* gdbint.texinfo (Target Architecture Definition): Document that
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1\input texinfo
2@setfilename gdbint.info
25822942 3@include gdb-cfg.texi
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4@ifinfo
5@format
6START-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
7* Gdb-Internals: (gdbint). The GNU debugger's internals.
8END-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
9@end format
10@end ifinfo
11
12@ifinfo
25822942 13This file documents the internals of the GNU debugger @value{GDBN}.
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14
15Copyright 1990-1999 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
16Contributed by Cygnus Solutions. Written by John Gilmore.
17Second Edition by Stan Shebs.
18
19Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of this
20manual provided the copyright notice and this permission notice are
21preserved on all copies.
22
23@ignore
24Permission is granted to process this file through Tex and print the
25results, provided the printed document carries copying permission notice
26identical to this one except for the removal of this paragraph (this
27paragraph not being relevant to the printed manual).
28
29@end ignore
30Permission is granted to copy or distribute modified versions of this
31manual under the terms of the GPL (for which purpose this text may be
32regarded as a program in the language TeX).
33@end ifinfo
34
35@setchapternewpage off
25822942 36@settitle @value{GDBN} Internals
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37
38@titlepage
25822942 39@title @value{GDBN} Internals
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40@subtitle{A guide to the internals of the GNU debugger}
41@author John Gilmore
42@author Cygnus Solutions
43@author Second Edition:
44@author Stan Shebs
45@author Cygnus Solutions
46@page
47@tex
48\def\$#1${{#1}} % Kluge: collect RCS revision info without $...$
49\xdef\manvers{\$Revision$} % For use in headers, footers too
50{\parskip=0pt
51\hfill Cygnus Solutions\par
52\hfill \manvers\par
53\hfill \TeX{}info \texinfoversion\par
54}
55@end tex
56
57@vskip 0pt plus 1filll
58Copyright @copyright{} 1990-1999 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
59
60Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of
61this manual provided the copyright notice and this permission notice
62are preserved on all copies.
63
64@end titlepage
65
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66@c TeX can handle the contents at the start but makeinfo 3.12 can not
67@iftex
68@contents
69@end iftex
70
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71@node Top
72@c Perhaps this should be the title of the document (but only for info,
73@c not for TeX). Existing GNU manuals seem inconsistent on this point.
74@top Scope of this Document
75
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76This document documents the internals of the GNU debugger, @value{GDBN}. It
77includes description of @value{GDBN}'s key algorithms and operations, as well
78as the mechanisms that adapt @value{GDBN} to specific hosts and targets.
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79
80@menu
81* Requirements::
82* Overall Structure::
83* Algorithms::
84* User Interface::
85* Symbol Handling::
86* Language Support::
87* Host Definition::
88* Target Architecture Definition::
89* Target Vector Definition::
90* Native Debugging::
91* Support Libraries::
92* Coding::
93* Porting GDB::
085dd6e6 94* Testsuite::
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95* Hints::
96@end menu
97
98@node Requirements
99
100@chapter Requirements
101
102Before diving into the internals, you should understand the formal
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103requirements and other expectations for @value{GDBN}. Although some of these may
104seem obvious, there have been proposals for @value{GDBN} that have run counter to
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105these requirements.
106
25822942 107First of all, @value{GDBN} is a debugger. It's not designed to be a front panel
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108for embedded systems. It's not a text editor. It's not a shell. It's
109not a programming environment.
110
25822942 111@value{GDBN} is an interactive tool. Although a batch mode is available, @value{GDBN}'s
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112primary role is to interact with a human programmer.
113
25822942 114@value{GDBN} should be responsive to the user. A programmer hot on the trail of
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115a nasty bug, and operating under a looming deadline, is going to be very
116impatient of everything, including the response time to debugger
117commands.
118
25822942 119@value{GDBN} should be relatively permissive, such as for expressions. While the
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120compiler should be picky (or have the option to be made picky), since
121source code lives for a long time usually, the programmer doing
122debugging shouldn't be spending time figuring out to mollify the
123debugger.
124
25822942 125@value{GDBN} will be called upon to deal with really large programs. Executable
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126sizes of 50 to 100 megabytes occur regularly, and we've heard reports of
127programs approaching 1 gigabyte in size.
128
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129@value{GDBN} should be able to run everywhere. No other debugger is available
130for even half as many configurations as @value{GDBN} supports.
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131
132
133@node Overall Structure
134
135@chapter Overall Structure
136
25822942 137@value{GDBN} consists of three major subsystems: user interface, symbol handling
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138(the ``symbol side''), and target system handling (the ``target side'').
139
140Ther user interface consists of several actual interfaces, plus
141supporting code.
142
143The symbol side consists of object file readers, debugging info
144interpreters, symbol table management, source language expression
145parsing, type and value printing.
146
147The target side consists of execution control, stack frame analysis, and
148physical target manipulation.
149
150The target side/symbol side division is not formal, and there are a
151number of exceptions. For instance, core file support involves symbolic
152elements (the basic core file reader is in BFD) and target elements (it
153supplies the contents of memory and the values of registers). Instead,
154this division is useful for understanding how the minor subsystems
155should fit together.
156
157@section The Symbol Side
158
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159The symbolic side of @value{GDBN} can be thought of as ``everything you can do in
160@value{GDBN} without having a live program running''. For instance, you can look
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161at the types of variables, and evaluate many kinds of expressions.
162
163@section The Target Side
164
25822942 165The target side of @value{GDBN} is the ``bits and bytes manipulator''. Although
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166it may make reference to symbolic info here and there, most of the
167target side will run with only a stripped executable available -- or
168even no executable at all, in remote debugging cases.
169
170Operations such as disassembly, stack frame crawls, and register
171display, are able to work with no symbolic info at all. In some cases,
25822942 172such as disassembly, @value{GDBN} will use symbolic info to present addresses
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173relative to symbols rather than as raw numbers, but it will work either
174way.
175
176@section Configurations
177
25822942 178@dfn{Host} refers to attributes of the system where @value{GDBN} runs.
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179@dfn{Target} refers to the system where the program being debugged
180executes. In most cases they are the same machine, in which case a
181third type of @dfn{Native} attributes come into play.
182
183Defines and include files needed to build on the host are host support.
184Examples are tty support, system defined types, host byte order, host
185float format.
186
187Defines and information needed to handle the target format are target
188dependent. Examples are the stack frame format, instruction set,
189breakpoint instruction, registers, and how to set up and tear down the stack
190to call a function.
191
192Information that is only needed when the host and target are the same,
193is native dependent. One example is Unix child process support; if the
194host and target are not the same, doing a fork to start the target
195process is a bad idea. The various macros needed for finding the
196registers in the @code{upage}, running @code{ptrace}, and such are all
197in the native-dependent files.
198
199Another example of native-dependent code is support for features that
200are really part of the target environment, but which require
201@code{#include} files that are only available on the host system. Core
202file handling and @code{setjmp} handling are two common cases.
203
25822942 204When you want to make @value{GDBN} work ``native'' on a particular machine, you
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205have to include all three kinds of information.
206
207
208@node Algorithms
209
210@chapter Algorithms
211
25822942 212@value{GDBN} uses a number of debugging-specific algorithms. They are often not
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213very complicated, but get lost in the thicket of special cases and
214real-world issues. This chapter describes the basic algorithms and
215mentions some of the specific target definitions that they use.
216
217@section Frames
218
25822942 219A frame is a construct that @value{GDBN} uses to keep track of calling and called
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220functions.
221
222@code{FRAME_FP} in the machine description has no meaning to the
25822942 223machine-independent part of @value{GDBN}, except that it is used when setting up
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224a new frame from scratch, as follows:
225
226@example
227 create_new_frame (read_register (FP_REGNUM), read_pc ()));
228@end example
229
230Other than that, all the meaning imparted to @code{FP_REGNUM} is
231imparted by the machine-dependent code. So, @code{FP_REGNUM} can have
232any value that is convenient for the code that creates new frames.
233(@code{create_new_frame} calls @code{INIT_EXTRA_FRAME_INFO} if it is
234defined; that is where you should use the @code{FP_REGNUM} value, if
235your frames are nonstandard.)
236
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237Given a @value{GDBN} frame, define @code{FRAME_CHAIN} to determine the address of
238the calling function's frame. This will be used to create a new @value{GDBN}
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239frame struct, and then @code{INIT_EXTRA_FRAME_INFO} and
240@code{INIT_FRAME_PC} will be called for the new frame.
241
242@section Breakpoint Handling
243
244In general, a breakpoint is a user-designated location in the program
245where the user wants to regain control if program execution ever reaches
246that location.
247
248There are two main ways to implement breakpoints; either as ``hardware''
249breakpoints or as ``software'' breakpoints.
250
251Hardware breakpoints are sometimes available as a builtin debugging
252features with some chips. Typically these work by having dedicated
253register into which the breakpoint address may be stored. If the PC
254ever matches a value in a breakpoint registers, the CPU raises an
25822942 255exception and reports it to @value{GDBN}. Another possibility is when an
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256emulator is in use; many emulators include circuitry that watches the
257address lines coming out from the processor, and force it to stop if the
258address matches a breakpoint's address. A third possibility is that the
259target already has the ability to do breakpoints somehow; for instance,
260a ROM monitor may do its own software breakpoints. So although these
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261are not literally ``hardware breakpoints'', from @value{GDBN}'s point of view
262they work the same; @value{GDBN} need not do nothing more than set the breakpoint
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263and wait for something to happen.
264
265Since they depend on hardware resources, hardware breakpoints may be
25822942 266limited in number; when the user asks for more, @value{GDBN} will start trying to
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267set software breakpoints.
268
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269Software breakpoints require @value{GDBN} to do somewhat more work. The basic
270theory is that @value{GDBN} will replace a program instruction with a trap,
7be570e7 271illegal divide, or some other instruction that will cause an exception,
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272and then when it's encountered, @value{GDBN} will take the exception and stop the
273program. When the user says to continue, @value{GDBN} will restore the original
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274instruction, single-step, re-insert the trap, and continue on.
275
276Since it literally overwrites the program being tested, the program area
277must be writeable, so this technique won't work on programs in ROM. It
278can also distort the behavior of programs that examine themselves,
279although the situation would be highly unusual.
280
281Also, the software breakpoint instruction should be the smallest size of
282instruction, so it doesn't overwrite an instruction that might be a jump
283target, and cause disaster when the program jumps into the middle of the
284breakpoint instruction. (Strictly speaking, the breakpoint must be no
285larger than the smallest interval between instructions that may be jump
286targets; perhaps there is an architecture where only even-numbered
287instructions may jumped to.) Note that it's possible for an instruction
288set not to have any instructions usable for a software breakpoint,
289although in practice only the ARC has failed to define such an
290instruction.
291
292The basic definition of the software breakpoint is the macro
293@code{BREAKPOINT}.
294
295Basic breakpoint object handling is in @file{breakpoint.c}. However,
296much of the interesting breakpoint action is in @file{infrun.c}.
297
298@section Single Stepping
299
300@section Signal Handling
301
302@section Thread Handling
303
304@section Inferior Function Calls
305
306@section Longjmp Support
307
25822942 308@value{GDBN} has support for figuring out that the target is doing a
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309@code{longjmp} and for stopping at the target of the jump, if we are
310stepping. This is done with a few specialized internal breakpoints,
311which are visible in the @code{maint info breakpoint} command.
312
313To make this work, you need to define a macro called
314@code{GET_LONGJMP_TARGET}, which will examine the @code{jmp_buf}
315structure and extract the longjmp target address. Since @code{jmp_buf}
316is target specific, you will need to define it in the appropriate
317@file{tm-@var{xyz}.h} file. Look in @file{tm-sun4os4.h} and
318@file{sparc-tdep.c} for examples of how to do this.
319
320@node User Interface
321
322@chapter User Interface
323
25822942 324@value{GDBN} has several user interfaces. Although the command-line interface
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325is the most common and most familiar, there are others.
326
327@section Command Interpreter
328
25822942 329The command interpreter in @value{GDBN} is fairly simple. It is designed to
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330allow for the set of commands to be augmented dynamically, and also
331has a recursive subcommand capability, where the first argument to
332a command may itself direct a lookup on a different command list.
333
334For instance, the @code{set} command just starts a lookup on the
335@code{setlist} command list, while @code{set thread} recurses
336to the @code{set_thread_cmd_list}.
337
338To add commands in general, use @code{add_cmd}. @code{add_com} adds to
339the main command list, and should be used for those commands. The usual
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340place to add commands is in the @code{_initialize_@var{xyz}} routines at
341the ends of most source files.
342
343Before removing commands from the command set it is a good idea to
344deprecate them for some time. Use @code{deprecate_cmd} on commands or
345aliases to set the deprecated flag. @code{deprecate_cmd} takes a
346@code{struct cmd_list_element} as it's first argument. You can use the
347return value from @code{add_com} or @code{add_cmd} to deprecate the
348command immediately after it is created.
349
350The first time a comamnd is used the user will be warned and offered a
351replacement (if one exists). Note that the replacement string passed to
352@code{deprecate_cmd} should be the full name of the command, i.e. the
353entire string the user should type at the command line.
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354
355@section Console Printing
356
357@section TUI
358
359@section libgdb
360
361@code{libgdb} was an abortive project of years ago. The theory was to
25822942 362provide an API to @value{GDBN}'s functionality.
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363
364@node Symbol Handling
365
366@chapter Symbol Handling
367
25822942 368Symbols are a key part of @value{GDBN}'s operation. Symbols include variables,
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369functions, and types.
370
371@section Symbol Reading
372
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373@value{GDBN} reads symbols from ``symbol files''. The usual symbol file is the
374file containing the program which @value{GDBN} is debugging. @value{GDBN} can be directed
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375to use a different file for symbols (with the @code{symbol-file}
376command), and it can also read more symbols via the ``add-file'' and
377``load'' commands, or while reading symbols from shared libraries.
378
379Symbol files are initially opened by code in @file{symfile.c} using the
380BFD library. BFD identifies the type of the file by examining its
96baa820 381header. @code{find_sym_fns} then uses this identification to locate a
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382set of symbol-reading functions.
383
25822942 384Symbol reading modules identify themselves to @value{GDBN} by calling
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385@code{add_symtab_fns} during their module initialization. The argument
386to @code{add_symtab_fns} is a @code{struct sym_fns} which contains the
387name (or name prefix) of the symbol format, the length of the prefix,
388and pointers to four functions. These functions are called at various
389times to process symbol-files whose identification matches the specified
390prefix.
391
392The functions supplied by each module are:
393
394@table @code
395@item @var{xyz}_symfile_init(struct sym_fns *sf)
396
397Called from @code{symbol_file_add} when we are about to read a new
398symbol file. This function should clean up any internal state (possibly
399resulting from half-read previous files, for example) and prepare to
400read a new symbol file. Note that the symbol file which we are reading
401might be a new "main" symbol file, or might be a secondary symbol file
402whose symbols are being added to the existing symbol table.
403
404The argument to @code{@var{xyz}_symfile_init} is a newly allocated
405@code{struct sym_fns} whose @code{bfd} field contains the BFD for the
406new symbol file being read. Its @code{private} field has been zeroed,
407and can be modified as desired. Typically, a struct of private
408information will be @code{malloc}'d, and a pointer to it will be placed
409in the @code{private} field.
410
411There is no result from @code{@var{xyz}_symfile_init}, but it can call
412@code{error} if it detects an unavoidable problem.
413
414@item @var{xyz}_new_init()
415
416Called from @code{symbol_file_add} when discarding existing symbols.
417This function need only handle the symbol-reading module's internal
25822942 418state; the symbol table data structures visible to the rest of @value{GDBN} will
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419be discarded by @code{symbol_file_add}. It has no arguments and no
420result. It may be called after @code{@var{xyz}_symfile_init}, if a new
421symbol table is being read, or may be called alone if all symbols are
422simply being discarded.
423
424@item @var{xyz}_symfile_read(struct sym_fns *sf, CORE_ADDR addr, int mainline)
425
426Called from @code{symbol_file_add} to actually read the symbols from a
427symbol-file into a set of psymtabs or symtabs.
428
429@code{sf} points to the struct sym_fns originally passed to
430@code{@var{xyz}_sym_init} for possible initialization. @code{addr} is
431the offset between the file's specified start address and its true
432address in memory. @code{mainline} is 1 if this is the main symbol
433table being read, and 0 if a secondary symbol file (e.g. shared library
434or dynamically loaded file) is being read.@refill
435@end table
436
437In addition, if a symbol-reading module creates psymtabs when
438@var{xyz}_symfile_read is called, these psymtabs will contain a pointer
439to a function @code{@var{xyz}_psymtab_to_symtab}, which can be called
25822942 440from any point in the @value{GDBN} symbol-handling code.
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441
442@table @code
443@item @var{xyz}_psymtab_to_symtab (struct partial_symtab *pst)
444
445Called from @code{psymtab_to_symtab} (or the PSYMTAB_TO_SYMTAB macro) if
446the psymtab has not already been read in and had its @code{pst->symtab}
447pointer set. The argument is the psymtab to be fleshed-out into a
448symtab. Upon return, pst->readin should have been set to 1, and
449pst->symtab should contain a pointer to the new corresponding symtab, or
450zero if there were no symbols in that part of the symbol file.
451@end table
452
453@section Partial Symbol Tables
454
25822942 455@value{GDBN} has three types of symbol tables.
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456
457@itemize @bullet
458
459@item full symbol tables (symtabs). These contain the main information
460about symbols and addresses.
461
462@item partial symbol tables (psymtabs). These contain enough
463information to know when to read the corresponding part of the full
464symbol table.
465
466@item minimal symbol tables (msymtabs). These contain information
467gleaned from non-debugging symbols.
468
469@end itemize
470
471This section describes partial symbol tables.
472
473A psymtab is constructed by doing a very quick pass over an executable
474file's debugging information. Small amounts of information are
475extracted -- enough to identify which parts of the symbol table will
476need to be re-read and fully digested later, when the user needs the
25822942 477information. The speed of this pass causes @value{GDBN} to start up very
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478quickly. Later, as the detailed rereading occurs, it occurs in small
479pieces, at various times, and the delay therefrom is mostly invisible to
480the user.
481@c (@xref{Symbol Reading}.)
482
483The symbols that show up in a file's psymtab should be, roughly, those
484visible to the debugger's user when the program is not running code from
485that file. These include external symbols and types, static symbols and
486types, and enum values declared at file scope.
