* thread.c (thread_id_make_value): Make a value representing the
[deliverable/binutils-gdb.git] / gdb / doc / gdb.texinfo
1 \input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
2 @c Copyright (C) 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998,
3 @c 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
4 @c Free Software Foundation, Inc.
5 @c
6 @c %**start of header
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.
9 @setfilename gdb.info
10 @c
11 @include gdb-cfg.texi
12 @c
13 @settitle Debugging with @value{GDBN}
14 @setchapternewpage odd
15 @c %**end of header
16
17 @iftex
18 @c @smallbook
19 @c @cropmarks
20 @end iftex
21
22 @finalout
23 @syncodeindex ky cp
24 @syncodeindex tp cp
25
26 @c readline appendices use @vindex, @findex and @ftable,
27 @c annotate.texi and gdbmi use @findex.
28 @syncodeindex vr cp
29 @syncodeindex fn cp
30
31 @c !!set GDB manual's edition---not the same as GDB version!
32 @c This is updated by GNU Press.
33 @set EDITION Ninth
34
35 @c !!set GDB edit command default editor
36 @set EDITOR /bin/ex
37
38 @c THIS MANUAL REQUIRES TEXINFO 4.0 OR LATER.
39
40 @c This is a dir.info fragment to support semi-automated addition of
41 @c manuals to an info tree.
42 @dircategory Software development
43 @direntry
44 * Gdb: (gdb). The GNU debugger.
45 @end direntry
46
47 @copying
48 Copyright @copyright{} 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996,
49 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
50 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
51
52 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
53 under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1 or
54 any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with the
55 Invariant Sections being ``Free Software'' and ``Free Software Needs
56 Free Documentation'', with the Front-Cover Texts being ``A GNU Manual,''
57 and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below.
58
59 (a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You are free to copy and modify
60 this GNU Manual. Buying copies from GNU Press supports the FSF in
61 developing GNU and promoting software freedom.''
62 @end copying
63
64 @ifnottex
65 This file documents the @sc{gnu} debugger @value{GDBN}.
66
67 This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, of @cite{Debugging with
68 @value{GDBN}: the @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger} for @value{GDBN}
69 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
70 @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
71 @end ifset
72 Version @value{GDBVN}.
73
74 @insertcopying
75 @end ifnottex
76
77 @titlepage
78 @title Debugging with @value{GDBN}
79 @subtitle The @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger
80 @sp 1
81 @subtitle @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN}
82 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
83 @sp 1
84 @subtitle @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
85 @end ifset
86 @author Richard Stallman, Roland Pesch, Stan Shebs, et al.
87 @page
88 @tex
89 {\parskip=0pt
90 \hfill (Send bugs and comments on @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.)\par
91 \hfill {\it Debugging with @value{GDBN}}\par
92 \hfill \TeX{}info \texinfoversion\par
93 }
94 @end tex
95
96 @vskip 0pt plus 1filll
97 Published by the Free Software Foundation @*
98 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor,
99 Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA@*
100 ISBN 1-882114-77-9 @*
101
102 @insertcopying
103 @page
104 This edition of the GDB manual is dedicated to the memory of Fred
105 Fish. Fred was a long-standing contributor to GDB and to Free
106 software in general. We will miss him.
107 @end titlepage
108 @page
109
110 @ifnottex
111 @node Top, Summary, (dir), (dir)
112
113 @top Debugging with @value{GDBN}
114
115 This file describes @value{GDBN}, the @sc{gnu} symbolic debugger.
116
117 This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN}
118 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
119 @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
120 @end ifset
121 Version @value{GDBVN}.
122
123 Copyright (C) 1988-2010 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
124
125 This edition of the GDB manual is dedicated to the memory of Fred
126 Fish. Fred was a long-standing contributor to GDB and to Free
127 software in general. We will miss him.
128
129 @menu
130 * Summary:: Summary of @value{GDBN}
131 * Sample Session:: A sample @value{GDBN} session
132
133 * Invocation:: Getting in and out of @value{GDBN}
134 * Commands:: @value{GDBN} commands
135 * Running:: Running programs under @value{GDBN}
136 * Stopping:: Stopping and continuing
137 * Reverse Execution:: Running programs backward
138 * Process Record and Replay:: Recording inferior's execution and replaying it
139 * Stack:: Examining the stack
140 * Source:: Examining source files
141 * Data:: Examining data
142 * Optimized Code:: Debugging optimized code
143 * Macros:: Preprocessor Macros
144 * Tracepoints:: Debugging remote targets non-intrusively
145 * Overlays:: Debugging programs that use overlays
146
147 * Languages:: Using @value{GDBN} with different languages
148
149 * Symbols:: Examining the symbol table
150 * Altering:: Altering execution
151 * GDB Files:: @value{GDBN} files
152 * Targets:: Specifying a debugging target
153 * Remote Debugging:: Debugging remote programs
154 * Configurations:: Configuration-specific information
155 * Controlling GDB:: Controlling @value{GDBN}
156 * Extending GDB:: Extending @value{GDBN}
157 * Interpreters:: Command Interpreters
158 * TUI:: @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
159 * Emacs:: Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
160 * GDB/MI:: @value{GDBN}'s Machine Interface.
161 * Annotations:: @value{GDBN}'s annotation interface.
162 * JIT Interface:: Using the JIT debugging interface.
163
164 * GDB Bugs:: Reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
165
166 * Command Line Editing:: Command Line Editing
167 * Using History Interactively:: Using History Interactively
168 * Formatting Documentation:: How to format and print @value{GDBN} documentation
169 * Installing GDB:: Installing GDB
170 * Maintenance Commands:: Maintenance Commands
171 * Remote Protocol:: GDB Remote Serial Protocol
172 * Agent Expressions:: The GDB Agent Expression Mechanism
173 * Target Descriptions:: How targets can describe themselves to
174 @value{GDBN}
175 * Operating System Information:: Getting additional information from
176 the operating system
177 * Trace File Format:: GDB trace file format
178 * Copying:: GNU General Public License says
179 how you can copy and share GDB
180 * GNU Free Documentation License:: The license for this documentation
181 * Index:: Index
182 @end menu
183
184 @end ifnottex
185
186 @contents
187
188 @node Summary
189 @unnumbered Summary of @value{GDBN}
190
191 The purpose of a debugger such as @value{GDBN} is to allow you to see what is
192 going on ``inside'' another program while it executes---or what another
193 program was doing at the moment it crashed.
194
195 @value{GDBN} can do four main kinds of things (plus other things in support of
196 these) to help you catch bugs in the act:
197
198 @itemize @bullet
199 @item
200 Start your program, specifying anything that might affect its behavior.
201
202 @item
203 Make your program stop on specified conditions.
204
205 @item
206 Examine what has happened, when your program has stopped.
207
208 @item
209 Change things in your program, so you can experiment with correcting the
210 effects of one bug and go on to learn about another.
211 @end itemize
212
213 You can use @value{GDBN} to debug programs written in C and C@t{++}.
214 For more information, see @ref{Supported Languages,,Supported Languages}.
215 For more information, see @ref{C,,C and C++}.
216
217 Support for D is partial. For information on D, see
218 @ref{D,,D}.
219
220 @cindex Modula-2
221 Support for Modula-2 is partial. For information on Modula-2, see
222 @ref{Modula-2,,Modula-2}.
223
224 @cindex Pascal
225 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
226 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
227 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
228 syntax.
229
230 @cindex Fortran
231 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, although
232 it may be necessary to refer to some variables with a trailing
233 underscore.
234
235 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Objective-C,
236 using either the Apple/NeXT or the GNU Objective-C runtime.
237
238 @menu
239 * Free Software:: Freely redistributable software
240 * Contributors:: Contributors to GDB
241 @end menu
242
243 @node Free Software
244 @unnumberedsec Free Software
245
246 @value{GDBN} is @dfn{free software}, protected by the @sc{gnu}
247 General Public License
248 (GPL). The GPL gives you the freedom to copy or adapt a licensed
249 program---but every person getting a copy also gets with it the
250 freedom to modify that copy (which means that they must get access to
251 the source code), and the freedom to distribute further copies.
252 Typical software companies use copyrights to limit your freedoms; the
253 Free Software Foundation uses the GPL to preserve these freedoms.
254
255 Fundamentally, the General Public License is a license which says that
256 you have these freedoms and that you cannot take these freedoms away
257 from anyone else.
258
259 @unnumberedsec Free Software Needs Free Documentation
260
261 The biggest deficiency in the free software community today is not in
262 the software---it is the lack of good free documentation that we can
263 include with the free software. Many of our most important
264 programs do not come with free reference manuals and free introductory
265 texts. Documentation is an essential part of any software package;
266 when an important free software package does not come with a free
267 manual and a free tutorial, that is a major gap. We have many such
268 gaps today.
269
270 Consider Perl, for instance. The tutorial manuals that people
271 normally use are non-free. How did this come about? Because the
272 authors of those manuals published them with restrictive terms---no
273 copying, no modification, source files not available---which exclude
274 them from the free software world.
275
276 That wasn't the first time this sort of thing happened, and it was far
277 from the last. Many times we have heard a GNU user eagerly describe a
278 manual that he is writing, his intended contribution to the community,
279 only to learn that he had ruined everything by signing a publication
280 contract to make it non-free.
281
282 Free documentation, like free software, is a matter of freedom, not
283 price. The problem with the non-free manual is not that publishers
284 charge a price for printed copies---that in itself is fine. (The Free
285 Software Foundation sells printed copies of manuals, too.) The
286 problem is the restrictions on the use of the manual. Free manuals
287 are available in source code form, and give you permission to copy and
288 modify. Non-free manuals do not allow this.
289
290 The criteria of freedom for a free manual are roughly the same as for
291 free software. Redistribution (including the normal kinds of
292 commercial redistribution) must be permitted, so that the manual can
293 accompany every copy of the program, both on-line and on paper.
294
295 Permission for modification of the technical content is crucial too.
296 When people modify the software, adding or changing features, if they
297 are conscientious they will change the manual too---so they can
298 provide accurate and clear documentation for the modified program. A
299 manual that leaves you no choice but to write a new manual to document
300 a changed version of the program is not really available to our
301 community.
302
303 Some kinds of limits on the way modification is handled are
304 acceptable. For example, requirements to preserve the original
305 author's copyright notice, the distribution terms, or the list of
306 authors, are ok. It is also no problem to require modified versions
307 to include notice that they were modified. Even entire sections that
308 may not be deleted or changed are acceptable, as long as they deal
309 with nontechnical topics (like this one). These kinds of restrictions
310 are acceptable because they don't obstruct the community's normal use
311 of the manual.
312
313 However, it must be possible to modify all the @emph{technical}
314 content of the manual, and then distribute the result in all the usual
315 media, through all the usual channels. Otherwise, the restrictions
316 obstruct the use of the manual, it is not free, and we need another
317 manual to replace it.
318
319 Please spread the word about this issue. Our community continues to
320 lose manuals to proprietary publishing. If we spread the word that
321 free software needs free reference manuals and free tutorials, perhaps
322 the next person who wants to contribute by writing documentation will
323 realize, before it is too late, that only free manuals contribute to
324 the free software community.
325
326 If you are writing documentation, please insist on publishing it under
327 the GNU Free Documentation License or another free documentation
328 license. Remember that this decision requires your approval---you
329 don't have to let the publisher decide. Some commercial publishers
330 will use a free license if you insist, but they will not propose the
331 option; it is up to you to raise the issue and say firmly that this is
332 what you want. If the publisher you are dealing with refuses, please
333 try other publishers. If you're not sure whether a proposed license
334 is free, write to @email{licensing@@gnu.org}.
335
336 You can encourage commercial publishers to sell more free, copylefted
337 manuals and tutorials by buying them, and particularly by buying
338 copies from the publishers that paid for their writing or for major
339 improvements. Meanwhile, try to avoid buying non-free documentation
340 at all. Check the distribution terms of a manual before you buy it,
341 and insist that whoever seeks your business must respect your freedom.
342 Check the history of the book, and try to reward the publishers that
343 have paid or pay the authors to work on it.
344
345 The Free Software Foundation maintains a list of free documentation
346 published by other publishers, at
347 @url{http://www.fsf.org/doc/other-free-books.html}.
348
349 @node Contributors
350 @unnumberedsec Contributors to @value{GDBN}
351
352 Richard Stallman was the original author of @value{GDBN}, and of many
353 other @sc{gnu} programs. Many others have contributed to its
354 development. This section attempts to credit major contributors. One
355 of the virtues of free software is that everyone is free to contribute
356 to it; with regret, we cannot actually acknowledge everyone here. The
357 file @file{ChangeLog} in the @value{GDBN} distribution approximates a
358 blow-by-blow account.
359
360 Changes much prior to version 2.0 are lost in the mists of time.
361
362 @quotation
363 @emph{Plea:} Additions to this section are particularly welcome. If you
364 or your friends (or enemies, to be evenhanded) have been unfairly
365 omitted from this list, we would like to add your names!
366 @end quotation
367
368 So that they may not regard their many labors as thankless, we
369 particularly thank those who shepherded @value{GDBN} through major
370 releases:
371 Andrew Cagney (releases 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1 and 5.0);
372 Jim Blandy (release 4.18);
373 Jason Molenda (release 4.17);
374 Stan Shebs (release 4.14);
375 Fred Fish (releases 4.16, 4.15, 4.13, 4.12, 4.11, 4.10, and 4.9);
376 Stu Grossman and John Gilmore (releases 4.8, 4.7, 4.6, 4.5, and 4.4);
377 John Gilmore (releases 4.3, 4.2, 4.1, 4.0, and 3.9);
378 Jim Kingdon (releases 3.5, 3.4, and 3.3);
379 and Randy Smith (releases 3.2, 3.1, and 3.0).
380
381 Richard Stallman, assisted at various times by Peter TerMaat, Chris
382 Hanson, and Richard Mlynarik, handled releases through 2.8.
383
384 Michael Tiemann is the author of most of the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} support
385 in @value{GDBN}, with significant additional contributions from Per
386 Bothner and Daniel Berlin. James Clark wrote the @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
387 demangler. Early work on C@t{++} was by Peter TerMaat (who also did
388 much general update work leading to release 3.0).
389
390 @value{GDBN} uses the BFD subroutine library to examine multiple
391 object-file formats; BFD was a joint project of David V.
392 Henkel-Wallace, Rich Pixley, Steve Chamberlain, and John Gilmore.
393
394 David Johnson wrote the original COFF support; Pace Willison did
395 the original support for encapsulated COFF.
396
397 Brent Benson of Harris Computer Systems contributed DWARF 2 support.
398
399 Adam de Boor and Bradley Davis contributed the ISI Optimum V support.
400 Per Bothner, Noboyuki Hikichi, and Alessandro Forin contributed MIPS
401 support.
402 Jean-Daniel Fekete contributed Sun 386i support.
403 Chris Hanson improved the HP9000 support.
404 Noboyuki Hikichi and Tomoyuki Hasei contributed Sony/News OS 3 support.
405 David Johnson contributed Encore Umax support.
406 Jyrki Kuoppala contributed Altos 3068 support.
407 Jeff Law contributed HP PA and SOM support.
408 Keith Packard contributed NS32K support.
409 Doug Rabson contributed Acorn Risc Machine support.
410 Bob Rusk contributed Harris Nighthawk CX-UX support.
411 Chris Smith contributed Convex support (and Fortran debugging).
412 Jonathan Stone contributed Pyramid support.
413 Michael Tiemann contributed SPARC support.
414 Tim Tucker contributed support for the Gould NP1 and Gould Powernode.
415 Pace Willison contributed Intel 386 support.
416 Jay Vosburgh contributed Symmetry support.
417 Marko Mlinar contributed OpenRISC 1000 support.
418
419 Andreas Schwab contributed M68K @sc{gnu}/Linux support.
420
421 Rich Schaefer and Peter Schauer helped with support of SunOS shared
422 libraries.
423
424 Jay Fenlason and Roland McGrath ensured that @value{GDBN} and GAS agree
425 about several machine instruction sets.
426
427 Patrick Duval, Ted Goldstein, Vikram Koka and Glenn Engel helped develop
428 remote debugging. Intel Corporation, Wind River Systems, AMD, and ARM
429 contributed remote debugging modules for the i960, VxWorks, A29K UDI,
430 and RDI targets, respectively.
431
432 Brian Fox is the author of the readline libraries providing
433 command-line editing and command history.
434
435 Andrew Beers of SUNY Buffalo wrote the language-switching code, the
436 Modula-2 support, and contributed the Languages chapter of this manual.
437
438 Fred Fish wrote most of the support for Unix System Vr4.
439 He also enhanced the command-completion support to cover C@t{++} overloaded
440 symbols.
441
442 Hitachi America (now Renesas America), Ltd. sponsored the support for
443 H8/300, H8/500, and Super-H processors.
444
445 NEC sponsored the support for the v850, Vr4xxx, and Vr5xxx processors.
446
447 Mitsubishi (now Renesas) sponsored the support for D10V, D30V, and M32R/D
448 processors.
449
450 Toshiba sponsored the support for the TX39 Mips processor.
451
452 Matsushita sponsored the support for the MN10200 and MN10300 processors.
453
454 Fujitsu sponsored the support for SPARClite and FR30 processors.
455
456 Kung Hsu, Jeff Law, and Rick Sladkey added support for hardware
457 watchpoints.
458
459 Michael Snyder added support for tracepoints.
460
461 Stu Grossman wrote gdbserver.
462
463 Jim Kingdon, Peter Schauer, Ian Taylor, and Stu Grossman made
464 nearly innumerable bug fixes and cleanups throughout @value{GDBN}.
465
466 The following people at the Hewlett-Packard Company contributed
467 support for the PA-RISC 2.0 architecture, HP-UX 10.20, 10.30, and 11.0
468 (narrow mode), HP's implementation of kernel threads, HP's aC@t{++}
469 compiler, and the Text User Interface (nee Terminal User Interface):
470 Ben Krepp, Richard Title, John Bishop, Susan Macchia, Kathy Mann,
471 Satish Pai, India Paul, Steve Rehrauer, and Elena Zannoni. Kim Haase
472 provided HP-specific information in this manual.
473
474 DJ Delorie ported @value{GDBN} to MS-DOS, for the DJGPP project.
475 Robert Hoehne made significant contributions to the DJGPP port.
476
477 Cygnus Solutions has sponsored @value{GDBN} maintenance and much of its
478 development since 1991. Cygnus engineers who have worked on @value{GDBN}
479 fulltime include Mark Alexander, Jim Blandy, Per Bothner, Kevin
480 Buettner, Edith Epstein, Chris Faylor, Fred Fish, Martin Hunt, Jim
481 Ingham, John Gilmore, Stu Grossman, Kung Hsu, Jim Kingdon, John Metzler,
482 Fernando Nasser, Geoffrey Noer, Dawn Perchik, Rich Pixley, Zdenek
483 Radouch, Keith Seitz, Stan Shebs, David Taylor, and Elena Zannoni. In
484 addition, Dave Brolley, Ian Carmichael, Steve Chamberlain, Nick Clifton,
485 JT Conklin, Stan Cox, DJ Delorie, Ulrich Drepper, Frank Eigler, Doug
486 Evans, Sean Fagan, David Henkel-Wallace, Richard Henderson, Jeff
487 Holcomb, Jeff Law, Jim Lemke, Tom Lord, Bob Manson, Michael Meissner,
488 Jason Merrill, Catherine Moore, Drew Moseley, Ken Raeburn, Gavin
489 Romig-Koch, Rob Savoye, Jamie Smith, Mike Stump, Ian Taylor, Angela
490 Thomas, Michael Tiemann, Tom Tromey, Ron Unrau, Jim Wilson, and David
491 Zuhn have made contributions both large and small.
492
493 Andrew Cagney, Fernando Nasser, and Elena Zannoni, while working for
494 Cygnus Solutions, implemented the original @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
495
496 Jim Blandy added support for preprocessor macros, while working for Red
497 Hat.
498
499 Andrew Cagney designed @value{GDBN}'s architecture vector. Many
500 people including Andrew Cagney, Stephane Carrez, Randolph Chung, Nick
501 Duffek, Richard Henderson, Mark Kettenis, Grace Sainsbury, Kei
502 Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Andreas Schwab, Jason
503 Thorpe, Corinna Vinschen, Ulrich Weigand, and Elena Zannoni, helped
504 with the migration of old architectures to this new framework.
505
506 Andrew Cagney completely re-designed and re-implemented @value{GDBN}'s
507 unwinder framework, this consisting of a fresh new design featuring
508 frame IDs, independent frame sniffers, and the sentinel frame. Mark
509 Kettenis implemented the @sc{dwarf 2} unwinder, Jeff Johnston the
510 libunwind unwinder, and Andrew Cagney the dummy, sentinel, tramp, and
511 trad unwinders. The architecture-specific changes, each involving a
512 complete rewrite of the architecture's frame code, were carried out by
513 Jim Blandy, Joel Brobecker, Kevin Buettner, Andrew Cagney, Stephane
514 Carrez, Randolph Chung, Orjan Friberg, Richard Henderson, Daniel
515 Jacobowitz, Jeff Johnston, Mark Kettenis, Theodore A. Roth, Kei
516 Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Corinna Vinschen, and Ulrich
517 Weigand.
518
519 Christian Zankel, Ross Morley, Bob Wilson, and Maxim Grigoriev from
520 Tensilica, Inc.@: contributed support for Xtensa processors. Others
521 who have worked on the Xtensa port of @value{GDBN} in the past include
522 Steve Tjiang, John Newlin, and Scott Foehner.
523
524 Michael Eager and staff of Xilinx, Inc., contributed support for the
525 Xilinx MicroBlaze architecture.
526
527 @node Sample Session
528 @chapter A Sample @value{GDBN} Session
529
530 You can use this manual at your leisure to read all about @value{GDBN}.
531 However, a handful of commands are enough to get started using the
532 debugger. This chapter illustrates those commands.
533
534 @iftex
535 In this sample session, we emphasize user input like this: @b{input},
536 to make it easier to pick out from the surrounding output.
537 @end iftex
538
539 @c FIXME: this example may not be appropriate for some configs, where
540 @c FIXME...primary interest is in remote use.
541
542 One of the preliminary versions of @sc{gnu} @code{m4} (a generic macro
543 processor) exhibits the following bug: sometimes, when we change its
544 quote strings from the default, the commands used to capture one macro
545 definition within another stop working. In the following short @code{m4}
546 session, we define a macro @code{foo} which expands to @code{0000}; we
547 then use the @code{m4} built-in @code{defn} to define @code{bar} as the
548 same thing. However, when we change the open quote string to
549 @code{<QUOTE>} and the close quote string to @code{<UNQUOTE>}, the same
550 procedure fails to define a new synonym @code{baz}:
551
552 @smallexample
553 $ @b{cd gnu/m4}
554 $ @b{./m4}
555 @b{define(foo,0000)}
556
557 @b{foo}
558 0000
559 @b{define(bar,defn(`foo'))}
560
561 @b{bar}
562 0000
563 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
564
565 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
566 @b{baz}
567 @b{Ctrl-d}
568 m4: End of input: 0: fatal error: EOF in string
569 @end smallexample
570
571 @noindent
572 Let us use @value{GDBN} to try to see what is going on.
573
574 @smallexample
575 $ @b{@value{GDBP} m4}
576 @c FIXME: this falsifies the exact text played out, to permit smallbook
577 @c FIXME... format to come out better.
578 @value{GDBN} is free software and you are welcome to distribute copies
579 of it under certain conditions; type "show copying" to see
580 the conditions.
581 There is absolutely no warranty for @value{GDBN}; type "show warranty"
582 for details.
583
584 @value{GDBN} @value{GDBVN}, Copyright 1999 Free Software Foundation, Inc...
585 (@value{GDBP})
586 @end smallexample
587
588 @noindent
589 @value{GDBN} reads only enough symbol data to know where to find the
590 rest when needed; as a result, the first prompt comes up very quickly.
591 We now tell @value{GDBN} to use a narrower display width than usual, so
592 that examples fit in this manual.
593
594 @smallexample
595 (@value{GDBP}) @b{set width 70}
596 @end smallexample
597
598 @noindent
599 We need to see how the @code{m4} built-in @code{changequote} works.
600 Having looked at the source, we know the relevant subroutine is
601 @code{m4_changequote}, so we set a breakpoint there with the @value{GDBN}
602 @code{break} command.
603
604 @smallexample
605 (@value{GDBP}) @b{break m4_changequote}
606 Breakpoint 1 at 0x62f4: file builtin.c, line 879.
607 @end smallexample
608
609 @noindent
610 Using the @code{run} command, we start @code{m4} running under @value{GDBN}
611 control; as long as control does not reach the @code{m4_changequote}
612 subroutine, the program runs as usual:
613
614 @smallexample
615 (@value{GDBP}) @b{run}
616 Starting program: /work/Editorial/gdb/gnu/m4/m4
617 @b{define(foo,0000)}
618
619 @b{foo}
620 0000
621 @end smallexample
622
623 @noindent
624 To trigger the breakpoint, we call @code{changequote}. @value{GDBN}
625 suspends execution of @code{m4}, displaying information about the
626 context where it stops.
627
628 @smallexample
629 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
630
631 Breakpoint 1, m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
632 at builtin.c:879
633 879 if (bad_argc(TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[0]),argc,1,3))
634 @end smallexample
635
636 @noindent
637 Now we use the command @code{n} (@code{next}) to advance execution to
638 the next line of the current function.
639
640 @smallexample
641 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
642 882 set_quotes((argc >= 2) ? TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[1])\
643 : nil,
644 @end smallexample
645
646 @noindent
647 @code{set_quotes} looks like a promising subroutine. We can go into it
648 by using the command @code{s} (@code{step}) instead of @code{next}.
649 @code{step} goes to the next line to be executed in @emph{any}
650 subroutine, so it steps into @code{set_quotes}.
651
652 @smallexample
653 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
654 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
655 at input.c:530
656 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
657 @end smallexample
658
659 @noindent
660 The display that shows the subroutine where @code{m4} is now
661 suspended (and its arguments) is called a stack frame display. It
662 shows a summary of the stack. We can use the @code{backtrace}
663 command (which can also be spelled @code{bt}), to see where we are
664 in the stack as a whole: the @code{backtrace} command displays a
665 stack frame for each active subroutine.
666
667 @smallexample
668 (@value{GDBP}) @b{bt}
669 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
670 at input.c:530
671 #1 0x6344 in m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
672 at builtin.c:882
673 #2 0x8174 in expand_macro (sym=0x33320) at macro.c:242
674 #3 0x7a88 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=209696, td=0xf7fffa30)
675 at macro.c:71
676 #4 0x79dc in expand_input () at macro.c:40
677 #5 0x2930 in main (argc=0, argv=0xf7fffb20) at m4.c:195
678 @end smallexample
679
680 @noindent
681 We step through a few more lines to see what happens. The first two
682 times, we can use @samp{s}; the next two times we use @code{n} to avoid
683 falling into the @code{xstrdup} subroutine.
684
685 @smallexample
686 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
687 0x3b5c 532 if (rquote != def_rquote)
688 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
689 0x3b80 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? \
690 def_lquote : xstrdup(lq);
691 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
692 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
693 : xstrdup(rq);
694 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
695 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
696 @end smallexample
697
698 @noindent
699 The last line displayed looks a little odd; we can examine the variables
700 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} to see if they are in fact the new left
701 and right quotes we specified. We use the command @code{p}
702 (@code{print}) to see their values.
703
704 @smallexample
705 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p lquote}
706 $1 = 0x35d40 "<QUOTE>"
707 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p rquote}
708 $2 = 0x35d50 "<UNQUOTE>"
709 @end smallexample
710
711 @noindent
712 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} are indeed the new left and right quotes.
713 To look at some context, we can display ten lines of source
714 surrounding the current line with the @code{l} (@code{list}) command.
715
716 @smallexample
717 (@value{GDBP}) @b{l}
718 533 xfree(rquote);
719 534
720 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? def_lquote\
721 : xstrdup (lq);
722 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
723 : xstrdup (rq);
724 537
725 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
726 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
727 540 @}
728 541
729 542 void
730 @end smallexample
731
732 @noindent
733 Let us step past the two lines that set @code{len_lquote} and
734 @code{len_rquote}, and then examine the values of those variables.
735
736 @smallexample
737 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
738 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
739 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
740 540 @}
741 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote}
742 $3 = 9
743 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote}
744 $4 = 7
745 @end smallexample
746
747 @noindent
748 That certainly looks wrong, assuming @code{len_lquote} and
749 @code{len_rquote} are meant to be the lengths of @code{lquote} and
750 @code{rquote} respectively. We can set them to better values using
751 the @code{p} command, since it can print the value of
752 any expression---and that expression can include subroutine calls and
753 assignments.
754
755 @smallexample
756 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote=strlen(lquote)}
757 $5 = 7
758 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote=strlen(rquote)}
759 $6 = 9
760 @end smallexample
761
762 @noindent
763 Is that enough to fix the problem of using the new quotes with the
764 @code{m4} built-in @code{defn}? We can allow @code{m4} to continue
765 executing with the @code{c} (@code{continue}) command, and then try the
766 example that caused trouble initially:
767
768 @smallexample
769 (@value{GDBP}) @b{c}
770 Continuing.
771
772 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
773
774 baz
775 0000
776 @end smallexample
777
778 @noindent
779 Success! The new quotes now work just as well as the default ones. The
780 problem seems to have been just the two typos defining the wrong
781 lengths. We allow @code{m4} exit by giving it an EOF as input:
782
783 @smallexample
784 @b{Ctrl-d}
785 Program exited normally.
786 @end smallexample
787
788 @noindent
789 The message @samp{Program exited normally.} is from @value{GDBN}; it
790 indicates @code{m4} has finished executing. We can end our @value{GDBN}
791 session with the @value{GDBN} @code{quit} command.
792
793 @smallexample
794 (@value{GDBP}) @b{quit}
795 @end smallexample
796
797 @node Invocation
798 @chapter Getting In and Out of @value{GDBN}
799
800 This chapter discusses how to start @value{GDBN}, and how to get out of it.
801 The essentials are:
802 @itemize @bullet
803 @item
804 type @samp{@value{GDBP}} to start @value{GDBN}.
805 @item
806 type @kbd{quit} or @kbd{Ctrl-d} to exit.
807 @end itemize
808
809 @menu
810 * Invoking GDB:: How to start @value{GDBN}
811 * Quitting GDB:: How to quit @value{GDBN}
812 * Shell Commands:: How to use shell commands inside @value{GDBN}
813 * Logging Output:: How to log @value{GDBN}'s output to a file
814 @end menu
815
816 @node Invoking GDB
817 @section Invoking @value{GDBN}
818
819 Invoke @value{GDBN} by running the program @code{@value{GDBP}}. Once started,
820 @value{GDBN} reads commands from the terminal until you tell it to exit.
821
822 You can also run @code{@value{GDBP}} with a variety of arguments and options,
823 to specify more of your debugging environment at the outset.
824
825 The command-line options described here are designed
826 to cover a variety of situations; in some environments, some of these
827 options may effectively be unavailable.
828
829 The most usual way to start @value{GDBN} is with one argument,
830 specifying an executable program:
831
832 @smallexample
833 @value{GDBP} @var{program}
834 @end smallexample
835
836 @noindent
837 You can also start with both an executable program and a core file
838 specified:
839
840 @smallexample
841 @value{GDBP} @var{program} @var{core}
842 @end smallexample
843
844 You can, instead, specify a process ID as a second argument, if you want
845 to debug a running process:
846
847 @smallexample
848 @value{GDBP} @var{program} 1234
849 @end smallexample
850
851 @noindent
852 would attach @value{GDBN} to process @code{1234} (unless you also have a file
853 named @file{1234}; @value{GDBN} does check for a core file first).
854
855 Taking advantage of the second command-line argument requires a fairly
856 complete operating system; when you use @value{GDBN} as a remote
857 debugger attached to a bare board, there may not be any notion of
858 ``process'', and there is often no way to get a core dump. @value{GDBN}
859 will warn you if it is unable to attach or to read core dumps.
860
861 You can optionally have @code{@value{GDBP}} pass any arguments after the
862 executable file to the inferior using @code{--args}. This option stops
863 option processing.
864 @smallexample
865 @value{GDBP} --args gcc -O2 -c foo.c
866 @end smallexample
867 This will cause @code{@value{GDBP}} to debug @code{gcc}, and to set
868 @code{gcc}'s command-line arguments (@pxref{Arguments}) to @samp{-O2 -c foo.c}.
869
870 You can run @code{@value{GDBP}} without printing the front material, which describes
871 @value{GDBN}'s non-warranty, by specifying @code{-silent}:
872
873 @smallexample
874 @value{GDBP} -silent
875 @end smallexample
876
877 @noindent
878 You can further control how @value{GDBN} starts up by using command-line
879 options. @value{GDBN} itself can remind you of the options available.
880
881 @noindent
882 Type
883
884 @smallexample
885 @value{GDBP} -help
886 @end smallexample
887
888 @noindent
889 to display all available options and briefly describe their use
890 (@samp{@value{GDBP} -h} is a shorter equivalent).
891
892 All options and command line arguments you give are processed
893 in sequential order. The order makes a difference when the
894 @samp{-x} option is used.
895
896
897 @menu
898 * File Options:: Choosing files
899 * Mode Options:: Choosing modes
900 * Startup:: What @value{GDBN} does during startup
901 @end menu
902
903 @node File Options
904 @subsection Choosing Files
905
906 When @value{GDBN} starts, it reads any arguments other than options as
907 specifying an executable file and core file (or process ID). This is
908 the same as if the arguments were specified by the @samp{-se} and
909 @samp{-c} (or @samp{-p}) options respectively. (@value{GDBN} reads the
910 first argument that does not have an associated option flag as
911 equivalent to the @samp{-se} option followed by that argument; and the
912 second argument that does not have an associated option flag, if any, as
913 equivalent to the @samp{-c}/@samp{-p} option followed by that argument.)
914 If the second argument begins with a decimal digit, @value{GDBN} will
915 first attempt to attach to it as a process, and if that fails, attempt
916 to open it as a corefile. If you have a corefile whose name begins with
917 a digit, you can prevent @value{GDBN} from treating it as a pid by
918 prefixing it with @file{./}, e.g.@: @file{./12345}.
919
920 If @value{GDBN} has not been configured to included core file support,
921 such as for most embedded targets, then it will complain about a second
922 argument and ignore it.
923
924 Many options have both long and short forms; both are shown in the
925 following list. @value{GDBN} also recognizes the long forms if you truncate
926 them, so long as enough of the option is present to be unambiguous.
927 (If you prefer, you can flag option arguments with @samp{--} rather
928 than @samp{-}, though we illustrate the more usual convention.)
929
930 @c NOTE: the @cindex entries here use double dashes ON PURPOSE. This
931 @c way, both those who look for -foo and --foo in the index, will find
932 @c it.
933
934 @table @code
935 @item -symbols @var{file}
936 @itemx -s @var{file}
937 @cindex @code{--symbols}
938 @cindex @code{-s}
939 Read symbol table from file @var{file}.
940
941 @item -exec @var{file}
942 @itemx -e @var{file}
943 @cindex @code{--exec}
944 @cindex @code{-e}
945 Use file @var{file} as the executable file to execute when appropriate,
946 and for examining pure data in conjunction with a core dump.
947
948 @item -se @var{file}
949 @cindex @code{--se}
950 Read symbol table from file @var{file} and use it as the executable
951 file.
952
953 @item -core @var{file}
954 @itemx -c @var{file}
955 @cindex @code{--core}
956 @cindex @code{-c}
957 Use file @var{file} as a core dump to examine.
958
959 @item -pid @var{number}
960 @itemx -p @var{number}
961 @cindex @code{--pid}
962 @cindex @code{-p}
963 Connect to process ID @var{number}, as with the @code{attach} command.
964
965 @item -command @var{file}
966 @itemx -x @var{file}
967 @cindex @code{--command}
968 @cindex @code{-x}
969 Execute commands from file @var{file}. The contents of this file is
970 evaluated exactly as the @code{source} command would.
971 @xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
972
973 @item -eval-command @var{command}
974 @itemx -ex @var{command}
975 @cindex @code{--eval-command}
976 @cindex @code{-ex}
977 Execute a single @value{GDBN} command.
978
979 This option may be used multiple times to call multiple commands. It may
980 also be interleaved with @samp{-command} as required.
981
982 @smallexample
983 @value{GDBP} -ex 'target sim' -ex 'load' \
984 -x setbreakpoints -ex 'run' a.out
985 @end smallexample
986
987 @item -directory @var{directory}
988 @itemx -d @var{directory}
989 @cindex @code{--directory}
990 @cindex @code{-d}
991 Add @var{directory} to the path to search for source and script files.
992
993 @item -r
994 @itemx -readnow
995 @cindex @code{--readnow}
996 @cindex @code{-r}
997 Read each symbol file's entire symbol table immediately, rather than
998 the default, which is to read it incrementally as it is needed.
999 This makes startup slower, but makes future operations faster.
1000
1001 @end table
1002
1003 @node Mode Options
1004 @subsection Choosing Modes
1005
1006 You can run @value{GDBN} in various alternative modes---for example, in
1007 batch mode or quiet mode.
1008
1009 @table @code
1010 @item -nx
1011 @itemx -n
1012 @cindex @code{--nx}
1013 @cindex @code{-n}
1014 Do not execute commands found in any initialization files. Normally,
1015 @value{GDBN} executes the commands in these files after all the command
1016 options and arguments have been processed. @xref{Command Files,,Command
1017 Files}.
1018
1019 @item -quiet
1020 @itemx -silent
1021 @itemx -q
1022 @cindex @code{--quiet}
1023 @cindex @code{--silent}
1024 @cindex @code{-q}
1025 ``Quiet''. Do not print the introductory and copyright messages. These
1026 messages are also suppressed in batch mode.
1027
1028 @item -batch
1029 @cindex @code{--batch}
1030 Run in batch mode. Exit with status @code{0} after processing all the
1031 command files specified with @samp{-x} (and all commands from
1032 initialization files, if not inhibited with @samp{-n}). Exit with
1033 nonzero status if an error occurs in executing the @value{GDBN} commands
1034 in the command files. Batch mode also disables pagination;
1035 @pxref{Screen Size} and acts as if @kbd{set confirm off} were in
1036 effect (@pxref{Messages/Warnings}).
1037
1038 Batch mode may be useful for running @value{GDBN} as a filter, for
1039 example to download and run a program on another computer; in order to
1040 make this more useful, the message
1041
1042 @smallexample
1043 Program exited normally.
1044 @end smallexample
1045
1046 @noindent
1047 (which is ordinarily issued whenever a program running under
1048 @value{GDBN} control terminates) is not issued when running in batch
1049 mode.
1050
1051 @item -batch-silent
1052 @cindex @code{--batch-silent}
1053 Run in batch mode exactly like @samp{-batch}, but totally silently. All
1054 @value{GDBN} output to @code{stdout} is prevented (@code{stderr} is
1055 unaffected). This is much quieter than @samp{-silent} and would be useless
1056 for an interactive session.
1057
1058 This is particularly useful when using targets that give @samp{Loading section}
1059 messages, for example.
1060
1061 Note that targets that give their output via @value{GDBN}, as opposed to
1062 writing directly to @code{stdout}, will also be made silent.
1063
1064 @item -return-child-result
1065 @cindex @code{--return-child-result}
1066 The return code from @value{GDBN} will be the return code from the child
1067 process (the process being debugged), with the following exceptions:
1068
1069 @itemize @bullet
1070 @item
1071 @value{GDBN} exits abnormally. E.g., due to an incorrect argument or an
1072 internal error. In this case the exit code is the same as it would have been
1073 without @samp{-return-child-result}.
1074 @item
1075 The user quits with an explicit value. E.g., @samp{quit 1}.
1076 @item
1077 The child process never runs, or is not allowed to terminate, in which case
1078 the exit code will be -1.
1079 @end itemize
1080
1081 This option is useful in conjunction with @samp{-batch} or @samp{-batch-silent},
1082 when @value{GDBN} is being used as a remote program loader or simulator
1083 interface.
1084
1085 @item -nowindows
1086 @itemx -nw
1087 @cindex @code{--nowindows}
1088 @cindex @code{-nw}
1089 ``No windows''. If @value{GDBN} comes with a graphical user interface
1090 (GUI) built in, then this option tells @value{GDBN} to only use the command-line
1091 interface. If no GUI is available, this option has no effect.
1092
1093 @item -windows
1094 @itemx -w
1095 @cindex @code{--windows}
1096 @cindex @code{-w}
1097 If @value{GDBN} includes a GUI, then this option requires it to be
1098 used if possible.
1099
1100 @item -cd @var{directory}
1101 @cindex @code{--cd}
1102 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its working directory,
1103 instead of the current directory.
1104
1105 @item -fullname
1106 @itemx -f
1107 @cindex @code{--fullname}
1108 @cindex @code{-f}
1109 @sc{gnu} Emacs sets this option when it runs @value{GDBN} as a
1110 subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to output the full file name and line
1111 number in a standard, recognizable fashion each time a stack frame is
1112 displayed (which includes each time your program stops). This
1113 recognizable format looks like two @samp{\032} characters, followed by
1114 the file name, line number and character position separated by colons,
1115 and a newline. The Emacs-to-@value{GDBN} interface program uses the two
1116 @samp{\032} characters as a signal to display the source code for the
1117 frame.
1118
1119 @item -epoch
1120 @cindex @code{--epoch}
1121 The Epoch Emacs-@value{GDBN} interface sets this option when it runs
1122 @value{GDBN} as a subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to modify its print
1123 routines so as to allow Epoch to display values of expressions in a
1124 separate window.
1125
1126 @item -annotate @var{level}
1127 @cindex @code{--annotate}
1128 This option sets the @dfn{annotation level} inside @value{GDBN}. Its
1129 effect is identical to using @samp{set annotate @var{level}}
1130 (@pxref{Annotations}). The annotation @var{level} controls how much
1131 information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt, values of
1132 expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0 is the
1133 normal, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a subprocess of
1134 @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable for programs
1135 that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 has been deprecated.
1136
1137 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
1138 (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
1139
1140 @item --args
1141 @cindex @code{--args}
1142 Change interpretation of command line so that arguments following the
1143 executable file are passed as command line arguments to the inferior.
1144 This option stops option processing.
1145
1146 @item -baud @var{bps}
1147 @itemx -b @var{bps}
1148 @cindex @code{--baud}
1149 @cindex @code{-b}
1150 Set the line speed (baud rate or bits per second) of any serial
1151 interface used by @value{GDBN} for remote debugging.
1152
1153 @item -l @var{timeout}
1154 @cindex @code{-l}
1155 Set the timeout (in seconds) of any communication used by @value{GDBN}
1156 for remote debugging.
1157
1158 @item -tty @var{device}
1159 @itemx -t @var{device}
1160 @cindex @code{--tty}
1161 @cindex @code{-t}
1162 Run using @var{device} for your program's standard input and output.
1163 @c FIXME: kingdon thinks there is more to -tty. Investigate.
1164
1165 @c resolve the situation of these eventually
1166 @item -tui
1167 @cindex @code{--tui}
1168 Activate the @dfn{Text User Interface} when starting. The Text User
1169 Interface manages several text windows on the terminal, showing
1170 source, assembly, registers and @value{GDBN} command outputs
1171 (@pxref{TUI, ,@value{GDBN} Text User Interface}). Alternatively, the
1172 Text User Interface can be enabled by invoking the program
1173 @samp{@value{GDBTUI}}. Do not use this option if you run @value{GDBN} from
1174 Emacs (@pxref{Emacs, ,Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}).
1175
1176 @c @item -xdb
1177 @c @cindex @code{--xdb}
1178 @c Run in XDB compatibility mode, allowing the use of certain XDB commands.
1179 @c For information, see the file @file{xdb_trans.html}, which is usually
1180 @c installed in the directory @code{/opt/langtools/wdb/doc} on HP-UX
1181 @c systems.
1182
1183 @item -interpreter @var{interp}
1184 @cindex @code{--interpreter}
1185 Use the interpreter @var{interp} for interface with the controlling
1186 program or device. This option is meant to be set by programs which
1187 communicate with @value{GDBN} using it as a back end.
1188 @xref{Interpreters, , Command Interpreters}.
1189
1190 @samp{--interpreter=mi} (or @samp{--interpreter=mi2}) causes
1191 @value{GDBN} to use the @dfn{@sc{gdb/mi} interface} (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,
1192 The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}) included since @value{GDBN} version 6.0. The
1193 previous @sc{gdb/mi} interface, included in @value{GDBN} version 5.3 and
1194 selected with @samp{--interpreter=mi1}, is deprecated. Earlier
1195 @sc{gdb/mi} interfaces are no longer supported.
1196
1197 @item -write
1198 @cindex @code{--write}
1199 Open the executable and core files for both reading and writing. This
1200 is equivalent to the @samp{set write on} command inside @value{GDBN}
1201 (@pxref{Patching}).
1202
1203 @item -statistics
1204 @cindex @code{--statistics}
1205 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print statistics about time and
1206 memory usage after it completes each command and returns to the prompt.
1207
1208 @item -version
1209 @cindex @code{--version}
1210 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print its version number and
1211 no-warranty blurb, and exit.
1212
1213 @end table
1214
1215 @node Startup
1216 @subsection What @value{GDBN} Does During Startup
1217 @cindex @value{GDBN} startup
1218
1219 Here's the description of what @value{GDBN} does during session startup:
1220
1221 @enumerate
1222 @item
1223 Sets up the command interpreter as specified by the command line
1224 (@pxref{Mode Options, interpreter}).
1225
1226 @item
1227 @cindex init file
1228 Reads the system-wide @dfn{init file} (if @option{--with-system-gdbinit} was
1229 used when building @value{GDBN}; @pxref{System-wide configuration,
1230 ,System-wide configuration and settings}) and executes all the commands in
1231 that file.
1232
1233 @item
1234 Reads the init file (if any) in your home directory@footnote{On
1235 DOS/Windows systems, the home directory is the one pointed to by the
1236 @code{HOME} environment variable.} and executes all the commands in
1237 that file.
1238
1239 @item
1240 Processes command line options and operands.
1241
1242 @item
1243 Reads and executes the commands from init file (if any) in the current
1244 working directory. This is only done if the current directory is
1245 different from your home directory. Thus, you can have more than one
1246 init file, one generic in your home directory, and another, specific
1247 to the program you are debugging, in the directory where you invoke
1248 @value{GDBN}.
1249
1250 @item
1251 Reads command files specified by the @samp{-x} option. @xref{Command
1252 Files}, for more details about @value{GDBN} command files.
1253
1254 @item
1255 Reads the command history recorded in the @dfn{history file}.
1256 @xref{Command History}, for more details about the command history and the
1257 files where @value{GDBN} records it.
1258 @end enumerate
1259
1260 Init files use the same syntax as @dfn{command files} (@pxref{Command
1261 Files}) and are processed by @value{GDBN} in the same way. The init
1262 file in your home directory can set options (such as @samp{set
1263 complaints}) that affect subsequent processing of command line options
1264 and operands. Init files are not executed if you use the @samp{-nx}
1265 option (@pxref{Mode Options, ,Choosing Modes}).
1266
1267 To display the list of init files loaded by gdb at startup, you
1268 can use @kbd{gdb --help}.
1269
1270 @cindex init file name
1271 @cindex @file{.gdbinit}
1272 @cindex @file{gdb.ini}
1273 The @value{GDBN} init files are normally called @file{.gdbinit}.
1274 The DJGPP port of @value{GDBN} uses the name @file{gdb.ini}, due to
1275 the limitations of file names imposed by DOS filesystems. The Windows
1276 ports of @value{GDBN} use the standard name, but if they find a
1277 @file{gdb.ini} file, they warn you about that and suggest to rename
1278 the file to the standard name.
1279
1280
1281 @node Quitting GDB
1282 @section Quitting @value{GDBN}
1283 @cindex exiting @value{GDBN}
1284 @cindex leaving @value{GDBN}
1285
1286 @table @code
1287 @kindex quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1288 @kindex q @r{(@code{quit})}
1289 @item quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1290 @itemx q
1291 To exit @value{GDBN}, use the @code{quit} command (abbreviated
1292 @code{q}), or type an end-of-file character (usually @kbd{Ctrl-d}). If you
1293 do not supply @var{expression}, @value{GDBN} will terminate normally;
1294 otherwise it will terminate using the result of @var{expression} as the
1295 error code.
1296 @end table
1297
1298 @cindex interrupt
1299 An interrupt (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}) does not exit from @value{GDBN}, but rather
1300 terminates the action of any @value{GDBN} command that is in progress and
1301 returns to @value{GDBN} command level. It is safe to type the interrupt
1302 character at any time because @value{GDBN} does not allow it to take effect
1303 until a time when it is safe.
1304
1305 If you have been using @value{GDBN} to control an attached process or
1306 device, you can release it with the @code{detach} command
1307 (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
1308
1309 @node Shell Commands
1310 @section Shell Commands
1311
1312 If you need to execute occasional shell commands during your
1313 debugging session, there is no need to leave or suspend @value{GDBN}; you can
1314 just use the @code{shell} command.
1315
1316 @table @code
1317 @kindex shell
1318 @cindex shell escape
1319 @item shell @var{command string}
1320 Invoke a standard shell to execute @var{command string}.
1321 If it exists, the environment variable @code{SHELL} determines which
1322 shell to run. Otherwise @value{GDBN} uses the default shell
1323 (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix systems, @file{COMMAND.COM} on MS-DOS, etc.).
1324 @end table
1325
1326 The utility @code{make} is often needed in development environments.
1327 You do not have to use the @code{shell} command for this purpose in
1328 @value{GDBN}:
1329
1330 @table @code
1331 @kindex make
1332 @cindex calling make
1333 @item make @var{make-args}
1334 Execute the @code{make} program with the specified
1335 arguments. This is equivalent to @samp{shell make @var{make-args}}.
1336 @end table
1337
1338 @node Logging Output
1339 @section Logging Output
1340 @cindex logging @value{GDBN} output
1341 @cindex save @value{GDBN} output to a file
1342
1343 You may want to save the output of @value{GDBN} commands to a file.
1344 There are several commands to control @value{GDBN}'s logging.
1345
1346 @table @code
1347 @kindex set logging
1348 @item set logging on
1349 Enable logging.
1350 @item set logging off
1351 Disable logging.
1352 @cindex logging file name
1353 @item set logging file @var{file}
1354 Change the name of the current logfile. The default logfile is @file{gdb.txt}.
1355 @item set logging overwrite [on|off]
1356 By default, @value{GDBN} will append to the logfile. Set @code{overwrite} if
1357 you want @code{set logging on} to overwrite the logfile instead.
1358 @item set logging redirect [on|off]
1359 By default, @value{GDBN} output will go to both the terminal and the logfile.
1360 Set @code{redirect} if you want output to go only to the log file.
1361 @kindex show logging
1362 @item show logging
1363 Show the current values of the logging settings.
1364 @end table
1365
1366 @node Commands
1367 @chapter @value{GDBN} Commands
1368
1369 You can abbreviate a @value{GDBN} command to the first few letters of the command
1370 name, if that abbreviation is unambiguous; and you can repeat certain
1371 @value{GDBN} commands by typing just @key{RET}. You can also use the @key{TAB}
1372 key to get @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest of a word in a command (or to
1373 show you the alternatives available, if there is more than one possibility).
1374
1375 @menu
1376 * Command Syntax:: How to give commands to @value{GDBN}
1377 * Completion:: Command completion
1378 * Help:: How to ask @value{GDBN} for help
1379 @end menu
1380
1381 @node Command Syntax
1382 @section Command Syntax
1383
1384 A @value{GDBN} command is a single line of input. There is no limit on
1385 how long it can be. It starts with a command name, which is followed by
1386 arguments whose meaning depends on the command name. For example, the
1387 command @code{step} accepts an argument which is the number of times to
1388 step, as in @samp{step 5}. You can also use the @code{step} command
1389 with no arguments. Some commands do not allow any arguments.
1390
1391 @cindex abbreviation
1392 @value{GDBN} command names may always be truncated if that abbreviation is
1393 unambiguous. Other possible command abbreviations are listed in the
1394 documentation for individual commands. In some cases, even ambiguous
1395 abbreviations are allowed; for example, @code{s} is specially defined as
1396 equivalent to @code{step} even though there are other commands whose
1397 names start with @code{s}. You can test abbreviations by using them as
1398 arguments to the @code{help} command.
1399
1400 @cindex repeating commands
1401 @kindex RET @r{(repeat last command)}
1402 A blank line as input to @value{GDBN} (typing just @key{RET}) means to
1403 repeat the previous command. Certain commands (for example, @code{run})
1404 will not repeat this way; these are commands whose unintentional
1405 repetition might cause trouble and which you are unlikely to want to
1406 repeat. User-defined commands can disable this feature; see
1407 @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
1408
1409 The @code{list} and @code{x} commands, when you repeat them with
1410 @key{RET}, construct new arguments rather than repeating
1411 exactly as typed. This permits easy scanning of source or memory.
1412
1413 @value{GDBN} can also use @key{RET} in another way: to partition lengthy
1414 output, in a way similar to the common utility @code{more}
1415 (@pxref{Screen Size,,Screen Size}). Since it is easy to press one
1416 @key{RET} too many in this situation, @value{GDBN} disables command
1417 repetition after any command that generates this sort of display.
1418
1419 @kindex # @r{(a comment)}
1420 @cindex comment
1421 Any text from a @kbd{#} to the end of the line is a comment; it does
1422 nothing. This is useful mainly in command files (@pxref{Command
1423 Files,,Command Files}).
1424
1425 @cindex repeating command sequences
1426 @kindex Ctrl-o @r{(operate-and-get-next)}
1427 The @kbd{Ctrl-o} binding is useful for repeating a complex sequence of
1428 commands. This command accepts the current line, like @key{RET}, and
1429 then fetches the next line relative to the current line from the history
1430 for editing.
1431
1432 @node Completion
1433 @section Command Completion
1434
1435 @cindex completion
1436 @cindex word completion
1437 @value{GDBN} can fill in the rest of a word in a command for you, if there is
1438 only one possibility; it can also show you what the valid possibilities
1439 are for the next word in a command, at any time. This works for @value{GDBN}
1440 commands, @value{GDBN} subcommands, and the names of symbols in your program.
1441
1442 Press the @key{TAB} key whenever you want @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest
1443 of a word. If there is only one possibility, @value{GDBN} fills in the
1444 word, and waits for you to finish the command (or press @key{RET} to
1445 enter it). For example, if you type
1446
1447 @c FIXME "@key" does not distinguish its argument sufficiently to permit
1448 @c complete accuracy in these examples; space introduced for clarity.
1449 @c If texinfo enhancements make it unnecessary, it would be nice to
1450 @c replace " @key" by "@key" in the following...
1451 @smallexample
1452 (@value{GDBP}) info bre @key{TAB}
1453 @end smallexample
1454
1455 @noindent
1456 @value{GDBN} fills in the rest of the word @samp{breakpoints}, since that is
1457 the only @code{info} subcommand beginning with @samp{bre}:
1458
1459 @smallexample
1460 (@value{GDBP}) info breakpoints
1461 @end smallexample
1462
1463 @noindent
1464 You can either press @key{RET} at this point, to run the @code{info
1465 breakpoints} command, or backspace and enter something else, if
1466 @samp{breakpoints} does not look like the command you expected. (If you
1467 were sure you wanted @code{info breakpoints} in the first place, you
1468 might as well just type @key{RET} immediately after @samp{info bre},
1469 to exploit command abbreviations rather than command completion).
1470
1471 If there is more than one possibility for the next word when you press
1472 @key{TAB}, @value{GDBN} sounds a bell. You can either supply more
1473 characters and try again, or just press @key{TAB} a second time;
1474 @value{GDBN} displays all the possible completions for that word. For
1475 example, you might want to set a breakpoint on a subroutine whose name
1476 begins with @samp{make_}, but when you type @kbd{b make_@key{TAB}} @value{GDBN}
1477 just sounds the bell. Typing @key{TAB} again displays all the
1478 function names in your program that begin with those characters, for
1479 example:
1480
1481 @smallexample
1482 (@value{GDBP}) b make_ @key{TAB}
1483 @exdent @value{GDBN} sounds bell; press @key{TAB} again, to see:
1484 make_a_section_from_file make_environ
1485 make_abs_section make_function_type
1486 make_blockvector make_pointer_type
1487 make_cleanup make_reference_type
1488 make_command make_symbol_completion_list
1489 (@value{GDBP}) b make_
1490 @end smallexample
1491
1492 @noindent
1493 After displaying the available possibilities, @value{GDBN} copies your
1494 partial input (@samp{b make_} in the example) so you can finish the
1495 command.
1496
1497 If you just want to see the list of alternatives in the first place, you
1498 can press @kbd{M-?} rather than pressing @key{TAB} twice. @kbd{M-?}
1499 means @kbd{@key{META} ?}. You can type this either by holding down a
1500 key designated as the @key{META} shift on your keyboard (if there is
1501 one) while typing @kbd{?}, or as @key{ESC} followed by @kbd{?}.
1502
1503 @cindex quotes in commands
1504 @cindex completion of quoted strings
1505 Sometimes the string you need, while logically a ``word'', may contain
1506 parentheses or other characters that @value{GDBN} normally excludes from
1507 its notion of a word. To permit word completion to work in this
1508 situation, you may enclose words in @code{'} (single quote marks) in
1509 @value{GDBN} commands.
1510
1511 The most likely situation where you might need this is in typing the
1512 name of a C@t{++} function. This is because C@t{++} allows function
1513 overloading (multiple definitions of the same function, distinguished
1514 by argument type). For example, when you want to set a breakpoint you
1515 may need to distinguish whether you mean the version of @code{name}
1516 that takes an @code{int} parameter, @code{name(int)}, or the version
1517 that takes a @code{float} parameter, @code{name(float)}. To use the
1518 word-completion facilities in this situation, type a single quote
1519 @code{'} at the beginning of the function name. This alerts
1520 @value{GDBN} that it may need to consider more information than usual
1521 when you press @key{TAB} or @kbd{M-?} to request word completion:
1522
1523 @smallexample
1524 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble( @kbd{M-?}
1525 bubble(double,double) bubble(int,int)
1526 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1527 @end smallexample
1528
1529 In some cases, @value{GDBN} can tell that completing a name requires using
1530 quotes. When this happens, @value{GDBN} inserts the quote for you (while
1531 completing as much as it can) if you do not type the quote in the first
1532 place:
1533
1534 @smallexample
1535 (@value{GDBP}) b bub @key{TAB}
1536 @exdent @value{GDBN} alters your input line to the following, and rings a bell:
1537 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1538 @end smallexample
1539
1540 @noindent
1541 In general, @value{GDBN} can tell that a quote is needed (and inserts it) if
1542 you have not yet started typing the argument list when you ask for
1543 completion on an overloaded symbol.
1544
1545 For more information about overloaded functions, see @ref{C Plus Plus
1546 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}. You can use the command @code{set
1547 overload-resolution off} to disable overload resolution;
1548 see @ref{Debugging C Plus Plus, ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
1549
1550 @cindex completion of structure field names
1551 @cindex structure field name completion
1552 @cindex completion of union field names
1553 @cindex union field name completion
1554 When completing in an expression which looks up a field in a
1555 structure, @value{GDBN} also tries@footnote{The completer can be
1556 confused by certain kinds of invalid expressions. Also, it only
1557 examines the static type of the expression, not the dynamic type.} to
1558 limit completions to the field names available in the type of the
1559 left-hand-side:
1560
1561 @smallexample
1562 (@value{GDBP}) p gdb_stdout.@kbd{M-?}
1563 magic to_delete to_fputs to_put to_rewind
1564 to_data to_flush to_isatty to_read to_write
1565 @end smallexample
1566
1567 @noindent
1568 This is because the @code{gdb_stdout} is a variable of the type
1569 @code{struct ui_file} that is defined in @value{GDBN} sources as
1570 follows:
1571
1572 @smallexample
1573 struct ui_file
1574 @{
1575 int *magic;
1576 ui_file_flush_ftype *to_flush;
1577 ui_file_write_ftype *to_write;
1578 ui_file_fputs_ftype *to_fputs;
1579 ui_file_read_ftype *to_read;
1580 ui_file_delete_ftype *to_delete;
1581 ui_file_isatty_ftype *to_isatty;
1582 ui_file_rewind_ftype *to_rewind;
1583 ui_file_put_ftype *to_put;
1584 void *to_data;
1585 @}
1586 @end smallexample
1587
1588
1589 @node Help
1590 @section Getting Help
1591 @cindex online documentation
1592 @kindex help
1593
1594 You can always ask @value{GDBN} itself for information on its commands,
1595 using the command @code{help}.
1596
1597 @table @code
1598 @kindex h @r{(@code{help})}
1599 @item help
1600 @itemx h
1601 You can use @code{help} (abbreviated @code{h}) with no arguments to
1602 display a short list of named classes of commands:
1603
1604 @smallexample
1605 (@value{GDBP}) help
1606 List of classes of commands:
1607
1608 aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1609 breakpoints -- Making program stop at certain points
1610 data -- Examining data
1611 files -- Specifying and examining files
1612 internals -- Maintenance commands
1613 obscure -- Obscure features
1614 running -- Running the program
1615 stack -- Examining the stack
1616 status -- Status inquiries
1617 support -- Support facilities
1618 tracepoints -- Tracing of program execution without
1619 stopping the program
1620 user-defined -- User-defined commands
1621
1622 Type "help" followed by a class name for a list of
1623 commands in that class.
1624 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1625 documentation.
1626 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1627 (@value{GDBP})
1628 @end smallexample
1629 @c the above line break eliminates huge line overfull...
1630
1631 @item help @var{class}
1632 Using one of the general help classes as an argument, you can get a
1633 list of the individual commands in that class. For example, here is the
1634 help display for the class @code{status}:
1635
1636 @smallexample
1637 (@value{GDBP}) help status
1638 Status inquiries.
1639
1640 List of commands:
1641
1642 @c Line break in "show" line falsifies real output, but needed
1643 @c to fit in smallbook page size.
1644 info -- Generic command for showing things
1645 about the program being debugged
1646 show -- Generic command for showing things
1647 about the debugger
1648
1649 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1650 documentation.
1651 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1652 (@value{GDBP})
1653 @end smallexample
1654
1655 @item help @var{command}
1656 With a command name as @code{help} argument, @value{GDBN} displays a
1657 short paragraph on how to use that command.
1658
1659 @kindex apropos
1660 @item apropos @var{args}
1661 The @code{apropos} command searches through all of the @value{GDBN}
1662 commands, and their documentation, for the regular expression specified in
1663 @var{args}. It prints out all matches found. For example:
1664
1665 @smallexample
1666 apropos reload
1667 @end smallexample
1668
1669 @noindent
1670 results in:
1671
1672 @smallexample
1673 @c @group
1674 set symbol-reloading -- Set dynamic symbol table reloading
1675 multiple times in one run
1676 show symbol-reloading -- Show dynamic symbol table reloading
1677 multiple times in one run
1678 @c @end group
1679 @end smallexample
1680
1681 @kindex complete
1682 @item complete @var{args}
1683 The @code{complete @var{args}} command lists all the possible completions
1684 for the beginning of a command. Use @var{args} to specify the beginning of the
1685 command you want completed. For example:
1686
1687 @smallexample
1688 complete i
1689 @end smallexample
1690
1691 @noindent results in:
1692
1693 @smallexample
1694 @group
1695 if
1696 ignore
1697 info
1698 inspect
1699 @end group
1700 @end smallexample
1701
1702 @noindent This is intended for use by @sc{gnu} Emacs.
1703 @end table
1704
1705 In addition to @code{help}, you can use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{info}
1706 and @code{show} to inquire about the state of your program, or the state
1707 of @value{GDBN} itself. Each command supports many topics of inquiry; this
1708 manual introduces each of them in the appropriate context. The listings
1709 under @code{info} and under @code{show} in the Index point to
1710 all the sub-commands. @xref{Index}.
1711
1712 @c @group
1713 @table @code
1714 @kindex info
1715 @kindex i @r{(@code{info})}
1716 @item info
1717 This command (abbreviated @code{i}) is for describing the state of your
1718 program. For example, you can show the arguments passed to a function
1719 with @code{info args}, list the registers currently in use with @code{info
1720 registers}, or list the breakpoints you have set with @code{info breakpoints}.
1721 You can get a complete list of the @code{info} sub-commands with
1722 @w{@code{help info}}.
1723
1724 @kindex set
1725 @item set
1726 You can assign the result of an expression to an environment variable with
1727 @code{set}. For example, you can set the @value{GDBN} prompt to a $-sign with
1728 @code{set prompt $}.
1729
1730 @kindex show
1731 @item show
1732 In contrast to @code{info}, @code{show} is for describing the state of
1733 @value{GDBN} itself.
1734 You can change most of the things you can @code{show}, by using the
1735 related command @code{set}; for example, you can control what number
1736 system is used for displays with @code{set radix}, or simply inquire
1737 which is currently in use with @code{show radix}.
1738
1739 @kindex info set
1740 To display all the settable parameters and their current
1741 values, you can use @code{show} with no arguments; you may also use
1742 @code{info set}. Both commands produce the same display.
1743 @c FIXME: "info set" violates the rule that "info" is for state of
1744 @c FIXME...program. Ck w/ GNU: "info set" to be called something else,
1745 @c FIXME...or change desc of rule---eg "state of prog and debugging session"?
1746 @end table
1747 @c @end group
1748
1749 Here are three miscellaneous @code{show} subcommands, all of which are
1750 exceptional in lacking corresponding @code{set} commands:
1751
1752 @table @code
1753 @kindex show version
1754 @cindex @value{GDBN} version number
1755 @item show version
1756 Show what version of @value{GDBN} is running. You should include this
1757 information in @value{GDBN} bug-reports. If multiple versions of
1758 @value{GDBN} are in use at your site, you may need to determine which
1759 version of @value{GDBN} you are running; as @value{GDBN} evolves, new
1760 commands are introduced, and old ones may wither away. Also, many
1761 system vendors ship variant versions of @value{GDBN}, and there are
1762 variant versions of @value{GDBN} in @sc{gnu}/Linux distributions as well.
1763 The version number is the same as the one announced when you start
1764 @value{GDBN}.
1765
1766 @kindex show copying
1767 @kindex info copying
1768 @cindex display @value{GDBN} copyright
1769 @item show copying
1770 @itemx info copying
1771 Display information about permission for copying @value{GDBN}.
1772
1773 @kindex show warranty
1774 @kindex info warranty
1775 @item show warranty
1776 @itemx info warranty
1777 Display the @sc{gnu} ``NO WARRANTY'' statement, or a warranty,
1778 if your version of @value{GDBN} comes with one.
1779
1780 @end table
1781
1782 @node Running
1783 @chapter Running Programs Under @value{GDBN}
1784
1785 When you run a program under @value{GDBN}, you must first generate
1786 debugging information when you compile it.
1787
1788 You may start @value{GDBN} with its arguments, if any, in an environment
1789 of your choice. If you are doing native debugging, you may redirect
1790 your program's input and output, debug an already running process, or
1791 kill a child process.
1792
1793 @menu
1794 * Compilation:: Compiling for debugging
1795 * Starting:: Starting your program
1796 * Arguments:: Your program's arguments
1797 * Environment:: Your program's environment
1798
1799 * Working Directory:: Your program's working directory
1800 * Input/Output:: Your program's input and output
1801 * Attach:: Debugging an already-running process
1802 * Kill Process:: Killing the child process
1803
1804 * Inferiors and Programs:: Debugging multiple inferiors and programs
1805 * Threads:: Debugging programs with multiple threads
1806 * Forks:: Debugging forks
1807 * Checkpoint/Restart:: Setting a @emph{bookmark} to return to later
1808 @end menu
1809
1810 @node Compilation
1811 @section Compiling for Debugging
1812
1813 In order to debug a program effectively, you need to generate
1814 debugging information when you compile it. This debugging information
1815 is stored in the object file; it describes the data type of each
1816 variable or function and the correspondence between source line numbers
1817 and addresses in the executable code.
1818
1819 To request debugging information, specify the @samp{-g} option when you run
1820 the compiler.
1821
1822 Programs that are to be shipped to your customers are compiled with
1823 optimizations, using the @samp{-O} compiler option. However, some
1824 compilers are unable to handle the @samp{-g} and @samp{-O} options
1825 together. Using those compilers, you cannot generate optimized
1826 executables containing debugging information.
1827
1828 @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C/C@t{++} compiler, supports @samp{-g} with or
1829 without @samp{-O}, making it possible to debug optimized code. We
1830 recommend that you @emph{always} use @samp{-g} whenever you compile a
1831 program. You may think your program is correct, but there is no sense
1832 in pushing your luck. For more information, see @ref{Optimized Code}.
1833
1834 Older versions of the @sc{gnu} C compiler permitted a variant option
1835 @w{@samp{-gg}} for debugging information. @value{GDBN} no longer supports this
1836 format; if your @sc{gnu} C compiler has this option, do not use it.
1837
1838 @value{GDBN} knows about preprocessor macros and can show you their
1839 expansion (@pxref{Macros}). Most compilers do not include information
1840 about preprocessor macros in the debugging information if you specify
1841 the @option{-g} flag alone, because this information is rather large.
1842 Version 3.1 and later of @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C compiler,
1843 provides macro information if you specify the options
1844 @option{-gdwarf-2} and @option{-g3}; the former option requests
1845 debugging information in the Dwarf 2 format, and the latter requests
1846 ``extra information''. In the future, we hope to find more compact
1847 ways to represent macro information, so that it can be included with
1848 @option{-g} alone.
1849
1850 @need 2000
1851 @node Starting
1852 @section Starting your Program
1853 @cindex starting
1854 @cindex running
1855
1856 @table @code
1857 @kindex run
1858 @kindex r @r{(@code{run})}
1859 @item run
1860 @itemx r
1861 Use the @code{run} command to start your program under @value{GDBN}.
1862 You must first specify the program name (except on VxWorks) with an
1863 argument to @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Invocation, ,Getting In and Out of
1864 @value{GDBN}}), or by using the @code{file} or @code{exec-file} command
1865 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
1866
1867 @end table
1868
1869 If you are running your program in an execution environment that
1870 supports processes, @code{run} creates an inferior process and makes
1871 that process run your program. In some environments without processes,
1872 @code{run} jumps to the start of your program. Other targets,
1873 like @samp{remote}, are always running. If you get an error
1874 message like this one:
1875
1876 @smallexample
1877 The "remote" target does not support "run".
1878 Try "help target" or "continue".
1879 @end smallexample
1880
1881 @noindent
1882 then use @code{continue} to run your program. You may need @code{load}
1883 first (@pxref{load}).
1884
1885 The execution of a program is affected by certain information it
1886 receives from its superior. @value{GDBN} provides ways to specify this
1887 information, which you must do @emph{before} starting your program. (You
1888 can change it after starting your program, but such changes only affect
1889 your program the next time you start it.) This information may be
1890 divided into four categories:
1891
1892 @table @asis
1893 @item The @emph{arguments.}
1894 Specify the arguments to give your program as the arguments of the
1895 @code{run} command. If a shell is available on your target, the shell
1896 is used to pass the arguments, so that you may use normal conventions
1897 (such as wildcard expansion or variable substitution) in describing
1898 the arguments.
1899 In Unix systems, you can control which shell is used with the
1900 @code{SHELL} environment variable.
1901 @xref{Arguments, ,Your Program's Arguments}.
1902
1903 @item The @emph{environment.}
1904 Your program normally inherits its environment from @value{GDBN}, but you can
1905 use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{set environment} and @code{unset
1906 environment} to change parts of the environment that affect
1907 your program. @xref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}.
1908
1909 @item The @emph{working directory.}
1910 Your program inherits its working directory from @value{GDBN}. You can set
1911 the @value{GDBN} working directory with the @code{cd} command in @value{GDBN}.
1912 @xref{Working Directory, ,Your Program's Working Directory}.
1913
1914 @item The @emph{standard input and output.}
1915 Your program normally uses the same device for standard input and
1916 standard output as @value{GDBN} is using. You can redirect input and output
1917 in the @code{run} command line, or you can use the @code{tty} command to
1918 set a different device for your program.
1919 @xref{Input/Output, ,Your Program's Input and Output}.
1920
1921 @cindex pipes
1922 @emph{Warning:} While input and output redirection work, you cannot use
1923 pipes to pass the output of the program you are debugging to another
1924 program; if you attempt this, @value{GDBN} is likely to wind up debugging the
1925 wrong program.
1926 @end table
1927
1928 When you issue the @code{run} command, your program begins to execute
1929 immediately. @xref{Stopping, ,Stopping and Continuing}, for discussion
1930 of how to arrange for your program to stop. Once your program has
1931 stopped, you may call functions in your program, using the @code{print}
1932 or @code{call} commands. @xref{Data, ,Examining Data}.
1933
1934 If the modification time of your symbol file has changed since the last
1935 time @value{GDBN} read its symbols, @value{GDBN} discards its symbol
1936 table, and reads it again. When it does this, @value{GDBN} tries to retain
1937 your current breakpoints.
1938
1939 @table @code
1940 @kindex start
1941 @item start
1942 @cindex run to main procedure
1943 The name of the main procedure can vary from language to language.
1944 With C or C@t{++}, the main procedure name is always @code{main}, but
1945 other languages such as Ada do not require a specific name for their
1946 main procedure. The debugger provides a convenient way to start the
1947 execution of the program and to stop at the beginning of the main
1948 procedure, depending on the language used.
1949
1950 The @samp{start} command does the equivalent of setting a temporary
1951 breakpoint at the beginning of the main procedure and then invoking
1952 the @samp{run} command.
1953
1954 @cindex elaboration phase
1955 Some programs contain an @dfn{elaboration} phase where some startup code is
1956 executed before the main procedure is called. This depends on the
1957 languages used to write your program. In C@t{++}, for instance,
1958 constructors for static and global objects are executed before
1959 @code{main} is called. It is therefore possible that the debugger stops
1960 before reaching the main procedure. However, the temporary breakpoint
1961 will remain to halt execution.
1962
1963 Specify the arguments to give to your program as arguments to the
1964 @samp{start} command. These arguments will be given verbatim to the
1965 underlying @samp{run} command. Note that the same arguments will be
1966 reused if no argument is provided during subsequent calls to
1967 @samp{start} or @samp{run}.
1968
1969 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration. In
1970 these cases, using the @code{start} command would stop the execution of
1971 your program too late, as the program would have already completed the
1972 elaboration phase. Under these circumstances, insert breakpoints in your
1973 elaboration code before running your program.
1974
1975 @kindex set exec-wrapper
1976 @item set exec-wrapper @var{wrapper}
1977 @itemx show exec-wrapper
1978 @itemx unset exec-wrapper
1979 When @samp{exec-wrapper} is set, the specified wrapper is used to
1980 launch programs for debugging. @value{GDBN} starts your program
1981 with a shell command of the form @kbd{exec @var{wrapper}
1982 @var{program}}. Quoting is added to @var{program} and its
1983 arguments, but not to @var{wrapper}, so you should add quotes if
1984 appropriate for your shell. The wrapper runs until it executes
1985 your program, and then @value{GDBN} takes control.
1986
1987 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
1988 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
1989 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
1990 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
1991
1992 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
1993 the debugged program, without setting the variable in your shell's
1994 environment:
1995
1996 @smallexample
1997 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper env 'LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so'
1998 (@value{GDBP}) run
1999 @end smallexample
2000
2001 This command is available when debugging locally on most targets, excluding
2002 @sc{djgpp}, Cygwin, MS Windows, and QNX Neutrino.
2003
2004 @kindex set disable-randomization
2005 @item set disable-randomization
2006 @itemx set disable-randomization on
2007 This option (enabled by default in @value{GDBN}) will turn off the native
2008 randomization of the virtual address space of the started program. This option
2009 is useful for multiple debugging sessions to make the execution better
2010 reproducible and memory addresses reusable across debugging sessions.
2011
2012 This feature is implemented only on @sc{gnu}/Linux. You can get the same
2013 behavior using
2014
2015 @smallexample
2016 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper setarch `uname -m` -R
2017 @end smallexample
2018
2019 @item set disable-randomization off
2020 Leave the behavior of the started executable unchanged. Some bugs rear their
2021 ugly heads only when the program is loaded at certain addresses. If your bug
2022 disappears when you run the program under @value{GDBN}, that might be because
2023 @value{GDBN} by default disables the address randomization on platforms, such
2024 as @sc{gnu}/Linux, which do that for stand-alone programs. Use @kbd{set
2025 disable-randomization off} to try to reproduce such elusive bugs.
2026
2027 The virtual address space randomization is implemented only on @sc{gnu}/Linux.
2028 It protects the programs against some kinds of security attacks. In these
2029 cases the attacker needs to know the exact location of a concrete executable
2030 code. Randomizing its location makes it impossible to inject jumps misusing
2031 a code at its expected addresses.
2032
2033 Prelinking shared libraries provides a startup performance advantage but it
2034 makes addresses in these libraries predictable for privileged processes by
2035 having just unprivileged access at the target system. Reading the shared
2036 library binary gives enough information for assembling the malicious code
2037 misusing it. Still even a prelinked shared library can get loaded at a new
2038 random address just requiring the regular relocation process during the
2039 startup. Shared libraries not already prelinked are always loaded at
2040 a randomly chosen address.
2041
2042 Position independent executables (PIE) contain position independent code
2043 similar to the shared libraries and therefore such executables get loaded at
2044 a randomly chosen address upon startup. PIE executables always load even
2045 already prelinked shared libraries at a random address. You can build such
2046 executable using @command{gcc -fPIE -pie}.
2047
2048 Heap (malloc storage), stack and custom mmap areas are always placed randomly
2049 (as long as the randomization is enabled).
2050
2051 @item show disable-randomization
2052 Show the current setting of the explicit disable of the native randomization of
2053 the virtual address space of the started program.
2054
2055 @end table
2056
2057 @node Arguments
2058 @section Your Program's Arguments
2059
2060 @cindex arguments (to your program)
2061 The arguments to your program can be specified by the arguments of the
2062 @code{run} command.
2063 They are passed to a shell, which expands wildcard characters and
2064 performs redirection of I/O, and thence to your program. Your
2065 @code{SHELL} environment variable (if it exists) specifies what shell
2066 @value{GDBN} uses. If you do not define @code{SHELL}, @value{GDBN} uses
2067 the default shell (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix).
2068
2069 On non-Unix systems, the program is usually invoked directly by
2070 @value{GDBN}, which emulates I/O redirection via the appropriate system
2071 calls, and the wildcard characters are expanded by the startup code of
2072 the program, not by the shell.
2073
2074 @code{run} with no arguments uses the same arguments used by the previous
2075 @code{run}, or those set by the @code{set args} command.
2076
2077 @table @code
2078 @kindex set args
2079 @item set args
2080 Specify the arguments to be used the next time your program is run. If
2081 @code{set args} has no arguments, @code{run} executes your program
2082 with no arguments. Once you have run your program with arguments,
2083 using @code{set args} before the next @code{run} is the only way to run
2084 it again without arguments.
2085
2086 @kindex show args
2087 @item show args
2088 Show the arguments to give your program when it is started.
2089 @end table
2090
2091 @node Environment
2092 @section Your Program's Environment
2093
2094 @cindex environment (of your program)
2095 The @dfn{environment} consists of a set of environment variables and
2096 their values. Environment variables conventionally record such things as
2097 your user name, your home directory, your terminal type, and your search
2098 path for programs to run. Usually you set up environment variables with
2099 the shell and they are inherited by all the other programs you run. When
2100 debugging, it can be useful to try running your program with a modified
2101 environment without having to start @value{GDBN} over again.
2102
2103 @table @code
2104 @kindex path
2105 @item path @var{directory}
2106 Add @var{directory} to the front of the @code{PATH} environment variable
2107 (the search path for executables) that will be passed to your program.
2108 The value of @code{PATH} used by @value{GDBN} does not change.
2109 You may specify several directory names, separated by whitespace or by a
2110 system-dependent separator character (@samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on
2111 MS-DOS and MS-Windows). If @var{directory} is already in the path, it
2112 is moved to the front, so it is searched sooner.
2113
2114 You can use the string @samp{$cwd} to refer to whatever is the current
2115 working directory at the time @value{GDBN} searches the path. If you
2116 use @samp{.} instead, it refers to the directory where you executed the
2117 @code{path} command. @value{GDBN} replaces @samp{.} in the
2118 @var{directory} argument (with the current path) before adding
2119 @var{directory} to the search path.
2120 @c 'path' is explicitly nonrepeatable, but RMS points out it is silly to
2121 @c document that, since repeating it would be a no-op.
2122
2123 @kindex show paths
2124 @item show paths
2125 Display the list of search paths for executables (the @code{PATH}
2126 environment variable).
2127
2128 @kindex show environment
2129 @item show environment @r{[}@var{varname}@r{]}
2130 Print the value of environment variable @var{varname} to be given to
2131 your program when it starts. If you do not supply @var{varname},
2132 print the names and values of all environment variables to be given to
2133 your program. You can abbreviate @code{environment} as @code{env}.
2134
2135 @kindex set environment
2136 @item set environment @var{varname} @r{[}=@var{value}@r{]}
2137 Set environment variable @var{varname} to @var{value}. The value
2138 changes for your program only, not for @value{GDBN} itself. @var{value} may
2139 be any string; the values of environment variables are just strings, and
2140 any interpretation is supplied by your program itself. The @var{value}
2141 parameter is optional; if it is eliminated, the variable is set to a
2142 null value.
2143 @c "any string" here does not include leading, trailing
2144 @c blanks. Gnu asks: does anyone care?
2145
2146 For example, this command:
2147
2148 @smallexample
2149 set env USER = foo
2150 @end smallexample
2151
2152 @noindent
2153 tells the debugged program, when subsequently run, that its user is named
2154 @samp{foo}. (The spaces around @samp{=} are used for clarity here; they
2155 are not actually required.)
2156
2157 @kindex unset environment
2158 @item unset environment @var{varname}
2159 Remove variable @var{varname} from the environment to be passed to your
2160 program. This is different from @samp{set env @var{varname} =};
2161 @code{unset environment} removes the variable from the environment,
2162 rather than assigning it an empty value.
2163 @end table
2164
2165 @emph{Warning:} On Unix systems, @value{GDBN} runs your program using
2166 the shell indicated
2167 by your @code{SHELL} environment variable if it exists (or
2168 @code{/bin/sh} if not). If your @code{SHELL} variable names a shell
2169 that runs an initialization file---such as @file{.cshrc} for C-shell, or
2170 @file{.bashrc} for BASH---any variables you set in that file affect
2171 your program. You may wish to move setting of environment variables to
2172 files that are only run when you sign on, such as @file{.login} or
2173 @file{.profile}.
2174
2175 @node Working Directory
2176 @section Your Program's Working Directory
2177
2178 @cindex working directory (of your program)
2179 Each time you start your program with @code{run}, it inherits its
2180 working directory from the current working directory of @value{GDBN}.
2181 The @value{GDBN} working directory is initially whatever it inherited
2182 from its parent process (typically the shell), but you can specify a new
2183 working directory in @value{GDBN} with the @code{cd} command.
2184
2185 The @value{GDBN} working directory also serves as a default for the commands
2186 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2187 Specify Files}.
2188
2189 @table @code
2190 @kindex cd
2191 @cindex change working directory
2192 @item cd @var{directory}
2193 Set the @value{GDBN} working directory to @var{directory}.
2194
2195 @kindex pwd
2196 @item pwd
2197 Print the @value{GDBN} working directory.
2198 @end table
2199
2200 It is generally impossible to find the current working directory of
2201 the process being debugged (since a program can change its directory
2202 during its run). If you work on a system where @value{GDBN} is
2203 configured with the @file{/proc} support, you can use the @code{info
2204 proc} command (@pxref{SVR4 Process Information}) to find out the
2205 current working directory of the debuggee.
2206
2207 @node Input/Output
2208 @section Your Program's Input and Output
2209
2210 @cindex redirection
2211 @cindex i/o
2212 @cindex terminal
2213 By default, the program you run under @value{GDBN} does input and output to
2214 the same terminal that @value{GDBN} uses. @value{GDBN} switches the terminal
2215 to its own terminal modes to interact with you, but it records the terminal
2216 modes your program was using and switches back to them when you continue
2217 running your program.
2218
2219 @table @code
2220 @kindex info terminal
2221 @item info terminal
2222 Displays information recorded by @value{GDBN} about the terminal modes your
2223 program is using.
2224 @end table
2225
2226 You can redirect your program's input and/or output using shell
2227 redirection with the @code{run} command. For example,
2228
2229 @smallexample
2230 run > outfile
2231 @end smallexample
2232
2233 @noindent
2234 starts your program, diverting its output to the file @file{outfile}.
2235
2236 @kindex tty
2237 @cindex controlling terminal
2238 Another way to specify where your program should do input and output is
2239 with the @code{tty} command. This command accepts a file name as
2240 argument, and causes this file to be the default for future @code{run}
2241 commands. It also resets the controlling terminal for the child
2242 process, for future @code{run} commands. For example,
2243
2244 @smallexample
2245 tty /dev/ttyb
2246 @end smallexample
2247
2248 @noindent
2249 directs that processes started with subsequent @code{run} commands
2250 default to do input and output on the terminal @file{/dev/ttyb} and have
2251 that as their controlling terminal.
2252
2253 An explicit redirection in @code{run} overrides the @code{tty} command's
2254 effect on the input/output device, but not its effect on the controlling
2255 terminal.
2256
2257 When you use the @code{tty} command or redirect input in the @code{run}
2258 command, only the input @emph{for your program} is affected. The input
2259 for @value{GDBN} still comes from your terminal. @code{tty} is an alias
2260 for @code{set inferior-tty}.
2261
2262 @cindex inferior tty
2263 @cindex set inferior controlling terminal
2264 You can use the @code{show inferior-tty} command to tell @value{GDBN} to
2265 display the name of the terminal that will be used for future runs of your
2266 program.
2267
2268 @table @code
2269 @item set inferior-tty /dev/ttyb
2270 @kindex set inferior-tty
2271 Set the tty for the program being debugged to /dev/ttyb.
2272
2273 @item show inferior-tty
2274 @kindex show inferior-tty
2275 Show the current tty for the program being debugged.
2276 @end table
2277
2278 @node Attach
2279 @section Debugging an Already-running Process
2280 @kindex attach
2281 @cindex attach
2282
2283 @table @code
2284 @item attach @var{process-id}
2285 This command attaches to a running process---one that was started
2286 outside @value{GDBN}. (@code{info files} shows your active
2287 targets.) The command takes as argument a process ID. The usual way to
2288 find out the @var{process-id} of a Unix process is with the @code{ps} utility,
2289 or with the @samp{jobs -l} shell command.
2290
2291 @code{attach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} a second time after
2292 executing the command.
2293 @end table
2294
2295 To use @code{attach}, your program must be running in an environment
2296 which supports processes; for example, @code{attach} does not work for
2297 programs on bare-board targets that lack an operating system. You must
2298 also have permission to send the process a signal.
2299
2300 When you use @code{attach}, the debugger finds the program running in
2301 the process first by looking in the current working directory, then (if
2302 the program is not found) by using the source file search path
2303 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}). You can also use
2304 the @code{file} command to load the program. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2305 Specify Files}.
2306
2307 The first thing @value{GDBN} does after arranging to debug the specified
2308 process is to stop it. You can examine and modify an attached process
2309 with all the @value{GDBN} commands that are ordinarily available when
2310 you start processes with @code{run}. You can insert breakpoints; you
2311 can step and continue; you can modify storage. If you would rather the
2312 process continue running, you may use the @code{continue} command after
2313 attaching @value{GDBN} to the process.
2314
2315 @table @code
2316 @kindex detach
2317 @item detach
2318 When you have finished debugging the attached process, you can use the
2319 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control. Detaching
2320 the process continues its execution. After the @code{detach} command,
2321 that process and @value{GDBN} become completely independent once more, and you
2322 are ready to @code{attach} another process or start one with @code{run}.
2323 @code{detach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
2324 executing the command.
2325 @end table
2326
2327 If you exit @value{GDBN} while you have an attached process, you detach
2328 that process. If you use the @code{run} command, you kill that process.
2329 By default, @value{GDBN} asks for confirmation if you try to do either of these
2330 things; you can control whether or not you need to confirm by using the
2331 @code{set confirm} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
2332 Messages}).
2333
2334 @node Kill Process
2335 @section Killing the Child Process
2336
2337 @table @code
2338 @kindex kill
2339 @item kill
2340 Kill the child process in which your program is running under @value{GDBN}.
2341 @end table
2342
2343 This command is useful if you wish to debug a core dump instead of a
2344 running process. @value{GDBN} ignores any core dump file while your program
2345 is running.
2346
2347 On some operating systems, a program cannot be executed outside @value{GDBN}
2348 while you have breakpoints set on it inside @value{GDBN}. You can use the
2349 @code{kill} command in this situation to permit running your program
2350 outside the debugger.
2351
2352 The @code{kill} command is also useful if you wish to recompile and
2353 relink your program, since on many systems it is impossible to modify an
2354 executable file while it is running in a process. In this case, when you
2355 next type @code{run}, @value{GDBN} notices that the file has changed, and
2356 reads the symbol table again (while trying to preserve your current
2357 breakpoint settings).
2358
2359 @node Inferiors and Programs
2360 @section Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs
2361
2362 @value{GDBN} lets you run and debug multiple programs in a single
2363 session. In addition, @value{GDBN} on some systems may let you run
2364 several programs simultaneously (otherwise you have to exit from one
2365 before starting another). In the most general case, you can have
2366 multiple threads of execution in each of multiple processes, launched
2367 from multiple executables.
2368
2369 @cindex inferior
2370 @value{GDBN} represents the state of each program execution with an
2371 object called an @dfn{inferior}. An inferior typically corresponds to
2372 a process, but is more general and applies also to targets that do not
2373 have processes. Inferiors may be created before a process runs, and
2374 may be retained after a process exits. Inferiors have unique
2375 identifiers that are different from process ids. Usually each
2376 inferior will also have its own distinct address space, although some
2377 embedded targets may have several inferiors running in different parts
2378 of a single address space. Each inferior may in turn have multiple
2379 threads running in it.
2380
2381 To find out what inferiors exist at any moment, use @w{@code{info
2382 inferiors}}:
2383
2384 @table @code
2385 @kindex info inferiors
2386 @item info inferiors
2387 Print a list of all inferiors currently being managed by @value{GDBN}.
2388
2389 @value{GDBN} displays for each inferior (in this order):
2390
2391 @enumerate
2392 @item
2393 the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2394
2395 @item
2396 the target system's inferior identifier
2397
2398 @item
2399 the name of the executable the inferior is running.
2400
2401 @end enumerate
2402
2403 @noindent
2404 An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} inferior number
2405 indicates the current inferior.
2406
2407 For example,
2408 @end table
2409 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2410
2411 @smallexample
2412 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2413 Num Description Executable
2414 2 process 2307 hello
2415 * 1 process 3401 goodbye
2416 @end smallexample
2417
2418 To switch focus between inferiors, use the @code{inferior} command:
2419
2420 @table @code
2421 @kindex inferior @var{infno}
2422 @item inferior @var{infno}
2423 Make inferior number @var{infno} the current inferior. The argument
2424 @var{infno} is the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}, as shown
2425 in the first field of the @samp{info inferiors} display.
2426 @end table
2427
2428
2429 You can get multiple executables into a debugging session via the
2430 @code{add-inferior} and @w{@code{clone-inferior}} commands. On some
2431 systems @value{GDBN} can add inferiors to the debug session
2432 automatically by following calls to @code{fork} and @code{exec}. To
2433 remove inferiors from the debugging session use the
2434 @w{@code{remove-inferior}} command.
2435
2436 @table @code
2437 @kindex add-inferior
2438 @item add-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ -exec @var{executable} ]
2439 Adds @var{n} inferiors to be run using @var{executable} as the
2440 executable. @var{n} defaults to 1. If no executable is specified,
2441 the inferiors begins empty, with no program. You can still assign or
2442 change the program assigned to the inferior at any time by using the
2443 @code{file} command with the executable name as its argument.
2444
2445 @kindex clone-inferior
2446 @item clone-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ @var{infno} ]
2447 Adds @var{n} inferiors ready to execute the same program as inferior
2448 @var{infno}. @var{n} defaults to 1. @var{infno} defaults to the
2449 number of the current inferior. This is a convenient command when you
2450 want to run another instance of the inferior you are debugging.
2451
2452 @smallexample
2453 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2454 Num Description Executable
2455 * 1 process 29964 helloworld
2456 (@value{GDBP}) clone-inferior
2457 Added inferior 2.
2458 1 inferiors added.
2459 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2460 Num Description Executable
2461 2 <null> helloworld
2462 * 1 process 29964 helloworld
2463 @end smallexample
2464
2465 You can now simply switch focus to inferior 2 and run it.
2466
2467 @kindex remove-inferior
2468 @item remove-inferior @var{infno}
2469 Removes the inferior @var{infno}. It is not possible to remove an
2470 inferior that is running with this command. For those, use the
2471 @code{kill} or @code{detach} command first.
2472
2473 @end table
2474
2475 To quit debugging one of the running inferiors that is not the current
2476 inferior, you can either detach from it by using the @w{@code{detach
2477 inferior}} command (allowing it to run independently), or kill it
2478 using the @w{@code{kill inferior}} command:
2479
2480 @table @code
2481 @kindex detach inferior @var{infno}
2482 @item detach inferior @var{infno}
2483 Detach from the inferior identified by @value{GDBN} inferior number
2484 @var{infno}, and remove it from the inferior list.
2485
2486 @kindex kill inferior @var{infno}
2487 @item kill inferior @var{infno}
2488 Kill the inferior identified by @value{GDBN} inferior number
2489 @var{infno}, and remove it from the inferior list.
2490 @end table
2491
2492 After the successful completion of a command such as @code{detach},
2493 @code{detach inferior}, @code{kill} or @code{kill inferior}, or after
2494 a normal process exit, the inferior is still valid and listed with
2495 @code{info inferiors}, ready to be restarted.
2496
2497
2498 To be notified when inferiors are started or exit under @value{GDBN}'s
2499 control use @w{@code{set print inferior-events}}:
2500
2501 @table @code
2502 @kindex set print inferior-events
2503 @cindex print messages on inferior start and exit
2504 @item set print inferior-events
2505 @itemx set print inferior-events on
2506 @itemx set print inferior-events off
2507 The @code{set print inferior-events} command allows you to enable or
2508 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new
2509 inferiors have started or that inferiors have exited or have been
2510 detached. By default, these messages will not be printed.
2511
2512 @kindex show print inferior-events
2513 @item show print inferior-events
2514 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that
2515 inferiors have started, exited or have been detached.
2516 @end table
2517
2518 Many commands will work the same with multiple programs as with a
2519 single program: e.g., @code{print myglobal} will simply display the
2520 value of @code{myglobal} in the current inferior.
2521
2522
2523 Occasionaly, when debugging @value{GDBN} itself, it may be useful to
2524 get more info about the relationship of inferiors, programs, address
2525 spaces in a debug session. You can do that with the @w{@code{maint
2526 info program-spaces}} command.
2527
2528 @table @code
2529 @kindex maint info program-spaces
2530 @item maint info program-spaces
2531 Print a list of all program spaces currently being managed by
2532 @value{GDBN}.
2533
2534 @value{GDBN} displays for each program space (in this order):
2535
2536 @enumerate
2537 @item
2538 the program space number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2539
2540 @item
2541 the name of the executable loaded into the program space, with e.g.,
2542 the @code{file} command.
2543
2544 @end enumerate
2545
2546 @noindent
2547 An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} program space number
2548 indicates the current program space.
2549
2550 In addition, below each program space line, @value{GDBN} prints extra
2551 information that isn't suitable to display in tabular form. For
2552 example, the list of inferiors bound to the program space.
2553
2554 @smallexample
2555 (@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2556 Id Executable
2557 2 goodbye
2558 Bound inferiors: ID 1 (process 21561)
2559 * 1 hello
2560 @end smallexample
2561
2562 Here we can see that no inferior is running the program @code{hello},
2563 while @code{process 21561} is running the program @code{goodbye}. On
2564 some targets, it is possible that multiple inferiors are bound to the
2565 same program space. The most common example is that of debugging both
2566 the parent and child processes of a @code{vfork} call. For example,
2567
2568 @smallexample
2569 (@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2570 Id Executable
2571 * 1 vfork-test
2572 Bound inferiors: ID 2 (process 18050), ID 1 (process 18045)
2573 @end smallexample
2574
2575 Here, both inferior 2 and inferior 1 are running in the same program
2576 space as a result of inferior 1 having executed a @code{vfork} call.
2577 @end table
2578
2579 @node Threads
2580 @section Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads
2581
2582 @cindex threads of execution
2583 @cindex multiple threads
2584 @cindex switching threads
2585 In some operating systems, such as HP-UX and Solaris, a single program
2586 may have more than one @dfn{thread} of execution. The precise semantics
2587 of threads differ from one operating system to another, but in general
2588 the threads of a single program are akin to multiple processes---except
2589 that they share one address space (that is, they can all examine and
2590 modify the same variables). On the other hand, each thread has its own
2591 registers and execution stack, and perhaps private memory.
2592
2593 @value{GDBN} provides these facilities for debugging multi-thread
2594 programs:
2595
2596 @itemize @bullet
2597 @item automatic notification of new threads
2598 @item @samp{thread @var{threadno}}, a command to switch among threads
2599 @item @samp{info threads}, a command to inquire about existing threads
2600 @item @samp{thread apply [@var{threadno}] [@var{all}] @var{args}},
2601 a command to apply a command to a list of threads
2602 @item thread-specific breakpoints
2603 @item @samp{set print thread-events}, which controls printing of
2604 messages on thread start and exit.
2605 @item @samp{set libthread-db-search-path @var{path}}, which lets
2606 the user specify which @code{libthread_db} to use if the default choice
2607 isn't compatible with the program.
2608 @end itemize
2609
2610 @quotation
2611 @emph{Warning:} These facilities are not yet available on every
2612 @value{GDBN} configuration where the operating system supports threads.
2613 If your @value{GDBN} does not support threads, these commands have no
2614 effect. For example, a system without thread support shows no output
2615 from @samp{info threads}, and always rejects the @code{thread} command,
2616 like this:
2617
2618 @smallexample
2619 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2620 (@value{GDBP}) thread 1
2621 Thread ID 1 not known. Use the "info threads" command to
2622 see the IDs of currently known threads.
2623 @end smallexample
2624 @c FIXME to implementors: how hard would it be to say "sorry, this GDB
2625 @c doesn't support threads"?
2626 @end quotation
2627
2628 @cindex focus of debugging
2629 @cindex current thread
2630 The @value{GDBN} thread debugging facility allows you to observe all
2631 threads while your program runs---but whenever @value{GDBN} takes
2632 control, one thread in particular is always the focus of debugging.
2633 This thread is called the @dfn{current thread}. Debugging commands show
2634 program information from the perspective of the current thread.
2635
2636 @cindex @code{New} @var{systag} message
2637 @cindex thread identifier (system)
2638 @c FIXME-implementors!! It would be more helpful if the [New...] message
2639 @c included GDB's numeric thread handle, so you could just go to that
2640 @c thread without first checking `info threads'.
2641 Whenever @value{GDBN} detects a new thread in your program, it displays
2642 the target system's identification for the thread with a message in the
2643 form @samp{[New @var{systag}]}. @var{systag} is a thread identifier
2644 whose form varies depending on the particular system. For example, on
2645 @sc{gnu}/Linux, you might see
2646
2647 @smallexample
2648 [New Thread 46912507313328 (LWP 25582)]
2649 @end smallexample
2650
2651 @noindent
2652 when @value{GDBN} notices a new thread. In contrast, on an SGI system,
2653 the @var{systag} is simply something like @samp{process 368}, with no
2654 further qualifier.
2655
2656 @c FIXME!! (1) Does the [New...] message appear even for the very first
2657 @c thread of a program, or does it only appear for the
2658 @c second---i.e.@: when it becomes obvious we have a multithread
2659 @c program?
2660 @c (2) *Is* there necessarily a first thread always? Or do some
2661 @c multithread systems permit starting a program with multiple
2662 @c threads ab initio?
2663
2664 @cindex thread number
2665 @cindex thread identifier (GDB)
2666 For debugging purposes, @value{GDBN} associates its own thread
2667 number---always a single integer---with each thread in your program.
2668
2669 @table @code
2670 @kindex info threads
2671 @item info threads
2672 Display a summary of all threads currently in your
2673 program. @value{GDBN} displays for each thread (in this order):
2674
2675 @enumerate
2676 @item
2677 the thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2678
2679 @item
2680 the target system's thread identifier (@var{systag})
2681
2682 @item
2683 the current stack frame summary for that thread
2684 @end enumerate
2685
2686 @noindent
2687 An asterisk @samp{*} to the left of the @value{GDBN} thread number
2688 indicates the current thread.
2689
2690 For example,
2691 @end table
2692 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2693
2694 @smallexample
2695 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2696 3 process 35 thread 27 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2697 2 process 35 thread 23 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2698 * 1 process 35 thread 13 main (argc=1, argv=0x7ffffff8)
2699 at threadtest.c:68
2700 @end smallexample
2701
2702 On HP-UX systems:
2703
2704 @cindex debugging multithreaded programs (on HP-UX)
2705 @cindex thread identifier (GDB), on HP-UX
2706 For debugging purposes, @value{GDBN} associates its own thread
2707 number---a small integer assigned in thread-creation order---with each
2708 thread in your program.
2709
2710 @cindex @code{New} @var{systag} message, on HP-UX
2711 @cindex thread identifier (system), on HP-UX
2712 @c FIXME-implementors!! It would be more helpful if the [New...] message
2713 @c included GDB's numeric thread handle, so you could just go to that
2714 @c thread without first checking `info threads'.
2715 Whenever @value{GDBN} detects a new thread in your program, it displays
2716 both @value{GDBN}'s thread number and the target system's identification for the thread with a message in the
2717 form @samp{[New @var{systag}]}. @var{systag} is a thread identifier
2718 whose form varies depending on the particular system. For example, on
2719 HP-UX, you see
2720
2721 @smallexample
2722 [New thread 2 (system thread 26594)]
2723 @end smallexample
2724
2725 @noindent
2726 when @value{GDBN} notices a new thread.
2727
2728 @table @code
2729 @kindex info threads (HP-UX)
2730 @item info threads
2731 Display a summary of all threads currently in your
2732 program. @value{GDBN} displays for each thread (in this order):
2733
2734 @enumerate
2735 @item the thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2736
2737 @item the target system's thread identifier (@var{systag})
2738
2739 @item the current stack frame summary for that thread
2740 @end enumerate
2741
2742 @noindent
2743 An asterisk @samp{*} to the left of the @value{GDBN} thread number
2744 indicates the current thread.
2745
2746 For example,
2747 @end table
2748 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2749
2750 @smallexample
2751 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2752 * 3 system thread 26607 worker (wptr=0x7b09c318 "@@") \@*
2753 at quicksort.c:137
2754 2 system thread 26606 0x7b0030d8 in __ksleep () \@*
2755 from /usr/lib/libc.2
2756 1 system thread 27905 0x7b003498 in _brk () \@*
2757 from /usr/lib/libc.2
2758 @end smallexample
2759
2760 On Solaris, you can display more information about user threads with a
2761 Solaris-specific command:
2762
2763 @table @code
2764 @item maint info sol-threads
2765 @kindex maint info sol-threads
2766 @cindex thread info (Solaris)
2767 Display info on Solaris user threads.
2768 @end table
2769
2770 @table @code
2771 @kindex thread @var{threadno}
2772 @item thread @var{threadno}
2773 Make thread number @var{threadno} the current thread. The command
2774 argument @var{threadno} is the internal @value{GDBN} thread number, as
2775 shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display.
2776 @value{GDBN} responds by displaying the system identifier of the thread
2777 you selected, and its current stack frame summary:
2778
2779 @smallexample
2780 @c FIXME!! This example made up; find a @value{GDBN} w/threads and get real one
2781 (@value{GDBP}) thread 2
2782 [Switching to process 35 thread 23]
2783 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2784 @end smallexample
2785
2786 @noindent
2787 As with the @samp{[New @dots{}]} message, the form of the text after
2788 @samp{Switching to} depends on your system's conventions for identifying
2789 threads.
2790
2791 @vindex $_thread@r{, convenience variable}
2792 The debugger convenience variable @samp{$_thread} contains the number
2793 of the current thread. You may find this useful in writing breakpoint
2794 conditional expressions, command scripts, and so forth. See
2795 @xref{Convenience Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for general
2796 information on convenience variables.
2797
2798 @kindex thread apply
2799 @cindex apply command to several threads
2800 @item thread apply [@var{threadno}] [@var{all}] @var{command}
2801 The @code{thread apply} command allows you to apply the named
2802 @var{command} to one or more threads. Specify the numbers of the
2803 threads that you want affected with the command argument
2804 @var{threadno}. It can be a single thread number, one of the numbers
2805 shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display; or it
2806 could be a range of thread numbers, as in @code{2-4}. To apply a
2807 command to all threads, type @kbd{thread apply all @var{command}}.
2808
2809 @kindex set print thread-events
2810 @cindex print messages on thread start and exit
2811 @item set print thread-events
2812 @itemx set print thread-events on
2813 @itemx set print thread-events off
2814 The @code{set print thread-events} command allows you to enable or
2815 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new threads have
2816 started or that threads have exited. By default, these messages will
2817 be printed if detection of these events is supported by the target.
2818 Note that these messages cannot be disabled on all targets.
2819
2820 @kindex show print thread-events
2821 @item show print thread-events
2822 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that threads
2823 have started and exited.
2824 @end table
2825
2826 @xref{Thread Stops,,Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs}, for
2827 more information about how @value{GDBN} behaves when you stop and start
2828 programs with multiple threads.
2829
2830 @xref{Set Watchpoints,,Setting Watchpoints}, for information about
2831 watchpoints in programs with multiple threads.
2832
2833 @table @code
2834 @kindex set libthread-db-search-path
2835 @cindex search path for @code{libthread_db}
2836 @item set libthread-db-search-path @r{[}@var{path}@r{]}
2837 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
2838 directories @value{GDBN} will use to search for @code{libthread_db}.
2839 If you omit @var{path}, @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to
2840 an empty list.
2841
2842 On @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems, @value{GDBN} uses a ``helper''
2843 @code{libthread_db} library to obtain information about threads in the
2844 inferior process. @value{GDBN} will use @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2845 to find @code{libthread_db}. If that fails, @value{GDBN} will continue
2846 with default system shared library directories, and finally the directory
2847 from which @code{libpthread} was loaded in the inferior process.
2848
2849 For any @code{libthread_db} library @value{GDBN} finds in above directories,
2850 @value{GDBN} attempts to initialize it with the current inferior process.
2851 If this initialization fails (which could happen because of a version
2852 mismatch between @code{libthread_db} and @code{libpthread}), @value{GDBN}
2853 will unload @code{libthread_db}, and continue with the next directory.
2854 If none of @code{libthread_db} libraries initialize successfully,
2855 @value{GDBN} will issue a warning and thread debugging will be disabled.
2856
2857 Setting @code{libthread-db-search-path} is currently implemented
2858 only on some platforms.
2859
2860 @kindex show libthread-db-search-path
2861 @item show libthread-db-search-path
2862 Display current libthread_db search path.
2863 @end table
2864
2865 @node Forks
2866 @section Debugging Forks
2867
2868 @cindex fork, debugging programs which call
2869 @cindex multiple processes
2870 @cindex processes, multiple
2871 On most systems, @value{GDBN} has no special support for debugging
2872 programs which create additional processes using the @code{fork}
2873 function. When a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug the
2874 parent process and the child process will run unimpeded. If you have
2875 set a breakpoint in any code which the child then executes, the child
2876 will get a @code{SIGTRAP} signal which (unless it catches the signal)
2877 will cause it to terminate.
2878
2879 However, if you want to debug the child process there is a workaround
2880 which isn't too painful. Put a call to @code{sleep} in the code which
2881 the child process executes after the fork. It may be useful to sleep
2882 only if a certain environment variable is set, or a certain file exists,
2883 so that the delay need not occur when you don't want to run @value{GDBN}
2884 on the child. While the child is sleeping, use the @code{ps} program to
2885 get its process ID. Then tell @value{GDBN} (a new invocation of
2886 @value{GDBN} if you are also debugging the parent process) to attach to
2887 the child process (@pxref{Attach}). From that point on you can debug
2888 the child process just like any other process which you attached to.
2889
2890 On some systems, @value{GDBN} provides support for debugging programs that
2891 create additional processes using the @code{fork} or @code{vfork} functions.
2892 Currently, the only platforms with this feature are HP-UX (11.x and later
2893 only?) and @sc{gnu}/Linux (kernel version 2.5.60 and later).
2894
2895 By default, when a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug
2896 the parent process and the child process will run unimpeded.
2897
2898 If you want to follow the child process instead of the parent process,
2899 use the command @w{@code{set follow-fork-mode}}.
2900
2901 @table @code
2902 @kindex set follow-fork-mode
2903 @item set follow-fork-mode @var{mode}
2904 Set the debugger response to a program call of @code{fork} or
2905 @code{vfork}. A call to @code{fork} or @code{vfork} creates a new
2906 process. The @var{mode} argument can be:
2907
2908 @table @code
2909 @item parent
2910 The original process is debugged after a fork. The child process runs
2911 unimpeded. This is the default.
2912
2913 @item child
2914 The new process is debugged after a fork. The parent process runs
2915 unimpeded.
2916
2917 @end table
2918
2919 @kindex show follow-fork-mode
2920 @item show follow-fork-mode
2921 Display the current debugger response to a @code{fork} or @code{vfork} call.
2922 @end table
2923
2924 @cindex debugging multiple processes
2925 On Linux, if you want to debug both the parent and child processes, use the
2926 command @w{@code{set detach-on-fork}}.
2927
2928 @table @code
2929 @kindex set detach-on-fork
2930 @item set detach-on-fork @var{mode}
2931 Tells gdb whether to detach one of the processes after a fork, or
2932 retain debugger control over them both.
2933
2934 @table @code
2935 @item on
2936 The child process (or parent process, depending on the value of
2937 @code{follow-fork-mode}) will be detached and allowed to run
2938 independently. This is the default.
2939
2940 @item off
2941 Both processes will be held under the control of @value{GDBN}.
2942 One process (child or parent, depending on the value of
2943 @code{follow-fork-mode}) is debugged as usual, while the other
2944 is held suspended.
2945
2946 @end table
2947
2948 @kindex show detach-on-fork
2949 @item show detach-on-fork
2950 Show whether detach-on-fork mode is on/off.
2951 @end table
2952
2953 If you choose to set @samp{detach-on-fork} mode off, then @value{GDBN}
2954 will retain control of all forked processes (including nested forks).
2955 You can list the forked processes under the control of @value{GDBN} by
2956 using the @w{@code{info inferiors}} command, and switch from one fork
2957 to another by using the @code{inferior} command (@pxref{Inferiors and
2958 Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs}).
2959
2960 To quit debugging one of the forked processes, you can either detach
2961 from it by using the @w{@code{detach inferior}} command (allowing it
2962 to run independently), or kill it using the @w{@code{kill inferior}}
2963 command. @xref{Inferiors and Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors
2964 and Programs}.
2965
2966 If you ask to debug a child process and a @code{vfork} is followed by an
2967 @code{exec}, @value{GDBN} executes the new target up to the first
2968 breakpoint in the new target. If you have a breakpoint set on
2969 @code{main} in your original program, the breakpoint will also be set on
2970 the child process's @code{main}.
2971
2972 On some systems, when a child process is spawned by @code{vfork}, you
2973 cannot debug the child or parent until an @code{exec} call completes.
2974
2975 If you issue a @code{run} command to @value{GDBN} after an @code{exec}
2976 call executes, the new target restarts. To restart the parent
2977 process, use the @code{file} command with the parent executable name
2978 as its argument. By default, after an @code{exec} call executes,
2979 @value{GDBN} discards the symbols of the previous executable image.
2980 You can change this behaviour with the @w{@code{set follow-exec-mode}}
2981 command.
2982
2983 @table @code
2984 @kindex set follow-exec-mode
2985 @item set follow-exec-mode @var{mode}
2986
2987 Set debugger response to a program call of @code{exec}. An
2988 @code{exec} call replaces the program image of a process.
2989
2990 @code{follow-exec-mode} can be:
2991
2992 @table @code
2993 @item new
2994 @value{GDBN} creates a new inferior and rebinds the process to this
2995 new inferior. The program the process was running before the
2996 @code{exec} call can be restarted afterwards by restarting the
2997 original inferior.
2998
2999 For example:
3000
3001 @smallexample
3002 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3003 (gdb) info inferior
3004 Id Description Executable
3005 * 1 <null> prog1
3006 (@value{GDBP}) run
3007 process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3008 Program exited normally.
3009 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3010 Id Description Executable
3011 * 2 <null> prog2
3012 1 <null> prog1
3013 @end smallexample
3014
3015 @item same
3016 @value{GDBN} keeps the process bound to the same inferior. The new
3017 executable image replaces the previous executable loaded in the
3018 inferior. Restarting the inferior after the @code{exec} call, with
3019 e.g., the @code{run} command, restarts the executable the process was
3020 running after the @code{exec} call. This is the default mode.
3021
3022 For example:
3023
3024 @smallexample
3025 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3026 Id Description Executable
3027 * 1 <null> prog1
3028 (@value{GDBP}) run
3029 process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3030 Program exited normally.
3031 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3032 Id Description Executable
3033 * 1 <null> prog2
3034 @end smallexample
3035
3036 @end table
3037 @end table
3038
3039 You can use the @code{catch} command to make @value{GDBN} stop whenever
3040 a @code{fork}, @code{vfork}, or @code{exec} call is made. @xref{Set
3041 Catchpoints, ,Setting Catchpoints}.
3042
3043 @node Checkpoint/Restart
3044 @section Setting a @emph{Bookmark} to Return to Later
3045
3046 @cindex checkpoint
3047 @cindex restart
3048 @cindex bookmark
3049 @cindex snapshot of a process
3050 @cindex rewind program state
3051
3052 On certain operating systems@footnote{Currently, only
3053 @sc{gnu}/Linux.}, @value{GDBN} is able to save a @dfn{snapshot} of a
3054 program's state, called a @dfn{checkpoint}, and come back to it
3055 later.
3056
3057 Returning to a checkpoint effectively undoes everything that has
3058 happened in the program since the @code{checkpoint} was saved. This
3059 includes changes in memory, registers, and even (within some limits)
3060 system state. Effectively, it is like going back in time to the
3061 moment when the checkpoint was saved.
3062
3063 Thus, if you're stepping thru a program and you think you're
3064 getting close to the point where things go wrong, you can save
3065 a checkpoint. Then, if you accidentally go too far and miss
3066 the critical statement, instead of having to restart your program
3067 from the beginning, you can just go back to the checkpoint and
3068 start again from there.
3069
3070 This can be especially useful if it takes a lot of time or
3071 steps to reach the point where you think the bug occurs.
3072
3073 To use the @code{checkpoint}/@code{restart} method of debugging:
3074
3075 @table @code
3076 @kindex checkpoint
3077 @item checkpoint
3078 Save a snapshot of the debugged program's current execution state.
3079 The @code{checkpoint} command takes no arguments, but each checkpoint
3080 is assigned a small integer id, similar to a breakpoint id.
3081
3082 @kindex info checkpoints
3083 @item info checkpoints
3084 List the checkpoints that have been saved in the current debugging
3085 session. For each checkpoint, the following information will be
3086 listed:
3087
3088 @table @code
3089 @item Checkpoint ID
3090 @item Process ID
3091 @item Code Address
3092 @item Source line, or label
3093 @end table
3094
3095 @kindex restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3096 @item restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3097 Restore the program state that was saved as checkpoint number
3098 @var{checkpoint-id}. All program variables, registers, stack frames
3099 etc.@: will be returned to the values that they had when the checkpoint
3100 was saved. In essence, gdb will ``wind back the clock'' to the point
3101 in time when the checkpoint was saved.
3102
3103 Note that breakpoints, @value{GDBN} variables, command history etc.
3104 are not affected by restoring a checkpoint. In general, a checkpoint
3105 only restores things that reside in the program being debugged, not in
3106 the debugger.
3107
3108 @kindex delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3109 @item delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3110 Delete the previously-saved checkpoint identified by @var{checkpoint-id}.
3111
3112 @end table
3113
3114 Returning to a previously saved checkpoint will restore the user state
3115 of the program being debugged, plus a significant subset of the system
3116 (OS) state, including file pointers. It won't ``un-write'' data from
3117 a file, but it will rewind the file pointer to the previous location,
3118 so that the previously written data can be overwritten. For files
3119 opened in read mode, the pointer will also be restored so that the
3120 previously read data can be read again.
3121
3122 Of course, characters that have been sent to a printer (or other
3123 external device) cannot be ``snatched back'', and characters received
3124 from eg.@: a serial device can be removed from internal program buffers,
3125 but they cannot be ``pushed back'' into the serial pipeline, ready to
3126 be received again. Similarly, the actual contents of files that have
3127 been changed cannot be restored (at this time).
3128
3129 However, within those constraints, you actually can ``rewind'' your
3130 program to a previously saved point in time, and begin debugging it
3131 again --- and you can change the course of events so as to debug a
3132 different execution path this time.
3133
3134 @cindex checkpoints and process id
3135 Finally, there is one bit of internal program state that will be
3136 different when you return to a checkpoint --- the program's process
3137 id. Each checkpoint will have a unique process id (or @var{pid}),
3138 and each will be different from the program's original @var{pid}.
3139 If your program has saved a local copy of its process id, this could
3140 potentially pose a problem.
3141
3142 @subsection A Non-obvious Benefit of Using Checkpoints
3143
3144 On some systems such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, address space randomization
3145 is performed on new processes for security reasons. This makes it
3146 difficult or impossible to set a breakpoint, or watchpoint, on an
3147 absolute address if you have to restart the program, since the
3148 absolute location of a symbol will change from one execution to the
3149 next.
3150
3151 A checkpoint, however, is an @emph{identical} copy of a process.
3152 Therefore if you create a checkpoint at (eg.@:) the start of main,
3153 and simply return to that checkpoint instead of restarting the
3154 process, you can avoid the effects of address randomization and
3155 your symbols will all stay in the same place.
3156
3157 @node Stopping
3158 @chapter Stopping and Continuing
3159
3160 The principal purposes of using a debugger are so that you can stop your
3161 program before it terminates; or so that, if your program runs into
3162 trouble, you can investigate and find out why.
3163
3164 Inside @value{GDBN}, your program may stop for any of several reasons,
3165 such as a signal, a breakpoint, or reaching a new line after a
3166 @value{GDBN} command such as @code{step}. You may then examine and
3167 change variables, set new breakpoints or remove old ones, and then
3168 continue execution. Usually, the messages shown by @value{GDBN} provide
3169 ample explanation of the status of your program---but you can also
3170 explicitly request this information at any time.
3171
3172 @table @code
3173 @kindex info program
3174 @item info program
3175 Display information about the status of your program: whether it is
3176 running or not, what process it is, and why it stopped.
3177 @end table
3178
3179 @menu
3180 * Breakpoints:: Breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints
3181 * Continuing and Stepping:: Resuming execution
3182 * Signals:: Signals
3183 * Thread Stops:: Stopping and starting multi-thread programs
3184 @end menu
3185
3186 @node Breakpoints
3187 @section Breakpoints, Watchpoints, and Catchpoints
3188
3189 @cindex breakpoints
3190 A @dfn{breakpoint} makes your program stop whenever a certain point in
3191 the program is reached. For each breakpoint, you can add conditions to
3192 control in finer detail whether your program stops. You can set
3193 breakpoints with the @code{break} command and its variants (@pxref{Set
3194 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}), to specify the place where your program
3195 should stop by line number, function name or exact address in the
3196 program.
3197
3198 On some systems, you can set breakpoints in shared libraries before
3199 the executable is run. There is a minor limitation on HP-UX systems:
3200 you must wait until the executable is run in order to set breakpoints
3201 in shared library routines that are not called directly by the program
3202 (for example, routines that are arguments in a @code{pthread_create}
3203 call).
3204
3205 @cindex watchpoints
3206 @cindex data breakpoints
3207 @cindex memory tracing
3208 @cindex breakpoint on memory address
3209 @cindex breakpoint on variable modification
3210 A @dfn{watchpoint} is a special breakpoint that stops your program
3211 when the value of an expression changes. The expression may be a value
3212 of a variable, or it could involve values of one or more variables
3213 combined by operators, such as @samp{a + b}. This is sometimes called
3214 @dfn{data breakpoints}. You must use a different command to set
3215 watchpoints (@pxref{Set Watchpoints, ,Setting Watchpoints}), but aside
3216 from that, you can manage a watchpoint like any other breakpoint: you
3217 enable, disable, and delete both breakpoints and watchpoints using the
3218 same commands.
3219
3220 You can arrange to have values from your program displayed automatically
3221 whenever @value{GDBN} stops at a breakpoint. @xref{Auto Display,,
3222 Automatic Display}.
3223
3224 @cindex catchpoints
3225 @cindex breakpoint on events
3226 A @dfn{catchpoint} is another special breakpoint that stops your program
3227 when a certain kind of event occurs, such as the throwing of a C@t{++}
3228 exception or the loading of a library. As with watchpoints, you use a
3229 different command to set a catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints, ,Setting
3230 Catchpoints}), but aside from that, you can manage a catchpoint like any
3231 other breakpoint. (To stop when your program receives a signal, use the
3232 @code{handle} command; see @ref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
3233
3234 @cindex breakpoint numbers
3235 @cindex numbers for breakpoints
3236 @value{GDBN} assigns a number to each breakpoint, watchpoint, or
3237 catchpoint when you create it; these numbers are successive integers
3238 starting with one. In many of the commands for controlling various
3239 features of breakpoints you use the breakpoint number to say which
3240 breakpoint you want to change. Each breakpoint may be @dfn{enabled} or
3241 @dfn{disabled}; if disabled, it has no effect on your program until you
3242 enable it again.
3243
3244 @cindex breakpoint ranges
3245 @cindex ranges of breakpoints
3246 Some @value{GDBN} commands accept a range of breakpoints on which to
3247 operate. A breakpoint range is either a single breakpoint number, like
3248 @samp{5}, or two such numbers, in increasing order, separated by a
3249 hyphen, like @samp{5-7}. When a breakpoint range is given to a command,
3250 all breakpoints in that range are operated on.
3251
3252 @menu
3253 * Set Breaks:: Setting breakpoints
3254 * Set Watchpoints:: Setting watchpoints
3255 * Set Catchpoints:: Setting catchpoints
3256 * Delete Breaks:: Deleting breakpoints
3257 * Disabling:: Disabling breakpoints
3258 * Conditions:: Break conditions
3259 * Break Commands:: Breakpoint command lists
3260 * Save Breakpoints:: How to save breakpoints in a file
3261 * Error in Breakpoints:: ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
3262 * Breakpoint-related Warnings:: ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
3263 @end menu
3264
3265 @node Set Breaks
3266 @subsection Setting Breakpoints
3267
3268 @c FIXME LMB what does GDB do if no code on line of breakpt?
3269 @c consider in particular declaration with/without initialization.
3270 @c
3271 @c FIXME 2 is there stuff on this already? break at fun start, already init?
3272
3273 @kindex break
3274 @kindex b @r{(@code{break})}
3275 @vindex $bpnum@r{, convenience variable}
3276 @cindex latest breakpoint
3277 Breakpoints are set with the @code{break} command (abbreviated
3278 @code{b}). The debugger convenience variable @samp{$bpnum} records the
3279 number of the breakpoint you've set most recently; see @ref{Convenience
3280 Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for a discussion of what you can do with
3281 convenience variables.
3282
3283 @table @code
3284 @item break @var{location}
3285 Set a breakpoint at the given @var{location}, which can specify a
3286 function name, a line number, or an address of an instruction.
3287 (@xref{Specify Location}, for a list of all the possible ways to
3288 specify a @var{location}.) The breakpoint will stop your program just
3289 before it executes any of the code in the specified @var{location}.
3290
3291 When using source languages that permit overloading of symbols, such as
3292 C@t{++}, a function name may refer to more than one possible place to break.
3293 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}, for a discussion of
3294 that situation.
3295
3296 It is also possible to insert a breakpoint that will stop the program
3297 only if a specific thread (@pxref{Thread-Specific Breakpoints})
3298 or a specific task (@pxref{Ada Tasks}) hits that breakpoint.
3299
3300 @item break
3301 When called without any arguments, @code{break} sets a breakpoint at
3302 the next instruction to be executed in the selected stack frame
3303 (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}). In any selected frame but the
3304 innermost, this makes your program stop as soon as control
3305 returns to that frame. This is similar to the effect of a
3306 @code{finish} command in the frame inside the selected frame---except
3307 that @code{finish} does not leave an active breakpoint. If you use
3308 @code{break} without an argument in the innermost frame, @value{GDBN} stops
3309 the next time it reaches the current location; this may be useful
3310 inside loops.
3311
3312 @value{GDBN} normally ignores breakpoints when it resumes execution, until at
3313 least one instruction has been executed. If it did not do this, you
3314 would be unable to proceed past a breakpoint without first disabling the
3315 breakpoint. This rule applies whether or not the breakpoint already
3316 existed when your program stopped.
3317
3318 @item break @dots{} if @var{cond}
3319 Set a breakpoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
3320 @var{cond} each time the breakpoint is reached, and stop only if the
3321 value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
3322 @samp{@dots{}} stands for one of the possible arguments described
3323 above (or no argument) specifying where to break. @xref{Conditions,
3324 ,Break Conditions}, for more information on breakpoint conditions.
3325
3326 @kindex tbreak
3327 @item tbreak @var{args}
3328 Set a breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args} are the
3329 same as for the @code{break} command, and the breakpoint is set in the same
3330 way, but the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the first time your
3331 program stops there. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3332
3333 @kindex hbreak
3334 @cindex hardware breakpoints
3335 @item hbreak @var{args}
3336 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint. @var{args} are the same as for the
3337 @code{break} command and the breakpoint is set in the same way, but the
3338 breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware may not
3339 have this support. The main purpose of this is EPROM/ROM code
3340 debugging, so you can set a breakpoint at an instruction without
3341 changing the instruction. This can be used with the new trap-generation
3342 provided by SPARClite DSU and most x86-based targets. These targets
3343 will generate traps when a program accesses some data or instruction
3344 address that is assigned to the debug registers. However the hardware
3345 breakpoint registers can take a limited number of breakpoints. For
3346 example, on the DSU, only two data breakpoints can be set at a time, and
3347 @value{GDBN} will reject this command if more than two are used. Delete
3348 or disable unused hardware breakpoints before setting new ones
3349 (@pxref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}).
3350 @xref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3351 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3352 breakpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3353 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3354
3355 @kindex thbreak
3356 @item thbreak @var{args}
3357 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args}
3358 are the same as for the @code{hbreak} command and the breakpoint is set in
3359 the same way. However, like the @code{tbreak} command,
3360 the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the
3361 first time your program stops there. Also, like the @code{hbreak}
3362 command, the breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware
3363 may not have this support. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3364 See also @ref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3365
3366 @kindex rbreak
3367 @cindex regular expression
3368 @cindex breakpoints at functions matching a regexp
3369 @cindex set breakpoints in many functions
3370 @item rbreak @var{regex}
3371 Set breakpoints on all functions matching the regular expression
3372 @var{regex}. This command sets an unconditional breakpoint on all
3373 matches, printing a list of all breakpoints it set. Once these
3374 breakpoints are set, they are treated just like the breakpoints set with
3375 the @code{break} command. You can delete them, disable them, or make
3376 them conditional the same way as any other breakpoint.
3377
3378 The syntax of the regular expression is the standard one used with tools
3379 like @file{grep}. Note that this is different from the syntax used by
3380 shells, so for instance @code{foo*} matches all functions that include
3381 an @code{fo} followed by zero or more @code{o}s. There is an implicit
3382 @code{.*} leading and trailing the regular expression you supply, so to
3383 match only functions that begin with @code{foo}, use @code{^foo}.
3384
3385 @cindex non-member C@t{++} functions, set breakpoint in
3386 When debugging C@t{++} programs, @code{rbreak} is useful for setting
3387 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
3388 classes.
3389
3390 @cindex set breakpoints on all functions
3391 The @code{rbreak} command can be used to set breakpoints in
3392 @strong{all} the functions in a program, like this:
3393
3394 @smallexample
3395 (@value{GDBP}) rbreak .
3396 @end smallexample
3397
3398 @item rbreak @var{file}:@var{regex}
3399 If @code{rbreak} is called with a filename qualification, it limits
3400 the search for functions matching the given regular expression to the
3401 specified @var{file}. This can be used, for example, to set breakpoints on
3402 every function in a given file:
3403
3404 @smallexample
3405 (@value{GDBP}) rbreak file.c:.
3406 @end smallexample
3407
3408 The colon separating the filename qualifier from the regex may
3409 optionally be surrounded by spaces.
3410
3411 @kindex info breakpoints
3412 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info breakpoints}
3413 @item info breakpoints @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
3414 @itemx info break @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
3415 Print a table of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints set and
3416 not deleted. Optional argument @var{n} means print information only
3417 about the specified breakpoint (or watchpoint or catchpoint). For
3418 each breakpoint, following columns are printed:
3419
3420 @table @emph
3421 @item Breakpoint Numbers
3422 @item Type
3423 Breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint.
3424 @item Disposition
3425 Whether the breakpoint is marked to be disabled or deleted when hit.
3426 @item Enabled or Disabled
3427 Enabled breakpoints are marked with @samp{y}. @samp{n} marks breakpoints
3428 that are not enabled.
3429 @item Address
3430 Where the breakpoint is in your program, as a memory address. For a
3431 pending breakpoint whose address is not yet known, this field will
3432 contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Such breakpoint won't fire until a shared
3433 library that has the symbol or line referred by breakpoint is loaded.
3434 See below for details. A breakpoint with several locations will
3435 have @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in this field---see below for details.
3436 @item What
3437 Where the breakpoint is in the source for your program, as a file and
3438 line number. For a pending breakpoint, the original string passed to
3439 the breakpoint command will be listed as it cannot be resolved until
3440 the appropriate shared library is loaded in the future.
3441 @end table
3442
3443 @noindent
3444 If a breakpoint is conditional, @code{info break} shows the condition on
3445 the line following the affected breakpoint; breakpoint commands, if any,
3446 are listed after that. A pending breakpoint is allowed to have a condition
3447 specified for it. The condition is not parsed for validity until a shared
3448 library is loaded that allows the pending breakpoint to resolve to a
3449 valid location.
3450
3451 @noindent
3452 @code{info break} with a breakpoint
3453 number @var{n} as argument lists only that breakpoint. The
3454 convenience variable @code{$_} and the default examining-address for
3455 the @code{x} command are set to the address of the last breakpoint
3456 listed (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}).
3457
3458 @noindent
3459 @code{info break} displays a count of the number of times the breakpoint
3460 has been hit. This is especially useful in conjunction with the
3461 @code{ignore} command. You can ignore a large number of breakpoint
3462 hits, look at the breakpoint info to see how many times the breakpoint
3463 was hit, and then run again, ignoring one less than that number. This
3464 will get you quickly to the last hit of that breakpoint.
3465 @end table
3466
3467 @value{GDBN} allows you to set any number of breakpoints at the same place in
3468 your program. There is nothing silly or meaningless about this. When
3469 the breakpoints are conditional, this is even useful
3470 (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
3471
3472 @cindex multiple locations, breakpoints
3473 @cindex breakpoints, multiple locations
3474 It is possible that a breakpoint corresponds to several locations
3475 in your program. Examples of this situation are:
3476
3477 @itemize @bullet
3478 @item
3479 For a C@t{++} constructor, the @value{NGCC} compiler generates several
3480 instances of the function body, used in different cases.
3481
3482 @item
3483 For a C@t{++} template function, a given line in the function can
3484 correspond to any number of instantiations.
3485
3486 @item
3487 For an inlined function, a given source line can correspond to
3488 several places where that function is inlined.
3489 @end itemize
3490
3491 In all those cases, @value{GDBN} will insert a breakpoint at all
3492 the relevant locations@footnote{
3493 As of this writing, multiple-location breakpoints work only if there's
3494 line number information for all the locations. This means that they
3495 will generally not work in system libraries, unless you have debug
3496 info with line numbers for them.}.
3497
3498 A breakpoint with multiple locations is displayed in the breakpoint
3499 table using several rows---one header row, followed by one row for
3500 each breakpoint location. The header row has @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in the
3501 address column. The rows for individual locations contain the actual
3502 addresses for locations, and show the functions to which those
3503 locations belong. The number column for a location is of the form
3504 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number}.
3505
3506 For example:
3507
3508 @smallexample
3509 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
3510 1 breakpoint keep y <MULTIPLE>
3511 stop only if i==1
3512 breakpoint already hit 1 time
3513 1.1 y 0x080486a2 in void foo<int>() at t.cc:8
3514 1.2 y 0x080486ca in void foo<double>() at t.cc:8
3515 @end smallexample
3516
3517 Each location can be individually enabled or disabled by passing
3518 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number} as argument to the
3519 @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands. Note that you cannot
3520 delete the individual locations from the list, you can only delete the
3521 entire list of locations that belong to their parent breakpoint (with
3522 the @kbd{delete @var{num}} command, where @var{num} is the number of
3523 the parent breakpoint, 1 in the above example). Disabling or enabling
3524 the parent breakpoint (@pxref{Disabling}) affects all of the locations
3525 that belong to that breakpoint.
3526
3527 @cindex pending breakpoints
3528 It's quite common to have a breakpoint inside a shared library.
3529 Shared libraries can be loaded and unloaded explicitly,
3530 and possibly repeatedly, as the program is executed. To support
3531 this use case, @value{GDBN} updates breakpoint locations whenever
3532 any shared library is loaded or unloaded. Typically, you would
3533 set a breakpoint in a shared library at the beginning of your
3534 debugging session, when the library is not loaded, and when the
3535 symbols from the library are not available. When you try to set
3536 breakpoint, @value{GDBN} will ask you if you want to set
3537 a so called @dfn{pending breakpoint}---breakpoint whose address
3538 is not yet resolved.
3539
3540 After the program is run, whenever a new shared library is loaded,
3541 @value{GDBN} reevaluates all the breakpoints. When a newly loaded
3542 shared library contains the symbol or line referred to by some
3543 pending breakpoint, that breakpoint is resolved and becomes an
3544 ordinary breakpoint. When a library is unloaded, all breakpoints
3545 that refer to its symbols or source lines become pending again.
3546
3547 This logic works for breakpoints with multiple locations, too. For
3548 example, if you have a breakpoint in a C@t{++} template function, and
3549 a newly loaded shared library has an instantiation of that template,
3550 a new location is added to the list of locations for the breakpoint.
3551
3552 Except for having unresolved address, pending breakpoints do not
3553 differ from regular breakpoints. You can set conditions or commands,
3554 enable and disable them and perform other breakpoint operations.
3555
3556 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling what
3557 happens when the @samp{break} command cannot resolve breakpoint
3558 address specification to an address:
3559
3560 @kindex set breakpoint pending
3561 @kindex show breakpoint pending
3562 @table @code
3563 @item set breakpoint pending auto
3564 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} cannot find the breakpoint
3565 location, it queries you whether a pending breakpoint should be created.
3566
3567 @item set breakpoint pending on
3568 This indicates that an unrecognized breakpoint location should automatically
3569 result in a pending breakpoint being created.
3570
3571 @item set breakpoint pending off
3572 This indicates that pending breakpoints are not to be created. Any
3573 unrecognized breakpoint location results in an error. This setting does
3574 not affect any pending breakpoints previously created.
3575
3576 @item show breakpoint pending
3577 Show the current behavior setting for creating pending breakpoints.
3578 @end table
3579
3580 The settings above only affect the @code{break} command and its
3581 variants. Once breakpoint is set, it will be automatically updated
3582 as shared libraries are loaded and unloaded.
3583
3584 @cindex automatic hardware breakpoints
3585 For some targets, @value{GDBN} can automatically decide if hardware or
3586 software breakpoints should be used, depending on whether the
3587 breakpoint address is read-only or read-write. This applies to
3588 breakpoints set with the @code{break} command as well as to internal
3589 breakpoints set by commands like @code{next} and @code{finish}. For
3590 breakpoints set with @code{hbreak}, @value{GDBN} will always use hardware
3591 breakpoints.
3592
3593 You can control this automatic behaviour with the following commands::
3594
3595 @kindex set breakpoint auto-hw
3596 @kindex show breakpoint auto-hw
3597 @table @code
3598 @item set breakpoint auto-hw on
3599 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} sets a breakpoint, it
3600 will try to use the target memory map to decide if software or hardware
3601 breakpoint must be used.
3602
3603 @item set breakpoint auto-hw off
3604 This indicates @value{GDBN} should not automatically select breakpoint
3605 type. If the target provides a memory map, @value{GDBN} will warn when
3606 trying to set software breakpoint at a read-only address.
3607 @end table
3608
3609 @value{GDBN} normally implements breakpoints by replacing the program code
3610 at the breakpoint address with a special instruction, which, when
3611 executed, given control to the debugger. By default, the program
3612 code is so modified only when the program is resumed. As soon as
3613 the program stops, @value{GDBN} restores the original instructions. This
3614 behaviour guards against leaving breakpoints inserted in the
3615 target should gdb abrubptly disconnect. However, with slow remote
3616 targets, inserting and removing breakpoint can reduce the performance.
3617 This behavior can be controlled with the following commands::
3618
3619 @kindex set breakpoint always-inserted
3620 @kindex show breakpoint always-inserted
3621 @table @code
3622 @item set breakpoint always-inserted off
3623 All breakpoints, including newly added by the user, are inserted in
3624 the target only when the target is resumed. All breakpoints are
3625 removed from the target when it stops.
3626
3627 @item set breakpoint always-inserted on
3628 Causes all breakpoints to be inserted in the target at all times. If
3629 the user adds a new breakpoint, or changes an existing breakpoint, the
3630 breakpoints in the target are updated immediately. A breakpoint is
3631 removed from the target only when breakpoint itself is removed.
3632
3633 @cindex non-stop mode, and @code{breakpoint always-inserted}
3634 @item set breakpoint always-inserted auto
3635 This is the default mode. If @value{GDBN} is controlling the inferior
3636 in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}), gdb behaves as if
3637 @code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is on. If @value{GDBN} is
3638 controlling the inferior in all-stop mode, @value{GDBN} behaves as if
3639 @code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is off.
3640 @end table
3641
3642 @cindex negative breakpoint numbers
3643 @cindex internal @value{GDBN} breakpoints
3644 @value{GDBN} itself sometimes sets breakpoints in your program for
3645 special purposes, such as proper handling of @code{longjmp} (in C
3646 programs). These internal breakpoints are assigned negative numbers,
3647 starting with @code{-1}; @samp{info breakpoints} does not display them.
3648 You can see these breakpoints with the @value{GDBN} maintenance command
3649 @samp{maint info breakpoints} (@pxref{maint info breakpoints}).
3650
3651
3652 @node Set Watchpoints
3653 @subsection Setting Watchpoints
3654
3655 @cindex setting watchpoints
3656 You can use a watchpoint to stop execution whenever the value of an
3657 expression changes, without having to predict a particular place where
3658 this may happen. (This is sometimes called a @dfn{data breakpoint}.)
3659 The expression may be as simple as the value of a single variable, or
3660 as complex as many variables combined by operators. Examples include:
3661
3662 @itemize @bullet
3663 @item
3664 A reference to the value of a single variable.
3665
3666 @item
3667 An address cast to an appropriate data type. For example,
3668 @samp{*(int *)0x12345678} will watch a 4-byte region at the specified
3669 address (assuming an @code{int} occupies 4 bytes).
3670
3671 @item
3672 An arbitrarily complex expression, such as @samp{a*b + c/d}. The
3673 expression can use any operators valid in the program's native
3674 language (@pxref{Languages}).
3675 @end itemize
3676
3677 You can set a watchpoint on an expression even if the expression can
3678 not be evaluated yet. For instance, you can set a watchpoint on
3679 @samp{*global_ptr} before @samp{global_ptr} is initialized.
3680 @value{GDBN} will stop when your program sets @samp{global_ptr} and
3681 the expression produces a valid value. If the expression becomes
3682 valid in some other way than changing a variable (e.g.@: if the memory
3683 pointed to by @samp{*global_ptr} becomes readable as the result of a
3684 @code{malloc} call), @value{GDBN} may not stop until the next time
3685 the expression changes.
3686
3687 @cindex software watchpoints
3688 @cindex hardware watchpoints
3689 Depending on your system, watchpoints may be implemented in software or
3690 hardware. @value{GDBN} does software watchpointing by single-stepping your
3691 program and testing the variable's value each time, which is hundreds of
3692 times slower than normal execution. (But this may still be worth it, to
3693 catch errors where you have no clue what part of your program is the
3694 culprit.)
3695
3696 On some systems, such as HP-UX, PowerPC, @sc{gnu}/Linux and most other
3697 x86-based targets, @value{GDBN} includes support for hardware
3698 watchpoints, which do not slow down the running of your program.
3699
3700 @table @code
3701 @kindex watch
3702 @item watch @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}
3703 Set a watchpoint for an expression. @value{GDBN} will break when the
3704 expression @var{expr} is written into by the program and its value
3705 changes. The simplest (and the most popular) use of this command is
3706 to watch the value of a single variable:
3707
3708 @smallexample
3709 (@value{GDBP}) watch foo
3710 @end smallexample
3711
3712 If the command includes a @code{@r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}}
3713 clause, @value{GDBN} breaks only when the thread identified by
3714 @var{threadnum} changes the value of @var{expr}. If any other threads
3715 change the value of @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} will not break. Note
3716 that watchpoints restricted to a single thread in this way only work
3717 with Hardware Watchpoints.
3718
3719 @kindex rwatch
3720 @item rwatch @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}
3721 Set a watchpoint that will break when the value of @var{expr} is read
3722 by the program.
3723
3724 @kindex awatch
3725 @item awatch @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}
3726 Set a watchpoint that will break when @var{expr} is either read from
3727 or written into by the program.
3728
3729 @kindex info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
3730 @item info watchpoints
3731 This command prints a list of watchpoints, using the same format as
3732 @code{info break} (@pxref{Set Breaks}).
3733 @end table
3734
3735 If you watch for a change in a numerically entered address you need to
3736 dereference it, as the address itself is just a constant number which will
3737 never change. @value{GDBN} refuses to create a watchpoint that watches
3738 a never-changing value:
3739
3740 @smallexample
3741 (@value{GDBP}) watch 0x600850
3742 Cannot watch constant value 0x600850.
3743 (@value{GDBP}) watch *(int *) 0x600850
3744 Watchpoint 1: *(int *) 6293584
3745 @end smallexample
3746
3747 @value{GDBN} sets a @dfn{hardware watchpoint} if possible. Hardware
3748 watchpoints execute very quickly, and the debugger reports a change in
3749 value at the exact instruction where the change occurs. If @value{GDBN}
3750 cannot set a hardware watchpoint, it sets a software watchpoint, which
3751 executes more slowly and reports the change in value at the next
3752 @emph{statement}, not the instruction, after the change occurs.
3753
3754 @cindex use only software watchpoints
3755 You can force @value{GDBN} to use only software watchpoints with the
3756 @kbd{set can-use-hw-watchpoints 0} command. With this variable set to
3757 zero, @value{GDBN} will never try to use hardware watchpoints, even if
3758 the underlying system supports them. (Note that hardware-assisted
3759 watchpoints that were set @emph{before} setting
3760 @code{can-use-hw-watchpoints} to zero will still use the hardware
3761 mechanism of watching expression values.)
3762
3763 @table @code
3764 @item set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3765 @kindex set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3766 Set whether or not to use hardware watchpoints.
3767
3768 @item show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3769 @kindex show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3770 Show the current mode of using hardware watchpoints.
3771 @end table
3772
3773 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3774 watchpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3775 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3776
3777 When you issue the @code{watch} command, @value{GDBN} reports
3778
3779 @smallexample
3780 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: @var{expr}
3781 @end smallexample
3782
3783 @noindent
3784 if it was able to set a hardware watchpoint.
3785
3786 Currently, the @code{awatch} and @code{rwatch} commands can only set
3787 hardware watchpoints, because accesses to data that don't change the
3788 value of the watched expression cannot be detected without examining
3789 every instruction as it is being executed, and @value{GDBN} does not do
3790 that currently. If @value{GDBN} finds that it is unable to set a
3791 hardware breakpoint with the @code{awatch} or @code{rwatch} command, it
3792 will print a message like this:
3793
3794 @smallexample
3795 Expression cannot be implemented with read/access watchpoint.
3796 @end smallexample
3797
3798 Sometimes, @value{GDBN} cannot set a hardware watchpoint because the
3799 data type of the watched expression is wider than what a hardware
3800 watchpoint on the target machine can handle. For example, some systems
3801 can only watch regions that are up to 4 bytes wide; on such systems you
3802 cannot set hardware watchpoints for an expression that yields a
3803 double-precision floating-point number (which is typically 8 bytes
3804 wide). As a work-around, it might be possible to break the large region
3805 into a series of smaller ones and watch them with separate watchpoints.
3806
3807 If you set too many hardware watchpoints, @value{GDBN} might be unable
3808 to insert all of them when you resume the execution of your program.
3809 Since the precise number of active watchpoints is unknown until such
3810 time as the program is about to be resumed, @value{GDBN} might not be
3811 able to warn you about this when you set the watchpoints, and the
3812 warning will be printed only when the program is resumed:
3813
3814 @smallexample
3815 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: Could not insert watchpoint
3816 @end smallexample
3817
3818 @noindent
3819 If this happens, delete or disable some of the watchpoints.
3820
3821 Watching complex expressions that reference many variables can also
3822 exhaust the resources available for hardware-assisted watchpoints.
3823 That's because @value{GDBN} needs to watch every variable in the
3824 expression with separately allocated resources.
3825
3826 If you call a function interactively using @code{print} or @code{call},
3827 any watchpoints you have set will be inactive until @value{GDBN} reaches another
3828 kind of breakpoint or the call completes.
3829
3830 @value{GDBN} automatically deletes watchpoints that watch local
3831 (automatic) variables, or expressions that involve such variables, when
3832 they go out of scope, that is, when the execution leaves the block in
3833 which these variables were defined. In particular, when the program
3834 being debugged terminates, @emph{all} local variables go out of scope,
3835 and so only watchpoints that watch global variables remain set. If you
3836 rerun the program, you will need to set all such watchpoints again. One
3837 way of doing that would be to set a code breakpoint at the entry to the
3838 @code{main} function and when it breaks, set all the watchpoints.
3839
3840 @cindex watchpoints and threads
3841 @cindex threads and watchpoints
3842 In multi-threaded programs, watchpoints will detect changes to the
3843 watched expression from every thread.
3844
3845 @quotation
3846 @emph{Warning:} In multi-threaded programs, software watchpoints
3847 have only limited usefulness. If @value{GDBN} creates a software
3848 watchpoint, it can only watch the value of an expression @emph{in a
3849 single thread}. If you are confident that the expression can only
3850 change due to the current thread's activity (and if you are also
3851 confident that no other thread can become current), then you can use
3852 software watchpoints as usual. However, @value{GDBN} may not notice
3853 when a non-current thread's activity changes the expression. (Hardware
3854 watchpoints, in contrast, watch an expression in all threads.)
3855 @end quotation
3856
3857 @xref{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}.
3858
3859 @node Set Catchpoints
3860 @subsection Setting Catchpoints
3861 @cindex catchpoints, setting
3862 @cindex exception handlers
3863 @cindex event handling
3864
3865 You can use @dfn{catchpoints} to cause the debugger to stop for certain
3866 kinds of program events, such as C@t{++} exceptions or the loading of a
3867 shared library. Use the @code{catch} command to set a catchpoint.
3868
3869 @table @code
3870 @kindex catch
3871 @item catch @var{event}
3872 Stop when @var{event} occurs. @var{event} can be any of the following:
3873 @table @code
3874 @item throw
3875 @cindex stop on C@t{++} exceptions
3876 The throwing of a C@t{++} exception.
3877
3878 @item catch
3879 The catching of a C@t{++} exception.
3880
3881 @item exception
3882 @cindex Ada exception catching
3883 @cindex catch Ada exceptions
3884 An Ada exception being raised. If an exception name is specified
3885 at the end of the command (eg @code{catch exception Program_Error}),
3886 the debugger will stop only when this specific exception is raised.
3887 Otherwise, the debugger stops execution when any Ada exception is raised.
3888
3889 When inserting an exception catchpoint on a user-defined exception whose
3890 name is identical to one of the exceptions defined by the language, the
3891 fully qualified name must be used as the exception name. Otherwise,
3892 @value{GDBN} will assume that it should stop on the pre-defined exception
3893 rather than the user-defined one. For instance, assuming an exception
3894 called @code{Constraint_Error} is defined in package @code{Pck}, then
3895 the command to use to catch such exceptions is @kbd{catch exception
3896 Pck.Constraint_Error}.
3897
3898 @item exception unhandled
3899 An exception that was raised but is not handled by the program.
3900
3901 @item assert
3902 A failed Ada assertion.
3903
3904 @item exec
3905 @cindex break on fork/exec
3906 A call to @code{exec}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
3907 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
3908
3909 @item syscall
3910 @itemx syscall @r{[}@var{name} @r{|} @var{number}@r{]} @dots{}
3911 @cindex break on a system call.
3912 A call to or return from a system call, a.k.a.@: @dfn{syscall}. A
3913 syscall is a mechanism for application programs to request a service
3914 from the operating system (OS) or one of the OS system services.
3915 @value{GDBN} can catch some or all of the syscalls issued by the
3916 debuggee, and show the related information for each syscall. If no
3917 argument is specified, calls to and returns from all system calls
3918 will be caught.
3919
3920 @var{name} can be any system call name that is valid for the
3921 underlying OS. Just what syscalls are valid depends on the OS. On
3922 GNU and Unix systems, you can find the full list of valid syscall
3923 names on @file{/usr/include/asm/unistd.h}.
3924
3925 @c For MS-Windows, the syscall names and the corresponding numbers
3926 @c can be found, e.g., on this URL:
3927 @c http://www.metasploit.com/users/opcode/syscalls.html
3928 @c but we don't support Windows syscalls yet.
3929
3930 Normally, @value{GDBN} knows in advance which syscalls are valid for
3931 each OS, so you can use the @value{GDBN} command-line completion
3932 facilities (@pxref{Completion,, command completion}) to list the
3933 available choices.
3934
3935 You may also specify the system call numerically. A syscall's
3936 number is the value passed to the OS's syscall dispatcher to
3937 identify the requested service. When you specify the syscall by its
3938 name, @value{GDBN} uses its database of syscalls to convert the name
3939 into the corresponding numeric code, but using the number directly
3940 may be useful if @value{GDBN}'s database does not have the complete
3941 list of syscalls on your system (e.g., because @value{GDBN} lags
3942 behind the OS upgrades).
3943
3944 The example below illustrates how this command works if you don't provide
3945 arguments to it:
3946
3947 @smallexample
3948 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
3949 Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
3950 (@value{GDBP}) r
3951 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
3952
3953 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'close'), \
3954 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
3955 (@value{GDBP}) c
3956 Continuing.
3957
3958 Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'close'), \
3959 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
3960 (@value{GDBP})
3961 @end smallexample
3962
3963 Here is an example of catching a system call by name:
3964
3965 @smallexample
3966 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall chroot
3967 Catchpoint 1 (syscall 'chroot' [61])
3968 (@value{GDBP}) r
3969 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
3970
3971 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'chroot'), \
3972 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
3973 (@value{GDBP}) c
3974 Continuing.
3975
3976 Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'chroot'), \
3977 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
3978 (@value{GDBP})
3979 @end smallexample
3980
3981 An example of specifying a system call numerically. In the case
3982 below, the syscall number has a corresponding entry in the XML
3983 file, so @value{GDBN} finds its name and prints it:
3984
3985 @smallexample
3986 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
3987 Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 'exit_group')
3988 (@value{GDBP}) r
3989 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
3990
3991 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'exit_group'), \
3992 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
3993 (@value{GDBP}) c
3994 Continuing.
3995
3996 Program exited normally.
3997 (@value{GDBP})
3998 @end smallexample
3999
4000 However, there can be situations when there is no corresponding name
4001 in XML file for that syscall number. In this case, @value{GDBN} prints
4002 a warning message saying that it was not able to find the syscall name,
4003 but the catchpoint will be set anyway. See the example below:
4004
4005 @smallexample
4006 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 764
4007 warning: The number '764' does not represent a known syscall.
4008 Catchpoint 2 (syscall 764)
4009 (@value{GDBP})
4010 @end smallexample
4011
4012 If you configure @value{GDBN} using the @samp{--without-expat} option,
4013 it will not be able to display syscall names. Also, if your
4014 architecture does not have an XML file describing its system calls,
4015 you will not be able to see the syscall names. It is important to
4016 notice that these two features are used for accessing the syscall
4017 name database. In either case, you will see a warning like this:
4018
4019 @smallexample
4020 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
4021 warning: Could not open "syscalls/i386-linux.xml"
4022 warning: Could not load the syscall XML file 'syscalls/i386-linux.xml'.
4023 GDB will not be able to display syscall names.
4024 Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
4025 (@value{GDBP})
4026 @end smallexample
4027
4028 Of course, the file name will change depending on your architecture and system.
4029
4030 Still using the example above, you can also try to catch a syscall by its
4031 number. In this case, you would see something like:
4032
4033 @smallexample
4034 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
4035 Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 252)
4036 @end smallexample
4037
4038 Again, in this case @value{GDBN} would not be able to display syscall's names.
4039
4040 @item fork
4041 A call to @code{fork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4042 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
4043
4044 @item vfork
4045 A call to @code{vfork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4046 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
4047
4048 @end table
4049
4050 @item tcatch @var{event}
4051 Set a catchpoint that is enabled only for one stop. The catchpoint is
4052 automatically deleted after the first time the event is caught.
4053
4054 @end table
4055
4056 Use the @code{info break} command to list the current catchpoints.
4057
4058 There are currently some limitations to C@t{++} exception handling
4059 (@code{catch throw} and @code{catch catch}) in @value{GDBN}:
4060
4061 @itemize @bullet
4062 @item
4063 If you call a function interactively, @value{GDBN} normally returns
4064 control to you when the function has finished executing. If the call
4065 raises an exception, however, the call may bypass the mechanism that
4066 returns control to you and cause your program either to abort or to
4067 simply continue running until it hits a breakpoint, catches a signal
4068 that @value{GDBN} is listening for, or exits. This is the case even if
4069 you set a catchpoint for the exception; catchpoints on exceptions are
4070 disabled within interactive calls.
4071
4072 @item
4073 You cannot raise an exception interactively.
4074
4075 @item
4076 You cannot install an exception handler interactively.
4077 @end itemize
4078
4079 @cindex raise exceptions
4080 Sometimes @code{catch} is not the best way to debug exception handling:
4081 if you need to know exactly where an exception is raised, it is better to
4082 stop @emph{before} the exception handler is called, since that way you
4083 can see the stack before any unwinding takes place. If you set a
4084 breakpoint in an exception handler instead, it may not be easy to find
4085 out where the exception was raised.
4086
4087 To stop just before an exception handler is called, you need some
4088 knowledge of the implementation. In the case of @sc{gnu} C@t{++}, exceptions are
4089 raised by calling a library function named @code{__raise_exception}
4090 which has the following ANSI C interface:
4091
4092 @smallexample
4093 /* @var{addr} is where the exception identifier is stored.
