all available options and briefly describe their use
876 (@samp{@value{GDBP} -h} is a shorter equivalent).
878 All options and command line arguments you give are processed
879 in sequential order. The order makes a difference when the
880 @samp{-x} option is used.
884 * File Options:: Choosing files
885 * Mode Options:: Choosing modes
886 * Startup:: What @value{GDBN} does during startup
890 @subsection Choosing Files
892 When @value{GDBN} starts, it reads any arguments other than options as
893 specifying an executable file and core file (or process ID). This is
894 the same as if the arguments were specified by the @samp{-se} and
895 @samp{-c} (or @samp{-p}) options respectively. (@value{GDBN} reads the
896 first argument that does not have an associated option flag as
897 equivalent to the @samp{-se} option followed by that argument; and the
898 second argument that does not have an associated option flag, if any, as
899 equivalent to the @samp{-c}/@samp{-p} option followed by that argument.)
900 If the second argument begins with a decimal digit, @value{GDBN} will
901 first attempt to attach to it as a process, and if that fails, attempt
902 to open it as a corefile. If you have a corefile whose name begins with
903 a digit, you can prevent @value{GDBN} from treating it as a pid by
904 prefixing it with @file{./}, e.g.@: @file{./12345}.
906 If @value{GDBN} has not been configured to included core file support,
907 such as for most embedded targets, then it will complain about a second
908 argument and ignore it.
910 Many options have both long and short forms; both are shown in the
911 following list. @value{GDBN} also recognizes the long forms if you truncate
912 them, so long as enough of the option is present to be unambiguous.
913 (If you prefer, you can flag option arguments with @samp{--} rather
914 than @samp{-}, though we illustrate the more usual convention.)
916 @c NOTE: the @cindex entries here use double dashes ON PURPOSE. This
917 @c way, both those who look for -foo and --foo in the index, will find
921 @item -symbols @var{file}
923 @cindex @code{--symbols}
925 Read symbol table from file @var{file}.
927 @item -exec @var{file}
929 @cindex @code{--exec}
931 Use file @var{file} as the executable file to execute when appropriate,
932 and for examining pure data in conjunction with a core dump.
936 Read symbol table from file @var{file} and use it as the executable
939 @item -core @var{file}
941 @cindex @code{--core}
943 Use file @var{file} as a core dump to examine.
945 @item -pid @var{number}
946 @itemx -p @var{number}
949 Connect to process ID @var{number}, as with the @code{attach} command.
951 @item -command @var{file}
953 @cindex @code{--command}
955 Execute @value{GDBN} commands from file @var{file}. @xref{Command
956 Files,, Command files}.
958 @item -eval-command @var{command}
959 @itemx -ex @var{command}
960 @cindex @code{--eval-command}
962 Execute a single @value{GDBN} command.
964 This option may be used multiple times to call multiple commands. It may
965 also be interleaved with @samp{-command} as required.
968 @value{GDBP} -ex 'target sim' -ex 'load' \
969 -x setbreakpoints -ex 'run' a.out
972 @item -directory @var{directory}
973 @itemx -d @var{directory}
974 @cindex @code{--directory}
976 Add @var{directory} to the path to search for source and script files.
980 @cindex @code{--readnow}
982 Read each symbol file's entire symbol table immediately, rather than
983 the default, which is to read it incrementally as it is needed.
984 This makes startup slower, but makes future operations faster.
989 @subsection Choosing Modes
991 You can run @value{GDBN} in various alternative modes---for example, in
992 batch mode or quiet mode.
999 Do not execute commands found in any initialization files. Normally,
1000 @value{GDBN} executes the commands in these files after all the command
1001 options and arguments have been processed. @xref{Command Files,,Command
1007 @cindex @code{--quiet}
1008 @cindex @code{--silent}
1010 ``Quiet''. Do not print the introductory and copyright messages. These
1011 messages are also suppressed in batch mode.
1014 @cindex @code{--batch}
1015 Run in batch mode. Exit with status @code{0} after processing all the
1016 command files specified with @samp{-x} (and all commands from
1017 initialization files, if not inhibited with @samp{-n}). Exit with
1018 nonzero status if an error occurs in executing the @value{GDBN} commands
1019 in the command files.
1021 Batch mode may be useful for running @value{GDBN} as a filter, for
1022 example to download and run a program on another computer; in order to
1023 make this more useful, the message
1026 Program exited normally.
1030 (which is ordinarily issued whenever a program running under
1031 @value{GDBN} control terminates) is not issued when running in batch
1035 @cindex @code{--batch-silent}
1036 Run in batch mode exactly like @samp{-batch}, but totally silently. All
1037 @value{GDBN} output to @code{stdout} is prevented (@code{stderr} is
1038 unaffected). This is much quieter than @samp{-silent} and would be useless
1039 for an interactive session.
1041 This is particularly useful when using targets that give @samp{Loading section}
1042 messages, for example.
1044 Note that targets that give their output via @value{GDBN}, as opposed to
1045 writing directly to @code{stdout}, will also be made silent.
1047 @item -return-child-result
1048 @cindex @code{--return-child-result}
1049 The return code from @value{GDBN} will be the return code from the child
1050 process (the process being debugged), with the following exceptions:
1054 @value{GDBN} exits abnormally. E.g., due to an incorrect argument or an
1055 internal error. In this case the exit code is the same as it would have been
1056 without @samp{-return-child-result}.
1058 The user quits with an explicit value. E.g., @samp{quit 1}.
1060 The child process never runs, or is not allowed to terminate, in which case
1061 the exit code will be -1.
1064 This option is useful in conjunction with @samp{-batch} or @samp{-batch-silent},
1065 when @value{GDBN} is being used as a remote program loader or simulator
1070 @cindex @code{--nowindows}
1072 ``No windows''. If @value{GDBN} comes with a graphical user interface
1073 (GUI) built in, then this option tells @value{GDBN} to only use the command-line
1074 interface. If no GUI is available, this option has no effect.
1078 @cindex @code{--windows}
1080 If @value{GDBN} includes a GUI, then this option requires it to be
1083 @item -cd @var{directory}
1085 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its working directory,
1086 instead of the current directory.
1090 @cindex @code{--fullname}
1092 @sc{gnu} Emacs sets this option when it runs @value{GDBN} as a
1093 subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to output the full file name and line
1094 number in a standard, recognizable fashion each time a stack frame is
1095 displayed (which includes each time your program stops). This
1096 recognizable format looks like two @samp{\032} characters, followed by
1097 the file name, line number and character position separated by colons,
1098 and a newline. The Emacs-to-@value{GDBN} interface program uses the two
1099 @samp{\032} characters as a signal to display the source code for the
1103 @cindex @code{--epoch}
1104 The Epoch Emacs-@value{GDBN} interface sets this option when it runs
1105 @value{GDBN} as a subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to modify its print
1106 routines so as to allow Epoch to display values of expressions in a
1109 @item -annotate @var{level}
1110 @cindex @code{--annotate}
1111 This option sets the @dfn{annotation level} inside @value{GDBN}. Its
1112 effect is identical to using @samp{set annotate @var{level}}
1113 (@pxref{Annotations}). The annotation @var{level} controls how much
1114 information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt, values of
1115 expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0 is the
1116 normal, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a subprocess of
1117 @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable for programs
1118 that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 has been deprecated.
1120 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
1124 @cindex @code{--args}
1125 Change interpretation of command line so that arguments following the
1126 executable file are passed as command line arguments to the inferior.
1127 This option stops option processing.
1129 @item -baud @var{bps}
1131 @cindex @code{--baud}
1133 Set the line speed (baud rate or bits per second) of any serial
1134 interface used by @value{GDBN} for remote debugging.
1136 @item -l @var{timeout}
1138 Set the timeout (in seconds) of any communication used by @value{GDBN}
1139 for remote debugging.
1141 @item -tty @var{device}
1142 @itemx -t @var{device}
1143 @cindex @code{--tty}
1145 Run using @var{device} for your program's standard input and output.
1146 @c FIXME: kingdon thinks there is more to -tty. Investigate.
1148 @c resolve the situation of these eventually
1150 @cindex @code{--tui}
1151 Activate the @dfn{Text User Interface} when starting. The Text User
1152 Interface manages several text windows on the terminal, showing
1153 source, assembly, registers and @value{GDBN} command outputs
1154 (@pxref{TUI, ,@value{GDBN} Text User Interface}). Alternatively, the
1155 Text User Interface can be enabled by invoking the program
1156 @samp{@value{GDBTUI}}. Do not use this option if you run @value{GDBN} from
1157 Emacs (@pxref{Emacs, ,Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}).
1160 @c @cindex @code{--xdb}
1161 @c Run in XDB compatibility mode, allowing the use of certain XDB commands.
1162 @c For information, see the file @file{xdb_trans.html}, which is usually
1163 @c installed in the directory @code{/opt/langtools/wdb/doc} on HP-UX
1166 @item -interpreter @var{interp}
1167 @cindex @code{--interpreter}
1168 Use the interpreter @var{interp} for interface with the controlling
1169 program or device. This option is meant to be set by programs which
1170 communicate with @value{GDBN} using it as a back end.
1171 @xref{Interpreters, , Command Interpreters}.
1173 @samp{--interpreter=mi} (or @samp{--interpreter=mi2}) causes
1174 @value{GDBN} to use the @dfn{@sc{gdb/mi} interface} (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,
1175 The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}) included since @value{GDBN} version 6.0. The
1176 previous @sc{gdb/mi} interface, included in @value{GDBN} version 5.3 and
1177 selected with @samp{--interpreter=mi1}, is deprecated. Earlier
1178 @sc{gdb/mi} interfaces are no longer supported.
1181 @cindex @code{--write}
1182 Open the executable and core files for both reading and writing. This
1183 is equivalent to the @samp{set write on} command inside @value{GDBN}
1187 @cindex @code{--statistics}
1188 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print statistics about time and
1189 memory usage after it completes each command and returns to the prompt.
1192 @cindex @code{--version}
1193 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print its version number and
1194 no-warranty blurb, and exit.
1199 @subsection What @value{GDBN} Does During Startup
1200 @cindex @value{GDBN} startup
1202 Here's the description of what @value{GDBN} does during session startup:
1206 Sets up the command interpreter as specified by the command line
1207 (@pxref{Mode Options, interpreter}).
1211 Reads the @dfn{init file} (if any) in your home directory@footnote{On
1212 DOS/Windows systems, the home directory is the one pointed to by the
1213 @code{HOME} environment variable.} and executes all the commands in
1217 Processes command line options and operands.
1220 Reads and executes the commands from init file (if any) in the current
1221 working directory. This is only done if the current directory is
1222 different from your home directory. Thus, you can have more than one
1223 init file, one generic in your home directory, and another, specific
1224 to the program you are debugging, in the directory where you invoke
1228 Reads command files specified by the @samp{-x} option. @xref{Command
1229 Files}, for more details about @value{GDBN} command files.
1232 Reads the command history recorded in the @dfn{history file}.
1233 @xref{Command History}, for more details about the command history and the
1234 files where @value{GDBN} records it.
1237 Init files use the same syntax as @dfn{command files} (@pxref{Command
1238 Files}) and are processed by @value{GDBN} in the same way. The init
1239 file in your home directory can set options (such as @samp{set
1240 complaints}) that affect subsequent processing of command line options
1241 and operands. Init files are not executed if you use the @samp{-nx}
1242 option (@pxref{Mode Options, ,Choosing Modes}).
1244 @cindex init file name
1245 @cindex @file{.gdbinit}
1246 @cindex @file{gdb.ini}
1247 The @value{GDBN} init files are normally called @file{.gdbinit}.
1248 The DJGPP port of @value{GDBN} uses the name @file{gdb.ini}, due to
1249 the limitations of file names imposed by DOS filesystems. The Windows
1250 ports of @value{GDBN} use the standard name, but if they find a
1251 @file{gdb.ini} file, they warn you about that and suggest to rename
1252 the file to the standard name.
1256 @section Quitting @value{GDBN}
1257 @cindex exiting @value{GDBN}
1258 @cindex leaving @value{GDBN}
1261 @kindex quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1262 @kindex q @r{(@code{quit})}
1263 @item quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1265 To exit @value{GDBN}, use the @code{quit} command (abbreviated
1266 @code{q}), or type an end-of-file character (usually @kbd{Ctrl-d}). If you
1267 do not supply @var{expression}, @value{GDBN} will terminate normally;
1268 otherwise it will terminate using the result of @var{expression} as the
1273 An interrupt (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}) does not exit from @value{GDBN}, but rather
1274 terminates the action of any @value{GDBN} command that is in progress and
1275 returns to @value{GDBN} command level. It is safe to type the interrupt
1276 character at any time because @value{GDBN} does not allow it to take effect
1277 until a time when it is safe.
1279 If you have been using @value{GDBN} to control an attached process or
1280 device, you can release it with the @code{detach} command
1281 (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
1283 @node Shell Commands
1284 @section Shell Commands
1286 If you need to execute occasional shell commands during your
1287 debugging session, there is no need to leave or suspend @value{GDBN}; you can
1288 just use the @code{shell} command.
1292 @cindex shell escape
1293 @item shell @var{command string}
1294 Invoke a standard shell to execute @var{command string}.
1295 If it exists, the environment variable @code{SHELL} determines which
1296 shell to run. Otherwise @value{GDBN} uses the default shell
1297 (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix systems, @file{COMMAND.COM} on MS-DOS, etc.).
1300 The utility @code{make} is often needed in development environments.
1301 You do not have to use the @code{shell} command for this purpose in
1306 @cindex calling make
1307 @item make @var{make-args}
1308 Execute the @code{make} program with the specified
1309 arguments. This is equivalent to @samp{shell make @var{make-args}}.
1312 @node Logging Output
1313 @section Logging Output
1314 @cindex logging @value{GDBN} output
1315 @cindex save @value{GDBN} output to a file
1317 You may want to save the output of @value{GDBN} commands to a file.
1318 There are several commands to control @value{GDBN}'s logging.
1322 @item set logging on
1324 @item set logging off
1326 @cindex logging file name
1327 @item set logging file @var{file}
1328 Change the name of the current logfile. The default logfile is @file{gdb.txt}.
1329 @item set logging overwrite [on|off]
1330 By default, @value{GDBN} will append to the logfile. Set @code{overwrite} if
1331 you want @code{set logging on} to overwrite the logfile instead.
1332 @item set logging redirect [on|off]
1333 By default, @value{GDBN} output will go to both the terminal and the logfile.
1334 Set @code{redirect} if you want output to go only to the log file.
1335 @kindex show logging
1337 Show the current values of the logging settings.
1341 @chapter @value{GDBN} Commands
1343 You can abbreviate a @value{GDBN} command to the first few letters of the command
1344 name, if that abbreviation is unambiguous; and you can repeat certain
1345 @value{GDBN} commands by typing just @key{RET}. You can also use the @key{TAB}
1346 key to get @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest of a word in a command (or to
1347 show you the alternatives available, if there is more than one possibility).
1350 * Command Syntax:: How to give commands to @value{GDBN}
1351 * Completion:: Command completion
1352 * Help:: How to ask @value{GDBN} for help
1355 @node Command Syntax
1356 @section Command Syntax
1358 A @value{GDBN} command is a single line of input. There is no limit on
1359 how long it can be. It starts with a command name, which is followed by
1360 arguments whose meaning depends on the command name. For example, the
1361 command @code{step} accepts an argument which is the number of times to
1362 step, as in @samp{step 5}. You can also use the @code{step} command
1363 with no arguments. Some commands do not allow any arguments.
1365 @cindex abbreviation
1366 @value{GDBN} command names may always be truncated if that abbreviation is
1367 unambiguous. Other possible command abbreviations are listed in the
1368 documentation for individual commands. In some cases, even ambiguous
1369 abbreviations are allowed; for example, @code{s} is specially defined as
1370 equivalent to @code{step} even though there are other commands whose
1371 names start with @code{s}. You can test abbreviations by using them as
1372 arguments to the @code{help} command.
1374 @cindex repeating commands
1375 @kindex RET @r{(repeat last command)}
1376 A blank line as input to @value{GDBN} (typing just @key{RET}) means to
1377 repeat the previous command. Certain commands (for example, @code{run})
1378 will not repeat this way; these are commands whose unintentional
1379 repetition might cause trouble and which you are unlikely to want to
1380 repeat. User-defined commands can disable this feature; see
1381 @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
1383 The @code{list} and @code{x} commands, when you repeat them with
1384 @key{RET}, construct new arguments rather than repeating
1385 exactly as typed. This permits easy scanning of source or memory.
1387 @value{GDBN} can also use @key{RET} in another way: to partition lengthy
1388 output, in a way similar to the common utility @code{more}
1389 (@pxref{Screen Size,,Screen Size}). Since it is easy to press one
1390 @key{RET} too many in this situation, @value{GDBN} disables command
1391 repetition after any command that generates this sort of display.
1393 @kindex # @r{(a comment)}
1395 Any text from a @kbd{#} to the end of the line is a comment; it does
1396 nothing. This is useful mainly in command files (@pxref{Command
1397 Files,,Command Files}).
1399 @cindex repeating command sequences
1400 @kindex Ctrl-o @r{(operate-and-get-next)}
1401 The @kbd{Ctrl-o} binding is useful for repeating a complex sequence of
1402 commands. This command accepts the current line, like @key{RET}, and
1403 then fetches the next line relative to the current line from the history
1407 @section Command Completion
1410 @cindex word completion
1411 @value{GDBN} can fill in the rest of a word in a command for you, if there is
1412 only one possibility; it can also show you what the valid possibilities
1413 are for the next word in a command, at any time. This works for @value{GDBN}
1414 commands, @value{GDBN} subcommands, and the names of symbols in your program.
1416 Press the @key{TAB} key whenever you want @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest
1417 of a word. If there is only one possibility, @value{GDBN} fills in the
1418 word, and waits for you to finish the command (or press @key{RET} to
1419 enter it). For example, if you type
1421 @c FIXME "@key" does not distinguish its argument sufficiently to permit
1422 @c complete accuracy in these examples; space introduced for clarity.
1423 @c If texinfo enhancements make it unnecessary, it would be nice to
1424 @c replace " @key" by "@key" in the following...
1426 (@value{GDBP}) info bre @key{TAB}
1430 @value{GDBN} fills in the rest of the word @samp{breakpoints}, since that is
1431 the only @code{info} subcommand beginning with @samp{bre}:
1434 (@value{GDBP}) info breakpoints
1438 You can either press @key{RET} at this point, to run the @code{info
1439 breakpoints} command, or backspace and enter something else, if
1440 @samp{breakpoints} does not look like the command you expected. (If you
1441 were sure you wanted @code{info breakpoints} in the first place, you
1442 might as well just type @key{RET} immediately after @samp{info bre},
1443 to exploit command abbreviations rather than command completion).
1445 If there is more than one possibility for the next word when you press
1446 @key{TAB}, @value{GDBN} sounds a bell. You can either supply more
1447 characters and try again, or just press @key{TAB} a second time;
1448 @value{GDBN} displays all the possible completions for that word. For
1449 example, you might want to set a breakpoint on a subroutine whose name
1450 begins with @samp{make_}, but when you type @kbd{b make_@key{TAB}} @value{GDBN}
1451 just sounds the bell. Typing @key{TAB} again displays all the
1452 function names in your program that begin with those characters, for
1456 (@value{GDBP}) b make_ @key{TAB}
1457 @exdent @value{GDBN} sounds bell; press @key{TAB} again, to see:
1458 make_a_section_from_file make_environ
1459 make_abs_section make_function_type
1460 make_blockvector make_pointer_type
1461 make_cleanup make_reference_type
1462 make_command make_symbol_completion_list
1463 (@value{GDBP}) b make_
1467 After displaying the available possibilities, @value{GDBN} copies your
1468 partial input (@samp{b make_} in the example) so you can finish the
1471 If you just want to see the list of alternatives in the first place, you
1472 can press @kbd{M-?} rather than pressing @key{TAB} twice. @kbd{M-?}
1473 means @kbd{@key{META} ?}. You can type this either by holding down a
1474 key designated as the @key{META} shift on your keyboard (if there is
1475 one) while typing @kbd{?}, or as @key{ESC} followed by @kbd{?}.
1477 @cindex quotes in commands
1478 @cindex completion of quoted strings
1479 Sometimes the string you need, while logically a ``word'', may contain
1480 parentheses or other characters that @value{GDBN} normally excludes from
1481 its notion of a word. To permit word completion to work in this
1482 situation, you may enclose words in @code{'} (single quote marks) in
1483 @value{GDBN} commands.
1485 The most likely situation where you might need this is in typing the
1486 name of a C@t{++} function. This is because C@t{++} allows function
1487 overloading (multiple definitions of the same function, distinguished
1488 by argument type). For example, when you want to set a breakpoint you
1489 may need to distinguish whether you mean the version of @code{name}
1490 that takes an @code{int} parameter, @code{name(int)}, or the version
1491 that takes a @code{float} parameter, @code{name(float)}. To use the
1492 word-completion facilities in this situation, type a single quote
1493 @code{'} at the beginning of the function name. This alerts
1494 @value{GDBN} that it may need to consider more information than usual
1495 when you press @key{TAB} or @kbd{M-?} to request word completion:
1498 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble( @kbd{M-?}
1499 bubble(double,double) bubble(int,int)
1500 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1503 In some cases, @value{GDBN} can tell that completing a name requires using
1504 quotes. When this happens, @value{GDBN} inserts the quote for you (while
1505 completing as much as it can) if you do not type the quote in the first
1509 (@value{GDBP}) b bub @key{TAB}
1510 @exdent @value{GDBN} alters your input line to the following, and rings a bell:
1511 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1515 In general, @value{GDBN} can tell that a quote is needed (and inserts it) if
1516 you have not yet started typing the argument list when you ask for
1517 completion on an overloaded symbol.
1519 For more information about overloaded functions, see @ref{C Plus Plus
1520 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}. You can use the command @code{set
1521 overload-resolution off} to disable overload resolution;
1522 see @ref{Debugging C Plus Plus, ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
1526 @section Getting Help
1527 @cindex online documentation
1530 You can always ask @value{GDBN} itself for information on its commands,
1531 using the command @code{help}.
1534 @kindex h @r{(@code{help})}
1537 You can use @code{help} (abbreviated @code{h}) with no arguments to
1538 display a short list of named classes of commands:
1542 List of classes of commands:
1544 aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1545 breakpoints -- Making program stop at certain points
1546 data -- Examining data
1547 files -- Specifying and examining files
1548 internals -- Maintenance commands
1549 obscure -- Obscure features
1550 running -- Running the program
1551 stack -- Examining the stack
1552 status -- Status inquiries
1553 support -- Support facilities
1554 tracepoints -- Tracing of program execution without
1555 stopping the program
1556 user-defined -- User-defined commands
1558 Type "help" followed by a class name for a list of
1559 commands in that class.
1560 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1562 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1565 @c the above line break eliminates huge line overfull...
1567 @item help @var{class}
1568 Using one of the general help classes as an argument, you can get a
1569 list of the individual commands in that class. For example, here is the
1570 help display for the class @code{status}:
1573 (@value{GDBP}) help status
1578 @c Line break in "show" line falsifies real output, but needed
1579 @c to fit in smallbook page size.
1580 info -- Generic command for showing things
1581 about the program being debugged
1582 show -- Generic command for showing things
1585 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1587 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1591 @item help @var{command}
1592 With a command name as @code{help} argument, @value{GDBN} displays a
1593 short paragraph on how to use that command.
1596 @item apropos @var{args}
1597 The @code{apropos} command searches through all of the @value{GDBN}
1598 commands, and their documentation, for the regular expression specified in
1599 @var{args}. It prints out all matches found. For example:
1610 set symbol-reloading -- Set dynamic symbol table reloading
1611 multiple times in one run
1612 show symbol-reloading -- Show dynamic symbol table reloading
1613 multiple times in one run
1618 @item complete @var{args}
1619 The @code{complete @var{args}} command lists all the possible completions
1620 for the beginning of a command. Use @var{args} to specify the beginning of the
1621 command you want completed. For example:
1627 @noindent results in:
1638 @noindent This is intended for use by @sc{gnu} Emacs.
1641 In addition to @code{help}, you can use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{info}
1642 and @code{show} to inquire about the state of your program, or the state
1643 of @value{GDBN} itself. Each command supports many topics of inquiry; this
1644 manual introduces each of them in the appropriate context. The listings
1645 under @code{info} and under @code{show} in the Index point to
1646 all the sub-commands. @xref{Index}.
1651 @kindex i @r{(@code{info})}
1653 This command (abbreviated @code{i}) is for describing the state of your
1654 program. For example, you can show the arguments passed to a function
1655 with @code{info args}, list the registers currently in use with @code{info
1656 registers}, or list the breakpoints you have set with @code{info breakpoints}.
1657 You can get a complete list of the @code{info} sub-commands with
1658 @w{@code{help info}}.
1662 You can assign the result of an expression to an environment variable with
1663 @code{set}. For example, you can set the @value{GDBN} prompt to a $-sign with
1664 @code{set prompt $}.
1668 In contrast to @code{info}, @code{show} is for describing the state of
1669 @value{GDBN} itself.
1670 You can change most of the things you can @code{show}, by using the
1671 related command @code{set}; for example, you can control what number
1672 system is used for displays with @code{set radix}, or simply inquire
1673 which is currently in use with @code{show radix}.
1676 To display all the settable parameters and their current
1677 values, you can use @code{show} with no arguments; you may also use
1678 @code{info set}. Both commands produce the same display.
1679 @c FIXME: "info set" violates the rule that "info" is for state of
1680 @c FIXME...program. Ck w/ GNU: "info set" to be called something else,
1681 @c FIXME...or change desc of rule---eg "state of prog and debugging session"?
1685 Here are three miscellaneous @code{show} subcommands, all of which are
1686 exceptional in lacking corresponding @code{set} commands:
1689 @kindex show version
1690 @cindex @value{GDBN} version number
1692 Show what version of @value{GDBN} is running. You should include this
1693 information in @value{GDBN} bug-reports. If multiple versions of
1694 @value{GDBN} are in use at your site, you may need to determine which
1695 version of @value{GDBN} you are running; as @value{GDBN} evolves, new
1696 commands are introduced, and old ones may wither away. Also, many
1697 system vendors ship variant versions of @value{GDBN}, and there are
1698 variant versions of @value{GDBN} in @sc{gnu}/Linux distributions as well.
1699 The version number is the same as the one announced when you start
1702 @kindex show copying
1703 @kindex info copying
1704 @cindex display @value{GDBN} copyright
1707 Display information about permission for copying @value{GDBN}.
1709 @kindex show warranty
1710 @kindex info warranty
1712 @itemx info warranty
1713 Display the @sc{gnu} ``NO WARRANTY'' statement, or a warranty,
1714 if your version of @value{GDBN} comes with one.
1719 @chapter Running Programs Under @value{GDBN}
1721 When you run a program under @value{GDBN}, you must first generate
1722 debugging information when you compile it.
1724 You may start @value{GDBN} with its arguments, if any, in an environment
1725 of your choice. If you are doing native debugging, you may redirect
1726 your program's input and output, debug an already running process, or
1727 kill a child process.
1730 * Compilation:: Compiling for debugging
1731 * Starting:: Starting your program
1732 * Arguments:: Your program's arguments
1733 * Environment:: Your program's environment
1735 * Working Directory:: Your program's working directory
1736 * Input/Output:: Your program's input and output
1737 * Attach:: Debugging an already-running process
1738 * Kill Process:: Killing the child process
1740 * Threads:: Debugging programs with multiple threads
1741 * Processes:: Debugging programs with multiple processes
1742 * Checkpoint/Restart:: Setting a @emph{bookmark} to return to later
1746 @section Compiling for Debugging
1748 In order to debug a program effectively, you need to generate
1749 debugging information when you compile it. This debugging information
1750 is stored in the object file; it describes the data type of each
1751 variable or function and the correspondence between source line numbers
1752 and addresses in the executable code.
1754 To request debugging information, specify the @samp{-g} option when you run
1757 Programs that are to be shipped to your customers are compiled with
1758 optimizations, using the @samp{-O} compiler option. However, many
1759 compilers are unable to handle the @samp{-g} and @samp{-O} options
1760 together. Using those compilers, you cannot generate optimized
1761 executables containing debugging information.
1763 @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C/C@t{++} compiler, supports @samp{-g} with or
1764 without @samp{-O}, making it possible to debug optimized code. We
1765 recommend that you @emph{always} use @samp{-g} whenever you compile a
1766 program. You may think your program is correct, but there is no sense
1767 in pushing your luck.
1769 @cindex optimized code, debugging
1770 @cindex debugging optimized code
1771 When you debug a program compiled with @samp{-g -O}, remember that the
1772 optimizer is rearranging your code; the debugger shows you what is
1773 really there. Do not be too surprised when the execution path does not
1774 exactly match your source file! An extreme example: if you define a
1775 variable, but never use it, @value{GDBN} never sees that
1776 variable---because the compiler optimizes it out of existence.
1778 Some things do not work as well with @samp{-g -O} as with just
1779 @samp{-g}, particularly on machines with instruction scheduling. If in
1780 doubt, recompile with @samp{-g} alone, and if this fixes the problem,
1781 please report it to us as a bug (including a test case!).
1782 @xref{Variables}, for more information about debugging optimized code.
1784 Older versions of the @sc{gnu} C compiler permitted a variant option
1785 @w{@samp{-gg}} for debugging information. @value{GDBN} no longer supports this
1786 format; if your @sc{gnu} C compiler has this option, do not use it.
1788 @value{GDBN} knows about preprocessor macros and can show you their
1789 expansion (@pxref{Macros}). Most compilers do not include information
1790 about preprocessor macros in the debugging information if you specify
1791 the @option{-g} flag alone, because this information is rather large.
1792 Version 3.1 and later of @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C compiler,
1793 provides macro information if you specify the options
1794 @option{-gdwarf-2} and @option{-g3}; the former option requests
1795 debugging information in the Dwarf 2 format, and the latter requests
1796 ``extra information''. In the future, we hope to find more compact
1797 ways to represent macro information, so that it can be included with
1802 @section Starting your Program
1808 @kindex r @r{(@code{run})}
1811 Use the @code{run} command to start your program under @value{GDBN}.
1812 You must first specify the program name (except on VxWorks) with an
1813 argument to @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Invocation, ,Getting In and Out of
1814 @value{GDBN}}), or by using the @code{file} or @code{exec-file} command
1815 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
1819 If you are running your program in an execution environment that
1820 supports processes, @code{run} creates an inferior process and makes
1821 that process run your program. In some environments without processes,
1822 @code{run} jumps to the start of your program. Other targets,
1823 like @samp{remote}, are always running. If you get an error
1824 message like this one:
1827 The "remote" target does not support "run".
1828 Try "help target" or "continue".
1832 then use @code{continue} to run your program. You may need @code{load}
1833 first (@pxref{load}).
1835 The execution of a program is affected by certain information it
1836 receives from its superior. @value{GDBN} provides ways to specify this
1837 information, which you must do @emph{before} starting your program. (You
1838 can change it after starting your program, but such changes only affect
1839 your program the next time you start it.) This information may be
1840 divided into four categories:
1843 @item The @emph{arguments.}
1844 Specify the arguments to give your program as the arguments of the
1845 @code{run} command. If a shell is available on your target, the shell
1846 is used to pass the arguments, so that you may use normal conventions
1847 (such as wildcard expansion or variable substitution) in describing
1849 In Unix systems, you can control which shell is used with the
1850 @code{SHELL} environment variable.
1851 @xref{Arguments, ,Your Program's Arguments}.
1853 @item The @emph{environment.}
1854 Your program normally inherits its environment from @value{GDBN}, but you can
1855 use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{set environment} and @code{unset
1856 environment} to change parts of the environment that affect
1857 your program. @xref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}.
1859 @item The @emph{working directory.}
1860 Your program inherits its working directory from @value{GDBN}. You can set
1861 the @value{GDBN} working directory with the @code{cd} command in @value{GDBN}.
1862 @xref{Working Directory, ,Your Program's Working Directory}.
1864 @item The @emph{standard input and output.}
1865 Your program normally uses the same device for standard input and
1866 standard output as @value{GDBN} is using. You can redirect input and output
1867 in the @code{run} command line, or you can use the @code{tty} command to
1868 set a different device for your program.
1869 @xref{Input/Output, ,Your Program's Input and Output}.
1872 @emph{Warning:} While input and output redirection work, you cannot use
1873 pipes to pass the output of the program you are debugging to another
1874 program; if you attempt this, @value{GDBN} is likely to wind up debugging the
1878 When you issue the @code{run} command, your program begins to execute
1879 immediately. @xref{Stopping, ,Stopping and Continuing}, for discussion
1880 of how to arrange for your program to stop. Once your program has
1881 stopped, you may call functions in your program, using the @code{print}
1882 or @code{call} commands. @xref{Data, ,Examining Data}.
1884 If the modification time of your symbol file has changed since the last
1885 time @value{GDBN} read its symbols, @value{GDBN} discards its symbol
1886 table, and reads it again. When it does this, @value{GDBN} tries to retain
1887 your current breakpoints.
1892 @cindex run to main procedure
1893 The name of the main procedure can vary from language to language.
1894 With C or C@t{++}, the main procedure name is always @code{main}, but
1895 other languages such as Ada do not require a specific name for their
1896 main procedure. The debugger provides a convenient way to start the
1897 execution of the program and to stop at the beginning of the main
1898 procedure, depending on the language used.
1900 The @samp{start} command does the equivalent of setting a temporary
1901 breakpoint at the beginning of the main procedure and then invoking
1902 the @samp{run} command.
1904 @cindex elaboration phase
1905 Some programs contain an @dfn{elaboration} phase where some startup code is
1906 executed before the main procedure is called. This depends on the
1907 languages used to write your program. In C@t{++}, for instance,
1908 constructors for static and global objects are executed before
1909 @code{main} is called. It is therefore possible that the debugger stops
1910 before reaching the main procedure. However, the temporary breakpoint
1911 will remain to halt execution.
1913 Specify the arguments to give to your program as arguments to the
1914 @samp{start} command. These arguments will be given verbatim to the
1915 underlying @samp{run} command. Note that the same arguments will be
1916 reused if no argument is provided during subsequent calls to
1917 @samp{start} or @samp{run}.
1919 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration. In
1920 these cases, using the @code{start} command would stop the execution of
1921 your program too late, as the program would have already completed the
1922 elaboration phase. Under these circumstances, insert breakpoints in your
1923 elaboration code before running your program.
1925 @kindex set exec-wrapper
1926 @item set exec-wrapper @var{wrapper}
1927 @itemx show exec-wrapper
1928 @itemx unset exec-wrapper
1929 When @samp{exec-wrapper} is set, the specified wrapper is used to
1930 launch programs for debugging. @value{GDBN} starts your program
1931 with a shell command of the form @kbd{exec @var{wrapper}
1932 @var{program}}. Quoting is added to @var{program} and its
1933 arguments, but not to @var{wrapper}, so you should add quotes if
1934 appropriate for your shell. The wrapper runs until it executes
1935 your program, and then @value{GDBN} takes control.
1937 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
1938 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
1939 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
1940 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
1942 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
1943 the debugged program, without setting the variable in your shell's
1947 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper env 'LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so'
1951 This command is available when debugging locally on most targets, excluding
1952 @sc{djgpp}, Cygwin, MS Windows, and QNX Neutrino.
1957 @section Your Program's Arguments
1959 @cindex arguments (to your program)
1960 The arguments to your program can be specified by the arguments of the
1962 They are passed to a shell, which expands wildcard characters and
1963 performs redirection of I/O, and thence to your program. Your
1964 @code{SHELL} environment variable (if it exists) specifies what shell
1965 @value{GDBN} uses. If you do not define @code{SHELL}, @value{GDBN} uses
1966 the default shell (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix).
1968 On non-Unix systems, the program is usually invoked directly by
1969 @value{GDBN}, which emulates I/O redirection via the appropriate system
1970 calls, and the wildcard characters are expanded by the startup code of
1971 the program, not by the shell.
1973 @code{run} with no arguments uses the same arguments used by the previous
1974 @code{run}, or those set by the @code{set args} command.
1979 Specify the arguments to be used the next time your program is run. If
1980 @code{set args} has no arguments, @code{run} executes your program
1981 with no arguments. Once you have run your program with arguments,
1982 using @code{set args} before the next @code{run} is the only way to run
1983 it again without arguments.
1987 Show the arguments to give your program when it is started.
1991 @section Your Program's Environment
1993 @cindex environment (of your program)
1994 The @dfn{environment} consists of a set of environment variables and
1995 their values. Environment variables conventionally record such things as
1996 your user name, your home directory, your terminal type, and your search
1997 path for programs to run. Usually you set up environment variables with
1998 the shell and they are inherited by all the other programs you run. When
1999 debugging, it can be useful to try running your program with a modified
2000 environment without having to start @value{GDBN} over again.
2004 @item path @var{directory}
2005 Add @var{directory} to the front of the @code{PATH} environment variable
2006 (the search path for executables) that will be passed to your program.
2007 The value of @code{PATH} used by @value{GDBN} does not change.
2008 You may specify several directory names, separated by whitespace or by a
2009 system-dependent separator character (@samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on
2010 MS-DOS and MS-Windows). If @var{directory} is already in the path, it
2011 is moved to the front, so it is searched sooner.
2013 You can use the string @samp{$cwd} to refer to whatever is the current
2014 working directory at the time @value{GDBN} searches the path. If you
2015 use @samp{.} instead, it refers to the directory where you executed the
2016 @code{path} command. @value{GDBN} replaces @samp{.} in the
2017 @var{directory} argument (with the current path) before adding
2018 @var{directory} to the search path.
2019 @c 'path' is explicitly nonrepeatable, but RMS points out it is silly to
2020 @c document that, since repeating it would be a no-op.
2024 Display the list of search paths for executables (the @code{PATH}
2025 environment variable).
2027 @kindex show environment
2028 @item show environment @r{[}@var{varname}@r{]}
2029 Print the value of environment variable @var{varname} to be given to
2030 your program when it starts. If you do not supply @var{varname},
2031 print the names and values of all environment variables to be given to
2032 your program. You can abbreviate @code{environment} as @code{env}.
2034 @kindex set environment
2035 @item set environment @var{varname} @r{[}=@var{value}@r{]}
2036 Set environment variable @var{varname} to @var{value}. The value
2037 changes for your program only, not for @value{GDBN} itself. @var{value} may
2038 be any string; the values of environment variables are just strings, and
2039 any interpretation is supplied by your program itself. The @var{value}
2040 parameter is optional; if it is eliminated, the variable is set to a
2042 @c "any string" here does not include leading, trailing
2043 @c blanks. Gnu asks: does anyone care?
2045 For example, this command:
2052 tells the debugged program, when subsequently run, that its user is named
2053 @samp{foo}. (The spaces around @samp{=} are used for clarity here; they
2054 are not actually required.)
2056 @kindex unset environment
2057 @item unset environment @var{varname}
2058 Remove variable @var{varname} from the environment to be passed to your
2059 program. This is different from @samp{set env @var{varname} =};
2060 @code{unset environment} removes the variable from the environment,
2061 rather than assigning it an empty value.
2064 @emph{Warning:} On Unix systems, @value{GDBN} runs your program using
2066 by your @code{SHELL} environment variable if it exists (or
2067 @code{/bin/sh} if not). If your @code{SHELL} variable names a shell
2068 that runs an initialization file---such as @file{.cshrc} for C-shell, or
2069 @file{.bashrc} for BASH---any variables you set in that file affect
2070 your program. You may wish to move setting of environment variables to
2071 files that are only run when you sign on, such as @file{.login} or
2074 @node Working Directory
2075 @section Your Program's Working Directory
2077 @cindex working directory (of your program)
2078 Each time you start your program with @code{run}, it inherits its
2079 working directory from the current working directory of @value{GDBN}.
2080 The @value{GDBN} working directory is initially whatever it inherited
2081 from its parent process (typically the shell), but you can specify a new
2082 working directory in @value{GDBN} with the @code{cd} command.
2084 The @value{GDBN} working directory also serves as a default for the commands
2085 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2090 @cindex change working directory
2091 @item cd @var{directory}
2092 Set the @value{GDBN} working directory to @var{directory}.
2096 Print the @value{GDBN} working directory.
2099 It is generally impossible to find the current working directory of
2100 the process being debugged (since a program can change its directory
2101 during its run). If you work on a system where @value{GDBN} is
2102 configured with the @file{/proc} support, you can use the @code{info
2103 proc} command (@pxref{SVR4 Process Information}) to find out the
2104 current working directory of the debuggee.
2107 @section Your Program's Input and Output
2112 By default, the program you run under @value{GDBN} does input and output to
2113 the same terminal that @value{GDBN} uses. @value{GDBN} switches the terminal
2114 to its own terminal modes to interact with you, but it records the terminal
2115 modes your program was using and switches back to them when you continue
2116 running your program.
2119 @kindex info terminal
2121 Displays information recorded by @value{GDBN} about the terminal modes your
2125 You can redirect your program's input and/or output using shell
2126 redirection with the @code{run} command. For example,
2133 starts your program, diverting its output to the file @file{outfile}.
2136 @cindex controlling terminal
2137 Another way to specify where your program should do input and output is
2138 with the @code{tty} command. This command accepts a file name as
2139 argument, and causes this file to be the default for future @code{run}
2140 commands. It also resets the controlling terminal for the child
2141 process, for future @code{run} commands. For example,
2148 directs that processes started with subsequent @code{run} commands
2149 default to do input and output on the terminal @file{/dev/ttyb} and have
2150 that as their controlling terminal.
2152 An explicit redirection in @code{run} overrides the @code{tty} command's
2153 effect on the input/output device, but not its effect on the controlling
2156 When you use the @code{tty} command or redirect input in the @code{run}
2157 command, only the input @emph{for your program} is affected. The input
2158 for @value{GDBN} still comes from your terminal. @code{tty} is an alias
2159 for @code{set inferior-tty}.
2161 @cindex inferior tty
2162 @cindex set inferior controlling terminal
2163 You can use the @code{show inferior-tty} command to tell @value{GDBN} to
2164 display the name of the terminal that will be used for future runs of your
2168 @item set inferior-tty /dev/ttyb
2169 @kindex set inferior-tty
2170 Set the tty for the program being debugged to /dev/ttyb.
2172 @item show inferior-tty
2173 @kindex show inferior-tty
2174 Show the current tty for the program being debugged.
2178 @section Debugging an Already-running Process
2183 @item attach @var{process-id}
2184 This command attaches to a running process---one that was started
2185 outside @value{GDBN}. (@code{info files} shows your active
2186 targets.) The command takes as argument a process ID. The usual way to
2187 find out the @var{process-id} of a Unix process is with the @code{ps} utility,
2188 or with the @samp{jobs -l} shell command.
2190 @code{attach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} a second time after
2191 executing the command.
2194 To use @code{attach}, your program must be running in an environment
2195 which supports processes; for example, @code{attach} does not work for
2196 programs on bare-board targets that lack an operating system. You must
2197 also have permission to send the process a signal.
2199 When you use @code{attach}, the debugger finds the program running in
2200 the process first by looking in the current working directory, then (if
2201 the program is not found) by using the source file search path
2202 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}). You can also use
2203 the @code{file} command to load the program. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2206 The first thing @value{GDBN} does after arranging to debug the specified
2207 process is to stop it. You can examine and modify an attached process
2208 with all the @value{GDBN} commands that are ordinarily available when
2209 you start processes with @code{run}. You can insert breakpoints; you
2210 can step and continue; you can modify storage. If you would rather the
2211 process continue running, you may use the @code{continue} command after
2212 attaching @value{GDBN} to the process.
2217 When you have finished debugging the attached process, you can use the
2218 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control. Detaching
2219 the process continues its execution. After the @code{detach} command,
2220 that process and @value{GDBN} become completely independent once more, and you
2221 are ready to @code{attach} another process or start one with @code{run}.
2222 @code{detach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
2223 executing the command.
2226 If you exit @value{GDBN} while you have an attached process, you detach
2227 that process. If you use the @code{run} command, you kill that process.
2228 By default, @value{GDBN} asks for confirmation if you try to do either of these
2229 things; you can control whether or not you need to confirm by using the
2230 @code{set confirm} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
2234 @section Killing the Child Process
2239 Kill the child process in which your program is running under @value{GDBN}.
2242 This command is useful if you wish to debug a core dump instead of a
2243 running process. @value{GDBN} ignores any core dump file while your program
2246 On some operating systems, a program cannot be executed outside @value{GDBN}
2247 while you have breakpoints set on it inside @value{GDBN}. You can use the
2248 @code{kill} command in this situation to permit running your program
2249 outside the debugger.
2251 The @code{kill} command is also useful if you wish to recompile and
2252 relink your program, since on many systems it is impossible to modify an
2253 executable file while it is running in a process. In this case, when you
2254 next type @code{run}, @value{GDBN} notices that the file has changed, and
2255 reads the symbol table again (while trying to preserve your current
2256 breakpoint settings).
2259 @section Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads
2261 @cindex threads of execution
2262 @cindex multiple threads
2263 @cindex switching threads
2264 In some operating systems, such as HP-UX and Solaris, a single program
2265 may have more than one @dfn{thread} of execution. The precise semantics
2266 of threads differ from one operating system to another, but in general
2267 the threads of a single program are akin to multiple processes---except
2268 that they share one address space (that is, they can all examine and
2269 modify the same variables). On the other hand, each thread has its own
2270 registers and execution stack, and perhaps private memory.
2272 @value{GDBN} provides these facilities for debugging multi-thread
2276 @item automatic notification of new threads
2277 @item @samp{thread @var{threadno}}, a command to switch among threads
2278 @item @samp{info threads}, a command to inquire about existing threads
2279 @item @samp{thread apply [@var{threadno}] [@var{all}] @var{args}},
2280 a command to apply a command to a list of threads
2281 @item thread-specific breakpoints
2282 @item @samp{set print thread-events}, which controls printing of
2283 messages on thread start and exit.
2287 @emph{Warning:} These facilities are not yet available on every
2288 @value{GDBN} configuration where the operating system supports threads.
2289 If your @value{GDBN} does not support threads, these commands have no
2290 effect. For example, a system without thread support shows no output
2291 from @samp{info threads}, and always rejects the @code{thread} command,
2295 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2296 (@value{GDBP}) thread 1
2297 Thread ID 1 not known. Use the "info threads" command to
2298 see the IDs of currently known threads.
2300 @c FIXME to implementors: how hard would it be to say "sorry, this GDB
2301 @c doesn't support threads"?
2304 @cindex focus of debugging
2305 @cindex current thread
2306 The @value{GDBN} thread debugging facility allows you to observe all
2307 threads while your program runs---but whenever @value{GDBN} takes
2308 control, one thread in particular is always the focus of debugging.
2309 This thread is called the @dfn{current thread}. Debugging commands show
2310 program information from the perspective of the current thread.
2312 @cindex @code{New} @var{systag} message
2313 @cindex thread identifier (system)
2314 @c FIXME-implementors!! It would be more helpful if the [New...] message
2315 @c included GDB's numeric thread handle, so you could just go to that
2316 @c thread without first checking `info threads'.
2317 Whenever @value{GDBN} detects a new thread in your program, it displays
2318 the target system's identification for the thread with a message in the
2319 form @samp{[New @var{systag}]}. @var{systag} is a thread identifier
2320 whose form varies depending on the particular system. For example, on
2321 @sc{gnu}/Linux, you might see
2324 [New Thread 46912507313328 (LWP 25582)]
2328 when @value{GDBN} notices a new thread. In contrast, on an SGI system,
2329 the @var{systag} is simply something like @samp{process 368}, with no
2332 @c FIXME!! (1) Does the [New...] message appear even for the very first
2333 @c thread of a program, or does it only appear for the
2334 @c second---i.e.@: when it becomes obvious we have a multithread
2336 @c (2) *Is* there necessarily a first thread always? Or do some
2337 @c multithread systems permit starting a program with multiple
2338 @c threads ab initio?
2340 @cindex thread number
2341 @cindex thread identifier (GDB)
2342 For debugging purposes, @value{GDBN} associates its own thread
2343 number---always a single integer---with each thread in your program.
2346 @kindex info threads
2348 Display a summary of all threads currently in your
2349 program. @value{GDBN} displays for each thread (in this order):
2353 the thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2356 the target system's thread identifier (@var{systag})
2359 the current stack frame summary for that thread
2363 An asterisk @samp{*} to the left of the @value{GDBN} thread number
2364 indicates the current thread.
2368 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2371 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2372 3 process 35 thread 27 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2373 2 process 35 thread 23 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2374 * 1 process 35 thread 13 main (argc=1, argv=0x7ffffff8)
2380 @cindex debugging multithreaded programs (on HP-UX)
2381 @cindex thread identifier (GDB), on HP-UX
2382 For debugging purposes, @value{GDBN} associates its own thread
2383 number---a small integer assigned in thread-creation order---with each
2384 thread in your program.
2386 @cindex @code{New} @var{systag} message, on HP-UX
2387 @cindex thread identifier (system), on HP-UX
2388 @c FIXME-implementors!! It would be more helpful if the [New...] message
2389 @c included GDB's numeric thread handle, so you could just go to that
2390 @c thread without first checking `info threads'.
2391 Whenever @value{GDBN} detects a new thread in your program, it displays
2392 both @value{GDBN}'s thread number and the target system's identification for the thread with a message in the
2393 form @samp{[New @var{systag}]}. @var{systag} is a thread identifier
2394 whose form varies depending on the particular system. For example, on
2398 [New thread 2 (system thread 26594)]
2402 when @value{GDBN} notices a new thread.
2405 @kindex info threads (HP-UX)
2407 Display a summary of all threads currently in your
2408 program. @value{GDBN} displays for each thread (in this order):
2411 @item the thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2413 @item the target system's thread identifier (@var{systag})
2415 @item the current stack frame summary for that thread
2419 An asterisk @samp{*} to the left of the @value{GDBN} thread number
2420 indicates the current thread.
2424 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2427 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2428 * 3 system thread 26607 worker (wptr=0x7b09c318 "@@") \@*
2430 2 system thread 26606 0x7b0030d8 in __ksleep () \@*
2431 from /usr/lib/libc.2
2432 1 system thread 27905 0x7b003498 in _brk () \@*
2433 from /usr/lib/libc.2
2436 On Solaris, you can display more information about user threads with a
2437 Solaris-specific command:
2440 @item maint info sol-threads
2441 @kindex maint info sol-threads
2442 @cindex thread info (Solaris)
2443 Display info on Solaris user threads.
2447 @kindex thread @var{threadno}
2448 @item thread @var{threadno}
2449 Make thread number @var{threadno} the current thread. The command
2450 argument @var{threadno} is the internal @value{GDBN} thread number, as
2451 shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display.
2452 @value{GDBN} responds by displaying the system identifier of the thread
2453 you selected, and its current stack frame summary:
2456 @c FIXME!! This example made up; find a @value{GDBN} w/threads and get real one
2457 (@value{GDBP}) thread 2
2458 [Switching to process 35 thread 23]
2459 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2463 As with the @samp{[New @dots{}]} message, the form of the text after
2464 @samp{Switching to} depends on your system's conventions for identifying
2467 @kindex thread apply
2468 @cindex apply command to several threads
2469 @item thread apply [@var{threadno}] [@var{all}] @var{command}
2470 The @code{thread apply} command allows you to apply the named
2471 @var{command} to one or more threads. Specify the numbers of the
2472 threads that you want affected with the command argument
2473 @var{threadno}. It can be a single thread number, one of the numbers
2474 shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display; or it
2475 could be a range of thread numbers, as in @code{2-4}. To apply a
2476 command to all threads, type @kbd{thread apply all @var{command}}.
2478 @kindex set print thread-events
2479 @cindex print messages on thread start and exit
2480 @item set print thread-events
2481 @itemx set print thread-events on
2482 @itemx set print thread-events off
2483 The @code{set print thread-events} command allows you to enable or
2484 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new threads have
2485 started or that threads have exited. By default, these messages will
2486 be printed if detection of these events is supported by the target.
2487 Note that these messages cannot be disabled on all targets.
2489 @kindex show print thread-events
2490 @item show print thread-events
2491 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that threads
2492 have started and exited.
2495 @cindex automatic thread selection
2496 @cindex switching threads automatically
2497 @cindex threads, automatic switching
2498 Whenever @value{GDBN} stops your program, due to a breakpoint or a
2499 signal, it automatically selects the thread where that breakpoint or
2500 signal happened. @value{GDBN} alerts you to the context switch with a
2501 message of the form @samp{[Switching to @var{systag}]} to identify the
2504 @xref{Thread Stops,,Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs}, for
2505 more information about how @value{GDBN} behaves when you stop and start
2506 programs with multiple threads.
2508 @xref{Set Watchpoints,,Setting Watchpoints}, for information about
2509 watchpoints in programs with multiple threads.
2512 @section Debugging Programs with Multiple Processes
2514 @cindex fork, debugging programs which call
2515 @cindex multiple processes
2516 @cindex processes, multiple
2517 On most systems, @value{GDBN} has no special support for debugging
2518 programs which create additional processes using the @code{fork}
2519 function. When a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug the
2520 parent process and the child process will run unimpeded. If you have
2521 set a breakpoint in any code which the child then executes, the child
2522 will get a @code{SIGTRAP} signal which (unless it catches the signal)
2523 will cause it to terminate.
2525 However, if you want to debug the child process there is a workaround
2526 which isn't too painful. Put a call to @code{sleep} in the code which
2527 the child process executes after the fork. It may be useful to sleep
2528 only if a certain environment variable is set, or a certain file exists,
2529 so that the delay need not occur when you don't want to run @value{GDBN}
2530 on the child. While the child is sleeping, use the @code{ps} program to
2531 get its process ID. Then tell @value{GDBN} (a new invocation of
2532 @value{GDBN} if you are also debugging the parent process) to attach to
2533 the child process (@pxref{Attach}). From that point on you can debug
2534 the child process just like any other process which you attached to.
2536 On some systems, @value{GDBN} provides support for debugging programs that
2537 create additional processes using the @code{fork} or @code{vfork} functions.
2538 Currently, the only platforms with this feature are HP-UX (11.x and later
2539 only?) and @sc{gnu}/Linux (kernel version 2.5.60 and later).
2541 By default, when a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug
2542 the parent process and the child process will run unimpeded.
2544 If you want to follow the child process instead of the parent process,
2545 use the command @w{@code{set follow-fork-mode}}.
2548 @kindex set follow-fork-mode
2549 @item set follow-fork-mode @var{mode}
2550 Set the debugger response to a program call of @code{fork} or
2551 @code{vfork}. A call to @code{fork} or @code{vfork} creates a new
2552 process. The @var{mode} argument can be:
2556 The original process is debugged after a fork. The child process runs
2557 unimpeded. This is the default.
2560 The new process is debugged after a fork. The parent process runs
2565 @kindex show follow-fork-mode
2566 @item show follow-fork-mode
2567 Display the current debugger response to a @code{fork} or @code{vfork} call.
2570 @cindex debugging multiple processes
2571 On Linux, if you want to debug both the parent and child processes, use the
2572 command @w{@code{set detach-on-fork}}.
2575 @kindex set detach-on-fork
2576 @item set detach-on-fork @var{mode}
2577 Tells gdb whether to detach one of the processes after a fork, or
2578 retain debugger control over them both.
2582 The child process (or parent process, depending on the value of
2583 @code{follow-fork-mode}) will be detached and allowed to run
2584 independently. This is the default.
2587 Both processes will be held under the control of @value{GDBN}.
2588 One process (child or parent, depending on the value of
2589 @code{follow-fork-mode}) is debugged as usual, while the other
2594 @kindex show detach-on-fork
2595 @item show detach-on-fork
2596 Show whether detach-on-fork mode is on/off.
2599 If you choose to set @samp{detach-on-fork} mode off, then
2600 @value{GDBN} will retain control of all forked processes (including
2601 nested forks). You can list the forked processes under the control of
2602 @value{GDBN} by using the @w{@code{info forks}} command, and switch
2603 from one fork to another by using the @w{@code{fork}} command.
2608 Print a list of all forked processes under the control of @value{GDBN}.
2609 The listing will include a fork id, a process id, and the current
2610 position (program counter) of the process.
2612 @kindex fork @var{fork-id}
2613 @item fork @var{fork-id}
2614 Make fork number @var{fork-id} the current process. The argument
2615 @var{fork-id} is the internal fork number assigned by @value{GDBN},
2616 as shown in the first field of the @samp{info forks} display.
2618 @kindex process @var{process-id}
2619 @item process @var{process-id}
2620 Make process number @var{process-id} the current process. The
2621 argument @var{process-id} must be one that is listed in the output of
2626 To quit debugging one of the forked processes, you can either detach
2627 from it by using the @w{@code{detach fork}} command (allowing it to
2628 run independently), or delete (and kill) it using the
2629 @w{@code{delete fork}} command.
2632 @kindex detach fork @var{fork-id}
2633 @item detach fork @var{fork-id}
2634 Detach from the process identified by @value{GDBN} fork number
2635 @var{fork-id}, and remove it from the fork list. The process will be
2636 allowed to run independently.
2638 @kindex delete fork @var{fork-id}
2639 @item delete fork @var{fork-id}
2640 Kill the process identified by @value{GDBN} fork number @var{fork-id},
2641 and remove it from the fork list.
2645 If you ask to debug a child process and a @code{vfork} is followed by an
2646 @code{exec}, @value{GDBN} executes the new target up to the first
2647 breakpoint in the new target. If you have a breakpoint set on
2648 @code{main} in your original program, the breakpoint will also be set on
2649 the child process's @code{main}.
2651 When a child process is spawned by @code{vfork}, you cannot debug the
2652 child or parent until an @code{exec} call completes.
2654 If you issue a @code{run} command to @value{GDBN} after an @code{exec}
2655 call executes, the new target restarts. To restart the parent process,
2656 use the @code{file} command with the parent executable name as its
2659 You can use the @code{catch} command to make @value{GDBN} stop whenever
2660 a @code{fork}, @code{vfork}, or @code{exec} call is made. @xref{Set
2661 Catchpoints, ,Setting Catchpoints}.
2663 @node Checkpoint/Restart
2664 @section Setting a @emph{Bookmark} to Return to Later
2669 @cindex snapshot of a process
2670 @cindex rewind program state
2672 On certain operating systems@footnote{Currently, only
2673 @sc{gnu}/Linux.}, @value{GDBN} is able to save a @dfn{snapshot} of a
2674 program's state, called a @dfn{checkpoint}, and come back to it
2677 Returning to a checkpoint effectively undoes everything that has
2678 happened in the program since the @code{checkpoint} was saved. This
2679 includes changes in memory, registers, and even (within some limits)
2680 system state. Effectively, it is like going back in time to the
2681 moment when the checkpoint was saved.
2683 Thus, if you're stepping thru a program and you think you're
2684 getting close to the point where things go wrong, you can save
2685 a checkpoint. Then, if you accidentally go too far and miss
2686 the critical statement, instead of having to restart your program
2687 from the beginning, you can just go back to the checkpoint and
2688 start again from there.
2690 This can be especially useful if it takes a lot of time or
2691 steps to reach the point where you think the bug occurs.
2693 To use the @code{checkpoint}/@code{restart} method of debugging:
2698 Save a snapshot of the debugged program's current execution state.
2699 The @code{checkpoint} command takes no arguments, but each checkpoint
2700 is assigned a small integer id, similar to a breakpoint id.
2702 @kindex info checkpoints
2703 @item info checkpoints
2704 List the checkpoints that have been saved in the current debugging
2705 session. For each checkpoint, the following information will be
2712 @item Source line, or label
2715 @kindex restart @var{checkpoint-id}
2716 @item restart @var{checkpoint-id}
2717 Restore the program state that was saved as checkpoint number
2718 @var{checkpoint-id}. All program variables, registers, stack frames
2719 etc.@: will be returned to the values that they had when the checkpoint
2720 was saved. In essence, gdb will ``wind back the clock'' to the point
2721 in time when the checkpoint was saved.
2723 Note that breakpoints, @value{GDBN} variables, command history etc.
2724 are not affected by restoring a checkpoint. In general, a checkpoint
2725 only restores things that reside in the program being debugged, not in
2728 @kindex delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
2729 @item delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
2730 Delete the previously-saved checkpoint identified by @var{checkpoint-id}.
2734 Returning to a previously saved checkpoint will restore the user state
2735 of the program being debugged, plus a significant subset of the system
2736 (OS) state, including file pointers. It won't ``un-write'' data from
2737 a file, but it will rewind the file pointer to the previous location,
2738 so that the previously written data can be overwritten. For files
2739 opened in read mode, the pointer will also be restored so that the
2740 previously read data can be read again.
2742 Of course, characters that have been sent to a printer (or other
2743 external device) cannot be ``snatched back'', and characters received
2744 from eg.@: a serial device can be removed from internal program buffers,
2745 but they cannot be ``pushed back'' into the serial pipeline, ready to
2746 be received again. Similarly, the actual contents of files that have
2747 been changed cannot be restored (at this time).
2749 However, within those constraints, you actually can ``rewind'' your
2750 program to a previously saved point in time, and begin debugging it
2751 again --- and you can change the course of events so as to debug a
2752 different execution path this time.
2754 @cindex checkpoints and process id
2755 Finally, there is one bit of internal program state that will be
2756 different when you return to a checkpoint --- the program's process
2757 id. Each checkpoint will have a unique process id (or @var{pid}),
2758 and each will be different from the program's original @var{pid}.
2759 If your program has saved a local copy of its process id, this could
2760 potentially pose a problem.
2762 @subsection A Non-obvious Benefit of Using Checkpoints
2764 On some systems such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, address space randomization
2765 is performed on new processes for security reasons. This makes it
2766 difficult or impossible to set a breakpoint, or watchpoint, on an
2767 absolute address if you have to restart the program, since the
2768 absolute location of a symbol will change from one execution to the
2771 A checkpoint, however, is an @emph{identical} copy of a process.
2772 Therefore if you create a checkpoint at (eg.@:) the start of main,
2773 and simply return to that checkpoint instead of restarting the
2774 process, you can avoid the effects of address randomization and
2775 your symbols will all stay in the same place.
2778 @chapter Stopping and Continuing
2780 The principal purposes of using a debugger are so that you can stop your
2781 program before it terminates; or so that, if your program runs into
2782 trouble, you can investigate and find out why.
2784 Inside @value{GDBN}, your program may stop for any of several reasons,
2785 such as a signal, a breakpoint, or reaching a new line after a
2786 @value{GDBN} command such as @code{step}. You may then examine and
2787 change variables, set new breakpoints or remove old ones, and then
2788 continue execution. Usually, the messages shown by @value{GDBN} provide
2789 ample explanation of the status of your program---but you can also
2790 explicitly request this information at any time.
2793 @kindex info program
2795 Display information about the status of your program: whether it is
2796 running or not, what process it is, and why it stopped.
2800 * Breakpoints:: Breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints
2801 * Continuing and Stepping:: Resuming execution
2803 * Thread Stops:: Stopping and starting multi-thread programs
2807 @section Breakpoints, Watchpoints, and Catchpoints
2810 A @dfn{breakpoint} makes your program stop whenever a certain point in
2811 the program is reached. For each breakpoint, you can add conditions to
2812 control in finer detail whether your program stops. You can set
2813 breakpoints with the @code{break} command and its variants (@pxref{Set
2814 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}), to specify the place where your program
2815 should stop by line number, function name or exact address in the
2818 On some systems, you can set breakpoints in shared libraries before
2819 the executable is run. There is a minor limitation on HP-UX systems:
2820 you must wait until the executable is run in order to set breakpoints
2821 in shared library routines that are not called directly by the program
2822 (for example, routines that are arguments in a @code{pthread_create}
2826 @cindex data breakpoints
2827 @cindex memory tracing
2828 @cindex breakpoint on memory address
2829 @cindex breakpoint on variable modification
2830 A @dfn{watchpoint} is a special breakpoint that stops your program
2831 when the value of an expression changes. The expression may be a value
2832 of a variable, or it could involve values of one or more variables
2833 combined by operators, such as @samp{a + b}. This is sometimes called
2834 @dfn{data breakpoints}. You must use a different command to set
2835 watchpoints (@pxref{Set Watchpoints, ,Setting Watchpoints}), but aside
2836 from that, you can manage a watchpoint like any other breakpoint: you
2837 enable, disable, and delete both breakpoints and watchpoints using the
2840 You can arrange to have values from your program displayed automatically
2841 whenever @value{GDBN} stops at a breakpoint. @xref{Auto Display,,
2845 @cindex breakpoint on events
2846 A @dfn{catchpoint} is another special breakpoint that stops your program
2847 when a certain kind of event occurs, such as the throwing of a C@t{++}
2848 exception or the loading of a library. As with watchpoints, you use a
2849 different command to set a catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints, ,Setting
2850 Catchpoints}), but aside from that, you can manage a catchpoint like any
2851 other breakpoint. (To stop when your program receives a signal, use the
2852 @code{handle} command; see @ref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
2854 @cindex breakpoint numbers
2855 @cindex numbers for breakpoints
2856 @value{GDBN} assigns a number to each breakpoint, watchpoint, or
2857 catchpoint when you create it; these numbers are successive integers
2858 starting with one. In many of the commands for controlling various
2859 features of breakpoints you use the breakpoint number to say which
2860 breakpoint you want to change. Each breakpoint may be @dfn{enabled} or
2861 @dfn{disabled}; if disabled, it has no effect on your program until you
2864 @cindex breakpoint ranges
2865 @cindex ranges of breakpoints
2866 Some @value{GDBN} commands accept a range of breakpoints on which to
2867 operate. A breakpoint range is either a single breakpoint number, like
2868 @samp{5}, or two such numbers, in increasing order, separated by a
2869 hyphen, like @samp{5-7}. When a breakpoint range is given to a command,
2870 all breakpoints in that range are operated on.
2873 * Set Breaks:: Setting breakpoints
2874 * Set Watchpoints:: Setting watchpoints
2875 * Set Catchpoints:: Setting catchpoints
2876 * Delete Breaks:: Deleting breakpoints
2877 * Disabling:: Disabling breakpoints
2878 * Conditions:: Break conditions
2879 * Break Commands:: Breakpoint command lists
2880 * Error in Breakpoints:: ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
2881 * Breakpoint-related Warnings:: ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
2885 @subsection Setting Breakpoints
2887 @c FIXME LMB what does GDB do if no code on line of breakpt?
2888 @c consider in particular declaration with/without initialization.
2890 @c FIXME 2 is there stuff on this already? break at fun start, already init?
2893 @kindex b @r{(@code{break})}
2894 @vindex $bpnum@r{, convenience variable}
2895 @cindex latest breakpoint
2896 Breakpoints are set with the @code{break} command (abbreviated
2897 @code{b}). The debugger convenience variable @samp{$bpnum} records the
2898 number of the breakpoint you've set most recently; see @ref{Convenience
2899 Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for a discussion of what you can do with
2900 convenience variables.
2903 @item break @var{location}
2904 Set a breakpoint at the given @var{location}, which can specify a
2905 function name, a line number, or an address of an instruction.
2906 (@xref{Specify Location}, for a list of all the possible ways to
2907 specify a @var{location}.) The breakpoint will stop your program just
2908 before it executes any of the code in the specified @var{location}.
2910 When using source languages that permit overloading of symbols, such as
2911 C@t{++}, a function name may refer to more than one possible place to break.
2912 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}, for a discussion of
2916 When called without any arguments, @code{break} sets a breakpoint at
2917 the next instruction to be executed in the selected stack frame
2918 (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}). In any selected frame but the
2919 innermost, this makes your program stop as soon as control
2920 returns to that frame. This is similar to the effect of a
2921 @code{finish} command in the frame inside the selected frame---except
2922 that @code{finish} does not leave an active breakpoint. If you use
2923 @code{break} without an argument in the innermost frame, @value{GDBN} stops
2924 the next time it reaches the current location; this may be useful
2927 @value{GDBN} normally ignores breakpoints when it resumes execution, until at
2928 least one instruction has been executed. If it did not do this, you
2929 would be unable to proceed past a breakpoint without first disabling the
2930 breakpoint. This rule applies whether or not the breakpoint already
2931 existed when your program stopped.
2933 @item break @dots{} if @var{cond}
2934 Set a breakpoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
2935 @var{cond} each time the breakpoint is reached, and stop only if the
2936 value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
2937 @samp{@dots{}} stands for one of the possible arguments described
2938 above (or no argument) specifying where to break. @xref{Conditions,
2939 ,Break Conditions}, for more information on breakpoint conditions.
2942 @item tbreak @var{args}
2943 Set a breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args} are the
2944 same as for the @code{break} command, and the breakpoint is set in the same
2945 way, but the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the first time your
2946 program stops there. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
2949 @cindex hardware breakpoints
2950 @item hbreak @var{args}
2951 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint. @var{args} are the same as for the
2952 @code{break} command and the breakpoint is set in the same way, but the
2953 breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware may not
2954 have this support. The main purpose of this is EPROM/ROM code
2955 debugging, so you can set a breakpoint at an instruction without
2956 changing the instruction. This can be used with the new trap-generation
2957 provided by SPARClite DSU and most x86-based targets. These targets
2958 will generate traps when a program accesses some data or instruction
2959 address that is assigned to the debug registers. However the hardware
2960 breakpoint registers can take a limited number of breakpoints. For
2961 example, on the DSU, only two data breakpoints can be set at a time, and
2962 @value{GDBN} will reject this command if more than two are used. Delete
2963 or disable unused hardware breakpoints before setting new ones
2964 (@pxref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}).
2965 @xref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
2966 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
2967 breakpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
2968 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
2971 @item thbreak @var{args}
2972 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args}
2973 are the same as for the @code{hbreak} command and the breakpoint is set in
2974 the same way. However, like the @code{tbreak} command,
2975 the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the
2976 first time your program stops there. Also, like the @code{hbreak}
2977 command, the breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware
2978 may not have this support. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
2979 See also @ref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
2982 @cindex regular expression
2983 @cindex breakpoints in functions matching a regexp
2984 @cindex set breakpoints in many functions
2985 @item rbreak @var{regex}
2986 Set breakpoints on all functions matching the regular expression
2987 @var{regex}. This command sets an unconditional breakpoint on all
2988 matches, printing a list of all breakpoints it set. Once these
2989 breakpoints are set, they are treated just like the breakpoints set with
2990 the @code{break} command. You can delete them, disable them, or make
2991 them conditional the same way as any other breakpoint.
2993 The syntax of the regular expression is the standard one used with tools
2994 like @file{grep}. Note that this is different from the syntax used by
2995 shells, so for instance @code{foo*} matches all functions that include
2996 an @code{fo} followed by zero or more @code{o}s. There is an implicit
2997 @code{.*} leading and trailing the regular expression you supply, so to
2998 match only functions that begin with @code{foo}, use @code{^foo}.
3000 @cindex non-member C@t{++} functions, set breakpoint in
3001 When debugging C@t{++} programs, @code{rbreak} is useful for setting
3002 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
3005 @cindex set breakpoints on all functions
3006 The @code{rbreak} command can be used to set breakpoints in
3007 @strong{all} the functions in a program, like this:
3010 (@value{GDBP}) rbreak .
3013 @kindex info breakpoints
3014 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info breakpoints}
3015 @item info breakpoints @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
3016 @itemx info break @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
3017 @itemx info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
3018 Print a table of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints set and
3019 not deleted. Optional argument @var{n} means print information only
3020 about the specified breakpoint (or watchpoint or catchpoint). For
3021 each breakpoint, following columns are printed:
3024 @item Breakpoint Numbers
3026 Breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint.
3028 Whether the breakpoint is marked to be disabled or deleted when hit.
3029 @item Enabled or Disabled
3030 Enabled breakpoints are marked with @samp{y}. @samp{n} marks breakpoints
3031 that are not enabled.
3033 Where the breakpoint is in your program, as a memory address. For a
3034 pending breakpoint whose address is not yet known, this field will
3035 contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Such breakpoint won't fire until a shared
3036 library that has the symbol or line referred by breakpoint is loaded.
3037 See below for details. A breakpoint with several locations will
3038 have @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in this field---see below for details.
3040 Where the breakpoint is in the source for your program, as a file and
3041 line number. For a pending breakpoint, the original string passed to
3042 the breakpoint command will be listed as it cannot be resolved until
3043 the appropriate shared library is loaded in the future.
3047 If a breakpoint is conditional, @code{info break} shows the condition on
3048 the line following the affected breakpoint; breakpoint commands, if any,
3049 are listed after that. A pending breakpoint is allowed to have a condition
3050 specified for it. The condition is not parsed for validity until a shared
3051 library is loaded that allows the pending breakpoint to resolve to a
3055 @code{info break} with a breakpoint
3056 number @var{n} as argument lists only that breakpoint. The
3057 convenience variable @code{$_} and the default examining-address for
3058 the @code{x} command are set to the address of the last breakpoint
3059 listed (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}).
3062 @code{info break} displays a count of the number of times the breakpoint
3063 has been hit. This is especially useful in conjunction with the
3064 @code{ignore} command. You can ignore a large number of breakpoint
3065 hits, look at the breakpoint info to see how many times the breakpoint
3066 was hit, and then run again, ignoring one less than that number. This
3067 will get you quickly to the last hit of that breakpoint.
3070 @value{GDBN} allows you to set any number of breakpoints at the same place in
3071 your program. There is nothing silly or meaningless about this. When
3072 the breakpoints are conditional, this is even useful
3073 (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
3075 @cindex multiple locations, breakpoints
3076 @cindex breakpoints, multiple locations
3077 It is possible that a breakpoint corresponds to several locations
3078 in your program. Examples of this situation are:
3082 For a C@t{++} constructor, the @value{NGCC} compiler generates several
3083 instances of the function body, used in different cases.
3086 For a C@t{++} template function, a given line in the function can
3087 correspond to any number of instantiations.
3090 For an inlined function, a given source line can correspond to
3091 several places where that function is inlined.
3094 In all those cases, @value{GDBN} will insert a breakpoint at all
3095 the relevant locations@footnote{
3096 As of this writing, multiple-location breakpoints work only if there's
3097 line number information for all the locations. This means that they
3098 will generally not work in system libraries, unless you have debug
3099 info with line numbers for them.}.
3101 A breakpoint with multiple locations is displayed in the breakpoint
3102 table using several rows---one header row, followed by one row for
3103 each breakpoint location. The header row has @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in the
3104 address column. The rows for individual locations contain the actual
3105 addresses for locations, and show the functions to which those
3106 locations belong. The number column for a location is of the form
3107 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number}.
3112 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
3113 1 breakpoint keep y <MULTIPLE>
3115 breakpoint already hit 1 time
3116 1.1 y 0x080486a2 in void foo<int>() at t.cc:8
3117 1.2 y 0x080486ca in void foo<double>() at t.cc:8
3120 Each location can be individually enabled or disabled by passing
3121 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number} as argument to the
3122 @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands. Note that you cannot
3123 delete the individual locations from the list, you can only delete the
3124 entire list of locations that belong to their parent breakpoint (with
3125 the @kbd{delete @var{num}} command, where @var{num} is the number of
3126 the parent breakpoint, 1 in the above example). Disabling or enabling
3127 the parent breakpoint (@pxref{Disabling}) affects all of the locations
3128 that belong to that breakpoint.
3130 @cindex pending breakpoints
3131 It's quite common to have a breakpoint inside a shared library.
3132 Shared libraries can be loaded and unloaded explicitly,
3133 and possibly repeatedly, as the program is executed. To support
3134 this use case, @value{GDBN} updates breakpoint locations whenever
3135 any shared library is loaded or unloaded. Typically, you would
3136 set a breakpoint in a shared library at the beginning of your
3137 debugging session, when the library is not loaded, and when the
3138 symbols from the library are not available. When you try to set
3139 breakpoint, @value{GDBN} will ask you if you want to set
3140 a so called @dfn{pending breakpoint}---breakpoint whose address
3141 is not yet resolved.
3143 After the program is run, whenever a new shared library is loaded,
3144 @value{GDBN} reevaluates all the breakpoints. When a newly loaded
3145 shared library contains the symbol or line referred to by some
3146 pending breakpoint, that breakpoint is resolved and becomes an
3147 ordinary breakpoint. When a library is unloaded, all breakpoints
3148 that refer to its symbols or source lines become pending again.
3150 This logic works for breakpoints with multiple locations, too. For
3151 example, if you have a breakpoint in a C@t{++} template function, and
3152 a newly loaded shared library has an instantiation of that template,
3153 a new location is added to the list of locations for the breakpoint.
3155 Except for having unresolved address, pending breakpoints do not
3156 differ from regular breakpoints. You can set conditions or commands,
3157 enable and disable them and perform other breakpoint operations.
3159 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling what
3160 happens when the @samp{break} command cannot resolve breakpoint
3161 address specification to an address:
3163 @kindex set breakpoint pending
3164 @kindex show breakpoint pending
3166 @item set breakpoint pending auto
3167 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} cannot find the breakpoint
3168 location, it queries you whether a pending breakpoint should be created.
3170 @item set breakpoint pending on
3171 This indicates that an unrecognized breakpoint location should automatically
3172 result in a pending breakpoint being created.
3174 @item set breakpoint pending off
3175 This indicates that pending breakpoints are not to be created. Any
3176 unrecognized breakpoint location results in an error. This setting does
3177 not affect any pending breakpoints previously created.
3179 @item show breakpoint pending
3180 Show the current behavior setting for creating pending breakpoints.
3183 The settings above only affect the @code{break} command and its
3184 variants. Once breakpoint is set, it will be automatically updated
3185 as shared libraries are loaded and unloaded.
3187 @cindex automatic hardware breakpoints
3188 For some targets, @value{GDBN} can automatically decide if hardware or
3189 software breakpoints should be used, depending on whether the
3190 breakpoint address is read-only or read-write. This applies to
3191 breakpoints set with the @code{break} command as well as to internal
3192 breakpoints set by commands like @code{next} and @code{finish}. For
3193 breakpoints set with @code{hbreak}, @value{GDBN} will always use hardware
3196 You can control this automatic behaviour with the following commands::
3198 @kindex set breakpoint auto-hw
3199 @kindex show breakpoint auto-hw
3201 @item set breakpoint auto-hw on
3202 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} sets a breakpoint, it
3203 will try to use the target memory map to decide if software or hardware
3204 breakpoint must be used.
3206 @item set breakpoint auto-hw off
3207 This indicates @value{GDBN} should not automatically select breakpoint
3208 type. If the target provides a memory map, @value{GDBN} will warn when
3209 trying to set software breakpoint at a read-only address.
3212 @value{GDBN} normally implements breakpoints by replacing the program code
3213 at the breakpoint address with a special instruction, which, when
3214 executed, given control to the debugger. By default, the program
3215 code is so modified only when the program is resumed. As soon as
3216 the program stops, @value{GDBN} restores the original instructions. This
3217 behaviour guards against leaving breakpoints inserted in the
3218 target should gdb abrubptly disconnect. However, with slow remote
3219 targets, inserting and removing breakpoint can reduce the performance.
3220 This behavior can be controlled with the following commands::
3222 @kindex set breakpoint always-inserted
3223 @kindex show breakpoint always-inserted
3225 @item set breakpoint always-inserted off
3226 This is the default behaviour. All breakpoints, including newly added
3227 by the user, are inserted in the target only when the target is
3228 resumed. All breakpoints are removed from the target when it stops.
3230 @item set breakpoint always-inserted on
3231 Causes all breakpoints to be inserted in the target at all times. If
3232 the user adds a new breakpoint, or changes an existing breakpoint, the
3233 breakpoints in the target are updated immediately. A breakpoint is
3234 removed from the target only when breakpoint itself is removed.
3237 @cindex negative breakpoint numbers
3238 @cindex internal @value{GDBN} breakpoints
3239 @value{GDBN} itself sometimes sets breakpoints in your program for
3240 special purposes, such as proper handling of @code{longjmp} (in C
3241 programs). These internal breakpoints are assigned negative numbers,
3242 starting with @code{-1}; @samp{info breakpoints} does not display them.
3243 You can see these breakpoints with the @value{GDBN} maintenance command
3244 @samp{maint info breakpoints} (@pxref{maint info breakpoints}).
3247 @node Set Watchpoints
3248 @subsection Setting Watchpoints
3250 @cindex setting watchpoints
3251 You can use a watchpoint to stop execution whenever the value of an
3252 expression changes, without having to predict a particular place where
3253 this may happen. (This is sometimes called a @dfn{data breakpoint}.)
3254 The expression may be as simple as the value of a single variable, or
3255 as complex as many variables combined by operators. Examples include:
3259 A reference to the value of a single variable.
3262 An address cast to an appropriate data type. For example,
3263 @samp{*(int *)0x12345678} will watch a 4-byte region at the specified
3264 address (assuming an @code{int} occupies 4 bytes).
3267 An arbitrarily complex expression, such as @samp{a*b + c/d}. The
3268 expression can use any operators valid in the program's native
3269 language (@pxref{Languages}).
3272 You can set a watchpoint on an expression even if the expression can
3273 not be evaluated yet. For instance, you can set a watchpoint on
3274 @samp{*global_ptr} before @samp{global_ptr} is initialized.
3275 @value{GDBN} will stop when your program sets @samp{global_ptr} and
3276 the expression produces a valid value. If the expression becomes
3277 valid in some other way than changing a variable (e.g.@: if the memory
3278 pointed to by @samp{*global_ptr} becomes readable as the result of a
3279 @code{malloc} call), @value{GDBN} may not stop until the next time
3280 the expression changes.
3282 @cindex software watchpoints
3283 @cindex hardware watchpoints
3284 Depending on your system, watchpoints may be implemented in software or
3285 hardware. @value{GDBN} does software watchpointing by single-stepping your
3286 program and testing the variable's value each time, which is hundreds of
3287 times slower than normal execution. (But this may still be worth it, to
3288 catch errors where you have no clue what part of your program is the
3291 On some systems, such as HP-UX, PowerPC, @sc{gnu}/Linux and most other
3292 x86-based targets, @value{GDBN} includes support for hardware
3293 watchpoints, which do not slow down the running of your program.
3297 @item watch @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}
3298 Set a watchpoint for an expression. @value{GDBN} will break when the
3299 expression @var{expr} is written into by the program and its value
3300 changes. The simplest (and the most popular) use of this command is
3301 to watch the value of a single variable:
3304 (@value{GDBP}) watch foo
3307 If the command includes a @code{@r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}}
3308 clause, @value{GDBN} breaks only when the thread identified by
3309 @var{threadnum} changes the value of @var{expr}. If any other threads
3310 change the value of @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} will not break. Note
3311 that watchpoints restricted to a single thread in this way only work
3312 with Hardware Watchpoints.
3315 @item rwatch @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}
3316 Set a watchpoint that will break when the value of @var{expr} is read
3320 @item awatch @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}
3321 Set a watchpoint that will break when @var{expr} is either read from
3322 or written into by the program.
3324 @kindex info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
3325 @item info watchpoints
3326 This command prints a list of watchpoints, breakpoints, and catchpoints;
3327 it is the same as @code{info break} (@pxref{Set Breaks}).
3330 @value{GDBN} sets a @dfn{hardware watchpoint} if possible. Hardware
3331 watchpoints execute very quickly, and the debugger reports a change in
3332 value at the exact instruction where the change occurs. If @value{GDBN}
3333 cannot set a hardware watchpoint, it sets a software watchpoint, which
3334 executes more slowly and reports the change in value at the next
3335 @emph{statement}, not the instruction, after the change occurs.
3337 @cindex use only software watchpoints
3338 You can force @value{GDBN} to use only software watchpoints with the
3339 @kbd{set can-use-hw-watchpoints 0} command. With this variable set to
3340 zero, @value{GDBN} will never try to use hardware watchpoints, even if
3341 the underlying system supports them. (Note that hardware-assisted
3342 watchpoints that were set @emph{before} setting
3343 @code{can-use-hw-watchpoints} to zero will still use the hardware
3344 mechanism of watching expression values.)
3347 @item set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3348 @kindex set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3349 Set whether or not to use hardware watchpoints.
3351 @item show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3352 @kindex show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3353 Show the current mode of using hardware watchpoints.
3356 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3357 watchpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3358 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3360 When you issue the @code{watch} command, @value{GDBN} reports
3363 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: @var{expr}
3367 if it was able to set a hardware watchpoint.
3369 Currently, the @code{awatch} and @code{rwatch} commands can only set
3370 hardware watchpoints, because accesses to data that don't change the
3371 value of the watched expression cannot be detected without examining
3372 every instruction as it is being executed, and @value{GDBN} does not do
3373 that currently. If @value{GDBN} finds that it is unable to set a
3374 hardware breakpoint with the @code{awatch} or @code{rwatch} command, it
3375 will print a message like this:
3378 Expression cannot be implemented with read/access watchpoint.
3381 Sometimes, @value{GDBN} cannot set a hardware watchpoint because the
3382 data type of the watched expression is wider than what a hardware
3383 watchpoint on the target machine can handle. For example, some systems
3384 can only watch regions that are up to 4 bytes wide; on such systems you
3385 cannot set hardware watchpoints for an expression that yields a
3386 double-precision floating-point number (which is typically 8 bytes
3387 wide). As a work-around, it might be possible to break the large region
3388 into a series of smaller ones and watch them with separate watchpoints.
3390 If you set too many hardware watchpoints, @value{GDBN} might be unable
3391 to insert all of them when you resume the execution of your program.
3392 Since the precise number of active watchpoints is unknown until such
3393 time as the program is about to be resumed, @value{GDBN} might not be
3394 able to warn you about this when you set the watchpoints, and the
3395 warning will be printed only when the program is resumed:
3398 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: Could not insert watchpoint
3402 If this happens, delete or disable some of the watchpoints.
3404 Watching complex expressions that reference many variables can also
3405 exhaust the resources available for hardware-assisted watchpoints.
3406 That's because @value{GDBN} needs to watch every variable in the
3407 expression with separately allocated resources.
3409 If you call a function interactively using @code{print} or @code{call},
3410 any watchpoints you have set will be inactive until @value{GDBN} reaches another
3411 kind of breakpoint or the call completes.
3413 @value{GDBN} automatically deletes watchpoints that watch local
3414 (automatic) variables, or expressions that involve such variables, when
3415 they go out of scope, that is, when the execution leaves the block in
3416 which these variables were defined. In particular, when the program
3417 being debugged terminates, @emph{all} local variables go out of scope,
3418 and so only watchpoints that watch global variables remain set. If you
3419 rerun the program, you will need to set all such watchpoints again. One
3420 way of doing that would be to set a code breakpoint at the entry to the
3421 @code{main} function and when it breaks, set all the watchpoints.
3423 @cindex watchpoints and threads
3424 @cindex threads and watchpoints
3425 In multi-threaded programs, watchpoints will detect changes to the
3426 watched expression from every thread.
3429 @emph{Warning:} In multi-threaded programs, software watchpoints
3430 have only limited usefulness. If @value{GDBN} creates a software
3431 watchpoint, it can only watch the value of an expression @emph{in a
3432 single thread}. If you are confident that the expression can only
3433 change due to the current thread's activity (and if you are also
3434 confident that no other thread can become current), then you can use
3435 software watchpoints as usual. However, @value{GDBN} may not notice
3436 when a non-current thread's activity changes the expression. (Hardware
3437 watchpoints, in contrast, watch an expression in all threads.)
3440 @xref{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}.
3442 @node Set Catchpoints
3443 @subsection Setting Catchpoints
3444 @cindex catchpoints, setting
3445 @cindex exception handlers
3446 @cindex event handling
3448 You can use @dfn{catchpoints} to cause the debugger to stop for certain
3449 kinds of program events, such as C@t{++} exceptions or the loading of a
3450 shared library. Use the @code{catch} command to set a catchpoint.
3454 @item catch @var{event}
3455 Stop when @var{event} occurs. @var{event} can be any of the following:
3458 @cindex stop on C@t{++} exceptions
3459 The throwing of a C@t{++} exception.
3462 The catching of a C@t{++} exception.
3465 @cindex Ada exception catching
3466 @cindex catch Ada exceptions
3467 An Ada exception being raised. If an exception name is specified
3468 at the end of the command (eg @code{catch exception Program_Error}),
3469 the debugger will stop only when this specific exception is raised.
3470 Otherwise, the debugger stops execution when any Ada exception is raised.
3472 @item exception unhandled
3473 An exception that was raised but is not handled by the program.
3476 A failed Ada assertion.
3479 @cindex break on fork/exec
3480 A call to @code{exec}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
3484 A call to @code{fork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
3488 A call to @code{vfork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
3492 @itemx load @var{libname}
3493 @cindex break on load/unload of shared library
3494 The dynamic loading of any shared library, or the loading of the library
3495 @var{libname}. This is currently only available for HP-UX.
3498 @itemx unload @var{libname}
3499 The unloading of any dynamically loaded shared library, or the unloading
3500 of the library @var{libname}. This is currently only available for HP-UX.
3503 @item tcatch @var{event}
3504 Set a catchpoint that is enabled only for one stop. The catchpoint is
3505 automatically deleted after the first time the event is caught.
3509 Use the @code{info break} command to list the current catchpoints.
3511 There are currently some limitations to C@t{++} exception handling
3512 (@code{catch throw} and @code{catch catch}) in @value{GDBN}:
3516 If you call a function interactively, @value{GDBN} normally returns
3517 control to you when the function has finished executing. If the call
3518 raises an exception, however, the call may bypass the mechanism that
3519 returns control to you and cause your program either to abort or to
3520 simply continue running until it hits a breakpoint, catches a signal
3521 that @value{GDBN} is listening for, or exits. This is the case even if
3522 you set a catchpoint for the exception; catchpoints on exceptions are
3523 disabled within interactive calls.
3526 You cannot raise an exception interactively.
3529 You cannot install an exception handler interactively.
3532 @cindex raise exceptions
3533 Sometimes @code{catch} is not the best way to debug exception handling:
3534 if you need to know exactly where an exception is raised, it is better to
3535 stop @emph{before} the exception handler is called, since that way you
3536 can see the stack before any unwinding takes place. If you set a
3537 breakpoint in an exception handler instead, it may not be easy to find
3538 out where the exception was raised.
3540 To stop just before an exception handler is called, you need some
3541 knowledge of the implementation. In the case of @sc{gnu} C@t{++}, exceptions are
3542 raised by calling a library function named @code{__raise_exception}
3543 which has the following ANSI C interface:
3546 /* @var{addr} is where the exception identifier is stored.
3547 @var{id} is the exception identifier. */
3548 void __raise_exception (void **addr, void *id);
3552 To make the debugger catch all exceptions before any stack
3553 unwinding takes place, set a breakpoint on @code{__raise_exception}
3554 (@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Exceptions}).
3556 With a conditional breakpoint (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions})
3557 that depends on the value of @var{id}, you can stop your program when
3558 a specific exception is raised. You can use multiple conditional
3559 breakpoints to stop your program when any of a number of exceptions are
3564 @subsection Deleting Breakpoints
3566 @cindex clearing breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
3567 @cindex deleting breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
3568 It is often necessary to eliminate a breakpoint, watchpoint, or
3569 catchpoint once it has done its job and you no longer want your program
3570 to stop there. This is called @dfn{deleting} the breakpoint. A
3571 breakpoint that has been deleted no longer exists; it is forgotten.
3573 With the @code{clear} command you can delete breakpoints according to
3574 where they are in your program. With the @code{delete} command you can
3575 delete individual breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints by specifying
3576 their breakpoint numbers.
3578 It is not necessary to delete a breakpoint to proceed past it. @value{GDBN}
3579 automatically ignores breakpoints on the first instruction to be executed
3580 when you continue execution without changing the execution address.
3585 Delete any breakpoints at the next instruction to be executed in the
3586 selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). When
3587 the innermost frame is selected, this is a good way to delete a
3588 breakpoint where your program just stopped.
3590 @item clear @var{location}
3591 Delete any breakpoints set at the specified @var{location}.
3592 @xref{Specify Location}, for the various forms of @var{location}; the
3593 most useful ones are listed below:
3596 @item clear @var{function}
3597 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{function}
3598 Delete any breakpoints set at entry to the named @var{function}.
3600 @item clear @var{linenum}
3601 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
3602 Delete any breakpoints set at or within the code of the specified
3603 @var{linenum} of the specified @var{filename}.
3606 @cindex delete breakpoints
3608 @kindex d @r{(@code{delete})}
3609 @item delete @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
3610 Delete the breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints of the breakpoint
3611 ranges specified as arguments. If no argument is specified, delete all
3612 breakpoints (@value{GDBN} asks confirmation, unless you have @code{set
3613 confirm off}). You can abbreviate this command as @code{d}.
3617 @subsection Disabling Breakpoints
3619 @cindex enable/disable a breakpoint
3620 Rather than deleting a breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint, you might
3621 prefer to @dfn{disable} it. This makes the breakpoint inoperative as if
3622 it had been deleted, but remembers the information on the breakpoint so
3623 that you can @dfn{enable} it again later.
3625 You disable and enable breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints with
3626 the @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands, optionally specifying one
3627 or more breakpoint numbers as arguments. Use @code{info break} or
3628 @code{info watch} to print a list of breakpoints, watchpoints, and
3629 catchpoints if you do not know which numbers to use.
3631 Disabling and enabling a breakpoint that has multiple locations
3632 affects all of its locations.
3634 A breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint can have any of four different
3635 states of enablement:
3639 Enabled. The breakpoint stops your program. A breakpoint set
3640 with the @code{break} command starts out in this state.
3642 Disabled. The breakpoint has no effect on your program.
3644 Enabled once. The breakpoint stops your program, but then becomes
3647 Enabled for deletion. The breakpoint stops your program, but
3648 immediately after it does so it is deleted permanently. A breakpoint
3649 set with the @code{tbreak} command starts out in this state.
3652 You can use the following commands to enable or disable breakpoints,
3653 watchpoints, and catchpoints:
3657 @kindex dis @r{(@code{disable})}
3658 @item disable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
3659 Disable the specified breakpoints---or all breakpoints, if none are
3660 listed. A disabled breakpoint has no effect but is not forgotten. All
3661 options such as ignore-counts, conditions and commands are remembered in
3662 case the breakpoint is enabled again later. You may abbreviate
3663 @code{disable} as @code{dis}.
3666 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
3667 Enable the specified breakpoints (or all defined breakpoints). They
3668 become effective once again in stopping your program.
3670 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} once @var{range}@dots{}
3671 Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} disables any
3672 of these breakpoints immediately after stopping your program.
3674 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} delete @var{range}@dots{}
3675 Enable the specified breakpoints to work once, then die. @value{GDBN}
3676 deletes any of these breakpoints as soon as your program stops there.
3677 Breakpoints set by the @code{tbreak} command start out in this state.
3680 @c FIXME: I think the following ``Except for [...] @code{tbreak}'' is
3681 @c confusing: tbreak is also initially enabled.
3682 Except for a breakpoint set with @code{tbreak} (@pxref{Set Breaks,
3683 ,Setting Breakpoints}), breakpoints that you set are initially enabled;
3684 subsequently, they become disabled or enabled only when you use one of
3685 the commands above. (The command @code{until} can set and delete a
3686 breakpoint of its own, but it does not change the state of your other
3687 breakpoints; see @ref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and
3691 @subsection Break Conditions
3692 @cindex conditional breakpoints
3693 @cindex breakpoint conditions
3695 @c FIXME what is scope of break condition expr? Context where wanted?