487
488The psymtab also contains the range of instruction addresses that the
489full symbol table would represent.
490
491The idea is that there are only two ways for the user (or much of the
492code in the debugger) to reference a symbol:
493
494@itemize @bullet
495
496@item by its address
497(e.g. execution stops at some address which is inside a function in this
498file). The address will be noticed to be in the range of this psymtab,
499and the full symtab will be read in. @code{find_pc_function},
500@code{find_pc_line}, and other @code{find_pc_@dots{}} functions handle
501this.
502
503@item by its name
504(e.g. the user asks to print a variable, or set a breakpoint on a
505function). Global names and file-scope names will be found in the
506psymtab, which will cause the symtab to be pulled in. Local names will
507have to be qualified by a global name, or a file-scope name, in which
508case we will have already read in the symtab as we evaluated the
509qualifier. Or, a local symbol can be referenced when we are "in" a
510local scope, in which case the first case applies. @code{lookup_symbol}
511does most of the work here.
512
513@end itemize
514
515The only reason that psymtabs exist is to cause a symtab to be read in
516at the right moment. Any symbol that can be elided from a psymtab,
517while still causing that to happen, should not appear in it. Since
518psymtabs don't have the idea of scope, you can't put local symbols in
519them anyway. Psymtabs don't have the idea of the type of a symbol,
520either, so types need not appear, unless they will be referenced by
521name.
522
25822942 523It is a bug for @value{GDBN} to behave one way when only a psymtab has been read,
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524and another way if the corresponding symtab has been read in. Such bugs
525are typically caused by a psymtab that does not contain all the visible
526symbols, or which has the wrong instruction address ranges.
527
528The psymtab for a particular section of a symbol-file (objfile) could be
529thrown away after the symtab has been read in. The symtab should always
530be searched before the psymtab, so the psymtab will never be used (in a
531bug-free environment). Currently, psymtabs are allocated on an obstack,
532and all the psymbols themselves are allocated in a pair of large arrays
533on an obstack, so there is little to be gained by trying to free them
534unless you want to do a lot more work.
535
536@section Types
537
538Fundamental Types (e.g., FT_VOID, FT_BOOLEAN).
539
25822942 540These are the fundamental types that @value{GDBN} uses internally. Fundamental
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541types from the various debugging formats (stabs, ELF, etc) are mapped
542into one of these. They are basically a union of all fundamental types
25822942 543that gdb knows about for all the languages that @value{GDBN} knows about.
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544
545Type Codes (e.g., TYPE_CODE_PTR, TYPE_CODE_ARRAY).
546
25822942 547Each time @value{GDBN} builds an internal type, it marks it with one of these
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548types. The type may be a fundamental type, such as TYPE_CODE_INT, or a
549derived type, such as TYPE_CODE_PTR which is a pointer to another type.
550Typically, several FT_* types map to one TYPE_CODE_* type, and are
551distinguished by other members of the type struct, such as whether the
552type is signed or unsigned, and how many bits it uses.
553
554Builtin Types (e.g., builtin_type_void, builtin_type_char).
555
556These are instances of type structs that roughly correspond to
25822942 557fundamental types and are created as global types for @value{GDBN} to use for
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558various ugly historical reasons. We eventually want to eliminate these.
559Note for example that builtin_type_int initialized in gdbtypes.c is
560basically the same as a TYPE_CODE_INT type that is initialized in
561c-lang.c for an FT_INTEGER fundamental type. The difference is that the
562builtin_type is not associated with any particular objfile, and only one
563instance exists, while c-lang.c builds as many TYPE_CODE_INT types as
564needed, with each one associated with some particular objfile.
565
566@section Object File Formats
567
568@subsection a.out
569
570The @file{a.out} format is the original file format for Unix. It
571consists of three sections: text, data, and bss, which are for program
572code, initialized data, and uninitialized data, respectively.
573
574The @file{a.out} format is so simple that it doesn't have any reserved
575place for debugging information. (Hey, the original Unix hackers used
576@file{adb}, which is a machine-language debugger.) The only debugging
577format for @file{a.out} is stabs, which is encoded as a set of normal
578symbols with distinctive attributes.
579
580The basic @file{a.out} reader is in @file{dbxread.c}.
581
582@subsection COFF
583
584The COFF format was introduced with System V Release 3 (SVR3) Unix.
585COFF files may have multiple sections, each prefixed by a header. The
586number of sections is limited.
587
588The COFF specification includes support for debugging. Although this
589was a step forward, the debugging information was woefully limited. For
590instance, it was not possible to represent code that came from an
591included file.
592
593The COFF reader is in @file{coffread.c}.
594
595@subsection ECOFF
596
597ECOFF is an extended COFF originally introduced for Mips and Alpha
598workstations.
599
600The basic ECOFF reader is in @file{mipsread.c}.
601
602@subsection XCOFF
603
604The IBM RS/6000 running AIX uses an object file format called XCOFF.
605The COFF sections, symbols, and line numbers are used, but debugging
606symbols are dbx-style stabs whose strings are located in the
607@samp{.debug} section (rather than the string table). For more
608information, see @xref{Top,,,stabs,The Stabs Debugging Format}.
609
610The shared library scheme has a clean interface for figuring out what
611shared libraries are in use, but the catch is that everything which
612refers to addresses (symbol tables and breakpoints at least) needs to be
613relocated for both shared libraries and the main executable. At least
614using the standard mechanism this can only be done once the program has
615been run (or the core file has been read).
616
617@subsection PE
618
619Windows 95 and NT use the PE (Portable Executable) format for their
620executables. PE is basically COFF with additional headers.
621
25822942 622While BFD includes special PE support, @value{GDBN} needs only the basic
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623COFF reader.
624
625@subsection ELF
626
627The ELF format came with System V Release 4 (SVR4) Unix. ELF is similar
628to COFF in being organized into a number of sections, but it removes
629many of COFF's limitations.
630
631The basic ELF reader is in @file{elfread.c}.
632
633@subsection SOM
634
635SOM is HP's object file and debug format (not to be confused with IBM's
636SOM, which is a cross-language ABI).
637
638The SOM reader is in @file{hpread.c}.
639
640@subsection Other File Formats
641
25822942 642Other file formats that have been supported by @value{GDBN} include Netware
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643Loadable Modules (@file{nlmread.c}.
644
645@section Debugging File Formats
646
647This section describes characteristics of debugging information that
648are independent of the object file format.
649
650@subsection stabs
651
652@code{stabs} started out as special symbols within the @code{a.out}
653format. Since then, it has been encapsulated into other file
654formats, such as COFF and ELF.
655
656While @file{dbxread.c} does some of the basic stab processing,
657including for encapsulated versions, @file{stabsread.c} does
658the real work.
659
660@subsection COFF
661
662The basic COFF definition includes debugging information. The level
663of support is minimal and non-extensible, and is not often used.
664
665@subsection Mips debug (Third Eye)
666
667ECOFF includes a definition of a special debug format.
668
669The file @file{mdebugread.c} implements reading for this format.
670
671@subsection DWARF 1
672
673DWARF 1 is a debugging format that was originally designed to be
674used with ELF in SVR4 systems.
675
676@c CHILL_PRODUCER
677@c GCC_PRODUCER
678@c GPLUS_PRODUCER
679@c LCC_PRODUCER
680@c If defined, these are the producer strings in a DWARF 1 file. All of
681@c these have reasonable defaults already.
682
683The DWARF 1 reader is in @file{dwarfread.c}.
684
685@subsection DWARF 2
686
687DWARF 2 is an improved but incompatible version of DWARF 1.
688
689The DWARF 2 reader is in @file{dwarf2read.c}.
690
691@subsection SOM
692
693Like COFF, the SOM definition includes debugging information.
694
25822942 695@section Adding a New Symbol Reader to @value{GDBN}
c906108c
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696
697If you are using an existing object file format (a.out, COFF, ELF, etc),
698there is probably little to be done.
699
700If you need to add a new object file format, you must first add it to
701BFD. This is beyond the scope of this document.
702
703You must then arrange for the BFD code to provide access to the
25822942 704debugging symbols. Generally @value{GDBN} will have to call swapping routines
c906108c 705from BFD and a few other BFD internal routines to locate the debugging
25822942 706information. As much as possible, @value{GDBN} should not depend on the BFD
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707internal data structures.
708
709For some targets (e.g., COFF), there is a special transfer vector used
710to call swapping routines, since the external data structures on various
711platforms have different sizes and layouts. Specialized routines that
712will only ever be implemented by one object file format may be called
713directly. This interface should be described in a file
25822942 714@file{bfd/libxyz.h}, which is included by @value{GDBN}.
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715
716
717@node Language Support
718
719@chapter Language Support
720
25822942 721@value{GDBN}'s language support is mainly driven by the symbol reader, although
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722it is possible for the user to set the source language manually.
723
25822942 724@value{GDBN} chooses the source language by looking at the extension of the file
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725recorded in the debug info; @code{.c} means C, @code{.f} means Fortran,
726etc. It may also use a special-purpose language identifier if the debug
727format supports it, such as DWARF.
728
25822942 729@section Adding a Source Language to @value{GDBN}
c906108c 730
25822942 731To add other languages to @value{GDBN}'s expression parser, follow the following
c906108c
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732steps:
733
734@table @emph
735@item Create the expression parser.
736
737This should reside in a file @file{@var{lang}-exp.y}. Routines for
738building parsed expressions into a @samp{union exp_element} list are in
739@file{parse.c}.
740
741Since we can't depend upon everyone having Bison, and YACC produces
742parsers that define a bunch of global names, the following lines
743@emph{must} be included at the top of the YACC parser, to prevent the
744various parsers from defining the same global names:
745
746@example
747#define yyparse @var{lang}_parse
748#define yylex @var{lang}_lex
749#define yyerror @var{lang}_error
750#define yylval @var{lang}_lval
751#define yychar @var{lang}_char
752#define yydebug @var{lang}_debug
753#define yypact @var{lang}_pact
754#define yyr1 @var{lang}_r1
755#define yyr2 @var{lang}_r2
756#define yydef @var{lang}_def
757#define yychk @var{lang}_chk
758#define yypgo @var{lang}_pgo
759#define yyact @var{lang}_act
760#define yyexca @var{lang}_exca
761#define yyerrflag @var{lang}_errflag
762#define yynerrs @var{lang}_nerrs
763@end example
764
765At the bottom of your parser, define a @code{struct language_defn} and
766initialize it with the right values for your language. Define an
767@code{initialize_@var{lang}} routine and have it call
25822942 768@samp{add_language(@var{lang}_language_defn)} to tell the rest of @value{GDBN}
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769that your language exists. You'll need some other supporting variables
770and functions, which will be used via pointers from your
771@code{@var{lang}_language_defn}. See the declaration of @code{struct
772language_defn} in @file{language.h}, and the other @file{*-exp.y} files,
773for more information.
774
775@item Add any evaluation routines, if necessary
776
777If you need new opcodes (that represent the operations of the language),
778add them to the enumerated type in @file{expression.h}. Add support
779code for these operations in @code{eval.c:evaluate_subexp()}. Add cases
780for new opcodes in two functions from @file{parse.c}:
781@code{prefixify_subexp()} and @code{length_of_subexp()}. These compute
782the number of @code{exp_element}s that a given operation takes up.
783
784@item Update some existing code
785
786Add an enumerated identifier for your language to the enumerated type
787@code{enum language} in @file{defs.h}.
788
789Update the routines in @file{language.c} so your language is included.
790These routines include type predicates and such, which (in some cases)
791are language dependent. If your language does not appear in the switch
792statement, an error is reported.
793
794Also included in @file{language.c} is the code that updates the variable
795@code{current_language}, and the routines that translate the
796@code{language_@var{lang}} enumerated identifier into a printable
797string.
798
799Update the function @code{_initialize_language} to include your
800language. This function picks the default language upon startup, so is
25822942 801dependent upon which languages that @value{GDBN} is built for.
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SS
802
803Update @code{allocate_symtab} in @file{symfile.c} and/or symbol-reading
804code so that the language of each symtab (source file) is set properly.
805This is used to determine the language to use at each stack frame level.
806Currently, the language is set based upon the extension of the source
807file. If the language can be better inferred from the symbol
808information, please set the language of the symtab in the symbol-reading
809code.
810
811Add helper code to @code{expprint.c:print_subexp()} to handle any new
812expression opcodes you have added to @file{expression.h}. Also, add the
813printed representations of your operators to @code{op_print_tab}.
814
815@item Add a place of call
816
817Add a call to @code{@var{lang}_parse()} and @code{@var{lang}_error} in
818@code{parse.c:parse_exp_1()}.
819
820@item Use macros to trim code
821
25822942
DB
822The user has the option of building @value{GDBN} for some or all of the
823languages. If the user decides to build @value{GDBN} for the language
c906108c
SS
824@var{lang}, then every file dependent on @file{language.h} will have the
825macro @code{_LANG_@var{lang}} defined in it. Use @code{#ifdef}s to
826leave out large routines that the user won't need if he or she is not
827using your language.
828
25822942 829Note that you do not need to do this in your YACC parser, since if @value{GDBN}
c906108c 830is not build for @var{lang}, then @file{@var{lang}-exp.tab.o} (the
25822942 831compiled form of your parser) is not linked into @value{GDBN} at all.
c906108c 832
25822942 833See the file @file{configure.in} for how @value{GDBN} is configured for different
c906108c
SS
834languages.
835
836@item Edit @file{Makefile.in}
837
838Add dependencies in @file{Makefile.in}. Make sure you update the macro
839variables such as @code{HFILES} and @code{OBJS}, otherwise your code may
840not get linked in, or, worse yet, it may not get @code{tar}red into the
841distribution!
842
843@end table
844
845
846@node Host Definition
847
848@chapter Host Definition
849
850With the advent of autoconf, it's rarely necessary to have host
851definition machinery anymore.
852
853@section Adding a New Host
854
25822942
DB
855Most of @value{GDBN}'s host configuration support happens via autoconf. It
856should be rare to need new host-specific definitions. @value{GDBN} still uses
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SS
857the host-specific definitions and files listed below, but these mostly
858exist for historical reasons, and should eventually disappear.
859
25822942 860Several files control @value{GDBN}'s configuration for host systems:
c906108c
SS
861
862@table @file
863
864@item gdb/config/@var{arch}/@var{xyz}.mh
865Specifies Makefile fragments needed when hosting on machine @var{xyz}.
866In particular, this lists the required machine-dependent object files,
867by defining @samp{XDEPFILES=@dots{}}. Also specifies the header file
868which describes host @var{xyz}, by defining @code{XM_FILE=
869xm-@var{xyz}.h}. You can also define @code{CC}, @code{SYSV_DEFINE},
870@code{XM_CFLAGS}, @code{XM_ADD_FILES}, @code{XM_CLIBS}, @code{XM_CDEPS},
871etc.; see @file{Makefile.in}.
872
873@item gdb/config/@var{arch}/xm-@var{xyz}.h
874(@file{xm.h} is a link to this file, created by configure). Contains C
875macro definitions describing the host system environment, such as byte
876order, host C compiler and library.
877
878@item gdb/@var{xyz}-xdep.c
879Contains any miscellaneous C code required for this machine as a host.
880On most machines it doesn't exist at all. If it does exist, put
881@file{@var{xyz}-xdep.o} into the @code{XDEPFILES} line in
882@file{gdb/config/@var{arch}/@var{xyz}.mh}.
883
884@end table
885
886@subheading Generic Host Support Files
887
888There are some ``generic'' versions of routines that can be used by
889various systems. These can be customized in various ways by macros
890defined in your @file{xm-@var{xyz}.h} file. If these routines work for
891the @var{xyz} host, you can just include the generic file's name (with
892@samp{.o}, not @samp{.c}) in @code{XDEPFILES}.
893
894Otherwise, if your machine needs custom support routines, you will need
895to write routines that perform the same functions as the generic file.
896Put them into @code{@var{xyz}-xdep.c}, and put @code{@var{xyz}-xdep.o}
897into @code{XDEPFILES}.
898
899@table @file
900
901@item ser-unix.c
902This contains serial line support for Unix systems. This is always
903included, via the makefile variable @code{SER_HARDWIRE}; override this
904variable in the @file{.mh} file to avoid it.
905
906@item ser-go32.c
907This contains serial line support for 32-bit programs running under DOS,
908using the GO32 execution environment.
909
910@item ser-tcp.c
911This contains generic TCP support using sockets.
912
913@end table
914
915@section Host Conditionals
916
25822942 917When @value{GDBN} is configured and compiled, various macros are defined or left
c906108c
SS
918undefined, to control compilation based on the attributes of the host
919system. These macros and their meanings (or if the meaning is not
920documented here, then one of the source files where they are used is
921indicated) are:
922
923@table @code
924
25822942
DB
925@item @value{GDBN}INIT_FILENAME
926The default name of @value{GDBN}'s initialization file (normally @file{.gdbinit}).
c906108c
SS
927
928@item MEM_FNS_DECLARED
929Your host config file defines this if it includes declarations of
930@code{memcpy} and @code{memset}. Define this to avoid conflicts between
931the native include files and the declarations in @file{defs.h}.
932
cce74817
JM
933@item NO_STD_REGS
934This macro is deprecated.
935
c906108c
SS
936@item NO_SYS_FILE
937Define this if your system does not have a @code{<sys/file.h>}.
938
939@item SIGWINCH_HANDLER
940If your host defines @code{SIGWINCH}, you can define this to be the name
941of a function to be called if @code{SIGWINCH} is received.
942
943@item SIGWINCH_HANDLER_BODY
944Define this to expand into code that will define the function named by
945the expansion of @code{SIGWINCH_HANDLER}.
946
947@item ALIGN_STACK_ON_STARTUP
948Define this if your system is of a sort that will crash in
949@code{tgetent} if the stack happens not to be longword-aligned when
950@code{main} is called. This is a rare situation, but is known to occur
951on several different types of systems.
952
953@item CRLF_SOURCE_FILES
954Define this if host files use @code{\r\n} rather than @code{\n} as a
955line terminator. This will cause source file listings to omit @code{\r}
956characters when printing and it will allow \r\n line endings of files
957which are "sourced" by gdb. It must be possible to open files in binary
958mode using @code{O_BINARY} or, for fopen, @code{"rb"}.
959
960@item DEFAULT_PROMPT
961The default value of the prompt string (normally @code{"(gdb) "}).
