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1\input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
2@c Copyright (C) 1988-2013 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
3@c
4@c %**start of header
5@c makeinfo ignores cmds prev to setfilename, so its arg cannot make use
6@c of @set vars. However, you can override filename with makeinfo -o.
7@setfilename gdb.info
8@c
9@c man begin INCLUDE
10@include gdb-cfg.texi
11@c man end
12@c
13@settitle Debugging with @value{GDBN}
14@setchapternewpage odd
15@c %**end of header
16
17@iftex
18@c @smallbook
19@c @cropmarks
20@end iftex
21
22@finalout
23@c To avoid file-name clashes between index.html and Index.html, when
24@c the manual is produced on a Posix host and then moved to a
25@c case-insensitive filesystem (e.g., MS-Windows), we separate the
26@c indices into two: Concept Index and all the rest.
27@syncodeindex ky fn
28@syncodeindex tp fn
29
30@c readline appendices use @vindex, @findex and @ftable,
31@c annotate.texi and gdbmi use @findex.
32@syncodeindex vr fn
33
34@c !!set GDB manual's edition---not the same as GDB version!
35@c This is updated by GNU Press.
36@set EDITION Tenth
37
38@c !!set GDB edit command default editor
39@set EDITOR /bin/ex
40
41@c THIS MANUAL REQUIRES TEXINFO 4.0 OR LATER.
42
43@c This is a dir.info fragment to support semi-automated addition of
44@c manuals to an info tree.
45@dircategory Software development
46@direntry
47* Gdb: (gdb). The GNU debugger.
48@end direntry
49
50@copying
51@c man begin COPYRIGHT
52Copyright @copyright{} 1988-2013 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
53
54Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
55under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3 or
56any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with the
57Invariant Sections being ``Free Software'' and ``Free Software Needs
58Free Documentation'', with the Front-Cover Texts being ``A GNU Manual,''
59and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below.
60
61(a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You are free to copy and modify
62this GNU Manual. Buying copies from GNU Press supports the FSF in
63developing GNU and promoting software freedom.''
64@c man end
65@end copying
66
67@ifnottex
68This file documents the @sc{gnu} debugger @value{GDBN}.
69
70This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, of @cite{Debugging with
71@value{GDBN}: the @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger} for @value{GDBN}
72@ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
73@value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
74@end ifset
75Version @value{GDBVN}.
76
77@insertcopying
78@end ifnottex
79
80@titlepage
81@title Debugging with @value{GDBN}
82@subtitle The @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger
83@sp 1
84@subtitle @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN}
85@ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
86@sp 1
87@subtitle @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
88@end ifset
89@author Richard Stallman, Roland Pesch, Stan Shebs, et al.
90@page
91@tex
92{\parskip=0pt
93\hfill (Send bugs and comments on @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.)\par
94\hfill {\it Debugging with @value{GDBN}}\par
95\hfill \TeX{}info \texinfoversion\par
96}
97@end tex
98
99@vskip 0pt plus 1filll
100Published by the Free Software Foundation @*
10151 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor,
102Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA@*
103ISBN 978-0-9831592-3-0 @*
104
105@insertcopying
106@end titlepage
107@page
108
109@ifnottex
110@node Top, Summary, (dir), (dir)
111
112@top Debugging with @value{GDBN}
113
114This file describes @value{GDBN}, the @sc{gnu} symbolic debugger.
115
116This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN}
117@ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
118@value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
119@end ifset
120Version @value{GDBVN}.
121
122Copyright (C) 1988-2013 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
123
124This edition of the GDB manual is dedicated to the memory of Fred
125Fish. Fred was a long-standing contributor to GDB and to Free
126software in general. We will miss him.
127
128@menu
129* Summary:: Summary of @value{GDBN}
130* Sample Session:: A sample @value{GDBN} session
131
132* Invocation:: Getting in and out of @value{GDBN}
133* Commands:: @value{GDBN} commands
134* Running:: Running programs under @value{GDBN}
135* Stopping:: Stopping and continuing
136* Reverse Execution:: Running programs backward
137* Process Record and Replay:: Recording inferior's execution and replaying it
138* Stack:: Examining the stack
139* Source:: Examining source files
140* Data:: Examining data
141* Optimized Code:: Debugging optimized code
142* Macros:: Preprocessor Macros
143* Tracepoints:: Debugging remote targets non-intrusively
144* Overlays:: Debugging programs that use overlays
145
146* Languages:: Using @value{GDBN} with different languages
147
148* Symbols:: Examining the symbol table
149* Altering:: Altering execution
150* GDB Files:: @value{GDBN} files
151* Targets:: Specifying a debugging target
152* Remote Debugging:: Debugging remote programs
153* Configurations:: Configuration-specific information
154* Controlling GDB:: Controlling @value{GDBN}
155* Extending GDB:: Extending @value{GDBN}
156* Interpreters:: Command Interpreters
157* TUI:: @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
158* Emacs:: Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
159* GDB/MI:: @value{GDBN}'s Machine Interface.
160* Annotations:: @value{GDBN}'s annotation interface.
161* JIT Interface:: Using the JIT debugging interface.
162* In-Process Agent:: In-Process Agent
163
164* GDB Bugs:: Reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
165
166@ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
167* Command Line Editing: (rluserman). Command Line Editing
168* Using History Interactively: (history). Using History Interactively
169@end ifset
170@ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
171* Command Line Editing:: Command Line Editing
172* Using History Interactively:: Using History Interactively
173@end ifclear
174* In Memoriam:: In Memoriam
175* Formatting Documentation:: How to format and print @value{GDBN} documentation
176* Installing GDB:: Installing GDB
177* Maintenance Commands:: Maintenance Commands
178* Remote Protocol:: GDB Remote Serial Protocol
179* Agent Expressions:: The GDB Agent Expression Mechanism
180* Target Descriptions:: How targets can describe themselves to
181 @value{GDBN}
182* Operating System Information:: Getting additional information from
183 the operating system
184* Trace File Format:: GDB trace file format
185* Index Section Format:: .gdb_index section format
186* Man Pages:: Manual pages
187* Copying:: GNU General Public License says
188 how you can copy and share GDB
189* GNU Free Documentation License:: The license for this documentation
190* Concept Index:: Index of @value{GDBN} concepts
191* Command and Variable Index:: Index of @value{GDBN} commands, variables,
192 functions, and Python data types
193@end menu
194
195@end ifnottex
196
197@contents
198
199@node Summary
200@unnumbered Summary of @value{GDBN}
201
202The purpose of a debugger such as @value{GDBN} is to allow you to see what is
203going on ``inside'' another program while it executes---or what another
204program was doing at the moment it crashed.
205
206@value{GDBN} can do four main kinds of things (plus other things in support of
207these) to help you catch bugs in the act:
208
209@itemize @bullet
210@item
211Start your program, specifying anything that might affect its behavior.
212
213@item
214Make your program stop on specified conditions.
215
216@item
217Examine what has happened, when your program has stopped.
218
219@item
220Change things in your program, so you can experiment with correcting the
221effects of one bug and go on to learn about another.
222@end itemize
223
224You can use @value{GDBN} to debug programs written in C and C@t{++}.
225For more information, see @ref{Supported Languages,,Supported Languages}.
226For more information, see @ref{C,,C and C++}.
227
228Support for D is partial. For information on D, see
229@ref{D,,D}.
230
231@cindex Modula-2
232Support for Modula-2 is partial. For information on Modula-2, see
233@ref{Modula-2,,Modula-2}.
234
235Support for OpenCL C is partial. For information on OpenCL C, see
236@ref{OpenCL C,,OpenCL C}.
237
238@cindex Pascal
239Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
240nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
241entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
242syntax.
243
244@cindex Fortran
245@value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, although
246it may be necessary to refer to some variables with a trailing
247underscore.
248
249@value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Objective-C,
250using either the Apple/NeXT or the GNU Objective-C runtime.
251
252@menu
253* Free Software:: Freely redistributable software
254* Free Documentation:: Free Software Needs Free Documentation
255* Contributors:: Contributors to GDB
256@end menu
257
258@node Free Software
259@unnumberedsec Free Software
260
261@value{GDBN} is @dfn{free software}, protected by the @sc{gnu}
262General Public License
263(GPL). The GPL gives you the freedom to copy or adapt a licensed
264program---but every person getting a copy also gets with it the
265freedom to modify that copy (which means that they must get access to
266the source code), and the freedom to distribute further copies.
267Typical software companies use copyrights to limit your freedoms; the
268Free Software Foundation uses the GPL to preserve these freedoms.
269
270Fundamentally, the General Public License is a license which says that
271you have these freedoms and that you cannot take these freedoms away
272from anyone else.
273
274@node Free Documentation
275@unnumberedsec Free Software Needs Free Documentation
276
277The biggest deficiency in the free software community today is not in
278the software---it is the lack of good free documentation that we can
279include with the free software. Many of our most important
280programs do not come with free reference manuals and free introductory
281texts. Documentation is an essential part of any software package;
282when an important free software package does not come with a free
283manual and a free tutorial, that is a major gap. We have many such
284gaps today.
285
286Consider Perl, for instance. The tutorial manuals that people
287normally use are non-free. How did this come about? Because the
288authors of those manuals published them with restrictive terms---no
289copying, no modification, source files not available---which exclude
290them from the free software world.
291
292That wasn't the first time this sort of thing happened, and it was far
293from the last. Many times we have heard a GNU user eagerly describe a
294manual that he is writing, his intended contribution to the community,
295only to learn that he had ruined everything by signing a publication
296contract to make it non-free.
297
298Free documentation, like free software, is a matter of freedom, not
299price. The problem with the non-free manual is not that publishers
300charge a price for printed copies---that in itself is fine. (The Free
301Software Foundation sells printed copies of manuals, too.) The
302problem is the restrictions on the use of the manual. Free manuals
303are available in source code form, and give you permission to copy and
304modify. Non-free manuals do not allow this.
305
306The criteria of freedom for a free manual are roughly the same as for
307free software. Redistribution (including the normal kinds of
308commercial redistribution) must be permitted, so that the manual can
309accompany every copy of the program, both on-line and on paper.
310
311Permission for modification of the technical content is crucial too.
312When people modify the software, adding or changing features, if they
313are conscientious they will change the manual too---so they can
314provide accurate and clear documentation for the modified program. A
315manual that leaves you no choice but to write a new manual to document
316a changed version of the program is not really available to our
317community.
318
319Some kinds of limits on the way modification is handled are
320acceptable. For example, requirements to preserve the original
321author's copyright notice, the distribution terms, or the list of
322authors, are ok. It is also no problem to require modified versions
323to include notice that they were modified. Even entire sections that
324may not be deleted or changed are acceptable, as long as they deal
325with nontechnical topics (like this one). These kinds of restrictions
326are acceptable because they don't obstruct the community's normal use
327of the manual.
328
329However, it must be possible to modify all the @emph{technical}
330content of the manual, and then distribute the result in all the usual
331media, through all the usual channels. Otherwise, the restrictions
332obstruct the use of the manual, it is not free, and we need another
333manual to replace it.
334
335Please spread the word about this issue. Our community continues to
336lose manuals to proprietary publishing. If we spread the word that
337free software needs free reference manuals and free tutorials, perhaps
338the next person who wants to contribute by writing documentation will
339realize, before it is too late, that only free manuals contribute to
340the free software community.
341
342If you are writing documentation, please insist on publishing it under
343the GNU Free Documentation License or another free documentation
344license. Remember that this decision requires your approval---you
345don't have to let the publisher decide. Some commercial publishers
346will use a free license if you insist, but they will not propose the
347option; it is up to you to raise the issue and say firmly that this is
348what you want. If the publisher you are dealing with refuses, please
349try other publishers. If you're not sure whether a proposed license
350is free, write to @email{licensing@@gnu.org}.
351
352You can encourage commercial publishers to sell more free, copylefted
353manuals and tutorials by buying them, and particularly by buying
354copies from the publishers that paid for their writing or for major
355improvements. Meanwhile, try to avoid buying non-free documentation
356at all. Check the distribution terms of a manual before you buy it,
357and insist that whoever seeks your business must respect your freedom.
358Check the history of the book, and try to reward the publishers that
359have paid or pay the authors to work on it.
360
361The Free Software Foundation maintains a list of free documentation
362published by other publishers, at
363@url{http://www.fsf.org/doc/other-free-books.html}.
364
365@node Contributors
366@unnumberedsec Contributors to @value{GDBN}
367
368Richard Stallman was the original author of @value{GDBN}, and of many
369other @sc{gnu} programs. Many others have contributed to its
370development. This section attempts to credit major contributors. One
371of the virtues of free software is that everyone is free to contribute
372to it; with regret, we cannot actually acknowledge everyone here. The
373file @file{ChangeLog} in the @value{GDBN} distribution approximates a
374blow-by-blow account.
375
376Changes much prior to version 2.0 are lost in the mists of time.
377
378@quotation
379@emph{Plea:} Additions to this section are particularly welcome. If you
380or your friends (or enemies, to be evenhanded) have been unfairly
381omitted from this list, we would like to add your names!
382@end quotation
383
384So that they may not regard their many labors as thankless, we
385particularly thank those who shepherded @value{GDBN} through major
386releases:
387Andrew Cagney (releases 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1 and 5.0);
388Jim Blandy (release 4.18);
389Jason Molenda (release 4.17);
390Stan Shebs (release 4.14);
391Fred Fish (releases 4.16, 4.15, 4.13, 4.12, 4.11, 4.10, and 4.9);
392Stu Grossman and John Gilmore (releases 4.8, 4.7, 4.6, 4.5, and 4.4);
393John Gilmore (releases 4.3, 4.2, 4.1, 4.0, and 3.9);
394Jim Kingdon (releases 3.5, 3.4, and 3.3);
395and Randy Smith (releases 3.2, 3.1, and 3.0).
396
397Richard Stallman, assisted at various times by Peter TerMaat, Chris
398Hanson, and Richard Mlynarik, handled releases through 2.8.
399
400Michael Tiemann is the author of most of the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} support
401in @value{GDBN}, with significant additional contributions from Per
402Bothner and Daniel Berlin. James Clark wrote the @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
403demangler. Early work on C@t{++} was by Peter TerMaat (who also did
404much general update work leading to release 3.0).
405
406@value{GDBN} uses the BFD subroutine library to examine multiple
407object-file formats; BFD was a joint project of David V.
408Henkel-Wallace, Rich Pixley, Steve Chamberlain, and John Gilmore.
409
410David Johnson wrote the original COFF support; Pace Willison did
411the original support for encapsulated COFF.
412
413Brent Benson of Harris Computer Systems contributed DWARF 2 support.
414
415Adam de Boor and Bradley Davis contributed the ISI Optimum V support.
416Per Bothner, Noboyuki Hikichi, and Alessandro Forin contributed MIPS
417support.
418Jean-Daniel Fekete contributed Sun 386i support.
419Chris Hanson improved the HP9000 support.
420Noboyuki Hikichi and Tomoyuki Hasei contributed Sony/News OS 3 support.
421David Johnson contributed Encore Umax support.
422Jyrki Kuoppala contributed Altos 3068 support.
423Jeff Law contributed HP PA and SOM support.
424Keith Packard contributed NS32K support.
425Doug Rabson contributed Acorn Risc Machine support.
426Bob Rusk contributed Harris Nighthawk CX-UX support.
427Chris Smith contributed Convex support (and Fortran debugging).
428Jonathan Stone contributed Pyramid support.
429Michael Tiemann contributed SPARC support.
430Tim Tucker contributed support for the Gould NP1 and Gould Powernode.
431Pace Willison contributed Intel 386 support.
432Jay Vosburgh contributed Symmetry support.
433Marko Mlinar contributed OpenRISC 1000 support.
434
435Andreas Schwab contributed M68K @sc{gnu}/Linux support.
436
437Rich Schaefer and Peter Schauer helped with support of SunOS shared
438libraries.
439
440Jay Fenlason and Roland McGrath ensured that @value{GDBN} and GAS agree
441about several machine instruction sets.
442
443Patrick Duval, Ted Goldstein, Vikram Koka and Glenn Engel helped develop
444remote debugging. Intel Corporation, Wind River Systems, AMD, and ARM
445contributed remote debugging modules for the i960, VxWorks, A29K UDI,
446and RDI targets, respectively.
447
448Brian Fox is the author of the readline libraries providing
449command-line editing and command history.
450
451Andrew Beers of SUNY Buffalo wrote the language-switching code, the
452Modula-2 support, and contributed the Languages chapter of this manual.
453
454Fred Fish wrote most of the support for Unix System Vr4.
455He also enhanced the command-completion support to cover C@t{++} overloaded
456symbols.
457
458Hitachi America (now Renesas America), Ltd. sponsored the support for
459H8/300, H8/500, and Super-H processors.
460
461NEC sponsored the support for the v850, Vr4xxx, and Vr5xxx processors.
462
463Mitsubishi (now Renesas) sponsored the support for D10V, D30V, and M32R/D
464processors.
465
466Toshiba sponsored the support for the TX39 Mips processor.
467
468Matsushita sponsored the support for the MN10200 and MN10300 processors.
469
470Fujitsu sponsored the support for SPARClite and FR30 processors.
471
472Kung Hsu, Jeff Law, and Rick Sladkey added support for hardware
473watchpoints.
474
475Michael Snyder added support for tracepoints.
476
477Stu Grossman wrote gdbserver.
478
479Jim Kingdon, Peter Schauer, Ian Taylor, and Stu Grossman made
480nearly innumerable bug fixes and cleanups throughout @value{GDBN}.
481
482The following people at the Hewlett-Packard Company contributed
483support for the PA-RISC 2.0 architecture, HP-UX 10.20, 10.30, and 11.0
484(narrow mode), HP's implementation of kernel threads, HP's aC@t{++}
485compiler, and the Text User Interface (nee Terminal User Interface):
486Ben Krepp, Richard Title, John Bishop, Susan Macchia, Kathy Mann,
487Satish Pai, India Paul, Steve Rehrauer, and Elena Zannoni. Kim Haase
488provided HP-specific information in this manual.
489
490DJ Delorie ported @value{GDBN} to MS-DOS, for the DJGPP project.
491Robert Hoehne made significant contributions to the DJGPP port.
492
493Cygnus Solutions has sponsored @value{GDBN} maintenance and much of its
494development since 1991. Cygnus engineers who have worked on @value{GDBN}
495fulltime include Mark Alexander, Jim Blandy, Per Bothner, Kevin
496Buettner, Edith Epstein, Chris Faylor, Fred Fish, Martin Hunt, Jim
497Ingham, John Gilmore, Stu Grossman, Kung Hsu, Jim Kingdon, John Metzler,
498Fernando Nasser, Geoffrey Noer, Dawn Perchik, Rich Pixley, Zdenek
499Radouch, Keith Seitz, Stan Shebs, David Taylor, and Elena Zannoni. In
500addition, Dave Brolley, Ian Carmichael, Steve Chamberlain, Nick Clifton,
501JT Conklin, Stan Cox, DJ Delorie, Ulrich Drepper, Frank Eigler, Doug
502Evans, Sean Fagan, David Henkel-Wallace, Richard Henderson, Jeff
503Holcomb, Jeff Law, Jim Lemke, Tom Lord, Bob Manson, Michael Meissner,
504Jason Merrill, Catherine Moore, Drew Moseley, Ken Raeburn, Gavin
505Romig-Koch, Rob Savoye, Jamie Smith, Mike Stump, Ian Taylor, Angela
506Thomas, Michael Tiemann, Tom Tromey, Ron Unrau, Jim Wilson, and David
507Zuhn have made contributions both large and small.
508
509Andrew Cagney, Fernando Nasser, and Elena Zannoni, while working for
510Cygnus Solutions, implemented the original @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
511
512Jim Blandy added support for preprocessor macros, while working for Red
513Hat.
514
515Andrew Cagney designed @value{GDBN}'s architecture vector. Many
516people including Andrew Cagney, Stephane Carrez, Randolph Chung, Nick
517Duffek, Richard Henderson, Mark Kettenis, Grace Sainsbury, Kei
518Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Andreas Schwab, Jason
519Thorpe, Corinna Vinschen, Ulrich Weigand, and Elena Zannoni, helped
520with the migration of old architectures to this new framework.
521
522Andrew Cagney completely re-designed and re-implemented @value{GDBN}'s
523unwinder framework, this consisting of a fresh new design featuring
524frame IDs, independent frame sniffers, and the sentinel frame. Mark
525Kettenis implemented the @sc{dwarf 2} unwinder, Jeff Johnston the
526libunwind unwinder, and Andrew Cagney the dummy, sentinel, tramp, and
527trad unwinders. The architecture-specific changes, each involving a
528complete rewrite of the architecture's frame code, were carried out by
529Jim Blandy, Joel Brobecker, Kevin Buettner, Andrew Cagney, Stephane
530Carrez, Randolph Chung, Orjan Friberg, Richard Henderson, Daniel
531Jacobowitz, Jeff Johnston, Mark Kettenis, Theodore A. Roth, Kei
532Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Corinna Vinschen, and Ulrich
533Weigand.
534
535Christian Zankel, Ross Morley, Bob Wilson, and Maxim Grigoriev from
536Tensilica, Inc.@: contributed support for Xtensa processors. Others
537who have worked on the Xtensa port of @value{GDBN} in the past include
538Steve Tjiang, John Newlin, and Scott Foehner.
539
540Michael Eager and staff of Xilinx, Inc., contributed support for the
541Xilinx MicroBlaze architecture.
542
543@node Sample Session
544@chapter A Sample @value{GDBN} Session
545
546You can use this manual at your leisure to read all about @value{GDBN}.
547However, a handful of commands are enough to get started using the
548debugger. This chapter illustrates those commands.
549
550@iftex
551In this sample session, we emphasize user input like this: @b{input},
552to make it easier to pick out from the surrounding output.
553@end iftex
554
555@c FIXME: this example may not be appropriate for some configs, where
556@c FIXME...primary interest is in remote use.
557
558One of the preliminary versions of @sc{gnu} @code{m4} (a generic macro
559processor) exhibits the following bug: sometimes, when we change its
560quote strings from the default, the commands used to capture one macro
561definition within another stop working. In the following short @code{m4}
562session, we define a macro @code{foo} which expands to @code{0000}; we
563then use the @code{m4} built-in @code{defn} to define @code{bar} as the
564same thing. However, when we change the open quote string to
565@code{<QUOTE>} and the close quote string to @code{<UNQUOTE>}, the same
566procedure fails to define a new synonym @code{baz}:
567
568@smallexample
569$ @b{cd gnu/m4}
570$ @b{./m4}
571@b{define(foo,0000)}
572
573@b{foo}
5740000
575@b{define(bar,defn(`foo'))}
576
577@b{bar}
5780000
579@b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
580
581@b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
582@b{baz}
583@b{Ctrl-d}
584m4: End of input: 0: fatal error: EOF in string
585@end smallexample
586
587@noindent
588Let us use @value{GDBN} to try to see what is going on.
589
590@smallexample
591$ @b{@value{GDBP} m4}
592@c FIXME: this falsifies the exact text played out, to permit smallbook
593@c FIXME... format to come out better.
594@value{GDBN} is free software and you are welcome to distribute copies
595 of it under certain conditions; type "show copying" to see
596 the conditions.
597There is absolutely no warranty for @value{GDBN}; type "show warranty"
598 for details.
599
600@value{GDBN} @value{GDBVN}, Copyright 1999 Free Software Foundation, Inc...
601(@value{GDBP})
602@end smallexample
603
604@noindent
605@value{GDBN} reads only enough symbol data to know where to find the
606rest when needed; as a result, the first prompt comes up very quickly.
607We now tell @value{GDBN} to use a narrower display width than usual, so
608that examples fit in this manual.
609
610@smallexample
611(@value{GDBP}) @b{set width 70}
612@end smallexample
613
614@noindent
615We need to see how the @code{m4} built-in @code{changequote} works.
616Having looked at the source, we know the relevant subroutine is
617@code{m4_changequote}, so we set a breakpoint there with the @value{GDBN}
618@code{break} command.
619
620@smallexample
621(@value{GDBP}) @b{break m4_changequote}
622Breakpoint 1 at 0x62f4: file builtin.c, line 879.
623@end smallexample
624
625@noindent
626Using the @code{run} command, we start @code{m4} running under @value{GDBN}
627control; as long as control does not reach the @code{m4_changequote}
628subroutine, the program runs as usual:
629
630@smallexample
631(@value{GDBP}) @b{run}
632Starting program: /work/Editorial/gdb/gnu/m4/m4
633@b{define(foo,0000)}
634
635@b{foo}
6360000
637@end smallexample
638
639@noindent
640To trigger the breakpoint, we call @code{changequote}. @value{GDBN}
641suspends execution of @code{m4}, displaying information about the
642context where it stops.
643
644@smallexample
645@b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
646
647Breakpoint 1, m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
648 at builtin.c:879
649879 if (bad_argc(TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[0]),argc,1,3))
650@end smallexample
651
652@noindent
653Now we use the command @code{n} (@code{next}) to advance execution to
654the next line of the current function.
655
656@smallexample
657(@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
658882 set_quotes((argc >= 2) ? TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[1])\
659 : nil,
660@end smallexample
661
662@noindent
663@code{set_quotes} looks like a promising subroutine. We can go into it
664by using the command @code{s} (@code{step}) instead of @code{next}.
665@code{step} goes to the next line to be executed in @emph{any}
666subroutine, so it steps into @code{set_quotes}.
667
668@smallexample
669(@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
670set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
671 at input.c:530
672530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
673@end smallexample
674
675@noindent
676The display that shows the subroutine where @code{m4} is now
677suspended (and its arguments) is called a stack frame display. It
678shows a summary of the stack. We can use the @code{backtrace}
679command (which can also be spelled @code{bt}), to see where we are
680in the stack as a whole: the @code{backtrace} command displays a
681stack frame for each active subroutine.
682
683@smallexample
684(@value{GDBP}) @b{bt}
685#0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
686 at input.c:530
687#1 0x6344 in m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
688 at builtin.c:882
689#2 0x8174 in expand_macro (sym=0x33320) at macro.c:242
690#3 0x7a88 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=209696, td=0xf7fffa30)
691 at macro.c:71
692#4 0x79dc in expand_input () at macro.c:40
693#5 0x2930 in main (argc=0, argv=0xf7fffb20) at m4.c:195
694@end smallexample
695
696@noindent
697We step through a few more lines to see what happens. The first two
698times, we can use @samp{s}; the next two times we use @code{n} to avoid
699falling into the @code{xstrdup} subroutine.
700
701@smallexample
702(@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
7030x3b5c 532 if (rquote != def_rquote)
704(@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
7050x3b80 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? \
706def_lquote : xstrdup(lq);
707(@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
708536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
709 : xstrdup(rq);
710(@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
711538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
712@end smallexample
713
714@noindent
715The last line displayed looks a little odd; we can examine the variables
716@code{lquote} and @code{rquote} to see if they are in fact the new left
717and right quotes we specified. We use the command @code{p}
718(@code{print}) to see their values.
719
720@smallexample
721(@value{GDBP}) @b{p lquote}
722$1 = 0x35d40 "<QUOTE>"
723(@value{GDBP}) @b{p rquote}
724$2 = 0x35d50 "<UNQUOTE>"
725@end smallexample
726
727@noindent
728@code{lquote} and @code{rquote} are indeed the new left and right quotes.
729To look at some context, we can display ten lines of source
730surrounding the current line with the @code{l} (@code{list}) command.
731
732@smallexample
733(@value{GDBP}) @b{l}
734533 xfree(rquote);
735534
736535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? def_lquote\
737 : xstrdup (lq);
738536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
739 : xstrdup (rq);
740537
741538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
742539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
743540 @}
744541
745542 void
746@end smallexample
747
748@noindent
749Let us step past the two lines that set @code{len_lquote} and
750@code{len_rquote}, and then examine the values of those variables.
751
752@smallexample
753(@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
754539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
755(@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
756540 @}
757(@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote}
758$3 = 9
759(@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote}
760$4 = 7
761@end smallexample
762
763@noindent
764That certainly looks wrong, assuming @code{len_lquote} and
765@code{len_rquote} are meant to be the lengths of @code{lquote} and
766@code{rquote} respectively. We can set them to better values using
767the @code{p} command, since it can print the value of
768any expression---and that expression can include subroutine calls and
769assignments.
770
771@smallexample
772(@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote=strlen(lquote)}
773$5 = 7
774(@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote=strlen(rquote)}
775$6 = 9
776@end smallexample
777
778@noindent
779Is that enough to fix the problem of using the new quotes with the
780@code{m4} built-in @code{defn}? We can allow @code{m4} to continue
781executing with the @code{c} (@code{continue}) command, and then try the
782example that caused trouble initially:
783
784@smallexample
785(@value{GDBP}) @b{c}
786Continuing.
787
788@b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
789
790baz
7910000
792@end smallexample
793
794@noindent
795Success! The new quotes now work just as well as the default ones. The
796problem seems to have been just the two typos defining the wrong
797lengths. We allow @code{m4} exit by giving it an EOF as input:
798
799@smallexample
800@b{Ctrl-d}
801Program exited normally.
802@end smallexample
803
804@noindent
805The message @samp{Program exited normally.} is from @value{GDBN}; it
806indicates @code{m4} has finished executing. We can end our @value{GDBN}
807session with the @value{GDBN} @code{quit} command.
808
809@smallexample
810(@value{GDBP}) @b{quit}
811@end smallexample
812
813@node Invocation
814@chapter Getting In and Out of @value{GDBN}
815
816This chapter discusses how to start @value{GDBN}, and how to get out of it.
817The essentials are:
818@itemize @bullet
819@item
820type @samp{@value{GDBP}} to start @value{GDBN}.
821@item
822type @kbd{quit} or @kbd{Ctrl-d} to exit.
823@end itemize
824
825@menu
826* Invoking GDB:: How to start @value{GDBN}
827* Quitting GDB:: How to quit @value{GDBN}
828* Shell Commands:: How to use shell commands inside @value{GDBN}
829* Logging Output:: How to log @value{GDBN}'s output to a file
830@end menu
831
832@node Invoking GDB
833@section Invoking @value{GDBN}
834
835Invoke @value{GDBN} by running the program @code{@value{GDBP}}. Once started,
836@value{GDBN} reads commands from the terminal until you tell it to exit.
837
838You can also run @code{@value{GDBP}} with a variety of arguments and options,
839to specify more of your debugging environment at the outset.
840
841The command-line options described here are designed
842to cover a variety of situations; in some environments, some of these
843options may effectively be unavailable.
844
845The most usual way to start @value{GDBN} is with one argument,
846specifying an executable program:
847
848@smallexample
849@value{GDBP} @var{program}
850@end smallexample
851
852@noindent
853You can also start with both an executable program and a core file
854specified:
855
856@smallexample
857@value{GDBP} @var{program} @var{core}
858@end smallexample
859
860You can, instead, specify a process ID as a second argument, if you want
861to debug a running process:
862
863@smallexample
864@value{GDBP} @var{program} 1234
865@end smallexample
866
867@noindent
868would attach @value{GDBN} to process @code{1234} (unless you also have a file
869named @file{1234}; @value{GDBN} does check for a core file first).
870
871Taking advantage of the second command-line argument requires a fairly
872complete operating system; when you use @value{GDBN} as a remote
873debugger attached to a bare board, there may not be any notion of
874``process'', and there is often no way to get a core dump. @value{GDBN}
875will warn you if it is unable to attach or to read core dumps.
876
877You can optionally have @code{@value{GDBP}} pass any arguments after the
878executable file to the inferior using @code{--args}. This option stops
879option processing.
880@smallexample
881@value{GDBP} --args gcc -O2 -c foo.c
882@end smallexample
883This will cause @code{@value{GDBP}} to debug @code{gcc}, and to set
884@code{gcc}'s command-line arguments (@pxref{Arguments}) to @samp{-O2 -c foo.c}.
885
886You can run @code{@value{GDBP}} without printing the front material, which describes
887@value{GDBN}'s non-warranty, by specifying @code{-silent}:
888
889@smallexample
890@value{GDBP} -silent
891@end smallexample
892
893@noindent
894You can further control how @value{GDBN} starts up by using command-line
895options. @value{GDBN} itself can remind you of the options available.
896
897@noindent
898Type
899
900@smallexample
901@value{GDBP} -help
902@end smallexample
903
904@noindent
905to display all available options and briefly describe their use
906(@samp{@value{GDBP} -h} is a shorter equivalent).
907
908All options and command line arguments you give are processed
909in sequential order. The order makes a difference when the
910@samp{-x} option is used.
911
912
913@menu
914* File Options:: Choosing files
915* Mode Options:: Choosing modes
916* Startup:: What @value{GDBN} does during startup
917@end menu
918
919@node File Options
920@subsection Choosing Files
921
922When @value{GDBN} starts, it reads any arguments other than options as
923specifying an executable file and core file (or process ID). This is
924the same as if the arguments were specified by the @samp{-se} and
925@samp{-c} (or @samp{-p}) options respectively. (@value{GDBN} reads the
926first argument that does not have an associated option flag as
927equivalent to the @samp{-se} option followed by that argument; and the
928second argument that does not have an associated option flag, if any, as
929equivalent to the @samp{-c}/@samp{-p} option followed by that argument.)
930If the second argument begins with a decimal digit, @value{GDBN} will
931first attempt to attach to it as a process, and if that fails, attempt
932to open it as a corefile. If you have a corefile whose name begins with
933a digit, you can prevent @value{GDBN} from treating it as a pid by
934prefixing it with @file{./}, e.g.@: @file{./12345}.
935
936If @value{GDBN} has not been configured to included core file support,
937such as for most embedded targets, then it will complain about a second
938argument and ignore it.
939
940Many options have both long and short forms; both are shown in the
941following list. @value{GDBN} also recognizes the long forms if you truncate
942them, so long as enough of the option is present to be unambiguous.
943(If you prefer, you can flag option arguments with @samp{--} rather
944than @samp{-}, though we illustrate the more usual convention.)
945
946@c NOTE: the @cindex entries here use double dashes ON PURPOSE. This
947@c way, both those who look for -foo and --foo in the index, will find
948@c it.
949
950@table @code
951@item -symbols @var{file}
952@itemx -s @var{file}
953@cindex @code{--symbols}
954@cindex @code{-s}
955Read symbol table from file @var{file}.
956
957@item -exec @var{file}
958@itemx -e @var{file}
959@cindex @code{--exec}
960@cindex @code{-e}
961Use file @var{file} as the executable file to execute when appropriate,
962and for examining pure data in conjunction with a core dump.
963
964@item -se @var{file}
965@cindex @code{--se}
966Read symbol table from file @var{file} and use it as the executable
967file.
968
969@item -core @var{file}
970@itemx -c @var{file}
971@cindex @code{--core}
972@cindex @code{-c}
973Use file @var{file} as a core dump to examine.
974
975@item -pid @var{number}
976@itemx -p @var{number}
977@cindex @code{--pid}
978@cindex @code{-p}
979Connect to process ID @var{number}, as with the @code{attach} command.
980
981@item -command @var{file}
982@itemx -x @var{file}
983@cindex @code{--command}
984@cindex @code{-x}
985Execute commands from file @var{file}. The contents of this file is
986evaluated exactly as the @code{source} command would.
987@xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
988
989@item -eval-command @var{command}
990@itemx -ex @var{command}
991@cindex @code{--eval-command}
992@cindex @code{-ex}
993Execute a single @value{GDBN} command.
994
995This option may be used multiple times to call multiple commands. It may
996also be interleaved with @samp{-command} as required.
997
998@smallexample
999@value{GDBP} -ex 'target sim' -ex 'load' \
1000 -x setbreakpoints -ex 'run' a.out
1001@end smallexample
1002
1003@item -init-command @var{file}
1004@itemx -ix @var{file}
1005@cindex @code{--init-command}
1006@cindex @code{-ix}
1007Execute commands from file @var{file} before loading the inferior (but
1008after loading gdbinit files).
1009@xref{Startup}.
1010
1011@item -init-eval-command @var{command}
1012@itemx -iex @var{command}
1013@cindex @code{--init-eval-command}
1014@cindex @code{-iex}
1015Execute a single @value{GDBN} command before loading the inferior (but
1016after loading gdbinit files).
1017@xref{Startup}.
1018
1019@item -directory @var{directory}
1020@itemx -d @var{directory}
1021@cindex @code{--directory}
1022@cindex @code{-d}
1023Add @var{directory} to the path to search for source and script files.
1024
1025@item -r
1026@itemx -readnow
1027@cindex @code{--readnow}
1028@cindex @code{-r}
1029Read each symbol file's entire symbol table immediately, rather than
1030the default, which is to read it incrementally as it is needed.
1031This makes startup slower, but makes future operations faster.
1032
1033@end table
1034
1035@node Mode Options
1036@subsection Choosing Modes
1037
1038You can run @value{GDBN} in various alternative modes---for example, in
1039batch mode or quiet mode.
1040
1041@table @code
1042@anchor{-nx}
1043@item -nx
1044@itemx -n
1045@cindex @code{--nx}
1046@cindex @code{-n}
1047Do not execute commands found in any initialization file.
1048There are three init files, loaded in the following order:
1049
1050@table @code
1051@item @file{system.gdbinit}
1052This is the system-wide init file.
1053Its location is specified with the @code{--with-system-gdbinit}
1054configure option (@pxref{System-wide configuration}).
1055It is loaded first when @value{GDBN} starts, before command line options
1056have been processed.
1057@item @file{~/.gdbinit}
1058This is the init file in your home directory.
1059It is loaded next, after @file{system.gdbinit}, and before
1060command options have been processed.
1061@item @file{./.gdbinit}
1062This is the init file in the current directory.
1063It is loaded last, after command line options other than @code{-x} and
1064@code{-ex} have been processed. Command line options @code{-x} and
1065@code{-ex} are processed last, after @file{./.gdbinit} has been loaded.
1066@end table
1067
1068For further documentation on startup processing, @xref{Startup}.
1069For documentation on how to write command files,
1070@xref{Command Files,,Command Files}.
1071
1072@anchor{-nh}
1073@item -nh
1074@cindex @code{--nh}
1075Do not execute commands found in @file{~/.gdbinit}, the init file
1076in your home directory.
1077@xref{Startup}.
1078
1079@item -quiet
1080@itemx -silent
1081@itemx -q
1082@cindex @code{--quiet}
1083@cindex @code{--silent}
1084@cindex @code{-q}
1085``Quiet''. Do not print the introductory and copyright messages. These
1086messages are also suppressed in batch mode.
1087
1088@item -batch
1089@cindex @code{--batch}
1090Run in batch mode. Exit with status @code{0} after processing all the
1091command files specified with @samp{-x} (and all commands from
1092initialization files, if not inhibited with @samp{-n}). Exit with
1093nonzero status if an error occurs in executing the @value{GDBN} commands
1094in the command files. Batch mode also disables pagination, sets unlimited
1095terminal width and height @pxref{Screen Size}, and acts as if @kbd{set confirm
1096off} were in effect (@pxref{Messages/Warnings}).
1097
1098Batch mode may be useful for running @value{GDBN} as a filter, for
1099example to download and run a program on another computer; in order to
1100make this more useful, the message
1101
1102@smallexample
1103Program exited normally.
1104@end smallexample
1105
1106@noindent
1107(which is ordinarily issued whenever a program running under
1108@value{GDBN} control terminates) is not issued when running in batch
1109mode.
1110
1111@item -batch-silent
1112@cindex @code{--batch-silent}
1113Run in batch mode exactly like @samp{-batch}, but totally silently. All
1114@value{GDBN} output to @code{stdout} is prevented (@code{stderr} is
1115unaffected). This is much quieter than @samp{-silent} and would be useless
1116for an interactive session.
1117
1118This is particularly useful when using targets that give @samp{Loading section}
1119messages, for example.
1120
1121Note that targets that give their output via @value{GDBN}, as opposed to
1122writing directly to @code{stdout}, will also be made silent.
1123
1124@item -return-child-result
1125@cindex @code{--return-child-result}
1126The return code from @value{GDBN} will be the return code from the child
1127process (the process being debugged), with the following exceptions:
1128
1129@itemize @bullet
1130@item
1131@value{GDBN} exits abnormally. E.g., due to an incorrect argument or an
1132internal error. In this case the exit code is the same as it would have been
1133without @samp{-return-child-result}.
1134@item
1135The user quits with an explicit value. E.g., @samp{quit 1}.
1136@item
1137The child process never runs, or is not allowed to terminate, in which case
1138the exit code will be -1.
1139@end itemize
1140
1141This option is useful in conjunction with @samp{-batch} or @samp{-batch-silent},
1142when @value{GDBN} is being used as a remote program loader or simulator
1143interface.
1144
1145@item -nowindows
1146@itemx -nw
1147@cindex @code{--nowindows}
1148@cindex @code{-nw}
1149``No windows''. If @value{GDBN} comes with a graphical user interface
1150(GUI) built in, then this option tells @value{GDBN} to only use the command-line
1151interface. If no GUI is available, this option has no effect.
1152
1153@item -windows
1154@itemx -w
1155@cindex @code{--windows}
1156@cindex @code{-w}
1157If @value{GDBN} includes a GUI, then this option requires it to be
1158used if possible.
1159
1160@item -cd @var{directory}
1161@cindex @code{--cd}
1162Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its working directory,
1163instead of the current directory.
1164
1165@item -data-directory @var{directory}
1166@cindex @code{--data-directory}
1167Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its data directory.
1168The data directory is where @value{GDBN} searches for its
1169auxiliary files. @xref{Data Files}.
1170
1171@item -fullname
1172@itemx -f
1173@cindex @code{--fullname}
1174@cindex @code{-f}
1175@sc{gnu} Emacs sets this option when it runs @value{GDBN} as a
1176subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to output the full file name and line
1177number in a standard, recognizable fashion each time a stack frame is
1178displayed (which includes each time your program stops). This
1179recognizable format looks like two @samp{\032} characters, followed by
1180the file name, line number and character position separated by colons,
1181and a newline. The Emacs-to-@value{GDBN} interface program uses the two
1182@samp{\032} characters as a signal to display the source code for the
1183frame.
1184
1185@item -annotate @var{level}
1186@cindex @code{--annotate}
1187This option sets the @dfn{annotation level} inside @value{GDBN}. Its
1188effect is identical to using @samp{set annotate @var{level}}
1189(@pxref{Annotations}). The annotation @var{level} controls how much
1190information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt, values of
1191expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0 is the
1192normal, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a subprocess of
1193@sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable for programs
1194that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 has been deprecated.
1195
1196The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
1197(@pxref{GDB/MI}).
1198
1199@item --args
1200@cindex @code{--args}
1201Change interpretation of command line so that arguments following the
1202executable file are passed as command line arguments to the inferior.
1203This option stops option processing.
1204
1205@item -baud @var{bps}
1206@itemx -b @var{bps}
1207@cindex @code{--baud}
1208@cindex @code{-b}
1209Set the line speed (baud rate or bits per second) of any serial
1210interface used by @value{GDBN} for remote debugging.
1211
1212@item -l @var{timeout}
1213@cindex @code{-l}
1214Set the timeout (in seconds) of any communication used by @value{GDBN}
1215for remote debugging.
1216
1217@item -tty @var{device}
1218@itemx -t @var{device}
1219@cindex @code{--tty}
1220@cindex @code{-t}
1221Run using @var{device} for your program's standard input and output.
1222@c FIXME: kingdon thinks there is more to -tty. Investigate.
1223
1224@c resolve the situation of these eventually
1225@item -tui
1226@cindex @code{--tui}
1227Activate the @dfn{Text User Interface} when starting. The Text User
1228Interface manages several text windows on the terminal, showing
1229source, assembly, registers and @value{GDBN} command outputs
1230(@pxref{TUI, ,@value{GDBN} Text User Interface}). Do not use this
1231option if you run @value{GDBN} from Emacs (@pxref{Emacs, ,
1232Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}).
1233
1234@c @item -xdb
1235@c @cindex @code{--xdb}
1236@c Run in XDB compatibility mode, allowing the use of certain XDB commands.
1237@c For information, see the file @file{xdb_trans.html}, which is usually
1238@c installed in the directory @code{/opt/langtools/wdb/doc} on HP-UX
1239@c systems.
1240
1241@item -interpreter @var{interp}
1242@cindex @code{--interpreter}
1243Use the interpreter @var{interp} for interface with the controlling
1244program or device. This option is meant to be set by programs which
1245communicate with @value{GDBN} using it as a back end.
1246@xref{Interpreters, , Command Interpreters}.
1247
1248@samp{--interpreter=mi} (or @samp{--interpreter=mi2}) causes
1249@value{GDBN} to use the @dfn{@sc{gdb/mi} interface} (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,
1250The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}) included since @value{GDBN} version 6.0. The
1251previous @sc{gdb/mi} interface, included in @value{GDBN} version 5.3 and
1252selected with @samp{--interpreter=mi1}, is deprecated. Earlier
1253@sc{gdb/mi} interfaces are no longer supported.
1254
1255@item -write
1256@cindex @code{--write}
1257Open the executable and core files for both reading and writing. This
1258is equivalent to the @samp{set write on} command inside @value{GDBN}
1259(@pxref{Patching}).
1260
1261@item -statistics
1262@cindex @code{--statistics}
1263This option causes @value{GDBN} to print statistics about time and
1264memory usage after it completes each command and returns to the prompt.
1265
1266@item -version
1267@cindex @code{--version}
1268This option causes @value{GDBN} to print its version number and
1269no-warranty blurb, and exit.
1270
1271@item -configuration
1272@cindex @code{--configuration}
1273This option causes @value{GDBN} to print details about its build-time
1274configuration parameters, and then exit. These details can be
1275important when reporting @value{GDBN} bugs (@pxref{GDB Bugs}).
1276
1277@end table
1278
1279@node Startup
1280@subsection What @value{GDBN} Does During Startup
1281@cindex @value{GDBN} startup
1282
1283Here's the description of what @value{GDBN} does during session startup:
1284
1285@enumerate
1286@item
1287Sets up the command interpreter as specified by the command line
1288(@pxref{Mode Options, interpreter}).
1289
1290@item
1291@cindex init file
1292Reads the system-wide @dfn{init file} (if @option{--with-system-gdbinit} was
1293used when building @value{GDBN}; @pxref{System-wide configuration,
1294 ,System-wide configuration and settings}) and executes all the commands in
1295that file.
1296
1297@anchor{Home Directory Init File}
1298@item
1299Reads the init file (if any) in your home directory@footnote{On
1300DOS/Windows systems, the home directory is the one pointed to by the
1301@code{HOME} environment variable.} and executes all the commands in
1302that file.
1303
1304@anchor{Option -init-eval-command}
1305@item
1306Executes commands and command files specified by the @samp{-iex} and
1307@samp{-ix} options in their specified order. Usually you should use the
1308@samp{-ex} and @samp{-x} options instead, but this way you can apply
1309settings before @value{GDBN} init files get executed and before inferior
1310gets loaded.
1311
1312@item
1313Processes command line options and operands.
1314
1315@anchor{Init File in the Current Directory during Startup}
1316@item
1317Reads and executes the commands from init file (if any) in the current
1318working directory as long as @samp{set auto-load local-gdbinit} is set to
1319@samp{on} (@pxref{Init File in the Current Directory}).
1320This is only done if the current directory is
1321different from your home directory. Thus, you can have more than one
1322init file, one generic in your home directory, and another, specific
1323to the program you are debugging, in the directory where you invoke
1324@value{GDBN}.
1325
1326@item
1327If the command line specified a program to debug, or a process to
1328attach to, or a core file, @value{GDBN} loads any auto-loaded
1329scripts provided for the program or for its loaded shared libraries.
1330@xref{Auto-loading}.
1331
1332If you wish to disable the auto-loading during startup,
1333you must do something like the following:
1334
1335@smallexample
1336$ gdb -iex "set auto-load python-scripts off" myprogram
1337@end smallexample
1338
1339Option @samp{-ex} does not work because the auto-loading is then turned
1340off too late.
1341
1342@item
1343Executes commands and command files specified by the @samp{-ex} and
1344@samp{-x} options in their specified order. @xref{Command Files}, for
1345more details about @value{GDBN} command files.
1346
1347@item
1348Reads the command history recorded in the @dfn{history file}.
1349@xref{Command History}, for more details about the command history and the
1350files where @value{GDBN} records it.
1351@end enumerate
1352
1353Init files use the same syntax as @dfn{command files} (@pxref{Command
1354Files}) and are processed by @value{GDBN} in the same way. The init
1355file in your home directory can set options (such as @samp{set
1356complaints}) that affect subsequent processing of command line options
1357and operands. Init files are not executed if you use the @samp{-nx}
1358option (@pxref{Mode Options, ,Choosing Modes}).
1359
1360To display the list of init files loaded by gdb at startup, you
1361can use @kbd{gdb --help}.
1362
1363@cindex init file name
1364@cindex @file{.gdbinit}
1365@cindex @file{gdb.ini}
1366The @value{GDBN} init files are normally called @file{.gdbinit}.
1367The DJGPP port of @value{GDBN} uses the name @file{gdb.ini}, due to
1368the limitations of file names imposed by DOS filesystems. The Windows
1369port of @value{GDBN} uses the standard name, but if it finds a
1370@file{gdb.ini} file in your home directory, it warns you about that
1371and suggests to rename the file to the standard name.
1372
1373
1374@node Quitting GDB
1375@section Quitting @value{GDBN}
1376@cindex exiting @value{GDBN}
1377@cindex leaving @value{GDBN}
1378
1379@table @code
1380@kindex quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1381@kindex q @r{(@code{quit})}
1382@item quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1383@itemx q
1384To exit @value{GDBN}, use the @code{quit} command (abbreviated
1385@code{q}), or type an end-of-file character (usually @kbd{Ctrl-d}). If you
1386do not supply @var{expression}, @value{GDBN} will terminate normally;
1387otherwise it will terminate using the result of @var{expression} as the
1388error code.
1389@end table
1390
1391@cindex interrupt
1392An interrupt (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}) does not exit from @value{GDBN}, but rather
1393terminates the action of any @value{GDBN} command that is in progress and
1394returns to @value{GDBN} command level. It is safe to type the interrupt
1395character at any time because @value{GDBN} does not allow it to take effect
1396until a time when it is safe.
1397
1398If you have been using @value{GDBN} to control an attached process or
1399device, you can release it with the @code{detach} command
1400(@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
1401
1402@node Shell Commands
1403@section Shell Commands
1404
1405If you need to execute occasional shell commands during your
1406debugging session, there is no need to leave or suspend @value{GDBN}; you can
1407just use the @code{shell} command.
1408
1409@table @code
1410@kindex shell
1411@kindex !
1412@cindex shell escape
1413@item shell @var{command-string}
1414@itemx !@var{command-string}
1415Invoke a standard shell to execute @var{command-string}.
1416Note that no space is needed between @code{!} and @var{command-string}.
1417If it exists, the environment variable @code{SHELL} determines which
1418shell to run. Otherwise @value{GDBN} uses the default shell
1419(@file{/bin/sh} on Unix systems, @file{COMMAND.COM} on MS-DOS, etc.).
1420@end table
1421
1422The utility @code{make} is often needed in development environments.
1423You do not have to use the @code{shell} command for this purpose in
1424@value{GDBN}:
1425
1426@table @code
1427@kindex make
1428@cindex calling make
1429@item make @var{make-args}
1430Execute the @code{make} program with the specified
1431arguments. This is equivalent to @samp{shell make @var{make-args}}.
1432@end table
1433
1434@node Logging Output
1435@section Logging Output
1436@cindex logging @value{GDBN} output
1437@cindex save @value{GDBN} output to a file
1438
1439You may want to save the output of @value{GDBN} commands to a file.
1440There are several commands to control @value{GDBN}'s logging.
1441
1442@table @code
1443@kindex set logging
1444@item set logging on
1445Enable logging.
1446@item set logging off
1447Disable logging.
1448@cindex logging file name
1449@item set logging file @var{file}
1450Change the name of the current logfile. The default logfile is @file{gdb.txt}.
1451@item set logging overwrite [on|off]
1452By default, @value{GDBN} will append to the logfile. Set @code{overwrite} if
1453you want @code{set logging on} to overwrite the logfile instead.
1454@item set logging redirect [on|off]
1455By default, @value{GDBN} output will go to both the terminal and the logfile.
1456Set @code{redirect} if you want output to go only to the log file.
1457@kindex show logging
1458@item show logging
1459Show the current values of the logging settings.
1460@end table
1461
1462@node Commands
1463@chapter @value{GDBN} Commands
1464
1465You can abbreviate a @value{GDBN} command to the first few letters of the command
1466name, if that abbreviation is unambiguous; and you can repeat certain
1467@value{GDBN} commands by typing just @key{RET}. You can also use the @key{TAB}
1468key to get @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest of a word in a command (or to
1469show you the alternatives available, if there is more than one possibility).
1470
1471@menu
1472* Command Syntax:: How to give commands to @value{GDBN}
1473* Completion:: Command completion
1474* Help:: How to ask @value{GDBN} for help
1475@end menu
1476
1477@node Command Syntax
1478@section Command Syntax
1479
1480A @value{GDBN} command is a single line of input. There is no limit on
1481how long it can be. It starts with a command name, which is followed by
1482arguments whose meaning depends on the command name. For example, the
1483command @code{step} accepts an argument which is the number of times to
1484step, as in @samp{step 5}. You can also use the @code{step} command
1485with no arguments. Some commands do not allow any arguments.
1486
1487@cindex abbreviation
1488@value{GDBN} command names may always be truncated if that abbreviation is
1489unambiguous. Other possible command abbreviations are listed in the
1490documentation for individual commands. In some cases, even ambiguous
1491abbreviations are allowed; for example, @code{s} is specially defined as
1492equivalent to @code{step} even though there are other commands whose
1493names start with @code{s}. You can test abbreviations by using them as
1494arguments to the @code{help} command.
1495
1496@cindex repeating commands
1497@kindex RET @r{(repeat last command)}
1498A blank line as input to @value{GDBN} (typing just @key{RET}) means to
1499repeat the previous command. Certain commands (for example, @code{run})
1500will not repeat this way; these are commands whose unintentional
1501repetition might cause trouble and which you are unlikely to want to
1502repeat. User-defined commands can disable this feature; see
1503@ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
1504
1505The @code{list} and @code{x} commands, when you repeat them with
1506@key{RET}, construct new arguments rather than repeating
1507exactly as typed. This permits easy scanning of source or memory.
1508
1509@value{GDBN} can also use @key{RET} in another way: to partition lengthy
1510output, in a way similar to the common utility @code{more}
1511(@pxref{Screen Size,,Screen Size}). Since it is easy to press one
1512@key{RET} too many in this situation, @value{GDBN} disables command
1513repetition after any command that generates this sort of display.
1514
1515@kindex # @r{(a comment)}
1516@cindex comment
1517Any text from a @kbd{#} to the end of the line is a comment; it does
1518nothing. This is useful mainly in command files (@pxref{Command
1519Files,,Command Files}).
1520
1521@cindex repeating command sequences
1522@kindex Ctrl-o @r{(operate-and-get-next)}
1523The @kbd{Ctrl-o} binding is useful for repeating a complex sequence of
1524commands. This command accepts the current line, like @key{RET}, and
1525then fetches the next line relative to the current line from the history
1526for editing.
1527
1528@node Completion
1529@section Command Completion
1530
1531@cindex completion
1532@cindex word completion
1533@value{GDBN} can fill in the rest of a word in a command for you, if there is
1534only one possibility; it can also show you what the valid possibilities
1535are for the next word in a command, at any time. This works for @value{GDBN}
1536commands, @value{GDBN} subcommands, and the names of symbols in your program.
1537
1538Press the @key{TAB} key whenever you want @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest
1539of a word. If there is only one possibility, @value{GDBN} fills in the
1540word, and waits for you to finish the command (or press @key{RET} to
1541enter it). For example, if you type
1542
1543@c FIXME "@key" does not distinguish its argument sufficiently to permit
1544@c complete accuracy in these examples; space introduced for clarity.
1545@c If texinfo enhancements make it unnecessary, it would be nice to
1546@c replace " @key" by "@key" in the following...
1547@smallexample
1548(@value{GDBP}) info bre @key{TAB}
1549@end smallexample
1550
1551@noindent
1552@value{GDBN} fills in the rest of the word @samp{breakpoints}, since that is
1553the only @code{info} subcommand beginning with @samp{bre}:
1554
1555@smallexample
1556(@value{GDBP}) info breakpoints
1557@end smallexample
1558
1559@noindent
1560You can either press @key{RET} at this point, to run the @code{info
1561breakpoints} command, or backspace and enter something else, if
1562@samp{breakpoints} does not look like the command you expected. (If you
1563were sure you wanted @code{info breakpoints} in the first place, you
1564might as well just type @key{RET} immediately after @samp{info bre},
1565to exploit command abbreviations rather than command completion).
1566
1567If there is more than one possibility for the next word when you press
1568@key{TAB}, @value{GDBN} sounds a bell. You can either supply more
1569characters and try again, or just press @key{TAB} a second time;
1570@value{GDBN} displays all the possible completions for that word. For
1571example, you might want to set a breakpoint on a subroutine whose name
1572begins with @samp{make_}, but when you type @kbd{b make_@key{TAB}} @value{GDBN}
1573just sounds the bell. Typing @key{TAB} again displays all the
1574function names in your program that begin with those characters, for
1575example:
1576
1577@smallexample
1578(@value{GDBP}) b make_ @key{TAB}
1579@exdent @value{GDBN} sounds bell; press @key{TAB} again, to see:
1580make_a_section_from_file make_environ
1581make_abs_section make_function_type
1582make_blockvector make_pointer_type
1583make_cleanup make_reference_type
1584make_command make_symbol_completion_list
1585(@value{GDBP}) b make_
1586@end smallexample
1587
1588@noindent
1589After displaying the available possibilities, @value{GDBN} copies your
1590partial input (@samp{b make_} in the example) so you can finish the
1591command.
1592
1593If you just want to see the list of alternatives in the first place, you
1594can press @kbd{M-?} rather than pressing @key{TAB} twice. @kbd{M-?}
1595means @kbd{@key{META} ?}. You can type this either by holding down a
1596key designated as the @key{META} shift on your keyboard (if there is
1597one) while typing @kbd{?}, or as @key{ESC} followed by @kbd{?}.
1598
1599@cindex quotes in commands
1600@cindex completion of quoted strings
1601Sometimes the string you need, while logically a ``word'', may contain
1602parentheses or other characters that @value{GDBN} normally excludes from
1603its notion of a word. To permit word completion to work in this
1604situation, you may enclose words in @code{'} (single quote marks) in
1605@value{GDBN} commands.
1606
1607The most likely situation where you might need this is in typing the
1608name of a C@t{++} function. This is because C@t{++} allows function
1609overloading (multiple definitions of the same function, distinguished
1610by argument type). For example, when you want to set a breakpoint you
1611may need to distinguish whether you mean the version of @code{name}
1612that takes an @code{int} parameter, @code{name(int)}, or the version
1613that takes a @code{float} parameter, @code{name(float)}. To use the
1614word-completion facilities in this situation, type a single quote
1615@code{'} at the beginning of the function name. This alerts
1616@value{GDBN} that it may need to consider more information than usual
1617when you press @key{TAB} or @kbd{M-?} to request word completion:
1618
1619@smallexample
1620(@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble( @kbd{M-?}
1621bubble(double,double) bubble(int,int)
1622(@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1623@end smallexample
1624
1625In some cases, @value{GDBN} can tell that completing a name requires using
1626quotes. When this happens, @value{GDBN} inserts the quote for you (while
1627completing as much as it can) if you do not type the quote in the first
1628place:
1629
1630@smallexample
1631(@value{GDBP}) b bub @key{TAB}
1632@exdent @value{GDBN} alters your input line to the following, and rings a bell:
1633(@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1634@end smallexample
1635
1636@noindent
1637In general, @value{GDBN} can tell that a quote is needed (and inserts it) if
1638you have not yet started typing the argument list when you ask for
1639completion on an overloaded symbol.
1640
1641For more information about overloaded functions, see @ref{C Plus Plus
1642Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}. You can use the command @code{set
1643overload-resolution off} to disable overload resolution;
1644see @ref{Debugging C Plus Plus, ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
1645
1646@cindex completion of structure field names
1647@cindex structure field name completion
1648@cindex completion of union field names
1649@cindex union field name completion
1650When completing in an expression which looks up a field in a
1651structure, @value{GDBN} also tries@footnote{The completer can be
1652confused by certain kinds of invalid expressions. Also, it only
1653examines the static type of the expression, not the dynamic type.} to
1654limit completions to the field names available in the type of the
1655left-hand-side:
1656
1657@smallexample
1658(@value{GDBP}) p gdb_stdout.@kbd{M-?}
1659magic to_fputs to_rewind
1660to_data to_isatty to_write
1661to_delete to_put to_write_async_safe
1662to_flush to_read
1663@end smallexample
1664
1665@noindent
1666This is because the @code{gdb_stdout} is a variable of the type
1667@code{struct ui_file} that is defined in @value{GDBN} sources as
1668follows:
1669
1670@smallexample
1671struct ui_file
1672@{
1673 int *magic;
1674 ui_file_flush_ftype *to_flush;
1675 ui_file_write_ftype *to_write;
1676 ui_file_write_async_safe_ftype *to_write_async_safe;
1677 ui_file_fputs_ftype *to_fputs;
1678 ui_file_read_ftype *to_read;
1679 ui_file_delete_ftype *to_delete;
1680 ui_file_isatty_ftype *to_isatty;
1681 ui_file_rewind_ftype *to_rewind;
1682 ui_file_put_ftype *to_put;
1683 void *to_data;
1684@}
1685@end smallexample
1686
1687
1688@node Help
1689@section Getting Help
1690@cindex online documentation
1691@kindex help
1692
1693You can always ask @value{GDBN} itself for information on its commands,
1694using the command @code{help}.
1695
1696@table @code
1697@kindex h @r{(@code{help})}
1698@item help
1699@itemx h
1700You can use @code{help} (abbreviated @code{h}) with no arguments to
1701display a short list of named classes of commands:
1702
1703@smallexample
1704(@value{GDBP}) help
1705List of classes of commands:
1706
1707aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1708breakpoints -- Making program stop at certain points
1709data -- Examining data
1710files -- Specifying and examining files
1711internals -- Maintenance commands
1712obscure -- Obscure features
1713running -- Running the program
1714stack -- Examining the stack
1715status -- Status inquiries
1716support -- Support facilities
1717tracepoints -- Tracing of program execution without
1718 stopping the program
1719user-defined -- User-defined commands
1720
1721Type "help" followed by a class name for a list of
1722commands in that class.
1723Type "help" followed by command name for full
1724documentation.
1725Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1726(@value{GDBP})
1727@end smallexample
1728@c the above line break eliminates huge line overfull...
1729
1730@item help @var{class}
1731Using one of the general help classes as an argument, you can get a
1732list of the individual commands in that class. For example, here is the
1733help display for the class @code{status}:
1734
1735@smallexample
1736(@value{GDBP}) help status
1737Status inquiries.
1738
1739List of commands:
1740
1741@c Line break in "show" line falsifies real output, but needed
1742@c to fit in smallbook page size.
1743info -- Generic command for showing things
1744 about the program being debugged
1745show -- Generic command for showing things
1746 about the debugger
1747
1748Type "help" followed by command name for full
1749documentation.
1750Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1751(@value{GDBP})
1752@end smallexample
1753
1754@item help @var{command}
1755With a command name as @code{help} argument, @value{GDBN} displays a
1756short paragraph on how to use that command.
1757
1758@kindex apropos
1759@item apropos @var{args}
1760The @code{apropos} command searches through all of the @value{GDBN}
1761commands, and their documentation, for the regular expression specified in
1762@var{args}. It prints out all matches found. For example:
1763
1764@smallexample
1765apropos alias
1766@end smallexample
1767
1768@noindent
1769results in:
1770
1771@smallexample
1772@c @group
1773alias -- Define a new command that is an alias of an existing command
1774aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1775d -- Delete some breakpoints or auto-display expressions
1776del -- Delete some breakpoints or auto-display expressions
1777delete -- Delete some breakpoints or auto-display expressions
1778@c @end group
1779@end smallexample
1780
1781@kindex complete
1782@item complete @var{args}
1783The @code{complete @var{args}} command lists all the possible completions
1784for the beginning of a command. Use @var{args} to specify the beginning of the
1785command you want completed. For example:
1786
1787@smallexample
1788complete i
1789@end smallexample
1790
1791@noindent results in:
1792
1793@smallexample
1794@group
1795if
1796ignore
1797info
1798inspect
1799@end group
1800@end smallexample
1801
1802@noindent This is intended for use by @sc{gnu} Emacs.
1803@end table
1804
1805In addition to @code{help}, you can use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{info}
1806and @code{show} to inquire about the state of your program, or the state
1807of @value{GDBN} itself. Each command supports many topics of inquiry; this
1808manual introduces each of them in the appropriate context. The listings
1809under @code{info} and under @code{show} in the Command, Variable, and
1810Function Index point to all the sub-commands. @xref{Command and Variable
1811Index}.
1812
1813@c @group
1814@table @code
1815@kindex info
1816@kindex i @r{(@code{info})}
1817@item info
1818This command (abbreviated @code{i}) is for describing the state of your
1819program. For example, you can show the arguments passed to a function
1820with @code{info args}, list the registers currently in use with @code{info
1821registers}, or list the breakpoints you have set with @code{info breakpoints}.
1822You can get a complete list of the @code{info} sub-commands with
1823@w{@code{help info}}.
1824
1825@kindex set
1826@item set
1827You can assign the result of an expression to an environment variable with
1828@code{set}. For example, you can set the @value{GDBN} prompt to a $-sign with
1829@code{set prompt $}.
1830
1831@kindex show
1832@item show
1833In contrast to @code{info}, @code{show} is for describing the state of
1834@value{GDBN} itself.
1835You can change most of the things you can @code{show}, by using the
1836related command @code{set}; for example, you can control what number
1837system is used for displays with @code{set radix}, or simply inquire
1838which is currently in use with @code{show radix}.
1839
1840@kindex info set
1841To display all the settable parameters and their current
1842values, you can use @code{show} with no arguments; you may also use
1843@code{info set}. Both commands produce the same display.
1844@c FIXME: "info set" violates the rule that "info" is for state of
1845@c FIXME...program. Ck w/ GNU: "info set" to be called something else,
1846@c FIXME...or change desc of rule---eg "state of prog and debugging session"?
1847@end table
1848@c @end group
1849
1850Here are several miscellaneous @code{show} subcommands, all of which are
1851exceptional in lacking corresponding @code{set} commands:
1852
1853@table @code
1854@kindex show version
1855@cindex @value{GDBN} version number
1856@item show version
1857Show what version of @value{GDBN} is running. You should include this
1858information in @value{GDBN} bug-reports. If multiple versions of
1859@value{GDBN} are in use at your site, you may need to determine which
1860version of @value{GDBN} you are running; as @value{GDBN} evolves, new
1861commands are introduced, and old ones may wither away. Also, many
1862system vendors ship variant versions of @value{GDBN}, and there are
1863variant versions of @value{GDBN} in @sc{gnu}/Linux distributions as well.
1864The version number is the same as the one announced when you start
1865@value{GDBN}.
1866
1867@kindex show copying
1868@kindex info copying
1869@cindex display @value{GDBN} copyright
1870@item show copying
1871@itemx info copying
1872Display information about permission for copying @value{GDBN}.
1873
1874@kindex show warranty
1875@kindex info warranty
1876@item show warranty
1877@itemx info warranty
1878Display the @sc{gnu} ``NO WARRANTY'' statement, or a warranty,
1879if your version of @value{GDBN} comes with one.
1880
1881@kindex show configuration
1882@item show configuration
1883Display detailed information about the way @value{GDBN} was configured
1884when it was built. This displays the optional arguments passed to the
1885@file{configure} script and also configuration parameters detected
1886automatically by @command{configure}. When reporting a @value{GDBN}
1887bug (@pxref{GDB Bugs}), it is important to include this information in
1888your report.
1889
1890@end table
1891
1892@node Running
1893@chapter Running Programs Under @value{GDBN}
1894
1895When you run a program under @value{GDBN}, you must first generate
1896debugging information when you compile it.
1897
1898You may start @value{GDBN} with its arguments, if any, in an environment
1899of your choice. If you are doing native debugging, you may redirect
1900your program's input and output, debug an already running process, or
1901kill a child process.
1902
1903@menu
1904* Compilation:: Compiling for debugging
1905* Starting:: Starting your program
1906* Arguments:: Your program's arguments
1907* Environment:: Your program's environment
1908
1909* Working Directory:: Your program's working directory
1910* Input/Output:: Your program's input and output
1911* Attach:: Debugging an already-running process
1912* Kill Process:: Killing the child process
1913
1914* Inferiors and Programs:: Debugging multiple inferiors and programs
1915* Threads:: Debugging programs with multiple threads
1916* Forks:: Debugging forks
1917* Checkpoint/Restart:: Setting a @emph{bookmark} to return to later
1918@end menu
1919
1920@node Compilation
1921@section Compiling for Debugging
1922
1923In order to debug a program effectively, you need to generate
1924debugging information when you compile it. This debugging information
1925is stored in the object file; it describes the data type of each
1926variable or function and the correspondence between source line numbers
1927and addresses in the executable code.
1928
1929To request debugging information, specify the @samp{-g} option when you run
1930the compiler.
1931
1932Programs that are to be shipped to your customers are compiled with
1933optimizations, using the @samp{-O} compiler option. However, some
1934compilers are unable to handle the @samp{-g} and @samp{-O} options
1935together. Using those compilers, you cannot generate optimized
1936executables containing debugging information.
1937
1938@value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C/C@t{++} compiler, supports @samp{-g} with or
1939without @samp{-O}, making it possible to debug optimized code. We
1940recommend that you @emph{always} use @samp{-g} whenever you compile a
1941program. You may think your program is correct, but there is no sense
1942in pushing your luck. For more information, see @ref{Optimized Code}.
1943
1944Older versions of the @sc{gnu} C compiler permitted a variant option
1945@w{@samp{-gg}} for debugging information. @value{GDBN} no longer supports this
1946format; if your @sc{gnu} C compiler has this option, do not use it.
1947
1948@value{GDBN} knows about preprocessor macros and can show you their
1949expansion (@pxref{Macros}). Most compilers do not include information
1950about preprocessor macros in the debugging information if you specify
1951the @option{-g} flag alone. Version 3.1 and later of @value{NGCC},
1952the @sc{gnu} C compiler, provides macro information if you are using
1953the DWARF debugging format, and specify the option @option{-g3}.
1954
1955@xref{Debugging Options,,Options for Debugging Your Program or GCC,
1956gcc.info, Using the @sc{gnu} Compiler Collection (GCC)}, for more
1957information on @value{NGCC} options affecting debug information.
1958
1959You will have the best debugging experience if you use the latest
1960version of the DWARF debugging format that your compiler supports.
1961DWARF is currently the most expressive and best supported debugging
1962format in @value{GDBN}.
1963
1964@need 2000
1965@node Starting
1966@section Starting your Program
1967@cindex starting
1968@cindex running
1969
1970@table @code
1971@kindex run
1972@kindex r @r{(@code{run})}
1973@item run
1974@itemx r
1975Use the @code{run} command to start your program under @value{GDBN}.
1976You must first specify the program name (except on VxWorks) with an
1977argument to @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Invocation, ,Getting In and Out of
1978@value{GDBN}}), or by using the @code{file} or @code{exec-file} command
1979(@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
1980
1981@end table
1982
1983If you are running your program in an execution environment that
1984supports processes, @code{run} creates an inferior process and makes
1985that process run your program. In some environments without processes,
1986@code{run} jumps to the start of your program. Other targets,
1987like @samp{remote}, are always running. If you get an error
1988message like this one:
1989
1990@smallexample
1991The "remote" target does not support "run".
1992Try "help target" or "continue".
1993@end smallexample
1994
1995@noindent
1996then use @code{continue} to run your program. You may need @code{load}
1997first (@pxref{load}).
1998
1999The execution of a program is affected by certain information it
2000receives from its superior. @value{GDBN} provides ways to specify this
2001information, which you must do @emph{before} starting your program. (You
2002can change it after starting your program, but such changes only affect
2003your program the next time you start it.) This information may be
2004divided into four categories:
2005
2006@table @asis
2007@item The @emph{arguments.}
2008Specify the arguments to give your program as the arguments of the
2009@code{run} command. If a shell is available on your target, the shell
2010is used to pass the arguments, so that you may use normal conventions
2011(such as wildcard expansion or variable substitution) in describing
2012the arguments.
2013In Unix systems, you can control which shell is used with the
2014@code{SHELL} environment variable.
2015@xref{Arguments, ,Your Program's Arguments}.
2016
2017@item The @emph{environment.}
2018Your program normally inherits its environment from @value{GDBN}, but you can
2019use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{set environment} and @code{unset
2020environment} to change parts of the environment that affect
2021your program. @xref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}.
2022
2023@item The @emph{working directory.}
2024Your program inherits its working directory from @value{GDBN}. You can set
2025the @value{GDBN} working directory with the @code{cd} command in @value{GDBN}.
2026@xref{Working Directory, ,Your Program's Working Directory}.
2027
2028@item The @emph{standard input and output.}
2029Your program normally uses the same device for standard input and
2030standard output as @value{GDBN} is using. You can redirect input and output
2031in the @code{run} command line, or you can use the @code{tty} command to
2032set a different device for your program.
2033@xref{Input/Output, ,Your Program's Input and Output}.
2034
2035@cindex pipes
2036@emph{Warning:} While input and output redirection work, you cannot use
2037pipes to pass the output of the program you are debugging to another
2038program; if you attempt this, @value{GDBN} is likely to wind up debugging the
2039wrong program.
2040@end table
2041
2042When you issue the @code{run} command, your program begins to execute
2043immediately. @xref{Stopping, ,Stopping and Continuing}, for discussion
2044of how to arrange for your program to stop. Once your program has
2045stopped, you may call functions in your program, using the @code{print}
2046or @code{call} commands. @xref{Data, ,Examining Data}.
2047
2048If the modification time of your symbol file has changed since the last
2049time @value{GDBN} read its symbols, @value{GDBN} discards its symbol
2050table, and reads it again. When it does this, @value{GDBN} tries to retain
2051your current breakpoints.
2052
2053@table @code
2054@kindex start
2055@item start
2056@cindex run to main procedure
2057The name of the main procedure can vary from language to language.
2058With C or C@t{++}, the main procedure name is always @code{main}, but
2059other languages such as Ada do not require a specific name for their
2060main procedure. The debugger provides a convenient way to start the
2061execution of the program and to stop at the beginning of the main
2062procedure, depending on the language used.
2063
2064The @samp{start} command does the equivalent of setting a temporary
2065breakpoint at the beginning of the main procedure and then invoking
2066the @samp{run} command.
2067
2068@cindex elaboration phase
2069Some programs contain an @dfn{elaboration} phase where some startup code is
2070executed before the main procedure is called. This depends on the
2071languages used to write your program. In C@t{++}, for instance,
2072constructors for static and global objects are executed before
2073@code{main} is called. It is therefore possible that the debugger stops
2074before reaching the main procedure. However, the temporary breakpoint
2075will remain to halt execution.
2076
2077Specify the arguments to give to your program as arguments to the
2078@samp{start} command. These arguments will be given verbatim to the
2079underlying @samp{run} command. Note that the same arguments will be
2080reused if no argument is provided during subsequent calls to
2081@samp{start} or @samp{run}.
2082
2083It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration. In
2084these cases, using the @code{start} command would stop the execution of
2085your program too late, as the program would have already completed the
2086elaboration phase. Under these circumstances, insert breakpoints in your
2087elaboration code before running your program.
2088
2089@kindex set exec-wrapper
2090@item set exec-wrapper @var{wrapper}
2091@itemx show exec-wrapper
2092@itemx unset exec-wrapper
2093When @samp{exec-wrapper} is set, the specified wrapper is used to
2094launch programs for debugging. @value{GDBN} starts your program
2095with a shell command of the form @kbd{exec @var{wrapper}
2096@var{program}}. Quoting is added to @var{program} and its
2097arguments, but not to @var{wrapper}, so you should add quotes if
2098appropriate for your shell. The wrapper runs until it executes
2099your program, and then @value{GDBN} takes control.
2100
2101You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
2102its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
2103this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
2104with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
2105
2106For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
2107the debugged program, without setting the variable in your shell's
2108environment:
2109
2110@smallexample
2111(@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper env 'LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so'
2112(@value{GDBP}) run
2113@end smallexample
2114
2115This command is available when debugging locally on most targets, excluding
2116@sc{djgpp}, Cygwin, MS Windows, and QNX Neutrino.
2117
2118@kindex set disable-randomization
2119@item set disable-randomization
2120@itemx set disable-randomization on
2121This option (enabled by default in @value{GDBN}) will turn off the native
2122randomization of the virtual address space of the started program. This option
2123is useful for multiple debugging sessions to make the execution better
2124reproducible and memory addresses reusable across debugging sessions.
2125
2126This feature is implemented only on certain targets, including @sc{gnu}/Linux.
2127On @sc{gnu}/Linux you can get the same behavior using
2128
2129@smallexample
2130(@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper setarch `uname -m` -R
2131@end smallexample
2132
2133@item set disable-randomization off
2134Leave the behavior of the started executable unchanged. Some bugs rear their
2135ugly heads only when the program is loaded at certain addresses. If your bug
2136disappears when you run the program under @value{GDBN}, that might be because
2137@value{GDBN} by default disables the address randomization on platforms, such
2138as @sc{gnu}/Linux, which do that for stand-alone programs. Use @kbd{set
2139disable-randomization off} to try to reproduce such elusive bugs.
2140
2141On targets where it is available, virtual address space randomization
2142protects the programs against certain kinds of security attacks. In these
2143cases the attacker needs to know the exact location of a concrete executable
2144code. Randomizing its location makes it impossible to inject jumps misusing
2145a code at its expected addresses.
2146
2147Prelinking shared libraries provides a startup performance advantage but it
2148makes addresses in these libraries predictable for privileged processes by
2149having just unprivileged access at the target system. Reading the shared
2150library binary gives enough information for assembling the malicious code
2151misusing it. Still even a prelinked shared library can get loaded at a new
2152random address just requiring the regular relocation process during the
2153startup. Shared libraries not already prelinked are always loaded at
2154a randomly chosen address.
2155
2156Position independent executables (PIE) contain position independent code
2157similar to the shared libraries and therefore such executables get loaded at
2158a randomly chosen address upon startup. PIE executables always load even
2159already prelinked shared libraries at a random address. You can build such
2160executable using @command{gcc -fPIE -pie}.
2161
2162Heap (malloc storage), stack and custom mmap areas are always placed randomly
2163(as long as the randomization is enabled).
2164
2165@item show disable-randomization
2166Show the current setting of the explicit disable of the native randomization of
2167the virtual address space of the started program.
2168
2169@end table
2170
2171@node Arguments
2172@section Your Program's Arguments
2173
2174@cindex arguments (to your program)
2175The arguments to your program can be specified by the arguments of the
2176@code{run} command.
2177They are passed to a shell, which expands wildcard characters and
2178performs redirection of I/O, and thence to your program. Your
2179@code{SHELL} environment variable (if it exists) specifies what shell
2180@value{GDBN} uses. If you do not define @code{SHELL}, @value{GDBN} uses
2181the default shell (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix).
2182
2183On non-Unix systems, the program is usually invoked directly by
2184@value{GDBN}, which emulates I/O redirection via the appropriate system
2185calls, and the wildcard characters are expanded by the startup code of
2186the program, not by the shell.
2187
2188@code{run} with no arguments uses the same arguments used by the previous
2189@code{run}, or those set by the @code{set args} command.
2190
2191@table @code
2192@kindex set args
2193@item set args
2194Specify the arguments to be used the next time your program is run. If
2195@code{set args} has no arguments, @code{run} executes your program
2196with no arguments. Once you have run your program with arguments,
2197using @code{set args} before the next @code{run} is the only way to run
2198it again without arguments.
2199
2200@kindex show args
2201@item show args
2202Show the arguments to give your program when it is started.
2203@end table
2204
2205@node Environment
2206@section Your Program's Environment
2207
2208@cindex environment (of your program)
2209The @dfn{environment} consists of a set of environment variables and
2210their values. Environment variables conventionally record such things as
2211your user name, your home directory, your terminal type, and your search
2212path for programs to run. Usually you set up environment variables with
2213the shell and they are inherited by all the other programs you run. When
2214debugging, it can be useful to try running your program with a modified
2215environment without having to start @value{GDBN} over again.
2216
2217@table @code
2218@kindex path
2219@item path @var{directory}
2220Add @var{directory} to the front of the @code{PATH} environment variable
2221(the search path for executables) that will be passed to your program.
2222The value of @code{PATH} used by @value{GDBN} does not change.
2223You may specify several directory names, separated by whitespace or by a
2224system-dependent separator character (@samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on
2225MS-DOS and MS-Windows). If @var{directory} is already in the path, it
2226is moved to the front, so it is searched sooner.
2227
2228You can use the string @samp{$cwd} to refer to whatever is the current
2229working directory at the time @value{GDBN} searches the path. If you
2230use @samp{.} instead, it refers to the directory where you executed the
2231@code{path} command. @value{GDBN} replaces @samp{.} in the
2232@var{directory} argument (with the current path) before adding
2233@var{directory} to the search path.
2234@c 'path' is explicitly nonrepeatable, but RMS points out it is silly to
2235@c document that, since repeating it would be a no-op.
2236
2237@kindex show paths
2238@item show paths
2239Display the list of search paths for executables (the @code{PATH}
2240environment variable).
2241
2242@kindex show environment
2243@item show environment @r{[}@var{varname}@r{]}
2244Print the value of environment variable @var{varname} to be given to
2245your program when it starts. If you do not supply @var{varname},
2246print the names and values of all environment variables to be given to
2247your program. You can abbreviate @code{environment} as @code{env}.
2248
2249@kindex set environment
2250@item set environment @var{varname} @r{[}=@var{value}@r{]}
2251Set environment variable @var{varname} to @var{value}. The value
2252changes for your program only, not for @value{GDBN} itself. @var{value} may
2253be any string; the values of environment variables are just strings, and
2254any interpretation is supplied by your program itself. The @var{value}
2255parameter is optional; if it is eliminated, the variable is set to a
2256null value.
2257@c "any string" here does not include leading, trailing
2258@c blanks. Gnu asks: does anyone care?
2259
2260For example, this command:
2261
2262@smallexample
2263set env USER = foo
2264@end smallexample
2265
2266@noindent
2267tells the debugged program, when subsequently run, that its user is named
2268@samp{foo}. (The spaces around @samp{=} are used for clarity here; they
2269are not actually required.)
2270
2271@kindex unset environment
2272@item unset environment @var{varname}
2273Remove variable @var{varname} from the environment to be passed to your
2274program. This is different from @samp{set env @var{varname} =};
2275@code{unset environment} removes the variable from the environment,
2276rather than assigning it an empty value.
2277@end table
2278
2279@emph{Warning:} On Unix systems, @value{GDBN} runs your program using
2280the shell indicated
2281by your @code{SHELL} environment variable if it exists (or
2282@code{/bin/sh} if not). If your @code{SHELL} variable names a shell
2283that runs an initialization file---such as @file{.cshrc} for C-shell, or
2284@file{.bashrc} for BASH---any variables you set in that file affect
2285your program. You may wish to move setting of environment variables to
2286files that are only run when you sign on, such as @file{.login} or
2287@file{.profile}.
2288
2289@node Working Directory
2290@section Your Program's Working Directory
2291
2292@cindex working directory (of your program)
2293Each time you start your program with @code{run}, it inherits its
2294working directory from the current working directory of @value{GDBN}.
2295The @value{GDBN} working directory is initially whatever it inherited
2296from its parent process (typically the shell), but you can specify a new
2297working directory in @value{GDBN} with the @code{cd} command.
2298
2299The @value{GDBN} working directory also serves as a default for the commands
2300that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2301Specify Files}.
2302
2303@table @code
2304@kindex cd
2305@cindex change working directory
2306@item cd @r{[}@var{directory}@r{]}
2307Set the @value{GDBN} working directory to @var{directory}. If not
2308given, @var{directory} uses @file{'~'}.
2309
2310@kindex pwd
2311@item pwd
2312Print the @value{GDBN} working directory.
2313@end table
2314
2315It is generally impossible to find the current working directory of
2316the process being debugged (since a program can change its directory
2317during its run). If you work on a system where @value{GDBN} is
2318configured with the @file{/proc} support, you can use the @code{info
2319proc} command (@pxref{SVR4 Process Information}) to find out the
2320current working directory of the debuggee.
2321
2322@node Input/Output
2323@section Your Program's Input and Output
2324
2325@cindex redirection
2326@cindex i/o
2327@cindex terminal
2328By default, the program you run under @value{GDBN} does input and output to
2329the same terminal that @value{GDBN} uses. @value{GDBN} switches the terminal
2330to its own terminal modes to interact with you, but it records the terminal
2331modes your program was using and switches back to them when you continue
2332running your program.
2333
2334@table @code
2335@kindex info terminal
2336@item info terminal
2337Displays information recorded by @value{GDBN} about the terminal modes your
2338program is using.
2339@end table
2340
2341You can redirect your program's input and/or output using shell
2342redirection with the @code{run} command. For example,
2343
2344@smallexample
2345run > outfile
2346@end smallexample
2347
2348@noindent
2349starts your program, diverting its output to the file @file{outfile}.
2350
2351@kindex tty
2352@cindex controlling terminal
2353Another way to specify where your program should do input and output is
2354with the @code{tty} command. This command accepts a file name as
2355argument, and causes this file to be the default for future @code{run}
2356commands. It also resets the controlling terminal for the child
2357process, for future @code{run} commands. For example,
2358
2359@smallexample
2360tty /dev/ttyb
2361@end smallexample
2362
2363@noindent
2364directs that processes started with subsequent @code{run} commands
2365default to do input and output on the terminal @file{/dev/ttyb} and have
2366that as their controlling terminal.
2367
2368An explicit redirection in @code{run} overrides the @code{tty} command's
2369effect on the input/output device, but not its effect on the controlling
2370terminal.
2371
2372When you use the @code{tty} command or redirect input in the @code{run}
2373command, only the input @emph{for your program} is affected. The input
2374for @value{GDBN} still comes from your terminal. @code{tty} is an alias
2375for @code{set inferior-tty}.
2376
2377@cindex inferior tty
2378@cindex set inferior controlling terminal
2379You can use the @code{show inferior-tty} command to tell @value{GDBN} to
2380display the name of the terminal that will be used for future runs of your
2381program.
2382
2383@table @code
2384@item set inferior-tty /dev/ttyb
2385@kindex set inferior-tty
2386Set the tty for the program being debugged to /dev/ttyb.
2387
2388@item show inferior-tty
2389@kindex show inferior-tty
2390Show the current tty for the program being debugged.
2391@end table
2392
2393@node Attach
2394@section Debugging an Already-running Process
2395@kindex attach
2396@cindex attach
2397
2398@table @code
2399@item attach @var{process-id}
2400This command attaches to a running process---one that was started
2401outside @value{GDBN}. (@code{info files} shows your active
2402targets.) The command takes as argument a process ID. The usual way to
2403find out the @var{process-id} of a Unix process is with the @code{ps} utility,
2404or with the @samp{jobs -l} shell command.
2405
2406@code{attach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} a second time after
2407executing the command.
2408@end table
2409
2410To use @code{attach}, your program must be running in an environment
2411which supports processes; for example, @code{attach} does not work for
2412programs on bare-board targets that lack an operating system. You must
2413also have permission to send the process a signal.
2414
2415When you use @code{attach}, the debugger finds the program running in
2416the process first by looking in the current working directory, then (if
2417the program is not found) by using the source file search path
2418(@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}). You can also use
2419the @code{file} command to load the program. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2420Specify Files}.
2421
2422The first thing @value{GDBN} does after arranging to debug the specified
2423process is to stop it. You can examine and modify an attached process
2424with all the @value{GDBN} commands that are ordinarily available when
2425you start processes with @code{run}. You can insert breakpoints; you
2426can step and continue; you can modify storage. If you would rather the
2427process continue running, you may use the @code{continue} command after
2428attaching @value{GDBN} to the process.
2429
2430@table @code
2431@kindex detach
2432@item detach
2433When you have finished debugging the attached process, you can use the
2434@code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control. Detaching
2435the process continues its execution. After the @code{detach} command,
2436that process and @value{GDBN} become completely independent once more, and you
2437are ready to @code{attach} another process or start one with @code{run}.
2438@code{detach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
2439executing the command.
2440@end table
2441
2442If you exit @value{GDBN} while you have an attached process, you detach
2443that process. If you use the @code{run} command, you kill that process.
2444By default, @value{GDBN} asks for confirmation if you try to do either of these
2445things; you can control whether or not you need to confirm by using the
2446@code{set confirm} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
2447Messages}).
2448
2449@node Kill Process
2450@section Killing the Child Process
2451
2452@table @code
2453@kindex kill
2454@item kill
2455Kill the child process in which your program is running under @value{GDBN}.
2456@end table
2457
2458This command is useful if you wish to debug a core dump instead of a
2459running process. @value{GDBN} ignores any core dump file while your program
2460is running.
2461
2462On some operating systems, a program cannot be executed outside @value{GDBN}
2463while you have breakpoints set on it inside @value{GDBN}. You can use the
2464@code{kill} command in this situation to permit running your program
2465outside the debugger.
2466
2467The @code{kill} command is also useful if you wish to recompile and
2468relink your program, since on many systems it is impossible to modify an
2469executable file while it is running in a process. In this case, when you
2470next type @code{run}, @value{GDBN} notices that the file has changed, and
2471reads the symbol table again (while trying to preserve your current
2472breakpoint settings).
2473
2474@node Inferiors and Programs
2475@section Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs
2476
2477@value{GDBN} lets you run and debug multiple programs in a single
2478session. In addition, @value{GDBN} on some systems may let you run
2479several programs simultaneously (otherwise you have to exit from one
2480before starting another). In the most general case, you can have
2481multiple threads of execution in each of multiple processes, launched
2482from multiple executables.
2483
2484@cindex inferior
2485@value{GDBN} represents the state of each program execution with an
2486object called an @dfn{inferior}. An inferior typically corresponds to
2487a process, but is more general and applies also to targets that do not
2488have processes. Inferiors may be created before a process runs, and
2489may be retained after a process exits. Inferiors have unique
2490identifiers that are different from process ids. Usually each
2491inferior will also have its own distinct address space, although some
2492embedded targets may have several inferiors running in different parts
2493of a single address space. Each inferior may in turn have multiple
2494threads running in it.
2495
2496To find out what inferiors exist at any moment, use @w{@code{info
2497inferiors}}:
2498
2499@table @code
2500@kindex info inferiors
2501@item info inferiors
2502Print a list of all inferiors currently being managed by @value{GDBN}.
2503
2504@value{GDBN} displays for each inferior (in this order):
2505
2506@enumerate
2507@item
2508the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2509
2510@item
2511the target system's inferior identifier
2512
2513@item
2514the name of the executable the inferior is running.
2515
2516@end enumerate
2517
2518@noindent
2519An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} inferior number
2520indicates the current inferior.
2521
2522For example,
2523@end table
2524@c end table here to get a little more width for example
2525
2526@smallexample
2527(@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2528 Num Description Executable
2529 2 process 2307 hello
2530* 1 process 3401 goodbye
2531@end smallexample
2532
2533To switch focus between inferiors, use the @code{inferior} command:
2534
2535@table @code
2536@kindex inferior @var{infno}
2537@item inferior @var{infno}
2538Make inferior number @var{infno} the current inferior. The argument
2539@var{infno} is the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}, as shown
2540in the first field of the @samp{info inferiors} display.
2541@end table
2542
2543
2544You can get multiple executables into a debugging session via the
2545@code{add-inferior} and @w{@code{clone-inferior}} commands. On some
2546systems @value{GDBN} can add inferiors to the debug session
2547automatically by following calls to @code{fork} and @code{exec}. To
2548remove inferiors from the debugging session use the
2549@w{@code{remove-inferiors}} command.
2550
2551@table @code
2552@kindex add-inferior
2553@item add-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ -exec @var{executable} ]
2554Adds @var{n} inferiors to be run using @var{executable} as the
2555executable. @var{n} defaults to 1. If no executable is specified,
2556the inferiors begins empty, with no program. You can still assign or
2557change the program assigned to the inferior at any time by using the
2558@code{file} command with the executable name as its argument.
2559
2560@kindex clone-inferior
2561@item clone-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ @var{infno} ]
2562Adds @var{n} inferiors ready to execute the same program as inferior
2563@var{infno}. @var{n} defaults to 1. @var{infno} defaults to the
2564number of the current inferior. This is a convenient command when you
2565want to run another instance of the inferior you are debugging.
2566
2567@smallexample
2568(@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2569 Num Description Executable
2570* 1 process 29964 helloworld
2571(@value{GDBP}) clone-inferior
2572Added inferior 2.
25731 inferiors added.
2574(@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2575 Num Description Executable
2576 2 <null> helloworld
2577* 1 process 29964 helloworld
2578@end smallexample
2579
2580You can now simply switch focus to inferior 2 and run it.
2581
2582@kindex remove-inferiors
2583@item remove-inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2584Removes the inferior or inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}. It is not
2585possible to remove an inferior that is running with this command. For
2586those, use the @code{kill} or @code{detach} command first.
2587
2588@end table
2589
2590To quit debugging one of the running inferiors that is not the current
2591inferior, you can either detach from it by using the @w{@code{detach
2592inferior}} command (allowing it to run independently), or kill it
2593using the @w{@code{kill inferiors}} command:
2594
2595@table @code
2596@kindex detach inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2597@item detach inferior @var{infno}@dots{}
2598Detach from the inferior or inferiors identified by @value{GDBN}
2599inferior number(s) @var{infno}@dots{}. Note that the inferior's entry
2600still stays on the list of inferiors shown by @code{info inferiors},
2601but its Description will show @samp{<null>}.
2602
2603@kindex kill inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2604@item kill inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2605Kill the inferior or inferiors identified by @value{GDBN} inferior
2606number(s) @var{infno}@dots{}. Note that the inferior's entry still
2607stays on the list of inferiors shown by @code{info inferiors}, but its
2608Description will show @samp{<null>}.
2609@end table
2610
2611After the successful completion of a command such as @code{detach},
2612@code{detach inferiors}, @code{kill} or @code{kill inferiors}, or after
2613a normal process exit, the inferior is still valid and listed with
2614@code{info inferiors}, ready to be restarted.
2615
2616
2617To be notified when inferiors are started or exit under @value{GDBN}'s
2618control use @w{@code{set print inferior-events}}:
2619
2620@table @code
2621@kindex set print inferior-events
2622@cindex print messages on inferior start and exit
2623@item set print inferior-events
2624@itemx set print inferior-events on
2625@itemx set print inferior-events off
2626The @code{set print inferior-events} command allows you to enable or
2627disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new
2628inferiors have started or that inferiors have exited or have been
2629detached. By default, these messages will not be printed.
2630
2631@kindex show print inferior-events
2632@item show print inferior-events
2633Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that
2634inferiors have started, exited or have been detached.
2635@end table
2636
2637Many commands will work the same with multiple programs as with a
2638single program: e.g., @code{print myglobal} will simply display the
2639value of @code{myglobal} in the current inferior.
2640
2641
2642Occasionaly, when debugging @value{GDBN} itself, it may be useful to
2643get more info about the relationship of inferiors, programs, address
2644spaces in a debug session. You can do that with the @w{@code{maint
2645info program-spaces}} command.
2646
2647@table @code
2648@kindex maint info program-spaces
2649@item maint info program-spaces
2650Print a list of all program spaces currently being managed by
2651@value{GDBN}.
2652
2653@value{GDBN} displays for each program space (in this order):
2654
2655@enumerate
2656@item
2657the program space number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2658
2659@item
2660the name of the executable loaded into the program space, with e.g.,
2661the @code{file} command.
2662
2663@end enumerate
2664
2665@noindent
2666An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} program space number
2667indicates the current program space.
2668
2669In addition, below each program space line, @value{GDBN} prints extra
2670information that isn't suitable to display in tabular form. For
2671example, the list of inferiors bound to the program space.
2672
2673@smallexample
2674(@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2675 Id Executable
2676 2 goodbye
2677 Bound inferiors: ID 1 (process 21561)
2678* 1 hello
2679@end smallexample
2680
2681Here we can see that no inferior is running the program @code{hello},
2682while @code{process 21561} is running the program @code{goodbye}. On
2683some targets, it is possible that multiple inferiors are bound to the
2684same program space. The most common example is that of debugging both
2685the parent and child processes of a @code{vfork} call. For example,
2686
2687@smallexample
2688(@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2689 Id Executable
2690* 1 vfork-test
2691 Bound inferiors: ID 2 (process 18050), ID 1 (process 18045)
2692@end smallexample
2693
2694Here, both inferior 2 and inferior 1 are running in the same program
2695space as a result of inferior 1 having executed a @code{vfork} call.
2696@end table
2697
2698@node Threads
2699@section Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads
2700
2701@cindex threads of execution
2702@cindex multiple threads
2703@cindex switching threads
2704In some operating systems, such as HP-UX and Solaris, a single program
2705may have more than one @dfn{thread} of execution. The precise semantics
2706of threads differ from one operating system to another, but in general
2707the threads of a single program are akin to multiple processes---except
2708that they share one address space (that is, they can all examine and
2709modify the same variables). On the other hand, each thread has its own
2710registers and execution stack, and perhaps private memory.
2711
2712@value{GDBN} provides these facilities for debugging multi-thread
2713programs:
2714
2715@itemize @bullet
2716@item automatic notification of new threads
2717@item @samp{thread @var{threadno}}, a command to switch among threads
2718@item @samp{info threads}, a command to inquire about existing threads
2719@item @samp{thread apply [@var{threadno}] [@var{all}] @var{args}},
2720a command to apply a command to a list of threads
2721@item thread-specific breakpoints
2722@item @samp{set print thread-events}, which controls printing of
2723messages on thread start and exit.
2724@item @samp{set libthread-db-search-path @var{path}}, which lets
2725the user specify which @code{libthread_db} to use if the default choice
2726isn't compatible with the program.
2727@end itemize
2728
2729@quotation
2730@emph{Warning:} These facilities are not yet available on every
2731@value{GDBN} configuration where the operating system supports threads.
2732If your @value{GDBN} does not support threads, these commands have no
2733effect. For example, a system without thread support shows no output
2734from @samp{info threads}, and always rejects the @code{thread} command,
2735like this:
2736
2737@smallexample
2738(@value{GDBP}) info threads
2739(@value{GDBP}) thread 1
2740Thread ID 1 not known. Use the "info threads" command to
2741see the IDs of currently known threads.
2742@end smallexample
2743@c FIXME to implementors: how hard would it be to say "sorry, this GDB
2744@c doesn't support threads"?
2745@end quotation
2746
2747@cindex focus of debugging
2748@cindex current thread
2749The @value{GDBN} thread debugging facility allows you to observe all
2750threads while your program runs---but whenever @value{GDBN} takes
2751control, one thread in particular is always the focus of debugging.
2752This thread is called the @dfn{current thread}. Debugging commands show
2753program information from the perspective of the current thread.
2754
2755@cindex @code{New} @var{systag} message
2756@cindex thread identifier (system)
2757@c FIXME-implementors!! It would be more helpful if the [New...] message
2758@c included GDB's numeric thread handle, so you could just go to that
2759@c thread without first checking `info threads'.
2760Whenever @value{GDBN} detects a new thread in your program, it displays
2761the target system's identification for the thread with a message in the
2762form @samp{[New @var{systag}]}. @var{systag} is a thread identifier
2763whose form varies depending on the particular system. For example, on
2764@sc{gnu}/Linux, you might see
2765
2766@smallexample
2767[New Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 25582)]
2768@end smallexample
2769
2770@noindent
2771when @value{GDBN} notices a new thread. In contrast, on an SGI system,
2772the @var{systag} is simply something like @samp{process 368}, with no
2773further qualifier.
2774
2775@c FIXME!! (1) Does the [New...] message appear even for the very first
2776@c thread of a program, or does it only appear for the
2777@c second---i.e.@: when it becomes obvious we have a multithread
2778@c program?
2779@c (2) *Is* there necessarily a first thread always? Or do some
2780@c multithread systems permit starting a program with multiple
2781@c threads ab initio?
2782
2783@cindex thread number
2784@cindex thread identifier (GDB)
2785For debugging purposes, @value{GDBN} associates its own thread
2786number---always a single integer---with each thread in your program.
2787
2788@table @code
2789@kindex info threads
2790@item info threads @r{[}@var{id}@dots{}@r{]}
2791Display a summary of all threads currently in your program. Optional
2792argument @var{id}@dots{} is one or more thread ids separated by spaces, and
2793means to print information only about the specified thread or threads.
2794@value{GDBN} displays for each thread (in this order):
2795
2796@enumerate
2797@item
2798the thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2799
2800@item
2801the target system's thread identifier (@var{systag})
2802
2803@item
2804the thread's name, if one is known. A thread can either be named by
2805the user (see @code{thread name}, below), or, in some cases, by the
2806program itself.
2807
2808@item
2809the current stack frame summary for that thread
2810@end enumerate
2811
2812@noindent
2813An asterisk @samp{*} to the left of the @value{GDBN} thread number
2814indicates the current thread.
2815
2816For example,
2817@end table
2818@c end table here to get a little more width for example
2819
2820@smallexample
2821(@value{GDBP}) info threads
2822 Id Target Id Frame
2823 3 process 35 thread 27 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2824 2 process 35 thread 23 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2825* 1 process 35 thread 13 main (argc=1, argv=0x7ffffff8)
2826 at threadtest.c:68
2827@end smallexample
2828
2829On Solaris, you can display more information about user threads with a
2830Solaris-specific command:
2831
2832@table @code
2833@item maint info sol-threads
2834@kindex maint info sol-threads
2835@cindex thread info (Solaris)
2836Display info on Solaris user threads.
2837@end table
2838
2839@table @code
2840@kindex thread @var{threadno}
2841@item thread @var{threadno}
2842Make thread number @var{threadno} the current thread. The command
2843argument @var{threadno} is the internal @value{GDBN} thread number, as
2844shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display.
2845@value{GDBN} responds by displaying the system identifier of the thread
2846you selected, and its current stack frame summary:
2847
2848@smallexample
2849(@value{GDBP}) thread 2
2850[Switching to thread 2 (Thread 0xb7fdab70 (LWP 12747))]
2851#0 some_function (ignore=0x0) at example.c:8
28528 printf ("hello\n");
2853@end smallexample
2854
2855@noindent
2856As with the @samp{[New @dots{}]} message, the form of the text after
2857@samp{Switching to} depends on your system's conventions for identifying
2858threads.
2859
2860@vindex $_thread@r{, convenience variable}
2861The debugger convenience variable @samp{$_thread} contains the number
2862of the current thread. You may find this useful in writing breakpoint
2863conditional expressions, command scripts, and so forth. See
2864@xref{Convenience Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for general
2865information on convenience variables.
2866
2867@kindex thread apply
2868@cindex apply command to several threads
2869@item thread apply [@var{threadno} | all] @var{command}
2870The @code{thread apply} command allows you to apply the named
2871@var{command} to one or more threads. Specify the numbers of the
2872threads that you want affected with the command argument
2873@var{threadno}. It can be a single thread number, one of the numbers
2874shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display; or it
2875could be a range of thread numbers, as in @code{2-4}. To apply a
2876command to all threads, type @kbd{thread apply all @var{command}}.
2877
2878@kindex thread name
2879@cindex name a thread
2880@item thread name [@var{name}]
2881This command assigns a name to the current thread. If no argument is
2882given, any existing user-specified name is removed. The thread name
2883appears in the @samp{info threads} display.
2884
2885On some systems, such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, @value{GDBN} is able to
2886determine the name of the thread as given by the OS. On these
2887systems, a name specified with @samp{thread name} will override the
2888system-give name, and removing the user-specified name will cause
2889@value{GDBN} to once again display the system-specified name.
2890
2891@kindex thread find
2892@cindex search for a thread
2893@item thread find [@var{regexp}]
2894Search for and display thread ids whose name or @var{systag}
2895matches the supplied regular expression.
2896
2897As well as being the complement to the @samp{thread name} command,
2898this command also allows you to identify a thread by its target
2899@var{systag}. For instance, on @sc{gnu}/Linux, the target @var{systag}
2900is the LWP id.
2901
2902@smallexample
2903(@value{GDBN}) thread find 26688
2904Thread 4 has target id 'Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 26688)'
2905(@value{GDBN}) info thread 4
2906 Id Target Id Frame
2907 4 Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 26688) 0x00000031ca6cd372 in select ()
2908@end smallexample
2909
2910@kindex set print thread-events
2911@cindex print messages on thread start and exit
2912@item set print thread-events
2913@itemx set print thread-events on
2914@itemx set print thread-events off
2915The @code{set print thread-events} command allows you to enable or
2916disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new threads have
2917started or that threads have exited. By default, these messages will
2918be printed if detection of these events is supported by the target.
2919Note that these messages cannot be disabled on all targets.
2920
2921@kindex show print thread-events
2922@item show print thread-events
2923Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that threads
2924have started and exited.
2925@end table
2926
2927@xref{Thread Stops,,Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs}, for
2928more information about how @value{GDBN} behaves when you stop and start
2929programs with multiple threads.
2930
2931@xref{Set Watchpoints,,Setting Watchpoints}, for information about
2932watchpoints in programs with multiple threads.
2933
2934@anchor{set libthread-db-search-path}
2935@table @code
2936@kindex set libthread-db-search-path
2937@cindex search path for @code{libthread_db}
2938@item set libthread-db-search-path @r{[}@var{path}@r{]}
2939If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
2940directories @value{GDBN} will use to search for @code{libthread_db}.
2941If you omit @var{path}, @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to
2942its default value (@code{$sdir:$pdir} on @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems).
2943Internally, the default value comes from the @code{LIBTHREAD_DB_SEARCH_PATH}
2944macro.
2945
2946On @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems, @value{GDBN} uses a ``helper''
2947@code{libthread_db} library to obtain information about threads in the
2948inferior process. @value{GDBN} will use @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2949to find @code{libthread_db}. @value{GDBN} also consults first if inferior
2950specific thread debugging library loading is enabled
2951by @samp{set auto-load libthread-db} (@pxref{libthread_db.so.1 file}).
2952
2953A special entry @samp{$sdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2954refers to the default system directories that are
2955normally searched for loading shared libraries. The @samp{$sdir} entry
2956is the only kind not needing to be enabled by @samp{set auto-load libthread-db}
2957(@pxref{libthread_db.so.1 file}).
2958
2959A special entry @samp{$pdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2960refers to the directory from which @code{libpthread}
2961was loaded in the inferior process.
2962
2963For any @code{libthread_db} library @value{GDBN} finds in above directories,
2964@value{GDBN} attempts to initialize it with the current inferior process.
2965If this initialization fails (which could happen because of a version
2966mismatch between @code{libthread_db} and @code{libpthread}), @value{GDBN}
2967will unload @code{libthread_db}, and continue with the next directory.
2968If none of @code{libthread_db} libraries initialize successfully,
2969@value{GDBN} will issue a warning and thread debugging will be disabled.
2970
2971Setting @code{libthread-db-search-path} is currently implemented
2972only on some platforms.
2973
2974@kindex show libthread-db-search-path
2975@item show libthread-db-search-path
2976Display current libthread_db search path.
2977
2978@kindex set debug libthread-db
2979@kindex show debug libthread-db
2980@cindex debugging @code{libthread_db}
2981@item set debug libthread-db
2982@itemx show debug libthread-db
2983Turns on or off display of @code{libthread_db}-related events.
2984Use @code{1} to enable, @code{0} to disable.
2985@end table
2986
2987@node Forks
2988@section Debugging Forks
2989
2990@cindex fork, debugging programs which call
2991@cindex multiple processes
2992@cindex processes, multiple
2993On most systems, @value{GDBN} has no special support for debugging
2994programs which create additional processes using the @code{fork}
2995function. When a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug the
2996parent process and the child process will run unimpeded. If you have
2997set a breakpoint in any code which the child then executes, the child
2998will get a @code{SIGTRAP} signal which (unless it catches the signal)
2999will cause it to terminate.
3000
3001However, if you want to debug the child process there is a workaround
3002which isn't too painful. Put a call to @code{sleep} in the code which
3003the child process executes after the fork. It may be useful to sleep
3004only if a certain environment variable is set, or a certain file exists,
3005so that the delay need not occur when you don't want to run @value{GDBN}
3006on the child. While the child is sleeping, use the @code{ps} program to
3007get its process ID. Then tell @value{GDBN} (a new invocation of
3008@value{GDBN} if you are also debugging the parent process) to attach to
3009the child process (@pxref{Attach}). From that point on you can debug
3010the child process just like any other process which you attached to.
3011
3012On some systems, @value{GDBN} provides support for debugging programs that
3013create additional processes using the @code{fork} or @code{vfork} functions.
3014Currently, the only platforms with this feature are HP-UX (11.x and later
3015only?) and @sc{gnu}/Linux (kernel version 2.5.60 and later).
3016
3017By default, when a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug
3018the parent process and the child process will run unimpeded.
3019
3020If you want to follow the child process instead of the parent process,
3021use the command @w{@code{set follow-fork-mode}}.
3022
3023@table @code
3024@kindex set follow-fork-mode
3025@item set follow-fork-mode @var{mode}
3026Set the debugger response to a program call of @code{fork} or
3027@code{vfork}. A call to @code{fork} or @code{vfork} creates a new
3028process. The @var{mode} argument can be:
3029
3030@table @code
3031@item parent
3032The original process is debugged after a fork. The child process runs
3033unimpeded. This is the default.
3034
3035@item child
3036The new process is debugged after a fork. The parent process runs
3037unimpeded.
3038
3039@end table
3040
3041@kindex show follow-fork-mode
3042@item show follow-fork-mode
3043Display the current debugger response to a @code{fork} or @code{vfork} call.
3044@end table
3045
3046@cindex debugging multiple processes
3047On Linux, if you want to debug both the parent and child processes, use the
3048command @w{@code{set detach-on-fork}}.
3049
3050@table @code
3051@kindex set detach-on-fork
3052@item set detach-on-fork @var{mode}
3053Tells gdb whether to detach one of the processes after a fork, or
3054retain debugger control over them both.
3055
3056@table @code
3057@item on
3058The child process (or parent process, depending on the value of
3059@code{follow-fork-mode}) will be detached and allowed to run
3060independently. This is the default.
3061
3062@item off
3063Both processes will be held under the control of @value{GDBN}.
3064One process (child or parent, depending on the value of
3065@code{follow-fork-mode}) is debugged as usual, while the other
3066is held suspended.
3067
3068@end table
3069
3070@kindex show detach-on-fork
3071@item show detach-on-fork
3072Show whether detach-on-fork mode is on/off.
3073@end table
3074
3075If you choose to set @samp{detach-on-fork} mode off, then @value{GDBN}
3076will retain control of all forked processes (including nested forks).
3077You can list the forked processes under the control of @value{GDBN} by
3078using the @w{@code{info inferiors}} command, and switch from one fork
3079to another by using the @code{inferior} command (@pxref{Inferiors and
3080Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs}).
3081
3082To quit debugging one of the forked processes, you can either detach
3083from it by using the @w{@code{detach inferiors}} command (allowing it
3084to run independently), or kill it using the @w{@code{kill inferiors}}
3085command. @xref{Inferiors and Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors
3086and Programs}.
3087
3088If you ask to debug a child process and a @code{vfork} is followed by an
3089@code{exec}, @value{GDBN} executes the new target up to the first
3090breakpoint in the new target. If you have a breakpoint set on
3091@code{main} in your original program, the breakpoint will also be set on
3092the child process's @code{main}.
3093
3094On some systems, when a child process is spawned by @code{vfork}, you
3095cannot debug the child or parent until an @code{exec} call completes.
3096
3097If you issue a @code{run} command to @value{GDBN} after an @code{exec}
3098call executes, the new target restarts. To restart the parent
3099process, use the @code{file} command with the parent executable name
3100as its argument. By default, after an @code{exec} call executes,
3101@value{GDBN} discards the symbols of the previous executable image.
3102You can change this behaviour with the @w{@code{set follow-exec-mode}}
3103command.
3104
3105@table @code
3106@kindex set follow-exec-mode
3107@item set follow-exec-mode @var{mode}
3108
3109Set debugger response to a program call of @code{exec}. An
3110@code{exec} call replaces the program image of a process.
3111
3112@code{follow-exec-mode} can be:
3113
3114@table @code
3115@item new
3116@value{GDBN} creates a new inferior and rebinds the process to this
3117new inferior. The program the process was running before the
3118@code{exec} call can be restarted afterwards by restarting the
3119original inferior.
3120
3121For example:
3122
3123@smallexample
3124(@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3125(gdb) info inferior
3126 Id Description Executable
3127* 1 <null> prog1
3128(@value{GDBP}) run
3129process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3130Program exited normally.
3131(@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3132 Id Description Executable
3133* 2 <null> prog2
3134 1 <null> prog1
3135@end smallexample
3136
3137@item same
3138@value{GDBN} keeps the process bound to the same inferior. The new
3139executable image replaces the previous executable loaded in the
3140inferior. Restarting the inferior after the @code{exec} call, with
3141e.g., the @code{run} command, restarts the executable the process was
3142running after the @code{exec} call. This is the default mode.
3143
3144For example:
3145
3146@smallexample
3147(@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3148 Id Description Executable
3149* 1 <null> prog1
3150(@value{GDBP}) run
3151process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3152Program exited normally.
3153(@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3154 Id Description Executable
3155* 1 <null> prog2
3156@end smallexample
3157
3158@end table
3159@end table
3160
3161You can use the @code{catch} command to make @value{GDBN} stop whenever
3162a @code{fork}, @code{vfork}, or @code{exec} call is made. @xref{Set
3163Catchpoints, ,Setting Catchpoints}.
3164
3165@node Checkpoint/Restart
3166@section Setting a @emph{Bookmark} to Return to Later
3167
3168@cindex checkpoint
3169@cindex restart
3170@cindex bookmark
3171@cindex snapshot of a process
3172@cindex rewind program state
3173
3174On certain operating systems@footnote{Currently, only
3175@sc{gnu}/Linux.}, @value{GDBN} is able to save a @dfn{snapshot} of a
3176program's state, called a @dfn{checkpoint}, and come back to it
3177later.
3178
3179Returning to a checkpoint effectively undoes everything that has
3180happened in the program since the @code{checkpoint} was saved. This
3181includes changes in memory, registers, and even (within some limits)
3182system state. Effectively, it is like going back in time to the
3183moment when the checkpoint was saved.
3184
3185Thus, if you're stepping thru a program and you think you're
3186getting close to the point where things go wrong, you can save
3187a checkpoint. Then, if you accidentally go too far and miss
3188the critical statement, instead of having to restart your program
3189from the beginning, you can just go back to the checkpoint and
3190start again from there.
3191
3192This can be especially useful if it takes a lot of time or
3193steps to reach the point where you think the bug occurs.
3194
3195To use the @code{checkpoint}/@code{restart} method of debugging:
3196
3197@table @code
3198@kindex checkpoint
3199@item checkpoint
3200Save a snapshot of the debugged program's current execution state.
3201The @code{checkpoint} command takes no arguments, but each checkpoint
3202is assigned a small integer id, similar to a breakpoint id.
3203
3204@kindex info checkpoints
3205@item info checkpoints
3206List the checkpoints that have been saved in the current debugging
3207session. For each checkpoint, the following information will be
3208listed:
3209
3210@table @code
3211@item Checkpoint ID
3212@item Process ID
3213@item Code Address
3214@item Source line, or label
3215@end table
3216
3217@kindex restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3218@item restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3219Restore the program state that was saved as checkpoint number
3220@var{checkpoint-id}. All program variables, registers, stack frames
3221etc.@: will be returned to the values that they had when the checkpoint
3222was saved. In essence, gdb will ``wind back the clock'' to the point
3223in time when the checkpoint was saved.
3224
3225Note that breakpoints, @value{GDBN} variables, command history etc.
3226are not affected by restoring a checkpoint. In general, a checkpoint
3227only restores things that reside in the program being debugged, not in
3228the debugger.
3229
3230@kindex delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3231@item delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3232Delete the previously-saved checkpoint identified by @var{checkpoint-id}.
3233
3234@end table
3235
3236Returning to a previously saved checkpoint will restore the user state
3237of the program being debugged, plus a significant subset of the system
3238(OS) state, including file pointers. It won't ``un-write'' data from
3239a file, but it will rewind the file pointer to the previous location,
3240so that the previously written data can be overwritten. For files
3241opened in read mode, the pointer will also be restored so that the
3242previously read data can be read again.
3243
3244Of course, characters that have been sent to a printer (or other
3245external device) cannot be ``snatched back'', and characters received
3246from eg.@: a serial device can be removed from internal program buffers,
3247but they cannot be ``pushed back'' into the serial pipeline, ready to
3248be received again. Similarly, the actual contents of files that have
3249been changed cannot be restored (at this time).
3250
3251However, within those constraints, you actually can ``rewind'' your
3252program to a previously saved point in time, and begin debugging it
3253again --- and you can change the course of events so as to debug a
3254different execution path this time.
3255
3256@cindex checkpoints and process id
3257Finally, there is one bit of internal program state that will be
3258different when you return to a checkpoint --- the program's process
3259id. Each checkpoint will have a unique process id (or @var{pid}),
3260and each will be different from the program's original @var{pid}.
3261If your program has saved a local copy of its process id, this could
3262potentially pose a problem.
3263
3264@subsection A Non-obvious Benefit of Using Checkpoints
3265
3266On some systems such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, address space randomization
3267is performed on new processes for security reasons. This makes it
3268difficult or impossible to set a breakpoint, or watchpoint, on an
3269absolute address if you have to restart the program, since the
3270absolute location of a symbol will change from one execution to the
3271next.
3272
3273A checkpoint, however, is an @emph{identical} copy of a process.
3274Therefore if you create a checkpoint at (eg.@:) the start of main,
3275and simply return to that checkpoint instead of restarting the
3276process, you can avoid the effects of address randomization and
3277your symbols will all stay in the same place.
3278
3279@node Stopping
3280@chapter Stopping and Continuing
3281
3282The principal purposes of using a debugger are so that you can stop your
3283program before it terminates; or so that, if your program runs into
3284trouble, you can investigate and find out why.
3285
3286Inside @value{GDBN}, your program may stop for any of several reasons,
3287such as a signal, a breakpoint, or reaching a new line after a
3288@value{GDBN} command such as @code{step}. You may then examine and
3289change variables, set new breakpoints or remove old ones, and then
3290continue execution. Usually, the messages shown by @value{GDBN} provide
3291ample explanation of the status of your program---but you can also
3292explicitly request this information at any time.
3293
3294@table @code
3295@kindex info program
3296@item info program
3297Display information about the status of your program: whether it is
3298running or not, what process it is, and why it stopped.
3299@end table
3300
3301@menu
3302* Breakpoints:: Breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints
3303* Continuing and Stepping:: Resuming execution
3304* Skipping Over Functions and Files::
3305 Skipping over functions and files
3306* Signals:: Signals
3307* Thread Stops:: Stopping and starting multi-thread programs
3308@end menu
3309
3310@node Breakpoints
3311@section Breakpoints, Watchpoints, and Catchpoints
3312
3313@cindex breakpoints
3314A @dfn{breakpoint} makes your program stop whenever a certain point in
3315the program is reached. For each breakpoint, you can add conditions to
3316control in finer detail whether your program stops. You can set
3317breakpoints with the @code{break} command and its variants (@pxref{Set
3318Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}), to specify the place where your program
3319should stop by line number, function name or exact address in the
3320program.
3321
3322On some systems, you can set breakpoints in shared libraries before
3323the executable is run. There is a minor limitation on HP-UX systems:
3324you must wait until the executable is run in order to set breakpoints
3325in shared library routines that are not called directly by the program
3326(for example, routines that are arguments in a @code{pthread_create}
3327call).
3328
3329@cindex watchpoints
3330@cindex data breakpoints
3331@cindex memory tracing
3332@cindex breakpoint on memory address
3333@cindex breakpoint on variable modification
3334A @dfn{watchpoint} is a special breakpoint that stops your program
3335when the value of an expression changes. The expression may be a value
3336of a variable, or it could involve values of one or more variables
3337combined by operators, such as @samp{a + b}. This is sometimes called
3338@dfn{data breakpoints}. You must use a different command to set
3339watchpoints (@pxref{Set Watchpoints, ,Setting Watchpoints}), but aside
3340from that, you can manage a watchpoint like any other breakpoint: you
3341enable, disable, and delete both breakpoints and watchpoints using the
3342same commands.
3343
3344You can arrange to have values from your program displayed automatically
3345whenever @value{GDBN} stops at a breakpoint. @xref{Auto Display,,
3346Automatic Display}.
3347
3348@cindex catchpoints
3349@cindex breakpoint on events
3350A @dfn{catchpoint} is another special breakpoint that stops your program
3351when a certain kind of event occurs, such as the throwing of a C@t{++}
3352exception or the loading of a library. As with watchpoints, you use a
3353different command to set a catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints, ,Setting
3354Catchpoints}), but aside from that, you can manage a catchpoint like any
3355other breakpoint. (To stop when your program receives a signal, use the
3356@code{handle} command; see @ref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
3357
3358@cindex breakpoint numbers
3359@cindex numbers for breakpoints
3360@value{GDBN} assigns a number to each breakpoint, watchpoint, or
3361catchpoint when you create it; these numbers are successive integers
3362starting with one. In many of the commands for controlling various
3363features of breakpoints you use the breakpoint number to say which
3364breakpoint you want to change. Each breakpoint may be @dfn{enabled} or
3365@dfn{disabled}; if disabled, it has no effect on your program until you
3366enable it again.
3367
3368@cindex breakpoint ranges
3369@cindex ranges of breakpoints
3370Some @value{GDBN} commands accept a range of breakpoints on which to
3371operate. A breakpoint range is either a single breakpoint number, like
3372@samp{5}, or two such numbers, in increasing order, separated by a
3373hyphen, like @samp{5-7}. When a breakpoint range is given to a command,
3374all breakpoints in that range are operated on.
3375
3376@menu
3377* Set Breaks:: Setting breakpoints
3378* Set Watchpoints:: Setting watchpoints
3379* Set Catchpoints:: Setting catchpoints
3380* Delete Breaks:: Deleting breakpoints
3381* Disabling:: Disabling breakpoints
3382* Conditions:: Break conditions
3383* Break Commands:: Breakpoint command lists
3384* Dynamic Printf:: Dynamic printf
3385* Save Breakpoints:: How to save breakpoints in a file
3386* Static Probe Points:: Listing static probe points
3387* Error in Breakpoints:: ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
3388* Breakpoint-related Warnings:: ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
3389@end menu
3390
3391@node Set Breaks
3392@subsection Setting Breakpoints
3393
3394@c FIXME LMB what does GDB do if no code on line of breakpt?
3395@c consider in particular declaration with/without initialization.
3396@c
3397@c FIXME 2 is there stuff on this already? break at fun start, already init?
3398
3399@kindex break
3400@kindex b @r{(@code{break})}
3401@vindex $bpnum@r{, convenience variable}
3402@cindex latest breakpoint
3403Breakpoints are set with the @code{break} command (abbreviated
3404@code{b}). The debugger convenience variable @samp{$bpnum} records the
3405number of the breakpoint you've set most recently; see @ref{Convenience
3406Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for a discussion of what you can do with
3407convenience variables.
3408
3409@table @code
3410@item break @var{location}
3411Set a breakpoint at the given @var{location}, which can specify a
3412function name, a line number, or an address of an instruction.
3413(@xref{Specify Location}, for a list of all the possible ways to
3414specify a @var{location}.) The breakpoint will stop your program just
3415before it executes any of the code in the specified @var{location}.
3416
3417When using source languages that permit overloading of symbols, such as
3418C@t{++}, a function name may refer to more than one possible place to break.
3419@xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}, for a discussion of
3420that situation.
3421
3422It is also possible to insert a breakpoint that will stop the program
3423only if a specific thread (@pxref{Thread-Specific Breakpoints})
3424or a specific task (@pxref{Ada Tasks}) hits that breakpoint.
3425
3426@item break
3427When called without any arguments, @code{break} sets a breakpoint at
3428the next instruction to be executed in the selected stack frame
3429(@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}). In any selected frame but the
3430innermost, this makes your program stop as soon as control
3431returns to that frame. This is similar to the effect of a
3432@code{finish} command in the frame inside the selected frame---except
3433that @code{finish} does not leave an active breakpoint. If you use
3434@code{break} without an argument in the innermost frame, @value{GDBN} stops
3435the next time it reaches the current location; this may be useful
3436inside loops.
3437
3438@value{GDBN} normally ignores breakpoints when it resumes execution, until at
3439least one instruction has been executed. If it did not do this, you
3440would be unable to proceed past a breakpoint without first disabling the
3441breakpoint. This rule applies whether or not the breakpoint already
3442existed when your program stopped.
3443
3444@item break @dots{} if @var{cond}
3445Set a breakpoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
3446@var{cond} each time the breakpoint is reached, and stop only if the
3447value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
3448@samp{@dots{}} stands for one of the possible arguments described
3449above (or no argument) specifying where to break. @xref{Conditions,
3450,Break Conditions}, for more information on breakpoint conditions.
3451
3452@kindex tbreak
3453@item tbreak @var{args}
3454Set a breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args} are the
3455same as for the @code{break} command, and the breakpoint is set in the same
3456way, but the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the first time your
3457program stops there. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3458
3459@kindex hbreak
3460@cindex hardware breakpoints
3461@item hbreak @var{args}
3462Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint. @var{args} are the same as for the
3463@code{break} command and the breakpoint is set in the same way, but the
3464breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware may not
3465have this support. The main purpose of this is EPROM/ROM code
3466debugging, so you can set a breakpoint at an instruction without
3467changing the instruction. This can be used with the new trap-generation
3468provided by SPARClite DSU and most x86-based targets. These targets
3469will generate traps when a program accesses some data or instruction
3470address that is assigned to the debug registers. However the hardware
3471breakpoint registers can take a limited number of breakpoints. For
3472example, on the DSU, only two data breakpoints can be set at a time, and
3473@value{GDBN} will reject this command if more than two are used. Delete
3474or disable unused hardware breakpoints before setting new ones
3475(@pxref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}).
3476@xref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3477For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3478breakpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3479hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3480
3481@kindex thbreak
3482@item thbreak @var{args}
3483Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args}
3484are the same as for the @code{hbreak} command and the breakpoint is set in
3485the same way. However, like the @code{tbreak} command,
3486the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the
3487first time your program stops there. Also, like the @code{hbreak}
3488command, the breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware
3489may not have this support. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3490See also @ref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3491
3492@kindex rbreak
3493@cindex regular expression
3494@cindex breakpoints at functions matching a regexp
3495@cindex set breakpoints in many functions
3496@item rbreak @var{regex}
3497Set breakpoints on all functions matching the regular expression
3498@var{regex}. This command sets an unconditional breakpoint on all
3499matches, printing a list of all breakpoints it set. Once these
3500breakpoints are set, they are treated just like the breakpoints set with
3501the @code{break} command. You can delete them, disable them, or make
3502them conditional the same way as any other breakpoint.
3503
3504The syntax of the regular expression is the standard one used with tools
3505like @file{grep}. Note that this is different from the syntax used by
3506shells, so for instance @code{foo*} matches all functions that include
3507an @code{fo} followed by zero or more @code{o}s. There is an implicit
3508@code{.*} leading and trailing the regular expression you supply, so to
3509match only functions that begin with @code{foo}, use @code{^foo}.
3510
3511@cindex non-member C@t{++} functions, set breakpoint in
3512When debugging C@t{++} programs, @code{rbreak} is useful for setting
3513breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
3514classes.
3515
3516@cindex set breakpoints on all functions
3517The @code{rbreak} command can be used to set breakpoints in
3518@strong{all} the functions in a program, like this:
3519
3520@smallexample
3521(@value{GDBP}) rbreak .
3522@end smallexample
3523
3524@item rbreak @var{file}:@var{regex}
3525If @code{rbreak} is called with a filename qualification, it limits
3526the search for functions matching the given regular expression to the
3527specified @var{file}. This can be used, for example, to set breakpoints on
3528every function in a given file:
3529
3530@smallexample
3531(@value{GDBP}) rbreak file.c:.
3532@end smallexample
3533
3534The colon separating the filename qualifier from the regex may
3535optionally be surrounded by spaces.
3536
3537@kindex info breakpoints
3538@cindex @code{$_} and @code{info breakpoints}
3539@item info breakpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3540@itemx info break @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3541Print a table of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints set and
3542not deleted. Optional argument @var{n} means print information only
3543about the specified breakpoint(s) (or watchpoint(s) or catchpoint(s)).
3544For each breakpoint, following columns are printed:
3545
3546@table @emph
3547@item Breakpoint Numbers
3548@item Type
3549Breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint.
3550@item Disposition
3551Whether the breakpoint is marked to be disabled or deleted when hit.
3552@item Enabled or Disabled
3553Enabled breakpoints are marked with @samp{y}. @samp{n} marks breakpoints
3554that are not enabled.
3555@item Address
3556Where the breakpoint is in your program, as a memory address. For a
3557pending breakpoint whose address is not yet known, this field will
3558contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Such breakpoint won't fire until a shared
3559library that has the symbol or line referred by breakpoint is loaded.
3560See below for details. A breakpoint with several locations will
3561have @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in this field---see below for details.
3562@item What
3563Where the breakpoint is in the source for your program, as a file and
3564line number. For a pending breakpoint, the original string passed to
3565the breakpoint command will be listed as it cannot be resolved until
3566the appropriate shared library is loaded in the future.
3567@end table
3568
3569@noindent
3570If a breakpoint is conditional, there are two evaluation modes: ``host'' and
3571``target''. If mode is ``host'', breakpoint condition evaluation is done by
3572@value{GDBN} on the host's side. If it is ``target'', then the condition
3573is evaluated by the target. The @code{info break} command shows
3574the condition on the line following the affected breakpoint, together with
3575its condition evaluation mode in between parentheses.
3576
3577Breakpoint commands, if any, are listed after that. A pending breakpoint is
3578allowed to have a condition specified for it. The condition is not parsed for
3579validity until a shared library is loaded that allows the pending
3580breakpoint to resolve to a valid location.
3581
3582@noindent
3583@code{info break} with a breakpoint
3584number @var{n} as argument lists only that breakpoint. The
3585convenience variable @code{$_} and the default examining-address for
3586the @code{x} command are set to the address of the last breakpoint
3587listed (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}).
3588
3589@noindent
3590@code{info break} displays a count of the number of times the breakpoint
3591has been hit. This is especially useful in conjunction with the
3592@code{ignore} command. You can ignore a large number of breakpoint
3593hits, look at the breakpoint info to see how many times the breakpoint
3594was hit, and then run again, ignoring one less than that number. This
3595will get you quickly to the last hit of that breakpoint.
3596
3597@noindent
3598For a breakpoints with an enable count (xref) greater than 1,
3599@code{info break} also displays that count.
3600
3601@end table
3602
3603@value{GDBN} allows you to set any number of breakpoints at the same place in
3604your program. There is nothing silly or meaningless about this. When
3605the breakpoints are conditional, this is even useful
3606(@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
3607
3608@cindex multiple locations, breakpoints
3609@cindex breakpoints, multiple locations
3610It is possible that a breakpoint corresponds to several locations
3611in your program. Examples of this situation are:
3612
3613@itemize @bullet
3614@item
3615Multiple functions in the program may have the same name.
3616
3617@item
3618For a C@t{++} constructor, the @value{NGCC} compiler generates several
3619instances of the function body, used in different cases.
3620
3621@item
3622For a C@t{++} template function, a given line in the function can
3623correspond to any number of instantiations.
3624
3625@item
3626For an inlined function, a given source line can correspond to
3627several places where that function is inlined.
3628@end itemize
3629
3630In all those cases, @value{GDBN} will insert a breakpoint at all
3631the relevant locations.
3632
3633A breakpoint with multiple locations is displayed in the breakpoint
3634table using several rows---one header row, followed by one row for
3635each breakpoint location. The header row has @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in the
3636address column. The rows for individual locations contain the actual
3637addresses for locations, and show the functions to which those
3638locations belong. The number column for a location is of the form
3639@var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number}.
3640
3641For example:
3642
3643@smallexample
3644Num Type Disp Enb Address What
36451 breakpoint keep y <MULTIPLE>
3646 stop only if i==1
3647 breakpoint already hit 1 time
36481.1 y 0x080486a2 in void foo<int>() at t.cc:8
36491.2 y 0x080486ca in void foo<double>() at t.cc:8
3650@end smallexample
3651
3652Each location can be individually enabled or disabled by passing
3653@var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number} as argument to the
3654@code{enable} and @code{disable} commands. Note that you cannot
3655delete the individual locations from the list, you can only delete the
3656entire list of locations that belong to their parent breakpoint (with
3657the @kbd{delete @var{num}} command, where @var{num} is the number of
3658the parent breakpoint, 1 in the above example). Disabling or enabling
3659the parent breakpoint (@pxref{Disabling}) affects all of the locations
3660that belong to that breakpoint.
3661
3662@cindex pending breakpoints
3663It's quite common to have a breakpoint inside a shared library.
3664Shared libraries can be loaded and unloaded explicitly,
3665and possibly repeatedly, as the program is executed. To support
3666this use case, @value{GDBN} updates breakpoint locations whenever
3667any shared library is loaded or unloaded. Typically, you would
3668set a breakpoint in a shared library at the beginning of your
3669debugging session, when the library is not loaded, and when the
3670symbols from the library are not available. When you try to set
3671breakpoint, @value{GDBN} will ask you if you want to set
3672a so called @dfn{pending breakpoint}---breakpoint whose address
3673is not yet resolved.
3674
3675After the program is run, whenever a new shared library is loaded,
3676@value{GDBN} reevaluates all the breakpoints. When a newly loaded
3677shared library contains the symbol or line referred to by some
3678pending breakpoint, that breakpoint is resolved and becomes an
3679ordinary breakpoint. When a library is unloaded, all breakpoints
3680that refer to its symbols or source lines become pending again.
3681
3682This logic works for breakpoints with multiple locations, too. For
3683example, if you have a breakpoint in a C@t{++} template function, and
3684a newly loaded shared library has an instantiation of that template,
3685a new location is added to the list of locations for the breakpoint.
3686
3687Except for having unresolved address, pending breakpoints do not
3688differ from regular breakpoints. You can set conditions or commands,
3689enable and disable them and perform other breakpoint operations.
3690
3691@value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling what
3692happens when the @samp{break} command cannot resolve breakpoint
3693address specification to an address:
3694
3695@kindex set breakpoint pending
3696@kindex show breakpoint pending
3697@table @code
3698@item set breakpoint pending auto
3699This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} cannot find the breakpoint
3700location, it queries you whether a pending breakpoint should be created.
3701
3702@item set breakpoint pending on
3703This indicates that an unrecognized breakpoint location should automatically
3704result in a pending breakpoint being created.
3705
3706@item set breakpoint pending off
3707This indicates that pending breakpoints are not to be created. Any
3708unrecognized breakpoint location results in an error. This setting does
3709not affect any pending breakpoints previously created.
3710
3711@item show breakpoint pending
3712Show the current behavior setting for creating pending breakpoints.
3713@end table
3714
3715The settings above only affect the @code{break} command and its
3716variants. Once breakpoint is set, it will be automatically updated
3717as shared libraries are loaded and unloaded.
3718
3719@cindex automatic hardware breakpoints
3720For some targets, @value{GDBN} can automatically decide if hardware or
3721software breakpoints should be used, depending on whether the
3722breakpoint address is read-only or read-write. This applies to
3723breakpoints set with the @code{break} command as well as to internal
3724breakpoints set by commands like @code{next} and @code{finish}. For
3725breakpoints set with @code{hbreak}, @value{GDBN} will always use hardware
3726breakpoints.
3727
3728You can control this automatic behaviour with the following commands::
3729
3730@kindex set breakpoint auto-hw
3731@kindex show breakpoint auto-hw
3732@table @code
3733@item set breakpoint auto-hw on
3734This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} sets a breakpoint, it
3735will try to use the target memory map to decide if software or hardware
3736breakpoint must be used.
3737
3738@item set breakpoint auto-hw off
3739This indicates @value{GDBN} should not automatically select breakpoint
3740type. If the target provides a memory map, @value{GDBN} will warn when
3741trying to set software breakpoint at a read-only address.
3742@end table
3743
3744@value{GDBN} normally implements breakpoints by replacing the program code
3745at the breakpoint address with a special instruction, which, when
3746executed, given control to the debugger. By default, the program
3747code is so modified only when the program is resumed. As soon as
3748the program stops, @value{GDBN} restores the original instructions. This
3749behaviour guards against leaving breakpoints inserted in the
3750target should gdb abrubptly disconnect. However, with slow remote
3751targets, inserting and removing breakpoint can reduce the performance.
3752This behavior can be controlled with the following commands::
3753
3754@kindex set breakpoint always-inserted
3755@kindex show breakpoint always-inserted
3756@table @code
3757@item set breakpoint always-inserted off
3758All breakpoints, including newly added by the user, are inserted in
3759the target only when the target is resumed. All breakpoints are
3760removed from the target when it stops.
3761
3762@item set breakpoint always-inserted on
3763Causes all breakpoints to be inserted in the target at all times. If
3764the user adds a new breakpoint, or changes an existing breakpoint, the
3765breakpoints in the target are updated immediately. A breakpoint is
3766removed from the target only when breakpoint itself is removed.
3767
3768@cindex non-stop mode, and @code{breakpoint always-inserted}
3769@item set breakpoint always-inserted auto
3770This is the default mode. If @value{GDBN} is controlling the inferior
3771in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}), gdb behaves as if
3772@code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is on. If @value{GDBN} is
3773controlling the inferior in all-stop mode, @value{GDBN} behaves as if
3774@code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is off.
3775@end table
3776
3777@value{GDBN} handles conditional breakpoints by evaluating these conditions
3778when a breakpoint breaks. If the condition is true, then the process being
3779debugged stops, otherwise the process is resumed.
3780
3781If the target supports evaluating conditions on its end, @value{GDBN} may
3782download the breakpoint, together with its conditions, to it.
3783
3784This feature can be controlled via the following commands:
3785
3786@kindex set breakpoint condition-evaluation
3787@kindex show breakpoint condition-evaluation
3788@table @code
3789@item set breakpoint condition-evaluation host
3790This option commands @value{GDBN} to evaluate the breakpoint
3791conditions on the host's side. Unconditional breakpoints are sent to
3792the target which in turn receives the triggers and reports them back to GDB
3793for condition evaluation. This is the standard evaluation mode.
3794
3795@item set breakpoint condition-evaluation target
3796This option commands @value{GDBN} to download breakpoint conditions
3797to the target at the moment of their insertion. The target
3798is responsible for evaluating the conditional expression and reporting
3799breakpoint stop events back to @value{GDBN} whenever the condition
3800is true. Due to limitations of target-side evaluation, some conditions
3801cannot be evaluated there, e.g., conditions that depend on local data
3802that is only known to the host. Examples include
3803conditional expressions involving convenience variables, complex types
3804that cannot be handled by the agent expression parser and expressions
3805that are too long to be sent over to the target, specially when the
3806target is a remote system. In these cases, the conditions will be
3807evaluated by @value{GDBN}.
3808
3809@item set breakpoint condition-evaluation auto
3810This is the default mode. If the target supports evaluating breakpoint
3811conditions on its end, @value{GDBN} will download breakpoint conditions to
3812the target (limitations mentioned previously apply). If the target does
3813not support breakpoint condition evaluation, then @value{GDBN} will fallback
3814to evaluating all these conditions on the host's side.
3815@end table
3816
3817
3818@cindex negative breakpoint numbers
3819@cindex internal @value{GDBN} breakpoints
3820@value{GDBN} itself sometimes sets breakpoints in your program for
3821special purposes, such as proper handling of @code{longjmp} (in C
3822programs). These internal breakpoints are assigned negative numbers,
3823starting with @code{-1}; @samp{info breakpoints} does not display them.
3824You can see these breakpoints with the @value{GDBN} maintenance command
3825@samp{maint info breakpoints} (@pxref{maint info breakpoints}).
3826
3827
3828@node Set Watchpoints
3829@subsection Setting Watchpoints
3830
3831@cindex setting watchpoints
3832You can use a watchpoint to stop execution whenever the value of an
3833expression changes, without having to predict a particular place where
3834this may happen. (This is sometimes called a @dfn{data breakpoint}.)
3835The expression may be as simple as the value of a single variable, or
3836as complex as many variables combined by operators. Examples include:
3837
3838@itemize @bullet
3839@item
3840A reference to the value of a single variable.
3841
3842@item
3843An address cast to an appropriate data type. For example,
3844@samp{*(int *)0x12345678} will watch a 4-byte region at the specified
3845address (assuming an @code{int} occupies 4 bytes).
3846
3847@item
3848An arbitrarily complex expression, such as @samp{a*b + c/d}. The
3849expression can use any operators valid in the program's native
3850language (@pxref{Languages}).
3851@end itemize
3852
3853You can set a watchpoint on an expression even if the expression can
3854not be evaluated yet. For instance, you can set a watchpoint on
3855@samp{*global_ptr} before @samp{global_ptr} is initialized.
3856@value{GDBN} will stop when your program sets @samp{global_ptr} and
3857the expression produces a valid value. If the expression becomes
3858valid in some other way than changing a variable (e.g.@: if the memory
3859pointed to by @samp{*global_ptr} becomes readable as the result of a
3860@code{malloc} call), @value{GDBN} may not stop until the next time
3861the expression changes.
3862
3863@cindex software watchpoints
3864@cindex hardware watchpoints
3865Depending on your system, watchpoints may be implemented in software or
3866hardware. @value{GDBN} does software watchpointing by single-stepping your
3867program and testing the variable's value each time, which is hundreds of
3868times slower than normal execution. (But this may still be worth it, to
3869catch errors where you have no clue what part of your program is the
3870culprit.)
3871
3872On some systems, such as HP-UX, PowerPC, @sc{gnu}/Linux and most other
3873x86-based targets, @value{GDBN} includes support for hardware
3874watchpoints, which do not slow down the running of your program.
3875
3876@table @code
3877@kindex watch
3878@item watch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
3879Set a watchpoint for an expression. @value{GDBN} will break when the
3880expression @var{expr} is written into by the program and its value
3881changes. The simplest (and the most popular) use of this command is
3882to watch the value of a single variable:
3883
3884@smallexample
3885(@value{GDBP}) watch foo
3886@end smallexample
3887
3888If the command includes a @code{@r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}}
3889argument, @value{GDBN} breaks only when the thread identified by
3890@var{threadnum} changes the value of @var{expr}. If any other threads
3891change the value of @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} will not break. Note
3892that watchpoints restricted to a single thread in this way only work
3893with Hardware Watchpoints.
3894
3895Ordinarily a watchpoint respects the scope of variables in @var{expr}
3896(see below). The @code{-location} argument tells @value{GDBN} to
3897instead watch the memory referred to by @var{expr}. In this case,
3898@value{GDBN} will evaluate @var{expr}, take the address of the result,
3899and watch the memory at that address. The type of the result is used
3900to determine the size of the watched memory. If the expression's
3901result does not have an address, then @value{GDBN} will print an
3902error.
3903
3904The @code{@r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}} argument allows creation
3905of masked watchpoints, if the current architecture supports this
3906feature (e.g., PowerPC Embedded architecture, see @ref{PowerPC
3907Embedded}.) A @dfn{masked watchpoint} specifies a mask in addition
3908to an address to watch. The mask specifies that some bits of an address
3909(the bits which are reset in the mask) should be ignored when matching
3910the address accessed by the inferior against the watchpoint address.
3911Thus, a masked watchpoint watches many addresses simultaneously---those
3912addresses whose unmasked bits are identical to the unmasked bits in the
3913watchpoint address. The @code{mask} argument implies @code{-location}.
3914Examples:
3915
3916@smallexample
3917(@value{GDBP}) watch foo mask 0xffff00ff
3918(@value{GDBP}) watch *0xdeadbeef mask 0xffffff00
3919@end smallexample
3920
3921@kindex rwatch
3922@item rwatch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
3923Set a watchpoint that will break when the value of @var{expr} is read
3924by the program.
3925
3926@kindex awatch
3927@item awatch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
3928Set a watchpoint that will break when @var{expr} is either read from
3929or written into by the program.
3930
3931@kindex info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3932@item info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3933This command prints a list of watchpoints, using the same format as
3934@code{info break} (@pxref{Set Breaks}).
3935@end table
3936
3937If you watch for a change in a numerically entered address you need to
3938dereference it, as the address itself is just a constant number which will
3939never change. @value{GDBN} refuses to create a watchpoint that watches
3940a never-changing value:
3941
3942@smallexample
3943(@value{GDBP}) watch 0x600850
3944Cannot watch constant value 0x600850.
3945(@value{GDBP}) watch *(int *) 0x600850
3946Watchpoint 1: *(int *) 6293584
3947@end smallexample
3948
3949@value{GDBN} sets a @dfn{hardware watchpoint} if possible. Hardware
3950watchpoints execute very quickly, and the debugger reports a change in
3951value at the exact instruction where the change occurs. If @value{GDBN}
3952cannot set a hardware watchpoint, it sets a software watchpoint, which
3953executes more slowly and reports the change in value at the next
3954@emph{statement}, not the instruction, after the change occurs.
3955
3956@cindex use only software watchpoints
3957You can force @value{GDBN} to use only software watchpoints with the
3958@kbd{set can-use-hw-watchpoints 0} command. With this variable set to
3959zero, @value{GDBN} will never try to use hardware watchpoints, even if
3960the underlying system supports them. (Note that hardware-assisted
3961watchpoints that were set @emph{before} setting
3962@code{can-use-hw-watchpoints} to zero will still use the hardware
3963mechanism of watching expression values.)
3964
3965@table @code
3966@item set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3967@kindex set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3968Set whether or not to use hardware watchpoints.
3969
3970@item show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3971@kindex show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3972Show the current mode of using hardware watchpoints.
3973@end table
3974
3975For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3976watchpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3977hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3978
3979When you issue the @code{watch} command, @value{GDBN} reports
3980
3981@smallexample
3982Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: @var{expr}
3983@end smallexample
3984
3985@noindent
3986if it was able to set a hardware watchpoint.
3987
3988Currently, the @code{awatch} and @code{rwatch} commands can only set
3989hardware watchpoints, because accesses to data that don't change the
3990value of the watched expression cannot be detected without examining
3991every instruction as it is being executed, and @value{GDBN} does not do
3992that currently. If @value{GDBN} finds that it is unable to set a
3993hardware breakpoint with the @code{awatch} or @code{rwatch} command, it
3994will print a message like this:
3995
3996@smallexample
3997Expression cannot be implemented with read/access watchpoint.
3998@end smallexample
3999
4000Sometimes, @value{GDBN} cannot set a hardware watchpoint because the
4001data type of the watched expression is wider than what a hardware
4002watchpoint on the target machine can handle. For example, some systems
4003can only watch regions that are up to 4 bytes wide; on such systems you
4004cannot set hardware watchpoints for an expression that yields a
4005double-precision floating-point number (which is typically 8 bytes
4006wide). As a work-around, it might be possible to break the large region
4007into a series of smaller ones and watch them with separate watchpoints.
4008
4009If you set too many hardware watchpoints, @value{GDBN} might be unable
4010to insert all of them when you resume the execution of your program.
4011Since the precise number of active watchpoints is unknown until such
4012time as the program is about to be resumed, @value{GDBN} might not be
4013able to warn you about this when you set the watchpoints, and the
4014warning will be printed only when the program is resumed:
4015
4016@smallexample
4017Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: Could not insert watchpoint
4018@end smallexample
4019
4020@noindent
4021If this happens, delete or disable some of the watchpoints.
4022
4023Watching complex expressions that reference many variables can also
4024exhaust the resources available for hardware-assisted watchpoints.
4025That's because @value{GDBN} needs to watch every variable in the
4026expression with separately allocated resources.
4027
4028If you call a function interactively using @code{print} or @code{call},
4029any watchpoints you have set will be inactive until @value{GDBN} reaches another
4030kind of breakpoint or the call completes.
4031
4032@value{GDBN} automatically deletes watchpoints that watch local
4033(automatic) variables, or expressions that involve such variables, when
4034they go out of scope, that is, when the execution leaves the block in
4035which these variables were defined. In particular, when the program
4036being debugged terminates, @emph{all} local variables go out of scope,
4037and so only watchpoints that watch global variables remain set. If you
4038rerun the program, you will need to set all such watchpoints again. One
4039way of doing that would be to set a code breakpoint at the entry to the
4040@code{main} function and when it breaks, set all the watchpoints.
4041
4042@cindex watchpoints and threads
4043@cindex threads and watchpoints
4044In multi-threaded programs, watchpoints will detect changes to the
4045watched expression from every thread.
4046
4047@quotation
4048@emph{Warning:} In multi-threaded programs, software watchpoints
4049have only limited usefulness. If @value{GDBN} creates a software
4050watchpoint, it can only watch the value of an expression @emph{in a
4051single thread}. If you are confident that the expression can only
4052change due to the current thread's activity (and if you are also
4053confident that no other thread can become current), then you can use
4054software watchpoints as usual. However, @value{GDBN} may not notice
4055when a non-current thread's activity changes the expression. (Hardware
4056watchpoints, in contrast, watch an expression in all threads.)
4057@end quotation
4058
4059@xref{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}.
4060
4061@node Set Catchpoints
4062@subsection Setting Catchpoints
4063@cindex catchpoints, setting
4064@cindex exception handlers
4065@cindex event handling
4066
4067You can use @dfn{catchpoints} to cause the debugger to stop for certain
4068kinds of program events, such as C@t{++} exceptions or the loading of a
4069shared library. Use the @code{catch} command to set a catchpoint.
4070
4071@table @code
4072@kindex catch
4073@item catch @var{event}
4074Stop when @var{event} occurs. @var{event} can be any of the following:
4075
4076@table @code
4077@item throw @r{[}@var{regexp}@r{]}
4078@itemx rethrow @r{[}@var{regexp}@r{]}
4079@itemx catch @r{[}@var{regexp}@r{]}
4080@cindex stop on C@t{++} exceptions
4081The throwing, re-throwing, or catching of a C@t{++} exception.
4082
4083If @var{regexp} is given, then only exceptions whose type matches the
4084regular expression will be caught.
4085
4086@vindex $_exception@r{, convenience variable}
4087The convenience variable @code{$_exception} is available at an
4088exception-related catchpoint, on some systems. This holds the
4089exception being thrown.
4090
4091There are currently some limitations to C@t{++} exception handling in
4092@value{GDBN}:
4093
4094@itemize @bullet
4095@item
4096The support for these commands is system-dependent. Currently, only
4097systems using the @samp{gnu-v3} C@t{++} ABI (@pxref{ABI}) are
4098supported.
4099
4100@item
4101The regular expression feature and the @code{$_exception} convenience
4102variable rely on the presence of some SDT probes in @code{libstdc++}.
4103If these probes are not present, then these features cannot be used.
4104These probes were first available in the GCC 4.8 release, but whether
4105or not they are available in your GCC also depends on how it was
4106built.
4107
4108@item
4109The @code{$_exception} convenience variable is only valid at the
4110instruction at which an exception-related catchpoint is set.
4111
4112@item
4113When an exception-related catchpoint is hit, @value{GDBN} stops at a
4114location in the system library which implements runtime exception
4115support for C@t{++}, usually @code{libstdc++}. You can use @code{up}
4116(@pxref{Selection}) to get to your code.
4117
4118@item
4119If you call a function interactively, @value{GDBN} normally returns
4120control to you when the function has finished executing. If the call
4121raises an exception, however, the call may bypass the mechanism that
4122returns control to you and cause your program either to abort or to
4123simply continue running until it hits a breakpoint, catches a signal
4124that @value{GDBN} is listening for, or exits. This is the case even if
4125you set a catchpoint for the exception; catchpoints on exceptions are
4126disabled within interactive calls. @xref{Calling}, for information on
4127controlling this with @code{set unwind-on-terminating-exception}.
4128
4129@item
4130You cannot raise an exception interactively.
4131
4132@item
4133You cannot install an exception handler interactively.
4134@end itemize
4135
4136@item exception
4137@cindex Ada exception catching
4138@cindex catch Ada exceptions
4139An Ada exception being raised. If an exception name is specified
4140at the end of the command (eg @code{catch exception Program_Error}),
4141the debugger will stop only when this specific exception is raised.
4142Otherwise, the debugger stops execution when any Ada exception is raised.
4143
4144When inserting an exception catchpoint on a user-defined exception whose
4145name is identical to one of the exceptions defined by the language, the
4146fully qualified name must be used as the exception name. Otherwise,
4147@value{GDBN} will assume that it should stop on the pre-defined exception
4148rather than the user-defined one. For instance, assuming an exception
4149called @code{Constraint_Error} is defined in package @code{Pck}, then
4150the command to use to catch such exceptions is @kbd{catch exception
4151Pck.Constraint_Error}.
4152
4153@item exception unhandled
4154An exception that was raised but is not handled by the program.
4155
4156@item assert
4157A failed Ada assertion.
4158
4159@item exec
4160@cindex break on fork/exec
4161A call to @code{exec}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4162and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
4163
4164@item syscall
4165@itemx syscall @r{[}@var{name} @r{|} @var{number}@r{]} @dots{}
4166@cindex break on a system call.
4167A call to or return from a system call, a.k.a.@: @dfn{syscall}. A
4168syscall is a mechanism for application programs to request a service
4169from the operating system (OS) or one of the OS system services.
4170@value{GDBN} can catch some or all of the syscalls issued by the
4171debuggee, and show the related information for each syscall. If no
4172argument is specified, calls to and returns from all system calls
4173will be caught.
4174
4175@var{name} can be any system call name that is valid for the
4176underlying OS. Just what syscalls are valid depends on the OS. On
4177GNU and Unix systems, you can find the full list of valid syscall
4178names on @file{/usr/include/asm/unistd.h}.
4179
4180@c For MS-Windows, the syscall names and the corresponding numbers
4181@c can be found, e.g., on this URL:
4182@c http://www.metasploit.com/users/opcode/syscalls.html
4183@c but we don't support Windows syscalls yet.
4184
4185Normally, @value{GDBN} knows in advance which syscalls are valid for
4186each OS, so you can use the @value{GDBN} command-line completion
4187facilities (@pxref{Completion,, command completion}) to list the
4188available choices.
4189
4190You may also specify the system call numerically. A syscall's
4191number is the value passed to the OS's syscall dispatcher to
4192identify the requested service. When you specify the syscall by its
4193name, @value{GDBN} uses its database of syscalls to convert the name
4194into the corresponding numeric code, but using the number directly
4195may be useful if @value{GDBN}'s database does not have the complete
4196list of syscalls on your system (e.g., because @value{GDBN} lags
4197behind the OS upgrades).
4198
4199The example below illustrates how this command works if you don't provide
4200arguments to it:
4201
4202@smallexample
4203(@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
4204Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
4205(@value{GDBP}) r
4206Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4207
4208Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'close'), \
4209 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4210(@value{GDBP}) c
4211Continuing.
4212
4213Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'close'), \
4214 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4215(@value{GDBP})
4216@end smallexample
4217
4218Here is an example of catching a system call by name:
4219
4220@smallexample
4221(@value{GDBP}) catch syscall chroot
4222Catchpoint 1 (syscall 'chroot' [61])
4223(@value{GDBP}) r
4224Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4225
4226Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'chroot'), \
4227 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4228(@value{GDBP}) c
4229Continuing.
4230
4231Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'chroot'), \
4232 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4233(@value{GDBP})
4234@end smallexample
4235
4236An example of specifying a system call numerically. In the case
4237below, the syscall number has a corresponding entry in the XML
4238file, so @value{GDBN} finds its name and prints it:
4239
4240@smallexample
4241(@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
4242Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 'exit_group')
4243(@value{GDBP}) r
4244Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4245
4246Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'exit_group'), \
4247 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4248(@value{GDBP}) c
4249Continuing.
4250
4251Program exited normally.
4252(@value{GDBP})
4253@end smallexample
4254
4255However, there can be situations when there is no corresponding name
4256in XML file for that syscall number. In this case, @value{GDBN} prints
4257a warning message saying that it was not able to find the syscall name,
4258but the catchpoint will be set anyway. See the example below:
4259
4260@smallexample
4261(@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 764
4262warning: The number '764' does not represent a known syscall.
4263Catchpoint 2 (syscall 764)
4264(@value{GDBP})
4265@end smallexample
4266
4267If you configure @value{GDBN} using the @samp{--without-expat} option,
4268it will not be able to display syscall names. Also, if your
4269architecture does not have an XML file describing its system calls,
4270you will not be able to see the syscall names. It is important to
4271notice that these two features are used for accessing the syscall
4272name database. In either case, you will see a warning like this:
4273
4274@smallexample
4275(@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
4276warning: Could not open "syscalls/i386-linux.xml"
4277warning: Could not load the syscall XML file 'syscalls/i386-linux.xml'.
4278GDB will not be able to display syscall names.
4279Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
4280(@value{GDBP})
4281@end smallexample
4282
4283Of course, the file name will change depending on your architecture and system.
4284
4285Still using the example above, you can also try to catch a syscall by its
4286number. In this case, you would see something like:
4287
4288@smallexample
4289(@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
4290Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 252)
4291@end smallexample
4292
4293Again, in this case @value{GDBN} would not be able to display syscall's names.
4294
4295@item fork
4296A call to @code{fork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4297and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
4298
4299@item vfork
4300A call to @code{vfork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4301and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
4302
4303@item load @r{[}regexp@r{]}
4304@itemx unload @r{[}regexp@r{]}
4305The loading or unloading of a shared library. If @var{regexp} is
4306given, then the catchpoint will stop only if the regular expression
4307matches one of the affected libraries.
4308
4309@item signal @r{[}@var{signal}@dots{} @r{|} @samp{all}@r{]}
4310The delivery of a signal.
4311
4312With no arguments, this catchpoint will catch any signal that is not
4313used internally by @value{GDBN}, specifically, all signals except
4314@samp{SIGTRAP} and @samp{SIGINT}.
4315
4316With the argument @samp{all}, all signals, including those used by
4317@value{GDBN}, will be caught. This argument cannot be used with other
4318signal names.
4319
4320Otherwise, the arguments are a list of signal names as given to
4321@code{handle} (@pxref{Signals}). Only signals specified in this list
4322will be caught.
4323
4324One reason that @code{catch signal} can be more useful than
4325@code{handle} is that you can attach commands and conditions to the
4326catchpoint.
4327
4328When a signal is caught by a catchpoint, the signal's @code{stop} and
4329@code{print} settings, as specified by @code{handle}, are ignored.
4330However, whether the signal is still delivered to the inferior depends
4331on the @code{pass} setting; this can be changed in the catchpoint's
4332commands.
4333
4334@end table
4335
4336@item tcatch @var{event}
4337Set a catchpoint that is enabled only for one stop. The catchpoint is
4338automatically deleted after the first time the event is caught.
4339
4340@end table
4341
4342Use the @code{info break} command to list the current catchpoints.
4343
4344
4345@node Delete Breaks
4346@subsection Deleting Breakpoints
4347
4348@cindex clearing breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4349@cindex deleting breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4350It is often necessary to eliminate a breakpoint, watchpoint, or
4351catchpoint once it has done its job and you no longer want your program
4352to stop there. This is called @dfn{deleting} the breakpoint. A
4353breakpoint that has been deleted no longer exists; it is forgotten.
4354
4355With the @code{clear} command you can delete breakpoints according to
4356where they are in your program. With the @code{delete} command you can
4357delete individual breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints by specifying
4358their breakpoint numbers.
4359
4360It is not necessary to delete a breakpoint to proceed past it. @value{GDBN}
4361automatically ignores breakpoints on the first instruction to be executed
4362when you continue execution without changing the execution address.
4363
4364@table @code
4365@kindex clear
4366@item clear
4367Delete any breakpoints at the next instruction to be executed in the
4368selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). When
4369the innermost frame is selected, this is a good way to delete a
4370breakpoint where your program just stopped.
4371
4372@item clear @var{location}
4373Delete any breakpoints set at the specified @var{location}.
4374@xref{Specify Location}, for the various forms of @var{location}; the
4375most useful ones are listed below:
4376
4377@table @code
4378@item clear @var{function}
4379@itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{function}
4380Delete any breakpoints set at entry to the named @var{function}.
4381
4382@item clear @var{linenum}
4383@itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
4384Delete any breakpoints set at or within the code of the specified
4385@var{linenum} of the specified @var{filename}.
4386@end table
4387
4388@cindex delete breakpoints
4389@kindex delete
4390@kindex d @r{(@code{delete})}
4391@item delete @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4392Delete the breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints of the breakpoint
4393ranges specified as arguments. If no argument is specified, delete all
4394breakpoints (@value{GDBN} asks confirmation, unless you have @code{set
4395confirm off}). You can abbreviate this command as @code{d}.
4396@end table
4397
4398@node Disabling
4399@subsection Disabling Breakpoints
4400
4401@cindex enable/disable a breakpoint
4402Rather than deleting a breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint, you might
4403prefer to @dfn{disable} it. This makes the breakpoint inoperative as if
4404it had been deleted, but remembers the information on the breakpoint so
4405that you can @dfn{enable} it again later.
4406
4407You disable and enable breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints with
4408the @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands, optionally specifying
4409one or more breakpoint numbers as arguments. Use @code{info break} to
4410print a list of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints if you
4411do not know which numbers to use.
4412
4413Disabling and enabling a breakpoint that has multiple locations
4414affects all of its locations.
4415
4416A breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint can have any of several
4417different states of enablement:
4418
4419@itemize @bullet
4420@item
4421Enabled. The breakpoint stops your program. A breakpoint set
4422with the @code{break} command starts out in this state.
4423@item
4424Disabled. The breakpoint has no effect on your program.
4425@item
4426Enabled once. The breakpoint stops your program, but then becomes
4427disabled.
4428@item
4429Enabled for a count. The breakpoint stops your program for the next
4430N times, then becomes disabled.
4431@item
4432Enabled for deletion. The breakpoint stops your program, but
4433immediately after it does so it is deleted permanently. A breakpoint
4434set with the @code{tbreak} command starts out in this state.
4435@end itemize
4436
4437You can use the following commands to enable or disable breakpoints,
4438watchpoints, and catchpoints:
4439
4440@table @code
4441@kindex disable
4442@kindex dis @r{(@code{disable})}
4443@item disable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4444Disable the specified breakpoints---or all breakpoints, if none are
4445listed. A disabled breakpoint has no effect but is not forgotten. All
4446options such as ignore-counts, conditions and commands are remembered in
4447case the breakpoint is enabled again later. You may abbreviate
4448@code{disable} as @code{dis}.
4449
4450@kindex enable
4451@item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4452Enable the specified breakpoints (or all defined breakpoints). They
4453become effective once again in stopping your program.
4454
4455@item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} once @var{range}@dots{}
4456Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} disables any
4457of these breakpoints immediately after stopping your program.
4458
4459@item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} count @var{count} @var{range}@dots{}
4460Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} records
4461@var{count} with each of the specified breakpoints, and decrements a
4462breakpoint's count when it is hit. When any count reaches 0,
4463@value{GDBN} disables that breakpoint. If a breakpoint has an ignore
4464count (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}), that will be
4465decremented to 0 before @var{count} is affected.
4466
4467@item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} delete @var{range}@dots{}
4468Enable the specified breakpoints to work once, then die. @value{GDBN}
4469deletes any of these breakpoints as soon as your program stops there.
4470Breakpoints set by the @code{tbreak} command start out in this state.
4471@end table
4472
4473@c FIXME: I think the following ``Except for [...] @code{tbreak}'' is
4474@c confusing: tbreak is also initially enabled.
4475Except for a breakpoint set with @code{tbreak} (@pxref{Set Breaks,
4476,Setting Breakpoints}), breakpoints that you set are initially enabled;
4477subsequently, they become disabled or enabled only when you use one of
4478the commands above. (The command @code{until} can set and delete a
4479breakpoint of its own, but it does not change the state of your other
4480breakpoints; see @ref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and
4481Stepping}.)
4482
4483@node Conditions
4484@subsection Break Conditions
4485@cindex conditional breakpoints
4486@cindex breakpoint conditions
4487
4488@c FIXME what is scope of break condition expr? Context where wanted?
4489@c in particular for a watchpoint?
4490The simplest sort of breakpoint breaks every time your program reaches a
4491specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for a
4492breakpoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
4493programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A breakpoint with
4494a condition evaluates the expression each time your program reaches it,
4495and your program stops only if the condition is @emph{true}.
4496
4497This is the converse of using assertions for program validation; in that
4498situation, you want to stop when the assertion is violated---that is,
4499when the condition is false. In C, if you want to test an assertion expressed
4500by the condition @var{assert}, you should set the condition
4501@samp{! @var{assert}} on the appropriate breakpoint.
4502
4503Conditions are also accepted for watchpoints; you may not need them,
4504since a watchpoint is inspecting the value of an expression anyhow---but
4505it might be simpler, say, to just set a watchpoint on a variable name,
4506and specify a condition that tests whether the new value is an interesting
4507one.
4508
4509Break conditions can have side effects, and may even call functions in
4510your program. This can be useful, for example, to activate functions
4511that log program progress, or to use your own print functions to
4512format special data structures. The effects are completely predictable
4513unless there is another enabled breakpoint at the same address. (In
4514that case, @value{GDBN} might see the other breakpoint first and stop your
4515program without checking the condition of this one.) Note that
4516breakpoint commands are usually more convenient and flexible than break
4517conditions for the
4518purpose of performing side effects when a breakpoint is reached
4519(@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}).
4520
4521Breakpoint conditions can also be evaluated on the target's side if
4522the target supports it. Instead of evaluating the conditions locally,
4523@value{GDBN} encodes the expression into an agent expression
4524(@pxref{Agent Expressions}) suitable for execution on the target,
4525independently of @value{GDBN}. Global variables become raw memory
4526locations, locals become stack accesses, and so forth.
4527
4528In this case, @value{GDBN} will only be notified of a breakpoint trigger
4529when its condition evaluates to true. This mechanism may provide faster
4530response times depending on the performance characteristics of the target
4531since it does not need to keep @value{GDBN} informed about
4532every breakpoint trigger, even those with false conditions.
4533
4534Break conditions can be specified when a breakpoint is set, by using
4535@samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{break} command. @xref{Set
4536Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}. They can also be changed at any time
4537with the @code{condition} command.
4538
4539You can also use the @code{if} keyword with the @code{watch} command.
4540The @code{catch} command does not recognize the @code{if} keyword;
4541@code{condition} is the only way to impose a further condition on a
4542catchpoint.
4543
4544@table @code
4545@kindex condition
4546@item condition @var{bnum} @var{expression}
4547Specify @var{expression} as the break condition for breakpoint,
4548watchpoint, or catchpoint number @var{bnum}. After you set a condition,
4549breakpoint @var{bnum} stops your program only if the value of
4550@var{expression} is true (nonzero, in C). When you use
4551@code{condition}, @value{GDBN} checks @var{expression} immediately for
4552syntactic correctness, and to determine whether symbols in it have
4553referents in the context of your breakpoint. If @var{expression} uses
4554symbols not referenced in the context of the breakpoint, @value{GDBN}
4555prints an error message:
4556
4557@smallexample
4558No symbol "foo" in current context.
4559@end smallexample
4560
4561@noindent
4562@value{GDBN} does
4563not actually evaluate @var{expression} at the time the @code{condition}
4564command (or a command that sets a breakpoint with a condition, like
4565@code{break if @dots{}}) is given, however. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
4566
4567@item condition @var{bnum}
4568Remove the condition from breakpoint number @var{bnum}. It becomes
4569an ordinary unconditional breakpoint.
4570@end table
4571
4572@cindex ignore count (of breakpoint)
4573A special case of a breakpoint condition is to stop only when the
4574breakpoint has been reached a certain number of times. This is so
4575useful that there is a special way to do it, using the @dfn{ignore
4576count} of the breakpoint. Every breakpoint has an ignore count, which
4577is an integer. Most of the time, the ignore count is zero, and
4578therefore has no effect. But if your program reaches a breakpoint whose
4579ignore count is positive, then instead of stopping, it just decrements
4580the ignore count by one and continues. As a result, if the ignore count
4581value is @var{n}, the breakpoint does not stop the next @var{n} times
4582your program reaches it.