3696 @c in particular for a watchpoint?
3697 The simplest sort of breakpoint breaks every time your program reaches a
3698 specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for a
3699 breakpoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
3700 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A breakpoint with
3701 a condition evaluates the expression each time your program reaches it,
3702 and your program stops only if the condition is @emph{true}.
3704 This is the converse of using assertions for program validation; in that
3705 situation, you want to stop when the assertion is violated---that is,
3706 when the condition is false. In C, if you want to test an assertion expressed
3707 by the condition @var{assert}, you should set the condition
3708 @samp{! @var{assert}} on the appropriate breakpoint.
3710 Conditions are also accepted for watchpoints; you may not need them,
3711 since a watchpoint is inspecting the value of an expression anyhow---but
3712 it might be simpler, say, to just set a watchpoint on a variable name,
3713 and specify a condition that tests whether the new value is an interesting
3716 Break conditions can have side effects, and may even call functions in
3717 your program. This can be useful, for example, to activate functions
3718 that log program progress, or to use your own print functions to
3719 format special data structures. The effects are completely predictable
3720 unless there is another enabled breakpoint at the same address. (In
3721 that case, @value{GDBN} might see the other breakpoint first and stop your
3722 program without checking the condition of this one.) Note that
3723 breakpoint commands are usually more convenient and flexible than break
3725 purpose of performing side effects when a breakpoint is reached
3726 (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}).
3728 Break conditions can be specified when a breakpoint is set, by using
3729 @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{break} command. @xref{Set
3730 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}. They can also be changed at any time
3731 with the @code{condition} command.
3733 You can also use the @code{if} keyword with the @code{watch} command.
3734 The @code{catch} command does not recognize the @code{if} keyword;
3735 @code{condition} is the only way to impose a further condition on a
3740 @item condition @var{bnum} @var{expression}
3741 Specify @var{expression} as the break condition for breakpoint,
3742 watchpoint, or catchpoint number @var{bnum}. After you set a condition,
3743 breakpoint @var{bnum} stops your program only if the value of
3744 @var{expression} is true (nonzero, in C). When you use
3745 @code{condition}, @value{GDBN} checks @var{expression} immediately for
3746 syntactic correctness, and to determine whether symbols in it have
3747 referents in the context of your breakpoint. If @var{expression} uses
3748 symbols not referenced in the context of the breakpoint, @value{GDBN}
3749 prints an error message:
3752 No symbol "foo" in current context.
3757 not actually evaluate @var{expression} at the time the @code{condition}
3758 command (or a command that sets a breakpoint with a condition, like
3759 @code{break if @dots{}}) is given, however. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
3761 @item condition @var{bnum}
3762 Remove the condition from breakpoint number @var{bnum}. It becomes
3763 an ordinary unconditional breakpoint.
3766 @cindex ignore count (of breakpoint)
3767 A special case of a breakpoint condition is to stop only when the
3768 breakpoint has been reached a certain number of times. This is so
3769 useful that there is a special way to do it, using the @dfn{ignore
3770 count} of the breakpoint. Every breakpoint has an ignore count, which
3771 is an integer. Most of the time, the ignore count is zero, and
3772 therefore has no effect. But if your program reaches a breakpoint whose
3773 ignore count is positive, then instead of stopping, it just decrements
3774 the ignore count by one and continues. As a result, if the ignore count
3775 value is @var{n}, the breakpoint does not stop the next @var{n} times
3776 your program reaches it.
3780 @item ignore @var{bnum} @var{count}
3781 Set the ignore count of breakpoint number @var{bnum} to @var{count}.
3782 The next @var{count} times the breakpoint is reached, your program's
3783 execution does not stop; other than to decrement the ignore count, @value{GDBN}
3786 To make the breakpoint stop the next time it is reached, specify
3789 When you use @code{continue} to resume execution of your program from a
3790 breakpoint, you can specify an ignore count directly as an argument to
3791 @code{continue}, rather than using @code{ignore}. @xref{Continuing and
3792 Stepping,,Continuing and Stepping}.
3794 If a breakpoint has a positive ignore count and a condition, the
3795 condition is not checked. Once the ignore count reaches zero,
3796 @value{GDBN} resumes checking the condition.
3798 You could achieve the effect of the ignore count with a condition such
3799 as @w{@samp{$foo-- <= 0}} using a debugger convenience variable that
3800 is decremented each time. @xref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
3804 Ignore counts apply to breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints.
3807 @node Break Commands
3808 @subsection Breakpoint Command Lists
3810 @cindex breakpoint commands
3811 You can give any breakpoint (or watchpoint or catchpoint) a series of
3812 commands to execute when your program stops due to that breakpoint. For
3813 example, you might want to print the values of certain expressions, or
3814 enable other breakpoints.
3818 @kindex end@r{ (breakpoint commands)}
3819 @item commands @r{[}@var{bnum}@r{]}
3820 @itemx @dots{} @var{command-list} @dots{}
3822 Specify a list of commands for breakpoint number @var{bnum}. The commands
3823 themselves appear on the following lines. Type a line containing just
3824 @code{end} to terminate the commands.
3826 To remove all commands from a breakpoint, type @code{commands} and
3827 follow it immediately with @code{end}; that is, give no commands.
3829 With no @var{bnum} argument, @code{commands} refers to the last
3830 breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint set (not to the breakpoint most
3831 recently encountered).
3834 Pressing @key{RET} as a means of repeating the last @value{GDBN} command is
3835 disabled within a @var{command-list}.
3837 You can use breakpoint commands to start your program up again. Simply
3838 use the @code{continue} command, or @code{step}, or any other command
3839 that resumes execution.
3841 Any other commands in the command list, after a command that resumes
3842 execution, are ignored. This is because any time you resume execution
3843 (even with a simple @code{next} or @code{step}), you may encounter
3844 another breakpoint---which could have its own command list, leading to
3845 ambiguities about which list to execute.
3848 If the first command you specify in a command list is @code{silent}, the
3849 usual message about stopping at a breakpoint is not printed. This may
3850 be desirable for breakpoints that are to print a specific message and
3851 then continue. If none of the remaining commands print anything, you
3852 see no sign that the breakpoint was reached. @code{silent} is
3853 meaningful only at the beginning of a breakpoint command list.
3855 The commands @code{echo}, @code{output}, and @code{printf} allow you to
3856 print precisely controlled output, and are often useful in silent
3857 breakpoints. @xref{Output, ,Commands for Controlled Output}.
3859 For example, here is how you could use breakpoint commands to print the
3860 value of @code{x} at entry to @code{foo} whenever @code{x} is positive.
3866 printf "x is %d\n",x
3871 One application for breakpoint commands is to compensate for one bug so
3872 you can test for another. Put a breakpoint just after the erroneous line
3873 of code, give it a condition to detect the case in which something
3874 erroneous has been done, and give it commands to assign correct values
3875 to any variables that need them. End with the @code{continue} command
3876 so that your program does not stop, and start with the @code{silent}
3877 command so that no output is produced. Here is an example:
3888 @c @ifclear BARETARGET
3889 @node Error in Breakpoints
3890 @subsection ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
3892 @c FIXME!! 14/6/95 Is there a real example of this? Let's use it.
3894 Under some operating systems, breakpoints cannot be used in a program if
3895 any other process is running that program. In this situation,
3896 attempting to run or continue a program with a breakpoint causes
3897 @value{GDBN} to print an error message:
3900 Cannot insert breakpoints.
3901 The same program may be running in another process.
3904 When this happens, you have three ways to proceed:
3908 Remove or disable the breakpoints, then continue.
3911 Suspend @value{GDBN}, and copy the file containing your program to a new
3912 name. Resume @value{GDBN} and use the @code{exec-file} command to specify
3913 that @value{GDBN} should run your program under that name.
3914 Then start your program again.
3917 Relink your program so that the text segment is nonsharable, using the
3918 linker option @samp{-N}. The operating system limitation may not apply
3919 to nonsharable executables.
3923 A similar message can be printed if you request too many active
3924 hardware-assisted breakpoints and watchpoints:
3926 @c FIXME: the precise wording of this message may change; the relevant
3927 @c source change is not committed yet (Sep 3, 1999).
3929 Stopped; cannot insert breakpoints.
3930 You may have requested too many hardware breakpoints and watchpoints.
3934 This message is printed when you attempt to resume the program, since
3935 only then @value{GDBN} knows exactly how many hardware breakpoints and
3936 watchpoints it needs to insert.
3938 When this message is printed, you need to disable or remove some of the
3939 hardware-assisted breakpoints and watchpoints, and then continue.
3941 @node Breakpoint-related Warnings
3942 @subsection ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
3943 @cindex breakpoint address adjusted
3945 Some processor architectures place constraints on the addresses at
3946 which breakpoints may be placed. For architectures thus constrained,
3947 @value{GDBN} will attempt to adjust the breakpoint's address to comply
3948 with the constraints dictated by the architecture.
3950 One example of such an architecture is the Fujitsu FR-V. The FR-V is
3951 a VLIW architecture in which a number of RISC-like instructions may be
3952 bundled together for parallel execution. The FR-V architecture
3953 constrains the location of a breakpoint instruction within such a
3954 bundle to the instruction with the lowest address. @value{GDBN}
3955 honors this constraint by adjusting a breakpoint's address to the
3956 first in the bundle.
3958 It is not uncommon for optimized code to have bundles which contain
3959 instructions from different source statements, thus it may happen that
3960 a breakpoint's address will be adjusted from one source statement to
3961 another. Since this adjustment may significantly alter @value{GDBN}'s
3962 breakpoint related behavior from what the user expects, a warning is
3963 printed when the breakpoint is first set and also when the breakpoint
3966 A warning like the one below is printed when setting a breakpoint
3967 that's been subject to address adjustment:
3970 warning: Breakpoint address adjusted from 0x00010414 to 0x00010410.
3973 Such warnings are printed both for user settable and @value{GDBN}'s
3974 internal breakpoints. If you see one of these warnings, you should
3975 verify that a breakpoint set at the adjusted address will have the
3976 desired affect. If not, the breakpoint in question may be removed and
3977 other breakpoints may be set which will have the desired behavior.
3978 E.g., it may be sufficient to place the breakpoint at a later
3979 instruction. A conditional breakpoint may also be useful in some
3980 cases to prevent the breakpoint from triggering too often.
3982 @value{GDBN} will also issue a warning when stopping at one of these
3983 adjusted breakpoints:
3986 warning: Breakpoint 1 address previously adjusted from 0x00010414
3990 When this warning is encountered, it may be too late to take remedial
3991 action except in cases where the breakpoint is hit earlier or more
3992 frequently than expected.
3994 @node Continuing and Stepping
3995 @section Continuing and Stepping
3999 @cindex resuming execution
4000 @dfn{Continuing} means resuming program execution until your program
4001 completes normally. In contrast, @dfn{stepping} means executing just
4002 one more ``step'' of your program, where ``step'' may mean either one
4003 line of source code, or one machine instruction (depending on what
4004 particular command you use). Either when continuing or when stepping,
4005 your program may stop even sooner, due to a breakpoint or a signal. (If
4006 it stops due to a signal, you may want to use @code{handle}, or use
4007 @samp{signal 0} to resume execution. @xref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
4011 @kindex c @r{(@code{continue})}
4012 @kindex fg @r{(resume foreground execution)}
4013 @item continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4014 @itemx c @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4015 @itemx fg @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4016 Resume program execution, at the address where your program last stopped;
4017 any breakpoints set at that address are bypassed. The optional argument
4018 @var{ignore-count} allows you to specify a further number of times to
4019 ignore a breakpoint at this location; its effect is like that of
4020 @code{ignore} (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
4022 The argument @var{ignore-count} is meaningful only when your program
4023 stopped due to a breakpoint. At other times, the argument to
4024 @code{continue} is ignored.
4026 The synonyms @code{c} and @code{fg} (for @dfn{foreground}, as the
4027 debugged program is deemed to be the foreground program) are provided
4028 purely for convenience, and have exactly the same behavior as
4032 To resume execution at a different place, you can use @code{return}
4033 (@pxref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}) to go back to the
4034 calling function; or @code{jump} (@pxref{Jumping, ,Continuing at a
4035 Different Address}) to go to an arbitrary location in your program.
4037 A typical technique for using stepping is to set a breakpoint
4038 (@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Catchpoints}) at the
4039 beginning of the function or the section of your program where a problem
4040 is believed to lie, run your program until it stops at that breakpoint,
4041 and then step through the suspect area, examining the variables that are
4042 interesting, until you see the problem happen.
4046 @kindex s @r{(@code{step})}
4048 Continue running your program until control reaches a different source
4049 line, then stop it and return control to @value{GDBN}. This command is
4050 abbreviated @code{s}.
4053 @c "without debugging information" is imprecise; actually "without line
4054 @c numbers in the debugging information". (gcc -g1 has debugging info but
4055 @c not line numbers). But it seems complex to try to make that
4056 @c distinction here.
4057 @emph{Warning:} If you use the @code{step} command while control is
4058 within a function that was compiled without debugging information,
4059 execution proceeds until control reaches a function that does have
4060 debugging information. Likewise, it will not step into a function which
4061 is compiled without debugging information. To step through functions
4062 without debugging information, use the @code{stepi} command, described
4066 The @code{step} command only stops at the first instruction of a source
4067 line. This prevents the multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
4068 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc. @code{step} continues
4069 to stop if a function that has debugging information is called within
4070 the line. In other words, @code{step} @emph{steps inside} any functions
4071 called within the line.
4073 Also, the @code{step} command only enters a function if there is line
4074 number information for the function. Otherwise it acts like the
4075 @code{next} command. This avoids problems when using @code{cc -gl}
4076 on MIPS machines. Previously, @code{step} entered subroutines if there
4077 was any debugging information about the routine.
4079 @item step @var{count}
4080 Continue running as in @code{step}, but do so @var{count} times. If a
4081 breakpoint is reached, or a signal not related to stepping occurs before
4082 @var{count} steps, stepping stops right away.
4085 @kindex n @r{(@code{next})}
4086 @item next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
4087 Continue to the next source line in the current (innermost) stack frame.
4088 This is similar to @code{step}, but function calls that appear within
4089 the line of code are executed without stopping. Execution stops when
4090 control reaches a different line of code at the original stack level
4091 that was executing when you gave the @code{next} command. This command
4092 is abbreviated @code{n}.
4094 An argument @var{count} is a repeat count, as for @code{step}.
4097 @c FIX ME!! Do we delete this, or is there a way it fits in with
4098 @c the following paragraph? --- Vctoria
4100 @c @code{next} within a function that lacks debugging information acts like
4101 @c @code{step}, but any function calls appearing within the code of the
4102 @c function are executed without stopping.
4104 The @code{next} command only stops at the first instruction of a
4105 source line. This prevents multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
4106 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc.
4108 @kindex set step-mode
4110 @cindex functions without line info, and stepping
4111 @cindex stepping into functions with no line info
4112 @itemx set step-mode on
4113 The @code{set step-mode on} command causes the @code{step} command to
4114 stop at the first instruction of a function which contains no debug line
4115 information rather than stepping over it.
4117 This is useful in cases where you may be interested in inspecting the
4118 machine instructions of a function which has no symbolic info and do not
4119 want @value{GDBN} to automatically skip over this function.
4121 @item set step-mode off
4122 Causes the @code{step} command to step over any functions which contains no
4123 debug information. This is the default.
4125 @item show step-mode
4126 Show whether @value{GDBN} will stop in or step over functions without
4127 source line debug information.
4131 Continue running until just after function in the selected stack frame
4132 returns. Print the returned value (if any).
4134 Contrast this with the @code{return} command (@pxref{Returning,
4135 ,Returning from a Function}).
4138 @kindex u @r{(@code{until})}
4139 @cindex run until specified location
4142 Continue running until a source line past the current line, in the
4143 current stack frame, is reached. This command is used to avoid single
4144 stepping through a loop more than once. It is like the @code{next}
4145 command, except that when @code{until} encounters a jump, it
4146 automatically continues execution until the program counter is greater
4147 than the address of the jump.
4149 This means that when you reach the end of a loop after single stepping
4150 though it, @code{until} makes your program continue execution until it
4151 exits the loop. In contrast, a @code{next} command at the end of a loop
4152 simply steps back to the beginning of the loop, which forces you to step
4153 through the next iteration.
4155 @code{until} always stops your program if it attempts to exit the current
4158 @code{until} may produce somewhat counterintuitive results if the order
4159 of machine code does not match the order of the source lines. For
4160 example, in the following excerpt from a debugging session, the @code{f}
4161 (@code{frame}) command shows that execution is stopped at line
4162 @code{206}; yet when we use @code{until}, we get to line @code{195}:
4166 #0 main (argc=4, argv=0xf7fffae8) at m4.c:206
4168 (@value{GDBP}) until
4169 195 for ( ; argc > 0; NEXTARG) @{
4172 This happened because, for execution efficiency, the compiler had
4173 generated code for the loop closure test at the end, rather than the
4174 start, of the loop---even though the test in a C @code{for}-loop is
4175 written before the body of the loop. The @code{until} command appeared
4176 to step back to the beginning of the loop when it advanced to this
4177 expression; however, it has not really gone to an earlier
4178 statement---not in terms of the actual machine code.
4180 @code{until} with no argument works by means of single
4181 instruction stepping, and hence is slower than @code{until} with an
4184 @item until @var{location}
4185 @itemx u @var{location}
4186 Continue running your program until either the specified location is
4187 reached, or the current stack frame returns. @var{location} is any of
4188 the forms described in @ref{Specify Location}.
4189 This form of the command uses temporary breakpoints, and
4190 hence is quicker than @code{until} without an argument. The specified
4191 location is actually reached only if it is in the current frame. This
4192 implies that @code{until} can be used to skip over recursive function
4193 invocations. For instance in the code below, if the current location is
4194 line @code{96}, issuing @code{until 99} will execute the program up to
4195 line @code{99} in the same invocation of factorial, i.e., after the inner
4196 invocations have returned.
4199 94 int factorial (int value)
4201 96 if (value > 1) @{
4202 97 value *= factorial (value - 1);
4209 @kindex advance @var{location}
4210 @itemx advance @var{location}
4211 Continue running the program up to the given @var{location}. An argument is
4212 required, which should be of one of the forms described in
4213 @ref{Specify Location}.
4214 Execution will also stop upon exit from the current stack
4215 frame. This command is similar to @code{until}, but @code{advance} will
4216 not skip over recursive function calls, and the target location doesn't
4217 have to be in the same frame as the current one.
4221 @kindex si @r{(@code{stepi})}
4223 @itemx stepi @var{arg}
4225 Execute one machine instruction, then stop and return to the debugger.
4227 It is often useful to do @samp{display/i $pc} when stepping by machine
4228 instructions. This makes @value{GDBN} automatically display the next
4229 instruction to be executed, each time your program stops. @xref{Auto
4230 Display,, Automatic Display}.
4232 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{step}.
4236 @kindex ni @r{(@code{nexti})}
4238 @itemx nexti @var{arg}
4240 Execute one machine instruction, but if it is a function call,
4241 proceed until the function returns.
4243 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{next}.
4250 A signal is an asynchronous event that can happen in a program. The
4251 operating system defines the possible kinds of signals, and gives each
4252 kind a name and a number. For example, in Unix @code{SIGINT} is the
4253 signal a program gets when you type an interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c});
4254 @code{SIGSEGV} is the signal a program gets from referencing a place in
4255 memory far away from all the areas in use; @code{SIGALRM} occurs when
4256 the alarm clock timer goes off (which happens only if your program has
4257 requested an alarm).
4259 @cindex fatal signals
4260 Some signals, including @code{SIGALRM}, are a normal part of the
4261 functioning of your program. Others, such as @code{SIGSEGV}, indicate
4262 errors; these signals are @dfn{fatal} (they kill your program immediately) if the
4263 program has not specified in advance some other way to handle the signal.
4264 @code{SIGINT} does not indicate an error in your program, but it is normally
4265 fatal so it can carry out the purpose of the interrupt: to kill the program.
4267 @value{GDBN} has the ability to detect any occurrence of a signal in your
4268 program. You can tell @value{GDBN} in advance what to do for each kind of
4271 @cindex handling signals
4272 Normally, @value{GDBN} is set up to let the non-erroneous signals like
4273 @code{SIGALRM} be silently passed to your program
4274 (so as not to interfere with their role in the program's functioning)
4275 but to stop your program immediately whenever an error signal happens.
4276 You can change these settings with the @code{handle} command.
4279 @kindex info signals
4283 Print a table of all the kinds of signals and how @value{GDBN} has been told to
4284 handle each one. You can use this to see the signal numbers of all
4285 the defined types of signals.
4287 @item info signals @var{sig}
4288 Similar, but print information only about the specified signal number.
4290 @code{info handle} is an alias for @code{info signals}.
4293 @item handle @var{signal} @r{[}@var{keywords}@dots{}@r{]}
4294 Change the way @value{GDBN} handles signal @var{signal}. @var{signal}
4295 can be the number of a signal or its name (with or without the
4296 @samp{SIG} at the beginning); a list of signal numbers of the form
4297 @samp{@var{low}-@var{high}}; or the word @samp{all}, meaning all the
4298 known signals. Optional arguments @var{keywords}, described below,
4299 say what change to make.
4303 The keywords allowed by the @code{handle} command can be abbreviated.
4304 Their full names are:
4308 @value{GDBN} should not stop your program when this signal happens. It may
4309 still print a message telling you that the signal has come in.
4312 @value{GDBN} should stop your program when this signal happens. This implies
4313 the @code{print} keyword as well.
4316 @value{GDBN} should print a message when this signal happens.
4319 @value{GDBN} should not mention the occurrence of the signal at all. This
4320 implies the @code{nostop} keyword as well.
4324 @value{GDBN} should allow your program to see this signal; your program
4325 can handle the signal, or else it may terminate if the signal is fatal
4326 and not handled. @code{pass} and @code{noignore} are synonyms.
4330 @value{GDBN} should not allow your program to see this signal.
4331 @code{nopass} and @code{ignore} are synonyms.
4335 When a signal stops your program, the signal is not visible to the
4337 continue. Your program sees the signal then, if @code{pass} is in
4338 effect for the signal in question @emph{at that time}. In other words,
4339 after @value{GDBN} reports a signal, you can use the @code{handle}
4340 command with @code{pass} or @code{nopass} to control whether your
4341 program sees that signal when you continue.
4343 The default is set to @code{nostop}, @code{noprint}, @code{pass} for
4344 non-erroneous signals such as @code{SIGALRM}, @code{SIGWINCH} and
4345 @code{SIGCHLD}, and to @code{stop}, @code{print}, @code{pass} for the
4348 You can also use the @code{signal} command to prevent your program from
4349 seeing a signal, or cause it to see a signal it normally would not see,
4350 or to give it any signal at any time. For example, if your program stopped
4351 due to some sort of memory reference error, you might store correct
4352 values into the erroneous variables and continue, hoping to see more
4353 execution; but your program would probably terminate immediately as
4354 a result of the fatal signal once it saw the signal. To prevent this,
4355 you can continue with @samp{signal 0}. @xref{Signaling, ,Giving your
4359 @section Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs
4361 When your program has multiple threads (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging
4362 Programs with Multiple Threads}), you can choose whether to set
4363 breakpoints on all threads, or on a particular thread.
4366 @cindex breakpoints and threads
4367 @cindex thread breakpoints
4368 @kindex break @dots{} thread @var{threadno}
4369 @item break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno}
4370 @itemx break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno} if @dots{}
4371 @var{linespec} specifies source lines; there are several ways of
4372 writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always to
4373 specify some source line.
4375 Use the qualifier @samp{thread @var{threadno}} with a breakpoint command
4376 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
4377 particular thread reaches this breakpoint. @var{threadno} is one of the
4378 numeric thread identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
4379 column of the @samp{info threads} display.
4381 If you do not specify @samp{thread @var{threadno}} when you set a
4382 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} threads of your
4385 You can use the @code{thread} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
4386 well; in this case, place @samp{thread @var{threadno}} before the
4387 breakpoint condition, like this:
4390 (@value{GDBP}) break frik.c:13 thread 28 if bartab > lim
4395 @cindex stopped threads
4396 @cindex threads, stopped
4397 Whenever your program stops under @value{GDBN} for any reason,
4398 @emph{all} threads of execution stop, not just the current thread. This
4399 allows you to examine the overall state of the program, including
4400 switching between threads, without worrying that things may change
4403 @cindex thread breakpoints and system calls
4404 @cindex system calls and thread breakpoints
4405 @cindex premature return from system calls
4406 There is an unfortunate side effect. If one thread stops for a
4407 breakpoint, or for some other reason, and another thread is blocked in a
4408 system call, then the system call may return prematurely. This is a
4409 consequence of the interaction between multiple threads and the signals
4410 that @value{GDBN} uses to implement breakpoints and other events that
4413 To handle this problem, your program should check the return value of
4414 each system call and react appropriately. This is good programming
4417 For example, do not write code like this:
4423 The call to @code{sleep} will return early if a different thread stops
4424 at a breakpoint or for some other reason.
4426 Instead, write this:
4431 unslept = sleep (unslept);
4434 A system call is allowed to return early, so the system is still
4435 conforming to its specification. But @value{GDBN} does cause your
4436 multi-threaded program to behave differently than it would without
4439 Also, @value{GDBN} uses internal breakpoints in the thread library to
4440 monitor certain events such as thread creation and thread destruction.
4441 When such an event happens, a system call in another thread may return
4442 prematurely, even though your program does not appear to stop.
4444 @cindex continuing threads
4445 @cindex threads, continuing
4446 Conversely, whenever you restart the program, @emph{all} threads start
4447 executing. @emph{This is true even when single-stepping} with commands
4448 like @code{step} or @code{next}.
4450 In particular, @value{GDBN} cannot single-step all threads in lockstep.
4451 Since thread scheduling is up to your debugging target's operating
4452 system (not controlled by @value{GDBN}), other threads may
4453 execute more than one statement while the current thread completes a
4454 single step. Moreover, in general other threads stop in the middle of a
4455 statement, rather than at a clean statement boundary, when the program
4458 You might even find your program stopped in another thread after
4459 continuing or even single-stepping. This happens whenever some other
4460 thread runs into a breakpoint, a signal, or an exception before the
4461 first thread completes whatever you requested.
4463 On some OSes, you can lock the OS scheduler and thus allow only a single
4467 @item set scheduler-locking @var{mode}
4468 @cindex scheduler locking mode
4469 @cindex lock scheduler
4470 Set the scheduler locking mode. If it is @code{off}, then there is no
4471 locking and any thread may run at any time. If @code{on}, then only the
4472 current thread may run when the inferior is resumed. The @code{step}
4473 mode optimizes for single-stepping. It stops other threads from
4474 ``seizing the prompt'' by preempting the current thread while you are
4475 stepping. Other threads will only rarely (or never) get a chance to run
4476 when you step. They are more likely to run when you @samp{next} over a
4477 function call, and they are completely free to run when you use commands
4478 like @samp{continue}, @samp{until}, or @samp{finish}. However, unless another
4479 thread hits a breakpoint during its timeslice, they will never steal the
4480 @value{GDBN} prompt away from the thread that you are debugging.
4482 @item show scheduler-locking
4483 Display the current scheduler locking mode.
4488 @chapter Examining the Stack
4490 When your program has stopped, the first thing you need to know is where it
4491 stopped and how it got there.
4494 Each time your program performs a function call, information about the call
4496 That information includes the location of the call in your program,
4497 the arguments of the call,
4498 and the local variables of the function being called.
4499 The information is saved in a block of data called a @dfn{stack frame}.
4500 The stack frames are allocated in a region of memory called the @dfn{call
4503 When your program stops, the @value{GDBN} commands for examining the
4504 stack allow you to see all of this information.
4506 @cindex selected frame
4507 One of the stack frames is @dfn{selected} by @value{GDBN} and many
4508 @value{GDBN} commands refer implicitly to the selected frame. In
4509 particular, whenever you ask @value{GDBN} for the value of a variable in
4510 your program, the value is found in the selected frame. There are
4511 special @value{GDBN} commands to select whichever frame you are
4512 interested in. @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
4514 When your program stops, @value{GDBN} automatically selects the
4515 currently executing frame and describes it briefly, similar to the
4516 @code{frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}).
4519 * Frames:: Stack frames
4520 * Backtrace:: Backtraces
4521 * Selection:: Selecting a frame
4522 * Frame Info:: Information on a frame
4527 @section Stack Frames
4529 @cindex frame, definition
4531 The call stack is divided up into contiguous pieces called @dfn{stack
4532 frames}, or @dfn{frames} for short; each frame is the data associated
4533 with one call to one function. The frame contains the arguments given
4534 to the function, the function's local variables, and the address at
4535 which the function is executing.
4537 @cindex initial frame
4538 @cindex outermost frame
4539 @cindex innermost frame
4540 When your program is started, the stack has only one frame, that of the
4541 function @code{main}. This is called the @dfn{initial} frame or the
4542 @dfn{outermost} frame. Each time a function is called, a new frame is
4543 made. Each time a function returns, the frame for that function invocation
4544 is eliminated. If a function is recursive, there can be many frames for
4545 the same function. The frame for the function in which execution is
4546 actually occurring is called the @dfn{innermost} frame. This is the most
4547 recently created of all the stack frames that still exist.
4549 @cindex frame pointer
4550 Inside your program, stack frames are identified by their addresses. A
4551 stack frame consists of many bytes, each of which has its own address; each
4552 kind of computer has a convention for choosing one byte whose
4553 address serves as the address of the frame. Usually this address is kept
4554 in a register called the @dfn{frame pointer register}
4555 (@pxref{Registers, $fp}) while execution is going on in that frame.
4557 @cindex frame number
4558 @value{GDBN} assigns numbers to all existing stack frames, starting with
4559 zero for the innermost frame, one for the frame that called it,
4560 and so on upward. These numbers do not really exist in your program;
4561 they are assigned by @value{GDBN} to give you a way of designating stack
4562 frames in @value{GDBN} commands.
4564 @c The -fomit-frame-pointer below perennially causes hbox overflow
4565 @c underflow problems.
4566 @cindex frameless execution
4567 Some compilers provide a way to compile functions so that they operate
4568 without stack frames. (For example, the @value{NGCC} option
4570 @samp{-fomit-frame-pointer}
4572 generates functions without a frame.)
4573 This is occasionally done with heavily used library functions to save
4574 the frame setup time. @value{GDBN} has limited facilities for dealing
4575 with these function invocations. If the innermost function invocation
4576 has no stack frame, @value{GDBN} nevertheless regards it as though
4577 it had a separate frame, which is numbered zero as usual, allowing
4578 correct tracing of the function call chain. However, @value{GDBN} has
4579 no provision for frameless functions elsewhere in the stack.
4582 @kindex frame@r{, command}
4583 @cindex current stack frame
4584 @item frame @var{args}
4585 The @code{frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame to another,
4586 and to print the stack frame you select. @var{args} may be either the
4587 address of the frame or the stack frame number. Without an argument,
4588 @code{frame} prints the current stack frame.
4590 @kindex select-frame
4591 @cindex selecting frame silently
4593 The @code{select-frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame
4594 to another without printing the frame. This is the silent version of
4602 @cindex call stack traces
4603 A backtrace is a summary of how your program got where it is. It shows one
4604 line per frame, for many frames, starting with the currently executing
4605 frame (frame zero), followed by its caller (frame one), and on up the
4610 @kindex bt @r{(@code{backtrace})}
4613 Print a backtrace of the entire stack: one line per frame for all
4614 frames in the stack.
4616 You can stop the backtrace at any time by typing the system interrupt
4617 character, normally @kbd{Ctrl-c}.
4619 @item backtrace @var{n}
4621 Similar, but print only the innermost @var{n} frames.
4623 @item backtrace -@var{n}
4625 Similar, but print only the outermost @var{n} frames.
4627 @item backtrace full
4629 @itemx bt full @var{n}
4630 @itemx bt full -@var{n}
4631 Print the values of the local variables also. @var{n} specifies the
4632 number of frames to print, as described above.
4637 The names @code{where} and @code{info stack} (abbreviated @code{info s})
4638 are additional aliases for @code{backtrace}.
4640 @cindex multiple threads, backtrace
4641 In a multi-threaded program, @value{GDBN} by default shows the
4642 backtrace only for the current thread. To display the backtrace for
4643 several or all of the threads, use the command @code{thread apply}
4644 (@pxref{Threads, thread apply}). For example, if you type @kbd{thread
4645 apply all backtrace}, @value{GDBN} will display the backtrace for all
4646 the threads; this is handy when you debug a core dump of a
4647 multi-threaded program.
4649 Each line in the backtrace shows the frame number and the function name.
4650 The program counter value is also shown---unless you use @code{set
4651 print address off}. The backtrace also shows the source file name and
4652 line number, as well as the arguments to the function. The program
4653 counter value is omitted if it is at the beginning of the code for that
4656 Here is an example of a backtrace. It was made with the command
4657 @samp{bt 3}, so it shows the innermost three frames.
4661 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
4663 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=0x2b600) at macro.c:242
4664 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=177664, td=0xf7fffb08)
4666 (More stack frames follow...)
4671 The display for frame zero does not begin with a program counter
4672 value, indicating that your program has stopped at the beginning of the
4673 code for line @code{993} of @code{builtin.c}.
4675 @cindex value optimized out, in backtrace
4676 @cindex function call arguments, optimized out
4677 If your program was compiled with optimizations, some compilers will
4678 optimize away arguments passed to functions if those arguments are
4679 never used after the call. Such optimizations generate code that
4680 passes arguments through registers, but doesn't store those arguments
4681 in the stack frame. @value{GDBN} has no way of displaying such
4682 arguments in stack frames other than the innermost one. Here's what
4683 such a backtrace might look like:
4687 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
4689 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=<value optimized out>) at macro.c:242
4690 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=<value optimized out>, td=0xf7fffb08)
4692 (More stack frames follow...)
4697 The values of arguments that were not saved in their stack frames are
4698 shown as @samp{<value optimized out>}.
4700 If you need to display the values of such optimized-out arguments,
4701 either deduce that from other variables whose values depend on the one
4702 you are interested in, or recompile without optimizations.
4704 @cindex backtrace beyond @code{main} function
4705 @cindex program entry point
4706 @cindex startup code, and backtrace
4707 Most programs have a standard user entry point---a place where system
4708 libraries and startup code transition into user code. For C this is
4709 @code{main}@footnote{
4710 Note that embedded programs (the so-called ``free-standing''
4711 environment) are not required to have a @code{main} function as the
4712 entry point. They could even have multiple entry points.}.
4713 When @value{GDBN} finds the entry function in a backtrace
4714 it will terminate the backtrace, to avoid tracing into highly
4715 system-specific (and generally uninteresting) code.
4717 If you need to examine the startup code, or limit the number of levels
4718 in a backtrace, you can change this behavior:
4721 @item set backtrace past-main
4722 @itemx set backtrace past-main on
4723 @kindex set backtrace
4724 Backtraces will continue past the user entry point.
4726 @item set backtrace past-main off
4727 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the user entry point. This is the
4730 @item show backtrace past-main
4731 @kindex show backtrace
4732 Display the current user entry point backtrace policy.
4734 @item set backtrace past-entry
4735 @itemx set backtrace past-entry on
4736 Backtraces will continue past the internal entry point of an application.
4737 This entry point is encoded by the linker when the application is built,
4738 and is likely before the user entry point @code{main} (or equivalent) is called.
4740 @item set backtrace past-entry off
4741 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the internal entry point of an
4742 application. This is the default.
4744 @item show backtrace past-entry
4745 Display the current internal entry point backtrace policy.
4747 @item set backtrace limit @var{n}
4748 @itemx set backtrace limit 0
4749 @cindex backtrace limit
4750 Limit the backtrace to @var{n} levels. A value of zero means
4753 @item show backtrace limit
4754 Display the current limit on backtrace levels.
4758 @section Selecting a Frame
4760 Most commands for examining the stack and other data in your program work on
4761 whichever stack frame is selected at the moment. Here are the commands for
4762 selecting a stack frame; all of them finish by printing a brief description
4763 of the stack frame just selected.
4766 @kindex frame@r{, selecting}
4767 @kindex f @r{(@code{frame})}
4770 Select frame number @var{n}. Recall that frame zero is the innermost
4771 (currently executing) frame, frame one is the frame that called the
4772 innermost one, and so on. The highest-numbered frame is the one for
4775 @item frame @var{addr}
4777 Select the frame at address @var{addr}. This is useful mainly if the
4778 chaining of stack frames has been damaged by a bug, making it
4779 impossible for @value{GDBN} to assign numbers properly to all frames. In
4780 addition, this can be useful when your program has multiple stacks and
4781 switches between them.
4783 On the SPARC architecture, @code{frame} needs two addresses to
4784 select an arbitrary frame: a frame pointer and a stack pointer.
4786 On the MIPS and Alpha architecture, it needs two addresses: a stack
4787 pointer and a program counter.
4789 On the 29k architecture, it needs three addresses: a register stack
4790 pointer, a program counter, and a memory stack pointer.
4794 Move @var{n} frames up the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
4795 advances toward the outermost frame, to higher frame numbers, to frames
4796 that have existed longer. @var{n} defaults to one.
4799 @kindex do @r{(@code{down})}
4801 Move @var{n} frames down the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
4802 advances toward the innermost frame, to lower frame numbers, to frames
4803 that were created more recently. @var{n} defaults to one. You may
4804 abbreviate @code{down} as @code{do}.
4807 All of these commands end by printing two lines of output describing the
4808 frame. The first line shows the frame number, the function name, the
4809 arguments, and the source file and line number of execution in that
4810 frame. The second line shows the text of that source line.
4818 #1 0x22f0 in main (argc=1, argv=0xf7fffbf4, env=0xf7fffbfc)
4820 10 read_input_file (argv[i]);
4824 After such a printout, the @code{list} command with no arguments
4825 prints ten lines centered on the point of execution in the frame.
4826 You can also edit the program at the point of execution with your favorite
4827 editing program by typing @code{edit}.
4828 @xref{List, ,Printing Source Lines},
4832 @kindex down-silently
4834 @item up-silently @var{n}
4835 @itemx down-silently @var{n}
4836 These two commands are variants of @code{up} and @code{down},
4837 respectively; they differ in that they do their work silently, without
4838 causing display of the new frame. They are intended primarily for use
4839 in @value{GDBN} command scripts, where the output might be unnecessary and
4844 @section Information About a Frame
4846 There are several other commands to print information about the selected
4852 When used without any argument, this command does not change which
4853 frame is selected, but prints a brief description of the currently
4854 selected stack frame. It can be abbreviated @code{f}. With an
4855 argument, this command is used to select a stack frame.
4856 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
4859 @kindex info f @r{(@code{info frame})}
4862 This command prints a verbose description of the selected stack frame,
4867 the address of the frame
4869 the address of the next frame down (called by this frame)
4871 the address of the next frame up (caller of this frame)
4873 the language in which the source code corresponding to this frame is written
4875 the address of the frame's arguments
4877 the address of the frame's local variables
4879 the program counter saved in it (the address of execution in the caller frame)
4881 which registers were saved in the frame
4884 @noindent The verbose description is useful when
4885 something has gone wrong that has made the stack format fail to fit
4886 the usual conventions.
4888 @item info frame @var{addr}
4889 @itemx info f @var{addr}
4890 Print a verbose description of the frame at address @var{addr}, without
4891 selecting that frame. The selected frame remains unchanged by this
4892 command. This requires the same kind of address (more than one for some
4893 architectures) that you specify in the @code{frame} command.
4894 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
4898 Print the arguments of the selected frame, each on a separate line.
4902 Print the local variables of the selected frame, each on a separate
4903 line. These are all variables (declared either static or automatic)
4904 accessible at the point of execution of the selected frame.
4907 @cindex catch exceptions, list active handlers
4908 @cindex exception handlers, how to list
4910 Print a list of all the exception handlers that are active in the
4911 current stack frame at the current point of execution. To see other
4912 exception handlers, visit the associated frame (using the @code{up},
4913 @code{down}, or @code{frame} commands); then type @code{info catch}.
4914 @xref{Set Catchpoints, , Setting Catchpoints}.
4920 @chapter Examining Source Files
4922 @value{GDBN} can print parts of your program's source, since the debugging
4923 information recorded in the program tells @value{GDBN} what source files were
4924 used to build it. When your program stops, @value{GDBN} spontaneously prints
4925 the line where it stopped. Likewise, when you select a stack frame
4926 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}), @value{GDBN} prints the line where
4927 execution in that frame has stopped. You can print other portions of
4928 source files by explicit command.
4930 If you use @value{GDBN} through its @sc{gnu} Emacs interface, you may
4931 prefer to use Emacs facilities to view source; see @ref{Emacs, ,Using
4932 @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}.
4935 * List:: Printing source lines
4936 * Specify Location:: How to specify code locations
4937 * Edit:: Editing source files
4938 * Search:: Searching source files
4939 * Source Path:: Specifying source directories
4940 * Machine Code:: Source and machine code
4944 @section Printing Source Lines
4947 @kindex l @r{(@code{list})}
4948 To print lines from a source file, use the @code{list} command
4949 (abbreviated @code{l}). By default, ten lines are printed.
4950 There are several ways to specify what part of the file you want to
4951 print; see @ref{Specify Location}, for the full list.
4953 Here are the forms of the @code{list} command most commonly used:
4956 @item list @var{linenum}
4957 Print lines centered around line number @var{linenum} in the
4958 current source file.
4960 @item list @var{function}
4961 Print lines centered around the beginning of function
4965 Print more lines. If the last lines printed were printed with a
4966 @code{list} command, this prints lines following the last lines
4967 printed; however, if the last line printed was a solitary line printed
4968 as part of displaying a stack frame (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the
4969 Stack}), this prints lines centered around that line.
4972 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
4975 @cindex @code{list}, how many lines to display
4976 By default, @value{GDBN} prints ten source lines with any of these forms of
4977 the @code{list} command. You can change this using @code{set listsize}:
4980 @kindex set listsize
4981 @item set listsize @var{count}
4982 Make the @code{list} command display @var{count} source lines (unless
4983 the @code{list} argument explicitly specifies some other number).
4985 @kindex show listsize
4987 Display the number of lines that @code{list} prints.
4990 Repeating a @code{list} command with @key{RET} discards the argument,
4991 so it is equivalent to typing just @code{list}. This is more useful
4992 than listing the same lines again. An exception is made for an
4993 argument of @samp{-}; that argument is preserved in repetition so that
4994 each repetition moves up in the source file.
4996 In general, the @code{list} command expects you to supply zero, one or two
4997 @dfn{linespecs}. Linespecs specify source lines; there are several ways
4998 of writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always
4999 to specify some source line.
5001 Here is a complete description of the possible arguments for @code{list}:
5004 @item list @var{linespec}
5005 Print lines centered around the line specified by @var{linespec}.
5007 @item list @var{first},@var{last}
5008 Print lines from @var{first} to @var{last}. Both arguments are
5009 linespecs. When a @code{list} command has two linespecs, and the
5010 source file of the second linespec is omitted, this refers to
5011 the same source file as the first linespec.
5013 @item list ,@var{last}
5014 Print lines ending with @var{last}.
5016 @item list @var{first},
5017 Print lines starting with @var{first}.
5020 Print lines just after the lines last printed.
5023 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
5026 As described in the preceding table.
5029 @node Specify Location
5030 @section Specifying a Location
5031 @cindex specifying location
5034 Several @value{GDBN} commands accept arguments that specify a location
5035 of your program's code. Since @value{GDBN} is a source-level
5036 debugger, a location usually specifies some line in the source code;
5037 for that reason, locations are also known as @dfn{linespecs}.
5039 Here are all the different ways of specifying a code location that
5040 @value{GDBN} understands:
5044 Specifies the line number @var{linenum} of the current source file.
5047 @itemx +@var{offset}
5048 Specifies the line @var{offset} lines before or after the @dfn{current
5049 line}. For the @code{list} command, the current line is the last one
5050 printed; for the breakpoint commands, this is the line at which
5051 execution stopped in the currently selected @dfn{stack frame}
5052 (@pxref{Frames, ,Frames}, for a description of stack frames.) When
5053 used as the second of the two linespecs in a @code{list} command,
5054 this specifies the line @var{offset} lines up or down from the first
5057 @item @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
5058 Specifies the line @var{linenum} in the source file @var{filename}.
5060 @item @var{function}
5061 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}.
5062 For example, in C, this is the line with the open brace.
5064 @item @var{filename}:@var{function}
5065 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}
5066 in the file @var{filename}. You only need the file name with a
5067 function name to avoid ambiguity when there are identically named
5068 functions in different source files.
5070 @item *@var{address}
5071 Specifies the program address @var{address}. For line-oriented
5072 commands, such as @code{list} and @code{edit}, this specifies a source
5073 line that contains @var{address}. For @code{break} and other
5074 breakpoint oriented commands, this can be used to set breakpoints in
5075 parts of your program which do not have debugging information or
5078 Here @var{address} may be any expression valid in the current working
5079 language (@pxref{Languages, working language}) that specifies a code
5080 address. In addition, as a convenience, @value{GDBN} extends the
5081 semantics of expressions used in locations to cover the situations
5082 that frequently happen during debugging. Here are the various forms
5086 @item @var{expression}
5087 Any expression valid in the current working language.
5089 @item @var{funcaddr}
5090 An address of a function or procedure derived from its name. In C,
5091 C@t{++}, Java, Objective-C, Fortran, minimal, and assembly, this is
5092 simply the function's name @var{function} (and actually a special case
5093 of a valid expression). In Pascal and Modula-2, this is
5094 @code{&@var{function}}. In Ada, this is @code{@var{function}'Address}
5095 (although the Pascal form also works).
5097 This form specifies the address of the function's first instruction,
5098 before the stack frame and arguments have been set up.
5100 @item '@var{filename}'::@var{funcaddr}
5101 Like @var{funcaddr} above, but also specifies the name of the source
5102 file explicitly. This is useful if the name of the function does not
5103 specify the function unambiguously, e.g., if there are several
5104 functions with identical names in different source files.
5111 @section Editing Source Files
5112 @cindex editing source files
5115 @kindex e @r{(@code{edit})}
5116 To edit the lines in a source file, use the @code{edit} command.
5117 The editing program of your choice
5118 is invoked with the current line set to
5119 the active line in the program.
5120 Alternatively, there are several ways to specify what part of the file you
5121 want to print if you want to see other parts of the program:
5124 @item edit @var{location}
5125 Edit the source file specified by @code{location}. Editing starts at
5126 that @var{location}, e.g., at the specified source line of the
5127 specified file. @xref{Specify Location}, for all the possible forms
5128 of the @var{location} argument; here are the forms of the @code{edit}
5129 command most commonly used:
5132 @item edit @var{number}
5133 Edit the current source file with @var{number} as the active line number.
5135 @item edit @var{function}
5136 Edit the file containing @var{function} at the beginning of its definition.
5141 @subsection Choosing your Editor
5142 You can customize @value{GDBN} to use any editor you want
5144 The only restriction is that your editor (say @code{ex}), recognizes the
5145 following command-line syntax:
5147 ex +@var{number} file
5149 The optional numeric value +@var{number} specifies the number of the line in
5150 the file where to start editing.}.
5151 By default, it is @file{@value{EDITOR}}, but you can change this
5152 by setting the environment variable @code{EDITOR} before using
5153 @value{GDBN}. For example, to configure @value{GDBN} to use the
5154 @code{vi} editor, you could use these commands with the @code{sh} shell:
5160 or in the @code{csh} shell,
5162 setenv EDITOR /usr/bin/vi
5167 @section Searching Source Files
5168 @cindex searching source files
5170 There are two commands for searching through the current source file for a
5175 @kindex forward-search
5176 @item forward-search @var{regexp}
5177 @itemx search @var{regexp}
5178 The command @samp{forward-search @var{regexp}} checks each line,
5179 starting with the one following the last line listed, for a match for
5180 @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can use the
5181 synonym @samp{search @var{regexp}} or abbreviate the command name as
5184 @kindex reverse-search
5185 @item reverse-search @var{regexp}
5186 The command @samp{reverse-search @var{regexp}} checks each line, starting
5187 with the one before the last line listed and going backward, for a match
5188 for @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can abbreviate
5189 this command as @code{rev}.
5193 @section Specifying Source Directories
5196 @cindex directories for source files
5197 Executable programs sometimes do not record the directories of the source
5198 files from which they were compiled, just the names. Even when they do,
5199 the directories could be moved between the compilation and your debugging
5200 session. @value{GDBN} has a list of directories to search for source files;
5201 this is called the @dfn{source path}. Each time @value{GDBN} wants a source file,
5202 it tries all the directories in the list, in the order they are present
5203 in the list, until it finds a file with the desired name.
5205 For example, suppose an executable references the file
5206 @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}, and our source path is
5207 @file{/mnt/cross}. The file is first looked up literally; if this
5208 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} is tried; if this
5209 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/foo.c} is opened; if this fails, an error
5210 message is printed. @value{GDBN} does not look up the parts of the
5211 source file name, such as @file{/mnt/cross/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}.
5212 Likewise, the subdirectories of the source path are not searched: if
5213 the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the binary refers to
5214 @file{foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would not find it under
5215 @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib}.
5217 Plain file names, relative file names with leading directories, file
5218 names containing dots, etc.@: are all treated as described above; for
5219 instance, if the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the source file
5220 is recorded as @file{../lib/foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would first try
5221 @file{../lib/foo.c}, then @file{/mnt/cross/../lib/foo.c}, and after
5222 that---@file{/mnt/cross/foo.c}.
5224 Note that the executable search path is @emph{not} used to locate the
5227 Whenever you reset or rearrange the source path, @value{GDBN} clears out
5228 any information it has cached about where source files are found and where
5229 each line is in the file.
5233 When you start @value{GDBN}, its source path includes only @samp{cdir}
5234 and @samp{cwd}, in that order.
5235 To add other directories, use the @code{directory} command.
5237 The search path is used to find both program source files and @value{GDBN}
5238 script files (read using the @samp{-command} option and @samp{source} command).
5240 In addition to the source path, @value{GDBN} provides a set of commands
5241 that manage a list of source path substitution rules. A @dfn{substitution
5242 rule} specifies how to rewrite source directories stored in the program's
5243 debug information in case the sources were moved to a different
5244 directory between compilation and debugging. A rule is made of
5245 two strings, the first specifying what needs to be rewritten in
5246 the path, and the second specifying how it should be rewritten.
5247 In @ref{set substitute-path}, we name these two parts @var{from} and
5248 @var{to} respectively. @value{GDBN} does a simple string replacement
5249 of @var{from} with @var{to} at the start of the directory part of the
5250 source file name, and uses that result instead of the original file
5251 name to look up the sources.
5253 Using the previous example, suppose the @file{foo-1.0} tree has been
5254 moved from @file{/usr/src} to @file{/mnt/cross}, then you can tell
5255 @value{GDBN} to replace @file{/usr/src} in all source path names with
5256 @file{/mnt/cross}. The first lookup will then be
5257 @file{/mnt/cross/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} in place of the original location
5258 of @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}. To define a source path
5259 substitution rule, use the @code{set substitute-path} command
5260 (@pxref{set substitute-path}).
5262 To avoid unexpected substitution results, a rule is applied only if the
5263 @var{from} part of the directory name ends at a directory separator.
5264 For instance, a rule substituting @file{/usr/source} into
5265 @file{/mnt/cross} will be applied to @file{/usr/source/foo-1.0} but
5266 not to @file{/usr/sourceware/foo-2.0}. And because the substitution
5267 is applied only at the beginning of the directory name, this rule will
5268 not be applied to @file{/root/usr/source/baz.c} either.
5270 In many cases, you can achieve the same result using the @code{directory}
5271 command. However, @code{set substitute-path} can be more efficient in
5272 the case where the sources are organized in a complex tree with multiple
5273 subdirectories. With the @code{directory} command, you need to add each
5274 subdirectory of your project. If you moved the entire tree while
5275 preserving its internal organization, then @code{set substitute-path}
5276 allows you to direct the debugger to all the sources with one single
5279 @code{set substitute-path} is also more than just a shortcut command.
5280 The source path is only used if the file at the original location no
5281 longer exists. On the other hand, @code{set substitute-path} modifies
5282 the debugger behavior to look at the rewritten location instead. So, if
5283 for any reason a source file that is not relevant to your executable is
5284 located at the original location, a substitution rule is the only
5285 method available to point @value{GDBN} at the new location.
5288 @item directory @var{dirname} @dots{}
5289 @item dir @var{dirname} @dots{}
5290 Add directory @var{dirname} to the front of the source path. Several
5291 directory names may be given to this command, separated by @samp{:}
5292 (@samp{;} on MS-DOS and MS-Windows, where @samp{:} usually appears as
5293 part of absolute file names) or
5294 whitespace. You may specify a directory that is already in the source
5295 path; this moves it forward, so @value{GDBN} searches it sooner.
5299 @vindex $cdir@r{, convenience variable}
5300 @vindex $cwd@r{, convenience variable}
5301 @cindex compilation directory
5302 @cindex current directory
5303 @cindex working directory
5304 @cindex directory, current
5305 @cindex directory, compilation
5306 You can use the string @samp{$cdir} to refer to the compilation
5307 directory (if one is recorded), and @samp{$cwd} to refer to the current
5308 working directory. @samp{$cwd} is not the same as @samp{.}---the former
5309 tracks the current working directory as it changes during your @value{GDBN}
5310 session, while the latter is immediately expanded to the current
5311 directory at the time you add an entry to the source path.
5314 Reset the source path to its default value (@samp{$cdir:$cwd} on Unix systems). This requires confirmation.
5316 @c RET-repeat for @code{directory} is explicitly disabled, but since
5317 @c repeating it would be a no-op we do not say that. (thanks to RMS)
5319 @item show directories
5320 @kindex show directories
5321 Print the source path: show which directories it contains.
5323 @anchor{set substitute-path}
5324 @item set substitute-path @var{from} @var{to}
5325 @kindex set substitute-path
5326 Define a source path substitution rule, and add it at the end of the
5327 current list of existing substitution rules. If a rule with the same
5328 @var{from} was already defined, then the old rule is also deleted.
5330 For example, if the file @file{/foo/bar/baz.c} was moved to
5331 @file{/mnt/cross/baz.c}, then the command
5334 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/cross
5338 will tell @value{GDBN} to replace @samp{/usr/src} with
5339 @samp{/mnt/cross}, which will allow @value{GDBN} to find the file
5340 @file{baz.c} even though it was moved.
5342 In the case when more than one substitution rule have been defined,
5343 the rules are evaluated one by one in the order where they have been
5344 defined. The first one matching, if any, is selected to perform
5347 For instance, if we had entered the following commands:
5350 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src/include /mnt/include
5351 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/src
5355 @value{GDBN} would then rewrite @file{/usr/src/include/defs.h} into
5356 @file{/mnt/include/defs.h} by using the first rule. However, it would
5357 use the second rule to rewrite @file{/usr/src/lib/foo.c} into
5358 @file{/mnt/src/lib/foo.c}.
5361 @item unset substitute-path [path]
5362 @kindex unset substitute-path
5363 If a path is specified, search the current list of substitution rules
5364 for a rule that would rewrite that path. Delete that rule if found.
5365 A warning is emitted by the debugger if no rule could be found.
5367 If no path is specified, then all substitution rules are deleted.
5369 @item show substitute-path [path]
5370 @kindex show substitute-path
5371 If a path is specified, then print the source path substitution rule
5372 which would rewrite that path, if any.
5374 If no path is specified, then print all existing source path substitution
5379 If your source path is cluttered with directories that are no longer of
5380 interest, @value{GDBN} may sometimes cause confusion by finding the wrong
5381 versions of source. You can correct the situation as follows:
5385 Use @code{directory} with no argument to reset the source path to its default value.
5388 Use @code{directory} with suitable arguments to reinstall the
5389 directories you want in the source path. You can add all the
5390 directories in one command.
5394 @section Source and Machine Code
5395 @cindex source line and its code address
5397 You can use the command @code{info line} to map source lines to program
5398 addresses (and vice versa), and the command @code{disassemble} to display
5399 a range of addresses as machine instructions. When run under @sc{gnu} Emacs
5400 mode, the @code{info line} command causes the arrow to point to the
5401 line specified. Also, @code{info line} prints addresses in symbolic form as
5406 @item info line @var{linespec}
5407 Print the starting and ending addresses of the compiled code for
5408 source line @var{linespec}. You can specify source lines in any of
5409 the ways documented in @ref{Specify Location}.
5412 For example, we can use @code{info line} to discover the location of
5413 the object code for the first line of function
5414 @code{m4_changequote}:
5416 @c FIXME: I think this example should also show the addresses in
5417 @c symbolic form, as they usually would be displayed.
5419 (@value{GDBP}) info line m4_changequote
5420 Line 895 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x634c and ends at 0x6350.
5424 @cindex code address and its source line
5425 We can also inquire (using @code{*@var{addr}} as the form for
5426 @var{linespec}) what source line covers a particular address:
5428 (@value{GDBP}) info line *0x63ff
5429 Line 926 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x63e4 and ends at 0x6404.
5432 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info line}
5433 @cindex @code{x} command, default address
5434 @kindex x@r{(examine), and} info line
5435 After @code{info line}, the default address for the @code{x} command
5436 is changed to the starting address of the line, so that @samp{x/i} is
5437 sufficient to begin examining the machine code (@pxref{Memory,
5438 ,Examining Memory}). Also, this address is saved as the value of the
5439 convenience variable @code{$_} (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
5444 @cindex assembly instructions
5445 @cindex instructions, assembly
5446 @cindex machine instructions
5447 @cindex listing machine instructions
5449 @itemx disassemble /m
5450 This specialized command dumps a range of memory as machine
5451 instructions. It can also print mixed source+disassembly by specifying
5452 the @code{/m} modifier.
5453 The default memory range is the function surrounding the
5454 program counter of the selected frame. A single argument to this
5455 command is a program counter value; @value{GDBN} dumps the function
5456 surrounding this value. Two arguments specify a range of addresses
5457 (first inclusive, second exclusive) to dump.
5460 The following example shows the disassembly of a range of addresses of
5461 HP PA-RISC 2.0 code:
5464 (@value{GDBP}) disas 0x32c4 0x32e4
5465 Dump of assembler code from 0x32c4 to 0x32e4:
5466 0x32c4 <main+204>: addil 0,dp
5467 0x32c8 <main+208>: ldw 0x22c(sr0,r1),r26
5468 0x32cc <main+212>: ldil 0x3000,r31
5469 0x32d0 <main+216>: ble 0x3f8(sr4,r31)
5470 0x32d4 <main+220>: ldo 0(r31),rp
5471 0x32d8 <main+224>: addil -0x800,dp
5472 0x32dc <main+228>: ldo 0x588(r1),r26
5473 0x32e0 <main+232>: ldil 0x3000,r31
5474 End of assembler dump.
5477 Here is an example showing mixed source+assembly for Intel x86:
5480 (@value{GDBP}) disas /m main
5481 Dump of assembler code for function main:
5483 0x08048330 <main+0>: push %ebp
5484 0x08048331 <main+1>: mov %esp,%ebp
5485 0x08048333 <main+3>: sub $0x8,%esp
5486 0x08048336 <main+6>: and $0xfffffff0,%esp
5487 0x08048339 <main+9>: sub $0x10,%esp
5489 6 printf ("Hello.\n");
5490 0x0804833c <main+12>: movl $0x8048440,(%esp)
5491 0x08048343 <main+19>: call 0x8048284 <puts@@plt>
5495 0x08048348 <main+24>: mov $0x0,%eax
5496 0x0804834d <main+29>: leave
5497 0x0804834e <main+30>: ret
5499 End of assembler dump.
5502 Some architectures have more than one commonly-used set of instruction
5503 mnemonics or other syntax.
5505 For programs that were dynamically linked and use shared libraries,
5506 instructions that call functions or branch to locations in the shared
5507 libraries might show a seemingly bogus location---it's actually a
5508 location of the relocation table. On some architectures, @value{GDBN}
5509 might be able to resolve these to actual function names.
5512 @kindex set disassembly-flavor
5513 @cindex Intel disassembly flavor
5514 @cindex AT&T disassembly flavor
5515 @item set disassembly-flavor @var{instruction-set}
5516 Select the instruction set to use when disassembling the
5517 program via the @code{disassemble} or @code{x/i} commands.
5519 Currently this command is only defined for the Intel x86 family. You
5520 can set @var{instruction-set} to either @code{intel} or @code{att}.
5521 The default is @code{att}, the AT&T flavor used by default by Unix
5522 assemblers for x86-based targets.
5524 @kindex show disassembly-flavor
5525 @item show disassembly-flavor
5526 Show the current setting of the disassembly flavor.
5531 @chapter Examining Data
5533 @cindex printing data
5534 @cindex examining data
5537 @c "inspect" is not quite a synonym if you are using Epoch, which we do not
5538 @c document because it is nonstandard... Under Epoch it displays in a
5539 @c different window or something like that.
5540 The usual way to examine data in your program is with the @code{print}
5541 command (abbreviated @code{p}), or its synonym @code{inspect}. It
5542 evaluates and prints the value of an expression of the language your
5543 program is written in (@pxref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with
5544 Different Languages}).
5547 @item print @var{expr}
5548 @itemx print /@var{f} @var{expr}
5549 @var{expr} is an expression (in the source language). By default the
5550 value of @var{expr} is printed in a format appropriate to its data type;
5551 you can choose a different format by specifying @samp{/@var{f}}, where
5552 @var{f} is a letter specifying the format; see @ref{Output Formats,,Output
5556 @itemx print /@var{f}
5557 @cindex reprint the last value
5558 If you omit @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} displays the last value again (from the
5559 @dfn{value history}; @pxref{Value History, ,Value History}). This allows you to
5560 conveniently inspect the same value in an alternative format.
5563 A more low-level way of examining data is with the @code{x} command.
5564 It examines data in memory at a specified address and prints it in a
5565 specified format. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
5567 If you are interested in information about types, or about how the
5568 fields of a struct or a class are declared, use the @code{ptype @var{exp}}
5569 command rather than @code{print}. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol
5573 * Expressions:: Expressions
5574 * Ambiguous Expressions:: Ambiguous Expressions
5575 * Variables:: Program variables
5576 * Arrays:: Artificial arrays
5577 * Output Formats:: Output formats
5578 * Memory:: Examining memory
5579 * Auto Display:: Automatic display
5580 * Print Settings:: Print settings
5581 * Value History:: Value history
5582 * Convenience Vars:: Convenience variables
5583 * Registers:: Registers
5584 * Floating Point Hardware:: Floating point hardware
5585 * Vector Unit:: Vector Unit
5586 * OS Information:: Auxiliary data provided by operating system
5587 * Memory Region Attributes:: Memory region attributes
5588 * Dump/Restore Files:: Copy between memory and a file
5589 * Core File Generation:: Cause a program dump its core
5590 * Character Sets:: Debugging programs that use a different
5591 character set than GDB does
5592 * Caching Remote Data:: Data caching for remote targets
5596 @section Expressions
5599 @code{print} and many other @value{GDBN} commands accept an expression and
5600 compute its value. Any kind of constant, variable or operator defined
5601 by the programming language you are using is valid in an expression in
5602 @value{GDBN}. This includes conditional expressions, function calls,
5603 casts, and string constants. It also includes preprocessor macros, if
5604 you compiled your program to include this information; see
5607 @cindex arrays in expressions
5608 @value{GDBN} supports array constants in expressions input by
5609 the user. The syntax is @{@var{element}, @var{element}@dots{}@}. For example,
5610 you can use the command @code{print @{1, 2, 3@}} to create an array
5611 of three integers. If you pass an array to a function or assign it
5612 to a program variable, @value{GDBN} copies the array to memory that
5613 is @code{malloc}ed in the target program.
5615 Because C is so widespread, most of the expressions shown in examples in
5616 this manual are in C. @xref{Languages, , Using @value{GDBN} with Different
5617 Languages}, for information on how to use expressions in other
5620 In this section, we discuss operators that you can use in @value{GDBN}
5621 expressions regardless of your programming language.
5623 @cindex casts, in expressions
5624 Casts are supported in all languages, not just in C, because it is so
5625 useful to cast a number into a pointer in order to examine a structure
5626 at that address in memory.
5627 @c FIXME: casts supported---Mod2 true?
5629 @value{GDBN} supports these operators, in addition to those common
5630 to programming languages:
5634 @samp{@@} is a binary operator for treating parts of memory as arrays.
5635 @xref{Arrays, ,Artificial Arrays}, for more information.
5638 @samp{::} allows you to specify a variable in terms of the file or
5639 function where it is defined. @xref{Variables, ,Program Variables}.
5641 @cindex @{@var{type}@}
5642 @cindex type casting memory
5643 @cindex memory, viewing as typed object
5644 @cindex casts, to view memory
5645 @item @{@var{type}@} @var{addr}
5646 Refers to an object of type @var{type} stored at address @var{addr} in
5647 memory. @var{addr} may be any expression whose value is an integer or
5648 pointer (but parentheses are required around binary operators, just as in
5649 a cast). This construct is allowed regardless of what kind of data is
5650 normally supposed to reside at @var{addr}.
5653 @node Ambiguous Expressions
5654 @section Ambiguous Expressions
5655 @cindex ambiguous expressions
5657 Expressions can sometimes contain some ambiguous elements. For instance,
5658 some programming languages (notably Ada, C@t{++} and Objective-C) permit
5659 a single function name to be defined several times, for application in
5660 different contexts. This is called @dfn{overloading}. Another example
5661 involving Ada is generics. A @dfn{generic package} is similar to C@t{++}
5662 templates and is typically instantiated several times, resulting in
5663 the same function name being defined in different contexts.
5665 In some cases and depending on the language, it is possible to adjust
5666 the expression to remove the ambiguity. For instance in C@t{++}, you
5667 can specify the signature of the function you want to break on, as in
5668 @kbd{break @var{function}(@var{types})}. In Ada, using the fully
5669 qualified name of your function often makes the expression unambiguous
5672 When an ambiguity that needs to be resolved is detected, the debugger
5673 has the capability to display a menu of numbered choices for each
5674 possibility, and then waits for the selection with the prompt @samp{>}.
5675 The first option is always @samp{[0] cancel}, and typing @kbd{0 @key{RET}}
5676 aborts the current command. If the command in which the expression was
5677 used allows more than one choice to be selected, the next option in the
5678 menu is @samp{[1] all}, and typing @kbd{1 @key{RET}} selects all possible
5681 For example, the following session excerpt shows an attempt to set a
5682 breakpoint at the overloaded symbol @code{String::after}.
5683 We choose three particular definitions of that function name:
5685 @c FIXME! This is likely to change to show arg type lists, at least
5688 (@value{GDBP}) b String::after
5691 [2] file:String.cc; line number:867
5692 [3] file:String.cc; line number:860
5693 [4] file:String.cc; line number:875
5694 [5] file:String.cc; line number:853
5695 [6] file:String.cc; line number:846
5696 [7] file:String.cc; line number:735
5698 Breakpoint 1 at 0xb26c: file String.cc, line 867.
5699 Breakpoint 2 at 0xb344: file String.cc, line 875.
5700 Breakpoint 3 at 0xafcc: file String.cc, line 846.
5701 Multiple breakpoints were set.
5702 Use the "delete" command to delete unwanted
5709 @kindex set multiple-symbols
5710 @item set multiple-symbols @var{mode}
5711 @cindex multiple-symbols menu
5713 This option allows you to adjust the debugger behavior when an expression
5716 By default, @var{mode} is set to @code{all}. If the command with which
5717 the expression is used allows more than one choice, then @value{GDBN}
5718 automatically selects all possible choices. For instance, inserting
5719 a breakpoint on a function using an ambiguous name results in a breakpoint
5720 inserted on each possible match. However, if a unique choice must be made,
5721 then @value{GDBN} uses the menu to help you disambiguate the expression.
5722 For instance, printing the address of an overloaded function will result
5723 in the use of the menu.
5725 When @var{mode} is set to @code{ask}, the debugger always uses the menu
5726 when an ambiguity is detected.
5728 Finally, when @var{mode} is set to @code{cancel}, the debugger reports
5729 an error due to the ambiguity and the command is aborted.
5731 @kindex show multiple-symbols
5732 @item show multiple-symbols
5733 Show the current value of the @code{multiple-symbols} setting.
5737 @section Program Variables
5739 The most common kind of expression to use is the name of a variable
5742 Variables in expressions are understood in the selected stack frame
5743 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}); they must be either:
5747 global (or file-static)
5754 visible according to the scope rules of the
5755 programming language from the point of execution in that frame
5758 @noindent This means that in the function
5773 you can examine and use the variable @code{a} whenever your program is
5774 executing within the function @code{foo}, but you can only use or
5775 examine the variable @code{b} while your program is executing inside
5776 the block where @code{b} is declared.
5778 @cindex variable name conflict
5779 There is an exception: you can refer to a variable or function whose
5780 scope is a single source file even if the current execution point is not
5781 in this file. But it is possible to have more than one such variable or
5782 function with the same name (in different source files). If that
5783 happens, referring to that name has unpredictable effects. If you wish,
5784 you can specify a static variable in a particular function or file,
5785 using the colon-colon (@code{::}) notation:
5787 @cindex colon-colon, context for variables/functions
5789 @c info cannot cope with a :: index entry, but why deprive hard copy readers?
5790 @cindex @code{::}, context for variables/functions
5793 @var{file}::@var{variable}
5794 @var{function}::@var{variable}
5798 Here @var{file} or @var{function} is the name of the context for the
5799 static @var{variable}. In the case of file names, you can use quotes to
5800 make sure @value{GDBN} parses the file name as a single word---for example,
5801 to print a global value of @code{x} defined in @file{f2.c}:
5804 (@value{GDBP}) p 'f2.c'::x
5807 @cindex C@t{++} scope resolution
5808 This use of @samp{::} is very rarely in conflict with the very similar
5809 use of the same notation in C@t{++}. @value{GDBN} also supports use of the C@t{++}
5810 scope resolution operator in @value{GDBN} expressions.
5811 @c FIXME: Um, so what happens in one of those rare cases where it's in
5814 @cindex wrong values
5815 @cindex variable values, wrong
5816 @cindex function entry/exit, wrong values of variables
5817 @cindex optimized code, wrong values of variables
5819 @emph{Warning:} Occasionally, a local variable may appear to have the
5820 wrong value at certain points in a function---just after entry to a new
5821 scope, and just before exit.
5823 You may see this problem when you are stepping by machine instructions.
5824 This is because, on most machines, it takes more than one instruction to
5825 set up a stack frame (including local variable definitions); if you are
5826 stepping by machine instructions, variables may appear to have the wrong
5827 values until the stack frame is completely built. On exit, it usually
5828 also takes more than one machine instruction to destroy a stack frame;
5829 after you begin stepping through that group of instructions, local
5830 variable definitions may be gone.
5832 This may also happen when the compiler does significant optimizations.
5833 To be sure of always seeing accurate values, turn off all optimization
5836 @cindex ``No symbol "foo" in current context''
5837 Another possible effect of compiler optimizations is to optimize
5838 unused variables out of existence, or assign variables to registers (as
5839 opposed to memory addresses). Depending on the support for such cases
5840 offered by the debug info format used by the compiler, @value{GDBN}
5841 might not be able to display values for such local variables. If that
5842 happens, @value{GDBN} will print a message like this:
5845 No symbol "foo" in current context.
5848 To solve such problems, either recompile without optimizations, or use a
5849 different debug info format, if the compiler supports several such
5850 formats. For example, @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C/C@t{++} compiler,
5851 usually supports the @option{-gstabs+} option. @option{-gstabs+}
5852 produces debug info in a format that is superior to formats such as
5853 COFF. You may be able to use DWARF 2 (@option{-gdwarf-2}), which is also
5854 an effective form for debug info. @xref{Debugging Options,,Options
5855 for Debugging Your Program or GCC, gcc.info, Using the @sc{gnu}
5856 Compiler Collection (GCC)}.
5857 @xref{C, ,C and C@t{++}}, for more information about debug info formats
5858 that are best suited to C@t{++} programs.
5860 If you ask to print an object whose contents are unknown to
5861 @value{GDBN}, e.g., because its data type is not completely specified
5862 by the debug information, @value{GDBN} will say @samp{<incomplete
5863 type>}. @xref{Symbols, incomplete type}, for more about this.
5865 Strings are identified as arrays of @code{char} values without specified
5866 signedness. Arrays of either @code{signed char} or @code{unsigned char} get
5867 printed as arrays of 1 byte sized integers. @code{-fsigned-char} or
5868 @code{-funsigned-char} @value{NGCC} options have no effect as @value{GDBN}
5869 defines literal string type @code{"char"} as @code{char} without a sign.
5874 signed char var1[] = "A";
5877 You get during debugging
5882 $2 = @{65 'A', 0 '\0'@}
5886 @section Artificial Arrays
5888 @cindex artificial array
5890 @kindex @@@r{, referencing memory as an array}
5891 It is often useful to print out several successive objects of the
5892 same type in memory; a section of an array, or an array of
5893 dynamically determined size for which only a pointer exists in the
5896 You can do this by referring to a contiguous span of memory as an
5897 @dfn{artificial array}, using the binary operator @samp{@@}. The left
5898 operand of @samp{@@} should be the first element of the desired array
5899 and be an individual object. The right operand should be the desired length
5900 of the array. The result is an array value whose elements are all of
5901 the type of the left argument. The first element is actually the left
5902 argument; the second element comes from bytes of memory immediately
5903 following those that hold the first element, and so on. Here is an
5904 example. If a program says
5907 int *array = (int *) malloc (len * sizeof (int));
5911 you can print the contents of @code{array} with
5917 The left operand of @samp{@@} must reside in memory. Array values made
5918 with @samp{@@} in this way behave just like other arrays in terms of
5919 subscripting, and are coerced to pointers when used in expressions.
5920 Artificial arrays most often appear in expressions via the value history
5921 (@pxref{Value History, ,Value History}), after printing one out.
5923 Another way to create an artificial array is to use a cast.
5924 This re-interprets a value as if it were an array.
5925 The value need not be in memory:
5927 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[2])0x12345678
5928 $1 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
5931 As a convenience, if you leave the array length out (as in
5932 @samp{(@var{type}[])@var{value}}) @value{GDBN} calculates the size to fill
5933 the value (as @samp{sizeof(@var{value})/sizeof(@var{type})}:
5935 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[])0x12345678
5936 $2 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
5939 Sometimes the artificial array mechanism is not quite enough; in
5940 moderately complex data structures, the elements of interest may not
5941 actually be adjacent---for example, if you are interested in the values
5942 of pointers in an array. One useful work-around in this situation is
5943 to use a convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
5944 Variables}) as a counter in an expression that prints the first
5945 interesting value, and then repeat that expression via @key{RET}. For
5946 instance, suppose you have an array @code{dtab} of pointers to
5947 structures, and you are interested in the values of a field @code{fv}
5948 in each structure. Here is an example of what you might type:
5958 @node Output Formats
5959 @section Output Formats
5961 @cindex formatted output
5962 @cindex output formats
5963 By default, @value{GDBN} prints a value according to its data type. Sometimes
5964 this is not what you want. For example, you might want to print a number
5965 in hex, or a pointer in decimal. Or you might want to view data in memory
5966 at a certain address as a character string or as an instruction. To do
5967 these things, specify an @dfn{output format} when you print a value.
5969 The simplest use of output formats is to say how to print a value
5970 already computed. This is done by starting the arguments of the
5971 @code{print} command with a slash and a format letter. The format
5972 letters supported are:
5976 Regard the bits of the value as an integer, and print the integer in
5980 Print as integer in signed decimal.
5983 Print as integer in unsigned decimal.
5986 Print as integer in octal.
5989 Print as integer in binary. The letter @samp{t} stands for ``two''.
5990 @footnote{@samp{b} cannot be used because these format letters are also
5991 used with the @code{x} command, where @samp{b} stands for ``byte'';
5992 see @ref{Memory,,Examining Memory}.}
5995 @cindex unknown address, locating
5996 @cindex locate address
5997 Print as an address, both absolute in hexadecimal and as an offset from
5998 the nearest preceding symbol. You can use this format used to discover
5999 where (in what function) an unknown address is located:
6002 (@value{GDBP}) p/a 0x54320
6003 $3 = 0x54320 <_initialize_vx+396>
6007 The command @code{info symbol 0x54320} yields similar results.
6008 @xref{Symbols, info symbol}.
6011 Regard as an integer and print it as a character constant. This
6012 prints both the numerical value and its character representation. The
6013 character representation is replaced with the octal escape @samp{\nnn}
6014 for characters outside the 7-bit @sc{ascii} range.
6016 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays @code{char},
6017 @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} data as character
6018 constants. Single-byte members of vectors are displayed as integer
6022 Regard the bits of the value as a floating point number and print
6023 using typical floating point syntax.
6026 @cindex printing strings
6027 @cindex printing byte arrays
6028 Regard as a string, if possible. With this format, pointers to single-byte
6029 data are displayed as null-terminated strings and arrays of single-byte data
6030 are displayed as fixed-length strings. Other values are displayed in their
6033 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays pointers to and arrays of
6034 @code{char}, @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} as
6035 strings. Single-byte members of a vector are displayed as an integer
6039 For example, to print the program counter in hex (@pxref{Registers}), type
6046 Note that no space is required before the slash; this is because command
6047 names in @value{GDBN} cannot contain a slash.
6049 To reprint the last value in the value history with a different format,
6050 you can use the @code{print} command with just a format and no
6051 expression. For example, @samp{p/x} reprints the last value in hex.
6054 @section Examining Memory
6056 You can use the command @code{x} (for ``examine'') to examine memory in
6057 any of several formats, independently of your program's data types.
6059 @cindex examining memory
6061 @kindex x @r{(examine memory)}
6062 @item x/@var{nfu} @var{addr}
6065 Use the @code{x} command to examine memory.
6068 @var{n}, @var{f}, and @var{u} are all optional parameters that specify how
6069 much memory to display and how to format it; @var{addr} is an
6070 expression giving the address where you want to start displaying memory.
6071 If you use defaults for @var{nfu}, you need not type the slash @samp{/}.
6072 Several commands set convenient defaults for @var{addr}.
6075 @item @var{n}, the repeat count
6076 The repeat count is a decimal integer; the default is 1. It specifies
6077 how much memory (counting by units @var{u}) to display.
6078 @c This really is **decimal**; unaffected by 'set radix' as of GDB
6081 @item @var{f}, the display format
6082 The display format is one of the formats used by @code{print}
6083 (@samp{x}, @samp{d}, @samp{u}, @samp{o}, @samp{t}, @samp{a}, @samp{c},
6084 @samp{f}, @samp{s}), and in addition @samp{i} (for machine instructions).
6085 The default is @samp{x} (hexadecimal) initially. The default changes
6086 each time you use either @code{x} or @code{print}.
6088 @item @var{u}, the unit size
6089 The unit size is any of
6095 Halfwords (two bytes).
6097 Words (four bytes). This is the initial default.
6099 Giant words (eight bytes).
6102 Each time you specify a unit size with @code{x}, that size becomes the
6103 default unit the next time you use @code{x}. (For the @samp{s} and
6104 @samp{i} formats, the unit size is ignored and is normally not written.)
6106 @item @var{addr}, starting display address
6107 @var{addr} is the address where you want @value{GDBN} to begin displaying
6108 memory. The expression need not have a pointer value (though it may);
6109 it is always interpreted as an integer address of a byte of memory.
6110 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information on expressions. The default for
6111 @var{addr} is usually just after the last address examined---but several
6112 other commands also set the default address: @code{info breakpoints} (to
6113 the address of the last breakpoint listed), @code{info line} (to the
6114 starting address of a line), and @code{print} (if you use it to display
6115 a value from memory).
6118 For example, @samp{x/3uh 0x54320} is a request to display three halfwords
6119 (@code{h}) of memory, formatted as unsigned decimal integers (@samp{u}),
6120 starting at address @code{0x54320}. @samp{x/4xw $sp} prints the four
6121 words (@samp{w}) of memory above the stack pointer (here, @samp{$sp};
6122 @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}) in hexadecimal (@samp{x}).
6124 Since the letters indicating unit sizes are all distinct from the
6125 letters specifying output formats, you do not have to remember whether
6126 unit size or format comes first; either order works. The output
6127 specifications @samp{4xw} and @samp{4wx} mean exactly the same thing.
6128 (However, the count @var{n} must come first; @samp{wx4} does not work.)
6130 Even though the unit size @var{u} is ignored for the formats @samp{s}
6131 and @samp{i}, you might still want to use a count @var{n}; for example,
6132 @samp{3i} specifies that you want to see three machine instructions,
6133 including any operands. For convenience, especially when used with
6134 the @code{display} command, the @samp{i} format also prints branch delay
6135 slot instructions, if any, beyond the count specified, which immediately
6136 follow the last instruction that is within the count. The command
6137 @code{disassemble} gives an alternative way of inspecting machine
6138 instructions; see @ref{Machine Code,,Source and Machine Code}.
6140 All the defaults for the arguments to @code{x} are designed to make it
6141 easy to continue scanning memory with minimal specifications each time
6142 you use @code{x}. For example, after you have inspected three machine
6143 instructions with @samp{x/3i @var{addr}}, you can inspect the next seven
6144 with just @samp{x/7}. If you use @key{RET} to repeat the @code{x} command,
6145 the repeat count @var{n} is used again; the other arguments default as
6146 for successive uses of @code{x}.
6148 @cindex @code{$_}, @code{$__}, and value history
6149 The addresses and contents printed by the @code{x} command are not saved
6150 in the value history because there is often too much of them and they
6151 would get in the way. Instead, @value{GDBN} makes these values available for
6152 subsequent use in expressions as values of the convenience variables
6153 @code{$_} and @code{$__}. After an @code{x} command, the last address
6154 examined is available for use in expressions in the convenience variable
6155 @code{$_}. The contents of that address, as examined, are available in
6156 the convenience variable @code{$__}.
6158 If the @code{x} command has a repeat count, the address and contents saved
6159 are from the last memory unit printed; this is not the same as the last
6160 address printed if several units were printed on the last line of output.
6162 @cindex remote memory comparison
6163 @cindex verify remote memory image
6164 When you are debugging a program running on a remote target machine
6165 (@pxref{Remote Debugging}), you may wish to verify the program's image in the
6166 remote machine's memory against the executable file you downloaded to
6167 the target. The @code{compare-sections} command is provided for such
6171 @kindex compare-sections
6172 @item compare-sections @r{[}@var{section-name}@r{]}
6173 Compare the data of a loadable section @var{section-name} in the
6174 executable file of the program being debugged with the same section in
6175 the remote machine's memory, and report any mismatches. With no
6176 arguments, compares all loadable sections. This command's
6177 availability depends on the target's support for the @code{"qCRC"}
6182 @section Automatic Display
6183 @cindex automatic display
6184 @cindex display of expressions
6186 If you find that you want to print the value of an expression frequently
6187 (to see how it changes), you might want to add it to the @dfn{automatic
6188 display list} so that @value{GDBN} prints its value each time your program stops.
6189 Each expression added to the list is given a number to identify it;
6190 to remove an expression from the list, you specify that number.
6191 The automatic display looks like this:
6195 3: bar[5] = (struct hack *) 0x3804
6199 This display shows item numbers, expressions and their current values. As with
6200 displays you request manually using @code{x} or @code{print}, you can
6201 specify the output format you prefer; in fact, @code{display} decides
6202 whether to use @code{print} or @code{x} depending your format
6203 specification---it uses @code{x} if you specify either the @samp{i}
6204 or @samp{s} format, or a unit size; otherwise it uses @code{print}.
6208 @item display @var{expr}
6209 Add the expression @var{expr} to the list of expressions to display
6210 each time your program stops. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
6212 @code{display} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
6214 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{expr}
6215 For @var{fmt} specifying only a display format and not a size or
6216 count, add the expression @var{expr} to the auto-display list but
6217 arrange to display it each time in the specified format @var{fmt}.
6218 @xref{Output Formats,,Output Formats}.
6220 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{addr}
6221 For @var{fmt} @samp{i} or @samp{s}, or including a unit-size or a
6222 number of units, add the expression @var{addr} as a memory address to
6223 be examined each time your program stops. Examining means in effect
6224 doing @samp{x/@var{fmt} @var{addr}}. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
6227 For example, @samp{display/i $pc} can be helpful, to see the machine
6228 instruction about to be executed each time execution stops (@samp{$pc}
6229 is a common name for the program counter; @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
6232 @kindex delete display
6234 @item undisplay @var{dnums}@dots{}
6235 @itemx delete display @var{dnums}@dots{}
6236 Remove item numbers @var{dnums} from the list of expressions to display.
6238 @code{undisplay} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
6239 (Otherwise you would just get the error @samp{No display number @dots{}}.)
6241 @kindex disable display
6242 @item disable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
6243 Disable the display of item numbers @var{dnums}. A disabled display
6244 item is not printed automatically, but is not forgotten. It may be
6245 enabled again later.
6247 @kindex enable display
6248 @item enable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
6249 Enable display of item numbers @var{dnums}. It becomes effective once
6250 again in auto display of its expression, until you specify otherwise.
6253 Display the current values of the expressions on the list, just as is
6254 done when your program stops.
6256 @kindex info display
6258 Print the list of expressions previously set up to display
6259 automatically, each one with its item number, but without showing the
6260 values. This includes disabled expressions, which are marked as such.
6261 It also includes expressions which would not be displayed right now
6262 because they refer to automatic variables not currently available.
6265 @cindex display disabled out of scope
6266 If a display expression refers to local variables, then it does not make
6267 sense outside the lexical context for which it was set up. Such an
6268 expression is disabled when execution enters a context where one of its
6269 variables is not defined. For example, if you give the command
6270 @code{display last_char} while inside a function with an argument
6271 @code{last_char}, @value{GDBN} displays this argument while your program
6272 continues to stop inside that function. When it stops elsewhere---where
6273 there is no variable @code{last_char}---the display is disabled
6274 automatically. The next time your program stops where @code{last_char}
6275 is meaningful, you can enable the display expression once again.
6277 @node Print Settings
6278 @section Print Settings
6280 @cindex format options
6281 @cindex print settings
6282 @value{GDBN} provides the following ways to control how arrays, structures,
6283 and symbols are printed.
6286 These settings are useful for debugging programs in any language:
6290 @item set print address
6291 @itemx set print address on
6292 @cindex print/don't print memory addresses
6293 @value{GDBN} prints memory addresses showing the location of stack
6294 traces, structure values, pointer values, breakpoints, and so forth,
6295 even when it also displays the contents of those addresses. The default
6296 is @code{on}. For example, this is what a stack frame display looks like with
6297 @code{set print address on}:
6302 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<<", rq=0x34c88 ">>")
6304 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
6308 @item set print address off
6309 Do not print addresses when displaying their contents. For example,
6310 this is the same stack frame displayed with @code{set print address off}:
6314 (@value{GDBP}) set print addr off
6316 #0 set_quotes (lq="<<", rq=">>") at input.c:530
6317 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
6321 You can use @samp{set print address off} to eliminate all machine
6322 dependent displays from the @value{GDBN} interface. For example, with
6323 @code{print address off}, you should get the same text for backtraces on
6324 all machines---whether or not they involve pointer arguments.
6327 @item show print address
6328 Show whether or not addresses are to be printed.
6331 When @value{GDBN} prints a symbolic address, it normally prints the
6332 closest earlier symbol plus an offset. If that symbol does not uniquely
6333 identify the address (for example, it is a name whose scope is a single
6334 source file), you may need to clarify. One way to do this is with
6335 @code{info line}, for example @samp{info line *0x4537}. Alternately,
6336 you can set @value{GDBN} to print the source file and line number when
6337 it prints a symbolic address:
6340 @item set print symbol-filename on
6341 @cindex source file and line of a symbol
6342 @cindex symbol, source file and line
6343 Tell @value{GDBN} to print the source file name and line number of a
6344 symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
6346 @item set print symbol-filename off
6347 Do not print source file name and line number of a symbol. This is the
6350 @item show print symbol-filename
6351 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} will print the source file name and
6352 line number of a symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
6355 Another situation where it is helpful to show symbol filenames and line
6356 numbers is when disassembling code; @value{GDBN} shows you the line
6357 number and source file that corresponds to each instruction.
6359 Also, you may wish to see the symbolic form only if the address being
6360 printed is reasonably close to the closest earlier symbol:
6363 @item set print max-symbolic-offset @var{max-offset}
6364 @cindex maximum value for offset of closest symbol
6365 Tell @value{GDBN} to only display the symbolic form of an address if the
6366 offset between the closest earlier symbol and the address is less than
6367 @var{max-offset}. The default is 0, which tells @value{GDBN}
6368 to always print the symbolic form of an address if any symbol precedes it.
6370 @item show print max-symbolic-offset
6371 Ask how large the maximum offset is that @value{GDBN} prints in a
6375 @cindex wild pointer, interpreting
6376 @cindex pointer, finding referent
6377 If you have a pointer and you are not sure where it points, try
6378 @samp{set print symbol-filename on}. Then you can determine the name
6379 and source file location of the variable where it points, using
6380 @samp{p/a @var{pointer}}. This interprets the address in symbolic form.
6381 For example, here @value{GDBN} shows that a variable @code{ptt} points
6382 at another variable @code{t}, defined in @file{hi2.c}:
6385 (@value{GDBP}) set print symbol-filename on
6386 (@value{GDBP}) p/a ptt
6387 $4 = 0xe008 <t in hi2.c>
6391 @emph{Warning:} For pointers that point to a local variable, @samp{p/a}
6392 does not show the symbol name and filename of the referent, even with
6393 the appropriate @code{set print} options turned on.
6396 Other settings control how different kinds of objects are printed:
6399 @item set print array
6400 @itemx set print array on
6401 @cindex pretty print arrays
6402 Pretty print arrays. This format is more convenient to read,
6403 but uses more space. The default is off.
6405 @item set print array off
6406 Return to compressed format for arrays.
6408 @item show print array
6409 Show whether compressed or pretty format is selected for displaying
6412 @cindex print array indexes
6413 @item set print array-indexes
6414 @itemx set print array-indexes on
6415 Print the index of each element when displaying arrays. May be more
6416 convenient to locate a given element in the array or quickly find the
6417 index of a given element in that printed array. The default is off.
6419 @item set print array-indexes off
6420 Stop printing element indexes when displaying arrays.
6422 @item show print array-indexes
6423 Show whether the index of each element is printed when displaying
6426 @item set print elements @var{number-of-elements}
6427 @cindex number of array elements to print
6428 @cindex limit on number of printed array elements
6429 Set a limit on how many elements of an array @value{GDBN} will print.
6430 If @value{GDBN} is printing a large array, it stops printing after it has
6431 printed the number of elements set by the @code{set print elements} command.
6432 This limit also applies to the display of strings.
6433 When @value{GDBN} starts, this limit is set to 200.
6434 Setting @var{number-of-elements} to zero means that the printing is unlimited.
6436 @item show print elements
6437 Display the number of elements of a large array that @value{GDBN} will print.
6438 If the number is 0, then the printing is unlimited.
6440 @item set print frame-arguments @var{value}
6441 @cindex printing frame argument values
6442 @cindex print all frame argument values
6443 @cindex print frame argument values for scalars only
6444 @cindex do not print frame argument values
6445 This command allows to control how the values of arguments are printed
6446 when the debugger prints a frame (@pxref{Frames}). The possible
6451 The values of all arguments are printed. This is the default.
6454 Print the value of an argument only if it is a scalar. The value of more
6455 complex arguments such as arrays, structures, unions, etc, is replaced
6456 by @code{@dots{}}. Here is an example where only scalar arguments are shown:
6459 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=3, s=@dots{}, ss=0xbf8d508c, u=@dots{}, e=green)
6464 None of the argument values are printed. Instead, the value of each argument
6465 is replaced by @code{@dots{}}. In this case, the example above now becomes:
6468 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=@dots{}, s=@dots{}, ss=@dots{}, u=@dots{}, e=@dots{})
6473 By default, all argument values are always printed. But this command
6474 can be useful in several cases. For instance, it can be used to reduce
6475 the amount of information printed in each frame, making the backtrace
6476 more readable. Also, this command can be used to improve performance
6477 when displaying Ada frames, because the computation of large arguments
6478 can sometimes be CPU-intensive, especiallly in large applications.
6479 Setting @code{print frame-arguments} to @code{scalars} or @code{none}
6480 avoids this computation, thus speeding up the display of each Ada frame.
6482 @item show print frame-arguments
6483 Show how the value of arguments should be displayed when printing a frame.
6485 @item set print repeats
6486 @cindex repeated array elements
6487 Set the threshold for suppressing display of repeated array
6488 elements. When the number of consecutive identical elements of an
6489 array exceeds the threshold, @value{GDBN} prints the string
6490 @code{"<repeats @var{n} times>"}, where @var{n} is the number of
6491 identical repetitions, instead of displaying the identical elements
6492 themselves. Setting the threshold to zero will cause all elements to
6493 be individually printed. The default threshold is 10.
6495 @item show print repeats
6496 Display the current threshold for printing repeated identical
6499 @item set print null-stop
6500 @cindex @sc{null} elements in arrays
6501 Cause @value{GDBN} to stop printing the characters of an array when the first
6502 @sc{null} is encountered. This is useful when large arrays actually
6503 contain only short strings.
6506 @item show print null-stop
6507 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops printing an array on the first
6508 @sc{null} character.
6510 @item set print pretty on
6511 @cindex print structures in indented form
6512 @cindex indentation in structure display
6513 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in an indented format with one member
6514 per line, like this:
6529 @item set print pretty off
6530 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in a compact format, like this:
6534 $1 = @{next = 0x0, flags = @{sweet = 1, sour = 1@}, \
6535 meat = 0x54 "Pork"@}
6540 This is the default format.
6542 @item show print pretty
6543 Show which format @value{GDBN} is using to print structures.
6545 @item set print sevenbit-strings on
6546 @cindex eight-bit characters in strings
6547 @cindex octal escapes in strings
6548 Print using only seven-bit characters; if this option is set,
6549 @value{GDBN} displays any eight-bit characters (in strings or
6550 character values) using the notation @code{\}@var{nnn}. This setting is
6551 best if you are working in English (@sc{ascii}) and you use the
6552 high-order bit of characters as a marker or ``meta'' bit.
6554 @item set print sevenbit-strings off
6555 Print full eight-bit characters. This allows the use of more
6556 international character sets, and is the default.
6558 @item show print sevenbit-strings
6559 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} is printing only seven-bit characters.
6561 @item set print union on
6562 @cindex unions in structures, printing
6563 Tell @value{GDBN} to print unions which are contained in structures
6564 and other unions. This is the default setting.
6566 @item set print union off
6567 Tell @value{GDBN} not to print unions which are contained in
6568 structures and other unions. @value{GDBN} will print @code{"@{...@}"}
6571 @item show print union
6572 Ask @value{GDBN} whether or not it will print unions which are contained in
6573 structures and other unions.