962
963@item DEV_TTY
964The name of the generic TTY device, defaults to @code{"/dev/tty"}.
965
966@item FCLOSE_PROVIDED
967Define this if the system declares @code{fclose} in the headers included
968in @code{defs.h}. This isn't needed unless your compiler is unusually
969anal.
970
971@item FOPEN_RB
972Define this if binary files are opened the same way as text files.
973
974@item GETENV_PROVIDED
975Define this if the system declares @code{getenv} in its headers included
976in @code{defs.h}. This isn't needed unless your compiler is unusually
977anal.
978
979@item HAVE_MMAP
980In some cases, use the system call @code{mmap} for reading symbol
981tables. For some machines this allows for sharing and quick updates.
982
983@item HAVE_SIGSETMASK
984Define this if the host system has job control, but does not define
985@code{sigsetmask()}. Currently, this is only true of the RS/6000.
986
987@item HAVE_TERMIO
988Define this if the host system has @code{termio.h}.
989
990@item HOST_BYTE_ORDER
991The ordering of bytes in the host. This must be defined to be either
992@code{BIG_ENDIAN} or @code{LITTLE_ENDIAN}.
993
994@item INT_MAX
995@item INT_MIN
996@item LONG_MAX
997@item UINT_MAX
998@item ULONG_MAX
999Values for host-side constants.
1000
1001@item ISATTY
1002Substitute for isatty, if not available.
1003
1004@item LONGEST
1005This is the longest integer type available on the host. If not defined,
1006it will default to @code{long long} or @code{long}, depending on
1007@code{CC_HAS_LONG_LONG}.
1008
1009@item CC_HAS_LONG_LONG
1010Define this if the host C compiler supports ``long long''. This is set
1011by the configure script.
1012
1013@item PRINTF_HAS_LONG_LONG
1014Define this if the host can handle printing of long long integers via
1015the printf format directive ``ll''. This is set by the configure script.
1016
1017@item HAVE_LONG_DOUBLE
1018Define this if the host C compiler supports ``long double''. This is
1019set by the configure script.
1020
1021@item PRINTF_HAS_LONG_DOUBLE
1022Define this if the host can handle printing of long double float-point
1023numbers via the printf format directive ``Lg''. This is set by the
1024configure script.
1025
1026@item SCANF_HAS_LONG_DOUBLE
1027Define this if the host can handle the parsing of long double
1028float-point numbers via the scanf format directive directive
1029``Lg''. This is set by the configure script.
1030
1031@item LSEEK_NOT_LINEAR
1032Define this if @code{lseek (n)} does not necessarily move to byte number
1033@code{n} in the file. This is only used when reading source files. It
1034is normally faster to define @code{CRLF_SOURCE_FILES} when possible.
1035
1036@item L_SET
1037This macro is used as the argument to lseek (or, most commonly,
1038bfd_seek). FIXME, should be replaced by SEEK_SET instead, which is the
1039POSIX equivalent.
1040
c906108c
SS
1041@item MALLOC_INCOMPATIBLE
1042Define this if the system's prototype for @code{malloc} differs from the
1043@sc{ANSI} definition.
1044
1045@item MMAP_BASE_ADDRESS
1046When using HAVE_MMAP, the first mapping should go at this address.
1047
1048@item MMAP_INCREMENT
1049when using HAVE_MMAP, this is the increment between mappings.
1050
1051@item NEED_POSIX_SETPGID
1052Define this to use the POSIX version of @code{setpgid} to determine
1053whether job control is available.
1054
1055@item NORETURN
1056If defined, this should be one or more tokens, such as @code{volatile},
1057that can be used in both the declaration and definition of functions to
1058indicate that they never return. The default is already set correctly
1059if compiling with GCC. This will almost never need to be defined.
1060
1061@item ATTR_NORETURN
1062If defined, this should be one or more tokens, such as
1063@code{__attribute__ ((noreturn))}, that can be used in the declarations
1064of functions to indicate that they never return. The default is already
1065set correctly if compiling with GCC. This will almost never need to be
1066defined.
1067
7a292a7a
SS
1068@item USE_GENERIC_DUMMY_FRAMES
1069Define this to 1 if the target is using the generic inferior function
1070call code. See @code{blockframe.c} for more information.
1071
c906108c 1072@item USE_MMALLOC
25822942 1073@value{GDBN} will use the @code{mmalloc} library for memory allocation for symbol
c906108c
SS
1074reading if this symbol is defined. Be careful defining it since there
1075are systems on which @code{mmalloc} does not work for some reason. One
1076example is the DECstation, where its RPC library can't cope with our
1077redefinition of @code{malloc} to call @code{mmalloc}. When defining
1078@code{USE_MMALLOC}, you will also have to set @code{MMALLOC} in the
1079Makefile, to point to the mmalloc library. This define is set when you
1080configure with --with-mmalloc.
1081
1082@item NO_MMCHECK
1083Define this if you are using @code{mmalloc}, but don't want the overhead
1084of checking the heap with @code{mmcheck}. Note that on some systems,
1085the C runtime makes calls to malloc prior to calling @code{main}, and if
1086@code{free} is ever called with these pointers after calling
1087@code{mmcheck} to enable checking, a memory corruption abort is certain
1088to occur. These systems can still use mmalloc, but must define
1089NO_MMCHECK.
1090
1091@item MMCHECK_FORCE
1092Define this to 1 if the C runtime allocates memory prior to
1093@code{mmcheck} being called, but that memory is never freed so we don't
1094have to worry about it triggering a memory corruption abort. The
1095default is 0, which means that @code{mmcheck} will only install the heap
1096checking functions if there has not yet been any memory allocation
1097calls, and if it fails to install the functions, gdb will issue a
1098warning. This is currently defined if you configure using
1099--with-mmalloc.
1100
1101@item NO_SIGINTERRUPT
1102Define this to indicate that siginterrupt() is not available.
1103
1104@item R_OK
1105Define if this is not in a system .h file.
1106
1107@item SEEK_CUR
1108@item SEEK_SET
1109Define these to appropriate value for the system lseek(), if not already
1110defined.
1111
1112@item STOP_SIGNAL
25822942 1113This is the signal for stopping @value{GDBN}. Defaults to SIGTSTP. (Only
c906108c
SS
1114redefined for the Convex.)
1115
1116@item USE_O_NOCTTY
1117Define this if the interior's tty should be opened with the O_NOCTTY
1118flag. (FIXME: This should be a native-only flag, but @file{inflow.c} is
1119always linked in.)
1120
1121@item USG
1122Means that System V (prior to SVR4) include files are in use. (FIXME:
1123This symbol is abused in @file{infrun.c}, @file{regex.c},
1124@file{remote-nindy.c}, and @file{utils.c} for other things, at the
1125moment.)
1126
1127@item lint
1128Define this to help placate lint in some situations.
1129
1130@item volatile
1131Define this to override the defaults of @code{__volatile__} or
1132@code{/**/}.
1133
1134@end table
1135
1136
1137@node Target Architecture Definition
1138
1139@chapter Target Architecture Definition
1140
25822942
DB
1141@value{GDBN}'s target architecture defines what sort of machine-language programs
1142@value{GDBN} can work with, and how it works with them.
c906108c
SS
1143
1144At present, the target architecture definition consists of a number of C
1145macros.
1146
1147@section Registers and Memory
1148
25822942 1149@value{GDBN}'s model of the target machine is rather simple. @value{GDBN} assumes the
c906108c
SS
1150machine includes a bank of registers and a block of memory. Each
1151register may have a different size.
1152
25822942 1153@value{GDBN} does not have a magical way to match up with the compiler's idea of
c906108c
SS
1154which registers are which; however, it is critical that they do match up
1155accurately. The only way to make this work is to get accurate
1156information about the order that the compiler uses, and to reflect that
1157in the @code{REGISTER_NAME} and related macros.
1158
25822942 1159@value{GDBN} can handle big-endian, little-endian, and bi-endian architectures.
c906108c 1160
93e79dbd
JB
1161@section Pointers Are Not Always Addresses
1162@cindex pointer representation
1163@cindex address representation
1164@cindex word-addressed machines
1165@cindex separate data and code address spaces
1166@cindex spaces, separate data and code address
1167@cindex address spaces, separate data and code
1168@cindex code pointers, word-addressed
1169@cindex converting between pointers and addresses
1170@cindex D10V addresses
1171
1172On almost all 32-bit architectures, the representation of a pointer is
1173indistinguishable from the representation of some fixed-length number
1174whose value is the byte address of the object pointed to. On such
1175machines, the words `pointer' and `address' can be used interchangeably.
1176However, architectures with smaller word sizes are often cramped for
1177address space, so they may choose a pointer representation that breaks this
1178identity, and allows a larger code address space.
1179
1180For example, the Mitsubishi D10V is a 16-bit VLIW processor whose
1181instructions are 32 bits long@footnote{Some D10V instructions are
1182actually pairs of 16-bit sub-instructions. However, since you can't
1183jump into the middle of such a pair, code addresses can only refer to
1184full 32 bit instructions, which is what matters in this explanation.}.
1185If the D10V used ordinary byte addresses to refer to code locations,
1186then the processor would only be able to address 64kb of instructions.
1187However, since instructions must be aligned on four-byte boundaries, the
1188low two bits of any valid instruction's byte address are always zero ---
1189byte addresses waste two bits. So instead of byte addresses, the D10V
1190uses word addresses --- byte addresses shifted right two bits --- to
1191refer to code. Thus, the D10V can use 16-bit words to address 256kb of
1192code space.
1193
1194However, this means that code pointers and data pointers have different
1195forms on the D10V. The 16-bit word @code{0xC020} refers to byte address
1196@code{0xC020} when used as a data address, but refers to byte address
1197@code{0x30080} when used as a code address.
1198
1199(The D10V also uses separate code and data address spaces, which also
1200affects the correspondence between pointers and addresses, but we're
1201going to ignore that here; this example is already too long.)
1202
1203To cope with architectures like this --- the D10V is not the only one!
1204--- @value{GDBN} tries to distinguish between @dfn{addresses}, which are
1205byte numbers, and @dfn{pointers}, which are the target's representation
1206of an address of a particular type of data. In the example above,
1207@code{0xC020} is the pointer, which refers to one of the addresses
1208@code{0xC020} or @code{0x30080}, depending on the type imposed upon it.
1209@value{GDBN} provides functions for turning a pointer into an address
1210and vice versa, in the appropriate way for the current architecture.
1211
1212Unfortunately, since addresses and pointers are identical on almost all
1213processors, this distinction tends to bit-rot pretty quickly. Thus,
1214each time you port @value{GDBN} to an architecture which does
1215distinguish between pointers and addresses, you'll probably need to
1216clean up some architecture-independent code.
1217
1218Here are functions which convert between pointers and addresses:
1219
1220@deftypefun CORE_ADDR extract_typed_address (void *@var{buf}, struct type *@var{type})
1221Treat the bytes at @var{buf} as a pointer or reference of type
1222@var{type}, and return the address it represents, in a manner
1223appropriate for the current architecture. This yields an address
1224@value{GDBN} can use to read target memory, disassemble, etc. Note that
1225@var{buf} refers to a buffer in @value{GDBN}'s memory, not the
1226inferior's.
1227
1228For example, if the current architecture is the Intel x86, this function
1229extracts a little-endian integer of the appropriate length from
1230@var{buf} and returns it. However, if the current architecture is the
1231D10V, this function will return a 16-bit integer extracted from
1232@var{buf}, multiplied by four if @var{type} is a pointer to a function.
1233
1234If @var{type} is not a pointer or reference type, then this function
1235will signal an internal error.
1236@end deftypefun
1237
1238@deftypefun CORE_ADDR store_typed_address (void *@var{buf}, struct type *@var{type}, CORE_ADDR @var{addr})
1239Store the address @var{addr} in @var{buf}, in the proper format for a
1240pointer of type @var{type} in the current architecture. Note that
1241@var{buf} refers to a buffer in @value{GDBN}'s memory, not the
1242inferior's.
1243
1244For example, if the current architecture is the Intel x86, this function
1245stores @var{addr} unmodified as a little-endian integer of the
1246appropriate length in @var{buf}. However, if the current architecture
1247is the D10V, this function divides @var{addr} by four if @var{type} is
1248a pointer to a function, and then stores it in @var{buf}.
1249
1250If @var{type} is not a pointer or reference type, then this function
1251will signal an internal error.
1252@end deftypefun
1253
1254@deftypefun CORE_ADDR value_as_pointer (value_ptr @var{val})
1255Assuming that @var{val} is a pointer, return the address it represents,
1256as appropriate for the current architecture.
1257
1258This function actually works on integral values, as well as pointers.
1259For pointers, it performs architecture-specific conversions as
1260described above for @code{extract_typed_address}.
1261@end deftypefun
1262
1263@deftypefun CORE_ADDR value_from_pointer (struct type *@var{type}, CORE_ADDR @var{addr})
1264Create and return a value representing a pointer of type @var{type} to
1265the address @var{addr}, as appropriate for the current architecture.
1266This function performs architecture-specific conversions as described
1267above for @code{store_typed_address}.
1268@end deftypefun
1269
1270
1271@value{GDBN} also provides functions that do the same tasks, but assume
1272that pointers are simply byte addresses; they aren't sensitive to the
1273current architecture, beyond knowing the appropriate endianness.
1274
1275@deftypefun CORE_ADDR extract_address (void *@var{addr}, int len)
1276Extract a @var{len}-byte number from @var{addr} in the appropriate
1277endianness for the current architecture, and return it. Note that
1278@var{addr} refers to @value{GDBN}'s memory, not the inferior's.
1279
1280This function should only be used in architecture-specific code; it
1281doesn't have enough information to turn bits into a true address in the
1282appropriate way for the current architecture. If you can, use
1283@code{extract_typed_address} instead.
1284@end deftypefun
1285
1286@deftypefun void store_address (void *@var{addr}, int @var{len}, LONGEST @var{val})
1287Store @var{val} at @var{addr} as a @var{len}-byte integer, in the
1288appropriate endianness for the current architecture. Note that
1289@var{addr} refers to a buffer in @value{GDBN}'s memory, not the
1290inferior's.
1291
1292This function should only be used in architecture-specific code; it
1293doesn't have enough information to turn a true address into bits in the
1294appropriate way for the current architecture. If you can, use
1295@code{store_typed_address} instead.
1296@end deftypefun
1297
1298
1299Here are some macros which architectures can define to indicate the
1300relationship between pointers and addresses. These have default
1301definitions, appropriate for architectures on which all pointers are
1302simple byte addresses.
1303
1304@deftypefn {Target Macro} CORE_ADDR POINTER_TO_ADDRESS (struct type *@var{type}, char *@var{buf})
1305Assume that @var{buf} holds a pointer of type @var{type}, in the
1306appropriate format for the current architecture. Return the byte
1307address the pointer refers to.
1308
1309This function may safely assume that @var{type} is either a pointer or a
1310C++ reference type.
1311@end deftypefn
1312
1313@deftypefn {Target Macro} void ADDRESS_TO_POINTER (struct type *@var{type}, char *@var{buf}, CORE_ADDR @var{addr})
1314Store in @var{buf} a pointer of type @var{type} representing the address
1315@var{addr}, in the appropriate format for the current architecture.
1316
1317This function may safely assume that @var{type} is either a pointer or a
1318C++ reference type.
1319@end deftypefn
1320
1321
9fb4dd36
JB
1322@section Using Different Register and Memory Data Representations
1323@cindex raw representation
1324@cindex virtual representation
1325@cindex representations, raw and virtual
1326@cindex register data formats, converting
1327@cindex @code{struct value}, converting register contents to
1328
1329Some architectures use one representation for a value when it lives in a
1330register, but use a different representation when it lives in memory.
25822942 1331In @value{GDBN}'s terminology, the @dfn{raw} representation is the one used in
9fb4dd36 1332the target registers, and the @dfn{virtual} representation is the one
25822942 1333used in memory, and within @value{GDBN} @code{struct value} objects.
9fb4dd36
JB
1334
1335For almost all data types on almost all architectures, the virtual and
1336raw representations are identical, and no special handling is needed.
1337However, they do occasionally differ. For example:
1338
1339@itemize @bullet
1340
1341@item
1342The x86 architecture supports an 80-bit long double type. However, when
1343we store those values in memory, they occupy twelve bytes: the
1344floating-point number occupies the first ten, and the final two bytes
1345are unused. This keeps the values aligned on four-byte boundaries,
1346allowing more efficient access. Thus, the x86 80-bit floating-point
1347type is the raw representation, and the twelve-byte loosely-packed
1348arrangement is the virtual representation.
1349
1350@item
25822942
DB
1351Some 64-bit MIPS targets present 32-bit registers to @value{GDBN} as 64-bit
1352registers, with garbage in their upper bits. @value{GDBN} ignores the top 32
9fb4dd36
JB
1353bits. Thus, the 64-bit form, with garbage in the upper 32 bits, is the
1354raw representation, and the trimmed 32-bit representation is the
1355virtual representation.
1356
1357@end itemize
1358
1359In general, the raw representation is determined by the architecture, or
25822942
DB
1360@value{GDBN}'s interface to the architecture, while the virtual representation
1361can be chosen for @value{GDBN}'s convenience. @value{GDBN}'s register file,
1362@code{registers}, holds the register contents in raw format, and the @value{GDBN}
9fb4dd36
JB
1363remote protocol transmits register values in raw format.
1364
1365Your architecture may define the following macros to request raw /
1366virtual conversions:
1367
1368@deftypefn {Target Macro} int REGISTER_CONVERTIBLE (int @var{reg})
1369Return non-zero if register number @var{reg}'s value needs different raw
1370and virtual formats.
6f6ef15a
EZ
1371
1372You should not use @code{REGISTER_CONVERT_TO_VIRTUAL} for a register
1373unless this macro returns a non-zero value for that register.
9fb4dd36
JB
1374@end deftypefn
1375
1376@deftypefn {Target Macro} int REGISTER_RAW_SIZE (int @var{reg})
1377The size of register number @var{reg}'s raw value. This is the number
25822942 1378of bytes the register will occupy in @code{registers}, or in a @value{GDBN}
9fb4dd36
JB
1379remote protocol packet.
1380@end deftypefn
1381
1382@deftypefn {Target Macro} int REGISTER_VIRTUAL_SIZE (int @var{reg})
1383The size of register number @var{reg}'s value, in its virtual format.