4583
4584@table @code
4585@kindex ignore
4586@item ignore @var{bnum} @var{count}
4587Set the ignore count of breakpoint number @var{bnum} to @var{count}.
4588The next @var{count} times the breakpoint is reached, your program's
4589execution does not stop; other than to decrement the ignore count, @value{GDBN}
4590takes no action.
4591
4592To make the breakpoint stop the next time it is reached, specify
4593a count of zero.
4594
4595When you use @code{continue} to resume execution of your program from a
4596breakpoint, you can specify an ignore count directly as an argument to
4597@code{continue}, rather than using @code{ignore}. @xref{Continuing and
4598Stepping,,Continuing and Stepping}.
4599
4600If a breakpoint has a positive ignore count and a condition, the
4601condition is not checked. Once the ignore count reaches zero,
4602@value{GDBN} resumes checking the condition.
4603
4604You could achieve the effect of the ignore count with a condition such
4605as @w{@samp{$foo-- <= 0}} using a debugger convenience variable that
4606is decremented each time. @xref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
4607Variables}.
4608@end table
4609
4610Ignore counts apply to breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints.
4611
4612
4613@node Break Commands
4614@subsection Breakpoint Command Lists
4615
4616@cindex breakpoint commands
4617You can give any breakpoint (or watchpoint or catchpoint) a series of
4618commands to execute when your program stops due to that breakpoint. For
4619example, you might want to print the values of certain expressions, or
4620enable other breakpoints.
4621
4622@table @code
4623@kindex commands
4624@kindex end@r{ (breakpoint commands)}
4625@item commands @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4626@itemx @dots{} @var{command-list} @dots{}
4627@itemx end
4628Specify a list of commands for the given breakpoints. The commands
4629themselves appear on the following lines. Type a line containing just
4630@code{end} to terminate the commands.
4631
4632To remove all commands from a breakpoint, type @code{commands} and
4633follow it immediately with @code{end}; that is, give no commands.
4634
4635With no argument, @code{commands} refers to the last breakpoint,
4636watchpoint, or catchpoint set (not to the breakpoint most recently
4637encountered). If the most recent breakpoints were set with a single
4638command, then the @code{commands} will apply to all the breakpoints
4639set by that command. This applies to breakpoints set by
4640@code{rbreak}, and also applies when a single @code{break} command
4641creates multiple breakpoints (@pxref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous
4642Expressions}).
4643@end table
4644
4645Pressing @key{RET} as a means of repeating the last @value{GDBN} command is
4646disabled within a @var{command-list}.
4647
4648You can use breakpoint commands to start your program up again. Simply
4649use the @code{continue} command, or @code{step}, or any other command
4650that resumes execution.
4651
4652Any other commands in the command list, after a command that resumes
4653execution, are ignored. This is because any time you resume execution
4654(even with a simple @code{next} or @code{step}), you may encounter
4655another breakpoint---which could have its own command list, leading to
4656ambiguities about which list to execute.
4657
4658@kindex silent
4659If the first command you specify in a command list is @code{silent}, the
4660usual message about stopping at a breakpoint is not printed. This may
4661be desirable for breakpoints that are to print a specific message and
4662then continue. If none of the remaining commands print anything, you
4663see no sign that the breakpoint was reached. @code{silent} is
4664meaningful only at the beginning of a breakpoint command list.
4665
4666The commands @code{echo}, @code{output}, and @code{printf} allow you to
4667print precisely controlled output, and are often useful in silent
4668breakpoints. @xref{Output, ,Commands for Controlled Output}.
4669
4670For example, here is how you could use breakpoint commands to print the
4671value of @code{x} at entry to @code{foo} whenever @code{x} is positive.
4672
4673@smallexample
4674break foo if x>0
4675commands
4676silent
4677printf "x is %d\n",x
4678cont
4679end
4680@end smallexample
4681
4682One application for breakpoint commands is to compensate for one bug so
4683you can test for another. Put a breakpoint just after the erroneous line
4684of code, give it a condition to detect the case in which something
4685erroneous has been done, and give it commands to assign correct values
4686to any variables that need them. End with the @code{continue} command
4687so that your program does not stop, and start with the @code{silent}
4688command so that no output is produced. Here is an example:
4689
4690@smallexample
4691break 403
4692commands
4693silent
4694set x = y + 4
4695cont
4696end
4697@end smallexample
4698
4699@node Dynamic Printf
4700@subsection Dynamic Printf
4701
4702@cindex dynamic printf
4703@cindex dprintf
4704The dynamic printf command @code{dprintf} combines a breakpoint with
4705formatted printing of your program's data to give you the effect of
4706inserting @code{printf} calls into your program on-the-fly, without
4707having to recompile it.
4708
4709In its most basic form, the output goes to the GDB console. However,
4710you can set the variable @code{dprintf-style} for alternate handling.
4711For instance, you can ask to format the output by calling your
4712program's @code{printf} function. This has the advantage that the
4713characters go to the program's output device, so they can recorded in
4714redirects to files and so forth.
4715
4716If you are doing remote debugging with a stub or agent, you can also
4717ask to have the printf handled by the remote agent. In addition to
4718ensuring that the output goes to the remote program's device along
4719with any other output the program might produce, you can also ask that
4720the dprintf remain active even after disconnecting from the remote
4721target. Using the stub/agent is also more efficient, as it can do
4722everything without needing to communicate with @value{GDBN}.
4723
4724@table @code
4725@kindex dprintf
4726@item dprintf @var{location},@var{template},@var{expression}[,@var{expression}@dots{}]
4727Whenever execution reaches @var{location}, print the values of one or
4728more @var{expressions} under the control of the string @var{template}.
4729To print several values, separate them with commas.
4730
4731@item set dprintf-style @var{style}
4732Set the dprintf output to be handled in one of several different
4733styles enumerated below. A change of style affects all existing
4734dynamic printfs immediately. (If you need individual control over the
4735print commands, simply define normal breakpoints with
4736explicitly-supplied command lists.)
4737
4738@item gdb
4739@kindex dprintf-style gdb
4740Handle the output using the @value{GDBN} @code{printf} command.
4741
4742@item call
4743@kindex dprintf-style call
4744Handle the output by calling a function in your program (normally
4745@code{printf}).
4746
4747@item agent
4748@kindex dprintf-style agent
4749Have the remote debugging agent (such as @code{gdbserver}) handle
4750the output itself. This style is only available for agents that
4751support running commands on the target.
4752
4753@item set dprintf-function @var{function}
4754Set the function to call if the dprintf style is @code{call}. By
4755default its value is @code{printf}. You may set it to any expression.
4756that @value{GDBN} can evaluate to a function, as per the @code{call}
4757command.
4758
4759@item set dprintf-channel @var{channel}
4760Set a ``channel'' for dprintf. If set to a non-empty value,
4761@value{GDBN} will evaluate it as an expression and pass the result as
4762a first argument to the @code{dprintf-function}, in the manner of
4763@code{fprintf} and similar functions. Otherwise, the dprintf format
4764string will be the first argument, in the manner of @code{printf}.
4765
4766As an example, if you wanted @code{dprintf} output to go to a logfile
4767that is a standard I/O stream assigned to the variable @code{mylog},
4768you could do the following:
4769
4770@example
4771(gdb) set dprintf-style call
4772(gdb) set dprintf-function fprintf
4773(gdb) set dprintf-channel mylog
4774(gdb) dprintf 25,"at line 25, glob=%d\n",glob
4775Dprintf 1 at 0x123456: file main.c, line 25.
4776(gdb) info break
47771 dprintf keep y 0x00123456 in main at main.c:25
4778 call (void) fprintf (mylog,"at line 25, glob=%d\n",glob)
4779 continue
4780(gdb)
4781@end example
4782
4783Note that the @code{info break} displays the dynamic printf commands
4784as normal breakpoint commands; you can thus easily see the effect of
4785the variable settings.
4786
4787@item set disconnected-dprintf on
4788@itemx set disconnected-dprintf off
4789@kindex set disconnected-dprintf
4790Choose whether @code{dprintf} commands should continue to run if
4791@value{GDBN} has disconnected from the target. This only applies
4792if the @code{dprintf-style} is @code{agent}.
4793
4794@item show disconnected-dprintf off
4795@kindex show disconnected-dprintf
4796Show the current choice for disconnected @code{dprintf}.
4797
4798@end table
4799
4800@value{GDBN} does not check the validity of function and channel,
4801relying on you to supply values that are meaningful for the contexts
4802in which they are being used. For instance, the function and channel
4803may be the values of local variables, but if that is the case, then
4804all enabled dynamic prints must be at locations within the scope of
4805those locals. If evaluation fails, @value{GDBN} will report an error.
4806
4807@node Save Breakpoints
4808@subsection How to save breakpoints to a file
4809
4810To save breakpoint definitions to a file use the @w{@code{save
4811breakpoints}} command.
4812
4813@table @code
4814@kindex save breakpoints
4815@cindex save breakpoints to a file for future sessions
4816@item save breakpoints [@var{filename}]
4817This command saves all current breakpoint definitions together with
4818their commands and ignore counts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
4819suitable for use in a later debugging session. This includes all
4820types of breakpoints (breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints,
4821tracepoints). To read the saved breakpoint definitions, use the
4822@code{source} command (@pxref{Command Files}). Note that watchpoints
4823with expressions involving local variables may fail to be recreated
4824because it may not be possible to access the context where the
4825watchpoint is valid anymore. Because the saved breakpoint definitions
4826are simply a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands that recreate the
4827breakpoints, you can edit the file in your favorite editing program,
4828and remove the breakpoint definitions you're not interested in, or
4829that can no longer be recreated.
4830@end table
4831
4832@node Static Probe Points
4833@subsection Static Probe Points
4834
4835@cindex static probe point, SystemTap
4836@value{GDBN} supports @dfn{SDT} probes in the code. @acronym{SDT} stands
4837for Statically Defined Tracing, and the probes are designed to have a tiny
4838runtime code and data footprint, and no dynamic relocations. They are
4839usable from assembly, C and C@t{++} languages. See
4840@uref{http://sourceware.org/systemtap/wiki/UserSpaceProbeImplementation}
4841for a good reference on how the @acronym{SDT} probes are implemented.
4842
4843Currently, @code{SystemTap} (@uref{http://sourceware.org/systemtap/})
4844@acronym{SDT} probes are supported on ELF-compatible systems. See
4845@uref{http://sourceware.org/systemtap/wiki/AddingUserSpaceProbingToApps}
4846for more information on how to add @code{SystemTap} @acronym{SDT} probes
4847in your applications.
4848
4849@cindex semaphores on static probe points
4850Some probes have an associated semaphore variable; for instance, this
4851happens automatically if you defined your probe using a DTrace-style
4852@file{.d} file. If your probe has a semaphore, @value{GDBN} will
4853automatically enable it when you specify a breakpoint using the
4854@samp{-probe-stap} notation. But, if you put a breakpoint at a probe's
4855location by some other method (e.g., @code{break file:line}), then
4856@value{GDBN} will not automatically set the semaphore.
4857
4858You can examine the available static static probes using @code{info
4859probes}, with optional arguments:
4860
4861@table @code
4862@kindex info probes
4863@item info probes stap @r{[}@var{provider} @r{[}@var{name} @r{[}@var{objfile}@r{]}@r{]}@r{]}
4864If given, @var{provider} is a regular expression used to match against provider
4865names when selecting which probes to list. If omitted, probes by all
4866probes from all providers are listed.
4867
4868If given, @var{name} is a regular expression to match against probe names
4869when selecting which probes to list. If omitted, probe names are not
4870considered when deciding whether to display them.
4871
4872If given, @var{objfile} is a regular expression used to select which
4873object files (executable or shared libraries) to examine. If not
4874given, all object files are considered.
4875
4876@item info probes all
4877List the available static probes, from all types.
4878@end table
4879
4880@vindex $_probe_arg@r{, convenience variable}
4881A probe may specify up to twelve arguments. These are available at the
4882point at which the probe is defined---that is, when the current PC is
4883at the probe's location. The arguments are available using the
4884convenience variables (@pxref{Convenience Vars})
4885@code{$_probe_arg0}@dots{}@code{$_probe_arg11}. Each probe argument is
4886an integer of the appropriate size; types are not preserved. The
4887convenience variable @code{$_probe_argc} holds the number of arguments
4888at the current probe point.
4889
4890These variables are always available, but attempts to access them at
4891any location other than a probe point will cause @value{GDBN} to give
4892an error message.
4893
4894
4895@c @ifclear BARETARGET
4896@node Error in Breakpoints
4897@subsection ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
4898
4899If you request too many active hardware-assisted breakpoints and
4900watchpoints, you will see this error message:
4901
4902@c FIXME: the precise wording of this message may change; the relevant
4903@c source change is not committed yet (Sep 3, 1999).
4904@smallexample
4905Stopped; cannot insert breakpoints.
4906You may have requested too many hardware breakpoints and watchpoints.
4907@end smallexample
4908
4909@noindent
4910This message is printed when you attempt to resume the program, since
4911only then @value{GDBN} knows exactly how many hardware breakpoints and
4912watchpoints it needs to insert.
4913
4914When this message is printed, you need to disable or remove some of the
4915hardware-assisted breakpoints and watchpoints, and then continue.
4916
4917@node Breakpoint-related Warnings
4918@subsection ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
4919@cindex breakpoint address adjusted
4920
4921Some processor architectures place constraints on the addresses at
4922which breakpoints may be placed. For architectures thus constrained,
4923@value{GDBN} will attempt to adjust the breakpoint's address to comply
4924with the constraints dictated by the architecture.
4925
4926One example of such an architecture is the Fujitsu FR-V. The FR-V is
4927a VLIW architecture in which a number of RISC-like instructions may be
4928bundled together for parallel execution. The FR-V architecture
4929constrains the location of a breakpoint instruction within such a
4930bundle to the instruction with the lowest address. @value{GDBN}
4931honors this constraint by adjusting a breakpoint's address to the
4932first in the bundle.
4933
4934It is not uncommon for optimized code to have bundles which contain
4935instructions from different source statements, thus it may happen that
4936a breakpoint's address will be adjusted from one source statement to
4937another. Since this adjustment may significantly alter @value{GDBN}'s
4938breakpoint related behavior from what the user expects, a warning is
4939printed when the breakpoint is first set and also when the breakpoint
4940is hit.
4941
4942A warning like the one below is printed when setting a breakpoint
4943that's been subject to address adjustment:
4944
4945@smallexample
4946warning: Breakpoint address adjusted from 0x00010414 to 0x00010410.
4947@end smallexample
4948
4949Such warnings are printed both for user settable and @value{GDBN}'s
4950internal breakpoints. If you see one of these warnings, you should
4951verify that a breakpoint set at the adjusted address will have the
4952desired affect. If not, the breakpoint in question may be removed and
4953other breakpoints may be set which will have the desired behavior.
4954E.g., it may be sufficient to place the breakpoint at a later
4955instruction. A conditional breakpoint may also be useful in some
4956cases to prevent the breakpoint from triggering too often.
4957
4958@value{GDBN} will also issue a warning when stopping at one of these
4959adjusted breakpoints:
4960
4961@smallexample
4962warning: Breakpoint 1 address previously adjusted from 0x00010414
4963to 0x00010410.
4964@end smallexample
4965
4966When this warning is encountered, it may be too late to take remedial
4967action except in cases where the breakpoint is hit earlier or more
4968frequently than expected.
4969
4970@node Continuing and Stepping
4971@section Continuing and Stepping
4972
4973@cindex stepping
4974@cindex continuing
4975@cindex resuming execution
4976@dfn{Continuing} means resuming program execution until your program
4977completes normally. In contrast, @dfn{stepping} means executing just
4978one more ``step'' of your program, where ``step'' may mean either one
4979line of source code, or one machine instruction (depending on what
4980particular command you use). Either when continuing or when stepping,
4981your program may stop even sooner, due to a breakpoint or a signal. (If
4982it stops due to a signal, you may want to use @code{handle}, or use
4983@samp{signal 0} to resume execution. @xref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
4984
4985@table @code
4986@kindex continue
4987@kindex c @r{(@code{continue})}
4988@kindex fg @r{(resume foreground execution)}
4989@item continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4990@itemx c @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4991@itemx fg @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4992Resume program execution, at the address where your program last stopped;
4993any breakpoints set at that address are bypassed. The optional argument
4994@var{ignore-count} allows you to specify a further number of times to
4995ignore a breakpoint at this location; its effect is like that of
4996@code{ignore} (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
4997
4998The argument @var{ignore-count} is meaningful only when your program
4999stopped due to a breakpoint. At other times, the argument to
5000@code{continue} is ignored.
5001
5002The synonyms @code{c} and @code{fg} (for @dfn{foreground}, as the
5003debugged program is deemed to be the foreground program) are provided
5004purely for convenience, and have exactly the same behavior as
5005@code{continue}.
5006@end table
5007
5008To resume execution at a different place, you can use @code{return}
5009(@pxref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}) to go back to the
5010calling function; or @code{jump} (@pxref{Jumping, ,Continuing at a
5011Different Address}) to go to an arbitrary location in your program.
5012
5013A typical technique for using stepping is to set a breakpoint
5014(@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Catchpoints}) at the
5015beginning of the function or the section of your program where a problem
5016is believed to lie, run your program until it stops at that breakpoint,
5017and then step through the suspect area, examining the variables that are
5018interesting, until you see the problem happen.
5019
5020@table @code
5021@kindex step
5022@kindex s @r{(@code{step})}
5023@item step
5024Continue running your program until control reaches a different source
5025line, then stop it and return control to @value{GDBN}. This command is
5026abbreviated @code{s}.
5027
5028@quotation
5029@c "without debugging information" is imprecise; actually "without line
5030@c numbers in the debugging information". (gcc -g1 has debugging info but
5031@c not line numbers). But it seems complex to try to make that
5032@c distinction here.
5033@emph{Warning:} If you use the @code{step} command while control is
5034within a function that was compiled without debugging information,
5035execution proceeds until control reaches a function that does have
5036debugging information. Likewise, it will not step into a function which
5037is compiled without debugging information. To step through functions
5038without debugging information, use the @code{stepi} command, described
5039below.
5040@end quotation
5041
5042The @code{step} command only stops at the first instruction of a source
5043line. This prevents the multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
5044@code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc. @code{step} continues
5045to stop if a function that has debugging information is called within
5046the line. In other words, @code{step} @emph{steps inside} any functions
5047called within the line.
5048
5049Also, the @code{step} command only enters a function if there is line
5050number information for the function. Otherwise it acts like the
5051@code{next} command. This avoids problems when using @code{cc -gl}
5052on @acronym{MIPS} machines. Previously, @code{step} entered subroutines if there
5053was any debugging information about the routine.
5054
5055@item step @var{count}
5056Continue running as in @code{step}, but do so @var{count} times. If a
5057breakpoint is reached, or a signal not related to stepping occurs before
5058@var{count} steps, stepping stops right away.
5059
5060@kindex next
5061@kindex n @r{(@code{next})}
5062@item next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5063Continue to the next source line in the current (innermost) stack frame.
5064This is similar to @code{step}, but function calls that appear within
5065the line of code are executed without stopping. Execution stops when
5066control reaches a different line of code at the original stack level
5067that was executing when you gave the @code{next} command. This command
5068is abbreviated @code{n}.
5069
5070An argument @var{count} is a repeat count, as for @code{step}.
5071
5072
5073@c FIX ME!! Do we delete this, or is there a way it fits in with
5074@c the following paragraph? --- Vctoria
5075@c
5076@c @code{next} within a function that lacks debugging information acts like
5077@c @code{step}, but any function calls appearing within the code of the
5078@c function are executed without stopping.
5079
5080The @code{next} command only stops at the first instruction of a
5081source line. This prevents multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
5082@code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc.
5083
5084@kindex set step-mode
5085@item set step-mode
5086@cindex functions without line info, and stepping
5087@cindex stepping into functions with no line info
5088@itemx set step-mode on
5089The @code{set step-mode on} command causes the @code{step} command to
5090stop at the first instruction of a function which contains no debug line
5091information rather than stepping over it.
5092
5093This is useful in cases where you may be interested in inspecting the
5094machine instructions of a function which has no symbolic info and do not
5095want @value{GDBN} to automatically skip over this function.
5096
5097@item set step-mode off
5098Causes the @code{step} command to step over any functions which contains no
5099debug information. This is the default.
5100
5101@item show step-mode
5102Show whether @value{GDBN} will stop in or step over functions without
5103source line debug information.
5104
5105@kindex finish
5106@kindex fin @r{(@code{finish})}
5107@item finish
5108Continue running until just after function in the selected stack frame
5109returns. Print the returned value (if any). This command can be
5110abbreviated as @code{fin}.
5111
5112Contrast this with the @code{return} command (@pxref{Returning,
5113,Returning from a Function}).
5114
5115@kindex until
5116@kindex u @r{(@code{until})}
5117@cindex run until specified location
5118@item until
5119@itemx u
5120Continue running until a source line past the current line, in the
5121current stack frame, is reached. This command is used to avoid single
5122stepping through a loop more than once. It is like the @code{next}
5123command, except that when @code{until} encounters a jump, it
5124automatically continues execution until the program counter is greater
5125than the address of the jump.
5126
5127This means that when you reach the end of a loop after single stepping
5128though it, @code{until} makes your program continue execution until it
5129exits the loop. In contrast, a @code{next} command at the end of a loop
5130simply steps back to the beginning of the loop, which forces you to step
5131through the next iteration.
5132
5133@code{until} always stops your program if it attempts to exit the current
5134stack frame.
5135
5136@code{until} may produce somewhat counterintuitive results if the order
5137of machine code does not match the order of the source lines. For
5138example, in the following excerpt from a debugging session, the @code{f}
5139(@code{frame}) command shows that execution is stopped at line
5140@code{206}; yet when we use @code{until}, we get to line @code{195}:
5141
5142@smallexample
5143(@value{GDBP}) f
5144#0 main (argc=4, argv=0xf7fffae8) at m4.c:206
5145206 expand_input();
5146(@value{GDBP}) until
5147195 for ( ; argc > 0; NEXTARG) @{
5148@end smallexample
5149
5150This happened because, for execution efficiency, the compiler had
5151generated code for the loop closure test at the end, rather than the
5152start, of the loop---even though the test in a C @code{for}-loop is
5153written before the body of the loop. The @code{until} command appeared
5154to step back to the beginning of the loop when it advanced to this
5155expression; however, it has not really gone to an earlier
5156statement---not in terms of the actual machine code.
5157
5158@code{until} with no argument works by means of single
5159instruction stepping, and hence is slower than @code{until} with an
5160argument.
5161
5162@item until @var{location}
5163@itemx u @var{location}
5164Continue running your program until either the specified location is
5165reached, or the current stack frame returns. @var{location} is any of
5166the forms described in @ref{Specify Location}.
5167This form of the command uses temporary breakpoints, and
5168hence is quicker than @code{until} without an argument. The specified
5169location is actually reached only if it is in the current frame. This
5170implies that @code{until} can be used to skip over recursive function
5171invocations. For instance in the code below, if the current location is
5172line @code{96}, issuing @code{until 99} will execute the program up to
5173line @code{99} in the same invocation of factorial, i.e., after the inner
5174invocations have returned.
5175
5176@smallexample
517794 int factorial (int value)
517895 @{
517996 if (value > 1) @{
518097 value *= factorial (value - 1);
518198 @}
518299 return (value);
5183100 @}
5184@end smallexample
5185
5186
5187@kindex advance @var{location}
5188@item advance @var{location}
5189Continue running the program up to the given @var{location}. An argument is
5190required, which should be of one of the forms described in
5191@ref{Specify Location}.
5192Execution will also stop upon exit from the current stack
5193frame. This command is similar to @code{until}, but @code{advance} will
5194not skip over recursive function calls, and the target location doesn't
5195have to be in the same frame as the current one.
5196
5197
5198@kindex stepi
5199@kindex si @r{(@code{stepi})}
5200@item stepi
5201@itemx stepi @var{arg}
5202@itemx si
5203Execute one machine instruction, then stop and return to the debugger.
5204
5205It is often useful to do @samp{display/i $pc} when stepping by machine
5206instructions. This makes @value{GDBN} automatically display the next
5207instruction to be executed, each time your program stops. @xref{Auto
5208Display,, Automatic Display}.
5209
5210An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{step}.
5211
5212@need 750
5213@kindex nexti
5214@kindex ni @r{(@code{nexti})}
5215@item nexti
5216@itemx nexti @var{arg}
5217@itemx ni
5218Execute one machine instruction, but if it is a function call,
5219proceed until the function returns.
5220
5221An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{next}.
5222
5223@end table
5224
5225@anchor{range stepping}
5226@cindex range stepping
5227@cindex target-assisted range stepping
5228By default, and if available, @value{GDBN} makes use of
5229target-assisted @dfn{range stepping}. In other words, whenever you
5230use a stepping command (e.g., @code{step}, @code{next}), @value{GDBN}
5231tells the target to step the corresponding range of instruction
5232addresses instead of issuing multiple single-steps. This speeds up
5233line stepping, particularly for remote targets. Ideally, there should
5234be no reason you would want to turn range stepping off. However, it's
5235possible that a bug in the debug info, a bug in the remote stub (for
5236remote targets), or even a bug in @value{GDBN} could make line
5237stepping behave incorrectly when target-assisted range stepping is
5238enabled. You can use the following command to turn off range stepping
5239if necessary:
5240
5241@table @code
5242@kindex set range-stepping
5243@kindex show range-stepping
5244@item set range-stepping
5245@itemx show range-stepping
5246Control whether range stepping is enabled.
5247
5248If @code{on}, and the target supports it, @value{GDBN} tells the
5249target to step a range of addresses itself, instead of issuing
5250multiple single-steps. If @code{off}, @value{GDBN} always issues
5251single-steps, even if range stepping is supported by the target. The
5252default is @code{on}.
5253
5254@end table
5255
5256@node Skipping Over Functions and Files
5257@section Skipping Over Functions and Files
5258@cindex skipping over functions and files
5259
5260The program you are debugging may contain some functions which are
5261uninteresting to debug. The @code{skip} comand lets you tell @value{GDBN} to
5262skip a function or all functions in a file when stepping.
5263
5264For example, consider the following C function:
5265
5266@smallexample
5267101 int func()
5268102 @{
5269103 foo(boring());
5270104 bar(boring());
5271105 @}
5272@end smallexample
5273
5274@noindent
5275Suppose you wish to step into the functions @code{foo} and @code{bar}, but you
5276are not interested in stepping through @code{boring}. If you run @code{step}
5277at line 103, you'll enter @code{boring()}, but if you run @code{next}, you'll
5278step over both @code{foo} and @code{boring}!
5279
5280One solution is to @code{step} into @code{boring} and use the @code{finish}
5281command to immediately exit it. But this can become tedious if @code{boring}
5282is called from many places.
5283
5284A more flexible solution is to execute @kbd{skip boring}. This instructs
5285@value{GDBN} never to step into @code{boring}. Now when you execute
5286@code{step} at line 103, you'll step over @code{boring} and directly into
5287@code{foo}.
5288
5289You can also instruct @value{GDBN} to skip all functions in a file, with, for
5290example, @code{skip file boring.c}.
5291
5292@table @code
5293@kindex skip function
5294@item skip @r{[}@var{linespec}@r{]}
5295@itemx skip function @r{[}@var{linespec}@r{]}
5296After running this command, the function named by @var{linespec} or the
5297function containing the line named by @var{linespec} will be skipped over when
5298stepping. @xref{Specify Location}.
5299
5300If you do not specify @var{linespec}, the function you're currently debugging
5301will be skipped.
5302
5303(If you have a function called @code{file} that you want to skip, use
5304@kbd{skip function file}.)
5305
5306@kindex skip file
5307@item skip file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
5308After running this command, any function whose source lives in @var{filename}
5309will be skipped over when stepping.
5310
5311If you do not specify @var{filename}, functions whose source lives in the file
5312you're currently debugging will be skipped.
5313@end table
5314
5315Skips can be listed, deleted, disabled, and enabled, much like breakpoints.
5316These are the commands for managing your list of skips:
5317
5318@table @code
5319@kindex info skip
5320@item info skip @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5321Print details about the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified,
5322print a table with details about all functions and files marked for skipping.
5323@code{info skip} prints the following information about each skip:
5324
5325@table @emph
5326@item Identifier
5327A number identifying this skip.
5328@item Type
5329The type of this skip, either @samp{function} or @samp{file}.
5330@item Enabled or Disabled
5331Enabled skips are marked with @samp{y}. Disabled skips are marked with @samp{n}.
5332@item Address
5333For function skips, this column indicates the address in memory of the function
5334being skipped. If you've set a function skip on a function which has not yet
5335been loaded, this field will contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Once a shared library
5336which has the function is loaded, @code{info skip} will show the function's
5337address here.
5338@item What
5339For file skips, this field contains the filename being skipped. For functions
5340skips, this field contains the function name and its line number in the file
5341where it is defined.
5342@end table
5343
5344@kindex skip delete
5345@item skip delete @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5346Delete the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, delete all
5347skips.
5348
5349@kindex skip enable
5350@item skip enable @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5351Enable the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, enable all
5352skips.
5353
5354@kindex skip disable
5355@item skip disable @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5356Disable the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, disable all
5357skips.
5358
5359@end table
5360
5361@node Signals
5362@section Signals
5363@cindex signals
5364
5365A signal is an asynchronous event that can happen in a program. The
5366operating system defines the possible kinds of signals, and gives each
5367kind a name and a number. For example, in Unix @code{SIGINT} is the
5368signal a program gets when you type an interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c});
5369@code{SIGSEGV} is the signal a program gets from referencing a place in
5370memory far away from all the areas in use; @code{SIGALRM} occurs when
5371the alarm clock timer goes off (which happens only if your program has
5372requested an alarm).
5373
5374@cindex fatal signals
5375Some signals, including @code{SIGALRM}, are a normal part of the
5376functioning of your program. Others, such as @code{SIGSEGV}, indicate
5377errors; these signals are @dfn{fatal} (they kill your program immediately) if the
5378program has not specified in advance some other way to handle the signal.
5379@code{SIGINT} does not indicate an error in your program, but it is normally
5380fatal so it can carry out the purpose of the interrupt: to kill the program.
5381
5382@value{GDBN} has the ability to detect any occurrence of a signal in your
5383program. You can tell @value{GDBN} in advance what to do for each kind of
5384signal.
5385
5386@cindex handling signals
5387Normally, @value{GDBN} is set up to let the non-erroneous signals like
5388@code{SIGALRM} be silently passed to your program
5389(so as not to interfere with their role in the program's functioning)
5390but to stop your program immediately whenever an error signal happens.
5391You can change these settings with the @code{handle} command.
5392
5393@table @code
5394@kindex info signals
5395@kindex info handle
5396@item info signals
5397@itemx info handle
5398Print a table of all the kinds of signals and how @value{GDBN} has been told to
5399handle each one. You can use this to see the signal numbers of all
5400the defined types of signals.
5401
5402@item info signals @var{sig}
5403Similar, but print information only about the specified signal number.
5404
5405@code{info handle} is an alias for @code{info signals}.
5406
5407@item catch signal @r{[}@var{signal}@dots{} @r{|} @samp{all}@r{]}
5408Set a catchpoint for the indicated signals. @xref{Set Catchpoints},
5409for details about this command.
5410
5411@kindex handle
5412@item handle @var{signal} @r{[}@var{keywords}@dots{}@r{]}
5413Change the way @value{GDBN} handles signal @var{signal}. @var{signal}
5414can be the number of a signal or its name (with or without the
5415@samp{SIG} at the beginning); a list of signal numbers of the form
5416@samp{@var{low}-@var{high}}; or the word @samp{all}, meaning all the
5417known signals. Optional arguments @var{keywords}, described below,
5418say what change to make.
5419@end table
5420
5421@c @group
5422The keywords allowed by the @code{handle} command can be abbreviated.
5423Their full names are:
5424
5425@table @code
5426@item nostop
5427@value{GDBN} should not stop your program when this signal happens. It may
5428still print a message telling you that the signal has come in.
5429
5430@item stop
5431@value{GDBN} should stop your program when this signal happens. This implies
5432the @code{print} keyword as well.
5433
5434@item print
5435@value{GDBN} should print a message when this signal happens.
5436
5437@item noprint
5438@value{GDBN} should not mention the occurrence of the signal at all. This
5439implies the @code{nostop} keyword as well.
5440
5441@item pass
5442@itemx noignore
5443@value{GDBN} should allow your program to see this signal; your program
5444can handle the signal, or else it may terminate if the signal is fatal
5445and not handled. @code{pass} and @code{noignore} are synonyms.
5446
5447@item nopass
5448@itemx ignore
5449@value{GDBN} should not allow your program to see this signal.
5450@code{nopass} and @code{ignore} are synonyms.
5451@end table
5452@c @end group
5453
5454When a signal stops your program, the signal is not visible to the
5455program until you
5456continue. Your program sees the signal then, if @code{pass} is in
5457effect for the signal in question @emph{at that time}. In other words,
5458after @value{GDBN} reports a signal, you can use the @code{handle}
5459command with @code{pass} or @code{nopass} to control whether your
5460program sees that signal when you continue.
5461
5462The default is set to @code{nostop}, @code{noprint}, @code{pass} for
5463non-erroneous signals such as @code{SIGALRM}, @code{SIGWINCH} and
5464@code{SIGCHLD}, and to @code{stop}, @code{print}, @code{pass} for the
5465erroneous signals.
5466
5467You can also use the @code{signal} command to prevent your program from
5468seeing a signal, or cause it to see a signal it normally would not see,
5469or to give it any signal at any time. For example, if your program stopped
5470due to some sort of memory reference error, you might store correct
5471values into the erroneous variables and continue, hoping to see more
5472execution; but your program would probably terminate immediately as
5473a result of the fatal signal once it saw the signal. To prevent this,
5474you can continue with @samp{signal 0}. @xref{Signaling, ,Giving your
5475Program a Signal}.
5476
5477@cindex extra signal information
5478@anchor{extra signal information}
5479
5480On some targets, @value{GDBN} can inspect extra signal information
5481associated with the intercepted signal, before it is actually
5482delivered to the program being debugged. This information is exported
5483by the convenience variable @code{$_siginfo}, and consists of data
5484that is passed by the kernel to the signal handler at the time of the
5485receipt of a signal. The data type of the information itself is
5486target dependent. You can see the data type using the @code{ptype
5487$_siginfo} command. On Unix systems, it typically corresponds to the
5488standard @code{siginfo_t} type, as defined in the @file{signal.h}
5489system header.
5490
5491Here's an example, on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, printing the stray
5492referenced address that raised a segmentation fault.
5493
5494@smallexample
5495@group
5496(@value{GDBP}) continue
5497Program received signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
54980x0000000000400766 in main ()
549969 *(int *)p = 0;
5500(@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo
5501type = struct @{
5502 int si_signo;
5503 int si_errno;
5504 int si_code;
5505 union @{
5506 int _pad[28];
5507 struct @{...@} _kill;
5508 struct @{...@} _timer;
5509 struct @{...@} _rt;
5510 struct @{...@} _sigchld;
5511 struct @{...@} _sigfault;
5512 struct @{...@} _sigpoll;
5513 @} _sifields;
5514@}
5515(@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault
5516type = struct @{
5517 void *si_addr;
5518@}
5519(@value{GDBP}) p $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault.si_addr
5520$1 = (void *) 0x7ffff7ff7000
5521@end group
5522@end smallexample
5523
5524Depending on target support, @code{$_siginfo} may also be writable.
5525
5526@node Thread Stops
5527@section Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs
5528
5529@cindex stopped threads
5530@cindex threads, stopped
5531
5532@cindex continuing threads
5533@cindex threads, continuing
5534
5535@value{GDBN} supports debugging programs with multiple threads
5536(@pxref{Threads,, Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads}). There
5537are two modes of controlling execution of your program within the
5538debugger. In the default mode, referred to as @dfn{all-stop mode},
5539when any thread in your program stops (for example, at a breakpoint
5540or while being stepped), all other threads in the program are also stopped by
5541@value{GDBN}. On some targets, @value{GDBN} also supports
5542@dfn{non-stop mode}, in which other threads can continue to run freely while
5543you examine the stopped thread in the debugger.
5544
5545@menu
5546* All-Stop Mode:: All threads stop when GDB takes control
5547* Non-Stop Mode:: Other threads continue to execute
5548* Background Execution:: Running your program asynchronously
5549* Thread-Specific Breakpoints:: Controlling breakpoints
5550* Interrupted System Calls:: GDB may interfere with system calls
5551* Observer Mode:: GDB does not alter program behavior
5552@end menu
5553
5554@node All-Stop Mode
5555@subsection All-Stop Mode
5556
5557@cindex all-stop mode
5558
5559In all-stop mode, whenever your program stops under @value{GDBN} for any reason,
5560@emph{all} threads of execution stop, not just the current thread. This
5561allows you to examine the overall state of the program, including
5562switching between threads, without worrying that things may change
5563underfoot.
5564
5565Conversely, whenever you restart the program, @emph{all} threads start
5566executing. @emph{This is true even when single-stepping} with commands
5567like @code{step} or @code{next}.
5568
5569In particular, @value{GDBN} cannot single-step all threads in lockstep.
5570Since thread scheduling is up to your debugging target's operating
5571system (not controlled by @value{GDBN}), other threads may
5572execute more than one statement while the current thread completes a
5573single step. Moreover, in general other threads stop in the middle of a
5574statement, rather than at a clean statement boundary, when the program
5575stops.
5576
5577You might even find your program stopped in another thread after
5578continuing or even single-stepping. This happens whenever some other
5579thread runs into a breakpoint, a signal, or an exception before the
5580first thread completes whatever you requested.
5581
5582@cindex automatic thread selection
5583@cindex switching threads automatically
5584@cindex threads, automatic switching
5585Whenever @value{GDBN} stops your program, due to a breakpoint or a
5586signal, it automatically selects the thread where that breakpoint or
5587signal happened. @value{GDBN} alerts you to the context switch with a
5588message such as @samp{[Switching to Thread @var{n}]} to identify the
5589thread.
5590
5591On some OSes, you can modify @value{GDBN}'s default behavior by
5592locking the OS scheduler to allow only a single thread to run.
5593
5594@table @code
5595@item set scheduler-locking @var{mode}
5596@cindex scheduler locking mode
5597@cindex lock scheduler
5598Set the scheduler locking mode. If it is @code{off}, then there is no
5599locking and any thread may run at any time. If @code{on}, then only the
5600current thread may run when the inferior is resumed. The @code{step}
5601mode optimizes for single-stepping; it prevents other threads
5602from preempting the current thread while you are stepping, so that
5603the focus of debugging does not change unexpectedly.
5604Other threads only rarely (or never) get a chance to run
5605when you step. They are more likely to run when you @samp{next} over a
5606function call, and they are completely free to run when you use commands
5607like @samp{continue}, @samp{until}, or @samp{finish}. However, unless another
5608thread hits a breakpoint during its timeslice, @value{GDBN} does not change
5609the current thread away from the thread that you are debugging.
5610
5611@item show scheduler-locking
5612Display the current scheduler locking mode.
5613@end table
5614
5615@cindex resume threads of multiple processes simultaneously
5616By default, when you issue one of the execution commands such as
5617@code{continue}, @code{next} or @code{step}, @value{GDBN} allows only
5618threads of the current inferior to run. For example, if @value{GDBN}
5619is attached to two inferiors, each with two threads, the
5620@code{continue} command resumes only the two threads of the current
5621inferior. This is useful, for example, when you debug a program that
5622forks and you want to hold the parent stopped (so that, for instance,
5623it doesn't run to exit), while you debug the child. In other
5624situations, you may not be interested in inspecting the current state
5625of any of the processes @value{GDBN} is attached to, and you may want
5626to resume them all until some breakpoint is hit. In the latter case,
5627you can instruct @value{GDBN} to allow all threads of all the
5628inferiors to run with the @w{@code{set schedule-multiple}} command.
5629
5630@table @code
5631@kindex set schedule-multiple
5632@item set schedule-multiple
5633Set the mode for allowing threads of multiple processes to be resumed
5634when an execution command is issued. When @code{on}, all threads of
5635all processes are allowed to run. When @code{off}, only the threads
5636of the current process are resumed. The default is @code{off}. The
5637@code{scheduler-locking} mode takes precedence when set to @code{on},
5638or while you are stepping and set to @code{step}.
5639
5640@item show schedule-multiple
5641Display the current mode for resuming the execution of threads of
5642multiple processes.
5643@end table
5644
5645@node Non-Stop Mode
5646@subsection Non-Stop Mode
5647
5648@cindex non-stop mode
5649
5650@c This section is really only a place-holder, and needs to be expanded
5651@c with more details.
5652
5653For some multi-threaded targets, @value{GDBN} supports an optional
5654mode of operation in which you can examine stopped program threads in
5655the debugger while other threads continue to execute freely. This
5656minimizes intrusion when debugging live systems, such as programs
5657where some threads have real-time constraints or must continue to
5658respond to external events. This is referred to as @dfn{non-stop} mode.
5659
5660In non-stop mode, when a thread stops to report a debugging event,
5661@emph{only} that thread is stopped; @value{GDBN} does not stop other
5662threads as well, in contrast to the all-stop mode behavior. Additionally,
5663execution commands such as @code{continue} and @code{step} apply by default
5664only to the current thread in non-stop mode, rather than all threads as
5665in all-stop mode. This allows you to control threads explicitly in
5666ways that are not possible in all-stop mode --- for example, stepping
5667one thread while allowing others to run freely, stepping
5668one thread while holding all others stopped, or stepping several threads
5669independently and simultaneously.
5670
5671To enter non-stop mode, use this sequence of commands before you run
5672or attach to your program:
5673
5674@smallexample
5675# Enable the async interface.
5676set target-async 1
5677
5678# If using the CLI, pagination breaks non-stop.
5679set pagination off
5680
5681# Finally, turn it on!
5682set non-stop on
5683@end smallexample
5684
5685You can use these commands to manipulate the non-stop mode setting:
5686
5687@table @code
5688@kindex set non-stop
5689@item set non-stop on
5690Enable selection of non-stop mode.
5691@item set non-stop off
5692Disable selection of non-stop mode.
5693@kindex show non-stop
5694@item show non-stop
5695Show the current non-stop enablement setting.
5696@end table
5697
5698Note these commands only reflect whether non-stop mode is enabled,
5699not whether the currently-executing program is being run in non-stop mode.
5700In particular, the @code{set non-stop} preference is only consulted when
5701@value{GDBN} starts or connects to the target program, and it is generally
5702not possible to switch modes once debugging has started. Furthermore,
5703since not all targets support non-stop mode, even when you have enabled
5704non-stop mode, @value{GDBN} may still fall back to all-stop operation by
5705default.
5706
5707In non-stop mode, all execution commands apply only to the current thread
5708by default. That is, @code{continue} only continues one thread.
5709To continue all threads, issue @code{continue -a} or @code{c -a}.
5710
5711You can use @value{GDBN}'s background execution commands
5712(@pxref{Background Execution}) to run some threads in the background
5713while you continue to examine or step others from @value{GDBN}.
5714The MI execution commands (@pxref{GDB/MI Program Execution}) are
5715always executed asynchronously in non-stop mode.
5716
5717Suspending execution is done with the @code{interrupt} command when
5718running in the background, or @kbd{Ctrl-c} during foreground execution.
5719In all-stop mode, this stops the whole process;
5720but in non-stop mode the interrupt applies only to the current thread.
5721To stop the whole program, use @code{interrupt -a}.
5722
5723Other execution commands do not currently support the @code{-a} option.
5724
5725In non-stop mode, when a thread stops, @value{GDBN} doesn't automatically make
5726that thread current, as it does in all-stop mode. This is because the
5727thread stop notifications are asynchronous with respect to @value{GDBN}'s
5728command interpreter, and it would be confusing if @value{GDBN} unexpectedly
5729changed to a different thread just as you entered a command to operate on the
5730previously current thread.
5731
5732@node Background Execution
5733@subsection Background Execution
5734
5735@cindex foreground execution
5736@cindex background execution
5737@cindex asynchronous execution
5738@cindex execution, foreground, background and asynchronous
5739
5740@value{GDBN}'s execution commands have two variants: the normal
5741foreground (synchronous) behavior, and a background
5742(asynchronous) behavior. In foreground execution, @value{GDBN} waits for
5743the program to report that some thread has stopped before prompting for
5744another command. In background execution, @value{GDBN} immediately gives
5745a command prompt so that you can issue other commands while your program runs.
5746
5747You need to explicitly enable asynchronous mode before you can use
5748background execution commands. You can use these commands to
5749manipulate the asynchronous mode setting:
5750
5751@table @code
5752@kindex set target-async
5753@item set target-async on
5754Enable asynchronous mode.
5755@item set target-async off
5756Disable asynchronous mode.
5757@kindex show target-async
5758@item show target-async
5759Show the current target-async setting.
5760@end table
5761
5762If the target doesn't support async mode, @value{GDBN} issues an error
5763message if you attempt to use the background execution commands.
5764
5765To specify background execution, add a @code{&} to the command. For example,
5766the background form of the @code{continue} command is @code{continue&}, or
5767just @code{c&}. The execution commands that accept background execution
5768are:
5769
5770@table @code
5771@kindex run&
5772@item run
5773@xref{Starting, , Starting your Program}.
5774
5775@item attach
5776@kindex attach&
5777@xref{Attach, , Debugging an Already-running Process}.
5778
5779@item step
5780@kindex step&
5781@xref{Continuing and Stepping, step}.
5782
5783@item stepi
5784@kindex stepi&
5785@xref{Continuing and Stepping, stepi}.
5786
5787@item next
5788@kindex next&
5789@xref{Continuing and Stepping, next}.
5790
5791@item nexti
5792@kindex nexti&
5793@xref{Continuing and Stepping, nexti}.
5794
5795@item continue
5796@kindex continue&
5797@xref{Continuing and Stepping, continue}.
5798
5799@item finish
5800@kindex finish&
5801@xref{Continuing and Stepping, finish}.
5802
5803@item until
5804@kindex until&
5805@xref{Continuing and Stepping, until}.
5806
5807@end table
5808
5809Background execution is especially useful in conjunction with non-stop
5810mode for debugging programs with multiple threads; see @ref{Non-Stop Mode}.
5811However, you can also use these commands in the normal all-stop mode with
5812the restriction that you cannot issue another execution command until the
5813previous one finishes. Examples of commands that are valid in all-stop
5814mode while the program is running include @code{help} and @code{info break}.
5815
5816You can interrupt your program while it is running in the background by
5817using the @code{interrupt} command.
5818
5819@table @code
5820@kindex interrupt
5821@item interrupt
5822@itemx interrupt -a
5823
5824Suspend execution of the running program. In all-stop mode,
5825@code{interrupt} stops the whole process, but in non-stop mode, it stops
5826only the current thread. To stop the whole program in non-stop mode,
5827use @code{interrupt -a}.
5828@end table
5829
5830@node Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5831@subsection Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5832
5833When your program has multiple threads (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging
5834Programs with Multiple Threads}), you can choose whether to set
5835breakpoints on all threads, or on a particular thread.
5836
5837@table @code
5838@cindex breakpoints and threads
5839@cindex thread breakpoints
5840@kindex break @dots{} thread @var{threadno}
5841@item break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno}
5842@itemx break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno} if @dots{}
5843@var{linespec} specifies source lines; there are several ways of
5844writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always to
5845specify some source line.
5846
5847Use the qualifier @samp{thread @var{threadno}} with a breakpoint command
5848to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
5849particular thread reaches this breakpoint. @var{threadno} is one of the
5850numeric thread identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
5851column of the @samp{info threads} display.
5852
5853If you do not specify @samp{thread @var{threadno}} when you set a
5854breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} threads of your
5855program.
5856
5857You can use the @code{thread} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
5858well; in this case, place @samp{thread @var{threadno}} before or
5859after the breakpoint condition, like this:
5860
5861@smallexample
5862(@value{GDBP}) break frik.c:13 thread 28 if bartab > lim
5863@end smallexample
5864
5865@end table
5866
5867@node Interrupted System Calls
5868@subsection Interrupted System Calls
5869
5870@cindex thread breakpoints and system calls
5871@cindex system calls and thread breakpoints
5872@cindex premature return from system calls
5873There is an unfortunate side effect when using @value{GDBN} to debug
5874multi-threaded programs. If one thread stops for a
5875breakpoint, or for some other reason, and another thread is blocked in a
5876system call, then the system call may return prematurely. This is a
5877consequence of the interaction between multiple threads and the signals
5878that @value{GDBN} uses to implement breakpoints and other events that
5879stop execution.
5880
5881To handle this problem, your program should check the return value of
5882each system call and react appropriately. This is good programming
5883style anyways.
5884
5885For example, do not write code like this:
5886
5887@smallexample
5888 sleep (10);
5889@end smallexample
5890
5891The call to @code{sleep} will return early if a different thread stops
5892at a breakpoint or for some other reason.
5893
5894Instead, write this:
5895
5896@smallexample
5897 int unslept = 10;
5898 while (unslept > 0)
5899 unslept = sleep (unslept);
5900@end smallexample
5901
5902A system call is allowed to return early, so the system is still
5903conforming to its specification. But @value{GDBN} does cause your
5904multi-threaded program to behave differently than it would without
5905@value{GDBN}.
5906
5907Also, @value{GDBN} uses internal breakpoints in the thread library to
5908monitor certain events such as thread creation and thread destruction.
5909When such an event happens, a system call in another thread may return
5910prematurely, even though your program does not appear to stop.
5911
5912@node Observer Mode
5913@subsection Observer Mode
5914
5915If you want to build on non-stop mode and observe program behavior
5916without any chance of disruption by @value{GDBN}, you can set
5917variables to disable all of the debugger's attempts to modify state,
5918whether by writing memory, inserting breakpoints, etc. These operate
5919at a low level, intercepting operations from all commands.
5920
5921When all of these are set to @code{off}, then @value{GDBN} is said to
5922be @dfn{observer mode}. As a convenience, the variable
5923@code{observer} can be set to disable these, plus enable non-stop
5924mode.
5925
5926Note that @value{GDBN} will not prevent you from making nonsensical
5927combinations of these settings. For instance, if you have enabled
5928@code{may-insert-breakpoints} but disabled @code{may-write-memory},
5929then breakpoints that work by writing trap instructions into the code
5930stream will still not be able to be placed.
5931
5932@table @code
5933
5934@kindex observer
5935@item set observer on
5936@itemx set observer off
5937When set to @code{on}, this disables all the permission variables
5938below (except for @code{insert-fast-tracepoints}), plus enables
5939non-stop debugging. Setting this to @code{off} switches back to
5940normal debugging, though remaining in non-stop mode.
5941
5942@item show observer
5943Show whether observer mode is on or off.
5944
5945@kindex may-write-registers
5946@item set may-write-registers on
5947@itemx set may-write-registers off
5948This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the values of
5949registers, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}, or the
5950@code{jump} command. It defaults to @code{on}.
5951
5952@item show may-write-registers
5953Show the current permission to write registers.
5954
5955@kindex may-write-memory
5956@item set may-write-memory on
5957@itemx set may-write-memory off
5958This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the contents
5959of memory, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}. It
5960defaults to @code{on}.
5961
5962@item show may-write-memory
5963Show the current permission to write memory.
5964
5965@kindex may-insert-breakpoints
5966@item set may-insert-breakpoints on
5967@itemx set may-insert-breakpoints off
5968This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert breakpoints.
5969This affects all breakpoints, including internal breakpoints defined
5970by @value{GDBN}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5971
5972@item show may-insert-breakpoints
5973Show the current permission to insert breakpoints.
5974
5975@kindex may-insert-tracepoints
5976@item set may-insert-tracepoints on
5977@itemx set may-insert-tracepoints off
5978This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert (regular)
5979tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
5980non-fast tracepoints, fast tracepoints being under the control of
5981@code{may-insert-fast-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5982
5983@item show may-insert-tracepoints
5984Show the current permission to insert tracepoints.
5985
5986@kindex may-insert-fast-tracepoints
5987@item set may-insert-fast-tracepoints on
5988@itemx set may-insert-fast-tracepoints off
5989This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert fast
5990tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
5991fast tracepoints, regular (non-fast) tracepoints being under the
5992control of @code{may-insert-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5993
5994@item show may-insert-fast-tracepoints
5995Show the current permission to insert fast tracepoints.
5996
5997@kindex may-interrupt
5998@item set may-interrupt on
5999@itemx set may-interrupt off
6000This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to interrupt or stop
6001program execution. When this variable is @code{off}, the
6002@code{interrupt} command will have no effect, nor will
6003@kbd{Ctrl-c}. It defaults to @code{on}.
6004
6005@item show may-interrupt
6006Show the current permission to interrupt or stop the program.
6007
6008@end table
6009
6010@node Reverse Execution
6011@chapter Running programs backward
6012@cindex reverse execution
6013@cindex running programs backward
6014
6015When you are debugging a program, it is not unusual to realize that
6016you have gone too far, and some event of interest has already happened.
6017If the target environment supports it, @value{GDBN} can allow you to
6018``rewind'' the program by running it backward.
6019
6020A target environment that supports reverse execution should be able
6021to ``undo'' the changes in machine state that have taken place as the
6022program was executing normally. Variables, registers etc.@: should
6023revert to their previous values. Obviously this requires a great
6024deal of sophistication on the part of the target environment; not
6025all target environments can support reverse execution.
6026
6027When a program is executed in reverse, the instructions that
6028have most recently been executed are ``un-executed'', in reverse
6029order. The program counter runs backward, following the previous
6030thread of execution in reverse. As each instruction is ``un-executed'',
6031the values of memory and/or registers that were changed by that
6032instruction are reverted to their previous states. After executing
6033a piece of source code in reverse, all side effects of that code
6034should be ``undone'', and all variables should be returned to their
6035prior values@footnote{
6036Note that some side effects are easier to undo than others. For instance,
6037memory and registers are relatively easy, but device I/O is hard. Some
6038targets may be able undo things like device I/O, and some may not.
6039
6040The contract between @value{GDBN} and the reverse executing target
6041requires only that the target do something reasonable when
6042@value{GDBN} tells it to execute backwards, and then report the
6043results back to @value{GDBN}. Whatever the target reports back to
6044@value{GDBN}, @value{GDBN} will report back to the user. @value{GDBN}
6045assumes that the memory and registers that the target reports are in a
6046consistant state, but @value{GDBN} accepts whatever it is given.
6047}.
6048
6049If you are debugging in a target environment that supports
6050reverse execution, @value{GDBN} provides the following commands.
6051
6052@table @code
6053@kindex reverse-continue
6054@kindex rc @r{(@code{reverse-continue})}
6055@item reverse-continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
6056@itemx rc @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
6057Beginning at the point where your program last stopped, start executing
6058in reverse. Reverse execution will stop for breakpoints and synchronous
6059exceptions (signals), just like normal execution. Behavior of
6060asynchronous signals depends on the target environment.
6061
6062@kindex reverse-step
6063@kindex rs @r{(@code{step})}
6064@item reverse-step @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6065Run the program backward until control reaches the start of a
6066different source line; then stop it, and return control to @value{GDBN}.
6067
6068Like the @code{step} command, @code{reverse-step} will only stop
6069at the beginning of a source line. It ``un-executes'' the previously
6070executed source line. If the previous source line included calls to
6071debuggable functions, @code{reverse-step} will step (backward) into
6072the called function, stopping at the beginning of the @emph{last}
6073statement in the called function (typically a return statement).
6074
6075Also, as with the @code{step} command, if non-debuggable functions are
6076called, @code{reverse-step} will run thru them backward without stopping.
6077
6078@kindex reverse-stepi
6079@kindex rsi @r{(@code{reverse-stepi})}
6080@item reverse-stepi @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6081Reverse-execute one machine instruction. Note that the instruction
6082to be reverse-executed is @emph{not} the one pointed to by the program
6083counter, but the instruction executed prior to that one. For instance,
6084if the last instruction was a jump, @code{reverse-stepi} will take you
6085back from the destination of the jump to the jump instruction itself.
6086
6087@kindex reverse-next
6088@kindex rn @r{(@code{reverse-next})}
6089@item reverse-next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6090Run backward to the beginning of the previous line executed in
6091the current (innermost) stack frame. If the line contains function
6092calls, they will be ``un-executed'' without stopping. Starting from
6093the first line of a function, @code{reverse-next} will take you back
6094to the caller of that function, @emph{before} the function was called,
6095just as the normal @code{next} command would take you from the last
6096line of a function back to its return to its caller
6097@footnote{Unless the code is too heavily optimized.}.
6098
6099@kindex reverse-nexti
6100@kindex rni @r{(@code{reverse-nexti})}
6101@item reverse-nexti @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6102Like @code{nexti}, @code{reverse-nexti} executes a single instruction
6103in reverse, except that called functions are ``un-executed'' atomically.
6104That is, if the previously executed instruction was a return from
6105another function, @code{reverse-nexti} will continue to execute
6106in reverse until the call to that function (from the current stack
6107frame) is reached.
6108
6109@kindex reverse-finish
6110@item reverse-finish
6111Just as the @code{finish} command takes you to the point where the
6112current function returns, @code{reverse-finish} takes you to the point
6113where it was called. Instead of ending up at the end of the current
6114function invocation, you end up at the beginning.
6115
6116@kindex set exec-direction
6117@item set exec-direction
6118Set the direction of target execution.
6119@item set exec-direction reverse
6120@cindex execute forward or backward in time
6121@value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in reverse, until the
6122exec-direction mode is changed to ``forward''. Affected commands include
6123@code{step, stepi, next, nexti, continue, and finish}. The @code{return}
6124command cannot be used in reverse mode.
6125@item set exec-direction forward
6126@value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in the normal fashion.
6127This is the default.
6128@end table
6129
6130
6131@node Process Record and Replay
6132@chapter Recording Inferior's Execution and Replaying It
6133@cindex process record and replay
6134@cindex recording inferior's execution and replaying it
6135
6136On some platforms, @value{GDBN} provides a special @dfn{process record
6137and replay} target that can record a log of the process execution, and
6138replay it later with both forward and reverse execution commands.
6139
6140@cindex replay mode
6141When this target is in use, if the execution log includes the record
6142for the next instruction, @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{replay
6143mode}. In the replay mode, the inferior does not really execute code
6144instructions. Instead, all the events that normally happen during
6145code execution are taken from the execution log. While code is not
6146really executed in replay mode, the values of registers (including the
6147program counter register) and the memory of the inferior are still
6148changed as they normally would. Their contents are taken from the
6149execution log.
6150
6151@cindex record mode
6152If the record for the next instruction is not in the execution log,
6153@value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{record mode}. In this mode, the
6154inferior executes normally, and @value{GDBN} records the execution log
6155for future replay.
6156
6157The process record and replay target supports reverse execution
6158(@pxref{Reverse Execution}), even if the platform on which the
6159inferior runs does not. However, the reverse execution is limited in
6160this case by the range of the instructions recorded in the execution
6161log. In other words, reverse execution on platforms that don't
6162support it directly can only be done in the replay mode.
6163
6164When debugging in the reverse direction, @value{GDBN} will work in
6165replay mode as long as the execution log includes the record for the
6166previous instruction; otherwise, it will work in record mode, if the
6167platform supports reverse execution, or stop if not.
6168
6169For architecture environments that support process record and replay,
6170@value{GDBN} provides the following commands:
6171
6172@table @code
6173@kindex target record
6174@kindex target record-full
6175@kindex target record-btrace
6176@kindex record
6177@kindex record full
6178@kindex record btrace
6179@kindex rec
6180@kindex rec full
6181@kindex rec btrace
6182@item record @var{method}
6183This command starts the process record and replay target. The
6184recording method can be specified as parameter. Without a parameter
6185the command uses the @code{full} recording method. The following
6186recording methods are available:
6187
6188@table @code
6189@item full
6190Full record/replay recording using @value{GDBN}'s software record and
6191replay implementation. This method allows replaying and reverse
6192execution.
6193
6194@item btrace
6195Hardware-supported instruction recording. This method does not allow
6196replaying and reverse execution.
6197
6198This recording method may not be available on all processors.
6199@end table
6200
6201The process record and replay target can only debug a process that is
6202already running. Therefore, you need first to start the process with
6203the @kbd{run} or @kbd{start} commands, and then start the recording
6204with the @kbd{record @var{method}} command.
6205
6206Both @code{record @var{method}} and @code{rec @var{method}} are
6207aliases of @code{target record-@var{method}}.
6208
6209@cindex displaced stepping, and process record and replay
6210Displaced stepping (@pxref{Maintenance Commands,, displaced stepping})
6211will be automatically disabled when process record and replay target
6212is started. That's because the process record and replay target
6213doesn't support displaced stepping.
6214
6215@cindex non-stop mode, and process record and replay
6216@cindex asynchronous execution, and process record and replay
6217If the inferior is in the non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) or in
6218the asynchronous execution mode (@pxref{Background Execution}), not
6219all recording methods are available. The @code{full} recording method
6220does not support these two modes.
6221
6222@kindex record stop
6223@kindex rec s
6224@item record stop
6225Stop the process record and replay target. When process record and
6226replay target stops, the entire execution log will be deleted and the
6227inferior will either be terminated, or will remain in its final state.
6228
6229When you stop the process record and replay target in record mode (at
6230the end of the execution log), the inferior will be stopped at the
6231next instruction that would have been recorded. In other words, if
6232you record for a while and then stop recording, the inferior process
6233will be left in the same state as if the recording never happened.
6234
6235On the other hand, if the process record and replay target is stopped
6236while in replay mode (that is, not at the end of the execution log,
6237but at some earlier point), the inferior process will become ``live''
6238at that earlier state, and it will then be possible to continue the
6239usual ``live'' debugging of the process from that state.
6240
6241When the inferior process exits, or @value{GDBN} detaches from it,
6242process record and replay target will automatically stop itself.
6243
6244@kindex record goto
6245@item record goto
6246Go to a specific location in the execution log. There are several
6247ways to specify the location to go to:
6248
6249@table @code
6250@item record goto begin
6251@itemx record goto start
6252Go to the beginning of the execution log.
6253
6254@item record goto end
6255Go to the end of the execution log.
6256
6257@item record goto @var{n}
6258Go to instruction number @var{n} in the execution log.
6259@end table
6260
6261@kindex record save
6262@item record save @var{filename}
6263Save the execution log to a file @file{@var{filename}}.
6264Default filename is @file{gdb_record.@var{process_id}}, where
6265@var{process_id} is the process ID of the inferior.
6266
6267This command may not be available for all recording methods.
6268
6269@kindex record restore
6270@item record restore @var{filename}
6271Restore the execution log from a file @file{@var{filename}}.
6272File must have been created with @code{record save}.
6273
6274@kindex set record full
6275@item set record full insn-number-max @var{limit}
6276@itemx set record full insn-number-max unlimited
6277Set the limit of instructions to be recorded for the @code{full}
6278recording method. Default value is 200000.
6279
6280If @var{limit} is a positive number, then @value{GDBN} will start
6281deleting instructions from the log once the number of the record
6282instructions becomes greater than @var{limit}. For every new recorded
6283instruction, @value{GDBN} will delete the earliest recorded
6284instruction to keep the number of recorded instructions at the limit.
6285(Since deleting recorded instructions loses information, @value{GDBN}
6286lets you control what happens when the limit is reached, by means of
6287the @code{stop-at-limit} option, described below.)
6288
6289If @var{limit} is @code{unlimited} or zero, @value{GDBN} will never
6290delete recorded instructions from the execution log. The number of
6291recorded instructions is limited only by the available memory.
6292
6293@kindex show record full
6294@item show record full insn-number-max
6295Show the limit of instructions to be recorded with the @code{full}
6296recording method.
6297
6298@item set record full stop-at-limit
6299Control the behavior of the @code{full} recording method when the
6300number of recorded instructions reaches the limit. If ON (the
6301default), @value{GDBN} will stop when the limit is reached for the
6302first time and ask you whether you want to stop the inferior or
6303continue running it and recording the execution log. If you decide
6304to continue recording, each new recorded instruction will cause the
6305oldest one to be deleted.
6306
6307If this option is OFF, @value{GDBN} will automatically delete the
6308oldest record to make room for each new one, without asking.
6309
6310@item show record full stop-at-limit
6311Show the current setting of @code{stop-at-limit}.
6312
6313@item set record full memory-query
6314Control the behavior when @value{GDBN} is unable to record memory
6315changes caused by an instruction for the @code{full} recording method.
6316If ON, @value{GDBN} will query whether to stop the inferior in that
6317case.
6318
6319If this option is OFF (the default), @value{GDBN} will automatically
6320ignore the effect of such instructions on memory. Later, when
6321@value{GDBN} replays this execution log, it will mark the log of this
6322instruction as not accessible, and it will not affect the replay
6323results.
6324
6325@item show record full memory-query
6326Show the current setting of @code{memory-query}.
6327
6328@kindex info record
6329@item info record
6330Show various statistics about the recording depending on the recording
6331method:
6332
6333@table @code
6334@item full
6335For the @code{full} recording method, it shows the state of process
6336record and its in-memory execution log buffer, including:
6337
6338@itemize @bullet
6339@item
6340Whether in record mode or replay mode.
6341@item
6342Lowest recorded instruction number (counting from when the current execution log started recording instructions).
6343@item
6344Highest recorded instruction number.
6345@item
6346Current instruction about to be replayed (if in replay mode).
6347@item
6348Number of instructions contained in the execution log.
6349@item
6350Maximum number of instructions that may be contained in the execution log.
6351@end itemize
6352
6353@item btrace
6354For the @code{btrace} recording method, it shows the number of
6355instructions that have been recorded and the number of blocks of
6356sequential control-flow that is formed by the recorded instructions.
6357@end table
6358
6359@kindex record delete
6360@kindex rec del
6361@item record delete
6362When record target runs in replay mode (``in the past''), delete the
6363subsequent execution log and begin to record a new execution log starting
6364from the current address. This means you will abandon the previously
6365recorded ``future'' and begin recording a new ``future''.
6366
6367@kindex record instruction-history
6368@kindex rec instruction-history
6369@item record instruction-history
6370Disassembles instructions from the recorded execution log. By
6371default, ten instructions are disassembled. This can be changed using
6372the @code{set record instruction-history-size} command. Instructions
6373are printed in execution order. There are several ways to specify
6374what part of the execution log to disassemble:
6375
6376@table @code
6377@item record instruction-history @var{insn}
6378Disassembles ten instructions starting from instruction number
6379@var{insn}.
6380
6381@item record instruction-history @var{insn}, +/-@var{n}
6382Disassembles @var{n} instructions around instruction number
6383@var{insn}. If @var{n} is preceded with @code{+}, disassembles
6384@var{n} instructions after instruction number @var{insn}. If
6385@var{n} is preceded with @code{-}, disassembles @var{n}
6386instructions before instruction number @var{insn}.
6387
6388@item record instruction-history
6389Disassembles ten more instructions after the last disassembly.
6390
6391@item record instruction-history -
6392Disassembles ten more instructions before the last disassembly.
6393
6394@item record instruction-history @var{begin} @var{end}
6395Disassembles instructions beginning with instruction number
6396@var{begin} until instruction number @var{end}. The instruction
6397number @var{end} is not included.
6398@end table
6399
6400This command may not be available for all recording methods.
6401
6402@kindex set record
6403@item set record instruction-history-size @var{size}
6404@itemx set record instruction-history-size unlimited
6405Define how many instructions to disassemble in the @code{record
6406instruction-history} command. The default value is 10.
6407A @var{size} of @code{unlimited} means unlimited instructions.
6408
6409@kindex show record
6410@item show record instruction-history-size
6411Show how many instructions to disassemble in the @code{record
6412instruction-history} command.
6413
6414@kindex record function-call-history
6415@kindex rec function-call-history
6416@item record function-call-history
6417Prints the execution history at function granularity. It prints one
6418line for each sequence of instructions that belong to the same
6419function giving the name of that function, the source lines
6420for this instruction sequence (if the @code{/l} modifier is
6421specified), and the instructions numbers that form the sequence (if
6422the @code{/i} modifier is specified).
6423
6424@smallexample
6425(@value{GDBP}) @b{list 1, 10}
64261 void foo (void)
64272 @{
64283 @}
64294
64305 void bar (void)
64316 @{
64327 ...
64338 foo ();
64349 ...
643510 @}
6436(@value{GDBP}) @b{record function-call-history /l}
64371 foo.c:6-8 bar
64382 foo.c:2-3 foo
64393 foo.c:9-10 bar
6440@end smallexample
6441
6442By default, ten lines are printed. This can be changed using the
6443@code{set record function-call-history-size} command. Functions are
6444printed in execution order. There are several ways to specify what
6445to print:
6446
6447@table @code
6448@item record function-call-history @var{func}
6449Prints ten functions starting from function number @var{func}.
6450
6451@item record function-call-history @var{func}, +/-@var{n}
6452Prints @var{n} functions around function number @var{func}. If
6453@var{n} is preceded with @code{+}, prints @var{n} functions after
6454function number @var{func}. If @var{n} is preceded with @code{-},
6455prints @var{n} functions before function number @var{func}.
6456
6457@item record function-call-history
6458Prints ten more functions after the last ten-line print.
6459
6460@item record function-call-history -
6461Prints ten more functions before the last ten-line print.
6462
6463@item record function-call-history @var{begin} @var{end}
6464Prints functions beginning with function number @var{begin} until
6465function number @var{end}. The function number @var{end} is not
6466included.
6467@end table
6468
6469This command may not be available for all recording methods.
6470
6471@item set record function-call-history-size @var{size}
6472@itemx set record function-call-history-size unlimited
6473Define how many lines to print in the
6474@code{record function-call-history} command. The default value is 10.
6475A size of @code{unlimited} means unlimited lines.
6476
6477@item show record function-call-history-size
6478Show how many lines to print in the
6479@code{record function-call-history} command.
6480@end table
6481
6482
6483@node Stack
6484@chapter Examining the Stack
6485
6486When your program has stopped, the first thing you need to know is where it
6487stopped and how it got there.
6488
6489@cindex call stack
6490Each time your program performs a function call, information about the call
6491is generated.
6492That information includes the location of the call in your program,
6493the arguments of the call,
6494and the local variables of the function being called.
6495The information is saved in a block of data called a @dfn{stack frame}.
6496The stack frames are allocated in a region of memory called the @dfn{call
6497stack}.
6498
6499When your program stops, the @value{GDBN} commands for examining the
6500stack allow you to see all of this information.
6501
6502@cindex selected frame
6503One of the stack frames is @dfn{selected} by @value{GDBN} and many
6504@value{GDBN} commands refer implicitly to the selected frame. In
6505particular, whenever you ask @value{GDBN} for the value of a variable in
6506your program, the value is found in the selected frame. There are
6507special @value{GDBN} commands to select whichever frame you are
6508interested in. @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
6509
6510When your program stops, @value{GDBN} automatically selects the
6511currently executing frame and describes it briefly, similar to the
6512@code{frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}).
6513
6514@menu
6515* Frames:: Stack frames
6516* Backtrace:: Backtraces
6517* Frame Filter Management:: Managing frame filters
6518* Selection:: Selecting a frame
6519* Frame Info:: Information on a frame
6520
6521@end menu
6522
6523@node Frames
6524@section Stack Frames
6525
6526@cindex frame, definition
6527@cindex stack frame
6528The call stack is divided up into contiguous pieces called @dfn{stack
6529frames}, or @dfn{frames} for short; each frame is the data associated
6530with one call to one function. The frame contains the arguments given
6531to the function, the function's local variables, and the address at
6532which the function is executing.
6533
6534@cindex initial frame
6535@cindex outermost frame
6536@cindex innermost frame
6537When your program is started, the stack has only one frame, that of the
6538function @code{main}. This is called the @dfn{initial} frame or the
6539@dfn{outermost} frame. Each time a function is called, a new frame is
6540made. Each time a function returns, the frame for that function invocation
6541is eliminated. If a function is recursive, there can be many frames for
6542the same function. The frame for the function in which execution is
6543actually occurring is called the @dfn{innermost} frame. This is the most
6544recently created of all the stack frames that still exist.
6545
6546@cindex frame pointer
6547Inside your program, stack frames are identified by their addresses. A
6548stack frame consists of many bytes, each of which has its own address; each
6549kind of computer has a convention for choosing one byte whose
6550address serves as the address of the frame. Usually this address is kept
6551in a register called the @dfn{frame pointer register}
6552(@pxref{Registers, $fp}) while execution is going on in that frame.
6553
6554@cindex frame number
6555@value{GDBN} assigns numbers to all existing stack frames, starting with
6556zero for the innermost frame, one for the frame that called it,
6557and so on upward. These numbers do not really exist in your program;
6558they are assigned by @value{GDBN} to give you a way of designating stack
6559frames in @value{GDBN} commands.
6560
6561@c The -fomit-frame-pointer below perennially causes hbox overflow
6562@c underflow problems.
6563@cindex frameless execution
6564Some compilers provide a way to compile functions so that they operate
6565without stack frames. (For example, the @value{NGCC} option
6566@smallexample
6567@samp{-fomit-frame-pointer}
6568@end smallexample
6569generates functions without a frame.)
6570This is occasionally done with heavily used library functions to save
6571the frame setup time. @value{GDBN} has limited facilities for dealing
6572with these function invocations. If the innermost function invocation
6573has no stack frame, @value{GDBN} nevertheless regards it as though
6574it had a separate frame, which is numbered zero as usual, allowing
6575correct tracing of the function call chain. However, @value{GDBN} has
6576no provision for frameless functions elsewhere in the stack.
6577
6578@table @code
6579@kindex frame@r{, command}
6580@cindex current stack frame
6581@item frame @var{args}
6582The @code{frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame to another,
6583and to print the stack frame you select. @var{args} may be either the
6584address of the frame or the stack frame number. Without an argument,
6585@code{frame} prints the current stack frame.
6586
6587@kindex select-frame
6588@cindex selecting frame silently
6589@item select-frame
6590The @code{select-frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame
6591to another without printing the frame. This is the silent version of
6592@code{frame}.
6593@end table
6594
6595@node Backtrace
6596@section Backtraces
6597
6598@cindex traceback
6599@cindex call stack traces
6600A backtrace is a summary of how your program got where it is. It shows one
6601line per frame, for many frames, starting with the currently executing
6602frame (frame zero), followed by its caller (frame one), and on up the
6603stack.
6604
6605@anchor{backtrace-command}
6606@table @code
6607@kindex backtrace
6608@kindex bt @r{(@code{backtrace})}
6609@item backtrace
6610@itemx bt
6611Print a backtrace of the entire stack: one line per frame for all
6612frames in the stack.
6613
6614You can stop the backtrace at any time by typing the system interrupt
6615character, normally @kbd{Ctrl-c}.
6616
6617@item backtrace @var{n}
6618@itemx bt @var{n}
6619Similar, but print only the innermost @var{n} frames.
6620
6621@item backtrace -@var{n}
6622@itemx bt -@var{n}
6623Similar, but print only the outermost @var{n} frames.
6624
6625@item backtrace full
6626@itemx bt full
6627@itemx bt full @var{n}
6628@itemx bt full -@var{n}
6629Print the values of the local variables also. @var{n} specifies the
6630number of frames to print, as described above.
6631
6632@item backtrace no-filters
6633@itemx bt no-filters
6634@itemx bt no-filters @var{n}
6635@itemx bt no-filters -@var{n}
6636@itemx bt no-filters full
6637@itemx bt no-filters full @var{n}
6638@itemx bt no-filters full -@var{n}
6639Do not run Python frame filters on this backtrace. @xref{Frame
6640Filter API}, for more information. Additionally use @ref{disable
6641frame-filter all} to turn off all frame filters. This is only
6642relevant when @value{GDBN} has been configured with @code{Python}
6643support.
6644@end table
6645
6646@kindex where
6647@kindex info stack
6648The names @code{where} and @code{info stack} (abbreviated @code{info s})
6649are additional aliases for @code{backtrace}.
6650
6651@cindex multiple threads, backtrace
6652In a multi-threaded program, @value{GDBN} by default shows the
6653backtrace only for the current thread. To display the backtrace for
6654several or all of the threads, use the command @code{thread apply}
6655(@pxref{Threads, thread apply}). For example, if you type @kbd{thread
6656apply all backtrace}, @value{GDBN} will display the backtrace for all
6657the threads; this is handy when you debug a core dump of a
6658multi-threaded program.
6659
6660Each line in the backtrace shows the frame number and the function name.
6661The program counter value is also shown---unless you use @code{set
6662print address off}. The backtrace also shows the source file name and
6663line number, as well as the arguments to the function. The program
6664counter value is omitted if it is at the beginning of the code for that
6665line number.
6666
6667Here is an example of a backtrace. It was made with the command
6668@samp{bt 3}, so it shows the innermost three frames.
6669
6670@smallexample
6671@group
6672#0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
6673 at builtin.c:993
6674#1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=0x2b600, data=...) at macro.c:242
6675#2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=177664, td=0xf7fffb08)
6676 at macro.c:71
6677(More stack frames follow...)
6678@end group
6679@end smallexample
6680
6681@noindent
6682The display for frame zero does not begin with a program counter
6683value, indicating that your program has stopped at the beginning of the
6684code for line @code{993} of @code{builtin.c}.
6685
6686@noindent
6687The value of parameter @code{data} in frame 1 has been replaced by
6688@code{@dots{}}. By default, @value{GDBN} prints the value of a parameter
6689only if it is a scalar (integer, pointer, enumeration, etc). See command
6690@kbd{set print frame-arguments} in @ref{Print Settings} for more details
6691on how to configure the way function parameter values are printed.
6692
6693@cindex optimized out, in backtrace
6694@cindex function call arguments, optimized out
6695If your program was compiled with optimizations, some compilers will
6696optimize away arguments passed to functions if those arguments are
6697never used after the call. Such optimizations generate code that
6698passes arguments through registers, but doesn't store those arguments
6699in the stack frame. @value{GDBN} has no way of displaying such
6700arguments in stack frames other than the innermost one. Here's what
6701such a backtrace might look like:
6702
6703@smallexample
6704@group
6705#0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
6706 at builtin.c:993
6707#1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=<optimized out>) at macro.c:242
6708#2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=<optimized out>, td=0xf7fffb08)
6709 at macro.c:71
6710(More stack frames follow...)
6711@end group
6712@end smallexample
6713
6714@noindent
6715The values of arguments that were not saved in their stack frames are
6716shown as @samp{<optimized out>}.
6717
6718If you need to display the values of such optimized-out arguments,
6719either deduce that from other variables whose values depend on the one
6720you are interested in, or recompile without optimizations.
6721
6722@cindex backtrace beyond @code{main} function
6723@cindex program entry point
6724@cindex startup code, and backtrace
6725Most programs have a standard user entry point---a place where system
6726libraries and startup code transition into user code. For C this is
6727@code{main}@footnote{
6728Note that embedded programs (the so-called ``free-standing''
6729environment) are not required to have a @code{main} function as the
6730entry point. They could even have multiple entry points.}.
6731When @value{GDBN} finds the entry function in a backtrace
6732it will terminate the backtrace, to avoid tracing into highly
6733system-specific (and generally uninteresting) code.
6734
6735If you need to examine the startup code, or limit the number of levels
6736in a backtrace, you can change this behavior:
6737
6738@table @code
6739@item set backtrace past-main
6740@itemx set backtrace past-main on
6741@kindex set backtrace
6742Backtraces will continue past the user entry point.
6743
6744@item set backtrace past-main off
6745Backtraces will stop when they encounter the user entry point. This is the
6746default.
6747
6748@item show backtrace past-main
6749@kindex show backtrace
6750Display the current user entry point backtrace policy.
6751
6752@item set backtrace past-entry
6753@itemx set backtrace past-entry on
6754Backtraces will continue past the internal entry point of an application.
6755This entry point is encoded by the linker when the application is built,
6756and is likely before the user entry point @code{main} (or equivalent) is called.
6757
6758@item set backtrace past-entry off
6759Backtraces will stop when they encounter the internal entry point of an
6760application. This is the default.
6761
6762@item show backtrace past-entry
6763Display the current internal entry point backtrace policy.
6764
6765@item set backtrace limit @var{n}
6766@itemx set backtrace limit 0
6767@itemx set backtrace limit unlimited
6768@cindex backtrace limit
6769Limit the backtrace to @var{n} levels. A value of @code{unlimited}
6770or zero means unlimited levels.
6771
6772@item show backtrace limit
6773Display the current limit on backtrace levels.
6774@end table
6775
6776You can control how file names are displayed.
6777
6778@table @code
6779@item set filename-display
6780@itemx set filename-display relative
6781@cindex filename-display
6782Display file names relative to the compilation directory. This is the default.
6783
6784@item set filename-display basename
6785Display only basename of a filename.
6786
6787@item set filename-display absolute
6788Display an absolute filename.
6789
6790@item show filename-display
6791Show the current way to display filenames.
6792@end table
6793
6794@node Frame Filter Management
6795@section Management of Frame Filters.
6796@cindex managing frame filters
6797
6798Frame filters are Python based utilities to manage and decorate the
6799output of frames. @xref{Frame Filter API}, for further information.
6800
6801Managing frame filters is performed by several commands available
6802within @value{GDBN}, detailed here.
6803
6804@table @code
6805@kindex info frame-filter
6806@item info frame-filter
6807Print a list of installed frame filters from all dictionaries, showing
6808their name, priority and enabled status.
6809
6810@kindex disable frame-filter
6811@anchor{disable frame-filter all}
6812@item disable frame-filter @var{filter-dictionary} @var{filter-name}
6813Disable a frame filter in the dictionary matching
6814@var{filter-dictionary}, or @code{all}, and @var{filter-name}.
6815@var{filter-dictionary} may be @code{all}, @code{global},
6816@code{progspace} or the name of the object file where the frame filter
6817dictionary resides. When @code{all} is specified, all frame filters
6818across all dictionaries are disabled. @var{filter-name} is the name
6819of the frame filter and is used when @code{all} is not the option for
6820@var{filter-dictionary}. A disabled frame-filter is not deleted, it
6821may be enabled again later.
6822
6823@kindex enable frame-filter
6824@item enable frame-filter @var{filter-dictionary} @var{filter-name}
6825Enable a frame filter in the dictionary matching
6826@var{filter-dictionary}, or @code{all}, and @var{filter-name}.
6827@var{filter-dictionary} may be @code{all}, @code{global},
6828@code{progspace} or the name of the object file where the frame filter
6829dictionary resides. When @code{all} is specified, all frame filters across
6830all dictionaries are enabled. @var{filter-name} is the name of the frame
6831filter and is used when @code{all} is not the option for
6832@var{filter-dictionary}.
6833
6834Example:
6835
6836@smallexample
6837(gdb) info frame-filter
6838
6839global frame-filters:
6840 Priority Enabled Name
6841 1000 No PrimaryFunctionFilter
6842 100 Yes Reverse
6843
6844progspace /build/test frame-filters:
6845 Priority Enabled Name
6846 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
6847
6848objfile /build/test frame-filters:
6849 Priority Enabled Name
6850 999 Yes BuildProgra Filter
6851
6852(gdb) disable frame-filter /build/test BuildProgramFilter
6853(gdb) info frame-filter
6854
6855global frame-filters:
6856 Priority Enabled Name
6857 1000 No PrimaryFunctionFilter
6858 100 Yes Reverse
6859
6860progspace /build/test frame-filters:
6861 Priority Enabled Name
6862 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
6863
6864objfile /build/test frame-filters:
6865 Priority Enabled Name
6866 999 No BuildProgramFilter
6867
6868(gdb) enable frame-filter global PrimaryFunctionFilter
6869(gdb) info frame-filter
6870
6871global frame-filters:
6872 Priority Enabled Name
6873 1000 Yes PrimaryFunctionFilter
6874 100 Yes Reverse
6875
6876progspace /build/test frame-filters:
6877 Priority Enabled Name
6878 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
6879
6880objfile /build/test frame-filters:
6881 Priority Enabled Name
6882 999 No BuildProgramFilter
6883@end smallexample
6884
6885@kindex set frame-filter priority
6886@item set frame-filter priority @var{filter-dictionary} @var{filter-name} @var{priority}
6887Set the @var{priority} of a frame filter in the dictionary matching
6888@var{filter-dictionary}, and the frame filter name matching
6889@var{filter-name}. @var{filter-dictionary} may be @code{global},
6890@code{progspace} or the name of the object file where the frame filter
6891dictionary resides. @var{priority} is an integer.
6892
6893@kindex show frame-filter priority
6894@item show frame-filter priority @var{filter-dictionary} @var{filter-name}
6895Show the @var{priority} of a frame filter in the dictionary matching
6896@var{filter-dictionary}, and the frame filter name matching
6897@var{filter-name}. @var{filter-dictionary} may be @code{global},
6898@code{progspace} or the name of the object file where the frame filter
6899dictionary resides.
6900
6901Example:
6902
6903@smallexample
6904(gdb) info frame-filter
6905
6906global frame-filters:
6907 Priority Enabled Name
6908 1000 Yes PrimaryFunctionFilter
6909 100 Yes Reverse
6910
6911progspace /build/test frame-filters:
6912 Priority Enabled Name
6913 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
6914
6915objfile /build/test frame-filters:
6916 Priority Enabled Name
6917 999 No BuildProgramFilter
6918
6919(gdb) set frame-filter priority global Reverse 50
6920(gdb) info frame-filter
6921
6922global frame-filters:
6923 Priority Enabled Name
6924 1000 Yes PrimaryFunctionFilter
6925 50 Yes Reverse
6926
6927progspace /build/test frame-filters:
6928 Priority Enabled Name
6929 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
6930
6931objfile /build/test frame-filters:
6932 Priority Enabled Name
6933 999 No BuildProgramFilter
6934@end smallexample
6935@end table
6936
6937@node Selection
6938@section Selecting a Frame
6939
6940Most commands for examining the stack and other data in your program work on
6941whichever stack frame is selected at the moment. Here are the commands for
6942selecting a stack frame; all of them finish by printing a brief description
6943of the stack frame just selected.
6944
6945@table @code
6946@kindex frame@r{, selecting}
6947@kindex f @r{(@code{frame})}
6948@item frame @var{n}
6949@itemx f @var{n}
6950Select frame number @var{n}. Recall that frame zero is the innermost
6951(currently executing) frame, frame one is the frame that called the
6952innermost one, and so on. The highest-numbered frame is the one for
6953@code{main}.
6954
6955@item frame @var{addr}
6956@itemx f @var{addr}
6957Select the frame at address @var{addr}. This is useful mainly if the
6958chaining of stack frames has been damaged by a bug, making it
6959impossible for @value{GDBN} to assign numbers properly to all frames. In
6960addition, this can be useful when your program has multiple stacks and
6961switches between them.
6962
6963On the SPARC architecture, @code{frame} needs two addresses to
6964select an arbitrary frame: a frame pointer and a stack pointer.
6965
6966On the @acronym{MIPS} and Alpha architecture, it needs two addresses: a stack
6967pointer and a program counter.
6968
6969On the 29k architecture, it needs three addresses: a register stack
6970pointer, a program counter, and a memory stack pointer.
6971
6972@kindex up
6973@item up @var{n}
6974Move @var{n} frames up the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
6975advances toward the outermost frame, to higher frame numbers, to frames
6976that have existed longer. @var{n} defaults to one.
6977
6978@kindex down
6979@kindex do @r{(@code{down})}
6980@item down @var{n}
6981Move @var{n} frames down the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
6982advances toward the innermost frame, to lower frame numbers, to frames
6983that were created more recently. @var{n} defaults to one. You may
6984abbreviate @code{down} as @code{do}.
6985@end table
6986
6987All of these commands end by printing two lines of output describing the
6988frame. The first line shows the frame number, the function name, the
6989arguments, and the source file and line number of execution in that
6990frame. The second line shows the text of that source line.
6991
6992@need 1000
6993For example:
6994
6995@smallexample
6996@group
6997(@value{GDBP}) up
6998#1 0x22f0 in main (argc=1, argv=0xf7fffbf4, env=0xf7fffbfc)
6999 at env.c:10
700010 read_input_file (argv[i]);
7001@end group
7002@end smallexample
7003
7004After such a printout, the @code{list} command with no arguments
7005prints ten lines centered on the point of execution in the frame.
7006You can also edit the program at the point of execution with your favorite
7007editing program by typing @code{edit}.
7008@xref{List, ,Printing Source Lines},
7009for details.
7010
7011@table @code
7012@kindex down-silently
7013@kindex up-silently
7014@item up-silently @var{n}
7015@itemx down-silently @var{n}
7016These two commands are variants of @code{up} and @code{down},
7017respectively; they differ in that they do their work silently, without
7018causing display of the new frame. They are intended primarily for use
7019in @value{GDBN} command scripts, where the output might be unnecessary and
7020distracting.
7021@end table
7022
7023@node Frame Info
7024@section Information About a Frame
7025
7026There are several other commands to print information about the selected
7027stack frame.
7028
7029@table @code
7030@item frame
7031@itemx f
7032When used without any argument, this command does not change which
7033frame is selected, but prints a brief description of the currently
7034selected stack frame. It can be abbreviated @code{f}. With an
7035argument, this command is used to select a stack frame.
7036@xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
7037
7038@kindex info frame
7039@kindex info f @r{(@code{info frame})}
7040@item info frame
7041@itemx info f
7042This command prints a verbose description of the selected stack frame,
7043including:
7044
7045@itemize @bullet
7046@item
7047the address of the frame
7048@item
7049the address of the next frame down (called by this frame)
7050@item
7051the address of the next frame up (caller of this frame)
7052@item
7053the language in which the source code corresponding to this frame is written
7054@item
7055the address of the frame's arguments
7056@item
7057the address of the frame's local variables
7058@item
7059the program counter saved in it (the address of execution in the caller frame)
7060@item
7061which registers were saved in the frame
7062@end itemize
7063
7064@noindent The verbose description is useful when
7065something has gone wrong that has made the stack format fail to fit
7066the usual conventions.
7067
7068@item info frame @var{addr}
7069@itemx info f @var{addr}
7070Print a verbose description of the frame at address @var{addr}, without
7071selecting that frame. The selected frame remains unchanged by this
7072command. This requires the same kind of address (more than one for some
7073architectures) that you specify in the @code{frame} command.
7074@xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
7075
7076@kindex info args
7077@item info args
7078Print the arguments of the selected frame, each on a separate line.
7079
7080@item info locals
7081@kindex info locals
7082Print the local variables of the selected frame, each on a separate
7083line. These are all variables (declared either static or automatic)
7084accessible at the point of execution of the selected frame.
7085
7086@end table
7087
7088
7089@node Source
7090@chapter Examining Source Files
7091
7092@value{GDBN} can print parts of your program's source, since the debugging
7093information recorded in the program tells @value{GDBN} what source files were
7094used to build it. When your program stops, @value{GDBN} spontaneously prints
7095the line where it stopped. Likewise, when you select a stack frame
7096(@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}), @value{GDBN} prints the line where
7097execution in that frame has stopped. You can print other portions of
7098source files by explicit command.
7099
7100If you use @value{GDBN} through its @sc{gnu} Emacs interface, you may
7101prefer to use Emacs facilities to view source; see @ref{Emacs, ,Using
7102@value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}.
7103
7104@menu
7105* List:: Printing source lines
7106* Specify Location:: How to specify code locations
7107* Edit:: Editing source files
7108* Search:: Searching source files
7109* Source Path:: Specifying source directories
7110* Machine Code:: Source and machine code
7111@end menu
7112
7113@node List
7114@section Printing Source Lines
7115
7116@kindex list
7117@kindex l @r{(@code{list})}
7118To print lines from a source file, use the @code{list} command
7119(abbreviated @code{l}). By default, ten lines are printed.
7120There are several ways to specify what part of the file you want to
7121print; see @ref{Specify Location}, for the full list.
7122
7123Here are the forms of the @code{list} command most commonly used:
7124
7125@table @code
7126@item list @var{linenum}
7127Print lines centered around line number @var{linenum} in the
7128current source file.
7129
7130@item list @var{function}
7131Print lines centered around the beginning of function
7132@var{function}.
7133
7134@item list
7135Print more lines. If the last lines printed were printed with a
7136@code{list} command, this prints lines following the last lines
7137printed; however, if the last line printed was a solitary line printed
7138as part of displaying a stack frame (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the
7139Stack}), this prints lines centered around that line.
7140
7141@item list -
7142Print lines just before the lines last printed.
7143@end table
7144
7145@cindex @code{list}, how many lines to display
7146By default, @value{GDBN} prints ten source lines with any of these forms of
7147the @code{list} command. You can change this using @code{set listsize}:
7148
7149@table @code
7150@kindex set listsize
7151@item set listsize @var{count}
7152@itemx set listsize unlimited
7153Make the @code{list} command display @var{count} source lines (unless
7154the @code{list} argument explicitly specifies some other number).
7155Setting @var{count} to @code{unlimited} or 0 means there's no limit.
7156
7157@kindex show listsize
7158@item show listsize
7159Display the number of lines that @code{list} prints.
7160@end table
7161
7162Repeating a @code{list} command with @key{RET} discards the argument,
7163so it is equivalent to typing just @code{list}. This is more useful
7164than listing the same lines again. An exception is made for an
7165argument of @samp{-}; that argument is preserved in repetition so that
7166each repetition moves up in the source file.
7167
7168In general, the @code{list} command expects you to supply zero, one or two
7169@dfn{linespecs}. Linespecs specify source lines; there are several ways
7170of writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always
7171to specify some source line.
7172
7173Here is a complete description of the possible arguments for @code{list}:
7174
7175@table @code
7176@item list @var{linespec}
7177Print lines centered around the line specified by @var{linespec}.
7178
7179@item list @var{first},@var{last}
7180Print lines from @var{first} to @var{last}. Both arguments are
7181linespecs. When a @code{list} command has two linespecs, and the
7182source file of the second linespec is omitted, this refers to
7183the same source file as the first linespec.
7184
7185@item list ,@var{last}
7186Print lines ending with @var{last}.
7187
7188@item list @var{first},
7189Print lines starting with @var{first}.
7190
7191@item list +
7192Print lines just after the lines last printed.
7193
7194@item list -
7195Print lines just before the lines last printed.
7196
7197@item list
7198As described in the preceding table.
7199@end table
7200
7201@node Specify Location
7202@section Specifying a Location
7203@cindex specifying location
7204@cindex linespec
7205
7206Several @value{GDBN} commands accept arguments that specify a location
7207of your program's code. Since @value{GDBN} is a source-level
7208debugger, a location usually specifies some line in the source code;
7209for that reason, locations are also known as @dfn{linespecs}.
7210
7211Here are all the different ways of specifying a code location that
7212@value{GDBN} understands:
7213
7214@table @code
7215@item @var{linenum}
7216Specifies the line number @var{linenum} of the current source file.
7217
7218@item -@var{offset}
7219@itemx +@var{offset}
7220Specifies the line @var{offset} lines before or after the @dfn{current
7221line}. For the @code{list} command, the current line is the last one
7222printed; for the breakpoint commands, this is the line at which
7223execution stopped in the currently selected @dfn{stack frame}
7224(@pxref{Frames, ,Frames}, for a description of stack frames.) When
7225used as the second of the two linespecs in a @code{list} command,
7226this specifies the line @var{offset} lines up or down from the first
7227linespec.
7228
7229@item @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
7230Specifies the line @var{linenum} in the source file @var{filename}.
7231If @var{filename} is a relative file name, then it will match any
7232source file name with the same trailing components. For example, if
7233@var{filename} is @samp{gcc/expr.c}, then it will match source file
7234name of @file{/build/trunk/gcc/expr.c}, but not
7235@file{/build/trunk/libcpp/expr.c} or @file{/build/trunk/gcc/x-expr.c}.
7236
7237@item @var{function}
7238Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}.
7239For example, in C, this is the line with the open brace.
7240
7241@item @var{function}:@var{label}
7242Specifies the line where @var{label} appears in @var{function}.
7243
7244@item @var{filename}:@var{function}
7245Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}
7246in the file @var{filename}. You only need the file name with a
7247function name to avoid ambiguity when there are identically named
7248functions in different source files.
7249
7250@item @var{label}
7251Specifies the line at which the label named @var{label} appears.
7252@value{GDBN} searches for the label in the function corresponding to
7253the currently selected stack frame. If there is no current selected
7254stack frame (for instance, if the inferior is not running), then
7255@value{GDBN} will not search for a label.
7256
7257@item *@var{address}
7258Specifies the program address @var{address}. For line-oriented
7259commands, such as @code{list} and @code{edit}, this specifies a source
7260line that contains @var{address}. For @code{break} and other
7261breakpoint oriented commands, this can be used to set breakpoints in
7262parts of your program which do not have debugging information or
7263source files.
7264
7265Here @var{address} may be any expression valid in the current working
7266language (@pxref{Languages, working language}) that specifies a code
7267address. In addition, as a convenience, @value{GDBN} extends the
7268semantics of expressions used in locations to cover the situations
7269that frequently happen during debugging. Here are the various forms
7270of @var{address}:
7271
7272@table @code
7273@item @var{expression}
7274Any expression valid in the current working language.
7275
7276@item @var{funcaddr}
7277An address of a function or procedure derived from its name. In C,
7278C@t{++}, Java, Objective-C, Fortran, minimal, and assembly, this is
7279simply the function's name @var{function} (and actually a special case
7280of a valid expression). In Pascal and Modula-2, this is
7281@code{&@var{function}}. In Ada, this is @code{@var{function}'Address}
7282(although the Pascal form also works).
7283
7284This form specifies the address of the function's first instruction,
7285before the stack frame and arguments have been set up.
7286
7287@item '@var{filename}'::@var{funcaddr}
7288Like @var{funcaddr} above, but also specifies the name of the source
7289file explicitly. This is useful if the name of the function does not
7290specify the function unambiguously, e.g., if there are several
7291functions with identical names in different source files.
7292@end table
7293
7294@cindex breakpoint at static probe point
7295@item -pstap|-probe-stap @r{[}@var{objfile}:@r{[}@var{provider}:@r{]}@r{]}@var{name}
7296The @sc{gnu}/Linux tool @code{SystemTap} provides a way for
7297applications to embed static probes. @xref{Static Probe Points}, for more
7298information on finding and using static probes. This form of linespec
7299specifies the location of such a static probe.
7300
7301If @var{objfile} is given, only probes coming from that shared library
7302or executable matching @var{objfile} as a regular expression are considered.
7303If @var{provider} is given, then only probes from that provider are considered.
7304If several probes match the spec, @value{GDBN} will insert a breakpoint at
7305each one of those probes.
7306
7307@end table
7308
7309
7310@node Edit
7311@section Editing Source Files
7312@cindex editing source files
7313
7314@kindex edit
7315@kindex e @r{(@code{edit})}
7316To edit the lines in a source file, use the @code{edit} command.
7317The editing program of your choice
7318is invoked with the current line set to
7319the active line in the program.
7320Alternatively, there are several ways to specify what part of the file you
7321want to print if you want to see other parts of the program:
7322
7323@table @code
7324@item edit @var{location}
7325Edit the source file specified by @code{location}. Editing starts at
7326that @var{location}, e.g., at the specified source line of the
7327specified file. @xref{Specify Location}, for all the possible forms
7328of the @var{location} argument; here are the forms of the @code{edit}
7329command most commonly used:
7330
7331@table @code
7332@item edit @var{number}
7333Edit the current source file with @var{number} as the active line number.
7334
7335@item edit @var{function}
7336Edit the file containing @var{function} at the beginning of its definition.
7337@end table
7338
7339@end table
7340
7341@subsection Choosing your Editor
7342You can customize @value{GDBN} to use any editor you want
7343@footnote{
7344The only restriction is that your editor (say @code{ex}), recognizes the
7345following command-line syntax:
7346@smallexample
7347ex +@var{number} file
7348@end smallexample
7349The optional numeric value +@var{number} specifies the number of the line in
7350the file where to start editing.}.
7351By default, it is @file{@value{EDITOR}}, but you can change this
7352by setting the environment variable @code{EDITOR} before using
7353@value{GDBN}. For example, to configure @value{GDBN} to use the
7354@code{vi} editor, you could use these commands with the @code{sh} shell:
7355@smallexample
7356EDITOR=/usr/bin/vi
7357export EDITOR
7358gdb @dots{}
7359@end smallexample
7360or in the @code{csh} shell,
7361@smallexample
7362setenv EDITOR /usr/bin/vi
7363gdb @dots{}
7364@end smallexample
7365
7366@node Search
7367@section Searching Source Files
7368@cindex searching source files
7369
7370There are two commands for searching through the current source file for a
7371regular expression.
7372
7373@table @code
7374@kindex search
7375@kindex forward-search
7376@kindex fo @r{(@code{forward-search})}
7377@item forward-search @var{regexp}
7378@itemx search @var{regexp}
7379The command @samp{forward-search @var{regexp}} checks each line,
7380starting with the one following the last line listed, for a match for
7381@var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can use the
7382synonym @samp{search @var{regexp}} or abbreviate the command name as
7383@code{fo}.
7384
7385@kindex reverse-search
7386@item reverse-search @var{regexp}
7387The command @samp{reverse-search @var{regexp}} checks each line, starting
7388with the one before the last line listed and going backward, for a match
7389for @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can abbreviate
7390this command as @code{rev}.
7391@end table
7392
7393@node Source Path
7394@section Specifying Source Directories
7395
7396@cindex source path
7397@cindex directories for source files
7398Executable programs sometimes do not record the directories of the source
7399files from which they were compiled, just the names. Even when they do,
7400the directories could be moved between the compilation and your debugging
7401session. @value{GDBN} has a list of directories to search for source files;
7402this is called the @dfn{source path}. Each time @value{GDBN} wants a source file,
7403it tries all the directories in the list, in the order they are present
7404in the list, until it finds a file with the desired name.
7405
7406For example, suppose an executable references the file
7407@file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}, and our source path is
7408@file{/mnt/cross}. The file is first looked up literally; if this
7409fails, @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} is tried; if this
7410fails, @file{/mnt/cross/foo.c} is opened; if this fails, an error
7411message is printed. @value{GDBN} does not look up the parts of the
7412source file name, such as @file{/mnt/cross/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}.
7413Likewise, the subdirectories of the source path are not searched: if
7414the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the binary refers to
7415@file{foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would not find it under
7416@file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib}.
7417
7418Plain file names, relative file names with leading directories, file
7419names containing dots, etc.@: are all treated as described above; for
7420instance, if the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the source file
7421is recorded as @file{../lib/foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would first try
7422@file{../lib/foo.c}, then @file{/mnt/cross/../lib/foo.c}, and after
7423that---@file{/mnt/cross/foo.c}.
7424
7425Note that the executable search path is @emph{not} used to locate the
7426source files.
7427
7428Whenever you reset or rearrange the source path, @value{GDBN} clears out
7429any information it has cached about where source files are found and where
7430each line is in the file.
7431
7432@kindex directory
7433@kindex dir
7434When you start @value{GDBN}, its source path includes only @samp{cdir}
7435and @samp{cwd}, in that order.
7436To add other directories, use the @code{directory} command.
7437
7438The search path is used to find both program source files and @value{GDBN}
7439script files (read using the @samp{-command} option and @samp{source} command).
7440
7441In addition to the source path, @value{GDBN} provides a set of commands
7442that manage a list of source path substitution rules. A @dfn{substitution
7443rule} specifies how to rewrite source directories stored in the program's
7444debug information in case the sources were moved to a different
7445directory between compilation and debugging. A rule is made of
7446two strings, the first specifying what needs to be rewritten in
7447the path, and the second specifying how it should be rewritten.
7448In @ref{set substitute-path}, we name these two parts @var{from} and
7449@var{to} respectively. @value{GDBN} does a simple string replacement
7450of @var{from} with @var{to} at the start of the directory part of the
7451source file name, and uses that result instead of the original file
7452name to look up the sources.
7453
7454Using the previous example, suppose the @file{foo-1.0} tree has been
7455moved from @file{/usr/src} to @file{/mnt/cross}, then you can tell
7456@value{GDBN} to replace @file{/usr/src} in all source path names with
7457@file{/mnt/cross}. The first lookup will then be
7458@file{/mnt/cross/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} in place of the original location
7459of @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}. To define a source path
7460substitution rule, use the @code{set substitute-path} command
7461(@pxref{set substitute-path}).
7462
7463To avoid unexpected substitution results, a rule is applied only if the
7464@var{from} part of the directory name ends at a directory separator.
7465For instance, a rule substituting @file{/usr/source} into
7466@file{/mnt/cross} will be applied to @file{/usr/source/foo-1.0} but
7467not to @file{/usr/sourceware/foo-2.0}. And because the substitution
7468is applied only at the beginning of the directory name, this rule will
7469not be applied to @file{/root/usr/source/baz.c} either.
7470
7471In many cases, you can achieve the same result using the @code{directory}
7472command. However, @code{set substitute-path} can be more efficient in
7473the case where the sources are organized in a complex tree with multiple
7474subdirectories. With the @code{directory} command, you need to add each
7475subdirectory of your project. If you moved the entire tree while
7476preserving its internal organization, then @code{set substitute-path}
7477allows you to direct the debugger to all the sources with one single
7478command.
7479
7480@code{set substitute-path} is also more than just a shortcut command.
7481The source path is only used if the file at the original location no
7482longer exists. On the other hand, @code{set substitute-path} modifies
7483the debugger behavior to look at the rewritten location instead. So, if
7484for any reason a source file that is not relevant to your executable is
7485located at the original location, a substitution rule is the only
7486method available to point @value{GDBN} at the new location.
7487
7488@cindex @samp{--with-relocated-sources}
7489@cindex default source path substitution
7490You can configure a default source path substitution rule by
7491configuring @value{GDBN} with the
7492@samp{--with-relocated-sources=@var{dir}} option. The @var{dir}
7493should be the name of a directory under @value{GDBN}'s configured
7494prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or @samp{--exec-prefix}), and
7495directory names in debug information under @var{dir} will be adjusted
7496automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
7497location. This is useful if @value{GDBN}, libraries or executables
7498with debug information and corresponding source code are being moved
7499together.
7500
7501@table @code
7502@item directory @var{dirname} @dots{}
7503@item dir @var{dirname} @dots{}
7504Add directory @var{dirname} to the front of the source path. Several
7505directory names may be given to this command, separated by @samp{:}
7506(@samp{;} on MS-DOS and MS-Windows, where @samp{:} usually appears as
7507part of absolute file names) or
7508whitespace. You may specify a directory that is already in the source
7509path; this moves it forward, so @value{GDBN} searches it sooner.
7510
7511@kindex cdir
7512@kindex cwd
7513@vindex $cdir@r{, convenience variable}
7514@vindex $cwd@r{, convenience variable}
7515@cindex compilation directory
7516@cindex current directory
7517@cindex working directory
7518@cindex directory, current
7519@cindex directory, compilation
7520You can use the string @samp{$cdir} to refer to the compilation
7521directory (if one is recorded), and @samp{$cwd} to refer to the current
7522working directory. @samp{$cwd} is not the same as @samp{.}---the former
7523tracks the current working directory as it changes during your @value{GDBN}
7524session, while the latter is immediately expanded to the current
7525directory at the time you add an entry to the source path.
7526
7527@item directory
7528Reset the source path to its default value (@samp{$cdir:$cwd} on Unix systems). This requires confirmation.
7529
7530@c RET-repeat for @code{directory} is explicitly disabled, but since
7531@c repeating it would be a no-op we do not say that. (thanks to RMS)
7532
7533@item set directories @var{path-list}
7534@kindex set directories
7535Set the source path to @var{path-list}.
7536@samp{$cdir:$cwd} are added if missing.
7537
7538@item show directories
7539@kindex show directories
7540Print the source path: show which directories it contains.
7541
7542@anchor{set substitute-path}
7543@item set substitute-path @var{from} @var{to}
7544@kindex set substitute-path
7545Define a source path substitution rule, and add it at the end of the
7546current list of existing substitution rules. If a rule with the same
7547@var{from} was already defined, then the old rule is also deleted.
7548
7549For example, if the file @file{/foo/bar/baz.c} was moved to
7550@file{/mnt/cross/baz.c}, then the command
7551
7552@smallexample
7553(@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/cross
7554@end smallexample
7555
7556@noindent
7557will tell @value{GDBN} to replace @samp{/usr/src} with
7558@samp{/mnt/cross}, which will allow @value{GDBN} to find the file
7559@file{baz.c} even though it was moved.
7560
7561In the case when more than one substitution rule have been defined,
7562the rules are evaluated one by one in the order where they have been
7563defined. The first one matching, if any, is selected to perform
7564the substitution.
7565
7566For instance, if we had entered the following commands:
7567
7568@smallexample
7569(@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src/include /mnt/include
7570(@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/src
7571@end smallexample
7572
7573@noindent
7574@value{GDBN} would then rewrite @file{/usr/src/include/defs.h} into
7575@file{/mnt/include/defs.h} by using the first rule. However, it would
7576use the second rule to rewrite @file{/usr/src/lib/foo.c} into
7577@file{/mnt/src/lib/foo.c}.
7578
7579
7580@item unset substitute-path [path]
7581@kindex unset substitute-path
7582If a path is specified, search the current list of substitution rules
7583for a rule that would rewrite that path. Delete that rule if found.
7584A warning is emitted by the debugger if no rule could be found.
7585
7586If no path is specified, then all substitution rules are deleted.
7587
7588@item show substitute-path [path]
7589@kindex show substitute-path
7590If a path is specified, then print the source path substitution rule
7591which would rewrite that path, if any.
7592
7593If no path is specified, then print all existing source path substitution
7594rules.
7595
7596@end table
7597
7598If your source path is cluttered with directories that are no longer of
7599interest, @value{GDBN} may sometimes cause confusion by finding the wrong
7600versions of source. You can correct the situation as follows:
7601
7602@enumerate
7603@item
7604Use @code{directory} with no argument to reset the source path to its default value.
7605
7606@item
7607Use @code{directory} with suitable arguments to reinstall the
7608directories you want in the source path. You can add all the
7609directories in one command.
7610@end enumerate
7611
7612@node Machine Code
7613@section Source and Machine Code
7614@cindex source line and its code address
7615
7616You can use the command @code{info line} to map source lines to program
7617addresses (and vice versa), and the command @code{disassemble} to display
7618a range of addresses as machine instructions. You can use the command
7619@code{set disassemble-next-line} to set whether to disassemble next
7620source line when execution stops. When run under @sc{gnu} Emacs
7621mode, the @code{info line} command causes the arrow to point to the
7622line specified. Also, @code{info line} prints addresses in symbolic form as
7623well as hex.
7624
7625@table @code
7626@kindex info line
7627@item info line @var{linespec}
7628Print the starting and ending addresses of the compiled code for
7629source line @var{linespec}. You can specify source lines in any of
7630the ways documented in @ref{Specify Location}.
7631@end table
7632
7633For example, we can use @code{info line} to discover the location of
7634the object code for the first line of function
7635@code{m4_changequote}:
7636
7637@c FIXME: I think this example should also show the addresses in
7638@c symbolic form, as they usually would be displayed.
7639@smallexample
7640(@value{GDBP}) info line m4_changequote
7641Line 895 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x634c and ends at 0x6350.
7642@end smallexample
7643
7644@noindent
7645@cindex code address and its source line
7646We can also inquire (using @code{*@var{addr}} as the form for
7647@var{linespec}) what source line covers a particular address:
7648@smallexample
7649(@value{GDBP}) info line *0x63ff
7650Line 926 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x63e4 and ends at 0x6404.
7651@end smallexample
7652
7653@cindex @code{$_} and @code{info line}
7654@cindex @code{x} command, default address
7655@kindex x@r{(examine), and} info line
7656After @code{info line}, the default address for the @code{x} command
7657is changed to the starting address of the line, so that @samp{x/i} is
7658sufficient to begin examining the machine code (@pxref{Memory,
7659,Examining Memory}). Also, this address is saved as the value of the
7660convenience variable @code{$_} (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
7661Variables}).
7662
7663@table @code
7664@kindex disassemble
7665@cindex assembly instructions
7666@cindex instructions, assembly
7667@cindex machine instructions
7668@cindex listing machine instructions
7669@item disassemble
7670@itemx disassemble /m
7671@itemx disassemble /r
7672This specialized command dumps a range of memory as machine
7673instructions. It can also print mixed source+disassembly by specifying
7674the @code{/m} modifier and print the raw instructions in hex as well as
7675in symbolic form by specifying the @code{/r}.
7676The default memory range is the function surrounding the
7677program counter of the selected frame. A single argument to this
7678command is a program counter value; @value{GDBN} dumps the function
7679surrounding this value. When two arguments are given, they should
7680be separated by a comma, possibly surrounded by whitespace. The
7681arguments specify a range of addresses to dump, in one of two forms:
7682
7683@table @code
7684@item @var{start},@var{end}
7685the addresses from @var{start} (inclusive) to @var{end} (exclusive)
7686@item @var{start},+@var{length}
7687the addresses from @var{start} (inclusive) to
7688@code{@var{start}+@var{length}} (exclusive).
7689@end table
7690
7691@noindent
7692When 2 arguments are specified, the name of the function is also
7693printed (since there could be several functions in the given range).
7694
7695The argument(s) can be any expression yielding a numeric value, such as
7696@samp{0x32c4}, @samp{&main+10} or @samp{$pc - 8}.
7697
7698If the range of memory being disassembled contains current program counter,
7699the instruction at that location is shown with a @code{=>} marker.
7700@end table
7701
7702The following example shows the disassembly of a range of addresses of
7703HP PA-RISC 2.0 code:
7704
7705@smallexample
7706(@value{GDBP}) disas 0x32c4, 0x32e4
7707Dump of assembler code from 0x32c4 to 0x32e4:
7708 0x32c4 <main+204>: addil 0,dp
7709 0x32c8 <main+208>: ldw 0x22c(sr0,r1),r26
7710 0x32cc <main+212>: ldil 0x3000,r31
7711 0x32d0 <main+216>: ble 0x3f8(sr4,r31)
7712 0x32d4 <main+220>: ldo 0(r31),rp
7713 0x32d8 <main+224>: addil -0x800,dp
7714 0x32dc <main+228>: ldo 0x588(r1),r26
7715 0x32e0 <main+232>: ldil 0x3000,r31
7716End of assembler dump.
7717@end smallexample
7718
7719Here is an example showing mixed source+assembly for Intel x86, when the
7720program is stopped just after function prologue:
7721
7722@smallexample
7723(@value{GDBP}) disas /m main
7724Dump of assembler code for function main:
77255 @{
7726 0x08048330 <+0>: push %ebp
7727 0x08048331 <+1>: mov %esp,%ebp
7728 0x08048333 <+3>: sub $0x8,%esp
7729 0x08048336 <+6>: and $0xfffffff0,%esp
7730 0x08048339 <+9>: sub $0x10,%esp
7731
77326 printf ("Hello.\n");
7733=> 0x0804833c <+12>: movl $0x8048440,(%esp)
7734 0x08048343 <+19>: call 0x8048284 <puts@@plt>
7735
77367 return 0;
77378 @}
7738 0x08048348 <+24>: mov $0x0,%eax
7739 0x0804834d <+29>: leave
7740 0x0804834e <+30>: ret
7741
7742End of assembler dump.
7743@end smallexample
7744
7745Here is another example showing raw instructions in hex for AMD x86-64,
7746
7747@smallexample
7748(gdb) disas /r 0x400281,+10
7749Dump of assembler code from 0x400281 to 0x40028b:
7750 0x0000000000400281: 38 36 cmp %dh,(%rsi)
7751 0x0000000000400283: 2d 36 34 2e 73 sub $0x732e3436,%eax
7752 0x0000000000400288: 6f outsl %ds:(%rsi),(%dx)
7753 0x0000000000400289: 2e 32 00 xor %cs:(%rax),%al
7754End of assembler dump.
7755@end smallexample
7756
7757Addresses cannot be specified as a linespec (@pxref{Specify Location}).
7758So, for example, if you want to disassemble function @code{bar}
7759in file @file{foo.c}, you must type @samp{disassemble 'foo.c'::bar}
7760and not @samp{disassemble foo.c:bar}.
7761
7762Some architectures have more than one commonly-used set of instruction
7763mnemonics or other syntax.
7764
7765For programs that were dynamically linked and use shared libraries,
7766instructions that call functions or branch to locations in the shared
7767libraries might show a seemingly bogus location---it's actually a
7768location of the relocation table. On some architectures, @value{GDBN}
7769might be able to resolve these to actual function names.
7770
7771@table @code
7772@kindex set disassembly-flavor
7773@cindex Intel disassembly flavor
7774@cindex AT&T disassembly flavor
7775@item set disassembly-flavor @var{instruction-set}
7776Select the instruction set to use when disassembling the
7777program via the @code{disassemble} or @code{x/i} commands.
7778
7779Currently this command is only defined for the Intel x86 family. You
7780can set @var{instruction-set} to either @code{intel} or @code{att}.
7781The default is @code{att}, the AT&T flavor used by default by Unix
7782assemblers for x86-based targets.
7783
7784@kindex show disassembly-flavor
7785@item show disassembly-flavor
7786Show the current setting of the disassembly flavor.
7787@end table
7788
7789@table @code
7790@kindex set disassemble-next-line
7791@kindex show disassemble-next-line
7792@item set disassemble-next-line
7793@itemx show disassemble-next-line
7794Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will disassemble the next source
7795line or instruction when execution stops. If ON, @value{GDBN} will
7796display disassembly of the next source line when execution of the
7797program being debugged stops. This is @emph{in addition} to
7798displaying the source line itself, which @value{GDBN} always does if
7799possible. If the next source line cannot be displayed for some reason
7800(e.g., if @value{GDBN} cannot find the source file, or there's no line
7801info in the debug info), @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of the
7802next @emph{instruction} instead of showing the next source line. If
7803AUTO, @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of next instruction only
7804if the source line cannot be displayed. This setting causes
7805@value{GDBN} to display some feedback when you step through a function
7806with no line info or whose source file is unavailable. The default is
7807OFF, which means never display the disassembly of the next line or
7808instruction.
7809@end table
7810
7811
7812@node Data
7813@chapter Examining Data
7814
7815@cindex printing data
7816@cindex examining data
7817@kindex print
7818@kindex inspect
7819The usual way to examine data in your program is with the @code{print}
7820command (abbreviated @code{p}), or its synonym @code{inspect}. It
7821evaluates and prints the value of an expression of the language your
7822program is written in (@pxref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with
7823Different Languages}). It may also print the expression using a
7824Python-based pretty-printer (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
7825
7826@table @code
7827@item print @var{expr}
7828@itemx print /@var{f} @var{expr}
7829@var{expr} is an expression (in the source language). By default the
7830value of @var{expr} is printed in a format appropriate to its data type;
7831you can choose a different format by specifying @samp{/@var{f}}, where
7832@var{f} is a letter specifying the format; see @ref{Output Formats,,Output
7833Formats}.
7834
7835@item print
7836@itemx print /@var{f}
7837@cindex reprint the last value
7838If you omit @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} displays the last value again (from the
7839@dfn{value history}; @pxref{Value History, ,Value History}). This allows you to
7840conveniently inspect the same value in an alternative format.
7841@end table
7842
7843A more low-level way of examining data is with the @code{x} command.
7844It examines data in memory at a specified address and prints it in a
7845specified format. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
7846
7847If you are interested in information about types, or about how the
7848fields of a struct or a class are declared, use the @code{ptype @var{exp}}
7849command rather than @code{print}. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol
7850Table}.
7851
7852@cindex exploring hierarchical data structures
7853@kindex explore
7854Another way of examining values of expressions and type information is
7855through the Python extension command @code{explore} (available only if
7856the @value{GDBN} build is configured with @code{--with-python}). It
7857offers an interactive way to start at the highest level (or, the most
7858abstract level) of the data type of an expression (or, the data type
7859itself) and explore all the way down to leaf scalar values/fields
7860embedded in the higher level data types.
7861
7862@table @code
7863@item explore @var{arg}
7864@var{arg} is either an expression (in the source language), or a type
7865visible in the current context of the program being debugged.
7866@end table
7867
7868The working of the @code{explore} command can be illustrated with an
7869example. If a data type @code{struct ComplexStruct} is defined in your
7870C program as
7871
7872@smallexample
7873struct SimpleStruct
7874@{
7875 int i;
7876 double d;
7877@};
7878
7879struct ComplexStruct
7880@{
7881 struct SimpleStruct *ss_p;
7882 int arr[10];
7883@};
7884@end smallexample
7885
7886@noindent
7887followed by variable declarations as
7888
7889@smallexample
7890struct SimpleStruct ss = @{ 10, 1.11 @};
7891struct ComplexStruct cs = @{ &ss, @{ 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 @} @};
7892@end smallexample
7893
7894@noindent
7895then, the value of the variable @code{cs} can be explored using the
7896@code{explore} command as follows.
7897
7898@smallexample
7899(gdb) explore cs
7900The value of `cs' is a struct/class of type `struct ComplexStruct' with
7901the following fields:
7902
7903 ss_p = <Enter 0 to explore this field of type `struct SimpleStruct *'>
7904 arr = <Enter 1 to explore this field of type `int [10]'>
7905
7906Enter the field number of choice:
7907@end smallexample
7908
7909@noindent
7910Since the fields of @code{cs} are not scalar values, you are being
7911prompted to chose the field you want to explore. Let's say you choose
7912the field @code{ss_p} by entering @code{0}. Then, since this field is a
7913pointer, you will be asked if it is pointing to a single value. From
7914the declaration of @code{cs} above, it is indeed pointing to a single
7915value, hence you enter @code{y}. If you enter @code{n}, then you will
7916be asked if it were pointing to an array of values, in which case this
7917field will be explored as if it were an array.
7918
7919@smallexample
7920`cs.ss_p' is a pointer to a value of type `struct SimpleStruct'
7921Continue exploring it as a pointer to a single value [y/n]: y
7922The value of `*(cs.ss_p)' is a struct/class of type `struct
7923SimpleStruct' with the following fields:
7924
7925 i = 10 .. (Value of type `int')
7926 d = 1.1100000000000001 .. (Value of type `double')
7927
7928Press enter to return to parent value:
7929@end smallexample
7930
7931@noindent
7932If the field @code{arr} of @code{cs} was chosen for exploration by
7933entering @code{1} earlier, then since it is as array, you will be
7934prompted to enter the index of the element in the array that you want
7935to explore.
7936
7937@smallexample
7938`cs.arr' is an array of `int'.
7939Enter the index of the element you want to explore in `cs.arr': 5
7940
7941`(cs.arr)[5]' is a scalar value of type `int'.
7942
7943(cs.arr)[5] = 4
7944
7945Press enter to return to parent value:
7946@end smallexample
7947
7948In general, at any stage of exploration, you can go deeper towards the
7949leaf values by responding to the prompts appropriately, or hit the
7950return key to return to the enclosing data structure (the @i{higher}
7951level data structure).
7952
7953Similar to exploring values, you can use the @code{explore} command to
7954explore types. Instead of specifying a value (which is typically a
7955variable name or an expression valid in the current context of the
7956program being debugged), you specify a type name. If you consider the
7957same example as above, your can explore the type
7958@code{struct ComplexStruct} by passing the argument
7959@code{struct ComplexStruct} to the @code{explore} command.
7960
7961@smallexample
7962(gdb) explore struct ComplexStruct
7963@end smallexample
7964
7965@noindent
7966By responding to the prompts appropriately in the subsequent interactive
7967session, you can explore the type @code{struct ComplexStruct} in a
7968manner similar to how the value @code{cs} was explored in the above
7969example.
7970
7971The @code{explore} command also has two sub-commands,
7972@code{explore value} and @code{explore type}. The former sub-command is
7973a way to explicitly specify that value exploration of the argument is
7974being invoked, while the latter is a way to explicitly specify that type
7975exploration of the argument is being invoked.
7976
7977@table @code
7978@item explore value @var{expr}
7979@cindex explore value
7980This sub-command of @code{explore} explores the value of the
7981expression @var{expr} (if @var{expr} is an expression valid in the
7982current context of the program being debugged). The behavior of this
7983command is identical to that of the behavior of the @code{explore}
7984command being passed the argument @var{expr}.
7985
7986@item explore type @var{arg}
7987@cindex explore type
7988This sub-command of @code{explore} explores the type of @var{arg} (if
7989@var{arg} is a type visible in the current context of program being
7990debugged), or the type of the value/expression @var{arg} (if @var{arg}
7991is an expression valid in the current context of the program being
7992debugged). If @var{arg} is a type, then the behavior of this command is
7993identical to that of the @code{explore} command being passed the
7994argument @var{arg}. If @var{arg} is an expression, then the behavior of
7995this command will be identical to that of the @code{explore} command
7996being passed the type of @var{arg} as the argument.
7997@end table
7998
7999@menu
8000* Expressions:: Expressions
8001* Ambiguous Expressions:: Ambiguous Expressions
8002* Variables:: Program variables
8003* Arrays:: Artificial arrays
8004* Output Formats:: Output formats
8005* Memory:: Examining memory
8006* Auto Display:: Automatic display
8007* Print Settings:: Print settings
8008* Pretty Printing:: Python pretty printing
8009* Value History:: Value history
8010* Convenience Vars:: Convenience variables
8011* Convenience Funs:: Convenience functions
8012* Registers:: Registers
8013* Floating Point Hardware:: Floating point hardware
8014* Vector Unit:: Vector Unit
8015* OS Information:: Auxiliary data provided by operating system
8016* Memory Region Attributes:: Memory region attributes
8017* Dump/Restore Files:: Copy between memory and a file
8018* Core File Generation:: Cause a program dump its core
8019* Character Sets:: Debugging programs that use a different
8020 character set than GDB does
8021* Caching Remote Data:: Data caching for remote targets
8022* Searching Memory:: Searching memory for a sequence of bytes
8023@end menu
8024
8025@node Expressions
8026@section Expressions
8027
8028@cindex expressions
8029@code{print} and many other @value{GDBN} commands accept an expression and
8030compute its value. Any kind of constant, variable or operator defined
8031by the programming language you are using is valid in an expression in
8032@value{GDBN}. This includes conditional expressions, function calls,
8033casts, and string constants. It also includes preprocessor macros, if
8034you compiled your program to include this information; see
8035@ref{Compilation}.
8036
8037@cindex arrays in expressions
8038@value{GDBN} supports array constants in expressions input by
8039the user. The syntax is @{@var{element}, @var{element}@dots{}@}. For example,
8040you can use the command @code{print @{1, 2, 3@}} to create an array
8041of three integers. If you pass an array to a function or assign it
8042to a program variable, @value{GDBN} copies the array to memory that
8043is @code{malloc}ed in the target program.
8044
8045Because C is so widespread, most of the expressions shown in examples in
8046this manual are in C. @xref{Languages, , Using @value{GDBN} with Different
8047Languages}, for information on how to use expressions in other
8048languages.
8049
8050In this section, we discuss operators that you can use in @value{GDBN}
8051expressions regardless of your programming language.
8052
8053@cindex casts, in expressions
8054Casts are supported in all languages, not just in C, because it is so
8055useful to cast a number into a pointer in order to examine a structure
8056at that address in memory.
8057@c FIXME: casts supported---Mod2 true?
8058
8059@value{GDBN} supports these operators, in addition to those common
8060to programming languages:
8061
8062@table @code
8063@item @@
8064@samp{@@} is a binary operator for treating parts of memory as arrays.
8065@xref{Arrays, ,Artificial Arrays}, for more information.
8066
8067@item ::
8068@samp{::} allows you to specify a variable in terms of the file or
8069function where it is defined. @xref{Variables, ,Program Variables}.
8070
8071@cindex @{@var{type}@}
8072@cindex type casting memory
8073@cindex memory, viewing as typed object
8074@cindex casts, to view memory
8075@item @{@var{type}@} @var{addr}
8076Refers to an object of type @var{type} stored at address @var{addr} in
8077memory. @var{addr} may be any expression whose value is an integer or
8078pointer (but parentheses are required around binary operators, just as in
8079a cast). This construct is allowed regardless of what kind of data is
8080normally supposed to reside at @var{addr}.
8081@end table
8082
8083@node Ambiguous Expressions
8084@section Ambiguous Expressions
8085@cindex ambiguous expressions
8086
8087Expressions can sometimes contain some ambiguous elements. For instance,
8088some programming languages (notably Ada, C@t{++} and Objective-C) permit
8089a single function name to be defined several times, for application in
8090different contexts. This is called @dfn{overloading}. Another example
8091involving Ada is generics. A @dfn{generic package} is similar to C@t{++}
8092templates and is typically instantiated several times, resulting in
8093the same function name being defined in different contexts.
8094
8095In some cases and depending on the language, it is possible to adjust
8096the expression to remove the ambiguity. For instance in C@t{++}, you
8097can specify the signature of the function you want to break on, as in
8098@kbd{break @var{function}(@var{types})}. In Ada, using the fully
8099qualified name of your function often makes the expression unambiguous
8100as well.
8101
8102When an ambiguity that needs to be resolved is detected, the debugger
8103has the capability to display a menu of numbered choices for each
8104possibility, and then waits for the selection with the prompt @samp{>}.
8105The first option is always @samp{[0] cancel}, and typing @kbd{0 @key{RET}}
8106aborts the current command. If the command in which the expression was
8107used allows more than one choice to be selected, the next option in the
8108menu is @samp{[1] all}, and typing @kbd{1 @key{RET}} selects all possible
8109choices.
8110
8111For example, the following session excerpt shows an attempt to set a
8112breakpoint at the overloaded symbol @code{String::after}.
8113We choose three particular definitions of that function name:
8114
8115@c FIXME! This is likely to change to show arg type lists, at least
8116@smallexample
8117@group
8118(@value{GDBP}) b String::after
8119[0] cancel
8120[1] all
8121[2] file:String.cc; line number:867
8122[3] file:String.cc; line number:860
8123[4] file:String.cc; line number:875
8124[5] file:String.cc; line number:853
8125[6] file:String.cc; line number:846
8126[7] file:String.cc; line number:735
8127> 2 4 6
8128Breakpoint 1 at 0xb26c: file String.cc, line 867.
8129Breakpoint 2 at 0xb344: file String.cc, line 875.
8130Breakpoint 3 at 0xafcc: file String.cc, line 846.
8131Multiple breakpoints were set.
8132Use the "delete" command to delete unwanted
8133 breakpoints.
8134(@value{GDBP})
8135@end group
8136@end smallexample
8137
8138@table @code
8139@kindex set multiple-symbols
8140@item set multiple-symbols @var{mode}
8141@cindex multiple-symbols menu
8142
8143This option allows you to adjust the debugger behavior when an expression
8144is ambiguous.
8145
8146By default, @var{mode} is set to @code{all}. If the command with which
8147the expression is used allows more than one choice, then @value{GDBN}
8148automatically selects all possible choices. For instance, inserting
8149a breakpoint on a function using an ambiguous name results in a breakpoint
8150inserted on each possible match. However, if a unique choice must be made,
8151then @value{GDBN} uses the menu to help you disambiguate the expression.
8152For instance, printing the address of an overloaded function will result
8153in the use of the menu.
8154
8155When @var{mode} is set to @code{ask}, the debugger always uses the menu
8156when an ambiguity is detected.
8157
8158Finally, when @var{mode} is set to @code{cancel}, the debugger reports
8159an error due to the ambiguity and the command is aborted.
8160
8161@kindex show multiple-symbols
8162@item show multiple-symbols
8163Show the current value of the @code{multiple-symbols} setting.
8164@end table
8165
8166@node Variables
8167@section Program Variables
8168
8169The most common kind of expression to use is the name of a variable
8170in your program.
8171
8172Variables in expressions are understood in the selected stack frame
8173(@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}); they must be either:
8174
8175@itemize @bullet
8176@item
8177global (or file-static)
8178@end itemize
8179
8180@noindent or
8181
8182@itemize @bullet
8183@item
8184visible according to the scope rules of the
8185programming language from the point of execution in that frame
8186@end itemize
8187
8188@noindent This means that in the function
8189
8190@smallexample
8191foo (a)
8192 int a;
8193@{
8194 bar (a);
8195 @{
8196 int b = test ();
8197 bar (b);
8198 @}
8199@}
8200@end smallexample
8201
8202@noindent
8203you can examine and use the variable @code{a} whenever your program is
8204executing within the function @code{foo}, but you can only use or
8205examine the variable @code{b} while your program is executing inside
8206the block where @code{b} is declared.
8207
8208@cindex variable name conflict
8209There is an exception: you can refer to a variable or function whose
8210scope is a single source file even if the current execution point is not
8211in this file. But it is possible to have more than one such variable or
8212function with the same name (in different source files). If that
8213happens, referring to that name has unpredictable effects. If you wish,
8214you can specify a static variable in a particular function or file by
8215using the colon-colon (@code{::}) notation:
8216
8217@cindex colon-colon, context for variables/functions
8218@ifnotinfo
8219@c info cannot cope with a :: index entry, but why deprive hard copy readers?
8220@cindex @code{::}, context for variables/functions
8221@end ifnotinfo
8222@smallexample
8223@var{file}::@var{variable}
8224@var{function}::@var{variable}
8225@end smallexample
8226
8227@noindent
8228Here @var{file} or @var{function} is the name of the context for the
8229static @var{variable}. In the case of file names, you can use quotes to
8230make sure @value{GDBN} parses the file name as a single word---for example,
8231to print a global value of @code{x} defined in @file{f2.c}:
8232
8233@smallexample
8234(@value{GDBP}) p 'f2.c'::x
8235@end smallexample
8236
8237The @code{::} notation is normally used for referring to
8238static variables, since you typically disambiguate uses of local variables
8239in functions by selecting the appropriate frame and using the
8240simple name of the variable. However, you may also use this notation
8241to refer to local variables in frames enclosing the selected frame:
8242
8243@smallexample
8244void
8245foo (int a)
8246@{
8247 if (a < 10)
8248 bar (a);
8249 else
8250 process (a); /* Stop here */
8251@}
8252
8253int
8254bar (int a)
8255@{
8256 foo (a + 5);
8257@}
8258@end smallexample
8259
8260@noindent
8261For example, if there is a breakpoint at the commented line,
8262here is what you might see
8263when the program stops after executing the call @code{bar(0)}:
8264
8265@smallexample
8266(@value{GDBP}) p a
8267$1 = 10
8268(@value{GDBP}) p bar::a
8269$2 = 5
8270(@value{GDBP}) up 2
8271#2 0x080483d0 in foo (a=5) at foobar.c:12
8272(@value{GDBP}) p a
8273$3 = 5
8274(@value{GDBP}) p bar::a
8275$4 = 0
8276@end smallexample
8277
8278@cindex C@t{++} scope resolution
8279These uses of @samp{::} are very rarely in conflict with the very similar
8280use of the same notation in C@t{++}. @value{GDBN} also supports use of the C@t{++}
8281scope resolution operator in @value{GDBN} expressions.
8282@c FIXME: Um, so what happens in one of those rare cases where it's in
8283@c conflict?? --mew
8284
8285@cindex wrong values
8286@cindex variable values, wrong
8287@cindex function entry/exit, wrong values of variables
8288@cindex optimized code, wrong values of variables
8289@quotation
8290@emph{Warning:} Occasionally, a local variable may appear to have the
8291wrong value at certain points in a function---just after entry to a new
8292scope, and just before exit.
8293@end quotation
8294You may see this problem when you are stepping by machine instructions.
8295This is because, on most machines, it takes more than one instruction to
8296set up a stack frame (including local variable definitions); if you are
8297stepping by machine instructions, variables may appear to have the wrong
8298values until the stack frame is completely built. On exit, it usually
8299also takes more than one machine instruction to destroy a stack frame;
8300after you begin stepping through that group of instructions, local
8301variable definitions may be gone.
8302
8303This may also happen when the compiler does significant optimizations.
8304To be sure of always seeing accurate values, turn off all optimization
8305when compiling.
8306
8307@cindex ``No symbol "foo" in current context''
8308Another possible effect of compiler optimizations is to optimize
8309unused variables out of existence, or assign variables to registers (as
8310opposed to memory addresses). Depending on the support for such cases
8311offered by the debug info format used by the compiler, @value{GDBN}
8312might not be able to display values for such local variables. If that
8313happens, @value{GDBN} will print a message like this:
8314
8315@smallexample
8316No symbol "foo" in current context.
8317@end smallexample
8318
8319To solve such problems, either recompile without optimizations, or use a
8320different debug info format, if the compiler supports several such
8321formats. @xref{Compilation}, for more information on choosing compiler
8322options. @xref{C, ,C and C@t{++}}, for more information about debug
8323info formats that are best suited to C@t{++} programs.
8324
8325If you ask to print an object whose contents are unknown to
8326@value{GDBN}, e.g., because its data type is not completely specified
8327by the debug information, @value{GDBN} will say @samp{<incomplete
8328type>}. @xref{Symbols, incomplete type}, for more about this.
8329
8330If you append @kbd{@@entry} string to a function parameter name you get its
8331value at the time the function got called. If the value is not available an
8332error message is printed. Entry values are available only with some compilers.
8333Entry values are normally also printed at the function parameter list according
8334to @ref{set print entry-values}.
8335
8336@smallexample
8337Breakpoint 1, d (i=30) at gdb.base/entry-value.c:29
833829 i++;
8339(gdb) next
834030 e (i);
8341(gdb) print i
8342$1 = 31
8343(gdb) print i@@entry
8344$2 = 30
8345@end smallexample
8346
8347Strings are identified as arrays of @code{char} values without specified
8348signedness. Arrays of either @code{signed char} or @code{unsigned char} get
8349printed as arrays of 1 byte sized integers. @code{-fsigned-char} or
8350@code{-funsigned-char} @value{NGCC} options have no effect as @value{GDBN}
8351defines literal string type @code{"char"} as @code{char} without a sign.
8352For program code
8353
8354@smallexample
8355char var0[] = "A";
8356signed char var1[] = "A";
8357@end smallexample
8358
8359You get during debugging
8360@smallexample
8361(gdb) print var0
8362$1 = "A"
8363(gdb) print var1
8364$2 = @{65 'A', 0 '\0'@}
8365@end smallexample
8366
8367@node Arrays
8368@section Artificial Arrays
8369
8370@cindex artificial array
8371@cindex arrays
8372@kindex @@@r{, referencing memory as an array}
8373It is often useful to print out several successive objects of the
8374same type in memory; a section of an array, or an array of
8375dynamically determined size for which only a pointer exists in the
8376program.
8377
8378You can do this by referring to a contiguous span of memory as an
8379@dfn{artificial array}, using the binary operator @samp{@@}. The left
8380operand of @samp{@@} should be the first element of the desired array
8381and be an individual object. The right operand should be the desired length
8382of the array. The result is an array value whose elements are all of
8383the type of the left argument. The first element is actually the left
8384argument; the second element comes from bytes of memory immediately
8385following those that hold the first element, and so on. Here is an
8386example. If a program says
8387
8388@smallexample
8389int *array = (int *) malloc (len * sizeof (int));
8390@end smallexample
8391
8392@noindent
8393you can print the contents of @code{array} with
8394
8395@smallexample
8396p *array@@len
8397@end smallexample
8398
8399The left operand of @samp{@@} must reside in memory. Array values made
8400with @samp{@@} in this way behave just like other arrays in terms of
8401subscripting, and are coerced to pointers when used in expressions.
8402Artificial arrays most often appear in expressions via the value history
8403(@pxref{Value History, ,Value History}), after printing one out.
8404
8405Another way to create an artificial array is to use a cast.
8406This re-interprets a value as if it were an array.
8407The value need not be in memory:
8408@smallexample
8409(@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[2])0x12345678
8410$1 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
8411@end smallexample
8412
8413As a convenience, if you leave the array length out (as in
8414@samp{(@var{type}[])@var{value}}) @value{GDBN} calculates the size to fill
8415the value (as @samp{sizeof(@var{value})/sizeof(@var{type})}:
8416@smallexample
8417(@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[])0x12345678
8418$2 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
8419@end smallexample
8420
8421Sometimes the artificial array mechanism is not quite enough; in
8422moderately complex data structures, the elements of interest may not
8423actually be adjacent---for example, if you are interested in the values
8424of pointers in an array. One useful work-around in this situation is
8425to use a convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
8426Variables}) as a counter in an expression that prints the first
8427interesting value, and then repeat that expression via @key{RET}. For
8428instance, suppose you have an array @code{dtab} of pointers to
8429structures, and you are interested in the values of a field @code{fv}
8430in each structure. Here is an example of what you might type:
8431
8432@smallexample
8433set $i = 0
8434p dtab[$i++]->fv
8435@key{RET}
8436@key{RET}
8437@dots{}
8438@end smallexample
8439
8440@node Output Formats
8441@section Output Formats
8442
8443@cindex formatted output
8444@cindex output formats
8445By default, @value{GDBN} prints a value according to its data type. Sometimes
8446this is not what you want. For example, you might want to print a number
8447in hex, or a pointer in decimal. Or you might want to view data in memory
8448at a certain address as a character string or as an instruction. To do
8449these things, specify an @dfn{output format} when you print a value.
8450
8451The simplest use of output formats is to say how to print a value
8452already computed. This is done by starting the arguments of the
8453@code{print} command with a slash and a format letter. The format
8454letters supported are:
8455
8456@table @code
8457@item x
8458Regard the bits of the value as an integer, and print the integer in
8459hexadecimal.
8460
8461@item d
8462Print as integer in signed decimal.
8463
8464@item u
8465Print as integer in unsigned decimal.
8466
8467@item o
8468Print as integer in octal.
8469
8470@item t
8471Print as integer in binary. The letter @samp{t} stands for ``two''.
8472@footnote{@samp{b} cannot be used because these format letters are also
8473used with the @code{x} command, where @samp{b} stands for ``byte'';
8474see @ref{Memory,,Examining Memory}.}
8475
8476@item a
8477@cindex unknown address, locating
8478@cindex locate address
8479Print as an address, both absolute in hexadecimal and as an offset from
8480the nearest preceding symbol. You can use this format used to discover
8481where (in what function) an unknown address is located:
8482
8483@smallexample
8484(@value{GDBP}) p/a 0x54320
8485$3 = 0x54320 <_initialize_vx+396>
8486@end smallexample
8487
8488@noindent
8489The command @code{info symbol 0x54320} yields similar results.
8490@xref{Symbols, info symbol}.
8491
8492@item c
8493Regard as an integer and print it as a character constant. This
8494prints both the numerical value and its character representation. The
8495character representation is replaced with the octal escape @samp{\nnn}
8496for characters outside the 7-bit @sc{ascii} range.
8497
8498Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays @code{char},
8499@w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} data as character
8500constants. Single-byte members of vectors are displayed as integer
8501data.
8502
8503@item f
8504Regard the bits of the value as a floating point number and print
8505using typical floating point syntax.
8506
8507@item s
8508@cindex printing strings
8509@cindex printing byte arrays
8510Regard as a string, if possible. With this format, pointers to single-byte
8511data are displayed as null-terminated strings and arrays of single-byte data
8512are displayed as fixed-length strings. Other values are displayed in their
8513natural types.
8514
8515Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays pointers to and arrays of
8516@code{char}, @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} as
8517strings. Single-byte members of a vector are displayed as an integer
8518array.
8519
8520@item r
8521@cindex raw printing
8522Print using the @samp{raw} formatting. By default, @value{GDBN} will
8523use a Python-based pretty-printer, if one is available (@pxref{Pretty
8524Printing}). This typically results in a higher-level display of the
8525value's contents. The @samp{r} format bypasses any Python
8526pretty-printer which might exist.
8527@end table
8528
8529For example, to print the program counter in hex (@pxref{Registers}), type
8530
8531@smallexample
8532p/x $pc
8533@end smallexample
8534
8535@noindent
8536Note that no space is required before the slash; this is because command
8537names in @value{GDBN} cannot contain a slash.
8538
8539To reprint the last value in the value history with a different format,
8540you can use the @code{print} command with just a format and no
8541expression. For example, @samp{p/x} reprints the last value in hex.
8542
8543@node Memory
8544@section Examining Memory
8545
8546You can use the command @code{x} (for ``examine'') to examine memory in
8547any of several formats, independently of your program's data types.
8548
8549@cindex examining memory
8550@table @code
8551@kindex x @r{(examine memory)}
8552@item x/@var{nfu} @var{addr}
8553@itemx x @var{addr}
8554@itemx x
8555Use the @code{x} command to examine memory.
8556@end table
8557
8558@var{n}, @var{f}, and @var{u} are all optional parameters that specify how
8559much memory to display and how to format it; @var{addr} is an
8560expression giving the address where you want to start displaying memory.
8561If you use defaults for @var{nfu}, you need not type the slash @samp{/}.
8562Several commands set convenient defaults for @var{addr}.
8563
8564@table @r
8565@item @var{n}, the repeat count
8566The repeat count is a decimal integer; the default is 1. It specifies
8567how much memory (counting by units @var{u}) to display.
8568@c This really is **decimal**; unaffected by 'set radix' as of GDB
8569@c 4.1.2.
8570
8571@item @var{f}, the display format
8572The display format is one of the formats used by @code{print}
8573(@samp{x}, @samp{d}, @samp{u}, @samp{o}, @samp{t}, @samp{a}, @samp{c},
8574@samp{f}, @samp{s}), and in addition @samp{i} (for machine instructions).
8575The default is @samp{x} (hexadecimal) initially. The default changes
8576each time you use either @code{x} or @code{print}.
8577
8578@item @var{u}, the unit size
8579The unit size is any of
8580
8581@table @code
8582@item b
8583Bytes.
8584@item h
8585Halfwords (two bytes).
8586@item w
8587Words (four bytes). This is the initial default.
8588@item g
8589Giant words (eight bytes).
8590@end table
8591
8592Each time you specify a unit size with @code{x}, that size becomes the
8593default unit the next time you use @code{x}. For the @samp{i} format,
8594the unit size is ignored and is normally not written. For the @samp{s} format,
8595the unit size defaults to @samp{b}, unless it is explicitly given.
8596Use @kbd{x /hs} to display 16-bit char strings and @kbd{x /ws} to display
859732-bit strings. The next use of @kbd{x /s} will again display 8-bit strings.
8598Note that the results depend on the programming language of the
8599current compilation unit. If the language is C, the @samp{s}
8600modifier will use the UTF-16 encoding while @samp{w} will use
8601UTF-32. The encoding is set by the programming language and cannot
8602be altered.
8603
8604@item @var{addr}, starting display address
8605@var{addr} is the address where you want @value{GDBN} to begin displaying
8606memory. The expression need not have a pointer value (though it may);
8607it is always interpreted as an integer address of a byte of memory.
8608@xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information on expressions. The default for
8609@var{addr} is usually just after the last address examined---but several
8610other commands also set the default address: @code{info breakpoints} (to
8611the address of the last breakpoint listed), @code{info line} (to the
8612starting address of a line), and @code{print} (if you use it to display
8613a value from memory).
8614@end table
8615
8616For example, @samp{x/3uh 0x54320} is a request to display three halfwords
8617(@code{h}) of memory, formatted as unsigned decimal integers (@samp{u}),
8618starting at address @code{0x54320}. @samp{x/4xw $sp} prints the four
8619words (@samp{w}) of memory above the stack pointer (here, @samp{$sp};
8620@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}) in hexadecimal (@samp{x}).
8621
8622Since the letters indicating unit sizes are all distinct from the
8623letters specifying output formats, you do not have to remember whether
8624unit size or format comes first; either order works. The output
8625specifications @samp{4xw} and @samp{4wx} mean exactly the same thing.
8626(However, the count @var{n} must come first; @samp{wx4} does not work.)
8627
8628Even though the unit size @var{u} is ignored for the formats @samp{s}
8629and @samp{i}, you might still want to use a count @var{n}; for example,
8630@samp{3i} specifies that you want to see three machine instructions,
8631including any operands. For convenience, especially when used with
8632the @code{display} command, the @samp{i} format also prints branch delay
8633slot instructions, if any, beyond the count specified, which immediately
8634follow the last instruction that is within the count. The command
8635@code{disassemble} gives an alternative way of inspecting machine
8636instructions; see @ref{Machine Code,,Source and Machine Code}.
8637
8638All the defaults for the arguments to @code{x} are designed to make it
8639easy to continue scanning memory with minimal specifications each time
8640you use @code{x}. For example, after you have inspected three machine
8641instructions with @samp{x/3i @var{addr}}, you can inspect the next seven
8642with just @samp{x/7}. If you use @key{RET} to repeat the @code{x} command,
8643the repeat count @var{n} is used again; the other arguments default as
8644for successive uses of @code{x}.
8645
8646When examining machine instructions, the instruction at current program
8647counter is shown with a @code{=>} marker. For example:
8648
8649@smallexample
8650(@value{GDBP}) x/5i $pc-6
8651 0x804837f <main+11>: mov %esp,%ebp
8652 0x8048381 <main+13>: push %ecx
8653 0x8048382 <main+14>: sub $0x4,%esp
8654=> 0x8048385 <main+17>: movl $0x8048460,(%esp)
8655 0x804838c <main+24>: call 0x80482d4 <puts@@plt>
8656@end smallexample
8657
8658@cindex @code{$_}, @code{$__}, and value history
8659The addresses and contents printed by the @code{x} command are not saved
8660in the value history because there is often too much of them and they
8661would get in the way. Instead, @value{GDBN} makes these values available for
8662subsequent use in expressions as values of the convenience variables
8663@code{$_} and @code{$__}. After an @code{x} command, the last address
8664examined is available for use in expressions in the convenience variable
8665@code{$_}. The contents of that address, as examined, are available in
8666the convenience variable @code{$__}.
8667
8668If the @code{x} command has a repeat count, the address and contents saved
8669are from the last memory unit printed; this is not the same as the last
8670address printed if several units were printed on the last line of output.
8671
8672@cindex remote memory comparison
8673@cindex verify remote memory image
8674When you are debugging a program running on a remote target machine
8675(@pxref{Remote Debugging}), you may wish to verify the program's image in the
8676remote machine's memory against the executable file you downloaded to
8677the target. The @code{compare-sections} command is provided for such
8678situations.
8679
8680@table @code
8681@kindex compare-sections
8682@item compare-sections @r{[}@var{section-name}@r{]}
8683Compare the data of a loadable section @var{section-name} in the
8684executable file of the program being debugged with the same section in
8685the remote machine's memory, and report any mismatches. With no
8686arguments, compares all loadable sections. This command's
8687availability depends on the target's support for the @code{"qCRC"}
8688remote request.
8689@end table
8690
8691@node Auto Display
8692@section Automatic Display
8693@cindex automatic display
8694@cindex display of expressions
8695
8696If you find that you want to print the value of an expression frequently
8697(to see how it changes), you might want to add it to the @dfn{automatic
8698display list} so that @value{GDBN} prints its value each time your program stops.
8699Each expression added to the list is given a number to identify it;
8700to remove an expression from the list, you specify that number.
8701The automatic display looks like this:
8702
8703@smallexample
87042: foo = 38
87053: bar[5] = (struct hack *) 0x3804
8706@end smallexample
8707
8708@noindent
8709This display shows item numbers, expressions and their current values. As with
8710displays you request manually using @code{x} or @code{print}, you can
8711specify the output format you prefer; in fact, @code{display} decides
8712whether to use @code{print} or @code{x} depending your format
8713specification---it uses @code{x} if you specify either the @samp{i}
8714or @samp{s} format, or a unit size; otherwise it uses @code{print}.
8715
8716@table @code
8717@kindex display
8718@item display @var{expr}
8719Add the expression @var{expr} to the list of expressions to display
8720each time your program stops. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
8721
8722@code{display} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
8723
8724@item display/@var{fmt} @var{expr}
8725For @var{fmt} specifying only a display format and not a size or
8726count, add the expression @var{expr} to the auto-display list but
8727arrange to display it each time in the specified format @var{fmt}.
8728@xref{Output Formats,,Output Formats}.
8729
8730@item display/@var{fmt} @var{addr}
8731For @var{fmt} @samp{i} or @samp{s}, or including a unit-size or a
8732number of units, add the expression @var{addr} as a memory address to
8733be examined each time your program stops. Examining means in effect
8734doing @samp{x/@var{fmt} @var{addr}}. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
8735@end table
8736
8737For example, @samp{display/i $pc} can be helpful, to see the machine
8738instruction about to be executed each time execution stops (@samp{$pc}
8739is a common name for the program counter; @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
8740
8741@table @code
8742@kindex delete display
8743@kindex undisplay
8744@item undisplay @var{dnums}@dots{}
8745@itemx delete display @var{dnums}@dots{}
8746Remove items from the list of expressions to display. Specify the
8747numbers of the displays that you want affected with the command
8748argument @var{dnums}. It can be a single display number, one of the
8749numbers shown in the first field of the @samp{info display} display;
8750or it could be a range of display numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
8751
8752@code{undisplay} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
8753(Otherwise you would just get the error @samp{No display number @dots{}}.)
8754
8755@kindex disable display
8756@item disable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
8757Disable the display of item numbers @var{dnums}. A disabled display
8758item is not printed automatically, but is not forgotten. It may be
8759enabled again later. Specify the numbers of the displays that you
8760want affected with the command argument @var{dnums}. It can be a
8761single display number, one of the numbers shown in the first field of
8762the @samp{info display} display; or it could be a range of display
8763numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
8764
8765@kindex enable display
8766@item enable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
8767Enable display of item numbers @var{dnums}. It becomes effective once
8768again in auto display of its expression, until you specify otherwise.
8769Specify the numbers of the displays that you want affected with the
8770command argument @var{dnums}. It can be a single display number, one
8771of the numbers shown in the first field of the @samp{info display}
8772display; or it could be a range of display numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
8773
8774@item display
8775Display the current values of the expressions on the list, just as is
8776done when your program stops.
8777
8778@kindex info display
8779@item info display
8780Print the list of expressions previously set up to display
8781automatically, each one with its item number, but without showing the
8782values. This includes disabled expressions, which are marked as such.
8783It also includes expressions which would not be displayed right now
8784because they refer to automatic variables not currently available.
8785@end table
8786
8787@cindex display disabled out of scope
8788If a display expression refers to local variables, then it does not make
8789sense outside the lexical context for which it was set up. Such an
8790expression is disabled when execution enters a context where one of its
8791variables is not defined. For example, if you give the command
8792@code{display last_char} while inside a function with an argument
8793@code{last_char}, @value{GDBN} displays this argument while your program
8794continues to stop inside that function. When it stops elsewhere---where
8795there is no variable @code{last_char}---the display is disabled
8796automatically. The next time your program stops where @code{last_char}
8797is meaningful, you can enable the display expression once again.
8798
8799@node Print Settings
8800@section Print Settings
8801
8802@cindex format options
8803@cindex print settings
8804@value{GDBN} provides the following ways to control how arrays, structures,
8805and symbols are printed.
8806
8807@noindent
8808These settings are useful for debugging programs in any language:
8809
8810@table @code
8811@kindex set print
8812@item set print address
8813@itemx set print address on
8814@cindex print/don't print memory addresses
8815@value{GDBN} prints memory addresses showing the location of stack
8816traces, structure values, pointer values, breakpoints, and so forth,
8817even when it also displays the contents of those addresses. The default
8818is @code{on}. For example, this is what a stack frame display looks like with
8819@code{set print address on}:
8820
8821@smallexample
8822@group
8823(@value{GDBP}) f
8824#0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<<", rq=0x34c88 ">>")
8825 at input.c:530
8826530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
8827@end group
8828@end smallexample
8829
8830@item set print address off
8831Do not print addresses when displaying their contents. For example,
8832this is the same stack frame displayed with @code{set print address off}:
8833
8834@smallexample
8835@group
8836(@value{GDBP}) set print addr off
8837(@value{GDBP}) f
8838#0 set_quotes (lq="<<", rq=">>") at input.c:530
8839530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
8840@end group
8841@end smallexample
8842
8843You can use @samp{set print address off} to eliminate all machine
8844dependent displays from the @value{GDBN} interface. For example, with
8845@code{print address off}, you should get the same text for backtraces on
8846all machines---whether or not they involve pointer arguments.
8847
8848@kindex show print
8849@item show print address
8850Show whether or not addresses are to be printed.
8851@end table
8852
8853When @value{GDBN} prints a symbolic address, it normally prints the
8854closest earlier symbol plus an offset. If that symbol does not uniquely
8855identify the address (for example, it is a name whose scope is a single
8856source file), you may need to clarify. One way to do this is with
8857@code{info line}, for example @samp{info line *0x4537}. Alternately,
8858you can set @value{GDBN} to print the source file and line number when
8859it prints a symbolic address:
8860
8861@table @code
8862@item set print symbol-filename on
8863@cindex source file and line of a symbol
8864@cindex symbol, source file and line
8865Tell @value{GDBN} to print the source file name and line number of a
8866symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
8867
8868@item set print symbol-filename off
8869Do not print source file name and line number of a symbol. This is the
8870default.
8871
8872@item show print symbol-filename
8873Show whether or not @value{GDBN} will print the source file name and
8874line number of a symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
8875@end table
8876
8877Another situation where it is helpful to show symbol filenames and line
8878numbers is when disassembling code; @value{GDBN} shows you the line
8879number and source file that corresponds to each instruction.
8880
8881Also, you may wish to see the symbolic form only if the address being
8882printed is reasonably close to the closest earlier symbol:
8883
8884@table @code
8885@item set print max-symbolic-offset @var{max-offset}
8886@itemx set print max-symbolic-offset unlimited
8887@cindex maximum value for offset of closest symbol
8888Tell @value{GDBN} to only display the symbolic form of an address if the
8889offset between the closest earlier symbol and the address is less than
8890@var{max-offset}. The default is @code{unlimited}, which tells @value{GDBN}
8891to always print the symbolic form of an address if any symbol precedes
8892it. Zero is equivalent to @code{unlimited}.
8893
8894@item show print max-symbolic-offset
8895Ask how large the maximum offset is that @value{GDBN} prints in a
8896symbolic address.
8897@end table
8898
8899@cindex wild pointer, interpreting
8900@cindex pointer, finding referent
8901If you have a pointer and you are not sure where it points, try
8902@samp{set print symbol-filename on}. Then you can determine the name
8903and source file location of the variable where it points, using
8904@samp{p/a @var{pointer}}. This interprets the address in symbolic form.
8905For example, here @value{GDBN} shows that a variable @code{ptt} points
8906at another variable @code{t}, defined in @file{hi2.c}:
8907
8908@smallexample
8909(@value{GDBP}) set print symbol-filename on
8910(@value{GDBP}) p/a ptt
8911$4 = 0xe008 <t in hi2.c>
8912@end smallexample
8913
8914@quotation
8915@emph{Warning:} For pointers that point to a local variable, @samp{p/a}
8916does not show the symbol name and filename of the referent, even with
8917the appropriate @code{set print} options turned on.
8918@end quotation
8919
8920You can also enable @samp{/a}-like formatting all the time using
8921@samp{set print symbol on}:
8922
8923@table @code
8924@item set print symbol on
8925Tell @value{GDBN} to print the symbol corresponding to an address, if
8926one exists.
8927
8928@item set print symbol off
8929Tell @value{GDBN} not to print the symbol corresponding to an
8930address. In this mode, @value{GDBN} will still print the symbol
8931corresponding to pointers to functions. This is the default.
8932
8933@item show print symbol
8934Show whether @value{GDBN} will display the symbol corresponding to an
8935address.
8936@end table
8937
8938Other settings control how different kinds of objects are printed:
8939
8940@table @code
8941@item set print array
8942@itemx set print array on
8943@cindex pretty print arrays
8944Pretty print arrays. This format is more convenient to read,
8945but uses more space. The default is off.
8946
8947@item set print array off
8948Return to compressed format for arrays.
8949
8950@item show print array
8951Show whether compressed or pretty format is selected for displaying
8952arrays.
8953
8954@cindex print array indexes
8955@item set print array-indexes
8956@itemx set print array-indexes on
8957Print the index of each element when displaying arrays. May be more
8958convenient to locate a given element in the array or quickly find the
8959index of a given element in that printed array. The default is off.
8960
8961@item set print array-indexes off
8962Stop printing element indexes when displaying arrays.
8963
8964@item show print array-indexes
8965Show whether the index of each element is printed when displaying
8966arrays.
8967
8968@item set print elements @var{number-of-elements}
8969@itemx set print elements unlimited
8970@cindex number of array elements to print
8971@cindex limit on number of printed array elements
8972Set a limit on how many elements of an array @value{GDBN} will print.
8973If @value{GDBN} is printing a large array, it stops printing after it has
8974printed the number of elements set by the @code{set print elements} command.
8975This limit also applies to the display of strings.
8976When @value{GDBN} starts, this limit is set to 200.
8977Setting @var{number-of-elements} to @code{unlimited} or zero means
8978that the number of elements to print is unlimited.
8979
8980@item show print elements
8981Display the number of elements of a large array that @value{GDBN} will print.
8982If the number is 0, then the printing is unlimited.
8983
8984@item set print frame-arguments @var{value}
8985@kindex set print frame-arguments
8986@cindex printing frame argument values
8987@cindex print all frame argument values
8988@cindex print frame argument values for scalars only
8989@cindex do not print frame argument values
8990This command allows to control how the values of arguments are printed
8991when the debugger prints a frame (@pxref{Frames}). The possible
8992values are:
8993
8994@table @code
8995@item all
8996The values of all arguments are printed.
8997
8998@item scalars
8999Print the value of an argument only if it is a scalar. The value of more
9000complex arguments such as arrays, structures, unions, etc, is replaced
9001by @code{@dots{}}. This is the default. Here is an example where
9002only scalar arguments are shown:
9003
9004@smallexample
9005#1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=3, s=@dots{}, ss=0xbf8d508c, u=@dots{}, e=green)
9006 at frame-args.c:23
9007@end smallexample
9008
9009@item none
9010None of the argument values are printed. Instead, the value of each argument
9011is replaced by @code{@dots{}}. In this case, the example above now becomes:
9012
9013@smallexample
9014#1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=@dots{}, s=@dots{}, ss=@dots{}, u=@dots{}, e=@dots{})
9015 at frame-args.c:23
9016@end smallexample
9017@end table
9018
9019By default, only scalar arguments are printed. This command can be used
9020to configure the debugger to print the value of all arguments, regardless
9021of their type. However, it is often advantageous to not print the value
9022of more complex parameters. For instance, it reduces the amount of
9023information printed in each frame, making the backtrace more readable.
9024Also, it improves performance when displaying Ada frames, because
9025the computation of large arguments can sometimes be CPU-intensive,
9026especially in large applications. Setting @code{print frame-arguments}
9027to @code{scalars} (the default) or @code{none} avoids this computation,
9028thus speeding up the display of each Ada frame.
9029
9030@item show print frame-arguments
9031Show how the value of arguments should be displayed when printing a frame.
9032
9033@anchor{set print entry-values}
9034@item set print entry-values @var{value}
9035@kindex set print entry-values
9036Set printing of frame argument values at function entry. In some cases
9037@value{GDBN} can determine the value of function argument which was passed by
9038the function caller, even if the value was modified inside the called function
9039and therefore is different. With optimized code, the current value could be
9040unavailable, but the entry value may still be known.
9041
9042The default value is @code{default} (see below for its description). Older
9043@value{GDBN} behaved as with the setting @code{no}. Compilers not supporting
9044this feature will behave in the @code{default} setting the same way as with the
9045@code{no} setting.
9046
9047This functionality is currently supported only by DWARF 2 debugging format and
9048the compiler has to produce @samp{DW_TAG_GNU_call_site} tags. With
9049@value{NGCC}, you need to specify @option{-O -g} during compilation, to get
9050this information.
9051
9052The @var{value} parameter can be one of the following:
9053
9054@table @code
9055@item no
9056Print only actual parameter values, never print values from function entry
9057point.
9058@smallexample
9059#0 equal (val=5)
9060#0 different (val=6)
9061#0 lost (val=<optimized out>)
9062#0 born (val=10)
9063#0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
9064@end smallexample
9065
9066@item only
9067Print only parameter values from function entry point. The actual parameter
9068values are never printed.
9069@smallexample
9070#0 equal (val@@entry=5)
9071#0 different (val@@entry=5)
9072#0 lost (val@@entry=5)
9073#0 born (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
9074#0 invalid (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
9075@end smallexample
9076
9077@item preferred
9078Print only parameter values from function entry point. If value from function
9079entry point is not known while the actual value is known, print the actual
9080value for such parameter.
9081@smallexample
9082#0 equal (val@@entry=5)
9083#0 different (val@@entry=5)
9084#0 lost (val@@entry=5)
9085#0 born (val=10)
9086#0 invalid (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
9087@end smallexample
9088
9089@item if-needed
9090Print actual parameter values. If actual parameter value is not known while
9091value from function entry point is known, print the entry point value for such
9092parameter.
9093@smallexample
9094#0 equal (val=5)
9095#0 different (val=6)
9096#0 lost (val@@entry=5)
9097#0 born (val=10)
9098#0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
9099@end smallexample
9100
9101@item both
9102Always print both the actual parameter value and its value from function entry
9103point, even if values of one or both are not available due to compiler
9104optimizations.
9105@smallexample
9106#0 equal (val=5, val@@entry=5)
9107#0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
9108#0 lost (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=5)
9109#0 born (val=10, val@@entry=<optimized out>)
9110#0 invalid (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=<optimized out>)
9111@end smallexample
9112
9113@item compact
9114Print the actual parameter value if it is known and also its value from
9115function entry point if it is known. If neither is known, print for the actual
9116value @code{<optimized out>}. If not in MI mode (@pxref{GDB/MI}) and if both
9117values are known and identical, print the shortened
9118@code{param=param@@entry=VALUE} notation.
9119@smallexample
9120#0 equal (val=val@@entry=5)
9121#0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
9122#0 lost (val@@entry=5)
9123#0 born (val=10)
9124#0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
9125@end smallexample
9126
9127@item default
9128Always print the actual parameter value. Print also its value from function
9129entry point, but only if it is known. If not in MI mode (@pxref{GDB/MI}) and
9130if both values are known and identical, print the shortened
9131@code{param=param@@entry=VALUE} notation.
9132@smallexample
9133#0 equal (val=val@@entry=5)
9134#0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
9135#0 lost (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=5)
9136#0 born (val=10)
9137#0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
9138@end smallexample
9139@end table
9140
9141For analysis messages on possible failures of frame argument values at function
9142entry resolution see @ref{set debug entry-values}.
9143
9144@item show print entry-values
9145Show the method being used for printing of frame argument values at function
9146entry.
9147
9148@item set print repeats @var{number-of-repeats}
9149@itemx set print repeats unlimited
9150@cindex repeated array elements
9151Set the threshold for suppressing display of repeated array
9152elements. When the number of consecutive identical elements of an
9153array exceeds the threshold, @value{GDBN} prints the string
9154@code{"<repeats @var{n} times>"}, where @var{n} is the number of
9155identical repetitions, instead of displaying the identical elements
9156themselves. Setting the threshold to @code{unlimited} or zero will
9157cause all elements to be individually printed. The default threshold
9158is 10.
9159
9160@item show print repeats
9161Display the current threshold for printing repeated identical
9162elements.
9163
9164@item set print null-stop
9165@cindex @sc{null} elements in arrays
9166Cause @value{GDBN} to stop printing the characters of an array when the first
9167@sc{null} is encountered. This is useful when large arrays actually
9168contain only short strings.
9169The default is off.
9170
9171@item show print null-stop
9172Show whether @value{GDBN} stops printing an array on the first
9173@sc{null} character.
9174
9175@item set print pretty on
9176@cindex print structures in indented form
9177@cindex indentation in structure display
9178Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in an indented format with one member
9179per line, like this:
9180
9181@smallexample
9182@group
9183$1 = @{
9184 next = 0x0,
9185 flags = @{
9186 sweet = 1,
9187 sour = 1
9188 @},
9189 meat = 0x54 "Pork"
9190@}
9191@end group
9192@end smallexample
9193
9194@item set print pretty off
9195Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in a compact format, like this:
9196
9197@smallexample
9198@group
9199$1 = @{next = 0x0, flags = @{sweet = 1, sour = 1@}, \
9200meat = 0x54 "Pork"@}
9201@end group
9202@end smallexample
9203
9204@noindent
9205This is the default format.
9206
9207@item show print pretty
9208Show which format @value{GDBN} is using to print structures.
9209
9210@item set print sevenbit-strings on
9211@cindex eight-bit characters in strings
9212@cindex octal escapes in strings
9213Print using only seven-bit characters; if this option is set,
9214@value{GDBN} displays any eight-bit characters (in strings or
9215character values) using the notation @code{\}@var{nnn}. This setting is
9216best if you are working in English (@sc{ascii}) and you use the
9217high-order bit of characters as a marker or ``meta'' bit.
9218
9219@item set print sevenbit-strings off
9220Print full eight-bit characters. This allows the use of more
9221international character sets, and is the default.