4094 @var{id} is the exception identifier. */
4095 void __raise_exception (void **addr, void *id);
4096 @end smallexample
4097
4098 @noindent
4099 To make the debugger catch all exceptions before any stack
4100 unwinding takes place, set a breakpoint on @code{__raise_exception}
4101 (@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Exceptions}).
4102
4103 With a conditional breakpoint (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions})
4104 that depends on the value of @var{id}, you can stop your program when
4105 a specific exception is raised. You can use multiple conditional
4106 breakpoints to stop your program when any of a number of exceptions are
4107 raised.
4108
4109
4110 @node Delete Breaks
4111 @subsection Deleting Breakpoints
4112
4113 @cindex clearing breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4114 @cindex deleting breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4115 It is often necessary to eliminate a breakpoint, watchpoint, or
4116 catchpoint once it has done its job and you no longer want your program
4117 to stop there. This is called @dfn{deleting} the breakpoint. A
4118 breakpoint that has been deleted no longer exists; it is forgotten.
4119
4120 With the @code{clear} command you can delete breakpoints according to
4121 where they are in your program. With the @code{delete} command you can
4122 delete individual breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints by specifying
4123 their breakpoint numbers.
4124
4125 It is not necessary to delete a breakpoint to proceed past it. @value{GDBN}
4126 automatically ignores breakpoints on the first instruction to be executed
4127 when you continue execution without changing the execution address.
4128
4129 @table @code
4130 @kindex clear
4131 @item clear
4132 Delete any breakpoints at the next instruction to be executed in the
4133 selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). When
4134 the innermost frame is selected, this is a good way to delete a
4135 breakpoint where your program just stopped.
4136
4137 @item clear @var{location}
4138 Delete any breakpoints set at the specified @var{location}.
4139 @xref{Specify Location}, for the various forms of @var{location}; the
4140 most useful ones are listed below:
4141
4142 @table @code
4143 @item clear @var{function}
4144 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{function}
4145 Delete any breakpoints set at entry to the named @var{function}.
4146
4147 @item clear @var{linenum}
4148 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
4149 Delete any breakpoints set at or within the code of the specified
4150 @var{linenum} of the specified @var{filename}.
4151 @end table
4152
4153 @cindex delete breakpoints
4154 @kindex delete
4155 @kindex d @r{(@code{delete})}
4156 @item delete @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4157 Delete the breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints of the breakpoint
4158 ranges specified as arguments. If no argument is specified, delete all
4159 breakpoints (@value{GDBN} asks confirmation, unless you have @code{set
4160 confirm off}). You can abbreviate this command as @code{d}.
4161 @end table
4162
4163 @node Disabling
4164 @subsection Disabling Breakpoints
4165
4166 @cindex enable/disable a breakpoint
4167 Rather than deleting a breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint, you might
4168 prefer to @dfn{disable} it. This makes the breakpoint inoperative as if
4169 it had been deleted, but remembers the information on the breakpoint so
4170 that you can @dfn{enable} it again later.
4171
4172 You disable and enable breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints with
4173 the @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands, optionally specifying
4174 one or more breakpoint numbers as arguments. Use @code{info break} to
4175 print a list of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints if you
4176 do not know which numbers to use.
4177
4178 Disabling and enabling a breakpoint that has multiple locations
4179 affects all of its locations.
4180
4181 A breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint can have any of four different
4182 states of enablement:
4183
4184 @itemize @bullet
4185 @item
4186 Enabled. The breakpoint stops your program. A breakpoint set
4187 with the @code{break} command starts out in this state.
4188 @item
4189 Disabled. The breakpoint has no effect on your program.
4190 @item
4191 Enabled once. The breakpoint stops your program, but then becomes
4192 disabled.
4193 @item
4194 Enabled for deletion. The breakpoint stops your program, but
4195 immediately after it does so it is deleted permanently. A breakpoint
4196 set with the @code{tbreak} command starts out in this state.
4197 @end itemize
4198
4199 You can use the following commands to enable or disable breakpoints,
4200 watchpoints, and catchpoints:
4201
4202 @table @code
4203 @kindex disable
4204 @kindex dis @r{(@code{disable})}
4205 @item disable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4206 Disable the specified breakpoints---or all breakpoints, if none are
4207 listed. A disabled breakpoint has no effect but is not forgotten. All
4208 options such as ignore-counts, conditions and commands are remembered in
4209 case the breakpoint is enabled again later. You may abbreviate
4210 @code{disable} as @code{dis}.
4211
4212 @kindex enable
4213 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4214 Enable the specified breakpoints (or all defined breakpoints). They
4215 become effective once again in stopping your program.
4216
4217 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} once @var{range}@dots{}
4218 Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} disables any
4219 of these breakpoints immediately after stopping your program.
4220
4221 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} delete @var{range}@dots{}
4222 Enable the specified breakpoints to work once, then die. @value{GDBN}
4223 deletes any of these breakpoints as soon as your program stops there.
4224 Breakpoints set by the @code{tbreak} command start out in this state.
4225 @end table
4226
4227 @c FIXME: I think the following ``Except for [...] @code{tbreak}'' is
4228 @c confusing: tbreak is also initially enabled.
4229 Except for a breakpoint set with @code{tbreak} (@pxref{Set Breaks,
4230 ,Setting Breakpoints}), breakpoints that you set are initially enabled;
4231 subsequently, they become disabled or enabled only when you use one of
4232 the commands above. (The command @code{until} can set and delete a
4233 breakpoint of its own, but it does not change the state of your other
4234 breakpoints; see @ref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and
4235 Stepping}.)
4236
4237 @node Conditions
4238 @subsection Break Conditions
4239 @cindex conditional breakpoints
4240 @cindex breakpoint conditions
4241
4242 @c FIXME what is scope of break condition expr? Context where wanted?
4243 @c in particular for a watchpoint?
4244 The simplest sort of breakpoint breaks every time your program reaches a
4245 specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for a
4246 breakpoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
4247 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A breakpoint with
4248 a condition evaluates the expression each time your program reaches it,
4249 and your program stops only if the condition is @emph{true}.
4250
4251 This is the converse of using assertions for program validation; in that
4252 situation, you want to stop when the assertion is violated---that is,
4253 when the condition is false. In C, if you want to test an assertion expressed
4254 by the condition @var{assert}, you should set the condition
4255 @samp{! @var{assert}} on the appropriate breakpoint.
4256
4257 Conditions are also accepted for watchpoints; you may not need them,
4258 since a watchpoint is inspecting the value of an expression anyhow---but
4259 it might be simpler, say, to just set a watchpoint on a variable name,
4260 and specify a condition that tests whether the new value is an interesting
4261 one.
4262
4263 Break conditions can have side effects, and may even call functions in
4264 your program. This can be useful, for example, to activate functions
4265 that log program progress, or to use your own print functions to
4266 format special data structures. The effects are completely predictable
4267 unless there is another enabled breakpoint at the same address. (In
4268 that case, @value{GDBN} might see the other breakpoint first and stop your
4269 program without checking the condition of this one.) Note that
4270 breakpoint commands are usually more convenient and flexible than break
4271 conditions for the
4272 purpose of performing side effects when a breakpoint is reached
4273 (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}).
4274
4275 Break conditions can be specified when a breakpoint is set, by using
4276 @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{break} command. @xref{Set
4277 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}. They can also be changed at any time
4278 with the @code{condition} command.
4279
4280 You can also use the @code{if} keyword with the @code{watch} command.
4281 The @code{catch} command does not recognize the @code{if} keyword;
4282 @code{condition} is the only way to impose a further condition on a
4283 catchpoint.
4284
4285 @table @code
4286 @kindex condition
4287 @item condition @var{bnum} @var{expression}
4288 Specify @var{expression} as the break condition for breakpoint,
4289 watchpoint, or catchpoint number @var{bnum}. After you set a condition,
4290 breakpoint @var{bnum} stops your program only if the value of
4291 @var{expression} is true (nonzero, in C). When you use
4292 @code{condition}, @value{GDBN} checks @var{expression} immediately for
4293 syntactic correctness, and to determine whether symbols in it have
4294 referents in the context of your breakpoint. If @var{expression} uses
4295 symbols not referenced in the context of the breakpoint, @value{GDBN}
4296 prints an error message:
4297
4298 @smallexample
4299 No symbol "foo" in current context.
4300 @end smallexample
4301
4302 @noindent
4303 @value{GDBN} does
4304 not actually evaluate @var{expression} at the time the @code{condition}
4305 command (or a command that sets a breakpoint with a condition, like
4306 @code{break if @dots{}}) is given, however. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
4307
4308 @item condition @var{bnum}
4309 Remove the condition from breakpoint number @var{bnum}. It becomes
4310 an ordinary unconditional breakpoint.
4311 @end table
4312
4313 @cindex ignore count (of breakpoint)
4314 A special case of a breakpoint condition is to stop only when the
4315 breakpoint has been reached a certain number of times. This is so
4316 useful that there is a special way to do it, using the @dfn{ignore
4317 count} of the breakpoint. Every breakpoint has an ignore count, which
4318 is an integer. Most of the time, the ignore count is zero, and
4319 therefore has no effect. But if your program reaches a breakpoint whose
4320 ignore count is positive, then instead of stopping, it just decrements
4321 the ignore count by one and continues. As a result, if the ignore count
4322 value is @var{n}, the breakpoint does not stop the next @var{n} times
4323 your program reaches it.
4324
4325 @table @code
4326 @kindex ignore
4327 @item ignore @var{bnum} @var{count}
4328 Set the ignore count of breakpoint number @var{bnum} to @var{count}.
4329 The next @var{count} times the breakpoint is reached, your program's
4330 execution does not stop; other than to decrement the ignore count, @value{GDBN}
4331 takes no action.
4332
4333 To make the breakpoint stop the next time it is reached, specify
4334 a count of zero.
4335
4336 When you use @code{continue} to resume execution of your program from a
4337 breakpoint, you can specify an ignore count directly as an argument to
4338 @code{continue}, rather than using @code{ignore}. @xref{Continuing and
4339 Stepping,,Continuing and Stepping}.
4340
4341 If a breakpoint has a positive ignore count and a condition, the
4342 condition is not checked. Once the ignore count reaches zero,
4343 @value{GDBN} resumes checking the condition.
4344
4345 You could achieve the effect of the ignore count with a condition such
4346 as @w{@samp{$foo-- <= 0}} using a debugger convenience variable that
4347 is decremented each time. @xref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
4348 Variables}.
4349 @end table
4350
4351 Ignore counts apply to breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints.
4352
4353
4354 @node Break Commands
4355 @subsection Breakpoint Command Lists
4356
4357 @cindex breakpoint commands
4358 You can give any breakpoint (or watchpoint or catchpoint) a series of
4359 commands to execute when your program stops due to that breakpoint. For
4360 example, you might want to print the values of certain expressions, or
4361 enable other breakpoints.
4362
4363 @table @code
4364 @kindex commands
4365 @kindex end@r{ (breakpoint commands)}
4366 @item commands @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4367 @itemx @dots{} @var{command-list} @dots{}
4368 @itemx end
4369 Specify a list of commands for the given breakpoints. The commands
4370 themselves appear on the following lines. Type a line containing just
4371 @code{end} to terminate the commands.
4372
4373 To remove all commands from a breakpoint, type @code{commands} and
4374 follow it immediately with @code{end}; that is, give no commands.
4375
4376 With no argument, @code{commands} refers to the last breakpoint,
4377 watchpoint, or catchpoint set (not to the breakpoint most recently
4378 encountered). If the most recent breakpoints were set with a single
4379 command, then the @code{commands} will apply to all the breakpoints
4380 set by that command. This applies to breakpoints set by
4381 @code{rbreak}, and also applies when a single @code{break} command
4382 creates multiple breakpoints (@pxref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous
4383 Expressions}).
4384 @end table
4385
4386 Pressing @key{RET} as a means of repeating the last @value{GDBN} command is
4387 disabled within a @var{command-list}.
4388
4389 You can use breakpoint commands to start your program up again. Simply
4390 use the @code{continue} command, or @code{step}, or any other command
4391 that resumes execution.
4392
4393 Any other commands in the command list, after a command that resumes
4394 execution, are ignored. This is because any time you resume execution
4395 (even with a simple @code{next} or @code{step}), you may encounter
4396 another breakpoint---which could have its own command list, leading to
4397 ambiguities about which list to execute.
4398
4399 @kindex silent
4400 If the first command you specify in a command list is @code{silent}, the
4401 usual message about stopping at a breakpoint is not printed. This may
4402 be desirable for breakpoints that are to print a specific message and
4403 then continue. If none of the remaining commands print anything, you
4404 see no sign that the breakpoint was reached. @code{silent} is
4405 meaningful only at the beginning of a breakpoint command list.
4406
4407 The commands @code{echo}, @code{output}, and @code{printf} allow you to
4408 print precisely controlled output, and are often useful in silent
4409 breakpoints. @xref{Output, ,Commands for Controlled Output}.
4410
4411 For example, here is how you could use breakpoint commands to print the
4412 value of @code{x} at entry to @code{foo} whenever @code{x} is positive.
4413
4414 @smallexample
4415 break foo if x>0
4416 commands
4417 silent
4418 printf "x is %d\n",x
4419 cont
4420 end
4421 @end smallexample
4422
4423 One application for breakpoint commands is to compensate for one bug so
4424 you can test for another. Put a breakpoint just after the erroneous line
4425 of code, give it a condition to detect the case in which something
4426 erroneous has been done, and give it commands to assign correct values
4427 to any variables that need them. End with the @code{continue} command
4428 so that your program does not stop, and start with the @code{silent}
4429 command so that no output is produced. Here is an example:
4430
4431 @smallexample
4432 break 403
4433 commands
4434 silent
4435 set x = y + 4
4436 cont
4437 end
4438 @end smallexample
4439
4440 @node Save Breakpoints
4441 @subsection How to save breakpoints to a file
4442
4443 To save breakpoint definitions to a file use the @w{@code{save
4444 breakpoints}} command.
4445
4446 @table @code
4447 @kindex save breakpoints
4448 @cindex save breakpoints to a file for future sessions
4449 @item save breakpoints [@var{filename}]
4450 This command saves all current breakpoint definitions together with
4451 their commands and ignore counts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
4452 suitable for use in a later debugging session. This includes all
4453 types of breakpoints (breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints,
4454 tracepoints). To read the saved breakpoint definitions, use the
4455 @code{source} command (@pxref{Command Files}). Note that watchpoints
4456 with expressions involving local variables may fail to be recreated
4457 because it may not be possible to access the context where the
4458 watchpoint is valid anymore. Because the saved breakpoint definitions
4459 are simply a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands that recreate the
4460 breakpoints, you can edit the file in your favorite editing program,
4461 and remove the breakpoint definitions you're not interested in, or
4462 that can no longer be recreated.
4463 @end table
4464
4465 @c @ifclear BARETARGET
4466 @node Error in Breakpoints
4467 @subsection ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
4468
4469 If you request too many active hardware-assisted breakpoints and
4470 watchpoints, you will see this error message:
4471
4472 @c FIXME: the precise wording of this message may change; the relevant
4473 @c source change is not committed yet (Sep 3, 1999).
4474 @smallexample
4475 Stopped; cannot insert breakpoints.
4476 You may have requested too many hardware breakpoints and watchpoints.
4477 @end smallexample
4478
4479 @noindent
4480 This message is printed when you attempt to resume the program, since
4481 only then @value{GDBN} knows exactly how many hardware breakpoints and
4482 watchpoints it needs to insert.
4483
4484 When this message is printed, you need to disable or remove some of the
4485 hardware-assisted breakpoints and watchpoints, and then continue.
4486
4487 @node Breakpoint-related Warnings
4488 @subsection ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
4489 @cindex breakpoint address adjusted
4490
4491 Some processor architectures place constraints on the addresses at
4492 which breakpoints may be placed. For architectures thus constrained,
4493 @value{GDBN} will attempt to adjust the breakpoint's address to comply
4494 with the constraints dictated by the architecture.
4495
4496 One example of such an architecture is the Fujitsu FR-V. The FR-V is
4497 a VLIW architecture in which a number of RISC-like instructions may be
4498 bundled together for parallel execution. The FR-V architecture
4499 constrains the location of a breakpoint instruction within such a
4500 bundle to the instruction with the lowest address. @value{GDBN}
4501 honors this constraint by adjusting a breakpoint's address to the
4502 first in the bundle.
4503
4504 It is not uncommon for optimized code to have bundles which contain
4505 instructions from different source statements, thus it may happen that
4506 a breakpoint's address will be adjusted from one source statement to
4507 another. Since this adjustment may significantly alter @value{GDBN}'s
4508 breakpoint related behavior from what the user expects, a warning is
4509 printed when the breakpoint is first set and also when the breakpoint
4510 is hit.
4511
4512 A warning like the one below is printed when setting a breakpoint
4513 that's been subject to address adjustment:
4514
4515 @smallexample
4516 warning: Breakpoint address adjusted from 0x00010414 to 0x00010410.
4517 @end smallexample
4518
4519 Such warnings are printed both for user settable and @value{GDBN}'s
4520 internal breakpoints. If you see one of these warnings, you should
4521 verify that a breakpoint set at the adjusted address will have the
4522 desired affect. If not, the breakpoint in question may be removed and
4523 other breakpoints may be set which will have the desired behavior.
4524 E.g., it may be sufficient to place the breakpoint at a later
4525 instruction. A conditional breakpoint may also be useful in some
4526 cases to prevent the breakpoint from triggering too often.
4527
4528 @value{GDBN} will also issue a warning when stopping at one of these
4529 adjusted breakpoints:
4530
4531 @smallexample
4532 warning: Breakpoint 1 address previously adjusted from 0x00010414
4533 to 0x00010410.
4534 @end smallexample
4535
4536 When this warning is encountered, it may be too late to take remedial
4537 action except in cases where the breakpoint is hit earlier or more
4538 frequently than expected.
4539
4540 @node Continuing and Stepping
4541 @section Continuing and Stepping
4542
4543 @cindex stepping
4544 @cindex continuing
4545 @cindex resuming execution
4546 @dfn{Continuing} means resuming program execution until your program
4547 completes normally. In contrast, @dfn{stepping} means executing just
4548 one more ``step'' of your program, where ``step'' may mean either one
4549 line of source code, or one machine instruction (depending on what
4550 particular command you use). Either when continuing or when stepping,
4551 your program may stop even sooner, due to a breakpoint or a signal. (If
4552 it stops due to a signal, you may want to use @code{handle}, or use
4553 @samp{signal 0} to resume execution. @xref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
4554
4555 @table @code
4556 @kindex continue
4557 @kindex c @r{(@code{continue})}
4558 @kindex fg @r{(resume foreground execution)}
4559 @item continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4560 @itemx c @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4561 @itemx fg @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4562 Resume program execution, at the address where your program last stopped;
4563 any breakpoints set at that address are bypassed. The optional argument
4564 @var{ignore-count} allows you to specify a further number of times to
4565 ignore a breakpoint at this location; its effect is like that of
4566 @code{ignore} (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
4567
4568 The argument @var{ignore-count} is meaningful only when your program
4569 stopped due to a breakpoint. At other times, the argument to
4570 @code{continue} is ignored.
4571
4572 The synonyms @code{c} and @code{fg} (for @dfn{foreground}, as the
4573 debugged program is deemed to be the foreground program) are provided
4574 purely for convenience, and have exactly the same behavior as
4575 @code{continue}.
4576 @end table
4577
4578 To resume execution at a different place, you can use @code{return}
4579 (@pxref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}) to go back to the
4580 calling function; or @code{jump} (@pxref{Jumping, ,Continuing at a
4581 Different Address}) to go to an arbitrary location in your program.
4582
4583 A typical technique for using stepping is to set a breakpoint
4584 (@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Catchpoints}) at the
4585 beginning of the function or the section of your program where a problem
4586 is believed to lie, run your program until it stops at that breakpoint,
4587 and then step through the suspect area, examining the variables that are
4588 interesting, until you see the problem happen.
4589
4590 @table @code
4591 @kindex step
4592 @kindex s @r{(@code{step})}
4593 @item step
4594 Continue running your program until control reaches a different source
4595 line, then stop it and return control to @value{GDBN}. This command is
4596 abbreviated @code{s}.
4597
4598 @quotation
4599 @c "without debugging information" is imprecise; actually "without line
4600 @c numbers in the debugging information". (gcc -g1 has debugging info but
4601 @c not line numbers). But it seems complex to try to make that
4602 @c distinction here.
4603 @emph{Warning:} If you use the @code{step} command while control is
4604 within a function that was compiled without debugging information,
4605 execution proceeds until control reaches a function that does have
4606 debugging information. Likewise, it will not step into a function which
4607 is compiled without debugging information. To step through functions
4608 without debugging information, use the @code{stepi} command, described
4609 below.
4610 @end quotation
4611
4612 The @code{step} command only stops at the first instruction of a source
4613 line. This prevents the multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
4614 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc. @code{step} continues
4615 to stop if a function that has debugging information is called within
4616 the line. In other words, @code{step} @emph{steps inside} any functions
4617 called within the line.
4618
4619 Also, the @code{step} command only enters a function if there is line
4620 number information for the function. Otherwise it acts like the
4621 @code{next} command. This avoids problems when using @code{cc -gl}
4622 on MIPS machines. Previously, @code{step} entered subroutines if there
4623 was any debugging information about the routine.
4624
4625 @item step @var{count}
4626 Continue running as in @code{step}, but do so @var{count} times. If a
4627 breakpoint is reached, or a signal not related to stepping occurs before
4628 @var{count} steps, stepping stops right away.
4629
4630 @kindex next
4631 @kindex n @r{(@code{next})}
4632 @item next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
4633 Continue to the next source line in the current (innermost) stack frame.
4634 This is similar to @code{step}, but function calls that appear within
4635 the line of code are executed without stopping. Execution stops when
4636 control reaches a different line of code at the original stack level
4637 that was executing when you gave the @code{next} command. This command
4638 is abbreviated @code{n}.
4639
4640 An argument @var{count} is a repeat count, as for @code{step}.
4641
4642
4643 @c FIX ME!! Do we delete this, or is there a way it fits in with
4644 @c the following paragraph? --- Vctoria
4645 @c
4646 @c @code{next} within a function that lacks debugging information acts like
4647 @c @code{step}, but any function calls appearing within the code of the
4648 @c function are executed without stopping.
4649
4650 The @code{next} command only stops at the first instruction of a
4651 source line. This prevents multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
4652 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc.
4653
4654 @kindex set step-mode
4655 @item set step-mode
4656 @cindex functions without line info, and stepping
4657 @cindex stepping into functions with no line info
4658 @itemx set step-mode on
4659 The @code{set step-mode on} command causes the @code{step} command to
4660 stop at the first instruction of a function which contains no debug line
4661 information rather than stepping over it.
4662
4663 This is useful in cases where you may be interested in inspecting the
4664 machine instructions of a function which has no symbolic info and do not
4665 want @value{GDBN} to automatically skip over this function.
4666
4667 @item set step-mode off
4668 Causes the @code{step} command to step over any functions which contains no
4669 debug information. This is the default.
4670
4671 @item show step-mode
4672 Show whether @value{GDBN} will stop in or step over functions without
4673 source line debug information.
4674
4675 @kindex finish
4676 @kindex fin @r{(@code{finish})}
4677 @item finish
4678 Continue running until just after function in the selected stack frame
4679 returns. Print the returned value (if any). This command can be
4680 abbreviated as @code{fin}.
4681
4682 Contrast this with the @code{return} command (@pxref{Returning,
4683 ,Returning from a Function}).
4684
4685 @kindex until
4686 @kindex u @r{(@code{until})}
4687 @cindex run until specified location
4688 @item until
4689 @itemx u
4690 Continue running until a source line past the current line, in the
4691 current stack frame, is reached. This command is used to avoid single
4692 stepping through a loop more than once. It is like the @code{next}
4693 command, except that when @code{until} encounters a jump, it
4694 automatically continues execution until the program counter is greater
4695 than the address of the jump.
4696
4697 This means that when you reach the end of a loop after single stepping
4698 though it, @code{until} makes your program continue execution until it
4699 exits the loop. In contrast, a @code{next} command at the end of a loop
4700 simply steps back to the beginning of the loop, which forces you to step
4701 through the next iteration.
4702
4703 @code{until} always stops your program if it attempts to exit the current
4704 stack frame.
4705
4706 @code{until} may produce somewhat counterintuitive results if the order
4707 of machine code does not match the order of the source lines. For
4708 example, in the following excerpt from a debugging session, the @code{f}
4709 (@code{frame}) command shows that execution is stopped at line
4710 @code{206}; yet when we use @code{until}, we get to line @code{195}:
4711
4712 @smallexample
4713 (@value{GDBP}) f
4714 #0 main (argc=4, argv=0xf7fffae8) at m4.c:206
4715 206 expand_input();
4716 (@value{GDBP}) until
4717 195 for ( ; argc > 0; NEXTARG) @{
4718 @end smallexample
4719
4720 This happened because, for execution efficiency, the compiler had
4721 generated code for the loop closure test at the end, rather than the
4722 start, of the loop---even though the test in a C @code{for}-loop is
4723 written before the body of the loop. The @code{until} command appeared
4724 to step back to the beginning of the loop when it advanced to this
4725 expression; however, it has not really gone to an earlier
4726 statement---not in terms of the actual machine code.
4727
4728 @code{until} with no argument works by means of single
4729 instruction stepping, and hence is slower than @code{until} with an
4730 argument.
4731
4732 @item until @var{location}
4733 @itemx u @var{location}
4734 Continue running your program until either the specified location is
4735 reached, or the current stack frame returns. @var{location} is any of
4736 the forms described in @ref{Specify Location}.
4737 This form of the command uses temporary breakpoints, and
4738 hence is quicker than @code{until} without an argument. The specified
4739 location is actually reached only if it is in the current frame. This
4740 implies that @code{until} can be used to skip over recursive function
4741 invocations. For instance in the code below, if the current location is
4742 line @code{96}, issuing @code{until 99} will execute the program up to
4743 line @code{99} in the same invocation of factorial, i.e., after the inner
4744 invocations have returned.
4745
4746 @smallexample
4747 94 int factorial (int value)
4748 95 @{
4749 96 if (value > 1) @{
4750 97 value *= factorial (value - 1);
4751 98 @}
4752 99 return (value);
4753 100 @}
4754 @end smallexample
4755
4756
4757 @kindex advance @var{location}
4758 @itemx advance @var{location}
4759 Continue running the program up to the given @var{location}. An argument is
4760 required, which should be of one of the forms described in
4761 @ref{Specify Location}.
4762 Execution will also stop upon exit from the current stack
4763 frame. This command is similar to @code{until}, but @code{advance} will
4764 not skip over recursive function calls, and the target location doesn't
4765 have to be in the same frame as the current one.
4766
4767
4768 @kindex stepi
4769 @kindex si @r{(@code{stepi})}
4770 @item stepi
4771 @itemx stepi @var{arg}
4772 @itemx si
4773 Execute one machine instruction, then stop and return to the debugger.
4774
4775 It is often useful to do @samp{display/i $pc} when stepping by machine
4776 instructions. This makes @value{GDBN} automatically display the next
4777 instruction to be executed, each time your program stops. @xref{Auto
4778 Display,, Automatic Display}.
4779
4780 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{step}.
4781
4782 @need 750
4783 @kindex nexti
4784 @kindex ni @r{(@code{nexti})}
4785 @item nexti
4786 @itemx nexti @var{arg}
4787 @itemx ni
4788 Execute one machine instruction, but if it is a function call,
4789 proceed until the function returns.
4790
4791 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{next}.
4792 @end table
4793
4794 @node Signals
4795 @section Signals
4796 @cindex signals
4797
4798 A signal is an asynchronous event that can happen in a program. The
4799 operating system defines the possible kinds of signals, and gives each
4800 kind a name and a number. For example, in Unix @code{SIGINT} is the
4801 signal a program gets when you type an interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c});
4802 @code{SIGSEGV} is the signal a program gets from referencing a place in
4803 memory far away from all the areas in use; @code{SIGALRM} occurs when
4804 the alarm clock timer goes off (which happens only if your program has
4805 requested an alarm).
4806
4807 @cindex fatal signals
4808 Some signals, including @code{SIGALRM}, are a normal part of the
4809 functioning of your program. Others, such as @code{SIGSEGV}, indicate
4810 errors; these signals are @dfn{fatal} (they kill your program immediately) if the
4811 program has not specified in advance some other way to handle the signal.
4812 @code{SIGINT} does not indicate an error in your program, but it is normally
4813 fatal so it can carry out the purpose of the interrupt: to kill the program.
4814
4815 @value{GDBN} has the ability to detect any occurrence of a signal in your
4816 program. You can tell @value{GDBN} in advance what to do for each kind of
4817 signal.
4818
4819 @cindex handling signals
4820 Normally, @value{GDBN} is set up to let the non-erroneous signals like
4821 @code{SIGALRM} be silently passed to your program
4822 (so as not to interfere with their role in the program's functioning)
4823 but to stop your program immediately whenever an error signal happens.
4824 You can change these settings with the @code{handle} command.
4825
4826 @table @code
4827 @kindex info signals
4828 @kindex info handle
4829 @item info signals
4830 @itemx info handle
4831 Print a table of all the kinds of signals and how @value{GDBN} has been told to
4832 handle each one. You can use this to see the signal numbers of all
4833 the defined types of signals.
4834
4835 @item info signals @var{sig}
4836 Similar, but print information only about the specified signal number.
4837
4838 @code{info handle} is an alias for @code{info signals}.
4839
4840 @kindex handle
4841 @item handle @var{signal} @r{[}@var{keywords}@dots{}@r{]}
4842 Change the way @value{GDBN} handles signal @var{signal}. @var{signal}
4843 can be the number of a signal or its name (with or without the
4844 @samp{SIG} at the beginning); a list of signal numbers of the form
4845 @samp{@var{low}-@var{high}}; or the word @samp{all}, meaning all the
4846 known signals. Optional arguments @var{keywords}, described below,
4847 say what change to make.
4848 @end table
4849
4850 @c @group
4851 The keywords allowed by the @code{handle} command can be abbreviated.
4852 Their full names are:
4853
4854 @table @code
4855 @item nostop
4856 @value{GDBN} should not stop your program when this signal happens. It may
4857 still print a message telling you that the signal has come in.
4858
4859 @item stop
4860 @value{GDBN} should stop your program when this signal happens. This implies
4861 the @code{print} keyword as well.
4862
4863 @item print
4864 @value{GDBN} should print a message when this signal happens.
4865
4866 @item noprint
4867 @value{GDBN} should not mention the occurrence of the signal at all. This
4868 implies the @code{nostop} keyword as well.
4869
4870 @item pass
4871 @itemx noignore
4872 @value{GDBN} should allow your program to see this signal; your program
4873 can handle the signal, or else it may terminate if the signal is fatal
4874 and not handled. @code{pass} and @code{noignore} are synonyms.
4875
4876 @item nopass
4877 @itemx ignore
4878 @value{GDBN} should not allow your program to see this signal.
4879 @code{nopass} and @code{ignore} are synonyms.
4880 @end table
4881 @c @end group
4882
4883 When a signal stops your program, the signal is not visible to the
4884 program until you
4885 continue. Your program sees the signal then, if @code{pass} is in
4886 effect for the signal in question @emph{at that time}. In other words,
4887 after @value{GDBN} reports a signal, you can use the @code{handle}
4888 command with @code{pass} or @code{nopass} to control whether your
4889 program sees that signal when you continue.
4890
4891 The default is set to @code{nostop}, @code{noprint}, @code{pass} for
4892 non-erroneous signals such as @code{SIGALRM}, @code{SIGWINCH} and
4893 @code{SIGCHLD}, and to @code{stop}, @code{print}, @code{pass} for the
4894 erroneous signals.
4895
4896 You can also use the @code{signal} command to prevent your program from
4897 seeing a signal, or cause it to see a signal it normally would not see,
4898 or to give it any signal at any time. For example, if your program stopped
4899 due to some sort of memory reference error, you might store correct
4900 values into the erroneous variables and continue, hoping to see more
4901 execution; but your program would probably terminate immediately as
4902 a result of the fatal signal once it saw the signal. To prevent this,
4903 you can continue with @samp{signal 0}. @xref{Signaling, ,Giving your
4904 Program a Signal}.
4905
4906 @cindex extra signal information
4907 @anchor{extra signal information}
4908
4909 On some targets, @value{GDBN} can inspect extra signal information
4910 associated with the intercepted signal, before it is actually
4911 delivered to the program being debugged. This information is exported
4912 by the convenience variable @code{$_siginfo}, and consists of data
4913 that is passed by the kernel to the signal handler at the time of the
4914 receipt of a signal. The data type of the information itself is
4915 target dependent. You can see the data type using the @code{ptype
4916 $_siginfo} command. On Unix systems, it typically corresponds to the
4917 standard @code{siginfo_t} type, as defined in the @file{signal.h}
4918 system header.
4919
4920 Here's an example, on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, printing the stray
4921 referenced address that raised a segmentation fault.
4922
4923 @smallexample
4924 @group
4925 (@value{GDBP}) continue
4926 Program received signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
4927 0x0000000000400766 in main ()
4928 69 *(int *)p = 0;
4929 (@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo
4930 type = struct @{
4931 int si_signo;
4932 int si_errno;
4933 int si_code;
4934 union @{
4935 int _pad[28];
4936 struct @{...@} _kill;
4937 struct @{...@} _timer;
4938 struct @{...@} _rt;
4939 struct @{...@} _sigchld;
4940 struct @{...@} _sigfault;
4941 struct @{...@} _sigpoll;
4942 @} _sifields;
4943 @}
4944 (@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault
4945 type = struct @{
4946 void *si_addr;
4947 @}
4948 (@value{GDBP}) p $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault.si_addr
4949 $1 = (void *) 0x7ffff7ff7000
4950 @end group
4951 @end smallexample
4952
4953 Depending on target support, @code{$_siginfo} may also be writable.
4954
4955 @node Thread Stops
4956 @section Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs
4957
4958 @cindex stopped threads
4959 @cindex threads, stopped
4960
4961 @cindex continuing threads
4962 @cindex threads, continuing
4963
4964 @value{GDBN} supports debugging programs with multiple threads
4965 (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads}). There
4966 are two modes of controlling execution of your program within the
4967 debugger. In the default mode, referred to as @dfn{all-stop mode},
4968 when any thread in your program stops (for example, at a breakpoint
4969 or while being stepped), all other threads in the program are also stopped by
4970 @value{GDBN}. On some targets, @value{GDBN} also supports
4971 @dfn{non-stop mode}, in which other threads can continue to run freely while
4972 you examine the stopped thread in the debugger.
4973
4974 @menu
4975 * All-Stop Mode:: All threads stop when GDB takes control
4976 * Non-Stop Mode:: Other threads continue to execute
4977 * Background Execution:: Running your program asynchronously
4978 * Thread-Specific Breakpoints:: Controlling breakpoints
4979 * Interrupted System Calls:: GDB may interfere with system calls
4980 * Observer Mode:: GDB does not alter program behavior
4981 @end menu
4982
4983 @node All-Stop Mode
4984 @subsection All-Stop Mode
4985
4986 @cindex all-stop mode
4987
4988 In all-stop mode, whenever your program stops under @value{GDBN} for any reason,
4989 @emph{all} threads of execution stop, not just the current thread. This
4990 allows you to examine the overall state of the program, including
4991 switching between threads, without worrying that things may change
4992 underfoot.
4993
4994 Conversely, whenever you restart the program, @emph{all} threads start
4995 executing. @emph{This is true even when single-stepping} with commands
4996 like @code{step} or @code{next}.
4997
4998 In particular, @value{GDBN} cannot single-step all threads in lockstep.
4999 Since thread scheduling is up to your debugging target's operating
5000 system (not controlled by @value{GDBN}), other threads may
5001 execute more than one statement while the current thread completes a
5002 single step. Moreover, in general other threads stop in the middle of a
5003 statement, rather than at a clean statement boundary, when the program
5004 stops.
5005
5006 You might even find your program stopped in another thread after
5007 continuing or even single-stepping. This happens whenever some other
5008 thread runs into a breakpoint, a signal, or an exception before the
5009 first thread completes whatever you requested.
5010
5011 @cindex automatic thread selection
5012 @cindex switching threads automatically
5013 @cindex threads, automatic switching
5014 Whenever @value{GDBN} stops your program, due to a breakpoint or a
5015 signal, it automatically selects the thread where that breakpoint or
5016 signal happened. @value{GDBN} alerts you to the context switch with a
5017 message such as @samp{[Switching to Thread @var{n}]} to identify the
5018 thread.
5019
5020 On some OSes, you can modify @value{GDBN}'s default behavior by
5021 locking the OS scheduler to allow only a single thread to run.
5022
5023 @table @code
5024 @item set scheduler-locking @var{mode}
5025 @cindex scheduler locking mode
5026 @cindex lock scheduler
5027 Set the scheduler locking mode. If it is @code{off}, then there is no
5028 locking and any thread may run at any time. If @code{on}, then only the
5029 current thread may run when the inferior is resumed. The @code{step}
5030 mode optimizes for single-stepping; it prevents other threads
5031 from preempting the current thread while you are stepping, so that
5032 the focus of debugging does not change unexpectedly.
5033 Other threads only rarely (or never) get a chance to run
5034 when you step. They are more likely to run when you @samp{next} over a
5035 function call, and they are completely free to run when you use commands
5036 like @samp{continue}, @samp{until}, or @samp{finish}. However, unless another
5037 thread hits a breakpoint during its timeslice, @value{GDBN} does not change
5038 the current thread away from the thread that you are debugging.
5039
5040 @item show scheduler-locking
5041 Display the current scheduler locking mode.
5042 @end table
5043
5044 @cindex resume threads of multiple processes simultaneously
5045 By default, when you issue one of the execution commands such as
5046 @code{continue}, @code{next} or @code{step}, @value{GDBN} allows only
5047 threads of the current inferior to run. For example, if @value{GDBN}
5048 is attached to two inferiors, each with two threads, the
5049 @code{continue} command resumes only the two threads of the current
5050 inferior. This is useful, for example, when you debug a program that
5051 forks and you want to hold the parent stopped (so that, for instance,
5052 it doesn't run to exit), while you debug the child. In other
5053 situations, you may not be interested in inspecting the current state
5054 of any of the processes @value{GDBN} is attached to, and you may want
5055 to resume them all until some breakpoint is hit. In the latter case,
5056 you can instruct @value{GDBN} to allow all threads of all the
5057 inferiors to run with the @w{@code{set schedule-multiple}} command.
5058
5059 @table @code
5060 @kindex set schedule-multiple
5061 @item set schedule-multiple
5062 Set the mode for allowing threads of multiple processes to be resumed
5063 when an execution command is issued. When @code{on}, all threads of
5064 all processes are allowed to run. When @code{off}, only the threads
5065 of the current process are resumed. The default is @code{off}. The
5066 @code{scheduler-locking} mode takes precedence when set to @code{on},
5067 or while you are stepping and set to @code{step}.
5068
5069 @item show schedule-multiple
5070 Display the current mode for resuming the execution of threads of
5071 multiple processes.
5072 @end table
5073
5074 @node Non-Stop Mode
5075 @subsection Non-Stop Mode
5076
5077 @cindex non-stop mode
5078
5079 @c This section is really only a place-holder, and needs to be expanded
5080 @c with more details.
5081
5082 For some multi-threaded targets, @value{GDBN} supports an optional
5083 mode of operation in which you can examine stopped program threads in
5084 the debugger while other threads continue to execute freely. This
5085 minimizes intrusion when debugging live systems, such as programs
5086 where some threads have real-time constraints or must continue to
5087 respond to external events. This is referred to as @dfn{non-stop} mode.
5088
5089 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops to report a debugging event,
5090 @emph{only} that thread is stopped; @value{GDBN} does not stop other
5091 threads as well, in contrast to the all-stop mode behavior. Additionally,
5092 execution commands such as @code{continue} and @code{step} apply by default
5093 only to the current thread in non-stop mode, rather than all threads as
5094 in all-stop mode. This allows you to control threads explicitly in
5095 ways that are not possible in all-stop mode --- for example, stepping
5096 one thread while allowing others to run freely, stepping
5097 one thread while holding all others stopped, or stepping several threads
5098 independently and simultaneously.
5099
5100 To enter non-stop mode, use this sequence of commands before you run
5101 or attach to your program:
5102
5103 @smallexample
5104 # Enable the async interface.
5105 set target-async 1
5106
5107 # If using the CLI, pagination breaks non-stop.
5108 set pagination off
5109
5110 # Finally, turn it on!
5111 set non-stop on
5112 @end smallexample
5113
5114 You can use these commands to manipulate the non-stop mode setting:
5115
5116 @table @code
5117 @kindex set non-stop
5118 @item set non-stop on
5119 Enable selection of non-stop mode.
5120 @item set non-stop off
5121 Disable selection of non-stop mode.
5122 @kindex show non-stop
5123 @item show non-stop
5124 Show the current non-stop enablement setting.
5125 @end table
5126
5127 Note these commands only reflect whether non-stop mode is enabled,
5128 not whether the currently-executing program is being run in non-stop mode.
5129 In particular, the @code{set non-stop} preference is only consulted when
5130 @value{GDBN} starts or connects to the target program, and it is generally
5131 not possible to switch modes once debugging has started. Furthermore,
5132 since not all targets support non-stop mode, even when you have enabled
5133 non-stop mode, @value{GDBN} may still fall back to all-stop operation by
5134 default.
5135
5136 In non-stop mode, all execution commands apply only to the current thread
5137 by default. That is, @code{continue} only continues one thread.
5138 To continue all threads, issue @code{continue -a} or @code{c -a}.
5139
5140 You can use @value{GDBN}'s background execution commands
5141 (@pxref{Background Execution}) to run some threads in the background
5142 while you continue to examine or step others from @value{GDBN}.
5143 The MI execution commands (@pxref{GDB/MI Program Execution}) are
5144 always executed asynchronously in non-stop mode.
5145
5146 Suspending execution is done with the @code{interrupt} command when
5147 running in the background, or @kbd{Ctrl-c} during foreground execution.
5148 In all-stop mode, this stops the whole process;
5149 but in non-stop mode the interrupt applies only to the current thread.
5150 To stop the whole program, use @code{interrupt -a}.
5151
5152 Other execution commands do not currently support the @code{-a} option.
5153
5154 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops, @value{GDBN} doesn't automatically make
5155 that thread current, as it does in all-stop mode. This is because the
5156 thread stop notifications are asynchronous with respect to @value{GDBN}'s
5157 command interpreter, and it would be confusing if @value{GDBN} unexpectedly
5158 changed to a different thread just as you entered a command to operate on the
5159 previously current thread.
5160
5161 @node Background Execution
5162 @subsection Background Execution
5163
5164 @cindex foreground execution
5165 @cindex background execution
5166 @cindex asynchronous execution
5167 @cindex execution, foreground, background and asynchronous
5168
5169 @value{GDBN}'s execution commands have two variants: the normal
5170 foreground (synchronous) behavior, and a background
5171 (asynchronous) behavior. In foreground execution, @value{GDBN} waits for
5172 the program to report that some thread has stopped before prompting for
5173 another command. In background execution, @value{GDBN} immediately gives
5174 a command prompt so that you can issue other commands while your program runs.
5175
5176 You need to explicitly enable asynchronous mode before you can use
5177 background execution commands. You can use these commands to
5178 manipulate the asynchronous mode setting:
5179
5180 @table @code
5181 @kindex set target-async
5182 @item set target-async on
5183 Enable asynchronous mode.
5184 @item set target-async off
5185 Disable asynchronous mode.
5186 @kindex show target-async
5187 @item show target-async
5188 Show the current target-async setting.
5189 @end table
5190
5191 If the target doesn't support async mode, @value{GDBN} issues an error
5192 message if you attempt to use the background execution commands.
5193
5194 To specify background execution, add a @code{&} to the command. For example,
5195 the background form of the @code{continue} command is @code{continue&}, or
5196 just @code{c&}. The execution commands that accept background execution
5197 are:
5198
5199 @table @code
5200 @kindex run&
5201 @item run
5202 @xref{Starting, , Starting your Program}.
5203
5204 @item attach
5205 @kindex attach&
5206 @xref{Attach, , Debugging an Already-running Process}.
5207
5208 @item step
5209 @kindex step&
5210 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, step}.
5211
5212 @item stepi
5213 @kindex stepi&
5214 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, stepi}.
5215
5216 @item next
5217 @kindex next&
5218 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, next}.
5219
5220 @item nexti
5221 @kindex nexti&
5222 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, nexti}.
5223
5224 @item continue
5225 @kindex continue&
5226 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, continue}.
5227
5228 @item finish
5229 @kindex finish&
5230 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, finish}.
5231
5232 @item until
5233 @kindex until&
5234 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, until}.
5235
5236 @end table
5237
5238 Background execution is especially useful in conjunction with non-stop
5239 mode for debugging programs with multiple threads; see @ref{Non-Stop Mode}.
5240 However, you can also use these commands in the normal all-stop mode with
5241 the restriction that you cannot issue another execution command until the
5242 previous one finishes. Examples of commands that are valid in all-stop
5243 mode while the program is running include @code{help} and @code{info break}.
5244
5245 You can interrupt your program while it is running in the background by
5246 using the @code{interrupt} command.
5247
5248 @table @code
5249 @kindex interrupt
5250 @item interrupt
5251 @itemx interrupt -a
5252
5253 Suspend execution of the running program. In all-stop mode,
5254 @code{interrupt} stops the whole process, but in non-stop mode, it stops
5255 only the current thread. To stop the whole program in non-stop mode,
5256 use @code{interrupt -a}.
5257 @end table
5258
5259 @node Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5260 @subsection Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5261
5262 When your program has multiple threads (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging
5263 Programs with Multiple Threads}), you can choose whether to set
5264 breakpoints on all threads, or on a particular thread.
5265
5266 @table @code
5267 @cindex breakpoints and threads
5268 @cindex thread breakpoints
5269 @kindex break @dots{} thread @var{threadno}
5270 @item break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno}
5271 @itemx break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno} if @dots{}
5272 @var{linespec} specifies source lines; there are several ways of
5273 writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always to
5274 specify some source line.
5275
5276 Use the qualifier @samp{thread @var{threadno}} with a breakpoint command
5277 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
5278 particular thread reaches this breakpoint. @var{threadno} is one of the
5279 numeric thread identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
5280 column of the @samp{info threads} display.
5281
5282 If you do not specify @samp{thread @var{threadno}} when you set a
5283 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} threads of your
5284 program.
5285
5286 You can use the @code{thread} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
5287 well; in this case, place @samp{thread @var{threadno}} before or
5288 after the breakpoint condition, like this:
5289
5290 @smallexample
5291 (@value{GDBP}) break frik.c:13 thread 28 if bartab > lim
5292 @end smallexample
5293
5294 @end table
5295
5296 @node Interrupted System Calls
5297 @subsection Interrupted System Calls
5298
5299 @cindex thread breakpoints and system calls
5300 @cindex system calls and thread breakpoints
5301 @cindex premature return from system calls
5302 There is an unfortunate side effect when using @value{GDBN} to debug
5303 multi-threaded programs. If one thread stops for a
5304 breakpoint, or for some other reason, and another thread is blocked in a
5305 system call, then the system call may return prematurely. This is a
5306 consequence of the interaction between multiple threads and the signals
5307 that @value{GDBN} uses to implement breakpoints and other events that
5308 stop execution.
5309
5310 To handle this problem, your program should check the return value of
5311 each system call and react appropriately. This is good programming
5312 style anyways.
5313
5314 For example, do not write code like this:
5315
5316 @smallexample
5317 sleep (10);
5318 @end smallexample
5319
5320 The call to @code{sleep} will return early if a different thread stops
5321 at a breakpoint or for some other reason.
5322
5323 Instead, write this:
5324
5325 @smallexample
5326 int unslept = 10;
5327 while (unslept > 0)
5328 unslept = sleep (unslept);
5329 @end smallexample
5330
5331 A system call is allowed to return early, so the system is still
5332 conforming to its specification. But @value{GDBN} does cause your
5333 multi-threaded program to behave differently than it would without
5334 @value{GDBN}.
5335
5336 Also, @value{GDBN} uses internal breakpoints in the thread library to
5337 monitor certain events such as thread creation and thread destruction.
5338 When such an event happens, a system call in another thread may return
5339 prematurely, even though your program does not appear to stop.
5340
5341 @node Observer Mode
5342 @subsection Observer Mode
5343
5344 If you want to build on non-stop mode and observe program behavior
5345 without any chance of disruption by @value{GDBN}, you can set
5346 variables to disable all of the debugger's attempts to modify state,
5347 whether by writing memory, inserting breakpoints, etc. These operate
5348 at a low level, intercepting operations from all commands.
5349
5350 When all of these are set to @code{off}, then @value{GDBN} is said to
5351 be @dfn{observer mode}. As a convenience, the variable
5352 @code{observer} can be set to disable these, plus enable non-stop
5353 mode.
5354
5355 Note that @value{GDBN} will not prevent you from making nonsensical
5356 combinations of these settings. For instance, if you have enabled
5357 @code{may-insert-breakpoints} but disabled @code{may-write-memory},
5358 then breakpoints that work by writing trap instructions into the code
5359 stream will still not be able to be placed.
5360
5361 @table @code
5362
5363 @kindex observer
5364 @item set observer on
5365 @itemx set observer off
5366 When set to @code{on}, this disables all the permission variables
5367 below (except for @code{insert-fast-tracepoints}), plus enables
5368 non-stop debugging. Setting this to @code{off} switches back to
5369 normal debugging, though remaining in non-stop mode.
5370
5371 @item show observer
5372 Show whether observer mode is on or off.
5373
5374 @kindex may-write-registers
5375 @item set may-write-registers on
5376 @itemx set may-write-registers off
5377 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the values of
5378 registers, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}, or the
5379 @code{jump} command. It defaults to @code{on}.
5380
5381 @item show may-write-registers
5382 Show the current permission to write registers.
5383
5384 @kindex may-write-memory
5385 @item set may-write-memory on
5386 @itemx set may-write-memory off
5387 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the contents
5388 of memory, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}. It
5389 defaults to @code{on}.
5390
5391 @item show may-write-memory
5392 Show the current permission to write memory.
5393
5394 @kindex may-insert-breakpoints
5395 @item set may-insert-breakpoints on
5396 @itemx set may-insert-breakpoints off
5397 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert breakpoints.
5398 This affects all breakpoints, including internal breakpoints defined
5399 by @value{GDBN}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5400
5401 @item show may-insert-breakpoints
5402 Show the current permission to insert breakpoints.
5403
5404 @kindex may-insert-tracepoints
5405 @item set may-insert-tracepoints on
5406 @itemx set may-insert-tracepoints off
5407 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert (regular)
5408 tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
5409 non-fast tracepoints, fast tracepoints being under the control of
5410 @code{may-insert-fast-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5411
5412 @item show may-insert-tracepoints
5413 Show the current permission to insert tracepoints.
5414
5415 @kindex may-insert-fast-tracepoints
5416 @item set may-insert-fast-tracepoints on
5417 @itemx set may-insert-fast-tracepoints off
5418 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert fast
5419 tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
5420 fast tracepoints, regular (non-fast) tracepoints being under the
5421 control of @code{may-insert-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5422
5423 @item show may-insert-fast-tracepoints
5424 Show the current permission to insert fast tracepoints.
5425
5426 @kindex may-interrupt
5427 @item set may-interrupt on
5428 @itemx set may-interrupt off
5429 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to interrupt or stop
5430 program execution. When this variable is @code{off}, the
5431 @code{interrupt} command will have no effect, nor will
5432 @kbd{Ctrl-c}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5433
5434 @item show may-interrupt
5435 Show the current permission to interrupt or stop the program.
5436
5437 @end table
5438
5439 @node Reverse Execution
5440 @chapter Running programs backward
5441 @cindex reverse execution
5442 @cindex running programs backward
5443
5444 When you are debugging a program, it is not unusual to realize that
5445 you have gone too far, and some event of interest has already happened.
5446 If the target environment supports it, @value{GDBN} can allow you to
5447 ``rewind'' the program by running it backward.
5448
5449 A target environment that supports reverse execution should be able
5450 to ``undo'' the changes in machine state that have taken place as the
5451 program was executing normally. Variables, registers etc.@: should
5452 revert to their previous values. Obviously this requires a great
5453 deal of sophistication on the part of the target environment; not
5454 all target environments can support reverse execution.
5455
5456 When a program is executed in reverse, the instructions that
5457 have most recently been executed are ``un-executed'', in reverse
5458 order. The program counter runs backward, following the previous
5459 thread of execution in reverse. As each instruction is ``un-executed'',
5460 the values of memory and/or registers that were changed by that
5461 instruction are reverted to their previous states. After executing
5462 a piece of source code in reverse, all side effects of that code
5463 should be ``undone'', and all variables should be returned to their
5464 prior values@footnote{
5465 Note that some side effects are easier to undo than others. For instance,
5466 memory and registers are relatively easy, but device I/O is hard. Some
5467 targets may be able undo things like device I/O, and some may not.
5468
5469 The contract between @value{GDBN} and the reverse executing target
5470 requires only that the target do something reasonable when
5471 @value{GDBN} tells it to execute backwards, and then report the
5472 results back to @value{GDBN}. Whatever the target reports back to
5473 @value{GDBN}, @value{GDBN} will report back to the user. @value{GDBN}
5474 assumes that the memory and registers that the target reports are in a
5475 consistant state, but @value{GDBN} accepts whatever it is given.
5476 }.
5477
5478 If you are debugging in a target environment that supports
5479 reverse execution, @value{GDBN} provides the following commands.
5480
5481 @table @code
5482 @kindex reverse-continue
5483 @kindex rc @r{(@code{reverse-continue})}
5484 @item reverse-continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5485 @itemx rc @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5486 Beginning at the point where your program last stopped, start executing
5487 in reverse. Reverse execution will stop for breakpoints and synchronous
5488 exceptions (signals), just like normal execution. Behavior of
5489 asynchronous signals depends on the target environment.
5490
5491 @kindex reverse-step
5492 @kindex rs @r{(@code{step})}
5493 @item reverse-step @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5494 Run the program backward until control reaches the start of a
5495 different source line; then stop it, and return control to @value{GDBN}.
5496
5497 Like the @code{step} command, @code{reverse-step} will only stop
5498 at the beginning of a source line. It ``un-executes'' the previously
5499 executed source line. If the previous source line included calls to
5500 debuggable functions, @code{reverse-step} will step (backward) into
5501 the called function, stopping at the beginning of the @emph{last}
5502 statement in the called function (typically a return statement).
5503
5504 Also, as with the @code{step} command, if non-debuggable functions are
5505 called, @code{reverse-step} will run thru them backward without stopping.
5506
5507 @kindex reverse-stepi
5508 @kindex rsi @r{(@code{reverse-stepi})}
5509 @item reverse-stepi @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5510 Reverse-execute one machine instruction. Note that the instruction
5511 to be reverse-executed is @emph{not} the one pointed to by the program
5512 counter, but the instruction executed prior to that one. For instance,
5513 if the last instruction was a jump, @code{reverse-stepi} will take you
5514 back from the destination of the jump to the jump instruction itself.
5515
5516 @kindex reverse-next
5517 @kindex rn @r{(@code{reverse-next})}
5518 @item reverse-next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5519 Run backward to the beginning of the previous line executed in
5520 the current (innermost) stack frame. If the line contains function
5521 calls, they will be ``un-executed'' without stopping. Starting from
5522 the first line of a function, @code{reverse-next} will take you back
5523 to the caller of that function, @emph{before} the function was called,
5524 just as the normal @code{next} command would take you from the last
5525 line of a function back to its return to its caller
5526 @footnote{Unless the code is too heavily optimized.}.
5527
5528 @kindex reverse-nexti
5529 @kindex rni @r{(@code{reverse-nexti})}
5530 @item reverse-nexti @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5531 Like @code{nexti}, @code{reverse-nexti} executes a single instruction
5532 in reverse, except that called functions are ``un-executed'' atomically.
5533 That is, if the previously executed instruction was a return from
5534 another function, @code{reverse-nexti} will continue to execute
5535 in reverse until the call to that function (from the current stack
5536 frame) is reached.
5537
5538 @kindex reverse-finish
5539 @item reverse-finish
5540 Just as the @code{finish} command takes you to the point where the
5541 current function returns, @code{reverse-finish} takes you to the point
5542 where it was called. Instead of ending up at the end of the current
5543 function invocation, you end up at the beginning.
5544
5545 @kindex set exec-direction
5546 @item set exec-direction
5547 Set the direction of target execution.
5548 @itemx set exec-direction reverse
5549 @cindex execute forward or backward in time
5550 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in reverse, until the
5551 exec-direction mode is changed to ``forward''. Affected commands include
5552 @code{step, stepi, next, nexti, continue, and finish}. The @code{return}
5553 command cannot be used in reverse mode.
5554 @item set exec-direction forward
5555 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in the normal fashion.
5556 This is the default.
5557 @end table
5558
5559
5560 @node Process Record and Replay
5561 @chapter Recording Inferior's Execution and Replaying It
5562 @cindex process record and replay
5563 @cindex recording inferior's execution and replaying it
5564
5565 On some platforms, @value{GDBN} provides a special @dfn{process record
5566 and replay} target that can record a log of the process execution, and
5567 replay it later with both forward and reverse execution commands.
5568
5569 @cindex replay mode
5570 When this target is in use, if the execution log includes the record
5571 for the next instruction, @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{replay
5572 mode}. In the replay mode, the inferior does not really execute code
5573 instructions. Instead, all the events that normally happen during
5574 code execution are taken from the execution log. While code is not
5575 really executed in replay mode, the values of registers (including the
5576 program counter register) and the memory of the inferior are still
5577 changed as they normally would. Their contents are taken from the
5578 execution log.
5579
5580 @cindex record mode
5581 If the record for the next instruction is not in the execution log,
5582 @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{record mode}. In this mode, the
5583 inferior executes normally, and @value{GDBN} records the execution log
5584 for future replay.
5585
5586 The process record and replay target supports reverse execution
5587 (@pxref{Reverse Execution}), even if the platform on which the
5588 inferior runs does not. However, the reverse execution is limited in
5589 this case by the range of the instructions recorded in the execution
5590 log. In other words, reverse execution on platforms that don't
5591 support it directly can only be done in the replay mode.
5592
5593 When debugging in the reverse direction, @value{GDBN} will work in
5594 replay mode as long as the execution log includes the record for the
5595 previous instruction; otherwise, it will work in record mode, if the
5596 platform supports reverse execution, or stop if not.
5597
5598 For architecture environments that support process record and replay,
5599 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands:
5600
5601 @table @code
5602 @kindex target record
5603 @kindex record
5604 @kindex rec
5605 @item target record
5606 This command starts the process record and replay target. The process
5607 record and replay target can only debug a process that is already
5608 running. Therefore, you need first to start the process with the
5609 @kbd{run} or @kbd{start} commands, and then start the recording with
5610 the @kbd{target record} command.
5611
5612 Both @code{record} and @code{rec} are aliases of @code{target record}.
5613
5614 @cindex displaced stepping, and process record and replay
5615 Displaced stepping (@pxref{Maintenance Commands,, displaced stepping})
5616 will be automatically disabled when process record and replay target
5617 is started. That's because the process record and replay target
5618 doesn't support displaced stepping.
5619
5620 @cindex non-stop mode, and process record and replay
5621 @cindex asynchronous execution, and process record and replay
5622 If the inferior is in the non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) or in
5623 the asynchronous execution mode (@pxref{Background Execution}), the
5624 process record and replay target cannot be started because it doesn't
5625 support these two modes.
5626
5627 @kindex record stop
5628 @kindex rec s
5629 @item record stop
5630 Stop the process record and replay target. When process record and
5631 replay target stops, the entire execution log will be deleted and the
5632 inferior will either be terminated, or will remain in its final state.
5633
5634 When you stop the process record and replay target in record mode (at
5635 the end of the execution log), the inferior will be stopped at the
5636 next instruction that would have been recorded. In other words, if
5637 you record for a while and then stop recording, the inferior process
5638 will be left in the same state as if the recording never happened.
5639
5640 On the other hand, if the process record and replay target is stopped
5641 while in replay mode (that is, not at the end of the execution log,
5642 but at some earlier point), the inferior process will become ``live''
5643 at that earlier state, and it will then be possible to continue the
5644 usual ``live'' debugging of the process from that state.
5645
5646 When the inferior process exits, or @value{GDBN} detaches from it,
5647 process record and replay target will automatically stop itself.
5648
5649 @kindex record save
5650 @item record save @var{filename}
5651 Save the execution log to a file @file{@var{filename}}.
5652 Default filename is @file{gdb_record.@var{process_id}}, where
5653 @var{process_id} is the process ID of the inferior.
5654
5655 @kindex record restore
5656 @item record restore @var{filename}
5657 Restore the execution log from a file @file{@var{filename}}.
5658 File must have been created with @code{record save}.
5659
5660 @kindex set record insn-number-max
5661 @item set record insn-number-max @var{limit}
5662 Set the limit of instructions to be recorded. Default value is 200000.
5663
5664 If @var{limit} is a positive number, then @value{GDBN} will start
5665 deleting instructions from the log once the number of the record
5666 instructions becomes greater than @var{limit}. For every new recorded
5667 instruction, @value{GDBN} will delete the earliest recorded
5668 instruction to keep the number of recorded instructions at the limit.
5669 (Since deleting recorded instructions loses information, @value{GDBN}
5670 lets you control what happens when the limit is reached, by means of
5671 the @code{stop-at-limit} option, described below.)
5672
5673 If @var{limit} is zero, @value{GDBN} will never delete recorded
5674 instructions from the execution log. The number of recorded
5675 instructions is unlimited in this case.
5676
5677 @kindex show record insn-number-max
5678 @item show record insn-number-max
5679 Show the limit of instructions to be recorded.
5680
5681 @kindex set record stop-at-limit
5682 @item set record stop-at-limit
5683 Control the behavior when the number of recorded instructions reaches
5684 the limit. If ON (the default), @value{GDBN} will stop when the limit
5685 is reached for the first time and ask you whether you want to stop the
5686 inferior or continue running it and recording the execution log. If
5687 you decide to continue recording, each new recorded instruction will
5688 cause the oldest one to be deleted.
5689
5690 If this option is OFF, @value{GDBN} will automatically delete the
5691 oldest record to make room for each new one, without asking.
5692
5693 @kindex show record stop-at-limit
5694 @item show record stop-at-limit
5695 Show the current setting of @code{stop-at-limit}.
5696
5697 @kindex info record
5698 @item info record
5699 Show various statistics about the state of process record and its
5700 in-memory execution log buffer, including:
5701
5702 @itemize @bullet
5703 @item
5704 Whether in record mode or replay mode.
5705 @item
5706 Lowest recorded instruction number (counting from when the current execution log started recording instructions).
5707 @item
5708 Highest recorded instruction number.
5709 @item
5710 Current instruction about to be replayed (if in replay mode).
5711 @item
5712 Number of instructions contained in the execution log.
5713 @item
5714 Maximum number of instructions that may be contained in the execution log.
5715 @end itemize
5716
5717 @kindex record delete
5718 @kindex rec del
5719 @item record delete
5720 When record target runs in replay mode (``in the past''), delete the
5721 subsequent execution log and begin to record a new execution log starting
5722 from the current address. This means you will abandon the previously
5723 recorded ``future'' and begin recording a new ``future''.
5724 @end table
5725
5726
5727 @node Stack
5728 @chapter Examining the Stack
5729
5730 When your program has stopped, the first thing you need to know is where it
5731 stopped and how it got there.
5732
5733 @cindex call stack
5734 Each time your program performs a function call, information about the call
5735 is generated.
5736 That information includes the location of the call in your program,
5737 the arguments of the call,
5738 and the local variables of the function being called.
5739 The information is saved in a block of data called a @dfn{stack frame}.
5740 The stack frames are allocated in a region of memory called the @dfn{call
5741 stack}.
5742
5743 When your program stops, the @value{GDBN} commands for examining the
5744 stack allow you to see all of this information.
5745
5746 @cindex selected frame
5747 One of the stack frames is @dfn{selected} by @value{GDBN} and many
5748 @value{GDBN} commands refer implicitly to the selected frame. In
5749 particular, whenever you ask @value{GDBN} for the value of a variable in
5750 your program, the value is found in the selected frame. There are
5751 special @value{GDBN} commands to select whichever frame you are
5752 interested in. @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
5753
5754 When your program stops, @value{GDBN} automatically selects the
5755 currently executing frame and describes it briefly, similar to the
5756 @code{frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}).
5757
5758 @menu
5759 * Frames:: Stack frames
5760 * Backtrace:: Backtraces
5761 * Selection:: Selecting a frame
5762 * Frame Info:: Information on a frame
5763
5764 @end menu
5765
5766 @node Frames
5767 @section Stack Frames
5768
5769 @cindex frame, definition
5770 @cindex stack frame
5771 The call stack is divided up into contiguous pieces called @dfn{stack
5772 frames}, or @dfn{frames} for short; each frame is the data associated
5773 with one call to one function. The frame contains the arguments given
5774 to the function, the function's local variables, and the address at
5775 which the function is executing.
5776
5777 @cindex initial frame
5778 @cindex outermost frame
5779 @cindex innermost frame
5780 When your program is started, the stack has only one frame, that of the
5781 function @code{main}. This is called the @dfn{initial} frame or the
5782 @dfn{outermost} frame. Each time a function is called, a new frame is
5783 made. Each time a function returns, the frame for that function invocation
5784 is eliminated. If a function is recursive, there can be many frames for
5785 the same function. The frame for the function in which execution is
5786 actually occurring is called the @dfn{innermost} frame. This is the most
5787 recently created of all the stack frames that still exist.
5788
5789 @cindex frame pointer
5790 Inside your program, stack frames are identified by their addresses. A
5791 stack frame consists of many bytes, each of which has its own address; each
5792 kind of computer has a convention for choosing one byte whose
5793 address serves as the address of the frame. Usually this address is kept
5794 in a register called the @dfn{frame pointer register}
5795 (@pxref{Registers, $fp}) while execution is going on in that frame.
5796
5797 @cindex frame number
5798 @value{GDBN} assigns numbers to all existing stack frames, starting with
5799 zero for the innermost frame, one for the frame that called it,
5800 and so on upward. These numbers do not really exist in your program;
5801 they are assigned by @value{GDBN} to give you a way of designating stack
5802 frames in @value{GDBN} commands.
5803
5804 @c The -fomit-frame-pointer below perennially causes hbox overflow
5805 @c underflow problems.
5806 @cindex frameless execution
5807 Some compilers provide a way to compile functions so that they operate
5808 without stack frames. (For example, the @value{NGCC} option
5809 @smallexample
5810 @samp{-fomit-frame-pointer}
5811 @end smallexample
5812 generates functions without a frame.)
5813 This is occasionally done with heavily used library functions to save
5814 the frame setup time. @value{GDBN} has limited facilities for dealing
5815 with these function invocations. If the innermost function invocation
5816 has no stack frame, @value{GDBN} nevertheless regards it as though
5817 it had a separate frame, which is numbered zero as usual, allowing
5818 correct tracing of the function call chain. However, @value{GDBN} has
5819 no provision for frameless functions elsewhere in the stack.
5820
5821 @table @code
5822 @kindex frame@r{, command}
5823 @cindex current stack frame
5824 @item frame @var{args}
5825 The @code{frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame to another,
5826 and to print the stack frame you select. @var{args} may be either the
5827 address of the frame or the stack frame number. Without an argument,
5828 @code{frame} prints the current stack frame.
5829
5830 @kindex select-frame
5831 @cindex selecting frame silently
5832 @item select-frame
5833 The @code{select-frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame
5834 to another without printing the frame. This is the silent version of
5835 @code{frame}.
5836 @end table
5837
5838 @node Backtrace
5839 @section Backtraces
5840
5841 @cindex traceback
5842 @cindex call stack traces
5843 A backtrace is a summary of how your program got where it is. It shows one
5844 line per frame, for many frames, starting with the currently executing
5845 frame (frame zero), followed by its caller (frame one), and on up the
5846 stack.
5847
5848 @table @code
5849 @kindex backtrace
5850 @kindex bt @r{(@code{backtrace})}
5851 @item backtrace
5852 @itemx bt
5853 Print a backtrace of the entire stack: one line per frame for all
5854 frames in the stack.
5855
5856 You can stop the backtrace at any time by typing the system interrupt
5857 character, normally @kbd{Ctrl-c}.
5858
5859 @item backtrace @var{n}
5860 @itemx bt @var{n}
5861 Similar, but print only the innermost @var{n} frames.
5862
5863 @item backtrace -@var{n}
5864 @itemx bt -@var{n}
5865 Similar, but print only the outermost @var{n} frames.
5866
5867 @item backtrace full
5868 @itemx bt full
5869 @itemx bt full @var{n}
5870 @itemx bt full -@var{n}
5871 Print the values of the local variables also. @var{n} specifies the
5872 number of frames to print, as described above.
5873 @end table
5874
5875 @kindex where
5876 @kindex info stack
5877 The names @code{where} and @code{info stack} (abbreviated @code{info s})
5878 are additional aliases for @code{backtrace}.
5879
5880 @cindex multiple threads, backtrace
5881 In a multi-threaded program, @value{GDBN} by default shows the
5882 backtrace only for the current thread. To display the backtrace for
5883 several or all of the threads, use the command @code{thread apply}
5884 (@pxref{Threads, thread apply}). For example, if you type @kbd{thread
5885 apply all backtrace}, @value{GDBN} will display the backtrace for all
5886 the threads; this is handy when you debug a core dump of a
5887 multi-threaded program.
5888
5889 Each line in the backtrace shows the frame number and the function name.
5890 The program counter value is also shown---unless you use @code{set
5891 print address off}. The backtrace also shows the source file name and
5892 line number, as well as the arguments to the function. The program
5893 counter value is omitted if it is at the beginning of the code for that
5894 line number.
5895
5896 Here is an example of a backtrace. It was made with the command
5897 @samp{bt 3}, so it shows the innermost three frames.
5898
5899 @smallexample
5900 @group
5901 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
5902 at builtin.c:993
5903 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=0x2b600, data=...) at macro.c:242
5904 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=177664, td=0xf7fffb08)
5905 at macro.c:71
5906 (More stack frames follow...)
5907 @end group
5908 @end smallexample
5909
5910 @noindent
5911 The display for frame zero does not begin with a program counter
5912 value, indicating that your program has stopped at the beginning of the
5913 code for line @code{993} of @code{builtin.c}.
5914
5915 @noindent
5916 The value of parameter @code{data} in frame 1 has been replaced by
5917 @code{@dots{}}. By default, @value{GDBN} prints the value of a parameter
5918 only if it is a scalar (integer, pointer, enumeration, etc). See command
5919 @kbd{set print frame-arguments} in @ref{Print Settings} for more details
5920 on how to configure the way function parameter values are printed.
5921
5922 @cindex value optimized out, in backtrace
5923 @cindex function call arguments, optimized out
5924 If your program was compiled with optimizations, some compilers will
5925 optimize away arguments passed to functions if those arguments are
5926 never used after the call. Such optimizations generate code that
5927 passes arguments through registers, but doesn't store those arguments
5928 in the stack frame. @value{GDBN} has no way of displaying such
5929 arguments in stack frames other than the innermost one. Here's what
5930 such a backtrace might look like:
5931
5932 @smallexample
5933 @group
5934 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
5935 at builtin.c:993
5936 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=<value optimized out>) at macro.c:242
5937 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=<value optimized out>, td=0xf7fffb08)
5938 at macro.c:71
5939 (More stack frames follow...)
5940 @end group
5941 @end smallexample
5942
5943 @noindent
5944 The values of arguments that were not saved in their stack frames are
5945 shown as @samp{<value optimized out>}.
5946
5947 If you need to display the values of such optimized-out arguments,
5948 either deduce that from other variables whose values depend on the one
5949 you are interested in, or recompile without optimizations.
5950
5951 @cindex backtrace beyond @code{main} function
5952 @cindex program entry point
5953 @cindex startup code, and backtrace
5954 Most programs have a standard user entry point---a place where system
5955 libraries and startup code transition into user code. For C this is
5956 @code{main}@footnote{
5957 Note that embedded programs (the so-called ``free-standing''
5958 environment) are not required to have a @code{main} function as the
5959 entry point. They could even have multiple entry points.}.
5960 When @value{GDBN} finds the entry function in a backtrace
5961 it will terminate the backtrace, to avoid tracing into highly
5962 system-specific (and generally uninteresting) code.
5963
5964 If you need to examine the startup code, or limit the number of levels
5965 in a backtrace, you can change this behavior:
5966
5967 @table @code
5968 @item set backtrace past-main
5969 @itemx set backtrace past-main on
5970 @kindex set backtrace
5971 Backtraces will continue past the user entry point.
5972
5973 @item set backtrace past-main off
5974 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the user entry point. This is the
5975 default.
5976
5977 @item show backtrace past-main
5978 @kindex show backtrace
5979 Display the current user entry point backtrace policy.
5980
5981 @item set backtrace past-entry
5982 @itemx set backtrace past-entry on
5983 Backtraces will continue past the internal entry point of an application.
5984 This entry point is encoded by the linker when the application is built,
5985 and is likely before the user entry point @code{main} (or equivalent) is called.
5986
5987 @item set backtrace past-entry off
5988 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the internal entry point of an
5989 application. This is the default.
5990
5991 @item show backtrace past-entry
5992 Display the current internal entry point backtrace policy.
5993
5994 @item set backtrace limit @var{n}
5995 @itemx set backtrace limit 0
5996 @cindex backtrace limit
5997 Limit the backtrace to @var{n} levels. A value of zero means
5998 unlimited.
5999
6000 @item show backtrace limit
6001 Display the current limit on backtrace levels.
6002 @end table
6003
6004 @node Selection
6005 @section Selecting a Frame
6006
6007 Most commands for examining the stack and other data in your program work on
6008 whichever stack frame is selected at the moment. Here are the commands for
6009 selecting a stack frame; all of them finish by printing a brief description
6010 of the stack frame just selected.
6011
6012 @table @code
6013 @kindex frame@r{, selecting}
6014 @kindex f @r{(@code{frame})}
6015 @item frame @var{n}
6016 @itemx f @var{n}
6017 Select frame number @var{n}. Recall that frame zero is the innermost
6018 (currently executing) frame, frame one is the frame that called the
6019 innermost one, and so on. The highest-numbered frame is the one for
6020 @code{main}.
6021
6022 @item frame @var{addr}
6023 @itemx f @var{addr}
6024 Select the frame at address @var{addr}. This is useful mainly if the
6025 chaining of stack frames has been damaged by a bug, making it
6026 impossible for @value{GDBN} to assign numbers properly to all frames. In
6027 addition, this can be useful when your program has multiple stacks and
6028 switches between them.
6029
6030 On the SPARC architecture, @code{frame} needs two addresses to
6031 select an arbitrary frame: a frame pointer and a stack pointer.
6032
6033 On the MIPS and Alpha architecture, it needs two addresses: a stack
6034 pointer and a program counter.
6035
6036 On the 29k architecture, it needs three addresses: a register stack
6037 pointer, a program counter, and a memory stack pointer.
6038
6039 @kindex up
6040 @item up @var{n}
6041 Move @var{n} frames up the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
6042 advances toward the outermost frame, to higher frame numbers, to frames
6043 that have existed longer. @var{n} defaults to one.
6044
6045 @kindex down
6046 @kindex do @r{(@code{down})}
6047 @item down @var{n}
6048 Move @var{n} frames down the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
6049 advances toward the innermost frame, to lower frame numbers, to frames
6050 that were created more recently. @var{n} defaults to one. You may
6051 abbreviate @code{down} as @code{do}.
6052 @end table
6053
6054 All of these commands end by printing two lines of output describing the
6055 frame. The first line shows the frame number, the function name, the
6056 arguments, and the source file and line number of execution in that
6057 frame. The second line shows the text of that source line.
6058
6059 @need 1000
6060 For example:
6061
6062 @smallexample
6063 @group
6064 (@value{GDBP}) up
6065 #1 0x22f0 in main (argc=1, argv=0xf7fffbf4, env=0xf7fffbfc)
6066 at env.c:10
6067 10 read_input_file (argv[i]);
6068 @end group
6069 @end smallexample
6070
6071 After such a printout, the @code{list} command with no arguments
6072 prints ten lines centered on the point of execution in the frame.
6073 You can also edit the program at the point of execution with your favorite
6074 editing program by typing @code{edit}.
6075 @xref{List, ,Printing Source Lines},
6076 for details.
6077
6078 @table @code
6079 @kindex down-silently
6080 @kindex up-silently
6081 @item up-silently @var{n}
6082 @itemx down-silently @var{n}
6083 These two commands are variants of @code{up} and @code{down},
6084 respectively; they differ in that they do their work silently, without
6085 causing display of the new frame. They are intended primarily for use
6086 in @value{GDBN} command scripts, where the output might be unnecessary and
6087 distracting.
6088 @end table
6089
6090 @node Frame Info
6091 @section Information About a Frame
6092
6093 There are several other commands to print information about the selected
6094 stack frame.
6095
6096 @table @code
6097 @item frame
6098 @itemx f
6099 When used without any argument, this command does not change which
6100 frame is selected, but prints a brief description of the currently
6101 selected stack frame. It can be abbreviated @code{f}. With an
6102 argument, this command is used to select a stack frame.
6103 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
6104
6105 @kindex info frame
6106 @kindex info f @r{(@code{info frame})}
6107 @item info frame
6108 @itemx info f
6109 This command prints a verbose description of the selected stack frame,
6110 including:
6111
6112 @itemize @bullet
6113 @item
6114 the address of the frame
6115 @item
6116 the address of the next frame down (called by this frame)
6117 @item
6118 the address of the next frame up (caller of this frame)
6119 @item
6120 the language in which the source code corresponding to this frame is written
6121 @item
6122 the address of the frame's arguments
6123 @item
6124 the address of the frame's local variables
6125 @item
6126 the program counter saved in it (the address of execution in the caller frame)
6127 @item
6128 which registers were saved in the frame
6129 @end itemize
6130
6131 @noindent The verbose description is useful when
6132 something has gone wrong that has made the stack format fail to fit
6133 the usual conventions.
6134
6135 @item info frame @var{addr}
6136 @itemx info f @var{addr}
6137 Print a verbose description of the frame at address @var{addr}, without
6138 selecting that frame. The selected frame remains unchanged by this
6139 command. This requires the same kind of address (more than one for some
6140 architectures) that you specify in the @code{frame} command.
6141 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
6142
6143 @kindex info args
6144 @item info args
6145 Print the arguments of the selected frame, each on a separate line.
6146
6147 @item info locals
6148 @kindex info locals
6149 Print the local variables of the selected frame, each on a separate
6150 line. These are all variables (declared either static or automatic)
6151 accessible at the point of execution of the selected frame.
6152
6153 @kindex info catch
6154 @cindex catch exceptions, list active handlers
6155 @cindex exception handlers, how to list
6156 @item info catch
6157 Print a list of all the exception handlers that are active in the
6158 current stack frame at the current point of execution. To see other
6159 exception handlers, visit the associated frame (using the @code{up},
6160 @code{down}, or @code{frame} commands); then type @code{info catch}.
6161 @xref{Set Catchpoints, , Setting Catchpoints}.
6162
6163 @end table
6164
6165
6166 @node Source
6167 @chapter Examining Source Files
6168
6169 @value{GDBN} can print parts of your program's source, since the debugging
6170 information recorded in the program tells @value{GDBN} what source files were
6171 used to build it. When your program stops, @value{GDBN} spontaneously prints
6172 the line where it stopped. Likewise, when you select a stack frame
6173 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}), @value{GDBN} prints the line where
6174 execution in that frame has stopped. You can print other portions of
6175 source files by explicit command.
6176
6177 If you use @value{GDBN} through its @sc{gnu} Emacs interface, you may
6178 prefer to use Emacs facilities to view source; see @ref{Emacs, ,Using
6179 @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}.
6180
6181 @menu
6182 * List:: Printing source lines
6183 * Specify Location:: How to specify code locations
6184 * Edit:: Editing source files
6185 * Search:: Searching source files
6186 * Source Path:: Specifying source directories
6187 * Machine Code:: Source and machine code
6188 @end menu
6189
6190 @node List
6191 @section Printing Source Lines
6192
6193 @kindex list
6194 @kindex l @r{(@code{list})}
6195 To print lines from a source file, use the @code{list} command
6196 (abbreviated @code{l}). By default, ten lines are printed.
6197 There are several ways to specify what part of the file you want to
6198 print; see @ref{Specify Location}, for the full list.
6199
6200 Here are the forms of the @code{list} command most commonly used:
6201
6202 @table @code
6203 @item list @var{linenum}
6204 Print lines centered around line number @var{linenum} in the
6205 current source file.
6206
6207 @item list @var{function}
6208 Print lines centered around the beginning of function
6209 @var{function}.
6210
6211 @item list
6212 Print more lines. If the last lines printed were printed with a
6213 @code{list} command, this prints lines following the last lines
6214 printed; however, if the last line printed was a solitary line printed
6215 as part of displaying a stack frame (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the
6216 Stack}), this prints lines centered around that line.
6217
6218 @item list -
6219 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
6220 @end table
6221
6222 @cindex @code{list}, how many lines to display
6223 By default, @value{GDBN} prints ten source lines with any of these forms of
6224 the @code{list} command. You can change this using @code{set listsize}:
6225
6226 @table @code
6227 @kindex set listsize
6228 @item set listsize @var{count}
6229 Make the @code{list} command display @var{count} source lines (unless
6230 the @code{list} argument explicitly specifies some other number).
6231
6232 @kindex show listsize
6233 @item show listsize
6234 Display the number of lines that @code{list} prints.
6235 @end table
6236
6237 Repeating a @code{list} command with @key{RET} discards the argument,
6238 so it is equivalent to typing just @code{list}. This is more useful
6239 than listing the same lines again. An exception is made for an
6240 argument of @samp{-}; that argument is preserved in repetition so that
6241 each repetition moves up in the source file.
6242
6243 In general, the @code{list} command expects you to supply zero, one or two
6244 @dfn{linespecs}. Linespecs specify source lines; there are several ways
6245 of writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always
6246 to specify some source line.
6247
6248 Here is a complete description of the possible arguments for @code{list}:
6249
6250 @table @code
6251 @item list @var{linespec}
6252 Print lines centered around the line specified by @var{linespec}.
6253
6254 @item list @var{first},@var{last}
6255 Print lines from @var{first} to @var{last}. Both arguments are
6256 linespecs. When a @code{list} command has two linespecs, and the
6257 source file of the second linespec is omitted, this refers to
6258 the same source file as the first linespec.
6259
6260 @item list ,@var{last}
6261 Print lines ending with @var{last}.
6262
6263 @item list @var{first},
6264 Print lines starting with @var{first}.
6265
6266 @item list +
6267 Print lines just after the lines last printed.
6268
6269 @item list -
6270 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
6271
6272 @item list
6273 As described in the preceding table.
6274 @end table
6275
6276 @node Specify Location
6277 @section Specifying a Location
6278 @cindex specifying location
6279 @cindex linespec
6280
6281 Several @value{GDBN} commands accept arguments that specify a location
6282 of your program's code. Since @value{GDBN} is a source-level
6283 debugger, a location usually specifies some line in the source code;
6284 for that reason, locations are also known as @dfn{linespecs}.
6285
6286 Here are all the different ways of specifying a code location that
6287 @value{GDBN} understands:
6288
6289 @table @code
6290 @item @var{linenum}
6291 Specifies the line number @var{linenum} of the current source file.
6292
6293 @item -@var{offset}
6294 @itemx +@var{offset}
6295 Specifies the line @var{offset} lines before or after the @dfn{current
6296 line}. For the @code{list} command, the current line is the last one
6297 printed; for the breakpoint commands, this is the line at which
6298 execution stopped in the currently selected @dfn{stack frame}
6299 (@pxref{Frames, ,Frames}, for a description of stack frames.) When
6300 used as the second of the two linespecs in a @code{list} command,
6301 this specifies the line @var{offset} lines up or down from the first
6302 linespec.
6303
6304 @item @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
6305 Specifies the line @var{linenum} in the source file @var{filename}.
6306
6307 @item @var{function}
6308 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}.
6309 For example, in C, this is the line with the open brace.
6310
6311 @item @var{filename}:@var{function}
6312 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}
6313 in the file @var{filename}. You only need the file name with a
6314 function name to avoid ambiguity when there are identically named
6315 functions in different source files.
6316
6317 @item *@var{address}
6318 Specifies the program address @var{address}. For line-oriented
6319 commands, such as @code{list} and @code{edit}, this specifies a source
6320 line that contains @var{address}. For @code{break} and other
6321 breakpoint oriented commands, this can be used to set breakpoints in
6322 parts of your program which do not have debugging information or
6323 source files.
6324
6325 Here @var{address} may be any expression valid in the current working
6326 language (@pxref{Languages, working language}) that specifies a code
6327 address. In addition, as a convenience, @value{GDBN} extends the
6328 semantics of expressions used in locations to cover the situations
6329 that frequently happen during debugging. Here are the various forms
6330 of @var{address}:
6331
6332 @table @code
6333 @item @var{expression}
6334 Any expression valid in the current working language.
6335
6336 @item @var{funcaddr}
6337 An address of a function or procedure derived from its name. In C,
6338 C@t{++}, Java, Objective-C, Fortran, minimal, and assembly, this is
6339 simply the function's name @var{function} (and actually a special case
6340 of a valid expression). In Pascal and Modula-2, this is
6341 @code{&@var{function}}. In Ada, this is @code{@var{function}'Address}
6342 (although the Pascal form also works).
6343
6344 This form specifies the address of the function's first instruction,
6345 before the stack frame and arguments have been set up.
6346
6347 @item '@var{filename}'::@var{funcaddr}
6348 Like @var{funcaddr} above, but also specifies the name of the source
6349 file explicitly. This is useful if the name of the function does not
6350 specify the function unambiguously, e.g., if there are several
6351 functions with identical names in different source files.
6352 @end table
6353
6354 @end table
6355
6356
6357 @node Edit
6358 @section Editing Source Files
6359 @cindex editing source files
6360
6361 @kindex edit
6362 @kindex e @r{(@code{edit})}
6363 To edit the lines in a source file, use the @code{edit} command.
6364 The editing program of your choice
6365 is invoked with the current line set to
6366 the active line in the program.
6367 Alternatively, there are several ways to specify what part of the file you
6368 want to print if you want to see other parts of the program:
6369
6370 @table @code
6371 @item edit @var{location}
6372 Edit the source file specified by @code{location}. Editing starts at
6373 that @var{location}, e.g., at the specified source line of the
6374 specified file. @xref{Specify Location}, for all the possible forms
6375 of the @var{location} argument; here are the forms of the @code{edit}
6376 command most commonly used:
6377
6378 @table @code
6379 @item edit @var{number}
6380 Edit the current source file with @var{number} as the active line number.
6381
6382 @item edit @var{function}
6383 Edit the file containing @var{function} at the beginning of its definition.
6384 @end table
6385
6386 @end table
6387
6388 @subsection Choosing your Editor
6389 You can customize @value{GDBN} to use any editor you want
6390 @footnote{
6391 The only restriction is that your editor (say @code{ex}), recognizes the
6392 following command-line syntax:
6393 @smallexample
6394 ex +@var{number} file
6395 @end smallexample
6396 The optional numeric value +@var{number} specifies the number of the line in
6397 the file where to start editing.}.
6398 By default, it is @file{@value{EDITOR}}, but you can change this
6399 by setting the environment variable @code{EDITOR} before using
6400 @value{GDBN}. For example, to configure @value{GDBN} to use the
6401 @code{vi} editor, you could use these commands with the @code{sh} shell:
6402 @smallexample
6403 EDITOR=/usr/bin/vi
6404 export EDITOR
6405 gdb @dots{}
6406 @end smallexample
6407 or in the @code{csh} shell,
6408 @smallexample
6409 setenv EDITOR /usr/bin/vi
6410 gdb @dots{}
6411 @end smallexample
6412
6413 @node Search
6414 @section Searching Source Files
6415 @cindex searching source files
6416
6417 There are two commands for searching through the current source file for a
6418 regular expression.
6419
6420 @table @code
6421 @kindex search
6422 @kindex forward-search
6423 @item forward-search @var{regexp}
6424 @itemx search @var{regexp}
6425 The command @samp{forward-search @var{regexp}} checks each line,
6426 starting with the one following the last line listed, for a match for
6427 @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can use the
6428 synonym @samp{search @var{regexp}} or abbreviate the command name as
6429 @code{fo}.
6430
6431 @kindex reverse-search
6432 @item reverse-search @var{regexp}
6433 The command @samp{reverse-search @var{regexp}} checks each line, starting
6434 with the one before the last line listed and going backward, for a match
6435 for @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can abbreviate
6436 this command as @code{rev}.
6437 @end table
6438
6439 @node Source Path
6440 @section Specifying Source Directories
6441
6442 @cindex source path
6443 @cindex directories for source files
6444 Executable programs sometimes do not record the directories of the source
6445 files from which they were compiled, just the names. Even when they do,
6446 the directories could be moved between the compilation and your debugging
6447 session. @value{GDBN} has a list of directories to search for source files;
6448 this is called the @dfn{source path}. Each time @value{GDBN} wants a source file,
6449 it tries all the directories in the list, in the order they are present
6450 in the list, until it finds a file with the desired name.
6451
6452 For example, suppose an executable references the file
6453 @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}, and our source path is
6454 @file{/mnt/cross}. The file is first looked up literally; if this
6455 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} is tried; if this
6456 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/foo.c} is opened; if this fails, an error
6457 message is printed. @value{GDBN} does not look up the parts of the
6458 source file name, such as @file{/mnt/cross/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}.
6459 Likewise, the subdirectories of the source path are not searched: if
6460 the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the binary refers to
6461 @file{foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would not find it under
6462 @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib}.
6463
6464 Plain file names, relative file names with leading directories, file
6465 names containing dots, etc.@: are all treated as described above; for
6466 instance, if the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the source file
6467 is recorded as @file{../lib/foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would first try
6468 @file{../lib/foo.c}, then @file{/mnt/cross/../lib/foo.c}, and after
6469 that---@file{/mnt/cross/foo.c}.
6470
6471 Note that the executable search path is @emph{not} used to locate the
6472 source files.
6473
6474 Whenever you reset or rearrange the source path, @value{GDBN} clears out
6475 any information it has cached about where source files are found and where
6476 each line is in the file.
6477
6478 @kindex directory
6479 @kindex dir
6480 When you start @value{GDBN}, its source path includes only @samp{cdir}
6481 and @samp{cwd}, in that order.
6482 To add other directories, use the @code{directory} command.
6483
6484 The search path is used to find both program source files and @value{GDBN}
6485 script files (read using the @samp{-command} option and @samp{source} command).
6486
6487 In addition to the source path, @value{GDBN} provides a set of commands
6488 that manage a list of source path substitution rules. A @dfn{substitution
6489 rule} specifies how to rewrite source directories stored in the program's
6490 debug information in case the sources were moved to a different
6491 directory between compilation and debugging. A rule is made of
6492 two strings, the first specifying what needs to be rewritten in
6493 the path, and the second specifying how it should be rewritten.
6494 In @ref{set substitute-path}, we name these two parts @var{from} and
6495 @var{to} respectively. @value{GDBN} does a simple string replacement
6496 of @var{from} with @var{to} at the start of the directory part of the
6497 source file name, and uses that result instead of the original file
6498 name to look up the sources.
6499
6500 Using the previous example, suppose the @file{foo-1.0} tree has been
6501 moved from @file{/usr/src} to @file{/mnt/cross}, then you can tell
6502 @value{GDBN} to replace @file{/usr/src} in all source path names with
6503 @file{/mnt/cross}. The first lookup will then be
6504 @file{/mnt/cross/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} in place of the original location
6505 of @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}. To define a source path
6506 substitution rule, use the @code{set substitute-path} command
6507 (@pxref{set substitute-path}).
6508
6509 To avoid unexpected substitution results, a rule is applied only if the
6510 @var{from} part of the directory name ends at a directory separator.
6511 For instance, a rule substituting @file{/usr/source} into
6512 @file{/mnt/cross} will be applied to @file{/usr/source/foo-1.0} but
6513 not to @file{/usr/sourceware/foo-2.0}. And because the substitution
6514 is applied only at the beginning of the directory name, this rule will
6515 not be applied to @file{/root/usr/source/baz.c} either.
6516
6517 In many cases, you can achieve the same result using the @code{directory}
6518 command. However, @code{set substitute-path} can be more efficient in
6519 the case where the sources are organized in a complex tree with multiple
6520 subdirectories. With the @code{directory} command, you need to add each
6521 subdirectory of your project. If you moved the entire tree while
6522 preserving its internal organization, then @code{set substitute-path}
6523 allows you to direct the debugger to all the sources with one single
6524 command.
6525
6526 @code{set substitute-path} is also more than just a shortcut command.
6527 The source path is only used if the file at the original location no
6528 longer exists. On the other hand, @code{set substitute-path} modifies
6529 the debugger behavior to look at the rewritten location instead. So, if
6530 for any reason a source file that is not relevant to your executable is
6531 located at the original location, a substitution rule is the only
6532 method available to point @value{GDBN} at the new location.
6533
6534 @cindex @samp{--with-relocated-sources}
6535 @cindex default source path substitution
6536 You can configure a default source path substitution rule by
6537 configuring @value{GDBN} with the
6538 @samp{--with-relocated-sources=@var{dir}} option. The @var{dir}
6539 should be the name of a directory under @value{GDBN}'s configured
6540 prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or @samp{--exec-prefix}), and
6541 directory names in debug information under @var{dir} will be adjusted
6542 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
6543 location. This is useful if @value{GDBN}, libraries or executables
6544 with debug information and corresponding source code are being moved
6545 together.
6546
6547 @table @code
6548 @item directory @var{dirname} @dots{}
6549 @item dir @var{dirname} @dots{}
6550 Add directory @var{dirname} to the front of the source path. Several
6551 directory names may be given to this command, separated by @samp{:}
6552 (@samp{;} on MS-DOS and MS-Windows, where @samp{:} usually appears as
6553 part of absolute file names) or
6554 whitespace. You may specify a directory that is already in the source
6555 path; this moves it forward, so @value{GDBN} searches it sooner.
6556
6557 @kindex cdir
6558 @kindex cwd
6559 @vindex $cdir@r{, convenience variable}
6560 @vindex $cwd@r{, convenience variable}
6561 @cindex compilation directory
6562 @cindex current directory
6563 @cindex working directory
6564 @cindex directory, current
6565 @cindex directory, compilation
6566 You can use the string @samp{$cdir} to refer to the compilation
6567 directory (if one is recorded), and @samp{$cwd} to refer to the current
6568 working directory. @samp{$cwd} is not the same as @samp{.}---the former
6569 tracks the current working directory as it changes during your @value{GDBN}
6570 session, while the latter is immediately expanded to the current
6571 directory at the time you add an entry to the source path.
6572
6573 @item directory
6574 Reset the source path to its default value (@samp{$cdir:$cwd} on Unix systems). This requires confirmation.
6575
6576 @c RET-repeat for @code{directory} is explicitly disabled, but since
6577 @c repeating it would be a no-op we do not say that. (thanks to RMS)
6578
6579 @item show directories
6580 @kindex show directories
6581 Print the source path: show which directories it contains.
6582
6583 @anchor{set substitute-path}
6584 @item set substitute-path @var{from} @var{to}
6585 @kindex set substitute-path
6586 Define a source path substitution rule, and add it at the end of the
6587 current list of existing substitution rules. If a rule with the same
6588 @var{from} was already defined, then the old rule is also deleted.
6589
6590 For example, if the file @file{/foo/bar/baz.c} was moved to
6591 @file{/mnt/cross/baz.c}, then the command
6592
6593 @smallexample
6594 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/cross
6595 @end smallexample
6596
6597 @noindent
6598 will tell @value{GDBN} to replace @samp{/usr/src} with
6599 @samp{/mnt/cross}, which will allow @value{GDBN} to find the file
6600 @file{baz.c} even though it was moved.
6601
6602 In the case when more than one substitution rule have been defined,
6603 the rules are evaluated one by one in the order where they have been
6604 defined. The first one matching, if any, is selected to perform
6605 the substitution.
6606
6607 For instance, if we had entered the following commands:
6608
6609 @smallexample
6610 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src/include /mnt/include
6611 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/src
6612 @end smallexample
6613
6614 @noindent
6615 @value{GDBN} would then rewrite @file{/usr/src/include/defs.h} into
6616 @file{/mnt/include/defs.h} by using the first rule. However, it would
6617 use the second rule to rewrite @file{/usr/src/lib/foo.c} into
6618 @file{/mnt/src/lib/foo.c}.
6619
6620
6621 @item unset substitute-path [path]
6622 @kindex unset substitute-path
6623 If a path is specified, search the current list of substitution rules
6624 for a rule that would rewrite that path. Delete that rule if found.
6625 A warning is emitted by the debugger if no rule could be found.
6626
6627 If no path is specified, then all substitution rules are deleted.
6628
6629 @item show substitute-path [path]
6630 @kindex show substitute-path
6631 If a path is specified, then print the source path substitution rule
6632 which would rewrite that path, if any.
6633
6634 If no path is specified, then print all existing source path substitution
6635 rules.
6636
6637 @end table
6638
6639 If your source path is cluttered with directories that are no longer of
6640 interest, @value{GDBN} may sometimes cause confusion by finding the wrong
6641 versions of source. You can correct the situation as follows:
6642
6643 @enumerate
6644 @item
6645 Use @code{directory} with no argument to reset the source path to its default value.
6646
6647 @item
6648 Use @code{directory} with suitable arguments to reinstall the
6649 directories you want in the source path. You can add all the
6650 directories in one command.
6651 @end enumerate
6652
6653 @node Machine Code
6654 @section Source and Machine Code
6655 @cindex source line and its code address
6656
6657 You can use the command @code{info line} to map source lines to program
6658 addresses (and vice versa), and the command @code{disassemble} to display
6659 a range of addresses as machine instructions. You can use the command
6660 @code{set disassemble-next-line} to set whether to disassemble next
6661 source line when execution stops. When run under @sc{gnu} Emacs
6662 mode, the @code{info line} command causes the arrow to point to the
6663 line specified. Also, @code{info line} prints addresses in symbolic form as
6664 well as hex.
6665
6666 @table @code
6667 @kindex info line
6668 @item info line @var{linespec}
6669 Print the starting and ending addresses of the compiled code for
6670 source line @var{linespec}. You can specify source lines in any of
6671 the ways documented in @ref{Specify Location}.
6672 @end table
6673
6674 For example, we can use @code{info line} to discover the location of
6675 the object code for the first line of function
6676 @code{m4_changequote}:
6677
6678 @c FIXME: I think this example should also show the addresses in
6679 @c symbolic form, as they usually would be displayed.
6680 @smallexample
6681 (@value{GDBP}) info line m4_changequote
6682 Line 895 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x634c and ends at 0x6350.
6683 @end smallexample
6684
6685 @noindent
6686 @cindex code address and its source line
6687 We can also inquire (using @code{*@var{addr}} as the form for
6688 @var{linespec}) what source line covers a particular address:
6689 @smallexample
6690 (@value{GDBP}) info line *0x63ff
6691 Line 926 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x63e4 and ends at 0x6404.
6692 @end smallexample
6693
6694 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info line}
6695 @cindex @code{x} command, default address
6696 @kindex x@r{(examine), and} info line
6697 After @code{info line}, the default address for the @code{x} command
6698 is changed to the starting address of the line, so that @samp{x/i} is
6699 sufficient to begin examining the machine code (@pxref{Memory,
6700 ,Examining Memory}). Also, this address is saved as the value of the
6701 convenience variable @code{$_} (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
6702 Variables}).
6703
6704 @table @code
6705 @kindex disassemble
6706 @cindex assembly instructions
6707 @cindex instructions, assembly
6708 @cindex machine instructions
6709 @cindex listing machine instructions
6710 @item disassemble
6711 @itemx disassemble /m
6712 @itemx disassemble /r
6713 This specialized command dumps a range of memory as machine
6714 instructions. It can also print mixed source+disassembly by specifying
6715 the @code{/m} modifier and print the raw instructions in hex as well as
6716 in symbolic form by specifying the @code{/r}.
6717 The default memory range is the function surrounding the
6718 program counter of the selected frame. A single argument to this
6719 command is a program counter value; @value{GDBN} dumps the function
6720 surrounding this value. When two arguments are given, they should
6721 be separated by a comma, possibly surrounded by whitespace. The
6722 arguments specify a range of addresses (first inclusive, second exclusive)
6723 to dump. In that case, the name of the function is also printed (since
6724 there could be several functions in the given range).
6725
6726 The argument(s) can be any expression yielding a numeric value, such as
6727 @samp{0x32c4}, @samp{&main+10} or @samp{$pc - 8}.
6728
6729 If the range of memory being disassembled contains current program counter,
6730 the instruction at that location is shown with a @code{=>} marker.
6731 @end table
6732
6733 The following example shows the disassembly of a range of addresses of
6734 HP PA-RISC 2.0 code:
6735
6736 @smallexample
6737 (@value{GDBP}) disas 0x32c4, 0x32e4
6738 Dump of assembler code from 0x32c4 to 0x32e4:
6739 0x32c4 <main+204>: addil 0,dp
6740 0x32c8 <main+208>: ldw 0x22c(sr0,r1),r26
6741 0x32cc <main+212>: ldil 0x3000,r31
6742 0x32d0 <main+216>: ble 0x3f8(sr4,r31)
6743 0x32d4 <main+220>: ldo 0(r31),rp
6744 0x32d8 <main+224>: addil -0x800,dp
6745 0x32dc <main+228>: ldo 0x588(r1),r26
6746 0x32e0 <main+232>: ldil 0x3000,r31
6747 End of assembler dump.
6748 @end smallexample
6749
6750 Here is an example showing mixed source+assembly for Intel x86, when the
6751 program is stopped just after function prologue:
6752
6753 @smallexample
6754 (@value{GDBP}) disas /m main
6755 Dump of assembler code for function main:
6756 5 @{
6757 0x08048330 <+0>: push %ebp
6758 0x08048331 <+1>: mov %esp,%ebp
6759 0x08048333 <+3>: sub $0x8,%esp
6760 0x08048336 <+6>: and $0xfffffff0,%esp
6761 0x08048339 <+9>: sub $0x10,%esp
6762
6763 6 printf ("Hello.\n");
6764 => 0x0804833c <+12>: movl $0x8048440,(%esp)
6765 0x08048343 <+19>: call 0x8048284 <puts@@plt>
6766
6767 7 return 0;
6768 8 @}
6769 0x08048348 <+24>: mov $0x0,%eax
6770 0x0804834d <+29>: leave
6771 0x0804834e <+30>: ret
6772
6773 End of assembler dump.
6774 @end smallexample
6775
6776 Some architectures have more than one commonly-used set of instruction
6777 mnemonics or other syntax.
6778
6779 For programs that were dynamically linked and use shared libraries,
6780 instructions that call functions or branch to locations in the shared
6781 libraries might show a seemingly bogus location---it's actually a
6782 location of the relocation table. On some architectures, @value{GDBN}
6783 might be able to resolve these to actual function names.
6784
6785 @table @code
6786 @kindex set disassembly-flavor
6787 @cindex Intel disassembly flavor
6788 @cindex AT&T disassembly flavor
6789 @item set disassembly-flavor @var{instruction-set}
6790 Select the instruction set to use when disassembling the
6791 program via the @code{disassemble} or @code{x/i} commands.
6792
6793 Currently this command is only defined for the Intel x86 family. You
6794 can set @var{instruction-set} to either @code{intel} or @code{att}.
6795 The default is @code{att}, the AT&T flavor used by default by Unix
6796 assemblers for x86-based targets.
6797
6798 @kindex show disassembly-flavor
6799 @item show disassembly-flavor
6800 Show the current setting of the disassembly flavor.
6801 @end table
6802
6803 @table @code
6804 @kindex set disassemble-next-line
6805 @kindex show disassemble-next-line
6806 @item set disassemble-next-line
6807 @itemx show disassemble-next-line
6808 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will disassemble the next source
6809 line or instruction when execution stops. If ON, @value{GDBN} will
6810 display disassembly of the next source line when execution of the
6811 program being debugged stops. This is @emph{in addition} to
6812 displaying the source line itself, which @value{GDBN} always does if
6813 possible. If the next source line cannot be displayed for some reason
6814 (e.g., if @value{GDBN} cannot find the source file, or there's no line
6815 info in the debug info), @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of the
6816 next @emph{instruction} instead of showing the next source line. If
6817 AUTO, @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of next instruction only
6818 if the source line cannot be displayed. This setting causes
6819 @value{GDBN} to display some feedback when you step through a function
6820 with no line info or whose source file is unavailable. The default is
6821 OFF, which means never display the disassembly of the next line or
6822 instruction.
6823 @end table
6824
6825
6826 @node Data
6827 @chapter Examining Data
6828
6829 @cindex printing data
6830 @cindex examining data
6831 @kindex print
6832 @kindex inspect
6833 @c "inspect" is not quite a synonym if you are using Epoch, which we do not
6834 @c document because it is nonstandard... Under Epoch it displays in a
6835 @c different window or something like that.
6836 The usual way to examine data in your program is with the @code{print}
6837 command (abbreviated @code{p}), or its synonym @code{inspect}. It
6838 evaluates and prints the value of an expression of the language your
6839 program is written in (@pxref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with
6840 Different Languages}). It may also print the expression using a
6841 Python-based pretty-printer (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
6842
6843 @table @code
6844 @item print @var{expr}
6845 @itemx print /@var{f} @var{expr}
6846 @var{expr} is an expression (in the source language). By default the
6847 value of @var{expr} is printed in a format appropriate to its data type;
6848 you can choose a different format by specifying @samp{/@var{f}}, where
6849 @var{f} is a letter specifying the format; see @ref{Output Formats,,Output
6850 Formats}.
6851
6852 @item print
6853 @itemx print /@var{f}
6854 @cindex reprint the last value
6855 If you omit @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} displays the last value again (from the
6856 @dfn{value history}; @pxref{Value History, ,Value History}). This allows you to
6857 conveniently inspect the same value in an alternative format.
6858 @end table
6859
6860 A more low-level way of examining data is with the @code{x} command.
6861 It examines data in memory at a specified address and prints it in a
6862 specified format. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
6863
6864 If you are interested in information about types, or about how the
6865 fields of a struct or a class are declared, use the @code{ptype @var{exp}}
6866 command rather than @code{print}. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol
6867 Table}.
6868
6869 @menu
6870 * Expressions:: Expressions
6871 * Ambiguous Expressions:: Ambiguous Expressions
6872 * Variables:: Program variables
6873 * Arrays:: Artificial arrays
6874 * Output Formats:: Output formats
6875 * Memory:: Examining memory
6876 * Auto Display:: Automatic display
6877 * Print Settings:: Print settings
6878 * Pretty Printing:: Python pretty printing
6879 * Value History:: Value history
6880 * Convenience Vars:: Convenience variables
6881 * Registers:: Registers
6882 * Floating Point Hardware:: Floating point hardware
6883 * Vector Unit:: Vector Unit
6884 * OS Information:: Auxiliary data provided by operating system
6885 * Memory Region Attributes:: Memory region attributes
6886 * Dump/Restore Files:: Copy between memory and a file
6887 * Core File Generation:: Cause a program dump its core
6888 * Character Sets:: Debugging programs that use a different
6889 character set than GDB does
6890 * Caching Remote Data:: Data caching for remote targets
6891 * Searching Memory:: Searching memory for a sequence of bytes
6892 @end menu
6893
6894 @node Expressions
6895 @section Expressions
6896
6897 @cindex expressions
6898 @code{print} and many other @value{GDBN} commands accept an expression and
6899 compute its value. Any kind of constant, variable or operator defined
6900 by the programming language you are using is valid in an expression in
6901 @value{GDBN}. This includes conditional expressions, function calls,
6902 casts, and string constants. It also includes preprocessor macros, if
6903 you compiled your program to include this information; see
6904 @ref{Compilation}.
6905
6906 @cindex arrays in expressions
6907 @value{GDBN} supports array constants in expressions input by
6908 the user. The syntax is @{@var{element}, @var{element}@dots{}@}. For example,
6909 you can use the command @code{print @{1, 2, 3@}} to create an array
6910 of three integers. If you pass an array to a function or assign it
6911 to a program variable, @value{GDBN} copies the array to memory that
6912 is @code{malloc}ed in the target program.
6913
6914 Because C is so widespread, most of the expressions shown in examples in
6915 this manual are in C. @xref{Languages, , Using @value{GDBN} with Different
6916 Languages}, for information on how to use expressions in other
6917 languages.
6918
6919 In this section, we discuss operators that you can use in @value{GDBN}
6920 expressions regardless of your programming language.
6921
6922 @cindex casts, in expressions
6923 Casts are supported in all languages, not just in C, because it is so
6924 useful to cast a number into a pointer in order to examine a structure
6925 at that address in memory.
6926 @c FIXME: casts supported---Mod2 true?
6927
6928 @value{GDBN} supports these operators, in addition to those common
6929 to programming languages:
6930
6931 @table @code
6932 @item @@
6933 @samp{@@} is a binary operator for treating parts of memory as arrays.
6934 @xref{Arrays, ,Artificial Arrays}, for more information.
6935
6936 @item ::
6937 @samp{::} allows you to specify a variable in terms of the file or
6938 function where it is defined. @xref{Variables, ,Program Variables}.
6939
6940 @cindex @{@var{type}@}
6941 @cindex type casting memory
6942 @cindex memory, viewing as typed object
6943 @cindex casts, to view memory
6944 @item @{@var{type}@} @var{addr}
6945 Refers to an object of type @var{type} stored at address @var{addr} in
6946 memory. @var{addr} may be any expression whose value is an integer or
6947 pointer (but parentheses are required around binary operators, just as in
6948 a cast). This construct is allowed regardless of what kind of data is
6949 normally supposed to reside at @var{addr}.
6950 @end table
6951
6952 @node Ambiguous Expressions
6953 @section Ambiguous Expressions
6954 @cindex ambiguous expressions
6955
6956 Expressions can sometimes contain some ambiguous elements. For instance,
6957 some programming languages (notably Ada, C@t{++} and Objective-C) permit
6958 a single function name to be defined several times, for application in
6959 different contexts. This is called @dfn{overloading}. Another example
6960 involving Ada is generics. A @dfn{generic package} is similar to C@t{++}
6961 templates and is typically instantiated several times, resulting in
6962 the same function name being defined in different contexts.
6963
6964 In some cases and depending on the language, it is possible to adjust
6965 the expression to remove the ambiguity. For instance in C@t{++}, you
6966 can specify the signature of the function you want to break on, as in
6967 @kbd{break @var{function}(@var{types})}. In Ada, using the fully
6968 qualified name of your function often makes the expression unambiguous
6969 as well.
6970
6971 When an ambiguity that needs to be resolved is detected, the debugger
6972 has the capability to display a menu of numbered choices for each
6973 possibility, and then waits for the selection with the prompt @samp{>}.
6974 The first option is always @samp{[0] cancel}, and typing @kbd{0 @key{RET}}
6975 aborts the current command. If the command in which the expression was
6976 used allows more than one choice to be selected, the next option in the
6977 menu is @samp{[1] all}, and typing @kbd{1 @key{RET}} selects all possible
6978 choices.
6979
6980 For example, the following session excerpt shows an attempt to set a
6981 breakpoint at the overloaded symbol @code{String::after}.
6982 We choose three particular definitions of that function name:
6983
6984 @c FIXME! This is likely to change to show arg type lists, at least
6985 @smallexample
6986 @group
6987 (@value{GDBP}) b String::after
6988 [0] cancel
6989 [1] all
6990 [2] file:String.cc; line number:867
6991 [3] file:String.cc; line number:860
6992 [4] file:String.cc; line number:875
6993 [5] file:String.cc; line number:853
6994 [6] file:String.cc; line number:846
6995 [7] file:String.cc; line number:735
6996 > 2 4 6
6997 Breakpoint 1 at 0xb26c: file String.cc, line 867.
6998 Breakpoint 2 at 0xb344: file String.cc, line 875.
6999 Breakpoint 3 at 0xafcc: file String.cc, line 846.
7000 Multiple breakpoints were set.
7001 Use the "delete" command to delete unwanted
7002 breakpoints.
7003 (@value{GDBP})
7004 @end group
7005 @end smallexample
7006
7007 @table @code
7008 @kindex set multiple-symbols
7009 @item set multiple-symbols @var{mode}
7010 @cindex multiple-symbols menu
7011
7012 This option allows you to adjust the debugger behavior when an expression
7013 is ambiguous.
7014
7015 By default, @var{mode} is set to @code{all}. If the command with which
7016 the expression is used allows more than one choice, then @value{GDBN}
7017 automatically selects all possible choices. For instance, inserting
7018 a breakpoint on a function using an ambiguous name results in a breakpoint
7019 inserted on each possible match. However, if a unique choice must be made,
7020 then @value{GDBN} uses the menu to help you disambiguate the expression.
7021 For instance, printing the address of an overloaded function will result
7022 in the use of the menu.
7023
7024 When @var{mode} is set to @code{ask}, the debugger always uses the menu
7025 when an ambiguity is detected.
7026
7027 Finally, when @var{mode} is set to @code{cancel}, the debugger reports
7028 an error due to the ambiguity and the command is aborted.
7029
7030 @kindex show multiple-symbols
7031 @item show multiple-symbols
7032 Show the current value of the @code{multiple-symbols} setting.
7033 @end table
7034
7035 @node Variables
7036 @section Program Variables
7037
7038 The most common kind of expression to use is the name of a variable
7039 in your program.
7040
7041 Variables in expressions are understood in the selected stack frame
7042 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}); they must be either:
7043
7044 @itemize @bullet
7045 @item
7046 global (or file-static)
7047 @end itemize
7048
7049 @noindent or
7050
7051 @itemize @bullet
7052 @item
7053 visible according to the scope rules of the
7054 programming language from the point of execution in that frame
7055 @end itemize
7056
7057 @noindent This means that in the function
7058
7059 @smallexample
7060 foo (a)
7061 int a;
7062 @{
7063 bar (a);
7064 @{
7065 int b = test ();
7066 bar (b);
7067 @}
7068 @}
7069 @end smallexample
7070
7071 @noindent
7072 you can examine and use the variable @code{a} whenever your program is
7073 executing within the function @code{foo}, but you can only use or
7074 examine the variable @code{b} while your program is executing inside
7075 the block where @code{b} is declared.
7076
7077 @cindex variable name conflict
7078 There is an exception: you can refer to a variable or function whose
7079 scope is a single source file even if the current execution point is not
7080 in this file. But it is possible to have more than one such variable or
7081 function with the same name (in different source files). If that
7082 happens, referring to that name has unpredictable effects. If you wish,
7083 you can specify a static variable in a particular function or file,
7084 using the colon-colon (@code{::}) notation:
7085
7086 @cindex colon-colon, context for variables/functions
7087 @ifnotinfo
7088 @c info cannot cope with a :: index entry, but why deprive hard copy readers?
7089 @cindex @code{::}, context for variables/functions
7090 @end ifnotinfo
7091 @smallexample
7092 @var{file}::@var{variable}
7093 @var{function}::@var{variable}
7094 @end smallexample
7095
7096 @noindent
7097 Here @var{file} or @var{function} is the name of the context for the
7098 static @var{variable}. In the case of file names, you can use quotes to
7099 make sure @value{GDBN} parses the file name as a single word---for example,
7100 to print a global value of @code{x} defined in @file{f2.c}:
7101
7102 @smallexample
7103 (@value{GDBP}) p 'f2.c'::x
7104 @end smallexample
7105
7106 @cindex C@t{++} scope resolution
7107 This use of @samp{::} is very rarely in conflict with the very similar
7108 use of the same notation in C@t{++}. @value{GDBN} also supports use of the C@t{++}
7109 scope resolution operator in @value{GDBN} expressions.
7110 @c FIXME: Um, so what happens in one of those rare cases where it's in
7111 @c conflict?? --mew
7112
7113 @cindex wrong values
7114 @cindex variable values, wrong
7115 @cindex function entry/exit, wrong values of variables
7116 @cindex optimized code, wrong values of variables
7117 @quotation
7118 @emph{Warning:} Occasionally, a local variable may appear to have the
7119 wrong value at certain points in a function---just after entry to a new
7120 scope, and just before exit.
7121 @end quotation
7122 You may see this problem when you are stepping by machine instructions.
7123 This is because, on most machines, it takes more than one instruction to
7124 set up a stack frame (including local variable definitions); if you are
7125 stepping by machine instructions, variables may appear to have the wrong
7126 values until the stack frame is completely built. On exit, it usually
7127 also takes more than one machine instruction to destroy a stack frame;
7128 after you begin stepping through that group of instructions, local
7129 variable definitions may be gone.
7130
7131 This may also happen when the compiler does significant optimizations.
7132 To be sure of always seeing accurate values, turn off all optimization
7133 when compiling.
7134
7135 @cindex ``No symbol "foo" in current context''
7136 Another possible effect of compiler optimizations is to optimize
7137 unused variables out of existence, or assign variables to registers (as
7138 opposed to memory addresses). Depending on the support for such cases
7139 offered by the debug info format used by the compiler, @value{GDBN}
7140 might not be able to display values for such local variables. If that
7141 happens, @value{GDBN} will print a message like this:
7142
7143 @smallexample
7144 No symbol "foo" in current context.
7145 @end smallexample
7146
7147 To solve such problems, either recompile without optimizations, or use a
7148 different debug info format, if the compiler supports several such
7149 formats. For example, @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C/C@t{++} compiler,
7150 usually supports the @option{-gstabs+} option. @option{-gstabs+}
7151 produces debug info in a format that is superior to formats such as
7152 COFF. You may be able to use DWARF 2 (@option{-gdwarf-2}), which is also
7153 an effective form for debug info. @xref{Debugging Options,,Options
7154 for Debugging Your Program or GCC, gcc.info, Using the @sc{gnu}
7155 Compiler Collection (GCC)}.
7156 @xref{C, ,C and C@t{++}}, for more information about debug info formats
7157 that are best suited to C@t{++} programs.
7158
7159 If you ask to print an object whose contents are unknown to
7160 @value{GDBN}, e.g., because its data type is not completely specified
7161 by the debug information, @value{GDBN} will say @samp{<incomplete
7162 type>}. @xref{Symbols, incomplete type}, for more about this.
7163
7164 Strings are identified as arrays of @code{char} values without specified
7165 signedness. Arrays of either @code{signed char} or @code{unsigned char} get
7166 printed as arrays of 1 byte sized integers. @code{-fsigned-char} or
7167 @code{-funsigned-char} @value{NGCC} options have no effect as @value{GDBN}
7168 defines literal string type @code{"char"} as @code{char} without a sign.
7169 For program code
7170
7171 @smallexample
7172 char var0[] = "A";
7173 signed char var1[] = "A";
7174 @end smallexample
7175
7176 You get during debugging
7177 @smallexample
7178 (gdb) print var0
7179 $1 = "A"
7180 (gdb) print var1
7181 $2 = @{65 'A', 0 '\0'@}
7182 @end smallexample
7183
7184 @node Arrays
7185 @section Artificial Arrays
7186
7187 @cindex artificial array
7188 @cindex arrays
7189 @kindex @@@r{, referencing memory as an array}
7190 It is often useful to print out several successive objects of the
7191 same type in memory; a section of an array, or an array of
7192 dynamically determined size for which only a pointer exists in the
7193 program.
7194
7195 You can do this by referring to a contiguous span of memory as an
7196 @dfn{artificial array}, using the binary operator @samp{@@}. The left
7197 operand of @samp{@@} should be the first element of the desired array
7198 and be an individual object. The right operand should be the desired length
7199 of the array. The result is an array value whose elements are all of
7200 the type of the left argument. The first element is actually the left
7201 argument; the second element comes from bytes of memory immediately
7202 following those that hold the first element, and so on. Here is an
7203 example. If a program says
7204
7205 @smallexample
7206 int *array = (int *) malloc (len * sizeof (int));
7207 @end smallexample
7208
7209 @noindent
7210 you can print the contents of @code{array} with
7211
7212 @smallexample
7213 p *array@@len
7214 @end smallexample
7215
7216 The left operand of @samp{@@} must reside in memory. Array values made
7217 with @samp{@@} in this way behave just like other arrays in terms of
7218 subscripting, and are coerced to pointers when used in expressions.
7219 Artificial arrays most often appear in expressions via the value history
7220 (@pxref{Value History, ,Value History}), after printing one out.
7221
7222 Another way to create an artificial array is to use a cast.
7223 This re-interprets a value as if it were an array.
7224 The value need not be in memory:
7225 @smallexample
7226 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[2])0x12345678
7227 $1 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
7228 @end smallexample
7229
7230 As a convenience, if you leave the array length out (as in
7231 @samp{(@var{type}[])@var{value}}) @value{GDBN} calculates the size to fill
7232 the value (as @samp{sizeof(@var{value})/sizeof(@var{type})}:
7233 @smallexample
7234 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[])0x12345678
7235 $2 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
7236 @end smallexample
7237
7238 Sometimes the artificial array mechanism is not quite enough; in
7239 moderately complex data structures, the elements of interest may not
7240 actually be adjacent---for example, if you are interested in the values
7241 of pointers in an array. One useful work-around in this situation is
7242 to use a convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
7243 Variables}) as a counter in an expression that prints the first
7244 interesting value, and then repeat that expression via @key{RET}. For
7245 instance, suppose you have an array @code{dtab} of pointers to
7246 structures, and you are interested in the values of a field @code{fv}
7247 in each structure. Here is an example of what you might type:
7248
7249 @smallexample
7250 set $i = 0
7251 p dtab[$i++]->fv
7252 @key{RET}
7253 @key{RET}
7254 @dots{}
7255 @end smallexample
7256
7257 @node Output Formats
7258 @section Output Formats
7259
7260 @cindex formatted output
7261 @cindex output formats
7262 By default, @value{GDBN} prints a value according to its data type. Sometimes
7263 this is not what you want. For example, you might want to print a number
7264 in hex, or a pointer in decimal. Or you might want to view data in memory
7265 at a certain address as a character string or as an instruction. To do
7266 these things, specify an @dfn{output format} when you print a value.
7267
7268 The simplest use of output formats is to say how to print a value
7269 already computed. This is done by starting the arguments of the
7270 @code{print} command with a slash and a format letter. The format
7271 letters supported are:
7272
7273 @table @code
7274 @item x
7275 Regard the bits of the value as an integer, and print the integer in
7276 hexadecimal.
7277
7278 @item d
7279 Print as integer in signed decimal.
7280
7281 @item u
7282 Print as integer in unsigned decimal.
7283
7284 @item o
7285 Print as integer in octal.
7286
7287 @item t
7288 Print as integer in binary. The letter @samp{t} stands for ``two''.
7289 @footnote{@samp{b} cannot be used because these format letters are also
7290 used with the @code{x} command, where @samp{b} stands for ``byte'';
7291 see @ref{Memory,,Examining Memory}.}
7292
7293 @item a
7294 @cindex unknown address, locating
7295 @cindex locate address
7296 Print as an address, both absolute in hexadecimal and as an offset from
7297 the nearest preceding symbol. You can use this format used to discover
7298 where (in what function) an unknown address is located:
7299
7300 @smallexample
7301 (@value{GDBP}) p/a 0x54320
7302 $3 = 0x54320 <_initialize_vx+396>
7303 @end smallexample
7304
7305 @noindent
7306 The command @code{info symbol 0x54320} yields similar results.
7307 @xref{Symbols, info symbol}.
7308
7309 @item c
7310 Regard as an integer and print it as a character constant. This
7311 prints both the numerical value and its character representation. The
7312 character representation is replaced with the octal escape @samp{\nnn}
7313 for characters outside the 7-bit @sc{ascii} range.
7314
7315 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays @code{char},
7316 @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} data as character
7317 constants. Single-byte members of vectors are displayed as integer
7318 data.
7319
7320 @item f
7321 Regard the bits of the value as a floating point number and print
7322 using typical floating point syntax.
7323
7324 @item s
7325 @cindex printing strings
7326 @cindex printing byte arrays
7327 Regard as a string, if possible. With this format, pointers to single-byte
7328 data are displayed as null-terminated strings and arrays of single-byte data
7329 are displayed as fixed-length strings. Other values are displayed in their
7330 natural types.
7331
7332 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays pointers to and arrays of
7333 @code{char}, @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} as
7334 strings. Single-byte members of a vector are displayed as an integer
7335 array.
7336
7337 @item r
7338 @cindex raw printing
7339 Print using the @samp{raw} formatting. By default, @value{GDBN} will
7340 use a Python-based pretty-printer, if one is available (@pxref{Pretty
7341 Printing}). This typically results in a higher-level display of the
7342 value's contents. The @samp{r} format bypasses any Python
7343 pretty-printer which might exist.
7344 @end table
7345
7346 For example, to print the program counter in hex (@pxref{Registers}), type
7347
7348 @smallexample
7349 p/x $pc
7350 @end smallexample
7351
7352 @noindent
7353 Note that no space is required before the slash; this is because command
7354 names in @value{GDBN} cannot contain a slash.
7355
7356 To reprint the last value in the value history with a different format,
7357 you can use the @code{print} command with just a format and no
7358 expression. For example, @samp{p/x} reprints the last value in hex.
7359
7360 @node Memory
7361 @section Examining Memory
7362
7363 You can use the command @code{x} (for ``examine'') to examine memory in
7364 any of several formats, independently of your program's data types.
7365
7366 @cindex examining memory
7367 @table @code
7368 @kindex x @r{(examine memory)}
7369 @item x/@var{nfu} @var{addr}
7370 @itemx x @var{addr}
7371 @itemx x
7372 Use the @code{x} command to examine memory.
7373 @end table
7374
7375 @var{n}, @var{f}, and @var{u} are all optional parameters that specify how
7376 much memory to display and how to format it; @var{addr} is an
7377 expression giving the address where you want to start displaying memory.
7378 If you use defaults for @var{nfu}, you need not type the slash @samp{/}.
7379 Several commands set convenient defaults for @var{addr}.
7380
7381 @table @r
7382 @item @var{n}, the repeat count
7383 The repeat count is a decimal integer; the default is 1. It specifies
7384 how much memory (counting by units @var{u}) to display.
7385 @c This really is **decimal**; unaffected by 'set radix' as of GDB
7386 @c 4.1.2.
7387
7388 @item @var{f}, the display format
7389 The display format is one of the formats used by @code{print}
7390 (@samp{x}, @samp{d}, @samp{u}, @samp{o}, @samp{t}, @samp{a}, @samp{c},
7391 @samp{f}, @samp{s}), and in addition @samp{i} (for machine instructions).
7392 The default is @samp{x} (hexadecimal) initially. The default changes
7393 each time you use either @code{x} or @code{print}.
7394
7395 @item @var{u}, the unit size
7396 The unit size is any of
7397
7398 @table @code
7399 @item b
7400 Bytes.
7401 @item h
7402 Halfwords (two bytes).
7403 @item w
7404 Words (four bytes). This is the initial default.
7405 @item g
7406 Giant words (eight bytes).
7407 @end table
7408
7409 Each time you specify a unit size with @code{x}, that size becomes the
7410 default unit the next time you use @code{x}. For the @samp{i} format,
7411 the unit size is ignored and is normally not written. For the @samp{s} format,
7412 the unit size defaults to @samp{b}, unless it is explicitly given.
7413 Use @kbd{x /hs} to display 16-bit char strings and @kbd{x /ws} to display
7414 32-bit strings. The next use of @kbd{x /s} will again display 8-bit strings.
7415 Note that the results depend on the programming language of the
7416 current compilation unit. If the language is C, the @samp{s}
7417 modifier will use the UTF-16 encoding while @samp{w} will use
7418 UTF-32. The encoding is set by the programming language and cannot
7419 be altered.
7420
7421 @item @var{addr}, starting display address
7422 @var{addr} is the address where you want @value{GDBN} to begin displaying
7423 memory. The expression need not have a pointer value (though it may);
7424 it is always interpreted as an integer address of a byte of memory.
7425 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information on expressions. The default for
7426 @var{addr} is usually just after the last address examined---but several
7427 other commands also set the default address: @code{info breakpoints} (to
7428 the address of the last breakpoint listed), @code{info line} (to the
7429 starting address of a line), and @code{print} (if you use it to display
7430 a value from memory).
7431 @end table
7432
7433 For example, @samp{x/3uh 0x54320} is a request to display three halfwords
7434 (@code{h}) of memory, formatted as unsigned decimal integers (@samp{u}),
7435 starting at address @code{0x54320}. @samp{x/4xw $sp} prints the four
7436 words (@samp{w}) of memory above the stack pointer (here, @samp{$sp};
7437 @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}) in hexadecimal (@samp{x}).
7438
7439 Since the letters indicating unit sizes are all distinct from the
7440 letters specifying output formats, you do not have to remember whether
7441 unit size or format comes first; either order works. The output
7442 specifications @samp{4xw} and @samp{4wx} mean exactly the same thing.
7443 (However, the count @var{n} must come first; @samp{wx4} does not work.)
7444
7445 Even though the unit size @var{u} is ignored for the formats @samp{s}
7446 and @samp{i}, you might still want to use a count @var{n}; for example,
7447 @samp{3i} specifies that you want to see three machine instructions,
7448 including any operands. For convenience, especially when used with
7449 the @code{display} command, the @samp{i} format also prints branch delay
7450 slot instructions, if any, beyond the count specified, which immediately
7451 follow the last instruction that is within the count. The command
7452 @code{disassemble} gives an alternative way of inspecting machine
7453 instructions; see @ref{Machine Code,,Source and Machine Code}.
7454
7455 All the defaults for the arguments to @code{x} are designed to make it
7456 easy to continue scanning memory with minimal specifications each time
7457 you use @code{x}. For example, after you have inspected three machine
7458 instructions with @samp{x/3i @var{addr}}, you can inspect the next seven
7459 with just @samp{x/7}. If you use @key{RET} to repeat the @code{x} command,
7460 the repeat count @var{n} is used again; the other arguments default as
7461 for successive uses of @code{x}.
7462
7463 When examining machine instructions, the instruction at current program
7464 counter is shown with a @code{=>} marker. For example:
7465
7466 @smallexample
7467 (@value{GDBP}) x/5i $pc-6
7468 0x804837f <main+11>: mov %esp,%ebp
7469 0x8048381 <main+13>: push %ecx
7470 0x8048382 <main+14>: sub $0x4,%esp
7471 => 0x8048385 <main+17>: movl $0x8048460,(%esp)
7472 0x804838c <main+24>: call 0x80482d4 <puts@@plt>
7473 @end smallexample
7474
7475 @cindex @code{$_}, @code{$__}, and value history
7476 The addresses and contents printed by the @code{x} command are not saved
7477 in the value history because there is often too much of them and they
7478 would get in the way. Instead, @value{GDBN} makes these values available for
7479 subsequent use in expressions as values of the convenience variables
7480 @code{$_} and @code{$__}. After an @code{x} command, the last address
7481 examined is available for use in expressions in the convenience variable
7482 @code{$_}. The contents of that address, as examined, are available in
7483 the convenience variable @code{$__}.
7484
7485 If the @code{x} command has a repeat count, the address and contents saved
7486 are from the last memory unit printed; this is not the same as the last
7487 address printed if several units were printed on the last line of output.
7488
7489 @cindex remote memory comparison
7490 @cindex verify remote memory image
7491 When you are debugging a program running on a remote target machine
7492 (@pxref{Remote Debugging}), you may wish to verify the program's image in the
7493 remote machine's memory against the executable file you downloaded to
7494 the target. The @code{compare-sections} command is provided for such
7495 situations.
7496
7497 @table @code
7498 @kindex compare-sections
7499 @item compare-sections @r{[}@var{section-name}@r{]}
7500 Compare the data of a loadable section @var{section-name} in the
7501 executable file of the program being debugged with the same section in
7502 the remote machine's memory, and report any mismatches. With no
7503 arguments, compares all loadable sections. This command's
7504 availability depends on the target's support for the @code{"qCRC"}
7505 remote request.
7506 @end table
7507
7508 @node Auto Display
7509 @section Automatic Display
7510 @cindex automatic display
7511 @cindex display of expressions
7512
7513 If you find that you want to print the value of an expression frequently
7514 (to see how it changes), you might want to add it to the @dfn{automatic
7515 display list} so that @value{GDBN} prints its value each time your program stops.
7516 Each expression added to the list is given a number to identify it;
7517 to remove an expression from the list, you specify that number.
7518 The automatic display looks like this:
7519
7520 @smallexample
7521 2: foo = 38
7522 3: bar[5] = (struct hack *) 0x3804
7523 @end smallexample
7524
7525 @noindent
7526 This display shows item numbers, expressions and their current values. As with
7527 displays you request manually using @code{x} or @code{print}, you can
7528 specify the output format you prefer; in fact, @code{display} decides
7529 whether to use @code{print} or @code{x} depending your format
7530 specification---it uses @code{x} if you specify either the @samp{i}
7531 or @samp{s} format, or a unit size; otherwise it uses @code{print}.
7532
7533 @table @code
7534 @kindex display
7535 @item display @var{expr}
7536 Add the expression @var{expr} to the list of expressions to display
7537 each time your program stops. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
7538
7539 @code{display} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
7540
7541 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{expr}
7542 For @var{fmt} specifying only a display format and not a size or
7543 count, add the expression @var{expr} to the auto-display list but
7544 arrange to display it each time in the specified format @var{fmt}.
7545 @xref{Output Formats,,Output Formats}.
7546
7547 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{addr}
7548 For @var{fmt} @samp{i} or @samp{s}, or including a unit-size or a
7549 number of units, add the expression @var{addr} as a memory address to
7550 be examined each time your program stops. Examining means in effect
7551 doing @samp{x/@var{fmt} @var{addr}}. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
7552 @end table
7553
7554 For example, @samp{display/i $pc} can be helpful, to see the machine
7555 instruction about to be executed each time execution stops (@samp{$pc}
7556 is a common name for the program counter; @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
7557
7558 @table @code
7559 @kindex delete display
7560 @kindex undisplay
7561 @item undisplay @var{dnums}@dots{}
7562 @itemx delete display @var{dnums}@dots{}
7563 Remove item numbers @var{dnums} from the list of expressions to display.
7564
7565 @code{undisplay} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
7566 (Otherwise you would just get the error @samp{No display number @dots{}}.)
7567
7568 @kindex disable display
7569 @item disable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
7570 Disable the display of item numbers @var{dnums}. A disabled display
7571 item is not printed automatically, but is not forgotten. It may be
7572 enabled again later.
7573
7574 @kindex enable display
7575 @item enable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
7576 Enable display of item numbers @var{dnums}. It becomes effective once
7577 again in auto display of its expression, until you specify otherwise.
7578
7579 @item display
7580 Display the current values of the expressions on the list, just as is
7581 done when your program stops.
7582
7583 @kindex info display
7584 @item info display
7585 Print the list of expressions previously set up to display
7586 automatically, each one with its item number, but without showing the
7587 values. This includes disabled expressions, which are marked as such.
7588 It also includes expressions which would not be displayed right now
7589 because they refer to automatic variables not currently available.
7590 @end table
7591
7592 @cindex display disabled out of scope
7593 If a display expression refers to local variables, then it does not make
7594 sense outside the lexical context for which it was set up. Such an
7595 expression is disabled when execution enters a context where one of its
7596 variables is not defined. For example, if you give the command
7597 @code{display last_char} while inside a function with an argument
7598 @code{last_char}, @value{GDBN} displays this argument while your program
7599 continues to stop inside that function. When it stops elsewhere---where
7600 there is no variable @code{last_char}---the display is disabled
7601 automatically. The next time your program stops where @code{last_char}
7602 is meaningful, you can enable the display expression once again.
7603
7604 @node Print Settings
7605 @section Print Settings
7606
7607 @cindex format options
7608 @cindex print settings
7609 @value{GDBN} provides the following ways to control how arrays, structures,
7610 and symbols are printed.
7611
7612 @noindent
7613 These settings are useful for debugging programs in any language:
7614
7615 @table @code
7616 @kindex set print
7617 @item set print address
7618 @itemx set print address on
7619 @cindex print/don't print memory addresses
7620 @value{GDBN} prints memory addresses showing the location of stack
7621 traces, structure values, pointer values, breakpoints, and so forth,
7622 even when it also displays the contents of those addresses. The default
7623 is @code{on}. For example, this is what a stack frame display looks like with
7624 @code{set print address on}:
7625
7626 @smallexample
7627 @group
7628 (@value{GDBP}) f
7629 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<<", rq=0x34c88 ">>")
7630 at input.c:530
7631 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
7632 @end group
7633 @end smallexample
7634
7635 @item set print address off
7636 Do not print addresses when displaying their contents. For example,
7637 this is the same stack frame displayed with @code{set print address off}:
7638
7639 @smallexample
7640 @group
7641 (@value{GDBP}) set print addr off
7642 (@value{GDBP}) f
7643 #0 set_quotes (lq="<<", rq=">>") at input.c:530
7644 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
7645 @end group
7646 @end smallexample
7647
7648 You can use @samp{set print address off} to eliminate all machine
7649 dependent displays from the @value{GDBN} interface. For example, with
7650 @code{print address off}, you should get the same text for backtraces on
7651 all machines---whether or not they involve pointer arguments.
7652
7653 @kindex show print
7654 @item show print address
7655 Show whether or not addresses are to be printed.
7656 @end table
7657
7658 When @value{GDBN} prints a symbolic address, it normally prints the
7659 closest earlier symbol plus an offset. If that symbol does not uniquely
7660 identify the address (for example, it is a name whose scope is a single
7661 source file), you may need to clarify. One way to do this is with
7662 @code{info line}, for example @samp{info line *0x4537}. Alternately,
7663 you can set @value{GDBN} to print the source file and line number when
7664 it prints a symbolic address:
7665
7666 @table @code
7667 @item set print symbol-filename on
7668 @cindex source file and line of a symbol
7669 @cindex symbol, source file and line
7670 Tell @value{GDBN} to print the source file name and line number of a
7671 symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
7672
7673 @item set print symbol-filename off
7674 Do not print source file name and line number of a symbol. This is the
7675 default.
7676
7677 @item show print symbol-filename
7678 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} will print the source file name and
7679 line number of a symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
7680 @end table
7681
7682 Another situation where it is helpful to show symbol filenames and line
7683 numbers is when disassembling code; @value{GDBN} shows you the line
7684 number and source file that corresponds to each instruction.
7685
7686 Also, you may wish to see the symbolic form only if the address being
7687 printed is reasonably close to the closest earlier symbol:
7688
7689 @table @code
7690 @item set print max-symbolic-offset @var{max-offset}
7691 @cindex maximum value for offset of closest symbol
7692 Tell @value{GDBN} to only display the symbolic form of an address if the
7693 offset between the closest earlier symbol and the address is less than
7694 @var{max-offset}. The default is 0, which tells @value{GDBN}
7695 to always print the symbolic form of an address if any symbol precedes it.
7696
7697 @item show print max-symbolic-offset
7698 Ask how large the maximum offset is that @value{GDBN} prints in a
7699 symbolic address.
7700 @end table
7701
7702 @cindex wild pointer, interpreting
7703 @cindex pointer, finding referent
7704 If you have a pointer and you are not sure where it points, try
7705 @samp{set print symbol-filename on}. Then you can determine the name
7706 and source file location of the variable where it points, using
7707 @samp{p/a @var{pointer}}. This interprets the address in symbolic form.
7708 For example, here @value{GDBN} shows that a variable @code{ptt} points
7709 at another variable @code{t}, defined in @file{hi2.c}:
7710
7711 @smallexample
7712 (@value{GDBP}) set print symbol-filename on
7713 (@value{GDBP}) p/a ptt
7714 $4 = 0xe008 <t in hi2.c>
7715 @end smallexample
7716
7717 @quotation
7718 @emph{Warning:} For pointers that point to a local variable, @samp{p/a}
7719 does not show the symbol name and filename of the referent, even with
7720 the appropriate @code{set print} options turned on.
7721 @end quotation
7722
7723 Other settings control how different kinds of objects are printed:
7724
7725 @table @code
7726 @item set print array
7727 @itemx set print array on
7728 @cindex pretty print arrays
7729 Pretty print arrays. This format is more convenient to read,
7730 but uses more space. The default is off.
7731
7732 @item set print array off
7733 Return to compressed format for arrays.
7734
7735 @item show print array
7736 Show whether compressed or pretty format is selected for displaying
7737 arrays.
7738
7739 @cindex print array indexes
7740 @item set print array-indexes
7741 @itemx set print array-indexes on
7742 Print the index of each element when displaying arrays. May be more
7743 convenient to locate a given element in the array or quickly find the
7744 index of a given element in that printed array. The default is off.
7745
7746 @item set print array-indexes off
7747 Stop printing element indexes when displaying arrays.
7748
7749 @item show print array-indexes
7750 Show whether the index of each element is printed when displaying
7751 arrays.
7752
7753 @item set print elements @var{number-of-elements}
7754 @cindex number of array elements to print
7755 @cindex limit on number of printed array elements
7756 Set a limit on how many elements of an array @value{GDBN} will print.
7757 If @value{GDBN} is printing a large array, it stops printing after it has
7758 printed the number of elements set by the @code{set print elements} command.
7759 This limit also applies to the display of strings.
7760 When @value{GDBN} starts, this limit is set to 200.
7761 Setting @var{number-of-elements} to zero means that the printing is unlimited.
7762
7763 @item show print elements
7764 Display the number of elements of a large array that @value{GDBN} will print.
7765 If the number is 0, then the printing is unlimited.
7766
7767 @item set print frame-arguments @var{value}
7768 @kindex set print frame-arguments
7769 @cindex printing frame argument values
7770 @cindex print all frame argument values
7771 @cindex print frame argument values for scalars only
7772 @cindex do not print frame argument values
7773 This command allows to control how the values of arguments are printed
7774 when the debugger prints a frame (@pxref{Frames}). The possible
7775 values are:
7776
7777 @table @code
7778 @item all
7779 The values of all arguments are printed.
7780
7781 @item scalars
7782 Print the value of an argument only if it is a scalar. The value of more
7783 complex arguments such as arrays, structures, unions, etc, is replaced
7784 by @code{@dots{}}. This is the default. Here is an example where
7785 only scalar arguments are shown:
7786
7787 @smallexample
7788 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=3, s=@dots{}, ss=0xbf8d508c, u=@dots{}, e=green)
7789 at frame-args.c:23
7790 @end smallexample
7791
7792 @item none
7793 None of the argument values are printed. Instead, the value of each argument
7794 is replaced by @code{@dots{}}. In this case, the example above now becomes:
7795
7796 @smallexample
7797 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=@dots{}, s=@dots{}, ss=@dots{}, u=@dots{}, e=@dots{})
7798 at frame-args.c:23
7799 @end smallexample
7800 @end table
7801
7802 By default, only scalar arguments are printed. This command can be used
7803 to configure the debugger to print the value of all arguments, regardless
7804 of their type. However, it is often advantageous to not print the value
7805 of more complex parameters. For instance, it reduces the amount of
7806 information printed in each frame, making the backtrace more readable.
7807 Also, it improves performance when displaying Ada frames, because
7808 the computation of large arguments can sometimes be CPU-intensive,
7809 especially in large applications. Setting @code{print frame-arguments}
7810 to @code{scalars} (the default) or @code{none} avoids this computation,
7811 thus speeding up the display of each Ada frame.
7812
7813 @item show print frame-arguments
7814 Show how the value of arguments should be displayed when printing a frame.
7815
7816 @item set print repeats
7817 @cindex repeated array elements
7818 Set the threshold for suppressing display of repeated array
7819 elements. When the number of consecutive identical elements of an
7820 array exceeds the threshold, @value{GDBN} prints the string
7821 @code{"<repeats @var{n} times>"}, where @var{n} is the number of
7822 identical repetitions, instead of displaying the identical elements
7823 themselves. Setting the threshold to zero will cause all elements to
7824 be individually printed. The default threshold is 10.
7825
7826 @item show print repeats
7827 Display the current threshold for printing repeated identical
7828 elements.
7829
7830 @item set print null-stop
7831 @cindex @sc{null} elements in arrays
7832 Cause @value{GDBN} to stop printing the characters of an array when the first
7833 @sc{null} is encountered. This is useful when large arrays actually
7834 contain only short strings.
7835 The default is off.
7836
7837 @item show print null-stop
7838 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops printing an array on the first
7839 @sc{null} character.
7840
7841 @item set print pretty on
7842 @cindex print structures in indented form
7843 @cindex indentation in structure display
7844 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in an indented format with one member
7845 per line, like this:
7846
7847 @smallexample
7848 @group
7849 $1 = @{
7850 next = 0x0,
7851 flags = @{
7852 sweet = 1,
7853 sour = 1
7854 @},
7855 meat = 0x54 "Pork"
7856 @}
7857 @end group
7858 @end smallexample
7859
7860 @item set print pretty off
7861 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in a compact format, like this:
7862
7863 @smallexample
7864 @group
7865 $1 = @{next = 0x0, flags = @{sweet = 1, sour = 1@}, \
7866 meat = 0x54 "Pork"@}
7867 @end group
7868 @end smallexample
7869
7870 @noindent
7871 This is the default format.
7872
7873 @item show print pretty
7874 Show which format @value{GDBN} is using to print structures.
7875
7876 @item set print sevenbit-strings on
7877 @cindex eight-bit characters in strings
7878 @cindex octal escapes in strings
7879 Print using only seven-bit characters; if this option is set,
7880 @value{GDBN} displays any eight-bit characters (in strings or
7881 character values) using the notation @code{\}@var{nnn}. This setting is
7882 best if you are working in English (@sc{ascii}) and you use the
7883 high-order bit of characters as a marker or ``meta'' bit.
7884
7885 @item set print sevenbit-strings off
7886 Print full eight-bit characters. This allows the use of more
7887 international character sets, and is the default.
7888
7889 @item show print sevenbit-strings
7890 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} is printing only seven-bit characters.
7891
7892 @item set print union on
7893 @cindex unions in structures, printing
7894 Tell @value{GDBN} to print unions which are contained in structures
7895 and other unions. This is the default setting.
7896
7897 @item set print union off
7898 Tell @value{GDBN} not to print unions which are contained in
7899 structures and other unions. @value{GDBN} will print @code{"@{...@}"}
7900 instead.
7901
7902 @item show print union
7903 Ask @value{GDBN} whether or not it will print unions which are contained in
7904 structures and other unions.
7905
7906 For example, given the declarations
7907
7908 @smallexample
7909 typedef enum @{Tree, Bug@} Species;
7910 typedef enum @{Big_tree, Acorn, Seedling@} Tree_forms;
7911 typedef enum @{Caterpillar, Cocoon, Butterfly@}
7912 Bug_forms;
7913
7914 struct thing @{
7915 Species it;
7916 union @{
7917 Tree_forms tree;
7918 Bug_forms bug;
7919 @} form;
7920 @};
7921
7922 struct thing foo = @{Tree, @{Acorn@}@};
7923 @end smallexample
7924
7925 @noindent
7926 with @code{set print union on} in effect @samp{p foo} would print
7927
7928 @smallexample
7929 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{tree = Acorn, bug = Cocoon@}@}
7930 @end smallexample
7931
7932 @noindent
7933 and with @code{set print union off} in effect it would print
7934
7935 @smallexample
7936 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{...@}@}
7937 @end smallexample
7938
7939 @noindent
7940 @code{set print union} affects programs written in C-like languages
7941 and in Pascal.
7942 @end table
7943
7944 @need 1000
7945 @noindent
7946 These settings are of interest when debugging C@t{++} programs:
7947
7948 @table @code
7949 @cindex demangling C@t{++} names
7950 @item set print demangle
7951 @itemx set print demangle on
7952 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than in the encoded
7953 (``mangled'') form passed to the assembler and linker for type-safe
7954 linkage. The default is on.
7955
7956 @item show print demangle
7957 Show whether C@t{++} names are printed in mangled or demangled form.
7958
7959 @item set print asm-demangle
7960 @itemx set print asm-demangle on
7961 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than their mangled form, even
7962 in assembler code printouts such as instruction disassemblies.
7963 The default is off.
7964
7965 @item show print asm-demangle
7966 Show whether C@t{++} names in assembly listings are printed in mangled
7967 or demangled form.
7968
7969 @cindex C@t{++} symbol decoding style
7970 @cindex symbol decoding style, C@t{++}
7971 @kindex set demangle-style
7972 @item set demangle-style @var{style}
7973 Choose among several encoding schemes used by different compilers to
7974 represent C@t{++} names. The choices for @var{style} are currently:
7975
7976 @table @code
7977 @item auto
7978 Allow @value{GDBN} to choose a decoding style by inspecting your program.
7979
7980 @item gnu
7981 Decode based on the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler (@code{g++}) encoding algorithm.
7982 This is the default.
7983
7984 @item hp
7985 Decode based on the HP ANSI C@t{++} (@code{aCC}) encoding algorithm.
7986
7987 @item lucid
7988 Decode based on the Lucid C@t{++} compiler (@code{lcc}) encoding algorithm.
7989
7990 @item arm
7991 Decode using the algorithm in the @cite{C@t{++} Annotated Reference Manual}.
7992 @strong{Warning:} this setting alone is not sufficient to allow
7993 debugging @code{cfront}-generated executables. @value{GDBN} would
7994 require further enhancement to permit that.
7995
7996 @end table
7997 If you omit @var{style}, you will see a list of possible formats.
7998
7999 @item show demangle-style
8000 Display the encoding style currently in use for decoding C@t{++} symbols.
8001
8002 @item set print object
8003 @itemx set print object on
8004 @cindex derived type of an object, printing
8005 @cindex display derived types
8006 When displaying a pointer to an object, identify the @emph{actual}
8007 (derived) type of the object rather than the @emph{declared} type, using
8008 the virtual function table.
8009
8010 @item set print object off
8011 Display only the declared type of objects, without reference to the
8012 virtual function table. This is the default setting.
8013
8014 @item show print object
8015 Show whether actual, or declared, object types are displayed.
8016
8017 @item set print static-members
8018 @itemx set print static-members on
8019 @cindex static members of C@t{++} objects
8020 Print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object. The default is on.
8021
8022 @item set print static-members off
8023 Do not print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object.
8024
8025 @item show print static-members
8026 Show whether C@t{++} static members are printed or not.
8027
8028 @item set print pascal_static-members
8029 @itemx set print pascal_static-members on
8030 @cindex static members of Pascal objects
8031 @cindex Pascal objects, static members display
8032 Print static members when displaying a Pascal object. The default is on.
8033
8034 @item set print pascal_static-members off
8035 Do not print static members when displaying a Pascal object.
8036
8037 @item show print pascal_static-members
8038 Show whether Pascal static members are printed or not.
8039
8040 @c These don't work with HP ANSI C++ yet.
8041 @item set print vtbl
8042 @itemx set print vtbl on
8043 @cindex pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables
8044 @cindex virtual functions (C@t{++}) display
8045 @cindex VTBL display
8046 Pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables. The default is off.
8047 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
8048 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
8049
8050 @item set print vtbl off
8051 Do not pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables.
8052
8053 @item show print vtbl
8054 Show whether C@t{++} virtual function tables are pretty printed, or not.
8055 @end table
8056
8057 @node Pretty Printing
8058 @section Pretty Printing
8059
8060 @value{GDBN} provides a mechanism to allow pretty-printing of values using
8061 Python code. It greatly simplifies the display of complex objects. This
8062 mechanism works for both MI and the CLI.
8063
8064 For example, here is how a C@t{++} @code{std::string} looks without a
8065 pretty-printer:
8066
8067 @smallexample
8068 (@value{GDBP}) print s
8069 $1 = @{
8070 static npos = 4294967295,
8071 _M_dataplus = @{
8072 <std::allocator<char>> = @{
8073 <__gnu_cxx::new_allocator<char>> = @{
8074 <No data fields>@}, <No data fields>
8075 @},
8076 members of std::basic_string<char, std::char_traits<char>,
8077 std::allocator<char> >::_Alloc_hider:
8078 _M_p = 0x804a014 "abcd"
8079 @}
8080 @}
8081 @end smallexample
8082
8083 With a pretty-printer for @code{std::string} only the contents are printed:
8084
8085 @smallexample
8086 (@value{GDBP}) print s
8087 $2 = "abcd"
8088 @end smallexample
8089
8090 For implementing pretty printers for new types you should read the Python API
8091 details (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}).
8092
8093 @node Value History
8094 @section Value History
8095
8096 @cindex value history
8097 @cindex history of values printed by @value{GDBN}
8098 Values printed by the @code{print} command are saved in the @value{GDBN}
8099 @dfn{value history}. This allows you to refer to them in other expressions.
8100 Values are kept until the symbol table is re-read or discarded
8101 (for example with the @code{file} or @code{symbol-file} commands).
8102 When the symbol table changes, the value history is discarded,
8103 since the values may contain pointers back to the types defined in the
8104 symbol table.
8105
8106 @cindex @code{$}
8107 @cindex @code{$$}
8108 @cindex history number
8109 The values printed are given @dfn{history numbers} by which you can
8110 refer to them. These are successive integers starting with one.
8111 @code{print} shows you the history number assigned to a value by
8112 printing @samp{$@var{num} = } before the value; here @var{num} is the
8113 history number.
8114
8115 To refer to any previous value, use @samp{$} followed by the value's
8116 history number. The way @code{print} labels its output is designed to
8117 remind you of this. Just @code{$} refers to the most recent value in
8118 the history, and @code{$$} refers to the value before that.
8119 @code{$$@var{n}} refers to the @var{n}th value from the end; @code{$$2}
8120 is the value just prior to @code{$$}, @code{$$1} is equivalent to
8121 @code{$$}, and @code{$$0} is equivalent to @code{$}.
8122
8123 For example, suppose you have just printed a pointer to a structure and
8124 want to see the contents of the structure. It suffices to type
8125
8126 @smallexample
8127 p *$
8128 @end smallexample
8129
8130 If you have a chain of structures where the component @code{next} points
8131 to the next one, you can print the contents of the next one with this:
8132
8133 @smallexample
8134 p *$.next
8135 @end smallexample
8136
8137 @noindent
8138 You can print successive links in the chain by repeating this
8139 command---which you can do by just typing @key{RET}.
8140
8141 Note that the history records values, not expressions. If the value of
8142 @code{x} is 4 and you type these commands:
8143
8144 @smallexample
8145 print x
8146 set x=5
8147 @end smallexample
8148
8149 @noindent
8150 then the value recorded in the value history by the @code{print} command
8151 remains 4 even though the value of @code{x} has changed.
8152
8153 @table @code
8154 @kindex show values
8155 @item show values
8156 Print the last ten values in the value history, with their item numbers.
8157 This is like @samp{p@ $$9} repeated ten times, except that @code{show
8158 values} does not change the history.
8159
8160 @item show values @var{n}
8161 Print ten history values centered on history item number @var{n}.
8162
8163 @item show values +
8164 Print ten history values just after the values last printed. If no more
8165 values are available, @code{show values +} produces no display.
8166 @end table
8167
8168 Pressing @key{RET} to repeat @code{show values @var{n}} has exactly the
8169 same effect as @samp{show values +}.