1384This is the size a @code{struct value}'s buffer will have, holding that
1385register's value.
1386@end deftypefn
1387
1388@deftypefn {Target Macro} struct type *REGISTER_VIRTUAL_TYPE (int @var{reg})
1389This is the type of the virtual representation of register number
1390@var{reg}. Note that there is no need for a macro giving a type for the
25822942 1391register's raw form; once the register's value has been obtained, @value{GDBN}
9fb4dd36
JB
1392always uses the virtual form.
1393@end deftypefn
1394
1395@deftypefn {Target Macro} void REGISTER_CONVERT_TO_VIRTUAL (int @var{reg}, struct type *@var{type}, char *@var{from}, char *@var{to})
1396Convert the value of register number @var{reg} to @var{type}, which
1397should always be @code{REGISTER_VIRTUAL_TYPE (@var{reg})}. The buffer
1398at @var{from} holds the register's value in raw format; the macro should
1399convert the value to virtual format, and place it at @var{to}.
1400
6f6ef15a
EZ
1401Note that @code{REGISTER_CONVERT_TO_VIRTUAL} and
1402@code{REGISTER_CONVERT_TO_RAW} take their @var{reg} and @var{type}
1403arguments in different orders.
1404
1405You should only use @code{REGISTER_CONVERT_TO_VIRTUAL} with registers
1406for which the @code{REGISTER_CONVERTIBLE} macro returns a non-zero
1407value.
9fb4dd36
JB
1408@end deftypefn
1409
1410@deftypefn {Target Macro} void REGISTER_CONVERT_TO_RAW (struct type *@var{type}, int @var{reg}, char *@var{from}, char *@var{to})
1411Convert the value of register number @var{reg} to @var{type}, which
1412should always be @code{REGISTER_VIRTUAL_TYPE (@var{reg})}. The buffer
1413at @var{from} holds the register's value in raw format; the macro should
1414convert the value to virtual format, and place it at @var{to}.
1415
1416Note that REGISTER_CONVERT_TO_VIRTUAL and REGISTER_CONVERT_TO_RAW take
1417their @var{reg} and @var{type} arguments in different orders.
1418@end deftypefn
1419
1420
c906108c
SS
1421@section Frame Interpretation
1422
1423@section Inferior Call Setup
1424
1425@section Compiler Characteristics
1426
1427@section Target Conditionals
1428
1429This section describes the macros that you can use to define the target
1430machine.
1431
1432@table @code
1433
1434@item ADDITIONAL_OPTIONS
1435@item ADDITIONAL_OPTION_CASES
1436@item ADDITIONAL_OPTION_HANDLER
1437@item ADDITIONAL_OPTION_HELP
1438These are a set of macros that allow the addition of additional command
25822942 1439line options to @value{GDBN}. They are currently used only for the unsupported
c906108c
SS
1440i960 Nindy target, and should not be used in any other configuration.
1441
1442@item ADDR_BITS_REMOVE (addr)
adf40b2e
JM
1443If a raw machine instruction address includes any bits that are not
1444really part of the address, then define this macro to expand into an
1445expression that zeros those bits in @var{addr}. This is only used for
1446addresses of instructions, and even then not in all contexts.
1447
1448For example, the two low-order bits of the PC on the Hewlett-Packard PA
14492.0 architecture contain the privilege level of the corresponding
1450instruction. Since instructions must always be aligned on four-byte
1451boundaries, the processor masks out these bits to generate the actual
1452address of the instruction. ADDR_BITS_REMOVE should filter out these
1453bits with an expression such as @code{((addr) & ~3)}.
c906108c 1454
93e79dbd
JB
1455@item ADDRESS_TO_POINTER (@var{type}, @var{buf}, @var{addr})
1456Store in @var{buf} a pointer of type @var{type} representing the address
1457@var{addr}, in the appropriate format for the current architecture.
1458This macro may safely assume that @var{type} is either a pointer or a
1459C++ reference type.
1460@xref{Target Architecture Definition, , Pointers Are Not Always Addresses}.
1461
c906108c
SS
1462@item BEFORE_MAIN_LOOP_HOOK
1463Define this to expand into any code that you want to execute before the
1464main loop starts. Although this is not, strictly speaking, a target
1465conditional, that is how it is currently being used. Note that if a
1466configuration were to define it one way for a host and a different way
25822942 1467for the target, @value{GDBN} will probably not compile, let alone run correctly.
c906108c
SS
1468This is currently used only for the unsupported i960 Nindy target, and
1469should not be used in any other configuration.
1470
1471@item BELIEVE_PCC_PROMOTION
1472Define if the compiler promotes a short or char parameter to an int, but
1473still reports the parameter as its original type, rather than the
1474promoted type.
1475
1476@item BELIEVE_PCC_PROMOTION_TYPE
25822942 1477Define this if @value{GDBN} should believe the type of a short argument when
c906108c
SS
1478compiled by pcc, but look within a full int space to get its value.
1479Only defined for Sun-3 at present.
1480
1481@item BITS_BIG_ENDIAN
1482Define this if the numbering of bits in the targets does *not* match the
1483endianness of the target byte order. A value of 1 means that the bits
1484are numbered in a big-endian order, 0 means little-endian.
1485
1486@item BREAKPOINT
1487This is the character array initializer for the bit pattern to put into
1488memory where a breakpoint is set. Although it's common to use a trap
1489instruction for a breakpoint, it's not required; for instance, the bit
1490pattern could be an invalid instruction. The breakpoint must be no
1491longer than the shortest instruction of the architecture.
1492
7a292a7a
SS
1493@var{BREAKPOINT} has been deprecated in favour of
1494@var{BREAKPOINT_FROM_PC}.
1495
c906108c
SS
1496@item BIG_BREAKPOINT
1497@item LITTLE_BREAKPOINT
1498Similar to BREAKPOINT, but used for bi-endian targets.
1499
7a292a7a
SS
1500@var{BIG_BREAKPOINT} and @var{LITTLE_BREAKPOINT} have been deprecated in
1501favour of @var{BREAKPOINT_FROM_PC}.
1502
c906108c
SS
1503@item REMOTE_BREAKPOINT
1504@item LITTLE_REMOTE_BREAKPOINT
1505@item BIG_REMOTE_BREAKPOINT
1506Similar to BREAKPOINT, but used for remote targets.
1507
7a292a7a
SS
1508@var{BIG_REMOTE_BREAKPOINT} and @var{LITTLE_REMOTE_BREAKPOINT} have been
1509deprecated in favour of @var{BREAKPOINT_FROM_PC}.
1510
c906108c
SS
1511@item BREAKPOINT_FROM_PC (pcptr, lenptr)
1512
1513Use the program counter to determine the contents and size of a
1514breakpoint instruction. It returns a pointer to a string of bytes that
1515encode a breakpoint instruction, stores the length of the string to
1516*lenptr, and adjusts pc (if necessary) to point to the actual memory
1517location where the breakpoint should be inserted.
1518
1519Although it is common to use a trap instruction for a breakpoint, it's
1520not required; for instance, the bit pattern could be an invalid
1521instruction. The breakpoint must be no longer than the shortest
1522instruction of the architecture.
1523
7a292a7a
SS
1524Replaces all the other @var{BREAKPOINT} macros.
1525
917317f4
JM
1526@item MEMORY_INSERT_BREAKPOINT (addr, contents_cache)
1527@item MEMORY_REMOVE_BREAKPOINT (addr, contents_cache)
1528
1529Insert or remove memory based breakpoints. Reasonable defaults
1530(@code{default_memory_insert_breakpoint} and
1531@code{default_memory_remove_breakpoint} respectively) have been
1532provided so that it is not necessary to define these for most
1533architectures. Architectures which may want to define
1534@var{MEMORY_INSERT_BREAKPOINT} and @var{MEMORY_REMOVE_BREAKPOINT} will
1535likely have instructions that are oddly sized or are not stored in a
1536conventional manner.
1537
1538It may also be desirable (from an efficiency standpoint) to define
1539custom breakpoint insertion and removal routines if
1540@var{BREAKPOINT_FROM_PC} needs to read the target's memory for some
1541reason.
1542
7a292a7a
SS
1543@item CALL_DUMMY_P
1544A C expresson that is non-zero when the target suports inferior function
1545calls.
1546
1547@item CALL_DUMMY_WORDS
1548Pointer to an array of @var{LONGEST} words of data containing
1549host-byte-ordered @var{REGISTER_BYTES} sized values that partially
1550specify the sequence of instructions needed for an inferior function
1551call.
1552
1553Should be deprecated in favour of a macro that uses target-byte-ordered
1554data.
1555
1556@item SIZEOF_CALL_DUMMY_WORDS
1557The size of @var{CALL_DUMMY_WORDS}. When @var{CALL_DUMMY_P} this must
1558return a positive value. See also @var{CALL_DUMMY_LENGTH}.
c906108c
SS
1559
1560@item CALL_DUMMY
7a292a7a
SS
1561A static initializer for @var{CALL_DUMMY_WORDS}. Deprecated.
1562
c906108c
SS
1563@item CALL_DUMMY_LOCATION
1564inferior.h
7a292a7a 1565
c906108c 1566@item CALL_DUMMY_STACK_ADJUST
7a292a7a
SS
1567Stack adjustment needed when performing an inferior function call.
1568
1569Should be deprecated in favor of something like @var{STACK_ALIGN}.
1570
1571@item CALL_DUMMY_STACK_ADJUST_P
1572Predicate for use of @var{CALL_DUMMY_STACK_ADJUST}.
1573
1574Should be deprecated in favor of something like @var{STACK_ALIGN}.
c906108c
SS
1575
1576@item CANNOT_FETCH_REGISTER (regno)
1577A C expression that should be nonzero if @var{regno} cannot be fetched
1578from an inferior process. This is only relevant if
1579@code{FETCH_INFERIOR_REGISTERS} is not defined.
1580
1581@item CANNOT_STORE_REGISTER (regno)
1582A C expression that should be nonzero if @var{regno} should not be
1583written to the target. This is often the case for program counters,
25822942 1584status words, and other special registers. If this is not defined, @value{GDBN}
c906108c
SS
1585will assume that all registers may be written.
1586
1587@item DO_DEFERRED_STORES
1588@item CLEAR_DEFERRED_STORES
1589Define this to execute any deferred stores of registers into the inferior,
1590and to cancel any deferred stores.
1591
1592Currently only implemented correctly for native Sparc configurations?
1593
ef36d45e
JB
1594@item COERCE_FLOAT_TO_DOUBLE (@var{formal}, @var{actual})
1595If we are calling a function by hand, and the function was declared
1596(according to the debug info) without a prototype, should we
1597automatically promote floats to doubles? This macro must evaluate to
1598non-zero if we should, or zero if we should leave the value alone.
1599
1600The argument @var{actual} is the type of the value we want to pass to
1601the function. The argument @var{formal} is the type of this argument,
1602as it appears in the function's definition. Note that @var{formal} may
1603be zero if we have no debugging information for the function, or if
1604we're passing more arguments than are officially declared (for example,
1605varargs). This macro is never invoked if the function definitely has a
1606prototype.
1607
1608The default behavior is to promote only when we have no type information
1609for the formal parameter. This is different from the obvious behavior,
1610which would be to promote whenever we have no prototype, just as the
1611compiler does. It's annoying, but some older targets rely on this. If
25822942 1612you want @value{GDBN} to follow the typical compiler behavior --- to always
ef36d45e
JB
1613promote when there is no prototype in scope --- your gdbarch init
1614function can call @code{set_gdbarch_coerce_float_to_double} and select
1615the @code{standard_coerce_float_to_double} function.
1616
c906108c
SS
1617@item CPLUS_MARKER
1618Define this to expand into the character that G++ uses to distinguish
1619compiler-generated identifiers from programmer-specified identifiers.
1620By default, this expands into @code{'$'}. Most System V targets should
1621define this to @code{'.'}.
1622
1623@item DBX_PARM_SYMBOL_CLASS
1624Hook for the @code{SYMBOL_CLASS} of a parameter when decoding DBX symbol
1625information. In the i960, parameters can be stored as locals or as
1626args, depending on the type of the debug record.
1627
1628@item DECR_PC_AFTER_BREAK
1629Define this to be the amount by which to decrement the PC after the
1630program encounters a breakpoint. This is often the number of bytes in
1631BREAKPOINT, though not always. For most targets this value will be 0.
1632
1633@item DECR_PC_AFTER_HW_BREAK
1634Similarly, for hardware breakpoints.
1635
1636@item DISABLE_UNSETTABLE_BREAK addr
1637If defined, this should evaluate to 1 if @var{addr} is in a shared
1638library in which breakpoints cannot be set and so should be disabled.
1639
1640@item DO_REGISTERS_INFO
1641If defined, use this to print the value of a register or all registers.
1642
1643@item END_OF_TEXT_DEFAULT
1644This is an expression that should designate the end of the text section
1645(? FIXME ?)
1646
1647@item EXTRACT_RETURN_VALUE(type,regbuf,valbuf)
1648Define this to extract a function's return value of type @var{type} from
1649the raw register state @var{regbuf} and copy that, in virtual format,
1650into @var{valbuf}.
1651
1652@item EXTRACT_STRUCT_VALUE_ADDRESS(regbuf)
ac9a91a7
JM
1653When @var{EXTRACT_STRUCT_VALUE_ADDRESS_P} this is used to to extract
1654from an array @var{regbuf} (containing the raw register state) the
1655address in which a function should return its structure value, as a
1656CORE_ADDR (or an expression that can be used as one).
1657
1658@item EXTRACT_STRUCT_VALUE_ADDRESS_P
1659Predicate for @var{EXTRACT_STRUCT_VALUE_ADDRESS}.
c906108c
SS
1660
1661@item FLOAT_INFO
1662If defined, then the `info float' command will print information about
1663the processor's floating point unit.
1664
1665@item FP_REGNUM
cce74817
JM
1666If the virtual frame pointer is kept in a register, then define this
1667macro to be the number (greater than or equal to zero) of that register.
1668
1669This should only need to be defined if @code{TARGET_READ_FP} and
1670@code{TARGET_WRITE_FP} are not defined.
c906108c 1671
392a587b
JM
1672@item FRAMELESS_FUNCTION_INVOCATION(fi)
1673Define this to an expression that returns 1 if the function invocation
1674represented by @var{fi} does not have a stack frame associated with it.
1675Otherwise return 0.
c906108c
SS
1676
1677@item FRAME_ARGS_ADDRESS_CORRECT
1678stack.c
1679
1680@item FRAME_CHAIN(frame)
1681Given @var{frame}, return a pointer to the calling frame.
1682
1683@item FRAME_CHAIN_COMBINE(chain,frame)
1684Define this to take the frame chain pointer and the frame's nominal
1685address and produce the nominal address of the caller's frame.
1686Presently only defined for HP PA.
1687
1688@item FRAME_CHAIN_VALID(chain,thisframe)
1689
1690Define this to be an expression that returns zero if the given frame is
c4093a6a
JM
1691an outermost frame, with no caller, and nonzero otherwise. Several
1692common definitions are available.
1693
1694@code{file_frame_chain_valid} is nonzero if the chain pointer is nonzero
1695and given frame's PC is not inside the startup file (such as
1696@file{crt0.o}). @code{func_frame_chain_valid} is nonzero if the chain
1697pointer is nonzero and the given frame's PC is not in @code{main()} or a
1698known entry point function (such as @code{_start()}).
1699@code{generic_file_frame_chain_valid} and
1700@code{generic_func_frame_chain_valid} are equivalent implementations for
1701targets using generic dummy frames.
c906108c
SS
1702
1703@item FRAME_INIT_SAVED_REGS(frame)
1704See @file{frame.h}. Determines the address of all registers in the
1705current stack frame storing each in @code{frame->saved_regs}. Space for
1706@code{frame->saved_regs} shall be allocated by
1707@code{FRAME_INIT_SAVED_REGS} using either
1708@code{frame_saved_regs_zalloc} or @code{frame_obstack_alloc}.
1709
1710@var{FRAME_FIND_SAVED_REGS} and @var{EXTRA_FRAME_INFO} are deprecated.
1711
392a587b
JM
1712@item FRAME_NUM_ARGS (fi)
1713For the frame described by @var{fi} return the number of arguments that
1714are being passed. If the number of arguments is not known, return
1715@code{-1}.
c906108c
SS
1716
1717@item FRAME_SAVED_PC(frame)
1718Given @var{frame}, return the pc saved there. That is, the return
1719address.
1720
1721@item FUNCTION_EPILOGUE_SIZE
1722For some COFF targets, the @code{x_sym.x_misc.x_fsize} field of the
1723function end symbol is 0. For such targets, you must define
1724@code{FUNCTION_EPILOGUE_SIZE} to expand into the standard size of a
1725function's epilogue.
1726
f7cb2b90
JB
1727@item FUNCTION_START_OFFSET
1728An integer, giving the offset in bytes from a function's address (as
1729used in the values of symbols, function pointers, etc.), and the
1730function's first genuine instruction.
1731
1732This is zero on almost all machines: the function's address is usually
1733the address of its first instruction. However, on the VAX, for example,
1734each function starts with two bytes containing a bitmask indicating
1735which registers to save upon entry to the function. The VAX @code{call}
1736instructions check this value, and save the appropriate registers
1737automatically. Thus, since the offset from the function's address to
1738its first instruction is two bytes, @code{FUNCTION_START_OFFSET} would
1739be 2 on the VAX.
1740
c906108c
SS
1741@item GCC_COMPILED_FLAG_SYMBOL
1742@item GCC2_COMPILED_FLAG_SYMBOL
25822942 1743If defined, these are the names of the symbols that @value{GDBN} will look for to
c906108c
SS
1744detect that GCC compiled the file. The default symbols are
1745@code{gcc_compiled.} and @code{gcc2_compiled.}, respectively. (Currently
1746only defined for the Delta 68.)
1747
25822942 1748@item @value{GDBN}_MULTI_ARCH
0f71a2f6 1749If defined and non-zero, enables suport for multiple architectures
25822942 1750within @value{GDBN}.
0f71a2f6
JM
1751
1752The support can be enabled at two levels. At level one, only
1753definitions for previously undefined macros are provided; at level two,
1754a multi-arch definition of all architecture dependant macros will be
1755defined.