9222
9223@item show print sevenbit-strings
9224Show whether or not @value{GDBN} is printing only seven-bit characters.
9225
9226@item set print union on
9227@cindex unions in structures, printing
9228Tell @value{GDBN} to print unions which are contained in structures
9229and other unions. This is the default setting.
9230
9231@item set print union off
9232Tell @value{GDBN} not to print unions which are contained in
9233structures and other unions. @value{GDBN} will print @code{"@{...@}"}
9234instead.
9235
9236@item show print union
9237Ask @value{GDBN} whether or not it will print unions which are contained in
9238structures and other unions.
9239
9240For example, given the declarations
9241
9242@smallexample
9243typedef enum @{Tree, Bug@} Species;
9244typedef enum @{Big_tree, Acorn, Seedling@} Tree_forms;
9245typedef enum @{Caterpillar, Cocoon, Butterfly@}
9246 Bug_forms;
9247
9248struct thing @{
9249 Species it;
9250 union @{
9251 Tree_forms tree;
9252 Bug_forms bug;
9253 @} form;
9254@};
9255
9256struct thing foo = @{Tree, @{Acorn@}@};
9257@end smallexample
9258
9259@noindent
9260with @code{set print union on} in effect @samp{p foo} would print
9261
9262@smallexample
9263$1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{tree = Acorn, bug = Cocoon@}@}
9264@end smallexample
9265
9266@noindent
9267and with @code{set print union off} in effect it would print
9268
9269@smallexample
9270$1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{...@}@}
9271@end smallexample
9272
9273@noindent
9274@code{set print union} affects programs written in C-like languages
9275and in Pascal.
9276@end table
9277
9278@need 1000
9279@noindent
9280These settings are of interest when debugging C@t{++} programs:
9281
9282@table @code
9283@cindex demangling C@t{++} names
9284@item set print demangle
9285@itemx set print demangle on
9286Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than in the encoded
9287(``mangled'') form passed to the assembler and linker for type-safe
9288linkage. The default is on.
9289
9290@item show print demangle
9291Show whether C@t{++} names are printed in mangled or demangled form.
9292
9293@item set print asm-demangle
9294@itemx set print asm-demangle on
9295Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than their mangled form, even
9296in assembler code printouts such as instruction disassemblies.
9297The default is off.
9298
9299@item show print asm-demangle
9300Show whether C@t{++} names in assembly listings are printed in mangled
9301or demangled form.
9302
9303@cindex C@t{++} symbol decoding style
9304@cindex symbol decoding style, C@t{++}
9305@kindex set demangle-style
9306@item set demangle-style @var{style}
9307Choose among several encoding schemes used by different compilers to
9308represent C@t{++} names. The choices for @var{style} are currently:
9309
9310@table @code
9311@item auto
9312Allow @value{GDBN} to choose a decoding style by inspecting your program.
9313This is the default.
9314
9315@item gnu
9316Decode based on the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler (@code{g++}) encoding algorithm.
9317
9318@item hp
9319Decode based on the HP ANSI C@t{++} (@code{aCC}) encoding algorithm.
9320
9321@item lucid
9322Decode based on the Lucid C@t{++} compiler (@code{lcc}) encoding algorithm.
9323
9324@item arm
9325Decode using the algorithm in the @cite{C@t{++} Annotated Reference Manual}.
9326@strong{Warning:} this setting alone is not sufficient to allow
9327debugging @code{cfront}-generated executables. @value{GDBN} would
9328require further enhancement to permit that.
9329
9330@end table
9331If you omit @var{style}, you will see a list of possible formats.
9332
9333@item show demangle-style
9334Display the encoding style currently in use for decoding C@t{++} symbols.
9335
9336@item set print object
9337@itemx set print object on
9338@cindex derived type of an object, printing
9339@cindex display derived types
9340When displaying a pointer to an object, identify the @emph{actual}
9341(derived) type of the object rather than the @emph{declared} type, using
9342the virtual function table. Note that the virtual function table is
9343required---this feature can only work for objects that have run-time
9344type identification; a single virtual method in the object's declared
9345type is sufficient. Note that this setting is also taken into account when
9346working with variable objects via MI (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
9347
9348@item set print object off
9349Display only the declared type of objects, without reference to the
9350virtual function table. This is the default setting.
9351
9352@item show print object
9353Show whether actual, or declared, object types are displayed.
9354
9355@item set print static-members
9356@itemx set print static-members on
9357@cindex static members of C@t{++} objects
9358Print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object. The default is on.
9359
9360@item set print static-members off
9361Do not print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object.
9362
9363@item show print static-members
9364Show whether C@t{++} static members are printed or not.
9365
9366@item set print pascal_static-members
9367@itemx set print pascal_static-members on
9368@cindex static members of Pascal objects
9369@cindex Pascal objects, static members display
9370Print static members when displaying a Pascal object. The default is on.
9371
9372@item set print pascal_static-members off
9373Do not print static members when displaying a Pascal object.
9374
9375@item show print pascal_static-members
9376Show whether Pascal static members are printed or not.
9377
9378@c These don't work with HP ANSI C++ yet.
9379@item set print vtbl
9380@itemx set print vtbl on
9381@cindex pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables
9382@cindex virtual functions (C@t{++}) display
9383@cindex VTBL display
9384Pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables. The default is off.
9385(The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
9386ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
9387
9388@item set print vtbl off
9389Do not pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables.
9390
9391@item show print vtbl
9392Show whether C@t{++} virtual function tables are pretty printed, or not.
9393@end table
9394
9395@node Pretty Printing
9396@section Pretty Printing
9397
9398@value{GDBN} provides a mechanism to allow pretty-printing of values using
9399Python code. It greatly simplifies the display of complex objects. This
9400mechanism works for both MI and the CLI.
9401
9402@menu
9403* Pretty-Printer Introduction:: Introduction to pretty-printers
9404* Pretty-Printer Example:: An example pretty-printer
9405* Pretty-Printer Commands:: Pretty-printer commands
9406@end menu
9407
9408@node Pretty-Printer Introduction
9409@subsection Pretty-Printer Introduction
9410
9411When @value{GDBN} prints a value, it first sees if there is a pretty-printer
9412registered for the value. If there is then @value{GDBN} invokes the
9413pretty-printer to print the value. Otherwise the value is printed normally.
9414
9415Pretty-printers are normally named. This makes them easy to manage.
9416The @samp{info pretty-printer} command will list all the installed
9417pretty-printers with their names.
9418If a pretty-printer can handle multiple data types, then its
9419@dfn{subprinters} are the printers for the individual data types.
9420Each such subprinter has its own name.
9421The format of the name is @var{printer-name};@var{subprinter-name}.
9422
9423Pretty-printers are installed by @dfn{registering} them with @value{GDBN}.
9424Typically they are automatically loaded and registered when the corresponding
9425debug information is loaded, thus making them available without having to
9426do anything special.
9427
9428There are three places where a pretty-printer can be registered.
9429
9430@itemize @bullet
9431@item
9432Pretty-printers registered globally are available when debugging
9433all inferiors.
9434
9435@item
9436Pretty-printers registered with a program space are available only
9437when debugging that program.
9438@xref{Progspaces In Python}, for more details on program spaces in Python.
9439
9440@item
9441Pretty-printers registered with an objfile are loaded and unloaded
9442with the corresponding objfile (e.g., shared library).
9443@xref{Objfiles In Python}, for more details on objfiles in Python.
9444@end itemize
9445
9446@xref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}, for further information on how
9447pretty-printers are selected,
9448
9449@xref{Writing a Pretty-Printer}, for implementing pretty printers
9450for new types.
9451
9452@node Pretty-Printer Example
9453@subsection Pretty-Printer Example
9454
9455Here is how a C@t{++} @code{std::string} looks without a pretty-printer:
9456
9457@smallexample
9458(@value{GDBP}) print s
9459$1 = @{
9460 static npos = 4294967295,
9461 _M_dataplus = @{
9462 <std::allocator<char>> = @{
9463 <__gnu_cxx::new_allocator<char>> = @{
9464 <No data fields>@}, <No data fields>
9465 @},
9466 members of std::basic_string<char, std::char_traits<char>,
9467 std::allocator<char> >::_Alloc_hider:
9468 _M_p = 0x804a014 "abcd"
9469 @}
9470@}
9471@end smallexample
9472
9473With a pretty-printer for @code{std::string} only the contents are printed:
9474
9475@smallexample
9476(@value{GDBP}) print s
9477$2 = "abcd"
9478@end smallexample
9479
9480@node Pretty-Printer Commands
9481@subsection Pretty-Printer Commands
9482@cindex pretty-printer commands
9483
9484@table @code
9485@kindex info pretty-printer
9486@item info pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
9487Print the list of installed pretty-printers.
9488This includes disabled pretty-printers, which are marked as such.
9489
9490@var{object-regexp} is a regular expression matching the objects
9491whose pretty-printers to list.
9492Objects can be @code{global}, the program space's file
9493(@pxref{Progspaces In Python}),
9494and the object files within that program space (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}).
9495@xref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}, for details on how @value{GDBN}
9496looks up a printer from these three objects.
9497
9498@var{name-regexp} is a regular expression matching the name of the printers
9499to list.
9500
9501@kindex disable pretty-printer
9502@item disable pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
9503Disable pretty-printers matching @var{object-regexp} and @var{name-regexp}.
9504A disabled pretty-printer is not forgotten, it may be enabled again later.
9505
9506@kindex enable pretty-printer
9507@item enable pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
9508Enable pretty-printers matching @var{object-regexp} and @var{name-regexp}.
9509@end table
9510
9511Example:
9512
9513Suppose we have three pretty-printers installed: one from library1.so
9514named @code{foo} that prints objects of type @code{foo}, and
9515another from library2.so named @code{bar} that prints two types of objects,
9516@code{bar1} and @code{bar2}.
9517
9518@smallexample
9519(gdb) info pretty-printer
9520library1.so:
9521 foo
9522library2.so:
9523 bar
9524 bar1
9525 bar2
9526(gdb) info pretty-printer library2
9527library2.so:
9528 bar
9529 bar1
9530 bar2
9531(gdb) disable pretty-printer library1
95321 printer disabled
95332 of 3 printers enabled
9534(gdb) info pretty-printer
9535library1.so:
9536 foo [disabled]
9537library2.so:
9538 bar
9539 bar1
9540 bar2
9541(gdb) disable pretty-printer library2 bar:bar1
95421 printer disabled
95431 of 3 printers enabled
9544(gdb) info pretty-printer library2
9545library1.so:
9546 foo [disabled]
9547library2.so:
9548 bar
9549 bar1 [disabled]
9550 bar2
9551(gdb) disable pretty-printer library2 bar
95521 printer disabled
95530 of 3 printers enabled
9554(gdb) info pretty-printer library2
9555library1.so:
9556 foo [disabled]
9557library2.so:
9558 bar [disabled]
9559 bar1 [disabled]
9560 bar2
9561@end smallexample
9562
9563Note that for @code{bar} the entire printer can be disabled,
9564as can each individual subprinter.
9565
9566@node Value History
9567@section Value History
9568
9569@cindex value history
9570@cindex history of values printed by @value{GDBN}
9571Values printed by the @code{print} command are saved in the @value{GDBN}
9572@dfn{value history}. This allows you to refer to them in other expressions.
9573Values are kept until the symbol table is re-read or discarded
9574(for example with the @code{file} or @code{symbol-file} commands).
9575When the symbol table changes, the value history is discarded,
9576since the values may contain pointers back to the types defined in the
9577symbol table.
9578
9579@cindex @code{$}
9580@cindex @code{$$}
9581@cindex history number
9582The values printed are given @dfn{history numbers} by which you can
9583refer to them. These are successive integers starting with one.
9584@code{print} shows you the history number assigned to a value by
9585printing @samp{$@var{num} = } before the value; here @var{num} is the
9586history number.
9587
9588To refer to any previous value, use @samp{$} followed by the value's
9589history number. The way @code{print} labels its output is designed to
9590remind you of this. Just @code{$} refers to the most recent value in
9591the history, and @code{$$} refers to the value before that.
9592@code{$$@var{n}} refers to the @var{n}th value from the end; @code{$$2}
9593is the value just prior to @code{$$}, @code{$$1} is equivalent to
9594@code{$$}, and @code{$$0} is equivalent to @code{$}.
9595
9596For example, suppose you have just printed a pointer to a structure and
9597want to see the contents of the structure. It suffices to type
9598
9599@smallexample
9600p *$
9601@end smallexample
9602
9603If you have a chain of structures where the component @code{next} points
9604to the next one, you can print the contents of the next one with this:
9605
9606@smallexample
9607p *$.next
9608@end smallexample
9609
9610@noindent
9611You can print successive links in the chain by repeating this
9612command---which you can do by just typing @key{RET}.
9613
9614Note that the history records values, not expressions. If the value of
9615@code{x} is 4 and you type these commands:
9616
9617@smallexample
9618print x
9619set x=5
9620@end smallexample
9621
9622@noindent
9623then the value recorded in the value history by the @code{print} command
9624remains 4 even though the value of @code{x} has changed.
9625
9626@table @code
9627@kindex show values
9628@item show values
9629Print the last ten values in the value history, with their item numbers.
9630This is like @samp{p@ $$9} repeated ten times, except that @code{show
9631values} does not change the history.
9632
9633@item show values @var{n}
9634Print ten history values centered on history item number @var{n}.
9635
9636@item show values +
9637Print ten history values just after the values last printed. If no more
9638values are available, @code{show values +} produces no display.
9639@end table
9640
9641Pressing @key{RET} to repeat @code{show values @var{n}} has exactly the
9642same effect as @samp{show values +}.
9643
9644@node Convenience Vars
9645@section Convenience Variables
9646
9647@cindex convenience variables
9648@cindex user-defined variables
9649@value{GDBN} provides @dfn{convenience variables} that you can use within
9650@value{GDBN} to hold on to a value and refer to it later. These variables
9651exist entirely within @value{GDBN}; they are not part of your program, and
9652setting a convenience variable has no direct effect on further execution
9653of your program. That is why you can use them freely.
9654
9655Convenience variables are prefixed with @samp{$}. Any name preceded by
9656@samp{$} can be used for a convenience variable, unless it is one of
9657the predefined machine-specific register names (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
9658(Value history references, in contrast, are @emph{numbers} preceded
9659by @samp{$}. @xref{Value History, ,Value History}.)
9660
9661You can save a value in a convenience variable with an assignment
9662expression, just as you would set a variable in your program.
9663For example:
9664
9665@smallexample
9666set $foo = *object_ptr
9667@end smallexample
9668
9669@noindent
9670would save in @code{$foo} the value contained in the object pointed to by
9671@code{object_ptr}.
9672
9673Using a convenience variable for the first time creates it, but its
9674value is @code{void} until you assign a new value. You can alter the
9675value with another assignment at any time.
9676
9677Convenience variables have no fixed types. You can assign a convenience
9678variable any type of value, including structures and arrays, even if
9679that variable already has a value of a different type. The convenience
9680variable, when used as an expression, has the type of its current value.
9681
9682@table @code
9683@kindex show convenience
9684@cindex show all user variables and functions
9685@item show convenience
9686Print a list of convenience variables used so far, and their values,
9687as well as a list of the convenience functions.
9688Abbreviated @code{show conv}.
9689
9690@kindex init-if-undefined
9691@cindex convenience variables, initializing
9692@item init-if-undefined $@var{variable} = @var{expression}
9693Set a convenience variable if it has not already been set. This is useful
9694for user-defined commands that keep some state. It is similar, in concept,
9695to using local static variables with initializers in C (except that
9696convenience variables are global). It can also be used to allow users to
9697override default values used in a command script.
9698
9699If the variable is already defined then the expression is not evaluated so
9700any side-effects do not occur.
9701@end table
9702
9703One of the ways to use a convenience variable is as a counter to be
9704incremented or a pointer to be advanced. For example, to print
9705a field from successive elements of an array of structures:
9706
9707@smallexample
9708set $i = 0
9709print bar[$i++]->contents
9710@end smallexample
9711
9712@noindent
9713Repeat that command by typing @key{RET}.
9714
9715Some convenience variables are created automatically by @value{GDBN} and given
9716values likely to be useful.
9717
9718@table @code
9719@vindex $_@r{, convenience variable}
9720@item $_
9721The variable @code{$_} is automatically set by the @code{x} command to
9722the last address examined (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}). Other
9723commands which provide a default address for @code{x} to examine also
9724set @code{$_} to that address; these commands include @code{info line}
9725and @code{info breakpoint}. The type of @code{$_} is @code{void *}
9726except when set by the @code{x} command, in which case it is a pointer
9727to the type of @code{$__}.
9728
9729@vindex $__@r{, convenience variable}
9730@item $__
9731The variable @code{$__} is automatically set by the @code{x} command
9732to the value found in the last address examined. Its type is chosen
9733to match the format in which the data was printed.
9734
9735@item $_exitcode
9736@vindex $_exitcode@r{, convenience variable}
9737The variable @code{$_exitcode} is automatically set to the exit code when
9738the program being debugged terminates.
9739
9740@item $_exception
9741The variable @code{$_exception} is set to the exception object being
9742thrown at an exception-related catchpoint. @xref{Set Catchpoints}.
9743
9744@item $_probe_argc
9745@itemx $_probe_arg0@dots{}$_probe_arg11
9746Arguments to a static probe. @xref{Static Probe Points}.
9747
9748@item $_sdata
9749@vindex $_sdata@r{, inspect, convenience variable}
9750The variable @code{$_sdata} contains extra collected static tracepoint
9751data. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}. Note that
9752@code{$_sdata} could be empty, if not inspecting a trace buffer, or
9753if extra static tracepoint data has not been collected.
9754
9755@item $_siginfo
9756@vindex $_siginfo@r{, convenience variable}
9757The variable @code{$_siginfo} contains extra signal information
9758(@pxref{extra signal information}). Note that @code{$_siginfo}
9759could be empty, if the application has not yet received any signals.
9760For example, it will be empty before you execute the @code{run} command.
9761
9762@item $_tlb
9763@vindex $_tlb@r{, convenience variable}
9764The variable @code{$_tlb} is automatically set when debugging
9765applications running on MS-Windows in native mode or connected to
9766gdbserver that supports the @code{qGetTIBAddr} request.
9767@xref{General Query Packets}.
9768This variable contains the address of the thread information block.
9769
9770@end table
9771
9772On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
9773begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
9774name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
9775
9776@node Convenience Funs
9777@section Convenience Functions
9778
9779@cindex convenience functions
9780@value{GDBN} also supplies some @dfn{convenience functions}. These
9781have a syntax similar to convenience variables. A convenience
9782function can be used in an expression just like an ordinary function;
9783however, a convenience function is implemented internally to
9784@value{GDBN}.
9785
9786These functions require @value{GDBN} to be configured with
9787@code{Python} support.
9788
9789@table @code
9790
9791@item $_memeq(@var{buf1}, @var{buf2}, @var{length})
9792@findex $_memeq@r{, convenience function}
9793Returns one if the @var{length} bytes at the addresses given by
9794@var{buf1} and @var{buf2} are equal.
9795Otherwise it returns zero.
9796
9797@item $_regex(@var{str}, @var{regex})
9798@findex $_regex@r{, convenience function}
9799Returns one if the string @var{str} matches the regular expression
9800@var{regex}. Otherwise it returns zero.
9801The syntax of the regular expression is that specified by @code{Python}'s
9802regular expression support.
9803
9804@item $_streq(@var{str1}, @var{str2})
9805@findex $_streq@r{, convenience function}
9806Returns one if the strings @var{str1} and @var{str2} are equal.
9807Otherwise it returns zero.
9808
9809@item $_strlen(@var{str})
9810@findex $_strlen@r{, convenience function}
9811Returns the length of string @var{str}.
9812
9813@end table
9814
9815@value{GDBN} provides the ability to list and get help on
9816convenience functions.
9817
9818@table @code
9819@item help function
9820@kindex help function
9821@cindex show all convenience functions
9822Print a list of all convenience functions.
9823@end table
9824
9825@node Registers
9826@section Registers
9827
9828@cindex registers
9829You can refer to machine register contents, in expressions, as variables
9830with names starting with @samp{$}. The names of registers are different
9831for each machine; use @code{info registers} to see the names used on
9832your machine.
9833
9834@table @code
9835@kindex info registers
9836@item info registers
9837Print the names and values of all registers except floating-point
9838and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
9839
9840@kindex info all-registers
9841@cindex floating point registers
9842@item info all-registers
9843Print the names and values of all registers, including floating-point
9844and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
9845
9846@item info registers @var{regname} @dots{}
9847Print the @dfn{relativized} value of each specified register @var{regname}.
9848As discussed in detail below, register values are normally relative to
9849the selected stack frame. @var{regname} may be any register name valid on
9850the machine you are using, with or without the initial @samp{$}.
9851@end table
9852
9853@cindex stack pointer register
9854@cindex program counter register
9855@cindex process status register
9856@cindex frame pointer register
9857@cindex standard registers
9858@value{GDBN} has four ``standard'' register names that are available (in
9859expressions) on most machines---whenever they do not conflict with an
9860architecture's canonical mnemonics for registers. The register names
9861@code{$pc} and @code{$sp} are used for the program counter register and
9862the stack pointer. @code{$fp} is used for a register that contains a
9863pointer to the current stack frame, and @code{$ps} is used for a
9864register that contains the processor status. For example,
9865you could print the program counter in hex with
9866
9867@smallexample
9868p/x $pc
9869@end smallexample
9870
9871@noindent
9872or print the instruction to be executed next with
9873
9874@smallexample
9875x/i $pc
9876@end smallexample
9877
9878@noindent
9879or add four to the stack pointer@footnote{This is a way of removing
9880one word from the stack, on machines where stacks grow downward in
9881memory (most machines, nowadays). This assumes that the innermost
9882stack frame is selected; setting @code{$sp} is not allowed when other
9883stack frames are selected. To pop entire frames off the stack,
9884regardless of machine architecture, use @code{return};
9885see @ref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}.} with
9886
9887@smallexample
9888set $sp += 4
9889@end smallexample
9890
9891Whenever possible, these four standard register names are available on
9892your machine even though the machine has different canonical mnemonics,
9893so long as there is no conflict. The @code{info registers} command
9894shows the canonical names. For example, on the SPARC, @code{info
9895registers} displays the processor status register as @code{$psr} but you
9896can also refer to it as @code{$ps}; and on x86-based machines @code{$ps}
9897is an alias for the @sc{eflags} register.
9898
9899@value{GDBN} always considers the contents of an ordinary register as an
9900integer when the register is examined in this way. Some machines have
9901special registers which can hold nothing but floating point; these
9902registers are considered to have floating point values. There is no way
9903to refer to the contents of an ordinary register as floating point value
9904(although you can @emph{print} it as a floating point value with
9905@samp{print/f $@var{regname}}).
9906
9907Some registers have distinct ``raw'' and ``virtual'' data formats. This
9908means that the data format in which the register contents are saved by
9909the operating system is not the same one that your program normally
9910sees. For example, the registers of the 68881 floating point
9911coprocessor are always saved in ``extended'' (raw) format, but all C
9912programs expect to work with ``double'' (virtual) format. In such
9913cases, @value{GDBN} normally works with the virtual format only (the format
9914that makes sense for your program), but the @code{info registers} command
9915prints the data in both formats.
9916
9917@cindex SSE registers (x86)
9918@cindex MMX registers (x86)
9919Some machines have special registers whose contents can be interpreted
9920in several different ways. For example, modern x86-based machines
9921have SSE and MMX registers that can hold several values packed
9922together in several different formats. @value{GDBN} refers to such
9923registers in @code{struct} notation:
9924
9925@smallexample
9926(@value{GDBP}) print $xmm1
9927$1 = @{
9928 v4_float = @{0, 3.43859137e-038, 1.54142831e-044, 1.821688e-044@},
9929 v2_double = @{9.92129282474342e-303, 2.7585945287983262e-313@},
9930 v16_int8 = "\000\000\000\000\3706;\001\v\000\000\000\r\000\000",
9931 v8_int16 = @{0, 0, 14072, 315, 11, 0, 13, 0@},
9932 v4_int32 = @{0, 20657912, 11, 13@},
9933 v2_int64 = @{88725056443645952, 55834574859@},
9934 uint128 = 0x0000000d0000000b013b36f800000000
9935@}
9936@end smallexample
9937
9938@noindent
9939To set values of such registers, you need to tell @value{GDBN} which
9940view of the register you wish to change, as if you were assigning
9941value to a @code{struct} member:
9942
9943@smallexample
9944 (@value{GDBP}) set $xmm1.uint128 = 0x000000000000000000000000FFFFFFFF
9945@end smallexample
9946
9947Normally, register values are relative to the selected stack frame
9948(@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). This means that you get the
9949value that the register would contain if all stack frames farther in
9950were exited and their saved registers restored. In order to see the
9951true contents of hardware registers, you must select the innermost
9952frame (with @samp{frame 0}).
9953
9954However, @value{GDBN} must deduce where registers are saved, from the machine
9955code generated by your compiler. If some registers are not saved, or if
9956@value{GDBN} is unable to locate the saved registers, the selected stack
9957frame makes no difference.
9958
9959@node Floating Point Hardware
9960@section Floating Point Hardware
9961@cindex floating point
9962
9963Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give
9964you more information about the status of the floating point hardware.
9965
9966@table @code
9967@kindex info float
9968@item info float
9969Display hardware-dependent information about the floating
9970point unit. The exact contents and layout vary depending on the
9971floating point chip. Currently, @samp{info float} is supported on
9972the ARM and x86 machines.
9973@end table
9974
9975@node Vector Unit
9976@section Vector Unit
9977@cindex vector unit
9978
9979Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give you
9980more information about the status of the vector unit.
9981
9982@table @code
9983@kindex info vector
9984@item info vector
9985Display information about the vector unit. The exact contents and
9986layout vary depending on the hardware.
9987@end table
9988
9989@node OS Information
9990@section Operating System Auxiliary Information
9991@cindex OS information
9992
9993@value{GDBN} provides interfaces to useful OS facilities that can help
9994you debug your program.
9995
9996@cindex auxiliary vector
9997@cindex vector, auxiliary
9998Some operating systems supply an @dfn{auxiliary vector} to programs at
9999startup. This is akin to the arguments and environment that you
10000specify for a program, but contains a system-dependent variety of
10001binary values that tell system libraries important details about the
10002hardware, operating system, and process. Each value's purpose is
10003identified by an integer tag; the meanings are well-known but system-specific.
10004Depending on the configuration and operating system facilities,
10005@value{GDBN} may be able to show you this information. For remote
10006targets, this functionality may further depend on the remote stub's
10007support of the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet, see
10008@ref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}.
10009
10010@table @code
10011@kindex info auxv
10012@item info auxv
10013Display the auxiliary vector of the inferior, which can be either a
10014live process or a core dump file. @value{GDBN} prints each tag value
10015numerically, and also shows names and text descriptions for recognized
10016tags. Some values in the vector are numbers, some bit masks, and some
10017pointers to strings or other data. @value{GDBN} displays each value in the
10018most appropriate form for a recognized tag, and in hexadecimal for
10019an unrecognized tag.
10020@end table
10021
10022On some targets, @value{GDBN} can access operating system-specific
10023information and show it to you. The types of information available
10024will differ depending on the type of operating system running on the
10025target. The mechanism used to fetch the data is described in
10026@ref{Operating System Information}. For remote targets, this
10027functionality depends on the remote stub's support of the
10028@samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet, see @ref{qXfer osdata read}.
10029
10030@table @code
10031@kindex info os
10032@item info os @var{infotype}
10033
10034Display OS information of the requested type.
10035
10036On @sc{gnu}/Linux, the following values of @var{infotype} are valid:
10037
10038@anchor{linux info os infotypes}
10039@table @code
10040@kindex info os processes
10041@item processes
10042Display the list of processes on the target. For each process,
10043@value{GDBN} prints the process identifier, the name of the user, the
10044command corresponding to the process, and the list of processor cores
10045that the process is currently running on. (To understand what these
10046properties mean, for this and the following info types, please consult
10047the general @sc{gnu}/Linux documentation.)
10048
10049@kindex info os procgroups
10050@item procgroups
10051Display the list of process groups on the target. For each process,
10052@value{GDBN} prints the identifier of the process group that it belongs
10053to, the command corresponding to the process group leader, the process
10054identifier, and the command line of the process. The list is sorted
10055first by the process group identifier, then by the process identifier,
10056so that processes belonging to the same process group are grouped together
10057and the process group leader is listed first.
10058
10059@kindex info os threads
10060@item threads
10061Display the list of threads running on the target. For each thread,
10062@value{GDBN} prints the identifier of the process that the thread
10063belongs to, the command of the process, the thread identifier, and the
10064processor core that it is currently running on. The main thread of a
10065process is not listed.
10066
10067@kindex info os files
10068@item files
10069Display the list of open file descriptors on the target. For each
10070file descriptor, @value{GDBN} prints the identifier of the process
10071owning the descriptor, the command of the owning process, the value
10072of the descriptor, and the target of the descriptor.
10073
10074@kindex info os sockets
10075@item sockets
10076Display the list of Internet-domain sockets on the target. For each
10077socket, @value{GDBN} prints the address and port of the local and
10078remote endpoints, the current state of the connection, the creator of
10079the socket, the IP address family of the socket, and the type of the
10080connection.
10081
10082@kindex info os shm
10083@item shm
10084Display the list of all System V shared-memory regions on the target.
10085For each shared-memory region, @value{GDBN} prints the region key,
10086the shared-memory identifier, the access permissions, the size of the
10087region, the process that created the region, the process that last
10088attached to or detached from the region, the current number of live
10089attaches to the region, and the times at which the region was last
10090attached to, detach from, and changed.
10091
10092@kindex info os semaphores
10093@item semaphores
10094Display the list of all System V semaphore sets on the target. For each
10095semaphore set, @value{GDBN} prints the semaphore set key, the semaphore
10096set identifier, the access permissions, the number of semaphores in the
10097set, the user and group of the owner and creator of the semaphore set,
10098and the times at which the semaphore set was operated upon and changed.
10099
10100@kindex info os msg
10101@item msg
10102Display the list of all System V message queues on the target. For each
10103message queue, @value{GDBN} prints the message queue key, the message
10104queue identifier, the access permissions, the current number of bytes
10105on the queue, the current number of messages on the queue, the processes
10106that last sent and received a message on the queue, the user and group
10107of the owner and creator of the message queue, the times at which a
10108message was last sent and received on the queue, and the time at which
10109the message queue was last changed.
10110
10111@kindex info os modules
10112@item modules
10113Display the list of all loaded kernel modules on the target. For each
10114module, @value{GDBN} prints the module name, the size of the module in
10115bytes, the number of times the module is used, the dependencies of the
10116module, the status of the module, and the address of the loaded module
10117in memory.
10118@end table
10119
10120@item info os
10121If @var{infotype} is omitted, then list the possible values for
10122@var{infotype} and the kind of OS information available for each
10123@var{infotype}. If the target does not return a list of possible
10124types, this command will report an error.
10125@end table
10126
10127@node Memory Region Attributes
10128@section Memory Region Attributes
10129@cindex memory region attributes
10130
10131@dfn{Memory region attributes} allow you to describe special handling
10132required by regions of your target's memory. @value{GDBN} uses
10133attributes to determine whether to allow certain types of memory
10134accesses; whether to use specific width accesses; and whether to cache
10135target memory. By default the description of memory regions is
10136fetched from the target (if the current target supports this), but the
10137user can override the fetched regions.
10138
10139Defined memory regions can be individually enabled and disabled. When a
10140memory region is disabled, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when
10141accessing memory in that region. Similarly, if no memory regions have
10142been defined, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when accessing
10143all memory.
10144
10145When a memory region is defined, it is given a number to identify it;
10146to enable, disable, or remove a memory region, you specify that number.
10147
10148@table @code
10149@kindex mem
10150@item mem @var{lower} @var{upper} @var{attributes}@dots{}
10151Define a memory region bounded by @var{lower} and @var{upper} with
10152attributes @var{attributes}@dots{}, and add it to the list of regions
10153monitored by @value{GDBN}. Note that @var{upper} == 0 is a special
10154case: it is treated as the target's maximum memory address.
10155(0xffff on 16 bit targets, 0xffffffff on 32 bit targets, etc.)
10156
10157@item mem auto
10158Discard any user changes to the memory regions and use target-supplied
10159regions, if available, or no regions if the target does not support.
10160
10161@kindex delete mem
10162@item delete mem @var{nums}@dots{}
10163Remove memory regions @var{nums}@dots{} from the list of regions
10164monitored by @value{GDBN}.
10165
10166@kindex disable mem
10167@item disable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
10168Disable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
10169A disabled memory region is not forgotten.
10170It may be enabled again later.
10171
10172@kindex enable mem
10173@item enable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
10174Enable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
10175
10176@kindex info mem
10177@item info mem
10178Print a table of all defined memory regions, with the following columns
10179for each region:
10180
10181@table @emph
10182@item Memory Region Number
10183@item Enabled or Disabled.
10184Enabled memory regions are marked with @samp{y}.
10185Disabled memory regions are marked with @samp{n}.
10186
10187@item Lo Address
10188The address defining the inclusive lower bound of the memory region.
10189
10190@item Hi Address
10191The address defining the exclusive upper bound of the memory region.
10192
10193@item Attributes
10194The list of attributes set for this memory region.
10195@end table
10196@end table
10197
10198
10199@subsection Attributes
10200
10201@subsubsection Memory Access Mode
10202The access mode attributes set whether @value{GDBN} may make read or
10203write accesses to a memory region.
10204
10205While these attributes prevent @value{GDBN} from performing invalid
10206memory accesses, they do nothing to prevent the target system, I/O DMA,
10207etc.@: from accessing memory.
10208
10209@table @code
10210@item ro
10211Memory is read only.
10212@item wo
10213Memory is write only.
10214@item rw
10215Memory is read/write. This is the default.
10216@end table
10217
10218@subsubsection Memory Access Size
10219The access size attribute tells @value{GDBN} to use specific sized
10220accesses in the memory region. Often memory mapped device registers
10221require specific sized accesses. If no access size attribute is
10222specified, @value{GDBN} may use accesses of any size.
10223
10224@table @code
10225@item 8
10226Use 8 bit memory accesses.
10227@item 16
10228Use 16 bit memory accesses.
10229@item 32
10230Use 32 bit memory accesses.
10231@item 64
10232Use 64 bit memory accesses.
10233@end table
10234
10235@c @subsubsection Hardware/Software Breakpoints
10236@c The hardware/software breakpoint attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
10237@c will use hardware or software breakpoints for the internal breakpoints
10238@c used by the step, next, finish, until, etc. commands.
10239@c
10240@c @table @code
10241@c @item hwbreak
10242@c Always use hardware breakpoints
10243@c @item swbreak (default)
10244@c @end table
10245
10246@subsubsection Data Cache
10247The data cache attributes set whether @value{GDBN} will cache target
10248memory. While this generally improves performance by reducing debug
10249protocol overhead, it can lead to incorrect results because @value{GDBN}
10250does not know about volatile variables or memory mapped device
10251registers.
10252
10253@table @code
10254@item cache
10255Enable @value{GDBN} to cache target memory.
10256@item nocache
10257Disable @value{GDBN} from caching target memory. This is the default.
10258@end table
10259
10260@subsection Memory Access Checking
10261@value{GDBN} can be instructed to refuse accesses to memory that is
10262not explicitly described. This can be useful if accessing such
10263regions has undesired effects for a specific target, or to provide
10264better error checking. The following commands control this behaviour.
10265
10266@table @code
10267@kindex set mem inaccessible-by-default
10268@item set mem inaccessible-by-default [on|off]
10269If @code{on} is specified, make @value{GDBN} treat memory not
10270explicitly described by the memory ranges as non-existent and refuse accesses
10271to such memory. The checks are only performed if there's at least one
10272memory range defined. If @code{off} is specified, make @value{GDBN}
10273treat the memory not explicitly described by the memory ranges as RAM.
10274The default value is @code{on}.
10275@kindex show mem inaccessible-by-default
10276@item show mem inaccessible-by-default
10277Show the current handling of accesses to unknown memory.
10278@end table
10279
10280
10281@c @subsubsection Memory Write Verification
10282@c The memory write verification attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
10283@c will re-reads data after each write to verify the write was successful.
10284@c
10285@c @table @code
10286@c @item verify
10287@c @item noverify (default)
10288@c @end table
10289
10290@node Dump/Restore Files
10291@section Copy Between Memory and a File
10292@cindex dump/restore files
10293@cindex append data to a file
10294@cindex dump data to a file
10295@cindex restore data from a file
10296
10297You can use the commands @code{dump}, @code{append}, and
10298@code{restore} to copy data between target memory and a file. The
10299@code{dump} and @code{append} commands write data to a file, and the
10300@code{restore} command reads data from a file back into the inferior's
10301memory. Files may be in binary, Motorola S-record, Intel hex, or
10302Tektronix Hex format; however, @value{GDBN} can only append to binary
10303files.
10304
10305@table @code
10306
10307@kindex dump
10308@item dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
10309@itemx dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
10310Dump the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
10311or the value of @var{expr}, to @var{filename} in the given format.
10312
10313The @var{format} parameter may be any one of:
10314@table @code
10315@item binary
10316Raw binary form.
10317@item ihex
10318Intel hex format.
10319@item srec
10320Motorola S-record format.
10321@item tekhex
10322Tektronix Hex format.
10323@end table
10324
10325@value{GDBN} uses the same definitions of these formats as the
10326@sc{gnu} binary utilities, like @samp{objdump} and @samp{objcopy}. If
10327@var{format} is omitted, @value{GDBN} dumps the data in raw binary
10328form.
10329
10330@kindex append
10331@item append @r{[}binary@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
10332@itemx append @r{[}binary@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
10333Append the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
10334or the value of @var{expr}, to the file @var{filename}, in raw binary form.
10335(@value{GDBN} can only append data to files in raw binary form.)
10336
10337@kindex restore
10338@item restore @var{filename} @r{[}binary@r{]} @var{bias} @var{start} @var{end}
10339Restore the contents of file @var{filename} into memory. The
10340@code{restore} command can automatically recognize any known @sc{bfd}
10341file format, except for raw binary. To restore a raw binary file you
10342must specify the optional keyword @code{binary} after the filename.
10343
10344If @var{bias} is non-zero, its value will be added to the addresses
10345contained in the file. Binary files always start at address zero, so
10346they will be restored at address @var{bias}. Other bfd files have
10347a built-in location; they will be restored at offset @var{bias}
10348from that location.
10349
10350If @var{start} and/or @var{end} are non-zero, then only data between
10351file offset @var{start} and file offset @var{end} will be restored.
10352These offsets are relative to the addresses in the file, before
10353the @var{bias} argument is applied.
10354
10355@end table
10356
10357@node Core File Generation
10358@section How to Produce a Core File from Your Program
10359@cindex dump core from inferior
10360
10361A @dfn{core file} or @dfn{core dump} is a file that records the memory
10362image of a running process and its process status (register values
10363etc.). Its primary use is post-mortem debugging of a program that
10364crashed while it ran outside a debugger. A program that crashes
10365automatically produces a core file, unless this feature is disabled by
10366the user. @xref{Files}, for information on invoking @value{GDBN} in
10367the post-mortem debugging mode.
10368
10369Occasionally, you may wish to produce a core file of the program you
10370are debugging in order to preserve a snapshot of its state.
10371@value{GDBN} has a special command for that.
10372
10373@table @code
10374@kindex gcore
10375@kindex generate-core-file
10376@item generate-core-file [@var{file}]
10377@itemx gcore [@var{file}]
10378Produce a core dump of the inferior process. The optional argument
10379@var{file} specifies the file name where to put the core dump. If not
10380specified, the file name defaults to @file{core.@var{pid}}, where
10381@var{pid} is the inferior process ID.
10382
10383Note that this command is implemented only for some systems (as of
10384this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, and S390).
10385@end table
10386
10387@node Character Sets
10388@section Character Sets
10389@cindex character sets
10390@cindex charset
10391@cindex translating between character sets
10392@cindex host character set
10393@cindex target character set
10394
10395If the program you are debugging uses a different character set to
10396represent characters and strings than the one @value{GDBN} uses itself,
10397@value{GDBN} can automatically translate between the character sets for
10398you. The character set @value{GDBN} uses we call the @dfn{host
10399character set}; the one the inferior program uses we call the
10400@dfn{target character set}.
10401
10402For example, if you are running @value{GDBN} on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, which
10403uses the ISO Latin 1 character set, but you are using @value{GDBN}'s
10404remote protocol (@pxref{Remote Debugging}) to debug a program
10405running on an IBM mainframe, which uses the @sc{ebcdic} character set,
10406then the host character set is Latin-1, and the target character set is
10407@sc{ebcdic}. If you give @value{GDBN} the command @code{set
10408target-charset EBCDIC-US}, then @value{GDBN} translates between
10409@sc{ebcdic} and Latin 1 as you print character or string values, or use
10410character and string literals in expressions.
10411
10412@value{GDBN} has no way to automatically recognize which character set
10413the inferior program uses; you must tell it, using the @code{set
10414target-charset} command, described below.
10415
10416Here are the commands for controlling @value{GDBN}'s character set
10417support:
10418
10419@table @code
10420@item set target-charset @var{charset}
10421@kindex set target-charset
10422Set the current target character set to @var{charset}. To display the
10423list of supported target character sets, type
10424@kbd{@w{set target-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
10425
10426@item set host-charset @var{charset}
10427@kindex set host-charset
10428Set the current host character set to @var{charset}.
10429
10430By default, @value{GDBN} uses a host character set appropriate to the
10431system it is running on; you can override that default using the
10432@code{set host-charset} command. On some systems, @value{GDBN} cannot
10433automatically determine the appropriate host character set. In this
10434case, @value{GDBN} uses @samp{UTF-8}.
10435
10436@value{GDBN} can only use certain character sets as its host character
10437set. If you type @kbd{@w{set host-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
10438@value{GDBN} will list the host character sets it supports.
10439
10440@item set charset @var{charset}
10441@kindex set charset
10442Set the current host and target character sets to @var{charset}. As
10443above, if you type @kbd{@w{set charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
10444@value{GDBN} will list the names of the character sets that can be used
10445for both host and target.
10446
10447@item show charset
10448@kindex show charset
10449Show the names of the current host and target character sets.
10450
10451@item show host-charset
10452@kindex show host-charset
10453Show the name of the current host character set.
10454
10455@item show target-charset
10456@kindex show target-charset
10457Show the name of the current target character set.
10458
10459@item set target-wide-charset @var{charset}
10460@kindex set target-wide-charset
10461Set the current target's wide character set to @var{charset}. This is
10462the character set used by the target's @code{wchar_t} type. To
10463display the list of supported wide character sets, type
10464@kbd{@w{set target-wide-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
10465
10466@item show target-wide-charset
10467@kindex show target-wide-charset
10468Show the name of the current target's wide character set.
10469@end table
10470
10471Here is an example of @value{GDBN}'s character set support in action.
10472Assume that the following source code has been placed in the file
10473@file{charset-test.c}:
10474
10475@smallexample
10476#include <stdio.h>
10477
10478char ascii_hello[]
10479 = @{72, 101, 108, 108, 111, 44, 32, 119,
10480 111, 114, 108, 100, 33, 10, 0@};
10481char ibm1047_hello[]
10482 = @{200, 133, 147, 147, 150, 107, 64, 166,
10483 150, 153, 147, 132, 90, 37, 0@};
10484
10485main ()
10486@{
10487 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
10488@}
10489@end smallexample
10490
10491In this program, @code{ascii_hello} and @code{ibm1047_hello} are arrays
10492containing the string @samp{Hello, world!} followed by a newline,
10493encoded in the @sc{ascii} and @sc{ibm1047} character sets.
10494
10495We compile the program, and invoke the debugger on it:
10496
10497@smallexample
10498$ gcc -g charset-test.c -o charset-test
10499$ gdb -nw charset-test
10500GNU gdb 2001-12-19-cvs
10501Copyright 2001 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
10502@dots{}
10503(@value{GDBP})
10504@end smallexample
10505
10506We can use the @code{show charset} command to see what character sets
10507@value{GDBN} is currently using to interpret and display characters and
10508strings:
10509
10510@smallexample
10511(@value{GDBP}) show charset
10512The current host and target character set is `ISO-8859-1'.
10513(@value{GDBP})
10514@end smallexample
10515
10516For the sake of printing this manual, let's use @sc{ascii} as our
10517initial character set:
10518@smallexample
10519(@value{GDBP}) set charset ASCII
10520(@value{GDBP}) show charset
10521The current host and target character set is `ASCII'.
10522(@value{GDBP})
10523@end smallexample
10524
10525Let's assume that @sc{ascii} is indeed the correct character set for our
10526host system --- in other words, let's assume that if @value{GDBN} prints
10527characters using the @sc{ascii} character set, our terminal will display
10528them properly. Since our current target character set is also
10529@sc{ascii}, the contents of @code{ascii_hello} print legibly:
10530
10531@smallexample
10532(@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
10533$1 = 0x401698 "Hello, world!\n"
10534(@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
10535$2 = 72 'H'
10536(@value{GDBP})
10537@end smallexample
10538
10539@value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and string
10540literals you use in expressions:
10541
10542@smallexample
10543(@value{GDBP}) print '+'
10544$3 = 43 '+'
10545(@value{GDBP})
10546@end smallexample
10547
10548The @sc{ascii} character set uses the number 43 to encode the @samp{+}
10549character.
10550
10551@value{GDBN} relies on the user to tell it which character set the
10552target program uses. If we print @code{ibm1047_hello} while our target
10553character set is still @sc{ascii}, we get jibberish:
10554
10555@smallexample
10556(@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
10557$4 = 0x4016a8 "\310\205\223\223\226k@@\246\226\231\223\204Z%"
10558(@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
10559$5 = 200 '\310'
10560(@value{GDBP})
10561@end smallexample
10562
10563If we invoke the @code{set target-charset} followed by @key{TAB}@key{TAB},
10564@value{GDBN} tells us the character sets it supports:
10565
10566@smallexample
10567(@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
10568ASCII EBCDIC-US IBM1047 ISO-8859-1
10569(@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
10570@end smallexample
10571
10572We can select @sc{ibm1047} as our target character set, and examine the
10573program's strings again. Now the @sc{ascii} string is wrong, but
10574@value{GDBN} translates the contents of @code{ibm1047_hello} from the
10575target character set, @sc{ibm1047}, to the host character set,
10576@sc{ascii}, and they display correctly:
10577
10578@smallexample
10579(@value{GDBP}) set target-charset IBM1047
10580(@value{GDBP}) show charset
10581The current host character set is `ASCII'.
10582The current target character set is `IBM1047'.
10583(@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
10584$6 = 0x401698 "\110\145%%?\054\040\167?\162%\144\041\012"
10585(@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
10586$7 = 72 '\110'
10587(@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
10588$8 = 0x4016a8 "Hello, world!\n"
10589(@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
10590$9 = 200 'H'
10591(@value{GDBP})
10592@end smallexample
10593
10594As above, @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and
10595string literals you use in expressions:
10596
10597@smallexample
10598(@value{GDBP}) print '+'
10599$10 = 78 '+'
10600(@value{GDBP})
10601@end smallexample
10602
10603The @sc{ibm1047} character set uses the number 78 to encode the @samp{+}
10604character.
10605
10606@node Caching Remote Data
10607@section Caching Data of Remote Targets
10608@cindex caching data of remote targets
10609
10610@value{GDBN} caches data exchanged between the debugger and a
10611remote target (@pxref{Remote Debugging}). Such caching generally improves
10612performance, because it reduces the overhead of the remote protocol by
10613bundling memory reads and writes into large chunks. Unfortunately, simply
10614caching everything would lead to incorrect results, since @value{GDBN}
10615does not necessarily know anything about volatile values, memory-mapped I/O
10616addresses, etc. Furthermore, in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode})
10617memory can be changed @emph{while} a gdb command is executing.
10618Therefore, by default, @value{GDBN} only caches data
10619known to be on the stack@footnote{In non-stop mode, it is moderately
10620rare for a running thread to modify the stack of a stopped thread
10621in a way that would interfere with a backtrace, and caching of
10622stack reads provides a significant speed up of remote backtraces.}.
10623Other regions of memory can be explicitly marked as
10624cacheable; see @pxref{Memory Region Attributes}.
10625
10626@table @code
10627@kindex set remotecache
10628@item set remotecache on
10629@itemx set remotecache off
10630This option no longer does anything; it exists for compatibility
10631with old scripts.
10632
10633@kindex show remotecache
10634@item show remotecache
10635Show the current state of the obsolete remotecache flag.
10636
10637@kindex set stack-cache
10638@item set stack-cache on
10639@itemx set stack-cache off
10640Enable or disable caching of stack accesses. When @code{ON}, use
10641caching. By default, this option is @code{ON}.
10642
10643@kindex show stack-cache
10644@item show stack-cache
10645Show the current state of data caching for memory accesses.
10646
10647@kindex info dcache
10648@item info dcache @r{[}line@r{]}
10649Print the information about the data cache performance. The
10650information displayed includes the dcache width and depth, and for
10651each cache line, its number, address, and how many times it was
10652referenced. This command is useful for debugging the data cache
10653operation.
10654
10655If a line number is specified, the contents of that line will be
10656printed in hex.
10657
10658@item set dcache size @var{size}
10659@cindex dcache size
10660@kindex set dcache size
10661Set maximum number of entries in dcache (dcache depth above).
10662
10663@item set dcache line-size @var{line-size}
10664@cindex dcache line-size
10665@kindex set dcache line-size
10666Set number of bytes each dcache entry caches (dcache width above).
10667Must be a power of 2.
10668
10669@item show dcache size
10670@kindex show dcache size
10671Show maximum number of dcache entries. See also @ref{Caching Remote Data, info dcache}.
10672
10673@item show dcache line-size
10674@kindex show dcache line-size
10675Show default size of dcache lines. See also @ref{Caching Remote Data, info dcache}.
10676
10677@end table
10678
10679@node Searching Memory
10680@section Search Memory
10681@cindex searching memory
10682
10683Memory can be searched for a particular sequence of bytes with the
10684@code{find} command.
10685
10686@table @code
10687@kindex find
10688@item find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, +@var{len}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
10689@itemx find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, @var{end_addr}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
10690Search memory for the sequence of bytes specified by @var{val1}, @var{val2},
10691etc. The search begins at address @var{start_addr} and continues for either
10692@var{len} bytes or through to @var{end_addr} inclusive.
10693@end table
10694
10695@var{s} and @var{n} are optional parameters.
10696They may be specified in either order, apart or together.
10697
10698@table @r
10699@item @var{s}, search query size
10700The size of each search query value.
10701
10702@table @code
10703@item b
10704bytes
10705@item h
10706halfwords (two bytes)
10707@item w
10708words (four bytes)
10709@item g
10710giant words (eight bytes)
10711@end table
10712
10713All values are interpreted in the current language.
10714This means, for example, that if the current source language is C/C@t{++}
10715then searching for the string ``hello'' includes the trailing '\0'.
10716
10717If the value size is not specified, it is taken from the
10718value's type in the current language.
10719This is useful when one wants to specify the search
10720pattern as a mixture of types.
10721Note that this means, for example, that in the case of C-like languages
10722a search for an untyped 0x42 will search for @samp{(int) 0x42}
10723which is typically four bytes.
10724
10725@item @var{n}, maximum number of finds
10726The maximum number of matches to print. The default is to print all finds.
10727@end table
10728
10729You can use strings as search values. Quote them with double-quotes
10730 (@code{"}).
10731The string value is copied into the search pattern byte by byte,
10732regardless of the endianness of the target and the size specification.
10733
10734The address of each match found is printed as well as a count of the
10735number of matches found.
10736
10737The address of the last value found is stored in convenience variable
10738@samp{$_}.
10739A count of the number of matches is stored in @samp{$numfound}.
10740
10741For example, if stopped at the @code{printf} in this function:
10742
10743@smallexample
10744void
10745hello ()
10746@{
10747 static char hello[] = "hello-hello";
10748 static struct @{ char c; short s; int i; @}
10749 __attribute__ ((packed)) mixed
10750 = @{ 'c', 0x1234, 0x87654321 @};
10751 printf ("%s\n", hello);
10752@}
10753@end smallexample
10754
10755@noindent
10756you get during debugging:
10757
10758@smallexample
10759(gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), "hello"
107600x804956d <hello.1620+6>
107611 pattern found
10762(gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o'
107630x8049567 <hello.1620>
107640x804956d <hello.1620+6>
107652 patterns found
10766(gdb) find /b1 &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 0x65, 'l'
107670x8049567 <hello.1620>
107681 pattern found
10769(gdb) find &mixed, +sizeof(mixed), (char) 'c', (short) 0x1234, (int) 0x87654321
107700x8049560 <mixed.1625>
107711 pattern found
10772(gdb) print $numfound
10773$1 = 1
10774(gdb) print $_
10775$2 = (void *) 0x8049560
10776@end smallexample
10777
10778@node Optimized Code
10779@chapter Debugging Optimized Code
10780@cindex optimized code, debugging
10781@cindex debugging optimized code
10782
10783Almost all compilers support optimization. With optimization
10784disabled, the compiler generates assembly code that corresponds
10785directly to your source code, in a simplistic way. As the compiler
10786applies more powerful optimizations, the generated assembly code
10787diverges from your original source code. With help from debugging
10788information generated by the compiler, @value{GDBN} can map from
10789the running program back to constructs from your original source.
10790
10791@value{GDBN} is more accurate with optimization disabled. If you
10792can recompile without optimization, it is easier to follow the
10793progress of your program during debugging. But, there are many cases
10794where you may need to debug an optimized version.
10795
10796When you debug a program compiled with @samp{-g -O}, remember that the
10797optimizer has rearranged your code; the debugger shows you what is
10798really there. Do not be too surprised when the execution path does not
10799exactly match your source file! An extreme example: if you define a
10800variable, but never use it, @value{GDBN} never sees that
10801variable---because the compiler optimizes it out of existence.
10802
10803Some things do not work as well with @samp{-g -O} as with just
10804@samp{-g}, particularly on machines with instruction scheduling. If in
10805doubt, recompile with @samp{-g} alone, and if this fixes the problem,
10806please report it to us as a bug (including a test case!).
10807@xref{Variables}, for more information about debugging optimized code.
10808
10809@menu
10810* Inline Functions:: How @value{GDBN} presents inlining
10811* Tail Call Frames:: @value{GDBN} analysis of jumps to functions
10812@end menu
10813
10814@node Inline Functions
10815@section Inline Functions
10816@cindex inline functions, debugging
10817
10818@dfn{Inlining} is an optimization that inserts a copy of the function
10819body directly at each call site, instead of jumping to a shared
10820routine. @value{GDBN} displays inlined functions just like
10821non-inlined functions. They appear in backtraces. You can view their
10822arguments and local variables, step into them with @code{step}, skip
10823them with @code{next}, and escape from them with @code{finish}.
10824You can check whether a function was inlined by using the
10825@code{info frame} command.
10826
10827For @value{GDBN} to support inlined functions, the compiler must
10828record information about inlining in the debug information ---
10829@value{NGCC} using the @sc{dwarf 2} format does this, and several
10830other compilers do also. @value{GDBN} only supports inlined functions
10831when using @sc{dwarf 2}. Versions of @value{NGCC} before 4.1
10832do not emit two required attributes (@samp{DW_AT_call_file} and
10833@samp{DW_AT_call_line}); @value{GDBN} does not display inlined
10834function calls with earlier versions of @value{NGCC}. It instead
10835displays the arguments and local variables of inlined functions as
10836local variables in the caller.
10837
10838The body of an inlined function is directly included at its call site;
10839unlike a non-inlined function, there are no instructions devoted to
10840the call. @value{GDBN} still pretends that the call site and the
10841start of the inlined function are different instructions. Stepping to
10842the call site shows the call site, and then stepping again shows
10843the first line of the inlined function, even though no additional
10844instructions are executed.
10845
10846This makes source-level debugging much clearer; you can see both the
10847context of the call and then the effect of the call. Only stepping by
10848a single instruction using @code{stepi} or @code{nexti} does not do
10849this; single instruction steps always show the inlined body.
10850
10851There are some ways that @value{GDBN} does not pretend that inlined
10852function calls are the same as normal calls:
10853
10854@itemize @bullet
10855@item
10856Setting breakpoints at the call site of an inlined function may not
10857work, because the call site does not contain any code. @value{GDBN}
10858may incorrectly move the breakpoint to the next line of the enclosing
10859function, after the call. This limitation will be removed in a future
10860version of @value{GDBN}; until then, set a breakpoint on an earlier line
10861or inside the inlined function instead.
10862
10863@item
10864@value{GDBN} cannot locate the return value of inlined calls after
10865using the @code{finish} command. This is a limitation of compiler-generated
10866debugging information; after @code{finish}, you can step to the next line
10867and print a variable where your program stored the return value.
10868
10869@end itemize
10870
10871@node Tail Call Frames
10872@section Tail Call Frames
10873@cindex tail call frames, debugging
10874
10875Function @code{B} can call function @code{C} in its very last statement. In
10876unoptimized compilation the call of @code{C} is immediately followed by return
10877instruction at the end of @code{B} code. Optimizing compiler may replace the
10878call and return in function @code{B} into one jump to function @code{C}
10879instead. Such use of a jump instruction is called @dfn{tail call}.
10880
10881During execution of function @code{C}, there will be no indication in the
10882function call stack frames that it was tail-called from @code{B}. If function
10883@code{A} regularly calls function @code{B} which tail-calls function @code{C},
10884then @value{GDBN} will see @code{A} as the caller of @code{C}. However, in
10885some cases @value{GDBN} can determine that @code{C} was tail-called from
10886@code{B}, and it will then create fictitious call frame for that, with the
10887return address set up as if @code{B} called @code{C} normally.
10888
10889This functionality is currently supported only by DWARF 2 debugging format and
10890the compiler has to produce @samp{DW_TAG_GNU_call_site} tags. With
10891@value{NGCC}, you need to specify @option{-O -g} during compilation, to get
10892this information.
10893
10894@kbd{info frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info}) will indicate the tail call frame
10895kind by text @code{tail call frame} such as in this sample @value{GDBN} output:
10896
10897@smallexample
10898(gdb) x/i $pc - 2
10899 0x40066b <b(int, double)+11>: jmp 0x400640 <c(int, double)>
10900(gdb) info frame
10901Stack level 1, frame at 0x7fffffffda30:
10902 rip = 0x40066d in b (amd64-entry-value.cc:59); saved rip 0x4004c5
10903 tail call frame, caller of frame at 0x7fffffffda30
10904 source language c++.
10905 Arglist at unknown address.
10906 Locals at unknown address, Previous frame's sp is 0x7fffffffda30
10907@end smallexample
10908
10909The detection of all the possible code path executions can find them ambiguous.
10910There is no execution history stored (possible @ref{Reverse Execution} is never
10911used for this purpose) and the last known caller could have reached the known
10912callee by multiple different jump sequences. In such case @value{GDBN} still
10913tries to show at least all the unambiguous top tail callers and all the
10914unambiguous bottom tail calees, if any.
10915
10916@table @code
10917@anchor{set debug entry-values}
10918@item set debug entry-values
10919@kindex set debug entry-values
10920When set to on, enables printing of analysis messages for both frame argument
10921values at function entry and tail calls. It will show all the possible valid
10922tail calls code paths it has considered. It will also print the intersection
10923of them with the final unambiguous (possibly partial or even empty) code path
10924result.
10925
10926@item show debug entry-values
10927@kindex show debug entry-values
10928Show the current state of analysis messages printing for both frame argument
10929values at function entry and tail calls.
10930@end table
10931
10932The analysis messages for tail calls can for example show why the virtual tail
10933call frame for function @code{c} has not been recognized (due to the indirect
10934reference by variable @code{x}):
10935
10936@smallexample
10937static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void);
10938void (*x) (void) = c;
10939static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ x++; @}
10940static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void) @{ a (); @}
10941int main (void) @{ x (); return 0; @}
10942
10943Breakpoint 1, DW_OP_GNU_entry_value resolving cannot find
10944DW_TAG_GNU_call_site 0x40039a in main
10945a () at t.c:3
109463 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ x++; @}
10947(gdb) bt
10948#0 a () at t.c:3
10949#1 0x000000000040039a in main () at t.c:5
10950@end smallexample
10951
10952Another possibility is an ambiguous virtual tail call frames resolution:
10953
10954@smallexample
10955int i;
10956static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) f (void) @{ i++; @}
10957static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) e (void) @{ f (); @}
10958static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) d (void) @{ f (); @}
10959static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void) @{ d (); @}
10960static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) b (void)
10961@{ if (i) c (); else e (); @}
10962static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ b (); @}
10963int main (void) @{ a (); return 0; @}
10964
10965tailcall: initial: 0x4004d2(a) 0x4004ce(b) 0x4004b2(c) 0x4004a2(d)
10966tailcall: compare: 0x4004d2(a) 0x4004cc(b) 0x400492(e)
10967tailcall: reduced: 0x4004d2(a) |
10968(gdb) bt
10969#0 f () at t.c:2
10970#1 0x00000000004004d2 in a () at t.c:8
10971#2 0x0000000000400395 in main () at t.c:9
10972@end smallexample
10973
10974@set CALLSEQ1A @code{main@value{ARROW}a@value{ARROW}b@value{ARROW}c@value{ARROW}d@value{ARROW}f}
10975@set CALLSEQ2A @code{main@value{ARROW}a@value{ARROW}b@value{ARROW}e@value{ARROW}f}
10976
10977@c Convert CALLSEQ#A to CALLSEQ#B depending on HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK.
10978@ifset HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK
10979@set ARROW @click{}
10980@set CALLSEQ1B @clicksequence{@value{CALLSEQ1A}}
10981@set CALLSEQ2B @clicksequence{@value{CALLSEQ2A}}
10982@end ifset
10983@ifclear HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK
10984@set ARROW ->
10985@set CALLSEQ1B @value{CALLSEQ1A}
10986@set CALLSEQ2B @value{CALLSEQ2A}
10987@end ifclear
10988
10989Frames #0 and #2 are real, #1 is a virtual tail call frame.
10990The code can have possible execution paths @value{CALLSEQ1B} or
10991@value{CALLSEQ2B}, @value{GDBN} cannot find which one from the inferior state.
10992
10993@code{initial:} state shows some random possible calling sequence @value{GDBN}
10994has found. It then finds another possible calling sequcen - that one is
10995prefixed by @code{compare:}. The non-ambiguous intersection of these two is
10996printed as the @code{reduced:} calling sequence. That one could have many
10997futher @code{compare:} and @code{reduced:} statements as long as there remain
10998any non-ambiguous sequence entries.
10999
11000For the frame of function @code{b} in both cases there are different possible
11001@code{$pc} values (@code{0x4004cc} or @code{0x4004ce}), therefore this frame is
11002also ambigous. The only non-ambiguous frame is the one for function @code{a},
11003therefore this one is displayed to the user while the ambiguous frames are
11004omitted.
11005
11006There can be also reasons why printing of frame argument values at function
11007entry may fail:
11008
11009@smallexample
11010int v;
11011static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (int i) @{ v++; @}
11012static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (int i);
11013static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) b (int i) @{ a (i); @}
11014static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (int i)
11015@{ if (i) b (i - 1); else c (0); @}
11016int main (void) @{ a (5); return 0; @}
11017
11018(gdb) bt
11019#0 c (i=i@@entry=0) at t.c:2
11020#1 0x0000000000400428 in a (DW_OP_GNU_entry_value resolving has found
11021function "a" at 0x400420 can call itself via tail calls
11022i=<optimized out>) at t.c:6
11023#2 0x000000000040036e in main () at t.c:7
11024@end smallexample
11025
11026@value{GDBN} cannot find out from the inferior state if and how many times did
11027function @code{a} call itself (via function @code{b}) as these calls would be
11028tail calls. Such tail calls would modify thue @code{i} variable, therefore
11029@value{GDBN} cannot be sure the value it knows would be right - @value{GDBN}
11030prints @code{<optimized out>} instead.
11031
11032@node Macros
11033@chapter C Preprocessor Macros
11034
11035Some languages, such as C and C@t{++}, provide a way to define and invoke
11036``preprocessor macros'' which expand into strings of tokens.
11037@value{GDBN} can evaluate expressions containing macro invocations, show
11038the result of macro expansion, and show a macro's definition, including
11039where it was defined.
11040
11041You may need to compile your program specially to provide @value{GDBN}
11042with information about preprocessor macros. Most compilers do not
11043include macros in their debugging information, even when you compile
11044with the @option{-g} flag. @xref{Compilation}.
11045
11046A program may define a macro at one point, remove that definition later,
11047and then provide a different definition after that. Thus, at different
11048points in the program, a macro may have different definitions, or have
11049no definition at all. If there is a current stack frame, @value{GDBN}
11050uses the macros in scope at that frame's source code line. Otherwise,
11051@value{GDBN} uses the macros in scope at the current listing location;
11052see @ref{List}.
11053
11054Whenever @value{GDBN} evaluates an expression, it always expands any
11055macro invocations present in the expression. @value{GDBN} also provides
11056the following commands for working with macros explicitly.
11057
11058@table @code
11059
11060@kindex macro expand
11061@cindex macro expansion, showing the results of preprocessor
11062@cindex preprocessor macro expansion, showing the results of
11063@cindex expanding preprocessor macros
11064@item macro expand @var{expression}
11065@itemx macro exp @var{expression}
11066Show the results of expanding all preprocessor macro invocations in
11067@var{expression}. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does
11068not parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression;
11069it can be any string of tokens.
11070
11071@kindex macro exp1
11072@item macro expand-once @var{expression}
11073@itemx macro exp1 @var{expression}
11074@cindex expand macro once
11075@i{(This command is not yet implemented.)} Show the results of
11076expanding those preprocessor macro invocations that appear explicitly in
11077@var{expression}. Macro invocations appearing in that expansion are
11078left unchanged. This command allows you to see the effect of a
11079particular macro more clearly, without being confused by further
11080expansions. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does not
11081parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression; it
11082can be any string of tokens.
11083
11084@kindex info macro
11085@cindex macro definition, showing
11086@cindex definition of a macro, showing
11087@cindex macros, from debug info
11088@item info macro [-a|-all] [--] @var{macro}
11089Show the current definition or all definitions of the named @var{macro},
11090and describe the source location or compiler command-line where that
11091definition was established. The optional double dash is to signify the end of
11092argument processing and the beginning of @var{macro} for non C-like macros where
11093the macro may begin with a hyphen.
11094
11095@kindex info macros
11096@item info macros @var{linespec}
11097Show all macro definitions that are in effect at the location specified
11098by @var{linespec}, and describe the source location or compiler
11099command-line where those definitions were established.
11100
11101@kindex macro define
11102@cindex user-defined macros
11103@cindex defining macros interactively
11104@cindex macros, user-defined
11105@item macro define @var{macro} @var{replacement-list}
11106@itemx macro define @var{macro}(@var{arglist}) @var{replacement-list}
11107Introduce a definition for a preprocessor macro named @var{macro},
11108invocations of which are replaced by the tokens given in
11109@var{replacement-list}. The first form of this command defines an
11110``object-like'' macro, which takes no arguments; the second form
11111defines a ``function-like'' macro, which takes the arguments given in
11112@var{arglist}.
11113
11114A definition introduced by this command is in scope in every
11115expression evaluated in @value{GDBN}, until it is removed with the
11116@code{macro undef} command, described below. The definition overrides
11117all definitions for @var{macro} present in the program being debugged,
11118as well as any previous user-supplied definition.
11119
11120@kindex macro undef
11121@item macro undef @var{macro}
11122Remove any user-supplied definition for the macro named @var{macro}.
11123This command only affects definitions provided with the @code{macro
11124define} command, described above; it cannot remove definitions present
11125in the program being debugged.
11126
11127@kindex macro list
11128@item macro list
11129List all the macros defined using the @code{macro define} command.
11130@end table
11131
11132@cindex macros, example of debugging with
11133Here is a transcript showing the above commands in action. First, we
11134show our source files:
11135
11136@smallexample
11137$ cat sample.c
11138#include <stdio.h>
11139#include "sample.h"
11140
11141#define M 42
11142#define ADD(x) (M + x)
11143
11144main ()
11145@{
11146#define N 28
11147 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
11148#undef N
11149 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
11150#define N 1729
11151 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
11152@}
11153$ cat sample.h
11154#define Q <
11155$
11156@end smallexample
11157
11158Now, we compile the program using the @sc{gnu} C compiler,
11159@value{NGCC}. We pass the @option{-gdwarf-2}@footnote{This is the
11160minimum. Recent versions of @value{NGCC} support @option{-gdwarf-3}
11161and @option{-gdwarf-4}; we recommend always choosing the most recent
11162version of DWARF.} @emph{and} @option{-g3} flags to ensure the compiler
11163includes information about preprocessor macros in the debugging
11164information.
11165
11166@smallexample
11167$ gcc -gdwarf-2 -g3 sample.c -o sample
11168$
11169@end smallexample
11170
11171Now, we start @value{GDBN} on our sample program:
11172
11173@smallexample
11174$ gdb -nw sample
11175GNU gdb 2002-05-06-cvs
11176Copyright 2002 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
11177GDB is free software, @dots{}
11178(@value{GDBP})
11179@end smallexample
11180
11181We can expand macros and examine their definitions, even when the
11182program is not running. @value{GDBN} uses the current listing position
11183to decide which macro definitions are in scope:
11184
11185@smallexample
11186(@value{GDBP}) list main
111873
111884 #define M 42
111895 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
111906
111917 main ()
111928 @{
111939 #define N 28
1119410 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
1119511 #undef N
1119612 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
11197(@value{GDBP}) info macro ADD
11198Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:5
11199#define ADD(x) (M + x)
11200(@value{GDBP}) info macro Q
11201Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.h:1
11202 included at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:2
11203#define Q <
11204(@value{GDBP}) macro expand ADD(1)
11205expands to: (42 + 1)
11206(@value{GDBP}) macro expand-once ADD(1)
11207expands to: once (M + 1)
11208(@value{GDBP})
11209@end smallexample
11210
11211In the example above, note that @code{macro expand-once} expands only
11212the macro invocation explicit in the original text --- the invocation of
11213@code{ADD} --- but does not expand the invocation of the macro @code{M},
11214which was introduced by @code{ADD}.
11215
11216Once the program is running, @value{GDBN} uses the macro definitions in
11217force at the source line of the current stack frame:
11218
11219@smallexample
11220(@value{GDBP}) break main
11221Breakpoint 1 at 0x8048370: file sample.c, line 10.
11222(@value{GDBP}) run
11223Starting program: /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample
11224
11225Breakpoint 1, main () at sample.c:10
1122610 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
11227(@value{GDBP})
11228@end smallexample
11229
11230At line 10, the definition of the macro @code{N} at line 9 is in force:
11231
11232@smallexample
11233(@value{GDBP}) info macro N
11234Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:9
11235#define N 28
11236(@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
11237expands to: 28 < 42
11238(@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
11239$1 = 1
11240(@value{GDBP})
11241@end smallexample
11242
11243As we step over directives that remove @code{N}'s definition, and then
11244give it a new definition, @value{GDBN} finds the definition (or lack
11245thereof) in force at each point:
11246
11247@smallexample
11248(@value{GDBP}) next
11249Hello, world!
1125012 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
11251(@value{GDBP}) info macro N
11252The symbol `N' has no definition as a C/C++ preprocessor macro
11253at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:12
11254(@value{GDBP}) next
11255We're so creative.
1125614 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
11257(@value{GDBP}) info macro N
11258Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:13
11259#define N 1729
11260(@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
11261expands to: 1729 < 42
11262(@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
11263$2 = 0
11264(@value{GDBP})
11265@end smallexample
11266
11267In addition to source files, macros can be defined on the compilation command
11268line using the @option{-D@var{name}=@var{value}} syntax. For macros defined in
11269such a way, @value{GDBN} displays the location of their definition as line zero
11270of the source file submitted to the compiler.
11271
11272@smallexample
11273(@value{GDBP}) info macro __STDC__
11274Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:0
11275-D__STDC__=1
11276(@value{GDBP})
11277@end smallexample
11278
11279
11280@node Tracepoints
11281@chapter Tracepoints
11282@c This chapter is based on the documentation written by Michael
11283@c Snyder, David Taylor, Jim Blandy, and Elena Zannoni.
11284
11285@cindex tracepoints
11286In some applications, it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt
11287the program's execution long enough for the developer to learn
11288anything helpful about its behavior. If the program's correctness
11289depends on its real-time behavior, delays introduced by a debugger
11290might cause the program to change its behavior drastically, or perhaps
11291fail, even when the code itself is correct. It is useful to be able
11292to observe the program's behavior without interrupting it.
11293
11294Using @value{GDBN}'s @code{trace} and @code{collect} commands, you can
11295specify locations in the program, called @dfn{tracepoints}, and
11296arbitrary expressions to evaluate when those tracepoints are reached.
11297Later, using the @code{tfind} command, you can examine the values
11298those expressions had when the program hit the tracepoints. The
11299expressions may also denote objects in memory---structures or arrays,
11300for example---whose values @value{GDBN} should record; while visiting
11301a particular tracepoint, you may inspect those objects as if they were
11302in memory at that moment. However, because @value{GDBN} records these
11303values without interacting with you, it can do so quickly and
11304unobtrusively, hopefully not disturbing the program's behavior.
11305
11306The tracepoint facility is currently available only for remote
11307targets. @xref{Targets}. In addition, your remote target must know
11308how to collect trace data. This functionality is implemented in the
11309remote stub; however, none of the stubs distributed with @value{GDBN}
11310support tracepoints as of this writing. The format of the remote
11311packets used to implement tracepoints are described in @ref{Tracepoint
11312Packets}.
11313
11314It is also possible to get trace data from a file, in a manner reminiscent
11315of corefiles; you specify the filename, and use @code{tfind} to search
11316through the file. @xref{Trace Files}, for more details.
11317
11318This chapter describes the tracepoint commands and features.
11319
11320@menu
11321* Set Tracepoints::
11322* Analyze Collected Data::
11323* Tracepoint Variables::
11324* Trace Files::
11325@end menu
11326
11327@node Set Tracepoints
11328@section Commands to Set Tracepoints
11329
11330Before running such a @dfn{trace experiment}, an arbitrary number of
11331tracepoints can be set. A tracepoint is actually a special type of
11332breakpoint (@pxref{Set Breaks}), so you can manipulate it using
11333standard breakpoint commands. For instance, as with breakpoints,
11334tracepoint numbers are successive integers starting from one, and many
11335of the commands associated with tracepoints take the tracepoint number
11336as their argument, to identify which tracepoint to work on.
11337
11338For each tracepoint, you can specify, in advance, some arbitrary set
11339of data that you want the target to collect in the trace buffer when
11340it hits that tracepoint. The collected data can include registers,
11341local variables, or global data. Later, you can use @value{GDBN}
11342commands to examine the values these data had at the time the
11343tracepoint was hit.
11344
11345Tracepoints do not support every breakpoint feature. Ignore counts on
11346tracepoints have no effect, and tracepoints cannot run @value{GDBN}
11347commands when they are hit. Tracepoints may not be thread-specific
11348either.
11349
11350@cindex fast tracepoints
11351Some targets may support @dfn{fast tracepoints}, which are inserted in
11352a different way (such as with a jump instead of a trap), that is
11353faster but possibly restricted in where they may be installed.
11354
11355@cindex static tracepoints
11356@cindex markers, static tracepoints
11357@cindex probing markers, static tracepoints
11358Regular and fast tracepoints are dynamic tracing facilities, meaning
11359that they can be used to insert tracepoints at (almost) any location
11360in the target. Some targets may also support controlling @dfn{static
11361tracepoints} from @value{GDBN}. With static tracing, a set of
11362instrumentation points, also known as @dfn{markers}, are embedded in
11363the target program, and can be activated or deactivated by name or
11364address. These are usually placed at locations which facilitate
11365investigating what the target is actually doing. @value{GDBN}'s
11366support for static tracing includes being able to list instrumentation
11367points, and attach them with @value{GDBN} defined high level
11368tracepoints that expose the whole range of convenience of
11369@value{GDBN}'s tracepoints support. Namely, support for collecting
11370registers values and values of global or local (to the instrumentation
11371point) variables; tracepoint conditions and trace state variables.
11372The act of installing a @value{GDBN} static tracepoint on an
11373instrumentation point, or marker, is referred to as @dfn{probing} a
11374static tracepoint marker.
11375
11376@code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints on some target systems.
11377@xref{Server,,Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}}.
11378
11379This section describes commands to set tracepoints and associated
11380conditions and actions.
11381
11382@menu
11383* Create and Delete Tracepoints::
11384* Enable and Disable Tracepoints::
11385* Tracepoint Passcounts::
11386* Tracepoint Conditions::
11387* Trace State Variables::
11388* Tracepoint Actions::
11389* Listing Tracepoints::
11390* Listing Static Tracepoint Markers::
11391* Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments::
11392* Tracepoint Restrictions::
11393@end menu
11394
11395@node Create and Delete Tracepoints
11396@subsection Create and Delete Tracepoints
11397
11398@table @code
11399@cindex set tracepoint
11400@kindex trace
11401@item trace @var{location}
11402The @code{trace} command is very similar to the @code{break} command.
11403Its argument @var{location} can be a source line, a function name, or
11404an address in the target program. @xref{Specify Location}. The
11405@code{trace} command defines a tracepoint, which is a point in the
11406target program where the debugger will briefly stop, collect some
11407data, and then allow the program to continue. Setting a tracepoint or
11408changing its actions takes effect immediately if the remote stub
11409supports the @samp{InstallInTrace} feature (@pxref{install tracepoint
11410in tracing}).
11411If remote stub doesn't support the @samp{InstallInTrace} feature, all
11412these changes don't take effect until the next @code{tstart}
11413command, and once a trace experiment is running, further changes will
11414not have any effect until the next trace experiment starts. In addition,
11415@value{GDBN} supports @dfn{pending tracepoints}---tracepoints whose
11416address is not yet resolved. (This is similar to pending breakpoints.)
11417Pending tracepoints are not downloaded to the target and not installed
11418until they are resolved. The resolution of pending tracepoints requires
11419@value{GDBN} support---when debugging with the remote target, and
11420@value{GDBN} disconnects from the remote stub (@pxref{disconnected
11421tracing}), pending tracepoints can not be resolved (and downloaded to
11422the remote stub) while @value{GDBN} is disconnected.
11423
11424Here are some examples of using the @code{trace} command:
11425
11426@smallexample
11427(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo.c:121} // a source file and line number
11428
11429(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace +2} // 2 lines forward
11430
11431(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace my_function} // first source line of function
11432
11433(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *my_function} // EXACT start address of function
11434
11435(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *0x2117c4} // an address
11436@end smallexample
11437
11438@noindent
11439You can abbreviate @code{trace} as @code{tr}.
11440
11441@item trace @var{location} if @var{cond}
11442Set a tracepoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
11443@var{cond} each time the tracepoint is reached, and collect data only
11444if the value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
11445@xref{Tracepoint Conditions, ,Tracepoint Conditions}, for more
11446information on tracepoint conditions.
11447
11448@item ftrace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
11449@cindex set fast tracepoint
11450@cindex fast tracepoints, setting
11451@kindex ftrace
11452The @code{ftrace} command sets a fast tracepoint. For targets that
11453support them, fast tracepoints will use a more efficient but possibly
11454less general technique to trigger data collection, such as a jump
11455instruction instead of a trap, or some sort of hardware support. It
11456may not be possible to create a fast tracepoint at the desired
11457location, in which case the command will exit with an explanatory
11458message.
11459
11460@value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{ftrace} exactly as for
11461@code{trace}.
11462
11463On 32-bit x86-architecture systems, fast tracepoints normally need to
11464be placed at an instruction that is 5 bytes or longer, but can be
11465placed at 4-byte instructions if the low 64K of memory of the target
11466program is available to install trampolines. Some Unix-type systems,
11467such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, exclude low addresses from the program's
11468address space; but for instance with the Linux kernel it is possible
11469to let @value{GDBN} use this area by doing a @command{sysctl} command
11470to set the @code{mmap_min_addr} kernel parameter, as in
11471
11472@example
11473sudo sysctl -w vm.mmap_min_addr=32768
11474@end example
11475
11476@noindent
11477which sets the low address to 32K, which leaves plenty of room for
11478trampolines. The minimum address should be set to a page boundary.
11479
11480@item strace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
11481@cindex set static tracepoint
11482@cindex static tracepoints, setting
11483@cindex probe static tracepoint marker
11484@kindex strace
11485The @code{strace} command sets a static tracepoint. For targets that
11486support it, setting a static tracepoint probes a static
11487instrumentation point, or marker, found at @var{location}. It may not
11488be possible to set a static tracepoint at the desired location, in
11489which case the command will exit with an explanatory message.
11490
11491@value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{strace} exactly as for
11492@code{trace}, with the addition that the user can also specify
11493@code{-m @var{marker}} as @var{location}. This probes the marker
11494identified by the @var{marker} string identifier. This identifier
11495depends on the static tracepoint backend library your program is
11496using. You can find all the marker identifiers in the @samp{ID} field
11497of the @code{info static-tracepoint-markers} command output.
11498@xref{Listing Static Tracepoint Markers,,Listing Static Tracepoint
11499Markers}. For example, in the following small program using the UST
11500tracing engine:
11501
11502@smallexample
11503main ()
11504@{
11505 trace_mark(ust, bar33, "str %s", "FOOBAZ");
11506@}
11507@end smallexample
11508
11509@noindent
11510the marker id is composed of joining the first two arguments to the
11511@code{trace_mark} call with a slash, which translates to:
11512
11513@smallexample
11514(@value{GDBP}) info static-tracepoint-markers
11515Cnt Enb ID Address What
115161 n ust/bar33 0x0000000000400ddc in main at stexample.c:22
11517 Data: "str %s"
11518[etc...]
11519@end smallexample
11520
11521@noindent
11522so you may probe the marker above with:
11523
11524@smallexample
11525(@value{GDBP}) strace -m ust/bar33
11526@end smallexample
11527
11528Static tracepoints accept an extra collect action --- @code{collect
11529$_sdata}. This collects arbitrary user data passed in the probe point
11530call to the tracing library. In the UST example above, you'll see
11531that the third argument to @code{trace_mark} is a printf-like format
11532string. The user data is then the result of running that formating
11533string against the following arguments. Note that @code{info
11534static-tracepoint-markers} command output lists that format string in
11535the @samp{Data:} field.
11536
11537You can inspect this data when analyzing the trace buffer, by printing
11538the $_sdata variable like any other variable available to
11539@value{GDBN}. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}.
11540
11541@vindex $tpnum
11542@cindex last tracepoint number
11543@cindex recent tracepoint number
11544@cindex tracepoint number
11545The convenience variable @code{$tpnum} records the tracepoint number
11546of the most recently set tracepoint.
11547
11548@kindex delete tracepoint
11549@cindex tracepoint deletion
11550@item delete tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
11551Permanently delete one or more tracepoints. With no argument, the
11552default is to delete all tracepoints. Note that the regular
11553@code{delete} command can remove tracepoints also.
11554
11555Examples:
11556
11557@smallexample
11558(@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace 1 2 3} // remove three tracepoints
11559
11560(@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace} // remove all tracepoints
11561@end smallexample
11562
11563@noindent
11564You can abbreviate this command as @code{del tr}.
11565@end table
11566
11567@node Enable and Disable Tracepoints
11568@subsection Enable and Disable Tracepoints
11569
11570These commands are deprecated; they are equivalent to plain @code{disable} and @code{enable}.
11571
11572@table @code
11573@kindex disable tracepoint
11574@item disable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
11575Disable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints if no argument
11576@var{num} is given. A disabled tracepoint will have no effect during
11577a trace experiment, but it is not forgotten. You can re-enable
11578a disabled tracepoint using the @code{enable tracepoint} command.
11579If the command is issued during a trace experiment and the debug target
11580has support for disabling tracepoints during a trace experiment, then the
11581change will be effective immediately. Otherwise, it will be applied to the
11582next trace experiment.
11583
11584@kindex enable tracepoint
11585@item enable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
11586Enable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints. If this command is
11587issued during a trace experiment and the debug target supports enabling
11588tracepoints during a trace experiment, then the enabled tracepoints will
11589become effective immediately. Otherwise, they will become effective the
11590next time a trace experiment is run.
11591@end table
11592
11593@node Tracepoint Passcounts
11594@subsection Tracepoint Passcounts
11595
11596@table @code
11597@kindex passcount
11598@cindex tracepoint pass count
11599@item passcount @r{[}@var{n} @r{[}@var{num}@r{]]}
11600Set the @dfn{passcount} of a tracepoint. The passcount is a way to
11601automatically stop a trace experiment. If a tracepoint's passcount is
11602@var{n}, then the trace experiment will be automatically stopped on
11603the @var{n}'th time that tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number
11604@var{num} is not specified, the @code{passcount} command sets the
11605passcount of the most recently defined tracepoint. If no passcount is
11606given, the trace experiment will run until stopped explicitly by the
11607user.
11608
11609Examples:
11610
11611@smallexample
11612(@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 5 2} // Stop on the 5th execution of
11613@exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// tracepoint 2}
11614
11615(@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 12} // Stop on the 12th execution of the
11616@exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// most recently defined tracepoint.}
11617(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
11618(@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 3}
11619(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace bar}
11620(@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 2}
11621(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace baz}
11622(@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 1} // Stop tracing when foo has been
11623@exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// executed 3 times OR when bar has}
11624@exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// been executed 2 times}
11625@exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// OR when baz has been executed 1 time.}
11626@end smallexample
11627@end table
11628
11629@node Tracepoint Conditions
11630@subsection Tracepoint Conditions
11631@cindex conditional tracepoints
11632@cindex tracepoint conditions
11633
11634The simplest sort of tracepoint collects data every time your program
11635reaches a specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for
11636a tracepoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
11637programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A
11638tracepoint with a condition evaluates the expression each time your
11639program reaches it, and data collection happens only if the condition
11640is true.
11641
11642Tracepoint conditions can be specified when a tracepoint is set, by
11643using @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{trace} command.
11644@xref{Create and Delete Tracepoints, ,Setting Tracepoints}. They can
11645also be set or changed at any time with the @code{condition} command,
11646just as with breakpoints.
11647
11648Unlike breakpoint conditions, @value{GDBN} does not actually evaluate
11649the conditional expression itself. Instead, @value{GDBN} encodes the
11650expression into an agent expression (@pxref{Agent Expressions})
11651suitable for execution on the target, independently of @value{GDBN}.
11652Global variables become raw memory locations, locals become stack
11653accesses, and so forth.
11654
11655For instance, suppose you have a function that is usually called
11656frequently, but should not be called after an error has occurred. You
11657could use the following tracepoint command to collect data about calls
11658of that function that happen while the error code is propagating
11659through the program; an unconditional tracepoint could end up
11660collecting thousands of useless trace frames that you would have to
11661search through.
11662
11663@smallexample
11664(@value{GDBP}) @kbd{trace normal_operation if errcode > 0}
11665@end smallexample
11666
11667@node Trace State Variables
11668@subsection Trace State Variables
11669@cindex trace state variables
11670
11671A @dfn{trace state variable} is a special type of variable that is
11672created and managed by target-side code. The syntax is the same as
11673that for GDB's convenience variables (a string prefixed with ``$''),
11674but they are stored on the target. They must be created explicitly,
11675using a @code{tvariable} command. They are always 64-bit signed
11676integers.
11677
11678Trace state variables are remembered by @value{GDBN}, and downloaded
11679to the target along with tracepoint information when the trace
11680experiment starts. There are no intrinsic limits on the number of
11681trace state variables, beyond memory limitations of the target.
11682
11683@cindex convenience variables, and trace state variables
11684Although trace state variables are managed by the target, you can use
11685them in print commands and expressions as if they were convenience
11686variables; @value{GDBN} will get the current value from the target
11687while the trace experiment is running. Trace state variables share
11688the same namespace as other ``$'' variables, which means that you
11689cannot have trace state variables with names like @code{$23} or
11690@code{$pc}, nor can you have a trace state variable and a convenience
11691variable with the same name.
11692
11693@table @code
11694
11695@item tvariable $@var{name} [ = @var{expression} ]
11696@kindex tvariable
11697The @code{tvariable} command creates a new trace state variable named
11698@code{$@var{name}}, and optionally gives it an initial value of
11699@var{expression}. @var{expression} is evaluated when this command is
11700entered; the result will be converted to an integer if possible,
11701otherwise @value{GDBN} will report an error. A subsequent
11702@code{tvariable} command specifying the same name does not create a
11703variable, but instead assigns the supplied initial value to the
11704existing variable of that name, overwriting any previous initial
11705value. The default initial value is 0.
11706
11707@item info tvariables
11708@kindex info tvariables
11709List all the trace state variables along with their initial values.
11710Their current values may also be displayed, if the trace experiment is
11711currently running.
11712
11713@item delete tvariable @r{[} $@var{name} @dots{} @r{]}
11714@kindex delete tvariable
11715Delete the given trace state variables, or all of them if no arguments
11716are specified.
11717
11718@end table
11719
11720@node Tracepoint Actions
11721@subsection Tracepoint Action Lists
11722
11723@table @code
11724@kindex actions
11725@cindex tracepoint actions
11726@item actions @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
11727This command will prompt for a list of actions to be taken when the
11728tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number @var{num} is not
11729specified, this command sets the actions for the one that was most
11730recently defined (so that you can define a tracepoint and then say
11731@code{actions} without bothering about its number). You specify the
11732actions themselves on the following lines, one action at a time, and
11733terminate the actions list with a line containing just @code{end}. So
11734far, the only defined actions are @code{collect}, @code{teval}, and
11735@code{while-stepping}.
11736
11737@code{actions} is actually equivalent to @code{commands} (@pxref{Break
11738Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}), except that only the defined
11739actions are allowed; any other @value{GDBN} command is rejected.
11740
11741@cindex remove actions from a tracepoint
11742To remove all actions from a tracepoint, type @samp{actions @var{num}}
11743and follow it immediately with @samp{end}.
11744
11745@smallexample
11746(@value{GDBP}) @b{collect @var{data}} // collect some data
11747
11748(@value{GDBP}) @b{while-stepping 5} // single-step 5 times, collect data
11749
11750(@value{GDBP}) @b{end} // signals the end of actions.
11751@end smallexample
11752
11753In the following example, the action list begins with @code{collect}
11754commands indicating the things to be collected when the tracepoint is
11755hit. Then, in order to single-step and collect additional data
11756following the tracepoint, a @code{while-stepping} command is used,
11757followed by the list of things to be collected after each step in a
11758sequence of single steps. The @code{while-stepping} command is
11759terminated by its own separate @code{end} command. Lastly, the action
11760list is terminated by an @code{end} command.
11761
11762@smallexample
11763(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
11764(@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
11765Enter actions for tracepoint 1, one per line:
11766> collect bar,baz
11767> collect $regs
11768> while-stepping 12
11769 > collect $pc, arr[i]
11770 > end
11771end
11772@end smallexample
11773
11774@kindex collect @r{(tracepoints)}
11775@item collect@r{[}/@var{mods}@r{]} @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
11776Collect values of the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit.
11777This command accepts a comma-separated list of any valid expressions.
11778In addition to global, static, or local variables, the following
11779special arguments are supported:
11780
11781@table @code
11782@item $regs
11783Collect all registers.
11784
11785@item $args
11786Collect all function arguments.
11787
11788@item $locals
11789Collect all local variables.
11790
11791@item $_ret
11792Collect the return address. This is helpful if you want to see more
11793of a backtrace.
11794
11795@item $_probe_argc
11796Collects the number of arguments from the static probe at which the
11797tracepoint is located.
11798@xref{Static Probe Points}.
11799
11800@item $_probe_arg@var{n}
11801@var{n} is an integer between 0 and 11. Collects the @var{n}th argument
11802from the static probe at which the tracepoint is located.
11803@xref{Static Probe Points}.
11804
11805@item $_sdata
11806@vindex $_sdata@r{, collect}
11807Collect static tracepoint marker specific data. Only available for
11808static tracepoints. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action
11809Lists}. On the UST static tracepoints library backend, an
11810instrumentation point resembles a @code{printf} function call. The
11811tracing library is able to collect user specified data formatted to a
11812character string using the format provided by the programmer that
11813instrumented the program. Other backends have similar mechanisms.
11814Here's an example of a UST marker call:
11815
11816@smallexample
11817 const char master_name[] = "$your_name";
11818 trace_mark(channel1, marker1, "hello %s", master_name)
11819@end smallexample
11820
11821In this case, collecting @code{$_sdata} collects the string
11822@samp{hello $yourname}. When analyzing the trace buffer, you can
11823inspect @samp{$_sdata} like any other variable available to
11824@value{GDBN}.
11825@end table
11826
11827You can give several consecutive @code{collect} commands, each one
11828with a single argument, or one @code{collect} command with several
11829arguments separated by commas; the effect is the same.
11830
11831The optional @var{mods} changes the usual handling of the arguments.
11832@code{s} requests that pointers to chars be handled as strings, in
11833particular collecting the contents of the memory being pointed at, up
11834to the first zero. The upper bound is by default the value of the
11835@code{print elements} variable; if @code{s} is followed by a decimal
11836number, that is the upper bound instead. So for instance
11837@samp{collect/s25 mystr} collects as many as 25 characters at
11838@samp{mystr}.
11839
11840The command @code{info scope} (@pxref{Symbols, info scope}) is
11841particularly useful for figuring out what data to collect.
11842
11843@kindex teval @r{(tracepoints)}
11844@item teval @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
11845Evaluate the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit. This
11846command accepts a comma-separated list of expressions. The results
11847are discarded, so this is mainly useful for assigning values to trace
11848state variables (@pxref{Trace State Variables}) without adding those
11849values to the trace buffer, as would be the case if the @code{collect}
11850action were used.
11851
11852@kindex while-stepping @r{(tracepoints)}
11853@item while-stepping @var{n}
11854Perform @var{n} single-step instruction traces after the tracepoint,
11855collecting new data after each step. The @code{while-stepping}
11856command is followed by the list of what to collect while stepping
11857(followed by its own @code{end} command):
11858
11859@smallexample
11860> while-stepping 12
11861 > collect $regs, myglobal
11862 > end
11863>
11864@end smallexample
11865
11866@noindent
11867Note that @code{$pc} is not automatically collected by
11868@code{while-stepping}; you need to explicitly collect that register if
11869you need it. You may abbreviate @code{while-stepping} as @code{ws} or
11870@code{stepping}.
11871
11872@item set default-collect @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
11873@kindex set default-collect
11874@cindex default collection action
11875This variable is a list of expressions to collect at each tracepoint
11876hit. It is effectively an additional @code{collect} action prepended
11877to every tracepoint action list. The expressions are parsed
11878individually for each tracepoint, so for instance a variable named
11879@code{xyz} may be interpreted as a global for one tracepoint, and a
11880local for another, as appropriate to the tracepoint's location.
11881
11882@item show default-collect
11883@kindex show default-collect
11884Show the list of expressions that are collected by default at each
11885tracepoint hit.
11886
11887@end table
11888
11889@node Listing Tracepoints
11890@subsection Listing Tracepoints
11891
11892@table @code
11893@kindex info tracepoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
11894@kindex info tp @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
11895@cindex information about tracepoints
11896@item info tracepoints @r{[}@var{num}@dots{}@r{]}
11897Display information about the tracepoint @var{num}. If you don't
11898specify a tracepoint number, displays information about all the
11899tracepoints defined so far. The format is similar to that used for
11900@code{info breakpoints}; in fact, @code{info tracepoints} is the same
11901command, simply restricting itself to tracepoints.
11902
11903A tracepoint's listing may include additional information specific to
11904tracing:
11905
11906@itemize @bullet
11907@item
11908its passcount as given by the @code{passcount @var{n}} command
11909
11910@item
11911the state about installed on target of each location
11912@end itemize
11913
11914@smallexample
11915(@value{GDBP}) @b{info trace}
11916Num Type Disp Enb Address What
119171 tracepoint keep y 0x0804ab57 in foo() at main.cxx:7
11918 while-stepping 20
11919 collect globfoo, $regs
11920 end
11921 collect globfoo2
11922 end
11923 pass count 1200
119242 tracepoint keep y <MULTIPLE>
11925 collect $eip
119262.1 y 0x0804859c in func4 at change-loc.h:35
11927 installed on target
119282.2 y 0xb7ffc480 in func4 at change-loc.h:35
11929 installed on target
119302.3 y <PENDING> set_tracepoint
119313 tracepoint keep y 0x080485b1 in foo at change-loc.c:29
11932 not installed on target
11933(@value{GDBP})
11934@end smallexample
11935
11936@noindent
11937This command can be abbreviated @code{info tp}.
11938@end table
11939
11940@node Listing Static Tracepoint Markers
11941@subsection Listing Static Tracepoint Markers
11942
11943@table @code
11944@kindex info static-tracepoint-markers
11945@cindex information about static tracepoint markers
11946@item info static-tracepoint-markers
11947Display information about all static tracepoint markers defined in the
11948program.
11949
11950For each marker, the following columns are printed:
11951
11952@table @emph
11953@item Count
11954An incrementing counter, output to help readability. This is not a
11955stable identifier.
11956@item ID
11957The marker ID, as reported by the target.
11958@item Enabled or Disabled
11959Probed markers are tagged with @samp{y}. @samp{n} identifies marks
11960that are not enabled.
11961@item Address
11962Where the marker is in your program, as a memory address.
11963@item What
11964Where the marker is in the source for your program, as a file and line
11965number. If the debug information included in the program does not
11966allow @value{GDBN} to locate the source of the marker, this column
11967will be left blank.
11968@end table
11969
11970@noindent
11971In addition, the following information may be printed for each marker:
11972
11973@table @emph
11974@item Data
11975User data passed to the tracing library by the marker call. In the
11976UST backend, this is the format string passed as argument to the
11977marker call.
11978@item Static tracepoints probing the marker
11979The list of static tracepoints attached to the marker.
11980@end table
11981
11982@smallexample
11983(@value{GDBP}) info static-tracepoint-markers
11984Cnt ID Enb Address What
119851 ust/bar2 y 0x0000000000400e1a in main at stexample.c:25
11986 Data: number1 %d number2 %d
11987 Probed by static tracepoints: #2
119882 ust/bar33 n 0x0000000000400c87 in main at stexample.c:24
11989 Data: str %s
11990(@value{GDBP})
11991@end smallexample
11992@end table
11993
11994@node Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
11995@subsection Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
11996
11997@table @code
11998@kindex tstart [ @var{notes} ]
11999@cindex start a new trace experiment
12000@cindex collected data discarded
12001@item tstart
12002This command starts the trace experiment, and begins collecting data.
12003It has the side effect of discarding all the data collected in the
12004trace buffer during the previous trace experiment. If any arguments
12005are supplied, they are taken as a note and stored with the trace
12006experiment's state. The notes may be arbitrary text, and are
12007especially useful with disconnected tracing in a multi-user context;
12008the notes can explain what the trace is doing, supply user contact
12009information, and so forth.
12010
12011@kindex tstop [ @var{notes} ]
12012@cindex stop a running trace experiment
12013@item tstop
12014This command stops the trace experiment. If any arguments are
12015supplied, they are recorded with the experiment as a note. This is
12016useful if you are stopping a trace started by someone else, for
12017instance if the trace is interfering with the system's behavior and
12018needs to be stopped quickly.
12019
12020@strong{Note}: a trace experiment and data collection may stop
12021automatically if any tracepoint's passcount is reached
12022(@pxref{Tracepoint Passcounts}), or if the trace buffer becomes full.
12023
12024@kindex tstatus
12025@cindex status of trace data collection
12026@cindex trace experiment, status of
12027@item tstatus
12028This command displays the status of the current trace data
12029collection.
12030@end table
12031
12032Here is an example of the commands we described so far:
12033
12034@smallexample
12035(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace gdb_c_test}
12036(@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
12037Enter actions for tracepoint #1, one per line.
12038> collect $regs,$locals,$args
12039> while-stepping 11
12040 > collect $regs
12041 > end
12042> end
12043(@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
12044 [time passes @dots{}]
12045(@value{GDBP}) @b{tstop}
12046@end smallexample
12047
12048@anchor{disconnected tracing}
12049@cindex disconnected tracing
12050You can choose to continue running the trace experiment even if
12051@value{GDBN} disconnects from the target, voluntarily or
12052involuntarily. For commands such as @code{detach}, the debugger will
12053ask what you want to do with the trace. But for unexpected
12054terminations (@value{GDBN} crash, network outage), it would be
12055unfortunate to lose hard-won trace data, so the variable
12056@code{disconnected-tracing} lets you decide whether the trace should
12057continue running without @value{GDBN}.
12058
12059@table @code
12060@item set disconnected-tracing on
12061@itemx set disconnected-tracing off
12062@kindex set disconnected-tracing
12063Choose whether a tracing run should continue to run if @value{GDBN}
12064has disconnected from the target. Note that @code{detach} or
12065@code{quit} will ask you directly what to do about a running trace no
12066matter what this variable's setting, so the variable is mainly useful
12067for handling unexpected situations, such as loss of the network.
12068
12069@item show disconnected-tracing
12070@kindex show disconnected-tracing
12071Show the current choice for disconnected tracing.
12072
12073@end table
12074
12075When you reconnect to the target, the trace experiment may or may not
12076still be running; it might have filled the trace buffer in the
12077meantime, or stopped for one of the other reasons. If it is running,
12078it will continue after reconnection.
12079
12080Upon reconnection, the target will upload information about the
12081tracepoints in effect. @value{GDBN} will then compare that
12082information to the set of tracepoints currently defined, and attempt
12083to match them up, allowing for the possibility that the numbers may
12084have changed due to creation and deletion in the meantime. If one of
12085the target's tracepoints does not match any in @value{GDBN}, the
12086debugger will create a new tracepoint, so that you have a number with
12087which to specify that tracepoint. This matching-up process is
12088necessarily heuristic, and it may result in useless tracepoints being
12089created; you may simply delete them if they are of no use.
12090
12091@cindex circular trace buffer
12092If your target agent supports a @dfn{circular trace buffer}, then you
12093can run a trace experiment indefinitely without filling the trace
12094buffer; when space runs out, the agent deletes already-collected trace
12095frames, oldest first, until there is enough room to continue
12096collecting. This is especially useful if your tracepoints are being
12097hit too often, and your trace gets terminated prematurely because the
12098buffer is full. To ask for a circular trace buffer, simply set
12099@samp{circular-trace-buffer} to on. You can set this at any time,
12100including during tracing; if the agent can do it, it will change
12101buffer handling on the fly, otherwise it will not take effect until
12102the next run.
12103
12104@table @code
12105@item set circular-trace-buffer on
12106@itemx set circular-trace-buffer off
12107@kindex set circular-trace-buffer
12108Choose whether a tracing run should use a linear or circular buffer
12109for trace data. A linear buffer will not lose any trace data, but may
12110fill up prematurely, while a circular buffer will discard old trace
12111data, but it will have always room for the latest tracepoint hits.
12112
12113@item show circular-trace-buffer
12114@kindex show circular-trace-buffer
12115Show the current choice for the trace buffer. Note that this may not
12116match the agent's current buffer handling, nor is it guaranteed to
12117match the setting that might have been in effect during a past run,
12118for instance if you are looking at frames from a trace file.
12119
12120@end table
12121
12122@table @code
12123@item set trace-buffer-size @var{n}
12124@itemx set trace-buffer-size unlimited
12125@kindex set trace-buffer-size
12126Request that the target use a trace buffer of @var{n} bytes. Not all
12127targets will honor the request; they may have a compiled-in size for
12128the trace buffer, or some other limitation. Set to a value of
12129@code{unlimited} or @code{-1} to let the target use whatever size it
12130likes. This is also the default.
12131
12132@item show trace-buffer-size
12133@kindex show trace-buffer-size
12134Show the current requested size for the trace buffer. Note that this
12135will only match the actual size if the target supports size-setting,
12136and was able to handle the requested size. For instance, if the
12137target can only change buffer size between runs, this variable will
12138not reflect the change until the next run starts. Use @code{tstatus}
12139to get a report of the actual buffer size.
12140@end table
12141
12142@table @code
12143@item set trace-user @var{text}
12144@kindex set trace-user
12145
12146@item show trace-user
12147@kindex show trace-user
12148
12149@item set trace-notes @var{text}
12150@kindex set trace-notes
12151Set the trace run's notes.
12152
12153@item show trace-notes
12154@kindex show trace-notes
12155Show the trace run's notes.
12156
12157@item set trace-stop-notes @var{text}
12158@kindex set trace-stop-notes
12159Set the trace run's stop notes. The handling of the note is as for
12160@code{tstop} arguments; the set command is convenient way to fix a
12161stop note that is mistaken or incomplete.
12162
12163@item show trace-stop-notes
12164@kindex show trace-stop-notes
12165Show the trace run's stop notes.
12166
12167@end table
12168
12169@node Tracepoint Restrictions
12170@subsection Tracepoint Restrictions
12171
12172@cindex tracepoint restrictions
12173There are a number of restrictions on the use of tracepoints. As
12174described above, tracepoint data gathering occurs on the target
12175without interaction from @value{GDBN}. Thus the full capabilities of
12176the debugger are not available during data gathering, and then at data
12177examination time, you will be limited by only having what was
12178collected. The following items describe some common problems, but it
12179is not exhaustive, and you may run into additional difficulties not
12180mentioned here.
12181
12182@itemize @bullet
12183
12184@item
12185Tracepoint expressions are intended to gather objects (lvalues). Thus
12186the full flexibility of GDB's expression evaluator is not available.
12187You cannot call functions, cast objects to aggregate types, access
12188convenience variables or modify values (except by assignment to trace
12189state variables). Some language features may implicitly call
12190functions (for instance Objective-C fields with accessors), and therefore
12191cannot be collected either.
12192
12193@item
12194Collection of local variables, either individually or in bulk with
12195@code{$locals} or @code{$args}, during @code{while-stepping} may
12196behave erratically. The stepping action may enter a new scope (for
12197instance by stepping into a function), or the location of the variable
12198may change (for instance it is loaded into a register). The
12199tracepoint data recorded uses the location information for the
12200variables that is correct for the tracepoint location. When the
12201tracepoint is created, it is not possible, in general, to determine
12202where the steps of a @code{while-stepping} sequence will advance the
12203program---particularly if a conditional branch is stepped.
12204
12205@item
12206Collection of an incompletely-initialized or partially-destroyed object
12207may result in something that @value{GDBN} cannot display, or displays
12208in a misleading way.
12209
12210@item
12211When @value{GDBN} displays a pointer to character it automatically
12212dereferences the pointer to also display characters of the string
12213being pointed to. However, collecting the pointer during tracing does
12214not automatically collect the string. You need to explicitly
12215dereference the pointer and provide size information if you want to
12216collect not only the pointer, but the memory pointed to. For example,
12217@code{*ptr@@50} can be used to collect the 50 element array pointed to
12218by @code{ptr}.
12219
12220@item
12221It is not possible to collect a complete stack backtrace at a
12222tracepoint. Instead, you may collect the registers and a few hundred
12223bytes from the stack pointer with something like @code{*(unsigned char *)$esp@@300}
12224(adjust to use the name of the actual stack pointer register on your
12225target architecture, and the amount of stack you wish to capture).
12226Then the @code{backtrace} command will show a partial backtrace when
12227using a trace frame. The number of stack frames that can be examined
12228depends on the sizes of the frames in the collected stack. Note that
12229if you ask for a block so large that it goes past the bottom of the
12230stack, the target agent may report an error trying to read from an
12231invalid address.
12232
12233@item
12234If you do not collect registers at a tracepoint, @value{GDBN} can
12235infer that the value of @code{$pc} must be the same as the address of
12236the tracepoint and use that when you are looking at a trace frame
12237for that tracepoint. However, this cannot work if the tracepoint has
12238multiple locations (for instance if it was set in a function that was
12239inlined), or if it has a @code{while-stepping} loop. In those cases
12240@value{GDBN} will warn you that it can't infer @code{$pc}, and default
12241it to zero.
12242
12243@end itemize
12244
12245@node Analyze Collected Data
12246@section Using the Collected Data
12247
12248After the tracepoint experiment ends, you use @value{GDBN} commands
12249for examining the trace data. The basic idea is that each tracepoint
12250collects a trace @dfn{snapshot} every time it is hit and another
12251snapshot every time it single-steps. All these snapshots are
12252consecutively numbered from zero and go into a buffer, and you can
12253examine them later. The way you examine them is to @dfn{focus} on a
12254specific trace snapshot. When the remote stub is focused on a trace
12255snapshot, it will respond to all @value{GDBN} requests for memory and
12256registers by reading from the buffer which belongs to that snapshot,
12257rather than from @emph{real} memory or registers of the program being
12258debugged. This means that @strong{all} @value{GDBN} commands
12259(@code{print}, @code{info registers}, @code{backtrace}, etc.) will
12260behave as if we were currently debugging the program state as it was
12261when the tracepoint occurred. Any requests for data that are not in
12262the buffer will fail.
12263
12264@menu
12265* tfind:: How to select a trace snapshot
12266* tdump:: How to display all data for a snapshot
12267* save tracepoints:: How to save tracepoints for a future run
12268@end menu
12269
12270@node tfind
12271@subsection @code{tfind @var{n}}
12272
12273@kindex tfind
12274@cindex select trace snapshot
12275@cindex find trace snapshot
12276The basic command for selecting a trace snapshot from the buffer is
12277@code{tfind @var{n}}, which finds trace snapshot number @var{n},
12278counting from zero. If no argument @var{n} is given, the next
12279snapshot is selected.
12280
12281Here are the various forms of using the @code{tfind} command.
12282
12283@table @code
12284@item tfind start
12285Find the first snapshot in the buffer. This is a synonym for
12286@code{tfind 0} (since 0 is the number of the first snapshot).
12287
12288@item tfind none
12289Stop debugging trace snapshots, resume @emph{live} debugging.
12290
12291@item tfind end
12292Same as @samp{tfind none}.
12293
12294@item tfind
12295No argument means find the next trace snapshot.
12296
12297@item tfind -
12298Find the previous trace snapshot before the current one. This permits
12299retracing earlier steps.
12300
12301@item tfind tracepoint @var{num}
12302Find the next snapshot associated with tracepoint @var{num}. Search
12303proceeds forward from the last examined trace snapshot. If no
12304argument @var{num} is given, it means find the next snapshot collected
12305for the same tracepoint as the current snapshot.
12306
12307@item tfind pc @var{addr}
12308Find the next snapshot associated with the value @var{addr} of the
12309program counter. Search proceeds forward from the last examined trace
12310snapshot. If no argument @var{addr} is given, it means find the next
12311snapshot with the same value of PC as the current snapshot.
12312
12313@item tfind outside @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
12314Find the next snapshot whose PC is outside the given range of
12315addresses (exclusive).
12316
12317@item tfind range @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
12318Find the next snapshot whose PC is between @var{addr1} and
12319@var{addr2} (inclusive).
12320
12321@item tfind line @r{[}@var{file}:@r{]}@var{n}
12322Find the next snapshot associated with the source line @var{n}. If
12323the optional argument @var{file} is given, refer to line @var{n} in
12324that source file. Search proceeds forward from the last examined
12325trace snapshot. If no argument @var{n} is given, it means find the
12326next line other than the one currently being examined; thus saying
12327@code{tfind line} repeatedly can appear to have the same effect as
12328stepping from line to line in a @emph{live} debugging session.
12329@end table
12330
12331The default arguments for the @code{tfind} commands are specifically
12332designed to make it easy to scan through the trace buffer. For
12333instance, @code{tfind} with no argument selects the next trace
12334snapshot, and @code{tfind -} with no argument selects the previous
12335trace snapshot. So, by giving one @code{tfind} command, and then
12336simply hitting @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine all the trace
12337snapshots in order. Or, by saying @code{tfind -} and then hitting
12338@key{RET} repeatedly you can examine the snapshots in reverse order.
12339The @code{tfind line} command with no argument selects the snapshot
12340for the next source line executed. The @code{tfind pc} command with
12341no argument selects the next snapshot with the same program counter
12342(PC) as the current frame. The @code{tfind tracepoint} command with
12343no argument selects the next trace snapshot collected by the same
12344tracepoint as the current one.
12345
12346In addition to letting you scan through the trace buffer manually,
12347these commands make it easy to construct @value{GDBN} scripts that
12348scan through the trace buffer and print out whatever collected data
12349you are interested in. Thus, if we want to examine the PC, FP, and SP
12350registers from each trace frame in the buffer, we can say this:
12351
12352@smallexample
12353(@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
12354(@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
12355> printf "Frame %d, PC = %08X, SP = %08X, FP = %08X\n", \
12356 $trace_frame, $pc, $sp, $fp
12357> tfind
12358> end
12359
12360Frame 0, PC = 0020DC64, SP = 0030BF3C, FP = 0030BF44
12361Frame 1, PC = 0020DC6C, SP = 0030BF38, FP = 0030BF44
12362Frame 2, PC = 0020DC70, SP = 0030BF34, FP = 0030BF44
12363Frame 3, PC = 0020DC74, SP = 0030BF30, FP = 0030BF44
12364Frame 4, PC = 0020DC78, SP = 0030BF2C, FP = 0030BF44
12365Frame 5, PC = 0020DC7C, SP = 0030BF28, FP = 0030BF44
12366Frame 6, PC = 0020DC80, SP = 0030BF24, FP = 0030BF44
12367Frame 7, PC = 0020DC84, SP = 0030BF20, FP = 0030BF44
12368Frame 8, PC = 0020DC88, SP = 0030BF1C, FP = 0030BF44
12369Frame 9, PC = 0020DC8E, SP = 0030BF18, FP = 0030BF44
12370Frame 10, PC = 00203F6C, SP = 0030BE3C, FP = 0030BF14
12371@end smallexample
12372
12373Or, if we want to examine the variable @code{X} at each source line in
12374the buffer:
12375
12376@smallexample
12377(@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
12378(@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
12379> printf "Frame %d, X == %d\n", $trace_frame, X
12380> tfind line
12381> end
12382
12383Frame 0, X = 1
12384Frame 7, X = 2
12385Frame 13, X = 255
12386@end smallexample
12387
12388@node tdump
12389@subsection @code{tdump}
12390@kindex tdump
12391@cindex dump all data collected at tracepoint
12392@cindex tracepoint data, display
12393
12394This command takes no arguments. It prints all the data collected at
12395the current trace snapshot.
12396
12397@smallexample
12398(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace 444}
12399(@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
12400Enter actions for tracepoint #2, one per line:
12401> collect $regs, $locals, $args, gdb_long_test
12402> end
12403
12404(@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
12405
12406(@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind line 444}
12407#0 gdb_test (p1=0x11, p2=0x22, p3=0x33, p4=0x44, p5=0x55, p6=0x66)
12408at gdb_test.c:444
12409444 printp( "%s: arguments = 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X\n", )
12410
12411(@value{GDBP}) @b{tdump}
12412Data collected at tracepoint 2, trace frame 1:
12413d0 0xc4aa0085 -995491707
12414d1 0x18 24
12415d2 0x80 128
12416d3 0x33 51
12417d4 0x71aea3d 119204413
12418d5 0x22 34
12419d6 0xe0 224
12420d7 0x380035 3670069
12421a0 0x19e24a 1696330
12422a1 0x3000668 50333288
12423a2 0x100 256
12424a3 0x322000 3284992
12425a4 0x3000698 50333336
12426a5 0x1ad3cc 1758156
12427fp 0x30bf3c 0x30bf3c
12428sp 0x30bf34 0x30bf34
12429ps 0x0 0
12430pc 0x20b2c8 0x20b2c8
12431fpcontrol 0x0 0
12432fpstatus 0x0 0
12433fpiaddr 0x0 0
12434p = 0x20e5b4 "gdb-test"
12435p1 = (void *) 0x11
12436p2 = (void *) 0x22
12437p3 = (void *) 0x33
12438p4 = (void *) 0x44
12439p5 = (void *) 0x55
12440p6 = (void *) 0x66
12441gdb_long_test = 17 '\021'
12442
12443(@value{GDBP})
12444@end smallexample
12445
12446@code{tdump} works by scanning the tracepoint's current collection
12447actions and printing the value of each expression listed. So
12448@code{tdump} can fail, if after a run, you change the tracepoint's
12449actions to mention variables that were not collected during the run.
12450
12451Also, for tracepoints with @code{while-stepping} loops, @code{tdump}
12452uses the collected value of @code{$pc} to distinguish between trace
12453frames that were collected at the tracepoint hit, and frames that were
12454collected while stepping. This allows it to correctly choose whether
12455to display the basic list of collections, or the collections from the
12456body of the while-stepping loop. However, if @code{$pc} was not collected,
12457then @code{tdump} will always attempt to dump using the basic collection
12458list, and may fail if a while-stepping frame does not include all the
12459same data that is collected at the tracepoint hit.
12460@c This is getting pretty arcane, example would be good.
12461
12462@node save tracepoints
12463@subsection @code{save tracepoints @var{filename}}
12464@kindex save tracepoints
12465@kindex save-tracepoints
12466@cindex save tracepoints for future sessions
12467
12468This command saves all current tracepoint definitions together with
12469their actions and passcounts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
12470suitable for use in a later debugging session. To read the saved
12471tracepoint definitions, use the @code{source} command (@pxref{Command
12472Files}). The @w{@code{save-tracepoints}} command is a deprecated
12473alias for @w{@code{save tracepoints}}
12474
12475@node Tracepoint Variables
12476@section Convenience Variables for Tracepoints
12477@cindex tracepoint variables
12478@cindex convenience variables for tracepoints
12479
12480@table @code
12481@vindex $trace_frame
12482@item (int) $trace_frame
12483The current trace snapshot (a.k.a.@: @dfn{frame}) number, or -1 if no
12484snapshot is selected.
12485
12486@vindex $tracepoint
12487@item (int) $tracepoint
12488The tracepoint for the current trace snapshot.
12489
12490@vindex $trace_line
12491@item (int) $trace_line
12492The line number for the current trace snapshot.
12493
12494@vindex $trace_file
12495@item (char []) $trace_file
12496The source file for the current trace snapshot.
12497
12498@vindex $trace_func
12499@item (char []) $trace_func
12500The name of the function containing @code{$tracepoint}.
12501@end table
12502
12503Note: @code{$trace_file} is not suitable for use in @code{printf},
12504use @code{output} instead.
12505
12506Here's a simple example of using these convenience variables for
12507stepping through all the trace snapshots and printing some of their
12508data. Note that these are not the same as trace state variables,
12509which are managed by the target.
12510
12511@smallexample
12512(@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
12513
12514(@value{GDBP}) @b{while $trace_frame != -1}
12515> output $trace_file
12516> printf ", line %d (tracepoint #%d)\n", $trace_line, $tracepoint
12517> tfind
12518> end
12519@end smallexample
12520
12521@node Trace Files
12522@section Using Trace Files
12523@cindex trace files
12524
12525In some situations, the target running a trace experiment may no
12526longer be available; perhaps it crashed, or the hardware was needed
12527for a different activity. To handle these cases, you can arrange to
12528dump the trace data into a file, and later use that file as a source
12529of trace data, via the @code{target tfile} command.
12530
12531@table @code
12532
12533@kindex tsave
12534@item tsave [ -r ] @var{filename}
12535@itemx tsave [-ctf] @var{dirname}
12536Save the trace data to @var{filename}. By default, this command
12537assumes that @var{filename} refers to the host filesystem, so if
12538necessary @value{GDBN} will copy raw trace data up from the target and
12539then save it. If the target supports it, you can also supply the
12540optional argument @code{-r} (``remote'') to direct the target to save
12541the data directly into @var{filename} in its own filesystem, which may be
12542more efficient if the trace buffer is very large. (Note, however, that
12543@code{target tfile} can only read from files accessible to the host.)
12544By default, this command will save trace frame in tfile format.
12545You can supply the optional argument @code{-ctf} to save date in CTF
12546format. The @dfn{Common Trace Format} (CTF) is proposed as a trace format
12547that can be shared by multiple debugging and tracing tools. Please go to
12548@indicateurl{http://www.efficios.com/ctf} to get more information.
12549
12550@kindex target tfile
12551@kindex tfile
12552@kindex target ctf
12553@kindex ctf
12554@item target tfile @var{filename}
12555@itemx target ctf @var{dirname}
12556Use the file named @var{filename} or directory named @var{dirname} as
12557a source of trace data. Commands that examine data work as they do with
12558a live target, but it is not possible to run any new trace experiments.
12559@code{tstatus} will report the state of the trace run at the moment
12560the data was saved, as well as the current trace frame you are examining.
12561@var{filename} or @var{dirname} must be on a filesystem accessible to
12562the host.
12563
12564@smallexample
12565(@value{GDBP}) target ctf ctf.ctf
12566(@value{GDBP}) tfind
12567Found trace frame 0, tracepoint 2
1256839 ++a; /* set tracepoint 1 here */
12569(@value{GDBP}) tdump
12570Data collected at tracepoint 2, trace frame 0:
12571i = 0
12572a = 0
12573b = 1 '\001'
12574c = @{"123", "456", "789", "123", "456", "789"@}
12575d = @{@{@{a = 1, b = 2@}, @{a = 3, b = 4@}@}, @{@{a = 5, b = 6@}, @{a = 7, b = 8@}@}@}
12576(@value{GDBP}) p b
12577$1 = 1
12578@end smallexample
12579
12580@end table
12581
12582@node Overlays
12583@chapter Debugging Programs That Use Overlays
12584@cindex overlays
12585
12586If your program is too large to fit completely in your target system's
12587memory, you can sometimes use @dfn{overlays} to work around this
12588problem. @value{GDBN} provides some support for debugging programs that
12589use overlays.
12590
12591@menu
12592* How Overlays Work:: A general explanation of overlays.
12593* Overlay Commands:: Managing overlays in @value{GDBN}.
12594* Automatic Overlay Debugging:: @value{GDBN} can find out which overlays are
12595 mapped by asking the inferior.
12596* Overlay Sample Program:: A sample program using overlays.
12597@end menu
12598
12599@node How Overlays Work
12600@section How Overlays Work
12601@cindex mapped overlays
12602@cindex unmapped overlays
12603@cindex load address, overlay's
12604@cindex mapped address
12605@cindex overlay area
12606
12607Suppose you have a computer whose instruction address space is only 64
12608kilobytes long, but which has much more memory which can be accessed by
12609other means: special instructions, segment registers, or memory
12610management hardware, for example. Suppose further that you want to
12611adapt a program which is larger than 64 kilobytes to run on this system.
12612
12613One solution is to identify modules of your program which are relatively
12614independent, and need not call each other directly; call these modules
12615@dfn{overlays}. Separate the overlays from the main program, and place
12616their machine code in the larger memory. Place your main program in
12617instruction memory, but leave at least enough space there to hold the
12618largest overlay as well.
12619
12620Now, to call a function located in an overlay, you must first copy that
12621overlay's machine code from the large memory into the space set aside
12622for it in the instruction memory, and then jump to its entry point
12623there.
12624
12625@c NB: In the below the mapped area's size is greater or equal to the
12626@c size of all overlays. This is intentional to remind the developer
12627@c that overlays don't necessarily need to be the same size.
12628
12629@smallexample
12630@group
12631 Data Instruction Larger
12632Address Space Address Space Address Space
12633+-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+
12634| | | | | |
12635+-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+<-- overlay 1
12636| program | | main | .----| overlay 1 | load address
12637| variables | | program | | +-----------+
12638| and heap | | | | | |
12639+-----------+ | | | +-----------+<-- overlay 2
12640| | +-----------+ | | | load address
12641+-----------+ | | | .-| overlay 2 |
12642 | | | | | |
12643 mapped --->+-----------+ | | +-----------+
12644 address | | | | | |
12645 | overlay | <-' | | |
12646 | area | <---' +-----------+<-- overlay 3
12647 | | <---. | | load address
12648 +-----------+ `--| overlay 3 |
12649 | | | |
12650 +-----------+ | |
12651 +-----------+
12652 | |
12653 +-----------+
12654
12655 @anchor{A code overlay}A code overlay
12656@end group
12657@end smallexample
12658
12659The diagram (@pxref{A code overlay}) shows a system with separate data
12660and instruction address spaces. To map an overlay, the program copies
12661its code from the larger address space to the instruction address space.
12662Since the overlays shown here all use the same mapped address, only one
12663may be mapped at a time. For a system with a single address space for
12664data and instructions, the diagram would be similar, except that the
12665program variables and heap would share an address space with the main
12666program and the overlay area.
12667
12668An overlay loaded into instruction memory and ready for use is called a
12669@dfn{mapped} overlay; its @dfn{mapped address} is its address in the
12670instruction memory. An overlay not present (or only partially present)
12671in instruction memory is called @dfn{unmapped}; its @dfn{load address}
12672is its address in the larger memory. The mapped address is also called
12673the @dfn{virtual memory address}, or @dfn{VMA}; the load address is also
12674called the @dfn{load memory address}, or @dfn{LMA}.
12675
12676Unfortunately, overlays are not a completely transparent way to adapt a
12677program to limited instruction memory. They introduce a new set of
12678global constraints you must keep in mind as you design your program:
12679
12680@itemize @bullet
12681
12682@item
12683Before calling or returning to a function in an overlay, your program
12684must make sure that overlay is actually mapped. Otherwise, the call or
12685return will transfer control to the right address, but in the wrong
12686overlay, and your program will probably crash.
12687
12688@item
12689If the process of mapping an overlay is expensive on your system, you
12690will need to choose your overlays carefully to minimize their effect on
12691your program's performance.
12692
12693@item
12694The executable file you load onto your system must contain each
12695overlay's instructions, appearing at the overlay's load address, not its
12696mapped address. However, each overlay's instructions must be relocated
12697and its symbols defined as if the overlay were at its mapped address.
12698You can use GNU linker scripts to specify different load and relocation
12699addresses for pieces of your program; see @ref{Overlay Description,,,
12700ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}.
12701
12702@item
12703The procedure for loading executable files onto your system must be able
12704to load their contents into the larger address space as well as the
12705instruction and data spaces.
12706
12707@end itemize
12708
12709The overlay system described above is rather simple, and could be
12710improved in many ways:
12711
12712@itemize @bullet
12713
12714@item
12715If your system has suitable bank switch registers or memory management
12716hardware, you could use those facilities to make an overlay's load area
12717contents simply appear at their mapped address in instruction space.
12718This would probably be faster than copying the overlay to its mapped
12719area in the usual way.
12720
12721@item
12722If your overlays are small enough, you could set aside more than one
12723overlay area, and have more than one overlay mapped at a time.
12724
12725@item
12726You can use overlays to manage data, as well as instructions. In
12727general, data overlays are even less transparent to your design than
12728code overlays: whereas code overlays only require care when you call or
12729return to functions, data overlays require care every time you access
12730the data. Also, if you change the contents of a data overlay, you
12731must copy its contents back out to its load address before you can copy a
12732different data overlay into the same mapped area.
12733
12734@end itemize
12735
12736
12737@node Overlay Commands
12738@section Overlay Commands
12739
12740To use @value{GDBN}'s overlay support, each overlay in your program must
12741correspond to a separate section of the executable file. The section's
12742virtual memory address and load memory address must be the overlay's
12743mapped and load addresses. Identifying overlays with sections allows
12744@value{GDBN} to determine the appropriate address of a function or
12745variable, depending on whether the overlay is mapped or not.
12746
12747@value{GDBN}'s overlay commands all start with the word @code{overlay};
12748you can abbreviate this as @code{ov} or @code{ovly}. The commands are:
12749
12750@table @code
12751@item overlay off
12752@kindex overlay
12753Disable @value{GDBN}'s overlay support. When overlay support is
12754disabled, @value{GDBN} assumes that all functions and variables are
12755always present at their mapped addresses. By default, @value{GDBN}'s
12756overlay support is disabled.
12757
12758@item overlay manual
12759@cindex manual overlay debugging
12760Enable @dfn{manual} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
12761relies on you to tell it which overlays are mapped, and which are not,
12762using the @code{overlay map-overlay} and @code{overlay unmap-overlay}
12763commands described below.
12764
12765@item overlay map-overlay @var{overlay}
12766@itemx overlay map @var{overlay}
12767@cindex map an overlay
12768Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is now mapped; @var{overlay} must
12769be the name of the object file section containing the overlay. When an
12770overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the overlay's
12771functions and variables at their mapped addresses. @value{GDBN} assumes
12772that any other overlays whose mapped ranges overlap that of
12773@var{overlay} are now unmapped.
12774
12775@item overlay unmap-overlay @var{overlay}
12776@itemx overlay unmap @var{overlay}
12777@cindex unmap an overlay
12778Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is no longer mapped; @var{overlay}
12779must be the name of the object file section containing the overlay.
12780When an overlay is unmapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the
12781overlay's functions and variables at their load addresses.
12782
12783@item overlay auto
12784Enable @dfn{automatic} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
12785consults a data structure the overlay manager maintains in the inferior
12786to see which overlays are mapped. For details, see @ref{Automatic
12787Overlay Debugging}.
12788
12789@item overlay load-target
12790@itemx overlay load
12791@cindex reloading the overlay table
12792Re-read the overlay table from the inferior. Normally, @value{GDBN}
12793re-reads the table @value{GDBN} automatically each time the inferior
12794stops, so this command should only be necessary if you have changed the
12795overlay mapping yourself using @value{GDBN}. This command is only
12796useful when using automatic overlay debugging.
12797
12798@item overlay list-overlays
12799@itemx overlay list
12800@cindex listing mapped overlays
12801Display a list of the overlays currently mapped, along with their mapped
12802addresses, load addresses, and sizes.
12803
12804@end table
12805
12806Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a code address, it includes the name
12807of the function the address falls in:
12808
12809@smallexample
12810(@value{GDBP}) print main
12811$3 = @{int ()@} 0x11a0 <main>
12812@end smallexample
12813@noindent
12814When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} recognizes code in
12815unmapped overlays, and prints the names of unmapped functions with
12816asterisks around them. For example, if @code{foo} is a function in an
12817unmapped overlay, @value{GDBN} prints it this way:
12818
12819@smallexample
12820(@value{GDBP}) overlay list
12821No sections are mapped.
12822(@value{GDBP}) print foo
12823$5 = @{int (int)@} 0x100000 <*foo*>
12824@end smallexample
12825@noindent
12826When @code{foo}'s overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} prints the function's
12827name normally:
12828
12829@smallexample
12830(@value{GDBP}) overlay list
12831Section .ov.foo.text, loaded at 0x100000 - 0x100034,
12832 mapped at 0x1016 - 0x104a
12833(@value{GDBP}) print foo
12834$6 = @{int (int)@} 0x1016 <foo>
12835@end smallexample
12836
12837When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} can find the correct
12838address for functions and variables in an overlay, whether or not the
12839overlay is mapped. This allows most @value{GDBN} commands, like
12840@code{break} and @code{disassemble}, to work normally, even on unmapped
12841code. However, @value{GDBN}'s breakpoint support has some limitations:
12842
12843@itemize @bullet
12844@item
12845@cindex breakpoints in overlays
12846@cindex overlays, setting breakpoints in
12847You can set breakpoints in functions in unmapped overlays, as long as
12848@value{GDBN} can write to the overlay at its load address.
12849@item
12850@value{GDBN} can not set hardware or simulator-based breakpoints in
12851unmapped overlays. However, if you set a breakpoint at the end of your
12852overlay manager (and tell @value{GDBN} which overlays are now mapped, if
12853you are using manual overlay management), @value{GDBN} will re-set its
12854breakpoints properly.
12855@end itemize
12856
12857
12858@node Automatic Overlay Debugging
12859@section Automatic Overlay Debugging
12860@cindex automatic overlay debugging
12861
12862@value{GDBN} can automatically track which overlays are mapped and which
12863are not, given some simple co-operation from the overlay manager in the
12864inferior. If you enable automatic overlay debugging with the
12865@code{overlay auto} command (@pxref{Overlay Commands}), @value{GDBN}
12866looks in the inferior's memory for certain variables describing the
12867current state of the overlays.
12868
12869Here are the variables your overlay manager must define to support
12870@value{GDBN}'s automatic overlay debugging:
12871
12872@table @asis
12873
12874@item @code{_ovly_table}:
12875This variable must be an array of the following structures:
12876
12877@smallexample
12878struct
12879@{
12880 /* The overlay's mapped address. */
12881 unsigned long vma;
12882
12883 /* The size of the overlay, in bytes. */
12884 unsigned long size;
12885
12886 /* The overlay's load address. */
12887 unsigned long lma;
12888
12889 /* Non-zero if the overlay is currently mapped;
12890 zero otherwise. */
12891 unsigned long mapped;
12892@}
12893@end smallexample
12894
12895@item @code{_novlys}:
12896This variable must be a four-byte signed integer, holding the total
12897number of elements in @code{_ovly_table}.
12898
12899@end table
12900
12901To decide whether a particular overlay is mapped or not, @value{GDBN}
12902looks for an entry in @w{@code{_ovly_table}} whose @code{vma} and
12903@code{lma} members equal the VMA and LMA of the overlay's section in the
12904executable file. When @value{GDBN} finds a matching entry, it consults
12905the entry's @code{mapped} member to determine whether the overlay is
12906currently mapped.
12907
12908In addition, your overlay manager may define a function called
12909@code{_ovly_debug_event}. If this function is defined, @value{GDBN}
12910will silently set a breakpoint there. If the overlay manager then
12911calls this function whenever it has changed the overlay table, this
12912will enable @value{GDBN} to accurately keep track of which overlays
12913are in program memory, and update any breakpoints that may be set
12914in overlays. This will allow breakpoints to work even if the
12915overlays are kept in ROM or other non-writable memory while they
12916are not being executed.
12917
12918@node Overlay Sample Program
12919@section Overlay Sample Program
12920@cindex overlay example program
12921
12922When linking a program which uses overlays, you must place the overlays
12923at their load addresses, while relocating them to run at their mapped
12924addresses. To do this, you must write a linker script (@pxref{Overlay
12925Description,,, ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}). Unfortunately,
12926since linker scripts are specific to a particular host system, target
12927architecture, and target memory layout, this manual cannot provide
12928portable sample code demonstrating @value{GDBN}'s overlay support.
12929
12930However, the @value{GDBN} source distribution does contain an overlaid
12931program, with linker scripts for a few systems, as part of its test
12932suite. The program consists of the following files from
12933@file{gdb/testsuite/gdb.base}:
12934
12935@table @file
12936@item overlays.c
12937The main program file.
12938@item ovlymgr.c
12939A simple overlay manager, used by @file{overlays.c}.
12940@item foo.c
12941@itemx bar.c
12942@itemx baz.c
12943@itemx grbx.c
12944Overlay modules, loaded and used by @file{overlays.c}.
12945@item d10v.ld
12946@itemx m32r.ld
12947Linker scripts for linking the test program on the @code{d10v-elf}
12948and @code{m32r-elf} targets.
12949@end table
12950
12951You can build the test program using the @code{d10v-elf} GCC
12952cross-compiler like this:
12953
12954@smallexample
12955$ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c overlays.c
12956$ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c ovlymgr.c
12957$ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c foo.c
12958$ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c bar.c
12959$ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c baz.c
12960$ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c grbx.c
12961$ d10v-elf-gcc -g overlays.o ovlymgr.o foo.o bar.o \
12962 baz.o grbx.o -Wl,-Td10v.ld -o overlays
12963@end smallexample
12964
12965The build process is identical for any other architecture, except that
12966you must substitute the appropriate compiler and linker script for the
12967target system for @code{d10v-elf-gcc} and @code{d10v.ld}.
12968
12969
12970@node Languages
12971@chapter Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages
12972@cindex languages
12973
12974Although programming languages generally have common aspects, they are
12975rarely expressed in the same manner. For instance, in ANSI C,
12976dereferencing a pointer @code{p} is accomplished by @code{*p}, but in
12977Modula-2, it is accomplished by @code{p^}. Values can also be
12978represented (and displayed) differently. Hex numbers in C appear as
12979@samp{0x1ae}, while in Modula-2 they appear as @samp{1AEH}.
12980
12981@cindex working language
12982Language-specific information is built into @value{GDBN} for some languages,
12983allowing you to express operations like the above in your program's
12984native language, and allowing @value{GDBN} to output values in a manner
12985consistent with the syntax of your program's native language. The
12986language you use to build expressions is called the @dfn{working
12987language}.
12988
12989@menu
12990* Setting:: Switching between source languages
12991* Show:: Displaying the language
12992* Checks:: Type and range checks
12993* Supported Languages:: Supported languages
12994* Unsupported Languages:: Unsupported languages
12995@end menu
12996
12997@node Setting
12998@section Switching Between Source Languages
12999
13000There are two ways to control the working language---either have @value{GDBN}
13001set it automatically, or select it manually yourself. You can use the
13002@code{set language} command for either purpose. On startup, @value{GDBN}
13003defaults to setting the language automatically. The working language is
13004used to determine how expressions you type are interpreted, how values
13005are printed, etc.
13006
13007In addition to the working language, every source file that
13008@value{GDBN} knows about has its own working language. For some object
13009file formats, the compiler might indicate which language a particular
13010source file is in. However, most of the time @value{GDBN} infers the
13011language from the name of the file. The language of a source file
13012controls whether C@t{++} names are demangled---this way @code{backtrace} can
13013show each frame appropriately for its own language. There is no way to
13014set the language of a source file from within @value{GDBN}, but you can
13015set the language associated with a filename extension. @xref{Show, ,
13016Displaying the Language}.
13017
13018This is most commonly a problem when you use a program, such
13019as @code{cfront} or @code{f2c}, that generates C but is written in
13020another language. In that case, make the
13021program use @code{#line} directives in its C output; that way
13022@value{GDBN} will know the correct language of the source code of the original
13023program, and will display that source code, not the generated C code.
13024
13025@menu
13026* Filenames:: Filename extensions and languages.
13027* Manually:: Setting the working language manually
13028* Automatically:: Having @value{GDBN} infer the source language
13029@end menu
13030
13031@node Filenames
13032@subsection List of Filename Extensions and Languages
13033
13034If a source file name ends in one of the following extensions, then
13035@value{GDBN} infers that its language is the one indicated.
13036
13037@table @file
13038@item .ada
13039@itemx .ads
13040@itemx .adb
13041@itemx .a
13042Ada source file.
13043
13044@item .c
13045C source file
13046
13047@item .C
13048@itemx .cc
13049@itemx .cp
13050@itemx .cpp
13051@itemx .cxx
13052@itemx .c++
13053C@t{++} source file
13054
13055@item .d
13056D source file
13057
13058@item .m
13059Objective-C source file
13060
13061@item .f
13062@itemx .F
13063Fortran source file
13064
13065@item .mod
13066Modula-2 source file
13067
13068@item .s
13069@itemx .S
13070Assembler source file. This actually behaves almost like C, but
13071@value{GDBN} does not skip over function prologues when stepping.
13072@end table
13073
13074In addition, you may set the language associated with a filename
13075extension. @xref{Show, , Displaying the Language}.
13076
13077@node Manually
13078@subsection Setting the Working Language
13079
13080If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically,
13081expressions are interpreted the same way in your debugging session and
13082your program.
13083
13084@kindex set language
13085If you wish, you may set the language manually. To do this, issue the
13086command @samp{set language @var{lang}}, where @var{lang} is the name of
13087a language, such as
13088@code{c} or @code{modula-2}.
13089For a list of the supported languages, type @samp{set language}.
13090
13091Setting the language manually prevents @value{GDBN} from updating the working
13092language automatically. This can lead to confusion if you try
13093to debug a program when the working language is not the same as the
13094source language, when an expression is acceptable to both
13095languages---but means different things. For instance, if the current
13096source file were written in C, and @value{GDBN} was parsing Modula-2, a
13097command such as:
13098
13099@smallexample
13100print a = b + c
13101@end smallexample
13102
13103@noindent
13104might not have the effect you intended. In C, this means to add
13105@code{b} and @code{c} and place the result in @code{a}. The result
13106printed would be the value of @code{a}. In Modula-2, this means to compare
13107@code{a} to the result of @code{b+c}, yielding a @code{BOOLEAN} value.
13108
13109@node Automatically
13110@subsection Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language
13111
13112To have @value{GDBN} set the working language automatically, use
13113@samp{set language local} or @samp{set language auto}. @value{GDBN}
13114then infers the working language. That is, when your program stops in a
13115frame (usually by encountering a breakpoint), @value{GDBN} sets the
13116working language to the language recorded for the function in that
13117frame. If the language for a frame is unknown (that is, if the function
13118or block corresponding to the frame was defined in a source file that
13119does not have a recognized extension), the current working language is
13120not changed, and @value{GDBN} issues a warning.
13121
13122This may not seem necessary for most programs, which are written
13123entirely in one source language. However, program modules and libraries
13124written in one source language can be used by a main program written in
13125a different source language. Using @samp{set language auto} in this
13126case frees you from having to set the working language manually.
13127
13128@node Show
13129@section Displaying the Language
13130
13131The following commands help you find out which language is the
13132working language, and also what language source files were written in.
13133
13134@table @code
13135@item show language
13136@kindex show language
13137Display the current working language. This is the
13138language you can use with commands such as @code{print} to
13139build and compute expressions that may involve variables in your program.
13140
13141@item info frame
13142@kindex info frame@r{, show the source language}
13143Display the source language for this frame. This language becomes the
13144working language if you use an identifier from this frame.
13145@xref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}, to identify the other
13146information listed here.
13147
13148@item info source
13149@kindex info source@r{, show the source language}
13150Display the source language of this source file.
13151@xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, to identify the other
13152information listed here.
13153@end table
13154
13155In unusual circumstances, you may have source files with extensions
13156not in the standard list. You can then set the extension associated
13157with a language explicitly:
13158
13159@table @code
13160@item set extension-language @var{ext} @var{language}
13161@kindex set extension-language
13162Tell @value{GDBN} that source files with extension @var{ext} are to be
13163assumed as written in the source language @var{language}.
13164
13165@item info extensions
13166@kindex info extensions
13167List all the filename extensions and the associated languages.
13168@end table
13169
13170@node Checks
13171@section Type and Range Checking
13172
13173Some languages are designed to guard you against making seemingly common
13174errors through a series of compile- and run-time checks. These include
13175checking the type of arguments to functions and operators and making
13176sure mathematical overflows are caught at run time. Checks such as
13177these help to ensure a program's correctness once it has been compiled
13178by eliminating type mismatches and providing active checks for range
13179errors when your program is running.
13180
13181By default @value{GDBN} checks for these errors according to the
13182rules of the current source language. Although @value{GDBN} does not check
13183the statements in your program, it can check expressions entered directly
13184into @value{GDBN} for evaluation via the @code{print} command, for example.
13185
13186@menu
13187* Type Checking:: An overview of type checking
13188* Range Checking:: An overview of range checking
13189@end menu
13190
13191@cindex type checking
13192@cindex checks, type
13193@node Type Checking
13194@subsection An Overview of Type Checking
13195
13196Some languages, such as C and C@t{++}, are strongly typed, meaning that the
13197arguments to operators and functions have to be of the correct type,
13198otherwise an error occurs. These checks prevent type mismatch
13199errors from ever causing any run-time problems. For example,
13200
13201@smallexample
13202int klass::my_method(char *b) @{ return b ? 1 : 2; @}
13203
13204(@value{GDBP}) print obj.my_method (0)
13205$1 = 2
13206@exdent but
13207(@value{GDBP}) print obj.my_method (0x1234)
13208Cannot resolve method klass::my_method to any overloaded instance
13209@end smallexample
13210
13211The second example fails because in C@t{++} the integer constant
13212@samp{0x1234} is not type-compatible with the pointer parameter type.
13213
13214For the expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell
13215@value{GDBN} to not enforce strict type checking or
13216to treat any mismatches as errors and abandon the expression;
13217When type checking is disabled, @value{GDBN} successfully evaluates
13218expressions like the second example above.
13219
13220Even if type checking is off, there may be other reasons
13221related to type that prevent @value{GDBN} from evaluating an expression.
13222For instance, @value{GDBN} does not know how to add an @code{int} and
13223a @code{struct foo}. These particular type errors have nothing to do
13224with the language in use and usually arise from expressions which make
13225little sense to evaluate anyway.
13226
13227@value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling type checking:
13228
13229@kindex set check type
13230@kindex show check type
13231@table @code
13232@item set check type on
13233@itemx set check type off
13234Set strict type checking on or off. If any type mismatches occur in
13235evaluating an expression while type checking is on, @value{GDBN} prints a
13236message and aborts evaluation of the expression.
13237
13238@item show check type
13239Show the current setting of type checking and whether @value{GDBN}
13240is enforcing strict type checking rules.
13241@end table
13242
13243@cindex range checking
13244@cindex checks, range
13245@node Range Checking
13246@subsection An Overview of Range Checking
13247
13248In some languages (such as Modula-2), it is an error to exceed the
13249bounds of a type; this is enforced with run-time checks. Such range
13250checking is meant to ensure program correctness by making sure
13251computations do not overflow, or indices on an array element access do
13252not exceed the bounds of the array.
13253
13254For expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell
13255@value{GDBN} to treat range errors in one of three ways: ignore them,
13256always treat them as errors and abandon the expression, or issue
13257warnings but evaluate the expression anyway.
13258
13259A range error can result from numerical overflow, from exceeding an
13260array index bound, or when you type a constant that is not a member
13261of any type. Some languages, however, do not treat overflows as an
13262error. In many implementations of C, mathematical overflow causes the
13263result to ``wrap around'' to lower values---for example, if @var{m} is
13264the largest integer value, and @var{s} is the smallest, then
13265
13266@smallexample
13267@var{m} + 1 @result{} @var{s}
13268@end smallexample
13269
13270This, too, is specific to individual languages, and in some cases
13271specific to individual compilers or machines. @xref{Supported Languages, ,
13272Supported Languages}, for further details on specific languages.
13273
13274@value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the range checker:
13275
13276@kindex set check range
13277@kindex show check range
13278@table @code
13279@item set check range auto
13280Set range checking on or off based on the current working language.
13281@xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
13282each language.
13283
13284@item set check range on
13285@itemx set check range off
13286Set range checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
13287current working language. A warning is issued if the setting does not
13288match the language default. If a range error occurs and range checking is on,
13289then a message is printed and evaluation of the expression is aborted.
13290
13291@item set check range warn
13292Output messages when the @value{GDBN} range checker detects a range error,
13293but attempt to evaluate the expression anyway. Evaluating the
13294expression may still be impossible for other reasons, such as accessing
13295memory that the process does not own (a typical example from many Unix
13296systems).
13297
13298@item show range
13299Show the current setting of the range checker, and whether or not it is
13300being set automatically by @value{GDBN}.
13301@end table
13302
13303@node Supported Languages
13304@section Supported Languages
13305
13306@value{GDBN} supports C, C@t{++}, D, Go, Objective-C, Fortran, Java,
13307OpenCL C, Pascal, assembly, Modula-2, and Ada.
13308@c This is false ...
13309Some @value{GDBN} features may be used in expressions regardless of the
13310language you use: the @value{GDBN} @code{@@} and @code{::} operators,
13311and the @samp{@{type@}addr} construct (@pxref{Expressions,
13312,Expressions}) can be used with the constructs of any supported
13313language.
13314
13315The following sections detail to what degree each source language is
13316supported by @value{GDBN}. These sections are not meant to be language
13317tutorials or references, but serve only as a reference guide to what the
13318@value{GDBN} expression parser accepts, and what input and output
13319formats should look like for different languages. There are many good
13320books written on each of these languages; please look to these for a
13321language reference or tutorial.
13322
13323@menu
13324* C:: C and C@t{++}
13325* D:: D
13326* Go:: Go
13327* Objective-C:: Objective-C
13328* OpenCL C:: OpenCL C
13329* Fortran:: Fortran
13330* Pascal:: Pascal
13331* Modula-2:: Modula-2
13332* Ada:: Ada
13333@end menu
13334
13335@node C
13336@subsection C and C@t{++}
13337
13338@cindex C and C@t{++}
13339@cindex expressions in C or C@t{++}
13340
13341Since C and C@t{++} are so closely related, many features of @value{GDBN} apply
13342to both languages. Whenever this is the case, we discuss those languages
13343together.
13344
13345@cindex C@t{++}
13346@cindex @code{g++}, @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler
13347@cindex @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
13348The C@t{++} debugging facilities are jointly implemented by the C@t{++}
13349compiler and @value{GDBN}. Therefore, to debug your C@t{++} code
13350effectively, you must compile your C@t{++} programs with a supported
13351C@t{++} compiler, such as @sc{gnu} @code{g++}, or the HP ANSI C@t{++}
13352compiler (@code{aCC}).
13353
13354@menu
13355* C Operators:: C and C@t{++} operators
13356* C Constants:: C and C@t{++} constants
13357* C Plus Plus Expressions:: C@t{++} expressions
13358* C Defaults:: Default settings for C and C@t{++}
13359* C Checks:: C and C@t{++} type and range checks
13360* Debugging C:: @value{GDBN} and C
13361* Debugging C Plus Plus:: @value{GDBN} features for C@t{++}
13362* Decimal Floating Point:: Numbers in Decimal Floating Point format
13363@end menu
13364
13365@node C Operators
13366@subsubsection C and C@t{++} Operators
13367
13368@cindex C and C@t{++} operators
13369
13370Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
13371@code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
13372often defined on groups of types.
13373
13374For the purposes of C and C@t{++}, the following definitions hold:
13375
13376@itemize @bullet
13377
13378@item
13379@emph{Integral types} include @code{int} with any of its storage-class
13380specifiers; @code{char}; @code{enum}; and, for C@t{++}, @code{bool}.
13381
13382@item
13383@emph{Floating-point types} include @code{float}, @code{double}, and
13384@code{long double} (if supported by the target platform).
13385
13386@item
13387@emph{Pointer types} include all types defined as @code{(@var{type} *)}.
13388
13389@item
13390@emph{Scalar types} include all of the above.
13391
13392@end itemize
13393
13394@noindent
13395The following operators are supported. They are listed here
13396in order of increasing precedence:
13397
13398@table @code
13399@item ,
13400The comma or sequencing operator. Expressions in a comma-separated list
13401are evaluated from left to right, with the result of the entire
13402expression being the last expression evaluated.
13403
13404@item =
13405Assignment. The value of an assignment expression is the value
13406assigned. Defined on scalar types.
13407
13408@item @var{op}=
13409Used in an expression of the form @w{@code{@var{a} @var{op}= @var{b}}},
13410and translated to @w{@code{@var{a} = @var{a op b}}}.
13411@w{@code{@var{op}=}} and @code{=} have the same precedence.
13412@var{op} is any one of the operators @code{|}, @code{^}, @code{&},
13413@code{<<}, @code{>>}, @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{%}.
13414
13415@item ?:
13416The ternary operator. @code{@var{a} ? @var{b} : @var{c}} can be thought
13417of as: if @var{a} then @var{b} else @var{c}. @var{a} should be of an
13418integral type.
13419
13420@item ||
13421Logical @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
13422
13423@item &&
13424Logical @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
13425
13426@item |
13427Bitwise @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
13428
13429@item ^
13430Bitwise exclusive-@sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
13431
13432@item &
13433Bitwise @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
13434
13435@item ==@r{, }!=
13436Equality and inequality. Defined on scalar types. The value of these
13437expressions is 0 for false and non-zero for true.
13438
13439@item <@r{, }>@r{, }<=@r{, }>=
13440Less than, greater than, less than or equal, greater than or equal.
13441Defined on scalar types. The value of these expressions is 0 for false
13442and non-zero for true.
13443
13444@item <<@r{, }>>
13445left shift, and right shift. Defined on integral types.
13446
13447@item @@
13448The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
13449
13450@item +@r{, }-
13451Addition and subtraction. Defined on integral types, floating-point types and
13452pointer types.
13453
13454@item *@r{, }/@r{, }%
13455Multiplication, division, and modulus. Multiplication and division are
13456defined on integral and floating-point types. Modulus is defined on
13457integral types.
13458
13459@item ++@r{, }--
13460Increment and decrement. When appearing before a variable, the
13461operation is performed before the variable is used in an expression;
13462when appearing after it, the variable's value is used before the
13463operation takes place.
13464
13465@item *
13466Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types. Same precedence as
13467@code{++}.
13468
13469@item &
13470Address operator. Defined on variables. Same precedence as @code{++}.
13471
13472For debugging C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} implements a use of @samp{&} beyond what is
13473allowed in the C@t{++} language itself: you can use @samp{&(&@var{ref})}
13474to examine the address
13475where a C@t{++} reference variable (declared with @samp{&@var{ref}}) is
13476stored.
13477
13478@item -
13479Negative. Defined on integral and floating-point types. Same
13480precedence as @code{++}.
13481
13482@item !
13483Logical negation. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
13484@code{++}.
13485
13486@item ~
13487Bitwise complement operator. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
13488@code{++}.
13489
13490
13491@item .@r{, }->
13492Structure member, and pointer-to-structure member. For convenience,
13493@value{GDBN} regards the two as equivalent, choosing whether to dereference a
13494pointer based on the stored type information.
13495Defined on @code{struct} and @code{union} data.
13496
13497@item .*@r{, }->*
13498Dereferences of pointers to members.
13499
13500@item []
13501Array indexing. @code{@var{a}[@var{i}]} is defined as
13502@code{*(@var{a}+@var{i})}. Same precedence as @code{->}.
13503
13504@item ()
13505Function parameter list. Same precedence as @code{->}.
13506
13507@item ::
13508C@t{++} scope resolution operator. Defined on @code{struct}, @code{union},
13509and @code{class} types.
13510
13511@item ::
13512Doubled colons also represent the @value{GDBN} scope operator
13513(@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). Same precedence as @code{::},
13514above.
13515@end table
13516
13517If an operator is redefined in the user code, @value{GDBN} usually
13518attempts to invoke the redefined version instead of using the operator's
13519predefined meaning.
13520
13521@node C Constants
13522@subsubsection C and C@t{++} Constants
13523
13524@cindex C and C@t{++} constants
13525
13526@value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of C and C@t{++} in the
13527following ways:
13528
13529@itemize @bullet
13530@item
13531Integer constants are a sequence of digits. Octal constants are
13532specified by a leading @samp{0} (i.e.@: zero), and hexadecimal constants
13533by a leading @samp{0x} or @samp{0X}. Constants may also end with a letter
13534@samp{l}, specifying that the constant should be treated as a
13535@code{long} value.
13536
13537@item
13538Floating point constants are a sequence of digits, followed by a decimal
13539point, followed by a sequence of digits, and optionally followed by an
13540exponent. An exponent is of the form:
13541@samp{@w{e@r{[[}+@r{]|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}}, where @var{nnn} is another
13542sequence of digits. The @samp{+} is optional for positive exponents.
13543A floating-point constant may also end with a letter @samp{f} or
13544@samp{F}, specifying that the constant should be treated as being of
13545the @code{float} (as opposed to the default @code{double}) type; or with
13546a letter @samp{l} or @samp{L}, which specifies a @code{long double}
13547constant.
13548
13549@item
13550Enumerated constants consist of enumerated identifiers, or their
13551integral equivalents.
13552
13553@item
13554Character constants are a single character surrounded by single quotes
13555(@code{'}), or a number---the ordinal value of the corresponding character
13556(usually its @sc{ascii} value). Within quotes, the single character may
13557be represented by a letter or by @dfn{escape sequences}, which are of
13558the form @samp{\@var{nnn}}, where @var{nnn} is the octal representation
13559of the character's ordinal value; or of the form @samp{\@var{x}}, where
13560@samp{@var{x}} is a predefined special character---for example,
13561@samp{\n} for newline.
13562
13563Wide character constants can be written by prefixing a character
13564constant with @samp{L}, as in C. For example, @samp{L'x'} is the wide
13565form of @samp{x}. The target wide character set is used when
13566computing the value of this constant (@pxref{Character Sets}).
13567
13568@item
13569String constants are a sequence of character constants surrounded by
13570double quotes (@code{"}). Any valid character constant (as described
13571above) may appear. Double quotes within the string must be preceded by
13572a backslash, so for instance @samp{"a\"b'c"} is a string of five
13573characters.
13574
13575Wide string constants can be written by prefixing a string constant
13576with @samp{L}, as in C. The target wide character set is used when
13577computing the value of this constant (@pxref{Character Sets}).
13578
13579@item
13580Pointer constants are an integral value. You can also write pointers
13581to constants using the C operator @samp{&}.
13582
13583@item
13584Array constants are comma-separated lists surrounded by braces @samp{@{}
13585and @samp{@}}; for example, @samp{@{1,2,3@}} is a three-element array of
13586integers, @samp{@{@{1,2@}, @{3,4@}, @{5,6@}@}} is a three-by-two array,
13587and @samp{@{&"hi", &"there", &"fred"@}} is a three-element array of pointers.
13588@end itemize
13589
13590@node C Plus Plus Expressions
13591@subsubsection C@t{++} Expressions
13592
13593@cindex expressions in C@t{++}
13594@value{GDBN} expression handling can interpret most C@t{++} expressions.
13595
13596@cindex debugging C@t{++} programs
13597@cindex C@t{++} compilers
13598@cindex debug formats and C@t{++}
13599@cindex @value{NGCC} and C@t{++}
13600@quotation
13601@emph{Warning:} @value{GDBN} can only debug C@t{++} code if you use
13602the proper compiler and the proper debug format. Currently,
13603@value{GDBN} works best when debugging C@t{++} code that is compiled
13604with the most recent version of @value{NGCC} possible. The DWARF
13605debugging format is preferred; @value{NGCC} defaults to this on most
13606popular platforms. Other compilers and/or debug formats are likely to
13607work badly or not at all when using @value{GDBN} to debug C@t{++}
13608code. @xref{Compilation}.
13609@end quotation
13610
13611@enumerate
13612
13613@cindex member functions
13614@item
13615Member function calls are allowed; you can use expressions like
13616
13617@smallexample
13618count = aml->GetOriginal(x, y)
13619@end smallexample
13620
13621@vindex this@r{, inside C@t{++} member functions}
13622@cindex namespace in C@t{++}
13623@item
13624While a member function is active (in the selected stack frame), your
13625expressions have the same namespace available as the member function;
13626that is, @value{GDBN} allows implicit references to the class instance
13627pointer @code{this} following the same rules as C@t{++}. @code{using}
13628declarations in the current scope are also respected by @value{GDBN}.
13629
13630@cindex call overloaded functions
13631@cindex overloaded functions, calling
13632@cindex type conversions in C@t{++}
13633@item
13634You can call overloaded functions; @value{GDBN} resolves the function
13635call to the right definition, with some restrictions. @value{GDBN} does not
13636perform overload resolution involving user-defined type conversions,
13637calls to constructors, or instantiations of templates that do not exist
13638in the program. It also cannot handle ellipsis argument lists or
13639default arguments.
13640
13641It does perform integral conversions and promotions, floating-point
13642promotions, arithmetic conversions, pointer conversions, conversions of
13643class objects to base classes, and standard conversions such as those of
13644functions or arrays to pointers; it requires an exact match on the
13645number of function arguments.
13646
13647Overload resolution is always performed, unless you have specified
13648@code{set overload-resolution off}. @xref{Debugging C Plus Plus,
13649,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
13650
13651You must specify @code{set overload-resolution off} in order to use an
13652explicit function signature to call an overloaded function, as in
13653@smallexample
13654p 'foo(char,int)'('x', 13)
13655@end smallexample
13656
13657The @value{GDBN} command-completion facility can simplify this;
13658see @ref{Completion, ,Command Completion}.
13659
13660@cindex reference declarations
13661@item
13662@value{GDBN} understands variables declared as C@t{++} references; you can use
13663them in expressions just as you do in C@t{++} source---they are automatically
13664dereferenced.
13665
13666In the parameter list shown when @value{GDBN} displays a frame, the values of
13667reference variables are not displayed (unlike other variables); this
13668avoids clutter, since references are often used for large structures.
13669The @emph{address} of a reference variable is always shown, unless
13670you have specified @samp{set print address off}.
13671
13672@item
13673@value{GDBN} supports the C@t{++} name resolution operator @code{::}---your
13674expressions can use it just as expressions in your program do. Since
13675one scope may be defined in another, you can use @code{::} repeatedly if
13676necessary, for example in an expression like
13677@samp{@var{scope1}::@var{scope2}::@var{name}}. @value{GDBN} also allows
13678resolving name scope by reference to source files, in both C and C@t{++}
13679debugging (@pxref{Variables, ,Program Variables}).
13680
13681@item
13682@value{GDBN} performs argument-dependent lookup, following the C@t{++}
13683specification.
13684@end enumerate
13685
13686@node C Defaults
13687@subsubsection C and C@t{++} Defaults
13688
13689@cindex C and C@t{++} defaults
13690
13691If you allow @value{GDBN} to set range checking automatically, it
13692defaults to @code{off} whenever the working language changes to
13693C or C@t{++}. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
13694selects the working language.
13695
13696If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, it
13697recognizes source files whose names end with @file{.c}, @file{.C}, or
13698@file{.cc}, etc, and when @value{GDBN} enters code compiled from one of
13699these files, it sets the working language to C or C@t{++}.
13700@xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language},
13701for further details.
13702
13703@node C Checks
13704@subsubsection C and C@t{++} Type and Range Checks
13705
13706@cindex C and C@t{++} checks
13707
13708By default, when @value{GDBN} parses C or C@t{++} expressions, strict type
13709checking is used. However, if you turn type checking off, @value{GDBN}
13710will allow certain non-standard conversions, such as promoting integer
13711constants to pointers.
13712
13713Range checking, if turned on, is done on mathematical operations. Array
13714indices are not checked, since they are often used to index a pointer
13715that is not itself an array.
13716
13717@node Debugging C
13718@subsubsection @value{GDBN} and C
13719
13720The @code{set print union} and @code{show print union} commands apply to
13721the @code{union} type. When set to @samp{on}, any @code{union} that is
13722inside a @code{struct} or @code{class} is also printed. Otherwise, it
13723appears as @samp{@{...@}}.
13724
13725The @code{@@} operator aids in the debugging of dynamic arrays, formed
13726with pointers and a memory allocation function. @xref{Expressions,
13727,Expressions}.
13728
13729@node Debugging C Plus Plus
13730@subsubsection @value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}
13731
13732@cindex commands for C@t{++}
13733
13734Some @value{GDBN} commands are particularly useful with C@t{++}, and some are
13735designed specifically for use with C@t{++}. Here is a summary:
13736
13737@table @code
13738@cindex break in overloaded functions
13739@item @r{breakpoint menus}
13740When you want a breakpoint in a function whose name is overloaded,
13741@value{GDBN} has the capability to display a menu of possible breakpoint
13742locations to help you specify which function definition you want.
13743@xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}.
13744
13745@cindex overloading in C@t{++}
13746@item rbreak @var{regex}
13747Setting breakpoints using regular expressions is helpful for setting
13748breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
13749classes.
13750@xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
13751
13752@cindex C@t{++} exception handling
13753@item catch throw
13754@itemx catch rethrow
13755@itemx catch catch
13756Debug C@t{++} exception handling using these commands. @xref{Set
13757Catchpoints, , Setting Catchpoints}.
13758
13759@cindex inheritance
13760@item ptype @var{typename}
13761Print inheritance relationships as well as other information for type
13762@var{typename}.
13763@xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
13764
13765@item info vtbl @var{expression}.
13766The @code{info vtbl} command can be used to display the virtual
13767method tables of the object computed by @var{expression}. This shows
13768one entry per virtual table; there may be multiple virtual tables when
13769multiple inheritance is in use.
13770
13771@cindex C@t{++} symbol display
13772@item set print demangle
13773@itemx show print demangle
13774@itemx set print asm-demangle
13775@itemx show print asm-demangle
13776Control whether C@t{++} symbols display in their source form, both when
13777displaying code as C@t{++} source and when displaying disassemblies.
13778@xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
13779
13780@item set print object
13781@itemx show print object
13782Choose whether to print derived (actual) or declared types of objects.
13783@xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
13784
13785@item set print vtbl
13786@itemx show print vtbl
13787Control the format for printing virtual function tables.
13788@xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
13789(The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
13790ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
13791
13792@kindex set overload-resolution
13793@cindex overloaded functions, overload resolution
13794@item set overload-resolution on
13795Enable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. The default
13796is on. For overloaded functions, @value{GDBN} evaluates the arguments
13797and searches for a function whose signature matches the argument types,
13798using the standard C@t{++} conversion rules (see @ref{C Plus Plus
13799Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}, for details).
13800If it cannot find a match, it emits a message.
13801
13802@item set overload-resolution off
13803Disable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. For
13804overloaded functions that are not class member functions, @value{GDBN}
13805chooses the first function of the specified name that it finds in the
13806symbol table, whether or not its arguments are of the correct type. For
13807overloaded functions that are class member functions, @value{GDBN}
13808searches for a function whose signature @emph{exactly} matches the
13809argument types.
13810
13811@kindex show overload-resolution
13812@item show overload-resolution
13813Show the current setting of overload resolution.
13814
13815@item @r{Overloaded symbol names}
13816You can specify a particular definition of an overloaded symbol, using
13817the same notation that is used to declare such symbols in C@t{++}: type
13818@code{@var{symbol}(@var{types})} rather than just @var{symbol}. You can
13819also use the @value{GDBN} command-line word completion facilities to list the
13820available choices, or to finish the type list for you.
13821@xref{Completion,, Command Completion}, for details on how to do this.
13822@end table
13823
13824@node Decimal Floating Point
13825@subsubsection Decimal Floating Point format
13826@cindex decimal floating point format
13827
13828@value{GDBN} can examine, set and perform computations with numbers in
13829decimal floating point format, which in the C language correspond to the
13830@code{_Decimal32}, @code{_Decimal64} and @code{_Decimal128} types as
13831specified by the extension to support decimal floating-point arithmetic.
13832
13833There are two encodings in use, depending on the architecture: BID (Binary
13834Integer Decimal) for x86 and x86-64, and DPD (Densely Packed Decimal) for
13835PowerPC. @value{GDBN} will use the appropriate encoding for the configured
13836target.
13837
13838Because of a limitation in @file{libdecnumber}, the library used by @value{GDBN}
13839to manipulate decimal floating point numbers, it is not possible to convert
13840(using a cast, for example) integers wider than 32-bit to decimal float.
13841
13842In addition, in order to imitate @value{GDBN}'s behaviour with binary floating
13843point computations, error checking in decimal float operations ignores
13844underflow, overflow and divide by zero exceptions.
13845
13846In the PowerPC architecture, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers
13847to inspect @code{_Decimal128} values stored in floating point registers.
13848See @ref{PowerPC,,PowerPC} for more details.
13849
13850@node D
13851@subsection D
13852
13853@cindex D
13854@value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in D and compiled with
13855GDC, LDC or DMD compilers. Currently @value{GDBN} supports only one D
13856specific feature --- dynamic arrays.
13857
13858@node Go
13859@subsection Go
13860
13861@cindex Go (programming language)
13862@value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Go and compiled with
13863@file{gccgo} or @file{6g} compilers.
13864
13865Here is a summary of the Go-specific features and restrictions:
13866
13867@table @code
13868@cindex current Go package
13869@item The current Go package
13870The name of the current package does not need to be specified when
13871specifying global variables and functions.
13872
13873For example, given the program:
13874
13875@example
13876package main
13877var myglob = "Shall we?"
13878func main () @{
13879 // ...
13880@}
13881@end example
13882
13883When stopped inside @code{main} either of these work:
13884
13885@example
13886(gdb) p myglob
13887(gdb) p main.myglob
13888@end example
13889
13890@cindex builtin Go types
13891@item Builtin Go types
13892The @code{string} type is recognized by @value{GDBN} and is printed
13893as a string.
13894
13895@cindex builtin Go functions
13896@item Builtin Go functions
13897The @value{GDBN} expression parser recognizes the @code{unsafe.Sizeof}
13898function and handles it internally.
13899
13900@cindex restrictions on Go expressions
13901@item Restrictions on Go expressions
13902All Go operators are supported except @code{&^}.
13903The Go @code{_} ``blank identifier'' is not supported.
13904Automatic dereferencing of pointers is not supported.
13905@end table
13906
13907@node Objective-C
13908@subsection Objective-C
13909
13910@cindex Objective-C
13911This section provides information about some commands and command
13912options that are useful for debugging Objective-C code. See also
13913@ref{Symbols, info classes}, and @ref{Symbols, info selectors}, for a
13914few more commands specific to Objective-C support.