8170
8171 @node Convenience Vars
8172 @section Convenience Variables
8173
8174 @cindex convenience variables
8175 @cindex user-defined variables
8176 @value{GDBN} provides @dfn{convenience variables} that you can use within
8177 @value{GDBN} to hold on to a value and refer to it later. These variables
8178 exist entirely within @value{GDBN}; they are not part of your program, and
8179 setting a convenience variable has no direct effect on further execution
8180 of your program. That is why you can use them freely.
8181
8182 Convenience variables are prefixed with @samp{$}. Any name preceded by
8183 @samp{$} can be used for a convenience variable, unless it is one of
8184 the predefined machine-specific register names (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
8185 (Value history references, in contrast, are @emph{numbers} preceded
8186 by @samp{$}. @xref{Value History, ,Value History}.)
8187
8188 You can save a value in a convenience variable with an assignment
8189 expression, just as you would set a variable in your program.
8190 For example:
8191
8192 @smallexample
8193 set $foo = *object_ptr
8194 @end smallexample
8195
8196 @noindent
8197 would save in @code{$foo} the value contained in the object pointed to by
8198 @code{object_ptr}.
8199
8200 Using a convenience variable for the first time creates it, but its
8201 value is @code{void} until you assign a new value. You can alter the
8202 value with another assignment at any time.
8203
8204 Convenience variables have no fixed types. You can assign a convenience
8205 variable any type of value, including structures and arrays, even if
8206 that variable already has a value of a different type. The convenience
8207 variable, when used as an expression, has the type of its current value.
8208
8209 @table @code
8210 @kindex show convenience
8211 @cindex show all user variables
8212 @item show convenience
8213 Print a list of convenience variables used so far, and their values.
8214 Abbreviated @code{show conv}.
8215
8216 @kindex init-if-undefined
8217 @cindex convenience variables, initializing
8218 @item init-if-undefined $@var{variable} = @var{expression}
8219 Set a convenience variable if it has not already been set. This is useful
8220 for user-defined commands that keep some state. It is similar, in concept,
8221 to using local static variables with initializers in C (except that
8222 convenience variables are global). It can also be used to allow users to
8223 override default values used in a command script.
8224
8225 If the variable is already defined then the expression is not evaluated so
8226 any side-effects do not occur.
8227 @end table
8228
8229 One of the ways to use a convenience variable is as a counter to be
8230 incremented or a pointer to be advanced. For example, to print
8231 a field from successive elements of an array of structures:
8232
8233 @smallexample
8234 set $i = 0
8235 print bar[$i++]->contents
8236 @end smallexample
8237
8238 @noindent
8239 Repeat that command by typing @key{RET}.
8240
8241 Some convenience variables are created automatically by @value{GDBN} and given
8242 values likely to be useful.
8243
8244 @table @code
8245 @vindex $_@r{, convenience variable}
8246 @item $_
8247 The variable @code{$_} is automatically set by the @code{x} command to
8248 the last address examined (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}). Other
8249 commands which provide a default address for @code{x} to examine also
8250 set @code{$_} to that address; these commands include @code{info line}
8251 and @code{info breakpoint}. The type of @code{$_} is @code{void *}
8252 except when set by the @code{x} command, in which case it is a pointer
8253 to the type of @code{$__}.
8254
8255 @vindex $__@r{, convenience variable}
8256 @item $__
8257 The variable @code{$__} is automatically set by the @code{x} command
8258 to the value found in the last address examined. Its type is chosen
8259 to match the format in which the data was printed.
8260
8261 @item $_exitcode
8262 @vindex $_exitcode@r{, convenience variable}
8263 The variable @code{$_exitcode} is automatically set to the exit code when
8264 the program being debugged terminates.
8265
8266 @item $_siginfo
8267 @vindex $_siginfo@r{, convenience variable}
8268 The variable @code{$_siginfo} contains extra signal information
8269 (@pxref{extra signal information}). Note that @code{$_siginfo}
8270 could be empty, if the application has not yet received any signals.
8271 For example, it will be empty before you execute the @code{run} command.
8272
8273 @item $_tlb
8274 @vindex $_tlb@r{, convenience variable}
8275 The variable @code{$_tlb} is automatically set when debugging
8276 applications running on MS-Windows in native mode or connected to
8277 gdbserver that supports the @code{qGetTIBAddr} request.
8278 @xref{General Query Packets}.
8279 This variable contains the address of the thread information block.
8280
8281 @end table
8282
8283 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
8284 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
8285 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
8286
8287 @cindex convenience functions
8288 @value{GDBN} also supplies some @dfn{convenience functions}. These
8289 have a syntax similar to convenience variables. A convenience
8290 function can be used in an expression just like an ordinary function;
8291 however, a convenience function is implemented internally to
8292 @value{GDBN}.
8293
8294 @table @code
8295 @item help function
8296 @kindex help function
8297 @cindex show all convenience functions
8298 Print a list of all convenience functions.
8299 @end table
8300
8301 @node Registers
8302 @section Registers
8303
8304 @cindex registers
8305 You can refer to machine register contents, in expressions, as variables
8306 with names starting with @samp{$}. The names of registers are different
8307 for each machine; use @code{info registers} to see the names used on
8308 your machine.
8309
8310 @table @code
8311 @kindex info registers
8312 @item info registers
8313 Print the names and values of all registers except floating-point
8314 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
8315
8316 @kindex info all-registers
8317 @cindex floating point registers
8318 @item info all-registers
8319 Print the names and values of all registers, including floating-point
8320 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
8321
8322 @item info registers @var{regname} @dots{}
8323 Print the @dfn{relativized} value of each specified register @var{regname}.
8324 As discussed in detail below, register values are normally relative to
8325 the selected stack frame. @var{regname} may be any register name valid on
8326 the machine you are using, with or without the initial @samp{$}.
8327 @end table
8328
8329 @cindex stack pointer register
8330 @cindex program counter register
8331 @cindex process status register
8332 @cindex frame pointer register
8333 @cindex standard registers
8334 @value{GDBN} has four ``standard'' register names that are available (in
8335 expressions) on most machines---whenever they do not conflict with an
8336 architecture's canonical mnemonics for registers. The register names
8337 @code{$pc} and @code{$sp} are used for the program counter register and
8338 the stack pointer. @code{$fp} is used for a register that contains a
8339 pointer to the current stack frame, and @code{$ps} is used for a
8340 register that contains the processor status. For example,
8341 you could print the program counter in hex with
8342
8343 @smallexample
8344 p/x $pc
8345 @end smallexample
8346
8347 @noindent
8348 or print the instruction to be executed next with
8349
8350 @smallexample
8351 x/i $pc
8352 @end smallexample
8353
8354 @noindent
8355 or add four to the stack pointer@footnote{This is a way of removing
8356 one word from the stack, on machines where stacks grow downward in
8357 memory (most machines, nowadays). This assumes that the innermost
8358 stack frame is selected; setting @code{$sp} is not allowed when other
8359 stack frames are selected. To pop entire frames off the stack,
8360 regardless of machine architecture, use @code{return};
8361 see @ref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}.} with
8362
8363 @smallexample
8364 set $sp += 4
8365 @end smallexample
8366
8367 Whenever possible, these four standard register names are available on
8368 your machine even though the machine has different canonical mnemonics,
8369 so long as there is no conflict. The @code{info registers} command
8370 shows the canonical names. For example, on the SPARC, @code{info
8371 registers} displays the processor status register as @code{$psr} but you
8372 can also refer to it as @code{$ps}; and on x86-based machines @code{$ps}
8373 is an alias for the @sc{eflags} register.
8374
8375 @value{GDBN} always considers the contents of an ordinary register as an
8376 integer when the register is examined in this way. Some machines have
8377 special registers which can hold nothing but floating point; these
8378 registers are considered to have floating point values. There is no way
8379 to refer to the contents of an ordinary register as floating point value
8380 (although you can @emph{print} it as a floating point value with
8381 @samp{print/f $@var{regname}}).
8382
8383 Some registers have distinct ``raw'' and ``virtual'' data formats. This
8384 means that the data format in which the register contents are saved by
8385 the operating system is not the same one that your program normally
8386 sees. For example, the registers of the 68881 floating point
8387 coprocessor are always saved in ``extended'' (raw) format, but all C
8388 programs expect to work with ``double'' (virtual) format. In such
8389 cases, @value{GDBN} normally works with the virtual format only (the format
8390 that makes sense for your program), but the @code{info registers} command
8391 prints the data in both formats.
8392
8393 @cindex SSE registers (x86)
8394 @cindex MMX registers (x86)
8395 Some machines have special registers whose contents can be interpreted
8396 in several different ways. For example, modern x86-based machines
8397 have SSE and MMX registers that can hold several values packed
8398 together in several different formats. @value{GDBN} refers to such
8399 registers in @code{struct} notation:
8400
8401 @smallexample
8402 (@value{GDBP}) print $xmm1
8403 $1 = @{
8404 v4_float = @{0, 3.43859137e-038, 1.54142831e-044, 1.821688e-044@},
8405 v2_double = @{9.92129282474342e-303, 2.7585945287983262e-313@},
8406 v16_int8 = "\000\000\000\000\3706;\001\v\000\000\000\r\000\000",
8407 v8_int16 = @{0, 0, 14072, 315, 11, 0, 13, 0@},
8408 v4_int32 = @{0, 20657912, 11, 13@},
8409 v2_int64 = @{88725056443645952, 55834574859@},
8410 uint128 = 0x0000000d0000000b013b36f800000000
8411 @}
8412 @end smallexample
8413
8414 @noindent
8415 To set values of such registers, you need to tell @value{GDBN} which
8416 view of the register you wish to change, as if you were assigning
8417 value to a @code{struct} member:
8418
8419 @smallexample
8420 (@value{GDBP}) set $xmm1.uint128 = 0x000000000000000000000000FFFFFFFF
8421 @end smallexample
8422
8423 Normally, register values are relative to the selected stack frame
8424 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). This means that you get the
8425 value that the register would contain if all stack frames farther in
8426 were exited and their saved registers restored. In order to see the
8427 true contents of hardware registers, you must select the innermost
8428 frame (with @samp{frame 0}).
8429
8430 However, @value{GDBN} must deduce where registers are saved, from the machine
8431 code generated by your compiler. If some registers are not saved, or if
8432 @value{GDBN} is unable to locate the saved registers, the selected stack
8433 frame makes no difference.
8434
8435 @node Floating Point Hardware
8436 @section Floating Point Hardware
8437 @cindex floating point
8438
8439 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give
8440 you more information about the status of the floating point hardware.
8441
8442 @table @code
8443 @kindex info float
8444 @item info float
8445 Display hardware-dependent information about the floating
8446 point unit. The exact contents and layout vary depending on the
8447 floating point chip. Currently, @samp{info float} is supported on
8448 the ARM and x86 machines.
8449 @end table
8450
8451 @node Vector Unit
8452 @section Vector Unit
8453 @cindex vector unit
8454
8455 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give you
8456 more information about the status of the vector unit.
8457
8458 @table @code
8459 @kindex info vector
8460 @item info vector
8461 Display information about the vector unit. The exact contents and
8462 layout vary depending on the hardware.
8463 @end table
8464
8465 @node OS Information
8466 @section Operating System Auxiliary Information
8467 @cindex OS information
8468
8469 @value{GDBN} provides interfaces to useful OS facilities that can help
8470 you debug your program.
8471
8472 @cindex @code{ptrace} system call
8473 @cindex @code{struct user} contents
8474 When @value{GDBN} runs on a @dfn{Posix system} (such as GNU or Unix
8475 machines), it interfaces with the inferior via the @code{ptrace}
8476 system call. The operating system creates a special sata structure,
8477 called @code{struct user}, for this interface. You can use the
8478 command @code{info udot} to display the contents of this data
8479 structure.
8480
8481 @table @code
8482 @item info udot
8483 @kindex info udot
8484 Display the contents of the @code{struct user} maintained by the OS
8485 kernel for the program being debugged. @value{GDBN} displays the
8486 contents of @code{struct user} as a list of hex numbers, similar to
8487 the @code{examine} command.
8488 @end table
8489
8490 @cindex auxiliary vector
8491 @cindex vector, auxiliary
8492 Some operating systems supply an @dfn{auxiliary vector} to programs at
8493 startup. This is akin to the arguments and environment that you
8494 specify for a program, but contains a system-dependent variety of
8495 binary values that tell system libraries important details about the
8496 hardware, operating system, and process. Each value's purpose is
8497 identified by an integer tag; the meanings are well-known but system-specific.
8498 Depending on the configuration and operating system facilities,
8499 @value{GDBN} may be able to show you this information. For remote
8500 targets, this functionality may further depend on the remote stub's
8501 support of the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet, see
8502 @ref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}.
8503
8504 @table @code
8505 @kindex info auxv
8506 @item info auxv
8507 Display the auxiliary vector of the inferior, which can be either a
8508 live process or a core dump file. @value{GDBN} prints each tag value
8509 numerically, and also shows names and text descriptions for recognized
8510 tags. Some values in the vector are numbers, some bit masks, and some
8511 pointers to strings or other data. @value{GDBN} displays each value in the
8512 most appropriate form for a recognized tag, and in hexadecimal for
8513 an unrecognized tag.
8514 @end table
8515
8516 On some targets, @value{GDBN} can access operating-system-specific information
8517 and display it to user, without interpretation. For remote targets,
8518 this functionality depends on the remote stub's support of the
8519 @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet, see @ref{qXfer osdata read}.
8520
8521 @table @code
8522 @kindex info os processes
8523 @item info os processes
8524 Display the list of processes on the target. For each process,
8525 @value{GDBN} prints the process identifier, the name of the user, and
8526 the command corresponding to the process.
8527 @end table
8528
8529 @node Memory Region Attributes
8530 @section Memory Region Attributes
8531 @cindex memory region attributes
8532
8533 @dfn{Memory region attributes} allow you to describe special handling
8534 required by regions of your target's memory. @value{GDBN} uses
8535 attributes to determine whether to allow certain types of memory
8536 accesses; whether to use specific width accesses; and whether to cache
8537 target memory. By default the description of memory regions is
8538 fetched from the target (if the current target supports this), but the
8539 user can override the fetched regions.
8540
8541 Defined memory regions can be individually enabled and disabled. When a
8542 memory region is disabled, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when
8543 accessing memory in that region. Similarly, if no memory regions have
8544 been defined, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when accessing
8545 all memory.
8546
8547 When a memory region is defined, it is given a number to identify it;
8548 to enable, disable, or remove a memory region, you specify that number.
8549
8550 @table @code
8551 @kindex mem
8552 @item mem @var{lower} @var{upper} @var{attributes}@dots{}
8553 Define a memory region bounded by @var{lower} and @var{upper} with
8554 attributes @var{attributes}@dots{}, and add it to the list of regions
8555 monitored by @value{GDBN}. Note that @var{upper} == 0 is a special
8556 case: it is treated as the target's maximum memory address.
8557 (0xffff on 16 bit targets, 0xffffffff on 32 bit targets, etc.)
8558
8559 @item mem auto
8560 Discard any user changes to the memory regions and use target-supplied
8561 regions, if available, or no regions if the target does not support.
8562
8563 @kindex delete mem
8564 @item delete mem @var{nums}@dots{}
8565 Remove memory regions @var{nums}@dots{} from the list of regions
8566 monitored by @value{GDBN}.
8567
8568 @kindex disable mem
8569 @item disable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
8570 Disable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
8571 A disabled memory region is not forgotten.
8572 It may be enabled again later.
8573
8574 @kindex enable mem
8575 @item enable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
8576 Enable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
8577
8578 @kindex info mem
8579 @item info mem
8580 Print a table of all defined memory regions, with the following columns
8581 for each region:
8582
8583 @table @emph
8584 @item Memory Region Number
8585 @item Enabled or Disabled.
8586 Enabled memory regions are marked with @samp{y}.
8587 Disabled memory regions are marked with @samp{n}.
8588
8589 @item Lo Address
8590 The address defining the inclusive lower bound of the memory region.
8591
8592 @item Hi Address
8593 The address defining the exclusive upper bound of the memory region.
8594
8595 @item Attributes
8596 The list of attributes set for this memory region.
8597 @end table
8598 @end table
8599
8600
8601 @subsection Attributes
8602
8603 @subsubsection Memory Access Mode
8604 The access mode attributes set whether @value{GDBN} may make read or
8605 write accesses to a memory region.
8606
8607 While these attributes prevent @value{GDBN} from performing invalid
8608 memory accesses, they do nothing to prevent the target system, I/O DMA,
8609 etc.@: from accessing memory.
8610
8611 @table @code
8612 @item ro
8613 Memory is read only.
8614 @item wo
8615 Memory is write only.
8616 @item rw
8617 Memory is read/write. This is the default.
8618 @end table
8619
8620 @subsubsection Memory Access Size
8621 The access size attribute tells @value{GDBN} to use specific sized
8622 accesses in the memory region. Often memory mapped device registers
8623 require specific sized accesses. If no access size attribute is
8624 specified, @value{GDBN} may use accesses of any size.
8625
8626 @table @code
8627 @item 8
8628 Use 8 bit memory accesses.
8629 @item 16
8630 Use 16 bit memory accesses.
8631 @item 32
8632 Use 32 bit memory accesses.
8633 @item 64
8634 Use 64 bit memory accesses.
8635 @end table
8636
8637 @c @subsubsection Hardware/Software Breakpoints
8638 @c The hardware/software breakpoint attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
8639 @c will use hardware or software breakpoints for the internal breakpoints
8640 @c used by the step, next, finish, until, etc. commands.
8641 @c
8642 @c @table @code
8643 @c @item hwbreak
8644 @c Always use hardware breakpoints
8645 @c @item swbreak (default)
8646 @c @end table
8647
8648 @subsubsection Data Cache
8649 The data cache attributes set whether @value{GDBN} will cache target
8650 memory. While this generally improves performance by reducing debug
8651 protocol overhead, it can lead to incorrect results because @value{GDBN}
8652 does not know about volatile variables or memory mapped device
8653 registers.
8654
8655 @table @code
8656 @item cache
8657 Enable @value{GDBN} to cache target memory.
8658 @item nocache
8659 Disable @value{GDBN} from caching target memory. This is the default.
8660 @end table
8661
8662 @subsection Memory Access Checking
8663 @value{GDBN} can be instructed to refuse accesses to memory that is
8664 not explicitly described. This can be useful if accessing such
8665 regions has undesired effects for a specific target, or to provide
8666 better error checking. The following commands control this behaviour.
8667
8668 @table @code
8669 @kindex set mem inaccessible-by-default
8670 @item set mem inaccessible-by-default [on|off]
8671 If @code{on} is specified, make @value{GDBN} treat memory not
8672 explicitly described by the memory ranges as non-existent and refuse accesses
8673 to such memory. The checks are only performed if there's at least one
8674 memory range defined. If @code{off} is specified, make @value{GDBN}
8675 treat the memory not explicitly described by the memory ranges as RAM.
8676 The default value is @code{on}.
8677 @kindex show mem inaccessible-by-default
8678 @item show mem inaccessible-by-default
8679 Show the current handling of accesses to unknown memory.
8680 @end table
8681
8682
8683 @c @subsubsection Memory Write Verification
8684 @c The memory write verification attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
8685 @c will re-reads data after each write to verify the write was successful.
8686 @c
8687 @c @table @code
8688 @c @item verify
8689 @c @item noverify (default)
8690 @c @end table
8691
8692 @node Dump/Restore Files
8693 @section Copy Between Memory and a File
8694 @cindex dump/restore files
8695 @cindex append data to a file
8696 @cindex dump data to a file
8697 @cindex restore data from a file
8698
8699 You can use the commands @code{dump}, @code{append}, and
8700 @code{restore} to copy data between target memory and a file. The
8701 @code{dump} and @code{append} commands write data to a file, and the
8702 @code{restore} command reads data from a file back into the inferior's
8703 memory. Files may be in binary, Motorola S-record, Intel hex, or
8704 Tektronix Hex format; however, @value{GDBN} can only append to binary
8705 files.
8706
8707 @table @code
8708
8709 @kindex dump
8710 @item dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
8711 @itemx dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
8712 Dump the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
8713 or the value of @var{expr}, to @var{filename} in the given format.
8714
8715 The @var{format} parameter may be any one of:
8716 @table @code
8717 @item binary
8718 Raw binary form.
8719 @item ihex
8720 Intel hex format.
8721 @item srec
8722 Motorola S-record format.
8723 @item tekhex
8724 Tektronix Hex format.
8725 @end table
8726
8727 @value{GDBN} uses the same definitions of these formats as the
8728 @sc{gnu} binary utilities, like @samp{objdump} and @samp{objcopy}. If
8729 @var{format} is omitted, @value{GDBN} dumps the data in raw binary
8730 form.
8731
8732 @kindex append
8733 @item append @r{[}binary@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
8734 @itemx append @r{[}binary@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
8735 Append the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
8736 or the value of @var{expr}, to the file @var{filename}, in raw binary form.
8737 (@value{GDBN} can only append data to files in raw binary form.)
8738
8739 @kindex restore
8740 @item restore @var{filename} @r{[}binary@r{]} @var{bias} @var{start} @var{end}
8741 Restore the contents of file @var{filename} into memory. The
8742 @code{restore} command can automatically recognize any known @sc{bfd}
8743 file format, except for raw binary. To restore a raw binary file you
8744 must specify the optional keyword @code{binary} after the filename.
8745
8746 If @var{bias} is non-zero, its value will be added to the addresses
8747 contained in the file. Binary files always start at address zero, so
8748 they will be restored at address @var{bias}. Other bfd files have
8749 a built-in location; they will be restored at offset @var{bias}
8750 from that location.
8751
8752 If @var{start} and/or @var{end} are non-zero, then only data between
8753 file offset @var{start} and file offset @var{end} will be restored.
8754 These offsets are relative to the addresses in the file, before
8755 the @var{bias} argument is applied.
8756
8757 @end table
8758
8759 @node Core File Generation
8760 @section How to Produce a Core File from Your Program
8761 @cindex dump core from inferior
8762
8763 A @dfn{core file} or @dfn{core dump} is a file that records the memory
8764 image of a running process and its process status (register values
8765 etc.). Its primary use is post-mortem debugging of a program that
8766 crashed while it ran outside a debugger. A program that crashes
8767 automatically produces a core file, unless this feature is disabled by
8768 the user. @xref{Files}, for information on invoking @value{GDBN} in
8769 the post-mortem debugging mode.
8770
8771 Occasionally, you may wish to produce a core file of the program you
8772 are debugging in order to preserve a snapshot of its state.
8773 @value{GDBN} has a special command for that.
8774
8775 @table @code
8776 @kindex gcore
8777 @kindex generate-core-file
8778 @item generate-core-file [@var{file}]
8779 @itemx gcore [@var{file}]
8780 Produce a core dump of the inferior process. The optional argument
8781 @var{file} specifies the file name where to put the core dump. If not
8782 specified, the file name defaults to @file{core.@var{pid}}, where
8783 @var{pid} is the inferior process ID.
8784
8785 Note that this command is implemented only for some systems (as of
8786 this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, Unixware, and S390).
8787 @end table
8788
8789 @node Character Sets
8790 @section Character Sets
8791 @cindex character sets
8792 @cindex charset
8793 @cindex translating between character sets
8794 @cindex host character set
8795 @cindex target character set
8796
8797 If the program you are debugging uses a different character set to
8798 represent characters and strings than the one @value{GDBN} uses itself,
8799 @value{GDBN} can automatically translate between the character sets for
8800 you. The character set @value{GDBN} uses we call the @dfn{host
8801 character set}; the one the inferior program uses we call the
8802 @dfn{target character set}.
8803
8804 For example, if you are running @value{GDBN} on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, which
8805 uses the ISO Latin 1 character set, but you are using @value{GDBN}'s
8806 remote protocol (@pxref{Remote Debugging}) to debug a program
8807 running on an IBM mainframe, which uses the @sc{ebcdic} character set,
8808 then the host character set is Latin-1, and the target character set is
8809 @sc{ebcdic}. If you give @value{GDBN} the command @code{set
8810 target-charset EBCDIC-US}, then @value{GDBN} translates between
8811 @sc{ebcdic} and Latin 1 as you print character or string values, or use
8812 character and string literals in expressions.
8813
8814 @value{GDBN} has no way to automatically recognize which character set
8815 the inferior program uses; you must tell it, using the @code{set
8816 target-charset} command, described below.
8817
8818 Here are the commands for controlling @value{GDBN}'s character set
8819 support:
8820
8821 @table @code
8822 @item set target-charset @var{charset}
8823 @kindex set target-charset
8824 Set the current target character set to @var{charset}. To display the
8825 list of supported target character sets, type
8826 @kbd{@w{set target-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
8827
8828 @item set host-charset @var{charset}
8829 @kindex set host-charset
8830 Set the current host character set to @var{charset}.
8831
8832 By default, @value{GDBN} uses a host character set appropriate to the
8833 system it is running on; you can override that default using the
8834 @code{set host-charset} command. On some systems, @value{GDBN} cannot
8835 automatically determine the appropriate host character set. In this
8836 case, @value{GDBN} uses @samp{UTF-8}.
8837
8838 @value{GDBN} can only use certain character sets as its host character
8839 set. If you type @kbd{@w{set target-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
8840 @value{GDBN} will list the host character sets it supports.
8841
8842 @item set charset @var{charset}
8843 @kindex set charset
8844 Set the current host and target character sets to @var{charset}. As
8845 above, if you type @kbd{@w{set charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
8846 @value{GDBN} will list the names of the character sets that can be used
8847 for both host and target.
8848
8849 @item show charset
8850 @kindex show charset
8851 Show the names of the current host and target character sets.
8852
8853 @item show host-charset
8854 @kindex show host-charset
8855 Show the name of the current host character set.
8856
8857 @item show target-charset
8858 @kindex show target-charset
8859 Show the name of the current target character set.
8860
8861 @item set target-wide-charset @var{charset}
8862 @kindex set target-wide-charset
8863 Set the current target's wide character set to @var{charset}. This is
8864 the character set used by the target's @code{wchar_t} type. To
8865 display the list of supported wide character sets, type
8866 @kbd{@w{set target-wide-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
8867
8868 @item show target-wide-charset
8869 @kindex show target-wide-charset
8870 Show the name of the current target's wide character set.
8871 @end table
8872
8873 Here is an example of @value{GDBN}'s character set support in action.
8874 Assume that the following source code has been placed in the file
8875 @file{charset-test.c}:
8876
8877 @smallexample
8878 #include <stdio.h>
8879
8880 char ascii_hello[]
8881 = @{72, 101, 108, 108, 111, 44, 32, 119,
8882 111, 114, 108, 100, 33, 10, 0@};
8883 char ibm1047_hello[]
8884 = @{200, 133, 147, 147, 150, 107, 64, 166,
8885 150, 153, 147, 132, 90, 37, 0@};
8886
8887 main ()
8888 @{
8889 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
8890 @}
8891 @end smallexample
8892
8893 In this program, @code{ascii_hello} and @code{ibm1047_hello} are arrays
8894 containing the string @samp{Hello, world!} followed by a newline,
8895 encoded in the @sc{ascii} and @sc{ibm1047} character sets.
8896
8897 We compile the program, and invoke the debugger on it:
8898
8899 @smallexample
8900 $ gcc -g charset-test.c -o charset-test
8901 $ gdb -nw charset-test
8902 GNU gdb 2001-12-19-cvs
8903 Copyright 2001 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
8904 @dots{}
8905 (@value{GDBP})
8906 @end smallexample
8907
8908 We can use the @code{show charset} command to see what character sets
8909 @value{GDBN} is currently using to interpret and display characters and
8910 strings:
8911
8912 @smallexample
8913 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
8914 The current host and target character set is `ISO-8859-1'.
8915 (@value{GDBP})
8916 @end smallexample
8917
8918 For the sake of printing this manual, let's use @sc{ascii} as our
8919 initial character set:
8920 @smallexample
8921 (@value{GDBP}) set charset ASCII
8922 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
8923 The current host and target character set is `ASCII'.
8924 (@value{GDBP})
8925 @end smallexample
8926
8927 Let's assume that @sc{ascii} is indeed the correct character set for our
8928 host system --- in other words, let's assume that if @value{GDBN} prints
8929 characters using the @sc{ascii} character set, our terminal will display
8930 them properly. Since our current target character set is also
8931 @sc{ascii}, the contents of @code{ascii_hello} print legibly:
8932
8933 @smallexample
8934 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
8935 $1 = 0x401698 "Hello, world!\n"
8936 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
8937 $2 = 72 'H'
8938 (@value{GDBP})
8939 @end smallexample
8940
8941 @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and string
8942 literals you use in expressions:
8943
8944 @smallexample
8945 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
8946 $3 = 43 '+'
8947 (@value{GDBP})
8948 @end smallexample
8949
8950 The @sc{ascii} character set uses the number 43 to encode the @samp{+}
8951 character.
8952
8953 @value{GDBN} relies on the user to tell it which character set the
8954 target program uses. If we print @code{ibm1047_hello} while our target
8955 character set is still @sc{ascii}, we get jibberish:
8956
8957 @smallexample
8958 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
8959 $4 = 0x4016a8 "\310\205\223\223\226k@@\246\226\231\223\204Z%"
8960 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
8961 $5 = 200 '\310'
8962 (@value{GDBP})
8963 @end smallexample
8964
8965 If we invoke the @code{set target-charset} followed by @key{TAB}@key{TAB},
8966 @value{GDBN} tells us the character sets it supports:
8967
8968 @smallexample
8969 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
8970 ASCII EBCDIC-US IBM1047 ISO-8859-1
8971 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
8972 @end smallexample
8973
8974 We can select @sc{ibm1047} as our target character set, and examine the
8975 program's strings again. Now the @sc{ascii} string is wrong, but
8976 @value{GDBN} translates the contents of @code{ibm1047_hello} from the
8977 target character set, @sc{ibm1047}, to the host character set,
8978 @sc{ascii}, and they display correctly:
8979
8980 @smallexample
8981 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset IBM1047
8982 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
8983 The current host character set is `ASCII'.
8984 The current target character set is `IBM1047'.
8985 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
8986 $6 = 0x401698 "\110\145%%?\054\040\167?\162%\144\041\012"
8987 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
8988 $7 = 72 '\110'
8989 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
8990 $8 = 0x4016a8 "Hello, world!\n"
8991 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
8992 $9 = 200 'H'
8993 (@value{GDBP})
8994 @end smallexample
8995
8996 As above, @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and
8997 string literals you use in expressions:
8998
8999 @smallexample
9000 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
9001 $10 = 78 '+'
9002 (@value{GDBP})
9003 @end smallexample
9004
9005 The @sc{ibm1047} character set uses the number 78 to encode the @samp{+}
9006 character.
9007
9008 @node Caching Remote Data
9009 @section Caching Data of Remote Targets
9010 @cindex caching data of remote targets
9011
9012 @value{GDBN} caches data exchanged between the debugger and a
9013 remote target (@pxref{Remote Debugging}). Such caching generally improves
9014 performance, because it reduces the overhead of the remote protocol by
9015 bundling memory reads and writes into large chunks. Unfortunately, simply
9016 caching everything would lead to incorrect results, since @value{GDBN}
9017 does not necessarily know anything about volatile values, memory-mapped I/O
9018 addresses, etc. Furthermore, in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode})
9019 memory can be changed @emph{while} a gdb command is executing.
9020 Therefore, by default, @value{GDBN} only caches data
9021 known to be on the stack@footnote{In non-stop mode, it is moderately
9022 rare for a running thread to modify the stack of a stopped thread
9023 in a way that would interfere with a backtrace, and caching of
9024 stack reads provides a significant speed up of remote backtraces.}.
9025 Other regions of memory can be explicitly marked as
9026 cacheable; see @pxref{Memory Region Attributes}.
9027
9028 @table @code
9029 @kindex set remotecache
9030 @item set remotecache on
9031 @itemx set remotecache off
9032 This option no longer does anything; it exists for compatibility
9033 with old scripts.
9034
9035 @kindex show remotecache
9036 @item show remotecache
9037 Show the current state of the obsolete remotecache flag.
9038
9039 @kindex set stack-cache
9040 @item set stack-cache on
9041 @itemx set stack-cache off
9042 Enable or disable caching of stack accesses. When @code{ON}, use
9043 caching. By default, this option is @code{ON}.
9044
9045 @kindex show stack-cache
9046 @item show stack-cache
9047 Show the current state of data caching for memory accesses.
9048
9049 @kindex info dcache
9050 @item info dcache @r{[}line@r{]}
9051 Print the information about the data cache performance. The
9052 information displayed includes the dcache width and depth, and for
9053 each cache line, its number, address, and how many times it was
9054 referenced. This command is useful for debugging the data cache
9055 operation.
9056
9057 If a line number is specified, the contents of that line will be
9058 printed in hex.
9059 @end table
9060
9061 @node Searching Memory
9062 @section Search Memory
9063 @cindex searching memory
9064
9065 Memory can be searched for a particular sequence of bytes with the
9066 @code{find} command.
9067
9068 @table @code
9069 @kindex find
9070 @item find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, +@var{len}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
9071 @itemx find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, @var{end_addr}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
9072 Search memory for the sequence of bytes specified by @var{val1}, @var{val2},
9073 etc. The search begins at address @var{start_addr} and continues for either
9074 @var{len} bytes or through to @var{end_addr} inclusive.
9075 @end table
9076
9077 @var{s} and @var{n} are optional parameters.
9078 They may be specified in either order, apart or together.
9079
9080 @table @r
9081 @item @var{s}, search query size
9082 The size of each search query value.
9083
9084 @table @code
9085 @item b
9086 bytes
9087 @item h
9088 halfwords (two bytes)
9089 @item w
9090 words (four bytes)
9091 @item g
9092 giant words (eight bytes)
9093 @end table
9094
9095 All values are interpreted in the current language.
9096 This means, for example, that if the current source language is C/C@t{++}
9097 then searching for the string ``hello'' includes the trailing '\0'.
9098
9099 If the value size is not specified, it is taken from the
9100 value's type in the current language.
9101 This is useful when one wants to specify the search
9102 pattern as a mixture of types.
9103 Note that this means, for example, that in the case of C-like languages
9104 a search for an untyped 0x42 will search for @samp{(int) 0x42}
9105 which is typically four bytes.
9106
9107 @item @var{n}, maximum number of finds
9108 The maximum number of matches to print. The default is to print all finds.
9109 @end table
9110
9111 You can use strings as search values. Quote them with double-quotes
9112 (@code{"}).
9113 The string value is copied into the search pattern byte by byte,
9114 regardless of the endianness of the target and the size specification.
9115
9116 The address of each match found is printed as well as a count of the
9117 number of matches found.
9118
9119 The address of the last value found is stored in convenience variable
9120 @samp{$_}.
9121 A count of the number of matches is stored in @samp{$numfound}.
9122
9123 For example, if stopped at the @code{printf} in this function:
9124
9125 @smallexample
9126 void
9127 hello ()
9128 @{
9129 static char hello[] = "hello-hello";
9130 static struct @{ char c; short s; int i; @}
9131 __attribute__ ((packed)) mixed
9132 = @{ 'c', 0x1234, 0x87654321 @};
9133 printf ("%s\n", hello);
9134 @}
9135 @end smallexample
9136
9137 @noindent
9138 you get during debugging:
9139
9140 @smallexample
9141 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), "hello"
9142 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
9143 1 pattern found
9144 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o'
9145 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
9146 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
9147 2 patterns found
9148 (gdb) find /b1 &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 0x65, 'l'
9149 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
9150 1 pattern found
9151 (gdb) find &mixed, +sizeof(mixed), (char) 'c', (short) 0x1234, (int) 0x87654321
9152 0x8049560 <mixed.1625>
9153 1 pattern found
9154 (gdb) print $numfound
9155 $1 = 1
9156 (gdb) print $_
9157 $2 = (void *) 0x8049560
9158 @end smallexample
9159
9160 @node Optimized Code
9161 @chapter Debugging Optimized Code
9162 @cindex optimized code, debugging
9163 @cindex debugging optimized code
9164
9165 Almost all compilers support optimization. With optimization
9166 disabled, the compiler generates assembly code that corresponds
9167 directly to your source code, in a simplistic way. As the compiler
9168 applies more powerful optimizations, the generated assembly code
9169 diverges from your original source code. With help from debugging
9170 information generated by the compiler, @value{GDBN} can map from
9171 the running program back to constructs from your original source.
9172
9173 @value{GDBN} is more accurate with optimization disabled. If you
9174 can recompile without optimization, it is easier to follow the
9175 progress of your program during debugging. But, there are many cases
9176 where you may need to debug an optimized version.
9177
9178 When you debug a program compiled with @samp{-g -O}, remember that the
9179 optimizer has rearranged your code; the debugger shows you what is
9180 really there. Do not be too surprised when the execution path does not
9181 exactly match your source file! An extreme example: if you define a
9182 variable, but never use it, @value{GDBN} never sees that
9183 variable---because the compiler optimizes it out of existence.
9184
9185 Some things do not work as well with @samp{-g -O} as with just
9186 @samp{-g}, particularly on machines with instruction scheduling. If in
9187 doubt, recompile with @samp{-g} alone, and if this fixes the problem,
9188 please report it to us as a bug (including a test case!).
9189 @xref{Variables}, for more information about debugging optimized code.
9190
9191 @menu
9192 * Inline Functions:: How @value{GDBN} presents inlining
9193 @end menu
9194
9195 @node Inline Functions
9196 @section Inline Functions
9197 @cindex inline functions, debugging
9198
9199 @dfn{Inlining} is an optimization that inserts a copy of the function
9200 body directly at each call site, instead of jumping to a shared
9201 routine. @value{GDBN} displays inlined functions just like
9202 non-inlined functions. They appear in backtraces. You can view their
9203 arguments and local variables, step into them with @code{step}, skip
9204 them with @code{next}, and escape from them with @code{finish}.
9205 You can check whether a function was inlined by using the
9206 @code{info frame} command.
9207
9208 For @value{GDBN} to support inlined functions, the compiler must
9209 record information about inlining in the debug information ---
9210 @value{NGCC} using the @sc{dwarf 2} format does this, and several
9211 other compilers do also. @value{GDBN} only supports inlined functions
9212 when using @sc{dwarf 2}. Versions of @value{NGCC} before 4.1
9213 do not emit two required attributes (@samp{DW_AT_call_file} and
9214 @samp{DW_AT_call_line}); @value{GDBN} does not display inlined
9215 function calls with earlier versions of @value{NGCC}. It instead
9216 displays the arguments and local variables of inlined functions as
9217 local variables in the caller.
9218
9219 The body of an inlined function is directly included at its call site;
9220 unlike a non-inlined function, there are no instructions devoted to
9221 the call. @value{GDBN} still pretends that the call site and the
9222 start of the inlined function are different instructions. Stepping to
9223 the call site shows the call site, and then stepping again shows
9224 the first line of the inlined function, even though no additional
9225 instructions are executed.
9226
9227 This makes source-level debugging much clearer; you can see both the
9228 context of the call and then the effect of the call. Only stepping by
9229 a single instruction using @code{stepi} or @code{nexti} does not do
9230 this; single instruction steps always show the inlined body.
9231
9232 There are some ways that @value{GDBN} does not pretend that inlined
9233 function calls are the same as normal calls:
9234
9235 @itemize @bullet
9236 @item
9237 You cannot set breakpoints on inlined functions. @value{GDBN}
9238 either reports that there is no symbol with that name, or else sets the
9239 breakpoint only on non-inlined copies of the function. This limitation
9240 will be removed in a future version of @value{GDBN}; until then,
9241 set a breakpoint by line number on the first line of the inlined
9242 function instead.
9243
9244 @item
9245 Setting breakpoints at the call site of an inlined function may not
9246 work, because the call site does not contain any code. @value{GDBN}
9247 may incorrectly move the breakpoint to the next line of the enclosing
9248 function, after the call. This limitation will be removed in a future
9249 version of @value{GDBN}; until then, set a breakpoint on an earlier line
9250 or inside the inlined function instead.
9251
9252 @item
9253 @value{GDBN} cannot locate the return value of inlined calls after
9254 using the @code{finish} command. This is a limitation of compiler-generated
9255 debugging information; after @code{finish}, you can step to the next line
9256 and print a variable where your program stored the return value.
9257
9258 @end itemize
9259
9260
9261 @node Macros
9262 @chapter C Preprocessor Macros
9263
9264 Some languages, such as C and C@t{++}, provide a way to define and invoke
9265 ``preprocessor macros'' which expand into strings of tokens.
9266 @value{GDBN} can evaluate expressions containing macro invocations, show
9267 the result of macro expansion, and show a macro's definition, including
9268 where it was defined.
9269
9270 You may need to compile your program specially to provide @value{GDBN}
9271 with information about preprocessor macros. Most compilers do not
9272 include macros in their debugging information, even when you compile
9273 with the @option{-g} flag. @xref{Compilation}.
9274
9275 A program may define a macro at one point, remove that definition later,
9276 and then provide a different definition after that. Thus, at different
9277 points in the program, a macro may have different definitions, or have
9278 no definition at all. If there is a current stack frame, @value{GDBN}
9279 uses the macros in scope at that frame's source code line. Otherwise,
9280 @value{GDBN} uses the macros in scope at the current listing location;
9281 see @ref{List}.
9282
9283 Whenever @value{GDBN} evaluates an expression, it always expands any
9284 macro invocations present in the expression. @value{GDBN} also provides
9285 the following commands for working with macros explicitly.
9286
9287 @table @code
9288
9289 @kindex macro expand
9290 @cindex macro expansion, showing the results of preprocessor
9291 @cindex preprocessor macro expansion, showing the results of
9292 @cindex expanding preprocessor macros
9293 @item macro expand @var{expression}
9294 @itemx macro exp @var{expression}
9295 Show the results of expanding all preprocessor macro invocations in
9296 @var{expression}. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does
9297 not parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression;
9298 it can be any string of tokens.
9299
9300 @kindex macro exp1
9301 @item macro expand-once @var{expression}
9302 @itemx macro exp1 @var{expression}
9303 @cindex expand macro once
9304 @i{(This command is not yet implemented.)} Show the results of
9305 expanding those preprocessor macro invocations that appear explicitly in
9306 @var{expression}. Macro invocations appearing in that expansion are
9307 left unchanged. This command allows you to see the effect of a
9308 particular macro more clearly, without being confused by further
9309 expansions. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does not
9310 parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression; it
9311 can be any string of tokens.
9312
9313 @kindex info macro
9314 @cindex macro definition, showing
9315 @cindex definition, showing a macro's
9316 @item info macro @var{macro}
9317 Show the definition of the macro named @var{macro}, and describe the
9318 source location or compiler command-line where that definition was established.
9319
9320 @kindex macro define
9321 @cindex user-defined macros
9322 @cindex defining macros interactively
9323 @cindex macros, user-defined
9324 @item macro define @var{macro} @var{replacement-list}
9325 @itemx macro define @var{macro}(@var{arglist}) @var{replacement-list}
9326 Introduce a definition for a preprocessor macro named @var{macro},
9327 invocations of which are replaced by the tokens given in
9328 @var{replacement-list}. The first form of this command defines an
9329 ``object-like'' macro, which takes no arguments; the second form
9330 defines a ``function-like'' macro, which takes the arguments given in
9331 @var{arglist}.
9332
9333 A definition introduced by this command is in scope in every
9334 expression evaluated in @value{GDBN}, until it is removed with the
9335 @code{macro undef} command, described below. The definition overrides
9336 all definitions for @var{macro} present in the program being debugged,
9337 as well as any previous user-supplied definition.
9338
9339 @kindex macro undef
9340 @item macro undef @var{macro}
9341 Remove any user-supplied definition for the macro named @var{macro}.
9342 This command only affects definitions provided with the @code{macro
9343 define} command, described above; it cannot remove definitions present
9344 in the program being debugged.
9345
9346 @kindex macro list
9347 @item macro list
9348 List all the macros defined using the @code{macro define} command.
9349 @end table
9350
9351 @cindex macros, example of debugging with
9352 Here is a transcript showing the above commands in action. First, we
9353 show our source files:
9354
9355 @smallexample
9356 $ cat sample.c
9357 #include <stdio.h>
9358 #include "sample.h"
9359
9360 #define M 42
9361 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
9362
9363 main ()
9364 @{
9365 #define N 28
9366 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
9367 #undef N
9368 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
9369 #define N 1729
9370 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
9371 @}
9372 $ cat sample.h
9373 #define Q <
9374 $
9375 @end smallexample
9376
9377 Now, we compile the program using the @sc{gnu} C compiler, @value{NGCC}.
9378 We pass the @option{-gdwarf-2} and @option{-g3} flags to ensure the
9379 compiler includes information about preprocessor macros in the debugging
9380 information.
9381
9382 @smallexample
9383 $ gcc -gdwarf-2 -g3 sample.c -o sample
9384 $
9385 @end smallexample
9386
9387 Now, we start @value{GDBN} on our sample program:
9388
9389 @smallexample
9390 $ gdb -nw sample
9391 GNU gdb 2002-05-06-cvs
9392 Copyright 2002 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
9393 GDB is free software, @dots{}
9394 (@value{GDBP})
9395 @end smallexample
9396
9397 We can expand macros and examine their definitions, even when the
9398 program is not running. @value{GDBN} uses the current listing position
9399 to decide which macro definitions are in scope:
9400
9401 @smallexample
9402 (@value{GDBP}) list main
9403 3
9404 4 #define M 42
9405 5 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
9406 6
9407 7 main ()
9408 8 @{
9409 9 #define N 28
9410 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
9411 11 #undef N
9412 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
9413 (@value{GDBP}) info macro ADD
9414 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:5
9415 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
9416 (@value{GDBP}) info macro Q
9417 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.h:1
9418 included at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:2
9419 #define Q <
9420 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand ADD(1)
9421 expands to: (42 + 1)
9422 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand-once ADD(1)
9423 expands to: once (M + 1)
9424 (@value{GDBP})
9425 @end smallexample
9426
9427 In the example above, note that @code{macro expand-once} expands only
9428 the macro invocation explicit in the original text --- the invocation of
9429 @code{ADD} --- but does not expand the invocation of the macro @code{M},
9430 which was introduced by @code{ADD}.
9431
9432 Once the program is running, @value{GDBN} uses the macro definitions in
9433 force at the source line of the current stack frame:
9434
9435 @smallexample
9436 (@value{GDBP}) break main
9437 Breakpoint 1 at 0x8048370: file sample.c, line 10.
9438 (@value{GDBP}) run
9439 Starting program: /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample
9440
9441 Breakpoint 1, main () at sample.c:10
9442 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
9443 (@value{GDBP})
9444 @end smallexample
9445
9446 At line 10, the definition of the macro @code{N} at line 9 is in force:
9447
9448 @smallexample
9449 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
9450 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:9
9451 #define N 28
9452 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
9453 expands to: 28 < 42
9454 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
9455 $1 = 1
9456 (@value{GDBP})
9457 @end smallexample
9458
9459 As we step over directives that remove @code{N}'s definition, and then
9460 give it a new definition, @value{GDBN} finds the definition (or lack
9461 thereof) in force at each point:
9462
9463 @smallexample
9464 (@value{GDBP}) next
9465 Hello, world!
9466 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
9467 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
9468 The symbol `N' has no definition as a C/C++ preprocessor macro
9469 at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:12
9470 (@value{GDBP}) next
9471 We're so creative.
9472 14 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
9473 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
9474 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:13
9475 #define N 1729
9476 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
9477 expands to: 1729 < 42
9478 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
9479 $2 = 0
9480 (@value{GDBP})
9481 @end smallexample
9482
9483 In addition to source files, macros can be defined on the compilation command
9484 line using the @option{-D@var{name}=@var{value}} syntax. For macros defined in
9485 such a way, @value{GDBN} displays the location of their definition as line zero
9486 of the source file submitted to the compiler.
9487
9488 @smallexample
9489 (@value{GDBP}) info macro __STDC__
9490 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:0
9491 -D__STDC__=1
9492 (@value{GDBP})
9493 @end smallexample
9494
9495
9496 @node Tracepoints
9497 @chapter Tracepoints
9498 @c This chapter is based on the documentation written by Michael
9499 @c Snyder, David Taylor, Jim Blandy, and Elena Zannoni.
9500
9501 @cindex tracepoints
9502 In some applications, it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt
9503 the program's execution long enough for the developer to learn
9504 anything helpful about its behavior. If the program's correctness
9505 depends on its real-time behavior, delays introduced by a debugger
9506 might cause the program to change its behavior drastically, or perhaps
9507 fail, even when the code itself is correct. It is useful to be able
9508 to observe the program's behavior without interrupting it.
9509
9510 Using @value{GDBN}'s @code{trace} and @code{collect} commands, you can
9511 specify locations in the program, called @dfn{tracepoints}, and
9512 arbitrary expressions to evaluate when those tracepoints are reached.
9513 Later, using the @code{tfind} command, you can examine the values
9514 those expressions had when the program hit the tracepoints. The
9515 expressions may also denote objects in memory---structures or arrays,
9516 for example---whose values @value{GDBN} should record; while visiting
9517 a particular tracepoint, you may inspect those objects as if they were
9518 in memory at that moment. However, because @value{GDBN} records these
9519 values without interacting with you, it can do so quickly and
9520 unobtrusively, hopefully not disturbing the program's behavior.
9521
9522 The tracepoint facility is currently available only for remote
9523 targets. @xref{Targets}. In addition, your remote target must know
9524 how to collect trace data. This functionality is implemented in the
9525 remote stub; however, none of the stubs distributed with @value{GDBN}
9526 support tracepoints as of this writing. The format of the remote
9527 packets used to implement tracepoints are described in @ref{Tracepoint
9528 Packets}.
9529
9530 It is also possible to get trace data from a file, in a manner reminiscent
9531 of corefiles; you specify the filename, and use @code{tfind} to search
9532 through the file. @xref{Trace Files}, for more details.
9533
9534 This chapter describes the tracepoint commands and features.
9535
9536 @menu
9537 * Set Tracepoints::
9538 * Analyze Collected Data::
9539 * Tracepoint Variables::
9540 * Trace Files::
9541 @end menu
9542
9543 @node Set Tracepoints
9544 @section Commands to Set Tracepoints
9545
9546 Before running such a @dfn{trace experiment}, an arbitrary number of
9547 tracepoints can be set. A tracepoint is actually a special type of
9548 breakpoint (@pxref{Set Breaks}), so you can manipulate it using
9549 standard breakpoint commands. For instance, as with breakpoints,
9550 tracepoint numbers are successive integers starting from one, and many
9551 of the commands associated with tracepoints take the tracepoint number
9552 as their argument, to identify which tracepoint to work on.
9553
9554 For each tracepoint, you can specify, in advance, some arbitrary set
9555 of data that you want the target to collect in the trace buffer when
9556 it hits that tracepoint. The collected data can include registers,
9557 local variables, or global data. Later, you can use @value{GDBN}
9558 commands to examine the values these data had at the time the
9559 tracepoint was hit.
9560
9561 Tracepoints do not support every breakpoint feature. Ignore counts on
9562 tracepoints have no effect, and tracepoints cannot run @value{GDBN}
9563 commands when they are hit. Tracepoints may not be thread-specific
9564 either.
9565
9566 @cindex fast tracepoints
9567 Some targets may support @dfn{fast tracepoints}, which are inserted in
9568 a different way (such as with a jump instead of a trap), that is
9569 faster but possibly restricted in where they may be installed.
9570
9571 @code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints on some target systems.
9572 @xref{Server,,Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}}.
9573
9574 This section describes commands to set tracepoints and associated
9575 conditions and actions.
9576
9577 @menu
9578 * Create and Delete Tracepoints::
9579 * Enable and Disable Tracepoints::
9580 * Tracepoint Passcounts::
9581 * Tracepoint Conditions::
9582 * Trace State Variables::
9583 * Tracepoint Actions::
9584 * Listing Tracepoints::
9585 * Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments::
9586 * Tracepoint Restrictions::
9587 @end menu
9588
9589 @node Create and Delete Tracepoints
9590 @subsection Create and Delete Tracepoints
9591
9592 @table @code
9593 @cindex set tracepoint
9594 @kindex trace
9595 @item trace @var{location}
9596 The @code{trace} command is very similar to the @code{break} command.
9597 Its argument @var{location} can be a source line, a function name, or
9598 an address in the target program. @xref{Specify Location}. The
9599 @code{trace} command defines a tracepoint, which is a point in the
9600 target program where the debugger will briefly stop, collect some
9601 data, and then allow the program to continue. Setting a tracepoint or
9602 changing its actions doesn't take effect until the next @code{tstart}
9603 command, and once a trace experiment is running, further changes will
9604 not have any effect until the next trace experiment starts.
9605
9606 Here are some examples of using the @code{trace} command:
9607
9608 @smallexample
9609 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo.c:121} // a source file and line number
9610
9611 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace +2} // 2 lines forward
9612
9613 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace my_function} // first source line of function
9614
9615 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *my_function} // EXACT start address of function
9616
9617 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *0x2117c4} // an address
9618 @end smallexample
9619
9620 @noindent
9621 You can abbreviate @code{trace} as @code{tr}.
9622
9623 @item trace @var{location} if @var{cond}
9624 Set a tracepoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
9625 @var{cond} each time the tracepoint is reached, and collect data only
9626 if the value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
9627 @xref{Tracepoint Conditions, ,Tracepoint Conditions}, for more
9628 information on tracepoint conditions.
9629
9630 @item ftrace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
9631 @cindex set fast tracepoint
9632 @kindex ftrace
9633 The @code{ftrace} command sets a fast tracepoint. For targets that
9634 support them, fast tracepoints will use a more efficient but possibly
9635 less general technique to trigger data collection, such as a jump
9636 instruction instead of a trap, or some sort of hardware support. It
9637 may not be possible to create a fast tracepoint at the desired
9638 location, in which case the command will exit with an explanatory
9639 message.
9640
9641 @value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{ftrace} exactly as for
9642 @code{trace}.
9643
9644 @vindex $tpnum
9645 @cindex last tracepoint number
9646 @cindex recent tracepoint number
9647 @cindex tracepoint number
9648 The convenience variable @code{$tpnum} records the tracepoint number
9649 of the most recently set tracepoint.
9650
9651 @kindex delete tracepoint
9652 @cindex tracepoint deletion
9653 @item delete tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
9654 Permanently delete one or more tracepoints. With no argument, the
9655 default is to delete all tracepoints. Note that the regular
9656 @code{delete} command can remove tracepoints also.
9657
9658 Examples:
9659
9660 @smallexample
9661 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace 1 2 3} // remove three tracepoints
9662
9663 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace} // remove all tracepoints
9664 @end smallexample
9665
9666 @noindent
9667 You can abbreviate this command as @code{del tr}.
9668 @end table
9669
9670 @node Enable and Disable Tracepoints
9671 @subsection Enable and Disable Tracepoints
9672
9673 These commands are deprecated; they are equivalent to plain @code{disable} and @code{enable}.
9674
9675 @table @code
9676 @kindex disable tracepoint
9677 @item disable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
9678 Disable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints if no argument
9679 @var{num} is given. A disabled tracepoint will have no effect during
9680 the next trace experiment, but it is not forgotten. You can re-enable
9681 a disabled tracepoint using the @code{enable tracepoint} command.
9682
9683 @kindex enable tracepoint
9684 @item enable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
9685 Enable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints. The enabled
9686 tracepoints will become effective the next time a trace experiment is
9687 run.
9688 @end table
9689
9690 @node Tracepoint Passcounts
9691 @subsection Tracepoint Passcounts
9692
9693 @table @code
9694 @kindex passcount
9695 @cindex tracepoint pass count
9696 @item passcount @r{[}@var{n} @r{[}@var{num}@r{]]}
9697 Set the @dfn{passcount} of a tracepoint. The passcount is a way to
9698 automatically stop a trace experiment. If a tracepoint's passcount is
9699 @var{n}, then the trace experiment will be automatically stopped on
9700 the @var{n}'th time that tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number
9701 @var{num} is not specified, the @code{passcount} command sets the
9702 passcount of the most recently defined tracepoint. If no passcount is
9703 given, the trace experiment will run until stopped explicitly by the
9704 user.
9705
9706 Examples:
9707
9708 @smallexample
9709 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 5 2} // Stop on the 5th execution of
9710 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// tracepoint 2}
9711
9712 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 12} // Stop on the 12th execution of the
9713 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// most recently defined tracepoint.}
9714 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
9715 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 3}
9716 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace bar}
9717 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 2}
9718 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace baz}
9719 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 1} // Stop tracing when foo has been
9720 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// executed 3 times OR when bar has}
9721 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// been executed 2 times}
9722 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// OR when baz has been executed 1 time.}
9723 @end smallexample
9724 @end table
9725
9726 @node Tracepoint Conditions
9727 @subsection Tracepoint Conditions
9728 @cindex conditional tracepoints
9729 @cindex tracepoint conditions
9730
9731 The simplest sort of tracepoint collects data every time your program
9732 reaches a specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for
9733 a tracepoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
9734 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A
9735 tracepoint with a condition evaluates the expression each time your
9736 program reaches it, and data collection happens only if the condition
9737 is true.
9738
9739 Tracepoint conditions can be specified when a tracepoint is set, by
9740 using @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{trace} command.
9741 @xref{Create and Delete Tracepoints, ,Setting Tracepoints}. They can
9742 also be set or changed at any time with the @code{condition} command,
9743 just as with breakpoints.
9744
9745 Unlike breakpoint conditions, @value{GDBN} does not actually evaluate
9746 the conditional expression itself. Instead, @value{GDBN} encodes the
9747 expression into an agent expression (@pxref{Agent Expressions}
9748 suitable for execution on the target, independently of @value{GDBN}.
9749 Global variables become raw memory locations, locals become stack
9750 accesses, and so forth.
9751
9752 For instance, suppose you have a function that is usually called
9753 frequently, but should not be called after an error has occurred. You
9754 could use the following tracepoint command to collect data about calls
9755 of that function that happen while the error code is propagating
9756 through the program; an unconditional tracepoint could end up
9757 collecting thousands of useless trace frames that you would have to
9758 search through.
9759
9760 @smallexample
9761 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{trace normal_operation if errcode > 0}
9762 @end smallexample
9763
9764 @node Trace State Variables
9765 @subsection Trace State Variables
9766 @cindex trace state variables
9767
9768 A @dfn{trace state variable} is a special type of variable that is
9769 created and managed by target-side code. The syntax is the same as
9770 that for GDB's convenience variables (a string prefixed with ``$''),
9771 but they are stored on the target. They must be created explicitly,
9772 using a @code{tvariable} command. They are always 64-bit signed
9773 integers.
9774
9775 Trace state variables are remembered by @value{GDBN}, and downloaded
9776 to the target along with tracepoint information when the trace
9777 experiment starts. There are no intrinsic limits on the number of
9778 trace state variables, beyond memory limitations of the target.
9779
9780 @cindex convenience variables, and trace state variables
9781 Although trace state variables are managed by the target, you can use
9782 them in print commands and expressions as if they were convenience
9783 variables; @value{GDBN} will get the current value from the target
9784 while the trace experiment is running. Trace state variables share
9785 the same namespace as other ``$'' variables, which means that you
9786 cannot have trace state variables with names like @code{$23} or
9787 @code{$pc}, nor can you have a trace state variable and a convenience
9788 variable with the same name.
9789
9790 @table @code
9791
9792 @item tvariable $@var{name} [ = @var{expression} ]
9793 @kindex tvariable
9794 The @code{tvariable} command creates a new trace state variable named
9795 @code{$@var{name}}, and optionally gives it an initial value of
9796 @var{expression}. @var{expression} is evaluated when this command is
9797 entered; the result will be converted to an integer if possible,
9798 otherwise @value{GDBN} will report an error. A subsequent
9799 @code{tvariable} command specifying the same name does not create a
9800 variable, but instead assigns the supplied initial value to the
9801 existing variable of that name, overwriting any previous initial
9802 value. The default initial value is 0.
9803
9804 @item info tvariables
9805 @kindex info tvariables
9806 List all the trace state variables along with their initial values.
9807 Their current values may also be displayed, if the trace experiment is
9808 currently running.
9809
9810 @item delete tvariable @r{[} $@var{name} @dots{} @r{]}
9811 @kindex delete tvariable
9812 Delete the given trace state variables, or all of them if no arguments
9813 are specified.
9814
9815 @end table
9816
9817 @node Tracepoint Actions
9818 @subsection Tracepoint Action Lists
9819
9820 @table @code
9821 @kindex actions
9822 @cindex tracepoint actions
9823 @item actions @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
9824 This command will prompt for a list of actions to be taken when the
9825 tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number @var{num} is not
9826 specified, this command sets the actions for the one that was most
9827 recently defined (so that you can define a tracepoint and then say
9828 @code{actions} without bothering about its number). You specify the
9829 actions themselves on the following lines, one action at a time, and
9830 terminate the actions list with a line containing just @code{end}. So
9831 far, the only defined actions are @code{collect}, @code{teval}, and
9832 @code{while-stepping}.
9833
9834 @code{actions} is actually equivalent to @code{commands} (@pxref{Break
9835 Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}), except that only the defined
9836 actions are allowed; any other @value{GDBN} command is rejected.
9837
9838 @cindex remove actions from a tracepoint
9839 To remove all actions from a tracepoint, type @samp{actions @var{num}}
9840 and follow it immediately with @samp{end}.
9841
9842 @smallexample
9843 (@value{GDBP}) @b{collect @var{data}} // collect some data
9844
9845 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while-stepping 5} // single-step 5 times, collect data
9846
9847 (@value{GDBP}) @b{end} // signals the end of actions.
9848 @end smallexample
9849
9850 In the following example, the action list begins with @code{collect}
9851 commands indicating the things to be collected when the tracepoint is
9852 hit. Then, in order to single-step and collect additional data
9853 following the tracepoint, a @code{while-stepping} command is used,
9854 followed by the list of things to be collected after each step in a
9855 sequence of single steps. The @code{while-stepping} command is
9856 terminated by its own separate @code{end} command. Lastly, the action
9857 list is terminated by an @code{end} command.
9858
9859 @smallexample
9860 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
9861 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
9862 Enter actions for tracepoint 1, one per line:
9863 > collect bar,baz
9864 > collect $regs
9865 > while-stepping 12
9866 > collect $pc, arr[i]
9867 > end
9868 end
9869 @end smallexample
9870
9871 @kindex collect @r{(tracepoints)}
9872 @item collect @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
9873 Collect values of the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit.
9874 This command accepts a comma-separated list of any valid expressions.
9875 In addition to global, static, or local variables, the following
9876 special arguments are supported:
9877
9878 @table @code
9879 @item $regs
9880 collect all registers
9881
9882 @item $args
9883 collect all function arguments
9884
9885 @item $locals
9886 collect all local variables.
9887 @end table
9888
9889 You can give several consecutive @code{collect} commands, each one
9890 with a single argument, or one @code{collect} command with several
9891 arguments separated by commas; the effect is the same.
9892
9893 The command @code{info scope} (@pxref{Symbols, info scope}) is
9894 particularly useful for figuring out what data to collect.
9895
9896 @kindex teval @r{(tracepoints)}
9897 @item teval @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
9898 Evaluate the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit. This
9899 command accepts a comma-separated list of expressions. The results
9900 are discarded, so this is mainly useful for assigning values to trace
9901 state variables (@pxref{Trace State Variables}) without adding those
9902 values to the trace buffer, as would be the case if the @code{collect}
9903 action were used.
9904
9905 @kindex while-stepping @r{(tracepoints)}
9906 @item while-stepping @var{n}
9907 Perform @var{n} single-step instruction traces after the tracepoint,
9908 collecting new data after each step. The @code{while-stepping}
9909 command is followed by the list of what to collect while stepping
9910 (followed by its own @code{end} command):
9911
9912 @smallexample
9913 > while-stepping 12
9914 > collect $regs, myglobal
9915 > end
9916 >
9917 @end smallexample
9918
9919 @noindent
9920 Note that @code{$pc} is not automatically collected by
9921 @code{while-stepping}; you need to explicitly collect that register if
9922 you need it. You may abbreviate @code{while-stepping} as @code{ws} or
9923 @code{stepping}.
9924
9925 @item set default-collect @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
9926 @kindex set default-collect
9927 @cindex default collection action
9928 This variable is a list of expressions to collect at each tracepoint
9929 hit. It is effectively an additional @code{collect} action prepended
9930 to every tracepoint action list. The expressions are parsed
9931 individually for each tracepoint, so for instance a variable named
9932 @code{xyz} may be interpreted as a global for one tracepoint, and a
9933 local for another, as appropriate to the tracepoint's location.
9934
9935 @item show default-collect
9936 @kindex show default-collect
9937 Show the list of expressions that are collected by default at each
9938 tracepoint hit.
9939
9940 @end table
9941
9942 @node Listing Tracepoints
9943 @subsection Listing Tracepoints
9944
9945 @table @code
9946 @kindex info tracepoints
9947 @kindex info tp
9948 @cindex information about tracepoints
9949 @item info tracepoints @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
9950 Display information about the tracepoint @var{num}. If you don't
9951 specify a tracepoint number, displays information about all the
9952 tracepoints defined so far. The format is similar to that used for
9953 @code{info breakpoints}; in fact, @code{info tracepoints} is the same
9954 command, simply restricting itself to tracepoints.
9955
9956 A tracepoint's listing may include additional information specific to
9957 tracing:
9958
9959 @itemize @bullet
9960 @item
9961 its passcount as given by the @code{passcount @var{n}} command
9962 @end itemize
9963
9964 @smallexample
9965 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info trace}
9966 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
9967 1 tracepoint keep y 0x0804ab57 in foo() at main.cxx:7
9968 while-stepping 20
9969 collect globfoo, $regs
9970 end
9971 collect globfoo2
9972 end
9973 pass count 1200
9974 (@value{GDBP})
9975 @end smallexample
9976
9977 @noindent
9978 This command can be abbreviated @code{info tp}.
9979 @end table
9980
9981 @node Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
9982 @subsection Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
9983
9984 @table @code
9985 @kindex tstart
9986 @cindex start a new trace experiment
9987 @cindex collected data discarded
9988 @item tstart
9989 This command takes no arguments. It starts the trace experiment, and
9990 begins collecting data. This has the side effect of discarding all
9991 the data collected in the trace buffer during the previous trace
9992 experiment.
9993
9994 @kindex tstop
9995 @cindex stop a running trace experiment
9996 @item tstop
9997 This command takes no arguments. It ends the trace experiment, and
9998 stops collecting data.
9999
10000 @strong{Note}: a trace experiment and data collection may stop
10001 automatically if any tracepoint's passcount is reached
10002 (@pxref{Tracepoint Passcounts}), or if the trace buffer becomes full.
10003
10004 @kindex tstatus
10005 @cindex status of trace data collection
10006 @cindex trace experiment, status of
10007 @item tstatus
10008 This command displays the status of the current trace data
10009 collection.
10010 @end table
10011
10012 Here is an example of the commands we described so far:
10013
10014 @smallexample
10015 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace gdb_c_test}
10016 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
10017 Enter actions for tracepoint #1, one per line.
10018 > collect $regs,$locals,$args
10019 > while-stepping 11
10020 > collect $regs
10021 > end
10022 > end
10023 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
10024 [time passes @dots{}]
10025 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstop}
10026 @end smallexample
10027
10028 @cindex disconnected tracing
10029 You can choose to continue running the trace experiment even if
10030 @value{GDBN} disconnects from the target, voluntarily or
10031 involuntarily. For commands such as @code{detach}, the debugger will
10032 ask what you want to do with the trace. But for unexpected
10033 terminations (@value{GDBN} crash, network outage), it would be
10034 unfortunate to lose hard-won trace data, so the variable
10035 @code{disconnected-tracing} lets you decide whether the trace should
10036 continue running without @value{GDBN}.
10037
10038 @table @code
10039 @item set disconnected-tracing on
10040 @itemx set disconnected-tracing off
10041 @kindex set disconnected-tracing
10042 Choose whether a tracing run should continue to run if @value{GDBN}
10043 has disconnected from the target. Note that @code{detach} or
10044 @code{quit} will ask you directly what to do about a running trace no
10045 matter what this variable's setting, so the variable is mainly useful
10046 for handling unexpected situations, such as loss of the network.
10047
10048 @item show disconnected-tracing
10049 @kindex show disconnected-tracing
10050 Show the current choice for disconnected tracing.
10051
10052 @end table
10053
10054 When you reconnect to the target, the trace experiment may or may not
10055 still be running; it might have filled the trace buffer in the
10056 meantime, or stopped for one of the other reasons. If it is running,
10057 it will continue after reconnection.
10058
10059 Upon reconnection, the target will upload information about the
10060 tracepoints in effect. @value{GDBN} will then compare that
10061 information to the set of tracepoints currently defined, and attempt
10062 to match them up, allowing for the possibility that the numbers may
10063 have changed due to creation and deletion in the meantime. If one of
10064 the target's tracepoints does not match any in @value{GDBN}, the
10065 debugger will create a new tracepoint, so that you have a number with
10066 which to specify that tracepoint. This matching-up process is
10067 necessarily heuristic, and it may result in useless tracepoints being
10068 created; you may simply delete them if they are of no use.
10069
10070 @cindex circular trace buffer
10071 If your target agent supports a @dfn{circular trace buffer}, then you
10072 can run a trace experiment indefinitely without filling the trace
10073 buffer; when space runs out, the agent deletes already-collected trace
10074 frames, oldest first, until there is enough room to continue
10075 collecting. This is especially useful if your tracepoints are being
10076 hit too often, and your trace gets terminated prematurely because the
10077 buffer is full. To ask for a circular trace buffer, simply set
10078 @samp{circular_trace_buffer} to on. You can set this at any time,
10079 including during tracing; if the agent can do it, it will change
10080 buffer handling on the fly, otherwise it will not take effect until
10081 the next run.
10082
10083 @table @code
10084 @item set circular-trace-buffer on
10085 @itemx set circular-trace-buffer off
10086 @kindex set circular-trace-buffer
10087 Choose whether a tracing run should use a linear or circular buffer
10088 for trace data. A linear buffer will not lose any trace data, but may
10089 fill up prematurely, while a circular buffer will discard old trace
10090 data, but it will have always room for the latest tracepoint hits.
10091
10092 @item show circular-trace-buffer
10093 @kindex show circular-trace-buffer
10094 Show the current choice for the trace buffer. Note that this may not
10095 match the agent's current buffer handling, nor is it guaranteed to
10096 match the setting that might have been in effect during a past run,
10097 for instance if you are looking at frames from a trace file.
10098
10099 @end table
10100
10101 @node Tracepoint Restrictions
10102 @subsection Tracepoint Restrictions
10103
10104 @cindex tracepoint restrictions
10105 There are a number of restrictions on the use of tracepoints. As
10106 described above, tracepoint data gathering occurs on the target
10107 without interaction from @value{GDBN}. Thus the full capabilities of
10108 the debugger are not available during data gathering, and then at data
10109 examination time, you will be limited by only having what was
10110 collected. The following items describe some common problems, but it
10111 is not exhaustive, and you may run into additional difficulties not
10112 mentioned here.
10113
10114 @itemize @bullet
10115
10116 @item
10117 Tracepoint expressions are intended to gather objects (lvalues). Thus
10118 the full flexibility of GDB's expression evaluator is not available.
10119 You cannot call functions, cast objects to aggregate types, access
10120 convenience variables or modify values (except by assignment to trace
10121 state variables). Some language features may implicitly call
10122 functions (for instance Objective-C fields with accessors), and therefore
10123 cannot be collected either.
10124
10125 @item
10126 Collection of local variables, either individually or in bulk with
10127 @code{$locals} or @code{$args}, during @code{while-stepping} may
10128 behave erratically. The stepping action may enter a new scope (for
10129 instance by stepping into a function), or the location of the variable
10130 may change (for instance it is loaded into a register). The
10131 tracepoint data recorded uses the location information for the
10132 variables that is correct for the tracepoint location. When the
10133 tracepoint is created, it is not possible, in general, to determine
10134 where the steps of a @code{while-stepping} sequence will advance the
10135 program---particularly if a conditional branch is stepped.
10136
10137 @item
10138 Collection of an incompletely-initialized or partially-destroyed object
10139 may result in something that @value{GDBN} cannot display, or displays
10140 in a misleading way.
10141
10142 @item
10143 When @value{GDBN} displays a pointer to character it automatically
10144 dereferences the pointer to also display characters of the string
10145 being pointed to. However, collecting the pointer during tracing does
10146 not automatically collect the string. You need to explicitly
10147 dereference the pointer and provide size information if you want to
10148 collect not only the pointer, but the memory pointed to. For example,
10149 @code{*ptr@@50} can be used to collect the 50 element array pointed to
10150 by @code{ptr}.
10151
10152 @item
10153 It is not possible to collect a complete stack backtrace at a
10154 tracepoint. Instead, you may collect the registers and a few hundred
10155 bytes from the stack pointer with something like @code{*$esp@@300}
10156 (adjust to use the name of the actual stack pointer register on your
10157 target architecture, and the amount of stack you wish to capture).
10158 Then the @code{backtrace} command will show a partial backtrace when
10159 using a trace frame. The number of stack frames that can be examined
10160 depends on the sizes of the frames in the collected stack. Note that
10161 if you ask for a block so large that it goes past the bottom of the
10162 stack, the target agent may report an error trying to read from an
10163 invalid address.
10164
10165 @item
10166 If you do not collect registers at a tracepoint, @value{GDBN} can
10167 infer that the value of @code{$pc} must be the same as the address of
10168 the tracepoint and use that when you are looking at a trace frame
10169 for that tracepoint. However, this cannot work if the tracepoint has
10170 multiple locations (for instance if it was set in a function that was
10171 inlined), or if it has a @code{while-stepping} loop. In those cases
10172 @value{GDBN} will warn you that it can't infer @code{$pc}, and default
10173 it to zero.
10174
10175 @end itemize
10176
10177 @node Analyze Collected Data
10178 @section Using the Collected Data
10179
10180 After the tracepoint experiment ends, you use @value{GDBN} commands
10181 for examining the trace data. The basic idea is that each tracepoint
10182 collects a trace @dfn{snapshot} every time it is hit and another
10183 snapshot every time it single-steps. All these snapshots are
10184 consecutively numbered from zero and go into a buffer, and you can
10185 examine them later. The way you examine them is to @dfn{focus} on a
10186 specific trace snapshot. When the remote stub is focused on a trace
10187 snapshot, it will respond to all @value{GDBN} requests for memory and
10188 registers by reading from the buffer which belongs to that snapshot,
10189 rather than from @emph{real} memory or registers of the program being
10190 debugged. This means that @strong{all} @value{GDBN} commands
10191 (@code{print}, @code{info registers}, @code{backtrace}, etc.) will
10192 behave as if we were currently debugging the program state as it was
10193 when the tracepoint occurred. Any requests for data that are not in
10194 the buffer will fail.
10195
10196 @menu
10197 * tfind:: How to select a trace snapshot
10198 * tdump:: How to display all data for a snapshot
10199 * save tracepoints:: How to save tracepoints for a future run
10200 @end menu
10201
10202 @node tfind
10203 @subsection @code{tfind @var{n}}
10204
10205 @kindex tfind
10206 @cindex select trace snapshot
10207 @cindex find trace snapshot
10208 The basic command for selecting a trace snapshot from the buffer is
10209 @code{tfind @var{n}}, which finds trace snapshot number @var{n},
10210 counting from zero. If no argument @var{n} is given, the next
10211 snapshot is selected.
10212
10213 Here are the various forms of using the @code{tfind} command.
10214
10215 @table @code
10216 @item tfind start
10217 Find the first snapshot in the buffer. This is a synonym for
10218 @code{tfind 0} (since 0 is the number of the first snapshot).
10219
10220 @item tfind none
10221 Stop debugging trace snapshots, resume @emph{live} debugging.
10222
10223 @item tfind end
10224 Same as @samp{tfind none}.
10225
10226 @item tfind
10227 No argument means find the next trace snapshot.
10228
10229 @item tfind -
10230 Find the previous trace snapshot before the current one. This permits
10231 retracing earlier steps.
10232
10233 @item tfind tracepoint @var{num}
10234 Find the next snapshot associated with tracepoint @var{num}. Search
10235 proceeds forward from the last examined trace snapshot. If no
10236 argument @var{num} is given, it means find the next snapshot collected
10237 for the same tracepoint as the current snapshot.
10238
10239 @item tfind pc @var{addr}
10240 Find the next snapshot associated with the value @var{addr} of the
10241 program counter. Search proceeds forward from the last examined trace
10242 snapshot. If no argument @var{addr} is given, it means find the next
10243 snapshot with the same value of PC as the current snapshot.
10244
10245 @item tfind outside @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
10246 Find the next snapshot whose PC is outside the given range of
10247 addresses (exclusive).
10248
10249 @item tfind range @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
10250 Find the next snapshot whose PC is between @var{addr1} and
10251 @var{addr2} (inclusive).
10252
10253 @item tfind line @r{[}@var{file}:@r{]}@var{n}
10254 Find the next snapshot associated with the source line @var{n}. If
10255 the optional argument @var{file} is given, refer to line @var{n} in
10256 that source file. Search proceeds forward from the last examined
10257 trace snapshot. If no argument @var{n} is given, it means find the
10258 next line other than the one currently being examined; thus saying
10259 @code{tfind line} repeatedly can appear to have the same effect as
10260 stepping from line to line in a @emph{live} debugging session.
10261 @end table
10262
10263 The default arguments for the @code{tfind} commands are specifically
10264 designed to make it easy to scan through the trace buffer. For
10265 instance, @code{tfind} with no argument selects the next trace
10266 snapshot, and @code{tfind -} with no argument selects the previous
10267 trace snapshot. So, by giving one @code{tfind} command, and then
10268 simply hitting @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine all the trace
10269 snapshots in order. Or, by saying @code{tfind -} and then hitting
10270 @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine the snapshots in reverse order.
10271 The @code{tfind line} command with no argument selects the snapshot
10272 for the next source line executed. The @code{tfind pc} command with
10273 no argument selects the next snapshot with the same program counter
10274 (PC) as the current frame. The @code{tfind tracepoint} command with
10275 no argument selects the next trace snapshot collected by the same
10276 tracepoint as the current one.
10277
10278 In addition to letting you scan through the trace buffer manually,
10279 these commands make it easy to construct @value{GDBN} scripts that
10280 scan through the trace buffer and print out whatever collected data
10281 you are interested in. Thus, if we want to examine the PC, FP, and SP
10282 registers from each trace frame in the buffer, we can say this:
10283
10284 @smallexample
10285 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
10286 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
10287 > printf "Frame %d, PC = %08X, SP = %08X, FP = %08X\n", \
10288 $trace_frame, $pc, $sp, $fp
10289 > tfind
10290 > end
10291
10292 Frame 0, PC = 0020DC64, SP = 0030BF3C, FP = 0030BF44
10293 Frame 1, PC = 0020DC6C, SP = 0030BF38, FP = 0030BF44
10294 Frame 2, PC = 0020DC70, SP = 0030BF34, FP = 0030BF44
10295 Frame 3, PC = 0020DC74, SP = 0030BF30, FP = 0030BF44
10296 Frame 4, PC = 0020DC78, SP = 0030BF2C, FP = 0030BF44
10297 Frame 5, PC = 0020DC7C, SP = 0030BF28, FP = 0030BF44
10298 Frame 6, PC = 0020DC80, SP = 0030BF24, FP = 0030BF44
10299 Frame 7, PC = 0020DC84, SP = 0030BF20, FP = 0030BF44
10300 Frame 8, PC = 0020DC88, SP = 0030BF1C, FP = 0030BF44
10301 Frame 9, PC = 0020DC8E, SP = 0030BF18, FP = 0030BF44
10302 Frame 10, PC = 00203F6C, SP = 0030BE3C, FP = 0030BF14
10303 @end smallexample
10304
10305 Or, if we want to examine the variable @code{X} at each source line in
10306 the buffer:
10307
10308 @smallexample
10309 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
10310 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
10311 > printf "Frame %d, X == %d\n", $trace_frame, X
10312 > tfind line
10313 > end
10314
10315 Frame 0, X = 1
10316 Frame 7, X = 2
10317 Frame 13, X = 255
10318 @end smallexample
10319
10320 @node tdump
10321 @subsection @code{tdump}
10322 @kindex tdump
10323 @cindex dump all data collected at tracepoint
10324 @cindex tracepoint data, display
10325
10326 This command takes no arguments. It prints all the data collected at
10327 the current trace snapshot.
10328
10329 @smallexample
10330 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace 444}
10331 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
10332 Enter actions for tracepoint #2, one per line:
10333 > collect $regs, $locals, $args, gdb_long_test
10334 > end
10335
10336 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
10337
10338 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind line 444}
10339 #0 gdb_test (p1=0x11, p2=0x22, p3=0x33, p4=0x44, p5=0x55, p6=0x66)
10340 at gdb_test.c:444
10341 444 printp( "%s: arguments = 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X\n", )
10342
10343 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tdump}
10344 Data collected at tracepoint 2, trace frame 1:
10345 d0 0xc4aa0085 -995491707
10346 d1 0x18 24
10347 d2 0x80 128
10348 d3 0x33 51
10349 d4 0x71aea3d 119204413
10350 d5 0x22 34
10351 d6 0xe0 224
10352 d7 0x380035 3670069
10353 a0 0x19e24a 1696330
10354 a1 0x3000668 50333288
10355 a2 0x100 256
10356 a3 0x322000 3284992
10357 a4 0x3000698 50333336
10358 a5 0x1ad3cc 1758156
10359 fp 0x30bf3c 0x30bf3c
10360 sp 0x30bf34 0x30bf34
10361 ps 0x0 0
10362 pc 0x20b2c8 0x20b2c8
10363 fpcontrol 0x0 0
10364 fpstatus 0x0 0
10365 fpiaddr 0x0 0
10366 p = 0x20e5b4 "gdb-test"
10367 p1 = (void *) 0x11
10368 p2 = (void *) 0x22
10369 p3 = (void *) 0x33
10370 p4 = (void *) 0x44
10371 p5 = (void *) 0x55
10372 p6 = (void *) 0x66
10373 gdb_long_test = 17 '\021'
10374
10375 (@value{GDBP})
10376 @end smallexample
10377
10378 @code{tdump} works by scanning the tracepoint's current collection
10379 actions and printing the value of each expression listed. So
10380 @code{tdump} can fail, if after a run, you change the tracepoint's
10381 actions to mention variables that were not collected during the run.
10382
10383 Also, for tracepoints with @code{while-stepping} loops, @code{tdump}
10384 uses the collected value of @code{$pc} to distinguish between trace
10385 frames that were collected at the tracepoint hit, and frames that were
10386 collected while stepping. This allows it to correctly choose whether
10387 to display the basic list of collections, or the collections from the
10388 body of the while-stepping loop. However, if @code{$pc} was not collected,
10389 then @code{tdump} will always attempt to dump using the basic collection
10390 list, and may fail if a while-stepping frame does not include all the
10391 same data that is collected at the tracepoint hit.
10392 @c This is getting pretty arcane, example would be good.
10393
10394 @node save tracepoints
10395 @subsection @code{save tracepoints @var{filename}}
10396 @kindex save tracepoints
10397 @kindex save-tracepoints
10398 @cindex save tracepoints for future sessions
10399
10400 This command saves all current tracepoint definitions together with
10401 their actions and passcounts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
10402 suitable for use in a later debugging session. To read the saved
10403 tracepoint definitions, use the @code{source} command (@pxref{Command
10404 Files}). The @w{@code{save-tracepoints}} command is a deprecated
10405 alias for @w{@code{save tracepoints}}
10406
10407 @node Tracepoint Variables
10408 @section Convenience Variables for Tracepoints
10409 @cindex tracepoint variables
10410 @cindex convenience variables for tracepoints
10411
10412 @table @code
10413 @vindex $trace_frame
10414 @item (int) $trace_frame
10415 The current trace snapshot (a.k.a.@: @dfn{frame}) number, or -1 if no
10416 snapshot is selected.
10417
10418 @vindex $tracepoint
10419 @item (int) $tracepoint
10420 The tracepoint for the current trace snapshot.
10421
10422 @vindex $trace_line
10423 @item (int) $trace_line
10424 The line number for the current trace snapshot.
10425
10426 @vindex $trace_file
10427 @item (char []) $trace_file
10428 The source file for the current trace snapshot.
10429
10430 @vindex $trace_func
10431 @item (char []) $trace_func
10432 The name of the function containing @code{$tracepoint}.
10433 @end table
10434
10435 Note: @code{$trace_file} is not suitable for use in @code{printf},
10436 use @code{output} instead.
10437
10438 Here's a simple example of using these convenience variables for
10439 stepping through all the trace snapshots and printing some of their
10440 data. Note that these are not the same as trace state variables,
10441 which are managed by the target.
10442
10443 @smallexample
10444 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
10445
10446 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while $trace_frame != -1}
10447 > output $trace_file
10448 > printf ", line %d (tracepoint #%d)\n", $trace_line, $tracepoint
10449 > tfind
10450 > end
10451 @end smallexample
10452
10453 @node Trace Files
10454 @section Using Trace Files
10455 @cindex trace files
10456
10457 In some situations, the target running a trace experiment may no
10458 longer be available; perhaps it crashed, or the hardware was needed
10459 for a different activity. To handle these cases, you can arrange to
10460 dump the trace data into a file, and later use that file as a source
10461 of trace data, via the @code{target tfile} command.
10462
10463 @table @code
10464
10465 @kindex tsave
10466 @item tsave [ -r ] @var{filename}
10467 Save the trace data to @var{filename}. By default, this command
10468 assumes that @var{filename} refers to the host filesystem, so if
10469 necessary @value{GDBN} will copy raw trace data up from the target and
10470 then save it. If the target supports it, you can also supply the
10471 optional argument @code{-r} (``remote'') to direct the target to save
10472 the data directly into @var{filename} in its own filesystem, which may be
10473 more efficient if the trace buffer is very large. (Note, however, that
10474 @code{target tfile} can only read from files accessible to the host.)
10475
10476 @kindex target tfile
10477 @kindex tfile
10478 @item target tfile @var{filename}
10479 Use the file named @var{filename} as a source of trace data. Commands
10480 that examine data work as they do with a live target, but it is not
10481 possible to run any new trace experiments. @code{tstatus} will report
10482 the state of the trace run at the moment the data was saved, as well
10483 as the current trace frame you are examining. @var{filename} must be
10484 on a filesystem accessible to the host.
10485
10486 @end table
10487
10488 @node Overlays
10489 @chapter Debugging Programs That Use Overlays
10490 @cindex overlays
10491
10492 If your program is too large to fit completely in your target system's
10493 memory, you can sometimes use @dfn{overlays} to work around this
10494 problem. @value{GDBN} provides some support for debugging programs that
10495 use overlays.
10496
10497 @menu
10498 * How Overlays Work:: A general explanation of overlays.
10499 * Overlay Commands:: Managing overlays in @value{GDBN}.
10500 * Automatic Overlay Debugging:: @value{GDBN} can find out which overlays are
10501 mapped by asking the inferior.
10502 * Overlay Sample Program:: A sample program using overlays.
10503 @end menu
10504
10505 @node How Overlays Work
10506 @section How Overlays Work
10507 @cindex mapped overlays
10508 @cindex unmapped overlays
10509 @cindex load address, overlay's
10510 @cindex mapped address
10511 @cindex overlay area
10512
10513 Suppose you have a computer whose instruction address space is only 64
10514 kilobytes long, but which has much more memory which can be accessed by
10515 other means: special instructions, segment registers, or memory
10516 management hardware, for example. Suppose further that you want to
10517 adapt a program which is larger than 64 kilobytes to run on this system.
10518
10519 One solution is to identify modules of your program which are relatively
10520 independent, and need not call each other directly; call these modules
10521 @dfn{overlays}. Separate the overlays from the main program, and place
10522 their machine code in the larger memory. Place your main program in
10523 instruction memory, but leave at least enough space there to hold the
10524 largest overlay as well.
10525
10526 Now, to call a function located in an overlay, you must first copy that
10527 overlay's machine code from the large memory into the space set aside
10528 for it in the instruction memory, and then jump to its entry point
10529 there.
10530
10531 @c NB: In the below the mapped area's size is greater or equal to the
10532 @c size of all overlays. This is intentional to remind the developer
10533 @c that overlays don't necessarily need to be the same size.
10534
10535 @smallexample
10536 @group
10537 Data Instruction Larger
10538 Address Space Address Space Address Space
10539 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+
10540 | | | | | |
10541 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+<-- overlay 1
10542 | program | | main | .----| overlay 1 | load address
10543 | variables | | program | | +-----------+
10544 | and heap | | | | | |
10545 +-----------+ | | | +-----------+<-- overlay 2
10546 | | +-----------+ | | | load address
10547 +-----------+ | | | .-| overlay 2 |
10548 | | | | | |
10549 mapped --->+-----------+ | | +-----------+
10550 address | | | | | |
10551 | overlay | <-' | | |
10552 | area | <---' +-----------+<-- overlay 3
10553 | | <---. | | load address
10554 +-----------+ `--| overlay 3 |
10555 | | | |
10556 +-----------+ | |
10557 +-----------+
10558 | |
10559 +-----------+
10560
10561 @anchor{A code overlay}A code overlay
10562 @end group
10563 @end smallexample
10564
10565 The diagram (@pxref{A code overlay}) shows a system with separate data
10566 and instruction address spaces. To map an overlay, the program copies
10567 its code from the larger address space to the instruction address space.
10568 Since the overlays shown here all use the same mapped address, only one
10569 may be mapped at a time. For a system with a single address space for
10570 data and instructions, the diagram would be similar, except that the
10571 program variables and heap would share an address space with the main
10572 program and the overlay area.
10573
10574 An overlay loaded into instruction memory and ready for use is called a
10575 @dfn{mapped} overlay; its @dfn{mapped address} is its address in the
10576 instruction memory. An overlay not present (or only partially present)
10577 in instruction memory is called @dfn{unmapped}; its @dfn{load address}
10578 is its address in the larger memory. The mapped address is also called
10579 the @dfn{virtual memory address}, or @dfn{VMA}; the load address is also
10580 called the @dfn{load memory address}, or @dfn{LMA}.
10581
10582 Unfortunately, overlays are not a completely transparent way to adapt a
10583 program to limited instruction memory. They introduce a new set of
10584 global constraints you must keep in mind as you design your program:
10585
10586 @itemize @bullet
10587
10588 @item
10589 Before calling or returning to a function in an overlay, your program
10590 must make sure that overlay is actually mapped. Otherwise, the call or
10591 return will transfer control to the right address, but in the wrong
10592 overlay, and your program will probably crash.
10593
10594 @item
10595 If the process of mapping an overlay is expensive on your system, you
10596 will need to choose your overlays carefully to minimize their effect on
10597 your program's performance.
10598
10599 @item
10600 The executable file you load onto your system must contain each
10601 overlay's instructions, appearing at the overlay's load address, not its
10602 mapped address. However, each overlay's instructions must be relocated
10603 and its symbols defined as if the overlay were at its mapped address.
10604 You can use GNU linker scripts to specify different load and relocation
10605 addresses for pieces of your program; see @ref{Overlay Description,,,
10606 ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}.
10607
10608 @item
10609 The procedure for loading executable files onto your system must be able
10610 to load their contents into the larger address space as well as the
10611 instruction and data spaces.
10612
10613 @end itemize
10614
10615 The overlay system described above is rather simple, and could be
10616 improved in many ways:
10617
10618 @itemize @bullet
10619
10620 @item
10621 If your system has suitable bank switch registers or memory management
10622 hardware, you could use those facilities to make an overlay's load area
10623 contents simply appear at their mapped address in instruction space.
10624 This would probably be faster than copying the overlay to its mapped
10625 area in the usual way.
10626
10627 @item
10628 If your overlays are small enough, you could set aside more than one
10629 overlay area, and have more than one overlay mapped at a time.
10630
10631 @item
10632 You can use overlays to manage data, as well as instructions. In
10633 general, data overlays are even less transparent to your design than
10634 code overlays: whereas code overlays only require care when you call or
10635 return to functions, data overlays require care every time you access
10636 the data. Also, if you change the contents of a data overlay, you
10637 must copy its contents back out to its load address before you can copy a
10638 different data overlay into the same mapped area.
10639
10640 @end itemize
10641
10642
10643 @node Overlay Commands
10644 @section Overlay Commands
10645
10646 To use @value{GDBN}'s overlay support, each overlay in your program must
10647 correspond to a separate section of the executable file. The section's
10648 virtual memory address and load memory address must be the overlay's
10649 mapped and load addresses. Identifying overlays with sections allows
10650 @value{GDBN} to determine the appropriate address of a function or
10651 variable, depending on whether the overlay is mapped or not.
10652
10653 @value{GDBN}'s overlay commands all start with the word @code{overlay};
10654 you can abbreviate this as @code{ov} or @code{ovly}. The commands are:
10655
10656 @table @code
10657 @item overlay off
10658 @kindex overlay
10659 Disable @value{GDBN}'s overlay support. When overlay support is
10660 disabled, @value{GDBN} assumes that all functions and variables are
10661 always present at their mapped addresses. By default, @value{GDBN}'s
10662 overlay support is disabled.
10663
10664 @item overlay manual
10665 @cindex manual overlay debugging
10666 Enable @dfn{manual} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
10667 relies on you to tell it which overlays are mapped, and which are not,
10668 using the @code{overlay map-overlay} and @code{overlay unmap-overlay}
10669 commands described below.
10670
10671 @item overlay map-overlay @var{overlay}
10672 @itemx overlay map @var{overlay}
10673 @cindex map an overlay
10674 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is now mapped; @var{overlay} must
10675 be the name of the object file section containing the overlay. When an
10676 overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the overlay's
10677 functions and variables at their mapped addresses. @value{GDBN} assumes
10678 that any other overlays whose mapped ranges overlap that of
10679 @var{overlay} are now unmapped.
10680
10681 @item overlay unmap-overlay @var{overlay}
10682 @itemx overlay unmap @var{overlay}
10683 @cindex unmap an overlay
10684 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is no longer mapped; @var{overlay}
10685 must be the name of the object file section containing the overlay.
10686 When an overlay is unmapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the
10687 overlay's functions and variables at their load addresses.
10688
10689 @item overlay auto
10690 Enable @dfn{automatic} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
10691 consults a data structure the overlay manager maintains in the inferior
10692 to see which overlays are mapped. For details, see @ref{Automatic
10693 Overlay Debugging}.
10694
10695 @item overlay load-target
10696 @itemx overlay load
10697 @cindex reloading the overlay table
10698 Re-read the overlay table from the inferior. Normally, @value{GDBN}
10699 re-reads the table @value{GDBN} automatically each time the inferior
10700 stops, so this command should only be necessary if you have changed the
10701 overlay mapping yourself using @value{GDBN}. This command is only
10702 useful when using automatic overlay debugging.
10703
10704 @item overlay list-overlays
10705 @itemx overlay list
10706 @cindex listing mapped overlays
10707 Display a list of the overlays currently mapped, along with their mapped
10708 addresses, load addresses, and sizes.
10709
10710 @end table
10711
10712 Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a code address, it includes the name
10713 of the function the address falls in:
10714
10715 @smallexample
10716 (@value{GDBP}) print main
10717 $3 = @{int ()@} 0x11a0 <main>
10718 @end smallexample
10719 @noindent
10720 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} recognizes code in
10721 unmapped overlays, and prints the names of unmapped functions with
10722 asterisks around them. For example, if @code{foo} is a function in an
10723 unmapped overlay, @value{GDBN} prints it this way:
10724
10725 @smallexample
10726 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
10727 No sections are mapped.
10728 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
10729 $5 = @{int (int)@} 0x100000 <*foo*>
10730 @end smallexample
10731 @noindent
10732 When @code{foo}'s overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} prints the function's
10733 name normally:
10734
10735 @smallexample
10736 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
10737 Section .ov.foo.text, loaded at 0x100000 - 0x100034,
10738 mapped at 0x1016 - 0x104a
10739 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
10740 $6 = @{int (int)@} 0x1016 <foo>
10741 @end smallexample
10742
10743 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} can find the correct
10744 address for functions and variables in an overlay, whether or not the
10745 overlay is mapped. This allows most @value{GDBN} commands, like
10746 @code{break} and @code{disassemble}, to work normally, even on unmapped
10747 code. However, @value{GDBN}'s breakpoint support has some limitations:
10748
10749 @itemize @bullet
10750 @item
10751 @cindex breakpoints in overlays
10752 @cindex overlays, setting breakpoints in
10753 You can set breakpoints in functions in unmapped overlays, as long as
10754 @value{GDBN} can write to the overlay at its load address.
10755 @item
10756 @value{GDBN} can not set hardware or simulator-based breakpoints in
10757 unmapped overlays. However, if you set a breakpoint at the end of your
10758 overlay manager (and tell @value{GDBN} which overlays are now mapped, if
10759 you are using manual overlay management), @value{GDBN} will re-set its
10760 breakpoints properly.
10761 @end itemize
10762
10763
10764 @node Automatic Overlay Debugging
10765 @section Automatic Overlay Debugging
10766 @cindex automatic overlay debugging
10767
10768 @value{GDBN} can automatically track which overlays are mapped and which
10769 are not, given some simple co-operation from the overlay manager in the
10770 inferior. If you enable automatic overlay debugging with the
10771 @code{overlay auto} command (@pxref{Overlay Commands}), @value{GDBN}
10772 looks in the inferior's memory for certain variables describing the
10773 current state of the overlays.
10774
10775 Here are the variables your overlay manager must define to support
10776 @value{GDBN}'s automatic overlay debugging:
10777
10778 @table @asis
10779
10780 @item @code{_ovly_table}:
10781 This variable must be an array of the following structures:
10782
10783 @smallexample
10784 struct
10785 @{
10786 /* The overlay's mapped address. */
10787 unsigned long vma;
10788
10789 /* The size of the overlay, in bytes. */
10790 unsigned long size;
10791
10792 /* The overlay's load address. */
10793 unsigned long lma;
10794
10795 /* Non-zero if the overlay is currently mapped;
10796 zero otherwise. */
10797 unsigned long mapped;
10798 @}
10799 @end smallexample
10800
10801 @item @code{_novlys}:
10802 This variable must be a four-byte signed integer, holding the total
10803 number of elements in @code{_ovly_table}.
10804
10805 @end table
10806
10807 To decide whether a particular overlay is mapped or not, @value{GDBN}
10808 looks for an entry in @w{@code{_ovly_table}} whose @code{vma} and
10809 @code{lma} members equal the VMA and LMA of the overlay's section in the
10810 executable file. When @value{GDBN} finds a matching entry, it consults
10811 the entry's @code{mapped} member to determine whether the overlay is
10812 currently mapped.
10813
10814 In addition, your overlay manager may define a function called
10815 @code{_ovly_debug_event}. If this function is defined, @value{GDBN}
10816 will silently set a breakpoint there. If the overlay manager then
10817 calls this function whenever it has changed the overlay table, this
10818 will enable @value{GDBN} to accurately keep track of which overlays
10819 are in program memory, and update any breakpoints that may be set
10820 in overlays. This will allow breakpoints to work even if the
10821 overlays are kept in ROM or other non-writable memory while they
10822 are not being executed.
10823
10824 @node Overlay Sample Program
10825 @section Overlay Sample Program
10826 @cindex overlay example program
10827
10828 When linking a program which uses overlays, you must place the overlays
10829 at their load addresses, while relocating them to run at their mapped
10830 addresses. To do this, you must write a linker script (@pxref{Overlay
10831 Description,,, ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}). Unfortunately,
10832 since linker scripts are specific to a particular host system, target
10833 architecture, and target memory layout, this manual cannot provide
10834 portable sample code demonstrating @value{GDBN}'s overlay support.
10835
10836 However, the @value{GDBN} source distribution does contain an overlaid
10837 program, with linker scripts for a few systems, as part of its test
10838 suite. The program consists of the following files from
10839 @file{gdb/testsuite/gdb.base}:
10840
10841 @table @file
10842 @item overlays.c
10843 The main program file.
10844 @item ovlymgr.c
10845 A simple overlay manager, used by @file{overlays.c}.
10846 @item foo.c
10847 @itemx bar.c
10848 @itemx baz.c
10849 @itemx grbx.c
10850 Overlay modules, loaded and used by @file{overlays.c}.
10851 @item d10v.ld
10852 @itemx m32r.ld
10853 Linker scripts for linking the test program on the @code{d10v-elf}
10854 and @code{m32r-elf} targets.
10855 @end table
10856
10857 You can build the test program using the @code{d10v-elf} GCC
10858 cross-compiler like this:
10859
10860 @smallexample
10861 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c overlays.c
10862 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c ovlymgr.c
10863 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c foo.c
10864 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c bar.c
10865 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c baz.c
10866 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c grbx.c
10867 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g overlays.o ovlymgr.o foo.o bar.o \
10868 baz.o grbx.o -Wl,-Td10v.ld -o overlays
10869 @end smallexample
10870
10871 The build process is identical for any other architecture, except that
10872 you must substitute the appropriate compiler and linker script for the
10873 target system for @code{d10v-elf-gcc} and @code{d10v.ld}.
10874
10875
10876 @node Languages
10877 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages
10878 @cindex languages
10879
10880 Although programming languages generally have common aspects, they are
10881 rarely expressed in the same manner. For instance, in ANSI C,
10882 dereferencing a pointer @code{p} is accomplished by @code{*p}, but in
10883 Modula-2, it is accomplished by @code{p^}. Values can also be
10884 represented (and displayed) differently. Hex numbers in C appear as
10885 @samp{0x1ae}, while in Modula-2 they appear as @samp{1AEH}.
10886
10887 @cindex working language
10888 Language-specific information is built into @value{GDBN} for some languages,
10889 allowing you to express operations like the above in your program's
10890 native language, and allowing @value{GDBN} to output values in a manner
10891 consistent with the syntax of your program's native language. The
10892 language you use to build expressions is called the @dfn{working
10893 language}.
10894
10895 @menu
10896 * Setting:: Switching between source languages
10897 * Show:: Displaying the language
10898 * Checks:: Type and range checks
10899 * Supported Languages:: Supported languages
10900 * Unsupported Languages:: Unsupported languages
10901 @end menu
10902
10903 @node Setting
10904 @section Switching Between Source Languages
10905
10906 There are two ways to control the working language---either have @value{GDBN}
10907 set it automatically, or select it manually yourself. You can use the
10908 @code{set language} command for either purpose. On startup, @value{GDBN}
10909 defaults to setting the language automatically. The working language is
10910 used to determine how expressions you type are interpreted, how values
10911 are printed, etc.
10912
10913 In addition to the working language, every source file that
10914 @value{GDBN} knows about has its own working language. For some object
10915 file formats, the compiler might indicate which language a particular
10916 source file is in. However, most of the time @value{GDBN} infers the
10917 language from the name of the file. The language of a source file
10918 controls whether C@t{++} names are demangled---this way @code{backtrace} can
10919 show each frame appropriately for its own language. There is no way to
10920 set the language of a source file from within @value{GDBN}, but you can
10921 set the language associated with a filename extension. @xref{Show, ,
10922 Displaying the Language}.
10923
10924 This is most commonly a problem when you use a program, such
10925 as @code{cfront} or @code{f2c}, that generates C but is written in
10926 another language. In that case, make the
10927 program use @code{#line} directives in its C output; that way
10928 @value{GDBN} will know the correct language of the source code of the original
10929 program, and will display that source code, not the generated C code.
10930
10931 @menu
10932 * Filenames:: Filename extensions and languages.
10933 * Manually:: Setting the working language manually
10934 * Automatically:: Having @value{GDBN} infer the source language
10935 @end menu
10936
10937 @node Filenames
10938 @subsection List of Filename Extensions and Languages
10939
10940 If a source file name ends in one of the following extensions, then
10941 @value{GDBN} infers that its language is the one indicated.
10942
10943 @table @file
10944 @item .ada
10945 @itemx .ads
10946 @itemx .adb
10947 @itemx .a
10948 Ada source file.
10949
10950 @item .c
10951 C source file
10952
10953 @item .C
10954 @itemx .cc
10955 @itemx .cp
10956 @itemx .cpp
10957 @itemx .cxx
10958 @itemx .c++
10959 C@t{++} source file
10960
10961 @item .d
10962 D source file
10963
10964 @item .m
10965 Objective-C source file
10966
10967 @item .f
10968 @itemx .F
10969 Fortran source file
10970
10971 @item .mod
10972 Modula-2 source file
10973
10974 @item .s
10975 @itemx .S
10976 Assembler source file. This actually behaves almost like C, but
10977 @value{GDBN} does not skip over function prologues when stepping.
10978 @end table
10979
10980 In addition, you may set the language associated with a filename
10981 extension. @xref{Show, , Displaying the Language}.
10982
10983 @node Manually
10984 @subsection Setting the Working Language
10985
10986 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically,
10987 expressions are interpreted the same way in your debugging session and
10988 your program.
10989
10990 @kindex set language
10991 If you wish, you may set the language manually. To do this, issue the
10992 command @samp{set language @var{lang}}, where @var{lang} is the name of
10993 a language, such as
10994 @code{c} or @code{modula-2}.
10995 For a list of the supported languages, type @samp{set language}.
10996
10997 Setting the language manually prevents @value{GDBN} from updating the working
10998 language automatically. This can lead to confusion if you try
10999 to debug a program when the working language is not the same as the
11000 source language, when an expression is acceptable to both
11001 languages---but means different things. For instance, if the current
11002 source file were written in C, and @value{GDBN} was parsing Modula-2, a
11003 command such as:
11004
11005 @smallexample
11006 print a = b + c
11007 @end smallexample
11008
11009 @noindent
11010 might not have the effect you intended. In C, this means to add
11011 @code{b} and @code{c} and place the result in @code{a}. The result
11012 printed would be the value of @code{a}. In Modula-2, this means to compare
11013 @code{a} to the result of @code{b+c}, yielding a @code{BOOLEAN} value.
11014
11015 @node Automatically
11016 @subsection Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language
11017
11018 To have @value{GDBN} set the working language automatically, use
11019 @samp{set language local} or @samp{set language auto}. @value{GDBN}
11020 then infers the working language. That is, when your program stops in a
11021 frame (usually by encountering a breakpoint), @value{GDBN} sets the
11022 working language to the language recorded for the function in that
11023 frame. If the language for a frame is unknown (that is, if the function
11024 or block corresponding to the frame was defined in a source file that
11025 does not have a recognized extension), the current working language is
11026 not changed, and @value{GDBN} issues a warning.
11027
11028 This may not seem necessary for most programs, which are written
11029 entirely in one source language. However, program modules and libraries
11030 written in one source language can be used by a main program written in
11031 a different source language. Using @samp{set language auto} in this
11032 case frees you from having to set the working language manually.
11033
11034 @node Show
11035 @section Displaying the Language
11036
11037 The following commands help you find out which language is the
11038 working language, and also what language source files were written in.
11039
11040 @table @code
11041 @item show language
11042 @kindex show language
11043 Display the current working language. This is the
11044 language you can use with commands such as @code{print} to
11045 build and compute expressions that may involve variables in your program.
11046
11047 @item info frame
11048 @kindex info frame@r{, show the source language}
11049 Display the source language for this frame. This language becomes the
11050 working language if you use an identifier from this frame.
11051 @xref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}, to identify the other
11052 information listed here.
11053
11054 @item info source
11055 @kindex info source@r{, show the source language}
11056 Display the source language of this source file.
11057 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, to identify the other
11058 information listed here.
11059 @end table
11060
11061 In unusual circumstances, you may have source files with extensions
11062 not in the standard list. You can then set the extension associated
11063 with a language explicitly:
11064
11065 @table @code
11066 @item set extension-language @var{ext} @var{language}
11067 @kindex set extension-language
11068 Tell @value{GDBN} that source files with extension @var{ext} are to be
11069 assumed as written in the source language @var{language}.
11070
11071 @item info extensions
11072 @kindex info extensions
11073 List all the filename extensions and the associated languages.
11074 @end table
11075
11076 @node Checks
11077 @section Type and Range Checking
11078
11079 @quotation
11080 @emph{Warning:} In this release, the @value{GDBN} commands for type and range
11081 checking are included, but they do not yet have any effect. This
11082 section documents the intended facilities.
11083 @end quotation
11084 @c FIXME remove warning when type/range code added
11085
11086 Some languages are designed to guard you against making seemingly common
11087 errors through a series of compile- and run-time checks. These include
11088 checking the type of arguments to functions and operators, and making
11089 sure mathematical overflows are caught at run time. Checks such as
11090 these help to ensure a program's correctness once it has been compiled
11091 by eliminating type mismatches, and providing active checks for range
11092 errors when your program is running.
11093
11094 @value{GDBN} can check for conditions like the above if you wish.
11095 Although @value{GDBN} does not check the statements in your program,
11096 it can check expressions entered directly into @value{GDBN} for
11097 evaluation via the @code{print} command, for example. As with the
11098 working language, @value{GDBN} can also decide whether or not to check
11099 automatically based on your program's source language.
11100 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default
11101 settings of supported languages.
11102
11103 @menu
11104 * Type Checking:: An overview of type checking
11105 * Range Checking:: An overview of range checking
11106 @end menu
11107
11108 @cindex type checking
11109 @cindex checks, type
11110 @node Type Checking
11111 @subsection An Overview of Type Checking
11112
11113 Some languages, such as Modula-2, are strongly typed, meaning that the
11114 arguments to operators and functions have to be of the correct type,
11115 otherwise an error occurs. These checks prevent type mismatch
11116 errors from ever causing any run-time problems. For example,
11117
11118 @smallexample
11119 1 + 2 @result{} 3
11120 @exdent but
11121 @error{} 1 + 2.3
11122 @end smallexample
11123
11124 The second example fails because the @code{CARDINAL} 1 is not
11125 type-compatible with the @code{REAL} 2.3.
11126
11127 For the expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell the
11128 @value{GDBN} type checker to skip checking;
11129 to treat any mismatches as errors and abandon the expression;
11130 or to only issue warnings when type mismatches occur,
11131 but evaluate the expression anyway. When you choose the last of
11132 these, @value{GDBN} evaluates expressions like the second example above, but
11133 also issues a warning.
11134
11135 Even if you turn type checking off, there may be other reasons
11136 related to type that prevent @value{GDBN} from evaluating an expression.
11137 For instance, @value{GDBN} does not know how to add an @code{int} and
11138 a @code{struct foo}. These particular type errors have nothing to do
11139 with the language in use, and usually arise from expressions, such as
11140 the one described above, which make little sense to evaluate anyway.
11141
11142 Each language defines to what degree it is strict about type. For
11143 instance, both Modula-2 and C require the arguments to arithmetical
11144 operators to be numbers. In C, enumerated types and pointers can be
11145 represented as numbers, so that they are valid arguments to mathematical
11146 operators. @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for further
11147 details on specific languages.
11148
11149 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the type checker:
11150
11151 @kindex set check type
11152 @kindex show check type
11153 @table @code
11154 @item set check type auto
11155 Set type checking on or off based on the current working language.
11156 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
11157 each language.
11158
11159 @item set check type on
11160 @itemx set check type off
11161 Set type checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
11162 current working language. Issue a warning if the setting does not
11163 match the language default. If any type mismatches occur in
11164 evaluating an expression while type checking is on, @value{GDBN} prints a
11165 message and aborts evaluation of the expression.
11166
11167 @item set check type warn
11168 Cause the type checker to issue warnings, but to always attempt to
11169 evaluate the expression. Evaluating the expression may still
11170 be impossible for other reasons. For example, @value{GDBN} cannot add
11171 numbers and structures.
11172
11173 @item show type
11174 Show the current setting of the type checker, and whether or not @value{GDBN}
11175 is setting it automatically.
11176 @end table
11177
11178 @cindex range checking
11179 @cindex checks, range
11180 @node Range Checking
11181 @subsection An Overview of Range Checking
11182
11183 In some languages (such as Modula-2), it is an error to exceed the
11184 bounds of a type; this is enforced with run-time checks. Such range
11185 checking is meant to ensure program correctness by making sure
11186 computations do not overflow, or indices on an array element access do
11187 not exceed the bounds of the array.
11188
11189 For expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell
11190 @value{GDBN} to treat range errors in one of three ways: ignore them,
11191 always treat them as errors and abandon the expression, or issue
11192 warnings but evaluate the expression anyway.
11193
11194 A range error can result from numerical overflow, from exceeding an
11195 array index bound, or when you type a constant that is not a member
11196 of any type. Some languages, however, do not treat overflows as an
11197 error. In many implementations of C, mathematical overflow causes the
11198 result to ``wrap around'' to lower values---for example, if @var{m} is
11199 the largest integer value, and @var{s} is the smallest, then
11200
11201 @smallexample
11202 @var{m} + 1 @result{} @var{s}
11203 @end smallexample
11204
11205 This, too, is specific to individual languages, and in some cases
11206 specific to individual compilers or machines. @xref{Supported Languages, ,
11207 Supported Languages}, for further details on specific languages.
11208
11209 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the range checker:
11210
11211 @kindex set check range
11212 @kindex show check range
11213 @table @code
11214 @item set check range auto
11215 Set range checking on or off based on the current working language.
11216 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
11217 each language.
11218
11219 @item set check range on
11220 @itemx set check range off
11221 Set range checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
11222 current working language. A warning is issued if the setting does not
11223 match the language default. If a range error occurs and range checking is on,
11224 then a message is printed and evaluation of the expression is aborted.
11225
11226 @item set check range warn
11227 Output messages when the @value{GDBN} range checker detects a range error,
11228 but attempt to evaluate the expression anyway. Evaluating the
11229 expression may still be impossible for other reasons, such as accessing
11230 memory that the process does not own (a typical example from many Unix
11231 systems).
11232
11233 @item show range
11234 Show the current setting of the range checker, and whether or not it is
11235 being set automatically by @value{GDBN}.
11236 @end table
11237
11238 @node Supported Languages
11239 @section Supported Languages
11240
11241 @value{GDBN} supports C, C@t{++}, D, Objective-C, Fortran, Java, Pascal,
11242 assembly, Modula-2, and Ada.
11243 @c This is false ...
11244 Some @value{GDBN} features may be used in expressions regardless of the
11245 language you use: the @value{GDBN} @code{@@} and @code{::} operators,
11246 and the @samp{@{type@}addr} construct (@pxref{Expressions,
11247 ,Expressions}) can be used with the constructs of any supported
11248 language.
11249
11250 The following sections detail to what degree each source language is
11251 supported by @value{GDBN}. These sections are not meant to be language
11252 tutorials or references, but serve only as a reference guide to what the
11253 @value{GDBN} expression parser accepts, and what input and output
11254 formats should look like for different languages. There are many good
11255 books written on each of these languages; please look to these for a
11256 language reference or tutorial.
11257
11258 @menu
11259 * C:: C and C@t{++}
11260 * D:: D
11261 * Objective-C:: Objective-C
11262 * Fortran:: Fortran
11263 * Pascal:: Pascal
11264 * Modula-2:: Modula-2
11265 * Ada:: Ada
11266 @end menu
11267
11268 @node C
11269 @subsection C and C@t{++}
11270
11271 @cindex C and C@t{++}
11272 @cindex expressions in C or C@t{++}
11273
11274 Since C and C@t{++} are so closely related, many features of @value{GDBN} apply
11275 to both languages. Whenever this is the case, we discuss those languages
11276 together.
11277
11278 @cindex C@t{++}
11279 @cindex @code{g++}, @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler
11280 @cindex @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
11281 The C@t{++} debugging facilities are jointly implemented by the C@t{++}
11282 compiler and @value{GDBN}. Therefore, to debug your C@t{++} code
11283 effectively, you must compile your C@t{++} programs with a supported
11284 C@t{++} compiler, such as @sc{gnu} @code{g++}, or the HP ANSI C@t{++}
11285 compiler (@code{aCC}).
11286
11287 For best results when using @sc{gnu} C@t{++}, use the DWARF 2 debugging
11288 format; if it doesn't work on your system, try the stabs+ debugging
11289 format. You can select those formats explicitly with the @code{g++}
11290 command-line options @option{-gdwarf-2} and @option{-gstabs+}.
11291 @xref{Debugging Options,,Options for Debugging Your Program or GCC,
11292 gcc.info, Using the @sc{gnu} Compiler Collection (GCC)}.
11293
11294 @menu
11295 * C Operators:: C and C@t{++} operators
11296 * C Constants:: C and C@t{++} constants
11297 * C Plus Plus Expressions:: C@t{++} expressions
11298 * C Defaults:: Default settings for C and C@t{++}
11299 * C Checks:: C and C@t{++} type and range checks
11300 * Debugging C:: @value{GDBN} and C
11301 * Debugging C Plus Plus:: @value{GDBN} features for C@t{++}
11302 * Decimal Floating Point:: Numbers in Decimal Floating Point format
11303 @end menu
11304
11305 @node C Operators
11306 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Operators
11307
11308 @cindex C and C@t{++} operators
11309
11310 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
11311 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
11312 often defined on groups of types.
11313
11314 For the purposes of C and C@t{++}, the following definitions hold:
11315
11316 @itemize @bullet
11317
11318 @item
11319 @emph{Integral types} include @code{int} with any of its storage-class
11320 specifiers; @code{char}; @code{enum}; and, for C@t{++}, @code{bool}.
11321
11322 @item
11323 @emph{Floating-point types} include @code{float}, @code{double}, and
11324 @code{long double} (if supported by the target platform).
11325
11326 @item
11327 @emph{Pointer types} include all types defined as @code{(@var{type} *)}.
11328
11329 @item
11330 @emph{Scalar types} include all of the above.
11331
11332 @end itemize
11333
11334 @noindent
11335 The following operators are supported. They are listed here
11336 in order of increasing precedence:
11337
11338 @table @code
11339 @item ,
11340 The comma or sequencing operator. Expressions in a comma-separated list
11341 are evaluated from left to right, with the result of the entire
11342 expression being the last expression evaluated.
11343
11344 @item =
11345 Assignment. The value of an assignment expression is the value
11346 assigned. Defined on scalar types.
11347
11348 @item @var{op}=
11349 Used in an expression of the form @w{@code{@var{a} @var{op}= @var{b}}},
11350 and translated to @w{@code{@var{a} = @var{a op b}}}.
11351 @w{@code{@var{op}=}} and @code{=} have the same precedence.
11352 @var{op} is any one of the operators @code{|}, @code{^}, @code{&},
11353 @code{<<}, @code{>>}, @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{%}.
11354
11355 @item ?:
11356 The ternary operator. @code{@var{a} ? @var{b} : @var{c}} can be thought
11357 of as: if @var{a} then @var{b} else @var{c}. @var{a} should be of an
11358 integral type.
11359
11360 @item ||
11361 Logical @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
11362
11363 @item &&
11364 Logical @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
11365
11366 @item |
11367 Bitwise @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
11368
11369 @item ^
11370 Bitwise exclusive-@sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
11371
11372 @item &
11373 Bitwise @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
11374
11375 @item ==@r{, }!=
11376 Equality and inequality. Defined on scalar types. The value of these
11377 expressions is 0 for false and non-zero for true.
11378
11379 @item <@r{, }>@r{, }<=@r{, }>=
11380 Less than, greater than, less than or equal, greater than or equal.
11381 Defined on scalar types. The value of these expressions is 0 for false
11382 and non-zero for true.
11383
11384 @item <<@r{, }>>
11385 left shift, and right shift. Defined on integral types.
11386
11387 @item @@
11388 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
11389
11390 @item +@r{, }-
11391 Addition and subtraction. Defined on integral types, floating-point types and
11392 pointer types.
11393
11394 @item *@r{, }/@r{, }%
11395 Multiplication, division, and modulus. Multiplication and division are
11396 defined on integral and floating-point types. Modulus is defined on
11397 integral types.
11398
11399 @item ++@r{, }--
11400 Increment and decrement. When appearing before a variable, the
11401 operation is performed before the variable is used in an expression;
11402 when appearing after it, the variable's value is used before the
11403 operation takes place.
11404
11405 @item *
11406 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types. Same precedence as
11407 @code{++}.
11408
11409 @item &
11410 Address operator. Defined on variables. Same precedence as @code{++}.
11411
11412 For debugging C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} implements a use of @samp{&} beyond what is
11413 allowed in the C@t{++} language itself: you can use @samp{&(&@var{ref})}
11414 to examine the address
11415 where a C@t{++} reference variable (declared with @samp{&@var{ref}}) is
11416 stored.
11417
11418 @item -
11419 Negative. Defined on integral and floating-point types. Same
11420 precedence as @code{++}.
11421
11422 @item !
11423 Logical negation. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
11424 @code{++}.
11425
11426 @item ~
11427 Bitwise complement operator. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
11428 @code{++}.
11429
11430
11431 @item .@r{, }->
11432 Structure member, and pointer-to-structure member. For convenience,
11433 @value{GDBN} regards the two as equivalent, choosing whether to dereference a
11434 pointer based on the stored type information.
11435 Defined on @code{struct} and @code{union} data.
11436
11437 @item .*@r{, }->*
11438 Dereferences of pointers to members.
11439
11440 @item []
11441 Array indexing. @code{@var{a}[@var{i}]} is defined as
11442 @code{*(@var{a}+@var{i})}. Same precedence as @code{->}.
11443
11444 @item ()
11445 Function parameter list. Same precedence as @code{->}.
11446
11447 @item ::
11448 C@t{++} scope resolution operator. Defined on @code{struct}, @code{union},
11449 and @code{class} types.
11450
11451 @item ::
11452 Doubled colons also represent the @value{GDBN} scope operator
11453 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). Same precedence as @code{::},
11454 above.
11455 @end table
11456
11457 If an operator is redefined in the user code, @value{GDBN} usually
11458 attempts to invoke the redefined version instead of using the operator's
11459 predefined meaning.
11460
11461 @node C Constants
11462 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Constants
11463
11464 @cindex C and C@t{++} constants
11465
11466 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of C and C@t{++} in the
11467 following ways:
11468
11469 @itemize @bullet
11470 @item
11471 Integer constants are a sequence of digits. Octal constants are
11472 specified by a leading @samp{0} (i.e.@: zero), and hexadecimal constants
11473 by a leading @samp{0x} or @samp{0X}. Constants may also end with a letter
11474 @samp{l}, specifying that the constant should be treated as a
11475 @code{long} value.
11476
11477 @item
11478 Floating point constants are a sequence of digits, followed by a decimal
11479 point, followed by a sequence of digits, and optionally followed by an
11480 exponent. An exponent is of the form:
11481 @samp{@w{e@r{[[}+@r{]|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}}, where @var{nnn} is another
11482 sequence of digits. The @samp{+} is optional for positive exponents.
11483 A floating-point constant may also end with a letter @samp{f} or
11484 @samp{F}, specifying that the constant should be treated as being of
11485 the @code{float} (as opposed to the default @code{double}) type; or with
11486 a letter @samp{l} or @samp{L}, which specifies a @code{long double}
11487 constant.
11488
11489 @item
11490 Enumerated constants consist of enumerated identifiers, or their
11491 integral equivalents.
11492
11493 @item
11494 Character constants are a single character surrounded by single quotes
11495 (@code{'}), or a number---the ordinal value of the corresponding character
11496 (usually its @sc{ascii} value). Within quotes, the single character may
11497 be represented by a letter or by @dfn{escape sequences}, which are of
11498 the form @samp{\@var{nnn}}, where @var{nnn} is the octal representation
11499 of the character's ordinal value; or of the form @samp{\@var{x}}, where
11500 @samp{@var{x}} is a predefined special character---for example,
11501 @samp{\n} for newline.
11502
11503 @item
11504 String constants are a sequence of character constants surrounded by
11505 double quotes (@code{"}). Any valid character constant (as described
11506 above) may appear. Double quotes within the string must be preceded by
11507 a backslash, so for instance @samp{"a\"b'c"} is a string of five
11508 characters.
11509
11510 @item
11511 Pointer constants are an integral value. You can also write pointers
11512 to constants using the C operator @samp{&}.
11513
11514 @item
11515 Array constants are comma-separated lists surrounded by braces @samp{@{}
11516 and @samp{@}}; for example, @samp{@{1,2,3@}} is a three-element array of
11517 integers, @samp{@{@{1,2@}, @{3,4@}, @{5,6@}@}} is a three-by-two array,
11518 and @samp{@{&"hi", &"there", &"fred"@}} is a three-element array of pointers.
11519 @end itemize
11520
11521 @node C Plus Plus Expressions
11522 @subsubsection C@t{++} Expressions
11523
11524 @cindex expressions in C@t{++}
11525 @value{GDBN} expression handling can interpret most C@t{++} expressions.
11526
11527 @cindex debugging C@t{++} programs
11528 @cindex C@t{++} compilers
11529 @cindex debug formats and C@t{++}
11530 @cindex @value{NGCC} and C@t{++}
11531 @quotation
11532 @emph{Warning:} @value{GDBN} can only debug C@t{++} code if you use the
11533 proper compiler and the proper debug format. Currently, @value{GDBN}
11534 works best when debugging C@t{++} code that is compiled with
11535 @value{NGCC} 2.95.3 or with @value{NGCC} 3.1 or newer, using the options
11536 @option{-gdwarf-2} or @option{-gstabs+}. DWARF 2 is preferred over
11537 stabs+. Most configurations of @value{NGCC} emit either DWARF 2 or
11538 stabs+ as their default debug format, so you usually don't need to
11539 specify a debug format explicitly. Other compilers and/or debug formats
11540 are likely to work badly or not at all when using @value{GDBN} to debug
11541 C@t{++} code.
11542 @end quotation
11543
11544 @enumerate
11545
11546 @cindex member functions
11547 @item
11548 Member function calls are allowed; you can use expressions like
11549
11550 @smallexample
11551 count = aml->GetOriginal(x, y)
11552 @end smallexample
11553
11554 @vindex this@r{, inside C@t{++} member functions}
11555 @cindex namespace in C@t{++}
11556 @item
11557 While a member function is active (in the selected stack frame), your
11558 expressions have the same namespace available as the member function;
11559 that is, @value{GDBN} allows implicit references to the class instance
11560 pointer @code{this} following the same rules as C@t{++}.
11561
11562 @cindex call overloaded functions
11563 @cindex overloaded functions, calling
11564 @cindex type conversions in C@t{++}
11565 @item
11566 You can call overloaded functions; @value{GDBN} resolves the function
11567 call to the right definition, with some restrictions. @value{GDBN} does not
11568 perform overload resolution involving user-defined type conversions,
11569 calls to constructors, or instantiations of templates that do not exist
11570 in the program. It also cannot handle ellipsis argument lists or
11571 default arguments.
11572
11573 It does perform integral conversions and promotions, floating-point
11574 promotions, arithmetic conversions, pointer conversions, conversions of
11575 class objects to base classes, and standard conversions such as those of
11576 functions or arrays to pointers; it requires an exact match on the
11577 number of function arguments.
11578
11579 Overload resolution is always performed, unless you have specified
11580 @code{set overload-resolution off}. @xref{Debugging C Plus Plus,
11581 ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
11582
11583 You must specify @code{set overload-resolution off} in order to use an
11584 explicit function signature to call an overloaded function, as in
11585 @smallexample
11586 p 'foo(char,int)'('x', 13)
11587 @end smallexample
11588
11589 The @value{GDBN} command-completion facility can simplify this;
11590 see @ref{Completion, ,Command Completion}.
11591
11592 @cindex reference declarations
11593 @item
11594 @value{GDBN} understands variables declared as C@t{++} references; you can use
11595 them in expressions just as you do in C@t{++} source---they are automatically
11596 dereferenced.
11597
11598 In the parameter list shown when @value{GDBN} displays a frame, the values of
11599 reference variables are not displayed (unlike other variables); this
11600 avoids clutter, since references are often used for large structures.
11601 The @emph{address} of a reference variable is always shown, unless
11602 you have specified @samp{set print address off}.
11603
11604 @item
11605 @value{GDBN} supports the C@t{++} name resolution operator @code{::}---your
11606 expressions can use it just as expressions in your program do. Since
11607 one scope may be defined in another, you can use @code{::} repeatedly if
11608 necessary, for example in an expression like
11609 @samp{@var{scope1}::@var{scope2}::@var{name}}. @value{GDBN} also allows
11610 resolving name scope by reference to source files, in both C and C@t{++}
11611 debugging (@pxref{Variables, ,Program Variables}).
11612 @end enumerate
11613
11614 In addition, when used with HP's C@t{++} compiler, @value{GDBN} supports
11615 calling virtual functions correctly, printing out virtual bases of
11616 objects, calling functions in a base subobject, casting objects, and
11617 invoking user-defined operators.
11618
11619 @node C Defaults
11620 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Defaults
11621
11622 @cindex C and C@t{++} defaults
11623
11624 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set type and range checking automatically, they
11625 both default to @code{off} whenever the working language changes to
11626 C or C@t{++}. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
11627 selects the working language.
11628
11629 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, it
11630 recognizes source files whose names end with @file{.c}, @file{.C}, or
11631 @file{.cc}, etc, and when @value{GDBN} enters code compiled from one of
11632 these files, it sets the working language to C or C@t{++}.
11633 @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language},
11634 for further details.
11635
11636 @c Type checking is (a) primarily motivated by Modula-2, and (b)
11637 @c unimplemented. If (b) changes, it might make sense to let this node
11638 @c appear even if Mod-2 does not, but meanwhile ignore it. roland 16jul93.
11639
11640 @node C Checks
11641 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Type and Range Checks
11642
11643 @cindex C and C@t{++} checks
11644
11645 By default, when @value{GDBN} parses C or C@t{++} expressions, type checking
11646 is not used. However, if you turn type checking on, @value{GDBN}
11647 considers two variables type equivalent if:
11648
11649 @itemize @bullet
11650 @item
11651 The two variables are structured and have the same structure, union, or
11652 enumerated tag.
11653
11654 @item
11655 The two variables have the same type name, or types that have been
11656 declared equivalent through @code{typedef}.
11657
11658 @ignore
11659 @c leaving this out because neither J Gilmore nor R Pesch understand it.
11660 @c FIXME--beers?
11661 @item
11662 The two @code{struct}, @code{union}, or @code{enum} variables are
11663 declared in the same declaration. (Note: this may not be true for all C
11664 compilers.)
11665 @end ignore
11666 @end itemize
11667
11668 Range checking, if turned on, is done on mathematical operations. Array
11669 indices are not checked, since they are often used to index a pointer
11670 that is not itself an array.
11671
11672 @node Debugging C
11673 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and C
11674
11675 The @code{set print union} and @code{show print union} commands apply to
11676 the @code{union} type. When set to @samp{on}, any @code{union} that is
11677 inside a @code{struct} or @code{class} is also printed. Otherwise, it
11678 appears as @samp{@{...@}}.
11679
11680 The @code{@@} operator aids in the debugging of dynamic arrays, formed
11681 with pointers and a memory allocation function. @xref{Expressions,
11682 ,Expressions}.
11683
11684 @node Debugging C Plus Plus
11685 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}
11686
11687 @cindex commands for C@t{++}
11688
11689 Some @value{GDBN} commands are particularly useful with C@t{++}, and some are
11690 designed specifically for use with C@t{++}. Here is a summary:
11691
11692 @table @code
11693 @cindex break in overloaded functions
11694 @item @r{breakpoint menus}
11695 When you want a breakpoint in a function whose name is overloaded,
11696 @value{GDBN} has the capability to display a menu of possible breakpoint
11697 locations to help you specify which function definition you want.
11698 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}.
11699
11700 @cindex overloading in C@t{++}
11701 @item rbreak @var{regex}
11702 Setting breakpoints using regular expressions is helpful for setting
11703 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
11704 classes.
11705 @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
11706
11707 @cindex C@t{++} exception handling
11708 @item catch throw
11709 @itemx catch catch
11710 Debug C@t{++} exception handling using these commands. @xref{Set
11711 Catchpoints, , Setting Catchpoints}.
11712
11713 @cindex inheritance
11714 @item ptype @var{typename}
11715 Print inheritance relationships as well as other information for type
11716 @var{typename}.
11717 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
11718
11719 @cindex C@t{++} symbol display
11720 @item set print demangle
11721 @itemx show print demangle
11722 @itemx set print asm-demangle
11723 @itemx show print asm-demangle
11724 Control whether C@t{++} symbols display in their source form, both when
11725 displaying code as C@t{++} source and when displaying disassemblies.
11726 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
11727
11728 @item set print object
11729 @itemx show print object
11730 Choose whether to print derived (actual) or declared types of objects.
11731 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
11732
11733 @item set print vtbl
11734 @itemx show print vtbl
11735 Control the format for printing virtual function tables.
11736 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
11737 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
11738 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
11739
11740 @kindex set overload-resolution
11741 @cindex overloaded functions, overload resolution
11742 @item set overload-resolution on
11743 Enable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. The default
11744 is on. For overloaded functions, @value{GDBN} evaluates the arguments
11745 and searches for a function whose signature matches the argument types,
11746 using the standard C@t{++} conversion rules (see @ref{C Plus Plus
11747 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}, for details).
11748 If it cannot find a match, it emits a message.
11749
11750 @item set overload-resolution off
11751 Disable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. For
11752 overloaded functions that are not class member functions, @value{GDBN}
11753 chooses the first function of the specified name that it finds in the
11754 symbol table, whether or not its arguments are of the correct type. For
11755 overloaded functions that are class member functions, @value{GDBN}
11756 searches for a function whose signature @emph{exactly} matches the
11757 argument types.
11758
11759 @kindex show overload-resolution
11760 @item show overload-resolution
11761 Show the current setting of overload resolution.
11762
11763 @item @r{Overloaded symbol names}
11764 You can specify a particular definition of an overloaded symbol, using
11765 the same notation that is used to declare such symbols in C@t{++}: type
11766 @code{@var{symbol}(@var{types})} rather than just @var{symbol}. You can
11767 also use the @value{GDBN} command-line word completion facilities to list the
11768 available choices, or to finish the type list for you.
11769 @xref{Completion,, Command Completion}, for details on how to do this.
11770 @end table
11771
11772 @node Decimal Floating Point
11773 @subsubsection Decimal Floating Point format
11774 @cindex decimal floating point format
11775
11776 @value{GDBN} can examine, set and perform computations with numbers in
11777 decimal floating point format, which in the C language correspond to the
11778 @code{_Decimal32}, @code{_Decimal64} and @code{_Decimal128} types as
11779 specified by the extension to support decimal floating-point arithmetic.
11780
11781 There are two encodings in use, depending on the architecture: BID (Binary
11782 Integer Decimal) for x86 and x86-64, and DPD (Densely Packed Decimal) for
11783 PowerPC. @value{GDBN} will use the appropriate encoding for the configured
11784 target.
11785
11786 Because of a limitation in @file{libdecnumber}, the library used by @value{GDBN}
11787 to manipulate decimal floating point numbers, it is not possible to convert
11788 (using a cast, for example) integers wider than 32-bit to decimal float.
11789
11790 In addition, in order to imitate @value{GDBN}'s behaviour with binary floating
11791 point computations, error checking in decimal float operations ignores
11792 underflow, overflow and divide by zero exceptions.
11793
11794 In the PowerPC architecture, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers
11795 to inspect @code{_Decimal128} values stored in floating point registers.
11796 See @ref{PowerPC,,PowerPC} for more details.
11797
11798 @node D
11799 @subsection D
11800
11801 @cindex D
11802 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in D and compiled with
11803 GDC, LDC or DMD compilers. Currently @value{GDBN} supports only one D
11804 specific feature --- dynamic arrays.
11805
11806 @node Objective-C
11807 @subsection Objective-C
11808
11809 @cindex Objective-C
11810 This section provides information about some commands and command
11811 options that are useful for debugging Objective-C code. See also
11812 @ref{Symbols, info classes}, and @ref{Symbols, info selectors}, for a
11813 few more commands specific to Objective-C support.
11814
11815 @menu
11816 * Method Names in Commands::
11817 * The Print Command with Objective-C::
11818 @end menu
11819
11820 @node Method Names in Commands
11821 @subsubsection Method Names in Commands
11822
11823 The following commands have been extended to accept Objective-C method
11824 names as line specifications:
11825
11826 @kindex clear@r{, and Objective-C}
11827 @kindex break@r{, and Objective-C}
11828 @kindex info line@r{, and Objective-C}
11829 @kindex jump@r{, and Objective-C}
11830 @kindex list@r{, and Objective-C}
11831 @itemize
11832 @item @code{clear}
11833 @item @code{break}
11834 @item @code{info line}
11835 @item @code{jump}
11836 @item @code{list}
11837 @end itemize
11838
11839 A fully qualified Objective-C method name is specified as
11840
11841 @smallexample
11842 -[@var{Class} @var{methodName}]
11843 @end smallexample
11844
11845 where the minus sign is used to indicate an instance method and a
11846 plus sign (not shown) is used to indicate a class method. The class
11847 name @var{Class} and method name @var{methodName} are enclosed in
11848 brackets, similar to the way messages are specified in Objective-C
11849 source code. For example, to set a breakpoint at the @code{create}
11850 instance method of class @code{Fruit} in the program currently being
11851 debugged, enter:
11852
11853 @smallexample
11854 break -[Fruit create]
11855 @end smallexample
11856
11857 To list ten program lines around the @code{initialize} class method,
11858 enter:
11859
11860 @smallexample
11861 list +[NSText initialize]
11862 @end smallexample
11863
11864 In the current version of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus sign is
11865 required. In future versions of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus
11866 sign will be optional, but you can use it to narrow the search. It
11867 is also possible to specify just a method name:
11868
11869 @smallexample
11870 break create
11871 @end smallexample
11872
11873 You must specify the complete method name, including any colons. If
11874 your program's source files contain more than one @code{create} method,
11875 you'll be presented with a numbered list of classes that implement that
11876 method. Indicate your choice by number, or type @samp{0} to exit if
11877 none apply.
11878
11879 As another example, to clear a breakpoint established at the
11880 @code{makeKeyAndOrderFront:} method of the @code{NSWindow} class, enter:
11881
11882 @smallexample
11883 clear -[NSWindow makeKeyAndOrderFront:]
11884 @end smallexample
11885
11886 @node The Print Command with Objective-C
11887 @subsubsection The Print Command With Objective-C
11888 @cindex Objective-C, print objects
11889 @kindex print-object
11890 @kindex po @r{(@code{print-object})}
11891
11892 The print command has also been extended to accept methods. For example:
11893
11894 @smallexample
11895 print -[@var{object} hash]
11896 @end smallexample
11897
11898 @cindex print an Objective-C object description
11899 @cindex @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, and printing Objective-C objects
11900 @noindent
11901 will tell @value{GDBN} to send the @code{hash} message to @var{object}
11902 and print the result. Also, an additional command has been added,
11903 @code{print-object} or @code{po} for short, which is meant to print
11904 the description of an object. However, this command may only work
11905 with certain Objective-C libraries that have a particular hook
11906 function, @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, defined.
11907
11908 @node Fortran
11909 @subsection Fortran
11910 @cindex Fortran-specific support in @value{GDBN}
11911
11912 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, but it
11913 currently supports only the features of Fortran 77 language.
11914
11915 @cindex trailing underscore, in Fortran symbols
11916 Some Fortran compilers (@sc{gnu} Fortran 77 and Fortran 95 compilers
11917 among them) append an underscore to the names of variables and
11918 functions. When you debug programs compiled by those compilers, you
11919 will need to refer to variables and functions with a trailing
11920 underscore.
11921
11922 @menu
11923 * Fortran Operators:: Fortran operators and expressions
11924 * Fortran Defaults:: Default settings for Fortran
11925 * Special Fortran Commands:: Special @value{GDBN} commands for Fortran
11926 @end menu
11927
11928 @node Fortran Operators
11929 @subsubsection Fortran Operators and Expressions
11930
11931 @cindex Fortran operators and expressions
11932
11933 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
11934 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on characters or other non-
11935 arithmetic types. Operators are often defined on groups of types.
11936
11937 @table @code
11938 @item **
11939 The exponentiation operator. It raises the first operand to the power
11940 of the second one.
11941
11942 @item :
11943 The range operator. Normally used in the form of array(low:high) to
11944 represent a section of array.
11945
11946 @item %
11947 The access component operator. Normally used to access elements in derived
11948 types. Also suitable for unions. As unions aren't part of regular Fortran,
11949 this can only happen when accessing a register that uses a gdbarch-defined
11950 union type.
11951 @end table
11952
11953 @node Fortran Defaults
11954 @subsubsection Fortran Defaults
11955
11956 @cindex Fortran Defaults
11957
11958 Fortran symbols are usually case-insensitive, so @value{GDBN} by
11959 default uses case-insensitive matches for Fortran symbols. You can
11960 change that with the @samp{set case-insensitive} command, see
11961 @ref{Symbols}, for the details.
11962
11963 @node Special Fortran Commands
11964 @subsubsection Special Fortran Commands
11965
11966 @cindex Special Fortran commands
11967
11968 @value{GDBN} has some commands to support Fortran-specific features,
11969 such as displaying common blocks.
11970
11971 @table @code
11972 @cindex @code{COMMON} blocks, Fortran
11973 @kindex info common
11974 @item info common @r{[}@var{common-name}@r{]}
11975 This command prints the values contained in the Fortran @code{COMMON}
11976 block whose name is @var{common-name}. With no argument, the names of
11977 all @code{COMMON} blocks visible at the current program location are
11978 printed.
11979 @end table
11980
11981 @node Pascal
11982 @subsection Pascal
11983
11984 @cindex Pascal support in @value{GDBN}, limitations
11985 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
11986 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
11987 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
11988 syntax.
11989
11990 The Pascal-specific command @code{set print pascal_static-members}
11991 controls whether static members of Pascal objects are displayed.
11992 @xref{Print Settings, pascal_static-members}.
11993
11994 @node Modula-2
11995 @subsection Modula-2
11996
11997 @cindex Modula-2, @value{GDBN} support
11998
11999 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} to support Modula-2 only support
12000 output from the @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler (which is currently being
12001 developed). Other Modula-2 compilers are not currently supported, and
12002 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
12003 to give an error as @value{GDBN} reads in the executable's symbol
12004 table.
12005
12006 @cindex expressions in Modula-2
12007 @menu
12008 * M2 Operators:: Built-in operators
12009 * Built-In Func/Proc:: Built-in functions and procedures
12010 * M2 Constants:: Modula-2 constants
12011 * M2 Types:: Modula-2 types
12012 * M2 Defaults:: Default settings for Modula-2
12013 * Deviations:: Deviations from standard Modula-2
12014 * M2 Checks:: Modula-2 type and range checks
12015 * M2 Scope:: The scope operators @code{::} and @code{.}
12016 * GDB/M2:: @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
12017 @end menu
12018
12019 @node M2 Operators
12020 @subsubsection Operators
12021 @cindex Modula-2 operators
12022
12023 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
12024 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
12025 often defined on groups of types. For the purposes of Modula-2, the
12026 following definitions hold:
12027
12028 @itemize @bullet
12029
12030 @item
12031 @emph{Integral types} consist of @code{INTEGER}, @code{CARDINAL}, and
12032 their subranges.
12033
12034 @item
12035 @emph{Character types} consist of @code{CHAR} and its subranges.
12036
12037 @item
12038 @emph{Floating-point types} consist of @code{REAL}.
12039
12040 @item
12041 @emph{Pointer types} consist of anything declared as @code{POINTER TO
12042 @var{type}}.
12043
12044 @item
12045 @emph{Scalar types} consist of all of the above.
12046
12047 @item
12048 @emph{Set types} consist of @code{SET} and @code{BITSET} types.
12049
12050 @item
12051 @emph{Boolean types} consist of @code{BOOLEAN}.
12052 @end itemize
12053
12054 @noindent
12055 The following operators are supported, and appear in order of
12056 increasing precedence:
12057
12058 @table @code
12059 @item ,
12060 Function argument or array index separator.
12061
12062 @item :=
12063 Assignment. The value of @var{var} @code{:=} @var{value} is
12064 @var{value}.
12065
12066 @item <@r{, }>
12067 Less than, greater than on integral, floating-point, or enumerated
12068 types.
12069
12070 @item <=@r{, }>=
12071 Less than or equal to, greater than or equal to
12072 on integral, floating-point and enumerated types, or set inclusion on
12073 set types. Same precedence as @code{<}.
12074
12075 @item =@r{, }<>@r{, }#
12076 Equality and two ways of expressing inequality, valid on scalar types.
12077 Same precedence as @code{<}. In @value{GDBN} scripts, only @code{<>} is
12078 available for inequality, since @code{#} conflicts with the script
12079 comment character.
12080
12081 @item IN
12082 Set membership. Defined on set types and the types of their members.
12083 Same precedence as @code{<}.
12084
12085 @item OR
12086 Boolean disjunction. Defined on boolean types.
12087
12088 @item AND@r{, }&
12089 Boolean conjunction. Defined on boolean types.
12090
12091 @item @@
12092 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
12093
12094 @item +@r{, }-
12095 Addition and subtraction on integral and floating-point types, or union
12096 and difference on set types.
12097
12098 @item *
12099 Multiplication on integral and floating-point types, or set intersection
12100 on set types.
12101
12102 @item /
12103 Division on floating-point types, or symmetric set difference on set
12104 types. Same precedence as @code{*}.
12105
12106 @item DIV@r{, }MOD
12107 Integer division and remainder. Defined on integral types. Same
12108 precedence as @code{*}.
12109
12110 @item -
12111 Negative. Defined on @code{INTEGER} and @code{REAL} data.
12112
12113 @item ^
12114 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types.
12115
12116 @item NOT
12117 Boolean negation. Defined on boolean types. Same precedence as
12118 @code{^}.
12119
12120 @item .
12121 @code{RECORD} field selector. Defined on @code{RECORD} data. Same
12122 precedence as @code{^}.
12123
12124 @item []
12125 Array indexing. Defined on @code{ARRAY} data. Same precedence as @code{^}.
12126
12127 @item ()
12128 Procedure argument list. Defined on @code{PROCEDURE} objects. Same precedence
12129 as @code{^}.
12130
12131 @item ::@r{, }.
12132 @value{GDBN} and Modula-2 scope operators.
12133 @end table
12134
12135 @quotation
12136 @emph{Warning:} Set expressions and their operations are not yet supported, so @value{GDBN}
12137 treats the use of the operator @code{IN}, or the use of operators
12138 @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{=}, , @code{<>}, @code{#},
12139 @code{<=}, and @code{>=} on sets as an error.
12140 @end quotation
12141
12142
12143 @node Built-In Func/Proc
12144 @subsubsection Built-in Functions and Procedures
12145 @cindex Modula-2 built-ins
12146
12147 Modula-2 also makes available several built-in procedures and functions.
12148 In describing these, the following metavariables are used:
12149
12150 @table @var
12151
12152 @item a
12153 represents an @code{ARRAY} variable.
12154
12155 @item c
12156 represents a @code{CHAR} constant or variable.
12157
12158 @item i
12159 represents a variable or constant of integral type.
12160
12161 @item m
12162 represents an identifier that belongs to a set. Generally used in the
12163 same function with the metavariable @var{s}. The type of @var{s} should
12164 be @code{SET OF @var{mtype}} (where @var{mtype} is the type of @var{m}).
12165
12166 @item n
12167 represents a variable or constant of integral or floating-point type.
12168
12169 @item r
12170 represents a variable or constant of floating-point type.
12171
12172 @item t
12173 represents a type.
12174
12175 @item v
12176 represents a variable.
12177
12178 @item x
12179 represents a variable or constant of one of many types. See the
12180 explanation of the function for details.
12181 @end table
12182
12183 All Modula-2 built-in procedures also return a result, described below.
12184
12185 @table @code
12186 @item ABS(@var{n})
12187 Returns the absolute value of @var{n}.
12188
12189 @item CAP(@var{c})
12190 If @var{c} is a lower case letter, it returns its upper case
12191 equivalent, otherwise it returns its argument.
12192
12193 @item CHR(@var{i})
12194 Returns the character whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
12195
12196 @item DEC(@var{v})
12197 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
12198
12199 @item DEC(@var{v},@var{i})
12200 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
12201 new value.
12202
12203 @item EXCL(@var{m},@var{s})
12204 Removes the element @var{m} from the set @var{s}. Returns the new
12205 set.
12206
12207 @item FLOAT(@var{i})
12208 Returns the floating point equivalent of the integer @var{i}.
12209
12210 @item HIGH(@var{a})
12211 Returns the index of the last member of @var{a}.
12212
12213 @item INC(@var{v})
12214 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
12215
12216 @item INC(@var{v},@var{i})
12217 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
12218 new value.
12219
12220 @item INCL(@var{m},@var{s})
12221 Adds the element @var{m} to the set @var{s} if it is not already
12222 there. Returns the new set.
12223
12224 @item MAX(@var{t})
12225 Returns the maximum value of the type @var{t}.
12226
12227 @item MIN(@var{t})
12228 Returns the minimum value of the type @var{t}.
12229
12230 @item ODD(@var{i})
12231 Returns boolean TRUE if @var{i} is an odd number.
12232
12233 @item ORD(@var{x})
12234 Returns the ordinal value of its argument. For example, the ordinal
12235 value of a character is its @sc{ascii} value (on machines supporting the
12236 @sc{ascii} character set). @var{x} must be of an ordered type, which include
12237 integral, character and enumerated types.
12238
12239 @item SIZE(@var{x})
12240 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
12241
12242 @item TRUNC(@var{r})
12243 Returns the integral part of @var{r}.
12244
12245 @item TSIZE(@var{x})
12246 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
12247
12248 @item VAL(@var{t},@var{i})
12249 Returns the member of the type @var{t} whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
12250 @end table
12251
12252 @quotation
12253 @emph{Warning:} Sets and their operations are not yet supported, so
12254 @value{GDBN} treats the use of procedures @code{INCL} and @code{EXCL} as
12255 an error.
12256 @end quotation
12257
12258 @cindex Modula-2 constants
12259 @node M2 Constants
12260 @subsubsection Constants
12261
12262 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of Modula-2 in the following
12263 ways:
12264
12265 @itemize @bullet
12266
12267 @item
12268 Integer constants are simply a sequence of digits. When used in an
12269 expression, a constant is interpreted to be type-compatible with the
12270 rest of the expression. Hexadecimal integers are specified by a
12271 trailing @samp{H}, and octal integers by a trailing @samp{B}.
12272
12273 @item
12274 Floating point constants appear as a sequence of digits, followed by a
12275 decimal point and another sequence of digits. An optional exponent can
12276 then be specified, in the form @samp{E@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}, where
12277 @samp{@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}} is the desired exponent. All of the
12278 digits of the floating point constant must be valid decimal (base 10)
12279 digits.
12280
12281 @item
12282 Character constants consist of a single character enclosed by a pair of
12283 like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}). They may
12284 also be expressed by their ordinal value (their @sc{ascii} value, usually)
12285 followed by a @samp{C}.
12286
12287 @item
12288 String constants consist of a sequence of characters enclosed by a
12289 pair of like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}).
12290 Escape sequences in the style of C are also allowed. @xref{C
12291 Constants, ,C and C@t{++} Constants}, for a brief explanation of escape
12292 sequences.
12293
12294 @item
12295 Enumerated constants consist of an enumerated identifier.
12296
12297 @item
12298 Boolean constants consist of the identifiers @code{TRUE} and
12299 @code{FALSE}.
12300
12301 @item
12302 Pointer constants consist of integral values only.
12303
12304 @item
12305 Set constants are not yet supported.
12306 @end itemize
12307
12308 @node M2 Types
12309 @subsubsection Modula-2 Types
12310 @cindex Modula-2 types
12311
12312 Currently @value{GDBN} can print the following data types in Modula-2
12313 syntax: array types, record types, set types, pointer types, procedure
12314 types, enumerated types, subrange types and base types. You can also
12315 print the contents of variables declared using these type.
12316 This section gives a number of simple source code examples together with
12317 sample @value{GDBN} sessions.
12318
12319 The first example contains the following section of code:
12320
12321 @smallexample
12322 VAR
12323 s: SET OF CHAR ;
12324 r: [20..40] ;
12325 @end smallexample
12326
12327 @noindent
12328 and you can request @value{GDBN} to interrogate the type and value of
12329 @code{r} and @code{s}.
12330
12331 @smallexample
12332 (@value{GDBP}) print s
12333 @{'A'..'C', 'Z'@}
12334 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
12335 SET OF CHAR
12336 (@value{GDBP}) print r
12337 21
12338 (@value{GDBP}) ptype r
12339 [20..40]
12340 @end smallexample
12341
12342 @noindent
12343 Likewise if your source code declares @code{s} as:
12344
12345 @smallexample
12346 VAR
12347 s: SET ['A'..'Z'] ;
12348 @end smallexample
12349
12350 @noindent
12351 then you may query the type of @code{s} by:
12352
12353 @smallexample
12354 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
12355 type = SET ['A'..'Z']
12356 @end smallexample
12357
12358 @noindent
12359 Note that at present you cannot interactively manipulate set
12360 expressions using the debugger.
12361
12362 The following example shows how you might declare an array in Modula-2
12363 and how you can interact with @value{GDBN} to print its type and contents:
12364
12365 @smallexample
12366 VAR
12367 s: ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR ;
12368 @end smallexample
12369
12370 @smallexample
12371 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
12372 ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR
12373 @end smallexample
12374
12375 Note that the array handling is not yet complete and although the type
12376 is printed correctly, expression handling still assumes that all
12377 arrays have a lower bound of zero and not @code{-10} as in the example
12378 above.
12379
12380 Here are some more type related Modula-2 examples:
12381
12382 @smallexample
12383 TYPE
12384 colour = (blue, red, yellow, green) ;
12385 t = [blue..yellow] ;
12386 VAR
12387 s: t ;
12388 BEGIN
12389 s := blue ;
12390 @end smallexample
12391
12392 @noindent
12393 The @value{GDBN} interaction shows how you can query the data type
12394 and value of a variable.
12395
12396 @smallexample
12397 (@value{GDBP}) print s
12398 $1 = blue
12399 (@value{GDBP}) ptype t
12400 type = [blue..yellow]
12401 @end smallexample
12402
12403 @noindent
12404 In this example a Modula-2 array is declared and its contents
12405 displayed. Observe that the contents are written in the same way as
12406 their @code{C} counterparts.
12407
12408 @smallexample
12409 VAR
12410 s: ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
12411 BEGIN
12412 s[1] := 1 ;
12413 @end smallexample
12414
12415 @smallexample
12416 (@value{GDBP}) print s
12417 $1 = @{1, 0, 0, 0, 0@}
12418 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
12419 type = ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
12420 @end smallexample
12421
12422 The Modula-2 language interface to @value{GDBN} also understands
12423 pointer types as shown in this example:
12424
12425 @smallexample
12426 VAR
12427 s: POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
12428 BEGIN
12429 NEW(s) ;
12430 s^[1] := 1 ;
12431 @end smallexample
12432
12433 @noindent
12434 and you can request that @value{GDBN} describes the type of @code{s}.
12435
12436 @smallexample
12437 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
12438 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
12439 @end smallexample
12440
12441 @value{GDBN} handles compound types as we can see in this example.
12442 Here we combine array types, record types, pointer types and subrange
12443 types:
12444
12445 @smallexample
12446 TYPE
12447 foo = RECORD
12448 f1: CARDINAL ;
12449 f2: CHAR ;
12450 f3: myarray ;
12451 END ;
12452
12453 myarray = ARRAY myrange OF CARDINAL ;
12454 myrange = [-2..2] ;
12455 VAR
12456 s: POINTER TO ARRAY myrange OF foo ;
12457 @end smallexample
12458
12459 @noindent
12460 and you can ask @value{GDBN} to describe the type of @code{s} as shown
12461 below.