1756
25822942 1757@item @value{GDBN}_TARGET_IS_HPPA
c906108c
SS
1758This determines whether horrible kludge code in dbxread.c and
1759partial-stab.h is used to mangle multiple-symbol-table files from
1760HPPA's. This should all be ripped out, and a scheme like elfread.c
1761used.
1762
c906108c
SS
1763@item GET_LONGJMP_TARGET
1764For most machines, this is a target-dependent parameter. On the
1765DECstation and the Iris, this is a native-dependent parameter, since
1766<setjmp.h> is needed to define it.
1767
1768This macro determines the target PC address that longjmp() will jump to,
1769assuming that we have just stopped at a longjmp breakpoint. It takes a
1770CORE_ADDR * as argument, and stores the target PC value through this
1771pointer. It examines the current state of the machine as needed.
1772
1773@item GET_SAVED_REGISTER
1774Define this if you need to supply your own definition for the function
7a292a7a 1775@code{get_saved_register}.
c906108c
SS
1776
1777@item HAVE_REGISTER_WINDOWS
1778Define this if the target has register windows.
1779@item REGISTER_IN_WINDOW_P (regnum)
1780Define this to be an expression that is 1 if the given register is in
1781the window.
1782
1783@item IBM6000_TARGET
1784Shows that we are configured for an IBM RS/6000 target. This
1785conditional should be eliminated (FIXME) and replaced by
1786feature-specific macros. It was introduced in haste and we are
1787repenting at leisure.
1788
2df3850c
JM
1789@item SYMBOLS_CAN_START_WITH_DOLLAR
1790Some systems have routines whose names start with @samp{$}. Giving this
25822942 1791macro a non-zero value tells @value{GDBN}'s expression parser to check for such
2df3850c
JM
1792routines when parsing tokens that begin with @samp{$}.
1793
1794On HP-UX, certain system routines (millicode) have names beginning with
1795@samp{$} or @samp{$$}. For example, @code{$$dyncall} is a millicode
1796routine that handles inter-space procedure calls on PA-RISC.
1797
c906108c
SS
1798@item IEEE_FLOAT
1799Define this if the target system uses IEEE-format floating point numbers.
1800
1801@item INIT_EXTRA_FRAME_INFO (fromleaf, frame)
1802If additional information about the frame is required this should be
1803stored in @code{frame->extra_info}. Space for @code{frame->extra_info}
1804is allocated using @code{frame_obstack_alloc}.
1805
1806@item INIT_FRAME_PC (fromleaf, prev)
1807This is a C statement that sets the pc of the frame pointed to by
1808@var{prev}. [By default...]
1809
1810@item INNER_THAN (lhs,rhs)
1811Returns non-zero if stack address @var{lhs} is inner than (nearer to the
1812stack top) stack address @var{rhs}. Define this as @code{lhs < rhs} if
1813the target's stack grows downward in memory, or @code{lhs > rsh} if the
1814stack grows upward.
1815
1816@item IN_SIGTRAMP (pc, name)
1817Define this to return true if the given @var{pc} and/or @var{name}
1818indicates that the current function is a sigtramp.
1819
1820@item SIGTRAMP_START (pc)
1821@item SIGTRAMP_END (pc)
1822Define these to be the start and end address of the sigtramp for the
1823given @var{pc}. On machines where the address is just a compile time
1824constant, the macro expansion will typically just ignore the supplied
1825@var{pc}.
1826
1827@item IN_SOLIB_CALL_TRAMPOLINE pc name
1828Define this to evaluate to nonzero if the program is stopped in the
1829trampoline that connects to a shared library.
1830
1831@item IN_SOLIB_RETURN_TRAMPOLINE pc name
1832Define this to evaluate to nonzero if the program is stopped in the
1833trampoline that returns from a shared library.
1834
d4f3574e
SS
1835@item IN_SOLIB_DYNSYM_RESOLVE_CODE pc
1836Define this to evaluate to nonzero if the program is stopped in the
1837dynamic linker.
1838
1839@item SKIP_SOLIB_RESOLVER pc
1840Define this to evaluate to the (nonzero) address at which execution
1841should continue to get past the dynamic linker's symbol resolution
1842function. A zero value indicates that it is not important or necessary
1843to set a breakpoint to get through the dynamic linker and that single
1844stepping will suffice.
1845
c906108c
SS
1846@item IS_TRAPPED_INTERNALVAR (name)
1847This is an ugly hook to allow the specification of special actions that
1848should occur as a side-effect of setting the value of a variable
25822942 1849internal to @value{GDBN}. Currently only used by the h8500. Note that this
c906108c
SS
1850could be either a host or target conditional.
1851
1852@item NEED_TEXT_START_END
25822942 1853Define this if @value{GDBN} should determine the start and end addresses of the
c906108c
SS
1854text section. (Seems dubious.)
1855
1856@item NO_HIF_SUPPORT
1857(Specific to the a29k.)
1858
93e79dbd
JB
1859@item POINTER_TO_ADDRESS (@var{type}, @var{buf})
1860Assume that @var{buf} holds a pointer of type @var{type}, in the
1861appropriate format for the current architecture. Return the byte
1862address the pointer refers to.
1863@xref{Target Architecture Definition, , Pointers Are Not Always Addresses}.
1864
9fb4dd36
JB
1865@item REGISTER_CONVERTIBLE (@var{reg})
1866Return non-zero if @var{reg} uses different raw and virtual formats.
4281a42e 1867@xref{Target Architecture Definition, , Using Different Register and Memory Data Representations}.
9fb4dd36
JB
1868
1869@item REGISTER_RAW_SIZE (@var{reg})
1870Return the raw size of @var{reg}.
4281a42e 1871@xref{Target Architecture Definition, , Using Different Register and Memory Data Representations}.
9fb4dd36
JB
1872
1873@item REGISTER_VIRTUAL_SIZE (@var{reg})
1874Return the virtual size of @var{reg}.
4281a42e 1875@xref{Target Architecture Definition, , Using Different Register and Memory Data Representations}.
9fb4dd36
JB
1876
1877@item REGISTER_VIRTUAL_TYPE (@var{reg})
1878Return the virtual type of @var{reg}.
4281a42e 1879@xref{Target Architecture Definition, , Using Different Register and Memory Data Representations}.
9fb4dd36
JB
1880
1881@item REGISTER_CONVERT_TO_VIRTUAL(@var{reg}, @var{type}, @var{from}, @var{to})
1882Convert the value of register @var{reg} from its raw form to its virtual
4281a42e
JB
1883form.
1884@xref{Target Architecture Definition, , Using Different Register and Memory Data Representations}.
9fb4dd36
JB
1885
1886@item REGISTER_CONVERT_TO_RAW(@var{type}, @var{reg}, @var{from}, @var{to})
1887Convert the value of register @var{reg} from its virtual form to its raw
4281a42e
JB
1888form.
1889@xref{Target Architecture Definition, , Using Different Register and Memory Data Representations}.
9fb4dd36 1890
e5419804
JB
1891@item RETURN_VALUE_ON_STACK(@var{type})
1892@findex RETURN_VALUE_ON_STACK
1893@cindex returning structures by value
1894@cindex structures, returning by value
1895
1896Return non-zero if values of type TYPE are returned on the stack, using
1897the ``struct convention'' (i.e., the caller provides a pointer to a
1898buffer in which the callee should store the return value). This
1899controls how the @samp{finish} command finds a function's return value,
1900and whether an inferior function call reserves space on the stack for
1901the return value.
1902
1903The full logic @value{GDBN} uses here is kind of odd.
1904@itemize @bullet
1905
1906@item
1907If the type being returned by value is not a structure, union, or array,
1908and @code{RETURN_VALUE_ON_STACK} returns zero, then @value{GDBN}
1909concludes the value is not returned using the struct convention.
1910
1911@item
1912Otherwise, @value{GDBN} calls @code{USE_STRUCT_CONVENTION} (see below).
1913If that returns non-zero, @value{GDBN} assumes the struct convention is
1914in use.
1915
1916@end itemize
1917
1918In other words, to indicate that a given type is returned by value using
1919the struct convention, that type must be either a struct, union, array,
1920or something @code{RETURN_VALUE_ON_STACK} likes, @emph{and} something
1921that @code{USE_STRUCT_CONVENTION} likes.
1922
1923Note that, in C and C++, arrays are never returned by value. In those
1924languages, these predicates will always see a pointer type, never an
1925array type. All the references above to arrays being returned by value
1926apply only to other languages.
1927
c906108c
SS
1928@item SOFTWARE_SINGLE_STEP_P
1929Define this as 1 if the target does not have a hardware single-step
1930mechanism. The macro @code{SOFTWARE_SINGLE_STEP} must also be defined.
1931
1932@item SOFTWARE_SINGLE_STEP(signal,insert_breapoints_p)
1933A function that inserts or removes (dependant on
1934@var{insert_breapoints_p}) breakpoints at each possible destinations of
1935the next instruction. See @code{sparc-tdep.c} and @code{rs6000-tdep.c}
1936for examples.
1937
da59e081
JM
1938@item SOFUN_ADDRESS_MAYBE_MISSING
1939
1940Somebody clever observed that, the more actual addresses you have in the
1941debug information, the more time the linker has to spend relocating
1942them. So whenever there's some other way the debugger could find the
1943address it needs, you should omit it from the debug info, to make
1944linking faster.
1945
1946@code{SOFUN_ADDRESS_MAYBE_MISSING} indicates that a particular set of
1947hacks of this sort are in use, affecting @code{N_SO} and @code{N_FUN}
1948entries in stabs-format debugging information. @code{N_SO} stabs mark
1949the beginning and ending addresses of compilation units in the text
1950segment. @code{N_FUN} stabs mark the starts and ends of functions.
1951
1952@code{SOFUN_ADDRESS_MAYBE_MISSING} means two things:
1953@itemize @bullet
1954
1955@item
1956@code{N_FUN} stabs have an address of zero. Instead, you should find the
1957addresses where the function starts by taking the function name from
1958the stab, and then looking that up in the minsyms (the linker/
1959assembler symbol table). In other words, the stab has the name, and
1960the linker / assembler symbol table is the only place that carries
1961the address.
1962
1963@item
1964@code{N_SO} stabs have an address of zero, too. You just look at the
1965@code{N_FUN} stabs that appear before and after the @code{N_SO} stab,
1966and guess the starting and ending addresses of the compilation unit from
1967them.
1968
1969@end itemize
1970
c906108c
SS
1971@item PCC_SOL_BROKEN
1972(Used only in the Convex target.)
1973
1974@item PC_IN_CALL_DUMMY
1975inferior.h
1976
1977@item PC_LOAD_SEGMENT
1978If defined, print information about the load segment for the program
1979counter. (Defined only for the RS/6000.)
1980
1981@item PC_REGNUM
1982If the program counter is kept in a register, then define this macro to
cce74817
JM
1983be the number (greater than or equal to zero) of that register.
1984
1985This should only need to be defined if @code{TARGET_READ_PC} and
1986@code{TARGET_WRITE_PC} are not defined.
c906108c
SS
1987
1988@item NPC_REGNUM
1989The number of the ``next program counter'' register, if defined.
1990
1991@item NNPC_REGNUM
1992The number of the ``next next program counter'' register, if defined.
1993Currently, this is only defined for the Motorola 88K.
1994
2df3850c
JM
1995@item PARM_BOUNDARY
1996If non-zero, round arguments to a boundary of this many bits before
1997pushing them on the stack.
1998
c906108c
SS
1999@item PRINT_REGISTER_HOOK (regno)
2000If defined, this must be a function that prints the contents of the
2001given register to standard output.
2002
2003@item PRINT_TYPELESS_INTEGER
2004This is an obscure substitute for @code{print_longest} that seems to
2005have been defined for the Convex target.
2006
2007@item PROCESS_LINENUMBER_HOOK
2008A hook defined for XCOFF reading.
2009
2010@item PROLOGUE_FIRSTLINE_OVERLAP
2011(Only used in unsupported Convex configuration.)
2012
2013@item PS_REGNUM
2014If defined, this is the number of the processor status register. (This
2015definition is only used in generic code when parsing "$ps".)
2016
2017@item POP_FRAME
2018Used in @samp{call_function_by_hand} to remove an artificial stack
2019frame.
2020
2021@item PUSH_ARGUMENTS (nargs, args, sp, struct_return, struct_addr)
392a587b
JM
2022Define this to push arguments onto the stack for inferior function
2023call. Return the updated stack pointer value.
c906108c
SS
2024
2025@item PUSH_DUMMY_FRAME
2026Used in @samp{call_function_by_hand} to create an artificial stack frame.
2027
2028@item REGISTER_BYTES
25822942 2029The total amount of space needed to store @value{GDBN}'s copy of the machine's
c906108c
SS
2030register state.
2031
2032@item REGISTER_NAME(i)
2033Return the name of register @var{i} as a string. May return @var{NULL}
2034or @var{NUL} to indicate that register @var{i} is not valid.
2035
7a292a7a
SS
2036@item REGISTER_NAMES
2037Deprecated in favor of @var{REGISTER_NAME}.
2038
c906108c
SS
2039@item REG_STRUCT_HAS_ADDR (gcc_p, type)
2040Define this to return 1 if the given type will be passed by pointer
2041rather than directly.
2042
43ff13b4
JM
2043@item SAVE_DUMMY_FRAME_TOS (sp)
2044Used in @samp{call_function_by_hand} to notify the target dependent code
2045of the top-of-stack value that will be passed to the the inferior code.
2046This is the value of the @var{SP} after both the dummy frame and space
2047for parameters/results have been allocated on the stack.
2048
c906108c 2049@item SDB_REG_TO_REGNUM
25822942 2050Define this to convert sdb register numbers into @value{GDBN} regnums. If not
c906108c
SS
2051defined, no conversion will be done.
2052
2053@item SHIFT_INST_REGS
2054(Only used for m88k targets.)
2055
c2c6d25f 2056@item SKIP_PERMANENT_BREAKPOINT
25822942 2057Advance the inferior's PC past a permanent breakpoint. @value{GDBN} normally
c2c6d25f
JM
2058steps over a breakpoint by removing it, stepping one instruction, and
2059re-inserting the breakpoint. However, permanent breakpoints are
2060hardwired into the inferior, and can't be removed, so this strategy
2061doesn't work. Calling SKIP_PERMANENT_BREAKPOINT adjusts the processor's
2062state so that execution will resume just after the breakpoint. This
2063macro does the right thing even when the breakpoint is in the delay slot
2064of a branch or jump.
2065
c906108c 2066@item SKIP_PROLOGUE (pc)
b83266a0
SS
2067A C expression that returns the address of the ``real'' code beyond the
2068function entry prologue found at @var{pc}.
c906108c
SS
2069
2070@item SKIP_PROLOGUE_FRAMELESS_P
b83266a0
SS
2071A C expression that should behave similarly, but that can stop as soon
2072as the function is known to have a frame. If not defined,
c906108c
SS
2073@code{SKIP_PROLOGUE} will be used instead.
2074
2075@item SKIP_TRAMPOLINE_CODE (pc)
2076If the target machine has trampoline code that sits between callers and
2077the functions being called, then define this macro to return a new PC
2078that is at the start of the real function.
2079
2080@item SP_REGNUM
cce74817
JM
2081If the stack-pointer is kept in a register, then define this macro to be
2082the number (greater than or equal to zero) of that register.
2083
2084This should only need to be defined if @code{TARGET_WRITE_SP} and
2085@code{TARGET_WRITE_SP} are not defined.
c906108c
SS
2086
2087@item STAB_REG_TO_REGNUM
2088Define this to convert stab register numbers (as gotten from `r'
25822942 2089declarations) into @value{GDBN} regnums. If not defined, no conversion will be
c906108c
SS
2090done.
2091
2092@item STACK_ALIGN (addr)
2093Define this to adjust the address to the alignment required for the
2094processor's stack.
2095
2096@item STEP_SKIPS_DELAY (addr)
2097Define this to return true if the address is of an instruction with a
2098delay slot. If a breakpoint has been placed in the instruction's delay
25822942 2099slot, @value{GDBN} will single-step over that instruction before resuming
c906108c
SS
2100normally. Currently only defined for the Mips.
2101
2102@item STORE_RETURN_VALUE (type, valbuf)
2103A C expression that stores a function return value of type @var{type},
2104where @var{valbuf} is the address of the value to be stored.
2105
2106@item SUN_FIXED_LBRAC_BUG
2107(Used only for Sun-3 and Sun-4 targets.)
2108
2109@item SYMBOL_RELOADING_DEFAULT
2110The default value of the `symbol-reloading' variable. (Never defined in
2111current sources.)
2112
2113@item TARGET_BYTE_ORDER_DEFAULT
2114The ordering of bytes in the target. This must be either
2115@code{BIG_ENDIAN} or @code{LITTLE_ENDIAN}. This macro replaces
2116@var{TARGET_BYTE_ORDER} which is deprecated.
2117
2118@item TARGET_BYTE_ORDER_SELECTABLE_P
2119Non-zero if the target has both @code{BIG_ENDIAN} and
2120@code{LITTLE_ENDIAN} variants. This macro replaces
2121@var{TARGET_BYTE_ORDER_SELECTABLE} which is deprecated.
2122
2123@item TARGET_CHAR_BIT
2124Number of bits in a char; defaults to 8.
2125
2126@item TARGET_COMPLEX_BIT
2127Number of bits in a complex number; defaults to @code{2 * TARGET_FLOAT_BIT}.
2128
ac9a91a7
JM
2129At present this macro is not used.
2130
c906108c
SS
2131@item TARGET_DOUBLE_BIT
2132Number of bits in a double float; defaults to @code{8 * TARGET_CHAR_BIT}.
2133
2134@item TARGET_DOUBLE_COMPLEX_BIT
2135Number of bits in a double complex; defaults to @code{2 * TARGET_DOUBLE_BIT}.
2136
ac9a91a7
JM
2137At present this macro is not used.
2138
c906108c
SS
2139@item TARGET_FLOAT_BIT
2140Number of bits in a float; defaults to @code{4 * TARGET_CHAR_BIT}.
2141
2142@item TARGET_INT_BIT
2143Number of bits in an integer; defaults to @code{4 * TARGET_CHAR_BIT}.
2144
2145@item TARGET_LONG_BIT
2146Number of bits in a long integer; defaults to @code{4 * TARGET_CHAR_BIT}.
2147
2148@item TARGET_LONG_DOUBLE_BIT
2149Number of bits in a long double float;
2150defaults to @code{2 * TARGET_DOUBLE_BIT}.