13915
13916@menu
13917* Method Names in Commands::
13918* The Print Command with Objective-C::
13919@end menu
13920
13921@node Method Names in Commands
13922@subsubsection Method Names in Commands
13923
13924The following commands have been extended to accept Objective-C method
13925names as line specifications:
13926
13927@kindex clear@r{, and Objective-C}
13928@kindex break@r{, and Objective-C}
13929@kindex info line@r{, and Objective-C}
13930@kindex jump@r{, and Objective-C}
13931@kindex list@r{, and Objective-C}
13932@itemize
13933@item @code{clear}
13934@item @code{break}
13935@item @code{info line}
13936@item @code{jump}
13937@item @code{list}
13938@end itemize
13939
13940A fully qualified Objective-C method name is specified as
13941
13942@smallexample
13943-[@var{Class} @var{methodName}]
13944@end smallexample
13945
13946where the minus sign is used to indicate an instance method and a
13947plus sign (not shown) is used to indicate a class method. The class
13948name @var{Class} and method name @var{methodName} are enclosed in
13949brackets, similar to the way messages are specified in Objective-C
13950source code. For example, to set a breakpoint at the @code{create}
13951instance method of class @code{Fruit} in the program currently being
13952debugged, enter:
13953
13954@smallexample
13955break -[Fruit create]
13956@end smallexample
13957
13958To list ten program lines around the @code{initialize} class method,
13959enter:
13960
13961@smallexample
13962list +[NSText initialize]
13963@end smallexample
13964
13965In the current version of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus sign is
13966required. In future versions of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus
13967sign will be optional, but you can use it to narrow the search. It
13968is also possible to specify just a method name:
13969
13970@smallexample
13971break create
13972@end smallexample
13973
13974You must specify the complete method name, including any colons. If
13975your program's source files contain more than one @code{create} method,
13976you'll be presented with a numbered list of classes that implement that
13977method. Indicate your choice by number, or type @samp{0} to exit if
13978none apply.
13979
13980As another example, to clear a breakpoint established at the
13981@code{makeKeyAndOrderFront:} method of the @code{NSWindow} class, enter:
13982
13983@smallexample
13984clear -[NSWindow makeKeyAndOrderFront:]
13985@end smallexample
13986
13987@node The Print Command with Objective-C
13988@subsubsection The Print Command With Objective-C
13989@cindex Objective-C, print objects
13990@kindex print-object
13991@kindex po @r{(@code{print-object})}
13992
13993The print command has also been extended to accept methods. For example:
13994
13995@smallexample
13996print -[@var{object} hash]
13997@end smallexample
13998
13999@cindex print an Objective-C object description
14000@cindex @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, and printing Objective-C objects
14001@noindent
14002will tell @value{GDBN} to send the @code{hash} message to @var{object}
14003and print the result. Also, an additional command has been added,
14004@code{print-object} or @code{po} for short, which is meant to print
14005the description of an object. However, this command may only work
14006with certain Objective-C libraries that have a particular hook
14007function, @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, defined.
14008
14009@node OpenCL C
14010@subsection OpenCL C
14011
14012@cindex OpenCL C
14013This section provides information about @value{GDBN}s OpenCL C support.
14014
14015@menu
14016* OpenCL C Datatypes::
14017* OpenCL C Expressions::
14018* OpenCL C Operators::
14019@end menu
14020
14021@node OpenCL C Datatypes
14022@subsubsection OpenCL C Datatypes
14023
14024@cindex OpenCL C Datatypes
14025@value{GDBN} supports the builtin scalar and vector datatypes specified
14026by OpenCL 1.1. In addition the half- and double-precision floating point
14027data types of the @code{cl_khr_fp16} and @code{cl_khr_fp64} OpenCL
14028extensions are also known to @value{GDBN}.
14029
14030@node OpenCL C Expressions
14031@subsubsection OpenCL C Expressions
14032
14033@cindex OpenCL C Expressions
14034@value{GDBN} supports accesses to vector components including the access as
14035lvalue where possible. Since OpenCL C is based on C99 most C expressions
14036supported by @value{GDBN} can be used as well.
14037
14038@node OpenCL C Operators
14039@subsubsection OpenCL C Operators
14040
14041@cindex OpenCL C Operators
14042@value{GDBN} supports the operators specified by OpenCL 1.1 for scalar and
14043vector data types.
14044
14045@node Fortran
14046@subsection Fortran
14047@cindex Fortran-specific support in @value{GDBN}
14048
14049@value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, but it
14050currently supports only the features of Fortran 77 language.
14051
14052@cindex trailing underscore, in Fortran symbols
14053Some Fortran compilers (@sc{gnu} Fortran 77 and Fortran 95 compilers
14054among them) append an underscore to the names of variables and
14055functions. When you debug programs compiled by those compilers, you
14056will need to refer to variables and functions with a trailing
14057underscore.
14058
14059@menu
14060* Fortran Operators:: Fortran operators and expressions
14061* Fortran Defaults:: Default settings for Fortran
14062* Special Fortran Commands:: Special @value{GDBN} commands for Fortran
14063@end menu
14064
14065@node Fortran Operators
14066@subsubsection Fortran Operators and Expressions
14067
14068@cindex Fortran operators and expressions
14069
14070Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
14071@code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on characters or other non-
14072arithmetic types. Operators are often defined on groups of types.
14073
14074@table @code
14075@item **
14076The exponentiation operator. It raises the first operand to the power
14077of the second one.
14078
14079@item :
14080The range operator. Normally used in the form of array(low:high) to
14081represent a section of array.
14082
14083@item %
14084The access component operator. Normally used to access elements in derived
14085types. Also suitable for unions. As unions aren't part of regular Fortran,
14086this can only happen when accessing a register that uses a gdbarch-defined
14087union type.
14088@end table
14089
14090@node Fortran Defaults
14091@subsubsection Fortran Defaults
14092
14093@cindex Fortran Defaults
14094
14095Fortran symbols are usually case-insensitive, so @value{GDBN} by
14096default uses case-insensitive matches for Fortran symbols. You can
14097change that with the @samp{set case-insensitive} command, see
14098@ref{Symbols}, for the details.
14099
14100@node Special Fortran Commands
14101@subsubsection Special Fortran Commands
14102
14103@cindex Special Fortran commands
14104
14105@value{GDBN} has some commands to support Fortran-specific features,
14106such as displaying common blocks.
14107
14108@table @code
14109@cindex @code{COMMON} blocks, Fortran
14110@kindex info common
14111@item info common @r{[}@var{common-name}@r{]}
14112This command prints the values contained in the Fortran @code{COMMON}
14113block whose name is @var{common-name}. With no argument, the names of
14114all @code{COMMON} blocks visible at the current program location are
14115printed.
14116@end table
14117
14118@node Pascal
14119@subsection Pascal
14120
14121@cindex Pascal support in @value{GDBN}, limitations
14122Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
14123nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
14124entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
14125syntax.
14126
14127The Pascal-specific command @code{set print pascal_static-members}
14128controls whether static members of Pascal objects are displayed.
14129@xref{Print Settings, pascal_static-members}.
14130
14131@node Modula-2
14132@subsection Modula-2
14133
14134@cindex Modula-2, @value{GDBN} support
14135
14136The extensions made to @value{GDBN} to support Modula-2 only support
14137output from the @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler (which is currently being
14138developed). Other Modula-2 compilers are not currently supported, and
14139attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
14140to give an error as @value{GDBN} reads in the executable's symbol
14141table.
14142
14143@cindex expressions in Modula-2
14144@menu
14145* M2 Operators:: Built-in operators
14146* Built-In Func/Proc:: Built-in functions and procedures
14147* M2 Constants:: Modula-2 constants
14148* M2 Types:: Modula-2 types
14149* M2 Defaults:: Default settings for Modula-2
14150* Deviations:: Deviations from standard Modula-2
14151* M2 Checks:: Modula-2 type and range checks
14152* M2 Scope:: The scope operators @code{::} and @code{.}
14153* GDB/M2:: @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
14154@end menu
14155
14156@node M2 Operators
14157@subsubsection Operators
14158@cindex Modula-2 operators
14159
14160Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
14161@code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
14162often defined on groups of types. For the purposes of Modula-2, the
14163following definitions hold:
14164
14165@itemize @bullet
14166
14167@item
14168@emph{Integral types} consist of @code{INTEGER}, @code{CARDINAL}, and
14169their subranges.
14170
14171@item
14172@emph{Character types} consist of @code{CHAR} and its subranges.
14173
14174@item
14175@emph{Floating-point types} consist of @code{REAL}.
14176
14177@item
14178@emph{Pointer types} consist of anything declared as @code{POINTER TO
14179@var{type}}.
14180
14181@item
14182@emph{Scalar types} consist of all of the above.
14183
14184@item
14185@emph{Set types} consist of @code{SET} and @code{BITSET} types.
14186
14187@item
14188@emph{Boolean types} consist of @code{BOOLEAN}.
14189@end itemize
14190
14191@noindent
14192The following operators are supported, and appear in order of
14193increasing precedence:
14194
14195@table @code
14196@item ,
14197Function argument or array index separator.
14198
14199@item :=
14200Assignment. The value of @var{var} @code{:=} @var{value} is
14201@var{value}.
14202
14203@item <@r{, }>
14204Less than, greater than on integral, floating-point, or enumerated
14205types.
14206
14207@item <=@r{, }>=
14208Less than or equal to, greater than or equal to
14209on integral, floating-point and enumerated types, or set inclusion on
14210set types. Same precedence as @code{<}.
14211
14212@item =@r{, }<>@r{, }#
14213Equality and two ways of expressing inequality, valid on scalar types.
14214Same precedence as @code{<}. In @value{GDBN} scripts, only @code{<>} is
14215available for inequality, since @code{#} conflicts with the script
14216comment character.
14217
14218@item IN
14219Set membership. Defined on set types and the types of their members.
14220Same precedence as @code{<}.
14221
14222@item OR
14223Boolean disjunction. Defined on boolean types.
14224
14225@item AND@r{, }&
14226Boolean conjunction. Defined on boolean types.
14227
14228@item @@
14229The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
14230
14231@item +@r{, }-
14232Addition and subtraction on integral and floating-point types, or union
14233and difference on set types.
14234
14235@item *
14236Multiplication on integral and floating-point types, or set intersection
14237on set types.
14238
14239@item /
14240Division on floating-point types, or symmetric set difference on set
14241types. Same precedence as @code{*}.
14242
14243@item DIV@r{, }MOD
14244Integer division and remainder. Defined on integral types. Same
14245precedence as @code{*}.
14246
14247@item -
14248Negative. Defined on @code{INTEGER} and @code{REAL} data.
14249
14250@item ^
14251Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types.
14252
14253@item NOT
14254Boolean negation. Defined on boolean types. Same precedence as
14255@code{^}.
14256
14257@item .
14258@code{RECORD} field selector. Defined on @code{RECORD} data. Same
14259precedence as @code{^}.
14260
14261@item []
14262Array indexing. Defined on @code{ARRAY} data. Same precedence as @code{^}.
14263
14264@item ()
14265Procedure argument list. Defined on @code{PROCEDURE} objects. Same precedence
14266as @code{^}.
14267
14268@item ::@r{, }.
14269@value{GDBN} and Modula-2 scope operators.
14270@end table
14271
14272@quotation
14273@emph{Warning:} Set expressions and their operations are not yet supported, so @value{GDBN}
14274treats the use of the operator @code{IN}, or the use of operators
14275@code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{=}, , @code{<>}, @code{#},
14276@code{<=}, and @code{>=} on sets as an error.
14277@end quotation
14278
14279
14280@node Built-In Func/Proc
14281@subsubsection Built-in Functions and Procedures
14282@cindex Modula-2 built-ins
14283
14284Modula-2 also makes available several built-in procedures and functions.
14285In describing these, the following metavariables are used:
14286
14287@table @var
14288
14289@item a
14290represents an @code{ARRAY} variable.
14291
14292@item c
14293represents a @code{CHAR} constant or variable.
14294
14295@item i
14296represents a variable or constant of integral type.
14297
14298@item m
14299represents an identifier that belongs to a set. Generally used in the
14300same function with the metavariable @var{s}. The type of @var{s} should
14301be @code{SET OF @var{mtype}} (where @var{mtype} is the type of @var{m}).
14302
14303@item n
14304represents a variable or constant of integral or floating-point type.
14305
14306@item r
14307represents a variable or constant of floating-point type.
14308
14309@item t
14310represents a type.
14311
14312@item v
14313represents a variable.
14314
14315@item x
14316represents a variable or constant of one of many types. See the
14317explanation of the function for details.
14318@end table
14319
14320All Modula-2 built-in procedures also return a result, described below.
14321
14322@table @code
14323@item ABS(@var{n})
14324Returns the absolute value of @var{n}.
14325
14326@item CAP(@var{c})
14327If @var{c} is a lower case letter, it returns its upper case
14328equivalent, otherwise it returns its argument.
14329
14330@item CHR(@var{i})
14331Returns the character whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
14332
14333@item DEC(@var{v})
14334Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
14335
14336@item DEC(@var{v},@var{i})
14337Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
14338new value.
14339
14340@item EXCL(@var{m},@var{s})
14341Removes the element @var{m} from the set @var{s}. Returns the new
14342set.
14343
14344@item FLOAT(@var{i})
14345Returns the floating point equivalent of the integer @var{i}.
14346
14347@item HIGH(@var{a})
14348Returns the index of the last member of @var{a}.
14349
14350@item INC(@var{v})
14351Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
14352
14353@item INC(@var{v},@var{i})
14354Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
14355new value.
14356
14357@item INCL(@var{m},@var{s})
14358Adds the element @var{m} to the set @var{s} if it is not already
14359there. Returns the new set.
14360
14361@item MAX(@var{t})
14362Returns the maximum value of the type @var{t}.
14363
14364@item MIN(@var{t})
14365Returns the minimum value of the type @var{t}.
14366
14367@item ODD(@var{i})
14368Returns boolean TRUE if @var{i} is an odd number.
14369
14370@item ORD(@var{x})
14371Returns the ordinal value of its argument. For example, the ordinal
14372value of a character is its @sc{ascii} value (on machines supporting the
14373@sc{ascii} character set). @var{x} must be of an ordered type, which include
14374integral, character and enumerated types.
14375
14376@item SIZE(@var{x})
14377Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
14378
14379@item TRUNC(@var{r})
14380Returns the integral part of @var{r}.
14381
14382@item TSIZE(@var{x})
14383Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
14384
14385@item VAL(@var{t},@var{i})
14386Returns the member of the type @var{t} whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
14387@end table
14388
14389@quotation
14390@emph{Warning:} Sets and their operations are not yet supported, so
14391@value{GDBN} treats the use of procedures @code{INCL} and @code{EXCL} as
14392an error.
14393@end quotation
14394
14395@cindex Modula-2 constants
14396@node M2 Constants
14397@subsubsection Constants
14398
14399@value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of Modula-2 in the following
14400ways:
14401
14402@itemize @bullet
14403
14404@item
14405Integer constants are simply a sequence of digits. When used in an
14406expression, a constant is interpreted to be type-compatible with the
14407rest of the expression. Hexadecimal integers are specified by a
14408trailing @samp{H}, and octal integers by a trailing @samp{B}.
14409
14410@item
14411Floating point constants appear as a sequence of digits, followed by a
14412decimal point and another sequence of digits. An optional exponent can
14413then be specified, in the form @samp{E@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}, where
14414@samp{@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}} is the desired exponent. All of the
14415digits of the floating point constant must be valid decimal (base 10)
14416digits.
14417
14418@item
14419Character constants consist of a single character enclosed by a pair of
14420like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}). They may
14421also be expressed by their ordinal value (their @sc{ascii} value, usually)
14422followed by a @samp{C}.
14423
14424@item
14425String constants consist of a sequence of characters enclosed by a
14426pair of like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}).
14427Escape sequences in the style of C are also allowed. @xref{C
14428Constants, ,C and C@t{++} Constants}, for a brief explanation of escape
14429sequences.
14430
14431@item
14432Enumerated constants consist of an enumerated identifier.
14433
14434@item
14435Boolean constants consist of the identifiers @code{TRUE} and
14436@code{FALSE}.
14437
14438@item
14439Pointer constants consist of integral values only.
14440
14441@item
14442Set constants are not yet supported.
14443@end itemize
14444
14445@node M2 Types
14446@subsubsection Modula-2 Types
14447@cindex Modula-2 types
14448
14449Currently @value{GDBN} can print the following data types in Modula-2
14450syntax: array types, record types, set types, pointer types, procedure
14451types, enumerated types, subrange types and base types. You can also
14452print the contents of variables declared using these type.
14453This section gives a number of simple source code examples together with
14454sample @value{GDBN} sessions.
14455
14456The first example contains the following section of code:
14457
14458@smallexample
14459VAR
14460 s: SET OF CHAR ;
14461 r: [20..40] ;
14462@end smallexample
14463
14464@noindent
14465and you can request @value{GDBN} to interrogate the type and value of
14466@code{r} and @code{s}.
14467
14468@smallexample
14469(@value{GDBP}) print s
14470@{'A'..'C', 'Z'@}
14471(@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14472SET OF CHAR
14473(@value{GDBP}) print r
1447421
14475(@value{GDBP}) ptype r
14476[20..40]
14477@end smallexample
14478
14479@noindent
14480Likewise if your source code declares @code{s} as:
14481
14482@smallexample
14483VAR
14484 s: SET ['A'..'Z'] ;
14485@end smallexample
14486
14487@noindent
14488then you may query the type of @code{s} by:
14489
14490@smallexample
14491(@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14492type = SET ['A'..'Z']
14493@end smallexample
14494
14495@noindent
14496Note that at present you cannot interactively manipulate set
14497expressions using the debugger.
14498
14499The following example shows how you might declare an array in Modula-2
14500and how you can interact with @value{GDBN} to print its type and contents:
14501
14502@smallexample
14503VAR
14504 s: ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR ;
14505@end smallexample
14506
14507@smallexample
14508(@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14509ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR
14510@end smallexample
14511
14512Note that the array handling is not yet complete and although the type
14513is printed correctly, expression handling still assumes that all
14514arrays have a lower bound of zero and not @code{-10} as in the example
14515above.
14516
14517Here are some more type related Modula-2 examples:
14518
14519@smallexample
14520TYPE
14521 colour = (blue, red, yellow, green) ;
14522 t = [blue..yellow] ;
14523VAR
14524 s: t ;
14525BEGIN
14526 s := blue ;
14527@end smallexample
14528
14529@noindent
14530The @value{GDBN} interaction shows how you can query the data type
14531and value of a variable.
14532
14533@smallexample
14534(@value{GDBP}) print s
14535$1 = blue
14536(@value{GDBP}) ptype t
14537type = [blue..yellow]
14538@end smallexample
14539
14540@noindent
14541In this example a Modula-2 array is declared and its contents
14542displayed. Observe that the contents are written in the same way as
14543their @code{C} counterparts.
14544
14545@smallexample
14546VAR
14547 s: ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
14548BEGIN
14549 s[1] := 1 ;
14550@end smallexample
14551
14552@smallexample
14553(@value{GDBP}) print s
14554$1 = @{1, 0, 0, 0, 0@}
14555(@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14556type = ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
14557@end smallexample
14558
14559The Modula-2 language interface to @value{GDBN} also understands
14560pointer types as shown in this example:
14561
14562@smallexample
14563VAR
14564 s: POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
14565BEGIN
14566 NEW(s) ;
14567 s^[1] := 1 ;
14568@end smallexample
14569
14570@noindent
14571and you can request that @value{GDBN} describes the type of @code{s}.
14572
14573@smallexample
14574(@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14575type = POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
14576@end smallexample
14577
14578@value{GDBN} handles compound types as we can see in this example.
14579Here we combine array types, record types, pointer types and subrange
14580types:
14581
14582@smallexample
14583TYPE
14584 foo = RECORD
14585 f1: CARDINAL ;
14586 f2: CHAR ;
14587 f3: myarray ;
14588 END ;
14589
14590 myarray = ARRAY myrange OF CARDINAL ;
14591 myrange = [-2..2] ;
14592VAR
14593 s: POINTER TO ARRAY myrange OF foo ;
14594@end smallexample
14595
14596@noindent
14597and you can ask @value{GDBN} to describe the type of @code{s} as shown
14598below.
14599
14600@smallexample
14601(@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14602type = POINTER TO ARRAY [-2..2] OF foo = RECORD
14603 f1 : CARDINAL;
14604 f2 : CHAR;
14605 f3 : ARRAY [-2..2] OF CARDINAL;
14606END
14607@end smallexample
14608
14609@node M2 Defaults
14610@subsubsection Modula-2 Defaults
14611@cindex Modula-2 defaults
14612
14613If type and range checking are set automatically by @value{GDBN}, they
14614both default to @code{on} whenever the working language changes to
14615Modula-2. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
14616selected the working language.
14617
14618If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, then entering
14619code compiled from a file whose name ends with @file{.mod} sets the
14620working language to Modula-2. @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN}
14621Infer the Source Language}, for further details.
14622
14623@node Deviations
14624@subsubsection Deviations from Standard Modula-2
14625@cindex Modula-2, deviations from
14626
14627A few changes have been made to make Modula-2 programs easier to debug.
14628This is done primarily via loosening its type strictness:
14629
14630@itemize @bullet
14631@item
14632Unlike in standard Modula-2, pointer constants can be formed by
14633integers. This allows you to modify pointer variables during
14634debugging. (In standard Modula-2, the actual address contained in a
14635pointer variable is hidden from you; it can only be modified
14636through direct assignment to another pointer variable or expression that
14637returned a pointer.)
14638
14639@item
14640C escape sequences can be used in strings and characters to represent
14641non-printable characters. @value{GDBN} prints out strings with these
14642escape sequences embedded. Single non-printable characters are
14643printed using the @samp{CHR(@var{nnn})} format.
14644
14645@item
14646The assignment operator (@code{:=}) returns the value of its right-hand
14647argument.
14648
14649@item
14650All built-in procedures both modify @emph{and} return their argument.
14651@end itemize
14652
14653@node M2 Checks
14654@subsubsection Modula-2 Type and Range Checks
14655@cindex Modula-2 checks
14656
14657@quotation
14658@emph{Warning:} in this release, @value{GDBN} does not yet perform type or
14659range checking.
14660@end quotation
14661@c FIXME remove warning when type/range checks added
14662
14663@value{GDBN} considers two Modula-2 variables type equivalent if:
14664
14665@itemize @bullet
14666@item
14667They are of types that have been declared equivalent via a @code{TYPE
14668@var{t1} = @var{t2}} statement
14669
14670@item
14671They have been declared on the same line. (Note: This is true of the
14672@sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler, but it may not be true of other compilers.)
14673@end itemize
14674
14675As long as type checking is enabled, any attempt to combine variables
14676whose types are not equivalent is an error.
14677
14678Range checking is done on all mathematical operations, assignment, array
14679index bounds, and all built-in functions and procedures.
14680
14681@node M2 Scope
14682@subsubsection The Scope Operators @code{::} and @code{.}
14683@cindex scope
14684@cindex @code{.}, Modula-2 scope operator
14685@cindex colon, doubled as scope operator
14686@ifinfo
14687@vindex colon-colon@r{, in Modula-2}
14688@c Info cannot handle :: but TeX can.
14689@end ifinfo
14690@ifnotinfo
14691@vindex ::@r{, in Modula-2}
14692@end ifnotinfo
14693
14694There are a few subtle differences between the Modula-2 scope operator
14695(@code{.}) and the @value{GDBN} scope operator (@code{::}). The two have
14696similar syntax:
14697
14698@smallexample
14699
14700@var{module} . @var{id}
14701@var{scope} :: @var{id}
14702@end smallexample
14703
14704@noindent
14705where @var{scope} is the name of a module or a procedure,
14706@var{module} the name of a module, and @var{id} is any declared
14707identifier within your program, except another module.
14708
14709Using the @code{::} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the scope
14710specified by @var{scope} for the identifier @var{id}. If it is not
14711found in the specified scope, then @value{GDBN} searches all scopes
14712enclosing the one specified by @var{scope}.
14713
14714Using the @code{.} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the current scope for
14715the identifier specified by @var{id} that was imported from the
14716definition module specified by @var{module}. With this operator, it is
14717an error if the identifier @var{id} was not imported from definition
14718module @var{module}, or if @var{id} is not an identifier in
14719@var{module}.
14720
14721@node GDB/M2
14722@subsubsection @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
14723
14724Some @value{GDBN} commands have little use when debugging Modula-2 programs.
14725Five subcommands of @code{set print} and @code{show print} apply
14726specifically to C and C@t{++}: @samp{vtbl}, @samp{demangle},
14727@samp{asm-demangle}, @samp{object}, and @samp{union}. The first four
14728apply to C@t{++}, and the last to the C @code{union} type, which has no direct
14729analogue in Modula-2.
14730
14731The @code{@@} operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), while available
14732with any language, is not useful with Modula-2. Its
14733intent is to aid the debugging of @dfn{dynamic arrays}, which cannot be
14734created in Modula-2 as they can in C or C@t{++}. However, because an
14735address can be specified by an integral constant, the construct
14736@samp{@{@var{type}@}@var{adrexp}} is still useful.
14737
14738@cindex @code{#} in Modula-2
14739In @value{GDBN} scripts, the Modula-2 inequality operator @code{#} is
14740interpreted as the beginning of a comment. Use @code{<>} instead.
14741
14742@node Ada
14743@subsection Ada
14744@cindex Ada
14745
14746The extensions made to @value{GDBN} for Ada only support
14747output from the @sc{gnu} Ada (GNAT) compiler.
14748Other Ada compilers are not currently supported, and
14749attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
14750to be difficult.
14751
14752
14753@cindex expressions in Ada
14754@menu
14755* Ada Mode Intro:: General remarks on the Ada syntax
14756 and semantics supported by Ada mode
14757 in @value{GDBN}.
14758* Omissions from Ada:: Restrictions on the Ada expression syntax.
14759* Additions to Ada:: Extensions of the Ada expression syntax.
14760* Stopping Before Main Program:: Debugging the program during elaboration.
14761* Ada Tasks:: Listing and setting breakpoints in tasks.
14762* Ada Tasks and Core Files:: Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
14763* Ravenscar Profile:: Tasking Support when using the Ravenscar
14764 Profile
14765* Ada Glitches:: Known peculiarities of Ada mode.
14766@end menu
14767
14768@node Ada Mode Intro
14769@subsubsection Introduction
14770@cindex Ada mode, general
14771
14772The Ada mode of @value{GDBN} supports a fairly large subset of Ada expression
14773syntax, with some extensions.
14774The philosophy behind the design of this subset is
14775
14776@itemize @bullet
14777@item
14778That @value{GDBN} should provide basic literals and access to operations for
14779arithmetic, dereferencing, field selection, indexing, and subprogram calls,
14780leaving more sophisticated computations to subprograms written into the
14781program (which therefore may be called from @value{GDBN}).
14782
14783@item
14784That type safety and strict adherence to Ada language restrictions
14785are not particularly important to the @value{GDBN} user.
14786
14787@item
14788That brevity is important to the @value{GDBN} user.
14789@end itemize
14790
14791Thus, for brevity, the debugger acts as if all names declared in
14792user-written packages are directly visible, even if they are not visible
14793according to Ada rules, thus making it unnecessary to fully qualify most
14794names with their packages, regardless of context. Where this causes
14795ambiguity, @value{GDBN} asks the user's intent.
14796
14797The debugger will start in Ada mode if it detects an Ada main program.
14798As for other languages, it will enter Ada mode when stopped in a program that
14799was translated from an Ada source file.
14800
14801While in Ada mode, you may use `@t{--}' for comments. This is useful
14802mostly for documenting command files. The standard @value{GDBN} comment
14803(@samp{#}) still works at the beginning of a line in Ada mode, but not in the
14804middle (to allow based literals).
14805
14806The debugger supports limited overloading. Given a subprogram call in which
14807the function symbol has multiple definitions, it will use the number of
14808actual parameters and some information about their types to attempt to narrow
14809the set of definitions. It also makes very limited use of context, preferring
14810procedures to functions in the context of the @code{call} command, and
14811functions to procedures elsewhere.
14812
14813@node Omissions from Ada
14814@subsubsection Omissions from Ada
14815@cindex Ada, omissions from
14816
14817Here are the notable omissions from the subset:
14818
14819@itemize @bullet
14820@item
14821Only a subset of the attributes are supported:
14822
14823@itemize @minus
14824@item
14825@t{'First}, @t{'Last}, and @t{'Length}
14826 on array objects (not on types and subtypes).
14827
14828@item
14829@t{'Min} and @t{'Max}.
14830
14831@item
14832@t{'Pos} and @t{'Val}.
14833
14834@item
14835@t{'Tag}.
14836
14837@item
14838@t{'Range} on array objects (not subtypes), but only as the right
14839operand of the membership (@code{in}) operator.
14840
14841@item
14842@t{'Access}, @t{'Unchecked_Access}, and
14843@t{'Unrestricted_Access} (a GNAT extension).
14844
14845@item
14846@t{'Address}.
14847@end itemize
14848
14849@item
14850The names in
14851@code{Characters.Latin_1} are not available and
14852concatenation is not implemented. Thus, escape characters in strings are
14853not currently available.
14854
14855@item
14856Equality tests (@samp{=} and @samp{/=}) on arrays test for bitwise
14857equality of representations. They will generally work correctly
14858for strings and arrays whose elements have integer or enumeration types.
14859They may not work correctly for arrays whose element
14860types have user-defined equality, for arrays of real values
14861(in particular, IEEE-conformant floating point, because of negative
14862zeroes and NaNs), and for arrays whose elements contain unused bits with
14863indeterminate values.
14864
14865@item
14866The other component-by-component array operations (@code{and}, @code{or},
14867@code{xor}, @code{not}, and relational tests other than equality)
14868are not implemented.
14869
14870@item
14871@cindex array aggregates (Ada)
14872@cindex record aggregates (Ada)
14873@cindex aggregates (Ada)
14874There is limited support for array and record aggregates. They are
14875permitted only on the right sides of assignments, as in these examples:
14876
14877@smallexample
14878(@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
14879(@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, others => 0)
14880(@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (0|4 => 1, 1..3 => 2, 5 => 6)
14881(@value{GDBP}) set A_2D_Array := ((1, 2, 3), (4, 5, 6), (7, 8, 9))
14882(@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (1, "Peter", True);
14883(@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (Name => "Peter", Id => 1, Alive => True)
14884@end smallexample
14885
14886Changing a
14887discriminant's value by assigning an aggregate has an
14888undefined effect if that discriminant is used within the record.
14889However, you can first modify discriminants by directly assigning to
14890them (which normally would not be allowed in Ada), and then performing an
14891aggregate assignment. For example, given a variable @code{A_Rec}
14892declared to have a type such as:
14893
14894@smallexample
14895type Rec (Len : Small_Integer := 0) is record
14896 Id : Integer;
14897 Vals : IntArray (1 .. Len);
14898end record;
14899@end smallexample
14900
14901you can assign a value with a different size of @code{Vals} with two
14902assignments:
14903
14904@smallexample
14905(@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec.Len := 4
14906(@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec := (Id => 42, Vals => (1, 2, 3, 4))
14907@end smallexample
14908
14909As this example also illustrates, @value{GDBN} is very loose about the usual
14910rules concerning aggregates. You may leave out some of the
14911components of an array or record aggregate (such as the @code{Len}
14912component in the assignment to @code{A_Rec} above); they will retain their
14913original values upon assignment. You may freely use dynamic values as
14914indices in component associations. You may even use overlapping or
14915redundant component associations, although which component values are
14916assigned in such cases is not defined.
14917
14918@item
14919Calls to dispatching subprograms are not implemented.
14920
14921@item
14922The overloading algorithm is much more limited (i.e., less selective)
14923than that of real Ada. It makes only limited use of the context in
14924which a subexpression appears to resolve its meaning, and it is much
14925looser in its rules for allowing type matches. As a result, some
14926function calls will be ambiguous, and the user will be asked to choose
14927the proper resolution.
14928
14929@item
14930The @code{new} operator is not implemented.
14931
14932@item
14933Entry calls are not implemented.
14934
14935@item
14936Aside from printing, arithmetic operations on the native VAX floating-point
14937formats are not supported.
14938
14939@item
14940It is not possible to slice a packed array.
14941
14942@item
14943The names @code{True} and @code{False}, when not part of a qualified name,
14944are interpreted as if implicitly prefixed by @code{Standard}, regardless of
14945context.
14946Should your program
14947redefine these names in a package or procedure (at best a dubious practice),
14948you will have to use fully qualified names to access their new definitions.
14949@end itemize
14950
14951@node Additions to Ada
14952@subsubsection Additions to Ada
14953@cindex Ada, deviations from
14954
14955As it does for other languages, @value{GDBN} makes certain generic
14956extensions to Ada (@pxref{Expressions}):
14957
14958@itemize @bullet
14959@item
14960If the expression @var{E} is a variable residing in memory (typically
14961a local variable or array element) and @var{N} is a positive integer,
14962then @code{@var{E}@@@var{N}} displays the values of @var{E} and the
14963@var{N}-1 adjacent variables following it in memory as an array. In
14964Ada, this operator is generally not necessary, since its prime use is
14965in displaying parts of an array, and slicing will usually do this in
14966Ada. However, there are occasional uses when debugging programs in
14967which certain debugging information has been optimized away.
14968
14969@item
14970@code{@var{B}::@var{var}} means ``the variable named @var{var} that
14971appears in function or file @var{B}.'' When @var{B} is a file name,
14972you must typically surround it in single quotes.
14973
14974@item
14975The expression @code{@{@var{type}@} @var{addr}} means ``the variable of type
14976@var{type} that appears at address @var{addr}.''
14977
14978@item
14979A name starting with @samp{$} is a convenience variable
14980(@pxref{Convenience Vars}) or a machine register (@pxref{Registers}).
14981@end itemize
14982
14983In addition, @value{GDBN} provides a few other shortcuts and outright
14984additions specific to Ada:
14985
14986@itemize @bullet
14987@item
14988The assignment statement is allowed as an expression, returning
14989its right-hand operand as its value. Thus, you may enter
14990
14991@smallexample
14992(@value{GDBP}) set x := y + 3
14993(@value{GDBP}) print A(tmp := y + 1)
14994@end smallexample
14995
14996@item
14997The semicolon is allowed as an ``operator,'' returning as its value
14998the value of its right-hand operand.
14999This allows, for example,
15000complex conditional breaks:
15001
15002@smallexample
15003(@value{GDBP}) break f
15004(@value{GDBP}) condition 1 (report(i); k += 1; A(k) > 100)
15005@end smallexample
15006
15007@item
15008Rather than use catenation and symbolic character names to introduce special
15009characters into strings, one may instead use a special bracket notation,
15010which is also used to print strings. A sequence of characters of the form
15011@samp{["@var{XX}"]} within a string or character literal denotes the
15012(single) character whose numeric encoding is @var{XX} in hexadecimal. The
15013sequence of characters @samp{["""]} also denotes a single quotation mark
15014in strings. For example,
15015@smallexample
15016 "One line.["0a"]Next line.["0a"]"
15017@end smallexample
15018@noindent
15019contains an ASCII newline character (@code{Ada.Characters.Latin_1.LF})
15020after each period.
15021
15022@item
15023The subtype used as a prefix for the attributes @t{'Pos}, @t{'Min}, and
15024@t{'Max} is optional (and is ignored in any case). For example, it is valid
15025to write
15026
15027@smallexample
15028(@value{GDBP}) print 'max(x, y)
15029@end smallexample
15030
15031@item
15032When printing arrays, @value{GDBN} uses positional notation when the
15033array has a lower bound of 1, and uses a modified named notation otherwise.
15034For example, a one-dimensional array of three integers with a lower bound
15035of 3 might print as
15036
15037@smallexample
15038(3 => 10, 17, 1)
15039@end smallexample
15040
15041@noindent
15042That is, in contrast to valid Ada, only the first component has a @code{=>}
15043clause.
15044
15045@item
15046You may abbreviate attributes in expressions with any unique,
15047multi-character subsequence of
15048their names (an exact match gets preference).
15049For example, you may use @t{a'len}, @t{a'gth}, or @t{a'lh}
15050in place of @t{a'length}.
15051
15052@item
15053@cindex quoting Ada internal identifiers
15054Since Ada is case-insensitive, the debugger normally maps identifiers you type
15055to lower case. The GNAT compiler uses upper-case characters for
15056some of its internal identifiers, which are normally of no interest to users.
15057For the rare occasions when you actually have to look at them,
15058enclose them in angle brackets to avoid the lower-case mapping.
15059For example,
15060@smallexample
15061(@value{GDBP}) print <JMPBUF_SAVE>[0]
15062@end smallexample
15063
15064@item
15065Printing an object of class-wide type or dereferencing an
15066access-to-class-wide value will display all the components of the object's
15067specific type (as indicated by its run-time tag). Likewise, component
15068selection on such a value will operate on the specific type of the
15069object.
15070
15071@end itemize
15072
15073@node Stopping Before Main Program
15074@subsubsection Stopping at the Very Beginning
15075
15076@cindex breakpointing Ada elaboration code
15077It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration, and
15078before reaching the main procedure.
15079As defined in the Ada Reference
15080Manual, the elaboration code is invoked from a procedure called
15081@code{adainit}. To run your program up to the beginning of
15082elaboration, simply use the following two commands:
15083@code{tbreak adainit} and @code{run}.
15084
15085@node Ada Tasks
15086@subsubsection Extensions for Ada Tasks
15087@cindex Ada, tasking
15088
15089Support for Ada tasks is analogous to that for threads (@pxref{Threads}).
15090@value{GDBN} provides the following task-related commands:
15091
15092@table @code
15093@kindex info tasks
15094@item info tasks
15095This command shows a list of current Ada tasks, as in the following example:
15096
15097
15098@smallexample
15099@iftex
15100@leftskip=0.5cm
15101@end iftex
15102(@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15103 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15104 1 8088000 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15105 2 80a4000 1 15 Accept Statement b
15106 3 809a800 1 15 Child Activation Wait a
15107* 4 80ae800 3 15 Runnable c
15108
15109@end smallexample
15110
15111@noindent
15112In this listing, the asterisk before the last task indicates it to be the
15113task currently being inspected.
15114
15115@table @asis
15116@item ID
15117Represents @value{GDBN}'s internal task number.
15118
15119@item TID
15120The Ada task ID.
15121
15122@item P-ID
15123The parent's task ID (@value{GDBN}'s internal task number).
15124
15125@item Pri
15126The base priority of the task.
15127
15128@item State
15129Current state of the task.
15130
15131@table @code
15132@item Unactivated
15133The task has been created but has not been activated. It cannot be
15134executing.
15135
15136@item Runnable
15137The task is not blocked for any reason known to Ada. (It may be waiting
15138for a mutex, though.) It is conceptually "executing" in normal mode.
15139
15140@item Terminated
15141The task is terminated, in the sense of ARM 9.3 (5). Any dependents
15142that were waiting on terminate alternatives have been awakened and have
15143terminated themselves.
15144
15145@item Child Activation Wait
15146The task is waiting for created tasks to complete activation.
15147
15148@item Accept Statement
15149The task is waiting on an accept or selective wait statement.
15150
15151@item Waiting on entry call
15152The task is waiting on an entry call.
15153
15154@item Async Select Wait
15155The task is waiting to start the abortable part of an asynchronous
15156select statement.
15157
15158@item Delay Sleep
15159The task is waiting on a select statement with only a delay
15160alternative open.
15161
15162@item Child Termination Wait
15163The task is sleeping having completed a master within itself, and is
15164waiting for the tasks dependent on that master to become terminated or
15165waiting on a terminate Phase.
15166
15167@item Wait Child in Term Alt
15168The task is sleeping waiting for tasks on terminate alternatives to
15169finish terminating.
15170
15171@item Accepting RV with @var{taskno}
15172The task is accepting a rendez-vous with the task @var{taskno}.
15173@end table
15174
15175@item Name
15176Name of the task in the program.
15177
15178@end table
15179
15180@kindex info task @var{taskno}
15181@item info task @var{taskno}
15182This command shows detailled informations on the specified task, as in
15183the following example:
15184@smallexample
15185@iftex
15186@leftskip=0.5cm
15187@end iftex
15188(@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15189 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15190 1 8077880 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15191* 2 807c468 1 15 Runnable task_1
15192(@value{GDBP}) info task 2
15193Ada Task: 0x807c468
15194Name: task_1
15195Thread: 0x807f378
15196Parent: 1 (main_task)
15197Base Priority: 15
15198State: Runnable
15199@end smallexample
15200
15201@item task
15202@kindex task@r{ (Ada)}
15203@cindex current Ada task ID
15204This command prints the ID of the current task.
15205
15206@smallexample
15207@iftex
15208@leftskip=0.5cm
15209@end iftex
15210(@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15211 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15212 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15213* 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
15214(@value{GDBP}) task
15215[Current task is 2]
15216@end smallexample
15217
15218@item task @var{taskno}
15219@cindex Ada task switching
15220This command is like the @code{thread @var{threadno}}
15221command (@pxref{Threads}). It switches the context of debugging
15222from the current task to the given task.
15223
15224@smallexample
15225@iftex
15226@leftskip=0.5cm
15227@end iftex
15228(@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15229 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15230 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15231* 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
15232(@value{GDBP}) task 1
15233[Switching to task 1]
15234#0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
15235(@value{GDBP}) bt
15236#0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
15237#1 0x8056714 in system.os_interface.pthread_cond_wait ()
15238#2 0x805cb63 in system.task_primitives.operations.sleep ()
15239#3 0x806153e in system.tasking.stages.activate_tasks ()
15240#4 0x804aacc in un () at un.adb:5
15241@end smallexample
15242
15243@item break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno}
15244@itemx break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno} if @dots{}
15245@cindex breakpoints and tasks, in Ada
15246@cindex task breakpoints, in Ada
15247@kindex break @dots{} task @var{taskno}@r{ (Ada)}
15248These commands are like the @code{break @dots{} thread @dots{}}
15249command (@pxref{Thread Stops}).
15250@var{linespec} specifies source lines, as described
15251in @ref{Specify Location}.
15252
15253Use the qualifier @samp{task @var{taskno}} with a breakpoint command
15254to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
15255particular Ada task reaches this breakpoint. @var{taskno} is one of the
15256numeric task identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
15257column of the @samp{info tasks} display.
15258
15259If you do not specify @samp{task @var{taskno}} when you set a
15260breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} tasks of your
15261program.
15262
15263You can use the @code{task} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
15264well; in this case, place @samp{task @var{taskno}} before the
15265breakpoint condition (before the @code{if}).
15266
15267For example,
15268
15269@smallexample
15270@iftex
15271@leftskip=0.5cm
15272@end iftex
15273(@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15274 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15275 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15276 2 140045060 1 15 Accept/Select Wait t2
15277 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
15278* 4 140056040 1 15 Runnable t3
15279(@value{GDBP}) b 15 task 2
15280Breakpoint 5 at 0x120044cb0: file test_task_debug.adb, line 15.
15281(@value{GDBP}) cont
15282Continuing.
15283task # 1 running
15284task # 2 running
15285
15286Breakpoint 5, test_task_debug () at test_task_debug.adb:15
1528715 flush;
15288(@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15289 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15290 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15291* 2 140045060 1 15 Runnable t2
15292 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
15293 4 140056040 1 15 Delay Sleep t3
15294@end smallexample
15295@end table
15296
15297@node Ada Tasks and Core Files
15298@subsubsection Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
15299@cindex Ada tasking and core file debugging
15300
15301When inspecting a core file, as opposed to debugging a live program,
15302tasking support may be limited or even unavailable, depending on
15303the platform being used.
15304For instance, on x86-linux, the list of tasks is available, but task
15305switching is not supported. On Tru64, however, task switching will work
15306as usual.
15307
15308On certain platforms, including Tru64, the debugger needs to perform some
15309memory writes in order to provide Ada tasking support. When inspecting
15310a core file, this means that the core file must be opened with read-write
15311privileges, using the command @samp{"set write on"} (@pxref{Patching}).
15312Under these circumstances, you should make a backup copy of the core
15313file before inspecting it with @value{GDBN}.
15314
15315@node Ravenscar Profile
15316@subsubsection Tasking Support when using the Ravenscar Profile
15317@cindex Ravenscar Profile
15318
15319The @dfn{Ravenscar Profile} is a subset of the Ada tasking features,
15320specifically designed for systems with safety-critical real-time
15321requirements.
15322
15323@table @code
15324@kindex set ravenscar task-switching on
15325@cindex task switching with program using Ravenscar Profile
15326@item set ravenscar task-switching on
15327Allows task switching when debugging a program that uses the Ravenscar
15328Profile. This is the default.
15329
15330@kindex set ravenscar task-switching off
15331@item set ravenscar task-switching off
15332Turn off task switching when debugging a program that uses the Ravenscar
15333Profile. This is mostly intended to disable the code that adds support
15334for the Ravenscar Profile, in case a bug in either @value{GDBN} or in
15335the Ravenscar runtime is preventing @value{GDBN} from working properly.
15336To be effective, this command should be run before the program is started.
15337
15338@kindex show ravenscar task-switching
15339@item show ravenscar task-switching
15340Show whether it is possible to switch from task to task in a program
15341using the Ravenscar Profile.
15342
15343@end table
15344
15345@node Ada Glitches
15346@subsubsection Known Peculiarities of Ada Mode
15347@cindex Ada, problems
15348
15349Besides the omissions listed previously (@pxref{Omissions from Ada}),
15350we know of several problems with and limitations of Ada mode in
15351@value{GDBN},
15352some of which will be fixed with planned future releases of the debugger
15353and the GNU Ada compiler.
15354
15355@itemize @bullet
15356@item
15357Static constants that the compiler chooses not to materialize as objects in
15358storage are invisible to the debugger.
15359
15360@item
15361Named parameter associations in function argument lists are ignored (the
15362argument lists are treated as positional).
15363
15364@item
15365Many useful library packages are currently invisible to the debugger.
15366
15367@item
15368Fixed-point arithmetic, conversions, input, and output is carried out using
15369floating-point arithmetic, and may give results that only approximate those on
15370the host machine.
15371
15372@item
15373The GNAT compiler never generates the prefix @code{Standard} for any of
15374the standard symbols defined by the Ada language. @value{GDBN} knows about
15375this: it will strip the prefix from names when you use it, and will never
15376look for a name you have so qualified among local symbols, nor match against
15377symbols in other packages or subprograms. If you have
15378defined entities anywhere in your program other than parameters and
15379local variables whose simple names match names in @code{Standard},
15380GNAT's lack of qualification here can cause confusion. When this happens,
15381you can usually resolve the confusion
15382by qualifying the problematic names with package
15383@code{Standard} explicitly.
15384@end itemize
15385
15386Older versions of the compiler sometimes generate erroneous debugging
15387information, resulting in the debugger incorrectly printing the value
15388of affected entities. In some cases, the debugger is able to work
15389around an issue automatically. In other cases, the debugger is able
15390to work around the issue, but the work-around has to be specifically
15391enabled.
15392
15393@kindex set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
15394@kindex show ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
15395@table @code
15396
15397@item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS on
15398Configure GDB to strictly follow the GNAT encoding when computing the
15399value of Ada entities, particularly when @code{PAD} and @code{PAD___XVS}
15400types are involved (see @code{ada/exp_dbug.ads} in the GCC sources for
15401a complete description of the encoding used by the GNAT compiler).
15402This is the default.
15403
15404@item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS off
15405This is related to the encoding using by the GNAT compiler. If @value{GDBN}
15406sometimes prints the wrong value for certain entities, changing @code{ada
15407trust-PAD-over-XVS} to @code{off} activates a work-around which may fix
15408the issue. It is always safe to set @code{ada trust-PAD-over-XVS} to
15409@code{off}, but this incurs a slight performance penalty, so it is
15410recommended to leave this setting to @code{on} unless necessary.
15411
15412@end table
15413
15414@node Unsupported Languages
15415@section Unsupported Languages
15416
15417@cindex unsupported languages
15418@cindex minimal language
15419In addition to the other fully-supported programming languages,
15420@value{GDBN} also provides a pseudo-language, called @code{minimal}.
15421It does not represent a real programming language, but provides a set
15422of capabilities close to what the C or assembly languages provide.
15423This should allow most simple operations to be performed while debugging
15424an application that uses a language currently not supported by @value{GDBN}.
15425
15426If the language is set to @code{auto}, @value{GDBN} will automatically
15427select this language if the current frame corresponds to an unsupported
15428language.
15429
15430@node Symbols
15431@chapter Examining the Symbol Table
15432
15433The commands described in this chapter allow you to inquire about the
15434symbols (names of variables, functions and types) defined in your
15435program. This information is inherent in the text of your program and
15436does not change as your program executes. @value{GDBN} finds it in your
15437program's symbol table, in the file indicated when you started @value{GDBN}
15438(@pxref{File Options, ,Choosing Files}), or by one of the
15439file-management commands (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
15440
15441@cindex symbol names
15442@cindex names of symbols
15443@cindex quoting names
15444Occasionally, you may need to refer to symbols that contain unusual
15445characters, which @value{GDBN} ordinarily treats as word delimiters. The
15446most frequent case is in referring to static variables in other
15447source files (@pxref{Variables,,Program Variables}). File names
15448are recorded in object files as debugging symbols, but @value{GDBN} would
15449ordinarily parse a typical file name, like @file{foo.c}, as the three words
15450@samp{foo} @samp{.} @samp{c}. To allow @value{GDBN} to recognize
15451@samp{foo.c} as a single symbol, enclose it in single quotes; for example,
15452
15453@smallexample
15454p 'foo.c'::x
15455@end smallexample
15456
15457@noindent
15458looks up the value of @code{x} in the scope of the file @file{foo.c}.
15459
15460@table @code
15461@cindex case-insensitive symbol names
15462@cindex case sensitivity in symbol names
15463@kindex set case-sensitive
15464@item set case-sensitive on
15465@itemx set case-sensitive off
15466@itemx set case-sensitive auto
15467Normally, when @value{GDBN} looks up symbols, it matches their names
15468with case sensitivity determined by the current source language.
15469Occasionally, you may wish to control that. The command @code{set
15470case-sensitive} lets you do that by specifying @code{on} for
15471case-sensitive matches or @code{off} for case-insensitive ones. If
15472you specify @code{auto}, case sensitivity is reset to the default
15473suitable for the source language. The default is case-sensitive
15474matches for all languages except for Fortran, for which the default is
15475case-insensitive matches.
15476
15477@kindex show case-sensitive
15478@item show case-sensitive
15479This command shows the current setting of case sensitivity for symbols
15480lookups.
15481
15482@kindex set print type methods
15483@item set print type methods
15484@itemx set print type methods on
15485@itemx set print type methods off
15486Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a class, it displays any methods
15487declared in that class. You can control this behavior either by
15488passing the appropriate flag to @code{ptype}, or using @command{set
15489print type methods}. Specifying @code{on} will cause @value{GDBN} to
15490display the methods; this is the default. Specifying @code{off} will
15491cause @value{GDBN} to omit the methods.
15492
15493@kindex show print type methods
15494@item show print type methods
15495This command shows the current setting of method display when printing
15496classes.
15497
15498@kindex set print type typedefs
15499@item set print type typedefs
15500@itemx set print type typedefs on
15501@itemx set print type typedefs off
15502
15503Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a class, it displays any typedefs
15504defined in that class. You can control this behavior either by
15505passing the appropriate flag to @code{ptype}, or using @command{set
15506print type typedefs}. Specifying @code{on} will cause @value{GDBN} to
15507display the typedef definitions; this is the default. Specifying
15508@code{off} will cause @value{GDBN} to omit the typedef definitions.
15509Note that this controls whether the typedef definition itself is
15510printed, not whether typedef names are substituted when printing other
15511types.
15512
15513@kindex show print type typedefs
15514@item show print type typedefs
15515This command shows the current setting of typedef display when
15516printing classes.
15517
15518@kindex info address
15519@cindex address of a symbol
15520@item info address @var{symbol}
15521Describe where the data for @var{symbol} is stored. For a register
15522variable, this says which register it is kept in. For a non-register
15523local variable, this prints the stack-frame offset at which the variable
15524is always stored.
15525
15526Note the contrast with @samp{print &@var{symbol}}, which does not work
15527at all for a register variable, and for a stack local variable prints
15528the exact address of the current instantiation of the variable.
15529
15530@kindex info symbol
15531@cindex symbol from address
15532@cindex closest symbol and offset for an address
15533@item info symbol @var{addr}
15534Print the name of a symbol which is stored at the address @var{addr}.
15535If no symbol is stored exactly at @var{addr}, @value{GDBN} prints the
15536nearest symbol and an offset from it:
15537
15538@smallexample
15539(@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x54320
15540_initialize_vx + 396 in section .text
15541@end smallexample
15542
15543@noindent
15544This is the opposite of the @code{info address} command. You can use
15545it to find out the name of a variable or a function given its address.
15546
15547For dynamically linked executables, the name of executable or shared
15548library containing the symbol is also printed:
15549
15550@smallexample
15551(@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x400225
15552_start + 5 in section .text of /tmp/a.out
15553(@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x2aaaac2811cf
15554__read_nocancel + 6 in section .text of /usr/lib64/libc.so.6
15555@end smallexample
15556
15557@kindex whatis
15558@item whatis[/@var{flags}] [@var{arg}]
15559Print the data type of @var{arg}, which can be either an expression
15560or a name of a data type. With no argument, print the data type of
15561@code{$}, the last value in the value history.
15562
15563If @var{arg} is an expression (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), it
15564is not actually evaluated, and any side-effecting operations (such as
15565assignments or function calls) inside it do not take place.
15566
15567If @var{arg} is a variable or an expression, @code{whatis} prints its
15568literal type as it is used in the source code. If the type was
15569defined using a @code{typedef}, @code{whatis} will @emph{not} print
15570the data type underlying the @code{typedef}. If the type of the
15571variable or the expression is a compound data type, such as
15572@code{struct} or @code{class}, @code{whatis} never prints their
15573fields or methods. It just prints the @code{struct}/@code{class}
15574name (a.k.a.@: its @dfn{tag}). If you want to see the members of
15575such a compound data type, use @code{ptype}.
15576
15577If @var{arg} is a type name that was defined using @code{typedef},
15578@code{whatis} @dfn{unrolls} only one level of that @code{typedef}.
15579Unrolling means that @code{whatis} will show the underlying type used
15580in the @code{typedef} declaration of @var{arg}. However, if that
15581underlying type is also a @code{typedef}, @code{whatis} will not
15582unroll it.
15583
15584For C code, the type names may also have the form @samp{class
15585@var{class-name}}, @samp{struct @var{struct-tag}}, @samp{union
15586@var{union-tag}} or @samp{enum @var{enum-tag}}.
15587
15588@var{flags} can be used to modify how the type is displayed.
15589Available flags are:
15590
15591@table @code
15592@item r
15593Display in ``raw'' form. Normally, @value{GDBN} substitutes template
15594parameters and typedefs defined in a class when printing the class'
15595members. The @code{/r} flag disables this.
15596
15597@item m
15598Do not print methods defined in the class.
15599
15600@item M
15601Print methods defined in the class. This is the default, but the flag
15602exists in case you change the default with @command{set print type methods}.
15603
15604@item t
15605Do not print typedefs defined in the class. Note that this controls
15606whether the typedef definition itself is printed, not whether typedef
15607names are substituted when printing other types.
15608
15609@item T
15610Print typedefs defined in the class. This is the default, but the flag
15611exists in case you change the default with @command{set print type typedefs}.
15612@end table
15613
15614@kindex ptype
15615@item ptype[/@var{flags}] [@var{arg}]
15616@code{ptype} accepts the same arguments as @code{whatis}, but prints a
15617detailed description of the type, instead of just the name of the type.
15618@xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
15619
15620Contrary to @code{whatis}, @code{ptype} always unrolls any
15621@code{typedef}s in its argument declaration, whether the argument is
15622a variable, expression, or a data type. This means that @code{ptype}
15623of a variable or an expression will not print literally its type as
15624present in the source code---use @code{whatis} for that. @code{typedef}s at
15625the pointer or reference targets are also unrolled. Only @code{typedef}s of
15626fields, methods and inner @code{class typedef}s of @code{struct}s,
15627@code{class}es and @code{union}s are not unrolled even with @code{ptype}.
15628
15629For example, for this variable declaration:
15630
15631@smallexample
15632typedef double real_t;
15633struct complex @{ real_t real; double imag; @};
15634typedef struct complex complex_t;
15635complex_t var;
15636real_t *real_pointer_var;
15637@end smallexample
15638
15639@noindent
15640the two commands give this output:
15641
15642@smallexample
15643@group
15644(@value{GDBP}) whatis var
15645type = complex_t
15646(@value{GDBP}) ptype var
15647type = struct complex @{
15648 real_t real;
15649 double imag;
15650@}
15651(@value{GDBP}) whatis complex_t
15652type = struct complex
15653(@value{GDBP}) whatis struct complex
15654type = struct complex
15655(@value{GDBP}) ptype struct complex
15656type = struct complex @{
15657 real_t real;
15658 double imag;
15659@}
15660(@value{GDBP}) whatis real_pointer_var
15661type = real_t *
15662(@value{GDBP}) ptype real_pointer_var
15663type = double *
15664@end group
15665@end smallexample
15666
15667@noindent
15668As with @code{whatis}, using @code{ptype} without an argument refers to
15669the type of @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
15670
15671@cindex incomplete type
15672Sometimes, programs use opaque data types or incomplete specifications
15673of complex data structure. If the debug information included in the
15674program does not allow @value{GDBN} to display a full declaration of
15675the data type, it will say @samp{<incomplete type>}. For example,
15676given these declarations:
15677
15678@smallexample
15679 struct foo;
15680 struct foo *fooptr;
15681@end smallexample
15682
15683@noindent
15684but no definition for @code{struct foo} itself, @value{GDBN} will say:
15685
15686@smallexample
15687 (@value{GDBP}) ptype foo
15688 $1 = <incomplete type>
15689@end smallexample
15690
15691@noindent
15692``Incomplete type'' is C terminology for data types that are not
15693completely specified.
15694
15695@kindex info types
15696@item info types @var{regexp}
15697@itemx info types
15698Print a brief description of all types whose names match the regular
15699expression @var{regexp} (or all types in your program, if you supply
15700no argument). Each complete typename is matched as though it were a
15701complete line; thus, @samp{i type value} gives information on all
15702types in your program whose names include the string @code{value}, but
15703@samp{i type ^value$} gives information only on types whose complete
15704name is @code{value}.
15705
15706This command differs from @code{ptype} in two ways: first, like
15707@code{whatis}, it does not print a detailed description; second, it
15708lists all source files where a type is defined.
15709
15710@kindex info type-printers
15711@item info type-printers
15712Versions of @value{GDBN} that ship with Python scripting enabled may
15713have ``type printers'' available. When using @command{ptype} or
15714@command{whatis}, these printers are consulted when the name of a type
15715is needed. @xref{Type Printing API}, for more information on writing
15716type printers.
15717
15718@code{info type-printers} displays all the available type printers.
15719
15720@kindex enable type-printer
15721@kindex disable type-printer
15722@item enable type-printer @var{name}@dots{}
15723@item disable type-printer @var{name}@dots{}
15724These commands can be used to enable or disable type printers.
15725
15726@kindex info scope
15727@cindex local variables
15728@item info scope @var{location}
15729List all the variables local to a particular scope. This command
15730accepts a @var{location} argument---a function name, a source line, or
15731an address preceded by a @samp{*}, and prints all the variables local
15732to the scope defined by that location. (@xref{Specify Location}, for
15733details about supported forms of @var{location}.) For example:
15734
15735@smallexample
15736(@value{GDBP}) @b{info scope command_line_handler}
15737Scope for command_line_handler:
15738Symbol rl is an argument at stack/frame offset 8, length 4.
15739Symbol linebuffer is in static storage at address 0x150a18, length 4.
15740Symbol linelength is in static storage at address 0x150a1c, length 4.
15741Symbol p is a local variable in register $esi, length 4.
15742Symbol p1 is a local variable in register $ebx, length 4.
15743Symbol nline is a local variable in register $edx, length 4.
15744Symbol repeat is a local variable at frame offset -8, length 4.
15745@end smallexample
15746
15747@noindent
15748This command is especially useful for determining what data to collect
15749during a @dfn{trace experiment}, see @ref{Tracepoint Actions,
15750collect}.
15751
15752@kindex info source
15753@item info source
15754Show information about the current source file---that is, the source file for
15755the function containing the current point of execution:
15756@itemize @bullet
15757@item
15758the name of the source file, and the directory containing it,
15759@item
15760the directory it was compiled in,
15761@item
15762its length, in lines,
15763@item
15764which programming language it is written in,
15765@item
15766whether the executable includes debugging information for that file, and
15767if so, what format the information is in (e.g., STABS, Dwarf 2, etc.), and
15768@item
15769whether the debugging information includes information about
15770preprocessor macros.
15771@end itemize
15772
15773
15774@kindex info sources
15775@item info sources
15776Print the names of all source files in your program for which there is
15777debugging information, organized into two lists: files whose symbols
15778have already been read, and files whose symbols will be read when needed.
15779
15780@kindex info functions
15781@item info functions
15782Print the names and data types of all defined functions.
15783
15784@item info functions @var{regexp}
15785Print the names and data types of all defined functions
15786whose names contain a match for regular expression @var{regexp}.
15787Thus, @samp{info fun step} finds all functions whose names
15788include @code{step}; @samp{info fun ^step} finds those whose names
15789start with @code{step}. If a function name contains characters
15790that conflict with the regular expression language (e.g.@:
15791@samp{operator*()}), they may be quoted with a backslash.
15792
15793@kindex info variables
15794@item info variables
15795Print the names and data types of all variables that are defined
15796outside of functions (i.e.@: excluding local variables).
15797
15798@item info variables @var{regexp}
15799Print the names and data types of all variables (except for local
15800variables) whose names contain a match for regular expression
15801@var{regexp}.
15802
15803@kindex info classes
15804@cindex Objective-C, classes and selectors
15805@item info classes
15806@itemx info classes @var{regexp}
15807Display all Objective-C classes in your program, or
15808(with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
15809expression.
15810
15811@kindex info selectors
15812@item info selectors
15813@itemx info selectors @var{regexp}
15814Display all Objective-C selectors in your program, or
15815(with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
15816expression.
15817
15818@ignore
15819This was never implemented.
15820@kindex info methods
15821@item info methods
15822@itemx info methods @var{regexp}
15823The @code{info methods} command permits the user to examine all defined
15824methods within C@t{++} program, or (with the @var{regexp} argument) a
15825specific set of methods found in the various C@t{++} classes. Many
15826C@t{++} classes provide a large number of methods. Thus, the output
15827from the @code{ptype} command can be overwhelming and hard to use. The
15828@code{info-methods} command filters the methods, printing only those
15829which match the regular-expression @var{regexp}.
15830@end ignore
15831
15832@cindex opaque data types
15833@kindex set opaque-type-resolution
15834@item set opaque-type-resolution on
15835Tell @value{GDBN} to resolve opaque types. An opaque type is a type
15836declared as a pointer to a @code{struct}, @code{class}, or
15837@code{union}---for example, @code{struct MyType *}---that is used in one
15838source file although the full declaration of @code{struct MyType} is in
15839another source file. The default is on.
15840
15841A change in the setting of this subcommand will not take effect until
15842the next time symbols for a file are loaded.
15843
15844@item set opaque-type-resolution off
15845Tell @value{GDBN} not to resolve opaque types. In this case, the type
15846is printed as follows:
15847@smallexample
15848@{<no data fields>@}
15849@end smallexample
15850
15851@kindex show opaque-type-resolution
15852@item show opaque-type-resolution
15853Show whether opaque types are resolved or not.
15854
15855@kindex maint print symbols
15856@cindex symbol dump
15857@kindex maint print psymbols
15858@cindex partial symbol dump
15859@kindex maint print msymbols
15860@cindex minimal symbol dump
15861@item maint print symbols @var{filename}
15862@itemx maint print psymbols @var{filename}
15863@itemx maint print msymbols @var{filename}
15864Write a dump of debugging symbol data into the file @var{filename}.
15865These commands are used to debug the @value{GDBN} symbol-reading code. Only
15866symbols with debugging data are included. If you use @samp{maint print
15867symbols}, @value{GDBN} includes all the symbols for which it has already
15868collected full details: that is, @var{filename} reflects symbols for
15869only those files whose symbols @value{GDBN} has read. You can use the
15870command @code{info sources} to find out which files these are. If you
15871use @samp{maint print psymbols} instead, the dump shows information about
15872symbols that @value{GDBN} only knows partially---that is, symbols defined in
15873files that @value{GDBN} has skimmed, but not yet read completely. Finally,
15874@samp{maint print msymbols} dumps just the minimal symbol information
15875required for each object file from which @value{GDBN} has read some symbols.
15876@xref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}, for a discussion of how
15877@value{GDBN} reads symbols (in the description of @code{symbol-file}).
15878
15879@kindex maint info symtabs
15880@kindex maint info psymtabs
15881@cindex listing @value{GDBN}'s internal symbol tables
15882@cindex symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
15883@cindex full symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
15884@cindex partial symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
15885@item maint info symtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
15886@itemx maint info psymtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
15887
15888List the @code{struct symtab} or @code{struct partial_symtab}
15889structures whose names match @var{regexp}. If @var{regexp} is not
15890given, list them all. The output includes expressions which you can
15891copy into a @value{GDBN} debugging this one to examine a particular
15892structure in more detail. For example:
15893
15894@smallexample
15895(@value{GDBP}) maint info psymtabs dwarf2read
15896@{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
15897 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
15898 @{ psymtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
15899 ((struct partial_symtab *) 0x8474b10)
15900 readin no
15901 fullname (null)
15902 text addresses 0x814d3c8 -- 0x8158074
15903 globals (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x8507a08 @@ 9)
15904 statics (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x40e95b78 @@ 2882)
15905 dependencies (none)
15906 @}
15907@}
15908(@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
15909(@value{GDBP})
15910@end smallexample
15911@noindent
15912We see that there is one partial symbol table whose filename contains
15913the string @samp{dwarf2read}, belonging to the @samp{gdb} executable;
15914and we see that @value{GDBN} has not read in any symtabs yet at all.
15915If we set a breakpoint on a function, that will cause @value{GDBN} to
15916read the symtab for the compilation unit containing that function:
15917
15918@smallexample
15919(@value{GDBP}) break dwarf2_psymtab_to_symtab
15920Breakpoint 1 at 0x814e5da: file /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c,
15921line 1574.
15922(@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
15923@{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
15924 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
15925 @{ symtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
15926 ((struct symtab *) 0x86c1f38)
15927 dirname (null)
15928 fullname (null)
15929 blockvector ((struct blockvector *) 0x86c1bd0) (primary)
15930 linetable ((struct linetable *) 0x8370fa0)
15931 debugformat DWARF 2
15932 @}
15933@}
15934(@value{GDBP})
15935@end smallexample
15936@end table
15937
15938
15939@node Altering
15940@chapter Altering Execution
15941
15942Once you think you have found an error in your program, you might want to
15943find out for certain whether correcting the apparent error would lead to
15944correct results in the rest of the run. You can find the answer by
15945experiment, using the @value{GDBN} features for altering execution of the
15946program.
15947
15948For example, you can store new values into variables or memory
15949locations, give your program a signal, restart it at a different
15950address, or even return prematurely from a function.
15951
15952@menu
15953* Assignment:: Assignment to variables
15954* Jumping:: Continuing at a different address
15955* Signaling:: Giving your program a signal
15956* Returning:: Returning from a function
15957* Calling:: Calling your program's functions
15958* Patching:: Patching your program
15959@end menu
15960
15961@node Assignment
15962@section Assignment to Variables
15963
15964@cindex assignment
15965@cindex setting variables
15966To alter the value of a variable, evaluate an assignment expression.
15967@xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}. For example,
15968
15969@smallexample
15970print x=4
15971@end smallexample
15972
15973@noindent
15974stores the value 4 into the variable @code{x}, and then prints the
15975value of the assignment expression (which is 4).
15976@xref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages}, for more
15977information on operators in supported languages.
15978
15979@kindex set variable
15980@cindex variables, setting
15981If you are not interested in seeing the value of the assignment, use the
15982@code{set} command instead of the @code{print} command. @code{set} is
15983really the same as @code{print} except that the expression's value is
15984not printed and is not put in the value history (@pxref{Value History,
15985,Value History}). The expression is evaluated only for its effects.
15986
15987If the beginning of the argument string of the @code{set} command
15988appears identical to a @code{set} subcommand, use the @code{set
15989variable} command instead of just @code{set}. This command is identical
15990to @code{set} except for its lack of subcommands. For example, if your
15991program has a variable @code{width}, you get an error if you try to set
15992a new value with just @samp{set width=13}, because @value{GDBN} has the
15993command @code{set width}:
15994
15995@smallexample
15996(@value{GDBP}) whatis width
15997type = double
15998(@value{GDBP}) p width
15999$4 = 13
16000(@value{GDBP}) set width=47
16001Invalid syntax in expression.
16002@end smallexample
16003
16004@noindent
16005The invalid expression, of course, is @samp{=47}. In
16006order to actually set the program's variable @code{width}, use
16007
16008@smallexample
16009(@value{GDBP}) set var width=47
16010@end smallexample
16011
16012Because the @code{set} command has many subcommands that can conflict
16013with the names of program variables, it is a good idea to use the
16014@code{set variable} command instead of just @code{set}. For example, if
16015your program has a variable @code{g}, you run into problems if you try
16016to set a new value with just @samp{set g=4}, because @value{GDBN} has
16017the command @code{set gnutarget}, abbreviated @code{set g}:
16018
16019@smallexample
16020@group
16021(@value{GDBP}) whatis g
16022type = double
16023(@value{GDBP}) p g
16024$1 = 1
16025(@value{GDBP}) set g=4
16026(@value{GDBP}) p g
16027$2 = 1
16028(@value{GDBP}) r
16029The program being debugged has been started already.
16030Start it from the beginning? (y or n) y
16031Starting program: /home/smith/cc_progs/a.out
16032"/home/smith/cc_progs/a.out": can't open to read symbols:
16033 Invalid bfd target.
16034(@value{GDBP}) show g
16035The current BFD target is "=4".
16036@end group
16037@end smallexample
16038
16039@noindent
16040The program variable @code{g} did not change, and you silently set the
16041@code{gnutarget} to an invalid value. In order to set the variable
16042@code{g}, use
16043
16044@smallexample
16045(@value{GDBP}) set var g=4
16046@end smallexample
16047
16048@value{GDBN} allows more implicit conversions in assignments than C; you can
16049freely store an integer value into a pointer variable or vice versa,
16050and you can convert any structure to any other structure that is the
16051same length or shorter.
16052@comment FIXME: how do structs align/pad in these conversions?
16053@comment /doc@cygnus.com 18dec1990
16054
16055To store values into arbitrary places in memory, use the @samp{@{@dots{}@}}
16056construct to generate a value of specified type at a specified address
16057(@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). For example, @code{@{int@}0x83040} refers
16058to memory location @code{0x83040} as an integer (which implies a certain size
16059and representation in memory), and
16060
16061@smallexample
16062set @{int@}0x83040 = 4
16063@end smallexample
16064
16065@noindent
16066stores the value 4 into that memory location.
16067
16068@node Jumping
16069@section Continuing at a Different Address
16070
16071Ordinarily, when you continue your program, you do so at the place where
16072it stopped, with the @code{continue} command. You can instead continue at
16073an address of your own choosing, with the following commands:
16074
16075@table @code
16076@kindex jump
16077@kindex j @r{(@code{jump})}
16078@item jump @var{linespec}
16079@itemx j @var{linespec}
16080@itemx jump @var{location}
16081@itemx j @var{location}
16082Resume execution at line @var{linespec} or at address given by
16083@var{location}. Execution stops again immediately if there is a
16084breakpoint there. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
16085different forms of @var{linespec} and @var{location}. It is common
16086practice to use the @code{tbreak} command in conjunction with
16087@code{jump}. @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
16088
16089The @code{jump} command does not change the current stack frame, or
16090the stack pointer, or the contents of any memory location or any
16091register other than the program counter. If line @var{linespec} is in
16092a different function from the one currently executing, the results may
16093be bizarre if the two functions expect different patterns of arguments or
16094of local variables. For this reason, the @code{jump} command requests
16095confirmation if the specified line is not in the function currently
16096executing. However, even bizarre results are predictable if you are
16097well acquainted with the machine-language code of your program.
16098@end table
16099
16100@c Doesn't work on HP-UX; have to set $pcoqh and $pcoqt.
16101On many systems, you can get much the same effect as the @code{jump}
16102command by storing a new value into the register @code{$pc}. The
16103difference is that this does not start your program running; it only
16104changes the address of where it @emph{will} run when you continue. For
16105example,
16106
16107@smallexample
16108set $pc = 0x485
16109@end smallexample
16110
16111@noindent
16112makes the next @code{continue} command or stepping command execute at
16113address @code{0x485}, rather than at the address where your program stopped.
16114@xref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}.
16115
16116The most common occasion to use the @code{jump} command is to back
16117up---perhaps with more breakpoints set---over a portion of a program
16118that has already executed, in order to examine its execution in more
16119detail.
16120
16121@c @group
16122@node Signaling
16123@section Giving your Program a Signal
16124@cindex deliver a signal to a program
16125
16126@table @code
16127@kindex signal
16128@item signal @var{signal}
16129Resume execution where your program stopped, but immediately give it the
16130signal @var{signal}. @var{signal} can be the name or the number of a
16131signal. For example, on many systems @code{signal 2} and @code{signal
16132SIGINT} are both ways of sending an interrupt signal.
16133
16134Alternatively, if @var{signal} is zero, continue execution without
16135giving a signal. This is useful when your program stopped on account of
16136a signal and would ordinarily see the signal when resumed with the
16137@code{continue} command; @samp{signal 0} causes it to resume without a
16138signal.
16139
16140@code{signal} does not repeat when you press @key{RET} a second time
16141after executing the command.
16142@end table
16143@c @end group
16144
16145Invoking the @code{signal} command is not the same as invoking the
16146@code{kill} utility from the shell. Sending a signal with @code{kill}
16147causes @value{GDBN} to decide what to do with the signal depending on
16148the signal handling tables (@pxref{Signals}). The @code{signal} command
16149passes the signal directly to your program.
16150
16151
16152@node Returning
16153@section Returning from a Function
16154
16155@table @code
16156@cindex returning from a function
16157@kindex return
16158@item return
16159@itemx return @var{expression}
16160You can cancel execution of a function call with the @code{return}
16161command. If you give an
16162@var{expression} argument, its value is used as the function's return
16163value.
16164@end table
16165
16166When you use @code{return}, @value{GDBN} discards the selected stack frame
16167(and all frames within it). You can think of this as making the
16168discarded frame return prematurely. If you wish to specify a value to
16169be returned, give that value as the argument to @code{return}.
16170
16171This pops the selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a
16172Frame}), and any other frames inside of it, leaving its caller as the
16173innermost remaining frame. That frame becomes selected. The
16174specified value is stored in the registers used for returning values
16175of functions.
16176
16177The @code{return} command does not resume execution; it leaves the
16178program stopped in the state that would exist if the function had just
16179returned. In contrast, the @code{finish} command (@pxref{Continuing
16180and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}) resumes execution until the
16181selected stack frame returns naturally.
16182
16183@value{GDBN} needs to know how the @var{expression} argument should be set for
16184the inferior. The concrete registers assignment depends on the OS ABI and the
16185type being returned by the selected stack frame. For example it is common for
16186OS ABI to return floating point values in FPU registers while integer values in
16187CPU registers. Still some ABIs return even floating point values in CPU
16188registers. Larger integer widths (such as @code{long long int}) also have
16189specific placement rules. @value{GDBN} already knows the OS ABI from its
16190current target so it needs to find out also the type being returned to make the
16191assignment into the right register(s).
16192
16193Normally, the selected stack frame has debug info. @value{GDBN} will always
16194use the debug info instead of the implicit type of @var{expression} when the
16195debug info is available. For example, if you type @kbd{return -1}, and the
16196function in the current stack frame is declared to return a @code{long long
16197int}, @value{GDBN} transparently converts the implicit @code{int} value of -1
16198into a @code{long long int}:
16199
16200@smallexample
16201Breakpoint 1, func () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:29
1620229 return 31;
16203(@value{GDBP}) return -1
16204Make func return now? (y or n) y
16205#0 0x004004f6 in main () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:43
1620643 printf ("result=%lld\n", func ());
16207(@value{GDBP})
16208@end smallexample
16209
16210However, if the selected stack frame does not have a debug info, e.g., if the
16211function was compiled without debug info, @value{GDBN} has to find out the type
16212to return from user. Specifying a different type by mistake may set the value
16213in different inferior registers than the caller code expects. For example,
16214typing @kbd{return -1} with its implicit type @code{int} would set only a part
16215of a @code{long long int} result for a debug info less function (on 32-bit
16216architectures). Therefore the user is required to specify the return type by
16217an appropriate cast explicitly:
16218
16219@smallexample
16220Breakpoint 2, 0x0040050b in func ()
16221(@value{GDBP}) return -1
16222Return value type not available for selected stack frame.
16223Please use an explicit cast of the value to return.
16224(@value{GDBP}) return (long long int) -1
16225Make selected stack frame return now? (y or n) y
16226#0 0x00400526 in main ()
16227(@value{GDBP})
16228@end smallexample
16229
16230@node Calling
16231@section Calling Program Functions
16232
16233@table @code
16234@cindex calling functions
16235@cindex inferior functions, calling
16236@item print @var{expr}
16237Evaluate the expression @var{expr} and display the resulting value.
16238@var{expr} may include calls to functions in the program being
16239debugged.
16240
16241@kindex call
16242@item call @var{expr}
16243Evaluate the expression @var{expr} without displaying @code{void}
16244returned values.
16245
16246You can use this variant of the @code{print} command if you want to
16247execute a function from your program that does not return anything
16248(a.k.a.@: @dfn{a void function}), but without cluttering the output
16249with @code{void} returned values that @value{GDBN} will otherwise
16250print. If the result is not void, it is printed and saved in the
16251value history.
16252@end table
16253
16254It is possible for the function you call via the @code{print} or
16255@code{call} command to generate a signal (e.g., if there's a bug in
16256the function, or if you passed it incorrect arguments). What happens
16257in that case is controlled by the @code{set unwindonsignal} command.
16258
16259Similarly, with a C@t{++} program it is possible for the function you
16260call via the @code{print} or @code{call} command to generate an
16261exception that is not handled due to the constraints of the dummy
16262frame. In this case, any exception that is raised in the frame, but has
16263an out-of-frame exception handler will not be found. GDB builds a
16264dummy-frame for the inferior function call, and the unwinder cannot
16265seek for exception handlers outside of this dummy-frame. What happens
16266in that case is controlled by the
16267@code{set unwind-on-terminating-exception} command.
16268
16269@table @code
16270@item set unwindonsignal
16271@kindex set unwindonsignal
16272@cindex unwind stack in called functions
16273@cindex call dummy stack unwinding
16274Set unwinding of the stack if a signal is received while in a function
16275that @value{GDBN} called in the program being debugged. If set to on,
16276@value{GDBN} unwinds the stack it created for the call and restores
16277the context to what it was before the call. If set to off (the
16278default), @value{GDBN} stops in the frame where the signal was
16279received.
16280
16281@item show unwindonsignal
16282@kindex show unwindonsignal
16283Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
16284@value{GDBN}.
16285
16286@item set unwind-on-terminating-exception
16287@kindex set unwind-on-terminating-exception
16288@cindex unwind stack in called functions with unhandled exceptions
16289@cindex call dummy stack unwinding on unhandled exception.
16290Set unwinding of the stack if a C@t{++} exception is raised, but left
16291unhandled while in a function that @value{GDBN} called in the program being
16292debugged. If set to on (the default), @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack
16293it created for the call and restores the context to what it was before
16294the call. If set to off, @value{GDBN} the exception is delivered to
16295the default C@t{++} exception handler and the inferior terminated.
16296
16297@item show unwind-on-terminating-exception
16298@kindex show unwind-on-terminating-exception
16299Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
16300@value{GDBN}.
16301
16302@end table
16303
16304@cindex weak alias functions
16305Sometimes, a function you wish to call is actually a @dfn{weak alias}
16306for another function. In such case, @value{GDBN} might not pick up
16307the type information, including the types of the function arguments,
16308which causes @value{GDBN} to call the inferior function incorrectly.
16309As a result, the called function will function erroneously and may
16310even crash. A solution to that is to use the name of the aliased
16311function instead.
16312
16313@node Patching
16314@section Patching Programs
16315
16316@cindex patching binaries
16317@cindex writing into executables
16318@cindex writing into corefiles
16319
16320By default, @value{GDBN} opens the file containing your program's
16321executable code (or the corefile) read-only. This prevents accidental
16322alterations to machine code; but it also prevents you from intentionally
16323patching your program's binary.
16324
16325If you'd like to be able to patch the binary, you can specify that
16326explicitly with the @code{set write} command. For example, you might
16327want to turn on internal debugging flags, or even to make emergency
16328repairs.
16329
16330@table @code
16331@kindex set write
16332@item set write on
16333@itemx set write off
16334If you specify @samp{set write on}, @value{GDBN} opens executable and
16335core files for both reading and writing; if you specify @kbd{set write
16336off} (the default), @value{GDBN} opens them read-only.
16337
16338If you have already loaded a file, you must load it again (using the
16339@code{exec-file} or @code{core-file} command) after changing @code{set
16340write}, for your new setting to take effect.
16341
16342@item show write
16343@kindex show write
16344Display whether executable files and core files are opened for writing
16345as well as reading.
16346@end table
16347
16348@node GDB Files
16349@chapter @value{GDBN} Files
16350
16351@value{GDBN} needs to know the file name of the program to be debugged,
16352both in order to read its symbol table and in order to start your
16353program. To debug a core dump of a previous run, you must also tell
16354@value{GDBN} the name of the core dump file.
16355
16356@menu
16357* Files:: Commands to specify files
16358* Separate Debug Files:: Debugging information in separate files
16359* MiniDebugInfo:: Debugging information in a special section
16360* Index Files:: Index files speed up GDB
16361* Symbol Errors:: Errors reading symbol files
16362* Data Files:: GDB data files
16363@end menu
16364
16365@node Files
16366@section Commands to Specify Files
16367
16368@cindex symbol table
16369@cindex core dump file
16370
16371You may want to specify executable and core dump file names. The usual
16372way to do this is at start-up time, using the arguments to
16373@value{GDBN}'s start-up commands (@pxref{Invocation, , Getting In and
16374Out of @value{GDBN}}).
16375
16376Occasionally it is necessary to change to a different file during a
16377@value{GDBN} session. Or you may run @value{GDBN} and forget to
16378specify a file you want to use. Or you are debugging a remote target
16379via @code{gdbserver} (@pxref{Server, file, Using the @code{gdbserver}
16380Program}). In these situations the @value{GDBN} commands to specify
16381new files are useful.
16382
16383@table @code
16384@cindex executable file
16385@kindex file
16386@item file @var{filename}
16387Use @var{filename} as the program to be debugged. It is read for its
16388symbols and for the contents of pure memory. It is also the program
16389executed when you use the @code{run} command. If you do not specify a
16390directory and the file is not found in the @value{GDBN} working directory,
16391@value{GDBN} uses the environment variable @code{PATH} as a list of
16392directories to search, just as the shell does when looking for a program
16393to run. You can change the value of this variable, for both @value{GDBN}
16394and your program, using the @code{path} command.
16395
16396@cindex unlinked object files
16397@cindex patching object files
16398You can load unlinked object @file{.o} files into @value{GDBN} using
16399the @code{file} command. You will not be able to ``run'' an object
16400file, but you can disassemble functions and inspect variables. Also,
16401if the underlying BFD functionality supports it, you could use
16402@kbd{gdb -write} to patch object files using this technique. Note
16403that @value{GDBN} can neither interpret nor modify relocations in this
16404case, so branches and some initialized variables will appear to go to
16405the wrong place. But this feature is still handy from time to time.
16406
16407@item file
16408@code{file} with no argument makes @value{GDBN} discard any information it
16409has on both executable file and the symbol table.
16410
16411@kindex exec-file
16412@item exec-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
16413Specify that the program to be run (but not the symbol table) is found
16414in @var{filename}. @value{GDBN} searches the environment variable @code{PATH}
16415if necessary to locate your program. Omitting @var{filename} means to
16416discard information on the executable file.
16417
16418@kindex symbol-file
16419@item symbol-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
16420Read symbol table information from file @var{filename}. @code{PATH} is
16421searched when necessary. Use the @code{file} command to get both symbol
16422table and program to run from the same file.
16423
16424@code{symbol-file} with no argument clears out @value{GDBN} information on your
16425program's symbol table.
16426
16427The @code{symbol-file} command causes @value{GDBN} to forget the contents of
16428some breakpoints and auto-display expressions. This is because they may
16429contain pointers to the internal data recording symbols and data types,
16430which are part of the old symbol table data being discarded inside
16431@value{GDBN}.
16432
16433@code{symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
16434executing it once.
16435
16436When @value{GDBN} is configured for a particular environment, it
16437understands debugging information in whatever format is the standard
16438generated for that environment; you may use either a @sc{gnu} compiler, or
16439other compilers that adhere to the local conventions.
16440Best results are usually obtained from @sc{gnu} compilers; for example,
16441using @code{@value{NGCC}} you can generate debugging information for
16442optimized code.
16443
16444For most kinds of object files, with the exception of old SVR3 systems
16445using COFF, the @code{symbol-file} command does not normally read the
16446symbol table in full right away. Instead, it scans the symbol table
16447quickly to find which source files and which symbols are present. The
16448details are read later, one source file at a time, as they are needed.
16449
16450The purpose of this two-stage reading strategy is to make @value{GDBN}
16451start up faster. For the most part, it is invisible except for
16452occasional pauses while the symbol table details for a particular source
16453file are being read. (The @code{set verbose} command can turn these
16454pauses into messages if desired. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional
16455Warnings and Messages}.)
16456
16457We have not implemented the two-stage strategy for COFF yet. When the
16458symbol table is stored in COFF format, @code{symbol-file} reads the
16459symbol table data in full right away. Note that ``stabs-in-COFF''
16460still does the two-stage strategy, since the debug info is actually
16461in stabs format.
16462
16463@kindex readnow
16464@cindex reading symbols immediately
16465@cindex symbols, reading immediately
16466@item symbol-file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
16467@itemx file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
16468You can override the @value{GDBN} two-stage strategy for reading symbol
16469tables by using the @samp{-readnow} option with any of the commands that
16470load symbol table information, if you want to be sure @value{GDBN} has the
16471entire symbol table available.
16472
16473@c FIXME: for now no mention of directories, since this seems to be in
16474@c flux. 13mar1992 status is that in theory GDB would look either in
16475@c current dir or in same dir as myprog; but issues like competing
16476@c GDB's, or clutter in system dirs, mean that in practice right now
16477@c only current dir is used. FFish says maybe a special GDB hierarchy
16478@c (eg rooted in val of env var GDBSYMS) could exist for mappable symbol
16479@c files.
16480
16481@kindex core-file
16482@item core-file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
16483@itemx core
16484Specify the whereabouts of a core dump file to be used as the ``contents
16485of memory''. Traditionally, core files contain only some parts of the
16486address space of the process that generated them; @value{GDBN} can access the
16487executable file itself for other parts.
16488
16489@code{core-file} with no argument specifies that no core file is
16490to be used.
16491
16492Note that the core file is ignored when your program is actually running
16493under @value{GDBN}. So, if you have been running your program and you
16494wish to debug a core file instead, you must kill the subprocess in which
16495the program is running. To do this, use the @code{kill} command
16496(@pxref{Kill Process, ,Killing the Child Process}).
16497
16498@kindex add-symbol-file
16499@cindex dynamic linking
16500@item add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address}
16501@itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} @r{[} -readnow @r{]}
16502@itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} -s @var{section} @var{address} @dots{}
16503The @code{add-symbol-file} command reads additional symbol table
16504information from the file @var{filename}. You would use this command
16505when @var{filename} has been dynamically loaded (by some other means)
16506into the program that is running. @var{address} should be the memory
16507address at which the file has been loaded; @value{GDBN} cannot figure
16508this out for itself. You can additionally specify an arbitrary number
16509of @samp{-s @var{section} @var{address}} pairs, to give an explicit
16510section name and base address for that section. You can specify any
16511@var{address} as an expression.
16512
16513The symbol table of the file @var{filename} is added to the symbol table
16514originally read with the @code{symbol-file} command. You can use the
16515@code{add-symbol-file} command any number of times; the new symbol data
16516thus read keeps adding to the old. To discard all old symbol data
16517instead, use the @code{symbol-file} command without any arguments.
16518
16519@cindex relocatable object files, reading symbols from
16520@cindex object files, relocatable, reading symbols from
16521@cindex reading symbols from relocatable object files
16522@cindex symbols, reading from relocatable object files
16523@cindex @file{.o} files, reading symbols from
16524Although @var{filename} is typically a shared library file, an
16525executable file, or some other object file which has been fully
16526relocated for loading into a process, you can also load symbolic
16527information from relocatable @file{.o} files, as long as:
16528
16529@itemize @bullet
16530@item
16531the file's symbolic information refers only to linker symbols defined in
16532that file, not to symbols defined by other object files,
16533@item
16534every section the file's symbolic information refers to has actually
16535been loaded into the inferior, as it appears in the file, and
16536@item
16537you can determine the address at which every section was loaded, and
16538provide these to the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
16539@end itemize
16540
16541@noindent
16542Some embedded operating systems, like Sun Chorus and VxWorks, can load
16543relocatable files into an already running program; such systems
16544typically make the requirements above easy to meet. However, it's
16545important to recognize that many native systems use complex link
16546procedures (@code{.linkonce} section factoring and C@t{++} constructor table
16547assembly, for example) that make the requirements difficult to meet. In
16548general, one cannot assume that using @code{add-symbol-file} to read a
16549relocatable object file's symbolic information will have the same effect
16550as linking the relocatable object file into the program in the normal
16551way.
16552
16553@code{add-symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
16554
16555@kindex add-symbol-file-from-memory
16556@cindex @code{syscall DSO}
16557@cindex load symbols from memory
16558@item add-symbol-file-from-memory @var{address}
16559Load symbols from the given @var{address} in a dynamically loaded
16560object file whose image is mapped directly into the inferior's memory.
16561For example, the Linux kernel maps a @code{syscall DSO} into each
16562process's address space; this DSO provides kernel-specific code for
16563some system calls. The argument can be any expression whose
16564evaluation yields the address of the file's shared object file header.
16565For this command to work, you must have used @code{symbol-file} or
16566@code{exec-file} commands in advance.
16567
16568@kindex add-shared-symbol-files
16569@kindex assf
16570@item add-shared-symbol-files @var{library-file}
16571@itemx assf @var{library-file}
16572The @code{add-shared-symbol-files} command can currently be used only
16573in the Cygwin build of @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows OS, where it is an
16574alias for the @code{dll-symbols} command (@pxref{Cygwin Native}).
16575@value{GDBN} automatically looks for shared libraries, however if
16576@value{GDBN} does not find yours, you can invoke
16577@code{add-shared-symbol-files}. It takes one argument: the shared
16578library's file name. @code{assf} is a shorthand alias for
16579@code{add-shared-symbol-files}.
16580
16581@kindex section
16582@item section @var{section} @var{addr}
16583The @code{section} command changes the base address of the named
16584@var{section} of the exec file to @var{addr}. This can be used if the
16585exec file does not contain section addresses, (such as in the
16586@code{a.out} format), or when the addresses specified in the file
16587itself are wrong. Each section must be changed separately. The
16588@code{info files} command, described below, lists all the sections and
16589their addresses.
16590
16591@kindex info files
16592@kindex info target
16593@item info files
16594@itemx info target
16595@code{info files} and @code{info target} are synonymous; both print the
16596current target (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}),
16597including the names of the executable and core dump files currently in
16598use by @value{GDBN}, and the files from which symbols were loaded. The
16599command @code{help target} lists all possible targets rather than
16600current ones.
16601
16602@kindex maint info sections
16603@item maint info sections
16604Another command that can give you extra information about program sections
16605is @code{maint info sections}. In addition to the section information
16606displayed by @code{info files}, this command displays the flags and file
16607offset of each section in the executable and core dump files. In addition,
16608@code{maint info sections} provides the following command options (which
16609may be arbitrarily combined):
16610
16611@table @code
16612@item ALLOBJ
16613Display sections for all loaded object files, including shared libraries.
16614@item @var{sections}
16615Display info only for named @var{sections}.
16616@item @var{section-flags}
16617Display info only for sections for which @var{section-flags} are true.
16618The section flags that @value{GDBN} currently knows about are:
16619@table @code
16620@item ALLOC
16621Section will have space allocated in the process when loaded.
16622Set for all sections except those containing debug information.
16623@item LOAD
16624Section will be loaded from the file into the child process memory.
16625Set for pre-initialized code and data, clear for @code{.bss} sections.
16626@item RELOC
16627Section needs to be relocated before loading.
16628@item READONLY
16629Section cannot be modified by the child process.
16630@item CODE
16631Section contains executable code only.
16632@item DATA
16633Section contains data only (no executable code).
16634@item ROM
16635Section will reside in ROM.
16636@item CONSTRUCTOR
16637Section contains data for constructor/destructor lists.
16638@item HAS_CONTENTS
16639Section is not empty.
16640@item NEVER_LOAD
16641An instruction to the linker to not output the section.
16642@item COFF_SHARED_LIBRARY
16643A notification to the linker that the section contains
16644COFF shared library information.
16645@item IS_COMMON
16646Section contains common symbols.
16647@end table
16648@end table
16649@kindex set trust-readonly-sections
16650@cindex read-only sections
16651@item set trust-readonly-sections on
16652Tell @value{GDBN} that readonly sections in your object file
16653really are read-only (i.e.@: that their contents will not change).
16654In that case, @value{GDBN} can fetch values from these sections
16655out of the object file, rather than from the target program.
16656For some targets (notably embedded ones), this can be a significant
16657enhancement to debugging performance.
16658
16659The default is off.
16660
16661@item set trust-readonly-sections off
16662Tell @value{GDBN} not to trust readonly sections. This means that
16663the contents of the section might change while the program is running,
16664and must therefore be fetched from the target when needed.
16665
16666@item show trust-readonly-sections
16667Show the current setting of trusting readonly sections.
16668@end table
16669
16670All file-specifying commands allow both absolute and relative file names
16671as arguments. @value{GDBN} always converts the file name to an absolute file
16672name and remembers it that way.
16673
16674@cindex shared libraries
16675@anchor{Shared Libraries}
16676@value{GDBN} supports @sc{gnu}/Linux, MS-Windows, HP-UX, SunOS, SVr4, Irix,
16677and IBM RS/6000 AIX shared libraries.
16678
16679On MS-Windows @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support
16680shared libraries. @xref{Expat}.
16681
16682@value{GDBN} automatically loads symbol definitions from shared libraries
16683when you use the @code{run} command, or when you examine a core file.
16684(Before you issue the @code{run} command, @value{GDBN} does not understand
16685references to a function in a shared library, however---unless you are
16686debugging a core file).
16687
16688On HP-UX, if the program loads a library explicitly, @value{GDBN}
16689automatically loads the symbols at the time of the @code{shl_load} call.
16690
16691@c FIXME: some @value{GDBN} release may permit some refs to undef
16692@c FIXME...symbols---eg in a break cmd---assuming they are from a shared
16693@c FIXME...lib; check this from time to time when updating manual
16694
16695There are times, however, when you may wish to not automatically load
16696symbol definitions from shared libraries, such as when they are
16697particularly large or there are many of them.
16698
16699To control the automatic loading of shared library symbols, use the
16700commands:
16701
16702@table @code
16703@kindex set auto-solib-add
16704@item set auto-solib-add @var{mode}
16705If @var{mode} is @code{on}, symbols from all shared object libraries
16706will be loaded automatically when the inferior begins execution, you
16707attach to an independently started inferior, or when the dynamic linker
16708informs @value{GDBN} that a new library has been loaded. If @var{mode}
16709is @code{off}, symbols must be loaded manually, using the
16710@code{sharedlibrary} command. The default value is @code{on}.
16711
16712@cindex memory used for symbol tables
16713If your program uses lots of shared libraries with debug info that
16714takes large amounts of memory, you can decrease the @value{GDBN}
16715memory footprint by preventing it from automatically loading the
16716symbols from shared libraries. To that end, type @kbd{set
16717auto-solib-add off} before running the inferior, then load each
16718library whose debug symbols you do need with @kbd{sharedlibrary
16719@var{regexp}}, where @var{regexp} is a regular expression that matches
16720the libraries whose symbols you want to be loaded.
16721
16722@kindex show auto-solib-add
16723@item show auto-solib-add
16724Display the current autoloading mode.
16725@end table
16726
16727@cindex load shared library
16728To explicitly load shared library symbols, use the @code{sharedlibrary}
16729command:
16730
16731@table @code
16732@kindex info sharedlibrary
16733@kindex info share
16734@item info share @var{regex}
16735@itemx info sharedlibrary @var{regex}
16736Print the names of the shared libraries which are currently loaded
16737that match @var{regex}. If @var{regex} is omitted then print
16738all shared libraries that are loaded.
16739
16740@kindex sharedlibrary
16741@kindex share
16742@item sharedlibrary @var{regex}
16743@itemx share @var{regex}
16744Load shared object library symbols for files matching a
16745Unix regular expression.
16746As with files loaded automatically, it only loads shared libraries
16747required by your program for a core file or after typing @code{run}. If
16748@var{regex} is omitted all shared libraries required by your program are
16749loaded.
16750
16751@item nosharedlibrary
16752@kindex nosharedlibrary
16753@cindex unload symbols from shared libraries
16754Unload all shared object library symbols. This discards all symbols
16755that have been loaded from all shared libraries. Symbols from shared
16756libraries that were loaded by explicit user requests are not
16757discarded.
16758@end table
16759
16760Sometimes you may wish that @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control
16761when any of shared library events happen. The best way to do this is
16762to use @code{catch load} and @code{catch unload} (@pxref{Set
16763Catchpoints}).
16764
16765@value{GDBN} also supports the the @code{set stop-on-solib-events}
16766command for this. This command exists for historical reasons. It is
16767less useful than setting a catchpoint, because it does not allow for
16768conditions or commands as a catchpoint does.
16769
16770@table @code
16771@item set stop-on-solib-events
16772@kindex set stop-on-solib-events
16773This command controls whether @value{GDBN} should give you control
16774when the dynamic linker notifies it about some shared library event.
16775The most common event of interest is loading or unloading of a new
16776shared library.
16777
16778@item show stop-on-solib-events
16779@kindex show stop-on-solib-events
16780Show whether @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control when shared
16781library events happen.
16782@end table
16783
16784Shared libraries are also supported in many cross or remote debugging
16785configurations. @value{GDBN} needs to have access to the target's libraries;
16786this can be accomplished either by providing copies of the libraries
16787on the host system, or by asking @value{GDBN} to automatically retrieve the
16788libraries from the target. If copies of the target libraries are
16789provided, they need to be the same as the target libraries, although the
16790copies on the target can be stripped as long as the copies on the host are
16791not.
16792
16793@cindex where to look for shared libraries
16794For remote debugging, you need to tell @value{GDBN} where the target
16795libraries are, so that it can load the correct copies---otherwise, it
16796may try to load the host's libraries. @value{GDBN} has two variables
16797to specify the search directories for target libraries.
16798
16799@table @code
16800@cindex prefix for shared library file names
16801@cindex system root, alternate
16802@kindex set solib-absolute-prefix
16803@kindex set sysroot
16804@item set sysroot @var{path}
16805Use @var{path} as the system root for the program being debugged. Any
16806absolute shared library paths will be prefixed with @var{path}; many
16807runtime loaders store the absolute paths to the shared library in the
16808target program's memory. If you use @code{set sysroot} to find shared
16809libraries, they need to be laid out in the same way that they are on
16810the target, with e.g.@: a @file{/lib} and @file{/usr/lib} hierarchy
16811under @var{path}.
16812
16813If @var{path} starts with the sequence @file{remote:}, @value{GDBN} will
16814retrieve the target libraries from the remote system. This is only
16815supported when using a remote target that supports the @code{remote get}
16816command (@pxref{File Transfer,,Sending files to a remote system}).
16817The part of @var{path} following the initial @file{remote:}
16818(if present) is used as system root prefix on the remote file system.
16819@footnote{If you want to specify a local system root using a directory
16820that happens to be named @file{remote:}, you need to use some equivalent
16821variant of the name like @file{./remote:}.}
16822
16823For targets with an MS-DOS based filesystem, such as MS-Windows and
16824SymbianOS, @value{GDBN} tries prefixing a few variants of the target
16825absolute file name with @var{path}. But first, on Unix hosts,
16826@value{GDBN} converts all backslash directory separators into forward
16827slashes, because the backslash is not a directory separator on Unix:
16828
16829@smallexample
16830 c:\foo\bar.dll @result{} c:/foo/bar.dll
16831@end smallexample
16832
16833Then, @value{GDBN} attempts prefixing the target file name with
16834@var{path}, and looks for the resulting file name in the host file
16835system:
16836
16837@smallexample
16838 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c:/foo/bar.dll
16839@end smallexample
16840
16841If that does not find the shared library, @value{GDBN} tries removing
16842the @samp{:} character from the drive spec, both for convenience, and,
16843for the case of the host file system not supporting file names with
16844colons:
16845
16846@smallexample
16847 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c/foo/bar.dll
16848@end smallexample
16849
16850This makes it possible to have a system root that mirrors a target
16851with more than one drive. E.g., you may want to setup your local
16852copies of the target system shared libraries like so (note @samp{c} vs
16853@samp{z}):
16854
16855@smallexample
16856 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/foo.dll}
16857 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/bar.dll}
16858 @file{/path/to/sysroot/z/sys/bin/bar.dll}
16859@end smallexample
16860
16861@noindent
16862and point the system root at @file{/path/to/sysroot}, so that
16863@value{GDBN} can find the correct copies of both
16864@file{c:\sys\bin\foo.dll}, and @file{z:\sys\bin\bar.dll}.
16865
16866If that still does not find the shared library, @value{GDBN} tries
16867removing the whole drive spec from the target file name:
16868
16869@smallexample
16870 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/foo/bar.dll
16871@end smallexample
16872
16873This last lookup makes it possible to not care about the drive name,
16874if you don't want or need to.
16875
16876The @code{set solib-absolute-prefix} command is an alias for @code{set
16877sysroot}.
16878
16879@cindex default system root
16880@cindex @samp{--with-sysroot}
16881You can set the default system root by using the configure-time
16882@samp{--with-sysroot} option. If the system root is inside
16883@value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
16884@samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default system root will be updated
16885automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
16886location.
16887
16888@kindex show sysroot
16889@item show sysroot
16890Display the current shared library prefix.
16891
16892@kindex set solib-search-path
16893@item set solib-search-path @var{path}
16894If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
16895directories to search for shared libraries. @samp{solib-search-path}
16896is used after @samp{sysroot} fails to locate the library, or if the
16897path to the library is relative instead of absolute. If you want to
16898use @samp{solib-search-path} instead of @samp{sysroot}, be sure to set
16899@samp{sysroot} to a nonexistent directory to prevent @value{GDBN} from
16900finding your host's libraries. @samp{sysroot} is preferred; setting
16901it to a nonexistent directory may interfere with automatic loading
16902of shared library symbols.
16903
16904@kindex show solib-search-path
16905@item show solib-search-path
16906Display the current shared library search path.
16907
16908@cindex DOS file-name semantics of file names.
16909@kindex set target-file-system-kind (unix|dos-based|auto)
16910@kindex show target-file-system-kind
16911@item set target-file-system-kind @var{kind}
16912Set assumed file system kind for target reported file names.
16913
16914Shared library file names as reported by the target system may not
16915make sense as is on the system @value{GDBN} is running on. For
16916example, when remote debugging a target that has MS-DOS based file
16917system semantics, from a Unix host, the target may be reporting to
16918@value{GDBN} a list of loaded shared libraries with file names such as
16919@file{c:\Windows\kernel32.dll}. On Unix hosts, there's no concept of
16920drive letters, so the @samp{c:\} prefix is not normally understood as
16921indicating an absolute file name, and neither is the backslash
16922normally considered a directory separator character. In that case,
16923the native file system would interpret this whole absolute file name
16924as a relative file name with no directory components. This would make
16925it impossible to point @value{GDBN} at a copy of the remote target's
16926shared libraries on the host using @code{set sysroot}, and impractical
16927with @code{set solib-search-path}. Setting
16928@code{target-file-system-kind} to @code{dos-based} tells @value{GDBN}
16929to interpret such file names similarly to how the target would, and to
16930map them to file names valid on @value{GDBN}'s native file system
16931semantics. The value of @var{kind} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition
16932to one of the supported file system kinds. In that case, @value{GDBN}
16933tries to determine the appropriate file system variant based on the
16934current target's operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the
16935Current ABI}). The supported file system settings are:
16936
16937@table @code
16938@item unix
16939Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is of Unix
16940kind. Only file names starting the forward slash (@samp{/}) character
16941are considered absolute, and the directory separator character is also
16942the forward slash.
16943
16944@item dos-based
16945Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is DOS based.
16946File names starting with either a forward slash, or a drive letter
16947followed by a colon (e.g., @samp{c:}), are considered absolute, and
16948both the slash (@samp{/}) and the backslash (@samp{\\}) characters are
16949considered directory separators.
16950
16951@item auto
16952Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the file system kind associated with the
16953target operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
16954This is the default.
16955@end table
16956@end table
16957
16958@cindex file name canonicalization
16959@cindex base name differences
16960When processing file names provided by the user, @value{GDBN}
16961frequently needs to compare them to the file names recorded in the
16962program's debug info. Normally, @value{GDBN} compares just the
16963@dfn{base names} of the files as strings, which is reasonably fast
16964even for very large programs. (The base name of a file is the last
16965portion of its name, after stripping all the leading directories.)
16966This shortcut in comparison is based upon the assumption that files
16967cannot have more than one base name. This is usually true, but
16968references to files that use symlinks or similar filesystem
16969facilities violate that assumption. If your program records files
16970using such facilities, or if you provide file names to @value{GDBN}
16971using symlinks etc., you can set @code{basenames-may-differ} to
16972@code{true} to instruct @value{GDBN} to completely canonicalize each
16973pair of file names it needs to compare. This will make file-name
16974comparisons accurate, but at a price of a significant slowdown.
16975
16976@table @code
16977@item set basenames-may-differ
16978@kindex set basenames-may-differ
16979Set whether a source file may have multiple base names.
16980
16981@item show basenames-may-differ
16982@kindex show basenames-may-differ
16983Show whether a source file may have multiple base names.
16984@end table
16985
16986@node Separate Debug Files
16987@section Debugging Information in Separate Files
16988@cindex separate debugging information files
16989@cindex debugging information in separate files
16990@cindex @file{.debug} subdirectories
16991@cindex debugging information directory, global
16992@cindex global debugging information directories
16993@cindex build ID, and separate debugging files
16994@cindex @file{.build-id} directory
16995
16996@value{GDBN} allows you to put a program's debugging information in a
16997file separate from the executable itself, in a way that allows
16998@value{GDBN} to find and load the debugging information automatically.
16999Since debugging information can be very large---sometimes larger
17000than the executable code itself---some systems distribute debugging
17001information for their executables in separate files, which users can
17002install only when they need to debug a problem.
17003
17004@value{GDBN} supports two ways of specifying the separate debug info
17005file:
17006
17007@itemize @bullet
17008@item
17009The executable contains a @dfn{debug link} that specifies the name of
17010the separate debug info file. The separate debug file's name is
17011usually @file{@var{executable}.debug}, where @var{executable} is the
17012name of the corresponding executable file without leading directories
17013(e.g., @file{ls.debug} for @file{/usr/bin/ls}). In addition, the
17014debug link specifies a 32-bit @dfn{Cyclic Redundancy Check} (CRC)
17015checksum for the debug file, which @value{GDBN} uses to validate that
17016the executable and the debug file came from the same build.
17017
17018@item
17019The executable contains a @dfn{build ID}, a unique bit string that is
17020also present in the corresponding debug info file. (This is supported
17021only on some operating systems, notably those which use the ELF format
17022for binary files and the @sc{gnu} Binutils.) For more details about
17023this feature, see the description of the @option{--build-id}
17024command-line option in @ref{Options, , Command Line Options, ld.info,
17025The GNU Linker}. The debug info file's name is not specified
17026explicitly by the build ID, but can be computed from the build ID, see
17027below.
17028@end itemize
17029
17030Depending on the way the debug info file is specified, @value{GDBN}
17031uses two different methods of looking for the debug file:
17032
17033@itemize @bullet
17034@item
17035For the ``debug link'' method, @value{GDBN} looks up the named file in
17036the directory of the executable file, then in a subdirectory of that
17037directory named @file{.debug}, and finally under each one of the global debug
17038directories, in a subdirectory whose name is identical to the leading
17039directories of the executable's absolute file name.
17040
17041@item
17042For the ``build ID'' method, @value{GDBN} looks in the
17043@file{.build-id} subdirectory of each one of the global debug directories for
17044a file named @file{@var{nn}/@var{nnnnnnnn}.debug}, where @var{nn} are the
17045first 2 hex characters of the build ID bit string, and @var{nnnnnnnn}
17046are the rest of the bit string. (Real build ID strings are 32 or more
17047hex characters, not 10.)
17048@end itemize
17049
17050So, for example, suppose you ask @value{GDBN} to debug
17051@file{/usr/bin/ls}, which has a debug link that specifies the
17052file @file{ls.debug}, and a build ID whose value in hex is
17053@code{abcdef1234}. If the list of the global debug directories includes
17054@file{/usr/lib/debug}, then @value{GDBN} will look for the following
17055debug information files, in the indicated order:
17056
17057@itemize @minus
17058@item
17059@file{/usr/lib/debug/.build-id/ab/cdef1234.debug}
17060@item
17061@file{/usr/bin/ls.debug}
17062@item
17063@file{/usr/bin/.debug/ls.debug}
17064@item
17065@file{/usr/lib/debug/usr/bin/ls.debug}.
17066@end itemize
17067
17068@anchor{debug-file-directory}
17069Global debugging info directories default to what is set by @value{GDBN}
17070configure option @option{--with-separate-debug-dir}. During @value{GDBN} run
17071you can also set the global debugging info directories, and view the list
17072@value{GDBN} is currently using.
17073
17074@table @code
17075
17076@kindex set debug-file-directory
17077@item set debug-file-directory @var{directories}
17078Set the directories which @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
17079information files to @var{directory}. Multiple path components can be set
17080concatenating them by a path separator.
17081
17082@kindex show debug-file-directory
17083@item show debug-file-directory
17084Show the directories @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
17085information files.
17086
17087@end table
17088
17089@cindex @code{.gnu_debuglink} sections
17090@cindex debug link sections
17091A debug link is a special section of the executable file named
17092@code{.gnu_debuglink}. The section must contain:
17093
17094@itemize
17095@item
17096A filename, with any leading directory components removed, followed by
17097a zero byte,
17098@item
17099zero to three bytes of padding, as needed to reach the next four-byte
17100boundary within the section, and
17101@item
17102a four-byte CRC checksum, stored in the same endianness used for the
17103executable file itself. The checksum is computed on the debugging
17104information file's full contents by the function given below, passing
17105zero as the @var{crc} argument.
17106@end itemize
17107
17108Any executable file format can carry a debug link, as long as it can
17109contain a section named @code{.gnu_debuglink} with the contents
17110described above.
17111
17112@cindex @code{.note.gnu.build-id} sections
17113@cindex build ID sections
17114The build ID is a special section in the executable file (and in other
17115ELF binary files that @value{GDBN} may consider). This section is
17116often named @code{.note.gnu.build-id}, but that name is not mandatory.
17117It contains unique identification for the built files---the ID remains
17118the same across multiple builds of the same build tree. The default
17119algorithm SHA1 produces 160 bits (40 hexadecimal characters) of the
17120content for the build ID string. The same section with an identical
17121value is present in the original built binary with symbols, in its
17122stripped variant, and in the separate debugging information file.
17123
17124The debugging information file itself should be an ordinary
17125executable, containing a full set of linker symbols, sections, and
17126debugging information. The sections of the debugging information file
17127should have the same names, addresses, and sizes as the original file,
17128but they need not contain any data---much like a @code{.bss} section
17129in an ordinary executable.
17130
17131The @sc{gnu} binary utilities (Binutils) package includes the
17132@samp{objcopy} utility that can produce
17133the separated executable / debugging information file pairs using the
17134following commands:
17135
17136@smallexample
17137@kbd{objcopy --only-keep-debug foo foo.debug}
17138@kbd{strip -g foo}
17139@end smallexample
17140
17141@noindent
17142These commands remove the debugging
17143information from the executable file @file{foo} and place it in the file
17144@file{foo.debug}. You can use the first, second or both methods to link the
17145two files:
17146
17147@itemize @bullet
17148@item
17149The debug link method needs the following additional command to also leave
17150behind a debug link in @file{foo}:
17151
17152@smallexample
17153@kbd{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.debug foo}
17154@end smallexample
17155
17156Ulrich Drepper's @file{elfutils} package, starting with version 0.53, contains
17157a version of the @code{strip} command such that the command @kbd{strip foo -f
17158foo.debug} has the same functionality as the two @code{objcopy} commands and
17159the @code{ln -s} command above, together.
17160
17161@item
17162Build ID gets embedded into the main executable using @code{ld --build-id} or
17163the @value{NGCC} counterpart @code{gcc -Wl,--build-id}. Build ID support plus
17164compatibility fixes for debug files separation are present in @sc{gnu} binary
17165utilities (Binutils) package since version 2.18.
17166@end itemize
17167
17168@noindent
17169
17170@cindex CRC algorithm definition
17171The CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink} is the CRC-32 defined in
17172IEEE 802.3 using the polynomial:
17173
17174@c TexInfo requires naked braces for multi-digit exponents for Tex
17175@c output, but this causes HTML output to barf. HTML has to be set using
17176@c raw commands. So we end up having to specify this equation in 2
17177@c different ways!
17178@ifhtml
17179@display
17180@html
17181 <em>x</em><sup>32</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>26</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>23</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>22</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>16</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>12</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>11</sup>
17182 + <em>x</em><sup>10</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>8</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>7</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>5</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>4</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>2</sup> + <em>x</em> + 1
17183@end html
17184@end display
17185@end ifhtml
17186@ifnothtml
17187@display
17188 @math{x^{32} + x^{26} + x^{23} + x^{22} + x^{16} + x^{12} + x^{11}}
17189 @math{+ x^{10} + x^8 + x^7 + x^5 + x^4 + x^2 + x + 1}
17190@end display
17191@end ifnothtml
17192
17193The function is computed byte at a time, taking the least
17194significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern
17195@code{0xffffffff} is used, to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC and
17196the final result is inverted to ensure trailing zeros also affect the
17197CRC.
17198
17199@emph{Note:} This is the same CRC polynomial as used in handling the
17200@dfn{Remote Serial Protocol} @code{qCRC} packet (@pxref{Remote Protocol,
17201, @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol}). However in the
17202case of the Remote Serial Protocol, the CRC is computed @emph{most}
17203significant bit first, and the result is not inverted, so trailing
17204zeros have no effect on the CRC value.
17205
17206To complete the description, we show below the code of the function
17207which produces the CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink}. Inverting the
17208initially supplied @code{crc} argument means that an initial call to
17209this function passing in zero will start computing the CRC using
17210@code{0xffffffff}.
17211
17212@kindex gnu_debuglink_crc32
17213@smallexample
17214unsigned long
17215gnu_debuglink_crc32 (unsigned long crc,
17216 unsigned char *buf, size_t len)
17217@{
17218 static const unsigned long crc32_table[256] =
17219 @{
17220 0x00000000, 0x77073096, 0xee0e612c, 0x990951ba, 0x076dc419,
17221 0x706af48f, 0xe963a535, 0x9e6495a3, 0x0edb8832, 0x79dcb8a4,
17222 0xe0d5e91e, 0x97d2d988, 0x09b64c2b, 0x7eb17cbd, 0xe7b82d07,
17223 0x90bf1d91, 0x1db71064, 0x6ab020f2, 0xf3b97148, 0x84be41de,
17224 0x1adad47d, 0x6ddde4eb, 0xf4d4b551, 0x83d385c7, 0x136c9856,
17225 0x646ba8c0, 0xfd62f97a, 0x8a65c9ec, 0x14015c4f, 0x63066cd9,
17226 0xfa0f3d63, 0x8d080df5, 0x3b6e20c8, 0x4c69105e, 0xd56041e4,
17227 0xa2677172, 0x3c03e4d1, 0x4b04d447, 0xd20d85fd, 0xa50ab56b,
17228 0x35b5a8fa, 0x42b2986c, 0xdbbbc9d6, 0xacbcf940, 0x32d86ce3,
17229 0x45df5c75, 0xdcd60dcf, 0xabd13d59, 0x26d930ac, 0x51de003a,
17230 0xc8d75180, 0xbfd06116, 0x21b4f4b5, 0x56b3c423, 0xcfba9599,
17231 0xb8bda50f, 0x2802b89e, 0x5f058808, 0xc60cd9b2, 0xb10be924,
17232 0x2f6f7c87, 0x58684c11, 0xc1611dab, 0xb6662d3d, 0x76dc4190,
17233 0x01db7106, 0x98d220bc, 0xefd5102a, 0x71b18589, 0x06b6b51f,
17234 0x9fbfe4a5, 0xe8b8d433, 0x7807c9a2, 0x0f00f934, 0x9609a88e,
17235 0xe10e9818, 0x7f6a0dbb, 0x086d3d2d, 0x91646c97, 0xe6635c01,
17236 0x6b6b51f4, 0x1c6c6162, 0x856530d8, 0xf262004e, 0x6c0695ed,
17237 0x1b01a57b, 0x8208f4c1, 0xf50fc457, 0x65b0d9c6, 0x12b7e950,
17238 0x8bbeb8ea, 0xfcb9887c, 0x62dd1ddf, 0x15da2d49, 0x8cd37cf3,
17239 0xfbd44c65, 0x4db26158, 0x3ab551ce, 0xa3bc0074, 0xd4bb30e2,
17240 0x4adfa541, 0x3dd895d7, 0xa4d1c46d, 0xd3d6f4fb, 0x4369e96a,
17241 0x346ed9fc, 0xad678846, 0xda60b8d0, 0x44042d73, 0x33031de5,
17242 0xaa0a4c5f, 0xdd0d7cc9, 0x5005713c, 0x270241aa, 0xbe0b1010,
17243 0xc90c2086, 0x5768b525, 0x206f85b3, 0xb966d409, 0xce61e49f,
17244 0x5edef90e, 0x29d9c998, 0xb0d09822, 0xc7d7a8b4, 0x59b33d17,
17245 0x2eb40d81, 0xb7bd5c3b, 0xc0ba6cad, 0xedb88320, 0x9abfb3b6,
17246 0x03b6e20c, 0x74b1d29a, 0xead54739, 0x9dd277af, 0x04db2615,
17247 0x73dc1683, 0xe3630b12, 0x94643b84, 0x0d6d6a3e, 0x7a6a5aa8,
17248 0xe40ecf0b, 0x9309ff9d, 0x0a00ae27, 0x7d079eb1, 0xf00f9344,
17249 0x8708a3d2, 0x1e01f268, 0x6906c2fe, 0xf762575d, 0x806567cb,
17250 0x196c3671, 0x6e6b06e7, 0xfed41b76, 0x89d32be0, 0x10da7a5a,
17251 0x67dd4acc, 0xf9b9df6f, 0x8ebeeff9, 0x17b7be43, 0x60b08ed5,
17252 0xd6d6a3e8, 0xa1d1937e, 0x38d8c2c4, 0x4fdff252, 0xd1bb67f1,
17253 0xa6bc5767, 0x3fb506dd, 0x48b2364b, 0xd80d2bda, 0xaf0a1b4c,
17254 0x36034af6, 0x41047a60, 0xdf60efc3, 0xa867df55, 0x316e8eef,
17255 0x4669be79, 0xcb61b38c, 0xbc66831a, 0x256fd2a0, 0x5268e236,
17256 0xcc0c7795, 0xbb0b4703, 0x220216b9, 0x5505262f, 0xc5ba3bbe,
17257 0xb2bd0b28, 0x2bb45a92, 0x5cb36a04, 0xc2d7ffa7, 0xb5d0cf31,
17258 0x2cd99e8b, 0x5bdeae1d, 0x9b64c2b0, 0xec63f226, 0x756aa39c,
17259 0x026d930a, 0x9c0906a9, 0xeb0e363f, 0x72076785, 0x05005713,
17260 0x95bf4a82, 0xe2b87a14, 0x7bb12bae, 0x0cb61b38, 0x92d28e9b,
17261 0xe5d5be0d, 0x7cdcefb7, 0x0bdbdf21, 0x86d3d2d4, 0xf1d4e242,
17262 0x68ddb3f8, 0x1fda836e, 0x81be16cd, 0xf6b9265b, 0x6fb077e1,
17263 0x18b74777, 0x88085ae6, 0xff0f6a70, 0x66063bca, 0x11010b5c,
17264 0x8f659eff, 0xf862ae69, 0x616bffd3, 0x166ccf45, 0xa00ae278,
17265 0xd70dd2ee, 0x4e048354, 0x3903b3c2, 0xa7672661, 0xd06016f7,
17266 0x4969474d, 0x3e6e77db, 0xaed16a4a, 0xd9d65adc, 0x40df0b66,
17267 0x37d83bf0, 0xa9bcae53, 0xdebb9ec5, 0x47b2cf7f, 0x30b5ffe9,
17268 0xbdbdf21c, 0xcabac28a, 0x53b39330, 0x24b4a3a6, 0xbad03605,
17269 0xcdd70693, 0x54de5729, 0x23d967bf, 0xb3667a2e, 0xc4614ab8,
17270 0x5d681b02, 0x2a6f2b94, 0xb40bbe37, 0xc30c8ea1, 0x5a05df1b,
17271 0x2d02ef8d
17272 @};
17273 unsigned char *end;
17274
17275 crc = ~crc & 0xffffffff;
17276 for (end = buf + len; buf < end; ++buf)
17277 crc = crc32_table[(crc ^ *buf) & 0xff] ^ (crc >> 8);
17278 return ~crc & 0xffffffff;
17279@}
17280@end smallexample
17281
17282@noindent
17283This computation does not apply to the ``build ID'' method.
17284
17285@node MiniDebugInfo
17286@section Debugging information in a special section
17287@cindex separate debug sections
17288@cindex @samp{.gnu_debugdata} section
17289
17290Some systems ship pre-built executables and libraries that have a
17291special @samp{.gnu_debugdata} section. This feature is called
17292@dfn{MiniDebugInfo}. This section holds an LZMA-compressed object and
17293is used to supply extra symbols for backtraces.
17294
17295The intent of this section is to provide extra minimal debugging
17296information for use in simple backtraces. It is not intended to be a
17297replacement for full separate debugging information (@pxref{Separate
17298Debug Files}). The example below shows the intended use; however,
17299@value{GDBN} does not currently put restrictions on what sort of
17300debugging information might be included in the section.
17301
17302@value{GDBN} has support for this extension. If the section exists,
17303then it is used provided that no other source of debugging information
17304can be found, and that @value{GDBN} was configured with LZMA support.
17305
17306This section can be easily created using @command{objcopy} and other
17307standard utilities:
17308
17309@smallexample
17310# Extract the dynamic symbols from the main binary, there is no need
17311# to also have these in the normal symbol table
17312nm -D @var{binary} --format=posix --defined-only \
17313 | awk '@{ print $1 @}' | sort > dynsyms
17314
17315# Extract all the text (i.e. function) symbols from the debuginfo .
17316nm @var{binary} --format=posix --defined-only \
17317 | awk '@{ if ($2 == "T" || $2 == "t") print $1 @}' \
17318 | sort > funcsyms
17319
17320# Keep all the function symbols not already in the dynamic symbol
17321# table.
17322comm -13 dynsyms funcsyms > keep_symbols
17323
17324# Copy the full debuginfo, keeping only a minimal set of symbols and
17325# removing some unnecessary sections.
17326objcopy -S --remove-section .gdb_index --remove-section .comment \
17327 --keep-symbols=keep_symbols @var{binary} mini_debuginfo
17328
17329# Inject the compressed data into the .gnu_debugdata section of the
17330# original binary.
17331xz mini_debuginfo
17332objcopy --add-section .gnu_debugdata=mini_debuginfo.xz @var{binary}
17333@end smallexample
17334
17335@node Index Files
17336@section Index Files Speed Up @value{GDBN}
17337@cindex index files
17338@cindex @samp{.gdb_index} section
17339
17340When @value{GDBN} finds a symbol file, it scans the symbols in the
17341file in order to construct an internal symbol table. This lets most
17342@value{GDBN} operations work quickly---at the cost of a delay early
17343on. For large programs, this delay can be quite lengthy, so
17344@value{GDBN} provides a way to build an index, which speeds up
17345startup.
17346
17347The index is stored as a section in the symbol file. @value{GDBN} can
17348write the index to a file, then you can put it into the symbol file
17349using @command{objcopy}.
17350
17351To create an index file, use the @code{save gdb-index} command:
17352
17353@table @code
17354@item save gdb-index @var{directory}
17355@kindex save gdb-index
17356Create an index file for each symbol file currently known by
17357@value{GDBN}. Each file is named after its corresponding symbol file,
17358with @samp{.gdb-index} appended, and is written into the given
17359@var{directory}.
17360@end table
17361
17362Once you have created an index file you can merge it into your symbol
17363file, here named @file{symfile}, using @command{objcopy}:
17364
17365@smallexample
17366$ objcopy --add-section .gdb_index=symfile.gdb-index \
17367 --set-section-flags .gdb_index=readonly symfile symfile
17368@end smallexample
17369
17370@value{GDBN} will normally ignore older versions of @file{.gdb_index}
17371sections that have been deprecated. Usually they are deprecated because
17372they are missing a new feature or have performance issues.
17373To tell @value{GDBN} to use a deprecated index section anyway
17374specify @code{set use-deprecated-index-sections on}.
17375The default is @code{off}.
17376This can speed up startup, but may result in some functionality being lost.
17377@xref{Index Section Format}.
17378
17379@emph{Warning:} Setting @code{use-deprecated-index-sections} to @code{on}
17380must be done before gdb reads the file. The following will not work:
17381
17382@smallexample
17383$ gdb -ex "set use-deprecated-index-sections on" <program>
17384@end smallexample
17385
17386Instead you must do, for example,
17387
17388@smallexample
17389$ gdb -iex "set use-deprecated-index-sections on" <program>
17390@end smallexample
17391
17392There are currently some limitation on indices. They only work when
17393for DWARF debugging information, not stabs. And, they do not
17394currently work for programs using Ada.
17395
17396@node Symbol Errors
17397@section Errors Reading Symbol Files
17398
17399While reading a symbol file, @value{GDBN} occasionally encounters problems,
17400such as symbol types it does not recognize, or known bugs in compiler
17401output. By default, @value{GDBN} does not notify you of such problems, since
17402they are relatively common and primarily of interest to people
17403debugging compilers. If you are interested in seeing information
17404about ill-constructed symbol tables, you can either ask @value{GDBN} to print
17405only one message about each such type of problem, no matter how many
17406times the problem occurs; or you can ask @value{GDBN} to print more messages,
17407to see how many times the problems occur, with the @code{set
17408complaints} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
17409Messages}).
17410
17411The messages currently printed, and their meanings, include:
17412
17413@table @code
17414@item inner block not inside outer block in @var{symbol}
17415
17416The symbol information shows where symbol scopes begin and end
17417(such as at the start of a function or a block of statements). This
17418error indicates that an inner scope block is not fully contained
17419in its outer scope blocks.
17420
17421@value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the inner block as if it had
17422the same scope as the outer block. In the error message, @var{symbol}
17423may be shown as ``@code{(don't know)}'' if the outer block is not a
17424function.
17425
17426@item block at @var{address} out of order
17427
17428The symbol information for symbol scope blocks should occur in
17429order of increasing addresses. This error indicates that it does not
17430do so.
17431
17432@value{GDBN} does not circumvent this problem, and has trouble
17433locating symbols in the source file whose symbols it is reading. (You
17434can often determine what source file is affected by specifying
17435@code{set verbose on}. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
17436Messages}.)
17437
17438@item bad block start address patched
17439
17440The symbol information for a symbol scope block has a start address
17441smaller than the address of the preceding source line. This is known
17442to occur in the SunOS 4.1.1 (and earlier) C compiler.
17443
17444@value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the symbol scope block as
17445starting on the previous source line.
17446
17447@item bad string table offset in symbol @var{n}
17448
17449@cindex foo
17450Symbol number @var{n} contains a pointer into the string table which is
17451larger than the size of the string table.
17452
17453@value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by considering the symbol to have the
17454name @code{foo}, which may cause other problems if many symbols end up
17455with this name.
17456
17457@item unknown symbol type @code{0x@var{nn}}
17458
17459The symbol information contains new data types that @value{GDBN} does
17460not yet know how to read. @code{0x@var{nn}} is the symbol type of the
17461uncomprehended information, in hexadecimal.
17462
17463@value{GDBN} circumvents the error by ignoring this symbol information.
17464This usually allows you to debug your program, though certain symbols
17465are not accessible. If you encounter such a problem and feel like
17466debugging it, you can debug @code{@value{GDBP}} with itself, breakpoint
17467on @code{complain}, then go up to the function @code{read_dbx_symtab}
17468and examine @code{*bufp} to see the symbol.
17469
17470@item stub type has NULL name
17471
17472@value{GDBN} could not find the full definition for a struct or class.
17473
17474@item const/volatile indicator missing (ok if using g++ v1.x), got@dots{}
17475The symbol information for a C@t{++} member function is missing some
17476information that recent versions of the compiler should have output for
17477it.
17478
17479@item info mismatch between compiler and debugger
17480
17481@value{GDBN} could not parse a type specification output by the compiler.
17482
17483@end table
17484
17485@node Data Files
17486@section GDB Data Files
17487
17488@cindex prefix for data files
17489@value{GDBN} will sometimes read an auxiliary data file. These files
17490are kept in a directory known as the @dfn{data directory}.
17491
17492You can set the data directory's name, and view the name @value{GDBN}
17493is currently using.
17494
17495@table @code
17496@kindex set data-directory
17497@item set data-directory @var{directory}
17498Set the directory which @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files
17499to @var{directory}.
17500
17501@kindex show data-directory
17502@item show data-directory
17503Show the directory @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files.
17504@end table
17505
17506@cindex default data directory
17507@cindex @samp{--with-gdb-datadir}
17508You can set the default data directory by using the configure-time
17509@samp{--with-gdb-datadir} option. If the data directory is inside
17510@value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
17511@samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default data directory will be updated
17512automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
17513location.
17514
17515The data directory may also be specified with the
17516@code{--data-directory} command line option.
17517@xref{Mode Options}.
17518
17519@node Targets
17520@chapter Specifying a Debugging Target
17521
17522@cindex debugging target
17523A @dfn{target} is the execution environment occupied by your program.
17524
17525Often, @value{GDBN} runs in the same host environment as your program;
17526in that case, the debugging target is specified as a side effect when
17527you use the @code{file} or @code{core} commands. When you need more
17528flexibility---for example, running @value{GDBN} on a physically separate
17529host, or controlling a standalone system over a serial port or a
17530realtime system over a TCP/IP connection---you can use the @code{target}
17531command to specify one of the target types configured for @value{GDBN}
17532(@pxref{Target Commands, ,Commands for Managing Targets}).
17533
17534@cindex target architecture
17535It is possible to build @value{GDBN} for several different @dfn{target
17536architectures}. When @value{GDBN} is built like that, you can choose
17537one of the available architectures with the @kbd{set architecture}
17538command.
17539
17540@table @code
17541@kindex set architecture
17542@kindex show architecture
17543@item set architecture @var{arch}
17544This command sets the current target architecture to @var{arch}. The
17545value of @var{arch} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition to one of the
17546supported architectures.
17547
17548@item show architecture
17549Show the current target architecture.
17550
17551@item set processor
17552@itemx processor
17553@kindex set processor
17554@kindex show processor
17555These are alias commands for, respectively, @code{set architecture}
17556and @code{show architecture}.
17557@end table
17558
17559@menu
17560* Active Targets:: Active targets
17561* Target Commands:: Commands for managing targets
17562* Byte Order:: Choosing target byte order
17563@end menu
17564
17565@node Active Targets
17566@section Active Targets
17567
17568@cindex stacking targets
17569@cindex active targets
17570@cindex multiple targets
17571
17572There are multiple classes of targets such as: processes, executable files or
17573recording sessions. Core files belong to the process class, making core file
17574and process mutually exclusive. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} can work concurrently
17575on multiple active targets, one in each class. This allows you to (for
17576example) start a process and inspect its activity, while still having access to
17577the executable file after the process finishes. Or if you start process
17578recording (@pxref{Reverse Execution}) and @code{reverse-step} there, you are
17579presented a virtual layer of the recording target, while the process target
17580remains stopped at the chronologically last point of the process execution.
17581
17582Use the @code{core-file} and @code{exec-file} commands to select a new core
17583file or executable target (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}). To
17584specify as a target a process that is already running, use the @code{attach}
17585command (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
17586
17587@node Target Commands
17588@section Commands for Managing Targets
17589
17590@table @code
17591@item target @var{type} @var{parameters}
17592Connects the @value{GDBN} host environment to a target machine or
17593process. A target is typically a protocol for talking to debugging
17594facilities. You use the argument @var{type} to specify the type or
17595protocol of the target machine.
17596
17597Further @var{parameters} are interpreted by the target protocol, but
17598typically include things like device names or host names to connect
17599with, process numbers, and baud rates.
17600
17601The @code{target} command does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again
17602after executing the command.
17603
17604@kindex help target
17605@item help target
17606Displays the names of all targets available. To display targets
17607currently selected, use either @code{info target} or @code{info files}
17608(@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
17609
17610@item help target @var{name}
17611Describe a particular target, including any parameters necessary to
17612select it.
17613
17614@kindex set gnutarget
17615@item set gnutarget @var{args}
17616@value{GDBN} uses its own library BFD to read your files. @value{GDBN}
17617knows whether it is reading an @dfn{executable},
17618a @dfn{core}, or a @dfn{.o} file; however, you can specify the file format
17619with the @code{set gnutarget} command. Unlike most @code{target} commands,
17620with @code{gnutarget} the @code{target} refers to a program, not a machine.
17621
17622@quotation
17623@emph{Warning:} To specify a file format with @code{set gnutarget},
17624you must know the actual BFD name.
17625@end quotation
17626
17627@noindent
17628@xref{Files, , Commands to Specify Files}.
17629
17630@kindex show gnutarget
17631@item show gnutarget
17632Use the @code{show gnutarget} command to display what file format
17633@code{gnutarget} is set to read. If you have not set @code{gnutarget},
17634@value{GDBN} will determine the file format for each file automatically,
17635and @code{show gnutarget} displays @samp{The current BFD target is "auto"}.
17636@end table
17637
17638@cindex common targets
17639Here are some common targets (available, or not, depending on the GDB
17640configuration):
17641
17642@table @code
17643@kindex target
17644@item target exec @var{program}
17645@cindex executable file target
17646An executable file. @samp{target exec @var{program}} is the same as
17647@samp{exec-file @var{program}}.
17648
17649@item target core @var{filename}
17650@cindex core dump file target
17651A core dump file. @samp{target core @var{filename}} is the same as
17652@samp{core-file @var{filename}}.
17653
17654@item target remote @var{medium}
17655@cindex remote target
17656A remote system connected to @value{GDBN} via a serial line or network
17657connection. This command tells @value{GDBN} to use its own remote
17658protocol over @var{medium} for debugging. @xref{Remote Debugging}.
17659
17660For example, if you have a board connected to @file{/dev/ttya} on the
17661machine running @value{GDBN}, you could say:
17662
17663@smallexample
17664target remote /dev/ttya
17665@end smallexample
17666
17667@code{target remote} supports the @code{load} command. This is only
17668useful if you have some other way of getting the stub to the target
17669system, and you can put it somewhere in memory where it won't get
17670clobbered by the download.
17671
17672@item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
17673@cindex built-in simulator target
17674Builtin CPU simulator. @value{GDBN} includes simulators for most architectures.
17675In general,
17676@smallexample
17677 target sim
17678 load
17679 run
17680@end smallexample
17681@noindent
17682works; however, you cannot assume that a specific memory map, device
17683drivers, or even basic I/O is available, although some simulators do
17684provide these. For info about any processor-specific simulator details,
17685see the appropriate section in @ref{Embedded Processors, ,Embedded
17686Processors}.
17687
17688@end table
17689
17690Some configurations may include these targets as well:
17691
17692@table @code
17693
17694@item target nrom @var{dev}
17695@cindex NetROM ROM emulator target
17696NetROM ROM emulator. This target only supports downloading.
17697
17698@end table
17699
17700Different targets are available on different configurations of @value{GDBN};
17701your configuration may have more or fewer targets.
17702
17703Many remote targets require you to download the executable's code once
17704you've successfully established a connection. You may wish to control
17705various aspects of this process.
17706
17707@table @code
17708
17709@item set hash
17710@kindex set hash@r{, for remote monitors}
17711@cindex hash mark while downloading
17712This command controls whether a hash mark @samp{#} is displayed while
17713downloading a file to the remote monitor. If on, a hash mark is
17714displayed after each S-record is successfully downloaded to the
17715monitor.
17716
17717@item show hash
17718@kindex show hash@r{, for remote monitors}
17719Show the current status of displaying the hash mark.
17720
17721@item set debug monitor
17722@kindex set debug monitor
17723@cindex display remote monitor communications
17724Enable or disable display of communications messages between
17725@value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
17726
17727@item show debug monitor
17728@kindex show debug monitor
17729Show the current status of displaying communications between
17730@value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
17731@end table
17732
17733@table @code
17734
17735@kindex load @var{filename}
17736@item load @var{filename}
17737@anchor{load}
17738Depending on what remote debugging facilities are configured into
17739@value{GDBN}, the @code{load} command may be available. Where it exists, it
17740is meant to make @var{filename} (an executable) available for debugging
17741on the remote system---by downloading, or dynamic linking, for example.
17742@code{load} also records the @var{filename} symbol table in @value{GDBN}, like
17743the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
17744
17745If your @value{GDBN} does not have a @code{load} command, attempting to
17746execute it gets the error message ``@code{You can't do that when your
17747target is @dots{}}''
17748
17749The file is loaded at whatever address is specified in the executable.
17750For some object file formats, you can specify the load address when you
17751link the program; for other formats, like a.out, the object file format
17752specifies a fixed address.
17753@c FIXME! This would be a good place for an xref to the GNU linker doc.
17754
17755Depending on the remote side capabilities, @value{GDBN} may be able to
17756load programs into flash memory.
17757
17758@code{load} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
17759@end table
17760
17761@node Byte Order
17762@section Choosing Target Byte Order
17763
17764@cindex choosing target byte order
17765@cindex target byte order
17766
17767Some types of processors, such as the @acronym{MIPS}, PowerPC, and Renesas SH,
17768offer the ability to run either big-endian or little-endian byte
17769orders. Usually the executable or symbol will include a bit to
17770designate the endian-ness, and you will not need to worry about
17771which to use. However, you may still find it useful to adjust
17772@value{GDBN}'s idea of processor endian-ness manually.
17773
17774@table @code
17775@kindex set endian
17776@item set endian big
17777Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is big-endian.
17778
17779@item set endian little
17780Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is little-endian.
17781
17782@item set endian auto
17783Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the byte order associated with the
17784executable.
17785
17786@item show endian
17787Display @value{GDBN}'s current idea of the target byte order.
17788
17789@end table
17790
17791Note that these commands merely adjust interpretation of symbolic
17792data on the host, and that they have absolutely no effect on the
17793target system.
17794
17795
17796@node Remote Debugging
17797@chapter Debugging Remote Programs
17798@cindex remote debugging
17799
17800If you are trying to debug a program running on a machine that cannot run
17801@value{GDBN} in the usual way, it is often useful to use remote debugging.
17802For example, you might use remote debugging on an operating system kernel,
17803or on a small system which does not have a general purpose operating system
17804powerful enough to run a full-featured debugger.
17805
17806Some configurations of @value{GDBN} have special serial or TCP/IP interfaces
17807to make this work with particular debugging targets. In addition,
17808@value{GDBN} comes with a generic serial protocol (specific to @value{GDBN},
17809but not specific to any particular target system) which you can use if you
17810write the remote stubs---the code that runs on the remote system to
17811communicate with @value{GDBN}.
17812
17813Other remote targets may be available in your
17814configuration of @value{GDBN}; use @code{help target} to list them.
17815
17816@menu
17817* Connecting:: Connecting to a remote target
17818* File Transfer:: Sending files to a remote system
17819* Server:: Using the gdbserver program
17820* Remote Configuration:: Remote configuration
17821* Remote Stub:: Implementing a remote stub
17822@end menu
17823
17824@node Connecting
17825@section Connecting to a Remote Target
17826
17827On the @value{GDBN} host machine, you will need an unstripped copy of
17828your program, since @value{GDBN} needs symbol and debugging information.
17829Start up @value{GDBN} as usual, using the name of the local copy of your
17830program as the first argument.
17831
17832@cindex @code{target remote}
17833@value{GDBN} can communicate with the target over a serial line, or
17834over an @acronym{IP} network using @acronym{TCP} or @acronym{UDP}. In
17835each case, @value{GDBN} uses the same protocol for debugging your
17836program; only the medium carrying the debugging packets varies. The
17837@code{target remote} command establishes a connection to the target.
17838Its arguments indicate which medium to use:
17839
17840@table @code
17841
17842@item target remote @var{serial-device}
17843@cindex serial line, @code{target remote}
17844Use @var{serial-device} to communicate with the target. For example,
17845to use a serial line connected to the device named @file{/dev/ttyb}:
17846
17847@smallexample
17848target remote /dev/ttyb
17849@end smallexample
17850
17851If you're using a serial line, you may want to give @value{GDBN} the
17852@w{@samp{--baud}} option, or use the @code{set remotebaud} command
17853(@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remotebaud}) before the
17854@code{target} command.
17855
17856@item target remote @code{@var{host}:@var{port}}
17857@itemx target remote @code{tcp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
17858@cindex @acronym{TCP} port, @code{target remote}
17859Debug using a @acronym{TCP} connection to @var{port} on @var{host}.
17860The @var{host} may be either a host name or a numeric @acronym{IP}
17861address; @var{port} must be a decimal number. The @var{host} could be
17862the target machine itself, if it is directly connected to the net, or
17863it might be a terminal server which in turn has a serial line to the
17864target.
17865
17866For example, to connect to port 2828 on a terminal server named
17867@code{manyfarms}:
17868
17869@smallexample
17870target remote manyfarms:2828
17871@end smallexample
17872
17873If your remote target is actually running on the same machine as your
17874debugger session (e.g.@: a simulator for your target running on the
17875same host), you can omit the hostname. For example, to connect to
17876port 1234 on your local machine:
17877
17878@smallexample
17879target remote :1234
17880@end smallexample
17881@noindent
17882
17883Note that the colon is still required here.
17884
17885@item target remote @code{udp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
17886@cindex @acronym{UDP} port, @code{target remote}
17887Debug using @acronym{UDP} packets to @var{port} on @var{host}. For example, to
17888connect to @acronym{UDP} port 2828 on a terminal server named @code{manyfarms}:
17889
17890@smallexample
17891target remote udp:manyfarms:2828
17892@end smallexample
17893
17894When using a @acronym{UDP} connection for remote debugging, you should
17895keep in mind that the `U' stands for ``Unreliable''. @acronym{UDP}
17896can silently drop packets on busy or unreliable networks, which will
17897cause havoc with your debugging session.
17898
17899@item target remote | @var{command}
17900@cindex pipe, @code{target remote} to
17901Run @var{command} in the background and communicate with it using a
17902pipe. The @var{command} is a shell command, to be parsed and expanded
17903by the system's command shell, @code{/bin/sh}; it should expect remote
17904protocol packets on its standard input, and send replies on its
17905standard output. You could use this to run a stand-alone simulator
17906that speaks the remote debugging protocol, to make net connections
17907using programs like @code{ssh}, or for other similar tricks.
17908
17909If @var{command} closes its standard output (perhaps by exiting),
17910@value{GDBN} will try to send it a @code{SIGTERM} signal. (If the
17911program has already exited, this will have no effect.)
17912
17913@end table
17914
17915Once the connection has been established, you can use all the usual
17916commands to examine and change data. The remote program is already
17917running; you can use @kbd{step} and @kbd{continue}, and you do not
17918need to use @kbd{run}.
17919
17920@cindex interrupting remote programs
17921@cindex remote programs, interrupting
17922Whenever @value{GDBN} is waiting for the remote program, if you type the
17923interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}), @value{GDBN} attempts to stop the
17924program. This may or may not succeed, depending in part on the hardware
17925and the serial drivers the remote system uses. If you type the
17926interrupt character once again, @value{GDBN} displays this prompt:
17927
17928@smallexample
17929Interrupted while waiting for the program.
17930Give up (and stop debugging it)? (y or n)
17931@end smallexample
17932
17933If you type @kbd{y}, @value{GDBN} abandons the remote debugging session.
17934(If you decide you want to try again later, you can use @samp{target
17935remote} again to connect once more.) If you type @kbd{n}, @value{GDBN}
17936goes back to waiting.
17937
17938@table @code
17939@kindex detach (remote)
17940@item detach
17941When you have finished debugging the remote program, you can use the
17942@code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control.
17943Detaching from the target normally resumes its execution, but the results
17944will depend on your particular remote stub. After the @code{detach}
17945command, @value{GDBN} is free to connect to another target.
17946
17947@kindex disconnect
17948@item disconnect
17949The @code{disconnect} command behaves like @code{detach}, except that
17950the target is generally not resumed. It will wait for @value{GDBN}
17951(this instance or another one) to connect and continue debugging. After
17952the @code{disconnect} command, @value{GDBN} is again free to connect to
17953another target.
17954
17955@cindex send command to remote monitor
17956@cindex extend @value{GDBN} for remote targets
17957@cindex add new commands for external monitor
17958@kindex monitor
17959@item monitor @var{cmd}
17960This command allows you to send arbitrary commands directly to the
17961remote monitor. Since @value{GDBN} doesn't care about the commands it
17962sends like this, this command is the way to extend @value{GDBN}---you
17963can add new commands that only the external monitor will understand
17964and implement.
17965@end table
17966
17967@node File Transfer
17968@section Sending files to a remote system
17969@cindex remote target, file transfer
17970@cindex file transfer
17971@cindex sending files to remote systems
17972
17973Some remote targets offer the ability to transfer files over the same
17974connection used to communicate with @value{GDBN}. This is convenient
17975for targets accessible through other means, e.g.@: @sc{gnu}/Linux systems
17976running @code{gdbserver} over a network interface. For other targets,
17977e.g.@: embedded devices with only a single serial port, this may be
17978the only way to upload or download files.
17979
17980Not all remote targets support these commands.
17981
17982@table @code
17983@kindex remote put
17984@item remote put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
17985Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
17986@value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
17987
17988@kindex remote get
17989@item remote get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
17990Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
17991on the host system.
17992
17993@kindex remote delete
17994@item remote delete @var{targetfile}
17995Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
17996
17997@end table
17998
17999@node Server
18000@section Using the @code{gdbserver} Program
18001
18002@kindex gdbserver
18003@cindex remote connection without stubs
18004@code{gdbserver} is a control program for Unix-like systems, which
18005allows you to connect your program with a remote @value{GDBN} via
18006@code{target remote}---but without linking in the usual debugging stub.
18007
18008@code{gdbserver} is not a complete replacement for the debugging stubs,
18009because it requires essentially the same operating-system facilities
18010that @value{GDBN} itself does. In fact, a system that can run
18011@code{gdbserver} to connect to a remote @value{GDBN} could also run
18012@value{GDBN} locally! @code{gdbserver} is sometimes useful nevertheless,
18013because it is a much smaller program than @value{GDBN} itself. It is
18014also easier to port than all of @value{GDBN}, so you may be able to get
18015started more quickly on a new system by using @code{gdbserver}.
18016Finally, if you develop code for real-time systems, you may find that
18017the tradeoffs involved in real-time operation make it more convenient to
18018do as much development work as possible on another system, for example
18019by cross-compiling. You can use @code{gdbserver} to make a similar
18020choice for debugging.
18021
18022@value{GDBN} and @code{gdbserver} communicate via either a serial line
18023or a TCP connection, using the standard @value{GDBN} remote serial
18024protocol.
18025
18026@quotation
18027@emph{Warning:} @code{gdbserver} does not have any built-in security.
18028Do not run @code{gdbserver} connected to any public network; a
18029@value{GDBN} connection to @code{gdbserver} provides access to the
18030target system with the same privileges as the user running
18031@code{gdbserver}.
18032@end quotation
18033
18034@subsection Running @code{gdbserver}
18035@cindex arguments, to @code{gdbserver}
18036@cindex @code{gdbserver}, command-line arguments
18037
18038Run @code{gdbserver} on the target system. You need a copy of the
18039program you want to debug, including any libraries it requires.
18040@code{gdbserver} does not need your program's symbol table, so you can
18041strip the program if necessary to save space. @value{GDBN} on the host
18042system does all the symbol handling.
18043
18044To use the server, you must tell it how to communicate with @value{GDBN};
18045the name of your program; and the arguments for your program. The usual
18046syntax is:
18047
18048@smallexample
18049target> gdbserver @var{comm} @var{program} [ @var{args} @dots{} ]
18050@end smallexample
18051
18052@var{comm} is either a device name (to use a serial line), or a TCP
18053hostname and portnumber, or @code{-} or @code{stdio} to use
18054stdin/stdout of @code{gdbserver}.
18055For example, to debug Emacs with the argument
18056@samp{foo.txt} and communicate with @value{GDBN} over the serial port
18057@file{/dev/com1}:
18058
18059@smallexample
18060target> gdbserver /dev/com1 emacs foo.txt
18061@end smallexample
18062
18063@code{gdbserver} waits passively for the host @value{GDBN} to communicate
18064with it.
18065
18066To use a TCP connection instead of a serial line:
18067
18068@smallexample
18069target> gdbserver host:2345 emacs foo.txt
18070@end smallexample
18071
18072The only difference from the previous example is the first argument,
18073specifying that you are communicating with the host @value{GDBN} via
18074TCP. The @samp{host:2345} argument means that @code{gdbserver} is to
18075expect a TCP connection from machine @samp{host} to local TCP port 2345.
18076(Currently, the @samp{host} part is ignored.) You can choose any number
18077you want for the port number as long as it does not conflict with any
18078TCP ports already in use on the target system (for example, @code{23} is
18079reserved for @code{telnet}).@footnote{If you choose a port number that
18080conflicts with another service, @code{gdbserver} prints an error message
18081and exits.} You must use the same port number with the host @value{GDBN}
18082@code{target remote} command.
18083
18084The @code{stdio} connection is useful when starting @code{gdbserver}
18085with ssh:
18086
18087@smallexample
18088(gdb) target remote | ssh -T hostname gdbserver - hello
18089@end smallexample
18090
18091The @samp{-T} option to ssh is provided because we don't need a remote pty,
18092and we don't want escape-character handling. Ssh does this by default when
18093a command is provided, the flag is provided to make it explicit.
18094You could elide it if you want to.
18095
18096Programs started with stdio-connected gdbserver have @file{/dev/null} for
18097@code{stdin}, and @code{stdout},@code{stderr} are sent back to gdb for
18098display through a pipe connected to gdbserver.
18099Both @code{stdout} and @code{stderr} use the same pipe.
18100
18101@subsubsection Attaching to a Running Program
18102@cindex attach to a program, @code{gdbserver}
18103@cindex @option{--attach}, @code{gdbserver} option
18104
18105On some targets, @code{gdbserver} can also attach to running programs.
18106This is accomplished via the @code{--attach} argument. The syntax is:
18107
18108@smallexample
18109target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
18110@end smallexample
18111
18112@var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't necessary
18113to point @code{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
18114
18115@pindex pidof
18116You can debug processes by name instead of process ID if your target has the
18117@code{pidof} utility:
18118
18119@smallexample
18120target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} `pidof @var{program}`
18121@end smallexample
18122
18123In case more than one copy of @var{program} is running, or @var{program}
18124has multiple threads, most versions of @code{pidof} support the
18125@code{-s} option to only return the first process ID.
18126
18127@subsubsection Multi-Process Mode for @code{gdbserver}
18128@cindex @code{gdbserver}, multiple processes
18129@cindex multiple processes with @code{gdbserver}
18130
18131When you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target remote},
18132@code{gdbserver} debugs the specified program only once. When the
18133program exits, or you detach from it, @value{GDBN} closes the connection
18134and @code{gdbserver} exits.
18135
18136If you connect using @kbd{target extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver}
18137enters multi-process mode. When the debugged program exits, or you
18138detach from it, @value{GDBN} stays connected to @code{gdbserver} even
18139though no program is running. The @code{run} and @code{attach}
18140commands instruct @code{gdbserver} to run or attach to a new program.
18141The @code{run} command uses @code{set remote exec-file} (@pxref{set
18142remote exec-file}) to select the program to run. Command line
18143arguments are supported, except for wildcard expansion and I/O
18144redirection (@pxref{Arguments}).
18145
18146@cindex @option{--multi}, @code{gdbserver} option
18147To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
18148or process ID to attach, use the @option{--multi} command line option.
18149Then you can connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} and start
18150the program you want to debug.
18151
18152In multi-process mode @code{gdbserver} does not automatically exit unless you
18153use the option @option{--once}. You can terminate it by using
18154@code{monitor exit} (@pxref{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}). Note that the
18155conditions under which @code{gdbserver} terminates depend on how @value{GDBN}
18156connects to it (@kbd{target remote} or @kbd{target extended-remote}). The
18157@option{--multi} option to @code{gdbserver} has no influence on that.
18158
18159@subsubsection TCP port allocation lifecycle of @code{gdbserver}
18160
18161This section applies only when @code{gdbserver} is run to listen on a TCP port.
18162
18163@code{gdbserver} normally terminates after all of its debugged processes have
18164terminated in @kbd{target remote} mode. On the other hand, for @kbd{target
18165extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver} stays running even with no processes left.
18166@value{GDBN} normally terminates the spawned debugged process on its exit,
18167which normally also terminates @code{gdbserver} in the @kbd{target remote}
18168mode. Therefore, when the connection drops unexpectedly, and @value{GDBN}
18169cannot ask @code{gdbserver} to kill its debugged processes, @code{gdbserver}
18170stays running even in the @kbd{target remote} mode.
18171
18172When @code{gdbserver} stays running, @value{GDBN} can connect to it again later.
18173Such reconnecting is useful for features like @ref{disconnected tracing}. For
18174completeness, at most one @value{GDBN} can be connected at a time.
18175
18176@cindex @option{--once}, @code{gdbserver} option
18177By default, @code{gdbserver} keeps the listening TCP port open, so that
18178additional connections are possible. However, if you start @code{gdbserver}
18179with the @option{--once} option, it will stop listening for any further
18180connection attempts after connecting to the first @value{GDBN} session. This
18181means no further connections to @code{gdbserver} will be possible after the
18182first one. It also means @code{gdbserver} will terminate after the first
18183connection with remote @value{GDBN} has closed, even for unexpectedly closed
18184connections and even in the @kbd{target extended-remote} mode. The
18185@option{--once} option allows reusing the same port number for connecting to
18186multiple instances of @code{gdbserver} running on the same host, since each
18187instance closes its port after the first connection.
18188
18189@subsubsection Other Command-Line Arguments for @code{gdbserver}
18190
18191@cindex @option{--debug}, @code{gdbserver} option
18192The @option{--debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display extra
18193status information about the debugging process.
18194@cindex @option{--remote-debug}, @code{gdbserver} option
18195The @option{--remote-debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display
18196remote protocol debug output. These options are intended for
18197@code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to the developers.
18198
18199@cindex @option{--wrapper}, @code{gdbserver} option
18200The @option{--wrapper} option specifies a wrapper to launch programs
18201for debugging. The option should be followed by the name of the
18202wrapper, then any command-line arguments to pass to the wrapper, then
18203@kbd{--} indicating the end of the wrapper arguments.
18204
18205@code{gdbserver} runs the specified wrapper program with a combined
18206command line including the wrapper arguments, then the name of the
18207program to debug, then any arguments to the program. The wrapper
18208runs until it executes your program, and then @value{GDBN} gains control.
18209
18210You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
18211its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
18212this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
18213with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
18214
18215For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
18216the debugged program, without setting the variable in @code{gdbserver}'s
18217environment:
18218
18219@smallexample
18220$ gdbserver --wrapper env LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so -- :2222 ./testprog
18221@end smallexample
18222
18223@subsection Connecting to @code{gdbserver}
18224
18225Run @value{GDBN} on the host system.
18226
18227First make sure you have the necessary symbol files. Load symbols for
18228your application using the @code{file} command before you connect. Use
18229@code{set sysroot} to locate target libraries (unless your @value{GDBN}
18230was compiled with the correct sysroot using @code{--with-sysroot}).
18231
18232The symbol file and target libraries must exactly match the executable
18233and libraries on the target, with one exception: the files on the host
18234system should not be stripped, even if the files on the target system
18235are. Mismatched or missing files will lead to confusing results
18236during debugging. On @sc{gnu}/Linux targets, mismatched or missing
18237files may also prevent @code{gdbserver} from debugging multi-threaded
18238programs.
18239
18240Connect to your target (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
18241For TCP connections, you must start up @code{gdbserver} prior to using
18242the @code{target remote} command. Otherwise you may get an error whose
18243text depends on the host system, but which usually looks something like
18244@samp{Connection refused}. Don't use the @code{load}
18245command in @value{GDBN} when using @code{gdbserver}, since the program is
18246already on the target.
18247
18248@subsection Monitor Commands for @code{gdbserver}
18249@cindex monitor commands, for @code{gdbserver}
18250@anchor{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}
18251
18252During a @value{GDBN} session using @code{gdbserver}, you can use the
18253@code{monitor} command to send special requests to @code{gdbserver}.
18254Here are the available commands.
18255
18256@table @code
18257@item monitor help
18258List the available monitor commands.
18259
18260@item monitor set debug 0
18261@itemx monitor set debug 1
18262Disable or enable general debugging messages.
18263
18264@item monitor set remote-debug 0
18265@itemx monitor set remote-debug 1
18266Disable or enable specific debugging messages associated with the remote
18267protocol (@pxref{Remote Protocol}).
18268
18269@item monitor set libthread-db-search-path [PATH]
18270@cindex gdbserver, search path for @code{libthread_db}
18271When this command is issued, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
18272directories to search for @code{libthread_db} (@pxref{Threads,,set
18273libthread-db-search-path}). If you omit @var{path},
18274@samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to its default value.
18275
18276The special entry @samp{$pdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path} is
18277not supported in @code{gdbserver}.
18278
18279@item monitor exit
18280Tell gdbserver to exit immediately. This command should be followed by
18281@code{disconnect} to close the debugging session. @code{gdbserver} will
18282detach from any attached processes and kill any processes it created.
18283Use @code{monitor exit} to terminate @code{gdbserver} at the end
18284of a multi-process mode debug session.
18285
18286@end table
18287
18288@subsection Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
18289@cindex tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
18290
18291On some targets, @code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints, fast
18292tracepoints and static tracepoints.
18293
18294For fast or static tracepoints to work, a special library called the
18295@dfn{in-process agent} (IPA), must be loaded in the inferior process.
18296This library is built and distributed as an integral part of
18297@code{gdbserver}. In addition, support for static tracepoints
18298requires building the in-process agent library with static tracepoints
18299support. At present, the UST (LTTng Userspace Tracer,
18300@url{http://lttng.org/ust}) tracing engine is supported. This support
18301is automatically available if UST development headers are found in the
18302standard include path when @code{gdbserver} is built, or if
18303@code{gdbserver} was explicitly configured using @option{--with-ust}
18304to point at such headers. You can explicitly disable the support
18305using @option{--with-ust=no}.
18306
18307There are several ways to load the in-process agent in your program:
18308
18309@table @code
18310@item Specifying it as dependency at link time
18311
18312You can link your program dynamically with the in-process agent
18313library. On most systems, this is accomplished by adding
18314@code{-linproctrace} to the link command.
18315
18316@item Using the system's preloading mechanisms
18317
18318You can force loading the in-process agent at startup time by using
18319your system's support for preloading shared libraries. Many Unixes
18320support the concept of preloading user defined libraries. In most
18321cases, you do that by specifying @code{LD_PRELOAD=libinproctrace.so}
18322in the environment. See also the description of @code{gdbserver}'s
18323@option{--wrapper} command line option.
18324
18325@item Using @value{GDBN} to force loading the agent at run time
18326
18327On some systems, you can force the inferior to load a shared library,
18328by calling a dynamic loader function in the inferior that takes care
18329of dynamically looking up and loading a shared library. On most Unix
18330systems, the function is @code{dlopen}. You'll use the @code{call}
18331command for that. For example:
18332
18333@smallexample
18334(@value{GDBP}) call dlopen ("libinproctrace.so", ...)
18335@end smallexample
18336
18337Note that on most Unix systems, for the @code{dlopen} function to be
18338available, the program needs to be linked with @code{-ldl}.
18339@end table
18340
18341On systems that have a userspace dynamic loader, like most Unix
18342systems, when you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target
18343remote}, you'll find that the program is stopped at the dynamic
18344loader's entry point, and no shared library has been loaded in the
18345program's address space yet, including the in-process agent. In that
18346case, before being able to use any of the fast or static tracepoints
18347features, you need to let the loader run and load the shared
18348libraries. The simplest way to do that is to run the program to the
18349main procedure. E.g., if debugging a C or C@t{++} program, start
18350@code{gdbserver} like so:
18351
18352@smallexample
18353$ gdbserver :9999 myprogram
18354@end smallexample
18355
18356Start GDB and connect to @code{gdbserver} like so, and run to main:
18357
18358@smallexample
18359$ gdb myprogram
18360(@value{GDBP}) target remote myhost:9999
183610x00007f215893ba60 in ?? () from /lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2
18362(@value{GDBP}) b main
18363(@value{GDBP}) continue
18364@end smallexample
18365
18366The in-process tracing agent library should now be loaded into the
18367process; you can confirm it with the @code{info sharedlibrary}
18368command, which will list @file{libinproctrace.so} as loaded in the
18369process. You are now ready to install fast tracepoints, list static
18370tracepoint markers, probe static tracepoints markers, and start
18371tracing.
18372
18373@node Remote Configuration
18374@section Remote Configuration
18375
18376@kindex set remote
18377@kindex show remote
18378This section documents the configuration options available when
18379debugging remote programs. For the options related to the File I/O
18380extensions of the remote protocol, see @ref{system,
18381system-call-allowed}.
18382
18383@table @code
18384@item set remoteaddresssize @var{bits}
18385@cindex address size for remote targets
18386@cindex bits in remote address
18387Set the maximum size of address in a memory packet to the specified
18388number of bits. @value{GDBN} will mask off the address bits above
18389that number, when it passes addresses to the remote target. The
18390default value is the number of bits in the target's address.
18391
18392@item show remoteaddresssize
18393Show the current value of remote address size in bits.
18394
18395@item set remotebaud @var{n}
18396@cindex baud rate for remote targets
18397Set the baud rate for the remote serial I/O to @var{n} baud. The
18398value is used to set the speed of the serial port used for debugging
18399remote targets.
18400
18401@item show remotebaud
18402Show the current speed of the remote connection.
18403
18404@item set remotebreak
18405@cindex interrupt remote programs
18406@cindex BREAK signal instead of Ctrl-C
18407@anchor{set remotebreak}
18408If set to on, @value{GDBN} sends a @code{BREAK} signal to the remote
18409when you type @kbd{Ctrl-c} to interrupt the program running
18410on the remote. If set to off, @value{GDBN} sends the @samp{Ctrl-C}
18411character instead. The default is off, since most remote systems
18412expect to see @samp{Ctrl-C} as the interrupt signal.
18413
18414@item show remotebreak
18415Show whether @value{GDBN} sends @code{BREAK} or @samp{Ctrl-C} to
18416interrupt the remote program.
18417
18418@item set remoteflow on
18419@itemx set remoteflow off
18420@kindex set remoteflow
18421Enable or disable hardware flow control (@code{RTS}/@code{CTS})
18422on the serial port used to communicate to the remote target.
18423
18424@item show remoteflow
18425@kindex show remoteflow
18426Show the current setting of hardware flow control.
18427
18428@item set remotelogbase @var{base}
18429Set the base (a.k.a.@: radix) of logging serial protocol
18430communications to @var{base}. Supported values of @var{base} are:
18431@code{ascii}, @code{octal}, and @code{hex}. The default is
18432@code{ascii}.
18433
18434@item show remotelogbase
18435Show the current setting of the radix for logging remote serial
18436protocol.
18437
18438@item set remotelogfile @var{file}
18439@cindex record serial communications on file
18440Record remote serial communications on the named @var{file}. The
18441default is not to record at all.
18442
18443@item show remotelogfile.
18444Show the current setting of the file name on which to record the
18445serial communications.
18446
18447@item set remotetimeout @var{num}
18448@cindex timeout for serial communications
18449@cindex remote timeout
18450Set the timeout limit to wait for the remote target to respond to
18451@var{num} seconds. The default is 2 seconds.
18452
18453@item show remotetimeout
18454Show the current number of seconds to wait for the remote target
18455responses.
18456
18457@cindex limit hardware breakpoints and watchpoints
18458@cindex remote target, limit break- and watchpoints
18459@anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}
18460@anchor{set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit}
18461@item set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit @var{limit}
18462@itemx set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit @var{limit}
18463Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} remote hardware breakpoint or
18464watchpoints. A limit of -1, the default, is treated as unlimited.
18465
18466@cindex limit hardware watchpoints length
18467@cindex remote target, limit watchpoints length
18468@anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit}
18469@item set remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit @var{limit}
18470Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} bytes for the maximum length of
18471a remote hardware watchpoint. A limit of -1, the default, is treated
18472as unlimited.
18473
18474@item show remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit
18475Show the current limit (in bytes) of the maximum length of
18476a remote hardware watchpoint.
18477
18478@item set remote exec-file @var{filename}
18479@itemx show remote exec-file
18480@anchor{set remote exec-file}
18481@cindex executable file, for remote target
18482Select the file used for @code{run} with @code{target
18483extended-remote}. This should be set to a filename valid on the
18484target system. If it is not set, the target will use a default
18485filename (e.g.@: the last program run).
18486
18487@item set remote interrupt-sequence
18488@cindex interrupt remote programs
18489@cindex select Ctrl-C, BREAK or BREAK-g
18490Allow the user to select one of @samp{Ctrl-C}, a @code{BREAK} or
18491@samp{BREAK-g} as the
18492sequence to the remote target in order to interrupt the execution.
18493@samp{Ctrl-C} is a default. Some system prefers @code{BREAK} which
18494is high level of serial line for some certain time.
18495Linux kernel prefers @samp{BREAK-g}, a.k.a Magic SysRq g.
18496It is @code{BREAK} signal followed by character @code{g}.
18497
18498@item show interrupt-sequence
18499Show which of @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or @code{BREAK-g}
18500is sent by @value{GDBN} to interrupt the remote program.
18501@code{BREAK-g} is BREAK signal followed by @code{g} and
18502also known as Magic SysRq g.
18503
18504@item set remote interrupt-on-connect
18505@cindex send interrupt-sequence on start
18506Specify whether interrupt-sequence is sent to remote target when
18507@value{GDBN} connects to it. This is mostly needed when you debug
18508Linux kernel. Linux kernel expects @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g}
18509which is known as Magic SysRq g in order to connect @value{GDBN}.
18510
18511@item show interrupt-on-connect
18512Show whether interrupt-sequence is sent
18513to remote target when @value{GDBN} connects to it.
18514
18515@kindex set tcp
18516@kindex show tcp
18517@item set tcp auto-retry on
18518@cindex auto-retry, for remote TCP target
18519Enable auto-retry for remote TCP connections. This is useful if the remote
18520debugging agent is launched in parallel with @value{GDBN}; there is a race
18521condition because the agent may not become ready to accept the connection
18522before @value{GDBN} attempts to connect. When auto-retry is
18523enabled, if the initial attempt to connect fails, @value{GDBN} reattempts
18524to establish the connection using the timeout specified by
18525@code{set tcp connect-timeout}.
18526
18527@item set tcp auto-retry off
18528Do not auto-retry failed TCP connections.