6575 For example, given the declarations
6578 typedef enum @{Tree, Bug@} Species;
6579 typedef enum @{Big_tree, Acorn, Seedling@} Tree_forms;
6580 typedef enum @{Caterpillar, Cocoon, Butterfly@}
6591 struct thing foo = @{Tree, @{Acorn@}@};
6595 with @code{set print union on} in effect @samp{p foo} would print
6598 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{tree = Acorn, bug = Cocoon@}@}
6602 and with @code{set print union off} in effect it would print
6605 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{...@}@}
6609 @code{set print union} affects programs written in C-like languages
6615 These settings are of interest when debugging C@t{++} programs:
6618 @cindex demangling C@t{++} names
6619 @item set print demangle
6620 @itemx set print demangle on
6621 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than in the encoded
6622 (``mangled'') form passed to the assembler and linker for type-safe
6623 linkage. The default is on.
6625 @item show print demangle
6626 Show whether C@t{++} names are printed in mangled or demangled form.
6628 @item set print asm-demangle
6629 @itemx set print asm-demangle on
6630 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than their mangled form, even
6631 in assembler code printouts such as instruction disassemblies.
6634 @item show print asm-demangle
6635 Show whether C@t{++} names in assembly listings are printed in mangled
6638 @cindex C@t{++} symbol decoding style
6639 @cindex symbol decoding style, C@t{++}
6640 @kindex set demangle-style
6641 @item set demangle-style @var{style}
6642 Choose among several encoding schemes used by different compilers to
6643 represent C@t{++} names. The choices for @var{style} are currently:
6647 Allow @value{GDBN} to choose a decoding style by inspecting your program.
6650 Decode based on the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler (@code{g++}) encoding algorithm.
6651 This is the default.
6654 Decode based on the HP ANSI C@t{++} (@code{aCC}) encoding algorithm.
6657 Decode based on the Lucid C@t{++} compiler (@code{lcc}) encoding algorithm.
6660 Decode using the algorithm in the @cite{C@t{++} Annotated Reference Manual}.
6661 @strong{Warning:} this setting alone is not sufficient to allow
6662 debugging @code{cfront}-generated executables. @value{GDBN} would
6663 require further enhancement to permit that.
6666 If you omit @var{style}, you will see a list of possible formats.
6668 @item show demangle-style
6669 Display the encoding style currently in use for decoding C@t{++} symbols.
6671 @item set print object
6672 @itemx set print object on
6673 @cindex derived type of an object, printing
6674 @cindex display derived types
6675 When displaying a pointer to an object, identify the @emph{actual}
6676 (derived) type of the object rather than the @emph{declared} type, using
6677 the virtual function table.
6679 @item set print object off
6680 Display only the declared type of objects, without reference to the
6681 virtual function table. This is the default setting.
6683 @item show print object
6684 Show whether actual, or declared, object types are displayed.
6686 @item set print static-members
6687 @itemx set print static-members on
6688 @cindex static members of C@t{++} objects
6689 Print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object. The default is on.
6691 @item set print static-members off
6692 Do not print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object.
6694 @item show print static-members
6695 Show whether C@t{++} static members are printed or not.
6697 @item set print pascal_static-members
6698 @itemx set print pascal_static-members on
6699 @cindex static members of Pascal objects
6700 @cindex Pascal objects, static members display
6701 Print static members when displaying a Pascal object. The default is on.
6703 @item set print pascal_static-members off
6704 Do not print static members when displaying a Pascal object.
6706 @item show print pascal_static-members
6707 Show whether Pascal static members are printed or not.
6709 @c These don't work with HP ANSI C++ yet.
6710 @item set print vtbl
6711 @itemx set print vtbl on
6712 @cindex pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables
6713 @cindex virtual functions (C@t{++}) display
6714 @cindex VTBL display
6715 Pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables. The default is off.
6716 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
6717 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
6719 @item set print vtbl off
6720 Do not pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables.
6722 @item show print vtbl
6723 Show whether C@t{++} virtual function tables are pretty printed, or not.
6727 @section Value History
6729 @cindex value history
6730 @cindex history of values printed by @value{GDBN}
6731 Values printed by the @code{print} command are saved in the @value{GDBN}
6732 @dfn{value history}. This allows you to refer to them in other expressions.
6733 Values are kept until the symbol table is re-read or discarded
6734 (for example with the @code{file} or @code{symbol-file} commands).
6735 When the symbol table changes, the value history is discarded,
6736 since the values may contain pointers back to the types defined in the
6741 @cindex history number
6742 The values printed are given @dfn{history numbers} by which you can
6743 refer to them. These are successive integers starting with one.
6744 @code{print} shows you the history number assigned to a value by
6745 printing @samp{$@var{num} = } before the value; here @var{num} is the
6748 To refer to any previous value, use @samp{$} followed by the value's
6749 history number. The way @code{print} labels its output is designed to
6750 remind you of this. Just @code{$} refers to the most recent value in
6751 the history, and @code{$$} refers to the value before that.
6752 @code{$$@var{n}} refers to the @var{n}th value from the end; @code{$$2}
6753 is the value just prior to @code{$$}, @code{$$1} is equivalent to
6754 @code{$$}, and @code{$$0} is equivalent to @code{$}.
6756 For example, suppose you have just printed a pointer to a structure and
6757 want to see the contents of the structure. It suffices to type
6763 If you have a chain of structures where the component @code{next} points
6764 to the next one, you can print the contents of the next one with this:
6771 You can print successive links in the chain by repeating this
6772 command---which you can do by just typing @key{RET}.
6774 Note that the history records values, not expressions. If the value of
6775 @code{x} is 4 and you type these commands:
6783 then the value recorded in the value history by the @code{print} command
6784 remains 4 even though the value of @code{x} has changed.
6789 Print the last ten values in the value history, with their item numbers.
6790 This is like @samp{p@ $$9} repeated ten times, except that @code{show
6791 values} does not change the history.
6793 @item show values @var{n}
6794 Print ten history values centered on history item number @var{n}.
6797 Print ten history values just after the values last printed. If no more
6798 values are available, @code{show values +} produces no display.
6801 Pressing @key{RET} to repeat @code{show values @var{n}} has exactly the
6802 same effect as @samp{show values +}.
6804 @node Convenience Vars
6805 @section Convenience Variables
6807 @cindex convenience variables
6808 @cindex user-defined variables
6809 @value{GDBN} provides @dfn{convenience variables} that you can use within
6810 @value{GDBN} to hold on to a value and refer to it later. These variables
6811 exist entirely within @value{GDBN}; they are not part of your program, and
6812 setting a convenience variable has no direct effect on further execution
6813 of your program. That is why you can use them freely.
6815 Convenience variables are prefixed with @samp{$}. Any name preceded by
6816 @samp{$} can be used for a convenience variable, unless it is one of
6817 the predefined machine-specific register names (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
6818 (Value history references, in contrast, are @emph{numbers} preceded
6819 by @samp{$}. @xref{Value History, ,Value History}.)
6821 You can save a value in a convenience variable with an assignment
6822 expression, just as you would set a variable in your program.
6826 set $foo = *object_ptr
6830 would save in @code{$foo} the value contained in the object pointed to by
6833 Using a convenience variable for the first time creates it, but its
6834 value is @code{void} until you assign a new value. You can alter the
6835 value with another assignment at any time.
6837 Convenience variables have no fixed types. You can assign a convenience
6838 variable any type of value, including structures and arrays, even if
6839 that variable already has a value of a different type. The convenience
6840 variable, when used as an expression, has the type of its current value.
6843 @kindex show convenience
6844 @cindex show all user variables
6845 @item show convenience
6846 Print a list of convenience variables used so far, and their values.
6847 Abbreviated @code{show conv}.
6849 @kindex init-if-undefined
6850 @cindex convenience variables, initializing
6851 @item init-if-undefined $@var{variable} = @var{expression}
6852 Set a convenience variable if it has not already been set. This is useful
6853 for user-defined commands that keep some state. It is similar, in concept,
6854 to using local static variables with initializers in C (except that
6855 convenience variables are global). It can also be used to allow users to
6856 override default values used in a command script.
6858 If the variable is already defined then the expression is not evaluated so
6859 any side-effects do not occur.
6862 One of the ways to use a convenience variable is as a counter to be
6863 incremented or a pointer to be advanced. For example, to print
6864 a field from successive elements of an array of structures:
6868 print bar[$i++]->contents
6872 Repeat that command by typing @key{RET}.
6874 Some convenience variables are created automatically by @value{GDBN} and given
6875 values likely to be useful.
6878 @vindex $_@r{, convenience variable}
6880 The variable @code{$_} is automatically set by the @code{x} command to
6881 the last address examined (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}). Other
6882 commands which provide a default address for @code{x} to examine also
6883 set @code{$_} to that address; these commands include @code{info line}
6884 and @code{info breakpoint}. The type of @code{$_} is @code{void *}
6885 except when set by the @code{x} command, in which case it is a pointer
6886 to the type of @code{$__}.
6888 @vindex $__@r{, convenience variable}
6890 The variable @code{$__} is automatically set by the @code{x} command
6891 to the value found in the last address examined. Its type is chosen
6892 to match the format in which the data was printed.
6895 @vindex $_exitcode@r{, convenience variable}
6896 The variable @code{$_exitcode} is automatically set to the exit code when
6897 the program being debugged terminates.
6900 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
6901 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
6902 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
6908 You can refer to machine register contents, in expressions, as variables
6909 with names starting with @samp{$}. The names of registers are different
6910 for each machine; use @code{info registers} to see the names used on
6914 @kindex info registers
6915 @item info registers
6916 Print the names and values of all registers except floating-point
6917 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
6919 @kindex info all-registers
6920 @cindex floating point registers
6921 @item info all-registers
6922 Print the names and values of all registers, including floating-point
6923 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
6925 @item info registers @var{regname} @dots{}
6926 Print the @dfn{relativized} value of each specified register @var{regname}.
6927 As discussed in detail below, register values are normally relative to
6928 the selected stack frame. @var{regname} may be any register name valid on
6929 the machine you are using, with or without the initial @samp{$}.
6932 @cindex stack pointer register
6933 @cindex program counter register
6934 @cindex process status register
6935 @cindex frame pointer register
6936 @cindex standard registers
6937 @value{GDBN} has four ``standard'' register names that are available (in
6938 expressions) on most machines---whenever they do not conflict with an
6939 architecture's canonical mnemonics for registers. The register names
6940 @code{$pc} and @code{$sp} are used for the program counter register and
6941 the stack pointer. @code{$fp} is used for a register that contains a
6942 pointer to the current stack frame, and @code{$ps} is used for a
6943 register that contains the processor status. For example,
6944 you could print the program counter in hex with
6951 or print the instruction to be executed next with
6958 or add four to the stack pointer@footnote{This is a way of removing
6959 one word from the stack, on machines where stacks grow downward in
6960 memory (most machines, nowadays). This assumes that the innermost
6961 stack frame is selected; setting @code{$sp} is not allowed when other
6962 stack frames are selected. To pop entire frames off the stack,
6963 regardless of machine architecture, use @code{return};
6964 see @ref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}.} with
6970 Whenever possible, these four standard register names are available on
6971 your machine even though the machine has different canonical mnemonics,
6972 so long as there is no conflict. The @code{info registers} command
6973 shows the canonical names. For example, on the SPARC, @code{info
6974 registers} displays the processor status register as @code{$psr} but you
6975 can also refer to it as @code{$ps}; and on x86-based machines @code{$ps}
6976 is an alias for the @sc{eflags} register.
6978 @value{GDBN} always considers the contents of an ordinary register as an
6979 integer when the register is examined in this way. Some machines have
6980 special registers which can hold nothing but floating point; these
6981 registers are considered to have floating point values. There is no way
6982 to refer to the contents of an ordinary register as floating point value
6983 (although you can @emph{print} it as a floating point value with
6984 @samp{print/f $@var{regname}}).
6986 Some registers have distinct ``raw'' and ``virtual'' data formats. This
6987 means that the data format in which the register contents are saved by
6988 the operating system is not the same one that your program normally
6989 sees. For example, the registers of the 68881 floating point
6990 coprocessor are always saved in ``extended'' (raw) format, but all C
6991 programs expect to work with ``double'' (virtual) format. In such
6992 cases, @value{GDBN} normally works with the virtual format only (the format
6993 that makes sense for your program), but the @code{info registers} command
6994 prints the data in both formats.
6996 @cindex SSE registers (x86)
6997 @cindex MMX registers (x86)
6998 Some machines have special registers whose contents can be interpreted
6999 in several different ways. For example, modern x86-based machines
7000 have SSE and MMX registers that can hold several values packed
7001 together in several different formats. @value{GDBN} refers to such
7002 registers in @code{struct} notation:
7005 (@value{GDBP}) print $xmm1
7007 v4_float = @{0, 3.43859137e-038, 1.54142831e-044, 1.821688e-044@},
7008 v2_double = @{9.92129282474342e-303, 2.7585945287983262e-313@},
7009 v16_int8 = "\000\000\000\000\3706;\001\v\000\000\000\r\000\000",
7010 v8_int16 = @{0, 0, 14072, 315, 11, 0, 13, 0@},
7011 v4_int32 = @{0, 20657912, 11, 13@},
7012 v2_int64 = @{88725056443645952, 55834574859@},
7013 uint128 = 0x0000000d0000000b013b36f800000000
7018 To set values of such registers, you need to tell @value{GDBN} which
7019 view of the register you wish to change, as if you were assigning
7020 value to a @code{struct} member:
7023 (@value{GDBP}) set $xmm1.uint128 = 0x000000000000000000000000FFFFFFFF
7026 Normally, register values are relative to the selected stack frame
7027 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). This means that you get the
7028 value that the register would contain if all stack frames farther in
7029 were exited and their saved registers restored. In order to see the
7030 true contents of hardware registers, you must select the innermost
7031 frame (with @samp{frame 0}).
7033 However, @value{GDBN} must deduce where registers are saved, from the machine
7034 code generated by your compiler. If some registers are not saved, or if
7035 @value{GDBN} is unable to locate the saved registers, the selected stack
7036 frame makes no difference.
7038 @node Floating Point Hardware
7039 @section Floating Point Hardware
7040 @cindex floating point
7042 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give
7043 you more information about the status of the floating point hardware.
7048 Display hardware-dependent information about the floating
7049 point unit. The exact contents and layout vary depending on the
7050 floating point chip. Currently, @samp{info float} is supported on
7051 the ARM and x86 machines.
7055 @section Vector Unit
7058 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give you
7059 more information about the status of the vector unit.
7064 Display information about the vector unit. The exact contents and
7065 layout vary depending on the hardware.
7068 @node OS Information
7069 @section Operating System Auxiliary Information
7070 @cindex OS information
7072 @value{GDBN} provides interfaces to useful OS facilities that can help
7073 you debug your program.
7075 @cindex @code{ptrace} system call
7076 @cindex @code{struct user} contents
7077 When @value{GDBN} runs on a @dfn{Posix system} (such as GNU or Unix
7078 machines), it interfaces with the inferior via the @code{ptrace}
7079 system call. The operating system creates a special sata structure,
7080 called @code{struct user}, for this interface. You can use the
7081 command @code{info udot} to display the contents of this data
7087 Display the contents of the @code{struct user} maintained by the OS
7088 kernel for the program being debugged. @value{GDBN} displays the
7089 contents of @code{struct user} as a list of hex numbers, similar to
7090 the @code{examine} command.
7093 @cindex auxiliary vector
7094 @cindex vector, auxiliary
7095 Some operating systems supply an @dfn{auxiliary vector} to programs at
7096 startup. This is akin to the arguments and environment that you
7097 specify for a program, but contains a system-dependent variety of
7098 binary values that tell system libraries important details about the
7099 hardware, operating system, and process. Each value's purpose is
7100 identified by an integer tag; the meanings are well-known but system-specific.
7101 Depending on the configuration and operating system facilities,
7102 @value{GDBN} may be able to show you this information. For remote
7103 targets, this functionality may further depend on the remote stub's
7104 support of the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet, see
7105 @ref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}.
7110 Display the auxiliary vector of the inferior, which can be either a
7111 live process or a core dump file. @value{GDBN} prints each tag value
7112 numerically, and also shows names and text descriptions for recognized
7113 tags. Some values in the vector are numbers, some bit masks, and some
7114 pointers to strings or other data. @value{GDBN} displays each value in the
7115 most appropriate form for a recognized tag, and in hexadecimal for
7116 an unrecognized tag.
7120 @node Memory Region Attributes
7121 @section Memory Region Attributes
7122 @cindex memory region attributes
7124 @dfn{Memory region attributes} allow you to describe special handling
7125 required by regions of your target's memory. @value{GDBN} uses
7126 attributes to determine whether to allow certain types of memory
7127 accesses; whether to use specific width accesses; and whether to cache
7128 target memory. By default the description of memory regions is
7129 fetched from the target (if the current target supports this), but the
7130 user can override the fetched regions.
7132 Defined memory regions can be individually enabled and disabled. When a
7133 memory region is disabled, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when
7134 accessing memory in that region. Similarly, if no memory regions have
7135 been defined, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when accessing
7138 When a memory region is defined, it is given a number to identify it;
7139 to enable, disable, or remove a memory region, you specify that number.
7143 @item mem @var{lower} @var{upper} @var{attributes}@dots{}
7144 Define a memory region bounded by @var{lower} and @var{upper} with
7145 attributes @var{attributes}@dots{}, and add it to the list of regions
7146 monitored by @value{GDBN}. Note that @var{upper} == 0 is a special
7147 case: it is treated as the target's maximum memory address.
7148 (0xffff on 16 bit targets, 0xffffffff on 32 bit targets, etc.)
7151 Discard any user changes to the memory regions and use target-supplied
7152 regions, if available, or no regions if the target does not support.
7155 @item delete mem @var{nums}@dots{}
7156 Remove memory regions @var{nums}@dots{} from the list of regions
7157 monitored by @value{GDBN}.
7160 @item disable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
7161 Disable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
7162 A disabled memory region is not forgotten.
7163 It may be enabled again later.
7166 @item enable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
7167 Enable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
7171 Print a table of all defined memory regions, with the following columns
7175 @item Memory Region Number
7176 @item Enabled or Disabled.
7177 Enabled memory regions are marked with @samp{y}.
7178 Disabled memory regions are marked with @samp{n}.
7181 The address defining the inclusive lower bound of the memory region.
7184 The address defining the exclusive upper bound of the memory region.
7187 The list of attributes set for this memory region.
7192 @subsection Attributes
7194 @subsubsection Memory Access Mode
7195 The access mode attributes set whether @value{GDBN} may make read or
7196 write accesses to a memory region.
7198 While these attributes prevent @value{GDBN} from performing invalid
7199 memory accesses, they do nothing to prevent the target system, I/O DMA,
7200 etc.@: from accessing memory.
7204 Memory is read only.
7206 Memory is write only.
7208 Memory is read/write. This is the default.
7211 @subsubsection Memory Access Size
7212 The access size attribute tells @value{GDBN} to use specific sized
7213 accesses in the memory region. Often memory mapped device registers
7214 require specific sized accesses. If no access size attribute is
7215 specified, @value{GDBN} may use accesses of any size.
7219 Use 8 bit memory accesses.
7221 Use 16 bit memory accesses.
7223 Use 32 bit memory accesses.
7225 Use 64 bit memory accesses.
7228 @c @subsubsection Hardware/Software Breakpoints
7229 @c The hardware/software breakpoint attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
7230 @c will use hardware or software breakpoints for the internal breakpoints
7231 @c used by the step, next, finish, until, etc. commands.
7235 @c Always use hardware breakpoints
7236 @c @item swbreak (default)
7239 @subsubsection Data Cache
7240 The data cache attributes set whether @value{GDBN} will cache target
7241 memory. While this generally improves performance by reducing debug
7242 protocol overhead, it can lead to incorrect results because @value{GDBN}
7243 does not know about volatile variables or memory mapped device
7248 Enable @value{GDBN} to cache target memory.
7250 Disable @value{GDBN} from caching target memory. This is the default.
7253 @subsection Memory Access Checking
7254 @value{GDBN} can be instructed to refuse accesses to memory that is
7255 not explicitly described. This can be useful if accessing such
7256 regions has undesired effects for a specific target, or to provide
7257 better error checking. The following commands control this behaviour.
7260 @kindex set mem inaccessible-by-default
7261 @item set mem inaccessible-by-default [on|off]
7262 If @code{on} is specified, make @value{GDBN} treat memory not
7263 explicitly described by the memory ranges as non-existent and refuse accesses
7264 to such memory. The checks are only performed if there's at least one
7265 memory range defined. If @code{off} is specified, make @value{GDBN}
7266 treat the memory not explicitly described by the memory ranges as RAM.
7267 The default value is @code{on}.
7268 @kindex show mem inaccessible-by-default
7269 @item show mem inaccessible-by-default
7270 Show the current handling of accesses to unknown memory.
7274 @c @subsubsection Memory Write Verification
7275 @c The memory write verification attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
7276 @c will re-reads data after each write to verify the write was successful.
7280 @c @item noverify (default)
7283 @node Dump/Restore Files
7284 @section Copy Between Memory and a File
7285 @cindex dump/restore files
7286 @cindex append data to a file
7287 @cindex dump data to a file
7288 @cindex restore data from a file
7290 You can use the commands @code{dump}, @code{append}, and
7291 @code{restore} to copy data between target memory and a file. The
7292 @code{dump} and @code{append} commands write data to a file, and the
7293 @code{restore} command reads data from a file back into the inferior's
7294 memory. Files may be in binary, Motorola S-record, Intel hex, or
7295 Tektronix Hex format; however, @value{GDBN} can only append to binary
7301 @item dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
7302 @itemx dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
7303 Dump the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
7304 or the value of @var{expr}, to @var{filename} in the given format.
7306 The @var{format} parameter may be any one of:
7313 Motorola S-record format.
7315 Tektronix Hex format.
7318 @value{GDBN} uses the same definitions of these formats as the
7319 @sc{gnu} binary utilities, like @samp{objdump} and @samp{objcopy}. If
7320 @var{format} is omitted, @value{GDBN} dumps the data in raw binary
7324 @item append @r{[}binary@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
7325 @itemx append @r{[}binary@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
7326 Append the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
7327 or the value of @var{expr}, to the file @var{filename}, in raw binary form.
7328 (@value{GDBN} can only append data to files in raw binary form.)
7331 @item restore @var{filename} @r{[}binary@r{]} @var{bias} @var{start} @var{end}
7332 Restore the contents of file @var{filename} into memory. The
7333 @code{restore} command can automatically recognize any known @sc{bfd}
7334 file format, except for raw binary. To restore a raw binary file you
7335 must specify the optional keyword @code{binary} after the filename.
7337 If @var{bias} is non-zero, its value will be added to the addresses
7338 contained in the file. Binary files always start at address zero, so
7339 they will be restored at address @var{bias}. Other bfd files have
7340 a built-in location; they will be restored at offset @var{bias}
7343 If @var{start} and/or @var{end} are non-zero, then only data between
7344 file offset @var{start} and file offset @var{end} will be restored.
7345 These offsets are relative to the addresses in the file, before
7346 the @var{bias} argument is applied.
7350 @node Core File Generation
7351 @section How to Produce a Core File from Your Program
7352 @cindex dump core from inferior
7354 A @dfn{core file} or @dfn{core dump} is a file that records the memory
7355 image of a running process and its process status (register values
7356 etc.). Its primary use is post-mortem debugging of a program that
7357 crashed while it ran outside a debugger. A program that crashes
7358 automatically produces a core file, unless this feature is disabled by
7359 the user. @xref{Files}, for information on invoking @value{GDBN} in
7360 the post-mortem debugging mode.
7362 Occasionally, you may wish to produce a core file of the program you
7363 are debugging in order to preserve a snapshot of its state.
7364 @value{GDBN} has a special command for that.
7368 @kindex generate-core-file
7369 @item generate-core-file [@var{file}]
7370 @itemx gcore [@var{file}]
7371 Produce a core dump of the inferior process. The optional argument
7372 @var{file} specifies the file name where to put the core dump. If not
7373 specified, the file name defaults to @file{core.@var{pid}}, where
7374 @var{pid} is the inferior process ID.
7376 Note that this command is implemented only for some systems (as of
7377 this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, Unixware, and S390).
7380 @node Character Sets
7381 @section Character Sets
7382 @cindex character sets
7384 @cindex translating between character sets
7385 @cindex host character set
7386 @cindex target character set
7388 If the program you are debugging uses a different character set to
7389 represent characters and strings than the one @value{GDBN} uses itself,
7390 @value{GDBN} can automatically translate between the character sets for
7391 you. The character set @value{GDBN} uses we call the @dfn{host
7392 character set}; the one the inferior program uses we call the
7393 @dfn{target character set}.
7395 For example, if you are running @value{GDBN} on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, which
7396 uses the ISO Latin 1 character set, but you are using @value{GDBN}'s
7397 remote protocol (@pxref{Remote Debugging}) to debug a program
7398 running on an IBM mainframe, which uses the @sc{ebcdic} character set,
7399 then the host character set is Latin-1, and the target character set is
7400 @sc{ebcdic}. If you give @value{GDBN} the command @code{set
7401 target-charset EBCDIC-US}, then @value{GDBN} translates between
7402 @sc{ebcdic} and Latin 1 as you print character or string values, or use
7403 character and string literals in expressions.
7405 @value{GDBN} has no way to automatically recognize which character set
7406 the inferior program uses; you must tell it, using the @code{set
7407 target-charset} command, described below.
7409 Here are the commands for controlling @value{GDBN}'s character set
7413 @item set target-charset @var{charset}
7414 @kindex set target-charset
7415 Set the current target character set to @var{charset}. We list the
7416 character set names @value{GDBN} recognizes below, but if you type
7417 @code{set target-charset} followed by @key{TAB}@key{TAB}, @value{GDBN} will
7418 list the target character sets it supports.
7422 @item set host-charset @var{charset}
7423 @kindex set host-charset
7424 Set the current host character set to @var{charset}.
7426 By default, @value{GDBN} uses a host character set appropriate to the
7427 system it is running on; you can override that default using the
7428 @code{set host-charset} command.
7430 @value{GDBN} can only use certain character sets as its host character
7431 set. We list the character set names @value{GDBN} recognizes below, and
7432 indicate which can be host character sets, but if you type
7433 @code{set target-charset} followed by @key{TAB}@key{TAB}, @value{GDBN} will
7434 list the host character sets it supports.
7436 @item set charset @var{charset}
7438 Set the current host and target character sets to @var{charset}. As
7439 above, if you type @code{set charset} followed by @key{TAB}@key{TAB},
7440 @value{GDBN} will list the name of the character sets that can be used
7441 for both host and target.
7445 @kindex show charset
7446 Show the names of the current host and target charsets.
7448 @itemx show host-charset
7449 @kindex show host-charset
7450 Show the name of the current host charset.
7452 @itemx show target-charset
7453 @kindex show target-charset
7454 Show the name of the current target charset.
7458 @value{GDBN} currently includes support for the following character
7464 @cindex ASCII character set
7465 Seven-bit U.S. @sc{ascii}. @value{GDBN} can use this as its host
7469 @cindex ISO 8859-1 character set
7470 @cindex ISO Latin 1 character set
7471 The ISO Latin 1 character set. This extends @sc{ascii} with accented
7472 characters needed for French, German, and Spanish. @value{GDBN} can use
7473 this as its host character set.
7477 @cindex EBCDIC character set
7478 @cindex IBM1047 character set
7479 Variants of the @sc{ebcdic} character set, used on some of IBM's
7480 mainframe operating systems. (@sc{gnu}/Linux on the S/390 uses U.S. @sc{ascii}.)
7481 @value{GDBN} cannot use these as its host character set.
7485 Note that these are all single-byte character sets. More work inside
7486 @value{GDBN} is needed to support multi-byte or variable-width character
7487 encodings, like the UTF-8 and UCS-2 encodings of Unicode.
7489 Here is an example of @value{GDBN}'s character set support in action.
7490 Assume that the following source code has been placed in the file
7491 @file{charset-test.c}:
7497 = @{72, 101, 108, 108, 111, 44, 32, 119,
7498 111, 114, 108, 100, 33, 10, 0@};
7499 char ibm1047_hello[]
7500 = @{200, 133, 147, 147, 150, 107, 64, 166,
7501 150, 153, 147, 132, 90, 37, 0@};
7505 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
7509 In this program, @code{ascii_hello} and @code{ibm1047_hello} are arrays
7510 containing the string @samp{Hello, world!} followed by a newline,
7511 encoded in the @sc{ascii} and @sc{ibm1047} character sets.
7513 We compile the program, and invoke the debugger on it:
7516 $ gcc -g charset-test.c -o charset-test
7517 $ gdb -nw charset-test
7518 GNU gdb 2001-12-19-cvs
7519 Copyright 2001 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
7524 We can use the @code{show charset} command to see what character sets
7525 @value{GDBN} is currently using to interpret and display characters and
7529 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
7530 The current host and target character set is `ISO-8859-1'.
7534 For the sake of printing this manual, let's use @sc{ascii} as our
7535 initial character set:
7537 (@value{GDBP}) set charset ASCII
7538 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
7539 The current host and target character set is `ASCII'.
7543 Let's assume that @sc{ascii} is indeed the correct character set for our
7544 host system --- in other words, let's assume that if @value{GDBN} prints
7545 characters using the @sc{ascii} character set, our terminal will display
7546 them properly. Since our current target character set is also
7547 @sc{ascii}, the contents of @code{ascii_hello} print legibly:
7550 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
7551 $1 = 0x401698 "Hello, world!\n"
7552 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
7557 @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and string
7558 literals you use in expressions:
7561 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
7566 The @sc{ascii} character set uses the number 43 to encode the @samp{+}
7569 @value{GDBN} relies on the user to tell it which character set the
7570 target program uses. If we print @code{ibm1047_hello} while our target
7571 character set is still @sc{ascii}, we get jibberish:
7574 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
7575 $4 = 0x4016a8 "\310\205\223\223\226k@@\246\226\231\223\204Z%"
7576 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
7581 If we invoke the @code{set target-charset} followed by @key{TAB}@key{TAB},
7582 @value{GDBN} tells us the character sets it supports:
7585 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
7586 ASCII EBCDIC-US IBM1047 ISO-8859-1
7587 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
7590 We can select @sc{ibm1047} as our target character set, and examine the
7591 program's strings again. Now the @sc{ascii} string is wrong, but
7592 @value{GDBN} translates the contents of @code{ibm1047_hello} from the
7593 target character set, @sc{ibm1047}, to the host character set,
7594 @sc{ascii}, and they display correctly:
7597 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset IBM1047
7598 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
7599 The current host character set is `ASCII'.
7600 The current target character set is `IBM1047'.
7601 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
7602 $6 = 0x401698 "\110\145%%?\054\040\167?\162%\144\041\012"
7603 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
7605 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
7606 $8 = 0x4016a8 "Hello, world!\n"
7607 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
7612 As above, @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and
7613 string literals you use in expressions:
7616 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
7621 The @sc{ibm1047} character set uses the number 78 to encode the @samp{+}
7624 @node Caching Remote Data
7625 @section Caching Data of Remote Targets
7626 @cindex caching data of remote targets
7628 @value{GDBN} can cache data exchanged between the debugger and a
7629 remote target (@pxref{Remote Debugging}). Such caching generally improves
7630 performance, because it reduces the overhead of the remote protocol by
7631 bundling memory reads and writes into large chunks. Unfortunately,
7632 @value{GDBN} does not currently know anything about volatile
7633 registers, and thus data caching will produce incorrect results when
7634 volatile registers are in use.
7637 @kindex set remotecache
7638 @item set remotecache on
7639 @itemx set remotecache off
7640 Set caching state for remote targets. When @code{ON}, use data
7641 caching. By default, this option is @code{OFF}.
7643 @kindex show remotecache
7644 @item show remotecache
7645 Show the current state of data caching for remote targets.
7649 Print the information about the data cache performance. The
7650 information displayed includes: the dcache width and depth; and for
7651 each cache line, how many times it was referenced, and its data and
7652 state (dirty, bad, ok, etc.). This command is useful for debugging
7653 the data cache operation.
7658 @chapter C Preprocessor Macros
7660 Some languages, such as C and C@t{++}, provide a way to define and invoke
7661 ``preprocessor macros'' which expand into strings of tokens.
7662 @value{GDBN} can evaluate expressions containing macro invocations, show
7663 the result of macro expansion, and show a macro's definition, including
7664 where it was defined.
7666 You may need to compile your program specially to provide @value{GDBN}
7667 with information about preprocessor macros. Most compilers do not
7668 include macros in their debugging information, even when you compile
7669 with the @option{-g} flag. @xref{Compilation}.
7671 A program may define a macro at one point, remove that definition later,
7672 and then provide a different definition after that. Thus, at different
7673 points in the program, a macro may have different definitions, or have
7674 no definition at all. If there is a current stack frame, @value{GDBN}
7675 uses the macros in scope at that frame's source code line. Otherwise,
7676 @value{GDBN} uses the macros in scope at the current listing location;
7679 At the moment, @value{GDBN} does not support the @code{##}
7680 token-splicing operator, the @code{#} stringification operator, or
7681 variable-arity macros.
7683 Whenever @value{GDBN} evaluates an expression, it always expands any
7684 macro invocations present in the expression. @value{GDBN} also provides
7685 the following commands for working with macros explicitly.
7689 @kindex macro expand
7690 @cindex macro expansion, showing the results of preprocessor
7691 @cindex preprocessor macro expansion, showing the results of
7692 @cindex expanding preprocessor macros
7693 @item macro expand @var{expression}
7694 @itemx macro exp @var{expression}
7695 Show the results of expanding all preprocessor macro invocations in
7696 @var{expression}. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does
7697 not parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression;
7698 it can be any string of tokens.
7701 @item macro expand-once @var{expression}
7702 @itemx macro exp1 @var{expression}
7703 @cindex expand macro once
7704 @i{(This command is not yet implemented.)} Show the results of
7705 expanding those preprocessor macro invocations that appear explicitly in
7706 @var{expression}. Macro invocations appearing in that expansion are
7707 left unchanged. This command allows you to see the effect of a
7708 particular macro more clearly, without being confused by further
7709 expansions. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does not
7710 parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression; it
7711 can be any string of tokens.
7714 @cindex macro definition, showing
7715 @cindex definition, showing a macro's
7716 @item info macro @var{macro}
7717 Show the definition of the macro named @var{macro}, and describe the
7718 source location where that definition was established.
7720 @kindex macro define
7721 @cindex user-defined macros
7722 @cindex defining macros interactively
7723 @cindex macros, user-defined
7724 @item macro define @var{macro} @var{replacement-list}
7725 @itemx macro define @var{macro}(@var{arglist}) @var{replacement-list}
7726 @i{(This command is not yet implemented.)} Introduce a definition for a
7727 preprocessor macro named @var{macro}, invocations of which are replaced
7728 by the tokens given in @var{replacement-list}. The first form of this
7729 command defines an ``object-like'' macro, which takes no arguments; the
7730 second form defines a ``function-like'' macro, which takes the arguments
7731 given in @var{arglist}.
7733 A definition introduced by this command is in scope in every expression
7734 evaluated in @value{GDBN}, until it is removed with the @command{macro
7735 undef} command, described below. The definition overrides all
7736 definitions for @var{macro} present in the program being debugged, as
7737 well as any previous user-supplied definition.
7740 @item macro undef @var{macro}
7741 @i{(This command is not yet implemented.)} Remove any user-supplied
7742 definition for the macro named @var{macro}. This command only affects
7743 definitions provided with the @command{macro define} command, described
7744 above; it cannot remove definitions present in the program being
7749 @i{(This command is not yet implemented.)} List all the macros
7750 defined using the @code{macro define} command.
7753 @cindex macros, example of debugging with
7754 Here is a transcript showing the above commands in action. First, we
7755 show our source files:
7763 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
7768 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
7770 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
7772 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
7779 Now, we compile the program using the @sc{gnu} C compiler, @value{NGCC}.
7780 We pass the @option{-gdwarf-2} and @option{-g3} flags to ensure the
7781 compiler includes information about preprocessor macros in the debugging
7785 $ gcc -gdwarf-2 -g3 sample.c -o sample
7789 Now, we start @value{GDBN} on our sample program:
7793 GNU gdb 2002-05-06-cvs
7794 Copyright 2002 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
7795 GDB is free software, @dots{}
7799 We can expand macros and examine their definitions, even when the
7800 program is not running. @value{GDBN} uses the current listing position
7801 to decide which macro definitions are in scope:
7804 (@value{GDBP}) list main
7807 5 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
7812 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
7814 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
7815 (@value{GDBP}) info macro ADD
7816 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:5
7817 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
7818 (@value{GDBP}) info macro Q
7819 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.h:1
7820 included at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:2
7822 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand ADD(1)
7823 expands to: (42 + 1)
7824 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand-once ADD(1)
7825 expands to: once (M + 1)
7829 In the example above, note that @command{macro expand-once} expands only
7830 the macro invocation explicit in the original text --- the invocation of
7831 @code{ADD} --- but does not expand the invocation of the macro @code{M},
7832 which was introduced by @code{ADD}.
7834 Once the program is running, @value{GDBN} uses the macro definitions in
7835 force at the source line of the current stack frame:
7838 (@value{GDBP}) break main
7839 Breakpoint 1 at 0x8048370: file sample.c, line 10.
7841 Starting program: /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample
7843 Breakpoint 1, main () at sample.c:10
7844 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
7848 At line 10, the definition of the macro @code{N} at line 9 is in force:
7851 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
7852 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:9
7854 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
7856 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
7861 As we step over directives that remove @code{N}'s definition, and then
7862 give it a new definition, @value{GDBN} finds the definition (or lack
7863 thereof) in force at each point:
7868 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
7869 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
7870 The symbol `N' has no definition as a C/C++ preprocessor macro
7871 at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:12
7874 14 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
7875 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
7876 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:13
7878 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
7879 expands to: 1729 < 42
7880 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
7887 @chapter Tracepoints
7888 @c This chapter is based on the documentation written by Michael
7889 @c Snyder, David Taylor, Jim Blandy, and Elena Zannoni.
7892 In some applications, it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt
7893 the program's execution long enough for the developer to learn
7894 anything helpful about its behavior. If the program's correctness
7895 depends on its real-time behavior, delays introduced by a debugger
7896 might cause the program to change its behavior drastically, or perhaps
7897 fail, even when the code itself is correct. It is useful to be able
7898 to observe the program's behavior without interrupting it.
7900 Using @value{GDBN}'s @code{trace} and @code{collect} commands, you can
7901 specify locations in the program, called @dfn{tracepoints}, and
7902 arbitrary expressions to evaluate when those tracepoints are reached.
7903 Later, using the @code{tfind} command, you can examine the values
7904 those expressions had when the program hit the tracepoints. The
7905 expressions may also denote objects in memory---structures or arrays,
7906 for example---whose values @value{GDBN} should record; while visiting
7907 a particular tracepoint, you may inspect those objects as if they were
7908 in memory at that moment. However, because @value{GDBN} records these
7909 values without interacting with you, it can do so quickly and
7910 unobtrusively, hopefully not disturbing the program's behavior.
7912 The tracepoint facility is currently available only for remote
7913 targets. @xref{Targets}. In addition, your remote target must know
7914 how to collect trace data. This functionality is implemented in the
7915 remote stub; however, none of the stubs distributed with @value{GDBN}
7916 support tracepoints as of this writing. The format of the remote
7917 packets used to implement tracepoints are described in @ref{Tracepoint
7920 This chapter describes the tracepoint commands and features.
7924 * Analyze Collected Data::
7925 * Tracepoint Variables::
7928 @node Set Tracepoints
7929 @section Commands to Set Tracepoints
7931 Before running such a @dfn{trace experiment}, an arbitrary number of
7932 tracepoints can be set. Like a breakpoint (@pxref{Set Breaks}), a
7933 tracepoint has a number assigned to it by @value{GDBN}. Like with
7934 breakpoints, tracepoint numbers are successive integers starting from
7935 one. Many of the commands associated with tracepoints take the
7936 tracepoint number as their argument, to identify which tracepoint to
7939 For each tracepoint, you can specify, in advance, some arbitrary set
7940 of data that you want the target to collect in the trace buffer when
7941 it hits that tracepoint. The collected data can include registers,
7942 local variables, or global data. Later, you can use @value{GDBN}
7943 commands to examine the values these data had at the time the
7946 This section describes commands to set tracepoints and associated
7947 conditions and actions.
7950 * Create and Delete Tracepoints::
7951 * Enable and Disable Tracepoints::
7952 * Tracepoint Passcounts::
7953 * Tracepoint Actions::
7954 * Listing Tracepoints::
7955 * Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments::
7958 @node Create and Delete Tracepoints
7959 @subsection Create and Delete Tracepoints
7962 @cindex set tracepoint
7965 The @code{trace} command is very similar to the @code{break} command.
7966 Its argument can be a source line, a function name, or an address in
7967 the target program. @xref{Set Breaks}. The @code{trace} command
7968 defines a tracepoint, which is a point in the target program where the
7969 debugger will briefly stop, collect some data, and then allow the
7970 program to continue. Setting a tracepoint or changing its commands
7971 doesn't take effect until the next @code{tstart} command; thus, you
7972 cannot change the tracepoint attributes once a trace experiment is
7975 Here are some examples of using the @code{trace} command:
7978 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo.c:121} // a source file and line number
7980 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace +2} // 2 lines forward
7982 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace my_function} // first source line of function
7984 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *my_function} // EXACT start address of function
7986 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *0x2117c4} // an address
7990 You can abbreviate @code{trace} as @code{tr}.
7993 @cindex last tracepoint number
7994 @cindex recent tracepoint number
7995 @cindex tracepoint number
7996 The convenience variable @code{$tpnum} records the tracepoint number
7997 of the most recently set tracepoint.
7999 @kindex delete tracepoint
8000 @cindex tracepoint deletion
8001 @item delete tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
8002 Permanently delete one or more tracepoints. With no argument, the
8003 default is to delete all tracepoints.
8008 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace 1 2 3} // remove three tracepoints
8010 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace} // remove all tracepoints
8014 You can abbreviate this command as @code{del tr}.
8017 @node Enable and Disable Tracepoints
8018 @subsection Enable and Disable Tracepoints
8021 @kindex disable tracepoint
8022 @item disable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
8023 Disable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints if no argument
8024 @var{num} is given. A disabled tracepoint will have no effect during
8025 the next trace experiment, but it is not forgotten. You can re-enable
8026 a disabled tracepoint using the @code{enable tracepoint} command.
8028 @kindex enable tracepoint
8029 @item enable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
8030 Enable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints. The enabled
8031 tracepoints will become effective the next time a trace experiment is
8035 @node Tracepoint Passcounts
8036 @subsection Tracepoint Passcounts
8040 @cindex tracepoint pass count
8041 @item passcount @r{[}@var{n} @r{[}@var{num}@r{]]}
8042 Set the @dfn{passcount} of a tracepoint. The passcount is a way to
8043 automatically stop a trace experiment. If a tracepoint's passcount is
8044 @var{n}, then the trace experiment will be automatically stopped on
8045 the @var{n}'th time that tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number
8046 @var{num} is not specified, the @code{passcount} command sets the
8047 passcount of the most recently defined tracepoint. If no passcount is
8048 given, the trace experiment will run until stopped explicitly by the
8054 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 5 2} // Stop on the 5th execution of
8055 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// tracepoint 2}
8057 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 12} // Stop on the 12th execution of the
8058 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// most recently defined tracepoint.}
8059 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
8060 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 3}
8061 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace bar}
8062 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 2}
8063 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace baz}
8064 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 1} // Stop tracing when foo has been
8065 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// executed 3 times OR when bar has}
8066 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// been executed 2 times}
8067 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// OR when baz has been executed 1 time.}
8071 @node Tracepoint Actions
8072 @subsection Tracepoint Action Lists
8076 @cindex tracepoint actions
8077 @item actions @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
8078 This command will prompt for a list of actions to be taken when the
8079 tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number @var{num} is not
8080 specified, this command sets the actions for the one that was most
8081 recently defined (so that you can define a tracepoint and then say
8082 @code{actions} without bothering about its number). You specify the
8083 actions themselves on the following lines, one action at a time, and
8084 terminate the actions list with a line containing just @code{end}. So
8085 far, the only defined actions are @code{collect} and
8086 @code{while-stepping}.
8088 @cindex remove actions from a tracepoint
8089 To remove all actions from a tracepoint, type @samp{actions @var{num}}
8090 and follow it immediately with @samp{end}.
8093 (@value{GDBP}) @b{collect @var{data}} // collect some data
8095 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while-stepping 5} // single-step 5 times, collect data
8097 (@value{GDBP}) @b{end} // signals the end of actions.
8100 In the following example, the action list begins with @code{collect}
8101 commands indicating the things to be collected when the tracepoint is
8102 hit. Then, in order to single-step and collect additional data
8103 following the tracepoint, a @code{while-stepping} command is used,
8104 followed by the list of things to be collected while stepping. The
8105 @code{while-stepping} command is terminated by its own separate
8106 @code{end} command. Lastly, the action list is terminated by an
8110 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
8111 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
8112 Enter actions for tracepoint 1, one per line:
8121 @kindex collect @r{(tracepoints)}
8122 @item collect @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
8123 Collect values of the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit.
8124 This command accepts a comma-separated list of any valid expressions.
8125 In addition to global, static, or local variables, the following
8126 special arguments are supported:
8130 collect all registers
8133 collect all function arguments
8136 collect all local variables.
8139 You can give several consecutive @code{collect} commands, each one
8140 with a single argument, or one @code{collect} command with several
8141 arguments separated by commas: the effect is the same.
8143 The command @code{info scope} (@pxref{Symbols, info scope}) is
8144 particularly useful for figuring out what data to collect.
8146 @kindex while-stepping @r{(tracepoints)}
8147 @item while-stepping @var{n}
8148 Perform @var{n} single-step traces after the tracepoint, collecting
8149 new data at each step. The @code{while-stepping} command is
8150 followed by the list of what to collect while stepping (followed by
8151 its own @code{end} command):
8155 > collect $regs, myglobal
8161 You may abbreviate @code{while-stepping} as @code{ws} or
8165 @node Listing Tracepoints
8166 @subsection Listing Tracepoints
8169 @kindex info tracepoints
8171 @cindex information about tracepoints
8172 @item info tracepoints @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
8173 Display information about the tracepoint @var{num}. If you don't specify
8174 a tracepoint number, displays information about all the tracepoints
8175 defined so far. For each tracepoint, the following information is
8182 whether it is enabled or disabled
8186 its passcount as given by the @code{passcount @var{n}} command
8188 its step count as given by the @code{while-stepping @var{n}} command
8190 where in the source files is the tracepoint set
8192 its action list as given by the @code{actions} command
8196 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info trace}
8197 Num Enb Address PassC StepC What
8198 1 y 0x002117c4 0 0 <gdb_asm>
8199 2 y 0x0020dc64 0 0 in g_test at g_test.c:1375
8200 3 y 0x0020b1f4 0 0 in get_data at ../foo.c:41
8205 This command can be abbreviated @code{info tp}.
8208 @node Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
8209 @subsection Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
8213 @cindex start a new trace experiment
8214 @cindex collected data discarded
8216 This command takes no arguments. It starts the trace experiment, and
8217 begins collecting data. This has the side effect of discarding all
8218 the data collected in the trace buffer during the previous trace
8222 @cindex stop a running trace experiment
8224 This command takes no arguments. It ends the trace experiment, and
8225 stops collecting data.
8227 @strong{Note}: a trace experiment and data collection may stop
8228 automatically if any tracepoint's passcount is reached
8229 (@pxref{Tracepoint Passcounts}), or if the trace buffer becomes full.
8232 @cindex status of trace data collection
8233 @cindex trace experiment, status of
8235 This command displays the status of the current trace data
8239 Here is an example of the commands we described so far:
8242 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace gdb_c_test}
8243 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
8244 Enter actions for tracepoint #1, one per line.
8245 > collect $regs,$locals,$args
8250 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
8251 [time passes @dots{}]
8252 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstop}
8256 @node Analyze Collected Data
8257 @section Using the Collected Data
8259 After the tracepoint experiment ends, you use @value{GDBN} commands
8260 for examining the trace data. The basic idea is that each tracepoint
8261 collects a trace @dfn{snapshot} every time it is hit and another
8262 snapshot every time it single-steps. All these snapshots are
8263 consecutively numbered from zero and go into a buffer, and you can
8264 examine them later. The way you examine them is to @dfn{focus} on a
8265 specific trace snapshot. When the remote stub is focused on a trace
8266 snapshot, it will respond to all @value{GDBN} requests for memory and
8267 registers by reading from the buffer which belongs to that snapshot,
8268 rather than from @emph{real} memory or registers of the program being
8269 debugged. This means that @strong{all} @value{GDBN} commands
8270 (@code{print}, @code{info registers}, @code{backtrace}, etc.) will
8271 behave as if we were currently debugging the program state as it was
8272 when the tracepoint occurred. Any requests for data that are not in
8273 the buffer will fail.
8276 * tfind:: How to select a trace snapshot
8277 * tdump:: How to display all data for a snapshot
8278 * save-tracepoints:: How to save tracepoints for a future run
8282 @subsection @code{tfind @var{n}}
8285 @cindex select trace snapshot
8286 @cindex find trace snapshot
8287 The basic command for selecting a trace snapshot from the buffer is
8288 @code{tfind @var{n}}, which finds trace snapshot number @var{n},
8289 counting from zero. If no argument @var{n} is given, the next
8290 snapshot is selected.
8292 Here are the various forms of using the @code{tfind} command.
8296 Find the first snapshot in the buffer. This is a synonym for
8297 @code{tfind 0} (since 0 is the number of the first snapshot).
8300 Stop debugging trace snapshots, resume @emph{live} debugging.
8303 Same as @samp{tfind none}.
8306 No argument means find the next trace snapshot.
8309 Find the previous trace snapshot before the current one. This permits
8310 retracing earlier steps.
8312 @item tfind tracepoint @var{num}
8313 Find the next snapshot associated with tracepoint @var{num}. Search
8314 proceeds forward from the last examined trace snapshot. If no
8315 argument @var{num} is given, it means find the next snapshot collected
8316 for the same tracepoint as the current snapshot.
8318 @item tfind pc @var{addr}
8319 Find the next snapshot associated with the value @var{addr} of the
8320 program counter. Search proceeds forward from the last examined trace
8321 snapshot. If no argument @var{addr} is given, it means find the next
8322 snapshot with the same value of PC as the current snapshot.
8324 @item tfind outside @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
8325 Find the next snapshot whose PC is outside the given range of
8328 @item tfind range @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
8329 Find the next snapshot whose PC is between @var{addr1} and
8330 @var{addr2}. @c FIXME: Is the range inclusive or exclusive?
8332 @item tfind line @r{[}@var{file}:@r{]}@var{n}
8333 Find the next snapshot associated with the source line @var{n}. If
8334 the optional argument @var{file} is given, refer to line @var{n} in
8335 that source file. Search proceeds forward from the last examined
8336 trace snapshot. If no argument @var{n} is given, it means find the
8337 next line other than the one currently being examined; thus saying
8338 @code{tfind line} repeatedly can appear to have the same effect as
8339 stepping from line to line in a @emph{live} debugging session.
8342 The default arguments for the @code{tfind} commands are specifically
8343 designed to make it easy to scan through the trace buffer. For
8344 instance, @code{tfind} with no argument selects the next trace
8345 snapshot, and @code{tfind -} with no argument selects the previous
8346 trace snapshot. So, by giving one @code{tfind} command, and then
8347 simply hitting @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine all the trace
8348 snapshots in order. Or, by saying @code{tfind -} and then hitting
8349 @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine the snapshots in reverse order.
8350 The @code{tfind line} command with no argument selects the snapshot
8351 for the next source line executed. The @code{tfind pc} command with
8352 no argument selects the next snapshot with the same program counter
8353 (PC) as the current frame. The @code{tfind tracepoint} command with
8354 no argument selects the next trace snapshot collected by the same
8355 tracepoint as the current one.
8357 In addition to letting you scan through the trace buffer manually,
8358 these commands make it easy to construct @value{GDBN} scripts that
8359 scan through the trace buffer and print out whatever collected data
8360 you are interested in. Thus, if we want to examine the PC, FP, and SP
8361 registers from each trace frame in the buffer, we can say this:
8364 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
8365 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
8366 > printf "Frame %d, PC = %08X, SP = %08X, FP = %08X\n", \
8367 $trace_frame, $pc, $sp, $fp
8371 Frame 0, PC = 0020DC64, SP = 0030BF3C, FP = 0030BF44
8372 Frame 1, PC = 0020DC6C, SP = 0030BF38, FP = 0030BF44
8373 Frame 2, PC = 0020DC70, SP = 0030BF34, FP = 0030BF44
8374 Frame 3, PC = 0020DC74, SP = 0030BF30, FP = 0030BF44
8375 Frame 4, PC = 0020DC78, SP = 0030BF2C, FP = 0030BF44
8376 Frame 5, PC = 0020DC7C, SP = 0030BF28, FP = 0030BF44
8377 Frame 6, PC = 0020DC80, SP = 0030BF24, FP = 0030BF44
8378 Frame 7, PC = 0020DC84, SP = 0030BF20, FP = 0030BF44
8379 Frame 8, PC = 0020DC88, SP = 0030BF1C, FP = 0030BF44
8380 Frame 9, PC = 0020DC8E, SP = 0030BF18, FP = 0030BF44
8381 Frame 10, PC = 00203F6C, SP = 0030BE3C, FP = 0030BF14
8384 Or, if we want to examine the variable @code{X} at each source line in
8388 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
8389 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
8390 > printf "Frame %d, X == %d\n", $trace_frame, X
8400 @subsection @code{tdump}
8402 @cindex dump all data collected at tracepoint
8403 @cindex tracepoint data, display
8405 This command takes no arguments. It prints all the data collected at
8406 the current trace snapshot.
8409 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace 444}
8410 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
8411 Enter actions for tracepoint #2, one per line:
8412 > collect $regs, $locals, $args, gdb_long_test
8415 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
8417 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind line 444}
8418 #0 gdb_test (p1=0x11, p2=0x22, p3=0x33, p4=0x44, p5=0x55, p6=0x66)
8420 444 printp( "%s: arguments = 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X\n", )
8422 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tdump}
8423 Data collected at tracepoint 2, trace frame 1:
8424 d0 0xc4aa0085 -995491707
8428 d4 0x71aea3d 119204413
8433 a1 0x3000668 50333288
8436 a4 0x3000698 50333336
8438 fp 0x30bf3c 0x30bf3c
8439 sp 0x30bf34 0x30bf34
8441 pc 0x20b2c8 0x20b2c8
8445 p = 0x20e5b4 "gdb-test"
8452 gdb_long_test = 17 '\021'
8457 @node save-tracepoints
8458 @subsection @code{save-tracepoints @var{filename}}
8459 @kindex save-tracepoints
8460 @cindex save tracepoints for future sessions
8462 This command saves all current tracepoint definitions together with
8463 their actions and passcounts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
8464 suitable for use in a later debugging session. To read the saved
8465 tracepoint definitions, use the @code{source} command (@pxref{Command
8468 @node Tracepoint Variables
8469 @section Convenience Variables for Tracepoints
8470 @cindex tracepoint variables
8471 @cindex convenience variables for tracepoints
8474 @vindex $trace_frame
8475 @item (int) $trace_frame
8476 The current trace snapshot (a.k.a.@: @dfn{frame}) number, or -1 if no
8477 snapshot is selected.
8480 @item (int) $tracepoint
8481 The tracepoint for the current trace snapshot.
8484 @item (int) $trace_line
8485 The line number for the current trace snapshot.
8488 @item (char []) $trace_file
8489 The source file for the current trace snapshot.
8492 @item (char []) $trace_func
8493 The name of the function containing @code{$tracepoint}.
8496 Note: @code{$trace_file} is not suitable for use in @code{printf},
8497 use @code{output} instead.
8499 Here's a simple example of using these convenience variables for
8500 stepping through all the trace snapshots and printing some of their
8504 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
8506 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while $trace_frame != -1}
8507 > output $trace_file
8508 > printf ", line %d (tracepoint #%d)\n", $trace_line, $tracepoint
8514 @chapter Debugging Programs That Use Overlays
8517 If your program is too large to fit completely in your target system's
8518 memory, you can sometimes use @dfn{overlays} to work around this
8519 problem. @value{GDBN} provides some support for debugging programs that
8523 * How Overlays Work:: A general explanation of overlays.
8524 * Overlay Commands:: Managing overlays in @value{GDBN}.
8525 * Automatic Overlay Debugging:: @value{GDBN} can find out which overlays are
8526 mapped by asking the inferior.
8527 * Overlay Sample Program:: A sample program using overlays.
8530 @node How Overlays Work
8531 @section How Overlays Work
8532 @cindex mapped overlays
8533 @cindex unmapped overlays
8534 @cindex load address, overlay's
8535 @cindex mapped address
8536 @cindex overlay area
8538 Suppose you have a computer whose instruction address space is only 64
8539 kilobytes long, but which has much more memory which can be accessed by
8540 other means: special instructions, segment registers, or memory
8541 management hardware, for example. Suppose further that you want to
8542 adapt a program which is larger than 64 kilobytes to run on this system.
8544 One solution is to identify modules of your program which are relatively
8545 independent, and need not call each other directly; call these modules
8546 @dfn{overlays}. Separate the overlays from the main program, and place
8547 their machine code in the larger memory. Place your main program in
8548 instruction memory, but leave at least enough space there to hold the
8549 largest overlay as well.
8551 Now, to call a function located in an overlay, you must first copy that
8552 overlay's machine code from the large memory into the space set aside
8553 for it in the instruction memory, and then jump to its entry point
8556 @c NB: In the below the mapped area's size is greater or equal to the
8557 @c size of all overlays. This is intentional to remind the developer
8558 @c that overlays don't necessarily need to be the same size.
8562 Data Instruction Larger
8563 Address Space Address Space Address Space
8564 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+
8566 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+<-- overlay 1
8567 | program | | main | .----| overlay 1 | load address
8568 | variables | | program | | +-----------+
8569 | and heap | | | | | |
8570 +-----------+ | | | +-----------+<-- overlay 2
8571 | | +-----------+ | | | load address
8572 +-----------+ | | | .-| overlay 2 |
8574 mapped --->+-----------+ | | +-----------+
8576 | overlay | <-' | | |
8577 | area | <---' +-----------+<-- overlay 3
8578 | | <---. | | load address
8579 +-----------+ `--| overlay 3 |
8586 @anchor{A code overlay}A code overlay
8590 The diagram (@pxref{A code overlay}) shows a system with separate data
8591 and instruction address spaces. To map an overlay, the program copies
8592 its code from the larger address space to the instruction address space.
8593 Since the overlays shown here all use the same mapped address, only one
8594 may be mapped at a time. For a system with a single address space for
8595 data and instructions, the diagram would be similar, except that the
8596 program variables and heap would share an address space with the main
8597 program and the overlay area.
8599 An overlay loaded into instruction memory and ready for use is called a
8600 @dfn{mapped} overlay; its @dfn{mapped address} is its address in the
8601 instruction memory. An overlay not present (or only partially present)
8602 in instruction memory is called @dfn{unmapped}; its @dfn{load address}
8603 is its address in the larger memory. The mapped address is also called
8604 the @dfn{virtual memory address}, or @dfn{VMA}; the load address is also
8605 called the @dfn{load memory address}, or @dfn{LMA}.
8607 Unfortunately, overlays are not a completely transparent way to adapt a
8608 program to limited instruction memory. They introduce a new set of
8609 global constraints you must keep in mind as you design your program:
8614 Before calling or returning to a function in an overlay, your program
8615 must make sure that overlay is actually mapped. Otherwise, the call or
8616 return will transfer control to the right address, but in the wrong
8617 overlay, and your program will probably crash.
8620 If the process of mapping an overlay is expensive on your system, you
8621 will need to choose your overlays carefully to minimize their effect on
8622 your program's performance.
8625 The executable file you load onto your system must contain each
8626 overlay's instructions, appearing at the overlay's load address, not its
8627 mapped address. However, each overlay's instructions must be relocated
8628 and its symbols defined as if the overlay were at its mapped address.
8629 You can use GNU linker scripts to specify different load and relocation
8630 addresses for pieces of your program; see @ref{Overlay Description,,,
8631 ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}.
8634 The procedure for loading executable files onto your system must be able
8635 to load their contents into the larger address space as well as the
8636 instruction and data spaces.
8640 The overlay system described above is rather simple, and could be
8641 improved in many ways:
8646 If your system has suitable bank switch registers or memory management
8647 hardware, you could use those facilities to make an overlay's load area
8648 contents simply appear at their mapped address in instruction space.
8649 This would probably be faster than copying the overlay to its mapped
8650 area in the usual way.
8653 If your overlays are small enough, you could set aside more than one
8654 overlay area, and have more than one overlay mapped at a time.
8657 You can use overlays to manage data, as well as instructions. In
8658 general, data overlays are even less transparent to your design than
8659 code overlays: whereas code overlays only require care when you call or
8660 return to functions, data overlays require care every time you access
8661 the data. Also, if you change the contents of a data overlay, you
8662 must copy its contents back out to its load address before you can copy a
8663 different data overlay into the same mapped area.
8668 @node Overlay Commands
8669 @section Overlay Commands
8671 To use @value{GDBN}'s overlay support, each overlay in your program must
8672 correspond to a separate section of the executable file. The section's
8673 virtual memory address and load memory address must be the overlay's
8674 mapped and load addresses. Identifying overlays with sections allows
8675 @value{GDBN} to determine the appropriate address of a function or
8676 variable, depending on whether the overlay is mapped or not.
8678 @value{GDBN}'s overlay commands all start with the word @code{overlay};
8679 you can abbreviate this as @code{ov} or @code{ovly}. The commands are:
8684 Disable @value{GDBN}'s overlay support. When overlay support is
8685 disabled, @value{GDBN} assumes that all functions and variables are
8686 always present at their mapped addresses. By default, @value{GDBN}'s
8687 overlay support is disabled.
8689 @item overlay manual
8690 @cindex manual overlay debugging
8691 Enable @dfn{manual} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
8692 relies on you to tell it which overlays are mapped, and which are not,
8693 using the @code{overlay map-overlay} and @code{overlay unmap-overlay}
8694 commands described below.
8696 @item overlay map-overlay @var{overlay}
8697 @itemx overlay map @var{overlay}
8698 @cindex map an overlay
8699 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is now mapped; @var{overlay} must
8700 be the name of the object file section containing the overlay. When an
8701 overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the overlay's
8702 functions and variables at their mapped addresses. @value{GDBN} assumes
8703 that any other overlays whose mapped ranges overlap that of
8704 @var{overlay} are now unmapped.
8706 @item overlay unmap-overlay @var{overlay}
8707 @itemx overlay unmap @var{overlay}
8708 @cindex unmap an overlay
8709 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is no longer mapped; @var{overlay}
8710 must be the name of the object file section containing the overlay.
8711 When an overlay is unmapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the
8712 overlay's functions and variables at their load addresses.
8715 Enable @dfn{automatic} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
8716 consults a data structure the overlay manager maintains in the inferior
8717 to see which overlays are mapped. For details, see @ref{Automatic
8720 @item overlay load-target
8722 @cindex reloading the overlay table
8723 Re-read the overlay table from the inferior. Normally, @value{GDBN}
8724 re-reads the table @value{GDBN} automatically each time the inferior
8725 stops, so this command should only be necessary if you have changed the
8726 overlay mapping yourself using @value{GDBN}. This command is only
8727 useful when using automatic overlay debugging.
8729 @item overlay list-overlays
8731 @cindex listing mapped overlays
8732 Display a list of the overlays currently mapped, along with their mapped
8733 addresses, load addresses, and sizes.
8737 Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a code address, it includes the name
8738 of the function the address falls in:
8741 (@value{GDBP}) print main
8742 $3 = @{int ()@} 0x11a0 <main>
8745 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} recognizes code in
8746 unmapped overlays, and prints the names of unmapped functions with
8747 asterisks around them. For example, if @code{foo} is a function in an
8748 unmapped overlay, @value{GDBN} prints it this way:
8751 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
8752 No sections are mapped.
8753 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
8754 $5 = @{int (int)@} 0x100000 <*foo*>
8757 When @code{foo}'s overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} prints the function's
8761 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
8762 Section .ov.foo.text, loaded at 0x100000 - 0x100034,
8763 mapped at 0x1016 - 0x104a
8764 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
8765 $6 = @{int (int)@} 0x1016 <foo>
8768 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} can find the correct
8769 address for functions and variables in an overlay, whether or not the
8770 overlay is mapped. This allows most @value{GDBN} commands, like
8771 @code{break} and @code{disassemble}, to work normally, even on unmapped
8772 code. However, @value{GDBN}'s breakpoint support has some limitations:
8776 @cindex breakpoints in overlays
8777 @cindex overlays, setting breakpoints in
8778 You can set breakpoints in functions in unmapped overlays, as long as
8779 @value{GDBN} can write to the overlay at its load address.
8781 @value{GDBN} can not set hardware or simulator-based breakpoints in
8782 unmapped overlays. However, if you set a breakpoint at the end of your
8783 overlay manager (and tell @value{GDBN} which overlays are now mapped, if
8784 you are using manual overlay management), @value{GDBN} will re-set its
8785 breakpoints properly.
8789 @node Automatic Overlay Debugging
8790 @section Automatic Overlay Debugging
8791 @cindex automatic overlay debugging
8793 @value{GDBN} can automatically track which overlays are mapped and which
8794 are not, given some simple co-operation from the overlay manager in the
8795 inferior. If you enable automatic overlay debugging with the
8796 @code{overlay auto} command (@pxref{Overlay Commands}), @value{GDBN}
8797 looks in the inferior's memory for certain variables describing the
8798 current state of the overlays.
8800 Here are the variables your overlay manager must define to support
8801 @value{GDBN}'s automatic overlay debugging:
8805 @item @code{_ovly_table}:
8806 This variable must be an array of the following structures:
8811 /* The overlay's mapped address. */
8814 /* The size of the overlay, in bytes. */
8817 /* The overlay's load address. */
8820 /* Non-zero if the overlay is currently mapped;
8822 unsigned long mapped;
8826 @item @code{_novlys}:
8827 This variable must be a four-byte signed integer, holding the total
8828 number of elements in @code{_ovly_table}.
8832 To decide whether a particular overlay is mapped or not, @value{GDBN}
8833 looks for an entry in @w{@code{_ovly_table}} whose @code{vma} and
8834 @code{lma} members equal the VMA and LMA of the overlay's section in the
8835 executable file. When @value{GDBN} finds a matching entry, it consults
8836 the entry's @code{mapped} member to determine whether the overlay is
8839 In addition, your overlay manager may define a function called
8840 @code{_ovly_debug_event}. If this function is defined, @value{GDBN}
8841 will silently set a breakpoint there. If the overlay manager then
8842 calls this function whenever it has changed the overlay table, this
8843 will enable @value{GDBN} to accurately keep track of which overlays
8844 are in program memory, and update any breakpoints that may be set
8845 in overlays. This will allow breakpoints to work even if the
8846 overlays are kept in ROM or other non-writable memory while they
8847 are not being executed.
8849 @node Overlay Sample Program
8850 @section Overlay Sample Program
8851 @cindex overlay example program
8853 When linking a program which uses overlays, you must place the overlays
8854 at their load addresses, while relocating them to run at their mapped
8855 addresses. To do this, you must write a linker script (@pxref{Overlay
8856 Description,,, ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}). Unfortunately,
8857 since linker scripts are specific to a particular host system, target
8858 architecture, and target memory layout, this manual cannot provide
8859 portable sample code demonstrating @value{GDBN}'s overlay support.
8861 However, the @value{GDBN} source distribution does contain an overlaid
8862 program, with linker scripts for a few systems, as part of its test
8863 suite. The program consists of the following files from
8864 @file{gdb/testsuite/gdb.base}:
8868 The main program file.
8870 A simple overlay manager, used by @file{overlays.c}.
8875 Overlay modules, loaded and used by @file{overlays.c}.
8878 Linker scripts for linking the test program on the @code{d10v-elf}
8879 and @code{m32r-elf} targets.
8882 You can build the test program using the @code{d10v-elf} GCC
8883 cross-compiler like this:
8886 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c overlays.c
8887 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c ovlymgr.c
8888 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c foo.c
8889 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c bar.c
8890 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c baz.c
8891 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c grbx.c
8892 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g overlays.o ovlymgr.o foo.o bar.o \
8893 baz.o grbx.o -Wl,-Td10v.ld -o overlays
8896 The build process is identical for any other architecture, except that
8897 you must substitute the appropriate compiler and linker script for the
8898 target system for @code{d10v-elf-gcc} and @code{d10v.ld}.
8902 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages
8905 Although programming languages generally have common aspects, they are
8906 rarely expressed in the same manner. For instance, in ANSI C,
8907 dereferencing a pointer @code{p} is accomplished by @code{*p}, but in
8908 Modula-2, it is accomplished by @code{p^}. Values can also be
8909 represented (and displayed) differently. Hex numbers in C appear as
8910 @samp{0x1ae}, while in Modula-2 they appear as @samp{1AEH}.
8912 @cindex working language
8913 Language-specific information is built into @value{GDBN} for some languages,
8914 allowing you to express operations like the above in your program's
8915 native language, and allowing @value{GDBN} to output values in a manner
8916 consistent with the syntax of your program's native language. The
8917 language you use to build expressions is called the @dfn{working
8921 * Setting:: Switching between source languages
8922 * Show:: Displaying the language
8923 * Checks:: Type and range checks
8924 * Supported Languages:: Supported languages
8925 * Unsupported Languages:: Unsupported languages
8929 @section Switching Between Source Languages
8931 There are two ways to control the working language---either have @value{GDBN}
8932 set it automatically, or select it manually yourself. You can use the
8933 @code{set language} command for either purpose. On startup, @value{GDBN}
8934 defaults to setting the language automatically. The working language is
8935 used to determine how expressions you type are interpreted, how values
8938 In addition to the working language, every source file that
8939 @value{GDBN} knows about has its own working language. For some object
8940 file formats, the compiler might indicate which language a particular
8941 source file is in. However, most of the time @value{GDBN} infers the
8942 language from the name of the file. The language of a source file
8943 controls whether C@t{++} names are demangled---this way @code{backtrace} can
8944 show each frame appropriately for its own language. There is no way to
8945 set the language of a source file from within @value{GDBN}, but you can
8946 set the language associated with a filename extension. @xref{Show, ,
8947 Displaying the Language}.
8949 This is most commonly a problem when you use a program, such
8950 as @code{cfront} or @code{f2c}, that generates C but is written in
8951 another language. In that case, make the
8952 program use @code{#line} directives in its C output; that way
8953 @value{GDBN} will know the correct language of the source code of the original
8954 program, and will display that source code, not the generated C code.
8957 * Filenames:: Filename extensions and languages.
8958 * Manually:: Setting the working language manually
8959 * Automatically:: Having @value{GDBN} infer the source language
8963 @subsection List of Filename Extensions and Languages
8965 If a source file name ends in one of the following extensions, then
8966 @value{GDBN} infers that its language is the one indicated.
8987 Objective-C source file
8994 Modula-2 source file
8998 Assembler source file. This actually behaves almost like C, but
8999 @value{GDBN} does not skip over function prologues when stepping.
9002 In addition, you may set the language associated with a filename
9003 extension. @xref{Show, , Displaying the Language}.
9006 @subsection Setting the Working Language
9008 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically,
9009 expressions are interpreted the same way in your debugging session and
9012 @kindex set language
9013 If you wish, you may set the language manually. To do this, issue the
9014 command @samp{set language @var{lang}}, where @var{lang} is the name of
9016 @code{c} or @code{modula-2}.
9017 For a list of the supported languages, type @samp{set language}.
9019 Setting the language manually prevents @value{GDBN} from updating the working
9020 language automatically. This can lead to confusion if you try
9021 to debug a program when the working language is not the same as the
9022 source language, when an expression is acceptable to both
9023 languages---but means different things. For instance, if the current
9024 source file were written in C, and @value{GDBN} was parsing Modula-2, a
9032 might not have the effect you intended. In C, this means to add
9033 @code{b} and @code{c} and place the result in @code{a}. The result
9034 printed would be the value of @code{a}. In Modula-2, this means to compare
9035 @code{a} to the result of @code{b+c}, yielding a @code{BOOLEAN} value.
9038 @subsection Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language
9040 To have @value{GDBN} set the working language automatically, use
9041 @samp{set language local} or @samp{set language auto}. @value{GDBN}
9042 then infers the working language. That is, when your program stops in a
9043 frame (usually by encountering a breakpoint), @value{GDBN} sets the
9044 working language to the language recorded for the function in that
9045 frame. If the language for a frame is unknown (that is, if the function
9046 or block corresponding to the frame was defined in a source file that
9047 does not have a recognized extension), the current working language is
9048 not changed, and @value{GDBN} issues a warning.
9050 This may not seem necessary for most programs, which are written
9051 entirely in one source language. However, program modules and libraries
9052 written in one source language can be used by a main program written in
9053 a different source language. Using @samp{set language auto} in this
9054 case frees you from having to set the working language manually.
9057 @section Displaying the Language
9059 The following commands help you find out which language is the
9060 working language, and also what language source files were written in.
9064 @kindex show language
9065 Display the current working language. This is the
9066 language you can use with commands such as @code{print} to
9067 build and compute expressions that may involve variables in your program.
9070 @kindex info frame@r{, show the source language}
9071 Display the source language for this frame. This language becomes the
9072 working language if you use an identifier from this frame.
9073 @xref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}, to identify the other
9074 information listed here.
9077 @kindex info source@r{, show the source language}
9078 Display the source language of this source file.
9079 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, to identify the other
9080 information listed here.
9083 In unusual circumstances, you may have source files with extensions
9084 not in the standard list. You can then set the extension associated
9085 with a language explicitly:
9088 @item set extension-language @var{ext} @var{language}
9089 @kindex set extension-language
9090 Tell @value{GDBN} that source files with extension @var{ext} are to be
9091 assumed as written in the source language @var{language}.
9093 @item info extensions
9094 @kindex info extensions
9095 List all the filename extensions and the associated languages.
9099 @section Type and Range Checking
9102 @emph{Warning:} In this release, the @value{GDBN} commands for type and range
9103 checking are included, but they do not yet have any effect. This
9104 section documents the intended facilities.
9106 @c FIXME remove warning when type/range code added
9108 Some languages are designed to guard you against making seemingly common
9109 errors through a series of compile- and run-time checks. These include
9110 checking the type of arguments to functions and operators, and making
9111 sure mathematical overflows are caught at run time. Checks such as
9112 these help to ensure a program's correctness once it has been compiled
9113 by eliminating type mismatches, and providing active checks for range
9114 errors when your program is running.
9116 @value{GDBN} can check for conditions like the above if you wish.
9117 Although @value{GDBN} does not check the statements in your program,
9118 it can check expressions entered directly into @value{GDBN} for
9119 evaluation via the @code{print} command, for example. As with the
9120 working language, @value{GDBN} can also decide whether or not to check
9121 automatically based on your program's source language.
9122 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default
9123 settings of supported languages.
9126 * Type Checking:: An overview of type checking
9127 * Range Checking:: An overview of range checking
9130 @cindex type checking
9131 @cindex checks, type
9133 @subsection An Overview of Type Checking
9135 Some languages, such as Modula-2, are strongly typed, meaning that the
9136 arguments to operators and functions have to be of the correct type,
9137 otherwise an error occurs. These checks prevent type mismatch
9138 errors from ever causing any run-time problems. For example,
9146 The second example fails because the @code{CARDINAL} 1 is not
9147 type-compatible with the @code{REAL} 2.3.
9149 For the expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell the
9150 @value{GDBN} type checker to skip checking;
9151 to treat any mismatches as errors and abandon the expression;
9152 or to only issue warnings when type mismatches occur,
9153 but evaluate the expression anyway. When you choose the last of
9154 these, @value{GDBN} evaluates expressions like the second example above, but
9155 also issues a warning.
9157 Even if you turn type checking off, there may be other reasons
9158 related to type that prevent @value{GDBN} from evaluating an expression.
9159 For instance, @value{GDBN} does not know how to add an @code{int} and
9160 a @code{struct foo}. These particular type errors have nothing to do
9161 with the language in use, and usually arise from expressions, such as
9162 the one described above, which make little sense to evaluate anyway.
9164 Each language defines to what degree it is strict about type. For
9165 instance, both Modula-2 and C require the arguments to arithmetical
9166 operators to be numbers. In C, enumerated types and pointers can be
9167 represented as numbers, so that they are valid arguments to mathematical
9168 operators. @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for further
9169 details on specific languages.
9171 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the type checker:
9173 @kindex set check type
9174 @kindex show check type
9176 @item set check type auto
9177 Set type checking on or off based on the current working language.
9178 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
9181 @item set check type on
9182 @itemx set check type off
9183 Set type checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
9184 current working language. Issue a warning if the setting does not
9185 match the language default. If any type mismatches occur in
9186 evaluating an expression while type checking is on, @value{GDBN} prints a
9187 message and aborts evaluation of the expression.
9189 @item set check type warn
9190 Cause the type checker to issue warnings, but to always attempt to
9191 evaluate the expression. Evaluating the expression may still
9192 be impossible for other reasons. For example, @value{GDBN} cannot add
9193 numbers and structures.
9196 Show the current setting of the type checker, and whether or not @value{GDBN}
9197 is setting it automatically.
9200 @cindex range checking
9201 @cindex checks, range
9202 @node Range Checking
9203 @subsection An Overview of Range Checking
9205 In some languages (such as Modula-2), it is an error to exceed the
9206 bounds of a type; this is enforced with run-time checks. Such range
9207 checking is meant to ensure program correctness by making sure
9208 computations do not overflow, or indices on an array element access do
9209 not exceed the bounds of the array.
9211 For expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell
9212 @value{GDBN} to treat range errors in one of three ways: ignore them,
9213 always treat them as errors and abandon the expression, or issue
9214 warnings but evaluate the expression anyway.
9216 A range error can result from numerical overflow, from exceeding an
9217 array index bound, or when you type a constant that is not a member
9218 of any type. Some languages, however, do not treat overflows as an
9219 error. In many implementations of C, mathematical overflow causes the
9220 result to ``wrap around'' to lower values---for example, if @var{m} is
9221 the largest integer value, and @var{s} is the smallest, then
9224 @var{m} + 1 @result{} @var{s}
9227 This, too, is specific to individual languages, and in some cases
9228 specific to individual compilers or machines. @xref{Supported Languages, ,
9229 Supported Languages}, for further details on specific languages.
9231 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the range checker:
9233 @kindex set check range
9234 @kindex show check range
9236 @item set check range auto
9237 Set range checking on or off based on the current working language.
9238 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
9241 @item set check range on
9242 @itemx set check range off
9243 Set range checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
9244 current working language. A warning is issued if the setting does not
9245 match the language default. If a range error occurs and range checking is on,
9246 then a message is printed and evaluation of the expression is aborted.
9248 @item set check range warn
9249 Output messages when the @value{GDBN} range checker detects a range error,
9250 but attempt to evaluate the expression anyway. Evaluating the
9251 expression may still be impossible for other reasons, such as accessing
9252 memory that the process does not own (a typical example from many Unix
9256 Show the current setting of the range checker, and whether or not it is
9257 being set automatically by @value{GDBN}.
9260 @node Supported Languages
9261 @section Supported Languages
9263 @value{GDBN} supports C, C@t{++}, Objective-C, Fortran, Java, Pascal,
9264 assembly, Modula-2, and Ada.
9265 @c This is false ...
9266 Some @value{GDBN} features may be used in expressions regardless of the
9267 language you use: the @value{GDBN} @code{@@} and @code{::} operators,
9268 and the @samp{@{type@}addr} construct (@pxref{Expressions,
9269 ,Expressions}) can be used with the constructs of any supported
9272 The following sections detail to what degree each source language is
9273 supported by @value{GDBN}. These sections are not meant to be language
9274 tutorials or references, but serve only as a reference guide to what the
9275 @value{GDBN} expression parser accepts, and what input and output
9276 formats should look like for different languages. There are many good
9277 books written on each of these languages; please look to these for a
9278 language reference or tutorial.
9282 * Objective-C:: Objective-C
9285 * Modula-2:: Modula-2
9290 @subsection C and C@t{++}
9292 @cindex C and C@t{++}
9293 @cindex expressions in C or C@t{++}
9295 Since C and C@t{++} are so closely related, many features of @value{GDBN} apply
9296 to both languages. Whenever this is the case, we discuss those languages
9300 @cindex @code{g++}, @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler
9301 @cindex @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
9302 The C@t{++} debugging facilities are jointly implemented by the C@t{++}
9303 compiler and @value{GDBN}. Therefore, to debug your C@t{++} code
9304 effectively, you must compile your C@t{++} programs with a supported
9305 C@t{++} compiler, such as @sc{gnu} @code{g++}, or the HP ANSI C@t{++}
9306 compiler (@code{aCC}).
9308 For best results when using @sc{gnu} C@t{++}, use the DWARF 2 debugging
9309 format; if it doesn't work on your system, try the stabs+ debugging
9310 format. You can select those formats explicitly with the @code{g++}
9311 command-line options @option{-gdwarf-2} and @option{-gstabs+}.
9312 @xref{Debugging Options,,Options for Debugging Your Program or GCC,
9313 gcc.info, Using the @sc{gnu} Compiler Collection (GCC)}.
9316 * C Operators:: C and C@t{++} operators
9317 * C Constants:: C and C@t{++} constants
9318 * C Plus Plus Expressions:: C@t{++} expressions
9319 * C Defaults:: Default settings for C and C@t{++}
9320 * C Checks:: C and C@t{++} type and range checks
9321 * Debugging C:: @value{GDBN} and C
9322 * Debugging C Plus Plus:: @value{GDBN} features for C@t{++}
9323 * Decimal Floating Point:: Numbers in Decimal Floating Point format
9327 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Operators
9329 @cindex C and C@t{++} operators
9331 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
9332 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
9333 often defined on groups of types.
9335 For the purposes of C and C@t{++}, the following definitions hold:
9340 @emph{Integral types} include @code{int} with any of its storage-class
9341 specifiers; @code{char}; @code{enum}; and, for C@t{++}, @code{bool}.
9344 @emph{Floating-point types} include @code{float}, @code{double}, and
9345 @code{long double} (if supported by the target platform).
9348 @emph{Pointer types} include all types defined as @code{(@var{type} *)}.
9351 @emph{Scalar types} include all of the above.
9356 The following operators are supported. They are listed here
9357 in order of increasing precedence:
9361 The comma or sequencing operator. Expressions in a comma-separated list
9362 are evaluated from left to right, with the result of the entire
9363 expression being the last expression evaluated.
9366 Assignment. The value of an assignment expression is the value
9367 assigned. Defined on scalar types.
9370 Used in an expression of the form @w{@code{@var{a} @var{op}= @var{b}}},
9371 and translated to @w{@code{@var{a} = @var{a op b}}}.
9372 @w{@code{@var{op}=}} and @code{=} have the same precedence.
9373 @var{op} is any one of the operators @code{|}, @code{^}, @code{&},
9374 @code{<<}, @code{>>}, @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{%}.
9377 The ternary operator. @code{@var{a} ? @var{b} : @var{c}} can be thought
9378 of as: if @var{a} then @var{b} else @var{c}. @var{a} should be of an
9382 Logical @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
9385 Logical @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
9388 Bitwise @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
9391 Bitwise exclusive-@sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
9394 Bitwise @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
9397 Equality and inequality. Defined on scalar types. The value of these
9398 expressions is 0 for false and non-zero for true.
9400 @item <@r{, }>@r{, }<=@r{, }>=
9401 Less than, greater than, less than or equal, greater than or equal.
9402 Defined on scalar types. The value of these expressions is 0 for false
9403 and non-zero for true.
9406 left shift, and right shift. Defined on integral types.
9409 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
9412 Addition and subtraction. Defined on integral types, floating-point types and
9415 @item *@r{, }/@r{, }%
9416 Multiplication, division, and modulus. Multiplication and division are
9417 defined on integral and floating-point types. Modulus is defined on
9421 Increment and decrement. When appearing before a variable, the
9422 operation is performed before the variable is used in an expression;
9423 when appearing after it, the variable's value is used before the
9424 operation takes place.
9427 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types. Same precedence as
9431 Address operator. Defined on variables. Same precedence as @code{++}.
9433 For debugging C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} implements a use of @samp{&} beyond what is
9434 allowed in the C@t{++} language itself: you can use @samp{&(&@var{ref})}
9435 to examine the address
9436 where a C@t{++} reference variable (declared with @samp{&@var{ref}}) is
9440 Negative. Defined on integral and floating-point types. Same
9441 precedence as @code{++}.
9444 Logical negation. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
9448 Bitwise complement operator. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
9453 Structure member, and pointer-to-structure member. For convenience,
9454 @value{GDBN} regards the two as equivalent, choosing whether to dereference a
9455 pointer based on the stored type information.
9456 Defined on @code{struct} and @code{union} data.
9459 Dereferences of pointers to members.
9462 Array indexing. @code{@var{a}[@var{i}]} is defined as
9463 @code{*(@var{a}+@var{i})}. Same precedence as @code{->}.
9466 Function parameter list. Same precedence as @code{->}.
9469 C@t{++} scope resolution operator. Defined on @code{struct}, @code{union},
9470 and @code{class} types.
9473 Doubled colons also represent the @value{GDBN} scope operator
9474 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). Same precedence as @code{::},
9478 If an operator is redefined in the user code, @value{GDBN} usually
9479 attempts to invoke the redefined version instead of using the operator's
9483 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Constants
9485 @cindex C and C@t{++} constants
9487 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of C and C@t{++} in the
9492 Integer constants are a sequence of digits. Octal constants are
9493 specified by a leading @samp{0} (i.e.@: zero), and hexadecimal constants
9494 by a leading @samp{0x} or @samp{0X}. Constants may also end with a letter
9495 @samp{l}, specifying that the constant should be treated as a
9499 Floating point constants are a sequence of digits, followed by a decimal
9500 point, followed by a sequence of digits, and optionally followed by an
9501 exponent. An exponent is of the form:
9502 @samp{@w{e@r{[[}+@r{]|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}}, where @var{nnn} is another
9503 sequence of digits. The @samp{+} is optional for positive exponents.
9504 A floating-point constant may also end with a letter @samp{f} or
9505 @samp{F}, specifying that the constant should be treated as being of
9506 the @code{float} (as opposed to the default @code{double}) type; or with
9507 a letter @samp{l} or @samp{L}, which specifies a @code{long double}
9511 Enumerated constants consist of enumerated identifiers, or their
9512 integral equivalents.
9515 Character constants are a single character surrounded by single quotes
9516 (@code{'}), or a number---the ordinal value of the corresponding character
9517 (usually its @sc{ascii} value). Within quotes, the single character may
9518 be represented by a letter or by @dfn{escape sequences}, which are of
9519 the form @samp{\@var{nnn}}, where @var{nnn} is the octal representation
9520 of the character's ordinal value; or of the form @samp{\@var{x}}, where
9521 @samp{@var{x}} is a predefined special character---for example,
9522 @samp{\n} for newline.
9525 String constants are a sequence of character constants surrounded by
9526 double quotes (@code{"}). Any valid character constant (as described
9527 above) may appear. Double quotes within the string must be preceded by
9528 a backslash, so for instance @samp{"a\"b'c"} is a string of five
9532 Pointer constants are an integral value. You can also write pointers
9533 to constants using the C operator @samp{&}.
9536 Array constants are comma-separated lists surrounded by braces @samp{@{}
9537 and @samp{@}}; for example, @samp{@{1,2,3@}} is a three-element array of
9538 integers, @samp{@{@{1,2@}, @{3,4@}, @{5,6@}@}} is a three-by-two array,
9539 and @samp{@{&"hi", &"there", &"fred"@}} is a three-element array of pointers.
9542 @node C Plus Plus Expressions
9543 @subsubsection C@t{++} Expressions
9545 @cindex expressions in C@t{++}
9546 @value{GDBN} expression handling can interpret most C@t{++} expressions.
9548 @cindex debugging C@t{++} programs
9549 @cindex C@t{++} compilers
9550 @cindex debug formats and C@t{++}
9551 @cindex @value{NGCC} and C@t{++}
9553 @emph{Warning:} @value{GDBN} can only debug C@t{++} code if you use the
9554 proper compiler and the proper debug format. Currently, @value{GDBN}
9555 works best when debugging C@t{++} code that is compiled with
9556 @value{NGCC} 2.95.3 or with @value{NGCC} 3.1 or newer, using the options
9557 @option{-gdwarf-2} or @option{-gstabs+}. DWARF 2 is preferred over
9558 stabs+. Most configurations of @value{NGCC} emit either DWARF 2 or
9559 stabs+ as their default debug format, so you usually don't need to
9560 specify a debug format explicitly. Other compilers and/or debug formats
9561 are likely to work badly or not at all when using @value{GDBN} to debug
9567 @cindex member functions
9569 Member function calls are allowed; you can use expressions like
9572 count = aml->GetOriginal(x, y)
9575 @vindex this@r{, inside C@t{++} member functions}
9576 @cindex namespace in C@t{++}
9578 While a member function is active (in the selected stack frame), your
9579 expressions have the same namespace available as the member function;
9580 that is, @value{GDBN} allows implicit references to the class instance
9581 pointer @code{this} following the same rules as C@t{++}.
9583 @cindex call overloaded functions
9584 @cindex overloaded functions, calling
9585 @cindex type conversions in C@t{++}
9587 You can call overloaded functions; @value{GDBN} resolves the function
9588 call to the right definition, with some restrictions. @value{GDBN} does not
9589 perform overload resolution involving user-defined type conversions,
9590 calls to constructors, or instantiations of templates that do not exist
9591 in the program. It also cannot handle ellipsis argument lists or
9594 It does perform integral conversions and promotions, floating-point
9595 promotions, arithmetic conversions, pointer conversions, conversions of
9596 class objects to base classes, and standard conversions such as those of
9597 functions or arrays to pointers; it requires an exact match on the
9598 number of function arguments.
9600 Overload resolution is always performed, unless you have specified
9601 @code{set overload-resolution off}. @xref{Debugging C Plus Plus,
9602 ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
9604 You must specify @code{set overload-resolution off} in order to use an
9605 explicit function signature to call an overloaded function, as in
9607 p 'foo(char,int)'('x', 13)
9610 The @value{GDBN} command-completion facility can simplify this;
9611 see @ref{Completion, ,Command Completion}.
9613 @cindex reference declarations
9615 @value{GDBN} understands variables declared as C@t{++} references; you can use
9616 them in expressions just as you do in C@t{++} source---they are automatically
9619 In the parameter list shown when @value{GDBN} displays a frame, the values of
9620 reference variables are not displayed (unlike other variables); this
9621 avoids clutter, since references are often used for large structures.
9622 The @emph{address} of a reference variable is always shown, unless
9623 you have specified @samp{set print address off}.
9626 @value{GDBN} supports the C@t{++} name resolution operator @code{::}---your
9627 expressions can use it just as expressions in your program do. Since
9628 one scope may be defined in another, you can use @code{::} repeatedly if
9629 necessary, for example in an expression like
9630 @samp{@var{scope1}::@var{scope2}::@var{name}}. @value{GDBN} also allows
9631 resolving name scope by reference to source files, in both C and C@t{++}
9632 debugging (@pxref{Variables, ,Program Variables}).
9635 In addition, when used with HP's C@t{++} compiler, @value{GDBN} supports
9636 calling virtual functions correctly, printing out virtual bases of
9637 objects, calling functions in a base subobject, casting objects, and
9638 invoking user-defined operators.
9641 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Defaults
9643 @cindex C and C@t{++} defaults
9645 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set type and range checking automatically, they
9646 both default to @code{off} whenever the working language changes to
9647 C or C@t{++}. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
9648 selects the working language.
9650 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, it
9651 recognizes source files whose names end with @file{.c}, @file{.C}, or
9652 @file{.cc}, etc, and when @value{GDBN} enters code compiled from one of
9653 these files, it sets the working language to C or C@t{++}.
9654 @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language},
9655 for further details.
9657 @c Type checking is (a) primarily motivated by Modula-2, and (b)
9658 @c unimplemented. If (b) changes, it might make sense to let this node
9659 @c appear even if Mod-2 does not, but meanwhile ignore it. roland 16jul93.
9662 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Type and Range Checks
9664 @cindex C and C@t{++} checks
9666 By default, when @value{GDBN} parses C or C@t{++} expressions, type checking
9667 is not used. However, if you turn type checking on, @value{GDBN}
9668 considers two variables type equivalent if:
9672 The two variables are structured and have the same structure, union, or
9676 The two variables have the same type name, or types that have been
9677 declared equivalent through @code{typedef}.
9680 @c leaving this out because neither J Gilmore nor R Pesch understand it.
9683 The two @code{struct}, @code{union}, or @code{enum} variables are
9684 declared in the same declaration. (Note: this may not be true for all C
9689 Range checking, if turned on, is done on mathematical operations. Array
9690 indices are not checked, since they are often used to index a pointer
9691 that is not itself an array.
9694 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and C
9696 The @code{set print union} and @code{show print union} commands apply to
9697 the @code{union} type. When set to @samp{on}, any @code{union} that is
9698 inside a @code{struct} or @code{class} is also printed. Otherwise, it
9699 appears as @samp{@{...@}}.
9701 The @code{@@} operator aids in the debugging of dynamic arrays, formed
9702 with pointers and a memory allocation function. @xref{Expressions,
9705 @node Debugging C Plus Plus
9706 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}
9708 @cindex commands for C@t{++}
9710 Some @value{GDBN} commands are particularly useful with C@t{++}, and some are
9711 designed specifically for use with C@t{++}. Here is a summary:
9714 @cindex break in overloaded functions
9715 @item @r{breakpoint menus}
9716 When you want a breakpoint in a function whose name is overloaded,
9717 @value{GDBN} has the capability to display a menu of possible breakpoint
9718 locations to help you specify which function definition you want.
9719 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}.
9721 @cindex overloading in C@t{++}
9722 @item rbreak @var{regex}
9723 Setting breakpoints using regular expressions is helpful for setting
9724 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
9726 @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
9728 @cindex C@t{++} exception handling
9731 Debug C@t{++} exception handling using these commands. @xref{Set
9732 Catchpoints, , Setting Catchpoints}.
9735 @item ptype @var{typename}
9736 Print inheritance relationships as well as other information for type
9738 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
9740 @cindex C@t{++} symbol display
9741 @item set print demangle
9742 @itemx show print demangle
9743 @itemx set print asm-demangle
9744 @itemx show print asm-demangle
9745 Control whether C@t{++} symbols display in their source form, both when
9746 displaying code as C@t{++} source and when displaying disassemblies.