2151
2152@item TARGET_LONG_LONG_BIT
2153Number of bits in a long long integer; defaults to @code{2 * TARGET_LONG_BIT}.
2154
2155@item TARGET_PTR_BIT
2156Number of bits in a pointer; defaults to @code{TARGET_INT_BIT}.
2157
2158@item TARGET_SHORT_BIT
2159Number of bits in a short integer; defaults to @code{2 * TARGET_CHAR_BIT}.
2160
2161@item TARGET_READ_PC
2162@item TARGET_WRITE_PC (val, pid)
2163@item TARGET_READ_SP
2164@item TARGET_WRITE_SP
2165@item TARGET_READ_FP
2166@item TARGET_WRITE_FP
2167These change the behavior of @code{read_pc}, @code{write_pc},
2168@code{read_sp}, @code{write_sp}, @code{read_fp} and @code{write_fp}.
25822942 2169For most targets, these may be left undefined. @value{GDBN} will call the read
c906108c
SS
2170and write register functions with the relevant @code{_REGNUM} argument.
2171
2172These macros are useful when a target keeps one of these registers in a
2173hard to get at place; for example, part in a segment register and part
2174in an ordinary register.
2175
2176@item TARGET_VIRTUAL_FRAME_POINTER(pc,regp,offsetp)
2177Returns a @code{(register, offset)} pair representing the virtual
2178frame pointer in use at the code address @code{"pc"}. If virtual
2179frame pointers are not used, a default definition simply returns
2180@code{FP_REGNUM}, with an offset of zero.
2181
2182@item USE_STRUCT_CONVENTION (gcc_p, type)
2183If defined, this must be an expression that is nonzero if a value of the
2184given @var{type} being returned from a function must have space
2185allocated for it on the stack. @var{gcc_p} is true if the function
2186being considered is known to have been compiled by GCC; this is helpful
2187for systems where GCC is known to use different calling convention than
2188other compilers.
2189
2190@item VARIABLES_INSIDE_BLOCK (desc, gcc_p)
2191For dbx-style debugging information, if the compiler puts variable
2192declarations inside LBRAC/RBRAC blocks, this should be defined to be
2193nonzero. @var{desc} is the value of @code{n_desc} from the
25822942 2194@code{N_RBRAC} symbol, and @var{gcc_p} is true if @value{GDBN} has noticed the
c906108c
SS
2195presence of either the @code{GCC_COMPILED_SYMBOL} or the
2196@code{GCC2_COMPILED_SYMBOL}. By default, this is 0.
2197
2198@item OS9K_VARIABLES_INSIDE_BLOCK (desc, gcc_p)
2199Similarly, for OS/9000. Defaults to 1.
2200
2201@end table
2202
2203Motorola M68K target conditionals.
2204
2205@table @code
2206
2207@item BPT_VECTOR
2208Define this to be the 4-bit location of the breakpoint trap vector. If
2209not defined, it will default to @code{0xf}.
2210
2211@item REMOTE_BPT_VECTOR
2212Defaults to @code{1}.
2213
2214@end table
2215
2216@section Adding a New Target
2217
25822942 2218The following files define a target to @value{GDBN}:
c906108c
SS
2219
2220@table @file
2221
2222@item gdb/config/@var{arch}/@var{ttt}.mt
2223Contains a Makefile fragment specific to this target. Specifies what
2224object files are needed for target @var{ttt}, by defining
104c1213
JM
2225@samp{TDEPFILES=@dots{}} and @samp{TDEPLIBS=@dots{}}. Also specifies
2226the header file which describes @var{ttt}, by defining @samp{TM_FILE=
2227tm-@var{ttt}.h}.
2228
2229You can also define @samp{TM_CFLAGS}, @samp{TM_CLIBS}, @samp{TM_CDEPS},
2230but these are now deprecated, replaced by autoconf, and may go away in
25822942 2231future versions of @value{GDBN}.
c906108c
SS
2232
2233@item gdb/config/@var{arch}/tm-@var{ttt}.h
2234(@file{tm.h} is a link to this file, created by configure). Contains
2235macro definitions about the target machine's registers, stack frame
2236format and instructions.
2237
2238@item gdb/@var{ttt}-tdep.c
2239Contains any miscellaneous code required for this target machine. On
2240some machines it doesn't exist at all. Sometimes the macros in
2241@file{tm-@var{ttt}.h} become very complicated, so they are implemented
2242as functions here instead, and the macro is simply defined to call the
2243function. This is vastly preferable, since it is easier to understand
2244and debug.
2245
2246@item gdb/config/@var{arch}/tm-@var{arch}.h
2247This often exists to describe the basic layout of the target machine's
2248processor chip (registers, stack, etc). If used, it is included by
2249@file{tm-@var{ttt}.h}. It can be shared among many targets that use the
2250same processor.
2251
2252@item gdb/@var{arch}-tdep.c
2253Similarly, there are often common subroutines that are shared by all
2254target machines that use this particular architecture.
2255
2256@end table
2257
2258If you are adding a new operating system for an existing CPU chip, add a
2259@file{config/tm-@var{os}.h} file that describes the operating system
2260facilities that are unusual (extra symbol table info; the breakpoint
2261instruction needed; etc). Then write a @file{@var{arch}/tm-@var{os}.h}
2262that just @code{#include}s @file{tm-@var{arch}.h} and
2263@file{config/tm-@var{os}.h}.
2264
2265
2266@node Target Vector Definition
2267
2268@chapter Target Vector Definition
2269
25822942 2270The target vector defines the interface between @value{GDBN}'s abstract handling
c906108c 2271of target systems, and the nitty-gritty code that actually exercises
25822942
DB
2272control over a process or a serial port. @value{GDBN} includes some 30-40
2273different target vectors; however, each configuration of @value{GDBN} includes
c906108c
SS
2274only a few of them.
2275
2276@section File Targets
2277
2278Both executables and core files have target vectors.
2279
2280@section Standard Protocol and Remote Stubs
2281
25822942
DB
2282@value{GDBN}'s file @file{remote.c} talks a serial protocol to code that runs in
2283the target system. @value{GDBN} provides several sample ``stubs'' that can be
c906108c
SS
2284integrated into target programs or operating systems for this purpose;
2285they are named @file{*-stub.c}.
2286
25822942 2287The @value{GDBN} user's manual describes how to put such a stub into your target
c906108c
SS
2288code. What follows is a discussion of integrating the SPARC stub into a
2289complicated operating system (rather than a simple program), by Stu
2290Grossman, the author of this stub.
2291
2292The trap handling code in the stub assumes the following upon entry to
2293trap_low:
2294
2295@enumerate
2296
2297@item %l1 and %l2 contain pc and npc respectively at the time of the trap
2298
2299@item traps are disabled
2300
2301@item you are in the correct trap window
2302
2303@end enumerate
2304
2305As long as your trap handler can guarantee those conditions, then there
2306is no reason why you shouldn't be able to `share' traps with the stub.
2307The stub has no requirement that it be jumped to directly from the
2308hardware trap vector. That is why it calls @code{exceptionHandler()},
2309which is provided by the external environment. For instance, this could
2310setup the hardware traps to actually execute code which calls the stub
2311first, and then transfers to its own trap handler.
2312
2313For the most point, there probably won't be much of an issue with
2314`sharing' traps, as the traps we use are usually not used by the kernel,
2315and often indicate unrecoverable error conditions. Anyway, this is all
2316controlled by a table, and is trivial to modify. The most important
2317trap for us is for @code{ta 1}. Without that, we can't single step or
2318do breakpoints. Everything else is unnecessary for the proper operation
2319of the debugger/stub.
2320
2321From reading the stub, it's probably not obvious how breakpoints work.
25822942 2322They are simply done by deposit/examine operations from @value{GDBN}.
c906108c
SS
2323
2324@section ROM Monitor Interface
2325
2326@section Custom Protocols
2327
2328@section Transport Layer
2329
2330@section Builtin Simulator
2331
2332
2333@node Native Debugging
2334
2335@chapter Native Debugging
2336
25822942 2337Several files control @value{GDBN}'s configuration for native support:
c906108c
SS
2338
2339@table @file
2340
2341@item gdb/config/@var{arch}/@var{xyz}.mh
2342Specifies Makefile fragments needed when hosting @emph{or native} on
2343machine @var{xyz}. In particular, this lists the required
2344native-dependent object files, by defining @samp{NATDEPFILES=@dots{}}.
2345Also specifies the header file which describes native support on
2346@var{xyz}, by defining @samp{NAT_FILE= nm-@var{xyz}.h}. You can also
2347define @samp{NAT_CFLAGS}, @samp{NAT_ADD_FILES}, @samp{NAT_CLIBS},
2348@samp{NAT_CDEPS}, etc.; see @file{Makefile.in}.
2349
2350@item gdb/config/@var{arch}/nm-@var{xyz}.h
2351(@file{nm.h} is a link to this file, created by configure). Contains C
2352macro definitions describing the native system environment, such as
2353child process control and core file support.
2354
2355@item gdb/@var{xyz}-nat.c
2356Contains any miscellaneous C code required for this native support of
2357this machine. On some machines it doesn't exist at all.
2358
2359@end table
2360
2361There are some ``generic'' versions of routines that can be used by
2362various systems. These can be customized in various ways by macros
2363defined in your @file{nm-@var{xyz}.h} file. If these routines work for
2364the @var{xyz} host, you can just include the generic file's name (with
2365@samp{.o}, not @samp{.c}) in @code{NATDEPFILES}.
2366
2367Otherwise, if your machine needs custom support routines, you will need
2368to write routines that perform the same functions as the generic file.
2369Put them into @code{@var{xyz}-nat.c}, and put @code{@var{xyz}-nat.o}
2370into @code{NATDEPFILES}.
2371
2372@table @file
2373
2374@item inftarg.c
2375This contains the @emph{target_ops vector} that supports Unix child
2376processes on systems which use ptrace and wait to control the child.
2377
2378@item procfs.c
2379This contains the @emph{target_ops vector} that supports Unix child
2380processes on systems which use /proc to control the child.
2381
2382@item fork-child.c
2383This does the low-level grunge that uses Unix system calls to do a "fork
2384and exec" to start up a child process.
2385
2386@item infptrace.c
2387This is the low level interface to inferior processes for systems using
2388the Unix @code{ptrace} call in a vanilla way.
2389
2390@end table
2391
2392@section Native core file Support
2393
2394@table @file
2395
2396@item core-aout.c::fetch_core_registers()
2397Support for reading registers out of a core file. This routine calls
2398@code{register_addr()}, see below. Now that BFD is used to read core
2399files, virtually all machines should use @code{core-aout.c}, and should
2400just provide @code{fetch_core_registers} in @code{@var{xyz}-nat.c} (or
2401@code{REGISTER_U_ADDR} in @code{nm-@var{xyz}.h}).
2402
2403@item core-aout.c::register_addr()
2404If your @code{nm-@var{xyz}.h} file defines the macro
2405@code{REGISTER_U_ADDR(addr, blockend, regno)}, it should be defined to
25822942 2406set @code{addr} to the offset within the @samp{user} struct of @value{GDBN}
c906108c
SS
2407register number @code{regno}. @code{blockend} is the offset within the
2408``upage'' of @code{u.u_ar0}. If @code{REGISTER_U_ADDR} is defined,
2409@file{core-aout.c} will define the @code{register_addr()} function and
2410use the macro in it. If you do not define @code{REGISTER_U_ADDR}, but
2411you are using the standard @code{fetch_core_registers()}, you will need
2412to define your own version of @code{register_addr()}, put it into your
2413@code{@var{xyz}-nat.c} file, and be sure @code{@var{xyz}-nat.o} is in
2414the @code{NATDEPFILES} list. If you have your own
2415@code{fetch_core_registers()}, you may not need a separate
2416@code{register_addr()}. Many custom @code{fetch_core_registers()}
2417implementations simply locate the registers themselves.@refill
2418
2419@end table
2420
25822942 2421When making @value{GDBN} run native on a new operating system, to make it
c906108c
SS
2422possible to debug core files, you will need to either write specific
2423code for parsing your OS's core files, or customize
2424@file{bfd/trad-core.c}. First, use whatever @code{#include} files your
2425machine uses to define the struct of registers that is accessible
2426(possibly in the u-area) in a core file (rather than
2427@file{machine/reg.h}), and an include file that defines whatever header
2428exists on a core file (e.g. the u-area or a @samp{struct core}). Then
2429modify @code{trad_unix_core_file_p()} to use these values to set up the
2430section information for the data segment, stack segment, any other
2431segments in the core file (perhaps shared library contents or control
2432information), ``registers'' segment, and if there are two discontiguous
2433sets of registers (e.g. integer and float), the ``reg2'' segment. This
2434section information basically delimits areas in the core file in a
2435standard way, which the section-reading routines in BFD know how to seek
2436around in.
2437
25822942 2438Then back in @value{GDBN}, you need a matching routine called
c906108c
SS
2439@code{fetch_core_registers()}. If you can use the generic one, it's in
2440@file{core-aout.c}; if not, it's in your @file{@var{xyz}-nat.c} file.
2441It will be passed a char pointer to the entire ``registers'' segment,
2442its length, and a zero; or a char pointer to the entire ``regs2''
2443segment, its length, and a 2. The routine should suck out the supplied
25822942 2444register values and install them into @value{GDBN}'s ``registers'' array.
c906108c
SS
2445
2446If your system uses @file{/proc} to control processes, and uses ELF
2447format core files, then you may be able to use the same routines for
2448reading the registers out of processes and out of core files.
2449
2450@section ptrace
2451
2452@section /proc
2453
2454@section win32
2455
2456@section shared libraries
2457
2458@section Native Conditionals
2459
25822942 2460When @value{GDBN} is configured and compiled, various macros are defined or left
c906108c
SS
2461undefined, to control compilation when the host and target systems are
2462the same. These macros should be defined (or left undefined) in
2463@file{nm-@var{system}.h}.
2464
2465@table @code
2466
2467@item ATTACH_DETACH
25822942 2468If defined, then @value{GDBN} will include support for the @code{attach} and
c906108c
SS
2469@code{detach} commands.
2470
2471@item CHILD_PREPARE_TO_STORE
2472If the machine stores all registers at once in the child process, then
2473define this to ensure that all values are correct. This usually entails
2474a read from the child.
2475
2476[Note that this is incorrectly defined in @file{xm-@var{system}.h} files
2477currently.]
2478
2479@item FETCH_INFERIOR_REGISTERS
2480Define this if the native-dependent code will provide its own routines
2481@code{fetch_inferior_registers} and @code{store_inferior_registers} in
2482@file{@var{HOST}-nat.c}. If this symbol is @emph{not} defined, and
2483@file{infptrace.c} is included in this configuration, the default
2484routines in @file{infptrace.c} are used for these functions.
2485
2486@item FILES_INFO_HOOK
2487(Only defined for Convex.)
2488
2489@item FP0_REGNUM
2490This macro is normally defined to be the number of the first floating
2491point register, if the machine has such registers. As such, it would
2492appear only in target-specific code. However, /proc support uses this
2493to decide whether floats are in use on this target.
2494
2495@item GET_LONGJMP_TARGET
2496For most machines, this is a target-dependent parameter. On the
2497DECstation and the Iris, this is a native-dependent parameter, since
2498<setjmp.h> is needed to define it.
2499
2500This macro determines the target PC address that longjmp() will jump to,
2501assuming that we have just stopped at a longjmp breakpoint. It takes a
2502CORE_ADDR * as argument, and stores the target PC value through this
2503pointer. It examines the current state of the machine as needed.
2504
2505@item KERNEL_U_ADDR
2506Define this to the address of the @code{u} structure (the ``user
25822942 2507struct'', also known as the ``u-page'') in kernel virtual memory. @value{GDBN}
c906108c
SS
2508needs to know this so that it can subtract this address from absolute
2509addresses in the upage, that are obtained via ptrace or from core files.
2510On systems that don't need this value, set it to zero.
2511
2512@item KERNEL_U_ADDR_BSD
25822942 2513Define this to cause @value{GDBN} to determine the address of @code{u} at
c906108c
SS
2514runtime, by using Berkeley-style @code{nlist} on the kernel's image in
2515the root directory.
2516
2517@item KERNEL_U_ADDR_HPUX
25822942 2518Define this to cause @value{GDBN} to determine the address of @code{u} at
c906108c
SS
2519runtime, by using HP-style @code{nlist} on the kernel's image in the
2520root directory.
2521
2522@item ONE_PROCESS_WRITETEXT
2523Define this to be able to, when a breakpoint insertion fails, warn the
2524user that another process may be running with the same executable.
2525
adf40b2e
JM
2526@item PREPARE_TO_PROCEED @var{select_it}
2527This (ugly) macro allows a native configuration to customize the way the
2528@code{proceed} function in @file{infrun.c} deals with switching between
2529threads.
2530
2531In a multi-threaded task we may select another thread and then continue
2532or step. But if the old thread was stopped at a breakpoint, it will
2533immediately cause another breakpoint stop without any execution (i.e. it
25822942 2534will report a breakpoint hit incorrectly). So @value{GDBN} must step over it
adf40b2e
JM
2535first.
2536
2537If defined, @code{PREPARE_TO_PROCEED} should check the current thread
2538against the thread that reported the most recent event. If a step-over
2539is required, it returns TRUE. If @var{select_it} is non-zero, it should
2540reselect the old thread.
2541
c906108c
SS
2542@item PROC_NAME_FMT
2543Defines the format for the name of a @file{/proc} device. Should be
2544defined in @file{nm.h} @emph{only} in order to override the default
2545definition in @file{procfs.c}.
2546
2547@item PTRACE_FP_BUG
2548mach386-xdep.c
2549
2550@item PTRACE_ARG3_TYPE
2551The type of the third argument to the @code{ptrace} system call, if it
2552exists and is different from @code{int}.
2553
2554@item REGISTER_U_ADDR
2555Defines the offset of the registers in the ``u area''.
2556
2557@item SHELL_COMMAND_CONCAT
2558If defined, is a string to prefix on the shell command used to start the
2559inferior.
2560
2561@item SHELL_FILE
2562If defined, this is the name of the shell to use to run the inferior.
2563Defaults to @code{"/bin/sh"}.