12462
12463 @smallexample
12464 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
12465 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [-2..2] OF foo = RECORD
12466 f1 : CARDINAL;
12467 f2 : CHAR;
12468 f3 : ARRAY [-2..2] OF CARDINAL;
12469 END
12470 @end smallexample
12471
12472 @node M2 Defaults
12473 @subsubsection Modula-2 Defaults
12474 @cindex Modula-2 defaults
12475
12476 If type and range checking are set automatically by @value{GDBN}, they
12477 both default to @code{on} whenever the working language changes to
12478 Modula-2. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
12479 selected the working language.
12480
12481 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, then entering
12482 code compiled from a file whose name ends with @file{.mod} sets the
12483 working language to Modula-2. @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN}
12484 Infer the Source Language}, for further details.
12485
12486 @node Deviations
12487 @subsubsection Deviations from Standard Modula-2
12488 @cindex Modula-2, deviations from
12489
12490 A few changes have been made to make Modula-2 programs easier to debug.
12491 This is done primarily via loosening its type strictness:
12492
12493 @itemize @bullet
12494 @item
12495 Unlike in standard Modula-2, pointer constants can be formed by
12496 integers. This allows you to modify pointer variables during
12497 debugging. (In standard Modula-2, the actual address contained in a
12498 pointer variable is hidden from you; it can only be modified
12499 through direct assignment to another pointer variable or expression that
12500 returned a pointer.)
12501
12502 @item
12503 C escape sequences can be used in strings and characters to represent
12504 non-printable characters. @value{GDBN} prints out strings with these
12505 escape sequences embedded. Single non-printable characters are
12506 printed using the @samp{CHR(@var{nnn})} format.
12507
12508 @item
12509 The assignment operator (@code{:=}) returns the value of its right-hand
12510 argument.
12511
12512 @item
12513 All built-in procedures both modify @emph{and} return their argument.
12514 @end itemize
12515
12516 @node M2 Checks
12517 @subsubsection Modula-2 Type and Range Checks
12518 @cindex Modula-2 checks
12519
12520 @quotation
12521 @emph{Warning:} in this release, @value{GDBN} does not yet perform type or
12522 range checking.
12523 @end quotation
12524 @c FIXME remove warning when type/range checks added
12525
12526 @value{GDBN} considers two Modula-2 variables type equivalent if:
12527
12528 @itemize @bullet
12529 @item
12530 They are of types that have been declared equivalent via a @code{TYPE
12531 @var{t1} = @var{t2}} statement
12532
12533 @item
12534 They have been declared on the same line. (Note: This is true of the
12535 @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler, but it may not be true of other compilers.)
12536 @end itemize
12537
12538 As long as type checking is enabled, any attempt to combine variables
12539 whose types are not equivalent is an error.
12540
12541 Range checking is done on all mathematical operations, assignment, array
12542 index bounds, and all built-in functions and procedures.
12543
12544 @node M2 Scope
12545 @subsubsection The Scope Operators @code{::} and @code{.}
12546 @cindex scope
12547 @cindex @code{.}, Modula-2 scope operator
12548 @cindex colon, doubled as scope operator
12549 @ifinfo
12550 @vindex colon-colon@r{, in Modula-2}
12551 @c Info cannot handle :: but TeX can.
12552 @end ifinfo
12553 @ifnotinfo
12554 @vindex ::@r{, in Modula-2}
12555 @end ifnotinfo
12556
12557 There are a few subtle differences between the Modula-2 scope operator
12558 (@code{.}) and the @value{GDBN} scope operator (@code{::}). The two have
12559 similar syntax:
12560
12561 @smallexample
12562
12563 @var{module} . @var{id}
12564 @var{scope} :: @var{id}
12565 @end smallexample
12566
12567 @noindent
12568 where @var{scope} is the name of a module or a procedure,
12569 @var{module} the name of a module, and @var{id} is any declared
12570 identifier within your program, except another module.
12571
12572 Using the @code{::} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the scope
12573 specified by @var{scope} for the identifier @var{id}. If it is not
12574 found in the specified scope, then @value{GDBN} searches all scopes
12575 enclosing the one specified by @var{scope}.
12576
12577 Using the @code{.} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the current scope for
12578 the identifier specified by @var{id} that was imported from the
12579 definition module specified by @var{module}. With this operator, it is
12580 an error if the identifier @var{id} was not imported from definition
12581 module @var{module}, or if @var{id} is not an identifier in
12582 @var{module}.
12583
12584 @node GDB/M2
12585 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
12586
12587 Some @value{GDBN} commands have little use when debugging Modula-2 programs.
12588 Five subcommands of @code{set print} and @code{show print} apply
12589 specifically to C and C@t{++}: @samp{vtbl}, @samp{demangle},
12590 @samp{asm-demangle}, @samp{object}, and @samp{union}. The first four
12591 apply to C@t{++}, and the last to the C @code{union} type, which has no direct
12592 analogue in Modula-2.
12593
12594 The @code{@@} operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), while available
12595 with any language, is not useful with Modula-2. Its
12596 intent is to aid the debugging of @dfn{dynamic arrays}, which cannot be
12597 created in Modula-2 as they can in C or C@t{++}. However, because an
12598 address can be specified by an integral constant, the construct
12599 @samp{@{@var{type}@}@var{adrexp}} is still useful.
12600
12601 @cindex @code{#} in Modula-2
12602 In @value{GDBN} scripts, the Modula-2 inequality operator @code{#} is
12603 interpreted as the beginning of a comment. Use @code{<>} instead.
12604
12605 @node Ada
12606 @subsection Ada
12607 @cindex Ada
12608
12609 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} for Ada only support
12610 output from the @sc{gnu} Ada (GNAT) compiler.
12611 Other Ada compilers are not currently supported, and
12612 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
12613 to be difficult.
12614
12615
12616 @cindex expressions in Ada
12617 @menu
12618 * Ada Mode Intro:: General remarks on the Ada syntax
12619 and semantics supported by Ada mode
12620 in @value{GDBN}.
12621 * Omissions from Ada:: Restrictions on the Ada expression syntax.
12622 * Additions to Ada:: Extensions of the Ada expression syntax.
12623 * Stopping Before Main Program:: Debugging the program during elaboration.
12624 * Ada Tasks:: Listing and setting breakpoints in tasks.
12625 * Ada Tasks and Core Files:: Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
12626 * Ada Glitches:: Known peculiarities of Ada mode.
12627 @end menu
12628
12629 @node Ada Mode Intro
12630 @subsubsection Introduction
12631 @cindex Ada mode, general
12632
12633 The Ada mode of @value{GDBN} supports a fairly large subset of Ada expression
12634 syntax, with some extensions.
12635 The philosophy behind the design of this subset is
12636
12637 @itemize @bullet
12638 @item
12639 That @value{GDBN} should provide basic literals and access to operations for
12640 arithmetic, dereferencing, field selection, indexing, and subprogram calls,
12641 leaving more sophisticated computations to subprograms written into the
12642 program (which therefore may be called from @value{GDBN}).
12643
12644 @item
12645 That type safety and strict adherence to Ada language restrictions
12646 are not particularly important to the @value{GDBN} user.
12647
12648 @item
12649 That brevity is important to the @value{GDBN} user.
12650 @end itemize
12651
12652 Thus, for brevity, the debugger acts as if all names declared in
12653 user-written packages are directly visible, even if they are not visible
12654 according to Ada rules, thus making it unnecessary to fully qualify most
12655 names with their packages, regardless of context. Where this causes
12656 ambiguity, @value{GDBN} asks the user's intent.
12657
12658 The debugger will start in Ada mode if it detects an Ada main program.
12659 As for other languages, it will enter Ada mode when stopped in a program that
12660 was translated from an Ada source file.
12661
12662 While in Ada mode, you may use `@t{--}' for comments. This is useful
12663 mostly for documenting command files. The standard @value{GDBN} comment
12664 (@samp{#}) still works at the beginning of a line in Ada mode, but not in the
12665 middle (to allow based literals).
12666
12667 The debugger supports limited overloading. Given a subprogram call in which
12668 the function symbol has multiple definitions, it will use the number of
12669 actual parameters and some information about their types to attempt to narrow
12670 the set of definitions. It also makes very limited use of context, preferring
12671 procedures to functions in the context of the @code{call} command, and
12672 functions to procedures elsewhere.
12673
12674 @node Omissions from Ada
12675 @subsubsection Omissions from Ada
12676 @cindex Ada, omissions from
12677
12678 Here are the notable omissions from the subset:
12679
12680 @itemize @bullet
12681 @item
12682 Only a subset of the attributes are supported:
12683
12684 @itemize @minus
12685 @item
12686 @t{'First}, @t{'Last}, and @t{'Length}
12687 on array objects (not on types and subtypes).
12688
12689 @item
12690 @t{'Min} and @t{'Max}.
12691
12692 @item
12693 @t{'Pos} and @t{'Val}.
12694
12695 @item
12696 @t{'Tag}.
12697
12698 @item
12699 @t{'Range} on array objects (not subtypes), but only as the right
12700 operand of the membership (@code{in}) operator.
12701
12702 @item
12703 @t{'Access}, @t{'Unchecked_Access}, and
12704 @t{'Unrestricted_Access} (a GNAT extension).
12705
12706 @item
12707 @t{'Address}.
12708 @end itemize
12709
12710 @item
12711 The names in
12712 @code{Characters.Latin_1} are not available and
12713 concatenation is not implemented. Thus, escape characters in strings are
12714 not currently available.
12715
12716 @item
12717 Equality tests (@samp{=} and @samp{/=}) on arrays test for bitwise
12718 equality of representations. They will generally work correctly
12719 for strings and arrays whose elements have integer or enumeration types.
12720 They may not work correctly for arrays whose element
12721 types have user-defined equality, for arrays of real values
12722 (in particular, IEEE-conformant floating point, because of negative
12723 zeroes and NaNs), and for arrays whose elements contain unused bits with
12724 indeterminate values.
12725
12726 @item
12727 The other component-by-component array operations (@code{and}, @code{or},
12728 @code{xor}, @code{not}, and relational tests other than equality)
12729 are not implemented.
12730
12731 @item
12732 @cindex array aggregates (Ada)
12733 @cindex record aggregates (Ada)
12734 @cindex aggregates (Ada)
12735 There is limited support for array and record aggregates. They are
12736 permitted only on the right sides of assignments, as in these examples:
12737
12738 @smallexample
12739 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
12740 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, others => 0)
12741 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (0|4 => 1, 1..3 => 2, 5 => 6)
12742 (@value{GDBP}) set A_2D_Array := ((1, 2, 3), (4, 5, 6), (7, 8, 9))
12743 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (1, "Peter", True);
12744 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (Name => "Peter", Id => 1, Alive => True)
12745 @end smallexample
12746
12747 Changing a
12748 discriminant's value by assigning an aggregate has an
12749 undefined effect if that discriminant is used within the record.
12750 However, you can first modify discriminants by directly assigning to
12751 them (which normally would not be allowed in Ada), and then performing an
12752 aggregate assignment. For example, given a variable @code{A_Rec}
12753 declared to have a type such as:
12754
12755 @smallexample
12756 type Rec (Len : Small_Integer := 0) is record
12757 Id : Integer;
12758 Vals : IntArray (1 .. Len);
12759 end record;
12760 @end smallexample
12761
12762 you can assign a value with a different size of @code{Vals} with two
12763 assignments:
12764
12765 @smallexample
12766 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec.Len := 4
12767 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec := (Id => 42, Vals => (1, 2, 3, 4))
12768 @end smallexample
12769
12770 As this example also illustrates, @value{GDBN} is very loose about the usual
12771 rules concerning aggregates. You may leave out some of the
12772 components of an array or record aggregate (such as the @code{Len}
12773 component in the assignment to @code{A_Rec} above); they will retain their
12774 original values upon assignment. You may freely use dynamic values as
12775 indices in component associations. You may even use overlapping or
12776 redundant component associations, although which component values are
12777 assigned in such cases is not defined.
12778
12779 @item
12780 Calls to dispatching subprograms are not implemented.
12781
12782 @item
12783 The overloading algorithm is much more limited (i.e., less selective)
12784 than that of real Ada. It makes only limited use of the context in
12785 which a subexpression appears to resolve its meaning, and it is much
12786 looser in its rules for allowing type matches. As a result, some
12787 function calls will be ambiguous, and the user will be asked to choose
12788 the proper resolution.
12789
12790 @item
12791 The @code{new} operator is not implemented.
12792
12793 @item
12794 Entry calls are not implemented.
12795
12796 @item
12797 Aside from printing, arithmetic operations on the native VAX floating-point
12798 formats are not supported.
12799
12800 @item
12801 It is not possible to slice a packed array.
12802
12803 @item
12804 The names @code{True} and @code{False}, when not part of a qualified name,
12805 are interpreted as if implicitly prefixed by @code{Standard}, regardless of
12806 context.
12807 Should your program
12808 redefine these names in a package or procedure (at best a dubious practice),
12809 you will have to use fully qualified names to access their new definitions.
12810 @end itemize
12811
12812 @node Additions to Ada
12813 @subsubsection Additions to Ada
12814 @cindex Ada, deviations from
12815
12816 As it does for other languages, @value{GDBN} makes certain generic
12817 extensions to Ada (@pxref{Expressions}):
12818
12819 @itemize @bullet
12820 @item
12821 If the expression @var{E} is a variable residing in memory (typically
12822 a local variable or array element) and @var{N} is a positive integer,
12823 then @code{@var{E}@@@var{N}} displays the values of @var{E} and the
12824 @var{N}-1 adjacent variables following it in memory as an array. In
12825 Ada, this operator is generally not necessary, since its prime use is
12826 in displaying parts of an array, and slicing will usually do this in
12827 Ada. However, there are occasional uses when debugging programs in
12828 which certain debugging information has been optimized away.
12829
12830 @item
12831 @code{@var{B}::@var{var}} means ``the variable named @var{var} that
12832 appears in function or file @var{B}.'' When @var{B} is a file name,
12833 you must typically surround it in single quotes.
12834
12835 @item
12836 The expression @code{@{@var{type}@} @var{addr}} means ``the variable of type
12837 @var{type} that appears at address @var{addr}.''
12838
12839 @item
12840 A name starting with @samp{$} is a convenience variable
12841 (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) or a machine register (@pxref{Registers}).
12842 @end itemize
12843
12844 In addition, @value{GDBN} provides a few other shortcuts and outright
12845 additions specific to Ada:
12846
12847 @itemize @bullet
12848 @item
12849 The assignment statement is allowed as an expression, returning
12850 its right-hand operand as its value. Thus, you may enter
12851
12852 @smallexample
12853 (@value{GDBP}) set x := y + 3
12854 (@value{GDBP}) print A(tmp := y + 1)
12855 @end smallexample
12856
12857 @item
12858 The semicolon is allowed as an ``operator,'' returning as its value
12859 the value of its right-hand operand.
12860 This allows, for example,
12861 complex conditional breaks:
12862
12863 @smallexample
12864 (@value{GDBP}) break f
12865 (@value{GDBP}) condition 1 (report(i); k += 1; A(k) > 100)
12866 @end smallexample
12867
12868 @item
12869 Rather than use catenation and symbolic character names to introduce special
12870 characters into strings, one may instead use a special bracket notation,
12871 which is also used to print strings. A sequence of characters of the form
12872 @samp{["@var{XX}"]} within a string or character literal denotes the
12873 (single) character whose numeric encoding is @var{XX} in hexadecimal. The
12874 sequence of characters @samp{["""]} also denotes a single quotation mark
12875 in strings. For example,
12876 @smallexample
12877 "One line.["0a"]Next line.["0a"]"
12878 @end smallexample
12879 @noindent
12880 contains an ASCII newline character (@code{Ada.Characters.Latin_1.LF})
12881 after each period.
12882
12883 @item
12884 The subtype used as a prefix for the attributes @t{'Pos}, @t{'Min}, and
12885 @t{'Max} is optional (and is ignored in any case). For example, it is valid
12886 to write
12887
12888 @smallexample
12889 (@value{GDBP}) print 'max(x, y)
12890 @end smallexample
12891
12892 @item
12893 When printing arrays, @value{GDBN} uses positional notation when the
12894 array has a lower bound of 1, and uses a modified named notation otherwise.
12895 For example, a one-dimensional array of three integers with a lower bound
12896 of 3 might print as
12897
12898 @smallexample
12899 (3 => 10, 17, 1)
12900 @end smallexample
12901
12902 @noindent
12903 That is, in contrast to valid Ada, only the first component has a @code{=>}
12904 clause.
12905
12906 @item
12907 You may abbreviate attributes in expressions with any unique,
12908 multi-character subsequence of
12909 their names (an exact match gets preference).
12910 For example, you may use @t{a'len}, @t{a'gth}, or @t{a'lh}
12911 in place of @t{a'length}.
12912
12913 @item
12914 @cindex quoting Ada internal identifiers
12915 Since Ada is case-insensitive, the debugger normally maps identifiers you type
12916 to lower case. The GNAT compiler uses upper-case characters for
12917 some of its internal identifiers, which are normally of no interest to users.
12918 For the rare occasions when you actually have to look at them,
12919 enclose them in angle brackets to avoid the lower-case mapping.
12920 For example,
12921 @smallexample
12922 (@value{GDBP}) print <JMPBUF_SAVE>[0]
12923 @end smallexample
12924
12925 @item
12926 Printing an object of class-wide type or dereferencing an
12927 access-to-class-wide value will display all the components of the object's
12928 specific type (as indicated by its run-time tag). Likewise, component
12929 selection on such a value will operate on the specific type of the
12930 object.
12931
12932 @end itemize
12933
12934 @node Stopping Before Main Program
12935 @subsubsection Stopping at the Very Beginning
12936
12937 @cindex breakpointing Ada elaboration code
12938 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration, and
12939 before reaching the main procedure.
12940 As defined in the Ada Reference
12941 Manual, the elaboration code is invoked from a procedure called
12942 @code{adainit}. To run your program up to the beginning of
12943 elaboration, simply use the following two commands:
12944 @code{tbreak adainit} and @code{run}.
12945
12946 @node Ada Tasks
12947 @subsubsection Extensions for Ada Tasks
12948 @cindex Ada, tasking
12949
12950 Support for Ada tasks is analogous to that for threads (@pxref{Threads}).
12951 @value{GDBN} provides the following task-related commands:
12952
12953 @table @code
12954 @kindex info tasks
12955 @item info tasks
12956 This command shows a list of current Ada tasks, as in the following example:
12957
12958
12959 @smallexample
12960 @iftex
12961 @leftskip=0.5cm
12962 @end iftex
12963 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
12964 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
12965 1 8088000 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
12966 2 80a4000 1 15 Accept Statement b
12967 3 809a800 1 15 Child Activation Wait a
12968 * 4 80ae800 3 15 Runnable c
12969
12970 @end smallexample
12971
12972 @noindent
12973 In this listing, the asterisk before the last task indicates it to be the
12974 task currently being inspected.
12975
12976 @table @asis
12977 @item ID
12978 Represents @value{GDBN}'s internal task number.
12979
12980 @item TID
12981 The Ada task ID.
12982
12983 @item P-ID
12984 The parent's task ID (@value{GDBN}'s internal task number).
12985
12986 @item Pri
12987 The base priority of the task.
12988
12989 @item State
12990 Current state of the task.
12991
12992 @table @code
12993 @item Unactivated
12994 The task has been created but has not been activated. It cannot be
12995 executing.
12996
12997 @item Runnable
12998 The task is not blocked for any reason known to Ada. (It may be waiting
12999 for a mutex, though.) It is conceptually "executing" in normal mode.
13000
13001 @item Terminated
13002 The task is terminated, in the sense of ARM 9.3 (5). Any dependents
13003 that were waiting on terminate alternatives have been awakened and have
13004 terminated themselves.
13005
13006 @item Child Activation Wait
13007 The task is waiting for created tasks to complete activation.
13008
13009 @item Accept Statement
13010 The task is waiting on an accept or selective wait statement.
13011
13012 @item Waiting on entry call
13013 The task is waiting on an entry call.
13014
13015 @item Async Select Wait
13016 The task is waiting to start the abortable part of an asynchronous
13017 select statement.
13018
13019 @item Delay Sleep
13020 The task is waiting on a select statement with only a delay
13021 alternative open.
13022
13023 @item Child Termination Wait
13024 The task is sleeping having completed a master within itself, and is
13025 waiting for the tasks dependent on that master to become terminated or
13026 waiting on a terminate Phase.
13027
13028 @item Wait Child in Term Alt
13029 The task is sleeping waiting for tasks on terminate alternatives to
13030 finish terminating.
13031
13032 @item Accepting RV with @var{taskno}
13033 The task is accepting a rendez-vous with the task @var{taskno}.
13034 @end table
13035
13036 @item Name
13037 Name of the task in the program.
13038
13039 @end table
13040
13041 @kindex info task @var{taskno}
13042 @item info task @var{taskno}
13043 This command shows detailled informations on the specified task, as in
13044 the following example:
13045 @smallexample
13046 @iftex
13047 @leftskip=0.5cm
13048 @end iftex
13049 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
13050 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
13051 1 8077880 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
13052 * 2 807c468 1 15 Runnable task_1
13053 (@value{GDBP}) info task 2
13054 Ada Task: 0x807c468
13055 Name: task_1
13056 Thread: 0x807f378
13057 Parent: 1 (main_task)
13058 Base Priority: 15
13059 State: Runnable
13060 @end smallexample
13061
13062 @item task
13063 @kindex task@r{ (Ada)}
13064 @cindex current Ada task ID
13065 This command prints the ID of the current task.
13066
13067 @smallexample
13068 @iftex
13069 @leftskip=0.5cm
13070 @end iftex
13071 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
13072 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
13073 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
13074 * 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
13075 (@value{GDBP}) task
13076 [Current task is 2]
13077 @end smallexample
13078
13079 @item task @var{taskno}
13080 @cindex Ada task switching
13081 This command is like the @code{thread @var{threadno}}
13082 command (@pxref{Threads}). It switches the context of debugging
13083 from the current task to the given task.
13084
13085 @smallexample
13086 @iftex
13087 @leftskip=0.5cm
13088 @end iftex
13089 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
13090 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
13091 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
13092 * 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
13093 (@value{GDBP}) task 1
13094 [Switching to task 1]
13095 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
13096 (@value{GDBP}) bt
13097 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
13098 #1 0x8056714 in system.os_interface.pthread_cond_wait ()
13099 #2 0x805cb63 in system.task_primitives.operations.sleep ()
13100 #3 0x806153e in system.tasking.stages.activate_tasks ()
13101 #4 0x804aacc in un () at un.adb:5
13102 @end smallexample
13103
13104 @item break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno}
13105 @itemx break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno} if @dots{}
13106 @cindex breakpoints and tasks, in Ada
13107 @cindex task breakpoints, in Ada
13108 @kindex break @dots{} task @var{taskno}@r{ (Ada)}
13109 These commands are like the @code{break @dots{} thread @dots{}}
13110 command (@pxref{Thread Stops}).
13111 @var{linespec} specifies source lines, as described
13112 in @ref{Specify Location}.
13113
13114 Use the qualifier @samp{task @var{taskno}} with a breakpoint command
13115 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
13116 particular Ada task reaches this breakpoint. @var{taskno} is one of the
13117 numeric task identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
13118 column of the @samp{info tasks} display.
13119
13120 If you do not specify @samp{task @var{taskno}} when you set a
13121 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} tasks of your
13122 program.
13123
13124 You can use the @code{task} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
13125 well; in this case, place @samp{task @var{taskno}} before the
13126 breakpoint condition (before the @code{if}).
13127
13128 For example,
13129
13130 @smallexample
13131 @iftex
13132 @leftskip=0.5cm
13133 @end iftex
13134 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
13135 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
13136 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
13137 2 140045060 1 15 Accept/Select Wait t2
13138 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
13139 * 4 140056040 1 15 Runnable t3
13140 (@value{GDBP}) b 15 task 2
13141 Breakpoint 5 at 0x120044cb0: file test_task_debug.adb, line 15.
13142 (@value{GDBP}) cont
13143 Continuing.
13144 task # 1 running
13145 task # 2 running
13146
13147 Breakpoint 5, test_task_debug () at test_task_debug.adb:15
13148 15 flush;
13149 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
13150 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
13151 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
13152 * 2 140045060 1 15 Runnable t2
13153 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
13154 4 140056040 1 15 Delay Sleep t3
13155 @end smallexample
13156 @end table
13157
13158 @node Ada Tasks and Core Files
13159 @subsubsection Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
13160 @cindex Ada tasking and core file debugging
13161
13162 When inspecting a core file, as opposed to debugging a live program,
13163 tasking support may be limited or even unavailable, depending on
13164 the platform being used.
13165 For instance, on x86-linux, the list of tasks is available, but task
13166 switching is not supported. On Tru64, however, task switching will work
13167 as usual.
13168
13169 On certain platforms, including Tru64, the debugger needs to perform some
13170 memory writes in order to provide Ada tasking support. When inspecting
13171 a core file, this means that the core file must be opened with read-write
13172 privileges, using the command @samp{"set write on"} (@pxref{Patching}).
13173 Under these circumstances, you should make a backup copy of the core
13174 file before inspecting it with @value{GDBN}.
13175
13176 @node Ada Glitches
13177 @subsubsection Known Peculiarities of Ada Mode
13178 @cindex Ada, problems
13179
13180 Besides the omissions listed previously (@pxref{Omissions from Ada}),
13181 we know of several problems with and limitations of Ada mode in
13182 @value{GDBN},
13183 some of which will be fixed with planned future releases of the debugger
13184 and the GNU Ada compiler.
13185
13186 @itemize @bullet
13187 @item
13188 Currently, the debugger
13189 has insufficient information to determine whether certain pointers represent
13190 pointers to objects or the objects themselves.
13191 Thus, the user may have to tack an extra @code{.all} after an expression
13192 to get it printed properly.
13193
13194 @item
13195 Static constants that the compiler chooses not to materialize as objects in
13196 storage are invisible to the debugger.
13197
13198 @item
13199 Named parameter associations in function argument lists are ignored (the
13200 argument lists are treated as positional).
13201
13202 @item
13203 Many useful library packages are currently invisible to the debugger.
13204
13205 @item
13206 Fixed-point arithmetic, conversions, input, and output is carried out using
13207 floating-point arithmetic, and may give results that only approximate those on
13208 the host machine.
13209
13210 @item
13211 The GNAT compiler never generates the prefix @code{Standard} for any of
13212 the standard symbols defined by the Ada language. @value{GDBN} knows about
13213 this: it will strip the prefix from names when you use it, and will never
13214 look for a name you have so qualified among local symbols, nor match against
13215 symbols in other packages or subprograms. If you have
13216 defined entities anywhere in your program other than parameters and
13217 local variables whose simple names match names in @code{Standard},
13218 GNAT's lack of qualification here can cause confusion. When this happens,
13219 you can usually resolve the confusion
13220 by qualifying the problematic names with package
13221 @code{Standard} explicitly.
13222 @end itemize
13223
13224 Older versions of the compiler sometimes generate erroneous debugging
13225 information, resulting in the debugger incorrectly printing the value
13226 of affected entities. In some cases, the debugger is able to work
13227 around an issue automatically. In other cases, the debugger is able
13228 to work around the issue, but the work-around has to be specifically
13229 enabled.
13230
13231 @kindex set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
13232 @kindex show ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
13233 @table @code
13234
13235 @item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS on
13236 Configure GDB to strictly follow the GNAT encoding when computing the
13237 value of Ada entities, particularly when @code{PAD} and @code{PAD___XVS}
13238 types are involved (see @code{ada/exp_dbug.ads} in the GCC sources for
13239 a complete description of the encoding used by the GNAT compiler).
13240 This is the default.
13241
13242 @item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS off
13243 This is related to the encoding using by the GNAT compiler. If @value{GDBN}
13244 sometimes prints the wrong value for certain entities, changing @code{ada
13245 trust-PAD-over-XVS} to @code{off} activates a work-around which may fix
13246 the issue. It is always safe to set @code{ada trust-PAD-over-XVS} to
13247 @code{off}, but this incurs a slight performance penalty, so it is
13248 recommended to leave this setting to @code{on} unless necessary.
13249
13250 @end table
13251
13252 @node Unsupported Languages
13253 @section Unsupported Languages
13254
13255 @cindex unsupported languages
13256 @cindex minimal language
13257 In addition to the other fully-supported programming languages,
13258 @value{GDBN} also provides a pseudo-language, called @code{minimal}.
13259 It does not represent a real programming language, but provides a set
13260 of capabilities close to what the C or assembly languages provide.
13261 This should allow most simple operations to be performed while debugging
13262 an application that uses a language currently not supported by @value{GDBN}.
13263
13264 If the language is set to @code{auto}, @value{GDBN} will automatically
13265 select this language if the current frame corresponds to an unsupported
13266 language.
13267
13268 @node Symbols
13269 @chapter Examining the Symbol Table
13270
13271 The commands described in this chapter allow you to inquire about the
13272 symbols (names of variables, functions and types) defined in your
13273 program. This information is inherent in the text of your program and
13274 does not change as your program executes. @value{GDBN} finds it in your
13275 program's symbol table, in the file indicated when you started @value{GDBN}
13276 (@pxref{File Options, ,Choosing Files}), or by one of the
13277 file-management commands (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
13278
13279 @cindex symbol names
13280 @cindex names of symbols
13281 @cindex quoting names
13282 Occasionally, you may need to refer to symbols that contain unusual
13283 characters, which @value{GDBN} ordinarily treats as word delimiters. The
13284 most frequent case is in referring to static variables in other
13285 source files (@pxref{Variables,,Program Variables}). File names
13286 are recorded in object files as debugging symbols, but @value{GDBN} would
13287 ordinarily parse a typical file name, like @file{foo.c}, as the three words
13288 @samp{foo} @samp{.} @samp{c}. To allow @value{GDBN} to recognize
13289 @samp{foo.c} as a single symbol, enclose it in single quotes; for example,
13290
13291 @smallexample
13292 p 'foo.c'::x
13293 @end smallexample
13294
13295 @noindent
13296 looks up the value of @code{x} in the scope of the file @file{foo.c}.
13297
13298 @table @code
13299 @cindex case-insensitive symbol names
13300 @cindex case sensitivity in symbol names
13301 @kindex set case-sensitive
13302 @item set case-sensitive on
13303 @itemx set case-sensitive off
13304 @itemx set case-sensitive auto
13305 Normally, when @value{GDBN} looks up symbols, it matches their names
13306 with case sensitivity determined by the current source language.
13307 Occasionally, you may wish to control that. The command @code{set
13308 case-sensitive} lets you do that by specifying @code{on} for
13309 case-sensitive matches or @code{off} for case-insensitive ones. If
13310 you specify @code{auto}, case sensitivity is reset to the default
13311 suitable for the source language. The default is case-sensitive
13312 matches for all languages except for Fortran, for which the default is
13313 case-insensitive matches.
13314
13315 @kindex show case-sensitive
13316 @item show case-sensitive
13317 This command shows the current setting of case sensitivity for symbols
13318 lookups.
13319
13320 @kindex info address
13321 @cindex address of a symbol
13322 @item info address @var{symbol}
13323 Describe where the data for @var{symbol} is stored. For a register
13324 variable, this says which register it is kept in. For a non-register
13325 local variable, this prints the stack-frame offset at which the variable
13326 is always stored.
13327
13328 Note the contrast with @samp{print &@var{symbol}}, which does not work
13329 at all for a register variable, and for a stack local variable prints
13330 the exact address of the current instantiation of the variable.
13331
13332 @kindex info symbol
13333 @cindex symbol from address
13334 @cindex closest symbol and offset for an address
13335 @item info symbol @var{addr}
13336 Print the name of a symbol which is stored at the address @var{addr}.
13337 If no symbol is stored exactly at @var{addr}, @value{GDBN} prints the
13338 nearest symbol and an offset from it:
13339
13340 @smallexample
13341 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x54320
13342 _initialize_vx + 396 in section .text
13343 @end smallexample
13344
13345 @noindent
13346 This is the opposite of the @code{info address} command. You can use
13347 it to find out the name of a variable or a function given its address.
13348
13349 For dynamically linked executables, the name of executable or shared
13350 library containing the symbol is also printed:
13351
13352 @smallexample
13353 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x400225
13354 _start + 5 in section .text of /tmp/a.out
13355 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x2aaaac2811cf
13356 __read_nocancel + 6 in section .text of /usr/lib64/libc.so.6
13357 @end smallexample
13358
13359 @kindex whatis
13360 @item whatis [@var{arg}]
13361 Print the data type of @var{arg}, which can be either an expression or
13362 a data type. With no argument, print the data type of @code{$}, the
13363 last value in the value history. If @var{arg} is an expression, it is
13364 not actually evaluated, and any side-effecting operations (such as
13365 assignments or function calls) inside it do not take place. If
13366 @var{arg} is a type name, it may be the name of a type or typedef, or
13367 for C code it may have the form @samp{class @var{class-name}},
13368 @samp{struct @var{struct-tag}}, @samp{union @var{union-tag}} or
13369 @samp{enum @var{enum-tag}}.
13370 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
13371
13372 @kindex ptype
13373 @item ptype [@var{arg}]
13374 @code{ptype} accepts the same arguments as @code{whatis}, but prints a
13375 detailed description of the type, instead of just the name of the type.
13376 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
13377
13378 For example, for this variable declaration:
13379
13380 @smallexample
13381 struct complex @{double real; double imag;@} v;
13382 @end smallexample
13383
13384 @noindent
13385 the two commands give this output:
13386
13387 @smallexample
13388 @group
13389 (@value{GDBP}) whatis v
13390 type = struct complex
13391 (@value{GDBP}) ptype v
13392 type = struct complex @{
13393 double real;
13394 double imag;
13395 @}
13396 @end group
13397 @end smallexample
13398
13399 @noindent
13400 As with @code{whatis}, using @code{ptype} without an argument refers to
13401 the type of @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
13402
13403 @cindex incomplete type
13404 Sometimes, programs use opaque data types or incomplete specifications
13405 of complex data structure. If the debug information included in the
13406 program does not allow @value{GDBN} to display a full declaration of
13407 the data type, it will say @samp{<incomplete type>}. For example,
13408 given these declarations:
13409
13410 @smallexample
13411 struct foo;
13412 struct foo *fooptr;
13413 @end smallexample
13414
13415 @noindent
13416 but no definition for @code{struct foo} itself, @value{GDBN} will say:
13417
13418 @smallexample
13419 (@value{GDBP}) ptype foo
13420 $1 = <incomplete type>
13421 @end smallexample
13422
13423 @noindent
13424 ``Incomplete type'' is C terminology for data types that are not
13425 completely specified.
13426
13427 @kindex info types
13428 @item info types @var{regexp}
13429 @itemx info types
13430 Print a brief description of all types whose names match the regular
13431 expression @var{regexp} (or all types in your program, if you supply
13432 no argument). Each complete typename is matched as though it were a
13433 complete line; thus, @samp{i type value} gives information on all
13434 types in your program whose names include the string @code{value}, but
13435 @samp{i type ^value$} gives information only on types whose complete
13436 name is @code{value}.
13437
13438 This command differs from @code{ptype} in two ways: first, like
13439 @code{whatis}, it does not print a detailed description; second, it
13440 lists all source files where a type is defined.
13441
13442 @kindex info scope
13443 @cindex local variables
13444 @item info scope @var{location}
13445 List all the variables local to a particular scope. This command
13446 accepts a @var{location} argument---a function name, a source line, or
13447 an address preceded by a @samp{*}, and prints all the variables local
13448 to the scope defined by that location. (@xref{Specify Location}, for
13449 details about supported forms of @var{location}.) For example:
13450
13451 @smallexample
13452 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info scope command_line_handler}
13453 Scope for command_line_handler:
13454 Symbol rl is an argument at stack/frame offset 8, length 4.
13455 Symbol linebuffer is in static storage at address 0x150a18, length 4.
13456 Symbol linelength is in static storage at address 0x150a1c, length 4.
13457 Symbol p is a local variable in register $esi, length 4.
13458 Symbol p1 is a local variable in register $ebx, length 4.
13459 Symbol nline is a local variable in register $edx, length 4.
13460 Symbol repeat is a local variable at frame offset -8, length 4.
13461 @end smallexample
13462
13463 @noindent
13464 This command is especially useful for determining what data to collect
13465 during a @dfn{trace experiment}, see @ref{Tracepoint Actions,
13466 collect}.
13467
13468 @kindex info source
13469 @item info source
13470 Show information about the current source file---that is, the source file for
13471 the function containing the current point of execution:
13472 @itemize @bullet
13473 @item
13474 the name of the source file, and the directory containing it,
13475 @item
13476 the directory it was compiled in,
13477 @item
13478 its length, in lines,
13479 @item
13480 which programming language it is written in,
13481 @item
13482 whether the executable includes debugging information for that file, and
13483 if so, what format the information is in (e.g., STABS, Dwarf 2, etc.), and
13484 @item
13485 whether the debugging information includes information about
13486 preprocessor macros.
13487 @end itemize
13488
13489
13490 @kindex info sources
13491 @item info sources
13492 Print the names of all source files in your program for which there is
13493 debugging information, organized into two lists: files whose symbols
13494 have already been read, and files whose symbols will be read when needed.
13495
13496 @kindex info functions
13497 @item info functions
13498 Print the names and data types of all defined functions.
13499
13500 @item info functions @var{regexp}
13501 Print the names and data types of all defined functions
13502 whose names contain a match for regular expression @var{regexp}.
13503 Thus, @samp{info fun step} finds all functions whose names
13504 include @code{step}; @samp{info fun ^step} finds those whose names
13505 start with @code{step}. If a function name contains characters
13506 that conflict with the regular expression language (e.g.@:
13507 @samp{operator*()}), they may be quoted with a backslash.
13508
13509 @kindex info variables
13510 @item info variables
13511 Print the names and data types of all variables that are defined
13512 outside of functions (i.e.@: excluding local variables).
13513
13514 @item info variables @var{regexp}
13515 Print the names and data types of all variables (except for local
13516 variables) whose names contain a match for regular expression
13517 @var{regexp}.
13518
13519 @kindex info classes
13520 @cindex Objective-C, classes and selectors
13521 @item info classes
13522 @itemx info classes @var{regexp}
13523 Display all Objective-C classes in your program, or
13524 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
13525 expression.
13526
13527 @kindex info selectors
13528 @item info selectors
13529 @itemx info selectors @var{regexp}
13530 Display all Objective-C selectors in your program, or
13531 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
13532 expression.
13533
13534 @ignore
13535 This was never implemented.
13536 @kindex info methods
13537 @item info methods
13538 @itemx info methods @var{regexp}
13539 The @code{info methods} command permits the user to examine all defined
13540 methods within C@t{++} program, or (with the @var{regexp} argument) a
13541 specific set of methods found in the various C@t{++} classes. Many
13542 C@t{++} classes provide a large number of methods. Thus, the output
13543 from the @code{ptype} command can be overwhelming and hard to use. The
13544 @code{info-methods} command filters the methods, printing only those
13545 which match the regular-expression @var{regexp}.
13546 @end ignore
13547
13548 @cindex reloading symbols
13549 Some systems allow individual object files that make up your program to
13550 be replaced without stopping and restarting your program. For example,
13551 in VxWorks you can simply recompile a defective object file and keep on
13552 running. If you are running on one of these systems, you can allow
13553 @value{GDBN} to reload the symbols for automatically relinked modules:
13554
13555 @table @code
13556 @kindex set symbol-reloading
13557 @item set symbol-reloading on
13558 Replace symbol definitions for the corresponding source file when an
13559 object file with a particular name is seen again.
13560
13561 @item set symbol-reloading off
13562 Do not replace symbol definitions when encountering object files of the
13563 same name more than once. This is the default state; if you are not
13564 running on a system that permits automatic relinking of modules, you
13565 should leave @code{symbol-reloading} off, since otherwise @value{GDBN}
13566 may discard symbols when linking large programs, that may contain
13567 several modules (from different directories or libraries) with the same
13568 name.
13569
13570 @kindex show symbol-reloading
13571 @item show symbol-reloading
13572 Show the current @code{on} or @code{off} setting.
13573 @end table
13574
13575 @cindex opaque data types
13576 @kindex set opaque-type-resolution
13577 @item set opaque-type-resolution on
13578 Tell @value{GDBN} to resolve opaque types. An opaque type is a type
13579 declared as a pointer to a @code{struct}, @code{class}, or
13580 @code{union}---for example, @code{struct MyType *}---that is used in one
13581 source file although the full declaration of @code{struct MyType} is in
13582 another source file. The default is on.
13583
13584 A change in the setting of this subcommand will not take effect until
13585 the next time symbols for a file are loaded.
13586
13587 @item set opaque-type-resolution off
13588 Tell @value{GDBN} not to resolve opaque types. In this case, the type
13589 is printed as follows:
13590 @smallexample
13591 @{<no data fields>@}
13592 @end smallexample
13593
13594 @kindex show opaque-type-resolution
13595 @item show opaque-type-resolution
13596 Show whether opaque types are resolved or not.
13597
13598 @kindex maint print symbols
13599 @cindex symbol dump
13600 @kindex maint print psymbols
13601 @cindex partial symbol dump
13602 @item maint print symbols @var{filename}
13603 @itemx maint print psymbols @var{filename}
13604 @itemx maint print msymbols @var{filename}
13605 Write a dump of debugging symbol data into the file @var{filename}.
13606 These commands are used to debug the @value{GDBN} symbol-reading code. Only
13607 symbols with debugging data are included. If you use @samp{maint print
13608 symbols}, @value{GDBN} includes all the symbols for which it has already
13609 collected full details: that is, @var{filename} reflects symbols for
13610 only those files whose symbols @value{GDBN} has read. You can use the
13611 command @code{info sources} to find out which files these are. If you
13612 use @samp{maint print psymbols} instead, the dump shows information about
13613 symbols that @value{GDBN} only knows partially---that is, symbols defined in
13614 files that @value{GDBN} has skimmed, but not yet read completely. Finally,
13615 @samp{maint print msymbols} dumps just the minimal symbol information
13616 required for each object file from which @value{GDBN} has read some symbols.
13617 @xref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}, for a discussion of how
13618 @value{GDBN} reads symbols (in the description of @code{symbol-file}).
13619
13620 @kindex maint info symtabs
13621 @kindex maint info psymtabs
13622 @cindex listing @value{GDBN}'s internal symbol tables
13623 @cindex symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
13624 @cindex full symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
13625 @cindex partial symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
13626 @item maint info symtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
13627 @itemx maint info psymtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
13628
13629 List the @code{struct symtab} or @code{struct partial_symtab}
13630 structures whose names match @var{regexp}. If @var{regexp} is not
13631 given, list them all. The output includes expressions which you can
13632 copy into a @value{GDBN} debugging this one to examine a particular
13633 structure in more detail. For example:
13634
13635 @smallexample
13636 (@value{GDBP}) maint info psymtabs dwarf2read
13637 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
13638 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
13639 @{ psymtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
13640 ((struct partial_symtab *) 0x8474b10)
13641 readin no
13642 fullname (null)
13643 text addresses 0x814d3c8 -- 0x8158074
13644 globals (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x8507a08 @@ 9)
13645 statics (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x40e95b78 @@ 2882)
13646 dependencies (none)
13647 @}
13648 @}
13649 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
13650 (@value{GDBP})
13651 @end smallexample
13652 @noindent
13653 We see that there is one partial symbol table whose filename contains
13654 the string @samp{dwarf2read}, belonging to the @samp{gdb} executable;
13655 and we see that @value{GDBN} has not read in any symtabs yet at all.
13656 If we set a breakpoint on a function, that will cause @value{GDBN} to
13657 read the symtab for the compilation unit containing that function:
13658
13659 @smallexample
13660 (@value{GDBP}) break dwarf2_psymtab_to_symtab
13661 Breakpoint 1 at 0x814e5da: file /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c,
13662 line 1574.
13663 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
13664 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
13665 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
13666 @{ symtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
13667 ((struct symtab *) 0x86c1f38)
13668 dirname (null)
13669 fullname (null)
13670 blockvector ((struct blockvector *) 0x86c1bd0) (primary)
13671 linetable ((struct linetable *) 0x8370fa0)
13672 debugformat DWARF 2
13673 @}
13674 @}
13675 (@value{GDBP})
13676 @end smallexample
13677 @end table
13678
13679
13680 @node Altering
13681 @chapter Altering Execution
13682
13683 Once you think you have found an error in your program, you might want to
13684 find out for certain whether correcting the apparent error would lead to
13685 correct results in the rest of the run. You can find the answer by
13686 experiment, using the @value{GDBN} features for altering execution of the
13687 program.
13688
13689 For example, you can store new values into variables or memory
13690 locations, give your program a signal, restart it at a different
13691 address, or even return prematurely from a function.
13692
13693 @menu
13694 * Assignment:: Assignment to variables
13695 * Jumping:: Continuing at a different address
13696 * Signaling:: Giving your program a signal
13697 * Returning:: Returning from a function
13698 * Calling:: Calling your program's functions
13699 * Patching:: Patching your program
13700 @end menu
13701
13702 @node Assignment
13703 @section Assignment to Variables
13704
13705 @cindex assignment
13706 @cindex setting variables
13707 To alter the value of a variable, evaluate an assignment expression.
13708 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}. For example,
13709
13710 @smallexample
13711 print x=4
13712 @end smallexample
13713
13714 @noindent
13715 stores the value 4 into the variable @code{x}, and then prints the
13716 value of the assignment expression (which is 4).
13717 @xref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages}, for more
13718 information on operators in supported languages.
13719
13720 @kindex set variable
13721 @cindex variables, setting
13722 If you are not interested in seeing the value of the assignment, use the
13723 @code{set} command instead of the @code{print} command. @code{set} is
13724 really the same as @code{print} except that the expression's value is
13725 not printed and is not put in the value history (@pxref{Value History,
13726 ,Value History}). The expression is evaluated only for its effects.
13727
13728 If the beginning of the argument string of the @code{set} command
13729 appears identical to a @code{set} subcommand, use the @code{set
13730 variable} command instead of just @code{set}. This command is identical
13731 to @code{set} except for its lack of subcommands. For example, if your
13732 program has a variable @code{width}, you get an error if you try to set
13733 a new value with just @samp{set width=13}, because @value{GDBN} has the
13734 command @code{set width}:
13735
13736 @smallexample
13737 (@value{GDBP}) whatis width
13738 type = double
13739 (@value{GDBP}) p width
13740 $4 = 13
13741 (@value{GDBP}) set width=47
13742 Invalid syntax in expression.
13743 @end smallexample
13744
13745 @noindent
13746 The invalid expression, of course, is @samp{=47}. In
13747 order to actually set the program's variable @code{width}, use
13748
13749 @smallexample
13750 (@value{GDBP}) set var width=47
13751 @end smallexample
13752
13753 Because the @code{set} command has many subcommands that can conflict
13754 with the names of program variables, it is a good idea to use the
13755 @code{set variable} command instead of just @code{set}. For example, if
13756 your program has a variable @code{g}, you run into problems if you try
13757 to set a new value with just @samp{set g=4}, because @value{GDBN} has
13758 the command @code{set gnutarget}, abbreviated @code{set g}:
13759
13760 @smallexample
13761 @group
13762 (@value{GDBP}) whatis g
13763 type = double
13764 (@value{GDBP}) p g
13765 $1 = 1
13766 (@value{GDBP}) set g=4
13767 (@value{GDBP}) p g
13768 $2 = 1
13769 (@value{GDBP}) r
13770 The program being debugged has been started already.
13771 Start it from the beginning? (y or n) y
13772 Starting program: /home/smith/cc_progs/a.out
13773 "/home/smith/cc_progs/a.out": can't open to read symbols:
13774 Invalid bfd target.
13775 (@value{GDBP}) show g
13776 The current BFD target is "=4".
13777 @end group
13778 @end smallexample
13779
13780 @noindent
13781 The program variable @code{g} did not change, and you silently set the
13782 @code{gnutarget} to an invalid value. In order to set the variable
13783 @code{g}, use
13784
13785 @smallexample
13786 (@value{GDBP}) set var g=4
13787 @end smallexample
13788
13789 @value{GDBN} allows more implicit conversions in assignments than C; you can
13790 freely store an integer value into a pointer variable or vice versa,
13791 and you can convert any structure to any other structure that is the
13792 same length or shorter.
13793 @comment FIXME: how do structs align/pad in these conversions?
13794 @comment /doc@cygnus.com 18dec1990
13795
13796 To store values into arbitrary places in memory, use the @samp{@{@dots{}@}}
13797 construct to generate a value of specified type at a specified address
13798 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). For example, @code{@{int@}0x83040} refers
13799 to memory location @code{0x83040} as an integer (which implies a certain size
13800 and representation in memory), and
13801
13802 @smallexample
13803 set @{int@}0x83040 = 4
13804 @end smallexample
13805
13806 @noindent
13807 stores the value 4 into that memory location.
13808
13809 @node Jumping
13810 @section Continuing at a Different Address
13811
13812 Ordinarily, when you continue your program, you do so at the place where
13813 it stopped, with the @code{continue} command. You can instead continue at
13814 an address of your own choosing, with the following commands:
13815
13816 @table @code
13817 @kindex jump
13818 @item jump @var{linespec}
13819 @itemx jump @var{location}
13820 Resume execution at line @var{linespec} or at address given by
13821 @var{location}. Execution stops again immediately if there is a
13822 breakpoint there. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
13823 different forms of @var{linespec} and @var{location}. It is common
13824 practice to use the @code{tbreak} command in conjunction with
13825 @code{jump}. @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
13826
13827 The @code{jump} command does not change the current stack frame, or
13828 the stack pointer, or the contents of any memory location or any
13829 register other than the program counter. If line @var{linespec} is in
13830 a different function from the one currently executing, the results may
13831 be bizarre if the two functions expect different patterns of arguments or
13832 of local variables. For this reason, the @code{jump} command requests
13833 confirmation if the specified line is not in the function currently
13834 executing. However, even bizarre results are predictable if you are
13835 well acquainted with the machine-language code of your program.
13836 @end table
13837
13838 @c Doesn't work on HP-UX; have to set $pcoqh and $pcoqt.
13839 On many systems, you can get much the same effect as the @code{jump}
13840 command by storing a new value into the register @code{$pc}. The
13841 difference is that this does not start your program running; it only
13842 changes the address of where it @emph{will} run when you continue. For
13843 example,
13844
13845 @smallexample
13846 set $pc = 0x485
13847 @end smallexample
13848
13849 @noindent
13850 makes the next @code{continue} command or stepping command execute at
13851 address @code{0x485}, rather than at the address where your program stopped.
13852 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}.
13853
13854 The most common occasion to use the @code{jump} command is to back
13855 up---perhaps with more breakpoints set---over a portion of a program
13856 that has already executed, in order to examine its execution in more
13857 detail.
13858
13859 @c @group
13860 @node Signaling
13861 @section Giving your Program a Signal
13862 @cindex deliver a signal to a program
13863
13864 @table @code
13865 @kindex signal
13866 @item signal @var{signal}
13867 Resume execution where your program stopped, but immediately give it the
13868 signal @var{signal}. @var{signal} can be the name or the number of a
13869 signal. For example, on many systems @code{signal 2} and @code{signal
13870 SIGINT} are both ways of sending an interrupt signal.
13871
13872 Alternatively, if @var{signal} is zero, continue execution without
13873 giving a signal. This is useful when your program stopped on account of
13874 a signal and would ordinary see the signal when resumed with the
13875 @code{continue} command; @samp{signal 0} causes it to resume without a
13876 signal.
13877
13878 @code{signal} does not repeat when you press @key{RET} a second time
13879 after executing the command.
13880 @end table
13881 @c @end group
13882
13883 Invoking the @code{signal} command is not the same as invoking the
13884 @code{kill} utility from the shell. Sending a signal with @code{kill}
13885 causes @value{GDBN} to decide what to do with the signal depending on
13886 the signal handling tables (@pxref{Signals}). The @code{signal} command
13887 passes the signal directly to your program.
13888
13889
13890 @node Returning
13891 @section Returning from a Function
13892
13893 @table @code
13894 @cindex returning from a function
13895 @kindex return
13896 @item return
13897 @itemx return @var{expression}
13898 You can cancel execution of a function call with the @code{return}
13899 command. If you give an
13900 @var{expression} argument, its value is used as the function's return
13901 value.
13902 @end table
13903
13904 When you use @code{return}, @value{GDBN} discards the selected stack frame
13905 (and all frames within it). You can think of this as making the
13906 discarded frame return prematurely. If you wish to specify a value to
13907 be returned, give that value as the argument to @code{return}.
13908
13909 This pops the selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a
13910 Frame}), and any other frames inside of it, leaving its caller as the
13911 innermost remaining frame. That frame becomes selected. The
13912 specified value is stored in the registers used for returning values
13913 of functions.
13914
13915 The @code{return} command does not resume execution; it leaves the
13916 program stopped in the state that would exist if the function had just
13917 returned. In contrast, the @code{finish} command (@pxref{Continuing
13918 and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}) resumes execution until the
13919 selected stack frame returns naturally.
13920
13921 @value{GDBN} needs to know how the @var{expression} argument should be set for
13922 the inferior. The concrete registers assignment depends on the OS ABI and the
13923 type being returned by the selected stack frame. For example it is common for
13924 OS ABI to return floating point values in FPU registers while integer values in
13925 CPU registers. Still some ABIs return even floating point values in CPU
13926 registers. Larger integer widths (such as @code{long long int}) also have
13927 specific placement rules. @value{GDBN} already knows the OS ABI from its
13928 current target so it needs to find out also the type being returned to make the
13929 assignment into the right register(s).
13930
13931 Normally, the selected stack frame has debug info. @value{GDBN} will always
13932 use the debug info instead of the implicit type of @var{expression} when the
13933 debug info is available. For example, if you type @kbd{return -1}, and the
13934 function in the current stack frame is declared to return a @code{long long
13935 int}, @value{GDBN} transparently converts the implicit @code{int} value of -1
13936 into a @code{long long int}:
13937
13938 @smallexample
13939 Breakpoint 1, func () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:29
13940 29 return 31;
13941 (@value{GDBP}) return -1
13942 Make func return now? (y or n) y
13943 #0 0x004004f6 in main () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:43
13944 43 printf ("result=%lld\n", func ());
13945 (@value{GDBP})
13946 @end smallexample
13947
13948 However, if the selected stack frame does not have a debug info, e.g., if the
13949 function was compiled without debug info, @value{GDBN} has to find out the type
13950 to return from user. Specifying a different type by mistake may set the value
13951 in different inferior registers than the caller code expects. For example,
13952 typing @kbd{return -1} with its implicit type @code{int} would set only a part
13953 of a @code{long long int} result for a debug info less function (on 32-bit
13954 architectures). Therefore the user is required to specify the return type by
13955 an appropriate cast explicitly:
13956
13957 @smallexample
13958 Breakpoint 2, 0x0040050b in func ()
13959 (@value{GDBP}) return -1
13960 Return value type not available for selected stack frame.
13961 Please use an explicit cast of the value to return.
13962 (@value{GDBP}) return (long long int) -1
13963 Make selected stack frame return now? (y or n) y
13964 #0 0x00400526 in main ()
13965 (@value{GDBP})
13966 @end smallexample
13967
13968 @node Calling
13969 @section Calling Program Functions
13970
13971 @table @code
13972 @cindex calling functions
13973 @cindex inferior functions, calling
13974 @item print @var{expr}
13975 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} and display the resulting value.
13976 @var{expr} may include calls to functions in the program being
13977 debugged.
13978
13979 @kindex call
13980 @item call @var{expr}
13981 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} without displaying @code{void}
13982 returned values.
13983
13984 You can use this variant of the @code{print} command if you want to
13985 execute a function from your program that does not return anything
13986 (a.k.a.@: @dfn{a void function}), but without cluttering the output
13987 with @code{void} returned values that @value{GDBN} will otherwise
13988 print. If the result is not void, it is printed and saved in the
13989 value history.
13990 @end table
13991
13992 It is possible for the function you call via the @code{print} or
13993 @code{call} command to generate a signal (e.g., if there's a bug in
13994 the function, or if you passed it incorrect arguments). What happens
13995 in that case is controlled by the @code{set unwindonsignal} command.
13996
13997 Similarly, with a C@t{++} program it is possible for the function you
13998 call via the @code{print} or @code{call} command to generate an
13999 exception that is not handled due to the constraints of the dummy
14000 frame. In this case, any exception that is raised in the frame, but has
14001 an out-of-frame exception handler will not be found. GDB builds a
14002 dummy-frame for the inferior function call, and the unwinder cannot
14003 seek for exception handlers outside of this dummy-frame. What happens
14004 in that case is controlled by the
14005 @code{set unwind-on-terminating-exception} command.
14006
14007 @table @code
14008 @item set unwindonsignal
14009 @kindex set unwindonsignal
14010 @cindex unwind stack in called functions
14011 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding
14012 Set unwinding of the stack if a signal is received while in a function
14013 that @value{GDBN} called in the program being debugged. If set to on,
14014 @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack it created for the call and restores
14015 the context to what it was before the call. If set to off (the
14016 default), @value{GDBN} stops in the frame where the signal was
14017 received.
14018
14019 @item show unwindonsignal
14020 @kindex show unwindonsignal
14021 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
14022 @value{GDBN}.
14023
14024 @item set unwind-on-terminating-exception
14025 @kindex set unwind-on-terminating-exception
14026 @cindex unwind stack in called functions with unhandled exceptions
14027 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding on unhandled exception.
14028 Set unwinding of the stack if a C@t{++} exception is raised, but left
14029 unhandled while in a function that @value{GDBN} called in the program being
14030 debugged. If set to on (the default), @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack
14031 it created for the call and restores the context to what it was before
14032 the call. If set to off, @value{GDBN} the exception is delivered to
14033 the default C@t{++} exception handler and the inferior terminated.
14034
14035 @item show unwind-on-terminating-exception
14036 @kindex show unwind-on-terminating-exception
14037 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
14038 @value{GDBN}.
14039
14040 @end table
14041
14042 @cindex weak alias functions
14043 Sometimes, a function you wish to call is actually a @dfn{weak alias}
14044 for another function. In such case, @value{GDBN} might not pick up
14045 the type information, including the types of the function arguments,
14046 which causes @value{GDBN} to call the inferior function incorrectly.
14047 As a result, the called function will function erroneously and may
14048 even crash. A solution to that is to use the name of the aliased
14049 function instead.
14050
14051 @node Patching
14052 @section Patching Programs
14053
14054 @cindex patching binaries
14055 @cindex writing into executables
14056 @cindex writing into corefiles
14057
14058 By default, @value{GDBN} opens the file containing your program's
14059 executable code (or the corefile) read-only. This prevents accidental
14060 alterations to machine code; but it also prevents you from intentionally
14061 patching your program's binary.
14062
14063 If you'd like to be able to patch the binary, you can specify that
14064 explicitly with the @code{set write} command. For example, you might
14065 want to turn on internal debugging flags, or even to make emergency
14066 repairs.
14067
14068 @table @code
14069 @kindex set write
14070 @item set write on
14071 @itemx set write off
14072 If you specify @samp{set write on}, @value{GDBN} opens executable and
14073 core files for both reading and writing; if you specify @kbd{set write
14074 off} (the default), @value{GDBN} opens them read-only.
14075
14076 If you have already loaded a file, you must load it again (using the
14077 @code{exec-file} or @code{core-file} command) after changing @code{set
14078 write}, for your new setting to take effect.
14079
14080 @item show write
14081 @kindex show write
14082 Display whether executable files and core files are opened for writing
14083 as well as reading.
14084 @end table
14085
14086 @node GDB Files
14087 @chapter @value{GDBN} Files
14088
14089 @value{GDBN} needs to know the file name of the program to be debugged,
14090 both in order to read its symbol table and in order to start your
14091 program. To debug a core dump of a previous run, you must also tell
14092 @value{GDBN} the name of the core dump file.
14093
14094 @menu
14095 * Files:: Commands to specify files
14096 * Separate Debug Files:: Debugging information in separate files
14097 * Symbol Errors:: Errors reading symbol files
14098 * Data Files:: GDB data files
14099 @end menu
14100
14101 @node Files
14102 @section Commands to Specify Files
14103
14104 @cindex symbol table
14105 @cindex core dump file
14106
14107 You may want to specify executable and core dump file names. The usual
14108 way to do this is at start-up time, using the arguments to
14109 @value{GDBN}'s start-up commands (@pxref{Invocation, , Getting In and
14110 Out of @value{GDBN}}).
14111
14112 Occasionally it is necessary to change to a different file during a
14113 @value{GDBN} session. Or you may run @value{GDBN} and forget to
14114 specify a file you want to use. Or you are debugging a remote target
14115 via @code{gdbserver} (@pxref{Server, file, Using the @code{gdbserver}
14116 Program}). In these situations the @value{GDBN} commands to specify
14117 new files are useful.
14118
14119 @table @code
14120 @cindex executable file
14121 @kindex file
14122 @item file @var{filename}
14123 Use @var{filename} as the program to be debugged. It is read for its
14124 symbols and for the contents of pure memory. It is also the program
14125 executed when you use the @code{run} command. If you do not specify a
14126 directory and the file is not found in the @value{GDBN} working directory,
14127 @value{GDBN} uses the environment variable @code{PATH} as a list of
14128 directories to search, just as the shell does when looking for a program
14129 to run. You can change the value of this variable, for both @value{GDBN}
14130 and your program, using the @code{path} command.
14131
14132 @cindex unlinked object files
14133 @cindex patching object files
14134 You can load unlinked object @file{.o} files into @value{GDBN} using
14135 the @code{file} command. You will not be able to ``run'' an object
14136 file, but you can disassemble functions and inspect variables. Also,
14137 if the underlying BFD functionality supports it, you could use
14138 @kbd{gdb -write} to patch object files using this technique. Note
14139 that @value{GDBN} can neither interpret nor modify relocations in this
14140 case, so branches and some initialized variables will appear to go to
14141 the wrong place. But this feature is still handy from time to time.
14142
14143 @item file
14144 @code{file} with no argument makes @value{GDBN} discard any information it
14145 has on both executable file and the symbol table.
14146
14147 @kindex exec-file
14148 @item exec-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
14149 Specify that the program to be run (but not the symbol table) is found
14150 in @var{filename}. @value{GDBN} searches the environment variable @code{PATH}
14151 if necessary to locate your program. Omitting @var{filename} means to
14152 discard information on the executable file.
14153
14154 @kindex symbol-file
14155 @item symbol-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
14156 Read symbol table information from file @var{filename}. @code{PATH} is
14157 searched when necessary. Use the @code{file} command to get both symbol
14158 table and program to run from the same file.
14159
14160 @code{symbol-file} with no argument clears out @value{GDBN} information on your
14161 program's symbol table.
14162
14163 The @code{symbol-file} command causes @value{GDBN} to forget the contents of
14164 some breakpoints and auto-display expressions. This is because they may
14165 contain pointers to the internal data recording symbols and data types,
14166 which are part of the old symbol table data being discarded inside
14167 @value{GDBN}.
14168
14169 @code{symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
14170 executing it once.
14171
14172 When @value{GDBN} is configured for a particular environment, it
14173 understands debugging information in whatever format is the standard
14174 generated for that environment; you may use either a @sc{gnu} compiler, or
14175 other compilers that adhere to the local conventions.
14176 Best results are usually obtained from @sc{gnu} compilers; for example,
14177 using @code{@value{NGCC}} you can generate debugging information for
14178 optimized code.
14179
14180 For most kinds of object files, with the exception of old SVR3 systems
14181 using COFF, the @code{symbol-file} command does not normally read the
14182 symbol table in full right away. Instead, it scans the symbol table
14183 quickly to find which source files and which symbols are present. The
14184 details are read later, one source file at a time, as they are needed.
14185
14186 The purpose of this two-stage reading strategy is to make @value{GDBN}
14187 start up faster. For the most part, it is invisible except for
14188 occasional pauses while the symbol table details for a particular source
14189 file are being read. (The @code{set verbose} command can turn these
14190 pauses into messages if desired. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional
14191 Warnings and Messages}.)
14192
14193 We have not implemented the two-stage strategy for COFF yet. When the
14194 symbol table is stored in COFF format, @code{symbol-file} reads the
14195 symbol table data in full right away. Note that ``stabs-in-COFF''
14196 still does the two-stage strategy, since the debug info is actually
14197 in stabs format.
14198
14199 @kindex readnow
14200 @cindex reading symbols immediately
14201 @cindex symbols, reading immediately
14202 @item symbol-file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
14203 @itemx file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
14204 You can override the @value{GDBN} two-stage strategy for reading symbol
14205 tables by using the @samp{-readnow} option with any of the commands that
14206 load symbol table information, if you want to be sure @value{GDBN} has the
14207 entire symbol table available.
14208
14209 @c FIXME: for now no mention of directories, since this seems to be in
14210 @c flux. 13mar1992 status is that in theory GDB would look either in
14211 @c current dir or in same dir as myprog; but issues like competing
14212 @c GDB's, or clutter in system dirs, mean that in practice right now
14213 @c only current dir is used. FFish says maybe a special GDB hierarchy
14214 @c (eg rooted in val of env var GDBSYMS) could exist for mappable symbol
14215 @c files.
14216
14217 @kindex core-file
14218 @item core-file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
14219 @itemx core
14220 Specify the whereabouts of a core dump file to be used as the ``contents
14221 of memory''. Traditionally, core files contain only some parts of the
14222 address space of the process that generated them; @value{GDBN} can access the
14223 executable file itself for other parts.
14224
14225 @code{core-file} with no argument specifies that no core file is
14226 to be used.
14227
14228 Note that the core file is ignored when your program is actually running
14229 under @value{GDBN}. So, if you have been running your program and you
14230 wish to debug a core file instead, you must kill the subprocess in which
14231 the program is running. To do this, use the @code{kill} command
14232 (@pxref{Kill Process, ,Killing the Child Process}).
14233
14234 @kindex add-symbol-file
14235 @cindex dynamic linking
14236 @item add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address}
14237 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} @r{[} -readnow @r{]}
14238 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @r{-s}@var{section} @var{address} @dots{}
14239 The @code{add-symbol-file} command reads additional symbol table
14240 information from the file @var{filename}. You would use this command
14241 when @var{filename} has been dynamically loaded (by some other means)
14242 into the program that is running. @var{address} should be the memory
14243 address at which the file has been loaded; @value{GDBN} cannot figure
14244 this out for itself. You can additionally specify an arbitrary number
14245 of @samp{@r{-s}@var{section} @var{address}} pairs, to give an explicit
14246 section name and base address for that section. You can specify any
14247 @var{address} as an expression.
14248
14249 The symbol table of the file @var{filename} is added to the symbol table
14250 originally read with the @code{symbol-file} command. You can use the
14251 @code{add-symbol-file} command any number of times; the new symbol data
14252 thus read keeps adding to the old. To discard all old symbol data
14253 instead, use the @code{symbol-file} command without any arguments.
14254
14255 @cindex relocatable object files, reading symbols from
14256 @cindex object files, relocatable, reading symbols from
14257 @cindex reading symbols from relocatable object files
14258 @cindex symbols, reading from relocatable object files
14259 @cindex @file{.o} files, reading symbols from
14260 Although @var{filename} is typically a shared library file, an
14261 executable file, or some other object file which has been fully
14262 relocated for loading into a process, you can also load symbolic
14263 information from relocatable @file{.o} files, as long as:
14264
14265 @itemize @bullet
14266 @item
14267 the file's symbolic information refers only to linker symbols defined in
14268 that file, not to symbols defined by other object files,
14269 @item
14270 every section the file's symbolic information refers to has actually
14271 been loaded into the inferior, as it appears in the file, and
14272 @item
14273 you can determine the address at which every section was loaded, and
14274 provide these to the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
14275 @end itemize
14276
14277 @noindent
14278 Some embedded operating systems, like Sun Chorus and VxWorks, can load
14279 relocatable files into an already running program; such systems
14280 typically make the requirements above easy to meet. However, it's
14281 important to recognize that many native systems use complex link
14282 procedures (@code{.linkonce} section factoring and C@t{++} constructor table
14283 assembly, for example) that make the requirements difficult to meet. In
14284 general, one cannot assume that using @code{add-symbol-file} to read a
14285 relocatable object file's symbolic information will have the same effect
14286 as linking the relocatable object file into the program in the normal
14287 way.
14288
14289 @code{add-symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
14290
14291 @kindex add-symbol-file-from-memory
14292 @cindex @code{syscall DSO}
14293 @cindex load symbols from memory
14294 @item add-symbol-file-from-memory @var{address}
14295 Load symbols from the given @var{address} in a dynamically loaded
14296 object file whose image is mapped directly into the inferior's memory.
14297 For example, the Linux kernel maps a @code{syscall DSO} into each
14298 process's address space; this DSO provides kernel-specific code for
14299 some system calls. The argument can be any expression whose
14300 evaluation yields the address of the file's shared object file header.
14301 For this command to work, you must have used @code{symbol-file} or
14302 @code{exec-file} commands in advance.
14303
14304 @kindex add-shared-symbol-files
14305 @kindex assf
14306 @item add-shared-symbol-files @var{library-file}
14307 @itemx assf @var{library-file}
14308 The @code{add-shared-symbol-files} command can currently be used only
14309 in the Cygwin build of @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows OS, where it is an
14310 alias for the @code{dll-symbols} command (@pxref{Cygwin Native}).
14311 @value{GDBN} automatically looks for shared libraries, however if
14312 @value{GDBN} does not find yours, you can invoke
14313 @code{add-shared-symbol-files}. It takes one argument: the shared
14314 library's file name. @code{assf} is a shorthand alias for
14315 @code{add-shared-symbol-files}.
14316
14317 @kindex section
14318 @item section @var{section} @var{addr}
14319 The @code{section} command changes the base address of the named
14320 @var{section} of the exec file to @var{addr}. This can be used if the
14321 exec file does not contain section addresses, (such as in the
14322 @code{a.out} format), or when the addresses specified in the file
14323 itself are wrong. Each section must be changed separately. The
14324 @code{info files} command, described below, lists all the sections and
14325 their addresses.
14326
14327 @kindex info files
14328 @kindex info target
14329 @item info files
14330 @itemx info target
14331 @code{info files} and @code{info target} are synonymous; both print the
14332 current target (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}),
14333 including the names of the executable and core dump files currently in
14334 use by @value{GDBN}, and the files from which symbols were loaded. The
14335 command @code{help target} lists all possible targets rather than
14336 current ones.
14337
14338 @kindex maint info sections
14339 @item maint info sections
14340 Another command that can give you extra information about program sections
14341 is @code{maint info sections}. In addition to the section information
14342 displayed by @code{info files}, this command displays the flags and file
14343 offset of each section in the executable and core dump files. In addition,
14344 @code{maint info sections} provides the following command options (which
14345 may be arbitrarily combined):
14346
14347 @table @code
14348 @item ALLOBJ
14349 Display sections for all loaded object files, including shared libraries.
14350 @item @var{sections}
14351 Display info only for named @var{sections}.
14352 @item @var{section-flags}
14353 Display info only for sections for which @var{section-flags} are true.
14354 The section flags that @value{GDBN} currently knows about are:
14355 @table @code
14356 @item ALLOC
14357 Section will have space allocated in the process when loaded.
14358 Set for all sections except those containing debug information.
14359 @item LOAD
14360 Section will be loaded from the file into the child process memory.
14361 Set for pre-initialized code and data, clear for @code{.bss} sections.
14362 @item RELOC
14363 Section needs to be relocated before loading.
14364 @item READONLY
14365 Section cannot be modified by the child process.
14366 @item CODE
14367 Section contains executable code only.
14368 @item DATA
14369 Section contains data only (no executable code).
14370 @item ROM
14371 Section will reside in ROM.
14372 @item CONSTRUCTOR
14373 Section contains data for constructor/destructor lists.
14374 @item HAS_CONTENTS
14375 Section is not empty.
14376 @item NEVER_LOAD
14377 An instruction to the linker to not output the section.
14378 @item COFF_SHARED_LIBRARY
14379 A notification to the linker that the section contains
14380 COFF shared library information.
14381 @item IS_COMMON
14382 Section contains common symbols.
14383 @end table
14384 @end table
14385 @kindex set trust-readonly-sections
14386 @cindex read-only sections
14387 @item set trust-readonly-sections on
14388 Tell @value{GDBN} that readonly sections in your object file
14389 really are read-only (i.e.@: that their contents will not change).
14390 In that case, @value{GDBN} can fetch values from these sections
14391 out of the object file, rather than from the target program.
14392 For some targets (notably embedded ones), this can be a significant
14393 enhancement to debugging performance.
14394
14395 The default is off.
14396
14397 @item set trust-readonly-sections off
14398 Tell @value{GDBN} not to trust readonly sections. This means that
14399 the contents of the section might change while the program is running,
14400 and must therefore be fetched from the target when needed.
14401
14402 @item show trust-readonly-sections
14403 Show the current setting of trusting readonly sections.
14404 @end table
14405
14406 All file-specifying commands allow both absolute and relative file names
14407 as arguments. @value{GDBN} always converts the file name to an absolute file
14408 name and remembers it that way.
14409
14410 @cindex shared libraries
14411 @anchor{Shared Libraries}
14412 @value{GDBN} supports @sc{gnu}/Linux, MS-Windows, HP-UX, SunOS, SVr4, Irix,
14413 and IBM RS/6000 AIX shared libraries.
14414
14415 On MS-Windows @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support
14416 shared libraries. @xref{Expat}.
14417
14418 @value{GDBN} automatically loads symbol definitions from shared libraries
14419 when you use the @code{run} command, or when you examine a core file.
14420 (Before you issue the @code{run} command, @value{GDBN} does not understand
14421 references to a function in a shared library, however---unless you are
14422 debugging a core file).
14423
14424 On HP-UX, if the program loads a library explicitly, @value{GDBN}
14425 automatically loads the symbols at the time of the @code{shl_load} call.
14426
14427 @c FIXME: some @value{GDBN} release may permit some refs to undef
14428 @c FIXME...symbols---eg in a break cmd---assuming they are from a shared
14429 @c FIXME...lib; check this from time to time when updating manual
14430
14431 There are times, however, when you may wish to not automatically load
14432 symbol definitions from shared libraries, such as when they are
14433 particularly large or there are many of them.
14434
14435 To control the automatic loading of shared library symbols, use the
14436 commands:
14437
14438 @table @code
14439 @kindex set auto-solib-add
14440 @item set auto-solib-add @var{mode}
14441 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, symbols from all shared object libraries
14442 will be loaded automatically when the inferior begins execution, you
14443 attach to an independently started inferior, or when the dynamic linker
14444 informs @value{GDBN} that a new library has been loaded. If @var{mode}
14445 is @code{off}, symbols must be loaded manually, using the
14446 @code{sharedlibrary} command. The default value is @code{on}.
14447
14448 @cindex memory used for symbol tables
14449 If your program uses lots of shared libraries with debug info that
14450 takes large amounts of memory, you can decrease the @value{GDBN}
14451 memory footprint by preventing it from automatically loading the
14452 symbols from shared libraries. To that end, type @kbd{set
14453 auto-solib-add off} before running the inferior, then load each
14454 library whose debug symbols you do need with @kbd{sharedlibrary
14455 @var{regexp}}, where @var{regexp} is a regular expression that matches
14456 the libraries whose symbols you want to be loaded.
14457
14458 @kindex show auto-solib-add
14459 @item show auto-solib-add
14460 Display the current autoloading mode.
14461 @end table
14462
14463 @cindex load shared library
14464 To explicitly load shared library symbols, use the @code{sharedlibrary}
14465 command:
14466
14467 @table @code
14468 @kindex info sharedlibrary
14469 @kindex info share
14470 @item info share @var{regex}
14471 @itemx info sharedlibrary @var{regex}
14472 Print the names of the shared libraries which are currently loaded
14473 that match @var{regex}. If @var{regex} is omitted then print
14474 all shared libraries that are loaded.
14475
14476 @kindex sharedlibrary
14477 @kindex share
14478 @item sharedlibrary @var{regex}
14479 @itemx share @var{regex}
14480 Load shared object library symbols for files matching a
14481 Unix regular expression.
14482 As with files loaded automatically, it only loads shared libraries
14483 required by your program for a core file or after typing @code{run}. If
14484 @var{regex} is omitted all shared libraries required by your program are
14485 loaded.
14486
14487 @item nosharedlibrary
14488 @kindex nosharedlibrary
14489 @cindex unload symbols from shared libraries
14490 Unload all shared object library symbols. This discards all symbols
14491 that have been loaded from all shared libraries. Symbols from shared
14492 libraries that were loaded by explicit user requests are not
14493 discarded.
14494 @end table
14495
14496 Sometimes you may wish that @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control
14497 when any of shared library events happen. Use the @code{set
14498 stop-on-solib-events} command for this:
14499
14500 @table @code
14501 @item set stop-on-solib-events
14502 @kindex set stop-on-solib-events
14503 This command controls whether @value{GDBN} should give you control
14504 when the dynamic linker notifies it about some shared library event.
14505 The most common event of interest is loading or unloading of a new
14506 shared library.
14507
14508 @item show stop-on-solib-events
14509 @kindex show stop-on-solib-events
14510 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control when shared
14511 library events happen.
14512 @end table
14513
14514 Shared libraries are also supported in many cross or remote debugging
14515 configurations. @value{GDBN} needs to have access to the target's libraries;
14516 this can be accomplished either by providing copies of the libraries
14517 on the host system, or by asking @value{GDBN} to automatically retrieve the
14518 libraries from the target. If copies of the target libraries are
14519 provided, they need to be the same as the target libraries, although the
14520 copies on the target can be stripped as long as the copies on the host are
14521 not.
14522
14523 @cindex where to look for shared libraries
14524 For remote debugging, you need to tell @value{GDBN} where the target
14525 libraries are, so that it can load the correct copies---otherwise, it
14526 may try to load the host's libraries. @value{GDBN} has two variables
14527 to specify the search directories for target libraries.
14528
14529 @table @code
14530 @cindex prefix for shared library file names
14531 @cindex system root, alternate
14532 @kindex set solib-absolute-prefix
14533 @kindex set sysroot
14534 @item set sysroot @var{path}
14535 Use @var{path} as the system root for the program being debugged. Any
14536 absolute shared library paths will be prefixed with @var{path}; many
14537 runtime loaders store the absolute paths to the shared library in the
14538 target program's memory. If you use @code{set sysroot} to find shared
14539 libraries, they need to be laid out in the same way that they are on
14540 the target, with e.g.@: a @file{/lib} and @file{/usr/lib} hierarchy
14541 under @var{path}.
14542
14543 If @var{path} starts with the sequence @file{remote:}, @value{GDBN} will
14544 retrieve the target libraries from the remote system. This is only
14545 supported when using a remote target that supports the @code{remote get}
14546 command (@pxref{File Transfer,,Sending files to a remote system}).
14547 The part of @var{path} following the initial @file{remote:}
14548 (if present) is used as system root prefix on the remote file system.
14549 @footnote{If you want to specify a local system root using a directory
14550 that happens to be named @file{remote:}, you need to use some equivalent
14551 variant of the name like @file{./remote:}.}
14552
14553 For targets with an MS-DOS based filesystem, such as MS-Windows and
14554 SymbianOS, @value{GDBN} tries prefixing a few variants of the target
14555 absolute file name with @var{path}. But first, on Unix hosts,
14556 @value{GDBN} converts all backslash directory separators into forward
14557 slashes, because the backslash is not a directory separator on Unix:
14558
14559 @smallexample
14560 c:\foo\bar.dll @result{} c:/foo/bar.dll
14561 @end smallexample
14562
14563 Then, @value{GDBN} attempts prefixing the target file name with
14564 @var{path}, and looks for the resulting file name in the host file
14565 system:
14566
14567 @smallexample
14568 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c:/foo/bar.dll
14569 @end smallexample
14570
14571 If that does not find the shared library, @value{GDBN} tries removing
14572 the @samp{:} character from the drive spec, both for convenience, and,
14573 for the case of the host file system not supporting file names with
14574 colons:
14575
14576 @smallexample
14577 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c/foo/bar.dll
14578 @end smallexample
14579
14580 This makes it possible to have a system root that mirrors a target
14581 with more than one drive. E.g., you may want to setup your local
14582 copies of the target system shared libraries like so (note @samp{c} vs
14583 @samp{z}):
14584
14585 @smallexample
14586 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/foo.dll}
14587 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/bar.dll}
14588 @file{/path/to/sysroot/z/sys/bin/bar.dll}
14589 @end smallexample
14590
14591 @noindent
14592 and point the system root at @file{/path/to/sysroot}, so that
14593 @value{GDBN} can find the correct copies of both
14594 @file{c:\sys\bin\foo.dll}, and @file{z:\sys\bin\bar.dll}.
14595
14596 If that still does not find the shared library, @value{GDBN} tries
14597 removing the whole drive spec from the target file name:
14598
14599 @smallexample
14600 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/foo/bar.dll
14601 @end smallexample
14602
14603 This last lookup makes it possible to not care about the drive name,
14604 if you don't want or need to.
14605
14606 The @code{set solib-absolute-prefix} command is an alias for @code{set
14607 sysroot}.
14608
14609 @cindex default system root
14610 @cindex @samp{--with-sysroot}
14611 You can set the default system root by using the configure-time
14612 @samp{--with-sysroot} option. If the system root is inside
14613 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
14614 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default system root will be updated
14615 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
14616 location.
14617
14618 @kindex show sysroot
14619 @item show sysroot
14620 Display the current shared library prefix.
14621
14622 @kindex set solib-search-path
14623 @item set solib-search-path @var{path}
14624 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
14625 directories to search for shared libraries. @samp{solib-search-path}
14626 is used after @samp{sysroot} fails to locate the library, or if the
14627 path to the library is relative instead of absolute. If you want to
14628 use @samp{solib-search-path} instead of @samp{sysroot}, be sure to set
14629 @samp{sysroot} to a nonexistent directory to prevent @value{GDBN} from
14630 finding your host's libraries. @samp{sysroot} is preferred; setting
14631 it to a nonexistent directory may interfere with automatic loading
14632 of shared library symbols.
14633
14634 @kindex show solib-search-path
14635 @item show solib-search-path
14636 Display the current shared library search path.
14637
14638 @cindex DOS file-name semantics of file names.
14639 @kindex set target-file-system-kind (unix|dos-based|auto)
14640 @kindex show target-file-system-kind
14641 @item set target-file-system-kind @var{kind}
14642 Set assumed file system kind for target reported file names.
14643
14644 Shared library file names as reported by the target system may not
14645 make sense as is on the system @value{GDBN} is running on. For
14646 example, when remote debugging a target that has MS-DOS based file
14647 system semantics, from a Unix host, the target may be reporting to
14648 @value{GDBN} a list of loaded shared libraries with file names such as
14649 @file{c:\Windows\kernel32.dll}. On Unix hosts, there's no concept of
14650 drive letters, so the @samp{c:\} prefix is not normally understood as
14651 indicating an absolute file name, and neither is the backslash
14652 normally considered a directory separator character. In that case,
14653 the native file system would interpret this whole absolute file name
14654 as a relative file name with no directory components. This would make
14655 it impossible to point @value{GDBN} at a copy of the remote target's
14656 shared libraries on the host using @code{set sysroot}, and impractical
14657 with @code{set solib-search-path}. Setting
14658 @code{target-file-system-kind} to @code{dos-based} tells @value{GDBN}
14659 to interpret such file names similarly to how the target would, and to
14660 map them to file names valid on @value{GDBN}'s native file system
14661 semantics. The value of @var{kind} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition
14662 to one of the supported file system kinds. In that case, @value{GDBN}
14663 tries to determine the appropriate file system variant based on the
14664 current target's operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the
14665 Current ABI}). The supported file system settings are:
14666
14667 @table @code
14668 @item unix
14669 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is of Unix
14670 kind. Only file names starting the forward slash (@samp{/}) character
14671 are considered absolute, and the directory separator character is also
14672 the forward slash.
14673
14674 @item dos-based
14675 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is DOS based.
14676 File names starting with either a forward slash, or a drive letter
14677 followed by a colon (e.g., @samp{c:}), are considered absolute, and
14678 both the slash (@samp{/}) and the backslash (@samp{\\}) characters are
14679 considered directory separators.
14680
14681 @item auto
14682 Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the file system kind associated with the
14683 target operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
14684 This is the default.
14685 @end table
14686 @end table
14687
14688
14689 @node Separate Debug Files
14690 @section Debugging Information in Separate Files
14691 @cindex separate debugging information files
14692 @cindex debugging information in separate files
14693 @cindex @file{.debug} subdirectories
14694 @cindex debugging information directory, global
14695 @cindex global debugging information directory
14696 @cindex build ID, and separate debugging files
14697 @cindex @file{.build-id} directory
14698
14699 @value{GDBN} allows you to put a program's debugging information in a
14700 file separate from the executable itself, in a way that allows
14701 @value{GDBN} to find and load the debugging information automatically.
14702 Since debugging information can be very large---sometimes larger
14703 than the executable code itself---some systems distribute debugging
14704 information for their executables in separate files, which users can
14705 install only when they need to debug a problem.
14706
14707 @value{GDBN} supports two ways of specifying the separate debug info
14708 file:
14709
14710 @itemize @bullet
14711 @item
14712 The executable contains a @dfn{debug link} that specifies the name of
14713 the separate debug info file. The separate debug file's name is
14714 usually @file{@var{executable}.debug}, where @var{executable} is the
14715 name of the corresponding executable file without leading directories
14716 (e.g., @file{ls.debug} for @file{/usr/bin/ls}). In addition, the
14717 debug link specifies a 32-bit @dfn{Cyclic Redundancy Check} (CRC)
14718 checksum for the debug file, which @value{GDBN} uses to validate that
14719 the executable and the debug file came from the same build.
14720
14721 @item
14722 The executable contains a @dfn{build ID}, a unique bit string that is
14723 also present in the corresponding debug info file. (This is supported
14724 only on some operating systems, notably those which use the ELF format
14725 for binary files and the @sc{gnu} Binutils.) For more details about
14726 this feature, see the description of the @option{--build-id}
14727 command-line option in @ref{Options, , Command Line Options, ld.info,
14728 The GNU Linker}. The debug info file's name is not specified
14729 explicitly by the build ID, but can be computed from the build ID, see
14730 below.
14731 @end itemize
14732
14733 Depending on the way the debug info file is specified, @value{GDBN}
14734 uses two different methods of looking for the debug file:
14735
14736 @itemize @bullet
14737 @item
14738 For the ``debug link'' method, @value{GDBN} looks up the named file in
14739 the directory of the executable file, then in a subdirectory of that
14740 directory named @file{.debug}, and finally under the global debug
14741 directory, in a subdirectory whose name is identical to the leading
14742 directories of the executable's absolute file name.
14743
14744 @item
14745 For the ``build ID'' method, @value{GDBN} looks in the
14746 @file{.build-id} subdirectory of the global debug directory for a file
14747 named @file{@var{nn}/@var{nnnnnnnn}.debug}, where @var{nn} are the
14748 first 2 hex characters of the build ID bit string, and @var{nnnnnnnn}
14749 are the rest of the bit string. (Real build ID strings are 32 or more
14750 hex characters, not 10.)
14751 @end itemize
14752
14753 So, for example, suppose you ask @value{GDBN} to debug
14754 @file{/usr/bin/ls}, which has a debug link that specifies the
14755 file @file{ls.debug}, and a build ID whose value in hex is
14756 @code{abcdef1234}. If the global debug directory is
14757 @file{/usr/lib/debug}, then @value{GDBN} will look for the following
14758 debug information files, in the indicated order:
14759
14760 @itemize @minus
14761 @item
14762 @file{/usr/lib/debug/.build-id/ab/cdef1234.debug}
14763 @item
14764 @file{/usr/bin/ls.debug}
14765 @item
14766 @file{/usr/bin/.debug/ls.debug}
14767 @item
14768 @file{/usr/lib/debug/usr/bin/ls.debug}.
14769 @end itemize
14770
14771 You can set the global debugging info directory's name, and view the
14772 name @value{GDBN} is currently using.
14773
14774 @table @code
14775
14776 @kindex set debug-file-directory
14777 @item set debug-file-directory @var{directories}
14778 Set the directories which @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
14779 information files to @var{directory}. Multiple directory components can be set
14780 concatenating them by a directory separator.
14781
14782 @kindex show debug-file-directory
14783 @item show debug-file-directory
14784 Show the directories @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
14785 information files.
14786
14787 @end table
14788
14789 @cindex @code{.gnu_debuglink} sections
14790 @cindex debug link sections
14791 A debug link is a special section of the executable file named
14792 @code{.gnu_debuglink}. The section must contain:
14793
14794 @itemize
14795 @item
14796 A filename, with any leading directory components removed, followed by
14797 a zero byte,
14798 @item
14799 zero to three bytes of padding, as needed to reach the next four-byte
14800 boundary within the section, and
14801 @item
14802 a four-byte CRC checksum, stored in the same endianness used for the
14803 executable file itself. The checksum is computed on the debugging
14804 information file's full contents by the function given below, passing
14805 zero as the @var{crc} argument.
14806 @end itemize
14807
14808 Any executable file format can carry a debug link, as long as it can
14809 contain a section named @code{.gnu_debuglink} with the contents
14810 described above.
14811
14812 @cindex @code{.note.gnu.build-id} sections
14813 @cindex build ID sections
14814 The build ID is a special section in the executable file (and in other
14815 ELF binary files that @value{GDBN} may consider). This section is
14816 often named @code{.note.gnu.build-id}, but that name is not mandatory.
14817 It contains unique identification for the built files---the ID remains
14818 the same across multiple builds of the same build tree. The default
14819 algorithm SHA1 produces 160 bits (40 hexadecimal characters) of the
14820 content for the build ID string. The same section with an identical
14821 value is present in the original built binary with symbols, in its
14822 stripped variant, and in the separate debugging information file.
14823
14824 The debugging information file itself should be an ordinary
14825 executable, containing a full set of linker symbols, sections, and
14826 debugging information. The sections of the debugging information file
14827 should have the same names, addresses, and sizes as the original file,
14828 but they need not contain any data---much like a @code{.bss} section
14829 in an ordinary executable.
14830
14831 The @sc{gnu} binary utilities (Binutils) package includes the
14832 @samp{objcopy} utility that can produce
14833 the separated executable / debugging information file pairs using the
14834 following commands:
14835
14836 @smallexample
14837 @kbd{objcopy --only-keep-debug foo foo.debug}
14838 @kbd{strip -g foo}
14839 @end smallexample
14840
14841 @noindent
14842 These commands remove the debugging
14843 information from the executable file @file{foo} and place it in the file
14844 @file{foo.debug}. You can use the first, second or both methods to link the
14845 two files:
14846
14847 @itemize @bullet
14848 @item
14849 The debug link method needs the following additional command to also leave
14850 behind a debug link in @file{foo}:
14851
14852 @smallexample
14853 @kbd{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.debug foo}
14854 @end smallexample
14855
14856 Ulrich Drepper's @file{elfutils} package, starting with version 0.53, contains
14857 a version of the @code{strip} command such that the command @kbd{strip foo -f
14858 foo.debug} has the same functionality as the two @code{objcopy} commands and
14859 the @code{ln -s} command above, together.
14860
14861 @item
14862 Build ID gets embedded into the main executable using @code{ld --build-id} or
14863 the @value{NGCC} counterpart @code{gcc -Wl,--build-id}. Build ID support plus
14864 compatibility fixes for debug files separation are present in @sc{gnu} binary
14865 utilities (Binutils) package since version 2.18.
14866 @end itemize
14867
14868 @noindent
14869
14870 @cindex CRC algorithm definition
14871 The CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink} is the CRC-32 defined in
14872 IEEE 802.3 using the polynomial:
14873
14874 @c TexInfo requires naked braces for multi-digit exponents for Tex
14875 @c output, but this causes HTML output to barf. HTML has to be set using
14876 @c raw commands. So we end up having to specify this equation in 2
14877 @c different ways!
14878 @ifhtml
14879 @display
14880 @html
14881 <em>x</em><sup>32</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>26</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>23</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>22</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>16</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>12</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>11</sup>
14882 + <em>x</em><sup>10</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>8</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>7</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>5</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>4</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>2</sup> + <em>x</em> + 1
14883 @end html
14884 @end display
14885 @end ifhtml
14886 @ifnothtml
14887 @display
14888 @math{x^{32} + x^{26} + x^{23} + x^{22} + x^{16} + x^{12} + x^{11}}
14889 @math{+ x^{10} + x^8 + x^7 + x^5 + x^4 + x^2 + x + 1}
14890 @end display
14891 @end ifnothtml
14892
14893 The function is computed byte at a time, taking the least
14894 significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern
14895 @code{0xffffffff} is used, to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC and
14896 the final result is inverted to ensure trailing zeros also affect the
14897 CRC.
14898
14899 @emph{Note:} This is the same CRC polynomial as used in handling the
14900 @dfn{Remote Serial Protocol} @code{qCRC} packet (@pxref{Remote Protocol,
14901 , @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol}). However in the
14902 case of the Remote Serial Protocol, the CRC is computed @emph{most}
14903 significant bit first, and the result is not inverted, so trailing
14904 zeros have no effect on the CRC value.
14905
14906 To complete the description, we show below the code of the function
14907 which produces the CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink}. Inverting the
14908 initially supplied @code{crc} argument means that an initial call to
14909 this function passing in zero will start computing the CRC using
14910 @code{0xffffffff}.
14911
14912 @kindex gnu_debuglink_crc32
14913 @smallexample
14914 unsigned long
14915 gnu_debuglink_crc32 (unsigned long crc,
14916 unsigned char *buf, size_t len)
14917 @{
14918 static const unsigned long crc32_table[256] =
14919 @{
14920 0x00000000, 0x77073096, 0xee0e612c, 0x990951ba, 0x076dc419,
14921 0x706af48f, 0xe963a535, 0x9e6495a3, 0x0edb8832, 0x79dcb8a4,
14922 0xe0d5e91e, 0x97d2d988, 0x09b64c2b, 0x7eb17cbd, 0xe7b82d07,
14923 0x90bf1d91, 0x1db71064, 0x6ab020f2, 0xf3b97148, 0x84be41de,
14924 0x1adad47d, 0x6ddde4eb, 0xf4d4b551, 0x83d385c7, 0x136c9856,
14925 0x646ba8c0, 0xfd62f97a, 0x8a65c9ec, 0x14015c4f, 0x63066cd9,
14926 0xfa0f3d63, 0x8d080df5, 0x3b6e20c8, 0x4c69105e, 0xd56041e4,
14927 0xa2677172, 0x3c03e4d1, 0x4b04d447, 0xd20d85fd, 0xa50ab56b,
14928 0x35b5a8fa, 0x42b2986c, 0xdbbbc9d6, 0xacbcf940, 0x32d86ce3,
14929 0x45df5c75, 0xdcd60dcf, 0xabd13d59, 0x26d930ac, 0x51de003a,
14930 0xc8d75180, 0xbfd06116, 0x21b4f4b5, 0x56b3c423, 0xcfba9599,
14931 0xb8bda50f, 0x2802b89e, 0x5f058808, 0xc60cd9b2, 0xb10be924,
14932 0x2f6f7c87, 0x58684c11, 0xc1611dab, 0xb6662d3d, 0x76dc4190,
14933 0x01db7106, 0x98d220bc, 0xefd5102a, 0x71b18589, 0x06b6b51f,
14934 0x9fbfe4a5, 0xe8b8d433, 0x7807c9a2, 0x0f00f934, 0x9609a88e,
14935 0xe10e9818, 0x7f6a0dbb, 0x086d3d2d, 0x91646c97, 0xe6635c01,
14936 0x6b6b51f4, 0x1c6c6162, 0x856530d8, 0xf262004e, 0x6c0695ed,
14937 0x1b01a57b, 0x8208f4c1, 0xf50fc457, 0x65b0d9c6, 0x12b7e950,
14938 0x8bbeb8ea, 0xfcb9887c, 0x62dd1ddf, 0x15da2d49, 0x8cd37cf3,
14939 0xfbd44c65, 0x4db26158, 0x3ab551ce, 0xa3bc0074, 0xd4bb30e2,
14940 0x4adfa541, 0x3dd895d7, 0xa4d1c46d, 0xd3d6f4fb, 0x4369e96a,
14941 0x346ed9fc, 0xad678846, 0xda60b8d0, 0x44042d73, 0x33031de5,
14942 0xaa0a4c5f, 0xdd0d7cc9, 0x5005713c, 0x270241aa, 0xbe0b1010,
14943 0xc90c2086, 0x5768b525, 0x206f85b3, 0xb966d409, 0xce61e49f,
14944 0x5edef90e, 0x29d9c998, 0xb0d09822, 0xc7d7a8b4, 0x59b33d17,
14945 0x2eb40d81, 0xb7bd5c3b, 0xc0ba6cad, 0xedb88320, 0x9abfb3b6,
14946 0x03b6e20c, 0x74b1d29a, 0xead54739, 0x9dd277af, 0x04db2615,
14947 0x73dc1683, 0xe3630b12, 0x94643b84, 0x0d6d6a3e, 0x7a6a5aa8,
14948 0xe40ecf0b, 0x9309ff9d, 0x0a00ae27, 0x7d079eb1, 0xf00f9344,
14949 0x8708a3d2, 0x1e01f268, 0x6906c2fe, 0xf762575d, 0x806567cb,
14950 0x196c3671, 0x6e6b06e7, 0xfed41b76, 0x89d32be0, 0x10da7a5a,
14951 0x67dd4acc, 0xf9b9df6f, 0x8ebeeff9, 0x17b7be43, 0x60b08ed5,
14952 0xd6d6a3e8, 0xa1d1937e, 0x38d8c2c4, 0x4fdff252, 0xd1bb67f1,
14953 0xa6bc5767, 0x3fb506dd, 0x48b2364b, 0xd80d2bda, 0xaf0a1b4c,
14954 0x36034af6, 0x41047a60, 0xdf60efc3, 0xa867df55, 0x316e8eef,
14955 0x4669be79, 0xcb61b38c, 0xbc66831a, 0x256fd2a0, 0x5268e236,
14956 0xcc0c7795, 0xbb0b4703, 0x220216b9, 0x5505262f, 0xc5ba3bbe,
14957 0xb2bd0b28, 0x2bb45a92, 0x5cb36a04, 0xc2d7ffa7, 0xb5d0cf31,
14958 0x2cd99e8b, 0x5bdeae1d, 0x9b64c2b0, 0xec63f226, 0x756aa39c,
14959 0x026d930a, 0x9c0906a9, 0xeb0e363f, 0x72076785, 0x05005713,
14960 0x95bf4a82, 0xe2b87a14, 0x7bb12bae, 0x0cb61b38, 0x92d28e9b,
14961 0xe5d5be0d, 0x7cdcefb7, 0x0bdbdf21, 0x86d3d2d4, 0xf1d4e242,
14962 0x68ddb3f8, 0x1fda836e, 0x81be16cd, 0xf6b9265b, 0x6fb077e1,
14963 0x18b74777, 0x88085ae6, 0xff0f6a70, 0x66063bca, 0x11010b5c,
14964 0x8f659eff, 0xf862ae69, 0x616bffd3, 0x166ccf45, 0xa00ae278,
14965 0xd70dd2ee, 0x4e048354, 0x3903b3c2, 0xa7672661, 0xd06016f7,
14966 0x4969474d, 0x3e6e77db, 0xaed16a4a, 0xd9d65adc, 0x40df0b66,
14967 0x37d83bf0, 0xa9bcae53, 0xdebb9ec5, 0x47b2cf7f, 0x30b5ffe9,
14968 0xbdbdf21c, 0xcabac28a, 0x53b39330, 0x24b4a3a6, 0xbad03605,
14969 0xcdd70693, 0x54de5729, 0x23d967bf, 0xb3667a2e, 0xc4614ab8,
14970 0x5d681b02, 0x2a6f2b94, 0xb40bbe37, 0xc30c8ea1, 0x5a05df1b,
14971 0x2d02ef8d
14972 @};
14973 unsigned char *end;
14974
14975 crc = ~crc & 0xffffffff;
14976 for (end = buf + len; buf < end; ++buf)
14977 crc = crc32_table[(crc ^ *buf) & 0xff] ^ (crc >> 8);
14978 return ~crc & 0xffffffff;
14979 @}
14980 @end smallexample
14981
14982 @noindent
14983 This computation does not apply to the ``build ID'' method.
14984
14985
14986 @node Symbol Errors
14987 @section Errors Reading Symbol Files
14988
14989 While reading a symbol file, @value{GDBN} occasionally encounters problems,
14990 such as symbol types it does not recognize, or known bugs in compiler
14991 output. By default, @value{GDBN} does not notify you of such problems, since
14992 they are relatively common and primarily of interest to people
14993 debugging compilers. If you are interested in seeing information
14994 about ill-constructed symbol tables, you can either ask @value{GDBN} to print
14995 only one message about each such type of problem, no matter how many
14996 times the problem occurs; or you can ask @value{GDBN} to print more messages,
14997 to see how many times the problems occur, with the @code{set
14998 complaints} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
14999 Messages}).
15000
15001 The messages currently printed, and their meanings, include:
15002
15003 @table @code
15004 @item inner block not inside outer block in @var{symbol}
15005
15006 The symbol information shows where symbol scopes begin and end
15007 (such as at the start of a function or a block of statements). This
15008 error indicates that an inner scope block is not fully contained
15009 in its outer scope blocks.
15010
15011 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the inner block as if it had
15012 the same scope as the outer block. In the error message, @var{symbol}
15013 may be shown as ``@code{(don't know)}'' if the outer block is not a
15014 function.
15015
15016 @item block at @var{address} out of order
15017
15018 The symbol information for symbol scope blocks should occur in
15019 order of increasing addresses. This error indicates that it does not
15020 do so.
15021
15022 @value{GDBN} does not circumvent this problem, and has trouble
15023 locating symbols in the source file whose symbols it is reading. (You
15024 can often determine what source file is affected by specifying
15025 @code{set verbose on}. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
15026 Messages}.)
15027
15028 @item bad block start address patched
15029
15030 The symbol information for a symbol scope block has a start address
15031 smaller than the address of the preceding source line. This is known
15032 to occur in the SunOS 4.1.1 (and earlier) C compiler.
15033
15034 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the symbol scope block as
15035 starting on the previous source line.
15036
15037 @item bad string table offset in symbol @var{n}
15038
15039 @cindex foo
15040 Symbol number @var{n} contains a pointer into the string table which is
15041 larger than the size of the string table.
15042
15043 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by considering the symbol to have the
15044 name @code{foo}, which may cause other problems if many symbols end up
15045 with this name.
15046
15047 @item unknown symbol type @code{0x@var{nn}}
15048
15049 The symbol information contains new data types that @value{GDBN} does
15050 not yet know how to read. @code{0x@var{nn}} is the symbol type of the
15051 uncomprehended information, in hexadecimal.
15052
15053 @value{GDBN} circumvents the error by ignoring this symbol information.
15054 This usually allows you to debug your program, though certain symbols
15055 are not accessible. If you encounter such a problem and feel like
15056 debugging it, you can debug @code{@value{GDBP}} with itself, breakpoint
15057 on @code{complain}, then go up to the function @code{read_dbx_symtab}
15058 and examine @code{*bufp} to see the symbol.
15059
15060 @item stub type has NULL name
15061
15062 @value{GDBN} could not find the full definition for a struct or class.
15063
15064 @item const/volatile indicator missing (ok if using g++ v1.x), got@dots{}
15065 The symbol information for a C@t{++} member function is missing some
15066 information that recent versions of the compiler should have output for
15067 it.
15068
15069 @item info mismatch between compiler and debugger
15070
15071 @value{GDBN} could not parse a type specification output by the compiler.
15072
15073 @end table
15074
15075 @node Data Files
15076 @section GDB Data Files
15077
15078 @cindex prefix for data files
15079 @value{GDBN} will sometimes read an auxiliary data file. These files
15080 are kept in a directory known as the @dfn{data directory}.
15081
15082 You can set the data directory's name, and view the name @value{GDBN}
15083 is currently using.
15084
15085 @table @code
15086 @kindex set data-directory
15087 @item set data-directory @var{directory}
15088 Set the directory which @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files
15089 to @var{directory}.
15090
15091 @kindex show data-directory
15092 @item show data-directory
15093 Show the directory @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files.
15094 @end table
15095
15096 @cindex default data directory
15097 @cindex @samp{--with-gdb-datadir}
15098 You can set the default data directory by using the configure-time
15099 @samp{--with-gdb-datadir} option. If the data directory is inside
15100 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
15101 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default data directory will be updated
15102 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
15103 location.
15104
15105 @node Targets
15106 @chapter Specifying a Debugging Target
15107
15108 @cindex debugging target
15109 A @dfn{target} is the execution environment occupied by your program.
15110
15111 Often, @value{GDBN} runs in the same host environment as your program;
15112 in that case, the debugging target is specified as a side effect when
15113 you use the @code{file} or @code{core} commands. When you need more
15114 flexibility---for example, running @value{GDBN} on a physically separate
15115 host, or controlling a standalone system over a serial port or a
15116 realtime system over a TCP/IP connection---you can use the @code{target}
15117 command to specify one of the target types configured for @value{GDBN}
15118 (@pxref{Target Commands, ,Commands for Managing Targets}).
15119
15120 @cindex target architecture
15121 It is possible to build @value{GDBN} for several different @dfn{target
15122 architectures}. When @value{GDBN} is built like that, you can choose
15123 one of the available architectures with the @kbd{set architecture}
15124 command.
15125
15126 @table @code
15127 @kindex set architecture
15128 @kindex show architecture
15129 @item set architecture @var{arch}
15130 This command sets the current target architecture to @var{arch}. The
15131 value of @var{arch} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition to one of the
15132 supported architectures.
15133
15134 @item show architecture
15135 Show the current target architecture.
15136
15137 @item set processor
15138 @itemx processor
15139 @kindex set processor
15140 @kindex show processor
15141 These are alias commands for, respectively, @code{set architecture}
15142 and @code{show architecture}.
15143 @end table
15144
15145 @menu
15146 * Active Targets:: Active targets
15147 * Target Commands:: Commands for managing targets
15148 * Byte Order:: Choosing target byte order
15149 @end menu
15150
15151 @node Active Targets
15152 @section Active Targets
15153
15154 @cindex stacking targets
15155 @cindex active targets
15156 @cindex multiple targets
15157
15158 There are three classes of targets: processes, core files, and
15159 executable files. @value{GDBN} can work concurrently on up to three
15160 active targets, one in each class. This allows you to (for example)
15161 start a process and inspect its activity without abandoning your work on
15162 a core file.
15163
15164 For example, if you execute @samp{gdb a.out}, then the executable file
15165 @code{a.out} is the only active target. If you designate a core file as
15166 well---presumably from a prior run that crashed and coredumped---then
15167 @value{GDBN} has two active targets and uses them in tandem, looking
15168 first in the corefile target, then in the executable file, to satisfy
15169 requests for memory addresses. (Typically, these two classes of target
15170 are complementary, since core files contain only a program's
15171 read-write memory---variables and so on---plus machine status, while
15172 executable files contain only the program text and initialized data.)
15173
15174 When you type @code{run}, your executable file becomes an active process
15175 target as well. When a process target is active, all @value{GDBN}
15176 commands requesting memory addresses refer to that target; addresses in
15177 an active core file or executable file target are obscured while the
15178 process target is active.
15179
15180 Use the @code{core-file} and @code{exec-file} commands to select a new
15181 core file or executable target (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify
15182 Files}). To specify as a target a process that is already running, use
15183 the @code{attach} command (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running
15184 Process}).
15185
15186 @node Target Commands
15187 @section Commands for Managing Targets
15188
15189 @table @code
15190 @item target @var{type} @var{parameters}
15191 Connects the @value{GDBN} host environment to a target machine or
15192 process. A target is typically a protocol for talking to debugging
15193 facilities. You use the argument @var{type} to specify the type or
15194 protocol of the target machine.
15195
15196 Further @var{parameters} are interpreted by the target protocol, but
15197 typically include things like device names or host names to connect
15198 with, process numbers, and baud rates.
15199
15200 The @code{target} command does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again
15201 after executing the command.
15202
15203 @kindex help target
15204 @item help target
15205 Displays the names of all targets available. To display targets
15206 currently selected, use either @code{info target} or @code{info files}
15207 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
15208
15209 @item help target @var{name}
15210 Describe a particular target, including any parameters necessary to
15211 select it.
15212
15213 @kindex set gnutarget
15214 @item set gnutarget @var{args}
15215 @value{GDBN} uses its own library BFD to read your files. @value{GDBN}
15216 knows whether it is reading an @dfn{executable},
15217 a @dfn{core}, or a @dfn{.o} file; however, you can specify the file format
15218 with the @code{set gnutarget} command. Unlike most @code{target} commands,
15219 with @code{gnutarget} the @code{target} refers to a program, not a machine.
15220
15221 @quotation
15222 @emph{Warning:} To specify a file format with @code{set gnutarget},
15223 you must know the actual BFD name.
15224 @end quotation
15225
15226 @noindent
15227 @xref{Files, , Commands to Specify Files}.
15228
15229 @kindex show gnutarget
15230 @item show gnutarget
15231 Use the @code{show gnutarget} command to display what file format
15232 @code{gnutarget} is set to read. If you have not set @code{gnutarget},
15233 @value{GDBN} will determine the file format for each file automatically,
15234 and @code{show gnutarget} displays @samp{The current BDF target is "auto"}.
15235 @end table
15236
15237 @cindex common targets
15238 Here are some common targets (available, or not, depending on the GDB
15239 configuration):
15240
15241 @table @code
15242 @kindex target
15243 @item target exec @var{program}
15244 @cindex executable file target
15245 An executable file. @samp{target exec @var{program}} is the same as
15246 @samp{exec-file @var{program}}.
15247
15248 @item target core @var{filename}
15249 @cindex core dump file target
15250 A core dump file. @samp{target core @var{filename}} is the same as
15251 @samp{core-file @var{filename}}.
15252
15253 @item target remote @var{medium}
15254 @cindex remote target
15255 A remote system connected to @value{GDBN} via a serial line or network
15256 connection. This command tells @value{GDBN} to use its own remote
15257 protocol over @var{medium} for debugging. @xref{Remote Debugging}.
15258
15259 For example, if you have a board connected to @file{/dev/ttya} on the
15260 machine running @value{GDBN}, you could say:
15261
15262 @smallexample
15263 target remote /dev/ttya
15264 @end smallexample
15265
15266 @code{target remote} supports the @code{load} command. This is only
15267 useful if you have some other way of getting the stub to the target
15268 system, and you can put it somewhere in memory where it won't get
15269 clobbered by the download.
15270
15271 @item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
15272 @cindex built-in simulator target
15273 Builtin CPU simulator. @value{GDBN} includes simulators for most architectures.
15274 In general,
15275 @smallexample
15276 target sim
15277 load
15278 run
15279 @end smallexample
15280 @noindent
15281 works; however, you cannot assume that a specific memory map, device
15282 drivers, or even basic I/O is available, although some simulators do
15283 provide these. For info about any processor-specific simulator details,
15284 see the appropriate section in @ref{Embedded Processors, ,Embedded
15285 Processors}.
15286
15287 @end table
15288
15289 Some configurations may include these targets as well:
15290
15291 @table @code
15292
15293 @item target nrom @var{dev}
15294 @cindex NetROM ROM emulator target
15295 NetROM ROM emulator. This target only supports downloading.
15296
15297 @end table
15298
15299 Different targets are available on different configurations of @value{GDBN};
15300 your configuration may have more or fewer targets.
15301
15302 Many remote targets require you to download the executable's code once
15303 you've successfully established a connection. You may wish to control
15304 various aspects of this process.
15305
15306 @table @code
15307
15308 @item set hash
15309 @kindex set hash@r{, for remote monitors}
15310 @cindex hash mark while downloading
15311 This command controls whether a hash mark @samp{#} is displayed while
15312 downloading a file to the remote monitor. If on, a hash mark is
15313 displayed after each S-record is successfully downloaded to the
15314 monitor.
15315
15316 @item show hash
15317 @kindex show hash@r{, for remote monitors}
15318 Show the current status of displaying the hash mark.
15319
15320 @item set debug monitor
15321 @kindex set debug monitor
15322 @cindex display remote monitor communications
15323 Enable or disable display of communications messages between
15324 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
15325
15326 @item show debug monitor
15327 @kindex show debug monitor
15328 Show the current status of displaying communications between
15329 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
15330 @end table
15331
15332 @table @code
15333
15334 @kindex load @var{filename}
15335 @item load @var{filename}
15336 @anchor{load}
15337 Depending on what remote debugging facilities are configured into
15338 @value{GDBN}, the @code{load} command may be available. Where it exists, it
15339 is meant to make @var{filename} (an executable) available for debugging
15340 on the remote system---by downloading, or dynamic linking, for example.
15341 @code{load} also records the @var{filename} symbol table in @value{GDBN}, like
15342 the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
15343
15344 If your @value{GDBN} does not have a @code{load} command, attempting to
15345 execute it gets the error message ``@code{You can't do that when your
15346 target is @dots{}}''
15347
15348 The file is loaded at whatever address is specified in the executable.
15349 For some object file formats, you can specify the load address when you
15350 link the program; for other formats, like a.out, the object file format
15351 specifies a fixed address.
15352 @c FIXME! This would be a good place for an xref to the GNU linker doc.
15353
15354 Depending on the remote side capabilities, @value{GDBN} may be able to
15355 load programs into flash memory.
15356
15357 @code{load} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
15358 @end table
15359
15360 @node Byte Order
15361 @section Choosing Target Byte Order
15362
15363 @cindex choosing target byte order
15364 @cindex target byte order
15365
15366 Some types of processors, such as the MIPS, PowerPC, and Renesas SH,
15367 offer the ability to run either big-endian or little-endian byte
15368 orders. Usually the executable or symbol will include a bit to
15369 designate the endian-ness, and you will not need to worry about
15370 which to use. However, you may still find it useful to adjust
15371 @value{GDBN}'s idea of processor endian-ness manually.
15372
15373 @table @code
15374 @kindex set endian
15375 @item set endian big
15376 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is big-endian.
15377
15378 @item set endian little
15379 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is little-endian.
15380
15381 @item set endian auto
15382 Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the byte order associated with the
15383 executable.
15384
15385 @item show endian
15386 Display @value{GDBN}'s current idea of the target byte order.
15387
15388 @end table
15389
15390 Note that these commands merely adjust interpretation of symbolic
15391 data on the host, and that they have absolutely no effect on the
15392 target system.
15393
15394
15395 @node Remote Debugging
15396 @chapter Debugging Remote Programs
15397 @cindex remote debugging
15398
15399 If you are trying to debug a program running on a machine that cannot run
15400 @value{GDBN} in the usual way, it is often useful to use remote debugging.
15401 For example, you might use remote debugging on an operating system kernel,
15402 or on a small system which does not have a general purpose operating system
15403 powerful enough to run a full-featured debugger.
15404
15405 Some configurations of @value{GDBN} have special serial or TCP/IP interfaces
15406 to make this work with particular debugging targets. In addition,
15407 @value{GDBN} comes with a generic serial protocol (specific to @value{GDBN},
15408 but not specific to any particular target system) which you can use if you
15409 write the remote stubs---the code that runs on the remote system to
15410 communicate with @value{GDBN}.
15411
15412 Other remote targets may be available in your
15413 configuration of @value{GDBN}; use @code{help target} to list them.
15414
15415 @menu
15416 * Connecting:: Connecting to a remote target
15417 * File Transfer:: Sending files to a remote system
15418 * Server:: Using the gdbserver program
15419 * Remote Configuration:: Remote configuration
15420 * Remote Stub:: Implementing a remote stub
15421 @end menu
15422
15423 @node Connecting
15424 @section Connecting to a Remote Target
15425
15426 On the @value{GDBN} host machine, you will need an unstripped copy of
15427 your program, since @value{GDBN} needs symbol and debugging information.
15428 Start up @value{GDBN} as usual, using the name of the local copy of your
15429 program as the first argument.
15430
15431 @cindex @code{target remote}
15432 @value{GDBN} can communicate with the target over a serial line, or
15433 over an @acronym{IP} network using @acronym{TCP} or @acronym{UDP}. In
15434 each case, @value{GDBN} uses the same protocol for debugging your
15435 program; only the medium carrying the debugging packets varies. The
15436 @code{target remote} command establishes a connection to the target.
15437 Its arguments indicate which medium to use:
15438
15439 @table @code
15440
15441 @item target remote @var{serial-device}
15442 @cindex serial line, @code{target remote}
15443 Use @var{serial-device} to communicate with the target. For example,
15444 to use a serial line connected to the device named @file{/dev/ttyb}:
15445
15446 @smallexample
15447 target remote /dev/ttyb
15448 @end smallexample
15449
15450 If you're using a serial line, you may want to give @value{GDBN} the
15451 @w{@samp{--baud}} option, or use the @code{set remotebaud} command
15452 (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remotebaud}) before the
15453 @code{target} command.
15454
15455 @item target remote @code{@var{host}:@var{port}}
15456 @itemx target remote @code{tcp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
15457 @cindex @acronym{TCP} port, @code{target remote}
15458 Debug using a @acronym{TCP} connection to @var{port} on @var{host}.
15459 The @var{host} may be either a host name or a numeric @acronym{IP}
15460 address; @var{port} must be a decimal number. The @var{host} could be
15461 the target machine itself, if it is directly connected to the net, or
15462 it might be a terminal server which in turn has a serial line to the
15463 target.
15464
15465 For example, to connect to port 2828 on a terminal server named
15466 @code{manyfarms}:
15467
15468 @smallexample
15469 target remote manyfarms:2828
15470 @end smallexample
15471
15472 If your remote target is actually running on the same machine as your
15473 debugger session (e.g.@: a simulator for your target running on the
15474 same host), you can omit the hostname. For example, to connect to
15475 port 1234 on your local machine:
15476
15477 @smallexample
15478 target remote :1234
15479 @end smallexample
15480 @noindent
15481
15482 Note that the colon is still required here.
15483
15484 @item target remote @code{udp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
15485 @cindex @acronym{UDP} port, @code{target remote}
15486 Debug using @acronym{UDP} packets to @var{port} on @var{host}. For example, to
15487 connect to @acronym{UDP} port 2828 on a terminal server named @code{manyfarms}:
15488
15489 @smallexample
15490 target remote udp:manyfarms:2828
15491 @end smallexample
15492
15493 When using a @acronym{UDP} connection for remote debugging, you should
15494 keep in mind that the `U' stands for ``Unreliable''. @acronym{UDP}
15495 can silently drop packets on busy or unreliable networks, which will
15496 cause havoc with your debugging session.
15497
15498 @item target remote | @var{command}
15499 @cindex pipe, @code{target remote} to
15500 Run @var{command} in the background and communicate with it using a
15501 pipe. The @var{command} is a shell command, to be parsed and expanded
15502 by the system's command shell, @code{/bin/sh}; it should expect remote
15503 protocol packets on its standard input, and send replies on its
15504 standard output. You could use this to run a stand-alone simulator
15505 that speaks the remote debugging protocol, to make net connections
15506 using programs like @code{ssh}, or for other similar tricks.
15507
15508 If @var{command} closes its standard output (perhaps by exiting),
15509 @value{GDBN} will try to send it a @code{SIGTERM} signal. (If the
15510 program has already exited, this will have no effect.)
15511
15512 @end table
15513
15514 Once the connection has been established, you can use all the usual
15515 commands to examine and change data. The remote program is already
15516 running; you can use @kbd{step} and @kbd{continue}, and you do not
15517 need to use @kbd{run}.
15518
15519 @cindex interrupting remote programs
15520 @cindex remote programs, interrupting
15521 Whenever @value{GDBN} is waiting for the remote program, if you type the
15522 interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}), @value{GDBN} attempts to stop the
15523 program. This may or may not succeed, depending in part on the hardware
15524 and the serial drivers the remote system uses. If you type the
15525 interrupt character once again, @value{GDBN} displays this prompt:
15526
15527 @smallexample
15528 Interrupted while waiting for the program.
15529 Give up (and stop debugging it)? (y or n)
15530 @end smallexample
15531
15532 If you type @kbd{y}, @value{GDBN} abandons the remote debugging session.
15533 (If you decide you want to try again later, you can use @samp{target
15534 remote} again to connect once more.) If you type @kbd{n}, @value{GDBN}
15535 goes back to waiting.
15536
15537 @table @code
15538 @kindex detach (remote)
15539 @item detach
15540 When you have finished debugging the remote program, you can use the
15541 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control.
15542 Detaching from the target normally resumes its execution, but the results
15543 will depend on your particular remote stub. After the @code{detach}
15544 command, @value{GDBN} is free to connect to another target.
15545
15546 @kindex disconnect
15547 @item disconnect
15548 The @code{disconnect} command behaves like @code{detach}, except that
15549 the target is generally not resumed. It will wait for @value{GDBN}
15550 (this instance or another one) to connect and continue debugging. After
15551 the @code{disconnect} command, @value{GDBN} is again free to connect to
15552 another target.
15553
15554 @cindex send command to remote monitor
15555 @cindex extend @value{GDBN} for remote targets
15556 @cindex add new commands for external monitor
15557 @kindex monitor
15558 @item monitor @var{cmd}
15559 This command allows you to send arbitrary commands directly to the
15560 remote monitor. Since @value{GDBN} doesn't care about the commands it
15561 sends like this, this command is the way to extend @value{GDBN}---you
15562 can add new commands that only the external monitor will understand
15563 and implement.
15564 @end table
15565
15566 @node File Transfer
15567 @section Sending files to a remote system
15568 @cindex remote target, file transfer
15569 @cindex file transfer
15570 @cindex sending files to remote systems
15571
15572 Some remote targets offer the ability to transfer files over the same
15573 connection used to communicate with @value{GDBN}. This is convenient
15574 for targets accessible through other means, e.g.@: @sc{gnu}/Linux systems
15575 running @code{gdbserver} over a network interface. For other targets,
15576 e.g.@: embedded devices with only a single serial port, this may be
15577 the only way to upload or download files.
15578
15579 Not all remote targets support these commands.
15580
15581 @table @code
15582 @kindex remote put
15583 @item remote put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
15584 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
15585 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
15586
15587 @kindex remote get
15588 @item remote get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
15589 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
15590 on the host system.
15591
15592 @kindex remote delete
15593 @item remote delete @var{targetfile}
15594 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
15595
15596 @end table
15597
15598 @node Server
15599 @section Using the @code{gdbserver} Program
15600
15601 @kindex gdbserver
15602 @cindex remote connection without stubs
15603 @code{gdbserver} is a control program for Unix-like systems, which
15604 allows you to connect your program with a remote @value{GDBN} via
15605 @code{target remote}---but without linking in the usual debugging stub.
15606
15607 @code{gdbserver} is not a complete replacement for the debugging stubs,
15608 because it requires essentially the same operating-system facilities
15609 that @value{GDBN} itself does. In fact, a system that can run
15610 @code{gdbserver} to connect to a remote @value{GDBN} could also run
15611 @value{GDBN} locally! @code{gdbserver} is sometimes useful nevertheless,
15612 because it is a much smaller program than @value{GDBN} itself. It is
15613 also easier to port than all of @value{GDBN}, so you may be able to get
15614 started more quickly on a new system by using @code{gdbserver}.
15615 Finally, if you develop code for real-time systems, you may find that
15616 the tradeoffs involved in real-time operation make it more convenient to
15617 do as much development work as possible on another system, for example
15618 by cross-compiling. You can use @code{gdbserver} to make a similar
15619 choice for debugging.
15620
15621 @value{GDBN} and @code{gdbserver} communicate via either a serial line
15622 or a TCP connection, using the standard @value{GDBN} remote serial
15623 protocol.
15624
15625 @quotation
15626 @emph{Warning:} @code{gdbserver} does not have any built-in security.
15627 Do not run @code{gdbserver} connected to any public network; a
15628 @value{GDBN} connection to @code{gdbserver} provides access to the
15629 target system with the same privileges as the user running
15630 @code{gdbserver}.
15631 @end quotation
15632
15633 @subsection Running @code{gdbserver}
15634 @cindex arguments, to @code{gdbserver}
15635
15636 Run @code{gdbserver} on the target system. You need a copy of the
15637 program you want to debug, including any libraries it requires.
15638 @code{gdbserver} does not need your program's symbol table, so you can
15639 strip the program if necessary to save space. @value{GDBN} on the host
15640 system does all the symbol handling.
15641
15642 To use the server, you must tell it how to communicate with @value{GDBN};
15643 the name of your program; and the arguments for your program. The usual
15644 syntax is:
15645
15646 @smallexample
15647 target> gdbserver @var{comm} @var{program} [ @var{args} @dots{} ]
15648 @end smallexample
15649
15650 @var{comm} is either a device name (to use a serial line) or a TCP
15651 hostname and portnumber. For example, to debug Emacs with the argument
15652 @samp{foo.txt} and communicate with @value{GDBN} over the serial port
15653 @file{/dev/com1}:
15654
15655 @smallexample
15656 target> gdbserver /dev/com1 emacs foo.txt
15657 @end smallexample
15658
15659 @code{gdbserver} waits passively for the host @value{GDBN} to communicate
15660 with it.
15661
15662 To use a TCP connection instead of a serial line:
15663
15664 @smallexample
15665 target> gdbserver host:2345 emacs foo.txt
15666 @end smallexample
15667
15668 The only difference from the previous example is the first argument,
15669 specifying that you are communicating with the host @value{GDBN} via
15670 TCP. The @samp{host:2345} argument means that @code{gdbserver} is to
15671 expect a TCP connection from machine @samp{host} to local TCP port 2345.
15672 (Currently, the @samp{host} part is ignored.) You can choose any number
15673 you want for the port number as long as it does not conflict with any
15674 TCP ports already in use on the target system (for example, @code{23} is
15675 reserved for @code{telnet}).@footnote{If you choose a port number that
15676 conflicts with another service, @code{gdbserver} prints an error message
15677 and exits.} You must use the same port number with the host @value{GDBN}
15678 @code{target remote} command.
15679
15680 @subsubsection Attaching to a Running Program
15681
15682 On some targets, @code{gdbserver} can also attach to running programs.
15683 This is accomplished via the @code{--attach} argument. The syntax is:
15684
15685 @smallexample
15686 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
15687 @end smallexample
15688
15689 @var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't necessary
15690 to point @code{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
15691
15692 @pindex pidof
15693 @cindex attach to a program by name
15694 You can debug processes by name instead of process ID if your target has the
15695 @code{pidof} utility:
15696
15697 @smallexample
15698 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} `pidof @var{program}`
15699 @end smallexample
15700
15701 In case more than one copy of @var{program} is running, or @var{program}
15702 has multiple threads, most versions of @code{pidof} support the
15703 @code{-s} option to only return the first process ID.
15704
15705 @subsubsection Multi-Process Mode for @code{gdbserver}
15706 @cindex gdbserver, multiple processes
15707 @cindex multiple processes with gdbserver
15708
15709 When you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target remote},
15710 @code{gdbserver} debugs the specified program only once. When the
15711 program exits, or you detach from it, @value{GDBN} closes the connection
15712 and @code{gdbserver} exits.
15713
15714 If you connect using @kbd{target extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver}
15715 enters multi-process mode. When the debugged program exits, or you
15716 detach from it, @value{GDBN} stays connected to @code{gdbserver} even
15717 though no program is running. The @code{run} and @code{attach}
15718 commands instruct @code{gdbserver} to run or attach to a new program.
15719 The @code{run} command uses @code{set remote exec-file} (@pxref{set
15720 remote exec-file}) to select the program to run. Command line
15721 arguments are supported, except for wildcard expansion and I/O
15722 redirection (@pxref{Arguments}).
15723
15724 To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
15725 or process ID to attach, use the @option{--multi} command line option.
15726 Then you can connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} and start
15727 the program you want to debug.
15728
15729 @code{gdbserver} does not automatically exit in multi-process mode.
15730 You can terminate it by using @code{monitor exit}
15731 (@pxref{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}).
15732
15733 @subsubsection Other Command-Line Arguments for @code{gdbserver}
15734
15735 The @option{--debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display extra
15736 status information about the debugging process. The
15737 @option{--remote-debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display
15738 remote protocol debug output. These options are intended for
15739 @code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to the developers.
15740
15741 The @option{--wrapper} option specifies a wrapper to launch programs
15742 for debugging. The option should be followed by the name of the
15743 wrapper, then any command-line arguments to pass to the wrapper, then
15744 @kbd{--} indicating the end of the wrapper arguments.
15745
15746 @code{gdbserver} runs the specified wrapper program with a combined
15747 command line including the wrapper arguments, then the name of the
15748 program to debug, then any arguments to the program. The wrapper
15749 runs until it executes your program, and then @value{GDBN} gains control.
15750
15751 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
15752 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
15753 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
15754 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
15755
15756 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
15757 the debugged program, without setting the variable in @code{gdbserver}'s
15758 environment:
15759
15760 @smallexample
15761 $ gdbserver --wrapper env LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so -- :2222 ./testprog
15762 @end smallexample
15763
15764 @subsection Connecting to @code{gdbserver}
15765
15766 Run @value{GDBN} on the host system.
15767
15768 First make sure you have the necessary symbol files. Load symbols for
15769 your application using the @code{file} command before you connect. Use
15770 @code{set sysroot} to locate target libraries (unless your @value{GDBN}
15771 was compiled with the correct sysroot using @code{--with-sysroot}).
15772
15773 The symbol file and target libraries must exactly match the executable
15774 and libraries on the target, with one exception: the files on the host
15775 system should not be stripped, even if the files on the target system
15776 are. Mismatched or missing files will lead to confusing results
15777 during debugging. On @sc{gnu}/Linux targets, mismatched or missing
15778 files may also prevent @code{gdbserver} from debugging multi-threaded
15779 programs.
15780
15781 Connect to your target (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
15782 For TCP connections, you must start up @code{gdbserver} prior to using
15783 the @code{target remote} command. Otherwise you may get an error whose
15784 text depends on the host system, but which usually looks something like
15785 @samp{Connection refused}. Don't use the @code{load}
15786 command in @value{GDBN} when using @code{gdbserver}, since the program is
15787 already on the target.
15788
15789 @subsection Monitor Commands for @code{gdbserver}
15790 @cindex monitor commands, for @code{gdbserver}
15791 @anchor{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}
15792
15793 During a @value{GDBN} session using @code{gdbserver}, you can use the
15794 @code{monitor} command to send special requests to @code{gdbserver}.
15795 Here are the available commands.
15796
15797 @table @code
15798 @item monitor help
15799 List the available monitor commands.
15800
15801 @item monitor set debug 0
15802 @itemx monitor set debug 1
15803 Disable or enable general debugging messages.
15804
15805 @item monitor set remote-debug 0
15806 @itemx monitor set remote-debug 1
15807 Disable or enable specific debugging messages associated with the remote
15808 protocol (@pxref{Remote Protocol}).
15809
15810 @item monitor set libthread-db-search-path [PATH]
15811 @cindex gdbserver, search path for @code{libthread_db}
15812 When this command is issued, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
15813 directories to search for @code{libthread_db} (@pxref{Threads,,set
15814 libthread-db-search-path}). If you omit @var{path},
15815 @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to an empty list.
15816
15817 @item monitor exit
15818 Tell gdbserver to exit immediately. This command should be followed by
15819 @code{disconnect} to close the debugging session. @code{gdbserver} will
15820 detach from any attached processes and kill any processes it created.
15821 Use @code{monitor exit} to terminate @code{gdbserver} at the end
15822 of a multi-process mode debug session.
15823
15824 @end table
15825
15826 @subsection Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
15827 @cindex tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
15828
15829 On some targets, @code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints and fast
15830 tracepoints.
15831
15832 For fast tracepoints to work, a special library called the
15833 @dfn{in-process agent} (IPA), must be loaded in the inferior process.
15834 This library is built and distributed as an integral part of
15835 @code{gdbserver}.
15836
15837 There are several ways to load the in-process agent in your program:
15838
15839 @table @code
15840 @item Specifying it as dependency at link time
15841
15842 You can link your program dynamically with the in-process agent
15843 library. On most systems, this is accomplished by adding
15844 @code{-linproctrace} to the link command.
15845
15846 @item Using the system's preloading mechanisms
15847
15848 You can force loading the in-process agent at startup time by using
15849 your system's support for preloading shared libraries. Many Unixes
15850 support the concept of preloading user defined libraries. In most
15851 cases, you do that by specifying @code{LD_PRELOAD=libinproctrace.so}
15852 in the environment. See also the description of @code{gdbserver}'s
15853 @option{--wrapper} command line option.
15854
15855 @item Using @value{GDBN} to force loading the agent at run time
15856
15857 On some systems, you can force the inferior to load a shared library,
15858 by calling a dynamic loader function in the inferior that takes care
15859 of dynamically looking up and loading a shared library. On most Unix
15860 systems, the function is @code{dlopen}. You'll use the @code{call}
15861 command for that. For example:
15862
15863 @smallexample
15864 (@value{GDBP}) call dlopen ("libinproctrace.so", ...)
15865 @end smallexample
15866
15867 Note that on most Unix systems, for the @code{dlopen} function to be
15868 available, the program needs to be linked with @code{-ldl}.
15869 @end table
15870
15871 On systems that have a userspace dynamic loader, like most Unix
15872 systems, when you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target
15873 remote}, you'll find that the program is stopped at the dynamic
15874 loader's entry point, and no shared library has been loaded in the
15875 program's address space yet, including the in-process agent. In that
15876 case, before being able to use any of the fast tracepoints features,
15877 you need to let the loader run and load the shared libraries. The
15878 most simple way to do that is to run the program to the main
15879 procedure. E.g., if debugging a C or C@t{++} program, start
15880 @code{gdbserver} like so:
15881
15882 @smallexample
15883 $ gdbserver :9999 myprogram
15884 @end smallexample
15885
15886 Start GDB and connect to @code{gdbserver} like so, and run to main:
15887
15888 @smallexample
15889 $ gdb myprogram
15890 (@value{GDBP}) target remote myhost:9999
15891 0x00007f215893ba60 in ?? () from /lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2
15892 (@value{GDBP}) b main
15893 (@value{GDBP}) continue
15894 @end smallexample
15895
15896 The in-process tracing agent library should now be loaded into the
15897 process; you can confirm it with the @code{info sharedlibrary}
15898 command, which will list @file{libinproctrace.so} as loaded in the
15899 process. You are now ready to install fast tracepoints and start
15900 tracing.
15901
15902 @node Remote Configuration
15903 @section Remote Configuration
15904
15905 @kindex set remote
15906 @kindex show remote
15907 This section documents the configuration options available when
15908 debugging remote programs. For the options related to the File I/O
15909 extensions of the remote protocol, see @ref{system,
15910 system-call-allowed}.
15911
15912 @table @code
15913 @item set remoteaddresssize @var{bits}
15914 @cindex address size for remote targets
15915 @cindex bits in remote address
15916 Set the maximum size of address in a memory packet to the specified
15917 number of bits. @value{GDBN} will mask off the address bits above
15918 that number, when it passes addresses to the remote target. The
15919 default value is the number of bits in the target's address.
15920
15921 @item show remoteaddresssize
15922 Show the current value of remote address size in bits.
15923
15924 @item set remotebaud @var{n}
15925 @cindex baud rate for remote targets
15926 Set the baud rate for the remote serial I/O to @var{n} baud. The
15927 value is used to set the speed of the serial port used for debugging
15928 remote targets.
15929
15930 @item show remotebaud
15931 Show the current speed of the remote connection.
15932
15933 @item set remotebreak
15934 @cindex interrupt remote programs
15935 @cindex BREAK signal instead of Ctrl-C
15936 @anchor{set remotebreak}
15937 If set to on, @value{GDBN} sends a @code{BREAK} signal to the remote
15938 when you type @kbd{Ctrl-c} to interrupt the program running
15939 on the remote. If set to off, @value{GDBN} sends the @samp{Ctrl-C}
15940 character instead. The default is off, since most remote systems
15941 expect to see @samp{Ctrl-C} as the interrupt signal.
15942
15943 @item show remotebreak
15944 Show whether @value{GDBN} sends @code{BREAK} or @samp{Ctrl-C} to
15945 interrupt the remote program.
15946
15947 @item set remoteflow on
15948 @itemx set remoteflow off
15949 @kindex set remoteflow
15950 Enable or disable hardware flow control (@code{RTS}/@code{CTS})
15951 on the serial port used to communicate to the remote target.
15952
15953 @item show remoteflow
15954 @kindex show remoteflow
15955 Show the current setting of hardware flow control.
15956
15957 @item set remotelogbase @var{base}
15958 Set the base (a.k.a.@: radix) of logging serial protocol
15959 communications to @var{base}. Supported values of @var{base} are:
15960 @code{ascii}, @code{octal}, and @code{hex}. The default is
15961 @code{ascii}.
15962
15963 @item show remotelogbase
15964 Show the current setting of the radix for logging remote serial
15965 protocol.
15966
15967 @item set remotelogfile @var{file}
15968 @cindex record serial communications on file
15969 Record remote serial communications on the named @var{file}. The
15970 default is not to record at all.
15971
15972 @item show remotelogfile.
15973 Show the current setting of the file name on which to record the
15974 serial communications.
15975
15976 @item set remotetimeout @var{num}
15977 @cindex timeout for serial communications
15978 @cindex remote timeout
15979 Set the timeout limit to wait for the remote target to respond to
15980 @var{num} seconds. The default is 2 seconds.
15981
15982 @item show remotetimeout
15983 Show the current number of seconds to wait for the remote target
15984 responses.
15985
15986 @cindex limit hardware breakpoints and watchpoints
15987 @cindex remote target, limit break- and watchpoints
15988 @anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}
15989 @anchor{set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit}
15990 @item set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit @var{limit}
15991 @itemx set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit @var{limit}
15992 Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} remote hardware breakpoint or
15993 watchpoints. A limit of -1, the default, is treated as unlimited.
15994
15995 @item set remote exec-file @var{filename}
15996 @itemx show remote exec-file
15997 @anchor{set remote exec-file}
15998 @cindex executable file, for remote target
15999 Select the file used for @code{run} with @code{target
16000 extended-remote}. This should be set to a filename valid on the
16001 target system. If it is not set, the target will use a default
16002 filename (e.g.@: the last program run).
16003
16004 @item set remote interrupt-sequence
16005 @cindex interrupt remote programs
16006 @cindex select Ctrl-C, BREAK or BREAK-g
16007 Allow the user to select one of @samp{Ctrl-C}, a @code{BREAK} or
16008 @samp{BREAK-g} as the
16009 sequence to the remote target in order to interrupt the execution.
16010 @samp{Ctrl-C} is a default. Some system prefers @code{BREAK} which
16011 is high level of serial line for some certain time.
16012 Linux kernel prefers @samp{BREAK-g}, a.k.a Magic SysRq g.
16013 It is @code{BREAK} signal followed by character @code{g}.
16014
16015 @item show interrupt-sequence
16016 Show which of @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or @code{BREAK-g}
16017 is sent by @value{GDBN} to interrupt the remote program.
16018 @code{BREAK-g} is BREAK signal followed by @code{g} and
16019 also known as Magic SysRq g.
16020
16021 @item set remote interrupt-on-connect
16022 @cindex send interrupt-sequence on start
16023 Specify whether interrupt-sequence is sent to remote target when
16024 @value{GDBN} connects to it. This is mostly needed when you debug
16025 Linux kernel. Linux kernel expects @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g}
16026 which is known as Magic SysRq g in order to connect @value{GDBN}.
16027
16028 @item show interrupt-on-connect
16029 Show whether interrupt-sequence is sent
16030 to remote target when @value{GDBN} connects to it.
16031
16032 @kindex set tcp
16033 @kindex show tcp
16034 @item set tcp auto-retry on
16035 @cindex auto-retry, for remote TCP target
16036 Enable auto-retry for remote TCP connections. This is useful if the remote
16037 debugging agent is launched in parallel with @value{GDBN}; there is a race
16038 condition because the agent may not become ready to accept the connection
16039 before @value{GDBN} attempts to connect. When auto-retry is
16040 enabled, if the initial attempt to connect fails, @value{GDBN} reattempts
16041 to establish the connection using the timeout specified by
16042 @code{set tcp connect-timeout}.
16043
16044 @item set tcp auto-retry off
16045 Do not auto-retry failed TCP connections.
16046
16047 @item show tcp auto-retry
16048 Show the current auto-retry setting.
16049
16050 @item set tcp connect-timeout @var{seconds}
16051 @cindex connection timeout, for remote TCP target
16052 @cindex timeout, for remote target connection
16053 Set the timeout for establishing a TCP connection to the remote target to
16054 @var{seconds}. The timeout affects both polling to retry failed connections
16055 (enabled by @code{set tcp auto-retry on}) and waiting for connections
16056 that are merely slow to complete, and represents an approximate cumulative
16057 value.
16058
16059 @item show tcp connect-timeout
16060 Show the current connection timeout setting.
16061 @end table
16062
16063 @cindex remote packets, enabling and disabling
16064 The @value{GDBN} remote protocol autodetects the packets supported by
16065 your debugging stub. If you need to override the autodetection, you
16066 can use these commands to enable or disable individual packets. Each
16067 packet can be set to @samp{on} (the remote target supports this
16068 packet), @samp{off} (the remote target does not support this packet),
16069 or @samp{auto} (detect remote target support for this packet). They
16070 all default to @samp{auto}. For more information about each packet,
16071 see @ref{Remote Protocol}.
16072
16073 During normal use, you should not have to use any of these commands.
16074 If you do, that may be a bug in your remote debugging stub, or a bug
16075 in @value{GDBN}. You may want to report the problem to the
16076 @value{GDBN} developers.
16077
16078 For each packet @var{name}, the command to enable or disable the
16079 packet is @code{set remote @var{name}-packet}. The available settings
16080 are:
16081
16082 @multitable @columnfractions 0.28 0.32 0.25
16083 @item Command Name
16084 @tab Remote Packet
16085 @tab Related Features
16086
16087 @item @code{fetch-register}
16088 @tab @code{p}
16089 @tab @code{info registers}
16090
16091 @item @code{set-register}
16092 @tab @code{P}
16093 @tab @code{set}
16094
16095 @item @code{binary-download}
16096 @tab @code{X}
16097 @tab @code{load}, @code{set}
16098
16099 @item @code{read-aux-vector}
16100 @tab @code{qXfer:auxv:read}
16101 @tab @code{info auxv}
16102
16103 @item @code{symbol-lookup}
16104 @tab @code{qSymbol}
16105 @tab Detecting multiple threads
16106
16107 @item @code{attach}
16108 @tab @code{vAttach}
16109 @tab @code{attach}
16110
16111 @item @code{verbose-resume}
16112 @tab @code{vCont}
16113 @tab Stepping or resuming multiple threads
16114
16115 @item @code{run}
16116 @tab @code{vRun}
16117 @tab @code{run}
16118
16119 @item @code{software-breakpoint}
16120 @tab @code{Z0}
16121 @tab @code{break}
16122
16123 @item @code{hardware-breakpoint}
16124 @tab @code{Z1}
16125 @tab @code{hbreak}
16126
16127 @item @code{write-watchpoint}
16128 @tab @code{Z2}
16129 @tab @code{watch}
16130
16131 @item @code{read-watchpoint}
16132 @tab @code{Z3}
16133 @tab @code{rwatch}
16134
16135 @item @code{access-watchpoint}
16136 @tab @code{Z4}
16137 @tab @code{awatch}
16138
16139 @item @code{target-features}
16140 @tab @code{qXfer:features:read}
16141 @tab @code{set architecture}
16142
16143 @item @code{library-info}
16144 @tab @code{qXfer:libraries:read}
16145 @tab @code{info sharedlibrary}
16146
16147 @item @code{memory-map}
16148 @tab @code{qXfer:memory-map:read}
16149 @tab @code{info mem}
16150
16151 @item @code{read-spu-object}
16152 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:read}
16153 @tab @code{info spu}
16154
16155 @item @code{write-spu-object}
16156 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:write}
16157 @tab @code{info spu}
16158
16159 @item @code{read-siginfo-object}
16160 @tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:read}
16161 @tab @code{print $_siginfo}
16162
16163 @item @code{write-siginfo-object}
16164 @tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:write}
16165 @tab @code{set $_siginfo}
16166
16167 @item @code{threads}
16168 @tab @code{qXfer:threads:read}
16169 @tab @code{info threads}
16170
16171 @item @code{get-thread-local-@*storage-address}
16172 @tab @code{qGetTLSAddr}
16173 @tab Displaying @code{__thread} variables
16174
16175 @item @code{get-thread-information-block-address}
16176 @tab @code{qGetTIBAddr}
16177 @tab Display MS-Windows Thread Information Block.
16178
16179 @item @code{search-memory}
16180 @tab @code{qSearch:memory}
16181 @tab @code{find}
16182
16183 @item @code{supported-packets}
16184 @tab @code{qSupported}
16185 @tab Remote communications parameters
16186
16187 @item @code{pass-signals}
16188 @tab @code{QPassSignals}
16189 @tab @code{handle @var{signal}}
16190
16191 @item @code{hostio-close-packet}
16192 @tab @code{vFile:close}
16193 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
16194
16195 @item @code{hostio-open-packet}
16196 @tab @code{vFile:open}
16197 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
16198
16199 @item @code{hostio-pread-packet}
16200 @tab @code{vFile:pread}
16201 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
16202
16203 @item @code{hostio-pwrite-packet}
16204 @tab @code{vFile:pwrite}
16205 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
16206
16207 @item @code{hostio-unlink-packet}
16208 @tab @code{vFile:unlink}
16209 @tab @code{remote delete}
16210
16211 @item @code{noack-packet}
16212 @tab @code{QStartNoAckMode}
16213 @tab Packet acknowledgment
16214
16215 @item @code{osdata}
16216 @tab @code{qXfer:osdata:read}
16217 @tab @code{info os}
16218
16219 @item @code{query-attached}
16220 @tab @code{qAttached}
16221 @tab Querying remote process attach state.
16222 @end multitable
16223
16224 @node Remote Stub
16225 @section Implementing a Remote Stub
16226
16227 @cindex debugging stub, example
16228 @cindex remote stub, example
16229 @cindex stub example, remote debugging
16230 The stub files provided with @value{GDBN} implement the target side of the
16231 communication protocol, and the @value{GDBN} side is implemented in the
16232 @value{GDBN} source file @file{remote.c}. Normally, you can simply allow
16233 these subroutines to communicate, and ignore the details. (If you're
16234 implementing your own stub file, you can still ignore the details: start
16235 with one of the existing stub files. @file{sparc-stub.c} is the best
16236 organized, and therefore the easiest to read.)
16237
16238 @cindex remote serial debugging, overview
16239 To debug a program running on another machine (the debugging
16240 @dfn{target} machine), you must first arrange for all the usual
16241 prerequisites for the program to run by itself. For example, for a C
16242 program, you need:
16243
16244 @enumerate
16245 @item
16246 A startup routine to set up the C runtime environment; these usually
16247 have a name like @file{crt0}. The startup routine may be supplied by
16248 your hardware supplier, or you may have to write your own.
16249
16250 @item
16251 A C subroutine library to support your program's
16252 subroutine calls, notably managing input and output.
16253
16254 @item
16255 A way of getting your program to the other machine---for example, a
16256 download program. These are often supplied by the hardware
16257 manufacturer, but you may have to write your own from hardware
16258 documentation.
16259 @end enumerate
16260
16261 The next step is to arrange for your program to use a serial port to
16262 communicate with the machine where @value{GDBN} is running (the @dfn{host}
16263 machine). In general terms, the scheme looks like this:
16264
16265 @table @emph
16266 @item On the host,
16267 @value{GDBN} already understands how to use this protocol; when everything
16268 else is set up, you can simply use the @samp{target remote} command
16269 (@pxref{Targets,,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
16270
16271 @item On the target,
16272 you must link with your program a few special-purpose subroutines that
16273 implement the @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol. The file containing these
16274 subroutines is called a @dfn{debugging stub}.
16275
16276 On certain remote targets, you can use an auxiliary program
16277 @code{gdbserver} instead of linking a stub into your program.
16278 @xref{Server,,Using the @code{gdbserver} Program}, for details.
16279 @end table
16280
16281 The debugging stub is specific to the architecture of the remote
16282 machine; for example, use @file{sparc-stub.c} to debug programs on
16283 @sc{sparc} boards.
16284
16285 @cindex remote serial stub list
16286 These working remote stubs are distributed with @value{GDBN}:
16287
16288 @table @code
16289
16290 @item i386-stub.c
16291 @cindex @file{i386-stub.c}
16292 @cindex Intel
16293 @cindex i386
16294 For Intel 386 and compatible architectures.
16295
16296 @item m68k-stub.c
16297 @cindex @file{m68k-stub.c}
16298 @cindex Motorola 680x0
16299 @cindex m680x0
16300 For Motorola 680x0 architectures.
16301
16302 @item sh-stub.c
16303 @cindex @file{sh-stub.c}
16304 @cindex Renesas
16305 @cindex SH
16306 For Renesas SH architectures.
16307
16308 @item sparc-stub.c
16309 @cindex @file{sparc-stub.c}
16310 @cindex Sparc
16311 For @sc{sparc} architectures.
16312
16313 @item sparcl-stub.c
16314 @cindex @file{sparcl-stub.c}
16315 @cindex Fujitsu
16316 @cindex SparcLite
16317 For Fujitsu @sc{sparclite} architectures.
16318
16319 @end table
16320
16321 The @file{README} file in the @value{GDBN} distribution may list other
16322 recently added stubs.
16323
16324 @menu
16325 * Stub Contents:: What the stub can do for you
16326 * Bootstrapping:: What you must do for the stub
16327 * Debug Session:: Putting it all together
16328 @end menu
16329
16330 @node Stub Contents
16331 @subsection What the Stub Can Do for You
16332
16333 @cindex remote serial stub
16334 The debugging stub for your architecture supplies these three
16335 subroutines:
16336
16337 @table @code
16338 @item set_debug_traps
16339 @findex set_debug_traps
16340 @cindex remote serial stub, initialization
16341 This routine arranges for @code{handle_exception} to run when your
16342 program stops. You must call this subroutine explicitly near the
16343 beginning of your program.
16344
16345 @item handle_exception
16346 @findex handle_exception
16347 @cindex remote serial stub, main routine
16348 This is the central workhorse, but your program never calls it
16349 explicitly---the setup code arranges for @code{handle_exception} to
16350 run when a trap is triggered.
16351
16352 @code{handle_exception} takes control when your program stops during
16353 execution (for example, on a breakpoint), and mediates communications
16354 with @value{GDBN} on the host machine. This is where the communications
16355 protocol is implemented; @code{handle_exception} acts as the @value{GDBN}
16356 representative on the target machine. It begins by sending summary
16357 information on the state of your program, then continues to execute,
16358 retrieving and transmitting any information @value{GDBN} needs, until you
16359 execute a @value{GDBN} command that makes your program resume; at that point,
16360 @code{handle_exception} returns control to your own code on the target
16361 machine.
16362
16363 @item breakpoint
16364 @cindex @code{breakpoint} subroutine, remote
16365 Use this auxiliary subroutine to make your program contain a
16366 breakpoint. Depending on the particular situation, this may be the only
16367 way for @value{GDBN} to get control. For instance, if your target
16368 machine has some sort of interrupt button, you won't need to call this;
16369 pressing the interrupt button transfers control to
16370 @code{handle_exception}---in effect, to @value{GDBN}. On some machines,
16371 simply receiving characters on the serial port may also trigger a trap;
16372 again, in that situation, you don't need to call @code{breakpoint} from
16373 your own program---simply running @samp{target remote} from the host
16374 @value{GDBN} session gets control.
16375
16376 Call @code{breakpoint} if none of these is true, or if you simply want
16377 to make certain your program stops at a predetermined point for the
16378 start of your debugging session.
16379 @end table
16380
16381 @node Bootstrapping
16382 @subsection What You Must Do for the Stub
16383
16384 @cindex remote stub, support routines
16385 The debugging stubs that come with @value{GDBN} are set up for a particular
16386 chip architecture, but they have no information about the rest of your
16387 debugging target machine.
16388
16389 First of all you need to tell the stub how to communicate with the
16390 serial port.
16391
16392 @table @code
16393 @item int getDebugChar()
16394 @findex getDebugChar
16395 Write this subroutine to read a single character from the serial port.
16396 It may be identical to @code{getchar} for your target system; a
16397 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
16398
16399 @item void putDebugChar(int)
16400 @findex putDebugChar
16401 Write this subroutine to write a single character to the serial port.
16402 It may be identical to @code{putchar} for your target system; a
16403 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
16404 @end table
16405
16406 @cindex control C, and remote debugging
16407 @cindex interrupting remote targets
16408 If you want @value{GDBN} to be able to stop your program while it is
16409 running, you need to use an interrupt-driven serial driver, and arrange
16410 for it to stop when it receives a @code{^C} (@samp{\003}, the control-C
16411 character). That is the character which @value{GDBN} uses to tell the
16412 remote system to stop.
16413
16414 Getting the debugging target to return the proper status to @value{GDBN}
16415 probably requires changes to the standard stub; one quick and dirty way
16416 is to just execute a breakpoint instruction (the ``dirty'' part is that
16417 @value{GDBN} reports a @code{SIGTRAP} instead of a @code{SIGINT}).
16418
16419 Other routines you need to supply are:
16420
16421 @table @code
16422 @item void exceptionHandler (int @var{exception_number}, void *@var{exception_address})
16423 @findex exceptionHandler
16424 Write this function to install @var{exception_address} in the exception
16425 handling tables. You need to do this because the stub does not have any
16426 way of knowing what the exception handling tables on your target system
16427 are like (for example, the processor's table might be in @sc{rom},
16428 containing entries which point to a table in @sc{ram}).
16429 @var{exception_number} is the exception number which should be changed;
16430 its meaning is architecture-dependent (for example, different numbers
16431 might represent divide by zero, misaligned access, etc). When this
16432 exception occurs, control should be transferred directly to
16433 @var{exception_address}, and the processor state (stack, registers,
16434 and so on) should be just as it is when a processor exception occurs. So if
16435 you want to use a jump instruction to reach @var{exception_address}, it
16436 should be a simple jump, not a jump to subroutine.
16437
16438 For the 386, @var{exception_address} should be installed as an interrupt
16439 gate so that interrupts are masked while the handler runs. The gate
16440 should be at privilege level 0 (the most privileged level). The
16441 @sc{sparc} and 68k stubs are able to mask interrupts themselves without
16442 help from @code{exceptionHandler}.
16443
16444 @item void flush_i_cache()
16445 @findex flush_i_cache
16446 On @sc{sparc} and @sc{sparclite} only, write this subroutine to flush the
16447 instruction cache, if any, on your target machine. If there is no
16448 instruction cache, this subroutine may be a no-op.
16449
16450 On target machines that have instruction caches, @value{GDBN} requires this
16451 function to make certain that the state of your program is stable.
16452 @end table
16453
16454 @noindent
16455 You must also make sure this library routine is available:
16456
16457 @table @code
16458 @item void *memset(void *, int, int)
16459 @findex memset
16460 This is the standard library function @code{memset} that sets an area of
16461 memory to a known value. If you have one of the free versions of
16462 @code{libc.a}, @code{memset} can be found there; otherwise, you must
16463 either obtain it from your hardware manufacturer, or write your own.
16464 @end table
16465
16466 If you do not use the GNU C compiler, you may need other standard
16467 library subroutines as well; this varies from one stub to another,
16468 but in general the stubs are likely to use any of the common library
16469 subroutines which @code{@value{NGCC}} generates as inline code.
16470
16471
16472 @node Debug Session
16473 @subsection Putting it All Together
16474
16475 @cindex remote serial debugging summary
16476 In summary, when your program is ready to debug, you must follow these
16477 steps.