9747 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
9749 @item set print object
9750 @itemx show print object
9751 Choose whether to print derived (actual) or declared types of objects.
9752 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
9754 @item set print vtbl
9755 @itemx show print vtbl
9756 Control the format for printing virtual function tables.
9757 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
9758 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
9759 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
9761 @kindex set overload-resolution
9762 @cindex overloaded functions, overload resolution
9763 @item set overload-resolution on
9764 Enable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. The default
9765 is on. For overloaded functions, @value{GDBN} evaluates the arguments
9766 and searches for a function whose signature matches the argument types,
9767 using the standard C@t{++} conversion rules (see @ref{C Plus Plus
9768 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}, for details).
9769 If it cannot find a match, it emits a message.
9771 @item set overload-resolution off
9772 Disable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. For
9773 overloaded functions that are not class member functions, @value{GDBN}
9774 chooses the first function of the specified name that it finds in the
9775 symbol table, whether or not its arguments are of the correct type. For
9776 overloaded functions that are class member functions, @value{GDBN}
9777 searches for a function whose signature @emph{exactly} matches the
9780 @kindex show overload-resolution
9781 @item show overload-resolution
9782 Show the current setting of overload resolution.
9784 @item @r{Overloaded symbol names}
9785 You can specify a particular definition of an overloaded symbol, using
9786 the same notation that is used to declare such symbols in C@t{++}: type
9787 @code{@var{symbol}(@var{types})} rather than just @var{symbol}. You can
9788 also use the @value{GDBN} command-line word completion facilities to list the
9789 available choices, or to finish the type list for you.
9790 @xref{Completion,, Command Completion}, for details on how to do this.
9793 @node Decimal Floating Point
9794 @subsubsection Decimal Floating Point format
9795 @cindex decimal floating point format
9797 @value{GDBN} can examine, set and perform computations with numbers in
9798 decimal floating point format, which in the C language correspond to the
9799 @code{_Decimal32}, @code{_Decimal64} and @code{_Decimal128} types as
9800 specified by the extension to support decimal floating-point arithmetic.
9802 There are two encodings in use, depending on the architecture: BID (Binary
9803 Integer Decimal) for x86 and x86-64, and DPD (Densely Packed Decimal) for
9804 PowerPC. @value{GDBN} will use the appropriate encoding for the configured
9807 Because of a limitation in @file{libdecnumber}, the library used by @value{GDBN}
9808 to manipulate decimal floating point numbers, it is not possible to convert
9809 (using a cast, for example) integers wider than 32-bit to decimal float.
9811 In addition, in order to imitate @value{GDBN}'s behaviour with binary floating
9812 point computations, error checking in decimal float operations ignores
9813 underflow, overflow and divide by zero exceptions.
9815 In the PowerPC architecture, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers
9816 to inspect @code{_Decimal128} values stored in floating point registers. See
9817 @ref{PowerPC,,PowerPC} for more details.
9820 @subsection Objective-C
9823 This section provides information about some commands and command
9824 options that are useful for debugging Objective-C code. See also
9825 @ref{Symbols, info classes}, and @ref{Symbols, info selectors}, for a
9826 few more commands specific to Objective-C support.
9829 * Method Names in Commands::
9830 * The Print Command with Objective-C::
9833 @node Method Names in Commands
9834 @subsubsection Method Names in Commands
9836 The following commands have been extended to accept Objective-C method
9837 names as line specifications:
9839 @kindex clear@r{, and Objective-C}
9840 @kindex break@r{, and Objective-C}
9841 @kindex info line@r{, and Objective-C}
9842 @kindex jump@r{, and Objective-C}
9843 @kindex list@r{, and Objective-C}
9847 @item @code{info line}
9852 A fully qualified Objective-C method name is specified as
9855 -[@var{Class} @var{methodName}]
9858 where the minus sign is used to indicate an instance method and a
9859 plus sign (not shown) is used to indicate a class method. The class
9860 name @var{Class} and method name @var{methodName} are enclosed in
9861 brackets, similar to the way messages are specified in Objective-C
9862 source code. For example, to set a breakpoint at the @code{create}
9863 instance method of class @code{Fruit} in the program currently being
9867 break -[Fruit create]
9870 To list ten program lines around the @code{initialize} class method,
9874 list +[NSText initialize]
9877 In the current version of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus sign is
9878 required. In future versions of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus
9879 sign will be optional, but you can use it to narrow the search. It
9880 is also possible to specify just a method name:
9886 You must specify the complete method name, including any colons. If
9887 your program's source files contain more than one @code{create} method,
9888 you'll be presented with a numbered list of classes that implement that
9889 method. Indicate your choice by number, or type @samp{0} to exit if
9892 As another example, to clear a breakpoint established at the
9893 @code{makeKeyAndOrderFront:} method of the @code{NSWindow} class, enter:
9896 clear -[NSWindow makeKeyAndOrderFront:]
9899 @node The Print Command with Objective-C
9900 @subsubsection The Print Command With Objective-C
9901 @cindex Objective-C, print objects
9902 @kindex print-object
9903 @kindex po @r{(@code{print-object})}
9905 The print command has also been extended to accept methods. For example:
9908 print -[@var{object} hash]
9911 @cindex print an Objective-C object description
9912 @cindex @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, and printing Objective-C objects
9914 will tell @value{GDBN} to send the @code{hash} message to @var{object}
9915 and print the result. Also, an additional command has been added,
9916 @code{print-object} or @code{po} for short, which is meant to print
9917 the description of an object. However, this command may only work
9918 with certain Objective-C libraries that have a particular hook
9919 function, @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, defined.
9923 @cindex Fortran-specific support in @value{GDBN}
9925 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, but it
9926 currently supports only the features of Fortran 77 language.
9928 @cindex trailing underscore, in Fortran symbols
9929 Some Fortran compilers (@sc{gnu} Fortran 77 and Fortran 95 compilers
9930 among them) append an underscore to the names of variables and
9931 functions. When you debug programs compiled by those compilers, you
9932 will need to refer to variables and functions with a trailing
9936 * Fortran Operators:: Fortran operators and expressions
9937 * Fortran Defaults:: Default settings for Fortran
9938 * Special Fortran Commands:: Special @value{GDBN} commands for Fortran
9941 @node Fortran Operators
9942 @subsubsection Fortran Operators and Expressions
9944 @cindex Fortran operators and expressions
9946 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
9947 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on characters or other non-
9948 arithmetic types. Operators are often defined on groups of types.
9952 The exponentiation operator. It raises the first operand to the power
9956 The range operator. Normally used in the form of array(low:high) to
9957 represent a section of array.
9960 The access component operator. Normally used to access elements in derived
9961 types. Also suitable for unions. As unions aren't part of regular Fortran,
9962 this can only happen when accessing a register that uses a gdbarch-defined
9966 @node Fortran Defaults
9967 @subsubsection Fortran Defaults
9969 @cindex Fortran Defaults
9971 Fortran symbols are usually case-insensitive, so @value{GDBN} by
9972 default uses case-insensitive matches for Fortran symbols. You can
9973 change that with the @samp{set case-insensitive} command, see
9974 @ref{Symbols}, for the details.
9976 @node Special Fortran Commands
9977 @subsubsection Special Fortran Commands
9979 @cindex Special Fortran commands
9981 @value{GDBN} has some commands to support Fortran-specific features,
9982 such as displaying common blocks.
9985 @cindex @code{COMMON} blocks, Fortran
9987 @item info common @r{[}@var{common-name}@r{]}
9988 This command prints the values contained in the Fortran @code{COMMON}
9989 block whose name is @var{common-name}. With no argument, the names of
9990 all @code{COMMON} blocks visible at the current program location are
9997 @cindex Pascal support in @value{GDBN}, limitations
9998 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
9999 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
10000 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
10003 The Pascal-specific command @code{set print pascal_static-members}
10004 controls whether static members of Pascal objects are displayed.
10005 @xref{Print Settings, pascal_static-members}.
10008 @subsection Modula-2
10010 @cindex Modula-2, @value{GDBN} support
10012 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} to support Modula-2 only support
10013 output from the @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler (which is currently being
10014 developed). Other Modula-2 compilers are not currently supported, and
10015 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
10016 to give an error as @value{GDBN} reads in the executable's symbol
10019 @cindex expressions in Modula-2
10021 * M2 Operators:: Built-in operators
10022 * Built-In Func/Proc:: Built-in functions and procedures
10023 * M2 Constants:: Modula-2 constants
10024 * M2 Types:: Modula-2 types
10025 * M2 Defaults:: Default settings for Modula-2
10026 * Deviations:: Deviations from standard Modula-2
10027 * M2 Checks:: Modula-2 type and range checks
10028 * M2 Scope:: The scope operators @code{::} and @code{.}
10029 * GDB/M2:: @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
10033 @subsubsection Operators
10034 @cindex Modula-2 operators
10036 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
10037 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
10038 often defined on groups of types. For the purposes of Modula-2, the
10039 following definitions hold:
10044 @emph{Integral types} consist of @code{INTEGER}, @code{CARDINAL}, and
10048 @emph{Character types} consist of @code{CHAR} and its subranges.
10051 @emph{Floating-point types} consist of @code{REAL}.
10054 @emph{Pointer types} consist of anything declared as @code{POINTER TO
10058 @emph{Scalar types} consist of all of the above.
10061 @emph{Set types} consist of @code{SET} and @code{BITSET} types.
10064 @emph{Boolean types} consist of @code{BOOLEAN}.
10068 The following operators are supported, and appear in order of
10069 increasing precedence:
10073 Function argument or array index separator.
10076 Assignment. The value of @var{var} @code{:=} @var{value} is
10080 Less than, greater than on integral, floating-point, or enumerated
10084 Less than or equal to, greater than or equal to
10085 on integral, floating-point and enumerated types, or set inclusion on
10086 set types. Same precedence as @code{<}.
10088 @item =@r{, }<>@r{, }#
10089 Equality and two ways of expressing inequality, valid on scalar types.
10090 Same precedence as @code{<}. In @value{GDBN} scripts, only @code{<>} is
10091 available for inequality, since @code{#} conflicts with the script
10095 Set membership. Defined on set types and the types of their members.
10096 Same precedence as @code{<}.
10099 Boolean disjunction. Defined on boolean types.
10102 Boolean conjunction. Defined on boolean types.
10105 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
10108 Addition and subtraction on integral and floating-point types, or union
10109 and difference on set types.
10112 Multiplication on integral and floating-point types, or set intersection
10116 Division on floating-point types, or symmetric set difference on set
10117 types. Same precedence as @code{*}.
10120 Integer division and remainder. Defined on integral types. Same
10121 precedence as @code{*}.
10124 Negative. Defined on @code{INTEGER} and @code{REAL} data.
10127 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types.
10130 Boolean negation. Defined on boolean types. Same precedence as
10134 @code{RECORD} field selector. Defined on @code{RECORD} data. Same
10135 precedence as @code{^}.
10138 Array indexing. Defined on @code{ARRAY} data. Same precedence as @code{^}.
10141 Procedure argument list. Defined on @code{PROCEDURE} objects. Same precedence
10145 @value{GDBN} and Modula-2 scope operators.
10149 @emph{Warning:} Set expressions and their operations are not yet supported, so @value{GDBN}
10150 treats the use of the operator @code{IN}, or the use of operators
10151 @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{=}, , @code{<>}, @code{#},
10152 @code{<=}, and @code{>=} on sets as an error.
10156 @node Built-In Func/Proc
10157 @subsubsection Built-in Functions and Procedures
10158 @cindex Modula-2 built-ins
10160 Modula-2 also makes available several built-in procedures and functions.
10161 In describing these, the following metavariables are used:
10166 represents an @code{ARRAY} variable.
10169 represents a @code{CHAR} constant or variable.
10172 represents a variable or constant of integral type.
10175 represents an identifier that belongs to a set. Generally used in the
10176 same function with the metavariable @var{s}. The type of @var{s} should
10177 be @code{SET OF @var{mtype}} (where @var{mtype} is the type of @var{m}).
10180 represents a variable or constant of integral or floating-point type.
10183 represents a variable or constant of floating-point type.
10189 represents a variable.
10192 represents a variable or constant of one of many types. See the
10193 explanation of the function for details.
10196 All Modula-2 built-in procedures also return a result, described below.
10200 Returns the absolute value of @var{n}.
10203 If @var{c} is a lower case letter, it returns its upper case
10204 equivalent, otherwise it returns its argument.
10207 Returns the character whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
10210 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
10212 @item DEC(@var{v},@var{i})
10213 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
10216 @item EXCL(@var{m},@var{s})
10217 Removes the element @var{m} from the set @var{s}. Returns the new
10220 @item FLOAT(@var{i})
10221 Returns the floating point equivalent of the integer @var{i}.
10223 @item HIGH(@var{a})
10224 Returns the index of the last member of @var{a}.
10227 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
10229 @item INC(@var{v},@var{i})
10230 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
10233 @item INCL(@var{m},@var{s})
10234 Adds the element @var{m} to the set @var{s} if it is not already
10235 there. Returns the new set.
10238 Returns the maximum value of the type @var{t}.
10241 Returns the minimum value of the type @var{t}.
10244 Returns boolean TRUE if @var{i} is an odd number.
10247 Returns the ordinal value of its argument. For example, the ordinal
10248 value of a character is its @sc{ascii} value (on machines supporting the
10249 @sc{ascii} character set). @var{x} must be of an ordered type, which include
10250 integral, character and enumerated types.
10252 @item SIZE(@var{x})
10253 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
10255 @item TRUNC(@var{r})
10256 Returns the integral part of @var{r}.
10258 @item TSIZE(@var{x})
10259 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
10261 @item VAL(@var{t},@var{i})
10262 Returns the member of the type @var{t} whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
10266 @emph{Warning:} Sets and their operations are not yet supported, so
10267 @value{GDBN} treats the use of procedures @code{INCL} and @code{EXCL} as
10271 @cindex Modula-2 constants
10273 @subsubsection Constants
10275 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of Modula-2 in the following
10281 Integer constants are simply a sequence of digits. When used in an
10282 expression, a constant is interpreted to be type-compatible with the
10283 rest of the expression. Hexadecimal integers are specified by a
10284 trailing @samp{H}, and octal integers by a trailing @samp{B}.
10287 Floating point constants appear as a sequence of digits, followed by a
10288 decimal point and another sequence of digits. An optional exponent can
10289 then be specified, in the form @samp{E@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}, where
10290 @samp{@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}} is the desired exponent. All of the
10291 digits of the floating point constant must be valid decimal (base 10)
10295 Character constants consist of a single character enclosed by a pair of
10296 like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}). They may
10297 also be expressed by their ordinal value (their @sc{ascii} value, usually)
10298 followed by a @samp{C}.
10301 String constants consist of a sequence of characters enclosed by a
10302 pair of like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}).
10303 Escape sequences in the style of C are also allowed. @xref{C
10304 Constants, ,C and C@t{++} Constants}, for a brief explanation of escape
10308 Enumerated constants consist of an enumerated identifier.
10311 Boolean constants consist of the identifiers @code{TRUE} and
10315 Pointer constants consist of integral values only.
10318 Set constants are not yet supported.
10322 @subsubsection Modula-2 Types
10323 @cindex Modula-2 types
10325 Currently @value{GDBN} can print the following data types in Modula-2
10326 syntax: array types, record types, set types, pointer types, procedure
10327 types, enumerated types, subrange types and base types. You can also
10328 print the contents of variables declared using these type.
10329 This section gives a number of simple source code examples together with
10330 sample @value{GDBN} sessions.
10332 The first example contains the following section of code:
10341 and you can request @value{GDBN} to interrogate the type and value of
10342 @code{r} and @code{s}.
10345 (@value{GDBP}) print s
10347 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
10349 (@value{GDBP}) print r
10351 (@value{GDBP}) ptype r
10356 Likewise if your source code declares @code{s} as:
10360 s: SET ['A'..'Z'] ;
10364 then you may query the type of @code{s} by:
10367 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
10368 type = SET ['A'..'Z']
10372 Note that at present you cannot interactively manipulate set
10373 expressions using the debugger.
10375 The following example shows how you might declare an array in Modula-2
10376 and how you can interact with @value{GDBN} to print its type and contents:
10380 s: ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR ;
10384 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
10385 ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR
10388 Note that the array handling is not yet complete and although the type
10389 is printed correctly, expression handling still assumes that all
10390 arrays have a lower bound of zero and not @code{-10} as in the example
10393 Here are some more type related Modula-2 examples:
10397 colour = (blue, red, yellow, green) ;
10398 t = [blue..yellow] ;
10406 The @value{GDBN} interaction shows how you can query the data type
10407 and value of a variable.
10410 (@value{GDBP}) print s
10412 (@value{GDBP}) ptype t
10413 type = [blue..yellow]
10417 In this example a Modula-2 array is declared and its contents
10418 displayed. Observe that the contents are written in the same way as
10419 their @code{C} counterparts.
10423 s: ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
10429 (@value{GDBP}) print s
10430 $1 = @{1, 0, 0, 0, 0@}
10431 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
10432 type = ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
10435 The Modula-2 language interface to @value{GDBN} also understands
10436 pointer types as shown in this example:
10440 s: POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
10447 and you can request that @value{GDBN} describes the type of @code{s}.
10450 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
10451 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
10454 @value{GDBN} handles compound types as we can see in this example.
10455 Here we combine array types, record types, pointer types and subrange
10466 myarray = ARRAY myrange OF CARDINAL ;
10467 myrange = [-2..2] ;
10469 s: POINTER TO ARRAY myrange OF foo ;
10473 and you can ask @value{GDBN} to describe the type of @code{s} as shown
10477 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
10478 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [-2..2] OF foo = RECORD
10481 f3 : ARRAY [-2..2] OF CARDINAL;
10486 @subsubsection Modula-2 Defaults
10487 @cindex Modula-2 defaults
10489 If type and range checking are set automatically by @value{GDBN}, they
10490 both default to @code{on} whenever the working language changes to
10491 Modula-2. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
10492 selected the working language.
10494 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, then entering
10495 code compiled from a file whose name ends with @file{.mod} sets the
10496 working language to Modula-2. @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN}
10497 Infer the Source Language}, for further details.
10500 @subsubsection Deviations from Standard Modula-2
10501 @cindex Modula-2, deviations from
10503 A few changes have been made to make Modula-2 programs easier to debug.
10504 This is done primarily via loosening its type strictness:
10508 Unlike in standard Modula-2, pointer constants can be formed by
10509 integers. This allows you to modify pointer variables during
10510 debugging. (In standard Modula-2, the actual address contained in a
10511 pointer variable is hidden from you; it can only be modified
10512 through direct assignment to another pointer variable or expression that
10513 returned a pointer.)
10516 C escape sequences can be used in strings and characters to represent
10517 non-printable characters. @value{GDBN} prints out strings with these
10518 escape sequences embedded. Single non-printable characters are
10519 printed using the @samp{CHR(@var{nnn})} format.
10522 The assignment operator (@code{:=}) returns the value of its right-hand
10526 All built-in procedures both modify @emph{and} return their argument.
10530 @subsubsection Modula-2 Type and Range Checks
10531 @cindex Modula-2 checks
10534 @emph{Warning:} in this release, @value{GDBN} does not yet perform type or
10537 @c FIXME remove warning when type/range checks added
10539 @value{GDBN} considers two Modula-2 variables type equivalent if:
10543 They are of types that have been declared equivalent via a @code{TYPE
10544 @var{t1} = @var{t2}} statement
10547 They have been declared on the same line. (Note: This is true of the
10548 @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler, but it may not be true of other compilers.)
10551 As long as type checking is enabled, any attempt to combine variables
10552 whose types are not equivalent is an error.
10554 Range checking is done on all mathematical operations, assignment, array
10555 index bounds, and all built-in functions and procedures.
10558 @subsubsection The Scope Operators @code{::} and @code{.}
10560 @cindex @code{.}, Modula-2 scope operator
10561 @cindex colon, doubled as scope operator
10563 @vindex colon-colon@r{, in Modula-2}
10564 @c Info cannot handle :: but TeX can.
10567 @vindex ::@r{, in Modula-2}
10570 There are a few subtle differences between the Modula-2 scope operator
10571 (@code{.}) and the @value{GDBN} scope operator (@code{::}). The two have
10576 @var{module} . @var{id}
10577 @var{scope} :: @var{id}
10581 where @var{scope} is the name of a module or a procedure,
10582 @var{module} the name of a module, and @var{id} is any declared
10583 identifier within your program, except another module.
10585 Using the @code{::} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the scope
10586 specified by @var{scope} for the identifier @var{id}. If it is not
10587 found in the specified scope, then @value{GDBN} searches all scopes
10588 enclosing the one specified by @var{scope}.
10590 Using the @code{.} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the current scope for
10591 the identifier specified by @var{id} that was imported from the
10592 definition module specified by @var{module}. With this operator, it is
10593 an error if the identifier @var{id} was not imported from definition
10594 module @var{module}, or if @var{id} is not an identifier in
10598 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
10600 Some @value{GDBN} commands have little use when debugging Modula-2 programs.
10601 Five subcommands of @code{set print} and @code{show print} apply
10602 specifically to C and C@t{++}: @samp{vtbl}, @samp{demangle},
10603 @samp{asm-demangle}, @samp{object}, and @samp{union}. The first four
10604 apply to C@t{++}, and the last to the C @code{union} type, which has no direct
10605 analogue in Modula-2.
10607 The @code{@@} operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), while available
10608 with any language, is not useful with Modula-2. Its
10609 intent is to aid the debugging of @dfn{dynamic arrays}, which cannot be
10610 created in Modula-2 as they can in C or C@t{++}. However, because an
10611 address can be specified by an integral constant, the construct
10612 @samp{@{@var{type}@}@var{adrexp}} is still useful.
10614 @cindex @code{#} in Modula-2
10615 In @value{GDBN} scripts, the Modula-2 inequality operator @code{#} is
10616 interpreted as the beginning of a comment. Use @code{<>} instead.
10622 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} for Ada only support
10623 output from the @sc{gnu} Ada (GNAT) compiler.
10624 Other Ada compilers are not currently supported, and
10625 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
10629 @cindex expressions in Ada
10631 * Ada Mode Intro:: General remarks on the Ada syntax
10632 and semantics supported by Ada mode
10634 * Omissions from Ada:: Restrictions on the Ada expression syntax.
10635 * Additions to Ada:: Extensions of the Ada expression syntax.
10636 * Stopping Before Main Program:: Debugging the program during elaboration.
10637 * Ada Glitches:: Known peculiarities of Ada mode.
10640 @node Ada Mode Intro
10641 @subsubsection Introduction
10642 @cindex Ada mode, general
10644 The Ada mode of @value{GDBN} supports a fairly large subset of Ada expression
10645 syntax, with some extensions.
10646 The philosophy behind the design of this subset is
10650 That @value{GDBN} should provide basic literals and access to operations for
10651 arithmetic, dereferencing, field selection, indexing, and subprogram calls,
10652 leaving more sophisticated computations to subprograms written into the
10653 program (which therefore may be called from @value{GDBN}).
10656 That type safety and strict adherence to Ada language restrictions
10657 are not particularly important to the @value{GDBN} user.
10660 That brevity is important to the @value{GDBN} user.
10663 Thus, for brevity, the debugger acts as if there were
10664 implicit @code{with} and @code{use} clauses in effect for all user-written
10665 packages, making it unnecessary to fully qualify most names with
10666 their packages, regardless of context. Where this causes ambiguity,
10667 @value{GDBN} asks the user's intent.
10669 The debugger will start in Ada mode if it detects an Ada main program.
10670 As for other languages, it will enter Ada mode when stopped in a program that
10671 was translated from an Ada source file.
10673 While in Ada mode, you may use `@t{--}' for comments. This is useful
10674 mostly for documenting command files. The standard @value{GDBN} comment
10675 (@samp{#}) still works at the beginning of a line in Ada mode, but not in the
10676 middle (to allow based literals).
10678 The debugger supports limited overloading. Given a subprogram call in which
10679 the function symbol has multiple definitions, it will use the number of
10680 actual parameters and some information about their types to attempt to narrow
10681 the set of definitions. It also makes very limited use of context, preferring
10682 procedures to functions in the context of the @code{call} command, and
10683 functions to procedures elsewhere.
10685 @node Omissions from Ada
10686 @subsubsection Omissions from Ada
10687 @cindex Ada, omissions from
10689 Here are the notable omissions from the subset:
10693 Only a subset of the attributes are supported:
10697 @t{'First}, @t{'Last}, and @t{'Length}
10698 on array objects (not on types and subtypes).
10701 @t{'Min} and @t{'Max}.
10704 @t{'Pos} and @t{'Val}.
10710 @t{'Range} on array objects (not subtypes), but only as the right
10711 operand of the membership (@code{in}) operator.
10714 @t{'Access}, @t{'Unchecked_Access}, and
10715 @t{'Unrestricted_Access} (a GNAT extension).
10723 @code{Characters.Latin_1} are not available and
10724 concatenation is not implemented. Thus, escape characters in strings are
10725 not currently available.
10728 Equality tests (@samp{=} and @samp{/=}) on arrays test for bitwise
10729 equality of representations. They will generally work correctly
10730 for strings and arrays whose elements have integer or enumeration types.
10731 They may not work correctly for arrays whose element
10732 types have user-defined equality, for arrays of real values
10733 (in particular, IEEE-conformant floating point, because of negative
10734 zeroes and NaNs), and for arrays whose elements contain unused bits with
10735 indeterminate values.
10738 The other component-by-component array operations (@code{and}, @code{or},
10739 @code{xor}, @code{not}, and relational tests other than equality)
10740 are not implemented.
10743 @cindex array aggregates (Ada)
10744 @cindex record aggregates (Ada)
10745 @cindex aggregates (Ada)
10746 There is limited support for array and record aggregates. They are
10747 permitted only on the right sides of assignments, as in these examples:
10750 set An_Array := (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
10751 set An_Array := (1, others => 0)
10752 set An_Array := (0|4 => 1, 1..3 => 2, 5 => 6)
10753 set A_2D_Array := ((1, 2, 3), (4, 5, 6), (7, 8, 9))
10754 set A_Record := (1, "Peter", True);
10755 set A_Record := (Name => "Peter", Id => 1, Alive => True)
10759 discriminant's value by assigning an aggregate has an
10760 undefined effect if that discriminant is used within the record.
10761 However, you can first modify discriminants by directly assigning to
10762 them (which normally would not be allowed in Ada), and then performing an
10763 aggregate assignment. For example, given a variable @code{A_Rec}
10764 declared to have a type such as:
10767 type Rec (Len : Small_Integer := 0) is record
10769 Vals : IntArray (1 .. Len);
10773 you can assign a value with a different size of @code{Vals} with two
10778 set A_Rec := (Id => 42, Vals => (1, 2, 3, 4))
10781 As this example also illustrates, @value{GDBN} is very loose about the usual
10782 rules concerning aggregates. You may leave out some of the
10783 components of an array or record aggregate (such as the @code{Len}
10784 component in the assignment to @code{A_Rec} above); they will retain their
10785 original values upon assignment. You may freely use dynamic values as
10786 indices in component associations. You may even use overlapping or
10787 redundant component associations, although which component values are
10788 assigned in such cases is not defined.
10791 Calls to dispatching subprograms are not implemented.
10794 The overloading algorithm is much more limited (i.e., less selective)
10795 than that of real Ada. It makes only limited use of the context in
10796 which a subexpression appears to resolve its meaning, and it is much
10797 looser in its rules for allowing type matches. As a result, some
10798 function calls will be ambiguous, and the user will be asked to choose
10799 the proper resolution.
10802 The @code{new} operator is not implemented.
10805 Entry calls are not implemented.
10808 Aside from printing, arithmetic operations on the native VAX floating-point
10809 formats are not supported.
10812 It is not possible to slice a packed array.
10815 @node Additions to Ada
10816 @subsubsection Additions to Ada
10817 @cindex Ada, deviations from
10819 As it does for other languages, @value{GDBN} makes certain generic
10820 extensions to Ada (@pxref{Expressions}):
10824 If the expression @var{E} is a variable residing in memory (typically
10825 a local variable or array element) and @var{N} is a positive integer,
10826 then @code{@var{E}@@@var{N}} displays the values of @var{E} and the
10827 @var{N}-1 adjacent variables following it in memory as an array. In
10828 Ada, this operator is generally not necessary, since its prime use is
10829 in displaying parts of an array, and slicing will usually do this in
10830 Ada. However, there are occasional uses when debugging programs in
10831 which certain debugging information has been optimized away.
10834 @code{@var{B}::@var{var}} means ``the variable named @var{var} that
10835 appears in function or file @var{B}.'' When @var{B} is a file name,
10836 you must typically surround it in single quotes.
10839 The expression @code{@{@var{type}@} @var{addr}} means ``the variable of type
10840 @var{type} that appears at address @var{addr}.''
10843 A name starting with @samp{$} is a convenience variable
10844 (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) or a machine register (@pxref{Registers}).
10847 In addition, @value{GDBN} provides a few other shortcuts and outright
10848 additions specific to Ada:
10852 The assignment statement is allowed as an expression, returning
10853 its right-hand operand as its value. Thus, you may enter
10857 print A(tmp := y + 1)
10861 The semicolon is allowed as an ``operator,'' returning as its value
10862 the value of its right-hand operand.
10863 This allows, for example,
10864 complex conditional breaks:
10868 condition 1 (report(i); k += 1; A(k) > 100)
10872 Rather than use catenation and symbolic character names to introduce special
10873 characters into strings, one may instead use a special bracket notation,
10874 which is also used to print strings. A sequence of characters of the form
10875 @samp{["@var{XX}"]} within a string or character literal denotes the
10876 (single) character whose numeric encoding is @var{XX} in hexadecimal. The
10877 sequence of characters @samp{["""]} also denotes a single quotation mark
10878 in strings. For example,
10880 "One line.["0a"]Next line.["0a"]"
10883 contains an ASCII newline character (@code{Ada.Characters.Latin_1.LF})
10887 The subtype used as a prefix for the attributes @t{'Pos}, @t{'Min}, and
10888 @t{'Max} is optional (and is ignored in any case). For example, it is valid
10896 When printing arrays, @value{GDBN} uses positional notation when the
10897 array has a lower bound of 1, and uses a modified named notation otherwise.
10898 For example, a one-dimensional array of three integers with a lower bound
10899 of 3 might print as
10906 That is, in contrast to valid Ada, only the first component has a @code{=>}
10910 You may abbreviate attributes in expressions with any unique,
10911 multi-character subsequence of
10912 their names (an exact match gets preference).
10913 For example, you may use @t{a'len}, @t{a'gth}, or @t{a'lh}
10914 in place of @t{a'length}.
10917 @cindex quoting Ada internal identifiers
10918 Since Ada is case-insensitive, the debugger normally maps identifiers you type
10919 to lower case. The GNAT compiler uses upper-case characters for
10920 some of its internal identifiers, which are normally of no interest to users.
10921 For the rare occasions when you actually have to look at them,
10922 enclose them in angle brackets to avoid the lower-case mapping.
10925 @value{GDBP} print <JMPBUF_SAVE>[0]
10929 Printing an object of class-wide type or dereferencing an
10930 access-to-class-wide value will display all the components of the object's
10931 specific type (as indicated by its run-time tag). Likewise, component
10932 selection on such a value will operate on the specific type of the
10937 @node Stopping Before Main Program
10938 @subsubsection Stopping at the Very Beginning
10940 @cindex breakpointing Ada elaboration code
10941 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration, and
10942 before reaching the main procedure.
10943 As defined in the Ada Reference
10944 Manual, the elaboration code is invoked from a procedure called
10945 @code{adainit}. To run your program up to the beginning of
10946 elaboration, simply use the following two commands:
10947 @code{tbreak adainit} and @code{run}.
10950 @subsubsection Known Peculiarities of Ada Mode
10951 @cindex Ada, problems
10953 Besides the omissions listed previously (@pxref{Omissions from Ada}),
10954 we know of several problems with and limitations of Ada mode in
10956 some of which will be fixed with planned future releases of the debugger
10957 and the GNU Ada compiler.
10961 Currently, the debugger
10962 has insufficient information to determine whether certain pointers represent
10963 pointers to objects or the objects themselves.
10964 Thus, the user may have to tack an extra @code{.all} after an expression
10965 to get it printed properly.
10968 Static constants that the compiler chooses not to materialize as objects in
10969 storage are invisible to the debugger.
10972 Named parameter associations in function argument lists are ignored (the
10973 argument lists are treated as positional).
10976 Many useful library packages are currently invisible to the debugger.
10979 Fixed-point arithmetic, conversions, input, and output is carried out using
10980 floating-point arithmetic, and may give results that only approximate those on
10984 The type of the @t{'Address} attribute may not be @code{System.Address}.
10987 The GNAT compiler never generates the prefix @code{Standard} for any of
10988 the standard symbols defined by the Ada language. @value{GDBN} knows about
10989 this: it will strip the prefix from names when you use it, and will never
10990 look for a name you have so qualified among local symbols, nor match against
10991 symbols in other packages or subprograms. If you have
10992 defined entities anywhere in your program other than parameters and
10993 local variables whose simple names match names in @code{Standard},
10994 GNAT's lack of qualification here can cause confusion. When this happens,
10995 you can usually resolve the confusion
10996 by qualifying the problematic names with package
10997 @code{Standard} explicitly.
11000 @node Unsupported Languages
11001 @section Unsupported Languages
11003 @cindex unsupported languages
11004 @cindex minimal language
11005 In addition to the other fully-supported programming languages,
11006 @value{GDBN} also provides a pseudo-language, called @code{minimal}.
11007 It does not represent a real programming language, but provides a set
11008 of capabilities close to what the C or assembly languages provide.
11009 This should allow most simple operations to be performed while debugging
11010 an application that uses a language currently not supported by @value{GDBN}.
11012 If the language is set to @code{auto}, @value{GDBN} will automatically
11013 select this language if the current frame corresponds to an unsupported
11017 @chapter Examining the Symbol Table
11019 The commands described in this chapter allow you to inquire about the
11020 symbols (names of variables, functions and types) defined in your
11021 program. This information is inherent in the text of your program and
11022 does not change as your program executes. @value{GDBN} finds it in your
11023 program's symbol table, in the file indicated when you started @value{GDBN}
11024 (@pxref{File Options, ,Choosing Files}), or by one of the
11025 file-management commands (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
11027 @cindex symbol names
11028 @cindex names of symbols
11029 @cindex quoting names
11030 Occasionally, you may need to refer to symbols that contain unusual
11031 characters, which @value{GDBN} ordinarily treats as word delimiters. The
11032 most frequent case is in referring to static variables in other
11033 source files (@pxref{Variables,,Program Variables}). File names
11034 are recorded in object files as debugging symbols, but @value{GDBN} would
11035 ordinarily parse a typical file name, like @file{foo.c}, as the three words
11036 @samp{foo} @samp{.} @samp{c}. To allow @value{GDBN} to recognize
11037 @samp{foo.c} as a single symbol, enclose it in single quotes; for example,
11044 looks up the value of @code{x} in the scope of the file @file{foo.c}.
11047 @cindex case-insensitive symbol names
11048 @cindex case sensitivity in symbol names
11049 @kindex set case-sensitive
11050 @item set case-sensitive on
11051 @itemx set case-sensitive off
11052 @itemx set case-sensitive auto
11053 Normally, when @value{GDBN} looks up symbols, it matches their names
11054 with case sensitivity determined by the current source language.
11055 Occasionally, you may wish to control that. The command @code{set
11056 case-sensitive} lets you do that by specifying @code{on} for
11057 case-sensitive matches or @code{off} for case-insensitive ones. If
11058 you specify @code{auto}, case sensitivity is reset to the default
11059 suitable for the source language. The default is case-sensitive
11060 matches for all languages except for Fortran, for which the default is
11061 case-insensitive matches.
11063 @kindex show case-sensitive
11064 @item show case-sensitive
11065 This command shows the current setting of case sensitivity for symbols
11068 @kindex info address
11069 @cindex address of a symbol
11070 @item info address @var{symbol}
11071 Describe where the data for @var{symbol} is stored. For a register
11072 variable, this says which register it is kept in. For a non-register
11073 local variable, this prints the stack-frame offset at which the variable
11076 Note the contrast with @samp{print &@var{symbol}}, which does not work
11077 at all for a register variable, and for a stack local variable prints
11078 the exact address of the current instantiation of the variable.
11080 @kindex info symbol
11081 @cindex symbol from address
11082 @cindex closest symbol and offset for an address
11083 @item info symbol @var{addr}
11084 Print the name of a symbol which is stored at the address @var{addr}.
11085 If no symbol is stored exactly at @var{addr}, @value{GDBN} prints the
11086 nearest symbol and an offset from it:
11089 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x54320
11090 _initialize_vx + 396 in section .text
11094 This is the opposite of the @code{info address} command. You can use
11095 it to find out the name of a variable or a function given its address.
11098 @item whatis [@var{arg}]
11099 Print the data type of @var{arg}, which can be either an expression or
11100 a data type. With no argument, print the data type of @code{$}, the
11101 last value in the value history. If @var{arg} is an expression, it is
11102 not actually evaluated, and any side-effecting operations (such as
11103 assignments or function calls) inside it do not take place. If
11104 @var{arg} is a type name, it may be the name of a type or typedef, or
11105 for C code it may have the form @samp{class @var{class-name}},
11106 @samp{struct @var{struct-tag}}, @samp{union @var{union-tag}} or
11107 @samp{enum @var{enum-tag}}.
11108 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
11111 @item ptype [@var{arg}]
11112 @code{ptype} accepts the same arguments as @code{whatis}, but prints a
11113 detailed description of the type, instead of just the name of the type.
11114 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
11116 For example, for this variable declaration:
11119 struct complex @{double real; double imag;@} v;
11123 the two commands give this output:
11127 (@value{GDBP}) whatis v
11128 type = struct complex
11129 (@value{GDBP}) ptype v
11130 type = struct complex @{
11138 As with @code{whatis}, using @code{ptype} without an argument refers to
11139 the type of @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
11141 @cindex incomplete type
11142 Sometimes, programs use opaque data types or incomplete specifications
11143 of complex data structure. If the debug information included in the
11144 program does not allow @value{GDBN} to display a full declaration of
11145 the data type, it will say @samp{<incomplete type>}. For example,
11146 given these declarations:
11150 struct foo *fooptr;
11154 but no definition for @code{struct foo} itself, @value{GDBN} will say:
11157 (@value{GDBP}) ptype foo
11158 $1 = <incomplete type>
11162 ``Incomplete type'' is C terminology for data types that are not
11163 completely specified.
11166 @item info types @var{regexp}
11168 Print a brief description of all types whose names match the regular
11169 expression @var{regexp} (or all types in your program, if you supply
11170 no argument). Each complete typename is matched as though it were a
11171 complete line; thus, @samp{i type value} gives information on all
11172 types in your program whose names include the string @code{value}, but
11173 @samp{i type ^value$} gives information only on types whose complete
11174 name is @code{value}.
11176 This command differs from @code{ptype} in two ways: first, like
11177 @code{whatis}, it does not print a detailed description; second, it
11178 lists all source files where a type is defined.
11181 @cindex local variables
11182 @item info scope @var{location}
11183 List all the variables local to a particular scope. This command
11184 accepts a @var{location} argument---a function name, a source line, or
11185 an address preceded by a @samp{*}, and prints all the variables local
11186 to the scope defined by that location. (@xref{Specify Location}, for
11187 details about supported forms of @var{location}.) For example:
11190 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info scope command_line_handler}
11191 Scope for command_line_handler:
11192 Symbol rl is an argument at stack/frame offset 8, length 4.
11193 Symbol linebuffer is in static storage at address 0x150a18, length 4.
11194 Symbol linelength is in static storage at address 0x150a1c, length 4.
11195 Symbol p is a local variable in register $esi, length 4.
11196 Symbol p1 is a local variable in register $ebx, length 4.
11197 Symbol nline is a local variable in register $edx, length 4.
11198 Symbol repeat is a local variable at frame offset -8, length 4.
11202 This command is especially useful for determining what data to collect
11203 during a @dfn{trace experiment}, see @ref{Tracepoint Actions,
11206 @kindex info source
11208 Show information about the current source file---that is, the source file for
11209 the function containing the current point of execution:
11212 the name of the source file, and the directory containing it,
11214 the directory it was compiled in,
11216 its length, in lines,
11218 which programming language it is written in,
11220 whether the executable includes debugging information for that file, and
11221 if so, what format the information is in (e.g., STABS, Dwarf 2, etc.), and
11223 whether the debugging information includes information about
11224 preprocessor macros.
11228 @kindex info sources
11230 Print the names of all source files in your program for which there is
11231 debugging information, organized into two lists: files whose symbols
11232 have already been read, and files whose symbols will be read when needed.
11234 @kindex info functions
11235 @item info functions
11236 Print the names and data types of all defined functions.
11238 @item info functions @var{regexp}
11239 Print the names and data types of all defined functions
11240 whose names contain a match for regular expression @var{regexp}.
11241 Thus, @samp{info fun step} finds all functions whose names
11242 include @code{step}; @samp{info fun ^step} finds those whose names
11243 start with @code{step}. If a function name contains characters
11244 that conflict with the regular expression language (e.g.@:
11245 @samp{operator*()}), they may be quoted with a backslash.
11247 @kindex info variables
11248 @item info variables
11249 Print the names and data types of all variables that are declared
11250 outside of functions (i.e.@: excluding local variables).
11252 @item info variables @var{regexp}
11253 Print the names and data types of all variables (except for local
11254 variables) whose names contain a match for regular expression
11257 @kindex info classes
11258 @cindex Objective-C, classes and selectors
11260 @itemx info classes @var{regexp}
11261 Display all Objective-C classes in your program, or
11262 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
11265 @kindex info selectors
11266 @item info selectors
11267 @itemx info selectors @var{regexp}
11268 Display all Objective-C selectors in your program, or
11269 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
11273 This was never implemented.
11274 @kindex info methods
11276 @itemx info methods @var{regexp}
11277 The @code{info methods} command permits the user to examine all defined
11278 methods within C@t{++} program, or (with the @var{regexp} argument) a
11279 specific set of methods found in the various C@t{++} classes. Many
11280 C@t{++} classes provide a large number of methods. Thus, the output
11281 from the @code{ptype} command can be overwhelming and hard to use. The
11282 @code{info-methods} command filters the methods, printing only those
11283 which match the regular-expression @var{regexp}.
11286 @cindex reloading symbols
11287 Some systems allow individual object files that make up your program to
11288 be replaced without stopping and restarting your program. For example,
11289 in VxWorks you can simply recompile a defective object file and keep on
11290 running. If you are running on one of these systems, you can allow
11291 @value{GDBN} to reload the symbols for automatically relinked modules:
11294 @kindex set symbol-reloading
11295 @item set symbol-reloading on
11296 Replace symbol definitions for the corresponding source file when an
11297 object file with a particular name is seen again.
11299 @item set symbol-reloading off
11300 Do not replace symbol definitions when encountering object files of the
11301 same name more than once. This is the default state; if you are not
11302 running on a system that permits automatic relinking of modules, you
11303 should leave @code{symbol-reloading} off, since otherwise @value{GDBN}
11304 may discard symbols when linking large programs, that may contain
11305 several modules (from different directories or libraries) with the same
11308 @kindex show symbol-reloading
11309 @item show symbol-reloading
11310 Show the current @code{on} or @code{off} setting.
11313 @cindex opaque data types
11314 @kindex set opaque-type-resolution
11315 @item set opaque-type-resolution on
11316 Tell @value{GDBN} to resolve opaque types. An opaque type is a type
11317 declared as a pointer to a @code{struct}, @code{class}, or
11318 @code{union}---for example, @code{struct MyType *}---that is used in one
11319 source file although the full declaration of @code{struct MyType} is in
11320 another source file. The default is on.
11322 A change in the setting of this subcommand will not take effect until
11323 the next time symbols for a file are loaded.
11325 @item set opaque-type-resolution off
11326 Tell @value{GDBN} not to resolve opaque types. In this case, the type
11327 is printed as follows:
11329 @{<no data fields>@}
11332 @kindex show opaque-type-resolution
11333 @item show opaque-type-resolution
11334 Show whether opaque types are resolved or not.
11336 @kindex maint print symbols
11337 @cindex symbol dump
11338 @kindex maint print psymbols
11339 @cindex partial symbol dump
11340 @item maint print symbols @var{filename}
11341 @itemx maint print psymbols @var{filename}
11342 @itemx maint print msymbols @var{filename}
11343 Write a dump of debugging symbol data into the file @var{filename}.
11344 These commands are used to debug the @value{GDBN} symbol-reading code. Only
11345 symbols with debugging data are included. If you use @samp{maint print
11346 symbols}, @value{GDBN} includes all the symbols for which it has already
11347 collected full details: that is, @var{filename} reflects symbols for
11348 only those files whose symbols @value{GDBN} has read. You can use the
11349 command @code{info sources} to find out which files these are. If you
11350 use @samp{maint print psymbols} instead, the dump shows information about
11351 symbols that @value{GDBN} only knows partially---that is, symbols defined in
11352 files that @value{GDBN} has skimmed, but not yet read completely. Finally,
11353 @samp{maint print msymbols} dumps just the minimal symbol information
11354 required for each object file from which @value{GDBN} has read some symbols.
11355 @xref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}, for a discussion of how
11356 @value{GDBN} reads symbols (in the description of @code{symbol-file}).
11358 @kindex maint info symtabs
11359 @kindex maint info psymtabs
11360 @cindex listing @value{GDBN}'s internal symbol tables
11361 @cindex symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
11362 @cindex full symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
11363 @cindex partial symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
11364 @item maint info symtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
11365 @itemx maint info psymtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
11367 List the @code{struct symtab} or @code{struct partial_symtab}
11368 structures whose names match @var{regexp}. If @var{regexp} is not
11369 given, list them all. The output includes expressions which you can
11370 copy into a @value{GDBN} debugging this one to examine a particular
11371 structure in more detail. For example:
11374 (@value{GDBP}) maint info psymtabs dwarf2read
11375 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
11376 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
11377 @{ psymtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
11378 ((struct partial_symtab *) 0x8474b10)
11381 text addresses 0x814d3c8 -- 0x8158074
11382 globals (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x8507a08 @@ 9)
11383 statics (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x40e95b78 @@ 2882)
11384 dependencies (none)
11387 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
11391 We see that there is one partial symbol table whose filename contains
11392 the string @samp{dwarf2read}, belonging to the @samp{gdb} executable;
11393 and we see that @value{GDBN} has not read in any symtabs yet at all.
11394 If we set a breakpoint on a function, that will cause @value{GDBN} to
11395 read the symtab for the compilation unit containing that function:
11398 (@value{GDBP}) break dwarf2_psymtab_to_symtab
11399 Breakpoint 1 at 0x814e5da: file /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c,
11401 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
11402 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
11403 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
11404 @{ symtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
11405 ((struct symtab *) 0x86c1f38)
11408 blockvector ((struct blockvector *) 0x86c1bd0) (primary)
11409 linetable ((struct linetable *) 0x8370fa0)
11410 debugformat DWARF 2
11419 @chapter Altering Execution
11421 Once you think you have found an error in your program, you might want to
11422 find out for certain whether correcting the apparent error would lead to
11423 correct results in the rest of the run. You can find the answer by
11424 experiment, using the @value{GDBN} features for altering execution of the
11427 For example, you can store new values into variables or memory
11428 locations, give your program a signal, restart it at a different
11429 address, or even return prematurely from a function.
11432 * Assignment:: Assignment to variables
11433 * Jumping:: Continuing at a different address
11434 * Signaling:: Giving your program a signal
11435 * Returning:: Returning from a function
11436 * Calling:: Calling your program's functions
11437 * Patching:: Patching your program
11441 @section Assignment to Variables
11444 @cindex setting variables
11445 To alter the value of a variable, evaluate an assignment expression.
11446 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}. For example,
11453 stores the value 4 into the variable @code{x}, and then prints the
11454 value of the assignment expression (which is 4).
11455 @xref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages}, for more
11456 information on operators in supported languages.
11458 @kindex set variable
11459 @cindex variables, setting
11460 If you are not interested in seeing the value of the assignment, use the
11461 @code{set} command instead of the @code{print} command. @code{set} is
11462 really the same as @code{print} except that the expression's value is
11463 not printed and is not put in the value history (@pxref{Value History,
11464 ,Value History}). The expression is evaluated only for its effects.
11466 If the beginning of the argument string of the @code{set} command
11467 appears identical to a @code{set} subcommand, use the @code{set
11468 variable} command instead of just @code{set}. This command is identical
11469 to @code{set} except for its lack of subcommands. For example, if your
11470 program has a variable @code{width}, you get an error if you try to set
11471 a new value with just @samp{set width=13}, because @value{GDBN} has the
11472 command @code{set width}:
11475 (@value{GDBP}) whatis width
11477 (@value{GDBP}) p width
11479 (@value{GDBP}) set width=47
11480 Invalid syntax in expression.
11484 The invalid expression, of course, is @samp{=47}. In
11485 order to actually set the program's variable @code{width}, use
11488 (@value{GDBP}) set var width=47
11491 Because the @code{set} command has many subcommands that can conflict
11492 with the names of program variables, it is a good idea to use the
11493 @code{set variable} command instead of just @code{set}. For example, if
11494 your program has a variable @code{g}, you run into problems if you try
11495 to set a new value with just @samp{set g=4}, because @value{GDBN} has
11496 the command @code{set gnutarget}, abbreviated @code{set g}:
11500 (@value{GDBP}) whatis g
11504 (@value{GDBP}) set g=4
11508 The program being debugged has been started already.
11509 Start it from the beginning? (y or n) y
11510 Starting program: /home/smith/cc_progs/a.out
11511 "/home/smith/cc_progs/a.out": can't open to read symbols:
11512 Invalid bfd target.
11513 (@value{GDBP}) show g
11514 The current BFD target is "=4".
11519 The program variable @code{g} did not change, and you silently set the
11520 @code{gnutarget} to an invalid value. In order to set the variable
11524 (@value{GDBP}) set var g=4
11527 @value{GDBN} allows more implicit conversions in assignments than C; you can
11528 freely store an integer value into a pointer variable or vice versa,
11529 and you can convert any structure to any other structure that is the
11530 same length or shorter.
11531 @comment FIXME: how do structs align/pad in these conversions?
11534 To store values into arbitrary places in memory, use the @samp{@{@dots{}@}}
11535 construct to generate a value of specified type at a specified address
11536 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). For example, @code{@{int@}0x83040} refers
11537 to memory location @code{0x83040} as an integer (which implies a certain size
11538 and representation in memory), and
11541 set @{int@}0x83040 = 4
11545 stores the value 4 into that memory location.
11548 @section Continuing at a Different Address
11550 Ordinarily, when you continue your program, you do so at the place where
11551 it stopped, with the @code{continue} command. You can instead continue at
11552 an address of your own choosing, with the following commands:
11556 @item jump @var{linespec}
11557 @itemx jump @var{location}
11558 Resume execution at line @var{linespec} or at address given by
11559 @var{location}. Execution stops again immediately if there is a
11560 breakpoint there. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
11561 different forms of @var{linespec} and @var{location}. It is common
11562 practice to use the @code{tbreak} command in conjunction with
11563 @code{jump}. @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
11565 The @code{jump} command does not change the current stack frame, or
11566 the stack pointer, or the contents of any memory location or any
11567 register other than the program counter. If line @var{linespec} is in
11568 a different function from the one currently executing, the results may
11569 be bizarre if the two functions expect different patterns of arguments or
11570 of local variables. For this reason, the @code{jump} command requests
11571 confirmation if the specified line is not in the function currently
11572 executing. However, even bizarre results are predictable if you are
11573 well acquainted with the machine-language code of your program.
11576 @c Doesn't work on HP-UX; have to set $pcoqh and $pcoqt.
11577 On many systems, you can get much the same effect as the @code{jump}
11578 command by storing a new value into the register @code{$pc}. The
11579 difference is that this does not start your program running; it only
11580 changes the address of where it @emph{will} run when you continue. For
11588 makes the next @code{continue} command or stepping command execute at
11589 address @code{0x485}, rather than at the address where your program stopped.
11590 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}.
11592 The most common occasion to use the @code{jump} command is to back
11593 up---perhaps with more breakpoints set---over a portion of a program
11594 that has already executed, in order to examine its execution in more
11599 @section Giving your Program a Signal
11600 @cindex deliver a signal to a program
11604 @item signal @var{signal}
11605 Resume execution where your program stopped, but immediately give it the
11606 signal @var{signal}. @var{signal} can be the name or the number of a
11607 signal. For example, on many systems @code{signal 2} and @code{signal
11608 SIGINT} are both ways of sending an interrupt signal.
11610 Alternatively, if @var{signal} is zero, continue execution without
11611 giving a signal. This is useful when your program stopped on account of
11612 a signal and would ordinary see the signal when resumed with the
11613 @code{continue} command; @samp{signal 0} causes it to resume without a
11616 @code{signal} does not repeat when you press @key{RET} a second time
11617 after executing the command.
11621 Invoking the @code{signal} command is not the same as invoking the
11622 @code{kill} utility from the shell. Sending a signal with @code{kill}
11623 causes @value{GDBN} to decide what to do with the signal depending on
11624 the signal handling tables (@pxref{Signals}). The @code{signal} command
11625 passes the signal directly to your program.
11629 @section Returning from a Function
11632 @cindex returning from a function
11635 @itemx return @var{expression}
11636 You can cancel execution of a function call with the @code{return}
11637 command. If you give an
11638 @var{expression} argument, its value is used as the function's return
11642 When you use @code{return}, @value{GDBN} discards the selected stack frame
11643 (and all frames within it). You can think of this as making the
11644 discarded frame return prematurely. If you wish to specify a value to
11645 be returned, give that value as the argument to @code{return}.
11647 This pops the selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a
11648 Frame}), and any other frames inside of it, leaving its caller as the
11649 innermost remaining frame. That frame becomes selected. The
11650 specified value is stored in the registers used for returning values
11653 The @code{return} command does not resume execution; it leaves the
11654 program stopped in the state that would exist if the function had just
11655 returned. In contrast, the @code{finish} command (@pxref{Continuing
11656 and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}) resumes execution until the
11657 selected stack frame returns naturally.
11660 @section Calling Program Functions
11663 @cindex calling functions
11664 @cindex inferior functions, calling
11665 @item print @var{expr}
11666 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} and display the resulting value.
11667 @var{expr} may include calls to functions in the program being
11671 @item call @var{expr}
11672 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} without displaying @code{void}
11675 You can use this variant of the @code{print} command if you want to
11676 execute a function from your program that does not return anything
11677 (a.k.a.@: @dfn{a void function}), but without cluttering the output
11678 with @code{void} returned values that @value{GDBN} will otherwise
11679 print. If the result is not void, it is printed and saved in the
11683 It is possible for the function you call via the @code{print} or
11684 @code{call} command to generate a signal (e.g., if there's a bug in
11685 the function, or if you passed it incorrect arguments). What happens
11686 in that case is controlled by the @code{set unwindonsignal} command.
11689 @item set unwindonsignal
11690 @kindex set unwindonsignal
11691 @cindex unwind stack in called functions
11692 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding
11693 Set unwinding of the stack if a signal is received while in a function
11694 that @value{GDBN} called in the program being debugged. If set to on,
11695 @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack it created for the call and restores
11696 the context to what it was before the call. If set to off (the
11697 default), @value{GDBN} stops in the frame where the signal was
11700 @item show unwindonsignal
11701 @kindex show unwindonsignal
11702 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
11706 @cindex weak alias functions
11707 Sometimes, a function you wish to call is actually a @dfn{weak alias}
11708 for another function. In such case, @value{GDBN} might not pick up
11709 the type information, including the types of the function arguments,
11710 which causes @value{GDBN} to call the inferior function incorrectly.
11711 As a result, the called function will function erroneously and may
11712 even crash. A solution to that is to use the name of the aliased
11716 @section Patching Programs
11718 @cindex patching binaries
11719 @cindex writing into executables
11720 @cindex writing into corefiles
11722 By default, @value{GDBN} opens the file containing your program's
11723 executable code (or the corefile) read-only. This prevents accidental
11724 alterations to machine code; but it also prevents you from intentionally
11725 patching your program's binary.
11727 If you'd like to be able to patch the binary, you can specify that
11728 explicitly with the @code{set write} command. For example, you might
11729 want to turn on internal debugging flags, or even to make emergency
11735 @itemx set write off
11736 If you specify @samp{set write on}, @value{GDBN} opens executable and
11737 core files for both reading and writing; if you specify @samp{set write
11738 off} (the default), @value{GDBN} opens them read-only.
11740 If you have already loaded a file, you must load it again (using the
11741 @code{exec-file} or @code{core-file} command) after changing @code{set
11742 write}, for your new setting to take effect.
11746 Display whether executable files and core files are opened for writing
11747 as well as reading.
11751 @chapter @value{GDBN} Files
11753 @value{GDBN} needs to know the file name of the program to be debugged,
11754 both in order to read its symbol table and in order to start your
11755 program. To debug a core dump of a previous run, you must also tell
11756 @value{GDBN} the name of the core dump file.
11759 * Files:: Commands to specify files
11760 * Separate Debug Files:: Debugging information in separate files
11761 * Symbol Errors:: Errors reading symbol files
11765 @section Commands to Specify Files
11767 @cindex symbol table
11768 @cindex core dump file
11770 You may want to specify executable and core dump file names. The usual
11771 way to do this is at start-up time, using the arguments to
11772 @value{GDBN}'s start-up commands (@pxref{Invocation, , Getting In and
11773 Out of @value{GDBN}}).
11775 Occasionally it is necessary to change to a different file during a
11776 @value{GDBN} session. Or you may run @value{GDBN} and forget to
11777 specify a file you want to use. Or you are debugging a remote target
11778 via @code{gdbserver} (@pxref{Server, file, Using the @code{gdbserver}
11779 Program}). In these situations the @value{GDBN} commands to specify
11780 new files are useful.
11783 @cindex executable file
11785 @item file @var{filename}
11786 Use @var{filename} as the program to be debugged. It is read for its
11787 symbols and for the contents of pure memory. It is also the program
11788 executed when you use the @code{run} command. If you do not specify a
11789 directory and the file is not found in the @value{GDBN} working directory,
11790 @value{GDBN} uses the environment variable @code{PATH} as a list of
11791 directories to search, just as the shell does when looking for a program
11792 to run. You can change the value of this variable, for both @value{GDBN}
11793 and your program, using the @code{path} command.
11795 @cindex unlinked object files
11796 @cindex patching object files
11797 You can load unlinked object @file{.o} files into @value{GDBN} using
11798 the @code{file} command. You will not be able to ``run'' an object
11799 file, but you can disassemble functions and inspect variables. Also,
11800 if the underlying BFD functionality supports it, you could use
11801 @kbd{gdb -write} to patch object files using this technique. Note
11802 that @value{GDBN} can neither interpret nor modify relocations in this
11803 case, so branches and some initialized variables will appear to go to
11804 the wrong place. But this feature is still handy from time to time.
11807 @code{file} with no argument makes @value{GDBN} discard any information it
11808 has on both executable file and the symbol table.
11811 @item exec-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
11812 Specify that the program to be run (but not the symbol table) is found
11813 in @var{filename}. @value{GDBN} searches the environment variable @code{PATH}
11814 if necessary to locate your program. Omitting @var{filename} means to
11815 discard information on the executable file.
11817 @kindex symbol-file
11818 @item symbol-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
11819 Read symbol table information from file @var{filename}. @code{PATH} is
11820 searched when necessary. Use the @code{file} command to get both symbol
11821 table and program to run from the same file.
11823 @code{symbol-file} with no argument clears out @value{GDBN} information on your
11824 program's symbol table.
11826 The @code{symbol-file} command causes @value{GDBN} to forget the contents of
11827 some breakpoints and auto-display expressions. This is because they may
11828 contain pointers to the internal data recording symbols and data types,
11829 which are part of the old symbol table data being discarded inside
11832 @code{symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
11835 When @value{GDBN} is configured for a particular environment, it
11836 understands debugging information in whatever format is the standard
11837 generated for that environment; you may use either a @sc{gnu} compiler, or
11838 other compilers that adhere to the local conventions.
11839 Best results are usually obtained from @sc{gnu} compilers; for example,
11840 using @code{@value{NGCC}} you can generate debugging information for
11843 For most kinds of object files, with the exception of old SVR3 systems
11844 using COFF, the @code{symbol-file} command does not normally read the
11845 symbol table in full right away. Instead, it scans the symbol table
11846 quickly to find which source files and which symbols are present. The
11847 details are read later, one source file at a time, as they are needed.
11849 The purpose of this two-stage reading strategy is to make @value{GDBN}
11850 start up faster. For the most part, it is invisible except for
11851 occasional pauses while the symbol table details for a particular source
11852 file are being read. (The @code{set verbose} command can turn these
11853 pauses into messages if desired. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional
11854 Warnings and Messages}.)
11856 We have not implemented the two-stage strategy for COFF yet. When the
11857 symbol table is stored in COFF format, @code{symbol-file} reads the
11858 symbol table data in full right away. Note that ``stabs-in-COFF''
11859 still does the two-stage strategy, since the debug info is actually
11863 @cindex reading symbols immediately
11864 @cindex symbols, reading immediately
11865 @item symbol-file @var{filename} @r{[} -readnow @r{]}
11866 @itemx file @var{filename} @r{[} -readnow @r{]}
11867 You can override the @value{GDBN} two-stage strategy for reading symbol
11868 tables by using the @samp{-readnow} option with any of the commands that
11869 load symbol table information, if you want to be sure @value{GDBN} has the
11870 entire symbol table available.
11872 @c FIXME: for now no mention of directories, since this seems to be in
11873 @c flux. 13mar1992 status is that in theory GDB would look either in
11874 @c current dir or in same dir as myprog; but issues like competing
11875 @c GDB's, or clutter in system dirs, mean that in practice right now
11876 @c only current dir is used. FFish says maybe a special GDB hierarchy
11877 @c (eg rooted in val of env var GDBSYMS) could exist for mappable symbol
11881 @item core-file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
11883 Specify the whereabouts of a core dump file to be used as the ``contents
11884 of memory''. Traditionally, core files contain only some parts of the
11885 address space of the process that generated them; @value{GDBN} can access the
11886 executable file itself for other parts.
11888 @code{core-file} with no argument specifies that no core file is
11891 Note that the core file is ignored when your program is actually running
11892 under @value{GDBN}. So, if you have been running your program and you
11893 wish to debug a core file instead, you must kill the subprocess in which
11894 the program is running. To do this, use the @code{kill} command
11895 (@pxref{Kill Process, ,Killing the Child Process}).
11897 @kindex add-symbol-file
11898 @cindex dynamic linking
11899 @item add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address}
11900 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} @r{[} -readnow @r{]}
11901 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @r{-s}@var{section} @var{address} @dots{}
11902 The @code{add-symbol-file} command reads additional symbol table
11903 information from the file @var{filename}. You would use this command
11904 when @var{filename} has been dynamically loaded (by some other means)
11905 into the program that is running. @var{address} should be the memory
11906 address at which the file has been loaded; @value{GDBN} cannot figure
11907 this out for itself. You can additionally specify an arbitrary number
11908 of @samp{@r{-s}@var{section} @var{address}} pairs, to give an explicit
11909 section name and base address for that section. You can specify any
11910 @var{address} as an expression.
11912 The symbol table of the file @var{filename} is added to the symbol table
11913 originally read with the @code{symbol-file} command. You can use the
11914 @code{add-symbol-file} command any number of times; the new symbol data
11915 thus read keeps adding to the old. To discard all old symbol data
11916 instead, use the @code{symbol-file} command without any arguments.
11918 @cindex relocatable object files, reading symbols from
11919 @cindex object files, relocatable, reading symbols from
11920 @cindex reading symbols from relocatable object files
11921 @cindex symbols, reading from relocatable object files
11922 @cindex @file{.o} files, reading symbols from
11923 Although @var{filename} is typically a shared library file, an
11924 executable file, or some other object file which has been fully
11925 relocated for loading into a process, you can also load symbolic
11926 information from relocatable @file{.o} files, as long as:
11930 the file's symbolic information refers only to linker symbols defined in
11931 that file, not to symbols defined by other object files,
11933 every section the file's symbolic information refers to has actually
11934 been loaded into the inferior, as it appears in the file, and
11936 you can determine the address at which every section was loaded, and
11937 provide these to the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
11941 Some embedded operating systems, like Sun Chorus and VxWorks, can load
11942 relocatable files into an already running program; such systems
11943 typically make the requirements above easy to meet. However, it's
11944 important to recognize that many native systems use complex link
11945 procedures (@code{.linkonce} section factoring and C@t{++} constructor table
11946 assembly, for example) that make the requirements difficult to meet. In
11947 general, one cannot assume that using @code{add-symbol-file} to read a
11948 relocatable object file's symbolic information will have the same effect
11949 as linking the relocatable object file into the program in the normal
11952 @code{add-symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
11954 @kindex add-symbol-file-from-memory
11955 @cindex @code{syscall DSO}
11956 @cindex load symbols from memory
11957 @item add-symbol-file-from-memory @var{address}
11958 Load symbols from the given @var{address} in a dynamically loaded
11959 object file whose image is mapped directly into the inferior's memory.
11960 For example, the Linux kernel maps a @code{syscall DSO} into each
11961 process's address space; this DSO provides kernel-specific code for
11962 some system calls. The argument can be any expression whose
11963 evaluation yields the address of the file's shared object file header.
11964 For this command to work, you must have used @code{symbol-file} or
11965 @code{exec-file} commands in advance.
11967 @kindex add-shared-symbol-files
11969 @item add-shared-symbol-files @var{library-file}
11970 @itemx assf @var{library-file}
11971 The @code{add-shared-symbol-files} command can currently be used only
11972 in the Cygwin build of @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows OS, where it is an
11973 alias for the @code{dll-symbols} command (@pxref{Cygwin Native}).
11974 @value{GDBN} automatically looks for shared libraries, however if
11975 @value{GDBN} does not find yours, you can invoke
11976 @code{add-shared-symbol-files}. It takes one argument: the shared
11977 library's file name. @code{assf} is a shorthand alias for
11978 @code{add-shared-symbol-files}.
11981 @item section @var{section} @var{addr}
11982 The @code{section} command changes the base address of the named
11983 @var{section} of the exec file to @var{addr}. This can be used if the
11984 exec file does not contain section addresses, (such as in the
11985 @code{a.out} format), or when the addresses specified in the file
11986 itself are wrong. Each section must be changed separately. The
11987 @code{info files} command, described below, lists all the sections and
11991 @kindex info target
11994 @code{info files} and @code{info target} are synonymous; both print the
11995 current target (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}),
11996 including the names of the executable and core dump files currently in
11997 use by @value{GDBN}, and the files from which symbols were loaded. The
11998 command @code{help target} lists all possible targets rather than
12001 @kindex maint info sections
12002 @item maint info sections
12003 Another command that can give you extra information about program sections
12004 is @code{maint info sections}. In addition to the section information
12005 displayed by @code{info files}, this command displays the flags and file
12006 offset of each section in the executable and core dump files. In addition,
12007 @code{maint info sections} provides the following command options (which
12008 may be arbitrarily combined):
12012 Display sections for all loaded object files, including shared libraries.
12013 @item @var{sections}
12014 Display info only for named @var{sections}.
12015 @item @var{section-flags}
12016 Display info only for sections for which @var{section-flags} are true.
12017 The section flags that @value{GDBN} currently knows about are:
12020 Section will have space allocated in the process when loaded.
12021 Set for all sections except those containing debug information.
12023 Section will be loaded from the file into the child process memory.
12024 Set for pre-initialized code and data, clear for @code{.bss} sections.
12026 Section needs to be relocated before loading.
12028 Section cannot be modified by the child process.
12030 Section contains executable code only.
12032 Section contains data only (no executable code).
12034 Section will reside in ROM.
12036 Section contains data for constructor/destructor lists.
12038 Section is not empty.
12040 An instruction to the linker to not output the section.
12041 @item COFF_SHARED_LIBRARY
12042 A notification to the linker that the section contains
12043 COFF shared library information.
12045 Section contains common symbols.
12048 @kindex set trust-readonly-sections
12049 @cindex read-only sections
12050 @item set trust-readonly-sections on
12051 Tell @value{GDBN} that readonly sections in your object file
12052 really are read-only (i.e.@: that their contents will not change).
12053 In that case, @value{GDBN} can fetch values from these sections
12054 out of the object file, rather than from the target program.
12055 For some targets (notably embedded ones), this can be a significant
12056 enhancement to debugging performance.
12058 The default is off.
12060 @item set trust-readonly-sections off
12061 Tell @value{GDBN} not to trust readonly sections. This means that
12062 the contents of the section might change while the program is running,
12063 and must therefore be fetched from the target when needed.
12065 @item show trust-readonly-sections
12066 Show the current setting of trusting readonly sections.
12069 All file-specifying commands allow both absolute and relative file names
12070 as arguments. @value{GDBN} always converts the file name to an absolute file
12071 name and remembers it that way.
12073 @cindex shared libraries
12074 @anchor{Shared Libraries}
12075 @value{GDBN} supports @sc{gnu}/Linux, MS-Windows, HP-UX, SunOS, SVr4, Irix,
12076 and IBM RS/6000 AIX shared libraries.
12078 On MS-Windows @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support
12079 shared libraries. @xref{Expat}.
12081 @value{GDBN} automatically loads symbol definitions from shared libraries
12082 when you use the @code{run} command, or when you examine a core file.
12083 (Before you issue the @code{run} command, @value{GDBN} does not understand
12084 references to a function in a shared library, however---unless you are
12085 debugging a core file).
12087 On HP-UX, if the program loads a library explicitly, @value{GDBN}
12088 automatically loads the symbols at the time of the @code{shl_load} call.
12090 @c FIXME: some @value{GDBN} release may permit some refs to undef
12091 @c FIXME...symbols---eg in a break cmd---assuming they are from a shared
12092 @c FIXME...lib; check this from time to time when updating manual
12094 There are times, however, when you may wish to not automatically load
12095 symbol definitions from shared libraries, such as when they are
12096 particularly large or there are many of them.
12098 To control the automatic loading of shared library symbols, use the
12102 @kindex set auto-solib-add
12103 @item set auto-solib-add @var{mode}
12104 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, symbols from all shared object libraries
12105 will be loaded automatically when the inferior begins execution, you
12106 attach to an independently started inferior, or when the dynamic linker
12107 informs @value{GDBN} that a new library has been loaded. If @var{mode}
12108 is @code{off}, symbols must be loaded manually, using the
12109 @code{sharedlibrary} command. The default value is @code{on}.
12111 @cindex memory used for symbol tables
12112 If your program uses lots of shared libraries with debug info that
12113 takes large amounts of memory, you can decrease the @value{GDBN}
12114 memory footprint by preventing it from automatically loading the
12115 symbols from shared libraries. To that end, type @kbd{set
12116 auto-solib-add off} before running the inferior, then load each
12117 library whose debug symbols you do need with @kbd{sharedlibrary
12118 @var{regexp}}, where @var{regexp} is a regular expression that matches
12119 the libraries whose symbols you want to be loaded.
12121 @kindex show auto-solib-add
12122 @item show auto-solib-add
12123 Display the current autoloading mode.
12126 @cindex load shared library
12127 To explicitly load shared library symbols, use the @code{sharedlibrary}
12131 @kindex info sharedlibrary
12134 @itemx info sharedlibrary
12135 Print the names of the shared libraries which are currently loaded.
12137 @kindex sharedlibrary
12139 @item sharedlibrary @var{regex}
12140 @itemx share @var{regex}
12141 Load shared object library symbols for files matching a
12142 Unix regular expression.
12143 As with files loaded automatically, it only loads shared libraries
12144 required by your program for a core file or after typing @code{run}. If
12145 @var{regex} is omitted all shared libraries required by your program are
12148 @item nosharedlibrary
12149 @kindex nosharedlibrary
12150 @cindex unload symbols from shared libraries
12151 Unload all shared object library symbols. This discards all symbols
12152 that have been loaded from all shared libraries. Symbols from shared
12153 libraries that were loaded by explicit user requests are not
12157 Sometimes you may wish that @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control
12158 when any of shared library events happen. Use the @code{set
12159 stop-on-solib-events} command for this:
12162 @item set stop-on-solib-events
12163 @kindex set stop-on-solib-events
12164 This command controls whether @value{GDBN} should give you control
12165 when the dynamic linker notifies it about some shared library event.
12166 The most common event of interest is loading or unloading of a new
12169 @item show stop-on-solib-events
12170 @kindex show stop-on-solib-events
12171 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control when shared
12172 library events happen.
12175 Shared libraries are also supported in many cross or remote debugging
12176 configurations. A copy of the target's libraries need to be present on the
12177 host system; they need to be the same as the target libraries, although the
12178 copies on the target can be stripped as long as the copies on the host are
12181 @cindex where to look for shared libraries
12182 For remote debugging, you need to tell @value{GDBN} where the target
12183 libraries are, so that it can load the correct copies---otherwise, it
12184 may try to load the host's libraries. @value{GDBN} has two variables
12185 to specify the search directories for target libraries.
12188 @cindex prefix for shared library file names
12189 @cindex system root, alternate
12190 @kindex set solib-absolute-prefix
12191 @kindex set sysroot
12192 @item set sysroot @var{path}
12193 Use @var{path} as the system root for the program being debugged. Any
12194 absolute shared library paths will be prefixed with @var{path}; many
12195 runtime loaders store the absolute paths to the shared library in the
12196 target program's memory. If you use @code{set sysroot} to find shared
12197 libraries, they need to be laid out in the same way that they are on
12198 the target, with e.g.@: a @file{/lib} and @file{/usr/lib} hierarchy
12201 The @code{set solib-absolute-prefix} command is an alias for @code{set
12204 @cindex default system root
12205 @cindex @samp{--with-sysroot}
12206 You can set the default system root by using the configure-time
12207 @samp{--with-sysroot} option. If the system root is inside
12208 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
12209 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default system root will be updated
12210 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
12213 @kindex show sysroot
12215 Display the current shared library prefix.
12217 @kindex set solib-search-path
12218 @item set solib-search-path @var{path}
12219 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
12220 directories to search for shared libraries. @samp{solib-search-path}
12221 is used after @samp{sysroot} fails to locate the library, or if the
12222 path to the library is relative instead of absolute. If you want to
12223 use @samp{solib-search-path} instead of @samp{sysroot}, be sure to set
12224 @samp{sysroot} to a nonexistent directory to prevent @value{GDBN} from
12225 finding your host's libraries. @samp{sysroot} is preferred; setting
12226 it to a nonexistent directory may interfere with automatic loading
12227 of shared library symbols.
12229 @kindex show solib-search-path
12230 @item show solib-search-path
12231 Display the current shared library search path.
12235 @node Separate Debug Files
12236 @section Debugging Information in Separate Files
12237 @cindex separate debugging information files
12238 @cindex debugging information in separate files
12239 @cindex @file{.debug} subdirectories
12240 @cindex debugging information directory, global
12241 @cindex global debugging information directory
12242 @cindex build ID, and separate debugging files
12243 @cindex @file{.build-id} directory
12245 @value{GDBN} allows you to put a program's debugging information in a
12246 file separate from the executable itself, in a way that allows
12247 @value{GDBN} to find and load the debugging information automatically.
12248 Since debugging information can be very large---sometimes larger
12249 than the executable code itself---some systems distribute debugging
12250 information for their executables in separate files, which users can
12251 install only when they need to debug a problem.
12253 @value{GDBN} supports two ways of specifying the separate debug info
12258 The executable contains a @dfn{debug link} that specifies the name of
12259 the separate debug info file. The separate debug file's name is
12260 usually @file{@var{executable}.debug}, where @var{executable} is the
12261 name of the corresponding executable file without leading directories
12262 (e.g., @file{ls.debug} for @file{/usr/bin/ls}). In addition, the
12263 debug link specifies a CRC32 checksum for the debug file, which
12264 @value{GDBN} uses to validate that the executable and the debug file
12265 came from the same build.
12268 The executable contains a @dfn{build ID}, a unique bit string that is
12269 also present in the corresponding debug info file. (This is supported
12270 only on some operating systems, notably those which use the ELF format
12271 for binary files and the @sc{gnu} Binutils.) For more details about
12272 this feature, see the description of the @option{--build-id}
12273 command-line option in @ref{Options, , Command Line Options, ld.info,
12274 The GNU Linker}. The debug info file's name is not specified
12275 explicitly by the build ID, but can be computed from the build ID, see
12279 Depending on the way the debug info file is specified, @value{GDBN}
12280 uses two different methods of looking for the debug file:
12284 For the ``debug link'' method, @value{GDBN} looks up the named file in
12285 the directory of the executable file, then in a subdirectory of that
12286 directory named @file{.debug}, and finally under the global debug
12287 directory, in a subdirectory whose name is identical to the leading
12288 directories of the executable's absolute file name.
12291 For the ``build ID'' method, @value{GDBN} looks in the
12292 @file{.build-id} subdirectory of the global debug directory for a file
12293 named @file{@var{nn}/@var{nnnnnnnn}.debug}, where @var{nn} are the
12294 first 2 hex characters of the build ID bit string, and @var{nnnnnnnn}
12295 are the rest of the bit string. (Real build ID strings are 32 or more
12296 hex characters, not 10.)
12299 So, for example, suppose you ask @value{GDBN} to debug
12300 @file{/usr/bin/ls}, which has a debug link that specifies the
12301 file @file{ls.debug}, and a build ID whose value in hex is
12302 @code{abcdef1234}. If the global debug directory is
12303 @file{/usr/lib/debug}, then @value{GDBN} will look for the following
12304 debug information files, in the indicated order:
12308 @file{/usr/lib/debug/.build-id/ab/cdef1234.debug}
12310 @file{/usr/bin/ls.debug}
12312 @file{/usr/bin/.debug/ls.debug}
12314 @file{/usr/lib/debug/usr/bin/ls.debug}.
12317 You can set the global debugging info directory's name, and view the
12318 name @value{GDBN} is currently using.
12322 @kindex set debug-file-directory
12323 @item set debug-file-directory @var{directory}
12324 Set the directory which @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
12325 information files to @var{directory}.
12327 @kindex show debug-file-directory
12328 @item show debug-file-directory
12329 Show the directory @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
12334 @cindex @code{.gnu_debuglink} sections
12335 @cindex debug link sections
12336 A debug link is a special section of the executable file named
12337 @code{.gnu_debuglink}. The section must contain:
12341 A filename, with any leading directory components removed, followed by
12344 zero to three bytes of padding, as needed to reach the next four-byte
12345 boundary within the section, and
12347 a four-byte CRC checksum, stored in the same endianness used for the
12348 executable file itself. The checksum is computed on the debugging
12349 information file's full contents by the function given below, passing
12350 zero as the @var{crc} argument.
12353 Any executable file format can carry a debug link, as long as it can
12354 contain a section named @code{.gnu_debuglink} with the contents
12357 @cindex @code{.note.gnu.build-id} sections
12358 @cindex build ID sections
12359 The build ID is a special section in the executable file (and in other
12360 ELF binary files that @value{GDBN} may consider). This section is
12361 often named @code{.note.gnu.build-id}, but that name is not mandatory.
12362 It contains unique identification for the built files---the ID remains
12363 the same across multiple builds of the same build tree. The default
12364 algorithm SHA1 produces 160 bits (40 hexadecimal characters) of the
12365 content for the build ID string. The same section with an identical
12366 value is present in the original built binary with symbols, in its
12367 stripped variant, and in the separate debugging information file.
12369 The debugging information file itself should be an ordinary
12370 executable, containing a full set of linker symbols, sections, and
12371 debugging information. The sections of the debugging information file
12372 should have the same names, addresses, and sizes as the original file,
12373 but they need not contain any data---much like a @code{.bss} section
12374 in an ordinary executable.
12376 The @sc{gnu} binary utilities (Binutils) package includes the
12377 @samp{objcopy} utility that can produce
12378 the separated executable / debugging information file pairs using the
12379 following commands:
12382 @kbd{objcopy --only-keep-debug foo foo.debug}
12387 These commands remove the debugging
12388 information from the executable file @file{foo} and place it in the file
12389 @file{foo.debug}. You can use the first, second or both methods to link the
12394 The debug link method needs the following additional command to also leave
12395 behind a debug link in @file{foo}:
12398 @kbd{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.debug foo}
12401 Ulrich Drepper's @file{elfutils} package, starting with version 0.53, contains
12402 a version of the @code{strip} command such that the command @kbd{strip foo -f
12403 foo.debug} has the same functionality as the two @code{objcopy} commands and
12404 the @code{ln -s} command above, together.
12407 Build ID gets embedded into the main executable using @code{ld --build-id} or
12408 the @value{NGCC} counterpart @code{gcc -Wl,--build-id}. Build ID support plus
12409 compatibility fixes for debug files separation are present in @sc{gnu} binary
12410 utilities (Binutils) package since version 2.18.
12415 Since there are many different ways to compute CRC's for the debug
12416 link (different polynomials, reversals, byte ordering, etc.), the
12417 simplest way to describe the CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink}
12418 sections is to give the complete code for a function that computes it:
12420 @kindex gnu_debuglink_crc32
12423 gnu_debuglink_crc32 (unsigned long crc,
12424 unsigned char *buf, size_t len)
12426 static const unsigned long crc32_table[256] =
12428 0x00000000, 0x77073096, 0xee0e612c, 0x990951ba, 0x076dc419,
12429 0x706af48f, 0xe963a535, 0x9e6495a3, 0x0edb8832, 0x79dcb8a4,
12430 0xe0d5e91e, 0x97d2d988, 0x09b64c2b, 0x7eb17cbd, 0xe7b82d07,
12431 0x90bf1d91, 0x1db71064, 0x6ab020f2, 0xf3b97148, 0x84be41de,
12432 0x1adad47d, 0x6ddde4eb, 0xf4d4b551, 0x83d385c7, 0x136c9856,
12433 0x646ba8c0, 0xfd62f97a, 0x8a65c9ec, 0x14015c4f, 0x63066cd9,
12434 0xfa0f3d63, 0x8d080df5, 0x3b6e20c8, 0x4c69105e, 0xd56041e4,
12435 0xa2677172, 0x3c03e4d1, 0x4b04d447, 0xd20d85fd, 0xa50ab56b,
12436 0x35b5a8fa, 0x42b2986c, 0xdbbbc9d6, 0xacbcf940, 0x32d86ce3,
12437 0x45df5c75, 0xdcd60dcf, 0xabd13d59, 0x26d930ac, 0x51de003a,
12438 0xc8d75180, 0xbfd06116, 0x21b4f4b5, 0x56b3c423, 0xcfba9599,
12439 0xb8bda50f, 0x2802b89e, 0x5f058808, 0xc60cd9b2, 0xb10be924,
12440 0x2f6f7c87, 0x58684c11, 0xc1611dab, 0xb6662d3d, 0x76dc4190,
12441 0x01db7106, 0x98d220bc, 0xefd5102a, 0x71b18589, 0x06b6b51f,
12442 0x9fbfe4a5, 0xe8b8d433, 0x7807c9a2, 0x0f00f934, 0x9609a88e,
12443 0xe10e9818, 0x7f6a0dbb, 0x086d3d2d, 0x91646c97, 0xe6635c01,
12444 0x6b6b51f4, 0x1c6c6162, 0x856530d8, 0xf262004e, 0x6c0695ed,
12445 0x1b01a57b, 0x8208f4c1, 0xf50fc457, 0x65b0d9c6, 0x12b7e950,
12446 0x8bbeb8ea, 0xfcb9887c, 0x62dd1ddf, 0x15da2d49, 0x8cd37cf3,
12447 0xfbd44c65, 0x4db26158, 0x3ab551ce, 0xa3bc0074, 0xd4bb30e2,
12448 0x4adfa541, 0x3dd895d7, 0xa4d1c46d, 0xd3d6f4fb, 0x4369e96a,
12449 0x346ed9fc, 0xad678846, 0xda60b8d0, 0x44042d73, 0x33031de5,
12450 0xaa0a4c5f, 0xdd0d7cc9, 0x5005713c, 0x270241aa, 0xbe0b1010,
12451 0xc90c2086, 0x5768b525, 0x206f85b3, 0xb966d409, 0xce61e49f,
12452 0x5edef90e, 0x29d9c998, 0xb0d09822, 0xc7d7a8b4, 0x59b33d17,
12453 0x2eb40d81, 0xb7bd5c3b, 0xc0ba6cad, 0xedb88320, 0x9abfb3b6,
12454 0x03b6e20c, 0x74b1d29a, 0xead54739, 0x9dd277af, 0x04db2615,
12455 0x73dc1683, 0xe3630b12, 0x94643b84, 0x0d6d6a3e, 0x7a6a5aa8,
12456 0xe40ecf0b, 0x9309ff9d, 0x0a00ae27, 0x7d079eb1, 0xf00f9344,
12457 0x8708a3d2, 0x1e01f268, 0x6906c2fe, 0xf762575d, 0x806567cb,
12458 0x196c3671, 0x6e6b06e7, 0xfed41b76, 0x89d32be0, 0x10da7a5a,
12459 0x67dd4acc, 0xf9b9df6f, 0x8ebeeff9, 0x17b7be43, 0x60b08ed5,
12460 0xd6d6a3e8, 0xa1d1937e, 0x38d8c2c4, 0x4fdff252, 0xd1bb67f1,
12461 0xa6bc5767, 0x3fb506dd, 0x48b2364b, 0xd80d2bda, 0xaf0a1b4c,
12462 0x36034af6, 0x41047a60, 0xdf60efc3, 0xa867df55, 0x316e8eef,
12463 0x4669be79, 0xcb61b38c, 0xbc66831a, 0x256fd2a0, 0x5268e236,
12464 0xcc0c7795, 0xbb0b4703, 0x220216b9, 0x5505262f, 0xc5ba3bbe,
12465 0xb2bd0b28, 0x2bb45a92, 0x5cb36a04, 0xc2d7ffa7, 0xb5d0cf31,
12466 0x2cd99e8b, 0x5bdeae1d, 0x9b64c2b0, 0xec63f226, 0x756aa39c,
12467 0x026d930a, 0x9c0906a9, 0xeb0e363f, 0x72076785, 0x05005713,
12468 0x95bf4a82, 0xe2b87a14, 0x7bb12bae, 0x0cb61b38, 0x92d28e9b,
12469 0xe5d5be0d, 0x7cdcefb7, 0x0bdbdf21, 0x86d3d2d4, 0xf1d4e242,
12470 0x68ddb3f8, 0x1fda836e, 0x81be16cd, 0xf6b9265b, 0x6fb077e1,
12471 0x18b74777, 0x88085ae6, 0xff0f6a70, 0x66063bca, 0x11010b5c,
12472 0x8f659eff, 0xf862ae69, 0x616bffd3, 0x166ccf45, 0xa00ae278,
12473 0xd70dd2ee, 0x4e048354, 0x3903b3c2, 0xa7672661, 0xd06016f7,
12474 0x4969474d, 0x3e6e77db, 0xaed16a4a, 0xd9d65adc, 0x40df0b66,
12475 0x37d83bf0, 0xa9bcae53, 0xdebb9ec5, 0x47b2cf7f, 0x30b5ffe9,
12476 0xbdbdf21c, 0xcabac28a, 0x53b39330, 0x24b4a3a6, 0xbad03605,
12477 0xcdd70693, 0x54de5729, 0x23d967bf, 0xb3667a2e, 0xc4614ab8,
12478 0x5d681b02, 0x2a6f2b94, 0xb40bbe37, 0xc30c8ea1, 0x5a05df1b,
12481 unsigned char *end;
12483 crc = ~crc & 0xffffffff;
12484 for (end = buf + len; buf < end; ++buf)
12485 crc = crc32_table[(crc ^ *buf) & 0xff] ^ (crc >> 8);
12486 return ~crc & 0xffffffff;
12491 This computation does not apply to the ``build ID'' method.
12494 @node Symbol Errors
12495 @section Errors Reading Symbol Files
12497 While reading a symbol file, @value{GDBN} occasionally encounters problems,
12498 such as symbol types it does not recognize, or known bugs in compiler
12499 output. By default, @value{GDBN} does not notify you of such problems, since
12500 they are relatively common and primarily of interest to people
12501 debugging compilers. If you are interested in seeing information
12502 about ill-constructed symbol tables, you can either ask @value{GDBN} to print
12503 only one message about each such type of problem, no matter how many
12504 times the problem occurs; or you can ask @value{GDBN} to print more messages,
12505 to see how many times the problems occur, with the @code{set
12506 complaints} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
12509 The messages currently printed, and their meanings, include:
12512 @item inner block not inside outer block in @var{symbol}
12514 The symbol information shows where symbol scopes begin and end
12515 (such as at the start of a function or a block of statements). This
12516 error indicates that an inner scope block is not fully contained
12517 in its outer scope blocks.
12519 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the inner block as if it had
12520 the same scope as the outer block. In the error message, @var{symbol}
12521 may be shown as ``@code{(don't know)}'' if the outer block is not a
12524 @item block at @var{address} out of order
12526 The symbol information for symbol scope blocks should occur in
12527 order of increasing addresses. This error indicates that it does not
12530 @value{GDBN} does not circumvent this problem, and has trouble
12531 locating symbols in the source file whose symbols it is reading. (You
12532 can often determine what source file is affected by specifying
12533 @code{set verbose on}. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
12536 @item bad block start address patched
12538 The symbol information for a symbol scope block has a start address
12539 smaller than the address of the preceding source line. This is known
12540 to occur in the SunOS 4.1.1 (and earlier) C compiler.
12542 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the symbol scope block as
12543 starting on the previous source line.
12545 @item bad string table offset in symbol @var{n}
12548 Symbol number @var{n} contains a pointer into the string table which is
12549 larger than the size of the string table.
12551 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by considering the symbol to have the
12552 name @code{foo}, which may cause other problems if many symbols end up
12555 @item unknown symbol type @code{0x@var{nn}}
12557 The symbol information contains new data types that @value{GDBN} does
12558 not yet know how to read. @code{0x@var{nn}} is the symbol type of the
12559 uncomprehended information, in hexadecimal.
12561 @value{GDBN} circumvents the error by ignoring this symbol information.
12562 This usually allows you to debug your program, though certain symbols
12563 are not accessible. If you encounter such a problem and feel like
12564 debugging it, you can debug @code{@value{GDBP}} with itself, breakpoint
12565 on @code{complain}, then go up to the function @code{read_dbx_symtab}
12566 and examine @code{*bufp} to see the symbol.
12568 @item stub type has NULL name
12570 @value{GDBN} could not find the full definition for a struct or class.
12572 @item const/volatile indicator missing (ok if using g++ v1.x), got@dots{}
12573 The symbol information for a C@t{++} member function is missing some
12574 information that recent versions of the compiler should have output for
12577 @item info mismatch between compiler and debugger
12579 @value{GDBN} could not parse a type specification output by the compiler.
12584 @chapter Specifying a Debugging Target
12586 @cindex debugging target
12587 A @dfn{target} is the execution environment occupied by your program.
12589 Often, @value{GDBN} runs in the same host environment as your program;
12590 in that case, the debugging target is specified as a side effect when
12591 you use the @code{file} or @code{core} commands. When you need more
12592 flexibility---for example, running @value{GDBN} on a physically separate
12593 host, or controlling a standalone system over a serial port or a
12594 realtime system over a TCP/IP connection---you can use the @code{target}
12595 command to specify one of the target types configured for @value{GDBN}
12596 (@pxref{Target Commands, ,Commands for Managing Targets}).
12598 @cindex target architecture
12599 It is possible to build @value{GDBN} for several different @dfn{target
12600 architectures}. When @value{GDBN} is built like that, you can choose
12601 one of the available architectures with the @kbd{set architecture}
12605 @kindex set architecture
12606 @kindex show architecture
12607 @item set architecture @var{arch}
12608 This command sets the current target architecture to @var{arch}. The
12609 value of @var{arch} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition to one of the
12610 supported architectures.
12612 @item show architecture
12613 Show the current target architecture.
12615 @item set processor
12617 @kindex set processor
12618 @kindex show processor
12619 These are alias commands for, respectively, @code{set architecture}
12620 and @code{show architecture}.
12624 * Active Targets:: Active targets
12625 * Target Commands:: Commands for managing targets
12626 * Byte Order:: Choosing target byte order
12629 @node Active Targets
12630 @section Active Targets
12632 @cindex stacking targets
12633 @cindex active targets
12634 @cindex multiple targets
12636 There are three classes of targets: processes, core files, and
12637 executable files. @value{GDBN} can work concurrently on up to three
12638 active targets, one in each class. This allows you to (for example)
12639 start a process and inspect its activity without abandoning your work on
12642 For example, if you execute @samp{gdb a.out}, then the executable file
12643 @code{a.out} is the only active target. If you designate a core file as
12644 well---presumably from a prior run that crashed and coredumped---then
12645 @value{GDBN} has two active targets and uses them in tandem, looking
12646 first in the corefile target, then in the executable file, to satisfy
12647 requests for memory addresses. (Typically, these two classes of target
12648 are complementary, since core files contain only a program's
12649 read-write memory---variables and so on---plus machine status, while
12650 executable files contain only the program text and initialized data.)
12652 When you type @code{run}, your executable file becomes an active process
12653 target as well. When a process target is active, all @value{GDBN}
12654 commands requesting memory addresses refer to that target; addresses in
12655 an active core file or executable file target are obscured while the
12656 process target is active.
12658 Use the @code{core-file} and @code{exec-file} commands to select a new
12659 core file or executable target (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify
12660 Files}). To specify as a target a process that is already running, use
12661 the @code{attach} command (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running
12664 @node Target Commands
12665 @section Commands for Managing Targets
12668 @item target @var{type} @var{parameters}
12669 Connects the @value{GDBN} host environment to a target machine or
12670 process. A target is typically a protocol for talking to debugging
12671 facilities. You use the argument @var{type} to specify the type or
12672 protocol of the target machine.
12674 Further @var{parameters} are interpreted by the target protocol, but
12675 typically include things like device names or host names to connect
12676 with, process numbers, and baud rates.
12678 The @code{target} command does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again
12679 after executing the command.
12681 @kindex help target
12683 Displays the names of all targets available. To display targets
12684 currently selected, use either @code{info target} or @code{info files}
12685 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
12687 @item help target @var{name}
12688 Describe a particular target, including any parameters necessary to
12691 @kindex set gnutarget
12692 @item set gnutarget @var{args}
12693 @value{GDBN} uses its own library BFD to read your files. @value{GDBN}
12694 knows whether it is reading an @dfn{executable},
12695 a @dfn{core}, or a @dfn{.o} file; however, you can specify the file format
12696 with the @code{set gnutarget} command. Unlike most @code{target} commands,
12697 with @code{gnutarget} the @code{target} refers to a program, not a machine.
12700 @emph{Warning:} To specify a file format with @code{set gnutarget},
12701 you must know the actual BFD name.
12705 @xref{Files, , Commands to Specify Files}.
12707 @kindex show gnutarget
12708 @item show gnutarget
12709 Use the @code{show gnutarget} command to display what file format
12710 @code{gnutarget} is set to read. If you have not set @code{gnutarget},
12711 @value{GDBN} will determine the file format for each file automatically,
12712 and @code{show gnutarget} displays @samp{The current BDF target is "auto"}.