2564
2565@item SOLIB_ADD (filename, from_tty, targ)
2566Define this to expand into an expression that will cause the symbols in
25822942 2567@var{filename} to be added to @value{GDBN}'s symbol table.
c906108c
SS
2568
2569@item SOLIB_CREATE_INFERIOR_HOOK
2570Define this to expand into any shared-library-relocation code that you
2571want to be run just after the child process has been forked.
2572
2573@item START_INFERIOR_TRAPS_EXPECTED
25822942 2574When starting an inferior, @value{GDBN} normally expects to trap twice; once when
c906108c
SS
2575the shell execs, and once when the program itself execs. If the actual
2576number of traps is something other than 2, then define this macro to
2577expand into the number expected.
2578
2579@item SVR4_SHARED_LIBS
2580Define this to indicate that SVR4-style shared libraries are in use.
2581
2582@item USE_PROC_FS
2583This determines whether small routines in @file{*-tdep.c}, which
25822942 2584translate register values between @value{GDBN}'s internal representation and the
c906108c
SS
2585/proc representation, are compiled.
2586
2587@item U_REGS_OFFSET
2588This is the offset of the registers in the upage. It need only be
2589defined if the generic ptrace register access routines in
2590@file{infptrace.c} are being used (that is, @file{infptrace.c} is
2591configured in, and @code{FETCH_INFERIOR_REGISTERS} is not defined). If
2592the default value from @file{infptrace.c} is good enough, leave it
2593undefined.
2594
2595The default value means that u.u_ar0 @emph{points to} the location of
2596the registers. I'm guessing that @code{#define U_REGS_OFFSET 0} means
2597that u.u_ar0 @emph{is} the location of the registers.
2598
2599@item CLEAR_SOLIB
2600objfiles.c
2601
2602@item DEBUG_PTRACE
2603Define this to debug ptrace calls.
2604
2605@end table
2606
2607
2608@node Support Libraries
2609
2610@chapter Support Libraries
2611
2612@section BFD
2613
25822942 2614BFD provides support for @value{GDBN} in several ways:
c906108c
SS
2615
2616@table @emph
2617
2618@item identifying executable and core files
2619BFD will identify a variety of file types, including a.out, coff, and
2620several variants thereof, as well as several kinds of core files.
2621
2622@item access to sections of files
2623BFD parses the file headers to determine the names, virtual addresses,
2624sizes, and file locations of all the various named sections in files
25822942 2625(such as the text section or the data section). @value{GDBN} simply calls BFD to
c906108c
SS
2626read or write section X at byte offset Y for length Z.
2627
2628@item specialized core file support
2629BFD provides routines to determine the failing command name stored in a
2630core file, the signal with which the program failed, and whether a core
2631file matches (i.e. could be a core dump of) a particular executable
2632file.
2633
2634@item locating the symbol information
25822942
DB
2635@value{GDBN} uses an internal interface of BFD to determine where to find the
2636symbol information in an executable file or symbol-file. @value{GDBN} itself
c906108c 2637handles the reading of symbols, since BFD does not ``understand'' debug
25822942 2638symbols, but @value{GDBN} uses BFD's cached information to find the symbols,
c906108c
SS
2639string table, etc.
2640
2641@end table
2642
2643@section opcodes
2644
25822942 2645The opcodes library provides @value{GDBN}'s disassembler. (It's a separate
c906108c
SS
2646library because it's also used in binutils, for @file{objdump}).
2647
2648@section readline
2649
2650@section mmalloc
2651
2652@section libiberty
2653
2654@section gnu-regex
2655
2656Regex conditionals.
2657
2658@table @code
2659
2660@item C_ALLOCA
2661
2662@item NFAILURES
2663
2664@item RE_NREGS
2665
2666@item SIGN_EXTEND_CHAR
2667
2668@item SWITCH_ENUM_BUG
2669
2670@item SYNTAX_TABLE
2671
2672@item Sword
2673
2674@item sparc
2675
2676@end table
2677
2678@section include
2679
2680@node Coding
2681
2682@chapter Coding
2683
2684This chapter covers topics that are lower-level than the major
25822942 2685algorithms of @value{GDBN}.
c906108c
SS
2686
2687@section Cleanups
2688
2689Cleanups are a structured way to deal with things that need to be done
2690later. When your code does something (like @code{malloc} some memory,
2691or open a file) that needs to be undone later (e.g. free the memory or
2692close the file), it can make a cleanup. The cleanup will be done at
2693some future point: when the command is finished, when an error occurs,
2694or when your code decides it's time to do cleanups.
2695
2696You can also discard cleanups, that is, throw them away without doing
2697what they say. This is only done if you ask that it be done.
2698
2699Syntax:
2700
2701@table @code
2702
2703@item struct cleanup *@var{old_chain};
2704Declare a variable which will hold a cleanup chain handle.
2705
2706@item @var{old_chain} = make_cleanup (@var{function}, @var{arg});
2707Make a cleanup which will cause @var{function} to be called with
2708@var{arg} (a @code{char *}) later. The result, @var{old_chain}, is a
2709handle that can be passed to @code{do_cleanups} or
2710@code{discard_cleanups} later. Unless you are going to call
2711@code{do_cleanups} or @code{discard_cleanups} yourself, you can ignore
2712the result from @code{make_cleanup}.
2713
2714@item do_cleanups (@var{old_chain});
2715Perform all cleanups done since @code{make_cleanup} returned
2716@var{old_chain}. E.g.:
2717@example
2718make_cleanup (a, 0);
2719old = make_cleanup (b, 0);
2720do_cleanups (old);
2721@end example
2722@noindent
2723will call @code{b()} but will not call @code{a()}. The cleanup that
2724calls @code{a()} will remain in the cleanup chain, and will be done
2725later unless otherwise discarded.@refill
2726
2727@item discard_cleanups (@var{old_chain});
2728Same as @code{do_cleanups} except that it just removes the cleanups from
2729the chain and does not call the specified functions.
2730
2731@end table
2732
2733Some functions, e.g. @code{fputs_filtered()} or @code{error()}, specify
2734that they ``should not be called when cleanups are not in place''. This
2735means that any actions you need to reverse in the case of an error or
2736interruption must be on the cleanup chain before you call these
2737functions, since they might never return to your code (they
2738@samp{longjmp} instead).
2739
2740@section Wrapping Output Lines
2741
2742Output that goes through @code{printf_filtered} or @code{fputs_filtered}
2743or @code{fputs_demangled} needs only to have calls to @code{wrap_here}
2744added in places that would be good breaking points. The utility
2745routines will take care of actually wrapping if the line width is
2746exceeded.
2747
2748The argument to @code{wrap_here} is an indentation string which is
2749printed @emph{only} if the line breaks there. This argument is saved
2750away and used later. It must remain valid until the next call to
2751@code{wrap_here} or until a newline has been printed through the
2752@code{*_filtered} functions. Don't pass in a local variable and then
2753return!
2754
2755It is usually best to call @code{wrap_here()} after printing a comma or
2756space. If you call it before printing a space, make sure that your
2757indentation properly accounts for the leading space that will print if
2758the line wraps there.
2759
2760Any function or set of functions that produce filtered output must
2761finish by printing a newline, to flush the wrap buffer, before switching
2762to unfiltered (``@code{printf}'') output. Symbol reading routines that
2763print warnings are a good example.
2764
25822942 2765@section @value{GDBN} Coding Standards
c906108c 2766
25822942 2767@value{GDBN} follows the GNU coding standards, as described in
c906108c 2768@file{etc/standards.texi}. This file is also available for anonymous
25822942 2769FTP from GNU archive sites. @value{GDBN} takes a strict interpretation of the
c906108c 2770standard; in general, when the GNU standard recommends a practice but
25822942 2771does not require it, @value{GDBN} requires it.
c906108c 2772
25822942 2773@value{GDBN} follows an additional set of coding standards specific to @value{GDBN},
c906108c
SS
2774as described in the following sections.
2775
2776You can configure with @samp{--enable-build-warnings} to get GCC to
25822942 2777check on a number of these rules. @value{GDBN} sources ought not to engender any
c906108c
SS
2778complaints, unless they are caused by bogus host systems. (The exact
2779set of enabled warnings is currently @samp{-Wall -Wpointer-arith
2780-Wstrict-prototypes -Wmissing-prototypes -Wmissing-declarations}.
2781
2782@subsection Formatting
2783
2784The standard GNU recommendations for formatting must be followed
2785strictly.
2786
2787Note that while in a definition, the function's name must be in column
2788zero; in a function declaration, the name must be on the same line as
2789the return type.
2790
2791In addition, there must be a space between a function or macro name and
2792the opening parenthesis of its argument list (except for macro
2793definitions, as required by C). There must not be a space after an open
2794paren/bracket or before a close paren/bracket.
2795
2796While additional whitespace is generally helpful for reading, do not use
2797more than one blank line to separate blocks, and avoid adding whitespace
2798after the end of a program line (as of 1/99, some 600 lines had whitespace
2799after the semicolon). Excess whitespace causes difficulties for diff and
2800patch.
2801
2802@subsection Comments
2803
2804The standard GNU requirements on comments must be followed strictly.
2805
2806Block comments must appear in the following form, with no `/*'- or
2807'*/'-only lines, and no leading `*':
2808
2809@example @code
2810/* Wait for control to return from inferior to debugger. If inferior
2811 gets a signal, we may decide to start it up again instead of
2812 returning. That is why there is a loop in this function. When
2813 this function actually returns it means the inferior should be left
25822942 2814 stopped and @value{GDBN} should read more commands. */
c906108c
SS
2815@end example
2816
2817(Note that this format is encouraged by Emacs; tabbing for a multi-line
2818comment works correctly, and M-Q fills the block consistently.)
2819
2820Put a blank line between the block comments preceding function or
2821variable definitions, and the definition itself.
2822
2823In general, put function-body comments on lines by themselves, rather
2824than trying to fit them into the 20 characters left at the end of a
2825line, since either the comment or the code will inevitably get longer
2826than will fit, and then somebody will have to move it anyhow.
2827
2828@subsection C Usage
2829
2830Code must not depend on the sizes of C data types, the format of the
2831host's floating point numbers, the alignment of anything, or the order
2832of evaluation of expressions.
2833
2834Use functions freely. There are only a handful of compute-bound areas
25822942
DB
2835in @value{GDBN} that might be affected by the overhead of a function call, mainly
2836in symbol reading. Most of @value{GDBN}'s performance is limited by the target
c906108c
SS
2837interface (whether serial line or system call).
2838
2839However, use functions with moderation. A thousand one-line functions
2840are just as hard to understand as a single thousand-line function.
2841
2842@subsection Function Prototypes
2843
53a5351d 2844Prototypes must be used to @emph{declare} functions, and may be used to
25822942 2845@emph{define} them. Prototypes for @value{GDBN} functions must include both the
c906108c
SS
2846argument type and name, with the name matching that used in the actual
2847function definition.
2848
53a5351d
JM
2849All external functions should have a declaration in a header file that
2850callers include, except for @code{_initialize_*} functions, which must
2851be external so that @file{init.c} construction works, but shouldn't be
2852visible to random source files.
c906108c
SS
2853
2854All static functions must be declared in a block near the top of the
2855source file.
2856
2857@subsection Clean Design
2858
2859In addition to getting the syntax right, there's the little question of
25822942 2860semantics. Some things are done in certain ways in @value{GDBN} because long
c906108c
SS
2861experience has shown that the more obvious ways caused various kinds of
2862trouble.
2863
2864You can't assume the byte order of anything that comes from a target
2865(including @var{value}s, object files, and instructions). Such things
25822942 2866must be byte-swapped using @code{SWAP_TARGET_AND_HOST} in @value{GDBN}, or one of
c906108c
SS
2867the swap routines defined in @file{bfd.h}, such as @code{bfd_get_32}.
2868
2869You can't assume that you know what interface is being used to talk to
2870the target system. All references to the target must go through the
2871current @code{target_ops} vector.
2872
2873You can't assume that the host and target machines are the same machine
2874(except in the ``native'' support modules). In particular, you can't
2875assume that the target machine's header files will be available on the
2876host machine. Target code must bring along its own header files --
2877written from scratch or explicitly donated by their owner, to avoid
2878copyright problems.
2879
2880Insertion of new @code{#ifdef}'s will be frowned upon. It's much better
2881to write the code portably than to conditionalize it for various
2882systems.
2883
2884New @code{#ifdef}'s which test for specific compilers or manufacturers
2885or operating systems are unacceptable. All @code{#ifdef}'s should test
2886for features. The information about which configurations contain which
2887features should be segregated into the configuration files. Experience
2888has proven far too often that a feature unique to one particular system
2889often creeps into other systems; and that a conditional based on some
2890predefined macro for your current system will become worthless over
2891time, as new versions of your system come out that behave differently
2892with regard to this feature.
2893
2894Adding code that handles specific architectures, operating systems,
2895target interfaces, or hosts, is not acceptable in generic code. If a
2896hook is needed at that point, invent a generic hook and define it for
2897your configuration, with something like:
2898
2899@example
2900#ifdef WRANGLE_SIGNALS
2901 WRANGLE_SIGNALS (signo);
2902#endif
2903@end example
2904
2905In your host, target, or native configuration file, as appropriate,
2906define @code{WRANGLE_SIGNALS} to do the machine-dependent thing. Take a
2907bit of care in defining the hook, so that it can be used by other ports
2908in the future, if they need a hook in the same place.
2909
2910If the hook is not defined, the code should do whatever "most" machines
2911want. Using @code{#ifdef}, as above, is the preferred way to do this,
2912but sometimes that gets convoluted, in which case use
2913
2914@example
2915#ifndef SPECIAL_FOO_HANDLING
2916#define SPECIAL_FOO_HANDLING(pc, sp) (0)
2917#endif
2918@end example
2919
2920where the macro is used or in an appropriate header file.
2921
2922Whether to include a @dfn{small} hook, a hook around the exact pieces of
2923code which are system-dependent, or whether to replace a whole function
2924with a hook depends on the case. A good example of this dilemma can be
25822942 2925found in @code{get_saved_register}. All machines that @value{GDBN} 2.8 ran on
c906108c
SS
2926just needed the @code{FRAME_FIND_SAVED_REGS} hook to find the saved
2927registers. Then the SPARC and Pyramid came along, and
2928@code{HAVE_REGISTER_WINDOWS} and @code{REGISTER_IN_WINDOW_P} were
2929introduced. Then the 29k and 88k required the @code{GET_SAVED_REGISTER}
2930hook. The first three are examples of small hooks; the latter replaces
2931a whole function. In this specific case, it is useful to have both
2932kinds; it would be a bad idea to replace all the uses of the small hooks
2933with @code{GET_SAVED_REGISTER}, since that would result in much
2934duplicated code. Other times, duplicating a few lines of code here or
2935there is much cleaner than introducing a large number of small hooks.
2936
25822942
DB
2937Another way to generalize @value{GDBN} along a particular interface is with an
2938attribute struct. For example, @value{GDBN} has been generalized to handle
c906108c
SS
2939multiple kinds of remote interfaces -- not by #ifdef's everywhere, but
2940by defining the "target_ops" structure and having a current target (as
2941well as a stack of targets below it, for memory references). Whenever
2942something needs to be done that depends on which remote interface we are
2943using, a flag in the current target_ops structure is tested (e.g.
2944`target_has_stack'), or a function is called through a pointer in the
2945current target_ops structure. In this way, when a new remote interface
2946is added, only one module needs to be touched -- the one that actually
2947implements the new remote interface. Other examples of
2948attribute-structs are BFD access to multiple kinds of object file
25822942 2949formats, or @value{GDBN}'s access to multiple source languages.
c906108c 2950
25822942
DB
2951Please avoid duplicating code. For example, in @value{GDBN} 3.x all the code
2952interfacing between @code{ptrace} and the rest of @value{GDBN} was duplicated in
2953@file{*-dep.c}, and so changing something was very painful. In @value{GDBN} 4.x,
c906108c
SS
2954these have all been consolidated into @file{infptrace.c}.
2955@file{infptrace.c} can deal with variations between systems the same way
2956any system-independent file would (hooks, #if defined, etc.), and
2957machines which are radically different don't need to use infptrace.c at
2958all.
2959
9e0b60a8 2960Don't put debugging printfs in the code.
c906108c 2961
8487521e 2962@node Porting GDB
c906108c 2963
25822942 2964@chapter Porting @value{GDBN}
c906108c 2965
25822942 2966Most of the work in making @value{GDBN} compile on a new machine is in specifying
c906108c
SS
2967the configuration of the machine. This is done in a dizzying variety of
2968header files and configuration scripts, which we hope to make more
2969sensible soon. Let's say your new host is called an @var{xyz} (e.g.
2970@samp{sun4}), and its full three-part configuration name is
2971@code{@var{arch}-@var{xvend}-@var{xos}} (e.g. @samp{sparc-sun-sunos4}).
2972In particular:
2973
2974In the top level directory, edit @file{config.sub} and add @var{arch},
2975@var{xvend}, and @var{xos} to the lists of supported architectures,
2976vendors, and operating systems near the bottom of the file. Also, add
2977@var{xyz} as an alias that maps to
2978@code{@var{arch}-@var{xvend}-@var{xos}}. You can test your changes by
2979running
2980
2981@example
2982./config.sub @var{xyz}
2983@end example
2984@noindent
2985and
2986@example
2987./config.sub @code{@var{arch}-@var{xvend}-@var{xos}}
2988@end example
2989@noindent
2990which should both respond with @code{@var{arch}-@var{xvend}-@var{xos}}
2991and no error messages.
2992
2993You need to port BFD, if that hasn't been done already. Porting BFD is
2994beyond the scope of this manual.
2995
25822942 2996To configure @value{GDBN} itself, edit @file{gdb/configure.host} to recognize
c906108c
SS
2997your system and set @code{gdb_host} to @var{xyz}, and (unless your
2998desired target is already available) also edit @file{gdb/configure.tgt},
2999setting @code{gdb_target} to something appropriate (for instance,
3000@var{xyz}).
3001
25822942 3002Finally, you'll need to specify and define @value{GDBN}'s host-, native-, and
c906108c
SS
3003target-dependent @file{.h} and @file{.c} files used for your
3004configuration.
3005
25822942 3006@section Configuring @value{GDBN} for Release
c906108c
SS
3007
3008From the top level directory (containing @file{gdb}, @file{bfd},
3009@file{libiberty}, and so on):
3010@example
3011make -f Makefile.in gdb.tar.gz
3012@end example
3013
3014This will properly configure, clean, rebuild any files that are
3015distributed pre-built (e.g. @file{c-exp.tab.c} or @file{refcard.ps}),
3016and will then make a tarfile. (If the top level directory has already
3017been configured, you can just do @code{make gdb.tar.gz} instead.)