18529
18530@item show tcp auto-retry
18531Show the current auto-retry setting.
18532
18533@item set tcp connect-timeout @var{seconds}
18534@itemx set tcp connect-timeout unlimited
18535@cindex connection timeout, for remote TCP target
18536@cindex timeout, for remote target connection
18537Set the timeout for establishing a TCP connection to the remote target to
18538@var{seconds}. The timeout affects both polling to retry failed connections
18539(enabled by @code{set tcp auto-retry on}) and waiting for connections
18540that are merely slow to complete, and represents an approximate cumulative
18541value. If @var{seconds} is @code{unlimited}, there is no timeout and
18542@value{GDBN} will keep attempting to establish a connection forever,
18543unless interrupted with @kbd{Ctrl-c}. The default is 15 seconds.
18544
18545@item show tcp connect-timeout
18546Show the current connection timeout setting.
18547@end table
18548
18549@cindex remote packets, enabling and disabling
18550The @value{GDBN} remote protocol autodetects the packets supported by
18551your debugging stub. If you need to override the autodetection, you
18552can use these commands to enable or disable individual packets. Each
18553packet can be set to @samp{on} (the remote target supports this
18554packet), @samp{off} (the remote target does not support this packet),
18555or @samp{auto} (detect remote target support for this packet). They
18556all default to @samp{auto}. For more information about each packet,
18557see @ref{Remote Protocol}.
18558
18559During normal use, you should not have to use any of these commands.
18560If you do, that may be a bug in your remote debugging stub, or a bug
18561in @value{GDBN}. You may want to report the problem to the
18562@value{GDBN} developers.
18563
18564For each packet @var{name}, the command to enable or disable the
18565packet is @code{set remote @var{name}-packet}. The available settings
18566are:
18567
18568@multitable @columnfractions 0.28 0.32 0.25
18569@item Command Name
18570@tab Remote Packet
18571@tab Related Features
18572
18573@item @code{fetch-register}
18574@tab @code{p}
18575@tab @code{info registers}
18576
18577@item @code{set-register}
18578@tab @code{P}
18579@tab @code{set}
18580
18581@item @code{binary-download}
18582@tab @code{X}
18583@tab @code{load}, @code{set}
18584
18585@item @code{read-aux-vector}
18586@tab @code{qXfer:auxv:read}
18587@tab @code{info auxv}
18588
18589@item @code{symbol-lookup}
18590@tab @code{qSymbol}
18591@tab Detecting multiple threads
18592
18593@item @code{attach}
18594@tab @code{vAttach}
18595@tab @code{attach}
18596
18597@item @code{verbose-resume}
18598@tab @code{vCont}
18599@tab Stepping or resuming multiple threads
18600
18601@item @code{run}
18602@tab @code{vRun}
18603@tab @code{run}
18604
18605@item @code{software-breakpoint}
18606@tab @code{Z0}
18607@tab @code{break}
18608
18609@item @code{hardware-breakpoint}
18610@tab @code{Z1}
18611@tab @code{hbreak}
18612
18613@item @code{write-watchpoint}
18614@tab @code{Z2}
18615@tab @code{watch}
18616
18617@item @code{read-watchpoint}
18618@tab @code{Z3}
18619@tab @code{rwatch}
18620
18621@item @code{access-watchpoint}
18622@tab @code{Z4}
18623@tab @code{awatch}
18624
18625@item @code{target-features}
18626@tab @code{qXfer:features:read}
18627@tab @code{set architecture}
18628
18629@item @code{library-info}
18630@tab @code{qXfer:libraries:read}
18631@tab @code{info sharedlibrary}
18632
18633@item @code{memory-map}
18634@tab @code{qXfer:memory-map:read}
18635@tab @code{info mem}
18636
18637@item @code{read-sdata-object}
18638@tab @code{qXfer:sdata:read}
18639@tab @code{print $_sdata}
18640
18641@item @code{read-spu-object}
18642@tab @code{qXfer:spu:read}
18643@tab @code{info spu}
18644
18645@item @code{write-spu-object}
18646@tab @code{qXfer:spu:write}
18647@tab @code{info spu}
18648
18649@item @code{read-siginfo-object}
18650@tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:read}
18651@tab @code{print $_siginfo}
18652
18653@item @code{write-siginfo-object}
18654@tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:write}
18655@tab @code{set $_siginfo}
18656
18657@item @code{threads}
18658@tab @code{qXfer:threads:read}
18659@tab @code{info threads}
18660
18661@item @code{get-thread-local-@*storage-address}
18662@tab @code{qGetTLSAddr}
18663@tab Displaying @code{__thread} variables
18664
18665@item @code{get-thread-information-block-address}
18666@tab @code{qGetTIBAddr}
18667@tab Display MS-Windows Thread Information Block.
18668
18669@item @code{search-memory}
18670@tab @code{qSearch:memory}
18671@tab @code{find}
18672
18673@item @code{supported-packets}
18674@tab @code{qSupported}
18675@tab Remote communications parameters
18676
18677@item @code{pass-signals}
18678@tab @code{QPassSignals}
18679@tab @code{handle @var{signal}}
18680
18681@item @code{program-signals}
18682@tab @code{QProgramSignals}
18683@tab @code{handle @var{signal}}
18684
18685@item @code{hostio-close-packet}
18686@tab @code{vFile:close}
18687@tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
18688
18689@item @code{hostio-open-packet}
18690@tab @code{vFile:open}
18691@tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
18692
18693@item @code{hostio-pread-packet}
18694@tab @code{vFile:pread}
18695@tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
18696
18697@item @code{hostio-pwrite-packet}
18698@tab @code{vFile:pwrite}
18699@tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
18700
18701@item @code{hostio-unlink-packet}
18702@tab @code{vFile:unlink}
18703@tab @code{remote delete}
18704
18705@item @code{hostio-readlink-packet}
18706@tab @code{vFile:readlink}
18707@tab Host I/O
18708
18709@item @code{noack-packet}
18710@tab @code{QStartNoAckMode}
18711@tab Packet acknowledgment
18712
18713@item @code{osdata}
18714@tab @code{qXfer:osdata:read}
18715@tab @code{info os}
18716
18717@item @code{query-attached}
18718@tab @code{qAttached}
18719@tab Querying remote process attach state.
18720
18721@item @code{trace-buffer-size}
18722@tab @code{QTBuffer:size}
18723@tab @code{set trace-buffer-size}
18724
18725@item @code{trace-status}
18726@tab @code{qTStatus}
18727@tab @code{tstatus}
18728
18729@item @code{traceframe-info}
18730@tab @code{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
18731@tab Traceframe info
18732
18733@item @code{install-in-trace}
18734@tab @code{InstallInTrace}
18735@tab Install tracepoint in tracing
18736
18737@item @code{disable-randomization}
18738@tab @code{QDisableRandomization}
18739@tab @code{set disable-randomization}
18740
18741@item @code{conditional-breakpoints-packet}
18742@tab @code{Z0 and Z1}
18743@tab @code{Support for target-side breakpoint condition evaluation}
18744@end multitable
18745
18746@node Remote Stub
18747@section Implementing a Remote Stub
18748
18749@cindex debugging stub, example
18750@cindex remote stub, example
18751@cindex stub example, remote debugging
18752The stub files provided with @value{GDBN} implement the target side of the
18753communication protocol, and the @value{GDBN} side is implemented in the
18754@value{GDBN} source file @file{remote.c}. Normally, you can simply allow
18755these subroutines to communicate, and ignore the details. (If you're
18756implementing your own stub file, you can still ignore the details: start
18757with one of the existing stub files. @file{sparc-stub.c} is the best
18758organized, and therefore the easiest to read.)
18759
18760@cindex remote serial debugging, overview
18761To debug a program running on another machine (the debugging
18762@dfn{target} machine), you must first arrange for all the usual
18763prerequisites for the program to run by itself. For example, for a C
18764program, you need:
18765
18766@enumerate
18767@item
18768A startup routine to set up the C runtime environment; these usually
18769have a name like @file{crt0}. The startup routine may be supplied by
18770your hardware supplier, or you may have to write your own.
18771
18772@item
18773A C subroutine library to support your program's
18774subroutine calls, notably managing input and output.
18775
18776@item
18777A way of getting your program to the other machine---for example, a
18778download program. These are often supplied by the hardware
18779manufacturer, but you may have to write your own from hardware
18780documentation.
18781@end enumerate
18782
18783The next step is to arrange for your program to use a serial port to
18784communicate with the machine where @value{GDBN} is running (the @dfn{host}
18785machine). In general terms, the scheme looks like this:
18786
18787@table @emph
18788@item On the host,
18789@value{GDBN} already understands how to use this protocol; when everything
18790else is set up, you can simply use the @samp{target remote} command
18791(@pxref{Targets,,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
18792
18793@item On the target,
18794you must link with your program a few special-purpose subroutines that
18795implement the @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol. The file containing these
18796subroutines is called a @dfn{debugging stub}.
18797
18798On certain remote targets, you can use an auxiliary program
18799@code{gdbserver} instead of linking a stub into your program.
18800@xref{Server,,Using the @code{gdbserver} Program}, for details.
18801@end table
18802
18803The debugging stub is specific to the architecture of the remote
18804machine; for example, use @file{sparc-stub.c} to debug programs on
18805@sc{sparc} boards.
18806
18807@cindex remote serial stub list
18808These working remote stubs are distributed with @value{GDBN}:
18809
18810@table @code
18811
18812@item i386-stub.c
18813@cindex @file{i386-stub.c}
18814@cindex Intel
18815@cindex i386
18816For Intel 386 and compatible architectures.
18817
18818@item m68k-stub.c
18819@cindex @file{m68k-stub.c}
18820@cindex Motorola 680x0
18821@cindex m680x0
18822For Motorola 680x0 architectures.
18823
18824@item sh-stub.c
18825@cindex @file{sh-stub.c}
18826@cindex Renesas
18827@cindex SH
18828For Renesas SH architectures.
18829
18830@item sparc-stub.c
18831@cindex @file{sparc-stub.c}
18832@cindex Sparc
18833For @sc{sparc} architectures.
18834
18835@item sparcl-stub.c
18836@cindex @file{sparcl-stub.c}
18837@cindex Fujitsu
18838@cindex SparcLite
18839For Fujitsu @sc{sparclite} architectures.
18840
18841@end table
18842
18843The @file{README} file in the @value{GDBN} distribution may list other
18844recently added stubs.
18845
18846@menu
18847* Stub Contents:: What the stub can do for you
18848* Bootstrapping:: What you must do for the stub
18849* Debug Session:: Putting it all together
18850@end menu
18851
18852@node Stub Contents
18853@subsection What the Stub Can Do for You
18854
18855@cindex remote serial stub
18856The debugging stub for your architecture supplies these three
18857subroutines:
18858
18859@table @code
18860@item set_debug_traps
18861@findex set_debug_traps
18862@cindex remote serial stub, initialization
18863This routine arranges for @code{handle_exception} to run when your
18864program stops. You must call this subroutine explicitly in your
18865program's startup code.
18866
18867@item handle_exception
18868@findex handle_exception
18869@cindex remote serial stub, main routine
18870This is the central workhorse, but your program never calls it
18871explicitly---the setup code arranges for @code{handle_exception} to
18872run when a trap is triggered.
18873
18874@code{handle_exception} takes control when your program stops during
18875execution (for example, on a breakpoint), and mediates communications
18876with @value{GDBN} on the host machine. This is where the communications
18877protocol is implemented; @code{handle_exception} acts as the @value{GDBN}
18878representative on the target machine. It begins by sending summary
18879information on the state of your program, then continues to execute,
18880retrieving and transmitting any information @value{GDBN} needs, until you
18881execute a @value{GDBN} command that makes your program resume; at that point,
18882@code{handle_exception} returns control to your own code on the target
18883machine.
18884
18885@item breakpoint
18886@cindex @code{breakpoint} subroutine, remote
18887Use this auxiliary subroutine to make your program contain a
18888breakpoint. Depending on the particular situation, this may be the only
18889way for @value{GDBN} to get control. For instance, if your target
18890machine has some sort of interrupt button, you won't need to call this;
18891pressing the interrupt button transfers control to
18892@code{handle_exception}---in effect, to @value{GDBN}. On some machines,
18893simply receiving characters on the serial port may also trigger a trap;
18894again, in that situation, you don't need to call @code{breakpoint} from
18895your own program---simply running @samp{target remote} from the host
18896@value{GDBN} session gets control.
18897
18898Call @code{breakpoint} if none of these is true, or if you simply want
18899to make certain your program stops at a predetermined point for the
18900start of your debugging session.
18901@end table
18902
18903@node Bootstrapping
18904@subsection What You Must Do for the Stub
18905
18906@cindex remote stub, support routines
18907The debugging stubs that come with @value{GDBN} are set up for a particular
18908chip architecture, but they have no information about the rest of your
18909debugging target machine.
18910
18911First of all you need to tell the stub how to communicate with the
18912serial port.
18913
18914@table @code
18915@item int getDebugChar()
18916@findex getDebugChar
18917Write this subroutine to read a single character from the serial port.
18918It may be identical to @code{getchar} for your target system; a
18919different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
18920
18921@item void putDebugChar(int)
18922@findex putDebugChar
18923Write this subroutine to write a single character to the serial port.
18924It may be identical to @code{putchar} for your target system; a
18925different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
18926@end table
18927
18928@cindex control C, and remote debugging
18929@cindex interrupting remote targets
18930If you want @value{GDBN} to be able to stop your program while it is
18931running, you need to use an interrupt-driven serial driver, and arrange
18932for it to stop when it receives a @code{^C} (@samp{\003}, the control-C
18933character). That is the character which @value{GDBN} uses to tell the
18934remote system to stop.
18935
18936Getting the debugging target to return the proper status to @value{GDBN}
18937probably requires changes to the standard stub; one quick and dirty way
18938is to just execute a breakpoint instruction (the ``dirty'' part is that
18939@value{GDBN} reports a @code{SIGTRAP} instead of a @code{SIGINT}).
18940
18941Other routines you need to supply are:
18942
18943@table @code
18944@item void exceptionHandler (int @var{exception_number}, void *@var{exception_address})
18945@findex exceptionHandler
18946Write this function to install @var{exception_address} in the exception
18947handling tables. You need to do this because the stub does not have any
18948way of knowing what the exception handling tables on your target system
18949are like (for example, the processor's table might be in @sc{rom},
18950containing entries which point to a table in @sc{ram}).
18951@var{exception_number} is the exception number which should be changed;
18952its meaning is architecture-dependent (for example, different numbers
18953might represent divide by zero, misaligned access, etc). When this
18954exception occurs, control should be transferred directly to
18955@var{exception_address}, and the processor state (stack, registers,
18956and so on) should be just as it is when a processor exception occurs. So if
18957you want to use a jump instruction to reach @var{exception_address}, it
18958should be a simple jump, not a jump to subroutine.
18959
18960For the 386, @var{exception_address} should be installed as an interrupt
18961gate so that interrupts are masked while the handler runs. The gate
18962should be at privilege level 0 (the most privileged level). The
18963@sc{sparc} and 68k stubs are able to mask interrupts themselves without
18964help from @code{exceptionHandler}.
18965
18966@item void flush_i_cache()
18967@findex flush_i_cache
18968On @sc{sparc} and @sc{sparclite} only, write this subroutine to flush the
18969instruction cache, if any, on your target machine. If there is no
18970instruction cache, this subroutine may be a no-op.
18971
18972On target machines that have instruction caches, @value{GDBN} requires this
18973function to make certain that the state of your program is stable.
18974@end table
18975
18976@noindent
18977You must also make sure this library routine is available:
18978
18979@table @code
18980@item void *memset(void *, int, int)
18981@findex memset
18982This is the standard library function @code{memset} that sets an area of
18983memory to a known value. If you have one of the free versions of
18984@code{libc.a}, @code{memset} can be found there; otherwise, you must
18985either obtain it from your hardware manufacturer, or write your own.
18986@end table
18987
18988If you do not use the GNU C compiler, you may need other standard
18989library subroutines as well; this varies from one stub to another,
18990but in general the stubs are likely to use any of the common library
18991subroutines which @code{@value{NGCC}} generates as inline code.
18992
18993
18994@node Debug Session
18995@subsection Putting it All Together
18996
18997@cindex remote serial debugging summary
18998In summary, when your program is ready to debug, you must follow these
18999steps.
19000
19001@enumerate
19002@item
19003Make sure you have defined the supporting low-level routines
19004(@pxref{Bootstrapping,,What You Must Do for the Stub}):
19005@display
19006@code{getDebugChar}, @code{putDebugChar},
19007@code{flush_i_cache}, @code{memset}, @code{exceptionHandler}.
19008@end display
19009
19010@item
19011Insert these lines in your program's startup code, before the main
19012procedure is called:
19013
19014@smallexample
19015set_debug_traps();
19016breakpoint();
19017@end smallexample
19018
19019On some machines, when a breakpoint trap is raised, the hardware
19020automatically makes the PC point to the instruction after the
19021breakpoint. If your machine doesn't do that, you may need to adjust
19022@code{handle_exception} to arrange for it to return to the instruction
19023after the breakpoint on this first invocation, so that your program
19024doesn't keep hitting the initial breakpoint instead of making
19025progress.
19026
19027@item
19028For the 680x0 stub only, you need to provide a variable called
19029@code{exceptionHook}. Normally you just use:
19030
19031@smallexample
19032void (*exceptionHook)() = 0;
19033@end smallexample
19034
19035@noindent
19036but if before calling @code{set_debug_traps}, you set it to point to a
19037function in your program, that function is called when
19038@code{@value{GDBN}} continues after stopping on a trap (for example, bus
19039error). The function indicated by @code{exceptionHook} is called with
19040one parameter: an @code{int} which is the exception number.
19041
19042@item
19043Compile and link together: your program, the @value{GDBN} debugging stub for
19044your target architecture, and the supporting subroutines.
19045
19046@item
19047Make sure you have a serial connection between your target machine and
19048the @value{GDBN} host, and identify the serial port on the host.
19049
19050@item
19051@c The "remote" target now provides a `load' command, so we should
19052@c document that. FIXME.
19053Download your program to your target machine (or get it there by
19054whatever means the manufacturer provides), and start it.
19055
19056@item
19057Start @value{GDBN} on the host, and connect to the target
19058(@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
19059
19060@end enumerate
19061
19062@node Configurations
19063@chapter Configuration-Specific Information
19064
19065While nearly all @value{GDBN} commands are available for all native and
19066cross versions of the debugger, there are some exceptions. This chapter
19067describes things that are only available in certain configurations.
19068
19069There are three major categories of configurations: native
19070configurations, where the host and target are the same, embedded
19071operating system configurations, which are usually the same for several
19072different processor architectures, and bare embedded processors, which
19073are quite different from each other.
19074
19075@menu
19076* Native::
19077* Embedded OS::
19078* Embedded Processors::
19079* Architectures::
19080@end menu
19081
19082@node Native
19083@section Native
19084
19085This section describes details specific to particular native
19086configurations.
19087
19088@menu
19089* HP-UX:: HP-UX
19090* BSD libkvm Interface:: Debugging BSD kernel memory images
19091* SVR4 Process Information:: SVR4 process information
19092* DJGPP Native:: Features specific to the DJGPP port
19093* Cygwin Native:: Features specific to the Cygwin port
19094* Hurd Native:: Features specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd
19095* Darwin:: Features specific to Darwin
19096@end menu
19097
19098@node HP-UX
19099@subsection HP-UX
19100
19101On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
19102begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
19103name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
19104
19105
19106@node BSD libkvm Interface
19107@subsection BSD libkvm Interface
19108
19109@cindex libkvm
19110@cindex kernel memory image
19111@cindex kernel crash dump
19112
19113BSD-derived systems (FreeBSD/NetBSD/OpenBSD) have a kernel memory
19114interface that provides a uniform interface for accessing kernel virtual
19115memory images, including live systems and crash dumps. @value{GDBN}
19116uses this interface to allow you to debug live kernels and kernel crash
19117dumps on many native BSD configurations. This is implemented as a
19118special @code{kvm} debugging target. For debugging a live system, load
19119the currently running kernel into @value{GDBN} and connect to the
19120@code{kvm} target:
19121
19122@smallexample
19123(@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm}
19124@end smallexample
19125
19126For debugging crash dumps, provide the file name of the crash dump as an
19127argument:
19128
19129@smallexample
19130(@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm /var/crash/bsd.0}
19131@end smallexample
19132
19133Once connected to the @code{kvm} target, the following commands are
19134available:
19135
19136@table @code
19137@kindex kvm
19138@item kvm pcb
19139Set current context from the @dfn{Process Control Block} (PCB) address.
19140
19141@item kvm proc
19142Set current context from proc address. This command isn't available on
19143modern FreeBSD systems.
19144@end table
19145
19146@node SVR4 Process Information
19147@subsection SVR4 Process Information
19148@cindex /proc
19149@cindex examine process image
19150@cindex process info via @file{/proc}
19151
19152Many versions of SVR4 and compatible systems provide a facility called
19153@samp{/proc} that can be used to examine the image of a running
19154process using file-system subroutines.
19155
19156If @value{GDBN} is configured for an operating system with this
19157facility, the command @code{info proc} is available to report
19158information about the process running your program, or about any
19159process running on your system. This includes, as of this writing,
19160@sc{gnu}/Linux, OSF/1 (Digital Unix), Solaris, and Irix, but
19161not HP-UX, for example.
19162
19163This command may also work on core files that were created on a system
19164that has the @samp{/proc} facility.
19165
19166@table @code
19167@kindex info proc
19168@cindex process ID
19169@item info proc
19170@itemx info proc @var{process-id}
19171Summarize available information about any running process. If a
19172process ID is specified by @var{process-id}, display information about
19173that process; otherwise display information about the program being
19174debugged. The summary includes the debugged process ID, the command
19175line used to invoke it, its current working directory, and its
19176executable file's absolute file name.
19177
19178On some systems, @var{process-id} can be of the form
19179@samp{[@var{pid}]/@var{tid}} which specifies a certain thread ID
19180within a process. If the optional @var{pid} part is missing, it means
19181a thread from the process being debugged (the leading @samp{/} still
19182needs to be present, or else @value{GDBN} will interpret the number as
19183a process ID rather than a thread ID).
19184
19185@item info proc cmdline
19186@cindex info proc cmdline
19187Show the original command line of the process. This command is
19188specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux.
19189
19190@item info proc cwd
19191@cindex info proc cwd
19192Show the current working directory of the process. This command is
19193specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux.
19194
19195@item info proc exe
19196@cindex info proc exe
19197Show the name of executable of the process. This command is specific
19198to @sc{gnu}/Linux.
19199
19200@item info proc mappings
19201@cindex memory address space mappings
19202Report the memory address space ranges accessible in the program, with
19203information on whether the process has read, write, or execute access
19204rights to each range. On @sc{gnu}/Linux systems, each memory range
19205includes the object file which is mapped to that range, instead of the
19206memory access rights to that range.
19207
19208@item info proc stat
19209@itemx info proc status
19210@cindex process detailed status information
19211These subcommands are specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux systems. They show
19212the process-related information, including the user ID and group ID;
19213how many threads are there in the process; its virtual memory usage;
19214the signals that are pending, blocked, and ignored; its TTY; its
19215consumption of system and user time; its stack size; its @samp{nice}
19216value; etc. For more information, see the @samp{proc} man page
19217(type @kbd{man 5 proc} from your shell prompt).
19218
19219@item info proc all
19220Show all the information about the process described under all of the
19221above @code{info proc} subcommands.
19222
19223@ignore
19224@comment These sub-options of 'info proc' were not included when
19225@comment procfs.c was re-written. Keep their descriptions around
19226@comment against the day when someone finds the time to put them back in.
19227@kindex info proc times
19228@item info proc times
19229Starting time, user CPU time, and system CPU time for your program and
19230its children.
19231
19232@kindex info proc id
19233@item info proc id
19234Report on the process IDs related to your program: its own process ID,
19235the ID of its parent, the process group ID, and the session ID.
19236@end ignore
19237
19238@item set procfs-trace
19239@kindex set procfs-trace
19240@cindex @code{procfs} API calls
19241This command enables and disables tracing of @code{procfs} API calls.
19242
19243@item show procfs-trace
19244@kindex show procfs-trace
19245Show the current state of @code{procfs} API call tracing.
19246
19247@item set procfs-file @var{file}
19248@kindex set procfs-file
19249Tell @value{GDBN} to write @code{procfs} API trace to the named
19250@var{file}. @value{GDBN} appends the trace info to the previous
19251contents of the file. The default is to display the trace on the
19252standard output.
19253
19254@item show procfs-file
19255@kindex show procfs-file
19256Show the file to which @code{procfs} API trace is written.
19257
19258@item proc-trace-entry
19259@itemx proc-trace-exit
19260@itemx proc-untrace-entry
19261@itemx proc-untrace-exit
19262@kindex proc-trace-entry
19263@kindex proc-trace-exit
19264@kindex proc-untrace-entry
19265@kindex proc-untrace-exit
19266These commands enable and disable tracing of entries into and exits
19267from the @code{syscall} interface.
19268
19269@item info pidlist
19270@kindex info pidlist
19271@cindex process list, QNX Neutrino
19272For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all the
19273processes and all the threads within each process.
19274
19275@item info meminfo
19276@kindex info meminfo
19277@cindex mapinfo list, QNX Neutrino
19278For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all mapinfos.
19279@end table
19280
19281@node DJGPP Native
19282@subsection Features for Debugging @sc{djgpp} Programs
19283@cindex @sc{djgpp} debugging
19284@cindex native @sc{djgpp} debugging
19285@cindex MS-DOS-specific commands
19286
19287@cindex DPMI
19288@sc{djgpp} is a port of the @sc{gnu} development tools to MS-DOS and
19289MS-Windows. @sc{djgpp} programs are 32-bit protected-mode programs
19290that use the @dfn{DPMI} (DOS Protected-Mode Interface) API to run on
19291top of real-mode DOS systems and their emulations.
19292
19293@value{GDBN} supports native debugging of @sc{djgpp} programs, and
19294defines a few commands specific to the @sc{djgpp} port. This
19295subsection describes those commands.
19296
19297@table @code
19298@kindex info dos
19299@item info dos
19300This is a prefix of @sc{djgpp}-specific commands which print
19301information about the target system and important OS structures.
19302
19303@kindex sysinfo
19304@cindex MS-DOS system info
19305@cindex free memory information (MS-DOS)
19306@item info dos sysinfo
19307This command displays assorted information about the underlying
19308platform: the CPU type and features, the OS version and flavor, the
19309DPMI version, and the available conventional and DPMI memory.
19310
19311@cindex GDT
19312@cindex LDT
19313@cindex IDT
19314@cindex segment descriptor tables
19315@cindex descriptor tables display
19316@item info dos gdt
19317@itemx info dos ldt
19318@itemx info dos idt
19319These 3 commands display entries from, respectively, Global, Local,
19320and Interrupt Descriptor Tables (GDT, LDT, and IDT). The descriptor
19321tables are data structures which store a descriptor for each segment
19322that is currently in use. The segment's selector is an index into a
19323descriptor table; the table entry for that index holds the
19324descriptor's base address and limit, and its attributes and access
19325rights.
19326
19327A typical @sc{djgpp} program uses 3 segments: a code segment, a data
19328segment (used for both data and the stack), and a DOS segment (which
19329allows access to DOS/BIOS data structures and absolute addresses in
19330conventional memory). However, the DPMI host will usually define
19331additional segments in order to support the DPMI environment.
19332
19333@cindex garbled pointers
19334These commands allow to display entries from the descriptor tables.
19335Without an argument, all entries from the specified table are
19336displayed. An argument, which should be an integer expression, means
19337display a single entry whose index is given by the argument. For
19338example, here's a convenient way to display information about the
19339debugged program's data segment:
19340
19341@smallexample
19342@exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos ldt $ds}
19343@exdent @code{0x13f: base=0x11970000 limit=0x0009ffff 32-Bit Data (Read/Write, Exp-up)}
19344@end smallexample
19345
19346@noindent
19347This comes in handy when you want to see whether a pointer is outside
19348the data segment's limit (i.e.@: @dfn{garbled}).
19349
19350@cindex page tables display (MS-DOS)
19351@item info dos pde
19352@itemx info dos pte
19353These two commands display entries from, respectively, the Page
19354Directory and the Page Tables. Page Directories and Page Tables are
19355data structures which control how virtual memory addresses are mapped
19356into physical addresses. A Page Table includes an entry for every
19357page of memory that is mapped into the program's address space; there
19358may be several Page Tables, each one holding up to 4096 entries. A
19359Page Directory has up to 4096 entries, one each for every Page Table
19360that is currently in use.
19361
19362Without an argument, @kbd{info dos pde} displays the entire Page
19363Directory, and @kbd{info dos pte} displays all the entries in all of
19364the Page Tables. An argument, an integer expression, given to the
19365@kbd{info dos pde} command means display only that entry from the Page
19366Directory table. An argument given to the @kbd{info dos pte} command
19367means display entries from a single Page Table, the one pointed to by
19368the specified entry in the Page Directory.
19369
19370@cindex direct memory access (DMA) on MS-DOS
19371These commands are useful when your program uses @dfn{DMA} (Direct
19372Memory Access), which needs physical addresses to program the DMA
19373controller.
19374
19375These commands are supported only with some DPMI servers.
19376
19377@cindex physical address from linear address
19378@item info dos address-pte @var{addr}
19379This command displays the Page Table entry for a specified linear
19380address. The argument @var{addr} is a linear address which should
19381already have the appropriate segment's base address added to it,
19382because this command accepts addresses which may belong to @emph{any}
19383segment. For example, here's how to display the Page Table entry for
19384the page where a variable @code{i} is stored:
19385
19386@smallexample
19387@exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte __djgpp_base_address + (char *)&i}
19388@exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x11a00d30:}
19389@exdent @code{Base=0x02698000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0xd30}
19390@end smallexample
19391
19392@noindent
19393This says that @code{i} is stored at offset @code{0xd30} from the page
19394whose physical base address is @code{0x02698000}, and shows all the
19395attributes of that page.
19396
19397Note that you must cast the addresses of variables to a @code{char *},
19398since otherwise the value of @code{__djgpp_base_address}, the base
19399address of all variables and functions in a @sc{djgpp} program, will
19400be added using the rules of C pointer arithmetics: if @code{i} is
19401declared an @code{int}, @value{GDBN} will add 4 times the value of
19402@code{__djgpp_base_address} to the address of @code{i}.
19403
19404Here's another example, it displays the Page Table entry for the
19405transfer buffer:
19406
19407@smallexample
19408@exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte *((unsigned *)&_go32_info_block + 3)}
19409@exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x29110:}
19410@exdent @code{Base=0x00029000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0x110}
19411@end smallexample
19412
19413@noindent
19414(The @code{+ 3} offset is because the transfer buffer's address is the
194153rd member of the @code{_go32_info_block} structure.) The output
19416clearly shows that this DPMI server maps the addresses in conventional
19417memory 1:1, i.e.@: the physical (@code{0x00029000} + @code{0x110}) and
19418linear (@code{0x29110}) addresses are identical.
19419
19420This command is supported only with some DPMI servers.
19421@end table
19422
19423@cindex DOS serial data link, remote debugging
19424In addition to native debugging, the DJGPP port supports remote
19425debugging via a serial data link. The following commands are specific
19426to remote serial debugging in the DJGPP port of @value{GDBN}.
19427
19428@table @code
19429@kindex set com1base
19430@kindex set com1irq
19431@kindex set com2base
19432@kindex set com2irq
19433@kindex set com3base
19434@kindex set com3irq
19435@kindex set com4base
19436@kindex set com4irq
19437@item set com1base @var{addr}
19438This command sets the base I/O port address of the @file{COM1} serial
19439port.
19440
19441@item set com1irq @var{irq}
19442This command sets the @dfn{Interrupt Request} (@code{IRQ}) line to use
19443for the @file{COM1} serial port.
19444
19445There are similar commands @samp{set com2base}, @samp{set com3irq},
19446etc.@: for setting the port address and the @code{IRQ} lines for the
19447other 3 COM ports.
19448
19449@kindex show com1base
19450@kindex show com1irq
19451@kindex show com2base
19452@kindex show com2irq
19453@kindex show com3base
19454@kindex show com3irq
19455@kindex show com4base
19456@kindex show com4irq
19457The related commands @samp{show com1base}, @samp{show com1irq} etc.@:
19458display the current settings of the base address and the @code{IRQ}
19459lines used by the COM ports.
19460
19461@item info serial
19462@kindex info serial
19463@cindex DOS serial port status
19464This command prints the status of the 4 DOS serial ports. For each
19465port, it prints whether it's active or not, its I/O base address and
19466IRQ number, whether it uses a 16550-style FIFO, its baudrate, and the
19467counts of various errors encountered so far.
19468@end table
19469
19470
19471@node Cygwin Native
19472@subsection Features for Debugging MS Windows PE Executables
19473@cindex MS Windows debugging
19474@cindex native Cygwin debugging
19475@cindex Cygwin-specific commands
19476
19477@value{GDBN} supports native debugging of MS Windows programs, including
19478DLLs with and without symbolic debugging information.
19479
19480@cindex Ctrl-BREAK, MS-Windows
19481@cindex interrupt debuggee on MS-Windows
19482MS-Windows programs that call @code{SetConsoleMode} to switch off the
19483special meaning of the @samp{Ctrl-C} keystroke cannot be interrupted
19484by typing @kbd{C-c}. For this reason, @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows
19485supports @kbd{C-@key{BREAK}} as an alternative interrupt key
19486sequence, which can be used to interrupt the debuggee even if it
19487ignores @kbd{C-c}.
19488
19489There are various additional Cygwin-specific commands, described in
19490this section. Working with DLLs that have no debugging symbols is
19491described in @ref{Non-debug DLL Symbols}.
19492
19493@table @code
19494@kindex info w32
19495@item info w32
19496This is a prefix of MS Windows-specific commands which print
19497information about the target system and important OS structures.
19498
19499@item info w32 selector
19500This command displays information returned by
19501the Win32 API @code{GetThreadSelectorEntry} function.
19502It takes an optional argument that is evaluated to
19503a long value to give the information about this given selector.
19504Without argument, this command displays information
19505about the six segment registers.
19506
19507@item info w32 thread-information-block
19508This command displays thread specific information stored in the
19509Thread Information Block (readable on the X86 CPU family using @code{$fs}
19510selector for 32-bit programs and @code{$gs} for 64-bit programs).
19511
19512@kindex info dll
19513@item info dll
19514This is a Cygwin-specific alias of @code{info shared}.
19515
19516@kindex dll-symbols
19517@item dll-symbols
19518This command loads symbols from a dll similarly to
19519add-sym command but without the need to specify a base address.
19520
19521@kindex set cygwin-exceptions
19522@cindex debugging the Cygwin DLL
19523@cindex Cygwin DLL, debugging
19524@item set cygwin-exceptions @var{mode}
19525If @var{mode} is @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that
19526happen inside the Cygwin DLL. If @var{mode} is @code{off},
19527@value{GDBN} will delay recognition of exceptions, and may ignore some
19528exceptions which seem to be caused by internal Cygwin DLL
19529``bookkeeping''. This option is meant primarily for debugging the
19530Cygwin DLL itself; the default value is @code{off} to avoid annoying
19531@value{GDBN} users with false @code{SIGSEGV} signals.
19532
19533@kindex show cygwin-exceptions
19534@item show cygwin-exceptions
19535Displays whether @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that happen
19536inside the Cygwin DLL itself.
19537
19538@kindex set new-console
19539@item set new-console @var{mode}
19540If @var{mode} is @code{on} the debuggee will
19541be started in a new console on next start.
19542If @var{mode} is @code{off}, the debuggee will
19543be started in the same console as the debugger.
19544
19545@kindex show new-console
19546@item show new-console
19547Displays whether a new console is used
19548when the debuggee is started.
19549
19550@kindex set new-group
19551@item set new-group @var{mode}
19552This boolean value controls whether the debuggee should
19553start a new group or stay in the same group as the debugger.
19554This affects the way the Windows OS handles
19555@samp{Ctrl-C}.
19556
19557@kindex show new-group
19558@item show new-group
19559Displays current value of new-group boolean.
19560
19561@kindex set debugevents
19562@item set debugevents
19563This boolean value adds debug output concerning kernel events related
19564to the debuggee seen by the debugger. This includes events that
19565signal thread and process creation and exit, DLL loading and
19566unloading, console interrupts, and debugging messages produced by the
19567Windows @code{OutputDebugString} API call.
19568
19569@kindex set debugexec
19570@item set debugexec
19571This boolean value adds debug output concerning execute events
19572(such as resume thread) seen by the debugger.
19573
19574@kindex set debugexceptions
19575@item set debugexceptions
19576This boolean value adds debug output concerning exceptions in the
19577debuggee seen by the debugger.
19578
19579@kindex set debugmemory
19580@item set debugmemory
19581This boolean value adds debug output concerning debuggee memory reads
19582and writes by the debugger.
19583
19584@kindex set shell
19585@item set shell
19586This boolean values specifies whether the debuggee is called
19587via a shell or directly (default value is on).
19588
19589@kindex show shell
19590@item show shell
19591Displays if the debuggee will be started with a shell.
19592
19593@end table
19594
19595@menu
19596* Non-debug DLL Symbols:: Support for DLLs without debugging symbols
19597@end menu
19598
19599@node Non-debug DLL Symbols
19600@subsubsection Support for DLLs without Debugging Symbols
19601@cindex DLLs with no debugging symbols
19602@cindex Minimal symbols and DLLs
19603
19604Very often on windows, some of the DLLs that your program relies on do
19605not include symbolic debugging information (for example,
19606@file{kernel32.dll}). When @value{GDBN} doesn't recognize any debugging
19607symbols in a DLL, it relies on the minimal amount of symbolic
19608information contained in the DLL's export table. This section
19609describes working with such symbols, known internally to @value{GDBN} as
19610``minimal symbols''.
19611
19612Note that before the debugged program has started execution, no DLLs
19613will have been loaded. The easiest way around this problem is simply to
19614start the program --- either by setting a breakpoint or letting the
19615program run once to completion. It is also possible to force
19616@value{GDBN} to load a particular DLL before starting the executable ---
19617see the shared library information in @ref{Files}, or the
19618@code{dll-symbols} command in @ref{Cygwin Native}. Currently,
19619explicitly loading symbols from a DLL with no debugging information will
19620cause the symbol names to be duplicated in @value{GDBN}'s lookup table,
19621which may adversely affect symbol lookup performance.
19622
19623@subsubsection DLL Name Prefixes
19624
19625In keeping with the naming conventions used by the Microsoft debugging
19626tools, DLL export symbols are made available with a prefix based on the
19627DLL name, for instance @code{KERNEL32!CreateFileA}. The plain name is
19628also entered into the symbol table, so @code{CreateFileA} is often
19629sufficient. In some cases there will be name clashes within a program
19630(particularly if the executable itself includes full debugging symbols)
19631necessitating the use of the fully qualified name when referring to the
19632contents of the DLL. Use single-quotes around the name to avoid the
19633exclamation mark (``!'') being interpreted as a language operator.
19634
19635Note that the internal name of the DLL may be all upper-case, even
19636though the file name of the DLL is lower-case, or vice-versa. Since
19637symbols within @value{GDBN} are @emph{case-sensitive} this may cause
19638some confusion. If in doubt, try the @code{info functions} and
19639@code{info variables} commands or even @code{maint print msymbols}
19640(@pxref{Symbols}). Here's an example:
19641
19642@smallexample
19643(@value{GDBP}) info function CreateFileA
19644All functions matching regular expression "CreateFileA":
19645
19646Non-debugging symbols:
196470x77e885f4 CreateFileA
196480x77e885f4 KERNEL32!CreateFileA
19649@end smallexample
19650
19651@smallexample
19652(@value{GDBP}) info function !
19653All functions matching regular expression "!":
19654
19655Non-debugging symbols:
196560x6100114c cygwin1!__assert
196570x61004034 cygwin1!_dll_crt0@@0
196580x61004240 cygwin1!dll_crt0(per_process *)
19659[etc...]
19660@end smallexample
19661
19662@subsubsection Working with Minimal Symbols
19663
19664Symbols extracted from a DLL's export table do not contain very much
19665type information. All that @value{GDBN} can do is guess whether a symbol
19666refers to a function or variable depending on the linker section that
19667contains the symbol. Also note that the actual contents of the memory
19668contained in a DLL are not available unless the program is running. This
19669means that you cannot examine the contents of a variable or disassemble
19670a function within a DLL without a running program.
19671
19672Variables are generally treated as pointers and dereferenced
19673automatically. For this reason, it is often necessary to prefix a
19674variable name with the address-of operator (``&'') and provide explicit
19675type information in the command. Here's an example of the type of
19676problem:
19677
19678@smallexample
19679(@value{GDBP}) print 'cygwin1!__argv'
19680$1 = 268572168
19681@end smallexample
19682
19683@smallexample
19684(@value{GDBP}) x 'cygwin1!__argv'
196850x10021610: "\230y\""
19686@end smallexample
19687
19688And two possible solutions:
19689
19690@smallexample
19691(@value{GDBP}) print ((char **)'cygwin1!__argv')[0]
19692$2 = 0x22fd98 "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
19693@end smallexample
19694
19695@smallexample
19696(@value{GDBP}) x/2x &'cygwin1!__argv'
196970x610c0aa8 <cygwin1!__argv>: 0x10021608 0x00000000
19698(@value{GDBP}) x/x 0x10021608
196990x10021608: 0x0022fd98
19700(@value{GDBP}) x/s 0x0022fd98
197010x22fd98: "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
19702@end smallexample
19703
19704Setting a break point within a DLL is possible even before the program
19705starts execution. However, under these circumstances, @value{GDBN} can't
19706examine the initial instructions of the function in order to skip the
19707function's frame set-up code. You can work around this by using ``*&''
19708to set the breakpoint at a raw memory address:
19709
19710@smallexample
19711(@value{GDBP}) break *&'python22!PyOS_Readline'
19712Breakpoint 1 at 0x1e04eff0
19713@end smallexample
19714
19715The author of these extensions is not entirely convinced that setting a
19716break point within a shared DLL like @file{kernel32.dll} is completely
19717safe.
19718
19719@node Hurd Native
19720@subsection Commands Specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd Systems
19721@cindex @sc{gnu} Hurd debugging
19722
19723This subsection describes @value{GDBN} commands specific to the
19724@sc{gnu} Hurd native debugging.
19725
19726@table @code
19727@item set signals
19728@itemx set sigs
19729@kindex set signals@r{, Hurd command}
19730@kindex set sigs@r{, Hurd command}
19731This command toggles the state of inferior signal interception by
19732@value{GDBN}. Mach exceptions, such as breakpoint traps, are not
19733affected by this command. @code{sigs} is a shorthand alias for
19734@code{signals}.
19735
19736@item show signals
19737@itemx show sigs
19738@kindex show signals@r{, Hurd command}
19739@kindex show sigs@r{, Hurd command}
19740Show the current state of intercepting inferior's signals.
19741
19742@item set signal-thread
19743@itemx set sigthread
19744@kindex set signal-thread
19745@kindex set sigthread
19746This command tells @value{GDBN} which thread is the @code{libc} signal
19747thread. That thread is run when a signal is delivered to a running
19748process. @code{set sigthread} is the shorthand alias of @code{set
19749signal-thread}.
19750
19751@item show signal-thread
19752@itemx show sigthread
19753@kindex show signal-thread
19754@kindex show sigthread
19755These two commands show which thread will run when the inferior is
19756delivered a signal.
19757
19758@item set stopped
19759@kindex set stopped@r{, Hurd command}
19760This commands tells @value{GDBN} that the inferior process is stopped,
19761as with the @code{SIGSTOP} signal. The stopped process can be
19762continued by delivering a signal to it.
19763
19764@item show stopped
19765@kindex show stopped@r{, Hurd command}
19766This command shows whether @value{GDBN} thinks the debuggee is
19767stopped.
19768
19769@item set exceptions
19770@kindex set exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
19771Use this command to turn off trapping of exceptions in the inferior.
19772When exception trapping is off, neither breakpoints nor
19773single-stepping will work. To restore the default, set exception
19774trapping on.
19775
19776@item show exceptions
19777@kindex show exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
19778Show the current state of trapping exceptions in the inferior.
19779
19780@item set task pause
19781@kindex set task@r{, Hurd commands}
19782@cindex task attributes (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
19783@cindex pause current task (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
19784This command toggles task suspension when @value{GDBN} has control.
19785Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the task is suspended
19786whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to off will take
19787effect the next time the inferior is continued. If this option is set
19788to off, you can use @code{set thread default pause on} or @code{set
19789thread pause on} (see below) to pause individual threads.
19790
19791@item show task pause
19792@kindex show task@r{, Hurd commands}
19793Show the current state of task suspension.
19794
19795@item set task detach-suspend-count
19796@cindex task suspend count
19797@cindex detach from task, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19798This command sets the suspend count the task will be left with when
19799@value{GDBN} detaches from it.
19800
19801@item show task detach-suspend-count
19802Show the suspend count the task will be left with when detaching.
19803
19804@item set task exception-port
19805@itemx set task excp
19806@cindex task exception port, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19807This command sets the task exception port to which @value{GDBN} will
19808forward exceptions. The argument should be the value of the @dfn{send
19809rights} of the task. @code{set task excp} is a shorthand alias.
19810
19811@item set noninvasive
19812@cindex noninvasive task options
19813This command switches @value{GDBN} to a mode that is the least
19814invasive as far as interfering with the inferior is concerned. This
19815is the same as using @code{set task pause}, @code{set exceptions}, and
19816@code{set signals} to values opposite to the defaults.
19817
19818@item info send-rights
19819@itemx info receive-rights
19820@itemx info port-rights
19821@itemx info port-sets
19822@itemx info dead-names
19823@itemx info ports
19824@itemx info psets
19825@cindex send rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19826@cindex receive rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19827@cindex port rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19828@cindex port sets, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19829@cindex dead names, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19830These commands display information about, respectively, send rights,
19831receive rights, port rights, port sets, and dead names of a task.
19832There are also shorthand aliases: @code{info ports} for @code{info
19833port-rights} and @code{info psets} for @code{info port-sets}.
19834
19835@item set thread pause
19836@kindex set thread@r{, Hurd command}
19837@cindex thread properties, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19838@cindex pause current thread (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
19839This command toggles current thread suspension when @value{GDBN} has
19840control. Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the current
19841thread is suspended whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to
19842off will take effect the next time the inferior is continued.
19843Normally, this command has no effect, since when @value{GDBN} has
19844control, the whole task is suspended. However, if you used @code{set
19845task pause off} (see above), this command comes in handy to suspend
19846only the current thread.
19847
19848@item show thread pause
19849@kindex show thread@r{, Hurd command}
19850This command shows the state of current thread suspension.
19851
19852@item set thread run
19853This command sets whether the current thread is allowed to run.
19854
19855@item show thread run
19856Show whether the current thread is allowed to run.
19857
19858@item set thread detach-suspend-count
19859@cindex thread suspend count, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19860@cindex detach from thread, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19861This command sets the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on a
19862thread when detaching. This number is relative to the suspend count
19863found by @value{GDBN} when it notices the thread; use @code{set thread
19864takeover-suspend-count} to force it to an absolute value.
19865
19866@item show thread detach-suspend-count
19867Show the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on the thread when
19868detaching.
19869
19870@item set thread exception-port
19871@itemx set thread excp
19872Set the thread exception port to which to forward exceptions. This
19873overrides the port set by @code{set task exception-port} (see above).
19874@code{set thread excp} is the shorthand alias.
19875
19876@item set thread takeover-suspend-count
19877Normally, @value{GDBN}'s thread suspend counts are relative to the
19878value @value{GDBN} finds when it notices each thread. This command
19879changes the suspend counts to be absolute instead.
19880
19881@item set thread default
19882@itemx show thread default
19883@cindex thread default settings, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19884Each of the above @code{set thread} commands has a @code{set thread
19885default} counterpart (e.g., @code{set thread default pause}, @code{set
19886thread default exception-port}, etc.). The @code{thread default}
19887variety of commands sets the default thread properties for all
19888threads; you can then change the properties of individual threads with
19889the non-default commands.
19890@end table
19891
19892@node Darwin
19893@subsection Darwin
19894@cindex Darwin
19895
19896@value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the Darwin target:
19897
19898@table @code
19899@item set debug darwin @var{num}
19900@kindex set debug darwin
19901When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages specific to
19902the Darwin support. Higher values produce more verbose output.
19903
19904@item show debug darwin
19905@kindex show debug darwin
19906Show the current state of Darwin messages.
19907
19908@item set debug mach-o @var{num}
19909@kindex set debug mach-o
19910When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages while
19911@value{GDBN} is reading Darwin object files. (@dfn{Mach-O} is the
19912file format used on Darwin for object and executable files.) Higher
19913values produce more verbose output. This is a command to diagnose
19914problems internal to @value{GDBN} and should not be needed in normal
19915usage.
19916
19917@item show debug mach-o
19918@kindex show debug mach-o
19919Show the current state of Mach-O file messages.
19920
19921@item set mach-exceptions on
19922@itemx set mach-exceptions off
19923@kindex set mach-exceptions
19924On Darwin, faults are first reported as a Mach exception and are then
19925mapped to a Posix signal. Use this command to turn on trapping of
19926Mach exceptions in the inferior. This might be sometimes useful to
19927better understand the cause of a fault. The default is off.
19928
19929@item show mach-exceptions
19930@kindex show mach-exceptions
19931Show the current state of exceptions trapping.
19932@end table
19933
19934
19935@node Embedded OS
19936@section Embedded Operating Systems
19937
19938This section describes configurations involving the debugging of
19939embedded operating systems that are available for several different
19940architectures.
19941
19942@menu
19943* VxWorks:: Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
19944@end menu
19945
19946@value{GDBN} includes the ability to debug programs running on
19947various real-time operating systems.
19948
19949@node VxWorks
19950@subsection Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
19951
19952@cindex VxWorks
19953
19954@table @code
19955
19956@kindex target vxworks
19957@item target vxworks @var{machinename}
19958A VxWorks system, attached via TCP/IP. The argument @var{machinename}
19959is the target system's machine name or IP address.
19960
19961@end table
19962
19963On VxWorks, @code{load} links @var{filename} dynamically on the
19964current target system as well as adding its symbols in @value{GDBN}.
19965
19966@value{GDBN} enables developers to spawn and debug tasks running on networked
19967VxWorks targets from a Unix host. Already-running tasks spawned from
19968the VxWorks shell can also be debugged. @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
19969both the Unix host and on the VxWorks target. The program
19970@code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host. (It may be
19971installed with the name @code{vxgdb}, to distinguish it from a
19972@value{GDBN} for debugging programs on the host itself.)
19973
19974@table @code
19975@item VxWorks-timeout @var{args}
19976@kindex vxworks-timeout
19977All VxWorks-based targets now support the option @code{vxworks-timeout}.
19978This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
19979seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses to rpc's. You might use this if
19980your VxWorks target is a slow software simulator or is on the far side
19981of a thin network line.
19982@end table
19983
19984The following information on connecting to VxWorks was current when
19985this manual was produced; newer releases of VxWorks may use revised
19986procedures.
19987
19988@findex INCLUDE_RDB
19989To use @value{GDBN} with VxWorks, you must rebuild your VxWorks kernel
19990to include the remote debugging interface routines in the VxWorks
19991library @file{rdb.a}. To do this, define @code{INCLUDE_RDB} in the
19992VxWorks configuration file @file{configAll.h} and rebuild your VxWorks
19993kernel. The resulting kernel contains @file{rdb.a}, and spawns the
19994source debugging task @code{tRdbTask} when VxWorks is booted. For more
19995information on configuring and remaking VxWorks, see the manufacturer's
19996manual.
19997@c VxWorks, see the @cite{VxWorks Programmer's Guide}.
19998
19999Once you have included @file{rdb.a} in your VxWorks system image and set
20000your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
20001run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}} (or
20002@code{vxgdb}, depending on your installation).
20003
20004@value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
20005
20006@smallexample
20007(vxgdb)
20008@end smallexample
20009
20010@menu
20011* VxWorks Connection:: Connecting to VxWorks
20012* VxWorks Download:: VxWorks download
20013* VxWorks Attach:: Running tasks
20014@end menu
20015
20016@node VxWorks Connection
20017@subsubsection Connecting to VxWorks
20018
20019The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a VxWorks target on the
20020network. To connect to a target whose host name is ``@code{tt}'', type:
20021
20022@smallexample
20023(vxgdb) target vxworks tt
20024@end smallexample
20025
20026@need 750
20027@value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
20028
20029@smallexample
20030Attaching remote machine across net...
20031Connected to tt.
20032@end smallexample
20033
20034@need 1000
20035@value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol tables of any object modules
20036loaded into the VxWorks target since it was last booted. @value{GDBN} locates
20037these files by searching the directories listed in the command search
20038path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}); if it fails
20039to find an object file, it displays a message such as:
20040
20041@smallexample
20042prog.o: No such file or directory.
20043@end smallexample
20044
20045When this happens, add the appropriate directory to the search path with
20046the @value{GDBN} command @code{path}, and execute the @code{target}
20047command again.
20048
20049@node VxWorks Download
20050@subsubsection VxWorks Download
20051
20052@cindex download to VxWorks
20053If you have connected to the VxWorks target and you want to debug an
20054object that has not yet been loaded, you can use the @value{GDBN}
20055@code{load} command to download a file from Unix to VxWorks
20056incrementally. The object file given as an argument to the @code{load}
20057command is actually opened twice: first by the VxWorks target in order
20058to download the code, then by @value{GDBN} in order to read the symbol
20059table. This can lead to problems if the current working directories on
20060the two systems differ. If both systems have NFS mounted the same
20061filesystems, you can avoid these problems by using absolute paths.
20062Otherwise, it is simplest to set the working directory on both systems
20063to the directory in which the object file resides, and then to reference
20064the file by its name, without any path. For instance, a program
20065@file{prog.o} may reside in @file{@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb} in VxWorks
20066and in @file{@var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb} on the host. To load this
20067program, type this on VxWorks:
20068
20069@smallexample
20070-> cd "@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb"
20071@end smallexample
20072
20073@noindent
20074Then, in @value{GDBN}, type:
20075
20076@smallexample
20077(vxgdb) cd @var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb
20078(vxgdb) load prog.o
20079@end smallexample
20080
20081@value{GDBN} displays a response similar to this:
20082
20083@smallexample
20084Reading symbol data from wherever/vw/demo/rdb/prog.o... done.
20085@end smallexample
20086
20087You can also use the @code{load} command to reload an object module
20088after editing and recompiling the corresponding source file. Note that
20089this makes @value{GDBN} delete all currently-defined breakpoints,
20090auto-displays, and convenience variables, and to clear the value
20091history. (This is necessary in order to preserve the integrity of
20092debugger's data structures that reference the target system's symbol
20093table.)
20094
20095@node VxWorks Attach
20096@subsubsection Running Tasks
20097
20098@cindex running VxWorks tasks
20099You can also attach to an existing task using the @code{attach} command as
20100follows:
20101
20102@smallexample
20103(vxgdb) attach @var{task}
20104@end smallexample
20105
20106@noindent
20107where @var{task} is the VxWorks hexadecimal task ID. The task can be running
20108or suspended when you attach to it. Running tasks are suspended at
20109the time of attachment.
20110
20111@node Embedded Processors
20112@section Embedded Processors
20113
20114This section goes into details specific to particular embedded
20115configurations.
20116
20117@cindex send command to simulator
20118Whenever a specific embedded processor has a simulator, @value{GDBN}
20119allows to send an arbitrary command to the simulator.
20120
20121@table @code
20122@item sim @var{command}
20123@kindex sim@r{, a command}
20124Send an arbitrary @var{command} string to the simulator. Consult the
20125documentation for the specific simulator in use for information about
20126acceptable commands.
20127@end table
20128
20129
20130@menu
20131* ARM:: ARM RDI
20132* M32R/D:: Renesas M32R/D
20133* M68K:: Motorola M68K
20134* MicroBlaze:: Xilinx MicroBlaze
20135* MIPS Embedded:: MIPS Embedded
20136* PowerPC Embedded:: PowerPC Embedded
20137* PA:: HP PA Embedded
20138* Sparclet:: Tsqware Sparclet
20139* Sparclite:: Fujitsu Sparclite
20140* Z8000:: Zilog Z8000
20141* AVR:: Atmel AVR
20142* CRIS:: CRIS
20143* Super-H:: Renesas Super-H
20144@end menu
20145
20146@node ARM
20147@subsection ARM
20148@cindex ARM RDI
20149
20150@table @code
20151@kindex target rdi
20152@item target rdi @var{dev}
20153ARM Angel monitor, via RDI library interface to ADP protocol. You may
20154use this target to communicate with both boards running the Angel
20155monitor, or with the EmbeddedICE JTAG debug device.
20156
20157@kindex target rdp
20158@item target rdp @var{dev}
20159ARM Demon monitor.
20160
20161@end table
20162
20163@value{GDBN} provides the following ARM-specific commands:
20164
20165@table @code
20166@item set arm disassembler
20167@kindex set arm
20168This commands selects from a list of disassembly styles. The
20169@code{"std"} style is the standard style.
20170
20171@item show arm disassembler
20172@kindex show arm
20173Show the current disassembly style.
20174
20175@item set arm apcs32
20176@cindex ARM 32-bit mode
20177This command toggles ARM operation mode between 32-bit and 26-bit.
20178
20179@item show arm apcs32
20180Display the current usage of the ARM 32-bit mode.
20181
20182@item set arm fpu @var{fputype}
20183This command sets the ARM floating-point unit (FPU) type. The
20184argument @var{fputype} can be one of these:
20185
20186@table @code
20187@item auto
20188Determine the FPU type by querying the OS ABI.
20189@item softfpa
20190Software FPU, with mixed-endian doubles on little-endian ARM
20191processors.
20192@item fpa
20193GCC-compiled FPA co-processor.
20194@item softvfp
20195Software FPU with pure-endian doubles.
20196@item vfp
20197VFP co-processor.
20198@end table
20199
20200@item show arm fpu
20201Show the current type of the FPU.
20202
20203@item set arm abi
20204This command forces @value{GDBN} to use the specified ABI.
20205
20206@item show arm abi
20207Show the currently used ABI.
20208
20209@item set arm fallback-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
20210@value{GDBN} uses the symbol table, when available, to determine
20211whether instructions are ARM or Thumb. This command controls
20212@value{GDBN}'s default behavior when the symbol table is not
20213available. The default is @samp{auto}, which causes @value{GDBN} to
20214use the current execution mode (from the @code{T} bit in the @code{CPSR}
20215register).
20216
20217@item show arm fallback-mode
20218Show the current fallback instruction mode.
20219
20220@item set arm force-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
20221This command overrides use of the symbol table to determine whether
20222instructions are ARM or Thumb. The default is @samp{auto}, which
20223causes @value{GDBN} to use the symbol table and then the setting
20224of @samp{set arm fallback-mode}.
20225
20226@item show arm force-mode
20227Show the current forced instruction mode.
20228
20229@item set debug arm
20230Toggle whether to display ARM-specific debugging messages from the ARM
20231target support subsystem.
20232
20233@item show debug arm
20234Show whether ARM-specific debugging messages are enabled.
20235@end table
20236
20237The following commands are available when an ARM target is debugged
20238using the RDI interface:
20239
20240@table @code
20241@item rdilogfile @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
20242@kindex rdilogfile
20243@cindex ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) logging
20244Set the filename for the ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) packet log.
20245With an argument, sets the log file to the specified @var{file}. With
20246no argument, show the current log file name. The default log file is
20247@file{rdi.log}.
20248
20249@item rdilogenable @r{[}@var{arg}@r{]}
20250@kindex rdilogenable
20251Control logging of ADP packets. With an argument of 1 or @code{"yes"}
20252enables logging, with an argument 0 or @code{"no"} disables it. With
20253no arguments displays the current setting. When logging is enabled,
20254ADP packets exchanged between @value{GDBN} and the RDI target device
20255are logged to a file.
20256
20257@item set rdiromatzero
20258@kindex set rdiromatzero
20259@cindex ROM at zero address, RDI
20260Tell @value{GDBN} whether the target has ROM at address 0. If on,
20261vector catching is disabled, so that zero address can be used. If off
20262(the default), vector catching is enabled. For this command to take
20263effect, it needs to be invoked prior to the @code{target rdi} command.
20264
20265@item show rdiromatzero
20266@kindex show rdiromatzero
20267Show the current setting of ROM at zero address.
20268
20269@item set rdiheartbeat
20270@kindex set rdiheartbeat
20271@cindex RDI heartbeat
20272Enable or disable RDI heartbeat packets. It is not recommended to
20273turn on this option, since it confuses ARM and EPI JTAG interface, as
20274well as the Angel monitor.
20275
20276@item show rdiheartbeat
20277@kindex show rdiheartbeat
20278Show the setting of RDI heartbeat packets.
20279@end table
20280
20281@table @code
20282@item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
20283The @value{GDBN} ARM simulator accepts the following optional arguments.
20284
20285@table @code
20286@item --swi-support=@var{type}
20287Tell the simulator which SWI interfaces to support.
20288@var{type} may be a comma separated list of the following values.
20289The default value is @code{all}.
20290
20291@table @code
20292@item none
20293@item demon
20294@item angel
20295@item redboot
20296@item all
20297@end table
20298@end table
20299@end table
20300
20301@node M32R/D
20302@subsection Renesas M32R/D and M32R/SDI
20303
20304@table @code
20305@kindex target m32r
20306@item target m32r @var{dev}
20307Renesas M32R/D ROM monitor.
20308
20309@kindex target m32rsdi
20310@item target m32rsdi @var{dev}
20311Renesas M32R SDI server, connected via parallel port to the board.
20312@end table
20313
20314The following @value{GDBN} commands are specific to the M32R monitor:
20315
20316@table @code
20317@item set download-path @var{path}
20318@kindex set download-path
20319@cindex find downloadable @sc{srec} files (M32R)
20320Set the default path for finding downloadable @sc{srec} files.
20321
20322@item show download-path
20323@kindex show download-path
20324Show the default path for downloadable @sc{srec} files.
20325
20326@item set board-address @var{addr}
20327@kindex set board-address
20328@cindex M32-EVA target board address
20329Set the IP address for the M32R-EVA target board.
20330
20331@item show board-address
20332@kindex show board-address
20333Show the current IP address of the target board.
20334
20335@item set server-address @var{addr}
20336@kindex set server-address
20337@cindex download server address (M32R)
20338Set the IP address for the download server, which is the @value{GDBN}'s
20339host machine.
20340
20341@item show server-address
20342@kindex show server-address
20343Display the IP address of the download server.
20344
20345@item upload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
20346@kindex upload@r{, M32R}
20347Upload the specified @sc{srec} @var{file} via the monitor's Ethernet
20348upload capability. If no @var{file} argument is given, the current
20349executable file is uploaded.
20350
20351@item tload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
20352@kindex tload@r{, M32R}
20353Test the @code{upload} command.
20354@end table
20355
20356The following commands are available for M32R/SDI:
20357
20358@table @code
20359@item sdireset
20360@kindex sdireset
20361@cindex reset SDI connection, M32R
20362This command resets the SDI connection.
20363
20364@item sdistatus
20365@kindex sdistatus
20366This command shows the SDI connection status.
20367
20368@item debug_chaos
20369@kindex debug_chaos
20370@cindex M32R/Chaos debugging
20371Instructs the remote that M32R/Chaos debugging is to be used.
20372
20373@item use_debug_dma
20374@kindex use_debug_dma
20375Instructs the remote to use the DEBUG_DMA method of accessing memory.
20376
20377@item use_mon_code
20378@kindex use_mon_code
20379Instructs the remote to use the MON_CODE method of accessing memory.
20380
20381@item use_ib_break
20382@kindex use_ib_break
20383Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by IB break.
20384
20385@item use_dbt_break
20386@kindex use_dbt_break
20387Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by DBT.
20388@end table
20389
20390@node M68K
20391@subsection M68k
20392
20393The Motorola m68k configuration includes ColdFire support, and a
20394target command for the following ROM monitor.
20395
20396@table @code
20397
20398@kindex target dbug
20399@item target dbug @var{dev}
20400dBUG ROM monitor for Motorola ColdFire.
20401
20402@end table
20403
20404@node MicroBlaze
20405@subsection MicroBlaze
20406@cindex Xilinx MicroBlaze
20407@cindex XMD, Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger
20408
20409The MicroBlaze is a soft-core processor supported on various Xilinx
20410FPGAs, such as Spartan or Virtex series. Boards with these processors
20411usually have JTAG ports which connect to a host system running the Xilinx
20412Embedded Development Kit (EDK) or Software Development Kit (SDK).
20413This host system is used to download the configuration bitstream to
20414the target FPGA. The Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger (XMD) program
20415communicates with the target board using the JTAG interface and
20416presents a @code{gdbserver} interface to the board. By default
20417@code{xmd} uses port @code{1234}. (While it is possible to change
20418this default port, it requires the use of undocumented @code{xmd}
20419commands. Contact Xilinx support if you need to do this.)
20420
20421Use these GDB commands to connect to the MicroBlaze target processor.
20422
20423@table @code
20424@item target remote :1234
20425Use this command to connect to the target if you are running @value{GDBN}
20426on the same system as @code{xmd}.
20427
20428@item target remote @var{xmd-host}:1234
20429Use this command to connect to the target if it is connected to @code{xmd}
20430running on a different system named @var{xmd-host}.
20431
20432@item load
20433Use this command to download a program to the MicroBlaze target.
20434
20435@item set debug microblaze @var{n}
20436Enable MicroBlaze-specific debugging messages if non-zero.
20437
20438@item show debug microblaze @var{n}
20439Show MicroBlaze-specific debugging level.
20440@end table
20441
20442@node MIPS Embedded
20443@subsection @acronym{MIPS} Embedded
20444
20445@cindex @acronym{MIPS} boards
20446@value{GDBN} can use the @acronym{MIPS} remote debugging protocol to talk to a
20447@acronym{MIPS} board attached to a serial line. This is available when
20448you configure @value{GDBN} with @samp{--target=mips-elf}.
20449
20450@need 1000
20451Use these @value{GDBN} commands to specify the connection to your target board:
20452
20453@table @code
20454@item target mips @var{port}
20455@kindex target mips @var{port}
20456To run a program on the board, start up @code{@value{GDBP}} with the
20457name of your program as the argument. To connect to the board, use the
20458command @samp{target mips @var{port}}, where @var{port} is the name of
20459the serial port connected to the board. If the program has not already
20460been downloaded to the board, you may use the @code{load} command to
20461download it. You can then use all the usual @value{GDBN} commands.
20462
20463For example, this sequence connects to the target board through a serial
20464port, and loads and runs a program called @var{prog} through the
20465debugger:
20466
20467@smallexample
20468host$ @value{GDBP} @var{prog}
20469@value{GDBN} is free software and @dots{}
20470(@value{GDBP}) target mips /dev/ttyb
20471(@value{GDBP}) load @var{prog}
20472(@value{GDBP}) run
20473@end smallexample
20474
20475@item target mips @var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}
20476On some @value{GDBN} host configurations, you can specify a TCP
20477connection (for instance, to a serial line managed by a terminal
20478concentrator) instead of a serial port, using the syntax
20479@samp{@var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}}.
20480
20481@item target pmon @var{port}
20482@kindex target pmon @var{port}
20483PMON ROM monitor.
20484
20485@item target ddb @var{port}
20486@kindex target ddb @var{port}
20487NEC's DDB variant of PMON for Vr4300.
20488
20489@item target lsi @var{port}
20490@kindex target lsi @var{port}
20491LSI variant of PMON.
20492
20493@kindex target r3900
20494@item target r3900 @var{dev}
20495Densan DVE-R3900 ROM monitor for Toshiba R3900 Mips.
20496
20497@kindex target array
20498@item target array @var{dev}
20499Array Tech LSI33K RAID controller board.
20500
20501@end table
20502
20503
20504@noindent
20505@value{GDBN} also supports these special commands for @acronym{MIPS} targets:
20506
20507@table @code
20508@item set mipsfpu double
20509@itemx set mipsfpu single
20510@itemx set mipsfpu none
20511@itemx set mipsfpu auto
20512@itemx show mipsfpu
20513@kindex set mipsfpu
20514@kindex show mipsfpu
20515@cindex @acronym{MIPS} remote floating point
20516@cindex floating point, @acronym{MIPS} remote
20517If your target board does not support the @acronym{MIPS} floating point
20518coprocessor, you should use the command @samp{set mipsfpu none} (if you
20519need this, you may wish to put the command in your @value{GDBN} init
20520file). This tells @value{GDBN} how to find the return value of
20521functions which return floating point values. It also allows
20522@value{GDBN} to avoid saving the floating point registers when calling
20523functions on the board. If you are using a floating point coprocessor
20524with only single precision floating point support, as on the @sc{r4650}
20525processor, use the command @samp{set mipsfpu single}. The default
20526double precision floating point coprocessor may be selected using
20527@samp{set mipsfpu double}.
20528
20529In previous versions the only choices were double precision or no
20530floating point, so @samp{set mipsfpu on} will select double precision
20531and @samp{set mipsfpu off} will select no floating point.
20532
20533As usual, you can inquire about the @code{mipsfpu} variable with
20534@samp{show mipsfpu}.
20535
20536@item set timeout @var{seconds}
20537@itemx set retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}
20538@itemx show timeout
20539@itemx show retransmit-timeout
20540@cindex @code{timeout}, @acronym{MIPS} protocol
20541@cindex @code{retransmit-timeout}, @acronym{MIPS} protocol
20542@kindex set timeout
20543@kindex show timeout
20544@kindex set retransmit-timeout
20545@kindex show retransmit-timeout
20546You can control the timeout used while waiting for a packet, in the @acronym{MIPS}
20547remote protocol, with the @code{set timeout @var{seconds}} command. The
20548default is 5 seconds. Similarly, you can control the timeout used while
20549waiting for an acknowledgment of a packet with the @code{set
20550retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}} command. The default is 3 seconds.
20551You can inspect both values with @code{show timeout} and @code{show
20552retransmit-timeout}. (These commands are @emph{only} available when
20553@value{GDBN} is configured for @samp{--target=mips-elf}.)
20554
20555The timeout set by @code{set timeout} does not apply when @value{GDBN}
20556is waiting for your program to stop. In that case, @value{GDBN} waits
20557forever because it has no way of knowing how long the program is going
20558to run before stopping.
20559
20560@item set syn-garbage-limit @var{num}
20561@kindex set syn-garbage-limit@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20562@cindex synchronize with remote @acronym{MIPS} target
20563Limit the maximum number of characters @value{GDBN} should ignore when
20564it tries to synchronize with the remote target. The default is 10
20565characters. Setting the limit to -1 means there's no limit.
20566
20567@item show syn-garbage-limit
20568@kindex show syn-garbage-limit@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20569Show the current limit on the number of characters to ignore when
20570trying to synchronize with the remote system.
20571
20572@item set monitor-prompt @var{prompt}
20573@kindex set monitor-prompt@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20574@cindex remote monitor prompt
20575Tell @value{GDBN} to expect the specified @var{prompt} string from the
20576remote monitor. The default depends on the target:
20577@table @asis
20578@item pmon target
20579@samp{PMON}
20580@item ddb target
20581@samp{NEC010}
20582@item lsi target
20583@samp{PMON>}
20584@end table
20585
20586@item show monitor-prompt
20587@kindex show monitor-prompt@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20588Show the current strings @value{GDBN} expects as the prompt from the
20589remote monitor.
20590
20591@item set monitor-warnings
20592@kindex set monitor-warnings@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20593Enable or disable monitor warnings about hardware breakpoints. This
20594has effect only for the @code{lsi} target. When on, @value{GDBN} will
20595display warning messages whose codes are returned by the @code{lsi}
20596PMON monitor for breakpoint commands.
20597
20598@item show monitor-warnings
20599@kindex show monitor-warnings@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20600Show the current setting of printing monitor warnings.
20601
20602@item pmon @var{command}
20603@kindex pmon@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20604@cindex send PMON command
20605This command allows sending an arbitrary @var{command} string to the
20606monitor. The monitor must be in debug mode for this to work.
20607@end table
20608
20609@node PowerPC Embedded
20610@subsection PowerPC Embedded
20611
20612@cindex DVC register
20613@value{GDBN} supports using the DVC (Data Value Compare) register to
20614implement in hardware simple hardware watchpoint conditions of the form:
20615
20616@smallexample
20617(@value{GDBP}) watch @var{ADDRESS|VARIABLE} \
20618 if @var{ADDRESS|VARIABLE} == @var{CONSTANT EXPRESSION}
20619@end smallexample
20620
20621The DVC register will be automatically used when @value{GDBN} detects
20622such pattern in a condition expression, and the created watchpoint uses one
20623debug register (either the @code{exact-watchpoints} option is on and the
20624variable is scalar, or the variable has a length of one byte). This feature
20625is available in native @value{GDBN} running on a Linux kernel version 2.6.34
20626or newer.
20627
20628When running on PowerPC embedded processors, @value{GDBN} automatically uses
20629ranged hardware watchpoints, unless the @code{exact-watchpoints} option is on,
20630in which case watchpoints using only one debug register are created when
20631watching variables of scalar types.
20632
20633You can create an artificial array to watch an arbitrary memory
20634region using one of the following commands (@pxref{Expressions}):
20635
20636@smallexample
20637(@value{GDBP}) watch *((char *) @var{address})@@@var{length}
20638(@value{GDBP}) watch @{char[@var{length}]@} @var{address}
20639@end smallexample
20640
20641PowerPC embedded processors support masked watchpoints. See the discussion
20642about the @code{mask} argument in @ref{Set Watchpoints}.
20643
20644@cindex ranged breakpoint
20645PowerPC embedded processors support hardware accelerated
20646@dfn{ranged breakpoints}. A ranged breakpoint stops execution of
20647the inferior whenever it executes an instruction at any address within
20648the range it specifies. To set a ranged breakpoint in @value{GDBN},
20649use the @code{break-range} command.
20650
20651@value{GDBN} provides the following PowerPC-specific commands:
20652
20653@table @code
20654@kindex break-range
20655@item break-range @var{start-location}, @var{end-location}
20656Set a breakpoint for an address range.
20657@var{start-location} and @var{end-location} can specify a function name,
20658a line number, an offset of lines from the current line or from the start
20659location, or an address of an instruction (see @ref{Specify Location},
20660for a list of all the possible ways to specify a @var{location}.)
20661The breakpoint will stop execution of the inferior whenever it
20662executes an instruction at any address within the specified range,
20663(including @var{start-location} and @var{end-location}.)
20664
20665@kindex set powerpc
20666@item set powerpc soft-float
20667@itemx show powerpc soft-float
20668Force @value{GDBN} to use (or not use) a software floating point calling
20669convention. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention based
20670on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
20671
20672@item set powerpc vector-abi
20673@itemx show powerpc vector-abi
20674Force @value{GDBN} to use the specified calling convention for vector
20675arguments and return values. The valid options are @samp{auto};
20676@samp{generic}, to avoid vector registers even if they are present;
20677@samp{altivec}, to use AltiVec registers; and @samp{spe} to use SPE
20678registers. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention
20679based on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
20680
20681@item set powerpc exact-watchpoints
20682@itemx show powerpc exact-watchpoints
20683Allow @value{GDBN} to use only one debug register when watching a variable
20684of scalar type, thus assuming that the variable is accessed through the
20685address of its first byte.
20686
20687@kindex target dink32
20688@item target dink32 @var{dev}
20689DINK32 ROM monitor.
20690
20691@kindex target ppcbug
20692@item target ppcbug @var{dev}
20693@kindex target ppcbug1
20694@item target ppcbug1 @var{dev}
20695PPCBUG ROM monitor for PowerPC.
20696
20697@kindex target sds
20698@item target sds @var{dev}
20699SDS monitor, running on a PowerPC board (such as Motorola's ADS).
20700@end table
20701
20702@cindex SDS protocol
20703The following commands specific to the SDS protocol are supported
20704by @value{GDBN}:
20705
20706@table @code
20707@item set sdstimeout @var{nsec}
20708@kindex set sdstimeout
20709Set the timeout for SDS protocol reads to be @var{nsec} seconds. The
20710default is 2 seconds.
20711
20712@item show sdstimeout
20713@kindex show sdstimeout
20714Show the current value of the SDS timeout.
20715
20716@item sds @var{command}
20717@kindex sds@r{, a command}
20718Send the specified @var{command} string to the SDS monitor.
20719@end table
20720
20721
20722@node PA
20723@subsection HP PA Embedded
20724
20725@table @code
20726
20727@kindex target op50n
20728@item target op50n @var{dev}
20729OP50N monitor, running on an OKI HPPA board.
20730
20731@kindex target w89k
20732@item target w89k @var{dev}
20733W89K monitor, running on a Winbond HPPA board.
20734
20735@end table
20736
20737@node Sparclet
20738@subsection Tsqware Sparclet
20739
20740@cindex Sparclet
20741
20742@value{GDBN} enables developers to debug tasks running on
20743Sparclet targets from a Unix host.
20744@value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
20745both the Unix host and on the Sparclet target. The program
20746@code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host.
20747
20748@table @code
20749@item remotetimeout @var{args}
20750@kindex remotetimeout
20751@value{GDBN} supports the option @code{remotetimeout}.
20752This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
20753seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses.
20754@end table
20755
20756@cindex compiling, on Sparclet
20757When compiling for debugging, include the options @samp{-g} to get debug
20758information and @samp{-Ttext} to relocate the program to where you wish to
20759load it on the target. You may also want to add the options @samp{-n} or
20760@samp{-N} in order to reduce the size of the sections. Example:
20761
20762@smallexample
20763sparclet-aout-gcc prog.c -Ttext 0x12010000 -g -o prog -N
20764@end smallexample
20765
20766You can use @code{objdump} to verify that the addresses are what you intended:
20767
20768@smallexample
20769sparclet-aout-objdump --headers --syms prog
20770@end smallexample
20771
20772@cindex running, on Sparclet
20773Once you have set
20774your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
20775run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}}
20776(or @code{sparclet-aout-gdb}, depending on your installation).
20777
20778@value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
20779
20780@smallexample
20781(gdbslet)
20782@end smallexample
20783
20784@menu
20785* Sparclet File:: Setting the file to debug
20786* Sparclet Connection:: Connecting to Sparclet
20787* Sparclet Download:: Sparclet download
20788* Sparclet Execution:: Running and debugging
20789@end menu
20790
20791@node Sparclet File
20792@subsubsection Setting File to Debug
20793
20794The @value{GDBN} command @code{file} lets you choose with program to debug.
20795
20796@smallexample
20797(gdbslet) file prog
20798@end smallexample
20799
20800@need 1000
20801@value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol table of @file{prog}.
20802@value{GDBN} locates
20803the file by searching the directories listed in the command search
20804path.
20805If the file was compiled with debug information (option @samp{-g}), source
20806files will be searched as well.
20807@value{GDBN} locates
20808the source files by searching the directories listed in the directory search
20809path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}).
20810If it fails
20811to find a file, it displays a message such as:
20812
20813@smallexample
20814prog: No such file or directory.
20815@end smallexample
20816
20817When this happens, add the appropriate directories to the search paths with
20818the @value{GDBN} commands @code{path} and @code{dir}, and execute the
20819@code{target} command again.
20820
20821@node Sparclet Connection
20822@subsubsection Connecting to Sparclet
20823
20824The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a Sparclet target.
20825To connect to a target on serial port ``@code{ttya}'', type:
20826
20827@smallexample
20828(gdbslet) target sparclet /dev/ttya
20829Remote target sparclet connected to /dev/ttya
20830main () at ../prog.c:3
20831@end smallexample
20832
20833@need 750
20834@value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
20835
20836@smallexample
20837Connected to ttya.
20838@end smallexample
20839
20840@node Sparclet Download
20841@subsubsection Sparclet Download
20842
20843@cindex download to Sparclet
20844Once connected to the Sparclet target,
20845you can use the @value{GDBN}
20846@code{load} command to download the file from the host to the target.
20847The file name and load offset should be given as arguments to the @code{load}
20848command.
20849Since the file format is aout, the program must be loaded to the starting
20850address. You can use @code{objdump} to find out what this value is. The load
20851offset is an offset which is added to the VMA (virtual memory address)
20852of each of the file's sections.
20853For instance, if the program
20854@file{prog} was linked to text address 0x1201000, with data at 0x12010160
20855and bss at 0x12010170, in @value{GDBN}, type:
20856
20857@smallexample
20858(gdbslet) load prog 0x12010000
20859Loading section .text, size 0xdb0 vma 0x12010000
20860@end smallexample
20861
20862If the code is loaded at a different address then what the program was linked
20863to, you may need to use the @code{section} and @code{add-symbol-file} commands
20864to tell @value{GDBN} where to map the symbol table.
20865
20866@node Sparclet Execution
20867@subsubsection Running and Debugging
20868
20869@cindex running and debugging Sparclet programs
20870You can now begin debugging the task using @value{GDBN}'s execution control
20871commands, @code{b}, @code{step}, @code{run}, etc. See the @value{GDBN}
20872manual for the list of commands.
20873
20874@smallexample
20875(gdbslet) b main
20876Breakpoint 1 at 0x12010000: file prog.c, line 3.
20877(gdbslet) run
20878Starting program: prog
20879Breakpoint 1, main (argc=1, argv=0xeffff21c) at prog.c:3
208803 char *symarg = 0;
20881(gdbslet) step
208824 char *execarg = "hello!";
20883(gdbslet)
20884@end smallexample
20885
20886@node Sparclite
20887@subsection Fujitsu Sparclite
20888
20889@table @code
20890
20891@kindex target sparclite
20892@item target sparclite @var{dev}
20893Fujitsu sparclite boards, used only for the purpose of loading.
20894You must use an additional command to debug the program.
20895For example: target remote @var{dev} using @value{GDBN} standard
20896remote protocol.
20897
20898@end table
20899
20900@node Z8000
20901@subsection Zilog Z8000
20902
20903@cindex Z8000
20904@cindex simulator, Z8000
20905@cindex Zilog Z8000 simulator
20906
20907When configured for debugging Zilog Z8000 targets, @value{GDBN} includes
20908a Z8000 simulator.
20909
20910For the Z8000 family, @samp{target sim} simulates either the Z8002 (the
20911unsegmented variant of the Z8000 architecture) or the Z8001 (the
20912segmented variant). The simulator recognizes which architecture is
20913appropriate by inspecting the object code.
20914
20915@table @code
20916@item target sim @var{args}
20917@kindex sim
20918@kindex target sim@r{, with Z8000}
20919Debug programs on a simulated CPU. If the simulator supports setup
20920options, specify them via @var{args}.
20921@end table
20922
20923@noindent
20924After specifying this target, you can debug programs for the simulated
20925CPU in the same style as programs for your host computer; use the
20926@code{file} command to load a new program image, the @code{run} command
20927to run your program, and so on.
20928
20929As well as making available all the usual machine registers
20930(@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}), the Z8000 simulator provides three
20931additional items of information as specially named registers:
20932
20933@table @code
20934
20935@item cycles
20936Counts clock-ticks in the simulator.
20937
20938@item insts
20939Counts instructions run in the simulator.
20940
20941@item time
20942Execution time in 60ths of a second.
20943
20944@end table
20945
20946You can refer to these values in @value{GDBN} expressions with the usual
20947conventions; for example, @w{@samp{b fputc if $cycles>5000}} sets a
20948conditional breakpoint that suspends only after at least 5000
20949simulated clock ticks.
20950
20951@node AVR
20952@subsection Atmel AVR
20953@cindex AVR
20954
20955When configured for debugging the Atmel AVR, @value{GDBN} supports the
20956following AVR-specific commands:
20957
20958@table @code
20959@item info io_registers
20960@kindex info io_registers@r{, AVR}
20961@cindex I/O registers (Atmel AVR)
20962This command displays information about the AVR I/O registers. For
20963each register, @value{GDBN} prints its number and value.
20964@end table
20965
20966@node CRIS
20967@subsection CRIS
20968@cindex CRIS
20969
20970When configured for debugging CRIS, @value{GDBN} provides the
20971following CRIS-specific commands:
20972
20973@table @code
20974@item set cris-version @var{ver}
20975@cindex CRIS version
20976Set the current CRIS version to @var{ver}, either @samp{10} or @samp{32}.
20977The CRIS version affects register names and sizes. This command is useful in
20978case autodetection of the CRIS version fails.
20979
20980@item show cris-version
20981Show the current CRIS version.
20982
20983@item set cris-dwarf2-cfi
20984@cindex DWARF-2 CFI and CRIS
20985Set the usage of DWARF-2 CFI for CRIS debugging. The default is @samp{on}.
20986Change to @samp{off} when using @code{gcc-cris} whose version is below
20987@code{R59}.
20988
20989@item show cris-dwarf2-cfi
20990Show the current state of using DWARF-2 CFI.
20991
20992@item set cris-mode @var{mode}
20993@cindex CRIS mode
20994Set the current CRIS mode to @var{mode}. It should only be changed when
20995debugging in guru mode, in which case it should be set to
20996@samp{guru} (the default is @samp{normal}).
20997
20998@item show cris-mode
20999Show the current CRIS mode.
21000@end table
21001
21002@node Super-H
21003@subsection Renesas Super-H
21004@cindex Super-H
21005
21006For the Renesas Super-H processor, @value{GDBN} provides these
21007commands:
21008
21009@table @code
21010@item set sh calling-convention @var{convention}
21011@kindex set sh calling-convention
21012Set the calling-convention used when calling functions from @value{GDBN}.
21013Allowed values are @samp{gcc}, which is the default setting, and @samp{renesas}.
21014With the @samp{gcc} setting, functions are called using the @value{NGCC} calling
21015convention. If the DWARF-2 information of the called function specifies
21016that the function follows the Renesas calling convention, the function
21017is called using the Renesas calling convention. If the calling convention
21018is set to @samp{renesas}, the Renesas calling convention is always used,
21019regardless of the DWARF-2 information. This can be used to override the
21020default of @samp{gcc} if debug information is missing, or the compiler
21021does not emit the DWARF-2 calling convention entry for a function.
21022
21023@item show sh calling-convention
21024@kindex show sh calling-convention
21025Show the current calling convention setting.
21026
21027@end table
21028
21029
21030@node Architectures
21031@section Architectures
21032
21033This section describes characteristics of architectures that affect
21034all uses of @value{GDBN} with the architecture, both native and cross.
21035
21036@menu
21037* AArch64::
21038* i386::
21039* Alpha::
21040* MIPS::
21041* HPPA:: HP PA architecture
21042* SPU:: Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
21043* PowerPC::
21044* Nios II::
21045@end menu
21046
21047@node AArch64
21048@subsection AArch64
21049@cindex AArch64 support
21050
21051When @value{GDBN} is debugging the AArch64 architecture, it provides the
21052following special commands:
21053
21054@table @code
21055@item set debug aarch64
21056@kindex set debug aarch64
21057This command determines whether AArch64 architecture-specific debugging
21058messages are to be displayed.
21059
21060@item show debug aarch64
21061Show whether AArch64 debugging messages are displayed.
21062
21063@end table
21064
21065@node i386
21066@subsection x86 Architecture-specific Issues
21067
21068@table @code
21069@item set struct-convention @var{mode}
21070@kindex set struct-convention
21071@cindex struct return convention
21072@cindex struct/union returned in registers
21073Set the convention used by the inferior to return @code{struct}s and
21074@code{union}s from functions to @var{mode}. Possible values of
21075@var{mode} are @code{"pcc"}, @code{"reg"}, and @code{"default"} (the
21076default). @code{"default"} or @code{"pcc"} means that @code{struct}s
21077are returned on the stack, while @code{"reg"} means that a
21078@code{struct} or a @code{union} whose size is 1, 2, 4, or 8 bytes will
21079be returned in a register.
21080
21081@item show struct-convention
21082@kindex show struct-convention
21083Show the current setting of the convention to return @code{struct}s
21084from functions.
21085@end table
21086
21087@node Alpha
21088@subsection Alpha
21089
21090See the following section.
21091
21092@node MIPS
21093@subsection @acronym{MIPS}
21094
21095@cindex stack on Alpha
21096@cindex stack on @acronym{MIPS}
21097@cindex Alpha stack
21098@cindex @acronym{MIPS} stack
21099Alpha- and @acronym{MIPS}-based computers use an unusual stack frame, which
21100sometimes requires @value{GDBN} to search backward in the object code to
21101find the beginning of a function.
21102
21103@cindex response time, @acronym{MIPS} debugging
21104To improve response time (especially for embedded applications, where
21105@value{GDBN} may be restricted to a slow serial line for this search)
21106you may want to limit the size of this search, using one of these
21107commands:
21108
21109@table @code
21110@cindex @code{heuristic-fence-post} (Alpha, @acronym{MIPS})
21111@item set heuristic-fence-post @var{limit}
21112Restrict @value{GDBN} to examining at most @var{limit} bytes in its
21113search for the beginning of a function. A value of @var{0} (the
21114default) means there is no limit. However, except for @var{0}, the
21115larger the limit the more bytes @code{heuristic-fence-post} must search
21116and therefore the longer it takes to run. You should only need to use
21117this command when debugging a stripped executable.
21118
21119@item show heuristic-fence-post
21120Display the current limit.
21121@end table
21122
21123@noindent
21124These commands are available @emph{only} when @value{GDBN} is configured
21125for debugging programs on Alpha or @acronym{MIPS} processors.
21126
21127Several @acronym{MIPS}-specific commands are available when debugging @acronym{MIPS}
21128programs:
21129
21130@table @code
21131@item set mips abi @var{arg}
21132@kindex set mips abi
21133@cindex set ABI for @acronym{MIPS}
21134Tell @value{GDBN} which @acronym{MIPS} ABI is used by the inferior. Possible
21135values of @var{arg} are:
21136
21137@table @samp
21138@item auto
21139The default ABI associated with the current binary (this is the
21140default).
21141@item o32
21142@item o64
21143@item n32
21144@item n64
21145@item eabi32
21146@item eabi64
21147@end table
21148
21149@item show mips abi
21150@kindex show mips abi
21151Show the @acronym{MIPS} ABI used by @value{GDBN} to debug the inferior.
21152
21153@item set mips compression @var{arg}
21154@kindex set mips compression
21155@cindex code compression, @acronym{MIPS}
21156Tell @value{GDBN} which @acronym{MIPS} compressed
21157@acronym{ISA, Instruction Set Architecture} encoding is used by the
21158inferior. @value{GDBN} uses this for code disassembly and other
21159internal interpretation purposes. This setting is only referred to
21160when no executable has been associated with the debugging session or
21161the executable does not provide information about the encoding it uses.
21162Otherwise this setting is automatically updated from information
21163provided by the executable.
21164
21165Possible values of @var{arg} are @samp{mips16} and @samp{micromips}.
21166The default compressed @acronym{ISA} encoding is @samp{mips16}, as
21167executables containing @acronym{MIPS16} code frequently are not
21168identified as such.
21169
21170This setting is ``sticky''; that is, it retains its value across
21171debugging sessions until reset either explicitly with this command or
21172implicitly from an executable.
21173
21174The compiler and/or assembler typically add symbol table annotations to
21175identify functions compiled for the @acronym{MIPS16} or
21176@acronym{microMIPS} @acronym{ISA}s. If these function-scope annotations
21177are present, @value{GDBN} uses them in preference to the global
21178compressed @acronym{ISA} encoding setting.
21179
21180@item show mips compression
21181@kindex show mips compression
21182Show the @acronym{MIPS} compressed @acronym{ISA} encoding used by
21183@value{GDBN} to debug the inferior.
21184
21185@item set mipsfpu
21186@itemx show mipsfpu
21187@xref{MIPS Embedded, set mipsfpu}.
21188
21189@item set mips mask-address @var{arg}
21190@kindex set mips mask-address
21191@cindex @acronym{MIPS} addresses, masking
21192This command determines whether the most-significant 32 bits of 64-bit
21193@acronym{MIPS} addresses are masked off. The argument @var{arg} can be
21194@samp{on}, @samp{off}, or @samp{auto}. The latter is the default
21195setting, which lets @value{GDBN} determine the correct value.
21196
21197@item show mips mask-address
21198@kindex show mips mask-address
21199Show whether the upper 32 bits of @acronym{MIPS} addresses are masked off or
21200not.
21201
21202@item set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
21203@kindex set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
21204This command controls compatibility with 64-bit @acronym{MIPS} targets that
21205transfer data in 32-bit quantities. If you have an old @acronym{MIPS} 64 target
21206that transfers 32 bits for some registers, like @sc{sr} and @sc{fsr},
21207and 64 bits for other registers, set this option to @samp{on}.
21208
21209@item show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
21210@kindex show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
21211Show the current setting of compatibility with older @acronym{MIPS} 64 targets.
21212
21213@item set debug mips
21214@kindex set debug mips
21215This command turns on and off debugging messages for the @acronym{MIPS}-specific
21216target code in @value{GDBN}.
21217
21218@item show debug mips
21219@kindex show debug mips
21220Show the current setting of @acronym{MIPS} debugging messages.
21221@end table
21222
21223
21224@node HPPA
21225@subsection HPPA
21226@cindex HPPA support
21227
21228When @value{GDBN} is debugging the HP PA architecture, it provides the
21229following special commands:
21230
21231@table @code
21232@item set debug hppa
21233@kindex set debug hppa
21234This command determines whether HPPA architecture-specific debugging
21235messages are to be displayed.
21236
21237@item show debug hppa
21238Show whether HPPA debugging messages are displayed.
21239
21240@item maint print unwind @var{address}
21241@kindex maint print unwind@r{, HPPA}
21242This command displays the contents of the unwind table entry at the
21243given @var{address}.
21244
21245@end table
21246
21247
21248@node SPU
21249@subsection Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
21250@cindex Cell Broadband Engine
21251@cindex SPU
21252
21253When @value{GDBN} is debugging the Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture,
21254it provides the following special commands:
21255
21256@table @code
21257@item info spu event
21258@kindex info spu
21259Display SPU event facility status. Shows current event mask
21260and pending event status.
21261
21262@item info spu signal
21263Display SPU signal notification facility status. Shows pending
21264signal-control word and signal notification mode of both signal
21265notification channels.
21266
21267@item info spu mailbox
21268Display SPU mailbox facility status. Shows all pending entries,
21269in order of processing, in each of the SPU Write Outbound,
21270SPU Write Outbound Interrupt, and SPU Read Inbound mailboxes.
21271
21272@item info spu dma
21273Display MFC DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
21274DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
21275and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
21276
21277@item info spu proxydma
21278Display MFC Proxy-DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
21279Proxy-DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
21280and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
21281
21282@end table
21283
21284When @value{GDBN} is debugging a combined PowerPC/SPU application
21285on the Cell Broadband Engine, it provides in addition the following
21286special commands:
21287
21288@table @code
21289@item set spu stop-on-load @var{arg}
21290@kindex set spu
21291Set whether to stop for new SPE threads. When set to @code{on}, @value{GDBN}
21292will give control to the user when a new SPE thread enters its @code{main}
21293function. The default is @code{off}.
21294
21295@item show spu stop-on-load
21296@kindex show spu
21297Show whether to stop for new SPE threads.
21298
21299@item set spu auto-flush-cache @var{arg}
21300Set whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache. When set to
21301@code{on}, @value{GDBN} will automatically cause the SPE software-managed
21302cache to be flushed whenever SPE execution stops. This provides a consistent
21303view of PowerPC memory that is accessed via the cache. If an application
21304does not use the software-managed cache, this option has no effect.
21305
21306@item show spu auto-flush-cache
21307Show whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache.
21308
21309@end table
21310
21311@node PowerPC
21312@subsection PowerPC
21313@cindex PowerPC architecture
21314
21315When @value{GDBN} is debugging the PowerPC architecture, it provides a set of
21316pseudo-registers to enable inspection of 128-bit wide Decimal Floating Point
21317numbers stored in the floating point registers. These values must be stored
21318in two consecutive registers, always starting at an even register like
21319@code{f0} or @code{f2}.
21320
21321The pseudo-registers go from @code{$dl0} through @code{$dl15}, and are formed
21322by joining the even/odd register pairs @code{f0} and @code{f1} for @code{$dl0},
21323@code{f2} and @code{f3} for @code{$dl1} and so on.
21324
21325For POWER7 processors, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers, the 64-bit
21326wide Extended Floating Point Registers (@samp{f32} through @samp{f63}).
21327
21328@node Nios II
21329@subsection Nios II
21330@cindex Nios II architecture
21331
21332When @value{GDBN} is debugging the Nios II architecture,
21333it provides the following special commands:
21334
21335@table @code
21336
21337@item set debug nios2
21338@kindex set debug nios2
21339This command turns on and off debugging messages for the Nios II
21340target code in @value{GDBN}.
21341
21342@item show debug nios2
21343@kindex show debug nios2
21344Show the current setting of Nios II debugging messages.
21345@end table
21346
21347@node Controlling GDB
21348@chapter Controlling @value{GDBN}
21349
21350You can alter the way @value{GDBN} interacts with you by using the
21351@code{set} command. For commands controlling how @value{GDBN} displays
21352data, see @ref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}. Other settings are
21353described here.
21354
21355@menu
21356* Prompt:: Prompt
21357* Editing:: Command editing
21358* Command History:: Command history
21359* Screen Size:: Screen size
21360* Numbers:: Numbers
21361* ABI:: Configuring the current ABI
21362* Auto-loading:: Automatically loading associated files
21363* Messages/Warnings:: Optional warnings and messages
21364* Debugging Output:: Optional messages about internal happenings
21365* Other Misc Settings:: Other Miscellaneous Settings
21366@end menu
21367
21368@node Prompt
21369@section Prompt
21370
21371@cindex prompt
21372
21373@value{GDBN} indicates its readiness to read a command by printing a string
21374called the @dfn{prompt}. This string is normally @samp{(@value{GDBP})}. You
21375can change the prompt string with the @code{set prompt} command. For
21376instance, when debugging @value{GDBN} with @value{GDBN}, it is useful to change
21377the prompt in one of the @value{GDBN} sessions so that you can always tell
21378which one you are talking to.
21379
21380@emph{Note:} @code{set prompt} does not add a space for you after the
21381prompt you set. This allows you to set a prompt which ends in a space
21382or a prompt that does not.
21383
21384@table @code
21385@kindex set prompt
21386@item set prompt @var{newprompt}
21387Directs @value{GDBN} to use @var{newprompt} as its prompt string henceforth.
21388
21389@kindex show prompt
21390@item show prompt
21391Prints a line of the form: @samp{Gdb's prompt is: @var{your-prompt}}
21392@end table
21393
21394Versions of @value{GDBN} that ship with Python scripting enabled have
21395prompt extensions. The commands for interacting with these extensions
21396are:
21397
21398@table @code
21399@kindex set extended-prompt
21400@item set extended-prompt @var{prompt}
21401Set an extended prompt that allows for substitutions.
21402@xref{gdb.prompt}, for a list of escape sequences that can be used for
21403substitution. Any escape sequences specified as part of the prompt
21404string are replaced with the corresponding strings each time the prompt
21405is displayed.
21406
21407For example:
21408
21409@smallexample
21410set extended-prompt Current working directory: \w (gdb)
21411@end smallexample
21412
21413Note that when an extended-prompt is set, it takes control of the
21414@var{prompt_hook} hook. @xref{prompt_hook}, for further information.
21415
21416@kindex show extended-prompt
21417@item show extended-prompt
21418Prints the extended prompt. Any escape sequences specified as part of
21419the prompt string with @code{set extended-prompt}, are replaced with the
21420corresponding strings each time the prompt is displayed.
21421@end table
21422
21423@node Editing
21424@section Command Editing
21425@cindex readline
21426@cindex command line editing
21427
21428@value{GDBN} reads its input commands via the @dfn{Readline} interface. This
21429@sc{gnu} library provides consistent behavior for programs which provide a
21430command line interface to the user. Advantages are @sc{gnu} Emacs-style
21431or @dfn{vi}-style inline editing of commands, @code{csh}-like history
21432substitution, and a storage and recall of command history across
21433debugging sessions.
21434
21435You may control the behavior of command line editing in @value{GDBN} with the
21436command @code{set}.
21437
21438@table @code
21439@kindex set editing
21440@cindex editing
21441@item set editing
21442@itemx set editing on
21443Enable command line editing (enabled by default).
21444
21445@item set editing off
21446Disable command line editing.
21447
21448@kindex show editing
21449@item show editing
21450Show whether command line editing is enabled.
21451@end table
21452
21453@ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
21454@xref{Command Line Editing, , , rluserman, GNU Readline Library},
21455@end ifset
21456@ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
21457@xref{Command Line Editing},
21458@end ifclear
21459for more details about the Readline
21460interface. Users unfamiliar with @sc{gnu} Emacs or @code{vi} are
21461encouraged to read that chapter.
21462
21463@node Command History
21464@section Command History
21465@cindex command history
21466
21467@value{GDBN} can keep track of the commands you type during your
21468debugging sessions, so that you can be certain of precisely what
21469happened. Use these commands to manage the @value{GDBN} command
21470history facility.
21471
21472@value{GDBN} uses the @sc{gnu} History library, a part of the Readline
21473package, to provide the history facility.
21474@ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
21475@xref{Using History Interactively, , , history, GNU History Library},
21476@end ifset
21477@ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
21478@xref{Using History Interactively},
21479@end ifclear
21480for the detailed description of the History library.
21481
21482To issue a command to @value{GDBN} without affecting certain aspects of
21483the state which is seen by users, prefix it with @samp{server }
21484(@pxref{Server Prefix}). This
21485means that this command will not affect the command history, nor will it
21486affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which command to repeat if @key{RET} is
21487pressed on a line by itself.
21488
21489@cindex @code{server}, command prefix
21490The server prefix does not affect the recording of values into the value
21491history; to print a value without recording it into the value history,
21492use the @code{output} command instead of the @code{print} command.
21493
21494Here is the description of @value{GDBN} commands related to command
21495history.
21496
21497@table @code
21498@cindex history substitution
21499@cindex history file
21500@kindex set history filename
21501@cindex @env{GDBHISTFILE}, environment variable
21502@item set history filename @var{fname}
21503Set the name of the @value{GDBN} command history file to @var{fname}.
21504This is the file where @value{GDBN} reads an initial command history
21505list, and where it writes the command history from this session when it
21506exits. You can access this list through history expansion or through
21507the history command editing characters listed below. This file defaults
21508to the value of the environment variable @code{GDBHISTFILE}, or to
21509@file{./.gdb_history} (@file{./_gdb_history} on MS-DOS) if this variable
21510is not set.
21511
21512@cindex save command history
21513@kindex set history save
21514@item set history save
21515@itemx set history save on
21516Record command history in a file, whose name may be specified with the
21517@code{set history filename} command. By default, this option is disabled.
21518
21519@item set history save off
21520Stop recording command history in a file.
21521
21522@cindex history size
21523@kindex set history size
21524@cindex @env{HISTSIZE}, environment variable
21525@item set history size @var{size}
21526@itemx set history size unlimited
21527Set the number of commands which @value{GDBN} keeps in its history list.
21528This defaults to the value of the environment variable
21529@code{HISTSIZE}, or to 256 if this variable is not set. If @var{size}
21530is @code{unlimited}, the number of commands @value{GDBN} keeps in the
21531history list is unlimited.
21532@end table
21533
21534History expansion assigns special meaning to the character @kbd{!}.
21535@ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
21536@xref{Event Designators, , , history, GNU History Library},
21537@end ifset
21538@ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
21539@xref{Event Designators},
21540@end ifclear
21541for more details.
21542
21543@cindex history expansion, turn on/off
21544Since @kbd{!} is also the logical not operator in C, history expansion
21545is off by default. If you decide to enable history expansion with the
21546@code{set history expansion on} command, you may sometimes need to
21547follow @kbd{!} (when it is used as logical not, in an expression) with
21548a space or a tab to prevent it from being expanded. The readline
21549history facilities do not attempt substitution on the strings
21550@kbd{!=} and @kbd{!(}, even when history expansion is enabled.
21551
21552The commands to control history expansion are:
21553
21554@table @code
21555@item set history expansion on
21556@itemx set history expansion
21557@kindex set history expansion
21558Enable history expansion. History expansion is off by default.
21559
21560@item set history expansion off
21561Disable history expansion.
21562
21563@c @group
21564@kindex show history
21565@item show history
21566@itemx show history filename
21567@itemx show history save
21568@itemx show history size
21569@itemx show history expansion
21570These commands display the state of the @value{GDBN} history parameters.
21571@code{show history} by itself displays all four states.
21572@c @end group
21573@end table
21574
21575@table @code
21576@kindex show commands
21577@cindex show last commands
21578@cindex display command history
21579@item show commands
21580Display the last ten commands in the command history.
21581
21582@item show commands @var{n}
21583Print ten commands centered on command number @var{n}.
21584
21585@item show commands +
21586Print ten commands just after the commands last printed.
21587@end table
21588
21589@node Screen Size
21590@section Screen Size
21591@cindex size of screen
21592@cindex pauses in output
21593
21594Certain commands to @value{GDBN} may produce large amounts of
21595information output to the screen. To help you read all of it,
21596@value{GDBN} pauses and asks you for input at the end of each page of
21597output. Type @key{RET} when you want to continue the output, or @kbd{q}
21598to discard the remaining output. Also, the screen width setting
21599determines when to wrap lines of output. Depending on what is being
21600printed, @value{GDBN} tries to break the line at a readable place,
21601rather than simply letting it overflow onto the following line.
21602
21603Normally @value{GDBN} knows the size of the screen from the terminal
21604driver software. For example, on Unix @value{GDBN} uses the termcap data base
21605together with the value of the @code{TERM} environment variable and the
21606@code{stty rows} and @code{stty cols} settings. If this is not correct,
21607you can override it with the @code{set height} and @code{set
21608width} commands:
21609
21610@table @code
21611@kindex set height
21612@kindex set width
21613@kindex show width
21614@kindex show height
21615@item set height @var{lpp}
21616@itemx set height unlimited
21617@itemx show height
21618@itemx set width @var{cpl}
21619@itemx set width unlimited
21620@itemx show width
21621These @code{set} commands specify a screen height of @var{lpp} lines and
21622a screen width of @var{cpl} characters. The associated @code{show}
21623commands display the current settings.
21624
21625If you specify a height of either @code{unlimited} or zero lines,
21626@value{GDBN} does not pause during output no matter how long the
21627output is. This is useful if output is to a file or to an editor
21628buffer.
21629
21630Likewise, you can specify @samp{set width unlimited} or @samp{set
21631width 0} to prevent @value{GDBN} from wrapping its output.
21632
21633@item set pagination on
21634@itemx set pagination off
21635@kindex set pagination
21636Turn the output pagination on or off; the default is on. Turning
21637pagination off is the alternative to @code{set height unlimited}. Note that
21638running @value{GDBN} with the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode
21639Options, -batch}) also automatically disables pagination.
21640
21641@item show pagination
21642@kindex show pagination
21643Show the current pagination mode.
21644@end table
21645
21646@node Numbers
21647@section Numbers
21648@cindex number representation
21649@cindex entering numbers
21650
21651You can always enter numbers in octal, decimal, or hexadecimal in
21652@value{GDBN} by the usual conventions: octal numbers begin with
21653@samp{0}, decimal numbers end with @samp{.}, and hexadecimal numbers
21654begin with @samp{0x}. Numbers that neither begin with @samp{0} or
21655@samp{0x}, nor end with a @samp{.} are, by default, entered in base
2165610; likewise, the default display for numbers---when no particular
21657format is specified---is base 10. You can change the default base for
21658both input and output with the commands described below.
21659
21660@table @code
21661@kindex set input-radix
21662@item set input-radix @var{base}
21663Set the default base for numeric input. Supported choices
21664for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
21665specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix; for
21666example, any of
21667
21668@smallexample
21669set input-radix 012
21670set input-radix 10.
21671set input-radix 0xa
21672@end smallexample
21673
21674@noindent
21675sets the input base to decimal. On the other hand, @samp{set input-radix 10}
21676leaves the input radix unchanged, no matter what it was, since
21677@samp{10}, being without any leading or trailing signs of its base, is
21678interpreted in the current radix. Thus, if the current radix is 16,
21679@samp{10} is interpreted in hex, i.e.@: as 16 decimal, which doesn't
21680change the radix.
21681
21682@kindex set output-radix
21683@item set output-radix @var{base}
21684Set the default base for numeric display. Supported choices
21685for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
21686specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix.
21687
21688@kindex show input-radix
21689@item show input-radix
21690Display the current default base for numeric input.
21691
21692@kindex show output-radix
21693@item show output-radix
21694Display the current default base for numeric display.
21695
21696@item set radix @r{[}@var{base}@r{]}
21697@itemx show radix
21698@kindex set radix
21699@kindex show radix
21700These commands set and show the default base for both input and output
21701of numbers. @code{set radix} sets the radix of input and output to
21702the same base; without an argument, it resets the radix back to its
21703default value of 10.
21704
21705@end table
21706
21707@node ABI
21708@section Configuring the Current ABI
21709
21710@value{GDBN} can determine the @dfn{ABI} (Application Binary Interface) of your
21711application automatically. However, sometimes you need to override its
21712conclusions. Use these commands to manage @value{GDBN}'s view of the
21713current ABI.
21714
21715@cindex OS ABI
21716@kindex set osabi
21717@kindex show osabi
21718@cindex Newlib OS ABI and its influence on the longjmp handling
21719
21720One @value{GDBN} configuration can debug binaries for multiple operating
21721system targets, either via remote debugging or native emulation.
21722@value{GDBN} will autodetect the @dfn{OS ABI} (Operating System ABI) in use,
21723but you can override its conclusion using the @code{set osabi} command.
21724One example where this is useful is in debugging of binaries which use
21725an alternate C library (e.g.@: @sc{uClibc} for @sc{gnu}/Linux) which does
21726not have the same identifying marks that the standard C library for your
21727platform provides.
21728
21729When @value{GDBN} is debugging the AArch64 architecture, it provides a
21730``Newlib'' OS ABI. This is useful for handling @code{setjmp} and
21731@code{longjmp} when debugging binaries that use the @sc{newlib} C library.
21732The ``Newlib'' OS ABI can be selected by @code{set osabi Newlib}.
21733
21734@table @code
21735@item show osabi
21736Show the OS ABI currently in use.
21737
21738@item set osabi
21739With no argument, show the list of registered available OS ABI's.
21740
21741@item set osabi @var{abi}
21742Set the current OS ABI to @var{abi}.
21743@end table
21744
21745@cindex float promotion
21746
21747Generally, the way that an argument of type @code{float} is passed to a
21748function depends on whether the function is prototyped. For a prototyped
21749(i.e.@: ANSI/ISO style) function, @code{float} arguments are passed unchanged,
21750according to the architecture's convention for @code{float}. For unprototyped
21751(i.e.@: K&R style) functions, @code{float} arguments are first promoted to type
21752@code{double} and then passed.
21753
21754Unfortunately, some forms of debug information do not reliably indicate whether
21755a function is prototyped. If @value{GDBN} calls a function that is not marked
21756as prototyped, it consults @kbd{set coerce-float-to-double}.
21757
21758@table @code
21759@kindex set coerce-float-to-double
21760@item set coerce-float-to-double
21761@itemx set coerce-float-to-double on
21762Arguments of type @code{float} will be promoted to @code{double} when passed
21763to an unprototyped function. This is the default setting.
21764
21765@item set coerce-float-to-double off
21766Arguments of type @code{float} will be passed directly to unprototyped
21767functions.
21768
21769@kindex show coerce-float-to-double
21770@item show coerce-float-to-double
21771Show the current setting of promoting @code{float} to @code{double}.
21772@end table
21773
21774@kindex set cp-abi
21775@kindex show cp-abi
21776@value{GDBN} needs to know the ABI used for your program's C@t{++}
21777objects. The correct C@t{++} ABI depends on which C@t{++} compiler was
21778used to build your application. @value{GDBN} only fully supports
21779programs with a single C@t{++} ABI; if your program contains code using
21780multiple C@t{++} ABI's or if @value{GDBN} can not identify your
21781program's ABI correctly, you can tell @value{GDBN} which ABI to use.
21782Currently supported ABI's include ``gnu-v2'', for @code{g++} versions
21783before 3.0, ``gnu-v3'', for @code{g++} versions 3.0 and later, and
21784``hpaCC'' for the HP ANSI C@t{++} compiler. Other C@t{++} compilers may
21785use the ``gnu-v2'' or ``gnu-v3'' ABI's as well. The default setting is
21786``auto''.
21787
21788@table @code
21789@item show cp-abi
21790Show the C@t{++} ABI currently in use.
21791
21792@item set cp-abi
21793With no argument, show the list of supported C@t{++} ABI's.
21794
21795@item set cp-abi @var{abi}
21796@itemx set cp-abi auto
21797Set the current C@t{++} ABI to @var{abi}, or return to automatic detection.
21798@end table
21799
21800@node Auto-loading
21801@section Automatically loading associated files
21802@cindex auto-loading
21803
21804@value{GDBN} sometimes reads files with commands and settings automatically,
21805without being explicitly told so by the user. We call this feature
21806@dfn{auto-loading}. While auto-loading is useful for automatically adapting
21807@value{GDBN} to the needs of your project, it can sometimes produce unexpected
21808results or introduce security risks (e.g., if the file comes from untrusted
21809sources).
21810
21811Note that loading of these associated files (including the local @file{.gdbinit}
21812file) requires accordingly configured @code{auto-load safe-path}
21813(@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
21814
21815For these reasons, @value{GDBN} includes commands and options to let you
21816control when to auto-load files and which files should be auto-loaded.
21817
21818@table @code
21819@anchor{set auto-load off}
21820@kindex set auto-load off
21821@item set auto-load off
21822Globally disable loading of all auto-loaded files.
21823You may want to use this command with the @samp{-iex} option
21824(@pxref{Option -init-eval-command}) such as:
21825@smallexample
21826$ @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load off" untrusted-executable corefile}
21827@end smallexample
21828
21829Be aware that system init file (@pxref{System-wide configuration})
21830and init files from your home directory (@pxref{Home Directory Init File})
21831still get read (as they come from generally trusted directories).
21832To prevent @value{GDBN} from auto-loading even those init files, use the
21833@option{-nx} option (@pxref{Mode Options}), in addition to
21834@code{set auto-load no}.
21835
21836@anchor{show auto-load}
21837@kindex show auto-load
21838@item show auto-load
21839Show whether auto-loading of each specific @samp{auto-load} file(s) is enabled
21840or disabled.
21841
21842@smallexample
21843(gdb) show auto-load
21844gdb-scripts: Auto-loading of canned sequences of commands scripts is on.
21845libthread-db: Auto-loading of inferior specific libthread_db is on.
21846local-gdbinit: Auto-loading of .gdbinit script from current directory
21847 is on.
21848python-scripts: Auto-loading of Python scripts is on.
21849safe-path: List of directories from which it is safe to auto-load files
21850 is $debugdir:$datadir/auto-load.
21851scripts-directory: List of directories from which to load auto-loaded scripts
21852 is $debugdir:$datadir/auto-load.
21853@end smallexample
21854
21855@anchor{info auto-load}
21856@kindex info auto-load
21857@item info auto-load
21858Print whether each specific @samp{auto-load} file(s) have been auto-loaded or
21859not.
21860
21861@smallexample
21862(gdb) info auto-load
21863gdb-scripts:
21864Loaded Script
21865Yes /home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.gdb
21866libthread-db: No auto-loaded libthread-db.
21867local-gdbinit: Local .gdbinit file "/home/user/gdb/.gdbinit" has been
21868 loaded.
21869python-scripts:
21870Loaded Script
21871Yes /home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.py
21872@end smallexample
21873@end table
21874
21875These are various kinds of files @value{GDBN} can automatically load:
21876
21877@itemize @bullet
21878@item
21879@xref{objfile-gdb.py file}, controlled by @ref{set auto-load python-scripts}.
21880@item
21881@xref{objfile-gdb.gdb file}, controlled by @ref{set auto-load gdb-scripts}.
21882@item
21883@xref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section},
21884controlled by @ref{set auto-load python-scripts}.
21885@item
21886@xref{Init File in the Current Directory},
21887controlled by @ref{set auto-load local-gdbinit}.
21888@item
21889@xref{libthread_db.so.1 file}, controlled by @ref{set auto-load libthread-db}.
21890@end itemize
21891
21892These are @value{GDBN} control commands for the auto-loading:
21893
21894@multitable @columnfractions .5 .5
21895@item @xref{set auto-load off}.
21896@tab Disable auto-loading globally.
21897@item @xref{show auto-load}.
21898@tab Show setting of all kinds of files.
21899@item @xref{info auto-load}.
21900@tab Show state of all kinds of files.
21901@item @xref{set auto-load gdb-scripts}.
21902@tab Control for @value{GDBN} command scripts.
21903@item @xref{show auto-load gdb-scripts}.
21904@tab Show setting of @value{GDBN} command scripts.
21905@item @xref{info auto-load gdb-scripts}.
21906@tab Show state of @value{GDBN} command scripts.
21907@item @xref{set auto-load python-scripts}.
21908@tab Control for @value{GDBN} Python scripts.
21909@item @xref{show auto-load python-scripts}.
21910@tab Show setting of @value{GDBN} Python scripts.
21911@item @xref{info auto-load python-scripts}.
21912@tab Show state of @value{GDBN} Python scripts.
21913@item @xref{set auto-load scripts-directory}.
21914@tab Control for @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location.
21915@item @xref{show auto-load scripts-directory}.
21916@tab Show @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location.
21917@item @xref{set auto-load local-gdbinit}.
21918@tab Control for init file in the current directory.
21919@item @xref{show auto-load local-gdbinit}.
21920@tab Show setting of init file in the current directory.
21921@item @xref{info auto-load local-gdbinit}.
21922@tab Show state of init file in the current directory.
21923@item @xref{set auto-load libthread-db}.
21924@tab Control for thread debugging library.
21925@item @xref{show auto-load libthread-db}.
21926@tab Show setting of thread debugging library.
21927@item @xref{info auto-load libthread-db}.
21928@tab Show state of thread debugging library.
21929@item @xref{set auto-load safe-path}.
21930@tab Control directories trusted for automatic loading.
21931@item @xref{show auto-load safe-path}.
21932@tab Show directories trusted for automatic loading.
21933@item @xref{add-auto-load-safe-path}.
21934@tab Add directory trusted for automatic loading.
21935@end multitable
21936
21937@menu
21938* Init File in the Current Directory:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load local-gdbinit}
21939* libthread_db.so.1 file:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load libthread-db}
21940* objfile-gdb.gdb file:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load gdb-script}
21941* Auto-loading safe path:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load safe-path}
21942* Auto-loading verbose mode:: @samp{set/show debug auto-load}
21943@xref{Python Auto-loading}.
21944@end menu
21945
21946@node Init File in the Current Directory
21947@subsection Automatically loading init file in the current directory
21948@cindex auto-loading init file in the current directory
21949
21950By default, @value{GDBN} reads and executes the canned sequences of commands
21951from init file (if any) in the current working directory,
21952see @ref{Init File in the Current Directory during Startup}.
21953
21954Note that loading of this local @file{.gdbinit} file also requires accordingly
21955configured @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
21956
21957@table @code
21958@anchor{set auto-load local-gdbinit}
21959@kindex set auto-load local-gdbinit
21960@item set auto-load local-gdbinit [on|off]
21961Enable or disable the auto-loading of canned sequences of commands
21962(@pxref{Sequences}) found in init file in the current directory.
21963
21964@anchor{show auto-load local-gdbinit}
21965@kindex show auto-load local-gdbinit
21966@item show auto-load local-gdbinit
21967Show whether auto-loading of canned sequences of commands from init file in the
21968current directory is enabled or disabled.
21969
21970@anchor{info auto-load local-gdbinit}
21971@kindex info auto-load local-gdbinit
21972@item info auto-load local-gdbinit
21973Print whether canned sequences of commands from init file in the
21974current directory have been auto-loaded.
21975@end table
21976
21977@node libthread_db.so.1 file
21978@subsection Automatically loading thread debugging library
21979@cindex auto-loading libthread_db.so.1
21980
21981This feature is currently present only on @sc{gnu}/Linux native hosts.
21982
21983@value{GDBN} reads in some cases thread debugging library from places specific
21984to the inferior (@pxref{set libthread-db-search-path}).
21985
21986The special @samp{libthread-db-search-path} entry @samp{$sdir} is processed
21987without checking this @samp{set auto-load libthread-db} switch as system
21988libraries have to be trusted in general. In all other cases of
21989@samp{libthread-db-search-path} entries @value{GDBN} checks first if @samp{set
21990auto-load libthread-db} is enabled before trying to open such thread debugging
21991library.
21992
21993Note that loading of this debugging library also requires accordingly configured
21994@code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
21995
21996@table @code
21997@anchor{set auto-load libthread-db}
21998@kindex set auto-load libthread-db
21999@item set auto-load libthread-db [on|off]
22000Enable or disable the auto-loading of inferior specific thread debugging library.
22001
22002@anchor{show auto-load libthread-db}
22003@kindex show auto-load libthread-db
22004@item show auto-load libthread-db
22005Show whether auto-loading of inferior specific thread debugging library is
22006enabled or disabled.
22007
22008@anchor{info auto-load libthread-db}
22009@kindex info auto-load libthread-db
22010@item info auto-load libthread-db
22011Print the list of all loaded inferior specific thread debugging libraries and
22012for each such library print list of inferior @var{pid}s using it.
22013@end table
22014
22015@node objfile-gdb.gdb file
22016@subsection The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.gdb} file
22017@cindex auto-loading @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.gdb}
22018
22019@value{GDBN} tries to load an @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.gdb} file containing
22020canned sequences of commands (@pxref{Sequences}), as long as @samp{set
22021auto-load gdb-scripts} is set to @samp{on}.
22022
22023Note that loading of this script file also requires accordingly configured
22024@code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
22025
22026For more background refer to the similar Python scripts auto-loading
22027description (@pxref{objfile-gdb.py file}).
22028
22029@table @code
22030@anchor{set auto-load gdb-scripts}
22031@kindex set auto-load gdb-scripts
22032@item set auto-load gdb-scripts [on|off]
22033Enable or disable the auto-loading of canned sequences of commands scripts.
22034
22035@anchor{show auto-load gdb-scripts}
22036@kindex show auto-load gdb-scripts
22037@item show auto-load gdb-scripts
22038Show whether auto-loading of canned sequences of commands scripts is enabled or
22039disabled.
22040
22041@anchor{info auto-load gdb-scripts}
22042@kindex info auto-load gdb-scripts
22043@cindex print list of auto-loaded canned sequences of commands scripts
22044@item info auto-load gdb-scripts [@var{regexp}]
22045Print the list of all canned sequences of commands scripts that @value{GDBN}
22046auto-loaded.
22047@end table
22048
22049If @var{regexp} is supplied only canned sequences of commands scripts with
22050matching names are printed.
22051
22052@node Auto-loading safe path
22053@subsection Security restriction for auto-loading
22054@cindex auto-loading safe-path
22055
22056As the files of inferior can come from untrusted source (such as submitted by
22057an application user) @value{GDBN} does not always load any files automatically.
22058@value{GDBN} provides the @samp{set auto-load safe-path} setting to list
22059directories trusted for loading files not explicitly requested by user.
22060Each directory can also be a shell wildcard pattern.
22061
22062If the path is not set properly you will see a warning and the file will not
22063get loaded:
22064
22065@smallexample
22066$ ./gdb -q ./gdb
22067Reading symbols from /home/user/gdb/gdb...done.
22068warning: File "/home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.gdb" auto-loading has been
22069 declined by your `auto-load safe-path' set
22070 to "$debugdir:$datadir/auto-load".
22071warning: File "/home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.py" auto-loading has been
22072 declined by your `auto-load safe-path' set
22073 to "$debugdir:$datadir/auto-load".
22074@end smallexample
22075
22076@noindent
22077To instruct @value{GDBN} to go ahead and use the init files anyway,
22078invoke @value{GDBN} like this:
22079
22080@smallexample
22081$ gdb -q -iex "set auto-load safe-path /home/user/gdb" ./gdb
22082@end smallexample
22083
22084The list of trusted directories is controlled by the following commands:
22085
22086@table @code
22087@anchor{set auto-load safe-path}
22088@kindex set auto-load safe-path
22089@item set auto-load safe-path @r{[}@var{directories}@r{]}
22090Set the list of directories (and their subdirectories) trusted for automatic
22091loading and execution of scripts. You can also enter a specific trusted file.
22092Each directory can also be a shell wildcard pattern; wildcards do not match
22093directory separator - see @code{FNM_PATHNAME} for system function @code{fnmatch}
22094(@pxref{Wildcard Matching, fnmatch, , libc, GNU C Library Reference Manual}).
22095If you omit @var{directories}, @samp{auto-load safe-path} will be reset to
22096its default value as specified during @value{GDBN} compilation.
22097
22098The list of directories uses path separator (@samp{:} on GNU and Unix
22099systems, @samp{;} on MS-Windows and MS-DOS) to separate directories, similarly
22100to the @env{PATH} environment variable.
22101
22102@anchor{show auto-load safe-path}
22103@kindex show auto-load safe-path
22104@item show auto-load safe-path
22105Show the list of directories trusted for automatic loading and execution of
22106scripts.
22107
22108@anchor{add-auto-load-safe-path}
22109@kindex add-auto-load-safe-path
22110@item add-auto-load-safe-path
22111Add an entry (or list of entries) the list of directories trusted for automatic
22112loading and execution of scripts. Multiple entries may be delimited by the
22113host platform path separator in use.
22114@end table
22115
22116This variable defaults to what @code{--with-auto-load-dir} has been configured
22117to (@pxref{with-auto-load-dir}). @file{$debugdir} and @file{$datadir}
22118substitution applies the same as for @ref{set auto-load scripts-directory}.
22119The default @code{set auto-load safe-path} value can be also overriden by
22120@value{GDBN} configuration option @option{--with-auto-load-safe-path}.
22121
22122Setting this variable to @file{/} disables this security protection,
22123corresponding @value{GDBN} configuration option is
22124@option{--without-auto-load-safe-path}.
22125This variable is supposed to be set to the system directories writable by the
22126system superuser only. Users can add their source directories in init files in
22127their home directories (@pxref{Home Directory Init File}). See also deprecated
22128init file in the current directory
22129(@pxref{Init File in the Current Directory during Startup}).
22130
22131To force @value{GDBN} to load the files it declined to load in the previous
22132example, you could use one of the following ways:
22133
22134@table @asis
22135@item @file{~/.gdbinit}: @samp{add-auto-load-safe-path ~/src/gdb}
22136Specify this trusted directory (or a file) as additional component of the list.
22137You have to specify also any existing directories displayed by
22138by @samp{show auto-load safe-path} (such as @samp{/usr:/bin} in this example).
22139
22140@item @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load safe-path /usr:/bin:~/src/gdb" @dots{}}
22141Specify this directory as in the previous case but just for a single
22142@value{GDBN} session.
22143
22144@item @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load safe-path /" @dots{}}
22145Disable auto-loading safety for a single @value{GDBN} session.
22146This assumes all the files you debug during this @value{GDBN} session will come
22147from trusted sources.
22148
22149@item @kbd{./configure --without-auto-load-safe-path}
22150During compilation of @value{GDBN} you may disable any auto-loading safety.
22151This assumes all the files you will ever debug with this @value{GDBN} come from
22152trusted sources.
22153@end table
22154
22155On the other hand you can also explicitly forbid automatic files loading which
22156also suppresses any such warning messages:
22157
22158@table @asis
22159@item @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load no" @dots{}}
22160You can use @value{GDBN} command-line option for a single @value{GDBN} session.
22161
22162@item @file{~/.gdbinit}: @samp{set auto-load no}
22163Disable auto-loading globally for the user
22164(@pxref{Home Directory Init File}). While it is improbable, you could also
22165use system init file instead (@pxref{System-wide configuration}).
22166@end table
22167
22168This setting applies to the file names as entered by user. If no entry matches
22169@value{GDBN} tries as a last resort to also resolve all the file names into
22170their canonical form (typically resolving symbolic links) and compare the
22171entries again. @value{GDBN} already canonicalizes most of the filenames on its
22172own before starting the comparison so a canonical form of directories is
22173recommended to be entered.
22174
22175@node Auto-loading verbose mode
22176@subsection Displaying files tried for auto-load
22177@cindex auto-loading verbose mode
22178
22179For better visibility of all the file locations where you can place scripts to
22180be auto-loaded with inferior --- or to protect yourself against accidental
22181execution of untrusted scripts --- @value{GDBN} provides a feature for printing
22182all the files attempted to be loaded. Both existing and non-existing files may
22183be printed.
22184
22185For example the list of directories from which it is safe to auto-load files
22186(@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}) applies also to canonicalized filenames which
22187may not be too obvious while setting it up.
22188
22189@smallexample
22190(gdb) set debug auto-load on
22191(gdb) file ~/src/t/true
22192auto-load: Loading canned sequences of commands script "/tmp/true-gdb.gdb"
22193 for objfile "/tmp/true".
22194auto-load: Updating directories of "/usr:/opt".
22195auto-load: Using directory "/usr".
22196auto-load: Using directory "/opt".
22197warning: File "/tmp/true-gdb.gdb" auto-loading has been declined
22198 by your `auto-load safe-path' set to "/usr:/opt".
22199@end smallexample
22200
22201@table @code
22202@anchor{set debug auto-load}
22203@kindex set debug auto-load
22204@item set debug auto-load [on|off]
22205Set whether to print the filenames attempted to be auto-loaded.
22206
22207@anchor{show debug auto-load}
22208@kindex show debug auto-load
22209@item show debug auto-load
22210Show whether printing of the filenames attempted to be auto-loaded is turned
22211on or off.
22212@end table
22213
22214@node Messages/Warnings
22215@section Optional Warnings and Messages
22216
22217@cindex verbose operation
22218@cindex optional warnings
22219By default, @value{GDBN} is silent about its inner workings. If you are
22220running on a slow machine, you may want to use the @code{set verbose}
22221command. This makes @value{GDBN} tell you when it does a lengthy
22222internal operation, so you will not think it has crashed.
22223
22224Currently, the messages controlled by @code{set verbose} are those
22225which announce that the symbol table for a source file is being read;
22226see @code{symbol-file} in @ref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}.
22227
22228@table @code
22229@kindex set verbose
22230@item set verbose on
22231Enables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
22232
22233@item set verbose off
22234Disables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
22235
22236@kindex show verbose
22237@item show verbose
22238Displays whether @code{set verbose} is on or off.
22239@end table
22240
22241By default, if @value{GDBN} encounters bugs in the symbol table of an
22242object file, it is silent; but if you are debugging a compiler, you may
22243find this information useful (@pxref{Symbol Errors, ,Errors Reading
22244Symbol Files}).
22245
22246@table @code
22247
22248@kindex set complaints
22249@item set complaints @var{limit}
22250Permits @value{GDBN} to output @var{limit} complaints about each type of
22251unusual symbols before becoming silent about the problem. Set
22252@var{limit} to zero to suppress all complaints; set it to a large number
22253to prevent complaints from being suppressed.
22254
22255@kindex show complaints
22256@item show complaints
22257Displays how many symbol complaints @value{GDBN} is permitted to produce.
22258
22259@end table
22260
22261@anchor{confirmation requests}
22262By default, @value{GDBN} is cautious, and asks what sometimes seems to be a
22263lot of stupid questions to confirm certain commands. For example, if
22264you try to run a program which is already running:
22265
22266@smallexample
22267(@value{GDBP}) run
22268The program being debugged has been started already.
22269Start it from the beginning? (y or n)
22270@end smallexample
22271
22272If you are willing to unflinchingly face the consequences of your own
22273commands, you can disable this ``feature'':
22274
22275@table @code
22276
22277@kindex set confirm
22278@cindex flinching
22279@cindex confirmation
22280@cindex stupid questions
22281@item set confirm off
22282Disables confirmation requests. Note that running @value{GDBN} with
22283the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode Options, -batch}) also
22284automatically disables confirmation requests.
22285
22286@item set confirm on
22287Enables confirmation requests (the default).
22288
22289@kindex show confirm
22290@item show confirm
22291Displays state of confirmation requests.
22292
22293@end table
22294
22295@cindex command tracing
22296If you need to debug user-defined commands or sourced files you may find it
22297useful to enable @dfn{command tracing}. In this mode each command will be
22298printed as it is executed, prefixed with one or more @samp{+} symbols, the
22299quantity denoting the call depth of each command.
22300
22301@table @code
22302@kindex set trace-commands
22303@cindex command scripts, debugging
22304@item set trace-commands on
22305Enable command tracing.
22306@item set trace-commands off
22307Disable command tracing.
22308@item show trace-commands
22309Display the current state of command tracing.
22310@end table
22311
22312@node Debugging Output
22313@section Optional Messages about Internal Happenings
22314@cindex optional debugging messages
22315
22316@value{GDBN} has commands that enable optional debugging messages from
22317various @value{GDBN} subsystems; normally these commands are of
22318interest to @value{GDBN} maintainers, or when reporting a bug. This
22319section documents those commands.
22320
22321@table @code
22322@kindex set exec-done-display
22323@item set exec-done-display
22324Turns on or off the notification of asynchronous commands'
22325completion. When on, @value{GDBN} will print a message when an
22326asynchronous command finishes its execution. The default is off.
22327@kindex show exec-done-display
22328@item show exec-done-display
22329Displays the current setting of asynchronous command completion
22330notification.
22331@kindex set debug
22332@cindex ARM AArch64
22333@item set debug aarch64
22334Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to ARM AArch64.
22335The default is off.
22336@kindex show debug
22337@item show debug aarch64
22338Displays the current state of displaying debugging messages related to
22339ARM AArch64.
22340@cindex gdbarch debugging info
22341@cindex architecture debugging info
22342@item set debug arch
22343Turns on or off display of gdbarch debugging info. The default is off
22344@item show debug arch
22345Displays the current state of displaying gdbarch debugging info.
22346@item set debug aix-solib
22347@cindex AIX shared library debugging
22348Control display of debugging messages from the AIX shared library
22349support module. The default is off.
22350@item show debug aix-thread
22351Show the current state of displaying AIX shared library debugging messages.
22352@item set debug aix-thread
22353@cindex AIX threads
22354Display debugging messages about inner workings of the AIX thread
22355module.
22356@item show debug aix-thread
22357Show the current state of AIX thread debugging info display.
22358@item set debug check-physname
22359@cindex physname
22360Check the results of the ``physname'' computation. When reading DWARF
22361debugging information for C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} attempts to compute
22362each entity's name. @value{GDBN} can do this computation in two
22363different ways, depending on exactly what information is present.
22364When enabled, this setting causes @value{GDBN} to compute the names
22365both ways and display any discrepancies.
22366@item show debug check-physname
22367Show the current state of ``physname'' checking.
22368@item set debug coff-pe-read
22369@cindex COFF/PE exported symbols
22370Control display of debugging messages related to reading of COFF/PE
22371exported symbols. The default is off.
22372@item show debug coff-pe-read
22373Displays the current state of displaying debugging messages related to
22374reading of COFF/PE exported symbols.
22375@item set debug dwarf2-die
22376@cindex DWARF2 DIEs
22377Dump DWARF2 DIEs after they are read in.
22378The value is the number of nesting levels to print.
22379A value of zero turns off the display.
22380@item show debug dwarf2-die
22381Show the current state of DWARF2 DIE debugging.
22382@item set debug dwarf2-read
22383@cindex DWARF2 Reading
22384Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to reading
22385DWARF debug info. The default is off.
22386@item show debug dwarf2-read
22387Show the current state of DWARF2 reader debugging.
22388@item set debug displaced
22389@cindex displaced stepping debugging info
22390Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for the
22391displaced stepping support. The default is off.
22392@item show debug displaced
22393Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} debugging info
22394related to displaced stepping.
22395@item set debug event
22396@cindex event debugging info
22397Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} event debugging info. The
22398default is off.
22399@item show debug event
22400Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} event debugging
22401info.
22402@item set debug expression
22403@cindex expression debugging info
22404Turns on or off display of debugging info about @value{GDBN}
22405expression parsing. The default is off.
22406@item show debug expression
22407Displays the current state of displaying debugging info about
22408@value{GDBN} expression parsing.
22409@item set debug frame
22410@cindex frame debugging info
22411Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} frame debugging info. The
22412default is off.
22413@item show debug frame
22414Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} frame debugging
22415info.
22416@item set debug gnu-nat
22417@cindex @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug messages
22418Turns on or off debugging messages from the @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug support.
22419@item show debug gnu-nat
22420Show the current state of @sc{gnu}/Hurd debugging messages.
22421@item set debug infrun
22422@cindex inferior debugging info
22423Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for running the inferior.
22424The default is off. @file{infrun.c} contains GDB's runtime state machine used
22425for implementing operations such as single-stepping the inferior.
22426@item show debug infrun
22427Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} inferior debugging.
22428@item set debug jit
22429@cindex just-in-time compilation, debugging messages
22430Turns on or off debugging messages from JIT debug support.
22431@item show debug jit
22432Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} JIT debugging.
22433@item set debug lin-lwp
22434@cindex @sc{gnu}/Linux LWP debug messages
22435@cindex Linux lightweight processes
22436Turns on or off debugging messages from the Linux LWP debug support.
22437@item show debug lin-lwp
22438Show the current state of Linux LWP debugging messages.
22439@item set debug mach-o
22440@cindex Mach-O symbols processing
22441Control display of debugging messages related to Mach-O symbols
22442processing. The default is off.
22443@item show debug mach-o
22444Displays the current state of displaying debugging messages related to
22445reading of COFF/PE exported symbols.
22446@item set debug notification
22447@cindex remote async notification debugging info
22448Turns on or off debugging messages about remote async notification.
22449The default is off.
22450@item show debug notification
22451Displays the current state of remote async notification debugging messages.
22452@item set debug observer
22453@cindex observer debugging info
22454Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} observer debugging. This
22455includes info such as the notification of observable events.
22456@item show debug observer
22457Displays the current state of observer debugging.
22458@item set debug overload
22459@cindex C@t{++} overload debugging info
22460Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload debugging
22461info. This includes info such as ranking of functions, etc. The default
22462is off.
22463@item show debug overload
22464Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload
22465debugging info.
22466@cindex expression parser, debugging info
22467@cindex debug expression parser
22468@item set debug parser
22469Turns on or off the display of expression parser debugging output.
22470Internally, this sets the @code{yydebug} variable in the expression
22471parser. @xref{Tracing, , Tracing Your Parser, bison, Bison}, for
22472details. The default is off.
22473@item show debug parser
22474Show the current state of expression parser debugging.
22475@cindex packets, reporting on stdout
22476@cindex serial connections, debugging
22477@cindex debug remote protocol
22478@cindex remote protocol debugging
22479@cindex display remote packets
22480@item set debug remote
22481Turns on or off display of reports on all packets sent back and forth across
22482the serial line to the remote machine. The info is printed on the
22483@value{GDBN} standard output stream. The default is off.
22484@item show debug remote
22485Displays the state of display of remote packets.
22486@item set debug serial
22487Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} serial debugging info. The
22488default is off.
22489@item show debug serial
22490Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} serial debugging
22491info.
22492@item set debug solib-frv
22493@cindex FR-V shared-library debugging
22494Turns on or off debugging messages for FR-V shared-library code.
22495@item show debug solib-frv
22496Display the current state of FR-V shared-library code debugging
22497messages.
22498@item set debug symtab-create
22499@cindex symbol table creation
22500Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to symbol table creation.
22501The default is off.
22502@item show debug symtab-create
22503Show the current state of symbol table creation debugging.
22504@item set debug target
22505@cindex target debugging info
22506Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} target debugging info. This info
22507includes what is going on at the target level of GDB, as it happens. The
22508default is 0. Set it to 1 to track events, and to 2 to also track the
22509value of large memory transfers. Changes to this flag do not take effect
22510until the next time you connect to a target or use the @code{run} command.
22511@item show debug target
22512Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} target debugging
22513info.
22514@item set debug timestamp
22515@cindex timestampping debugging info
22516Turns on or off display of timestamps with @value{GDBN} debugging info.
22517When enabled, seconds and microseconds are displayed before each debugging
22518message.
22519@item show debug timestamp
22520Displays the current state of displaying timestamps with @value{GDBN}
22521debugging info.
22522@item set debugvarobj
22523@cindex variable object debugging info
22524Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} variable object debugging
22525info. The default is off.
22526@item show debugvarobj
22527Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} variable object
22528debugging info.
22529@item set debug xml
22530@cindex XML parser debugging
22531Turns on or off debugging messages for built-in XML parsers.
22532@item show debug xml
22533Displays the current state of XML debugging messages.
22534@end table
22535
22536@node Other Misc Settings
22537@section Other Miscellaneous Settings
22538@cindex miscellaneous settings
22539
22540@table @code
22541@kindex set interactive-mode
22542@item set interactive-mode
22543If @code{on}, forces @value{GDBN} to assume that GDB was started
22544in a terminal. In practice, this means that @value{GDBN} should wait
22545for the user to answer queries generated by commands entered at
22546the command prompt. If @code{off}, forces @value{GDBN} to operate
22547in the opposite mode, and it uses the default answers to all queries.
22548If @code{auto} (the default), @value{GDBN} tries to determine whether
22549its standard input is a terminal, and works in interactive-mode if it
22550is, non-interactively otherwise.
22551
22552In the vast majority of cases, the debugger should be able to guess
22553correctly which mode should be used. But this setting can be useful
22554in certain specific cases, such as running a MinGW @value{GDBN}
22555inside a cygwin window.
22556
22557@kindex show interactive-mode
22558@item show interactive-mode
22559Displays whether the debugger is operating in interactive mode or not.
22560@end table
22561
22562@node Extending GDB
22563@chapter Extending @value{GDBN}
22564@cindex extending GDB
22565
22566@value{GDBN} provides three mechanisms for extension. The first is based
22567on composition of @value{GDBN} commands, the second is based on the
22568Python scripting language, and the third is for defining new aliases of
22569existing commands.
22570
22571To facilitate the use of the first two extensions, @value{GDBN} is capable
22572of evaluating the contents of a file. When doing so, @value{GDBN}
22573can recognize which scripting language is being used by looking at
22574the filename extension. Files with an unrecognized filename extension
22575are always treated as a @value{GDBN} Command Files.
22576@xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
22577
22578You can control how @value{GDBN} evaluates these files with the following
22579setting:
22580
22581@table @code
22582@kindex set script-extension
22583@kindex show script-extension
22584@item set script-extension off
22585All scripts are always evaluated as @value{GDBN} Command Files.
22586
22587@item set script-extension soft
22588The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
22589extension. If this scripting language is supported, @value{GDBN}
22590evaluates the script using that language. Otherwise, it evaluates
22591the file as a @value{GDBN} Command File.
22592
22593@item set script-extension strict
22594The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
22595extension, and evaluates the script using that language. If the
22596language is not supported, then the evaluation fails.
22597
22598@item show script-extension
22599Display the current value of the @code{script-extension} option.
22600
22601@end table
22602
22603@menu
22604* Sequences:: Canned Sequences of Commands
22605* Python:: Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
22606* Aliases:: Creating new spellings of existing commands
22607@end menu
22608
22609@node Sequences
22610@section Canned Sequences of Commands
22611
22612Aside from breakpoint commands (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint
22613Command Lists}), @value{GDBN} provides two ways to store sequences of
22614commands for execution as a unit: user-defined commands and command
22615files.
22616
22617@menu
22618* Define:: How to define your own commands
22619* Hooks:: Hooks for user-defined commands
22620* Command Files:: How to write scripts of commands to be stored in a file
22621* Output:: Commands for controlled output
22622@end menu
22623
22624@node Define
22625@subsection User-defined Commands
22626
22627@cindex user-defined command
22628@cindex arguments, to user-defined commands
22629A @dfn{user-defined command} is a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands to
22630which you assign a new name as a command. This is done with the
22631@code{define} command. User commands may accept up to 10 arguments
22632separated by whitespace. Arguments are accessed within the user command
22633via @code{$arg0@dots{}$arg9}. A trivial example:
22634
22635@smallexample
22636define adder
22637 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
22638end
22639@end smallexample
22640
22641@noindent
22642To execute the command use:
22643
22644@smallexample
22645adder 1 2 3
22646@end smallexample
22647
22648@noindent
22649This defines the command @code{adder}, which prints the sum of
22650its three arguments. Note the arguments are text substitutions, so they may
22651reference variables, use complex expressions, or even perform inferior
22652functions calls.
22653
22654@cindex argument count in user-defined commands
22655@cindex how many arguments (user-defined commands)
22656In addition, @code{$argc} may be used to find out how many arguments have
22657been passed. This expands to a number in the range 0@dots{}10.
22658
22659@smallexample
22660define adder
22661 if $argc == 2
22662 print $arg0 + $arg1
22663 end
22664 if $argc == 3
22665 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
22666 end
22667end
22668@end smallexample
22669
22670@table @code
22671
22672@kindex define
22673@item define @var{commandname}
22674Define a command named @var{commandname}. If there is already a command
22675by that name, you are asked to confirm that you want to redefine it.
22676@var{commandname} may be a bare command name consisting of letters,
22677numbers, dashes, and underscores. It may also start with any predefined
22678prefix command. For example, @samp{define target my-target} creates
22679a user-defined @samp{target my-target} command.
22680
22681The definition of the command is made up of other @value{GDBN} command lines,
22682which are given following the @code{define} command. The end of these
22683commands is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
22684
22685@kindex document
22686@kindex end@r{ (user-defined commands)}
22687@item document @var{commandname}
22688Document the user-defined command @var{commandname}, so that it can be
22689accessed by @code{help}. The command @var{commandname} must already be
22690defined. This command reads lines of documentation just as @code{define}
22691reads the lines of the command definition, ending with @code{end}.
22692After the @code{document} command is finished, @code{help} on command
22693@var{commandname} displays the documentation you have written.
22694
22695You may use the @code{document} command again to change the
22696documentation of a command. Redefining the command with @code{define}
22697does not change the documentation.
22698
22699@kindex dont-repeat
22700@cindex don't repeat command
22701@item dont-repeat
22702Used inside a user-defined command, this tells @value{GDBN} that this
22703command should not be repeated when the user hits @key{RET}
22704(@pxref{Command Syntax, repeat last command}).
22705
22706@kindex help user-defined
22707@item help user-defined
22708List all user-defined commands and all python commands defined in class
22709COMAND_USER. The first line of the documentation or docstring is
22710included (if any).
22711
22712@kindex show user
22713@item show user
22714@itemx show user @var{commandname}
22715Display the @value{GDBN} commands used to define @var{commandname} (but
22716not its documentation). If no @var{commandname} is given, display the
22717definitions for all user-defined commands.
22718This does not work for user-defined python commands.
22719
22720@cindex infinite recursion in user-defined commands
22721@kindex show max-user-call-depth
22722@kindex set max-user-call-depth
22723@item show max-user-call-depth
22724@itemx set max-user-call-depth
22725The value of @code{max-user-call-depth} controls how many recursion
22726levels are allowed in user-defined commands before @value{GDBN} suspects an
22727infinite recursion and aborts the command.
22728This does not apply to user-defined python commands.
22729@end table
22730
22731In addition to the above commands, user-defined commands frequently
22732use control flow commands, described in @ref{Command Files}.
22733
22734When user-defined commands are executed, the
22735commands of the definition are not printed. An error in any command
22736stops execution of the user-defined command.
22737
22738If used interactively, commands that would ask for confirmation proceed
22739without asking when used inside a user-defined command. Many @value{GDBN}
22740commands that normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the
22741messages when used in a user-defined command.
22742
22743@node Hooks
22744@subsection User-defined Command Hooks
22745@cindex command hooks
22746@cindex hooks, for commands
22747@cindex hooks, pre-command
22748
22749@kindex hook
22750You may define @dfn{hooks}, which are a special kind of user-defined
22751command. Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined
22752command @samp{hook-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments)
22753before that command.
22754
22755@cindex hooks, post-command
22756@kindex hookpost
22757A hook may also be defined which is run after the command you executed.
22758Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined command
22759@samp{hookpost-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments) after
22760that command. Post-execution hooks may exist simultaneously with
22761pre-execution hooks, for the same command.
22762
22763It is valid for a hook to call the command which it hooks. If this
22764occurs, the hook is not re-executed, thereby avoiding infinite recursion.
22765
22766@c It would be nice if hookpost could be passed a parameter indicating
22767@c if the command it hooks executed properly or not. FIXME!
22768
22769@kindex stop@r{, a pseudo-command}
22770In addition, a pseudo-command, @samp{stop} exists. Defining
22771(@samp{hook-stop}) makes the associated commands execute every time
22772execution stops in your program: before breakpoint commands are run,
22773displays are printed, or the stack frame is printed.
22774
22775For example, to ignore @code{SIGALRM} signals while
22776single-stepping, but treat them normally during normal execution,
22777you could define:
22778
22779@smallexample
22780define hook-stop
22781handle SIGALRM nopass
22782end
22783
22784define hook-run
22785handle SIGALRM pass
22786end
22787
22788define hook-continue
22789handle SIGALRM pass
22790end
22791@end smallexample
22792
22793As a further example, to hook at the beginning and end of the @code{echo}
22794command, and to add extra text to the beginning and end of the message,
22795you could define:
22796
22797@smallexample
22798define hook-echo
22799echo <<<---
22800end
22801
22802define hookpost-echo
22803echo --->>>\n
22804end
22805
22806(@value{GDBP}) echo Hello World
22807<<<---Hello World--->>>
22808(@value{GDBP})
22809
22810@end smallexample
22811
22812You can define a hook for any single-word command in @value{GDBN}, but
22813not for command aliases; you should define a hook for the basic command
22814name, e.g.@: @code{backtrace} rather than @code{bt}.
22815@c FIXME! So how does Joe User discover whether a command is an alias
22816@c or not?
22817You can hook a multi-word command by adding @code{hook-} or
22818@code{hookpost-} to the last word of the command, e.g.@:
22819@samp{define target hook-remote} to add a hook to @samp{target remote}.
22820
22821If an error occurs during the execution of your hook, execution of
22822@value{GDBN} commands stops and @value{GDBN} issues a prompt
22823(before the command that you actually typed had a chance to run).
22824
22825If you try to define a hook which does not match any known command, you
22826get a warning from the @code{define} command.
22827
22828@node Command Files
22829@subsection Command Files
22830
22831@cindex command files
22832@cindex scripting commands
22833A command file for @value{GDBN} is a text file made of lines that are
22834@value{GDBN} commands. Comments (lines starting with @kbd{#}) may
22835also be included. An empty line in a command file does nothing; it
22836does not mean to repeat the last command, as it would from the
22837terminal.
22838
22839You can request the execution of a command file with the @code{source}
22840command. Note that the @code{source} command is also used to evaluate
22841scripts that are not Command Files. The exact behavior can be configured
22842using the @code{script-extension} setting.
22843@xref{Extending GDB,, Extending GDB}.
22844
22845@table @code
22846@kindex source
22847@cindex execute commands from a file
22848@item source [-s] [-v] @var{filename}
22849Execute the command file @var{filename}.
22850@end table
22851
22852The lines in a command file are generally executed sequentially,
22853unless the order of execution is changed by one of the
22854@emph{flow-control commands} described below. The commands are not
22855printed as they are executed. An error in any command terminates
22856execution of the command file and control is returned to the console.
22857
22858@value{GDBN} first searches for @var{filename} in the current directory.
22859If the file is not found there, and @var{filename} does not specify a
22860directory, then @value{GDBN} also looks for the file on the source search path
22861(specified with the @samp{directory} command);
22862except that @file{$cdir} is not searched because the compilation directory
22863is not relevant to scripts.
22864
22865If @code{-s} is specified, then @value{GDBN} searches for @var{filename}
22866on the search path even if @var{filename} specifies a directory.
22867The search is done by appending @var{filename} to each element of the
22868search path. So, for example, if @var{filename} is @file{mylib/myscript}
22869and the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
22870look for the script @file{/home/user/mylib/myscript}.
22871The search is also done if @var{filename} is an absolute path.
22872For example, if @var{filename} is @file{/tmp/myscript} and
22873the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
22874look for the script @file{/home/user/tmp/myscript}.
22875For DOS-like systems, if @var{filename} contains a drive specification,
22876it is stripped before concatenation. For example, if @var{filename} is
22877@file{d:myscript} and the search path contains @file{c:/tmp} then @value{GDBN}
22878will look for the script @file{c:/tmp/myscript}.
22879
22880If @code{-v}, for verbose mode, is given then @value{GDBN} displays
22881each command as it is executed. The option must be given before
22882@var{filename}, and is interpreted as part of the filename anywhere else.
22883
22884Commands that would ask for confirmation if used interactively proceed
22885without asking when used in a command file. Many @value{GDBN} commands that
22886normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the messages
22887when called from command files.
22888
22889@value{GDBN} also accepts command input from standard input. In this
22890mode, normal output goes to standard output and error output goes to
22891standard error. Errors in a command file supplied on standard input do
22892not terminate execution of the command file---execution continues with
22893the next command.
22894
22895@smallexample
22896gdb < cmds > log 2>&1
22897@end smallexample
22898
22899(The syntax above will vary depending on the shell used.) This example
22900will execute commands from the file @file{cmds}. All output and errors
22901would be directed to @file{log}.
22902
22903Since commands stored on command files tend to be more general than
22904commands typed interactively, they frequently need to deal with
22905complicated situations, such as different or unexpected values of
22906variables and symbols, changes in how the program being debugged is
22907built, etc. @value{GDBN} provides a set of flow-control commands to
22908deal with these complexities. Using these commands, you can write
22909complex scripts that loop over data structures, execute commands
22910conditionally, etc.
22911
22912@table @code
22913@kindex if
22914@kindex else
22915@item if
22916@itemx else
22917This command allows to include in your script conditionally executed
22918commands. The @code{if} command takes a single argument, which is an
22919expression to evaluate. It is followed by a series of commands that
22920are executed only if the expression is true (its value is nonzero).
22921There can then optionally be an @code{else} line, followed by a series
22922of commands that are only executed if the expression was false. The
22923end of the list is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
22924
22925@kindex while
22926@item while
22927This command allows to write loops. Its syntax is similar to
22928@code{if}: the command takes a single argument, which is an expression
22929to evaluate, and must be followed by the commands to execute, one per
22930line, terminated by an @code{end}. These commands are called the
22931@dfn{body} of the loop. The commands in the body of @code{while} are
22932executed repeatedly as long as the expression evaluates to true.
22933
22934@kindex loop_break
22935@item loop_break
22936This command exits the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included.
22937Execution of the script continues after that @code{while}s @code{end}
22938line.
22939
22940@kindex loop_continue
22941@item loop_continue
22942This command skips the execution of the rest of the body of commands
22943in the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included. Execution
22944branches to the beginning of the @code{while} loop, where it evaluates
22945the controlling expression.
22946
22947@kindex end@r{ (if/else/while commands)}
22948@item end
22949Terminate the block of commands that are the body of @code{if},
22950@code{else}, or @code{while} flow-control commands.
22951@end table
22952
22953
22954@node Output
22955@subsection Commands for Controlled Output
22956
22957During the execution of a command file or a user-defined command, normal
22958@value{GDBN} output is suppressed; the only output that appears is what is
22959explicitly printed by the commands in the definition. This section
22960describes three commands useful for generating exactly the output you
22961want.
22962
22963@table @code
22964@kindex echo
22965@item echo @var{text}
22966@c I do not consider backslash-space a standard C escape sequence
22967@c because it is not in ANSI.
22968Print @var{text}. Nonprinting characters can be included in
22969@var{text} using C escape sequences, such as @samp{\n} to print a
22970newline. @strong{No newline is printed unless you specify one.}
22971In addition to the standard C escape sequences, a backslash followed
22972by a space stands for a space. This is useful for displaying a
22973string with spaces at the beginning or the end, since leading and
22974trailing spaces are otherwise trimmed from all arguments.
22975To print @samp{@w{ }and foo =@w{ }}, use the command
22976@samp{echo \@w{ }and foo = \@w{ }}.
22977
22978A backslash at the end of @var{text} can be used, as in C, to continue
22979the command onto subsequent lines. For example,
22980
22981@smallexample
22982echo This is some text\n\
22983which is continued\n\
22984onto several lines.\n
22985@end smallexample
22986
22987produces the same output as
22988
22989@smallexample
22990echo This is some text\n
22991echo which is continued\n
22992echo onto several lines.\n
22993@end smallexample
22994
22995@kindex output
22996@item output @var{expression}
22997Print the value of @var{expression} and nothing but that value: no
22998newlines, no @samp{$@var{nn} = }. The value is not entered in the
22999value history either. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information
23000on expressions.
23001
23002@item output/@var{fmt} @var{expression}
23003Print the value of @var{expression} in format @var{fmt}. You can use
23004the same formats as for @code{print}. @xref{Output Formats,,Output
23005Formats}, for more information.
23006
23007@kindex printf
23008@item printf @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
23009Print the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
23010the string @var{template}. To print several values, make
23011@var{expressions} be a comma-separated list of individual expressions,
23012which may be either numbers or pointers. Their values are printed as
23013specified by @var{template}, exactly as a C program would do by
23014executing the code below:
23015
23016@smallexample
23017printf (@var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{});
23018@end smallexample
23019
23020As in @code{C} @code{printf}, ordinary characters in @var{template}
23021are printed verbatim, while @dfn{conversion specification} introduced
23022by the @samp{%} character cause subsequent @var{expressions} to be
23023evaluated, their values converted and formatted according to type and
23024style information encoded in the conversion specifications, and then
23025printed.
23026
23027For example, you can print two values in hex like this:
23028
23029@smallexample
23030printf "foo, bar-foo = 0x%x, 0x%x\n", foo, bar-foo
23031@end smallexample
23032
23033@code{printf} supports all the standard @code{C} conversion
23034specifications, including the flags and modifiers between the @samp{%}
23035character and the conversion letter, with the following exceptions:
23036
23037@itemize @bullet
23038@item
23039The argument-ordering modifiers, such as @samp{2$}, are not supported.
23040
23041@item
23042The modifier @samp{*} is not supported for specifying precision or
23043width.
23044
23045@item
23046The @samp{'} flag (for separation of digits into groups according to
23047@code{LC_NUMERIC'}) is not supported.
23048
23049@item
23050The type modifiers @samp{hh}, @samp{j}, @samp{t}, and @samp{z} are not
23051supported.
23052
23053@item
23054The conversion letter @samp{n} (as in @samp{%n}) is not supported.
23055
23056@item
23057The conversion letters @samp{a} and @samp{A} are not supported.
23058@end itemize
23059
23060@noindent
23061Note that the @samp{ll} type modifier is supported only if the
23062underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} supports
23063the @code{long long int} type, and the @samp{L} type modifier is
23064supported only if @code{long double} type is available.
23065
23066As in @code{C}, @code{printf} supports simple backslash-escape
23067sequences, such as @code{\n}, @samp{\t}, @samp{\\}, @samp{\"},
23068@samp{\a}, and @samp{\f}, that consist of backslash followed by a
23069single character. Octal and hexadecimal escape sequences are not
23070supported.
23071
23072Additionally, @code{printf} supports conversion specifications for DFP
23073(@dfn{Decimal Floating Point}) types using the following length modifiers
23074together with a floating point specifier.
23075letters:
23076
23077@itemize @bullet
23078@item
23079@samp{H} for printing @code{Decimal32} types.
23080
23081@item
23082@samp{D} for printing @code{Decimal64} types.
23083
23084@item
23085@samp{DD} for printing @code{Decimal128} types.
23086@end itemize
23087
23088If the underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} has
23089support for the three length modifiers for DFP types, other modifiers
23090such as width and precision will also be available for @value{GDBN} to use.
23091
23092In case there is no such @code{C} support, no additional modifiers will be
23093available and the value will be printed in the standard way.
23094
23095Here's an example of printing DFP types using the above conversion letters:
23096@smallexample
23097printf "D32: %Hf - D64: %Df - D128: %DDf\n",1.2345df,1.2E10dd,1.2E1dl
23098@end smallexample
23099
23100@kindex eval
23101@item eval @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
23102Convert the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
23103the string @var{template} to a command line, and call it.
23104
23105@end table
23106
23107@node Python
23108@section Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
23109@cindex python scripting
23110@cindex scripting with python
23111
23112You can script @value{GDBN} using the @uref{http://www.python.org/,
23113Python programming language}. This feature is available only if
23114@value{GDBN} was configured using @option{--with-python}.
23115
23116@cindex python directory
23117Python scripts used by @value{GDBN} should be installed in
23118@file{@var{data-directory}/python}, where @var{data-directory} is
23119the data directory as determined at @value{GDBN} startup (@pxref{Data Files}).
23120This directory, known as the @dfn{python directory},
23121is automatically added to the Python Search Path in order to allow
23122the Python interpreter to locate all scripts installed at this location.
23123
23124Additionally, @value{GDBN} commands and convenience functions which
23125are written in Python and are located in the
23126@file{@var{data-directory}/python/gdb/command} or
23127@file{@var{data-directory}/python/gdb/function} directories are
23128automatically imported when @value{GDBN} starts.
23129
23130@menu
23131* Python Commands:: Accessing Python from @value{GDBN}.
23132* Python API:: Accessing @value{GDBN} from Python.
23133* Python Auto-loading:: Automatically loading Python code.
23134* Python modules:: Python modules provided by @value{GDBN}.
23135@end menu
23136
23137@node Python Commands
23138@subsection Python Commands
23139@cindex python commands
23140@cindex commands to access python
23141
23142@value{GDBN} provides two commands for accessing the Python interpreter,
23143and one related setting:
23144
23145@table @code
23146@kindex python-interactive
23147@kindex pi
23148@item python-interactive @r{[}@var{command}@r{]}
23149@itemx pi @r{[}@var{command}@r{]}
23150Without an argument, the @code{python-interactive} command can be used
23151to start an interactive Python prompt. To return to @value{GDBN},
23152type the @code{EOF} character (e.g., @kbd{Ctrl-D} on an empty prompt).
23153
23154Alternatively, a single-line Python command can be given as an
23155argument and evaluated. If the command is an expression, the result
23156will be printed; otherwise, nothing will be printed. For example:
23157
23158@smallexample
23159(@value{GDBP}) python-interactive 2 + 3
231605
23161@end smallexample
23162
23163@kindex python
23164@kindex py
23165@item python @r{[}@var{command}@r{]}
23166@itemx py @r{[}@var{command}@r{]}
23167The @code{python} command can be used to evaluate Python code.
23168
23169If given an argument, the @code{python} command will evaluate the
23170argument as a Python command. For example:
23171
23172@smallexample
23173(@value{GDBP}) python print 23
2317423
23175@end smallexample
23176
23177If you do not provide an argument to @code{python}, it will act as a
23178multi-line command, like @code{define}. In this case, the Python
23179script is made up of subsequent command lines, given after the
23180@code{python} command. This command list is terminated using a line
23181containing @code{end}. For example:
23182
23183@smallexample
23184(@value{GDBP}) python
23185Type python script
23186End with a line saying just "end".
23187>print 23
23188>end
2318923
23190@end smallexample
23191
23192@kindex set python print-stack
23193@item set python print-stack
23194By default, @value{GDBN} will print only the message component of a
23195Python exception when an error occurs in a Python script. This can be
23196controlled using @code{set python print-stack}: if @code{full}, then
23197full Python stack printing is enabled; if @code{none}, then Python stack
23198and message printing is disabled; if @code{message}, the default, only
23199the message component of the error is printed.
23200@end table
23201
23202It is also possible to execute a Python script from the @value{GDBN}
23203interpreter:
23204
23205@table @code
23206@item source @file{script-name}
23207The script name must end with @samp{.py} and @value{GDBN} must be configured
23208to recognize the script language based on filename extension using
23209the @code{script-extension} setting. @xref{Extending GDB, ,Extending GDB}.
23210
23211@item python execfile ("script-name")
23212This method is based on the @code{execfile} Python built-in function,
23213and thus is always available.
23214@end table
23215
23216@node Python API
23217@subsection Python API
23218@cindex python api
23219@cindex programming in python
23220
23221You can get quick online help for @value{GDBN}'s Python API by issuing
23222the command @w{@kbd{python help (gdb)}}.
23223
23224Functions and methods which have two or more optional arguments allow
23225them to be specified using keyword syntax. This allows passing some
23226optional arguments while skipping others. Example:
23227@w{@code{gdb.some_function ('foo', bar = 1, baz = 2)}}.
23228
23229@menu
23230* Basic Python:: Basic Python Functions.
23231* Exception Handling:: How Python exceptions are translated.
23232* Values From Inferior:: Python representation of values.
23233* Types In Python:: Python representation of types.
23234* Pretty Printing API:: Pretty-printing values.
23235* Selecting Pretty-Printers:: How GDB chooses a pretty-printer.
23236* Writing a Pretty-Printer:: Writing a Pretty-Printer.
23237* Type Printing API:: Pretty-printing types.
23238* Frame Filter API:: Filtering Frames.
23239* Frame Decorator API:: Decorating Frames.
23240* Writing a Frame Filter:: Writing a Frame Filter.
23241* Inferiors In Python:: Python representation of inferiors (processes)
23242* Events In Python:: Listening for events from @value{GDBN}.
23243* Threads In Python:: Accessing inferior threads from Python.
23244* Commands In Python:: Implementing new commands in Python.
23245* Parameters In Python:: Adding new @value{GDBN} parameters.
23246* Functions In Python:: Writing new convenience functions.
23247* Progspaces In Python:: Program spaces.
23248* Objfiles In Python:: Object files.
23249* Frames In Python:: Accessing inferior stack frames from Python.
23250* Blocks In Python:: Accessing blocks from Python.
23251* Symbols In Python:: Python representation of symbols.
23252* Symbol Tables In Python:: Python representation of symbol tables.
23253* Breakpoints In Python:: Manipulating breakpoints using Python.
23254* Finish Breakpoints in Python:: Setting Breakpoints on function return
23255 using Python.
23256* Lazy Strings In Python:: Python representation of lazy strings.
23257* Architectures In Python:: Python representation of architectures.
23258@end menu
23259
23260@node Basic Python
23261@subsubsection Basic Python
23262
23263@cindex python stdout
23264@cindex python pagination
23265At startup, @value{GDBN} overrides Python's @code{sys.stdout} and
23266@code{sys.stderr} to print using @value{GDBN}'s output-paging streams.
23267A Python program which outputs to one of these streams may have its
23268output interrupted by the user (@pxref{Screen Size}). In this
23269situation, a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt} exception is thrown.
23270
23271Some care must be taken when writing Python code to run in
23272@value{GDBN}. Two things worth noting in particular:
23273
23274@itemize @bullet
23275@item
23276@value{GDBN} install handlers for @code{SIGCHLD} and @code{SIGINT}.
23277Python code must not override these, or even change the options using
23278@code{sigaction}. If your program changes the handling of these
23279signals, @value{GDBN} will most likely stop working correctly. Note
23280that it is unfortunately common for GUI toolkits to install a
23281@code{SIGCHLD} handler.
23282
23283@item
23284@value{GDBN} takes care to mark its internal file descriptors as
23285close-on-exec. However, this cannot be done in a thread-safe way on
23286all platforms. Your Python programs should be aware of this and
23287should both create new file descriptors with the close-on-exec flag
23288set and arrange to close unneeded file descriptors before starting a
23289child process.
23290@end itemize
23291
23292@cindex python functions
23293@cindex python module
23294@cindex gdb module
23295@value{GDBN} introduces a new Python module, named @code{gdb}. All
23296methods and classes added by @value{GDBN} are placed in this module.
23297@value{GDBN} automatically @code{import}s the @code{gdb} module for
23298use in all scripts evaluated by the @code{python} command.
23299
23300@findex gdb.PYTHONDIR
23301@defvar gdb.PYTHONDIR
23302A string containing the python directory (@pxref{Python}).
23303@end defvar
23304
23305@findex gdb.execute
23306@defun gdb.execute (command @r{[}, from_tty @r{[}, to_string@r{]]})
23307Evaluate @var{command}, a string, as a @value{GDBN} CLI command.
23308If a GDB exception happens while @var{command} runs, it is
23309translated as described in @ref{Exception Handling,,Exception Handling}.
23310
23311@var{from_tty} specifies whether @value{GDBN} ought to consider this
23312command as having originated from the user invoking it interactively.
23313It must be a boolean value. If omitted, it defaults to @code{False}.