12715 @cindex common targets
12716 Here are some common targets (available, or not, depending on the GDB
12721 @item target exec @var{program}
12722 @cindex executable file target
12723 An executable file. @samp{target exec @var{program}} is the same as
12724 @samp{exec-file @var{program}}.
12726 @item target core @var{filename}
12727 @cindex core dump file target
12728 A core dump file. @samp{target core @var{filename}} is the same as
12729 @samp{core-file @var{filename}}.
12731 @item target remote @var{medium}
12732 @cindex remote target
12733 A remote system connected to @value{GDBN} via a serial line or network
12734 connection. This command tells @value{GDBN} to use its own remote
12735 protocol over @var{medium} for debugging. @xref{Remote Debugging}.
12737 For example, if you have a board connected to @file{/dev/ttya} on the
12738 machine running @value{GDBN}, you could say:
12741 target remote /dev/ttya
12744 @code{target remote} supports the @code{load} command. This is only
12745 useful if you have some other way of getting the stub to the target
12746 system, and you can put it somewhere in memory where it won't get
12747 clobbered by the download.
12750 @cindex built-in simulator target
12751 Builtin CPU simulator. @value{GDBN} includes simulators for most architectures.
12759 works; however, you cannot assume that a specific memory map, device
12760 drivers, or even basic I/O is available, although some simulators do
12761 provide these. For info about any processor-specific simulator details,
12762 see the appropriate section in @ref{Embedded Processors, ,Embedded
12767 Some configurations may include these targets as well:
12771 @item target nrom @var{dev}
12772 @cindex NetROM ROM emulator target
12773 NetROM ROM emulator. This target only supports downloading.
12777 Different targets are available on different configurations of @value{GDBN};
12778 your configuration may have more or fewer targets.
12780 Many remote targets require you to download the executable's code once
12781 you've successfully established a connection. You may wish to control
12782 various aspects of this process.
12787 @kindex set hash@r{, for remote monitors}
12788 @cindex hash mark while downloading
12789 This command controls whether a hash mark @samp{#} is displayed while
12790 downloading a file to the remote monitor. If on, a hash mark is
12791 displayed after each S-record is successfully downloaded to the
12795 @kindex show hash@r{, for remote monitors}
12796 Show the current status of displaying the hash mark.
12798 @item set debug monitor
12799 @kindex set debug monitor
12800 @cindex display remote monitor communications
12801 Enable or disable display of communications messages between
12802 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
12804 @item show debug monitor
12805 @kindex show debug monitor
12806 Show the current status of displaying communications between
12807 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
12812 @kindex load @var{filename}
12813 @item load @var{filename}
12815 Depending on what remote debugging facilities are configured into
12816 @value{GDBN}, the @code{load} command may be available. Where it exists, it
12817 is meant to make @var{filename} (an executable) available for debugging
12818 on the remote system---by downloading, or dynamic linking, for example.
12819 @code{load} also records the @var{filename} symbol table in @value{GDBN}, like
12820 the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
12822 If your @value{GDBN} does not have a @code{load} command, attempting to
12823 execute it gets the error message ``@code{You can't do that when your
12824 target is @dots{}}''
12826 The file is loaded at whatever address is specified in the executable.
12827 For some object file formats, you can specify the load address when you
12828 link the program; for other formats, like a.out, the object file format
12829 specifies a fixed address.
12830 @c FIXME! This would be a good place for an xref to the GNU linker doc.
12832 Depending on the remote side capabilities, @value{GDBN} may be able to
12833 load programs into flash memory.
12835 @code{load} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
12839 @section Choosing Target Byte Order
12841 @cindex choosing target byte order
12842 @cindex target byte order
12844 Some types of processors, such as the MIPS, PowerPC, and Renesas SH,
12845 offer the ability to run either big-endian or little-endian byte
12846 orders. Usually the executable or symbol will include a bit to
12847 designate the endian-ness, and you will not need to worry about
12848 which to use. However, you may still find it useful to adjust
12849 @value{GDBN}'s idea of processor endian-ness manually.
12853 @item set endian big
12854 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is big-endian.
12856 @item set endian little
12857 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is little-endian.
12859 @item set endian auto
12860 Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the byte order associated with the
12864 Display @value{GDBN}'s current idea of the target byte order.
12868 Note that these commands merely adjust interpretation of symbolic
12869 data on the host, and that they have absolutely no effect on the
12873 @node Remote Debugging
12874 @chapter Debugging Remote Programs
12875 @cindex remote debugging
12877 If you are trying to debug a program running on a machine that cannot run
12878 @value{GDBN} in the usual way, it is often useful to use remote debugging.
12879 For example, you might use remote debugging on an operating system kernel,
12880 or on a small system which does not have a general purpose operating system
12881 powerful enough to run a full-featured debugger.
12883 Some configurations of @value{GDBN} have special serial or TCP/IP interfaces
12884 to make this work with particular debugging targets. In addition,
12885 @value{GDBN} comes with a generic serial protocol (specific to @value{GDBN},
12886 but not specific to any particular target system) which you can use if you
12887 write the remote stubs---the code that runs on the remote system to
12888 communicate with @value{GDBN}.
12890 Other remote targets may be available in your
12891 configuration of @value{GDBN}; use @code{help target} to list them.
12894 * Connecting:: Connecting to a remote target
12895 * File Transfer:: Sending files to a remote system
12896 * Server:: Using the gdbserver program
12897 * Remote Configuration:: Remote configuration
12898 * Remote Stub:: Implementing a remote stub
12902 @section Connecting to a Remote Target
12904 On the @value{GDBN} host machine, you will need an unstripped copy of
12905 your program, since @value{GDBN} needs symbol and debugging information.
12906 Start up @value{GDBN} as usual, using the name of the local copy of your
12907 program as the first argument.
12909 @cindex @code{target remote}
12910 @value{GDBN} can communicate with the target over a serial line, or
12911 over an @acronym{IP} network using @acronym{TCP} or @acronym{UDP}. In
12912 each case, @value{GDBN} uses the same protocol for debugging your
12913 program; only the medium carrying the debugging packets varies. The
12914 @code{target remote} command establishes a connection to the target.
12915 Its arguments indicate which medium to use:
12919 @item target remote @var{serial-device}
12920 @cindex serial line, @code{target remote}
12921 Use @var{serial-device} to communicate with the target. For example,
12922 to use a serial line connected to the device named @file{/dev/ttyb}:
12925 target remote /dev/ttyb
12928 If you're using a serial line, you may want to give @value{GDBN} the
12929 @w{@samp{--baud}} option, or use the @code{set remotebaud} command
12930 (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remotebaud}) before the
12931 @code{target} command.
12933 @item target remote @code{@var{host}:@var{port}}
12934 @itemx target remote @code{tcp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
12935 @cindex @acronym{TCP} port, @code{target remote}
12936 Debug using a @acronym{TCP} connection to @var{port} on @var{host}.
12937 The @var{host} may be either a host name or a numeric @acronym{IP}
12938 address; @var{port} must be a decimal number. The @var{host} could be
12939 the target machine itself, if it is directly connected to the net, or
12940 it might be a terminal server which in turn has a serial line to the
12943 For example, to connect to port 2828 on a terminal server named
12947 target remote manyfarms:2828
12950 If your remote target is actually running on the same machine as your
12951 debugger session (e.g.@: a simulator for your target running on the
12952 same host), you can omit the hostname. For example, to connect to
12953 port 1234 on your local machine:
12956 target remote :1234
12960 Note that the colon is still required here.
12962 @item target remote @code{udp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
12963 @cindex @acronym{UDP} port, @code{target remote}
12964 Debug using @acronym{UDP} packets to @var{port} on @var{host}. For example, to
12965 connect to @acronym{UDP} port 2828 on a terminal server named @code{manyfarms}:
12968 target remote udp:manyfarms:2828
12971 When using a @acronym{UDP} connection for remote debugging, you should
12972 keep in mind that the `U' stands for ``Unreliable''. @acronym{UDP}
12973 can silently drop packets on busy or unreliable networks, which will
12974 cause havoc with your debugging session.
12976 @item target remote | @var{command}
12977 @cindex pipe, @code{target remote} to
12978 Run @var{command} in the background and communicate with it using a
12979 pipe. The @var{command} is a shell command, to be parsed and expanded
12980 by the system's command shell, @code{/bin/sh}; it should expect remote
12981 protocol packets on its standard input, and send replies on its
12982 standard output. You could use this to run a stand-alone simulator
12983 that speaks the remote debugging protocol, to make net connections
12984 using programs like @code{ssh}, or for other similar tricks.
12986 If @var{command} closes its standard output (perhaps by exiting),
12987 @value{GDBN} will try to send it a @code{SIGTERM} signal. (If the
12988 program has already exited, this will have no effect.)
12992 Once the connection has been established, you can use all the usual
12993 commands to examine and change data. The remote program is already
12994 running; you can use @kbd{step} and @kbd{continue}, and you do not
12995 need to use @kbd{run}.
12997 @cindex interrupting remote programs
12998 @cindex remote programs, interrupting
12999 Whenever @value{GDBN} is waiting for the remote program, if you type the
13000 interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}), @value{GDBN} attempts to stop the
13001 program. This may or may not succeed, depending in part on the hardware
13002 and the serial drivers the remote system uses. If you type the
13003 interrupt character once again, @value{GDBN} displays this prompt:
13006 Interrupted while waiting for the program.
13007 Give up (and stop debugging it)? (y or n)
13010 If you type @kbd{y}, @value{GDBN} abandons the remote debugging session.
13011 (If you decide you want to try again later, you can use @samp{target
13012 remote} again to connect once more.) If you type @kbd{n}, @value{GDBN}
13013 goes back to waiting.
13016 @kindex detach (remote)
13018 When you have finished debugging the remote program, you can use the
13019 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control.
13020 Detaching from the target normally resumes its execution, but the results
13021 will depend on your particular remote stub. After the @code{detach}
13022 command, @value{GDBN} is free to connect to another target.
13026 The @code{disconnect} command behaves like @code{detach}, except that
13027 the target is generally not resumed. It will wait for @value{GDBN}
13028 (this instance or another one) to connect and continue debugging. After
13029 the @code{disconnect} command, @value{GDBN} is again free to connect to
13032 @cindex send command to remote monitor
13033 @cindex extend @value{GDBN} for remote targets
13034 @cindex add new commands for external monitor
13036 @item monitor @var{cmd}
13037 This command allows you to send arbitrary commands directly to the
13038 remote monitor. Since @value{GDBN} doesn't care about the commands it
13039 sends like this, this command is the way to extend @value{GDBN}---you
13040 can add new commands that only the external monitor will understand
13044 @node File Transfer
13045 @section Sending files to a remote system
13046 @cindex remote target, file transfer
13047 @cindex file transfer
13048 @cindex sending files to remote systems
13050 Some remote targets offer the ability to transfer files over the same
13051 connection used to communicate with @value{GDBN}. This is convenient
13052 for targets accessible through other means, e.g.@: @sc{gnu}/Linux systems
13053 running @code{gdbserver} over a network interface. For other targets,
13054 e.g.@: embedded devices with only a single serial port, this may be
13055 the only way to upload or download files.
13057 Not all remote targets support these commands.
13061 @item remote put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
13062 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
13063 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
13066 @item remote get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
13067 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
13068 on the host system.
13070 @kindex remote delete
13071 @item remote delete @var{targetfile}
13072 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
13077 @section Using the @code{gdbserver} Program
13080 @cindex remote connection without stubs
13081 @code{gdbserver} is a control program for Unix-like systems, which
13082 allows you to connect your program with a remote @value{GDBN} via
13083 @code{target remote}---but without linking in the usual debugging stub.
13085 @code{gdbserver} is not a complete replacement for the debugging stubs,
13086 because it requires essentially the same operating-system facilities
13087 that @value{GDBN} itself does. In fact, a system that can run
13088 @code{gdbserver} to connect to a remote @value{GDBN} could also run
13089 @value{GDBN} locally! @code{gdbserver} is sometimes useful nevertheless,
13090 because it is a much smaller program than @value{GDBN} itself. It is
13091 also easier to port than all of @value{GDBN}, so you may be able to get
13092 started more quickly on a new system by using @code{gdbserver}.
13093 Finally, if you develop code for real-time systems, you may find that
13094 the tradeoffs involved in real-time operation make it more convenient to
13095 do as much development work as possible on another system, for example
13096 by cross-compiling. You can use @code{gdbserver} to make a similar
13097 choice for debugging.
13099 @value{GDBN} and @code{gdbserver} communicate via either a serial line
13100 or a TCP connection, using the standard @value{GDBN} remote serial
13104 @emph{Warning:} @code{gdbserver} does not have any built-in security.
13105 Do not run @code{gdbserver} connected to any public network; a
13106 @value{GDBN} connection to @code{gdbserver} provides access to the
13107 target system with the same privileges as the user running
13111 @subsection Running @code{gdbserver}
13112 @cindex arguments, to @code{gdbserver}
13114 Run @code{gdbserver} on the target system. You need a copy of the
13115 program you want to debug, including any libraries it requires.
13116 @code{gdbserver} does not need your program's symbol table, so you can
13117 strip the program if necessary to save space. @value{GDBN} on the host
13118 system does all the symbol handling.
13120 To use the server, you must tell it how to communicate with @value{GDBN};
13121 the name of your program; and the arguments for your program. The usual
13125 target> gdbserver @var{comm} @var{program} [ @var{args} @dots{} ]
13128 @var{comm} is either a device name (to use a serial line) or a TCP
13129 hostname and portnumber. For example, to debug Emacs with the argument
13130 @samp{foo.txt} and communicate with @value{GDBN} over the serial port
13134 target> gdbserver /dev/com1 emacs foo.txt
13137 @code{gdbserver} waits passively for the host @value{GDBN} to communicate
13140 To use a TCP connection instead of a serial line:
13143 target> gdbserver host:2345 emacs foo.txt
13146 The only difference from the previous example is the first argument,
13147 specifying that you are communicating with the host @value{GDBN} via
13148 TCP. The @samp{host:2345} argument means that @code{gdbserver} is to
13149 expect a TCP connection from machine @samp{host} to local TCP port 2345.
13150 (Currently, the @samp{host} part is ignored.) You can choose any number
13151 you want for the port number as long as it does not conflict with any
13152 TCP ports already in use on the target system (for example, @code{23} is
13153 reserved for @code{telnet}).@footnote{If you choose a port number that
13154 conflicts with another service, @code{gdbserver} prints an error message
13155 and exits.} You must use the same port number with the host @value{GDBN}
13156 @code{target remote} command.
13158 @subsubsection Attaching to a Running Program
13160 On some targets, @code{gdbserver} can also attach to running programs.
13161 This is accomplished via the @code{--attach} argument. The syntax is:
13164 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
13167 @var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't necessary
13168 to point @code{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
13171 @cindex attach to a program by name
13172 You can debug processes by name instead of process ID if your target has the
13173 @code{pidof} utility:
13176 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} `pidof @var{program}`
13179 In case more than one copy of @var{program} is running, or @var{program}
13180 has multiple threads, most versions of @code{pidof} support the
13181 @code{-s} option to only return the first process ID.
13183 @subsubsection Multi-Process Mode for @code{gdbserver}
13184 @cindex gdbserver, multiple processes
13185 @cindex multiple processes with gdbserver
13187 When you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target remote},
13188 @code{gdbserver} debugs the specified program only once. When the
13189 program exits, or you detach from it, @value{GDBN} closes the connection
13190 and @code{gdbserver} exits.
13192 If you connect using @kbd{target extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver}
13193 enters multi-process mode. When the debugged program exits, or you
13194 detach from it, @value{GDBN} stays connected to @code{gdbserver} even
13195 though no program is running. The @code{run} and @code{attach}
13196 commands instruct @code{gdbserver} to run or attach to a new program.
13197 The @code{run} command uses @code{set remote exec-file} (@pxref{set
13198 remote exec-file}) to select the program to run. Command line
13199 arguments are supported, except for wildcard expansion and I/O
13200 redirection (@pxref{Arguments}).
13202 To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
13203 or process ID to attach, use the @option{--multi} command line option.
13204 Then you can connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} and start
13205 the program you want to debug.
13207 @code{gdbserver} does not automatically exit in multi-process mode.
13208 You can terminate it by using @code{monitor exit}
13209 (@pxref{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}).
13211 @subsubsection Other Command-Line Arguments for @code{gdbserver}
13213 You can include @option{--debug} on the @code{gdbserver} command line.
13214 @code{gdbserver} will display extra status information about the debugging
13215 process. This option is intended for @code{gdbserver} development and
13216 for bug reports to the developers.
13218 The @option{--wrapper} option specifies a wrapper to launch programs
13219 for debugging. The option should be followed by the name of the
13220 wrapper, then any command-line arguments to pass to the wrapper, then
13221 @kbd{--} indicating the end of the wrapper arguments.
13223 @code{gdbserver} runs the specified wrapper program with a combined
13224 command line including the wrapper arguments, then the name of the
13225 program to debug, then any arguments to the program. The wrapper
13226 runs until it executes your program, and then @value{GDBN} gains control.
13228 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
13229 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
13230 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
13231 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
13233 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
13234 the debugged program, without setting the variable in @code{gdbserver}'s
13238 $ gdbserver --wrapper env LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so -- :2222 ./testprog
13241 @subsection Connecting to @code{gdbserver}
13243 Run @value{GDBN} on the host system.
13245 First make sure you have the necessary symbol files. Load symbols for
13246 your application using the @code{file} command before you connect. Use
13247 @code{set sysroot} to locate target libraries (unless your @value{GDBN}
13248 was compiled with the correct sysroot using @code{--with-sysroot}).
13250 The symbol file and target libraries must exactly match the executable
13251 and libraries on the target, with one exception: the files on the host
13252 system should not be stripped, even if the files on the target system
13253 are. Mismatched or missing files will lead to confusing results
13254 during debugging. On @sc{gnu}/Linux targets, mismatched or missing
13255 files may also prevent @code{gdbserver} from debugging multi-threaded
13258 Connect to your target (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
13259 For TCP connections, you must start up @code{gdbserver} prior to using
13260 the @code{target remote} command. Otherwise you may get an error whose
13261 text depends on the host system, but which usually looks something like
13262 @samp{Connection refused}. Don't use the @code{load}
13263 command in @value{GDBN} when using @code{gdbserver}, since the program is
13264 already on the target.
13266 @subsection Monitor Commands for @code{gdbserver}
13267 @cindex monitor commands, for @code{gdbserver}
13268 @anchor{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}
13270 During a @value{GDBN} session using @code{gdbserver}, you can use the
13271 @code{monitor} command to send special requests to @code{gdbserver}.
13272 Here are the available commands.
13276 List the available monitor commands.
13278 @item monitor set debug 0
13279 @itemx monitor set debug 1
13280 Disable or enable general debugging messages.
13282 @item monitor set remote-debug 0
13283 @itemx monitor set remote-debug 1
13284 Disable or enable specific debugging messages associated with the remote
13285 protocol (@pxref{Remote Protocol}).
13288 Tell gdbserver to exit immediately. This command should be followed by
13289 @code{disconnect} to close the debugging session. @code{gdbserver} will
13290 detach from any attached processes and kill any processes it created.
13291 Use @code{monitor exit} to terminate @code{gdbserver} at the end
13292 of a multi-process mode debug session.
13296 @node Remote Configuration
13297 @section Remote Configuration
13300 @kindex show remote
13301 This section documents the configuration options available when
13302 debugging remote programs. For the options related to the File I/O
13303 extensions of the remote protocol, see @ref{system,
13304 system-call-allowed}.
13307 @item set remoteaddresssize @var{bits}
13308 @cindex address size for remote targets
13309 @cindex bits in remote address
13310 Set the maximum size of address in a memory packet to the specified
13311 number of bits. @value{GDBN} will mask off the address bits above
13312 that number, when it passes addresses to the remote target. The
13313 default value is the number of bits in the target's address.
13315 @item show remoteaddresssize
13316 Show the current value of remote address size in bits.
13318 @item set remotebaud @var{n}
13319 @cindex baud rate for remote targets
13320 Set the baud rate for the remote serial I/O to @var{n} baud. The
13321 value is used to set the speed of the serial port used for debugging
13324 @item show remotebaud
13325 Show the current speed of the remote connection.
13327 @item set remotebreak
13328 @cindex interrupt remote programs
13329 @cindex BREAK signal instead of Ctrl-C
13330 @anchor{set remotebreak}
13331 If set to on, @value{GDBN} sends a @code{BREAK} signal to the remote
13332 when you type @kbd{Ctrl-c} to interrupt the program running
13333 on the remote. If set to off, @value{GDBN} sends the @samp{Ctrl-C}
13334 character instead. The default is off, since most remote systems
13335 expect to see @samp{Ctrl-C} as the interrupt signal.
13337 @item show remotebreak
13338 Show whether @value{GDBN} sends @code{BREAK} or @samp{Ctrl-C} to
13339 interrupt the remote program.
13341 @item set remoteflow on
13342 @itemx set remoteflow off
13343 @kindex set remoteflow
13344 Enable or disable hardware flow control (@code{RTS}/@code{CTS})
13345 on the serial port used to communicate to the remote target.
13347 @item show remoteflow
13348 @kindex show remoteflow
13349 Show the current setting of hardware flow control.
13351 @item set remotelogbase @var{base}
13352 Set the base (a.k.a.@: radix) of logging serial protocol
13353 communications to @var{base}. Supported values of @var{base} are:
13354 @code{ascii}, @code{octal}, and @code{hex}. The default is
13357 @item show remotelogbase
13358 Show the current setting of the radix for logging remote serial
13361 @item set remotelogfile @var{file}
13362 @cindex record serial communications on file
13363 Record remote serial communications on the named @var{file}. The
13364 default is not to record at all.
13366 @item show remotelogfile.
13367 Show the current setting of the file name on which to record the
13368 serial communications.
13370 @item set remotetimeout @var{num}
13371 @cindex timeout for serial communications
13372 @cindex remote timeout
13373 Set the timeout limit to wait for the remote target to respond to
13374 @var{num} seconds. The default is 2 seconds.
13376 @item show remotetimeout
13377 Show the current number of seconds to wait for the remote target
13380 @cindex limit hardware breakpoints and watchpoints
13381 @cindex remote target, limit break- and watchpoints
13382 @anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}
13383 @anchor{set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit}
13384 @item set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit @var{limit}
13385 @itemx set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit @var{limit}
13386 Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} remote hardware breakpoint or
13387 watchpoints. A limit of -1, the default, is treated as unlimited.
13389 @item set remote exec-file @var{filename}
13390 @itemx show remote exec-file
13391 @anchor{set remote exec-file}
13392 @cindex executable file, for remote target
13393 Select the file used for @code{run} with @code{target
13394 extended-remote}. This should be set to a filename valid on the
13395 target system. If it is not set, the target will use a default
13396 filename (e.g.@: the last program run).
13399 @cindex remote packets, enabling and disabling
13400 The @value{GDBN} remote protocol autodetects the packets supported by
13401 your debugging stub. If you need to override the autodetection, you
13402 can use these commands to enable or disable individual packets. Each
13403 packet can be set to @samp{on} (the remote target supports this
13404 packet), @samp{off} (the remote target does not support this packet),
13405 or @samp{auto} (detect remote target support for this packet). They
13406 all default to @samp{auto}. For more information about each packet,
13407 see @ref{Remote Protocol}.
13409 During normal use, you should not have to use any of these commands.
13410 If you do, that may be a bug in your remote debugging stub, or a bug
13411 in @value{GDBN}. You may want to report the problem to the
13412 @value{GDBN} developers.
13414 For each packet @var{name}, the command to enable or disable the
13415 packet is @code{set remote @var{name}-packet}. The available settings
13418 @multitable @columnfractions 0.28 0.32 0.25
13421 @tab Related Features
13423 @item @code{fetch-register}
13425 @tab @code{info registers}
13427 @item @code{set-register}
13431 @item @code{binary-download}
13433 @tab @code{load}, @code{set}
13435 @item @code{read-aux-vector}
13436 @tab @code{qXfer:auxv:read}
13437 @tab @code{info auxv}
13439 @item @code{symbol-lookup}
13440 @tab @code{qSymbol}
13441 @tab Detecting multiple threads
13443 @item @code{attach}
13444 @tab @code{vAttach}
13447 @item @code{verbose-resume}
13449 @tab Stepping or resuming multiple threads
13455 @item @code{software-breakpoint}
13459 @item @code{hardware-breakpoint}
13463 @item @code{write-watchpoint}
13467 @item @code{read-watchpoint}
13471 @item @code{access-watchpoint}
13475 @item @code{target-features}
13476 @tab @code{qXfer:features:read}
13477 @tab @code{set architecture}
13479 @item @code{library-info}
13480 @tab @code{qXfer:libraries:read}
13481 @tab @code{info sharedlibrary}
13483 @item @code{memory-map}
13484 @tab @code{qXfer:memory-map:read}
13485 @tab @code{info mem}
13487 @item @code{read-spu-object}
13488 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:read}
13489 @tab @code{info spu}
13491 @item @code{write-spu-object}
13492 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:write}
13493 @tab @code{info spu}
13495 @item @code{get-thread-local-@*storage-address}
13496 @tab @code{qGetTLSAddr}
13497 @tab Displaying @code{__thread} variables
13499 @item @code{supported-packets}
13500 @tab @code{qSupported}
13501 @tab Remote communications parameters
13503 @item @code{pass-signals}
13504 @tab @code{QPassSignals}
13505 @tab @code{handle @var{signal}}
13507 @item @code{hostio-close-packet}
13508 @tab @code{vFile:close}
13509 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
13511 @item @code{hostio-open-packet}
13512 @tab @code{vFile:open}
13513 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
13515 @item @code{hostio-pread-packet}
13516 @tab @code{vFile:pread}
13517 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
13519 @item @code{hostio-pwrite-packet}
13520 @tab @code{vFile:pwrite}
13521 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
13523 @item @code{hostio-unlink-packet}
13524 @tab @code{vFile:unlink}
13525 @tab @code{remote delete}
13529 @section Implementing a Remote Stub
13531 @cindex debugging stub, example
13532 @cindex remote stub, example
13533 @cindex stub example, remote debugging
13534 The stub files provided with @value{GDBN} implement the target side of the
13535 communication protocol, and the @value{GDBN} side is implemented in the
13536 @value{GDBN} source file @file{remote.c}. Normally, you can simply allow
13537 these subroutines to communicate, and ignore the details. (If you're
13538 implementing your own stub file, you can still ignore the details: start
13539 with one of the existing stub files. @file{sparc-stub.c} is the best
13540 organized, and therefore the easiest to read.)
13542 @cindex remote serial debugging, overview
13543 To debug a program running on another machine (the debugging
13544 @dfn{target} machine), you must first arrange for all the usual
13545 prerequisites for the program to run by itself. For example, for a C
13550 A startup routine to set up the C runtime environment; these usually
13551 have a name like @file{crt0}. The startup routine may be supplied by
13552 your hardware supplier, or you may have to write your own.
13555 A C subroutine library to support your program's
13556 subroutine calls, notably managing input and output.
13559 A way of getting your program to the other machine---for example, a
13560 download program. These are often supplied by the hardware
13561 manufacturer, but you may have to write your own from hardware
13565 The next step is to arrange for your program to use a serial port to
13566 communicate with the machine where @value{GDBN} is running (the @dfn{host}
13567 machine). In general terms, the scheme looks like this:
13571 @value{GDBN} already understands how to use this protocol; when everything
13572 else is set up, you can simply use the @samp{target remote} command
13573 (@pxref{Targets,,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
13575 @item On the target,
13576 you must link with your program a few special-purpose subroutines that
13577 implement the @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol. The file containing these
13578 subroutines is called a @dfn{debugging stub}.
13580 On certain remote targets, you can use an auxiliary program
13581 @code{gdbserver} instead of linking a stub into your program.
13582 @xref{Server,,Using the @code{gdbserver} Program}, for details.
13585 The debugging stub is specific to the architecture of the remote
13586 machine; for example, use @file{sparc-stub.c} to debug programs on
13589 @cindex remote serial stub list
13590 These working remote stubs are distributed with @value{GDBN}:
13595 @cindex @file{i386-stub.c}
13598 For Intel 386 and compatible architectures.
13601 @cindex @file{m68k-stub.c}
13602 @cindex Motorola 680x0
13604 For Motorola 680x0 architectures.
13607 @cindex @file{sh-stub.c}
13610 For Renesas SH architectures.
13613 @cindex @file{sparc-stub.c}
13615 For @sc{sparc} architectures.
13617 @item sparcl-stub.c
13618 @cindex @file{sparcl-stub.c}
13621 For Fujitsu @sc{sparclite} architectures.
13625 The @file{README} file in the @value{GDBN} distribution may list other
13626 recently added stubs.
13629 * Stub Contents:: What the stub can do for you
13630 * Bootstrapping:: What you must do for the stub
13631 * Debug Session:: Putting it all together
13634 @node Stub Contents
13635 @subsection What the Stub Can Do for You
13637 @cindex remote serial stub
13638 The debugging stub for your architecture supplies these three
13642 @item set_debug_traps
13643 @findex set_debug_traps
13644 @cindex remote serial stub, initialization
13645 This routine arranges for @code{handle_exception} to run when your
13646 program stops. You must call this subroutine explicitly near the
13647 beginning of your program.
13649 @item handle_exception
13650 @findex handle_exception
13651 @cindex remote serial stub, main routine
13652 This is the central workhorse, but your program never calls it
13653 explicitly---the setup code arranges for @code{handle_exception} to
13654 run when a trap is triggered.
13656 @code{handle_exception} takes control when your program stops during
13657 execution (for example, on a breakpoint), and mediates communications
13658 with @value{GDBN} on the host machine. This is where the communications
13659 protocol is implemented; @code{handle_exception} acts as the @value{GDBN}
13660 representative on the target machine. It begins by sending summary
13661 information on the state of your program, then continues to execute,
13662 retrieving and transmitting any information @value{GDBN} needs, until you
13663 execute a @value{GDBN} command that makes your program resume; at that point,
13664 @code{handle_exception} returns control to your own code on the target
13668 @cindex @code{breakpoint} subroutine, remote
13669 Use this auxiliary subroutine to make your program contain a
13670 breakpoint. Depending on the particular situation, this may be the only
13671 way for @value{GDBN} to get control. For instance, if your target
13672 machine has some sort of interrupt button, you won't need to call this;
13673 pressing the interrupt button transfers control to
13674 @code{handle_exception}---in effect, to @value{GDBN}. On some machines,
13675 simply receiving characters on the serial port may also trigger a trap;
13676 again, in that situation, you don't need to call @code{breakpoint} from
13677 your own program---simply running @samp{target remote} from the host
13678 @value{GDBN} session gets control.
13680 Call @code{breakpoint} if none of these is true, or if you simply want
13681 to make certain your program stops at a predetermined point for the
13682 start of your debugging session.
13685 @node Bootstrapping
13686 @subsection What You Must Do for the Stub
13688 @cindex remote stub, support routines
13689 The debugging stubs that come with @value{GDBN} are set up for a particular
13690 chip architecture, but they have no information about the rest of your
13691 debugging target machine.
13693 First of all you need to tell the stub how to communicate with the
13697 @item int getDebugChar()
13698 @findex getDebugChar
13699 Write this subroutine to read a single character from the serial port.
13700 It may be identical to @code{getchar} for your target system; a
13701 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
13703 @item void putDebugChar(int)
13704 @findex putDebugChar
13705 Write this subroutine to write a single character to the serial port.
13706 It may be identical to @code{putchar} for your target system; a
13707 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
13710 @cindex control C, and remote debugging
13711 @cindex interrupting remote targets
13712 If you want @value{GDBN} to be able to stop your program while it is
13713 running, you need to use an interrupt-driven serial driver, and arrange
13714 for it to stop when it receives a @code{^C} (@samp{\003}, the control-C
13715 character). That is the character which @value{GDBN} uses to tell the
13716 remote system to stop.
13718 Getting the debugging target to return the proper status to @value{GDBN}
13719 probably requires changes to the standard stub; one quick and dirty way
13720 is to just execute a breakpoint instruction (the ``dirty'' part is that
13721 @value{GDBN} reports a @code{SIGTRAP} instead of a @code{SIGINT}).
13723 Other routines you need to supply are:
13726 @item void exceptionHandler (int @var{exception_number}, void *@var{exception_address})
13727 @findex exceptionHandler
13728 Write this function to install @var{exception_address} in the exception
13729 handling tables. You need to do this because the stub does not have any
13730 way of knowing what the exception handling tables on your target system
13731 are like (for example, the processor's table might be in @sc{rom},
13732 containing entries which point to a table in @sc{ram}).
13733 @var{exception_number} is the exception number which should be changed;
13734 its meaning is architecture-dependent (for example, different numbers
13735 might represent divide by zero, misaligned access, etc). When this
13736 exception occurs, control should be transferred directly to
13737 @var{exception_address}, and the processor state (stack, registers,
13738 and so on) should be just as it is when a processor exception occurs. So if
13739 you want to use a jump instruction to reach @var{exception_address}, it
13740 should be a simple jump, not a jump to subroutine.
13742 For the 386, @var{exception_address} should be installed as an interrupt
13743 gate so that interrupts are masked while the handler runs. The gate
13744 should be at privilege level 0 (the most privileged level). The
13745 @sc{sparc} and 68k stubs are able to mask interrupts themselves without
13746 help from @code{exceptionHandler}.
13748 @item void flush_i_cache()
13749 @findex flush_i_cache
13750 On @sc{sparc} and @sc{sparclite} only, write this subroutine to flush the
13751 instruction cache, if any, on your target machine. If there is no
13752 instruction cache, this subroutine may be a no-op.
13754 On target machines that have instruction caches, @value{GDBN} requires this
13755 function to make certain that the state of your program is stable.
13759 You must also make sure this library routine is available:
13762 @item void *memset(void *, int, int)
13764 This is the standard library function @code{memset} that sets an area of
13765 memory to a known value. If you have one of the free versions of
13766 @code{libc.a}, @code{memset} can be found there; otherwise, you must
13767 either obtain it from your hardware manufacturer, or write your own.
13770 If you do not use the GNU C compiler, you may need other standard
13771 library subroutines as well; this varies from one stub to another,
13772 but in general the stubs are likely to use any of the common library
13773 subroutines which @code{@value{NGCC}} generates as inline code.
13776 @node Debug Session
13777 @subsection Putting it All Together
13779 @cindex remote serial debugging summary
13780 In summary, when your program is ready to debug, you must follow these
13785 Make sure you have defined the supporting low-level routines
13786 (@pxref{Bootstrapping,,What You Must Do for the Stub}):
13788 @code{getDebugChar}, @code{putDebugChar},
13789 @code{flush_i_cache}, @code{memset}, @code{exceptionHandler}.
13793 Insert these lines near the top of your program:
13801 For the 680x0 stub only, you need to provide a variable called
13802 @code{exceptionHook}. Normally you just use:
13805 void (*exceptionHook)() = 0;
13809 but if before calling @code{set_debug_traps}, you set it to point to a
13810 function in your program, that function is called when
13811 @code{@value{GDBN}} continues after stopping on a trap (for example, bus
13812 error). The function indicated by @code{exceptionHook} is called with
13813 one parameter: an @code{int} which is the exception number.
13816 Compile and link together: your program, the @value{GDBN} debugging stub for
13817 your target architecture, and the supporting subroutines.
13820 Make sure you have a serial connection between your target machine and
13821 the @value{GDBN} host, and identify the serial port on the host.
13824 @c The "remote" target now provides a `load' command, so we should
13825 @c document that. FIXME.
13826 Download your program to your target machine (or get it there by
13827 whatever means the manufacturer provides), and start it.
13830 Start @value{GDBN} on the host, and connect to the target
13831 (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
13835 @node Configurations
13836 @chapter Configuration-Specific Information
13838 While nearly all @value{GDBN} commands are available for all native and
13839 cross versions of the debugger, there are some exceptions. This chapter
13840 describes things that are only available in certain configurations.
13842 There are three major categories of configurations: native
13843 configurations, where the host and target are the same, embedded
13844 operating system configurations, which are usually the same for several
13845 different processor architectures, and bare embedded processors, which
13846 are quite different from each other.
13851 * Embedded Processors::
13858 This section describes details specific to particular native
13863 * BSD libkvm Interface:: Debugging BSD kernel memory images
13864 * SVR4 Process Information:: SVR4 process information
13865 * DJGPP Native:: Features specific to the DJGPP port
13866 * Cygwin Native:: Features specific to the Cygwin port
13867 * Hurd Native:: Features specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd
13868 * Neutrino:: Features specific to QNX Neutrino
13874 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
13875 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
13876 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
13879 @node BSD libkvm Interface
13880 @subsection BSD libkvm Interface
13883 @cindex kernel memory image
13884 @cindex kernel crash dump
13886 BSD-derived systems (FreeBSD/NetBSD/OpenBSD) have a kernel memory
13887 interface that provides a uniform interface for accessing kernel virtual
13888 memory images, including live systems and crash dumps. @value{GDBN}
13889 uses this interface to allow you to debug live kernels and kernel crash
13890 dumps on many native BSD configurations. This is implemented as a
13891 special @code{kvm} debugging target. For debugging a live system, load
13892 the currently running kernel into @value{GDBN} and connect to the
13896 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm}
13899 For debugging crash dumps, provide the file name of the crash dump as an
13903 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm /var/crash/bsd.0}
13906 Once connected to the @code{kvm} target, the following commands are
13912 Set current context from the @dfn{Process Control Block} (PCB) address.
13915 Set current context from proc address. This command isn't available on
13916 modern FreeBSD systems.
13919 @node SVR4 Process Information
13920 @subsection SVR4 Process Information
13922 @cindex examine process image
13923 @cindex process info via @file{/proc}
13925 Many versions of SVR4 and compatible systems provide a facility called
13926 @samp{/proc} that can be used to examine the image of a running
13927 process using file-system subroutines. If @value{GDBN} is configured
13928 for an operating system with this facility, the command @code{info
13929 proc} is available to report information about the process running
13930 your program, or about any process running on your system. @code{info
13931 proc} works only on SVR4 systems that include the @code{procfs} code.
13932 This includes, as of this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, OSF/1 (Digital
13933 Unix), Solaris, Irix, and Unixware, but not HP-UX, for example.
13939 @itemx info proc @var{process-id}
13940 Summarize available information about any running process. If a
13941 process ID is specified by @var{process-id}, display information about
13942 that process; otherwise display information about the program being
13943 debugged. The summary includes the debugged process ID, the command
13944 line used to invoke it, its current working directory, and its
13945 executable file's absolute file name.
13947 On some systems, @var{process-id} can be of the form
13948 @samp{[@var{pid}]/@var{tid}} which specifies a certain thread ID
13949 within a process. If the optional @var{pid} part is missing, it means
13950 a thread from the process being debugged (the leading @samp{/} still
13951 needs to be present, or else @value{GDBN} will interpret the number as
13952 a process ID rather than a thread ID).
13954 @item info proc mappings
13955 @cindex memory address space mappings
13956 Report the memory address space ranges accessible in the program, with
13957 information on whether the process has read, write, or execute access
13958 rights to each range. On @sc{gnu}/Linux systems, each memory range
13959 includes the object file which is mapped to that range, instead of the
13960 memory access rights to that range.
13962 @item info proc stat
13963 @itemx info proc status
13964 @cindex process detailed status information
13965 These subcommands are specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux systems. They show
13966 the process-related information, including the user ID and group ID;
13967 how many threads are there in the process; its virtual memory usage;
13968 the signals that are pending, blocked, and ignored; its TTY; its
13969 consumption of system and user time; its stack size; its @samp{nice}
13970 value; etc. For more information, see the @samp{proc} man page
13971 (type @kbd{man 5 proc} from your shell prompt).
13973 @item info proc all
13974 Show all the information about the process described under all of the
13975 above @code{info proc} subcommands.
13978 @comment These sub-options of 'info proc' were not included when
13979 @comment procfs.c was re-written. Keep their descriptions around
13980 @comment against the day when someone finds the time to put them back in.
13981 @kindex info proc times
13982 @item info proc times
13983 Starting time, user CPU time, and system CPU time for your program and
13986 @kindex info proc id
13988 Report on the process IDs related to your program: its own process ID,
13989 the ID of its parent, the process group ID, and the session ID.
13992 @item set procfs-trace
13993 @kindex set procfs-trace
13994 @cindex @code{procfs} API calls
13995 This command enables and disables tracing of @code{procfs} API calls.
13997 @item show procfs-trace
13998 @kindex show procfs-trace
13999 Show the current state of @code{procfs} API call tracing.
14001 @item set procfs-file @var{file}
14002 @kindex set procfs-file
14003 Tell @value{GDBN} to write @code{procfs} API trace to the named
14004 @var{file}. @value{GDBN} appends the trace info to the previous
14005 contents of the file. The default is to display the trace on the
14008 @item show procfs-file
14009 @kindex show procfs-file
14010 Show the file to which @code{procfs} API trace is written.
14012 @item proc-trace-entry
14013 @itemx proc-trace-exit
14014 @itemx proc-untrace-entry
14015 @itemx proc-untrace-exit
14016 @kindex proc-trace-entry
14017 @kindex proc-trace-exit
14018 @kindex proc-untrace-entry
14019 @kindex proc-untrace-exit
14020 These commands enable and disable tracing of entries into and exits
14021 from the @code{syscall} interface.
14024 @kindex info pidlist
14025 @cindex process list, QNX Neutrino
14026 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all the
14027 processes and all the threads within each process.
14030 @kindex info meminfo
14031 @cindex mapinfo list, QNX Neutrino
14032 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all mapinfos.
14036 @subsection Features for Debugging @sc{djgpp} Programs
14037 @cindex @sc{djgpp} debugging
14038 @cindex native @sc{djgpp} debugging
14039 @cindex MS-DOS-specific commands
14042 @sc{djgpp} is a port of the @sc{gnu} development tools to MS-DOS and
14043 MS-Windows. @sc{djgpp} programs are 32-bit protected-mode programs
14044 that use the @dfn{DPMI} (DOS Protected-Mode Interface) API to run on
14045 top of real-mode DOS systems and their emulations.
14047 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of @sc{djgpp} programs, and
14048 defines a few commands specific to the @sc{djgpp} port. This
14049 subsection describes those commands.
14054 This is a prefix of @sc{djgpp}-specific commands which print
14055 information about the target system and important OS structures.
14058 @cindex MS-DOS system info
14059 @cindex free memory information (MS-DOS)
14060 @item info dos sysinfo
14061 This command displays assorted information about the underlying
14062 platform: the CPU type and features, the OS version and flavor, the
14063 DPMI version, and the available conventional and DPMI memory.
14068 @cindex segment descriptor tables
14069 @cindex descriptor tables display
14071 @itemx info dos ldt
14072 @itemx info dos idt
14073 These 3 commands display entries from, respectively, Global, Local,
14074 and Interrupt Descriptor Tables (GDT, LDT, and IDT). The descriptor
14075 tables are data structures which store a descriptor for each segment
14076 that is currently in use. The segment's selector is an index into a
14077 descriptor table; the table entry for that index holds the
14078 descriptor's base address and limit, and its attributes and access
14081 A typical @sc{djgpp} program uses 3 segments: a code segment, a data
14082 segment (used for both data and the stack), and a DOS segment (which
14083 allows access to DOS/BIOS data structures and absolute addresses in
14084 conventional memory). However, the DPMI host will usually define
14085 additional segments in order to support the DPMI environment.
14087 @cindex garbled pointers
14088 These commands allow to display entries from the descriptor tables.
14089 Without an argument, all entries from the specified table are
14090 displayed. An argument, which should be an integer expression, means
14091 display a single entry whose index is given by the argument. For
14092 example, here's a convenient way to display information about the
14093 debugged program's data segment:
14096 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos ldt $ds}
14097 @exdent @code{0x13f: base=0x11970000 limit=0x0009ffff 32-Bit Data (Read/Write, Exp-up)}
14101 This comes in handy when you want to see whether a pointer is outside
14102 the data segment's limit (i.e.@: @dfn{garbled}).
14104 @cindex page tables display (MS-DOS)
14106 @itemx info dos pte
14107 These two commands display entries from, respectively, the Page
14108 Directory and the Page Tables. Page Directories and Page Tables are
14109 data structures which control how virtual memory addresses are mapped
14110 into physical addresses. A Page Table includes an entry for every
14111 page of memory that is mapped into the program's address space; there
14112 may be several Page Tables, each one holding up to 4096 entries. A
14113 Page Directory has up to 4096 entries, one each for every Page Table
14114 that is currently in use.
14116 Without an argument, @kbd{info dos pde} displays the entire Page
14117 Directory, and @kbd{info dos pte} displays all the entries in all of
14118 the Page Tables. An argument, an integer expression, given to the
14119 @kbd{info dos pde} command means display only that entry from the Page
14120 Directory table. An argument given to the @kbd{info dos pte} command
14121 means display entries from a single Page Table, the one pointed to by
14122 the specified entry in the Page Directory.
14124 @cindex direct memory access (DMA) on MS-DOS
14125 These commands are useful when your program uses @dfn{DMA} (Direct
14126 Memory Access), which needs physical addresses to program the DMA
14129 These commands are supported only with some DPMI servers.
14131 @cindex physical address from linear address
14132 @item info dos address-pte @var{addr}
14133 This command displays the Page Table entry for a specified linear
14134 address. The argument @var{addr} is a linear address which should
14135 already have the appropriate segment's base address added to it,
14136 because this command accepts addresses which may belong to @emph{any}
14137 segment. For example, here's how to display the Page Table entry for
14138 the page where a variable @code{i} is stored:
14141 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte __djgpp_base_address + (char *)&i}
14142 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x11a00d30:}
14143 @exdent @code{Base=0x02698000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0xd30}
14147 This says that @code{i} is stored at offset @code{0xd30} from the page
14148 whose physical base address is @code{0x02698000}, and shows all the
14149 attributes of that page.
14151 Note that you must cast the addresses of variables to a @code{char *},
14152 since otherwise the value of @code{__djgpp_base_address}, the base
14153 address of all variables and functions in a @sc{djgpp} program, will
14154 be added using the rules of C pointer arithmetics: if @code{i} is
14155 declared an @code{int}, @value{GDBN} will add 4 times the value of
14156 @code{__djgpp_base_address} to the address of @code{i}.
14158 Here's another example, it displays the Page Table entry for the
14162 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte *((unsigned *)&_go32_info_block + 3)}
14163 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x29110:}
14164 @exdent @code{Base=0x00029000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0x110}
14168 (The @code{+ 3} offset is because the transfer buffer's address is the
14169 3rd member of the @code{_go32_info_block} structure.) The output
14170 clearly shows that this DPMI server maps the addresses in conventional
14171 memory 1:1, i.e.@: the physical (@code{0x00029000} + @code{0x110}) and
14172 linear (@code{0x29110}) addresses are identical.
14174 This command is supported only with some DPMI servers.
14177 @cindex DOS serial data link, remote debugging
14178 In addition to native debugging, the DJGPP port supports remote
14179 debugging via a serial data link. The following commands are specific
14180 to remote serial debugging in the DJGPP port of @value{GDBN}.
14183 @kindex set com1base
14184 @kindex set com1irq
14185 @kindex set com2base
14186 @kindex set com2irq
14187 @kindex set com3base
14188 @kindex set com3irq
14189 @kindex set com4base
14190 @kindex set com4irq
14191 @item set com1base @var{addr}
14192 This command sets the base I/O port address of the @file{COM1} serial
14195 @item set com1irq @var{irq}
14196 This command sets the @dfn{Interrupt Request} (@code{IRQ}) line to use
14197 for the @file{COM1} serial port.
14199 There are similar commands @samp{set com2base}, @samp{set com3irq},
14200 etc.@: for setting the port address and the @code{IRQ} lines for the
14203 @kindex show com1base
14204 @kindex show com1irq
14205 @kindex show com2base
14206 @kindex show com2irq
14207 @kindex show com3base
14208 @kindex show com3irq
14209 @kindex show com4base
14210 @kindex show com4irq
14211 The related commands @samp{show com1base}, @samp{show com1irq} etc.@:
14212 display the current settings of the base address and the @code{IRQ}
14213 lines used by the COM ports.
14216 @kindex info serial
14217 @cindex DOS serial port status
14218 This command prints the status of the 4 DOS serial ports. For each
14219 port, it prints whether it's active or not, its I/O base address and
14220 IRQ number, whether it uses a 16550-style FIFO, its baudrate, and the
14221 counts of various errors encountered so far.
14225 @node Cygwin Native
14226 @subsection Features for Debugging MS Windows PE Executables
14227 @cindex MS Windows debugging
14228 @cindex native Cygwin debugging
14229 @cindex Cygwin-specific commands
14231 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of MS Windows programs, including
14232 DLLs with and without symbolic debugging information. There are various
14233 additional Cygwin-specific commands, described in this section.
14234 Working with DLLs that have no debugging symbols is described in
14235 @ref{Non-debug DLL Symbols}.
14240 This is a prefix of MS Windows-specific commands which print
14241 information about the target system and important OS structures.
14243 @item info w32 selector
14244 This command displays information returned by
14245 the Win32 API @code{GetThreadSelectorEntry} function.
14246 It takes an optional argument that is evaluated to
14247 a long value to give the information about this given selector.
14248 Without argument, this command displays information
14249 about the six segment registers.
14253 This is a Cygwin-specific alias of @code{info shared}.
14255 @kindex dll-symbols
14257 This command loads symbols from a dll similarly to
14258 add-sym command but without the need to specify a base address.
14260 @kindex set cygwin-exceptions
14261 @cindex debugging the Cygwin DLL
14262 @cindex Cygwin DLL, debugging
14263 @item set cygwin-exceptions @var{mode}
14264 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that
14265 happen inside the Cygwin DLL. If @var{mode} is @code{off},
14266 @value{GDBN} will delay recognition of exceptions, and may ignore some
14267 exceptions which seem to be caused by internal Cygwin DLL
14268 ``bookkeeping''. This option is meant primarily for debugging the
14269 Cygwin DLL itself; the default value is @code{off} to avoid annoying
14270 @value{GDBN} users with false @code{SIGSEGV} signals.
14272 @kindex show cygwin-exceptions
14273 @item show cygwin-exceptions
14274 Displays whether @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that happen
14275 inside the Cygwin DLL itself.
14277 @kindex set new-console
14278 @item set new-console @var{mode}
14279 If @var{mode} is @code{on} the debuggee will
14280 be started in a new console on next start.
14281 If @var{mode} is @code{off}i, the debuggee will
14282 be started in the same console as the debugger.
14284 @kindex show new-console
14285 @item show new-console
14286 Displays whether a new console is used
14287 when the debuggee is started.
14289 @kindex set new-group
14290 @item set new-group @var{mode}
14291 This boolean value controls whether the debuggee should
14292 start a new group or stay in the same group as the debugger.
14293 This affects the way the Windows OS handles
14296 @kindex show new-group
14297 @item show new-group
14298 Displays current value of new-group boolean.
14300 @kindex set debugevents
14301 @item set debugevents
14302 This boolean value adds debug output concerning kernel events related
14303 to the debuggee seen by the debugger. This includes events that
14304 signal thread and process creation and exit, DLL loading and
14305 unloading, console interrupts, and debugging messages produced by the
14306 Windows @code{OutputDebugString} API call.
14308 @kindex set debugexec
14309 @item set debugexec
14310 This boolean value adds debug output concerning execute events
14311 (such as resume thread) seen by the debugger.
14313 @kindex set debugexceptions
14314 @item set debugexceptions
14315 This boolean value adds debug output concerning exceptions in the
14316 debuggee seen by the debugger.
14318 @kindex set debugmemory
14319 @item set debugmemory
14320 This boolean value adds debug output concerning debuggee memory reads
14321 and writes by the debugger.
14325 This boolean values specifies whether the debuggee is called
14326 via a shell or directly (default value is on).
14330 Displays if the debuggee will be started with a shell.
14335 * Non-debug DLL Symbols:: Support for DLLs without debugging symbols
14338 @node Non-debug DLL Symbols
14339 @subsubsection Support for DLLs without Debugging Symbols
14340 @cindex DLLs with no debugging symbols
14341 @cindex Minimal symbols and DLLs
14343 Very often on windows, some of the DLLs that your program relies on do
14344 not include symbolic debugging information (for example,
14345 @file{kernel32.dll}). When @value{GDBN} doesn't recognize any debugging
14346 symbols in a DLL, it relies on the minimal amount of symbolic
14347 information contained in the DLL's export table. This section
14348 describes working with such symbols, known internally to @value{GDBN} as
14349 ``minimal symbols''.
14351 Note that before the debugged program has started execution, no DLLs
14352 will have been loaded. The easiest way around this problem is simply to
14353 start the program --- either by setting a breakpoint or letting the
14354 program run once to completion. It is also possible to force
14355 @value{GDBN} to load a particular DLL before starting the executable ---
14356 see the shared library information in @ref{Files}, or the
14357 @code{dll-symbols} command in @ref{Cygwin Native}. Currently,
14358 explicitly loading symbols from a DLL with no debugging information will
14359 cause the symbol names to be duplicated in @value{GDBN}'s lookup table,
14360 which may adversely affect symbol lookup performance.
14362 @subsubsection DLL Name Prefixes
14364 In keeping with the naming conventions used by the Microsoft debugging
14365 tools, DLL export symbols are made available with a prefix based on the
14366 DLL name, for instance @code{KERNEL32!CreateFileA}. The plain name is
14367 also entered into the symbol table, so @code{CreateFileA} is often
14368 sufficient. In some cases there will be name clashes within a program
14369 (particularly if the executable itself includes full debugging symbols)
14370 necessitating the use of the fully qualified name when referring to the
14371 contents of the DLL. Use single-quotes around the name to avoid the
14372 exclamation mark (``!'') being interpreted as a language operator.
14374 Note that the internal name of the DLL may be all upper-case, even
14375 though the file name of the DLL is lower-case, or vice-versa. Since
14376 symbols within @value{GDBN} are @emph{case-sensitive} this may cause
14377 some confusion. If in doubt, try the @code{info functions} and
14378 @code{info variables} commands or even @code{maint print msymbols}
14379 (@pxref{Symbols}). Here's an example:
14382 (@value{GDBP}) info function CreateFileA
14383 All functions matching regular expression "CreateFileA":
14385 Non-debugging symbols:
14386 0x77e885f4 CreateFileA
14387 0x77e885f4 KERNEL32!CreateFileA
14391 (@value{GDBP}) info function !
14392 All functions matching regular expression "!":
14394 Non-debugging symbols:
14395 0x6100114c cygwin1!__assert
14396 0x61004034 cygwin1!_dll_crt0@@0
14397 0x61004240 cygwin1!dll_crt0(per_process *)
14401 @subsubsection Working with Minimal Symbols
14403 Symbols extracted from a DLL's export table do not contain very much
14404 type information. All that @value{GDBN} can do is guess whether a symbol
14405 refers to a function or variable depending on the linker section that
14406 contains the symbol. Also note that the actual contents of the memory
14407 contained in a DLL are not available unless the program is running. This
14408 means that you cannot examine the contents of a variable or disassemble
14409 a function within a DLL without a running program.
14411 Variables are generally treated as pointers and dereferenced
14412 automatically. For this reason, it is often necessary to prefix a
14413 variable name with the address-of operator (``&'') and provide explicit
14414 type information in the command. Here's an example of the type of
14418 (@value{GDBP}) print 'cygwin1!__argv'
14423 (@value{GDBP}) x 'cygwin1!__argv'
14424 0x10021610: "\230y\""
14427 And two possible solutions:
14430 (@value{GDBP}) print ((char **)'cygwin1!__argv')[0]
14431 $2 = 0x22fd98 "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
14435 (@value{GDBP}) x/2x &'cygwin1!__argv'
14436 0x610c0aa8 <cygwin1!__argv>: 0x10021608 0x00000000
14437 (@value{GDBP}) x/x 0x10021608
14438 0x10021608: 0x0022fd98
14439 (@value{GDBP}) x/s 0x0022fd98
14440 0x22fd98: "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
14443 Setting a break point within a DLL is possible even before the program
14444 starts execution. However, under these circumstances, @value{GDBN} can't
14445 examine the initial instructions of the function in order to skip the
14446 function's frame set-up code. You can work around this by using ``*&''
14447 to set the breakpoint at a raw memory address:
14450 (@value{GDBP}) break *&'python22!PyOS_Readline'
14451 Breakpoint 1 at 0x1e04eff0
14454 The author of these extensions is not entirely convinced that setting a
14455 break point within a shared DLL like @file{kernel32.dll} is completely
14459 @subsection Commands Specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd Systems
14460 @cindex @sc{gnu} Hurd debugging
14462 This subsection describes @value{GDBN} commands specific to the
14463 @sc{gnu} Hurd native debugging.
14468 @kindex set signals@r{, Hurd command}
14469 @kindex set sigs@r{, Hurd command}
14470 This command toggles the state of inferior signal interception by
14471 @value{GDBN}. Mach exceptions, such as breakpoint traps, are not
14472 affected by this command. @code{sigs} is a shorthand alias for
14477 @kindex show signals@r{, Hurd command}
14478 @kindex show sigs@r{, Hurd command}
14479 Show the current state of intercepting inferior's signals.
14481 @item set signal-thread
14482 @itemx set sigthread
14483 @kindex set signal-thread
14484 @kindex set sigthread
14485 This command tells @value{GDBN} which thread is the @code{libc} signal
14486 thread. That thread is run when a signal is delivered to a running
14487 process. @code{set sigthread} is the shorthand alias of @code{set
14490 @item show signal-thread
14491 @itemx show sigthread
14492 @kindex show signal-thread
14493 @kindex show sigthread
14494 These two commands show which thread will run when the inferior is
14495 delivered a signal.
14498 @kindex set stopped@r{, Hurd command}
14499 This commands tells @value{GDBN} that the inferior process is stopped,
14500 as with the @code{SIGSTOP} signal. The stopped process can be
14501 continued by delivering a signal to it.
14504 @kindex show stopped@r{, Hurd command}
14505 This command shows whether @value{GDBN} thinks the debuggee is
14508 @item set exceptions
14509 @kindex set exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
14510 Use this command to turn off trapping of exceptions in the inferior.
14511 When exception trapping is off, neither breakpoints nor
14512 single-stepping will work. To restore the default, set exception
14515 @item show exceptions
14516 @kindex show exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
14517 Show the current state of trapping exceptions in the inferior.
14519 @item set task pause
14520 @kindex set task@r{, Hurd commands}
14521 @cindex task attributes (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
14522 @cindex pause current task (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
14523 This command toggles task suspension when @value{GDBN} has control.
14524 Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the task is suspended
14525 whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to off will take
14526 effect the next time the inferior is continued. If this option is set
14527 to off, you can use @code{set thread default pause on} or @code{set
14528 thread pause on} (see below) to pause individual threads.
14530 @item show task pause
14531 @kindex show task@r{, Hurd commands}
14532 Show the current state of task suspension.
14534 @item set task detach-suspend-count
14535 @cindex task suspend count
14536 @cindex detach from task, @sc{gnu} Hurd
14537 This command sets the suspend count the task will be left with when
14538 @value{GDBN} detaches from it.
14540 @item show task detach-suspend-count
14541 Show the suspend count the task will be left with when detaching.
14543 @item set task exception-port
14544 @itemx set task excp
14545 @cindex task exception port, @sc{gnu} Hurd
14546 This command sets the task exception port to which @value{GDBN} will
14547 forward exceptions. The argument should be the value of the @dfn{send
14548 rights} of the task. @code{set task excp} is a shorthand alias.
14550 @item set noninvasive
14551 @cindex noninvasive task options
14552 This command switches @value{GDBN} to a mode that is the least
14553 invasive as far as interfering with the inferior is concerned. This
14554 is the same as using @code{set task pause}, @code{set exceptions}, and
14555 @code{set signals} to values opposite to the defaults.
14557 @item info send-rights
14558 @itemx info receive-rights
14559 @itemx info port-rights
14560 @itemx info port-sets
14561 @itemx info dead-names
14564 @cindex send rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
14565 @cindex receive rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
14566 @cindex port rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
14567 @cindex port sets, @sc{gnu} Hurd
14568 @cindex dead names, @sc{gnu} Hurd
14569 These commands display information about, respectively, send rights,
14570 receive rights, port rights, port sets, and dead names of a task.
14571 There are also shorthand aliases: @code{info ports} for @code{info
14572 port-rights} and @code{info psets} for @code{info port-sets}.
14574 @item set thread pause
14575 @kindex set thread@r{, Hurd command}
14576 @cindex thread properties, @sc{gnu} Hurd
14577 @cindex pause current thread (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
14578 This command toggles current thread suspension when @value{GDBN} has
14579 control. Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the current
14580 thread is suspended whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to
14581 off will take effect the next time the inferior is continued.
14582 Normally, this command has no effect, since when @value{GDBN} has
14583 control, the whole task is suspended. However, if you used @code{set
14584 task pause off} (see above), this command comes in handy to suspend
14585 only the current thread.
14587 @item show thread pause
14588 @kindex show thread@r{, Hurd command}
14589 This command shows the state of current thread suspension.
14591 @item set thread run
14592 This command sets whether the current thread is allowed to run.
14594 @item show thread run
14595 Show whether the current thread is allowed to run.
14597 @item set thread detach-suspend-count
14598 @cindex thread suspend count, @sc{gnu} Hurd
14599 @cindex detach from thread, @sc{gnu} Hurd
14600 This command sets the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on a
14601 thread when detaching. This number is relative to the suspend count
14602 found by @value{GDBN} when it notices the thread; use @code{set thread
14603 takeover-suspend-count} to force it to an absolute value.
14605 @item show thread detach-suspend-count
14606 Show the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on the thread when
14609 @item set thread exception-port
14610 @itemx set thread excp
14611 Set the thread exception port to which to forward exceptions. This
14612 overrides the port set by @code{set task exception-port} (see above).
14613 @code{set thread excp} is the shorthand alias.
14615 @item set thread takeover-suspend-count
14616 Normally, @value{GDBN}'s thread suspend counts are relative to the
14617 value @value{GDBN} finds when it notices each thread. This command
14618 changes the suspend counts to be absolute instead.
14620 @item set thread default
14621 @itemx show thread default
14622 @cindex thread default settings, @sc{gnu} Hurd
14623 Each of the above @code{set thread} commands has a @code{set thread
14624 default} counterpart (e.g., @code{set thread default pause}, @code{set
14625 thread default exception-port}, etc.). The @code{thread default}
14626 variety of commands sets the default thread properties for all
14627 threads; you can then change the properties of individual threads with
14628 the non-default commands.
14633 @subsection QNX Neutrino
14634 @cindex QNX Neutrino
14636 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the QNX
14640 @item set debug nto-debug
14641 @kindex set debug nto-debug
14642 When set to on, enables debugging messages specific to the QNX
14645 @item show debug nto-debug
14646 @kindex show debug nto-debug
14647 Show the current state of QNX Neutrino messages.
14652 @section Embedded Operating Systems
14654 This section describes configurations involving the debugging of
14655 embedded operating systems that are available for several different
14659 * VxWorks:: Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
14662 @value{GDBN} includes the ability to debug programs running on
14663 various real-time operating systems.
14666 @subsection Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
14672 @kindex target vxworks
14673 @item target vxworks @var{machinename}
14674 A VxWorks system, attached via TCP/IP. The argument @var{machinename}
14675 is the target system's machine name or IP address.
14679 On VxWorks, @code{load} links @var{filename} dynamically on the
14680 current target system as well as adding its symbols in @value{GDBN}.
14682 @value{GDBN} enables developers to spawn and debug tasks running on networked
14683 VxWorks targets from a Unix host. Already-running tasks spawned from
14684 the VxWorks shell can also be debugged. @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
14685 both the Unix host and on the VxWorks target. The program
14686 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host. (It may be
14687 installed with the name @code{vxgdb}, to distinguish it from a
14688 @value{GDBN} for debugging programs on the host itself.)
14691 @item VxWorks-timeout @var{args}
14692 @kindex vxworks-timeout
14693 All VxWorks-based targets now support the option @code{vxworks-timeout}.
14694 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
14695 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses to rpc's. You might use this if
14696 your VxWorks target is a slow software simulator or is on the far side
14697 of a thin network line.
14700 The following information on connecting to VxWorks was current when
14701 this manual was produced; newer releases of VxWorks may use revised
14704 @findex INCLUDE_RDB
14705 To use @value{GDBN} with VxWorks, you must rebuild your VxWorks kernel
14706 to include the remote debugging interface routines in the VxWorks
14707 library @file{rdb.a}. To do this, define @code{INCLUDE_RDB} in the
14708 VxWorks configuration file @file{configAll.h} and rebuild your VxWorks
14709 kernel. The resulting kernel contains @file{rdb.a}, and spawns the
14710 source debugging task @code{tRdbTask} when VxWorks is booted. For more
14711 information on configuring and remaking VxWorks, see the manufacturer's
14713 @c VxWorks, see the @cite{VxWorks Programmer's Guide}.
14715 Once you have included @file{rdb.a} in your VxWorks system image and set
14716 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
14717 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}} (or
14718 @code{vxgdb}, depending on your installation).
14720 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
14727 * VxWorks Connection:: Connecting to VxWorks
14728 * VxWorks Download:: VxWorks download
14729 * VxWorks Attach:: Running tasks
14732 @node VxWorks Connection
14733 @subsubsection Connecting to VxWorks
14735 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a VxWorks target on the
14736 network. To connect to a target whose host name is ``@code{tt}'', type:
14739 (vxgdb) target vxworks tt
14743 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
14746 Attaching remote machine across net...
14751 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol tables of any object modules
14752 loaded into the VxWorks target since it was last booted. @value{GDBN} locates
14753 these files by searching the directories listed in the command search
14754 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}); if it fails
14755 to find an object file, it displays a message such as:
14758 prog.o: No such file or directory.
14761 When this happens, add the appropriate directory to the search path with
14762 the @value{GDBN} command @code{path}, and execute the @code{target}
14765 @node VxWorks Download
14766 @subsubsection VxWorks Download
14768 @cindex download to VxWorks
14769 If you have connected to the VxWorks target and you want to debug an
14770 object that has not yet been loaded, you can use the @value{GDBN}
14771 @code{load} command to download a file from Unix to VxWorks
14772 incrementally. The object file given as an argument to the @code{load}
14773 command is actually opened twice: first by the VxWorks target in order
14774 to download the code, then by @value{GDBN} in order to read the symbol
14775 table. This can lead to problems if the current working directories on
14776 the two systems differ. If both systems have NFS mounted the same
14777 filesystems, you can avoid these problems by using absolute paths.
14778 Otherwise, it is simplest to set the working directory on both systems
14779 to the directory in which the object file resides, and then to reference
14780 the file by its name, without any path. For instance, a program
14781 @file{prog.o} may reside in @file{@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb} in VxWorks
14782 and in @file{@var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb} on the host. To load this
14783 program, type this on VxWorks:
14786 -> cd "@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb"
14790 Then, in @value{GDBN}, type:
14793 (vxgdb) cd @var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb
14794 (vxgdb) load prog.o
14797 @value{GDBN} displays a response similar to this:
14800 Reading symbol data from wherever/vw/demo/rdb/prog.o... done.
14803 You can also use the @code{load} command to reload an object module
14804 after editing and recompiling the corresponding source file. Note that
14805 this makes @value{GDBN} delete all currently-defined breakpoints,
14806 auto-displays, and convenience variables, and to clear the value
14807 history. (This is necessary in order to preserve the integrity of
14808 debugger's data structures that reference the target system's symbol
14811 @node VxWorks Attach
14812 @subsubsection Running Tasks
14814 @cindex running VxWorks tasks
14815 You can also attach to an existing task using the @code{attach} command as
14819 (vxgdb) attach @var{task}
14823 where @var{task} is the VxWorks hexadecimal task ID. The task can be running
14824 or suspended when you attach to it. Running tasks are suspended at
14825 the time of attachment.
14827 @node Embedded Processors
14828 @section Embedded Processors
14830 This section goes into details specific to particular embedded
14833 @cindex send command to simulator
14834 Whenever a specific embedded processor has a simulator, @value{GDBN}
14835 allows to send an arbitrary command to the simulator.
14838 @item sim @var{command}
14839 @kindex sim@r{, a command}
14840 Send an arbitrary @var{command} string to the simulator. Consult the
14841 documentation for the specific simulator in use for information about
14842 acceptable commands.
14848 * M32R/D:: Renesas M32R/D
14849 * M68K:: Motorola M68K
14850 * MIPS Embedded:: MIPS Embedded
14851 * OpenRISC 1000:: OpenRisc 1000
14852 * PA:: HP PA Embedded
14853 * PowerPC Embedded:: PowerPC Embedded
14854 * Sparclet:: Tsqware Sparclet
14855 * Sparclite:: Fujitsu Sparclite
14856 * Z8000:: Zilog Z8000
14859 * Super-H:: Renesas Super-H
14868 @item target rdi @var{dev}
14869 ARM Angel monitor, via RDI library interface to ADP protocol. You may
14870 use this target to communicate with both boards running the Angel
14871 monitor, or with the EmbeddedICE JTAG debug device.
14874 @item target rdp @var{dev}
14879 @value{GDBN} provides the following ARM-specific commands:
14882 @item set arm disassembler
14884 This commands selects from a list of disassembly styles. The
14885 @code{"std"} style is the standard style.
14887 @item show arm disassembler
14889 Show the current disassembly style.
14891 @item set arm apcs32
14892 @cindex ARM 32-bit mode
14893 This command toggles ARM operation mode between 32-bit and 26-bit.
14895 @item show arm apcs32
14896 Display the current usage of the ARM 32-bit mode.
14898 @item set arm fpu @var{fputype}
14899 This command sets the ARM floating-point unit (FPU) type. The
14900 argument @var{fputype} can be one of these:
14904 Determine the FPU type by querying the OS ABI.
14906 Software FPU, with mixed-endian doubles on little-endian ARM
14909 GCC-compiled FPA co-processor.
14911 Software FPU with pure-endian doubles.
14917 Show the current type of the FPU.
14920 This command forces @value{GDBN} to use the specified ABI.
14923 Show the currently used ABI.
14925 @item set arm fallback-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
14926 @value{GDBN} uses the symbol table, when available, to determine
14927 whether instructions are ARM or Thumb. This command controls
14928 @value{GDBN}'s default behavior when the symbol table is not
14929 available. The default is @samp{auto}, which causes @value{GDBN} to
14930 use the current execution mode (from the @code{T} bit in the @code{CPSR}
14933 @item show arm fallback-mode
14934 Show the current fallback instruction mode.
14936 @item set arm force-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
14937 This command overrides use of the symbol table to determine whether
14938 instructions are ARM or Thumb. The default is @samp{auto}, which
14939 causes @value{GDBN} to use the symbol table and then the setting
14940 of @samp{set arm fallback-mode}.
14942 @item show arm force-mode
14943 Show the current forced instruction mode.
14945 @item set debug arm
14946 Toggle whether to display ARM-specific debugging messages from the ARM
14947 target support subsystem.
14949 @item show debug arm
14950 Show whether ARM-specific debugging messages are enabled.
14953 The following commands are available when an ARM target is debugged
14954 using the RDI interface:
14957 @item rdilogfile @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
14959 @cindex ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) logging
14960 Set the filename for the ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) packet log.
14961 With an argument, sets the log file to the specified @var{file}. With
14962 no argument, show the current log file name. The default log file is
14965 @item rdilogenable @r{[}@var{arg}@r{]}
14966 @kindex rdilogenable
14967 Control logging of ADP packets. With an argument of 1 or @code{"yes"}
14968 enables logging, with an argument 0 or @code{"no"} disables it. With
14969 no arguments displays the current setting. When logging is enabled,
14970 ADP packets exchanged between @value{GDBN} and the RDI target device
14971 are logged to a file.
14973 @item set rdiromatzero
14974 @kindex set rdiromatzero
14975 @cindex ROM at zero address, RDI
14976 Tell @value{GDBN} whether the target has ROM at address 0. If on,
14977 vector catching is disabled, so that zero address can be used. If off
14978 (the default), vector catching is enabled. For this command to take
14979 effect, it needs to be invoked prior to the @code{target rdi} command.
14981 @item show rdiromatzero
14982 @kindex show rdiromatzero
14983 Show the current setting of ROM at zero address.
14985 @item set rdiheartbeat
14986 @kindex set rdiheartbeat
14987 @cindex RDI heartbeat
14988 Enable or disable RDI heartbeat packets. It is not recommended to
14989 turn on this option, since it confuses ARM and EPI JTAG interface, as
14990 well as the Angel monitor.
14992 @item show rdiheartbeat
14993 @kindex show rdiheartbeat
14994 Show the setting of RDI heartbeat packets.
14999 @subsection Renesas M32R/D and M32R/SDI
15002 @kindex target m32r
15003 @item target m32r @var{dev}
15004 Renesas M32R/D ROM monitor.
15006 @kindex target m32rsdi
15007 @item target m32rsdi @var{dev}
15008 Renesas M32R SDI server, connected via parallel port to the board.
15011 The following @value{GDBN} commands are specific to the M32R monitor:
15014 @item set download-path @var{path}
15015 @kindex set download-path
15016 @cindex find downloadable @sc{srec} files (M32R)
15017 Set the default path for finding downloadable @sc{srec} files.
15019 @item show download-path
15020 @kindex show download-path
15021 Show the default path for downloadable @sc{srec} files.
15023 @item set board-address @var{addr}
15024 @kindex set board-address
15025 @cindex M32-EVA target board address
15026 Set the IP address for the M32R-EVA target board.
15028 @item show board-address
15029 @kindex show board-address
15030 Show the current IP address of the target board.
15032 @item set server-address @var{addr}
15033 @kindex set server-address
15034 @cindex download server address (M32R)
15035 Set the IP address for the download server, which is the @value{GDBN}'s
15038 @item show server-address
15039 @kindex show server-address
15040 Display the IP address of the download server.
15042 @item upload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
15043 @kindex upload@r{, M32R}
15044 Upload the specified @sc{srec} @var{file} via the monitor's Ethernet
15045 upload capability. If no @var{file} argument is given, the current
15046 executable file is uploaded.
15048 @item tload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
15049 @kindex tload@r{, M32R}
15050 Test the @code{upload} command.
15053 The following commands are available for M32R/SDI:
15058 @cindex reset SDI connection, M32R
15059 This command resets the SDI connection.
15063 This command shows the SDI connection status.
15066 @kindex debug_chaos
15067 @cindex M32R/Chaos debugging
15068 Instructs the remote that M32R/Chaos debugging is to be used.
15070 @item use_debug_dma
15071 @kindex use_debug_dma
15072 Instructs the remote to use the DEBUG_DMA method of accessing memory.
15075 @kindex use_mon_code
15076 Instructs the remote to use the MON_CODE method of accessing memory.
15079 @kindex use_ib_break
15080 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by IB break.
15082 @item use_dbt_break
15083 @kindex use_dbt_break
15084 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by DBT.
15090 The Motorola m68k configuration includes ColdFire support, and a
15091 target command for the following ROM monitor.
15095 @kindex target dbug
15096 @item target dbug @var{dev}
15097 dBUG ROM monitor for Motorola ColdFire.
15101 @node MIPS Embedded
15102 @subsection MIPS Embedded
15104 @cindex MIPS boards
15105 @value{GDBN} can use the MIPS remote debugging protocol to talk to a
15106 MIPS board attached to a serial line. This is available when
15107 you configure @value{GDBN} with @samp{--target=mips-idt-ecoff}.
15110 Use these @value{GDBN} commands to specify the connection to your target board:
15113 @item target mips @var{port}
15114 @kindex target mips @var{port}
15115 To run a program on the board, start up @code{@value{GDBP}} with the
15116 name of your program as the argument. To connect to the board, use the
15117 command @samp{target mips @var{port}}, where @var{port} is the name of
15118 the serial port connected to the board. If the program has not already
15119 been downloaded to the board, you may use the @code{load} command to
15120 download it. You can then use all the usual @value{GDBN} commands.
15122 For example, this sequence connects to the target board through a serial
15123 port, and loads and runs a program called @var{prog} through the
15127 host$ @value{GDBP} @var{prog}
15128 @value{GDBN} is free software and @dots{}
15129 (@value{GDBP}) target mips /dev/ttyb
15130 (@value{GDBP}) load @var{prog}
15134 @item target mips @var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}
15135 On some @value{GDBN} host configurations, you can specify a TCP
15136 connection (for instance, to a serial line managed by a terminal
15137 concentrator) instead of a serial port, using the syntax
15138 @samp{@var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}}.
15140 @item target pmon @var{port}
15141 @kindex target pmon @var{port}
15144 @item target ddb @var{port}
15145 @kindex target ddb @var{port}
15146 NEC's DDB variant of PMON for Vr4300.
15148 @item target lsi @var{port}
15149 @kindex target lsi @var{port}
15150 LSI variant of PMON.
15152 @kindex target r3900
15153 @item target r3900 @var{dev}
15154 Densan DVE-R3900 ROM monitor for Toshiba R3900 Mips.
15156 @kindex target array
15157 @item target array @var{dev}
15158 Array Tech LSI33K RAID controller board.
15164 @value{GDBN} also supports these special commands for MIPS targets:
15167 @item set mipsfpu double
15168 @itemx set mipsfpu single
15169 @itemx set mipsfpu none
15170 @itemx set mipsfpu auto
15171 @itemx show mipsfpu
15172 @kindex set mipsfpu
15173 @kindex show mipsfpu
15174 @cindex MIPS remote floating point
15175 @cindex floating point, MIPS remote
15176 If your target board does not support the MIPS floating point
15177 coprocessor, you should use the command @samp{set mipsfpu none} (if you
15178 need this, you may wish to put the command in your @value{GDBN} init
15179 file). This tells @value{GDBN} how to find the return value of
15180 functions which return floating point values. It also allows
15181 @value{GDBN} to avoid saving the floating point registers when calling
15182 functions on the board. If you are using a floating point coprocessor
15183 with only single precision floating point support, as on the @sc{r4650}
15184 processor, use the command @samp{set mipsfpu single}. The default
15185 double precision floating point coprocessor may be selected using
15186 @samp{set mipsfpu double}.
15188 In previous versions the only choices were double precision or no
15189 floating point, so @samp{set mipsfpu on} will select double precision
15190 and @samp{set mipsfpu off} will select no floating point.
15192 As usual, you can inquire about the @code{mipsfpu} variable with
15193 @samp{show mipsfpu}.
15195 @item set timeout @var{seconds}
15196 @itemx set retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}
15197 @itemx show timeout
15198 @itemx show retransmit-timeout
15199 @cindex @code{timeout}, MIPS protocol
15200 @cindex @code{retransmit-timeout}, MIPS protocol
15201 @kindex set timeout
15202 @kindex show timeout
15203 @kindex set retransmit-timeout
15204 @kindex show retransmit-timeout
15205 You can control the timeout used while waiting for a packet, in the MIPS
15206 remote protocol, with the @code{set timeout @var{seconds}} command. The
15207 default is 5 seconds. Similarly, you can control the timeout used while
15208 waiting for an acknowledgement of a packet with the @code{set
15209 retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}} command. The default is 3 seconds.
15210 You can inspect both values with @code{show timeout} and @code{show
15211 retransmit-timeout}. (These commands are @emph{only} available when
15212 @value{GDBN} is configured for @samp{--target=mips-idt-ecoff}.)
15214 The timeout set by @code{set timeout} does not apply when @value{GDBN}
15215 is waiting for your program to stop. In that case, @value{GDBN} waits
15216 forever because it has no way of knowing how long the program is going
15217 to run before stopping.
15219 @item set syn-garbage-limit @var{num}
15220 @kindex set syn-garbage-limit@r{, MIPS remote}
15221 @cindex synchronize with remote MIPS target
15222 Limit the maximum number of characters @value{GDBN} should ignore when
15223 it tries to synchronize with the remote target. The default is 10
15224 characters. Setting the limit to -1 means there's no limit.
15226 @item show syn-garbage-limit
15227 @kindex show syn-garbage-limit@r{, MIPS remote}
15228 Show the current limit on the number of characters to ignore when
15229 trying to synchronize with the remote system.
15231 @item set monitor-prompt @var{prompt}
15232 @kindex set monitor-prompt@r{, MIPS remote}
15233 @cindex remote monitor prompt
15234 Tell @value{GDBN} to expect the specified @var{prompt} string from the
15235 remote monitor. The default depends on the target:
15245 @item show monitor-prompt
15246 @kindex show monitor-prompt@r{, MIPS remote}
15247 Show the current strings @value{GDBN} expects as the prompt from the
15250 @item set monitor-warnings
15251 @kindex set monitor-warnings@r{, MIPS remote}
15252 Enable or disable monitor warnings about hardware breakpoints. This
15253 has effect only for the @code{lsi} target. When on, @value{GDBN} will
15254 display warning messages whose codes are returned by the @code{lsi}
15255 PMON monitor for breakpoint commands.
15257 @item show monitor-warnings
15258 @kindex show monitor-warnings@r{, MIPS remote}
15259 Show the current setting of printing monitor warnings.
15261 @item pmon @var{command}
15262 @kindex pmon@r{, MIPS remote}
15263 @cindex send PMON command
15264 This command allows sending an arbitrary @var{command} string to the
15265 monitor. The monitor must be in debug mode for this to work.
15268 @node OpenRISC 1000
15269 @subsection OpenRISC 1000
15270 @cindex OpenRISC 1000
15272 @cindex or1k boards
15273 See OR1k Architecture document (@uref{www.opencores.org}) for more information
15274 about platform and commands.
15278 @kindex target jtag
15279 @item target jtag jtag://@var{host}:@var{port}
15281 Connects to remote JTAG server.
15282 JTAG remote server can be either an or1ksim or JTAG server,
15283 connected via parallel port to the board.
15285 Example: @code{target jtag jtag://localhost:9999}
15288 @item or1ksim @var{command}
15289 If connected to @code{or1ksim} OpenRISC 1000 Architectural
15290 Simulator, proprietary commands can be executed.
15292 @kindex info or1k spr
15293 @item info or1k spr
15294 Displays spr groups.
15296 @item info or1k spr @var{group}
15297 @itemx info or1k spr @var{groupno}
15298 Displays register names in selected group.
15300 @item info or1k spr @var{group} @var{register}
15301 @itemx info or1k spr @var{register}
15302 @itemx info or1k spr @var{groupno} @var{registerno}
15303 @itemx info or1k spr @var{registerno}
15304 Shows information about specified spr register.
15307 @item spr @var{group} @var{register} @var{value}
15308 @itemx spr @var{register @var{value}}
15309 @itemx spr @var{groupno} @var{registerno @var{value}}
15310 @itemx spr @var{registerno @var{value}}
15311 Writes @var{value} to specified spr register.
15314 Some implementations of OpenRISC 1000 Architecture also have hardware trace.
15315 It is very similar to @value{GDBN} trace, except it does not interfere with normal
15316 program execution and is thus much faster. Hardware breakpoints/watchpoint
15317 triggers can be set using:
15320 Load effective address/data
15322 Store effective address/data
15324 Access effective address ($SEA or $LEA) or data ($SDATA/$LDATA)
15329 When triggered, it can capture low level data, like: @code{PC}, @code{LSEA},
15330 @code{LDATA}, @code{SDATA}, @code{READSPR}, @code{WRITESPR}, @code{INSTR}.
15332 @code{htrace} commands:
15333 @cindex OpenRISC 1000 htrace
15336 @item hwatch @var{conditional}
15337 Set hardware watchpoint on combination of Load/Store Effective Address(es)
15338 or Data. For example:
15340 @code{hwatch ($LEA == my_var) && ($LDATA < 50) || ($SEA == my_var) && ($SDATA >= 50)}
15342 @code{hwatch ($LEA == my_var) && ($LDATA < 50) || ($SEA == my_var) && ($SDATA >= 50)}
15346 Display information about current HW trace configuration.
15348 @item htrace trigger @var{conditional}
15349 Set starting criteria for HW trace.
15351 @item htrace qualifier @var{conditional}
15352 Set acquisition qualifier for HW trace.
15354 @item htrace stop @var{conditional}
15355 Set HW trace stopping criteria.
15357 @item htrace record [@var{data}]*
15358 Selects the data to be recorded, when qualifier is met and HW trace was
15361 @item htrace enable
15362 @itemx htrace disable
15363 Enables/disables the HW trace.
15365 @item htrace rewind [@var{filename}]
15366 Clears currently recorded trace data.
15368 If filename is specified, new trace file is made and any newly collected data
15369 will be written there.
15371 @item htrace print [@var{start} [@var{len}]]
15372 Prints trace buffer, using current record configuration.
15374 @item htrace mode continuous
15375 Set continuous trace mode.
15377 @item htrace mode suspend
15378 Set suspend trace mode.
15382 @node PowerPC Embedded
15383 @subsection PowerPC Embedded
15385 @value{GDBN} provides the following PowerPC-specific commands:
15388 @kindex set powerpc
15389 @item set powerpc soft-float
15390 @itemx show powerpc soft-float
15391 Force @value{GDBN} to use (or not use) a software floating point calling
15392 convention. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention based
15393 on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
15395 @item set powerpc vector-abi
15396 @itemx show powerpc vector-abi
15397 Force @value{GDBN} to use the specified calling convention for vector
15398 arguments and return values. The valid options are @samp{auto};
15399 @samp{generic}, to avoid vector registers even if they are present;
15400 @samp{altivec}, to use AltiVec registers; and @samp{spe} to use SPE
15401 registers. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention
15402 based on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
15404 @kindex target dink32
15405 @item target dink32 @var{dev}
15406 DINK32 ROM monitor.
15408 @kindex target ppcbug
15409 @item target ppcbug @var{dev}
15410 @kindex target ppcbug1
15411 @item target ppcbug1 @var{dev}
15412 PPCBUG ROM monitor for PowerPC.
15415 @item target sds @var{dev}
15416 SDS monitor, running on a PowerPC board (such as Motorola's ADS).
15419 @cindex SDS protocol
15420 The following commands specific to the SDS protocol are supported
15424 @item set sdstimeout @var{nsec}
15425 @kindex set sdstimeout
15426 Set the timeout for SDS protocol reads to be @var{nsec} seconds. The
15427 default is 2 seconds.
15429 @item show sdstimeout
15430 @kindex show sdstimeout
15431 Show the current value of the SDS timeout.
15433 @item sds @var{command}
15434 @kindex sds@r{, a command}
15435 Send the specified @var{command} string to the SDS monitor.
15440 @subsection HP PA Embedded
15444 @kindex target op50n
15445 @item target op50n @var{dev}
15446 OP50N monitor, running on an OKI HPPA board.
15448 @kindex target w89k
15449 @item target w89k @var{dev}
15450 W89K monitor, running on a Winbond HPPA board.
15455 @subsection Tsqware Sparclet
15459 @value{GDBN} enables developers to debug tasks running on
15460 Sparclet targets from a Unix host.
15461 @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
15462 both the Unix host and on the Sparclet target. The program
15463 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host.
15466 @item remotetimeout @var{args}
15467 @kindex remotetimeout
15468 @value{GDBN} supports the option @code{remotetimeout}.
15469 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
15470 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses.
15473 @cindex compiling, on Sparclet
15474 When compiling for debugging, include the options @samp{-g} to get debug
15475 information and @samp{-Ttext} to relocate the program to where you wish to
15476 load it on the target. You may also want to add the options @samp{-n} or
15477 @samp{-N} in order to reduce the size of the sections. Example:
15480 sparclet-aout-gcc prog.c -Ttext 0x12010000 -g -o prog -N
15483 You can use @code{objdump} to verify that the addresses are what you intended:
15486 sparclet-aout-objdump --headers --syms prog
15489 @cindex running, on Sparclet
15491 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
15492 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}}
15493 (or @code{sparclet-aout-gdb}, depending on your installation).
15495 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
15502 * Sparclet File:: Setting the file to debug
15503 * Sparclet Connection:: Connecting to Sparclet
15504 * Sparclet Download:: Sparclet download
15505 * Sparclet Execution:: Running and debugging
15508 @node Sparclet File
15509 @subsubsection Setting File to Debug
15511 The @value{GDBN} command @code{file} lets you choose with program to debug.
15514 (gdbslet) file prog
15518 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol table of @file{prog}.
15519 @value{GDBN} locates
15520 the file by searching the directories listed in the command search
15522 If the file was compiled with debug information (option @samp{-g}), source
15523 files will be searched as well.
15524 @value{GDBN} locates
15525 the source files by searching the directories listed in the directory search
15526 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}).
15528 to find a file, it displays a message such as:
15531 prog: No such file or directory.
15534 When this happens, add the appropriate directories to the search paths with
15535 the @value{GDBN} commands @code{path} and @code{dir}, and execute the
15536 @code{target} command again.
15538 @node Sparclet Connection
15539 @subsubsection Connecting to Sparclet
15541 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a Sparclet target.
15542 To connect to a target on serial port ``@code{ttya}'', type:
15545 (gdbslet) target sparclet /dev/ttya
15546 Remote target sparclet connected to /dev/ttya
15547 main () at ../prog.c:3
15551 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
15557 @node Sparclet Download
15558 @subsubsection Sparclet Download
15560 @cindex download to Sparclet
15561 Once connected to the Sparclet target,
15562 you can use the @value{GDBN}
15563 @code{load} command to download the file from the host to the target.
15564 The file name and load offset should be given as arguments to the @code{load}
15566 Since the file format is aout, the program must be loaded to the starting
15567 address. You can use @code{objdump} to find out what this value is. The load
15568 offset is an offset which is added to the VMA (virtual memory address)
15569 of each of the file's sections.
15570 For instance, if the program
15571 @file{prog} was linked to text address 0x1201000, with data at 0x12010160
15572 and bss at 0x12010170, in @value{GDBN}, type:
15575 (gdbslet) load prog 0x12010000
15576 Loading section .text, size 0xdb0 vma 0x12010000
15579 If the code is loaded at a different address then what the program was linked
15580 to, you may need to use the @code{section} and @code{add-symbol-file} commands
15581 to tell @value{GDBN} where to map the symbol table.
15583 @node Sparclet Execution
15584 @subsubsection Running and Debugging
15586 @cindex running and debugging Sparclet programs
15587 You can now begin debugging the task using @value{GDBN}'s execution control
15588 commands, @code{b}, @code{step}, @code{run}, etc. See the @value{GDBN}
15589 manual for the list of commands.
15593 Breakpoint 1 at 0x12010000: file prog.c, line 3.
15595 Starting program: prog
15596 Breakpoint 1, main (argc=1, argv=0xeffff21c) at prog.c:3
15597 3 char *symarg = 0;
15599 4 char *execarg = "hello!";
15604 @subsection Fujitsu Sparclite
15608 @kindex target sparclite
15609 @item target sparclite @var{dev}
15610 Fujitsu sparclite boards, used only for the purpose of loading.
15611 You must use an additional command to debug the program.
15612 For example: target remote @var{dev} using @value{GDBN} standard
15618 @subsection Zilog Z8000
15621 @cindex simulator, Z8000
15622 @cindex Zilog Z8000 simulator
15624 When configured for debugging Zilog Z8000 targets, @value{GDBN} includes
15627 For the Z8000 family, @samp{target sim} simulates either the Z8002 (the
15628 unsegmented variant of the Z8000 architecture) or the Z8001 (the
15629 segmented variant). The simulator recognizes which architecture is
15630 appropriate by inspecting the object code.
15633 @item target sim @var{args}
15635 @kindex target sim@r{, with Z8000}
15636 Debug programs on a simulated CPU. If the simulator supports setup
15637 options, specify them via @var{args}.
15641 After specifying this target, you can debug programs for the simulated
15642 CPU in the same style as programs for your host computer; use the
15643 @code{file} command to load a new program image, the @code{run} command
15644 to run your program, and so on.
15646 As well as making available all the usual machine registers
15647 (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}), the Z8000 simulator provides three
15648 additional items of information as specially named registers:
15653 Counts clock-ticks in the simulator.
15656 Counts instructions run in the simulator.
15659 Execution time in 60ths of a second.
15663 You can refer to these values in @value{GDBN} expressions with the usual
15664 conventions; for example, @w{@samp{b fputc if $cycles>5000}} sets a
15665 conditional breakpoint that suspends only after at least 5000
15666 simulated clock ticks.
15669 @subsection Atmel AVR
15672 When configured for debugging the Atmel AVR, @value{GDBN} supports the
15673 following AVR-specific commands:
15676 @item info io_registers
15677 @kindex info io_registers@r{, AVR}
15678 @cindex I/O registers (Atmel AVR)
15679 This command displays information about the AVR I/O registers. For
15680 each register, @value{GDBN} prints its number and value.
15687 When configured for debugging CRIS, @value{GDBN} provides the
15688 following CRIS-specific commands:
15691 @item set cris-version @var{ver}
15692 @cindex CRIS version
15693 Set the current CRIS version to @var{ver}, either @samp{10} or @samp{32}.
15694 The CRIS version affects register names and sizes. This command is useful in
15695 case autodetection of the CRIS version fails.
15697 @item show cris-version
15698 Show the current CRIS version.
15700 @item set cris-dwarf2-cfi
15701 @cindex DWARF-2 CFI and CRIS
15702 Set the usage of DWARF-2 CFI for CRIS debugging. The default is @samp{on}.
15703 Change to @samp{off} when using @code{gcc-cris} whose version is below
15706 @item show cris-dwarf2-cfi
15707 Show the current state of using DWARF-2 CFI.
15709 @item set cris-mode @var{mode}
15711 Set the current CRIS mode to @var{mode}. It should only be changed when
15712 debugging in guru mode, in which case it should be set to
15713 @samp{guru} (the default is @samp{normal}).
15715 @item show cris-mode
15716 Show the current CRIS mode.
15720 @subsection Renesas Super-H
15723 For the Renesas Super-H processor, @value{GDBN} provides these
15728 @kindex regs@r{, Super-H}
15729 Show the values of all Super-H registers.
15731 @item set sh calling-convention @var{convention}
15732 @kindex set sh calling-convention
15733 Set the calling-convention used when calling functions from @value{GDBN}.
15734 Allowed values are @samp{gcc}, which is the default setting, and @samp{renesas}.
15735 With the @samp{gcc} setting, functions are called using the @value{NGCC} calling
15736 convention. If the DWARF-2 information of the called function specifies
15737 that the function follows the Renesas calling convention, the function
15738 is called using the Renesas calling convention. If the calling convention
15739 is set to @samp{renesas}, the Renesas calling convention is always used,
15740 regardless of the DWARF-2 information. This can be used to override the
15741 default of @samp{gcc} if debug information is missing, or the compiler
15742 does not emit the DWARF-2 calling convention entry for a function.
15744 @item show sh calling-convention
15745 @kindex show sh calling-convention
15746 Show the current calling convention setting.
15751 @node Architectures
15752 @section Architectures
15754 This section describes characteristics of architectures that affect
15755 all uses of @value{GDBN} with the architecture, both native and cross.