16478
16479 @enumerate
16480 @item
16481 Make sure you have defined the supporting low-level routines
16482 (@pxref{Bootstrapping,,What You Must Do for the Stub}):
16483 @display
16484 @code{getDebugChar}, @code{putDebugChar},
16485 @code{flush_i_cache}, @code{memset}, @code{exceptionHandler}.
16486 @end display
16487
16488 @item
16489 Insert these lines near the top of your program:
16490
16491 @smallexample
16492 set_debug_traps();
16493 breakpoint();
16494 @end smallexample
16495
16496 @item
16497 For the 680x0 stub only, you need to provide a variable called
16498 @code{exceptionHook}. Normally you just use:
16499
16500 @smallexample
16501 void (*exceptionHook)() = 0;
16502 @end smallexample
16503
16504 @noindent
16505 but if before calling @code{set_debug_traps}, you set it to point to a
16506 function in your program, that function is called when
16507 @code{@value{GDBN}} continues after stopping on a trap (for example, bus
16508 error). The function indicated by @code{exceptionHook} is called with
16509 one parameter: an @code{int} which is the exception number.
16510
16511 @item
16512 Compile and link together: your program, the @value{GDBN} debugging stub for
16513 your target architecture, and the supporting subroutines.
16514
16515 @item
16516 Make sure you have a serial connection between your target machine and
16517 the @value{GDBN} host, and identify the serial port on the host.
16518
16519 @item
16520 @c The "remote" target now provides a `load' command, so we should
16521 @c document that. FIXME.
16522 Download your program to your target machine (or get it there by
16523 whatever means the manufacturer provides), and start it.
16524
16525 @item
16526 Start @value{GDBN} on the host, and connect to the target
16527 (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
16528
16529 @end enumerate
16530
16531 @node Configurations
16532 @chapter Configuration-Specific Information
16533
16534 While nearly all @value{GDBN} commands are available for all native and
16535 cross versions of the debugger, there are some exceptions. This chapter
16536 describes things that are only available in certain configurations.
16537
16538 There are three major categories of configurations: native
16539 configurations, where the host and target are the same, embedded
16540 operating system configurations, which are usually the same for several
16541 different processor architectures, and bare embedded processors, which
16542 are quite different from each other.
16543
16544 @menu
16545 * Native::
16546 * Embedded OS::
16547 * Embedded Processors::
16548 * Architectures::
16549 @end menu
16550
16551 @node Native
16552 @section Native
16553
16554 This section describes details specific to particular native
16555 configurations.
16556
16557 @menu
16558 * HP-UX:: HP-UX
16559 * BSD libkvm Interface:: Debugging BSD kernel memory images
16560 * SVR4 Process Information:: SVR4 process information
16561 * DJGPP Native:: Features specific to the DJGPP port
16562 * Cygwin Native:: Features specific to the Cygwin port
16563 * Hurd Native:: Features specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd
16564 * Neutrino:: Features specific to QNX Neutrino
16565 * Darwin:: Features specific to Darwin
16566 @end menu
16567
16568 @node HP-UX
16569 @subsection HP-UX
16570
16571 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
16572 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
16573 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
16574
16575
16576 @node BSD libkvm Interface
16577 @subsection BSD libkvm Interface
16578
16579 @cindex libkvm
16580 @cindex kernel memory image
16581 @cindex kernel crash dump
16582
16583 BSD-derived systems (FreeBSD/NetBSD/OpenBSD) have a kernel memory
16584 interface that provides a uniform interface for accessing kernel virtual
16585 memory images, including live systems and crash dumps. @value{GDBN}
16586 uses this interface to allow you to debug live kernels and kernel crash
16587 dumps on many native BSD configurations. This is implemented as a
16588 special @code{kvm} debugging target. For debugging a live system, load
16589 the currently running kernel into @value{GDBN} and connect to the
16590 @code{kvm} target:
16591
16592 @smallexample
16593 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm}
16594 @end smallexample
16595
16596 For debugging crash dumps, provide the file name of the crash dump as an
16597 argument:
16598
16599 @smallexample
16600 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm /var/crash/bsd.0}
16601 @end smallexample
16602
16603 Once connected to the @code{kvm} target, the following commands are
16604 available:
16605
16606 @table @code
16607 @kindex kvm
16608 @item kvm pcb
16609 Set current context from the @dfn{Process Control Block} (PCB) address.
16610
16611 @item kvm proc
16612 Set current context from proc address. This command isn't available on
16613 modern FreeBSD systems.
16614 @end table
16615
16616 @node SVR4 Process Information
16617 @subsection SVR4 Process Information
16618 @cindex /proc
16619 @cindex examine process image
16620 @cindex process info via @file{/proc}
16621
16622 Many versions of SVR4 and compatible systems provide a facility called
16623 @samp{/proc} that can be used to examine the image of a running
16624 process using file-system subroutines. If @value{GDBN} is configured
16625 for an operating system with this facility, the command @code{info
16626 proc} is available to report information about the process running
16627 your program, or about any process running on your system. @code{info
16628 proc} works only on SVR4 systems that include the @code{procfs} code.
16629 This includes, as of this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, OSF/1 (Digital
16630 Unix), Solaris, Irix, and Unixware, but not HP-UX, for example.
16631
16632 @table @code
16633 @kindex info proc
16634 @cindex process ID
16635 @item info proc
16636 @itemx info proc @var{process-id}
16637 Summarize available information about any running process. If a
16638 process ID is specified by @var{process-id}, display information about
16639 that process; otherwise display information about the program being
16640 debugged. The summary includes the debugged process ID, the command
16641 line used to invoke it, its current working directory, and its
16642 executable file's absolute file name.
16643
16644 On some systems, @var{process-id} can be of the form
16645 @samp{[@var{pid}]/@var{tid}} which specifies a certain thread ID
16646 within a process. If the optional @var{pid} part is missing, it means
16647 a thread from the process being debugged (the leading @samp{/} still
16648 needs to be present, or else @value{GDBN} will interpret the number as
16649 a process ID rather than a thread ID).
16650
16651 @item info proc mappings
16652 @cindex memory address space mappings
16653 Report the memory address space ranges accessible in the program, with
16654 information on whether the process has read, write, or execute access
16655 rights to each range. On @sc{gnu}/Linux systems, each memory range
16656 includes the object file which is mapped to that range, instead of the
16657 memory access rights to that range.
16658
16659 @item info proc stat
16660 @itemx info proc status
16661 @cindex process detailed status information
16662 These subcommands are specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux systems. They show
16663 the process-related information, including the user ID and group ID;
16664 how many threads are there in the process; its virtual memory usage;
16665 the signals that are pending, blocked, and ignored; its TTY; its
16666 consumption of system and user time; its stack size; its @samp{nice}
16667 value; etc. For more information, see the @samp{proc} man page
16668 (type @kbd{man 5 proc} from your shell prompt).
16669
16670 @item info proc all
16671 Show all the information about the process described under all of the
16672 above @code{info proc} subcommands.
16673
16674 @ignore
16675 @comment These sub-options of 'info proc' were not included when
16676 @comment procfs.c was re-written. Keep their descriptions around
16677 @comment against the day when someone finds the time to put them back in.
16678 @kindex info proc times
16679 @item info proc times
16680 Starting time, user CPU time, and system CPU time for your program and
16681 its children.
16682
16683 @kindex info proc id
16684 @item info proc id
16685 Report on the process IDs related to your program: its own process ID,
16686 the ID of its parent, the process group ID, and the session ID.
16687 @end ignore
16688
16689 @item set procfs-trace
16690 @kindex set procfs-trace
16691 @cindex @code{procfs} API calls
16692 This command enables and disables tracing of @code{procfs} API calls.
16693
16694 @item show procfs-trace
16695 @kindex show procfs-trace
16696 Show the current state of @code{procfs} API call tracing.
16697
16698 @item set procfs-file @var{file}
16699 @kindex set procfs-file
16700 Tell @value{GDBN} to write @code{procfs} API trace to the named
16701 @var{file}. @value{GDBN} appends the trace info to the previous
16702 contents of the file. The default is to display the trace on the
16703 standard output.
16704
16705 @item show procfs-file
16706 @kindex show procfs-file
16707 Show the file to which @code{procfs} API trace is written.
16708
16709 @item proc-trace-entry
16710 @itemx proc-trace-exit
16711 @itemx proc-untrace-entry
16712 @itemx proc-untrace-exit
16713 @kindex proc-trace-entry
16714 @kindex proc-trace-exit
16715 @kindex proc-untrace-entry
16716 @kindex proc-untrace-exit
16717 These commands enable and disable tracing of entries into and exits
16718 from the @code{syscall} interface.
16719
16720 @item info pidlist
16721 @kindex info pidlist
16722 @cindex process list, QNX Neutrino
16723 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all the
16724 processes and all the threads within each process.
16725
16726 @item info meminfo
16727 @kindex info meminfo
16728 @cindex mapinfo list, QNX Neutrino
16729 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all mapinfos.
16730 @end table
16731
16732 @node DJGPP Native
16733 @subsection Features for Debugging @sc{djgpp} Programs
16734 @cindex @sc{djgpp} debugging
16735 @cindex native @sc{djgpp} debugging
16736 @cindex MS-DOS-specific commands
16737
16738 @cindex DPMI
16739 @sc{djgpp} is a port of the @sc{gnu} development tools to MS-DOS and
16740 MS-Windows. @sc{djgpp} programs are 32-bit protected-mode programs
16741 that use the @dfn{DPMI} (DOS Protected-Mode Interface) API to run on
16742 top of real-mode DOS systems and their emulations.
16743
16744 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of @sc{djgpp} programs, and
16745 defines a few commands specific to the @sc{djgpp} port. This
16746 subsection describes those commands.
16747
16748 @table @code
16749 @kindex info dos
16750 @item info dos
16751 This is a prefix of @sc{djgpp}-specific commands which print
16752 information about the target system and important OS structures.
16753
16754 @kindex sysinfo
16755 @cindex MS-DOS system info
16756 @cindex free memory information (MS-DOS)
16757 @item info dos sysinfo
16758 This command displays assorted information about the underlying
16759 platform: the CPU type and features, the OS version and flavor, the
16760 DPMI version, and the available conventional and DPMI memory.
16761
16762 @cindex GDT
16763 @cindex LDT
16764 @cindex IDT
16765 @cindex segment descriptor tables
16766 @cindex descriptor tables display
16767 @item info dos gdt
16768 @itemx info dos ldt
16769 @itemx info dos idt
16770 These 3 commands display entries from, respectively, Global, Local,
16771 and Interrupt Descriptor Tables (GDT, LDT, and IDT). The descriptor
16772 tables are data structures which store a descriptor for each segment
16773 that is currently in use. The segment's selector is an index into a
16774 descriptor table; the table entry for that index holds the
16775 descriptor's base address and limit, and its attributes and access
16776 rights.
16777
16778 A typical @sc{djgpp} program uses 3 segments: a code segment, a data
16779 segment (used for both data and the stack), and a DOS segment (which
16780 allows access to DOS/BIOS data structures and absolute addresses in
16781 conventional memory). However, the DPMI host will usually define
16782 additional segments in order to support the DPMI environment.
16783
16784 @cindex garbled pointers
16785 These commands allow to display entries from the descriptor tables.
16786 Without an argument, all entries from the specified table are
16787 displayed. An argument, which should be an integer expression, means
16788 display a single entry whose index is given by the argument. For
16789 example, here's a convenient way to display information about the
16790 debugged program's data segment:
16791
16792 @smallexample
16793 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos ldt $ds}
16794 @exdent @code{0x13f: base=0x11970000 limit=0x0009ffff 32-Bit Data (Read/Write, Exp-up)}
16795 @end smallexample
16796
16797 @noindent
16798 This comes in handy when you want to see whether a pointer is outside
16799 the data segment's limit (i.e.@: @dfn{garbled}).
16800
16801 @cindex page tables display (MS-DOS)
16802 @item info dos pde
16803 @itemx info dos pte
16804 These two commands display entries from, respectively, the Page
16805 Directory and the Page Tables. Page Directories and Page Tables are
16806 data structures which control how virtual memory addresses are mapped
16807 into physical addresses. A Page Table includes an entry for every
16808 page of memory that is mapped into the program's address space; there
16809 may be several Page Tables, each one holding up to 4096 entries. A
16810 Page Directory has up to 4096 entries, one each for every Page Table
16811 that is currently in use.
16812
16813 Without an argument, @kbd{info dos pde} displays the entire Page
16814 Directory, and @kbd{info dos pte} displays all the entries in all of
16815 the Page Tables. An argument, an integer expression, given to the
16816 @kbd{info dos pde} command means display only that entry from the Page
16817 Directory table. An argument given to the @kbd{info dos pte} command
16818 means display entries from a single Page Table, the one pointed to by
16819 the specified entry in the Page Directory.
16820
16821 @cindex direct memory access (DMA) on MS-DOS
16822 These commands are useful when your program uses @dfn{DMA} (Direct
16823 Memory Access), which needs physical addresses to program the DMA
16824 controller.
16825
16826 These commands are supported only with some DPMI servers.
16827
16828 @cindex physical address from linear address
16829 @item info dos address-pte @var{addr}
16830 This command displays the Page Table entry for a specified linear
16831 address. The argument @var{addr} is a linear address which should
16832 already have the appropriate segment's base address added to it,
16833 because this command accepts addresses which may belong to @emph{any}
16834 segment. For example, here's how to display the Page Table entry for
16835 the page where a variable @code{i} is stored:
16836
16837 @smallexample
16838 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte __djgpp_base_address + (char *)&i}
16839 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x11a00d30:}
16840 @exdent @code{Base=0x02698000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0xd30}
16841 @end smallexample
16842
16843 @noindent
16844 This says that @code{i} is stored at offset @code{0xd30} from the page
16845 whose physical base address is @code{0x02698000}, and shows all the
16846 attributes of that page.
16847
16848 Note that you must cast the addresses of variables to a @code{char *},
16849 since otherwise the value of @code{__djgpp_base_address}, the base
16850 address of all variables and functions in a @sc{djgpp} program, will
16851 be added using the rules of C pointer arithmetics: if @code{i} is
16852 declared an @code{int}, @value{GDBN} will add 4 times the value of
16853 @code{__djgpp_base_address} to the address of @code{i}.
16854
16855 Here's another example, it displays the Page Table entry for the
16856 transfer buffer:
16857
16858 @smallexample
16859 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte *((unsigned *)&_go32_info_block + 3)}
16860 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x29110:}
16861 @exdent @code{Base=0x00029000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0x110}
16862 @end smallexample
16863
16864 @noindent
16865 (The @code{+ 3} offset is because the transfer buffer's address is the
16866 3rd member of the @code{_go32_info_block} structure.) The output
16867 clearly shows that this DPMI server maps the addresses in conventional
16868 memory 1:1, i.e.@: the physical (@code{0x00029000} + @code{0x110}) and
16869 linear (@code{0x29110}) addresses are identical.
16870
16871 This command is supported only with some DPMI servers.
16872 @end table
16873
16874 @cindex DOS serial data link, remote debugging
16875 In addition to native debugging, the DJGPP port supports remote
16876 debugging via a serial data link. The following commands are specific
16877 to remote serial debugging in the DJGPP port of @value{GDBN}.
16878
16879 @table @code
16880 @kindex set com1base
16881 @kindex set com1irq
16882 @kindex set com2base
16883 @kindex set com2irq
16884 @kindex set com3base
16885 @kindex set com3irq
16886 @kindex set com4base
16887 @kindex set com4irq
16888 @item set com1base @var{addr}
16889 This command sets the base I/O port address of the @file{COM1} serial
16890 port.
16891
16892 @item set com1irq @var{irq}
16893 This command sets the @dfn{Interrupt Request} (@code{IRQ}) line to use
16894 for the @file{COM1} serial port.
16895
16896 There are similar commands @samp{set com2base}, @samp{set com3irq},
16897 etc.@: for setting the port address and the @code{IRQ} lines for the
16898 other 3 COM ports.
16899
16900 @kindex show com1base
16901 @kindex show com1irq
16902 @kindex show com2base
16903 @kindex show com2irq
16904 @kindex show com3base
16905 @kindex show com3irq
16906 @kindex show com4base
16907 @kindex show com4irq
16908 The related commands @samp{show com1base}, @samp{show com1irq} etc.@:
16909 display the current settings of the base address and the @code{IRQ}
16910 lines used by the COM ports.
16911
16912 @item info serial
16913 @kindex info serial
16914 @cindex DOS serial port status
16915 This command prints the status of the 4 DOS serial ports. For each
16916 port, it prints whether it's active or not, its I/O base address and
16917 IRQ number, whether it uses a 16550-style FIFO, its baudrate, and the
16918 counts of various errors encountered so far.
16919 @end table
16920
16921
16922 @node Cygwin Native
16923 @subsection Features for Debugging MS Windows PE Executables
16924 @cindex MS Windows debugging
16925 @cindex native Cygwin debugging
16926 @cindex Cygwin-specific commands
16927
16928 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of MS Windows programs, including
16929 DLLs with and without symbolic debugging information.
16930
16931 @cindex Ctrl-BREAK, MS-Windows
16932 @cindex interrupt debuggee on MS-Windows
16933 MS-Windows programs that call @code{SetConsoleMode} to switch off the
16934 special meaning of the @samp{Ctrl-C} keystroke cannot be interrupted
16935 by typing @kbd{C-c}. For this reason, @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows
16936 supports @kbd{C-@key{BREAK}} as an alternative interrupt key
16937 sequence, which can be used to interrupt the debuggee even if it
16938 ignores @kbd{C-c}.
16939
16940 There are various additional Cygwin-specific commands, described in
16941 this section. Working with DLLs that have no debugging symbols is
16942 described in @ref{Non-debug DLL Symbols}.
16943
16944 @table @code
16945 @kindex info w32
16946 @item info w32
16947 This is a prefix of MS Windows-specific commands which print
16948 information about the target system and important OS structures.
16949
16950 @item info w32 selector
16951 This command displays information returned by
16952 the Win32 API @code{GetThreadSelectorEntry} function.
16953 It takes an optional argument that is evaluated to
16954 a long value to give the information about this given selector.
16955 Without argument, this command displays information
16956 about the six segment registers.
16957
16958 @item info w32 thread-information-block
16959 This command displays thread specific information stored in the
16960 Thread Information Block (readable on the X86 CPU family using @code{$fs}
16961 selector for 32-bit programs and @code{$gs} for 64-bit programs).
16962
16963 @kindex info dll
16964 @item info dll
16965 This is a Cygwin-specific alias of @code{info shared}.
16966
16967 @kindex dll-symbols
16968 @item dll-symbols
16969 This command loads symbols from a dll similarly to
16970 add-sym command but without the need to specify a base address.
16971
16972 @kindex set cygwin-exceptions
16973 @cindex debugging the Cygwin DLL
16974 @cindex Cygwin DLL, debugging
16975 @item set cygwin-exceptions @var{mode}
16976 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that
16977 happen inside the Cygwin DLL. If @var{mode} is @code{off},
16978 @value{GDBN} will delay recognition of exceptions, and may ignore some
16979 exceptions which seem to be caused by internal Cygwin DLL
16980 ``bookkeeping''. This option is meant primarily for debugging the
16981 Cygwin DLL itself; the default value is @code{off} to avoid annoying
16982 @value{GDBN} users with false @code{SIGSEGV} signals.
16983
16984 @kindex show cygwin-exceptions
16985 @item show cygwin-exceptions
16986 Displays whether @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that happen
16987 inside the Cygwin DLL itself.
16988
16989 @kindex set new-console
16990 @item set new-console @var{mode}
16991 If @var{mode} is @code{on} the debuggee will
16992 be started in a new console on next start.
16993 If @var{mode} is @code{off}, the debuggee will
16994 be started in the same console as the debugger.
16995
16996 @kindex show new-console
16997 @item show new-console
16998 Displays whether a new console is used
16999 when the debuggee is started.
17000
17001 @kindex set new-group
17002 @item set new-group @var{mode}
17003 This boolean value controls whether the debuggee should
17004 start a new group or stay in the same group as the debugger.
17005 This affects the way the Windows OS handles
17006 @samp{Ctrl-C}.
17007
17008 @kindex show new-group
17009 @item show new-group
17010 Displays current value of new-group boolean.
17011
17012 @kindex set debugevents
17013 @item set debugevents
17014 This boolean value adds debug output concerning kernel events related
17015 to the debuggee seen by the debugger. This includes events that
17016 signal thread and process creation and exit, DLL loading and
17017 unloading, console interrupts, and debugging messages produced by the
17018 Windows @code{OutputDebugString} API call.
17019
17020 @kindex set debugexec
17021 @item set debugexec
17022 This boolean value adds debug output concerning execute events
17023 (such as resume thread) seen by the debugger.
17024
17025 @kindex set debugexceptions
17026 @item set debugexceptions
17027 This boolean value adds debug output concerning exceptions in the
17028 debuggee seen by the debugger.
17029
17030 @kindex set debugmemory
17031 @item set debugmemory
17032 This boolean value adds debug output concerning debuggee memory reads
17033 and writes by the debugger.
17034
17035 @kindex set shell
17036 @item set shell
17037 This boolean values specifies whether the debuggee is called
17038 via a shell or directly (default value is on).
17039
17040 @kindex show shell
17041 @item show shell
17042 Displays if the debuggee will be started with a shell.
17043
17044 @end table
17045
17046 @menu
17047 * Non-debug DLL Symbols:: Support for DLLs without debugging symbols
17048 @end menu
17049
17050 @node Non-debug DLL Symbols
17051 @subsubsection Support for DLLs without Debugging Symbols
17052 @cindex DLLs with no debugging symbols
17053 @cindex Minimal symbols and DLLs
17054
17055 Very often on windows, some of the DLLs that your program relies on do
17056 not include symbolic debugging information (for example,
17057 @file{kernel32.dll}). When @value{GDBN} doesn't recognize any debugging
17058 symbols in a DLL, it relies on the minimal amount of symbolic
17059 information contained in the DLL's export table. This section
17060 describes working with such symbols, known internally to @value{GDBN} as
17061 ``minimal symbols''.
17062
17063 Note that before the debugged program has started execution, no DLLs
17064 will have been loaded. The easiest way around this problem is simply to
17065 start the program --- either by setting a breakpoint or letting the
17066 program run once to completion. It is also possible to force
17067 @value{GDBN} to load a particular DLL before starting the executable ---
17068 see the shared library information in @ref{Files}, or the
17069 @code{dll-symbols} command in @ref{Cygwin Native}. Currently,
17070 explicitly loading symbols from a DLL with no debugging information will
17071 cause the symbol names to be duplicated in @value{GDBN}'s lookup table,
17072 which may adversely affect symbol lookup performance.
17073
17074 @subsubsection DLL Name Prefixes
17075
17076 In keeping with the naming conventions used by the Microsoft debugging
17077 tools, DLL export symbols are made available with a prefix based on the
17078 DLL name, for instance @code{KERNEL32!CreateFileA}. The plain name is
17079 also entered into the symbol table, so @code{CreateFileA} is often
17080 sufficient. In some cases there will be name clashes within a program
17081 (particularly if the executable itself includes full debugging symbols)
17082 necessitating the use of the fully qualified name when referring to the
17083 contents of the DLL. Use single-quotes around the name to avoid the
17084 exclamation mark (``!'') being interpreted as a language operator.
17085
17086 Note that the internal name of the DLL may be all upper-case, even
17087 though the file name of the DLL is lower-case, or vice-versa. Since
17088 symbols within @value{GDBN} are @emph{case-sensitive} this may cause
17089 some confusion. If in doubt, try the @code{info functions} and
17090 @code{info variables} commands or even @code{maint print msymbols}
17091 (@pxref{Symbols}). Here's an example:
17092
17093 @smallexample
17094 (@value{GDBP}) info function CreateFileA
17095 All functions matching regular expression "CreateFileA":
17096
17097 Non-debugging symbols:
17098 0x77e885f4 CreateFileA
17099 0x77e885f4 KERNEL32!CreateFileA
17100 @end smallexample
17101
17102 @smallexample
17103 (@value{GDBP}) info function !
17104 All functions matching regular expression "!":
17105
17106 Non-debugging symbols:
17107 0x6100114c cygwin1!__assert
17108 0x61004034 cygwin1!_dll_crt0@@0
17109 0x61004240 cygwin1!dll_crt0(per_process *)
17110 [etc...]
17111 @end smallexample
17112
17113 @subsubsection Working with Minimal Symbols
17114
17115 Symbols extracted from a DLL's export table do not contain very much
17116 type information. All that @value{GDBN} can do is guess whether a symbol
17117 refers to a function or variable depending on the linker section that
17118 contains the symbol. Also note that the actual contents of the memory
17119 contained in a DLL are not available unless the program is running. This
17120 means that you cannot examine the contents of a variable or disassemble
17121 a function within a DLL without a running program.
17122
17123 Variables are generally treated as pointers and dereferenced
17124 automatically. For this reason, it is often necessary to prefix a
17125 variable name with the address-of operator (``&'') and provide explicit
17126 type information in the command. Here's an example of the type of
17127 problem:
17128
17129 @smallexample
17130 (@value{GDBP}) print 'cygwin1!__argv'
17131 $1 = 268572168
17132 @end smallexample
17133
17134 @smallexample
17135 (@value{GDBP}) x 'cygwin1!__argv'
17136 0x10021610: "\230y\""
17137 @end smallexample
17138
17139 And two possible solutions:
17140
17141 @smallexample
17142 (@value{GDBP}) print ((char **)'cygwin1!__argv')[0]
17143 $2 = 0x22fd98 "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
17144 @end smallexample
17145
17146 @smallexample
17147 (@value{GDBP}) x/2x &'cygwin1!__argv'
17148 0x610c0aa8 <cygwin1!__argv>: 0x10021608 0x00000000
17149 (@value{GDBP}) x/x 0x10021608
17150 0x10021608: 0x0022fd98
17151 (@value{GDBP}) x/s 0x0022fd98
17152 0x22fd98: "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
17153 @end smallexample
17154
17155 Setting a break point within a DLL is possible even before the program
17156 starts execution. However, under these circumstances, @value{GDBN} can't
17157 examine the initial instructions of the function in order to skip the
17158 function's frame set-up code. You can work around this by using ``*&''
17159 to set the breakpoint at a raw memory address:
17160
17161 @smallexample
17162 (@value{GDBP}) break *&'python22!PyOS_Readline'
17163 Breakpoint 1 at 0x1e04eff0
17164 @end smallexample
17165
17166 The author of these extensions is not entirely convinced that setting a
17167 break point within a shared DLL like @file{kernel32.dll} is completely
17168 safe.
17169
17170 @node Hurd Native
17171 @subsection Commands Specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd Systems
17172 @cindex @sc{gnu} Hurd debugging
17173
17174 This subsection describes @value{GDBN} commands specific to the
17175 @sc{gnu} Hurd native debugging.
17176
17177 @table @code
17178 @item set signals
17179 @itemx set sigs
17180 @kindex set signals@r{, Hurd command}
17181 @kindex set sigs@r{, Hurd command}
17182 This command toggles the state of inferior signal interception by
17183 @value{GDBN}. Mach exceptions, such as breakpoint traps, are not
17184 affected by this command. @code{sigs} is a shorthand alias for
17185 @code{signals}.
17186
17187 @item show signals
17188 @itemx show sigs
17189 @kindex show signals@r{, Hurd command}
17190 @kindex show sigs@r{, Hurd command}
17191 Show the current state of intercepting inferior's signals.
17192
17193 @item set signal-thread
17194 @itemx set sigthread
17195 @kindex set signal-thread
17196 @kindex set sigthread
17197 This command tells @value{GDBN} which thread is the @code{libc} signal
17198 thread. That thread is run when a signal is delivered to a running
17199 process. @code{set sigthread} is the shorthand alias of @code{set
17200 signal-thread}.
17201
17202 @item show signal-thread
17203 @itemx show sigthread
17204 @kindex show signal-thread
17205 @kindex show sigthread
17206 These two commands show which thread will run when the inferior is
17207 delivered a signal.
17208
17209 @item set stopped
17210 @kindex set stopped@r{, Hurd command}
17211 This commands tells @value{GDBN} that the inferior process is stopped,
17212 as with the @code{SIGSTOP} signal. The stopped process can be
17213 continued by delivering a signal to it.
17214
17215 @item show stopped
17216 @kindex show stopped@r{, Hurd command}
17217 This command shows whether @value{GDBN} thinks the debuggee is
17218 stopped.
17219
17220 @item set exceptions
17221 @kindex set exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
17222 Use this command to turn off trapping of exceptions in the inferior.
17223 When exception trapping is off, neither breakpoints nor
17224 single-stepping will work. To restore the default, set exception
17225 trapping on.
17226
17227 @item show exceptions
17228 @kindex show exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
17229 Show the current state of trapping exceptions in the inferior.
17230
17231 @item set task pause
17232 @kindex set task@r{, Hurd commands}
17233 @cindex task attributes (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
17234 @cindex pause current task (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
17235 This command toggles task suspension when @value{GDBN} has control.
17236 Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the task is suspended
17237 whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to off will take
17238 effect the next time the inferior is continued. If this option is set
17239 to off, you can use @code{set thread default pause on} or @code{set
17240 thread pause on} (see below) to pause individual threads.
17241
17242 @item show task pause
17243 @kindex show task@r{, Hurd commands}
17244 Show the current state of task suspension.
17245
17246 @item set task detach-suspend-count
17247 @cindex task suspend count
17248 @cindex detach from task, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17249 This command sets the suspend count the task will be left with when
17250 @value{GDBN} detaches from it.
17251
17252 @item show task detach-suspend-count
17253 Show the suspend count the task will be left with when detaching.
17254
17255 @item set task exception-port
17256 @itemx set task excp
17257 @cindex task exception port, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17258 This command sets the task exception port to which @value{GDBN} will
17259 forward exceptions. The argument should be the value of the @dfn{send
17260 rights} of the task. @code{set task excp} is a shorthand alias.
17261
17262 @item set noninvasive
17263 @cindex noninvasive task options
17264 This command switches @value{GDBN} to a mode that is the least
17265 invasive as far as interfering with the inferior is concerned. This
17266 is the same as using @code{set task pause}, @code{set exceptions}, and
17267 @code{set signals} to values opposite to the defaults.
17268
17269 @item info send-rights
17270 @itemx info receive-rights
17271 @itemx info port-rights
17272 @itemx info port-sets
17273 @itemx info dead-names
17274 @itemx info ports
17275 @itemx info psets
17276 @cindex send rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17277 @cindex receive rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17278 @cindex port rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17279 @cindex port sets, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17280 @cindex dead names, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17281 These commands display information about, respectively, send rights,
17282 receive rights, port rights, port sets, and dead names of a task.
17283 There are also shorthand aliases: @code{info ports} for @code{info
17284 port-rights} and @code{info psets} for @code{info port-sets}.
17285
17286 @item set thread pause
17287 @kindex set thread@r{, Hurd command}
17288 @cindex thread properties, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17289 @cindex pause current thread (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
17290 This command toggles current thread suspension when @value{GDBN} has
17291 control. Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the current
17292 thread is suspended whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to
17293 off will take effect the next time the inferior is continued.
17294 Normally, this command has no effect, since when @value{GDBN} has
17295 control, the whole task is suspended. However, if you used @code{set
17296 task pause off} (see above), this command comes in handy to suspend
17297 only the current thread.
17298
17299 @item show thread pause
17300 @kindex show thread@r{, Hurd command}
17301 This command shows the state of current thread suspension.
17302
17303 @item set thread run
17304 This command sets whether the current thread is allowed to run.
17305
17306 @item show thread run
17307 Show whether the current thread is allowed to run.
17308
17309 @item set thread detach-suspend-count
17310 @cindex thread suspend count, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17311 @cindex detach from thread, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17312 This command sets the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on a
17313 thread when detaching. This number is relative to the suspend count
17314 found by @value{GDBN} when it notices the thread; use @code{set thread
17315 takeover-suspend-count} to force it to an absolute value.
17316
17317 @item show thread detach-suspend-count
17318 Show the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on the thread when
17319 detaching.
17320
17321 @item set thread exception-port
17322 @itemx set thread excp
17323 Set the thread exception port to which to forward exceptions. This
17324 overrides the port set by @code{set task exception-port} (see above).
17325 @code{set thread excp} is the shorthand alias.
17326
17327 @item set thread takeover-suspend-count
17328 Normally, @value{GDBN}'s thread suspend counts are relative to the
17329 value @value{GDBN} finds when it notices each thread. This command
17330 changes the suspend counts to be absolute instead.
17331
17332 @item set thread default
17333 @itemx show thread default
17334 @cindex thread default settings, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17335 Each of the above @code{set thread} commands has a @code{set thread
17336 default} counterpart (e.g., @code{set thread default pause}, @code{set
17337 thread default exception-port}, etc.). The @code{thread default}
17338 variety of commands sets the default thread properties for all
17339 threads; you can then change the properties of individual threads with
17340 the non-default commands.
17341 @end table
17342
17343
17344 @node Neutrino
17345 @subsection QNX Neutrino
17346 @cindex QNX Neutrino
17347
17348 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the QNX
17349 Neutrino target:
17350
17351 @table @code
17352 @item set debug nto-debug
17353 @kindex set debug nto-debug
17354 When set to on, enables debugging messages specific to the QNX
17355 Neutrino support.
17356
17357 @item show debug nto-debug
17358 @kindex show debug nto-debug
17359 Show the current state of QNX Neutrino messages.
17360 @end table
17361
17362 @node Darwin
17363 @subsection Darwin
17364 @cindex Darwin
17365
17366 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the Darwin target:
17367
17368 @table @code
17369 @item set debug darwin @var{num}
17370 @kindex set debug darwin
17371 When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages specific to
17372 the Darwin support. Higher values produce more verbose output.
17373
17374 @item show debug darwin
17375 @kindex show debug darwin
17376 Show the current state of Darwin messages.
17377
17378 @item set debug mach-o @var{num}
17379 @kindex set debug mach-o
17380 When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages while
17381 @value{GDBN} is reading Darwin object files. (@dfn{Mach-O} is the
17382 file format used on Darwin for object and executable files.) Higher
17383 values produce more verbose output. This is a command to diagnose
17384 problems internal to @value{GDBN} and should not be needed in normal
17385 usage.
17386
17387 @item show debug mach-o
17388 @kindex show debug mach-o
17389 Show the current state of Mach-O file messages.
17390
17391 @item set mach-exceptions on
17392 @itemx set mach-exceptions off
17393 @kindex set mach-exceptions
17394 On Darwin, faults are first reported as a Mach exception and are then
17395 mapped to a Posix signal. Use this command to turn on trapping of
17396 Mach exceptions in the inferior. This might be sometimes useful to
17397 better understand the cause of a fault. The default is off.
17398
17399 @item show mach-exceptions
17400 @kindex show mach-exceptions
17401 Show the current state of exceptions trapping.
17402 @end table
17403
17404
17405 @node Embedded OS
17406 @section Embedded Operating Systems
17407
17408 This section describes configurations involving the debugging of
17409 embedded operating systems that are available for several different
17410 architectures.
17411
17412 @menu
17413 * VxWorks:: Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
17414 @end menu
17415
17416 @value{GDBN} includes the ability to debug programs running on
17417 various real-time operating systems.
17418
17419 @node VxWorks
17420 @subsection Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
17421
17422 @cindex VxWorks
17423
17424 @table @code
17425
17426 @kindex target vxworks
17427 @item target vxworks @var{machinename}
17428 A VxWorks system, attached via TCP/IP. The argument @var{machinename}
17429 is the target system's machine name or IP address.
17430
17431 @end table
17432
17433 On VxWorks, @code{load} links @var{filename} dynamically on the
17434 current target system as well as adding its symbols in @value{GDBN}.
17435
17436 @value{GDBN} enables developers to spawn and debug tasks running on networked
17437 VxWorks targets from a Unix host. Already-running tasks spawned from
17438 the VxWorks shell can also be debugged. @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
17439 both the Unix host and on the VxWorks target. The program
17440 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host. (It may be
17441 installed with the name @code{vxgdb}, to distinguish it from a
17442 @value{GDBN} for debugging programs on the host itself.)
17443
17444 @table @code
17445 @item VxWorks-timeout @var{args}
17446 @kindex vxworks-timeout
17447 All VxWorks-based targets now support the option @code{vxworks-timeout}.
17448 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
17449 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses to rpc's. You might use this if
17450 your VxWorks target is a slow software simulator or is on the far side
17451 of a thin network line.
17452 @end table
17453
17454 The following information on connecting to VxWorks was current when
17455 this manual was produced; newer releases of VxWorks may use revised
17456 procedures.
17457
17458 @findex INCLUDE_RDB
17459 To use @value{GDBN} with VxWorks, you must rebuild your VxWorks kernel
17460 to include the remote debugging interface routines in the VxWorks
17461 library @file{rdb.a}. To do this, define @code{INCLUDE_RDB} in the
17462 VxWorks configuration file @file{configAll.h} and rebuild your VxWorks
17463 kernel. The resulting kernel contains @file{rdb.a}, and spawns the
17464 source debugging task @code{tRdbTask} when VxWorks is booted. For more
17465 information on configuring and remaking VxWorks, see the manufacturer's
17466 manual.
17467 @c VxWorks, see the @cite{VxWorks Programmer's Guide}.
17468
17469 Once you have included @file{rdb.a} in your VxWorks system image and set
17470 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
17471 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}} (or
17472 @code{vxgdb}, depending on your installation).
17473
17474 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
17475
17476 @smallexample
17477 (vxgdb)
17478 @end smallexample
17479
17480 @menu
17481 * VxWorks Connection:: Connecting to VxWorks
17482 * VxWorks Download:: VxWorks download
17483 * VxWorks Attach:: Running tasks
17484 @end menu
17485
17486 @node VxWorks Connection
17487 @subsubsection Connecting to VxWorks
17488
17489 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a VxWorks target on the
17490 network. To connect to a target whose host name is ``@code{tt}'', type:
17491
17492 @smallexample
17493 (vxgdb) target vxworks tt
17494 @end smallexample
17495
17496 @need 750
17497 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
17498
17499 @smallexample
17500 Attaching remote machine across net...
17501 Connected to tt.
17502 @end smallexample
17503
17504 @need 1000
17505 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol tables of any object modules
17506 loaded into the VxWorks target since it was last booted. @value{GDBN} locates
17507 these files by searching the directories listed in the command search
17508 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}); if it fails
17509 to find an object file, it displays a message such as:
17510
17511 @smallexample
17512 prog.o: No such file or directory.
17513 @end smallexample
17514
17515 When this happens, add the appropriate directory to the search path with
17516 the @value{GDBN} command @code{path}, and execute the @code{target}
17517 command again.
17518
17519 @node VxWorks Download
17520 @subsubsection VxWorks Download
17521
17522 @cindex download to VxWorks
17523 If you have connected to the VxWorks target and you want to debug an
17524 object that has not yet been loaded, you can use the @value{GDBN}
17525 @code{load} command to download a file from Unix to VxWorks
17526 incrementally. The object file given as an argument to the @code{load}
17527 command is actually opened twice: first by the VxWorks target in order
17528 to download the code, then by @value{GDBN} in order to read the symbol
17529 table. This can lead to problems if the current working directories on
17530 the two systems differ. If both systems have NFS mounted the same
17531 filesystems, you can avoid these problems by using absolute paths.
17532 Otherwise, it is simplest to set the working directory on both systems
17533 to the directory in which the object file resides, and then to reference
17534 the file by its name, without any path. For instance, a program
17535 @file{prog.o} may reside in @file{@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb} in VxWorks
17536 and in @file{@var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb} on the host. To load this
17537 program, type this on VxWorks:
17538
17539 @smallexample
17540 -> cd "@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb"
17541 @end smallexample
17542
17543 @noindent
17544 Then, in @value{GDBN}, type:
17545
17546 @smallexample
17547 (vxgdb) cd @var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb
17548 (vxgdb) load prog.o
17549 @end smallexample
17550
17551 @value{GDBN} displays a response similar to this:
17552
17553 @smallexample
17554 Reading symbol data from wherever/vw/demo/rdb/prog.o... done.
17555 @end smallexample
17556
17557 You can also use the @code{load} command to reload an object module
17558 after editing and recompiling the corresponding source file. Note that
17559 this makes @value{GDBN} delete all currently-defined breakpoints,
17560 auto-displays, and convenience variables, and to clear the value
17561 history. (This is necessary in order to preserve the integrity of
17562 debugger's data structures that reference the target system's symbol
17563 table.)
17564
17565 @node VxWorks Attach
17566 @subsubsection Running Tasks
17567
17568 @cindex running VxWorks tasks
17569 You can also attach to an existing task using the @code{attach} command as
17570 follows:
17571
17572 @smallexample
17573 (vxgdb) attach @var{task}
17574 @end smallexample
17575
17576 @noindent
17577 where @var{task} is the VxWorks hexadecimal task ID. The task can be running
17578 or suspended when you attach to it. Running tasks are suspended at
17579 the time of attachment.
17580
17581 @node Embedded Processors
17582 @section Embedded Processors
17583
17584 This section goes into details specific to particular embedded
17585 configurations.
17586
17587 @cindex send command to simulator
17588 Whenever a specific embedded processor has a simulator, @value{GDBN}
17589 allows to send an arbitrary command to the simulator.
17590
17591 @table @code
17592 @item sim @var{command}
17593 @kindex sim@r{, a command}
17594 Send an arbitrary @var{command} string to the simulator. Consult the
17595 documentation for the specific simulator in use for information about
17596 acceptable commands.
17597 @end table
17598
17599
17600 @menu
17601 * ARM:: ARM RDI
17602 * M32R/D:: Renesas M32R/D
17603 * M68K:: Motorola M68K
17604 * MicroBlaze:: Xilinx MicroBlaze
17605 * MIPS Embedded:: MIPS Embedded
17606 * OpenRISC 1000:: OpenRisc 1000
17607 * PA:: HP PA Embedded
17608 * PowerPC Embedded:: PowerPC Embedded
17609 * Sparclet:: Tsqware Sparclet
17610 * Sparclite:: Fujitsu Sparclite
17611 * Z8000:: Zilog Z8000
17612 * AVR:: Atmel AVR
17613 * CRIS:: CRIS
17614 * Super-H:: Renesas Super-H
17615 @end menu
17616
17617 @node ARM
17618 @subsection ARM
17619 @cindex ARM RDI
17620
17621 @table @code
17622 @kindex target rdi
17623 @item target rdi @var{dev}
17624 ARM Angel monitor, via RDI library interface to ADP protocol. You may
17625 use this target to communicate with both boards running the Angel
17626 monitor, or with the EmbeddedICE JTAG debug device.
17627
17628 @kindex target rdp
17629 @item target rdp @var{dev}
17630 ARM Demon monitor.
17631
17632 @end table
17633
17634 @value{GDBN} provides the following ARM-specific commands:
17635
17636 @table @code
17637 @item set arm disassembler
17638 @kindex set arm
17639 This commands selects from a list of disassembly styles. The
17640 @code{"std"} style is the standard style.
17641
17642 @item show arm disassembler
17643 @kindex show arm
17644 Show the current disassembly style.
17645
17646 @item set arm apcs32
17647 @cindex ARM 32-bit mode
17648 This command toggles ARM operation mode between 32-bit and 26-bit.
17649
17650 @item show arm apcs32
17651 Display the current usage of the ARM 32-bit mode.
17652
17653 @item set arm fpu @var{fputype}
17654 This command sets the ARM floating-point unit (FPU) type. The
17655 argument @var{fputype} can be one of these:
17656
17657 @table @code
17658 @item auto
17659 Determine the FPU type by querying the OS ABI.
17660 @item softfpa
17661 Software FPU, with mixed-endian doubles on little-endian ARM
17662 processors.
17663 @item fpa
17664 GCC-compiled FPA co-processor.
17665 @item softvfp
17666 Software FPU with pure-endian doubles.
17667 @item vfp
17668 VFP co-processor.
17669 @end table
17670
17671 @item show arm fpu
17672 Show the current type of the FPU.
17673
17674 @item set arm abi
17675 This command forces @value{GDBN} to use the specified ABI.
17676
17677 @item show arm abi
17678 Show the currently used ABI.
17679
17680 @item set arm fallback-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
17681 @value{GDBN} uses the symbol table, when available, to determine
17682 whether instructions are ARM or Thumb. This command controls
17683 @value{GDBN}'s default behavior when the symbol table is not
17684 available. The default is @samp{auto}, which causes @value{GDBN} to
17685 use the current execution mode (from the @code{T} bit in the @code{CPSR}
17686 register).
17687
17688 @item show arm fallback-mode
17689 Show the current fallback instruction mode.
17690
17691 @item set arm force-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
17692 This command overrides use of the symbol table to determine whether
17693 instructions are ARM or Thumb. The default is @samp{auto}, which
17694 causes @value{GDBN} to use the symbol table and then the setting
17695 of @samp{set arm fallback-mode}.
17696
17697 @item show arm force-mode
17698 Show the current forced instruction mode.
17699
17700 @item set debug arm
17701 Toggle whether to display ARM-specific debugging messages from the ARM
17702 target support subsystem.
17703
17704 @item show debug arm
17705 Show whether ARM-specific debugging messages are enabled.
17706 @end table
17707
17708 The following commands are available when an ARM target is debugged
17709 using the RDI interface:
17710
17711 @table @code
17712 @item rdilogfile @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
17713 @kindex rdilogfile
17714 @cindex ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) logging
17715 Set the filename for the ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) packet log.
17716 With an argument, sets the log file to the specified @var{file}. With
17717 no argument, show the current log file name. The default log file is
17718 @file{rdi.log}.
17719
17720 @item rdilogenable @r{[}@var{arg}@r{]}
17721 @kindex rdilogenable
17722 Control logging of ADP packets. With an argument of 1 or @code{"yes"}
17723 enables logging, with an argument 0 or @code{"no"} disables it. With
17724 no arguments displays the current setting. When logging is enabled,
17725 ADP packets exchanged between @value{GDBN} and the RDI target device
17726 are logged to a file.
17727
17728 @item set rdiromatzero
17729 @kindex set rdiromatzero
17730 @cindex ROM at zero address, RDI
17731 Tell @value{GDBN} whether the target has ROM at address 0. If on,
17732 vector catching is disabled, so that zero address can be used. If off
17733 (the default), vector catching is enabled. For this command to take
17734 effect, it needs to be invoked prior to the @code{target rdi} command.
17735
17736 @item show rdiromatzero
17737 @kindex show rdiromatzero
17738 Show the current setting of ROM at zero address.
17739
17740 @item set rdiheartbeat
17741 @kindex set rdiheartbeat
17742 @cindex RDI heartbeat
17743 Enable or disable RDI heartbeat packets. It is not recommended to
17744 turn on this option, since it confuses ARM and EPI JTAG interface, as
17745 well as the Angel monitor.
17746
17747 @item show rdiheartbeat
17748 @kindex show rdiheartbeat
17749 Show the setting of RDI heartbeat packets.
17750 @end table
17751
17752 @table @code
17753 @item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
17754 The @value{GDBN} ARM simulator accepts the following optional arguments.
17755
17756 @table @code
17757 @item --swi-support=@var{type}
17758 Tell the simulator which SWI interfaces to support.
17759 @var{type} may be a comma separated list of the following values.
17760 The default value is @code{all}.
17761
17762 @table @code
17763 @item none
17764 @item demon
17765 @item angel
17766 @item redboot
17767 @item all
17768 @end table
17769 @end table
17770 @end table
17771
17772 @node M32R/D
17773 @subsection Renesas M32R/D and M32R/SDI
17774
17775 @table @code
17776 @kindex target m32r
17777 @item target m32r @var{dev}
17778 Renesas M32R/D ROM monitor.
17779
17780 @kindex target m32rsdi
17781 @item target m32rsdi @var{dev}
17782 Renesas M32R SDI server, connected via parallel port to the board.
17783 @end table
17784
17785 The following @value{GDBN} commands are specific to the M32R monitor:
17786
17787 @table @code
17788 @item set download-path @var{path}
17789 @kindex set download-path
17790 @cindex find downloadable @sc{srec} files (M32R)
17791 Set the default path for finding downloadable @sc{srec} files.
17792
17793 @item show download-path
17794 @kindex show download-path
17795 Show the default path for downloadable @sc{srec} files.
17796
17797 @item set board-address @var{addr}
17798 @kindex set board-address
17799 @cindex M32-EVA target board address
17800 Set the IP address for the M32R-EVA target board.
17801
17802 @item show board-address
17803 @kindex show board-address
17804 Show the current IP address of the target board.
17805
17806 @item set server-address @var{addr}
17807 @kindex set server-address
17808 @cindex download server address (M32R)
17809 Set the IP address for the download server, which is the @value{GDBN}'s
17810 host machine.
17811
17812 @item show server-address
17813 @kindex show server-address
17814 Display the IP address of the download server.
17815
17816 @item upload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
17817 @kindex upload@r{, M32R}
17818 Upload the specified @sc{srec} @var{file} via the monitor's Ethernet
17819 upload capability. If no @var{file} argument is given, the current
17820 executable file is uploaded.
17821
17822 @item tload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
17823 @kindex tload@r{, M32R}
17824 Test the @code{upload} command.
17825 @end table
17826
17827 The following commands are available for M32R/SDI:
17828
17829 @table @code
17830 @item sdireset
17831 @kindex sdireset
17832 @cindex reset SDI connection, M32R
17833 This command resets the SDI connection.
17834
17835 @item sdistatus
17836 @kindex sdistatus
17837 This command shows the SDI connection status.
17838
17839 @item debug_chaos
17840 @kindex debug_chaos
17841 @cindex M32R/Chaos debugging
17842 Instructs the remote that M32R/Chaos debugging is to be used.
17843
17844 @item use_debug_dma
17845 @kindex use_debug_dma
17846 Instructs the remote to use the DEBUG_DMA method of accessing memory.
17847
17848 @item use_mon_code
17849 @kindex use_mon_code
17850 Instructs the remote to use the MON_CODE method of accessing memory.
17851
17852 @item use_ib_break
17853 @kindex use_ib_break
17854 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by IB break.
17855
17856 @item use_dbt_break
17857 @kindex use_dbt_break
17858 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by DBT.
17859 @end table
17860
17861 @node M68K
17862 @subsection M68k
17863
17864 The Motorola m68k configuration includes ColdFire support, and a
17865 target command for the following ROM monitor.
17866
17867 @table @code
17868
17869 @kindex target dbug
17870 @item target dbug @var{dev}
17871 dBUG ROM monitor for Motorola ColdFire.
17872
17873 @end table
17874
17875 @node MicroBlaze
17876 @subsection MicroBlaze
17877 @cindex Xilinx MicroBlaze
17878 @cindex XMD, Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger
17879
17880 The MicroBlaze is a soft-core processor supported on various Xilinx
17881 FPGAs, such as Spartan or Virtex series. Boards with these processors
17882 usually have JTAG ports which connect to a host system running the Xilinx
17883 Embedded Development Kit (EDK) or Software Development Kit (SDK).
17884 This host system is used to download the configuration bitstream to
17885 the target FPGA. The Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger (XMD) program
17886 communicates with the target board using the JTAG interface and
17887 presents a @code{gdbserver} interface to the board. By default
17888 @code{xmd} uses port @code{1234}. (While it is possible to change
17889 this default port, it requires the use of undocumented @code{xmd}
17890 commands. Contact Xilinx support if you need to do this.)
17891
17892 Use these GDB commands to connect to the MicroBlaze target processor.
17893
17894 @table @code
17895 @item target remote :1234
17896 Use this command to connect to the target if you are running @value{GDBN}
17897 on the same system as @code{xmd}.
17898
17899 @item target remote @var{xmd-host}:1234
17900 Use this command to connect to the target if it is connected to @code{xmd}
17901 running on a different system named @var{xmd-host}.
17902
17903 @item load
17904 Use this command to download a program to the MicroBlaze target.
17905
17906 @item set debug microblaze @var{n}
17907 Enable MicroBlaze-specific debugging messages if non-zero.
17908
17909 @item show debug microblaze @var{n}
17910 Show MicroBlaze-specific debugging level.
17911 @end table
17912
17913 @node MIPS Embedded
17914 @subsection MIPS Embedded
17915
17916 @cindex MIPS boards
17917 @value{GDBN} can use the MIPS remote debugging protocol to talk to a
17918 MIPS board attached to a serial line. This is available when
17919 you configure @value{GDBN} with @samp{--target=mips-idt-ecoff}.
17920
17921 @need 1000
17922 Use these @value{GDBN} commands to specify the connection to your target board:
17923
17924 @table @code
17925 @item target mips @var{port}
17926 @kindex target mips @var{port}
17927 To run a program on the board, start up @code{@value{GDBP}} with the
17928 name of your program as the argument. To connect to the board, use the
17929 command @samp{target mips @var{port}}, where @var{port} is the name of
17930 the serial port connected to the board. If the program has not already
17931 been downloaded to the board, you may use the @code{load} command to
17932 download it. You can then use all the usual @value{GDBN} commands.
17933
17934 For example, this sequence connects to the target board through a serial
17935 port, and loads and runs a program called @var{prog} through the
17936 debugger:
17937
17938 @smallexample
17939 host$ @value{GDBP} @var{prog}
17940 @value{GDBN} is free software and @dots{}
17941 (@value{GDBP}) target mips /dev/ttyb
17942 (@value{GDBP}) load @var{prog}
17943 (@value{GDBP}) run
17944 @end smallexample
17945
17946 @item target mips @var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}
17947 On some @value{GDBN} host configurations, you can specify a TCP
17948 connection (for instance, to a serial line managed by a terminal
17949 concentrator) instead of a serial port, using the syntax
17950 @samp{@var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}}.
17951
17952 @item target pmon @var{port}
17953 @kindex target pmon @var{port}
17954 PMON ROM monitor.
17955
17956 @item target ddb @var{port}
17957 @kindex target ddb @var{port}
17958 NEC's DDB variant of PMON for Vr4300.
17959
17960 @item target lsi @var{port}
17961 @kindex target lsi @var{port}
17962 LSI variant of PMON.
17963
17964 @kindex target r3900
17965 @item target r3900 @var{dev}
17966 Densan DVE-R3900 ROM monitor for Toshiba R3900 Mips.
17967
17968 @kindex target array
17969 @item target array @var{dev}
17970 Array Tech LSI33K RAID controller board.
17971
17972 @end table
17973
17974
17975 @noindent
17976 @value{GDBN} also supports these special commands for MIPS targets:
17977
17978 @table @code
17979 @item set mipsfpu double
17980 @itemx set mipsfpu single
17981 @itemx set mipsfpu none
17982 @itemx set mipsfpu auto
17983 @itemx show mipsfpu
17984 @kindex set mipsfpu
17985 @kindex show mipsfpu
17986 @cindex MIPS remote floating point
17987 @cindex floating point, MIPS remote
17988 If your target board does not support the MIPS floating point
17989 coprocessor, you should use the command @samp{set mipsfpu none} (if you
17990 need this, you may wish to put the command in your @value{GDBN} init
17991 file). This tells @value{GDBN} how to find the return value of
17992 functions which return floating point values. It also allows
17993 @value{GDBN} to avoid saving the floating point registers when calling
17994 functions on the board. If you are using a floating point coprocessor
17995 with only single precision floating point support, as on the @sc{r4650}
17996 processor, use the command @samp{set mipsfpu single}. The default
17997 double precision floating point coprocessor may be selected using
17998 @samp{set mipsfpu double}.
17999
18000 In previous versions the only choices were double precision or no
18001 floating point, so @samp{set mipsfpu on} will select double precision
18002 and @samp{set mipsfpu off} will select no floating point.
18003
18004 As usual, you can inquire about the @code{mipsfpu} variable with
18005 @samp{show mipsfpu}.
18006
18007 @item set timeout @var{seconds}
18008 @itemx set retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}
18009 @itemx show timeout
18010 @itemx show retransmit-timeout
18011 @cindex @code{timeout}, MIPS protocol
18012 @cindex @code{retransmit-timeout}, MIPS protocol
18013 @kindex set timeout
18014 @kindex show timeout
18015 @kindex set retransmit-timeout
18016 @kindex show retransmit-timeout
18017 You can control the timeout used while waiting for a packet, in the MIPS
18018 remote protocol, with the @code{set timeout @var{seconds}} command. The
18019 default is 5 seconds. Similarly, you can control the timeout used while
18020 waiting for an acknowledgment of a packet with the @code{set
18021 retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}} command. The default is 3 seconds.
18022 You can inspect both values with @code{show timeout} and @code{show
18023 retransmit-timeout}. (These commands are @emph{only} available when
18024 @value{GDBN} is configured for @samp{--target=mips-idt-ecoff}.)
18025
18026 The timeout set by @code{set timeout} does not apply when @value{GDBN}
18027 is waiting for your program to stop. In that case, @value{GDBN} waits
18028 forever because it has no way of knowing how long the program is going
18029 to run before stopping.
18030
18031 @item set syn-garbage-limit @var{num}
18032 @kindex set syn-garbage-limit@r{, MIPS remote}
18033 @cindex synchronize with remote MIPS target
18034 Limit the maximum number of characters @value{GDBN} should ignore when
18035 it tries to synchronize with the remote target. The default is 10
18036 characters. Setting the limit to -1 means there's no limit.
18037
18038 @item show syn-garbage-limit
18039 @kindex show syn-garbage-limit@r{, MIPS remote}
18040 Show the current limit on the number of characters to ignore when
18041 trying to synchronize with the remote system.
18042
18043 @item set monitor-prompt @var{prompt}
18044 @kindex set monitor-prompt@r{, MIPS remote}
18045 @cindex remote monitor prompt
18046 Tell @value{GDBN} to expect the specified @var{prompt} string from the
18047 remote monitor. The default depends on the target:
18048 @table @asis
18049 @item pmon target
18050 @samp{PMON}
18051 @item ddb target
18052 @samp{NEC010}
18053 @item lsi target
18054 @samp{PMON>}
18055 @end table
18056
18057 @item show monitor-prompt
18058 @kindex show monitor-prompt@r{, MIPS remote}
18059 Show the current strings @value{GDBN} expects as the prompt from the
18060 remote monitor.
18061
18062 @item set monitor-warnings
18063 @kindex set monitor-warnings@r{, MIPS remote}
18064 Enable or disable monitor warnings about hardware breakpoints. This
18065 has effect only for the @code{lsi} target. When on, @value{GDBN} will
18066 display warning messages whose codes are returned by the @code{lsi}
18067 PMON monitor for breakpoint commands.
18068
18069 @item show monitor-warnings
18070 @kindex show monitor-warnings@r{, MIPS remote}
18071 Show the current setting of printing monitor warnings.
18072
18073 @item pmon @var{command}
18074 @kindex pmon@r{, MIPS remote}
18075 @cindex send PMON command
18076 This command allows sending an arbitrary @var{command} string to the
18077 monitor. The monitor must be in debug mode for this to work.
18078 @end table
18079
18080 @node OpenRISC 1000
18081 @subsection OpenRISC 1000
18082 @cindex OpenRISC 1000
18083
18084 @cindex or1k boards
18085 See OR1k Architecture document (@uref{www.opencores.org}) for more information
18086 about platform and commands.
18087
18088 @table @code
18089
18090 @kindex target jtag
18091 @item target jtag jtag://@var{host}:@var{port}
18092
18093 Connects to remote JTAG server.
18094 JTAG remote server can be either an or1ksim or JTAG server,
18095 connected via parallel port to the board.
18096
18097 Example: @code{target jtag jtag://localhost:9999}
18098
18099 @kindex or1ksim
18100 @item or1ksim @var{command}
18101 If connected to @code{or1ksim} OpenRISC 1000 Architectural
18102 Simulator, proprietary commands can be executed.
18103
18104 @kindex info or1k spr
18105 @item info or1k spr
18106 Displays spr groups.
18107
18108 @item info or1k spr @var{group}
18109 @itemx info or1k spr @var{groupno}
18110 Displays register names in selected group.
18111
18112 @item info or1k spr @var{group} @var{register}
18113 @itemx info or1k spr @var{register}
18114 @itemx info or1k spr @var{groupno} @var{registerno}
18115 @itemx info or1k spr @var{registerno}
18116 Shows information about specified spr register.
18117
18118 @kindex spr
18119 @item spr @var{group} @var{register} @var{value}
18120 @itemx spr @var{register @var{value}}
18121 @itemx spr @var{groupno} @var{registerno @var{value}}
18122 @itemx spr @var{registerno @var{value}}
18123 Writes @var{value} to specified spr register.
18124 @end table
18125
18126 Some implementations of OpenRISC 1000 Architecture also have hardware trace.
18127 It is very similar to @value{GDBN} trace, except it does not interfere with normal
18128 program execution and is thus much faster. Hardware breakpoints/watchpoint
18129 triggers can be set using:
18130 @table @code
18131 @item $LEA/$LDATA
18132 Load effective address/data
18133 @item $SEA/$SDATA
18134 Store effective address/data
18135 @item $AEA/$ADATA
18136 Access effective address ($SEA or $LEA) or data ($SDATA/$LDATA)
18137 @item $FETCH
18138 Fetch data
18139 @end table
18140
18141 When triggered, it can capture low level data, like: @code{PC}, @code{LSEA},
18142 @code{LDATA}, @code{SDATA}, @code{READSPR}, @code{WRITESPR}, @code{INSTR}.
18143
18144 @code{htrace} commands:
18145 @cindex OpenRISC 1000 htrace
18146 @table @code
18147 @kindex hwatch
18148 @item hwatch @var{conditional}
18149 Set hardware watchpoint on combination of Load/Store Effective Address(es)
18150 or Data. For example:
18151
18152 @code{hwatch ($LEA == my_var) && ($LDATA < 50) || ($SEA == my_var) && ($SDATA >= 50)}
18153
18154 @code{hwatch ($LEA == my_var) && ($LDATA < 50) || ($SEA == my_var) && ($SDATA >= 50)}
18155
18156 @kindex htrace
18157 @item htrace info
18158 Display information about current HW trace configuration.
18159
18160 @item htrace trigger @var{conditional}
18161 Set starting criteria for HW trace.
18162
18163 @item htrace qualifier @var{conditional}
18164 Set acquisition qualifier for HW trace.
18165
18166 @item htrace stop @var{conditional}
18167 Set HW trace stopping criteria.
18168
18169 @item htrace record [@var{data}]*
18170 Selects the data to be recorded, when qualifier is met and HW trace was
18171 triggered.
18172
18173 @item htrace enable
18174 @itemx htrace disable
18175 Enables/disables the HW trace.
18176
18177 @item htrace rewind [@var{filename}]
18178 Clears currently recorded trace data.
18179
18180 If filename is specified, new trace file is made and any newly collected data
18181 will be written there.
18182
18183 @item htrace print [@var{start} [@var{len}]]
18184 Prints trace buffer, using current record configuration.
18185
18186 @item htrace mode continuous
18187 Set continuous trace mode.
18188
18189 @item htrace mode suspend
18190 Set suspend trace mode.
18191
18192 @end table
18193
18194 @node PowerPC Embedded
18195 @subsection PowerPC Embedded
18196
18197 @value{GDBN} provides the following PowerPC-specific commands:
18198
18199 @table @code
18200 @kindex set powerpc
18201 @item set powerpc soft-float
18202 @itemx show powerpc soft-float
18203 Force @value{GDBN} to use (or not use) a software floating point calling
18204 convention. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention based
18205 on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
18206
18207 @item set powerpc vector-abi
18208 @itemx show powerpc vector-abi
18209 Force @value{GDBN} to use the specified calling convention for vector
18210 arguments and return values. The valid options are @samp{auto};
18211 @samp{generic}, to avoid vector registers even if they are present;
18212 @samp{altivec}, to use AltiVec registers; and @samp{spe} to use SPE
18213 registers. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention
18214 based on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
18215
18216 @kindex target dink32
18217 @item target dink32 @var{dev}
18218 DINK32 ROM monitor.
18219
18220 @kindex target ppcbug
18221 @item target ppcbug @var{dev}
18222 @kindex target ppcbug1
18223 @item target ppcbug1 @var{dev}
18224 PPCBUG ROM monitor for PowerPC.
18225
18226 @kindex target sds
18227 @item target sds @var{dev}
18228 SDS monitor, running on a PowerPC board (such as Motorola's ADS).
18229 @end table
18230
18231 @cindex SDS protocol
18232 The following commands specific to the SDS protocol are supported
18233 by @value{GDBN}:
18234
18235 @table @code
18236 @item set sdstimeout @var{nsec}
18237 @kindex set sdstimeout
18238 Set the timeout for SDS protocol reads to be @var{nsec} seconds. The
18239 default is 2 seconds.
18240
18241 @item show sdstimeout
18242 @kindex show sdstimeout
18243 Show the current value of the SDS timeout.
18244
18245 @item sds @var{command}
18246 @kindex sds@r{, a command}
18247 Send the specified @var{command} string to the SDS monitor.
18248 @end table
18249
18250
18251 @node PA
18252 @subsection HP PA Embedded
18253
18254 @table @code
18255
18256 @kindex target op50n
18257 @item target op50n @var{dev}
18258 OP50N monitor, running on an OKI HPPA board.
18259
18260 @kindex target w89k
18261 @item target w89k @var{dev}
18262 W89K monitor, running on a Winbond HPPA board.
18263
18264 @end table
18265
18266 @node Sparclet
18267 @subsection Tsqware Sparclet
18268
18269 @cindex Sparclet
18270
18271 @value{GDBN} enables developers to debug tasks running on
18272 Sparclet targets from a Unix host.
18273 @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
18274 both the Unix host and on the Sparclet target. The program
18275 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host.
18276
18277 @table @code
18278 @item remotetimeout @var{args}
18279 @kindex remotetimeout
18280 @value{GDBN} supports the option @code{remotetimeout}.
18281 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
18282 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses.
18283 @end table
18284
18285 @cindex compiling, on Sparclet
18286 When compiling for debugging, include the options @samp{-g} to get debug
18287 information and @samp{-Ttext} to relocate the program to where you wish to
18288 load it on the target. You may also want to add the options @samp{-n} or
18289 @samp{-N} in order to reduce the size of the sections. Example:
18290
18291 @smallexample
18292 sparclet-aout-gcc prog.c -Ttext 0x12010000 -g -o prog -N
18293 @end smallexample
18294
18295 You can use @code{objdump} to verify that the addresses are what you intended:
18296
18297 @smallexample
18298 sparclet-aout-objdump --headers --syms prog
18299 @end smallexample
18300
18301 @cindex running, on Sparclet
18302 Once you have set
18303 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
18304 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}}
18305 (or @code{sparclet-aout-gdb}, depending on your installation).
18306
18307 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
18308
18309 @smallexample
18310 (gdbslet)
18311 @end smallexample
18312
18313 @menu
18314 * Sparclet File:: Setting the file to debug
18315 * Sparclet Connection:: Connecting to Sparclet
18316 * Sparclet Download:: Sparclet download
18317 * Sparclet Execution:: Running and debugging
18318 @end menu
18319
18320 @node Sparclet File
18321 @subsubsection Setting File to Debug
18322
18323 The @value{GDBN} command @code{file} lets you choose with program to debug.
18324
18325 @smallexample
18326 (gdbslet) file prog
18327 @end smallexample
18328
18329 @need 1000
18330 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol table of @file{prog}.
18331 @value{GDBN} locates
18332 the file by searching the directories listed in the command search
18333 path.
18334 If the file was compiled with debug information (option @samp{-g}), source
18335 files will be searched as well.
18336 @value{GDBN} locates
18337 the source files by searching the directories listed in the directory search
18338 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}).
18339 If it fails
18340 to find a file, it displays a message such as:
18341
18342 @smallexample
18343 prog: No such file or directory.
18344 @end smallexample
18345
18346 When this happens, add the appropriate directories to the search paths with
18347 the @value{GDBN} commands @code{path} and @code{dir}, and execute the
18348 @code{target} command again.
18349
18350 @node Sparclet Connection
18351 @subsubsection Connecting to Sparclet
18352
18353 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a Sparclet target.
18354 To connect to a target on serial port ``@code{ttya}'', type:
18355
18356 @smallexample
18357 (gdbslet) target sparclet /dev/ttya
18358 Remote target sparclet connected to /dev/ttya
18359 main () at ../prog.c:3
18360 @end smallexample
18361
18362 @need 750
18363 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
18364
18365 @smallexample
18366 Connected to ttya.
18367 @end smallexample
18368
18369 @node Sparclet Download
18370 @subsubsection Sparclet Download
18371
18372 @cindex download to Sparclet
18373 Once connected to the Sparclet target,
18374 you can use the @value{GDBN}
18375 @code{load} command to download the file from the host to the target.
18376 The file name and load offset should be given as arguments to the @code{load}
18377 command.
18378 Since the file format is aout, the program must be loaded to the starting
18379 address. You can use @code{objdump} to find out what this value is. The load
18380 offset is an offset which is added to the VMA (virtual memory address)
18381 of each of the file's sections.
18382 For instance, if the program
18383 @file{prog} was linked to text address 0x1201000, with data at 0x12010160
18384 and bss at 0x12010170, in @value{GDBN}, type:
18385
18386 @smallexample
18387 (gdbslet) load prog 0x12010000
18388 Loading section .text, size 0xdb0 vma 0x12010000
18389 @end smallexample
18390
18391 If the code is loaded at a different address then what the program was linked
18392 to, you may need to use the @code{section} and @code{add-symbol-file} commands
18393 to tell @value{GDBN} where to map the symbol table.
18394
18395 @node Sparclet Execution
18396 @subsubsection Running and Debugging
18397
18398 @cindex running and debugging Sparclet programs
18399 You can now begin debugging the task using @value{GDBN}'s execution control
18400 commands, @code{b}, @code{step}, @code{run}, etc. See the @value{GDBN}
18401 manual for the list of commands.
18402
18403 @smallexample
18404 (gdbslet) b main
18405 Breakpoint 1 at 0x12010000: file prog.c, line 3.
18406 (gdbslet) run
18407 Starting program: prog
18408 Breakpoint 1, main (argc=1, argv=0xeffff21c) at prog.c:3
18409 3 char *symarg = 0;
18410 (gdbslet) step
18411 4 char *execarg = "hello!";
18412 (gdbslet)
18413 @end smallexample
18414
18415 @node Sparclite
18416 @subsection Fujitsu Sparclite
18417
18418 @table @code
18419
18420 @kindex target sparclite
18421 @item target sparclite @var{dev}
18422 Fujitsu sparclite boards, used only for the purpose of loading.
18423 You must use an additional command to debug the program.
18424 For example: target remote @var{dev} using @value{GDBN} standard
18425 remote protocol.
18426
18427 @end table
18428
18429 @node Z8000
18430 @subsection Zilog Z8000
18431
18432 @cindex Z8000
18433 @cindex simulator, Z8000
18434 @cindex Zilog Z8000 simulator
18435
18436 When configured for debugging Zilog Z8000 targets, @value{GDBN} includes
18437 a Z8000 simulator.
18438
18439 For the Z8000 family, @samp{target sim} simulates either the Z8002 (the
18440 unsegmented variant of the Z8000 architecture) or the Z8001 (the
18441 segmented variant). The simulator recognizes which architecture is
18442 appropriate by inspecting the object code.
18443
18444 @table @code
18445 @item target sim @var{args}
18446 @kindex sim
18447 @kindex target sim@r{, with Z8000}
18448 Debug programs on a simulated CPU. If the simulator supports setup
18449 options, specify them via @var{args}.
18450 @end table
18451
18452 @noindent
18453 After specifying this target, you can debug programs for the simulated
18454 CPU in the same style as programs for your host computer; use the
18455 @code{file} command to load a new program image, the @code{run} command
18456 to run your program, and so on.
18457
18458 As well as making available all the usual machine registers
18459 (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}), the Z8000 simulator provides three
18460 additional items of information as specially named registers:
18461
18462 @table @code
18463
18464 @item cycles
18465 Counts clock-ticks in the simulator.
18466
18467 @item insts
18468 Counts instructions run in the simulator.
18469
18470 @item time
18471 Execution time in 60ths of a second.
18472
18473 @end table
18474
18475 You can refer to these values in @value{GDBN} expressions with the usual
18476 conventions; for example, @w{@samp{b fputc if $cycles>5000}} sets a
18477 conditional breakpoint that suspends only after at least 5000
18478 simulated clock ticks.
18479
18480 @node AVR
18481 @subsection Atmel AVR
18482 @cindex AVR
18483
18484 When configured for debugging the Atmel AVR, @value{GDBN} supports the
18485 following AVR-specific commands:
18486
18487 @table @code
18488 @item info io_registers
18489 @kindex info io_registers@r{, AVR}
18490 @cindex I/O registers (Atmel AVR)
18491 This command displays information about the AVR I/O registers. For
18492 each register, @value{GDBN} prints its number and value.
18493 @end table
18494
18495 @node CRIS
18496 @subsection CRIS
18497 @cindex CRIS
18498
18499 When configured for debugging CRIS, @value{GDBN} provides the
18500 following CRIS-specific commands:
18501
18502 @table @code
18503 @item set cris-version @var{ver}
18504 @cindex CRIS version
18505 Set the current CRIS version to @var{ver}, either @samp{10} or @samp{32}.
18506 The CRIS version affects register names and sizes. This command is useful in
18507 case autodetection of the CRIS version fails.
18508
18509 @item show cris-version
18510 Show the current CRIS version.
18511
18512 @item set cris-dwarf2-cfi
18513 @cindex DWARF-2 CFI and CRIS
18514 Set the usage of DWARF-2 CFI for CRIS debugging. The default is @samp{on}.
18515 Change to @samp{off} when using @code{gcc-cris} whose version is below
18516 @code{R59}.
18517
18518 @item show cris-dwarf2-cfi
18519 Show the current state of using DWARF-2 CFI.
18520
18521 @item set cris-mode @var{mode}
18522 @cindex CRIS mode
18523 Set the current CRIS mode to @var{mode}. It should only be changed when
18524 debugging in guru mode, in which case it should be set to
18525 @samp{guru} (the default is @samp{normal}).
18526
18527 @item show cris-mode
18528 Show the current CRIS mode.
18529 @end table
18530
18531 @node Super-H
18532 @subsection Renesas Super-H
18533 @cindex Super-H
18534
18535 For the Renesas Super-H processor, @value{GDBN} provides these
18536 commands:
18537
18538 @table @code
18539 @item regs
18540 @kindex regs@r{, Super-H}
18541 Show the values of all Super-H registers.
18542
18543 @item set sh calling-convention @var{convention}
18544 @kindex set sh calling-convention
18545 Set the calling-convention used when calling functions from @value{GDBN}.
18546 Allowed values are @samp{gcc}, which is the default setting, and @samp{renesas}.
18547 With the @samp{gcc} setting, functions are called using the @value{NGCC} calling
18548 convention. If the DWARF-2 information of the called function specifies
18549 that the function follows the Renesas calling convention, the function
18550 is called using the Renesas calling convention. If the calling convention
18551 is set to @samp{renesas}, the Renesas calling convention is always used,
18552 regardless of the DWARF-2 information. This can be used to override the
18553 default of @samp{gcc} if debug information is missing, or the compiler
18554 does not emit the DWARF-2 calling convention entry for a function.
18555
18556 @item show sh calling-convention
18557 @kindex show sh calling-convention
18558 Show the current calling convention setting.
18559
18560 @end table
18561
18562
18563 @node Architectures
18564 @section Architectures
18565
18566 This section describes characteristics of architectures that affect
18567 all uses of @value{GDBN} with the architecture, both native and cross.
18568
18569 @menu
18570 * i386::
18571 * A29K::
18572 * Alpha::
18573 * MIPS::
18574 * HPPA:: HP PA architecture
18575 * SPU:: Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
18576 * PowerPC::
18577 @end menu
18578
18579 @node i386
18580 @subsection x86 Architecture-specific Issues
18581
18582 @table @code
18583 @item set struct-convention @var{mode}
18584 @kindex set struct-convention
18585 @cindex struct return convention
18586 @cindex struct/union returned in registers
18587 Set the convention used by the inferior to return @code{struct}s and
18588 @code{union}s from functions to @var{mode}. Possible values of
18589 @var{mode} are @code{"pcc"}, @code{"reg"}, and @code{"default"} (the
18590 default). @code{"default"} or @code{"pcc"} means that @code{struct}s
18591 are returned on the stack, while @code{"reg"} means that a
18592 @code{struct} or a @code{union} whose size is 1, 2, 4, or 8 bytes will
18593 be returned in a register.
18594
18595 @item show struct-convention
18596 @kindex show struct-convention
18597 Show the current setting of the convention to return @code{struct}s
18598 from functions.
18599 @end table
18600
18601 @node A29K
18602 @subsection A29K
18603
18604 @table @code
18605
18606 @kindex set rstack_high_address
18607 @cindex AMD 29K register stack
18608 @cindex register stack, AMD29K
18609 @item set rstack_high_address @var{address}
18610 On AMD 29000 family processors, registers are saved in a separate
18611 @dfn{register stack}. There is no way for @value{GDBN} to determine the
18612 extent of this stack. Normally, @value{GDBN} just assumes that the
18613 stack is ``large enough''. This may result in @value{GDBN} referencing
18614 memory locations that do not exist. If necessary, you can get around
18615 this problem by specifying the ending address of the register stack with
18616 the @code{set rstack_high_address} command. The argument should be an
18617 address, which you probably want to precede with @samp{0x} to specify in
18618 hexadecimal.
18619
18620 @kindex show rstack_high_address
18621 @item show rstack_high_address
18622 Display the current limit of the register stack, on AMD 29000 family
18623 processors.
18624
18625 @end table
18626
18627 @node Alpha
18628 @subsection Alpha
18629
18630 See the following section.
18631
18632 @node MIPS
18633 @subsection MIPS
18634
18635 @cindex stack on Alpha
18636 @cindex stack on MIPS
18637 @cindex Alpha stack
18638 @cindex MIPS stack
18639 Alpha- and MIPS-based computers use an unusual stack frame, which
18640 sometimes requires @value{GDBN} to search backward in the object code to
18641 find the beginning of a function.
18642
18643 @cindex response time, MIPS debugging
18644 To improve response time (especially for embedded applications, where
18645 @value{GDBN} may be restricted to a slow serial line for this search)
18646 you may want to limit the size of this search, using one of these
18647 commands:
18648
18649 @table @code
18650 @cindex @code{heuristic-fence-post} (Alpha, MIPS)
18651 @item set heuristic-fence-post @var{limit}
18652 Restrict @value{GDBN} to examining at most @var{limit} bytes in its
18653 search for the beginning of a function. A value of @var{0} (the
18654 default) means there is no limit. However, except for @var{0}, the
18655 larger the limit the more bytes @code{heuristic-fence-post} must search
18656 and therefore the longer it takes to run. You should only need to use
18657 this command when debugging a stripped executable.
18658
18659 @item show heuristic-fence-post
18660 Display the current limit.
18661 @end table
18662
18663 @noindent
18664 These commands are available @emph{only} when @value{GDBN} is configured
18665 for debugging programs on Alpha or MIPS processors.
18666
18667 Several MIPS-specific commands are available when debugging MIPS
18668 programs:
18669
18670 @table @code
18671 @item set mips abi @var{arg}
18672 @kindex set mips abi
18673 @cindex set ABI for MIPS
18674 Tell @value{GDBN} which MIPS ABI is used by the inferior. Possible
18675 values of @var{arg} are:
18676
18677 @table @samp
18678 @item auto
18679 The default ABI associated with the current binary (this is the
18680 default).
18681 @item o32
18682 @item o64
18683 @item n32
18684 @item n64
18685 @item eabi32
18686 @item eabi64
18687 @item auto
18688 @end table
18689
18690 @item show mips abi
18691 @kindex show mips abi
18692 Show the MIPS ABI used by @value{GDBN} to debug the inferior.
18693
18694 @item set mipsfpu
18695 @itemx show mipsfpu
18696 @xref{MIPS Embedded, set mipsfpu}.
18697
18698 @item set mips mask-address @var{arg}
18699 @kindex set mips mask-address
18700 @cindex MIPS addresses, masking
18701 This command determines whether the most-significant 32 bits of 64-bit
18702 MIPS addresses are masked off. The argument @var{arg} can be
18703 @samp{on}, @samp{off}, or @samp{auto}. The latter is the default
18704 setting, which lets @value{GDBN} determine the correct value.
18705
18706 @item show mips mask-address
18707 @kindex show mips mask-address
18708 Show whether the upper 32 bits of MIPS addresses are masked off or
18709 not.
18710
18711 @item set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
18712 @kindex set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
18713 This command controls compatibility with 64-bit MIPS targets that
18714 transfer data in 32-bit quantities. If you have an old MIPS 64 target
18715 that transfers 32 bits for some registers, like @sc{sr} and @sc{fsr},
18716 and 64 bits for other registers, set this option to @samp{on}.
18717
18718 @item show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
18719 @kindex show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
18720 Show the current setting of compatibility with older MIPS 64 targets.
18721
18722 @item set debug mips
18723 @kindex set debug mips
18724 This command turns on and off debugging messages for the MIPS-specific
18725 target code in @value{GDBN}.
18726
18727 @item show debug mips
18728 @kindex show debug mips
18729 Show the current setting of MIPS debugging messages.
18730 @end table
18731
18732
18733 @node HPPA
18734 @subsection HPPA
18735 @cindex HPPA support
18736
18737 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the HP PA architecture, it provides the
18738 following special commands:
18739
18740 @table @code
18741 @item set debug hppa
18742 @kindex set debug hppa
18743 This command determines whether HPPA architecture-specific debugging
18744 messages are to be displayed.
18745
18746 @item show debug hppa
18747 Show whether HPPA debugging messages are displayed.
18748
18749 @item maint print unwind @var{address}
18750 @kindex maint print unwind@r{, HPPA}
18751 This command displays the contents of the unwind table entry at the
18752 given @var{address}.
18753
18754 @end table
18755
18756
18757 @node SPU
18758 @subsection Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
18759 @cindex Cell Broadband Engine
18760 @cindex SPU
18761
18762 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture,
18763 it provides the following special commands:
18764
18765 @table @code
18766 @item info spu event
18767 @kindex info spu
18768 Display SPU event facility status. Shows current event mask
18769 and pending event status.
18770
18771 @item info spu signal
18772 Display SPU signal notification facility status. Shows pending
18773 signal-control word and signal notification mode of both signal
18774 notification channels.
18775
18776 @item info spu mailbox
18777 Display SPU mailbox facility status. Shows all pending entries,
18778 in order of processing, in each of the SPU Write Outbound,
18779 SPU Write Outbound Interrupt, and SPU Read Inbound mailboxes.
18780
18781 @item info spu dma
18782 Display MFC DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
18783 DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
18784 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
18785
18786 @item info spu proxydma
18787 Display MFC Proxy-DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
18788 Proxy-DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
18789 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
18790
18791 @end table
18792
18793 When @value{GDBN} is debugging a combined PowerPC/SPU application
18794 on the Cell Broadband Engine, it provides in addition the following
18795 special commands:
18796
18797 @table @code
18798 @item set spu stop-on-load @var{arg}
18799 @kindex set spu
18800 Set whether to stop for new SPE threads. When set to @code{on}, @value{GDBN}
18801 will give control to the user when a new SPE thread enters its @code{main}
18802 function. The default is @code{off}.
18803
18804 @item show spu stop-on-load
18805 @kindex show spu
18806 Show whether to stop for new SPE threads.
18807
18808 @item set spu auto-flush-cache @var{arg}
18809 Set whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache. When set to
18810 @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will automatically cause the SPE software-managed
18811 cache to be flushed whenever SPE execution stops. This provides a consistent
18812 view of PowerPC memory that is accessed via the cache. If an application
18813 does not use the software-managed cache, this option has no effect.
18814
18815 @item show spu auto-flush-cache
18816 Show whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache.
18817
18818 @end table
18819
18820 @node PowerPC
18821 @subsection PowerPC
18822 @cindex PowerPC architecture
18823
18824 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the PowerPC architecture, it provides a set of
18825 pseudo-registers to enable inspection of 128-bit wide Decimal Floating Point
18826 numbers stored in the floating point registers. These values must be stored
18827 in two consecutive registers, always starting at an even register like
18828 @code{f0} or @code{f2}.
18829
18830 The pseudo-registers go from @code{$dl0} through @code{$dl15}, and are formed
18831 by joining the even/odd register pairs @code{f0} and @code{f1} for @code{$dl0},
18832 @code{f2} and @code{f3} for @code{$dl1} and so on.
18833
18834 For POWER7 processors, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers, the 64-bit
18835 wide Extended Floating Point Registers (@samp{f32} through @samp{f63}).
18836
18837
18838 @node Controlling GDB
18839 @chapter Controlling @value{GDBN}
18840
18841 You can alter the way @value{GDBN} interacts with you by using the
18842 @code{set} command. For commands controlling how @value{GDBN} displays
18843 data, see @ref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}. Other settings are
18844 described here.
18845
18846 @menu
18847 * Prompt:: Prompt
18848 * Editing:: Command editing
18849 * Command History:: Command history
18850 * Screen Size:: Screen size
18851 * Numbers:: Numbers
18852 * ABI:: Configuring the current ABI
18853 * Messages/Warnings:: Optional warnings and messages
18854 * Debugging Output:: Optional messages about internal happenings
18855 * Other Misc Settings:: Other Miscellaneous Settings
18856 @end menu
18857
18858 @node Prompt
18859 @section Prompt
18860
18861 @cindex prompt
18862
18863 @value{GDBN} indicates its readiness to read a command by printing a string
18864 called the @dfn{prompt}. This string is normally @samp{(@value{GDBP})}. You
18865 can change the prompt string with the @code{set prompt} command. For
18866 instance, when debugging @value{GDBN} with @value{GDBN}, it is useful to change
18867 the prompt in one of the @value{GDBN} sessions so that you can always tell
18868 which one you are talking to.
18869
18870 @emph{Note:} @code{set prompt} does not add a space for you after the
18871 prompt you set. This allows you to set a prompt which ends in a space
18872 or a prompt that does not.
18873
18874 @table @code
18875 @kindex set prompt
18876 @item set prompt @var{newprompt}
18877 Directs @value{GDBN} to use @var{newprompt} as its prompt string henceforth.
18878
18879 @kindex show prompt
18880 @item show prompt
18881 Prints a line of the form: @samp{Gdb's prompt is: @var{your-prompt}}
18882 @end table
18883
18884 @node Editing
18885 @section Command Editing
18886 @cindex readline
18887 @cindex command line editing
18888
18889 @value{GDBN} reads its input commands via the @dfn{Readline} interface. This
18890 @sc{gnu} library provides consistent behavior for programs which provide a
18891 command line interface to the user. Advantages are @sc{gnu} Emacs-style
18892 or @dfn{vi}-style inline editing of commands, @code{csh}-like history
18893 substitution, and a storage and recall of command history across
18894 debugging sessions.
18895
18896 You may control the behavior of command line editing in @value{GDBN} with the
18897 command @code{set}.
18898
18899 @table @code
18900 @kindex set editing
18901 @cindex editing
18902 @item set editing
18903 @itemx set editing on
18904 Enable command line editing (enabled by default).
18905
18906 @item set editing off
18907 Disable command line editing.
18908
18909 @kindex show editing
18910 @item show editing
18911 Show whether command line editing is enabled.
18912 @end table
18913
18914 @xref{Command Line Editing}, for more details about the Readline
18915 interface. Users unfamiliar with @sc{gnu} Emacs or @code{vi} are
18916 encouraged to read that chapter.
18917
18918 @node Command History
18919 @section Command History
18920 @cindex command history
18921
18922 @value{GDBN} can keep track of the commands you type during your
18923 debugging sessions, so that you can be certain of precisely what
18924 happened. Use these commands to manage the @value{GDBN} command
18925 history facility.
18926
18927 @value{GDBN} uses the @sc{gnu} History library, a part of the Readline
18928 package, to provide the history facility. @xref{Using History
18929 Interactively}, for the detailed description of the History library.
18930
18931 To issue a command to @value{GDBN} without affecting certain aspects of
18932 the state which is seen by users, prefix it with @samp{server }
18933 (@pxref{Server Prefix}). This
18934 means that this command will not affect the command history, nor will it
18935 affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which command to repeat if @key{RET} is
18936 pressed on a line by itself.
18937
18938 @cindex @code{server}, command prefix
18939 The server prefix does not affect the recording of values into the value
18940 history; to print a value without recording it into the value history,
18941 use the @code{output} command instead of the @code{print} command.
18942
18943 Here is the description of @value{GDBN} commands related to command
18944 history.
18945
18946 @table @code
18947 @cindex history substitution
18948 @cindex history file
18949 @kindex set history filename
18950 @cindex @env{GDBHISTFILE}, environment variable
18951 @item set history filename @var{fname}
18952 Set the name of the @value{GDBN} command history file to @var{fname}.
18953 This is the file where @value{GDBN} reads an initial command history
18954 list, and where it writes the command history from this session when it
18955 exits. You can access this list through history expansion or through
18956 the history command editing characters listed below. This file defaults
18957 to the value of the environment variable @code{GDBHISTFILE}, or to
18958 @file{./.gdb_history} (@file{./_gdb_history} on MS-DOS) if this variable
18959 is not set.
18960
18961 @cindex save command history
18962 @kindex set history save
18963 @item set history save
18964 @itemx set history save on
18965 Record command history in a file, whose name may be specified with the
18966 @code{set history filename} command. By default, this option is disabled.
18967
18968 @item set history save off
18969 Stop recording command history in a file.
18970
18971 @cindex history size
18972 @kindex set history size
18973 @cindex @env{HISTSIZE}, environment variable
18974 @item set history size @var{size}
18975 Set the number of commands which @value{GDBN} keeps in its history list.
18976 This defaults to the value of the environment variable
18977 @code{HISTSIZE}, or to 256 if this variable is not set.
18978 @end table
18979
18980 History expansion assigns special meaning to the character @kbd{!}.
18981 @xref{Event Designators}, for more details.
18982
18983 @cindex history expansion, turn on/off
18984 Since @kbd{!} is also the logical not operator in C, history expansion
18985 is off by default. If you decide to enable history expansion with the
18986 @code{set history expansion on} command, you may sometimes need to
18987 follow @kbd{!} (when it is used as logical not, in an expression) with
18988 a space or a tab to prevent it from being expanded. The readline
18989 history facilities do not attempt substitution on the strings
18990 @kbd{!=} and @kbd{!(}, even when history expansion is enabled.
18991
18992 The commands to control history expansion are:
18993
18994 @table @code
18995 @item set history expansion on
18996 @itemx set history expansion
18997 @kindex set history expansion
18998 Enable history expansion. History expansion is off by default.
18999
19000 @item set history expansion off
19001 Disable history expansion.
19002
19003 @c @group
19004 @kindex show history
19005 @item show history
19006 @itemx show history filename
19007 @itemx show history save
19008 @itemx show history size
19009 @itemx show history expansion
19010 These commands display the state of the @value{GDBN} history parameters.
19011 @code{show history} by itself displays all four states.
19012 @c @end group
19013 @end table
19014
19015 @table @code
19016 @kindex show commands
19017 @cindex show last commands
19018 @cindex display command history
19019 @item show commands
19020 Display the last ten commands in the command history.
19021
19022 @item show commands @var{n}
19023 Print ten commands centered on command number @var{n}.
19024
19025 @item show commands +
19026 Print ten commands just after the commands last printed.
19027 @end table
19028
19029 @node Screen Size
19030 @section Screen Size
19031 @cindex size of screen
19032 @cindex pauses in output
19033
19034 Certain commands to @value{GDBN} may produce large amounts of
19035 information output to the screen. To help you read all of it,
19036 @value{GDBN} pauses and asks you for input at the end of each page of
19037 output. Type @key{RET} when you want to continue the output, or @kbd{q}
19038 to discard the remaining output. Also, the screen width setting
19039 determines when to wrap lines of output. Depending on what is being
19040 printed, @value{GDBN} tries to break the line at a readable place,
19041 rather than simply letting it overflow onto the following line.
19042
19043 Normally @value{GDBN} knows the size of the screen from the terminal
19044 driver software. For example, on Unix @value{GDBN} uses the termcap data base
19045 together with the value of the @code{TERM} environment variable and the
19046 @code{stty rows} and @code{stty cols} settings. If this is not correct,
19047 you can override it with the @code{set height} and @code{set
19048 width} commands:
19049
19050 @table @code
19051 @kindex set height
19052 @kindex set width
19053 @kindex show width
19054 @kindex show height
19055 @item set height @var{lpp}
19056 @itemx show height
19057 @itemx set width @var{cpl}
19058 @itemx show width
19059 These @code{set} commands specify a screen height of @var{lpp} lines and
19060 a screen width of @var{cpl} characters. The associated @code{show}
19061 commands display the current settings.
19062
19063 If you specify a height of zero lines, @value{GDBN} does not pause during
19064 output no matter how long the output is. This is useful if output is to a
19065 file or to an editor buffer.
19066
19067 Likewise, you can specify @samp{set width 0} to prevent @value{GDBN}
19068 from wrapping its output.
19069
19070 @item set pagination on
19071 @itemx set pagination off
19072 @kindex set pagination
19073 Turn the output pagination on or off; the default is on. Turning
19074 pagination off is the alternative to @code{set height 0}. Note that
19075 running @value{GDBN} with the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode
19076 Options, -batch}) also automatically disables pagination.
19077
19078 @item show pagination
19079 @kindex show pagination
19080 Show the current pagination mode.
19081 @end table
19082
19083 @node Numbers
19084 @section Numbers
19085 @cindex number representation
19086 @cindex entering numbers
19087
19088 You can always enter numbers in octal, decimal, or hexadecimal in
19089 @value{GDBN} by the usual conventions: octal numbers begin with
19090 @samp{0}, decimal numbers end with @samp{.}, and hexadecimal numbers
19091 begin with @samp{0x}. Numbers that neither begin with @samp{0} or
19092 @samp{0x}, nor end with a @samp{.} are, by default, entered in base
19093 10; likewise, the default display for numbers---when no particular
19094 format is specified---is base 10. You can change the default base for
19095 both input and output with the commands described below.
19096
19097 @table @code
19098 @kindex set input-radix
19099 @item set input-radix @var{base}
19100 Set the default base for numeric input. Supported choices
19101 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
19102 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix; for
19103 example, any of
19104
19105 @smallexample
19106 set input-radix 012
19107 set input-radix 10.
19108 set input-radix 0xa
19109 @end smallexample
19110
19111 @noindent
19112 sets the input base to decimal. On the other hand, @samp{set input-radix 10}
19113 leaves the input radix unchanged, no matter what it was, since
19114 @samp{10}, being without any leading or trailing signs of its base, is
19115 interpreted in the current radix. Thus, if the current radix is 16,
19116 @samp{10} is interpreted in hex, i.e.@: as 16 decimal, which doesn't
19117 change the radix.
19118
19119 @kindex set output-radix
19120 @item set output-radix @var{base}
19121 Set the default base for numeric display. Supported choices
19122 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
19123 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix.
19124
19125 @kindex show input-radix
19126 @item show input-radix
19127 Display the current default base for numeric input.
19128
19129 @kindex show output-radix
19130 @item show output-radix
19131 Display the current default base for numeric display.
19132
19133 @item set radix @r{[}@var{base}@r{]}
19134 @itemx show radix
19135 @kindex set radix
19136 @kindex show radix
19137 These commands set and show the default base for both input and output
19138 of numbers. @code{set radix} sets the radix of input and output to
19139 the same base; without an argument, it resets the radix back to its
19140 default value of 10.
19141
19142 @end table
19143
19144 @node ABI
19145 @section Configuring the Current ABI
19146
19147 @value{GDBN} can determine the @dfn{ABI} (Application Binary Interface) of your
19148 application automatically. However, sometimes you need to override its
19149 conclusions. Use these commands to manage @value{GDBN}'s view of the
19150 current ABI.
19151
19152 @cindex OS ABI
19153 @kindex set osabi
19154 @kindex show osabi
19155
19156 One @value{GDBN} configuration can debug binaries for multiple operating
19157 system targets, either via remote debugging or native emulation.
19158 @value{GDBN} will autodetect the @dfn{OS ABI} (Operating System ABI) in use,
19159 but you can override its conclusion using the @code{set osabi} command.
19160 One example where this is useful is in debugging of binaries which use
19161 an alternate C library (e.g.@: @sc{uClibc} for @sc{gnu}/Linux) which does
19162 not have the same identifying marks that the standard C library for your
19163 platform provides.
19164
19165 @table @code
19166 @item show osabi
19167 Show the OS ABI currently in use.
19168
19169 @item set osabi
19170 With no argument, show the list of registered available OS ABI's.
19171
19172 @item set osabi @var{abi}
19173 Set the current OS ABI to @var{abi}.
19174 @end table
19175
19176 @cindex float promotion
19177
19178 Generally, the way that an argument of type @code{float} is passed to a
19179 function depends on whether the function is prototyped. For a prototyped
19180 (i.e.@: ANSI/ISO style) function, @code{float} arguments are passed unchanged,
19181 according to the architecture's convention for @code{float}. For unprototyped
19182 (i.e.@: K&R style) functions, @code{float} arguments are first promoted to type
19183 @code{double} and then passed.
19184
19185 Unfortunately, some forms of debug information do not reliably indicate whether
19186 a function is prototyped. If @value{GDBN} calls a function that is not marked
19187 as prototyped, it consults @kbd{set coerce-float-to-double}.
19188
19189 @table @code
19190 @kindex set coerce-float-to-double
19191 @item set coerce-float-to-double
19192 @itemx set coerce-float-to-double on
19193 Arguments of type @code{float} will be promoted to @code{double} when passed
19194 to an unprototyped function. This is the default setting.
19195
19196 @item set coerce-float-to-double off
19197 Arguments of type @code{float} will be passed directly to unprototyped
19198 functions.
19199
19200 @kindex show coerce-float-to-double
19201 @item show coerce-float-to-double
19202 Show the current setting of promoting @code{float} to @code{double}.
19203 @end table
19204
19205 @kindex set cp-abi
19206 @kindex show cp-abi
19207 @value{GDBN} needs to know the ABI used for your program's C@t{++}
19208 objects. The correct C@t{++} ABI depends on which C@t{++} compiler was
19209 used to build your application. @value{GDBN} only fully supports
19210 programs with a single C@t{++} ABI; if your program contains code using
19211 multiple C@t{++} ABI's or if @value{GDBN} can not identify your
19212 program's ABI correctly, you can tell @value{GDBN} which ABI to use.
19213 Currently supported ABI's include ``gnu-v2'', for @code{g++} versions
19214 before 3.0, ``gnu-v3'', for @code{g++} versions 3.0 and later, and
19215 ``hpaCC'' for the HP ANSI C@t{++} compiler. Other C@t{++} compilers may
19216 use the ``gnu-v2'' or ``gnu-v3'' ABI's as well. The default setting is
19217 ``auto''.
19218
19219 @table @code
19220 @item show cp-abi
19221 Show the C@t{++} ABI currently in use.
19222
19223 @item set cp-abi
19224 With no argument, show the list of supported C@t{++} ABI's.
19225
19226 @item set cp-abi @var{abi}
19227 @itemx set cp-abi auto
19228 Set the current C@t{++} ABI to @var{abi}, or return to automatic detection.
19229 @end table
19230
19231 @node Messages/Warnings
19232 @section Optional Warnings and Messages
19233
19234 @cindex verbose operation
19235 @cindex optional warnings
19236 By default, @value{GDBN} is silent about its inner workings. If you are
19237 running on a slow machine, you may want to use the @code{set verbose}
19238 command. This makes @value{GDBN} tell you when it does a lengthy
19239 internal operation, so you will not think it has crashed.
19240
19241 Currently, the messages controlled by @code{set verbose} are those
19242 which announce that the symbol table for a source file is being read;
19243 see @code{symbol-file} in @ref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}.
19244
19245 @table @code
19246 @kindex set verbose
19247 @item set verbose on
19248 Enables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
19249
19250 @item set verbose off
19251 Disables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
19252
19253 @kindex show verbose
19254 @item show verbose
19255 Displays whether @code{set verbose} is on or off.
19256 @end table
19257
19258 By default, if @value{GDBN} encounters bugs in the symbol table of an
19259 object file, it is silent; but if you are debugging a compiler, you may
19260 find this information useful (@pxref{Symbol Errors, ,Errors Reading
19261 Symbol Files}).
19262
19263 @table @code
19264
19265 @kindex set complaints
19266 @item set complaints @var{limit}
19267 Permits @value{GDBN} to output @var{limit} complaints about each type of
19268 unusual symbols before becoming silent about the problem. Set
19269 @var{limit} to zero to suppress all complaints; set it to a large number
19270 to prevent complaints from being suppressed.
19271
19272 @kindex show complaints
19273 @item show complaints
19274 Displays how many symbol complaints @value{GDBN} is permitted to produce.
19275
19276 @end table
19277
19278 @anchor{confirmation requests}
19279 By default, @value{GDBN} is cautious, and asks what sometimes seems to be a
19280 lot of stupid questions to confirm certain commands. For example, if
19281 you try to run a program which is already running:
19282
19283 @smallexample
19284 (@value{GDBP}) run
19285 The program being debugged has been started already.
19286 Start it from the beginning? (y or n)
19287 @end smallexample
19288
19289 If you are willing to unflinchingly face the consequences of your own
19290 commands, you can disable this ``feature'':
19291
19292 @table @code
19293
19294 @kindex set confirm
19295 @cindex flinching
19296 @cindex confirmation
19297 @cindex stupid questions
19298 @item set confirm off
19299 Disables confirmation requests. Note that running @value{GDBN} with
19300 the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode Options, -batch}) also
19301 automatically disables confirmation requests.
19302
19303 @item set confirm on
19304 Enables confirmation requests (the default).
19305
19306 @kindex show confirm
19307 @item show confirm
19308 Displays state of confirmation requests.
19309
19310 @end table
19311
19312 @cindex command tracing
19313 If you need to debug user-defined commands or sourced files you may find it
19314 useful to enable @dfn{command tracing}. In this mode each command will be
19315 printed as it is executed, prefixed with one or more @samp{+} symbols, the
19316 quantity denoting the call depth of each command.
19317
19318 @table @code
19319 @kindex set trace-commands
19320 @cindex command scripts, debugging
19321 @item set trace-commands on
19322 Enable command tracing.
19323 @item set trace-commands off
19324 Disable command tracing.
19325 @item show trace-commands
19326 Display the current state of command tracing.
19327 @end table
19328
19329 @node Debugging Output
19330 @section Optional Messages about Internal Happenings
19331 @cindex optional debugging messages
19332
19333 @value{GDBN} has commands that enable optional debugging messages from
19334 various @value{GDBN} subsystems; normally these commands are of
19335 interest to @value{GDBN} maintainers, or when reporting a bug. This
19336 section documents those commands.
19337
19338 @table @code
19339 @kindex set exec-done-display
19340 @item set exec-done-display
19341 Turns on or off the notification of asynchronous commands'
19342 completion. When on, @value{GDBN} will print a message when an
19343 asynchronous command finishes its execution. The default is off.
19344 @kindex show exec-done-display
19345 @item show exec-done-display
19346 Displays the current setting of asynchronous command completion
19347 notification.
19348 @kindex set debug
19349 @cindex gdbarch debugging info
19350 @cindex architecture debugging info
19351 @item set debug arch
19352 Turns on or off display of gdbarch debugging info. The default is off
19353 @kindex show debug
19354 @item show debug arch
19355 Displays the current state of displaying gdbarch debugging info.
19356 @item set debug aix-thread
19357 @cindex AIX threads
19358 Display debugging messages about inner workings of the AIX thread
19359 module.
19360 @item show debug aix-thread
19361 Show the current state of AIX thread debugging info display.
19362 @item set debug dwarf2-die
19363 @cindex DWARF2 DIEs
19364 Dump DWARF2 DIEs after they are read in.
19365 The value is the number of nesting levels to print.
19366 A value of zero turns off the display.
19367 @item show debug dwarf2-die
19368 Show the current state of DWARF2 DIE debugging.
19369 @item set debug displaced
19370 @cindex displaced stepping debugging info
19371 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for the
19372 displaced stepping support. The default is off.
19373 @item show debug displaced
19374 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} debugging info
19375 related to displaced stepping.
19376 @item set debug event
19377 @cindex event debugging info
19378 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} event debugging info. The
19379 default is off.
19380 @item show debug event
19381 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} event debugging
19382 info.
19383 @item set debug expression
19384 @cindex expression debugging info
19385 Turns on or off display of debugging info about @value{GDBN}
19386 expression parsing. The default is off.
19387 @item show debug expression
19388 Displays the current state of displaying debugging info about
19389 @value{GDBN} expression parsing.
19390 @item set debug frame
19391 @cindex frame debugging info
19392 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} frame debugging info. The
19393 default is off.
19394 @item show debug frame
19395 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} frame debugging
19396 info.
19397 @item set debug gnu-nat
19398 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug messages
19399 Turns on or off debugging messages from the @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug support.
19400 @item show debug gnu-nat
19401 Show the current state of @sc{gnu}/Hurd debugging messages.
19402 @item set debug infrun
19403 @cindex inferior debugging info
19404 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for running the inferior.
19405 The default is off. @file{infrun.c} contains GDB's runtime state machine used
19406 for implementing operations such as single-stepping the inferior.
19407 @item show debug infrun
19408 Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} inferior debugging.
19409 @item set debug lin-lwp
19410 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Linux LWP debug messages
19411 @cindex Linux lightweight processes
19412 Turns on or off debugging messages from the Linux LWP debug support.
19413 @item show debug lin-lwp
19414 Show the current state of Linux LWP debugging messages.
19415 @item set debug lin-lwp-async
19416 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Linux LWP async debug messages
19417 @cindex Linux lightweight processes
19418 Turns on or off debugging messages from the Linux LWP async debug support.
19419 @item show debug lin-lwp-async
19420 Show the current state of Linux LWP async debugging messages.
19421 @item set debug observer
19422 @cindex observer debugging info
19423 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} observer debugging. This
19424 includes info such as the notification of observable events.
19425 @item show debug observer
19426 Displays the current state of observer debugging.
19427 @item set debug overload
19428 @cindex C@t{++} overload debugging info
19429 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload debugging
19430 info. This includes info such as ranking of functions, etc. The default
19431 is off.
19432 @item show debug overload
19433 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload
19434 debugging info.
19435 @cindex expression parser, debugging info
19436 @cindex debug expression parser
19437 @item set debug parser
19438 Turns on or off the display of expression parser debugging output.
19439 Internally, this sets the @code{yydebug} variable in the expression
19440 parser. @xref{Tracing, , Tracing Your Parser, bison, Bison}, for
19441 details. The default is off.
19442 @item show debug parser
19443 Show the current state of expression parser debugging.
19444 @cindex packets, reporting on stdout
19445 @cindex serial connections, debugging
19446 @cindex debug remote protocol
19447 @cindex remote protocol debugging
19448 @cindex display remote packets
19449 @item set debug remote
19450 Turns on or off display of reports on all packets sent back and forth across
19451 the serial line to the remote machine. The info is printed on the
19452 @value{GDBN} standard output stream. The default is off.
19453 @item show debug remote
19454 Displays the state of display of remote packets.
19455 @item set debug serial
19456 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} serial debugging info. The
19457 default is off.
19458 @item show debug serial
19459 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} serial debugging
19460 info.
19461 @item set debug solib-frv
19462 @cindex FR-V shared-library debugging
19463 Turns on or off debugging messages for FR-V shared-library code.
19464 @item show debug solib-frv
19465 Display the current state of FR-V shared-library code debugging
19466 messages.
19467 @item set debug target
19468 @cindex target debugging info
19469 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} target debugging info. This info
19470 includes what is going on at the target level of GDB, as it happens. The
19471 default is 0. Set it to 1 to track events, and to 2 to also track the
19472 value of large memory transfers. Changes to this flag do not take effect
19473 until the next time you connect to a target or use the @code{run} command.
19474 @item show debug target
19475 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} target debugging
19476 info.
19477 @item set debug timestamp
19478 @cindex timestampping debugging info
19479 Turns on or off display of timestamps with @value{GDBN} debugging info.
19480 When enabled, seconds and microseconds are displayed before each debugging
19481 message.
19482 @item show debug timestamp
19483 Displays the current state of displaying timestamps with @value{GDBN}
19484 debugging info.
19485 @item set debugvarobj
19486 @cindex variable object debugging info
19487 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} variable object debugging
19488 info. The default is off.
19489 @item show debugvarobj
19490 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} variable object
19491 debugging info.
19492 @item set debug xml
19493 @cindex XML parser debugging
19494 Turns on or off debugging messages for built-in XML parsers.
19495 @item show debug xml
19496 Displays the current state of XML debugging messages.
19497 @end table
19498
19499 @node Other Misc Settings
19500 @section Other Miscellaneous Settings
19501 @cindex miscellaneous settings
19502
19503 @table @code
19504 @kindex set interactive-mode
19505 @item set interactive-mode
19506 If @code{on}, forces @value{GDBN} to operate interactively.
19507 If @code{off}, forces @value{GDBN} to operate non-interactively,
19508 If @code{auto} (the default), @value{GDBN} guesses which mode to use,
19509 based on whether the debugger was started in a terminal or not.
19510
19511 In the vast majority of cases, the debugger should be able to guess
19512 correctly which mode should be used. But this setting can be useful
19513 in certain specific cases, such as running a MinGW @value{GDBN}
19514 inside a cygwin window.
19515
19516 @kindex show interactive-mode
19517 @item show interactive-mode
19518 Displays whether the debugger is operating in interactive mode or not.
19519 @end table
19520
19521 @node Extending GDB
19522 @chapter Extending @value{GDBN}
19523 @cindex extending GDB
19524
19525 @value{GDBN} provides two mechanisms for extension. The first is based
19526 on composition of @value{GDBN} commands, and the second is based on the
19527 Python scripting language.
19528
19529 To facilitate the use of these extensions, @value{GDBN} is capable
19530 of evaluating the contents of a file. When doing so, @value{GDBN}
19531 can recognize which scripting language is being used by looking at
19532 the filename extension. Files with an unrecognized filename extension
19533 are always treated as a @value{GDBN} Command Files.
19534 @xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
19535
19536 You can control how @value{GDBN} evaluates these files with the following
19537 setting:
19538
19539 @table @code
19540 @kindex set script-extension
19541 @kindex show script-extension
19542 @item set script-extension off
19543 All scripts are always evaluated as @value{GDBN} Command Files.
19544
19545 @item set script-extension soft
19546 The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
19547 extension. If this scripting language is supported, @value{GDBN}
19548 evaluates the script using that language. Otherwise, it evaluates
19549 the file as a @value{GDBN} Command File.
19550
19551 @item set script-extension strict
19552 The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
19553 extension, and evaluates the script using that language. If the
19554 language is not supported, then the evaluation fails.
19555
19556 @item show script-extension
19557 Display the current value of the @code{script-extension} option.
19558
19559 @end table
19560
19561 @menu
19562 * Sequences:: Canned Sequences of Commands
19563 * Python:: Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
19564 @end menu
19565
19566 @node Sequences
19567 @section Canned Sequences of Commands
19568
19569 Aside from breakpoint commands (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint
19570 Command Lists}), @value{GDBN} provides two ways to store sequences of
19571 commands for execution as a unit: user-defined commands and command
19572 files.
19573
19574 @menu
19575 * Define:: How to define your own commands
19576 * Hooks:: Hooks for user-defined commands
19577 * Command Files:: How to write scripts of commands to be stored in a file
19578 * Output:: Commands for controlled output
19579 @end menu
19580
19581 @node Define
19582 @subsection User-defined Commands
19583
19584 @cindex user-defined command
19585 @cindex arguments, to user-defined commands
19586 A @dfn{user-defined command} is a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands to
19587 which you assign a new name as a command. This is done with the
19588 @code{define} command. User commands may accept up to 10 arguments
19589 separated by whitespace. Arguments are accessed within the user command
19590 via @code{$arg0@dots{}$arg9}. A trivial example:
19591
19592 @smallexample
19593 define adder
19594 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
19595 end
19596 @end smallexample
19597
19598 @noindent
19599 To execute the command use:
19600
19601 @smallexample
19602 adder 1 2 3
19603 @end smallexample
19604
19605 @noindent
19606 This defines the command @code{adder}, which prints the sum of
19607 its three arguments. Note the arguments are text substitutions, so they may
19608 reference variables, use complex expressions, or even perform inferior
19609 functions calls.
19610
19611 @cindex argument count in user-defined commands
19612 @cindex how many arguments (user-defined commands)
19613 In addition, @code{$argc} may be used to find out how many arguments have
19614 been passed. This expands to a number in the range 0@dots{}10.
19615
19616 @smallexample
19617 define adder
19618 if $argc == 2
19619 print $arg0 + $arg1
19620 end
19621 if $argc == 3
19622 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
19623 end
19624 end
19625 @end smallexample
19626
19627 @table @code
19628
19629 @kindex define
19630 @item define @var{commandname}
19631 Define a command named @var{commandname}. If there is already a command
19632 by that name, you are asked to confirm that you want to redefine it.
19633 @var{commandname} may be a bare command name consisting of letters,
19634 numbers, dashes, and underscores. It may also start with any predefined
19635 prefix command. For example, @samp{define target my-target} creates
19636 a user-defined @samp{target my-target} command.
19637
19638 The definition of the command is made up of other @value{GDBN} command lines,
19639 which are given following the @code{define} command. The end of these
19640 commands is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
19641
19642 @kindex document
19643 @kindex end@r{ (user-defined commands)}
19644 @item document @var{commandname}
19645 Document the user-defined command @var{commandname}, so that it can be
19646 accessed by @code{help}. The command @var{commandname} must already be
19647 defined. This command reads lines of documentation just as @code{define}
19648 reads the lines of the command definition, ending with @code{end}.
19649 After the @code{document} command is finished, @code{help} on command
19650 @var{commandname} displays the documentation you have written.
19651
19652 You may use the @code{document} command again to change the
19653 documentation of a command. Redefining the command with @code{define}
19654 does not change the documentation.
19655
19656 @kindex dont-repeat
19657 @cindex don't repeat command
19658 @item dont-repeat
19659 Used inside a user-defined command, this tells @value{GDBN} that this
19660 command should not be repeated when the user hits @key{RET}
19661 (@pxref{Command Syntax, repeat last command}).
19662
19663 @kindex help user-defined
19664 @item help user-defined
19665 List all user-defined commands, with the first line of the documentation
19666 (if any) for each.
19667
19668 @kindex show user
19669 @item show user
19670 @itemx show user @var{commandname}
19671 Display the @value{GDBN} commands used to define @var{commandname} (but
19672 not its documentation). If no @var{commandname} is given, display the
19673 definitions for all user-defined commands.
19674
19675 @cindex infinite recursion in user-defined commands
19676 @kindex show max-user-call-depth
19677 @kindex set max-user-call-depth
19678 @item show max-user-call-depth
19679 @itemx set max-user-call-depth
19680 The value of @code{max-user-call-depth} controls how many recursion
19681 levels are allowed in user-defined commands before @value{GDBN} suspects an
19682 infinite recursion and aborts the command.
19683 @end table
19684
19685 In addition to the above commands, user-defined commands frequently
19686 use control flow commands, described in @ref{Command Files}.
19687
19688 When user-defined commands are executed, the
19689 commands of the definition are not printed. An error in any command
19690 stops execution of the user-defined command.
19691
19692 If used interactively, commands that would ask for confirmation proceed
19693 without asking when used inside a user-defined command. Many @value{GDBN}
19694 commands that normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the
19695 messages when used in a user-defined command.
19696
19697 @node Hooks
19698 @subsection User-defined Command Hooks
19699 @cindex command hooks
19700 @cindex hooks, for commands
19701 @cindex hooks, pre-command
19702
19703 @kindex hook
19704 You may define @dfn{hooks}, which are a special kind of user-defined
19705 command. Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined
19706 command @samp{hook-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments)
19707 before that command.
19708
19709 @cindex hooks, post-command
19710 @kindex hookpost
19711 A hook may also be defined which is run after the command you executed.
19712 Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined command
19713 @samp{hookpost-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments) after
19714 that command. Post-execution hooks may exist simultaneously with
19715 pre-execution hooks, for the same command.
19716
19717 It is valid for a hook to call the command which it hooks. If this
19718 occurs, the hook is not re-executed, thereby avoiding infinite recursion.
19719
19720 @c It would be nice if hookpost could be passed a parameter indicating
19721 @c if the command it hooks executed properly or not. FIXME!
19722
19723 @kindex stop@r{, a pseudo-command}
19724 In addition, a pseudo-command, @samp{stop} exists. Defining
19725 (@samp{hook-stop}) makes the associated commands execute every time
19726 execution stops in your program: before breakpoint commands are run,
19727 displays are printed, or the stack frame is printed.
19728
19729 For example, to ignore @code{SIGALRM} signals while
19730 single-stepping, but treat them normally during normal execution,
19731 you could define:
19732
19733 @smallexample
19734 define hook-stop
19735 handle SIGALRM nopass
19736 end
19737
19738 define hook-run
19739 handle SIGALRM pass
19740 end
19741
19742 define hook-continue
19743 handle SIGALRM pass
19744 end
19745 @end smallexample
19746
19747 As a further example, to hook at the beginning and end of the @code{echo}
19748 command, and to add extra text to the beginning and end of the message,
19749 you could define:
19750
19751 @smallexample
19752 define hook-echo
19753 echo <<<---
19754 end
19755
19756 define hookpost-echo
19757 echo --->>>\n
19758 end
19759
19760 (@value{GDBP}) echo Hello World
19761 <<<---Hello World--->>>
19762 (@value{GDBP})
19763
19764 @end smallexample
19765
19766 You can define a hook for any single-word command in @value{GDBN}, but
19767 not for command aliases; you should define a hook for the basic command
19768 name, e.g.@: @code{backtrace} rather than @code{bt}.
19769 @c FIXME! So how does Joe User discover whether a command is an alias
19770 @c or not?
19771 You can hook a multi-word command by adding @code{hook-} or
19772 @code{hookpost-} to the last word of the command, e.g.@:
19773 @samp{define target hook-remote} to add a hook to @samp{target remote}.
19774
19775 If an error occurs during the execution of your hook, execution of
19776 @value{GDBN} commands stops and @value{GDBN} issues a prompt
19777 (before the command that you actually typed had a chance to run).
19778
19779 If you try to define a hook which does not match any known command, you
19780 get a warning from the @code{define} command.
19781
19782 @node Command Files
19783 @subsection Command Files
19784
19785 @cindex command files
19786 @cindex scripting commands
19787 A command file for @value{GDBN} is a text file made of lines that are
19788 @value{GDBN} commands. Comments (lines starting with @kbd{#}) may
19789 also be included. An empty line in a command file does nothing; it
19790 does not mean to repeat the last command, as it would from the
19791 terminal.
19792
19793 You can request the execution of a command file with the @code{source}
19794 command. Note that the @code{source} command is also used to evaluate
19795 scripts that are not Command Files. The exact behavior can be configured
19796 using the @code{script-extension} setting.
19797 @xref{Extending GDB,, Extending GDB}.
19798
19799 @table @code
19800 @kindex source
19801 @cindex execute commands from a file
19802 @item source [-s] [-v] @var{filename}
19803 Execute the command file @var{filename}.
19804 @end table
19805
19806 The lines in a command file are generally executed sequentially,
19807 unless the order of execution is changed by one of the
19808 @emph{flow-control commands} described below. The commands are not
19809 printed as they are executed. An error in any command terminates
19810 execution of the command file and control is returned to the console.
19811
19812 @value{GDBN} first searches for @var{filename} in the current directory.
19813 If the file is not found there, and @var{filename} does not specify a
19814 directory, then @value{GDBN} also looks for the file on the source search path
19815 (specified with the @samp{directory} command);
19816 except that @file{$cdir} is not searched because the compilation directory
19817 is not relevant to scripts.
19818
19819 If @code{-s} is specified, then @value{GDBN} searches for @var{filename}
19820 on the search path even if @var{filename} specifies a directory.
19821 The search is done by appending @var{filename} to each element of the
19822 search path. So, for example, if @var{filename} is @file{mylib/myscript}
19823 and the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
19824 look for the script @file{/home/user/mylib/myscript}.
19825 The search is also done if @var{filename} is an absolute path.
19826 For example, if @var{filename} is @file{/tmp/myscript} and
19827 the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
19828 look for the script @file{/home/user/tmp/myscript}.
19829 For DOS-like systems, if @var{filename} contains a drive specification,
19830 it is stripped before concatenation. For example, if @var{filename} is
19831 @file{d:myscript} and the search path contains @file{c:/tmp} then @value{GDBN}
19832 will look for the script @file{c:/tmp/myscript}.
19833
19834 If @code{-v}, for verbose mode, is given then @value{GDBN} displays
19835 each command as it is executed. The option must be given before
19836 @var{filename}, and is interpreted as part of the filename anywhere else.
19837
19838 Commands that would ask for confirmation if used interactively proceed
19839 without asking when used in a command file. Many @value{GDBN} commands that
19840 normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the messages
19841 when called from command files.
19842
19843 @value{GDBN} also accepts command input from standard input. In this
19844 mode, normal output goes to standard output and error output goes to
19845 standard error. Errors in a command file supplied on standard input do
19846 not terminate execution of the command file---execution continues with
19847 the next command.
19848
19849 @smallexample
19850 gdb < cmds > log 2>&1
19851 @end smallexample
19852
19853 (The syntax above will vary depending on the shell used.) This example
19854 will execute commands from the file @file{cmds}. All output and errors
19855 would be directed to @file{log}.
19856
19857 Since commands stored on command files tend to be more general than
19858 commands typed interactively, they frequently need to deal with
19859 complicated situations, such as different or unexpected values of
19860 variables and symbols, changes in how the program being debugged is
19861 built, etc. @value{GDBN} provides a set of flow-control commands to
19862 deal with these complexities. Using these commands, you can write
19863 complex scripts that loop over data structures, execute commands
19864 conditionally, etc.
19865
19866 @table @code
19867 @kindex if
19868 @kindex else
19869 @item if
19870 @itemx else
19871 This command allows to include in your script conditionally executed
19872 commands. The @code{if} command takes a single argument, which is an
19873 expression to evaluate. It is followed by a series of commands that
19874 are executed only if the expression is true (its value is nonzero).
19875 There can then optionally be an @code{else} line, followed by a series
19876 of commands that are only executed if the expression was false. The
19877 end of the list is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
19878
19879 @kindex while
19880 @item while
19881 This command allows to write loops. Its syntax is similar to
19882 @code{if}: the command takes a single argument, which is an expression
19883 to evaluate, and must be followed by the commands to execute, one per
19884 line, terminated by an @code{end}. These commands are called the
19885 @dfn{body} of the loop. The commands in the body of @code{while} are
19886 executed repeatedly as long as the expression evaluates to true.
19887
19888 @kindex loop_break
19889 @item loop_break
19890 This command exits the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included.
19891 Execution of the script continues after that @code{while}s @code{end}
19892 line.
19893
19894 @kindex loop_continue
19895 @item loop_continue
19896 This command skips the execution of the rest of the body of commands
19897 in the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included. Execution
19898 branches to the beginning of the @code{while} loop, where it evaluates
19899 the controlling expression.
19900
19901 @kindex end@r{ (if/else/while commands)}
19902 @item end
19903 Terminate the block of commands that are the body of @code{if},
19904 @code{else}, or @code{while} flow-control commands.
19905 @end table
19906
19907
19908 @node Output
19909 @subsection Commands for Controlled Output
19910
19911 During the execution of a command file or a user-defined command, normal
19912 @value{GDBN} output is suppressed; the only output that appears is what is
19913 explicitly printed by the commands in the definition. This section
19914 describes three commands useful for generating exactly the output you
19915 want.
19916
19917 @table @code
19918 @kindex echo
19919 @item echo @var{text}
19920 @c I do not consider backslash-space a standard C escape sequence
19921 @c because it is not in ANSI.
19922 Print @var{text}. Nonprinting characters can be included in
19923 @var{text} using C escape sequences, such as @samp{\n} to print a
19924 newline. @strong{No newline is printed unless you specify one.}
19925 In addition to the standard C escape sequences, a backslash followed
19926 by a space stands for a space. This is useful for displaying a
19927 string with spaces at the beginning or the end, since leading and
19928 trailing spaces are otherwise trimmed from all arguments.
19929 To print @samp{@w{ }and foo =@w{ }}, use the command
19930 @samp{echo \@w{ }and foo = \@w{ }}.
19931
19932 A backslash at the end of @var{text} can be used, as in C, to continue
19933 the command onto subsequent lines. For example,
19934
19935 @smallexample
19936 echo This is some text\n\
19937 which is continued\n\
19938 onto several lines.\n
19939 @end smallexample
19940
19941 produces the same output as
19942
19943 @smallexample
19944 echo This is some text\n
19945 echo which is continued\n
19946 echo onto several lines.\n
19947 @end smallexample
19948
19949 @kindex output
19950 @item output @var{expression}
19951 Print the value of @var{expression} and nothing but that value: no
19952 newlines, no @samp{$@var{nn} = }. The value is not entered in the
19953 value history either. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information
19954 on expressions.
19955
19956 @item output/@var{fmt} @var{expression}
19957 Print the value of @var{expression} in format @var{fmt}. You can use
19958 the same formats as for @code{print}. @xref{Output Formats,,Output
19959 Formats}, for more information.
19960
19961 @kindex printf
19962 @item printf @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
19963 Print the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
19964 the string @var{template}. To print several values, make
19965 @var{expressions} be a comma-separated list of individual expressions,
19966 which may be either numbers or pointers. Their values are printed as
19967 specified by @var{template}, exactly as a C program would do by
19968 executing the code below:
19969
19970 @smallexample
19971 printf (@var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{});
19972 @end smallexample
19973
19974 As in @code{C} @code{printf}, ordinary characters in @var{template}
19975 are printed verbatim, while @dfn{conversion specification} introduced
19976 by the @samp{%} character cause subsequent @var{expressions} to be
19977 evaluated, their values converted and formatted according to type and
19978 style information encoded in the conversion specifications, and then
19979 printed.
19980
19981 For example, you can print two values in hex like this:
19982
19983 @smallexample
19984 printf "foo, bar-foo = 0x%x, 0x%x\n", foo, bar-foo
19985 @end smallexample
19986
19987 @code{printf} supports all the standard @code{C} conversion
19988 specifications, including the flags and modifiers between the @samp{%}
19989 character and the conversion letter, with the following exceptions:
19990
19991 @itemize @bullet
19992 @item
19993 The argument-ordering modifiers, such as @samp{2$}, are not supported.
19994
19995 @item
19996 The modifier @samp{*} is not supported for specifying precision or
19997 width.
19998
19999 @item
20000 The @samp{'} flag (for separation of digits into groups according to
20001 @code{LC_NUMERIC'}) is not supported.
20002
20003 @item
20004 The type modifiers @samp{hh}, @samp{j}, @samp{t}, and @samp{z} are not
20005 supported.
20006
20007 @item
20008 The conversion letter @samp{n} (as in @samp{%n}) is not supported.
20009
20010 @item
20011 The conversion letters @samp{a} and @samp{A} are not supported.
20012 @end itemize
20013
20014 @noindent
20015 Note that the @samp{ll} type modifier is supported only if the
20016 underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} supports
20017 the @code{long long int} type, and the @samp{L} type modifier is
20018 supported only if @code{long double} type is available.
20019
20020 As in @code{C}, @code{printf} supports simple backslash-escape
20021 sequences, such as @code{\n}, @samp{\t}, @samp{\\}, @samp{\"},
20022 @samp{\a}, and @samp{\f}, that consist of backslash followed by a
20023 single character. Octal and hexadecimal escape sequences are not
20024 supported.
20025
20026 Additionally, @code{printf} supports conversion specifications for DFP
20027 (@dfn{Decimal Floating Point}) types using the following length modifiers
20028 together with a floating point specifier.
20029 letters:
20030
20031 @itemize @bullet
20032 @item
20033 @samp{H} for printing @code{Decimal32} types.
20034
20035 @item
20036 @samp{D} for printing @code{Decimal64} types.
20037
20038 @item
20039 @samp{DD} for printing @code{Decimal128} types.
20040 @end itemize
20041
20042 If the underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} has
20043 support for the three length modifiers for DFP types, other modifiers
20044 such as width and precision will also be available for @value{GDBN} to use.
20045
20046 In case there is no such @code{C} support, no additional modifiers will be
20047 available and the value will be printed in the standard way.
20048
20049 Here's an example of printing DFP types using the above conversion letters:
20050 @smallexample
20051 printf "D32: %Hf - D64: %Df - D128: %DDf\n",1.2345df,1.2E10dd,1.2E1dl
20052 @end smallexample
20053
20054 @end table
20055
20056 @node Python
20057 @section Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
20058 @cindex python scripting
20059 @cindex scripting with python
20060
20061 You can script @value{GDBN} using the @uref{http://www.python.org/,
20062 Python programming language}. This feature is available only if
20063 @value{GDBN} was configured using @option{--with-python}.
20064
20065 @menu
20066 * Python Commands:: Accessing Python from @value{GDBN}.
20067 * Python API:: Accessing @value{GDBN} from Python.
20068 * Auto-loading:: Automatically loading Python code.
20069 @end menu
20070
20071 @node Python Commands
20072 @subsection Python Commands
20073 @cindex python commands
20074 @cindex commands to access python
20075
20076 @value{GDBN} provides one command for accessing the Python interpreter,
20077 and one related setting:
20078
20079 @table @code
20080 @kindex python
20081 @item python @r{[}@var{code}@r{]}
20082 The @code{python} command can be used to evaluate Python code.
20083
20084 If given an argument, the @code{python} command will evaluate the
20085 argument as a Python command. For example:
20086
20087 @smallexample
20088 (@value{GDBP}) python print 23
20089 23
20090 @end smallexample
20091
20092 If you do not provide an argument to @code{python}, it will act as a
20093 multi-line command, like @code{define}. In this case, the Python
20094 script is made up of subsequent command lines, given after the
20095 @code{python} command. This command list is terminated using a line
20096 containing @code{end}. For example:
20097
20098 @smallexample
20099 (@value{GDBP}) python
20100 Type python script
20101 End with a line saying just "end".
20102 >print 23
20103 >end
20104 23
20105 @end smallexample
20106
20107 @kindex maint set python print-stack
20108 @item maint set python print-stack
20109 By default, @value{GDBN} will print a stack trace when an error occurs
20110 in a Python script. This can be controlled using @code{maint set
20111 python print-stack}: if @code{on}, the default, then Python stack
20112 printing is enabled; if @code{off}, then Python stack printing is
20113 disabled.
20114 @end table
20115
20116 It is also possible to execute a Python script from the @value{GDBN}
20117 interpreter:
20118
20119 @table @code
20120 @item source @file{script-name}
20121 The script name must end with @samp{.py} and @value{GDBN} must be configured
20122 to recognize the script language based on filename extension using
20123 the @code{script-extension} setting. @xref{Extending GDB, ,Extending GDB}.
20124
20125 @item python execfile ("script-name")
20126 This method is based on the @code{execfile} Python built-in function,
20127 and thus is always available.
20128 @end table
20129
20130 @node Python API
20131 @subsection Python API
20132 @cindex python api
20133 @cindex programming in python
20134
20135 @cindex python stdout
20136 @cindex python pagination
20137 At startup, @value{GDBN} overrides Python's @code{sys.stdout} and
20138 @code{sys.stderr} to print using @value{GDBN}'s output-paging streams.
20139 A Python program which outputs to one of these streams may have its
20140 output interrupted by the user (@pxref{Screen Size}). In this
20141 situation, a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt} exception is thrown.
20142
20143 @menu
20144 * Basic Python:: Basic Python Functions.
20145 * Exception Handling::
20146 * Values From Inferior::
20147 * Types In Python:: Python representation of types.
20148 * Pretty Printing API:: Pretty-printing values.
20149 * Selecting Pretty-Printers:: How GDB chooses a pretty-printer.
20150 * Disabling Pretty-Printers:: Disabling broken printers.
20151 * Commands In Python:: Implementing new commands in Python.
20152 * Parameters In Python:: Adding new @value{GDBN} parameters.
20153 * Functions In Python:: Writing new convenience functions.
20154 * Progspaces In Python:: Program spaces.
20155 * Objfiles In Python:: Object files.
20156 * Frames In Python:: Accessing inferior stack frames from Python.
20157 * Blocks In Python:: Accessing frame blocks from Python.
20158 * Symbols In Python:: Python representation of symbols.
20159 * Symbol Tables In Python:: Python representation of symbol tables.
20160 * Lazy Strings In Python:: Python representation of lazy strings.
20161 * Breakpoints In Python:: Manipulating breakpoints using Python.
20162 @end menu
20163
20164 @node Basic Python
20165 @subsubsection Basic Python
20166
20167 @cindex python functions
20168 @cindex python module
20169 @cindex gdb module
20170 @value{GDBN} introduces a new Python module, named @code{gdb}. All
20171 methods and classes added by @value{GDBN} are placed in this module.
20172 @value{GDBN} automatically @code{import}s the @code{gdb} module for
20173 use in all scripts evaluated by the @code{python} command.
20174
20175 @findex gdb.execute
20176 @defun execute command [from_tty]
20177 Evaluate @var{command}, a string, as a @value{GDBN} CLI command.
20178 If a GDB exception happens while @var{command} runs, it is
20179 translated as described in @ref{Exception Handling,,Exception Handling}.
20180 If no exceptions occur, this function returns @code{None}.
20181
20182 @var{from_tty} specifies whether @value{GDBN} ought to consider this
20183 command as having originated from the user invoking it interactively.
20184 It must be a boolean value. If omitted, it defaults to @code{False}.
20185 @end defun
20186
20187 @findex gdb.breakpoints
20188 @defun breakpoints
20189 Return a sequence holding all of @value{GDBN}'s breakpoints.
20190 @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for more information.
20191 @end defun
20192
20193 @findex gdb.parameter
20194 @defun parameter parameter
20195 Return the value of a @value{GDBN} parameter. @var{parameter} is a
20196 string naming the parameter to look up; @var{parameter} may contain
20197 spaces if the parameter has a multi-part name. For example,
20198 @samp{print object} is a valid parameter name.
20199
20200 If the named parameter does not exist, this function throws a
20201 @code{RuntimeError}. Otherwise, the parameter's value is converted to
20202 a Python value of the appropriate type, and returned.
20203 @end defun
20204
20205 @findex gdb.history
20206 @defun history number
20207 Return a value from @value{GDBN}'s value history (@pxref{Value
20208 History}). @var{number} indicates which history element to return.
20209 If @var{number} is negative, then @value{GDBN} will take its absolute value
20210 and count backward from the last element (i.e., the most recent element) to
20211 find the value to return. If @var{number} is zero, then @value{GDBN} will
20212 return the most recent element. If the element specified by @var{number}
20213 doesn't exist in the value history, a @code{RuntimeError} exception will be
20214 raised.
20215
20216 If no exception is raised, the return value is always an instance of
20217 @code{gdb.Value} (@pxref{Values From Inferior}).
20218 @end defun
20219
20220 @findex gdb.parse_and_eval
20221 @defun parse_and_eval expression
20222 Parse @var{expression} as an expression in the current language,
20223 evaluate it, and return the result as a @code{gdb.Value}.
20224 @var{expression} must be a string.
20225
20226 This function can be useful when implementing a new command
20227 (@pxref{Commands In Python}), as it provides a way to parse the
20228 command's argument as an expression. It is also useful simply to
20229 compute values, for example, it is the only way to get the value of a
20230 convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) as a @code{gdb.Value}.
20231 @end defun
20232
20233 @findex gdb.write
20234 @defun write string
20235 Print a string to @value{GDBN}'s paginated standard output stream.
20236 Writing to @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically
20237 call this function.
20238 @end defun
20239
20240 @findex gdb.flush
20241 @defun flush
20242 Flush @value{GDBN}'s paginated standard output stream. Flushing
20243 @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically call this
20244 function.
20245 @end defun
20246
20247 @findex gdb.target_charset
20248 @defun target_charset
20249 Return the name of the current target character set (@pxref{Character
20250 Sets}). This differs from @code{gdb.parameter('target-charset')} in
20251 that @samp{auto} is never returned.
20252 @end defun
20253
20254 @findex gdb.target_wide_charset
20255 @defun target_wide_charset
20256 Return the name of the current target wide character set
20257 (@pxref{Character Sets}). This differs from
20258 @code{gdb.parameter('target-wide-charset')} in that @samp{auto} is
20259 never returned.
20260 @end defun
20261
20262 @node Exception Handling
20263 @subsubsection Exception Handling
20264 @cindex python exceptions
20265 @cindex exceptions, python
20266
20267 When executing the @code{python} command, Python exceptions
20268 uncaught within the Python code are translated to calls to
20269 @value{GDBN} error-reporting mechanism. If the command that called
20270 @code{python} does not handle the error, @value{GDBN} will
20271 terminate it and print an error message containing the Python
20272 exception name, the associated value, and the Python call stack
20273 backtrace at the point where the exception was raised. Example:
20274
20275 @smallexample
20276 (@value{GDBP}) python print foo
20277 Traceback (most recent call last):
20278 File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
20279 NameError: name 'foo' is not defined
20280 @end smallexample
20281
20282 @value{GDBN} errors that happen in @value{GDBN} commands invoked by Python
20283 code are converted to Python @code{RuntimeError} exceptions. User
20284 interrupt (via @kbd{C-c} or by typing @kbd{q} at a pagination
20285 prompt) is translated to a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt}
20286 exception. If you catch these exceptions in your Python code, your
20287 exception handler will see @code{RuntimeError} or
20288 @code{KeyboardInterrupt} as the exception type, the @value{GDBN} error
20289 message as its value, and the Python call stack backtrace at the
20290 Python statement closest to where the @value{GDBN} error occured as the
20291 traceback.
20292
20293 @findex gdb.GdbError
20294 When implementing @value{GDBN} commands in Python via @code{gdb.Command},
20295 it is useful to be able to throw an exception that doesn't cause a
20296 traceback to be printed. For example, the user may have invoked the
20297 command incorrectly. Use the @code{gdb.GdbError} exception
20298 to handle this case. Example:
20299
20300 @smallexample
20301 (gdb) python
20302 >class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
20303 > """Greet the whole world."""
20304 > def __init__ (self):
20305 > super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE)
20306 > def invoke (self, args, from_tty):
20307 > argv = gdb.string_to_argv (args)
20308 > if len (argv) != 0:
20309 > raise gdb.GdbError ("hello-world takes no arguments")
20310 > print "Hello, World!"
20311 >HelloWorld ()
20312 >end
20313 (gdb) hello-world 42
20314 hello-world takes no arguments
20315 @end smallexample
20316
20317 @node Values From Inferior
20318 @subsubsection Values From Inferior
20319 @cindex values from inferior, with Python
20320 @cindex python, working with values from inferior
20321
20322 @cindex @code{gdb.Value}
20323 @value{GDBN} provides values it obtains from the inferior program in
20324 an object of type @code{gdb.Value}. @value{GDBN} uses this object
20325 for its internal bookkeeping of the inferior's values, and for
20326 fetching values when necessary.
20327
20328 Inferior values that are simple scalars can be used directly in
20329 Python expressions that are valid for the value's data type. Here's
20330 an example for an integer or floating-point value @code{some_val}:
20331
20332 @smallexample
20333 bar = some_val + 2
20334 @end smallexample
20335
20336 @noindent
20337 As result of this, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object
20338 whose values are of the same type as those of @code{some_val}.
20339
20340 Inferior values that are structures or instances of some class can
20341 be accessed using the Python @dfn{dictionary syntax}. For example, if
20342 @code{some_val} is a @code{gdb.Value} instance holding a structure, you
20343 can access its @code{foo} element with:
20344
20345 @smallexample
20346 bar = some_val['foo']
20347 @end smallexample
20348
20349 Again, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object.
20350
20351 The following attributes are provided:
20352
20353 @table @code
20354 @defivar Value address
20355 If this object is addressable, this read-only attribute holds a
20356 @code{gdb.Value} object representing the address. Otherwise,
20357 this attribute holds @code{None}.
20358 @end defivar
20359
20360 @cindex optimized out value in Python
20361 @defivar Value is_optimized_out
20362 This read-only boolean attribute is true if the compiler optimized out
20363 this value, thus it is not available for fetching from the inferior.
20364 @end defivar
20365
20366 @defivar Value type
20367 The type of this @code{gdb.Value}. The value of this attribute is a
20368 @code{gdb.Type} object.
20369 @end defivar
20370 @end table
20371
20372 The following methods are provided:
20373
20374 @table @code
20375 @defmethod Value cast type
20376 Return a new instance of @code{gdb.Value} that is the result of
20377 casting this instance to the type described by @var{type}, which must
20378 be a @code{gdb.Type} object. If the cast cannot be performed for some
20379 reason, this method throws an exception.
20380 @end defmethod
20381
20382 @defmethod Value dereference
20383 For pointer data types, this method returns a new @code{gdb.Value} object
20384 whose contents is the object pointed to by the pointer. For example, if
20385 @code{foo} is a C pointer to an @code{int}, declared in your C program as
20386
20387 @smallexample
20388 int *foo;
20389 @end smallexample
20390
20391 @noindent
20392 then you can use the corresponding @code{gdb.Value} to access what
20393 @code{foo} points to like this:
20394
20395 @smallexample
20396 bar = foo.dereference ()
20397 @end smallexample
20398
20399 The result @code{bar} will be a @code{gdb.Value} object holding the
20400 value pointed to by @code{foo}.
20401 @end defmethod
20402
20403 @defmethod Value string @r{[}encoding@r{]} @r{[}errors@r{]} @r{[}length@r{]}
20404 If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
20405 converts the contents to a Python string. Otherwise, this method will
20406 throw an exception.
20407
20408 Strings are recognized in a language-specific way; whether a given
20409 @code{gdb.Value} represents a string is determined by the current
20410 language.
20411
20412 For C-like languages, a value is a string if it is a pointer to or an
20413 array of characters or ints. The string is assumed to be terminated
20414 by a zero of the appropriate width. However if the optional length
20415 argument is given, the string will be converted to that given length,
20416 ignoring any embedded zeros that the string may contain.
20417
20418 If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
20419 naming the encoding of the string in the @code{gdb.Value}, such as
20420 @code{"ascii"}, @code{"iso-8859-6"} or @code{"utf-8"}. It accepts
20421 the same encodings as the corresponding argument to Python's
20422 @code{string.decode} method, and the Python codec machinery will be used
20423 to convert the string. If @var{encoding} is not given, or if
20424 @var{encoding} is the empty string, then either the @code{target-charset}
20425 (@pxref{Character Sets}) will be used, or a language-specific encoding
20426 will be used, if the current language is able to supply one.
20427
20428 The optional @var{errors} argument is the same as the corresponding
20429 argument to Python's @code{string.decode} method.
20430
20431 If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
20432 fetched and converted to the given length.
20433 @end defmethod
20434
20435 @defmethod Value lazy_string @r{[}encoding@r{]} @r{[}length@r{]}
20436 If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
20437 converts the contents to a @code{gdb.LazyString} (@pxref{Lazy Strings
20438 In Python}). Otherwise, this method will throw an exception.
20439
20440 If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
20441 naming the encoding of the @code{gdb.LazyString}. Some examples are:
20442 @samp{ascii}, @samp{iso-8859-6} or @samp{utf-8}. If the
20443 @var{encoding} argument is an encoding that @value{GDBN} does
20444 recognize, @value{GDBN} will raise an error.
20445
20446 When a lazy string is printed, the @value{GDBN} encoding machinery is
20447 used to convert the string during printing. If the optional
20448 @var{encoding} argument is not provided, or is an empty string,
20449 @value{GDBN} will automatically select the encoding most suitable for
20450 the string type. For further information on encoding in @value{GDBN}
20451 please see @ref{Character Sets}.
20452
20453 If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
20454 fetched and encoded to the length of characters specified. If
20455 the @var{length} argument is not provided, the string will be fetched
20456 and encoded until a null of appropriate width is found.
20457 @end defmethod
20458 @end table
20459
20460 @node Types In Python
20461 @subsubsection Types In Python
20462 @cindex types in Python
20463 @cindex Python, working with types
20464
20465 @tindex gdb.Type
20466 @value{GDBN} represents types from the inferior using the class
20467 @code{gdb.Type}.
20468
20469 The following type-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
20470 module:
20471
20472 @findex gdb.lookup_type
20473 @defun lookup_type name [block]
20474 This function looks up a type by name. @var{name} is the name of the
20475 type to look up. It must be a string.
20476
20477 If @var{block} is given, then @var{name} is looked up in that scope.
20478 Otherwise, it is searched for globally.
20479
20480 Ordinarily, this function will return an instance of @code{gdb.Type}.
20481 If the named type cannot be found, it will throw an exception.
20482 @end defun
20483
20484 An instance of @code{Type} has the following attributes:
20485
20486 @table @code
20487 @defivar Type code
20488 The type code for this type. The type code will be one of the
20489 @code{TYPE_CODE_} constants defined below.
20490 @end defivar
20491
20492 @defivar Type sizeof
20493 The size of this type, in target @code{char} units. Usually, a
20494 target's @code{char} type will be an 8-bit byte. However, on some
20495 unusual platforms, this type may have a different size.
20496 @end defivar
20497
20498 @defivar Type tag
20499 The tag name for this type. The tag name is the name after
20500 @code{struct}, @code{union}, or @code{enum} in C and C@t{++}; not all
20501 languages have this concept. If this type has no tag name, then
20502 @code{None} is returned.
20503 @end defivar
20504 @end table
20505
20506 The following methods are provided:
20507
20508 @table @code
20509 @defmethod Type fields
20510 For structure and union types, this method returns the fields. Range
20511 types have two fields, the minimum and maximum values. Enum types
20512 have one field per enum constant. Function and method types have one
20513 field per parameter. The base types of C@t{++} classes are also
20514 represented as fields. If the type has no fields, or does not fit
20515 into one of these categories, an empty sequence will be returned.
20516
20517 Each field is an object, with some pre-defined attributes:
20518 @table @code
20519 @item bitpos
20520 This attribute is not available for @code{static} fields (as in
20521 C@t{++} or Java). For non-@code{static} fields, the value is the bit
20522 position of the field.
20523
20524 @item name
20525 The name of the field, or @code{None} for anonymous fields.
20526
20527 @item artificial
20528 This is @code{True} if the field is artificial, usually meaning that
20529 it was provided by the compiler and not the user. This attribute is
20530 always provided, and is @code{False} if the field is not artificial.
20531
20532 @item is_base_class
20533 This is @code{True} if the field represents a base class of a C@t{++}
20534 structure. This attribute is always provided, and is @code{False}
20535 if the field is not a base class of the type that is the argument of
20536 @code{fields}, or if that type was not a C@t{++} class.
20537
20538 @item bitsize
20539 If the field is packed, or is a bitfield, then this will have a
20540 non-zero value, which is the size of the field in bits. Otherwise,
20541 this will be zero; in this case the field's size is given by its type.
20542
20543 @item type
20544 The type of the field. This is usually an instance of @code{Type},
20545 but it can be @code{None} in some situations.
20546 @end table
20547 @end defmethod
20548
20549 @defmethod Type const
20550 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
20551 @code{const}-qualified variant of this type.
20552 @end defmethod
20553
20554 @defmethod Type volatile
20555 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
20556 @code{volatile}-qualified variant of this type.
20557 @end defmethod
20558
20559 @defmethod Type unqualified
20560 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents an unqualified
20561 variant of this type. That is, the result is neither @code{const} nor
20562 @code{volatile}.
20563 @end defmethod
20564
20565 @defmethod Type range
20566 Return a Python @code{Tuple} object that contains two elements: the
20567 low bound of the argument type and the high bound of that type. If
20568 the type does not have a range, @value{GDBN} will raise a
20569 @code{RuntimeError} exception.
20570 @end defmethod
20571
20572 @defmethod Type reference
20573 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a reference to this
20574 type.
20575 @end defmethod
20576
20577 @defmethod Type pointer
20578 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a pointer to this
20579 type.
20580 @end defmethod
20581
20582 @defmethod Type strip_typedefs
20583 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} that represents the real type,
20584 after removing all layers of typedefs.
20585 @end defmethod
20586
20587 @defmethod Type target
20588 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents the target type
20589 of this type.
20590
20591 For a pointer type, the target type is the type of the pointed-to
20592 object. For an array type (meaning C-like arrays), the target type is
20593 the type of the elements of the array. For a function or method type,
20594 the target type is the type of the return value. For a complex type,
20595 the target type is the type of the elements. For a typedef, the
20596 target type is the aliased type.
20597
20598 If the type does not have a target, this method will throw an
20599 exception.
20600 @end defmethod
20601
20602 @defmethod Type template_argument n [block]
20603 If this @code{gdb.Type} is an instantiation of a template, this will
20604 return a new @code{gdb.Type} which represents the type of the
20605 @var{n}th template argument.
20606
20607 If this @code{gdb.Type} is not a template type, this will throw an
20608 exception. Ordinarily, only C@t{++} code will have template types.
20609
20610 If @var{block} is given, then @var{name} is looked up in that scope.
20611 Otherwise, it is searched for globally.
20612 @end defmethod
20613 @end table
20614
20615
20616 Each type has a code, which indicates what category this type falls
20617 into. The available type categories are represented by constants
20618 defined in the @code{gdb} module:
20619
20620 @table @code
20621 @findex TYPE_CODE_PTR
20622 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_PTR
20623 @item TYPE_CODE_PTR
20624 The type is a pointer.
20625
20626 @findex TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
20627 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
20628 @item TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
20629 The type is an array.
20630
20631 @findex TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
20632 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
20633 @item TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
20634 The type is a structure.
20635
20636 @findex TYPE_CODE_UNION
20637 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_UNION
20638 @item TYPE_CODE_UNION
20639 The type is a union.
20640
20641 @findex TYPE_CODE_ENUM
20642 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ENUM
20643 @item TYPE_CODE_ENUM
20644 The type is an enum.
20645
20646 @findex TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
20647 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
20648 @item TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
20649 A bit flags type, used for things such as status registers.
20650
20651 @findex TYPE_CODE_FUNC
20652 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FUNC
20653 @item TYPE_CODE_FUNC
20654 The type is a function.
20655
20656 @findex TYPE_CODE_INT
20657 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INT
20658 @item TYPE_CODE_INT
20659 The type is an integer type.
20660
20661 @findex TYPE_CODE_FLT
20662 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLT
20663 @item TYPE_CODE_FLT
20664 A floating point type.
20665
20666 @findex TYPE_CODE_VOID
20667 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_VOID
20668 @item TYPE_CODE_VOID
20669 The special type @code{void}.
20670
20671 @findex TYPE_CODE_SET
20672 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_SET
20673 @item TYPE_CODE_SET
20674 A Pascal set type.
20675
20676 @findex TYPE_CODE_RANGE
20677 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_RANGE
20678 @item TYPE_CODE_RANGE
20679 A range type, that is, an integer type with bounds.
20680
20681 @findex TYPE_CODE_STRING
20682 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRING
20683 @item TYPE_CODE_STRING
20684 A string type. Note that this is only used for certain languages with
20685 language-defined string types; C strings are not represented this way.
20686
20687 @findex TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
20688 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
20689 @item TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
20690 A string of bits.
20691
20692 @findex TYPE_CODE_ERROR
20693 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ERROR
20694 @item TYPE_CODE_ERROR
20695 An unknown or erroneous type.
20696
20697 @findex TYPE_CODE_METHOD
20698 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHOD
20699 @item TYPE_CODE_METHOD
20700 A method type, as found in C@t{++} or Java.
20701
20702 @findex TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
20703 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
20704 @item TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
20705 A pointer-to-member-function.
20706
20707 @findex TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
20708 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
20709 @item TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
20710 A pointer-to-member.
20711
20712 @findex TYPE_CODE_REF
20713 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_REF
20714 @item TYPE_CODE_REF
20715 A reference type.
20716
20717 @findex TYPE_CODE_CHAR
20718 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_CHAR
20719 @item TYPE_CODE_CHAR
20720 A character type.
20721
20722 @findex TYPE_CODE_BOOL
20723 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BOOL
20724 @item TYPE_CODE_BOOL
20725 A boolean type.
20726
20727 @findex TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
20728 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
20729 @item TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
20730 A complex float type.
20731
20732 @findex TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
20733 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
20734 @item TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
20735 A typedef to some other type.
20736
20737 @findex TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
20738 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
20739 @item TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
20740 A C@t{++} namespace.
20741
20742 @findex TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
20743 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
20744 @item TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
20745 A decimal floating point type.
20746
20747 @findex TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
20748 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
20749 @item TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
20750 A function internal to @value{GDBN}. This is the type used to represent
20751 convenience functions.
20752 @end table
20753
20754 @node Pretty Printing API
20755 @subsubsection Pretty Printing API
20756
20757 An example output is provided (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
20758
20759 A pretty-printer is just an object that holds a value and implements a
20760 specific interface, defined here.
20761
20762 @defop Operation {pretty printer} children (self)
20763 @value{GDBN} will call this method on a pretty-printer to compute the
20764 children of the pretty-printer's value.
20765
20766 This method must return an object conforming to the Python iterator
20767 protocol. Each item returned by the iterator must be a tuple holding
20768 two elements. The first element is the ``name'' of the child; the
20769 second element is the child's value. The value can be any Python
20770 object which is convertible to a @value{GDBN} value.
20771
20772 This method is optional. If it does not exist, @value{GDBN} will act
20773 as though the value has no children.
20774 @end defop
20775
20776 @defop Operation {pretty printer} display_hint (self)
20777 The CLI may call this method and use its result to change the
20778 formatting of a value. The result will also be supplied to an MI
20779 consumer as a @samp{displayhint} attribute of the variable being
20780 printed.
20781
20782 This method is optional. If it does exist, this method must return a
20783 string.
20784
20785 Some display hints are predefined by @value{GDBN}:
20786
20787 @table @samp
20788 @item array
20789 Indicate that the object being printed is ``array-like''. The CLI
20790 uses this to respect parameters such as @code{set print elements} and
20791 @code{set print array}.
20792
20793 @item map
20794 Indicate that the object being printed is ``map-like'', and that the
20795 children of this value can be assumed to alternate between keys and
20796 values.
20797
20798 @item string
20799 Indicate that the object being printed is ``string-like''. If the
20800 printer's @code{to_string} method returns a Python string of some
20801 kind, then @value{GDBN} will call its internal language-specific
20802 string-printing function to format the string. For the CLI this means
20803 adding quotation marks, possibly escaping some characters, respecting
20804 @code{set print elements}, and the like.
20805 @end table
20806 @end defop
20807
20808 @defop Operation {pretty printer} to_string (self)
20809 @value{GDBN} will call this method to display the string
20810 representation of the value passed to the object's constructor.
20811
20812 When printing from the CLI, if the @code{to_string} method exists,
20813 then @value{GDBN} will prepend its result to the values returned by
20814 @code{children}. Exactly how this formatting is done is dependent on
20815 the display hint, and may change as more hints are added. Also,
20816 depending on the print settings (@pxref{Print Settings}), the CLI may
20817 print just the result of @code{to_string} in a stack trace, omitting
20818 the result of @code{children}.
20819
20820 If this method returns a string, it is printed verbatim.
20821
20822 Otherwise, if this method returns an instance of @code{gdb.Value},
20823 then @value{GDBN} prints this value. This may result in a call to
20824 another pretty-printer.
20825
20826 If instead the method returns a Python value which is convertible to a
20827 @code{gdb.Value}, then @value{GDBN} performs the conversion and prints
20828 the resulting value. Again, this may result in a call to another
20829 pretty-printer. Python scalars (integers, floats, and booleans) and
20830 strings are convertible to @code{gdb.Value}; other types are not.