23314
23315By default, any output produced by @var{command} is sent to
23316@value{GDBN}'s standard output. If the @var{to_string} parameter is
23317@code{True}, then output will be collected by @code{gdb.execute} and
23318returned as a string. The default is @code{False}, in which case the
23319return value is @code{None}. If @var{to_string} is @code{True}, the
23320@value{GDBN} virtual terminal will be temporarily set to unlimited width
23321and height, and its pagination will be disabled; @pxref{Screen Size}.
23322@end defun
23323
23324@findex gdb.breakpoints
23325@defun gdb.breakpoints ()
23326Return a sequence holding all of @value{GDBN}'s breakpoints.
23327@xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for more information.
23328@end defun
23329
23330@findex gdb.parameter
23331@defun gdb.parameter (parameter)
23332Return the value of a @value{GDBN} parameter. @var{parameter} is a
23333string naming the parameter to look up; @var{parameter} may contain
23334spaces if the parameter has a multi-part name. For example,
23335@samp{print object} is a valid parameter name.
23336
23337If the named parameter does not exist, this function throws a
23338@code{gdb.error} (@pxref{Exception Handling}). Otherwise, the
23339parameter's value is converted to a Python value of the appropriate
23340type, and returned.
23341@end defun
23342
23343@findex gdb.history
23344@defun gdb.history (number)
23345Return a value from @value{GDBN}'s value history (@pxref{Value
23346History}). @var{number} indicates which history element to return.
23347If @var{number} is negative, then @value{GDBN} will take its absolute value
23348and count backward from the last element (i.e., the most recent element) to
23349find the value to return. If @var{number} is zero, then @value{GDBN} will
23350return the most recent element. If the element specified by @var{number}
23351doesn't exist in the value history, a @code{gdb.error} exception will be
23352raised.
23353
23354If no exception is raised, the return value is always an instance of
23355@code{gdb.Value} (@pxref{Values From Inferior}).
23356@end defun
23357
23358@findex gdb.parse_and_eval
23359@defun gdb.parse_and_eval (expression)
23360Parse @var{expression} as an expression in the current language,
23361evaluate it, and return the result as a @code{gdb.Value}.
23362@var{expression} must be a string.
23363
23364This function can be useful when implementing a new command
23365(@pxref{Commands In Python}), as it provides a way to parse the
23366command's argument as an expression. It is also useful simply to
23367compute values, for example, it is the only way to get the value of a
23368convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) as a @code{gdb.Value}.
23369@end defun
23370
23371@findex gdb.find_pc_line
23372@defun gdb.find_pc_line (pc)
23373Return the @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object corresponding to the
23374@var{pc} value. @xref{Symbol Tables In Python}. If an invalid
23375value of @var{pc} is passed as an argument, then the @code{symtab} and
23376@code{line} attributes of the returned @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object
23377will be @code{None} and 0 respectively.
23378@end defun
23379
23380@findex gdb.post_event
23381@defun gdb.post_event (event)
23382Put @var{event}, a callable object taking no arguments, into
23383@value{GDBN}'s internal event queue. This callable will be invoked at
23384some later point, during @value{GDBN}'s event processing. Events
23385posted using @code{post_event} will be run in the order in which they
23386were posted; however, there is no way to know when they will be
23387processed relative to other events inside @value{GDBN}.
23388
23389@value{GDBN} is not thread-safe. If your Python program uses multiple
23390threads, you must be careful to only call @value{GDBN}-specific
23391functions in the main @value{GDBN} thread. @code{post_event} ensures
23392this. For example:
23393
23394@smallexample
23395(@value{GDBP}) python
23396>import threading
23397>
23398>class Writer():
23399> def __init__(self, message):
23400> self.message = message;
23401> def __call__(self):
23402> gdb.write(self.message)
23403>
23404>class MyThread1 (threading.Thread):
23405> def run (self):
23406> gdb.post_event(Writer("Hello "))
23407>
23408>class MyThread2 (threading.Thread):
23409> def run (self):
23410> gdb.post_event(Writer("World\n"))
23411>
23412>MyThread1().start()
23413>MyThread2().start()
23414>end
23415(@value{GDBP}) Hello World
23416@end smallexample
23417@end defun
23418
23419@findex gdb.write
23420@defun gdb.write (string @r{[}, stream{]})
23421Print a string to @value{GDBN}'s paginated output stream. The
23422optional @var{stream} determines the stream to print to. The default
23423stream is @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream. Possible stream
23424values are:
23425
23426@table @code
23427@findex STDOUT
23428@findex gdb.STDOUT
23429@item gdb.STDOUT
23430@value{GDBN}'s standard output stream.
23431
23432@findex STDERR
23433@findex gdb.STDERR
23434@item gdb.STDERR
23435@value{GDBN}'s standard error stream.
23436
23437@findex STDLOG
23438@findex gdb.STDLOG
23439@item gdb.STDLOG
23440@value{GDBN}'s log stream (@pxref{Logging Output}).
23441@end table
23442
23443Writing to @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically
23444call this function and will automatically direct the output to the
23445relevant stream.
23446@end defun
23447
23448@findex gdb.flush
23449@defun gdb.flush ()
23450Flush the buffer of a @value{GDBN} paginated stream so that the
23451contents are displayed immediately. @value{GDBN} will flush the
23452contents of a stream automatically when it encounters a newline in the
23453buffer. The optional @var{stream} determines the stream to flush. The
23454default stream is @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream. Possible
23455stream values are:
23456
23457@table @code
23458@findex STDOUT
23459@findex gdb.STDOUT
23460@item gdb.STDOUT
23461@value{GDBN}'s standard output stream.
23462
23463@findex STDERR
23464@findex gdb.STDERR
23465@item gdb.STDERR
23466@value{GDBN}'s standard error stream.
23467
23468@findex STDLOG
23469@findex gdb.STDLOG
23470@item gdb.STDLOG
23471@value{GDBN}'s log stream (@pxref{Logging Output}).
23472
23473@end table
23474
23475Flushing @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically
23476call this function for the relevant stream.
23477@end defun
23478
23479@findex gdb.target_charset
23480@defun gdb.target_charset ()
23481Return the name of the current target character set (@pxref{Character
23482Sets}). This differs from @code{gdb.parameter('target-charset')} in
23483that @samp{auto} is never returned.
23484@end defun
23485
23486@findex gdb.target_wide_charset
23487@defun gdb.target_wide_charset ()
23488Return the name of the current target wide character set
23489(@pxref{Character Sets}). This differs from
23490@code{gdb.parameter('target-wide-charset')} in that @samp{auto} is
23491never returned.
23492@end defun
23493
23494@findex gdb.solib_name
23495@defun gdb.solib_name (address)
23496Return the name of the shared library holding the given @var{address}
23497as a string, or @code{None}.
23498@end defun
23499
23500@findex gdb.decode_line
23501@defun gdb.decode_line @r{[}expression@r{]}
23502Return locations of the line specified by @var{expression}, or of the
23503current line if no argument was given. This function returns a Python
23504tuple containing two elements. The first element contains a string
23505holding any unparsed section of @var{expression} (or @code{None} if
23506the expression has been fully parsed). The second element contains
23507either @code{None} or another tuple that contains all the locations
23508that match the expression represented as @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line}
23509objects (@pxref{Symbol Tables In Python}). If @var{expression} is
23510provided, it is decoded the way that @value{GDBN}'s inbuilt
23511@code{break} or @code{edit} commands do (@pxref{Specify Location}).
23512@end defun
23513
23514@defun gdb.prompt_hook (current_prompt)
23515@anchor{prompt_hook}
23516
23517If @var{prompt_hook} is callable, @value{GDBN} will call the method
23518assigned to this operation before a prompt is displayed by
23519@value{GDBN}.
23520
23521The parameter @code{current_prompt} contains the current @value{GDBN}
23522prompt. This method must return a Python string, or @code{None}. If
23523a string is returned, the @value{GDBN} prompt will be set to that
23524string. If @code{None} is returned, @value{GDBN} will continue to use
23525the current prompt.
23526
23527Some prompts cannot be substituted in @value{GDBN}. Secondary prompts
23528such as those used by readline for command input, and annotation
23529related prompts are prohibited from being changed.
23530@end defun
23531
23532@node Exception Handling
23533@subsubsection Exception Handling
23534@cindex python exceptions
23535@cindex exceptions, python
23536
23537When executing the @code{python} command, Python exceptions
23538uncaught within the Python code are translated to calls to
23539@value{GDBN} error-reporting mechanism. If the command that called
23540@code{python} does not handle the error, @value{GDBN} will
23541terminate it and print an error message containing the Python
23542exception name, the associated value, and the Python call stack
23543backtrace at the point where the exception was raised. Example:
23544
23545@smallexample
23546(@value{GDBP}) python print foo
23547Traceback (most recent call last):
23548 File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
23549NameError: name 'foo' is not defined
23550@end smallexample
23551
23552@value{GDBN} errors that happen in @value{GDBN} commands invoked by
23553Python code are converted to Python exceptions. The type of the
23554Python exception depends on the error.
23555
23556@ftable @code
23557@item gdb.error
23558This is the base class for most exceptions generated by @value{GDBN}.
23559It is derived from @code{RuntimeError}, for compatibility with earlier
23560versions of @value{GDBN}.
23561
23562If an error occurring in @value{GDBN} does not fit into some more
23563specific category, then the generated exception will have this type.
23564
23565@item gdb.MemoryError
23566This is a subclass of @code{gdb.error} which is thrown when an
23567operation tried to access invalid memory in the inferior.
23568
23569@item KeyboardInterrupt
23570User interrupt (via @kbd{C-c} or by typing @kbd{q} at a pagination
23571prompt) is translated to a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt} exception.
23572@end ftable
23573
23574In all cases, your exception handler will see the @value{GDBN} error
23575message as its value and the Python call stack backtrace at the Python
23576statement closest to where the @value{GDBN} error occured as the
23577traceback.
23578
23579@findex gdb.GdbError
23580When implementing @value{GDBN} commands in Python via @code{gdb.Command},
23581it is useful to be able to throw an exception that doesn't cause a
23582traceback to be printed. For example, the user may have invoked the
23583command incorrectly. Use the @code{gdb.GdbError} exception
23584to handle this case. Example:
23585
23586@smallexample
23587(gdb) python
23588>class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
23589> """Greet the whole world."""
23590> def __init__ (self):
23591> super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_USER)
23592> def invoke (self, args, from_tty):
23593> argv = gdb.string_to_argv (args)
23594> if len (argv) != 0:
23595> raise gdb.GdbError ("hello-world takes no arguments")
23596> print "Hello, World!"
23597>HelloWorld ()
23598>end
23599(gdb) hello-world 42
23600hello-world takes no arguments
23601@end smallexample
23602
23603@node Values From Inferior
23604@subsubsection Values From Inferior
23605@cindex values from inferior, with Python
23606@cindex python, working with values from inferior
23607
23608@cindex @code{gdb.Value}
23609@value{GDBN} provides values it obtains from the inferior program in
23610an object of type @code{gdb.Value}. @value{GDBN} uses this object
23611for its internal bookkeeping of the inferior's values, and for
23612fetching values when necessary.
23613
23614Inferior values that are simple scalars can be used directly in
23615Python expressions that are valid for the value's data type. Here's
23616an example for an integer or floating-point value @code{some_val}:
23617
23618@smallexample
23619bar = some_val + 2
23620@end smallexample
23621
23622@noindent
23623As result of this, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object
23624whose values are of the same type as those of @code{some_val}.
23625
23626Inferior values that are structures or instances of some class can
23627be accessed using the Python @dfn{dictionary syntax}. For example, if
23628@code{some_val} is a @code{gdb.Value} instance holding a structure, you
23629can access its @code{foo} element with:
23630
23631@smallexample
23632bar = some_val['foo']
23633@end smallexample
23634
23635Again, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object.
23636
23637A @code{gdb.Value} that represents a function can be executed via
23638inferior function call. Any arguments provided to the call must match
23639the function's prototype, and must be provided in the order specified
23640by that prototype.
23641
23642For example, @code{some_val} is a @code{gdb.Value} instance
23643representing a function that takes two integers as arguments. To
23644execute this function, call it like so:
23645
23646@smallexample
23647result = some_val (10,20)
23648@end smallexample
23649
23650Any values returned from a function call will be stored as a
23651@code{gdb.Value}.
23652
23653The following attributes are provided:
23654
23655@defvar Value.address
23656If this object is addressable, this read-only attribute holds a
23657@code{gdb.Value} object representing the address. Otherwise,
23658this attribute holds @code{None}.
23659@end defvar
23660
23661@cindex optimized out value in Python
23662@defvar Value.is_optimized_out
23663This read-only boolean attribute is true if the compiler optimized out
23664this value, thus it is not available for fetching from the inferior.
23665@end defvar
23666
23667@defvar Value.type
23668The type of this @code{gdb.Value}. The value of this attribute is a
23669@code{gdb.Type} object (@pxref{Types In Python}).
23670@end defvar
23671
23672@defvar Value.dynamic_type
23673The dynamic type of this @code{gdb.Value}. This uses C@t{++} run-time
23674type information (@acronym{RTTI}) to determine the dynamic type of the
23675value. If this value is of class type, it will return the class in
23676which the value is embedded, if any. If this value is of pointer or
23677reference to a class type, it will compute the dynamic type of the
23678referenced object, and return a pointer or reference to that type,
23679respectively. In all other cases, it will return the value's static
23680type.
23681
23682Note that this feature will only work when debugging a C@t{++} program
23683that includes @acronym{RTTI} for the object in question. Otherwise,
23684it will just return the static type of the value as in @kbd{ptype foo}
23685(@pxref{Symbols, ptype}).
23686@end defvar
23687
23688@defvar Value.is_lazy
23689The value of this read-only boolean attribute is @code{True} if this
23690@code{gdb.Value} has not yet been fetched from the inferior.
23691@value{GDBN} does not fetch values until necessary, for efficiency.
23692For example:
23693
23694@smallexample
23695myval = gdb.parse_and_eval ('somevar')
23696@end smallexample
23697
23698The value of @code{somevar} is not fetched at this time. It will be
23699fetched when the value is needed, or when the @code{fetch_lazy}
23700method is invoked.
23701@end defvar
23702
23703The following methods are provided:
23704
23705@defun Value.__init__ (@var{val})
23706Many Python values can be converted directly to a @code{gdb.Value} via
23707this object initializer. Specifically:
23708
23709@table @asis
23710@item Python boolean
23711A Python boolean is converted to the boolean type from the current
23712language.
23713
23714@item Python integer
23715A Python integer is converted to the C @code{long} type for the
23716current architecture.
23717
23718@item Python long
23719A Python long is converted to the C @code{long long} type for the
23720current architecture.
23721
23722@item Python float
23723A Python float is converted to the C @code{double} type for the
23724current architecture.
23725
23726@item Python string
23727A Python string is converted to a target string, using the current
23728target encoding.
23729
23730@item @code{gdb.Value}
23731If @code{val} is a @code{gdb.Value}, then a copy of the value is made.
23732
23733@item @code{gdb.LazyString}
23734If @code{val} is a @code{gdb.LazyString} (@pxref{Lazy Strings In
23735Python}), then the lazy string's @code{value} method is called, and
23736its result is used.
23737@end table
23738@end defun
23739
23740@defun Value.cast (type)
23741Return a new instance of @code{gdb.Value} that is the result of
23742casting this instance to the type described by @var{type}, which must
23743be a @code{gdb.Type} object. If the cast cannot be performed for some
23744reason, this method throws an exception.
23745@end defun
23746
23747@defun Value.dereference ()
23748For pointer data types, this method returns a new @code{gdb.Value} object
23749whose contents is the object pointed to by the pointer. For example, if
23750@code{foo} is a C pointer to an @code{int}, declared in your C program as
23751
23752@smallexample
23753int *foo;
23754@end smallexample
23755
23756@noindent
23757then you can use the corresponding @code{gdb.Value} to access what
23758@code{foo} points to like this:
23759
23760@smallexample
23761bar = foo.dereference ()
23762@end smallexample
23763
23764The result @code{bar} will be a @code{gdb.Value} object holding the
23765value pointed to by @code{foo}.
23766
23767A similar function @code{Value.referenced_value} exists which also
23768returns @code{gdb.Value} objects corresonding to the values pointed to
23769by pointer values (and additionally, values referenced by reference
23770values). However, the behavior of @code{Value.dereference}
23771differs from @code{Value.referenced_value} by the fact that the
23772behavior of @code{Value.dereference} is identical to applying the C
23773unary operator @code{*} on a given value. For example, consider a
23774reference to a pointer @code{ptrref}, declared in your C@t{++} program
23775as
23776
23777@smallexample
23778typedef int *intptr;
23779...
23780int val = 10;
23781intptr ptr = &val;
23782intptr &ptrref = ptr;
23783@end smallexample
23784
23785Though @code{ptrref} is a reference value, one can apply the method
23786@code{Value.dereference} to the @code{gdb.Value} object corresponding
23787to it and obtain a @code{gdb.Value} which is identical to that
23788corresponding to @code{val}. However, if you apply the method
23789@code{Value.referenced_value}, the result would be a @code{gdb.Value}
23790object identical to that corresponding to @code{ptr}.
23791
23792@smallexample
23793py_ptrref = gdb.parse_and_eval ("ptrref")
23794py_val = py_ptrref.dereference ()
23795py_ptr = py_ptrref.referenced_value ()
23796@end smallexample
23797
23798The @code{gdb.Value} object @code{py_val} is identical to that
23799corresponding to @code{val}, and @code{py_ptr} is identical to that
23800corresponding to @code{ptr}. In general, @code{Value.dereference} can
23801be applied whenever the C unary operator @code{*} can be applied
23802to the corresponding C value. For those cases where applying both
23803@code{Value.dereference} and @code{Value.referenced_value} is allowed,
23804the results obtained need not be identical (as we have seen in the above
23805example). The results are however identical when applied on
23806@code{gdb.Value} objects corresponding to pointers (@code{gdb.Value}
23807objects with type code @code{TYPE_CODE_PTR}) in a C/C@t{++} program.
23808@end defun
23809
23810@defun Value.referenced_value ()
23811For pointer or reference data types, this method returns a new
23812@code{gdb.Value} object corresponding to the value referenced by the
23813pointer/reference value. For pointer data types,
23814@code{Value.dereference} and @code{Value.referenced_value} produce
23815identical results. The difference between these methods is that
23816@code{Value.dereference} cannot get the values referenced by reference
23817values. For example, consider a reference to an @code{int}, declared
23818in your C@t{++} program as
23819
23820@smallexample
23821int val = 10;
23822int &ref = val;
23823@end smallexample
23824
23825@noindent
23826then applying @code{Value.dereference} to the @code{gdb.Value} object
23827corresponding to @code{ref} will result in an error, while applying
23828@code{Value.referenced_value} will result in a @code{gdb.Value} object
23829identical to that corresponding to @code{val}.
23830
23831@smallexample
23832py_ref = gdb.parse_and_eval ("ref")
23833er_ref = py_ref.dereference () # Results in error
23834py_val = py_ref.referenced_value () # Returns the referenced value
23835@end smallexample
23836
23837The @code{gdb.Value} object @code{py_val} is identical to that
23838corresponding to @code{val}.
23839@end defun
23840
23841@defun Value.dynamic_cast (type)
23842Like @code{Value.cast}, but works as if the C@t{++} @code{dynamic_cast}
23843operator were used. Consult a C@t{++} reference for details.
23844@end defun
23845
23846@defun Value.reinterpret_cast (type)
23847Like @code{Value.cast}, but works as if the C@t{++} @code{reinterpret_cast}
23848operator were used. Consult a C@t{++} reference for details.
23849@end defun
23850
23851@defun Value.string (@r{[}encoding@r{[}, errors@r{[}, length@r{]]]})
23852If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
23853converts the contents to a Python string. Otherwise, this method will
23854throw an exception.
23855
23856Strings are recognized in a language-specific way; whether a given
23857@code{gdb.Value} represents a string is determined by the current
23858language.
23859
23860For C-like languages, a value is a string if it is a pointer to or an
23861array of characters or ints. The string is assumed to be terminated
23862by a zero of the appropriate width. However if the optional length
23863argument is given, the string will be converted to that given length,
23864ignoring any embedded zeros that the string may contain.
23865
23866If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
23867naming the encoding of the string in the @code{gdb.Value}, such as
23868@code{"ascii"}, @code{"iso-8859-6"} or @code{"utf-8"}. It accepts
23869the same encodings as the corresponding argument to Python's
23870@code{string.decode} method, and the Python codec machinery will be used
23871to convert the string. If @var{encoding} is not given, or if
23872@var{encoding} is the empty string, then either the @code{target-charset}
23873(@pxref{Character Sets}) will be used, or a language-specific encoding
23874will be used, if the current language is able to supply one.
23875
23876The optional @var{errors} argument is the same as the corresponding
23877argument to Python's @code{string.decode} method.
23878
23879If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
23880fetched and converted to the given length.
23881@end defun
23882
23883@defun Value.lazy_string (@r{[}encoding @r{[}, length@r{]]})
23884If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
23885converts the contents to a @code{gdb.LazyString} (@pxref{Lazy Strings
23886In Python}). Otherwise, this method will throw an exception.
23887
23888If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
23889naming the encoding of the @code{gdb.LazyString}. Some examples are:
23890@samp{ascii}, @samp{iso-8859-6} or @samp{utf-8}. If the
23891@var{encoding} argument is an encoding that @value{GDBN} does
23892recognize, @value{GDBN} will raise an error.
23893
23894When a lazy string is printed, the @value{GDBN} encoding machinery is
23895used to convert the string during printing. If the optional
23896@var{encoding} argument is not provided, or is an empty string,
23897@value{GDBN} will automatically select the encoding most suitable for
23898the string type. For further information on encoding in @value{GDBN}
23899please see @ref{Character Sets}.
23900
23901If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
23902fetched and encoded to the length of characters specified. If
23903the @var{length} argument is not provided, the string will be fetched
23904and encoded until a null of appropriate width is found.
23905@end defun
23906
23907@defun Value.fetch_lazy ()
23908If the @code{gdb.Value} object is currently a lazy value
23909(@code{gdb.Value.is_lazy} is @code{True}), then the value is
23910fetched from the inferior. Any errors that occur in the process
23911will produce a Python exception.
23912
23913If the @code{gdb.Value} object is not a lazy value, this method
23914has no effect.
23915
23916This method does not return a value.
23917@end defun
23918
23919
23920@node Types In Python
23921@subsubsection Types In Python
23922@cindex types in Python
23923@cindex Python, working with types
23924
23925@tindex gdb.Type
23926@value{GDBN} represents types from the inferior using the class
23927@code{gdb.Type}.
23928
23929The following type-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
23930module:
23931
23932@findex gdb.lookup_type
23933@defun gdb.lookup_type (name @r{[}, block@r{]})
23934This function looks up a type by name. @var{name} is the name of the
23935type to look up. It must be a string.
23936
23937If @var{block} is given, then @var{name} is looked up in that scope.
23938Otherwise, it is searched for globally.
23939
23940Ordinarily, this function will return an instance of @code{gdb.Type}.
23941If the named type cannot be found, it will throw an exception.
23942@end defun
23943
23944If the type is a structure or class type, or an enum type, the fields
23945of that type can be accessed using the Python @dfn{dictionary syntax}.
23946For example, if @code{some_type} is a @code{gdb.Type} instance holding
23947a structure type, you can access its @code{foo} field with:
23948
23949@smallexample
23950bar = some_type['foo']
23951@end smallexample
23952
23953@code{bar} will be a @code{gdb.Field} object; see below under the
23954description of the @code{Type.fields} method for a description of the
23955@code{gdb.Field} class.
23956
23957An instance of @code{Type} has the following attributes:
23958
23959@defvar Type.code
23960The type code for this type. The type code will be one of the
23961@code{TYPE_CODE_} constants defined below.
23962@end defvar
23963
23964@defvar Type.sizeof
23965The size of this type, in target @code{char} units. Usually, a
23966target's @code{char} type will be an 8-bit byte. However, on some
23967unusual platforms, this type may have a different size.
23968@end defvar
23969
23970@defvar Type.tag
23971The tag name for this type. The tag name is the name after
23972@code{struct}, @code{union}, or @code{enum} in C and C@t{++}; not all
23973languages have this concept. If this type has no tag name, then
23974@code{None} is returned.
23975@end defvar
23976
23977The following methods are provided:
23978
23979@defun Type.fields ()
23980For structure and union types, this method returns the fields. Range
23981types have two fields, the minimum and maximum values. Enum types
23982have one field per enum constant. Function and method types have one
23983field per parameter. The base types of C@t{++} classes are also
23984represented as fields. If the type has no fields, or does not fit
23985into one of these categories, an empty sequence will be returned.
23986
23987Each field is a @code{gdb.Field} object, with some pre-defined attributes:
23988@table @code
23989@item bitpos
23990This attribute is not available for @code{static} fields (as in
23991C@t{++} or Java). For non-@code{static} fields, the value is the bit
23992position of the field. For @code{enum} fields, the value is the
23993enumeration member's integer representation.
23994
23995@item name
23996The name of the field, or @code{None} for anonymous fields.
23997
23998@item artificial
23999This is @code{True} if the field is artificial, usually meaning that
24000it was provided by the compiler and not the user. This attribute is
24001always provided, and is @code{False} if the field is not artificial.
24002
24003@item is_base_class
24004This is @code{True} if the field represents a base class of a C@t{++}
24005structure. This attribute is always provided, and is @code{False}
24006if the field is not a base class of the type that is the argument of
24007@code{fields}, or if that type was not a C@t{++} class.
24008
24009@item bitsize
24010If the field is packed, or is a bitfield, then this will have a
24011non-zero value, which is the size of the field in bits. Otherwise,
24012this will be zero; in this case the field's size is given by its type.
24013
24014@item type
24015The type of the field. This is usually an instance of @code{Type},
24016but it can be @code{None} in some situations.
24017@end table
24018@end defun
24019
24020@defun Type.array (@var{n1} @r{[}, @var{n2}@r{]})
24021Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents an array of this
24022type. If one argument is given, it is the inclusive upper bound of
24023the array; in this case the lower bound is zero. If two arguments are
24024given, the first argument is the lower bound of the array, and the
24025second argument is the upper bound of the array. An array's length
24026must not be negative, but the bounds can be.
24027@end defun
24028
24029@defun Type.vector (@var{n1} @r{[}, @var{n2}@r{]})
24030Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a vector of this
24031type. If one argument is given, it is the inclusive upper bound of
24032the vector; in this case the lower bound is zero. If two arguments are
24033given, the first argument is the lower bound of the vector, and the
24034second argument is the upper bound of the vector. A vector's length
24035must not be negative, but the bounds can be.
24036
24037The difference between an @code{array} and a @code{vector} is that
24038arrays behave like in C: when used in expressions they decay to a pointer
24039to the first element whereas vectors are treated as first class values.
24040@end defun
24041
24042@defun Type.const ()
24043Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
24044@code{const}-qualified variant of this type.
24045@end defun
24046
24047@defun Type.volatile ()
24048Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
24049@code{volatile}-qualified variant of this type.
24050@end defun
24051
24052@defun Type.unqualified ()
24053Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents an unqualified
24054variant of this type. That is, the result is neither @code{const} nor
24055@code{volatile}.
24056@end defun
24057
24058@defun Type.range ()
24059Return a Python @code{Tuple} object that contains two elements: the
24060low bound of the argument type and the high bound of that type. If
24061the type does not have a range, @value{GDBN} will raise a
24062@code{gdb.error} exception (@pxref{Exception Handling}).
24063@end defun
24064
24065@defun Type.reference ()
24066Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a reference to this
24067type.
24068@end defun
24069
24070@defun Type.pointer ()
24071Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a pointer to this
24072type.
24073@end defun
24074
24075@defun Type.strip_typedefs ()
24076Return a new @code{gdb.Type} that represents the real type,
24077after removing all layers of typedefs.
24078@end defun
24079
24080@defun Type.target ()
24081Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents the target type
24082of this type.
24083
24084For a pointer type, the target type is the type of the pointed-to
24085object. For an array type (meaning C-like arrays), the target type is
24086the type of the elements of the array. For a function or method type,
24087the target type is the type of the return value. For a complex type,
24088the target type is the type of the elements. For a typedef, the
24089target type is the aliased type.
24090
24091If the type does not have a target, this method will throw an
24092exception.
24093@end defun
24094
24095@defun Type.template_argument (n @r{[}, block@r{]})
24096If this @code{gdb.Type} is an instantiation of a template, this will
24097return a new @code{gdb.Type} which represents the type of the
24098@var{n}th template argument.
24099
24100If this @code{gdb.Type} is not a template type, this will throw an
24101exception. Ordinarily, only C@t{++} code will have template types.
24102
24103If @var{block} is given, then @var{name} is looked up in that scope.
24104Otherwise, it is searched for globally.
24105@end defun
24106
24107
24108Each type has a code, which indicates what category this type falls
24109into. The available type categories are represented by constants
24110defined in the @code{gdb} module:
24111
24112@table @code
24113@findex TYPE_CODE_PTR
24114@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_PTR
24115@item gdb.TYPE_CODE_PTR
24116The type is a pointer.
24117
24118@findex TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
24119@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
24120@item gdb.TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
24121The type is an array.
24122
24123@findex TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
24124@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
24125@item gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
24126The type is a structure.
24127
24128@findex TYPE_CODE_UNION
24129@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_UNION
24130@item gdb.TYPE_CODE_UNION
24131The type is a union.
24132
24133@findex TYPE_CODE_ENUM
24134@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ENUM
24135@item gdb.TYPE_CODE_ENUM
24136The type is an enum.
24137
24138@findex TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
24139@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
24140@item gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
24141A bit flags type, used for things such as status registers.
24142
24143@findex TYPE_CODE_FUNC
24144@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FUNC
24145@item gdb.TYPE_CODE_FUNC
24146The type is a function.
24147
24148@findex TYPE_CODE_INT
24149@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INT
24150@item gdb.TYPE_CODE_INT
24151The type is an integer type.
24152
24153@findex TYPE_CODE_FLT
24154@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLT
24155@item gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLT
24156A floating point type.
24157
24158@findex TYPE_CODE_VOID
24159@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_VOID
24160@item gdb.TYPE_CODE_VOID
24161The special type @code{void}.
24162
24163@findex TYPE_CODE_SET
24164@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_SET
24165@item gdb.TYPE_CODE_SET
24166A Pascal set type.
24167
24168@findex TYPE_CODE_RANGE
24169@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_RANGE
24170@item gdb.TYPE_CODE_RANGE
24171A range type, that is, an integer type with bounds.
24172
24173@findex TYPE_CODE_STRING
24174@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRING
24175@item gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRING
24176A string type. Note that this is only used for certain languages with
24177language-defined string types; C strings are not represented this way.
24178
24179@findex TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
24180@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
24181@item gdb.TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
24182A string of bits. It is deprecated.
24183
24184@findex TYPE_CODE_ERROR
24185@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ERROR
24186@item gdb.TYPE_CODE_ERROR
24187An unknown or erroneous type.
24188
24189@findex TYPE_CODE_METHOD
24190@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHOD
24191@item gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHOD
24192A method type, as found in C@t{++} or Java.
24193
24194@findex TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
24195@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
24196@item gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
24197A pointer-to-member-function.
24198
24199@findex TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
24200@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
24201@item gdb.TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
24202A pointer-to-member.
24203
24204@findex TYPE_CODE_REF
24205@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_REF
24206@item gdb.TYPE_CODE_REF
24207A reference type.
24208
24209@findex TYPE_CODE_CHAR
24210@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_CHAR
24211@item gdb.TYPE_CODE_CHAR
24212A character type.
24213
24214@findex TYPE_CODE_BOOL
24215@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BOOL
24216@item gdb.TYPE_CODE_BOOL
24217A boolean type.
24218
24219@findex TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
24220@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
24221@item gdb.TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
24222A complex float type.
24223
24224@findex TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
24225@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
24226@item gdb.TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
24227A typedef to some other type.
24228
24229@findex TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
24230@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
24231@item gdb.TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
24232A C@t{++} namespace.
24233
24234@findex TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
24235@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
24236@item gdb.TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
24237A decimal floating point type.
24238
24239@findex TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
24240@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
24241@item gdb.TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
24242A function internal to @value{GDBN}. This is the type used to represent
24243convenience functions.
24244@end table
24245
24246Further support for types is provided in the @code{gdb.types}
24247Python module (@pxref{gdb.types}).
24248
24249@node Pretty Printing API
24250@subsubsection Pretty Printing API
24251
24252An example output is provided (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
24253
24254A pretty-printer is just an object that holds a value and implements a
24255specific interface, defined here.
24256
24257@defun pretty_printer.children (self)
24258@value{GDBN} will call this method on a pretty-printer to compute the
24259children of the pretty-printer's value.
24260
24261This method must return an object conforming to the Python iterator
24262protocol. Each item returned by the iterator must be a tuple holding
24263two elements. The first element is the ``name'' of the child; the
24264second element is the child's value. The value can be any Python
24265object which is convertible to a @value{GDBN} value.
24266
24267This method is optional. If it does not exist, @value{GDBN} will act
24268as though the value has no children.
24269@end defun
24270
24271@defun pretty_printer.display_hint (self)
24272The CLI may call this method and use its result to change the
24273formatting of a value. The result will also be supplied to an MI
24274consumer as a @samp{displayhint} attribute of the variable being
24275printed.
24276
24277This method is optional. If it does exist, this method must return a
24278string.
24279
24280Some display hints are predefined by @value{GDBN}:
24281
24282@table @samp
24283@item array
24284Indicate that the object being printed is ``array-like''. The CLI
24285uses this to respect parameters such as @code{set print elements} and
24286@code{set print array}.
24287
24288@item map
24289Indicate that the object being printed is ``map-like'', and that the
24290children of this value can be assumed to alternate between keys and
24291values.
24292
24293@item string
24294Indicate that the object being printed is ``string-like''. If the
24295printer's @code{to_string} method returns a Python string of some
24296kind, then @value{GDBN} will call its internal language-specific
24297string-printing function to format the string. For the CLI this means
24298adding quotation marks, possibly escaping some characters, respecting
24299@code{set print elements}, and the like.
24300@end table
24301@end defun
24302
24303@defun pretty_printer.to_string (self)
24304@value{GDBN} will call this method to display the string
24305representation of the value passed to the object's constructor.
24306
24307When printing from the CLI, if the @code{to_string} method exists,
24308then @value{GDBN} will prepend its result to the values returned by
24309@code{children}. Exactly how this formatting is done is dependent on
24310the display hint, and may change as more hints are added. Also,
24311depending on the print settings (@pxref{Print Settings}), the CLI may
24312print just the result of @code{to_string} in a stack trace, omitting
24313the result of @code{children}.
24314
24315If this method returns a string, it is printed verbatim.
24316
24317Otherwise, if this method returns an instance of @code{gdb.Value},
24318then @value{GDBN} prints this value. This may result in a call to
24319another pretty-printer.
24320
24321If instead the method returns a Python value which is convertible to a
24322@code{gdb.Value}, then @value{GDBN} performs the conversion and prints
24323the resulting value. Again, this may result in a call to another
24324pretty-printer. Python scalars (integers, floats, and booleans) and
24325strings are convertible to @code{gdb.Value}; other types are not.
24326
24327Finally, if this method returns @code{None} then no further operations
24328are peformed in this method and nothing is printed.
24329
24330If the result is not one of these types, an exception is raised.
24331@end defun
24332
24333@value{GDBN} provides a function which can be used to look up the
24334default pretty-printer for a @code{gdb.Value}:
24335
24336@findex gdb.default_visualizer
24337@defun gdb.default_visualizer (value)
24338This function takes a @code{gdb.Value} object as an argument. If a
24339pretty-printer for this value exists, then it is returned. If no such
24340printer exists, then this returns @code{None}.
24341@end defun
24342
24343@node Selecting Pretty-Printers
24344@subsubsection Selecting Pretty-Printers
24345
24346The Python list @code{gdb.pretty_printers} contains an array of
24347functions or callable objects that have been registered via addition
24348as a pretty-printer. Printers in this list are called @code{global}
24349printers, they're available when debugging all inferiors.
24350Each @code{gdb.Progspace} contains a @code{pretty_printers} attribute.
24351Each @code{gdb.Objfile} also contains a @code{pretty_printers}
24352attribute.
24353
24354Each function on these lists is passed a single @code{gdb.Value}
24355argument and should return a pretty-printer object conforming to the
24356interface definition above (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}). If a function
24357cannot create a pretty-printer for the value, it should return
24358@code{None}.
24359
24360@value{GDBN} first checks the @code{pretty_printers} attribute of each
24361@code{gdb.Objfile} in the current program space and iteratively calls
24362each enabled lookup routine in the list for that @code{gdb.Objfile}
24363until it receives a pretty-printer object.
24364If no pretty-printer is found in the objfile lists, @value{GDBN} then
24365searches the pretty-printer list of the current program space,
24366calling each enabled function until an object is returned.
24367After these lists have been exhausted, it tries the global
24368@code{gdb.pretty_printers} list, again calling each enabled function until an
24369object is returned.
24370
24371The order in which the objfiles are searched is not specified. For a
24372given list, functions are always invoked from the head of the list,
24373and iterated over sequentially until the end of the list, or a printer
24374object is returned.
24375
24376For various reasons a pretty-printer may not work.
24377For example, the underlying data structure may have changed and
24378the pretty-printer is out of date.
24379
24380The consequences of a broken pretty-printer are severe enough that
24381@value{GDBN} provides support for enabling and disabling individual
24382printers. For example, if @code{print frame-arguments} is on,
24383a backtrace can become highly illegible if any argument is printed
24384with a broken printer.
24385
24386Pretty-printers are enabled and disabled by attaching an @code{enabled}
24387attribute to the registered function or callable object. If this attribute
24388is present and its value is @code{False}, the printer is disabled, otherwise
24389the printer is enabled.
24390
24391@node Writing a Pretty-Printer
24392@subsubsection Writing a Pretty-Printer
24393@cindex writing a pretty-printer
24394
24395A pretty-printer consists of two parts: a lookup function to detect
24396if the type is supported, and the printer itself.
24397
24398Here is an example showing how a @code{std::string} printer might be
24399written. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for details on the API this class
24400must provide.
24401
24402@smallexample
24403class StdStringPrinter(object):
24404 "Print a std::string"
24405
24406 def __init__(self, val):
24407 self.val = val
24408
24409 def to_string(self):
24410 return self.val['_M_dataplus']['_M_p']
24411
24412 def display_hint(self):
24413 return 'string'
24414@end smallexample
24415
24416And here is an example showing how a lookup function for the printer
24417example above might be written.
24418
24419@smallexample
24420def str_lookup_function(val):
24421 lookup_tag = val.type.tag
24422 if lookup_tag == None:
24423 return None
24424 regex = re.compile("^std::basic_string<char,.*>$")
24425 if regex.match(lookup_tag):
24426 return StdStringPrinter(val)
24427 return None
24428@end smallexample
24429
24430The example lookup function extracts the value's type, and attempts to
24431match it to a type that it can pretty-print. If it is a type the
24432printer can pretty-print, it will return a printer object. If not, it
24433returns @code{None}.
24434
24435We recommend that you put your core pretty-printers into a Python
24436package. If your pretty-printers are for use with a library, we
24437further recommend embedding a version number into the package name.
24438This practice will enable @value{GDBN} to load multiple versions of
24439your pretty-printers at the same time, because they will have
24440different names.
24441
24442You should write auto-loaded code (@pxref{Python Auto-loading}) such that it
24443can be evaluated multiple times without changing its meaning. An
24444ideal auto-load file will consist solely of @code{import}s of your
24445printer modules, followed by a call to a register pretty-printers with
24446the current objfile.
24447
24448Taken as a whole, this approach will scale nicely to multiple
24449inferiors, each potentially using a different library version.
24450Embedding a version number in the Python package name will ensure that
24451@value{GDBN} is able to load both sets of printers simultaneously.
24452Then, because the search for pretty-printers is done by objfile, and
24453because your auto-loaded code took care to register your library's
24454printers with a specific objfile, @value{GDBN} will find the correct
24455printers for the specific version of the library used by each
24456inferior.
24457
24458To continue the @code{std::string} example (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}),
24459this code might appear in @code{gdb.libstdcxx.v6}:
24460
24461@smallexample
24462def register_printers(objfile):
24463 objfile.pretty_printers.append(str_lookup_function)
24464@end smallexample
24465
24466@noindent
24467And then the corresponding contents of the auto-load file would be:
24468
24469@smallexample
24470import gdb.libstdcxx.v6
24471gdb.libstdcxx.v6.register_printers(gdb.current_objfile())
24472@end smallexample
24473
24474The previous example illustrates a basic pretty-printer.
24475There are a few things that can be improved on.
24476The printer doesn't have a name, making it hard to identify in a
24477list of installed printers. The lookup function has a name, but
24478lookup functions can have arbitrary, even identical, names.
24479
24480Second, the printer only handles one type, whereas a library typically has
24481several types. One could install a lookup function for each desired type
24482in the library, but one could also have a single lookup function recognize
24483several types. The latter is the conventional way this is handled.
24484If a pretty-printer can handle multiple data types, then its
24485@dfn{subprinters} are the printers for the individual data types.
24486
24487The @code{gdb.printing} module provides a formal way of solving these
24488problems (@pxref{gdb.printing}).
24489Here is another example that handles multiple types.
24490
24491These are the types we are going to pretty-print:
24492
24493@smallexample
24494struct foo @{ int a, b; @};
24495struct bar @{ struct foo x, y; @};
24496@end smallexample
24497
24498Here are the printers:
24499
24500@smallexample
24501class fooPrinter:
24502 """Print a foo object."""
24503
24504 def __init__(self, val):
24505 self.val = val
24506
24507 def to_string(self):
24508 return ("a=<" + str(self.val["a"]) +
24509 "> b=<" + str(self.val["b"]) + ">")
24510
24511class barPrinter:
24512 """Print a bar object."""
24513
24514 def __init__(self, val):
24515 self.val = val
24516
24517 def to_string(self):
24518 return ("x=<" + str(self.val["x"]) +
24519 "> y=<" + str(self.val["y"]) + ">")
24520@end smallexample
24521
24522This example doesn't need a lookup function, that is handled by the
24523@code{gdb.printing} module. Instead a function is provided to build up
24524the object that handles the lookup.
24525
24526@smallexample
24527import gdb.printing
24528
24529def build_pretty_printer():
24530 pp = gdb.printing.RegexpCollectionPrettyPrinter(
24531 "my_library")
24532 pp.add_printer('foo', '^foo$', fooPrinter)
24533 pp.add_printer('bar', '^bar$', barPrinter)
24534 return pp
24535@end smallexample
24536
24537And here is the autoload support:
24538
24539@smallexample
24540import gdb.printing
24541import my_library
24542gdb.printing.register_pretty_printer(
24543 gdb.current_objfile(),
24544 my_library.build_pretty_printer())
24545@end smallexample
24546
24547Finally, when this printer is loaded into @value{GDBN}, here is the
24548corresponding output of @samp{info pretty-printer}:
24549
24550@smallexample
24551(gdb) info pretty-printer
24552my_library.so:
24553 my_library
24554 foo
24555 bar
24556@end smallexample
24557
24558@node Type Printing API
24559@subsubsection Type Printing API
24560@cindex type printing API for Python
24561
24562@value{GDBN} provides a way for Python code to customize type display.
24563This is mainly useful for substituting canonical typedef names for
24564types.
24565
24566@cindex type printer
24567A @dfn{type printer} is just a Python object conforming to a certain
24568protocol. A simple base class implementing the protocol is provided;
24569see @ref{gdb.types}. A type printer must supply at least:
24570
24571@defivar type_printer enabled
24572A boolean which is True if the printer is enabled, and False
24573otherwise. This is manipulated by the @code{enable type-printer}
24574and @code{disable type-printer} commands.
24575@end defivar
24576
24577@defivar type_printer name
24578The name of the type printer. This must be a string. This is used by
24579the @code{enable type-printer} and @code{disable type-printer}
24580commands.
24581@end defivar
24582
24583@defmethod type_printer instantiate (self)
24584This is called by @value{GDBN} at the start of type-printing. It is
24585only called if the type printer is enabled. This method must return a
24586new object that supplies a @code{recognize} method, as described below.
24587@end defmethod
24588
24589
24590When displaying a type, say via the @code{ptype} command, @value{GDBN}
24591will compute a list of type recognizers. This is done by iterating
24592first over the per-objfile type printers (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}),
24593followed by the per-progspace type printers (@pxref{Progspaces In
24594Python}), and finally the global type printers.
24595
24596@value{GDBN} will call the @code{instantiate} method of each enabled
24597type printer. If this method returns @code{None}, then the result is
24598ignored; otherwise, it is appended to the list of recognizers.
24599
24600Then, when @value{GDBN} is going to display a type name, it iterates
24601over the list of recognizers. For each one, it calls the recognition
24602function, stopping if the function returns a non-@code{None} value.
24603The recognition function is defined as:
24604
24605@defmethod type_recognizer recognize (self, type)
24606If @var{type} is not recognized, return @code{None}. Otherwise,
24607return a string which is to be printed as the name of @var{type}.
24608@var{type} will be an instance of @code{gdb.Type} (@pxref{Types In
24609Python}).
24610@end defmethod
24611
24612@value{GDBN} uses this two-pass approach so that type printers can
24613efficiently cache information without holding on to it too long. For
24614example, it can be convenient to look up type information in a type
24615printer and hold it for a recognizer's lifetime; if a single pass were
24616done then type printers would have to make use of the event system in
24617order to avoid holding information that could become stale as the
24618inferior changed.
24619
24620@node Frame Filter API
24621@subsubsection Filtering Frames.
24622@cindex frame filters api
24623
24624Frame filters are Python objects that manipulate the visibility of a
24625frame or frames when a backtrace (@pxref{Backtrace}) is printed by
24626@value{GDBN}.
24627
24628Only commands that print a backtrace, or, in the case of @sc{gdb/mi}
24629commands (@pxref{GDB/MI}), those that return a collection of frames
24630are affected. The commands that work with frame filters are:
24631
24632@code{backtrace} (@pxref{backtrace-command,, The backtrace command}),
24633@code{-stack-list-frames}
24634(@pxref{-stack-list-frames,, The -stack-list-frames command}),
24635@code{-stack-list-variables} (@pxref{-stack-list-variables,, The
24636-stack-list-variables command}), @code{-stack-list-arguments}
24637@pxref{-stack-list-arguments,, The -stack-list-arguments command}) and
24638@code{-stack-list-locals} (@pxref{-stack-list-locals,, The
24639-stack-list-locals command}).
24640
24641A frame filter works by taking an iterator as an argument, applying
24642actions to the contents of that iterator, and returning another
24643iterator (or, possibly, the same iterator it was provided in the case
24644where the filter does not perform any operations). Typically, frame
24645filters utilize tools such as the Python's @code{itertools} module to
24646work with and create new iterators from the source iterator.
24647Regardless of how a filter chooses to apply actions, it must not alter
24648the underlying @value{GDBN} frame or frames, or attempt to alter the
24649call-stack within @value{GDBN}. This preserves data integrity within
24650@value{GDBN}. Frame filters are executed on a priority basis and care
24651should be taken that some frame filters may have been executed before,
24652and that some frame filters will be executed after.
24653
24654An important consideration when designing frame filters, and well
24655worth reflecting upon, is that frame filters should avoid unwinding
24656the call stack if possible. Some stacks can run very deep, into the
24657tens of thousands in some cases. To search every frame when a frame
24658filter executes may be too expensive at that step. The frame filter
24659cannot know how many frames it has to iterate over, and it may have to
24660iterate through them all. This ends up duplicating effort as
24661@value{GDBN} performs this iteration when it prints the frames. If
24662the filter can defer unwinding frames until frame decorators are
24663executed, after the last filter has executed, it should. @xref{Frame
24664Decorator API}, for more information on decorators. Also, there are
24665examples for both frame decorators and filters in later chapters.
24666@xref{Writing a Frame Filter}, for more information.
24667
24668The Python dictionary @code{gdb.frame_filters} contains key/object
24669pairings that comprise a frame filter. Frame filters in this
24670dictionary are called @code{global} frame filters, and they are
24671available when debugging all inferiors. These frame filters must
24672register with the dictionary directly. In addition to the
24673@code{global} dictionary, there are other dictionaries that are loaded
24674with different inferiors via auto-loading (@pxref{Python
24675Auto-loading}). The two other areas where frame filter dictionaries
24676can be found are: @code{gdb.Progspace} which contains a
24677@code{frame_filters} dictionary attribute, and each @code{gdb.Objfile}
24678object which also contains a @code{frame_filters} dictionary
24679attribute.
24680
24681When a command is executed from @value{GDBN} that is compatible with
24682frame filters, @value{GDBN} combines the @code{global},
24683@code{gdb.Progspace} and all @code{gdb.Objfile} dictionaries currently
24684loaded. All of the @code{gdb.Objfile} dictionaries are combined, as
24685several frames, and thus several object files, might be in use.
24686@value{GDBN} then prunes any frame filter whose @code{enabled}
24687attribute is @code{False}. This pruned list is then sorted according
24688to the @code{priority} attribute in each filter.
24689
24690Once the dictionaries are combined, pruned and sorted, @value{GDBN}
24691creates an iterator which wraps each frame in the call stack in a
24692@code{FrameDecorator} object, and calls each filter in order. The
24693output from the previous filter will always be the input to the next
24694filter, and so on.
24695
24696Frame filters have a mandatory interface which each frame filter must
24697implement, defined here:
24698
24699@defun FrameFilter.filter (iterator)
24700@value{GDBN} will call this method on a frame filter when it has
24701reached the order in the priority list for that filter.
24702
24703For example, if there are four frame filters:
24704
24705@smallexample
24706Name Priority
24707
24708Filter1 5
24709Filter2 10
24710Filter3 100
24711Filter4 1
24712@end smallexample
24713
24714The order that the frame filters will be called is:
24715
24716@smallexample
24717Filter3 -> Filter2 -> Filter1 -> Filter4
24718@end smallexample
24719
24720Note that the output from @code{Filter3} is passed to the input of
24721@code{Filter2}, and so on.
24722
24723This @code{filter} method is passed a Python iterator. This iterator
24724contains a sequence of frame decorators that wrap each
24725@code{gdb.Frame}, or a frame decorator that wraps another frame
24726decorator. The first filter that is executed in the sequence of frame
24727filters will receive an iterator entirely comprised of default
24728@code{FrameDecorator} objects. However, after each frame filter is
24729executed, the previous frame filter may have wrapped some or all of
24730the frame decorators with their own frame decorator. As frame
24731decorators must also conform to a mandatory interface, these
24732decorators can be assumed to act in a uniform manner (@pxref{Frame
24733Decorator API}).
24734
24735This method must return an object conforming to the Python iterator
24736protocol. Each item in the iterator must be an object conforming to
24737the frame decorator interface. If a frame filter does not wish to
24738perform any operations on this iterator, it should return that
24739iterator untouched.
24740
24741This method is not optional. If it does not exist, @value{GDBN} will
24742raise and print an error.
24743@end defun
24744
24745@defvar FrameFilter.name
24746The @code{name} attribute must be Python string which contains the
24747name of the filter displayed by @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Frame Filter
24748Management}). This attribute may contain any combination of letters
24749or numbers. Care should be taken to ensure that it is unique. This
24750attribute is mandatory.
24751@end defvar
24752
24753@defvar FrameFilter.enabled
24754The @code{enabled} attribute must be Python boolean. This attribute
24755indicates to @value{GDBN} whether the frame filter is enabled, and
24756should be considered when frame filters are executed. If
24757@code{enabled} is @code{True}, then the frame filter will be executed
24758when any of the backtrace commands detailed earlier in this chapter
24759are executed. If @code{enabled} is @code{False}, then the frame
24760filter will not be executed. This attribute is mandatory.
24761@end defvar
24762
24763@defvar FrameFilter.priority
24764The @code{priority} attribute must be Python integer. This attribute
24765controls the order of execution in relation to other frame filters.
24766There are no imposed limits on the range of @code{priority} other than
24767it must be a valid integer. The higher the @code{priority} attribute,
24768the sooner the frame filter will be executed in relation to other
24769frame filters. Although @code{priority} can be negative, it is
24770recommended practice to assume zero is the lowest priority that a
24771frame filter can be assigned. Frame filters that have the same
24772priority are executed in unsorted order in that priority slot. This
24773attribute is mandatory.
24774@end defvar
24775
24776@node Frame Decorator API
24777@subsubsection Decorating Frames.
24778@cindex frame decorator api
24779
24780Frame decorators are sister objects to frame filters (@pxref{Frame
24781Filter API}). Frame decorators are applied by a frame filter and can
24782only be used in conjunction with frame filters.
24783
24784The purpose of a frame decorator is to customize the printed content
24785of each @code{gdb.Frame} in commands where frame filters are executed.
24786This concept is called decorating a frame. Frame decorators decorate
24787a @code{gdb.Frame} with Python code contained within each API call.
24788This separates the actual data contained in a @code{gdb.Frame} from
24789the decorated data produced by a frame decorator. This abstraction is
24790necessary to maintain integrity of the data contained in each
24791@code{gdb.Frame}.
24792
24793Frame decorators have a mandatory interface, defined below.
24794
24795@value{GDBN} already contains a frame decorator called
24796@code{FrameDecorator}. This contains substantial amounts of
24797boilerplate code to decorate the content of a @code{gdb.Frame}. It is
24798recommended that other frame decorators inherit and extend this
24799object, and only to override the methods needed.
24800
24801@defun FrameDecorator.elided (self)
24802
24803The @code{elided} method groups frames together in a hierarchical
24804system. An example would be an interpreter, where multiple low-level
24805frames make up a single call in the interpreted language. In this
24806example, the frame filter would elide the low-level frames and present
24807a single high-level frame, representing the call in the interpreted
24808language, to the user.
24809
24810The @code{elided} function must return an iterable and this iterable
24811must contain the frames that are being elided wrapped in a suitable
24812frame decorator. If no frames are being elided this function may
24813return an empty iterable, or @code{None}. Elided frames are indented
24814from normal frames in a @code{CLI} backtrace, or in the case of
24815@code{GDB/MI}, are placed in the @code{children} field of the eliding
24816frame.
24817
24818It is the frame filter's task to also filter out the elided frames from
24819the source iterator. This will avoid printing the frame twice.
24820@end defun
24821
24822@defun FrameDecorator.function (self)
24823
24824This method returns the name of the function in the frame that is to
24825be printed.
24826
24827This method must return a Python string describing the function, or
24828@code{None}.
24829
24830If this function returns @code{None}, @value{GDBN} will not print any
24831data for this field.
24832@end defun
24833
24834@defun FrameDecorator.address (self)
24835
24836This method returns the address of the frame that is to be printed.
24837
24838This method must return a Python numeric integer type of sufficient
24839size to describe the address of the frame, or @code{None}.
24840
24841If this function returns a @code{None}, @value{GDBN} will not print
24842any data for this field.
24843@end defun
24844
24845@defun FrameDecorator.filename (self)
24846
24847This method returns the filename and path associated with this frame.
24848
24849This method must return a Python string containing the filename and
24850the path to the object file backing the frame, or @code{None}.
24851
24852If this function returns a @code{None}, @value{GDBN} will not print
24853any data for this field.
24854@end defun
24855
24856@defun FrameDecorator.line (self):
24857
24858This method returns the line number associated with the current
24859position within the function addressed by this frame.
24860
24861This method must return a Python integer type, or @code{None}.
24862
24863If this function returns a @code{None}, @value{GDBN} will not print
24864any data for this field.
24865@end defun
24866
24867@defun FrameDecorator.frame_args (self)
24868@anchor{frame_args}
24869
24870This method must return an iterable, or @code{None}. Returning an
24871empty iterable, or @code{None} means frame arguments will not be
24872printed for this frame. This iterable must contain objects that
24873implement two methods, described here.
24874
24875This object must implement a @code{argument} method which takes a
24876single @code{self} parameter and must return a @code{gdb.Symbol}
24877(@pxref{Symbols In Python}), or a Python string. The object must also
24878implement a @code{value} method which takes a single @code{self}
24879parameter and must return a @code{gdb.Value} (@pxref{Values From
24880Inferior}), a Python value, or @code{None}. If the @code{value}
24881method returns @code{None}, and the @code{argument} method returns a
24882@code{gdb.Symbol}, @value{GDBN} will look-up and print the value of
24883the @code{gdb.Symbol} automatically.
24884
24885A brief example:
24886
24887@smallexample
24888class SymValueWrapper():
24889
24890 def __init__(self, symbol, value):
24891 self.sym = symbol
24892 self.val = value
24893
24894 def value(self):
24895 return self.val
24896
24897 def symbol(self):
24898 return self.sym
24899
24900class SomeFrameDecorator()
24901...
24902...
24903 def frame_args(self):
24904 args = []
24905 try:
24906 block = self.inferior_frame.block()
24907 except:
24908 return None
24909
24910 # Iterate over all symbols in a block. Only add
24911 # symbols that are arguments.
24912 for sym in block:
24913 if not sym.is_argument:
24914 continue
24915 args.append(SymValueWrapper(sym,None))
24916
24917 # Add example synthetic argument.
24918 args.append(SymValueWrapper(``foo'', 42))
24919
24920 return args
24921@end smallexample
24922@end defun
24923
24924@defun FrameDecorator.frame_locals (self)
24925
24926This method must return an iterable or @code{None}. Returning an
24927empty iterable, or @code{None} means frame local arguments will not be
24928printed for this frame.
24929
24930The object interface, the description of the various strategies for
24931reading frame locals, and the example are largely similar to those
24932described in the @code{frame_args} function, (@pxref{frame_args,,The
24933frame filter frame_args function}). Below is a modified example:
24934
24935@smallexample
24936class SomeFrameDecorator()
24937...
24938...
24939 def frame_locals(self):
24940 vars = []
24941 try:
24942 block = self.inferior_frame.block()
24943 except:
24944 return None
24945
24946 # Iterate over all symbols in a block. Add all
24947 # symbols, except arguments.
24948 for sym in block:
24949 if sym.is_argument:
24950 continue
24951 vars.append(SymValueWrapper(sym,None))
24952
24953 # Add an example of a synthetic local variable.
24954 vars.append(SymValueWrapper(``bar'', 99))
24955
24956 return vars
24957@end smallexample
24958@end defun
24959
24960@defun FrameDecorator.inferior_frame (self):
24961
24962This method must return the underlying @code{gdb.Frame} that this
24963frame decorator is decorating. @value{GDBN} requires the underlying
24964frame for internal frame information to determine how to print certain
24965values when printing a frame.
24966@end defun
24967
24968@node Writing a Frame Filter
24969@subsubsection Writing a Frame Filter
24970@cindex writing a frame filter
24971
24972There are three basic elements that a frame filter must implement: it
24973must correctly implement the documented interface (@pxref{Frame Filter
24974API}), it must register itself with @value{GDBN}, and finally, it must
24975decide if it is to work on the data provided by @value{GDBN}. In all
24976cases, whether it works on the iterator or not, each frame filter must
24977return an iterator. A bare-bones frame filter follows the pattern in
24978the following example.
24979
24980@smallexample
24981import gdb
24982
24983class FrameFilter():
24984
24985 def __init__(self):
24986 # Frame filter attribute creation.
24987 #
24988 # 'name' is the name of the filter that GDB will display.
24989 #
24990 # 'priority' is the priority of the filter relative to other
24991 # filters.
24992 #
24993 # 'enabled' is a boolean that indicates whether this filter is
24994 # enabled and should be executed.
24995
24996 self.name = "Foo"
24997 self.priority = 100
24998 self.enabled = True
24999
25000 # Register this frame filter with the global frame_filters
25001 # dictionary.
25002 gdb.frame_filters[self.name] = self
25003
25004 def filter(self, frame_iter):
25005 # Just return the iterator.
25006 return frame_iter
25007@end smallexample
25008
25009The frame filter in the example above implements the three
25010requirements for all frame filters. It implements the API, self
25011registers, and makes a decision on the iterator (in this case, it just
25012returns the iterator untouched).
25013
25014The first step is attribute creation and assignment, and as shown in
25015the comments the filter assigns the following attributes: @code{name},
25016@code{priority} and whether the filter should be enabled with the
25017@code{enabled} attribute.
25018
25019The second step is registering the frame filter with the dictionary or
25020dictionaries that the frame filter has interest in. As shown in the
25021comments, this filter just registers itself with the global dictionary
25022@code{gdb.frame_filters}. As noted earlier, @code{gdb.frame_filters}
25023is a dictionary that is initialized in the @code{gdb} module when
25024@value{GDBN} starts. What dictionary a filter registers with is an
25025important consideration. Generally, if a filter is specific to a set
25026of code, it should be registered either in the @code{objfile} or
25027@code{progspace} dictionaries as they are specific to the program
25028currently loaded in @value{GDBN}. The global dictionary is always
25029present in @value{GDBN} and is never unloaded. Any filters registered
25030with the global dictionary will exist until @value{GDBN} exits. To
25031avoid filters that may conflict, it is generally better to register
25032frame filters against the dictionaries that more closely align with
25033the usage of the filter currently in question. @xref{Python
25034Auto-loading}, for further information on auto-loading Python scripts.
25035
25036@value{GDBN} takes a hands-off approach to frame filter registration,
25037therefore it is the frame filter's responsibility to ensure
25038registration has occurred, and that any exceptions are handled
25039appropriately. In particular, you may wish to handle exceptions
25040relating to Python dictionary key uniqueness. It is mandatory that
25041the dictionary key is the same as frame filter's @code{name}
25042attribute. When a user manages frame filters (@pxref{Frame Filter
25043Management}), the names @value{GDBN} will display are those contained
25044in the @code{name} attribute.
25045
25046The final step of this example is the implementation of the
25047@code{filter} method. As shown in the example comments, we define the
25048@code{filter} method and note that the method must take an iterator,
25049and also must return an iterator. In this bare-bones example, the
25050frame filter is not very useful as it just returns the iterator
25051untouched. However this is a valid operation for frame filters that
25052have the @code{enabled} attribute set, but decide not to operate on
25053any frames.
25054
25055In the next example, the frame filter operates on all frames and
25056utilizes a frame decorator to perform some work on the frames.
25057@xref{Frame Decorator API}, for further information on the frame
25058decorator interface.
25059
25060This example works on inlined frames. It highlights frames which are
25061inlined by tagging them with an ``[inlined]'' tag. By applying a
25062frame decorator to all frames with the Python @code{itertools imap}
25063method, the example defers actions to the frame decorator. Frame
25064decorators are only processed when @value{GDBN} prints the backtrace.
25065
25066This introduces a new decision making topic: whether to perform
25067decision making operations at the filtering step, or at the printing
25068step. In this example's approach, it does not perform any filtering
25069decisions at the filtering step beyond mapping a frame decorator to
25070each frame. This allows the actual decision making to be performed
25071when each frame is printed. This is an important consideration, and
25072well worth reflecting upon when designing a frame filter. An issue
25073that frame filters should avoid is unwinding the stack if possible.
25074Some stacks can run very deep, into the tens of thousands in some
25075cases. To search every frame to determine if it is inlined ahead of
25076time may be too expensive at the filtering step. The frame filter
25077cannot know how many frames it has to iterate over, and it would have
25078to iterate through them all. This ends up duplicating effort as
25079@value{GDBN} performs this iteration when it prints the frames.
25080
25081In this example decision making can be deferred to the printing step.
25082As each frame is printed, the frame decorator can examine each frame
25083in turn when @value{GDBN} iterates. From a performance viewpoint,
25084this is the most appropriate decision to make as it avoids duplicating
25085the effort that the printing step would undertake anyway. Also, if
25086there are many frame filters unwinding the stack during filtering, it
25087can substantially delay the printing of the backtrace which will
25088result in large memory usage, and a poor user experience.
25089
25090@smallexample
25091class InlineFilter():
25092
25093 def __init__(self):
25094 self.name = "InlinedFrameFilter"
25095 self.priority = 100
25096 self.enabled = True
25097 gdb.frame_filters[self.name] = self
25098
25099 def filter(self, frame_iter):
25100 frame_iter = itertools.imap(InlinedFrameDecorator,
25101 frame_iter)
25102 return frame_iter
25103@end smallexample
25104
25105This frame filter is somewhat similar to the earlier example, except
25106that the @code{filter} method applies a frame decorator object called
25107@code{InlinedFrameDecorator} to each element in the iterator. The
25108@code{imap} Python method is light-weight. It does not proactively
25109iterate over the iterator, but rather creates a new iterator which
25110wraps the existing one.
25111
25112Below is the frame decorator for this example.
25113
25114@smallexample
25115class InlinedFrameDecorator(FrameDecorator):
25116
25117 def __init__(self, fobj):
25118 super(InlinedFrameDecorator, self).__init__(fobj)
25119
25120 def function(self):
25121 frame = fobj.inferior_frame()
25122 name = str(frame.name())
25123
25124 if frame.type() == gdb.INLINE_FRAME:
25125 name = name + " [inlined]"
25126
25127 return name
25128@end smallexample
25129
25130This frame decorator only defines and overrides the @code{function}
25131method. It lets the supplied @code{FrameDecorator}, which is shipped
25132with @value{GDBN}, perform the other work associated with printing
25133this frame.
25134
25135The combination of these two objects create this output from a
25136backtrace:
25137
25138@smallexample
25139#0 0x004004e0 in bar () at inline.c:11
25140#1 0x00400566 in max [inlined] (b=6, a=12) at inline.c:21
25141#2 0x00400566 in main () at inline.c:31
25142@end smallexample
25143
25144So in the case of this example, a frame decorator is applied to all
25145frames, regardless of whether they may be inlined or not. As
25146@value{GDBN} iterates over the iterator produced by the frame filters,
25147@value{GDBN} executes each frame decorator which then makes a decision
25148on what to print in the @code{function} callback. Using a strategy
25149like this is a way to defer decisions on the frame content to printing
25150time.
25151
25152@subheading Eliding Frames
25153
25154It might be that the above example is not desirable for representing
25155inlined frames, and a hierarchical approach may be preferred. If we
25156want to hierarchically represent frames, the @code{elided} frame
25157decorator interface might be preferable.
25158
25159This example approaches the issue with the @code{elided} method. This
25160example is quite long, but very simplistic. It is out-of-scope for
25161this section to write a complete example that comprehensively covers
25162all approaches of finding and printing inlined frames. However, this
25163example illustrates the approach an author might use.
25164
25165This example comprises of three sections.
25166
25167@smallexample
25168class InlineFrameFilter():
25169
25170 def __init__(self):
25171 self.name = "InlinedFrameFilter"
25172 self.priority = 100
25173 self.enabled = True
25174 gdb.frame_filters[self.name] = self
25175
25176 def filter(self, frame_iter):
25177 return ElidingInlineIterator(frame_iter)
25178@end smallexample
25179
25180This frame filter is very similar to the other examples. The only
25181difference is this frame filter is wrapping the iterator provided to
25182it (@code{frame_iter}) with a custom iterator called
25183@code{ElidingInlineIterator}. This again defers actions to when
25184@value{GDBN} prints the backtrace, as the iterator is not traversed
25185until printing.
25186
25187The iterator for this example is as follows. It is in this section of
25188the example where decisions are made on the content of the backtrace.
25189
25190@smallexample
25191class ElidingInlineIterator:
25192 def __init__(self, ii):
25193 self.input_iterator = ii
25194
25195 def __iter__(self):
25196 return self
25197
25198 def next(self):
25199 frame = next(self.input_iterator)
25200
25201 if frame.inferior_frame().type() != gdb.INLINE_FRAME:
25202 return frame
25203
25204 try:
25205 eliding_frame = next(self.input_iterator)
25206 except StopIteration:
25207 return frame
25208 return ElidingFrameDecorator(eliding_frame, [frame])
25209@end smallexample
25210
25211This iterator implements the Python iterator protocol. When the
25212@code{next} function is called (when @value{GDBN} prints each frame),
25213the iterator checks if this frame decorator, @code{frame}, is wrapping
25214an inlined frame. If it is not, it returns the existing frame decorator
25215untouched. If it is wrapping an inlined frame, it assumes that the
25216inlined frame was contained within the next oldest frame,
25217@code{eliding_frame}, which it fetches. It then creates and returns a
25218frame decorator, @code{ElidingFrameDecorator}, which contains both the
25219elided frame, and the eliding frame.
25220
25221@smallexample
25222class ElidingInlineDecorator(FrameDecorator):
25223
25224 def __init__(self, frame, elided_frames):
25225 super(ElidingInlineDecorator, self).__init__(frame)
25226 self.frame = frame
25227 self.elided_frames = elided_frames
25228
25229 def elided(self):
25230 return iter(self.elided_frames)
25231@end smallexample
25232
25233This frame decorator overrides one function and returns the inlined
25234frame in the @code{elided} method. As before it lets
25235@code{FrameDecorator} do the rest of the work involved in printing
25236this frame. This produces the following output.
25237
25238@smallexample
25239#0 0x004004e0 in bar () at inline.c:11
25240#2 0x00400529 in main () at inline.c:25
25241 #1 0x00400529 in max (b=6, a=12) at inline.c:15
25242@end smallexample
25243
25244In that output, @code{max} which has been inlined into @code{main} is
25245printed hierarchically. Another approach would be to combine the
25246@code{function} method, and the @code{elided} method to both print a
25247marker in the inlined frame, and also show the hierarchical
25248relationship.
25249
25250@node Inferiors In Python
25251@subsubsection Inferiors In Python
25252@cindex inferiors in Python
25253
25254@findex gdb.Inferior
25255Programs which are being run under @value{GDBN} are called inferiors
25256(@pxref{Inferiors and Programs}). Python scripts can access
25257information about and manipulate inferiors controlled by @value{GDBN}
25258via objects of the @code{gdb.Inferior} class.
25259
25260The following inferior-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
25261module:
25262
25263@defun gdb.inferiors ()
25264Return a tuple containing all inferior objects.
25265@end defun
25266
25267@defun gdb.selected_inferior ()
25268Return an object representing the current inferior.
25269@end defun
25270
25271A @code{gdb.Inferior} object has the following attributes:
25272
25273@defvar Inferior.num
25274ID of inferior, as assigned by GDB.
25275@end defvar
25276
25277@defvar Inferior.pid
25278Process ID of the inferior, as assigned by the underlying operating
25279system.
25280@end defvar
25281
25282@defvar Inferior.was_attached
25283Boolean signaling whether the inferior was created using `attach', or
25284started by @value{GDBN} itself.
25285@end defvar
25286
25287A @code{gdb.Inferior} object has the following methods:
25288
25289@defun Inferior.is_valid ()
25290Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Inferior} object is valid,
25291@code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Inferior} object will become invalid
25292if the inferior no longer exists within @value{GDBN}. All other
25293@code{gdb.Inferior} methods will throw an exception if it is invalid
25294at the time the method is called.
25295@end defun
25296
25297@defun Inferior.threads ()
25298This method returns a tuple holding all the threads which are valid
25299when it is called. If there are no valid threads, the method will
25300return an empty tuple.
25301@end defun
25302
25303@findex Inferior.read_memory
25304@defun Inferior.read_memory (address, length)
25305Read @var{length} bytes of memory from the inferior, starting at
25306@var{address}. Returns a buffer object, which behaves much like an array
25307or a string. It can be modified and given to the
25308@code{Inferior.write_memory} function. In @code{Python} 3, the return
25309value is a @code{memoryview} object.
25310@end defun
25311
25312@findex Inferior.write_memory
25313@defun Inferior.write_memory (address, buffer @r{[}, length@r{]})
25314Write the contents of @var{buffer} to the inferior, starting at
25315@var{address}. The @var{buffer} parameter must be a Python object
25316which supports the buffer protocol, i.e., a string, an array or the
25317object returned from @code{Inferior.read_memory}. If given, @var{length}
25318determines the number of bytes from @var{buffer} to be written.
25319@end defun
25320
25321@findex gdb.search_memory
25322@defun Inferior.search_memory (address, length, pattern)
25323Search a region of the inferior memory starting at @var{address} with
25324the given @var{length} using the search pattern supplied in
25325@var{pattern}. The @var{pattern} parameter must be a Python object
25326which supports the buffer protocol, i.e., a string, an array or the
25327object returned from @code{gdb.read_memory}. Returns a Python @code{Long}
25328containing the address where the pattern was found, or @code{None} if
25329the pattern could not be found.
25330@end defun
25331
25332@node Events In Python
25333@subsubsection Events In Python
25334@cindex inferior events in Python
25335
25336@value{GDBN} provides a general event facility so that Python code can be
25337notified of various state changes, particularly changes that occur in
25338the inferior.
25339
25340An @dfn{event} is just an object that describes some state change. The
25341type of the object and its attributes will vary depending on the details
25342of the change. All the existing events are described below.
25343
25344In order to be notified of an event, you must register an event handler
25345with an @dfn{event registry}. An event registry is an object in the
25346@code{gdb.events} module which dispatches particular events. A registry
25347provides methods to register and unregister event handlers:
25348
25349@defun EventRegistry.connect (object)
25350Add the given callable @var{object} to the registry. This object will be
25351called when an event corresponding to this registry occurs.
25352@end defun
25353
25354@defun EventRegistry.disconnect (object)
25355Remove the given @var{object} from the registry. Once removed, the object
25356will no longer receive notifications of events.
25357@end defun
25358
25359Here is an example:
25360
25361@smallexample
25362def exit_handler (event):
25363 print "event type: exit"
25364 print "exit code: %d" % (event.exit_code)
25365
25366gdb.events.exited.connect (exit_handler)
25367@end smallexample
25368
25369In the above example we connect our handler @code{exit_handler} to the
25370registry @code{events.exited}. Once connected, @code{exit_handler} gets
25371called when the inferior exits. The argument @dfn{event} in this example is
25372of type @code{gdb.ExitedEvent}. As you can see in the example the
25373@code{ExitedEvent} object has an attribute which indicates the exit code of
25374the inferior.
25375
25376The following is a listing of the event registries that are available and
25377details of the events they emit:
25378
25379@table @code
25380
25381@item events.cont
25382Emits @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
25383
25384Some events can be thread specific when @value{GDBN} is running in non-stop
25385mode. When represented in Python, these events all extend
25386@code{gdb.ThreadEvent}. Note, this event is not emitted directly; instead,
25387events which are emitted by this or other modules might extend this event.
25388Examples of these events are @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} and
25389@code{gdb.ContinueEvent}.
25390
25391@defvar ThreadEvent.inferior_thread
25392In non-stop mode this attribute will be set to the specific thread which was
25393involved in the emitted event. Otherwise, it will be set to @code{None}.
25394@end defvar
25395
25396Emits @code{gdb.ContinueEvent} which extends @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
25397
25398This event indicates that the inferior has been continued after a stop. For
25399inherited attribute refer to @code{gdb.ThreadEvent} above.
25400
25401@item events.exited
25402Emits @code{events.ExitedEvent} which indicates that the inferior has exited.
25403@code{events.ExitedEvent} has two attributes:
25404@defvar ExitedEvent.exit_code
25405An integer representing the exit code, if available, which the inferior
25406has returned. (The exit code could be unavailable if, for example,
25407@value{GDBN} detaches from the inferior.) If the exit code is unavailable,
25408the attribute does not exist.
25409@end defvar
25410@defvar ExitedEvent inferior
25411A reference to the inferior which triggered the @code{exited} event.
25412@end defvar
25413
25414@item events.stop
25415Emits @code{gdb.StopEvent} which extends @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
25416
25417Indicates that the inferior has stopped. All events emitted by this registry
25418extend StopEvent. As a child of @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}, @code{gdb.StopEvent}
25419will indicate the stopped thread when @value{GDBN} is running in non-stop
25420mode. Refer to @code{gdb.ThreadEvent} above for more details.
25421
25422Emits @code{gdb.SignalEvent} which extends @code{gdb.StopEvent}.
25423
25424This event indicates that the inferior or one of its threads has received as
25425signal. @code{gdb.SignalEvent} has the following attributes:
25426
25427@defvar SignalEvent.stop_signal
25428A string representing the signal received by the inferior. A list of possible
25429signal values can be obtained by running the command @code{info signals} in
25430the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
25431@end defvar
25432
25433Also emits @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} which extends @code{gdb.StopEvent}.
25434
25435@code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} event indicates that one or more breakpoints have
25436been hit, and has the following attributes:
25437
25438@defvar BreakpointEvent.breakpoints
25439A sequence containing references to all the breakpoints (type
25440@code{gdb.Breakpoint}) that were hit.
25441@xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for details of the @code{gdb.Breakpoint} object.
25442@end defvar
25443@defvar BreakpointEvent.breakpoint
25444A reference to the first breakpoint that was hit.
25445This function is maintained for backward compatibility and is now deprecated
25446in favor of the @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent.breakpoints} attribute.
25447@end defvar
25448
25449@item events.new_objfile
25450Emits @code{gdb.NewObjFileEvent} which indicates that a new object file has
25451been loaded by @value{GDBN}. @code{gdb.NewObjFileEvent} has one attribute:
25452
25453@defvar NewObjFileEvent.new_objfile
25454A reference to the object file (@code{gdb.Objfile}) which has been loaded.
25455@xref{Objfiles In Python}, for details of the @code{gdb.Objfile} object.
25456@end defvar
25457
25458@end table
25459
25460@node Threads In Python
25461@subsubsection Threads In Python
25462@cindex threads in python
25463
25464@findex gdb.InferiorThread
25465Python scripts can access information about, and manipulate inferior threads
25466controlled by @value{GDBN}, via objects of the @code{gdb.InferiorThread} class.
25467
25468The following thread-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
25469module:
25470
25471@findex gdb.selected_thread
25472@defun gdb.selected_thread ()
25473This function returns the thread object for the selected thread. If there
25474is no selected thread, this will return @code{None}.
25475@end defun
25476
25477A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object has the following attributes:
25478
25479@defvar InferiorThread.name
25480The name of the thread. If the user specified a name using
25481@code{thread name}, then this returns that name. Otherwise, if an
25482OS-supplied name is available, then it is returned. Otherwise, this
25483returns @code{None}.
25484
25485This attribute can be assigned to. The new value must be a string
25486object, which sets the new name, or @code{None}, which removes any
25487user-specified thread name.
25488@end defvar
25489
25490@defvar InferiorThread.num
25491ID of the thread, as assigned by GDB.
25492@end defvar
25493
25494@defvar InferiorThread.ptid
25495ID of the thread, as assigned by the operating system. This attribute is a
25496tuple containing three integers. The first is the Process ID (PID); the second
25497is the Lightweight Process ID (LWPID), and the third is the Thread ID (TID).
25498Either the LWPID or TID may be 0, which indicates that the operating system
25499does not use that identifier.
25500@end defvar
25501
25502A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object has the following methods:
25503
25504@defun InferiorThread.is_valid ()
25505Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object is valid,
25506@code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object will become
25507invalid if the thread exits, or the inferior that the thread belongs
25508is deleted. All other @code{gdb.InferiorThread} methods will throw an
25509exception if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
25510@end defun
25511
25512@defun InferiorThread.switch ()
25513This changes @value{GDBN}'s currently selected thread to the one represented
25514by this object.
25515@end defun
25516
25517@defun InferiorThread.is_stopped ()
25518Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is stopped.
25519@end defun
25520
25521@defun InferiorThread.is_running ()
25522Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is running.
25523@end defun
25524
25525@defun InferiorThread.is_exited ()
25526Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is exited.
25527@end defun
25528
25529@node Commands In Python
25530@subsubsection Commands In Python
25531
25532@cindex commands in python
25533@cindex python commands
25534You can implement new @value{GDBN} CLI commands in Python. A CLI
25535command is implemented using an instance of the @code{gdb.Command}
25536class, most commonly using a subclass.
25537
25538@defun Command.__init__ (name, @var{command_class} @r{[}, @var{completer_class} @r{[}, @var{prefix}@r{]]})
25539The object initializer for @code{Command} registers the new command
25540with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked from the
25541subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
25542
25543@var{name} is the name of the command. If @var{name} consists of
25544multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
25545commands. In this case, if one of the prefix commands does not exist,
25546an exception is raised.
25547
25548There is no support for multi-line commands.
25549
25550@var{command_class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
25551defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to categorize the
25552new command in the help system.
25553
25554@var{completer_class} is an optional argument. If given, it should be
25555one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined below. This argument
25556tells @value{GDBN} how to perform completion for this command. If not
25557given, @value{GDBN} will attempt to complete using the object's
25558@code{complete} method (see below); if no such method is found, an
25559error will occur when completion is attempted.
25560
25561@var{prefix} is an optional argument. If @code{True}, then the new
25562command is a prefix command; sub-commands of this command may be
25563registered.
25564
25565The help text for the new command is taken from the Python
25566documentation string for the command's class, if there is one. If no
25567documentation string is provided, the default value ``This command is
25568not documented.'' is used.
25569@end defun
25570
25571@cindex don't repeat Python command
25572@defun Command.dont_repeat ()
25573By default, a @value{GDBN} command is repeated when the user enters a
25574blank line at the command prompt. A command can suppress this
25575behavior by invoking the @code{dont_repeat} method. This is similar
25576to the user command @code{dont-repeat}, see @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
25577@end defun
25578
25579@defun Command.invoke (argument, from_tty)
25580This method is called by @value{GDBN} when this command is invoked.
25581
25582@var{argument} is a string. It is the argument to the command, after
25583leading and trailing whitespace has been stripped.
25584
25585@var{from_tty} is a boolean argument. When true, this means that the
25586command was entered by the user at the terminal; when false it means
25587that the command came from elsewhere.
25588
25589If this method throws an exception, it is turned into a @value{GDBN}
25590@code{error} call. Otherwise, the return value is ignored.
25591
25592@findex gdb.string_to_argv
25593To break @var{argument} up into an argv-like string use
25594@code{gdb.string_to_argv}. This function behaves identically to
25595@value{GDBN}'s internal argument lexer @code{buildargv}.
25596It is recommended to use this for consistency.
25597Arguments are separated by spaces and may be quoted.
25598Example:
25599
25600@smallexample
25601print gdb.string_to_argv ("1 2\ \\\"3 '4 \"5' \"6 '7\"")
25602['1', '2 "3', '4 "5', "6 '7"]
25603@end smallexample
25604
25605@end defun
25606
25607@cindex completion of Python commands
25608@defun Command.complete (text, word)
25609This method is called by @value{GDBN} when the user attempts
25610completion on this command. All forms of completion are handled by
25611this method, that is, the @key{TAB} and @key{M-?} key bindings
25612(@pxref{Completion}), and the @code{complete} command (@pxref{Help,
25613complete}).
25614
25615The arguments @var{text} and @var{word} are both strings. @var{text}
25616holds the complete command line up to the cursor's location.
25617@var{word} holds the last word of the command line; this is computed
25618using a word-breaking heuristic.
25619
25620The @code{complete} method can return several values:
25621@itemize @bullet
25622@item
25623If the return value is a sequence, the contents of the sequence are
25624used as the completions. It is up to @code{complete} to ensure that the
25625contents actually do complete the word. A zero-length sequence is
25626allowed, it means that there were no completions available. Only
25627string elements of the sequence are used; other elements in the
25628sequence are ignored.
25629
25630@item
25631If the return value is one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined
25632below, then the corresponding @value{GDBN}-internal completion
25633function is invoked, and its result is used.
25634
25635@item
25636All other results are treated as though there were no available
25637completions.
25638@end itemize
25639@end defun
25640
25641When a new command is registered, it must be declared as a member of
25642some general class of commands. This is used to classify top-level
25643commands in the on-line help system; note that prefix commands are not
25644listed under their own category but rather that of their top-level
25645command. The available classifications are represented by constants
25646defined in the @code{gdb} module:
25647
25648@table @code
25649@findex COMMAND_NONE
25650@findex gdb.COMMAND_NONE
25651@item gdb.COMMAND_NONE
25652The command does not belong to any particular class. A command in
25653this category will not be displayed in any of the help categories.
25654
25655@findex COMMAND_RUNNING
25656@findex gdb.COMMAND_RUNNING
25657@item gdb.COMMAND_RUNNING
25658The command is related to running the inferior. For example,
25659@code{start}, @code{step}, and @code{continue} are in this category.
25660Type @kbd{help running} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
25661commands in this category.
25662
25663@findex COMMAND_DATA
25664@findex gdb.COMMAND_DATA
25665@item gdb.COMMAND_DATA
25666The command is related to data or variables. For example,
25667@code{call}, @code{find}, and @code{print} are in this category. Type
25668@kbd{help data} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands
25669in this category.
25670
25671@findex COMMAND_STACK
25672@findex gdb.COMMAND_STACK
25673@item gdb.COMMAND_STACK
25674The command has to do with manipulation of the stack. For example,
25675@code{backtrace}, @code{frame}, and @code{return} are in this
25676category. Type @kbd{help stack} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a
25677list of commands in this category.
25678
25679@findex COMMAND_FILES
25680@findex gdb.COMMAND_FILES
25681@item gdb.COMMAND_FILES
25682This class is used for file-related commands. For example,
25683@code{file}, @code{list} and @code{section} are in this category.
25684Type @kbd{help files} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
25685commands in this category.
25686
25687@findex COMMAND_SUPPORT
25688@findex gdb.COMMAND_SUPPORT
25689@item gdb.COMMAND_SUPPORT
25690This should be used for ``support facilities'', generally meaning
25691things that are useful to the user when interacting with @value{GDBN},
25692but not related to the state of the inferior. For example,
25693@code{help}, @code{make}, and @code{shell} are in this category. Type
25694@kbd{help support} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
25695commands in this category.
25696
25697@findex COMMAND_STATUS
25698@findex gdb.COMMAND_STATUS
25699@item gdb.COMMAND_STATUS
25700The command is an @samp{info}-related command, that is, related to the
25701state of @value{GDBN} itself. For example, @code{info}, @code{macro},
25702and @code{show} are in this category. Type @kbd{help status} at the
25703@value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this category.
25704
25705@findex COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
25706@findex gdb.COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
25707@item gdb.COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
25708The command has to do with breakpoints. For example, @code{break},
25709@code{clear}, and @code{delete} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
25710breakpoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in
25711this category.
25712
25713@findex COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
25714@findex gdb.COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
25715@item gdb.COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
25716The command has to do with tracepoints. For example, @code{trace},
25717@code{actions}, and @code{tfind} are in this category. Type
25718@kbd{help tracepoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
25719commands in this category.
25720
25721@findex COMMAND_USER
25722@findex gdb.COMMAND_USER
25723@item gdb.COMMAND_USER
25724The command is a general purpose command for the user, and typically
25725does not fit in one of the other categories.
25726Type @kbd{help user-defined} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see
25727a list of commands in this category, as well as the list of gdb macros
25728(@pxref{Sequences}).
25729
25730@findex COMMAND_OBSCURE
25731@findex gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE
25732@item gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE
25733The command is only used in unusual circumstances, or is not of
25734general interest to users. For example, @code{checkpoint},
25735@code{fork}, and @code{stop} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
25736obscure} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this
25737category.
25738
25739@findex COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
25740@findex gdb.COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
25741@item gdb.COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
25742The command is only useful to @value{GDBN} maintainers. The
25743@code{maintenance} and @code{flushregs} commands are in this category.
25744Type @kbd{help internals} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
25745commands in this category.
25746@end table
25747
25748A new command can use a predefined completion function, either by
25749specifying it via an argument at initialization, or by returning it
25750from the @code{complete} method. These predefined completion
25751constants are all defined in the @code{gdb} module:
25752
25753@table @code
25754@findex COMPLETE_NONE
25755@findex gdb.COMPLETE_NONE
25756@item gdb.COMPLETE_NONE
25757This constant means that no completion should be done.
25758
25759@findex COMPLETE_FILENAME
25760@findex gdb.COMPLETE_FILENAME
25761@item gdb.COMPLETE_FILENAME
25762This constant means that filename completion should be performed.
25763
25764@findex COMPLETE_LOCATION
25765@findex gdb.COMPLETE_LOCATION
25766@item gdb.COMPLETE_LOCATION
25767This constant means that location completion should be done.
25768@xref{Specify Location}.
25769
25770@findex COMPLETE_COMMAND
25771@findex gdb.COMPLETE_COMMAND
25772@item gdb.COMPLETE_COMMAND
25773This constant means that completion should examine @value{GDBN}
25774command names.
25775
25776@findex COMPLETE_SYMBOL
25777@findex gdb.COMPLETE_SYMBOL
25778@item gdb.COMPLETE_SYMBOL
25779This constant means that completion should be done using symbol names
25780as the source.
25781@end table
25782
25783The following code snippet shows how a trivial CLI command can be
25784implemented in Python:
25785
25786@smallexample
25787class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
25788 """Greet the whole world."""
25789
25790 def __init__ (self):
25791 super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_USER)
25792
25793 def invoke (self, arg, from_tty):
25794 print "Hello, World!"
25795
25796HelloWorld ()
25797@end smallexample
25798
25799The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
25800registration of the command with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
25801Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
25802@code{gdb} module explicitly.
25803
25804@node Parameters In Python
25805@subsubsection Parameters In Python
25806
25807@cindex parameters in python
25808@cindex python parameters
25809@tindex gdb.Parameter
25810@tindex Parameter
25811You can implement new @value{GDBN} parameters using Python. A new
25812parameter is implemented as an instance of the @code{gdb.Parameter}
25813class.
25814
25815Parameters are exposed to the user via the @code{set} and
25816@code{show} commands. @xref{Help}.
25817
25818There are many parameters that already exist and can be set in
25819@value{GDBN}. Two examples are: @code{set follow fork} and
25820@code{set charset}. Setting these parameters influences certain
25821behavior in @value{GDBN}. Similarly, you can define parameters that
25822can be used to influence behavior in custom Python scripts and commands.
25823
25824@defun Parameter.__init__ (name, @var{command-class}, @var{parameter-class} @r{[}, @var{enum-sequence}@r{]})
25825The object initializer for @code{Parameter} registers the new
25826parameter with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked
25827from the subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
25828
25829@var{name} is the name of the new parameter. If @var{name} consists
25830of multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
25831parameters. An example of this can be illustrated with the
25832@code{set print} set of parameters. If @var{name} is
25833@code{print foo}, then @code{print} will be searched as the prefix
25834parameter. In this case the parameter can subsequently be accessed in
25835@value{GDBN} as @code{set print foo}.
25836
25837If @var{name} consists of multiple words, and no prefix parameter group
25838can be found, an exception is raised.
25839
25840@var{command-class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
25841(@pxref{Commands In Python}). This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to
25842categorize the new parameter in the help system.
25843
25844@var{parameter-class} should be one of the @samp{PARAM_} constants
25845defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} the type of the new
25846parameter; this information is used for input validation and
25847completion.
25848
25849If @var{parameter-class} is @code{PARAM_ENUM}, then
25850@var{enum-sequence} must be a sequence of strings. These strings
25851represent the possible values for the parameter.
25852
25853If @var{parameter-class} is not @code{PARAM_ENUM}, then the presence
25854of a fourth argument will cause an exception to be thrown.
25855
25856The help text for the new parameter is taken from the Python
25857documentation string for the parameter's class, if there is one. If
25858there is no documentation string, a default value is used.
25859@end defun
25860
25861@defvar Parameter.set_doc
25862If this attribute exists, and is a string, then its value is used as
25863the help text for this parameter's @code{set} command. The value is
25864examined when @code{Parameter.__init__} is invoked; subsequent changes
25865have no effect.
25866@end defvar
25867
25868@defvar Parameter.show_doc
25869If this attribute exists, and is a string, then its value is used as
25870the help text for this parameter's @code{show} command. The value is
25871examined when @code{Parameter.__init__} is invoked; subsequent changes
25872have no effect.
25873@end defvar
25874
25875@defvar Parameter.value
25876The @code{value} attribute holds the underlying value of the
25877parameter. It can be read and assigned to just as any other
25878attribute. @value{GDBN} does validation when assignments are made.
25879@end defvar
25880
25881There are two methods that should be implemented in any
25882@code{Parameter} class. These are:
25883
25884@defun Parameter.get_set_string (self)
25885@value{GDBN} will call this method when a @var{parameter}'s value has
25886been changed via the @code{set} API (for example, @kbd{set foo off}).
25887The @code{value} attribute has already been populated with the new
25888value and may be used in output. This method must return a string.
25889@end defun
25890
25891@defun Parameter.get_show_string (self, svalue)
25892@value{GDBN} will call this method when a @var{parameter}'s
25893@code{show} API has been invoked (for example, @kbd{show foo}). The
25894argument @code{svalue} receives the string representation of the
25895current value. This method must return a string.
25896@end defun
25897
25898When a new parameter is defined, its type must be specified. The
25899available types are represented by constants defined in the @code{gdb}
25900module:
25901
25902@table @code
25903@findex PARAM_BOOLEAN
25904@findex gdb.PARAM_BOOLEAN
25905@item gdb.PARAM_BOOLEAN
25906The value is a plain boolean. The Python boolean values, @code{True}
25907and @code{False} are the only valid values.
25908
25909@findex PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
25910@findex gdb.PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
25911@item gdb.PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
25912The value has three possible states: true, false, and @samp{auto}. In
25913Python, true and false are represented using boolean constants, and
25914@samp{auto} is represented using @code{None}.
25915
25916@findex PARAM_UINTEGER
25917@findex gdb.PARAM_UINTEGER
25918@item gdb.PARAM_UINTEGER
25919The value is an unsigned integer. The value of 0 should be
25920interpreted to mean ``unlimited''.
25921
25922@findex PARAM_INTEGER
25923@findex gdb.PARAM_INTEGER
25924@item gdb.PARAM_INTEGER
25925The value is a signed integer. The value of 0 should be interpreted
25926to mean ``unlimited''.
25927
25928@findex PARAM_STRING
25929@findex gdb.PARAM_STRING
25930@item gdb.PARAM_STRING
25931The value is a string. When the user modifies the string, any escape
25932sequences, such as @samp{\t}, @samp{\f}, and octal escapes, are
25933translated into corresponding characters and encoded into the current
25934host charset.
25935
25936@findex PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
25937@findex gdb.PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
25938@item gdb.PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
25939The value is a string. When the user modifies the string, escapes are
25940passed through untranslated.
25941
25942@findex PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
25943@findex gdb.PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
25944@item gdb.PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
25945The value is a either a filename (a string), or @code{None}.
25946
25947@findex PARAM_FILENAME
25948@findex gdb.PARAM_FILENAME
25949@item gdb.PARAM_FILENAME
25950The value is a filename. This is just like
25951@code{PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE}, but uses file names for completion.
25952
25953@findex PARAM_ZINTEGER
25954@findex gdb.PARAM_ZINTEGER
25955@item gdb.PARAM_ZINTEGER
25956The value is an integer. This is like @code{PARAM_INTEGER}, except 0
25957is interpreted as itself.
25958
25959@findex PARAM_ENUM
25960@findex gdb.PARAM_ENUM
25961@item gdb.PARAM_ENUM
25962The value is a string, which must be one of a collection string
25963constants provided when the parameter is created.
25964@end table
25965
25966@node Functions In Python
25967@subsubsection Writing new convenience functions
25968
25969@cindex writing convenience functions
25970@cindex convenience functions in python
25971@cindex python convenience functions
25972@tindex gdb.Function
25973@tindex Function
25974You can implement new convenience functions (@pxref{Convenience Vars})
25975in Python. A convenience function is an instance of a subclass of the
25976class @code{gdb.Function}.
25977
25978@defun Function.__init__ (name)
25979The initializer for @code{Function} registers the new function with
25980@value{GDBN}. The argument @var{name} is the name of the function,
25981a string. The function will be visible to the user as a convenience
25982variable of type @code{internal function}, whose name is the same as
25983the given @var{name}.
25984
25985The documentation for the new function is taken from the documentation
25986string for the new class.
25987@end defun
25988
25989@defun Function.invoke (@var{*args})
25990When a convenience function is evaluated, its arguments are converted
25991to instances of @code{gdb.Value}, and then the function's
25992@code{invoke} method is called. Note that @value{GDBN} does not
25993predetermine the arity of convenience functions. Instead, all
25994available arguments are passed to @code{invoke}, following the
25995standard Python calling convention. In particular, a convenience
25996function can have default values for parameters without ill effect.
25997
25998The return value of this method is used as its value in the enclosing
25999expression. If an ordinary Python value is returned, it is converted
26000to a @code{gdb.Value} following the usual rules.
26001@end defun
26002
26003The following code snippet shows how a trivial convenience function can
26004be implemented in Python:
26005
26006@smallexample
26007class Greet (gdb.Function):
26008 """Return string to greet someone.
26009Takes a name as argument."""
26010
26011 def __init__ (self):
26012 super (Greet, self).__init__ ("greet")
26013
26014 def invoke (self, name):
26015 return "Hello, %s!" % name.string ()
26016
26017Greet ()
26018@end smallexample
26019
26020The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
26021registration of the function with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
26022Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
26023@code{gdb} module explicitly.
26024
26025Now you can use the function in an expression:
26026
26027@smallexample
26028(gdb) print $greet("Bob")
26029$1 = "Hello, Bob!"
26030@end smallexample
26031
26032@node Progspaces In Python
26033@subsubsection Program Spaces In Python
26034
26035@cindex progspaces in python
26036@tindex gdb.Progspace
26037@tindex Progspace
26038A program space, or @dfn{progspace}, represents a symbolic view
26039of an address space.
26040It consists of all of the objfiles of the program.
26041@xref{Objfiles In Python}.
26042@xref{Inferiors and Programs, program spaces}, for more details
26043about program spaces.
26044
26045The following progspace-related functions are available in the
26046@code{gdb} module:
26047
26048@findex gdb.current_progspace
26049@defun gdb.current_progspace ()
26050This function returns the program space of the currently selected inferior.
26051@xref{Inferiors and Programs}.
26052@end defun
26053
26054@findex gdb.progspaces
26055@defun gdb.progspaces ()
26056Return a sequence of all the progspaces currently known to @value{GDBN}.
26057@end defun
26058
26059Each progspace is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Progspace}
26060class.
26061
26062@defvar Progspace.filename
26063The file name of the progspace as a string.
26064@end defvar
26065
26066@defvar Progspace.pretty_printers
26067The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
26068used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
26069function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
26070search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
26071which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for more
26072information.
26073@end defvar
26074
26075@defvar Progspace.type_printers
26076The @code{type_printers} attribute is a list of type printer objects.
26077@xref{Type Printing API}, for more information.
26078@end defvar
26079
26080@defvar Progspace.frame_filters
26081The @code{frame_filters} attribute is a dictionary of frame filter
26082objects. @xref{Frame Filter API}, for more information.
26083@end defvar
26084
26085@node Objfiles In Python
26086@subsubsection Objfiles In Python
26087
26088@cindex objfiles in python
26089@tindex gdb.Objfile
26090@tindex Objfile
26091@value{GDBN} loads symbols for an inferior from various
26092symbol-containing files (@pxref{Files}). These include the primary
26093executable file, any shared libraries used by the inferior, and any
26094separate debug info files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}).
26095@value{GDBN} calls these symbol-containing files @dfn{objfiles}.
26096
26097The following objfile-related functions are available in the
26098@code{gdb} module:
26099
26100@findex gdb.current_objfile
26101@defun gdb.current_objfile ()
26102When auto-loading a Python script (@pxref{Python Auto-loading}), @value{GDBN}
26103sets the ``current objfile'' to the corresponding objfile. This
26104function returns the current objfile. If there is no current objfile,
26105this function returns @code{None}.
26106@end defun
26107
26108@findex gdb.objfiles
26109@defun gdb.objfiles ()
26110Return a sequence of all the objfiles current known to @value{GDBN}.
26111@xref{Objfiles In Python}.
26112@end defun
26113
26114Each objfile is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Objfile}
26115class.
26116
26117@defvar Objfile.filename
26118The file name of the objfile as a string.
26119@end defvar
26120
26121@defvar Objfile.pretty_printers
26122The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
26123used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
26124function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
26125search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
26126which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for more
26127information.
26128@end defvar
26129
26130@defvar Objfile.type_printers
26131The @code{type_printers} attribute is a list of type printer objects.
26132@xref{Type Printing API}, for more information.
26133@end defvar
26134
26135@defvar Objfile.frame_filters
26136The @code{frame_filters} attribute is a dictionary of frame filter
26137objects. @xref{Frame Filter API}, for more information.
26138@end defvar
26139
26140A @code{gdb.Objfile} object has the following methods:
26141
26142@defun Objfile.is_valid ()
26143Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Objfile} object is valid,
26144@code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Objfile} object can become invalid
26145if the object file it refers to is not loaded in @value{GDBN} any
26146longer. All other @code{gdb.Objfile} methods will throw an exception
26147if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
26148@end defun
26149
26150@node Frames In Python
26151@subsubsection Accessing inferior stack frames from Python.
26152
26153@cindex frames in python
26154When the debugged program stops, @value{GDBN} is able to analyze its call
26155stack (@pxref{Frames,,Stack frames}). The @code{gdb.Frame} class
26156represents a frame in the stack. A @code{gdb.Frame} object is only valid
26157while its corresponding frame exists in the inferior's stack. If you try
26158to use an invalid frame object, @value{GDBN} will throw a @code{gdb.error}
26159exception (@pxref{Exception Handling}).
26160
26161Two @code{gdb.Frame} objects can be compared for equality with the @code{==}
26162operator, like:
26163
26164@smallexample
26165(@value{GDBP}) python print gdb.newest_frame() == gdb.selected_frame ()
26166True
26167@end smallexample
26168
26169The following frame-related functions are available in the @code{gdb} module:
26170
26171@findex gdb.selected_frame
26172@defun gdb.selected_frame ()
26173Return the selected frame object. (@pxref{Selection,,Selecting a Frame}).
26174@end defun
26175
26176@findex gdb.newest_frame
26177@defun gdb.newest_frame ()
26178Return the newest frame object for the selected thread.
26179@end defun
26180
26181@defun gdb.frame_stop_reason_string (reason)
26182Return a string explaining the reason why @value{GDBN} stopped unwinding
26183frames, as expressed by the given @var{reason} code (an integer, see the
26184@code{unwind_stop_reason} method further down in this section).
26185@end defun
26186
26187A @code{gdb.Frame} object has the following methods:
26188
26189@defun Frame.is_valid ()
26190Returns true if the @code{gdb.Frame} object is valid, false if not.
26191A frame object can become invalid if the frame it refers to doesn't
26192exist anymore in the inferior. All @code{gdb.Frame} methods will throw
26193an exception if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
26194@end defun
26195
26196@defun Frame.name ()
26197Returns the function name of the frame, or @code{None} if it can't be
26198obtained.
26199@end defun
26200
26201@defun Frame.architecture ()
26202Returns the @code{gdb.Architecture} object corresponding to the frame's
26203architecture. @xref{Architectures In Python}.
26204@end defun
26205
26206@defun Frame.type ()
26207Returns the type of the frame. The value can be one of:
26208@table @code
26209@item gdb.NORMAL_FRAME
26210An ordinary stack frame.
26211
26212@item gdb.DUMMY_FRAME
26213A fake stack frame that was created by @value{GDBN} when performing an
26214inferior function call.
26215
26216@item gdb.INLINE_FRAME
26217A frame representing an inlined function. The function was inlined
26218into a @code{gdb.NORMAL_FRAME} that is older than this one.
26219
26220@item gdb.TAILCALL_FRAME
26221A frame representing a tail call. @xref{Tail Call Frames}.
26222
26223@item gdb.SIGTRAMP_FRAME
26224A signal trampoline frame. This is the frame created by the OS when
26225it calls into a signal handler.
26226
26227@item gdb.ARCH_FRAME
26228A fake stack frame representing a cross-architecture call.
26229
26230@item gdb.SENTINEL_FRAME
26231This is like @code{gdb.NORMAL_FRAME}, but it is only used for the
26232newest frame.
26233@end table
26234@end defun
26235
26236@defun Frame.unwind_stop_reason ()
26237Return an integer representing the reason why it's not possible to find
26238more frames toward the outermost frame. Use
26239@code{gdb.frame_stop_reason_string} to convert the value returned by this
26240function to a string. The value can be one of:
26241
26242@table @code
26243@item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_NO_REASON
26244No particular reason (older frames should be available).
26245
26246@item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_NULL_ID
26247The previous frame's analyzer returns an invalid result.
26248
26249@item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_OUTERMOST
26250This frame is the outermost.
26251
26252@item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_UNAVAILABLE
26253Cannot unwind further, because that would require knowing the
26254values of registers or memory that have not been collected.
26255
26256@item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_INNER_ID
26257This frame ID looks like it ought to belong to a NEXT frame,
26258but we got it for a PREV frame. Normally, this is a sign of
26259unwinder failure. It could also indicate stack corruption.
26260
26261@item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_SAME_ID
26262This frame has the same ID as the previous one. That means
26263that unwinding further would almost certainly give us another
26264frame with exactly the same ID, so break the chain. Normally,
26265this is a sign of unwinder failure. It could also indicate
26266stack corruption.
26267
26268@item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_NO_SAVED_PC
26269The frame unwinder did not find any saved PC, but we needed
26270one to unwind further.
26271
26272@item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_FIRST_ERROR
26273Any stop reason greater or equal to this value indicates some kind
26274of error. This special value facilitates writing code that tests
26275for errors in unwinding in a way that will work correctly even if
26276the list of the other values is modified in future @value{GDBN}
26277versions. Using it, you could write:
26278@smallexample
26279reason = gdb.selected_frame().unwind_stop_reason ()
26280reason_str = gdb.frame_stop_reason_string (reason)
26281if reason >= gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_FIRST_ERROR:
26282 print "An error occured: %s" % reason_str
26283@end smallexample
26284@end table
26285
26286@end defun
26287
26288@defun Frame.pc ()
26289Returns the frame's resume address.
26290@end defun
26291
26292@defun Frame.block ()
26293Return the frame's code block. @xref{Blocks In Python}.
26294@end defun
26295
26296@defun Frame.function ()
26297Return the symbol for the function corresponding to this frame.
26298@xref{Symbols In Python}.
26299@end defun
26300
26301@defun Frame.older ()
26302Return the frame that called this frame.
26303@end defun
26304
26305@defun Frame.newer ()
26306Return the frame called by this frame.
26307@end defun
26308
26309@defun Frame.find_sal ()
26310Return the frame's symtab and line object.
26311@xref{Symbol Tables In Python}.
26312@end defun
26313
26314@defun Frame.read_var (variable @r{[}, block@r{]})
26315Return the value of @var{variable} in this frame. If the optional
26316argument @var{block} is provided, search for the variable from that
26317block; otherwise start at the frame's current block (which is
26318determined by the frame's current program counter). @var{variable}
26319must be a string or a @code{gdb.Symbol} object. @var{block} must be a
26320@code{gdb.Block} object.
26321@end defun
26322
26323@defun Frame.select ()
26324Set this frame to be the selected frame. @xref{Stack, ,Examining the
26325Stack}.
26326@end defun
26327
26328@node Blocks In Python
26329@subsubsection Accessing blocks from Python.
26330
26331@cindex blocks in python
26332@tindex gdb.Block
26333
26334In @value{GDBN}, symbols are stored in blocks. A block corresponds
26335roughly to a scope in the source code. Blocks are organized
26336hierarchically, and are represented individually in Python as a
26337@code{gdb.Block}. Blocks rely on debugging information being
26338available.
26339
26340A frame has a block. Please see @ref{Frames In Python}, for a more
26341in-depth discussion of frames.
26342
26343The outermost block is known as the @dfn{global block}. The global
26344block typically holds public global variables and functions.
26345
26346The block nested just inside the global block is the @dfn{static
26347block}. The static block typically holds file-scoped variables and
26348functions.
26349
26350@value{GDBN} provides a method to get a block's superblock, but there
26351is currently no way to examine the sub-blocks of a block, or to
26352iterate over all the blocks in a symbol table (@pxref{Symbol Tables In
26353Python}).
26354
26355Here is a short example that should help explain blocks:
26356
26357@smallexample
26358/* This is in the global block. */
26359int global;
26360
26361/* This is in the static block. */
26362static int file_scope;
26363
26364/* 'function' is in the global block, and 'argument' is
26365 in a block nested inside of 'function'. */
26366int function (int argument)
26367@{
26368 /* 'local' is in a block inside 'function'. It may or may
26369 not be in the same block as 'argument'. */
26370 int local;
26371
26372 @{
26373 /* 'inner' is in a block whose superblock is the one holding
26374 'local'. */
26375 int inner;
26376
26377 /* If this call is expanded by the compiler, you may see
26378 a nested block here whose function is 'inline_function'
26379 and whose superblock is the one holding 'inner'. */
26380 inline_function ();
26381 @}
26382@}
26383@end smallexample
26384
26385A @code{gdb.Block} is iterable. The iterator returns the symbols
26386(@pxref{Symbols In Python}) local to the block. Python programs
26387should not assume that a specific block object will always contain a
26388given symbol, since changes in @value{GDBN} features and
26389infrastructure may cause symbols move across blocks in a symbol
26390table.
26391
26392The following block-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
26393module:
26394
26395@findex gdb.block_for_pc
26396@defun gdb.block_for_pc (pc)
26397Return the innermost @code{gdb.Block} containing the given @var{pc}
26398value. If the block cannot be found for the @var{pc} value specified,
26399the function will return @code{None}.
26400@end defun
26401
26402A @code{gdb.Block} object has the following methods:
26403
26404@defun Block.is_valid ()
26405Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Block} object is valid,
26406@code{False} if not. A block object can become invalid if the block it
26407refers to doesn't exist anymore in the inferior. All other
26408@code{gdb.Block} methods will throw an exception if it is invalid at
26409the time the method is called. The block's validity is also checked
26410during iteration over symbols of the block.
26411@end defun
26412
26413A @code{gdb.Block} object has the following attributes:
26414
26415@defvar Block.start
26416The start address of the block. This attribute is not writable.
26417@end defvar
26418
26419@defvar Block.end
26420The end address of the block. This attribute is not writable.
26421@end defvar
26422
26423@defvar Block.function
26424The name of the block represented as a @code{gdb.Symbol}. If the
26425block is not named, then this attribute holds @code{None}. This
26426attribute is not writable.
26427
26428For ordinary function blocks, the superblock is the static block.
26429However, you should note that it is possible for a function block to
26430have a superblock that is not the static block -- for instance this
26431happens for an inlined function.
26432@end defvar
26433
26434@defvar Block.superblock
26435The block containing this block. If this parent block does not exist,
26436this attribute holds @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
26437@end defvar
26438
26439@defvar Block.global_block
26440The global block associated with this block. This attribute is not
26441writable.
26442@end defvar
26443
26444@defvar Block.static_block
26445The static block associated with this block. This attribute is not
26446writable.
26447@end defvar
26448
26449@defvar Block.is_global
26450@code{True} if the @code{gdb.Block} object is a global block,
26451@code{False} if not. This attribute is not
26452writable.
26453@end defvar
26454
26455@defvar Block.is_static
26456@code{True} if the @code{gdb.Block} object is a static block,
26457@code{False} if not. This attribute is not writable.
26458@end defvar
26459
26460@node Symbols In Python
26461@subsubsection Python representation of Symbols.
26462
26463@cindex symbols in python
26464@tindex gdb.Symbol
26465
26466@value{GDBN} represents every variable, function and type as an
26467entry in a symbol table. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
26468Similarly, Python represents these symbols in @value{GDBN} with the
26469@code{gdb.Symbol} object.
26470
26471The following symbol-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
26472module:
26473
26474@findex gdb.lookup_symbol
26475@defun gdb.lookup_symbol (name @r{[}, block @r{[}, domain@r{]]})
26476This function searches for a symbol by name. The search scope can be
26477restricted to the parameters defined in the optional domain and block
26478arguments.
26479
26480@var{name} is the name of the symbol. It must be a string. The
26481optional @var{block} argument restricts the search to symbols visible
26482in that @var{block}. The @var{block} argument must be a
26483@code{gdb.Block} object. If omitted, the block for the current frame
26484is used. The optional @var{domain} argument restricts
26485the search to the domain type. The @var{domain} argument must be a
26486domain constant defined in the @code{gdb} module and described later
26487in this chapter.
26488
26489The result is a tuple of two elements.
26490The first element is a @code{gdb.Symbol} object or @code{None} if the symbol
26491is not found.
26492If the symbol is found, the second element is @code{True} if the symbol
26493is a field of a method's object (e.g., @code{this} in C@t{++}),
26494otherwise it is @code{False}.
26495If the symbol is not found, the second element is @code{False}.
26496@end defun
26497
26498@findex gdb.lookup_global_symbol
26499@defun gdb.lookup_global_symbol (name @r{[}, domain@r{]})
26500This function searches for a global symbol by name.
26501The search scope can be restricted to by the domain argument.
26502
26503@var{name} is the name of the symbol. It must be a string.
26504The optional @var{domain} argument restricts the search to the domain type.
26505The @var{domain} argument must be a domain constant defined in the @code{gdb}
26506module and described later in this chapter.
26507
26508The result is a @code{gdb.Symbol} object or @code{None} if the symbol
26509is not found.
26510@end defun
26511
26512A @code{gdb.Symbol} object has the following attributes:
26513
26514@defvar Symbol.type
26515The type of the symbol or @code{None} if no type is recorded.
26516This attribute is represented as a @code{gdb.Type} object.
26517@xref{Types In Python}. This attribute is not writable.
26518@end defvar
26519
26520@defvar Symbol.symtab
26521The symbol table in which the symbol appears. This attribute is
26522represented as a @code{gdb.Symtab} object. @xref{Symbol Tables In
26523Python}. This attribute is not writable.
26524@end defvar
26525
26526@defvar Symbol.line
26527The line number in the source code at which the symbol was defined.
26528This is an integer.
26529@end defvar
26530
26531@defvar Symbol.name
26532The name of the symbol as a string. This attribute is not writable.
26533@end defvar
26534
26535@defvar Symbol.linkage_name
26536The name of the symbol, as used by the linker (i.e., may be mangled).
26537This attribute is not writable.
26538@end defvar
26539
26540@defvar Symbol.print_name
26541The name of the symbol in a form suitable for output. This is either
26542@code{name} or @code{linkage_name}, depending on whether the user
26543asked @value{GDBN} to display demangled or mangled names.
26544@end defvar
26545
26546@defvar Symbol.addr_class
26547The address class of the symbol. This classifies how to find the value
26548of a symbol. Each address class is a constant defined in the
26549@code{gdb} module and described later in this chapter.
26550@end defvar
26551
26552@defvar Symbol.needs_frame
26553This is @code{True} if evaluating this symbol's value requires a frame
26554(@pxref{Frames In Python}) and @code{False} otherwise. Typically,
26555local variables will require a frame, but other symbols will not.
26556@end defvar
26557
26558@defvar Symbol.is_argument
26559@code{True} if the symbol is an argument of a function.
26560@end defvar
26561
26562@defvar Symbol.is_constant
26563@code{True} if the symbol is a constant.
26564@end defvar
26565
26566@defvar Symbol.is_function
26567@code{True} if the symbol is a function or a method.
26568@end defvar
26569
26570@defvar Symbol.is_variable
26571@code{True} if the symbol is a variable.
26572@end defvar
26573
26574A @code{gdb.Symbol} object has the following methods:
26575
26576@defun Symbol.is_valid ()
26577Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symbol} object is valid,
26578@code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symbol} object can become invalid if
26579the symbol it refers to does not exist in @value{GDBN} any longer.
26580All other @code{gdb.Symbol} methods will throw an exception if it is
26581invalid at the time the method is called.
26582@end defun
26583
26584@defun Symbol.value (@r{[}frame@r{]})
26585Compute the value of the symbol, as a @code{gdb.Value}. For
26586functions, this computes the address of the function, cast to the
26587appropriate type. If the symbol requires a frame in order to compute
26588its value, then @var{frame} must be given. If @var{frame} is not
26589given, or if @var{frame} is invalid, then this method will throw an
26590exception.
26591@end defun
26592
26593The available domain categories in @code{gdb.Symbol} are represented
26594as constants in the @code{gdb} module:
26595
26596@table @code
26597@findex SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
26598@findex gdb.SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
26599@item gdb.SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
26600This is used when a domain has not been discovered or none of the
26601following domains apply. This usually indicates an error either
26602in the symbol information or in @value{GDBN}'s handling of symbols.
26603@findex SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
26604@findex gdb.SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
26605@item gdb.SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
26606This domain contains variables, function names, typedef names and enum
26607type values.
26608@findex SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
26609@findex gdb.SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
26610@item gdb.SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
26611This domain holds struct, union and enum type names.
26612@findex SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
26613@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
26614@item gdb.SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
26615This domain contains names of labels (for gotos).
26616@findex SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
26617@findex gdb.SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
26618@item gdb.SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
26619This domain holds a subset of the @code{SYMBOLS_VAR_DOMAIN}; it
26620contains everything minus functions and types.
26621@findex SYMBOL_FUNCTIONS_DOMAIN
26622@findex gdb.SYMBOL_FUNCTIONS_DOMAIN
26623@item gdb.SYMBOL_FUNCTION_DOMAIN
26624This domain contains all functions.
26625@findex SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
26626@findex gdb.SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
26627@item gdb.SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
26628This domain contains all types.
26629@end table
26630
26631The available address class categories in @code{gdb.Symbol} are represented
26632as constants in the @code{gdb} module:
26633
26634@table @code
26635@findex SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
26636@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
26637@item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
26638If this is returned by address class, it indicates an error either in
26639the symbol information or in @value{GDBN}'s handling of symbols.
26640@findex SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
26641@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
26642@item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
26643Value is constant int.
26644@findex SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
26645@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
26646@item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
26647Value is at a fixed address.
26648@findex SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
26649@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
26650@item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
26651Value is in a register.
26652@findex SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
26653@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
26654@item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
26655Value is an argument. This value is at the offset stored within the
26656symbol inside the frame's argument list.
26657@findex SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
26658@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
26659@item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
26660Value address is stored in the frame's argument list. Just like
26661@code{LOC_ARG} except that the value's address is stored at the
26662offset, not the value itself.
26663@findex SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
26664@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
26665@item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
26666Value is a specified register. Just like @code{LOC_REGISTER} except
26667the register holds the address of the argument instead of the argument
26668itself.
26669@findex SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
26670@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
26671@item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
26672Value is a local variable.
26673@findex SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
26674@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
26675@item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
26676Value not used. Symbols in the domain @code{SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN} all
26677have this class.
26678@findex SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
26679@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
26680@item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
26681Value is a block.
26682@findex SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
26683@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
26684@item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
26685Value is a byte-sequence.
26686@findex SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
26687@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
26688@item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
26689Value is at a fixed address, but the address of the variable has to be
26690determined from the minimal symbol table whenever the variable is
26691referenced.
26692@findex SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
26693@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
26694@item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
26695The value does not actually exist in the program.
26696@findex SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
26697@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
26698@item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
26699The value's address is a computed location.
26700@end table
26701
26702@node Symbol Tables In Python
26703@subsubsection Symbol table representation in Python.
26704
26705@cindex symbol tables in python
26706@tindex gdb.Symtab
26707@tindex gdb.Symtab_and_line
26708
26709Access to symbol table data maintained by @value{GDBN} on the inferior
26710is exposed to Python via two objects: @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} and
26711@code{gdb.Symtab}. Symbol table and line data for a frame is returned
26712from the @code{find_sal} method in @code{gdb.Frame} object.
26713@xref{Frames In Python}.
26714
26715For more information on @value{GDBN}'s symbol table management, see
26716@ref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, for more information.
26717
26718A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object has the following attributes:
26719
26720@defvar Symtab_and_line.symtab
26721The symbol table object (@code{gdb.Symtab}) for this frame.
26722This attribute is not writable.
26723@end defvar
26724
26725@defvar Symtab_and_line.pc
26726Indicates the start of the address range occupied by code for the
26727current source line. This attribute is not writable.
26728@end defvar
26729
26730@defvar Symtab_and_line.last
26731Indicates the end of the address range occupied by code for the current
26732source line. This attribute is not writable.
26733@end defvar
26734
26735@defvar Symtab_and_line.line
26736Indicates the current line number for this object. This
26737attribute is not writable.
26738@end defvar
26739
26740A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object has the following methods:
26741
26742@defun Symtab_and_line.is_valid ()
26743Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object is valid,
26744@code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object can become
26745invalid if the Symbol table and line object it refers to does not
26746exist in @value{GDBN} any longer. All other
26747@code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} methods will throw an exception if it is
26748invalid at the time the method is called.
26749@end defun
26750
26751A @code{gdb.Symtab} object has the following attributes:
26752
26753@defvar Symtab.filename
26754The symbol table's source filename. This attribute is not writable.
26755@end defvar
26756
26757@defvar Symtab.objfile
26758The symbol table's backing object file. @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
26759This attribute is not writable.
26760@end defvar
26761
26762A @code{gdb.Symtab} object has the following methods:
26763
26764@defun Symtab.is_valid ()
26765Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symtab} object is valid,
26766@code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symtab} object can become invalid if
26767the symbol table it refers to does not exist in @value{GDBN} any
26768longer. All other @code{gdb.Symtab} methods will throw an exception
26769if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
26770@end defun
26771
26772@defun Symtab.fullname ()
26773Return the symbol table's source absolute file name.
26774@end defun
26775
26776@defun Symtab.global_block ()
26777Return the global block of the underlying symbol table.
26778@xref{Blocks In Python}.
26779@end defun
26780
26781@defun Symtab.static_block ()
26782Return the static block of the underlying symbol table.
26783@xref{Blocks In Python}.
26784@end defun
26785
26786@node Breakpoints In Python
26787@subsubsection Manipulating breakpoints using Python
26788
26789@cindex breakpoints in python
26790@tindex gdb.Breakpoint
26791
26792Python code can manipulate breakpoints via the @code{gdb.Breakpoint}
26793class.
26794
26795@defun Breakpoint.__init__ (spec @r{[}, type @r{[}, wp_class @r{[},internal@r{]]]})
26796Create a new breakpoint. @var{spec} is a string naming the
26797location of the breakpoint, or an expression that defines a
26798watchpoint. The contents can be any location recognized by the
26799@code{break} command, or in the case of a watchpoint, by the @code{watch}
26800command. The optional @var{type} denotes the breakpoint to create
26801from the types defined later in this chapter. This argument can be
26802either: @code{gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT} or @code{gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT}. @var{type}
26803defaults to @code{gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT}. The optional @var{internal} argument
26804allows the breakpoint to become invisible to the user. The breakpoint
26805will neither be reported when created, nor will it be listed in the
26806output from @code{info breakpoints} (but will be listed with the
26807@code{maint info breakpoints} command). The optional @var{wp_class}
26808argument defines the class of watchpoint to create, if @var{type} is
26809@code{gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT}. If a watchpoint class is not provided, it is
26810assumed to be a @code{gdb.WP_WRITE} class.
26811@end defun
26812
26813@defun Breakpoint.stop (self)
26814The @code{gdb.Breakpoint} class can be sub-classed and, in
26815particular, you may choose to implement the @code{stop} method.
26816If this method is defined as a sub-class of @code{gdb.Breakpoint},
26817it will be called when the inferior reaches any location of a
26818breakpoint which instantiates that sub-class. If the method returns
26819@code{True}, the inferior will be stopped at the location of the
26820breakpoint, otherwise the inferior will continue.
26821
26822If there are multiple breakpoints at the same location with a
26823@code{stop} method, each one will be called regardless of the
26824return status of the previous. This ensures that all @code{stop}
26825methods have a chance to execute at that location. In this scenario
26826if one of the methods returns @code{True} but the others return
26827@code{False}, the inferior will still be stopped.
26828
26829You should not alter the execution state of the inferior (i.e.@:, step,
26830next, etc.), alter the current frame context (i.e.@:, change the current
26831active frame), or alter, add or delete any breakpoint. As a general
26832rule, you should not alter any data within @value{GDBN} or the inferior
26833at this time.
26834
26835Example @code{stop} implementation:
26836
26837@smallexample
26838class MyBreakpoint (gdb.Breakpoint):
26839 def stop (self):
26840 inf_val = gdb.parse_and_eval("foo")
26841 if inf_val == 3:
26842 return True
26843 return False
26844@end smallexample
26845@end defun
26846
26847The available watchpoint types represented by constants are defined in the
26848@code{gdb} module:
26849
26850@table @code
26851@findex WP_READ
26852@findex gdb.WP_READ
26853@item gdb.WP_READ
26854Read only watchpoint.
26855
26856@findex WP_WRITE
26857@findex gdb.WP_WRITE
26858@item gdb.WP_WRITE
26859Write only watchpoint.
26860
26861@findex WP_ACCESS
26862@findex gdb.WP_ACCESS
26863@item gdb.WP_ACCESS
26864Read/Write watchpoint.
26865@end table
26866
26867@defun Breakpoint.is_valid ()
26868Return @code{True} if this @code{Breakpoint} object is valid,
26869@code{False} otherwise. A @code{Breakpoint} object can become invalid
26870if the user deletes the breakpoint. In this case, the object still
26871exists, but the underlying breakpoint does not. In the cases of
26872watchpoint scope, the watchpoint remains valid even if execution of the
26873inferior leaves the scope of that watchpoint.
26874@end defun
26875
26876@defun Breakpoint.delete
26877Permanently deletes the @value{GDBN} breakpoint. This also
26878invalidates the Python @code{Breakpoint} object. Any further access
26879to this object's attributes or methods will raise an error.
26880@end defun
26881
26882@defvar Breakpoint.enabled
26883This attribute is @code{True} if the breakpoint is enabled, and
26884@code{False} otherwise. This attribute is writable.
26885@end defvar
26886
26887@defvar Breakpoint.silent
26888This attribute is @code{True} if the breakpoint is silent, and
26889@code{False} otherwise. This attribute is writable.
26890
26891Note that a breakpoint can also be silent if it has commands and the
26892first command is @code{silent}. This is not reported by the
26893@code{silent} attribute.
26894@end defvar
26895
26896@defvar Breakpoint.thread
26897If the breakpoint is thread-specific, this attribute holds the thread
26898id. If the breakpoint is not thread-specific, this attribute is
26899@code{None}. This attribute is writable.
26900@end defvar
26901
26902@defvar Breakpoint.task
26903If the breakpoint is Ada task-specific, this attribute holds the Ada task
26904id. If the breakpoint is not task-specific (or the underlying
26905language is not Ada), this attribute is @code{None}. This attribute
26906is writable.
26907@end defvar
26908
26909@defvar Breakpoint.ignore_count
26910This attribute holds the ignore count for the breakpoint, an integer.
26911This attribute is writable.
26912@end defvar
26913
26914@defvar Breakpoint.number
26915This attribute holds the breakpoint's number --- the identifier used by
26916the user to manipulate the breakpoint. This attribute is not writable.
26917@end defvar
26918
26919@defvar Breakpoint.type
26920This attribute holds the breakpoint's type --- the identifier used to
26921determine the actual breakpoint type or use-case. This attribute is not
26922writable.
26923@end defvar
26924
26925@defvar Breakpoint.visible
26926This attribute tells whether the breakpoint is visible to the user
26927when set, or when the @samp{info breakpoints} command is run. This
26928attribute is not writable.
26929@end defvar
26930
26931The available types are represented by constants defined in the @code{gdb}
26932module:
26933
26934@table @code
26935@findex BP_BREAKPOINT
26936@findex gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT
26937@item gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT
26938Normal code breakpoint.
26939
26940@findex BP_WATCHPOINT
26941@findex gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT
26942@item gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT
26943Watchpoint breakpoint.
26944
26945@findex BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
26946@findex gdb.BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
26947@item gdb.BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
26948Hardware assisted watchpoint.
26949
26950@findex BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
26951@findex gdb.BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
26952@item gdb.BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
26953Hardware assisted read watchpoint.
26954
26955@findex BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
26956@findex gdb.BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
26957@item gdb.BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
26958Hardware assisted access watchpoint.
26959@end table
26960
26961@defvar Breakpoint.hit_count
26962This attribute holds the hit count for the breakpoint, an integer.
26963This attribute is writable, but currently it can only be set to zero.
26964@end defvar
26965
26966@defvar Breakpoint.location
26967This attribute holds the location of the breakpoint, as specified by
26968the user. It is a string. If the breakpoint does not have a location
26969(that is, it is a watchpoint) the attribute's value is @code{None}. This
26970attribute is not writable.
26971@end defvar
26972
26973@defvar Breakpoint.expression
26974This attribute holds a breakpoint expression, as specified by
26975the user. It is a string. If the breakpoint does not have an
26976expression (the breakpoint is not a watchpoint) the attribute's value
26977is @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
26978@end defvar
26979
26980@defvar Breakpoint.condition
26981This attribute holds the condition of the breakpoint, as specified by
26982the user. It is a string. If there is no condition, this attribute's
26983value is @code{None}. This attribute is writable.
26984@end defvar
26985
26986@defvar Breakpoint.commands
26987This attribute holds the commands attached to the breakpoint. If
26988there are commands, this attribute's value is a string holding all the
26989commands, separated by newlines. If there are no commands, this
26990attribute is @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
26991@end defvar
26992
26993@node Finish Breakpoints in Python
26994@subsubsection Finish Breakpoints
26995
26996@cindex python finish breakpoints
26997@tindex gdb.FinishBreakpoint
26998
26999A finish breakpoint is a temporary breakpoint set at the return address of
27000a frame, based on the @code{finish} command. @code{gdb.FinishBreakpoint}
27001extends @code{gdb.Breakpoint}. The underlying breakpoint will be disabled
27002and deleted when the execution will run out of the breakpoint scope (i.e.@:
27003@code{Breakpoint.stop} or @code{FinishBreakpoint.out_of_scope} triggered).
27004Finish breakpoints are thread specific and must be create with the right
27005thread selected.
27006
27007@defun FinishBreakpoint.__init__ (@r{[}frame@r{]} @r{[}, internal@r{]})
27008Create a finish breakpoint at the return address of the @code{gdb.Frame}
27009object @var{frame}. If @var{frame} is not provided, this defaults to the
27010newest frame. The optional @var{internal} argument allows the breakpoint to
27011become invisible to the user. @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for further
27012details about this argument.
27013@end defun
27014
27015@defun FinishBreakpoint.out_of_scope (self)
27016In some circumstances (e.g.@: @code{longjmp}, C@t{++} exceptions, @value{GDBN}
27017@code{return} command, @dots{}), a function may not properly terminate, and
27018thus never hit the finish breakpoint. When @value{GDBN} notices such a
27019situation, the @code{out_of_scope} callback will be triggered.
27020
27021You may want to sub-class @code{gdb.FinishBreakpoint} and override this
27022method:
27023
27024@smallexample
27025class MyFinishBreakpoint (gdb.FinishBreakpoint)
27026 def stop (self):
27027 print "normal finish"
27028 return True
27029
27030 def out_of_scope ():
27031 print "abnormal finish"
27032@end smallexample
27033@end defun
27034
27035@defvar FinishBreakpoint.return_value
27036When @value{GDBN} is stopped at a finish breakpoint and the frame
27037used to build the @code{gdb.FinishBreakpoint} object had debug symbols, this
27038attribute will contain a @code{gdb.Value} object corresponding to the return
27039value of the function. The value will be @code{None} if the function return
27040type is @code{void} or if the return value was not computable. This attribute
27041is not writable.
27042@end defvar
27043
27044@node Lazy Strings In Python
27045@subsubsection Python representation of lazy strings.
27046
27047@cindex lazy strings in python
27048@tindex gdb.LazyString
27049
27050A @dfn{lazy string} is a string whose contents is not retrieved or
27051encoded until it is needed.
27052
27053A @code{gdb.LazyString} is represented in @value{GDBN} as an
27054@code{address} that points to a region of memory, an @code{encoding}
27055that will be used to encode that region of memory, and a @code{length}
27056to delimit the region of memory that represents the string. The
27057difference between a @code{gdb.LazyString} and a string wrapped within
27058a @code{gdb.Value} is that a @code{gdb.LazyString} will be treated
27059differently by @value{GDBN} when printing. A @code{gdb.LazyString} is
27060retrieved and encoded during printing, while a @code{gdb.Value}
27061wrapping a string is immediately retrieved and encoded on creation.
27062
27063A @code{gdb.LazyString} object has the following functions:
27064
27065@defun LazyString.value ()
27066Convert the @code{gdb.LazyString} to a @code{gdb.Value}. This value
27067will point to the string in memory, but will lose all the delayed
27068retrieval, encoding and handling that @value{GDBN} applies to a
27069@code{gdb.LazyString}.
27070@end defun
27071
27072@defvar LazyString.address
27073This attribute holds the address of the string. This attribute is not
27074writable.
27075@end defvar
27076
27077@defvar LazyString.length
27078This attribute holds the length of the string in characters. If the
27079length is -1, then the string will be fetched and encoded up to the
27080first null of appropriate width. This attribute is not writable.
27081@end defvar
27082
27083@defvar LazyString.encoding
27084This attribute holds the encoding that will be applied to the string
27085when the string is printed by @value{GDBN}. If the encoding is not
27086set, or contains an empty string, then @value{GDBN} will select the
27087most appropriate encoding when the string is printed. This attribute
27088is not writable.
27089@end defvar
27090
27091@defvar LazyString.type
27092This attribute holds the type that is represented by the lazy string's
27093type. For a lazy string this will always be a pointer type. To
27094resolve this to the lazy string's character type, use the type's
27095@code{target} method. @xref{Types In Python}. This attribute is not
27096writable.
27097@end defvar
27098
27099@node Architectures In Python
27100@subsubsection Python representation of architectures
27101@cindex Python architectures
27102
27103@value{GDBN} uses architecture specific parameters and artifacts in a
27104number of its various computations. An architecture is represented
27105by an instance of the @code{gdb.Architecture} class.
27106
27107A @code{gdb.Architecture} class has the following methods:
27108
27109@defun Architecture.name ()
27110Return the name (string value) of the architecture.
27111@end defun
27112
27113@defun Architecture.disassemble (@var{start_pc} @r{[}, @var{end_pc} @r{[}, @var{count}@r{]]})
27114Return a list of disassembled instructions starting from the memory
27115address @var{start_pc}. The optional arguments @var{end_pc} and
27116@var{count} determine the number of instructions in the returned list.
27117If both the optional arguments @var{end_pc} and @var{count} are
27118specified, then a list of at most @var{count} disassembled instructions
27119whose start address falls in the closed memory address interval from
27120@var{start_pc} to @var{end_pc} are returned. If @var{end_pc} is not
27121specified, but @var{count} is specified, then @var{count} number of
27122instructions starting from the address @var{start_pc} are returned. If
27123@var{count} is not specified but @var{end_pc} is specified, then all
27124instructions whose start address falls in the closed memory address
27125interval from @var{start_pc} to @var{end_pc} are returned. If neither
27126@var{end_pc} nor @var{count} are specified, then a single instruction at
27127@var{start_pc} is returned. For all of these cases, each element of the
27128returned list is a Python @code{dict} with the following string keys:
27129
27130@table @code
27131
27132@item addr
27133The value corresponding to this key is a Python long integer capturing
27134the memory address of the instruction.
27135
27136@item asm
27137The value corresponding to this key is a string value which represents
27138the instruction with assembly language mnemonics. The assembly
27139language flavor used is the same as that specified by the current CLI
27140variable @code{disassembly-flavor}. @xref{Machine Code}.
27141
27142@item length
27143The value corresponding to this key is the length (integer value) of the
27144instruction in bytes.
27145
27146@end table
27147@end defun
27148
27149@node Python Auto-loading
27150@subsection Python Auto-loading
27151@cindex Python auto-loading
27152
27153When a new object file is read (for example, due to the @code{file}
27154command, or because the inferior has loaded a shared library),
27155@value{GDBN} will look for Python support scripts in several ways:
27156@file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} (@pxref{objfile-gdb.py file})
27157and @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
27158(@pxref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section}).
27159
27160The auto-loading feature is useful for supplying application-specific
27161debugging commands and scripts.
27162
27163Auto-loading can be enabled or disabled,
27164and the list of auto-loaded scripts can be printed.
27165
27166@table @code
27167@anchor{set auto-load python-scripts}
27168@kindex set auto-load python-scripts
27169@item set auto-load python-scripts [on|off]
27170Enable or disable the auto-loading of Python scripts.
27171
27172@anchor{show auto-load python-scripts}
27173@kindex show auto-load python-scripts
27174@item show auto-load python-scripts
27175Show whether auto-loading of Python scripts is enabled or disabled.
27176
27177@anchor{info auto-load python-scripts}
27178@kindex info auto-load python-scripts
27179@cindex print list of auto-loaded Python scripts
27180@item info auto-load python-scripts [@var{regexp}]
27181Print the list of all Python scripts that @value{GDBN} auto-loaded.
27182
27183Also printed is the list of Python scripts that were mentioned in
27184the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section and were not found
27185(@pxref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section}).
27186This is useful because their names are not printed when @value{GDBN}
27187tries to load them and fails. There may be many of them, and printing
27188an error message for each one is problematic.
27189
27190If @var{regexp} is supplied only Python scripts with matching names are printed.
27191
27192Example:
27193
27194@smallexample
27195(gdb) info auto-load python-scripts
27196Loaded Script
27197Yes py-section-script.py
27198 full name: /tmp/py-section-script.py
27199No my-foo-pretty-printers.py
27200@end smallexample
27201@end table
27202
27203When reading an auto-loaded file, @value{GDBN} sets the
27204@dfn{current objfile}. This is available via the @code{gdb.current_objfile}
27205function (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}). This can be useful for
27206registering objfile-specific pretty-printers and frame-filters.
27207
27208@menu
27209* objfile-gdb.py file:: The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} file
27210* dotdebug_gdb_scripts section:: The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
27211* Which flavor to choose?::
27212@end menu
27213
27214@node objfile-gdb.py file
27215@subsubsection The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} file
27216@cindex @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py}
27217
27218When a new object file is read, @value{GDBN} looks for
27219a file named @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} (we call it @var{script-name} below),
27220where @var{objfile} is the object file's real name, formed by ensuring
27221that the file name is absolute, following all symlinks, and resolving
27222@code{.} and @code{..} components. If this file exists and is
27223readable, @value{GDBN} will evaluate it as a Python script.
27224
27225If this file does not exist, then @value{GDBN} will look for
27226@var{script-name} file in all of the directories as specified below.
27227
27228Note that loading of this script file also requires accordingly configured
27229@code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
27230
27231For object files using @file{.exe} suffix @value{GDBN} tries to load first the
27232scripts normally according to its @file{.exe} filename. But if no scripts are
27233found @value{GDBN} also tries script filenames matching the object file without
27234its @file{.exe} suffix. This @file{.exe} stripping is case insensitive and it
27235is attempted on any platform. This makes the script filenames compatible
27236between Unix and MS-Windows hosts.
27237
27238@table @code
27239@anchor{set auto-load scripts-directory}
27240@kindex set auto-load scripts-directory
27241@item set auto-load scripts-directory @r{[}@var{directories}@r{]}
27242Control @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location. Multiple directory entries
27243may be delimited by the host platform path separator in use
27244(@samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on MS-Windows and MS-DOS).
27245
27246Each entry here needs to be covered also by the security setting
27247@code{set auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{set auto-load safe-path}).
27248
27249@anchor{with-auto-load-dir}
27250This variable defaults to @file{$debugdir:$datadir/auto-load}. The default
27251@code{set auto-load safe-path} value can be also overriden by @value{GDBN}
27252configuration option @option{--with-auto-load-dir}.
27253
27254Any reference to @file{$debugdir} will get replaced by
27255@var{debug-file-directory} value (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}) and any
27256reference to @file{$datadir} will get replaced by @var{data-directory} which is
27257determined at @value{GDBN} startup (@pxref{Data Files}). @file{$debugdir} and
27258@file{$datadir} must be placed as a directory component --- either alone or
27259delimited by @file{/} or @file{\} directory separators, depending on the host
27260platform.
27261
27262The list of directories uses path separator (@samp{:} on GNU and Unix
27263systems, @samp{;} on MS-Windows and MS-DOS) to separate directories, similarly
27264to the @env{PATH} environment variable.
27265
27266@anchor{show auto-load scripts-directory}
27267@kindex show auto-load scripts-directory
27268@item show auto-load scripts-directory
27269Show @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location.
27270@end table
27271
27272@value{GDBN} does not track which files it has already auto-loaded this way.
27273@value{GDBN} will load the associated script every time the corresponding
27274@var{objfile} is opened.
27275So your @file{-gdb.py} file should be careful to avoid errors if it
27276is evaluated more than once.
27277
27278@node dotdebug_gdb_scripts section
27279@subsubsection The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
27280@cindex @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
27281
27282For systems using file formats like ELF and COFF,
27283when @value{GDBN} loads a new object file
27284it will look for a special section named @samp{.debug_gdb_scripts}.
27285If this section exists, its contents is a list of names of scripts to load.
27286
27287@value{GDBN} will look for each specified script file first in the
27288current directory and then along the source search path
27289(@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}),
27290except that @file{$cdir} is not searched, since the compilation
27291directory is not relevant to scripts.
27292
27293Entries can be placed in section @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} with,
27294for example, this GCC macro:
27295
27296@example
27297/* Note: The "MS" section flags are to remove duplicates. */
27298#define DEFINE_GDB_SCRIPT(script_name) \
27299 asm("\
27300.pushsection \".debug_gdb_scripts\", \"MS\",@@progbits,1\n\
27301.byte 1\n\
27302.asciz \"" script_name "\"\n\
27303.popsection \n\
27304");
27305@end example
27306
27307@noindent
27308Then one can reference the macro in a header or source file like this:
27309
27310@example
27311DEFINE_GDB_SCRIPT ("my-app-scripts.py")
27312@end example
27313
27314The script name may include directories if desired.
27315
27316Note that loading of this script file also requires accordingly configured
27317@code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
27318
27319If the macro is put in a header, any application or library
27320using this header will get a reference to the specified script.
27321
27322@node Which flavor to choose?
27323@subsubsection Which flavor to choose?
27324
27325Given the multiple ways of auto-loading Python scripts, it might not always
27326be clear which one to choose. This section provides some guidance.
27327
27328Benefits of the @file{-gdb.py} way:
27329
27330@itemize @bullet
27331@item
27332Can be used with file formats that don't support multiple sections.
27333
27334@item
27335Ease of finding scripts for public libraries.
27336
27337Scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section are searched for
27338in the source search path.
27339For publicly installed libraries, e.g., @file{libstdc++}, there typically
27340isn't a source directory in which to find the script.
27341
27342@item
27343Doesn't require source code additions.
27344@end itemize
27345
27346Benefits of the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} way:
27347
27348@itemize @bullet
27349@item
27350Works with static linking.
27351
27352Scripts for libraries done the @file{-gdb.py} way require an objfile to
27353trigger their loading. When an application is statically linked the only
27354objfile available is the executable, and it is cumbersome to attach all the
27355scripts from all the input libraries to the executable's @file{-gdb.py} script.
27356
27357@item
27358Works with classes that are entirely inlined.
27359
27360Some classes can be entirely inlined, and thus there may not be an associated
27361shared library to attach a @file{-gdb.py} script to.
27362
27363@item
27364Scripts needn't be copied out of the source tree.
27365
27366In some circumstances, apps can be built out of large collections of internal
27367libraries, and the build infrastructure necessary to install the
27368@file{-gdb.py} scripts in a place where @value{GDBN} can find them is
27369cumbersome. It may be easier to specify the scripts in the
27370@code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section as relative paths, and add a path to the
27371top of the source tree to the source search path.
27372@end itemize
27373
27374@node Python modules
27375@subsection Python modules
27376@cindex python modules
27377
27378@value{GDBN} comes with several modules to assist writing Python code.
27379
27380@menu
27381* gdb.printing:: Building and registering pretty-printers.
27382* gdb.types:: Utilities for working with types.
27383* gdb.prompt:: Utilities for prompt value substitution.
27384@end menu
27385
27386@node gdb.printing
27387@subsubsection gdb.printing
27388@cindex gdb.printing
27389
27390This module provides a collection of utilities for working with
27391pretty-printers.
27392
27393@table @code
27394@item PrettyPrinter (@var{name}, @var{subprinters}=None)
27395This class specifies the API that makes @samp{info pretty-printer},
27396@samp{enable pretty-printer} and @samp{disable pretty-printer} work.
27397Pretty-printers should generally inherit from this class.
27398
27399@item SubPrettyPrinter (@var{name})
27400For printers that handle multiple types, this class specifies the
27401corresponding API for the subprinters.
27402
27403@item RegexpCollectionPrettyPrinter (@var{name})
27404Utility class for handling multiple printers, all recognized via
27405regular expressions.
27406@xref{Writing a Pretty-Printer}, for an example.
27407
27408@item FlagEnumerationPrinter (@var{name})
27409A pretty-printer which handles printing of @code{enum} values. Unlike
27410@value{GDBN}'s built-in @code{enum} printing, this printer attempts to
27411work properly when there is some overlap between the enumeration
27412constants. @var{name} is the name of the printer and also the name of
27413the @code{enum} type to look up.
27414
27415@item register_pretty_printer (@var{obj}, @var{printer}, @var{replace}=False)
27416Register @var{printer} with the pretty-printer list of @var{obj}.
27417If @var{replace} is @code{True} then any existing copy of the printer
27418is replaced. Otherwise a @code{RuntimeError} exception is raised
27419if a printer with the same name already exists.
27420@end table
27421
27422@node gdb.types
27423@subsubsection gdb.types
27424@cindex gdb.types
27425
27426This module provides a collection of utilities for working with
27427@code{gdb.Type} objects.
27428
27429@table @code
27430@item get_basic_type (@var{type})
27431Return @var{type} with const and volatile qualifiers stripped,
27432and with typedefs and C@t{++} references converted to the underlying type.
27433
27434C@t{++} example:
27435
27436@smallexample
27437typedef const int const_int;
27438const_int foo (3);
27439const_int& foo_ref (foo);
27440int main () @{ return 0; @}
27441@end smallexample
27442
27443Then in gdb:
27444
27445@smallexample
27446(gdb) start
27447(gdb) python import gdb.types
27448(gdb) python foo_ref = gdb.parse_and_eval("foo_ref")
27449(gdb) python print gdb.types.get_basic_type(foo_ref.type)
27450int
27451@end smallexample
27452
27453@item has_field (@var{type}, @var{field})
27454Return @code{True} if @var{type}, assumed to be a type with fields
27455(e.g., a structure or union), has field @var{field}.
27456
27457@item make_enum_dict (@var{enum_type})
27458Return a Python @code{dictionary} type produced from @var{enum_type}.
27459
27460@item deep_items (@var{type})
27461Returns a Python iterator similar to the standard
27462@code{gdb.Type.iteritems} method, except that the iterator returned
27463by @code{deep_items} will recursively traverse anonymous struct or
27464union fields. For example:
27465
27466@smallexample
27467struct A
27468@{
27469 int a;
27470 union @{
27471 int b0;
27472 int b1;
27473 @};
27474@};
27475@end smallexample
27476
27477@noindent
27478Then in @value{GDBN}:
27479@smallexample
27480(@value{GDBP}) python import gdb.types
27481(@value{GDBP}) python struct_a = gdb.lookup_type("struct A")
27482(@value{GDBP}) python print struct_a.keys ()
27483@{['a', '']@}
27484(@value{GDBP}) python print [k for k,v in gdb.types.deep_items(struct_a)]
27485@{['a', 'b0', 'b1']@}
27486@end smallexample
27487
27488@item get_type_recognizers ()
27489Return a list of the enabled type recognizers for the current context.
27490This is called by @value{GDBN} during the type-printing process
27491(@pxref{Type Printing API}).
27492
27493@item apply_type_recognizers (recognizers, type_obj)
27494Apply the type recognizers, @var{recognizers}, to the type object
27495@var{type_obj}. If any recognizer returns a string, return that
27496string. Otherwise, return @code{None}. This is called by
27497@value{GDBN} during the type-printing process (@pxref{Type Printing
27498API}).
27499
27500@item register_type_printer (locus, printer)
27501This is a convenience function to register a type printer.
27502@var{printer} is the type printer to register. It must implement the
27503type printer protocol. @var{locus} is either a @code{gdb.Objfile}, in
27504which case the printer is registered with that objfile; a
27505@code{gdb.Progspace}, in which case the printer is registered with
27506that progspace; or @code{None}, in which case the printer is
27507registered globally.
27508
27509@item TypePrinter
27510This is a base class that implements the type printer protocol. Type
27511printers are encouraged, but not required, to derive from this class.
27512It defines a constructor:
27513
27514@defmethod TypePrinter __init__ (self, name)
27515Initialize the type printer with the given name. The new printer
27516starts in the enabled state.
27517@end defmethod
27518
27519@end table
27520
27521@node gdb.prompt
27522@subsubsection gdb.prompt
27523@cindex gdb.prompt
27524
27525This module provides a method for prompt value-substitution.
27526
27527@table @code
27528@item substitute_prompt (@var{string})
27529Return @var{string} with escape sequences substituted by values. Some
27530escape sequences take arguments. You can specify arguments inside
27531``@{@}'' immediately following the escape sequence.
27532
27533The escape sequences you can pass to this function are:
27534
27535@table @code
27536@item \\
27537Substitute a backslash.
27538@item \e
27539Substitute an ESC character.
27540@item \f
27541Substitute the selected frame; an argument names a frame parameter.
27542@item \n
27543Substitute a newline.
27544@item \p
27545Substitute a parameter's value; the argument names the parameter.
27546@item \r
27547Substitute a carriage return.
27548@item \t
27549Substitute the selected thread; an argument names a thread parameter.
27550@item \v
27551Substitute the version of GDB.
27552@item \w
27553Substitute the current working directory.
27554@item \[
27555Begin a sequence of non-printing characters. These sequences are
27556typically used with the ESC character, and are not counted in the string
27557length. Example: ``\[\e[0;34m\](gdb)\[\e[0m\]'' will return a
27558blue-colored ``(gdb)'' prompt where the length is five.
27559@item \]
27560End a sequence of non-printing characters.
27561@end table
27562
27563For example:
27564
27565@smallexample
27566substitute_prompt (``frame: \f,
27567 print arguments: \p@{print frame-arguments@}'')
27568@end smallexample
27569
27570@exdent will return the string:
27571
27572@smallexample
27573"frame: main, print arguments: scalars"
27574@end smallexample
27575@end table
27576
27577@node Aliases
27578@section Creating new spellings of existing commands
27579@cindex aliases for commands
27580
27581It is often useful to define alternate spellings of existing commands.
27582For example, if a new @value{GDBN} command defined in Python has
27583a long name to type, it is handy to have an abbreviated version of it
27584that involves less typing.
27585
27586@value{GDBN} itself uses aliases. For example @samp{s} is an alias
27587of the @samp{step} command even though it is otherwise an ambiguous
27588abbreviation of other commands like @samp{set} and @samp{show}.
27589
27590Aliases are also used to provide shortened or more common versions
27591of multi-word commands. For example, @value{GDBN} provides the
27592@samp{tty} alias of the @samp{set inferior-tty} command.
27593
27594You can define a new alias with the @samp{alias} command.
27595
27596@table @code
27597
27598@kindex alias
27599@item alias [-a] [--] @var{ALIAS} = @var{COMMAND}
27600
27601@end table
27602
27603@var{ALIAS} specifies the name of the new alias.
27604Each word of @var{ALIAS} must consist of letters, numbers, dashes and
27605underscores.
27606
27607@var{COMMAND} specifies the name of an existing command
27608that is being aliased.
27609
27610The @samp{-a} option specifies that the new alias is an abbreviation
27611of the command. Abbreviations are not shown in command
27612lists displayed by the @samp{help} command.
27613
27614The @samp{--} option specifies the end of options,
27615and is useful when @var{ALIAS} begins with a dash.
27616
27617Here is a simple example showing how to make an abbreviation
27618of a command so that there is less to type.
27619Suppose you were tired of typing @samp{disas}, the current
27620shortest unambiguous abbreviation of the @samp{disassemble} command
27621and you wanted an even shorter version named @samp{di}.
27622The following will accomplish this.
27623
27624@smallexample
27625(gdb) alias -a di = disas
27626@end smallexample
27627
27628Note that aliases are different from user-defined commands.
27629With a user-defined command, you also need to write documentation
27630for it with the @samp{document} command.
27631An alias automatically picks up the documentation of the existing command.
27632
27633Here is an example where we make @samp{elms} an abbreviation of
27634@samp{elements} in the @samp{set print elements} command.
27635This is to show that you can make an abbreviation of any part
27636of a command.
27637
27638@smallexample
27639(gdb) alias -a set print elms = set print elements
27640(gdb) alias -a show print elms = show print elements
27641(gdb) set p elms 20
27642(gdb) show p elms
27643Limit on string chars or array elements to print is 200.
27644@end smallexample
27645
27646Note that if you are defining an alias of a @samp{set} command,
27647and you want to have an alias for the corresponding @samp{show}
27648command, then you need to define the latter separately.
27649
27650Unambiguously abbreviated commands are allowed in @var{COMMAND} and
27651@var{ALIAS}, just as they are normally.
27652
27653@smallexample
27654(gdb) alias -a set pr elms = set p ele
27655@end smallexample
27656
27657Finally, here is an example showing the creation of a one word
27658alias for a more complex command.
27659This creates alias @samp{spe} of the command @samp{set print elements}.
27660
27661@smallexample
27662(gdb) alias spe = set print elements
27663(gdb) spe 20
27664@end smallexample
27665
27666@node Interpreters
27667@chapter Command Interpreters
27668@cindex command interpreters
27669
27670@value{GDBN} supports multiple command interpreters, and some command
27671infrastructure to allow users or user interface writers to switch
27672between interpreters or run commands in other interpreters.
27673
27674@value{GDBN} currently supports two command interpreters, the console
27675interpreter (sometimes called the command-line interpreter or @sc{cli})
27676and the machine interface interpreter (or @sc{gdb/mi}). This manual
27677describes both of these interfaces in great detail.
27678
27679By default, @value{GDBN} will start with the console interpreter.
27680However, the user may choose to start @value{GDBN} with another
27681interpreter by specifying the @option{-i} or @option{--interpreter}
27682startup options. Defined interpreters include:
27683
27684@table @code
27685@item console
27686@cindex console interpreter
27687The traditional console or command-line interpreter. This is the most often
27688used interpreter with @value{GDBN}. With no interpreter specified at runtime,
27689@value{GDBN} will use this interpreter.
27690
27691@item mi
27692@cindex mi interpreter
27693The newest @sc{gdb/mi} interface (currently @code{mi2}). Used primarily
27694by programs wishing to use @value{GDBN} as a backend for a debugger GUI
27695or an IDE. For more information, see @ref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi}
27696Interface}.
27697
27698@item mi2
27699@cindex mi2 interpreter
27700The current @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
27701
27702@item mi1
27703@cindex mi1 interpreter
27704The @sc{gdb/mi} interface included in @value{GDBN} 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3.
27705
27706@end table
27707
27708@cindex invoke another interpreter
27709The interpreter being used by @value{GDBN} may not be dynamically
27710switched at runtime. Although possible, this could lead to a very
27711precarious situation. Consider an IDE using @sc{gdb/mi}. If a user
27712enters the command "interpreter-set console" in a console view,
27713@value{GDBN} would switch to using the console interpreter, rendering
27714the IDE inoperable!
27715
27716@kindex interpreter-exec
27717Although you may only choose a single interpreter at startup, you may execute
27718commands in any interpreter from the current interpreter using the appropriate
27719command. If you are running the console interpreter, simply use the
27720@code{interpreter-exec} command:
27721
27722@smallexample
27723interpreter-exec mi "-data-list-register-names"
27724@end smallexample
27725
27726@sc{gdb/mi} has a similar command, although it is only available in versions of
27727@value{GDBN} which support @sc{gdb/mi} version 2 (or greater).
27728
27729@node TUI
27730@chapter @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
27731@cindex TUI
27732@cindex Text User Interface
27733
27734@menu
27735* TUI Overview:: TUI overview
27736* TUI Keys:: TUI key bindings
27737* TUI Single Key Mode:: TUI single key mode
27738* TUI Commands:: TUI-specific commands
27739* TUI Configuration:: TUI configuration variables
27740@end menu
27741
27742The @value{GDBN} Text User Interface (TUI) is a terminal
27743interface which uses the @code{curses} library to show the source
27744file, the assembly output, the program registers and @value{GDBN}
27745commands in separate text windows. The TUI mode is supported only
27746on platforms where a suitable version of the @code{curses} library
27747is available.
27748
27749The TUI mode is enabled by default when you invoke @value{GDBN} as
27750@samp{@value{GDBP} -tui}.
27751You can also switch in and out of TUI mode while @value{GDBN} runs by
27752using various TUI commands and key bindings, such as @kbd{C-x C-a}.
27753@xref{TUI Keys, ,TUI Key Bindings}.
27754
27755@node TUI Overview
27756@section TUI Overview
27757
27758In TUI mode, @value{GDBN} can display several text windows:
27759
27760@table @emph
27761@item command
27762This window is the @value{GDBN} command window with the @value{GDBN}
27763prompt and the @value{GDBN} output. The @value{GDBN} input is still
27764managed using readline.
27765
27766@item source
27767The source window shows the source file of the program. The current
27768line and active breakpoints are displayed in this window.
27769
27770@item assembly
27771The assembly window shows the disassembly output of the program.
27772
27773@item register
27774This window shows the processor registers. Registers are highlighted
27775when their values change.
27776@end table
27777
27778The source and assembly windows show the current program position
27779by highlighting the current line and marking it with a @samp{>} marker.
27780Breakpoints are indicated with two markers. The first marker
27781indicates the breakpoint type:
27782
27783@table @code
27784@item B
27785Breakpoint which was hit at least once.
27786
27787@item b
27788Breakpoint which was never hit.
27789
27790@item H
27791Hardware breakpoint which was hit at least once.
27792
27793@item h
27794Hardware breakpoint which was never hit.
27795@end table
27796
27797The second marker indicates whether the breakpoint is enabled or not:
27798
27799@table @code
27800@item +
27801Breakpoint is enabled.
27802
27803@item -
27804Breakpoint is disabled.
27805@end table
27806
27807The source, assembly and register windows are updated when the current
27808thread changes, when the frame changes, or when the program counter
27809changes.
27810
27811These windows are not all visible at the same time. The command
27812window is always visible. The others can be arranged in several
27813layouts:
27814
27815@itemize @bullet
27816@item
27817source only,
27818
27819@item
27820assembly only,
27821
27822@item
27823source and assembly,
27824
27825@item
27826source and registers, or
27827
27828@item
27829assembly and registers.
27830@end itemize
27831
27832A status line above the command window shows the following information:
27833
27834@table @emph
27835@item target
27836Indicates the current @value{GDBN} target.
27837(@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
27838
27839@item process
27840Gives the current process or thread number.
27841When no process is being debugged, this field is set to @code{No process}.
27842
27843@item function
27844Gives the current function name for the selected frame.
27845The name is demangled if demangling is turned on (@pxref{Print Settings}).
27846When there is no symbol corresponding to the current program counter,
27847the string @code{??} is displayed.
27848
27849@item line
27850Indicates the current line number for the selected frame.
27851When the current line number is not known, the string @code{??} is displayed.
27852
27853@item pc
27854Indicates the current program counter address.
27855@end table
27856
27857@node TUI Keys
27858@section TUI Key Bindings
27859@cindex TUI key bindings
27860
27861The TUI installs several key bindings in the readline keymaps
27862@ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
27863(@pxref{Command Line Editing, , , rluserman, GNU Readline Library}).
27864@end ifset
27865@ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
27866(@pxref{Command Line Editing}).
27867@end ifclear
27868The following key bindings are installed for both TUI mode and the
27869@value{GDBN} standard mode.
27870
27871@table @kbd
27872@kindex C-x C-a
27873@item C-x C-a
27874@kindex C-x a
27875@itemx C-x a
27876@kindex C-x A
27877@itemx C-x A
27878Enter or leave the TUI mode. When leaving the TUI mode,
27879the curses window management stops and @value{GDBN} operates using
27880its standard mode, writing on the terminal directly. When reentering
27881the TUI mode, control is given back to the curses windows.
27882The screen is then refreshed.
27883
27884@kindex C-x 1
27885@item C-x 1
27886Use a TUI layout with only one window. The layout will
27887either be @samp{source} or @samp{assembly}. When the TUI mode
27888is not active, it will switch to the TUI mode.
27889
27890Think of this key binding as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 1} binding.
27891
27892@kindex C-x 2
27893@item C-x 2
27894Use a TUI layout with at least two windows. When the current
27895layout already has two windows, the next layout with two windows is used.
27896When a new layout is chosen, one window will always be common to the
27897previous layout and the new one.
27898
27899Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 2} binding.
27900
27901@kindex C-x o
27902@item C-x o
27903Change the active window. The TUI associates several key bindings
27904(like scrolling and arrow keys) with the active window. This command
27905gives the focus to the next TUI window.
27906
27907Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x o} binding.
27908
27909@kindex C-x s
27910@item C-x s
27911Switch in and out of the TUI SingleKey mode that binds single
27912keys to @value{GDBN} commands (@pxref{TUI Single Key Mode}).
27913@end table
27914
27915The following key bindings only work in the TUI mode:
27916
27917@table @asis
27918@kindex PgUp
27919@item @key{PgUp}
27920Scroll the active window one page up.
27921
27922@kindex PgDn
27923@item @key{PgDn}
27924Scroll the active window one page down.
27925
27926@kindex Up
27927@item @key{Up}
27928Scroll the active window one line up.
27929
27930@kindex Down
27931@item @key{Down}
27932Scroll the active window one line down.
27933
27934@kindex Left
27935@item @key{Left}
27936Scroll the active window one column left.
27937
27938@kindex Right
27939@item @key{Right}
27940Scroll the active window one column right.
27941
27942@kindex C-L
27943@item @kbd{C-L}
27944Refresh the screen.
27945@end table
27946
27947Because the arrow keys scroll the active window in the TUI mode, they
27948are not available for their normal use by readline unless the command
27949window has the focus. When another window is active, you must use
27950other readline key bindings such as @kbd{C-p}, @kbd{C-n}, @kbd{C-b}
27951and @kbd{C-f} to control the command window.
27952
27953@node TUI Single Key Mode
27954@section TUI Single Key Mode
27955@cindex TUI single key mode
27956
27957The TUI also provides a @dfn{SingleKey} mode, which binds several
27958frequently used @value{GDBN} commands to single keys. Type @kbd{C-x s} to
27959switch into this mode, where the following key bindings are used:
27960
27961@table @kbd
27962@kindex c @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
27963@item c
27964continue
27965
27966@kindex d @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
27967@item d
27968down
27969
27970@kindex f @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
27971@item f
27972finish
27973
27974@kindex n @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
27975@item n
27976next
27977
27978@kindex q @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
27979@item q
27980exit the SingleKey mode.
27981
27982@kindex r @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
27983@item r
27984run
27985
27986@kindex s @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
27987@item s
27988step
27989
27990@kindex u @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
27991@item u
27992up
27993
27994@kindex v @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
27995@item v
27996info locals
27997
27998@kindex w @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
27999@item w
28000where
28001@end table
28002
28003Other keys temporarily switch to the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
28004The key that was pressed is inserted in the editing buffer so that
28005it is possible to type most @value{GDBN} commands without interaction
28006with the TUI SingleKey mode. Once the command is entered the TUI
28007SingleKey mode is restored. The only way to permanently leave
28008this mode is by typing @kbd{q} or @kbd{C-x s}.
28009
28010
28011@node TUI Commands
28012@section TUI-specific Commands
28013@cindex TUI commands
28014
28015The TUI has specific commands to control the text windows.
28016These commands are always available, even when @value{GDBN} is not in
28017the TUI mode. When @value{GDBN} is in the standard mode, most
28018of these commands will automatically switch to the TUI mode.
28019
28020Note that if @value{GDBN}'s @code{stdout} is not connected to a
28021terminal, or @value{GDBN} has been started with the machine interface
28022interpreter (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}), most of
28023these commands will fail with an error, because it would not be
28024possible or desirable to enable curses window management.
28025
28026@table @code
28027@item info win
28028@kindex info win
28029List and give the size of all displayed windows.
28030
28031@item layout next
28032@kindex layout
28033Display the next layout.
28034
28035@item layout prev
28036Display the previous layout.
28037
28038@item layout src
28039Display the source window only.
28040
28041@item layout asm
28042Display the assembly window only.
28043
28044@item layout split
28045Display the source and assembly window.
28046
28047@item layout regs
28048Display the register window together with the source or assembly window.
28049
28050@item focus next
28051@kindex focus
28052Make the next window active for scrolling.
28053
28054@item focus prev
28055Make the previous window active for scrolling.
28056
28057@item focus src
28058Make the source window active for scrolling.
28059
28060@item focus asm
28061Make the assembly window active for scrolling.
28062
28063@item focus regs
28064Make the register window active for scrolling.
28065
28066@item focus cmd
28067Make the command window active for scrolling.
28068
28069@item refresh
28070@kindex refresh
28071Refresh the screen. This is similar to typing @kbd{C-L}.
28072
28073@item tui reg float
28074@kindex tui reg
28075Show the floating point registers in the register window.
28076
28077@item tui reg general
28078Show the general registers in the register window.
28079
28080@item tui reg next
28081Show the next register group. The list of register groups as well as
28082their order is target specific. The predefined register groups are the
28083following: @code{general}, @code{float}, @code{system}, @code{vector},
28084@code{all}, @code{save}, @code{restore}.
28085
28086@item tui reg system
28087Show the system registers in the register window.
28088
28089@item update
28090@kindex update
28091Update the source window and the current execution point.
28092
28093@item winheight @var{name} +@var{count}
28094@itemx winheight @var{name} -@var{count}
28095@kindex winheight
28096Change the height of the window @var{name} by @var{count}
28097lines. Positive counts increase the height, while negative counts
28098decrease it.
28099
28100@item tabset @var{nchars}
28101@kindex tabset
28102Set the width of tab stops to be @var{nchars} characters.
28103@end table
28104
28105@node TUI Configuration
28106@section TUI Configuration Variables
28107@cindex TUI configuration variables
28108
28109Several configuration variables control the appearance of TUI windows.
28110
28111@table @code
28112@item set tui border-kind @var{kind}
28113@kindex set tui border-kind
28114Select the border appearance for the source, assembly and register windows.
28115The possible values are the following:
28116@table @code
28117@item space
28118Use a space character to draw the border.
28119
28120@item ascii
28121Use @sc{ascii} characters @samp{+}, @samp{-} and @samp{|} to draw the border.
28122
28123@item acs
28124Use the Alternate Character Set to draw the border. The border is
28125drawn using character line graphics if the terminal supports them.
28126@end table
28127
28128@item set tui border-mode @var{mode}
28129@kindex set tui border-mode
28130@itemx set tui active-border-mode @var{mode}
28131@kindex set tui active-border-mode
28132Select the display attributes for the borders of the inactive windows
28133or the active window. The @var{mode} can be one of the following:
28134@table @code
28135@item normal
28136Use normal attributes to display the border.
28137
28138@item standout
28139Use standout mode.
28140
28141@item reverse
28142Use reverse video mode.
28143
28144@item half
28145Use half bright mode.
28146
28147@item half-standout
28148Use half bright and standout mode.
28149
28150@item bold
28151Use extra bright or bold mode.
28152
28153@item bold-standout
28154Use extra bright or bold and standout mode.
28155@end table
28156@end table
28157
28158@node Emacs
28159@chapter Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
28160
28161@cindex Emacs
28162@cindex @sc{gnu} Emacs
28163A special interface allows you to use @sc{gnu} Emacs to view (and
28164edit) the source files for the program you are debugging with
28165@value{GDBN}.
28166
28167To use this interface, use the command @kbd{M-x gdb} in Emacs. Give the
28168executable file you want to debug as an argument. This command starts
28169@value{GDBN} as a subprocess of Emacs, with input and output through a newly
28170created Emacs buffer.
28171@c (Do not use the @code{-tui} option to run @value{GDBN} from Emacs.)
28172
28173Running @value{GDBN} under Emacs can be just like running @value{GDBN} normally except for two
28174things:
28175
28176@itemize @bullet
28177@item
28178All ``terminal'' input and output goes through an Emacs buffer, called
28179the GUD buffer.
28180
28181This applies both to @value{GDBN} commands and their output, and to the input
28182and output done by the program you are debugging.
28183
28184This is useful because it means that you can copy the text of previous
28185commands and input them again; you can even use parts of the output
28186in this way.
28187
28188All the facilities of Emacs' Shell mode are available for interacting
28189with your program. In particular, you can send signals the usual
28190way---for example, @kbd{C-c C-c} for an interrupt, @kbd{C-c C-z} for a
28191stop.
28192
28193@item
28194@value{GDBN} displays source code through Emacs.
28195
28196Each time @value{GDBN} displays a stack frame, Emacs automatically finds the
28197source file for that frame and puts an arrow (@samp{=>}) at the
28198left margin of the current line. Emacs uses a separate buffer for
28199source display, and splits the screen to show both your @value{GDBN} session
28200and the source.