15762 * HPPA:: HP PA architecture
15763 * SPU:: Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
15768 @subsection x86 Architecture-specific Issues
15771 @item set struct-convention @var{mode}
15772 @kindex set struct-convention
15773 @cindex struct return convention
15774 @cindex struct/union returned in registers
15775 Set the convention used by the inferior to return @code{struct}s and
15776 @code{union}s from functions to @var{mode}. Possible values of
15777 @var{mode} are @code{"pcc"}, @code{"reg"}, and @code{"default"} (the
15778 default). @code{"default"} or @code{"pcc"} means that @code{struct}s
15779 are returned on the stack, while @code{"reg"} means that a
15780 @code{struct} or a @code{union} whose size is 1, 2, 4, or 8 bytes will
15781 be returned in a register.
15783 @item show struct-convention
15784 @kindex show struct-convention
15785 Show the current setting of the convention to return @code{struct}s
15794 @kindex set rstack_high_address
15795 @cindex AMD 29K register stack
15796 @cindex register stack, AMD29K
15797 @item set rstack_high_address @var{address}
15798 On AMD 29000 family processors, registers are saved in a separate
15799 @dfn{register stack}. There is no way for @value{GDBN} to determine the
15800 extent of this stack. Normally, @value{GDBN} just assumes that the
15801 stack is ``large enough''. This may result in @value{GDBN} referencing
15802 memory locations that do not exist. If necessary, you can get around
15803 this problem by specifying the ending address of the register stack with
15804 the @code{set rstack_high_address} command. The argument should be an
15805 address, which you probably want to precede with @samp{0x} to specify in
15808 @kindex show rstack_high_address
15809 @item show rstack_high_address
15810 Display the current limit of the register stack, on AMD 29000 family
15818 See the following section.
15823 @cindex stack on Alpha
15824 @cindex stack on MIPS
15825 @cindex Alpha stack
15827 Alpha- and MIPS-based computers use an unusual stack frame, which
15828 sometimes requires @value{GDBN} to search backward in the object code to
15829 find the beginning of a function.
15831 @cindex response time, MIPS debugging
15832 To improve response time (especially for embedded applications, where
15833 @value{GDBN} may be restricted to a slow serial line for this search)
15834 you may want to limit the size of this search, using one of these
15838 @cindex @code{heuristic-fence-post} (Alpha, MIPS)
15839 @item set heuristic-fence-post @var{limit}
15840 Restrict @value{GDBN} to examining at most @var{limit} bytes in its
15841 search for the beginning of a function. A value of @var{0} (the
15842 default) means there is no limit. However, except for @var{0}, the
15843 larger the limit the more bytes @code{heuristic-fence-post} must search
15844 and therefore the longer it takes to run. You should only need to use
15845 this command when debugging a stripped executable.
15847 @item show heuristic-fence-post
15848 Display the current limit.
15852 These commands are available @emph{only} when @value{GDBN} is configured
15853 for debugging programs on Alpha or MIPS processors.
15855 Several MIPS-specific commands are available when debugging MIPS
15859 @item set mips abi @var{arg}
15860 @kindex set mips abi
15861 @cindex set ABI for MIPS
15862 Tell @value{GDBN} which MIPS ABI is used by the inferior. Possible
15863 values of @var{arg} are:
15867 The default ABI associated with the current binary (this is the
15878 @item show mips abi
15879 @kindex show mips abi
15880 Show the MIPS ABI used by @value{GDBN} to debug the inferior.
15883 @itemx show mipsfpu
15884 @xref{MIPS Embedded, set mipsfpu}.
15886 @item set mips mask-address @var{arg}
15887 @kindex set mips mask-address
15888 @cindex MIPS addresses, masking
15889 This command determines whether the most-significant 32 bits of 64-bit
15890 MIPS addresses are masked off. The argument @var{arg} can be
15891 @samp{on}, @samp{off}, or @samp{auto}. The latter is the default
15892 setting, which lets @value{GDBN} determine the correct value.
15894 @item show mips mask-address
15895 @kindex show mips mask-address
15896 Show whether the upper 32 bits of MIPS addresses are masked off or
15899 @item set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
15900 @kindex set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
15901 This command controls compatibility with 64-bit MIPS targets that
15902 transfer data in 32-bit quantities. If you have an old MIPS 64 target
15903 that transfers 32 bits for some registers, like @sc{sr} and @sc{fsr},
15904 and 64 bits for other registers, set this option to @samp{on}.
15906 @item show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
15907 @kindex show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
15908 Show the current setting of compatibility with older MIPS 64 targets.
15910 @item set debug mips
15911 @kindex set debug mips
15912 This command turns on and off debugging messages for the MIPS-specific
15913 target code in @value{GDBN}.
15915 @item show debug mips
15916 @kindex show debug mips
15917 Show the current setting of MIPS debugging messages.
15923 @cindex HPPA support
15925 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the HP PA architecture, it provides the
15926 following special commands:
15929 @item set debug hppa
15930 @kindex set debug hppa
15931 This command determines whether HPPA architecture-specific debugging
15932 messages are to be displayed.
15934 @item show debug hppa
15935 Show whether HPPA debugging messages are displayed.
15937 @item maint print unwind @var{address}
15938 @kindex maint print unwind@r{, HPPA}
15939 This command displays the contents of the unwind table entry at the
15940 given @var{address}.
15946 @subsection Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
15947 @cindex Cell Broadband Engine
15950 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture,
15951 it provides the following special commands:
15954 @item info spu event
15956 Display SPU event facility status. Shows current event mask
15957 and pending event status.
15959 @item info spu signal
15960 Display SPU signal notification facility status. Shows pending
15961 signal-control word and signal notification mode of both signal
15962 notification channels.
15964 @item info spu mailbox
15965 Display SPU mailbox facility status. Shows all pending entries,
15966 in order of processing, in each of the SPU Write Outbound,
15967 SPU Write Outbound Interrupt, and SPU Read Inbound mailboxes.
15970 Display MFC DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
15971 DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
15972 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
15974 @item info spu proxydma
15975 Display MFC Proxy-DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
15976 Proxy-DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
15977 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
15982 @subsection PowerPC
15983 @cindex PowerPC architecture
15985 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the PowerPC architecture, it provides a set of
15986 pseudo-registers to enable inspection of 128-bit wide Decimal Floating Point
15987 numbers stored in the floating point registers. These values must be stored
15988 in two consecutive registers, always starting at an even register like
15989 @code{f0} or @code{f2}.
15991 The pseudo-registers go from @code{$dl0} through @code{$dl15}, and are formed
15992 by joining the even/odd register pairs @code{f0} and @code{f1} for @code{$dl0},
15993 @code{f2} and @code{f3} for @code{$dl1} and so on.
15996 @node Controlling GDB
15997 @chapter Controlling @value{GDBN}
15999 You can alter the way @value{GDBN} interacts with you by using the
16000 @code{set} command. For commands controlling how @value{GDBN} displays
16001 data, see @ref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}. Other settings are
16006 * Editing:: Command editing
16007 * Command History:: Command history
16008 * Screen Size:: Screen size
16009 * Numbers:: Numbers
16010 * ABI:: Configuring the current ABI
16011 * Messages/Warnings:: Optional warnings and messages
16012 * Debugging Output:: Optional messages about internal happenings
16020 @value{GDBN} indicates its readiness to read a command by printing a string
16021 called the @dfn{prompt}. This string is normally @samp{(@value{GDBP})}. You
16022 can change the prompt string with the @code{set prompt} command. For
16023 instance, when debugging @value{GDBN} with @value{GDBN}, it is useful to change
16024 the prompt in one of the @value{GDBN} sessions so that you can always tell
16025 which one you are talking to.
16027 @emph{Note:} @code{set prompt} does not add a space for you after the
16028 prompt you set. This allows you to set a prompt which ends in a space
16029 or a prompt that does not.
16033 @item set prompt @var{newprompt}
16034 Directs @value{GDBN} to use @var{newprompt} as its prompt string henceforth.
16036 @kindex show prompt
16038 Prints a line of the form: @samp{Gdb's prompt is: @var{your-prompt}}
16042 @section Command Editing
16044 @cindex command line editing
16046 @value{GDBN} reads its input commands via the @dfn{Readline} interface. This
16047 @sc{gnu} library provides consistent behavior for programs which provide a
16048 command line interface to the user. Advantages are @sc{gnu} Emacs-style
16049 or @dfn{vi}-style inline editing of commands, @code{csh}-like history
16050 substitution, and a storage and recall of command history across
16051 debugging sessions.
16053 You may control the behavior of command line editing in @value{GDBN} with the
16054 command @code{set}.
16057 @kindex set editing
16060 @itemx set editing on
16061 Enable command line editing (enabled by default).
16063 @item set editing off
16064 Disable command line editing.
16066 @kindex show editing
16068 Show whether command line editing is enabled.
16071 @xref{Command Line Editing}, for more details about the Readline
16072 interface. Users unfamiliar with @sc{gnu} Emacs or @code{vi} are
16073 encouraged to read that chapter.
16075 @node Command History
16076 @section Command History
16077 @cindex command history
16079 @value{GDBN} can keep track of the commands you type during your
16080 debugging sessions, so that you can be certain of precisely what
16081 happened. Use these commands to manage the @value{GDBN} command
16084 @value{GDBN} uses the @sc{gnu} History library, a part of the Readline
16085 package, to provide the history facility. @xref{Using History
16086 Interactively}, for the detailed description of the History library.
16088 To issue a command to @value{GDBN} without affecting certain aspects of
16089 the state which is seen by users, prefix it with @samp{server }
16090 (@pxref{Server Prefix}). This
16091 means that this command will not affect the command history, nor will it
16092 affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which command to repeat if @key{RET} is
16093 pressed on a line by itself.
16095 @cindex @code{server}, command prefix
16096 The server prefix does not affect the recording of values into the value
16097 history; to print a value without recording it into the value history,
16098 use the @code{output} command instead of the @code{print} command.
16100 Here is the description of @value{GDBN} commands related to command
16104 @cindex history substitution
16105 @cindex history file
16106 @kindex set history filename
16107 @cindex @env{GDBHISTFILE}, environment variable
16108 @item set history filename @var{fname}
16109 Set the name of the @value{GDBN} command history file to @var{fname}.
16110 This is the file where @value{GDBN} reads an initial command history
16111 list, and where it writes the command history from this session when it
16112 exits. You can access this list through history expansion or through
16113 the history command editing characters listed below. This file defaults
16114 to the value of the environment variable @code{GDBHISTFILE}, or to
16115 @file{./.gdb_history} (@file{./_gdb_history} on MS-DOS) if this variable
16118 @cindex save command history
16119 @kindex set history save
16120 @item set history save
16121 @itemx set history save on
16122 Record command history in a file, whose name may be specified with the
16123 @code{set history filename} command. By default, this option is disabled.
16125 @item set history save off
16126 Stop recording command history in a file.
16128 @cindex history size
16129 @kindex set history size
16130 @cindex @env{HISTSIZE}, environment variable
16131 @item set history size @var{size}
16132 Set the number of commands which @value{GDBN} keeps in its history list.
16133 This defaults to the value of the environment variable
16134 @code{HISTSIZE}, or to 256 if this variable is not set.
16137 History expansion assigns special meaning to the character @kbd{!}.
16138 @xref{Event Designators}, for more details.
16140 @cindex history expansion, turn on/off
16141 Since @kbd{!} is also the logical not operator in C, history expansion
16142 is off by default. If you decide to enable history expansion with the
16143 @code{set history expansion on} command, you may sometimes need to
16144 follow @kbd{!} (when it is used as logical not, in an expression) with
16145 a space or a tab to prevent it from being expanded. The readline
16146 history facilities do not attempt substitution on the strings
16147 @kbd{!=} and @kbd{!(}, even when history expansion is enabled.
16149 The commands to control history expansion are:
16152 @item set history expansion on
16153 @itemx set history expansion
16154 @kindex set history expansion
16155 Enable history expansion. History expansion is off by default.
16157 @item set history expansion off
16158 Disable history expansion.
16161 @kindex show history
16163 @itemx show history filename
16164 @itemx show history save
16165 @itemx show history size
16166 @itemx show history expansion
16167 These commands display the state of the @value{GDBN} history parameters.
16168 @code{show history} by itself displays all four states.
16173 @kindex show commands
16174 @cindex show last commands
16175 @cindex display command history
16176 @item show commands
16177 Display the last ten commands in the command history.
16179 @item show commands @var{n}
16180 Print ten commands centered on command number @var{n}.
16182 @item show commands +
16183 Print ten commands just after the commands last printed.
16187 @section Screen Size
16188 @cindex size of screen
16189 @cindex pauses in output
16191 Certain commands to @value{GDBN} may produce large amounts of
16192 information output to the screen. To help you read all of it,
16193 @value{GDBN} pauses and asks you for input at the end of each page of
16194 output. Type @key{RET} when you want to continue the output, or @kbd{q}
16195 to discard the remaining output. Also, the screen width setting
16196 determines when to wrap lines of output. Depending on what is being
16197 printed, @value{GDBN} tries to break the line at a readable place,
16198 rather than simply letting it overflow onto the following line.
16200 Normally @value{GDBN} knows the size of the screen from the terminal
16201 driver software. For example, on Unix @value{GDBN} uses the termcap data base
16202 together with the value of the @code{TERM} environment variable and the
16203 @code{stty rows} and @code{stty cols} settings. If this is not correct,
16204 you can override it with the @code{set height} and @code{set
16211 @kindex show height
16212 @item set height @var{lpp}
16214 @itemx set width @var{cpl}
16216 These @code{set} commands specify a screen height of @var{lpp} lines and
16217 a screen width of @var{cpl} characters. The associated @code{show}
16218 commands display the current settings.
16220 If you specify a height of zero lines, @value{GDBN} does not pause during
16221 output no matter how long the output is. This is useful if output is to a
16222 file or to an editor buffer.
16224 Likewise, you can specify @samp{set width 0} to prevent @value{GDBN}
16225 from wrapping its output.
16227 @item set pagination on
16228 @itemx set pagination off
16229 @kindex set pagination
16230 Turn the output pagination on or off; the default is on. Turning
16231 pagination off is the alternative to @code{set height 0}.
16233 @item show pagination
16234 @kindex show pagination
16235 Show the current pagination mode.
16240 @cindex number representation
16241 @cindex entering numbers
16243 You can always enter numbers in octal, decimal, or hexadecimal in
16244 @value{GDBN} by the usual conventions: octal numbers begin with
16245 @samp{0}, decimal numbers end with @samp{.}, and hexadecimal numbers
16246 begin with @samp{0x}. Numbers that neither begin with @samp{0} or
16247 @samp{0x}, nor end with a @samp{.} are, by default, entered in base
16248 10; likewise, the default display for numbers---when no particular
16249 format is specified---is base 10. You can change the default base for
16250 both input and output with the commands described below.
16253 @kindex set input-radix
16254 @item set input-radix @var{base}
16255 Set the default base for numeric input. Supported choices
16256 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
16257 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix; for
16261 set input-radix 012
16262 set input-radix 10.
16263 set input-radix 0xa
16267 sets the input base to decimal. On the other hand, @samp{set input-radix 10}
16268 leaves the input radix unchanged, no matter what it was, since
16269 @samp{10}, being without any leading or trailing signs of its base, is
16270 interpreted in the current radix. Thus, if the current radix is 16,
16271 @samp{10} is interpreted in hex, i.e.@: as 16 decimal, which doesn't
16274 @kindex set output-radix
16275 @item set output-radix @var{base}
16276 Set the default base for numeric display. Supported choices
16277 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
16278 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix.
16280 @kindex show input-radix
16281 @item show input-radix
16282 Display the current default base for numeric input.
16284 @kindex show output-radix
16285 @item show output-radix
16286 Display the current default base for numeric display.
16288 @item set radix @r{[}@var{base}@r{]}
16292 These commands set and show the default base for both input and output
16293 of numbers. @code{set radix} sets the radix of input and output to
16294 the same base; without an argument, it resets the radix back to its
16295 default value of 10.
16300 @section Configuring the Current ABI
16302 @value{GDBN} can determine the @dfn{ABI} (Application Binary Interface) of your
16303 application automatically. However, sometimes you need to override its
16304 conclusions. Use these commands to manage @value{GDBN}'s view of the
16311 One @value{GDBN} configuration can debug binaries for multiple operating
16312 system targets, either via remote debugging or native emulation.
16313 @value{GDBN} will autodetect the @dfn{OS ABI} (Operating System ABI) in use,
16314 but you can override its conclusion using the @code{set osabi} command.
16315 One example where this is useful is in debugging of binaries which use
16316 an alternate C library (e.g.@: @sc{uClibc} for @sc{gnu}/Linux) which does
16317 not have the same identifying marks that the standard C library for your
16322 Show the OS ABI currently in use.
16325 With no argument, show the list of registered available OS ABI's.
16327 @item set osabi @var{abi}
16328 Set the current OS ABI to @var{abi}.
16331 @cindex float promotion
16333 Generally, the way that an argument of type @code{float} is passed to a
16334 function depends on whether the function is prototyped. For a prototyped
16335 (i.e.@: ANSI/ISO style) function, @code{float} arguments are passed unchanged,
16336 according to the architecture's convention for @code{float}. For unprototyped
16337 (i.e.@: K&R style) functions, @code{float} arguments are first promoted to type
16338 @code{double} and then passed.
16340 Unfortunately, some forms of debug information do not reliably indicate whether
16341 a function is prototyped. If @value{GDBN} calls a function that is not marked
16342 as prototyped, it consults @kbd{set coerce-float-to-double}.
16345 @kindex set coerce-float-to-double
16346 @item set coerce-float-to-double
16347 @itemx set coerce-float-to-double on
16348 Arguments of type @code{float} will be promoted to @code{double} when passed
16349 to an unprototyped function. This is the default setting.
16351 @item set coerce-float-to-double off
16352 Arguments of type @code{float} will be passed directly to unprototyped
16355 @kindex show coerce-float-to-double
16356 @item show coerce-float-to-double
16357 Show the current setting of promoting @code{float} to @code{double}.
16361 @kindex show cp-abi
16362 @value{GDBN} needs to know the ABI used for your program's C@t{++}
16363 objects. The correct C@t{++} ABI depends on which C@t{++} compiler was
16364 used to build your application. @value{GDBN} only fully supports
16365 programs with a single C@t{++} ABI; if your program contains code using
16366 multiple C@t{++} ABI's or if @value{GDBN} can not identify your
16367 program's ABI correctly, you can tell @value{GDBN} which ABI to use.
16368 Currently supported ABI's include ``gnu-v2'', for @code{g++} versions
16369 before 3.0, ``gnu-v3'', for @code{g++} versions 3.0 and later, and
16370 ``hpaCC'' for the HP ANSI C@t{++} compiler. Other C@t{++} compilers may
16371 use the ``gnu-v2'' or ``gnu-v3'' ABI's as well. The default setting is
16376 Show the C@t{++} ABI currently in use.
16379 With no argument, show the list of supported C@t{++} ABI's.
16381 @item set cp-abi @var{abi}
16382 @itemx set cp-abi auto
16383 Set the current C@t{++} ABI to @var{abi}, or return to automatic detection.
16386 @node Messages/Warnings
16387 @section Optional Warnings and Messages
16389 @cindex verbose operation
16390 @cindex optional warnings
16391 By default, @value{GDBN} is silent about its inner workings. If you are
16392 running on a slow machine, you may want to use the @code{set verbose}
16393 command. This makes @value{GDBN} tell you when it does a lengthy
16394 internal operation, so you will not think it has crashed.
16396 Currently, the messages controlled by @code{set verbose} are those
16397 which announce that the symbol table for a source file is being read;
16398 see @code{symbol-file} in @ref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}.
16401 @kindex set verbose
16402 @item set verbose on
16403 Enables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
16405 @item set verbose off
16406 Disables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
16408 @kindex show verbose
16410 Displays whether @code{set verbose} is on or off.
16413 By default, if @value{GDBN} encounters bugs in the symbol table of an
16414 object file, it is silent; but if you are debugging a compiler, you may
16415 find this information useful (@pxref{Symbol Errors, ,Errors Reading
16420 @kindex set complaints
16421 @item set complaints @var{limit}
16422 Permits @value{GDBN} to output @var{limit} complaints about each type of
16423 unusual symbols before becoming silent about the problem. Set
16424 @var{limit} to zero to suppress all complaints; set it to a large number
16425 to prevent complaints from being suppressed.
16427 @kindex show complaints
16428 @item show complaints
16429 Displays how many symbol complaints @value{GDBN} is permitted to produce.
16433 By default, @value{GDBN} is cautious, and asks what sometimes seems to be a
16434 lot of stupid questions to confirm certain commands. For example, if
16435 you try to run a program which is already running:
16439 The program being debugged has been started already.
16440 Start it from the beginning? (y or n)
16443 If you are willing to unflinchingly face the consequences of your own
16444 commands, you can disable this ``feature'':
16448 @kindex set confirm
16450 @cindex confirmation
16451 @cindex stupid questions
16452 @item set confirm off
16453 Disables confirmation requests.
16455 @item set confirm on
16456 Enables confirmation requests (the default).
16458 @kindex show confirm
16460 Displays state of confirmation requests.
16464 @cindex command tracing
16465 If you need to debug user-defined commands or sourced files you may find it
16466 useful to enable @dfn{command tracing}. In this mode each command will be
16467 printed as it is executed, prefixed with one or more @samp{+} symbols, the
16468 quantity denoting the call depth of each command.
16471 @kindex set trace-commands
16472 @cindex command scripts, debugging
16473 @item set trace-commands on
16474 Enable command tracing.
16475 @item set trace-commands off
16476 Disable command tracing.
16477 @item show trace-commands
16478 Display the current state of command tracing.
16481 @node Debugging Output
16482 @section Optional Messages about Internal Happenings
16483 @cindex optional debugging messages
16485 @value{GDBN} has commands that enable optional debugging messages from
16486 various @value{GDBN} subsystems; normally these commands are of
16487 interest to @value{GDBN} maintainers, or when reporting a bug. This
16488 section documents those commands.
16491 @kindex set exec-done-display
16492 @item set exec-done-display
16493 Turns on or off the notification of asynchronous commands'
16494 completion. When on, @value{GDBN} will print a message when an
16495 asynchronous command finishes its execution. The default is off.
16496 @kindex show exec-done-display
16497 @item show exec-done-display
16498 Displays the current setting of asynchronous command completion
16501 @cindex gdbarch debugging info
16502 @cindex architecture debugging info
16503 @item set debug arch
16504 Turns on or off display of gdbarch debugging info. The default is off
16506 @item show debug arch
16507 Displays the current state of displaying gdbarch debugging info.
16508 @item set debug aix-thread
16509 @cindex AIX threads
16510 Display debugging messages about inner workings of the AIX thread
16512 @item show debug aix-thread
16513 Show the current state of AIX thread debugging info display.
16514 @item set debug displaced
16515 @cindex displaced stepping debugging info
16516 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for the
16517 displaced stepping support. The default is off.
16518 @item show debug displaced
16519 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} debugging info
16520 related to displaced stepping.
16521 @item set debug event
16522 @cindex event debugging info
16523 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} event debugging info. The
16525 @item show debug event
16526 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} event debugging
16528 @item set debug expression
16529 @cindex expression debugging info
16530 Turns on or off display of debugging info about @value{GDBN}
16531 expression parsing. The default is off.
16532 @item show debug expression
16533 Displays the current state of displaying debugging info about
16534 @value{GDBN} expression parsing.
16535 @item set debug frame
16536 @cindex frame debugging info
16537 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} frame debugging info. The
16539 @item show debug frame
16540 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} frame debugging
16542 @item set debug infrun
16543 @cindex inferior debugging info
16544 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for running the inferior.
16545 The default is off. @file{infrun.c} contains GDB's runtime state machine used
16546 for implementing operations such as single-stepping the inferior.
16547 @item show debug infrun
16548 Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} inferior debugging.
16549 @item set debug lin-lwp
16550 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Linux LWP debug messages
16551 @cindex Linux lightweight processes
16552 Turns on or off debugging messages from the Linux LWP debug support.
16553 @item show debug lin-lwp
16554 Show the current state of Linux LWP debugging messages.
16555 @item set debug lin-lwp-async
16556 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Linux LWP async debug messages
16557 @cindex Linux lightweight processes
16558 Turns on or off debugging messages from the Linux LWP async debug support.
16559 @item show debug lin-lwp-async
16560 Show the current state of Linux LWP async debugging messages.
16561 @item set debug observer
16562 @cindex observer debugging info
16563 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} observer debugging. This
16564 includes info such as the notification of observable events.
16565 @item show debug observer
16566 Displays the current state of observer debugging.
16567 @item set debug overload
16568 @cindex C@t{++} overload debugging info
16569 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload debugging
16570 info. This includes info such as ranking of functions, etc. The default
16572 @item show debug overload
16573 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload
16575 @cindex packets, reporting on stdout
16576 @cindex serial connections, debugging
16577 @cindex debug remote protocol
16578 @cindex remote protocol debugging
16579 @cindex display remote packets
16580 @item set debug remote
16581 Turns on or off display of reports on all packets sent back and forth across
16582 the serial line to the remote machine. The info is printed on the
16583 @value{GDBN} standard output stream. The default is off.
16584 @item show debug remote
16585 Displays the state of display of remote packets.
16586 @item set debug serial
16587 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} serial debugging info. The
16589 @item show debug serial
16590 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} serial debugging
16592 @item set debug solib-frv
16593 @cindex FR-V shared-library debugging
16594 Turns on or off debugging messages for FR-V shared-library code.
16595 @item show debug solib-frv
16596 Display the current state of FR-V shared-library code debugging
16598 @item set debug target
16599 @cindex target debugging info
16600 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} target debugging info. This info
16601 includes what is going on at the target level of GDB, as it happens. The
16602 default is 0. Set it to 1 to track events, and to 2 to also track the
16603 value of large memory transfers. Changes to this flag do not take effect
16604 until the next time you connect to a target or use the @code{run} command.
16605 @item show debug target
16606 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} target debugging
16608 @item set debug timestamp
16609 @cindex timestampping debugging info
16610 Turns on or off display of timestamps with @value{GDBN} debugging info.
16611 When enabled, seconds and microseconds are displayed before each debugging
16613 @item show debug timestamp
16614 Displays the current state of displaying timestamps with @value{GDBN}
16616 @item set debugvarobj
16617 @cindex variable object debugging info
16618 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} variable object debugging
16619 info. The default is off.
16620 @item show debugvarobj
16621 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} variable object
16623 @item set debug xml
16624 @cindex XML parser debugging
16625 Turns on or off debugging messages for built-in XML parsers.
16626 @item show debug xml
16627 Displays the current state of XML debugging messages.
16631 @chapter Canned Sequences of Commands
16633 Aside from breakpoint commands (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint
16634 Command Lists}), @value{GDBN} provides two ways to store sequences of
16635 commands for execution as a unit: user-defined commands and command
16639 * Define:: How to define your own commands
16640 * Hooks:: Hooks for user-defined commands
16641 * Command Files:: How to write scripts of commands to be stored in a file
16642 * Output:: Commands for controlled output
16646 @section User-defined Commands
16648 @cindex user-defined command
16649 @cindex arguments, to user-defined commands
16650 A @dfn{user-defined command} is a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands to
16651 which you assign a new name as a command. This is done with the
16652 @code{define} command. User commands may accept up to 10 arguments
16653 separated by whitespace. Arguments are accessed within the user command
16654 via @code{$arg0@dots{}$arg9}. A trivial example:
16658 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
16663 To execute the command use:
16670 This defines the command @code{adder}, which prints the sum of
16671 its three arguments. Note the arguments are text substitutions, so they may
16672 reference variables, use complex expressions, or even perform inferior
16675 @cindex argument count in user-defined commands
16676 @cindex how many arguments (user-defined commands)
16677 In addition, @code{$argc} may be used to find out how many arguments have
16678 been passed. This expands to a number in the range 0@dots{}10.
16683 print $arg0 + $arg1
16686 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
16694 @item define @var{commandname}
16695 Define a command named @var{commandname}. If there is already a command
16696 by that name, you are asked to confirm that you want to redefine it.
16698 The definition of the command is made up of other @value{GDBN} command lines,
16699 which are given following the @code{define} command. The end of these
16700 commands is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
16703 @kindex end@r{ (user-defined commands)}
16704 @item document @var{commandname}
16705 Document the user-defined command @var{commandname}, so that it can be
16706 accessed by @code{help}. The command @var{commandname} must already be
16707 defined. This command reads lines of documentation just as @code{define}
16708 reads the lines of the command definition, ending with @code{end}.
16709 After the @code{document} command is finished, @code{help} on command
16710 @var{commandname} displays the documentation you have written.
16712 You may use the @code{document} command again to change the
16713 documentation of a command. Redefining the command with @code{define}
16714 does not change the documentation.
16716 @kindex dont-repeat
16717 @cindex don't repeat command
16719 Used inside a user-defined command, this tells @value{GDBN} that this
16720 command should not be repeated when the user hits @key{RET}
16721 (@pxref{Command Syntax, repeat last command}).
16723 @kindex help user-defined
16724 @item help user-defined
16725 List all user-defined commands, with the first line of the documentation
16730 @itemx show user @var{commandname}
16731 Display the @value{GDBN} commands used to define @var{commandname} (but
16732 not its documentation). If no @var{commandname} is given, display the
16733 definitions for all user-defined commands.
16735 @cindex infinite recursion in user-defined commands
16736 @kindex show max-user-call-depth
16737 @kindex set max-user-call-depth
16738 @item show max-user-call-depth
16739 @itemx set max-user-call-depth
16740 The value of @code{max-user-call-depth} controls how many recursion
16741 levels are allowed in user-defined commands before @value{GDBN} suspects an
16742 infinite recursion and aborts the command.
16745 In addition to the above commands, user-defined commands frequently
16746 use control flow commands, described in @ref{Command Files}.
16748 When user-defined commands are executed, the
16749 commands of the definition are not printed. An error in any command
16750 stops execution of the user-defined command.
16752 If used interactively, commands that would ask for confirmation proceed
16753 without asking when used inside a user-defined command. Many @value{GDBN}
16754 commands that normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the
16755 messages when used in a user-defined command.
16758 @section User-defined Command Hooks
16759 @cindex command hooks
16760 @cindex hooks, for commands
16761 @cindex hooks, pre-command
16764 You may define @dfn{hooks}, which are a special kind of user-defined
16765 command. Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined
16766 command @samp{hook-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments)
16767 before that command.
16769 @cindex hooks, post-command
16771 A hook may also be defined which is run after the command you executed.
16772 Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined command
16773 @samp{hookpost-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments) after
16774 that command. Post-execution hooks may exist simultaneously with
16775 pre-execution hooks, for the same command.
16777 It is valid for a hook to call the command which it hooks. If this
16778 occurs, the hook is not re-executed, thereby avoiding infinite recursion.
16780 @c It would be nice if hookpost could be passed a parameter indicating
16781 @c if the command it hooks executed properly or not. FIXME!
16783 @kindex stop@r{, a pseudo-command}
16784 In addition, a pseudo-command, @samp{stop} exists. Defining
16785 (@samp{hook-stop}) makes the associated commands execute every time
16786 execution stops in your program: before breakpoint commands are run,
16787 displays are printed, or the stack frame is printed.
16789 For example, to ignore @code{SIGALRM} signals while
16790 single-stepping, but treat them normally during normal execution,
16795 handle SIGALRM nopass
16799 handle SIGALRM pass
16802 define hook-continue
16803 handle SIGALRM pass
16807 As a further example, to hook at the beginning and end of the @code{echo}
16808 command, and to add extra text to the beginning and end of the message,
16816 define hookpost-echo
16820 (@value{GDBP}) echo Hello World
16821 <<<---Hello World--->>>
16826 You can define a hook for any single-word command in @value{GDBN}, but
16827 not for command aliases; you should define a hook for the basic command
16828 name, e.g.@: @code{backtrace} rather than @code{bt}.
16829 @c FIXME! So how does Joe User discover whether a command is an alias
16831 If an error occurs during the execution of your hook, execution of
16832 @value{GDBN} commands stops and @value{GDBN} issues a prompt
16833 (before the command that you actually typed had a chance to run).
16835 If you try to define a hook which does not match any known command, you
16836 get a warning from the @code{define} command.
16838 @node Command Files
16839 @section Command Files
16841 @cindex command files
16842 @cindex scripting commands
16843 A command file for @value{GDBN} is a text file made of lines that are
16844 @value{GDBN} commands. Comments (lines starting with @kbd{#}) may
16845 also be included. An empty line in a command file does nothing; it
16846 does not mean to repeat the last command, as it would from the
16849 You can request the execution of a command file with the @code{source}
16854 @cindex execute commands from a file
16855 @item source [@code{-v}] @var{filename}
16856 Execute the command file @var{filename}.
16859 The lines in a command file are generally executed sequentially,
16860 unless the order of execution is changed by one of the
16861 @emph{flow-control commands} described below. The commands are not
16862 printed as they are executed. An error in any command terminates
16863 execution of the command file and control is returned to the console.
16865 @value{GDBN} searches for @var{filename} in the current directory and then
16866 on the search path (specified with the @samp{directory} command).
16868 If @code{-v}, for verbose mode, is given then @value{GDBN} displays
16869 each command as it is executed. The option must be given before
16870 @var{filename}, and is interpreted as part of the filename anywhere else.
16872 Commands that would ask for confirmation if used interactively proceed
16873 without asking when used in a command file. Many @value{GDBN} commands that
16874 normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the messages
16875 when called from command files.
16877 @value{GDBN} also accepts command input from standard input. In this
16878 mode, normal output goes to standard output and error output goes to
16879 standard error. Errors in a command file supplied on standard input do
16880 not terminate execution of the command file---execution continues with
16884 gdb < cmds > log 2>&1
16887 (The syntax above will vary depending on the shell used.) This example
16888 will execute commands from the file @file{cmds}. All output and errors
16889 would be directed to @file{log}.
16891 Since commands stored on command files tend to be more general than
16892 commands typed interactively, they frequently need to deal with
16893 complicated situations, such as different or unexpected values of
16894 variables and symbols, changes in how the program being debugged is
16895 built, etc. @value{GDBN} provides a set of flow-control commands to
16896 deal with these complexities. Using these commands, you can write
16897 complex scripts that loop over data structures, execute commands
16898 conditionally, etc.
16905 This command allows to include in your script conditionally executed
16906 commands. The @code{if} command takes a single argument, which is an
16907 expression to evaluate. It is followed by a series of commands that
16908 are executed only if the expression is true (its value is nonzero).
16909 There can then optionally be an @code{else} line, followed by a series
16910 of commands that are only executed if the expression was false. The
16911 end of the list is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
16915 This command allows to write loops. Its syntax is similar to
16916 @code{if}: the command takes a single argument, which is an expression
16917 to evaluate, and must be followed by the commands to execute, one per
16918 line, terminated by an @code{end}. These commands are called the
16919 @dfn{body} of the loop. The commands in the body of @code{while} are
16920 executed repeatedly as long as the expression evaluates to true.
16924 This command exits the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included.
16925 Execution of the script continues after that @code{while}s @code{end}
16928 @kindex loop_continue
16929 @item loop_continue
16930 This command skips the execution of the rest of the body of commands
16931 in the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included. Execution
16932 branches to the beginning of the @code{while} loop, where it evaluates
16933 the controlling expression.
16935 @kindex end@r{ (if/else/while commands)}
16937 Terminate the block of commands that are the body of @code{if},
16938 @code{else}, or @code{while} flow-control commands.
16943 @section Commands for Controlled Output
16945 During the execution of a command file or a user-defined command, normal
16946 @value{GDBN} output is suppressed; the only output that appears is what is
16947 explicitly printed by the commands in the definition. This section
16948 describes three commands useful for generating exactly the output you
16953 @item echo @var{text}
16954 @c I do not consider backslash-space a standard C escape sequence
16955 @c because it is not in ANSI.
16956 Print @var{text}. Nonprinting characters can be included in
16957 @var{text} using C escape sequences, such as @samp{\n} to print a
16958 newline. @strong{No newline is printed unless you specify one.}
16959 In addition to the standard C escape sequences, a backslash followed
16960 by a space stands for a space. This is useful for displaying a
16961 string with spaces at the beginning or the end, since leading and
16962 trailing spaces are otherwise trimmed from all arguments.
16963 To print @samp{@w{ }and foo =@w{ }}, use the command
16964 @samp{echo \@w{ }and foo = \@w{ }}.
16966 A backslash at the end of @var{text} can be used, as in C, to continue
16967 the command onto subsequent lines. For example,
16970 echo This is some text\n\
16971 which is continued\n\
16972 onto several lines.\n
16975 produces the same output as
16978 echo This is some text\n
16979 echo which is continued\n
16980 echo onto several lines.\n
16984 @item output @var{expression}
16985 Print the value of @var{expression} and nothing but that value: no
16986 newlines, no @samp{$@var{nn} = }. The value is not entered in the
16987 value history either. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information
16990 @item output/@var{fmt} @var{expression}
16991 Print the value of @var{expression} in format @var{fmt}. You can use
16992 the same formats as for @code{print}. @xref{Output Formats,,Output
16993 Formats}, for more information.
16996 @item printf @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
16997 Print the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
16998 the string @var{template}. To print several values, make
16999 @var{expressions} be a comma-separated list of individual expressions,
17000 which may be either numbers or pointers. Their values are printed as
17001 specified by @var{template}, exactly as a C program would do by
17002 executing the code below:
17005 printf (@var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{});
17008 As in @code{C} @code{printf}, ordinary characters in @var{template}
17009 are printed verbatim, while @dfn{conversion specification} introduced
17010 by the @samp{%} character cause subsequent @var{expressions} to be
17011 evaluated, their values converted and formatted according to type and
17012 style information encoded in the conversion specifications, and then
17015 For example, you can print two values in hex like this:
17018 printf "foo, bar-foo = 0x%x, 0x%x\n", foo, bar-foo
17021 @code{printf} supports all the standard @code{C} conversion
17022 specifications, including the flags and modifiers between the @samp{%}
17023 character and the conversion letter, with the following exceptions:
17027 The argument-ordering modifiers, such as @samp{2$}, are not supported.
17030 The modifier @samp{*} is not supported for specifying precision or
17034 The @samp{'} flag (for separation of digits into groups according to
17035 @code{LC_NUMERIC'}) is not supported.
17038 The type modifiers @samp{hh}, @samp{j}, @samp{t}, and @samp{z} are not
17042 The conversion letter @samp{n} (as in @samp{%n}) is not supported.
17045 The conversion letters @samp{a} and @samp{A} are not supported.
17049 Note that the @samp{ll} type modifier is supported only if the
17050 underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} supports
17051 the @code{long long int} type, and the @samp{L} type modifier is
17052 supported only if @code{long double} type is available.
17054 As in @code{C}, @code{printf} supports simple backslash-escape
17055 sequences, such as @code{\n}, @samp{\t}, @samp{\\}, @samp{\"},
17056 @samp{\a}, and @samp{\f}, that consist of backslash followed by a
17057 single character. Octal and hexadecimal escape sequences are not
17060 Additionally, @code{printf} supports conversion specifications for DFP
17061 (@dfn{Decimal Floating Point}) types using the following length modifiers
17062 together with a floating point specifier.
17067 @samp{H} for printing @code{Decimal32} types.
17070 @samp{D} for printing @code{Decimal64} types.
17073 @samp{DD} for printing @code{Decimal128} types.
17076 If the underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} has
17077 support for the three length modifiers for DFP types, other modifiers
17078 such as width and precision will also be available for @value{GDBN} to use.
17080 In case there is no such @code{C} support, no additional modifiers will be
17081 available and the value will be printed in the standard way.
17083 Here's an example of printing DFP types using the above conversion letters:
17085 printf "D32: %Hf - D64: %Df - D128: %DDf\n",1.2345df,1.2E10dd,1.2E1dl
17091 @chapter Command Interpreters
17092 @cindex command interpreters
17094 @value{GDBN} supports multiple command interpreters, and some command
17095 infrastructure to allow users or user interface writers to switch
17096 between interpreters or run commands in other interpreters.
17098 @value{GDBN} currently supports two command interpreters, the console
17099 interpreter (sometimes called the command-line interpreter or @sc{cli})
17100 and the machine interface interpreter (or @sc{gdb/mi}). This manual
17101 describes both of these interfaces in great detail.
17103 By default, @value{GDBN} will start with the console interpreter.
17104 However, the user may choose to start @value{GDBN} with another
17105 interpreter by specifying the @option{-i} or @option{--interpreter}
17106 startup options. Defined interpreters include:
17110 @cindex console interpreter
17111 The traditional console or command-line interpreter. This is the most often
17112 used interpreter with @value{GDBN}. With no interpreter specified at runtime,
17113 @value{GDBN} will use this interpreter.
17116 @cindex mi interpreter
17117 The newest @sc{gdb/mi} interface (currently @code{mi2}). Used primarily
17118 by programs wishing to use @value{GDBN} as a backend for a debugger GUI
17119 or an IDE. For more information, see @ref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi}
17123 @cindex mi2 interpreter
17124 The current @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
17127 @cindex mi1 interpreter
17128 The @sc{gdb/mi} interface included in @value{GDBN} 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3.
17132 @cindex invoke another interpreter
17133 The interpreter being used by @value{GDBN} may not be dynamically
17134 switched at runtime. Although possible, this could lead to a very
17135 precarious situation. Consider an IDE using @sc{gdb/mi}. If a user
17136 enters the command "interpreter-set console" in a console view,
17137 @value{GDBN} would switch to using the console interpreter, rendering
17138 the IDE inoperable!
17140 @kindex interpreter-exec
17141 Although you may only choose a single interpreter at startup, you may execute
17142 commands in any interpreter from the current interpreter using the appropriate
17143 command. If you are running the console interpreter, simply use the
17144 @code{interpreter-exec} command:
17147 interpreter-exec mi "-data-list-register-names"
17150 @sc{gdb/mi} has a similar command, although it is only available in versions of
17151 @value{GDBN} which support @sc{gdb/mi} version 2 (or greater).
17154 @chapter @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
17156 @cindex Text User Interface
17159 * TUI Overview:: TUI overview
17160 * TUI Keys:: TUI key bindings
17161 * TUI Single Key Mode:: TUI single key mode
17162 * TUI Commands:: TUI-specific commands
17163 * TUI Configuration:: TUI configuration variables
17166 The @value{GDBN} Text User Interface (TUI) is a terminal
17167 interface which uses the @code{curses} library to show the source
17168 file, the assembly output, the program registers and @value{GDBN}
17169 commands in separate text windows. The TUI mode is supported only
17170 on platforms where a suitable version of the @code{curses} library
17173 @pindex @value{GDBTUI}
17174 The TUI mode is enabled by default when you invoke @value{GDBN} as
17175 either @samp{@value{GDBTUI}} or @samp{@value{GDBP} -tui}.
17176 You can also switch in and out of TUI mode while @value{GDBN} runs by
17177 using various TUI commands and key bindings, such as @kbd{C-x C-a}.
17178 @xref{TUI Keys, ,TUI Key Bindings}.
17181 @section TUI Overview
17183 In TUI mode, @value{GDBN} can display several text windows:
17187 This window is the @value{GDBN} command window with the @value{GDBN}
17188 prompt and the @value{GDBN} output. The @value{GDBN} input is still
17189 managed using readline.
17192 The source window shows the source file of the program. The current
17193 line and active breakpoints are displayed in this window.
17196 The assembly window shows the disassembly output of the program.
17199 This window shows the processor registers. Registers are highlighted
17200 when their values change.
17203 The source and assembly windows show the current program position
17204 by highlighting the current line and marking it with a @samp{>} marker.
17205 Breakpoints are indicated with two markers. The first marker
17206 indicates the breakpoint type:
17210 Breakpoint which was hit at least once.
17213 Breakpoint which was never hit.
17216 Hardware breakpoint which was hit at least once.
17219 Hardware breakpoint which was never hit.
17222 The second marker indicates whether the breakpoint is enabled or not:
17226 Breakpoint is enabled.
17229 Breakpoint is disabled.
17232 The source, assembly and register windows are updated when the current
17233 thread changes, when the frame changes, or when the program counter
17236 These windows are not all visible at the same time. The command
17237 window is always visible. The others can be arranged in several
17248 source and assembly,
17251 source and registers, or
17254 assembly and registers.
17257 A status line above the command window shows the following information:
17261 Indicates the current @value{GDBN} target.
17262 (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
17265 Gives the current process or thread number.
17266 When no process is being debugged, this field is set to @code{No process}.
17269 Gives the current function name for the selected frame.
17270 The name is demangled if demangling is turned on (@pxref{Print Settings}).
17271 When there is no symbol corresponding to the current program counter,
17272 the string @code{??} is displayed.
17275 Indicates the current line number for the selected frame.
17276 When the current line number is not known, the string @code{??} is displayed.
17279 Indicates the current program counter address.
17283 @section TUI Key Bindings
17284 @cindex TUI key bindings
17286 The TUI installs several key bindings in the readline keymaps
17287 (@pxref{Command Line Editing}). The following key bindings
17288 are installed for both TUI mode and the @value{GDBN} standard mode.
17297 Enter or leave the TUI mode. When leaving the TUI mode,
17298 the curses window management stops and @value{GDBN} operates using
17299 its standard mode, writing on the terminal directly. When reentering
17300 the TUI mode, control is given back to the curses windows.
17301 The screen is then refreshed.
17305 Use a TUI layout with only one window. The layout will
17306 either be @samp{source} or @samp{assembly}. When the TUI mode
17307 is not active, it will switch to the TUI mode.
17309 Think of this key binding as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 1} binding.
17313 Use a TUI layout with at least two windows. When the current
17314 layout already has two windows, the next layout with two windows is used.
17315 When a new layout is chosen, one window will always be common to the
17316 previous layout and the new one.
17318 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 2} binding.
17322 Change the active window. The TUI associates several key bindings
17323 (like scrolling and arrow keys) with the active window. This command
17324 gives the focus to the next TUI window.
17326 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x o} binding.
17330 Switch in and out of the TUI SingleKey mode that binds single
17331 keys to @value{GDBN} commands (@pxref{TUI Single Key Mode}).
17334 The following key bindings only work in the TUI mode:
17339 Scroll the active window one page up.
17343 Scroll the active window one page down.
17347 Scroll the active window one line up.
17351 Scroll the active window one line down.
17355 Scroll the active window one column left.
17359 Scroll the active window one column right.
17363 Refresh the screen.
17366 Because the arrow keys scroll the active window in the TUI mode, they
17367 are not available for their normal use by readline unless the command
17368 window has the focus. When another window is active, you must use
17369 other readline key bindings such as @kbd{C-p}, @kbd{C-n}, @kbd{C-b}
17370 and @kbd{C-f} to control the command window.
17372 @node TUI Single Key Mode
17373 @section TUI Single Key Mode
17374 @cindex TUI single key mode
17376 The TUI also provides a @dfn{SingleKey} mode, which binds several
17377 frequently used @value{GDBN} commands to single keys. Type @kbd{C-x s} to
17378 switch into this mode, where the following key bindings are used:
17381 @kindex c @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
17385 @kindex d @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
17389 @kindex f @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
17393 @kindex n @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
17397 @kindex q @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
17399 exit the SingleKey mode.
17401 @kindex r @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
17405 @kindex s @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
17409 @kindex u @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
17413 @kindex v @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
17417 @kindex w @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
17422 Other keys temporarily switch to the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
17423 The key that was pressed is inserted in the editing buffer so that
17424 it is possible to type most @value{GDBN} commands without interaction
17425 with the TUI SingleKey mode. Once the command is entered the TUI
17426 SingleKey mode is restored. The only way to permanently leave
17427 this mode is by typing @kbd{q} or @kbd{C-x s}.
17431 @section TUI-specific Commands
17432 @cindex TUI commands
17434 The TUI has specific commands to control the text windows.
17435 These commands are always available, even when @value{GDBN} is not in
17436 the TUI mode. When @value{GDBN} is in the standard mode, most
17437 of these commands will automatically switch to the TUI mode.
17442 List and give the size of all displayed windows.
17446 Display the next layout.
17449 Display the previous layout.
17452 Display the source window only.
17455 Display the assembly window only.
17458 Display the source and assembly window.
17461 Display the register window together with the source or assembly window.
17465 Make the next window active for scrolling.
17468 Make the previous window active for scrolling.
17471 Make the source window active for scrolling.
17474 Make the assembly window active for scrolling.
17477 Make the register window active for scrolling.
17480 Make the command window active for scrolling.
17484 Refresh the screen. This is similar to typing @kbd{C-L}.
17486 @item tui reg float
17488 Show the floating point registers in the register window.
17490 @item tui reg general
17491 Show the general registers in the register window.
17494 Show the next register group. The list of register groups as well as
17495 their order is target specific. The predefined register groups are the
17496 following: @code{general}, @code{float}, @code{system}, @code{vector},
17497 @code{all}, @code{save}, @code{restore}.
17499 @item tui reg system
17500 Show the system registers in the register window.
17504 Update the source window and the current execution point.
17506 @item winheight @var{name} +@var{count}
17507 @itemx winheight @var{name} -@var{count}
17509 Change the height of the window @var{name} by @var{count}
17510 lines. Positive counts increase the height, while negative counts
17513 @item tabset @var{nchars}
17515 Set the width of tab stops to be @var{nchars} characters.
17518 @node TUI Configuration
17519 @section TUI Configuration Variables
17520 @cindex TUI configuration variables
17522 Several configuration variables control the appearance of TUI windows.
17525 @item set tui border-kind @var{kind}
17526 @kindex set tui border-kind
17527 Select the border appearance for the source, assembly and register windows.
17528 The possible values are the following:
17531 Use a space character to draw the border.
17534 Use @sc{ascii} characters @samp{+}, @samp{-} and @samp{|} to draw the border.
17537 Use the Alternate Character Set to draw the border. The border is
17538 drawn using character line graphics if the terminal supports them.
17541 @item set tui border-mode @var{mode}
17542 @kindex set tui border-mode
17543 @itemx set tui active-border-mode @var{mode}
17544 @kindex set tui active-border-mode
17545 Select the display attributes for the borders of the inactive windows
17546 or the active window. The @var{mode} can be one of the following:
17549 Use normal attributes to display the border.
17555 Use reverse video mode.
17558 Use half bright mode.
17560 @item half-standout
17561 Use half bright and standout mode.
17564 Use extra bright or bold mode.
17566 @item bold-standout
17567 Use extra bright or bold and standout mode.
17572 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
17575 @cindex @sc{gnu} Emacs
17576 A special interface allows you to use @sc{gnu} Emacs to view (and
17577 edit) the source files for the program you are debugging with
17580 To use this interface, use the command @kbd{M-x gdb} in Emacs. Give the
17581 executable file you want to debug as an argument. This command starts
17582 @value{GDBN} as a subprocess of Emacs, with input and output through a newly
17583 created Emacs buffer.
17584 @c (Do not use the @code{-tui} option to run @value{GDBN} from Emacs.)
17586 Running @value{GDBN} under Emacs can be just like running @value{GDBN} normally except for two
17591 All ``terminal'' input and output goes through an Emacs buffer, called
17594 This applies both to @value{GDBN} commands and their output, and to the input
17595 and output done by the program you are debugging.
17597 This is useful because it means that you can copy the text of previous
17598 commands and input them again; you can even use parts of the output
17601 All the facilities of Emacs' Shell mode are available for interacting
17602 with your program. In particular, you can send signals the usual
17603 way---for example, @kbd{C-c C-c} for an interrupt, @kbd{C-c C-z} for a
17607 @value{GDBN} displays source code through Emacs.
17609 Each time @value{GDBN} displays a stack frame, Emacs automatically finds the
17610 source file for that frame and puts an arrow (@samp{=>}) at the
17611 left margin of the current line. Emacs uses a separate buffer for
17612 source display, and splits the screen to show both your @value{GDBN} session
17615 Explicit @value{GDBN} @code{list} or search commands still produce output as
17616 usual, but you probably have no reason to use them from Emacs.
17619 We call this @dfn{text command mode}. Emacs 22.1, and later, also uses
17620 a graphical mode, enabled by default, which provides further buffers
17621 that can control the execution and describe the state of your program.
17622 @xref{GDB Graphical Interface,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}.
17624 If you specify an absolute file name when prompted for the @kbd{M-x
17625 gdb} argument, then Emacs sets your current working directory to where
17626 your program resides. If you only specify the file name, then Emacs
17627 sets your current working directory to to the directory associated
17628 with the previous buffer. In this case, @value{GDBN} may find your
17629 program by searching your environment's @code{PATH} variable, but on
17630 some operating systems it might not find the source. So, although the
17631 @value{GDBN} input and output session proceeds normally, the auxiliary
17632 buffer does not display the current source and line of execution.
17634 The initial working directory of @value{GDBN} is printed on the top
17635 line of the GUD buffer and this serves as a default for the commands
17636 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files,
17637 ,Commands to Specify Files}.
17639 By default, @kbd{M-x gdb} calls the program called @file{gdb}. If you
17640 need to call @value{GDBN} by a different name (for example, if you
17641 keep several configurations around, with different names) you can
17642 customize the Emacs variable @code{gud-gdb-command-name} to run the
17645 In the GUD buffer, you can use these special Emacs commands in
17646 addition to the standard Shell mode commands:
17650 Describe the features of Emacs' GUD Mode.
17653 Execute to another source line, like the @value{GDBN} @code{step} command; also
17654 update the display window to show the current file and location.
17657 Execute to next source line in this function, skipping all function
17658 calls, like the @value{GDBN} @code{next} command. Then update the display window
17659 to show the current file and location.
17662 Execute one instruction, like the @value{GDBN} @code{stepi} command; update
17663 display window accordingly.
17666 Execute until exit from the selected stack frame, like the @value{GDBN}
17667 @code{finish} command.
17670 Continue execution of your program, like the @value{GDBN} @code{continue}
17674 Go up the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument
17675 (@pxref{Arguments, , Numeric Arguments, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}),
17676 like the @value{GDBN} @code{up} command.
17679 Go down the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument, like the
17680 @value{GDBN} @code{down} command.
17683 In any source file, the Emacs command @kbd{C-x @key{SPC}} (@code{gud-break})
17684 tells @value{GDBN} to set a breakpoint on the source line point is on.
17686 In text command mode, if you type @kbd{M-x speedbar}, Emacs displays a
17687 separate frame which shows a backtrace when the GUD buffer is current.
17688 Move point to any frame in the stack and type @key{RET} to make it
17689 become the current frame and display the associated source in the
17690 source buffer. Alternatively, click @kbd{Mouse-2} to make the
17691 selected frame become the current one. In graphical mode, the
17692 speedbar displays watch expressions.
17694 If you accidentally delete the source-display buffer, an easy way to get
17695 it back is to type the command @code{f} in the @value{GDBN} buffer, to
17696 request a frame display; when you run under Emacs, this recreates
17697 the source buffer if necessary to show you the context of the current
17700 The source files displayed in Emacs are in ordinary Emacs buffers
17701 which are visiting the source files in the usual way. You can edit
17702 the files with these buffers if you wish; but keep in mind that @value{GDBN}
17703 communicates with Emacs in terms of line numbers. If you add or
17704 delete lines from the text, the line numbers that @value{GDBN} knows cease
17705 to correspond properly with the code.
17707 A more detailed description of Emacs' interaction with @value{GDBN} is
17708 given in the Emacs manual (@pxref{Debuggers,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu}
17711 @c The following dropped because Epoch is nonstandard. Reactivate
17714 @kindex Emacs Epoch environment
17718 Version 18 of @sc{gnu} Emacs has a built-in window system
17719 called the @code{epoch}
17720 environment. Users of this environment can use a new command,
17721 @code{inspect} which performs identically to @code{print} except that
17722 each value is printed in its own window.
17727 @chapter The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface
17729 @unnumberedsec Function and Purpose
17731 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, its purpose
17732 @sc{gdb/mi} is a line based machine oriented text interface to
17733 @value{GDBN} and is activated by specifying using the
17734 @option{--interpreter} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}). It
17735 is specifically intended to support the development of systems which
17736 use the debugger as just one small component of a larger system.
17738 This chapter is a specification of the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. It is written
17739 in the form of a reference manual.
17741 Note that @sc{gdb/mi} is still under construction, so some of the
17742 features described below are incomplete and subject to change
17743 (@pxref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, , @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends}).
17745 @unnumberedsec Notation and Terminology
17747 @cindex notational conventions, for @sc{gdb/mi}
17748 This chapter uses the following notation:
17752 @code{|} separates two alternatives.
17755 @code{[ @var{something} ]} indicates that @var{something} is optional:
17756 it may or may not be given.
17759 @code{( @var{group} )*} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
17760 may repeat zero or more times.
17763 @code{( @var{group} )+} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
17764 may repeat one or more times.
17767 @code{"@var{string}"} means a literal @var{string}.
17771 @heading Dependencies
17775 * GDB/MI Command Syntax::
17776 * GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI::
17777 * GDB/MI Development and Front Ends::
17778 * GDB/MI Output Records::
17779 * GDB/MI Simple Examples::
17780 * GDB/MI Command Description Format::
17781 * GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands::
17782 * GDB/MI Program Context::
17783 * GDB/MI Thread Commands::
17784 * GDB/MI Program Execution::
17785 * GDB/MI Stack Manipulation::
17786 * GDB/MI Variable Objects::
17787 * GDB/MI Data Manipulation::
17788 * GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands::
17789 * GDB/MI Symbol Query::
17790 * GDB/MI File Commands::
17792 * GDB/MI Kod Commands::
17793 * GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands::
17794 * GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands::
17796 * GDB/MI Target Manipulation::
17797 * GDB/MI File Transfer Commands::
17798 * GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands::
17801 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
17802 @node GDB/MI Command Syntax
17803 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Syntax
17806 * GDB/MI Input Syntax::
17807 * GDB/MI Output Syntax::
17810 @node GDB/MI Input Syntax
17811 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Input Syntax
17813 @cindex input syntax for @sc{gdb/mi}
17814 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, input syntax
17816 @item @var{command} @expansion{}
17817 @code{@var{cli-command} | @var{mi-command}}
17819 @item @var{cli-command} @expansion{}
17820 @code{[ @var{token} ] @var{cli-command} @var{nl}}, where
17821 @var{cli-command} is any existing @value{GDBN} CLI command.
17823 @item @var{mi-command} @expansion{}
17824 @code{[ @var{token} ] "-" @var{operation} ( " " @var{option} )*
17825 @code{[} " --" @code{]} ( " " @var{parameter} )* @var{nl}}
17827 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
17828 "any sequence of digits"
17830 @item @var{option} @expansion{}
17831 @code{"-" @var{parameter} [ " " @var{parameter} ]}
17833 @item @var{parameter} @expansion{}
17834 @code{@var{non-blank-sequence} | @var{c-string}}
17836 @item @var{operation} @expansion{}
17837 @emph{any of the operations described in this chapter}
17839 @item @var{non-blank-sequence} @expansion{}
17840 @emph{anything, provided it doesn't contain special characters such as
17841 "-", @var{nl}, """ and of course " "}
17843 @item @var{c-string} @expansion{}
17844 @code{""" @var{seven-bit-iso-c-string-content} """}
17846 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
17855 The CLI commands are still handled by the @sc{mi} interpreter; their
17856 output is described below.
17859 The @code{@var{token}}, when present, is passed back when the command
17863 Some @sc{mi} commands accept optional arguments as part of the parameter
17864 list. Each option is identified by a leading @samp{-} (dash) and may be
17865 followed by an optional argument parameter. Options occur first in the
17866 parameter list and can be delimited from normal parameters using
17867 @samp{--} (this is useful when some parameters begin with a dash).
17874 We want easy access to the existing CLI syntax (for debugging).
17877 We want it to be easy to spot a @sc{mi} operation.
17880 @node GDB/MI Output Syntax
17881 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax
17883 @cindex output syntax of @sc{gdb/mi}
17884 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, output syntax
17885 The output from @sc{gdb/mi} consists of zero or more out-of-band records
17886 followed, optionally, by a single result record. This result record
17887 is for the most recent command. The sequence of output records is
17888 terminated by @samp{(gdb)}.
17890 If an input command was prefixed with a @code{@var{token}} then the
17891 corresponding output for that command will also be prefixed by that same
17895 @item @var{output} @expansion{}
17896 @code{( @var{out-of-band-record} )* [ @var{result-record} ] "(gdb)" @var{nl}}
17898 @item @var{result-record} @expansion{}
17899 @code{ [ @var{token} ] "^" @var{result-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
17901 @item @var{out-of-band-record} @expansion{}
17902 @code{@var{async-record} | @var{stream-record}}
17904 @item @var{async-record} @expansion{}
17905 @code{@var{exec-async-output} | @var{status-async-output} | @var{notify-async-output}}
17907 @item @var{exec-async-output} @expansion{}
17908 @code{[ @var{token} ] "*" @var{async-output}}
17910 @item @var{status-async-output} @expansion{}
17911 @code{[ @var{token} ] "+" @var{async-output}}
17913 @item @var{notify-async-output} @expansion{}
17914 @code{[ @var{token} ] "=" @var{async-output}}
17916 @item @var{async-output} @expansion{}
17917 @code{@var{async-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
17919 @item @var{result-class} @expansion{}
17920 @code{"done" | "running" | "connected" | "error" | "exit"}
17922 @item @var{async-class} @expansion{}
17923 @code{"stopped" | @var{others}} (where @var{others} will be added
17924 depending on the needs---this is still in development).
17926 @item @var{result} @expansion{}
17927 @code{ @var{variable} "=" @var{value}}
17929 @item @var{variable} @expansion{}
17930 @code{ @var{string} }
17932 @item @var{value} @expansion{}
17933 @code{ @var{const} | @var{tuple} | @var{list} }
17935 @item @var{const} @expansion{}
17936 @code{@var{c-string}}
17938 @item @var{tuple} @expansion{}
17939 @code{ "@{@}" | "@{" @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "@}" }
17941 @item @var{list} @expansion{}
17942 @code{ "[]" | "[" @var{value} ( "," @var{value} )* "]" | "["
17943 @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "]" }
17945 @item @var{stream-record} @expansion{}
17946 @code{@var{console-stream-output} | @var{target-stream-output} | @var{log-stream-output}}
17948 @item @var{console-stream-output} @expansion{}
17949 @code{"~" @var{c-string}}
17951 @item @var{target-stream-output} @expansion{}
17952 @code{"@@" @var{c-string}}
17954 @item @var{log-stream-output} @expansion{}
17955 @code{"&" @var{c-string}}
17957 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
17960 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
17961 @emph{any sequence of digits}.
17969 All output sequences end in a single line containing a period.
17972 The @code{@var{token}} is from the corresponding request. Note that
17973 for all async output, while the token is allowed by the grammar and
17974 may be output by future versions of @value{GDBN} for select async
17975 output messages, it is generally omitted. Frontends should treat
17976 all async output as reporting general changes in the state of the
17977 target and there should be no need to associate async output to any
17981 @cindex status output in @sc{gdb/mi}
17982 @var{status-async-output} contains on-going status information about the
17983 progress of a slow operation. It can be discarded. All status output is
17984 prefixed by @samp{+}.
17987 @cindex async output in @sc{gdb/mi}
17988 @var{exec-async-output} contains asynchronous state change on the target
17989 (stopped, started, disappeared). All async output is prefixed by
17993 @cindex notify output in @sc{gdb/mi}
17994 @var{notify-async-output} contains supplementary information that the
17995 client should handle (e.g., a new breakpoint information). All notify
17996 output is prefixed by @samp{=}.
17999 @cindex console output in @sc{gdb/mi}
18000 @var{console-stream-output} is output that should be displayed as is in the
18001 console. It is the textual response to a CLI command. All the console
18002 output is prefixed by @samp{~}.
18005 @cindex target output in @sc{gdb/mi}
18006 @var{target-stream-output} is the output produced by the target program.
18007 All the target output is prefixed by @samp{@@}.
18010 @cindex log output in @sc{gdb/mi}
18011 @var{log-stream-output} is output text coming from @value{GDBN}'s internals, for
18012 instance messages that should be displayed as part of an error log. All
18013 the log output is prefixed by @samp{&}.
18016 @cindex list output in @sc{gdb/mi}
18017 New @sc{gdb/mi} commands should only output @var{lists} containing
18023 @xref{GDB/MI Stream Records, , @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records}, for more
18024 details about the various output records.
18026 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
18027 @node GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI
18028 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Compatibility with CLI
18030 @cindex compatibility, @sc{gdb/mi} and CLI
18031 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, compatibility with CLI
18033 For the developers convenience CLI commands can be entered directly,
18034 but there may be some unexpected behaviour. For example, commands
18035 that query the user will behave as if the user replied yes, breakpoint
18036 command lists are not executed and some CLI commands, such as
18037 @code{if}, @code{when} and @code{define}, prompt for further input with
18038 @samp{>}, which is not valid MI output.
18040 This feature may be removed at some stage in the future and it is
18041 recommended that front ends use the @code{-interpreter-exec} command
18042 (@pxref{-interpreter-exec}).
18044 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
18045 @node GDB/MI Development and Front Ends
18046 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends
18047 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi} development
18049 The application which takes the MI output and presents the state of the
18050 program being debugged to the user is called a @dfn{front end}.
18052 Although @sc{gdb/mi} is still incomplete, it is currently being used
18053 by a variety of front ends to @value{GDBN}. This makes it difficult
18054 to introduce new functionality without breaking existing usage. This
18055 section tries to minimize the problems by describing how the protocol
18058 Some changes in MI need not break a carefully designed front end, and
18059 for these the MI version will remain unchanged. The following is a
18060 list of changes that may occur within one level, so front ends should
18061 parse MI output in a way that can handle them:
18065 New MI commands may be added.
18068 New fields may be added to the output of any MI command.
18071 The range of values for fields with specified values, e.g.,
18072 @code{in_scope} (@pxref{-var-update}) may be extended.
18074 @c The format of field's content e.g type prefix, may change so parse it
18075 @c at your own risk. Yes, in general?
18077 @c The order of fields may change? Shouldn't really matter but it might
18078 @c resolve inconsistencies.
18081 If the changes are likely to break front ends, the MI version level
18082 will be increased by one. This will allow the front end to parse the
18083 output according to the MI version. Apart from mi0, new versions of
18084 @value{GDBN} will not support old versions of MI and it will be the
18085 responsibility of the front end to work with the new one.
18087 @c Starting with mi3, add a new command -mi-version that prints the MI
18090 The best way to avoid unexpected changes in MI that might break your front
18091 end is to make your project known to @value{GDBN} developers and
18092 follow development on @email{gdb@@sourceware.org} and
18093 @email{gdb-patches@@sourceware.org}.
18094 @cindex mailing lists
18096 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
18097 @node GDB/MI Output Records
18098 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Output Records
18101 * GDB/MI Result Records::
18102 * GDB/MI Stream Records::
18103 * GDB/MI Async Records::
18106 @node GDB/MI Result Records
18107 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Result Records
18109 @cindex result records in @sc{gdb/mi}
18110 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, result records
18111 In addition to a number of out-of-band notifications, the response to a
18112 @sc{gdb/mi} command includes one of the following result indications:
18116 @item "^done" [ "," @var{results} ]
18117 The synchronous operation was successful, @code{@var{results}} are the return
18122 @c Is this one correct? Should it be an out-of-band notification?
18123 The asynchronous operation was successfully started. The target is
18128 @value{GDBN} has connected to a remote target.
18130 @item "^error" "," @var{c-string}
18132 The operation failed. The @code{@var{c-string}} contains the corresponding
18137 @value{GDBN} has terminated.
18141 @node GDB/MI Stream Records
18142 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records
18144 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, stream records
18145 @cindex stream records in @sc{gdb/mi}
18146 @value{GDBN} internally maintains a number of output streams: the console, the
18147 target, and the log. The output intended for each of these streams is
18148 funneled through the @sc{gdb/mi} interface using @dfn{stream records}.
18150 Each stream record begins with a unique @dfn{prefix character} which
18151 identifies its stream (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, , @sc{gdb/mi} Output
18152 Syntax}). In addition to the prefix, each stream record contains a
18153 @code{@var{string-output}}. This is either raw text (with an implicit new
18154 line) or a quoted C string (which does not contain an implicit newline).
18157 @item "~" @var{string-output}
18158 The console output stream contains text that should be displayed in the
18159 CLI console window. It contains the textual responses to CLI commands.
18161 @item "@@" @var{string-output}
18162 The target output stream contains any textual output from the running
18163 target. This is only present when GDB's event loop is truly
18164 asynchronous, which is currently only the case for remote targets.
18166 @item "&" @var{string-output}
18167 The log stream contains debugging messages being produced by @value{GDBN}'s
18171 @node GDB/MI Async Records
18172 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Async Records
18174 @cindex async records in @sc{gdb/mi}
18175 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, async records
18176 @dfn{Async} records are used to notify the @sc{gdb/mi} client of
18177 additional changes that have occurred. Those changes can either be a
18178 consequence of @sc{gdb/mi} commands (e.g., a breakpoint modified) or a result of
18179 target activity (e.g., target stopped).
18181 The following is the list of possible async records:
18185 @item *stopped,reason="@var{reason}"
18186 The target has stopped. The @var{reason} field can have one of the
18190 @item breakpoint-hit
18191 A breakpoint was reached.
18192 @item watchpoint-trigger
18193 A watchpoint was triggered.
18194 @item read-watchpoint-trigger
18195 A read watchpoint was triggered.
18196 @item access-watchpoint-trigger
18197 An access watchpoint was triggered.
18198 @item function-finished
18199 An -exec-finish or similar CLI command was accomplished.
18200 @item location-reached
18201 An -exec-until or similar CLI command was accomplished.
18202 @item watchpoint-scope
18203 A watchpoint has gone out of scope.
18204 @item end-stepping-range
18205 An -exec-next, -exec-next-instruction, -exec-step, -exec-step-instruction or
18206 similar CLI command was accomplished.
18207 @item exited-signalled
18208 The inferior exited because of a signal.
18210 The inferior exited.
18211 @item exited-normally
18212 The inferior exited normally.
18213 @item signal-received
18214 A signal was received by the inferior.
18217 @item =thread-created,id="@var{id}"
18218 @itemx =thread-exited,id="@var{id}"
18219 A thread either was created, or has exited. The @var{id} field
18220 contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread.
18225 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
18226 @node GDB/MI Simple Examples
18227 @section Simple Examples of @sc{gdb/mi} Interaction
18228 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, simple examples
18230 This subsection presents several simple examples of interaction using
18231 the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. In these examples, @samp{->} means that the
18232 following line is passed to @sc{gdb/mi} as input, while @samp{<-} means
18233 the output received from @sc{gdb/mi}.
18235 Note the line breaks shown in the examples are here only for
18236 readability, they don't appear in the real output.
18238 @subheading Setting a Breakpoint
18240 Setting a breakpoint generates synchronous output which contains detailed
18241 information of the breakpoint.
18244 -> -break-insert main
18245 <- ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
18246 enabled="y",addr="0x08048564",func="main",file="myprog.c",
18247 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68",times="0"@}
18251 @subheading Program Execution
18253 Program execution generates asynchronous records and MI gives the
18254 reason that execution stopped.
18260 <- *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
18261 frame=@{addr="0x08048564",func="main",
18262 args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},@{name="argv",value="0xbfc4d4d4"@}],
18263 file="myprog.c",fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68"@}
18268 <- *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
18272 @subheading Quitting @value{GDBN}
18274 Quitting @value{GDBN} just prints the result class @samp{^exit}.
18282 @subheading A Bad Command
18284 Here's what happens if you pass a non-existent command:
18288 <- ^error,msg="Undefined MI command: rubbish"
18293 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
18294 @node GDB/MI Command Description Format
18295 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Description Format
18297 The remaining sections describe blocks of commands. Each block of
18298 commands is laid out in a fashion similar to this section.
18300 @subheading Motivation
18302 The motivation for this collection of commands.
18304 @subheading Introduction
18306 A brief introduction to this collection of commands as a whole.
18308 @subheading Commands
18310 For each command in the block, the following is described:
18312 @subsubheading Synopsis
18315 -command @var{args}@dots{}
18318 @subsubheading Result
18320 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
18322 The corresponding @value{GDBN} CLI command(s), if any.
18324 @subsubheading Example
18326 Example(s) formatted for readability. Some of the described commands have
18327 not been implemented yet and these are labeled N.A.@: (not available).
18330 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
18331 @node GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands
18332 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Breakpoint Commands
18334 @cindex breakpoint commands for @sc{gdb/mi}
18335 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, breakpoint commands
18336 This section documents @sc{gdb/mi} commands for manipulating
18339 @subheading The @code{-break-after} Command
18340 @findex -break-after
18342 @subsubheading Synopsis
18345 -break-after @var{number} @var{count}
18348 The breakpoint number @var{number} is not in effect until it has been
18349 hit @var{count} times. To see how this is reflected in the output of
18350 the @samp{-break-list} command, see the description of the
18351 @samp{-break-list} command below.
18353 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
18355 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ignore}.
18357 @subsubheading Example
18362 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
18363 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
18364 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",times="0"@}
18371 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
18372 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
18373 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
18374 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
18375 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
18376 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
18377 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
18378 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
18379 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
18380 line="5",times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
18385 @subheading The @code{-break-catch} Command
18386 @findex -break-catch
18388 @subheading The @code{-break-commands} Command
18389 @findex -break-commands
18393 @subheading The @code{-break-condition} Command
18394 @findex -break-condition
18396 @subsubheading Synopsis
18399 -break-condition @var{number} @var{expr}
18402 Breakpoint @var{number} will stop the program only if the condition in
18403 @var{expr} is true. The condition becomes part of the
18404 @samp{-break-list} output (see the description of the @samp{-break-list}
18407 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
18409 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{condition}.
18411 @subsubheading Example
18415 -break-condition 1 1
18419 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
18420 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
18421 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
18422 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
18423 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
18424 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
18425 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
18426 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
18427 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
18428 line="5",cond="1",times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
18432 @subheading The @code{-break-delete} Command
18433 @findex -break-delete
18435 @subsubheading Synopsis
18438 -break-delete ( @var{breakpoint} )+
18441 Delete the breakpoint(s) whose number(s) are specified in the argument
18442 list. This is obviously reflected in the breakpoint list.
18444 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
18446 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{delete}.
18448 @subsubheading Example
18456 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
18457 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
18458 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
18459 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
18460 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
18461 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
18462 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
18467 @subheading The @code{-break-disable} Command
18468 @findex -break-disable
18470 @subsubheading Synopsis
18473 -break-disable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
18476 Disable the named @var{breakpoint}(s). The field @samp{enabled} in the
18477 break list is now set to @samp{n} for the named @var{breakpoint}(s).
18479 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
18481 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disable}.
18483 @subsubheading Example
18491 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
18492 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
18493 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
18494 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
18495 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
18496 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
18497 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
18498 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="n",
18499 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
18500 line="5",times="0"@}]@}
18504 @subheading The @code{-break-enable} Command
18505 @findex -break-enable
18507 @subsubheading Synopsis
18510 -break-enable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
18513 Enable (previously disabled) @var{breakpoint}(s).
18515 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
18517 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{enable}.
18519 @subsubheading Example
18527 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
18528 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
18529 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
18530 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
18531 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
18532 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
18533 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
18534 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
18535 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
18536 line="5",times="0"@}]@}
18540 @subheading The @code{-break-info} Command
18541 @findex -break-info
18543 @subsubheading Synopsis
18546 -break-info @var{breakpoint}
18550 Get information about a single breakpoint.
18552 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
18554 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break @var{breakpoint}}.
18556 @subsubheading Example
18559 @subheading The @code{-break-insert} Command
18560 @findex -break-insert
18562 @subsubheading Synopsis
18565 -break-insert [ -t ] [ -h ] [ -f ]
18566 [ -c @var{condition} ] [ -i @var{ignore-count} ]
18567 [ -p @var{thread} ] [ @var{location} ]
18571 If specified, @var{location}, can be one of:
18578 @item filename:linenum
18579 @item filename:function
18583 The possible optional parameters of this command are:
18587 Insert a temporary breakpoint.
18589 Insert a hardware breakpoint.
18590 @item -c @var{condition}
18591 Make the breakpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
18592 @item -i @var{ignore-count}
18593 Initialize the @var{ignore-count}.
18595 If @var{location} cannot be parsed (for example if it
18596 refers to unknown files or functions), create a pending
18597 breakpoint. Without this flag, @value{GDBN} will report
18598 an error, and won't create a breakpoint, if @var{location}
18602 @subsubheading Result
18604 The result is in the form:
18607 ^done,bkpt=@{number="@var{number}",type="@var{type}",disp="del"|"keep",
18608 enabled="y"|"n",addr="@var{hex}",func="@var{funcname}",file="@var{filename}",
18609 fullname="@var{full_filename}",line="@var{lineno}",[thread="@var{threadno},]
18610 times="@var{times}"@}
18614 where @var{number} is the @value{GDBN} number for this breakpoint,
18615 @var{funcname} is the name of the function where the breakpoint was
18616 inserted, @var{filename} is the name of the source file which contains
18617 this function, @var{lineno} is the source line number within that file
18618 and @var{times} the number of times that the breakpoint has been hit
18619 (always 0 for -break-insert but may be greater for -break-info or -break-list
18620 which use the same output).
18622 Note: this format is open to change.
18623 @c An out-of-band breakpoint instead of part of the result?
18625 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
18627 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{break}, @samp{tbreak},
18628 @samp{hbreak}, @samp{thbreak}, and @samp{rbreak}.
18630 @subsubheading Example
18635 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",
18636 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="4",times="0"@}
18638 -break-insert -t foo
18639 ^done,bkpt=@{number="2",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c",
18640 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="11",times="0"@}
18643 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
18644 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
18645 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
18646 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
18647 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
18648 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
18649 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
18650 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
18651 addr="0x0001072c", func="main",file="recursive2.c",
18652 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,"line="4",times="0"@},
18653 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",
18654 addr="0x00010774",func="foo",file="recursive2.c",
18655 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",times="0"@}]@}
18657 -break-insert -r foo.*
18658 ~int foo(int, int);
18659 ^done,bkpt=@{number="3",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c,
18660 "fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",times="0"@}
18664 @subheading The @code{-break-list} Command
18665 @findex -break-list
18667 @subsubheading Synopsis
18673 Displays the list of inserted breakpoints, showing the following fields:
18677 number of the breakpoint
18679 type of the breakpoint: @samp{breakpoint} or @samp{watchpoint}
18681 should the breakpoint be deleted or disabled when it is hit: @samp{keep}
18684 is the breakpoint enabled or no: @samp{y} or @samp{n}
18686 memory location at which the breakpoint is set
18688 logical location of the breakpoint, expressed by function name, file
18691 number of times the breakpoint has been hit
18694 If there are no breakpoints or watchpoints, the @code{BreakpointTable}
18695 @code{body} field is an empty list.
18697 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
18699 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break}.
18701 @subsubheading Example
18706 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
18707 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
18708 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
18709 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
18710 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
18711 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
18712 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
18713 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
18714 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",line="5",times="0"@},
18715 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
18716 addr="0x00010114",func="foo",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
18717 line="13",times="0"@}]@}
18721 Here's an example of the result when there are no breakpoints:
18726 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
18727 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
18728 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
18729 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
18730 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
18731 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
18732 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
18737 @subheading The @code{-break-watch} Command
18738 @findex -break-watch
18740 @subsubheading Synopsis
18743 -break-watch [ -a | -r ]
18746 Create a watchpoint. With the @samp{-a} option it will create an
18747 @dfn{access} watchpoint, i.e., a watchpoint that triggers either on a
18748 read from or on a write to the memory location. With the @samp{-r}
18749 option, the watchpoint created is a @dfn{read} watchpoint, i.e., it will
18750 trigger only when the memory location is accessed for reading. Without
18751 either of the options, the watchpoint created is a regular watchpoint,
18752 i.e., it will trigger when the memory location is accessed for writing.
18753 @xref{Set Watchpoints, , Setting Watchpoints}.
18755 Note that @samp{-break-list} will report a single list of watchpoints and
18756 breakpoints inserted.
18758 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
18760 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{watch}, @samp{awatch}, and
18763 @subsubheading Example
18765 Setting a watchpoint on a variable in the @code{main} function:
18770 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@}
18775 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@},
18776 value=@{old="-268439212",new="55"@},
18777 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
18778 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="5"@}
18782 Setting a watchpoint on a variable local to a function. @value{GDBN} will stop
18783 the program execution twice: first for the variable changing value, then
18784 for the watchpoint going out of scope.
18789 ^done,wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@}
18794 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",
18795 wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@},value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
18796 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
18797 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
18798 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
18803 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="5",
18804 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
18805 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
18806 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
18807 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
18811 Listing breakpoints and watchpoints, at different points in the program
18812 execution. Note that once the watchpoint goes out of scope, it is
18818 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@}
18821 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
18822 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
18823 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
18824 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
18825 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
18826 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
18827 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
18828 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
18829 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
18830 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
18831 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c"line="8",times="1"@},
18832 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
18833 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",times="0"@}]@}
18838 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@},
18839 value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
18840 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
18841 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
18842 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
18845 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
18846 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
18847 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
18848 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
18849 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
18850 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
18851 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
18852 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
18853 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
18854 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
18855 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",times="1"@},
18856 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
18857 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",times="-5"@}]@}
18861 ^done,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="2",
18862 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
18863 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
18864 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
18865 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
18868 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
18869 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
18870 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
18871 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
18872 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
18873 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
18874 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
18875 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
18876 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
18877 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
18878 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",
18883 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
18884 @node GDB/MI Program Context
18885 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Context
18887 @subheading The @code{-exec-arguments} Command
18888 @findex -exec-arguments
18891 @subsubheading Synopsis
18894 -exec-arguments @var{args}
18897 Set the inferior program arguments, to be used in the next
18900 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
18902 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set args}.
18904 @subsubheading Example
18907 Don't have one around.
18910 @subheading The @code{-exec-show-arguments} Command
18911 @findex -exec-show-arguments
18913 @subsubheading Synopsis
18916 -exec-show-arguments
18919 Print the arguments of the program.
18921 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
18923 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show args}.
18925 @subsubheading Example
18929 @subheading The @code{-environment-cd} Command
18930 @findex -environment-cd
18932 @subsubheading Synopsis
18935 -environment-cd @var{pathdir}
18938 Set @value{GDBN}'s working directory.
18940 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
18942 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{cd}.
18944 @subsubheading Example
18948 -environment-cd /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
18954 @subheading The @code{-environment-directory} Command
18955 @findex -environment-directory
18957 @subsubheading Synopsis
18960 -environment-directory [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
18963 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for source files.
18964 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the default
18965 search path. If directories @var{pathdir} are supplied in addition to the
18966 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
18968 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
18969 multiple directories in a single command
18970 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
18971 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
18972 If blanks are needed as
18973 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
18974 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
18975 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
18976 character must not be used
18977 in any directory name.
18978 If no directories are specified, the current search path is displayed.
18980 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
18982 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{dir}.
18984 @subsubheading Example
18988 -environment-directory /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
18989 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
18991 -environment-directory ""
18992 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
18994 -environment-directory -r /home/jjohnstn/src/gdb /usr/src
18995 ^done,source-path="/home/jjohnstn/src/gdb:/usr/src:$cdir:$cwd"
18997 -environment-directory -r
18998 ^done,source-path="$cdir:$cwd"
19003 @subheading The @code{-environment-path} Command
19004 @findex -environment-path
19006 @subsubheading Synopsis
19009 -environment-path [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
19012 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for object files.
19013 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the original
19014 search path that existed at gdb start-up. If directories @var{pathdir} are
19015 supplied in addition to the
19016 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
19018 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
19019 multiple directories in a single command
19020 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
19021 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
19022 If blanks are needed as
19023 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
19024 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
19025 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
19026 character must not be used
19027 in any directory name.
19028 If no directories are specified, the current path is displayed.
19031 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
19033 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{path}.
19035 @subsubheading Example
19040 ^done,path="/usr/bin"
19042 -environment-path /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb /bin
19043 ^done,path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb:/bin:/usr/bin"
19045 -environment-path -r /usr/local/bin
19046 ^done,path="/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin"
19051 @subheading The @code{-environment-pwd} Command
19052 @findex -environment-pwd
19054 @subsubheading Synopsis
19060 Show the current working directory.
19062 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
19064 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{pwd}.
19066 @subsubheading Example
19071 ^done,cwd="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb"
19075 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
19076 @node GDB/MI Thread Commands
19077 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Commands
19080 @subheading The @code{-thread-info} Command
19081 @findex -thread-info
19083 @subsubheading Synopsis
19086 -thread-info [ @var{thread-id} ]
19089 Reports information about either a specific thread, if
19090 the @var{thread-id} parameter is present, or about all
19091 threads. When printing information about all threads,
19092 also reports the current thread.
19094 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
19096 The @samp{info thread} command prints the same information
19099 @subsubheading Example
19104 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
19105 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",args=[]@},
19106 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
19107 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
19108 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@}@}],
19109 current-thread-id="1"
19113 @subheading The @code{-thread-list-ids} Command
19114 @findex -thread-list-ids
19116 @subsubheading Synopsis
19122 Produces a list of the currently known @value{GDBN} thread ids. At the
19123 end of the list it also prints the total number of such threads.
19125 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
19127 Part of @samp{info threads} supplies the same information.
19129 @subsubheading Example
19131 No threads present, besides the main process:
19136 ^done,thread-ids=@{@},number-of-threads="0"
19146 ^done,thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
19147 number-of-threads="3"
19152 @subheading The @code{-thread-select} Command
19153 @findex -thread-select
19155 @subsubheading Synopsis
19158 -thread-select @var{threadnum}
19161 Make @var{threadnum} the current thread. It prints the number of the new
19162 current thread, and the topmost frame for that thread.
19164 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
19166 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{thread}.
19168 @subsubheading Example
19175 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",thread-id="2",line="187",
19176 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.threads/linux-dp.c"
19180 thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
19181 number-of-threads="3"
19184 ^done,new-thread-id="3",
19185 frame=@{level="0",func="vprintf",
19186 args=[@{name="format",value="0x8048e9c \"%*s%c %d %c\\n\""@},
19187 @{name="arg",value="0x2"@}],file="vprintf.c",line="31"@}
19191 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
19192 @node GDB/MI Program Execution
19193 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Execution
19195 These are the asynchronous commands which generate the out-of-band
19196 record @samp{*stopped}. Currently @value{GDBN} only really executes
19197 asynchronously with remote targets and this interaction is mimicked in
19200 @subheading The @code{-exec-continue} Command
19201 @findex -exec-continue
19203 @subsubheading Synopsis
19209 Resumes the execution of the inferior program until a breakpoint is
19210 encountered, or until the inferior exits.
19212 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
19214 The corresponding @value{GDBN} corresponding is @samp{continue}.
19216 @subsubheading Example
19223 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="2",frame=@{
19224 func="foo",args=[],file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",
19230 @subheading The @code{-exec-finish} Command
19231 @findex -exec-finish
19233 @subsubheading Synopsis
19239 Resumes the execution of the inferior program until the current
19240 function is exited. Displays the results returned by the function.
19242 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
19244 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{finish}.
19246 @subsubheading Example
19248 Function returning @code{void}.
19255 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
19256 file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",line="7"@}
19260 Function returning other than @code{void}. The name of the internal
19261 @value{GDBN} variable storing the result is printed, together with the
19268 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{addr="0x000107b0",func="foo",
19269 args=[@{name="a",value="1"],@{name="b",value="9"@}@},
19270 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
19271 gdb-result-var="$1",return-value="0"
19276 @subheading The @code{-exec-interrupt} Command
19277 @findex -exec-interrupt
19279 @subsubheading Synopsis
19285 Interrupts the background execution of the target. Note how the token
19286 associated with the stop message is the one for the execution command
19287 that has been interrupted. The token for the interrupt itself only
19288 appears in the @samp{^done} output. If the user is trying to
19289 interrupt a non-running program, an error message will be printed.
19291 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
19293 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interrupt}.
19295 @subsubheading Example
19306 111*stopped,signal-name="SIGINT",signal-meaning="Interrupt",
19307 frame=@{addr="0x00010140",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
19308 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="13"@}
19313 ^error,msg="mi_cmd_exec_interrupt: Inferior not executing."
19318 @subheading The @code{-exec-next} Command
19321 @subsubheading Synopsis
19327 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
19328 of the next source line is reached.
19330 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
19332 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{next}.
19334 @subsubheading Example
19340 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="8",file="hello.c"
19345 @subheading The @code{-exec-next-instruction} Command
19346 @findex -exec-next-instruction
19348 @subsubheading Synopsis
19351 -exec-next-instruction
19354 Executes one machine instruction. If the instruction is a function
19355 call, continues until the function returns. If the program stops at an
19356 instruction in the middle of a source line, the address will be
19359 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
19361 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{nexti}.
19363 @subsubheading Example
19367 -exec-next-instruction
19371 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
19372 addr="0x000100d4",line="5",file="hello.c"
19377 @subheading The @code{-exec-return} Command
19378 @findex -exec-return
19380 @subsubheading Synopsis
19386 Makes current function return immediately. Doesn't execute the inferior.
19387 Displays the new current frame.
19389 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
19391 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{return}.
19393 @subsubheading Example
19397 200-break-insert callee4
19398 200^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x00010734",
19399 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
19404 000*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
19405 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
19406 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
19407 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
19413 111^done,frame=@{level="0",func="callee3",
19414 args=[@{name="strarg",
19415 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
19416 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
19417 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
19422 @subheading The @code{-exec-run} Command
19425 @subsubheading Synopsis
19431 Starts execution of the inferior from the beginning. The inferior
19432 executes until either a breakpoint is encountered or the program
19433 exits. In the latter case the output will include an exit code, if
19434 the program has exited exceptionally.
19436 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
19438 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{run}.
19440 @subsubheading Examples
19445 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",line="4"@}
19450 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
19451 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
19452 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}
19457 Program exited normally:
19465 *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
19470 Program exited exceptionally:
19478 *stopped,reason="exited",exit-code="01"
19482 Another way the program can terminate is if it receives a signal such as
19483 @code{SIGINT}. In this case, @sc{gdb/mi} displays this:
19487 *stopped,reason="exited-signalled",signal-name="SIGINT",
19488 signal-meaning="Interrupt"
19492 @c @subheading -exec-signal
19495 @subheading The @code{-exec-step} Command
19498 @subsubheading Synopsis
19504 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
19505 of the next source line is reached, if the next source line is not a
19506 function call. If it is, stop at the first instruction of the called
19509 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
19511 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{step}.
19513 @subsubheading Example
19515 Stepping into a function:
19521 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
19522 frame=@{func="foo",args=[@{name="a",value="10"@},
19523 @{name="b",value="0"@}],file="recursive2.c",
19524 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@}
19534 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="14",file="recursive2.c"
19539 @subheading The @code{-exec-step-instruction} Command
19540 @findex -exec-step-instruction
19542 @subsubheading Synopsis
19545 -exec-step-instruction
19548 Resumes the inferior which executes one machine instruction. The
19549 output, once @value{GDBN} has stopped, will vary depending on whether
19550 we have stopped in the middle of a source line or not. In the former
19551 case, the address at which the program stopped will be printed as
19554 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
19556 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{stepi}.
19558 @subsubheading Example
19562 -exec-step-instruction
19566 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
19567 frame=@{func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
19568 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
19570 -exec-step-instruction
19574 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
19575 frame=@{addr="0x000100f4",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
19576 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
19581 @subheading The @code{-exec-until} Command
19582 @findex -exec-until
19584 @subsubheading Synopsis
19587 -exec-until [ @var{location} ]
19590 Executes the inferior until the @var{location} specified in the
19591 argument is reached. If there is no argument, the inferior executes
19592 until a source line greater than the current one is reached. The
19593 reason for stopping in this case will be @samp{location-reached}.
19595 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
19597 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{until}.
19599 @subsubheading Example
19603 -exec-until recursive2.c:6
19607 *stopped,reason="location-reached",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
19608 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="6"@}
19613 @subheading -file-clear
19614 Is this going away????
19617 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
19618 @node GDB/MI Stack Manipulation
19619 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Stack Manipulation Commands
19622 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-frame} Command
19623 @findex -stack-info-frame
19625 @subsubheading Synopsis
19631 Get info on the selected frame.
19633 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
19635 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info frame} or @samp{frame}
19636 (without arguments).
19638 @subsubheading Example
19643 ^done,frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
19644 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
19645 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@}
19649 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-depth} Command
19650 @findex -stack-info-depth
19652 @subsubheading Synopsis
19655 -stack-info-depth [ @var{max-depth} ]
19658 Return the depth of the stack. If the integer argument @var{max-depth}
19659 is specified, do not count beyond @var{max-depth} frames.
19661 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
19663 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
19665 @subsubheading Example
19667 For a stack with frame levels 0 through 11:
19674 -stack-info-depth 4
19677 -stack-info-depth 12
19680 -stack-info-depth 11
19683 -stack-info-depth 13
19688 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-arguments} Command
19689 @findex -stack-list-arguments
19691 @subsubheading Synopsis
19694 -stack-list-arguments @var{show-values}
19695 [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
19698 Display a list of the arguments for the frames between @var{low-frame}
19699 and @var{high-frame} (inclusive). If @var{low-frame} and
19700 @var{high-frame} are not provided, list the arguments for the whole
19701 call stack. If the two arguments are equal, show the single frame
19702 at the corresponding level. It is an error if @var{low-frame} is
19703 larger than the actual number of frames. On the other hand,
19704 @var{high-frame} may be larger than the actual number of frames, in
19705 which case only existing frames will be returned.
19707 The @var{show-values} argument must have a value of 0 or 1. A value of
19708 0 means that only the names of the arguments are listed, a value of 1
19709 means that both names and values of the arguments are printed.
19711 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
19713 @value{GDBN} does not have an equivalent command. @code{gdbtk} has a
19714 @samp{gdb_get_args} command which partially overlaps with the
19715 functionality of @samp{-stack-list-arguments}.
19717 @subsubheading Example
19724 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
19725 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
19726 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@},
19727 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
19728 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
19729 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@},
19730 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x0001078c",func="callee2",
19731 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
19732 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="22"@},
19733 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107b4",func="callee1",
19734 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
19735 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="27"@},
19736 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107e0",func="main",
19737 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
19738 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="32"@}]
19740 -stack-list-arguments 0
19743 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
19744 frame=@{level="1",args=[name="strarg"]@},
19745 frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@},
19746 frame=@{level="3",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg",name="fltarg"]@},
19747 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
19749 -stack-list-arguments 1
19752 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
19754 args=[@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
19755 frame=@{level="2",args=[
19756 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
19757 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
19758 @{frame=@{level="3",args=[
19759 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
19760 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@},
19761 @{name="fltarg",value="3.5"@}]@},
19762 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
19764 -stack-list-arguments 0 2 2
19765 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@}]
19767 -stack-list-arguments 1 2 2
19768 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",
19769 args=[@{name="intarg",value="2"@},
19770 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@}]
19774 @c @subheading -stack-list-exception-handlers
19777 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-frames} Command
19778 @findex -stack-list-frames
19780 @subsubheading Synopsis
19783 -stack-list-frames [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
19786 List the frames currently on the stack. For each frame it displays the
19791 The frame number, 0 being the topmost frame, i.e., the innermost function.
19793 The @code{$pc} value for that frame.
19797 File name of the source file where the function lives.
19799 Line number corresponding to the @code{$pc}.
19802 If invoked without arguments, this command prints a backtrace for the
19803 whole stack. If given two integer arguments, it shows the frames whose
19804 levels are between the two arguments (inclusive). If the two arguments
19805 are equal, it shows the single frame at the corresponding level. It is
19806 an error if @var{low-frame} is larger than the actual number of
19807 frames. On the other hand, @var{high-frame} may be larger than the
19808 actual number of frames, in which case only existing frames will be returned.