20831
20832 Finally, if this method returns @code{None} then no further operations
20833 are peformed in this method and nothing is printed.
20834
20835 If the result is not one of these types, an exception is raised.
20836 @end defop
20837
20838 @node Selecting Pretty-Printers
20839 @subsubsection Selecting Pretty-Printers
20840
20841 The Python list @code{gdb.pretty_printers} contains an array of
20842 functions or callable objects that have been registered via addition
20843 as a pretty-printer.
20844 Each @code{gdb.Progspace} contains a @code{pretty_printers} attribute.
20845 Each @code{gdb.Objfile} also contains a @code{pretty_printers}
20846 attribute.
20847
20848 A function on one of these lists is passed a single @code{gdb.Value}
20849 argument and should return a pretty-printer object conforming to the
20850 interface definition above (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}). If a function
20851 cannot create a pretty-printer for the value, it should return
20852 @code{None}.
20853
20854 @value{GDBN} first checks the @code{pretty_printers} attribute of each
20855 @code{gdb.Objfile} in the current program space and iteratively calls
20856 each enabled function (@pxref{Disabling Pretty-Printers})
20857 in the list for that @code{gdb.Objfile} until it receives
20858 a pretty-printer object.
20859 If no pretty-printer is found in the objfile lists, @value{GDBN} then
20860 searches the pretty-printer list of the current program space,
20861 calling each enabled function until an object is returned.
20862 After these lists have been exhausted, it tries the global
20863 @code{gdb.pretty_printers} list, again calling each enabled function until an
20864 object is returned.
20865
20866 The order in which the objfiles are searched is not specified. For a
20867 given list, functions are always invoked from the head of the list,
20868 and iterated over sequentially until the end of the list, or a printer
20869 object is returned.
20870
20871 Here is an example showing how a @code{std::string} printer might be
20872 written:
20873
20874 @smallexample
20875 class StdStringPrinter:
20876 "Print a std::string"
20877
20878 def __init__ (self, val):
20879 self.val = val
20880
20881 def to_string (self):
20882 return self.val['_M_dataplus']['_M_p']
20883
20884 def display_hint (self):
20885 return 'string'
20886 @end smallexample
20887
20888 And here is an example showing how a lookup function for the printer
20889 example above might be written.
20890
20891 @smallexample
20892 def str_lookup_function (val):
20893
20894 lookup_tag = val.type.tag
20895 regex = re.compile ("^std::basic_string<char,.*>$")
20896 if lookup_tag == None:
20897 return None
20898 if regex.match (lookup_tag):
20899 return StdStringPrinter (val)
20900
20901 return None
20902 @end smallexample
20903
20904 The example lookup function extracts the value's type, and attempts to
20905 match it to a type that it can pretty-print. If it is a type the
20906 printer can pretty-print, it will return a printer object. If not, it
20907 returns @code{None}.
20908
20909 We recommend that you put your core pretty-printers into a Python
20910 package. If your pretty-printers are for use with a library, we
20911 further recommend embedding a version number into the package name.
20912 This practice will enable @value{GDBN} to load multiple versions of
20913 your pretty-printers at the same time, because they will have
20914 different names.
20915
20916 You should write auto-loaded code (@pxref{Auto-loading}) such that it
20917 can be evaluated multiple times without changing its meaning. An
20918 ideal auto-load file will consist solely of @code{import}s of your
20919 printer modules, followed by a call to a register pretty-printers with
20920 the current objfile.
20921
20922 Taken as a whole, this approach will scale nicely to multiple
20923 inferiors, each potentially using a different library version.
20924 Embedding a version number in the Python package name will ensure that
20925 @value{GDBN} is able to load both sets of printers simultaneously.
20926 Then, because the search for pretty-printers is done by objfile, and
20927 because your auto-loaded code took care to register your library's
20928 printers with a specific objfile, @value{GDBN} will find the correct
20929 printers for the specific version of the library used by each
20930 inferior.
20931
20932 To continue the @code{std::string} example (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}),
20933 this code might appear in @code{gdb.libstdcxx.v6}:
20934
20935 @smallexample
20936 def register_printers (objfile):
20937 objfile.pretty_printers.add (str_lookup_function)
20938 @end smallexample
20939
20940 @noindent
20941 And then the corresponding contents of the auto-load file would be:
20942
20943 @smallexample
20944 import gdb.libstdcxx.v6
20945 gdb.libstdcxx.v6.register_printers (gdb.current_objfile ())
20946 @end smallexample
20947
20948 @node Disabling Pretty-Printers
20949 @subsubsection Disabling Pretty-Printers
20950 @cindex disabling pretty-printers
20951
20952 For various reasons a pretty-printer may not work.
20953 For example, the underlying data structure may have changed and
20954 the pretty-printer is out of date.
20955
20956 The consequences of a broken pretty-printer are severe enough that
20957 @value{GDBN} provides support for enabling and disabling individual
20958 printers. For example, if @code{print frame-arguments} is on,
20959 a backtrace can become highly illegible if any argument is printed
20960 with a broken printer.
20961
20962 Pretty-printers are enabled and disabled by attaching an @code{enabled}
20963 attribute to the registered function or callable object. If this attribute
20964 is present and its value is @code{False}, the printer is disabled, otherwise
20965 the printer is enabled.
20966
20967 @node Commands In Python
20968 @subsubsection Commands In Python
20969
20970 @cindex commands in python
20971 @cindex python commands
20972 You can implement new @value{GDBN} CLI commands in Python. A CLI
20973 command is implemented using an instance of the @code{gdb.Command}
20974 class, most commonly using a subclass.
20975
20976 @defmethod Command __init__ name @var{command_class} @r{[}@var{completer_class}@r{]} @r{[}@var{prefix}@r{]}
20977 The object initializer for @code{Command} registers the new command
20978 with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked from the
20979 subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
20980
20981 @var{name} is the name of the command. If @var{name} consists of
20982 multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
20983 commands. In this case, if one of the prefix commands does not exist,
20984 an exception is raised.
20985
20986 There is no support for multi-line commands.
20987
20988 @var{command_class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
20989 defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to categorize the
20990 new command in the help system.
20991
20992 @var{completer_class} is an optional argument. If given, it should be
20993 one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined below. This argument
20994 tells @value{GDBN} how to perform completion for this command. If not
20995 given, @value{GDBN} will attempt to complete using the object's
20996 @code{complete} method (see below); if no such method is found, an
20997 error will occur when completion is attempted.
20998
20999 @var{prefix} is an optional argument. If @code{True}, then the new
21000 command is a prefix command; sub-commands of this command may be
21001 registered.
21002
21003 The help text for the new command is taken from the Python
21004 documentation string for the command's class, if there is one. If no
21005 documentation string is provided, the default value ``This command is
21006 not documented.'' is used.
21007 @end defmethod
21008
21009 @cindex don't repeat Python command
21010 @defmethod Command dont_repeat
21011 By default, a @value{GDBN} command is repeated when the user enters a
21012 blank line at the command prompt. A command can suppress this
21013 behavior by invoking the @code{dont_repeat} method. This is similar
21014 to the user command @code{dont-repeat}, see @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
21015 @end defmethod
21016
21017 @defmethod Command invoke argument from_tty
21018 This method is called by @value{GDBN} when this command is invoked.
21019
21020 @var{argument} is a string. It is the argument to the command, after
21021 leading and trailing whitespace has been stripped.
21022
21023 @var{from_tty} is a boolean argument. When true, this means that the
21024 command was entered by the user at the terminal; when false it means
21025 that the command came from elsewhere.
21026
21027 If this method throws an exception, it is turned into a @value{GDBN}
21028 @code{error} call. Otherwise, the return value is ignored.
21029
21030 @findex gdb.string_to_argv
21031 To break @var{argument} up into an argv-like string use
21032 @code{gdb.string_to_argv}. This function behaves identically to
21033 @value{GDBN}'s internal argument lexer @code{buildargv}.
21034 It is recommended to use this for consistency.
21035 Arguments are separated by spaces and may be quoted.
21036 Example:
21037
21038 @smallexample
21039 print gdb.string_to_argv ("1 2\ \\\"3 '4 \"5' \"6 '7\"")
21040 ['1', '2 "3', '4 "5', "6 '7"]
21041 @end smallexample
21042
21043 @end defmethod
21044
21045 @cindex completion of Python commands
21046 @defmethod Command complete text word
21047 This method is called by @value{GDBN} when the user attempts
21048 completion on this command. All forms of completion are handled by
21049 this method, that is, the @key{TAB} and @key{M-?} key bindings
21050 (@pxref{Completion}), and the @code{complete} command (@pxref{Help,
21051 complete}).
21052
21053 The arguments @var{text} and @var{word} are both strings. @var{text}
21054 holds the complete command line up to the cursor's location.
21055 @var{word} holds the last word of the command line; this is computed
21056 using a word-breaking heuristic.
21057
21058 The @code{complete} method can return several values:
21059 @itemize @bullet
21060 @item
21061 If the return value is a sequence, the contents of the sequence are
21062 used as the completions. It is up to @code{complete} to ensure that the
21063 contents actually do complete the word. A zero-length sequence is
21064 allowed, it means that there were no completions available. Only
21065 string elements of the sequence are used; other elements in the
21066 sequence are ignored.
21067
21068 @item
21069 If the return value is one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined
21070 below, then the corresponding @value{GDBN}-internal completion
21071 function is invoked, and its result is used.
21072
21073 @item
21074 All other results are treated as though there were no available
21075 completions.
21076 @end itemize
21077 @end defmethod
21078
21079 When a new command is registered, it must be declared as a member of
21080 some general class of commands. This is used to classify top-level
21081 commands in the on-line help system; note that prefix commands are not
21082 listed under their own category but rather that of their top-level
21083 command. The available classifications are represented by constants
21084 defined in the @code{gdb} module:
21085
21086 @table @code
21087 @findex COMMAND_NONE
21088 @findex gdb.COMMAND_NONE
21089 @item COMMAND_NONE
21090 The command does not belong to any particular class. A command in
21091 this category will not be displayed in any of the help categories.
21092
21093 @findex COMMAND_RUNNING
21094 @findex gdb.COMMAND_RUNNING
21095 @item COMMAND_RUNNING
21096 The command is related to running the inferior. For example,
21097 @code{start}, @code{step}, and @code{continue} are in this category.
21098 Type @kbd{help running} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
21099 commands in this category.
21100
21101 @findex COMMAND_DATA
21102 @findex gdb.COMMAND_DATA
21103 @item COMMAND_DATA
21104 The command is related to data or variables. For example,
21105 @code{call}, @code{find}, and @code{print} are in this category. Type
21106 @kbd{help data} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands
21107 in this category.
21108
21109 @findex COMMAND_STACK
21110 @findex gdb.COMMAND_STACK
21111 @item COMMAND_STACK
21112 The command has to do with manipulation of the stack. For example,
21113 @code{backtrace}, @code{frame}, and @code{return} are in this
21114 category. Type @kbd{help stack} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a
21115 list of commands in this category.
21116
21117 @findex COMMAND_FILES
21118 @findex gdb.COMMAND_FILES
21119 @item COMMAND_FILES
21120 This class is used for file-related commands. For example,
21121 @code{file}, @code{list} and @code{section} are in this category.
21122 Type @kbd{help files} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
21123 commands in this category.
21124
21125 @findex COMMAND_SUPPORT
21126 @findex gdb.COMMAND_SUPPORT
21127 @item COMMAND_SUPPORT
21128 This should be used for ``support facilities'', generally meaning
21129 things that are useful to the user when interacting with @value{GDBN},
21130 but not related to the state of the inferior. For example,
21131 @code{help}, @code{make}, and @code{shell} are in this category. Type
21132 @kbd{help support} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
21133 commands in this category.
21134
21135 @findex COMMAND_STATUS
21136 @findex gdb.COMMAND_STATUS
21137 @item COMMAND_STATUS
21138 The command is an @samp{info}-related command, that is, related to the
21139 state of @value{GDBN} itself. For example, @code{info}, @code{macro},
21140 and @code{show} are in this category. Type @kbd{help status} at the
21141 @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this category.
21142
21143 @findex COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
21144 @findex gdb.COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
21145 @item COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
21146 The command has to do with breakpoints. For example, @code{break},
21147 @code{clear}, and @code{delete} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
21148 breakpoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in
21149 this category.
21150
21151 @findex COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
21152 @findex gdb.COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
21153 @item COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
21154 The command has to do with tracepoints. For example, @code{trace},
21155 @code{actions}, and @code{tfind} are in this category. Type
21156 @kbd{help tracepoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
21157 commands in this category.
21158
21159 @findex COMMAND_OBSCURE
21160 @findex gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE
21161 @item COMMAND_OBSCURE
21162 The command is only used in unusual circumstances, or is not of
21163 general interest to users. For example, @code{checkpoint},
21164 @code{fork}, and @code{stop} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
21165 obscure} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this
21166 category.
21167
21168 @findex COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
21169 @findex gdb.COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
21170 @item COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
21171 The command is only useful to @value{GDBN} maintainers. The
21172 @code{maintenance} and @code{flushregs} commands are in this category.
21173 Type @kbd{help internals} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
21174 commands in this category.
21175 @end table
21176
21177 A new command can use a predefined completion function, either by
21178 specifying it via an argument at initialization, or by returning it
21179 from the @code{complete} method. These predefined completion
21180 constants are all defined in the @code{gdb} module:
21181
21182 @table @code
21183 @findex COMPLETE_NONE
21184 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_NONE
21185 @item COMPLETE_NONE
21186 This constant means that no completion should be done.
21187
21188 @findex COMPLETE_FILENAME
21189 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_FILENAME
21190 @item COMPLETE_FILENAME
21191 This constant means that filename completion should be performed.
21192
21193 @findex COMPLETE_LOCATION
21194 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_LOCATION
21195 @item COMPLETE_LOCATION
21196 This constant means that location completion should be done.
21197 @xref{Specify Location}.
21198
21199 @findex COMPLETE_COMMAND
21200 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_COMMAND
21201 @item COMPLETE_COMMAND
21202 This constant means that completion should examine @value{GDBN}
21203 command names.
21204
21205 @findex COMPLETE_SYMBOL
21206 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_SYMBOL
21207 @item COMPLETE_SYMBOL
21208 This constant means that completion should be done using symbol names
21209 as the source.
21210 @end table
21211
21212 The following code snippet shows how a trivial CLI command can be
21213 implemented in Python:
21214
21215 @smallexample
21216 class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
21217 """Greet the whole world."""
21218
21219 def __init__ (self):
21220 super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE)
21221
21222 def invoke (self, arg, from_tty):
21223 print "Hello, World!"
21224
21225 HelloWorld ()
21226 @end smallexample
21227
21228 The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
21229 registration of the command with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
21230 Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
21231 @code{gdb} module explicitly.
21232
21233 @node Parameters In Python
21234 @subsubsection Parameters In Python
21235
21236 @cindex parameters in python
21237 @cindex python parameters
21238 @tindex gdb.Parameter
21239 @tindex Parameter
21240 You can implement new @value{GDBN} parameters using Python. A new
21241 parameter is implemented as an instance of the @code{gdb.Parameter}
21242 class.
21243
21244 Parameters are exposed to the user via the @code{set} and
21245 @code{show} commands. @xref{Help}.
21246
21247 There are many parameters that already exist and can be set in
21248 @value{GDBN}. Two examples are: @code{set follow fork} and
21249 @code{set charset}. Setting these parameters influences certain
21250 behavior in @value{GDBN}. Similarly, you can define parameters that
21251 can be used to influence behavior in custom Python scripts and commands.
21252
21253 @defmethod Parameter __init__ name @var{command-class} @var{parameter-class} @r{[}@var{enum-sequence}@r{]}
21254 The object initializer for @code{Parameter} registers the new
21255 parameter with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked
21256 from the subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
21257
21258 @var{name} is the name of the new parameter. If @var{name} consists
21259 of multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
21260 parameters. An example of this can be illustrated with the
21261 @code{set print} set of parameters. If @var{name} is
21262 @code{print foo}, then @code{print} will be searched as the prefix
21263 parameter. In this case the parameter can subsequently be accessed in
21264 @value{GDBN} as @code{set print foo}.
21265
21266 If @var{name} consists of multiple words, and no prefix parameter group
21267 can be found, an exception is raised.
21268
21269 @var{command-class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
21270 (@pxref{Commands In Python}). This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to
21271 categorize the new parameter in the help system.
21272
21273 @var{parameter-class} should be one of the @samp{PARAM_} constants
21274 defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} the type of the new
21275 parameter; this information is used for input validation and
21276 completion.
21277
21278 If @var{parameter-class} is @code{PARAM_ENUM}, then
21279 @var{enum-sequence} must be a sequence of strings. These strings
21280 represent the possible values for the parameter.
21281
21282 If @var{parameter-class} is not @code{PARAM_ENUM}, then the presence
21283 of a fourth argument will cause an exception to be thrown.
21284
21285 The help text for the new parameter is taken from the Python
21286 documentation string for the parameter's class, if there is one. If
21287 there is no documentation string, a default value is used.
21288 @end defmethod
21289
21290 @defivar Parameter set_doc
21291 If this attribute exists, and is a string, then its value is used as
21292 the help text for this parameter's @code{set} command. The value is
21293 examined when @code{Parameter.__init__} is invoked; subsequent changes
21294 have no effect.
21295 @end defivar
21296
21297 @defivar Parameter show_doc
21298 If this attribute exists, and is a string, then its value is used as
21299 the help text for this parameter's @code{show} command. The value is
21300 examined when @code{Parameter.__init__} is invoked; subsequent changes
21301 have no effect.
21302 @end defivar
21303
21304 @defivar Parameter value
21305 The @code{value} attribute holds the underlying value of the
21306 parameter. It can be read and assigned to just as any other
21307 attribute. @value{GDBN} does validation when assignments are made.
21308 @end defivar
21309
21310
21311 When a new parameter is defined, its type must be specified. The
21312 available types are represented by constants defined in the @code{gdb}
21313 module:
21314
21315 @table @code
21316 @findex PARAM_BOOLEAN
21317 @findex gdb.PARAM_BOOLEAN
21318 @item PARAM_BOOLEAN
21319 The value is a plain boolean. The Python boolean values, @code{True}
21320 and @code{False} are the only valid values.
21321
21322 @findex PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
21323 @findex gdb.PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
21324 @item PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
21325 The value has three possible states: true, false, and @samp{auto}. In
21326 Python, true and false are represented using boolean constants, and
21327 @samp{auto} is represented using @code{None}.
21328
21329 @findex PARAM_UINTEGER
21330 @findex gdb.PARAM_UINTEGER
21331 @item PARAM_UINTEGER
21332 The value is an unsigned integer. The value of 0 should be
21333 interpreted to mean ``unlimited''.
21334
21335 @findex PARAM_INTEGER
21336 @findex gdb.PARAM_INTEGER
21337 @item PARAM_INTEGER
21338 The value is a signed integer. The value of 0 should be interpreted
21339 to mean ``unlimited''.
21340
21341 @findex PARAM_STRING
21342 @findex gdb.PARAM_STRING
21343 @item PARAM_STRING
21344 The value is a string. When the user modifies the string, any escape
21345 sequences, such as @samp{\t}, @samp{\f}, and octal escapes, are
21346 translated into corresponding characters and encoded into the current
21347 host charset.
21348
21349 @findex PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
21350 @findex gdb.PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
21351 @item PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
21352 The value is a string. When the user modifies the string, escapes are
21353 passed through untranslated.
21354
21355 @findex PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
21356 @findex gdb.PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
21357 @item PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
21358 The value is a either a filename (a string), or @code{None}.
21359
21360 @findex PARAM_FILENAME
21361 @findex gdb.PARAM_FILENAME
21362 @item PARAM_FILENAME
21363 The value is a filename. This is just like
21364 @code{PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE}, but uses file names for completion.
21365
21366 @findex PARAM_ZINTEGER
21367 @findex gdb.PARAM_ZINTEGER
21368 @item PARAM_ZINTEGER
21369 The value is an integer. This is like @code{PARAM_INTEGER}, except 0
21370 is interpreted as itself.
21371
21372 @findex PARAM_ENUM
21373 @findex gdb.PARAM_ENUM
21374 @item PARAM_ENUM
21375 The value is a string, which must be one of a collection string
21376 constants provided when the parameter is created.
21377 @end table
21378
21379 @node Functions In Python
21380 @subsubsection Writing new convenience functions
21381
21382 @cindex writing convenience functions
21383 @cindex convenience functions in python
21384 @cindex python convenience functions
21385 @tindex gdb.Function
21386 @tindex Function
21387 You can implement new convenience functions (@pxref{Convenience Vars})
21388 in Python. A convenience function is an instance of a subclass of the
21389 class @code{gdb.Function}.
21390
21391 @defmethod Function __init__ name
21392 The initializer for @code{Function} registers the new function with
21393 @value{GDBN}. The argument @var{name} is the name of the function,
21394 a string. The function will be visible to the user as a convenience
21395 variable of type @code{internal function}, whose name is the same as
21396 the given @var{name}.
21397
21398 The documentation for the new function is taken from the documentation
21399 string for the new class.
21400 @end defmethod
21401
21402 @defmethod Function invoke @var{*args}
21403 When a convenience function is evaluated, its arguments are converted
21404 to instances of @code{gdb.Value}, and then the function's
21405 @code{invoke} method is called. Note that @value{GDBN} does not
21406 predetermine the arity of convenience functions. Instead, all
21407 available arguments are passed to @code{invoke}, following the
21408 standard Python calling convention. In particular, a convenience
21409 function can have default values for parameters without ill effect.
21410
21411 The return value of this method is used as its value in the enclosing
21412 expression. If an ordinary Python value is returned, it is converted
21413 to a @code{gdb.Value} following the usual rules.
21414 @end defmethod
21415
21416 The following code snippet shows how a trivial convenience function can
21417 be implemented in Python:
21418
21419 @smallexample
21420 class Greet (gdb.Function):
21421 """Return string to greet someone.
21422 Takes a name as argument."""
21423
21424 def __init__ (self):
21425 super (Greet, self).__init__ ("greet")
21426
21427 def invoke (self, name):
21428 return "Hello, %s!" % name.string ()
21429
21430 Greet ()
21431 @end smallexample
21432
21433 The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
21434 registration of the function with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
21435 Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
21436 @code{gdb} module explicitly.
21437
21438 @node Progspaces In Python
21439 @subsubsection Program Spaces In Python
21440
21441 @cindex progspaces in python
21442 @tindex gdb.Progspace
21443 @tindex Progspace
21444 A program space, or @dfn{progspace}, represents a symbolic view
21445 of an address space.
21446 It consists of all of the objfiles of the program.
21447 @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
21448 @xref{Inferiors and Programs, program spaces}, for more details
21449 about program spaces.
21450
21451 The following progspace-related functions are available in the
21452 @code{gdb} module:
21453
21454 @findex gdb.current_progspace
21455 @defun current_progspace
21456 This function returns the program space of the currently selected inferior.
21457 @xref{Inferiors and Programs}.
21458 @end defun
21459
21460 @findex gdb.progspaces
21461 @defun progspaces
21462 Return a sequence of all the progspaces currently known to @value{GDBN}.
21463 @end defun
21464
21465 Each progspace is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Progspace}
21466 class.
21467
21468 @defivar Progspace filename
21469 The file name of the progspace as a string.
21470 @end defivar
21471
21472 @defivar Progspace pretty_printers
21473 The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
21474 used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
21475 function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
21476 search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
21477 which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for more
21478 information.
21479 @end defivar
21480
21481 @node Objfiles In Python
21482 @subsubsection Objfiles In Python
21483
21484 @cindex objfiles in python
21485 @tindex gdb.Objfile
21486 @tindex Objfile
21487 @value{GDBN} loads symbols for an inferior from various
21488 symbol-containing files (@pxref{Files}). These include the primary
21489 executable file, any shared libraries used by the inferior, and any
21490 separate debug info files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}).
21491 @value{GDBN} calls these symbol-containing files @dfn{objfiles}.
21492
21493 The following objfile-related functions are available in the
21494 @code{gdb} module:
21495
21496 @findex gdb.current_objfile
21497 @defun current_objfile
21498 When auto-loading a Python script (@pxref{Auto-loading}), @value{GDBN}
21499 sets the ``current objfile'' to the corresponding objfile. This
21500 function returns the current objfile. If there is no current objfile,
21501 this function returns @code{None}.
21502 @end defun
21503
21504 @findex gdb.objfiles
21505 @defun objfiles
21506 Return a sequence of all the objfiles current known to @value{GDBN}.
21507 @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
21508 @end defun
21509
21510 Each objfile is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Objfile}
21511 class.
21512
21513 @defivar Objfile filename
21514 The file name of the objfile as a string.
21515 @end defivar
21516
21517 @defivar Objfile pretty_printers
21518 The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
21519 used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
21520 function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
21521 search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
21522 which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for more
21523 information.
21524 @end defivar
21525
21526 @node Frames In Python
21527 @subsubsection Accessing inferior stack frames from Python.
21528
21529 @cindex frames in python
21530 When the debugged program stops, @value{GDBN} is able to analyze its call
21531 stack (@pxref{Frames,,Stack frames}). The @code{gdb.Frame} class
21532 represents a frame in the stack. A @code{gdb.Frame} object is only valid
21533 while its corresponding frame exists in the inferior's stack. If you try
21534 to use an invalid frame object, @value{GDBN} will throw a @code{RuntimeError}
21535 exception.
21536
21537 Two @code{gdb.Frame} objects can be compared for equality with the @code{==}
21538 operator, like:
21539
21540 @smallexample
21541 (@value{GDBP}) python print gdb.newest_frame() == gdb.selected_frame ()
21542 True
21543 @end smallexample
21544
21545 The following frame-related functions are available in the @code{gdb} module:
21546
21547 @findex gdb.selected_frame
21548 @defun selected_frame
21549 Return the selected frame object. (@pxref{Selection,,Selecting a Frame}).
21550 @end defun
21551
21552 @defun frame_stop_reason_string reason
21553 Return a string explaining the reason why @value{GDBN} stopped unwinding
21554 frames, as expressed by the given @var{reason} code (an integer, see the
21555 @code{unwind_stop_reason} method further down in this section).
21556 @end defun
21557
21558 A @code{gdb.Frame} object has the following methods:
21559
21560 @table @code
21561 @defmethod Frame is_valid
21562 Returns true if the @code{gdb.Frame} object is valid, false if not.
21563 A frame object can become invalid if the frame it refers to doesn't
21564 exist anymore in the inferior. All @code{gdb.Frame} methods will throw
21565 an exception if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
21566 @end defmethod
21567
21568 @defmethod Frame name
21569 Returns the function name of the frame, or @code{None} if it can't be
21570 obtained.
21571 @end defmethod
21572
21573 @defmethod Frame type
21574 Returns the type of the frame. The value can be one of
21575 @code{gdb.NORMAL_FRAME}, @code{gdb.DUMMY_FRAME}, @code{gdb.SIGTRAMP_FRAME}
21576 or @code{gdb.SENTINEL_FRAME}.
21577 @end defmethod
21578
21579 @defmethod Frame unwind_stop_reason
21580 Return an integer representing the reason why it's not possible to find
21581 more frames toward the outermost frame. Use
21582 @code{gdb.frame_stop_reason_string} to convert the value returned by this
21583 function to a string.
21584 @end defmethod
21585
21586 @defmethod Frame pc
21587 Returns the frame's resume address.
21588 @end defmethod
21589
21590 @defmethod Frame block
21591 Return the frame's code block. @xref{Blocks In Python}.
21592 @end defmethod
21593
21594 @defmethod Frame function
21595 Return the symbol for the function corresponding to this frame.
21596 @xref{Symbols In Python}.
21597 @end defmethod
21598
21599 @defmethod Frame older
21600 Return the frame that called this frame.
21601 @end defmethod
21602
21603 @defmethod Frame newer
21604 Return the frame called by this frame.
21605 @end defmethod
21606
21607 @defmethod Frame find_sal
21608 Return the frame's symtab and line object.
21609 @xref{Symbol Tables In Python}.
21610 @end defmethod
21611
21612 @defmethod Frame read_var variable @r{[}block@r{]}
21613 Return the value of @var{variable} in this frame. If the optional
21614 argument @var{block} is provided, search for the variable from that
21615 block; otherwise start at the frame's current block (which is
21616 determined by the frame's current program counter). @var{variable}
21617 must be a string or a @code{gdb.Symbol} object. @var{block} must be a
21618 @code{gdb.Block} object.
21619 @end defmethod
21620
21621 @defmethod Frame select
21622 Set this frame to be the selected frame. @xref{Stack, ,Examining the
21623 Stack}.
21624 @end defmethod
21625 @end table
21626
21627 @node Blocks In Python
21628 @subsubsection Accessing frame blocks from Python.
21629
21630 @cindex blocks in python
21631 @tindex gdb.Block
21632
21633 Within each frame, @value{GDBN} maintains information on each block
21634 stored in that frame. These blocks are organized hierarchically, and
21635 are represented individually in Python as a @code{gdb.Block}.
21636 Please see @ref{Frames In Python}, for a more in-depth discussion on
21637 frames. Furthermore, see @ref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}, for more
21638 detailed technical information on @value{GDBN}'s book-keeping of the
21639 stack.
21640
21641 The following block-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
21642 module:
21643
21644 @findex gdb.block_for_pc
21645 @defun block_for_pc pc
21646 Return the @code{gdb.Block} containing the given @var{pc} value. If the
21647 block cannot be found for the @var{pc} value specified, the function
21648 will return @code{None}.
21649 @end defun
21650
21651 A @code{gdb.Block} object has the following attributes:
21652
21653 @table @code
21654 @defivar Block start
21655 The start address of the block. This attribute is not writable.
21656 @end defivar
21657
21658 @defivar Block end
21659 The end address of the block. This attribute is not writable.
21660 @end defivar
21661
21662 @defivar Block function
21663 The name of the block represented as a @code{gdb.Symbol}. If the
21664 block is not named, then this attribute holds @code{None}. This
21665 attribute is not writable.
21666 @end defivar
21667
21668 @defivar Block superblock
21669 The block containing this block. If this parent block does not exist,
21670 this attribute holds @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
21671 @end defivar
21672 @end table
21673
21674 @node Symbols In Python
21675 @subsubsection Python representation of Symbols.
21676
21677 @cindex symbols in python
21678 @tindex gdb.Symbol
21679
21680 @value{GDBN} represents every variable, function and type as an
21681 entry in a symbol table. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
21682 Similarly, Python represents these symbols in @value{GDBN} with the
21683 @code{gdb.Symbol} object.
21684
21685 The following symbol-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
21686 module:
21687
21688 @findex gdb.lookup_symbol
21689 @defun lookup_symbol name [block] [domain]
21690 This function searches for a symbol by name. The search scope can be
21691 restricted to the parameters defined in the optional domain and block
21692 arguments.
21693
21694 @var{name} is the name of the symbol. It must be a string. The
21695 optional @var{block} argument restricts the search to symbols visible
21696 in that @var{block}. The @var{block} argument must be a
21697 @code{gdb.Block} object. The optional @var{domain} argument restricts
21698 the search to the domain type. The @var{domain} argument must be a
21699 domain constant defined in the @code{gdb} module and described later
21700 in this chapter.
21701 @end defun
21702
21703 A @code{gdb.Symbol} object has the following attributes:
21704
21705 @table @code
21706 @defivar Symbol symtab
21707 The symbol table in which the symbol appears. This attribute is
21708 represented as a @code{gdb.Symtab} object. @xref{Symbol Tables In
21709 Python}. This attribute is not writable.
21710 @end defivar
21711
21712 @defivar Symbol name
21713 The name of the symbol as a string. This attribute is not writable.
21714 @end defivar
21715
21716 @defivar Symbol linkage_name
21717 The name of the symbol, as used by the linker (i.e., may be mangled).
21718 This attribute is not writable.
21719 @end defivar
21720
21721 @defivar Symbol print_name
21722 The name of the symbol in a form suitable for output. This is either
21723 @code{name} or @code{linkage_name}, depending on whether the user
21724 asked @value{GDBN} to display demangled or mangled names.
21725 @end defivar
21726
21727 @defivar Symbol addr_class
21728 The address class of the symbol. This classifies how to find the value
21729 of a symbol. Each address class is a constant defined in the
21730 @code{gdb} module and described later in this chapter.
21731 @end defivar
21732
21733 @defivar Symbol is_argument
21734 @code{True} if the symbol is an argument of a function.
21735 @end defivar
21736
21737 @defivar Symbol is_constant
21738 @code{True} if the symbol is a constant.
21739 @end defivar
21740
21741 @defivar Symbol is_function
21742 @code{True} if the symbol is a function or a method.
21743 @end defivar
21744
21745 @defivar Symbol is_variable
21746 @code{True} if the symbol is a variable.
21747 @end defivar
21748 @end table
21749
21750 The available domain categories in @code{gdb.Symbol} are represented
21751 as constants in the @code{gdb} module:
21752
21753 @table @code
21754 @findex SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
21755 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
21756 @item SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
21757 This is used when a domain has not been discovered or none of the
21758 following domains apply. This usually indicates an error either
21759 in the symbol information or in @value{GDBN}'s handling of symbols.
21760 @findex SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
21761 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
21762 @item SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
21763 This domain contains variables, function names, typedef names and enum
21764 type values.
21765 @findex SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
21766 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
21767 @item SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
21768 This domain holds struct, union and enum type names.
21769 @findex SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
21770 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
21771 @item SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
21772 This domain contains names of labels (for gotos).
21773 @findex SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
21774 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
21775 @item SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
21776 This domain holds a subset of the @code{SYMBOLS_VAR_DOMAIN}; it
21777 contains everything minus functions and types.
21778 @findex SYMBOL_FUNCTIONS_DOMAIN
21779 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_FUNCTIONS_DOMAIN
21780 @item SYMBOL_FUNCTION_DOMAIN
21781 This domain contains all functions.
21782 @findex SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
21783 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
21784 @item SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
21785 This domain contains all types.
21786 @end table
21787
21788 The available address class categories in @code{gdb.Symbol} are represented
21789 as constants in the @code{gdb} module:
21790
21791 @table @code
21792 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
21793 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
21794 @item SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
21795 If this is returned by address class, it indicates an error either in
21796 the symbol information or in @value{GDBN}'s handling of symbols.
21797 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
21798 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
21799 @item SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
21800 Value is constant int.
21801 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
21802 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
21803 @item SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
21804 Value is at a fixed address.
21805 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
21806 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
21807 @item SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
21808 Value is in a register.
21809 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
21810 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
21811 @item SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
21812 Value is an argument. This value is at the offset stored within the
21813 symbol inside the frame's argument list.
21814 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
21815 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
21816 @item SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
21817 Value address is stored in the frame's argument list. Just like
21818 @code{LOC_ARG} except that the value's address is stored at the
21819 offset, not the value itself.
21820 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
21821 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
21822 @item SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
21823 Value is a specified register. Just like @code{LOC_REGISTER} except
21824 the register holds the address of the argument instead of the argument
21825 itself.
21826 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
21827 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
21828 @item SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
21829 Value is a local variable.
21830 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
21831 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
21832 @item SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
21833 Value not used. Symbols in the domain @code{SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN} all
21834 have this class.
21835 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
21836 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
21837 @item SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
21838 Value is a block.
21839 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
21840 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
21841 @item SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
21842 Value is a byte-sequence.
21843 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
21844 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
21845 @item SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
21846 Value is at a fixed address, but the address of the variable has to be
21847 determined from the minimal symbol table whenever the variable is
21848 referenced.
21849 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
21850 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
21851 @item SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
21852 The value does not actually exist in the program.
21853 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
21854 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
21855 @item SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
21856 The value's address is a computed location.
21857 @end table
21858
21859 @node Symbol Tables In Python
21860 @subsubsection Symbol table representation in Python.
21861
21862 @cindex symbol tables in python
21863 @tindex gdb.Symtab
21864 @tindex gdb.Symtab_and_line
21865
21866 Access to symbol table data maintained by @value{GDBN} on the inferior
21867 is exposed to Python via two objects: @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} and
21868 @code{gdb.Symtab}. Symbol table and line data for a frame is returned
21869 from the @code{find_sal} method in @code{gdb.Frame} object.
21870 @xref{Frames In Python}.
21871
21872 For more information on @value{GDBN}'s symbol table management, see
21873 @ref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, for more information.
21874
21875 A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object has the following attributes:
21876
21877 @table @code
21878 @defivar Symtab_and_line symtab
21879 The symbol table object (@code{gdb.Symtab}) for this frame.
21880 This attribute is not writable.
21881 @end defivar
21882
21883 @defivar Symtab_and_line pc
21884 Indicates the current program counter address. This attribute is not
21885 writable.
21886 @end defivar
21887
21888 @defivar Symtab_and_line line
21889 Indicates the current line number for this object. This
21890 attribute is not writable.
21891 @end defivar
21892 @end table
21893
21894 A @code{gdb.Symtab} object has the following attributes:
21895
21896 @table @code
21897 @defivar Symtab filename
21898 The symbol table's source filename. This attribute is not writable.
21899 @end defivar
21900
21901 @defivar Symtab objfile
21902 The symbol table's backing object file. @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
21903 This attribute is not writable.
21904 @end defivar
21905 @end table
21906
21907 The following methods are provided:
21908
21909 @table @code
21910 @defmethod Symtab fullname
21911 Return the symbol table's source absolute file name.
21912 @end defmethod
21913 @end table
21914
21915 @node Breakpoints In Python
21916 @subsubsection Manipulating breakpoints using Python
21917
21918 @cindex breakpoints in python
21919 @tindex gdb.Breakpoint
21920
21921 Python code can manipulate breakpoints via the @code{gdb.Breakpoint}
21922 class.
21923
21924 @defmethod Breakpoint __init__ spec @r{[}type@r{]} @r{[}wp_class@r{]}
21925 Create a new breakpoint. @var{spec} is a string naming the
21926 location of the breakpoint, or an expression that defines a
21927 watchpoint. The contents can be any location recognized by the
21928 @code{break} command, or in the case of a watchpoint, by the @code{watch}
21929 command. The optional @var{type} denotes the breakpoint to create
21930 from the types defined later in this chapter. This argument can be
21931 either: @code{BP_BREAKPOINT} or @code{BP_WATCHPOINT}. @var{type}
21932 defaults to @code{BP_BREAKPOINT}. The optional @var{wp_class}
21933 argument defines the class of watchpoint to create, if @var{type} is
21934 defined as @code{BP_WATCHPOINT}. If a watchpoint class is not
21935 provided, it is assumed to be a @var{WP_WRITE} class.
21936 @end defmethod
21937
21938 The available watchpoint types represented by constants are defined in the
21939 @code{gdb} module:
21940
21941 @table @code
21942 @findex WP_READ
21943 @findex gdb.WP_READ
21944 @item WP_READ
21945 Read only watchpoint.
21946
21947 @findex WP_WRITE
21948 @findex gdb.WP_WRITE
21949 @item WP_WRITE
21950 Write only watchpoint.
21951
21952 @findex WP_ACCESS
21953 @findex gdb.WP_ACCESS
21954 @item WP_ACCESS
21955 Read/Write watchpoint.
21956 @end table
21957
21958 @defmethod Breakpoint is_valid
21959 Return @code{True} if this @code{Breakpoint} object is valid,
21960 @code{False} otherwise. A @code{Breakpoint} object can become invalid
21961 if the user deletes the breakpoint. In this case, the object still
21962 exists, but the underlying breakpoint does not. In the cases of
21963 watchpoint scope, the watchpoint remains valid even if execution of the
21964 inferior leaves the scope of that watchpoint.
21965 @end defmethod
21966
21967 @defivar Breakpoint enabled
21968 This attribute is @code{True} if the breakpoint is enabled, and
21969 @code{False} otherwise. This attribute is writable.
21970 @end defivar
21971
21972 @defivar Breakpoint silent
21973 This attribute is @code{True} if the breakpoint is silent, and
21974 @code{False} otherwise. This attribute is writable.
21975
21976 Note that a breakpoint can also be silent if it has commands and the
21977 first command is @code{silent}. This is not reported by the
21978 @code{silent} attribute.
21979 @end defivar
21980
21981 @defivar Breakpoint thread
21982 If the breakpoint is thread-specific, this attribute holds the thread
21983 id. If the breakpoint is not thread-specific, this attribute is
21984 @code{None}. This attribute is writable.
21985 @end defivar
21986
21987 @defivar Breakpoint task
21988 If the breakpoint is Ada task-specific, this attribute holds the Ada task
21989 id. If the breakpoint is not task-specific (or the underlying
21990 language is not Ada), this attribute is @code{None}. This attribute
21991 is writable.
21992 @end defivar
21993
21994 @defivar Breakpoint ignore_count
21995 This attribute holds the ignore count for the breakpoint, an integer.
21996 This attribute is writable.
21997 @end defivar
21998
21999 @defivar Breakpoint number
22000 This attribute holds the breakpoint's number --- the identifier used by
22001 the user to manipulate the breakpoint. This attribute is not writable.
22002 @end defivar
22003
22004 @defivar Breakpoint type
22005 This attribute holds the breakpoint's type --- the identifier used to
22006 determine the actual breakpoint type or use-case. This attribute is not
22007 writable.
22008 @end defivar
22009
22010 The available types are represented by constants defined in the @code{gdb}
22011 module:
22012
22013 @table @code
22014 @findex BP_BREAKPOINT
22015 @findex gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT
22016 @item BP_BREAKPOINT
22017 Normal code breakpoint.
22018
22019 @findex BP_WATCHPOINT
22020 @findex gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT
22021 @item BP_WATCHPOINT
22022 Watchpoint breakpoint.
22023
22024 @findex BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
22025 @findex gdb.BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
22026 @item BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
22027 Hardware assisted watchpoint.
22028
22029 @findex BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
22030 @findex gdb.BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
22031 @item BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
22032 Hardware assisted read watchpoint.
22033
22034 @findex BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
22035 @findex gdb.BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
22036 @item BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
22037 Hardware assisted access watchpoint.
22038 @end table
22039
22040 @defivar Breakpoint hit_count
22041 This attribute holds the hit count for the breakpoint, an integer.
22042 This attribute is writable, but currently it can only be set to zero.
22043 @end defivar
22044
22045 @defivar Breakpoint location
22046 This attribute holds the location of the breakpoint, as specified by
22047 the user. It is a string. If the breakpoint does not have a location
22048 (that is, it is a watchpoint) the attribute's value is @code{None}. This
22049 attribute is not writable.
22050 @end defivar
22051
22052 @defivar Breakpoint expression
22053 This attribute holds a breakpoint expression, as specified by
22054 the user. It is a string. If the breakpoint does not have an
22055 expression (the breakpoint is not a watchpoint) the attribute's value
22056 is @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
22057 @end defivar
22058
22059 @defivar Breakpoint condition
22060 This attribute holds the condition of the breakpoint, as specified by
22061 the user. It is a string. If there is no condition, this attribute's
22062 value is @code{None}. This attribute is writable.
22063 @end defivar
22064
22065 @defivar Breakpoint commands
22066 This attribute holds the commands attached to the breakpoint. If
22067 there are commands, this attribute's value is a string holding all the
22068 commands, separated by newlines. If there are no commands, this
22069 attribute is @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
22070 @end defivar
22071
22072 @node Lazy Strings In Python
22073 @subsubsection Python representation of lazy strings.
22074
22075 @cindex lazy strings in python
22076 @tindex gdb.LazyString
22077
22078 A @dfn{lazy string} is a string whose contents is not retrieved or
22079 encoded until it is needed.
22080
22081 A @code{gdb.LazyString} is represented in @value{GDBN} as an
22082 @code{address} that points to a region of memory, an @code{encoding}
22083 that will be used to encode that region of memory, and a @code{length}
22084 to delimit the region of memory that represents the string. The
22085 difference between a @code{gdb.LazyString} and a string wrapped within
22086 a @code{gdb.Value} is that a @code{gdb.LazyString} will be treated
22087 differently by @value{GDBN} when printing. A @code{gdb.LazyString} is
22088 retrieved and encoded during printing, while a @code{gdb.Value}
22089 wrapping a string is immediately retrieved and encoded on creation.
22090
22091 A @code{gdb.LazyString} object has the following functions:
22092
22093 @defmethod LazyString value
22094 Convert the @code{gdb.LazyString} to a @code{gdb.Value}. This value
22095 will point to the string in memory, but will lose all the delayed
22096 retrieval, encoding and handling that @value{GDBN} applies to a
22097 @code{gdb.LazyString}.
22098 @end defmethod
22099
22100 @defivar LazyString address
22101 This attribute holds the address of the string. This attribute is not
22102 writable.
22103 @end defivar
22104
22105 @defivar LazyString length
22106 This attribute holds the length of the string in characters. If the
22107 length is -1, then the string will be fetched and encoded up to the
22108 first null of appropriate width. This attribute is not writable.
22109 @end defivar
22110
22111 @defivar LazyString encoding
22112 This attribute holds the encoding that will be applied to the string
22113 when the string is printed by @value{GDBN}. If the encoding is not
22114 set, or contains an empty string, then @value{GDBN} will select the
22115 most appropriate encoding when the string is printed. This attribute
22116 is not writable.
22117 @end defivar
22118
22119 @defivar LazyString type
22120 This attribute holds the type that is represented by the lazy string's
22121 type. For a lazy string this will always be a pointer type. To
22122 resolve this to the lazy string's character type, use the type's
22123 @code{target} method. @xref{Types In Python}. This attribute is not
22124 writable.
22125 @end defivar
22126
22127 @node Auto-loading
22128 @subsection Auto-loading
22129 @cindex auto-loading, Python
22130
22131 When a new object file is read (for example, due to the @code{file}
22132 command, or because the inferior has loaded a shared library),
22133 @value{GDBN} will look for Python support scripts in several ways:
22134 @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} and @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section.
22135
22136 @menu
22137 * objfile-gdb.py file:: The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} file
22138 * .debug_gdb_scripts section:: The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
22139 * Which flavor to choose?::
22140 @end menu
22141
22142 The auto-loading feature is useful for supplying application-specific
22143 debugging commands and scripts.
22144
22145 Auto-loading can be enabled or disabled.
22146
22147 @table @code
22148 @kindex maint set python auto-load
22149 @item maint set python auto-load [yes|no]
22150 Enable or disable the Python auto-loading feature.
22151
22152 @kindex maint show python auto-load
22153 @item maint show python auto-load
22154 Show whether Python auto-loading is enabled or disabled.
22155 @end table
22156
22157 When reading an auto-loaded file, @value{GDBN} sets the
22158 @dfn{current objfile}. This is available via the @code{gdb.current_objfile}
22159 function (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}). This can be useful for
22160 registering objfile-specific pretty-printers.
22161
22162 @node objfile-gdb.py file
22163 @subsubsection The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} file
22164 @cindex @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py}
22165
22166 When a new object file is read, @value{GDBN} looks for
22167 a file named @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py},
22168 where @var{objfile} is the object file's real name, formed by ensuring
22169 that the file name is absolute, following all symlinks, and resolving
22170 @code{.} and @code{..} components. If this file exists and is
22171 readable, @value{GDBN} will evaluate it as a Python script.
22172
22173 If this file does not exist, and if the parameter
22174 @code{debug-file-directory} is set (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}),
22175 then @value{GDBN} will look for @var{real-name} in all of the
22176 directories mentioned in the value of @code{debug-file-directory}.
22177
22178 Finally, if this file does not exist, then @value{GDBN} will look for
22179 a file named @file{@var{data-directory}/python/auto-load/@var{real-name}}, where
22180 @var{data-directory} is @value{GDBN}'s data directory (available via
22181 @code{show data-directory}, @pxref{Data Files}), and @var{real-name}
22182 is the object file's real name, as described above.
22183
22184 @value{GDBN} does not track which files it has already auto-loaded this way.
22185 @value{GDBN} will load the associated script every time the corresponding
22186 @var{objfile} is opened.
22187 So your @file{-gdb.py} file should be careful to avoid errors if it
22188 is evaluated more than once.
22189
22190 @node .debug_gdb_scripts section
22191 @subsubsection The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
22192 @cindex @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
22193
22194 For systems using file formats like ELF and COFF,
22195 when @value{GDBN} loads a new object file
22196 it will look for a special section named @samp{.debug_gdb_scripts}.
22197 If this section exists, its contents is a list of names of scripts to load.
22198
22199 @value{GDBN} will look for each specified script file first in the
22200 current directory and then along the source search path
22201 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}),
22202 except that @file{$cdir} is not searched, since the compilation
22203 directory is not relevant to scripts.
22204
22205 Entries can be placed in section @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} with,
22206 for example, this GCC macro:
22207
22208 @example
22209 /* Note: The "MS" section flags are to remote duplicates. */
22210 #define DEFINE_GDB_SCRIPT(script_name) \
22211 asm("\
22212 .pushsection \".debug_gdb_scripts\", \"MS\",@@progbits,1\n\
22213 .byte 1\n\
22214 .asciz \"" script_name "\"\n\
22215 .popsection \n\
22216 ");
22217 @end example
22218
22219 @noindent
22220 Then one can reference the macro in a header or source file like this:
22221
22222 @example
22223 DEFINE_GDB_SCRIPT ("my-app-scripts.py")
22224 @end example
22225
22226 The script name may include directories if desired.
22227
22228 If the macro is put in a header, any application or library
22229 using this header will get a reference to the specified script.
22230
22231 @node Which flavor to choose?
22232 @subsubsection Which flavor to choose?
22233
22234 Given the multiple ways of auto-loading Python scripts, it might not always
22235 be clear which one to choose. This section provides some guidance.
22236
22237 Benefits of the @file{-gdb.py} way:
22238
22239 @itemize @bullet
22240 @item
22241 Can be used with file formats that don't support multiple sections.
22242
22243 @item
22244 Ease of finding scripts for public libraries.
22245
22246 Scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section are searched for
22247 in the source search path.
22248 For publicly installed libraries, e.g., @file{libstdc++}, there typically
22249 isn't a source directory in which to find the script.
22250
22251 @item
22252 Doesn't require source code additions.
22253 @end itemize
22254
22255 Benefits of the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} way:
22256
22257 @itemize @bullet
22258 @item
22259 Works with static linking.
22260
22261 Scripts for libraries done the @file{-gdb.py} way require an objfile to
22262 trigger their loading. When an application is statically linked the only
22263 objfile available is the executable, and it is cumbersome to attach all the
22264 scripts from all the input libraries to the executable's @file{-gdb.py} script.
22265
22266 @item
22267 Works with classes that are entirely inlined.
22268
22269 Some classes can be entirely inlined, and thus there may not be an associated
22270 shared library to attach a @file{-gdb.py} script to.
22271
22272 @item
22273 Scripts needn't be copied out of the source tree.
22274
22275 In some circumstances, apps can be built out of large collections of internal
22276 libraries, and the build infrastructure necessary to install the
22277 @file{-gdb.py} scripts in a place where @value{GDBN} can find them is
22278 cumbersome. It may be easier to specify the scripts in the
22279 @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section as relative paths, and add a path to the
22280 top of the source tree to the source search path.
22281 @end itemize
22282
22283 @node Interpreters
22284 @chapter Command Interpreters
22285 @cindex command interpreters
22286
22287 @value{GDBN} supports multiple command interpreters, and some command
22288 infrastructure to allow users or user interface writers to switch
22289 between interpreters or run commands in other interpreters.
22290
22291 @value{GDBN} currently supports two command interpreters, the console
22292 interpreter (sometimes called the command-line interpreter or @sc{cli})
22293 and the machine interface interpreter (or @sc{gdb/mi}). This manual
22294 describes both of these interfaces in great detail.
22295
22296 By default, @value{GDBN} will start with the console interpreter.
22297 However, the user may choose to start @value{GDBN} with another
22298 interpreter by specifying the @option{-i} or @option{--interpreter}
22299 startup options. Defined interpreters include:
22300
22301 @table @code
22302 @item console
22303 @cindex console interpreter
22304 The traditional console or command-line interpreter. This is the most often
22305 used interpreter with @value{GDBN}. With no interpreter specified at runtime,
22306 @value{GDBN} will use this interpreter.
22307
22308 @item mi
22309 @cindex mi interpreter
22310 The newest @sc{gdb/mi} interface (currently @code{mi2}). Used primarily
22311 by programs wishing to use @value{GDBN} as a backend for a debugger GUI
22312 or an IDE. For more information, see @ref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi}
22313 Interface}.
22314
22315 @item mi2
22316 @cindex mi2 interpreter
22317 The current @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
22318
22319 @item mi1
22320 @cindex mi1 interpreter
22321 The @sc{gdb/mi} interface included in @value{GDBN} 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3.
22322
22323 @end table
22324
22325 @cindex invoke another interpreter
22326 The interpreter being used by @value{GDBN} may not be dynamically
22327 switched at runtime. Although possible, this could lead to a very
22328 precarious situation. Consider an IDE using @sc{gdb/mi}. If a user
22329 enters the command "interpreter-set console" in a console view,
22330 @value{GDBN} would switch to using the console interpreter, rendering
22331 the IDE inoperable!
22332
22333 @kindex interpreter-exec
22334 Although you may only choose a single interpreter at startup, you may execute
22335 commands in any interpreter from the current interpreter using the appropriate
22336 command. If you are running the console interpreter, simply use the
22337 @code{interpreter-exec} command:
22338
22339 @smallexample
22340 interpreter-exec mi "-data-list-register-names"
22341 @end smallexample
22342
22343 @sc{gdb/mi} has a similar command, although it is only available in versions of
22344 @value{GDBN} which support @sc{gdb/mi} version 2 (or greater).
22345
22346 @node TUI
22347 @chapter @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
22348 @cindex TUI
22349 @cindex Text User Interface
22350
22351 @menu
22352 * TUI Overview:: TUI overview
22353 * TUI Keys:: TUI key bindings
22354 * TUI Single Key Mode:: TUI single key mode
22355 * TUI Commands:: TUI-specific commands
22356 * TUI Configuration:: TUI configuration variables
22357 @end menu
22358
22359 The @value{GDBN} Text User Interface (TUI) is a terminal
22360 interface which uses the @code{curses} library to show the source
22361 file, the assembly output, the program registers and @value{GDBN}
22362 commands in separate text windows. The TUI mode is supported only
22363 on platforms where a suitable version of the @code{curses} library
22364 is available.
22365
22366 @pindex @value{GDBTUI}
22367 The TUI mode is enabled by default when you invoke @value{GDBN} as
22368 either @samp{@value{GDBTUI}} or @samp{@value{GDBP} -tui}.
22369 You can also switch in and out of TUI mode while @value{GDBN} runs by
22370 using various TUI commands and key bindings, such as @kbd{C-x C-a}.
22371 @xref{TUI Keys, ,TUI Key Bindings}.
22372
22373 @node TUI Overview
22374 @section TUI Overview
22375
22376 In TUI mode, @value{GDBN} can display several text windows:
22377
22378 @table @emph
22379 @item command
22380 This window is the @value{GDBN} command window with the @value{GDBN}
22381 prompt and the @value{GDBN} output. The @value{GDBN} input is still
22382 managed using readline.
22383
22384 @item source
22385 The source window shows the source file of the program. The current
22386 line and active breakpoints are displayed in this window.
22387
22388 @item assembly
22389 The assembly window shows the disassembly output of the program.
22390
22391 @item register
22392 This window shows the processor registers. Registers are highlighted
22393 when their values change.
22394 @end table
22395
22396 The source and assembly windows show the current program position
22397 by highlighting the current line and marking it with a @samp{>} marker.
22398 Breakpoints are indicated with two markers. The first marker
22399 indicates the breakpoint type:
22400
22401 @table @code
22402 @item B
22403 Breakpoint which was hit at least once.
22404
22405 @item b
22406 Breakpoint which was never hit.
22407
22408 @item H
22409 Hardware breakpoint which was hit at least once.
22410
22411 @item h
22412 Hardware breakpoint which was never hit.
22413 @end table
22414
22415 The second marker indicates whether the breakpoint is enabled or not:
22416
22417 @table @code
22418 @item +
22419 Breakpoint is enabled.
22420
22421 @item -
22422 Breakpoint is disabled.
22423 @end table
22424
22425 The source, assembly and register windows are updated when the current
22426 thread changes, when the frame changes, or when the program counter
22427 changes.
22428
22429 These windows are not all visible at the same time. The command
22430 window is always visible. The others can be arranged in several
22431 layouts:
22432
22433 @itemize @bullet
22434 @item
22435 source only,
22436
22437 @item
22438 assembly only,
22439
22440 @item
22441 source and assembly,
22442
22443 @item
22444 source and registers, or
22445
22446 @item
22447 assembly and registers.
22448 @end itemize
22449
22450 A status line above the command window shows the following information:
22451
22452 @table @emph
22453 @item target
22454 Indicates the current @value{GDBN} target.
22455 (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
22456
22457 @item process
22458 Gives the current process or thread number.
22459 When no process is being debugged, this field is set to @code{No process}.
22460
22461 @item function
22462 Gives the current function name for the selected frame.
22463 The name is demangled if demangling is turned on (@pxref{Print Settings}).
22464 When there is no symbol corresponding to the current program counter,
22465 the string @code{??} is displayed.
22466
22467 @item line
22468 Indicates the current line number for the selected frame.
22469 When the current line number is not known, the string @code{??} is displayed.
22470
22471 @item pc
22472 Indicates the current program counter address.
22473 @end table
22474
22475 @node TUI Keys
22476 @section TUI Key Bindings
22477 @cindex TUI key bindings
22478
22479 The TUI installs several key bindings in the readline keymaps
22480 (@pxref{Command Line Editing}). The following key bindings
22481 are installed for both TUI mode and the @value{GDBN} standard mode.
22482
22483 @table @kbd
22484 @kindex C-x C-a
22485 @item C-x C-a
22486 @kindex C-x a
22487 @itemx C-x a
22488 @kindex C-x A
22489 @itemx C-x A
22490 Enter or leave the TUI mode. When leaving the TUI mode,
22491 the curses window management stops and @value{GDBN} operates using
22492 its standard mode, writing on the terminal directly. When reentering
22493 the TUI mode, control is given back to the curses windows.
22494 The screen is then refreshed.
22495
22496 @kindex C-x 1
22497 @item C-x 1
22498 Use a TUI layout with only one window. The layout will
22499 either be @samp{source} or @samp{assembly}. When the TUI mode
22500 is not active, it will switch to the TUI mode.
22501
22502 Think of this key binding as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 1} binding.
22503
22504 @kindex C-x 2
22505 @item C-x 2
22506 Use a TUI layout with at least two windows. When the current
22507 layout already has two windows, the next layout with two windows is used.
22508 When a new layout is chosen, one window will always be common to the
22509 previous layout and the new one.
22510
22511 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 2} binding.
22512
22513 @kindex C-x o
22514 @item C-x o
22515 Change the active window. The TUI associates several key bindings
22516 (like scrolling and arrow keys) with the active window. This command
22517 gives the focus to the next TUI window.
22518
22519 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x o} binding.
22520
22521 @kindex C-x s
22522 @item C-x s
22523 Switch in and out of the TUI SingleKey mode that binds single
22524 keys to @value{GDBN} commands (@pxref{TUI Single Key Mode}).
22525 @end table
22526
22527 The following key bindings only work in the TUI mode:
22528
22529 @table @asis
22530 @kindex PgUp
22531 @item @key{PgUp}
22532 Scroll the active window one page up.
22533
22534 @kindex PgDn
22535 @item @key{PgDn}
22536 Scroll the active window one page down.
22537
22538 @kindex Up
22539 @item @key{Up}
22540 Scroll the active window one line up.
22541
22542 @kindex Down
22543 @item @key{Down}
22544 Scroll the active window one line down.
22545
22546 @kindex Left
22547 @item @key{Left}
22548 Scroll the active window one column left.
22549
22550 @kindex Right
22551 @item @key{Right}
22552 Scroll the active window one column right.
22553
22554 @kindex C-L
22555 @item @kbd{C-L}
22556 Refresh the screen.
22557 @end table
22558
22559 Because the arrow keys scroll the active window in the TUI mode, they
22560 are not available for their normal use by readline unless the command
22561 window has the focus. When another window is active, you must use
22562 other readline key bindings such as @kbd{C-p}, @kbd{C-n}, @kbd{C-b}
22563 and @kbd{C-f} to control the command window.
22564
22565 @node TUI Single Key Mode
22566 @section TUI Single Key Mode
22567 @cindex TUI single key mode
22568
22569 The TUI also provides a @dfn{SingleKey} mode, which binds several
22570 frequently used @value{GDBN} commands to single keys. Type @kbd{C-x s} to
22571 switch into this mode, where the following key bindings are used:
22572
22573 @table @kbd
22574 @kindex c @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
22575 @item c
22576 continue
22577
22578 @kindex d @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
22579 @item d
22580 down
22581
22582 @kindex f @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
22583 @item f
22584 finish
22585
22586 @kindex n @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
22587 @item n
22588 next
22589
22590 @kindex q @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
22591 @item q
22592 exit the SingleKey mode.
22593
22594 @kindex r @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
22595 @item r
22596 run
22597
22598 @kindex s @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
22599 @item s
22600 step
22601
22602 @kindex u @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
22603 @item u
22604 up
22605
22606 @kindex v @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
22607 @item v
22608 info locals
22609
22610 @kindex w @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
22611 @item w
22612 where
22613 @end table
22614
22615 Other keys temporarily switch to the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
22616 The key that was pressed is inserted in the editing buffer so that
22617 it is possible to type most @value{GDBN} commands without interaction
22618 with the TUI SingleKey mode. Once the command is entered the TUI
22619 SingleKey mode is restored. The only way to permanently leave
22620 this mode is by typing @kbd{q} or @kbd{C-x s}.
22621
22622
22623 @node TUI Commands
22624 @section TUI-specific Commands
22625 @cindex TUI commands
22626
22627 The TUI has specific commands to control the text windows.
22628 These commands are always available, even when @value{GDBN} is not in
22629 the TUI mode. When @value{GDBN} is in the standard mode, most
22630 of these commands will automatically switch to the TUI mode.
22631
22632 Note that if @value{GDBN}'s @code{stdout} is not connected to a
22633 terminal, or @value{GDBN} has been started with the machine interface
22634 interpreter (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}), most of
22635 these commands will fail with an error, because it would not be
22636 possible or desirable to enable curses window management.
22637
22638 @table @code
22639 @item info win
22640 @kindex info win
22641 List and give the size of all displayed windows.
22642
22643 @item layout next
22644 @kindex layout
22645 Display the next layout.
22646
22647 @item layout prev
22648 Display the previous layout.
22649
22650 @item layout src
22651 Display the source window only.
22652
22653 @item layout asm
22654 Display the assembly window only.
22655
22656 @item layout split
22657 Display the source and assembly window.
22658
22659 @item layout regs
22660 Display the register window together with the source or assembly window.
22661
22662 @item focus next
22663 @kindex focus
22664 Make the next window active for scrolling.
22665
22666 @item focus prev
22667 Make the previous window active for scrolling.
22668
22669 @item focus src
22670 Make the source window active for scrolling.
22671
22672 @item focus asm
22673 Make the assembly window active for scrolling.
22674
22675 @item focus regs
22676 Make the register window active for scrolling.
22677
22678 @item focus cmd
22679 Make the command window active for scrolling.
22680
22681 @item refresh
22682 @kindex refresh
22683 Refresh the screen. This is similar to typing @kbd{C-L}.
22684
22685 @item tui reg float
22686 @kindex tui reg
22687 Show the floating point registers in the register window.
22688
22689 @item tui reg general
22690 Show the general registers in the register window.
22691
22692 @item tui reg next
22693 Show the next register group. The list of register groups as well as
22694 their order is target specific. The predefined register groups are the
22695 following: @code{general}, @code{float}, @code{system}, @code{vector},
22696 @code{all}, @code{save}, @code{restore}.
22697
22698 @item tui reg system
22699 Show the system registers in the register window.
22700
22701 @item update
22702 @kindex update
22703 Update the source window and the current execution point.
22704
22705 @item winheight @var{name} +@var{count}
22706 @itemx winheight @var{name} -@var{count}
22707 @kindex winheight
22708 Change the height of the window @var{name} by @var{count}
22709 lines. Positive counts increase the height, while negative counts
22710 decrease it.
22711
22712 @item tabset @var{nchars}
22713 @kindex tabset
22714 Set the width of tab stops to be @var{nchars} characters.
22715 @end table
22716
22717 @node TUI Configuration
22718 @section TUI Configuration Variables
22719 @cindex TUI configuration variables
22720
22721 Several configuration variables control the appearance of TUI windows.
22722
22723 @table @code
22724 @item set tui border-kind @var{kind}
22725 @kindex set tui border-kind
22726 Select the border appearance for the source, assembly and register windows.
22727 The possible values are the following:
22728 @table @code
22729 @item space
22730 Use a space character to draw the border.
22731
22732 @item ascii
22733 Use @sc{ascii} characters @samp{+}, @samp{-} and @samp{|} to draw the border.
22734
22735 @item acs
22736 Use the Alternate Character Set to draw the border. The border is
22737 drawn using character line graphics if the terminal supports them.
22738 @end table
22739
22740 @item set tui border-mode @var{mode}
22741 @kindex set tui border-mode
22742 @itemx set tui active-border-mode @var{mode}
22743 @kindex set tui active-border-mode
22744 Select the display attributes for the borders of the inactive windows
22745 or the active window. The @var{mode} can be one of the following:
22746 @table @code
22747 @item normal
22748 Use normal attributes to display the border.
22749
22750 @item standout
22751 Use standout mode.
22752
22753 @item reverse
22754 Use reverse video mode.
22755
22756 @item half
22757 Use half bright mode.
22758
22759 @item half-standout
22760 Use half bright and standout mode.
22761
22762 @item bold
22763 Use extra bright or bold mode.
22764
22765 @item bold-standout
22766 Use extra bright or bold and standout mode.
22767 @end table
22768 @end table
22769
22770 @node Emacs
22771 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
22772
22773 @cindex Emacs
22774 @cindex @sc{gnu} Emacs
22775 A special interface allows you to use @sc{gnu} Emacs to view (and
22776 edit) the source files for the program you are debugging with
22777 @value{GDBN}.
22778
22779 To use this interface, use the command @kbd{M-x gdb} in Emacs. Give the
22780 executable file you want to debug as an argument. This command starts
22781 @value{GDBN} as a subprocess of Emacs, with input and output through a newly
22782 created Emacs buffer.
22783 @c (Do not use the @code{-tui} option to run @value{GDBN} from Emacs.)
22784
22785 Running @value{GDBN} under Emacs can be just like running @value{GDBN} normally except for two
22786 things:
22787
22788 @itemize @bullet
22789 @item
22790 All ``terminal'' input and output goes through an Emacs buffer, called
22791 the GUD buffer.
22792
22793 This applies both to @value{GDBN} commands and their output, and to the input
22794 and output done by the program you are debugging.
22795
22796 This is useful because it means that you can copy the text of previous
22797 commands and input them again; you can even use parts of the output
22798 in this way.
22799
22800 All the facilities of Emacs' Shell mode are available for interacting
22801 with your program. In particular, you can send signals the usual
22802 way---for example, @kbd{C-c C-c} for an interrupt, @kbd{C-c C-z} for a
22803 stop.
22804
22805 @item
22806 @value{GDBN} displays source code through Emacs.
22807
22808 Each time @value{GDBN} displays a stack frame, Emacs automatically finds the
22809 source file for that frame and puts an arrow (@samp{=>}) at the
22810 left margin of the current line. Emacs uses a separate buffer for
22811 source display, and splits the screen to show both your @value{GDBN} session
22812 and the source.
22813
22814 Explicit @value{GDBN} @code{list} or search commands still produce output as
22815 usual, but you probably have no reason to use them from Emacs.
22816 @end itemize
22817
22818 We call this @dfn{text command mode}. Emacs 22.1, and later, also uses
22819 a graphical mode, enabled by default, which provides further buffers
22820 that can control the execution and describe the state of your program.
22821 @xref{GDB Graphical Interface,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}.
22822
22823 If you specify an absolute file name when prompted for the @kbd{M-x
22824 gdb} argument, then Emacs sets your current working directory to where
22825 your program resides. If you only specify the file name, then Emacs
22826 sets your current working directory to to the directory associated
22827 with the previous buffer. In this case, @value{GDBN} may find your
22828 program by searching your environment's @code{PATH} variable, but on
22829 some operating systems it might not find the source. So, although the
22830 @value{GDBN} input and output session proceeds normally, the auxiliary
22831 buffer does not display the current source and line of execution.
22832
22833 The initial working directory of @value{GDBN} is printed on the top
22834 line of the GUD buffer and this serves as a default for the commands
22835 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files,
22836 ,Commands to Specify Files}.
22837
22838 By default, @kbd{M-x gdb} calls the program called @file{gdb}. If you
22839 need to call @value{GDBN} by a different name (for example, if you
22840 keep several configurations around, with different names) you can
22841 customize the Emacs variable @code{gud-gdb-command-name} to run the
22842 one you want.
22843
22844 In the GUD buffer, you can use these special Emacs commands in
22845 addition to the standard Shell mode commands:
22846
22847 @table @kbd
22848 @item C-h m
22849 Describe the features of Emacs' GUD Mode.
22850
22851 @item C-c C-s
22852 Execute to another source line, like the @value{GDBN} @code{step} command; also
22853 update the display window to show the current file and location.
22854
22855 @item C-c C-n
22856 Execute to next source line in this function, skipping all function
22857 calls, like the @value{GDBN} @code{next} command. Then update the display window
22858 to show the current file and location.
22859
22860 @item C-c C-i
22861 Execute one instruction, like the @value{GDBN} @code{stepi} command; update
22862 display window accordingly.
22863
22864 @item C-c C-f
22865 Execute until exit from the selected stack frame, like the @value{GDBN}
22866 @code{finish} command.
22867
22868 @item C-c C-r
22869 Continue execution of your program, like the @value{GDBN} @code{continue}
22870 command.
22871
22872 @item C-c <
22873 Go up the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument
22874 (@pxref{Arguments, , Numeric Arguments, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}),
22875 like the @value{GDBN} @code{up} command.
22876
22877 @item C-c >
22878 Go down the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument, like the
22879 @value{GDBN} @code{down} command.
22880 @end table
22881
22882 In any source file, the Emacs command @kbd{C-x @key{SPC}} (@code{gud-break})
22883 tells @value{GDBN} to set a breakpoint on the source line point is on.
22884
22885 In text command mode, if you type @kbd{M-x speedbar}, Emacs displays a
22886 separate frame which shows a backtrace when the GUD buffer is current.
22887 Move point to any frame in the stack and type @key{RET} to make it
22888 become the current frame and display the associated source in the
22889 source buffer. Alternatively, click @kbd{Mouse-2} to make the
22890 selected frame become the current one. In graphical mode, the
22891 speedbar displays watch expressions.
22892
22893 If you accidentally delete the source-display buffer, an easy way to get
22894 it back is to type the command @code{f} in the @value{GDBN} buffer, to
22895 request a frame display; when you run under Emacs, this recreates
22896 the source buffer if necessary to show you the context of the current
22897 frame.
22898
22899 The source files displayed in Emacs are in ordinary Emacs buffers
22900 which are visiting the source files in the usual way. You can edit
22901 the files with these buffers if you wish; but keep in mind that @value{GDBN}
22902 communicates with Emacs in terms of line numbers. If you add or
22903 delete lines from the text, the line numbers that @value{GDBN} knows cease
22904 to correspond properly with the code.
22905
22906 A more detailed description of Emacs' interaction with @value{GDBN} is
22907 given in the Emacs manual (@pxref{Debuggers,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu}
22908 Emacs Manual}).
22909
22910 @c The following dropped because Epoch is nonstandard. Reactivate
22911 @c if/when v19 does something similar. ---doc@cygnus.com 19dec1990
22912 @ignore
22913 @kindex Emacs Epoch environment
22914 @kindex Epoch
22915 @kindex inspect
22916
22917 Version 18 of @sc{gnu} Emacs has a built-in window system
22918 called the @code{epoch}
22919 environment. Users of this environment can use a new command,
22920 @code{inspect} which performs identically to @code{print} except that
22921 each value is printed in its own window.
22922 @end ignore
22923
22924
22925 @node GDB/MI
22926 @chapter The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface
22927
22928 @unnumberedsec Function and Purpose
22929
22930 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, its purpose
22931 @sc{gdb/mi} is a line based machine oriented text interface to
22932 @value{GDBN} and is activated by specifying using the
22933 @option{--interpreter} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}). It
22934 is specifically intended to support the development of systems which
22935 use the debugger as just one small component of a larger system.
22936
22937 This chapter is a specification of the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. It is written
22938 in the form of a reference manual.
22939
22940 Note that @sc{gdb/mi} is still under construction, so some of the
22941 features described below are incomplete and subject to change
22942 (@pxref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, , @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends}).
22943
22944 @unnumberedsec Notation and Terminology
22945
22946 @cindex notational conventions, for @sc{gdb/mi}
22947 This chapter uses the following notation:
22948
22949 @itemize @bullet
22950 @item
22951 @code{|} separates two alternatives.
22952
22953 @item
22954 @code{[ @var{something} ]} indicates that @var{something} is optional:
22955 it may or may not be given.
22956
22957 @item
22958 @code{( @var{group} )*} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
22959 may repeat zero or more times.
22960
22961 @item
22962 @code{( @var{group} )+} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
22963 may repeat one or more times.
22964
22965 @item
22966 @code{"@var{string}"} means a literal @var{string}.
22967 @end itemize
22968
22969 @ignore
22970 @heading Dependencies
22971 @end ignore
22972
22973 @menu
22974 * GDB/MI General Design::
22975 * GDB/MI Command Syntax::
22976 * GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI::
22977 * GDB/MI Development and Front Ends::
22978 * GDB/MI Output Records::
22979 * GDB/MI Simple Examples::
22980 * GDB/MI Command Description Format::
22981 * GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands::
22982 * GDB/MI Program Context::
22983 * GDB/MI Thread Commands::
22984 * GDB/MI Program Execution::
22985 * GDB/MI Stack Manipulation::
22986 * GDB/MI Variable Objects::
22987 * GDB/MI Data Manipulation::
22988 * GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands::
22989 * GDB/MI Symbol Query::
22990 * GDB/MI File Commands::
22991 @ignore
22992 * GDB/MI Kod Commands::
22993 * GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands::
22994 * GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands::
22995 @end ignore
22996 * GDB/MI Target Manipulation::
22997 * GDB/MI File Transfer Commands::
22998 * GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands::
22999 @end menu
23000
23001 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
23002 @node GDB/MI General Design
23003 @section @sc{gdb/mi} General Design
23004 @cindex GDB/MI General Design
23005
23006 Interaction of a @sc{GDB/MI} frontend with @value{GDBN} involves three
23007 parts---commands sent to @value{GDBN}, responses to those commands
23008 and notifications. Each command results in exactly one response,
23009 indicating either successful completion of the command, or an error.
23010 For the commands that do not resume the target, the response contains the
23011 requested information. For the commands that resume the target, the
23012 response only indicates whether the target was successfully resumed.
23013 Notifications is the mechanism for reporting changes in the state of the
23014 target, or in @value{GDBN} state, that cannot conveniently be associated with
23015 a command and reported as part of that command response.
23016
23017 The important examples of notifications are:
23018 @itemize @bullet
23019
23020 @item
23021 Exec notifications. These are used to report changes in
23022 target state---when a target is resumed, or stopped. It would not
23023 be feasible to include this information in response of resuming
23024 commands, because one resume commands can result in multiple events in
23025 different threads. Also, quite some time may pass before any event
23026 happens in the target, while a frontend needs to know whether the resuming
23027 command itself was successfully executed.
23028
23029 @item
23030 Console output, and status notifications. Console output
23031 notifications are used to report output of CLI commands, as well as
23032 diagnostics for other commands. Status notifications are used to
23033 report the progress of a long-running operation. Naturally, including
23034 this information in command response would mean no output is produced
23035 until the command is finished, which is undesirable.
23036
23037 @item
23038 General notifications. Commands may have various side effects on
23039 the @value{GDBN} or target state beyond their official purpose. For example,
23040 a command may change the selected thread. Although such changes can
23041 be included in command response, using notification allows for more
23042 orthogonal frontend design.
23043
23044 @end itemize
23045
23046 There's no guarantee that whenever an MI command reports an error,
23047 @value{GDBN} or the target are in any specific state, and especially,
23048 the state is not reverted to the state before the MI command was
23049 processed. Therefore, whenever an MI command results in an error,
23050 we recommend that the frontend refreshes all the information shown in
23051 the user interface.
23052
23053
23054 @menu
23055 * Context management::
23056 * Asynchronous and non-stop modes::
23057 * Thread groups::
23058 @end menu
23059
23060 @node Context management
23061 @subsection Context management
23062
23063 In most cases when @value{GDBN} accesses the target, this access is
23064 done in context of a specific thread and frame (@pxref{Frames}).
23065 Often, even when accessing global data, the target requires that a thread
23066 be specified. The CLI interface maintains the selected thread and frame,
23067 and supplies them to target on each command. This is convenient,
23068 because a command line user would not want to specify that information
23069 explicitly on each command, and because user interacts with
23070 @value{GDBN} via a single terminal, so no confusion is possible as
23071 to what thread and frame are the current ones.
23072
23073 In the case of MI, the concept of selected thread and frame is less
23074 useful. First, a frontend can easily remember this information
23075 itself. Second, a graphical frontend can have more than one window,
23076 each one used for debugging a different thread, and the frontend might
23077 want to access additional threads for internal purposes. This
23078 increases the risk that by relying on implicitly selected thread, the
23079 frontend may be operating on a wrong one. Therefore, each MI command
23080 should explicitly specify which thread and frame to operate on. To
23081 make it possible, each MI command accepts the @samp{--thread} and
23082 @samp{--frame} options, the value to each is @value{GDBN} identifier
23083 for thread and frame to operate on.
23084
23085 Usually, each top-level window in a frontend allows the user to select
23086 a thread and a frame, and remembers the user selection for further
23087 operations. However, in some cases @value{GDBN} may suggest that the
23088 current thread be changed. For example, when stopping on a breakpoint
23089 it is reasonable to switch to the thread where breakpoint is hit. For
23090 another example, if the user issues the CLI @samp{thread} command via
23091 the frontend, it is desirable to change the frontend's selected thread to the
23092 one specified by user. @value{GDBN} communicates the suggestion to
23093 change current thread using the @samp{=thread-selected} notification.
23094 No such notification is available for the selected frame at the moment.
23095
23096 Note that historically, MI shares the selected thread with CLI, so
23097 frontends used the @code{-thread-select} to execute commands in the
23098 right context. However, getting this to work right is cumbersome. The
23099 simplest way is for frontend to emit @code{-thread-select} command
23100 before every command. This doubles the number of commands that need
23101 to be sent. The alternative approach is to suppress @code{-thread-select}
23102 if the selected thread in @value{GDBN} is supposed to be identical to the
23103 thread the frontend wants to operate on. However, getting this
23104 optimization right can be tricky. In particular, if the frontend
23105 sends several commands to @value{GDBN}, and one of the commands changes the
23106 selected thread, then the behaviour of subsequent commands will
23107 change. So, a frontend should either wait for response from such
23108 problematic commands, or explicitly add @code{-thread-select} for
23109 all subsequent commands. No frontend is known to do this exactly
23110 right, so it is suggested to just always pass the @samp{--thread} and
23111 @samp{--frame} options.
23112
23113 @node Asynchronous and non-stop modes
23114 @subsection Asynchronous command execution and non-stop mode
23115
23116 On some targets, @value{GDBN} is capable of processing MI commands
23117 even while the target is running. This is called @dfn{asynchronous
23118 command execution} (@pxref{Background Execution}). The frontend may
23119 specify a preferrence for asynchronous execution using the
23120 @code{-gdb-set target-async 1} command, which should be emitted before
23121 either running the executable or attaching to the target. After the
23122 frontend has started the executable or attached to the target, it can
23123 find if asynchronous execution is enabled using the
23124 @code{-list-target-features} command.
23125
23126 Even if @value{GDBN} can accept a command while target is running,
23127 many commands that access the target do not work when the target is
23128 running. Therefore, asynchronous command execution is most useful
23129 when combined with non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}). Then,
23130 it is possible to examine the state of one thread, while other threads
23131 are running.
23132
23133 When a given thread is running, MI commands that try to access the
23134 target in the context of that thread may not work, or may work only on
23135 some targets. In particular, commands that try to operate on thread's
23136 stack will not work, on any target. Commands that read memory, or
23137 modify breakpoints, may work or not work, depending on the target. Note
23138 that even commands that operate on global state, such as @code{print},
23139 @code{set}, and breakpoint commands, still access the target in the
23140 context of a specific thread, so frontend should try to find a
23141 stopped thread and perform the operation on that thread (using the
23142 @samp{--thread} option).
23143
23144 Which commands will work in the context of a running thread is
23145 highly target dependent. However, the two commands
23146 @code{-exec-interrupt}, to stop a thread, and @code{-thread-info},
23147 to find the state of a thread, will always work.
23148
23149 @node Thread groups
23150 @subsection Thread groups
23151 @value{GDBN} may be used to debug several processes at the same time.
23152 On some platfroms, @value{GDBN} may support debugging of several
23153 hardware systems, each one having several cores with several different
23154 processes running on each core. This section describes the MI
23155 mechanism to support such debugging scenarios.
23156
23157 The key observation is that regardless of the structure of the
23158 target, MI can have a global list of threads, because most commands that
23159 accept the @samp{--thread} option do not need to know what process that
23160 thread belongs to. Therefore, it is not necessary to introduce
23161 neither additional @samp{--process} option, nor an notion of the
23162 current process in the MI interface. The only strictly new feature
23163 that is required is the ability to find how the threads are grouped
23164 into processes.
23165
23166 To allow the user to discover such grouping, and to support arbitrary
23167 hierarchy of machines/cores/processes, MI introduces the concept of a
23168 @dfn{thread group}. Thread group is a collection of threads and other
23169 thread groups. A thread group always has a string identifier, a type,
23170 and may have additional attributes specific to the type. A new
23171 command, @code{-list-thread-groups}, returns the list of top-level
23172 thread groups, which correspond to processes that @value{GDBN} is
23173 debugging at the moment. By passing an identifier of a thread group
23174 to the @code{-list-thread-groups} command, it is possible to obtain
23175 the members of specific thread group.
23176
23177 To allow the user to easily discover processes, and other objects, he
23178 wishes to debug, a concept of @dfn{available thread group} is
23179 introduced. Available thread group is an thread group that
23180 @value{GDBN} is not debugging, but that can be attached to, using the
23181 @code{-target-attach} command. The list of available top-level thread
23182 groups can be obtained using @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}.
23183 In general, the content of a thread group may be only retrieved only
23184 after attaching to that thread group.
23185
23186 Thread groups are related to inferiors (@pxref{Inferiors and
23187 Programs}). Each inferior corresponds to a thread group of a special
23188 type @samp{process}, and some additional operations are permitted on
23189 such thread groups.
23190
23191 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
23192 @node GDB/MI Command Syntax
23193 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Syntax
23194
23195 @menu
23196 * GDB/MI Input Syntax::
23197 * GDB/MI Output Syntax::
23198 @end menu
23199
23200 @node GDB/MI Input Syntax
23201 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Input Syntax
23202
23203 @cindex input syntax for @sc{gdb/mi}
23204 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, input syntax
23205 @table @code
23206 @item @var{command} @expansion{}
23207 @code{@var{cli-command} | @var{mi-command}}
23208
23209 @item @var{cli-command} @expansion{}
23210 @code{[ @var{token} ] @var{cli-command} @var{nl}}, where
23211 @var{cli-command} is any existing @value{GDBN} CLI command.
23212
23213 @item @var{mi-command} @expansion{}
23214 @code{[ @var{token} ] "-" @var{operation} ( " " @var{option} )*
23215 @code{[} " --" @code{]} ( " " @var{parameter} )* @var{nl}}
23216
23217 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
23218 "any sequence of digits"
23219
23220 @item @var{option} @expansion{}
23221 @code{"-" @var{parameter} [ " " @var{parameter} ]}
23222
23223 @item @var{parameter} @expansion{}
23224 @code{@var{non-blank-sequence} | @var{c-string}}
23225
23226 @item @var{operation} @expansion{}
23227 @emph{any of the operations described in this chapter}
23228
23229 @item @var{non-blank-sequence} @expansion{}
23230 @emph{anything, provided it doesn't contain special characters such as
23231 "-", @var{nl}, """ and of course " "}
23232
23233 @item @var{c-string} @expansion{}
23234 @code{""" @var{seven-bit-iso-c-string-content} """}
23235
23236 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
23237 @code{CR | CR-LF}
23238 @end table
23239
23240 @noindent
23241 Notes:
23242
23243 @itemize @bullet
23244 @item
23245 The CLI commands are still handled by the @sc{mi} interpreter; their
23246 output is described below.
23247
23248 @item
23249 The @code{@var{token}}, when present, is passed back when the command
23250 finishes.
23251
23252 @item
23253 Some @sc{mi} commands accept optional arguments as part of the parameter
23254 list. Each option is identified by a leading @samp{-} (dash) and may be
23255 followed by an optional argument parameter. Options occur first in the
23256 parameter list and can be delimited from normal parameters using
23257 @samp{--} (this is useful when some parameters begin with a dash).
23258 @end itemize
23259
23260 Pragmatics:
23261
23262 @itemize @bullet
23263 @item
23264 We want easy access to the existing CLI syntax (for debugging).
23265
23266 @item
23267 We want it to be easy to spot a @sc{mi} operation.
23268 @end itemize
23269
23270 @node GDB/MI Output Syntax
23271 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax
23272
23273 @cindex output syntax of @sc{gdb/mi}
23274 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, output syntax
23275 The output from @sc{gdb/mi} consists of zero or more out-of-band records
23276 followed, optionally, by a single result record. This result record
23277 is for the most recent command. The sequence of output records is
23278 terminated by @samp{(gdb)}.
23279
23280 If an input command was prefixed with a @code{@var{token}} then the
23281 corresponding output for that command will also be prefixed by that same
23282 @var{token}.
23283
23284 @table @code
23285 @item @var{output} @expansion{}
23286 @code{( @var{out-of-band-record} )* [ @var{result-record} ] "(gdb)" @var{nl}}
23287
23288 @item @var{result-record} @expansion{}
23289 @code{ [ @var{token} ] "^" @var{result-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
23290
23291 @item @var{out-of-band-record} @expansion{}
23292 @code{@var{async-record} | @var{stream-record}}
23293
23294 @item @var{async-record} @expansion{}
23295 @code{@var{exec-async-output} | @var{status-async-output} | @var{notify-async-output}}
23296
23297 @item @var{exec-async-output} @expansion{}
23298 @code{[ @var{token} ] "*" @var{async-output}}
23299
23300 @item @var{status-async-output} @expansion{}
23301 @code{[ @var{token} ] "+" @var{async-output}}
23302
23303 @item @var{notify-async-output} @expansion{}
23304 @code{[ @var{token} ] "=" @var{async-output}}
23305
23306 @item @var{async-output} @expansion{}
23307 @code{@var{async-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
23308
23309 @item @var{result-class} @expansion{}
23310 @code{"done" | "running" | "connected" | "error" | "exit"}
23311
23312 @item @var{async-class} @expansion{}
23313 @code{"stopped" | @var{others}} (where @var{others} will be added
23314 depending on the needs---this is still in development).
23315
23316 @item @var{result} @expansion{}
23317 @code{ @var{variable} "=" @var{value}}
23318
23319 @item @var{variable} @expansion{}
23320 @code{ @var{string} }
23321
23322 @item @var{value} @expansion{}
23323 @code{ @var{const} | @var{tuple} | @var{list} }
23324
23325 @item @var{const} @expansion{}
23326 @code{@var{c-string}}
23327
23328 @item @var{tuple} @expansion{}
23329 @code{ "@{@}" | "@{" @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "@}" }
23330
23331 @item @var{list} @expansion{}
23332 @code{ "[]" | "[" @var{value} ( "," @var{value} )* "]" | "["
23333 @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "]" }
23334
23335 @item @var{stream-record} @expansion{}
23336 @code{@var{console-stream-output} | @var{target-stream-output} | @var{log-stream-output}}
23337
23338 @item @var{console-stream-output} @expansion{}
23339 @code{"~" @var{c-string}}
23340
23341 @item @var{target-stream-output} @expansion{}
23342 @code{"@@" @var{c-string}}
23343
23344 @item @var{log-stream-output} @expansion{}
23345 @code{"&" @var{c-string}}
23346
23347 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
23348 @code{CR | CR-LF}
23349
23350 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
23351 @emph{any sequence of digits}.
23352 @end table
23353
23354 @noindent
23355 Notes:
23356
23357 @itemize @bullet
23358 @item
23359 All output sequences end in a single line containing a period.
23360
23361 @item
23362 The @code{@var{token}} is from the corresponding request. Note that
23363 for all async output, while the token is allowed by the grammar and
23364 may be output by future versions of @value{GDBN} for select async
23365 output messages, it is generally omitted. Frontends should treat
23366 all async output as reporting general changes in the state of the
23367 target and there should be no need to associate async output to any
23368 prior command.
23369
23370 @item
23371 @cindex status output in @sc{gdb/mi}
23372 @var{status-async-output} contains on-going status information about the
23373 progress of a slow operation. It can be discarded. All status output is
23374 prefixed by @samp{+}.
23375
23376 @item
23377 @cindex async output in @sc{gdb/mi}
23378 @var{exec-async-output} contains asynchronous state change on the target
23379 (stopped, started, disappeared). All async output is prefixed by
23380 @samp{*}.
23381
23382 @item
23383 @cindex notify output in @sc{gdb/mi}
23384 @var{notify-async-output} contains supplementary information that the
23385 client should handle (e.g., a new breakpoint information). All notify
23386 output is prefixed by @samp{=}.
23387
23388 @item
23389 @cindex console output in @sc{gdb/mi}
23390 @var{console-stream-output} is output that should be displayed as is in the
23391 console. It is the textual response to a CLI command. All the console
23392 output is prefixed by @samp{~}.
23393
23394 @item
23395 @cindex target output in @sc{gdb/mi}
23396 @var{target-stream-output} is the output produced by the target program.
23397 All the target output is prefixed by @samp{@@}.
23398
23399 @item
23400 @cindex log output in @sc{gdb/mi}
23401 @var{log-stream-output} is output text coming from @value{GDBN}'s internals, for
23402 instance messages that should be displayed as part of an error log. All
23403 the log output is prefixed by @samp{&}.
23404
23405 @item
23406 @cindex list output in @sc{gdb/mi}
23407 New @sc{gdb/mi} commands should only output @var{lists} containing
23408 @var{values}.
23409
23410
23411 @end itemize
23412
23413 @xref{GDB/MI Stream Records, , @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records}, for more
23414 details about the various output records.
23415
23416 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
23417 @node GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI
23418 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Compatibility with CLI
23419
23420 @cindex compatibility, @sc{gdb/mi} and CLI
23421 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, compatibility with CLI
23422
23423 For the developers convenience CLI commands can be entered directly,
23424 but there may be some unexpected behaviour. For example, commands
23425 that query the user will behave as if the user replied yes, breakpoint
23426 command lists are not executed and some CLI commands, such as
23427 @code{if}, @code{when} and @code{define}, prompt for further input with
23428 @samp{>}, which is not valid MI output.
23429
23430 This feature may be removed at some stage in the future and it is
23431 recommended that front ends use the @code{-interpreter-exec} command
23432 (@pxref{-interpreter-exec}).
23433
23434 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
23435 @node GDB/MI Development and Front Ends
23436 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends
23437 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi} development
23438
23439 The application which takes the MI output and presents the state of the
23440 program being debugged to the user is called a @dfn{front end}.
23441
23442 Although @sc{gdb/mi} is still incomplete, it is currently being used
23443 by a variety of front ends to @value{GDBN}. This makes it difficult
23444 to introduce new functionality without breaking existing usage. This
23445 section tries to minimize the problems by describing how the protocol
23446 might change.
23447
23448 Some changes in MI need not break a carefully designed front end, and
23449 for these the MI version will remain unchanged. The following is a
23450 list of changes that may occur within one level, so front ends should
23451 parse MI output in a way that can handle them:
23452
23453 @itemize @bullet
23454 @item
23455 New MI commands may be added.
23456
23457 @item
23458 New fields may be added to the output of any MI command.
23459
23460 @item
23461 The range of values for fields with specified values, e.g.,
23462 @code{in_scope} (@pxref{-var-update}) may be extended.
23463
23464 @c The format of field's content e.g type prefix, may change so parse it
23465 @c at your own risk. Yes, in general?
23466
23467 @c The order of fields may change? Shouldn't really matter but it might
23468 @c resolve inconsistencies.
23469 @end itemize
23470
23471 If the changes are likely to break front ends, the MI version level
23472 will be increased by one. This will allow the front end to parse the
23473 output according to the MI version. Apart from mi0, new versions of
23474 @value{GDBN} will not support old versions of MI and it will be the
23475 responsibility of the front end to work with the new one.
23476
23477 @c Starting with mi3, add a new command -mi-version that prints the MI
23478 @c version?
23479
23480 The best way to avoid unexpected changes in MI that might break your front
23481 end is to make your project known to @value{GDBN} developers and
23482 follow development on @email{gdb@@sourceware.org} and
23483 @email{gdb-patches@@sourceware.org}.
23484 @cindex mailing lists
23485
23486 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
23487 @node GDB/MI Output Records
23488 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Output Records
23489
23490 @menu
23491 * GDB/MI Result Records::
23492 * GDB/MI Stream Records::
23493 * GDB/MI Async Records::
23494 * GDB/MI Frame Information::
23495 * GDB/MI Thread Information::
23496 @end menu
23497
23498 @node GDB/MI Result Records
23499 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Result Records
23500
23501 @cindex result records in @sc{gdb/mi}
23502 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, result records
23503 In addition to a number of out-of-band notifications, the response to a
23504 @sc{gdb/mi} command includes one of the following result indications:
23505
23506 @table @code
23507 @findex ^done
23508 @item "^done" [ "," @var{results} ]
23509 The synchronous operation was successful, @code{@var{results}} are the return
23510 values.
23511
23512 @item "^running"
23513 @findex ^running
23514 This result record is equivalent to @samp{^done}. Historically, it
23515 was output instead of @samp{^done} if the command has resumed the
23516 target. This behaviour is maintained for backward compatibility, but
23517 all frontends should treat @samp{^done} and @samp{^running}
23518 identically and rely on the @samp{*running} output record to determine
23519 which threads are resumed.
23520
23521 @item "^connected"
23522 @findex ^connected
23523 @value{GDBN} has connected to a remote target.
23524
23525 @item "^error" "," @var{c-string}
23526 @findex ^error
23527 The operation failed. The @code{@var{c-string}} contains the corresponding
23528 error message.
23529
23530 @item "^exit"
23531 @findex ^exit
23532 @value{GDBN} has terminated.
23533
23534 @end table
23535
23536 @node GDB/MI Stream Records
23537 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records
23538
23539 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, stream records
23540 @cindex stream records in @sc{gdb/mi}
23541 @value{GDBN} internally maintains a number of output streams: the console, the
23542 target, and the log. The output intended for each of these streams is
23543 funneled through the @sc{gdb/mi} interface using @dfn{stream records}.
23544
23545 Each stream record begins with a unique @dfn{prefix character} which
23546 identifies its stream (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, , @sc{gdb/mi} Output
23547 Syntax}). In addition to the prefix, each stream record contains a
23548 @code{@var{string-output}}. This is either raw text (with an implicit new
23549 line) or a quoted C string (which does not contain an implicit newline).
23550
23551 @table @code
23552 @item "~" @var{string-output}
23553 The console output stream contains text that should be displayed in the
23554 CLI console window. It contains the textual responses to CLI commands.
23555
23556 @item "@@" @var{string-output}
23557 The target output stream contains any textual output from the running
23558 target. This is only present when GDB's event loop is truly
23559 asynchronous, which is currently only the case for remote targets.
23560
23561 @item "&" @var{string-output}
23562 The log stream contains debugging messages being produced by @value{GDBN}'s
23563 internals.
23564 @end table
23565
23566 @node GDB/MI Async Records
23567 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Async Records
23568
23569 @cindex async records in @sc{gdb/mi}
23570 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, async records
23571 @dfn{Async} records are used to notify the @sc{gdb/mi} client of
23572 additional changes that have occurred. Those changes can either be a
23573 consequence of @sc{gdb/mi} commands (e.g., a breakpoint modified) or a result of
23574 target activity (e.g., target stopped).
23575
23576 The following is the list of possible async records:
23577
23578 @table @code
23579
23580 @item *running,thread-id="@var{thread}"
23581 The target is now running. The @var{thread} field tells which
23582 specific thread is now running, and can be @samp{all} if all threads
23583 are running. The frontend should assume that no interaction with a
23584 running thread is possible after this notification is produced.
23585 The frontend should not assume that this notification is output
23586 only once for any command. @value{GDBN} may emit this notification
23587 several times, either for different threads, because it cannot resume
23588 all threads together, or even for a single thread, if the thread must
23589 be stepped though some code before letting it run freely.
23590
23591 @item *stopped,reason="@var{reason}",thread-id="@var{id}",stopped-threads="@var{stopped}",core="@var{core}"
23592 The target has stopped. The @var{reason} field can have one of the
23593 following values:
23594
23595 @table @code
23596 @item breakpoint-hit
23597 A breakpoint was reached.
23598 @item watchpoint-trigger
23599 A watchpoint was triggered.
23600 @item read-watchpoint-trigger
23601 A read watchpoint was triggered.
23602 @item access-watchpoint-trigger
23603 An access watchpoint was triggered.
23604 @item function-finished
23605 An -exec-finish or similar CLI command was accomplished.
23606 @item location-reached
23607 An -exec-until or similar CLI command was accomplished.
23608 @item watchpoint-scope
23609 A watchpoint has gone out of scope.
23610 @item end-stepping-range
23611 An -exec-next, -exec-next-instruction, -exec-step, -exec-step-instruction or
23612 similar CLI command was accomplished.
23613 @item exited-signalled
23614 The inferior exited because of a signal.
23615 @item exited
23616 The inferior exited.
23617 @item exited-normally
23618 The inferior exited normally.
23619 @item signal-received
23620 A signal was received by the inferior.
23621 @end table
23622
23623 The @var{id} field identifies the thread that directly caused the stop
23624 -- for example by hitting a breakpoint. Depending on whether all-stop
23625 mode is in effect (@pxref{All-Stop Mode}), @value{GDBN} may either
23626 stop all threads, or only the thread that directly triggered the stop.
23627 If all threads are stopped, the @var{stopped} field will have the
23628 value of @code{"all"}. Otherwise, the value of the @var{stopped}
23629 field will be a list of thread identifiers. Presently, this list will
23630 always include a single thread, but frontend should be prepared to see
23631 several threads in the list. The @var{core} field reports the
23632 processor core on which the stop event has happened. This field may be absent
23633 if such information is not available.
23634
23635 @item =thread-group-added,id="@var{id}"
23636 @itemx =thread-group-removed,id="@var{id}"
23637 A thread group was either added or removed. The @var{id} field
23638 contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. When a thread
23639 group is added, it generally might not be associated with a running
23640 process. When a thread group is removed, its id becomes invalid and
23641 cannot be used in any way.
23642
23643 @item =thread-group-started,id="@var{id}",pid="@var{pid}"
23644 A thread group became associated with a running program,
23645 either because the program was just started or the thread group
23646 was attached to a program. The @var{id} field contains the
23647 @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. The @var{pid} field
23648 contains process identifier, specific to the operating system.
23649
23650 @itemx =thread-group-exited,id="@var{id}"
23651 A thread group is no longer associated with a running program,
23652 either because the program has exited, or because it was detached
23653 from. The @var{id} field contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the
23654 thread group.
23655
23656 @item =thread-created,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
23657 @itemx =thread-exited,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
23658 A thread either was created, or has exited. The @var{id} field
23659 contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread. The @var{gid}
23660 field identifies the thread group this thread belongs to.
23661
23662 @item =thread-selected,id="@var{id}"
23663 Informs that the selected thread was changed as result of the last
23664 command. This notification is not emitted as result of @code{-thread-select}
23665 command but is emitted whenever an MI command that is not documented
23666 to change the selected thread actually changes it. In particular,
23667 invoking, directly or indirectly (via user-defined command), the CLI
23668 @code{thread} command, will generate this notification.
23669
23670 We suggest that in response to this notification, front ends
23671 highlight the selected thread and cause subsequent commands to apply to
23672 that thread.
23673
23674 @item =library-loaded,...
23675 Reports that a new library file was loaded by the program. This
23676 notification has 4 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name},
23677 @var{host-name}, and @var{symbols-loaded}. The @var{id} field is an
23678 opaque identifier of the library. For remote debugging case,
23679 @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} fields give the name of the
23680 library file on the target, and on the host respectively. For native
23681 debugging, both those fields have the same value. The
23682 @var{symbols-loaded} field reports if the debug symbols for this
23683 library are loaded. The @var{thread-group} field, if present,
23684 specifies the id of the thread group in whose context the library was loaded.
23685 If the field is absent, it means the library was loaded in the context
23686 of all present thread groups.
23687
23688 @item =library-unloaded,...
23689 Reports that a library was unloaded by the program. This notification
23690 has 3 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} with
23691 the same meaning as for the @code{=library-loaded} notification.
23692 The @var{thread-group} field, if present, specifies the id of the
23693 thread group in whose context the library was unloaded. If the field is
23694 absent, it means the library was unloaded in the context of all present
23695 thread groups.
23696
23697 @end table
23698
23699 @node GDB/MI Frame Information
23700 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Frame Information
23701
23702 Response from many MI commands includes an information about stack
23703 frame. This information is a tuple that may have the following
23704 fields:
23705
23706 @table @code
23707 @item level
23708 The level of the stack frame. The innermost frame has the level of
23709 zero. This field is always present.
23710
23711 @item func
23712 The name of the function corresponding to the frame. This field may
23713 be absent if @value{GDBN} is unable to determine the function name.
23714
23715 @item addr
23716 The code address for the frame. This field is always present.
23717
23718 @item file
23719 The name of the source files that correspond to the frame's code
23720 address. This field may be absent.
23721
23722 @item line
23723 The source line corresponding to the frames' code address. This field
23724 may be absent.
23725
23726 @item from
23727 The name of the binary file (either executable or shared library) the
23728 corresponds to the frame's code address. This field may be absent.
23729
23730 @end table
23731
23732 @node GDB/MI Thread Information
23733 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Information
23734
23735 Whenever @value{GDBN} has to report an information about a thread, it
23736 uses a tuple with the following fields:
23737
23738 @table @code
23739 @item id
23740 The numeric id assigned to the thread by @value{GDBN}. This field is
23741 always present.
23742
23743 @item target-id
23744 Target-specific string identifying the thread. This field is always present.
23745
23746 @item details
23747 Additional information about the thread provided by the target.
23748 It is supposed to be human-readable and not interpreted by the
23749 frontend. This field is optional.
23750
23751 @item state
23752 Either @samp{stopped} or @samp{running}, depending on whether the
23753 thread is presently running. This field is always present.
23754
23755 @item core
23756 The value of this field is an integer number of the processor core the
23757 thread was last seen on. This field is optional.
23758 @end table
23759
23760
23761 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
23762 @node GDB/MI Simple Examples
23763 @section Simple Examples of @sc{gdb/mi} Interaction
23764 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, simple examples
23765
23766 This subsection presents several simple examples of interaction using
23767 the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. In these examples, @samp{->} means that the
23768 following line is passed to @sc{gdb/mi} as input, while @samp{<-} means
23769 the output received from @sc{gdb/mi}.
23770
23771 Note the line breaks shown in the examples are here only for
23772 readability, they don't appear in the real output.
23773
23774 @subheading Setting a Breakpoint
23775
23776 Setting a breakpoint generates synchronous output which contains detailed
23777 information of the breakpoint.
23778
23779 @smallexample
23780 -> -break-insert main
23781 <- ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
23782 enabled="y",addr="0x08048564",func="main",file="myprog.c",
23783 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68",times="0"@}
23784 <- (gdb)
23785 @end smallexample
23786
23787 @subheading Program Execution
23788
23789 Program execution generates asynchronous records and MI gives the
23790 reason that execution stopped.
23791
23792 @smallexample
23793 -> -exec-run
23794 <- ^running
23795 <- (gdb)
23796 <- *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
23797 frame=@{addr="0x08048564",func="main",
23798 args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},@{name="argv",value="0xbfc4d4d4"@}],
23799 file="myprog.c",fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68"@}
23800 <- (gdb)
23801 -> -exec-continue
23802 <- ^running
23803 <- (gdb)
23804 <- *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
23805 <- (gdb)
23806 @end smallexample
23807
23808 @subheading Quitting @value{GDBN}
23809
23810 Quitting @value{GDBN} just prints the result class @samp{^exit}.
23811
23812 @smallexample
23813 -> (gdb)
23814 <- -gdb-exit
23815 <- ^exit
23816 @end smallexample
23817
23818 Please note that @samp{^exit} is printed immediately, but it might
23819 take some time for @value{GDBN} to actually exit. During that time, @value{GDBN}
23820 performs necessary cleanups, including killing programs being debugged
23821 or disconnecting from debug hardware, so the frontend should wait till
23822 @value{GDBN} exits and should only forcibly kill @value{GDBN} if it
23823 fails to exit in reasonable time.
23824
23825 @subheading A Bad Command
23826
23827 Here's what happens if you pass a non-existent command:
23828
23829 @smallexample
23830 -> -rubbish
23831 <- ^error,msg="Undefined MI command: rubbish"
23832 <- (gdb)
23833 @end smallexample
23834
23835
23836 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
23837 @node GDB/MI Command Description Format
23838 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Description Format
23839
23840 The remaining sections describe blocks of commands. Each block of
23841 commands is laid out in a fashion similar to this section.
23842
23843 @subheading Motivation
23844
23845 The motivation for this collection of commands.
23846
23847 @subheading Introduction
23848
23849 A brief introduction to this collection of commands as a whole.
23850
23851 @subheading Commands
23852
23853 For each command in the block, the following is described:
23854
23855 @subsubheading Synopsis
23856
23857 @smallexample
23858 -command @var{args}@dots{}
23859 @end smallexample
23860
23861 @subsubheading Result
23862
23863 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23864
23865 The corresponding @value{GDBN} CLI command(s), if any.
23866
23867 @subsubheading Example
23868
23869 Example(s) formatted for readability. Some of the described commands have
23870 not been implemented yet and these are labeled N.A.@: (not available).
23871
23872
23873 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
23874 @node GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands
23875 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Breakpoint Commands
23876
23877 @cindex breakpoint commands for @sc{gdb/mi}
23878 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, breakpoint commands
23879 This section documents @sc{gdb/mi} commands for manipulating
23880 breakpoints.
23881
23882 @subheading The @code{-break-after} Command
23883 @findex -break-after
23884
23885 @subsubheading Synopsis
23886
23887 @smallexample
23888 -break-after @var{number} @var{count}
23889 @end smallexample
23890
23891 The breakpoint number @var{number} is not in effect until it has been
23892 hit @var{count} times. To see how this is reflected in the output of
23893 the @samp{-break-list} command, see the description of the
23894 @samp{-break-list} command below.
23895
23896 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23897
23898 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ignore}.
23899
23900 @subsubheading Example
23901
23902 @smallexample
23903 (gdb)
23904 -break-insert main
23905 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
23906 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
23907 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",times="0"@}
23908 (gdb)
23909 -break-after 1 3
23910 ~
23911 ^done
23912 (gdb)
23913 -break-list
23914 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
23915 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
23916 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
23917 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
23918 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
23919 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
23920 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
23921 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
23922 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
23923 line="5",times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
23924 (gdb)
23925 @end smallexample
23926
23927 @ignore
23928 @subheading The @code{-break-catch} Command
23929 @findex -break-catch
23930 @end ignore
23931
23932 @subheading The @code{-break-commands} Command
23933 @findex -break-commands
23934
23935 @subsubheading Synopsis
23936
23937 @smallexample
23938 -break-commands @var{number} [ @var{command1} ... @var{commandN} ]
23939 @end smallexample
23940
23941 Specifies the CLI commands that should be executed when breakpoint
23942 @var{number} is hit. The parameters @var{command1} to @var{commandN}
23943 are the commands. If no command is specified, any previously-set
23944 commands are cleared. @xref{Break Commands}. Typical use of this
23945 functionality is tracing a program, that is, printing of values of
23946 some variables whenever breakpoint is hit and then continuing.
23947
23948 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23949
23950 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{commands}.
23951
23952 @subsubheading Example
23953
23954 @smallexample
23955 (gdb)
23956 -break-insert main
23957 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
23958 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
23959 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",times="0"@}
23960 (gdb)
23961 -break-commands 1 "print v" "continue"
23962 ^done
23963 (gdb)
23964 @end smallexample
23965
23966 @subheading The @code{-break-condition} Command
23967 @findex -break-condition
23968
23969 @subsubheading Synopsis
23970
23971 @smallexample
23972 -break-condition @var{number} @var{expr}
23973 @end smallexample
23974
23975 Breakpoint @var{number} will stop the program only if the condition in
23976 @var{expr} is true. The condition becomes part of the
23977 @samp{-break-list} output (see the description of the @samp{-break-list}
23978 command below).
23979
23980 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23981
23982 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{condition}.
23983
23984 @subsubheading Example
23985
23986 @smallexample
23987 (gdb)
23988 -break-condition 1 1
23989 ^done
23990 (gdb)
23991 -break-list
23992 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
23993 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
23994 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
23995 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
23996 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
23997 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
23998 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
23999 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
24000 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
24001 line="5",cond="1",times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
24002 (gdb)
24003 @end smallexample
24004
24005 @subheading The @code{-break-delete} Command
24006 @findex -break-delete
24007
24008 @subsubheading Synopsis
24009
24010 @smallexample
24011 -break-delete ( @var{breakpoint} )+
24012 @end smallexample
24013
24014 Delete the breakpoint(s) whose number(s) are specified in the argument
24015 list. This is obviously reflected in the breakpoint list.
24016
24017 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24018
24019 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{delete}.
24020
24021 @subsubheading Example
24022
24023 @smallexample
24024 (gdb)
24025 -break-delete 1
24026 ^done
24027 (gdb)
24028 -break-list
24029 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
24030 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
24031 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
24032 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
24033 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
24034 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
24035 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
24036 body=[]@}
24037 (gdb)
24038 @end smallexample
24039
24040 @subheading The @code{-break-disable} Command
24041 @findex -break-disable
24042
24043 @subsubheading Synopsis
24044
24045 @smallexample
24046 -break-disable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
24047 @end smallexample
24048
24049 Disable the named @var{breakpoint}(s). The field @samp{enabled} in the
24050 break list is now set to @samp{n} for the named @var{breakpoint}(s).
24051
24052 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24053
24054 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disable}.
24055
24056 @subsubheading Example
24057
24058 @smallexample
24059 (gdb)
24060 -break-disable 2
24061 ^done
24062 (gdb)
24063 -break-list
24064 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
24065 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
24066 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
24067 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
24068 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
24069 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
24070 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
24071 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="n",
24072 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
24073 line="5",times="0"@}]@}
24074 (gdb)
24075 @end smallexample
24076
24077 @subheading The @code{-break-enable} Command
24078 @findex -break-enable
24079
24080 @subsubheading Synopsis
24081
24082 @smallexample
24083 -break-enable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
24084 @end smallexample
24085
24086 Enable (previously disabled) @var{breakpoint}(s).
24087
24088 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24089
24090 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{enable}.
24091
24092 @subsubheading Example
24093
24094 @smallexample
24095 (gdb)
24096 -break-enable 2
24097 ^done
24098 (gdb)
24099 -break-list
24100 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
24101 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
24102 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
24103 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
24104 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
24105 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
24106 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
24107 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
24108 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
24109 line="5",times="0"@}]@}
24110 (gdb)
24111 @end smallexample
24112
24113 @subheading The @code{-break-info} Command
24114 @findex -break-info
24115
24116 @subsubheading Synopsis
24117
24118 @smallexample
24119 -break-info @var{breakpoint}
24120 @end smallexample
24121
24122 @c REDUNDANT???
24123 Get information about a single breakpoint.
24124
24125 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24126
24127 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break @var{breakpoint}}.
24128
24129 @subsubheading Example
24130 N.A.
24131
24132 @subheading The @code{-break-insert} Command
24133 @findex -break-insert
24134
24135 @subsubheading Synopsis
24136
24137 @smallexample
24138 -break-insert [ -t ] [ -h ] [ -f ] [ -d ] [ -a ]
24139 [ -c @var{condition} ] [ -i @var{ignore-count} ]
24140 [ -p @var{thread} ] [ @var{location} ]
24141 @end smallexample
24142
24143 @noindent
24144 If specified, @var{location}, can be one of:
24145
24146 @itemize @bullet
24147 @item function
24148 @c @item +offset
24149 @c @item -offset
24150 @c @item linenum
24151 @item filename:linenum
24152 @item filename:function
24153 @item *address
24154 @end itemize
24155
24156 The possible optional parameters of this command are:
24157
24158 @table @samp
24159 @item -t
24160 Insert a temporary breakpoint.
24161 @item -h
24162 Insert a hardware breakpoint.
24163 @item -c @var{condition}
24164 Make the breakpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
24165 @item -i @var{ignore-count}
24166 Initialize the @var{ignore-count}.
24167 @item -f
24168 If @var{location} cannot be parsed (for example if it
24169 refers to unknown files or functions), create a pending
24170 breakpoint. Without this flag, @value{GDBN} will report
24171 an error, and won't create a breakpoint, if @var{location}
24172 cannot be parsed.
24173 @item -d
24174 Create a disabled breakpoint.
24175 @item -a
24176 Create a tracepoint. @xref{Tracepoints}. When this parameter
24177 is used together with @samp{-h}, a fast tracepoint is created.
24178 @end table
24179
24180 @subsubheading Result
24181
24182 The result is in the form:
24183
24184 @smallexample
24185 ^done,bkpt=@{number="@var{number}",type="@var{type}",disp="del"|"keep",
24186 enabled="y"|"n",addr="@var{hex}",func="@var{funcname}",file="@var{filename}",
24187 fullname="@var{full_filename}",line="@var{lineno}",[thread="@var{threadno},]
24188 times="@var{times}"@}
24189 @end smallexample
24190
24191 @noindent
24192 where @var{number} is the @value{GDBN} number for this breakpoint,
24193 @var{funcname} is the name of the function where the breakpoint was
24194 inserted, @var{filename} is the name of the source file which contains
24195 this function, @var{lineno} is the source line number within that file
24196 and @var{times} the number of times that the breakpoint has been hit
24197 (always 0 for -break-insert but may be greater for -break-info or -break-list
24198 which use the same output).
24199
24200 Note: this format is open to change.
24201 @c An out-of-band breakpoint instead of part of the result?
24202
24203 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24204
24205 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{break}, @samp{tbreak},
24206 @samp{hbreak}, @samp{thbreak}, and @samp{rbreak}.
24207
24208 @subsubheading Example
24209
24210 @smallexample
24211 (gdb)
24212 -break-insert main
24213 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",
24214 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="4",times="0"@}
24215 (gdb)
24216 -break-insert -t foo
24217 ^done,bkpt=@{number="2",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c",
24218 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="11",times="0"@}
24219 (gdb)
24220 -break-list
24221 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
24222 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
24223 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
24224 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
24225 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
24226 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
24227 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
24228 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
24229 addr="0x0001072c", func="main",file="recursive2.c",
24230 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,"line="4",times="0"@},
24231 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",
24232 addr="0x00010774",func="foo",file="recursive2.c",
24233 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",times="0"@}]@}
24234 (gdb)
24235 -break-insert -r foo.*
24236 ~int foo(int, int);
24237 ^done,bkpt=@{number="3",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c,
24238 "fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",times="0"@}
24239 (gdb)
24240 @end smallexample
24241
24242 @subheading The @code{-break-list} Command
24243 @findex -break-list
24244
24245 @subsubheading Synopsis
24246
24247 @smallexample
24248 -break-list
24249 @end smallexample
24250
24251 Displays the list of inserted breakpoints, showing the following fields:
24252
24253 @table @samp
24254 @item Number
24255 number of the breakpoint
24256 @item Type
24257 type of the breakpoint: @samp{breakpoint} or @samp{watchpoint}
24258 @item Disposition
24259 should the breakpoint be deleted or disabled when it is hit: @samp{keep}
24260 or @samp{nokeep}
24261 @item Enabled
24262 is the breakpoint enabled or no: @samp{y} or @samp{n}
24263 @item Address
24264 memory location at which the breakpoint is set
24265 @item What
24266 logical location of the breakpoint, expressed by function name, file
24267 name, line number
24268 @item Times
24269 number of times the breakpoint has been hit
24270 @end table
24271
24272 If there are no breakpoints or watchpoints, the @code{BreakpointTable}
24273 @code{body} field is an empty list.
24274
24275 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24276
24277 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break}.
24278
24279 @subsubheading Example
24280
24281 @smallexample
24282 (gdb)
24283 -break-list
24284 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
24285 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
24286 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
24287 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
24288 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
24289 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
24290 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
24291 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
24292 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",line="5",times="0"@},
24293 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
24294 addr="0x00010114",func="foo",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
24295 line="13",times="0"@}]@}
24296 (gdb)
24297 @end smallexample
24298
24299 Here's an example of the result when there are no breakpoints:
24300
24301 @smallexample
24302 (gdb)
24303 -break-list
24304 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
24305 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
24306 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
24307 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
24308 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
24309 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
24310 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
24311 body=[]@}
24312 (gdb)
24313 @end smallexample
24314
24315 @subheading The @code{-break-passcount} Command
24316 @findex -break-passcount
24317
24318 @subsubheading Synopsis
24319
24320 @smallexample
24321 -break-passcount @var{tracepoint-number} @var{passcount}
24322 @end smallexample
24323
24324 Set the passcount for tracepoint @var{tracepoint-number} to
24325 @var{passcount}. If the breakpoint referred to by @var{tracepoint-number}
24326 is not a tracepoint, error is emitted. This corresponds to CLI
24327 command @samp{passcount}.
24328
24329 @subheading The @code{-break-watch} Command
24330 @findex -break-watch
24331
24332 @subsubheading Synopsis
24333
24334 @smallexample
24335 -break-watch [ -a | -r ]
24336 @end smallexample
24337
24338 Create a watchpoint. With the @samp{-a} option it will create an
24339 @dfn{access} watchpoint, i.e., a watchpoint that triggers either on a
24340 read from or on a write to the memory location. With the @samp{-r}
24341 option, the watchpoint created is a @dfn{read} watchpoint, i.e., it will
24342 trigger only when the memory location is accessed for reading. Without
24343 either of the options, the watchpoint created is a regular watchpoint,
24344 i.e., it will trigger when the memory location is accessed for writing.
24345 @xref{Set Watchpoints, , Setting Watchpoints}.
24346
24347 Note that @samp{-break-list} will report a single list of watchpoints and
24348 breakpoints inserted.
24349
24350 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24351
24352 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{watch}, @samp{awatch}, and
24353 @samp{rwatch}.
24354
24355 @subsubheading Example
24356
24357 Setting a watchpoint on a variable in the @code{main} function:
24358
24359 @smallexample
24360 (gdb)
24361 -break-watch x
24362 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@}
24363 (gdb)
24364 -exec-continue
24365 ^running
24366 (gdb)
24367 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@},
24368 value=@{old="-268439212",new="55"@},
24369 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
24370 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="5"@}
24371 (gdb)
24372 @end smallexample
24373
24374 Setting a watchpoint on a variable local to a function. @value{GDBN} will stop
24375 the program execution twice: first for the variable changing value, then
24376 for the watchpoint going out of scope.
24377
24378 @smallexample
24379 (gdb)
24380 -break-watch C
24381 ^done,wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@}
24382 (gdb)
24383 -exec-continue
24384 ^running
24385 (gdb)
24386 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",
24387 wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@},value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
24388 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
24389 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
24390 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
24391 (gdb)
24392 -exec-continue
24393 ^running
24394 (gdb)
24395 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="5",
24396 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
24397 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
24398 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
24399 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
24400 (gdb)
24401 @end smallexample
24402
24403 Listing breakpoints and watchpoints, at different points in the program
24404 execution. Note that once the watchpoint goes out of scope, it is
24405 deleted.
24406
24407 @smallexample
24408 (gdb)
24409 -break-watch C
24410 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@}
24411 (gdb)
24412 -break-list
24413 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
24414 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
24415 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
24416 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
24417 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
24418 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
24419 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
24420 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
24421 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
24422 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
24423 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c"line="8",times="1"@},
24424 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
24425 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",times="0"@}]@}
24426 (gdb)
24427 -exec-continue
24428 ^running
24429 (gdb)
24430 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@},
24431 value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
24432 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
24433 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
24434 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
24435 (gdb)
24436 -break-list
24437 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
24438 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
24439 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
24440 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
24441 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
24442 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
24443 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
24444 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
24445 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
24446 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
24447 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",times="1"@},
24448 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
24449 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",times="-5"@}]@}
24450 (gdb)
24451 -exec-continue
24452 ^running
24453 ^done,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="2",
24454 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
24455 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
24456 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
24457 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
24458 (gdb)
24459 -break-list
24460 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
24461 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
24462 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
24463 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
24464 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
24465 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
24466 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
24467 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
24468 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
24469 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
24470 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",
24471 times="1"@}]@}
24472 (gdb)
24473 @end smallexample
24474
24475 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
24476 @node GDB/MI Program Context
24477 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Context
24478
24479 @subheading The @code{-exec-arguments} Command
24480 @findex -exec-arguments
24481
24482
24483 @subsubheading Synopsis
24484
24485 @smallexample
24486 -exec-arguments @var{args}
24487 @end smallexample
24488
24489 Set the inferior program arguments, to be used in the next
24490 @samp{-exec-run}.
24491
24492 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24493
24494 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set args}.
24495
24496 @subsubheading Example
24497
24498 @smallexample
24499 (gdb)
24500 -exec-arguments -v word
24501 ^done
24502 (gdb)
24503 @end smallexample
24504
24505
24506 @ignore
24507 @subheading The @code{-exec-show-arguments} Command
24508 @findex -exec-show-arguments
24509
24510 @subsubheading Synopsis
24511
24512 @smallexample
24513 -exec-show-arguments
24514 @end smallexample
24515
24516 Print the arguments of the program.
24517
24518 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24519
24520 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show args}.
24521
24522 @subsubheading Example
24523 N.A.
24524 @end ignore
24525
24526
24527 @subheading The @code{-environment-cd} Command
24528 @findex -environment-cd
24529
24530 @subsubheading Synopsis
24531
24532 @smallexample
24533 -environment-cd @var{pathdir}
24534 @end smallexample
24535
24536 Set @value{GDBN}'s working directory.
24537
24538 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24539
24540 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{cd}.
24541
24542 @subsubheading Example
24543
24544 @smallexample
24545 (gdb)
24546 -environment-cd /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
24547 ^done
24548 (gdb)
24549 @end smallexample
24550
24551
24552 @subheading The @code{-environment-directory} Command
24553 @findex -environment-directory
24554
24555 @subsubheading Synopsis
24556
24557 @smallexample
24558 -environment-directory [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
24559 @end smallexample
24560
24561 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for source files.
24562 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the default
24563 search path. If directories @var{pathdir} are supplied in addition to the
24564 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
24565 occurs as normal.
24566 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
24567 multiple directories in a single command
24568 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
24569 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
24570 If blanks are needed as
24571 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
24572 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
24573 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
24574 character must not be used
24575 in any directory name.
24576 If no directories are specified, the current search path is displayed.
24577
24578 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24579
24580 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{dir}.
24581
24582 @subsubheading Example
24583
24584 @smallexample
24585 (gdb)
24586 -environment-directory /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
24587 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
24588 (gdb)
24589 -environment-directory ""
24590 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
24591 (gdb)
24592 -environment-directory -r /home/jjohnstn/src/gdb /usr/src
24593 ^done,source-path="/home/jjohnstn/src/gdb:/usr/src:$cdir:$cwd"
24594 (gdb)
24595 -environment-directory -r
24596 ^done,source-path="$cdir:$cwd"
24597 (gdb)
24598 @end smallexample
24599
24600
24601 @subheading The @code{-environment-path} Command
24602 @findex -environment-path
24603
24604 @subsubheading Synopsis
24605
24606 @smallexample
24607 -environment-path [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
24608 @end smallexample
24609
24610 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for object files.
24611 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the original
24612 search path that existed at gdb start-up. If directories @var{pathdir} are
24613 supplied in addition to the
24614 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
24615 occurs as normal.
24616 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
24617 multiple directories in a single command
24618 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
24619 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
24620 If blanks are needed as
24621 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
24622 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
24623 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
24624 character must not be used
24625 in any directory name.
24626 If no directories are specified, the current path is displayed.
24627
24628
24629 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24630
24631 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{path}.
24632
24633 @subsubheading Example
24634
24635 @smallexample
24636 (gdb)
24637 -environment-path
24638 ^done,path="/usr/bin"
24639 (gdb)
24640 -environment-path /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb /bin
24641 ^done,path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb:/bin:/usr/bin"
24642 (gdb)
24643 -environment-path -r /usr/local/bin
24644 ^done,path="/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin"
24645 (gdb)
24646 @end smallexample
24647
24648
24649 @subheading The @code{-environment-pwd} Command
24650 @findex -environment-pwd
24651
24652 @subsubheading Synopsis
24653
24654 @smallexample
24655 -environment-pwd
24656 @end smallexample
24657
24658 Show the current working directory.
24659
24660 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24661
24662 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{pwd}.
24663
24664 @subsubheading Example
24665
24666 @smallexample
24667 (gdb)
24668 -environment-pwd
24669 ^done,cwd="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb"
24670 (gdb)
24671 @end smallexample
24672
24673 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
24674 @node GDB/MI Thread Commands
24675 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Commands
24676
24677
24678 @subheading The @code{-thread-info} Command
24679 @findex -thread-info
24680
24681 @subsubheading Synopsis
24682
24683 @smallexample
24684 -thread-info [ @var{thread-id} ]
24685 @end smallexample
24686
24687 Reports information about either a specific thread, if
24688 the @var{thread-id} parameter is present, or about all
24689 threads. When printing information about all threads,
24690 also reports the current thread.
24691
24692 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24693
24694 The @samp{info thread} command prints the same information
24695 about all threads.
24696
24697 @subsubheading Example
24698
24699 @smallexample
24700 -thread-info
24701 ^done,threads=[
24702 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
24703 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",args=[]@},state="running"@},
24704 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
24705 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
24706 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},state="running"@}],
24707 current-thread-id="1"
24708 (gdb)
24709 @end smallexample
24710
24711 The @samp{state} field may have the following values:
24712
24713 @table @code
24714 @item stopped
24715 The thread is stopped. Frame information is available for stopped
24716 threads.
24717
24718 @item running
24719 The thread is running. There's no frame information for running
24720 threads.
24721
24722 @end table
24723
24724 @subheading The @code{-thread-list-ids} Command
24725 @findex -thread-list-ids
24726
24727 @subsubheading Synopsis
24728
24729 @smallexample
24730 -thread-list-ids
24731 @end smallexample
24732
24733 Produces a list of the currently known @value{GDBN} thread ids. At the
24734 end of the list it also prints the total number of such threads.
24735
24736 This command is retained for historical reasons, the
24737 @code{-thread-info} command should be used instead.
24738
24739 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24740
24741 Part of @samp{info threads} supplies the same information.
24742
24743 @subsubheading Example
24744
24745 @smallexample
24746 (gdb)
24747 -thread-list-ids
24748 ^done,thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
24749 current-thread-id="1",number-of-threads="3"
24750 (gdb)
24751 @end smallexample
24752
24753
24754 @subheading The @code{-thread-select} Command
24755 @findex -thread-select
24756
24757 @subsubheading Synopsis
24758
24759 @smallexample
24760 -thread-select @var{threadnum}
24761 @end smallexample
24762
24763 Make @var{threadnum} the current thread. It prints the number of the new
24764 current thread, and the topmost frame for that thread.
24765
24766 This command is deprecated in favor of explicitly using the
24767 @samp{--thread} option to each command.
24768
24769 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24770
24771 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{thread}.
24772
24773 @subsubheading Example
24774
24775 @smallexample
24776 (gdb)
24777 -exec-next
24778 ^running
24779 (gdb)
24780 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",thread-id="2",line="187",
24781 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.threads/linux-dp.c"
24782 (gdb)
24783 -thread-list-ids
24784 ^done,
24785 thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
24786 number-of-threads="3"
24787 (gdb)
24788 -thread-select 3
24789 ^done,new-thread-id="3",
24790 frame=@{level="0",func="vprintf",
24791 args=[@{name="format",value="0x8048e9c \"%*s%c %d %c\\n\""@},
24792 @{name="arg",value="0x2"@}],file="vprintf.c",line="31"@}
24793 (gdb)
24794 @end smallexample
24795
24796 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
24797 @node GDB/MI Program Execution
24798 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Execution
24799
24800 These are the asynchronous commands which generate the out-of-band
24801 record @samp{*stopped}. Currently @value{GDBN} only really executes
24802 asynchronously with remote targets and this interaction is mimicked in
24803 other cases.
24804
24805 @subheading The @code{-exec-continue} Command
24806 @findex -exec-continue
24807
24808 @subsubheading Synopsis
24809
24810 @smallexample
24811 -exec-continue [--reverse] [--all|--thread-group N]
24812 @end smallexample
24813
24814 Resumes the execution of the inferior program, which will continue
24815 to execute until it reaches a debugger stop event. If the
24816 @samp{--reverse} option is specified, execution resumes in reverse until
24817 it reaches a stop event. Stop events may include
24818 @itemize @bullet
24819 @item
24820 breakpoints or watchpoints
24821 @item
24822 signals or exceptions
24823 @item
24824 the end of the process (or its beginning under @samp{--reverse})
24825 @item
24826 the end or beginning of a replay log if one is being used.
24827 @end itemize
24828 In all-stop mode (@pxref{All-Stop
24829 Mode}), may resume only one thread, or all threads, depending on the
24830 value of the @samp{scheduler-locking} variable. If @samp{--all} is
24831 specified, all threads (in all inferiors) will be resumed. The @samp{--all} option is
24832 ignored in all-stop mode. If the @samp{--thread-group} options is
24833 specified, then all threads in that thread group are resumed.
24834
24835 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24836
24837 The corresponding @value{GDBN} corresponding is @samp{continue}.
24838
24839 @subsubheading Example
24840
24841 @smallexample
24842 -exec-continue
24843 ^running
24844 (gdb)
24845 @@Hello world
24846 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="2",frame=@{
24847 func="foo",args=[],file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",
24848 line="13"@}
24849 (gdb)
24850 @end smallexample
24851
24852
24853 @subheading The @code{-exec-finish} Command
24854 @findex -exec-finish
24855
24856 @subsubheading Synopsis
24857
24858 @smallexample
24859 -exec-finish [--reverse]
24860 @end smallexample
24861
24862 Resumes the execution of the inferior program until the current
24863 function is exited. Displays the results returned by the function.
24864 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes the reverse
24865 execution of the inferior program until the point where current
24866 function was called.
24867
24868 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24869
24870 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{finish}.
24871
24872 @subsubheading Example
24873
24874 Function returning @code{void}.
24875
24876 @smallexample
24877 -exec-finish
24878 ^running
24879 (gdb)
24880 @@hello from foo
24881 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
24882 file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",line="7"@}
24883 (gdb)
24884 @end smallexample
24885
24886 Function returning other than @code{void}. The name of the internal
24887 @value{GDBN} variable storing the result is printed, together with the
24888 value itself.
24889
24890 @smallexample
24891 -exec-finish
24892 ^running
24893 (gdb)
24894 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{addr="0x000107b0",func="foo",
24895 args=[@{name="a",value="1"],@{name="b",value="9"@}@},
24896 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
24897 gdb-result-var="$1",return-value="0"
24898 (gdb)
24899 @end smallexample
24900
24901
24902 @subheading The @code{-exec-interrupt} Command
24903 @findex -exec-interrupt
24904
24905 @subsubheading Synopsis
24906
24907 @smallexample
24908 -exec-interrupt [--all|--thread-group N]
24909 @end smallexample
24910
24911 Interrupts the background execution of the target. Note how the token
24912 associated with the stop message is the one for the execution command
24913 that has been interrupted. The token for the interrupt itself only
24914 appears in the @samp{^done} output. If the user is trying to
24915 interrupt a non-running program, an error message will be printed.
24916
24917 Note that when asynchronous execution is enabled, this command is
24918 asynchronous just like other execution commands. That is, first the
24919 @samp{^done} response will be printed, and the target stop will be
24920 reported after that using the @samp{*stopped} notification.
24921
24922 In non-stop mode, only the context thread is interrupted by default.
24923 All threads (in all inferiors) will be interrupted if the
24924 @samp{--all} option is specified. If the @samp{--thread-group}
24925 option is specified, all threads in that group will be interrupted.
24926
24927 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24928
24929 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interrupt}.
24930
24931 @subsubheading Example
24932
24933 @smallexample
24934 (gdb)
24935 111-exec-continue
24936 111^running
24937
24938 (gdb)
24939 222-exec-interrupt
24940 222^done
24941 (gdb)
24942 111*stopped,signal-name="SIGINT",signal-meaning="Interrupt",
24943 frame=@{addr="0x00010140",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
24944 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="13"@}
24945 (gdb)
24946
24947 (gdb)
24948 -exec-interrupt
24949 ^error,msg="mi_cmd_exec_interrupt: Inferior not executing."
24950 (gdb)
24951 @end smallexample
24952
24953 @subheading The @code{-exec-jump} Command
24954 @findex -exec-jump
24955
24956 @subsubheading Synopsis
24957
24958 @smallexample
24959 -exec-jump @var{location}
24960 @end smallexample
24961
24962 Resumes execution of the inferior program at the location specified by
24963 parameter. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
24964 different forms of @var{location}.
24965
24966 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24967
24968 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{jump}.
24969
24970 @subsubheading Example
24971
24972 @smallexample
24973 -exec-jump foo.c:10
24974 *running,thread-id="all"
24975 ^running
24976 @end smallexample
24977
24978
24979 @subheading The @code{-exec-next} Command
24980 @findex -exec-next
24981
24982 @subsubheading Synopsis
24983
24984 @smallexample
24985 -exec-next [--reverse]
24986 @end smallexample
24987
24988 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
24989 of the next source line is reached.
24990
24991 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
24992 of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the previous
24993 source line. If you issue this command on the first line of a
24994 function, it will take you back to the caller of that function, to the
24995 source line where the function was called.
24996
24997
24998 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24999
25000 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{next}.
25001
25002 @subsubheading Example
25003
25004 @smallexample
25005 -exec-next
25006 ^running
25007 (gdb)
25008 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="8",file="hello.c"
25009 (gdb)
25010 @end smallexample
25011
25012
25013 @subheading The @code{-exec-next-instruction} Command
25014 @findex -exec-next-instruction
25015
25016 @subsubheading Synopsis
25017
25018 @smallexample
25019 -exec-next-instruction [--reverse]
25020 @end smallexample
25021
25022 Executes one machine instruction. If the instruction is a function
25023 call, continues until the function returns. If the program stops at an
25024 instruction in the middle of a source line, the address will be
25025 printed as well.
25026
25027 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
25028 of the inferior program, stopping at the previous instruction. If the
25029 previously executed instruction was a return from another function,
25030 it will continue to execute in reverse until the call to that function
25031 (from the current stack frame) is reached.
25032
25033 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25034
25035 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{nexti}.
25036
25037 @subsubheading Example
25038
25039 @smallexample
25040 (gdb)
25041 -exec-next-instruction
25042 ^running
25043
25044 (gdb)
25045 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
25046 addr="0x000100d4",line="5",file="hello.c"
25047 (gdb)
25048 @end smallexample
25049
25050
25051 @subheading The @code{-exec-return} Command
25052 @findex -exec-return
25053
25054 @subsubheading Synopsis
25055
25056 @smallexample
25057 -exec-return
25058 @end smallexample
25059
25060 Makes current function return immediately. Doesn't execute the inferior.
25061 Displays the new current frame.
25062
25063 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25064
25065 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{return}.
25066
25067 @subsubheading Example
25068
25069 @smallexample
25070 (gdb)
25071 200-break-insert callee4
25072 200^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x00010734",
25073 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
25074 (gdb)
25075 000-exec-run
25076 000^running
25077 (gdb)
25078 000*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
25079 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
25080 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25081 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
25082 (gdb)
25083 205-break-delete
25084 205^done
25085 (gdb)
25086 111-exec-return
25087 111^done,frame=@{level="0",func="callee3",
25088 args=[@{name="strarg",
25089 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
25090 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25091 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
25092 (gdb)
25093 @end smallexample
25094
25095
25096 @subheading The @code{-exec-run} Command
25097 @findex -exec-run
25098
25099 @subsubheading Synopsis
25100
25101 @smallexample
25102 -exec-run [--all | --thread-group N]
25103 @end smallexample
25104
25105 Starts execution of the inferior from the beginning. The inferior
25106 executes until either a breakpoint is encountered or the program
25107 exits. In the latter case the output will include an exit code, if
25108 the program has exited exceptionally.
25109
25110 When no option is specified, the current inferior is started. If the
25111 @samp{--thread-group} option is specified, it should refer to a thread
25112 group of type @samp{process}, and that thread group will be started.
25113 If the @samp{--all} option is specified, then all inferiors will be started.
25114
25115 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25116
25117 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{run}.
25118
25119 @subsubheading Examples
25120
25121 @smallexample
25122 (gdb)
25123 -break-insert main
25124 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",line="4"@}
25125 (gdb)
25126 -exec-run
25127 ^running
25128 (gdb)
25129 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
25130 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
25131 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}
25132 (gdb)
25133 @end smallexample
25134
25135 @noindent
25136 Program exited normally:
25137
25138 @smallexample
25139 (gdb)
25140 -exec-run
25141 ^running
25142 (gdb)
25143 x = 55
25144 *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
25145 (gdb)
25146 @end smallexample
25147
25148 @noindent
25149 Program exited exceptionally:
25150
25151 @smallexample
25152 (gdb)
25153 -exec-run
25154 ^running
25155 (gdb)
25156 x = 55
25157 *stopped,reason="exited",exit-code="01"
25158 (gdb)
25159 @end smallexample
25160
25161 Another way the program can terminate is if it receives a signal such as
25162 @code{SIGINT}. In this case, @sc{gdb/mi} displays this:
25163
25164 @smallexample
25165 (gdb)
25166 *stopped,reason="exited-signalled",signal-name="SIGINT",
25167 signal-meaning="Interrupt"
25168 @end smallexample
25169
25170
25171 @c @subheading -exec-signal
25172
25173
25174 @subheading The @code{-exec-step} Command
25175 @findex -exec-step
25176
25177 @subsubheading Synopsis
25178
25179 @smallexample
25180 -exec-step [--reverse]
25181 @end smallexample
25182
25183 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
25184 of the next source line is reached, if the next source line is not a
25185 function call. If it is, stop at the first instruction of the called
25186 function. If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse
25187 execution of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the
25188 previously executed source line.
25189
25190 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25191
25192 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{step}.
25193
25194 @subsubheading Example
25195
25196 Stepping into a function:
25197
25198 @smallexample
25199 -exec-step
25200 ^running
25201 (gdb)
25202 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
25203 frame=@{func="foo",args=[@{name="a",value="10"@},
25204 @{name="b",value="0"@}],file="recursive2.c",
25205 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@}
25206 (gdb)
25207 @end smallexample
25208
25209 Regular stepping:
25210
25211 @smallexample
25212 -exec-step
25213 ^running
25214 (gdb)
25215 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="14",file="recursive2.c"
25216 (gdb)
25217 @end smallexample
25218
25219
25220 @subheading The @code{-exec-step-instruction} Command
25221 @findex -exec-step-instruction
25222
25223 @subsubheading Synopsis
25224
25225 @smallexample
25226 -exec-step-instruction [--reverse]
25227 @end smallexample
25228
25229 Resumes the inferior which executes one machine instruction. If the
25230 @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution of the
25231 inferior program, stopping at the previously executed instruction.
25232 The output, once @value{GDBN} has stopped, will vary depending on
25233 whether we have stopped in the middle of a source line or not. In the
25234 former case, the address at which the program stopped will be printed
25235 as well.
25236
25237 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25238
25239 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{stepi}.
25240
25241 @subsubheading Example
25242
25243 @smallexample
25244 (gdb)
25245 -exec-step-instruction
25246 ^running
25247
25248 (gdb)
25249 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
25250 frame=@{func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
25251 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
25252 (gdb)
25253 -exec-step-instruction
25254 ^running
25255
25256 (gdb)
25257 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
25258 frame=@{addr="0x000100f4",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
25259 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
25260 (gdb)
25261 @end smallexample
25262
25263
25264 @subheading The @code{-exec-until} Command
25265 @findex -exec-until
25266
25267 @subsubheading Synopsis
25268
25269 @smallexample
25270 -exec-until [ @var{location} ]
25271 @end smallexample
25272
25273 Executes the inferior until the @var{location} specified in the
25274 argument is reached. If there is no argument, the inferior executes
25275 until a source line greater than the current one is reached. The
25276 reason for stopping in this case will be @samp{location-reached}.
25277
25278 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25279
25280 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{until}.
25281
25282 @subsubheading Example
25283
25284 @smallexample
25285 (gdb)
25286 -exec-until recursive2.c:6
25287 ^running
25288 (gdb)
25289 x = 55
25290 *stopped,reason="location-reached",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
25291 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="6"@}
25292 (gdb)
25293 @end smallexample
25294
25295 @ignore
25296 @subheading -file-clear
25297 Is this going away????
25298 @end ignore
25299
25300 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25301 @node GDB/MI Stack Manipulation
25302 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Stack Manipulation Commands
25303
25304
25305 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-frame} Command
25306 @findex -stack-info-frame
25307
25308 @subsubheading Synopsis
25309
25310 @smallexample
25311 -stack-info-frame
25312 @end smallexample
25313
25314 Get info on the selected frame.
25315
25316 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25317
25318 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info frame} or @samp{frame}
25319 (without arguments).
25320
25321 @subsubheading Example
25322
25323 @smallexample
25324 (gdb)
25325 -stack-info-frame
25326 ^done,frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
25327 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25328 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@}
25329 (gdb)
25330 @end smallexample
25331
25332 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-depth} Command
25333 @findex -stack-info-depth
25334
25335 @subsubheading Synopsis
25336
25337 @smallexample
25338 -stack-info-depth [ @var{max-depth} ]
25339 @end smallexample
25340
25341 Return the depth of the stack. If the integer argument @var{max-depth}
25342 is specified, do not count beyond @var{max-depth} frames.
25343
25344 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25345
25346 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
25347
25348 @subsubheading Example
25349
25350 For a stack with frame levels 0 through 11:
25351
25352 @smallexample
25353 (gdb)
25354 -stack-info-depth
25355 ^done,depth="12"
25356 (gdb)
25357 -stack-info-depth 4
25358 ^done,depth="4"
25359 (gdb)
25360 -stack-info-depth 12
25361 ^done,depth="12"
25362 (gdb)
25363 -stack-info-depth 11
25364 ^done,depth="11"
25365 (gdb)
25366 -stack-info-depth 13
25367 ^done,depth="12"
25368 (gdb)
25369 @end smallexample
25370
25371 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-arguments} Command
25372 @findex -stack-list-arguments
25373
25374 @subsubheading Synopsis
25375
25376 @smallexample
25377 -stack-list-arguments @var{print-values}
25378 [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
25379 @end smallexample
25380
25381 Display a list of the arguments for the frames between @var{low-frame}
25382 and @var{high-frame} (inclusive). If @var{low-frame} and
25383 @var{high-frame} are not provided, list the arguments for the whole
25384 call stack. If the two arguments are equal, show the single frame
25385 at the corresponding level. It is an error if @var{low-frame} is
25386 larger than the actual number of frames. On the other hand,
25387 @var{high-frame} may be larger than the actual number of frames, in
25388 which case only existing frames will be returned.
25389
25390 If @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
25391 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
25392 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
25393 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
25394 structures and unions.
25395
25396 Use of this command to obtain arguments in a single frame is
25397 deprecated in favor of the @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
25398
25399 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25400
25401 @value{GDBN} does not have an equivalent command. @code{gdbtk} has a
25402 @samp{gdb_get_args} command which partially overlaps with the
25403 functionality of @samp{-stack-list-arguments}.
25404
25405 @subsubheading Example
25406
25407 @smallexample
25408 (gdb)
25409 -stack-list-frames
25410 ^done,
25411 stack=[
25412 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
25413 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25414 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@},
25415 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
25416 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25417 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@},
25418 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x0001078c",func="callee2",
25419 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25420 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="22"@},
25421 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107b4",func="callee1",
25422 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25423 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="27"@},
25424 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107e0",func="main",
25425 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25426 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="32"@}]
25427 (gdb)
25428 -stack-list-arguments 0
25429 ^done,
25430 stack-args=[
25431 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
25432 frame=@{level="1",args=[name="strarg"]@},
25433 frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@},
25434 frame=@{level="3",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg",name="fltarg"]@},
25435 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
25436 (gdb)
25437 -stack-list-arguments 1
25438 ^done,
25439 stack-args=[
25440 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
25441 frame=@{level="1",
25442 args=[@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
25443 frame=@{level="2",args=[
25444 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
25445 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
25446 @{frame=@{level="3",args=[
25447 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
25448 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@},
25449 @{name="fltarg",value="3.5"@}]@},
25450 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
25451 (gdb)
25452 -stack-list-arguments 0 2 2
25453 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@}]
25454 (gdb)
25455 -stack-list-arguments 1 2 2
25456 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",
25457 args=[@{name="intarg",value="2"@},
25458 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@}]
25459 (gdb)
25460 @end smallexample
25461
25462 @c @subheading -stack-list-exception-handlers
25463
25464
25465 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-frames} Command
25466 @findex -stack-list-frames
25467
25468 @subsubheading Synopsis
25469
25470 @smallexample
25471 -stack-list-frames [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
25472 @end smallexample
25473
25474 List the frames currently on the stack. For each frame it displays the
25475 following info:
25476
25477 @table @samp
25478 @item @var{level}
25479 The frame number, 0 being the topmost frame, i.e., the innermost function.
25480 @item @var{addr}
25481 The @code{$pc} value for that frame.
25482 @item @var{func}
25483 Function name.
25484 @item @var{file}
25485 File name of the source file where the function lives.
25486 @item @var{line}
25487 Line number corresponding to the @code{$pc}.
25488 @end table
25489
25490 If invoked without arguments, this command prints a backtrace for the
25491 whole stack. If given two integer arguments, it shows the frames whose
25492 levels are between the two arguments (inclusive). If the two arguments
25493 are equal, it shows the single frame at the corresponding level. It is
25494 an error if @var{low-frame} is larger than the actual number of
25495 frames. On the other hand, @var{high-frame} may be larger than the
25496 actual number of frames, in which case only existing frames will be returned.
25497
25498 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25499
25500 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{backtrace} and @samp{where}.
25501
25502 @subsubheading Example
25503
25504 Full stack backtrace:
25505
25506 @smallexample
25507 (gdb)
25508 -stack-list-frames
25509 ^done,stack=
25510 [frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0001076c",func="foo",
25511 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@},
25512 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
25513 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
25514 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
25515 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
25516 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
25517 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
25518 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
25519 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
25520 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
25521 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
25522 frame=@{level="6",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
25523 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
25524 frame=@{level="7",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
25525 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
25526 frame=@{level="8",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
25527 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
25528 frame=@{level="9",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
25529 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
25530 frame=@{level="10",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
25531 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
25532 frame=@{level="11",addr="0x00010738",func="main",
25533 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}]
25534 (gdb)
25535 @end smallexample
25536
25537 Show frames between @var{low_frame} and @var{high_frame}:
25538
25539 @smallexample
25540 (gdb)
25541 -stack-list-frames 3 5
25542 ^done,stack=
25543 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
25544 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
25545 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
25546 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
25547 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
25548 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
25549 (gdb)
25550 @end smallexample
25551
25552 Show a single frame:
25553
25554 @smallexample
25555 (gdb)
25556 -stack-list-frames 3 3
25557 ^done,stack=
25558 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
25559 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
25560 (gdb)
25561 @end smallexample
25562
25563
25564 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-locals} Command
25565 @findex -stack-list-locals
25566
25567 @subsubheading Synopsis
25568
25569 @smallexample
25570 -stack-list-locals @var{print-values}
25571 @end smallexample
25572
25573 Display the local variable names for the selected frame. If
25574 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
25575 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
25576 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
25577 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
25578 structures and unions. In this last case, a frontend can immediately
25579 display the value of simple data types and create variable objects for
25580 other data types when the user wishes to explore their values in
25581 more detail.
25582
25583 This command is deprecated in favor of the
25584 @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
25585
25586 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25587
25588 @samp{info locals} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_get_locals} in @code{gdbtk}.
25589
25590 @subsubheading Example
25591
25592 @smallexample
25593 (gdb)
25594 -stack-list-locals 0
25595 ^done,locals=[name="A",name="B",name="C"]
25596 (gdb)
25597 -stack-list-locals --all-values
25598 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",value="1"@},@{name="B",value="2"@},
25599 @{name="C",value="@{1, 2, 3@}"@}]
25600 -stack-list-locals --simple-values
25601 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",type="int",value="1"@},
25602 @{name="B",type="int",value="2"@},@{name="C",type="int [3]"@}]
25603 (gdb)
25604 @end smallexample
25605
25606 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-variables} Command
25607 @findex -stack-list-variables
25608
25609 @subsubheading Synopsis
25610
25611 @smallexample
25612 -stack-list-variables @var{print-values}
25613 @end smallexample
25614
25615 Display the names of local variables and function arguments for the selected frame. If
25616 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
25617 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
25618 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
25619 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
25620 structures and unions.
25621
25622 @subsubheading Example
25623
25624 @smallexample
25625 (gdb)
25626 -stack-list-variables --thread 1 --frame 0 --all-values
25627 ^done,variables=[@{name="x",value="11"@},@{name="s",value="@{a = 1, b = 2@}"@}]
25628 (gdb)
25629 @end smallexample
25630
25631
25632 @subheading The @code{-stack-select-frame} Command
25633 @findex -stack-select-frame
25634
25635 @subsubheading Synopsis
25636
25637 @smallexample
25638 -stack-select-frame @var{framenum}
25639 @end smallexample
25640
25641 Change the selected frame. Select a different frame @var{framenum} on
25642 the stack.
25643
25644 This command in deprecated in favor of passing the @samp{--frame}
25645 option to every command.
25646
25647 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25648
25649 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{frame}, @samp{up},
25650 @samp{down}, @samp{select-frame}, @samp{up-silent}, and @samp{down-silent}.
25651
25652 @subsubheading Example
25653
25654 @smallexample
25655 (gdb)
25656 -stack-select-frame 2
25657 ^done
25658 (gdb)
25659 @end smallexample
25660
25661 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25662 @node GDB/MI Variable Objects
25663 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Variable Objects
25664
25665 @ignore
25666
25667 @subheading Motivation for Variable Objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
25668
25669 For the implementation of a variable debugger window (locals, watched
25670 expressions, etc.), we are proposing the adaptation of the existing code
25671 used by @code{Insight}.
25672
25673 The two main reasons for that are:
25674
25675 @enumerate 1
25676 @item
25677 It has been proven in practice (it is already on its second generation).
25678
25679 @item
25680 It will shorten development time (needless to say how important it is
25681 now).
25682 @end enumerate
25683
25684 The original interface was designed to be used by Tcl code, so it was
25685 slightly changed so it could be used through @sc{gdb/mi}. This section
25686 describes the @sc{gdb/mi} operations that will be available and gives some
25687 hints about their use.
25688
25689 @emph{Note}: In addition to the set of operations described here, we
25690 expect the @sc{gui} implementation of a variable window to require, at
25691 least, the following operations:
25692
25693 @itemize @bullet
25694 @item @code{-gdb-show} @code{output-radix}
25695 @item @code{-stack-list-arguments}
25696 @item @code{-stack-list-locals}
25697 @item @code{-stack-select-frame}
25698 @end itemize
25699
25700 @end ignore
25701
25702 @subheading Introduction to Variable Objects
25703
25704 @cindex variable objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
25705
25706 Variable objects are "object-oriented" MI interface for examining and
25707 changing values of expressions. Unlike some other MI interfaces that
25708 work with expressions, variable objects are specifically designed for
25709 simple and efficient presentation in the frontend. A variable object
25710 is identified by string name. When a variable object is created, the
25711 frontend specifies the expression for that variable object. The
25712 expression can be a simple variable, or it can be an arbitrary complex
25713 expression, and can even involve CPU registers. After creating a
25714 variable object, the frontend can invoke other variable object
25715 operations---for example to obtain or change the value of a variable
25716 object, or to change display format.
25717
25718 Variable objects have hierarchical tree structure. Any variable object
25719 that corresponds to a composite type, such as structure in C, has
25720 a number of child variable objects, for example corresponding to each
25721 element of a structure. A child variable object can itself have
25722 children, recursively. Recursion ends when we reach
25723 leaf variable objects, which always have built-in types. Child variable
25724 objects are created only by explicit request, so if a frontend
25725 is not interested in the children of a particular variable object, no
25726 child will be created.
25727
25728 For a leaf variable object it is possible to obtain its value as a
25729 string, or set the value from a string. String value can be also
25730 obtained for a non-leaf variable object, but it's generally a string
25731 that only indicates the type of the object, and does not list its
25732 contents. Assignment to a non-leaf variable object is not allowed.
25733
25734 A frontend does not need to read the values of all variable objects each time
25735 the program stops. Instead, MI provides an update command that lists all
25736 variable objects whose values has changed since the last update
25737 operation. This considerably reduces the amount of data that must
25738 be transferred to the frontend. As noted above, children variable
25739 objects are created on demand, and only leaf variable objects have a
25740 real value. As result, gdb will read target memory only for leaf
25741 variables that frontend has created.
25742
25743 The automatic update is not always desirable. For example, a frontend
25744 might want to keep a value of some expression for future reference,
25745 and never update it. For another example, fetching memory is
25746 relatively slow for embedded targets, so a frontend might want
25747 to disable automatic update for the variables that are either not
25748 visible on the screen, or ``closed''. This is possible using so
25749 called ``frozen variable objects''. Such variable objects are never
25750 implicitly updated.
25751
25752 Variable objects can be either @dfn{fixed} or @dfn{floating}. For the
25753 fixed variable object, the expression is parsed when the variable
25754 object is created, including associating identifiers to specific
25755 variables. The meaning of expression never changes. For a floating
25756 variable object the values of variables whose names appear in the
25757 expressions are re-evaluated every time in the context of the current
25758 frame. Consider this example:
25759
25760 @smallexample
25761 void do_work(...)
25762 @{
25763 struct work_state state;
25764
25765 if (...)
25766 do_work(...);
25767 @}
25768 @end smallexample
25769
25770 If a fixed variable object for the @code{state} variable is created in
25771 this function, and we enter the recursive call, the the variable
25772 object will report the value of @code{state} in the top-level
25773 @code{do_work} invocation. On the other hand, a floating variable
25774 object will report the value of @code{state} in the current frame.
25775
25776 If an expression specified when creating a fixed variable object
25777 refers to a local variable, the variable object becomes bound to the
25778 thread and frame in which the variable object is created. When such
25779 variable object is updated, @value{GDBN} makes sure that the
25780 thread/frame combination the variable object is bound to still exists,
25781 and re-evaluates the variable object in context of that thread/frame.