28201
28202Explicit @value{GDBN} @code{list} or search commands still produce output as
28203usual, but you probably have no reason to use them from Emacs.
28204@end itemize
28205
28206We call this @dfn{text command mode}. Emacs 22.1, and later, also uses
28207a graphical mode, enabled by default, which provides further buffers
28208that can control the execution and describe the state of your program.
28209@xref{GDB Graphical Interface,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}.
28210
28211If you specify an absolute file name when prompted for the @kbd{M-x
28212gdb} argument, then Emacs sets your current working directory to where
28213your program resides. If you only specify the file name, then Emacs
28214sets your current working directory to the directory associated
28215with the previous buffer. In this case, @value{GDBN} may find your
28216program by searching your environment's @code{PATH} variable, but on
28217some operating systems it might not find the source. So, although the
28218@value{GDBN} input and output session proceeds normally, the auxiliary
28219buffer does not display the current source and line of execution.
28220
28221The initial working directory of @value{GDBN} is printed on the top
28222line of the GUD buffer and this serves as a default for the commands
28223that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files,
28224,Commands to Specify Files}.
28225
28226By default, @kbd{M-x gdb} calls the program called @file{gdb}. If you
28227need to call @value{GDBN} by a different name (for example, if you
28228keep several configurations around, with different names) you can
28229customize the Emacs variable @code{gud-gdb-command-name} to run the
28230one you want.
28231
28232In the GUD buffer, you can use these special Emacs commands in
28233addition to the standard Shell mode commands:
28234
28235@table @kbd
28236@item C-h m
28237Describe the features of Emacs' GUD Mode.
28238
28239@item C-c C-s
28240Execute to another source line, like the @value{GDBN} @code{step} command; also
28241update the display window to show the current file and location.
28242
28243@item C-c C-n
28244Execute to next source line in this function, skipping all function
28245calls, like the @value{GDBN} @code{next} command. Then update the display window
28246to show the current file and location.
28247
28248@item C-c C-i
28249Execute one instruction, like the @value{GDBN} @code{stepi} command; update
28250display window accordingly.
28251
28252@item C-c C-f
28253Execute until exit from the selected stack frame, like the @value{GDBN}
28254@code{finish} command.
28255
28256@item C-c C-r
28257Continue execution of your program, like the @value{GDBN} @code{continue}
28258command.
28259
28260@item C-c <
28261Go up the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument
28262(@pxref{Arguments, , Numeric Arguments, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}),
28263like the @value{GDBN} @code{up} command.
28264
28265@item C-c >
28266Go down the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument, like the
28267@value{GDBN} @code{down} command.
28268@end table
28269
28270In any source file, the Emacs command @kbd{C-x @key{SPC}} (@code{gud-break})
28271tells @value{GDBN} to set a breakpoint on the source line point is on.
28272
28273In text command mode, if you type @kbd{M-x speedbar}, Emacs displays a
28274separate frame which shows a backtrace when the GUD buffer is current.
28275Move point to any frame in the stack and type @key{RET} to make it
28276become the current frame and display the associated source in the
28277source buffer. Alternatively, click @kbd{Mouse-2} to make the
28278selected frame become the current one. In graphical mode, the
28279speedbar displays watch expressions.
28280
28281If you accidentally delete the source-display buffer, an easy way to get
28282it back is to type the command @code{f} in the @value{GDBN} buffer, to
28283request a frame display; when you run under Emacs, this recreates
28284the source buffer if necessary to show you the context of the current
28285frame.
28286
28287The source files displayed in Emacs are in ordinary Emacs buffers
28288which are visiting the source files in the usual way. You can edit
28289the files with these buffers if you wish; but keep in mind that @value{GDBN}
28290communicates with Emacs in terms of line numbers. If you add or
28291delete lines from the text, the line numbers that @value{GDBN} knows cease
28292to correspond properly with the code.
28293
28294A more detailed description of Emacs' interaction with @value{GDBN} is
28295given in the Emacs manual (@pxref{Debuggers,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu}
28296Emacs Manual}).
28297
28298@node GDB/MI
28299@chapter The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface
28300
28301@unnumberedsec Function and Purpose
28302
28303@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, its purpose
28304@sc{gdb/mi} is a line based machine oriented text interface to
28305@value{GDBN} and is activated by specifying using the
28306@option{--interpreter} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}). It
28307is specifically intended to support the development of systems which
28308use the debugger as just one small component of a larger system.
28309
28310This chapter is a specification of the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. It is written
28311in the form of a reference manual.
28312
28313Note that @sc{gdb/mi} is still under construction, so some of the
28314features described below are incomplete and subject to change
28315(@pxref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, , @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends}).
28316
28317@unnumberedsec Notation and Terminology
28318
28319@cindex notational conventions, for @sc{gdb/mi}
28320This chapter uses the following notation:
28321
28322@itemize @bullet
28323@item
28324@code{|} separates two alternatives.
28325
28326@item
28327@code{[ @var{something} ]} indicates that @var{something} is optional:
28328it may or may not be given.
28329
28330@item
28331@code{( @var{group} )*} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
28332may repeat zero or more times.
28333
28334@item
28335@code{( @var{group} )+} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
28336may repeat one or more times.
28337
28338@item
28339@code{"@var{string}"} means a literal @var{string}.
28340@end itemize
28341
28342@ignore
28343@heading Dependencies
28344@end ignore
28345
28346@menu
28347* GDB/MI General Design::
28348* GDB/MI Command Syntax::
28349* GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI::
28350* GDB/MI Development and Front Ends::
28351* GDB/MI Output Records::
28352* GDB/MI Simple Examples::
28353* GDB/MI Command Description Format::
28354* GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands::
28355* GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands::
28356* GDB/MI Program Context::
28357* GDB/MI Thread Commands::
28358* GDB/MI Ada Tasking Commands::
28359* GDB/MI Program Execution::
28360* GDB/MI Stack Manipulation::
28361* GDB/MI Variable Objects::
28362* GDB/MI Data Manipulation::
28363* GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands::
28364* GDB/MI Symbol Query::
28365* GDB/MI File Commands::
28366@ignore
28367* GDB/MI Kod Commands::
28368* GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands::
28369* GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands::
28370@end ignore
28371* GDB/MI Target Manipulation::
28372* GDB/MI File Transfer Commands::
28373* GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands::
28374@end menu
28375
28376@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28377@node GDB/MI General Design
28378@section @sc{gdb/mi} General Design
28379@cindex GDB/MI General Design
28380
28381Interaction of a @sc{GDB/MI} frontend with @value{GDBN} involves three
28382parts---commands sent to @value{GDBN}, responses to those commands
28383and notifications. Each command results in exactly one response,
28384indicating either successful completion of the command, or an error.
28385For the commands that do not resume the target, the response contains the
28386requested information. For the commands that resume the target, the
28387response only indicates whether the target was successfully resumed.
28388Notifications is the mechanism for reporting changes in the state of the
28389target, or in @value{GDBN} state, that cannot conveniently be associated with
28390a command and reported as part of that command response.
28391
28392The important examples of notifications are:
28393@itemize @bullet
28394
28395@item
28396Exec notifications. These are used to report changes in
28397target state---when a target is resumed, or stopped. It would not
28398be feasible to include this information in response of resuming
28399commands, because one resume commands can result in multiple events in
28400different threads. Also, quite some time may pass before any event
28401happens in the target, while a frontend needs to know whether the resuming
28402command itself was successfully executed.
28403
28404@item
28405Console output, and status notifications. Console output
28406notifications are used to report output of CLI commands, as well as
28407diagnostics for other commands. Status notifications are used to
28408report the progress of a long-running operation. Naturally, including
28409this information in command response would mean no output is produced
28410until the command is finished, which is undesirable.
28411
28412@item
28413General notifications. Commands may have various side effects on
28414the @value{GDBN} or target state beyond their official purpose. For example,
28415a command may change the selected thread. Although such changes can
28416be included in command response, using notification allows for more
28417orthogonal frontend design.
28418
28419@end itemize
28420
28421There's no guarantee that whenever an MI command reports an error,
28422@value{GDBN} or the target are in any specific state, and especially,
28423the state is not reverted to the state before the MI command was
28424processed. Therefore, whenever an MI command results in an error,
28425we recommend that the frontend refreshes all the information shown in
28426the user interface.
28427
28428
28429@menu
28430* Context management::
28431* Asynchronous and non-stop modes::
28432* Thread groups::
28433@end menu
28434
28435@node Context management
28436@subsection Context management
28437
28438In most cases when @value{GDBN} accesses the target, this access is
28439done in context of a specific thread and frame (@pxref{Frames}).
28440Often, even when accessing global data, the target requires that a thread
28441be specified. The CLI interface maintains the selected thread and frame,
28442and supplies them to target on each command. This is convenient,
28443because a command line user would not want to specify that information
28444explicitly on each command, and because user interacts with
28445@value{GDBN} via a single terminal, so no confusion is possible as
28446to what thread and frame are the current ones.
28447
28448In the case of MI, the concept of selected thread and frame is less
28449useful. First, a frontend can easily remember this information
28450itself. Second, a graphical frontend can have more than one window,
28451each one used for debugging a different thread, and the frontend might
28452want to access additional threads for internal purposes. This
28453increases the risk that by relying on implicitly selected thread, the
28454frontend may be operating on a wrong one. Therefore, each MI command
28455should explicitly specify which thread and frame to operate on. To
28456make it possible, each MI command accepts the @samp{--thread} and
28457@samp{--frame} options, the value to each is @value{GDBN} identifier
28458for thread and frame to operate on.
28459
28460Usually, each top-level window in a frontend allows the user to select
28461a thread and a frame, and remembers the user selection for further
28462operations. However, in some cases @value{GDBN} may suggest that the
28463current thread be changed. For example, when stopping on a breakpoint
28464it is reasonable to switch to the thread where breakpoint is hit. For
28465another example, if the user issues the CLI @samp{thread} command via
28466the frontend, it is desirable to change the frontend's selected thread to the
28467one specified by user. @value{GDBN} communicates the suggestion to
28468change current thread using the @samp{=thread-selected} notification.
28469No such notification is available for the selected frame at the moment.
28470
28471Note that historically, MI shares the selected thread with CLI, so
28472frontends used the @code{-thread-select} to execute commands in the
28473right context. However, getting this to work right is cumbersome. The
28474simplest way is for frontend to emit @code{-thread-select} command
28475before every command. This doubles the number of commands that need
28476to be sent. The alternative approach is to suppress @code{-thread-select}
28477if the selected thread in @value{GDBN} is supposed to be identical to the
28478thread the frontend wants to operate on. However, getting this
28479optimization right can be tricky. In particular, if the frontend
28480sends several commands to @value{GDBN}, and one of the commands changes the
28481selected thread, then the behaviour of subsequent commands will
28482change. So, a frontend should either wait for response from such
28483problematic commands, or explicitly add @code{-thread-select} for
28484all subsequent commands. No frontend is known to do this exactly
28485right, so it is suggested to just always pass the @samp{--thread} and
28486@samp{--frame} options.
28487
28488@node Asynchronous and non-stop modes
28489@subsection Asynchronous command execution and non-stop mode
28490
28491On some targets, @value{GDBN} is capable of processing MI commands
28492even while the target is running. This is called @dfn{asynchronous
28493command execution} (@pxref{Background Execution}). The frontend may
28494specify a preferrence for asynchronous execution using the
28495@code{-gdb-set target-async 1} command, which should be emitted before
28496either running the executable or attaching to the target. After the
28497frontend has started the executable or attached to the target, it can
28498find if asynchronous execution is enabled using the
28499@code{-list-target-features} command.
28500
28501Even if @value{GDBN} can accept a command while target is running,
28502many commands that access the target do not work when the target is
28503running. Therefore, asynchronous command execution is most useful
28504when combined with non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}). Then,
28505it is possible to examine the state of one thread, while other threads
28506are running.
28507
28508When a given thread is running, MI commands that try to access the
28509target in the context of that thread may not work, or may work only on
28510some targets. In particular, commands that try to operate on thread's
28511stack will not work, on any target. Commands that read memory, or
28512modify breakpoints, may work or not work, depending on the target. Note
28513that even commands that operate on global state, such as @code{print},
28514@code{set}, and breakpoint commands, still access the target in the
28515context of a specific thread, so frontend should try to find a
28516stopped thread and perform the operation on that thread (using the
28517@samp{--thread} option).
28518
28519Which commands will work in the context of a running thread is
28520highly target dependent. However, the two commands
28521@code{-exec-interrupt}, to stop a thread, and @code{-thread-info},
28522to find the state of a thread, will always work.
28523
28524@node Thread groups
28525@subsection Thread groups
28526@value{GDBN} may be used to debug several processes at the same time.
28527On some platfroms, @value{GDBN} may support debugging of several
28528hardware systems, each one having several cores with several different
28529processes running on each core. This section describes the MI
28530mechanism to support such debugging scenarios.
28531
28532The key observation is that regardless of the structure of the
28533target, MI can have a global list of threads, because most commands that
28534accept the @samp{--thread} option do not need to know what process that
28535thread belongs to. Therefore, it is not necessary to introduce
28536neither additional @samp{--process} option, nor an notion of the
28537current process in the MI interface. The only strictly new feature
28538that is required is the ability to find how the threads are grouped
28539into processes.
28540
28541To allow the user to discover such grouping, and to support arbitrary
28542hierarchy of machines/cores/processes, MI introduces the concept of a
28543@dfn{thread group}. Thread group is a collection of threads and other
28544thread groups. A thread group always has a string identifier, a type,
28545and may have additional attributes specific to the type. A new
28546command, @code{-list-thread-groups}, returns the list of top-level
28547thread groups, which correspond to processes that @value{GDBN} is
28548debugging at the moment. By passing an identifier of a thread group
28549to the @code{-list-thread-groups} command, it is possible to obtain
28550the members of specific thread group.
28551
28552To allow the user to easily discover processes, and other objects, he
28553wishes to debug, a concept of @dfn{available thread group} is
28554introduced. Available thread group is an thread group that
28555@value{GDBN} is not debugging, but that can be attached to, using the
28556@code{-target-attach} command. The list of available top-level thread
28557groups can be obtained using @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}.
28558In general, the content of a thread group may be only retrieved only
28559after attaching to that thread group.
28560
28561Thread groups are related to inferiors (@pxref{Inferiors and
28562Programs}). Each inferior corresponds to a thread group of a special
28563type @samp{process}, and some additional operations are permitted on
28564such thread groups.
28565
28566@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28567@node GDB/MI Command Syntax
28568@section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Syntax
28569
28570@menu
28571* GDB/MI Input Syntax::
28572* GDB/MI Output Syntax::
28573@end menu
28574
28575@node GDB/MI Input Syntax
28576@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Input Syntax
28577
28578@cindex input syntax for @sc{gdb/mi}
28579@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, input syntax
28580@table @code
28581@item @var{command} @expansion{}
28582@code{@var{cli-command} | @var{mi-command}}
28583
28584@item @var{cli-command} @expansion{}
28585@code{[ @var{token} ] @var{cli-command} @var{nl}}, where
28586@var{cli-command} is any existing @value{GDBN} CLI command.
28587
28588@item @var{mi-command} @expansion{}
28589@code{[ @var{token} ] "-" @var{operation} ( " " @var{option} )*
28590@code{[} " --" @code{]} ( " " @var{parameter} )* @var{nl}}
28591
28592@item @var{token} @expansion{}
28593"any sequence of digits"
28594
28595@item @var{option} @expansion{}
28596@code{"-" @var{parameter} [ " " @var{parameter} ]}
28597
28598@item @var{parameter} @expansion{}
28599@code{@var{non-blank-sequence} | @var{c-string}}
28600
28601@item @var{operation} @expansion{}
28602@emph{any of the operations described in this chapter}
28603
28604@item @var{non-blank-sequence} @expansion{}
28605@emph{anything, provided it doesn't contain special characters such as
28606"-", @var{nl}, """ and of course " "}
28607
28608@item @var{c-string} @expansion{}
28609@code{""" @var{seven-bit-iso-c-string-content} """}
28610
28611@item @var{nl} @expansion{}
28612@code{CR | CR-LF}
28613@end table
28614
28615@noindent
28616Notes:
28617
28618@itemize @bullet
28619@item
28620The CLI commands are still handled by the @sc{mi} interpreter; their
28621output is described below.
28622
28623@item
28624The @code{@var{token}}, when present, is passed back when the command
28625finishes.
28626
28627@item
28628Some @sc{mi} commands accept optional arguments as part of the parameter
28629list. Each option is identified by a leading @samp{-} (dash) and may be
28630followed by an optional argument parameter. Options occur first in the
28631parameter list and can be delimited from normal parameters using
28632@samp{--} (this is useful when some parameters begin with a dash).
28633@end itemize
28634
28635Pragmatics:
28636
28637@itemize @bullet
28638@item
28639We want easy access to the existing CLI syntax (for debugging).
28640
28641@item
28642We want it to be easy to spot a @sc{mi} operation.
28643@end itemize
28644
28645@node GDB/MI Output Syntax
28646@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax
28647
28648@cindex output syntax of @sc{gdb/mi}
28649@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, output syntax
28650The output from @sc{gdb/mi} consists of zero or more out-of-band records
28651followed, optionally, by a single result record. This result record
28652is for the most recent command. The sequence of output records is
28653terminated by @samp{(gdb)}.
28654
28655If an input command was prefixed with a @code{@var{token}} then the
28656corresponding output for that command will also be prefixed by that same
28657@var{token}.
28658
28659@table @code
28660@item @var{output} @expansion{}
28661@code{( @var{out-of-band-record} )* [ @var{result-record} ] "(gdb)" @var{nl}}
28662
28663@item @var{result-record} @expansion{}
28664@code{ [ @var{token} ] "^" @var{result-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
28665
28666@item @var{out-of-band-record} @expansion{}
28667@code{@var{async-record} | @var{stream-record}}
28668
28669@item @var{async-record} @expansion{}
28670@code{@var{exec-async-output} | @var{status-async-output} | @var{notify-async-output}}
28671
28672@item @var{exec-async-output} @expansion{}
28673@code{[ @var{token} ] "*" @var{async-output}}
28674
28675@item @var{status-async-output} @expansion{}
28676@code{[ @var{token} ] "+" @var{async-output}}
28677
28678@item @var{notify-async-output} @expansion{}
28679@code{[ @var{token} ] "=" @var{async-output}}
28680
28681@item @var{async-output} @expansion{}
28682@code{@var{async-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
28683
28684@item @var{result-class} @expansion{}
28685@code{"done" | "running" | "connected" | "error" | "exit"}
28686
28687@item @var{async-class} @expansion{}
28688@code{"stopped" | @var{others}} (where @var{others} will be added
28689depending on the needs---this is still in development).
28690
28691@item @var{result} @expansion{}
28692@code{ @var{variable} "=" @var{value}}
28693
28694@item @var{variable} @expansion{}
28695@code{ @var{string} }
28696
28697@item @var{value} @expansion{}
28698@code{ @var{const} | @var{tuple} | @var{list} }
28699
28700@item @var{const} @expansion{}
28701@code{@var{c-string}}
28702
28703@item @var{tuple} @expansion{}
28704@code{ "@{@}" | "@{" @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "@}" }
28705
28706@item @var{list} @expansion{}
28707@code{ "[]" | "[" @var{value} ( "," @var{value} )* "]" | "["
28708@var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "]" }
28709
28710@item @var{stream-record} @expansion{}
28711@code{@var{console-stream-output} | @var{target-stream-output} | @var{log-stream-output}}
28712
28713@item @var{console-stream-output} @expansion{}
28714@code{"~" @var{c-string}}
28715
28716@item @var{target-stream-output} @expansion{}
28717@code{"@@" @var{c-string}}
28718
28719@item @var{log-stream-output} @expansion{}
28720@code{"&" @var{c-string}}
28721
28722@item @var{nl} @expansion{}
28723@code{CR | CR-LF}
28724
28725@item @var{token} @expansion{}
28726@emph{any sequence of digits}.
28727@end table
28728
28729@noindent
28730Notes:
28731
28732@itemize @bullet
28733@item
28734All output sequences end in a single line containing a period.
28735
28736@item
28737The @code{@var{token}} is from the corresponding request. Note that
28738for all async output, while the token is allowed by the grammar and
28739may be output by future versions of @value{GDBN} for select async
28740output messages, it is generally omitted. Frontends should treat
28741all async output as reporting general changes in the state of the
28742target and there should be no need to associate async output to any
28743prior command.
28744
28745@item
28746@cindex status output in @sc{gdb/mi}
28747@var{status-async-output} contains on-going status information about the
28748progress of a slow operation. It can be discarded. All status output is
28749prefixed by @samp{+}.
28750
28751@item
28752@cindex async output in @sc{gdb/mi}
28753@var{exec-async-output} contains asynchronous state change on the target
28754(stopped, started, disappeared). All async output is prefixed by
28755@samp{*}.
28756
28757@item
28758@cindex notify output in @sc{gdb/mi}
28759@var{notify-async-output} contains supplementary information that the
28760client should handle (e.g., a new breakpoint information). All notify
28761output is prefixed by @samp{=}.
28762
28763@item
28764@cindex console output in @sc{gdb/mi}
28765@var{console-stream-output} is output that should be displayed as is in the
28766console. It is the textual response to a CLI command. All the console
28767output is prefixed by @samp{~}.
28768
28769@item
28770@cindex target output in @sc{gdb/mi}
28771@var{target-stream-output} is the output produced by the target program.
28772All the target output is prefixed by @samp{@@}.
28773
28774@item
28775@cindex log output in @sc{gdb/mi}
28776@var{log-stream-output} is output text coming from @value{GDBN}'s internals, for
28777instance messages that should be displayed as part of an error log. All
28778the log output is prefixed by @samp{&}.
28779
28780@item
28781@cindex list output in @sc{gdb/mi}
28782New @sc{gdb/mi} commands should only output @var{lists} containing
28783@var{values}.
28784
28785
28786@end itemize
28787
28788@xref{GDB/MI Stream Records, , @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records}, for more
28789details about the various output records.
28790
28791@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28792@node GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI
28793@section @sc{gdb/mi} Compatibility with CLI
28794
28795@cindex compatibility, @sc{gdb/mi} and CLI
28796@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, compatibility with CLI
28797
28798For the developers convenience CLI commands can be entered directly,
28799but there may be some unexpected behaviour. For example, commands
28800that query the user will behave as if the user replied yes, breakpoint
28801command lists are not executed and some CLI commands, such as
28802@code{if}, @code{when} and @code{define}, prompt for further input with
28803@samp{>}, which is not valid MI output.
28804
28805This feature may be removed at some stage in the future and it is
28806recommended that front ends use the @code{-interpreter-exec} command
28807(@pxref{-interpreter-exec}).
28808
28809@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28810@node GDB/MI Development and Front Ends
28811@section @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends
28812@cindex @sc{gdb/mi} development
28813
28814The application which takes the MI output and presents the state of the
28815program being debugged to the user is called a @dfn{front end}.
28816
28817Although @sc{gdb/mi} is still incomplete, it is currently being used
28818by a variety of front ends to @value{GDBN}. This makes it difficult
28819to introduce new functionality without breaking existing usage. This
28820section tries to minimize the problems by describing how the protocol
28821might change.
28822
28823Some changes in MI need not break a carefully designed front end, and
28824for these the MI version will remain unchanged. The following is a
28825list of changes that may occur within one level, so front ends should
28826parse MI output in a way that can handle them:
28827
28828@itemize @bullet
28829@item
28830New MI commands may be added.
28831
28832@item
28833New fields may be added to the output of any MI command.
28834
28835@item
28836The range of values for fields with specified values, e.g.,
28837@code{in_scope} (@pxref{-var-update}) may be extended.
28838
28839@c The format of field's content e.g type prefix, may change so parse it
28840@c at your own risk. Yes, in general?
28841
28842@c The order of fields may change? Shouldn't really matter but it might
28843@c resolve inconsistencies.
28844@end itemize
28845
28846If the changes are likely to break front ends, the MI version level
28847will be increased by one. This will allow the front end to parse the
28848output according to the MI version. Apart from mi0, new versions of
28849@value{GDBN} will not support old versions of MI and it will be the
28850responsibility of the front end to work with the new one.
28851
28852@c Starting with mi3, add a new command -mi-version that prints the MI
28853@c version?
28854
28855The best way to avoid unexpected changes in MI that might break your front
28856end is to make your project known to @value{GDBN} developers and
28857follow development on @email{gdb@@sourceware.org} and
28858@email{gdb-patches@@sourceware.org}.
28859@cindex mailing lists
28860
28861@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28862@node GDB/MI Output Records
28863@section @sc{gdb/mi} Output Records
28864
28865@menu
28866* GDB/MI Result Records::
28867* GDB/MI Stream Records::
28868* GDB/MI Async Records::
28869* GDB/MI Breakpoint Information::
28870* GDB/MI Frame Information::
28871* GDB/MI Thread Information::
28872* GDB/MI Ada Exception Information::
28873@end menu
28874
28875@node GDB/MI Result Records
28876@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Result Records
28877
28878@cindex result records in @sc{gdb/mi}
28879@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, result records
28880In addition to a number of out-of-band notifications, the response to a
28881@sc{gdb/mi} command includes one of the following result indications:
28882
28883@table @code
28884@findex ^done
28885@item "^done" [ "," @var{results} ]
28886The synchronous operation was successful, @code{@var{results}} are the return
28887values.
28888
28889@item "^running"
28890@findex ^running
28891This result record is equivalent to @samp{^done}. Historically, it
28892was output instead of @samp{^done} if the command has resumed the
28893target. This behaviour is maintained for backward compatibility, but
28894all frontends should treat @samp{^done} and @samp{^running}
28895identically and rely on the @samp{*running} output record to determine
28896which threads are resumed.
28897
28898@item "^connected"
28899@findex ^connected
28900@value{GDBN} has connected to a remote target.
28901
28902@item "^error" "," @var{c-string}
28903@findex ^error
28904The operation failed. The @code{@var{c-string}} contains the corresponding
28905error message.
28906
28907@item "^exit"
28908@findex ^exit
28909@value{GDBN} has terminated.
28910
28911@end table
28912
28913@node GDB/MI Stream Records
28914@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records
28915
28916@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, stream records
28917@cindex stream records in @sc{gdb/mi}
28918@value{GDBN} internally maintains a number of output streams: the console, the
28919target, and the log. The output intended for each of these streams is
28920funneled through the @sc{gdb/mi} interface using @dfn{stream records}.
28921
28922Each stream record begins with a unique @dfn{prefix character} which
28923identifies its stream (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, , @sc{gdb/mi} Output
28924Syntax}). In addition to the prefix, each stream record contains a
28925@code{@var{string-output}}. This is either raw text (with an implicit new
28926line) or a quoted C string (which does not contain an implicit newline).
28927
28928@table @code
28929@item "~" @var{string-output}
28930The console output stream contains text that should be displayed in the
28931CLI console window. It contains the textual responses to CLI commands.
28932
28933@item "@@" @var{string-output}
28934The target output stream contains any textual output from the running
28935target. This is only present when GDB's event loop is truly
28936asynchronous, which is currently only the case for remote targets.
28937
28938@item "&" @var{string-output}
28939The log stream contains debugging messages being produced by @value{GDBN}'s
28940internals.
28941@end table
28942
28943@node GDB/MI Async Records
28944@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Async Records
28945
28946@cindex async records in @sc{gdb/mi}
28947@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, async records
28948@dfn{Async} records are used to notify the @sc{gdb/mi} client of
28949additional changes that have occurred. Those changes can either be a
28950consequence of @sc{gdb/mi} commands (e.g., a breakpoint modified) or a result of
28951target activity (e.g., target stopped).
28952
28953The following is the list of possible async records:
28954
28955@table @code
28956
28957@item *running,thread-id="@var{thread}"
28958The target is now running. The @var{thread} field tells which
28959specific thread is now running, and can be @samp{all} if all threads
28960are running. The frontend should assume that no interaction with a
28961running thread is possible after this notification is produced.
28962The frontend should not assume that this notification is output
28963only once for any command. @value{GDBN} may emit this notification
28964several times, either for different threads, because it cannot resume
28965all threads together, or even for a single thread, if the thread must
28966be stepped though some code before letting it run freely.
28967
28968@item *stopped,reason="@var{reason}",thread-id="@var{id}",stopped-threads="@var{stopped}",core="@var{core}"
28969The target has stopped. The @var{reason} field can have one of the
28970following values:
28971
28972@table @code
28973@item breakpoint-hit
28974A breakpoint was reached.
28975@item watchpoint-trigger
28976A watchpoint was triggered.
28977@item read-watchpoint-trigger
28978A read watchpoint was triggered.
28979@item access-watchpoint-trigger
28980An access watchpoint was triggered.
28981@item function-finished
28982An -exec-finish or similar CLI command was accomplished.
28983@item location-reached
28984An -exec-until or similar CLI command was accomplished.
28985@item watchpoint-scope
28986A watchpoint has gone out of scope.
28987@item end-stepping-range
28988An -exec-next, -exec-next-instruction, -exec-step, -exec-step-instruction or
28989similar CLI command was accomplished.
28990@item exited-signalled
28991The inferior exited because of a signal.
28992@item exited
28993The inferior exited.
28994@item exited-normally
28995The inferior exited normally.
28996@item signal-received
28997A signal was received by the inferior.
28998@item solib-event
28999The inferior has stopped due to a library being loaded or unloaded.
29000This can happen when @code{stop-on-solib-events} (@pxref{Files}) is
29001set or when a @code{catch load} or @code{catch unload} catchpoint is
29002in use (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}).
29003@item fork
29004The inferior has forked. This is reported when @code{catch fork}
29005(@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
29006@item vfork
29007The inferior has vforked. This is reported in when @code{catch vfork}
29008(@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
29009@item syscall-entry
29010The inferior entered a system call. This is reported when @code{catch
29011syscall} (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
29012@item syscall-entry
29013The inferior returned from a system call. This is reported when
29014@code{catch syscall} (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
29015@item exec
29016The inferior called @code{exec}. This is reported when @code{catch exec}
29017(@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
29018@end table
29019
29020The @var{id} field identifies the thread that directly caused the stop
29021-- for example by hitting a breakpoint. Depending on whether all-stop
29022mode is in effect (@pxref{All-Stop Mode}), @value{GDBN} may either
29023stop all threads, or only the thread that directly triggered the stop.
29024If all threads are stopped, the @var{stopped} field will have the
29025value of @code{"all"}. Otherwise, the value of the @var{stopped}
29026field will be a list of thread identifiers. Presently, this list will
29027always include a single thread, but frontend should be prepared to see
29028several threads in the list. The @var{core} field reports the
29029processor core on which the stop event has happened. This field may be absent
29030if such information is not available.
29031
29032@item =thread-group-added,id="@var{id}"
29033@itemx =thread-group-removed,id="@var{id}"
29034A thread group was either added or removed. The @var{id} field
29035contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. When a thread
29036group is added, it generally might not be associated with a running
29037process. When a thread group is removed, its id becomes invalid and
29038cannot be used in any way.
29039
29040@item =thread-group-started,id="@var{id}",pid="@var{pid}"
29041A thread group became associated with a running program,
29042either because the program was just started or the thread group
29043was attached to a program. The @var{id} field contains the
29044@value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. The @var{pid} field
29045contains process identifier, specific to the operating system.
29046
29047@item =thread-group-exited,id="@var{id}"[,exit-code="@var{code}"]
29048A thread group is no longer associated with a running program,
29049either because the program has exited, or because it was detached
29050from. The @var{id} field contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the
29051thread group. @var{code} is the exit code of the inferior; it exists
29052only when the inferior exited with some code.
29053
29054@item =thread-created,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
29055@itemx =thread-exited,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
29056A thread either was created, or has exited. The @var{id} field
29057contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread. The @var{gid}
29058field identifies the thread group this thread belongs to.
29059
29060@item =thread-selected,id="@var{id}"
29061Informs that the selected thread was changed as result of the last
29062command. This notification is not emitted as result of @code{-thread-select}
29063command but is emitted whenever an MI command that is not documented
29064to change the selected thread actually changes it. In particular,
29065invoking, directly or indirectly (via user-defined command), the CLI
29066@code{thread} command, will generate this notification.
29067
29068We suggest that in response to this notification, front ends
29069highlight the selected thread and cause subsequent commands to apply to
29070that thread.
29071
29072@item =library-loaded,...
29073Reports that a new library file was loaded by the program. This
29074notification has 4 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name},
29075@var{host-name}, and @var{symbols-loaded}. The @var{id} field is an
29076opaque identifier of the library. For remote debugging case,
29077@var{target-name} and @var{host-name} fields give the name of the
29078library file on the target, and on the host respectively. For native
29079debugging, both those fields have the same value. The
29080@var{symbols-loaded} field is emitted only for backward compatibility
29081and should not be relied on to convey any useful information. The
29082@var{thread-group} field, if present, specifies the id of the thread
29083group in whose context the library was loaded. If the field is
29084absent, it means the library was loaded in the context of all present
29085thread groups.
29086
29087@item =library-unloaded,...
29088Reports that a library was unloaded by the program. This notification
29089has 3 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} with
29090the same meaning as for the @code{=library-loaded} notification.
29091The @var{thread-group} field, if present, specifies the id of the
29092thread group in whose context the library was unloaded. If the field is
29093absent, it means the library was unloaded in the context of all present
29094thread groups.
29095
29096@item =traceframe-changed,num=@var{tfnum},tracepoint=@var{tpnum}
29097@itemx =traceframe-changed,end
29098Reports that the trace frame was changed and its new number is
29099@var{tfnum}. The number of the tracepoint associated with this trace
29100frame is @var{tpnum}.
29101
29102@item =tsv-created,name=@var{name},initial=@var{initial}
29103Reports that the new trace state variable @var{name} is created with
29104initial value @var{initial}.
29105
29106@item =tsv-deleted,name=@var{name}
29107@itemx =tsv-deleted
29108Reports that the trace state variable @var{name} is deleted or all
29109trace state variables are deleted.
29110
29111@item =tsv-modified,name=@var{name},initial=@var{initial}[,current=@var{current}]
29112Reports that the trace state variable @var{name} is modified with
29113the initial value @var{initial}. The current value @var{current} of
29114trace state variable is optional and is reported if the current
29115value of trace state variable is known.
29116
29117@item =breakpoint-created,bkpt=@{...@}
29118@itemx =breakpoint-modified,bkpt=@{...@}
29119@itemx =breakpoint-deleted,id=@var{number}
29120Reports that a breakpoint was created, modified, or deleted,
29121respectively. Only user-visible breakpoints are reported to the MI
29122user.
29123
29124The @var{bkpt} argument is of the same form as returned by the various
29125breakpoint commands; @xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands}. The
29126@var{number} is the ordinal number of the breakpoint.
29127
29128Note that if a breakpoint is emitted in the result record of a
29129command, then it will not also be emitted in an async record.
29130
29131@item =record-started,thread-group="@var{id}"
29132@itemx =record-stopped,thread-group="@var{id}"
29133Execution log recording was either started or stopped on an
29134inferior. The @var{id} is the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread
29135group corresponding to the affected inferior.
29136
29137@item =cmd-param-changed,param=@var{param},value=@var{value}
29138Reports that a parameter of the command @code{set @var{param}} is
29139changed to @var{value}. In the multi-word @code{set} command,
29140the @var{param} is the whole parameter list to @code{set} command.
29141For example, In command @code{set check type on}, @var{param}
29142is @code{check type} and @var{value} is @code{on}.
29143
29144@item =memory-changed,thread-group=@var{id},addr=@var{addr},len=@var{len}[,type="code"]
29145Reports that bytes from @var{addr} to @var{data} + @var{len} were
29146written in an inferior. The @var{id} is the identifier of the
29147thread group corresponding to the affected inferior. The optional
29148@code{type="code"} part is reported if the memory written to holds
29149executable code.
29150@end table
29151
29152@node GDB/MI Breakpoint Information
29153@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Breakpoint Information
29154
29155When @value{GDBN} reports information about a breakpoint, a
29156tracepoint, a watchpoint, or a catchpoint, it uses a tuple with the
29157following fields:
29158
29159@table @code
29160@item number
29161The breakpoint number. For a breakpoint that represents one location
29162of a multi-location breakpoint, this will be a dotted pair, like
29163@samp{1.2}.
29164
29165@item type
29166The type of the breakpoint. For ordinary breakpoints this will be
29167@samp{breakpoint}, but many values are possible.
29168
29169@item catch-type
29170If the type of the breakpoint is @samp{catchpoint}, then this
29171indicates the exact type of catchpoint.
29172
29173@item disp
29174This is the breakpoint disposition---either @samp{del}, meaning that
29175the breakpoint will be deleted at the next stop, or @samp{keep},
29176meaning that the breakpoint will not be deleted.
29177
29178@item enabled
29179This indicates whether the breakpoint is enabled, in which case the
29180value is @samp{y}, or disabled, in which case the value is @samp{n}.
29181Note that this is not the same as the field @code{enable}.
29182
29183@item addr
29184The address of the breakpoint. This may be a hexidecimal number,
29185giving the address; or the string @samp{<PENDING>}, for a pending
29186breakpoint; or the string @samp{<MULTIPLE>}, for a breakpoint with
29187multiple locations. This field will not be present if no address can
29188be determined. For example, a watchpoint does not have an address.
29189
29190@item func
29191If known, the function in which the breakpoint appears.
29192If not known, this field is not present.
29193
29194@item filename
29195The name of the source file which contains this function, if known.
29196If not known, this field is not present.
29197
29198@item fullname
29199The full file name of the source file which contains this function, if
29200known. If not known, this field is not present.
29201
29202@item line
29203The line number at which this breakpoint appears, if known.
29204If not known, this field is not present.
29205
29206@item at
29207If the source file is not known, this field may be provided. If
29208provided, this holds the address of the breakpoint, possibly followed
29209by a symbol name.
29210
29211@item pending
29212If this breakpoint is pending, this field is present and holds the
29213text used to set the breakpoint, as entered by the user.
29214
29215@item evaluated-by
29216Where this breakpoint's condition is evaluated, either @samp{host} or
29217@samp{target}.
29218
29219@item thread
29220If this is a thread-specific breakpoint, then this identifies the
29221thread in which the breakpoint can trigger.
29222
29223@item task
29224If this breakpoint is restricted to a particular Ada task, then this
29225field will hold the task identifier.
29226
29227@item cond
29228If the breakpoint is conditional, this is the condition expression.
29229
29230@item ignore
29231The ignore count of the breakpoint.
29232
29233@item enable
29234The enable count of the breakpoint.
29235
29236@item traceframe-usage
29237FIXME.
29238
29239@item static-tracepoint-marker-string-id
29240For a static tracepoint, the name of the static tracepoint marker.
29241
29242@item mask
29243For a masked watchpoint, this is the mask.
29244
29245@item pass
29246A tracepoint's pass count.
29247
29248@item original-location
29249The location of the breakpoint as originally specified by the user.
29250This field is optional.
29251
29252@item times
29253The number of times the breakpoint has been hit.
29254
29255@item installed
29256This field is only given for tracepoints. This is either @samp{y},
29257meaning that the tracepoint is installed, or @samp{n}, meaning that it
29258is not.
29259
29260@item what
29261Some extra data, the exact contents of which are type-dependent.
29262
29263@end table
29264
29265For example, here is what the output of @code{-break-insert}
29266(@pxref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands}) might be:
29267
29268@smallexample
29269-> -break-insert main
29270<- ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
29271 enabled="y",addr="0x08048564",func="main",file="myprog.c",
29272 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68",thread-groups=["i1"],
29273 times="0"@}
29274<- (gdb)
29275@end smallexample
29276
29277@node GDB/MI Frame Information
29278@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Frame Information
29279
29280Response from many MI commands includes an information about stack
29281frame. This information is a tuple that may have the following
29282fields:
29283
29284@table @code
29285@item level
29286The level of the stack frame. The innermost frame has the level of
29287zero. This field is always present.
29288
29289@item func
29290The name of the function corresponding to the frame. This field may
29291be absent if @value{GDBN} is unable to determine the function name.
29292
29293@item addr
29294The code address for the frame. This field is always present.
29295
29296@item file
29297The name of the source files that correspond to the frame's code
29298address. This field may be absent.
29299
29300@item line
29301The source line corresponding to the frames' code address. This field
29302may be absent.
29303
29304@item from
29305The name of the binary file (either executable or shared library) the
29306corresponds to the frame's code address. This field may be absent.
29307
29308@end table
29309
29310@node GDB/MI Thread Information
29311@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Information
29312
29313Whenever @value{GDBN} has to report an information about a thread, it
29314uses a tuple with the following fields:
29315
29316@table @code
29317@item id
29318The numeric id assigned to the thread by @value{GDBN}. This field is
29319always present.
29320
29321@item target-id
29322Target-specific string identifying the thread. This field is always present.
29323
29324@item details
29325Additional information about the thread provided by the target.
29326It is supposed to be human-readable and not interpreted by the
29327frontend. This field is optional.
29328
29329@item state
29330Either @samp{stopped} or @samp{running}, depending on whether the
29331thread is presently running. This field is always present.
29332
29333@item core
29334The value of this field is an integer number of the processor core the
29335thread was last seen on. This field is optional.
29336@end table
29337
29338@node GDB/MI Ada Exception Information
29339@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Ada Exception Information
29340
29341Whenever a @code{*stopped} record is emitted because the program
29342stopped after hitting an exception catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}),
29343@value{GDBN} provides the name of the exception that was raised via
29344the @code{exception-name} field.
29345
29346@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29347@node GDB/MI Simple Examples
29348@section Simple Examples of @sc{gdb/mi} Interaction
29349@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, simple examples
29350
29351This subsection presents several simple examples of interaction using
29352the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. In these examples, @samp{->} means that the
29353following line is passed to @sc{gdb/mi} as input, while @samp{<-} means
29354the output received from @sc{gdb/mi}.
29355
29356Note the line breaks shown in the examples are here only for
29357readability, they don't appear in the real output.
29358
29359@subheading Setting a Breakpoint
29360
29361Setting a breakpoint generates synchronous output which contains detailed
29362information of the breakpoint.
29363
29364@smallexample
29365-> -break-insert main
29366<- ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
29367 enabled="y",addr="0x08048564",func="main",file="myprog.c",
29368 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68",thread-groups=["i1"],
29369 times="0"@}
29370<- (gdb)
29371@end smallexample
29372
29373@subheading Program Execution
29374
29375Program execution generates asynchronous records and MI gives the
29376reason that execution stopped.
29377
29378@smallexample
29379-> -exec-run
29380<- ^running
29381<- (gdb)
29382<- *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
29383 frame=@{addr="0x08048564",func="main",
29384 args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},@{name="argv",value="0xbfc4d4d4"@}],
29385 file="myprog.c",fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68"@}
29386<- (gdb)
29387-> -exec-continue
29388<- ^running
29389<- (gdb)
29390<- *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
29391<- (gdb)
29392@end smallexample
29393
29394@subheading Quitting @value{GDBN}
29395
29396Quitting @value{GDBN} just prints the result class @samp{^exit}.
29397
29398@smallexample
29399-> (gdb)
29400<- -gdb-exit
29401<- ^exit
29402@end smallexample
29403
29404Please note that @samp{^exit} is printed immediately, but it might
29405take some time for @value{GDBN} to actually exit. During that time, @value{GDBN}
29406performs necessary cleanups, including killing programs being debugged
29407or disconnecting from debug hardware, so the frontend should wait till
29408@value{GDBN} exits and should only forcibly kill @value{GDBN} if it
29409fails to exit in reasonable time.
29410
29411@subheading A Bad Command
29412
29413Here's what happens if you pass a non-existent command:
29414
29415@smallexample
29416-> -rubbish
29417<- ^error,msg="Undefined MI command: rubbish"
29418<- (gdb)
29419@end smallexample
29420
29421
29422@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29423@node GDB/MI Command Description Format
29424@section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Description Format
29425
29426The remaining sections describe blocks of commands. Each block of
29427commands is laid out in a fashion similar to this section.
29428
29429@subheading Motivation
29430
29431The motivation for this collection of commands.
29432
29433@subheading Introduction
29434
29435A brief introduction to this collection of commands as a whole.
29436
29437@subheading Commands
29438
29439For each command in the block, the following is described:
29440
29441@subsubheading Synopsis
29442
29443@smallexample
29444 -command @var{args}@dots{}
29445@end smallexample
29446
29447@subsubheading Result
29448
29449@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29450
29451The corresponding @value{GDBN} CLI command(s), if any.
29452
29453@subsubheading Example
29454
29455Example(s) formatted for readability. Some of the described commands have
29456not been implemented yet and these are labeled N.A.@: (not available).
29457
29458
29459@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29460@node GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands
29461@section @sc{gdb/mi} Breakpoint Commands
29462
29463@cindex breakpoint commands for @sc{gdb/mi}
29464@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, breakpoint commands
29465This section documents @sc{gdb/mi} commands for manipulating
29466breakpoints.
29467
29468@subheading The @code{-break-after} Command
29469@findex -break-after
29470
29471@subsubheading Synopsis
29472
29473@smallexample
29474 -break-after @var{number} @var{count}
29475@end smallexample
29476
29477The breakpoint number @var{number} is not in effect until it has been
29478hit @var{count} times. To see how this is reflected in the output of
29479the @samp{-break-list} command, see the description of the
29480@samp{-break-list} command below.
29481
29482@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29483
29484The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ignore}.
29485
29486@subsubheading Example
29487
29488@smallexample
29489(gdb)
29490-break-insert main
29491^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
29492enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
29493fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],
29494times="0"@}
29495(gdb)
29496-break-after 1 3
29497~
29498^done
29499(gdb)
29500-break-list
29501^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
29502hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
29503@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
29504@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
29505@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
29506@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
29507@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
29508body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
29509addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
29510line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
29511(gdb)
29512@end smallexample
29513
29514@ignore
29515@subheading The @code{-break-catch} Command
29516@findex -break-catch
29517@end ignore
29518
29519@subheading The @code{-break-commands} Command
29520@findex -break-commands
29521
29522@subsubheading Synopsis
29523
29524@smallexample
29525 -break-commands @var{number} [ @var{command1} ... @var{commandN} ]
29526@end smallexample
29527
29528Specifies the CLI commands that should be executed when breakpoint
29529@var{number} is hit. The parameters @var{command1} to @var{commandN}
29530are the commands. If no command is specified, any previously-set
29531commands are cleared. @xref{Break Commands}. Typical use of this
29532functionality is tracing a program, that is, printing of values of
29533some variables whenever breakpoint is hit and then continuing.
29534
29535@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29536
29537The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{commands}.
29538
29539@subsubheading Example
29540
29541@smallexample
29542(gdb)
29543-break-insert main
29544^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
29545enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
29546fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],
29547times="0"@}
29548(gdb)
29549-break-commands 1 "print v" "continue"
29550^done
29551(gdb)
29552@end smallexample
29553
29554@subheading The @code{-break-condition} Command
29555@findex -break-condition
29556
29557@subsubheading Synopsis
29558
29559@smallexample
29560 -break-condition @var{number} @var{expr}
29561@end smallexample
29562
29563Breakpoint @var{number} will stop the program only if the condition in
29564@var{expr} is true. The condition becomes part of the
29565@samp{-break-list} output (see the description of the @samp{-break-list}
29566command below).
29567
29568@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29569
29570The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{condition}.
29571
29572@subsubheading Example
29573
29574@smallexample
29575(gdb)
29576-break-condition 1 1
29577^done
29578(gdb)
29579-break-list
29580^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
29581hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
29582@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
29583@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
29584@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
29585@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
29586@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
29587body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
29588addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
29589line="5",cond="1",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
29590(gdb)
29591@end smallexample
29592
29593@subheading The @code{-break-delete} Command
29594@findex -break-delete
29595
29596@subsubheading Synopsis
29597
29598@smallexample
29599 -break-delete ( @var{breakpoint} )+
29600@end smallexample
29601
29602Delete the breakpoint(s) whose number(s) are specified in the argument
29603list. This is obviously reflected in the breakpoint list.
29604
29605@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29606
29607The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{delete}.
29608
29609@subsubheading Example
29610
29611@smallexample
29612(gdb)
29613-break-delete 1
29614^done
29615(gdb)
29616-break-list
29617^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
29618hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
29619@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
29620@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
29621@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
29622@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
29623@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
29624body=[]@}
29625(gdb)
29626@end smallexample
29627
29628@subheading The @code{-break-disable} Command
29629@findex -break-disable
29630
29631@subsubheading Synopsis
29632
29633@smallexample
29634 -break-disable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
29635@end smallexample
29636
29637Disable the named @var{breakpoint}(s). The field @samp{enabled} in the
29638break list is now set to @samp{n} for the named @var{breakpoint}(s).
29639
29640@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29641
29642The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disable}.
29643
29644@subsubheading Example
29645
29646@smallexample
29647(gdb)
29648-break-disable 2
29649^done
29650(gdb)
29651-break-list
29652^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
29653hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
29654@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
29655@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
29656@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
29657@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
29658@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
29659body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="n",
29660addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
29661line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"@}]@}
29662(gdb)
29663@end smallexample
29664
29665@subheading The @code{-break-enable} Command
29666@findex -break-enable
29667
29668@subsubheading Synopsis
29669
29670@smallexample
29671 -break-enable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
29672@end smallexample
29673
29674Enable (previously disabled) @var{breakpoint}(s).
29675
29676@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29677
29678The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{enable}.
29679
29680@subsubheading Example
29681
29682@smallexample
29683(gdb)
29684-break-enable 2
29685^done
29686(gdb)
29687-break-list
29688^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
29689hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
29690@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
29691@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
29692@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
29693@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
29694@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
29695body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
29696addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
29697line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"@}]@}
29698(gdb)
29699@end smallexample
29700
29701@subheading The @code{-break-info} Command
29702@findex -break-info
29703
29704@subsubheading Synopsis
29705
29706@smallexample
29707 -break-info @var{breakpoint}
29708@end smallexample
29709
29710@c REDUNDANT???
29711Get information about a single breakpoint.
29712
29713The result is a table of breakpoints. @xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint
29714Information}, for details on the format of each breakpoint in the
29715table.
29716
29717@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29718
29719The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break @var{breakpoint}}.
29720
29721@subsubheading Example
29722N.A.
29723
29724@subheading The @code{-break-insert} Command
29725@findex -break-insert
29726
29727@subsubheading Synopsis
29728
29729@smallexample
29730 -break-insert [ -t ] [ -h ] [ -f ] [ -d ] [ -a ]
29731 [ -c @var{condition} ] [ -i @var{ignore-count} ]
29732 [ -p @var{thread-id} ] [ @var{location} ]
29733@end smallexample
29734
29735@noindent
29736If specified, @var{location}, can be one of:
29737
29738@itemize @bullet
29739@item function
29740@c @item +offset
29741@c @item -offset
29742@c @item linenum
29743@item filename:linenum
29744@item filename:function
29745@item *address
29746@end itemize
29747
29748The possible optional parameters of this command are:
29749
29750@table @samp
29751@item -t
29752Insert a temporary breakpoint.
29753@item -h
29754Insert a hardware breakpoint.
29755@item -f
29756If @var{location} cannot be parsed (for example if it
29757refers to unknown files or functions), create a pending
29758breakpoint. Without this flag, @value{GDBN} will report
29759an error, and won't create a breakpoint, if @var{location}
29760cannot be parsed.
29761@item -d
29762Create a disabled breakpoint.
29763@item -a
29764Create a tracepoint. @xref{Tracepoints}. When this parameter
29765is used together with @samp{-h}, a fast tracepoint is created.
29766@item -c @var{condition}
29767Make the breakpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
29768@item -i @var{ignore-count}
29769Initialize the @var{ignore-count}.
29770@item -p @var{thread-id}
29771Restrict the breakpoint to the specified @var{thread-id}.
29772@end table
29773
29774@subsubheading Result
29775
29776@xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Information}, for details on the format of the
29777resulting breakpoint.
29778
29779Note: this format is open to change.
29780@c An out-of-band breakpoint instead of part of the result?
29781
29782@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29783
29784The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{break}, @samp{tbreak},
29785@samp{hbreak}, and @samp{thbreak}. @c and @samp{rbreak}.
29786
29787@subsubheading Example
29788
29789@smallexample
29790(gdb)
29791-break-insert main
29792^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",
29793fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="4",thread-groups=["i1"],
29794times="0"@}
29795(gdb)
29796-break-insert -t foo
29797^done,bkpt=@{number="2",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c",
29798fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="11",thread-groups=["i1"],
29799times="0"@}
29800(gdb)
29801-break-list
29802^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
29803hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
29804@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
29805@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
29806@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
29807@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
29808@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
29809body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
29810addr="0x0001072c", func="main",file="recursive2.c",
29811fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,"line="4",thread-groups=["i1"],
29812times="0"@},
29813bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",
29814addr="0x00010774",func="foo",file="recursive2.c",
29815fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",thread-groups=["i1"],
29816times="0"@}]@}
29817(gdb)
29818@c -break-insert -r foo.*
29819@c ~int foo(int, int);
29820@c ^done,bkpt=@{number="3",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c,
29821@c "fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",thread-groups=["i1"],
29822@c times="0"@}
29823@c (gdb)
29824@end smallexample
29825
29826@subheading The @code{-dprintf-insert} Command
29827@findex -dprintf-insert
29828
29829@subsubheading Synopsis
29830
29831@smallexample
29832 -dprintf-insert [ -t ] [ -f ] [ -d ]
29833 [ -c @var{condition} ] [ -i @var{ignore-count} ]
29834 [ -p @var{thread-id} ] [ @var{location} ] [ @var{format} ]
29835 [ @var{argument} ]
29836@end smallexample
29837
29838@noindent
29839If specified, @var{location}, can be one of:
29840
29841@itemize @bullet
29842@item @var{function}
29843@c @item +offset
29844@c @item -offset
29845@c @item @var{linenum}
29846@item @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
29847@item @var{filename}:function
29848@item *@var{address}
29849@end itemize
29850
29851The possible optional parameters of this command are:
29852
29853@table @samp
29854@item -t
29855Insert a temporary breakpoint.
29856@item -f
29857If @var{location} cannot be parsed (for example, if it
29858refers to unknown files or functions), create a pending
29859breakpoint. Without this flag, @value{GDBN} will report
29860an error, and won't create a breakpoint, if @var{location}
29861cannot be parsed.
29862@item -d
29863Create a disabled breakpoint.
29864@item -c @var{condition}
29865Make the breakpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
29866@item -i @var{ignore-count}
29867Set the ignore count of the breakpoint (@pxref{Conditions, ignore count})
29868to @var{ignore-count}.
29869@item -p @var{thread-id}
29870Restrict the breakpoint to the specified @var{thread-id}.
29871@end table
29872
29873@subsubheading Result
29874
29875@xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Information}, for details on the format of the
29876resulting breakpoint.
29877
29878@c An out-of-band breakpoint instead of part of the result?
29879
29880@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29881
29882The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{dprintf}.
29883
29884@subsubheading Example
29885
29886@smallexample
29887(gdb)
298884-dprintf-insert foo "At foo entry\n"
298894^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="dprintf",disp="keep",enabled="y",
29890addr="0x000000000040061b",func="foo",file="mi-dprintf.c",
29891fullname="mi-dprintf.c",line="25",thread-groups=["i1"],
29892times="0",script=@{"printf \"At foo entry\\n\"","continue"@},
29893original-location="foo"@}
29894(gdb)
298955-dprintf-insert 26 "arg=%d, g=%d\n" arg g
298965^done,bkpt=@{number="2",type="dprintf",disp="keep",enabled="y",
29897addr="0x000000000040062a",func="foo",file="mi-dprintf.c",
29898fullname="mi-dprintf.c",line="26",thread-groups=["i1"],
29899times="0",script=@{"printf \"arg=%d, g=%d\\n\", arg, g","continue"@},
29900original-location="mi-dprintf.c:26"@}
29901(gdb)
29902@end smallexample
29903
29904@subheading The @code{-break-list} Command
29905@findex -break-list
29906
29907@subsubheading Synopsis
29908
29909@smallexample
29910 -break-list
29911@end smallexample
29912
29913Displays the list of inserted breakpoints, showing the following fields:
29914
29915@table @samp
29916@item Number
29917number of the breakpoint
29918@item Type
29919type of the breakpoint: @samp{breakpoint} or @samp{watchpoint}
29920@item Disposition
29921should the breakpoint be deleted or disabled when it is hit: @samp{keep}
29922or @samp{nokeep}
29923@item Enabled
29924is the breakpoint enabled or no: @samp{y} or @samp{n}
29925@item Address
29926memory location at which the breakpoint is set
29927@item What
29928logical location of the breakpoint, expressed by function name, file
29929name, line number
29930@item Thread-groups
29931list of thread groups to which this breakpoint applies
29932@item Times
29933number of times the breakpoint has been hit
29934@end table
29935
29936If there are no breakpoints or watchpoints, the @code{BreakpointTable}
29937@code{body} field is an empty list.
29938
29939@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29940
29941The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break}.
29942
29943@subsubheading Example
29944
29945@smallexample
29946(gdb)
29947-break-list
29948^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
29949hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
29950@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
29951@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
29952@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
29953@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
29954@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
29955body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
29956addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],
29957times="0"@},
29958bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
29959addr="0x00010114",func="foo",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
29960line="13",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"@}]@}
29961(gdb)
29962@end smallexample
29963
29964Here's an example of the result when there are no breakpoints:
29965
29966@smallexample
29967(gdb)
29968-break-list
29969^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
29970hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
29971@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
29972@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
29973@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
29974@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
29975@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
29976body=[]@}
29977(gdb)
29978@end smallexample
29979
29980@subheading The @code{-break-passcount} Command
29981@findex -break-passcount
29982
29983@subsubheading Synopsis
29984
29985@smallexample
29986 -break-passcount @var{tracepoint-number} @var{passcount}
29987@end smallexample
29988
29989Set the passcount for tracepoint @var{tracepoint-number} to
29990@var{passcount}. If the breakpoint referred to by @var{tracepoint-number}
29991is not a tracepoint, error is emitted. This corresponds to CLI
29992command @samp{passcount}.
29993
29994@subheading The @code{-break-watch} Command
29995@findex -break-watch
29996
29997@subsubheading Synopsis
29998
29999@smallexample
30000 -break-watch [ -a | -r ]
30001@end smallexample
30002
30003Create a watchpoint. With the @samp{-a} option it will create an
30004@dfn{access} watchpoint, i.e., a watchpoint that triggers either on a
30005read from or on a write to the memory location. With the @samp{-r}
30006option, the watchpoint created is a @dfn{read} watchpoint, i.e., it will
30007trigger only when the memory location is accessed for reading. Without
30008either of the options, the watchpoint created is a regular watchpoint,
30009i.e., it will trigger when the memory location is accessed for writing.
30010@xref{Set Watchpoints, , Setting Watchpoints}.
30011
30012Note that @samp{-break-list} will report a single list of watchpoints and
30013breakpoints inserted.
30014
30015@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30016
30017The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{watch}, @samp{awatch}, and
30018@samp{rwatch}.
30019
30020@subsubheading Example
30021
30022Setting a watchpoint on a variable in the @code{main} function:
30023
30024@smallexample
30025(gdb)
30026-break-watch x
30027^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@}
30028(gdb)
30029-exec-continue
30030^running
30031(gdb)
30032*stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@},
30033value=@{old="-268439212",new="55"@},
30034frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
30035fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="5"@}
30036(gdb)
30037@end smallexample
30038
30039Setting a watchpoint on a variable local to a function. @value{GDBN} will stop
30040the program execution twice: first for the variable changing value, then
30041for the watchpoint going out of scope.
30042
30043@smallexample
30044(gdb)
30045-break-watch C
30046^done,wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@}
30047(gdb)
30048-exec-continue
30049^running
30050(gdb)
30051*stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",
30052wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@},value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
30053frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
30054file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30055fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
30056(gdb)
30057-exec-continue
30058^running
30059(gdb)
30060*stopped,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="5",
30061frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
30062value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
30063file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30064fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
30065(gdb)
30066@end smallexample
30067
30068Listing breakpoints and watchpoints, at different points in the program
30069execution. Note that once the watchpoint goes out of scope, it is
30070deleted.
30071
30072@smallexample
30073(gdb)
30074-break-watch C
30075^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@}
30076(gdb)
30077-break-list
30078^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
30079hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
30080@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
30081@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
30082@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
30083@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
30084@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
30085body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30086addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
30087file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30088fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c"line="8",thread-groups=["i1"],
30089times="1"@},
30090bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
30091enabled="y",addr="",what="C",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"@}]@}
30092(gdb)
30093-exec-continue
30094^running
30095(gdb)
30096*stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@},
30097value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
30098frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
30099file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30100fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
30101(gdb)
30102-break-list
30103^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
30104hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
30105@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
30106@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
30107@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
30108@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
30109@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
30110body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30111addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
30112file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30113fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",thread-groups=["i1"],
30114times="1"@},
30115bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
30116enabled="y",addr="",what="C",thread-groups=["i1"],times="-5"@}]@}
30117(gdb)
30118-exec-continue
30119^running
30120^done,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="2",
30121frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
30122value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
30123file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30124fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
30125(gdb)
30126-break-list
30127^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
30128hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
30129@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
30130@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
30131@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
30132@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
30133@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
30134body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30135addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
30136file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30137fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",
30138thread-groups=["i1"],times="1"@}]@}
30139(gdb)
30140@end smallexample
30141
30142
30143@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30144@node GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands
30145@section @sc{gdb/mi} Catchpoint Commands
30146
30147This section documents @sc{gdb/mi} commands for manipulating
30148catchpoints.
30149
30150@subheading The @code{-catch-load} Command
30151@findex -catch-load
30152
30153@subsubheading Synopsis
30154
30155@smallexample
30156 -catch-load [ -t ] [ -d ] @var{regexp}
30157@end smallexample
30158
30159Add a catchpoint for library load events. If the @samp{-t} option is used,
30160the catchpoint is a temporary one (@pxref{Set Breaks, ,Setting
30161Breakpoints}). If the @samp{-d} option is used, the catchpoint is created
30162in a disabled state. The @samp{regexp} argument is a regular
30163expression used to match the name of the loaded library.
30164
30165
30166@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30167
30168The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{catch load}.
30169
30170@subsubheading Example
30171
30172@smallexample
30173-catch-load -t foo.so
30174^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="catchpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",
30175what="load of library matching foo.so",catch-type="load",times="0"@}
30176(gdb)
30177@end smallexample
30178
30179
30180@subheading The @code{-catch-unload} Command
30181@findex -catch-unload
30182
30183@subsubheading Synopsis
30184
30185@smallexample
30186 -catch-unload [ -t ] [ -d ] @var{regexp}
30187@end smallexample
30188
30189Add a catchpoint for library unload events. If the @samp{-t} option is
30190used, the catchpoint is a temporary one (@pxref{Set Breaks, ,Setting
30191Breakpoints}). If the @samp{-d} option is used, the catchpoint is
30192created in a disabled state. The @samp{regexp} argument is a regular
30193expression used to match the name of the unloaded library.
30194
30195@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30196
30197The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{catch unload}.
30198
30199@subsubheading Example
30200
30201@smallexample
30202-catch-unload -d bar.so
30203^done,bkpt=@{number="2",type="catchpoint",disp="keep",enabled="n",
30204what="load of library matching bar.so",catch-type="unload",times="0"@}
30205(gdb)
30206@end smallexample
30207
30208
30209@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30210@node GDB/MI Program Context
30211@section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Context
30212
30213@subheading The @code{-exec-arguments} Command
30214@findex -exec-arguments
30215
30216
30217@subsubheading Synopsis
30218
30219@smallexample
30220 -exec-arguments @var{args}
30221@end smallexample
30222
30223Set the inferior program arguments, to be used in the next
30224@samp{-exec-run}.
30225
30226@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30227
30228The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set args}.
30229
30230@subsubheading Example
30231
30232@smallexample
30233(gdb)
30234-exec-arguments -v word
30235^done
30236(gdb)
30237@end smallexample
30238
30239
30240@ignore
30241@subheading The @code{-exec-show-arguments} Command
30242@findex -exec-show-arguments
30243
30244@subsubheading Synopsis
30245
30246@smallexample
30247 -exec-show-arguments
30248@end smallexample
30249
30250Print the arguments of the program.
30251
30252@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30253
30254The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show args}.
30255
30256@subsubheading Example
30257N.A.
30258@end ignore
30259
30260
30261@subheading The @code{-environment-cd} Command
30262@findex -environment-cd
30263
30264@subsubheading Synopsis
30265
30266@smallexample
30267 -environment-cd @var{pathdir}
30268@end smallexample
30269
30270Set @value{GDBN}'s working directory.
30271
30272@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30273
30274The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{cd}.
30275
30276@subsubheading Example
30277
30278@smallexample
30279(gdb)
30280-environment-cd /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
30281^done
30282(gdb)
30283@end smallexample
30284
30285
30286@subheading The @code{-environment-directory} Command
30287@findex -environment-directory
30288
30289@subsubheading Synopsis
30290
30291@smallexample
30292 -environment-directory [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
30293@end smallexample
30294
30295Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for source files.
30296If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the default
30297search path. If directories @var{pathdir} are supplied in addition to the
30298@samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
30299occurs as normal.
30300Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
30301multiple directories in a single command
30302results in the directories added to the beginning of the
30303search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
30304If blanks are needed as
30305part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
30306the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
30307by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
30308character must not be used
30309in any directory name.
30310If no directories are specified, the current search path is displayed.
30311
30312@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30313
30314The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{dir}.
30315
30316@subsubheading Example
30317
30318@smallexample
30319(gdb)
30320-environment-directory /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
30321^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
30322(gdb)
30323-environment-directory ""
30324^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
30325(gdb)
30326-environment-directory -r /home/jjohnstn/src/gdb /usr/src
30327^done,source-path="/home/jjohnstn/src/gdb:/usr/src:$cdir:$cwd"
30328(gdb)
30329-environment-directory -r
30330^done,source-path="$cdir:$cwd"
30331(gdb)
30332@end smallexample
30333
30334
30335@subheading The @code{-environment-path} Command
30336@findex -environment-path
30337
30338@subsubheading Synopsis
30339
30340@smallexample
30341 -environment-path [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
30342@end smallexample
30343
30344Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for object files.
30345If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the original
30346search path that existed at gdb start-up. If directories @var{pathdir} are
30347supplied in addition to the
30348@samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
30349occurs as normal.
30350Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
30351multiple directories in a single command
30352results in the directories added to the beginning of the
30353search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
30354If blanks are needed as
30355part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
30356the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
30357by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
30358character must not be used
30359in any directory name.
30360If no directories are specified, the current path is displayed.
30361
30362
30363@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30364
30365The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{path}.
30366
30367@subsubheading Example
30368
30369@smallexample
30370(gdb)
30371-environment-path
30372^done,path="/usr/bin"
30373(gdb)
30374-environment-path /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb /bin
30375^done,path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb:/bin:/usr/bin"
30376(gdb)
30377-environment-path -r /usr/local/bin
30378^done,path="/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin"
30379(gdb)
30380@end smallexample
30381
30382
30383@subheading The @code{-environment-pwd} Command
30384@findex -environment-pwd
30385
30386@subsubheading Synopsis
30387
30388@smallexample
30389 -environment-pwd
30390@end smallexample
30391
30392Show the current working directory.
30393
30394@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30395
30396The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{pwd}.
30397
30398@subsubheading Example
30399
30400@smallexample
30401(gdb)
30402-environment-pwd
30403^done,cwd="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb"
30404(gdb)
30405@end smallexample
30406
30407@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30408@node GDB/MI Thread Commands
30409@section @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Commands
30410
30411
30412@subheading The @code{-thread-info} Command
30413@findex -thread-info
30414
30415@subsubheading Synopsis
30416
30417@smallexample
30418 -thread-info [ @var{thread-id} ]
30419@end smallexample
30420
30421Reports information about either a specific thread, if
30422the @var{thread-id} parameter is present, or about all
30423threads. When printing information about all threads,
30424also reports the current thread.
30425
30426@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30427
30428The @samp{info thread} command prints the same information
30429about all threads.
30430
30431@subsubheading Result
30432
30433The result is a list of threads. The following attributes are
30434defined for a given thread:
30435
30436@table @samp
30437@item current
30438This field exists only for the current thread. It has the value @samp{*}.
30439
30440@item id
30441The identifier that @value{GDBN} uses to refer to the thread.
30442
30443@item target-id
30444The identifier that the target uses to refer to the thread.
30445
30446@item details
30447Extra information about the thread, in a target-specific format. This
30448field is optional.
30449
30450@item name
30451The name of the thread. If the user specified a name using the
30452@code{thread name} command, then this name is given. Otherwise, if
30453@value{GDBN} can extract the thread name from the target, then that
30454name is given. If @value{GDBN} cannot find the thread name, then this
30455field is omitted.
30456
30457@item frame
30458The stack frame currently executing in the thread.
30459
30460@item state
30461The thread's state. The @samp{state} field may have the following
30462values:
30463
30464@table @code
30465@item stopped
30466The thread is stopped. Frame information is available for stopped
30467threads.
30468
30469@item running
30470The thread is running. There's no frame information for running
30471threads.
30472
30473@end table
30474
30475@item core
30476If @value{GDBN} can find the CPU core on which this thread is running,
30477then this field is the core identifier. This field is optional.
30478
30479@end table
30480
30481@subsubheading Example
30482
30483@smallexample
30484-thread-info
30485^done,threads=[
30486@{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
30487 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",
30488 args=[]@},state="running"@},
30489@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
30490 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",
30491 args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
30492 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},
30493 state="running"@}],
30494current-thread-id="1"
30495(gdb)
30496@end smallexample
30497
30498@subheading The @code{-thread-list-ids} Command
30499@findex -thread-list-ids
30500
30501@subsubheading Synopsis
30502
30503@smallexample
30504 -thread-list-ids
30505@end smallexample
30506
30507Produces a list of the currently known @value{GDBN} thread ids. At the
30508end of the list it also prints the total number of such threads.
30509
30510This command is retained for historical reasons, the
30511@code{-thread-info} command should be used instead.
30512
30513@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30514
30515Part of @samp{info threads} supplies the same information.
30516
30517@subsubheading Example
30518
30519@smallexample
30520(gdb)
30521-thread-list-ids
30522^done,thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
30523current-thread-id="1",number-of-threads="3"
30524(gdb)
30525@end smallexample
30526
30527
30528@subheading The @code{-thread-select} Command
30529@findex -thread-select
30530
30531@subsubheading Synopsis
30532
30533@smallexample
30534 -thread-select @var{threadnum}
30535@end smallexample
30536
30537Make @var{threadnum} the current thread. It prints the number of the new
30538current thread, and the topmost frame for that thread.
30539
30540This command is deprecated in favor of explicitly using the
30541@samp{--thread} option to each command.
30542
30543@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30544
30545The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{thread}.
30546
30547@subsubheading Example
30548
30549@smallexample
30550(gdb)
30551-exec-next
30552^running
30553(gdb)
30554*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",thread-id="2",line="187",
30555file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.threads/linux-dp.c"
30556(gdb)
30557-thread-list-ids
30558^done,
30559thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
30560number-of-threads="3"
30561(gdb)
30562-thread-select 3
30563^done,new-thread-id="3",
30564frame=@{level="0",func="vprintf",
30565args=[@{name="format",value="0x8048e9c \"%*s%c %d %c\\n\""@},
30566@{name="arg",value="0x2"@}],file="vprintf.c",line="31"@}
30567(gdb)
30568@end smallexample
30569
30570@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30571@node GDB/MI Ada Tasking Commands
30572@section @sc{gdb/mi} Ada Tasking Commands
30573
30574@subheading The @code{-ada-task-info} Command
30575@findex -ada-task-info
30576
30577@subsubheading Synopsis
30578
30579@smallexample
30580 -ada-task-info [ @var{task-id} ]
30581@end smallexample
30582
30583Reports information about either a specific Ada task, if the
30584@var{task-id} parameter is present, or about all Ada tasks.
30585
30586@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30587
30588The @samp{info tasks} command prints the same information
30589about all Ada tasks (@pxref{Ada Tasks}).
30590
30591@subsubheading Result
30592
30593The result is a table of Ada tasks. The following columns are
30594defined for each Ada task:
30595
30596@table @samp
30597@item current
30598This field exists only for the current thread. It has the value @samp{*}.
30599
30600@item id
30601The identifier that @value{GDBN} uses to refer to the Ada task.
30602
30603@item task-id
30604The identifier that the target uses to refer to the Ada task.
30605
30606@item thread-id
30607The identifier of the thread corresponding to the Ada task.
30608
30609This field should always exist, as Ada tasks are always implemented
30610on top of a thread. But if @value{GDBN} cannot find this corresponding
30611thread for any reason, the field is omitted.
30612
30613@item parent-id
30614This field exists only when the task was created by another task.
30615In this case, it provides the ID of the parent task.
30616
30617@item priority
30618The base priority of the task.
30619
30620@item state
30621The current state of the task. For a detailed description of the
30622possible states, see @ref{Ada Tasks}.
30623
30624@item name
30625The name of the task.
30626
30627@end table
30628
30629@subsubheading Example
30630
30631@smallexample
30632-ada-task-info
30633^done,tasks=@{nr_rows="3",nr_cols="8",
30634hdr=[@{width="1",alignment="-1",col_name="current",colhdr=""@},
30635@{width="3",alignment="1",col_name="id",colhdr="ID"@},
30636@{width="9",alignment="1",col_name="task-id",colhdr="TID"@},
30637@{width="4",alignment="1",col_name="thread-id",colhdr=""@},
30638@{width="4",alignment="1",col_name="parent-id",colhdr="P-ID"@},
30639@{width="3",alignment="1",col_name="priority",colhdr="Pri"@},
30640@{width="22",alignment="-1",col_name="state",colhdr="State"@},
30641@{width="1",alignment="2",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@}],
30642body=[@{current="*",id="1",task-id=" 644010",thread-id="1",priority="48",
30643state="Child Termination Wait",name="main_task"@}]@}
30644(gdb)
30645@end smallexample
30646
30647@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30648@node GDB/MI Program Execution
30649@section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Execution
30650
30651These are the asynchronous commands which generate the out-of-band
30652record @samp{*stopped}. Currently @value{GDBN} only really executes
30653asynchronously with remote targets and this interaction is mimicked in
30654other cases.
30655
30656@subheading The @code{-exec-continue} Command
30657@findex -exec-continue
30658
30659@subsubheading Synopsis
30660
30661@smallexample
30662 -exec-continue [--reverse] [--all|--thread-group N]
30663@end smallexample
30664
30665Resumes the execution of the inferior program, which will continue
30666to execute until it reaches a debugger stop event. If the
30667@samp{--reverse} option is specified, execution resumes in reverse until
30668it reaches a stop event. Stop events may include
30669@itemize @bullet
30670@item
30671breakpoints or watchpoints
30672@item
30673signals or exceptions
30674@item
30675the end of the process (or its beginning under @samp{--reverse})
30676@item
30677the end or beginning of a replay log if one is being used.
30678@end itemize
30679In all-stop mode (@pxref{All-Stop
30680Mode}), may resume only one thread, or all threads, depending on the
30681value of the @samp{scheduler-locking} variable. If @samp{--all} is
30682specified, all threads (in all inferiors) will be resumed. The @samp{--all} option is
30683ignored in all-stop mode. If the @samp{--thread-group} options is
30684specified, then all threads in that thread group are resumed.
30685
30686@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30687
30688The corresponding @value{GDBN} corresponding is @samp{continue}.
30689
30690@subsubheading Example
30691
30692@smallexample
30693-exec-continue
30694^running
30695(gdb)
30696@@Hello world
30697*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="2",frame=@{
30698func="foo",args=[],file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",
30699line="13"@}
30700(gdb)
30701@end smallexample
30702
30703
30704@subheading The @code{-exec-finish} Command
30705@findex -exec-finish
30706
30707@subsubheading Synopsis
30708
30709@smallexample
30710 -exec-finish [--reverse]
30711@end smallexample
30712
30713Resumes the execution of the inferior program until the current
30714function is exited. Displays the results returned by the function.
30715If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes the reverse
30716execution of the inferior program until the point where current
30717function was called.
30718
30719@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30720
30721The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{finish}.
30722
30723@subsubheading Example
30724
30725Function returning @code{void}.
30726
30727@smallexample
30728-exec-finish
30729^running
30730(gdb)
30731@@hello from foo
30732*stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
30733file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",line="7"@}
30734(gdb)
30735@end smallexample
30736
30737Function returning other than @code{void}. The name of the internal
30738@value{GDBN} variable storing the result is printed, together with the
30739value itself.
30740
30741@smallexample
30742-exec-finish
30743^running
30744(gdb)
30745*stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{addr="0x000107b0",func="foo",
30746args=[@{name="a",value="1"],@{name="b",value="9"@}@},
30747file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
30748gdb-result-var="$1",return-value="0"
30749(gdb)
30750@end smallexample
30751
30752
30753@subheading The @code{-exec-interrupt} Command
30754@findex -exec-interrupt
30755
30756@subsubheading Synopsis
30757
30758@smallexample
30759 -exec-interrupt [--all|--thread-group N]
30760@end smallexample
30761
30762Interrupts the background execution of the target. Note how the token
30763associated with the stop message is the one for the execution command
30764that has been interrupted. The token for the interrupt itself only
30765appears in the @samp{^done} output. If the user is trying to
30766interrupt a non-running program, an error message will be printed.
30767
30768Note that when asynchronous execution is enabled, this command is
30769asynchronous just like other execution commands. That is, first the
30770@samp{^done} response will be printed, and the target stop will be
30771reported after that using the @samp{*stopped} notification.
30772
30773In non-stop mode, only the context thread is interrupted by default.
30774All threads (in all inferiors) will be interrupted if the
30775@samp{--all} option is specified. If the @samp{--thread-group}
30776option is specified, all threads in that group will be interrupted.
30777
30778@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30779
30780The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interrupt}.
30781
30782@subsubheading Example
30783
30784@smallexample
30785(gdb)
30786111-exec-continue
30787111^running
30788
30789(gdb)
30790222-exec-interrupt
30791222^done
30792(gdb)
30793111*stopped,signal-name="SIGINT",signal-meaning="Interrupt",
30794frame=@{addr="0x00010140",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
30795fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="13"@}
30796(gdb)
30797
30798(gdb)
30799-exec-interrupt
30800^error,msg="mi_cmd_exec_interrupt: Inferior not executing."
30801(gdb)
30802@end smallexample
30803
30804@subheading The @code{-exec-jump} Command
30805@findex -exec-jump
30806
30807@subsubheading Synopsis
30808
30809@smallexample
30810 -exec-jump @var{location}
30811@end smallexample
30812
30813Resumes execution of the inferior program at the location specified by
30814parameter. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
30815different forms of @var{location}.
30816
30817@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30818
30819The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{jump}.
30820
30821@subsubheading Example
30822
30823@smallexample
30824-exec-jump foo.c:10
30825*running,thread-id="all"
30826^running
30827@end smallexample
30828
30829
30830@subheading The @code{-exec-next} Command
30831@findex -exec-next
30832
30833@subsubheading Synopsis
30834
30835@smallexample
30836 -exec-next [--reverse]
30837@end smallexample
30838
30839Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
30840of the next source line is reached.
30841
30842If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
30843of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the previous
30844source line. If you issue this command on the first line of a
30845function, it will take you back to the caller of that function, to the
30846source line where the function was called.
30847
30848
30849@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30850
30851The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{next}.
30852
30853@subsubheading Example
30854
30855@smallexample
30856-exec-next
30857^running
30858(gdb)
30859*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="8",file="hello.c"
30860(gdb)
30861@end smallexample
30862
30863
30864@subheading The @code{-exec-next-instruction} Command
30865@findex -exec-next-instruction
30866
30867@subsubheading Synopsis
30868
30869@smallexample
30870 -exec-next-instruction [--reverse]
30871@end smallexample
30872
30873Executes one machine instruction. If the instruction is a function
30874call, continues until the function returns. If the program stops at an
30875instruction in the middle of a source line, the address will be
30876printed as well.
30877
30878If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
30879of the inferior program, stopping at the previous instruction. If the
30880previously executed instruction was a return from another function,
30881it will continue to execute in reverse until the call to that function
30882(from the current stack frame) is reached.
30883
30884@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30885
30886The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{nexti}.
30887
30888@subsubheading Example
30889
30890@smallexample
30891(gdb)
30892-exec-next-instruction
30893^running
30894
30895(gdb)
30896*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
30897addr="0x000100d4",line="5",file="hello.c"
30898(gdb)
30899@end smallexample
30900
30901
30902@subheading The @code{-exec-return} Command
30903@findex -exec-return
30904
30905@subsubheading Synopsis
30906
30907@smallexample
30908 -exec-return
30909@end smallexample
30910
30911Makes current function return immediately. Doesn't execute the inferior.
30912Displays the new current frame.
30913
30914@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30915
30916The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{return}.
30917
30918@subsubheading Example
30919
30920@smallexample
30921(gdb)
30922200-break-insert callee4
30923200^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x00010734",
30924file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
30925(gdb)
30926000-exec-run
30927000^running
30928(gdb)
30929000*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
30930frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
30931file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30932fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
30933(gdb)
30934205-break-delete
30935205^done
30936(gdb)
30937111-exec-return
30938111^done,frame=@{level="0",func="callee3",
30939args=[@{name="strarg",
30940value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
30941file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30942fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
30943(gdb)
30944@end smallexample
30945
30946
30947@subheading The @code{-exec-run} Command
30948@findex -exec-run
30949
30950@subsubheading Synopsis
30951
30952@smallexample
30953 -exec-run [--all | --thread-group N]
30954@end smallexample
30955
30956Starts execution of the inferior from the beginning. The inferior
30957executes until either a breakpoint is encountered or the program
30958exits. In the latter case the output will include an exit code, if
30959the program has exited exceptionally.
30960
30961When no option is specified, the current inferior is started. If the
30962@samp{--thread-group} option is specified, it should refer to a thread
30963group of type @samp{process}, and that thread group will be started.
30964If the @samp{--all} option is specified, then all inferiors will be started.
30965
30966@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30967
30968The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{run}.
30969
30970@subsubheading Examples
30971
30972@smallexample
30973(gdb)
30974-break-insert main
30975^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",line="4"@}
30976(gdb)
30977-exec-run
30978^running
30979(gdb)
30980*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
30981frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
30982fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}
30983(gdb)
30984@end smallexample
30985
30986@noindent
30987Program exited normally:
30988
30989@smallexample
30990(gdb)
30991-exec-run
30992^running
30993(gdb)
30994x = 55
30995*stopped,reason="exited-normally"
30996(gdb)
30997@end smallexample
30998
30999@noindent
31000Program exited exceptionally:
31001
31002@smallexample
31003(gdb)
31004-exec-run
31005^running
31006(gdb)
31007x = 55
31008*stopped,reason="exited",exit-code="01"
31009(gdb)
31010@end smallexample
31011
31012Another way the program can terminate is if it receives a signal such as
31013@code{SIGINT}. In this case, @sc{gdb/mi} displays this:
31014
31015@smallexample
31016(gdb)
31017*stopped,reason="exited-signalled",signal-name="SIGINT",
31018signal-meaning="Interrupt"
31019@end smallexample
31020
31021
31022@c @subheading -exec-signal
31023
31024
31025@subheading The @code{-exec-step} Command
31026@findex -exec-step
31027
31028@subsubheading Synopsis
31029
31030@smallexample
31031 -exec-step [--reverse]
31032@end smallexample
31033
31034Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
31035of the next source line is reached, if the next source line is not a
31036function call. If it is, stop at the first instruction of the called
31037function. If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse
31038execution of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the
31039previously executed source line.
31040
31041@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31042
31043The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{step}.
31044
31045@subsubheading Example
31046
31047Stepping into a function:
31048
31049@smallexample
31050-exec-step
31051^running
31052(gdb)
31053*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
31054frame=@{func="foo",args=[@{name="a",value="10"@},
31055@{name="b",value="0"@}],file="recursive2.c",
31056fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@}
31057(gdb)
31058@end smallexample
31059
31060Regular stepping:
31061
31062@smallexample
31063-exec-step
31064^running
31065(gdb)
31066*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="14",file="recursive2.c"
31067(gdb)
31068@end smallexample
31069
31070
31071@subheading The @code{-exec-step-instruction} Command
31072@findex -exec-step-instruction
31073
31074@subsubheading Synopsis
31075
31076@smallexample
31077 -exec-step-instruction [--reverse]
31078@end smallexample
31079
31080Resumes the inferior which executes one machine instruction. If the
31081@samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution of the
31082inferior program, stopping at the previously executed instruction.
31083The output, once @value{GDBN} has stopped, will vary depending on
31084whether we have stopped in the middle of a source line or not. In the
31085former case, the address at which the program stopped will be printed
31086as well.
31087
31088@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31089
31090The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{stepi}.
31091
31092@subsubheading Example
31093
31094@smallexample
31095(gdb)
31096-exec-step-instruction
31097^running
31098
31099(gdb)
31100*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
31101frame=@{func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
31102fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
31103(gdb)
31104-exec-step-instruction
31105^running
31106
31107(gdb)
31108*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
31109frame=@{addr="0x000100f4",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
31110fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
31111(gdb)
31112@end smallexample
31113
31114
31115@subheading The @code{-exec-until} Command
31116@findex -exec-until
31117
31118@subsubheading Synopsis
31119
31120@smallexample
31121 -exec-until [ @var{location} ]
31122@end smallexample
31123
31124Executes the inferior until the @var{location} specified in the
31125argument is reached. If there is no argument, the inferior executes
31126until a source line greater than the current one is reached. The
31127reason for stopping in this case will be @samp{location-reached}.
31128
31129@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31130
31131The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{until}.
31132
31133@subsubheading Example
31134
31135@smallexample
31136(gdb)
31137-exec-until recursive2.c:6
31138^running
31139(gdb)
31140x = 55
31141*stopped,reason="location-reached",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
31142file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="6"@}
31143(gdb)
31144@end smallexample
31145
31146@ignore
31147@subheading -file-clear
31148Is this going away????
31149@end ignore
31150
31151@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31152@node GDB/MI Stack Manipulation
31153@section @sc{gdb/mi} Stack Manipulation Commands
31154
31155@subheading The @code{-enable-frame-filters} Command
31156@findex -enable-frame-filters
31157
31158@smallexample
31159-enable-frame-filters
31160@end smallexample
31161
31162@value{GDBN} allows Python-based frame filters to affect the output of
31163the MI commands relating to stack traces. As there is no way to
31164implement this in a fully backward-compatible way, a front end must
31165request that this functionality be enabled.
31166
31167Once enabled, this feature cannot be disabled.
31168
31169Note that if Python support has not been compiled into @value{GDBN},
31170this command will still succeed (and do nothing).
31171
31172@subheading The @code{-stack-info-frame} Command
31173@findex -stack-info-frame
31174
31175@subsubheading Synopsis
31176
31177@smallexample
31178 -stack-info-frame
31179@end smallexample
31180
31181Get info on the selected frame.
31182
31183@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31184
31185The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info frame} or @samp{frame}
31186(without arguments).
31187
31188@subsubheading Example
31189
31190@smallexample
31191(gdb)
31192-stack-info-frame
31193^done,frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
31194file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31195fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@}
31196(gdb)
31197@end smallexample
31198
31199@subheading The @code{-stack-info-depth} Command
31200@findex -stack-info-depth
31201
31202@subsubheading Synopsis
31203
31204@smallexample
31205 -stack-info-depth [ @var{max-depth} ]
31206@end smallexample
31207
31208Return the depth of the stack. If the integer argument @var{max-depth}
31209is specified, do not count beyond @var{max-depth} frames.
31210
31211@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31212
31213There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
31214
31215@subsubheading Example
31216
31217For a stack with frame levels 0 through 11:
31218
31219@smallexample
31220(gdb)
31221-stack-info-depth
31222^done,depth="12"
31223(gdb)
31224-stack-info-depth 4
31225^done,depth="4"
31226(gdb)
31227-stack-info-depth 12
31228^done,depth="12"
31229(gdb)
31230-stack-info-depth 11
31231^done,depth="11"
31232(gdb)
31233-stack-info-depth 13
31234^done,depth="12"
31235(gdb)
31236@end smallexample
31237
31238@anchor{-stack-list-arguments}
31239@subheading The @code{-stack-list-arguments} Command
31240@findex -stack-list-arguments
31241
31242@subsubheading Synopsis
31243
31244@smallexample
31245 -stack-list-arguments [ --no-frame-filters ] @var{print-values}
31246 [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
31247@end smallexample
31248
31249Display a list of the arguments for the frames between @var{low-frame}
31250and @var{high-frame} (inclusive). If @var{low-frame} and
31251@var{high-frame} are not provided, list the arguments for the whole
31252call stack. If the two arguments are equal, show the single frame
31253at the corresponding level. It is an error if @var{low-frame} is
31254larger than the actual number of frames. On the other hand,
31255@var{high-frame} may be larger than the actual number of frames, in
31256which case only existing frames will be returned.
31257
31258If @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
31259the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
31260values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
31261type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
31262structures and unions. If the option @code{--no-frame-filters} is
31263supplied, then Python frame filters will not be executed.
31264
31265
31266Use of this command to obtain arguments in a single frame is
31267deprecated in favor of the @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
31268
31269@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31270
31271@value{GDBN} does not have an equivalent command. @code{gdbtk} has a
31272@samp{gdb_get_args} command which partially overlaps with the
31273functionality of @samp{-stack-list-arguments}.
31274
31275@subsubheading Example
31276
31277@smallexample
31278(gdb)
31279-stack-list-frames
31280^done,
31281stack=[
31282frame=@{level="0",addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
31283file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31284fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@},
31285frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
31286file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31287fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@},
31288frame=@{level="2",addr="0x0001078c",func="callee2",
31289file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31290fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="22"@},
31291frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107b4",func="callee1",
31292file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31293fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="27"@},
31294frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107e0",func="main",
31295file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31296fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="32"@}]
31297(gdb)
31298-stack-list-arguments 0
31299^done,
31300stack-args=[
31301frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
31302frame=@{level="1",args=[name="strarg"]@},
31303frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@},
31304frame=@{level="3",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg",name="fltarg"]@},
31305frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
31306(gdb)
31307-stack-list-arguments 1
31308^done,
31309stack-args=[
31310frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
31311frame=@{level="1",
31312 args=[@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
31313frame=@{level="2",args=[
31314@{name="intarg",value="2"@},
31315@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
31316@{frame=@{level="3",args=[
31317@{name="intarg",value="2"@},
31318@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@},
31319@{name="fltarg",value="3.5"@}]@},
31320frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
31321(gdb)
31322-stack-list-arguments 0 2 2
31323^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@}]
31324(gdb)
31325-stack-list-arguments 1 2 2
31326^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",
31327args=[@{name="intarg",value="2"@},
31328@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@}]
31329(gdb)
31330@end smallexample
31331
31332@c @subheading -stack-list-exception-handlers
31333
31334
31335@anchor{-stack-list-frames}
31336@subheading The @code{-stack-list-frames} Command
31337@findex -stack-list-frames
31338
31339@subsubheading Synopsis
31340
31341@smallexample
31342 -stack-list-frames [ --no-frame-filters @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
31343@end smallexample
31344
31345List the frames currently on the stack. For each frame it displays the
31346following info:
31347
31348@table @samp
31349@item @var{level}
31350The frame number, 0 being the topmost frame, i.e., the innermost function.
31351@item @var{addr}
31352The @code{$pc} value for that frame.
31353@item @var{func}
31354Function name.
31355@item @var{file}
31356File name of the source file where the function lives.
31357@item @var{fullname}
31358The full file name of the source file where the function lives.
31359@item @var{line}
31360Line number corresponding to the @code{$pc}.
31361@item @var{from}
31362The shared library where this function is defined. This is only given
31363if the frame's function is not known.
31364@end table
31365
31366If invoked without arguments, this command prints a backtrace for the
31367whole stack. If given two integer arguments, it shows the frames whose
31368levels are between the two arguments (inclusive). If the two arguments
31369are equal, it shows the single frame at the corresponding level. It is
31370an error if @var{low-frame} is larger than the actual number of
31371frames. On the other hand, @var{high-frame} may be larger than the
31372actual number of frames, in which case only existing frames will be
31373returned. If the option @code{--no-frame-filters} is supplied, then
31374Python frame filters will not be executed.
31375
31376@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31377
31378The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{backtrace} and @samp{where}.
31379
31380@subsubheading Example
31381
31382Full stack backtrace:
31383
31384@smallexample
31385(gdb)
31386-stack-list-frames
31387^done,stack=
31388[frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0001076c",func="foo",
31389 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@},
31390frame=@{level="1",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31391 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31392frame=@{level="2",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31393 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31394frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31395 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31396frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31397 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31398frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31399 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31400frame=@{level="6",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31401 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31402frame=@{level="7",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31403 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31404frame=@{level="8",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31405 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31406frame=@{level="9",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31407 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31408frame=@{level="10",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31409 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31410frame=@{level="11",addr="0x00010738",func="main",
31411 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}]
31412(gdb)
31413@end smallexample
31414
31415Show frames between @var{low_frame} and @var{high_frame}:
31416
31417@smallexample
31418(gdb)
31419-stack-list-frames 3 5
31420^done,stack=
31421[frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31422 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31423frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31424 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31425frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31426 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
31427(gdb)
31428@end smallexample
31429
31430Show a single frame:
31431
31432@smallexample
31433(gdb)
31434-stack-list-frames 3 3
31435^done,stack=
31436[frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31437 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
31438(gdb)
31439@end smallexample
31440
31441
31442@subheading The @code{-stack-list-locals} Command
31443@findex -stack-list-locals
31444@anchor{-stack-list-locals}
31445
31446@subsubheading Synopsis
31447
31448@smallexample
31449 -stack-list-locals [ --no-frame-filters ] @var{print-values}
31450@end smallexample
31451
31452Display the local variable names for the selected frame. If
31453@var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
31454the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
31455values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
31456type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
31457structures and unions. In this last case, a frontend can immediately
31458display the value of simple data types and create variable objects for
31459other data types when the user wishes to explore their values in
31460more detail. If the option @code{--no-frame-filters} is supplied, then
31461Python frame filters will not be executed.
31462
31463This command is deprecated in favor of the
31464@samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
31465
31466@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31467
31468@samp{info locals} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_get_locals} in @code{gdbtk}.
31469
31470@subsubheading Example
31471
31472@smallexample
31473(gdb)
31474-stack-list-locals 0
31475^done,locals=[name="A",name="B",name="C"]
31476(gdb)
31477-stack-list-locals --all-values
31478^done,locals=[@{name="A",value="1"@},@{name="B",value="2"@},
31479 @{name="C",value="@{1, 2, 3@}"@}]
31480-stack-list-locals --simple-values
31481^done,locals=[@{name="A",type="int",value="1"@},
31482 @{name="B",type="int",value="2"@},@{name="C",type="int [3]"@}]
31483(gdb)
31484@end smallexample
31485
31486@anchor{-stack-list-variables}
31487@subheading The @code{-stack-list-variables} Command
31488@findex -stack-list-variables
31489
31490@subsubheading Synopsis
31491
31492@smallexample
31493 -stack-list-variables [ --no-frame-filters ] @var{print-values}
31494@end smallexample
31495
31496Display the names of local variables and function arguments for the selected frame. If
31497@var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
31498the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
31499values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
31500type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
31501structures and unions. If the option @code{--no-frame-filters} is
31502supplied, then Python frame filters will not be executed.
31503
31504@subsubheading Example
31505
31506@smallexample
31507(gdb)
31508-stack-list-variables --thread 1 --frame 0 --all-values
31509^done,variables=[@{name="x",value="11"@},@{name="s",value="@{a = 1, b = 2@}"@}]
31510(gdb)
31511@end smallexample
31512
31513
31514@subheading The @code{-stack-select-frame} Command
31515@findex -stack-select-frame
31516
31517@subsubheading Synopsis
31518
31519@smallexample
31520 -stack-select-frame @var{framenum}
31521@end smallexample
31522
31523Change the selected frame. Select a different frame @var{framenum} on
31524the stack.
31525
31526This command in deprecated in favor of passing the @samp{--frame}
31527option to every command.
31528
31529@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31530
31531The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{frame}, @samp{up},
31532@samp{down}, @samp{select-frame}, @samp{up-silent}, and @samp{down-silent}.
31533
31534@subsubheading Example
31535
31536@smallexample
31537(gdb)
31538-stack-select-frame 2
31539^done
31540(gdb)
31541@end smallexample
31542
31543@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31544@node GDB/MI Variable Objects
31545@section @sc{gdb/mi} Variable Objects
31546
31547@ignore
31548
31549@subheading Motivation for Variable Objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
31550
31551For the implementation of a variable debugger window (locals, watched
31552expressions, etc.), we are proposing the adaptation of the existing code
31553used by @code{Insight}.
31554
31555The two main reasons for that are:
31556
31557@enumerate 1
31558@item
31559It has been proven in practice (it is already on its second generation).
31560
31561@item
31562It will shorten development time (needless to say how important it is
31563now).
31564@end enumerate
31565
31566The original interface was designed to be used by Tcl code, so it was
31567slightly changed so it could be used through @sc{gdb/mi}. This section
31568describes the @sc{gdb/mi} operations that will be available and gives some
31569hints about their use.
31570
31571@emph{Note}: In addition to the set of operations described here, we
31572expect the @sc{gui} implementation of a variable window to require, at
31573least, the following operations:
31574
31575@itemize @bullet
31576@item @code{-gdb-show} @code{output-radix}
31577@item @code{-stack-list-arguments}
31578@item @code{-stack-list-locals}
31579@item @code{-stack-select-frame}
31580@end itemize
31581
31582@end ignore
31583
31584@subheading Introduction to Variable Objects
31585
31586@cindex variable objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
31587
31588Variable objects are "object-oriented" MI interface for examining and
31589changing values of expressions. Unlike some other MI interfaces that
31590work with expressions, variable objects are specifically designed for
31591simple and efficient presentation in the frontend. A variable object
31592is identified by string name. When a variable object is created, the
31593frontend specifies the expression for that variable object. The
31594expression can be a simple variable, or it can be an arbitrary complex
31595expression, and can even involve CPU registers. After creating a
31596variable object, the frontend can invoke other variable object
31597operations---for example to obtain or change the value of a variable
31598object, or to change display format.
31599
31600Variable objects have hierarchical tree structure. Any variable object
31601that corresponds to a composite type, such as structure in C, has
31602a number of child variable objects, for example corresponding to each
31603element of a structure. A child variable object can itself have
31604children, recursively. Recursion ends when we reach
31605leaf variable objects, which always have built-in types. Child variable
31606objects are created only by explicit request, so if a frontend
31607is not interested in the children of a particular variable object, no
31608child will be created.
31609
31610For a leaf variable object it is possible to obtain its value as a
31611string, or set the value from a string. String value can be also
31612obtained for a non-leaf variable object, but it's generally a string
31613that only indicates the type of the object, and does not list its
31614contents. Assignment to a non-leaf variable object is not allowed.
31615
31616A frontend does not need to read the values of all variable objects each time
31617the program stops. Instead, MI provides an update command that lists all
31618variable objects whose values has changed since the last update
31619operation. This considerably reduces the amount of data that must
31620be transferred to the frontend. As noted above, children variable
31621objects are created on demand, and only leaf variable objects have a
31622real value. As result, gdb will read target memory only for leaf
31623variables that frontend has created.
31624
31625The automatic update is not always desirable. For example, a frontend
31626might want to keep a value of some expression for future reference,
31627and never update it. For another example, fetching memory is
31628relatively slow for embedded targets, so a frontend might want
31629to disable automatic update for the variables that are either not
31630visible on the screen, or ``closed''. This is possible using so
31631called ``frozen variable objects''. Such variable objects are never
31632implicitly updated.
31633
31634Variable objects can be either @dfn{fixed} or @dfn{floating}. For the
31635fixed variable object, the expression is parsed when the variable
31636object is created, including associating identifiers to specific
31637variables. The meaning of expression never changes. For a floating
31638variable object the values of variables whose names appear in the
31639expressions are re-evaluated every time in the context of the current
31640frame. Consider this example:
31641
31642@smallexample
31643void do_work(...)
31644@{
31645 struct work_state state;
31646
31647 if (...)
31648 do_work(...);
31649@}
31650@end smallexample
31651
31652If a fixed variable object for the @code{state} variable is created in
31653this function, and we enter the recursive call, the variable
31654object will report the value of @code{state} in the top-level
31655@code{do_work} invocation. On the other hand, a floating variable
31656object will report the value of @code{state} in the current frame.
31657
31658If an expression specified when creating a fixed variable object
31659refers to a local variable, the variable object becomes bound to the
31660thread and frame in which the variable object is created. When such
31661variable object is updated, @value{GDBN} makes sure that the
31662thread/frame combination the variable object is bound to still exists,
31663and re-evaluates the variable object in context of that thread/frame.
31664
31665The following is the complete set of @sc{gdb/mi} operations defined to
31666access this functionality:
31667
31668@multitable @columnfractions .4 .6
31669@item @strong{Operation}
31670@tab @strong{Description}
31671
31672@item @code{-enable-pretty-printing}
31673@tab enable Python-based pretty-printing
31674@item @code{-var-create}
31675@tab create a variable object
31676@item @code{-var-delete}
31677@tab delete the variable object and/or its children
31678@item @code{-var-set-format}
31679@tab set the display format of this variable
31680@item @code{-var-show-format}
31681@tab show the display format of this variable
31682@item @code{-var-info-num-children}
31683@tab tells how many children this object has
31684@item @code{-var-list-children}
31685@tab return a list of the object's children
31686@item @code{-var-info-type}
31687@tab show the type of this variable object
31688@item @code{-var-info-expression}
31689@tab print parent-relative expression that this variable object represents
31690@item @code{-var-info-path-expression}
31691@tab print full expression that this variable object represents
31692@item @code{-var-show-attributes}
31693@tab is this variable editable? does it exist here?
31694@item @code{-var-evaluate-expression}
31695@tab get the value of this variable
31696@item @code{-var-assign}
31697@tab set the value of this variable
31698@item @code{-var-update}
31699@tab update the variable and its children
31700@item @code{-var-set-frozen}
31701@tab set frozeness attribute
31702@item @code{-var-set-update-range}
31703@tab set range of children to display on update
31704@end multitable
31705
31706In the next subsection we describe each operation in detail and suggest
31707how it can be used.
31708
31709@subheading Description And Use of Operations on Variable Objects
31710
31711@subheading The @code{-enable-pretty-printing} Command
31712@findex -enable-pretty-printing
31713
31714@smallexample
31715-enable-pretty-printing
31716@end smallexample
31717
31718@value{GDBN} allows Python-based visualizers to affect the output of the
31719MI variable object commands. However, because there was no way to
31720implement this in a fully backward-compatible way, a front end must
31721request that this functionality be enabled.
31722
31723Once enabled, this feature cannot be disabled.
31724
31725Note that if Python support has not been compiled into @value{GDBN},
31726this command will still succeed (and do nothing).
31727
31728This feature is currently (as of @value{GDBN} 7.0) experimental, and
31729may work differently in future versions of @value{GDBN}.
31730
31731@subheading The @code{-var-create} Command
31732@findex -var-create
31733
31734@subsubheading Synopsis
31735
31736@smallexample
31737 -var-create @{@var{name} | "-"@}
31738 @{@var{frame-addr} | "*" | "@@"@} @var{expression}
31739@end smallexample
31740
31741This operation creates a variable object, which allows the monitoring of
31742a variable, the result of an expression, a memory cell or a CPU
31743register.
31744
31745The @var{name} parameter is the string by which the object can be
31746referenced. It must be unique. If @samp{-} is specified, the varobj
31747system will generate a string ``varNNNNNN'' automatically. It will be
31748unique provided that one does not specify @var{name} of that format.
31749The command fails if a duplicate name is found.
31750
31751The frame under which the expression should be evaluated can be
31752specified by @var{frame-addr}. A @samp{*} indicates that the current
31753frame should be used. A @samp{@@} indicates that a floating variable
31754object must be created.
31755
31756@var{expression} is any expression valid on the current language set (must not
31757begin with a @samp{*}), or one of the following:
31758
31759@itemize @bullet
31760@item
31761@samp{*@var{addr}}, where @var{addr} is the address of a memory cell
31762
31763@item
31764@samp{*@var{addr}-@var{addr}} --- a memory address range (TBD)
31765
31766@item
31767@samp{$@var{regname}} --- a CPU register name
31768@end itemize
31769
31770@cindex dynamic varobj
31771A varobj's contents may be provided by a Python-based pretty-printer. In this
31772case the varobj is known as a @dfn{dynamic varobj}. Dynamic varobjs
31773have slightly different semantics in some cases. If the
31774@code{-enable-pretty-printing} command is not sent, then @value{GDBN}
31775will never create a dynamic varobj. This ensures backward
31776compatibility for existing clients.
31777
31778@subsubheading Result
31779
31780This operation returns attributes of the newly-created varobj. These
31781are:
31782
31783@table @samp
31784@item name
31785The name of the varobj.
31786
31787@item numchild
31788The number of children of the varobj. This number is not necessarily
31789reliable for a dynamic varobj. Instead, you must examine the
31790@samp{has_more} attribute.
31791
31792@item value
31793The varobj's scalar value. For a varobj whose type is some sort of
31794aggregate (e.g., a @code{struct}), or for a dynamic varobj, this value
31795will not be interesting.
31796
31797@item type
31798The varobj's type. This is a string representation of the type, as
31799would be printed by the @value{GDBN} CLI. If @samp{print object}
31800(@pxref{Print Settings, set print object}) is set to @code{on}, the
31801@emph{actual} (derived) type of the object is shown rather than the
31802@emph{declared} one.
31803
31804@item thread-id
31805If a variable object is bound to a specific thread, then this is the
31806thread's identifier.
31807
31808@item has_more
31809For a dynamic varobj, this indicates whether there appear to be any
31810children available. For a non-dynamic varobj, this will be 0.
31811
31812@item dynamic
31813This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
31814varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
31815then this attribute will not be present.
31816
31817@item displayhint
31818A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
31819value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
31820@code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
31821@end table
31822
31823Typical output will look like this:
31824
31825@smallexample
31826 name="@var{name}",numchild="@var{N}",type="@var{type}",thread-id="@var{M}",
31827 has_more="@var{has_more}"
31828@end smallexample
31829
31830
31831@subheading The @code{-var-delete} Command
31832@findex -var-delete
31833
31834@subsubheading Synopsis
31835
31836@smallexample
31837 -var-delete [ -c ] @var{name}
31838@end smallexample
31839
31840Deletes a previously created variable object and all of its children.
31841With the @samp{-c} option, just deletes the children.
31842
31843Returns an error if the object @var{name} is not found.
31844
31845
31846@subheading The @code{-var-set-format} Command
31847@findex -var-set-format
31848
31849@subsubheading Synopsis
31850
31851@smallexample
31852 -var-set-format @var{name} @var{format-spec}
31853@end smallexample
31854
31855Sets the output format for the value of the object @var{name} to be
31856@var{format-spec}.
31857
31858@anchor{-var-set-format}
31859The syntax for the @var{format-spec} is as follows:
31860
31861@smallexample
31862 @var{format-spec} @expansion{}
31863 @{binary | decimal | hexadecimal | octal | natural@}
31864@end smallexample
31865
31866The natural format is the default format choosen automatically
31867based on the variable type (like decimal for an @code{int}, hex
31868for pointers, etc.).
31869
31870For a variable with children, the format is set only on the
31871variable itself, and the children are not affected.
31872
31873@subheading The @code{-var-show-format} Command
31874@findex -var-show-format
31875
31876@subsubheading Synopsis
31877
31878@smallexample
31879 -var-show-format @var{name}
31880@end smallexample
31881
31882Returns the format used to display the value of the object @var{name}.
31883
31884@smallexample
31885 @var{format} @expansion{}
31886 @var{format-spec}
31887@end smallexample
31888
31889
31890@subheading The @code{-var-info-num-children} Command
31891@findex -var-info-num-children
31892
31893@subsubheading Synopsis
31894
31895@smallexample
31896 -var-info-num-children @var{name}
31897@end smallexample
31898
31899Returns the number of children of a variable object @var{name}:
31900
31901@smallexample
31902 numchild=@var{n}
31903@end smallexample
31904
31905Note that this number is not completely reliable for a dynamic varobj.
31906It will return the current number of children, but more children may
31907be available.
31908
31909
31910@subheading The @code{-var-list-children} Command
31911@findex -var-list-children
31912
31913@subsubheading Synopsis
31914
31915@smallexample
31916 -var-list-children [@var{print-values}] @var{name} [@var{from} @var{to}]
31917@end smallexample
31918@anchor{-var-list-children}
31919
31920Return a list of the children of the specified variable object and
31921create variable objects for them, if they do not already exist. With
31922a single argument or if @var{print-values} has a value of 0 or
31923@code{--no-values}, print only the names of the variables; if
31924@var{print-values} is 1 or @code{--all-values}, also print their
31925values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values} print the name and
31926value for simple data types and just the name for arrays, structures
31927and unions.
31928
31929@var{from} and @var{to}, if specified, indicate the range of children
31930to report. If @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is
31931reset and all children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting
31932at @var{from} (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be
31933reported.
31934
31935If a child range is requested, it will only affect the current call to
31936@code{-var-list-children}, but not future calls to @code{-var-update}.
31937For this, you must instead use @code{-var-set-update-range}. The
31938intent of this approach is to enable a front end to implement any
31939update approach it likes; for example, scrolling a view may cause the
31940front end to request more children with @code{-var-list-children}, and
31941then the front end could call @code{-var-set-update-range} with a
31942different range to ensure that future updates are restricted to just
31943the visible items.
31944
31945For each child the following results are returned:
31946
31947@table @var
31948
31949@item name
31950Name of the variable object created for this child.
31951
31952@item exp
31953The expression to be shown to the user by the front end to designate this child.
31954For example this may be the name of a structure member.
31955
31956For a dynamic varobj, this value cannot be used to form an
31957expression. There is no way to do this at all with a dynamic varobj.
31958
31959For C/C@t{++} structures there are several pseudo children returned to
31960designate access qualifiers. For these pseudo children @var{exp} is
31961@samp{public}, @samp{private}, or @samp{protected}. In this case the
31962type and value are not present.
31963
31964A dynamic varobj will not report the access qualifying
31965pseudo-children, regardless of the language. This information is not
31966available at all with a dynamic varobj.
31967
31968@item numchild
31969Number of children this child has. For a dynamic varobj, this will be
319700.
31971
31972@item type
31973The type of the child. If @samp{print object}
31974(@pxref{Print Settings, set print object}) is set to @code{on}, the
31975@emph{actual} (derived) type of the object is shown rather than the
31976@emph{declared} one.
31977
31978@item value
31979If values were requested, this is the value.
31980
31981@item thread-id
31982If this variable object is associated with a thread, this is the thread id.
31983Otherwise this result is not present.
31984
31985@item frozen
31986If the variable object is frozen, this variable will be present with a value of 1.
31987@end table
31988
31989The result may have its own attributes:
31990
31991@table @samp
31992@item displayhint
31993A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
31994value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
31995@code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
31996
31997@item has_more
31998This is an integer attribute which is nonzero if there are children
31999remaining after the end of the selected range.
32000@end table
32001
32002@subsubheading Example
32003
32004@smallexample
32005(gdb)
32006 -var-list-children n
32007 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
32008 numchild=@var{n},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
32009(gdb)
32010 -var-list-children --all-values n
32011 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
32012 numchild=@var{n},value=@var{value},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
32013@end smallexample
32014
32015
32016@subheading The @code{-var-info-type} Command
32017@findex -var-info-type
32018
32019@subsubheading Synopsis
32020
32021@smallexample
32022 -var-info-type @var{name}
32023@end smallexample
32024
32025Returns the type of the specified variable @var{name}. The type is
32026returned as a string in the same format as it is output by the
32027@value{GDBN} CLI:
32028
32029@smallexample
32030 type=@var{typename}
32031@end smallexample
32032
32033
32034@subheading The @code{-var-info-expression} Command
32035@findex -var-info-expression
32036
32037@subsubheading Synopsis
32038
32039@smallexample
32040 -var-info-expression @var{name}
32041@end smallexample
32042
32043Returns a string that is suitable for presenting this
32044variable object in user interface. The string is generally
32045not valid expression in the current language, and cannot be evaluated.
32046
32047For example, if @code{a} is an array, and variable object
32048@code{A} was created for @code{a}, then we'll get this output:
32049
32050@smallexample
32051(gdb) -var-info-expression A.1
32052^done,lang="C",exp="1"
32053@end smallexample
32054
32055@noindent
32056Here, the values of @code{lang} can be @code{@{"C" | "C++" | "Java"@}}.
32057
32058Note that the output of the @code{-var-list-children} command also
32059includes those expressions, so the @code{-var-info-expression} command
32060is of limited use.
32061
32062@subheading The @code{-var-info-path-expression} Command
32063@findex -var-info-path-expression
32064
32065@subsubheading Synopsis
32066
32067@smallexample
32068 -var-info-path-expression @var{name}
32069@end smallexample
32070
32071Returns an expression that can be evaluated in the current
32072context and will yield the same value that a variable object has.
32073Compare this with the @code{-var-info-expression} command, which
32074result can be used only for UI presentation. Typical use of
32075the @code{-var-info-path-expression} command is creating a
32076watchpoint from a variable object.
32077
32078This command is currently not valid for children of a dynamic varobj,
32079and will give an error when invoked on one.
32080
32081For example, suppose @code{C} is a C@t{++} class, derived from class
32082@code{Base}, and that the @code{Base} class has a member called
32083@code{m_size}. Assume a variable @code{c} is has the type of
32084@code{C} and a variable object @code{C} was created for variable
32085@code{c}. Then, we'll get this output:
32086@smallexample
32087(gdb) -var-info-path-expression C.Base.public.m_size
32088^done,path_expr=((Base)c).m_size)
32089@end smallexample
32090
32091@subheading The @code{-var-show-attributes} Command
32092@findex -var-show-attributes
32093
32094@subsubheading Synopsis
32095
32096@smallexample
32097 -var-show-attributes @var{name}
32098@end smallexample
32099
32100List attributes of the specified variable object @var{name}:
32101
32102@smallexample
32103 status=@var{attr} [ ( ,@var{attr} )* ]
32104@end smallexample
32105
32106@noindent
32107where @var{attr} is @code{@{ @{ editable | noneditable @} | TBD @}}.
32108
32109@subheading The @code{-var-evaluate-expression} Command
32110@findex -var-evaluate-expression
32111
32112@subsubheading Synopsis
32113
32114@smallexample
32115 -var-evaluate-expression [-f @var{format-spec}] @var{name}
32116@end smallexample
32117
32118Evaluates the expression that is represented by the specified variable
32119object and returns its value as a string. The format of the string
32120can be specified with the @samp{-f} option. The possible values of
32121this option are the same as for @code{-var-set-format}
32122(@pxref{-var-set-format}). If the @samp{-f} option is not specified,
32123the current display format will be used. The current display format
32124can be changed using the @code{-var-set-format} command.
32125
32126@smallexample
32127 value=@var{value}
32128@end smallexample
32129
32130Note that one must invoke @code{-var-list-children} for a variable
32131before the value of a child variable can be evaluated.
32132
32133@subheading The @code{-var-assign} Command
32134@findex -var-assign
32135
32136@subsubheading Synopsis
32137
32138@smallexample
32139 -var-assign @var{name} @var{expression}
32140@end smallexample
32141
32142Assigns the value of @var{expression} to the variable object specified
32143by @var{name}. The object must be @samp{editable}. If the variable's
32144value is altered by the assign, the variable will show up in any
32145subsequent @code{-var-update} list.
32146
32147@subsubheading Example
32148
32149@smallexample
32150(gdb)
32151-var-assign var1 3
32152^done,value="3"
32153(gdb)
32154-var-update *
32155^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",in_scope="true",type_changed="false"@}]
32156(gdb)
32157@end smallexample
32158
32159@subheading The @code{-var-update} Command
32160@findex -var-update
32161
32162@subsubheading Synopsis
32163
32164@smallexample
32165 -var-update [@var{print-values}] @{@var{name} | "*"@}
32166@end smallexample
32167
32168Reevaluate the expressions corresponding to the variable object
32169@var{name} and all its direct and indirect children, and return the
32170list of variable objects whose values have changed; @var{name} must
32171be a root variable object. Here, ``changed'' means that the result of
32172@code{-var-evaluate-expression} before and after the
32173@code{-var-update} is different. If @samp{*} is used as the variable
32174object names, all existing variable objects are updated, except
32175for frozen ones (@pxref{-var-set-frozen}). The option
32176@var{print-values} determines whether both names and values, or just
32177names are printed. The possible values of this option are the same
32178as for @code{-var-list-children} (@pxref{-var-list-children}). It is
32179recommended to use the @samp{--all-values} option, to reduce the
32180number of MI commands needed on each program stop.
32181
32182With the @samp{*} parameter, if a variable object is bound to a
32183currently running thread, it will not be updated, without any
32184diagnostic.
32185
32186If @code{-var-set-update-range} was previously used on a varobj, then
32187only the selected range of children will be reported.
32188
32189@code{-var-update} reports all the changed varobjs in a tuple named
32190@samp{changelist}.
32191
32192Each item in the change list is itself a tuple holding:
32193
32194@table @samp
32195@item name
32196The name of the varobj.
32197
32198@item value
32199If values were requested for this update, then this field will be
32200present and will hold the value of the varobj.
32201
32202@item in_scope
32203@anchor{-var-update}
32204This field is a string which may take one of three values:
32205
32206@table @code
32207@item "true"
32208The variable object's current value is valid.
32209
32210@item "false"
32211The variable object does not currently hold a valid value but it may
32212hold one in the future if its associated expression comes back into
32213scope.
32214
32215@item "invalid"
32216The variable object no longer holds a valid value.
32217This can occur when the executable file being debugged has changed,
32218either through recompilation or by using the @value{GDBN} @code{file}
32219command. The front end should normally choose to delete these variable
32220objects.
32221@end table
32222
32223In the future new values may be added to this list so the front should
32224be prepared for this possibility. @xref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, ,@sc{GDB/MI} Development and Front Ends}.
32225
32226@item type_changed
32227This is only present if the varobj is still valid. If the type
32228changed, then this will be the string @samp{true}; otherwise it will
32229be @samp{false}.
32230
32231When a varobj's type changes, its children are also likely to have
32232become incorrect. Therefore, the varobj's children are automatically
32233deleted when this attribute is @samp{true}. Also, the varobj's update
32234range, when set using the @code{-var-set-update-range} command, is
32235unset.
32236
32237@item new_type
32238If the varobj's type changed, then this field will be present and will
32239hold the new type.
32240
32241@item new_num_children
32242For a dynamic varobj, if the number of children changed, or if the
32243type changed, this will be the new number of children.
32244
32245The @samp{numchild} field in other varobj responses is generally not
32246valid for a dynamic varobj -- it will show the number of children that
32247@value{GDBN} knows about, but because dynamic varobjs lazily
32248instantiate their children, this will not reflect the number of
32249children which may be available.
32250
32251The @samp{new_num_children} attribute only reports changes to the
32252number of children known by @value{GDBN}. This is the only way to
32253detect whether an update has removed children (which necessarily can
32254only happen at the end of the update range).
32255
32256@item displayhint
32257The display hint, if any.
32258
32259@item has_more
32260This is an integer value, which will be 1 if there are more children
32261available outside the varobj's update range.
32262
32263@item dynamic
32264This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
32265varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
32266then this attribute will not be present.
32267
32268@item new_children
32269If new children were added to a dynamic varobj within the selected
32270update range (as set by @code{-var-set-update-range}), then they will
32271be listed in this attribute.
32272@end table
32273
32274@subsubheading Example
32275
32276@smallexample
32277(gdb)
32278-var-assign var1 3
32279^done,value="3"
32280(gdb)
32281-var-update --all-values var1
32282^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",value="3",in_scope="true",
32283type_changed="false"@}]
32284(gdb)
32285@end smallexample
32286
32287@subheading The @code{-var-set-frozen} Command
32288@findex -var-set-frozen
32289@anchor{-var-set-frozen}
32290
32291@subsubheading Synopsis
32292
32293@smallexample
32294 -var-set-frozen @var{name} @var{flag}
32295@end smallexample
32296
32297Set the frozenness flag on the variable object @var{name}. The
32298@var{flag} parameter should be either @samp{1} to make the variable
32299frozen or @samp{0} to make it unfrozen. If a variable object is
32300frozen, then neither itself, nor any of its children, are
32301implicitly updated by @code{-var-update} of
32302a parent variable or by @code{-var-update *}. Only
32303@code{-var-update} of the variable itself will update its value and
32304values of its children. After a variable object is unfrozen, it is
32305implicitly updated by all subsequent @code{-var-update} operations.
32306Unfreezing a variable does not update it, only subsequent
32307@code{-var-update} does.
32308
32309@subsubheading Example
32310
32311@smallexample
32312(gdb)
32313-var-set-frozen V 1
32314^done
32315(gdb)
32316@end smallexample
32317
32318@subheading The @code{-var-set-update-range} command
32319@findex -var-set-update-range
32320@anchor{-var-set-update-range}
32321
32322@subsubheading Synopsis
32323
32324@smallexample
32325 -var-set-update-range @var{name} @var{from} @var{to}
32326@end smallexample
32327
32328Set the range of children to be returned by future invocations of
32329@code{-var-update}.
32330
32331@var{from} and @var{to} indicate the range of children to report. If
32332@var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is reset and all
32333children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting at @var{from}
32334(zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be reported.
32335
32336@subsubheading Example
32337
32338@smallexample
32339(gdb)
32340-var-set-update-range V 1 2
32341^done
32342@end smallexample
32343
32344@subheading The @code{-var-set-visualizer} command
32345@findex -var-set-visualizer
32346@anchor{-var-set-visualizer}
32347
32348@subsubheading Synopsis
32349
32350@smallexample
32351 -var-set-visualizer @var{name} @var{visualizer}
32352@end smallexample
32353
32354Set a visualizer for the variable object @var{name}.
32355
32356@var{visualizer} is the visualizer to use. The special value
32357@samp{None} means to disable any visualizer in use.
32358
32359If not @samp{None}, @var{visualizer} must be a Python expression.
32360This expression must evaluate to a callable object which accepts a
32361single argument. @value{GDBN} will call this object with the value of
32362the varobj @var{name} as an argument (this is done so that the same
32363Python pretty-printing code can be used for both the CLI and MI).
32364When called, this object must return an object which conforms to the
32365pretty-printing interface (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}).
32366
32367The pre-defined function @code{gdb.default_visualizer} may be used to
32368select a visualizer by following the built-in process
32369(@pxref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}). This is done automatically when
32370a varobj is created, and so ordinarily is not needed.
32371
32372This feature is only available if Python support is enabled. The MI
32373command @code{-list-features} (@pxref{GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands})
32374can be used to check this.
32375
32376@subsubheading Example
32377
32378Resetting the visualizer:
32379
32380@smallexample
32381(gdb)
32382-var-set-visualizer V None
32383^done
32384@end smallexample
32385
32386Reselecting the default (type-based) visualizer:
32387
32388@smallexample
32389(gdb)
32390-var-set-visualizer V gdb.default_visualizer
32391^done
32392@end smallexample
32393
32394Suppose @code{SomeClass} is a visualizer class. A lambda expression
32395can be used to instantiate this class for a varobj:
32396
32397@smallexample
32398(gdb)
32399-var-set-visualizer V "lambda val: SomeClass()"
32400^done
32401@end smallexample
32402
32403@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
32404@node GDB/MI Data Manipulation
32405@section @sc{gdb/mi} Data Manipulation
32406
32407@cindex data manipulation, in @sc{gdb/mi}
32408@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, data manipulation
32409This section describes the @sc{gdb/mi} commands that manipulate data:
32410examine memory and registers, evaluate expressions, etc.
32411
32412@c REMOVED FROM THE INTERFACE.
32413@c @subheading -data-assign
32414@c Change the value of a program variable. Plenty of side effects.
32415@c @subsubheading GDB Command
32416@c set variable
32417@c @subsubheading Example
32418@c N.A.
32419
32420@subheading The @code{-data-disassemble} Command
32421@findex -data-disassemble
32422
32423@subsubheading Synopsis
32424
32425@smallexample
32426 -data-disassemble
32427 [ -s @var{start-addr} -e @var{end-addr} ]
32428 | [ -f @var{filename} -l @var{linenum} [ -n @var{lines} ] ]
32429 -- @var{mode}
32430@end smallexample
32431
32432@noindent
32433Where:
32434
32435@table @samp
32436@item @var{start-addr}
32437is the beginning address (or @code{$pc})
32438@item @var{end-addr}
32439is the end address
32440@item @var{filename}
32441is the name of the file to disassemble
32442@item @var{linenum}
32443is the line number to disassemble around
32444@item @var{lines}
32445is the number of disassembly lines to be produced. If it is -1,
32446the whole function will be disassembled, in case no @var{end-addr} is
32447specified. If @var{end-addr} is specified as a non-zero value, and
32448@var{lines} is lower than the number of disassembly lines between
32449@var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only @var{lines} lines are
32450displayed; if @var{lines} is higher than the number of lines between
32451@var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only the lines up to @var{end-addr}
32452are displayed.
32453@item @var{mode}
32454is either 0 (meaning only disassembly), 1 (meaning mixed source and
32455disassembly), 2 (meaning disassembly with raw opcodes), or 3 (meaning
32456mixed source and disassembly with raw opcodes).
32457@end table
32458
32459@subsubheading Result
32460
32461The result of the @code{-data-disassemble} command will be a list named
32462@samp{asm_insns}, the contents of this list depend on the @var{mode}
32463used with the @code{-data-disassemble} command.
32464
32465For modes 0 and 2 the @samp{asm_insns} list contains tuples with the
32466following fields:
32467
32468@table @code
32469@item address
32470The address at which this instruction was disassembled.
32471
32472@item func-name
32473The name of the function this instruction is within.
32474
32475@item offset
32476The decimal offset in bytes from the start of @samp{func-name}.
32477
32478@item inst
32479The text disassembly for this @samp{address}.
32480
32481@item opcodes
32482This field is only present for mode 2. This contains the raw opcode
32483bytes for the @samp{inst} field.
32484
32485@end table
32486
32487For modes 1 and 3 the @samp{asm_insns} list contains tuples named
32488@samp{src_and_asm_line}, each of which has the following fields:
32489
32490@table @code
32491@item line
32492The line number within @samp{file}.
32493
32494@item file
32495The file name from the compilation unit. This might be an absolute
32496file name or a relative file name depending on the compile command
32497used.
32498
32499@item fullname
32500Absolute file name of @samp{file}. It is converted to a canonical form
32501using the source file search path
32502(@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories})
32503and after resolving all the symbolic links.
32504
32505If the source file is not found this field will contain the path as
32506present in the debug information.
32507
32508@item line_asm_insn
32509This is a list of tuples containing the disassembly for @samp{line} in
32510@samp{file}. The fields of each tuple are the same as for
32511@code{-data-disassemble} in @var{mode} 0 and 2, so @samp{address},
32512@samp{func-name}, @samp{offset}, @samp{inst}, and optionally
32513@samp{opcodes}.
32514
32515@end table
32516
32517Note that whatever included in the @samp{inst} field, is not
32518manipulated directly by @sc{gdb/mi}, i.e., it is not possible to
32519adjust its format.
32520
32521@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32522
32523The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disassemble}.
32524
32525@subsubheading Example
32526
32527Disassemble from the current value of @code{$pc} to @code{$pc + 20}:
32528
32529@smallexample
32530(gdb)
32531-data-disassemble -s $pc -e "$pc + 20" -- 0
32532^done,
32533asm_insns=[
32534@{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
32535inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
32536@{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
32537inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
32538@{address="0x000107c8",func-name="main",offset="12",
32539inst="or %o2, 0x140, %o1\t! 0x11940 <_lib_version+8>"@},
32540@{address="0x000107cc",func-name="main",offset="16",
32541inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
32542@{address="0x000107d0",func-name="main",offset="20",
32543inst="or %o2, 0x168, %o4\t! 0x11968 <_lib_version+48>"@}]
32544(gdb)
32545@end smallexample
32546
32547Disassemble the whole @code{main} function. Line 32 is part of
32548@code{main}.
32549
32550@smallexample
32551-data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -- 0
32552^done,asm_insns=[
32553@{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
32554inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
32555@{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
32556inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
32557@{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
32558inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
32559[@dots{}]
32560@{address="0x0001081c",func-name="main",offset="96",inst="ret "@},
32561@{address="0x00010820",func-name="main",offset="100",inst="restore "@}]
32562(gdb)
32563@end smallexample
32564
32565Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main}:
32566
32567@smallexample
32568(gdb)
32569-data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 0
32570^done,asm_insns=[
32571@{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
32572inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
32573@{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
32574inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
32575@{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
32576inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]
32577(gdb)
32578@end smallexample
32579
32580Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main} in mixed mode:
32581
32582@smallexample
32583(gdb)
32584-data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 1
32585^done,asm_insns=[
32586src_and_asm_line=@{line="31",
32587file="../../../src/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
32588fullname="/absolute/path/to/src/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
32589line_asm_insn=[@{address="0x000107bc",
32590func-name="main",offset="0",inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@}]@},
32591src_and_asm_line=@{line="32",
32592file="../../../src/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
32593fullname="/absolute/path/to/src/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
32594line_asm_insn=[@{address="0x000107c0",
32595func-name="main",offset="4",inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
32596@{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
32597inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]@}]
32598(gdb)
32599@end smallexample
32600
32601
32602@subheading The @code{-data-evaluate-expression} Command
32603@findex -data-evaluate-expression
32604
32605@subsubheading Synopsis
32606
32607@smallexample
32608 -data-evaluate-expression @var{expr}
32609@end smallexample
32610
32611Evaluate @var{expr} as an expression. The expression could contain an
32612inferior function call. The function call will execute synchronously.
32613If the expression contains spaces, it must be enclosed in double quotes.
32614
32615@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32616
32617The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{print}, @samp{output}, and
32618@samp{call}. In @code{gdbtk} only, there's a corresponding
32619@samp{gdb_eval} command.
32620
32621@subsubheading Example
32622
32623In the following example, the numbers that precede the commands are the
32624@dfn{tokens} described in @ref{GDB/MI Command Syntax, ,@sc{gdb/mi}
32625Command Syntax}. Notice how @sc{gdb/mi} returns the same tokens in its
32626output.
32627
32628@smallexample
32629211-data-evaluate-expression A
32630211^done,value="1"
32631(gdb)
32632311-data-evaluate-expression &A
32633311^done,value="0xefffeb7c"
32634(gdb)
32635411-data-evaluate-expression A+3
32636411^done,value="4"
32637(gdb)
32638511-data-evaluate-expression "A + 3"
32639511^done,value="4"
32640(gdb)
32641@end smallexample
32642
32643
32644@subheading The @code{-data-list-changed-registers} Command
32645@findex -data-list-changed-registers
32646
32647@subsubheading Synopsis
32648
32649@smallexample
32650 -data-list-changed-registers
32651@end smallexample
32652
32653Display a list of the registers that have changed.
32654
32655@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32656
32657@value{GDBN} doesn't have a direct analog for this command; @code{gdbtk}
32658has the corresponding command @samp{gdb_changed_register_list}.
32659
32660@subsubheading Example
32661
32662On a PPC MBX board:
32663
32664@smallexample
32665(gdb)
32666-exec-continue
32667^running
32668
32669(gdb)
32670*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",frame=@{
32671func="main",args=[],file="try.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",
32672line="5"@}
32673(gdb)
32674-data-list-changed-registers
32675^done,changed-registers=["0","1","2","4","5","6","7","8","9",
32676"10","11","13","14","15","16","17","18","19","20","21","22","23",
32677"24","25","26","27","28","30","31","64","65","66","67","69"]
32678(gdb)
32679@end smallexample
32680
32681
32682@subheading The @code{-data-list-register-names} Command
32683@findex -data-list-register-names
32684
32685@subsubheading Synopsis
32686
32687@smallexample
32688 -data-list-register-names [ ( @var{regno} )+ ]
32689@end smallexample
32690
32691Show a list of register names for the current target. If no arguments
32692are given, it shows a list of the names of all the registers. If
32693integer numbers are given as arguments, it will print a list of the
32694names of the registers corresponding to the arguments. To ensure
32695consistency between a register name and its number, the output list may
32696include empty register names.
32697
32698@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32699
32700@value{GDBN} does not have a command which corresponds to
32701@samp{-data-list-register-names}. In @code{gdbtk} there is a
32702corresponding command @samp{gdb_regnames}.
32703
32704@subsubheading Example
32705
32706For the PPC MBX board:
32707@smallexample
32708(gdb)
32709-data-list-register-names
32710^done,register-names=["r0","r1","r2","r3","r4","r5","r6","r7",
32711"r8","r9","r10","r11","r12","r13","r14","r15","r16","r17","r18",
32712"r19","r20","r21","r22","r23","r24","r25","r26","r27","r28","r29",
32713"r30","r31","f0","f1","f2","f3","f4","f5","f6","f7","f8","f9",
32714"f10","f11","f12","f13","f14","f15","f16","f17","f18","f19","f20",
32715"f21","f22","f23","f24","f25","f26","f27","f28","f29","f30","f31",
32716"", "pc","ps","cr","lr","ctr","xer"]
32717(gdb)
32718-data-list-register-names 1 2 3
32719^done,register-names=["r1","r2","r3"]
32720(gdb)
32721@end smallexample
32722
32723@subheading The @code{-data-list-register-values} Command
32724@findex -data-list-register-values
32725
32726@subsubheading Synopsis
32727
32728@smallexample
32729 -data-list-register-values
32730 [ @code{--skip-unavailable} ] @var{fmt} [ ( @var{regno} )*]
32731@end smallexample
32732
32733Display the registers' contents. @var{fmt} is the format according to
32734which the registers' contents are to be returned, followed by an optional
32735list of numbers specifying the registers to display. A missing list of
32736numbers indicates that the contents of all the registers must be
32737returned. The @code{--skip-unavailable} option indicates that only
32738the available registers are to be returned.
32739
32740Allowed formats for @var{fmt} are:
32741
32742@table @code
32743@item x
32744Hexadecimal
32745@item o
32746Octal
32747@item t
32748Binary
32749@item d
32750Decimal
32751@item r
32752Raw
32753@item N
32754Natural
32755@end table
32756
32757@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32758
32759The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{info reg}, @samp{info
32760all-reg}, and (in @code{gdbtk}) @samp{gdb_fetch_registers}.
32761
32762@subsubheading Example
32763
32764For a PPC MBX board (note: line breaks are for readability only, they
32765don't appear in the actual output):
32766
32767@smallexample
32768(gdb)
32769-data-list-register-values r 64 65
32770^done,register-values=[@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
32771@{number="65",value="0x00029002"@}]
32772(gdb)
32773-data-list-register-values x
32774^done,register-values=[@{number="0",value="0xfe0043c8"@},
32775@{number="1",value="0x3fff88"@},@{number="2",value="0xfffffffe"@},
32776@{number="3",value="0x0"@},@{number="4",value="0xa"@},
32777@{number="5",value="0x3fff68"@},@{number="6",value="0x3fff58"@},
32778@{number="7",value="0xfe011e98"@},@{number="8",value="0x2"@},
32779@{number="9",value="0xfa202820"@},@{number="10",value="0xfa202808"@},
32780@{number="11",value="0x1"@},@{number="12",value="0x0"@},
32781@{number="13",value="0x4544"@},@{number="14",value="0xffdfffff"@},
32782@{number="15",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="16",value="0xfffffeff"@},
32783@{number="17",value="0xefffffed"@},@{number="18",value="0xfffffffe"@},
32784@{number="19",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="20",value="0xffffffff"@},
32785@{number="21",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="22",value="0xfffffff7"@},
32786@{number="23",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="24",value="0xffffffff"@},
32787@{number="25",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="26",value="0xfffffffb"@},
32788@{number="27",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="28",value="0xf7bfffff"@},
32789@{number="29",value="0x0"@},@{number="30",value="0xfe010000"@},
32790@{number="31",value="0x0"@},@{number="32",value="0x0"@},
32791@{number="33",value="0x0"@},@{number="34",value="0x0"@},
32792@{number="35",value="0x0"@},@{number="36",value="0x0"@},
32793@{number="37",value="0x0"@},@{number="38",value="0x0"@},
32794@{number="39",value="0x0"@},@{number="40",value="0x0"@},
32795@{number="41",value="0x0"@},@{number="42",value="0x0"@},
32796@{number="43",value="0x0"@},@{number="44",value="0x0"@},
32797@{number="45",value="0x0"@},@{number="46",value="0x0"@},
32798@{number="47",value="0x0"@},@{number="48",value="0x0"@},
32799@{number="49",value="0x0"@},@{number="50",value="0x0"@},
32800@{number="51",value="0x0"@},@{number="52",value="0x0"@},
32801@{number="53",value="0x0"@},@{number="54",value="0x0"@},
32802@{number="55",value="0x0"@},@{number="56",value="0x0"@},
32803@{number="57",value="0x0"@},@{number="58",value="0x0"@},
32804@{number="59",value="0x0"@},@{number="60",value="0x0"@},
32805@{number="61",value="0x0"@},@{number="62",value="0x0"@},
32806@{number="63",value="0x0"@},@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
32807@{number="65",value="0x29002"@},@{number="66",value="0x202f04b5"@},
32808@{number="67",value="0xfe0043b0"@},@{number="68",value="0xfe00b3e4"@},
32809@{number="69",value="0x20002b03"@}]
32810(gdb)
32811@end smallexample
32812
32813
32814@subheading The @code{-data-read-memory} Command
32815@findex -data-read-memory
32816
32817This command is deprecated, use @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} instead.
32818
32819@subsubheading Synopsis
32820
32821@smallexample
32822 -data-read-memory [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
32823 @var{address} @var{word-format} @var{word-size}
32824 @var{nr-rows} @var{nr-cols} [ @var{aschar} ]
32825@end smallexample
32826
32827@noindent
32828where:
32829
32830@table @samp
32831@item @var{address}
32832An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
32833read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
32834quoted using the C convention.
32835
32836@item @var{word-format}
32837The format to be used to print the memory words. The notation is the
32838same as for @value{GDBN}'s @code{print} command (@pxref{Output Formats,
32839,Output Formats}).
32840
32841@item @var{word-size}
32842The size of each memory word in bytes.
32843
32844@item @var{nr-rows}
32845The number of rows in the output table.
32846
32847@item @var{nr-cols}
32848The number of columns in the output table.
32849
32850@item @var{aschar}
32851If present, indicates that each row should include an @sc{ascii} dump. The
32852value of @var{aschar} is used as a padding character when a byte is not a
32853member of the printable @sc{ascii} character set (printable @sc{ascii}
32854characters are those whose code is between 32 and 126, inclusively).
32855
32856@item @var{byte-offset}
32857An offset to add to the @var{address} before fetching memory.
32858@end table
32859
32860This command displays memory contents as a table of @var{nr-rows} by
32861@var{nr-cols} words, each word being @var{word-size} bytes. In total,
32862@code{@var{nr-rows} * @var{nr-cols} * @var{word-size}} bytes are read
32863(returned as @samp{total-bytes}). Should less than the requested number
32864of bytes be returned by the target, the missing words are identified
32865using @samp{N/A}. The number of bytes read from the target is returned
32866in @samp{nr-bytes} and the starting address used to read memory in
32867@samp{addr}.
32868
32869The address of the next/previous row or page is available in
32870@samp{next-row} and @samp{prev-row}, @samp{next-page} and
32871@samp{prev-page}.
32872
32873@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32874
32875The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}. @code{gdbtk} has
32876@samp{gdb_get_mem} memory read command.
32877
32878@subsubheading Example
32879
32880Read six bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+6} but then offset by
32881@code{-6} bytes. Format as three rows of two columns. One byte per
32882word. Display each word in hex.
32883
32884@smallexample
32885(gdb)
328869-data-read-memory -o -6 -- bytes+6 x 1 3 2
328879^done,addr="0x00001390",nr-bytes="6",total-bytes="6",
32888next-row="0x00001396",prev-row="0x0000138e",next-page="0x00001396",
32889prev-page="0x0000138a",memory=[
32890@{addr="0x00001390",data=["0x00","0x01"]@},
32891@{addr="0x00001392",data=["0x02","0x03"]@},
32892@{addr="0x00001394",data=["0x04","0x05"]@}]
32893(gdb)
32894@end smallexample
32895
32896Read two bytes of memory starting at address @code{shorts + 64} and
32897display as a single word formatted in decimal.
32898
32899@smallexample
32900(gdb)
329015-data-read-memory shorts+64 d 2 1 1
329025^done,addr="0x00001510",nr-bytes="2",total-bytes="2",
32903next-row="0x00001512",prev-row="0x0000150e",
32904next-page="0x00001512",prev-page="0x0000150e",memory=[
32905@{addr="0x00001510",data=["128"]@}]
32906(gdb)
32907@end smallexample
32908
32909Read thirty two bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+16} and format
32910as eight rows of four columns. Include a string encoding with @samp{x}
32911used as the non-printable character.
32912
32913@smallexample
32914(gdb)
329154-data-read-memory bytes+16 x 1 8 4 x
329164^done,addr="0x000013a0",nr-bytes="32",total-bytes="32",
32917next-row="0x000013c0",prev-row="0x0000139c",
32918next-page="0x000013c0",prev-page="0x00001380",memory=[
32919@{addr="0x000013a0",data=["0x10","0x11","0x12","0x13"],ascii="xxxx"@},
32920@{addr="0x000013a4",data=["0x14","0x15","0x16","0x17"],ascii="xxxx"@},
32921@{addr="0x000013a8",data=["0x18","0x19","0x1a","0x1b"],ascii="xxxx"@},
32922@{addr="0x000013ac",data=["0x1c","0x1d","0x1e","0x1f"],ascii="xxxx"@},
32923@{addr="0x000013b0",data=["0x20","0x21","0x22","0x23"],ascii=" !\"#"@},
32924@{addr="0x000013b4",data=["0x24","0x25","0x26","0x27"],ascii="$%&'"@},
32925@{addr="0x000013b8",data=["0x28","0x29","0x2a","0x2b"],ascii="()*+"@},
32926@{addr="0x000013bc",data=["0x2c","0x2d","0x2e","0x2f"],ascii=",-./"@}]
32927(gdb)
32928@end smallexample
32929
32930@subheading The @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} Command
32931@findex -data-read-memory-bytes
32932
32933@subsubheading Synopsis
32934
32935@smallexample
32936 -data-read-memory-bytes [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
32937 @var{address} @var{count}
32938@end smallexample
32939
32940@noindent
32941where:
32942
32943@table @samp
32944@item @var{address}
32945An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
32946read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
32947quoted using the C convention.
32948
32949@item @var{count}
32950The number of bytes to read. This should be an integer literal.
32951
32952@item @var{byte-offset}
32953The offsets in bytes relative to @var{address} at which to start
32954reading. This should be an integer literal. This option is provided
32955so that a frontend is not required to first evaluate address and then
32956perform address arithmetics itself.
32957
32958@end table
32959
32960This command attempts to read all accessible memory regions in the
32961specified range. First, all regions marked as unreadable in the memory
32962map (if one is defined) will be skipped. @xref{Memory Region
32963Attributes}. Second, @value{GDBN} will attempt to read the remaining
32964regions. For each one, if reading full region results in an errors,
32965@value{GDBN} will try to read a subset of the region.
32966
32967In general, every single byte in the region may be readable or not,
32968and the only way to read every readable byte is to try a read at
32969every address, which is not practical. Therefore, @value{GDBN} will
32970attempt to read all accessible bytes at either beginning or the end
32971of the region, using a binary division scheme. This heuristic works
32972well for reading accross a memory map boundary. Note that if a region
32973has a readable range that is neither at the beginning or the end,
32974@value{GDBN} will not read it.
32975
32976The result record (@pxref{GDB/MI Result Records}) that is output of
32977the command includes a field named @samp{memory} whose content is a
32978list of tuples. Each tuple represent a successfully read memory block
32979and has the following fields:
32980
32981@table @code
32982@item begin
32983The start address of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal.
32984
32985@item end
32986The end address of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal.
32987
32988@item offset
32989The offset of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal, relative to
32990the start address passed to @code{-data-read-memory-bytes}.
32991
32992@item contents
32993The contents of the memory block, in hex.
32994
32995@end table
32996
32997
32998
32999@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33000
33001The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}.
33002
33003@subsubheading Example
33004
33005@smallexample
33006(gdb)
33007-data-read-memory-bytes &a 10
33008^done,memory=[@{begin="0xbffff154",offset="0x00000000",
33009 end="0xbffff15e",
33010 contents="01000000020000000300"@}]
33011(gdb)
33012@end smallexample
33013
33014
33015@subheading The @code{-data-write-memory-bytes} Command
33016@findex -data-write-memory-bytes
33017
33018@subsubheading Synopsis
33019
33020@smallexample
33021 -data-write-memory-bytes @var{address} @var{contents}
33022 -data-write-memory-bytes @var{address} @var{contents} @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
33023@end smallexample
33024
33025@noindent
33026where:
33027
33028@table @samp
33029@item @var{address}
33030An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
33031read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
33032quoted using the C convention.
33033
33034@item @var{contents}
33035The hex-encoded bytes to write.
33036
33037@item @var{count}
33038Optional argument indicating the number of bytes to be written. If @var{count}
33039is greater than @var{contents}' length, @value{GDBN} will repeatedly
33040write @var{contents} until it fills @var{count} bytes.
33041
33042@end table
33043
33044@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33045
33046There's no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
33047
33048@subsubheading Example
33049
33050@smallexample
33051(gdb)
33052-data-write-memory-bytes &a "aabbccdd"
33053^done
33054(gdb)
33055@end smallexample
33056
33057@smallexample
33058(gdb)
33059-data-write-memory-bytes &a "aabbccdd" 16e
33060^done
33061(gdb)
33062@end smallexample
33063
33064@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
33065@node GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands
33066@section @sc{gdb/mi} Tracepoint Commands
33067
33068The commands defined in this section implement MI support for
33069tracepoints. For detailed introduction, see @ref{Tracepoints}.
33070
33071@subheading The @code{-trace-find} Command
33072@findex -trace-find
33073
33074@subsubheading Synopsis
33075
33076@smallexample
33077 -trace-find @var{mode} [@var{parameters}@dots{}]
33078@end smallexample
33079
33080Find a trace frame using criteria defined by @var{mode} and
33081@var{parameters}. The following table lists permissible
33082modes and their parameters. For details of operation, see @ref{tfind}.
33083
33084@table @samp
33085
33086@item none
33087No parameters are required. Stops examining trace frames.
33088
33089@item frame-number
33090An integer is required as parameter. Selects tracepoint frame with
33091that index.
33092
33093@item tracepoint-number
33094An integer is required as parameter. Finds next
33095trace frame that corresponds to tracepoint with the specified number.
33096
33097@item pc
33098An address is required as parameter. Finds
33099next trace frame that corresponds to any tracepoint at the specified
33100address.
33101
33102@item pc-inside-range
33103Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds next trace
33104frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address inside the
33105specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
33106
33107@item pc-outside-range
33108Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds
33109next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address outside
33110the specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
33111
33112@item line
33113Line specification is required as parameter. @xref{Specify Location}.
33114Finds next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at
33115the specified location.
33116
33117@end table
33118
33119If @samp{none} was passed as @var{mode}, the response does not
33120have fields. Otherwise, the response may have the following fields:
33121
33122@table @samp
33123@item found
33124This field has either @samp{0} or @samp{1} as the value, depending
33125on whether a matching tracepoint was found.
33126
33127@item traceframe
33128The index of the found traceframe. This field is present iff
33129the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
33130
33131@item tracepoint
33132The index of the found tracepoint. This field is present iff
33133the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
33134
33135@item frame
33136The information about the frame corresponding to the found trace
33137frame. This field is present only if a trace frame was found.
33138@xref{GDB/MI Frame Information}, for description of this field.
33139
33140@end table
33141
33142@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33143
33144The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tfind}.
33145
33146@subheading -trace-define-variable
33147@findex -trace-define-variable
33148
33149@subsubheading Synopsis
33150
33151@smallexample
33152 -trace-define-variable @var{name} [ @var{value} ]
33153@end smallexample
33154
33155Create trace variable @var{name} if it does not exist. If
33156@var{value} is specified, sets the initial value of the specified
33157trace variable to that value. Note that the @var{name} should start
33158with the @samp{$} character.
33159
33160@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33161
33162The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariable}.
33163
33164@subheading -trace-list-variables
33165@findex -trace-list-variables
33166
33167@subsubheading Synopsis
33168
33169@smallexample
33170 -trace-list-variables
33171@end smallexample
33172
33173Return a table of all defined trace variables. Each element of the
33174table has the following fields:
33175
33176@table @samp
33177@item name
33178The name of the trace variable. This field is always present.
33179
33180@item initial
33181The initial value. This is a 64-bit signed integer. This
33182field is always present.
33183
33184@item current
33185The value the trace variable has at the moment. This is a 64-bit
33186signed integer. This field is absent iff current value is
33187not defined, for example if the trace was never run, or is
33188presently running.
33189
33190@end table
33191
33192@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33193
33194The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariables}.
33195
33196@subsubheading Example
33197
33198@smallexample
33199(gdb)
33200-trace-list-variables
33201^done,trace-variables=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="3",
33202hdr=[@{width="15",alignment="-1",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@},
33203 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="initial",colhdr="Initial"@},
33204 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="current",colhdr="Current"@}],
33205body=[variable=@{name="$trace_timestamp",initial="0"@}
33206 variable=@{name="$foo",initial="10",current="15"@}]@}
33207(gdb)
33208@end smallexample
33209
33210@subheading -trace-save
33211@findex -trace-save
33212
33213@subsubheading Synopsis
33214
33215@smallexample
33216 -trace-save [-r ] @var{filename}
33217@end smallexample
33218
33219Saves the collected trace data to @var{filename}. Without the
33220@samp{-r} option, the data is downloaded from the target and saved
33221in a local file. With the @samp{-r} option the target is asked
33222to perform the save.
33223
33224@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33225
33226The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tsave}.
33227
33228
33229@subheading -trace-start
33230@findex -trace-start
33231
33232@subsubheading Synopsis
33233
33234@smallexample
33235 -trace-start
33236@end smallexample
33237
33238Starts a tracing experiments. The result of this command does not
33239have any fields.
33240
33241@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33242
33243The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstart}.
33244
33245@subheading -trace-status
33246@findex -trace-status
33247
33248@subsubheading Synopsis
33249
33250@smallexample
33251 -trace-status
33252@end smallexample
33253
33254Obtains the status of a tracing experiment. The result may include
33255the following fields:
33256
33257@table @samp
33258
33259@item supported
33260May have a value of either @samp{0}, when no tracing operations are
33261supported, @samp{1}, when all tracing operations are supported, or
33262@samp{file} when examining trace file. In the latter case, examining
33263of trace frame is possible but new tracing experiement cannot be
33264started. This field is always present.
33265
33266@item running
33267May have a value of either @samp{0} or @samp{1} depending on whether
33268tracing experiement is in progress on target. This field is present
33269if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
33270
33271@item stop-reason
33272Report the reason why the tracing was stopped last time. This field
33273may be absent iff tracing was never stopped on target yet. The
33274value of @samp{request} means the tracing was stopped as result of
33275the @code{-trace-stop} command. The value of @samp{overflow} means
33276the tracing buffer is full. The value of @samp{disconnection} means
33277tracing was automatically stopped when @value{GDBN} has disconnected.
33278The value of @samp{passcount} means tracing was stopped when a
33279tracepoint was passed a maximal number of times for that tracepoint.
33280This field is present if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
33281
33282@item stopping-tracepoint
33283The number of tracepoint whose passcount as exceeded. This field is
33284present iff the @samp{stop-reason} field has the value of
33285@samp{passcount}.
33286
33287@item frames
33288@itemx frames-created
33289The @samp{frames} field is a count of the total number of trace frames
33290in the trace buffer, while @samp{frames-created} is the total created
33291during the run, including ones that were discarded, such as when a
33292circular trace buffer filled up. Both fields are optional.
33293
33294@item buffer-size
33295@itemx buffer-free
33296These fields tell the current size of the tracing buffer and the
33297remaining space. These fields are optional.
33298
33299@item circular
33300The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
33301trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
33302necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
33303and may fill up.
33304
33305@item disconnected
33306The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
33307tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
33308that the trace run will stop.
33309
33310@item trace-file
33311The filename of the trace file being examined. This field is
33312optional, and only present when examining a trace file.
33313
33314@end table
33315
33316@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33317
33318The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstatus}.
33319
33320@subheading -trace-stop
33321@findex -trace-stop
33322
33323@subsubheading Synopsis
33324
33325@smallexample
33326 -trace-stop
33327@end smallexample
33328
33329Stops a tracing experiment. The result of this command has the same
33330fields as @code{-trace-status}, except that the @samp{supported} and
33331@samp{running} fields are not output.
33332
33333@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33334
33335The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstop}.
33336
33337
33338@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
33339@node GDB/MI Symbol Query
33340@section @sc{gdb/mi} Symbol Query Commands
33341
33342
33343@ignore
33344@subheading The @code{-symbol-info-address} Command
33345@findex -symbol-info-address
33346
33347@subsubheading Synopsis
33348
33349@smallexample
33350 -symbol-info-address @var{symbol}
33351@end smallexample
33352
33353Describe where @var{symbol} is stored.
33354
33355@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33356
33357The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info address}.
33358
33359@subsubheading Example
33360N.A.
33361
33362
33363@subheading The @code{-symbol-info-file} Command
33364@findex -symbol-info-file
33365
33366@subsubheading Synopsis
33367
33368@smallexample
33369 -symbol-info-file
33370@end smallexample
33371
33372Show the file for the symbol.
33373
33374@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33375
33376There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command. @code{gdbtk} has
33377@samp{gdb_find_file}.
33378
33379@subsubheading Example
33380N.A.
33381
33382
33383@subheading The @code{-symbol-info-function} Command
33384@findex -symbol-info-function
33385
33386@subsubheading Synopsis
33387
33388@smallexample
33389 -symbol-info-function
33390@end smallexample
33391
33392Show which function the symbol lives in.
33393
33394@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33395
33396@samp{gdb_get_function} in @code{gdbtk}.
33397
33398@subsubheading Example
33399N.A.
33400
33401
33402@subheading The @code{-symbol-info-line} Command
33403@findex -symbol-info-line
33404
33405@subsubheading Synopsis
33406
33407@smallexample
33408 -symbol-info-line
33409@end smallexample
33410
33411Show the core addresses of the code for a source line.
33412
33413@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33414
33415The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info line}.
33416@code{gdbtk} has the @samp{gdb_get_line} and @samp{gdb_get_file} commands.
33417
33418@subsubheading Example
33419N.A.
33420
33421
33422@subheading The @code{-symbol-info-symbol} Command
33423@findex -symbol-info-symbol
33424
33425@subsubheading Synopsis
33426
33427@smallexample
33428 -symbol-info-symbol @var{addr}
33429@end smallexample
33430
33431Describe what symbol is at location @var{addr}.
33432
33433@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33434
33435The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info symbol}.
33436
33437@subsubheading Example
33438N.A.
33439
33440
33441@subheading The @code{-symbol-list-functions} Command
33442@findex -symbol-list-functions
33443
33444@subsubheading Synopsis
33445
33446@smallexample
33447 -symbol-list-functions
33448@end smallexample
33449
33450List the functions in the executable.
33451
33452@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33453
33454@samp{info functions} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_listfunc} and
33455@samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
33456
33457@subsubheading Example
33458N.A.
33459@end ignore
33460
33461
33462@subheading The @code{-symbol-list-lines} Command
33463@findex -symbol-list-lines
33464
33465@subsubheading Synopsis
33466
33467@smallexample
33468 -symbol-list-lines @var{filename}
33469@end smallexample
33470
33471Print the list of lines that contain code and their associated program
33472addresses for the given source filename. The entries are sorted in
33473ascending PC order.
33474
33475@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33476
33477There is no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
33478
33479@subsubheading Example
33480@smallexample
33481(gdb)
33482-symbol-list-lines basics.c
33483^done,lines=[@{pc="0x08048554",line="7"@},@{pc="0x0804855a",line="8"@}]
33484(gdb)
33485@end smallexample
33486
33487
33488@ignore
33489@subheading The @code{-symbol-list-types} Command
33490@findex -symbol-list-types
33491
33492@subsubheading Synopsis
33493
33494@smallexample
33495 -symbol-list-types
33496@end smallexample
33497
33498List all the type names.
33499
33500@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33501
33502The corresponding commands are @samp{info types} in @value{GDBN},
33503@samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
33504
33505@subsubheading Example
33506N.A.
33507
33508
33509@subheading The @code{-symbol-list-variables} Command
33510@findex -symbol-list-variables
33511
33512@subsubheading Synopsis
33513
33514@smallexample
33515 -symbol-list-variables
33516@end smallexample
33517
33518List all the global and static variable names.
33519
33520@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33521
33522@samp{info variables} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
33523
33524@subsubheading Example
33525N.A.
33526
33527
33528@subheading The @code{-symbol-locate} Command
33529@findex -symbol-locate
33530
33531@subsubheading Synopsis
33532
33533@smallexample
33534 -symbol-locate
33535@end smallexample
33536
33537@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33538
33539@samp{gdb_loc} in @code{gdbtk}.
33540
33541@subsubheading Example
33542N.A.
33543
33544
33545@subheading The @code{-symbol-type} Command
33546@findex -symbol-type
33547
33548@subsubheading Synopsis
33549
33550@smallexample
33551 -symbol-type @var{variable}
33552@end smallexample
33553
33554Show type of @var{variable}.
33555
33556@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33557
33558The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ptype}, @code{gdbtk} has
33559@samp{gdb_obj_variable}.
33560
33561@subsubheading Example
33562N.A.
33563@end ignore
33564
33565
33566@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
33567@node GDB/MI File Commands
33568@section @sc{gdb/mi} File Commands
33569
33570This section describes the GDB/MI commands to specify executable file names
33571and to read in and obtain symbol table information.
33572
33573@subheading The @code{-file-exec-and-symbols} Command
33574@findex -file-exec-and-symbols
33575
33576@subsubheading Synopsis
33577
33578@smallexample
33579 -file-exec-and-symbols @var{file}
33580@end smallexample
33581
33582Specify the executable file to be debugged. This file is the one from
33583which the symbol table is also read. If no file is specified, the
33584command clears the executable and symbol information. If breakpoints
33585are set when using this command with no arguments, @value{GDBN} will produce
33586error messages. Otherwise, no output is produced, except a completion
33587notification.
33588
33589@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33590
33591The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{file}.
33592
33593@subsubheading Example
33594
33595@smallexample
33596(gdb)
33597-file-exec-and-symbols /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
33598^done
33599(gdb)
33600@end smallexample
33601
33602
33603@subheading The @code{-file-exec-file} Command
33604@findex -file-exec-file
33605
33606@subsubheading Synopsis
33607
33608@smallexample
33609 -file-exec-file @var{file}
33610@end smallexample
33611
33612Specify the executable file to be debugged. Unlike
33613@samp{-file-exec-and-symbols}, the symbol table is @emph{not} read
33614from this file. If used without argument, @value{GDBN} clears the information
33615about the executable file. No output is produced, except a completion
33616notification.
33617
33618@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33619
33620The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{exec-file}.
33621
33622@subsubheading Example
33623
33624@smallexample
33625(gdb)
33626-file-exec-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
33627^done
33628(gdb)
33629@end smallexample
33630
33631
33632@ignore
33633@subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-sections} Command
33634@findex -file-list-exec-sections
33635
33636@subsubheading Synopsis
33637
33638@smallexample
33639 -file-list-exec-sections
33640@end smallexample
33641
33642List the sections of the current executable file.
33643
33644@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33645
33646The @value{GDBN} command @samp{info file} shows, among the rest, the same
33647information as this command. @code{gdbtk} has a corresponding command
33648@samp{gdb_load_info}.
33649
33650@subsubheading Example
33651N.A.
33652@end ignore
33653
33654
33655@subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-file} Command
33656@findex -file-list-exec-source-file
33657
33658@subsubheading Synopsis
33659
33660@smallexample
33661 -file-list-exec-source-file
33662@end smallexample
33663
33664List the line number, the current source file, and the absolute path
33665to the current source file for the current executable. The macro
33666information field has a value of @samp{1} or @samp{0} depending on
33667whether or not the file includes preprocessor macro information.
33668
33669@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33670
33671The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info source}
33672
33673@subsubheading Example
33674
33675@smallexample
33676(gdb)
33677123-file-list-exec-source-file
33678123^done,line="1",file="foo.c",fullname="/home/bar/foo.c,macro-info="1"
33679(gdb)
33680@end smallexample
33681
33682
33683@subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-files} Command
33684@findex -file-list-exec-source-files
33685
33686@subsubheading Synopsis
33687
33688@smallexample
33689 -file-list-exec-source-files
33690@end smallexample
33691
33692List the source files for the current executable.
33693
33694It will always output both the filename and fullname (absolute file
33695name) of a source file.
33696
33697@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33698
33699The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info sources}.
33700@code{gdbtk} has an analogous command @samp{gdb_listfiles}.
33701
33702@subsubheading Example
33703@smallexample
33704(gdb)
33705-file-list-exec-source-files
33706^done,files=[
33707@{file=foo.c,fullname=/home/foo.c@},
33708@{file=/home/bar.c,fullname=/home/bar.c@},
33709@{file=gdb_could_not_find_fullpath.c@}]
33710(gdb)
33711@end smallexample
33712
33713@ignore
33714@subheading The @code{-file-list-shared-libraries} Command
33715@findex -file-list-shared-libraries
33716
33717@subsubheading Synopsis
33718
33719@smallexample
33720 -file-list-shared-libraries
33721@end smallexample
33722
33723List the shared libraries in the program.
33724
33725@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33726
33727The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info shared}.
33728
33729@subsubheading Example
33730N.A.
33731
33732
33733@subheading The @code{-file-list-symbol-files} Command
33734@findex -file-list-symbol-files
33735
33736@subsubheading Synopsis
33737
33738@smallexample
33739 -file-list-symbol-files
33740@end smallexample
33741
33742List symbol files.
33743
33744@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33745
33746The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info file} (part of it).
33747
33748@subsubheading Example
33749N.A.
33750@end ignore
33751
33752
33753@subheading The @code{-file-symbol-file} Command
33754@findex -file-symbol-file
33755
33756@subsubheading Synopsis
33757
33758@smallexample
33759 -file-symbol-file @var{file}
33760@end smallexample
33761
33762Read symbol table info from the specified @var{file} argument. When
33763used without arguments, clears @value{GDBN}'s symbol table info. No output is
33764produced, except for a completion notification.
33765
33766@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33767
33768The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{symbol-file}.
33769
33770@subsubheading Example
33771
33772@smallexample
33773(gdb)
33774-file-symbol-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
33775^done
33776(gdb)
33777@end smallexample
33778
33779@ignore
33780@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
33781@node GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands
33782@section @sc{gdb/mi} Memory Overlay Commands
33783
33784The memory overlay commands are not implemented.
33785
33786@c @subheading -overlay-auto
33787
33788@c @subheading -overlay-list-mapping-state
33789
33790@c @subheading -overlay-list-overlays
33791
33792@c @subheading -overlay-map
33793
33794@c @subheading -overlay-off
33795
33796@c @subheading -overlay-on
33797
33798@c @subheading -overlay-unmap
33799
33800@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
33801@node GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands
33802@section @sc{gdb/mi} Signal Handling Commands
33803
33804Signal handling commands are not implemented.
33805
33806@c @subheading -signal-handle
33807
33808@c @subheading -signal-list-handle-actions
33809
33810@c @subheading -signal-list-signal-types
33811@end ignore
33812
33813
33814@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
33815@node GDB/MI Target Manipulation
33816@section @sc{gdb/mi} Target Manipulation Commands
33817
33818
33819@subheading The @code{-target-attach} Command
33820@findex -target-attach
33821
33822@subsubheading Synopsis
33823
33824@smallexample
33825 -target-attach @var{pid} | @var{gid} | @var{file}
33826@end smallexample
33827
33828Attach to a process @var{pid} or a file @var{file} outside of
33829@value{GDBN}, or a thread group @var{gid}. If attaching to a thread
33830group, the id previously returned by
33831@samp{-list-thread-groups --available} must be used.
33832
33833@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33834
33835The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{attach}.
33836
33837@subsubheading Example
33838@smallexample
33839(gdb)
33840-target-attach 34
33841=thread-created,id="1"
33842*stopped,thread-id="1",frame=@{addr="0xb7f7e410",func="bar",args=[]@}
33843^done
33844(gdb)
33845@end smallexample
33846
33847@ignore
33848@subheading The @code{-target-compare-sections} Command
33849@findex -target-compare-sections
33850
33851@subsubheading Synopsis
33852
33853@smallexample
33854 -target-compare-sections [ @var{section} ]
33855@end smallexample
33856
33857Compare data of section @var{section} on target to the exec file.
33858Without the argument, all sections are compared.
33859
33860@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33861
33862The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{compare-sections}.
33863
33864@subsubheading Example
33865N.A.
33866@end ignore
33867
33868
33869@subheading The @code{-target-detach} Command
33870@findex -target-detach
33871
33872@subsubheading Synopsis
33873
33874@smallexample
33875 -target-detach [ @var{pid} | @var{gid} ]
33876@end smallexample
33877
33878Detach from the remote target which normally resumes its execution.
33879If either @var{pid} or @var{gid} is specified, detaches from either
33880the specified process, or specified thread group. There's no output.
33881
33882@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33883
33884The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{detach}.
33885
33886@subsubheading Example
33887
33888@smallexample
33889(gdb)
33890-target-detach
33891^done
33892(gdb)
33893@end smallexample
33894
33895
33896@subheading The @code{-target-disconnect} Command
33897@findex -target-disconnect
33898
33899@subsubheading Synopsis
33900
33901@smallexample
33902 -target-disconnect
33903@end smallexample
33904
33905Disconnect from the remote target. There's no output and the target is
33906generally not resumed.
33907
33908@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33909
33910The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disconnect}.
33911
33912@subsubheading Example
33913
33914@smallexample
33915(gdb)
33916-target-disconnect
33917^done
33918(gdb)
33919@end smallexample
33920
33921
33922@subheading The @code{-target-download} Command
33923@findex -target-download
33924
33925@subsubheading Synopsis
33926
33927@smallexample
33928 -target-download
33929@end smallexample
33930
33931Loads the executable onto the remote target.
33932It prints out an update message every half second, which includes the fields:
33933
33934@table @samp
33935@item section
33936The name of the section.
33937@item section-sent
33938The size of what has been sent so far for that section.
33939@item section-size
33940The size of the section.
33941@item total-sent
33942The total size of what was sent so far (the current and the previous sections).
33943@item total-size
33944The size of the overall executable to download.
33945@end table
33946
33947@noindent
33948Each message is sent as status record (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, ,
33949@sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax}).
33950
33951In addition, it prints the name and size of the sections, as they are
33952downloaded. These messages include the following fields:
33953
33954@table @samp
33955@item section
33956The name of the section.
33957@item section-size
33958The size of the section.
33959@item total-size
33960The size of the overall executable to download.
33961@end table
33962
33963@noindent
33964At the end, a summary is printed.
33965
33966@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33967
33968The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{load}.
33969
33970@subsubheading Example
33971
33972Note: each status message appears on a single line. Here the messages
33973have been broken down so that they can fit onto a page.