19810 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
19812 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{backtrace} and @samp{where}.
19814 @subsubheading Example
19816 Full stack backtrace:
19822 [frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0001076c",func="foo",
19823 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@},
19824 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
19825 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
19826 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
19827 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
19828 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
19829 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
19830 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
19831 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
19832 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
19833 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
19834 frame=@{level="6",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
19835 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
19836 frame=@{level="7",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
19837 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
19838 frame=@{level="8",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
19839 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
19840 frame=@{level="9",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
19841 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
19842 frame=@{level="10",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
19843 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
19844 frame=@{level="11",addr="0x00010738",func="main",
19845 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}]
19849 Show frames between @var{low_frame} and @var{high_frame}:
19853 -stack-list-frames 3 5
19855 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
19856 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
19857 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
19858 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
19859 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
19860 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
19864 Show a single frame:
19868 -stack-list-frames 3 3
19870 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
19871 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
19876 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-locals} Command
19877 @findex -stack-list-locals
19879 @subsubheading Synopsis
19882 -stack-list-locals @var{print-values}
19885 Display the local variable names for the selected frame. If
19886 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
19887 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
19888 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
19889 type and value for simple data types and the name and type for arrays,
19890 structures and unions. In this last case, a frontend can immediately
19891 display the value of simple data types and create variable objects for
19892 other data types when the user wishes to explore their values in
19895 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
19897 @samp{info locals} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_get_locals} in @code{gdbtk}.
19899 @subsubheading Example
19903 -stack-list-locals 0
19904 ^done,locals=[name="A",name="B",name="C"]
19906 -stack-list-locals --all-values
19907 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",value="1"@},@{name="B",value="2"@},
19908 @{name="C",value="@{1, 2, 3@}"@}]
19909 -stack-list-locals --simple-values
19910 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",type="int",value="1"@},
19911 @{name="B",type="int",value="2"@},@{name="C",type="int [3]"@}]
19916 @subheading The @code{-stack-select-frame} Command
19917 @findex -stack-select-frame
19919 @subsubheading Synopsis
19922 -stack-select-frame @var{framenum}
19925 Change the selected frame. Select a different frame @var{framenum} on
19928 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
19930 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{frame}, @samp{up},
19931 @samp{down}, @samp{select-frame}, @samp{up-silent}, and @samp{down-silent}.
19933 @subsubheading Example
19937 -stack-select-frame 2
19942 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
19943 @node GDB/MI Variable Objects
19944 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Variable Objects
19948 @subheading Motivation for Variable Objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
19950 For the implementation of a variable debugger window (locals, watched
19951 expressions, etc.), we are proposing the adaptation of the existing code
19952 used by @code{Insight}.
19954 The two main reasons for that are:
19958 It has been proven in practice (it is already on its second generation).
19961 It will shorten development time (needless to say how important it is
19965 The original interface was designed to be used by Tcl code, so it was
19966 slightly changed so it could be used through @sc{gdb/mi}. This section
19967 describes the @sc{gdb/mi} operations that will be available and gives some
19968 hints about their use.
19970 @emph{Note}: In addition to the set of operations described here, we
19971 expect the @sc{gui} implementation of a variable window to require, at
19972 least, the following operations:
19975 @item @code{-gdb-show} @code{output-radix}
19976 @item @code{-stack-list-arguments}
19977 @item @code{-stack-list-locals}
19978 @item @code{-stack-select-frame}
19983 @subheading Introduction to Variable Objects
19985 @cindex variable objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
19987 Variable objects are "object-oriented" MI interface for examining and
19988 changing values of expressions. Unlike some other MI interfaces that
19989 work with expressions, variable objects are specifically designed for
19990 simple and efficient presentation in the frontend. A variable object
19991 is identified by string name. When a variable object is created, the
19992 frontend specifies the expression for that variable object. The
19993 expression can be a simple variable, or it can be an arbitrary complex
19994 expression, and can even involve CPU registers. After creating a
19995 variable object, the frontend can invoke other variable object
19996 operations---for example to obtain or change the value of a variable
19997 object, or to change display format.
19999 Variable objects have hierarchical tree structure. Any variable object
20000 that corresponds to a composite type, such as structure in C, has
20001 a number of child variable objects, for example corresponding to each
20002 element of a structure. A child variable object can itself have
20003 children, recursively. Recursion ends when we reach
20004 leaf variable objects, which always have built-in types. Child variable
20005 objects are created only by explicit request, so if a frontend
20006 is not interested in the children of a particular variable object, no
20007 child will be created.
20009 For a leaf variable object it is possible to obtain its value as a
20010 string, or set the value from a string. String value can be also
20011 obtained for a non-leaf variable object, but it's generally a string
20012 that only indicates the type of the object, and does not list its
20013 contents. Assignment to a non-leaf variable object is not allowed.
20015 A frontend does not need to read the values of all variable objects each time
20016 the program stops. Instead, MI provides an update command that lists all
20017 variable objects whose values has changed since the last update
20018 operation. This considerably reduces the amount of data that must
20019 be transferred to the frontend. As noted above, children variable
20020 objects are created on demand, and only leaf variable objects have a
20021 real value. As result, gdb will read target memory only for leaf
20022 variables that frontend has created.
20024 The automatic update is not always desirable. For example, a frontend
20025 might want to keep a value of some expression for future reference,
20026 and never update it. For another example, fetching memory is
20027 relatively slow for embedded targets, so a frontend might want
20028 to disable automatic update for the variables that are either not
20029 visible on the screen, or ``closed''. This is possible using so
20030 called ``frozen variable objects''. Such variable objects are never
20031 implicitly updated.
20033 The following is the complete set of @sc{gdb/mi} operations defined to
20034 access this functionality:
20036 @multitable @columnfractions .4 .6
20037 @item @strong{Operation}
20038 @tab @strong{Description}
20040 @item @code{-var-create}
20041 @tab create a variable object
20042 @item @code{-var-delete}
20043 @tab delete the variable object and/or its children
20044 @item @code{-var-set-format}
20045 @tab set the display format of this variable
20046 @item @code{-var-show-format}
20047 @tab show the display format of this variable
20048 @item @code{-var-info-num-children}
20049 @tab tells how many children this object has
20050 @item @code{-var-list-children}
20051 @tab return a list of the object's children
20052 @item @code{-var-info-type}
20053 @tab show the type of this variable object
20054 @item @code{-var-info-expression}
20055 @tab print parent-relative expression that this variable object represents
20056 @item @code{-var-info-path-expression}
20057 @tab print full expression that this variable object represents
20058 @item @code{-var-show-attributes}
20059 @tab is this variable editable? does it exist here?
20060 @item @code{-var-evaluate-expression}
20061 @tab get the value of this variable
20062 @item @code{-var-assign}
20063 @tab set the value of this variable
20064 @item @code{-var-update}
20065 @tab update the variable and its children
20066 @item @code{-var-set-frozen}
20067 @tab set frozeness attribute
20070 In the next subsection we describe each operation in detail and suggest
20071 how it can be used.
20073 @subheading Description And Use of Operations on Variable Objects
20075 @subheading The @code{-var-create} Command
20076 @findex -var-create
20078 @subsubheading Synopsis
20081 -var-create @{@var{name} | "-"@}
20082 @{@var{frame-addr} | "*"@} @var{expression}
20085 This operation creates a variable object, which allows the monitoring of
20086 a variable, the result of an expression, a memory cell or a CPU
20089 The @var{name} parameter is the string by which the object can be
20090 referenced. It must be unique. If @samp{-} is specified, the varobj
20091 system will generate a string ``varNNNNNN'' automatically. It will be
20092 unique provided that one does not specify @var{name} on that format.
20093 The command fails if a duplicate name is found.
20095 The frame under which the expression should be evaluated can be
20096 specified by @var{frame-addr}. A @samp{*} indicates that the current
20097 frame should be used.
20099 @var{expression} is any expression valid on the current language set (must not
20100 begin with a @samp{*}), or one of the following:
20104 @samp{*@var{addr}}, where @var{addr} is the address of a memory cell
20107 @samp{*@var{addr}-@var{addr}} --- a memory address range (TBD)
20110 @samp{$@var{regname}} --- a CPU register name
20113 @subsubheading Result
20115 This operation returns the name, number of children and the type of the
20116 object created. Type is returned as a string as the ones generated by
20117 the @value{GDBN} CLI:
20120 name="@var{name}",numchild="N",type="@var{type}"
20124 @subheading The @code{-var-delete} Command
20125 @findex -var-delete
20127 @subsubheading Synopsis
20130 -var-delete [ -c ] @var{name}
20133 Deletes a previously created variable object and all of its children.
20134 With the @samp{-c} option, just deletes the children.
20136 Returns an error if the object @var{name} is not found.
20139 @subheading The @code{-var-set-format} Command
20140 @findex -var-set-format
20142 @subsubheading Synopsis
20145 -var-set-format @var{name} @var{format-spec}
20148 Sets the output format for the value of the object @var{name} to be
20151 @anchor{-var-set-format}
20152 The syntax for the @var{format-spec} is as follows:
20155 @var{format-spec} @expansion{}
20156 @{binary | decimal | hexadecimal | octal | natural@}
20159 The natural format is the default format choosen automatically
20160 based on the variable type (like decimal for an @code{int}, hex
20161 for pointers, etc.).
20163 For a variable with children, the format is set only on the
20164 variable itself, and the children are not affected.
20166 @subheading The @code{-var-show-format} Command
20167 @findex -var-show-format
20169 @subsubheading Synopsis
20172 -var-show-format @var{name}
20175 Returns the format used to display the value of the object @var{name}.
20178 @var{format} @expansion{}
20183 @subheading The @code{-var-info-num-children} Command
20184 @findex -var-info-num-children
20186 @subsubheading Synopsis
20189 -var-info-num-children @var{name}
20192 Returns the number of children of a variable object @var{name}:
20199 @subheading The @code{-var-list-children} Command
20200 @findex -var-list-children
20202 @subsubheading Synopsis
20205 -var-list-children [@var{print-values}] @var{name}
20207 @anchor{-var-list-children}
20209 Return a list of the children of the specified variable object and
20210 create variable objects for them, if they do not already exist. With
20211 a single argument or if @var{print-values} has a value for of 0 or
20212 @code{--no-values}, print only the names of the variables; if
20213 @var{print-values} is 1 or @code{--all-values}, also print their
20214 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values} print the name and
20215 value for simple data types and just the name for arrays, structures
20218 @subsubheading Example
20222 -var-list-children n
20223 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[@{name=@var{name},
20224 numchild=@var{n},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
20226 -var-list-children --all-values n
20227 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[@{name=@var{name},
20228 numchild=@var{n},value=@var{value},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
20232 @subheading The @code{-var-info-type} Command
20233 @findex -var-info-type
20235 @subsubheading Synopsis
20238 -var-info-type @var{name}
20241 Returns the type of the specified variable @var{name}. The type is
20242 returned as a string in the same format as it is output by the
20246 type=@var{typename}
20250 @subheading The @code{-var-info-expression} Command
20251 @findex -var-info-expression
20253 @subsubheading Synopsis
20256 -var-info-expression @var{name}
20259 Returns a string that is suitable for presenting this
20260 variable object in user interface. The string is generally
20261 not valid expression in the current language, and cannot be evaluated.
20263 For example, if @code{a} is an array, and variable object
20264 @code{A} was created for @code{a}, then we'll get this output:
20267 (gdb) -var-info-expression A.1
20268 ^done,lang="C",exp="1"
20272 Here, the values of @code{lang} can be @code{@{"C" | "C++" | "Java"@}}.
20274 Note that the output of the @code{-var-list-children} command also
20275 includes those expressions, so the @code{-var-info-expression} command
20278 @subheading The @code{-var-info-path-expression} Command
20279 @findex -var-info-path-expression
20281 @subsubheading Synopsis
20284 -var-info-path-expression @var{name}
20287 Returns an expression that can be evaluated in the current
20288 context and will yield the same value that a variable object has.
20289 Compare this with the @code{-var-info-expression} command, which
20290 result can be used only for UI presentation. Typical use of
20291 the @code{-var-info-path-expression} command is creating a
20292 watchpoint from a variable object.
20294 For example, suppose @code{C} is a C@t{++} class, derived from class
20295 @code{Base}, and that the @code{Base} class has a member called
20296 @code{m_size}. Assume a variable @code{c} is has the type of
20297 @code{C} and a variable object @code{C} was created for variable
20298 @code{c}. Then, we'll get this output:
20300 (gdb) -var-info-path-expression C.Base.public.m_size
20301 ^done,path_expr=((Base)c).m_size)
20304 @subheading The @code{-var-show-attributes} Command
20305 @findex -var-show-attributes
20307 @subsubheading Synopsis
20310 -var-show-attributes @var{name}
20313 List attributes of the specified variable object @var{name}:
20316 status=@var{attr} [ ( ,@var{attr} )* ]
20320 where @var{attr} is @code{@{ @{ editable | noneditable @} | TBD @}}.
20322 @subheading The @code{-var-evaluate-expression} Command
20323 @findex -var-evaluate-expression
20325 @subsubheading Synopsis
20328 -var-evaluate-expression [-f @var{format-spec}] @var{name}
20331 Evaluates the expression that is represented by the specified variable
20332 object and returns its value as a string. The format of the string
20333 can be specified with the @samp{-f} option. The possible values of
20334 this option are the same as for @code{-var-set-format}
20335 (@pxref{-var-set-format}). If the @samp{-f} option is not specified,
20336 the current display format will be used. The current display format
20337 can be changed using the @code{-var-set-format} command.
20343 Note that one must invoke @code{-var-list-children} for a variable
20344 before the value of a child variable can be evaluated.
20346 @subheading The @code{-var-assign} Command
20347 @findex -var-assign
20349 @subsubheading Synopsis
20352 -var-assign @var{name} @var{expression}
20355 Assigns the value of @var{expression} to the variable object specified
20356 by @var{name}. The object must be @samp{editable}. If the variable's
20357 value is altered by the assign, the variable will show up in any
20358 subsequent @code{-var-update} list.
20360 @subsubheading Example
20368 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",in_scope="true",type_changed="false"@}]
20372 @subheading The @code{-var-update} Command
20373 @findex -var-update
20375 @subsubheading Synopsis
20378 -var-update [@var{print-values}] @{@var{name} | "*"@}
20381 Reevaluate the expressions corresponding to the variable object
20382 @var{name} and all its direct and indirect children, and return the
20383 list of variable objects whose values have changed; @var{name} must
20384 be a root variable object. Here, ``changed'' means that the result of
20385 @code{-var-evaluate-expression} before and after the
20386 @code{-var-update} is different. If @samp{*} is used as the variable
20387 object names, all existing variable objects are updated, except
20388 for frozen ones (@pxref{-var-set-frozen}). The option
20389 @var{print-values} determines whether both names and values, or just
20390 names are printed. The possible values of this option are the same
20391 as for @code{-var-list-children} (@pxref{-var-list-children}). It is
20392 recommended to use the @samp{--all-values} option, to reduce the
20393 number of MI commands needed on each program stop.
20396 @subsubheading Example
20403 -var-update --all-values var1
20404 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",value="3",in_scope="true",
20405 type_changed="false"@}]
20409 @anchor{-var-update}
20410 The field in_scope may take three values:
20414 The variable object's current value is valid.
20417 The variable object does not currently hold a valid value but it may
20418 hold one in the future if its associated expression comes back into
20422 The variable object no longer holds a valid value.
20423 This can occur when the executable file being debugged has changed,
20424 either through recompilation or by using the @value{GDBN} @code{file}
20425 command. The front end should normally choose to delete these variable
20429 In the future new values may be added to this list so the front should
20430 be prepared for this possibility. @xref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, ,@sc{GDB/MI} Development and Front Ends}.
20432 @subheading The @code{-var-set-frozen} Command
20433 @findex -var-set-frozen
20434 @anchor{-var-set-frozen}
20436 @subsubheading Synopsis
20439 -var-set-frozen @var{name} @var{flag}
20442 Set the frozenness flag on the variable object @var{name}. The
20443 @var{flag} parameter should be either @samp{1} to make the variable
20444 frozen or @samp{0} to make it unfrozen. If a variable object is
20445 frozen, then neither itself, nor any of its children, are
20446 implicitly updated by @code{-var-update} of
20447 a parent variable or by @code{-var-update *}. Only
20448 @code{-var-update} of the variable itself will update its value and
20449 values of its children. After a variable object is unfrozen, it is
20450 implicitly updated by all subsequent @code{-var-update} operations.
20451 Unfreezing a variable does not update it, only subsequent
20452 @code{-var-update} does.
20454 @subsubheading Example
20458 -var-set-frozen V 1
20464 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
20465 @node GDB/MI Data Manipulation
20466 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Data Manipulation
20468 @cindex data manipulation, in @sc{gdb/mi}
20469 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, data manipulation
20470 This section describes the @sc{gdb/mi} commands that manipulate data:
20471 examine memory and registers, evaluate expressions, etc.
20473 @c REMOVED FROM THE INTERFACE.
20474 @c @subheading -data-assign
20475 @c Change the value of a program variable. Plenty of side effects.
20476 @c @subsubheading GDB Command
20478 @c @subsubheading Example
20481 @subheading The @code{-data-disassemble} Command
20482 @findex -data-disassemble
20484 @subsubheading Synopsis
20488 [ -s @var{start-addr} -e @var{end-addr} ]
20489 | [ -f @var{filename} -l @var{linenum} [ -n @var{lines} ] ]
20497 @item @var{start-addr}
20498 is the beginning address (or @code{$pc})
20499 @item @var{end-addr}
20501 @item @var{filename}
20502 is the name of the file to disassemble
20503 @item @var{linenum}
20504 is the line number to disassemble around
20506 is the number of disassembly lines to be produced. If it is -1,
20507 the whole function will be disassembled, in case no @var{end-addr} is
20508 specified. If @var{end-addr} is specified as a non-zero value, and
20509 @var{lines} is lower than the number of disassembly lines between
20510 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only @var{lines} lines are
20511 displayed; if @var{lines} is higher than the number of lines between
20512 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only the lines up to @var{end-addr}
20515 is either 0 (meaning only disassembly) or 1 (meaning mixed source and
20519 @subsubheading Result
20521 The output for each instruction is composed of four fields:
20530 Note that whatever included in the instruction field, is not manipulated
20531 directly by @sc{gdb/mi}, i.e., it is not possible to adjust its format.
20533 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
20535 There's no direct mapping from this command to the CLI.
20537 @subsubheading Example
20539 Disassemble from the current value of @code{$pc} to @code{$pc + 20}:
20543 -data-disassemble -s $pc -e "$pc + 20" -- 0
20546 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
20547 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
20548 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
20549 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
20550 @{address="0x000107c8",func-name="main",offset="12",
20551 inst="or %o2, 0x140, %o1\t! 0x11940 <_lib_version+8>"@},
20552 @{address="0x000107cc",func-name="main",offset="16",
20553 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
20554 @{address="0x000107d0",func-name="main",offset="20",
20555 inst="or %o2, 0x168, %o4\t! 0x11968 <_lib_version+48>"@}]
20559 Disassemble the whole @code{main} function. Line 32 is part of
20563 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -- 0
20565 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
20566 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
20567 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
20568 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
20569 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
20570 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
20572 @{address="0x0001081c",func-name="main",offset="96",inst="ret "@},
20573 @{address="0x00010820",func-name="main",offset="100",inst="restore "@}]
20577 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main}:
20581 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 0
20583 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
20584 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
20585 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
20586 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
20587 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
20588 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]
20592 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main} in mixed mode:
20596 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 1
20598 src_and_asm_line=@{line="31",
20599 file="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb/ \
20600 testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line_asm_insn=[
20601 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
20602 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@}]@},
20603 src_and_asm_line=@{line="32",
20604 file="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb/ \
20605 testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line_asm_insn=[
20606 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
20607 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
20608 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
20609 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]@}]
20614 @subheading The @code{-data-evaluate-expression} Command
20615 @findex -data-evaluate-expression
20617 @subsubheading Synopsis
20620 -data-evaluate-expression @var{expr}
20623 Evaluate @var{expr} as an expression. The expression could contain an
20624 inferior function call. The function call will execute synchronously.
20625 If the expression contains spaces, it must be enclosed in double quotes.
20627 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
20629 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{print}, @samp{output}, and
20630 @samp{call}. In @code{gdbtk} only, there's a corresponding
20631 @samp{gdb_eval} command.
20633 @subsubheading Example
20635 In the following example, the numbers that precede the commands are the
20636 @dfn{tokens} described in @ref{GDB/MI Command Syntax, ,@sc{gdb/mi}
20637 Command Syntax}. Notice how @sc{gdb/mi} returns the same tokens in its
20641 211-data-evaluate-expression A
20644 311-data-evaluate-expression &A
20645 311^done,value="0xefffeb7c"
20647 411-data-evaluate-expression A+3
20650 511-data-evaluate-expression "A + 3"
20656 @subheading The @code{-data-list-changed-registers} Command
20657 @findex -data-list-changed-registers
20659 @subsubheading Synopsis
20662 -data-list-changed-registers
20665 Display a list of the registers that have changed.
20667 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
20669 @value{GDBN} doesn't have a direct analog for this command; @code{gdbtk}
20670 has the corresponding command @samp{gdb_changed_register_list}.
20672 @subsubheading Example
20674 On a PPC MBX board:
20682 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",frame=@{
20683 func="main",args=[],file="try.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",
20686 -data-list-changed-registers
20687 ^done,changed-registers=["0","1","2","4","5","6","7","8","9",
20688 "10","11","13","14","15","16","17","18","19","20","21","22","23",
20689 "24","25","26","27","28","30","31","64","65","66","67","69"]
20694 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-names} Command
20695 @findex -data-list-register-names
20697 @subsubheading Synopsis
20700 -data-list-register-names [ ( @var{regno} )+ ]
20703 Show a list of register names for the current target. If no arguments
20704 are given, it shows a list of the names of all the registers. If
20705 integer numbers are given as arguments, it will print a list of the
20706 names of the registers corresponding to the arguments. To ensure
20707 consistency between a register name and its number, the output list may
20708 include empty register names.
20710 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
20712 @value{GDBN} does not have a command which corresponds to
20713 @samp{-data-list-register-names}. In @code{gdbtk} there is a
20714 corresponding command @samp{gdb_regnames}.
20716 @subsubheading Example
20718 For the PPC MBX board:
20721 -data-list-register-names
20722 ^done,register-names=["r0","r1","r2","r3","r4","r5","r6","r7",
20723 "r8","r9","r10","r11","r12","r13","r14","r15","r16","r17","r18",
20724 "r19","r20","r21","r22","r23","r24","r25","r26","r27","r28","r29",
20725 "r30","r31","f0","f1","f2","f3","f4","f5","f6","f7","f8","f9",
20726 "f10","f11","f12","f13","f14","f15","f16","f17","f18","f19","f20",
20727 "f21","f22","f23","f24","f25","f26","f27","f28","f29","f30","f31",
20728 "", "pc","ps","cr","lr","ctr","xer"]
20730 -data-list-register-names 1 2 3
20731 ^done,register-names=["r1","r2","r3"]
20735 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-values} Command
20736 @findex -data-list-register-values
20738 @subsubheading Synopsis
20741 -data-list-register-values @var{fmt} [ ( @var{regno} )*]
20744 Display the registers' contents. @var{fmt} is the format according to
20745 which the registers' contents are to be returned, followed by an optional
20746 list of numbers specifying the registers to display. A missing list of
20747 numbers indicates that the contents of all the registers must be returned.
20749 Allowed formats for @var{fmt} are:
20766 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
20768 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{info reg}, @samp{info
20769 all-reg}, and (in @code{gdbtk}) @samp{gdb_fetch_registers}.
20771 @subsubheading Example
20773 For a PPC MBX board (note: line breaks are for readability only, they
20774 don't appear in the actual output):
20778 -data-list-register-values r 64 65
20779 ^done,register-values=[@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
20780 @{number="65",value="0x00029002"@}]
20782 -data-list-register-values x
20783 ^done,register-values=[@{number="0",value="0xfe0043c8"@},
20784 @{number="1",value="0x3fff88"@},@{number="2",value="0xfffffffe"@},
20785 @{number="3",value="0x0"@},@{number="4",value="0xa"@},
20786 @{number="5",value="0x3fff68"@},@{number="6",value="0x3fff58"@},
20787 @{number="7",value="0xfe011e98"@},@{number="8",value="0x2"@},
20788 @{number="9",value="0xfa202820"@},@{number="10",value="0xfa202808"@},
20789 @{number="11",value="0x1"@},@{number="12",value="0x0"@},
20790 @{number="13",value="0x4544"@},@{number="14",value="0xffdfffff"@},
20791 @{number="15",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="16",value="0xfffffeff"@},
20792 @{number="17",value="0xefffffed"@},@{number="18",value="0xfffffffe"@},
20793 @{number="19",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="20",value="0xffffffff"@},
20794 @{number="21",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="22",value="0xfffffff7"@},
20795 @{number="23",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="24",value="0xffffffff"@},
20796 @{number="25",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="26",value="0xfffffffb"@},
20797 @{number="27",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="28",value="0xf7bfffff"@},
20798 @{number="29",value="0x0"@},@{number="30",value="0xfe010000"@},
20799 @{number="31",value="0x0"@},@{number="32",value="0x0"@},
20800 @{number="33",value="0x0"@},@{number="34",value="0x0"@},
20801 @{number="35",value="0x0"@},@{number="36",value="0x0"@},
20802 @{number="37",value="0x0"@},@{number="38",value="0x0"@},
20803 @{number="39",value="0x0"@},@{number="40",value="0x0"@},
20804 @{number="41",value="0x0"@},@{number="42",value="0x0"@},
20805 @{number="43",value="0x0"@},@{number="44",value="0x0"@},
20806 @{number="45",value="0x0"@},@{number="46",value="0x0"@},
20807 @{number="47",value="0x0"@},@{number="48",value="0x0"@},
20808 @{number="49",value="0x0"@},@{number="50",value="0x0"@},
20809 @{number="51",value="0x0"@},@{number="52",value="0x0"@},
20810 @{number="53",value="0x0"@},@{number="54",value="0x0"@},
20811 @{number="55",value="0x0"@},@{number="56",value="0x0"@},
20812 @{number="57",value="0x0"@},@{number="58",value="0x0"@},
20813 @{number="59",value="0x0"@},@{number="60",value="0x0"@},
20814 @{number="61",value="0x0"@},@{number="62",value="0x0"@},
20815 @{number="63",value="0x0"@},@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
20816 @{number="65",value="0x29002"@},@{number="66",value="0x202f04b5"@},
20817 @{number="67",value="0xfe0043b0"@},@{number="68",value="0xfe00b3e4"@},
20818 @{number="69",value="0x20002b03"@}]
20823 @subheading The @code{-data-read-memory} Command
20824 @findex -data-read-memory
20826 @subsubheading Synopsis
20829 -data-read-memory [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
20830 @var{address} @var{word-format} @var{word-size}
20831 @var{nr-rows} @var{nr-cols} [ @var{aschar} ]
20838 @item @var{address}
20839 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
20840 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
20841 quoted using the C convention.
20843 @item @var{word-format}
20844 The format to be used to print the memory words. The notation is the
20845 same as for @value{GDBN}'s @code{print} command (@pxref{Output Formats,
20848 @item @var{word-size}
20849 The size of each memory word in bytes.
20851 @item @var{nr-rows}
20852 The number of rows in the output table.
20854 @item @var{nr-cols}
20855 The number of columns in the output table.
20858 If present, indicates that each row should include an @sc{ascii} dump. The
20859 value of @var{aschar} is used as a padding character when a byte is not a
20860 member of the printable @sc{ascii} character set (printable @sc{ascii}
20861 characters are those whose code is between 32 and 126, inclusively).
20863 @item @var{byte-offset}
20864 An offset to add to the @var{address} before fetching memory.
20867 This command displays memory contents as a table of @var{nr-rows} by
20868 @var{nr-cols} words, each word being @var{word-size} bytes. In total,
20869 @code{@var{nr-rows} * @var{nr-cols} * @var{word-size}} bytes are read
20870 (returned as @samp{total-bytes}). Should less than the requested number
20871 of bytes be returned by the target, the missing words are identified
20872 using @samp{N/A}. The number of bytes read from the target is returned
20873 in @samp{nr-bytes} and the starting address used to read memory in
20876 The address of the next/previous row or page is available in
20877 @samp{next-row} and @samp{prev-row}, @samp{next-page} and
20880 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
20882 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}. @code{gdbtk} has
20883 @samp{gdb_get_mem} memory read command.
20885 @subsubheading Example
20887 Read six bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+6} but then offset by
20888 @code{-6} bytes. Format as three rows of two columns. One byte per
20889 word. Display each word in hex.
20893 9-data-read-memory -o -6 -- bytes+6 x 1 3 2
20894 9^done,addr="0x00001390",nr-bytes="6",total-bytes="6",
20895 next-row="0x00001396",prev-row="0x0000138e",next-page="0x00001396",
20896 prev-page="0x0000138a",memory=[
20897 @{addr="0x00001390",data=["0x00","0x01"]@},
20898 @{addr="0x00001392",data=["0x02","0x03"]@},
20899 @{addr="0x00001394",data=["0x04","0x05"]@}]
20903 Read two bytes of memory starting at address @code{shorts + 64} and
20904 display as a single word formatted in decimal.
20908 5-data-read-memory shorts+64 d 2 1 1
20909 5^done,addr="0x00001510",nr-bytes="2",total-bytes="2",
20910 next-row="0x00001512",prev-row="0x0000150e",
20911 next-page="0x00001512",prev-page="0x0000150e",memory=[
20912 @{addr="0x00001510",data=["128"]@}]
20916 Read thirty two bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+16} and format
20917 as eight rows of four columns. Include a string encoding with @samp{x}
20918 used as the non-printable character.
20922 4-data-read-memory bytes+16 x 1 8 4 x
20923 4^done,addr="0x000013a0",nr-bytes="32",total-bytes="32",
20924 next-row="0x000013c0",prev-row="0x0000139c",
20925 next-page="0x000013c0",prev-page="0x00001380",memory=[
20926 @{addr="0x000013a0",data=["0x10","0x11","0x12","0x13"],ascii="xxxx"@},
20927 @{addr="0x000013a4",data=["0x14","0x15","0x16","0x17"],ascii="xxxx"@},
20928 @{addr="0x000013a8",data=["0x18","0x19","0x1a","0x1b"],ascii="xxxx"@},
20929 @{addr="0x000013ac",data=["0x1c","0x1d","0x1e","0x1f"],ascii="xxxx"@},
20930 @{addr="0x000013b0",data=["0x20","0x21","0x22","0x23"],ascii=" !\"#"@},
20931 @{addr="0x000013b4",data=["0x24","0x25","0x26","0x27"],ascii="$%&'"@},
20932 @{addr="0x000013b8",data=["0x28","0x29","0x2a","0x2b"],ascii="()*+"@},
20933 @{addr="0x000013bc",data=["0x2c","0x2d","0x2e","0x2f"],ascii=",-./"@}]
20937 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
20938 @node GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands
20939 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Tracepoint Commands
20941 The tracepoint commands are not yet implemented.
20943 @c @subheading -trace-actions
20945 @c @subheading -trace-delete
20947 @c @subheading -trace-disable
20949 @c @subheading -trace-dump
20951 @c @subheading -trace-enable
20953 @c @subheading -trace-exists
20955 @c @subheading -trace-find
20957 @c @subheading -trace-frame-number
20959 @c @subheading -trace-info
20961 @c @subheading -trace-insert
20963 @c @subheading -trace-list
20965 @c @subheading -trace-pass-count
20967 @c @subheading -trace-save
20969 @c @subheading -trace-start
20971 @c @subheading -trace-stop
20974 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
20975 @node GDB/MI Symbol Query
20976 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Symbol Query Commands
20979 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-address} Command
20980 @findex -symbol-info-address
20982 @subsubheading Synopsis
20985 -symbol-info-address @var{symbol}
20988 Describe where @var{symbol} is stored.
20990 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
20992 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info address}.
20994 @subsubheading Example
20998 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-file} Command
20999 @findex -symbol-info-file
21001 @subsubheading Synopsis
21007 Show the file for the symbol.
21009 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21011 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command. @code{gdbtk} has
21012 @samp{gdb_find_file}.
21014 @subsubheading Example
21018 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-function} Command
21019 @findex -symbol-info-function
21021 @subsubheading Synopsis
21024 -symbol-info-function
21027 Show which function the symbol lives in.
21029 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21031 @samp{gdb_get_function} in @code{gdbtk}.
21033 @subsubheading Example
21037 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-line} Command
21038 @findex -symbol-info-line
21040 @subsubheading Synopsis
21046 Show the core addresses of the code for a source line.
21048 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21050 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info line}.
21051 @code{gdbtk} has the @samp{gdb_get_line} and @samp{gdb_get_file} commands.
21053 @subsubheading Example
21057 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-symbol} Command
21058 @findex -symbol-info-symbol
21060 @subsubheading Synopsis
21063 -symbol-info-symbol @var{addr}
21066 Describe what symbol is at location @var{addr}.
21068 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21070 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info symbol}.
21072 @subsubheading Example
21076 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-functions} Command
21077 @findex -symbol-list-functions
21079 @subsubheading Synopsis
21082 -symbol-list-functions
21085 List the functions in the executable.
21087 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21089 @samp{info functions} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_listfunc} and
21090 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
21092 @subsubheading Example
21096 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-lines} Command
21097 @findex -symbol-list-lines
21099 @subsubheading Synopsis
21102 -symbol-list-lines @var{filename}
21105 Print the list of lines that contain code and their associated program
21106 addresses for the given source filename. The entries are sorted in
21107 ascending PC order.
21109 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21111 There is no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
21113 @subsubheading Example
21116 -symbol-list-lines basics.c
21117 ^done,lines=[@{pc="0x08048554",line="7"@},@{pc="0x0804855a",line="8"@}]
21122 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-types} Command
21123 @findex -symbol-list-types
21125 @subsubheading Synopsis
21131 List all the type names.
21133 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21135 The corresponding commands are @samp{info types} in @value{GDBN},
21136 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
21138 @subsubheading Example
21142 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-variables} Command
21143 @findex -symbol-list-variables
21145 @subsubheading Synopsis
21148 -symbol-list-variables
21151 List all the global and static variable names.
21153 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21155 @samp{info variables} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
21157 @subsubheading Example
21161 @subheading The @code{-symbol-locate} Command
21162 @findex -symbol-locate
21164 @subsubheading Synopsis
21170 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21172 @samp{gdb_loc} in @code{gdbtk}.
21174 @subsubheading Example
21178 @subheading The @code{-symbol-type} Command
21179 @findex -symbol-type
21181 @subsubheading Synopsis
21184 -symbol-type @var{variable}
21187 Show type of @var{variable}.
21189 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21191 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ptype}, @code{gdbtk} has
21192 @samp{gdb_obj_variable}.
21194 @subsubheading Example
21198 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
21199 @node GDB/MI File Commands
21200 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Commands
21202 This section describes the GDB/MI commands to specify executable file names
21203 and to read in and obtain symbol table information.
21205 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-and-symbols} Command
21206 @findex -file-exec-and-symbols
21208 @subsubheading Synopsis
21211 -file-exec-and-symbols @var{file}
21214 Specify the executable file to be debugged. This file is the one from
21215 which the symbol table is also read. If no file is specified, the
21216 command clears the executable and symbol information. If breakpoints
21217 are set when using this command with no arguments, @value{GDBN} will produce
21218 error messages. Otherwise, no output is produced, except a completion
21221 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21223 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{file}.
21225 @subsubheading Example
21229 -file-exec-and-symbols /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
21235 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-file} Command
21236 @findex -file-exec-file
21238 @subsubheading Synopsis
21241 -file-exec-file @var{file}
21244 Specify the executable file to be debugged. Unlike
21245 @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols}, the symbol table is @emph{not} read
21246 from this file. If used without argument, @value{GDBN} clears the information
21247 about the executable file. No output is produced, except a completion
21250 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21252 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{exec-file}.
21254 @subsubheading Example
21258 -file-exec-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
21264 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-sections} Command
21265 @findex -file-list-exec-sections
21267 @subsubheading Synopsis
21270 -file-list-exec-sections
21273 List the sections of the current executable file.
21275 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21277 The @value{GDBN} command @samp{info file} shows, among the rest, the same
21278 information as this command. @code{gdbtk} has a corresponding command
21279 @samp{gdb_load_info}.
21281 @subsubheading Example
21285 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-file} Command
21286 @findex -file-list-exec-source-file
21288 @subsubheading Synopsis
21291 -file-list-exec-source-file
21294 List the line number, the current source file, and the absolute path
21295 to the current source file for the current executable. The macro
21296 information field has a value of @samp{1} or @samp{0} depending on
21297 whether or not the file includes preprocessor macro information.
21299 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21301 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info source}
21303 @subsubheading Example
21307 123-file-list-exec-source-file
21308 123^done,line="1",file="foo.c",fullname="/home/bar/foo.c,macro-info="1"
21313 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-files} Command
21314 @findex -file-list-exec-source-files
21316 @subsubheading Synopsis
21319 -file-list-exec-source-files
21322 List the source files for the current executable.
21324 It will always output the filename, but only when @value{GDBN} can find
21325 the absolute file name of a source file, will it output the fullname.
21327 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21329 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info sources}.
21330 @code{gdbtk} has an analogous command @samp{gdb_listfiles}.
21332 @subsubheading Example
21335 -file-list-exec-source-files
21337 @{file=foo.c,fullname=/home/foo.c@},
21338 @{file=/home/bar.c,fullname=/home/bar.c@},
21339 @{file=gdb_could_not_find_fullpath.c@}]
21343 @subheading The @code{-file-list-shared-libraries} Command
21344 @findex -file-list-shared-libraries
21346 @subsubheading Synopsis
21349 -file-list-shared-libraries
21352 List the shared libraries in the program.
21354 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21356 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info shared}.
21358 @subsubheading Example
21362 @subheading The @code{-file-list-symbol-files} Command
21363 @findex -file-list-symbol-files
21365 @subsubheading Synopsis
21368 -file-list-symbol-files
21373 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21375 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info file} (part of it).
21377 @subsubheading Example
21381 @subheading The @code{-file-symbol-file} Command
21382 @findex -file-symbol-file
21384 @subsubheading Synopsis
21387 -file-symbol-file @var{file}
21390 Read symbol table info from the specified @var{file} argument. When
21391 used without arguments, clears @value{GDBN}'s symbol table info. No output is
21392 produced, except for a completion notification.
21394 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21396 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{symbol-file}.
21398 @subsubheading Example
21402 -file-symbol-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
21408 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
21409 @node GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands
21410 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Memory Overlay Commands
21412 The memory overlay commands are not implemented.
21414 @c @subheading -overlay-auto
21416 @c @subheading -overlay-list-mapping-state
21418 @c @subheading -overlay-list-overlays
21420 @c @subheading -overlay-map
21422 @c @subheading -overlay-off
21424 @c @subheading -overlay-on
21426 @c @subheading -overlay-unmap
21428 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
21429 @node GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands
21430 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Signal Handling Commands
21432 Signal handling commands are not implemented.
21434 @c @subheading -signal-handle
21436 @c @subheading -signal-list-handle-actions
21438 @c @subheading -signal-list-signal-types
21442 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
21443 @node GDB/MI Target Manipulation
21444 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Target Manipulation Commands
21447 @subheading The @code{-target-attach} Command
21448 @findex -target-attach
21450 @subsubheading Synopsis
21453 -target-attach @var{pid} | @var{file}
21456 Attach to a process @var{pid} or a file @var{file} outside of @value{GDBN}.
21458 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21460 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{attach}.
21462 @subsubheading Example
21466 @subheading The @code{-target-compare-sections} Command
21467 @findex -target-compare-sections
21469 @subsubheading Synopsis
21472 -target-compare-sections [ @var{section} ]
21475 Compare data of section @var{section} on target to the exec file.
21476 Without the argument, all sections are compared.
21478 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21480 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{compare-sections}.
21482 @subsubheading Example
21486 @subheading The @code{-target-detach} Command
21487 @findex -target-detach
21489 @subsubheading Synopsis
21495 Detach from the remote target which normally resumes its execution.
21498 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21500 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{detach}.
21502 @subsubheading Example
21512 @subheading The @code{-target-disconnect} Command
21513 @findex -target-disconnect
21515 @subsubheading Synopsis
21521 Disconnect from the remote target. There's no output and the target is
21522 generally not resumed.
21524 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21526 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disconnect}.
21528 @subsubheading Example
21538 @subheading The @code{-target-download} Command
21539 @findex -target-download
21541 @subsubheading Synopsis
21547 Loads the executable onto the remote target.
21548 It prints out an update message every half second, which includes the fields:
21552 The name of the section.
21554 The size of what has been sent so far for that section.
21556 The size of the section.
21558 The total size of what was sent so far (the current and the previous sections).
21560 The size of the overall executable to download.
21564 Each message is sent as status record (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, ,
21565 @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax}).
21567 In addition, it prints the name and size of the sections, as they are
21568 downloaded. These messages include the following fields:
21572 The name of the section.
21574 The size of the section.
21576 The size of the overall executable to download.
21580 At the end, a summary is printed.
21582 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21584 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{load}.
21586 @subsubheading Example
21588 Note: each status message appears on a single line. Here the messages
21589 have been broken down so that they can fit onto a page.
21594 +download,@{section=".text",section-size="6668",total-size="9880"@}
21595 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="512",section-size="6668",
21596 total-sent="512",total-size="9880"@}
21597 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1024",section-size="6668",
21598 total-sent="1024",total-size="9880"@}
21599 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1536",section-size="6668",
21600 total-sent="1536",total-size="9880"@}
21601 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2048",section-size="6668",
21602 total-sent="2048",total-size="9880"@}
21603 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2560",section-size="6668",
21604 total-sent="2560",total-size="9880"@}
21605 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3072",section-size="6668",
21606 total-sent="3072",total-size="9880"@}
21607 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3584",section-size="6668",
21608 total-sent="3584",total-size="9880"@}
21609 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4096",section-size="6668",
21610 total-sent="4096",total-size="9880"@}
21611 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4608",section-size="6668",
21612 total-sent="4608",total-size="9880"@}
21613 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5120",section-size="6668",
21614 total-sent="5120",total-size="9880"@}
21615 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5632",section-size="6668",
21616 total-sent="5632",total-size="9880"@}
21617 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6144",section-size="6668",
21618 total-sent="6144",total-size="9880"@}
21619 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6656",section-size="6668",
21620 total-sent="6656",total-size="9880"@}
21621 +download,@{section=".init",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
21622 +download,@{section=".fini",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
21623 +download,@{section=".data",section-size="3156",total-size="9880"@}
21624 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="512",section-size="3156",
21625 total-sent="7236",total-size="9880"@}
21626 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1024",section-size="3156",
21627 total-sent="7748",total-size="9880"@}
21628 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1536",section-size="3156",
21629 total-sent="8260",total-size="9880"@}
21630 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2048",section-size="3156",
21631 total-sent="8772",total-size="9880"@}
21632 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2560",section-size="3156",
21633 total-sent="9284",total-size="9880"@}
21634 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="3072",section-size="3156",
21635 total-sent="9796",total-size="9880"@}
21636 ^done,address="0x10004",load-size="9880",transfer-rate="6586",
21642 @subheading The @code{-target-exec-status} Command
21643 @findex -target-exec-status
21645 @subsubheading Synopsis
21648 -target-exec-status
21651 Provide information on the state of the target (whether it is running or
21652 not, for instance).
21654 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21656 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
21658 @subsubheading Example
21662 @subheading The @code{-target-list-available-targets} Command
21663 @findex -target-list-available-targets
21665 @subsubheading Synopsis
21668 -target-list-available-targets
21671 List the possible targets to connect to.
21673 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21675 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{help target}.
21677 @subsubheading Example
21681 @subheading The @code{-target-list-current-targets} Command
21682 @findex -target-list-current-targets
21684 @subsubheading Synopsis
21687 -target-list-current-targets
21690 Describe the current target.
21692 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21694 The corresponding information is printed by @samp{info file} (among
21697 @subsubheading Example
21701 @subheading The @code{-target-list-parameters} Command
21702 @findex -target-list-parameters
21704 @subsubheading Synopsis
21707 -target-list-parameters
21712 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21716 @subsubheading Example
21720 @subheading The @code{-target-select} Command
21721 @findex -target-select
21723 @subsubheading Synopsis
21726 -target-select @var{type} @var{parameters @dots{}}
21729 Connect @value{GDBN} to the remote target. This command takes two args:
21733 The type of target, for instance @samp{async}, @samp{remote}, etc.
21734 @item @var{parameters}
21735 Device names, host names and the like. @xref{Target Commands, ,
21736 Commands for Managing Targets}, for more details.
21739 The output is a connection notification, followed by the address at
21740 which the target program is, in the following form:
21743 ^connected,addr="@var{address}",func="@var{function name}",
21744 args=[@var{arg list}]
21747 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21749 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{target}.
21751 @subsubheading Example
21755 -target-select async /dev/ttya
21756 ^connected,addr="0xfe00a300",func="??",args=[]
21760 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
21761 @node GDB/MI File Transfer Commands
21762 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Transfer Commands
21765 @subheading The @code{-target-file-put} Command
21766 @findex -target-file-put
21768 @subsubheading Synopsis
21771 -target-file-put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
21774 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
21775 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
21777 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21779 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote put}.
21781 @subsubheading Example
21785 -target-file-put localfile remotefile
21791 @subheading The @code{-target-file-put} Command
21792 @findex -target-file-get
21794 @subsubheading Synopsis
21797 -target-file-get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
21800 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
21801 on the host system.
21803 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21805 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote get}.
21807 @subsubheading Example
21811 -target-file-get remotefile localfile
21817 @subheading The @code{-target-file-delete} Command
21818 @findex -target-file-delete
21820 @subsubheading Synopsis
21823 -target-file-delete @var{targetfile}
21826 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
21828 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21830 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote delete}.
21832 @subsubheading Example
21836 -target-file-delete remotefile
21842 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
21843 @node GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands
21844 @section Miscellaneous @sc{gdb/mi} Commands
21846 @c @subheading -gdb-complete
21848 @subheading The @code{-gdb-exit} Command
21851 @subsubheading Synopsis
21857 Exit @value{GDBN} immediately.
21859 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21861 Approximately corresponds to @samp{quit}.
21863 @subsubheading Example
21872 @subheading The @code{-exec-abort} Command
21873 @findex -exec-abort
21875 @subsubheading Synopsis
21881 Kill the inferior running program.
21883 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21885 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{kill}.
21887 @subsubheading Example
21891 @subheading The @code{-gdb-set} Command
21894 @subsubheading Synopsis
21900 Set an internal @value{GDBN} variable.
21901 @c IS THIS A DOLLAR VARIABLE? OR SOMETHING LIKE ANNOTATE ?????
21903 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21905 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set}.
21907 @subsubheading Example
21917 @subheading The @code{-gdb-show} Command
21920 @subsubheading Synopsis
21926 Show the current value of a @value{GDBN} variable.
21928 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21930 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show}.
21932 @subsubheading Example
21941 @c @subheading -gdb-source
21944 @subheading The @code{-gdb-version} Command
21945 @findex -gdb-version
21947 @subsubheading Synopsis
21953 Show version information for @value{GDBN}. Used mostly in testing.
21955 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21957 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{show version}. @value{GDBN} by
21958 default shows this information when you start an interactive session.
21960 @subsubheading Example
21962 @c This example modifies the actual output from GDB to avoid overfull
21968 ~Copyright 2000 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
21969 ~GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License, and
21970 ~you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it under
21971 ~ certain conditions.
21972 ~Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
21973 ~There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty" for
21975 ~This GDB was configured as
21976 "--host=sparc-sun-solaris2.5.1 --target=ppc-eabi".
21981 @subheading The @code{-list-features} Command
21982 @findex -list-features
21984 Returns a list of particular features of the MI protocol that
21985 this version of gdb implements. A feature can be a command,
21986 or a new field in an output of some command, or even an
21987 important bugfix. While a frontend can sometimes detect presence
21988 of a feature at runtime, it is easier to perform detection at debugger
21991 The command returns a list of strings, with each string naming an
21992 available feature. Each returned string is just a name, it does not
21993 have any internal structure. The list of possible feature names
21999 (gdb) -list-features
22000 ^done,result=["feature1","feature2"]
22003 The current list of features is:
22007 @samp{frozen-varobjs}---indicates presence of the
22008 @code{-var-set-frozen} command, as well as possible presense of the
22009 @code{frozen} field in the output of @code{-varobj-create}.
22011 @samp{pending-breakpoints}---indicates presence of the @code{-f}
22012 option to the @code{-break-insert} command.
22014 @samp{thread-info}---indicates presence of the @code{-thread-info} command.
22018 @subheading The @code{-interpreter-exec} Command
22019 @findex -interpreter-exec
22021 @subheading Synopsis
22024 -interpreter-exec @var{interpreter} @var{command}
22026 @anchor{-interpreter-exec}
22028 Execute the specified @var{command} in the given @var{interpreter}.
22030 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
22032 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interpreter-exec}.
22034 @subheading Example
22038 -interpreter-exec console "break main"
22039 &"During symbol reading, couldn't parse type; debugger out of date?.\n"
22040 &"During symbol reading, bad structure-type format.\n"
22041 ~"Breakpoint 1 at 0x8074fc6: file ../../src/gdb/main.c, line 743.\n"
22046 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-set} Command
22047 @findex -inferior-tty-set
22049 @subheading Synopsis
22052 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
22055 Set terminal for future runs of the program being debugged.
22057 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
22059 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set inferior-tty} /dev/pts/1.
22061 @subheading Example
22065 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
22070 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-show} Command
22071 @findex -inferior-tty-show
22073 @subheading Synopsis
22079 Show terminal for future runs of program being debugged.
22081 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
22083 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show inferior-tty}.
22085 @subheading Example
22089 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
22093 ^done,inferior_tty_terminal="/dev/pts/1"
22097 @subheading The @code{-enable-timings} Command
22098 @findex -enable-timings
22100 @subheading Synopsis
22103 -enable-timings [yes | no]
22106 Toggle the printing of the wallclock, user and system times for an MI
22107 command as a field in its output. This command is to help frontend
22108 developers optimize the performance of their code. No argument is
22109 equivalent to @samp{yes}.
22111 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
22115 @subheading Example
22123 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
22124 addr="0x080484ed",func="main",file="myprog.c",
22125 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73",times="0"@},
22126 time=@{wallclock="0.05185",user="0.00800",system="0.00000"@}
22134 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
22135 frame=@{addr="0x080484ed",func="main",args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},
22136 @{name="argv",value="0xbfb60364"@}],file="myprog.c",
22137 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73"@}
22142 @chapter @value{GDBN} Annotations
22144 This chapter describes annotations in @value{GDBN}. Annotations were
22145 designed to interface @value{GDBN} to graphical user interfaces or other
22146 similar programs which want to interact with @value{GDBN} at a
22147 relatively high level.
22149 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
22153 This is Edition @value{EDITION}, @value{DATE}.
22157 * Annotations Overview:: What annotations are; the general syntax.
22158 * Server Prefix:: Issuing a command without affecting user state.
22159 * Prompting:: Annotations marking @value{GDBN}'s need for input.
22160 * Errors:: Annotations for error messages.
22161 * Invalidation:: Some annotations describe things now invalid.
22162 * Annotations for Running::
22163 Whether the program is running, how it stopped, etc.
22164 * Source Annotations:: Annotations describing source code.
22167 @node Annotations Overview
22168 @section What is an Annotation?
22169 @cindex annotations
22171 Annotations start with a newline character, two @samp{control-z}
22172 characters, and the name of the annotation. If there is no additional
22173 information associated with this annotation, the name of the annotation
22174 is followed immediately by a newline. If there is additional
22175 information, the name of the annotation is followed by a space, the
22176 additional information, and a newline. The additional information
22177 cannot contain newline characters.
22179 Any output not beginning with a newline and two @samp{control-z}
22180 characters denotes literal output from @value{GDBN}. Currently there is
22181 no need for @value{GDBN} to output a newline followed by two
22182 @samp{control-z} characters, but if there was such a need, the
22183 annotations could be extended with an @samp{escape} annotation which
22184 means those three characters as output.
22186 The annotation @var{level}, which is specified using the
22187 @option{--annotate} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}), controls
22188 how much information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt,
22189 values of expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0
22190 is for no annotations, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a
22191 subprocess of @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable
22192 for programs that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 annotations have
22193 been made obsolete (@pxref{Limitations, , Limitations of the Annotation
22194 Interface, annotate, GDB's Obsolete Annotations}).
22197 @kindex set annotate
22198 @item set annotate @var{level}
22199 The @value{GDBN} command @code{set annotate} sets the level of
22200 annotations to the specified @var{level}.
22202 @item show annotate
22203 @kindex show annotate
22204 Show the current annotation level.
22207 This chapter describes level 3 annotations.
22209 A simple example of starting up @value{GDBN} with annotations is:
22212 $ @kbd{gdb --annotate=3}
22214 Copyright 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
22215 GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License,
22216 and you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it
22217 under certain conditions.
22218 Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
22219 There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty"
22221 This GDB was configured as "i386-pc-linux-gnu"
22232 Here @samp{quit} is input to @value{GDBN}; the rest is output from
22233 @value{GDBN}. The three lines beginning @samp{^Z^Z} (where @samp{^Z}
22234 denotes a @samp{control-z} character) are annotations; the rest is
22235 output from @value{GDBN}.
22237 @node Server Prefix
22238 @section The Server Prefix
22239 @cindex server prefix
22241 If you prefix a command with @samp{server } then it will not affect
22242 the command history, nor will it affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which
22243 command to repeat if @key{RET} is pressed on a line by itself. This
22244 means that commands can be run behind a user's back by a front-end in
22245 a transparent manner.
22247 The server prefix does not affect the recording of values into the value
22248 history; to print a value without recording it into the value history,
22249 use the @code{output} command instead of the @code{print} command.
22252 @section Annotation for @value{GDBN} Input
22254 @cindex annotations for prompts
22255 When @value{GDBN} prompts for input, it annotates this fact so it is possible
22256 to know when to send output, when the output from a given command is
22259 Different kinds of input each have a different @dfn{input type}. Each
22260 input type has three annotations: a @code{pre-} annotation, which
22261 denotes the beginning of any prompt which is being output, a plain
22262 annotation, which denotes the end of the prompt, and then a @code{post-}
22263 annotation which denotes the end of any echo which may (or may not) be
22264 associated with the input. For example, the @code{prompt} input type
22265 features the following annotations:
22273 The input types are
22276 @findex pre-prompt annotation
22277 @findex prompt annotation
22278 @findex post-prompt annotation
22280 When @value{GDBN} is prompting for a command (the main @value{GDBN} prompt).
22282 @findex pre-commands annotation
22283 @findex commands annotation
22284 @findex post-commands annotation
22286 When @value{GDBN} prompts for a set of commands, like in the @code{commands}
22287 command. The annotations are repeated for each command which is input.
22289 @findex pre-overload-choice annotation
22290 @findex overload-choice annotation
22291 @findex post-overload-choice annotation
22292 @item overload-choice
22293 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to select between various overloaded functions.
22295 @findex pre-query annotation
22296 @findex query annotation
22297 @findex post-query annotation
22299 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to confirm a potentially dangerous operation.
22301 @findex pre-prompt-for-continue annotation
22302 @findex prompt-for-continue annotation
22303 @findex post-prompt-for-continue annotation
22304 @item prompt-for-continue
22305 When @value{GDBN} is asking the user to press return to continue. Note: Don't
22306 expect this to work well; instead use @code{set height 0} to disable
22307 prompting. This is because the counting of lines is buggy in the
22308 presence of annotations.
22313 @cindex annotations for errors, warnings and interrupts
22315 @findex quit annotation
22320 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an interrupt.
22322 @findex error annotation
22327 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an error.
22329 Quit and error annotations indicate that any annotations which @value{GDBN} was
22330 in the middle of may end abruptly. For example, if a
22331 @code{value-history-begin} annotation is followed by a @code{error}, one
22332 cannot expect to receive the matching @code{value-history-end}. One
22333 cannot expect not to receive it either, however; an error annotation
22334 does not necessarily mean that @value{GDBN} is immediately returning all the way
22337 @findex error-begin annotation
22338 A quit or error annotation may be preceded by
22344 Any output between that and the quit or error annotation is the error
22347 Warning messages are not yet annotated.
22348 @c If we want to change that, need to fix warning(), type_error(),
22349 @c range_error(), and possibly other places.
22352 @section Invalidation Notices
22354 @cindex annotations for invalidation messages
22355 The following annotations say that certain pieces of state may have
22359 @findex frames-invalid annotation
22360 @item ^Z^Zframes-invalid
22362 The frames (for example, output from the @code{backtrace} command) may
22365 @findex breakpoints-invalid annotation
22366 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoints-invalid
22368 The breakpoints may have changed. For example, the user just added or
22369 deleted a breakpoint.
22372 @node Annotations for Running
22373 @section Running the Program
22374 @cindex annotations for running programs
22376 @findex starting annotation
22377 @findex stopping annotation
22378 When the program starts executing due to a @value{GDBN} command such as
22379 @code{step} or @code{continue},
22385 is output. When the program stops,
22391 is output. Before the @code{stopped} annotation, a variety of
22392 annotations describe how the program stopped.
22395 @findex exited annotation
22396 @item ^Z^Zexited @var{exit-status}
22397 The program exited, and @var{exit-status} is the exit status (zero for
22398 successful exit, otherwise nonzero).
22400 @findex signalled annotation
22401 @findex signal-name annotation
22402 @findex signal-name-end annotation
22403 @findex signal-string annotation
22404 @findex signal-string-end annotation
22405 @item ^Z^Zsignalled
22406 The program exited with a signal. After the @code{^Z^Zsignalled}, the
22407 annotation continues:
22413 ^Z^Zsignal-name-end
22417 ^Z^Zsignal-string-end
22422 where @var{name} is the name of the signal, such as @code{SIGILL} or
22423 @code{SIGSEGV}, and @var{string} is the explanation of the signal, such
22424 as @code{Illegal Instruction} or @code{Segmentation fault}.
22425 @var{intro-text}, @var{middle-text}, and @var{end-text} are for the
22426 user's benefit and have no particular format.
22428 @findex signal annotation
22430 The syntax of this annotation is just like @code{signalled}, but @value{GDBN} is
22431 just saying that the program received the signal, not that it was
22432 terminated with it.
22434 @findex breakpoint annotation
22435 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoint @var{number}
22436 The program hit breakpoint number @var{number}.
22438 @findex watchpoint annotation
22439 @item ^Z^Zwatchpoint @var{number}
22440 The program hit watchpoint number @var{number}.
22443 @node Source Annotations
22444 @section Displaying Source
22445 @cindex annotations for source display
22447 @findex source annotation
22448 The following annotation is used instead of displaying source code:
22451 ^Z^Zsource @var{filename}:@var{line}:@var{character}:@var{middle}:@var{addr}
22454 where @var{filename} is an absolute file name indicating which source
22455 file, @var{line} is the line number within that file (where 1 is the
22456 first line in the file), @var{character} is the character position
22457 within the file (where 0 is the first character in the file) (for most
22458 debug formats this will necessarily point to the beginning of a line),
22459 @var{middle} is @samp{middle} if @var{addr} is in the middle of the
22460 line, or @samp{beg} if @var{addr} is at the beginning of the line, and
22461 @var{addr} is the address in the target program associated with the
22462 source which is being displayed. @var{addr} is in the form @samp{0x}
22463 followed by one or more lowercase hex digits (note that this does not
22464 depend on the language).
22467 @chapter Reporting Bugs in @value{GDBN}
22468 @cindex bugs in @value{GDBN}
22469 @cindex reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
22471 Your bug reports play an essential role in making @value{GDBN} reliable.
22473 Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or it
22474 may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is to help
22475 the entire community by making the next version of @value{GDBN} work better. Bug
22476 reports are your contribution to the maintenance of @value{GDBN}.
22478 In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
22479 information that enables us to fix the bug.
22482 * Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
22483 * Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
22487 @section Have You Found a Bug?
22488 @cindex bug criteria
22490 If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
22493 @cindex fatal signal
22494 @cindex debugger crash
22495 @cindex crash of debugger
22497 If the debugger gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is a
22498 @value{GDBN} bug. Reliable debuggers never crash.
22500 @cindex error on valid input
22502 If @value{GDBN} produces an error message for valid input, that is a
22503 bug. (Note that if you're cross debugging, the problem may also be
22504 somewhere in the connection to the target.)
22506 @cindex invalid input
22508 If @value{GDBN} does not produce an error message for invalid input,
22509 that is a bug. However, you should note that your idea of
22510 ``invalid input'' might be our idea of ``an extension'' or ``support
22511 for traditional practice''.
22514 If you are an experienced user of debugging tools, your suggestions
22515 for improvement of @value{GDBN} are welcome in any case.
22518 @node Bug Reporting
22519 @section How to Report Bugs
22520 @cindex bug reports
22521 @cindex @value{GDBN} bugs, reporting
22523 A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu} products.
22524 If you obtained @value{GDBN} from a support organization, we recommend you
22525 contact that organization first.
22527 You can find contact information for many support companies and
22528 individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
22530 @c should add a web page ref...
22532 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
22533 @value{GDBN}. The preferred method is to submit them directly using
22534 @uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/bugs/, @value{GDBN}'s Bugs web
22535 page}. Alternatively, the @email{bug-gdb@@gnu.org, e-mail gateway} can
22538 @strong{Do not send bug reports to @samp{info-gdb}, or to
22539 @samp{help-gdb}, or to any newsgroups.} Most users of @value{GDBN} do
22540 not want to receive bug reports. Those that do have arranged to receive
22543 The mailing list @samp{bug-gdb} has a newsgroup @samp{gnu.gdb.bug} which
22544 serves as a repeater. The mailing list and the newsgroup carry exactly
22545 the same messages. Often people think of posting bug reports to the
22546 newsgroup instead of mailing them. This appears to work, but it has one
22547 problem which can be crucial: a newsgroup posting often lacks a mail
22548 path back to the sender. Thus, if we need to ask for more information,
22549 we may be unable to reach you. For this reason, it is better to send
22550 bug reports to the mailing list.
22552 The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
22553 @strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
22554 fact or leave it out, state it!
22556 Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
22557 problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
22558 assume that the name of the variable you use in an example does not matter.
22559 Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is a
22560 stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where that
22561 name is stored in memory; perhaps, if the name were different, the contents
22562 of that location would fool the debugger into doing the right thing despite
22563 the bug. Play it safe and give a specific, complete example. That is the
22564 easiest thing for you to do, and the most helpful.
22566 Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the
22567 bug. It may be that the bug has been reported previously, but neither
22568 you nor we can know that unless your bug report is complete and
22571 Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
22572 bell?'' Those bug reports are useless, and we urge everyone to
22573 @emph{refuse to respond to them} except to chide the sender to report
22576 To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
22580 The version of @value{GDBN}. @value{GDBN} announces it if you start
22581 with no arguments; you can also print it at any time using @code{show
22584 Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
22585 the bug in the current version of @value{GDBN}.
22588 The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
22592 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile @value{GDBN}---e.g.@:
22593 ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1''.
22596 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the program you are
22597 debugging---e.g.@: ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1'', or ``HP92453-01 A.10.32.03 HP
22598 C Compiler''. For @value{NGCC}, you can say @kbd{@value{GCC} --version}
22599 to get this information; for other compilers, see the documentation for
22603 The command arguments you gave the compiler to compile your example and
22604 observe the bug. For example, did you use @samp{-O}? To guarantee
22605 you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy of the
22606 Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
22608 If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
22609 and then we might not encounter the bug.
22612 A complete input script, and all necessary source files, that will
22616 A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
22617 incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
22619 Of course, if the bug is that @value{GDBN} gets a fatal signal, then we
22620 will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
22621 not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
22622 a chance to make a mistake.
22624 Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
22625 say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as, your
22626 copy of @value{GDBN} is out of synch, or you have encountered a bug in
22627 the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
22628 crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
22629 ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
22630 us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
22631 to draw any conclusion from our observations.
22634 @cindex recording a session script
22635 To collect all this information, you can use a session recording program
22636 such as @command{script}, which is available on many Unix systems.
22637 Just run your @value{GDBN} session inside @command{script} and then
22638 include the @file{typescript} file with your bug report.
22640 Another way to record a @value{GDBN} session is to run @value{GDBN}
22641 inside Emacs and then save the entire buffer to a file.
22644 If you wish to suggest changes to the @value{GDBN} source, send us context
22645 diffs. If you even discuss something in the @value{GDBN} source, refer to
22646 it by context, not by line number.
22648 The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
22649 sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
22653 Here are some things that are not necessary:
22657 A description of the envelope of the bug.
22659 Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
22660 which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
22661 changes will not affect it.
22663 This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
22664 will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
22665 with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
22666 We recommend that you save your time for something else.
22668 Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
22669 of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
22670 output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
22671 less time, and so on.
22673 However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
22674 report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
22677 A patch for the bug.
22679 A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
22680 the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
22681 a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
22682 to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
22684 Sometimes with a program as complicated as @value{GDBN} it is very hard to
22685 construct an example that will make the program follow a certain path
22686 through the code. If you do not send us the example, we will not be able
22687 to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that the bug is fixed.
22689 And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
22690 patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
22691 help us to understand.
22694 A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
22696 Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
22697 things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
22700 @c The readline documentation is distributed with the readline code
22701 @c and consists of the two following files:
22703 @c inc-hist.texinfo
22704 @c Use -I with makeinfo to point to the appropriate directory,
22705 @c environment var TEXINPUTS with TeX.
22706 @include rluser.texi
22707 @include inc-hist.texinfo
22710 @node Formatting Documentation
22711 @appendix Formatting Documentation
22713 @cindex @value{GDBN} reference card
22714 @cindex reference card
22715 The @value{GDBN} 4 release includes an already-formatted reference card, ready
22716 for printing with PostScript or Ghostscript, in the @file{gdb}
22717 subdirectory of the main source directory@footnote{In
22718 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/refcard.ps} of the version @value{GDBVN}
22719 release.}. If you can use PostScript or Ghostscript with your printer,
22720 you can print the reference card immediately with @file{refcard.ps}.
22722 The release also includes the source for the reference card. You
22723 can format it, using @TeX{}, by typing:
22729 The @value{GDBN} reference card is designed to print in @dfn{landscape}
22730 mode on US ``letter'' size paper;
22731 that is, on a sheet 11 inches wide by 8.5 inches
22732 high. You will need to specify this form of printing as an option to
22733 your @sc{dvi} output program.
22735 @cindex documentation
22737 All the documentation for @value{GDBN} comes as part of the machine-readable
22738 distribution. The documentation is written in Texinfo format, which is
22739 a documentation system that uses a single source file to produce both
22740 on-line information and a printed manual. You can use one of the Info
22741 formatting commands to create the on-line version of the documentation
22742 and @TeX{} (or @code{texi2roff}) to typeset the printed version.
22744 @value{GDBN} includes an already formatted copy of the on-line Info
22745 version of this manual in the @file{gdb} subdirectory. The main Info
22746 file is @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/gdb.info}, and it refers to
22747 subordinate files matching @samp{gdb.info*} in the same directory. If
22748 necessary, you can print out these files, or read them with any editor;
22749 but they are easier to read using the @code{info} subsystem in @sc{gnu}
22750 Emacs or the standalone @code{info} program, available as part of the
22751 @sc{gnu} Texinfo distribution.
22753 If you want to format these Info files yourself, you need one of the
22754 Info formatting programs, such as @code{texinfo-format-buffer} or
22757 If you have @code{makeinfo} installed, and are in the top level
22758 @value{GDBN} source directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, in the case of
22759 version @value{GDBVN}), you can make the Info file by typing:
22766 If you want to typeset and print copies of this manual, you need @TeX{},
22767 a program to print its @sc{dvi} output files, and @file{texinfo.tex}, the
22768 Texinfo definitions file.
22770 @TeX{} is a typesetting program; it does not print files directly, but
22771 produces output files called @sc{dvi} files. To print a typeset
22772 document, you need a program to print @sc{dvi} files. If your system
22773 has @TeX{} installed, chances are it has such a program. The precise
22774 command to use depends on your system; @kbd{lpr -d} is common; another
22775 (for PostScript devices) is @kbd{dvips}. The @sc{dvi} print command may
22776 require a file name without any extension or a @samp{.dvi} extension.
22778 @TeX{} also requires a macro definitions file called
22779 @file{texinfo.tex}. This file tells @TeX{} how to typeset a document
22780 written in Texinfo format. On its own, @TeX{} cannot either read or
22781 typeset a Texinfo file. @file{texinfo.tex} is distributed with GDB
22782 and is located in the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}/texinfo}
22785 If you have @TeX{} and a @sc{dvi} printer program installed, you can
22786 typeset and print this manual. First switch to the @file{gdb}
22787 subdirectory of the main source directory (for example, to
22788 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb}) and type:
22794 Then give @file{gdb.dvi} to your @sc{dvi} printing program.
22796 @node Installing GDB
22797 @appendix Installing @value{GDBN}
22798 @cindex installation
22801 * Requirements:: Requirements for building @value{GDBN}
22802 * Running Configure:: Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} script
22803 * Separate Objdir:: Compiling @value{GDBN} in another directory
22804 * Config Names:: Specifying names for hosts and targets
22805 * Configure Options:: Summary of options for configure
22809 @section Requirements for Building @value{GDBN}
22810 @cindex building @value{GDBN}, requirements for
22812 Building @value{GDBN} requires various tools and packages to be available.
22813 Other packages will be used only if they are found.
22815 @heading Tools/Packages Necessary for Building @value{GDBN}
22817 @item ISO C90 compiler
22818 @value{GDBN} is written in ISO C90. It should be buildable with any
22819 working C90 compiler, e.g.@: GCC.
22823 @heading Tools/Packages Optional for Building @value{GDBN}
22827 @value{GDBN} can use the Expat XML parsing library. This library may be
22828 included with your operating system distribution; if it is not, you
22829 can get the latest version from @url{http://expat.sourceforge.net}.
22830 The @file{configure} script will search for this library in several
22831 standard locations; if it is installed in an unusual path, you can
22832 use the @option{--with-libexpat-prefix} option to specify its location.
22838 Remote protocol memory maps (@pxref{Memory Map Format})
22840 Target descriptions (@pxref{Target Descriptions})
22842 Remote shared library lists (@pxref{Library List Format})
22844 MS-Windows shared libraries (@pxref{Shared Libraries})
22848 @cindex compressed debug sections
22849 @value{GDBN} will use the @samp{zlib} library, if available, to read
22850 compressed debug sections. Some linkers, such as GNU gold, are capable
22851 of producing binaries with compressed debug sections. If @value{GDBN}
22852 is compiled with @samp{zlib}, it will be able to read the debug
22853 information in such binaries.
22855 The @samp{zlib} library is likely included with your operating system
22856 distribution; if it is not, you can get the latest version from
22857 @url{http://zlib.net}.
22861 @node Running Configure
22862 @section Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} Script
22863 @cindex configuring @value{GDBN}
22864 @value{GDBN} comes with a @file{configure} script that automates the process
22865 of preparing @value{GDBN} for installation; you can then use @code{make} to
22866 build the @code{gdb} program.
22868 @c irrelevant in info file; it's as current as the code it lives with.
22869 @footnote{If you have a more recent version of @value{GDBN} than @value{GDBVN},
22870 look at the @file{README} file in the sources; we may have improved the
22871 installation procedures since publishing this manual.}
22874 The @value{GDBN} distribution includes all the source code you need for
22875 @value{GDBN} in a single directory, whose name is usually composed by
22876 appending the version number to @samp{gdb}.
22878 For example, the @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN} distribution is in the
22879 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory. That directory contains:
22882 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure @r{(and supporting files)}
22883 script for configuring @value{GDBN} and all its supporting libraries
22885 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb
22886 the source specific to @value{GDBN} itself
22888 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/bfd
22889 source for the Binary File Descriptor library
22891 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/include
22892 @sc{gnu} include files
22894 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/libiberty
22895 source for the @samp{-liberty} free software library
22897 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/opcodes
22898 source for the library of opcode tables and disassemblers
22900 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/readline
22901 source for the @sc{gnu} command-line interface
22903 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/glob
22904 source for the @sc{gnu} filename pattern-matching subroutine
22906 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/mmalloc
22907 source for the @sc{gnu} memory-mapped malloc package
22910 The simplest way to configure and build @value{GDBN} is to run @file{configure}
22911 from the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory, which in
22912 this example is the @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory.
22914 First switch to the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory
22915 if you are not already in it; then run @file{configure}. Pass the
22916 identifier for the platform on which @value{GDBN} will run as an
22922 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
22923 ./configure @var{host}
22928 where @var{host} is an identifier such as @samp{sun4} or
22929 @samp{decstation}, that identifies the platform where @value{GDBN} will run.
22930 (You can often leave off @var{host}; @file{configure} tries to guess the
22931 correct value by examining your system.)
22933 Running @samp{configure @var{host}} and then running @code{make} builds the
22934 @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, @file{mmalloc}, and @file{libiberty}
22935 libraries, then @code{gdb} itself. The configured source files, and the
22936 binaries, are left in the corresponding source directories.
22939 @file{configure} is a Bourne-shell (@code{/bin/sh}) script; if your
22940 system does not recognize this automatically when you run a different
22941 shell, you may need to run @code{sh} on it explicitly:
22944 sh configure @var{host}
22947 If you run @file{configure} from a directory that contains source
22948 directories for multiple libraries or programs, such as the
22949 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} source directory for version @value{GDBVN},
22951 creates configuration files for every directory level underneath (unless
22952 you tell it not to, with the @samp{--norecursion} option).
22954 You should run the @file{configure} script from the top directory in the
22955 source tree, the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory. If you run
22956 @file{configure} from one of the subdirectories, you will configure only
22957 that subdirectory. That is usually not what you want. In particular,
22958 if you run the first @file{configure} from the @file{gdb} subdirectory
22959 of the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory, you will omit the
22960 configuration of @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, and other sibling
22961 directories of the @file{gdb} subdirectory. This leads to build errors
22962 about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
22964 You can install @code{@value{GDBP}} anywhere; it has no hardwired paths.
22965 However, you should make sure that the shell on your path (named by
22966 the @samp{SHELL} environment variable) is publicly readable. Remember
22967 that @value{GDBN} uses the shell to start your program---some systems refuse to
22968 let @value{GDBN} debug child processes whose programs are not readable.
22970 @node Separate Objdir
22971 @section Compiling @value{GDBN} in Another Directory
22973 If you want to run @value{GDBN} versions for several host or target machines,
22974 you need a different @code{gdb} compiled for each combination of
22975 host and target. @file{configure} is designed to make this easy by
22976 allowing you to generate each configuration in a separate subdirectory,
22977 rather than in the source directory. If your @code{make} program
22978 handles the @samp{VPATH} feature (@sc{gnu} @code{make} does), running
22979 @code{make} in each of these directories builds the @code{gdb}
22980 program specified there.
22982 To build @code{gdb} in a separate directory, run @file{configure}
22983 with the @samp{--srcdir} option to specify where to find the source.
22984 (You also need to specify a path to find @file{configure}
22985 itself from your working directory. If the path to @file{configure}
22986 would be the same as the argument to @samp{--srcdir}, you can leave out
22987 the @samp{--srcdir} option; it is assumed.)
22989 For example, with version @value{GDBVN}, you can build @value{GDBN} in a
22990 separate directory for a Sun 4 like this:
22994 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
22997 ../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure sun4
23002 When @file{configure} builds a configuration using a remote source
23003 directory, it creates a tree for the binaries with the same structure
23004 (and using the same names) as the tree under the source directory. In
23005 the example, you'd find the Sun 4 library @file{libiberty.a} in the
23006 directory @file{gdb-sun4/libiberty}, and @value{GDBN} itself in
23007 @file{gdb-sun4/gdb}.
23009 Make sure that your path to the @file{configure} script has just one
23010 instance of @file{gdb} in it. If your path to @file{configure} looks
23011 like @file{../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/configure}, you are configuring only
23012 one subdirectory of @value{GDBN}, not the whole package. This leads to
23013 build errors about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
23015 One popular reason to build several @value{GDBN} configurations in separate
23016 directories is to configure @value{GDBN} for cross-compiling (where
23017 @value{GDBN} runs on one machine---the @dfn{host}---while debugging
23018 programs that run on another machine---the @dfn{target}).
23019 You specify a cross-debugging target by
23020 giving the @samp{--target=@var{target}} option to @file{configure}.
23022 When you run @code{make} to build a program or library, you must run
23023 it in a configured directory---whatever directory you were in when you
23024 called @file{configure} (or one of its subdirectories).
23026 The @code{Makefile} that @file{configure} generates in each source
23027 directory also runs recursively. If you type @code{make} in a source
23028 directory such as @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} (or in a separate configured
23029 directory configured with @samp{--srcdir=@var{dirname}/gdb-@value{GDBVN}}), you
23030 will build all the required libraries, and then build GDB.
23032 When you have multiple hosts or targets configured in separate
23033 directories, you can run @code{make} on them in parallel (for example,
23034 if they are NFS-mounted on each of the hosts); they will not interfere
23038 @section Specifying Names for Hosts and Targets
23040 The specifications used for hosts and targets in the @file{configure}
23041 script are based on a three-part naming scheme, but some short predefined
23042 aliases are also supported. The full naming scheme encodes three pieces
23043 of information in the following pattern:
23046 @var{architecture}-@var{vendor}-@var{os}
23049 For example, you can use the alias @code{sun4} as a @var{host} argument,
23050 or as the value for @var{target} in a @code{--target=@var{target}}
23051 option. The equivalent full name is @samp{sparc-sun-sunos4}.
23053 The @file{configure} script accompanying @value{GDBN} does not provide
23054 any query facility to list all supported host and target names or
23055 aliases. @file{configure} calls the Bourne shell script
23056 @code{config.sub} to map abbreviations to full names; you can read the
23057 script, if you wish, or you can use it to test your guesses on
23058 abbreviations---for example:
23061 % sh config.sub i386-linux
23063 % sh config.sub alpha-linux
23064 alpha-unknown-linux-gnu
23065 % sh config.sub hp9k700
23067 % sh config.sub sun4
23068 sparc-sun-sunos4.1.1
23069 % sh config.sub sun3
23070 m68k-sun-sunos4.1.1
23071 % sh config.sub i986v
23072 Invalid configuration `i986v': machine `i986v' not recognized
23076 @code{config.sub} is also distributed in the @value{GDBN} source
23077 directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, for version @value{GDBVN}).
23079 @node Configure Options
23080 @section @file{configure} Options
23082 Here is a summary of the @file{configure} options and arguments that
23083 are most often useful for building @value{GDBN}. @file{configure} also has
23084 several other options not listed here. @inforef{What Configure
23085 Does,,configure.info}, for a full explanation of @file{configure}.
23088 configure @r{[}--help@r{]}
23089 @r{[}--prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
23090 @r{[}--exec-prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
23091 @r{[}--srcdir=@var{dirname}@r{]}
23092 @r{[}--norecursion@r{]} @r{[}--rm@r{]}
23093 @r{[}--target=@var{target}@r{]}
23098 You may introduce options with a single @samp{-} rather than
23099 @samp{--} if you prefer; but you may abbreviate option names if you use
23104 Display a quick summary of how to invoke @file{configure}.
23106 @item --prefix=@var{dir}
23107 Configure the source to install programs and files under directory
23110 @item --exec-prefix=@var{dir}
23111 Configure the source to install programs under directory
23114 @c avoid splitting the warning from the explanation:
23116 @item --srcdir=@var{dirname}
23117 @strong{Warning: using this option requires @sc{gnu} @code{make}, or another
23118 @code{make} that implements the @code{VPATH} feature.}@*
23119 Use this option to make configurations in directories separate from the
23120 @value{GDBN} source directories. Among other things, you can use this to
23121 build (or maintain) several configurations simultaneously, in separate
23122 directories. @file{configure} writes configuration-specific files in
23123 the current directory, but arranges for them to use the source in the
23124 directory @var{dirname}. @file{configure} creates directories under
23125 the working directory in parallel to the source directories below
23128 @item --norecursion
23129 Configure only the directory level where @file{configure} is executed; do not
23130 propagate configuration to subdirectories.
23132 @item --target=@var{target}
23133 Configure @value{GDBN} for cross-debugging programs running on the specified
23134 @var{target}. Without this option, @value{GDBN} is configured to debug
23135 programs that run on the same machine (@var{host}) as @value{GDBN} itself.
23137 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available targets.
23139 @item @var{host} @dots{}
23140 Configure @value{GDBN} to run on the specified @var{host}.
23142 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available hosts.
23145 There are many other options available as well, but they are generally
23146 needed for special purposes only.
23148 @node Maintenance Commands
23149 @appendix Maintenance Commands
23150 @cindex maintenance commands
23151 @cindex internal commands
23153 In addition to commands intended for @value{GDBN} users, @value{GDBN}
23154 includes a number of commands intended for @value{GDBN} developers,
23155 that are not documented elsewhere in this manual. These commands are
23156 provided here for reference. (For commands that turn on debugging
23157 messages, see @ref{Debugging Output}.)
23160 @kindex maint agent
23161 @item maint agent @var{expression}
23162 Translate the given @var{expression} into remote agent bytecodes.
23163 This command is useful for debugging the Agent Expression mechanism
23164 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}).
23166 @kindex maint info breakpoints
23167 @item @anchor{maint info breakpoints}maint info breakpoints
23168 Using the same format as @samp{info breakpoints}, display both the
23169 breakpoints you've set explicitly, and those @value{GDBN} is using for
23170 internal purposes. Internal breakpoints are shown with negative
23171 breakpoint numbers. The type column identifies what kind of breakpoint
23176 Normal, explicitly set breakpoint.
23179 Normal, explicitly set watchpoint.
23182 Internal breakpoint, used to handle correctly stepping through
23183 @code{longjmp} calls.
23185 @item longjmp resume
23186 Internal breakpoint at the target of a @code{longjmp}.
23189 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{until} command.
23192 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{finish} command.
23195 Shared library events.
23199 @kindex maint set can-use-displaced-stepping
23200 @kindex maint show can-use-displaced-stepping
23201 @cindex displaced stepping support
23202 @cindex out-of-line single-stepping
23203 @item maint set can-use-displaced-stepping
23204 @itemx maint show can-use-displaced-stepping
23205 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will do @dfn{displaced stepping}
23206 if the target supports it. The default is on. Displaced stepping is
23207 a way to single-step over breakpoints without removing them from the
23208 inferior, by executing an out-of-line copy of the instruction that was
23209 originally at the breakpoint location. It is also known as
23210 out-of-line single-stepping.
23212 @kindex maint check-symtabs
23213 @item maint check-symtabs
23214 Check the consistency of psymtabs and symtabs.
23216 @kindex maint cplus first_component
23217 @item maint cplus first_component @var{name}
23218 Print the first C@t{++} class/namespace component of @var{name}.
23220 @kindex maint cplus namespace
23221 @item maint cplus namespace
23222 Print the list of possible C@t{++} namespaces.
23224 @kindex maint demangle
23225 @item maint demangle @var{name}
23226 Demangle a C@t{++} or Objective-C mangled @var{name}.
23228 @kindex maint deprecate
23229 @kindex maint undeprecate
23230 @cindex deprecated commands
23231 @item maint deprecate @var{command} @r{[}@var{replacement}@r{]}
23232 @itemx maint undeprecate @var{command}
23233 Deprecate or undeprecate the named @var{command}. Deprecated commands
23234 cause @value{GDBN} to issue a warning when you use them. The optional
23235 argument @var{replacement} says which newer command should be used in
23236 favor of the deprecated one; if it is given, @value{GDBN} will mention
23237 the replacement as part of the warning.
23239 @kindex maint dump-me
23240 @item maint dump-me
23241 @cindex @code{SIGQUIT} signal, dump core of @value{GDBN}
23242 Cause a fatal signal in the debugger and force it to dump its core.
23243 This is supported only on systems which support aborting a program
23244 with the @code{SIGQUIT} signal.
23246 @kindex maint internal-error
23247 @kindex maint internal-warning
23248 @item maint internal-error @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
23249 @itemx maint internal-warning @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
23250 Cause @value{GDBN} to call the internal function @code{internal_error}
23251 or @code{internal_warning} and hence behave as though an internal error
23252 or internal warning has been detected. In addition to reporting the
23253 internal problem, these functions give the user the opportunity to
23254 either quit @value{GDBN} or create a core file of the current
23255 @value{GDBN} session.
23257 These commands take an optional parameter @var{message-text} that is
23258 used as the text of the error or warning message.
23260 Here's an example of using @code{internal-error}:
23263 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint internal-error testing, 1, 2}
23264 @dots{}/maint.c:121: internal-error: testing, 1, 2
23265 A problem internal to GDB has been detected. Further
23266 debugging may prove unreliable.
23267 Quit this debugging session? (y or n) @kbd{n}
23268 Create a core file? (y or n) @kbd{n}
23272 @kindex maint packet
23273 @item maint packet @var{text}
23274 If @value{GDBN} is talking to an inferior via the serial protocol,
23275 then this command sends the string @var{text} to the inferior, and
23276 displays the response packet. @value{GDBN} supplies the initial
23277 @samp{$} character, the terminating @samp{#} character, and the
23280 @kindex maint print architecture
23281 @item maint print architecture @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
23282 Print the entire architecture configuration. The optional argument
23283 @var{file} names the file where the output goes.
23285 @kindex maint print c-tdesc
23286 @item maint print c-tdesc
23287 Print the current target description (@pxref{Target Descriptions}) as
23288 a C source file. The created source file can be used in @value{GDBN}
23289 when an XML parser is not available to parse the description.
23291 @kindex maint print dummy-frames
23292 @item maint print dummy-frames
23293 Prints the contents of @value{GDBN}'s internal dummy-frame stack.
23296 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{b add}
23298 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{print add(2,3)}
23299 Breakpoint 2, add (a=2, b=3) at @dots{}
23301 The program being debugged stopped while in a function called from GDB.
23303 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print dummy-frames}
23304 0x1a57c80: pc=0x01014068 fp=0x0200bddc sp=0x0200bdd6
23305 top=0x0200bdd4 id=@{stack=0x200bddc,code=0x101405c@}
23306 call_lo=0x01014000 call_hi=0x01014001
23310 Takes an optional file parameter.
23312 @kindex maint print registers
23313 @kindex maint print raw-registers
23314 @kindex maint print cooked-registers
23315 @kindex maint print register-groups
23316 @item maint print registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
23317 @itemx maint print raw-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
23318 @itemx maint print cooked-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
23319 @itemx maint print register-groups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
23320 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register data structures.
23322 The command @code{maint print raw-registers} includes the contents of
23323 the raw register cache; the command @code{maint print cooked-registers}
23324 includes the (cooked) value of all registers; and the command
23325 @code{maint print register-groups} includes the groups that each
23326 register is a member of. @xref{Registers,, Registers, gdbint,
23327 @value{GDBN} Internals}.
23329 These commands take an optional parameter, a file name to which to
23330 write the information.
23332 @kindex maint print reggroups
23333 @item maint print reggroups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
23334 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register group data structures. The
23335 optional argument @var{file} tells to what file to write the
23338 The register groups info looks like this:
23341 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print reggroups}
23354 This command forces @value{GDBN} to flush its internal register cache.
23356 @kindex maint print objfiles
23357 @cindex info for known object files
23358 @item maint print objfiles
23359 Print a dump of all known object files. For each object file, this
23360 command prints its name, address in memory, and all of its psymtabs
23363 @kindex maint print statistics
23364 @cindex bcache statistics
23365 @item maint print statistics
23366 This command prints, for each object file in the program, various data
23367 about that object file followed by the byte cache (@dfn{bcache})
23368 statistics for the object file. The objfile data includes the number
23369 of minimal, partial, full, and stabs symbols, the number of types
23370 defined by the objfile, the number of as yet unexpanded psym tables,
23371 the number of line tables and string tables, and the amount of memory
23372 used by the various tables. The bcache statistics include the counts,
23373 sizes, and counts of duplicates of all and unique objects, max,
23374 average, and median entry size, total memory used and its overhead and
23375 savings, and various measures of the hash table size and chain
23378 @kindex maint print target-stack
23379 @cindex target stack description
23380 @item maint print target-stack
23381 A @dfn{target} is an interface between the debugger and a particular
23382 kind of file or process. Targets can be stacked in @dfn{strata},
23383 so that more than one target can potentially respond to a request.
23384 In particular, memory accesses will walk down the stack of targets
23385 until they find a target that is interested in handling that particular
23388 This command prints a short description of each layer that was pushed on
23389 the @dfn{target stack}, starting from the top layer down to the bottom one.
23391 @kindex maint print type
23392 @cindex type chain of a data type
23393 @item maint print type @var{expr}
23394 Print the type chain for a type specified by @var{expr}. The argument
23395 can be either a type name or a symbol. If it is a symbol, the type of
23396 that symbol is described. The type chain produced by this command is
23397 a recursive definition of the data type as stored in @value{GDBN}'s
23398 data structures, including its flags and contained types.
23400 @kindex maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
23401 @kindex maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
23402 @item maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
23403 @itemx maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
23404 Control the DWARF 2 compilation unit cache.
23406 @cindex DWARF 2 compilation units cache
23407 In object files with inter-compilation-unit references, such as those
23408 produced by the GCC option @samp{-feliminate-dwarf2-dups}, the DWARF 2
23409 reader needs to frequently refer to previously read compilation units.
23410 This setting controls how long a compilation unit will remain in the
23411 cache if it is not referenced. A higher limit means that cached
23412 compilation units will be stored in memory longer, and more total
23413 memory will be used. Setting it to zero disables caching, which will
23414 slow down @value{GDBN} startup, but reduce memory consumption.
23416 @kindex maint set profile
23417 @kindex maint show profile
23418 @cindex profiling GDB
23419 @item maint set profile
23420 @itemx maint show profile
23421 Control profiling of @value{GDBN}.
23423 Profiling will be disabled until you use the @samp{maint set profile}
23424 command to enable it. When you enable profiling, the system will begin
23425 collecting timing and execution count data; when you disable profiling or
23426 exit @value{GDBN}, the results will be written to a log file. Remember that
23427 if you use profiling, @value{GDBN} will overwrite the profiling log file
23428 (often called @file{gmon.out}). If you have a record of important profiling
23429 data in a @file{gmon.out} file, be sure to move it to a safe location.
23431 Configuring with @samp{--enable-profiling} arranges for @value{GDBN} to be
23432 compiled with the @samp{-pg} compiler option.
23434 @kindex maint set linux-async
23435 @kindex maint show linux-async
23436 @cindex asynchronous support
23437 @item maint set linux-async
23438 @itemx maint show linux-async
23439 Control the GNU/Linux native asynchronous support of @value{GDBN}.
23441 GNU/Linux native asynchronous support will be disabled until you use
23442 the @samp{maint set linux-async} command to enable it.
23444 @kindex maint show-debug-regs
23445 @cindex x86 hardware debug registers
23446 @item maint show-debug-regs
23447 Control whether to show variables that mirror the x86 hardware debug
23448 registers. Use @code{ON} to enable, @code{OFF} to disable. If
23449 enabled, the debug registers values are shown when @value{GDBN} inserts or
23450 removes a hardware breakpoint or watchpoint, and when the inferior
23451 triggers a hardware-assisted breakpoint or watchpoint.
23453 @kindex maint space
23454 @cindex memory used by commands
23456 Control whether to display memory usage for each command. If set to a
23457 nonzero value, @value{GDBN} will display how much memory each command
23458 took, following the command's own output. This can also be requested
23459 by invoking @value{GDBN} with the @option{--statistics} command-line
23460 switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
23463 @cindex time of command execution
23465 Control whether to display the execution time for each command. If
23466 set to a nonzero value, @value{GDBN} will display how much time it
23467 took to execute each command, following the command's own output.
23468 The time is not printed for the commands that run the target, since
23469 there's no mechanism currently to compute how much time was spend
23470 by @value{GDBN} and how much time was spend by the program been debugged.
23471 it's not possibly currently
23472 This can also be requested by invoking @value{GDBN} with the
23473 @option{--statistics} command-line switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
23475 @kindex maint translate-address
23476 @item maint translate-address @r{[}@var{section}@r{]} @var{addr}
23477 Find the symbol stored at the location specified by the address
23478 @var{addr} and an optional section name @var{section}. If found,
23479 @value{GDBN} prints the name of the closest symbol and an offset from
23480 the symbol's location to the specified address. This is similar to
23481 the @code{info address} command (@pxref{Symbols}), except that this
23482 command also allows to find symbols in other sections.
23486 The following command is useful for non-interactive invocations of
23487 @value{GDBN}, such as in the test suite.
23490 @item set watchdog @var{nsec}
23491 @kindex set watchdog
23492 @cindex watchdog timer
23493 @cindex timeout for commands
23494 Set the maximum number of seconds @value{GDBN} will wait for the
23495 target operation to finish. If this time expires, @value{GDBN}
23496 reports and error and the command is aborted.
23498 @item show watchdog
23499 Show the current setting of the target wait timeout.
23502 @node Remote Protocol
23503 @appendix @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol
23508 * Stop Reply Packets::
23509 * General Query Packets::
23510 * Register Packet Format::
23511 * Tracepoint Packets::
23512 * Host I/O Packets::
23515 * File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension::
23516 * Library List Format::
23517 * Memory Map Format::
23523 There may be occasions when you need to know something about the
23524 protocol---for example, if there is only one serial port to your target
23525 machine, you might want your program to do something special if it
23526 recognizes a packet meant for @value{GDBN}.
23528 In the examples below, @samp{->} and @samp{<-} are used to indicate
23529 transmitted and received data, respectively.
23531 @cindex protocol, @value{GDBN} remote serial
23532 @cindex serial protocol, @value{GDBN} remote
23533 @cindex remote serial protocol
23534 All @value{GDBN} commands and responses (other than acknowledgments) are
23535 sent as a @var{packet}. A @var{packet} is introduced with the character
23536 @samp{$}, the actual @var{packet-data}, and the terminating character
23537 @samp{#} followed by a two-digit @var{checksum}:
23540 @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
23544 @cindex checksum, for @value{GDBN} remote
23546 The two-digit @var{checksum} is computed as the modulo 256 sum of all
23547 characters between the leading @samp{$} and the trailing @samp{#} (an
23548 eight bit unsigned checksum).
23550 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0 the protocol
23551 specification also included an optional two-digit @var{sequence-id}:
23554 @code{$}@var{sequence-id}@code{:}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
23557 @cindex sequence-id, for @value{GDBN} remote
23559 That @var{sequence-id} was appended to the acknowledgment. @value{GDBN}
23560 has never output @var{sequence-id}s. Stubs that handle packets added
23561 since @value{GDBN} 5.0 must not accept @var{sequence-id}.