25782
25783 The following is the complete set of @sc{gdb/mi} operations defined to
25784 access this functionality:
25785
25786 @multitable @columnfractions .4 .6
25787 @item @strong{Operation}
25788 @tab @strong{Description}
25789
25790 @item @code{-enable-pretty-printing}
25791 @tab enable Python-based pretty-printing
25792 @item @code{-var-create}
25793 @tab create a variable object
25794 @item @code{-var-delete}
25795 @tab delete the variable object and/or its children
25796 @item @code{-var-set-format}
25797 @tab set the display format of this variable
25798 @item @code{-var-show-format}
25799 @tab show the display format of this variable
25800 @item @code{-var-info-num-children}
25801 @tab tells how many children this object has
25802 @item @code{-var-list-children}
25803 @tab return a list of the object's children
25804 @item @code{-var-info-type}
25805 @tab show the type of this variable object
25806 @item @code{-var-info-expression}
25807 @tab print parent-relative expression that this variable object represents
25808 @item @code{-var-info-path-expression}
25809 @tab print full expression that this variable object represents
25810 @item @code{-var-show-attributes}
25811 @tab is this variable editable? does it exist here?
25812 @item @code{-var-evaluate-expression}
25813 @tab get the value of this variable
25814 @item @code{-var-assign}
25815 @tab set the value of this variable
25816 @item @code{-var-update}
25817 @tab update the variable and its children
25818 @item @code{-var-set-frozen}
25819 @tab set frozeness attribute
25820 @item @code{-var-set-update-range}
25821 @tab set range of children to display on update
25822 @end multitable
25823
25824 In the next subsection we describe each operation in detail and suggest
25825 how it can be used.
25826
25827 @subheading Description And Use of Operations on Variable Objects
25828
25829 @subheading The @code{-enable-pretty-printing} Command
25830 @findex -enable-pretty-printing
25831
25832 @smallexample
25833 -enable-pretty-printing
25834 @end smallexample
25835
25836 @value{GDBN} allows Python-based visualizers to affect the output of the
25837 MI variable object commands. However, because there was no way to
25838 implement this in a fully backward-compatible way, a front end must
25839 request that this functionality be enabled.
25840
25841 Once enabled, this feature cannot be disabled.
25842
25843 Note that if Python support has not been compiled into @value{GDBN},
25844 this command will still succeed (and do nothing).
25845
25846 This feature is currently (as of @value{GDBN} 7.0) experimental, and
25847 may work differently in future versions of @value{GDBN}.
25848
25849 @subheading The @code{-var-create} Command
25850 @findex -var-create
25851
25852 @subsubheading Synopsis
25853
25854 @smallexample
25855 -var-create @{@var{name} | "-"@}
25856 @{@var{frame-addr} | "*" | "@@"@} @var{expression}
25857 @end smallexample
25858
25859 This operation creates a variable object, which allows the monitoring of
25860 a variable, the result of an expression, a memory cell or a CPU
25861 register.
25862
25863 The @var{name} parameter is the string by which the object can be
25864 referenced. It must be unique. If @samp{-} is specified, the varobj
25865 system will generate a string ``varNNNNNN'' automatically. It will be
25866 unique provided that one does not specify @var{name} of that format.
25867 The command fails if a duplicate name is found.
25868
25869 The frame under which the expression should be evaluated can be
25870 specified by @var{frame-addr}. A @samp{*} indicates that the current
25871 frame should be used. A @samp{@@} indicates that a floating variable
25872 object must be created.
25873
25874 @var{expression} is any expression valid on the current language set (must not
25875 begin with a @samp{*}), or one of the following:
25876
25877 @itemize @bullet
25878 @item
25879 @samp{*@var{addr}}, where @var{addr} is the address of a memory cell
25880
25881 @item
25882 @samp{*@var{addr}-@var{addr}} --- a memory address range (TBD)
25883
25884 @item
25885 @samp{$@var{regname}} --- a CPU register name
25886 @end itemize
25887
25888 @cindex dynamic varobj
25889 A varobj's contents may be provided by a Python-based pretty-printer. In this
25890 case the varobj is known as a @dfn{dynamic varobj}. Dynamic varobjs
25891 have slightly different semantics in some cases. If the
25892 @code{-enable-pretty-printing} command is not sent, then @value{GDBN}
25893 will never create a dynamic varobj. This ensures backward
25894 compatibility for existing clients.
25895
25896 @subsubheading Result
25897
25898 This operation returns attributes of the newly-created varobj. These
25899 are:
25900
25901 @table @samp
25902 @item name
25903 The name of the varobj.
25904
25905 @item numchild
25906 The number of children of the varobj. This number is not necessarily
25907 reliable for a dynamic varobj. Instead, you must examine the
25908 @samp{has_more} attribute.
25909
25910 @item value
25911 The varobj's scalar value. For a varobj whose type is some sort of
25912 aggregate (e.g., a @code{struct}), or for a dynamic varobj, this value
25913 will not be interesting.
25914
25915 @item type
25916 The varobj's type. This is a string representation of the type, as
25917 would be printed by the @value{GDBN} CLI.
25918
25919 @item thread-id
25920 If a variable object is bound to a specific thread, then this is the
25921 thread's identifier.
25922
25923 @item has_more
25924 For a dynamic varobj, this indicates whether there appear to be any
25925 children available. For a non-dynamic varobj, this will be 0.
25926
25927 @item dynamic
25928 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
25929 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
25930 then this attribute will not be present.
25931
25932 @item displayhint
25933 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
25934 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
25935 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
25936 @end table
25937
25938 Typical output will look like this:
25939
25940 @smallexample
25941 name="@var{name}",numchild="@var{N}",type="@var{type}",thread-id="@var{M}",
25942 has_more="@var{has_more}"
25943 @end smallexample
25944
25945
25946 @subheading The @code{-var-delete} Command
25947 @findex -var-delete
25948
25949 @subsubheading Synopsis
25950
25951 @smallexample
25952 -var-delete [ -c ] @var{name}
25953 @end smallexample
25954
25955 Deletes a previously created variable object and all of its children.
25956 With the @samp{-c} option, just deletes the children.
25957
25958 Returns an error if the object @var{name} is not found.
25959
25960
25961 @subheading The @code{-var-set-format} Command
25962 @findex -var-set-format
25963
25964 @subsubheading Synopsis
25965
25966 @smallexample
25967 -var-set-format @var{name} @var{format-spec}
25968 @end smallexample
25969
25970 Sets the output format for the value of the object @var{name} to be
25971 @var{format-spec}.
25972
25973 @anchor{-var-set-format}
25974 The syntax for the @var{format-spec} is as follows:
25975
25976 @smallexample
25977 @var{format-spec} @expansion{}
25978 @{binary | decimal | hexadecimal | octal | natural@}
25979 @end smallexample
25980
25981 The natural format is the default format choosen automatically
25982 based on the variable type (like decimal for an @code{int}, hex
25983 for pointers, etc.).
25984
25985 For a variable with children, the format is set only on the
25986 variable itself, and the children are not affected.
25987
25988 @subheading The @code{-var-show-format} Command
25989 @findex -var-show-format
25990
25991 @subsubheading Synopsis
25992
25993 @smallexample
25994 -var-show-format @var{name}
25995 @end smallexample
25996
25997 Returns the format used to display the value of the object @var{name}.
25998
25999 @smallexample
26000 @var{format} @expansion{}
26001 @var{format-spec}
26002 @end smallexample
26003
26004
26005 @subheading The @code{-var-info-num-children} Command
26006 @findex -var-info-num-children
26007
26008 @subsubheading Synopsis
26009
26010 @smallexample
26011 -var-info-num-children @var{name}
26012 @end smallexample
26013
26014 Returns the number of children of a variable object @var{name}:
26015
26016 @smallexample
26017 numchild=@var{n}
26018 @end smallexample
26019
26020 Note that this number is not completely reliable for a dynamic varobj.
26021 It will return the current number of children, but more children may
26022 be available.
26023
26024
26025 @subheading The @code{-var-list-children} Command
26026 @findex -var-list-children
26027
26028 @subsubheading Synopsis
26029
26030 @smallexample
26031 -var-list-children [@var{print-values}] @var{name} [@var{from} @var{to}]
26032 @end smallexample
26033 @anchor{-var-list-children}
26034
26035 Return a list of the children of the specified variable object and
26036 create variable objects for them, if they do not already exist. With
26037 a single argument or if @var{print-values} has a value for of 0 or
26038 @code{--no-values}, print only the names of the variables; if
26039 @var{print-values} is 1 or @code{--all-values}, also print their
26040 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values} print the name and
26041 value for simple data types and just the name for arrays, structures
26042 and unions.
26043
26044 @var{from} and @var{to}, if specified, indicate the range of children
26045 to report. If @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is
26046 reset and all children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting
26047 at @var{from} (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be
26048 reported.
26049
26050 If a child range is requested, it will only affect the current call to
26051 @code{-var-list-children}, but not future calls to @code{-var-update}.
26052 For this, you must instead use @code{-var-set-update-range}. The
26053 intent of this approach is to enable a front end to implement any
26054 update approach it likes; for example, scrolling a view may cause the
26055 front end to request more children with @code{-var-list-children}, and
26056 then the front end could call @code{-var-set-update-range} with a
26057 different range to ensure that future updates are restricted to just
26058 the visible items.
26059
26060 For each child the following results are returned:
26061
26062 @table @var
26063
26064 @item name
26065 Name of the variable object created for this child.
26066
26067 @item exp
26068 The expression to be shown to the user by the front end to designate this child.
26069 For example this may be the name of a structure member.
26070
26071 For a dynamic varobj, this value cannot be used to form an
26072 expression. There is no way to do this at all with a dynamic varobj.
26073
26074 For C/C@t{++} structures there are several pseudo children returned to
26075 designate access qualifiers. For these pseudo children @var{exp} is
26076 @samp{public}, @samp{private}, or @samp{protected}. In this case the
26077 type and value are not present.
26078
26079 A dynamic varobj will not report the access qualifying
26080 pseudo-children, regardless of the language. This information is not
26081 available at all with a dynamic varobj.
26082
26083 @item numchild
26084 Number of children this child has. For a dynamic varobj, this will be
26085 0.
26086
26087 @item type
26088 The type of the child.
26089
26090 @item value
26091 If values were requested, this is the value.
26092
26093 @item thread-id
26094 If this variable object is associated with a thread, this is the thread id.
26095 Otherwise this result is not present.
26096
26097 @item frozen
26098 If the variable object is frozen, this variable will be present with a value of 1.
26099 @end table
26100
26101 The result may have its own attributes:
26102
26103 @table @samp
26104 @item displayhint
26105 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
26106 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
26107 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
26108
26109 @item has_more
26110 This is an integer attribute which is nonzero if there are children
26111 remaining after the end of the selected range.
26112 @end table
26113
26114 @subsubheading Example
26115
26116 @smallexample
26117 (gdb)
26118 -var-list-children n
26119 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
26120 numchild=@var{n},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
26121 (gdb)
26122 -var-list-children --all-values n
26123 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
26124 numchild=@var{n},value=@var{value},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
26125 @end smallexample
26126
26127
26128 @subheading The @code{-var-info-type} Command
26129 @findex -var-info-type
26130
26131 @subsubheading Synopsis
26132
26133 @smallexample
26134 -var-info-type @var{name}
26135 @end smallexample
26136
26137 Returns the type of the specified variable @var{name}. The type is
26138 returned as a string in the same format as it is output by the
26139 @value{GDBN} CLI:
26140
26141 @smallexample
26142 type=@var{typename}
26143 @end smallexample
26144
26145
26146 @subheading The @code{-var-info-expression} Command
26147 @findex -var-info-expression
26148
26149 @subsubheading Synopsis
26150
26151 @smallexample
26152 -var-info-expression @var{name}
26153 @end smallexample
26154
26155 Returns a string that is suitable for presenting this
26156 variable object in user interface. The string is generally
26157 not valid expression in the current language, and cannot be evaluated.
26158
26159 For example, if @code{a} is an array, and variable object
26160 @code{A} was created for @code{a}, then we'll get this output:
26161
26162 @smallexample
26163 (gdb) -var-info-expression A.1
26164 ^done,lang="C",exp="1"
26165 @end smallexample
26166
26167 @noindent
26168 Here, the values of @code{lang} can be @code{@{"C" | "C++" | "Java"@}}.
26169
26170 Note that the output of the @code{-var-list-children} command also
26171 includes those expressions, so the @code{-var-info-expression} command
26172 is of limited use.
26173
26174 @subheading The @code{-var-info-path-expression} Command
26175 @findex -var-info-path-expression
26176
26177 @subsubheading Synopsis
26178
26179 @smallexample
26180 -var-info-path-expression @var{name}
26181 @end smallexample
26182
26183 Returns an expression that can be evaluated in the current
26184 context and will yield the same value that a variable object has.
26185 Compare this with the @code{-var-info-expression} command, which
26186 result can be used only for UI presentation. Typical use of
26187 the @code{-var-info-path-expression} command is creating a
26188 watchpoint from a variable object.
26189
26190 This command is currently not valid for children of a dynamic varobj,
26191 and will give an error when invoked on one.
26192
26193 For example, suppose @code{C} is a C@t{++} class, derived from class
26194 @code{Base}, and that the @code{Base} class has a member called
26195 @code{m_size}. Assume a variable @code{c} is has the type of
26196 @code{C} and a variable object @code{C} was created for variable
26197 @code{c}. Then, we'll get this output:
26198 @smallexample
26199 (gdb) -var-info-path-expression C.Base.public.m_size
26200 ^done,path_expr=((Base)c).m_size)
26201 @end smallexample
26202
26203 @subheading The @code{-var-show-attributes} Command
26204 @findex -var-show-attributes
26205
26206 @subsubheading Synopsis
26207
26208 @smallexample
26209 -var-show-attributes @var{name}
26210 @end smallexample
26211
26212 List attributes of the specified variable object @var{name}:
26213
26214 @smallexample
26215 status=@var{attr} [ ( ,@var{attr} )* ]
26216 @end smallexample
26217
26218 @noindent
26219 where @var{attr} is @code{@{ @{ editable | noneditable @} | TBD @}}.
26220
26221 @subheading The @code{-var-evaluate-expression} Command
26222 @findex -var-evaluate-expression
26223
26224 @subsubheading Synopsis
26225
26226 @smallexample
26227 -var-evaluate-expression [-f @var{format-spec}] @var{name}
26228 @end smallexample
26229
26230 Evaluates the expression that is represented by the specified variable
26231 object and returns its value as a string. The format of the string
26232 can be specified with the @samp{-f} option. The possible values of
26233 this option are the same as for @code{-var-set-format}
26234 (@pxref{-var-set-format}). If the @samp{-f} option is not specified,
26235 the current display format will be used. The current display format
26236 can be changed using the @code{-var-set-format} command.
26237
26238 @smallexample
26239 value=@var{value}
26240 @end smallexample
26241
26242 Note that one must invoke @code{-var-list-children} for a variable
26243 before the value of a child variable can be evaluated.
26244
26245 @subheading The @code{-var-assign} Command
26246 @findex -var-assign
26247
26248 @subsubheading Synopsis
26249
26250 @smallexample
26251 -var-assign @var{name} @var{expression}
26252 @end smallexample
26253
26254 Assigns the value of @var{expression} to the variable object specified
26255 by @var{name}. The object must be @samp{editable}. If the variable's
26256 value is altered by the assign, the variable will show up in any
26257 subsequent @code{-var-update} list.
26258
26259 @subsubheading Example
26260
26261 @smallexample
26262 (gdb)
26263 -var-assign var1 3
26264 ^done,value="3"
26265 (gdb)
26266 -var-update *
26267 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",in_scope="true",type_changed="false"@}]
26268 (gdb)
26269 @end smallexample
26270
26271 @subheading The @code{-var-update} Command
26272 @findex -var-update
26273
26274 @subsubheading Synopsis
26275
26276 @smallexample
26277 -var-update [@var{print-values}] @{@var{name} | "*"@}
26278 @end smallexample
26279
26280 Reevaluate the expressions corresponding to the variable object
26281 @var{name} and all its direct and indirect children, and return the
26282 list of variable objects whose values have changed; @var{name} must
26283 be a root variable object. Here, ``changed'' means that the result of
26284 @code{-var-evaluate-expression} before and after the
26285 @code{-var-update} is different. If @samp{*} is used as the variable
26286 object names, all existing variable objects are updated, except
26287 for frozen ones (@pxref{-var-set-frozen}). The option
26288 @var{print-values} determines whether both names and values, or just
26289 names are printed. The possible values of this option are the same
26290 as for @code{-var-list-children} (@pxref{-var-list-children}). It is
26291 recommended to use the @samp{--all-values} option, to reduce the
26292 number of MI commands needed on each program stop.
26293
26294 With the @samp{*} parameter, if a variable object is bound to a
26295 currently running thread, it will not be updated, without any
26296 diagnostic.
26297
26298 If @code{-var-set-update-range} was previously used on a varobj, then
26299 only the selected range of children will be reported.
26300
26301 @code{-var-update} reports all the changed varobjs in a tuple named
26302 @samp{changelist}.
26303
26304 Each item in the change list is itself a tuple holding:
26305
26306 @table @samp
26307 @item name
26308 The name of the varobj.
26309
26310 @item value
26311 If values were requested for this update, then this field will be
26312 present and will hold the value of the varobj.
26313
26314 @item in_scope
26315 @anchor{-var-update}
26316 This field is a string which may take one of three values:
26317
26318 @table @code
26319 @item "true"
26320 The variable object's current value is valid.
26321
26322 @item "false"
26323 The variable object does not currently hold a valid value but it may
26324 hold one in the future if its associated expression comes back into
26325 scope.
26326
26327 @item "invalid"
26328 The variable object no longer holds a valid value.
26329 This can occur when the executable file being debugged has changed,
26330 either through recompilation or by using the @value{GDBN} @code{file}
26331 command. The front end should normally choose to delete these variable
26332 objects.
26333 @end table
26334
26335 In the future new values may be added to this list so the front should
26336 be prepared for this possibility. @xref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, ,@sc{GDB/MI} Development and Front Ends}.
26337
26338 @item type_changed
26339 This is only present if the varobj is still valid. If the type
26340 changed, then this will be the string @samp{true}; otherwise it will
26341 be @samp{false}.
26342
26343 @item new_type
26344 If the varobj's type changed, then this field will be present and will
26345 hold the new type.
26346
26347 @item new_num_children
26348 For a dynamic varobj, if the number of children changed, or if the
26349 type changed, this will be the new number of children.
26350
26351 The @samp{numchild} field in other varobj responses is generally not
26352 valid for a dynamic varobj -- it will show the number of children that
26353 @value{GDBN} knows about, but because dynamic varobjs lazily
26354 instantiate their children, this will not reflect the number of
26355 children which may be available.
26356
26357 The @samp{new_num_children} attribute only reports changes to the
26358 number of children known by @value{GDBN}. This is the only way to
26359 detect whether an update has removed children (which necessarily can
26360 only happen at the end of the update range).
26361
26362 @item displayhint
26363 The display hint, if any.
26364
26365 @item has_more
26366 This is an integer value, which will be 1 if there are more children
26367 available outside the varobj's update range.
26368
26369 @item dynamic
26370 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
26371 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
26372 then this attribute will not be present.
26373
26374 @item new_children
26375 If new children were added to a dynamic varobj within the selected
26376 update range (as set by @code{-var-set-update-range}), then they will
26377 be listed in this attribute.
26378 @end table
26379
26380 @subsubheading Example
26381
26382 @smallexample
26383 (gdb)
26384 -var-assign var1 3
26385 ^done,value="3"
26386 (gdb)
26387 -var-update --all-values var1
26388 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",value="3",in_scope="true",
26389 type_changed="false"@}]
26390 (gdb)
26391 @end smallexample
26392
26393 @subheading The @code{-var-set-frozen} Command
26394 @findex -var-set-frozen
26395 @anchor{-var-set-frozen}
26396
26397 @subsubheading Synopsis
26398
26399 @smallexample
26400 -var-set-frozen @var{name} @var{flag}
26401 @end smallexample
26402
26403 Set the frozenness flag on the variable object @var{name}. The
26404 @var{flag} parameter should be either @samp{1} to make the variable
26405 frozen or @samp{0} to make it unfrozen. If a variable object is
26406 frozen, then neither itself, nor any of its children, are
26407 implicitly updated by @code{-var-update} of
26408 a parent variable or by @code{-var-update *}. Only
26409 @code{-var-update} of the variable itself will update its value and
26410 values of its children. After a variable object is unfrozen, it is
26411 implicitly updated by all subsequent @code{-var-update} operations.
26412 Unfreezing a variable does not update it, only subsequent
26413 @code{-var-update} does.
26414
26415 @subsubheading Example
26416
26417 @smallexample
26418 (gdb)
26419 -var-set-frozen V 1
26420 ^done
26421 (gdb)
26422 @end smallexample
26423
26424 @subheading The @code{-var-set-update-range} command
26425 @findex -var-set-update-range
26426 @anchor{-var-set-update-range}
26427
26428 @subsubheading Synopsis
26429
26430 @smallexample
26431 -var-set-update-range @var{name} @var{from} @var{to}
26432 @end smallexample
26433
26434 Set the range of children to be returned by future invocations of
26435 @code{-var-update}.
26436
26437 @var{from} and @var{to} indicate the range of children to report. If
26438 @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is reset and all
26439 children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting at @var{from}
26440 (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be reported.
26441
26442 @subsubheading Example
26443
26444 @smallexample
26445 (gdb)
26446 -var-set-update-range V 1 2
26447 ^done
26448 @end smallexample
26449
26450 @subheading The @code{-var-set-visualizer} command
26451 @findex -var-set-visualizer
26452 @anchor{-var-set-visualizer}
26453
26454 @subsubheading Synopsis
26455
26456 @smallexample
26457 -var-set-visualizer @var{name} @var{visualizer}
26458 @end smallexample
26459
26460 Set a visualizer for the variable object @var{name}.
26461
26462 @var{visualizer} is the visualizer to use. The special value
26463 @samp{None} means to disable any visualizer in use.
26464
26465 If not @samp{None}, @var{visualizer} must be a Python expression.
26466 This expression must evaluate to a callable object which accepts a
26467 single argument. @value{GDBN} will call this object with the value of
26468 the varobj @var{name} as an argument (this is done so that the same
26469 Python pretty-printing code can be used for both the CLI and MI).
26470 When called, this object must return an object which conforms to the
26471 pretty-printing interface (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}).
26472
26473 The pre-defined function @code{gdb.default_visualizer} may be used to
26474 select a visualizer by following the built-in process
26475 (@pxref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}). This is done automatically when
26476 a varobj is created, and so ordinarily is not needed.
26477
26478 This feature is only available if Python support is enabled. The MI
26479 command @code{-list-features} (@pxref{GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands})
26480 can be used to check this.
26481
26482 @subsubheading Example
26483
26484 Resetting the visualizer:
26485
26486 @smallexample
26487 (gdb)
26488 -var-set-visualizer V None
26489 ^done
26490 @end smallexample
26491
26492 Reselecting the default (type-based) visualizer:
26493
26494 @smallexample
26495 (gdb)
26496 -var-set-visualizer V gdb.default_visualizer
26497 ^done
26498 @end smallexample
26499
26500 Suppose @code{SomeClass} is a visualizer class. A lambda expression
26501 can be used to instantiate this class for a varobj:
26502
26503 @smallexample
26504 (gdb)
26505 -var-set-visualizer V "lambda val: SomeClass()"
26506 ^done
26507 @end smallexample
26508
26509 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26510 @node GDB/MI Data Manipulation
26511 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Data Manipulation
26512
26513 @cindex data manipulation, in @sc{gdb/mi}
26514 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, data manipulation
26515 This section describes the @sc{gdb/mi} commands that manipulate data:
26516 examine memory and registers, evaluate expressions, etc.
26517
26518 @c REMOVED FROM THE INTERFACE.
26519 @c @subheading -data-assign
26520 @c Change the value of a program variable. Plenty of side effects.
26521 @c @subsubheading GDB Command
26522 @c set variable
26523 @c @subsubheading Example
26524 @c N.A.
26525
26526 @subheading The @code{-data-disassemble} Command
26527 @findex -data-disassemble
26528
26529 @subsubheading Synopsis
26530
26531 @smallexample
26532 -data-disassemble
26533 [ -s @var{start-addr} -e @var{end-addr} ]
26534 | [ -f @var{filename} -l @var{linenum} [ -n @var{lines} ] ]
26535 -- @var{mode}
26536 @end smallexample
26537
26538 @noindent
26539 Where:
26540
26541 @table @samp
26542 @item @var{start-addr}
26543 is the beginning address (or @code{$pc})
26544 @item @var{end-addr}
26545 is the end address
26546 @item @var{filename}
26547 is the name of the file to disassemble
26548 @item @var{linenum}
26549 is the line number to disassemble around
26550 @item @var{lines}
26551 is the number of disassembly lines to be produced. If it is -1,
26552 the whole function will be disassembled, in case no @var{end-addr} is
26553 specified. If @var{end-addr} is specified as a non-zero value, and
26554 @var{lines} is lower than the number of disassembly lines between
26555 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only @var{lines} lines are
26556 displayed; if @var{lines} is higher than the number of lines between
26557 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only the lines up to @var{end-addr}
26558 are displayed.
26559 @item @var{mode}
26560 is either 0 (meaning only disassembly) or 1 (meaning mixed source and
26561 disassembly).
26562 @end table
26563
26564 @subsubheading Result
26565
26566 The output for each instruction is composed of four fields:
26567
26568 @itemize @bullet
26569 @item Address
26570 @item Func-name
26571 @item Offset
26572 @item Instruction
26573 @end itemize
26574
26575 Note that whatever included in the instruction field, is not manipulated
26576 directly by @sc{gdb/mi}, i.e., it is not possible to adjust its format.
26577
26578 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26579
26580 There's no direct mapping from this command to the CLI.
26581
26582 @subsubheading Example
26583
26584 Disassemble from the current value of @code{$pc} to @code{$pc + 20}:
26585
26586 @smallexample
26587 (gdb)
26588 -data-disassemble -s $pc -e "$pc + 20" -- 0
26589 ^done,
26590 asm_insns=[
26591 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
26592 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
26593 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
26594 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
26595 @{address="0x000107c8",func-name="main",offset="12",
26596 inst="or %o2, 0x140, %o1\t! 0x11940 <_lib_version+8>"@},
26597 @{address="0x000107cc",func-name="main",offset="16",
26598 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
26599 @{address="0x000107d0",func-name="main",offset="20",
26600 inst="or %o2, 0x168, %o4\t! 0x11968 <_lib_version+48>"@}]
26601 (gdb)
26602 @end smallexample
26603
26604 Disassemble the whole @code{main} function. Line 32 is part of
26605 @code{main}.
26606
26607 @smallexample
26608 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -- 0
26609 ^done,asm_insns=[
26610 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
26611 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
26612 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
26613 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
26614 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
26615 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
26616 [@dots{}]
26617 @{address="0x0001081c",func-name="main",offset="96",inst="ret "@},
26618 @{address="0x00010820",func-name="main",offset="100",inst="restore "@}]
26619 (gdb)
26620 @end smallexample
26621
26622 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main}:
26623
26624 @smallexample
26625 (gdb)
26626 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 0
26627 ^done,asm_insns=[
26628 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
26629 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
26630 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
26631 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
26632 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
26633 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]
26634 (gdb)
26635 @end smallexample
26636
26637 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main} in mixed mode:
26638
26639 @smallexample
26640 (gdb)
26641 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 1
26642 ^done,asm_insns=[
26643 src_and_asm_line=@{line="31",
26644 file="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb/ \
26645 testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line_asm_insn=[
26646 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
26647 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@}]@},
26648 src_and_asm_line=@{line="32",
26649 file="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb/ \
26650 testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line_asm_insn=[
26651 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
26652 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
26653 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
26654 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]@}]
26655 (gdb)
26656 @end smallexample
26657
26658
26659 @subheading The @code{-data-evaluate-expression} Command
26660 @findex -data-evaluate-expression
26661
26662 @subsubheading Synopsis
26663
26664 @smallexample
26665 -data-evaluate-expression @var{expr}
26666 @end smallexample
26667
26668 Evaluate @var{expr} as an expression. The expression could contain an
26669 inferior function call. The function call will execute synchronously.
26670 If the expression contains spaces, it must be enclosed in double quotes.
26671
26672 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26673
26674 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{print}, @samp{output}, and
26675 @samp{call}. In @code{gdbtk} only, there's a corresponding
26676 @samp{gdb_eval} command.
26677
26678 @subsubheading Example
26679
26680 In the following example, the numbers that precede the commands are the
26681 @dfn{tokens} described in @ref{GDB/MI Command Syntax, ,@sc{gdb/mi}
26682 Command Syntax}. Notice how @sc{gdb/mi} returns the same tokens in its
26683 output.
26684
26685 @smallexample
26686 211-data-evaluate-expression A
26687 211^done,value="1"
26688 (gdb)
26689 311-data-evaluate-expression &A
26690 311^done,value="0xefffeb7c"
26691 (gdb)
26692 411-data-evaluate-expression A+3
26693 411^done,value="4"
26694 (gdb)
26695 511-data-evaluate-expression "A + 3"
26696 511^done,value="4"
26697 (gdb)
26698 @end smallexample
26699
26700
26701 @subheading The @code{-data-list-changed-registers} Command
26702 @findex -data-list-changed-registers
26703
26704 @subsubheading Synopsis
26705
26706 @smallexample
26707 -data-list-changed-registers
26708 @end smallexample
26709
26710 Display a list of the registers that have changed.
26711
26712 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26713
26714 @value{GDBN} doesn't have a direct analog for this command; @code{gdbtk}
26715 has the corresponding command @samp{gdb_changed_register_list}.
26716
26717 @subsubheading Example
26718
26719 On a PPC MBX board:
26720
26721 @smallexample
26722 (gdb)
26723 -exec-continue
26724 ^running
26725
26726 (gdb)
26727 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",frame=@{
26728 func="main",args=[],file="try.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",
26729 line="5"@}
26730 (gdb)
26731 -data-list-changed-registers
26732 ^done,changed-registers=["0","1","2","4","5","6","7","8","9",
26733 "10","11","13","14","15","16","17","18","19","20","21","22","23",
26734 "24","25","26","27","28","30","31","64","65","66","67","69"]
26735 (gdb)
26736 @end smallexample
26737
26738
26739 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-names} Command
26740 @findex -data-list-register-names
26741
26742 @subsubheading Synopsis
26743
26744 @smallexample
26745 -data-list-register-names [ ( @var{regno} )+ ]
26746 @end smallexample
26747
26748 Show a list of register names for the current target. If no arguments
26749 are given, it shows a list of the names of all the registers. If
26750 integer numbers are given as arguments, it will print a list of the
26751 names of the registers corresponding to the arguments. To ensure
26752 consistency between a register name and its number, the output list may
26753 include empty register names.
26754
26755 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26756
26757 @value{GDBN} does not have a command which corresponds to
26758 @samp{-data-list-register-names}. In @code{gdbtk} there is a
26759 corresponding command @samp{gdb_regnames}.
26760
26761 @subsubheading Example
26762
26763 For the PPC MBX board:
26764 @smallexample
26765 (gdb)
26766 -data-list-register-names
26767 ^done,register-names=["r0","r1","r2","r3","r4","r5","r6","r7",
26768 "r8","r9","r10","r11","r12","r13","r14","r15","r16","r17","r18",
26769 "r19","r20","r21","r22","r23","r24","r25","r26","r27","r28","r29",
26770 "r30","r31","f0","f1","f2","f3","f4","f5","f6","f7","f8","f9",
26771 "f10","f11","f12","f13","f14","f15","f16","f17","f18","f19","f20",
26772 "f21","f22","f23","f24","f25","f26","f27","f28","f29","f30","f31",
26773 "", "pc","ps","cr","lr","ctr","xer"]
26774 (gdb)
26775 -data-list-register-names 1 2 3
26776 ^done,register-names=["r1","r2","r3"]
26777 (gdb)
26778 @end smallexample
26779
26780 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-values} Command
26781 @findex -data-list-register-values
26782
26783 @subsubheading Synopsis
26784
26785 @smallexample
26786 -data-list-register-values @var{fmt} [ ( @var{regno} )*]
26787 @end smallexample
26788
26789 Display the registers' contents. @var{fmt} is the format according to
26790 which the registers' contents are to be returned, followed by an optional
26791 list of numbers specifying the registers to display. A missing list of
26792 numbers indicates that the contents of all the registers must be returned.
26793
26794 Allowed formats for @var{fmt} are:
26795
26796 @table @code
26797 @item x
26798 Hexadecimal
26799 @item o
26800 Octal
26801 @item t
26802 Binary
26803 @item d
26804 Decimal
26805 @item r
26806 Raw
26807 @item N
26808 Natural
26809 @end table
26810
26811 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26812
26813 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{info reg}, @samp{info
26814 all-reg}, and (in @code{gdbtk}) @samp{gdb_fetch_registers}.
26815
26816 @subsubheading Example
26817
26818 For a PPC MBX board (note: line breaks are for readability only, they
26819 don't appear in the actual output):
26820
26821 @smallexample
26822 (gdb)
26823 -data-list-register-values r 64 65
26824 ^done,register-values=[@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
26825 @{number="65",value="0x00029002"@}]
26826 (gdb)
26827 -data-list-register-values x
26828 ^done,register-values=[@{number="0",value="0xfe0043c8"@},
26829 @{number="1",value="0x3fff88"@},@{number="2",value="0xfffffffe"@},
26830 @{number="3",value="0x0"@},@{number="4",value="0xa"@},
26831 @{number="5",value="0x3fff68"@},@{number="6",value="0x3fff58"@},
26832 @{number="7",value="0xfe011e98"@},@{number="8",value="0x2"@},
26833 @{number="9",value="0xfa202820"@},@{number="10",value="0xfa202808"@},
26834 @{number="11",value="0x1"@},@{number="12",value="0x0"@},
26835 @{number="13",value="0x4544"@},@{number="14",value="0xffdfffff"@},
26836 @{number="15",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="16",value="0xfffffeff"@},
26837 @{number="17",value="0xefffffed"@},@{number="18",value="0xfffffffe"@},
26838 @{number="19",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="20",value="0xffffffff"@},
26839 @{number="21",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="22",value="0xfffffff7"@},
26840 @{number="23",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="24",value="0xffffffff"@},
26841 @{number="25",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="26",value="0xfffffffb"@},
26842 @{number="27",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="28",value="0xf7bfffff"@},
26843 @{number="29",value="0x0"@},@{number="30",value="0xfe010000"@},
26844 @{number="31",value="0x0"@},@{number="32",value="0x0"@},
26845 @{number="33",value="0x0"@},@{number="34",value="0x0"@},
26846 @{number="35",value="0x0"@},@{number="36",value="0x0"@},
26847 @{number="37",value="0x0"@},@{number="38",value="0x0"@},
26848 @{number="39",value="0x0"@},@{number="40",value="0x0"@},
26849 @{number="41",value="0x0"@},@{number="42",value="0x0"@},
26850 @{number="43",value="0x0"@},@{number="44",value="0x0"@},
26851 @{number="45",value="0x0"@},@{number="46",value="0x0"@},
26852 @{number="47",value="0x0"@},@{number="48",value="0x0"@},
26853 @{number="49",value="0x0"@},@{number="50",value="0x0"@},
26854 @{number="51",value="0x0"@},@{number="52",value="0x0"@},
26855 @{number="53",value="0x0"@},@{number="54",value="0x0"@},
26856 @{number="55",value="0x0"@},@{number="56",value="0x0"@},
26857 @{number="57",value="0x0"@},@{number="58",value="0x0"@},
26858 @{number="59",value="0x0"@},@{number="60",value="0x0"@},
26859 @{number="61",value="0x0"@},@{number="62",value="0x0"@},
26860 @{number="63",value="0x0"@},@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
26861 @{number="65",value="0x29002"@},@{number="66",value="0x202f04b5"@},
26862 @{number="67",value="0xfe0043b0"@},@{number="68",value="0xfe00b3e4"@},
26863 @{number="69",value="0x20002b03"@}]
26864 (gdb)
26865 @end smallexample
26866
26867
26868 @subheading The @code{-data-read-memory} Command
26869 @findex -data-read-memory
26870
26871 @subsubheading Synopsis
26872
26873 @smallexample
26874 -data-read-memory [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
26875 @var{address} @var{word-format} @var{word-size}
26876 @var{nr-rows} @var{nr-cols} [ @var{aschar} ]
26877 @end smallexample
26878
26879 @noindent
26880 where:
26881
26882 @table @samp
26883 @item @var{address}
26884 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
26885 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
26886 quoted using the C convention.
26887
26888 @item @var{word-format}
26889 The format to be used to print the memory words. The notation is the
26890 same as for @value{GDBN}'s @code{print} command (@pxref{Output Formats,
26891 ,Output Formats}).
26892
26893 @item @var{word-size}
26894 The size of each memory word in bytes.
26895
26896 @item @var{nr-rows}
26897 The number of rows in the output table.
26898
26899 @item @var{nr-cols}
26900 The number of columns in the output table.
26901
26902 @item @var{aschar}
26903 If present, indicates that each row should include an @sc{ascii} dump. The
26904 value of @var{aschar} is used as a padding character when a byte is not a
26905 member of the printable @sc{ascii} character set (printable @sc{ascii}
26906 characters are those whose code is between 32 and 126, inclusively).
26907
26908 @item @var{byte-offset}
26909 An offset to add to the @var{address} before fetching memory.
26910 @end table
26911
26912 This command displays memory contents as a table of @var{nr-rows} by
26913 @var{nr-cols} words, each word being @var{word-size} bytes. In total,
26914 @code{@var{nr-rows} * @var{nr-cols} * @var{word-size}} bytes are read
26915 (returned as @samp{total-bytes}). Should less than the requested number
26916 of bytes be returned by the target, the missing words are identified
26917 using @samp{N/A}. The number of bytes read from the target is returned
26918 in @samp{nr-bytes} and the starting address used to read memory in
26919 @samp{addr}.
26920
26921 The address of the next/previous row or page is available in
26922 @samp{next-row} and @samp{prev-row}, @samp{next-page} and
26923 @samp{prev-page}.
26924
26925 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26926
26927 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}. @code{gdbtk} has
26928 @samp{gdb_get_mem} memory read command.
26929
26930 @subsubheading Example
26931
26932 Read six bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+6} but then offset by
26933 @code{-6} bytes. Format as three rows of two columns. One byte per
26934 word. Display each word in hex.
26935
26936 @smallexample
26937 (gdb)
26938 9-data-read-memory -o -6 -- bytes+6 x 1 3 2
26939 9^done,addr="0x00001390",nr-bytes="6",total-bytes="6",
26940 next-row="0x00001396",prev-row="0x0000138e",next-page="0x00001396",
26941 prev-page="0x0000138a",memory=[
26942 @{addr="0x00001390",data=["0x00","0x01"]@},
26943 @{addr="0x00001392",data=["0x02","0x03"]@},
26944 @{addr="0x00001394",data=["0x04","0x05"]@}]
26945 (gdb)
26946 @end smallexample
26947
26948 Read two bytes of memory starting at address @code{shorts + 64} and
26949 display as a single word formatted in decimal.
26950
26951 @smallexample
26952 (gdb)
26953 5-data-read-memory shorts+64 d 2 1 1
26954 5^done,addr="0x00001510",nr-bytes="2",total-bytes="2",
26955 next-row="0x00001512",prev-row="0x0000150e",
26956 next-page="0x00001512",prev-page="0x0000150e",memory=[
26957 @{addr="0x00001510",data=["128"]@}]
26958 (gdb)
26959 @end smallexample
26960
26961 Read thirty two bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+16} and format
26962 as eight rows of four columns. Include a string encoding with @samp{x}
26963 used as the non-printable character.
26964
26965 @smallexample
26966 (gdb)
26967 4-data-read-memory bytes+16 x 1 8 4 x
26968 4^done,addr="0x000013a0",nr-bytes="32",total-bytes="32",
26969 next-row="0x000013c0",prev-row="0x0000139c",
26970 next-page="0x000013c0",prev-page="0x00001380",memory=[
26971 @{addr="0x000013a0",data=["0x10","0x11","0x12","0x13"],ascii="xxxx"@},
26972 @{addr="0x000013a4",data=["0x14","0x15","0x16","0x17"],ascii="xxxx"@},
26973 @{addr="0x000013a8",data=["0x18","0x19","0x1a","0x1b"],ascii="xxxx"@},
26974 @{addr="0x000013ac",data=["0x1c","0x1d","0x1e","0x1f"],ascii="xxxx"@},
26975 @{addr="0x000013b0",data=["0x20","0x21","0x22","0x23"],ascii=" !\"#"@},
26976 @{addr="0x000013b4",data=["0x24","0x25","0x26","0x27"],ascii="$%&'"@},
26977 @{addr="0x000013b8",data=["0x28","0x29","0x2a","0x2b"],ascii="()*+"@},
26978 @{addr="0x000013bc",data=["0x2c","0x2d","0x2e","0x2f"],ascii=",-./"@}]
26979 (gdb)
26980 @end smallexample
26981
26982 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26983 @node GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands
26984 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Tracepoint Commands
26985
26986 The commands defined in this section implement MI support for
26987 tracepoints. For detailed introduction, see @ref{Tracepoints}.
26988
26989 @subheading The @code{-trace-find} Command
26990 @findex -trace-find
26991
26992 @subsubheading Synopsis
26993
26994 @smallexample
26995 -trace-find @var{mode} [@var{parameters}@dots{}]
26996 @end smallexample
26997
26998 Find a trace frame using criteria defined by @var{mode} and
26999 @var{parameters}. The following table lists permissible
27000 modes and their parameters. For details of operation, see @ref{tfind}.
27001
27002 @table @samp
27003
27004 @item none
27005 No parameters are required. Stops examining trace frames.
27006
27007 @item frame-number
27008 An integer is required as parameter. Selects tracepoint frame with
27009 that index.
27010
27011 @item tracepoint-number
27012 An integer is required as parameter. Finds next
27013 trace frame that corresponds to tracepoint with the specified number.
27014
27015 @item pc
27016 An address is required as parameter. Finds
27017 next trace frame that corresponds to any tracepoint at the specified
27018 address.
27019
27020 @item pc-inside-range
27021 Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds next trace
27022 frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address inside the
27023 specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
27024
27025 @item pc-outside-range
27026 Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds
27027 next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address outside
27028 the specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
27029
27030 @item line
27031 Line specification is required as parameter. @xref{Specify Location}.
27032 Finds next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at
27033 the specified location.
27034
27035 @end table
27036
27037 If @samp{none} was passed as @var{mode}, the response does not
27038 have fields. Otherwise, the response may have the following fields:
27039
27040 @table @samp
27041 @item found
27042 This field has either @samp{0} or @samp{1} as the value, depending
27043 on whether a matching tracepoint was found.
27044
27045 @item traceframe
27046 The index of the found traceframe. This field is present iff
27047 the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
27048
27049 @item tracepoint
27050 The index of the found tracepoint. This field is present iff
27051 the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
27052
27053 @item frame
27054 The information about the frame corresponding to the found trace
27055 frame. This field is present only if a trace frame was found.
27056 @xref{GDB/MI Frame Information}, for description of this field.
27057
27058 @end table
27059
27060 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27061
27062 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tfind}.
27063
27064 @subheading -trace-define-variable
27065 @findex -trace-define-variable
27066
27067 @subsubheading Synopsis
27068
27069 @smallexample
27070 -trace-define-variable @var{name} [ @var{value} ]
27071 @end smallexample
27072
27073 Create trace variable @var{name} if it does not exist. If
27074 @var{value} is specified, sets the initial value of the specified
27075 trace variable to that value. Note that the @var{name} should start
27076 with the @samp{$} character.
27077
27078 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27079
27080 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariable}.
27081
27082 @subheading -trace-list-variables
27083 @findex -trace-list-variables
27084
27085 @subsubheading Synopsis
27086
27087 @smallexample
27088 -trace-list-variables
27089 @end smallexample
27090
27091 Return a table of all defined trace variables. Each element of the
27092 table has the following fields:
27093
27094 @table @samp
27095 @item name
27096 The name of the trace variable. This field is always present.
27097
27098 @item initial
27099 The initial value. This is a 64-bit signed integer. This
27100 field is always present.
27101
27102 @item current
27103 The value the trace variable has at the moment. This is a 64-bit
27104 signed integer. This field is absent iff current value is
27105 not defined, for example if the trace was never run, or is
27106 presently running.
27107
27108 @end table
27109
27110 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27111
27112 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariables}.
27113
27114 @subsubheading Example
27115
27116 @smallexample
27117 (gdb)
27118 -trace-list-variables
27119 ^done,trace-variables=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="3",
27120 hdr=[@{width="15",alignment="-1",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@},
27121 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="initial",colhdr="Initial"@},
27122 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="current",colhdr="Current"@}],
27123 body=[variable=@{name="$trace_timestamp",initial="0"@}
27124 variable=@{name="$foo",initial="10",current="15"@}]@}
27125 (gdb)
27126 @end smallexample
27127
27128 @subheading -trace-save
27129 @findex -trace-save
27130
27131 @subsubheading Synopsis
27132
27133 @smallexample
27134 -trace-save [-r ] @var{filename}
27135 @end smallexample
27136
27137 Saves the collected trace data to @var{filename}. Without the
27138 @samp{-r} option, the data is downloaded from the target and saved
27139 in a local file. With the @samp{-r} option the target is asked
27140 to perform the save.
27141
27142 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27143
27144 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tsave}.
27145
27146
27147 @subheading -trace-start
27148 @findex -trace-start
27149
27150 @subsubheading Synopsis
27151
27152 @smallexample
27153 -trace-start
27154 @end smallexample
27155
27156 Starts a tracing experiments. The result of this command does not
27157 have any fields.
27158
27159 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27160
27161 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstart}.
27162
27163 @subheading -trace-status
27164 @findex -trace-status
27165
27166 @subsubheading Synopsis
27167
27168 @smallexample
27169 -trace-status
27170 @end smallexample
27171
27172 Obtains the status of a tracing experiment. The result may include
27173 the following fields:
27174
27175 @table @samp
27176
27177 @item supported
27178 May have a value of either @samp{0}, when no tracing operations are
27179 supported, @samp{1}, when all tracing operations are supported, or
27180 @samp{file} when examining trace file. In the latter case, examining
27181 of trace frame is possible but new tracing experiement cannot be
27182 started. This field is always present.
27183
27184 @item running
27185 May have a value of either @samp{0} or @samp{1} depending on whether
27186 tracing experiement is in progress on target. This field is present
27187 if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
27188
27189 @item stop-reason
27190 Report the reason why the tracing was stopped last time. This field
27191 may be absent iff tracing was never stopped on target yet. The
27192 value of @samp{request} means the tracing was stopped as result of
27193 the @code{-trace-stop} command. The value of @samp{overflow} means
27194 the tracing buffer is full. The value of @samp{disconnection} means
27195 tracing was automatically stopped when @value{GDBN} has disconnected.
27196 The value of @samp{passcount} means tracing was stopped when a
27197 tracepoint was passed a maximal number of times for that tracepoint.
27198 This field is present if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
27199
27200 @item stopping-tracepoint
27201 The number of tracepoint whose passcount as exceeded. This field is
27202 present iff the @samp{stop-reason} field has the value of
27203 @samp{passcount}.
27204
27205 @item frames
27206 @itemx frames-created
27207 The @samp{frames} field is a count of the total number of trace frames
27208 in the trace buffer, while @samp{frames-created} is the total created
27209 during the run, including ones that were discarded, such as when a
27210 circular trace buffer filled up. Both fields are optional.
27211
27212 @item buffer-size
27213 @itemx buffer-free
27214 These fields tell the current size of the tracing buffer and the
27215 remaining space. These fields are optional.
27216
27217 @item circular
27218 The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
27219 trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
27220 necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
27221 and may fill up.
27222
27223 @item disconnected
27224 The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
27225 tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
27226 that the trace run will stop.
27227
27228 @end table
27229
27230 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27231
27232 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstatus}.
27233
27234 @subheading -trace-stop
27235 @findex -trace-stop
27236
27237 @subsubheading Synopsis
27238
27239 @smallexample
27240 -trace-stop
27241 @end smallexample
27242
27243 Stops a tracing experiment. The result of this command has the same
27244 fields as @code{-trace-status}, except that the @samp{supported} and
27245 @samp{running} fields are not output.
27246
27247 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27248
27249 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstop}.
27250
27251
27252 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27253 @node GDB/MI Symbol Query
27254 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Symbol Query Commands
27255
27256
27257 @ignore
27258 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-address} Command
27259 @findex -symbol-info-address
27260
27261 @subsubheading Synopsis
27262
27263 @smallexample
27264 -symbol-info-address @var{symbol}
27265 @end smallexample
27266
27267 Describe where @var{symbol} is stored.
27268
27269 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27270
27271 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info address}.
27272
27273 @subsubheading Example
27274 N.A.
27275
27276
27277 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-file} Command
27278 @findex -symbol-info-file
27279
27280 @subsubheading Synopsis
27281
27282 @smallexample
27283 -symbol-info-file
27284 @end smallexample
27285
27286 Show the file for the symbol.
27287
27288 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27289
27290 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command. @code{gdbtk} has
27291 @samp{gdb_find_file}.
27292
27293 @subsubheading Example
27294 N.A.
27295
27296
27297 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-function} Command
27298 @findex -symbol-info-function
27299
27300 @subsubheading Synopsis
27301
27302 @smallexample
27303 -symbol-info-function
27304 @end smallexample
27305
27306 Show which function the symbol lives in.
27307
27308 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27309
27310 @samp{gdb_get_function} in @code{gdbtk}.
27311
27312 @subsubheading Example
27313 N.A.
27314
27315
27316 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-line} Command
27317 @findex -symbol-info-line
27318
27319 @subsubheading Synopsis
27320
27321 @smallexample
27322 -symbol-info-line
27323 @end smallexample
27324
27325 Show the core addresses of the code for a source line.
27326
27327 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27328
27329 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info line}.
27330 @code{gdbtk} has the @samp{gdb_get_line} and @samp{gdb_get_file} commands.
27331
27332 @subsubheading Example
27333 N.A.
27334
27335
27336 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-symbol} Command
27337 @findex -symbol-info-symbol
27338
27339 @subsubheading Synopsis
27340
27341 @smallexample
27342 -symbol-info-symbol @var{addr}
27343 @end smallexample
27344
27345 Describe what symbol is at location @var{addr}.
27346
27347 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27348
27349 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info symbol}.
27350
27351 @subsubheading Example
27352 N.A.
27353
27354
27355 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-functions} Command
27356 @findex -symbol-list-functions
27357
27358 @subsubheading Synopsis
27359
27360 @smallexample
27361 -symbol-list-functions
27362 @end smallexample
27363
27364 List the functions in the executable.
27365
27366 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27367
27368 @samp{info functions} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_listfunc} and
27369 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
27370
27371 @subsubheading Example
27372 N.A.
27373 @end ignore
27374
27375
27376 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-lines} Command
27377 @findex -symbol-list-lines
27378
27379 @subsubheading Synopsis
27380
27381 @smallexample
27382 -symbol-list-lines @var{filename}
27383 @end smallexample
27384
27385 Print the list of lines that contain code and their associated program
27386 addresses for the given source filename. The entries are sorted in
27387 ascending PC order.
27388
27389 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27390
27391 There is no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
27392
27393 @subsubheading Example
27394 @smallexample
27395 (gdb)
27396 -symbol-list-lines basics.c
27397 ^done,lines=[@{pc="0x08048554",line="7"@},@{pc="0x0804855a",line="8"@}]
27398 (gdb)
27399 @end smallexample
27400
27401
27402 @ignore
27403 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-types} Command
27404 @findex -symbol-list-types
27405
27406 @subsubheading Synopsis
27407
27408 @smallexample
27409 -symbol-list-types
27410 @end smallexample
27411
27412 List all the type names.
27413
27414 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27415
27416 The corresponding commands are @samp{info types} in @value{GDBN},
27417 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
27418
27419 @subsubheading Example
27420 N.A.
27421
27422
27423 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-variables} Command
27424 @findex -symbol-list-variables
27425
27426 @subsubheading Synopsis
27427
27428 @smallexample
27429 -symbol-list-variables
27430 @end smallexample
27431
27432 List all the global and static variable names.
27433
27434 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27435
27436 @samp{info variables} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
27437
27438 @subsubheading Example
27439 N.A.
27440
27441
27442 @subheading The @code{-symbol-locate} Command
27443 @findex -symbol-locate
27444
27445 @subsubheading Synopsis
27446
27447 @smallexample
27448 -symbol-locate
27449 @end smallexample
27450
27451 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27452
27453 @samp{gdb_loc} in @code{gdbtk}.
27454
27455 @subsubheading Example
27456 N.A.
27457
27458
27459 @subheading The @code{-symbol-type} Command
27460 @findex -symbol-type
27461
27462 @subsubheading Synopsis
27463
27464 @smallexample
27465 -symbol-type @var{variable}
27466 @end smallexample
27467
27468 Show type of @var{variable}.
27469
27470 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27471
27472 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ptype}, @code{gdbtk} has
27473 @samp{gdb_obj_variable}.
27474
27475 @subsubheading Example
27476 N.A.
27477 @end ignore
27478
27479
27480 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27481 @node GDB/MI File Commands
27482 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Commands
27483
27484 This section describes the GDB/MI commands to specify executable file names
27485 and to read in and obtain symbol table information.
27486
27487 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-and-symbols} Command
27488 @findex -file-exec-and-symbols
27489
27490 @subsubheading Synopsis
27491
27492 @smallexample
27493 -file-exec-and-symbols @var{file}
27494 @end smallexample
27495
27496 Specify the executable file to be debugged. This file is the one from
27497 which the symbol table is also read. If no file is specified, the
27498 command clears the executable and symbol information. If breakpoints
27499 are set when using this command with no arguments, @value{GDBN} will produce
27500 error messages. Otherwise, no output is produced, except a completion
27501 notification.
27502
27503 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27504
27505 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{file}.
27506
27507 @subsubheading Example
27508
27509 @smallexample
27510 (gdb)
27511 -file-exec-and-symbols /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
27512 ^done
27513 (gdb)
27514 @end smallexample
27515
27516
27517 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-file} Command
27518 @findex -file-exec-file
27519
27520 @subsubheading Synopsis
27521
27522 @smallexample
27523 -file-exec-file @var{file}
27524 @end smallexample
27525
27526 Specify the executable file to be debugged. Unlike
27527 @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols}, the symbol table is @emph{not} read
27528 from this file. If used without argument, @value{GDBN} clears the information
27529 about the executable file. No output is produced, except a completion
27530 notification.
27531
27532 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27533
27534 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{exec-file}.
27535
27536 @subsubheading Example
27537
27538 @smallexample
27539 (gdb)
27540 -file-exec-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
27541 ^done
27542 (gdb)
27543 @end smallexample
27544
27545
27546 @ignore
27547 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-sections} Command
27548 @findex -file-list-exec-sections
27549
27550 @subsubheading Synopsis
27551
27552 @smallexample
27553 -file-list-exec-sections
27554 @end smallexample
27555
27556 List the sections of the current executable file.
27557
27558 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27559
27560 The @value{GDBN} command @samp{info file} shows, among the rest, the same
27561 information as this command. @code{gdbtk} has a corresponding command
27562 @samp{gdb_load_info}.
27563
27564 @subsubheading Example
27565 N.A.
27566 @end ignore
27567
27568
27569 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-file} Command
27570 @findex -file-list-exec-source-file
27571
27572 @subsubheading Synopsis
27573
27574 @smallexample
27575 -file-list-exec-source-file
27576 @end smallexample
27577
27578 List the line number, the current source file, and the absolute path
27579 to the current source file for the current executable. The macro
27580 information field has a value of @samp{1} or @samp{0} depending on
27581 whether or not the file includes preprocessor macro information.
27582
27583 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27584
27585 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info source}
27586
27587 @subsubheading Example
27588
27589 @smallexample
27590 (gdb)
27591 123-file-list-exec-source-file
27592 123^done,line="1",file="foo.c",fullname="/home/bar/foo.c,macro-info="1"
27593 (gdb)
27594 @end smallexample
27595
27596
27597 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-files} Command
27598 @findex -file-list-exec-source-files
27599
27600 @subsubheading Synopsis
27601
27602 @smallexample
27603 -file-list-exec-source-files
27604 @end smallexample
27605
27606 List the source files for the current executable.
27607
27608 It will always output the filename, but only when @value{GDBN} can find
27609 the absolute file name of a source file, will it output the fullname.
27610
27611 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27612
27613 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info sources}.
27614 @code{gdbtk} has an analogous command @samp{gdb_listfiles}.
27615
27616 @subsubheading Example
27617 @smallexample
27618 (gdb)
27619 -file-list-exec-source-files
27620 ^done,files=[
27621 @{file=foo.c,fullname=/home/foo.c@},
27622 @{file=/home/bar.c,fullname=/home/bar.c@},
27623 @{file=gdb_could_not_find_fullpath.c@}]
27624 (gdb)
27625 @end smallexample
27626
27627 @ignore
27628 @subheading The @code{-file-list-shared-libraries} Command
27629 @findex -file-list-shared-libraries
27630
27631 @subsubheading Synopsis
27632
27633 @smallexample
27634 -file-list-shared-libraries
27635 @end smallexample
27636
27637 List the shared libraries in the program.
27638
27639 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27640
27641 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info shared}.
27642
27643 @subsubheading Example
27644 N.A.
27645
27646
27647 @subheading The @code{-file-list-symbol-files} Command
27648 @findex -file-list-symbol-files
27649
27650 @subsubheading Synopsis
27651
27652 @smallexample
27653 -file-list-symbol-files
27654 @end smallexample
27655
27656 List symbol files.
27657
27658 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27659
27660 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info file} (part of it).
27661
27662 @subsubheading Example
27663 N.A.
27664 @end ignore
27665
27666
27667 @subheading The @code{-file-symbol-file} Command
27668 @findex -file-symbol-file
27669
27670 @subsubheading Synopsis
27671
27672 @smallexample
27673 -file-symbol-file @var{file}
27674 @end smallexample
27675
27676 Read symbol table info from the specified @var{file} argument. When
27677 used without arguments, clears @value{GDBN}'s symbol table info. No output is
27678 produced, except for a completion notification.
27679
27680 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27681
27682 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{symbol-file}.
27683
27684 @subsubheading Example
27685
27686 @smallexample
27687 (gdb)
27688 -file-symbol-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
27689 ^done
27690 (gdb)
27691 @end smallexample
27692
27693 @ignore
27694 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27695 @node GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands
27696 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Memory Overlay Commands
27697
27698 The memory overlay commands are not implemented.
27699
27700 @c @subheading -overlay-auto
27701
27702 @c @subheading -overlay-list-mapping-state
27703
27704 @c @subheading -overlay-list-overlays
27705
27706 @c @subheading -overlay-map
27707
27708 @c @subheading -overlay-off
27709
27710 @c @subheading -overlay-on
27711
27712 @c @subheading -overlay-unmap
27713
27714 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27715 @node GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands
27716 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Signal Handling Commands
27717
27718 Signal handling commands are not implemented.
27719
27720 @c @subheading -signal-handle
27721
27722 @c @subheading -signal-list-handle-actions
27723
27724 @c @subheading -signal-list-signal-types
27725 @end ignore
27726
27727
27728 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27729 @node GDB/MI Target Manipulation
27730 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Target Manipulation Commands
27731
27732
27733 @subheading The @code{-target-attach} Command
27734 @findex -target-attach
27735
27736 @subsubheading Synopsis
27737
27738 @smallexample
27739 -target-attach @var{pid} | @var{gid} | @var{file}
27740 @end smallexample
27741
27742 Attach to a process @var{pid} or a file @var{file} outside of
27743 @value{GDBN}, or a thread group @var{gid}. If attaching to a thread
27744 group, the id previously returned by
27745 @samp{-list-thread-groups --available} must be used.
27746
27747 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27748
27749 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{attach}.
27750
27751 @subsubheading Example
27752 @smallexample
27753 (gdb)
27754 -target-attach 34
27755 =thread-created,id="1"
27756 *stopped,thread-id="1",frame=@{addr="0xb7f7e410",func="bar",args=[]@}
27757 ^done
27758 (gdb)
27759 @end smallexample
27760
27761 @ignore
27762 @subheading The @code{-target-compare-sections} Command
27763 @findex -target-compare-sections
27764
27765 @subsubheading Synopsis
27766
27767 @smallexample
27768 -target-compare-sections [ @var{section} ]
27769 @end smallexample
27770
27771 Compare data of section @var{section} on target to the exec file.
27772 Without the argument, all sections are compared.
27773
27774 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27775
27776 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{compare-sections}.
27777
27778 @subsubheading Example
27779 N.A.
27780 @end ignore
27781
27782
27783 @subheading The @code{-target-detach} Command
27784 @findex -target-detach
27785
27786 @subsubheading Synopsis
27787
27788 @smallexample
27789 -target-detach [ @var{pid} | @var{gid} ]
27790 @end smallexample
27791
27792 Detach from the remote target which normally resumes its execution.
27793 If either @var{pid} or @var{gid} is specified, detaches from either
27794 the specified process, or specified thread group. There's no output.
27795
27796 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27797
27798 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{detach}.
27799
27800 @subsubheading Example
27801
27802 @smallexample
27803 (gdb)
27804 -target-detach
27805 ^done
27806 (gdb)
27807 @end smallexample
27808
27809
27810 @subheading The @code{-target-disconnect} Command
27811 @findex -target-disconnect
27812
27813 @subsubheading Synopsis
27814
27815 @smallexample
27816 -target-disconnect
27817 @end smallexample
27818
27819 Disconnect from the remote target. There's no output and the target is
27820 generally not resumed.
27821
27822 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27823
27824 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disconnect}.
27825
27826 @subsubheading Example
27827
27828 @smallexample
27829 (gdb)
27830 -target-disconnect
27831 ^done
27832 (gdb)
27833 @end smallexample
27834
27835
27836 @subheading The @code{-target-download} Command
27837 @findex -target-download
27838
27839 @subsubheading Synopsis
27840
27841 @smallexample
27842 -target-download
27843 @end smallexample
27844
27845 Loads the executable onto the remote target.
27846 It prints out an update message every half second, which includes the fields:
27847
27848 @table @samp
27849 @item section
27850 The name of the section.
27851 @item section-sent
27852 The size of what has been sent so far for that section.
27853 @item section-size
27854 The size of the section.
27855 @item total-sent
27856 The total size of what was sent so far (the current and the previous sections).
27857 @item total-size
27858 The size of the overall executable to download.
27859 @end table
27860
27861 @noindent
27862 Each message is sent as status record (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, ,
27863 @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax}).
27864
27865 In addition, it prints the name and size of the sections, as they are
27866 downloaded. These messages include the following fields:
27867
27868 @table @samp
27869 @item section
27870 The name of the section.
27871 @item section-size
27872 The size of the section.
27873 @item total-size
27874 The size of the overall executable to download.
27875 @end table
27876
27877 @noindent
27878 At the end, a summary is printed.
27879
27880 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27881
27882 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{load}.
27883
27884 @subsubheading Example
27885
27886 Note: each status message appears on a single line. Here the messages
27887 have been broken down so that they can fit onto a page.
27888
27889 @smallexample
27890 (gdb)
27891 -target-download
27892 +download,@{section=".text",section-size="6668",total-size="9880"@}
27893 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="512",section-size="6668",
27894 total-sent="512",total-size="9880"@}
27895 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1024",section-size="6668",
27896 total-sent="1024",total-size="9880"@}
27897 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1536",section-size="6668",
27898 total-sent="1536",total-size="9880"@}
27899 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2048",section-size="6668",
27900 total-sent="2048",total-size="9880"@}
27901 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2560",section-size="6668",
27902 total-sent="2560",total-size="9880"@}
27903 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3072",section-size="6668",
27904 total-sent="3072",total-size="9880"@}
27905 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3584",section-size="6668",
27906 total-sent="3584",total-size="9880"@}
27907 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4096",section-size="6668",
27908 total-sent="4096",total-size="9880"@}
27909 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4608",section-size="6668",
27910 total-sent="4608",total-size="9880"@}
27911 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5120",section-size="6668",
27912 total-sent="5120",total-size="9880"@}
27913 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5632",section-size="6668",
27914 total-sent="5632",total-size="9880"@}
27915 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6144",section-size="6668",
27916 total-sent="6144",total-size="9880"@}
27917 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6656",section-size="6668",
27918 total-sent="6656",total-size="9880"@}
27919 +download,@{section=".init",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
27920 +download,@{section=".fini",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
27921 +download,@{section=".data",section-size="3156",total-size="9880"@}
27922 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="512",section-size="3156",
27923 total-sent="7236",total-size="9880"@}
27924 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1024",section-size="3156",
27925 total-sent="7748",total-size="9880"@}
27926 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1536",section-size="3156",
27927 total-sent="8260",total-size="9880"@}
27928 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2048",section-size="3156",
27929 total-sent="8772",total-size="9880"@}
27930 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2560",section-size="3156",
27931 total-sent="9284",total-size="9880"@}
27932 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="3072",section-size="3156",
27933 total-sent="9796",total-size="9880"@}
27934 ^done,address="0x10004",load-size="9880",transfer-rate="6586",
27935 write-rate="429"
27936 (gdb)
27937 @end smallexample
27938
27939
27940 @ignore
27941 @subheading The @code{-target-exec-status} Command
27942 @findex -target-exec-status
27943
27944 @subsubheading Synopsis
27945
27946 @smallexample
27947 -target-exec-status
27948 @end smallexample
27949
27950 Provide information on the state of the target (whether it is running or
27951 not, for instance).
27952
27953 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27954
27955 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
27956
27957 @subsubheading Example
27958 N.A.
27959
27960
27961 @subheading The @code{-target-list-available-targets} Command
27962 @findex -target-list-available-targets
27963
27964 @subsubheading Synopsis
27965
27966 @smallexample
27967 -target-list-available-targets
27968 @end smallexample
27969
27970 List the possible targets to connect to.
27971
27972 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27973
27974 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{help target}.
27975
27976 @subsubheading Example
27977 N.A.
27978
27979
27980 @subheading The @code{-target-list-current-targets} Command
27981 @findex -target-list-current-targets
27982
27983 @subsubheading Synopsis
27984
27985 @smallexample
27986 -target-list-current-targets
27987 @end smallexample
27988
27989 Describe the current target.
27990
27991 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27992
27993 The corresponding information is printed by @samp{info file} (among
27994 other things).
27995
27996 @subsubheading Example
27997 N.A.
27998
27999
28000 @subheading The @code{-target-list-parameters} Command
28001 @findex -target-list-parameters
28002
28003 @subsubheading Synopsis
28004
28005 @smallexample
28006 -target-list-parameters
28007 @end smallexample
28008
28009 @c ????
28010 @end ignore
28011
28012 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28013
28014 No equivalent.
28015
28016 @subsubheading Example
28017 N.A.
28018
28019
28020 @subheading The @code{-target-select} Command
28021 @findex -target-select
28022
28023 @subsubheading Synopsis
28024
28025 @smallexample
28026 -target-select @var{type} @var{parameters @dots{}}
28027 @end smallexample
28028
28029 Connect @value{GDBN} to the remote target. This command takes two args:
28030
28031 @table @samp
28032 @item @var{type}
28033 The type of target, for instance @samp{remote}, etc.
28034 @item @var{parameters}
28035 Device names, host names and the like. @xref{Target Commands, ,
28036 Commands for Managing Targets}, for more details.
28037 @end table
28038
28039 The output is a connection notification, followed by the address at
28040 which the target program is, in the following form:
28041
28042 @smallexample
28043 ^connected,addr="@var{address}",func="@var{function name}",
28044 args=[@var{arg list}]
28045 @end smallexample
28046
28047 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28048
28049 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{target}.
28050
28051 @subsubheading Example
28052
28053 @smallexample
28054 (gdb)
28055 -target-select remote /dev/ttya
28056 ^connected,addr="0xfe00a300",func="??",args=[]
28057 (gdb)
28058 @end smallexample
28059
28060 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28061 @node GDB/MI File Transfer Commands
28062 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Transfer Commands
28063
28064
28065 @subheading The @code{-target-file-put} Command
28066 @findex -target-file-put
28067
28068 @subsubheading Synopsis
28069
28070 @smallexample
28071 -target-file-put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
28072 @end smallexample
28073
28074 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
28075 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
28076
28077 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28078
28079 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote put}.
28080
28081 @subsubheading Example
28082
28083 @smallexample
28084 (gdb)
28085 -target-file-put localfile remotefile
28086 ^done
28087 (gdb)
28088 @end smallexample
28089
28090
28091 @subheading The @code{-target-file-get} Command
28092 @findex -target-file-get
28093
28094 @subsubheading Synopsis
28095
28096 @smallexample
28097 -target-file-get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
28098 @end smallexample
28099
28100 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
28101 on the host system.
28102
28103 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28104
28105 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote get}.
28106
28107 @subsubheading Example
28108
28109 @smallexample
28110 (gdb)
28111 -target-file-get remotefile localfile
28112 ^done
28113 (gdb)
28114 @end smallexample
28115
28116
28117 @subheading The @code{-target-file-delete} Command
28118 @findex -target-file-delete
28119
28120 @subsubheading Synopsis
28121
28122 @smallexample
28123 -target-file-delete @var{targetfile}
28124 @end smallexample
28125
28126 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
28127
28128 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28129
28130 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote delete}.
28131
28132 @subsubheading Example
28133
28134 @smallexample
28135 (gdb)
28136 -target-file-delete remotefile
28137 ^done
28138 (gdb)
28139 @end smallexample
28140
28141
28142 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28143 @node GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands
28144 @section Miscellaneous @sc{gdb/mi} Commands
28145
28146 @c @subheading -gdb-complete
28147
28148 @subheading The @code{-gdb-exit} Command
28149 @findex -gdb-exit
28150
28151 @subsubheading Synopsis
28152
28153 @smallexample
28154 -gdb-exit
28155 @end smallexample
28156
28157 Exit @value{GDBN} immediately.
28158
28159 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28160
28161 Approximately corresponds to @samp{quit}.
28162
28163 @subsubheading Example
28164
28165 @smallexample
28166 (gdb)
28167 -gdb-exit
28168 ^exit
28169 @end smallexample
28170
28171
28172 @ignore
28173 @subheading The @code{-exec-abort} Command
28174 @findex -exec-abort
28175
28176 @subsubheading Synopsis
28177
28178 @smallexample
28179 -exec-abort
28180 @end smallexample
28181
28182 Kill the inferior running program.
28183
28184 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28185
28186 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{kill}.
28187
28188 @subsubheading Example
28189 N.A.
28190 @end ignore
28191
28192
28193 @subheading The @code{-gdb-set} Command
28194 @findex -gdb-set
28195
28196 @subsubheading Synopsis
28197
28198 @smallexample
28199 -gdb-set
28200 @end smallexample
28201
28202 Set an internal @value{GDBN} variable.
28203 @c IS THIS A DOLLAR VARIABLE? OR SOMETHING LIKE ANNOTATE ?????
28204
28205 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28206
28207 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set}.
28208
28209 @subsubheading Example
28210
28211 @smallexample
28212 (gdb)
28213 -gdb-set $foo=3
28214 ^done
28215 (gdb)
28216 @end smallexample
28217
28218
28219 @subheading The @code{-gdb-show} Command
28220 @findex -gdb-show
28221
28222 @subsubheading Synopsis
28223
28224 @smallexample
28225 -gdb-show
28226 @end smallexample
28227
28228 Show the current value of a @value{GDBN} variable.
28229
28230 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28231
28232 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show}.
28233
28234 @subsubheading Example
28235
28236 @smallexample
28237 (gdb)
28238 -gdb-show annotate
28239 ^done,value="0"
28240 (gdb)
28241 @end smallexample
28242
28243 @c @subheading -gdb-source
28244
28245
28246 @subheading The @code{-gdb-version} Command
28247 @findex -gdb-version
28248
28249 @subsubheading Synopsis
28250
28251 @smallexample
28252 -gdb-version
28253 @end smallexample
28254
28255 Show version information for @value{GDBN}. Used mostly in testing.
28256
28257 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28258
28259 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{show version}. @value{GDBN} by
28260 default shows this information when you start an interactive session.
28261
28262 @subsubheading Example
28263
28264 @c This example modifies the actual output from GDB to avoid overfull
28265 @c box in TeX.
28266 @smallexample
28267 (gdb)
28268 -gdb-version
28269 ~GNU gdb 5.2.1
28270 ~Copyright 2000 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
28271 ~GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License, and
28272 ~you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it under
28273 ~ certain conditions.
28274 ~Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
28275 ~There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty" for
28276 ~ details.
28277 ~This GDB was configured as
28278 "--host=sparc-sun-solaris2.5.1 --target=ppc-eabi".
28279 ^done
28280 (gdb)
28281 @end smallexample
28282
28283 @subheading The @code{-list-features} Command
28284 @findex -list-features
28285
28286 Returns a list of particular features of the MI protocol that
28287 this version of gdb implements. A feature can be a command,
28288 or a new field in an output of some command, or even an
28289 important bugfix. While a frontend can sometimes detect presence
28290 of a feature at runtime, it is easier to perform detection at debugger
28291 startup.
28292
28293 The command returns a list of strings, with each string naming an
28294 available feature. Each returned string is just a name, it does not
28295 have any internal structure. The list of possible feature names
28296 is given below.
28297
28298 Example output:
28299
28300 @smallexample
28301 (gdb) -list-features
28302 ^done,result=["feature1","feature2"]
28303 @end smallexample
28304
28305 The current list of features is:
28306
28307 @table @samp
28308 @item frozen-varobjs
28309 Indicates presence of the @code{-var-set-frozen} command, as well
28310 as possible presense of the @code{frozen} field in the output
28311 of @code{-varobj-create}.
28312 @item pending-breakpoints
28313 Indicates presence of the @option{-f} option to the @code{-break-insert} command.
28314 @item python
28315 Indicates presence of Python scripting support, Python-based
28316 pretty-printing commands, and possible presence of the
28317 @samp{display_hint} field in the output of @code{-var-list-children}
28318 @item thread-info
28319 Indicates presence of the @code{-thread-info} command.
28320
28321 @end table
28322
28323 @subheading The @code{-list-target-features} Command
28324 @findex -list-target-features
28325
28326 Returns a list of particular features that are supported by the
28327 target. Those features affect the permitted MI commands, but
28328 unlike the features reported by the @code{-list-features} command, the
28329 features depend on which target GDB is using at the moment. Whenever
28330 a target can change, due to commands such as @code{-target-select},
28331 @code{-target-attach} or @code{-exec-run}, the list of target features
28332 may change, and the frontend should obtain it again.
28333 Example output:
28334
28335 @smallexample
28336 (gdb) -list-features
28337 ^done,result=["async"]
28338 @end smallexample
28339
28340 The current list of features is:
28341
28342 @table @samp
28343 @item async
28344 Indicates that the target is capable of asynchronous command
28345 execution, which means that @value{GDBN} will accept further commands
28346 while the target is running.
28347
28348 @end table
28349
28350 @subheading The @code{-list-thread-groups} Command
28351 @findex -list-thread-groups
28352
28353 @subheading Synopsis
28354
28355 @smallexample
28356 -list-thread-groups [ --available ] [ --recurse 1 ] [ @var{group} ... ]
28357 @end smallexample
28358
28359 Lists thread groups (@pxref{Thread groups}). When a single thread
28360 group is passed as the argument, lists the children of that group.
28361 When several thread group are passed, lists information about those
28362 thread groups. Without any parameters, lists information about all
28363 top-level thread groups.
28364
28365 Normally, thread groups that are being debugged are reported.
28366 With the @samp{--available} option, @value{GDBN} reports thread groups
28367 available on the target.
28368
28369 The output of this command may have either a @samp{threads} result or
28370 a @samp{groups} result. The @samp{thread} result has a list of tuples
28371 as value, with each tuple describing a thread (@pxref{GDB/MI Thread
28372 Information}). The @samp{groups} result has a list of tuples as value,
28373 each tuple describing a thread group. If top-level groups are
28374 requested (that is, no parameter is passed), or when several groups
28375 are passed, the output always has a @samp{groups} result. The format
28376 of the @samp{group} result is described below.
28377
28378 To reduce the number of roundtrips it's possible to list thread groups
28379 together with their children, by passing the @samp{--recurse} option
28380 and the recursion depth. Presently, only recursion depth of 1 is
28381 permitted. If this option is present, then every reported thread group
28382 will also include its children, either as @samp{group} or
28383 @samp{threads} field.
28384
28385 In general, any combination of option and parameters is permitted, with
28386 the following caveats:
28387
28388 @itemize @bullet
28389 @item
28390 When a single thread group is passed, the output will typically
28391 be the @samp{threads} result. Because threads may not contain
28392 anything, the @samp{recurse} option will be ignored.
28393
28394 @item
28395 When the @samp{--available} option is passed, limited information may
28396 be available. In particular, the list of threads of a process might
28397 be inaccessible. Further, specifying specific thread groups might
28398 not give any performance advantage over listing all thread groups.
28399 The frontend should assume that @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}
28400 is always an expensive operation and cache the results.
28401
28402 @end itemize
28403
28404 The @samp{groups} result is a list of tuples, where each tuple may
28405 have the following fields:
28406
28407 @table @code
28408 @item id
28409 Identifier of the thread group. This field is always present.
28410 The identifier is an opaque string; frontends should not try to
28411 convert it to an integer, even though it might look like one.
28412
28413 @item type
28414 The type of the thread group. At present, only @samp{process} is a
28415 valid type.
28416
28417 @item pid
28418 The target-specific process identifier. This field is only present
28419 for thread groups of type @samp{process} and only if the process exists.
28420
28421 @item num_children
28422 The number of children this thread group has. This field may be
28423 absent for an available thread group.
28424
28425 @item threads
28426 This field has a list of tuples as value, each tuple describing a
28427 thread. It may be present if the @samp{--recurse} option is
28428 specified, and it's actually possible to obtain the threads.
28429
28430 @item cores
28431 This field is a list of integers, each identifying a core that one
28432 thread of the group is running on. This field may be absent if
28433 such information is not available.
28434
28435 @item executable
28436 The name of the executable file that corresponds to this thread group.
28437 The field is only present for thread groups of type @samp{process},
28438 and only if there is a corresponding executable file.
28439
28440 @end table
28441
28442 @subheading Example
28443
28444 @smallexample
28445 @value{GDBP}
28446 -list-thread-groups
28447 ^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2"@}]
28448 -list-thread-groups 17
28449 ^done,threads=[@{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
28450 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",args=[]@},state="running"@},
28451 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
28452 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
28453 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},state="running"@}]]
28454 -list-thread-groups --available
28455 ^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2]@}]
28456 -list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1
28457 ^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
28458 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
28459 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},..]
28460 -list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1 17 18
28461 ^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
28462 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
28463 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},...]
28464 @end smallexample
28465
28466
28467 @subheading The @code{-add-inferior} Command
28468 @findex -add-inferior
28469
28470 @subheading Synopsis
28471
28472 @smallexample
28473 -add-inferior
28474 @end smallexample
28475
28476 Creates a new inferior (@pxref{Inferiors and Programs}). The created
28477 inferior is not associated with any executable. Such association may
28478 be established with the @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols} command
28479 (@pxref{GDB/MI File Commands}). The command response has a single
28480 field, @samp{thread-group}, whose value is the identifier of the
28481 thread group corresponding to the new inferior.
28482
28483 @subheading Example
28484
28485 @smallexample
28486 @value{GDBP}
28487 -add-inferior
28488 ^done,thread-group="i3"
28489 @end smallexample
28490
28491 @subheading The @code{-interpreter-exec} Command
28492 @findex -interpreter-exec
28493
28494 @subheading Synopsis
28495
28496 @smallexample
28497 -interpreter-exec @var{interpreter} @var{command}
28498 @end smallexample
28499 @anchor{-interpreter-exec}
28500
28501 Execute the specified @var{command} in the given @var{interpreter}.
28502
28503 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
28504
28505 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interpreter-exec}.
28506
28507 @subheading Example
28508
28509 @smallexample
28510 (gdb)
28511 -interpreter-exec console "break main"
28512 &"During symbol reading, couldn't parse type; debugger out of date?.\n"
28513 &"During symbol reading, bad structure-type format.\n"
28514 ~"Breakpoint 1 at 0x8074fc6: file ../../src/gdb/main.c, line 743.\n"
28515 ^done
28516 (gdb)
28517 @end smallexample
28518
28519 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-set} Command
28520 @findex -inferior-tty-set
28521
28522 @subheading Synopsis
28523
28524 @smallexample
28525 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
28526 @end smallexample
28527
28528 Set terminal for future runs of the program being debugged.
28529
28530 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
28531
28532 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set inferior-tty} /dev/pts/1.
28533
28534 @subheading Example
28535
28536 @smallexample
28537 (gdb)
28538 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
28539 ^done
28540 (gdb)
28541 @end smallexample
28542
28543 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-show} Command
28544 @findex -inferior-tty-show
28545
28546 @subheading Synopsis
28547
28548 @smallexample
28549 -inferior-tty-show
28550 @end smallexample
28551
28552 Show terminal for future runs of program being debugged.
28553
28554 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
28555
28556 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show inferior-tty}.
28557
28558 @subheading Example
28559
28560 @smallexample
28561 (gdb)
28562 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
28563 ^done
28564 (gdb)
28565 -inferior-tty-show
28566 ^done,inferior_tty_terminal="/dev/pts/1"
28567 (gdb)
28568 @end smallexample
28569
28570 @subheading The @code{-enable-timings} Command
28571 @findex -enable-timings
28572
28573 @subheading Synopsis
28574
28575 @smallexample
28576 -enable-timings [yes | no]
28577 @end smallexample
28578
28579 Toggle the printing of the wallclock, user and system times for an MI
28580 command as a field in its output. This command is to help frontend
28581 developers optimize the performance of their code. No argument is
28582 equivalent to @samp{yes}.
28583
28584 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
28585
28586 No equivalent.
28587
28588 @subheading Example
28589
28590 @smallexample
28591 (gdb)
28592 -enable-timings
28593 ^done
28594 (gdb)
28595 -break-insert main
28596 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
28597 addr="0x080484ed",func="main",file="myprog.c",
28598 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73",times="0"@},
28599 time=@{wallclock="0.05185",user="0.00800",system="0.00000"@}
28600 (gdb)
28601 -enable-timings no
28602 ^done
28603 (gdb)
28604 -exec-run
28605 ^running
28606 (gdb)
28607 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
28608 frame=@{addr="0x080484ed",func="main",args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},
28609 @{name="argv",value="0xbfb60364"@}],file="myprog.c",
28610 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73"@}
28611 (gdb)
28612 @end smallexample
28613
28614 @node Annotations
28615 @chapter @value{GDBN} Annotations
28616
28617 This chapter describes annotations in @value{GDBN}. Annotations were
28618 designed to interface @value{GDBN} to graphical user interfaces or other
28619 similar programs which want to interact with @value{GDBN} at a
28620 relatively high level.
28621
28622 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
28623 (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
28624
28625 @ignore
28626 This is Edition @value{EDITION}, @value{DATE}.
28627 @end ignore
28628
28629 @menu
28630 * Annotations Overview:: What annotations are; the general syntax.
28631 * Server Prefix:: Issuing a command without affecting user state.
28632 * Prompting:: Annotations marking @value{GDBN}'s need for input.
28633 * Errors:: Annotations for error messages.
28634 * Invalidation:: Some annotations describe things now invalid.
28635 * Annotations for Running::
28636 Whether the program is running, how it stopped, etc.
28637 * Source Annotations:: Annotations describing source code.
28638 @end menu
28639
28640 @node Annotations Overview
28641 @section What is an Annotation?
28642 @cindex annotations
28643
28644 Annotations start with a newline character, two @samp{control-z}
28645 characters, and the name of the annotation. If there is no additional
28646 information associated with this annotation, the name of the annotation
28647 is followed immediately by a newline. If there is additional
28648 information, the name of the annotation is followed by a space, the
28649 additional information, and a newline. The additional information
28650 cannot contain newline characters.
28651
28652 Any output not beginning with a newline and two @samp{control-z}
28653 characters denotes literal output from @value{GDBN}. Currently there is
28654 no need for @value{GDBN} to output a newline followed by two
28655 @samp{control-z} characters, but if there was such a need, the
28656 annotations could be extended with an @samp{escape} annotation which
28657 means those three characters as output.
28658
28659 The annotation @var{level}, which is specified using the
28660 @option{--annotate} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}), controls
28661 how much information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt,
28662 values of expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0
28663 is for no annotations, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a
28664 subprocess of @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable
28665 for programs that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 annotations have
28666 been made obsolete (@pxref{Limitations, , Limitations of the Annotation
28667 Interface, annotate, GDB's Obsolete Annotations}).
28668
28669 @table @code
28670 @kindex set annotate
28671 @item set annotate @var{level}
28672 The @value{GDBN} command @code{set annotate} sets the level of
28673 annotations to the specified @var{level}.
28674
28675 @item show annotate
28676 @kindex show annotate
28677 Show the current annotation level.
28678 @end table
28679
28680 This chapter describes level 3 annotations.
28681
28682 A simple example of starting up @value{GDBN} with annotations is:
28683
28684 @smallexample
28685 $ @kbd{gdb --annotate=3}
28686 GNU gdb 6.0
28687 Copyright 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
28688 GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License,
28689 and you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it
28690 under certain conditions.
28691 Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
28692 There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty"
28693 for details.
28694 This GDB was configured as "i386-pc-linux-gnu"
28695
28696 ^Z^Zpre-prompt
28697 (@value{GDBP})
28698 ^Z^Zprompt
28699 @kbd{quit}
28700
28701 ^Z^Zpost-prompt
28702 $
28703 @end smallexample
28704
28705 Here @samp{quit} is input to @value{GDBN}; the rest is output from
28706 @value{GDBN}. The three lines beginning @samp{^Z^Z} (where @samp{^Z}
28707 denotes a @samp{control-z} character) are annotations; the rest is
28708 output from @value{GDBN}.
28709
28710 @node Server Prefix
28711 @section The Server Prefix
28712 @cindex server prefix
28713
28714 If you prefix a command with @samp{server } then it will not affect
28715 the command history, nor will it affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which
28716 command to repeat if @key{RET} is pressed on a line by itself. This
28717 means that commands can be run behind a user's back by a front-end in
28718 a transparent manner.
28719
28720 The @code{server } prefix does not affect the recording of values into
28721 the value history; to print a value without recording it into the
28722 value history, use the @code{output} command instead of the
28723 @code{print} command.
28724
28725 Using this prefix also disables confirmation requests
28726 (@pxref{confirmation requests}).
28727
28728 @node Prompting
28729 @section Annotation for @value{GDBN} Input
28730
28731 @cindex annotations for prompts
28732 When @value{GDBN} prompts for input, it annotates this fact so it is possible
28733 to know when to send output, when the output from a given command is
28734 over, etc.
28735
28736 Different kinds of input each have a different @dfn{input type}. Each
28737 input type has three annotations: a @code{pre-} annotation, which
28738 denotes the beginning of any prompt which is being output, a plain
28739 annotation, which denotes the end of the prompt, and then a @code{post-}
28740 annotation which denotes the end of any echo which may (or may not) be
28741 associated with the input. For example, the @code{prompt} input type
28742 features the following annotations:
28743
28744 @smallexample
28745 ^Z^Zpre-prompt
28746 ^Z^Zprompt
28747 ^Z^Zpost-prompt
28748 @end smallexample
28749
28750 The input types are
28751
28752 @table @code
28753 @findex pre-prompt annotation
28754 @findex prompt annotation
28755 @findex post-prompt annotation
28756 @item prompt
28757 When @value{GDBN} is prompting for a command (the main @value{GDBN} prompt).
28758
28759 @findex pre-commands annotation
28760 @findex commands annotation
28761 @findex post-commands annotation
28762 @item commands
28763 When @value{GDBN} prompts for a set of commands, like in the @code{commands}
28764 command. The annotations are repeated for each command which is input.
28765
28766 @findex pre-overload-choice annotation
28767 @findex overload-choice annotation
28768 @findex post-overload-choice annotation
28769 @item overload-choice
28770 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to select between various overloaded functions.
28771
28772 @findex pre-query annotation
28773 @findex query annotation
28774 @findex post-query annotation
28775 @item query
28776 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to confirm a potentially dangerous operation.
28777
28778 @findex pre-prompt-for-continue annotation
28779 @findex prompt-for-continue annotation
28780 @findex post-prompt-for-continue annotation
28781 @item prompt-for-continue
28782 When @value{GDBN} is asking the user to press return to continue. Note: Don't
28783 expect this to work well; instead use @code{set height 0} to disable
28784 prompting. This is because the counting of lines is buggy in the
28785 presence of annotations.
28786 @end table
28787
28788 @node Errors
28789 @section Errors
28790 @cindex annotations for errors, warnings and interrupts
28791
28792 @findex quit annotation
28793 @smallexample
28794 ^Z^Zquit
28795 @end smallexample
28796
28797 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an interrupt.
28798
28799 @findex error annotation
28800 @smallexample
28801 ^Z^Zerror
28802 @end smallexample
28803
28804 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an error.
28805
28806 Quit and error annotations indicate that any annotations which @value{GDBN} was
28807 in the middle of may end abruptly. For example, if a
28808 @code{value-history-begin} annotation is followed by a @code{error}, one
28809 cannot expect to receive the matching @code{value-history-end}. One
28810 cannot expect not to receive it either, however; an error annotation
28811 does not necessarily mean that @value{GDBN} is immediately returning all the way
28812 to the top level.
28813
28814 @findex error-begin annotation
28815 A quit or error annotation may be preceded by
28816
28817 @smallexample
28818 ^Z^Zerror-begin
28819 @end smallexample
28820
28821 Any output between that and the quit or error annotation is the error
28822 message.
28823
28824 Warning messages are not yet annotated.
28825 @c If we want to change that, need to fix warning(), type_error(),
28826 @c range_error(), and possibly other places.
28827
28828 @node Invalidation
28829 @section Invalidation Notices
28830
28831 @cindex annotations for invalidation messages
28832 The following annotations say that certain pieces of state may have
28833 changed.
28834
28835 @table @code
28836 @findex frames-invalid annotation
28837 @item ^Z^Zframes-invalid
28838
28839 The frames (for example, output from the @code{backtrace} command) may
28840 have changed.
28841
28842 @findex breakpoints-invalid annotation
28843 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoints-invalid
28844
28845 The breakpoints may have changed. For example, the user just added or
28846 deleted a breakpoint.
28847 @end table
28848
28849 @node Annotations for Running
28850 @section Running the Program
28851 @cindex annotations for running programs
28852
28853 @findex starting annotation
28854 @findex stopping annotation
28855 When the program starts executing due to a @value{GDBN} command such as
28856 @code{step} or @code{continue},
28857
28858 @smallexample
28859 ^Z^Zstarting
28860 @end smallexample
28861
28862 is output. When the program stops,
28863
28864 @smallexample
28865 ^Z^Zstopped
28866 @end smallexample
28867
28868 is output. Before the @code{stopped} annotation, a variety of
28869 annotations describe how the program stopped.
28870
28871 @table @code
28872 @findex exited annotation
28873 @item ^Z^Zexited @var{exit-status}
28874 The program exited, and @var{exit-status} is the exit status (zero for
28875 successful exit, otherwise nonzero).
28876
28877 @findex signalled annotation
28878 @findex signal-name annotation
28879 @findex signal-name-end annotation
28880 @findex signal-string annotation
28881 @findex signal-string-end annotation
28882 @item ^Z^Zsignalled
28883 The program exited with a signal. After the @code{^Z^Zsignalled}, the
28884 annotation continues:
28885
28886 @smallexample
28887 @var{intro-text}
28888 ^Z^Zsignal-name
28889 @var{name}
28890 ^Z^Zsignal-name-end
28891 @var{middle-text}
28892 ^Z^Zsignal-string
28893 @var{string}
28894 ^Z^Zsignal-string-end
28895 @var{end-text}
28896 @end smallexample
28897
28898 @noindent
28899 where @var{name} is the name of the signal, such as @code{SIGILL} or
28900 @code{SIGSEGV}, and @var{string} is the explanation of the signal, such
28901 as @code{Illegal Instruction} or @code{Segmentation fault}.
28902 @var{intro-text}, @var{middle-text}, and @var{end-text} are for the
28903 user's benefit and have no particular format.
28904
28905 @findex signal annotation
28906 @item ^Z^Zsignal
28907 The syntax of this annotation is just like @code{signalled}, but @value{GDBN} is
28908 just saying that the program received the signal, not that it was
28909 terminated with it.
28910
28911 @findex breakpoint annotation
28912 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoint @var{number}
28913 The program hit breakpoint number @var{number}.
28914
28915 @findex watchpoint annotation
28916 @item ^Z^Zwatchpoint @var{number}
28917 The program hit watchpoint number @var{number}.
28918 @end table
28919
28920 @node Source Annotations
28921 @section Displaying Source
28922 @cindex annotations for source display
28923
28924 @findex source annotation
28925 The following annotation is used instead of displaying source code:
28926
28927 @smallexample
28928 ^Z^Zsource @var{filename}:@var{line}:@var{character}:@var{middle}:@var{addr}
28929 @end smallexample
28930
28931 where @var{filename} is an absolute file name indicating which source
28932 file, @var{line} is the line number within that file (where 1 is the
28933 first line in the file), @var{character} is the character position
28934 within the file (where 0 is the first character in the file) (for most
28935 debug formats this will necessarily point to the beginning of a line),
28936 @var{middle} is @samp{middle} if @var{addr} is in the middle of the
28937 line, or @samp{beg} if @var{addr} is at the beginning of the line, and
28938 @var{addr} is the address in the target program associated with the
28939 source which is being displayed. @var{addr} is in the form @samp{0x}
28940 followed by one or more lowercase hex digits (note that this does not
28941 depend on the language).
28942
28943 @node JIT Interface
28944 @chapter JIT Compilation Interface
28945 @cindex just-in-time compilation
28946 @cindex JIT compilation interface
28947
28948 This chapter documents @value{GDBN}'s @dfn{just-in-time} (JIT) compilation
28949 interface. A JIT compiler is a program or library that generates native
28950 executable code at runtime and executes it, usually in order to achieve good
28951 performance while maintaining platform independence.
28952
28953 Programs that use JIT compilation are normally difficult to debug because
28954 portions of their code are generated at runtime, instead of being loaded from
28955 object files, which is where @value{GDBN} normally finds the program's symbols
28956 and debug information. In order to debug programs that use JIT compilation,
28957 @value{GDBN} has an interface that allows the program to register in-memory
28958 symbol files with @value{GDBN} at runtime.
28959
28960 If you are using @value{GDBN} to debug a program that uses this interface, then
28961 it should work transparently so long as you have not stripped the binary. If
28962 you are developing a JIT compiler, then the interface is documented in the rest
28963 of this chapter. At this time, the only known client of this interface is the
28964 LLVM JIT.
28965
28966 Broadly speaking, the JIT interface mirrors the dynamic loader interface. The
28967 JIT compiler communicates with @value{GDBN} by writing data into a global
28968 variable and calling a fuction at a well-known symbol. When @value{GDBN}
28969 attaches, it reads a linked list of symbol files from the global variable to
28970 find existing code, and puts a breakpoint in the function so that it can find
28971 out about additional code.
28972
28973 @menu
28974 * Declarations:: Relevant C struct declarations
28975 * Registering Code:: Steps to register code
28976 * Unregistering Code:: Steps to unregister code
28977 @end menu
28978
28979 @node Declarations
28980 @section JIT Declarations
28981
28982 These are the relevant struct declarations that a C program should include to
28983 implement the interface:
28984
28985 @smallexample
28986 typedef enum
28987 @{
28988 JIT_NOACTION = 0,
28989 JIT_REGISTER_FN,
28990 JIT_UNREGISTER_FN
28991 @} jit_actions_t;
28992
28993 struct jit_code_entry
28994 @{
28995 struct jit_code_entry *next_entry;
28996 struct jit_code_entry *prev_entry;
28997 const char *symfile_addr;
28998 uint64_t symfile_size;
28999 @};
29000
29001 struct jit_descriptor
29002 @{
29003 uint32_t version;
29004 /* This type should be jit_actions_t, but we use uint32_t
29005 to be explicit about the bitwidth. */
29006 uint32_t action_flag;
29007 struct jit_code_entry *relevant_entry;
29008 struct jit_code_entry *first_entry;
29009 @};
29010
29011 /* GDB puts a breakpoint in this function. */
29012 void __attribute__((noinline)) __jit_debug_register_code() @{ @};
29013
29014 /* Make sure to specify the version statically, because the
29015 debugger may check the version before we can set it. */
29016 struct jit_descriptor __jit_debug_descriptor = @{ 1, 0, 0, 0 @};
29017 @end smallexample
29018
29019 If the JIT is multi-threaded, then it is important that the JIT synchronize any
29020 modifications to this global data properly, which can easily be done by putting
29021 a global mutex around modifications to these structures.
29022
29023 @node Registering Code
29024 @section Registering Code
29025
29026 To register code with @value{GDBN}, the JIT should follow this protocol:
29027
29028 @itemize @bullet
29029 @item
29030 Generate an object file in memory with symbols and other desired debug
29031 information. The file must include the virtual addresses of the sections.
29032
29033 @item
29034 Create a code entry for the file, which gives the start and size of the symbol
29035 file.
29036
29037 @item
29038 Add it to the linked list in the JIT descriptor.
29039
29040 @item
29041 Point the relevant_entry field of the descriptor at the entry.
29042
29043 @item
29044 Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_REGISTER} and call
29045 @code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
29046 @end itemize
29047
29048 When @value{GDBN} is attached and the breakpoint fires, @value{GDBN} uses the
29049 @code{relevant_entry} pointer so it doesn't have to walk the list looking for
29050 new code. However, the linked list must still be maintained in order to allow
29051 @value{GDBN} to attach to a running process and still find the symbol files.
29052
29053 @node Unregistering Code
29054 @section Unregistering Code
29055
29056 If code is freed, then the JIT should use the following protocol:
29057
29058 @itemize @bullet
29059 @item
29060 Remove the code entry corresponding to the code from the linked list.
29061
29062 @item
29063 Point the @code{relevant_entry} field of the descriptor at the code entry.
29064
29065 @item
29066 Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_UNREGISTER} and call
29067 @code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
29068 @end itemize
29069
29070 If the JIT frees or recompiles code without unregistering it, then @value{GDBN}
29071 and the JIT will leak the memory used for the associated symbol files.
29072
29073 @node GDB Bugs
29074 @chapter Reporting Bugs in @value{GDBN}
29075 @cindex bugs in @value{GDBN}
29076 @cindex reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
29077
29078 Your bug reports play an essential role in making @value{GDBN} reliable.
29079
29080 Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or it
29081 may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is to help
29082 the entire community by making the next version of @value{GDBN} work better. Bug
29083 reports are your contribution to the maintenance of @value{GDBN}.
29084
29085 In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
29086 information that enables us to fix the bug.
29087
29088 @menu
29089 * Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
29090 * Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
29091 @end menu
29092
29093 @node Bug Criteria
29094 @section Have You Found a Bug?
29095 @cindex bug criteria
29096
29097 If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
29098
29099 @itemize @bullet
29100 @cindex fatal signal
29101 @cindex debugger crash
29102 @cindex crash of debugger
29103 @item
29104 If the debugger gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is a
29105 @value{GDBN} bug. Reliable debuggers never crash.
29106
29107 @cindex error on valid input
29108 @item
29109 If @value{GDBN} produces an error message for valid input, that is a
29110 bug. (Note that if you're cross debugging, the problem may also be
29111 somewhere in the connection to the target.)
29112
29113 @cindex invalid input
29114 @item
29115 If @value{GDBN} does not produce an error message for invalid input,
29116 that is a bug. However, you should note that your idea of
29117 ``invalid input'' might be our idea of ``an extension'' or ``support
29118 for traditional practice''.
29119
29120 @item
29121 If you are an experienced user of debugging tools, your suggestions
29122 for improvement of @value{GDBN} are welcome in any case.
29123 @end itemize
29124
29125 @node Bug Reporting
29126 @section How to Report Bugs
29127 @cindex bug reports
29128 @cindex @value{GDBN} bugs, reporting
29129
29130 A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu} products.
29131 If you obtained @value{GDBN} from a support organization, we recommend you
29132 contact that organization first.
29133
29134 You can find contact information for many support companies and
29135 individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
29136 distribution.
29137 @c should add a web page ref...
29138
29139 @ifset BUGURL
29140 @ifset BUGURL_DEFAULT
29141 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
29142 @value{GDBN}. The preferred method is to submit them directly using
29143 @uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/bugs/, @value{GDBN}'s Bugs web
29144 page}. Alternatively, the @email{bug-gdb@@gnu.org, e-mail gateway} can
29145 be used.
29146
29147 @strong{Do not send bug reports to @samp{info-gdb}, or to
29148 @samp{help-gdb}, or to any newsgroups.} Most users of @value{GDBN} do
29149 not want to receive bug reports. Those that do have arranged to receive
29150 @samp{bug-gdb}.
29151
29152 The mailing list @samp{bug-gdb} has a newsgroup @samp{gnu.gdb.bug} which
29153 serves as a repeater. The mailing list and the newsgroup carry exactly
29154 the same messages. Often people think of posting bug reports to the
29155 newsgroup instead of mailing them. This appears to work, but it has one
29156 problem which can be crucial: a newsgroup posting often lacks a mail
29157 path back to the sender. Thus, if we need to ask for more information,
29158 we may be unable to reach you. For this reason, it is better to send
29159 bug reports to the mailing list.
29160 @end ifset
29161 @ifclear BUGURL_DEFAULT
29162 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
29163 @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.
29164 @end ifclear
29165 @end ifset
29166
29167 The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
29168 @strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
29169 fact or leave it out, state it!
29170
29171 Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
29172 problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
29173 assume that the name of the variable you use in an example does not matter.
29174 Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is a
29175 stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where that
29176 name is stored in memory; perhaps, if the name were different, the contents
29177 of that location would fool the debugger into doing the right thing despite
29178 the bug. Play it safe and give a specific, complete example. That is the
29179 easiest thing for you to do, and the most helpful.
29180
29181 Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the
29182 bug. It may be that the bug has been reported previously, but neither
29183 you nor we can know that unless your bug report is complete and
29184 self-contained.
29185
29186 Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
29187 bell?'' Those bug reports are useless, and we urge everyone to
29188 @emph{refuse to respond to them} except to chide the sender to report
29189 bugs properly.
29190
29191 To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
29192
29193 @itemize @bullet
29194 @item
29195 The version of @value{GDBN}. @value{GDBN} announces it if you start
29196 with no arguments; you can also print it at any time using @code{show
29197 version}.
29198
29199 Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
29200 the bug in the current version of @value{GDBN}.
29201
29202 @item
29203 The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
29204 version number.
29205
29206 @item
29207 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile @value{GDBN}---e.g.@:
29208 ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1''.
29209
29210 @item
29211 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the program you are
29212 debugging---e.g.@: ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1'', or ``HP92453-01 A.10.32.03 HP
29213 C Compiler''. For @value{NGCC}, you can say @kbd{@value{GCC} --version}
29214 to get this information; for other compilers, see the documentation for
29215 those compilers.
29216
29217 @item
29218 The command arguments you gave the compiler to compile your example and
29219 observe the bug. For example, did you use @samp{-O}? To guarantee
29220 you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy of the
29221 Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
29222
29223 If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
29224 and then we might not encounter the bug.
29225
29226 @item
29227 A complete input script, and all necessary source files, that will
29228 reproduce the bug.
29229
29230 @item
29231 A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
29232 incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
29233
29234 Of course, if the bug is that @value{GDBN} gets a fatal signal, then we
29235 will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
29236 not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
29237 a chance to make a mistake.
29238
29239 Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
29240 say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as, your
29241 copy of @value{GDBN} is out of synch, or you have encountered a bug in
29242 the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
29243 crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
29244 ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
29245 us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
29246 to draw any conclusion from our observations.
29247
29248 @pindex script
29249 @cindex recording a session script
29250 To collect all this information, you can use a session recording program
29251 such as @command{script}, which is available on many Unix systems.
29252 Just run your @value{GDBN} session inside @command{script} and then
29253 include the @file{typescript} file with your bug report.
29254
29255 Another way to record a @value{GDBN} session is to run @value{GDBN}
29256 inside Emacs and then save the entire buffer to a file.
29257
29258 @item
29259 If you wish to suggest changes to the @value{GDBN} source, send us context
29260 diffs. If you even discuss something in the @value{GDBN} source, refer to
29261 it by context, not by line number.
29262
29263 The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
29264 sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
29265
29266 @end itemize
29267
29268 Here are some things that are not necessary:
29269
29270 @itemize @bullet
29271 @item
29272 A description of the envelope of the bug.
29273
29274 Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
29275 which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
29276 changes will not affect it.
29277
29278 This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
29279 will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
29280 with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
29281 We recommend that you save your time for something else.
29282
29283 Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
29284 of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
29285 output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
29286 less time, and so on.
29287
29288 However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
29289 report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
29290
29291 @item
29292 A patch for the bug.
29293
29294 A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
29295 the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
29296 a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
29297 to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
29298
29299 Sometimes with a program as complicated as @value{GDBN} it is very hard to
29300 construct an example that will make the program follow a certain path
29301 through the code. If you do not send us the example, we will not be able
29302 to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that the bug is fixed.
29303
29304 And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
29305 patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
29306 help us to understand.
29307
29308 @item
29309 A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
29310
29311 Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
29312 things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
29313 @end itemize
29314
29315 @c The readline documentation is distributed with the readline code
29316 @c and consists of the two following files:
29317 @c rluser.texinfo
29318 @c inc-hist.texinfo
29319 @c Use -I with makeinfo to point to the appropriate directory,
29320 @c environment var TEXINPUTS with TeX.
29321 @include rluser.texi
29322 @include inc-hist.texinfo
29323
29324
29325 @node Formatting Documentation
29326 @appendix Formatting Documentation
29327
29328 @cindex @value{GDBN} reference card
29329 @cindex reference card
29330 The @value{GDBN} 4 release includes an already-formatted reference card, ready
29331 for printing with PostScript or Ghostscript, in the @file{gdb}
29332 subdirectory of the main source directory@footnote{In
29333 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/refcard.ps} of the version @value{GDBVN}
29334 release.}. If you can use PostScript or Ghostscript with your printer,
29335 you can print the reference card immediately with @file{refcard.ps}.
29336
29337 The release also includes the source for the reference card. You
29338 can format it, using @TeX{}, by typing:
29339
29340 @smallexample
29341 make refcard.dvi
29342 @end smallexample
29343
29344 The @value{GDBN} reference card is designed to print in @dfn{landscape}
29345 mode on US ``letter'' size paper;
29346 that is, on a sheet 11 inches wide by 8.5 inches
29347 high. You will need to specify this form of printing as an option to
29348 your @sc{dvi} output program.
29349
29350 @cindex documentation
29351
29352 All the documentation for @value{GDBN} comes as part of the machine-readable
29353 distribution. The documentation is written in Texinfo format, which is
29354 a documentation system that uses a single source file to produce both
29355 on-line information and a printed manual. You can use one of the Info
29356 formatting commands to create the on-line version of the documentation
29357 and @TeX{} (or @code{texi2roff}) to typeset the printed version.
29358
29359 @value{GDBN} includes an already formatted copy of the on-line Info
29360 version of this manual in the @file{gdb} subdirectory. The main Info
29361 file is @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/gdb.info}, and it refers to
29362 subordinate files matching @samp{gdb.info*} in the same directory. If
29363 necessary, you can print out these files, or read them with any editor;
29364 but they are easier to read using the @code{info} subsystem in @sc{gnu}
29365 Emacs or the standalone @code{info} program, available as part of the
29366 @sc{gnu} Texinfo distribution.
29367
29368 If you want to format these Info files yourself, you need one of the
29369 Info formatting programs, such as @code{texinfo-format-buffer} or
29370 @code{makeinfo}.
29371
29372 If you have @code{makeinfo} installed, and are in the top level
29373 @value{GDBN} source directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, in the case of
29374 version @value{GDBVN}), you can make the Info file by typing:
29375
29376 @smallexample
29377 cd gdb
29378 make gdb.info
29379 @end smallexample
29380
29381 If you want to typeset and print copies of this manual, you need @TeX{},
29382 a program to print its @sc{dvi} output files, and @file{texinfo.tex}, the
29383 Texinfo definitions file.
29384
29385 @TeX{} is a typesetting program; it does not print files directly, but
29386 produces output files called @sc{dvi} files. To print a typeset
29387 document, you need a program to print @sc{dvi} files. If your system
29388 has @TeX{} installed, chances are it has such a program. The precise
29389 command to use depends on your system; @kbd{lpr -d} is common; another
29390 (for PostScript devices) is @kbd{dvips}. The @sc{dvi} print command may
29391 require a file name without any extension or a @samp{.dvi} extension.
29392
29393 @TeX{} also requires a macro definitions file called
29394 @file{texinfo.tex}. This file tells @TeX{} how to typeset a document
29395 written in Texinfo format. On its own, @TeX{} cannot either read or
29396 typeset a Texinfo file. @file{texinfo.tex} is distributed with GDB
29397 and is located in the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}/texinfo}
29398 directory.
29399
29400 If you have @TeX{} and a @sc{dvi} printer program installed, you can
29401 typeset and print this manual. First switch to the @file{gdb}
29402 subdirectory of the main source directory (for example, to
29403 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb}) and type:
29404
29405 @smallexample
29406 make gdb.dvi
29407 @end smallexample
29408
29409 Then give @file{gdb.dvi} to your @sc{dvi} printing program.
29410
29411 @node Installing GDB
29412 @appendix Installing @value{GDBN}
29413 @cindex installation
29414
29415 @menu
29416 * Requirements:: Requirements for building @value{GDBN}
29417 * Running Configure:: Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} script
29418 * Separate Objdir:: Compiling @value{GDBN} in another directory
29419 * Config Names:: Specifying names for hosts and targets
29420 * Configure Options:: Summary of options for configure
29421 * System-wide configuration:: Having a system-wide init file
29422 @end menu
29423
29424 @node Requirements
29425 @section Requirements for Building @value{GDBN}
29426 @cindex building @value{GDBN}, requirements for
29427
29428 Building @value{GDBN} requires various tools and packages to be available.
29429 Other packages will be used only if they are found.
29430
29431 @heading Tools/Packages Necessary for Building @value{GDBN}
29432 @table @asis
29433 @item ISO C90 compiler
29434 @value{GDBN} is written in ISO C90. It should be buildable with any
29435 working C90 compiler, e.g.@: GCC.
29436
29437 @end table
29438
29439 @heading Tools/Packages Optional for Building @value{GDBN}
29440 @table @asis
29441 @item Expat
29442 @anchor{Expat}
29443 @value{GDBN} can use the Expat XML parsing library. This library may be
29444 included with your operating system distribution; if it is not, you
29445 can get the latest version from @url{http://expat.sourceforge.net}.
29446 The @file{configure} script will search for this library in several
29447 standard locations; if it is installed in an unusual path, you can
29448 use the @option{--with-libexpat-prefix} option to specify its location.
29449
29450 Expat is used for:
29451
29452 @itemize @bullet
29453 @item
29454 Remote protocol memory maps (@pxref{Memory Map Format})
29455 @item
29456 Target descriptions (@pxref{Target Descriptions})
29457 @item
29458 Remote shared library lists (@pxref{Library List Format})
29459 @item
29460 MS-Windows shared libraries (@pxref{Shared Libraries})
29461 @end itemize
29462
29463 @item zlib
29464 @cindex compressed debug sections
29465 @value{GDBN} will use the @samp{zlib} library, if available, to read
29466 compressed debug sections. Some linkers, such as GNU gold, are capable
29467 of producing binaries with compressed debug sections. If @value{GDBN}
29468 is compiled with @samp{zlib}, it will be able to read the debug
29469 information in such binaries.
29470
29471 The @samp{zlib} library is likely included with your operating system
29472 distribution; if it is not, you can get the latest version from
29473 @url{http://zlib.net}.
29474
29475 @item iconv
29476 @value{GDBN}'s features related to character sets (@pxref{Character
29477 Sets}) require a functioning @code{iconv} implementation. If you are
29478 on a GNU system, then this is provided by the GNU C Library. Some
29479 other systems also provide a working @code{iconv}.
29480
29481 On systems with @code{iconv}, you can install GNU Libiconv. If you
29482 have previously installed Libiconv, you can use the
29483 @option{--with-libiconv-prefix} option to configure.
29484
29485 @value{GDBN}'s top-level @file{configure} and @file{Makefile} will
29486 arrange to build Libiconv if a directory named @file{libiconv} appears
29487 in the top-most source directory. If Libiconv is built this way, and
29488 if the operating system does not provide a suitable @code{iconv}
29489 implementation, then the just-built library will automatically be used
29490 by @value{GDBN}. One easy way to set this up is to download GNU
29491 Libiconv, unpack it, and then rename the directory holding the
29492 Libiconv source code to @samp{libiconv}.
29493 @end table
29494
29495 @node Running Configure
29496 @section Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} Script
29497 @cindex configuring @value{GDBN}
29498 @value{GDBN} comes with a @file{configure} script that automates the process
29499 of preparing @value{GDBN} for installation; you can then use @code{make} to
29500 build the @code{gdb} program.
29501 @iftex
29502 @c irrelevant in info file; it's as current as the code it lives with.
29503 @footnote{If you have a more recent version of @value{GDBN} than @value{GDBVN},
29504 look at the @file{README} file in the sources; we may have improved the
29505 installation procedures since publishing this manual.}
29506 @end iftex
29507
29508 The @value{GDBN} distribution includes all the source code you need for
29509 @value{GDBN} in a single directory, whose name is usually composed by
29510 appending the version number to @samp{gdb}.
29511
29512 For example, the @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN} distribution is in the
29513 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory. That directory contains:
29514
29515 @table @code
29516 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure @r{(and supporting files)}
29517 script for configuring @value{GDBN} and all its supporting libraries
29518
29519 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb
29520 the source specific to @value{GDBN} itself
29521
29522 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/bfd
29523 source for the Binary File Descriptor library
29524
29525 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/include
29526 @sc{gnu} include files
29527
29528 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/libiberty
29529 source for the @samp{-liberty} free software library
29530
29531 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/opcodes
29532 source for the library of opcode tables and disassemblers
29533
29534 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/readline
29535 source for the @sc{gnu} command-line interface
29536
29537 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/glob
29538 source for the @sc{gnu} filename pattern-matching subroutine
29539
29540 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/mmalloc
29541 source for the @sc{gnu} memory-mapped malloc package
29542 @end table
29543
29544 The simplest way to configure and build @value{GDBN} is to run @file{configure}
29545 from the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory, which in
29546 this example is the @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory.
29547
29548 First switch to the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory
29549 if you are not already in it; then run @file{configure}. Pass the
29550 identifier for the platform on which @value{GDBN} will run as an
29551 argument.
29552
29553 For example:
29554
29555 @smallexample
29556 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
29557 ./configure @var{host}
29558 make
29559 @end smallexample
29560
29561 @noindent
29562 where @var{host} is an identifier such as @samp{sun4} or
29563 @samp{decstation}, that identifies the platform where @value{GDBN} will run.
29564 (You can often leave off @var{host}; @file{configure} tries to guess the
29565 correct value by examining your system.)
29566
29567 Running @samp{configure @var{host}} and then running @code{make} builds the
29568 @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, @file{mmalloc}, and @file{libiberty}
29569 libraries, then @code{gdb} itself. The configured source files, and the
29570 binaries, are left in the corresponding source directories.
29571
29572 @need 750
29573 @file{configure} is a Bourne-shell (@code{/bin/sh}) script; if your
29574 system does not recognize this automatically when you run a different
29575 shell, you may need to run @code{sh} on it explicitly:
29576
29577 @smallexample
29578 sh configure @var{host}
29579 @end smallexample
29580
29581 If you run @file{configure} from a directory that contains source
29582 directories for multiple libraries or programs, such as the
29583 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} source directory for version @value{GDBVN},
29584 @file{configure}
29585 creates configuration files for every directory level underneath (unless
29586 you tell it not to, with the @samp{--norecursion} option).
29587
29588 You should run the @file{configure} script from the top directory in the
29589 source tree, the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory. If you run
29590 @file{configure} from one of the subdirectories, you will configure only
29591 that subdirectory. That is usually not what you want. In particular,
29592 if you run the first @file{configure} from the @file{gdb} subdirectory
29593 of the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory, you will omit the
29594 configuration of @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, and other sibling
29595 directories of the @file{gdb} subdirectory. This leads to build errors
29596 about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
29597
29598 You can install @code{@value{GDBP}} anywhere; it has no hardwired paths.
29599 However, you should make sure that the shell on your path (named by
29600 the @samp{SHELL} environment variable) is publicly readable. Remember
29601 that @value{GDBN} uses the shell to start your program---some systems refuse to
29602 let @value{GDBN} debug child processes whose programs are not readable.
29603
29604 @node Separate Objdir
29605 @section Compiling @value{GDBN} in Another Directory
29606
29607 If you want to run @value{GDBN} versions for several host or target machines,
29608 you need a different @code{gdb} compiled for each combination of
29609 host and target. @file{configure} is designed to make this easy by
29610 allowing you to generate each configuration in a separate subdirectory,
29611 rather than in the source directory. If your @code{make} program
29612 handles the @samp{VPATH} feature (@sc{gnu} @code{make} does), running
29613 @code{make} in each of these directories builds the @code{gdb}
29614 program specified there.
29615
29616 To build @code{gdb} in a separate directory, run @file{configure}
29617 with the @samp{--srcdir} option to specify where to find the source.
29618 (You also need to specify a path to find @file{configure}
29619 itself from your working directory. If the path to @file{configure}
29620 would be the same as the argument to @samp{--srcdir}, you can leave out
29621 the @samp{--srcdir} option; it is assumed.)
29622
29623 For example, with version @value{GDBVN}, you can build @value{GDBN} in a
29624 separate directory for a Sun 4 like this:
29625
29626 @smallexample
29627 @group
29628 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
29629 mkdir ../gdb-sun4
29630 cd ../gdb-sun4
29631 ../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure sun4
29632 make
29633 @end group
29634 @end smallexample
29635
29636 When @file{configure} builds a configuration using a remote source
29637 directory, it creates a tree for the binaries with the same structure
29638 (and using the same names) as the tree under the source directory. In
29639 the example, you'd find the Sun 4 library @file{libiberty.a} in the
29640 directory @file{gdb-sun4/libiberty}, and @value{GDBN} itself in
29641 @file{gdb-sun4/gdb}.
29642
29643 Make sure that your path to the @file{configure} script has just one
29644 instance of @file{gdb} in it. If your path to @file{configure} looks
29645 like @file{../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/configure}, you are configuring only
29646 one subdirectory of @value{GDBN}, not the whole package. This leads to
29647 build errors about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
29648
29649 One popular reason to build several @value{GDBN} configurations in separate
29650 directories is to configure @value{GDBN} for cross-compiling (where
29651 @value{GDBN} runs on one machine---the @dfn{host}---while debugging
29652 programs that run on another machine---the @dfn{target}).
29653 You specify a cross-debugging target by
29654 giving the @samp{--target=@var{target}} option to @file{configure}.
29655
29656 When you run @code{make} to build a program or library, you must run
29657 it in a configured directory---whatever directory you were in when you
29658 called @file{configure} (or one of its subdirectories).
29659
29660 The @code{Makefile} that @file{configure} generates in each source
29661 directory also runs recursively. If you type @code{make} in a source
29662 directory such as @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} (or in a separate configured
29663 directory configured with @samp{--srcdir=@var{dirname}/gdb-@value{GDBVN}}), you
29664 will build all the required libraries, and then build GDB.
29665
29666 When you have multiple hosts or targets configured in separate
29667 directories, you can run @code{make} on them in parallel (for example,
29668 if they are NFS-mounted on each of the hosts); they will not interfere
29669 with each other.
29670
29671 @node Config Names
29672 @section Specifying Names for Hosts and Targets
29673
29674 The specifications used for hosts and targets in the @file{configure}
29675 script are based on a three-part naming scheme, but some short predefined
29676 aliases are also supported. The full naming scheme encodes three pieces
29677 of information in the following pattern:
29678
29679 @smallexample
29680 @var{architecture}-@var{vendor}-@var{os}
29681 @end smallexample
29682
29683 For example, you can use the alias @code{sun4} as a @var{host} argument,
29684 or as the value for @var{target} in a @code{--target=@var{target}}
29685 option. The equivalent full name is @samp{sparc-sun-sunos4}.
29686
29687 The @file{configure} script accompanying @value{GDBN} does not provide
29688 any query facility to list all supported host and target names or
29689 aliases. @file{configure} calls the Bourne shell script
29690 @code{config.sub} to map abbreviations to full names; you can read the
29691 script, if you wish, or you can use it to test your guesses on
29692 abbreviations---for example:
29693
29694 @smallexample
29695 % sh config.sub i386-linux
29696 i386-pc-linux-gnu
29697 % sh config.sub alpha-linux
29698 alpha-unknown-linux-gnu
29699 % sh config.sub hp9k700
29700 hppa1.1-hp-hpux
29701 % sh config.sub sun4
29702 sparc-sun-sunos4.1.1
29703 % sh config.sub sun3
29704 m68k-sun-sunos4.1.1
29705 % sh config.sub i986v
29706 Invalid configuration `i986v': machine `i986v' not recognized
29707 @end smallexample
29708
29709 @noindent
29710 @code{config.sub} is also distributed in the @value{GDBN} source
29711 directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, for version @value{GDBVN}).
29712
29713 @node Configure Options
29714 @section @file{configure} Options
29715
29716 Here is a summary of the @file{configure} options and arguments that
29717 are most often useful for building @value{GDBN}. @file{configure} also has
29718 several other options not listed here. @inforef{What Configure
29719 Does,,configure.info}, for a full explanation of @file{configure}.
29720
29721 @smallexample
29722 configure @r{[}--help@r{]}
29723 @r{[}--prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
29724 @r{[}--exec-prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
29725 @r{[}--srcdir=@var{dirname}@r{]}
29726 @r{[}--norecursion@r{]} @r{[}--rm@r{]}
29727 @r{[}--target=@var{target}@r{]}
29728 @var{host}
29729 @end smallexample
29730
29731 @noindent
29732 You may introduce options with a single @samp{-} rather than
29733 @samp{--} if you prefer; but you may abbreviate option names if you use
29734 @samp{--}.
29735
29736 @table @code
29737 @item --help
29738 Display a quick summary of how to invoke @file{configure}.
29739
29740 @item --prefix=@var{dir}
29741 Configure the source to install programs and files under directory
29742 @file{@var{dir}}.
29743
29744 @item --exec-prefix=@var{dir}
29745 Configure the source to install programs under directory
29746 @file{@var{dir}}.
29747
29748 @c avoid splitting the warning from the explanation:
29749 @need 2000
29750 @item --srcdir=@var{dirname}
29751 @strong{Warning: using this option requires @sc{gnu} @code{make}, or another
29752 @code{make} that implements the @code{VPATH} feature.}@*
29753 Use this option to make configurations in directories separate from the
29754 @value{GDBN} source directories. Among other things, you can use this to
29755 build (or maintain) several configurations simultaneously, in separate
29756 directories. @file{configure} writes configuration-specific files in
29757 the current directory, but arranges for them to use the source in the
29758 directory @var{dirname}. @file{configure} creates directories under
29759 the working directory in parallel to the source directories below
29760 @var{dirname}.
29761
29762 @item --norecursion
29763 Configure only the directory level where @file{configure} is executed; do not
29764 propagate configuration to subdirectories.
29765
29766 @item --target=@var{target}
29767 Configure @value{GDBN} for cross-debugging programs running on the specified
29768 @var{target}. Without this option, @value{GDBN} is configured to debug
29769 programs that run on the same machine (@var{host}) as @value{GDBN} itself.
29770
29771 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available targets.
29772
29773 @item @var{host} @dots{}
29774 Configure @value{GDBN} to run on the specified @var{host}.
29775
29776 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available hosts.
29777 @end table
29778
29779 There are many other options available as well, but they are generally
29780 needed for special purposes only.
29781
29782 @node System-wide configuration
29783 @section System-wide configuration and settings
29784 @cindex system-wide init file
29785
29786 @value{GDBN} can be configured to have a system-wide init file;
29787 this file will be read and executed at startup (@pxref{Startup, , What
29788 @value{GDBN} does during startup}).
29789
29790 Here is the corresponding configure option:
29791
29792 @table @code
29793 @item --with-system-gdbinit=@var{file}
29794 Specify that the default location of the system-wide init file is
29795 @var{file}.
29796 @end table
29797
29798 If @value{GDBN} has been configured with the option @option{--prefix=$prefix},
29799 it may be subject to relocation. Two possible cases:
29800
29801 @itemize @bullet
29802 @item
29803 If the default location of this init file contains @file{$prefix},
29804 it will be subject to relocation. Suppose that the configure options
29805 are @option{--prefix=$prefix --with-system-gdbinit=$prefix/etc/gdbinit};
29806 if @value{GDBN} is moved from @file{$prefix} to @file{$install}, the system
29807 init file is looked for as @file{$install/etc/gdbinit} instead of
29808 @file{$prefix/etc/gdbinit}.
29809
29810 @item
29811 By contrast, if the default location does not contain the prefix,
29812 it will not be relocated. E.g.@: if @value{GDBN} has been configured with
29813 @option{--prefix=/usr/local --with-system-gdbinit=/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
29814 then @value{GDBN} will always look for @file{/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
29815 wherever @value{GDBN} is installed.
29816 @end itemize
29817
29818 @node Maintenance Commands
29819 @appendix Maintenance Commands
29820 @cindex maintenance commands
29821 @cindex internal commands
29822
29823 In addition to commands intended for @value{GDBN} users, @value{GDBN}
29824 includes a number of commands intended for @value{GDBN} developers,
29825 that are not documented elsewhere in this manual. These commands are
29826 provided here for reference. (For commands that turn on debugging
29827 messages, see @ref{Debugging Output}.)
29828
29829 @table @code
29830 @kindex maint agent
29831 @kindex maint agent-eval
29832 @item maint agent @var{expression}
29833 @itemx maint agent-eval @var{expression}
29834 Translate the given @var{expression} into remote agent bytecodes.
29835 This command is useful for debugging the Agent Expression mechanism
29836 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}). The @samp{agent} version produces an
29837 expression useful for data collection, such as by tracepoints, while
29838 @samp{maint agent-eval} produces an expression that evaluates directly
29839 to a result. For instance, a collection expression for @code{globa +
29840 globb} will include bytecodes to record four bytes of memory at each
29841 of the addresses of @code{globa} and @code{globb}, while discarding
29842 the result of the addition, while an evaluation expression will do the
29843 addition and return the sum.
29844
29845 @kindex maint info breakpoints
29846 @item @anchor{maint info breakpoints}maint info breakpoints
29847 Using the same format as @samp{info breakpoints}, display both the
29848 breakpoints you've set explicitly, and those @value{GDBN} is using for
29849 internal purposes. Internal breakpoints are shown with negative
29850 breakpoint numbers. The type column identifies what kind of breakpoint
29851 is shown:
29852
29853 @table @code
29854 @item breakpoint
29855 Normal, explicitly set breakpoint.
29856
29857 @item watchpoint
29858 Normal, explicitly set watchpoint.
29859
29860 @item longjmp
29861 Internal breakpoint, used to handle correctly stepping through
29862 @code{longjmp} calls.
29863
29864 @item longjmp resume
29865 Internal breakpoint at the target of a @code{longjmp}.
29866
29867 @item until
29868 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{until} command.
29869
29870 @item finish
29871 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{finish} command.
29872
29873 @item shlib events
29874 Shared library events.
29875
29876 @end table
29877
29878 @kindex set displaced-stepping
29879 @kindex show displaced-stepping
29880 @cindex displaced stepping support
29881 @cindex out-of-line single-stepping
29882 @item set displaced-stepping
29883 @itemx show displaced-stepping
29884 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will do @dfn{displaced stepping}
29885 if the target supports it. Displaced stepping is a way to single-step
29886 over breakpoints without removing them from the inferior, by executing
29887 an out-of-line copy of the instruction that was originally at the
29888 breakpoint location. It is also known as out-of-line single-stepping.
29889
29890 @table @code
29891 @item set displaced-stepping on
29892 If the target architecture supports it, @value{GDBN} will use
29893 displaced stepping to step over breakpoints.
29894
29895 @item set displaced-stepping off
29896 @value{GDBN} will not use displaced stepping to step over breakpoints,
29897 even if such is supported by the target architecture.
29898
29899 @cindex non-stop mode, and @samp{set displaced-stepping}
29900 @item set displaced-stepping auto
29901 This is the default mode. @value{GDBN} will use displaced stepping
29902 only if non-stop mode is active (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) and the target
29903 architecture supports displaced stepping.
29904 @end table
29905
29906 @kindex maint check-symtabs
29907 @item maint check-symtabs
29908 Check the consistency of psymtabs and symtabs.
29909
29910 @kindex maint cplus first_component
29911 @item maint cplus first_component @var{name}
29912 Print the first C@t{++} class/namespace component of @var{name}.
29913
29914 @kindex maint cplus namespace
29915 @item maint cplus namespace
29916 Print the list of possible C@t{++} namespaces.
29917
29918 @kindex maint demangle
29919 @item maint demangle @var{name}
29920 Demangle a C@t{++} or Objective-C mangled @var{name}.
29921
29922 @kindex maint deprecate
29923 @kindex maint undeprecate
29924 @cindex deprecated commands
29925 @item maint deprecate @var{command} @r{[}@var{replacement}@r{]}
29926 @itemx maint undeprecate @var{command}
29927 Deprecate or undeprecate the named @var{command}. Deprecated commands
29928 cause @value{GDBN} to issue a warning when you use them. The optional
29929 argument @var{replacement} says which newer command should be used in
29930 favor of the deprecated one; if it is given, @value{GDBN} will mention
29931 the replacement as part of the warning.
29932
29933 @kindex maint dump-me
29934 @item maint dump-me
29935 @cindex @code{SIGQUIT} signal, dump core of @value{GDBN}
29936 Cause a fatal signal in the debugger and force it to dump its core.
29937 This is supported only on systems which support aborting a program
29938 with the @code{SIGQUIT} signal.
29939
29940 @kindex maint internal-error
29941 @kindex maint internal-warning
29942 @item maint internal-error @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
29943 @itemx maint internal-warning @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
29944 Cause @value{GDBN} to call the internal function @code{internal_error}
29945 or @code{internal_warning} and hence behave as though an internal error
29946 or internal warning has been detected. In addition to reporting the
29947 internal problem, these functions give the user the opportunity to
29948 either quit @value{GDBN} or create a core file of the current
29949 @value{GDBN} session.
29950
29951 These commands take an optional parameter @var{message-text} that is
29952 used as the text of the error or warning message.
29953
29954 Here's an example of using @code{internal-error}:
29955
29956 @smallexample
29957 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint internal-error testing, 1, 2}
29958 @dots{}/maint.c:121: internal-error: testing, 1, 2
29959 A problem internal to GDB has been detected. Further
29960 debugging may prove unreliable.
29961 Quit this debugging session? (y or n) @kbd{n}
29962 Create a core file? (y or n) @kbd{n}
29963 (@value{GDBP})
29964 @end smallexample
29965
29966 @cindex @value{GDBN} internal error
29967 @cindex internal errors, control of @value{GDBN} behavior
29968
29969 @kindex maint set internal-error
29970 @kindex maint show internal-error
29971 @kindex maint set internal-warning
29972 @kindex maint show internal-warning
29973 @item maint set internal-error @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
29974 @itemx maint show internal-error @var{action}
29975 @itemx maint set internal-warning @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
29976 @itemx maint show internal-warning @var{action}
29977 When @value{GDBN} reports an internal problem (error or warning) it
29978 gives the user the opportunity to both quit @value{GDBN} and create a
29979 core file of the current @value{GDBN} session. These commands let you
29980 override the default behaviour for each particular @var{action},
29981 described in the table below.
29982
29983 @table @samp
29984 @item quit
29985 You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
29986 quit. The default is to ask the user what to do.
29987
29988 @item corefile
29989 You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
29990 create a core file. The default is to ask the user what to do.
29991 @end table
29992
29993 @kindex maint packet
29994 @item maint packet @var{text}
29995 If @value{GDBN} is talking to an inferior via the serial protocol,
29996 then this command sends the string @var{text} to the inferior, and
29997 displays the response packet. @value{GDBN} supplies the initial
29998 @samp{$} character, the terminating @samp{#} character, and the
29999 checksum.
30000
30001 @kindex maint print architecture
30002 @item maint print architecture @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
30003 Print the entire architecture configuration. The optional argument
30004 @var{file} names the file where the output goes.
30005
30006 @kindex maint print c-tdesc
30007 @item maint print c-tdesc
30008 Print the current target description (@pxref{Target Descriptions}) as
30009 a C source file. The created source file can be used in @value{GDBN}
30010 when an XML parser is not available to parse the description.
30011
30012 @kindex maint print dummy-frames
30013 @item maint print dummy-frames
30014 Prints the contents of @value{GDBN}'s internal dummy-frame stack.
30015
30016 @smallexample
30017 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{b add}
30018 @dots{}
30019 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{print add(2,3)}
30020 Breakpoint 2, add (a=2, b=3) at @dots{}
30021 58 return (a + b);
30022 The program being debugged stopped while in a function called from GDB.
30023 @dots{}
30024 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print dummy-frames}
30025 0x1a57c80: pc=0x01014068 fp=0x0200bddc sp=0x0200bdd6
30026 top=0x0200bdd4 id=@{stack=0x200bddc,code=0x101405c@}
30027 call_lo=0x01014000 call_hi=0x01014001
30028 (@value{GDBP})
30029 @end smallexample
30030
30031 Takes an optional file parameter.
30032
30033 @kindex maint print registers
30034 @kindex maint print raw-registers
30035 @kindex maint print cooked-registers
30036 @kindex maint print register-groups
30037 @item maint print registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
30038 @itemx maint print raw-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
30039 @itemx maint print cooked-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
30040 @itemx maint print register-groups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
30041 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register data structures.
30042
30043 The command @code{maint print raw-registers} includes the contents of
30044 the raw register cache; the command @code{maint print cooked-registers}
30045 includes the (cooked) value of all registers, including registers which
30046 aren't available on the target nor visible to user; and the
30047 command @code{maint print register-groups} includes the groups that each
30048 register is a member of. @xref{Registers,, Registers, gdbint,
30049 @value{GDBN} Internals}.
30050
30051 These commands take an optional parameter, a file name to which to
30052 write the information.
30053
30054 @kindex maint print reggroups
30055 @item maint print reggroups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
30056 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register group data structures. The
30057 optional argument @var{file} tells to what file to write the
30058 information.
30059
30060 The register groups info looks like this:
30061
30062 @smallexample
30063 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print reggroups}
30064 Group Type
30065 general user
30066 float user
30067 all user
30068 vector user
30069 system user
30070 save internal
30071 restore internal
30072 @end smallexample
30073
30074 @kindex flushregs
30075 @item flushregs
30076 This command forces @value{GDBN} to flush its internal register cache.
30077
30078 @kindex maint print objfiles
30079 @cindex info for known object files
30080 @item maint print objfiles
30081 Print a dump of all known object files. For each object file, this
30082 command prints its name, address in memory, and all of its psymtabs
30083 and symtabs.
30084
30085 @kindex maint print section-scripts
30086 @cindex info for known .debug_gdb_scripts-loaded scripts
30087 @item maint print section-scripts [@var{regexp}]
30088 Print a dump of scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_section} section.
30089 If @var{regexp} is specified, only print scripts loaded by object files
30090 matching @var{regexp}.
30091 For each script, this command prints its name as specified in the objfile,
30092 and the full path if known.
30093 @xref{.debug_gdb_scripts section}.
30094
30095 @kindex maint print statistics
30096 @cindex bcache statistics
30097 @item maint print statistics
30098 This command prints, for each object file in the program, various data
30099 about that object file followed by the byte cache (@dfn{bcache})
30100 statistics for the object file. The objfile data includes the number
30101 of minimal, partial, full, and stabs symbols, the number of types
30102 defined by the objfile, the number of as yet unexpanded psym tables,
30103 the number of line tables and string tables, and the amount of memory
30104 used by the various tables. The bcache statistics include the counts,
30105 sizes, and counts of duplicates of all and unique objects, max,
30106 average, and median entry size, total memory used and its overhead and
30107 savings, and various measures of the hash table size and chain
30108 lengths.
30109
30110 @kindex maint print target-stack
30111 @cindex target stack description
30112 @item maint print target-stack
30113 A @dfn{target} is an interface between the debugger and a particular
30114 kind of file or process. Targets can be stacked in @dfn{strata},
30115 so that more than one target can potentially respond to a request.
30116 In particular, memory accesses will walk down the stack of targets
30117 until they find a target that is interested in handling that particular
30118 address.
30119
30120 This command prints a short description of each layer that was pushed on
30121 the @dfn{target stack}, starting from the top layer down to the bottom one.
30122
30123 @kindex maint print type
30124 @cindex type chain of a data type
30125 @item maint print type @var{expr}
30126 Print the type chain for a type specified by @var{expr}. The argument
30127 can be either a type name or a symbol. If it is a symbol, the type of
30128 that symbol is described. The type chain produced by this command is
30129 a recursive definition of the data type as stored in @value{GDBN}'s
30130 data structures, including its flags and contained types.
30131
30132 @kindex maint set dwarf2 always-disassemble
30133 @kindex maint show dwarf2 always-disassemble
30134 @item maint set dwarf2 always-disassemble
30135 @item maint show dwarf2 always-disassemble
30136 Control the behavior of @code{info address} when using DWARF debugging
30137 information.
30138
30139 The default is @code{off}, which means that @value{GDBN} should try to
30140 describe a variable's location in an easily readable format. When
30141 @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will instead display the DWARF location
30142 expression in an assembly-like format. Note that some locations are
30143 too complex for @value{GDBN} to describe simply; in this case you will
30144 always see the disassembly form.
30145
30146 Here is an example of the resulting disassembly:
30147
30148 @smallexample
30149 (gdb) info addr argc
30150 Symbol "argc" is a complex DWARF expression:
30151 1: DW_OP_fbreg 0
30152 @end smallexample
30153
30154 For more information on these expressions, see
30155 @uref{http://www.dwarfstd.org/, the DWARF standard}.
30156
30157 @kindex maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
30158 @kindex maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
30159 @item maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
30160 @itemx maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
30161 Control the DWARF 2 compilation unit cache.
30162
30163 @cindex DWARF 2 compilation units cache
30164 In object files with inter-compilation-unit references, such as those
30165 produced by the GCC option @samp{-feliminate-dwarf2-dups}, the DWARF 2
30166 reader needs to frequently refer to previously read compilation units.
30167 This setting controls how long a compilation unit will remain in the
30168 cache if it is not referenced. A higher limit means that cached
30169 compilation units will be stored in memory longer, and more total
30170 memory will be used. Setting it to zero disables caching, which will
30171 slow down @value{GDBN} startup, but reduce memory consumption.
30172
30173 @kindex maint set profile
30174 @kindex maint show profile
30175 @cindex profiling GDB
30176 @item maint set profile
30177 @itemx maint show profile
30178 Control profiling of @value{GDBN}.
30179
30180 Profiling will be disabled until you use the @samp{maint set profile}
30181 command to enable it. When you enable profiling, the system will begin
30182 collecting timing and execution count data; when you disable profiling or
30183 exit @value{GDBN}, the results will be written to a log file. Remember that
30184 if you use profiling, @value{GDBN} will overwrite the profiling log file
30185 (often called @file{gmon.out}). If you have a record of important profiling
30186 data in a @file{gmon.out} file, be sure to move it to a safe location.
30187
30188 Configuring with @samp{--enable-profiling} arranges for @value{GDBN} to be
30189 compiled with the @samp{-pg} compiler option.
30190
30191 @kindex maint set show-debug-regs
30192 @kindex maint show show-debug-regs
30193 @cindex hardware debug registers
30194 @item maint set show-debug-regs
30195 @itemx maint show show-debug-regs
30196 Control whether to show variables that mirror the hardware debug
30197 registers. Use @code{ON} to enable, @code{OFF} to disable. If
30198 enabled, the debug registers values are shown when @value{GDBN} inserts or
30199 removes a hardware breakpoint or watchpoint, and when the inferior
30200 triggers a hardware-assisted breakpoint or watchpoint.
30201
30202 @kindex maint set show-all-tib
30203 @kindex maint show show-all-tib
30204 @item maint set show-all-tib
30205 @itemx maint show show-all-tib
30206 Control whether to show all non zero areas within a 1k block starting
30207 at thread local base, when using the @samp{info w32 thread-information-block}
30208 command.
30209
30210 @kindex maint space
30211 @cindex memory used by commands
30212 @item maint space
30213 Control whether to display memory usage for each command. If set to a
30214 nonzero value, @value{GDBN} will display how much memory each command
30215 took, following the command's own output. This can also be requested
30216 by invoking @value{GDBN} with the @option{--statistics} command-line
30217 switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
30218
30219 @kindex maint time
30220 @cindex time of command execution
30221 @item maint time
30222 Control whether to display the execution time for each command. If
30223 set to a nonzero value, @value{GDBN} will display how much time it
30224 took to execute each command, following the command's own output.
30225 The time is not printed for the commands that run the target, since
30226 there's no mechanism currently to compute how much time was spend
30227 by @value{GDBN} and how much time was spend by the program been debugged.
30228 it's not possibly currently
30229 This can also be requested by invoking @value{GDBN} with the
30230 @option{--statistics} command-line switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
30231
30232 @kindex maint translate-address
30233 @item maint translate-address @r{[}@var{section}@r{]} @var{addr}
30234 Find the symbol stored at the location specified by the address
30235 @var{addr} and an optional section name @var{section}. If found,
30236 @value{GDBN} prints the name of the closest symbol and an offset from
30237 the symbol's location to the specified address. This is similar to
30238 the @code{info address} command (@pxref{Symbols}), except that this
30239 command also allows to find symbols in other sections.
30240
30241 If section was not specified, the section in which the symbol was found
30242 is also printed. For dynamically linked executables, the name of
30243 executable or shared library containing the symbol is printed as well.
30244
30245 @end table
30246
30247 The following command is useful for non-interactive invocations of
30248 @value{GDBN}, such as in the test suite.
30249
30250 @table @code
30251 @item set watchdog @var{nsec}
30252 @kindex set watchdog
30253 @cindex watchdog timer
30254 @cindex timeout for commands
30255 Set the maximum number of seconds @value{GDBN} will wait for the
30256 target operation to finish. If this time expires, @value{GDBN}
30257 reports and error and the command is aborted.
30258
30259 @item show watchdog
30260 Show the current setting of the target wait timeout.
30261 @end table
30262
30263 @node Remote Protocol
30264 @appendix @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol
30265
30266 @menu
30267 * Overview::
30268 * Packets::
30269 * Stop Reply Packets::
30270 * General Query Packets::
30271 * Architecture-Specific Protocol Details::
30272 * Tracepoint Packets::
30273 * Host I/O Packets::
30274 * Interrupts::
30275 * Notification Packets::
30276 * Remote Non-Stop::
30277 * Packet Acknowledgment::
30278 * Examples::
30279 * File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension::
30280 * Library List Format::
30281 * Memory Map Format::
30282 * Thread List Format::
30283 @end menu
30284
30285 @node Overview
30286 @section Overview
30287
30288 There may be occasions when you need to know something about the
30289 protocol---for example, if there is only one serial port to your target
30290 machine, you might want your program to do something special if it
30291 recognizes a packet meant for @value{GDBN}.
30292
30293 In the examples below, @samp{->} and @samp{<-} are used to indicate
30294 transmitted and received data, respectively.
30295
30296 @cindex protocol, @value{GDBN} remote serial
30297 @cindex serial protocol, @value{GDBN} remote
30298 @cindex remote serial protocol
30299 All @value{GDBN} commands and responses (other than acknowledgments
30300 and notifications, see @ref{Notification Packets}) are sent as a
30301 @var{packet}. A @var{packet} is introduced with the character
30302 @samp{$}, the actual @var{packet-data}, and the terminating character
30303 @samp{#} followed by a two-digit @var{checksum}:
30304
30305 @smallexample
30306 @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
30307 @end smallexample
30308 @noindent
30309
30310 @cindex checksum, for @value{GDBN} remote
30311 @noindent
30312 The two-digit @var{checksum} is computed as the modulo 256 sum of all
30313 characters between the leading @samp{$} and the trailing @samp{#} (an
30314 eight bit unsigned checksum).
30315
30316 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0 the protocol
30317 specification also included an optional two-digit @var{sequence-id}:
30318
30319 @smallexample
30320 @code{$}@var{sequence-id}@code{:}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
30321 @end smallexample
30322
30323 @cindex sequence-id, for @value{GDBN} remote
30324 @noindent
30325 That @var{sequence-id} was appended to the acknowledgment. @value{GDBN}
30326 has never output @var{sequence-id}s. Stubs that handle packets added
30327 since @value{GDBN} 5.0 must not accept @var{sequence-id}.
30328
30329 When either the host or the target machine receives a packet, the first
30330 response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
30331 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request
30332 retransmission):
30333
30334 @smallexample
30335 -> @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
30336 <- @code{+}
30337 @end smallexample
30338 @noindent
30339
30340 The @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments can be disabled
30341 once a connection is established.
30342 @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}, for details.
30343
30344 The host (@value{GDBN}) sends @var{command}s, and the target (the
30345 debugging stub incorporated in your program) sends a @var{response}. In
30346 the case of step and continue @var{command}s, the response is only sent
30347 when the operation has completed, and the target has again stopped all
30348 threads in all attached processes. This is the default all-stop mode
30349 behavior, but the remote protocol also supports @value{GDBN}'s non-stop
30350 execution mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}, for details.
30351
30352 @var{packet-data} consists of a sequence of characters with the
30353 exception of @samp{#} and @samp{$} (see @samp{X} packet for additional
30354 exceptions).
30355
30356 @cindex remote protocol, field separator
30357 Fields within the packet should be separated using @samp{,} @samp{;} or
30358 @samp{:}. Except where otherwise noted all numbers are represented in
30359 @sc{hex} with leading zeros suppressed.
30360
30361 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0, the character
30362 @samp{:} could not appear as the third character in a packet (as it
30363 would potentially conflict with the @var{sequence-id}).
30364
30365 @cindex remote protocol, binary data
30366 @anchor{Binary Data}
30367 Binary data in most packets is encoded either as two hexadecimal
30368 digits per byte of binary data. This allowed the traditional remote
30369 protocol to work over connections which were only seven-bit clean.
30370 Some packets designed more recently assume an eight-bit clean
30371 connection, and use a more efficient encoding to send and receive
30372 binary data.
30373
30374 The binary data representation uses @code{7d} (@sc{ascii} @samp{@}})
30375 as an escape character. Any escaped byte is transmitted as the escape
30376 character followed by the original character XORed with @code{0x20}.
30377 For example, the byte @code{0x7d} would be transmitted as the two
30378 bytes @code{0x7d 0x5d}. The bytes @code{0x23} (@sc{ascii} @samp{#}),
30379 @code{0x24} (@sc{ascii} @samp{$}), and @code{0x7d} (@sc{ascii}
30380 @samp{@}}) must always be escaped. Responses sent by the stub
30381 must also escape @code{0x2a} (@sc{ascii} @samp{*}), so that it
30382 is not interpreted as the start of a run-length encoded sequence
30383 (described next).
30384
30385 Response @var{data} can be run-length encoded to save space.
30386 Run-length encoding replaces runs of identical characters with one
30387 instance of the repeated character, followed by a @samp{*} and a
30388 repeat count. The repeat count is itself sent encoded, to avoid
30389 binary characters in @var{data}: a value of @var{n} is sent as
30390 @code{@var{n}+29}. For a repeat count greater or equal to 3, this
30391 produces a printable @sc{ascii} character, e.g.@: a space (@sc{ascii}
30392 code 32) for a repeat count of 3. (This is because run-length
30393 encoding starts to win for counts 3 or more.) Thus, for example,
30394 @samp{0* } is a run-length encoding of ``0000'': the space character
30395 after @samp{*} means repeat the leading @code{0} @w{@code{32 - 29 =
30396 3}} more times.
30397
30398 The printable characters @samp{#} and @samp{$} or with a numeric value
30399 greater than 126 must not be used. Runs of six repeats (@samp{#}) or
30400 seven repeats (@samp{$}) can be expanded using a repeat count of only
30401 five (@samp{"}). For example, @samp{00000000} can be encoded as
30402 @samp{0*"00}.
30403
30404 The error response returned for some packets includes a two character
30405 error number. That number is not well defined.
30406
30407 @cindex empty response, for unsupported packets
30408 For any @var{command} not supported by the stub, an empty response
30409 (@samp{$#00}) should be returned. That way it is possible to extend the
30410 protocol. A newer @value{GDBN} can tell if a packet is supported based
30411 on that response.
30412
30413 A stub is required to support the @samp{g}, @samp{G}, @samp{m}, @samp{M},
30414 @samp{c}, and @samp{s} @var{command}s. All other @var{command}s are
30415 optional.
30416
30417 @node Packets
30418 @section Packets
30419
30420 The following table provides a complete list of all currently defined
30421 @var{command}s and their corresponding response @var{data}.
30422 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for details about the File
30423 I/O extension of the remote protocol.
30424
30425 Each packet's description has a template showing the packet's overall
30426 syntax, followed by an explanation of the packet's meaning. We
30427 include spaces in some of the templates for clarity; these are not
30428 part of the packet's syntax. No @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to
30429 separate its components. For example, a template like @samp{foo
30430 @var{bar} @var{baz}} describes a packet beginning with the three ASCII
30431 bytes @samp{foo}, followed by a @var{bar}, followed directly by a
30432 @var{baz}. @value{GDBN} does not transmit a space character between the
30433 @samp{foo} and the @var{bar}, or between the @var{bar} and the
30434 @var{baz}.
30435
30436 @cindex @var{thread-id}, in remote protocol
30437 @anchor{thread-id syntax}
30438 Several packets and replies include a @var{thread-id} field to identify
30439 a thread. Normally these are positive numbers with a target-specific
30440 interpretation, formatted as big-endian hex strings. A @var{thread-id}
30441 can also be a literal @samp{-1} to indicate all threads, or @samp{0} to
30442 pick any thread.
30443
30444 In addition, the remote protocol supports a multiprocess feature in
30445 which the @var{thread-id} syntax is extended to optionally include both
30446 process and thread ID fields, as @samp{p@var{pid}.@var{tid}}.
30447 The @var{pid} (process) and @var{tid} (thread) components each have the
30448 format described above: a positive number with target-specific
30449 interpretation formatted as a big-endian hex string, literal @samp{-1}
30450 to indicate all processes or threads (respectively), or @samp{0} to
30451 indicate an arbitrary process or thread. Specifying just a process, as
30452 @samp{p@var{pid}}, is equivalent to @samp{p@var{pid}.-1}. It is an
30453 error to specify all processes but a specific thread, such as
30454 @samp{p-1.@var{tid}}. Note that the @samp{p} prefix is @emph{not} used
30455 for those packets and replies explicitly documented to include a process
30456 ID, rather than a @var{thread-id}.
30457
30458 The multiprocess @var{thread-id} syntax extensions are only used if both
30459 @value{GDBN} and the stub report support for the @samp{multiprocess}
30460 feature using @samp{qSupported}. @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for
30461 more information.
30462
30463 Note that all packet forms beginning with an upper- or lower-case
30464 letter, other than those described here, are reserved for future use.
30465
30466 Here are the packet descriptions.
30467
30468 @table @samp
30469
30470 @item !
30471 @cindex @samp{!} packet
30472 @anchor{extended mode}
30473 Enable extended mode. In extended mode, the remote server is made
30474 persistent. The @samp{R} packet is used to restart the program being
30475 debugged.
30476
30477 Reply:
30478 @table @samp
30479 @item OK
30480 The remote target both supports and has enabled extended mode.
30481 @end table
30482
30483 @item ?
30484 @cindex @samp{?} packet
30485 Indicate the reason the target halted. The reply is the same as for
30486 step and continue. This packet has a special interpretation when the
30487 target is in non-stop mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}.
30488
30489 Reply:
30490 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
30491
30492 @item A @var{arglen},@var{argnum},@var{arg},@dots{}
30493 @cindex @samp{A} packet
30494 Initialized @code{argv[]} array passed into program. @var{arglen}
30495 specifies the number of bytes in the hex encoded byte stream
30496 @var{arg}. See @code{gdbserver} for more details.
30497
30498 Reply:
30499 @table @samp
30500 @item OK
30501 The arguments were set.
30502 @item E @var{NN}
30503 An error occurred.
30504 @end table
30505
30506 @item b @var{baud}
30507 @cindex @samp{b} packet
30508 (Don't use this packet; its behavior is not well-defined.)
30509 Change the serial line speed to @var{baud}.
30510
30511 JTC: @emph{When does the transport layer state change? When it's
30512 received, or after the ACK is transmitted. In either case, there are
30513 problems if the command or the acknowledgment packet is dropped.}
30514
30515 Stan: @emph{If people really wanted to add something like this, and get
30516 it working for the first time, they ought to modify ser-unix.c to send
30517 some kind of out-of-band message to a specially-setup stub and have the
30518 switch happen "in between" packets, so that from remote protocol's point
30519 of view, nothing actually happened.}
30520
30521 @item B @var{addr},@var{mode}
30522 @cindex @samp{B} packet
30523 Set (@var{mode} is @samp{S}) or clear (@var{mode} is @samp{C}) a
30524 breakpoint at @var{addr}.
30525
30526 Don't use this packet. Use the @samp{Z} and @samp{z} packets instead
30527 (@pxref{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}).
30528
30529 @cindex @samp{bc} packet
30530 @anchor{bc}
30531 @item bc
30532 Backward continue. Execute the target system in reverse. No parameter.
30533 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
30534
30535 Reply:
30536 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
30537
30538 @cindex @samp{bs} packet
30539 @anchor{bs}
30540 @item bs
30541 Backward single step. Execute one instruction in reverse. No parameter.
30542 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
30543
30544 Reply:
30545 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
30546
30547 @item c @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
30548 @cindex @samp{c} packet
30549 Continue. @var{addr} is address to resume. If @var{addr} is omitted,
30550 resume at current address.
30551
30552 Reply:
30553 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
30554
30555 @item C @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
30556 @cindex @samp{C} packet
30557 Continue with signal @var{sig} (hex signal number). If
30558 @samp{;@var{addr}} is omitted, resume at same address.
30559
30560 Reply:
30561 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
30562
30563 @item d
30564 @cindex @samp{d} packet
30565 Toggle debug flag.
30566
30567 Don't use this packet; instead, define a general set packet
30568 (@pxref{General Query Packets}).
30569
30570 @item D
30571 @itemx D;@var{pid}
30572 @cindex @samp{D} packet
30573 The first form of the packet is used to detach @value{GDBN} from the
30574 remote system. It is sent to the remote target
30575 before @value{GDBN} disconnects via the @code{detach} command.
30576
30577 The second form, including a process ID, is used when multiprocess
30578 protocol extensions are enabled (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}), to
30579 detach only a specific process. The @var{pid} is specified as a
30580 big-endian hex string.