3018
3019This procedure requires:
3020@itemize @bullet
3021@item symbolic links
3022@item @code{makeinfo} (texinfo2 level)
3023@item @TeX{}
3024@item @code{dvips}
3025@item @code{yacc} or @code{bison}
3026@end itemize
3027@noindent
3028@dots{} and the usual slew of utilities (@code{sed}, @code{tar}, etc.).
3029
3030@subheading TEMPORARY RELEASE PROCEDURE FOR DOCUMENTATION
3031
3032@file{gdb.texinfo} is currently marked up using the texinfo-2 macros,
3033which are not yet a default for anything (but we have to start using
3034them sometime).
3035
3036For making paper, the only thing this implies is the right generation of
3037@file{texinfo.tex} needs to be included in the distribution.
3038
3039For making info files, however, rather than duplicating the texinfo2
3040distribution, generate @file{gdb-all.texinfo} locally, and include the
3041files @file{gdb.info*} in the distribution. Note the plural;
3042@code{makeinfo} will split the document into one overall file and five
3043or so included files.
3044
085dd6e6
JM
3045@node Testsuite
3046
3047@chapter Testsuite
3048
25822942 3049The testsuite is an important component of the @value{GDBN} package. While it is
085dd6e6
JM
3050always worthwhile to encourage user testing, in practice this is rarely
3051sufficient; users typically use only a small subset of the available
3052commands, and it has proven all too common for a change to cause a
3053significant regression that went unnoticed for some time.
3054
25822942 3055The @value{GDBN} testsuite uses the DejaGNU testing framework. DejaGNU is built
085dd6e6
JM
3056using tcl and expect. The tests themselves are calls to various tcl
3057procs; the framework runs all the procs and summarizes the passes and
3058fails.
3059
3060@section Using the Testsuite
3061
25822942 3062To run the testsuite, simply go to the @value{GDBN} object directory (or to the
085dd6e6
JM
3063testsuite's objdir) and type @code{make check}. This just sets up some
3064environment variables and invokes DejaGNU's @code{runtest} script. While
3065the testsuite is running, you'll get mentions of which test file is in use,
3066and a mention of any unexpected passes or fails. When the testsuite is
3067finished, you'll get a summary that looks like this:
3068@example
3069 === gdb Summary ===
3070
3071# of expected passes 6016
3072# of unexpected failures 58
3073# of unexpected successes 5
3074# of expected failures 183
3075# of unresolved testcases 3
3076# of untested testcases 5
3077@end example
3078The ideal test run consists of expected passes only; however, reality
3079conspires to keep us from this ideal. Unexpected failures indicate
25822942 3080real problems, whether in @value{GDBN} or in the testsuite. Expected failures
085dd6e6
JM
3081are still failures, but ones which have been decided are too hard to
3082deal with at the time; for instance, a test case might work everywhere
3083except on AIX, and there is no prospect of the AIX case being fixed in
3084the near future. Expected failures should not be added lightly, since
25822942 3085you may be masking serious bugs in @value{GDBN}. Unexpected successes are expected
085dd6e6
JM
3086fails that are passing for some reason, while unresolved and untested
3087cases often indicate some minor catastrophe, such as the compiler being
3088unable to deal with a test program.
3089
25822942 3090When making any significant change to @value{GDBN}, you should run the testsuite
085dd6e6
JM
3091before and after the change, to confirm that there are no regressions.
3092Note that truly complete testing would require that you run the
3093testsuite with all supported configurations and a variety of compilers;
3094however this is more than really necessary. In many cases testing with
3095a single configuration is sufficient. Other useful options are to test
3096one big-endian (Sparc) and one little-endian (x86) host, a cross config
3097with a builtin simulator (powerpc-eabi, mips-elf), or a 64-bit host
3098(Alpha).
3099
25822942
DB
3100If you add new functionality to @value{GDBN}, please consider adding tests for it
3101as well; this way future @value{GDBN} hackers can detect and fix their changes
085dd6e6
JM
3102that break the functionality you added. Similarly, if you fix a bug
3103that was not previously reported as a test failure, please add a test
3104case for it. Some cases are extremely difficult to test, such as code
3105that handles host OS failures or bugs in particular versions of
3106compilers, and it's OK not to try to write tests for all of those.
3107
3108@section Testsuite Organization
3109
3110The testsuite is entirely contained in @file{gdb/testsuite}. While the
3111testsuite includes some makefiles and configury, these are very minimal,
3112and used for little besides cleaning up, since the tests themselves
25822942 3113handle the compilation of the programs that @value{GDBN} will run. The file
085dd6e6 3114@file{testsuite/lib/gdb.exp} contains common utility procs useful for
25822942 3115all @value{GDBN} tests, while the directory @file{testsuite/config} contains
085dd6e6
JM
3116configuration-specific files, typically used for special-purpose
3117definitions of procs like @code{gdb_load} and @code{gdb_start}.
3118
3119The tests themselves are to be found in @file{testsuite/gdb.*} and
3120subdirectories of those. The names of the test files must always end
3121with @file{.exp}. DejaGNU collects the test files by wildcarding
3122in the test directories, so both subdirectories and individual files
3123get chosen and run in alphabetical order.
3124
3125The following table lists the main types of subdirectories and what they
3126are for. Since DejaGNU finds test files no matter where they are
3127located, and since each test file sets up its own compilation and
3128execution environment, this organization is simply for convenience and
3129intelligibility.
3130
3131@table @code
3132
3133@item gdb.base
3134
3135This is the base testsuite. The tests in it should apply to all
25822942 3136configurations of @value{GDBN} (but generic native-only tests may live here).
085dd6e6
JM
3137The test programs should be in the subset of C that is valid K&R,
3138ANSI/ISO, and C++ (ifdefs are allowed if necessary, for instance
3139for prototypes).
3140
3141@item gdb.@var{lang}
3142
3143Language-specific tests for all languages besides C. Examples are
3144@file{gdb.c++} and @file{gdb.java}.
3145
3146@item gdb.@var{platform}
3147
3148Non-portable tests. The tests are specific to a specific configuration
3149(host or target), such as HP-UX or eCos. Example is @file{gdb.hp}, for
3150HP-UX.
3151
3152@item gdb.@var{compiler}
3153
3154Tests specific to a particular compiler. As of this writing (June
31551999), there aren't currently any groups of tests in this category that
3156couldn't just as sensibly be made platform-specific, but one could
25822942 3157imagine a gdb.gcc, for tests of @value{GDBN}'s handling of GCC extensions.
085dd6e6
JM
3158
3159@item gdb.@var{subsystem}
3160
25822942 3161Tests that exercise a specific @value{GDBN} subsystem in more depth. For
085dd6e6
JM
3162instance, @file{gdb.disasm} exercises various disassemblers, while
3163@file{gdb.stabs} tests pathways through the stabs symbol reader.
3164
3165@end table
3166
3167@section Writing Tests
3168
25822942 3169In many areas, the @value{GDBN} tests are already quite comprehensive; you
085dd6e6
JM
3170should be able to copy existing tests to handle new cases.
3171
3172You should try to use @code{gdb_test} whenever possible, since it
3173includes cases to handle all the unexpected errors that might happen.
3174However, it doesn't cost anything to add new test procedures; for
3175instance, @file{gdb.base/exprs.exp} defines a @code{test_expr} that
3176calls @code{gdb_test} multiple times.
3177
3178Only use @code{send_gdb} and @code{gdb_expect} when absolutely
25822942 3179necessary, such as when @value{GDBN} has several valid responses to a command.
085dd6e6
JM
3180
3181The source language programs do @emph{not} need to be in a consistent
25822942 3182style. Since @value{GDBN} is used to debug programs written in many different
085dd6e6 3183styles, it's worth having a mix of styles in the testsuite; for
25822942 3184instance, some @value{GDBN} bugs involving the display of source lines would
085dd6e6
JM
3185never manifest themselves if the programs used GNU coding style
3186uniformly.
3187
c906108c
SS
3188@node Hints
3189
3190@chapter Hints
3191
3192Check the @file{README} file, it often has useful information that does not
3193appear anywhere else in the directory.
3194
3195@menu
25822942 3196* Getting Started:: Getting started working on @value{GDBN}
33e16fad 3197* Debugging GDB:: Debugging @value{GDBN} with itself
c906108c
SS
3198@end menu
3199
3200@node Getting Started,,, Hints
3201
3202@section Getting Started
3203
25822942 3204@value{GDBN} is a large and complicated program, and if you first starting to
c906108c
SS
3205work on it, it can be hard to know where to start. Fortunately, if you
3206know how to go about it, there are ways to figure out what is going on.
3207
25822942
DB
3208This manual, the @value{GDBN} Internals manual, has information which applies
3209generally to many parts of @value{GDBN}.
c906108c
SS
3210
3211Information about particular functions or data structures are located in
3212comments with those functions or data structures. If you run across a
3213function or a global variable which does not have a comment correctly
25822942 3214explaining what is does, this can be thought of as a bug in @value{GDBN}; feel
c906108c
SS
3215free to submit a bug report, with a suggested comment if you can figure
3216out what the comment should say. If you find a comment which is
3217actually wrong, be especially sure to report that.
3218
3219Comments explaining the function of macros defined in host, target, or
3220native dependent files can be in several places. Sometimes they are
3221repeated every place the macro is defined. Sometimes they are where the
3222macro is used. Sometimes there is a header file which supplies a
3223default definition of the macro, and the comment is there. This manual
3224also documents all the available macros.
3225@c (@pxref{Host Conditionals}, @pxref{Target
3226@c Conditionals}, @pxref{Native Conditionals}, and @pxref{Obsolete
3227@c Conditionals})
3228
25822942 3229Start with the header files. Once you have some idea of how @value{GDBN}'s internal
c906108c
SS
3230symbol tables are stored (see @file{symtab.h}, @file{gdbtypes.h}), you
3231will find it much easier to understand the code which uses and creates
3232those symbol tables.
3233
3234You may wish to process the information you are getting somehow, to
3235enhance your understanding of it. Summarize it, translate it to another
25822942 3236language, add some (perhaps trivial or non-useful) feature to @value{GDBN}, use
c906108c
SS
3237the code to predict what a test case would do and write the test case
3238and verify your prediction, etc. If you are reading code and your eyes
3239are starting to glaze over, this is a sign you need to use a more active
3240approach.
3241
25822942 3242Once you have a part of @value{GDBN} to start with, you can find more
c906108c
SS
3243specifically the part you are looking for by stepping through each
3244function with the @code{next} command. Do not use @code{step} or you
3245will quickly get distracted; when the function you are stepping through
3246calls another function try only to get a big-picture understanding
3247(perhaps using the comment at the beginning of the function being
3248called) of what it does. This way you can identify which of the
3249functions being called by the function you are stepping through is the
3250one which you are interested in. You may need to examine the data
3251structures generated at each stage, with reference to the comments in
3252the header files explaining what the data structures are supposed to
3253look like.
3254
3255Of course, this same technique can be used if you are just reading the
3256code, rather than actually stepping through it. The same general
3257principle applies---when the code you are looking at calls something
3258else, just try to understand generally what the code being called does,
3259rather than worrying about all its details.
3260
3261A good place to start when tracking down some particular area is with a
3262command which invokes that feature. Suppose you want to know how
25822942 3263single-stepping works. As a @value{GDBN} user, you know that the @code{step}
c906108c
SS
3264command invokes single-stepping. The command is invoked via command
3265tables (see @file{command.h}); by convention the function which actually
3266performs the command is formed by taking the name of the command and
3267adding @samp{_command}, or in the case of an @code{info} subcommand,
3268@samp{_info}. For example, the @code{step} command invokes the
3269@code{step_command} function and the @code{info display} command invokes
3270@code{display_info}. When this convention is not followed, you might
25822942 3271have to use @code{grep} or @kbd{M-x tags-search} in emacs, or run @value{GDBN} on
c906108c
SS
3272itself and set a breakpoint in @code{execute_command}.
3273
3274If all of the above fail, it may be appropriate to ask for information
3275on @code{bug-gdb}. But @emph{never} post a generic question like ``I was
3276wondering if anyone could give me some tips about understanding
25822942 3277@value{GDBN}''---if we had some magic secret we would put it in this manual.
c906108c
SS
3278Suggestions for improving the manual are always welcome, of course.
3279
33e16fad 3280@node Debugging GDB,,,Hints
c906108c 3281
25822942 3282@section Debugging @value{GDBN} with itself
c906108c 3283
25822942 3284If @value{GDBN} is limping on your machine, this is the preferred way to get it
c906108c
SS
3285fully functional. Be warned that in some ancient Unix systems, like
3286Ultrix 4.2, a program can't be running in one process while it is being
3287debugged in another. Rather than typing the command @code{@w{./gdb
3288./gdb}}, which works on Suns and such, you can copy @file{gdb} to
3289@file{gdb2} and then type @code{@w{./gdb ./gdb2}}.
3290
25822942 3291When you run @value{GDBN} in the @value{GDBN} source directory, it will read a
c906108c
SS
3292@file{.gdbinit} file that sets up some simple things to make debugging
3293gdb easier. The @code{info} command, when executed without a subcommand
25822942 3294in a @value{GDBN} being debugged by gdb, will pop you back up to the top level
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3295gdb. See @file{.gdbinit} for details.
3296
3297If you use emacs, you will probably want to do a @code{make TAGS} after
3298you configure your distribution; this will put the machine dependent
3299routines for your local machine where they will be accessed first by
3300@kbd{M-.}
3301
25822942 3302Also, make sure that you've either compiled @value{GDBN} with your local cc, or
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3303have run @code{fixincludes} if you are compiling with gcc.
3304
3305@section Submitting Patches
3306
3307Thanks for thinking of offering your changes back to the community of
25822942 3308@value{GDBN} users. In general we like to get well designed enhancements.
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3309Thanks also for checking in advance about the best way to transfer the
3310changes.
3311
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3312The @value{GDBN} maintainers will only install ``cleanly designed'' patches.
3313This manual summarizes what we believe to be clean design for @value{GDBN}.
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3314
3315If the maintainers don't have time to put the patch in when it arrives,
3316or if there is any question about a patch, it goes into a large queue
3317with everyone else's patches and bug reports.
3318
3319The legal issue is that to incorporate substantial changes requires a
3320copyright assignment from you and/or your employer, granting ownership
3321of the changes to the Free Software Foundation. You can get the
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3322standard documents for doing this by sending mail to @code{gnu@@gnu.org}
3323and asking for it. We recommend that people write in "All programs
3324owned by the Free Software Foundation" as "NAME OF PROGRAM", so that
25822942 3325changes in many programs (not just @value{GDBN}, but GAS, Emacs, GCC, etc) can be
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3326contributed with only one piece of legalese pushed through the
3327bureacracy and filed with the FSF. We can't start merging changes until
3328this paperwork is received by the FSF (their rules, which we follow
3329since we maintain it for them).
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3330
3331Technically, the easiest way to receive changes is to receive each
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3332feature as a small context diff or unidiff, suitable for "patch". Each
3333message sent to me should include the changes to C code and header files
3334for a single feature, plus ChangeLog entries for each directory where
3335files were modified, and diffs for any changes needed to the manuals
3336(gdb/doc/gdb.texinfo or gdb/doc/gdbint.texinfo). If there are a lot of
3337changes for a single feature, they can be split down into multiple
3338messages.
3339
3340In this way, if we read and like the feature, we can add it to the
c906108c 3341sources with a single patch command, do some testing, and check it in.
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3342If you leave out the ChangeLog, we have to write one. If you leave
3343out the doc, we have to puzzle out what needs documenting. Etc.
c906108c 3344
9e0b60a8
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3345The reason to send each change in a separate message is that we will not
3346install some of the changes. They'll be returned to you with questions
3347or comments. If we're doing our job correctly, the message back to you
c906108c 3348will say what you have to fix in order to make the change acceptable.
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3349The reason to have separate messages for separate features is so that
3350the acceptable changes can be installed while one or more changes are
3351being reworked. If multiple features are sent in a single message, we
3352tend to not put in the effort to sort out the acceptable changes from
3353the unacceptable, so none of the features get installed until all are
3354acceptable.
3355
3356If this sounds painful or authoritarian, well, it is. But we get a lot
3357of bug reports and a lot of patches, and many of them don't get
3358installed because we don't have the time to finish the job that the bug
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3359reporter or the contributor could have done. Patches that arrive
3360complete, working, and well designed, tend to get installed on the day
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3361they arrive. The others go into a queue and get installed as time
3362permits, which, since the maintainers have many demands to meet, may not
3363be for quite some time.
c906108c 3364
25822942 3365Please send patches directly to the @value{GDBN} maintainers at
9e0b60a8 3366@code{gdb-patches@@sourceware.cygnus.com}.
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3367
3368@section Obsolete Conditionals
3369
25822942 3370Fragments of old code in @value{GDBN} sometimes reference or set the following
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3371configuration macros. They should not be used by new code, and old uses
3372should be removed as those parts of the debugger are otherwise touched.
3373
3374@table @code
3375
3376@item STACK_END_ADDR
3377This macro used to define where the end of the stack appeared, for use
3378in interpreting core file formats that don't record this address in the
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3379core file itself. This information is now configured in BFD, and @value{GDBN}
3380gets the info portably from there. The values in @value{GDBN}'s configuration
c906108c 3381files should be moved into BFD configuration files (if needed there),
25822942 3382and deleted from all of @value{GDBN}'s config files.
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3383
3384Any @file{@var{foo}-xdep.c} file that references STACK_END_ADDR
3385is so old that it has never been converted to use BFD. Now that's old!
3386
3387@item PYRAMID_CONTROL_FRAME_DEBUGGING
3388pyr-xdep.c
3389@item PYRAMID_CORE
3390pyr-xdep.c
3391@item PYRAMID_PTRACE
3392pyr-xdep.c
3393
3394@item REG_STACK_SEGMENT
3395exec.c
3396
3397@end table
3398
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3399@c TeX can handle the contents at the start but makeinfo 3.12 can not
3400@ifinfo
c906108c 3401@contents
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3402@end ifinfo
3403@ifhtml
3404@contents
3405@end ifhtml
3406
c906108c 3407@bye
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