23563 @cindex acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
23564 When either the host or the target machine receives a packet, the first
23565 response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
23566 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request
23570 -> @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
23575 The host (@value{GDBN}) sends @var{command}s, and the target (the
23576 debugging stub incorporated in your program) sends a @var{response}. In
23577 the case of step and continue @var{command}s, the response is only sent
23578 when the operation has completed (the target has again stopped).
23580 @var{packet-data} consists of a sequence of characters with the
23581 exception of @samp{#} and @samp{$} (see @samp{X} packet for additional
23584 @cindex remote protocol, field separator
23585 Fields within the packet should be separated using @samp{,} @samp{;} or
23586 @samp{:}. Except where otherwise noted all numbers are represented in
23587 @sc{hex} with leading zeros suppressed.
23589 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0, the character
23590 @samp{:} could not appear as the third character in a packet (as it
23591 would potentially conflict with the @var{sequence-id}).
23593 @cindex remote protocol, binary data
23594 @anchor{Binary Data}
23595 Binary data in most packets is encoded either as two hexadecimal
23596 digits per byte of binary data. This allowed the traditional remote
23597 protocol to work over connections which were only seven-bit clean.
23598 Some packets designed more recently assume an eight-bit clean
23599 connection, and use a more efficient encoding to send and receive
23602 The binary data representation uses @code{7d} (@sc{ascii} @samp{@}})
23603 as an escape character. Any escaped byte is transmitted as the escape
23604 character followed by the original character XORed with @code{0x20}.
23605 For example, the byte @code{0x7d} would be transmitted as the two
23606 bytes @code{0x7d 0x5d}. The bytes @code{0x23} (@sc{ascii} @samp{#}),
23607 @code{0x24} (@sc{ascii} @samp{$}), and @code{0x7d} (@sc{ascii}
23608 @samp{@}}) must always be escaped. Responses sent by the stub
23609 must also escape @code{0x2a} (@sc{ascii} @samp{*}), so that it
23610 is not interpreted as the start of a run-length encoded sequence
23613 Response @var{data} can be run-length encoded to save space.
23614 Run-length encoding replaces runs of identical characters with one
23615 instance of the repeated character, followed by a @samp{*} and a
23616 repeat count. The repeat count is itself sent encoded, to avoid
23617 binary characters in @var{data}: a value of @var{n} is sent as
23618 @code{@var{n}+29}. For a repeat count greater or equal to 3, this
23619 produces a printable @sc{ascii} character, e.g.@: a space (@sc{ascii}
23620 code 32) for a repeat count of 3. (This is because run-length
23621 encoding starts to win for counts 3 or more.) Thus, for example,
23622 @samp{0* } is a run-length encoding of ``0000'': the space character
23623 after @samp{*} means repeat the leading @code{0} @w{@code{32 - 29 =
23626 The printable characters @samp{#} and @samp{$} or with a numeric value
23627 greater than 126 must not be used. Runs of six repeats (@samp{#}) or
23628 seven repeats (@samp{$}) can be expanded using a repeat count of only
23629 five (@samp{"}). For example, @samp{00000000} can be encoded as
23632 The error response returned for some packets includes a two character
23633 error number. That number is not well defined.
23635 @cindex empty response, for unsupported packets
23636 For any @var{command} not supported by the stub, an empty response
23637 (@samp{$#00}) should be returned. That way it is possible to extend the
23638 protocol. A newer @value{GDBN} can tell if a packet is supported based
23641 A stub is required to support the @samp{g}, @samp{G}, @samp{m}, @samp{M},
23642 @samp{c}, and @samp{s} @var{command}s. All other @var{command}s are
23648 The following table provides a complete list of all currently defined
23649 @var{command}s and their corresponding response @var{data}.
23650 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for details about the File
23651 I/O extension of the remote protocol.
23653 Each packet's description has a template showing the packet's overall
23654 syntax, followed by an explanation of the packet's meaning. We
23655 include spaces in some of the templates for clarity; these are not
23656 part of the packet's syntax. No @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to
23657 separate its components. For example, a template like @samp{foo
23658 @var{bar} @var{baz}} describes a packet beginning with the three ASCII
23659 bytes @samp{foo}, followed by a @var{bar}, followed directly by a
23660 @var{baz}. @value{GDBN} does not transmit a space character between the
23661 @samp{foo} and the @var{bar}, or between the @var{bar} and the
23664 Note that all packet forms beginning with an upper- or lower-case
23665 letter, other than those described here, are reserved for future use.
23667 Here are the packet descriptions.
23672 @cindex @samp{!} packet
23673 @anchor{extended mode}
23674 Enable extended mode. In extended mode, the remote server is made
23675 persistent. The @samp{R} packet is used to restart the program being
23681 The remote target both supports and has enabled extended mode.
23685 @cindex @samp{?} packet
23686 Indicate the reason the target halted. The reply is the same as for
23690 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
23692 @item A @var{arglen},@var{argnum},@var{arg},@dots{}
23693 @cindex @samp{A} packet
23694 Initialized @code{argv[]} array passed into program. @var{arglen}
23695 specifies the number of bytes in the hex encoded byte stream
23696 @var{arg}. See @code{gdbserver} for more details.
23701 The arguments were set.
23707 @cindex @samp{b} packet
23708 (Don't use this packet; its behavior is not well-defined.)
23709 Change the serial line speed to @var{baud}.
23711 JTC: @emph{When does the transport layer state change? When it's
23712 received, or after the ACK is transmitted. In either case, there are
23713 problems if the command or the acknowledgment packet is dropped.}
23715 Stan: @emph{If people really wanted to add something like this, and get
23716 it working for the first time, they ought to modify ser-unix.c to send
23717 some kind of out-of-band message to a specially-setup stub and have the
23718 switch happen "in between" packets, so that from remote protocol's point
23719 of view, nothing actually happened.}
23721 @item B @var{addr},@var{mode}
23722 @cindex @samp{B} packet
23723 Set (@var{mode} is @samp{S}) or clear (@var{mode} is @samp{C}) a
23724 breakpoint at @var{addr}.
23726 Don't use this packet. Use the @samp{Z} and @samp{z} packets instead
23727 (@pxref{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}).
23729 @item c @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
23730 @cindex @samp{c} packet
23731 Continue. @var{addr} is address to resume. If @var{addr} is omitted,
23732 resume at current address.
23735 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
23737 @item C @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
23738 @cindex @samp{C} packet
23739 Continue with signal @var{sig} (hex signal number). If
23740 @samp{;@var{addr}} is omitted, resume at same address.
23743 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
23746 @cindex @samp{d} packet
23749 Don't use this packet; instead, define a general set packet
23750 (@pxref{General Query Packets}).
23753 @cindex @samp{D} packet
23754 Detach @value{GDBN} from the remote system. Sent to the remote target
23755 before @value{GDBN} disconnects via the @code{detach} command.
23765 @item F @var{RC},@var{EE},@var{CF};@var{XX}
23766 @cindex @samp{F} packet
23767 A reply from @value{GDBN} to an @samp{F} packet sent by the target.
23768 This is part of the File-I/O protocol extension. @xref{File-I/O
23769 Remote Protocol Extension}, for the specification.
23772 @anchor{read registers packet}
23773 @cindex @samp{g} packet
23774 Read general registers.
23778 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
23779 Each byte of register data is described by two hex digits. The bytes
23780 with the register are transmitted in target byte order. The size of
23781 each register and their position within the @samp{g} packet are
23782 determined by the @value{GDBN} internal gdbarch functions
23783 @code{DEPRECATED_REGISTER_RAW_SIZE} and @code{gdbarch_register_name}. The
23784 specification of several standard @samp{g} packets is specified below.
23789 @item G @var{XX@dots{}}
23790 @cindex @samp{G} packet
23791 Write general registers. @xref{read registers packet}, for a
23792 description of the @var{XX@dots{}} data.
23802 @item H @var{c} @var{t}
23803 @cindex @samp{H} packet
23804 Set thread for subsequent operations (@samp{m}, @samp{M}, @samp{g},
23805 @samp{G}, et.al.). @var{c} depends on the operation to be performed: it
23806 should be @samp{c} for step and continue operations, @samp{g} for other
23807 operations. The thread designator @var{t} may be @samp{-1}, meaning all
23808 the threads, a thread number, or @samp{0} which means pick any thread.
23819 @c 'H': How restrictive (or permissive) is the thread model. If a
23820 @c thread is selected and stopped, are other threads allowed
23821 @c to continue to execute? As I mentioned above, I think the
23822 @c semantics of each command when a thread is selected must be
23823 @c described. For example:
23825 @c 'g': If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
23826 @c selected, returns the register block from that thread;
23827 @c otherwise returns current registers.
23829 @c 'G' If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
23830 @c selected, sets the registers of the register block of
23831 @c that thread; otherwise sets current registers.
23833 @item i @r{[}@var{addr}@r{[},@var{nnn}@r{]]}
23834 @anchor{cycle step packet}
23835 @cindex @samp{i} packet
23836 Step the remote target by a single clock cycle. If @samp{,@var{nnn}} is
23837 present, cycle step @var{nnn} cycles. If @var{addr} is present, cycle
23838 step starting at that address.
23841 @cindex @samp{I} packet
23842 Signal, then cycle step. @xref{step with signal packet}. @xref{cycle
23846 @cindex @samp{k} packet
23849 FIXME: @emph{There is no description of how to operate when a specific
23850 thread context has been selected (i.e.@: does 'k' kill only that
23853 @item m @var{addr},@var{length}
23854 @cindex @samp{m} packet
23855 Read @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
23856 Note that @var{addr} may not be aligned to any particular boundary.
23858 The stub need not use any particular size or alignment when gathering
23859 data from memory for the response; even if @var{addr} is word-aligned
23860 and @var{length} is a multiple of the word size, the stub is free to
23861 use byte accesses, or not. For this reason, this packet may not be
23862 suitable for accessing memory-mapped I/O devices.
23863 @cindex alignment of remote memory accesses
23864 @cindex size of remote memory accesses
23865 @cindex memory, alignment and size of remote accesses
23869 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
23870 Memory contents; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit hexadecimal
23871 number. The reply may contain fewer bytes than requested if the
23872 server was able to read only part of the region of memory.
23877 @item M @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
23878 @cindex @samp{M} packet
23879 Write @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
23880 @var{XX@dots{}} is the data; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit
23881 hexadecimal number.
23888 for an error (this includes the case where only part of the data was
23893 @cindex @samp{p} packet
23894 Read the value of register @var{n}; @var{n} is in hex.
23895 @xref{read registers packet}, for a description of how the returned
23896 register value is encoded.
23900 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
23901 the register's value
23905 Indicating an unrecognized @var{query}.
23908 @item P @var{n@dots{}}=@var{r@dots{}}
23909 @anchor{write register packet}
23910 @cindex @samp{P} packet
23911 Write register @var{n@dots{}} with value @var{r@dots{}}. The register
23912 number @var{n} is in hexadecimal, and @var{r@dots{}} contains two hex
23913 digits for each byte in the register (target byte order).
23923 @item q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
23924 @itemx Q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
23925 @cindex @samp{q} packet
23926 @cindex @samp{Q} packet
23927 General query (@samp{q}) and set (@samp{Q}). These packets are
23928 described fully in @ref{General Query Packets}.
23931 @cindex @samp{r} packet
23932 Reset the entire system.
23934 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{R} packet instead.
23937 @cindex @samp{R} packet
23938 Restart the program being debugged. @var{XX}, while needed, is ignored.
23939 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
23941 The @samp{R} packet has no reply.
23943 @item s @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
23944 @cindex @samp{s} packet
23945 Single step. @var{addr} is the address at which to resume. If
23946 @var{addr} is omitted, resume at same address.
23949 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
23951 @item S @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
23952 @anchor{step with signal packet}
23953 @cindex @samp{S} packet
23954 Step with signal. This is analogous to the @samp{C} packet, but
23955 requests a single-step, rather than a normal resumption of execution.
23958 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
23960 @item t @var{addr}:@var{PP},@var{MM}
23961 @cindex @samp{t} packet
23962 Search backwards starting at address @var{addr} for a match with pattern
23963 @var{PP} and mask @var{MM}. @var{PP} and @var{MM} are 4 bytes.
23964 @var{addr} must be at least 3 digits.
23967 @cindex @samp{T} packet
23968 Find out if the thread XX is alive.
23973 thread is still alive
23979 Packets starting with @samp{v} are identified by a multi-letter name,
23980 up to the first @samp{;} or @samp{?} (or the end of the packet).
23982 @item vAttach;@var{pid}
23983 @cindex @samp{vAttach} packet
23984 Attach to a new process with the specified process ID. @var{pid} is a
23985 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. If the stub is currently
23986 controlling a process, it is killed. The attached process is stopped.
23988 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
23994 @item @r{Any stop packet}
23995 for success (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
23998 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@r{[}:@var{tid}@r{]]}@dots{}
23999 @cindex @samp{vCont} packet
24000 Resume the inferior, specifying different actions for each thread.
24001 If an action is specified with no @var{tid}, then it is applied to any
24002 threads that don't have a specific action specified; if no default action is
24003 specified then other threads should remain stopped. Specifying multiple
24004 default actions is an error; specifying no actions is also an error.
24005 Thread IDs are specified in hexadecimal. Currently supported actions are:
24011 Continue with signal @var{sig}. @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
24015 Step with signal @var{sig}. @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
24018 The optional @var{addr} argument normally associated with these packets is
24019 not supported in @samp{vCont}.
24022 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
24025 @cindex @samp{vCont?} packet
24026 Request a list of actions supported by the @samp{vCont} packet.
24030 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@dots{}@r{]}
24031 The @samp{vCont} packet is supported. Each @var{action} is a supported
24032 command in the @samp{vCont} packet.
24034 The @samp{vCont} packet is not supported.
24037 @item vFile:@var{operation}:@var{parameter}@dots{}
24038 @cindex @samp{vFile} packet
24039 Perform a file operation on the target system. For details,
24040 see @ref{Host I/O Packets}.
24042 @item vFlashErase:@var{addr},@var{length}
24043 @cindex @samp{vFlashErase} packet
24044 Direct the stub to erase @var{length} bytes of flash starting at
24045 @var{addr}. The region may enclose any number of flash blocks, but
24046 its start and end must fall on block boundaries, as indicated by the
24047 flash block size appearing in the memory map (@pxref{Memory Map
24048 Format}). @value{GDBN} groups flash memory programming operations
24049 together, and sends a @samp{vFlashDone} request after each group; the
24050 stub is allowed to delay erase operation until the @samp{vFlashDone}
24051 packet is received.
24061 @item vFlashWrite:@var{addr}:@var{XX@dots{}}
24062 @cindex @samp{vFlashWrite} packet
24063 Direct the stub to write data to flash address @var{addr}. The data
24064 is passed in binary form using the same encoding as for the @samp{X}
24065 packet (@pxref{Binary Data}). The memory ranges specified by
24066 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets preceding a @samp{vFlashDone} packet must
24067 not overlap, and must appear in order of increasing addresses
24068 (although @samp{vFlashErase} packets for higher addresses may already
24069 have been received; the ordering is guaranteed only between
24070 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets). If a packet writes to an address that was
24071 neither erased by a preceding @samp{vFlashErase} packet nor by some other
24072 target-specific method, the results are unpredictable.
24080 for vFlashWrite addressing non-flash memory
24086 @cindex @samp{vFlashDone} packet
24087 Indicate to the stub that flash programming operation is finished.
24088 The stub is permitted to delay or batch the effects of a group of
24089 @samp{vFlashErase} and @samp{vFlashWrite} packets until a
24090 @samp{vFlashDone} packet is received. The contents of the affected
24091 regions of flash memory are unpredictable until the @samp{vFlashDone}
24092 request is completed.
24094 @item vRun;@var{filename}@r{[};@var{argument}@r{]}@dots{}
24095 @cindex @samp{vRun} packet
24096 Run the program @var{filename}, passing it each @var{argument} on its
24097 command line. The file and arguments are hex-encoded strings. If
24098 @var{filename} is an empty string, the stub may use a default program
24099 (e.g.@: the last program run). The program is created in the stopped
24100 state. If the stub is currently controlling a process, it is killed.
24102 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
24108 @item @r{Any stop packet}
24109 for success (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
24112 @item X @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
24114 @cindex @samp{X} packet
24115 Write data to memory, where the data is transmitted in binary.
24116 @var{addr} is address, @var{length} is number of bytes,
24117 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
24127 @item z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{length}
24128 @itemx Z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{length}
24129 @anchor{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}
24130 @cindex @samp{z} packet
24131 @cindex @samp{Z} packets
24132 Insert (@samp{Z}) or remove (@samp{z}) a @var{type} breakpoint or
24133 watchpoint starting at address @var{address} and covering the next
24134 @var{length} bytes.
24136 Each breakpoint and watchpoint packet @var{type} is documented
24139 @emph{Implementation notes: A remote target shall return an empty string
24140 for an unrecognized breakpoint or watchpoint packet @var{type}. A
24141 remote target shall support either both or neither of a given
24142 @samp{Z@var{type}@dots{}} and @samp{z@var{type}@dots{}} packet pair. To
24143 avoid potential problems with duplicate packets, the operations should
24144 be implemented in an idempotent way.}
24146 @item z0,@var{addr},@var{length}
24147 @itemx Z0,@var{addr},@var{length}
24148 @cindex @samp{z0} packet
24149 @cindex @samp{Z0} packet
24150 Insert (@samp{Z0}) or remove (@samp{z0}) a memory breakpoint at address
24151 @var{addr} of size @var{length}.
24153 A memory breakpoint is implemented by replacing the instruction at
24154 @var{addr} with a software breakpoint or trap instruction. The
24155 @var{length} is used by targets that indicates the size of the
24156 breakpoint (in bytes) that should be inserted (e.g., the @sc{arm} and
24157 @sc{mips} can insert either a 2 or 4 byte breakpoint).
24159 @emph{Implementation note: It is possible for a target to copy or move
24160 code that contains memory breakpoints (e.g., when implementing
24161 overlays). The behavior of this packet, in the presence of such a
24162 target, is not defined.}
24174 @item z1,@var{addr},@var{length}
24175 @itemx Z1,@var{addr},@var{length}
24176 @cindex @samp{z1} packet
24177 @cindex @samp{Z1} packet
24178 Insert (@samp{Z1}) or remove (@samp{z1}) a hardware breakpoint at
24179 address @var{addr} of size @var{length}.
24181 A hardware breakpoint is implemented using a mechanism that is not
24182 dependant on being able to modify the target's memory.
24184 @emph{Implementation note: A hardware breakpoint is not affected by code
24197 @item z2,@var{addr},@var{length}
24198 @itemx Z2,@var{addr},@var{length}
24199 @cindex @samp{z2} packet
24200 @cindex @samp{Z2} packet
24201 Insert (@samp{Z2}) or remove (@samp{z2}) a write watchpoint.
24213 @item z3,@var{addr},@var{length}
24214 @itemx Z3,@var{addr},@var{length}
24215 @cindex @samp{z3} packet
24216 @cindex @samp{Z3} packet
24217 Insert (@samp{Z3}) or remove (@samp{z3}) a read watchpoint.
24229 @item z4,@var{addr},@var{length}
24230 @itemx Z4,@var{addr},@var{length}
24231 @cindex @samp{z4} packet
24232 @cindex @samp{Z4} packet
24233 Insert (@samp{Z4}) or remove (@samp{z4}) an access watchpoint.
24247 @node Stop Reply Packets
24248 @section Stop Reply Packets
24249 @cindex stop reply packets
24251 The @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}, @samp{s} and @samp{?} packets can
24252 receive any of the below as a reply. In the case of the @samp{C},
24253 @samp{c}, @samp{S} and @samp{s} packets, that reply is only returned
24254 when the target halts. In the below the exact meaning of @dfn{signal
24255 number} is defined by the header @file{include/gdb/signals.h} in the
24256 @value{GDBN} source code.
24258 As in the description of request packets, we include spaces in the
24259 reply templates for clarity; these are not part of the reply packet's
24260 syntax. No @value{GDBN} stop reply packet uses spaces to separate its
24266 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
24267 number). This is equivalent to a @samp{T} response with no
24268 @var{n}:@var{r} pairs.
24270 @item T @var{AA} @var{n1}:@var{r1};@var{n2}:@var{r2};@dots{}
24271 @cindex @samp{T} packet reply
24272 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
24273 number). This is equivalent to an @samp{S} response, except that the
24274 @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pairs can carry values of important registers
24275 and other information directly in the stop reply packet, reducing
24276 round-trip latency. Single-step and breakpoint traps are reported
24277 this way. Each @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair is interpreted as follows:
24281 If @var{n} is a hexadecimal number, it is a register number, and the
24282 corresponding @var{r} gives that register's value. @var{r} is a
24283 series of bytes in target byte order, with each byte given by a
24284 two-digit hex number.
24287 If @var{n} is @samp{thread}, then @var{r} is the thread process ID, in
24291 If @var{n} is a recognized @dfn{stop reason}, it describes a more
24292 specific event that stopped the target. The currently defined stop
24293 reasons are listed below. @var{aa} should be @samp{05}, the trap
24294 signal. At most one stop reason should be present.
24297 Otherwise, @value{GDBN} should ignore this @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair
24298 and go on to the next; this allows us to extend the protocol in the
24302 The currently defined stop reasons are:
24308 The packet indicates a watchpoint hit, and @var{r} is the data address, in
24311 @cindex shared library events, remote reply
24313 The packet indicates that the loaded libraries have changed.
24314 @value{GDBN} should use @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} to fetch a new
24315 list of loaded libraries. @var{r} is ignored.
24319 The process exited, and @var{AA} is the exit status. This is only
24320 applicable to certain targets.
24323 The process terminated with signal @var{AA}.
24325 @item O @var{XX}@dots{}
24326 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data, to be
24327 written as the program's console output. This can happen at any time
24328 while the program is running and the debugger should continue to wait
24329 for @samp{W}, @samp{T}, etc.
24331 @item F @var{call-id},@var{parameter}@dots{}
24332 @var{call-id} is the identifier which says which host system call should
24333 be called. This is just the name of the function. Translation into the
24334 correct system call is only applicable as it's defined in @value{GDBN}.
24335 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for a list of implemented
24338 @samp{@var{parameter}@dots{}} is a list of parameters as defined for
24339 this very system call.
24341 The target replies with this packet when it expects @value{GDBN} to
24342 call a host system call on behalf of the target. @value{GDBN} replies
24343 with an appropriate @samp{F} packet and keeps up waiting for the next
24344 reply packet from the target. The latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
24345 or @samp{s} action is expected to be continued. @xref{File-I/O Remote
24346 Protocol Extension}, for more details.
24350 @node General Query Packets
24351 @section General Query Packets
24352 @cindex remote query requests
24354 Packets starting with @samp{q} are @dfn{general query packets};
24355 packets starting with @samp{Q} are @dfn{general set packets}. General
24356 query and set packets are a semi-unified form for retrieving and
24357 sending information to and from the stub.
24359 The initial letter of a query or set packet is followed by a name
24360 indicating what sort of thing the packet applies to. For example,
24361 @value{GDBN} may use a @samp{qSymbol} packet to exchange symbol
24362 definitions with the stub. These packet names follow some
24367 The name must not contain commas, colons or semicolons.
24369 Most @value{GDBN} query and set packets have a leading upper case
24372 The names of custom vendor packets should use a company prefix, in
24373 lower case, followed by a period. For example, packets designed at
24374 the Acme Corporation might begin with @samp{qacme.foo} (for querying
24375 foos) or @samp{Qacme.bar} (for setting bars).
24378 The name of a query or set packet should be separated from any
24379 parameters by a @samp{:}; the parameters themselves should be
24380 separated by @samp{,} or @samp{;}. Stubs must be careful to match the
24381 full packet name, and check for a separator or the end of the packet,
24382 in case two packet names share a common prefix. New packets should not begin
24383 with @samp{qC}, @samp{qP}, or @samp{qL}@footnote{The @samp{qP} and @samp{qL}
24384 packets predate these conventions, and have arguments without any terminator
24385 for the packet name; we suspect they are in widespread use in places that
24386 are difficult to upgrade. The @samp{qC} packet has no arguments, but some
24387 existing stubs (e.g.@: RedBoot) are known to not check for the end of the
24390 Like the descriptions of the other packets, each description here
24391 has a template showing the packet's overall syntax, followed by an
24392 explanation of the packet's meaning. We include spaces in some of the
24393 templates for clarity; these are not part of the packet's syntax. No
24394 @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to separate its components.
24396 Here are the currently defined query and set packets:
24401 @cindex current thread, remote request
24402 @cindex @samp{qC} packet
24403 Return the current thread id.
24408 Where @var{pid} is an unsigned hexadecimal process id.
24409 @item @r{(anything else)}
24410 Any other reply implies the old pid.
24413 @item qCRC:@var{addr},@var{length}
24414 @cindex CRC of memory block, remote request
24415 @cindex @samp{qCRC} packet
24416 Compute the CRC checksum of a block of memory.
24420 An error (such as memory fault)
24421 @item C @var{crc32}
24422 The specified memory region's checksum is @var{crc32}.
24426 @itemx qsThreadInfo
24427 @cindex list active threads, remote request
24428 @cindex @samp{qfThreadInfo} packet
24429 @cindex @samp{qsThreadInfo} packet
24430 Obtain a list of all active thread ids from the target (OS). Since there
24431 may be too many active threads to fit into one reply packet, this query
24432 works iteratively: it may require more than one query/reply sequence to
24433 obtain the entire list of threads. The first query of the sequence will
24434 be the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query; subsequent queries in the
24435 sequence will be the @samp{qsThreadInfo} query.
24437 NOTE: This packet replaces the @samp{qL} query (see below).
24443 @item m @var{id},@var{id}@dots{}
24444 a comma-separated list of thread ids
24446 (lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
24449 In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
24450 more thread ids, in big-endian unsigned hex, separated by commas.
24451 @value{GDBN} will respond to each reply with a request for more thread
24452 ids (using the @samp{qs} form of the query), until the target responds
24453 with @samp{l} (lower-case el, for @dfn{last}).
24455 @item qGetTLSAddr:@var{thread-id},@var{offset},@var{lm}
24456 @cindex get thread-local storage address, remote request
24457 @cindex @samp{qGetTLSAddr} packet
24458 Fetch the address associated with thread local storage specified
24459 by @var{thread-id}, @var{offset}, and @var{lm}.
24461 @var{thread-id} is the (big endian, hex encoded) thread id associated with the
24462 thread for which to fetch the TLS address.
24464 @var{offset} is the (big endian, hex encoded) offset associated with the
24465 thread local variable. (This offset is obtained from the debug
24466 information associated with the variable.)
24468 @var{lm} is the (big endian, hex encoded) OS/ABI-specific encoding of the
24469 the load module associated with the thread local storage. For example,
24470 a @sc{gnu}/Linux system will pass the link map address of the shared
24471 object associated with the thread local storage under consideration.
24472 Other operating environments may choose to represent the load module
24473 differently, so the precise meaning of this parameter will vary.
24477 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
24478 Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the address of the thread
24479 local storage requested.
24482 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
24485 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTLSAddr} is not supported by the stub.
24488 @item qL @var{startflag} @var{threadcount} @var{nextthread}
24489 Obtain thread information from RTOS. Where: @var{startflag} (one hex
24490 digit) is one to indicate the first query and zero to indicate a
24491 subsequent query; @var{threadcount} (two hex digits) is the maximum
24492 number of threads the response packet can contain; and @var{nextthread}
24493 (eight hex digits), for subsequent queries (@var{startflag} is zero), is
24494 returned in the response as @var{argthread}.
24496 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query instead (see above).
24500 @item qM @var{count} @var{done} @var{argthread} @var{thread}@dots{}
24501 Where: @var{count} (two hex digits) is the number of threads being
24502 returned; @var{done} (one hex digit) is zero to indicate more threads
24503 and one indicates no further threads; @var{argthreadid} (eight hex
24504 digits) is @var{nextthread} from the request packet; @var{thread}@dots{}
24505 is a sequence of thread IDs from the target. @var{threadid} (eight hex
24506 digits). See @code{remote.c:parse_threadlist_response()}.
24510 @cindex section offsets, remote request
24511 @cindex @samp{qOffsets} packet
24512 Get section offsets that the target used when relocating the downloaded
24517 @item Text=@var{xxx};Data=@var{yyy}@r{[};Bss=@var{zzz}@r{]}
24518 Relocate the @code{Text} section by @var{xxx} from its original address.
24519 Relocate the @code{Data} section by @var{yyy} from its original address.
24520 If the object file format provides segment information (e.g.@: @sc{elf}
24521 @samp{PT_LOAD} program headers), @value{GDBN} will relocate entire
24522 segments by the supplied offsets.
24524 @emph{Note: while a @code{Bss} offset may be included in the response,
24525 @value{GDBN} ignores this and instead applies the @code{Data} offset
24526 to the @code{Bss} section.}
24528 @item TextSeg=@var{xxx}@r{[};DataSeg=@var{yyy}@r{]}
24529 Relocate the first segment of the object file, which conventionally
24530 contains program code, to a starting address of @var{xxx}. If
24531 @samp{DataSeg} is specified, relocate the second segment, which
24532 conventionally contains modifiable data, to a starting address of
24533 @var{yyy}. @value{GDBN} will report an error if the object file
24534 does not contain segment information, or does not contain at least
24535 as many segments as mentioned in the reply. Extra segments are
24536 kept at fixed offsets relative to the last relocated segment.
24539 @item qP @var{mode} @var{threadid}
24540 @cindex thread information, remote request
24541 @cindex @samp{qP} packet
24542 Returns information on @var{threadid}. Where: @var{mode} is a hex
24543 encoded 32 bit mode; @var{threadid} is a hex encoded 64 bit thread ID.
24545 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} query instead
24548 Reply: see @code{remote.c:remote_unpack_thread_info_response()}.
24550 @item QPassSignals: @var{signal} @r{[};@var{signal}@r{]}@dots{}
24551 @cindex pass signals to inferior, remote request
24552 @cindex @samp{QPassSignals} packet
24553 @anchor{QPassSignals}
24554 Each listed @var{signal} should be passed directly to the inferior process.
24555 Signals are numbered identically to continue packets and stop replies
24556 (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}). Each @var{signal} list item should be
24557 strictly greater than the previous item. These signals do not need to stop
24558 the inferior, or be reported to @value{GDBN}. All other signals should be
24559 reported to @value{GDBN}. Multiple @samp{QPassSignals} packets do not
24560 combine; any earlier @samp{QPassSignals} list is completely replaced by the
24561 new list. This packet improves performance when using @samp{handle
24562 @var{signal} nostop noprint pass}.
24567 The request succeeded.
24570 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
24573 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QPassSignals} is not supported by
24577 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote pass-signals}
24578 command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote pass-signals}).
24579 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
24580 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
24582 @item qRcmd,@var{command}
24583 @cindex execute remote command, remote request
24584 @cindex @samp{qRcmd} packet
24585 @var{command} (hex encoded) is passed to the local interpreter for
24586 execution. Invalid commands should be reported using the output
24587 string. Before the final result packet, the target may also respond
24588 with a number of intermediate @samp{O@var{output}} console output
24589 packets. @emph{Implementors should note that providing access to a
24590 stubs's interpreter may have security implications}.
24595 A command response with no output.
24597 A command response with the hex encoded output string @var{OUTPUT}.
24599 Indicate a badly formed request.
24601 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qRcmd} is not recognized.
24604 (Note that the @code{qRcmd} packet's name is separated from the
24605 command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
24606 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
24609 @item qSupported @r{[}:@var{gdbfeature} @r{[};@var{gdbfeature}@r{]}@dots{} @r{]}
24610 @cindex supported packets, remote query
24611 @cindex features of the remote protocol
24612 @cindex @samp{qSupported} packet
24613 @anchor{qSupported}
24614 Tell the remote stub about features supported by @value{GDBN}, and
24615 query the stub for features it supports. This packet allows
24616 @value{GDBN} and the remote stub to take advantage of each others'
24617 features. @samp{qSupported} also consolidates multiple feature probes
24618 at startup, to improve @value{GDBN} performance---a single larger
24619 packet performs better than multiple smaller probe packets on
24620 high-latency links. Some features may enable behavior which must not
24621 be on by default, e.g.@: because it would confuse older clients or
24622 stubs. Other features may describe packets which could be
24623 automatically probed for, but are not. These features must be
24624 reported before @value{GDBN} will use them. This ``default
24625 unsupported'' behavior is not appropriate for all packets, but it
24626 helps to keep the initial connection time under control with new
24627 versions of @value{GDBN} which support increasing numbers of packets.
24631 @item @var{stubfeature} @r{[};@var{stubfeature}@r{]}@dots{}
24632 The stub supports or does not support each returned @var{stubfeature},
24633 depending on the form of each @var{stubfeature} (see below for the
24636 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSupported} is not recognized,
24637 or that no features needed to be reported to @value{GDBN}.
24640 The allowed forms for each feature (either a @var{gdbfeature} in the
24641 @samp{qSupported} packet, or a @var{stubfeature} in the response)
24645 @item @var{name}=@var{value}
24646 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and associated
24647 with the specified @var{value}. The format of @var{value} depends
24648 on the feature, but it must not include a semicolon.
24650 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and does not
24651 need an associated value.
24653 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is not supported.
24655 The remote protocol feature @var{name} may be supported, and
24656 @value{GDBN} should auto-detect support in some other way when it is
24657 needed. This form will not be used for @var{gdbfeature} notifications,
24658 but may be used for @var{stubfeature} responses.
24661 Whenever the stub receives a @samp{qSupported} request, the
24662 supplied set of @value{GDBN} features should override any previous
24663 request. This allows @value{GDBN} to put the stub in a known
24664 state, even if the stub had previously been communicating with
24665 a different version of @value{GDBN}.
24667 No values of @var{gdbfeature} (for the packet sent by @value{GDBN})
24668 are defined yet. Stubs should ignore any unknown values for
24669 @var{gdbfeature}. Any @value{GDBN} which sends a @samp{qSupported}
24670 packet supports receiving packets of unlimited length (earlier
24671 versions of @value{GDBN} may reject overly long responses). Values
24672 for @var{gdbfeature} may be defined in the future to let the stub take
24673 advantage of new features in @value{GDBN}, e.g.@: incompatible
24674 improvements in the remote protocol---support for unlimited length
24675 responses would be a @var{gdbfeature} example, if it were not implied by
24676 the @samp{qSupported} query. The stub's reply should be independent
24677 of the @var{gdbfeature} entries sent by @value{GDBN}; first @value{GDBN}
24678 describes all the features it supports, and then the stub replies with
24679 all the features it supports.
24681 Similarly, @value{GDBN} will silently ignore unrecognized stub feature
24682 responses, as long as each response uses one of the standard forms.
24684 Some features are flags. A stub which supports a flag feature
24685 should respond with a @samp{+} form response. Other features
24686 require values, and the stub should respond with an @samp{=}
24689 Each feature has a default value, which @value{GDBN} will use if
24690 @samp{qSupported} is not available or if the feature is not mentioned
24691 in the @samp{qSupported} response. The default values are fixed; a
24692 stub is free to omit any feature responses that match the defaults.
24694 Not all features can be probed, but for those which can, the probing
24695 mechanism is useful: in some cases, a stub's internal
24696 architecture may not allow the protocol layer to know some information
24697 about the underlying target in advance. This is especially common in
24698 stubs which may be configured for multiple targets.
24700 These are the currently defined stub features and their properties:
24702 @multitable @columnfractions 0.35 0.2 0.12 0.2
24703 @c NOTE: The first row should be @headitem, but we do not yet require
24704 @c a new enough version of Texinfo (4.7) to use @headitem.
24706 @tab Value Required
24710 @item @samp{PacketSize}
24715 @item @samp{qXfer:auxv:read}
24720 @item @samp{qXfer:features:read}
24725 @item @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
24730 @item @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
24735 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:read}
24740 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:write}
24745 @item @samp{QPassSignals}
24752 These are the currently defined stub features, in more detail:
24755 @cindex packet size, remote protocol
24756 @item PacketSize=@var{bytes}
24757 The remote stub can accept packets up to at least @var{bytes} in
24758 length. @value{GDBN} will send packets up to this size for bulk
24759 transfers, and will never send larger packets. This is a limit on the
24760 data characters in the packet, including the frame and checksum.
24761 There is no trailing NUL byte in a remote protocol packet; if the stub
24762 stores packets in a NUL-terminated format, it should allow an extra
24763 byte in its buffer for the NUL. If this stub feature is not supported,
24764 @value{GDBN} guesses based on the size of the @samp{g} packet response.
24766 @item qXfer:auxv:read
24767 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet
24768 (@pxref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}).
24770 @item qXfer:features:read
24771 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:features:read} packet
24772 (@pxref{qXfer target description read}).
24774 @item qXfer:libraries:read
24775 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet
24776 (@pxref{qXfer library list read}).
24778 @item qXfer:memory-map:read
24779 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read} packet
24780 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}).
24782 @item qXfer:spu:read
24783 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:read} packet
24784 (@pxref{qXfer spu read}).
24786 @item qXfer:spu:write
24787 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:write} packet
24788 (@pxref{qXfer spu write}).
24791 The remote stub understands the @samp{QPassSignals} packet
24792 (@pxref{QPassSignals}).
24797 @cindex symbol lookup, remote request
24798 @cindex @samp{qSymbol} packet
24799 Notify the target that @value{GDBN} is prepared to serve symbol lookup
24800 requests. Accept requests from the target for the values of symbols.
24805 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
24806 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
24807 The target requests the value of symbol @var{sym_name} (hex encoded).
24808 @value{GDBN} may provide the value by using the
24809 @samp{qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}} message, described
24813 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}
24814 Set the value of @var{sym_name} to @var{sym_value}.
24816 @var{sym_name} (hex encoded) is the name of a symbol whose value the
24817 target has previously requested.
24819 @var{sym_value} (hex) is the value for symbol @var{sym_name}. If
24820 @value{GDBN} cannot supply a value for @var{sym_name}, then this field
24826 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
24827 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
24828 The target requests the value of a new symbol @var{sym_name} (hex
24829 encoded). @value{GDBN} will continue to supply the values of symbols
24830 (if available), until the target ceases to request them.
24835 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
24837 @item qThreadExtraInfo,@var{id}
24838 @cindex thread attributes info, remote request
24839 @cindex @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} packet
24840 Obtain a printable string description of a thread's attributes from
24841 the target OS. @var{id} is a thread-id in big-endian hex. This
24842 string may contain anything that the target OS thinks is interesting
24843 for @value{GDBN} to tell the user about the thread. The string is
24844 displayed in @value{GDBN}'s @code{info threads} display. Some
24845 examples of possible thread extra info strings are @samp{Runnable}, or
24846 @samp{Blocked on Mutex}.
24850 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
24851 Where @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is a hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data,
24852 comprising the printable string containing the extra information about
24853 the thread's attributes.
24856 (Note that the @code{qThreadExtraInfo} packet's name is separated from
24857 the command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
24858 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
24866 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
24868 @item qXfer:@var{object}:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
24869 @cindex read special object, remote request
24870 @cindex @samp{qXfer} packet
24871 @anchor{qXfer read}
24872 Read uninterpreted bytes from the target's special data area
24873 identified by the keyword @var{object}. Request @var{length} bytes
24874 starting at @var{offset} bytes into the data. The content and
24875 encoding of @var{annex} is specific to @var{object}; it can supply
24876 additional details about what data to access.
24878 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
24879 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:read:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
24880 formats, listed below.
24883 @item qXfer:auxv:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
24884 @anchor{qXfer auxiliary vector read}
24885 Access the target's @dfn{auxiliary vector}. @xref{OS Information,
24886 auxiliary vector}. Note @var{annex} must be empty.
24888 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
24889 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
24891 @item qXfer:features:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
24892 @anchor{qXfer target description read}
24893 Access the @dfn{target description}. @xref{Target Descriptions}. The
24894 annex specifies which XML document to access. The main description is
24895 always loaded from the @samp{target.xml} annex.
24897 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
24898 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
24900 @item qXfer:libraries:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
24901 @anchor{qXfer library list read}
24902 Access the target's list of loaded libraries. @xref{Library List Format}.
24903 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
24904 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
24906 Targets which maintain a list of libraries in the program's memory do
24907 not need to implement this packet; it is designed for platforms where
24908 the operating system manages the list of loaded libraries.
24910 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
24911 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
24913 @item qXfer:memory-map:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
24914 @anchor{qXfer memory map read}
24915 Access the target's @dfn{memory-map}. @xref{Memory Map Format}. The
24916 annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
24917 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
24919 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
24920 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
24922 @item qXfer:spu:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
24923 @anchor{qXfer spu read}
24924 Read contents of an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
24925 annex specifies which file to read; it must be of the form
24926 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
24927 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
24928 in that context to be accessed.
24930 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
24931 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
24937 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the
24938 target. There may be more data at a higher address (although
24939 it is permitted to return @samp{m} even for the last valid
24940 block of data, as long as at least one byte of data was read).
24941 @var{data} may have fewer bytes than the @var{length} in the
24945 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the target.
24946 There is no more data to be read. @var{data} may have fewer bytes
24947 than the @var{length} in the request.
24950 The @var{offset} in the request is at the end of the data.
24951 There is no more data to be read.
24954 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
24957 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered reading the data.
24958 @var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
24961 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not recognized by
24962 the stub, or that the object does not support reading.
24965 @item qXfer:@var{object}:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
24966 @cindex write data into object, remote request
24967 Write uninterpreted bytes into the target's special data area
24968 identified by the keyword @var{object}, starting at @var{offset} bytes
24969 into the data. @var{data}@dots{} is the binary-encoded data
24970 (@pxref{Binary Data}) to be written. The content and encoding of @var{annex}
24971 is specific to @var{object}; it can supply additional details about what data
24974 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
24975 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:write:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
24976 formats, listed below.
24979 @item qXfer:@var{spu}:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
24980 @anchor{qXfer spu write}
24981 Write @var{data} to an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
24982 annex specifies which file to write; it must be of the form
24983 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
24984 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
24985 in that context to be accessed.
24987 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
24988 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
24994 @var{nn} (hex encoded) is the number of bytes written.
24995 This may be fewer bytes than supplied in the request.
24998 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
25001 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered writing the data.
25002 @var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
25005 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not
25006 recognized by the stub, or that the object does not support writing.
25009 @item qXfer:@var{object}:@var{operation}:@dots{}
25010 Requests of this form may be added in the future. When a stub does
25011 not recognize the @var{object} keyword, or its support for
25012 @var{object} does not recognize the @var{operation} keyword, the stub
25013 must respond with an empty packet.
25017 @node Register Packet Format
25018 @section Register Packet Format
25020 The following @code{g}/@code{G} packets have previously been defined.
25021 In the below, some thirty-two bit registers are transferred as
25022 sixty-four bits. Those registers should be zero/sign extended (which?)
25023 to fill the space allocated. Register bytes are transferred in target
25024 byte order. The two nibbles within a register byte are transferred
25025 most-significant - least-significant.
25031 All registers are transferred as thirty-two bit quantities in the order:
25032 32 general-purpose; sr; lo; hi; bad; cause; pc; 32 floating-point
25033 registers; fsr; fir; fp.
25037 All registers are transferred as sixty-four bit quantities (including
25038 thirty-two bit registers such as @code{sr}). The ordering is the same
25043 @node Tracepoint Packets
25044 @section Tracepoint Packets
25045 @cindex tracepoint packets
25046 @cindex packets, tracepoint
25048 Here we describe the packets @value{GDBN} uses to implement
25049 tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoints}).
25053 @item QTDP:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{ena}:@var{step}:@var{pass}@r{[}-@r{]}
25054 Create a new tracepoint, number @var{n}, at @var{addr}. If @var{ena}
25055 is @samp{E}, then the tracepoint is enabled; if it is @samp{D}, then
25056 the tracepoint is disabled. @var{step} is the tracepoint's step
25057 count, and @var{pass} is its pass count. If the trailing @samp{-} is
25058 present, further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow to specify this
25059 tracepoint's actions.
25064 The packet was understood and carried out.
25066 The packet was not recognized.
25069 @item QTDP:-@var{n}:@var{addr}:@r{[}S@r{]}@var{action}@dots{}@r{[}-@r{]}
25070 Define actions to be taken when a tracepoint is hit. @var{n} and
25071 @var{addr} must be the same as in the initial @samp{QTDP} packet for
25072 this tracepoint. This packet may only be sent immediately after
25073 another @samp{QTDP} packet that ended with a @samp{-}. If the
25074 trailing @samp{-} is present, further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow,
25075 specifying more actions for this tracepoint.
25077 In the series of action packets for a given tracepoint, at most one
25078 can have an @samp{S} before its first @var{action}. If such a packet
25079 is sent, it and the following packets define ``while-stepping''
25080 actions. Any prior packets define ordinary actions --- that is, those
25081 taken when the tracepoint is first hit. If no action packet has an
25082 @samp{S}, then all the packets in the series specify ordinary
25083 tracepoint actions.
25085 The @samp{@var{action}@dots{}} portion of the packet is a series of
25086 actions, concatenated without separators. Each action has one of the
25092 Collect the registers whose bits are set in @var{mask}. @var{mask} is
25093 a hexadecimal number whose @var{i}'th bit is set if register number
25094 @var{i} should be collected. (The least significant bit is numbered
25095 zero.) Note that @var{mask} may be any number of digits long; it may
25096 not fit in a 32-bit word.
25098 @item M @var{basereg},@var{offset},@var{len}
25099 Collect @var{len} bytes of memory starting at the address in register
25100 number @var{basereg}, plus @var{offset}. If @var{basereg} is
25101 @samp{-1}, then the range has a fixed address: @var{offset} is the
25102 address of the lowest byte to collect. The @var{basereg},
25103 @var{offset}, and @var{len} parameters are all unsigned hexadecimal
25104 values (the @samp{-1} value for @var{basereg} is a special case).
25106 @item X @var{len},@var{expr}
25107 Evaluate @var{expr}, whose length is @var{len}, and collect memory as
25108 it directs. @var{expr} is an agent expression, as described in
25109 @ref{Agent Expressions}. Each byte of the expression is encoded as a
25110 two-digit hex number in the packet; @var{len} is the number of bytes
25111 in the expression (and thus one-half the number of hex digits in the
25116 Any number of actions may be packed together in a single @samp{QTDP}
25117 packet, as long as the packet does not exceed the maximum packet
25118 length (400 bytes, for many stubs). There may be only one @samp{R}
25119 action per tracepoint, and it must precede any @samp{M} or @samp{X}
25120 actions. Any registers referred to by @samp{M} and @samp{X} actions
25121 must be collected by a preceding @samp{R} action. (The
25122 ``while-stepping'' actions are treated as if they were attached to a
25123 separate tracepoint, as far as these restrictions are concerned.)
25128 The packet was understood and carried out.
25130 The packet was not recognized.
25133 @item QTFrame:@var{n}
25134 Select the @var{n}'th tracepoint frame from the buffer, and use the
25135 register and memory contents recorded there to answer subsequent
25136 request packets from @value{GDBN}.
25138 A successful reply from the stub indicates that the stub has found the
25139 requested frame. The response is a series of parts, concatenated
25140 without separators, describing the frame we selected. Each part has
25141 one of the following forms:
25145 The selected frame is number @var{n} in the trace frame buffer;
25146 @var{f} is a hexadecimal number. If @var{f} is @samp{-1}, then there
25147 was no frame matching the criteria in the request packet.
25150 The selected trace frame records a hit of tracepoint number @var{t};
25151 @var{t} is a hexadecimal number.
25155 @item QTFrame:pc:@var{addr}
25156 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
25157 currently selected frame whose PC is @var{addr};
25158 @var{addr} is a hexadecimal number.
25160 @item QTFrame:tdp:@var{t}
25161 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
25162 currently selected frame that is a hit of tracepoint @var{t}; @var{t}
25163 is a hexadecimal number.
25165 @item QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}
25166 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
25167 currently selected frame whose PC is between @var{start} (inclusive)
25168 and @var{end} (exclusive); @var{start} and @var{end} are hexadecimal
25171 @item QTFrame:outside:@var{start}:@var{end}
25172 Like @samp{QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}}, but select the first
25173 frame @emph{outside} the given range of addresses.
25176 Begin the tracepoint experiment. Begin collecting data from tracepoint
25177 hits in the trace frame buffer.
25180 End the tracepoint experiment. Stop collecting trace frames.
25183 Clear the table of tracepoints, and empty the trace frame buffer.
25185 @item QTro:@var{start1},@var{end1}:@var{start2},@var{end2}:@dots{}
25186 Establish the given ranges of memory as ``transparent''. The stub
25187 will answer requests for these ranges from memory's current contents,
25188 if they were not collected as part of the tracepoint hit.
25190 @value{GDBN} uses this to mark read-only regions of memory, like those
25191 containing program code. Since these areas never change, they should
25192 still have the same contents they did when the tracepoint was hit, so
25193 there's no reason for the stub to refuse to provide their contents.
25196 Ask the stub if there is a trace experiment running right now.
25201 There is no trace experiment running.
25203 There is a trace experiment running.
25209 @node Host I/O Packets
25210 @section Host I/O Packets
25211 @cindex Host I/O, remote protocol
25212 @cindex file transfer, remote protocol
25214 The @dfn{Host I/O} packets allow @value{GDBN} to perform I/O
25215 operations on the far side of a remote link. For example, Host I/O is
25216 used to upload and download files to a remote target with its own
25217 filesystem. Host I/O uses the same constant values and data structure
25218 layout as the target-initiated File-I/O protocol. However, the
25219 Host I/O packets are structured differently. The target-initiated
25220 protocol relies on target memory to store parameters and buffers.
25221 Host I/O requests are initiated by @value{GDBN}, and the
25222 target's memory is not involved. @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol
25223 Extension}, for more details on the target-initiated protocol.
25225 The Host I/O request packets all encode a single operation along with
25226 its arguments. They have this format:
25230 @item vFile:@var{operation}: @var{parameter}@dots{}
25231 @var{operation} is the name of the particular request; the target
25232 should compare the entire packet name up to the second colon when checking
25233 for a supported operation. The format of @var{parameter} depends on
25234 the operation. Numbers are always passed in hexadecimal. Negative
25235 numbers have an explicit minus sign (i.e.@: two's complement is not
25236 used). Strings (e.g.@: filenames) are encoded as a series of
25237 hexadecimal bytes. The last argument to a system call may be a
25238 buffer of escaped binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
25242 The valid responses to Host I/O packets are:
25246 @item F @var{result} [, @var{errno}] [; @var{attachment}]
25247 @var{result} is the integer value returned by this operation, usually
25248 non-negative for success and -1 for errors. If an error has occured,
25249 @var{errno} will be included in the result. @var{errno} will have a
25250 value defined by the File-I/O protocol (@pxref{Errno Values}). For
25251 operations which return data, @var{attachment} supplies the data as a
25252 binary buffer. Binary buffers in response packets are escaped in the
25253 normal way (@pxref{Binary Data}). See the individual packet
25254 documentation for the interpretation of @var{result} and
25258 An empty response indicates that this operation is not recognized.
25262 These are the supported Host I/O operations:
25265 @item vFile:open: @var{pathname}, @var{flags}, @var{mode}
25266 Open a file at @var{pathname} and return a file descriptor for it, or
25267 return -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string,
25268 @var{flags} is an integer indicating a mask of open flags
25269 (@pxref{Open Flags}), and @var{mode} is an integer indicating a mask
25270 of mode bits to use if the file is created (@pxref{mode_t Values}).
25271 @xref{open}, for details of the open flags and mode values.
25273 @item vFile:close: @var{fd}
25274 Close the open file corresponding to @var{fd} and return 0, or
25275 -1 if an error occurs.
25277 @item vFile:pread: @var{fd}, @var{count}, @var{offset}
25278 Read data from the open file corresponding to @var{fd}. Up to
25279 @var{count} bytes will be read from the file, starting at @var{offset}
25280 relative to the start of the file. The target may read fewer bytes;
25281 common reasons include packet size limits and an end-of-file
25282 condition. The number of bytes read is returned. Zero should only be
25283 returned for a successful read at the end of the file, or if
25284 @var{count} was zero.
25286 The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
25287 If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
25288 attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
25289 number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
25290 some characters were escaped.
25292 @item vFile:pwrite: @var{fd}, @var{offset}, @var{data}
25293 Write @var{data} (a binary buffer) to the open file corresponding
25294 to @var{fd}. Start the write at @var{offset} from the start of the
25295 file. Unlike many @code{write} system calls, there is no
25296 separate @var{count} argument; the length of @var{data} in the
25297 packet is used. @samp{vFile:write} returns the number of bytes written,
25298 which may be shorter than the length of @var{data}, or -1 if an
25301 @item vFile:unlink: @var{pathname}
25302 Delete the file at @var{pathname} on the target. Return 0,
25303 or -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string.
25308 @section Interrupts
25309 @cindex interrupts (remote protocol)
25311 When a program on the remote target is running, @value{GDBN} may
25312 attempt to interrupt it by sending a @samp{Ctrl-C} or a @code{BREAK},
25313 control of which is specified via @value{GDBN}'s @samp{remotebreak}
25314 setting (@pxref{set remotebreak}).
25316 The precise meaning of @code{BREAK} is defined by the transport
25317 mechanism and may, in fact, be undefined. @value{GDBN} does
25318 not currently define a @code{BREAK} mechanism for any of the network
25321 @samp{Ctrl-C}, on the other hand, is defined and implemented for all
25322 transport mechanisms. It is represented by sending the single byte
25323 @code{0x03} without any of the usual packet overhead described in
25324 the Overview section (@pxref{Overview}). When a @code{0x03} byte is
25325 transmitted as part of a packet, it is considered to be packet data
25326 and does @emph{not} represent an interrupt. E.g., an @samp{X} packet
25327 (@pxref{X packet}), used for binary downloads, may include an unescaped
25328 @code{0x03} as part of its packet.
25330 Stubs are not required to recognize these interrupt mechanisms and the
25331 precise meaning associated with receipt of the interrupt is
25332 implementation defined. If the stub is successful at interrupting the
25333 running program, it is expected that it will send one of the Stop
25334 Reply Packets (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}) to @value{GDBN} as a result
25335 of successfully stopping the program. Interrupts received while the
25336 program is stopped will be discarded.
25341 Example sequence of a target being re-started. Notice how the restart
25342 does not get any direct output:
25347 @emph{target restarts}
25350 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
25354 Example sequence of a target being stepped by a single instruction:
25357 -> @code{G1445@dots{}}
25362 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
25366 <- @code{1455@dots{}}
25370 @node File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
25371 @section File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
25372 @cindex File-I/O remote protocol extension
25375 * File-I/O Overview::
25376 * Protocol Basics::
25377 * The F Request Packet::
25378 * The F Reply Packet::
25379 * The Ctrl-C Message::
25381 * List of Supported Calls::
25382 * Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes::
25384 * File-I/O Examples::
25387 @node File-I/O Overview
25388 @subsection File-I/O Overview
25389 @cindex file-i/o overview
25391 The @dfn{File I/O remote protocol extension} (short: File-I/O) allows the
25392 target to use the host's file system and console I/O to perform various
25393 system calls. System calls on the target system are translated into a
25394 remote protocol packet to the host system, which then performs the needed
25395 actions and returns a response packet to the target system.
25396 This simulates file system operations even on targets that lack file systems.
25398 The protocol is defined to be independent of both the host and target systems.
25399 It uses its own internal representation of datatypes and values. Both
25400 @value{GDBN} and the target's @value{GDBN} stub are responsible for
25401 translating the system-dependent value representations into the internal
25402 protocol representations when data is transmitted.
25404 The communication is synchronous. A system call is possible only when
25405 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
25406 or @samp{s} packets. While @value{GDBN} handles the request for a system call,
25407 the target is stopped to allow deterministic access to the target's
25408 memory. Therefore File-I/O is not interruptible by target signals. On
25409 the other hand, it is possible to interrupt File-I/O by a user interrupt
25410 (@samp{Ctrl-C}) within @value{GDBN}.
25412 The target's request to perform a host system call does not finish
25413 the latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} action. That means,
25414 after finishing the system call, the target returns to continuing the
25415 previous activity (continue, step). No additional continue or step
25416 request from @value{GDBN} is required.
25419 (@value{GDBP}) continue
25420 <- target requests 'system call X'
25421 target is stopped, @value{GDBN} executes system call
25422 -> @value{GDBN} returns result
25423 ... target continues, @value{GDBN} returns to wait for the target
25424 <- target hits breakpoint and sends a Txx packet
25427 The protocol only supports I/O on the console and to regular files on
25428 the host file system. Character or block special devices, pipes,
25429 named pipes, sockets or any other communication method on the host
25430 system are not supported by this protocol.
25432 @node Protocol Basics
25433 @subsection Protocol Basics
25434 @cindex protocol basics, file-i/o
25436 The File-I/O protocol uses the @code{F} packet as the request as well
25437 as reply packet. Since a File-I/O system call can only occur when
25438 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the continuing or stepping target,
25439 the File-I/O request is a reply that @value{GDBN} has to expect as a result
25440 of a previous @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} packet.
25441 This @code{F} packet contains all information needed to allow @value{GDBN}
25442 to call the appropriate host system call:
25446 A unique identifier for the requested system call.
25449 All parameters to the system call. Pointers are given as addresses
25450 in the target memory address space. Pointers to strings are given as
25451 pointer/length pair. Numerical values are given as they are.
25452 Numerical control flags are given in a protocol-specific representation.
25456 At this point, @value{GDBN} has to perform the following actions.
25460 If the parameters include pointer values to data needed as input to a
25461 system call, @value{GDBN} requests this data from the target with a
25462 standard @code{m} packet request. This additional communication has to be
25463 expected by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{m}
25467 @value{GDBN} translates all value from protocol representation to host
25468 representation as needed. Datatypes are coerced into the host types.
25471 @value{GDBN} calls the system call.
25474 It then coerces datatypes back to protocol representation.
25477 If the system call is expected to return data in buffer space specified
25478 by pointer parameters to the call, the data is transmitted to the
25479 target using a @code{M} or @code{X} packet. This packet has to be expected
25480 by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{M} or @code{X}
25485 Eventually @value{GDBN} replies with another @code{F} packet which contains all
25486 necessary information for the target to continue. This at least contains
25493 @code{errno}, if has been changed by the system call.
25500 After having done the needed type and value coercion, the target continues
25501 the latest continue or step action.
25503 @node The F Request Packet
25504 @subsection The @code{F} Request Packet
25505 @cindex file-i/o request packet
25506 @cindex @code{F} request packet
25508 The @code{F} request packet has the following format:
25511 @item F@var{call-id},@var{parameter@dots{}}
25513 @var{call-id} is the identifier to indicate the host system call to be called.
25514 This is just the name of the function.
25516 @var{parameter@dots{}} are the parameters to the system call.
25517 Parameters are hexadecimal integer values, either the actual values in case
25518 of scalar datatypes, pointers to target buffer space in case of compound
25519 datatypes and unspecified memory areas, or pointer/length pairs in case
25520 of string parameters. These are appended to the @var{call-id} as a
25521 comma-delimited list. All values are transmitted in ASCII
25522 string representation, pointer/length pairs separated by a slash.
25528 @node The F Reply Packet
25529 @subsection The @code{F} Reply Packet
25530 @cindex file-i/o reply packet
25531 @cindex @code{F} reply packet
25533 The @code{F} reply packet has the following format:
25537 @item F@var{retcode},@var{errno},@var{Ctrl-C flag};@var{call-specific attachment}
25539 @var{retcode} is the return code of the system call as hexadecimal value.
25541 @var{errno} is the @code{errno} set by the call, in protocol-specific
25543 This parameter can be omitted if the call was successful.
25545 @var{Ctrl-C flag} is only sent if the user requested a break. In this
25546 case, @var{errno} must be sent as well, even if the call was successful.
25547 The @var{Ctrl-C flag} itself consists of the character @samp{C}:
25554 or, if the call was interrupted before the host call has been performed:
25561 assuming 4 is the protocol-specific representation of @code{EINTR}.
25566 @node The Ctrl-C Message
25567 @subsection The @samp{Ctrl-C} Message
25568 @cindex ctrl-c message, in file-i/o protocol
25570 If the @samp{Ctrl-C} flag is set in the @value{GDBN}
25571 reply packet (@pxref{The F Reply Packet}),
25572 the target should behave as if it had
25573 gotten a break message. The meaning for the target is ``system call
25574 interrupted by @code{SIGINT}''. Consequentially, the target should actually stop
25575 (as with a break message) and return to @value{GDBN} with a @code{T02}
25578 It's important for the target to know in which
25579 state the system call was interrupted. There are two possible cases:
25583 The system call hasn't been performed on the host yet.
25586 The system call on the host has been finished.
25590 These two states can be distinguished by the target by the value of the
25591 returned @code{errno}. If it's the protocol representation of @code{EINTR}, the system
25592 call hasn't been performed. This is equivalent to the @code{EINTR} handling
25593 on POSIX systems. In any other case, the target may presume that the
25594 system call has been finished --- successfully or not --- and should behave
25595 as if the break message arrived right after the system call.
25597 @value{GDBN} must behave reliably. If the system call has not been called
25598 yet, @value{GDBN} may send the @code{F} reply immediately, setting @code{EINTR} as
25599 @code{errno} in the packet. If the system call on the host has been finished
25600 before the user requests a break, the full action must be finished by
25601 @value{GDBN}. This requires sending @code{M} or @code{X} packets as necessary.
25602 The @code{F} packet may only be sent when either nothing has happened
25603 or the full action has been completed.
25606 @subsection Console I/O
25607 @cindex console i/o as part of file-i/o
25609 By default and if not explicitly closed by the target system, the file
25610 descriptors 0, 1 and 2 are connected to the @value{GDBN} console. Output
25611 on the @value{GDBN} console is handled as any other file output operation
25612 (@code{write(1, @dots{})} or @code{write(2, @dots{})}). Console input is handled
25613 by @value{GDBN} so that after the target read request from file descriptor
25614 0 all following typing is buffered until either one of the following
25619 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-c}. The behaviour is as explained above, and the
25621 system call is treated as finished.
25624 The user presses @key{RET}. This is treated as end of input with a trailing
25628 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-d}. This is treated as end of input. No trailing
25629 character (neither newline nor @samp{Ctrl-D}) is appended to the input.
25633 If the user has typed more characters than fit in the buffer given to
25634 the @code{read} call, the trailing characters are buffered in @value{GDBN} until
25635 either another @code{read(0, @dots{})} is requested by the target, or debugging
25636 is stopped at the user's request.
25639 @node List of Supported Calls
25640 @subsection List of Supported Calls
25641 @cindex list of supported file-i/o calls
25658 @unnumberedsubsubsec open
25659 @cindex open, file-i/o system call
25664 int open(const char *pathname, int flags);
25665 int open(const char *pathname, int flags, mode_t mode);
25669 @samp{Fopen,@var{pathptr}/@var{len},@var{flags},@var{mode}}
25672 @var{flags} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
25676 If the file does not exist it will be created. The host
25677 rules apply as far as file ownership and time stamps
25681 When used with @code{O_CREAT}, if the file already exists it is
25682 an error and open() fails.
25685 If the file already exists and the open mode allows
25686 writing (@code{O_RDWR} or @code{O_WRONLY} is given) it will be
25687 truncated to zero length.
25690 The file is opened in append mode.
25693 The file is opened for reading only.
25696 The file is opened for writing only.
25699 The file is opened for reading and writing.
25703 Other bits are silently ignored.
25707 @var{mode} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
25711 User has read permission.
25714 User has write permission.
25717 Group has read permission.
25720 Group has write permission.
25723 Others have read permission.
25726 Others have write permission.
25730 Other bits are silently ignored.
25733 @item Return value:
25734 @code{open} returns the new file descriptor or -1 if an error
25741 @var{pathname} already exists and @code{O_CREAT} and @code{O_EXCL} were used.
25744 @var{pathname} refers to a directory.
25747 The requested access is not allowed.
25750 @var{pathname} was too long.
25753 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
25756 @var{pathname} refers to a device, pipe, named pipe or socket.
25759 @var{pathname} refers to a file on a read-only filesystem and
25760 write access was requested.
25763 @var{pathname} is an invalid pointer value.
25766 No space on device to create the file.
25769 The process already has the maximum number of files open.
25772 The limit on the total number of files open on the system
25776 The call was interrupted by the user.
25782 @unnumberedsubsubsec close
25783 @cindex close, file-i/o system call
25792 @samp{Fclose,@var{fd}}
25794 @item Return value:
25795 @code{close} returns zero on success, or -1 if an error occurred.
25801 @var{fd} isn't a valid open file descriptor.
25804 The call was interrupted by the user.
25810 @unnumberedsubsubsec read
25811 @cindex read, file-i/o system call
25816 int read(int fd, void *buf, unsigned int count);
25820 @samp{Fread,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
25822 @item Return value:
25823 On success, the number of bytes read is returned.
25824 Zero indicates end of file. If count is zero, read
25825 returns zero as well. On error, -1 is returned.
25831 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
25835 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
25838 The call was interrupted by the user.
25844 @unnumberedsubsubsec write
25845 @cindex write, file-i/o system call
25850 int write(int fd, const void *buf, unsigned int count);
25854 @samp{Fwrite,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
25856 @item Return value:
25857 On success, the number of bytes written are returned.
25858 Zero indicates nothing was written. On error, -1
25865 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
25869 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
25872 An attempt was made to write a file that exceeds the
25873 host-specific maximum file size allowed.
25876 No space on device to write the data.
25879 The call was interrupted by the user.
25885 @unnumberedsubsubsec lseek
25886 @cindex lseek, file-i/o system call
25891 long lseek (int fd, long offset, int flag);
25895 @samp{Flseek,@var{fd},@var{offset},@var{flag}}
25897 @var{flag} is one of:
25901 The offset is set to @var{offset} bytes.
25904 The offset is set to its current location plus @var{offset}
25908 The offset is set to the size of the file plus @var{offset}
25912 @item Return value:
25913 On success, the resulting unsigned offset in bytes from
25914 the beginning of the file is returned. Otherwise, a
25915 value of -1 is returned.
25921 @var{fd} is not a valid open file descriptor.
25924 @var{fd} is associated with the @value{GDBN} console.
25927 @var{flag} is not a proper value.
25930 The call was interrupted by the user.
25936 @unnumberedsubsubsec rename
25937 @cindex rename, file-i/o system call
25942 int rename(const char *oldpath, const char *newpath);
25946 @samp{Frename,@var{oldpathptr}/@var{len},@var{newpathptr}/@var{len}}
25948 @item Return value:
25949 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
25955 @var{newpath} is an existing directory, but @var{oldpath} is not a
25959 @var{newpath} is a non-empty directory.
25962 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} is a directory that is in use by some
25966 An attempt was made to make a directory a subdirectory
25970 A component used as a directory in @var{oldpath} or new
25971 path is not a directory. Or @var{oldpath} is a directory
25972 and @var{newpath} exists but is not a directory.
25975 @var{oldpathptr} or @var{newpathptr} are invalid pointer values.
25978 No access to the file or the path of the file.
25982 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} was too long.
25985 A directory component in @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} does not exist.
25988 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
25991 The device containing the file has no room for the new
25995 The call was interrupted by the user.
26001 @unnumberedsubsubsec unlink
26002 @cindex unlink, file-i/o system call
26007 int unlink(const char *pathname);
26011 @samp{Funlink,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len}}
26013 @item Return value:
26014 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
26020 No access to the file or the path of the file.
26023 The system does not allow unlinking of directories.
26026 The file @var{pathname} cannot be unlinked because it's
26027 being used by another process.
26030 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
26033 @var{pathname} was too long.
26036 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
26039 A component of the path is not a directory.
26042 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
26045 The call was interrupted by the user.
26051 @unnumberedsubsubsec stat/fstat
26052 @cindex fstat, file-i/o system call
26053 @cindex stat, file-i/o system call
26058 int stat(const char *pathname, struct stat *buf);
26059 int fstat(int fd, struct stat *buf);
26063 @samp{Fstat,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len},@var{bufptr}}@*
26064 @samp{Ffstat,@var{fd},@var{bufptr}}
26066 @item Return value:
26067 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
26073 @var{fd} is not a valid open file.
26076 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist or the
26077 path is an empty string.
26080 A component of the path is not a directory.
26083 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
26086 No access to the file or the path of the file.
26089 @var{pathname} was too long.
26092 The call was interrupted by the user.
26098 @unnumberedsubsubsec gettimeofday
26099 @cindex gettimeofday, file-i/o system call
26104 int gettimeofday(struct timeval *tv, void *tz);
26108 @samp{Fgettimeofday,@var{tvptr},@var{tzptr}}
26110 @item Return value:
26111 On success, 0 is returned, -1 otherwise.
26117 @var{tz} is a non-NULL pointer.
26120 @var{tvptr} and/or @var{tzptr} is an invalid pointer value.
26126 @unnumberedsubsubsec isatty
26127 @cindex isatty, file-i/o system call
26132 int isatty(int fd);
26136 @samp{Fisatty,@var{fd}}
26138 @item Return value:
26139 Returns 1 if @var{fd} refers to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise.
26145 The call was interrupted by the user.
26150 Note that the @code{isatty} call is treated as a special case: it returns
26151 1 to the target if the file descriptor is attached
26152 to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise. Implementing through system calls
26153 would require implementing @code{ioctl} and would be more complex than
26158 @unnumberedsubsubsec system
26159 @cindex system, file-i/o system call
26164 int system(const char *command);
26168 @samp{Fsystem,@var{commandptr}/@var{len}}
26170 @item Return value:
26171 If @var{len} is zero, the return value indicates whether a shell is
26172 available. A zero return value indicates a shell is not available.
26173 For non-zero @var{len}, the value returned is -1 on error and the
26174 return status of the command otherwise. Only the exit status of the
26175 command is returned, which is extracted from the host's @code{system}
26176 return value by calling @code{WEXITSTATUS(retval)}. In case
26177 @file{/bin/sh} could not be executed, 127 is returned.
26183 The call was interrupted by the user.
26188 @value{GDBN} takes over the full task of calling the necessary host calls
26189 to perform the @code{system} call. The return value of @code{system} on
26190 the host is simplified before it's returned
26191 to the target. Any termination signal information from the child process
26192 is discarded, and the return value consists
26193 entirely of the exit status of the called command.
26195 Due to security concerns, the @code{system} call is by default refused
26196 by @value{GDBN}. The user has to allow this call explicitly with the
26197 @code{set remote system-call-allowed 1} command.
26200 @item set remote system-call-allowed
26201 @kindex set remote system-call-allowed
26202 Control whether to allow the @code{system} calls in the File I/O
26203 protocol for the remote target. The default is zero (disabled).
26205 @item show remote system-call-allowed
26206 @kindex show remote system-call-allowed
26207 Show whether the @code{system} calls are allowed in the File I/O
26211 @node Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
26212 @subsection Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
26213 @cindex protocol-specific representation of datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
26216 * Integral Datatypes::
26218 * Memory Transfer::
26223 @node Integral Datatypes
26224 @unnumberedsubsubsec Integral Datatypes
26225 @cindex integral datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
26227 The integral datatypes used in the system calls are @code{int},
26228 @code{unsigned int}, @code{long}, @code{unsigned long},
26229 @code{mode_t}, and @code{time_t}.
26231 @code{int}, @code{unsigned int}, @code{mode_t} and @code{time_t} are
26232 implemented as 32 bit values in this protocol.
26234 @code{long} and @code{unsigned long} are implemented as 64 bit types.
26236 @xref{Limits}, for corresponding MIN and MAX values (similar to those
26237 in @file{limits.h}) to allow range checking on host and target.
26239 @code{time_t} datatypes are defined as seconds since the Epoch.
26241 All integral datatypes transferred as part of a memory read or write of a
26242 structured datatype e.g.@: a @code{struct stat} have to be given in big endian
26245 @node Pointer Values
26246 @unnumberedsubsubsec Pointer Values
26247 @cindex pointer values, in file-i/o protocol
26249 Pointers to target data are transmitted as they are. An exception
26250 is made for pointers to buffers for which the length isn't
26251 transmitted as part of the function call, namely strings. Strings
26252 are transmitted as a pointer/length pair, both as hex values, e.g.@:
26259 which is a pointer to data of length 18 bytes at position 0x1aaf.
26260 The length is defined as the full string length in bytes, including
26261 the trailing null byte. For example, the string @code{"hello world"}
26262 at address 0x123456 is transmitted as
26268 @node Memory Transfer
26269 @unnumberedsubsubsec Memory Transfer
26270 @cindex memory transfer, in file-i/o protocol
26272 Structured data which is transferred using a memory read or write (for
26273 example, a @code{struct stat}) is expected to be in a protocol-specific format
26274 with all scalar multibyte datatypes being big endian. Translation to
26275 this representation needs to be done both by the target before the @code{F}
26276 packet is sent, and by @value{GDBN} before
26277 it transfers memory to the target. Transferred pointers to structured
26278 data should point to the already-coerced data at any time.
26282 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct stat
26283 @cindex struct stat, in file-i/o protocol
26285 The buffer of type @code{struct stat} used by the target and @value{GDBN}
26286 is defined as follows:
26290 unsigned int st_dev; /* device */
26291 unsigned int st_ino; /* inode */
26292 mode_t st_mode; /* protection */
26293 unsigned int st_nlink; /* number of hard links */
26294 unsigned int st_uid; /* user ID of owner */
26295 unsigned int st_gid; /* group ID of owner */
26296 unsigned int st_rdev; /* device type (if inode device) */
26297 unsigned long st_size; /* total size, in bytes */
26298 unsigned long st_blksize; /* blocksize for filesystem I/O */
26299 unsigned long st_blocks; /* number of blocks allocated */
26300 time_t st_atime; /* time of last access */
26301 time_t st_mtime; /* time of last modification */
26302 time_t st_ctime; /* time of last change */
26306 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
26307 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
26308 structure is of size 64 bytes.
26310 The values of several fields have a restricted meaning and/or
26316 A value of 0 represents a file, 1 the console.
26319 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
26322 Valid mode bits are described in @ref{Constants}. Any other
26323 bits have currently no meaning for the target.
26328 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
26333 These values have a host and file system dependent
26334 accuracy. Especially on Windows hosts, the file system may not
26335 support exact timing values.
26338 The target gets a @code{struct stat} of the above representation and is
26339 responsible for coercing it to the target representation before
26342 Note that due to size differences between the host, target, and protocol
26343 representations of @code{struct stat} members, these members could eventually
26344 get truncated on the target.
26346 @node struct timeval
26347 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct timeval
26348 @cindex struct timeval, in file-i/o protocol
26350 The buffer of type @code{struct timeval} used by the File-I/O protocol
26351 is defined as follows:
26355 time_t tv_sec; /* second */
26356 long tv_usec; /* microsecond */
26360 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
26361 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
26362 structure is of size 8 bytes.
26365 @subsection Constants
26366 @cindex constants, in file-i/o protocol
26368 The following values are used for the constants inside of the
26369 protocol. @value{GDBN} and target are responsible for translating these
26370 values before and after the call as needed.
26381 @unnumberedsubsubsec Open Flags
26382 @cindex open flags, in file-i/o protocol
26384 All values are given in hexadecimal representation.
26396 @node mode_t Values
26397 @unnumberedsubsubsec mode_t Values
26398 @cindex mode_t values, in file-i/o protocol
26400 All values are given in octal representation.
26417 @unnumberedsubsubsec Errno Values
26418 @cindex errno values, in file-i/o protocol
26420 All values are given in decimal representation.
26445 @code{EUNKNOWN} is used as a fallback error value if a host system returns
26446 any error value not in the list of supported error numbers.
26449 @unnumberedsubsubsec Lseek Flags
26450 @cindex lseek flags, in file-i/o protocol
26459 @unnumberedsubsubsec Limits
26460 @cindex limits, in file-i/o protocol
26462 All values are given in decimal representation.
26465 INT_MIN -2147483648
26467 UINT_MAX 4294967295
26468 LONG_MIN -9223372036854775808
26469 LONG_MAX 9223372036854775807
26470 ULONG_MAX 18446744073709551615
26473 @node File-I/O Examples
26474 @subsection File-I/O Examples
26475 @cindex file-i/o examples
26477 Example sequence of a write call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
26478 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be written:
26481 <- @code{Fwrite,3,1234,6}
26482 @emph{request memory read from target}
26485 @emph{return "6 bytes written"}
26489 Example sequence of a read call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
26490 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be read:
26493 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
26494 @emph{request memory write to target}
26495 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
26496 @emph{return "6 bytes read"}
26500 Example sequence of a read call, call fails on the host due to invalid
26501 file descriptor (@code{EBADF}):
26504 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
26508 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} before syscall on
26512 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
26517 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} after syscall on
26521 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
26522 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
26526 @node Library List Format
26527 @section Library List Format
26528 @cindex library list format, remote protocol
26530 On some platforms, a dynamic loader (e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) runs in the
26531 same process as your application to manage libraries. In this case,
26532 @value{GDBN} can use the loader's symbol table and normal memory
26533 operations to maintain a list of shared libraries. On other
26534 platforms, the operating system manages loaded libraries.
26535 @value{GDBN} can not retrieve the list of currently loaded libraries
26536 through memory operations, so it uses the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
26537 packet (@pxref{qXfer library list read}) instead. The remote stub
26538 queries the target's operating system and reports which libraries
26541 The @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet returns an XML document which
26542 lists loaded libraries and their offsets. Each library has an
26543 associated name and one or more segment or section base addresses,
26544 which report where the library was loaded in memory.
26546 For the common case of libraries that are fully linked binaries, the
26547 library should have a list of segments. If the target supports
26548 dynamic linking of a relocatable object file, its library XML element
26549 should instead include a list of allocated sections. The segment or
26550 section bases are start addresses, not relocation offsets; they do not
26551 depend on the library's link-time base addresses.
26553 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
26554 library lists. @xref{Expat}.
26556 A simple memory map, with one loaded library relocated by a single
26557 offset, looks like this:
26561 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6">
26562 <segment address="0x10000000"/>
26567 Another simple memory map, with one loaded library with three
26568 allocated sections (.text, .data, .bss), looks like this:
26572 <library name="sharedlib.o">
26573 <section address="0x10000000"/>
26574 <section address="0x20000000"/>
26575 <section address="0x30000000"/>
26580 The format of a library list is described by this DTD:
26583 <!-- library-list: Root element with versioning -->
26584 <!ELEMENT library-list (library)*>
26585 <!ATTLIST library-list version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
26586 <!ELEMENT library (segment*, section*)>
26587 <!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
26588 <!ELEMENT segment EMPTY>
26589 <!ATTLIST segment address CDATA #REQUIRED>
26590 <!ELEMENT section EMPTY>
26591 <!ATTLIST section address CDATA #REQUIRED>
26594 In addition, segments and section descriptors cannot be mixed within a
26595 single library element, and you must supply at least one segment or
26596 section for each library.
26598 @node Memory Map Format
26599 @section Memory Map Format
26600 @cindex memory map format
26602 To be able to write into flash memory, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain a
26603 memory map from the target. This section describes the format of the
26606 The memory map is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
26607 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}) packet and is an XML document that
26608 lists memory regions.
26610 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
26611 memory maps. @xref{Expat}.
26613 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
26616 <?xml version="1.0"?>
26617 <!DOCTYPE memory-map
26618 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
26619 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-memory-map.dtd">
26625 Each region can be either:
26630 A region of RAM starting at @var{addr} and extending for @var{length}
26634 <memory type="ram" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
26639 A region of read-only memory:
26642 <memory type="rom" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
26647 A region of flash memory, with erasure blocks @var{blocksize}
26651 <memory type="flash" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}">
26652 <property name="blocksize">@var{blocksize}</property>
26658 Regions must not overlap. @value{GDBN} assumes that areas of memory not covered
26659 by the memory map are RAM, and uses the ordinary @samp{M} and @samp{X}
26660 packets to write to addresses in such ranges.
26662 The formal DTD for memory map format is given below:
26665 <!-- ................................................... -->
26666 <!-- Memory Map XML DTD ................................ -->
26667 <!-- File: memory-map.dtd .............................. -->
26668 <!-- .................................... .............. -->
26669 <!-- memory-map.dtd -->
26670 <!-- memory-map: Root element with versioning -->
26671 <!ELEMENT memory-map (memory | property)>
26672 <!ATTLIST memory-map version CDATA #FIXED "1.0.0">
26673 <!ELEMENT memory (property)>
26674 <!-- memory: Specifies a memory region,
26675 and its type, or device. -->
26676 <!ATTLIST memory type CDATA #REQUIRED
26677 start CDATA #REQUIRED
26678 length CDATA #REQUIRED
26679 device CDATA #IMPLIED>
26680 <!-- property: Generic attribute tag -->
26681 <!ELEMENT property (#PCDATA | property)*>
26682 <!ATTLIST property name CDATA #REQUIRED>
26685 @include agentexpr.texi
26687 @node Target Descriptions
26688 @appendix Target Descriptions
26689 @cindex target descriptions
26691 @strong{Warning:} target descriptions are still under active development,
26692 and the contents and format may change between @value{GDBN} releases.
26693 The format is expected to stabilize in the future.
26695 One of the challenges of using @value{GDBN} to debug embedded systems
26696 is that there are so many minor variants of each processor
26697 architecture in use. It is common practice for vendors to start with
26698 a standard processor core --- ARM, PowerPC, or MIPS, for example ---
26699 and then make changes to adapt it to a particular market niche. Some
26700 architectures have hundreds of variants, available from dozens of
26701 vendors. This leads to a number of problems:
26705 With so many different customized processors, it is difficult for
26706 the @value{GDBN} maintainers to keep up with the changes.
26708 Since individual variants may have short lifetimes or limited
26709 audiences, it may not be worthwhile to carry information about every
26710 variant in the @value{GDBN} source tree.
26712 When @value{GDBN} does support the architecture of the embedded system
26713 at hand, the task of finding the correct architecture name to give the
26714 @command{set architecture} command can be error-prone.
26717 To address these problems, the @value{GDBN} remote protocol allows a
26718 target system to not only identify itself to @value{GDBN}, but to
26719 actually describe its own features. This lets @value{GDBN} support
26720 processor variants it has never seen before --- to the extent that the
26721 descriptions are accurate, and that @value{GDBN} understands them.
26723 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
26724 target descriptions. @xref{Expat}.
26727 * Retrieving Descriptions:: How descriptions are fetched from a target.
26728 * Target Description Format:: The contents of a target description.
26729 * Predefined Target Types:: Standard types available for target
26731 * Standard Target Features:: Features @value{GDBN} knows about.
26734 @node Retrieving Descriptions
26735 @section Retrieving Descriptions
26737 Target descriptions can be read from the target automatically, or
26738 specified by the user manually. The default behavior is to read the
26739 description from the target. @value{GDBN} retrieves it via the remote
26740 protocol using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{General Query Packets,
26741 qXfer}). The @var{annex} in the @samp{qXfer} packet will be
26742 @samp{target.xml}. The contents of the @samp{target.xml} annex are an
26743 XML document, of the form described in @ref{Target Description
26746 Alternatively, you can specify a file to read for the target description.
26747 If a file is set, the target will not be queried. The commands to
26748 specify a file are:
26751 @cindex set tdesc filename
26752 @item set tdesc filename @var{path}
26753 Read the target description from @var{path}.
26755 @cindex unset tdesc filename
26756 @item unset tdesc filename
26757 Do not read the XML target description from a file. @value{GDBN}
26758 will use the description supplied by the current target.
26760 @cindex show tdesc filename
26761 @item show tdesc filename
26762 Show the filename to read for a target description, if any.
26766 @node Target Description Format
26767 @section Target Description Format
26768 @cindex target descriptions, XML format
26770 A target description annex is an @uref{http://www.w3.org/XML/, XML}
26771 document which complies with the Document Type Definition provided in
26772 the @value{GDBN} sources in @file{gdb/features/gdb-target.dtd}. This
26773 means you can use generally available tools like @command{xmllint} to
26774 check that your feature descriptions are well-formed and valid.
26775 However, to help people unfamiliar with XML write descriptions for
26776 their targets, we also describe the grammar here.
26778 Target descriptions can identify the architecture of the remote target
26779 and (for some architectures) provide information about custom register
26780 sets. @value{GDBN} can use this information to autoconfigure for your
26781 target, or to warn you if you connect to an unsupported target.
26783 Here is a simple target description:
26786 <target version="1.0">
26787 <architecture>i386:x86-64</architecture>
26792 This minimal description only says that the target uses
26793 the x86-64 architecture.
26795 A target description has the following overall form, with [ ] marking
26796 optional elements and @dots{} marking repeatable elements. The elements
26797 are explained further below.
26800 <?xml version="1.0"?>
26801 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "gdb-target.dtd">
26802 <target version="1.0">
26803 @r{[}@var{architecture}@r{]}
26804 @r{[}@var{feature}@dots{}@r{]}
26809 The description is generally insensitive to whitespace and line
26810 breaks, under the usual common-sense rules. The XML version
26811 declaration and document type declaration can generally be omitted
26812 (@value{GDBN} does not require them), but specifying them may be
26813 useful for XML validation tools. The @samp{version} attribute for
26814 @samp{<target>} may also be omitted, but we recommend
26815 including it; if future versions of @value{GDBN} use an incompatible
26816 revision of @file{gdb-target.dtd}, they will detect and report
26817 the version mismatch.
26819 @subsection Inclusion
26820 @cindex target descriptions, inclusion
26823 @cindex <xi:include>
26826 It can sometimes be valuable to split a target description up into
26827 several different annexes, either for organizational purposes, or to
26828 share files between different possible target descriptions. You can
26829 divide a description into multiple files by replacing any element of
26830 the target description with an inclusion directive of the form:
26833 <xi:include href="@var{document}"/>
26837 When @value{GDBN} encounters an element of this form, it will retrieve
26838 the named XML @var{document}, and replace the inclusion directive with
26839 the contents of that document. If the current description was read
26840 using @samp{qXfer}, then so will be the included document;
26841 @var{document} will be interpreted as the name of an annex. If the
26842 current description was read from a file, @value{GDBN} will look for
26843 @var{document} as a file in the same directory where it found the
26844 original description.
26846 @subsection Architecture
26847 @cindex <architecture>
26849 An @samp{<architecture>} element has this form:
26852 <architecture>@var{arch}</architecture>
26855 @var{arch} is an architecture name from the same selection
26856 accepted by @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a
26857 Debugging Target}).
26859 @subsection Features
26862 Each @samp{<feature>} describes some logical portion of the target
26863 system. Features are currently used to describe available CPU
26864 registers and the types of their contents. A @samp{<feature>} element
26868 <feature name="@var{name}">
26869 @r{[}@var{type}@dots{}@r{]}
26875 Each feature's name should be unique within the description. The name
26876 of a feature does not matter unless @value{GDBN} has some special
26877 knowledge of the contents of that feature; if it does, the feature
26878 should have its standard name. @xref{Standard Target Features}.
26882 Any register's value is a collection of bits which @value{GDBN} must
26883 interpret. The default interpretation is a two's complement integer,
26884 but other types can be requested by name in the register description.
26885 Some predefined types are provided by @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Predefined
26886 Target Types}), and the description can define additional composite types.
26888 Each type element must have an @samp{id} attribute, which gives
26889 a unique (within the containing @samp{<feature>}) name to the type.
26890 Types must be defined before they are used.
26893 Some targets offer vector registers, which can be treated as arrays
26894 of scalar elements. These types are written as @samp{<vector>} elements,
26895 specifying the array element type, @var{type}, and the number of elements,
26899 <vector id="@var{id}" type="@var{type}" count="@var{count}"/>
26903 If a register's value is usefully viewed in multiple ways, define it
26904 with a union type containing the useful representations. The
26905 @samp{<union>} element contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements,
26906 each of which has a @var{name} and a @var{type}:
26909 <union id="@var{id}">
26910 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
26915 @subsection Registers
26918 Each register is represented as an element with this form:
26921 <reg name="@var{name}"
26922 bitsize="@var{size}"
26923 @r{[}regnum="@var{num}"@r{]}
26924 @r{[}save-restore="@var{save-restore}"@r{]}
26925 @r{[}type="@var{type}"@r{]}
26926 @r{[}group="@var{group}"@r{]}/>
26930 The components are as follows:
26935 The register's name; it must be unique within the target description.
26938 The register's size, in bits.
26941 The register's number. If omitted, a register's number is one greater
26942 than that of the previous register (either in the current feature or in
26943 a preceeding feature); the first register in the target description
26944 defaults to zero. This register number is used to read or write
26945 the register; e.g.@: it is used in the remote @code{p} and @code{P}
26946 packets, and registers appear in the @code{g} and @code{G} packets
26947 in order of increasing register number.
26950 Whether the register should be preserved across inferior function
26951 calls; this must be either @code{yes} or @code{no}. The default is
26952 @code{yes}, which is appropriate for most registers except for
26953 some system control registers; this is not related to the target's
26957 The type of the register. @var{type} may be a predefined type, a type
26958 defined in the current feature, or one of the special types @code{int}
26959 and @code{float}. @code{int} is an integer type of the correct size
26960 for @var{bitsize}, and @code{float} is a floating point type (in the
26961 architecture's normal floating point format) of the correct size for
26962 @var{bitsize}. The default is @code{int}.
26965 The register group to which this register belongs. @var{group} must
26966 be either @code{general}, @code{float}, or @code{vector}. If no
26967 @var{group} is specified, @value{GDBN} will not display the register
26968 in @code{info registers}.
26972 @node Predefined Target Types
26973 @section Predefined Target Types
26974 @cindex target descriptions, predefined types
26976 Type definitions in the self-description can build up composite types
26977 from basic building blocks, but can not define fundamental types. Instead,
26978 standard identifiers are provided by @value{GDBN} for the fundamental
26979 types. The currently supported types are:
26988 Signed integer types holding the specified number of bits.
26995 Unsigned integer types holding the specified number of bits.
26999 Pointers to unspecified code and data. The program counter and
27000 any dedicated return address register may be marked as code
27001 pointers; printing a code pointer converts it into a symbolic
27002 address. The stack pointer and any dedicated address registers
27003 may be marked as data pointers.
27006 Single precision IEEE floating point.
27009 Double precision IEEE floating point.
27012 The 12-byte extended precision format used by ARM FPA registers.
27016 @node Standard Target Features
27017 @section Standard Target Features
27018 @cindex target descriptions, standard features
27020 A target description must contain either no registers or all the
27021 target's registers. If the description contains no registers, then
27022 @value{GDBN} will assume a default register layout, selected based on
27023 the architecture. If the description contains any registers, the
27024 default layout will not be used; the standard registers must be
27025 described in the target description, in such a way that @value{GDBN}
27026 can recognize them.
27028 This is accomplished by giving specific names to feature elements
27029 which contain standard registers. @value{GDBN} will look for features
27030 with those names and verify that they contain the expected registers;
27031 if any known feature is missing required registers, or if any required
27032 feature is missing, @value{GDBN} will reject the target
27033 description. You can add additional registers to any of the
27034 standard features --- @value{GDBN} will display them just as if
27035 they were added to an unrecognized feature.
27037 This section lists the known features and their expected contents.
27038 Sample XML documents for these features are included in the
27039 @value{GDBN} source tree, in the directory @file{gdb/features}.
27041 Names recognized by @value{GDBN} should include the name of the
27042 company or organization which selected the name, and the overall
27043 architecture to which the feature applies; so e.g.@: the feature
27044 containing ARM core registers is named @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}.
27046 The names of registers are not case sensitive for the purpose
27047 of recognizing standard features, but @value{GDBN} will only display
27048 registers using the capitalization used in the description.
27054 * PowerPC Features::
27059 @subsection ARM Features
27060 @cindex target descriptions, ARM features
27062 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core} feature is required for ARM targets.
27063 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp},
27064 @samp{lr}, @samp{pc}, and @samp{cpsr}.
27066 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.fpa} feature is optional. If present, it
27067 should contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f7} and @samp{fps}.
27069 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.xscale.iwmmxt} feature is optional. If present,
27070 it should contain at least registers @samp{wR0} through @samp{wR15} and
27071 @samp{wCGR0} through @samp{wCGR3}. The @samp{wCID}, @samp{wCon},
27072 @samp{wCSSF}, and @samp{wCASF} registers are optional.
27074 @node MIPS Features
27075 @subsection MIPS Features
27076 @cindex target descriptions, MIPS features
27078 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cpu} feature is required for MIPS targets.
27079 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31}, @samp{lo},
27080 @samp{hi}, and @samp{pc}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending
27083 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cp0} feature is also required. It should
27084 contain at least the @samp{status}, @samp{badvaddr}, and @samp{cause}
27085 registers. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
27087 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.fpu} feature is currently required, though
27088 it may be optional in a future version of @value{GDBN}. It should
27089 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31}, @samp{fcsr}, and
27090 @samp{fir}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
27092 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.linux} feature is optional. It should
27093 contain a single register, @samp{restart}, which is used by the
27094 Linux kernel to control restartable syscalls.
27096 @node M68K Features
27097 @subsection M68K Features
27098 @cindex target descriptions, M68K features
27101 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.m68k.core}
27102 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.core}
27103 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.fido.core}
27104 One of those features must be always present.
27105 The feature that is present determines which flavor of m86k is
27106 used. The feature that is present should contain registers
27107 @samp{d0} through @samp{d7}, @samp{a0} through @samp{a5}, @samp{fp},
27108 @samp{sp}, @samp{ps} and @samp{pc}.
27110 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.fp}
27111 This feature is optional. If present, it should contain registers
27112 @samp{fp0} through @samp{fp7}, @samp{fpcontrol}, @samp{fpstatus} and
27116 @node PowerPC Features
27117 @subsection PowerPC Features
27118 @cindex target descriptions, PowerPC features
27120 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} feature is required for PowerPC
27121 targets. It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31},
27122 @samp{pc}, @samp{msr}, @samp{cr}, @samp{lr}, @samp{ctr}, and
27123 @samp{xer}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
27125 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.fpu} feature is optional. It should
27126 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31} and @samp{fpscr}.
27128 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.altivec} feature is optional. It should
27129 contain registers @samp{vr0} through @samp{vr31}, @samp{vscr},
27132 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.spe} feature is optional. It should
27133 contain registers @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}, @samp{acc}, and
27134 @samp{spefscr}. SPE targets should provide 32-bit registers in
27135 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} and provide the upper halves in
27136 @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}. @value{GDBN} will combine
27137 these to present registers @samp{ev0} through @samp{ev31} to the
27152 % I think something like @colophon should be in texinfo. In the
27154 \long\def\colophon{\hbox to0pt{}\vfill
27155 \centerline{The body of this manual is set in}
27156 \centerline{\fontname\tenrm,}
27157 \centerline{with headings in {\bf\fontname\tenbf}}
27158 \centerline{and examples in {\tt\fontname\tentt}.}
27159 \centerline{{\it\fontname\tenit\/},}
27160 \centerline{{\bf\fontname\tenbf}, and}
27161 \centerline{{\sl\fontname\tensl\/}}
27162 \centerline{are used for emphasis.}\vfill}