30581
30582 Reply:
30583 @table @samp
30584 @item OK
30585 for success
30586 @item E @var{NN}
30587 for an error
30588 @end table
30589
30590 @item F @var{RC},@var{EE},@var{CF};@var{XX}
30591 @cindex @samp{F} packet
30592 A reply from @value{GDBN} to an @samp{F} packet sent by the target.
30593 This is part of the File-I/O protocol extension. @xref{File-I/O
30594 Remote Protocol Extension}, for the specification.
30595
30596 @item g
30597 @anchor{read registers packet}
30598 @cindex @samp{g} packet
30599 Read general registers.
30600
30601 Reply:
30602 @table @samp
30603 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
30604 Each byte of register data is described by two hex digits. The bytes
30605 with the register are transmitted in target byte order. The size of
30606 each register and their position within the @samp{g} packet are
30607 determined by the @value{GDBN} internal gdbarch functions
30608 @code{DEPRECATED_REGISTER_RAW_SIZE} and @code{gdbarch_register_name}. The
30609 specification of several standard @samp{g} packets is specified below.
30610 @item E @var{NN}
30611 for an error.
30612 @end table
30613
30614 @item G @var{XX@dots{}}
30615 @cindex @samp{G} packet
30616 Write general registers. @xref{read registers packet}, for a
30617 description of the @var{XX@dots{}} data.
30618
30619 Reply:
30620 @table @samp
30621 @item OK
30622 for success
30623 @item E @var{NN}
30624 for an error
30625 @end table
30626
30627 @item H @var{c} @var{thread-id}
30628 @cindex @samp{H} packet
30629 Set thread for subsequent operations (@samp{m}, @samp{M}, @samp{g},
30630 @samp{G}, et.al.). @var{c} depends on the operation to be performed: it
30631 should be @samp{c} for step and continue operations, @samp{g} for other
30632 operations. The thread designator @var{thread-id} has the format and
30633 interpretation described in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
30634
30635 Reply:
30636 @table @samp
30637 @item OK
30638 for success
30639 @item E @var{NN}
30640 for an error
30641 @end table
30642
30643 @c FIXME: JTC:
30644 @c 'H': How restrictive (or permissive) is the thread model. If a
30645 @c thread is selected and stopped, are other threads allowed
30646 @c to continue to execute? As I mentioned above, I think the
30647 @c semantics of each command when a thread is selected must be
30648 @c described. For example:
30649 @c
30650 @c 'g': If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
30651 @c selected, returns the register block from that thread;
30652 @c otherwise returns current registers.
30653 @c
30654 @c 'G' If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
30655 @c selected, sets the registers of the register block of
30656 @c that thread; otherwise sets current registers.
30657
30658 @item i @r{[}@var{addr}@r{[},@var{nnn}@r{]]}
30659 @anchor{cycle step packet}
30660 @cindex @samp{i} packet
30661 Step the remote target by a single clock cycle. If @samp{,@var{nnn}} is
30662 present, cycle step @var{nnn} cycles. If @var{addr} is present, cycle
30663 step starting at that address.
30664
30665 @item I
30666 @cindex @samp{I} packet
30667 Signal, then cycle step. @xref{step with signal packet}. @xref{cycle
30668 step packet}.
30669
30670 @item k
30671 @cindex @samp{k} packet
30672 Kill request.
30673
30674 FIXME: @emph{There is no description of how to operate when a specific
30675 thread context has been selected (i.e.@: does 'k' kill only that
30676 thread?)}.
30677
30678 @item m @var{addr},@var{length}
30679 @cindex @samp{m} packet
30680 Read @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
30681 Note that @var{addr} may not be aligned to any particular boundary.
30682
30683 The stub need not use any particular size or alignment when gathering
30684 data from memory for the response; even if @var{addr} is word-aligned
30685 and @var{length} is a multiple of the word size, the stub is free to
30686 use byte accesses, or not. For this reason, this packet may not be
30687 suitable for accessing memory-mapped I/O devices.
30688 @cindex alignment of remote memory accesses
30689 @cindex size of remote memory accesses
30690 @cindex memory, alignment and size of remote accesses
30691
30692 Reply:
30693 @table @samp
30694 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
30695 Memory contents; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit hexadecimal
30696 number. The reply may contain fewer bytes than requested if the
30697 server was able to read only part of the region of memory.
30698 @item E @var{NN}
30699 @var{NN} is errno
30700 @end table
30701
30702 @item M @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
30703 @cindex @samp{M} packet
30704 Write @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
30705 @var{XX@dots{}} is the data; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit
30706 hexadecimal number.
30707
30708 Reply:
30709 @table @samp
30710 @item OK
30711 for success
30712 @item E @var{NN}
30713 for an error (this includes the case where only part of the data was
30714 written).
30715 @end table
30716
30717 @item p @var{n}
30718 @cindex @samp{p} packet
30719 Read the value of register @var{n}; @var{n} is in hex.
30720 @xref{read registers packet}, for a description of how the returned
30721 register value is encoded.
30722
30723 Reply:
30724 @table @samp
30725 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
30726 the register's value
30727 @item E @var{NN}
30728 for an error
30729 @item
30730 Indicating an unrecognized @var{query}.
30731 @end table
30732
30733 @item P @var{n@dots{}}=@var{r@dots{}}
30734 @anchor{write register packet}
30735 @cindex @samp{P} packet
30736 Write register @var{n@dots{}} with value @var{r@dots{}}. The register
30737 number @var{n} is in hexadecimal, and @var{r@dots{}} contains two hex
30738 digits for each byte in the register (target byte order).
30739
30740 Reply:
30741 @table @samp
30742 @item OK
30743 for success
30744 @item E @var{NN}
30745 for an error
30746 @end table
30747
30748 @item q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
30749 @itemx Q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
30750 @cindex @samp{q} packet
30751 @cindex @samp{Q} packet
30752 General query (@samp{q}) and set (@samp{Q}). These packets are
30753 described fully in @ref{General Query Packets}.
30754
30755 @item r
30756 @cindex @samp{r} packet
30757 Reset the entire system.
30758
30759 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{R} packet instead.
30760
30761 @item R @var{XX}
30762 @cindex @samp{R} packet
30763 Restart the program being debugged. @var{XX}, while needed, is ignored.
30764 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
30765
30766 The @samp{R} packet has no reply.
30767
30768 @item s @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
30769 @cindex @samp{s} packet
30770 Single step. @var{addr} is the address at which to resume. If
30771 @var{addr} is omitted, resume at same address.
30772
30773 Reply:
30774 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
30775
30776 @item S @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
30777 @anchor{step with signal packet}
30778 @cindex @samp{S} packet
30779 Step with signal. This is analogous to the @samp{C} packet, but
30780 requests a single-step, rather than a normal resumption of execution.
30781
30782 Reply:
30783 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
30784
30785 @item t @var{addr}:@var{PP},@var{MM}
30786 @cindex @samp{t} packet
30787 Search backwards starting at address @var{addr} for a match with pattern
30788 @var{PP} and mask @var{MM}. @var{PP} and @var{MM} are 4 bytes.
30789 @var{addr} must be at least 3 digits.
30790
30791 @item T @var{thread-id}
30792 @cindex @samp{T} packet
30793 Find out if the thread @var{thread-id} is alive. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
30794
30795 Reply:
30796 @table @samp
30797 @item OK
30798 thread is still alive
30799 @item E @var{NN}
30800 thread is dead
30801 @end table
30802
30803 @item v
30804 Packets starting with @samp{v} are identified by a multi-letter name,
30805 up to the first @samp{;} or @samp{?} (or the end of the packet).
30806
30807 @item vAttach;@var{pid}
30808 @cindex @samp{vAttach} packet
30809 Attach to a new process with the specified process ID @var{pid}.
30810 The process ID is a
30811 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. In all-stop mode, all
30812 threads in the attached process are stopped; in non-stop mode, it may be
30813 attached without being stopped if that is supported by the target.
30814
30815 @c In non-stop mode, on a successful vAttach, the stub should set the
30816 @c current thread to a thread of the newly-attached process. After
30817 @c attaching, GDB queries for the attached process's thread ID with qC.
30818 @c Also note that, from a user perspective, whether or not the
30819 @c target is stopped on attach in non-stop mode depends on whether you
30820 @c use the foreground or background version of the attach command, not
30821 @c on what vAttach does; GDB does the right thing with respect to either
30822 @c stopping or restarting threads.
30823
30824 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
30825
30826 Reply:
30827 @table @samp
30828 @item E @var{nn}
30829 for an error
30830 @item @r{Any stop packet}
30831 for success in all-stop mode (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
30832 @item OK
30833 for success in non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop})
30834 @end table
30835
30836 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@r{[}:@var{thread-id}@r{]]}@dots{}
30837 @cindex @samp{vCont} packet
30838 Resume the inferior, specifying different actions for each thread.
30839 If an action is specified with no @var{thread-id}, then it is applied to any
30840 threads that don't have a specific action specified; if no default action is
30841 specified then other threads should remain stopped in all-stop mode and
30842 in their current state in non-stop mode.
30843 Specifying multiple
30844 default actions is an error; specifying no actions is also an error.
30845 Thread IDs are specified using the syntax described in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
30846
30847 Currently supported actions are:
30848
30849 @table @samp
30850 @item c
30851 Continue.
30852 @item C @var{sig}
30853 Continue with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
30854 @item s
30855 Step.
30856 @item S @var{sig}
30857 Step with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
30858 @item t
30859 Stop.
30860 @end table
30861
30862 The optional argument @var{addr} normally associated with the
30863 @samp{c}, @samp{C}, @samp{s}, and @samp{S} packets is
30864 not supported in @samp{vCont}.
30865
30866 The @samp{t} action is only relevant in non-stop mode
30867 (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}) and may be ignored by the stub otherwise.
30868 A stop reply should be generated for any affected thread not already stopped.
30869 When a thread is stopped by means of a @samp{t} action,
30870 the corresponding stop reply should indicate that the thread has stopped with
30871 signal @samp{0}, regardless of whether the target uses some other signal
30872 as an implementation detail.
30873
30874 Reply:
30875 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
30876
30877 @item vCont?
30878 @cindex @samp{vCont?} packet
30879 Request a list of actions supported by the @samp{vCont} packet.
30880
30881 Reply:
30882 @table @samp
30883 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@dots{}@r{]}
30884 The @samp{vCont} packet is supported. Each @var{action} is a supported
30885 command in the @samp{vCont} packet.
30886 @item
30887 The @samp{vCont} packet is not supported.
30888 @end table
30889
30890 @item vFile:@var{operation}:@var{parameter}@dots{}
30891 @cindex @samp{vFile} packet
30892 Perform a file operation on the target system. For details,
30893 see @ref{Host I/O Packets}.
30894
30895 @item vFlashErase:@var{addr},@var{length}
30896 @cindex @samp{vFlashErase} packet
30897 Direct the stub to erase @var{length} bytes of flash starting at
30898 @var{addr}. The region may enclose any number of flash blocks, but
30899 its start and end must fall on block boundaries, as indicated by the
30900 flash block size appearing in the memory map (@pxref{Memory Map
30901 Format}). @value{GDBN} groups flash memory programming operations
30902 together, and sends a @samp{vFlashDone} request after each group; the
30903 stub is allowed to delay erase operation until the @samp{vFlashDone}
30904 packet is received.
30905
30906 The stub must support @samp{vCont} if it reports support for
30907 multiprocess extensions (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}). Note that in
30908 this case @samp{vCont} actions can be specified to apply to all threads
30909 in a process by using the @samp{p@var{pid}.-1} form of the
30910 @var{thread-id}.
30911
30912 Reply:
30913 @table @samp
30914 @item OK
30915 for success
30916 @item E @var{NN}
30917 for an error
30918 @end table
30919
30920 @item vFlashWrite:@var{addr}:@var{XX@dots{}}
30921 @cindex @samp{vFlashWrite} packet
30922 Direct the stub to write data to flash address @var{addr}. The data
30923 is passed in binary form using the same encoding as for the @samp{X}
30924 packet (@pxref{Binary Data}). The memory ranges specified by
30925 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets preceding a @samp{vFlashDone} packet must
30926 not overlap, and must appear in order of increasing addresses
30927 (although @samp{vFlashErase} packets for higher addresses may already
30928 have been received; the ordering is guaranteed only between
30929 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets). If a packet writes to an address that was
30930 neither erased by a preceding @samp{vFlashErase} packet nor by some other
30931 target-specific method, the results are unpredictable.
30932
30933
30934 Reply:
30935 @table @samp
30936 @item OK
30937 for success
30938 @item E.memtype
30939 for vFlashWrite addressing non-flash memory
30940 @item E @var{NN}
30941 for an error
30942 @end table
30943
30944 @item vFlashDone
30945 @cindex @samp{vFlashDone} packet
30946 Indicate to the stub that flash programming operation is finished.
30947 The stub is permitted to delay or batch the effects of a group of
30948 @samp{vFlashErase} and @samp{vFlashWrite} packets until a
30949 @samp{vFlashDone} packet is received. The contents of the affected
30950 regions of flash memory are unpredictable until the @samp{vFlashDone}
30951 request is completed.
30952
30953 @item vKill;@var{pid}
30954 @cindex @samp{vKill} packet
30955 Kill the process with the specified process ID. @var{pid} is a
30956 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. This packet is used in
30957 preference to @samp{k} when multiprocess protocol extensions are
30958 supported; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
30959
30960 Reply:
30961 @table @samp
30962 @item E @var{nn}
30963 for an error
30964 @item OK
30965 for success
30966 @end table
30967
30968 @item vRun;@var{filename}@r{[};@var{argument}@r{]}@dots{}
30969 @cindex @samp{vRun} packet
30970 Run the program @var{filename}, passing it each @var{argument} on its
30971 command line. The file and arguments are hex-encoded strings. If
30972 @var{filename} is an empty string, the stub may use a default program
30973 (e.g.@: the last program run). The program is created in the stopped
30974 state.
30975
30976 @c FIXME: What about non-stop mode?
30977
30978 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
30979
30980 Reply:
30981 @table @samp
30982 @item E @var{nn}
30983 for an error
30984 @item @r{Any stop packet}
30985 for success (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
30986 @end table
30987
30988 @item vStopped
30989 @anchor{vStopped packet}
30990 @cindex @samp{vStopped} packet
30991
30992 In non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}), acknowledge a previous stop
30993 reply and prompt for the stub to report another one.
30994
30995 Reply:
30996 @table @samp
30997 @item @r{Any stop packet}
30998 if there is another unreported stop event (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
30999 @item OK
31000 if there are no unreported stop events
31001 @end table
31002
31003 @item X @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
31004 @anchor{X packet}
31005 @cindex @samp{X} packet
31006 Write data to memory, where the data is transmitted in binary.
31007 @var{addr} is address, @var{length} is number of bytes,
31008 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
31009
31010 Reply:
31011 @table @samp
31012 @item OK
31013 for success
31014 @item E @var{NN}
31015 for an error
31016 @end table
31017
31018 @item z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
31019 @itemx Z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
31020 @anchor{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}
31021 @cindex @samp{z} packet
31022 @cindex @samp{Z} packets
31023 Insert (@samp{Z}) or remove (@samp{z}) a @var{type} breakpoint or
31024 watchpoint starting at address @var{address} of kind @var{kind}.
31025
31026 Each breakpoint and watchpoint packet @var{type} is documented
31027 separately.
31028
31029 @emph{Implementation notes: A remote target shall return an empty string
31030 for an unrecognized breakpoint or watchpoint packet @var{type}. A
31031 remote target shall support either both or neither of a given
31032 @samp{Z@var{type}@dots{}} and @samp{z@var{type}@dots{}} packet pair. To
31033 avoid potential problems with duplicate packets, the operations should
31034 be implemented in an idempotent way.}
31035
31036 @item z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}
31037 @itemx Z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}
31038 @cindex @samp{z0} packet
31039 @cindex @samp{Z0} packet
31040 Insert (@samp{Z0}) or remove (@samp{z0}) a memory breakpoint at address
31041 @var{addr} of type @var{kind}.
31042
31043 A memory breakpoint is implemented by replacing the instruction at
31044 @var{addr} with a software breakpoint or trap instruction. The
31045 @var{kind} is target-specific and typically indicates the size of
31046 the breakpoint in bytes that should be inserted. E.g., the @sc{arm}
31047 and @sc{mips} can insert either a 2 or 4 byte breakpoint. Some
31048 architectures have additional meanings for @var{kind};
31049 see @ref{Architecture-Specific Protocol Details}.
31050
31051 @emph{Implementation note: It is possible for a target to copy or move
31052 code that contains memory breakpoints (e.g., when implementing
31053 overlays). The behavior of this packet, in the presence of such a
31054 target, is not defined.}
31055
31056 Reply:
31057 @table @samp
31058 @item OK
31059 success
31060 @item
31061 not supported
31062 @item E @var{NN}
31063 for an error
31064 @end table
31065
31066 @item z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}
31067 @itemx Z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}
31068 @cindex @samp{z1} packet
31069 @cindex @samp{Z1} packet
31070 Insert (@samp{Z1}) or remove (@samp{z1}) a hardware breakpoint at
31071 address @var{addr}.
31072
31073 A hardware breakpoint is implemented using a mechanism that is not
31074 dependant on being able to modify the target's memory. @var{kind}
31075 has the same meaning as in @samp{Z0} packets.
31076
31077 @emph{Implementation note: A hardware breakpoint is not affected by code
31078 movement.}
31079
31080 Reply:
31081 @table @samp
31082 @item OK
31083 success
31084 @item
31085 not supported
31086 @item E @var{NN}
31087 for an error
31088 @end table
31089
31090 @item z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
31091 @itemx Z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
31092 @cindex @samp{z2} packet
31093 @cindex @samp{Z2} packet
31094 Insert (@samp{Z2}) or remove (@samp{z2}) a write watchpoint at @var{addr}.
31095 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
31096
31097 Reply:
31098 @table @samp
31099 @item OK
31100 success
31101 @item
31102 not supported
31103 @item E @var{NN}
31104 for an error
31105 @end table
31106
31107 @item z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
31108 @itemx Z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
31109 @cindex @samp{z3} packet
31110 @cindex @samp{Z3} packet
31111 Insert (@samp{Z3}) or remove (@samp{z3}) a read watchpoint at @var{addr}.
31112 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
31113
31114 Reply:
31115 @table @samp
31116 @item OK
31117 success
31118 @item
31119 not supported
31120 @item E @var{NN}
31121 for an error
31122 @end table
31123
31124 @item z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
31125 @itemx Z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
31126 @cindex @samp{z4} packet
31127 @cindex @samp{Z4} packet
31128 Insert (@samp{Z4}) or remove (@samp{z4}) an access watchpoint at @var{addr}.
31129 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
31130
31131 Reply:
31132 @table @samp
31133 @item OK
31134 success
31135 @item
31136 not supported
31137 @item E @var{NN}
31138 for an error
31139 @end table
31140
31141 @end table
31142
31143 @node Stop Reply Packets
31144 @section Stop Reply Packets
31145 @cindex stop reply packets
31146
31147 The @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}, @samp{s}, @samp{vCont},
31148 @samp{vAttach}, @samp{vRun}, @samp{vStopped}, and @samp{?} packets can
31149 receive any of the below as a reply. Except for @samp{?}
31150 and @samp{vStopped}, that reply is only returned
31151 when the target halts. In the below the exact meaning of @dfn{signal
31152 number} is defined by the header @file{include/gdb/signals.h} in the
31153 @value{GDBN} source code.
31154
31155 As in the description of request packets, we include spaces in the
31156 reply templates for clarity; these are not part of the reply packet's
31157 syntax. No @value{GDBN} stop reply packet uses spaces to separate its
31158 components.
31159
31160 @table @samp
31161
31162 @item S @var{AA}
31163 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
31164 number). This is equivalent to a @samp{T} response with no
31165 @var{n}:@var{r} pairs.
31166
31167 @item T @var{AA} @var{n1}:@var{r1};@var{n2}:@var{r2};@dots{}
31168 @cindex @samp{T} packet reply
31169 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
31170 number). This is equivalent to an @samp{S} response, except that the
31171 @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pairs can carry values of important registers
31172 and other information directly in the stop reply packet, reducing
31173 round-trip latency. Single-step and breakpoint traps are reported
31174 this way. Each @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair is interpreted as follows:
31175
31176 @itemize @bullet
31177 @item
31178 If @var{n} is a hexadecimal number, it is a register number, and the
31179 corresponding @var{r} gives that register's value. @var{r} is a
31180 series of bytes in target byte order, with each byte given by a
31181 two-digit hex number.
31182
31183 @item
31184 If @var{n} is @samp{thread}, then @var{r} is the @var{thread-id} of
31185 the stopped thread, as specified in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
31186
31187 @item
31188 If @var{n} is @samp{core}, then @var{r} is the hexadecimal number of
31189 the core on which the stop event was detected.
31190
31191 @item
31192 If @var{n} is a recognized @dfn{stop reason}, it describes a more
31193 specific event that stopped the target. The currently defined stop
31194 reasons are listed below. @var{aa} should be @samp{05}, the trap
31195 signal. At most one stop reason should be present.
31196
31197 @item
31198 Otherwise, @value{GDBN} should ignore this @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair
31199 and go on to the next; this allows us to extend the protocol in the
31200 future.
31201 @end itemize
31202
31203 The currently defined stop reasons are:
31204
31205 @table @samp
31206 @item watch
31207 @itemx rwatch
31208 @itemx awatch
31209 The packet indicates a watchpoint hit, and @var{r} is the data address, in
31210 hex.
31211
31212 @cindex shared library events, remote reply
31213 @item library
31214 The packet indicates that the loaded libraries have changed.
31215 @value{GDBN} should use @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} to fetch a new
31216 list of loaded libraries. @var{r} is ignored.
31217
31218 @cindex replay log events, remote reply
31219 @item replaylog
31220 The packet indicates that the target cannot continue replaying
31221 logged execution events, because it has reached the end (or the
31222 beginning when executing backward) of the log. The value of @var{r}
31223 will be either @samp{begin} or @samp{end}. @xref{Reverse Execution},
31224 for more information.
31225 @end table
31226
31227 @item W @var{AA}
31228 @itemx W @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
31229 The process exited, and @var{AA} is the exit status. This is only
31230 applicable to certain targets.
31231
31232 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the exited
31233 process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported support for
31234 multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
31235 The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
31236
31237 @item X @var{AA}
31238 @itemx X @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
31239 The process terminated with signal @var{AA}.
31240
31241 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the
31242 terminated process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported
31243 support for multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess
31244 extensions}. The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
31245
31246 @item O @var{XX}@dots{}
31247 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data, to be
31248 written as the program's console output. This can happen at any time
31249 while the program is running and the debugger should continue to wait
31250 for @samp{W}, @samp{T}, etc. This reply is not permitted in non-stop mode.
31251
31252 @item F @var{call-id},@var{parameter}@dots{}
31253 @var{call-id} is the identifier which says which host system call should
31254 be called. This is just the name of the function. Translation into the
31255 correct system call is only applicable as it's defined in @value{GDBN}.
31256 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for a list of implemented
31257 system calls.
31258
31259 @samp{@var{parameter}@dots{}} is a list of parameters as defined for
31260 this very system call.
31261
31262 The target replies with this packet when it expects @value{GDBN} to
31263 call a host system call on behalf of the target. @value{GDBN} replies
31264 with an appropriate @samp{F} packet and keeps up waiting for the next
31265 reply packet from the target. The latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
31266 or @samp{s} action is expected to be continued. @xref{File-I/O Remote
31267 Protocol Extension}, for more details.
31268
31269 @end table
31270
31271 @node General Query Packets
31272 @section General Query Packets
31273 @cindex remote query requests
31274
31275 Packets starting with @samp{q} are @dfn{general query packets};
31276 packets starting with @samp{Q} are @dfn{general set packets}. General
31277 query and set packets are a semi-unified form for retrieving and
31278 sending information to and from the stub.
31279
31280 The initial letter of a query or set packet is followed by a name
31281 indicating what sort of thing the packet applies to. For example,
31282 @value{GDBN} may use a @samp{qSymbol} packet to exchange symbol
31283 definitions with the stub. These packet names follow some
31284 conventions:
31285
31286 @itemize @bullet
31287 @item
31288 The name must not contain commas, colons or semicolons.
31289 @item
31290 Most @value{GDBN} query and set packets have a leading upper case
31291 letter.
31292 @item
31293 The names of custom vendor packets should use a company prefix, in
31294 lower case, followed by a period. For example, packets designed at
31295 the Acme Corporation might begin with @samp{qacme.foo} (for querying
31296 foos) or @samp{Qacme.bar} (for setting bars).
31297 @end itemize
31298
31299 The name of a query or set packet should be separated from any
31300 parameters by a @samp{:}; the parameters themselves should be
31301 separated by @samp{,} or @samp{;}. Stubs must be careful to match the
31302 full packet name, and check for a separator or the end of the packet,
31303 in case two packet names share a common prefix. New packets should not begin
31304 with @samp{qC}, @samp{qP}, or @samp{qL}@footnote{The @samp{qP} and @samp{qL}
31305 packets predate these conventions, and have arguments without any terminator
31306 for the packet name; we suspect they are in widespread use in places that
31307 are difficult to upgrade. The @samp{qC} packet has no arguments, but some
31308 existing stubs (e.g.@: RedBoot) are known to not check for the end of the
31309 packet.}.
31310
31311 Like the descriptions of the other packets, each description here
31312 has a template showing the packet's overall syntax, followed by an
31313 explanation of the packet's meaning. We include spaces in some of the
31314 templates for clarity; these are not part of the packet's syntax. No
31315 @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to separate its components.
31316
31317 Here are the currently defined query and set packets:
31318
31319 @table @samp
31320
31321 @item QAllow:@var{op}:@var{val}@dots{}
31322 @cindex @samp{QAllow} packet
31323 Specify which operations @value{GDBN} expects to request of the
31324 target, as a semicolon-separated list of operation name and value
31325 pairs. Possible values for @var{op} include @samp{WriteReg},
31326 @samp{WriteMem}, @samp{InsertBreak}, @samp{InsertTrace},
31327 @samp{InsertFastTrace}, and @samp{Stop}. @var{val} is either 0,
31328 indicating that @value{GDBN} will not request the operation, or 1,
31329 indicating that it may. (The target can then use this to set up its
31330 own internals optimally, for instance if the debugger never expects to
31331 insert breakpoints, it may not need to install its own trap handler.)
31332
31333 @item qC
31334 @cindex current thread, remote request
31335 @cindex @samp{qC} packet
31336 Return the current thread ID.
31337
31338 Reply:
31339 @table @samp
31340 @item QC @var{thread-id}
31341 Where @var{thread-id} is a thread ID as documented in
31342 @ref{thread-id syntax}.
31343 @item @r{(anything else)}
31344 Any other reply implies the old thread ID.
31345 @end table
31346
31347 @item qCRC:@var{addr},@var{length}
31348 @cindex CRC of memory block, remote request
31349 @cindex @samp{qCRC} packet
31350 Compute the CRC checksum of a block of memory using CRC-32 defined in
31351 IEEE 802.3. The CRC is computed byte at a time, taking the most
31352 significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern code
31353 @code{0xffffffff} is used to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC.
31354
31355 @emph{Note:} This is the same CRC used in validating separate debug
31356 files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files, , Debugging Information in Separate
31357 Files}). However the algorithm is slightly different. When validating
31358 separate debug files, the CRC is computed taking the @emph{least}
31359 significant bit of each byte first, and the final result is inverted to
31360 detect trailing zeros.
31361
31362 Reply:
31363 @table @samp
31364 @item E @var{NN}
31365 An error (such as memory fault)
31366 @item C @var{crc32}
31367 The specified memory region's checksum is @var{crc32}.
31368 @end table
31369
31370 @item qfThreadInfo
31371 @itemx qsThreadInfo
31372 @cindex list active threads, remote request
31373 @cindex @samp{qfThreadInfo} packet
31374 @cindex @samp{qsThreadInfo} packet
31375 Obtain a list of all active thread IDs from the target (OS). Since there
31376 may be too many active threads to fit into one reply packet, this query
31377 works iteratively: it may require more than one query/reply sequence to
31378 obtain the entire list of threads. The first query of the sequence will
31379 be the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query; subsequent queries in the
31380 sequence will be the @samp{qsThreadInfo} query.
31381
31382 NOTE: This packet replaces the @samp{qL} query (see below).
31383
31384 Reply:
31385 @table @samp
31386 @item m @var{thread-id}
31387 A single thread ID
31388 @item m @var{thread-id},@var{thread-id}@dots{}
31389 a comma-separated list of thread IDs
31390 @item l
31391 (lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
31392 @end table
31393
31394 In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
31395 more thread IDs, separated by commas.
31396 @value{GDBN} will respond to each reply with a request for more thread
31397 ids (using the @samp{qs} form of the query), until the target responds
31398 with @samp{l} (lower-case el, for @dfn{last}).
31399 Refer to @ref{thread-id syntax}, for the format of the @var{thread-id}
31400 fields.
31401
31402 @item qGetTLSAddr:@var{thread-id},@var{offset},@var{lm}
31403 @cindex get thread-local storage address, remote request
31404 @cindex @samp{qGetTLSAddr} packet
31405 Fetch the address associated with thread local storage specified
31406 by @var{thread-id}, @var{offset}, and @var{lm}.
31407
31408 @var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the
31409 thread for which to fetch the TLS address. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
31410
31411 @var{offset} is the (big endian, hex encoded) offset associated with the
31412 thread local variable. (This offset is obtained from the debug
31413 information associated with the variable.)
31414
31415 @var{lm} is the (big endian, hex encoded) OS/ABI-specific encoding of the
31416 the load module associated with the thread local storage. For example,
31417 a @sc{gnu}/Linux system will pass the link map address of the shared
31418 object associated with the thread local storage under consideration.
31419 Other operating environments may choose to represent the load module
31420 differently, so the precise meaning of this parameter will vary.
31421
31422 Reply:
31423 @table @samp
31424 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
31425 Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the address of the thread
31426 local storage requested.
31427
31428 @item E @var{nn}
31429 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
31430
31431 @item
31432 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTLSAddr} is not supported by the stub.
31433 @end table
31434
31435 @item qGetTIBAddr:@var{thread-id}
31436 @cindex get thread information block address
31437 @cindex @samp{qGetTIBAddr} packet
31438 Fetch address of the Windows OS specific Thread Information Block.
31439
31440 @var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the thread.
31441
31442 Reply:
31443 @table @samp
31444 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
31445 Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the linear address of the
31446 thread information block.
31447
31448 @item E @var{nn}
31449 An error occured. This means that either the thread was not found, or the
31450 address could not be retrieved.
31451
31452 @item
31453 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTIBAddr} is not supported by the stub.
31454 @end table
31455
31456 @item qL @var{startflag} @var{threadcount} @var{nextthread}
31457 Obtain thread information from RTOS. Where: @var{startflag} (one hex
31458 digit) is one to indicate the first query and zero to indicate a
31459 subsequent query; @var{threadcount} (two hex digits) is the maximum
31460 number of threads the response packet can contain; and @var{nextthread}
31461 (eight hex digits), for subsequent queries (@var{startflag} is zero), is
31462 returned in the response as @var{argthread}.
31463
31464 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query instead (see above).
31465
31466 Reply:
31467 @table @samp
31468 @item qM @var{count} @var{done} @var{argthread} @var{thread}@dots{}
31469 Where: @var{count} (two hex digits) is the number of threads being
31470 returned; @var{done} (one hex digit) is zero to indicate more threads
31471 and one indicates no further threads; @var{argthreadid} (eight hex
31472 digits) is @var{nextthread} from the request packet; @var{thread}@dots{}
31473 is a sequence of thread IDs from the target. @var{threadid} (eight hex
31474 digits). See @code{remote.c:parse_threadlist_response()}.
31475 @end table
31476
31477 @item qOffsets
31478 @cindex section offsets, remote request
31479 @cindex @samp{qOffsets} packet
31480 Get section offsets that the target used when relocating the downloaded
31481 image.
31482
31483 Reply:
31484 @table @samp
31485 @item Text=@var{xxx};Data=@var{yyy}@r{[};Bss=@var{zzz}@r{]}
31486 Relocate the @code{Text} section by @var{xxx} from its original address.
31487 Relocate the @code{Data} section by @var{yyy} from its original address.
31488 If the object file format provides segment information (e.g.@: @sc{elf}
31489 @samp{PT_LOAD} program headers), @value{GDBN} will relocate entire
31490 segments by the supplied offsets.
31491
31492 @emph{Note: while a @code{Bss} offset may be included in the response,
31493 @value{GDBN} ignores this and instead applies the @code{Data} offset
31494 to the @code{Bss} section.}
31495
31496 @item TextSeg=@var{xxx}@r{[};DataSeg=@var{yyy}@r{]}
31497 Relocate the first segment of the object file, which conventionally
31498 contains program code, to a starting address of @var{xxx}. If
31499 @samp{DataSeg} is specified, relocate the second segment, which
31500 conventionally contains modifiable data, to a starting address of
31501 @var{yyy}. @value{GDBN} will report an error if the object file
31502 does not contain segment information, or does not contain at least
31503 as many segments as mentioned in the reply. Extra segments are
31504 kept at fixed offsets relative to the last relocated segment.
31505 @end table
31506
31507 @item qP @var{mode} @var{thread-id}
31508 @cindex thread information, remote request
31509 @cindex @samp{qP} packet
31510 Returns information on @var{thread-id}. Where: @var{mode} is a hex
31511 encoded 32 bit mode; @var{thread-id} is a thread ID
31512 (@pxref{thread-id syntax}).
31513
31514 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} query instead
31515 (see below).
31516
31517 Reply: see @code{remote.c:remote_unpack_thread_info_response()}.
31518
31519 @item QNonStop:1
31520 @item QNonStop:0
31521 @cindex non-stop mode, remote request
31522 @cindex @samp{QNonStop} packet
31523 @anchor{QNonStop}
31524 Enter non-stop (@samp{QNonStop:1}) or all-stop (@samp{QNonStop:0}) mode.
31525 @xref{Remote Non-Stop}, for more information.
31526
31527 Reply:
31528 @table @samp
31529 @item OK
31530 The request succeeded.
31531
31532 @item E @var{nn}
31533 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
31534
31535 @item
31536 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QNonStop} is not supported by
31537 the stub.
31538 @end table
31539
31540 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
31541 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
31542 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set non-stop} command;
31543 @pxref{Non-Stop Mode}.
31544
31545 @item QPassSignals: @var{signal} @r{[};@var{signal}@r{]}@dots{}
31546 @cindex pass signals to inferior, remote request
31547 @cindex @samp{QPassSignals} packet
31548 @anchor{QPassSignals}
31549 Each listed @var{signal} should be passed directly to the inferior process.
31550 Signals are numbered identically to continue packets and stop replies
31551 (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}). Each @var{signal} list item should be
31552 strictly greater than the previous item. These signals do not need to stop
31553 the inferior, or be reported to @value{GDBN}. All other signals should be
31554 reported to @value{GDBN}. Multiple @samp{QPassSignals} packets do not
31555 combine; any earlier @samp{QPassSignals} list is completely replaced by the
31556 new list. This packet improves performance when using @samp{handle
31557 @var{signal} nostop noprint pass}.
31558
31559 Reply:
31560 @table @samp
31561 @item OK
31562 The request succeeded.
31563
31564 @item E @var{nn}
31565 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
31566
31567 @item
31568 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QPassSignals} is not supported by
31569 the stub.
31570 @end table
31571
31572 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote pass-signals}
31573 command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote pass-signals}).
31574 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
31575 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
31576
31577 @item qRcmd,@var{command}
31578 @cindex execute remote command, remote request
31579 @cindex @samp{qRcmd} packet
31580 @var{command} (hex encoded) is passed to the local interpreter for
31581 execution. Invalid commands should be reported using the output
31582 string. Before the final result packet, the target may also respond
31583 with a number of intermediate @samp{O@var{output}} console output
31584 packets. @emph{Implementors should note that providing access to a
31585 stubs's interpreter may have security implications}.
31586
31587 Reply:
31588 @table @samp
31589 @item OK
31590 A command response with no output.
31591 @item @var{OUTPUT}
31592 A command response with the hex encoded output string @var{OUTPUT}.
31593 @item E @var{NN}
31594 Indicate a badly formed request.
31595 @item
31596 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qRcmd} is not recognized.
31597 @end table
31598
31599 (Note that the @code{qRcmd} packet's name is separated from the
31600 command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
31601 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
31602 packets.)
31603
31604 @item qSearch:memory:@var{address};@var{length};@var{search-pattern}
31605 @cindex searching memory, in remote debugging
31606 @cindex @samp{qSearch:memory} packet
31607 @anchor{qSearch memory}
31608 Search @var{length} bytes at @var{address} for @var{search-pattern}.
31609 @var{address} and @var{length} are encoded in hex.
31610 @var{search-pattern} is a sequence of bytes, hex encoded.
31611
31612 Reply:
31613 @table @samp
31614 @item 0
31615 The pattern was not found.
31616 @item 1,address
31617 The pattern was found at @var{address}.
31618 @item E @var{NN}
31619 A badly formed request or an error was encountered while searching memory.
31620 @item
31621 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSearch:memory} is not recognized.
31622 @end table
31623
31624 @item QStartNoAckMode
31625 @cindex @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet
31626 @anchor{QStartNoAckMode}
31627 Request that the remote stub disable the normal @samp{+}/@samp{-}
31628 protocol acknowledgments (@pxref{Packet Acknowledgment}).
31629
31630 Reply:
31631 @table @samp
31632 @item OK
31633 The stub has switched to no-acknowledgment mode.
31634 @value{GDBN} acknowledges this reponse,
31635 but neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or expect further
31636 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments in the current connection.
31637 @item
31638 An empty reply indicates that the stub does not support no-acknowledgment mode.
31639 @end table
31640
31641 @item qSupported @r{[}:@var{gdbfeature} @r{[};@var{gdbfeature}@r{]}@dots{} @r{]}
31642 @cindex supported packets, remote query
31643 @cindex features of the remote protocol
31644 @cindex @samp{qSupported} packet
31645 @anchor{qSupported}
31646 Tell the remote stub about features supported by @value{GDBN}, and
31647 query the stub for features it supports. This packet allows
31648 @value{GDBN} and the remote stub to take advantage of each others'
31649 features. @samp{qSupported} also consolidates multiple feature probes
31650 at startup, to improve @value{GDBN} performance---a single larger
31651 packet performs better than multiple smaller probe packets on
31652 high-latency links. Some features may enable behavior which must not
31653 be on by default, e.g.@: because it would confuse older clients or
31654 stubs. Other features may describe packets which could be
31655 automatically probed for, but are not. These features must be
31656 reported before @value{GDBN} will use them. This ``default
31657 unsupported'' behavior is not appropriate for all packets, but it
31658 helps to keep the initial connection time under control with new
31659 versions of @value{GDBN} which support increasing numbers of packets.
31660
31661 Reply:
31662 @table @samp
31663 @item @var{stubfeature} @r{[};@var{stubfeature}@r{]}@dots{}
31664 The stub supports or does not support each returned @var{stubfeature},
31665 depending on the form of each @var{stubfeature} (see below for the
31666 possible forms).
31667 @item
31668 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSupported} is not recognized,
31669 or that no features needed to be reported to @value{GDBN}.
31670 @end table
31671
31672 The allowed forms for each feature (either a @var{gdbfeature} in the
31673 @samp{qSupported} packet, or a @var{stubfeature} in the response)
31674 are:
31675
31676 @table @samp
31677 @item @var{name}=@var{value}
31678 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and associated
31679 with the specified @var{value}. The format of @var{value} depends
31680 on the feature, but it must not include a semicolon.
31681 @item @var{name}+
31682 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and does not
31683 need an associated value.
31684 @item @var{name}-
31685 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is not supported.
31686 @item @var{name}?
31687 The remote protocol feature @var{name} may be supported, and
31688 @value{GDBN} should auto-detect support in some other way when it is
31689 needed. This form will not be used for @var{gdbfeature} notifications,
31690 but may be used for @var{stubfeature} responses.
31691 @end table
31692
31693 Whenever the stub receives a @samp{qSupported} request, the
31694 supplied set of @value{GDBN} features should override any previous
31695 request. This allows @value{GDBN} to put the stub in a known
31696 state, even if the stub had previously been communicating with
31697 a different version of @value{GDBN}.
31698
31699 The following values of @var{gdbfeature} (for the packet sent by @value{GDBN})
31700 are defined:
31701
31702 @table @samp
31703 @item multiprocess
31704 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports multiprocess
31705 extensions to the remote protocol. @value{GDBN} does not use such
31706 extensions unless the stub also reports that it supports them by
31707 including @samp{multiprocess+} in its @samp{qSupported} reply.
31708 @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for details.
31709
31710 @item xmlRegisters
31711 This feature indicates that @value{GDBN} supports the XML target
31712 description. If the stub sees @samp{xmlRegisters=} with target
31713 specific strings separated by a comma, it will report register
31714 description.
31715
31716 @item qRelocInsn
31717 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports the
31718 @samp{qRelocInsn} packet (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
31719 instruction reply packet}).
31720 @end table
31721
31722 Stubs should ignore any unknown values for
31723 @var{gdbfeature}. Any @value{GDBN} which sends a @samp{qSupported}
31724 packet supports receiving packets of unlimited length (earlier
31725 versions of @value{GDBN} may reject overly long responses). Additional values
31726 for @var{gdbfeature} may be defined in the future to let the stub take
31727 advantage of new features in @value{GDBN}, e.g.@: incompatible
31728 improvements in the remote protocol---the @samp{multiprocess} feature is
31729 an example of such a feature. The stub's reply should be independent
31730 of the @var{gdbfeature} entries sent by @value{GDBN}; first @value{GDBN}
31731 describes all the features it supports, and then the stub replies with
31732 all the features it supports.
31733
31734 Similarly, @value{GDBN} will silently ignore unrecognized stub feature
31735 responses, as long as each response uses one of the standard forms.
31736
31737 Some features are flags. A stub which supports a flag feature
31738 should respond with a @samp{+} form response. Other features
31739 require values, and the stub should respond with an @samp{=}
31740 form response.
31741
31742 Each feature has a default value, which @value{GDBN} will use if
31743 @samp{qSupported} is not available or if the feature is not mentioned
31744 in the @samp{qSupported} response. The default values are fixed; a
31745 stub is free to omit any feature responses that match the defaults.
31746
31747 Not all features can be probed, but for those which can, the probing
31748 mechanism is useful: in some cases, a stub's internal
31749 architecture may not allow the protocol layer to know some information
31750 about the underlying target in advance. This is especially common in
31751 stubs which may be configured for multiple targets.
31752
31753 These are the currently defined stub features and their properties:
31754
31755 @multitable @columnfractions 0.35 0.2 0.12 0.2
31756 @c NOTE: The first row should be @headitem, but we do not yet require
31757 @c a new enough version of Texinfo (4.7) to use @headitem.
31758 @item Feature Name
31759 @tab Value Required
31760 @tab Default
31761 @tab Probe Allowed
31762
31763 @item @samp{PacketSize}
31764 @tab Yes
31765 @tab @samp{-}
31766 @tab No
31767
31768 @item @samp{qXfer:auxv:read}
31769 @tab No
31770 @tab @samp{-}
31771 @tab Yes
31772
31773 @item @samp{qXfer:features:read}
31774 @tab No
31775 @tab @samp{-}
31776 @tab Yes
31777
31778 @item @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
31779 @tab No
31780 @tab @samp{-}
31781 @tab Yes
31782
31783 @item @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
31784 @tab No
31785 @tab @samp{-}
31786 @tab Yes
31787
31788 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:read}
31789 @tab No
31790 @tab @samp{-}
31791 @tab Yes
31792
31793 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:write}
31794 @tab No
31795 @tab @samp{-}
31796 @tab Yes
31797
31798 @item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read}
31799 @tab No
31800 @tab @samp{-}
31801 @tab Yes
31802
31803 @item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write}
31804 @tab No
31805 @tab @samp{-}
31806 @tab Yes
31807
31808 @item @samp{qXfer:threads:read}
31809 @tab No
31810 @tab @samp{-}
31811 @tab Yes
31812
31813
31814 @item @samp{QNonStop}
31815 @tab No
31816 @tab @samp{-}
31817 @tab Yes
31818
31819 @item @samp{QPassSignals}
31820 @tab No
31821 @tab @samp{-}
31822 @tab Yes
31823
31824 @item @samp{QStartNoAckMode}
31825 @tab No
31826 @tab @samp{-}
31827 @tab Yes
31828
31829 @item @samp{multiprocess}
31830 @tab No
31831 @tab @samp{-}
31832 @tab No
31833
31834 @item @samp{ConditionalTracepoints}
31835 @tab No
31836 @tab @samp{-}
31837 @tab No
31838
31839 @item @samp{ReverseContinue}
31840 @tab No
31841 @tab @samp{-}
31842 @tab No
31843
31844 @item @samp{ReverseStep}
31845 @tab No
31846 @tab @samp{-}
31847 @tab No
31848
31849 @item @samp{TracepointSource}
31850 @tab No
31851 @tab @samp{-}
31852 @tab No
31853
31854 @item @samp{QAllow}
31855 @tab No
31856 @tab @samp{-}
31857 @tab No
31858
31859 @end multitable
31860
31861 These are the currently defined stub features, in more detail:
31862
31863 @table @samp
31864 @cindex packet size, remote protocol
31865 @item PacketSize=@var{bytes}
31866 The remote stub can accept packets up to at least @var{bytes} in
31867 length. @value{GDBN} will send packets up to this size for bulk
31868 transfers, and will never send larger packets. This is a limit on the
31869 data characters in the packet, including the frame and checksum.
31870 There is no trailing NUL byte in a remote protocol packet; if the stub
31871 stores packets in a NUL-terminated format, it should allow an extra
31872 byte in its buffer for the NUL. If this stub feature is not supported,
31873 @value{GDBN} guesses based on the size of the @samp{g} packet response.
31874
31875 @item qXfer:auxv:read
31876 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet
31877 (@pxref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}).
31878
31879 @item qXfer:features:read
31880 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:features:read} packet
31881 (@pxref{qXfer target description read}).
31882
31883 @item qXfer:libraries:read
31884 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet
31885 (@pxref{qXfer library list read}).
31886
31887 @item qXfer:memory-map:read
31888 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read} packet
31889 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}).
31890
31891 @item qXfer:spu:read
31892 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:read} packet
31893 (@pxref{qXfer spu read}).
31894
31895 @item qXfer:spu:write
31896 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:write} packet
31897 (@pxref{qXfer spu write}).
31898
31899 @item qXfer:siginfo:read
31900 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read} packet
31901 (@pxref{qXfer siginfo read}).
31902
31903 @item qXfer:siginfo:write
31904 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write} packet
31905 (@pxref{qXfer siginfo write}).
31906
31907 @item qXfer:threads:read
31908 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
31909 (@pxref{qXfer threads read}).
31910
31911 @item QNonStop
31912 The remote stub understands the @samp{QNonStop} packet
31913 (@pxref{QNonStop}).
31914
31915 @item QPassSignals
31916 The remote stub understands the @samp{QPassSignals} packet
31917 (@pxref{QPassSignals}).
31918
31919 @item QStartNoAckMode
31920 The remote stub understands the @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet and
31921 prefers to operate in no-acknowledgment mode. @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}.
31922
31923 @item multiprocess
31924 @anchor{multiprocess extensions}
31925 @cindex multiprocess extensions, in remote protocol
31926 The remote stub understands the multiprocess extensions to the remote
31927 protocol syntax. The multiprocess extensions affect the syntax of
31928 thread IDs in both packets and replies (@pxref{thread-id syntax}), and
31929 add process IDs to the @samp{D} packet and @samp{W} and @samp{X}
31930 replies. Note that reporting this feature indicates support for the
31931 syntactic extensions only, not that the stub necessarily supports
31932 debugging of more than one process at a time. The stub must not use
31933 multiprocess extensions in packet replies unless @value{GDBN} has also
31934 indicated it supports them in its @samp{qSupported} request.
31935
31936 @item qXfer:osdata:read
31937 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet
31938 ((@pxref{qXfer osdata read}).
31939
31940 @item ConditionalTracepoints
31941 The remote stub accepts and implements conditional expressions defined
31942 for tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoint Conditions}).
31943
31944 @item ReverseContinue
31945 The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse continue packet
31946 (@pxref{bc}).
31947
31948 @item ReverseStep
31949 The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse step packet
31950 (@pxref{bs}).
31951
31952 @item TracepointSource
31953 The remote stub understands the @samp{QTDPsrc} packet that supplies
31954 the source form of tracepoint definitions.
31955
31956 @item QAllow
31957 The remote stub understands the @samp{QAllow} packet.
31958
31959 @end table
31960
31961 @item qSymbol::
31962 @cindex symbol lookup, remote request
31963 @cindex @samp{qSymbol} packet
31964 Notify the target that @value{GDBN} is prepared to serve symbol lookup
31965 requests. Accept requests from the target for the values of symbols.
31966
31967 Reply:
31968 @table @samp
31969 @item OK
31970 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
31971 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
31972 The target requests the value of symbol @var{sym_name} (hex encoded).
31973 @value{GDBN} may provide the value by using the
31974 @samp{qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}} message, described
31975 below.
31976 @end table
31977
31978 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}
31979 Set the value of @var{sym_name} to @var{sym_value}.
31980
31981 @var{sym_name} (hex encoded) is the name of a symbol whose value the
31982 target has previously requested.
31983
31984 @var{sym_value} (hex) is the value for symbol @var{sym_name}. If
31985 @value{GDBN} cannot supply a value for @var{sym_name}, then this field
31986 will be empty.
31987
31988 Reply:
31989 @table @samp
31990 @item OK
31991 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
31992 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
31993 The target requests the value of a new symbol @var{sym_name} (hex
31994 encoded). @value{GDBN} will continue to supply the values of symbols
31995 (if available), until the target ceases to request them.
31996 @end table
31997
31998 @item qTBuffer
31999 @item QTBuffer
32000 @item QTDisconnected
32001 @itemx QTDP
32002 @itemx QTDPsrc
32003 @itemx QTDV
32004 @itemx qTfP
32005 @itemx qTfV
32006 @itemx QTFrame
32007 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
32008
32009 @item qThreadExtraInfo,@var{thread-id}
32010 @cindex thread attributes info, remote request
32011 @cindex @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} packet
32012 Obtain a printable string description of a thread's attributes from
32013 the target OS. @var{thread-id} is a thread ID;
32014 see @ref{thread-id syntax}. This
32015 string may contain anything that the target OS thinks is interesting
32016 for @value{GDBN} to tell the user about the thread. The string is
32017 displayed in @value{GDBN}'s @code{info threads} display. Some
32018 examples of possible thread extra info strings are @samp{Runnable}, or
32019 @samp{Blocked on Mutex}.
32020
32021 Reply:
32022 @table @samp
32023 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
32024 Where @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is a hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data,
32025 comprising the printable string containing the extra information about
32026 the thread's attributes.
32027 @end table
32028
32029 (Note that the @code{qThreadExtraInfo} packet's name is separated from
32030 the command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
32031 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
32032 packets.)
32033
32034 @item QTSave
32035 @item qTsP
32036 @item qTsV
32037 @itemx QTStart
32038 @itemx QTStop
32039 @itemx QTinit
32040 @itemx QTro
32041 @itemx qTStatus
32042 @itemx qTV
32043 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
32044
32045 @item qXfer:@var{object}:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
32046 @cindex read special object, remote request
32047 @cindex @samp{qXfer} packet
32048 @anchor{qXfer read}
32049 Read uninterpreted bytes from the target's special data area
32050 identified by the keyword @var{object}. Request @var{length} bytes
32051 starting at @var{offset} bytes into the data. The content and
32052 encoding of @var{annex} is specific to @var{object}; it can supply
32053 additional details about what data to access.
32054
32055 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
32056 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:read:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
32057 formats, listed below.
32058
32059 @table @samp
32060 @item qXfer:auxv:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
32061 @anchor{qXfer auxiliary vector read}
32062 Access the target's @dfn{auxiliary vector}. @xref{OS Information,
32063 auxiliary vector}. Note @var{annex} must be empty.
32064
32065 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
32066 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
32067
32068 @item qXfer:features:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
32069 @anchor{qXfer target description read}
32070 Access the @dfn{target description}. @xref{Target Descriptions}. The
32071 annex specifies which XML document to access. The main description is
32072 always loaded from the @samp{target.xml} annex.
32073
32074 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
32075 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
32076
32077 @item qXfer:libraries:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
32078 @anchor{qXfer library list read}
32079 Access the target's list of loaded libraries. @xref{Library List Format}.
32080 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
32081 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
32082
32083 Targets which maintain a list of libraries in the program's memory do
32084 not need to implement this packet; it is designed for platforms where
32085 the operating system manages the list of loaded libraries.
32086
32087 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
32088 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
32089
32090 @item qXfer:memory-map:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
32091 @anchor{qXfer memory map read}
32092 Access the target's @dfn{memory-map}. @xref{Memory Map Format}. The
32093 annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
32094 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
32095
32096 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
32097 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
32098
32099 @item qXfer:siginfo:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
32100 @anchor{qXfer siginfo read}
32101 Read contents of the extra signal information on the target
32102 system. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
32103 empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
32104
32105 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
32106 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
32107 (@pxref{qSupported}).
32108
32109 @item qXfer:spu:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
32110 @anchor{qXfer spu read}
32111 Read contents of an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
32112 annex specifies which file to read; it must be of the form
32113 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
32114 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
32115 in that context to be accessed.
32116
32117 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
32118 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
32119 (@pxref{qSupported}).
32120
32121 @item qXfer:threads:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
32122 @anchor{qXfer threads read}
32123 Access the list of threads on target. @xref{Thread List Format}. The
32124 annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
32125 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
32126
32127 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
32128 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
32129
32130 @item qXfer:osdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
32131 @anchor{qXfer osdata read}
32132 Access the target's @dfn{operating system information}.
32133 @xref{Operating System Information}.
32134
32135 @end table
32136
32137 Reply:
32138 @table @samp
32139 @item m @var{data}
32140 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the
32141 target. There may be more data at a higher address (although
32142 it is permitted to return @samp{m} even for the last valid
32143 block of data, as long as at least one byte of data was read).
32144 @var{data} may have fewer bytes than the @var{length} in the
32145 request.
32146
32147 @item l @var{data}
32148 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the target.
32149 There is no more data to be read. @var{data} may have fewer bytes
32150 than the @var{length} in the request.
32151
32152 @item l
32153 The @var{offset} in the request is at the end of the data.
32154 There is no more data to be read.
32155
32156 @item E00
32157 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
32158
32159 @item E @var{nn}
32160 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered reading the data.
32161 @var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
32162
32163 @item
32164 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not recognized by
32165 the stub, or that the object does not support reading.
32166 @end table
32167
32168 @item qXfer:@var{object}:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
32169 @cindex write data into object, remote request
32170 @anchor{qXfer write}
32171 Write uninterpreted bytes into the target's special data area
32172 identified by the keyword @var{object}, starting at @var{offset} bytes
32173 into the data. @var{data}@dots{} is the binary-encoded data
32174 (@pxref{Binary Data}) to be written. The content and encoding of @var{annex}
32175 is specific to @var{object}; it can supply additional details about what data
32176 to access.
32177
32178 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
32179 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:write:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
32180 formats, listed below.
32181
32182 @table @samp
32183 @item qXfer:siginfo:write::@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
32184 @anchor{qXfer siginfo write}
32185 Write @var{data} to the extra signal information on the target system.
32186 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
32187 empty (@pxref{qXfer write}).
32188
32189 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
32190 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
32191 (@pxref{qSupported}).
32192
32193 @item qXfer:spu:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
32194 @anchor{qXfer spu write}
32195 Write @var{data} to an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
32196 annex specifies which file to write; it must be of the form
32197 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
32198 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
32199 in that context to be accessed.
32200
32201 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
32202 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
32203 @end table
32204
32205 Reply:
32206 @table @samp
32207 @item @var{nn}
32208 @var{nn} (hex encoded) is the number of bytes written.
32209 This may be fewer bytes than supplied in the request.
32210
32211 @item E00
32212 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
32213
32214 @item E @var{nn}
32215 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered writing the data.
32216 @var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
32217
32218 @item
32219 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not
32220 recognized by the stub, or that the object does not support writing.
32221 @end table
32222
32223 @item qXfer:@var{object}:@var{operation}:@dots{}
32224 Requests of this form may be added in the future. When a stub does
32225 not recognize the @var{object} keyword, or its support for
32226 @var{object} does not recognize the @var{operation} keyword, the stub
32227 must respond with an empty packet.
32228
32229 @item qAttached:@var{pid}
32230 @cindex query attached, remote request
32231 @cindex @samp{qAttached} packet
32232 Return an indication of whether the remote server attached to an
32233 existing process or created a new process. When the multiprocess
32234 protocol extensions are supported (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}),
32235 @var{pid} is an integer in hexadecimal format identifying the target
32236 process. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} will omit the @var{pid} field and
32237 the query packet will be simplified as @samp{qAttached}.
32238
32239 This query is used, for example, to know whether the remote process
32240 should be detached or killed when a @value{GDBN} session is ended with
32241 the @code{quit} command.
32242
32243 Reply:
32244 @table @samp
32245 @item 1
32246 The remote server attached to an existing process.
32247 @item 0
32248 The remote server created a new process.
32249 @item E @var{NN}
32250 A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
32251 @end table
32252
32253 @end table
32254
32255 @node Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
32256 @section Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
32257
32258 This section describes how the remote protocol is applied to specific
32259 target architectures. Also see @ref{Standard Target Features}, for
32260 details of XML target descriptions for each architecture.
32261
32262 @subsection ARM
32263
32264 @subsubsection Breakpoint Kinds
32265
32266 These breakpoint kinds are defined for the @samp{Z0} and @samp{Z1} packets.
32267
32268 @table @r
32269
32270 @item 2
32271 16-bit Thumb mode breakpoint.
32272
32273 @item 3
32274 32-bit Thumb mode (Thumb-2) breakpoint.
32275
32276 @item 4
32277 32-bit ARM mode breakpoint.
32278
32279 @end table
32280
32281 @subsection MIPS
32282
32283 @subsubsection Register Packet Format
32284
32285 The following @code{g}/@code{G} packets have previously been defined.
32286 In the below, some thirty-two bit registers are transferred as
32287 sixty-four bits. Those registers should be zero/sign extended (which?)
32288 to fill the space allocated. Register bytes are transferred in target
32289 byte order. The two nibbles within a register byte are transferred
32290 most-significant - least-significant.
32291
32292 @table @r
32293
32294 @item MIPS32
32295
32296 All registers are transferred as thirty-two bit quantities in the order:
32297 32 general-purpose; sr; lo; hi; bad; cause; pc; 32 floating-point
32298 registers; fsr; fir; fp.
32299
32300 @item MIPS64
32301
32302 All registers are transferred as sixty-four bit quantities (including
32303 thirty-two bit registers such as @code{sr}). The ordering is the same
32304 as @code{MIPS32}.
32305
32306 @end table
32307
32308 @node Tracepoint Packets
32309 @section Tracepoint Packets
32310 @cindex tracepoint packets
32311 @cindex packets, tracepoint
32312
32313 Here we describe the packets @value{GDBN} uses to implement
32314 tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoints}).
32315
32316 @table @samp
32317
32318 @item QTDP:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{ena}:@var{step}:@var{pass}[:F@var{flen}][:X@var{len},@var{bytes}]@r{[}-@r{]}
32319 Create a new tracepoint, number @var{n}, at @var{addr}. If @var{ena}
32320 is @samp{E}, then the tracepoint is enabled; if it is @samp{D}, then
32321 the tracepoint is disabled. @var{step} is the tracepoint's step
32322 count, and @var{pass} is its pass count. If an @samp{F} is present,
32323 then the tracepoint is to be a fast tracepoint, and the @var{flen} is
32324 the number of bytes that the target should copy elsewhere to make room
32325 for the tracepoint. If an @samp{X} is present, it introduces a
32326 tracepoint condition, which consists of a hexadecimal length, followed
32327 by a comma and hex-encoded bytes, in a manner similar to action
32328 encodings as described below. If the trailing @samp{-} is present,
32329 further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow to specify this tracepoint's
32330 actions.
32331
32332 Replies:
32333 @table @samp
32334 @item OK
32335 The packet was understood and carried out.
32336 @item qRelocInsn
32337 @xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
32338 @item
32339 The packet was not recognized.
32340 @end table
32341
32342 @item QTDP:-@var{n}:@var{addr}:@r{[}S@r{]}@var{action}@dots{}@r{[}-@r{]}
32343 Define actions to be taken when a tracepoint is hit. @var{n} and
32344 @var{addr} must be the same as in the initial @samp{QTDP} packet for
32345 this tracepoint. This packet may only be sent immediately after
32346 another @samp{QTDP} packet that ended with a @samp{-}. If the
32347 trailing @samp{-} is present, further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow,
32348 specifying more actions for this tracepoint.
32349
32350 In the series of action packets for a given tracepoint, at most one
32351 can have an @samp{S} before its first @var{action}. If such a packet
32352 is sent, it and the following packets define ``while-stepping''
32353 actions. Any prior packets define ordinary actions --- that is, those
32354 taken when the tracepoint is first hit. If no action packet has an
32355 @samp{S}, then all the packets in the series specify ordinary
32356 tracepoint actions.
32357
32358 The @samp{@var{action}@dots{}} portion of the packet is a series of
32359 actions, concatenated without separators. Each action has one of the
32360 following forms:
32361
32362 @table @samp
32363
32364 @item R @var{mask}
32365 Collect the registers whose bits are set in @var{mask}. @var{mask} is
32366 a hexadecimal number whose @var{i}'th bit is set if register number
32367 @var{i} should be collected. (The least significant bit is numbered
32368 zero.) Note that @var{mask} may be any number of digits long; it may
32369 not fit in a 32-bit word.
32370
32371 @item M @var{basereg},@var{offset},@var{len}
32372 Collect @var{len} bytes of memory starting at the address in register
32373 number @var{basereg}, plus @var{offset}. If @var{basereg} is
32374 @samp{-1}, then the range has a fixed address: @var{offset} is the
32375 address of the lowest byte to collect. The @var{basereg},
32376 @var{offset}, and @var{len} parameters are all unsigned hexadecimal
32377 values (the @samp{-1} value for @var{basereg} is a special case).
32378
32379 @item X @var{len},@var{expr}
32380 Evaluate @var{expr}, whose length is @var{len}, and collect memory as
32381 it directs. @var{expr} is an agent expression, as described in
32382 @ref{Agent Expressions}. Each byte of the expression is encoded as a
32383 two-digit hex number in the packet; @var{len} is the number of bytes
32384 in the expression (and thus one-half the number of hex digits in the
32385 packet).
32386
32387 @end table
32388
32389 Any number of actions may be packed together in a single @samp{QTDP}
32390 packet, as long as the packet does not exceed the maximum packet
32391 length (400 bytes, for many stubs). There may be only one @samp{R}
32392 action per tracepoint, and it must precede any @samp{M} or @samp{X}
32393 actions. Any registers referred to by @samp{M} and @samp{X} actions
32394 must be collected by a preceding @samp{R} action. (The
32395 ``while-stepping'' actions are treated as if they were attached to a
32396 separate tracepoint, as far as these restrictions are concerned.)
32397
32398 Replies:
32399 @table @samp
32400 @item OK
32401 The packet was understood and carried out.
32402 @item qRelocInsn
32403 @xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
32404 @item
32405 The packet was not recognized.
32406 @end table
32407
32408 @item QTDPsrc:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{type}:@var{start}:@var{slen}:@var{bytes}
32409 @cindex @samp{QTDPsrc} packet
32410 Specify a source string of tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr}.
32411 This is useful to get accurate reproduction of the tracepoints
32412 originally downloaded at the beginning of the trace run. @var{type}
32413 is the name of the tracepoint part, such as @samp{cond} for the
32414 tracepoint's conditional expression (see below for a list of types), while
32415 @var{bytes} is the string, encoded in hexadecimal.
32416
32417 @var{start} is the offset of the @var{bytes} within the overall source
32418 string, while @var{slen} is the total length of the source string.
32419 This is intended for handling source strings that are longer than will
32420 fit in a single packet.
32421 @c Add detailed example when this info is moved into a dedicated
32422 @c tracepoint descriptions section.
32423
32424 The available string types are @samp{at} for the location,
32425 @samp{cond} for the conditional, and @samp{cmd} for an action command.
32426 @value{GDBN} sends a separate packet for each command in the action
32427 list, in the same order in which the commands are stored in the list.
32428
32429 The target does not need to do anything with source strings except
32430 report them back as part of the replies to the @samp{qTfP}/@samp{qTsP}
32431 query packets.
32432
32433 Although this packet is optional, and @value{GDBN} will only send it
32434 if the target replies with @samp{TracepointSource} @xref{General
32435 Query Packets}, it makes both disconnected tracing and trace files
32436 much easier to use. Otherwise the user must be careful that the
32437 tracepoints in effect while looking at trace frames are identical to
32438 the ones in effect during the trace run; even a small discrepancy
32439 could cause @samp{tdump} not to work, or a particular trace frame not
32440 be found.
32441
32442 @item QTDV:@var{n}:@var{value}
32443 @cindex define trace state variable, remote request
32444 @cindex @samp{QTDV} packet
32445 Create a new trace state variable, number @var{n}, with an initial
32446 value of @var{value}, which is a 64-bit signed integer. Both @var{n}
32447 and @var{value} are encoded as hexadecimal values. @value{GDBN} has
32448 the option of not using this packet for initial values of zero; the
32449 target should simply create the trace state variables as they are
32450 mentioned in expressions.
32451
32452 @item QTFrame:@var{n}
32453 Select the @var{n}'th tracepoint frame from the buffer, and use the
32454 register and memory contents recorded there to answer subsequent
32455 request packets from @value{GDBN}.
32456
32457 A successful reply from the stub indicates that the stub has found the
32458 requested frame. The response is a series of parts, concatenated
32459 without separators, describing the frame we selected. Each part has
32460 one of the following forms:
32461
32462 @table @samp
32463 @item F @var{f}
32464 The selected frame is number @var{n} in the trace frame buffer;
32465 @var{f} is a hexadecimal number. If @var{f} is @samp{-1}, then there
32466 was no frame matching the criteria in the request packet.
32467
32468 @item T @var{t}
32469 The selected trace frame records a hit of tracepoint number @var{t};
32470 @var{t} is a hexadecimal number.
32471
32472 @end table
32473
32474 @item QTFrame:pc:@var{addr}
32475 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
32476 currently selected frame whose PC is @var{addr};
32477 @var{addr} is a hexadecimal number.
32478
32479 @item QTFrame:tdp:@var{t}
32480 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
32481 currently selected frame that is a hit of tracepoint @var{t}; @var{t}
32482 is a hexadecimal number.
32483
32484 @item QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}
32485 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
32486 currently selected frame whose PC is between @var{start} (inclusive)
32487 and @var{end} (inclusive); @var{start} and @var{end} are hexadecimal
32488 numbers.
32489
32490 @item QTFrame:outside:@var{start}:@var{end}
32491 Like @samp{QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}}, but select the first
32492 frame @emph{outside} the given range of addresses (exclusive).
32493
32494 @item QTStart
32495 Begin the tracepoint experiment. Begin collecting data from
32496 tracepoint hits in the trace frame buffer. This packet supports the
32497 @samp{qRelocInsn} reply (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
32498 instruction reply packet}).
32499
32500 @item QTStop
32501 End the tracepoint experiment. Stop collecting trace frames.
32502
32503 @item QTinit
32504 Clear the table of tracepoints, and empty the trace frame buffer.
32505
32506 @item QTro:@var{start1},@var{end1}:@var{start2},@var{end2}:@dots{}
32507 Establish the given ranges of memory as ``transparent''. The stub
32508 will answer requests for these ranges from memory's current contents,
32509 if they were not collected as part of the tracepoint hit.
32510
32511 @value{GDBN} uses this to mark read-only regions of memory, like those
32512 containing program code. Since these areas never change, they should
32513 still have the same contents they did when the tracepoint was hit, so
32514 there's no reason for the stub to refuse to provide their contents.
32515
32516 @item QTDisconnected:@var{value}
32517 Set the choice to what to do with the tracing run when @value{GDBN}
32518 disconnects from the target. A @var{value} of 1 directs the target to
32519 continue the tracing run, while 0 tells the target to stop tracing if
32520 @value{GDBN} is no longer in the picture.
32521
32522 @item qTStatus
32523 Ask the stub if there is a trace experiment running right now.
32524
32525 The reply has the form:
32526
32527 @table @samp
32528
32529 @item T@var{running}@r{[};@var{field}@r{]}@dots{}
32530 @var{running} is a single digit @code{1} if the trace is presently
32531 running, or @code{0} if not. It is followed by semicolon-separated
32532 optional fields that an agent may use to report additional status.
32533
32534 @end table
32535
32536 If the trace is not running, the agent may report any of several
32537 explanations as one of the optional fields:
32538
32539 @table @samp
32540
32541 @item tnotrun:0
32542 No trace has been run yet.
32543
32544 @item tstop:0
32545 The trace was stopped by a user-originated stop command.
32546
32547 @item tfull:0
32548 The trace stopped because the trace buffer filled up.
32549
32550 @item tdisconnected:0
32551 The trace stopped because @value{GDBN} disconnected from the target.
32552
32553 @item tpasscount:@var{tpnum}
32554 The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} exceeded its pass count.
32555
32556 @item terror:@var{text}:@var{tpnum}
32557 The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} had an error. The
32558 string @var{text} is available to describe the nature of the error
32559 (for instance, a divide by zero in the condition expression).
32560 @var{text} is hex encoded.
32561
32562 @item tunknown:0
32563 The trace stopped for some other reason.
32564
32565 @end table
32566
32567 Additional optional fields supply statistical and other information.
32568 Although not required, they are extremely useful for users monitoring
32569 the progress of a trace run. If a trace has stopped, and these
32570 numbers are reported, they must reflect the state of the just-stopped
32571 trace.
32572
32573 @table @samp
32574
32575 @item tframes:@var{n}
32576 The number of trace frames in the buffer.
32577
32578 @item tcreated:@var{n}
32579 The total number of trace frames created during the run. This may
32580 be larger than the trace frame count, if the buffer is circular.
32581
32582 @item tsize:@var{n}
32583 The total size of the trace buffer, in bytes.
32584
32585 @item tfree:@var{n}
32586 The number of bytes still unused in the buffer.
32587
32588 @item circular:@var{n}
32589 The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
32590 trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
32591 necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
32592 and may fill up.
32593
32594 @item disconn:@var{n}
32595 The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
32596 tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
32597 that the trace run will stop.
32598
32599 @end table
32600
32601 @item qTV:@var{var}
32602 @cindex trace state variable value, remote request
32603 @cindex @samp{qTV} packet
32604 Ask the stub for the value of the trace state variable number @var{var}.
32605
32606 Replies:
32607 @table @samp
32608 @item V@var{value}
32609 The value of the variable is @var{value}. This will be the current
32610 value of the variable if the user is examining a running target, or a
32611 saved value if the variable was collected in the trace frame that the
32612 user is looking at. Note that multiple requests may result in
32613 different reply values, such as when requesting values while the
32614 program is running.
32615
32616 @item U
32617 The value of the variable is unknown. This would occur, for example,
32618 if the user is examining a trace frame in which the requested variable
32619 was not collected.
32620 @end table
32621
32622 @item qTfP
32623 @itemx qTsP
32624 These packets request data about tracepoints that are being used by
32625 the target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfP} to get the first piece
32626 of data, and multiple @code{qTsP} to get additional pieces. Replies
32627 to these packets generally take the form of the @code{QTDP} packets
32628 that define tracepoints. (FIXME add detailed syntax)
32629
32630 @item qTfV
32631 @itemx qTsV
32632 These packets request data about trace state variables that are on the
32633 target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfV} to get the first vari of data,
32634 and multiple @code{qTsV} to get additional variables. Replies to
32635 these packets follow the syntax of the @code{QTDV} packets that define
32636 trace state variables.
32637
32638 @item QTSave:@var{filename}
32639 This packet directs the target to save trace data to the file name
32640 @var{filename} in the target's filesystem. @var{filename} is encoded
32641 as a hex string; the interpretation of the file name (relative vs
32642 absolute, wild cards, etc) is up to the target.
32643
32644 @item qTBuffer:@var{offset},@var{len}
32645 Return up to @var{len} bytes of the current contents of trace buffer,
32646 starting at @var{offset}. The trace buffer is treated as if it were
32647 a contiguous collection of traceframes, as per the trace file format.
32648 The reply consists as many hex-encoded bytes as the target can deliver
32649 in a packet; it is not an error to return fewer than were asked for.
32650 A reply consisting of just @code{l} indicates that no bytes are
32651 available.
32652
32653 @item QTBuffer:circular:@var{value}
32654 This packet directs the target to use a circular trace buffer if
32655 @var{value} is 1, or a linear buffer if the value is 0.
32656
32657 @end table
32658
32659 @subsection Relocate instruction reply packet
32660 When installing fast tracepoints in memory, the target may need to
32661 relocate the instruction currently at the tracepoint address to a
32662 different address in memory. For most instructions, a simple copy is
32663 enough, but, for example, call instructions that implicitly push the
32664 return address on the stack, and relative branches or other
32665 PC-relative instructions require offset adjustment, so that the effect
32666 of executing the instruction at a different address is the same as if
32667 it had executed in the original location.
32668
32669 In response to several of the tracepoint packets, the target may also
32670 respond with a number of intermediate @samp{qRelocInsn} request
32671 packets before the final result packet, to have @value{GDBN} handle
32672 this relocation operation. If a packet supports this mechanism, its
32673 documentation will explicitly say so. See for example the above
32674 descriptions for the @samp{QTStart} and @samp{QTDP} packets. The
32675 format of the request is:
32676
32677 @table @samp
32678 @item qRelocInsn:@var{from};@var{to}
32679
32680 This requests @value{GDBN} to copy instruction at address @var{from}
32681 to address @var{to}, possibly adjusted so that executing the
32682 instruction at @var{to} has the same effect as executing it at
32683 @var{from}. @value{GDBN} writes the adjusted instruction to target
32684 memory starting at @var{to}.
32685 @end table
32686
32687 Replies:
32688 @table @samp
32689 @item qRelocInsn:@var{adjusted_size}
32690 Informs the stub the relocation is complete. @var{adjusted_size} is
32691 the length in bytes of resulting relocated instruction sequence.
32692 @item E @var{NN}
32693 A badly formed request was detected, or an error was encountered while
32694 relocating the instruction.
32695 @end table
32696
32697 @node Host I/O Packets
32698 @section Host I/O Packets
32699 @cindex Host I/O, remote protocol
32700 @cindex file transfer, remote protocol
32701
32702 The @dfn{Host I/O} packets allow @value{GDBN} to perform I/O
32703 operations on the far side of a remote link. For example, Host I/O is
32704 used to upload and download files to a remote target with its own
32705 filesystem. Host I/O uses the same constant values and data structure
32706 layout as the target-initiated File-I/O protocol. However, the
32707 Host I/O packets are structured differently. The target-initiated
32708 protocol relies on target memory to store parameters and buffers.
32709 Host I/O requests are initiated by @value{GDBN}, and the
32710 target's memory is not involved. @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol
32711 Extension}, for more details on the target-initiated protocol.
32712
32713 The Host I/O request packets all encode a single operation along with
32714 its arguments. They have this format:
32715
32716 @table @samp
32717
32718 @item vFile:@var{operation}: @var{parameter}@dots{}
32719 @var{operation} is the name of the particular request; the target
32720 should compare the entire packet name up to the second colon when checking
32721 for a supported operation. The format of @var{parameter} depends on
32722 the operation. Numbers are always passed in hexadecimal. Negative
32723 numbers have an explicit minus sign (i.e.@: two's complement is not
32724 used). Strings (e.g.@: filenames) are encoded as a series of
32725 hexadecimal bytes. The last argument to a system call may be a
32726 buffer of escaped binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
32727
32728 @end table
32729
32730 The valid responses to Host I/O packets are:
32731
32732 @table @samp
32733
32734 @item F @var{result} [, @var{errno}] [; @var{attachment}]
32735 @var{result} is the integer value returned by this operation, usually
32736 non-negative for success and -1 for errors. If an error has occured,
32737 @var{errno} will be included in the result. @var{errno} will have a
32738 value defined by the File-I/O protocol (@pxref{Errno Values}). For
32739 operations which return data, @var{attachment} supplies the data as a
32740 binary buffer. Binary buffers in response packets are escaped in the
32741 normal way (@pxref{Binary Data}). See the individual packet
32742 documentation for the interpretation of @var{result} and
32743 @var{attachment}.
32744
32745 @item
32746 An empty response indicates that this operation is not recognized.
32747
32748 @end table
32749
32750 These are the supported Host I/O operations:
32751
32752 @table @samp
32753 @item vFile:open: @var{pathname}, @var{flags}, @var{mode}
32754 Open a file at @var{pathname} and return a file descriptor for it, or
32755 return -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string,
32756 @var{flags} is an integer indicating a mask of open flags
32757 (@pxref{Open Flags}), and @var{mode} is an integer indicating a mask
32758 of mode bits to use if the file is created (@pxref{mode_t Values}).
32759 @xref{open}, for details of the open flags and mode values.
32760
32761 @item vFile:close: @var{fd}
32762 Close the open file corresponding to @var{fd} and return 0, or
32763 -1 if an error occurs.
32764
32765 @item vFile:pread: @var{fd}, @var{count}, @var{offset}
32766 Read data from the open file corresponding to @var{fd}. Up to
32767 @var{count} bytes will be read from the file, starting at @var{offset}
32768 relative to the start of the file. The target may read fewer bytes;
32769 common reasons include packet size limits and an end-of-file
32770 condition. The number of bytes read is returned. Zero should only be
32771 returned for a successful read at the end of the file, or if
32772 @var{count} was zero.
32773
32774 The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
32775 If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
32776 attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
32777 number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
32778 some characters were escaped.
32779
32780 @item vFile:pwrite: @var{fd}, @var{offset}, @var{data}
32781 Write @var{data} (a binary buffer) to the open file corresponding
32782 to @var{fd}. Start the write at @var{offset} from the start of the
32783 file. Unlike many @code{write} system calls, there is no
32784 separate @var{count} argument; the length of @var{data} in the
32785 packet is used. @samp{vFile:write} returns the number of bytes written,
32786 which may be shorter than the length of @var{data}, or -1 if an
32787 error occurred.
32788
32789 @item vFile:unlink: @var{pathname}
32790 Delete the file at @var{pathname} on the target. Return 0,
32791 or -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string.
32792
32793 @end table
32794
32795 @node Interrupts
32796 @section Interrupts
32797 @cindex interrupts (remote protocol)
32798
32799 When a program on the remote target is running, @value{GDBN} may
32800 attempt to interrupt it by sending a @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or
32801 a @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g},
32802 control of which is specified via @value{GDBN}'s @samp{interrupt-sequence}.
32803
32804 The precise meaning of @code{BREAK} is defined by the transport
32805 mechanism and may, in fact, be undefined. @value{GDBN} does not
32806 currently define a @code{BREAK} mechanism for any of the network
32807 interfaces except for TCP, in which case @value{GDBN} sends the
32808 @code{telnet} BREAK sequence.
32809
32810 @samp{Ctrl-C}, on the other hand, is defined and implemented for all
32811 transport mechanisms. It is represented by sending the single byte
32812 @code{0x03} without any of the usual packet overhead described in
32813 the Overview section (@pxref{Overview}). When a @code{0x03} byte is
32814 transmitted as part of a packet, it is considered to be packet data
32815 and does @emph{not} represent an interrupt. E.g., an @samp{X} packet
32816 (@pxref{X packet}), used for binary downloads, may include an unescaped
32817 @code{0x03} as part of its packet.
32818
32819 @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g} is also known as Magic SysRq g.
32820 When Linux kernel receives this sequence from serial port,
32821 it stops execution and connects to gdb.
32822
32823 Stubs are not required to recognize these interrupt mechanisms and the
32824 precise meaning associated with receipt of the interrupt is
32825 implementation defined. If the target supports debugging of multiple
32826 threads and/or processes, it should attempt to interrupt all
32827 currently-executing threads and processes.
32828 If the stub is successful at interrupting the
32829 running program, it should send one of the stop
32830 reply packets (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}) to @value{GDBN} as a result
32831 of successfully stopping the program in all-stop mode, and a stop reply
32832 for each stopped thread in non-stop mode.
32833 Interrupts received while the
32834 program is stopped are discarded.
32835
32836 @node Notification Packets
32837 @section Notification Packets
32838 @cindex notification packets
32839 @cindex packets, notification
32840
32841 The @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol includes @dfn{notifications},
32842 packets that require no acknowledgment. Both the GDB and the stub
32843 may send notifications (although the only notifications defined at
32844 present are sent by the stub). Notifications carry information
32845 without incurring the round-trip latency of an acknowledgment, and so
32846 are useful for low-impact communications where occasional packet loss
32847 is not a problem.
32848
32849 A notification packet has the form @samp{% @var{data} #
32850 @var{checksum}}, where @var{data} is the content of the notification,
32851 and @var{checksum} is a checksum of @var{data}, computed and formatted
32852 as for ordinary @value{GDBN} packets. A notification's @var{data}
32853 never contains @samp{$}, @samp{%} or @samp{#} characters. Upon
32854 receiving a notification, the recipient sends no @samp{+} or @samp{-}
32855 to acknowledge the notification's receipt or to report its corruption.
32856
32857 Every notification's @var{data} begins with a name, which contains no
32858 colon characters, followed by a colon character.
32859
32860 Recipients should silently ignore corrupted notifications and
32861 notifications they do not understand. Recipients should restart
32862 timeout periods on receipt of a well-formed notification, whether or
32863 not they understand it.
32864
32865 Senders should only send the notifications described here when this
32866 protocol description specifies that they are permitted. In the
32867 future, we may extend the protocol to permit existing notifications in
32868 new contexts; this rule helps older senders avoid confusing newer
32869 recipients.
32870
32871 (Older versions of @value{GDBN} ignore bytes received until they see
32872 the @samp{$} byte that begins an ordinary packet, so new stubs may
32873 transmit notifications without fear of confusing older clients. There
32874 are no notifications defined for @value{GDBN} to send at the moment, but we
32875 assume that most older stubs would ignore them, as well.)
32876
32877 The following notification packets from the stub to @value{GDBN} are
32878 defined:
32879
32880 @table @samp
32881 @item Stop: @var{reply}
32882 Report an asynchronous stop event in non-stop mode.
32883 The @var{reply} has the form of a stop reply, as
32884 described in @ref{Stop Reply Packets}. Refer to @ref{Remote Non-Stop},
32885 for information on how these notifications are acknowledged by
32886 @value{GDBN}.
32887 @end table
32888
32889 @node Remote Non-Stop
32890 @section Remote Protocol Support for Non-Stop Mode
32891
32892 @value{GDBN}'s remote protocol supports non-stop debugging of
32893 multi-threaded programs, as described in @ref{Non-Stop Mode}. If the stub
32894 supports non-stop mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN} by including
32895 @samp{QNonStop+} in its @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
32896
32897 @value{GDBN} typically sends a @samp{QNonStop} packet only when
32898 establishing a new connection with the stub. Entering non-stop mode
32899 does not alter the state of any currently-running threads, but targets
32900 must stop all threads in any already-attached processes when entering
32901 all-stop mode. @value{GDBN} uses the @samp{?} packet as necessary to
32902 probe the target state after a mode change.
32903
32904 In non-stop mode, when an attached process encounters an event that
32905 would otherwise be reported with a stop reply, it uses the
32906 asynchronous notification mechanism (@pxref{Notification Packets}) to
32907 inform @value{GDBN}. In contrast to all-stop mode, where all threads
32908 in all processes are stopped when a stop reply is sent, in non-stop
32909 mode only the thread reporting the stop event is stopped. That is,
32910 when reporting a @samp{S} or @samp{T} response to indicate completion
32911 of a step operation, hitting a breakpoint, or a fault, only the
32912 affected thread is stopped; any other still-running threads continue
32913 to run. When reporting a @samp{W} or @samp{X} response, all running
32914 threads belonging to other attached processes continue to run.
32915
32916 Only one stop reply notification at a time may be pending; if
32917 additional stop events occur before @value{GDBN} has acknowledged the
32918 previous notification, they must be queued by the stub for later
32919 synchronous transmission in response to @samp{vStopped} packets from
32920 @value{GDBN}. Because the notification mechanism is unreliable,
32921 the stub is permitted to resend a stop reply notification
32922 if it believes @value{GDBN} may not have received it. @value{GDBN}
32923 ignores additional stop reply notifications received before it has
32924 finished processing a previous notification and the stub has completed
32925 sending any queued stop events.
32926
32927 Otherwise, @value{GDBN} must be prepared to receive a stop reply
32928 notification at any time. Specifically, they may appear when
32929 @value{GDBN} is not otherwise reading input from the stub, or when
32930 @value{GDBN} is expecting to read a normal synchronous response or a
32931 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgment to a packet it has sent.
32932 Notification packets are distinct from any other communication from
32933 the stub so there is no ambiguity.
32934
32935 After receiving a stop reply notification, @value{GDBN} shall
32936 acknowledge it by sending a @samp{vStopped} packet (@pxref{vStopped packet})
32937 as a regular, synchronous request to the stub. Such acknowledgment
32938 is not required to happen immediately, as @value{GDBN} is permitted to
32939 send other, unrelated packets to the stub first, which the stub should
32940 process normally.
32941
32942 Upon receiving a @samp{vStopped} packet, if the stub has other queued
32943 stop events to report to @value{GDBN}, it shall respond by sending a
32944 normal stop reply response. @value{GDBN} shall then send another
32945 @samp{vStopped} packet to solicit further responses; again, it is
32946 permitted to send other, unrelated packets as well which the stub
32947 should process normally.
32948
32949 If the stub receives a @samp{vStopped} packet and there are no
32950 additional stop events to report, the stub shall return an @samp{OK}
32951 response. At this point, if further stop events occur, the stub shall
32952 send a new stop reply notification, @value{GDBN} shall accept the
32953 notification, and the process shall be repeated.
32954
32955 In non-stop mode, the target shall respond to the @samp{?} packet as
32956 follows. First, any incomplete stop reply notification/@samp{vStopped}
32957 sequence in progress is abandoned. The target must begin a new
32958 sequence reporting stop events for all stopped threads, whether or not
32959 it has previously reported those events to @value{GDBN}. The first
32960 stop reply is sent as a synchronous reply to the @samp{?} packet, and
32961 subsequent stop replies are sent as responses to @samp{vStopped} packets
32962 using the mechanism described above. The target must not send
32963 asynchronous stop reply notifications until the sequence is complete.
32964 If all threads are running when the target receives the @samp{?} packet,
32965 or if the target is not attached to any process, it shall respond
32966 @samp{OK}.
32967
32968 @node Packet Acknowledgment
32969 @section Packet Acknowledgment
32970
32971 @cindex acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
32972 @cindex packet acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
32973 By default, when either the host or the target machine receives a packet,
32974 the first response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
32975 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request retransmission).
32976 This mechanism allows the @value{GDBN} remote protocol to operate over
32977 unreliable transport mechanisms, such as a serial line.
32978
32979 In cases where the transport mechanism is itself reliable (such as a pipe or
32980 TCP connection), the @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are redundant.
32981 It may be desirable to disable them in that case to reduce communication
32982 overhead, or for other reasons. This can be accomplished by means of the
32983 @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet; @pxref{QStartNoAckMode}.
32984
32985 When in no-acknowledgment mode, neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or
32986 expect @samp{+}/@samp{-} protocol acknowledgments. The packet
32987 and response format still includes the normal checksum, as described in
32988 @ref{Overview}, but the checksum may be ignored by the receiver.
32989
32990 If the stub supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and prefers to operate in
32991 no-acknowledgment mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN}
32992 by including @samp{QStartNoAckMode+} in its response to @samp{qSupported};
32993 @pxref{qSupported}.
32994 If @value{GDBN} also supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and it has not been
32995 disabled via the @code{set remote noack-packet off} command
32996 (@pxref{Remote Configuration}),
32997 @value{GDBN} may then send a @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet to the stub.
32998 Only then may the stub actually turn off packet acknowledgments.
32999 @value{GDBN} sends a final @samp{+} acknowledgment of the stub's @samp{OK}
33000 response, which can be safely ignored by the stub.
33001
33002 Note that @code{set remote noack-packet} command only affects negotiation
33003 between @value{GDBN} and the stub when subsequent connections are made;
33004 it does not affect the protocol acknowledgment state for any current
33005 connection.
33006 Since @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are enabled by default when a
33007 new connection is established,
33008 there is also no protocol request to re-enable the acknowledgments
33009 for the current connection, once disabled.
33010
33011 @node Examples
33012 @section Examples
33013
33014 Example sequence of a target being re-started. Notice how the restart
33015 does not get any direct output:
33016
33017 @smallexample
33018 -> @code{R00}
33019 <- @code{+}
33020 @emph{target restarts}
33021 -> @code{?}
33022 <- @code{+}
33023 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
33024 -> @code{+}
33025 @end smallexample
33026
33027 Example sequence of a target being stepped by a single instruction:
33028
33029 @smallexample
33030 -> @code{G1445@dots{}}
33031 <- @code{+}
33032 -> @code{s}
33033 <- @code{+}
33034 @emph{time passes}
33035 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
33036 -> @code{+}
33037 -> @code{g}
33038 <- @code{+}
33039 <- @code{1455@dots{}}
33040 -> @code{+}
33041 @end smallexample
33042
33043 @node File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
33044 @section File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
33045 @cindex File-I/O remote protocol extension
33046
33047 @menu
33048 * File-I/O Overview::
33049 * Protocol Basics::
33050 * The F Request Packet::
33051 * The F Reply Packet::
33052 * The Ctrl-C Message::
33053 * Console I/O::
33054 * List of Supported Calls::
33055 * Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes::
33056 * Constants::
33057 * File-I/O Examples::
33058 @end menu
33059
33060 @node File-I/O Overview
33061 @subsection File-I/O Overview
33062 @cindex file-i/o overview
33063
33064 The @dfn{File I/O remote protocol extension} (short: File-I/O) allows the
33065 target to use the host's file system and console I/O to perform various
33066 system calls. System calls on the target system are translated into a
33067 remote protocol packet to the host system, which then performs the needed
33068 actions and returns a response packet to the target system.
33069 This simulates file system operations even on targets that lack file systems.
33070
33071 The protocol is defined to be independent of both the host and target systems.
33072 It uses its own internal representation of datatypes and values. Both
33073 @value{GDBN} and the target's @value{GDBN} stub are responsible for
33074 translating the system-dependent value representations into the internal
33075 protocol representations when data is transmitted.
33076
33077 The communication is synchronous. A system call is possible only when
33078 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
33079 or @samp{s} packets. While @value{GDBN} handles the request for a system call,
33080 the target is stopped to allow deterministic access to the target's
33081 memory. Therefore File-I/O is not interruptible by target signals. On
33082 the other hand, it is possible to interrupt File-I/O by a user interrupt
33083 (@samp{Ctrl-C}) within @value{GDBN}.
33084
33085 The target's request to perform a host system call does not finish
33086 the latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} action. That means,
33087 after finishing the system call, the target returns to continuing the
33088 previous activity (continue, step). No additional continue or step
33089 request from @value{GDBN} is required.
33090
33091 @smallexample
33092 (@value{GDBP}) continue
33093 <- target requests 'system call X'
33094 target is stopped, @value{GDBN} executes system call
33095 -> @value{GDBN} returns result
33096 ... target continues, @value{GDBN} returns to wait for the target
33097 <- target hits breakpoint and sends a Txx packet
33098 @end smallexample
33099
33100 The protocol only supports I/O on the console and to regular files on
33101 the host file system. Character or block special devices, pipes,
33102 named pipes, sockets or any other communication method on the host
33103 system are not supported by this protocol.
33104
33105 File I/O is not supported in non-stop mode.
33106
33107 @node Protocol Basics
33108 @subsection Protocol Basics
33109 @cindex protocol basics, file-i/o
33110
33111 The File-I/O protocol uses the @code{F} packet as the request as well
33112 as reply packet. Since a File-I/O system call can only occur when
33113 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the continuing or stepping target,
33114 the File-I/O request is a reply that @value{GDBN} has to expect as a result
33115 of a previous @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} packet.
33116 This @code{F} packet contains all information needed to allow @value{GDBN}
33117 to call the appropriate host system call:
33118
33119 @itemize @bullet
33120 @item
33121 A unique identifier for the requested system call.
33122
33123 @item
33124 All parameters to the system call. Pointers are given as addresses
33125 in the target memory address space. Pointers to strings are given as
33126 pointer/length pair. Numerical values are given as they are.
33127 Numerical control flags are given in a protocol-specific representation.
33128
33129 @end itemize
33130
33131 At this point, @value{GDBN} has to perform the following actions.
33132
33133 @itemize @bullet
33134 @item
33135 If the parameters include pointer values to data needed as input to a
33136 system call, @value{GDBN} requests this data from the target with a
33137 standard @code{m} packet request. This additional communication has to be
33138 expected by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{m}
33139 packet.
33140
33141 @item
33142 @value{GDBN} translates all value from protocol representation to host
33143 representation as needed. Datatypes are coerced into the host types.
33144
33145 @item
33146 @value{GDBN} calls the system call.
33147
33148 @item
33149 It then coerces datatypes back to protocol representation.
33150
33151 @item
33152 If the system call is expected to return data in buffer space specified
33153 by pointer parameters to the call, the data is transmitted to the
33154 target using a @code{M} or @code{X} packet. This packet has to be expected
33155 by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{M} or @code{X}
33156 packet.
33157
33158 @end itemize
33159
33160 Eventually @value{GDBN} replies with another @code{F} packet which contains all
33161 necessary information for the target to continue. This at least contains
33162
33163 @itemize @bullet
33164 @item
33165 Return value.
33166
33167 @item
33168 @code{errno}, if has been changed by the system call.
33169
33170 @item
33171 ``Ctrl-C'' flag.
33172
33173 @end itemize
33174
33175 After having done the needed type and value coercion, the target continues
33176 the latest continue or step action.
33177
33178 @node The F Request Packet
33179 @subsection The @code{F} Request Packet
33180 @cindex file-i/o request packet
33181 @cindex @code{F} request packet
33182
33183 The @code{F} request packet has the following format:
33184
33185 @table @samp
33186 @item F@var{call-id},@var{parameter@dots{}}
33187
33188 @var{call-id} is the identifier to indicate the host system call to be called.
33189 This is just the name of the function.
33190
33191 @var{parameter@dots{}} are the parameters to the system call.
33192 Parameters are hexadecimal integer values, either the actual values in case
33193 of scalar datatypes, pointers to target buffer space in case of compound
33194 datatypes and unspecified memory areas, or pointer/length pairs in case
33195 of string parameters. These are appended to the @var{call-id} as a
33196 comma-delimited list. All values are transmitted in ASCII
33197 string representation, pointer/length pairs separated by a slash.
33198
33199 @end table
33200
33201
33202
33203 @node The F Reply Packet
33204 @subsection The @code{F} Reply Packet
33205 @cindex file-i/o reply packet
33206 @cindex @code{F} reply packet
33207
33208 The @code{F} reply packet has the following format:
33209
33210 @table @samp
33211
33212 @item F@var{retcode},@var{errno},@var{Ctrl-C flag};@var{call-specific attachment}
33213
33214 @var{retcode} is the return code of the system call as hexadecimal value.
33215
33216 @var{errno} is the @code{errno} set by the call, in protocol-specific
33217 representation.
33218 This parameter can be omitted if the call was successful.
33219
33220 @var{Ctrl-C flag} is only sent if the user requested a break. In this
33221 case, @var{errno} must be sent as well, even if the call was successful.
33222 The @var{Ctrl-C flag} itself consists of the character @samp{C}:
33223
33224 @smallexample
33225 F0,0,C
33226 @end smallexample
33227
33228 @noindent
33229 or, if the call was interrupted before the host call has been performed:
33230
33231 @smallexample
33232 F-1,4,C
33233 @end smallexample
33234
33235 @noindent
33236 assuming 4 is the protocol-specific representation of @code{EINTR}.
33237
33238 @end table
33239
33240
33241 @node The Ctrl-C Message
33242 @subsection The @samp{Ctrl-C} Message
33243 @cindex ctrl-c message, in file-i/o protocol
33244
33245 If the @samp{Ctrl-C} flag is set in the @value{GDBN}
33246 reply packet (@pxref{The F Reply Packet}),
33247 the target should behave as if it had
33248 gotten a break message. The meaning for the target is ``system call
33249 interrupted by @code{SIGINT}''. Consequentially, the target should actually stop
33250 (as with a break message) and return to @value{GDBN} with a @code{T02}
33251 packet.
33252
33253 It's important for the target to know in which
33254 state the system call was interrupted. There are two possible cases:
33255
33256 @itemize @bullet
33257 @item
33258 The system call hasn't been performed on the host yet.
33259
33260 @item
33261 The system call on the host has been finished.
33262
33263 @end itemize
33264
33265 These two states can be distinguished by the target by the value of the
33266 returned @code{errno}. If it's the protocol representation of @code{EINTR}, the system
33267 call hasn't been performed. This is equivalent to the @code{EINTR} handling
33268 on POSIX systems. In any other case, the target may presume that the
33269 system call has been finished --- successfully or not --- and should behave
33270 as if the break message arrived right after the system call.
33271
33272 @value{GDBN} must behave reliably. If the system call has not been called
33273 yet, @value{GDBN} may send the @code{F} reply immediately, setting @code{EINTR} as
33274 @code{errno} in the packet. If the system call on the host has been finished
33275 before the user requests a break, the full action must be finished by
33276 @value{GDBN}. This requires sending @code{M} or @code{X} packets as necessary.
33277 The @code{F} packet may only be sent when either nothing has happened
33278 or the full action has been completed.
33279
33280 @node Console I/O
33281 @subsection Console I/O
33282 @cindex console i/o as part of file-i/o
33283
33284 By default and if not explicitly closed by the target system, the file
33285 descriptors 0, 1 and 2 are connected to the @value{GDBN} console. Output
33286 on the @value{GDBN} console is handled as any other file output operation
33287 (@code{write(1, @dots{})} or @code{write(2, @dots{})}). Console input is handled
33288 by @value{GDBN} so that after the target read request from file descriptor
33289 0 all following typing is buffered until either one of the following
33290 conditions is met:
33291
33292 @itemize @bullet
33293 @item
33294 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-c}. The behaviour is as explained above, and the
33295 @code{read}
33296 system call is treated as finished.
33297
33298 @item
33299 The user presses @key{RET}. This is treated as end of input with a trailing
33300 newline.
33301
33302 @item
33303 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-d}. This is treated as end of input. No trailing
33304 character (neither newline nor @samp{Ctrl-D}) is appended to the input.
33305
33306 @end itemize
33307
33308 If the user has typed more characters than fit in the buffer given to
33309 the @code{read} call, the trailing characters are buffered in @value{GDBN} until
33310 either another @code{read(0, @dots{})} is requested by the target, or debugging
33311 is stopped at the user's request.
33312
33313
33314 @node List of Supported Calls
33315 @subsection List of Supported Calls
33316 @cindex list of supported file-i/o calls
33317
33318 @menu
33319 * open::
33320 * close::
33321 * read::
33322 * write::
33323 * lseek::
33324 * rename::
33325 * unlink::
33326 * stat/fstat::
33327 * gettimeofday::
33328 * isatty::
33329 * system::
33330 @end menu
33331
33332 @node open
33333 @unnumberedsubsubsec open
33334 @cindex open, file-i/o system call
33335
33336 @table @asis
33337 @item Synopsis:
33338 @smallexample
33339 int open(const char *pathname, int flags);
33340 int open(const char *pathname, int flags, mode_t mode);
33341 @end smallexample
33342
33343 @item Request:
33344 @samp{Fopen,@var{pathptr}/@var{len},@var{flags},@var{mode}}
33345
33346 @noindent
33347 @var{flags} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
33348
33349 @table @code
33350 @item O_CREAT
33351 If the file does not exist it will be created. The host
33352 rules apply as far as file ownership and time stamps
33353 are concerned.
33354
33355 @item O_EXCL
33356 When used with @code{O_CREAT}, if the file already exists it is
33357 an error and open() fails.
33358
33359 @item O_TRUNC
33360 If the file already exists and the open mode allows
33361 writing (@code{O_RDWR} or @code{O_WRONLY} is given) it will be
33362 truncated to zero length.
33363
33364 @item O_APPEND
33365 The file is opened in append mode.
33366
33367 @item O_RDONLY
33368 The file is opened for reading only.
33369
33370 @item O_WRONLY
33371 The file is opened for writing only.
33372
33373 @item O_RDWR
33374 The file is opened for reading and writing.
33375 @end table
33376
33377 @noindent
33378 Other bits are silently ignored.
33379
33380
33381 @noindent
33382 @var{mode} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
33383
33384 @table @code
33385 @item S_IRUSR
33386 User has read permission.
33387
33388 @item S_IWUSR
33389 User has write permission.
33390
33391 @item S_IRGRP
33392 Group has read permission.
33393
33394 @item S_IWGRP
33395 Group has write permission.
33396
33397 @item S_IROTH
33398 Others have read permission.
33399
33400 @item S_IWOTH
33401 Others have write permission.
33402 @end table
33403
33404 @noindent
33405 Other bits are silently ignored.
33406
33407
33408 @item Return value:
33409 @code{open} returns the new file descriptor or -1 if an error
33410 occurred.
33411
33412 @item Errors:
33413
33414 @table @code
33415 @item EEXIST
33416 @var{pathname} already exists and @code{O_CREAT} and @code{O_EXCL} were used.
33417
33418 @item EISDIR
33419 @var{pathname} refers to a directory.
33420
33421 @item EACCES
33422 The requested access is not allowed.
33423
33424 @item ENAMETOOLONG
33425 @var{pathname} was too long.
33426
33427 @item ENOENT
33428 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
33429
33430 @item ENODEV
33431 @var{pathname} refers to a device, pipe, named pipe or socket.
33432
33433 @item EROFS
33434 @var{pathname} refers to a file on a read-only filesystem and
33435 write access was requested.
33436
33437 @item EFAULT
33438 @var{pathname} is an invalid pointer value.
33439
33440 @item ENOSPC
33441 No space on device to create the file.
33442
33443 @item EMFILE
33444 The process already has the maximum number of files open.
33445
33446 @item ENFILE
33447 The limit on the total number of files open on the system
33448 has been reached.
33449
33450 @item EINTR
33451 The call was interrupted by the user.
33452 @end table
33453
33454 @end table
33455
33456 @node close
33457 @unnumberedsubsubsec close
33458 @cindex close, file-i/o system call
33459
33460 @table @asis
33461 @item Synopsis:
33462 @smallexample
33463 int close(int fd);
33464 @end smallexample
33465
33466 @item Request:
33467 @samp{Fclose,@var{fd}}
33468
33469 @item Return value:
33470 @code{close} returns zero on success, or -1 if an error occurred.
33471
33472 @item Errors:
33473
33474 @table @code
33475 @item EBADF
33476 @var{fd} isn't a valid open file descriptor.
33477
33478 @item EINTR
33479 The call was interrupted by the user.
33480 @end table
33481
33482 @end table
33483
33484 @node read
33485 @unnumberedsubsubsec read
33486 @cindex read, file-i/o system call
33487
33488 @table @asis
33489 @item Synopsis:
33490 @smallexample
33491 int read(int fd, void *buf, unsigned int count);
33492 @end smallexample
33493
33494 @item Request:
33495 @samp{Fread,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
33496
33497 @item Return value:
33498 On success, the number of bytes read is returned.
33499 Zero indicates end of file. If count is zero, read
33500 returns zero as well. On error, -1 is returned.
33501
33502 @item Errors:
33503
33504 @table @code
33505 @item EBADF
33506 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
33507 reading.
33508
33509 @item EFAULT
33510 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
33511
33512 @item EINTR
33513 The call was interrupted by the user.
33514 @end table
33515
33516 @end table
33517
33518 @node write
33519 @unnumberedsubsubsec write
33520 @cindex write, file-i/o system call
33521
33522 @table @asis
33523 @item Synopsis:
33524 @smallexample
33525 int write(int fd, const void *buf, unsigned int count);
33526 @end smallexample
33527
33528 @item Request:
33529 @samp{Fwrite,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
33530
33531 @item Return value:
33532 On success, the number of bytes written are returned.
33533 Zero indicates nothing was written. On error, -1
33534 is returned.
33535
33536 @item Errors:
33537
33538 @table @code
33539 @item EBADF
33540 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
33541 writing.
33542
33543 @item EFAULT
33544 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
33545
33546 @item EFBIG
33547 An attempt was made to write a file that exceeds the
33548 host-specific maximum file size allowed.
33549
33550 @item ENOSPC
33551 No space on device to write the data.
33552
33553 @item EINTR
33554 The call was interrupted by the user.
33555 @end table
33556
33557 @end table
33558
33559 @node lseek
33560 @unnumberedsubsubsec lseek
33561 @cindex lseek, file-i/o system call
33562
33563 @table @asis
33564 @item Synopsis:
33565 @smallexample
33566 long lseek (int fd, long offset, int flag);
33567 @end smallexample
33568
33569 @item Request:
33570 @samp{Flseek,@var{fd},@var{offset},@var{flag}}
33571
33572 @var{flag} is one of:
33573
33574 @table @code
33575 @item SEEK_SET
33576 The offset is set to @var{offset} bytes.
33577
33578 @item SEEK_CUR
33579 The offset is set to its current location plus @var{offset}
33580 bytes.
33581
33582 @item SEEK_END
33583 The offset is set to the size of the file plus @var{offset}
33584 bytes.
33585 @end table
33586
33587 @item Return value:
33588 On success, the resulting unsigned offset in bytes from
33589 the beginning of the file is returned. Otherwise, a
33590 value of -1 is returned.
33591
33592 @item Errors:
33593
33594 @table @code
33595 @item EBADF
33596 @var{fd} is not a valid open file descriptor.
33597
33598 @item ESPIPE
33599 @var{fd} is associated with the @value{GDBN} console.
33600
33601 @item EINVAL
33602 @var{flag} is not a proper value.
33603
33604 @item EINTR
33605 The call was interrupted by the user.
33606 @end table
33607
33608 @end table
33609
33610 @node rename
33611 @unnumberedsubsubsec rename
33612 @cindex rename, file-i/o system call
33613
33614 @table @asis
33615 @item Synopsis:
33616 @smallexample
33617 int rename(const char *oldpath, const char *newpath);
33618 @end smallexample
33619
33620 @item Request:
33621 @samp{Frename,@var{oldpathptr}/@var{len},@var{newpathptr}/@var{len}}
33622
33623 @item Return value:
33624 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
33625
33626 @item Errors:
33627
33628 @table @code
33629 @item EISDIR
33630 @var{newpath} is an existing directory, but @var{oldpath} is not a
33631 directory.
33632
33633 @item EEXIST
33634 @var{newpath} is a non-empty directory.
33635
33636 @item EBUSY
33637 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} is a directory that is in use by some
33638 process.
33639
33640 @item EINVAL
33641 An attempt was made to make a directory a subdirectory
33642 of itself.
33643
33644 @item ENOTDIR
33645 A component used as a directory in @var{oldpath} or new
33646 path is not a directory. Or @var{oldpath} is a directory
33647 and @var{newpath} exists but is not a directory.
33648
33649 @item EFAULT
33650 @var{oldpathptr} or @var{newpathptr} are invalid pointer values.
33651
33652 @item EACCES
33653 No access to the file or the path of the file.
33654
33655 @item ENAMETOOLONG
33656
33657 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} was too long.
33658
33659 @item ENOENT
33660 A directory component in @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} does not exist.
33661
33662 @item EROFS
33663 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
33664
33665 @item ENOSPC
33666 The device containing the file has no room for the new
33667 directory entry.
33668
33669 @item EINTR
33670 The call was interrupted by the user.
33671 @end table
33672
33673 @end table
33674
33675 @node unlink
33676 @unnumberedsubsubsec unlink
33677 @cindex unlink, file-i/o system call
33678
33679 @table @asis
33680 @item Synopsis:
33681 @smallexample
33682 int unlink(const char *pathname);
33683 @end smallexample
33684
33685 @item Request:
33686 @samp{Funlink,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len}}
33687
33688 @item Return value:
33689 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
33690
33691 @item Errors:
33692
33693 @table @code
33694 @item EACCES
33695 No access to the file or the path of the file.
33696
33697 @item EPERM
33698 The system does not allow unlinking of directories.
33699
33700 @item EBUSY
33701 The file @var{pathname} cannot be unlinked because it's
33702 being used by another process.
33703
33704 @item EFAULT
33705 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
33706
33707 @item ENAMETOOLONG
33708 @var{pathname} was too long.
33709
33710 @item ENOENT
33711 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
33712
33713 @item ENOTDIR
33714 A component of the path is not a directory.
33715
33716 @item EROFS
33717 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
33718
33719 @item EINTR
33720 The call was interrupted by the user.
33721 @end table
33722
33723 @end table
33724
33725 @node stat/fstat
33726 @unnumberedsubsubsec stat/fstat
33727 @cindex fstat, file-i/o system call
33728 @cindex stat, file-i/o system call
33729
33730 @table @asis
33731 @item Synopsis:
33732 @smallexample
33733 int stat(const char *pathname, struct stat *buf);
33734 int fstat(int fd, struct stat *buf);
33735 @end smallexample
33736
33737 @item Request:
33738 @samp{Fstat,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len},@var{bufptr}}@*
33739 @samp{Ffstat,@var{fd},@var{bufptr}}
33740
33741 @item Return value:
33742 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
33743
33744 @item Errors:
33745
33746 @table @code
33747 @item EBADF
33748 @var{fd} is not a valid open file.
33749
33750 @item ENOENT
33751 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist or the
33752 path is an empty string.
33753
33754 @item ENOTDIR
33755 A component of the path is not a directory.
33756
33757 @item EFAULT
33758 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
33759
33760 @item EACCES
33761 No access to the file or the path of the file.
33762
33763 @item ENAMETOOLONG
33764 @var{pathname} was too long.
33765
33766 @item EINTR
33767 The call was interrupted by the user.
33768 @end table
33769
33770 @end table
33771
33772 @node gettimeofday
33773 @unnumberedsubsubsec gettimeofday
33774 @cindex gettimeofday, file-i/o system call
33775
33776 @table @asis
33777 @item Synopsis:
33778 @smallexample
33779 int gettimeofday(struct timeval *tv, void *tz);
33780 @end smallexample
33781
33782 @item Request:
33783 @samp{Fgettimeofday,@var{tvptr},@var{tzptr}}
33784
33785 @item Return value:
33786 On success, 0 is returned, -1 otherwise.
33787
33788 @item Errors:
33789
33790 @table @code
33791 @item EINVAL
33792 @var{tz} is a non-NULL pointer.
33793
33794 @item EFAULT
33795 @var{tvptr} and/or @var{tzptr} is an invalid pointer value.
33796 @end table
33797
33798 @end table
33799
33800 @node isatty
33801 @unnumberedsubsubsec isatty
33802 @cindex isatty, file-i/o system call
33803
33804 @table @asis
33805 @item Synopsis:
33806 @smallexample
33807 int isatty(int fd);
33808 @end smallexample
33809
33810 @item Request:
33811 @samp{Fisatty,@var{fd}}
33812
33813 @item Return value:
33814 Returns 1 if @var{fd} refers to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise.
33815
33816 @item Errors:
33817
33818 @table @code
33819 @item EINTR
33820 The call was interrupted by the user.
33821 @end table
33822
33823 @end table
33824
33825 Note that the @code{isatty} call is treated as a special case: it returns
33826 1 to the target if the file descriptor is attached
33827 to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise. Implementing through system calls
33828 would require implementing @code{ioctl} and would be more complex than
33829 needed.
33830
33831
33832 @node system
33833 @unnumberedsubsubsec system
33834 @cindex system, file-i/o system call
33835
33836 @table @asis
33837 @item Synopsis:
33838 @smallexample
33839 int system(const char *command);
33840 @end smallexample
33841
33842 @item Request:
33843 @samp{Fsystem,@var{commandptr}/@var{len}}
33844
33845 @item Return value:
33846 If @var{len} is zero, the return value indicates whether a shell is
33847 available. A zero return value indicates a shell is not available.
33848 For non-zero @var{len}, the value returned is -1 on error and the
33849 return status of the command otherwise. Only the exit status of the
33850 command is returned, which is extracted from the host's @code{system}
33851 return value by calling @code{WEXITSTATUS(retval)}. In case
33852 @file{/bin/sh} could not be executed, 127 is returned.
33853
33854 @item Errors:
33855
33856 @table @code
33857 @item EINTR
33858 The call was interrupted by the user.
33859 @end table
33860
33861 @end table
33862
33863 @value{GDBN} takes over the full task of calling the necessary host calls
33864 to perform the @code{system} call. The return value of @code{system} on
33865 the host is simplified before it's returned
33866 to the target. Any termination signal information from the child process
33867 is discarded, and the return value consists
33868 entirely of the exit status of the called command.
33869
33870 Due to security concerns, the @code{system} call is by default refused
33871 by @value{GDBN}. The user has to allow this call explicitly with the
33872 @code{set remote system-call-allowed 1} command.
33873
33874 @table @code
33875 @item set remote system-call-allowed
33876 @kindex set remote system-call-allowed
33877 Control whether to allow the @code{system} calls in the File I/O
33878 protocol for the remote target. The default is zero (disabled).
33879
33880 @item show remote system-call-allowed
33881 @kindex show remote system-call-allowed
33882 Show whether the @code{system} calls are allowed in the File I/O
33883 protocol.
33884 @end table
33885
33886 @node Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
33887 @subsection Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
33888 @cindex protocol-specific representation of datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
33889
33890 @menu
33891 * Integral Datatypes::
33892 * Pointer Values::
33893 * Memory Transfer::
33894 * struct stat::
33895 * struct timeval::
33896 @end menu
33897
33898 @node Integral Datatypes
33899 @unnumberedsubsubsec Integral Datatypes
33900 @cindex integral datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
33901
33902 The integral datatypes used in the system calls are @code{int},
33903 @code{unsigned int}, @code{long}, @code{unsigned long},
33904 @code{mode_t}, and @code{time_t}.
33905
33906 @code{int}, @code{unsigned int}, @code{mode_t} and @code{time_t} are
33907 implemented as 32 bit values in this protocol.
33908
33909 @code{long} and @code{unsigned long} are implemented as 64 bit types.
33910
33911 @xref{Limits}, for corresponding MIN and MAX values (similar to those
33912 in @file{limits.h}) to allow range checking on host and target.
33913
33914 @code{time_t} datatypes are defined as seconds since the Epoch.
33915
33916 All integral datatypes transferred as part of a memory read or write of a
33917 structured datatype e.g.@: a @code{struct stat} have to be given in big endian
33918 byte order.
33919
33920 @node Pointer Values
33921 @unnumberedsubsubsec Pointer Values
33922 @cindex pointer values, in file-i/o protocol
33923
33924 Pointers to target data are transmitted as they are. An exception
33925 is made for pointers to buffers for which the length isn't
33926 transmitted as part of the function call, namely strings. Strings
33927 are transmitted as a pointer/length pair, both as hex values, e.g.@:
33928
33929 @smallexample
33930 @code{1aaf/12}
33931 @end smallexample
33932
33933 @noindent
33934 which is a pointer to data of length 18 bytes at position 0x1aaf.
33935 The length is defined as the full string length in bytes, including
33936 the trailing null byte. For example, the string @code{"hello world"}
33937 at address 0x123456 is transmitted as
33938
33939 @smallexample
33940 @code{123456/d}
33941 @end smallexample
33942
33943 @node Memory Transfer
33944 @unnumberedsubsubsec Memory Transfer
33945 @cindex memory transfer, in file-i/o protocol
33946
33947 Structured data which is transferred using a memory read or write (for
33948 example, a @code{struct stat}) is expected to be in a protocol-specific format
33949 with all scalar multibyte datatypes being big endian. Translation to
33950 this representation needs to be done both by the target before the @code{F}
33951 packet is sent, and by @value{GDBN} before
33952 it transfers memory to the target. Transferred pointers to structured
33953 data should point to the already-coerced data at any time.
33954
33955
33956 @node struct stat
33957 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct stat
33958 @cindex struct stat, in file-i/o protocol
33959
33960 The buffer of type @code{struct stat} used by the target and @value{GDBN}
33961 is defined as follows:
33962
33963 @smallexample
33964 struct stat @{
33965 unsigned int st_dev; /* device */
33966 unsigned int st_ino; /* inode */
33967 mode_t st_mode; /* protection */
33968 unsigned int st_nlink; /* number of hard links */
33969 unsigned int st_uid; /* user ID of owner */
33970 unsigned int st_gid; /* group ID of owner */
33971 unsigned int st_rdev; /* device type (if inode device) */
33972 unsigned long st_size; /* total size, in bytes */
33973 unsigned long st_blksize; /* blocksize for filesystem I/O */
33974 unsigned long st_blocks; /* number of blocks allocated */
33975 time_t st_atime; /* time of last access */
33976 time_t st_mtime; /* time of last modification */
33977 time_t st_ctime; /* time of last change */
33978 @};
33979 @end smallexample
33980
33981 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
33982 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
33983 structure is of size 64 bytes.
33984
33985 The values of several fields have a restricted meaning and/or
33986 range of values.
33987
33988 @table @code
33989
33990 @item st_dev
33991 A value of 0 represents a file, 1 the console.
33992
33993 @item st_ino
33994 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
33995
33996 @item st_mode
33997 Valid mode bits are described in @ref{Constants}. Any other
33998 bits have currently no meaning for the target.
33999
34000 @item st_uid
34001 @itemx st_gid
34002 @itemx st_rdev
34003 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
34004
34005 @item st_atime
34006 @itemx st_mtime
34007 @itemx st_ctime
34008 These values have a host and file system dependent
34009 accuracy. Especially on Windows hosts, the file system may not
34010 support exact timing values.
34011 @end table
34012
34013 The target gets a @code{struct stat} of the above representation and is
34014 responsible for coercing it to the target representation before
34015 continuing.
34016
34017 Note that due to size differences between the host, target, and protocol
34018 representations of @code{struct stat} members, these members could eventually
34019 get truncated on the target.
34020
34021 @node struct timeval
34022 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct timeval
34023 @cindex struct timeval, in file-i/o protocol
34024
34025 The buffer of type @code{struct timeval} used by the File-I/O protocol
34026 is defined as follows:
34027
34028 @smallexample
34029 struct timeval @{
34030 time_t tv_sec; /* second */
34031 long tv_usec; /* microsecond */
34032 @};
34033 @end smallexample
34034
34035 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
34036 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
34037 structure is of size 8 bytes.
34038
34039 @node Constants
34040 @subsection Constants
34041 @cindex constants, in file-i/o protocol
34042
34043 The following values are used for the constants inside of the
34044 protocol. @value{GDBN} and target are responsible for translating these
34045 values before and after the call as needed.
34046
34047 @menu
34048 * Open Flags::
34049 * mode_t Values::
34050 * Errno Values::
34051 * Lseek Flags::
34052 * Limits::
34053 @end menu
34054
34055 @node Open Flags
34056 @unnumberedsubsubsec Open Flags
34057 @cindex open flags, in file-i/o protocol
34058
34059 All values are given in hexadecimal representation.
34060
34061 @smallexample
34062 O_RDONLY 0x0
34063 O_WRONLY 0x1
34064 O_RDWR 0x2
34065 O_APPEND 0x8
34066 O_CREAT 0x200
34067 O_TRUNC 0x400
34068 O_EXCL 0x800
34069 @end smallexample
34070
34071 @node mode_t Values
34072 @unnumberedsubsubsec mode_t Values
34073 @cindex mode_t values, in file-i/o protocol
34074
34075 All values are given in octal representation.
34076
34077 @smallexample
34078 S_IFREG 0100000
34079 S_IFDIR 040000
34080 S_IRUSR 0400
34081 S_IWUSR 0200
34082 S_IXUSR 0100
34083 S_IRGRP 040
34084 S_IWGRP 020
34085 S_IXGRP 010
34086 S_IROTH 04
34087 S_IWOTH 02
34088 S_IXOTH 01
34089 @end smallexample
34090
34091 @node Errno Values
34092 @unnumberedsubsubsec Errno Values
34093 @cindex errno values, in file-i/o protocol
34094
34095 All values are given in decimal representation.
34096
34097 @smallexample
34098 EPERM 1
34099 ENOENT 2
34100 EINTR 4
34101 EBADF 9
34102 EACCES 13
34103 EFAULT 14
34104 EBUSY 16
34105 EEXIST 17
34106 ENODEV 19
34107 ENOTDIR 20
34108 EISDIR 21
34109 EINVAL 22
34110 ENFILE 23
34111 EMFILE 24
34112 EFBIG 27
34113 ENOSPC 28
34114 ESPIPE 29
34115 EROFS 30
34116 ENAMETOOLONG 91
34117 EUNKNOWN 9999
34118 @end smallexample
34119
34120 @code{EUNKNOWN} is used as a fallback error value if a host system returns
34121 any error value not in the list of supported error numbers.
34122
34123 @node Lseek Flags
34124 @unnumberedsubsubsec Lseek Flags
34125 @cindex lseek flags, in file-i/o protocol
34126
34127 @smallexample
34128 SEEK_SET 0
34129 SEEK_CUR 1
34130 SEEK_END 2
34131 @end smallexample
34132
34133 @node Limits
34134 @unnumberedsubsubsec Limits
34135 @cindex limits, in file-i/o protocol
34136
34137 All values are given in decimal representation.
34138
34139 @smallexample
34140 INT_MIN -2147483648
34141 INT_MAX 2147483647
34142 UINT_MAX 4294967295
34143 LONG_MIN -9223372036854775808
34144 LONG_MAX 9223372036854775807
34145 ULONG_MAX 18446744073709551615
34146 @end smallexample
34147
34148 @node File-I/O Examples
34149 @subsection File-I/O Examples
34150 @cindex file-i/o examples
34151
34152 Example sequence of a write call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
34153 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be written:
34154
34155 @smallexample
34156 <- @code{Fwrite,3,1234,6}
34157 @emph{request memory read from target}
34158 -> @code{m1234,6}
34159 <- XXXXXX
34160 @emph{return "6 bytes written"}
34161 -> @code{F6}
34162 @end smallexample
34163
34164 Example sequence of a read call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
34165 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be read:
34166
34167 @smallexample
34168 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
34169 @emph{request memory write to target}
34170 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
34171 @emph{return "6 bytes read"}
34172 -> @code{F6}
34173 @end smallexample
34174
34175 Example sequence of a read call, call fails on the host due to invalid
34176 file descriptor (@code{EBADF}):
34177
34178 @smallexample
34179 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
34180 -> @code{F-1,9}
34181 @end smallexample
34182
34183 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} before syscall on
34184 host is called:
34185
34186 @smallexample
34187 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
34188 -> @code{F-1,4,C}
34189 <- @code{T02}
34190 @end smallexample
34191
34192 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} after syscall on
34193 host is called:
34194
34195 @smallexample
34196 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
34197 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
34198 <- @code{T02}
34199 @end smallexample
34200
34201 @node Library List Format
34202 @section Library List Format
34203 @cindex library list format, remote protocol
34204
34205 On some platforms, a dynamic loader (e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) runs in the
34206 same process as your application to manage libraries. In this case,
34207 @value{GDBN} can use the loader's symbol table and normal memory
34208 operations to maintain a list of shared libraries. On other
34209 platforms, the operating system manages loaded libraries.
34210 @value{GDBN} can not retrieve the list of currently loaded libraries
34211 through memory operations, so it uses the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
34212 packet (@pxref{qXfer library list read}) instead. The remote stub
34213 queries the target's operating system and reports which libraries
34214 are loaded.
34215
34216 The @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet returns an XML document which
34217 lists loaded libraries and their offsets. Each library has an
34218 associated name and one or more segment or section base addresses,
34219 which report where the library was loaded in memory.
34220
34221 For the common case of libraries that are fully linked binaries, the
34222 library should have a list of segments. If the target supports
34223 dynamic linking of a relocatable object file, its library XML element
34224 should instead include a list of allocated sections. The segment or
34225 section bases are start addresses, not relocation offsets; they do not
34226 depend on the library's link-time base addresses.
34227
34228 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
34229 library lists. @xref{Expat}.
34230
34231 A simple memory map, with one loaded library relocated by a single
34232 offset, looks like this:
34233
34234 @smallexample
34235 <library-list>
34236 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6">
34237 <segment address="0x10000000"/>
34238 </library>
34239 </library-list>
34240 @end smallexample
34241
34242 Another simple memory map, with one loaded library with three
34243 allocated sections (.text, .data, .bss), looks like this:
34244
34245 @smallexample
34246 <library-list>
34247 <library name="sharedlib.o">
34248 <section address="0x10000000"/>
34249 <section address="0x20000000"/>
34250 <section address="0x30000000"/>
34251 </library>
34252 </library-list>
34253 @end smallexample
34254
34255 The format of a library list is described by this DTD:
34256
34257 @smallexample
34258 <!-- library-list: Root element with versioning -->
34259 <!ELEMENT library-list (library)*>
34260 <!ATTLIST library-list version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
34261 <!ELEMENT library (segment*, section*)>
34262 <!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
34263 <!ELEMENT segment EMPTY>
34264 <!ATTLIST segment address CDATA #REQUIRED>
34265 <!ELEMENT section EMPTY>
34266 <!ATTLIST section address CDATA #REQUIRED>
34267 @end smallexample
34268
34269 In addition, segments and section descriptors cannot be mixed within a
34270 single library element, and you must supply at least one segment or
34271 section for each library.
34272
34273 @node Memory Map Format
34274 @section Memory Map Format
34275 @cindex memory map format
34276
34277 To be able to write into flash memory, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain a
34278 memory map from the target. This section describes the format of the
34279 memory map.
34280
34281 The memory map is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
34282 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}) packet and is an XML document that
34283 lists memory regions.
34284
34285 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
34286 memory maps. @xref{Expat}.
34287
34288 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
34289
34290 @smallexample
34291 <?xml version="1.0"?>
34292 <!DOCTYPE memory-map
34293 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
34294 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-memory-map.dtd">
34295 <memory-map>
34296 region...
34297 </memory-map>
34298 @end smallexample
34299
34300 Each region can be either:
34301
34302 @itemize
34303
34304 @item
34305 A region of RAM starting at @var{addr} and extending for @var{length}
34306 bytes from there:
34307
34308 @smallexample
34309 <memory type="ram" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
34310 @end smallexample
34311
34312
34313 @item
34314 A region of read-only memory:
34315
34316 @smallexample
34317 <memory type="rom" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
34318 @end smallexample
34319
34320
34321 @item
34322 A region of flash memory, with erasure blocks @var{blocksize}
34323 bytes in length:
34324
34325 @smallexample
34326 <memory type="flash" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}">
34327 <property name="blocksize">@var{blocksize}</property>
34328 </memory>
34329 @end smallexample
34330
34331 @end itemize
34332
34333 Regions must not overlap. @value{GDBN} assumes that areas of memory not covered
34334 by the memory map are RAM, and uses the ordinary @samp{M} and @samp{X}
34335 packets to write to addresses in such ranges.
34336
34337 The formal DTD for memory map format is given below:
34338
34339 @smallexample
34340 <!-- ................................................... -->
34341 <!-- Memory Map XML DTD ................................ -->
34342 <!-- File: memory-map.dtd .............................. -->
34343 <!-- .................................... .............. -->
34344 <!-- memory-map.dtd -->
34345 <!-- memory-map: Root element with versioning -->
34346 <!ELEMENT memory-map (memory | property)>
34347 <!ATTLIST memory-map version CDATA #FIXED "1.0.0">
34348 <!ELEMENT memory (property)>
34349 <!-- memory: Specifies a memory region,
34350 and its type, or device. -->
34351 <!ATTLIST memory type CDATA #REQUIRED
34352 start CDATA #REQUIRED
34353 length CDATA #REQUIRED
34354 device CDATA #IMPLIED>
34355 <!-- property: Generic attribute tag -->
34356 <!ELEMENT property (#PCDATA | property)*>
34357 <!ATTLIST property name CDATA #REQUIRED>
34358 @end smallexample
34359
34360 @node Thread List Format
34361 @section Thread List Format
34362 @cindex thread list format
34363
34364 To efficiently update the list of threads and their attributes,
34365 @value{GDBN} issues the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
34366 (@pxref{qXfer threads read}) and obtains the XML document with
34367 the following structure:
34368
34369 @smallexample
34370 <?xml version="1.0"?>
34371 <threads>
34372 <thread id="id" core="0">
34373 ... description ...
34374 </thread>
34375 </threads>
34376 @end smallexample
34377
34378 Each @samp{thread} element must have the @samp{id} attribute that
34379 identifies the thread (@pxref{thread-id syntax}). The
34380 @samp{core} attribute, if present, specifies which processor core
34381 the thread was last executing on. The content of the of @samp{thread}
34382 element is interpreted as human-readable auxilliary information.
34383
34384 @include agentexpr.texi
34385
34386 @node Trace File Format
34387 @appendix Trace File Format
34388 @cindex trace file format
34389
34390 The trace file comes in three parts: a header, a textual description
34391 section, and a trace frame section with binary data.
34392
34393 The header has the form @code{\x7fTRACE0\n}. The first byte is
34394 @code{0x7f} so as to indicate that the file contains binary data,
34395 while the @code{0} is a version number that may have different values
34396 in the future.
34397
34398 The description section consists of multiple lines of @sc{ascii} text
34399 separated by newline characters (@code{0xa}). The lines may include a
34400 variety of optional descriptive or context-setting information, such
34401 as tracepoint definitions or register set size. @value{GDBN} will
34402 ignore any line that it does not recognize. An empty line marks the end
34403 of this section.
34404
34405 @c FIXME add some specific types of data
34406
34407 The trace frame section consists of a number of consecutive frames.
34408 Each frame begins with a two-byte tracepoint number, followed by a
34409 four-byte size giving the amount of data in the frame. The data in
34410 the frame consists of a number of blocks, each introduced by a
34411 character indicating its type (at least register, memory, and trace
34412 state variable). The data in this section is raw binary, not a
34413 hexadecimal or other encoding; its endianness matches the target's
34414 endianness.
34415
34416 @c FIXME bi-arch may require endianness/arch info in description section
34417
34418 @table @code
34419 @item R @var{bytes}
34420 Register block. The number and ordering of bytes matches that of a
34421 @code{g} packet in the remote protocol. Note that these are the
34422 actual bytes, in target order and @value{GDBN} register order, not a
34423 hexadecimal encoding.
34424
34425 @item M @var{address} @var{length} @var{bytes}...
34426 Memory block. This is a contiguous block of memory, at the 8-byte
34427 address @var{address}, with a 2-byte length @var{length}, followed by
34428 @var{length} bytes.
34429
34430 @item V @var{number} @var{value}
34431 Trace state variable block. This records the 8-byte signed value
34432 @var{value} of trace state variable numbered @var{number}.
34433
34434 @end table
34435
34436 Future enhancements of the trace file format may include additional types
34437 of blocks.
34438
34439 @node Target Descriptions
34440 @appendix Target Descriptions
34441 @cindex target descriptions
34442
34443 @strong{Warning:} target descriptions are still under active development,
34444 and the contents and format may change between @value{GDBN} releases.
34445 The format is expected to stabilize in the future.
34446
34447 One of the challenges of using @value{GDBN} to debug embedded systems
34448 is that there are so many minor variants of each processor
34449 architecture in use. It is common practice for vendors to start with
34450 a standard processor core --- ARM, PowerPC, or MIPS, for example ---
34451 and then make changes to adapt it to a particular market niche. Some
34452 architectures have hundreds of variants, available from dozens of
34453 vendors. This leads to a number of problems:
34454
34455 @itemize @bullet
34456 @item
34457 With so many different customized processors, it is difficult for
34458 the @value{GDBN} maintainers to keep up with the changes.
34459 @item
34460 Since individual variants may have short lifetimes or limited
34461 audiences, it may not be worthwhile to carry information about every
34462 variant in the @value{GDBN} source tree.
34463 @item
34464 When @value{GDBN} does support the architecture of the embedded system
34465 at hand, the task of finding the correct architecture name to give the
34466 @command{set architecture} command can be error-prone.
34467 @end itemize
34468
34469 To address these problems, the @value{GDBN} remote protocol allows a
34470 target system to not only identify itself to @value{GDBN}, but to
34471 actually describe its own features. This lets @value{GDBN} support
34472 processor variants it has never seen before --- to the extent that the
34473 descriptions are accurate, and that @value{GDBN} understands them.
34474
34475 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
34476 target descriptions. @xref{Expat}.
34477
34478 @menu
34479 * Retrieving Descriptions:: How descriptions are fetched from a target.
34480 * Target Description Format:: The contents of a target description.
34481 * Predefined Target Types:: Standard types available for target
34482 descriptions.
34483 * Standard Target Features:: Features @value{GDBN} knows about.
34484 @end menu
34485
34486 @node Retrieving Descriptions
34487 @section Retrieving Descriptions
34488
34489 Target descriptions can be read from the target automatically, or
34490 specified by the user manually. The default behavior is to read the
34491 description from the target. @value{GDBN} retrieves it via the remote
34492 protocol using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{General Query Packets,
34493 qXfer}). The @var{annex} in the @samp{qXfer} packet will be
34494 @samp{target.xml}. The contents of the @samp{target.xml} annex are an
34495 XML document, of the form described in @ref{Target Description
34496 Format}.
34497
34498 Alternatively, you can specify a file to read for the target description.
34499 If a file is set, the target will not be queried. The commands to
34500 specify a file are:
34501
34502 @table @code
34503 @cindex set tdesc filename
34504 @item set tdesc filename @var{path}
34505 Read the target description from @var{path}.
34506
34507 @cindex unset tdesc filename
34508 @item unset tdesc filename
34509 Do not read the XML target description from a file. @value{GDBN}
34510 will use the description supplied by the current target.
34511
34512 @cindex show tdesc filename
34513 @item show tdesc filename
34514 Show the filename to read for a target description, if any.
34515 @end table
34516
34517
34518 @node Target Description Format
34519 @section Target Description Format
34520 @cindex target descriptions, XML format
34521
34522 A target description annex is an @uref{http://www.w3.org/XML/, XML}
34523 document which complies with the Document Type Definition provided in
34524 the @value{GDBN} sources in @file{gdb/features/gdb-target.dtd}. This
34525 means you can use generally available tools like @command{xmllint} to
34526 check that your feature descriptions are well-formed and valid.
34527 However, to help people unfamiliar with XML write descriptions for
34528 their targets, we also describe the grammar here.
34529
34530 Target descriptions can identify the architecture of the remote target
34531 and (for some architectures) provide information about custom register
34532 sets. They can also identify the OS ABI of the remote target.
34533 @value{GDBN} can use this information to autoconfigure for your
34534 target, or to warn you if you connect to an unsupported target.
34535
34536 Here is a simple target description:
34537
34538 @smallexample
34539 <target version="1.0">
34540 <architecture>i386:x86-64</architecture>
34541 </target>
34542 @end smallexample
34543
34544 @noindent
34545 This minimal description only says that the target uses
34546 the x86-64 architecture.
34547
34548 A target description has the following overall form, with [ ] marking
34549 optional elements and @dots{} marking repeatable elements. The elements
34550 are explained further below.
34551
34552 @smallexample
34553 <?xml version="1.0"?>
34554 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "gdb-target.dtd">
34555 <target version="1.0">
34556 @r{[}@var{architecture}@r{]}
34557 @r{[}@var{osabi}@r{]}
34558 @r{[}@var{compatible}@r{]}
34559 @r{[}@var{feature}@dots{}@r{]}
34560 </target>
34561 @end smallexample
34562
34563 @noindent
34564 The description is generally insensitive to whitespace and line
34565 breaks, under the usual common-sense rules. The XML version
34566 declaration and document type declaration can generally be omitted
34567 (@value{GDBN} does not require them), but specifying them may be
34568 useful for XML validation tools. The @samp{version} attribute for
34569 @samp{<target>} may also be omitted, but we recommend
34570 including it; if future versions of @value{GDBN} use an incompatible
34571 revision of @file{gdb-target.dtd}, they will detect and report
34572 the version mismatch.
34573
34574 @subsection Inclusion
34575 @cindex target descriptions, inclusion
34576 @cindex XInclude
34577 @ifnotinfo
34578 @cindex <xi:include>
34579 @end ifnotinfo
34580
34581 It can sometimes be valuable to split a target description up into
34582 several different annexes, either for organizational purposes, or to
34583 share files between different possible target descriptions. You can
34584 divide a description into multiple files by replacing any element of
34585 the target description with an inclusion directive of the form:
34586
34587 @smallexample
34588 <xi:include href="@var{document}"/>
34589 @end smallexample
34590
34591 @noindent
34592 When @value{GDBN} encounters an element of this form, it will retrieve
34593 the named XML @var{document}, and replace the inclusion directive with
34594 the contents of that document. If the current description was read
34595 using @samp{qXfer}, then so will be the included document;
34596 @var{document} will be interpreted as the name of an annex. If the
34597 current description was read from a file, @value{GDBN} will look for
34598 @var{document} as a file in the same directory where it found the
34599 original description.
34600
34601 @subsection Architecture
34602 @cindex <architecture>
34603
34604 An @samp{<architecture>} element has this form:
34605
34606 @smallexample
34607 <architecture>@var{arch}</architecture>
34608 @end smallexample
34609
34610 @var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
34611 @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
34612
34613 @subsection OS ABI
34614 @cindex @code{<osabi>}
34615
34616 This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
34617 Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
34618
34619 An @samp{<osabi>} element has this form:
34620
34621 @smallexample
34622 <osabi>@var{abi-name}</osabi>
34623 @end smallexample
34624
34625 @var{abi-name} is an OS ABI name from the same selection accepted by
34626 @w{@code{set osabi}} (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
34627
34628 @subsection Compatible Architecture
34629 @cindex @code{<compatible>}
34630
34631 This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
34632 Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
34633
34634 A @samp{<compatible>} element has this form:
34635
34636 @smallexample
34637 <compatible>@var{arch}</compatible>
34638 @end smallexample
34639
34640 @var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
34641 @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
34642
34643 A @samp{<compatible>} element is used to specify that the target
34644 is able to run binaries in some other than the main target architecture
34645 given by the @samp{<architecture>} element. For example, on the
34646 Cell Broadband Engine, the main architecture is @code{powerpc:common}
34647 or @code{powerpc:common64}, but the system is able to run binaries
34648 in the @code{spu} architecture as well. The way to describe this
34649 capability with @samp{<compatible>} is as follows:
34650
34651 @smallexample
34652 <architecture>powerpc:common</architecture>
34653 <compatible>spu</compatible>
34654 @end smallexample
34655
34656 @subsection Features
34657 @cindex <feature>
34658
34659 Each @samp{<feature>} describes some logical portion of the target
34660 system. Features are currently used to describe available CPU
34661 registers and the types of their contents. A @samp{<feature>} element
34662 has this form:
34663
34664 @smallexample
34665 <feature name="@var{name}">
34666 @r{[}@var{type}@dots{}@r{]}
34667 @var{reg}@dots{}
34668 </feature>
34669 @end smallexample
34670
34671 @noindent
34672 Each feature's name should be unique within the description. The name
34673 of a feature does not matter unless @value{GDBN} has some special
34674 knowledge of the contents of that feature; if it does, the feature
34675 should have its standard name. @xref{Standard Target Features}.
34676
34677 @subsection Types
34678
34679 Any register's value is a collection of bits which @value{GDBN} must
34680 interpret. The default interpretation is a two's complement integer,
34681 but other types can be requested by name in the register description.
34682 Some predefined types are provided by @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Predefined
34683 Target Types}), and the description can define additional composite types.
34684
34685 Each type element must have an @samp{id} attribute, which gives
34686 a unique (within the containing @samp{<feature>}) name to the type.
34687 Types must be defined before they are used.
34688
34689 @cindex <vector>
34690 Some targets offer vector registers, which can be treated as arrays
34691 of scalar elements. These types are written as @samp{<vector>} elements,
34692 specifying the array element type, @var{type}, and the number of elements,
34693 @var{count}:
34694
34695 @smallexample
34696 <vector id="@var{id}" type="@var{type}" count="@var{count}"/>
34697 @end smallexample
34698
34699 @cindex <union>
34700 If a register's value is usefully viewed in multiple ways, define it
34701 with a union type containing the useful representations. The
34702 @samp{<union>} element contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements,
34703 each of which has a @var{name} and a @var{type}:
34704
34705 @smallexample
34706 <union id="@var{id}">
34707 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
34708 @dots{}
34709 </union>
34710 @end smallexample
34711
34712 @cindex <struct>
34713 If a register's value is composed from several separate values, define
34714 it with a structure type. There are two forms of the @samp{<struct>}
34715 element; a @samp{<struct>} element must either contain only bitfields
34716 or contain no bitfields. If the structure contains only bitfields,
34717 its total size in bytes must be specified, each bitfield must have an
34718 explicit start and end, and bitfields are automatically assigned an
34719 integer type. The field's @var{start} should be less than or
34720 equal to its @var{end}, and zero represents the least significant bit.
34721
34722 @smallexample
34723 <struct id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
34724 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
34725 @dots{}
34726 </struct>
34727 @end smallexample
34728
34729 If the structure contains no bitfields, then each field has an
34730 explicit type, and no implicit padding is added.
34731
34732 @smallexample
34733 <struct id="@var{id}">
34734 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
34735 @dots{}
34736 </struct>
34737 @end smallexample
34738
34739 @cindex <flags>
34740 If a register's value is a series of single-bit flags, define it with
34741 a flags type. The @samp{<flags>} element has an explicit @var{size}
34742 and contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements. Each field has a
34743 @var{name}, a @var{start}, and an @var{end}. Only single-bit flags
34744 are supported.
34745
34746 @smallexample
34747 <flags id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
34748 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
34749 @dots{}
34750 </flags>
34751 @end smallexample
34752
34753 @subsection Registers
34754 @cindex <reg>
34755
34756 Each register is represented as an element with this form:
34757
34758 @smallexample
34759 <reg name="@var{name}"
34760 bitsize="@var{size}"
34761 @r{[}regnum="@var{num}"@r{]}
34762 @r{[}save-restore="@var{save-restore}"@r{]}
34763 @r{[}type="@var{type}"@r{]}
34764 @r{[}group="@var{group}"@r{]}/>
34765 @end smallexample
34766
34767 @noindent
34768 The components are as follows:
34769
34770 @table @var
34771
34772 @item name
34773 The register's name; it must be unique within the target description.
34774
34775 @item bitsize
34776 The register's size, in bits.
34777
34778 @item regnum
34779 The register's number. If omitted, a register's number is one greater
34780 than that of the previous register (either in the current feature or in
34781 a preceeding feature); the first register in the target description
34782 defaults to zero. This register number is used to read or write
34783 the register; e.g.@: it is used in the remote @code{p} and @code{P}
34784 packets, and registers appear in the @code{g} and @code{G} packets
34785 in order of increasing register number.
34786
34787 @item save-restore
34788 Whether the register should be preserved across inferior function
34789 calls; this must be either @code{yes} or @code{no}. The default is
34790 @code{yes}, which is appropriate for most registers except for
34791 some system control registers; this is not related to the target's
34792 ABI.
34793
34794 @item type
34795 The type of the register. @var{type} may be a predefined type, a type
34796 defined in the current feature, or one of the special types @code{int}
34797 and @code{float}. @code{int} is an integer type of the correct size
34798 for @var{bitsize}, and @code{float} is a floating point type (in the
34799 architecture's normal floating point format) of the correct size for
34800 @var{bitsize}. The default is @code{int}.
34801
34802 @item group
34803 The register group to which this register belongs. @var{group} must
34804 be either @code{general}, @code{float}, or @code{vector}. If no
34805 @var{group} is specified, @value{GDBN} will not display the register
34806 in @code{info registers}.
34807
34808 @end table
34809
34810 @node Predefined Target Types
34811 @section Predefined Target Types
34812 @cindex target descriptions, predefined types
34813
34814 Type definitions in the self-description can build up composite types
34815 from basic building blocks, but can not define fundamental types. Instead,
34816 standard identifiers are provided by @value{GDBN} for the fundamental
34817 types. The currently supported types are:
34818
34819 @table @code
34820
34821 @item int8
34822 @itemx int16
34823 @itemx int32
34824 @itemx int64
34825 @itemx int128
34826 Signed integer types holding the specified number of bits.
34827
34828 @item uint8
34829 @itemx uint16
34830 @itemx uint32
34831 @itemx uint64
34832 @itemx uint128
34833 Unsigned integer types holding the specified number of bits.
34834
34835 @item code_ptr
34836 @itemx data_ptr
34837 Pointers to unspecified code and data. The program counter and
34838 any dedicated return address register may be marked as code
34839 pointers; printing a code pointer converts it into a symbolic
34840 address. The stack pointer and any dedicated address registers
34841 may be marked as data pointers.
34842
34843 @item ieee_single
34844 Single precision IEEE floating point.
34845
34846 @item ieee_double
34847 Double precision IEEE floating point.
34848
34849 @item arm_fpa_ext
34850 The 12-byte extended precision format used by ARM FPA registers.
34851
34852 @item i387_ext
34853 The 10-byte extended precision format used by x87 registers.
34854
34855 @item i386_eflags
34856 32bit @sc{eflags} register used by x86.
34857
34858 @item i386_mxcsr
34859 32bit @sc{mxcsr} register used by x86.
34860
34861 @end table
34862
34863 @node Standard Target Features
34864 @section Standard Target Features
34865 @cindex target descriptions, standard features
34866
34867 A target description must contain either no registers or all the
34868 target's registers. If the description contains no registers, then
34869 @value{GDBN} will assume a default register layout, selected based on
34870 the architecture. If the description contains any registers, the
34871 default layout will not be used; the standard registers must be
34872 described in the target description, in such a way that @value{GDBN}
34873 can recognize them.
34874
34875 This is accomplished by giving specific names to feature elements
34876 which contain standard registers. @value{GDBN} will look for features
34877 with those names and verify that they contain the expected registers;
34878 if any known feature is missing required registers, or if any required
34879 feature is missing, @value{GDBN} will reject the target
34880 description. You can add additional registers to any of the
34881 standard features --- @value{GDBN} will display them just as if
34882 they were added to an unrecognized feature.
34883
34884 This section lists the known features and their expected contents.
34885 Sample XML documents for these features are included in the
34886 @value{GDBN} source tree, in the directory @file{gdb/features}.
34887
34888 Names recognized by @value{GDBN} should include the name of the
34889 company or organization which selected the name, and the overall
34890 architecture to which the feature applies; so e.g.@: the feature
34891 containing ARM core registers is named @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}.
34892
34893 The names of registers are not case sensitive for the purpose
34894 of recognizing standard features, but @value{GDBN} will only display
34895 registers using the capitalization used in the description.
34896
34897 @menu
34898 * ARM Features::
34899 * i386 Features::
34900 * MIPS Features::
34901 * M68K Features::
34902 * PowerPC Features::
34903 @end menu
34904
34905
34906 @node ARM Features
34907 @subsection ARM Features
34908 @cindex target descriptions, ARM features
34909
34910 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core} feature is required for ARM targets.
34911 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp},
34912 @samp{lr}, @samp{pc}, and @samp{cpsr}.
34913
34914 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.fpa} feature is optional. If present, it
34915 should contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f7} and @samp{fps}.
34916
34917 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.xscale.iwmmxt} feature is optional. If present,
34918 it should contain at least registers @samp{wR0} through @samp{wR15} and
34919 @samp{wCGR0} through @samp{wCGR3}. The @samp{wCID}, @samp{wCon},
34920 @samp{wCSSF}, and @samp{wCASF} registers are optional.
34921
34922 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} feature is optional. If present, it
34923 should contain at least registers @samp{d0} through @samp{d15}. If
34924 they are present, @samp{d16} through @samp{d31} should also be included.
34925 @value{GDBN} will synthesize the single-precision registers from
34926 halves of the double-precision registers.
34927
34928 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.neon} feature is optional. It does not
34929 need to contain registers; it instructs @value{GDBN} to display the
34930 VFP double-precision registers as vectors and to synthesize the
34931 quad-precision registers from pairs of double-precision registers.
34932 If this feature is present, @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} must also
34933 be present and include 32 double-precision registers.
34934
34935 @node i386 Features
34936 @subsection i386 Features
34937 @cindex target descriptions, i386 features
34938
34939 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.core} feature is required for i386/amd64
34940 targets. It should describe the following registers:
34941
34942 @itemize @minus
34943 @item
34944 @samp{eax} through @samp{edi} plus @samp{eip} for i386
34945 @item
34946 @samp{rax} through @samp{r15} plus @samp{rip} for amd64
34947 @item
34948 @samp{eflags}, @samp{cs}, @samp{ss}, @samp{ds}, @samp{es},
34949 @samp{fs}, @samp{gs}
34950 @item
34951 @samp{st0} through @samp{st7}
34952 @item
34953 @samp{fctrl}, @samp{fstat}, @samp{ftag}, @samp{fiseg}, @samp{fioff},
34954 @samp{foseg}, @samp{fooff} and @samp{fop}
34955 @end itemize
34956
34957 The register sets may be different, depending on the target.
34958
34959 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature is optional. It should
34960 describe registers:
34961
34962 @itemize @minus
34963 @item
34964 @samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm7} for i386
34965 @item
34966 @samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm15} for amd64
34967 @item
34968 @samp{mxcsr}
34969 @end itemize
34970
34971 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.avx} feature is optional and requires the
34972 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature. It should
34973 describe the upper 128 bits of @sc{ymm} registers:
34974
34975 @itemize @minus
34976 @item
34977 @samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm7h} for i386
34978 @item
34979 @samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm15h} for amd64
34980 @item
34981 @end itemize
34982
34983 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.linux} feature is optional. It should
34984 describe a single register, @samp{orig_eax}.
34985
34986 @node MIPS Features
34987 @subsection MIPS Features
34988 @cindex target descriptions, MIPS features
34989
34990 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cpu} feature is required for MIPS targets.
34991 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31}, @samp{lo},
34992 @samp{hi}, and @samp{pc}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending
34993 on the target.
34994
34995 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cp0} feature is also required. It should
34996 contain at least the @samp{status}, @samp{badvaddr}, and @samp{cause}
34997 registers. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
34998
34999 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.fpu} feature is currently required, though
35000 it may be optional in a future version of @value{GDBN}. It should
35001 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31}, @samp{fcsr}, and
35002 @samp{fir}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
35003
35004 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.linux} feature is optional. It should
35005 contain a single register, @samp{restart}, which is used by the
35006 Linux kernel to control restartable syscalls.
35007
35008 @node M68K Features
35009 @subsection M68K Features
35010 @cindex target descriptions, M68K features
35011
35012 @table @code
35013 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.m68k.core}
35014 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.core}
35015 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.fido.core}
35016 One of those features must be always present.
35017 The feature that is present determines which flavor of m68k is
35018 used. The feature that is present should contain registers
35019 @samp{d0} through @samp{d7}, @samp{a0} through @samp{a5}, @samp{fp},
35020 @samp{sp}, @samp{ps} and @samp{pc}.
35021
35022 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.fp}
35023 This feature is optional. If present, it should contain registers
35024 @samp{fp0} through @samp{fp7}, @samp{fpcontrol}, @samp{fpstatus} and
35025 @samp{fpiaddr}.
35026 @end table
35027
35028 @node PowerPC Features
35029 @subsection PowerPC Features
35030 @cindex target descriptions, PowerPC features
35031
35032 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} feature is required for PowerPC
35033 targets. It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31},
35034 @samp{pc}, @samp{msr}, @samp{cr}, @samp{lr}, @samp{ctr}, and
35035 @samp{xer}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
35036
35037 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.fpu} feature is optional. It should
35038 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31} and @samp{fpscr}.
35039
35040 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.altivec} feature is optional. It should
35041 contain registers @samp{vr0} through @samp{vr31}, @samp{vscr},
35042 and @samp{vrsave}.
35043
35044 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.vsx} feature is optional. It should
35045 contain registers @samp{vs0h} through @samp{vs31h}. @value{GDBN}
35046 will combine these registers with the floating point registers
35047 (@samp{f0} through @samp{f31}) and the altivec registers (@samp{vr0}
35048 through @samp{vr31}) to present the 128-bit wide registers @samp{vs0}
35049 through @samp{vs63}, the set of vector registers for POWER7.
35050
35051 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.spe} feature is optional. It should
35052 contain registers @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}, @samp{acc}, and
35053 @samp{spefscr}. SPE targets should provide 32-bit registers in
35054 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} and provide the upper halves in
35055 @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}. @value{GDBN} will combine
35056 these to present registers @samp{ev0} through @samp{ev31} to the
35057 user.
35058
35059 @node Operating System Information
35060 @appendix Operating System Information
35061 @cindex operating system information
35062
35063 @menu
35064 * Process list::
35065 @end menu
35066
35067 Users of @value{GDBN} often wish to obtain information about the state of
35068 the operating system running on the target---for example the list of
35069 processes, or the list of open files. This section describes the
35070 mechanism that makes it possible. This mechanism is similar to the
35071 target features mechanism (@pxref{Target Descriptions}), but focuses
35072 on a different aspect of target.
35073
35074 Operating system information is retrived from the target via the
35075 remote protocol, using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{qXfer osdata
35076 read}). The object name in the request should be @samp{osdata}, and
35077 the @var{annex} identifies the data to be fetched.
35078
35079 @node Process list
35080 @appendixsection Process list
35081 @cindex operating system information, process list
35082
35083 When requesting the process list, the @var{annex} field in the
35084 @samp{qXfer} request should be @samp{processes}. The returned data is
35085 an XML document. The formal syntax of this document is defined in
35086 @file{gdb/features/osdata.dtd}.
35087
35088 An example document is:
35089
35090 @smallexample
35091 <?xml version="1.0"?>
35092 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "osdata.dtd">
35093 <osdata type="processes">
35094 <item>
35095 <column name="pid">1</column>
35096 <column name="user">root</column>
35097 <column name="command">/sbin/init</column>
35098 <column name="cores">1,2,3</column>
35099 </item>
35100 </osdata>
35101 @end smallexample
35102
35103 Each item should include a column whose name is @samp{pid}. The value
35104 of that column should identify the process on the target. The
35105 @samp{user} and @samp{command} columns are optional, and will be
35106 displayed by @value{GDBN}. The @samp{cores} column, if present,
35107 should contain a comma-separated list of cores that this process
35108 is running on. Target may provide additional columns,
35109 which @value{GDBN} currently ignores.
35110
35111 @include gpl.texi
35112
35113 @raisesections
35114 @include fdl.texi
35115 @lowersections
35116
35117 @node Index
35118 @unnumbered Index
35119
35120 @printindex cp
35121
35122 @tex
35123 % I think something like @colophon should be in texinfo. In the
35124 % meantime:
35125 \long\def\colophon{\hbox to0pt{}\vfill
35126 \centerline{The body of this manual is set in}
35127 \centerline{\fontname\tenrm,}
35128 \centerline{with headings in {\bf\fontname\tenbf}}
35129 \centerline{and examples in {\tt\fontname\tentt}.}
35130 \centerline{{\it\fontname\tenit\/},}
35131 \centerline{{\bf\fontname\tenbf}, and}
35132 \centerline{{\sl\fontname\tensl\/}}
35133 \centerline{are used for emphasis.}\vfill}
35134 \page\colophon
35135 % Blame: doc@cygnus.com, 1991.
35136 @end tex
35137
35138 @bye
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