33974
33975@smallexample
33976(gdb)
33977-target-download
33978+download,@{section=".text",section-size="6668",total-size="9880"@}
33979+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="512",section-size="6668",
33980total-sent="512",total-size="9880"@}
33981+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1024",section-size="6668",
33982total-sent="1024",total-size="9880"@}
33983+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1536",section-size="6668",
33984total-sent="1536",total-size="9880"@}
33985+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2048",section-size="6668",
33986total-sent="2048",total-size="9880"@}
33987+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2560",section-size="6668",
33988total-sent="2560",total-size="9880"@}
33989+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3072",section-size="6668",
33990total-sent="3072",total-size="9880"@}
33991+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3584",section-size="6668",
33992total-sent="3584",total-size="9880"@}
33993+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4096",section-size="6668",
33994total-sent="4096",total-size="9880"@}
33995+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4608",section-size="6668",
33996total-sent="4608",total-size="9880"@}
33997+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5120",section-size="6668",
33998total-sent="5120",total-size="9880"@}
33999+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5632",section-size="6668",
34000total-sent="5632",total-size="9880"@}
34001+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6144",section-size="6668",
34002total-sent="6144",total-size="9880"@}
34003+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6656",section-size="6668",
34004total-sent="6656",total-size="9880"@}
34005+download,@{section=".init",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
34006+download,@{section=".fini",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
34007+download,@{section=".data",section-size="3156",total-size="9880"@}
34008+download,@{section=".data",section-sent="512",section-size="3156",
34009total-sent="7236",total-size="9880"@}
34010+download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1024",section-size="3156",
34011total-sent="7748",total-size="9880"@}
34012+download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1536",section-size="3156",
34013total-sent="8260",total-size="9880"@}
34014+download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2048",section-size="3156",
34015total-sent="8772",total-size="9880"@}
34016+download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2560",section-size="3156",
34017total-sent="9284",total-size="9880"@}
34018+download,@{section=".data",section-sent="3072",section-size="3156",
34019total-sent="9796",total-size="9880"@}
34020^done,address="0x10004",load-size="9880",transfer-rate="6586",
34021write-rate="429"
34022(gdb)
34023@end smallexample
34024
34025
34026@ignore
34027@subheading The @code{-target-exec-status} Command
34028@findex -target-exec-status
34029
34030@subsubheading Synopsis
34031
34032@smallexample
34033 -target-exec-status
34034@end smallexample
34035
34036Provide information on the state of the target (whether it is running or
34037not, for instance).
34038
34039@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34040
34041There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
34042
34043@subsubheading Example
34044N.A.
34045
34046
34047@subheading The @code{-target-list-available-targets} Command
34048@findex -target-list-available-targets
34049
34050@subsubheading Synopsis
34051
34052@smallexample
34053 -target-list-available-targets
34054@end smallexample
34055
34056List the possible targets to connect to.
34057
34058@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34059
34060The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{help target}.
34061
34062@subsubheading Example
34063N.A.
34064
34065
34066@subheading The @code{-target-list-current-targets} Command
34067@findex -target-list-current-targets
34068
34069@subsubheading Synopsis
34070
34071@smallexample
34072 -target-list-current-targets
34073@end smallexample
34074
34075Describe the current target.
34076
34077@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34078
34079The corresponding information is printed by @samp{info file} (among
34080other things).
34081
34082@subsubheading Example
34083N.A.
34084
34085
34086@subheading The @code{-target-list-parameters} Command
34087@findex -target-list-parameters
34088
34089@subsubheading Synopsis
34090
34091@smallexample
34092 -target-list-parameters
34093@end smallexample
34094
34095@c ????
34096@end ignore
34097
34098@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34099
34100No equivalent.
34101
34102@subsubheading Example
34103N.A.
34104
34105
34106@subheading The @code{-target-select} Command
34107@findex -target-select
34108
34109@subsubheading Synopsis
34110
34111@smallexample
34112 -target-select @var{type} @var{parameters @dots{}}
34113@end smallexample
34114
34115Connect @value{GDBN} to the remote target. This command takes two args:
34116
34117@table @samp
34118@item @var{type}
34119The type of target, for instance @samp{remote}, etc.
34120@item @var{parameters}
34121Device names, host names and the like. @xref{Target Commands, ,
34122Commands for Managing Targets}, for more details.
34123@end table
34124
34125The output is a connection notification, followed by the address at
34126which the target program is, in the following form:
34127
34128@smallexample
34129^connected,addr="@var{address}",func="@var{function name}",
34130 args=[@var{arg list}]
34131@end smallexample
34132
34133@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34134
34135The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{target}.
34136
34137@subsubheading Example
34138
34139@smallexample
34140(gdb)
34141-target-select remote /dev/ttya
34142^connected,addr="0xfe00a300",func="??",args=[]
34143(gdb)
34144@end smallexample
34145
34146@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
34147@node GDB/MI File Transfer Commands
34148@section @sc{gdb/mi} File Transfer Commands
34149
34150
34151@subheading The @code{-target-file-put} Command
34152@findex -target-file-put
34153
34154@subsubheading Synopsis
34155
34156@smallexample
34157 -target-file-put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
34158@end smallexample
34159
34160Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
34161@value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
34162
34163@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34164
34165The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote put}.
34166
34167@subsubheading Example
34168
34169@smallexample
34170(gdb)
34171-target-file-put localfile remotefile
34172^done
34173(gdb)
34174@end smallexample
34175
34176
34177@subheading The @code{-target-file-get} Command
34178@findex -target-file-get
34179
34180@subsubheading Synopsis
34181
34182@smallexample
34183 -target-file-get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
34184@end smallexample
34185
34186Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
34187on the host system.
34188
34189@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34190
34191The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote get}.
34192
34193@subsubheading Example
34194
34195@smallexample
34196(gdb)
34197-target-file-get remotefile localfile
34198^done
34199(gdb)
34200@end smallexample
34201
34202
34203@subheading The @code{-target-file-delete} Command
34204@findex -target-file-delete
34205
34206@subsubheading Synopsis
34207
34208@smallexample
34209 -target-file-delete @var{targetfile}
34210@end smallexample
34211
34212Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
34213
34214@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34215
34216The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote delete}.
34217
34218@subsubheading Example
34219
34220@smallexample
34221(gdb)
34222-target-file-delete remotefile
34223^done
34224(gdb)
34225@end smallexample
34226
34227
34228@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
34229@node GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands
34230@section Miscellaneous @sc{gdb/mi} Commands
34231
34232@c @subheading -gdb-complete
34233
34234@subheading The @code{-gdb-exit} Command
34235@findex -gdb-exit
34236
34237@subsubheading Synopsis
34238
34239@smallexample
34240 -gdb-exit
34241@end smallexample
34242
34243Exit @value{GDBN} immediately.
34244
34245@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34246
34247Approximately corresponds to @samp{quit}.
34248
34249@subsubheading Example
34250
34251@smallexample
34252(gdb)
34253-gdb-exit
34254^exit
34255@end smallexample
34256
34257
34258@ignore
34259@subheading The @code{-exec-abort} Command
34260@findex -exec-abort
34261
34262@subsubheading Synopsis
34263
34264@smallexample
34265 -exec-abort
34266@end smallexample
34267
34268Kill the inferior running program.
34269
34270@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34271
34272The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{kill}.
34273
34274@subsubheading Example
34275N.A.
34276@end ignore
34277
34278
34279@subheading The @code{-gdb-set} Command
34280@findex -gdb-set
34281
34282@subsubheading Synopsis
34283
34284@smallexample
34285 -gdb-set
34286@end smallexample
34287
34288Set an internal @value{GDBN} variable.
34289@c IS THIS A DOLLAR VARIABLE? OR SOMETHING LIKE ANNOTATE ?????
34290
34291@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34292
34293The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set}.
34294
34295@subsubheading Example
34296
34297@smallexample
34298(gdb)
34299-gdb-set $foo=3
34300^done
34301(gdb)
34302@end smallexample
34303
34304
34305@subheading The @code{-gdb-show} Command
34306@findex -gdb-show
34307
34308@subsubheading Synopsis
34309
34310@smallexample
34311 -gdb-show
34312@end smallexample
34313
34314Show the current value of a @value{GDBN} variable.
34315
34316@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34317
34318The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show}.
34319
34320@subsubheading Example
34321
34322@smallexample
34323(gdb)
34324-gdb-show annotate
34325^done,value="0"
34326(gdb)
34327@end smallexample
34328
34329@c @subheading -gdb-source
34330
34331
34332@subheading The @code{-gdb-version} Command
34333@findex -gdb-version
34334
34335@subsubheading Synopsis
34336
34337@smallexample
34338 -gdb-version
34339@end smallexample
34340
34341Show version information for @value{GDBN}. Used mostly in testing.
34342
34343@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34344
34345The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{show version}. @value{GDBN} by
34346default shows this information when you start an interactive session.
34347
34348@subsubheading Example
34349
34350@c This example modifies the actual output from GDB to avoid overfull
34351@c box in TeX.
34352@smallexample
34353(gdb)
34354-gdb-version
34355~GNU gdb 5.2.1
34356~Copyright 2000 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
34357~GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License, and
34358~you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it under
34359~ certain conditions.
34360~Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
34361~There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty" for
34362~ details.
34363~This GDB was configured as
34364 "--host=sparc-sun-solaris2.5.1 --target=ppc-eabi".
34365^done
34366(gdb)
34367@end smallexample
34368
34369@subheading The @code{-list-features} Command
34370@findex -list-features
34371
34372Returns a list of particular features of the MI protocol that
34373this version of gdb implements. A feature can be a command,
34374or a new field in an output of some command, or even an
34375important bugfix. While a frontend can sometimes detect presence
34376of a feature at runtime, it is easier to perform detection at debugger
34377startup.
34378
34379The command returns a list of strings, with each string naming an
34380available feature. Each returned string is just a name, it does not
34381have any internal structure. The list of possible feature names
34382is given below.
34383
34384Example output:
34385
34386@smallexample
34387(gdb) -list-features
34388^done,result=["feature1","feature2"]
34389@end smallexample
34390
34391The current list of features is:
34392
34393@table @samp
34394@item frozen-varobjs
34395Indicates support for the @code{-var-set-frozen} command, as well
34396as possible presense of the @code{frozen} field in the output
34397of @code{-varobj-create}.
34398@item pending-breakpoints
34399Indicates support for the @option{-f} option to the @code{-break-insert}
34400command.
34401@item python
34402Indicates Python scripting support, Python-based
34403pretty-printing commands, and possible presence of the
34404@samp{display_hint} field in the output of @code{-var-list-children}
34405@item thread-info
34406Indicates support for the @code{-thread-info} command.
34407@item data-read-memory-bytes
34408Indicates support for the @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} and the
34409@code{-data-write-memory-bytes} commands.
34410@item breakpoint-notifications
34411Indicates that changes to breakpoints and breakpoints created via the
34412CLI will be announced via async records.
34413@item ada-task-info
34414Indicates support for the @code{-ada-task-info} command.
34415@end table
34416
34417@subheading The @code{-list-target-features} Command
34418@findex -list-target-features
34419
34420Returns a list of particular features that are supported by the
34421target. Those features affect the permitted MI commands, but
34422unlike the features reported by the @code{-list-features} command, the
34423features depend on which target GDB is using at the moment. Whenever
34424a target can change, due to commands such as @code{-target-select},
34425@code{-target-attach} or @code{-exec-run}, the list of target features
34426may change, and the frontend should obtain it again.
34427Example output:
34428
34429@smallexample
34430(gdb) -list-features
34431^done,result=["async"]
34432@end smallexample
34433
34434The current list of features is:
34435
34436@table @samp
34437@item async
34438Indicates that the target is capable of asynchronous command
34439execution, which means that @value{GDBN} will accept further commands
34440while the target is running.
34441
34442@item reverse
34443Indicates that the target is capable of reverse execution.
34444@xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
34445
34446@end table
34447
34448@subheading The @code{-list-thread-groups} Command
34449@findex -list-thread-groups
34450
34451@subheading Synopsis
34452
34453@smallexample
34454-list-thread-groups [ --available ] [ --recurse 1 ] [ @var{group} ... ]
34455@end smallexample
34456
34457Lists thread groups (@pxref{Thread groups}). When a single thread
34458group is passed as the argument, lists the children of that group.
34459When several thread group are passed, lists information about those
34460thread groups. Without any parameters, lists information about all
34461top-level thread groups.
34462
34463Normally, thread groups that are being debugged are reported.
34464With the @samp{--available} option, @value{GDBN} reports thread groups
34465available on the target.
34466
34467The output of this command may have either a @samp{threads} result or
34468a @samp{groups} result. The @samp{thread} result has a list of tuples
34469as value, with each tuple describing a thread (@pxref{GDB/MI Thread
34470Information}). The @samp{groups} result has a list of tuples as value,
34471each tuple describing a thread group. If top-level groups are
34472requested (that is, no parameter is passed), or when several groups
34473are passed, the output always has a @samp{groups} result. The format
34474of the @samp{group} result is described below.
34475
34476To reduce the number of roundtrips it's possible to list thread groups
34477together with their children, by passing the @samp{--recurse} option
34478and the recursion depth. Presently, only recursion depth of 1 is
34479permitted. If this option is present, then every reported thread group
34480will also include its children, either as @samp{group} or
34481@samp{threads} field.
34482
34483In general, any combination of option and parameters is permitted, with
34484the following caveats:
34485
34486@itemize @bullet
34487@item
34488When a single thread group is passed, the output will typically
34489be the @samp{threads} result. Because threads may not contain
34490anything, the @samp{recurse} option will be ignored.
34491
34492@item
34493When the @samp{--available} option is passed, limited information may
34494be available. In particular, the list of threads of a process might
34495be inaccessible. Further, specifying specific thread groups might
34496not give any performance advantage over listing all thread groups.
34497The frontend should assume that @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}
34498is always an expensive operation and cache the results.
34499
34500@end itemize
34501
34502The @samp{groups} result is a list of tuples, where each tuple may
34503have the following fields:
34504
34505@table @code
34506@item id
34507Identifier of the thread group. This field is always present.
34508The identifier is an opaque string; frontends should not try to
34509convert it to an integer, even though it might look like one.
34510
34511@item type
34512The type of the thread group. At present, only @samp{process} is a
34513valid type.
34514
34515@item pid
34516The target-specific process identifier. This field is only present
34517for thread groups of type @samp{process} and only if the process exists.
34518
34519@item num_children
34520The number of children this thread group has. This field may be
34521absent for an available thread group.
34522
34523@item threads
34524This field has a list of tuples as value, each tuple describing a
34525thread. It may be present if the @samp{--recurse} option is
34526specified, and it's actually possible to obtain the threads.
34527
34528@item cores
34529This field is a list of integers, each identifying a core that one
34530thread of the group is running on. This field may be absent if
34531such information is not available.
34532
34533@item executable
34534The name of the executable file that corresponds to this thread group.
34535The field is only present for thread groups of type @samp{process},
34536and only if there is a corresponding executable file.
34537
34538@end table
34539
34540@subheading Example
34541
34542@smallexample
34543@value{GDBP}
34544-list-thread-groups
34545^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2"@}]
34546-list-thread-groups 17
34547^done,threads=[@{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
34548 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",args=[]@},state="running"@},
34549@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
34550 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
34551 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},state="running"@}]]
34552-list-thread-groups --available
34553^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2]@}]
34554-list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1
34555 ^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
34556 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
34557 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},..]
34558-list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1 17 18
34559^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
34560 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
34561 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},...]
34562@end smallexample
34563
34564@subheading The @code{-info-os} Command
34565@findex -info-os
34566
34567@subsubheading Synopsis
34568
34569@smallexample
34570-info-os [ @var{type} ]
34571@end smallexample
34572
34573If no argument is supplied, the command returns a table of available
34574operating-system-specific information types. If one of these types is
34575supplied as an argument @var{type}, then the command returns a table
34576of data of that type.
34577
34578The types of information available depend on the target operating
34579system.
34580
34581@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34582
34583The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info os}.
34584
34585@subsubheading Example
34586
34587When run on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, the output will look something
34588like this:
34589
34590@smallexample
34591@value{GDBP}
34592-info-os
34593^done,OSDataTable=@{nr_rows="9",nr_cols="3",
34594hdr=[@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col0",colhdr="Type"@},
34595 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col1",colhdr="Description"@},
34596 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col2",colhdr="Title"@}],
34597body=[item=@{col0="processes",col1="Listing of all processes",
34598 col2="Processes"@},
34599 item=@{col0="procgroups",col1="Listing of all process groups",
34600 col2="Process groups"@},
34601 item=@{col0="threads",col1="Listing of all threads",
34602 col2="Threads"@},
34603 item=@{col0="files",col1="Listing of all file descriptors",
34604 col2="File descriptors"@},
34605 item=@{col0="sockets",col1="Listing of all internet-domain sockets",
34606 col2="Sockets"@},
34607 item=@{col0="shm",col1="Listing of all shared-memory regions",
34608 col2="Shared-memory regions"@},
34609 item=@{col0="semaphores",col1="Listing of all semaphores",
34610 col2="Semaphores"@},
34611 item=@{col0="msg",col1="Listing of all message queues",
34612 col2="Message queues"@},
34613 item=@{col0="modules",col1="Listing of all loaded kernel modules",
34614 col2="Kernel modules"@}]@}
34615@value{GDBP}
34616-info-os processes
34617^done,OSDataTable=@{nr_rows="190",nr_cols="4",
34618hdr=[@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col0",colhdr="pid"@},
34619 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col1",colhdr="user"@},
34620 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col2",colhdr="command"@},
34621 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col3",colhdr="cores"@}],
34622body=[item=@{col0="1",col1="root",col2="/sbin/init",col3="0"@},
34623 item=@{col0="2",col1="root",col2="[kthreadd]",col3="1"@},
34624 item=@{col0="3",col1="root",col2="[ksoftirqd/0]",col3="0"@},
34625 ...
34626 item=@{col0="26446",col1="stan",col2="bash",col3="0"@},
34627 item=@{col0="28152",col1="stan",col2="bash",col3="1"@}]@}
34628(gdb)
34629@end smallexample
34630
34631(Note that the MI output here includes a @code{"Title"} column that
34632does not appear in command-line @code{info os}; this column is useful
34633for MI clients that want to enumerate the types of data, such as in a
34634popup menu, but is needless clutter on the command line, and
34635@code{info os} omits it.)
34636
34637@subheading The @code{-add-inferior} Command
34638@findex -add-inferior
34639
34640@subheading Synopsis
34641
34642@smallexample
34643-add-inferior
34644@end smallexample
34645
34646Creates a new inferior (@pxref{Inferiors and Programs}). The created
34647inferior is not associated with any executable. Such association may
34648be established with the @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols} command
34649(@pxref{GDB/MI File Commands}). The command response has a single
34650field, @samp{inferior}, whose value is the identifier of the
34651thread group corresponding to the new inferior.
34652
34653@subheading Example
34654
34655@smallexample
34656@value{GDBP}
34657-add-inferior
34658^done,inferior="i3"
34659@end smallexample
34660
34661@subheading The @code{-interpreter-exec} Command
34662@findex -interpreter-exec
34663
34664@subheading Synopsis
34665
34666@smallexample
34667-interpreter-exec @var{interpreter} @var{command}
34668@end smallexample
34669@anchor{-interpreter-exec}
34670
34671Execute the specified @var{command} in the given @var{interpreter}.
34672
34673@subheading @value{GDBN} Command
34674
34675The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interpreter-exec}.
34676
34677@subheading Example
34678
34679@smallexample
34680(gdb)
34681-interpreter-exec console "break main"
34682&"During symbol reading, couldn't parse type; debugger out of date?.\n"
34683&"During symbol reading, bad structure-type format.\n"
34684~"Breakpoint 1 at 0x8074fc6: file ../../src/gdb/main.c, line 743.\n"
34685^done
34686(gdb)
34687@end smallexample
34688
34689@subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-set} Command
34690@findex -inferior-tty-set
34691
34692@subheading Synopsis
34693
34694@smallexample
34695-inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
34696@end smallexample
34697
34698Set terminal for future runs of the program being debugged.
34699
34700@subheading @value{GDBN} Command
34701
34702The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set inferior-tty} /dev/pts/1.
34703
34704@subheading Example
34705
34706@smallexample
34707(gdb)
34708-inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
34709^done
34710(gdb)
34711@end smallexample
34712
34713@subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-show} Command
34714@findex -inferior-tty-show
34715
34716@subheading Synopsis
34717
34718@smallexample
34719-inferior-tty-show
34720@end smallexample
34721
34722Show terminal for future runs of program being debugged.
34723
34724@subheading @value{GDBN} Command
34725
34726The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show inferior-tty}.
34727
34728@subheading Example
34729
34730@smallexample
34731(gdb)
34732-inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
34733^done
34734(gdb)
34735-inferior-tty-show
34736^done,inferior_tty_terminal="/dev/pts/1"
34737(gdb)
34738@end smallexample
34739
34740@subheading The @code{-enable-timings} Command
34741@findex -enable-timings
34742
34743@subheading Synopsis
34744
34745@smallexample
34746-enable-timings [yes | no]
34747@end smallexample
34748
34749Toggle the printing of the wallclock, user and system times for an MI
34750command as a field in its output. This command is to help frontend
34751developers optimize the performance of their code. No argument is
34752equivalent to @samp{yes}.
34753
34754@subheading @value{GDBN} Command
34755
34756No equivalent.
34757
34758@subheading Example
34759
34760@smallexample
34761(gdb)
34762-enable-timings
34763^done
34764(gdb)
34765-break-insert main
34766^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
34767addr="0x080484ed",func="main",file="myprog.c",
34768fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73",thread-groups=["i1"],
34769times="0"@},
34770time=@{wallclock="0.05185",user="0.00800",system="0.00000"@}
34771(gdb)
34772-enable-timings no
34773^done
34774(gdb)
34775-exec-run
34776^running
34777(gdb)
34778*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
34779frame=@{addr="0x080484ed",func="main",args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},
34780@{name="argv",value="0xbfb60364"@}],file="myprog.c",
34781fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73"@}
34782(gdb)
34783@end smallexample
34784
34785@node Annotations
34786@chapter @value{GDBN} Annotations
34787
34788This chapter describes annotations in @value{GDBN}. Annotations were
34789designed to interface @value{GDBN} to graphical user interfaces or other
34790similar programs which want to interact with @value{GDBN} at a
34791relatively high level.
34792
34793The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
34794(@pxref{GDB/MI}).
34795
34796@ignore
34797This is Edition @value{EDITION}, @value{DATE}.
34798@end ignore
34799
34800@menu
34801* Annotations Overview:: What annotations are; the general syntax.
34802* Server Prefix:: Issuing a command without affecting user state.
34803* Prompting:: Annotations marking @value{GDBN}'s need for input.
34804* Errors:: Annotations for error messages.
34805* Invalidation:: Some annotations describe things now invalid.
34806* Annotations for Running::
34807 Whether the program is running, how it stopped, etc.
34808* Source Annotations:: Annotations describing source code.
34809@end menu
34810
34811@node Annotations Overview
34812@section What is an Annotation?
34813@cindex annotations
34814
34815Annotations start with a newline character, two @samp{control-z}
34816characters, and the name of the annotation. If there is no additional
34817information associated with this annotation, the name of the annotation
34818is followed immediately by a newline. If there is additional
34819information, the name of the annotation is followed by a space, the
34820additional information, and a newline. The additional information
34821cannot contain newline characters.
34822
34823Any output not beginning with a newline and two @samp{control-z}
34824characters denotes literal output from @value{GDBN}. Currently there is
34825no need for @value{GDBN} to output a newline followed by two
34826@samp{control-z} characters, but if there was such a need, the
34827annotations could be extended with an @samp{escape} annotation which
34828means those three characters as output.
34829
34830The annotation @var{level}, which is specified using the
34831@option{--annotate} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}), controls
34832how much information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt,
34833values of expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0
34834is for no annotations, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a
34835subprocess of @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable
34836for programs that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 annotations have
34837been made obsolete (@pxref{Limitations, , Limitations of the Annotation
34838Interface, annotate, GDB's Obsolete Annotations}).
34839
34840@table @code
34841@kindex set annotate
34842@item set annotate @var{level}
34843The @value{GDBN} command @code{set annotate} sets the level of
34844annotations to the specified @var{level}.
34845
34846@item show annotate
34847@kindex show annotate
34848Show the current annotation level.
34849@end table
34850
34851This chapter describes level 3 annotations.
34852
34853A simple example of starting up @value{GDBN} with annotations is:
34854
34855@smallexample
34856$ @kbd{gdb --annotate=3}
34857GNU gdb 6.0
34858Copyright 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
34859GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License,
34860and you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it
34861under certain conditions.
34862Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
34863There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty"
34864for details.
34865This GDB was configured as "i386-pc-linux-gnu"
34866
34867^Z^Zpre-prompt
34868(@value{GDBP})
34869^Z^Zprompt
34870@kbd{quit}
34871
34872^Z^Zpost-prompt
34873$
34874@end smallexample
34875
34876Here @samp{quit} is input to @value{GDBN}; the rest is output from
34877@value{GDBN}. The three lines beginning @samp{^Z^Z} (where @samp{^Z}
34878denotes a @samp{control-z} character) are annotations; the rest is
34879output from @value{GDBN}.
34880
34881@node Server Prefix
34882@section The Server Prefix
34883@cindex server prefix
34884
34885If you prefix a command with @samp{server } then it will not affect
34886the command history, nor will it affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which
34887command to repeat if @key{RET} is pressed on a line by itself. This
34888means that commands can be run behind a user's back by a front-end in
34889a transparent manner.
34890
34891The @code{server } prefix does not affect the recording of values into
34892the value history; to print a value without recording it into the
34893value history, use the @code{output} command instead of the
34894@code{print} command.
34895
34896Using this prefix also disables confirmation requests
34897(@pxref{confirmation requests}).
34898
34899@node Prompting
34900@section Annotation for @value{GDBN} Input
34901
34902@cindex annotations for prompts
34903When @value{GDBN} prompts for input, it annotates this fact so it is possible
34904to know when to send output, when the output from a given command is
34905over, etc.
34906
34907Different kinds of input each have a different @dfn{input type}. Each
34908input type has three annotations: a @code{pre-} annotation, which
34909denotes the beginning of any prompt which is being output, a plain
34910annotation, which denotes the end of the prompt, and then a @code{post-}
34911annotation which denotes the end of any echo which may (or may not) be
34912associated with the input. For example, the @code{prompt} input type
34913features the following annotations:
34914
34915@smallexample
34916^Z^Zpre-prompt
34917^Z^Zprompt
34918^Z^Zpost-prompt
34919@end smallexample
34920
34921The input types are
34922
34923@table @code
34924@findex pre-prompt annotation
34925@findex prompt annotation
34926@findex post-prompt annotation
34927@item prompt
34928When @value{GDBN} is prompting for a command (the main @value{GDBN} prompt).
34929
34930@findex pre-commands annotation
34931@findex commands annotation
34932@findex post-commands annotation
34933@item commands
34934When @value{GDBN} prompts for a set of commands, like in the @code{commands}
34935command. The annotations are repeated for each command which is input.
34936
34937@findex pre-overload-choice annotation
34938@findex overload-choice annotation
34939@findex post-overload-choice annotation
34940@item overload-choice
34941When @value{GDBN} wants the user to select between various overloaded functions.
34942
34943@findex pre-query annotation
34944@findex query annotation
34945@findex post-query annotation
34946@item query
34947When @value{GDBN} wants the user to confirm a potentially dangerous operation.
34948
34949@findex pre-prompt-for-continue annotation
34950@findex prompt-for-continue annotation
34951@findex post-prompt-for-continue annotation
34952@item prompt-for-continue
34953When @value{GDBN} is asking the user to press return to continue. Note: Don't
34954expect this to work well; instead use @code{set height 0} to disable
34955prompting. This is because the counting of lines is buggy in the
34956presence of annotations.
34957@end table
34958
34959@node Errors
34960@section Errors
34961@cindex annotations for errors, warnings and interrupts
34962
34963@findex quit annotation
34964@smallexample
34965^Z^Zquit
34966@end smallexample
34967
34968This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an interrupt.
34969
34970@findex error annotation
34971@smallexample
34972^Z^Zerror
34973@end smallexample
34974
34975This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an error.
34976
34977Quit and error annotations indicate that any annotations which @value{GDBN} was
34978in the middle of may end abruptly. For example, if a
34979@code{value-history-begin} annotation is followed by a @code{error}, one
34980cannot expect to receive the matching @code{value-history-end}. One
34981cannot expect not to receive it either, however; an error annotation
34982does not necessarily mean that @value{GDBN} is immediately returning all the way
34983to the top level.
34984
34985@findex error-begin annotation
34986A quit or error annotation may be preceded by
34987
34988@smallexample
34989^Z^Zerror-begin
34990@end smallexample
34991
34992Any output between that and the quit or error annotation is the error
34993message.
34994
34995Warning messages are not yet annotated.
34996@c If we want to change that, need to fix warning(), type_error(),
34997@c range_error(), and possibly other places.
34998
34999@node Invalidation
35000@section Invalidation Notices
35001
35002@cindex annotations for invalidation messages
35003The following annotations say that certain pieces of state may have
35004changed.
35005
35006@table @code
35007@findex frames-invalid annotation
35008@item ^Z^Zframes-invalid
35009
35010The frames (for example, output from the @code{backtrace} command) may
35011have changed.
35012
35013@findex breakpoints-invalid annotation
35014@item ^Z^Zbreakpoints-invalid
35015
35016The breakpoints may have changed. For example, the user just added or
35017deleted a breakpoint.
35018@end table
35019
35020@node Annotations for Running
35021@section Running the Program
35022@cindex annotations for running programs
35023
35024@findex starting annotation
35025@findex stopping annotation
35026When the program starts executing due to a @value{GDBN} command such as
35027@code{step} or @code{continue},
35028
35029@smallexample
35030^Z^Zstarting
35031@end smallexample
35032
35033is output. When the program stops,
35034
35035@smallexample
35036^Z^Zstopped
35037@end smallexample
35038
35039is output. Before the @code{stopped} annotation, a variety of
35040annotations describe how the program stopped.
35041
35042@table @code
35043@findex exited annotation
35044@item ^Z^Zexited @var{exit-status}
35045The program exited, and @var{exit-status} is the exit status (zero for
35046successful exit, otherwise nonzero).
35047
35048@findex signalled annotation
35049@findex signal-name annotation
35050@findex signal-name-end annotation
35051@findex signal-string annotation
35052@findex signal-string-end annotation
35053@item ^Z^Zsignalled
35054The program exited with a signal. After the @code{^Z^Zsignalled}, the
35055annotation continues:
35056
35057@smallexample
35058@var{intro-text}
35059^Z^Zsignal-name
35060@var{name}
35061^Z^Zsignal-name-end
35062@var{middle-text}
35063^Z^Zsignal-string
35064@var{string}
35065^Z^Zsignal-string-end
35066@var{end-text}
35067@end smallexample
35068
35069@noindent
35070where @var{name} is the name of the signal, such as @code{SIGILL} or
35071@code{SIGSEGV}, and @var{string} is the explanation of the signal, such
35072as @code{Illegal Instruction} or @code{Segmentation fault}.
35073@var{intro-text}, @var{middle-text}, and @var{end-text} are for the
35074user's benefit and have no particular format.
35075
35076@findex signal annotation
35077@item ^Z^Zsignal
35078The syntax of this annotation is just like @code{signalled}, but @value{GDBN} is
35079just saying that the program received the signal, not that it was
35080terminated with it.
35081
35082@findex breakpoint annotation
35083@item ^Z^Zbreakpoint @var{number}
35084The program hit breakpoint number @var{number}.
35085
35086@findex watchpoint annotation
35087@item ^Z^Zwatchpoint @var{number}
35088The program hit watchpoint number @var{number}.
35089@end table
35090
35091@node Source Annotations
35092@section Displaying Source
35093@cindex annotations for source display
35094
35095@findex source annotation
35096The following annotation is used instead of displaying source code:
35097
35098@smallexample
35099^Z^Zsource @var{filename}:@var{line}:@var{character}:@var{middle}:@var{addr}
35100@end smallexample
35101
35102where @var{filename} is an absolute file name indicating which source
35103file, @var{line} is the line number within that file (where 1 is the
35104first line in the file), @var{character} is the character position
35105within the file (where 0 is the first character in the file) (for most
35106debug formats this will necessarily point to the beginning of a line),
35107@var{middle} is @samp{middle} if @var{addr} is in the middle of the
35108line, or @samp{beg} if @var{addr} is at the beginning of the line, and
35109@var{addr} is the address in the target program associated with the
35110source which is being displayed. @var{addr} is in the form @samp{0x}
35111followed by one or more lowercase hex digits (note that this does not
35112depend on the language).
35113
35114@node JIT Interface
35115@chapter JIT Compilation Interface
35116@cindex just-in-time compilation
35117@cindex JIT compilation interface
35118
35119This chapter documents @value{GDBN}'s @dfn{just-in-time} (JIT) compilation
35120interface. A JIT compiler is a program or library that generates native
35121executable code at runtime and executes it, usually in order to achieve good
35122performance while maintaining platform independence.
35123
35124Programs that use JIT compilation are normally difficult to debug because
35125portions of their code are generated at runtime, instead of being loaded from
35126object files, which is where @value{GDBN} normally finds the program's symbols
35127and debug information. In order to debug programs that use JIT compilation,
35128@value{GDBN} has an interface that allows the program to register in-memory
35129symbol files with @value{GDBN} at runtime.
35130
35131If you are using @value{GDBN} to debug a program that uses this interface, then
35132it should work transparently so long as you have not stripped the binary. If
35133you are developing a JIT compiler, then the interface is documented in the rest
35134of this chapter. At this time, the only known client of this interface is the
35135LLVM JIT.
35136
35137Broadly speaking, the JIT interface mirrors the dynamic loader interface. The
35138JIT compiler communicates with @value{GDBN} by writing data into a global
35139variable and calling a fuction at a well-known symbol. When @value{GDBN}
35140attaches, it reads a linked list of symbol files from the global variable to
35141find existing code, and puts a breakpoint in the function so that it can find
35142out about additional code.
35143
35144@menu
35145* Declarations:: Relevant C struct declarations
35146* Registering Code:: Steps to register code
35147* Unregistering Code:: Steps to unregister code
35148* Custom Debug Info:: Emit debug information in a custom format
35149@end menu
35150
35151@node Declarations
35152@section JIT Declarations
35153
35154These are the relevant struct declarations that a C program should include to
35155implement the interface:
35156
35157@smallexample
35158typedef enum
35159@{
35160 JIT_NOACTION = 0,
35161 JIT_REGISTER_FN,
35162 JIT_UNREGISTER_FN
35163@} jit_actions_t;
35164
35165struct jit_code_entry
35166@{
35167 struct jit_code_entry *next_entry;
35168 struct jit_code_entry *prev_entry;
35169 const char *symfile_addr;
35170 uint64_t symfile_size;
35171@};
35172
35173struct jit_descriptor
35174@{
35175 uint32_t version;
35176 /* This type should be jit_actions_t, but we use uint32_t
35177 to be explicit about the bitwidth. */
35178 uint32_t action_flag;
35179 struct jit_code_entry *relevant_entry;
35180 struct jit_code_entry *first_entry;
35181@};
35182
35183/* GDB puts a breakpoint in this function. */
35184void __attribute__((noinline)) __jit_debug_register_code() @{ @};
35185
35186/* Make sure to specify the version statically, because the
35187 debugger may check the version before we can set it. */
35188struct jit_descriptor __jit_debug_descriptor = @{ 1, 0, 0, 0 @};
35189@end smallexample
35190
35191If the JIT is multi-threaded, then it is important that the JIT synchronize any
35192modifications to this global data properly, which can easily be done by putting
35193a global mutex around modifications to these structures.
35194
35195@node Registering Code
35196@section Registering Code
35197
35198To register code with @value{GDBN}, the JIT should follow this protocol:
35199
35200@itemize @bullet
35201@item
35202Generate an object file in memory with symbols and other desired debug
35203information. The file must include the virtual addresses of the sections.
35204
35205@item
35206Create a code entry for the file, which gives the start and size of the symbol
35207file.
35208
35209@item
35210Add it to the linked list in the JIT descriptor.
35211
35212@item
35213Point the relevant_entry field of the descriptor at the entry.
35214
35215@item
35216Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_REGISTER} and call
35217@code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
35218@end itemize
35219
35220When @value{GDBN} is attached and the breakpoint fires, @value{GDBN} uses the
35221@code{relevant_entry} pointer so it doesn't have to walk the list looking for
35222new code. However, the linked list must still be maintained in order to allow
35223@value{GDBN} to attach to a running process and still find the symbol files.
35224
35225@node Unregistering Code
35226@section Unregistering Code
35227
35228If code is freed, then the JIT should use the following protocol:
35229
35230@itemize @bullet
35231@item
35232Remove the code entry corresponding to the code from the linked list.
35233
35234@item
35235Point the @code{relevant_entry} field of the descriptor at the code entry.
35236
35237@item
35238Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_UNREGISTER} and call
35239@code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
35240@end itemize
35241
35242If the JIT frees or recompiles code without unregistering it, then @value{GDBN}
35243and the JIT will leak the memory used for the associated symbol files.
35244
35245@node Custom Debug Info
35246@section Custom Debug Info
35247@cindex custom JIT debug info
35248@cindex JIT debug info reader
35249
35250Generating debug information in platform-native file formats (like ELF
35251or COFF) may be an overkill for JIT compilers; especially if all the
35252debug info is used for is displaying a meaningful backtrace. The
35253issue can be resolved by having the JIT writers decide on a debug info
35254format and also provide a reader that parses the debug info generated
35255by the JIT compiler. This section gives a brief overview on writing
35256such a parser. More specific details can be found in the source file
35257@file{gdb/jit-reader.in}, which is also installed as a header at
35258@file{@var{includedir}/gdb/jit-reader.h} for easy inclusion.
35259
35260The reader is implemented as a shared object (so this functionality is
35261not available on platforms which don't allow loading shared objects at
35262runtime). Two @value{GDBN} commands, @code{jit-reader-load} and
35263@code{jit-reader-unload} are provided, to be used to load and unload
35264the readers from a preconfigured directory. Once loaded, the shared
35265object is used the parse the debug information emitted by the JIT
35266compiler.
35267
35268@menu
35269* Using JIT Debug Info Readers:: How to use supplied readers correctly
35270* Writing JIT Debug Info Readers:: Creating a debug-info reader
35271@end menu
35272
35273@node Using JIT Debug Info Readers
35274@subsection Using JIT Debug Info Readers
35275@kindex jit-reader-load
35276@kindex jit-reader-unload
35277
35278Readers can be loaded and unloaded using the @code{jit-reader-load}
35279and @code{jit-reader-unload} commands.
35280
35281@table @code
35282@item jit-reader-load @var{reader}
35283Load the JIT reader named @var{reader}. @var{reader} is a shared
35284object specified as either an absolute or a relative file name. In
35285the latter case, @value{GDBN} will try to load the reader from a
35286pre-configured directory, usually @file{@var{libdir}/gdb/} on a UNIX
35287system (here @var{libdir} is the system library directory, often
35288@file{/usr/local/lib}).
35289
35290Only one reader can be active at a time; trying to load a second
35291reader when one is already loaded will result in @value{GDBN}
35292reporting an error. A new JIT reader can be loaded by first unloading
35293the current one using @code{jit-reader-unload} and then invoking
35294@code{jit-reader-load}.
35295
35296@item jit-reader-unload
35297Unload the currently loaded JIT reader.
35298
35299@end table
35300
35301@node Writing JIT Debug Info Readers
35302@subsection Writing JIT Debug Info Readers
35303@cindex writing JIT debug info readers
35304
35305As mentioned, a reader is essentially a shared object conforming to a
35306certain ABI. This ABI is described in @file{jit-reader.h}.
35307
35308@file{jit-reader.h} defines the structures, macros and functions
35309required to write a reader. It is installed (along with
35310@value{GDBN}), in @file{@var{includedir}/gdb} where @var{includedir} is
35311the system include directory.
35312
35313Readers need to be released under a GPL compatible license. A reader
35314can be declared as released under such a license by placing the macro
35315@code{GDB_DECLARE_GPL_COMPATIBLE_READER} in a source file.
35316
35317The entry point for readers is the symbol @code{gdb_init_reader},
35318which is expected to be a function with the prototype
35319
35320@findex gdb_init_reader
35321@smallexample
35322extern struct gdb_reader_funcs *gdb_init_reader (void);
35323@end smallexample
35324
35325@cindex @code{struct gdb_reader_funcs}
35326
35327@code{struct gdb_reader_funcs} contains a set of pointers to callback
35328functions. These functions are executed to read the debug info
35329generated by the JIT compiler (@code{read}), to unwind stack frames
35330(@code{unwind}) and to create canonical frame IDs
35331(@code{get_Frame_id}). It also has a callback that is called when the
35332reader is being unloaded (@code{destroy}). The struct looks like this
35333
35334@smallexample
35335struct gdb_reader_funcs
35336@{
35337 /* Must be set to GDB_READER_INTERFACE_VERSION. */
35338 int reader_version;
35339
35340 /* For use by the reader. */
35341 void *priv_data;
35342
35343 gdb_read_debug_info *read;
35344 gdb_unwind_frame *unwind;
35345 gdb_get_frame_id *get_frame_id;
35346 gdb_destroy_reader *destroy;
35347@};
35348@end smallexample
35349
35350@cindex @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks}
35351@cindex @code{struct gdb_unwind_callbacks}
35352
35353The callbacks are provided with another set of callbacks by
35354@value{GDBN} to do their job. For @code{read}, these callbacks are
35355passed in a @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks} and for @code{unwind}
35356and @code{get_frame_id}, in a @code{struct gdb_unwind_callbacks}.
35357@code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks} has callbacks to create new object
35358files and new symbol tables inside those object files. @code{struct
35359gdb_unwind_callbacks} has callbacks to read registers off the current
35360frame and to write out the values of the registers in the previous
35361frame. Both have a callback (@code{target_read}) to read bytes off the
35362target's address space.
35363
35364@node In-Process Agent
35365@chapter In-Process Agent
35366@cindex debugging agent
35367The traditional debugging model is conceptually low-speed, but works fine,
35368because most bugs can be reproduced in debugging-mode execution. However,
35369as multi-core or many-core processors are becoming mainstream, and
35370multi-threaded programs become more and more popular, there should be more
35371and more bugs that only manifest themselves at normal-mode execution, for
35372example, thread races, because debugger's interference with the program's
35373timing may conceal the bugs. On the other hand, in some applications,
35374it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt the program's execution
35375long enough for the developer to learn anything helpful about its behavior.
35376If the program's correctness depends on its real-time behavior, delays
35377introduced by a debugger might cause the program to fail, even when the
35378code itself is correct. It is useful to be able to observe the program's
35379behavior without interrupting it.
35380
35381Therefore, traditional debugging model is too intrusive to reproduce
35382some bugs. In order to reduce the interference with the program, we can
35383reduce the number of operations performed by debugger. The
35384@dfn{In-Process Agent}, a shared library, is running within the same
35385process with inferior, and is able to perform some debugging operations
35386itself. As a result, debugger is only involved when necessary, and
35387performance of debugging can be improved accordingly. Note that
35388interference with program can be reduced but can't be removed completely,
35389because the in-process agent will still stop or slow down the program.
35390
35391The in-process agent can interpret and execute Agent Expressions
35392(@pxref{Agent Expressions}) during performing debugging operations. The
35393agent expressions can be used for different purposes, such as collecting
35394data in tracepoints, and condition evaluation in breakpoints.
35395
35396@anchor{Control Agent}
35397You can control whether the in-process agent is used as an aid for
35398debugging with the following commands:
35399
35400@table @code
35401@kindex set agent on
35402@item set agent on
35403Causes the in-process agent to perform some operations on behalf of the
35404debugger. Just which operations requested by the user will be done
35405by the in-process agent depends on the its capabilities. For example,
35406if you request to evaluate breakpoint conditions in the in-process agent,
35407and the in-process agent has such capability as well, then breakpoint
35408conditions will be evaluated in the in-process agent.
35409
35410@kindex set agent off
35411@item set agent off
35412Disables execution of debugging operations by the in-process agent. All
35413of the operations will be performed by @value{GDBN}.
35414
35415@kindex show agent
35416@item show agent
35417Display the current setting of execution of debugging operations by
35418the in-process agent.
35419@end table
35420
35421@menu
35422* In-Process Agent Protocol::
35423@end menu
35424
35425@node In-Process Agent Protocol
35426@section In-Process Agent Protocol
35427@cindex in-process agent protocol
35428
35429The in-process agent is able to communicate with both @value{GDBN} and
35430GDBserver (@pxref{In-Process Agent}). This section documents the protocol
35431used for communications between @value{GDBN} or GDBserver and the IPA.
35432In general, @value{GDBN} or GDBserver sends commands
35433(@pxref{IPA Protocol Commands}) and data to in-process agent, and then
35434in-process agent replies back with the return result of the command, or
35435some other information. The data sent to in-process agent is composed
35436of primitive data types, such as 4-byte or 8-byte type, and composite
35437types, which are called objects (@pxref{IPA Protocol Objects}).
35438
35439@menu
35440* IPA Protocol Objects::
35441* IPA Protocol Commands::
35442@end menu
35443
35444@node IPA Protocol Objects
35445@subsection IPA Protocol Objects
35446@cindex ipa protocol objects
35447
35448The commands sent to and results received from agent may contain some
35449complex data types called @dfn{objects}.
35450
35451The in-process agent is running on the same machine with @value{GDBN}
35452or GDBserver, so it doesn't have to handle as much differences between
35453two ends as remote protocol (@pxref{Remote Protocol}) tries to handle.
35454However, there are still some differences of two ends in two processes:
35455
35456@enumerate
35457@item
35458word size. On some 64-bit machines, @value{GDBN} or GDBserver can be
35459compiled as a 64-bit executable, while in-process agent is a 32-bit one.
35460@item
35461ABI. Some machines may have multiple types of ABI, @value{GDBN} or
35462GDBserver is compiled with one, and in-process agent is compiled with
35463the other one.
35464@end enumerate
35465
35466Here are the IPA Protocol Objects:
35467
35468@enumerate
35469@item
35470agent expression object. It represents an agent expression
35471(@pxref{Agent Expressions}).
35472@anchor{agent expression object}
35473@item
35474tracepoint action object. It represents a tracepoint action
35475(@pxref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}) to collect registers,
35476memory, static trace data and to evaluate expression.
35477@anchor{tracepoint action object}
35478@item
35479tracepoint object. It represents a tracepoint (@pxref{Tracepoints}).
35480@anchor{tracepoint object}
35481
35482@end enumerate
35483
35484The following table describes important attributes of each IPA protocol
35485object:
35486
35487@multitable @columnfractions .30 .20 .50
35488@headitem Name @tab Size @tab Description
35489@item @emph{agent expression object} @tab @tab
35490@item length @tab 4 @tab length of bytes code
35491@item byte code @tab @var{length} @tab contents of byte code
35492@item @emph{tracepoint action for collecting memory} @tab @tab
35493@item 'M' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
35494@item addr @tab 8 @tab if @var{basereg} is @samp{-1}, @var{addr} is the
35495address of the lowest byte to collect, otherwise @var{addr} is the offset
35496of @var{basereg} for memory collecting.
35497@item len @tab 8 @tab length of memory for collecting
35498@item basereg @tab 4 @tab the register number containing the starting
35499memory address for collecting.
35500@item @emph{tracepoint action for collecting registers} @tab @tab
35501@item 'R' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
35502@item @emph{tracepoint action for collecting static trace data} @tab @tab
35503@item 'L' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
35504@item @emph{tracepoint action for expression evaluation} @tab @tab
35505@item 'X' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
35506@item agent expression @tab length of @tab @ref{agent expression object}
35507@item @emph{tracepoint object} @tab @tab
35508@item number @tab 4 @tab number of tracepoint
35509@item address @tab 8 @tab address of tracepoint inserted on
35510@item type @tab 4 @tab type of tracepoint
35511@item enabled @tab 1 @tab enable or disable of tracepoint
35512@item step_count @tab 8 @tab step
35513@item pass_count @tab 8 @tab pass
35514@item numactions @tab 4 @tab number of tracepoint actions
35515@item hit count @tab 8 @tab hit count
35516@item trace frame usage @tab 8 @tab trace frame usage
35517@item compiled_cond @tab 8 @tab compiled condition
35518@item orig_size @tab 8 @tab orig size
35519@item condition @tab 4 if condition is NULL otherwise length of
35520@ref{agent expression object}
35521@tab zero if condition is NULL, otherwise is
35522@ref{agent expression object}
35523@item actions @tab variable
35524@tab numactions number of @ref{tracepoint action object}
35525@end multitable
35526
35527@node IPA Protocol Commands
35528@subsection IPA Protocol Commands
35529@cindex ipa protocol commands
35530
35531The spaces in each command are delimiters to ease reading this commands
35532specification. They don't exist in real commands.
35533
35534@table @samp
35535
35536@item FastTrace:@var{tracepoint_object} @var{gdb_jump_pad_head}
35537Installs a new fast tracepoint described by @var{tracepoint_object}
35538(@pxref{tracepoint object}). @var{gdb_jump_pad_head}, 8-byte long, is the
35539head of @dfn{jumppad}, which is used to jump to data collection routine
35540in IPA finally.
35541
35542Replies:
35543@table @samp
35544@item OK @var{target_address} @var{gdb_jump_pad_head} @var{fjump_size} @var{fjump}
35545@var{target_address} is address of tracepoint in the inferior.
35546@var{gdb_jump_pad_head} is updated head of jumppad. Both of
35547@var{target_address} and @var{gdb_jump_pad_head} are 8-byte long.
35548@var{fjump} contains a sequence of instructions jump to jumppad entry.
35549@var{fjump_size}, 4-byte long, is the size of @var{fjump}.
35550@item E @var{NN}
35551for an error
35552
35553@end table
35554
35555@item close
35556Closes the in-process agent. This command is sent when @value{GDBN} or GDBserver
35557is about to kill inferiors.
35558
35559@item qTfSTM
35560@xref{qTfSTM}.
35561@item qTsSTM
35562@xref{qTsSTM}.
35563@item qTSTMat
35564@xref{qTSTMat}.
35565@item probe_marker_at:@var{address}
35566Asks in-process agent to probe the marker at @var{address}.
35567
35568Replies:
35569@table @samp
35570@item E @var{NN}
35571for an error
35572@end table
35573@item unprobe_marker_at:@var{address}
35574Asks in-process agent to unprobe the marker at @var{address}.
35575@end table
35576
35577@node GDB Bugs
35578@chapter Reporting Bugs in @value{GDBN}
35579@cindex bugs in @value{GDBN}
35580@cindex reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
35581
35582Your bug reports play an essential role in making @value{GDBN} reliable.
35583
35584Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or it
35585may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is to help
35586the entire community by making the next version of @value{GDBN} work better. Bug
35587reports are your contribution to the maintenance of @value{GDBN}.
35588
35589In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
35590information that enables us to fix the bug.
35591
35592@menu
35593* Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
35594* Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
35595@end menu
35596
35597@node Bug Criteria
35598@section Have You Found a Bug?
35599@cindex bug criteria
35600
35601If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
35602
35603@itemize @bullet
35604@cindex fatal signal
35605@cindex debugger crash
35606@cindex crash of debugger
35607@item
35608If the debugger gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is a
35609@value{GDBN} bug. Reliable debuggers never crash.
35610
35611@cindex error on valid input
35612@item
35613If @value{GDBN} produces an error message for valid input, that is a
35614bug. (Note that if you're cross debugging, the problem may also be
35615somewhere in the connection to the target.)
35616
35617@cindex invalid input
35618@item
35619If @value{GDBN} does not produce an error message for invalid input,
35620that is a bug. However, you should note that your idea of
35621``invalid input'' might be our idea of ``an extension'' or ``support
35622for traditional practice''.
35623
35624@item
35625If you are an experienced user of debugging tools, your suggestions
35626for improvement of @value{GDBN} are welcome in any case.
35627@end itemize
35628
35629@node Bug Reporting
35630@section How to Report Bugs
35631@cindex bug reports
35632@cindex @value{GDBN} bugs, reporting
35633
35634A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu} products.
35635If you obtained @value{GDBN} from a support organization, we recommend you
35636contact that organization first.
35637
35638You can find contact information for many support companies and
35639individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
35640distribution.
35641@c should add a web page ref...
35642
35643@ifset BUGURL
35644@ifset BUGURL_DEFAULT
35645In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
35646@value{GDBN}. The preferred method is to submit them directly using
35647@uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/bugs/, @value{GDBN}'s Bugs web
35648page}. Alternatively, the @email{bug-gdb@@gnu.org, e-mail gateway} can
35649be used.
35650
35651@strong{Do not send bug reports to @samp{info-gdb}, or to
35652@samp{help-gdb}, or to any newsgroups.} Most users of @value{GDBN} do
35653not want to receive bug reports. Those that do have arranged to receive
35654@samp{bug-gdb}.
35655
35656The mailing list @samp{bug-gdb} has a newsgroup @samp{gnu.gdb.bug} which
35657serves as a repeater. The mailing list and the newsgroup carry exactly
35658the same messages. Often people think of posting bug reports to the
35659newsgroup instead of mailing them. This appears to work, but it has one
35660problem which can be crucial: a newsgroup posting often lacks a mail
35661path back to the sender. Thus, if we need to ask for more information,
35662we may be unable to reach you. For this reason, it is better to send
35663bug reports to the mailing list.
35664@end ifset
35665@ifclear BUGURL_DEFAULT
35666In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
35667@value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.
35668@end ifclear
35669@end ifset
35670
35671The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
35672@strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
35673fact or leave it out, state it!
35674
35675Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
35676problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
35677assume that the name of the variable you use in an example does not matter.
35678Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is a
35679stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where that
35680name is stored in memory; perhaps, if the name were different, the contents
35681of that location would fool the debugger into doing the right thing despite
35682the bug. Play it safe and give a specific, complete example. That is the
35683easiest thing for you to do, and the most helpful.
35684
35685Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the
35686bug. It may be that the bug has been reported previously, but neither
35687you nor we can know that unless your bug report is complete and
35688self-contained.
35689
35690Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
35691bell?'' Those bug reports are useless, and we urge everyone to
35692@emph{refuse to respond to them} except to chide the sender to report
35693bugs properly.
35694
35695To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
35696
35697@itemize @bullet
35698@item
35699The version of @value{GDBN}. @value{GDBN} announces it if you start
35700with no arguments; you can also print it at any time using @code{show
35701version}.
35702
35703Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
35704the bug in the current version of @value{GDBN}.
35705
35706@item
35707The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
35708version number.
35709
35710@item
35711The details of the @value{GDBN} build-time configuration.
35712@value{GDBN} shows these details if you invoke it with the
35713@option{--configuration} command-line option, or if you type
35714@code{show configuration} at @value{GDBN}'s prompt.
35715
35716@item
35717What compiler (and its version) was used to compile @value{GDBN}---e.g.@:
35718``@value{GCC}--2.8.1''.
35719
35720@item
35721What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the program you are
35722debugging---e.g.@: ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1'', or ``HP92453-01 A.10.32.03 HP
35723C Compiler''. For @value{NGCC}, you can say @kbd{@value{GCC} --version}
35724to get this information; for other compilers, see the documentation for
35725those compilers.
35726
35727@item
35728The command arguments you gave the compiler to compile your example and
35729observe the bug. For example, did you use @samp{-O}? To guarantee
35730you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy of the
35731Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
35732
35733If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
35734and then we might not encounter the bug.
35735
35736@item
35737A complete input script, and all necessary source files, that will
35738reproduce the bug.
35739
35740@item
35741A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
35742incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
35743
35744Of course, if the bug is that @value{GDBN} gets a fatal signal, then we
35745will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
35746not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
35747a chance to make a mistake.
35748
35749Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
35750say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as, your
35751copy of @value{GDBN} is out of synch, or you have encountered a bug in
35752the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
35753crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
35754ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
35755us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
35756to draw any conclusion from our observations.
35757
35758@pindex script
35759@cindex recording a session script
35760To collect all this information, you can use a session recording program
35761such as @command{script}, which is available on many Unix systems.
35762Just run your @value{GDBN} session inside @command{script} and then
35763include the @file{typescript} file with your bug report.
35764
35765Another way to record a @value{GDBN} session is to run @value{GDBN}
35766inside Emacs and then save the entire buffer to a file.
35767
35768@item
35769If you wish to suggest changes to the @value{GDBN} source, send us context
35770diffs. If you even discuss something in the @value{GDBN} source, refer to
35771it by context, not by line number.
35772
35773The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
35774sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
35775
35776@end itemize
35777
35778Here are some things that are not necessary:
35779
35780@itemize @bullet
35781@item
35782A description of the envelope of the bug.
35783
35784Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
35785which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
35786changes will not affect it.
35787
35788This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
35789will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
35790with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
35791We recommend that you save your time for something else.
35792
35793Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
35794of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
35795output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
35796less time, and so on.
35797
35798However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
35799report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
35800
35801@item
35802A patch for the bug.
35803
35804A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
35805the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
35806a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
35807to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
35808
35809Sometimes with a program as complicated as @value{GDBN} it is very hard to
35810construct an example that will make the program follow a certain path
35811through the code. If you do not send us the example, we will not be able
35812to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that the bug is fixed.
35813
35814And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
35815patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
35816help us to understand.
35817
35818@item
35819A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
35820
35821Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
35822things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
35823@end itemize
35824
35825@c The readline documentation is distributed with the readline code
35826@c and consists of the two following files:
35827@c rluser.texi
35828@c hsuser.texi
35829@c Use -I with makeinfo to point to the appropriate directory,
35830@c environment var TEXINPUTS with TeX.
35831@ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
35832@include rluser.texi
35833@include hsuser.texi
35834@end ifclear
35835
35836@node In Memoriam
35837@appendix In Memoriam
35838
35839The @value{GDBN} project mourns the loss of the following long-time
35840contributors:
35841
35842@table @code
35843@item Fred Fish
35844Fred was a long-standing contributor to @value{GDBN} (1991-2006), and
35845to Free Software in general. Outside of @value{GDBN}, he was known in
35846the Amiga world for his series of Fish Disks, and the GeekGadget project.
35847
35848@item Michael Snyder
35849Michael was one of the Global Maintainers of the @value{GDBN} project,
35850with contributions recorded as early as 1996, until 2011. In addition
35851to his day to day participation, he was a large driving force behind
35852adding Reverse Debugging to @value{GDBN}.
35853@end table
35854
35855Beyond their technical contributions to the project, they were also
35856enjoyable members of the Free Software Community. We will miss them.
35857
35858@node Formatting Documentation
35859@appendix Formatting Documentation
35860
35861@cindex @value{GDBN} reference card
35862@cindex reference card
35863The @value{GDBN} 4 release includes an already-formatted reference card, ready
35864for printing with PostScript or Ghostscript, in the @file{gdb}
35865subdirectory of the main source directory@footnote{In
35866@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/refcard.ps} of the version @value{GDBVN}
35867release.}. If you can use PostScript or Ghostscript with your printer,
35868you can print the reference card immediately with @file{refcard.ps}.
35869
35870The release also includes the source for the reference card. You
35871can format it, using @TeX{}, by typing:
35872
35873@smallexample
35874make refcard.dvi
35875@end smallexample
35876
35877The @value{GDBN} reference card is designed to print in @dfn{landscape}
35878mode on US ``letter'' size paper;
35879that is, on a sheet 11 inches wide by 8.5 inches
35880high. You will need to specify this form of printing as an option to
35881your @sc{dvi} output program.
35882
35883@cindex documentation
35884
35885All the documentation for @value{GDBN} comes as part of the machine-readable
35886distribution. The documentation is written in Texinfo format, which is
35887a documentation system that uses a single source file to produce both
35888on-line information and a printed manual. You can use one of the Info
35889formatting commands to create the on-line version of the documentation
35890and @TeX{} (or @code{texi2roff}) to typeset the printed version.
35891
35892@value{GDBN} includes an already formatted copy of the on-line Info
35893version of this manual in the @file{gdb} subdirectory. The main Info
35894file is @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/gdb.info}, and it refers to
35895subordinate files matching @samp{gdb.info*} in the same directory. If
35896necessary, you can print out these files, or read them with any editor;
35897but they are easier to read using the @code{info} subsystem in @sc{gnu}
35898Emacs or the standalone @code{info} program, available as part of the
35899@sc{gnu} Texinfo distribution.
35900
35901If you want to format these Info files yourself, you need one of the
35902Info formatting programs, such as @code{texinfo-format-buffer} or
35903@code{makeinfo}.
35904
35905If you have @code{makeinfo} installed, and are in the top level
35906@value{GDBN} source directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, in the case of
35907version @value{GDBVN}), you can make the Info file by typing:
35908
35909@smallexample
35910cd gdb
35911make gdb.info
35912@end smallexample
35913
35914If you want to typeset and print copies of this manual, you need @TeX{},
35915a program to print its @sc{dvi} output files, and @file{texinfo.tex}, the
35916Texinfo definitions file.
35917
35918@TeX{} is a typesetting program; it does not print files directly, but
35919produces output files called @sc{dvi} files. To print a typeset
35920document, you need a program to print @sc{dvi} files. If your system
35921has @TeX{} installed, chances are it has such a program. The precise
35922command to use depends on your system; @kbd{lpr -d} is common; another
35923(for PostScript devices) is @kbd{dvips}. The @sc{dvi} print command may
35924require a file name without any extension or a @samp{.dvi} extension.
35925
35926@TeX{} also requires a macro definitions file called
35927@file{texinfo.tex}. This file tells @TeX{} how to typeset a document
35928written in Texinfo format. On its own, @TeX{} cannot either read or
35929typeset a Texinfo file. @file{texinfo.tex} is distributed with GDB
35930and is located in the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}/texinfo}
35931directory.
35932
35933If you have @TeX{} and a @sc{dvi} printer program installed, you can
35934typeset and print this manual. First switch to the @file{gdb}
35935subdirectory of the main source directory (for example, to
35936@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb}) and type:
35937
35938@smallexample
35939make gdb.dvi
35940@end smallexample
35941
35942Then give @file{gdb.dvi} to your @sc{dvi} printing program.
35943
35944@node Installing GDB
35945@appendix Installing @value{GDBN}
35946@cindex installation
35947
35948@menu
35949* Requirements:: Requirements for building @value{GDBN}
35950* Running Configure:: Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} script
35951* Separate Objdir:: Compiling @value{GDBN} in another directory
35952* Config Names:: Specifying names for hosts and targets
35953* Configure Options:: Summary of options for configure
35954* System-wide configuration:: Having a system-wide init file
35955@end menu
35956
35957@node Requirements
35958@section Requirements for Building @value{GDBN}
35959@cindex building @value{GDBN}, requirements for
35960
35961Building @value{GDBN} requires various tools and packages to be available.
35962Other packages will be used only if they are found.
35963
35964@heading Tools/Packages Necessary for Building @value{GDBN}
35965@table @asis
35966@item ISO C90 compiler
35967@value{GDBN} is written in ISO C90. It should be buildable with any
35968working C90 compiler, e.g.@: GCC.
35969
35970@end table
35971
35972@heading Tools/Packages Optional for Building @value{GDBN}
35973@table @asis
35974@item Expat
35975@anchor{Expat}
35976@value{GDBN} can use the Expat XML parsing library. This library may be
35977included with your operating system distribution; if it is not, you
35978can get the latest version from @url{http://expat.sourceforge.net}.
35979The @file{configure} script will search for this library in several
35980standard locations; if it is installed in an unusual path, you can
35981use the @option{--with-libexpat-prefix} option to specify its location.
35982
35983Expat is used for:
35984
35985@itemize @bullet
35986@item
35987Remote protocol memory maps (@pxref{Memory Map Format})
35988@item
35989Target descriptions (@pxref{Target Descriptions})
35990@item
35991Remote shared library lists (@xref{Library List Format},
35992or alternatively @pxref{Library List Format for SVR4 Targets})
35993@item
35994MS-Windows shared libraries (@pxref{Shared Libraries})
35995@item
35996Traceframe info (@pxref{Traceframe Info Format})
35997@item
35998Branch trace (@pxref{Branch Trace Format})
35999@end itemize
36000
36001@item zlib
36002@cindex compressed debug sections
36003@value{GDBN} will use the @samp{zlib} library, if available, to read
36004compressed debug sections. Some linkers, such as GNU gold, are capable
36005of producing binaries with compressed debug sections. If @value{GDBN}
36006is compiled with @samp{zlib}, it will be able to read the debug
36007information in such binaries.
36008
36009The @samp{zlib} library is likely included with your operating system
36010distribution; if it is not, you can get the latest version from
36011@url{http://zlib.net}.
36012
36013@item iconv
36014@value{GDBN}'s features related to character sets (@pxref{Character
36015Sets}) require a functioning @code{iconv} implementation. If you are
36016on a GNU system, then this is provided by the GNU C Library. Some
36017other systems also provide a working @code{iconv}.
36018
36019If @value{GDBN} is using the @code{iconv} program which is installed
36020in a non-standard place, you will need to tell @value{GDBN} where to find it.
36021This is done with @option{--with-iconv-bin} which specifies the
36022directory that contains the @code{iconv} program.
36023
36024On systems without @code{iconv}, you can install GNU Libiconv. If you
36025have previously installed Libiconv, you can use the
36026@option{--with-libiconv-prefix} option to configure.
36027
36028@value{GDBN}'s top-level @file{configure} and @file{Makefile} will
36029arrange to build Libiconv if a directory named @file{libiconv} appears
36030in the top-most source directory. If Libiconv is built this way, and
36031if the operating system does not provide a suitable @code{iconv}
36032implementation, then the just-built library will automatically be used
36033by @value{GDBN}. One easy way to set this up is to download GNU
36034Libiconv, unpack it, and then rename the directory holding the
36035Libiconv source code to @samp{libiconv}.
36036@end table
36037
36038@node Running Configure
36039@section Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} Script
36040@cindex configuring @value{GDBN}
36041@value{GDBN} comes with a @file{configure} script that automates the process
36042of preparing @value{GDBN} for installation; you can then use @code{make} to
36043build the @code{gdb} program.
36044@iftex
36045@c irrelevant in info file; it's as current as the code it lives with.
36046@footnote{If you have a more recent version of @value{GDBN} than @value{GDBVN},
36047look at the @file{README} file in the sources; we may have improved the
36048installation procedures since publishing this manual.}
36049@end iftex
36050
36051The @value{GDBN} distribution includes all the source code you need for
36052@value{GDBN} in a single directory, whose name is usually composed by
36053appending the version number to @samp{gdb}.
36054
36055For example, the @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN} distribution is in the
36056@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory. That directory contains:
36057
36058@table @code
36059@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure @r{(and supporting files)}
36060script for configuring @value{GDBN} and all its supporting libraries
36061
36062@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb
36063the source specific to @value{GDBN} itself
36064
36065@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/bfd
36066source for the Binary File Descriptor library
36067
36068@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/include
36069@sc{gnu} include files
36070
36071@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/libiberty
36072source for the @samp{-liberty} free software library
36073
36074@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/opcodes
36075source for the library of opcode tables and disassemblers
36076
36077@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/readline
36078source for the @sc{gnu} command-line interface
36079
36080@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/glob
36081source for the @sc{gnu} filename pattern-matching subroutine
36082
36083@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/mmalloc
36084source for the @sc{gnu} memory-mapped malloc package
36085@end table
36086
36087The simplest way to configure and build @value{GDBN} is to run @file{configure}
36088from the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory, which in
36089this example is the @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory.
36090
36091First switch to the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory
36092if you are not already in it; then run @file{configure}. Pass the
36093identifier for the platform on which @value{GDBN} will run as an
36094argument.
36095
36096For example:
36097
36098@smallexample
36099cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
36100./configure @var{host}
36101make
36102@end smallexample
36103
36104@noindent
36105where @var{host} is an identifier such as @samp{sun4} or
36106@samp{decstation}, that identifies the platform where @value{GDBN} will run.
36107(You can often leave off @var{host}; @file{configure} tries to guess the
36108correct value by examining your system.)
36109
36110Running @samp{configure @var{host}} and then running @code{make} builds the
36111@file{bfd}, @file{readline}, @file{mmalloc}, and @file{libiberty}
36112libraries, then @code{gdb} itself. The configured source files, and the
36113binaries, are left in the corresponding source directories.
36114
36115@need 750
36116@file{configure} is a Bourne-shell (@code{/bin/sh}) script; if your
36117system does not recognize this automatically when you run a different
36118shell, you may need to run @code{sh} on it explicitly:
36119
36120@smallexample
36121sh configure @var{host}
36122@end smallexample
36123
36124If you run @file{configure} from a directory that contains source
36125directories for multiple libraries or programs, such as the
36126@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} source directory for version @value{GDBVN},
36127@file{configure}
36128creates configuration files for every directory level underneath (unless
36129you tell it not to, with the @samp{--norecursion} option).
36130
36131You should run the @file{configure} script from the top directory in the
36132source tree, the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory. If you run
36133@file{configure} from one of the subdirectories, you will configure only
36134that subdirectory. That is usually not what you want. In particular,
36135if you run the first @file{configure} from the @file{gdb} subdirectory
36136of the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory, you will omit the
36137configuration of @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, and other sibling
36138directories of the @file{gdb} subdirectory. This leads to build errors
36139about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
36140
36141You can install @code{@value{GDBP}} anywhere; it has no hardwired paths.
36142However, you should make sure that the shell on your path (named by
36143the @samp{SHELL} environment variable) is publicly readable. Remember
36144that @value{GDBN} uses the shell to start your program---some systems refuse to
36145let @value{GDBN} debug child processes whose programs are not readable.
36146
36147@node Separate Objdir
36148@section Compiling @value{GDBN} in Another Directory
36149
36150If you want to run @value{GDBN} versions for several host or target machines,
36151you need a different @code{gdb} compiled for each combination of
36152host and target. @file{configure} is designed to make this easy by
36153allowing you to generate each configuration in a separate subdirectory,
36154rather than in the source directory. If your @code{make} program
36155handles the @samp{VPATH} feature (@sc{gnu} @code{make} does), running
36156@code{make} in each of these directories builds the @code{gdb}
36157program specified there.
36158
36159To build @code{gdb} in a separate directory, run @file{configure}
36160with the @samp{--srcdir} option to specify where to find the source.
36161(You also need to specify a path to find @file{configure}
36162itself from your working directory. If the path to @file{configure}
36163would be the same as the argument to @samp{--srcdir}, you can leave out
36164the @samp{--srcdir} option; it is assumed.)
36165
36166For example, with version @value{GDBVN}, you can build @value{GDBN} in a
36167separate directory for a Sun 4 like this:
36168
36169@smallexample
36170@group
36171cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
36172mkdir ../gdb-sun4
36173cd ../gdb-sun4
36174../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure sun4
36175make
36176@end group
36177@end smallexample
36178
36179When @file{configure} builds a configuration using a remote source
36180directory, it creates a tree for the binaries with the same structure
36181(and using the same names) as the tree under the source directory. In
36182the example, you'd find the Sun 4 library @file{libiberty.a} in the
36183directory @file{gdb-sun4/libiberty}, and @value{GDBN} itself in
36184@file{gdb-sun4/gdb}.
36185
36186Make sure that your path to the @file{configure} script has just one
36187instance of @file{gdb} in it. If your path to @file{configure} looks
36188like @file{../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/configure}, you are configuring only
36189one subdirectory of @value{GDBN}, not the whole package. This leads to
36190build errors about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
36191
36192One popular reason to build several @value{GDBN} configurations in separate
36193directories is to configure @value{GDBN} for cross-compiling (where
36194@value{GDBN} runs on one machine---the @dfn{host}---while debugging
36195programs that run on another machine---the @dfn{target}).
36196You specify a cross-debugging target by
36197giving the @samp{--target=@var{target}} option to @file{configure}.
36198
36199When you run @code{make} to build a program or library, you must run
36200it in a configured directory---whatever directory you were in when you
36201called @file{configure} (or one of its subdirectories).
36202
36203The @code{Makefile} that @file{configure} generates in each source
36204directory also runs recursively. If you type @code{make} in a source
36205directory such as @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} (or in a separate configured
36206directory configured with @samp{--srcdir=@var{dirname}/gdb-@value{GDBVN}}), you
36207will build all the required libraries, and then build GDB.
36208
36209When you have multiple hosts or targets configured in separate
36210directories, you can run @code{make} on them in parallel (for example,
36211if they are NFS-mounted on each of the hosts); they will not interfere
36212with each other.
36213
36214@node Config Names
36215@section Specifying Names for Hosts and Targets
36216
36217The specifications used for hosts and targets in the @file{configure}
36218script are based on a three-part naming scheme, but some short predefined
36219aliases are also supported. The full naming scheme encodes three pieces
36220of information in the following pattern:
36221
36222@smallexample
36223@var{architecture}-@var{vendor}-@var{os}
36224@end smallexample
36225
36226For example, you can use the alias @code{sun4} as a @var{host} argument,
36227or as the value for @var{target} in a @code{--target=@var{target}}
36228option. The equivalent full name is @samp{sparc-sun-sunos4}.
36229
36230The @file{configure} script accompanying @value{GDBN} does not provide
36231any query facility to list all supported host and target names or
36232aliases. @file{configure} calls the Bourne shell script
36233@code{config.sub} to map abbreviations to full names; you can read the
36234script, if you wish, or you can use it to test your guesses on
36235abbreviations---for example:
36236
36237@smallexample
36238% sh config.sub i386-linux
36239i386-pc-linux-gnu
36240% sh config.sub alpha-linux
36241alpha-unknown-linux-gnu
36242% sh config.sub hp9k700
36243hppa1.1-hp-hpux
36244% sh config.sub sun4
36245sparc-sun-sunos4.1.1
36246% sh config.sub sun3
36247m68k-sun-sunos4.1.1
36248% sh config.sub i986v
36249Invalid configuration `i986v': machine `i986v' not recognized
36250@end smallexample
36251
36252@noindent
36253@code{config.sub} is also distributed in the @value{GDBN} source
36254directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, for version @value{GDBVN}).
36255
36256@node Configure Options
36257@section @file{configure} Options
36258
36259Here is a summary of the @file{configure} options and arguments that
36260are most often useful for building @value{GDBN}. @file{configure} also has
36261several other options not listed here. @inforef{What Configure
36262Does,,configure.info}, for a full explanation of @file{configure}.
36263
36264@smallexample
36265configure @r{[}--help@r{]}
36266 @r{[}--prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
36267 @r{[}--exec-prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
36268 @r{[}--srcdir=@var{dirname}@r{]}
36269 @r{[}--norecursion@r{]} @r{[}--rm@r{]}
36270 @r{[}--target=@var{target}@r{]}
36271 @var{host}
36272@end smallexample
36273
36274@noindent
36275You may introduce options with a single @samp{-} rather than
36276@samp{--} if you prefer; but you may abbreviate option names if you use
36277@samp{--}.
36278
36279@table @code
36280@item --help
36281Display a quick summary of how to invoke @file{configure}.
36282
36283@item --prefix=@var{dir}
36284Configure the source to install programs and files under directory
36285@file{@var{dir}}.
36286
36287@item --exec-prefix=@var{dir}
36288Configure the source to install programs under directory
36289@file{@var{dir}}.
36290
36291@c avoid splitting the warning from the explanation:
36292@need 2000
36293@item --srcdir=@var{dirname}
36294@strong{Warning: using this option requires @sc{gnu} @code{make}, or another
36295@code{make} that implements the @code{VPATH} feature.}@*
36296Use this option to make configurations in directories separate from the
36297@value{GDBN} source directories. Among other things, you can use this to
36298build (or maintain) several configurations simultaneously, in separate
36299directories. @file{configure} writes configuration-specific files in
36300the current directory, but arranges for them to use the source in the
36301directory @var{dirname}. @file{configure} creates directories under
36302the working directory in parallel to the source directories below
36303@var{dirname}.
36304
36305@item --norecursion
36306Configure only the directory level where @file{configure} is executed; do not
36307propagate configuration to subdirectories.
36308
36309@item --target=@var{target}
36310Configure @value{GDBN} for cross-debugging programs running on the specified
36311@var{target}. Without this option, @value{GDBN} is configured to debug
36312programs that run on the same machine (@var{host}) as @value{GDBN} itself.
36313
36314There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available targets.
36315
36316@item @var{host} @dots{}
36317Configure @value{GDBN} to run on the specified @var{host}.
36318
36319There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available hosts.
36320@end table
36321
36322There are many other options available as well, but they are generally
36323needed for special purposes only.
36324
36325@node System-wide configuration
36326@section System-wide configuration and settings
36327@cindex system-wide init file
36328
36329@value{GDBN} can be configured to have a system-wide init file;
36330this file will be read and executed at startup (@pxref{Startup, , What
36331@value{GDBN} does during startup}).
36332
36333Here is the corresponding configure option:
36334
36335@table @code
36336@item --with-system-gdbinit=@var{file}
36337Specify that the default location of the system-wide init file is
36338@var{file}.
36339@end table
36340
36341If @value{GDBN} has been configured with the option @option{--prefix=$prefix},
36342it may be subject to relocation. Two possible cases:
36343
36344@itemize @bullet
36345@item
36346If the default location of this init file contains @file{$prefix},
36347it will be subject to relocation. Suppose that the configure options
36348are @option{--prefix=$prefix --with-system-gdbinit=$prefix/etc/gdbinit};
36349if @value{GDBN} is moved from @file{$prefix} to @file{$install}, the system
36350init file is looked for as @file{$install/etc/gdbinit} instead of
36351@file{$prefix/etc/gdbinit}.
36352
36353@item
36354By contrast, if the default location does not contain the prefix,
36355it will not be relocated. E.g.@: if @value{GDBN} has been configured with
36356@option{--prefix=/usr/local --with-system-gdbinit=/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
36357then @value{GDBN} will always look for @file{/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
36358wherever @value{GDBN} is installed.
36359@end itemize
36360
36361If the configured location of the system-wide init file (as given by the
36362@option{--with-system-gdbinit} option at configure time) is in the
36363data-directory (as specified by @option{--with-gdb-datadir} at configure
36364time) or in one of its subdirectories, then @value{GDBN} will look for the
36365system-wide init file in the directory specified by the
36366@option{--data-directory} command-line option.
36367Note that the system-wide init file is only read once, during @value{GDBN}
36368initialization. If the data-directory is changed after @value{GDBN} has
36369started with the @code{set data-directory} command, the file will not be
36370reread.
36371
36372@menu
36373* System-wide Configuration Scripts:: Installed System-wide Configuration Scripts
36374@end menu
36375
36376@node System-wide Configuration Scripts
36377@subsection Installed System-wide Configuration Scripts
36378@cindex system-wide configuration scripts
36379
36380The @file{system-gdbinit} directory, located inside the data-directory
36381(as specified by @option{--with-gdb-datadir} at configure time) contains
36382a number of scripts which can be used as system-wide init files. To
36383automatically source those scripts at startup, @value{GDBN} should be
36384configured with @option{--with-system-gdbinit}. Otherwise, any user
36385should be able to source them by hand as needed.
36386
36387The following scripts are currently available:
36388@itemize @bullet
36389
36390@item @file{elinos.py}
36391@pindex elinos.py
36392@cindex ELinOS system-wide configuration script
36393This script is useful when debugging a program on an ELinOS target.
36394It takes advantage of the environment variables defined in a standard
36395ELinOS environment in order to determine the location of the system
36396shared libraries, and then sets the @samp{solib-absolute-prefix}
36397and @samp{solib-search-path} variables appropriately.
36398
36399@item @file{wrs-linux.py}
36400@pindex wrs-linux.py
36401@cindex Wind River Linux system-wide configuration script
36402This script is useful when debugging a program on a target running
36403Wind River Linux. It expects the @env{ENV_PREFIX} to be set to
36404the host-side sysroot used by the target system.
36405
36406@end itemize
36407
36408@node Maintenance Commands
36409@appendix Maintenance Commands
36410@cindex maintenance commands
36411@cindex internal commands
36412
36413In addition to commands intended for @value{GDBN} users, @value{GDBN}
36414includes a number of commands intended for @value{GDBN} developers,
36415that are not documented elsewhere in this manual. These commands are
36416provided here for reference. (For commands that turn on debugging
36417messages, see @ref{Debugging Output}.)
36418
36419@table @code
36420@kindex maint agent
36421@kindex maint agent-eval
36422@item maint agent @r{[}-at @var{location}@r{,}@r{]} @var{expression}
36423@itemx maint agent-eval @r{[}-at @var{location}@r{,}@r{]} @var{expression}
36424Translate the given @var{expression} into remote agent bytecodes.
36425This command is useful for debugging the Agent Expression mechanism
36426(@pxref{Agent Expressions}). The @samp{agent} version produces an
36427expression useful for data collection, such as by tracepoints, while
36428@samp{maint agent-eval} produces an expression that evaluates directly
36429to a result. For instance, a collection expression for @code{globa +
36430globb} will include bytecodes to record four bytes of memory at each
36431of the addresses of @code{globa} and @code{globb}, while discarding
36432the result of the addition, while an evaluation expression will do the
36433addition and return the sum.
36434If @code{-at} is given, generate remote agent bytecode for @var{location}.
36435If not, generate remote agent bytecode for current frame PC address.
36436
36437@kindex maint agent-printf
36438@item maint agent-printf @var{format},@var{expr},...
36439Translate the given format string and list of argument expressions
36440into remote agent bytecodes and display them as a disassembled list.
36441This command is useful for debugging the agent version of dynamic
36442printf (@pxref{Dynamic Printf}).
36443
36444@kindex maint info breakpoints
36445@item @anchor{maint info breakpoints}maint info breakpoints
36446Using the same format as @samp{info breakpoints}, display both the
36447breakpoints you've set explicitly, and those @value{GDBN} is using for
36448internal purposes. Internal breakpoints are shown with negative
36449breakpoint numbers. The type column identifies what kind of breakpoint
36450is shown:
36451
36452@table @code
36453@item breakpoint
36454Normal, explicitly set breakpoint.
36455
36456@item watchpoint
36457Normal, explicitly set watchpoint.
36458
36459@item longjmp
36460Internal breakpoint, used to handle correctly stepping through
36461@code{longjmp} calls.
36462
36463@item longjmp resume
36464Internal breakpoint at the target of a @code{longjmp}.
36465
36466@item until
36467Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{until} command.
36468
36469@item finish
36470Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{finish} command.
36471
36472@item shlib events
36473Shared library events.
36474
36475@end table
36476
36477@kindex maint info bfds
36478@item maint info bfds
36479This prints information about each @code{bfd} object that is known to
36480@value{GDBN}. @xref{Top, , BFD, bfd, The Binary File Descriptor Library}.
36481
36482@kindex set displaced-stepping
36483@kindex show displaced-stepping
36484@cindex displaced stepping support
36485@cindex out-of-line single-stepping
36486@item set displaced-stepping
36487@itemx show displaced-stepping
36488Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will do @dfn{displaced stepping}
36489if the target supports it. Displaced stepping is a way to single-step
36490over breakpoints without removing them from the inferior, by executing
36491an out-of-line copy of the instruction that was originally at the
36492breakpoint location. It is also known as out-of-line single-stepping.
36493
36494@table @code
36495@item set displaced-stepping on
36496If the target architecture supports it, @value{GDBN} will use
36497displaced stepping to step over breakpoints.
36498
36499@item set displaced-stepping off
36500@value{GDBN} will not use displaced stepping to step over breakpoints,
36501even if such is supported by the target architecture.
36502
36503@cindex non-stop mode, and @samp{set displaced-stepping}
36504@item set displaced-stepping auto
36505This is the default mode. @value{GDBN} will use displaced stepping
36506only if non-stop mode is active (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) and the target
36507architecture supports displaced stepping.
36508@end table
36509
36510@kindex maint check-psymtabs
36511@item maint check-psymtabs
36512Check the consistency of currently expanded psymtabs versus symtabs.
36513Use this to check, for example, whether a symbol is in one but not the other.
36514
36515@kindex maint check-symtabs
36516@item maint check-symtabs
36517Check the consistency of currently expanded symtabs.
36518
36519@kindex maint expand-symtabs
36520@item maint expand-symtabs [@var{regexp}]
36521Expand symbol tables.
36522If @var{regexp} is specified, only expand symbol tables for file
36523names matching @var{regexp}.
36524
36525@kindex maint cplus first_component
36526@item maint cplus first_component @var{name}
36527Print the first C@t{++} class/namespace component of @var{name}.
36528
36529@kindex maint cplus namespace
36530@item maint cplus namespace
36531Print the list of possible C@t{++} namespaces.
36532
36533@kindex maint demangle
36534@item maint demangle @var{name}
36535Demangle a C@t{++} or Objective-C mangled @var{name}.
36536
36537@kindex maint deprecate
36538@kindex maint undeprecate
36539@cindex deprecated commands
36540@item maint deprecate @var{command} @r{[}@var{replacement}@r{]}
36541@itemx maint undeprecate @var{command}
36542Deprecate or undeprecate the named @var{command}. Deprecated commands
36543cause @value{GDBN} to issue a warning when you use them. The optional
36544argument @var{replacement} says which newer command should be used in
36545favor of the deprecated one; if it is given, @value{GDBN} will mention
36546the replacement as part of the warning.
36547
36548@kindex maint dump-me
36549@item maint dump-me
36550@cindex @code{SIGQUIT} signal, dump core of @value{GDBN}
36551Cause a fatal signal in the debugger and force it to dump its core.
36552This is supported only on systems which support aborting a program
36553with the @code{SIGQUIT} signal.
36554
36555@kindex maint internal-error
36556@kindex maint internal-warning
36557@item maint internal-error @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
36558@itemx maint internal-warning @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
36559Cause @value{GDBN} to call the internal function @code{internal_error}
36560or @code{internal_warning} and hence behave as though an internal error
36561or internal warning has been detected. In addition to reporting the
36562internal problem, these functions give the user the opportunity to
36563either quit @value{GDBN} or create a core file of the current
36564@value{GDBN} session.
36565
36566These commands take an optional parameter @var{message-text} that is
36567used as the text of the error or warning message.
36568
36569Here's an example of using @code{internal-error}:
36570
36571@smallexample
36572(@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint internal-error testing, 1, 2}
36573@dots{}/maint.c:121: internal-error: testing, 1, 2
36574A problem internal to GDB has been detected. Further
36575debugging may prove unreliable.
36576Quit this debugging session? (y or n) @kbd{n}
36577Create a core file? (y or n) @kbd{n}
36578(@value{GDBP})
36579@end smallexample
36580
36581@cindex @value{GDBN} internal error
36582@cindex internal errors, control of @value{GDBN} behavior
36583
36584@kindex maint set internal-error
36585@kindex maint show internal-error
36586@kindex maint set internal-warning
36587@kindex maint show internal-warning
36588@item maint set internal-error @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
36589@itemx maint show internal-error @var{action}
36590@itemx maint set internal-warning @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
36591@itemx maint show internal-warning @var{action}
36592When @value{GDBN} reports an internal problem (error or warning) it
36593gives the user the opportunity to both quit @value{GDBN} and create a
36594core file of the current @value{GDBN} session. These commands let you
36595override the default behaviour for each particular @var{action},
36596described in the table below.
36597
36598@table @samp
36599@item quit
36600You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
36601quit. The default is to ask the user what to do.
36602
36603@item corefile
36604You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
36605create a core file. The default is to ask the user what to do.
36606@end table
36607
36608@kindex maint packet
36609@item maint packet @var{text}
36610If @value{GDBN} is talking to an inferior via the serial protocol,
36611then this command sends the string @var{text} to the inferior, and
36612displays the response packet. @value{GDBN} supplies the initial
36613@samp{$} character, the terminating @samp{#} character, and the
36614checksum.
36615
36616@kindex maint print architecture
36617@item maint print architecture @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
36618Print the entire architecture configuration. The optional argument
36619@var{file} names the file where the output goes.
36620
36621@kindex maint print c-tdesc
36622@item maint print c-tdesc
36623Print the current target description (@pxref{Target Descriptions}) as
36624a C source file. The created source file can be used in @value{GDBN}
36625when an XML parser is not available to parse the description.
36626
36627@kindex maint print dummy-frames
36628@item maint print dummy-frames
36629Prints the contents of @value{GDBN}'s internal dummy-frame stack.
36630
36631@smallexample
36632(@value{GDBP}) @kbd{b add}
36633@dots{}
36634(@value{GDBP}) @kbd{print add(2,3)}
36635Breakpoint 2, add (a=2, b=3) at @dots{}
3663658 return (a + b);
36637The program being debugged stopped while in a function called from GDB.
36638@dots{}
36639(@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print dummy-frames}
366400x1a57c80: pc=0x01014068 fp=0x0200bddc sp=0x0200bdd6
36641 top=0x0200bdd4 id=@{stack=0x200bddc,code=0x101405c@}
36642 call_lo=0x01014000 call_hi=0x01014001
36643(@value{GDBP})
36644@end smallexample
36645
36646Takes an optional file parameter.
36647
36648@kindex maint print registers
36649@kindex maint print raw-registers
36650@kindex maint print cooked-registers
36651@kindex maint print register-groups
36652@kindex maint print remote-registers
36653@item maint print registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
36654@itemx maint print raw-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
36655@itemx maint print cooked-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
36656@itemx maint print register-groups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
36657@itemx maint print remote-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
36658Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register data structures.
36659
36660The command @code{maint print raw-registers} includes the contents of
36661the raw register cache; the command @code{maint print
36662cooked-registers} includes the (cooked) value of all registers,
36663including registers which aren't available on the target nor visible
36664to user; the command @code{maint print register-groups} includes the
36665groups that each register is a member of; and the command @code{maint
36666print remote-registers} includes the remote target's register numbers
36667and offsets in the `G' packets. @xref{Registers,, Registers, gdbint,
36668@value{GDBN} Internals}.
36669
36670These commands take an optional parameter, a file name to which to
36671write the information.
36672
36673@kindex maint print reggroups
36674@item maint print reggroups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
36675Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register group data structures. The
36676optional argument @var{file} tells to what file to write the
36677information.
36678
36679The register groups info looks like this:
36680
36681@smallexample
36682(@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print reggroups}
36683 Group Type
36684 general user
36685 float user
36686 all user
36687 vector user
36688 system user
36689 save internal
36690 restore internal
36691@end smallexample
36692
36693@kindex flushregs
36694@item flushregs
36695This command forces @value{GDBN} to flush its internal register cache.
36696
36697@kindex maint print objfiles
36698@cindex info for known object files
36699@item maint print objfiles
36700Print a dump of all known object files. For each object file, this
36701command prints its name, address in memory, and all of its psymtabs
36702and symtabs.
36703
36704@kindex maint print section-scripts
36705@cindex info for known .debug_gdb_scripts-loaded scripts
36706@item maint print section-scripts [@var{regexp}]
36707Print a dump of scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_section} section.
36708If @var{regexp} is specified, only print scripts loaded by object files
36709matching @var{regexp}.
36710For each script, this command prints its name as specified in the objfile,
36711and the full path if known.
36712@xref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section}.
36713
36714@kindex maint print statistics
36715@cindex bcache statistics
36716@item maint print statistics
36717This command prints, for each object file in the program, various data
36718about that object file followed by the byte cache (@dfn{bcache})
36719statistics for the object file. The objfile data includes the number
36720of minimal, partial, full, and stabs symbols, the number of types
36721defined by the objfile, the number of as yet unexpanded psym tables,
36722the number of line tables and string tables, and the amount of memory
36723used by the various tables. The bcache statistics include the counts,
36724sizes, and counts of duplicates of all and unique objects, max,
36725average, and median entry size, total memory used and its overhead and
36726savings, and various measures of the hash table size and chain
36727lengths.
36728
36729@kindex maint print target-stack
36730@cindex target stack description
36731@item maint print target-stack
36732A @dfn{target} is an interface between the debugger and a particular
36733kind of file or process. Targets can be stacked in @dfn{strata},
36734so that more than one target can potentially respond to a request.
36735In particular, memory accesses will walk down the stack of targets
36736until they find a target that is interested in handling that particular
36737address.
36738
36739This command prints a short description of each layer that was pushed on
36740the @dfn{target stack}, starting from the top layer down to the bottom one.
36741
36742@kindex maint print type
36743@cindex type chain of a data type
36744@item maint print type @var{expr}
36745Print the type chain for a type specified by @var{expr}. The argument
36746can be either a type name or a symbol. If it is a symbol, the type of
36747that symbol is described. The type chain produced by this command is
36748a recursive definition of the data type as stored in @value{GDBN}'s
36749data structures, including its flags and contained types.
36750
36751@kindex maint set dwarf2 always-disassemble
36752@kindex maint show dwarf2 always-disassemble
36753@item maint set dwarf2 always-disassemble
36754@item maint show dwarf2 always-disassemble
36755Control the behavior of @code{info address} when using DWARF debugging
36756information.
36757
36758The default is @code{off}, which means that @value{GDBN} should try to
36759describe a variable's location in an easily readable format. When
36760@code{on}, @value{GDBN} will instead display the DWARF location
36761expression in an assembly-like format. Note that some locations are
36762too complex for @value{GDBN} to describe simply; in this case you will
36763always see the disassembly form.
36764
36765Here is an example of the resulting disassembly:
36766
36767@smallexample
36768(gdb) info addr argc
36769Symbol "argc" is a complex DWARF expression:
36770 1: DW_OP_fbreg 0
36771@end smallexample
36772
36773For more information on these expressions, see
36774@uref{http://www.dwarfstd.org/, the DWARF standard}.
36775
36776@kindex maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
36777@kindex maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
36778@item maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
36779@itemx maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
36780Control the DWARF 2 compilation unit cache.
36781
36782@cindex DWARF 2 compilation units cache
36783In object files with inter-compilation-unit references, such as those
36784produced by the GCC option @samp{-feliminate-dwarf2-dups}, the DWARF 2
36785reader needs to frequently refer to previously read compilation units.
36786This setting controls how long a compilation unit will remain in the
36787cache if it is not referenced. A higher limit means that cached
36788compilation units will be stored in memory longer, and more total
36789memory will be used. Setting it to zero disables caching, which will
36790slow down @value{GDBN} startup, but reduce memory consumption.
36791
36792@kindex maint set profile
36793@kindex maint show profile
36794@cindex profiling GDB
36795@item maint set profile
36796@itemx maint show profile
36797Control profiling of @value{GDBN}.
36798
36799Profiling will be disabled until you use the @samp{maint set profile}
36800command to enable it. When you enable profiling, the system will begin
36801collecting timing and execution count data; when you disable profiling or
36802exit @value{GDBN}, the results will be written to a log file. Remember that
36803if you use profiling, @value{GDBN} will overwrite the profiling log file
36804(often called @file{gmon.out}). If you have a record of important profiling
36805data in a @file{gmon.out} file, be sure to move it to a safe location.
36806
36807Configuring with @samp{--enable-profiling} arranges for @value{GDBN} to be
36808compiled with the @samp{-pg} compiler option.
36809
36810@kindex maint set show-debug-regs
36811@kindex maint show show-debug-regs
36812@cindex hardware debug registers
36813@item maint set show-debug-regs
36814@itemx maint show show-debug-regs
36815Control whether to show variables that mirror the hardware debug
36816registers. Use @code{ON} to enable, @code{OFF} to disable. If
36817enabled, the debug registers values are shown when @value{GDBN} inserts or
36818removes a hardware breakpoint or watchpoint, and when the inferior
36819triggers a hardware-assisted breakpoint or watchpoint.
36820
36821@kindex maint set show-all-tib
36822@kindex maint show show-all-tib
36823@item maint set show-all-tib
36824@itemx maint show show-all-tib
36825Control whether to show all non zero areas within a 1k block starting
36826at thread local base, when using the @samp{info w32 thread-information-block}
36827command.
36828
36829@kindex maint set per-command
36830@kindex maint show per-command
36831@item maint set per-command
36832@itemx maint show per-command
36833@cindex resources used by commands
36834
36835@value{GDBN} can display the resources used by each command.
36836This is useful in debugging performance problems.
36837
36838@table @code
36839@item maint set per-command space [on|off]
36840@itemx maint show per-command space
36841Enable or disable the printing of the memory used by GDB for each command.
36842If enabled, @value{GDBN} will display how much memory each command
36843took, following the command's own output.
36844This can also be requested by invoking @value{GDBN} with the
36845@option{--statistics} command-line switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
36846
36847@item maint set per-command time [on|off]
36848@itemx maint show per-command time
36849Enable or disable the printing of the execution time of @value{GDBN}
36850for each command.
36851If enabled, @value{GDBN} will display how much time it
36852took to execute each command, following the command's own output.
36853Both CPU time and wallclock time are printed.
36854Printing both is useful when trying to determine whether the cost is
36855CPU or, e.g., disk/network latency.
36856Note that the CPU time printed is for @value{GDBN} only, it does not include
36857the execution time of the inferior because there's no mechanism currently
36858to compute how much time was spent by @value{GDBN} and how much time was
36859spent by the program been debugged.
36860This can also be requested by invoking @value{GDBN} with the
36861@option{--statistics} command-line switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
36862
36863@item maint set per-command symtab [on|off]
36864@itemx maint show per-command symtab
36865Enable or disable the printing of basic symbol table statistics
36866for each command.
36867If enabled, @value{GDBN} will display the following information:
36868
36869@enumerate a
36870@item
36871number of symbol tables
36872@item
36873number of primary symbol tables
36874@item
36875number of blocks in the blockvector
36876@end enumerate
36877@end table
36878
36879@kindex maint space
36880@cindex memory used by commands
36881@item maint space @var{value}
36882An alias for @code{maint set per-command space}.
36883A non-zero value enables it, zero disables it.
36884
36885@kindex maint time
36886@cindex time of command execution
36887@item maint time @var{value}
36888An alias for @code{maint set per-command time}.
36889A non-zero value enables it, zero disables it.
36890
36891@kindex maint translate-address
36892@item maint translate-address @r{[}@var{section}@r{]} @var{addr}
36893Find the symbol stored at the location specified by the address
36894@var{addr} and an optional section name @var{section}. If found,
36895@value{GDBN} prints the name of the closest symbol and an offset from
36896the symbol's location to the specified address. This is similar to
36897the @code{info address} command (@pxref{Symbols}), except that this
36898command also allows to find symbols in other sections.
36899
36900If section was not specified, the section in which the symbol was found
36901is also printed. For dynamically linked executables, the name of
36902executable or shared library containing the symbol is printed as well.
36903
36904@end table
36905
36906The following command is useful for non-interactive invocations of
36907@value{GDBN}, such as in the test suite.
36908
36909@table @code
36910@item set watchdog @var{nsec}
36911@kindex set watchdog
36912@cindex watchdog timer
36913@cindex timeout for commands
36914Set the maximum number of seconds @value{GDBN} will wait for the
36915target operation to finish. If this time expires, @value{GDBN}
36916reports and error and the command is aborted.
36917
36918@item show watchdog
36919Show the current setting of the target wait timeout.
36920@end table
36921
36922@node Remote Protocol
36923@appendix @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol
36924
36925@menu
36926* Overview::
36927* Packets::
36928* Stop Reply Packets::
36929* General Query Packets::
36930* Architecture-Specific Protocol Details::
36931* Tracepoint Packets::
36932* Host I/O Packets::
36933* Interrupts::
36934* Notification Packets::
36935* Remote Non-Stop::
36936* Packet Acknowledgment::
36937* Examples::
36938* File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension::
36939* Library List Format::
36940* Library List Format for SVR4 Targets::
36941* Memory Map Format::
36942* Thread List Format::
36943* Traceframe Info Format::
36944* Branch Trace Format::
36945@end menu
36946
36947@node Overview
36948@section Overview
36949
36950There may be occasions when you need to know something about the
36951protocol---for example, if there is only one serial port to your target
36952machine, you might want your program to do something special if it
36953recognizes a packet meant for @value{GDBN}.
36954
36955In the examples below, @samp{->} and @samp{<-} are used to indicate
36956transmitted and received data, respectively.
36957
36958@cindex protocol, @value{GDBN} remote serial
36959@cindex serial protocol, @value{GDBN} remote
36960@cindex remote serial protocol
36961All @value{GDBN} commands and responses (other than acknowledgments
36962and notifications, see @ref{Notification Packets}) are sent as a
36963@var{packet}. A @var{packet} is introduced with the character
36964@samp{$}, the actual @var{packet-data}, and the terminating character
36965@samp{#} followed by a two-digit @var{checksum}:
36966
36967@smallexample
36968@code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
36969@end smallexample
36970@noindent
36971
36972@cindex checksum, for @value{GDBN} remote
36973@noindent
36974The two-digit @var{checksum} is computed as the modulo 256 sum of all
36975characters between the leading @samp{$} and the trailing @samp{#} (an
36976eight bit unsigned checksum).
36977
36978Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0 the protocol
36979specification also included an optional two-digit @var{sequence-id}:
36980
36981@smallexample
36982@code{$}@var{sequence-id}@code{:}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
36983@end smallexample
36984
36985@cindex sequence-id, for @value{GDBN} remote
36986@noindent
36987That @var{sequence-id} was appended to the acknowledgment. @value{GDBN}
36988has never output @var{sequence-id}s. Stubs that handle packets added
36989since @value{GDBN} 5.0 must not accept @var{sequence-id}.
36990
36991When either the host or the target machine receives a packet, the first
36992response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
36993the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request
36994retransmission):
36995
36996@smallexample
36997-> @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
36998<- @code{+}
36999@end smallexample
37000@noindent
37001
37002The @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments can be disabled
37003once a connection is established.
37004@xref{Packet Acknowledgment}, for details.
37005
37006The host (@value{GDBN}) sends @var{command}s, and the target (the
37007debugging stub incorporated in your program) sends a @var{response}. In
37008the case of step and continue @var{command}s, the response is only sent
37009when the operation has completed, and the target has again stopped all
37010threads in all attached processes. This is the default all-stop mode
37011behavior, but the remote protocol also supports @value{GDBN}'s non-stop
37012execution mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}, for details.
37013
37014@var{packet-data} consists of a sequence of characters with the
37015exception of @samp{#} and @samp{$} (see @samp{X} packet for additional
37016exceptions).
37017
37018@cindex remote protocol, field separator
37019Fields within the packet should be separated using @samp{,} @samp{;} or
37020@samp{:}. Except where otherwise noted all numbers are represented in
37021@sc{hex} with leading zeros suppressed.
37022
37023Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0, the character
37024@samp{:} could not appear as the third character in a packet (as it
37025would potentially conflict with the @var{sequence-id}).
37026
37027@cindex remote protocol, binary data
37028@anchor{Binary Data}
37029Binary data in most packets is encoded either as two hexadecimal
37030digits per byte of binary data. This allowed the traditional remote
37031protocol to work over connections which were only seven-bit clean.
37032Some packets designed more recently assume an eight-bit clean
37033connection, and use a more efficient encoding to send and receive
37034binary data.
37035
37036The binary data representation uses @code{7d} (@sc{ascii} @samp{@}})
37037as an escape character. Any escaped byte is transmitted as the escape
37038character followed by the original character XORed with @code{0x20}.
37039For example, the byte @code{0x7d} would be transmitted as the two
37040bytes @code{0x7d 0x5d}. The bytes @code{0x23} (@sc{ascii} @samp{#}),
37041@code{0x24} (@sc{ascii} @samp{$}), and @code{0x7d} (@sc{ascii}
37042@samp{@}}) must always be escaped. Responses sent by the stub
37043must also escape @code{0x2a} (@sc{ascii} @samp{*}), so that it
37044is not interpreted as the start of a run-length encoded sequence
37045(described next).
37046
37047Response @var{data} can be run-length encoded to save space.
37048Run-length encoding replaces runs of identical characters with one
37049instance of the repeated character, followed by a @samp{*} and a
37050repeat count. The repeat count is itself sent encoded, to avoid
37051binary characters in @var{data}: a value of @var{n} is sent as
37052@code{@var{n}+29}. For a repeat count greater or equal to 3, this
37053produces a printable @sc{ascii} character, e.g.@: a space (@sc{ascii}
37054code 32) for a repeat count of 3. (This is because run-length
37055encoding starts to win for counts 3 or more.) Thus, for example,
37056@samp{0* } is a run-length encoding of ``0000'': the space character
37057after @samp{*} means repeat the leading @code{0} @w{@code{32 - 29 =
370583}} more times.
37059
37060The printable characters @samp{#} and @samp{$} or with a numeric value
37061greater than 126 must not be used. Runs of six repeats (@samp{#}) or
37062seven repeats (@samp{$}) can be expanded using a repeat count of only
37063five (@samp{"}). For example, @samp{00000000} can be encoded as
37064@samp{0*"00}.
37065
37066The error response returned for some packets includes a two character
37067error number. That number is not well defined.
37068
37069@cindex empty response, for unsupported packets
37070For any @var{command} not supported by the stub, an empty response
37071(@samp{$#00}) should be returned. That way it is possible to extend the
37072protocol. A newer @value{GDBN} can tell if a packet is supported based
37073on that response.
37074
37075At a minimum, a stub is required to support the @samp{g} and @samp{G}
37076commands for register access, and the @samp{m} and @samp{M} commands
37077for memory access. Stubs that only control single-threaded targets
37078can implement run control with the @samp{c} (continue), and @samp{s}
37079(step) commands. Stubs that support multi-threading targets should
37080support the @samp{vCont} command. All other commands are optional.
37081
37082@node Packets
37083@section Packets
37084
37085The following table provides a complete list of all currently defined
37086@var{command}s and their corresponding response @var{data}.
37087@xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for details about the File
37088I/O extension of the remote protocol.
37089
37090Each packet's description has a template showing the packet's overall
37091syntax, followed by an explanation of the packet's meaning. We
37092include spaces in some of the templates for clarity; these are not
37093part of the packet's syntax. No @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to
37094separate its components. For example, a template like @samp{foo
37095@var{bar} @var{baz}} describes a packet beginning with the three ASCII
37096bytes @samp{foo}, followed by a @var{bar}, followed directly by a
37097@var{baz}. @value{GDBN} does not transmit a space character between the
37098@samp{foo} and the @var{bar}, or between the @var{bar} and the
37099@var{baz}.
37100
37101@cindex @var{thread-id}, in remote protocol
37102@anchor{thread-id syntax}
37103Several packets and replies include a @var{thread-id} field to identify
37104a thread. Normally these are positive numbers with a target-specific
37105interpretation, formatted as big-endian hex strings. A @var{thread-id}
37106can also be a literal @samp{-1} to indicate all threads, or @samp{0} to
37107pick any thread.
37108
37109In addition, the remote protocol supports a multiprocess feature in
37110which the @var{thread-id} syntax is extended to optionally include both
37111process and thread ID fields, as @samp{p@var{pid}.@var{tid}}.
37112The @var{pid} (process) and @var{tid} (thread) components each have the
37113format described above: a positive number with target-specific
37114interpretation formatted as a big-endian hex string, literal @samp{-1}
37115to indicate all processes or threads (respectively), or @samp{0} to
37116indicate an arbitrary process or thread. Specifying just a process, as
37117@samp{p@var{pid}}, is equivalent to @samp{p@var{pid}.-1}. It is an
37118error to specify all processes but a specific thread, such as
37119@samp{p-1.@var{tid}}. Note that the @samp{p} prefix is @emph{not} used
37120for those packets and replies explicitly documented to include a process
37121ID, rather than a @var{thread-id}.
37122
37123The multiprocess @var{thread-id} syntax extensions are only used if both
37124@value{GDBN} and the stub report support for the @samp{multiprocess}
37125feature using @samp{qSupported}. @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for
37126more information.
37127
37128Note that all packet forms beginning with an upper- or lower-case
37129letter, other than those described here, are reserved for future use.
37130
37131Here are the packet descriptions.
37132
37133@table @samp
37134
37135@item !
37136@cindex @samp{!} packet
37137@anchor{extended mode}
37138Enable extended mode. In extended mode, the remote server is made
37139persistent. The @samp{R} packet is used to restart the program being
37140debugged.
37141
37142Reply:
37143@table @samp
37144@item OK
37145The remote target both supports and has enabled extended mode.
37146@end table
37147
37148@item ?
37149@cindex @samp{?} packet
37150Indicate the reason the target halted. The reply is the same as for
37151step and continue. This packet has a special interpretation when the
37152target is in non-stop mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}.
37153
37154Reply:
37155@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
37156
37157@item A @var{arglen},@var{argnum},@var{arg},@dots{}
37158@cindex @samp{A} packet
37159Initialized @code{argv[]} array passed into program. @var{arglen}
37160specifies the number of bytes in the hex encoded byte stream
37161@var{arg}. See @code{gdbserver} for more details.
37162
37163Reply:
37164@table @samp
37165@item OK
37166The arguments were set.
37167@item E @var{NN}
37168An error occurred.
37169@end table
37170
37171@item b @var{baud}
37172@cindex @samp{b} packet
37173(Don't use this packet; its behavior is not well-defined.)
37174Change the serial line speed to @var{baud}.
37175
37176JTC: @emph{When does the transport layer state change? When it's
37177received, or after the ACK is transmitted. In either case, there are
37178problems if the command or the acknowledgment packet is dropped.}
37179
37180Stan: @emph{If people really wanted to add something like this, and get
37181it working for the first time, they ought to modify ser-unix.c to send
37182some kind of out-of-band message to a specially-setup stub and have the
37183switch happen "in between" packets, so that from remote protocol's point
37184of view, nothing actually happened.}
37185
37186@item B @var{addr},@var{mode}
37187@cindex @samp{B} packet
37188Set (@var{mode} is @samp{S}) or clear (@var{mode} is @samp{C}) a
37189breakpoint at @var{addr}.
37190
37191Don't use this packet. Use the @samp{Z} and @samp{z} packets instead
37192(@pxref{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}).
37193
37194@cindex @samp{bc} packet
37195@anchor{bc}
37196@item bc
37197Backward continue. Execute the target system in reverse. No parameter.
37198@xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
37199
37200Reply:
37201@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
37202
37203@cindex @samp{bs} packet
37204@anchor{bs}
37205@item bs
37206Backward single step. Execute one instruction in reverse. No parameter.
37207@xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
37208
37209Reply:
37210@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
37211
37212@item c @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
37213@cindex @samp{c} packet
37214Continue. @var{addr} is address to resume. If @var{addr} is omitted,
37215resume at current address.
37216
37217This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
37218packet}.
37219
37220Reply:
37221@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
37222
37223@item C @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
37224@cindex @samp{C} packet
37225Continue with signal @var{sig} (hex signal number). If
37226@samp{;@var{addr}} is omitted, resume at same address.
37227
37228This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
37229packet}.
37230
37231Reply:
37232@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
37233
37234@item d
37235@cindex @samp{d} packet
37236Toggle debug flag.
37237
37238Don't use this packet; instead, define a general set packet
37239(@pxref{General Query Packets}).
37240
37241@item D
37242@itemx D;@var{pid}
37243@cindex @samp{D} packet
37244The first form of the packet is used to detach @value{GDBN} from the
37245remote system. It is sent to the remote target
37246before @value{GDBN} disconnects via the @code{detach} command.
37247
37248The second form, including a process ID, is used when multiprocess
37249protocol extensions are enabled (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}), to
37250detach only a specific process. The @var{pid} is specified as a
37251big-endian hex string.
37252
37253Reply:
37254@table @samp
37255@item OK
37256for success
37257@item E @var{NN}
37258for an error
37259@end table
37260
37261@item F @var{RC},@var{EE},@var{CF};@var{XX}
37262@cindex @samp{F} packet
37263A reply from @value{GDBN} to an @samp{F} packet sent by the target.
37264This is part of the File-I/O protocol extension. @xref{File-I/O
37265Remote Protocol Extension}, for the specification.
37266
37267@item g
37268@anchor{read registers packet}
37269@cindex @samp{g} packet
37270Read general registers.
37271
37272Reply:
37273@table @samp
37274@item @var{XX@dots{}}
37275Each byte of register data is described by two hex digits. The bytes
37276with the register are transmitted in target byte order. The size of
37277each register and their position within the @samp{g} packet are
37278determined by the @value{GDBN} internal gdbarch functions
37279@code{DEPRECATED_REGISTER_RAW_SIZE} and @code{gdbarch_register_name}. The
37280specification of several standard @samp{g} packets is specified below.
37281
37282When reading registers from a trace frame (@pxref{Analyze Collected
37283Data,,Using the Collected Data}), the stub may also return a string of
37284literal @samp{x}'s in place of the register data digits, to indicate
37285that the corresponding register has not been collected, thus its value
37286is unavailable. For example, for an architecture with 4 registers of
372874 bytes each, the following reply indicates to @value{GDBN} that
37288registers 0 and 2 have not been collected, while registers 1 and 3
37289have been collected, and both have zero value:
37290
37291@smallexample
37292-> @code{g}
37293<- @code{xxxxxxxx00000000xxxxxxxx00000000}
37294@end smallexample
37295
37296@item E @var{NN}
37297for an error.
37298@end table
37299
37300@item G @var{XX@dots{}}
37301@cindex @samp{G} packet
37302Write general registers. @xref{read registers packet}, for a
37303description of the @var{XX@dots{}} data.
37304
37305Reply:
37306@table @samp
37307@item OK
37308for success
37309@item E @var{NN}
37310for an error
37311@end table
37312
37313@item H @var{op} @var{thread-id}
37314@cindex @samp{H} packet
37315Set thread for subsequent operations (@samp{m}, @samp{M}, @samp{g},
37316@samp{G}, et.al.). @var{op} depends on the operation to be performed:
37317it should be @samp{c} for step and continue operations (note that this
37318is deprecated, supporting the @samp{vCont} command is a better
37319option), @samp{g} for other operations. The thread designator
37320@var{thread-id} has the format and interpretation described in
37321@ref{thread-id syntax}.
37322
37323Reply:
37324@table @samp
37325@item OK
37326for success
37327@item E @var{NN}
37328for an error
37329@end table
37330
37331@c FIXME: JTC:
37332@c 'H': How restrictive (or permissive) is the thread model. If a
37333@c thread is selected and stopped, are other threads allowed
37334@c to continue to execute? As I mentioned above, I think the
37335@c semantics of each command when a thread is selected must be
37336@c described. For example:
37337@c
37338@c 'g': If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
37339@c selected, returns the register block from that thread;
37340@c otherwise returns current registers.
37341@c
37342@c 'G' If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
37343@c selected, sets the registers of the register block of
37344@c that thread; otherwise sets current registers.
37345
37346@item i @r{[}@var{addr}@r{[},@var{nnn}@r{]]}
37347@anchor{cycle step packet}
37348@cindex @samp{i} packet
37349Step the remote target by a single clock cycle. If @samp{,@var{nnn}} is
37350present, cycle step @var{nnn} cycles. If @var{addr} is present, cycle
37351step starting at that address.
37352
37353@item I
37354@cindex @samp{I} packet
37355Signal, then cycle step. @xref{step with signal packet}. @xref{cycle
37356step packet}.
37357
37358@item k
37359@cindex @samp{k} packet
37360Kill request.
37361
37362FIXME: @emph{There is no description of how to operate when a specific
37363thread context has been selected (i.e.@: does 'k' kill only that
37364thread?)}.
37365
37366@item m @var{addr},@var{length}
37367@cindex @samp{m} packet
37368Read @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
37369Note that @var{addr} may not be aligned to any particular boundary.
37370
37371The stub need not use any particular size or alignment when gathering
37372data from memory for the response; even if @var{addr} is word-aligned
37373and @var{length} is a multiple of the word size, the stub is free to
37374use byte accesses, or not. For this reason, this packet may not be
37375suitable for accessing memory-mapped I/O devices.
37376@cindex alignment of remote memory accesses
37377@cindex size of remote memory accesses
37378@cindex memory, alignment and size of remote accesses
37379
37380Reply:
37381@table @samp
37382@item @var{XX@dots{}}
37383Memory contents; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit hexadecimal
37384number. The reply may contain fewer bytes than requested if the
37385server was able to read only part of the region of memory.
37386@item E @var{NN}
37387@var{NN} is errno
37388@end table
37389
37390@item M @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
37391@cindex @samp{M} packet
37392Write @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
37393@var{XX@dots{}} is the data; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit
37394hexadecimal number.
37395
37396Reply:
37397@table @samp
37398@item OK
37399for success
37400@item E @var{NN}
37401for an error (this includes the case where only part of the data was
37402written).
37403@end table
37404
37405@item p @var{n}
37406@cindex @samp{p} packet
37407Read the value of register @var{n}; @var{n} is in hex.
37408@xref{read registers packet}, for a description of how the returned
37409register value is encoded.
37410
37411Reply:
37412@table @samp
37413@item @var{XX@dots{}}
37414the register's value
37415@item E @var{NN}
37416for an error
37417@item @w{}
37418Indicating an unrecognized @var{query}.
37419@end table
37420
37421@item P @var{n@dots{}}=@var{r@dots{}}
37422@anchor{write register packet}
37423@cindex @samp{P} packet
37424Write register @var{n@dots{}} with value @var{r@dots{}}. The register
37425number @var{n} is in hexadecimal, and @var{r@dots{}} contains two hex
37426digits for each byte in the register (target byte order).
37427
37428Reply:
37429@table @samp
37430@item OK
37431for success
37432@item E @var{NN}
37433for an error
37434@end table
37435
37436@item q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
37437@itemx Q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
37438@cindex @samp{q} packet
37439@cindex @samp{Q} packet
37440General query (@samp{q}) and set (@samp{Q}). These packets are
37441described fully in @ref{General Query Packets}.
37442
37443@item r
37444@cindex @samp{r} packet
37445Reset the entire system.
37446
37447Don't use this packet; use the @samp{R} packet instead.
37448
37449@item R @var{XX}
37450@cindex @samp{R} packet
37451Restart the program being debugged. @var{XX}, while needed, is ignored.
37452This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
37453
37454The @samp{R} packet has no reply.
37455
37456@item s @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
37457@cindex @samp{s} packet
37458Single step. @var{addr} is the address at which to resume. If
37459@var{addr} is omitted, resume at same address.
37460
37461This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
37462packet}.
37463
37464Reply:
37465@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
37466
37467@item S @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
37468@anchor{step with signal packet}
37469@cindex @samp{S} packet
37470Step with signal. This is analogous to the @samp{C} packet, but
37471requests a single-step, rather than a normal resumption of execution.
37472
37473This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
37474packet}.
37475
37476Reply:
37477@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
37478
37479@item t @var{addr}:@var{PP},@var{MM}
37480@cindex @samp{t} packet
37481Search backwards starting at address @var{addr} for a match with pattern
37482@var{PP} and mask @var{MM}. @var{PP} and @var{MM} are 4 bytes.
37483@var{addr} must be at least 3 digits.
37484
37485@item T @var{thread-id}
37486@cindex @samp{T} packet
37487Find out if the thread @var{thread-id} is alive. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
37488
37489Reply:
37490@table @samp
37491@item OK
37492thread is still alive
37493@item E @var{NN}
37494thread is dead
37495@end table
37496
37497@item v
37498Packets starting with @samp{v} are identified by a multi-letter name,
37499up to the first @samp{;} or @samp{?} (or the end of the packet).
37500
37501@item vAttach;@var{pid}
37502@cindex @samp{vAttach} packet
37503Attach to a new process with the specified process ID @var{pid}.
37504The process ID is a
37505hexadecimal integer identifying the process. In all-stop mode, all
37506threads in the attached process are stopped; in non-stop mode, it may be
37507attached without being stopped if that is supported by the target.
37508
37509@c In non-stop mode, on a successful vAttach, the stub should set the
37510@c current thread to a thread of the newly-attached process. After
37511@c attaching, GDB queries for the attached process's thread ID with qC.
37512@c Also note that, from a user perspective, whether or not the
37513@c target is stopped on attach in non-stop mode depends on whether you
37514@c use the foreground or background version of the attach command, not
37515@c on what vAttach does; GDB does the right thing with respect to either
37516@c stopping or restarting threads.
37517
37518This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
37519
37520Reply:
37521@table @samp
37522@item E @var{nn}
37523for an error
37524@item @r{Any stop packet}
37525for success in all-stop mode (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
37526@item OK
37527for success in non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop})
37528@end table
37529
37530@item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@r{[}:@var{thread-id}@r{]]}@dots{}
37531@cindex @samp{vCont} packet
37532@anchor{vCont packet}
37533Resume the inferior, specifying different actions for each thread.
37534If an action is specified with no @var{thread-id}, then it is applied to any
37535threads that don't have a specific action specified; if no default action is
37536specified then other threads should remain stopped in all-stop mode and
37537in their current state in non-stop mode.
37538Specifying multiple
37539default actions is an error; specifying no actions is also an error.
37540Thread IDs are specified using the syntax described in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
37541
37542Currently supported actions are:
37543
37544@table @samp
37545@item c
37546Continue.
37547@item C @var{sig}
37548Continue with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
37549@item s
37550Step.
37551@item S @var{sig}
37552Step with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
37553@item t
37554Stop.
37555@item r @var{start},@var{end}
37556Step once, and then keep stepping as long as the thread stops at
37557addresses between @var{start} (inclusive) and @var{end} (exclusive).
37558The remote stub reports a stop reply when either the thread goes out
37559of the range or is stopped due to an unrelated reason, such as hitting
37560a breakpoint. @xref{range stepping}.
37561
37562If the range is empty (@var{start} == @var{end}), then the action
37563becomes equivalent to the @samp{s} action. In other words,
37564single-step once, and report the stop (even if the stepped instruction
37565jumps to @var{start}).
37566
37567(A stop reply may be sent at any point even if the PC is still within
37568the stepping range; for example, it is valid to implement this packet
37569in a degenerate way as a single instruction step operation.)
37570
37571@end table
37572
37573The optional argument @var{addr} normally associated with the
37574@samp{c}, @samp{C}, @samp{s}, and @samp{S} packets is
37575not supported in @samp{vCont}.
37576
37577The @samp{t} action is only relevant in non-stop mode
37578(@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}) and may be ignored by the stub otherwise.
37579A stop reply should be generated for any affected thread not already stopped.
37580When a thread is stopped by means of a @samp{t} action,
37581the corresponding stop reply should indicate that the thread has stopped with
37582signal @samp{0}, regardless of whether the target uses some other signal
37583as an implementation detail.
37584
37585The stub must support @samp{vCont} if it reports support for
37586multiprocess extensions (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}). Note that in
37587this case @samp{vCont} actions can be specified to apply to all threads
37588in a process by using the @samp{p@var{pid}.-1} form of the
37589@var{thread-id}.
37590
37591Reply:
37592@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
37593
37594@item vCont?
37595@cindex @samp{vCont?} packet
37596Request a list of actions supported by the @samp{vCont} packet.
37597
37598Reply:
37599@table @samp
37600@item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@dots{}@r{]}
37601The @samp{vCont} packet is supported. Each @var{action} is a supported
37602command in the @samp{vCont} packet.
37603@item @w{}
37604The @samp{vCont} packet is not supported.
37605@end table
37606
37607@item vFile:@var{operation}:@var{parameter}@dots{}
37608@cindex @samp{vFile} packet
37609Perform a file operation on the target system. For details,
37610see @ref{Host I/O Packets}.
37611
37612@item vFlashErase:@var{addr},@var{length}
37613@cindex @samp{vFlashErase} packet
37614Direct the stub to erase @var{length} bytes of flash starting at
37615@var{addr}. The region may enclose any number of flash blocks, but
37616its start and end must fall on block boundaries, as indicated by the
37617flash block size appearing in the memory map (@pxref{Memory Map
37618Format}). @value{GDBN} groups flash memory programming operations
37619together, and sends a @samp{vFlashDone} request after each group; the
37620stub is allowed to delay erase operation until the @samp{vFlashDone}
37621packet is received.
37622
37623Reply:
37624@table @samp
37625@item OK
37626for success
37627@item E @var{NN}
37628for an error
37629@end table
37630
37631@item vFlashWrite:@var{addr}:@var{XX@dots{}}
37632@cindex @samp{vFlashWrite} packet
37633Direct the stub to write data to flash address @var{addr}. The data
37634is passed in binary form using the same encoding as for the @samp{X}
37635packet (@pxref{Binary Data}). The memory ranges specified by
37636@samp{vFlashWrite} packets preceding a @samp{vFlashDone} packet must
37637not overlap, and must appear in order of increasing addresses
37638(although @samp{vFlashErase} packets for higher addresses may already
37639have been received; the ordering is guaranteed only between
37640@samp{vFlashWrite} packets). If a packet writes to an address that was
37641neither erased by a preceding @samp{vFlashErase} packet nor by some other
37642target-specific method, the results are unpredictable.
37643
37644
37645Reply:
37646@table @samp
37647@item OK
37648for success
37649@item E.memtype
37650for vFlashWrite addressing non-flash memory
37651@item E @var{NN}
37652for an error
37653@end table
37654
37655@item vFlashDone
37656@cindex @samp{vFlashDone} packet
37657Indicate to the stub that flash programming operation is finished.
37658The stub is permitted to delay or batch the effects of a group of
37659@samp{vFlashErase} and @samp{vFlashWrite} packets until a
37660@samp{vFlashDone} packet is received. The contents of the affected
37661regions of flash memory are unpredictable until the @samp{vFlashDone}
37662request is completed.
37663
37664@item vKill;@var{pid}
37665@cindex @samp{vKill} packet
37666Kill the process with the specified process ID. @var{pid} is a
37667hexadecimal integer identifying the process. This packet is used in
37668preference to @samp{k} when multiprocess protocol extensions are
37669supported; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
37670
37671Reply:
37672@table @samp
37673@item E @var{nn}
37674for an error
37675@item OK
37676for success
37677@end table
37678
37679@item vRun;@var{filename}@r{[};@var{argument}@r{]}@dots{}
37680@cindex @samp{vRun} packet
37681Run the program @var{filename}, passing it each @var{argument} on its
37682command line. The file and arguments are hex-encoded strings. If
37683@var{filename} is an empty string, the stub may use a default program
37684(e.g.@: the last program run). The program is created in the stopped
37685state.
37686
37687@c FIXME: What about non-stop mode?
37688
37689This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
37690
37691Reply:
37692@table @samp
37693@item E @var{nn}
37694for an error
37695@item @r{Any stop packet}
37696for success (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
37697@end table
37698
37699@item vStopped
37700@cindex @samp{vStopped} packet
37701@xref{Notification Packets}.
37702
37703@item X @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
37704@anchor{X packet}
37705@cindex @samp{X} packet
37706Write data to memory, where the data is transmitted in binary.
37707@var{addr} is address, @var{length} is number of bytes,
37708@samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
37709
37710Reply:
37711@table @samp
37712@item OK
37713for success
37714@item E @var{NN}
37715for an error
37716@end table
37717
37718@item z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
37719@itemx Z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
37720@anchor{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}
37721@cindex @samp{z} packet
37722@cindex @samp{Z} packets
37723Insert (@samp{Z}) or remove (@samp{z}) a @var{type} breakpoint or
37724watchpoint starting at address @var{address} of kind @var{kind}.
37725
37726Each breakpoint and watchpoint packet @var{type} is documented
37727separately.
37728
37729@emph{Implementation notes: A remote target shall return an empty string
37730for an unrecognized breakpoint or watchpoint packet @var{type}. A
37731remote target shall support either both or neither of a given
37732@samp{Z@var{type}@dots{}} and @samp{z@var{type}@dots{}} packet pair. To
37733avoid potential problems with duplicate packets, the operations should
37734be implemented in an idempotent way.}
37735
37736@item z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}
37737@itemx Z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}@r{[};@var{cond_list}@dots{}@r{]}@r{[};cmds:@var{persist},@var{cmd_list}@dots{}@r{]}
37738@cindex @samp{z0} packet
37739@cindex @samp{Z0} packet
37740Insert (@samp{Z0}) or remove (@samp{z0}) a memory breakpoint at address
37741@var{addr} of type @var{kind}.
37742
37743A memory breakpoint is implemented by replacing the instruction at
37744@var{addr} with a software breakpoint or trap instruction. The
37745@var{kind} is target-specific and typically indicates the size of
37746the breakpoint in bytes that should be inserted. E.g., the @sc{arm}
37747and @sc{mips} can insert either a 2 or 4 byte breakpoint. Some
37748architectures have additional meanings for @var{kind};
37749@var{cond_list} is an optional list of conditional expressions in bytecode
37750form that should be evaluated on the target's side. These are the
37751conditions that should be taken into consideration when deciding if
37752the breakpoint trigger should be reported back to @var{GDBN}.
37753
37754The @var{cond_list} parameter is comprised of a series of expressions,
37755concatenated without separators. Each expression has the following form:
37756
37757@table @samp
37758
37759@item X @var{len},@var{expr}
37760@var{len} is the length of the bytecode expression and @var{expr} is the
37761actual conditional expression in bytecode form.
37762
37763@end table
37764
37765The optional @var{cmd_list} parameter introduces commands that may be
37766run on the target, rather than being reported back to @value{GDBN}.
37767The parameter starts with a numeric flag @var{persist}; if the flag is
37768nonzero, then the breakpoint may remain active and the commands
37769continue to be run even when @value{GDBN} disconnects from the target.
37770Following this flag is a series of expressions concatenated with no
37771separators. Each expression has the following form:
37772
37773@table @samp
37774
37775@item X @var{len},@var{expr}
37776@var{len} is the length of the bytecode expression and @var{expr} is the
37777actual conditional expression in bytecode form.
37778
37779@end table
37780
37781see @ref{Architecture-Specific Protocol Details}.
37782
37783@emph{Implementation note: It is possible for a target to copy or move
37784code that contains memory breakpoints (e.g., when implementing
37785overlays). The behavior of this packet, in the presence of such a
37786target, is not defined.}
37787
37788Reply:
37789@table @samp
37790@item OK
37791success
37792@item @w{}
37793not supported
37794@item E @var{NN}
37795for an error
37796@end table
37797
37798@item z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}
37799@itemx Z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}@r{[};@var{cond_list}@dots{}@r{]}
37800@cindex @samp{z1} packet
37801@cindex @samp{Z1} packet
37802Insert (@samp{Z1}) or remove (@samp{z1}) a hardware breakpoint at
37803address @var{addr}.
37804
37805A hardware breakpoint is implemented using a mechanism that is not
37806dependant on being able to modify the target's memory. @var{kind}
37807and @var{cond_list} have the same meaning as in @samp{Z0} packets.
37808
37809@emph{Implementation note: A hardware breakpoint is not affected by code
37810movement.}
37811
37812Reply:
37813@table @samp
37814@item OK
37815success
37816@item @w{}
37817not supported
37818@item E @var{NN}
37819for an error
37820@end table
37821
37822@item z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
37823@itemx Z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
37824@cindex @samp{z2} packet
37825@cindex @samp{Z2} packet
37826Insert (@samp{Z2}) or remove (@samp{z2}) a write watchpoint at @var{addr}.
37827@var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
37828
37829Reply:
37830@table @samp
37831@item OK
37832success
37833@item @w{}
37834not supported
37835@item E @var{NN}
37836for an error
37837@end table
37838
37839@item z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
37840@itemx Z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
37841@cindex @samp{z3} packet
37842@cindex @samp{Z3} packet
37843Insert (@samp{Z3}) or remove (@samp{z3}) a read watchpoint at @var{addr}.
37844@var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
37845
37846Reply:
37847@table @samp
37848@item OK
37849success
37850@item @w{}
37851not supported
37852@item E @var{NN}
37853for an error
37854@end table
37855
37856@item z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
37857@itemx Z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
37858@cindex @samp{z4} packet
37859@cindex @samp{Z4} packet
37860Insert (@samp{Z4}) or remove (@samp{z4}) an access watchpoint at @var{addr}.
37861@var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
37862
37863Reply:
37864@table @samp
37865@item OK
37866success
37867@item @w{}
37868not supported
37869@item E @var{NN}
37870for an error
37871@end table
37872
37873@end table
37874
37875@node Stop Reply Packets
37876@section Stop Reply Packets
37877@cindex stop reply packets
37878
37879The @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}, @samp{s}, @samp{vCont},
37880@samp{vAttach}, @samp{vRun}, @samp{vStopped}, and @samp{?} packets can
37881receive any of the below as a reply. Except for @samp{?}
37882and @samp{vStopped}, that reply is only returned
37883when the target halts. In the below the exact meaning of @dfn{signal
37884number} is defined by the header @file{include/gdb/signals.h} in the
37885@value{GDBN} source code.
37886
37887As in the description of request packets, we include spaces in the
37888reply templates for clarity; these are not part of the reply packet's
37889syntax. No @value{GDBN} stop reply packet uses spaces to separate its
37890components.
37891
37892@table @samp
37893
37894@item S @var{AA}
37895The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
37896number). This is equivalent to a @samp{T} response with no
37897@var{n}:@var{r} pairs.
37898
37899@item T @var{AA} @var{n1}:@var{r1};@var{n2}:@var{r2};@dots{}
37900@cindex @samp{T} packet reply
37901The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
37902number). This is equivalent to an @samp{S} response, except that the
37903@samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pairs can carry values of important registers
37904and other information directly in the stop reply packet, reducing
37905round-trip latency. Single-step and breakpoint traps are reported
37906this way. Each @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair is interpreted as follows:
37907
37908@itemize @bullet
37909@item
37910If @var{n} is a hexadecimal number, it is a register number, and the
37911corresponding @var{r} gives that register's value. @var{r} is a
37912series of bytes in target byte order, with each byte given by a
37913two-digit hex number.
37914
37915@item
37916If @var{n} is @samp{thread}, then @var{r} is the @var{thread-id} of
37917the stopped thread, as specified in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
37918
37919@item
37920If @var{n} is @samp{core}, then @var{r} is the hexadecimal number of
37921the core on which the stop event was detected.
37922
37923@item
37924If @var{n} is a recognized @dfn{stop reason}, it describes a more
37925specific event that stopped the target. The currently defined stop
37926reasons are listed below. @var{aa} should be @samp{05}, the trap
37927signal. At most one stop reason should be present.
37928
37929@item
37930Otherwise, @value{GDBN} should ignore this @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair
37931and go on to the next; this allows us to extend the protocol in the
37932future.
37933@end itemize
37934
37935The currently defined stop reasons are:
37936
37937@table @samp
37938@item watch
37939@itemx rwatch
37940@itemx awatch
37941The packet indicates a watchpoint hit, and @var{r} is the data address, in
37942hex.
37943
37944@cindex shared library events, remote reply
37945@item library
37946The packet indicates that the loaded libraries have changed.
37947@value{GDBN} should use @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} to fetch a new
37948list of loaded libraries. @var{r} is ignored.
37949
37950@cindex replay log events, remote reply
37951@item replaylog
37952The packet indicates that the target cannot continue replaying
37953logged execution events, because it has reached the end (or the
37954beginning when executing backward) of the log. The value of @var{r}
37955will be either @samp{begin} or @samp{end}. @xref{Reverse Execution},
37956for more information.
37957@end table
37958
37959@item W @var{AA}
37960@itemx W @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
37961The process exited, and @var{AA} is the exit status. This is only
37962applicable to certain targets.
37963
37964The second form of the response, including the process ID of the exited
37965process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported support for
37966multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
37967The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
37968
37969@item X @var{AA}
37970@itemx X @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
37971The process terminated with signal @var{AA}.
37972
37973The second form of the response, including the process ID of the
37974terminated process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported
37975support for multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess
37976extensions}. The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
37977
37978@item O @var{XX}@dots{}
37979@samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data, to be
37980written as the program's console output. This can happen at any time
37981while the program is running and the debugger should continue to wait
37982for @samp{W}, @samp{T}, etc. This reply is not permitted in non-stop mode.
37983
37984@item F @var{call-id},@var{parameter}@dots{}
37985@var{call-id} is the identifier which says which host system call should
37986be called. This is just the name of the function. Translation into the
37987correct system call is only applicable as it's defined in @value{GDBN}.
37988@xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for a list of implemented
37989system calls.
37990
37991@samp{@var{parameter}@dots{}} is a list of parameters as defined for
37992this very system call.
37993
37994The target replies with this packet when it expects @value{GDBN} to
37995call a host system call on behalf of the target. @value{GDBN} replies
37996with an appropriate @samp{F} packet and keeps up waiting for the next
37997reply packet from the target. The latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
37998or @samp{s} action is expected to be continued. @xref{File-I/O Remote
37999Protocol Extension}, for more details.
38000
38001@end table
38002
38003@node General Query Packets
38004@section General Query Packets
38005@cindex remote query requests
38006
38007Packets starting with @samp{q} are @dfn{general query packets};
38008packets starting with @samp{Q} are @dfn{general set packets}. General
38009query and set packets are a semi-unified form for retrieving and
38010sending information to and from the stub.
38011
38012The initial letter of a query or set packet is followed by a name
38013indicating what sort of thing the packet applies to. For example,
38014@value{GDBN} may use a @samp{qSymbol} packet to exchange symbol
38015definitions with the stub. These packet names follow some
38016conventions:
38017
38018@itemize @bullet
38019@item
38020The name must not contain commas, colons or semicolons.
38021@item
38022Most @value{GDBN} query and set packets have a leading upper case
38023letter.
38024@item
38025The names of custom vendor packets should use a company prefix, in
38026lower case, followed by a period. For example, packets designed at
38027the Acme Corporation might begin with @samp{qacme.foo} (for querying
38028foos) or @samp{Qacme.bar} (for setting bars).
38029@end itemize
38030
38031The name of a query or set packet should be separated from any
38032parameters by a @samp{:}; the parameters themselves should be
38033separated by @samp{,} or @samp{;}. Stubs must be careful to match the
38034full packet name, and check for a separator or the end of the packet,
38035in case two packet names share a common prefix. New packets should not begin
38036with @samp{qC}, @samp{qP}, or @samp{qL}@footnote{The @samp{qP} and @samp{qL}
38037packets predate these conventions, and have arguments without any terminator
38038for the packet name; we suspect they are in widespread use in places that
38039are difficult to upgrade. The @samp{qC} packet has no arguments, but some
38040existing stubs (e.g.@: RedBoot) are known to not check for the end of the
38041packet.}.
38042
38043Like the descriptions of the other packets, each description here
38044has a template showing the packet's overall syntax, followed by an
38045explanation of the packet's meaning. We include spaces in some of the
38046templates for clarity; these are not part of the packet's syntax. No
38047@value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to separate its components.
38048
38049Here are the currently defined query and set packets:
38050
38051@table @samp
38052
38053@item QAgent:1
38054@itemx QAgent:0
38055Turn on or off the agent as a helper to perform some debugging operations
38056delegated from @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Control Agent}).
38057
38058@item QAllow:@var{op}:@var{val}@dots{}
38059@cindex @samp{QAllow} packet
38060Specify which operations @value{GDBN} expects to request of the
38061target, as a semicolon-separated list of operation name and value
38062pairs. Possible values for @var{op} include @samp{WriteReg},
38063@samp{WriteMem}, @samp{InsertBreak}, @samp{InsertTrace},
38064@samp{InsertFastTrace}, and @samp{Stop}. @var{val} is either 0,
38065indicating that @value{GDBN} will not request the operation, or 1,
38066indicating that it may. (The target can then use this to set up its
38067own internals optimally, for instance if the debugger never expects to
38068insert breakpoints, it may not need to install its own trap handler.)
38069
38070@item qC
38071@cindex current thread, remote request
38072@cindex @samp{qC} packet
38073Return the current thread ID.
38074
38075Reply:
38076@table @samp
38077@item QC @var{thread-id}
38078Where @var{thread-id} is a thread ID as documented in
38079@ref{thread-id syntax}.
38080@item @r{(anything else)}
38081Any other reply implies the old thread ID.
38082@end table
38083
38084@item qCRC:@var{addr},@var{length}
38085@cindex CRC of memory block, remote request
38086@cindex @samp{qCRC} packet
38087Compute the CRC checksum of a block of memory using CRC-32 defined in
38088IEEE 802.3. The CRC is computed byte at a time, taking the most
38089significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern code
38090@code{0xffffffff} is used to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC.
38091
38092@emph{Note:} This is the same CRC used in validating separate debug
38093files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files, , Debugging Information in Separate
38094Files}). However the algorithm is slightly different. When validating
38095separate debug files, the CRC is computed taking the @emph{least}
38096significant bit of each byte first, and the final result is inverted to
38097detect trailing zeros.
38098
38099Reply:
38100@table @samp
38101@item E @var{NN}
38102An error (such as memory fault)
38103@item C @var{crc32}
38104The specified memory region's checksum is @var{crc32}.
38105@end table
38106
38107@item QDisableRandomization:@var{value}
38108@cindex disable address space randomization, remote request
38109@cindex @samp{QDisableRandomization} packet
38110Some target operating systems will randomize the virtual address space
38111of the inferior process as a security feature, but provide a feature
38112to disable such randomization, e.g.@: to allow for a more deterministic
38113debugging experience. On such systems, this packet with a @var{value}
38114of 1 directs the target to disable address space randomization for
38115processes subsequently started via @samp{vRun} packets, while a packet
38116with a @var{value} of 0 tells the target to enable address space
38117randomization.
38118
38119This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
38120
38121Reply:
38122@table @samp
38123@item OK
38124The request succeeded.
38125
38126@item E @var{nn}
38127An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
38128
38129@item @w{}
38130An empty reply indicates that @samp{QDisableRandomization} is not supported
38131by the stub.
38132@end table
38133
38134This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
38135by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
38136This should only be done on targets that actually support disabling
38137address space randomization.
38138
38139@item qfThreadInfo
38140@itemx qsThreadInfo
38141@cindex list active threads, remote request
38142@cindex @samp{qfThreadInfo} packet
38143@cindex @samp{qsThreadInfo} packet
38144Obtain a list of all active thread IDs from the target (OS). Since there
38145may be too many active threads to fit into one reply packet, this query
38146works iteratively: it may require more than one query/reply sequence to
38147obtain the entire list of threads. The first query of the sequence will
38148be the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query; subsequent queries in the
38149sequence will be the @samp{qsThreadInfo} query.
38150
38151NOTE: This packet replaces the @samp{qL} query (see below).
38152
38153Reply:
38154@table @samp
38155@item m @var{thread-id}
38156A single thread ID
38157@item m @var{thread-id},@var{thread-id}@dots{}
38158a comma-separated list of thread IDs
38159@item l
38160(lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
38161@end table
38162
38163In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
38164more thread IDs, separated by commas.
38165@value{GDBN} will respond to each reply with a request for more thread
38166ids (using the @samp{qs} form of the query), until the target responds
38167with @samp{l} (lower-case ell, for @dfn{last}).
38168Refer to @ref{thread-id syntax}, for the format of the @var{thread-id}
38169fields.
38170
38171@item qGetTLSAddr:@var{thread-id},@var{offset},@var{lm}
38172@cindex get thread-local storage address, remote request
38173@cindex @samp{qGetTLSAddr} packet
38174Fetch the address associated with thread local storage specified
38175by @var{thread-id}, @var{offset}, and @var{lm}.
38176
38177@var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the
38178thread for which to fetch the TLS address. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
38179
38180@var{offset} is the (big endian, hex encoded) offset associated with the
38181thread local variable. (This offset is obtained from the debug
38182information associated with the variable.)
38183
38184@var{lm} is the (big endian, hex encoded) OS/ABI-specific encoding of the
38185load module associated with the thread local storage. For example,
38186a @sc{gnu}/Linux system will pass the link map address of the shared
38187object associated with the thread local storage under consideration.
38188Other operating environments may choose to represent the load module
38189differently, so the precise meaning of this parameter will vary.
38190
38191Reply:
38192@table @samp
38193@item @var{XX}@dots{}
38194Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the address of the thread
38195local storage requested.
38196
38197@item E @var{nn}
38198An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
38199
38200@item @w{}
38201An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTLSAddr} is not supported by the stub.
38202@end table
38203
38204@item qGetTIBAddr:@var{thread-id}
38205@cindex get thread information block address
38206@cindex @samp{qGetTIBAddr} packet
38207Fetch address of the Windows OS specific Thread Information Block.
38208
38209@var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the thread.
38210
38211Reply:
38212@table @samp
38213@item @var{XX}@dots{}
38214Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the linear address of the
38215thread information block.
38216
38217@item E @var{nn}
38218An error occured. This means that either the thread was not found, or the
38219address could not be retrieved.
38220
38221@item @w{}
38222An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTIBAddr} is not supported by the stub.
38223@end table
38224
38225@item qL @var{startflag} @var{threadcount} @var{nextthread}
38226Obtain thread information from RTOS. Where: @var{startflag} (one hex
38227digit) is one to indicate the first query and zero to indicate a
38228subsequent query; @var{threadcount} (two hex digits) is the maximum
38229number of threads the response packet can contain; and @var{nextthread}
38230(eight hex digits), for subsequent queries (@var{startflag} is zero), is
38231returned in the response as @var{argthread}.
38232
38233Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query instead (see above).
38234
38235Reply:
38236@table @samp
38237@item qM @var{count} @var{done} @var{argthread} @var{thread}@dots{}
38238Where: @var{count} (two hex digits) is the number of threads being
38239returned; @var{done} (one hex digit) is zero to indicate more threads
38240and one indicates no further threads; @var{argthreadid} (eight hex
38241digits) is @var{nextthread} from the request packet; @var{thread}@dots{}
38242is a sequence of thread IDs from the target. @var{threadid} (eight hex
38243digits). See @code{remote.c:parse_threadlist_response()}.
38244@end table
38245
38246@item qOffsets
38247@cindex section offsets, remote request
38248@cindex @samp{qOffsets} packet
38249Get section offsets that the target used when relocating the downloaded
38250image.
38251
38252Reply:
38253@table @samp
38254@item Text=@var{xxx};Data=@var{yyy}@r{[};Bss=@var{zzz}@r{]}
38255Relocate the @code{Text} section by @var{xxx} from its original address.
38256Relocate the @code{Data} section by @var{yyy} from its original address.
38257If the object file format provides segment information (e.g.@: @sc{elf}
38258@samp{PT_LOAD} program headers), @value{GDBN} will relocate entire
38259segments by the supplied offsets.
38260
38261@emph{Note: while a @code{Bss} offset may be included in the response,
38262@value{GDBN} ignores this and instead applies the @code{Data} offset
38263to the @code{Bss} section.}
38264
38265@item TextSeg=@var{xxx}@r{[};DataSeg=@var{yyy}@r{]}
38266Relocate the first segment of the object file, which conventionally
38267contains program code, to a starting address of @var{xxx}. If
38268@samp{DataSeg} is specified, relocate the second segment, which
38269conventionally contains modifiable data, to a starting address of
38270@var{yyy}. @value{GDBN} will report an error if the object file
38271does not contain segment information, or does not contain at least
38272as many segments as mentioned in the reply. Extra segments are
38273kept at fixed offsets relative to the last relocated segment.
38274@end table
38275
38276@item qP @var{mode} @var{thread-id}
38277@cindex thread information, remote request
38278@cindex @samp{qP} packet
38279Returns information on @var{thread-id}. Where: @var{mode} is a hex
38280encoded 32 bit mode; @var{thread-id} is a thread ID
38281(@pxref{thread-id syntax}).
38282
38283Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} query instead
38284(see below).
38285
38286Reply: see @code{remote.c:remote_unpack_thread_info_response()}.
38287
38288@item QNonStop:1
38289@itemx QNonStop:0
38290@cindex non-stop mode, remote request
38291@cindex @samp{QNonStop} packet
38292@anchor{QNonStop}
38293Enter non-stop (@samp{QNonStop:1}) or all-stop (@samp{QNonStop:0}) mode.
38294@xref{Remote Non-Stop}, for more information.
38295
38296Reply:
38297@table @samp
38298@item OK
38299The request succeeded.
38300
38301@item E @var{nn}
38302An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
38303
38304@item @w{}
38305An empty reply indicates that @samp{QNonStop} is not supported by
38306the stub.
38307@end table
38308
38309This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
38310by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
38311Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set non-stop} command;
38312@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}.
38313
38314@item QPassSignals: @var{signal} @r{[};@var{signal}@r{]}@dots{}
38315@cindex pass signals to inferior, remote request
38316@cindex @samp{QPassSignals} packet
38317@anchor{QPassSignals}
38318Each listed @var{signal} should be passed directly to the inferior process.
38319Signals are numbered identically to continue packets and stop replies
38320(@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}). Each @var{signal} list item should be
38321strictly greater than the previous item. These signals do not need to stop
38322the inferior, or be reported to @value{GDBN}. All other signals should be
38323reported to @value{GDBN}. Multiple @samp{QPassSignals} packets do not
38324combine; any earlier @samp{QPassSignals} list is completely replaced by the
38325new list. This packet improves performance when using @samp{handle
38326@var{signal} nostop noprint pass}.
38327
38328Reply:
38329@table @samp
38330@item OK
38331The request succeeded.
38332
38333@item E @var{nn}
38334An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
38335
38336@item @w{}
38337An empty reply indicates that @samp{QPassSignals} is not supported by
38338the stub.
38339@end table
38340
38341Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote pass-signals}
38342command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote pass-signals}).
38343This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
38344by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
38345
38346@item QProgramSignals: @var{signal} @r{[};@var{signal}@r{]}@dots{}
38347@cindex signals the inferior may see, remote request
38348@cindex @samp{QProgramSignals} packet
38349@anchor{QProgramSignals}
38350Each listed @var{signal} may be delivered to the inferior process.
38351Others should be silently discarded.
38352
38353In some cases, the remote stub may need to decide whether to deliver a
38354signal to the program or not without @value{GDBN} involvement. One
38355example of that is while detaching --- the program's threads may have
38356stopped for signals that haven't yet had a chance of being reported to
38357@value{GDBN}, and so the remote stub can use the signal list specified
38358by this packet to know whether to deliver or ignore those pending
38359signals.
38360
38361This does not influence whether to deliver a signal as requested by a
38362resumption packet (@pxref{vCont packet}).
38363
38364Signals are numbered identically to continue packets and stop replies
38365(@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}). Each @var{signal} list item should be
38366strictly greater than the previous item. Multiple
38367@samp{QProgramSignals} packets do not combine; any earlier
38368@samp{QProgramSignals} list is completely replaced by the new list.
38369
38370Reply:
38371@table @samp
38372@item OK
38373The request succeeded.
38374
38375@item E @var{nn}
38376An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
38377
38378@item @w{}
38379An empty reply indicates that @samp{QProgramSignals} is not supported
38380by the stub.
38381@end table
38382
38383Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote program-signals}
38384command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote program-signals}).
38385This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
38386by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
38387
38388@item qRcmd,@var{command}
38389@cindex execute remote command, remote request
38390@cindex @samp{qRcmd} packet
38391@var{command} (hex encoded) is passed to the local interpreter for
38392execution. Invalid commands should be reported using the output
38393string. Before the final result packet, the target may also respond
38394with a number of intermediate @samp{O@var{output}} console output
38395packets. @emph{Implementors should note that providing access to a
38396stubs's interpreter may have security implications}.
38397
38398Reply:
38399@table @samp
38400@item OK
38401A command response with no output.
38402@item @var{OUTPUT}
38403A command response with the hex encoded output string @var{OUTPUT}.
38404@item E @var{NN}
38405Indicate a badly formed request.
38406@item @w{}
38407An empty reply indicates that @samp{qRcmd} is not recognized.
38408@end table
38409
38410(Note that the @code{qRcmd} packet's name is separated from the
38411command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
38412conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
38413packets.)
38414
38415@item qSearch:memory:@var{address};@var{length};@var{search-pattern}
38416@cindex searching memory, in remote debugging
38417@ifnotinfo
38418@cindex @samp{qSearch:memory} packet
38419@end ifnotinfo
38420@cindex @samp{qSearch memory} packet
38421@anchor{qSearch memory}
38422Search @var{length} bytes at @var{address} for @var{search-pattern}.
38423@var{address} and @var{length} are encoded in hex.
38424@var{search-pattern} is a sequence of bytes, hex encoded.
38425
38426Reply:
38427@table @samp
38428@item 0
38429The pattern was not found.
38430@item 1,address
38431The pattern was found at @var{address}.
38432@item E @var{NN}
38433A badly formed request or an error was encountered while searching memory.
38434@item @w{}
38435An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSearch:memory} is not recognized.
38436@end table
38437
38438@item QStartNoAckMode
38439@cindex @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet
38440@anchor{QStartNoAckMode}
38441Request that the remote stub disable the normal @samp{+}/@samp{-}
38442protocol acknowledgments (@pxref{Packet Acknowledgment}).
38443
38444Reply:
38445@table @samp
38446@item OK
38447The stub has switched to no-acknowledgment mode.
38448@value{GDBN} acknowledges this reponse,
38449but neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or expect further
38450@samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments in the current connection.
38451@item @w{}
38452An empty reply indicates that the stub does not support no-acknowledgment mode.
38453@end table
38454
38455@item qSupported @r{[}:@var{gdbfeature} @r{[};@var{gdbfeature}@r{]}@dots{} @r{]}
38456@cindex supported packets, remote query
38457@cindex features of the remote protocol
38458@cindex @samp{qSupported} packet
38459@anchor{qSupported}
38460Tell the remote stub about features supported by @value{GDBN}, and
38461query the stub for features it supports. This packet allows
38462@value{GDBN} and the remote stub to take advantage of each others'
38463features. @samp{qSupported} also consolidates multiple feature probes
38464at startup, to improve @value{GDBN} performance---a single larger
38465packet performs better than multiple smaller probe packets on
38466high-latency links. Some features may enable behavior which must not
38467be on by default, e.g.@: because it would confuse older clients or
38468stubs. Other features may describe packets which could be
38469automatically probed for, but are not. These features must be
38470reported before @value{GDBN} will use them. This ``default
38471unsupported'' behavior is not appropriate for all packets, but it
38472helps to keep the initial connection time under control with new
38473versions of @value{GDBN} which support increasing numbers of packets.
38474
38475Reply:
38476@table @samp
38477@item @var{stubfeature} @r{[};@var{stubfeature}@r{]}@dots{}
38478The stub supports or does not support each returned @var{stubfeature},
38479depending on the form of each @var{stubfeature} (see below for the
38480possible forms).
38481@item @w{}
38482An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSupported} is not recognized,
38483or that no features needed to be reported to @value{GDBN}.
38484@end table
38485
38486The allowed forms for each feature (either a @var{gdbfeature} in the
38487@samp{qSupported} packet, or a @var{stubfeature} in the response)
38488are:
38489
38490@table @samp
38491@item @var{name}=@var{value}
38492The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and associated
38493with the specified @var{value}. The format of @var{value} depends
38494on the feature, but it must not include a semicolon.
38495@item @var{name}+
38496The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and does not
38497need an associated value.
38498@item @var{name}-
38499The remote protocol feature @var{name} is not supported.
38500@item @var{name}?
38501The remote protocol feature @var{name} may be supported, and
38502@value{GDBN} should auto-detect support in some other way when it is
38503needed. This form will not be used for @var{gdbfeature} notifications,
38504but may be used for @var{stubfeature} responses.
38505@end table
38506
38507Whenever the stub receives a @samp{qSupported} request, the
38508supplied set of @value{GDBN} features should override any previous
38509request. This allows @value{GDBN} to put the stub in a known
38510state, even if the stub had previously been communicating with
38511a different version of @value{GDBN}.
38512
38513The following values of @var{gdbfeature} (for the packet sent by @value{GDBN})
38514are defined:
38515
38516@table @samp
38517@item multiprocess
38518This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports multiprocess
38519extensions to the remote protocol. @value{GDBN} does not use such
38520extensions unless the stub also reports that it supports them by
38521including @samp{multiprocess+} in its @samp{qSupported} reply.
38522@xref{multiprocess extensions}, for details.
38523
38524@item xmlRegisters
38525This feature indicates that @value{GDBN} supports the XML target
38526description. If the stub sees @samp{xmlRegisters=} with target
38527specific strings separated by a comma, it will report register
38528description.
38529
38530@item qRelocInsn
38531This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports the
38532@samp{qRelocInsn} packet (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
38533instruction reply packet}).
38534@end table
38535
38536Stubs should ignore any unknown values for
38537@var{gdbfeature}. Any @value{GDBN} which sends a @samp{qSupported}
38538packet supports receiving packets of unlimited length (earlier
38539versions of @value{GDBN} may reject overly long responses). Additional values
38540for @var{gdbfeature} may be defined in the future to let the stub take
38541advantage of new features in @value{GDBN}, e.g.@: incompatible
38542improvements in the remote protocol---the @samp{multiprocess} feature is
38543an example of such a feature. The stub's reply should be independent
38544of the @var{gdbfeature} entries sent by @value{GDBN}; first @value{GDBN}
38545describes all the features it supports, and then the stub replies with
38546all the features it supports.
38547
38548Similarly, @value{GDBN} will silently ignore unrecognized stub feature
38549responses, as long as each response uses one of the standard forms.
38550
38551Some features are flags. A stub which supports a flag feature
38552should respond with a @samp{+} form response. Other features
38553require values, and the stub should respond with an @samp{=}
38554form response.
38555
38556Each feature has a default value, which @value{GDBN} will use if
38557@samp{qSupported} is not available or if the feature is not mentioned
38558in the @samp{qSupported} response. The default values are fixed; a
38559stub is free to omit any feature responses that match the defaults.
38560
38561Not all features can be probed, but for those which can, the probing
38562mechanism is useful: in some cases, a stub's internal
38563architecture may not allow the protocol layer to know some information
38564about the underlying target in advance. This is especially common in
38565stubs which may be configured for multiple targets.
38566
38567These are the currently defined stub features and their properties:
38568
38569@multitable @columnfractions 0.35 0.2 0.12 0.2
38570@c NOTE: The first row should be @headitem, but we do not yet require
38571@c a new enough version of Texinfo (4.7) to use @headitem.
38572@item Feature Name
38573@tab Value Required
38574@tab Default
38575@tab Probe Allowed
38576
38577@item @samp{PacketSize}
38578@tab Yes
38579@tab @samp{-}
38580@tab No
38581
38582@item @samp{qXfer:auxv:read}
38583@tab No
38584@tab @samp{-}
38585@tab Yes
38586
38587@item @samp{qXfer:btrace:read}
38588@tab No
38589@tab @samp{-}
38590@tab Yes
38591
38592@item @samp{qXfer:features:read}
38593@tab No
38594@tab @samp{-}
38595@tab Yes
38596
38597@item @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
38598@tab No
38599@tab @samp{-}
38600@tab Yes
38601
38602@item @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read}
38603@tab No
38604@tab @samp{-}
38605@tab Yes
38606
38607@item @samp{augmented-libraries-svr4-read}
38608@tab No
38609@tab @samp{-}
38610@tab No
38611
38612@item @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
38613@tab No
38614@tab @samp{-}
38615@tab Yes
38616
38617@item @samp{qXfer:sdata:read}
38618@tab No
38619@tab @samp{-}
38620@tab Yes
38621
38622@item @samp{qXfer:spu:read}
38623@tab No
38624@tab @samp{-}
38625@tab Yes
38626
38627@item @samp{qXfer:spu:write}
38628@tab No
38629@tab @samp{-}
38630@tab Yes
38631
38632@item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read}
38633@tab No
38634@tab @samp{-}
38635@tab Yes
38636
38637@item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write}
38638@tab No
38639@tab @samp{-}
38640@tab Yes
38641
38642@item @samp{qXfer:threads:read}
38643@tab No
38644@tab @samp{-}
38645@tab Yes
38646
38647@item @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
38648@tab No
38649@tab @samp{-}
38650@tab Yes
38651
38652@item @samp{qXfer:uib:read}
38653@tab No
38654@tab @samp{-}
38655@tab Yes
38656
38657@item @samp{qXfer:fdpic:read}
38658@tab No
38659@tab @samp{-}
38660@tab Yes
38661
38662@item @samp{Qbtrace:off}
38663@tab Yes
38664@tab @samp{-}
38665@tab Yes
38666
38667@item @samp{Qbtrace:bts}
38668@tab Yes
38669@tab @samp{-}
38670@tab Yes
38671
38672@item @samp{QNonStop}
38673@tab No
38674@tab @samp{-}
38675@tab Yes
38676
38677@item @samp{QPassSignals}
38678@tab No
38679@tab @samp{-}
38680@tab Yes
38681
38682@item @samp{QStartNoAckMode}
38683@tab No
38684@tab @samp{-}
38685@tab Yes
38686
38687@item @samp{multiprocess}
38688@tab No
38689@tab @samp{-}
38690@tab No
38691
38692@item @samp{ConditionalBreakpoints}
38693@tab No
38694@tab @samp{-}
38695@tab No
38696
38697@item @samp{ConditionalTracepoints}
38698@tab No
38699@tab @samp{-}
38700@tab No
38701
38702@item @samp{ReverseContinue}
38703@tab No
38704@tab @samp{-}
38705@tab No
38706
38707@item @samp{ReverseStep}
38708@tab No
38709@tab @samp{-}
38710@tab No
38711
38712@item @samp{TracepointSource}
38713@tab No
38714@tab @samp{-}
38715@tab No
38716
38717@item @samp{QAgent}
38718@tab No
38719@tab @samp{-}
38720@tab No
38721
38722@item @samp{QAllow}
38723@tab No
38724@tab @samp{-}
38725@tab No
38726
38727@item @samp{QDisableRandomization}
38728@tab No
38729@tab @samp{-}
38730@tab No
38731
38732@item @samp{EnableDisableTracepoints}
38733@tab No
38734@tab @samp{-}
38735@tab No
38736
38737@item @samp{QTBuffer:size}
38738@tab No
38739@tab @samp{-}
38740@tab No
38741
38742@item @samp{tracenz}
38743@tab No
38744@tab @samp{-}
38745@tab No
38746
38747@item @samp{BreakpointCommands}
38748@tab No
38749@tab @samp{-}
38750@tab No
38751
38752@end multitable
38753
38754These are the currently defined stub features, in more detail:
38755
38756@table @samp
38757@cindex packet size, remote protocol
38758@item PacketSize=@var{bytes}
38759The remote stub can accept packets up to at least @var{bytes} in
38760length. @value{GDBN} will send packets up to this size for bulk
38761transfers, and will never send larger packets. This is a limit on the
38762data characters in the packet, including the frame and checksum.
38763There is no trailing NUL byte in a remote protocol packet; if the stub
38764stores packets in a NUL-terminated format, it should allow an extra
38765byte in its buffer for the NUL. If this stub feature is not supported,
38766@value{GDBN} guesses based on the size of the @samp{g} packet response.
38767
38768@item qXfer:auxv:read
38769The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet
38770(@pxref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}).
38771
38772@item qXfer:btrace:read
38773The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:btrace:read}
38774packet (@pxref{qXfer btrace read}).
38775
38776@item qXfer:features:read
38777The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:features:read} packet
38778(@pxref{qXfer target description read}).
38779
38780@item qXfer:libraries:read
38781The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet
38782(@pxref{qXfer library list read}).
38783
38784@item qXfer:libraries-svr4:read
38785The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read} packet
38786(@pxref{qXfer svr4 library list read}).
38787
38788@item augmented-libraries-svr4-read
38789The remote stub understands the augmented form of the
38790@samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read} packet
38791(@pxref{qXfer svr4 library list read}).
38792
38793@item qXfer:memory-map:read
38794The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read} packet
38795(@pxref{qXfer memory map read}).
38796
38797@item qXfer:sdata:read
38798The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:sdata:read} packet
38799(@pxref{qXfer sdata read}).
38800
38801@item qXfer:spu:read
38802The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:read} packet
38803(@pxref{qXfer spu read}).
38804
38805@item qXfer:spu:write
38806The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:write} packet
38807(@pxref{qXfer spu write}).
38808
38809@item qXfer:siginfo:read
38810The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read} packet
38811(@pxref{qXfer siginfo read}).
38812
38813@item qXfer:siginfo:write
38814The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write} packet
38815(@pxref{qXfer siginfo write}).
38816
38817@item qXfer:threads:read
38818The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
38819(@pxref{qXfer threads read}).
38820
38821@item qXfer:traceframe-info:read
38822The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
38823packet (@pxref{qXfer traceframe info read}).
38824
38825@item qXfer:uib:read
38826The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:uib:read}
38827packet (@pxref{qXfer unwind info block}).
38828
38829@item qXfer:fdpic:read
38830The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:fdpic:read}
38831packet (@pxref{qXfer fdpic loadmap read}).
38832
38833@item QNonStop
38834The remote stub understands the @samp{QNonStop} packet
38835(@pxref{QNonStop}).
38836
38837@item QPassSignals
38838The remote stub understands the @samp{QPassSignals} packet
38839(@pxref{QPassSignals}).
38840
38841@item QStartNoAckMode
38842The remote stub understands the @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet and
38843prefers to operate in no-acknowledgment mode. @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}.
38844
38845@item multiprocess
38846@anchor{multiprocess extensions}
38847@cindex multiprocess extensions, in remote protocol
38848The remote stub understands the multiprocess extensions to the remote
38849protocol syntax. The multiprocess extensions affect the syntax of
38850thread IDs in both packets and replies (@pxref{thread-id syntax}), and
38851add process IDs to the @samp{D} packet and @samp{W} and @samp{X}
38852replies. Note that reporting this feature indicates support for the
38853syntactic extensions only, not that the stub necessarily supports
38854debugging of more than one process at a time. The stub must not use
38855multiprocess extensions in packet replies unless @value{GDBN} has also
38856indicated it supports them in its @samp{qSupported} request.
38857
38858@item qXfer:osdata:read
38859The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet
38860((@pxref{qXfer osdata read}).
38861
38862@item ConditionalBreakpoints
38863The target accepts and implements evaluation of conditional expressions
38864defined for breakpoints. The target will only report breakpoint triggers
38865when such conditions are true (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
38866
38867@item ConditionalTracepoints
38868The remote stub accepts and implements conditional expressions defined
38869for tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoint Conditions}).
38870
38871@item ReverseContinue
38872The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse continue packet
38873(@pxref{bc}).
38874
38875@item ReverseStep
38876The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse step packet
38877(@pxref{bs}).
38878
38879@item TracepointSource
38880The remote stub understands the @samp{QTDPsrc} packet that supplies
38881the source form of tracepoint definitions.
38882
38883@item QAgent
38884The remote stub understands the @samp{QAgent} packet.
38885
38886@item QAllow
38887The remote stub understands the @samp{QAllow} packet.
38888
38889@item QDisableRandomization
38890The remote stub understands the @samp{QDisableRandomization} packet.
38891
38892@item StaticTracepoint
38893@cindex static tracepoints, in remote protocol
38894The remote stub supports static tracepoints.
38895
38896@item InstallInTrace
38897@anchor{install tracepoint in tracing}
38898The remote stub supports installing tracepoint in tracing.
38899
38900@item EnableDisableTracepoints
38901The remote stub supports the @samp{QTEnable} (@pxref{QTEnable}) and
38902@samp{QTDisable} (@pxref{QTDisable}) packets that allow tracepoints
38903to be enabled and disabled while a trace experiment is running.
38904
38905@item QTBuffer:size
38906The remote stub supports the @samp{QTBuffer:size} (@pxref{QTBuffer-size})
38907packet that allows to change the size of the trace buffer.
38908
38909@item tracenz
38910@cindex string tracing, in remote protocol
38911The remote stub supports the @samp{tracenz} bytecode for collecting strings.
38912See @ref{Bytecode Descriptions} for details about the bytecode.
38913
38914@item BreakpointCommands
38915@cindex breakpoint commands, in remote protocol
38916The remote stub supports running a breakpoint's command list itself,
38917rather than reporting the hit to @value{GDBN}.
38918
38919@item Qbtrace:off
38920The remote stub understands the @samp{Qbtrace:off} packet.
38921
38922@item Qbtrace:bts
38923The remote stub understands the @samp{Qbtrace:bts} packet.
38924
38925@end table
38926
38927@item qSymbol::
38928@cindex symbol lookup, remote request
38929@cindex @samp{qSymbol} packet
38930Notify the target that @value{GDBN} is prepared to serve symbol lookup
38931requests. Accept requests from the target for the values of symbols.
38932
38933Reply:
38934@table @samp
38935@item OK
38936The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
38937@item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
38938The target requests the value of symbol @var{sym_name} (hex encoded).
38939@value{GDBN} may provide the value by using the
38940@samp{qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}} message, described
38941below.
38942@end table
38943
38944@item qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}
38945Set the value of @var{sym_name} to @var{sym_value}.
38946
38947@var{sym_name} (hex encoded) is the name of a symbol whose value the
38948target has previously requested.
38949
38950@var{sym_value} (hex) is the value for symbol @var{sym_name}. If
38951@value{GDBN} cannot supply a value for @var{sym_name}, then this field
38952will be empty.
38953
38954Reply:
38955@table @samp
38956@item OK
38957The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
38958@item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
38959The target requests the value of a new symbol @var{sym_name} (hex
38960encoded). @value{GDBN} will continue to supply the values of symbols
38961(if available), until the target ceases to request them.
38962@end table
38963
38964@item qTBuffer
38965@itemx QTBuffer
38966@itemx QTDisconnected
38967@itemx QTDP
38968@itemx QTDPsrc
38969@itemx QTDV
38970@itemx qTfP
38971@itemx qTfV
38972@itemx QTFrame
38973@itemx qTMinFTPILen
38974
38975@xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
38976
38977@item qThreadExtraInfo,@var{thread-id}
38978@cindex thread attributes info, remote request
38979@cindex @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} packet
38980Obtain a printable string description of a thread's attributes from
38981the target OS. @var{thread-id} is a thread ID;
38982see @ref{thread-id syntax}. This
38983string may contain anything that the target OS thinks is interesting
38984for @value{GDBN} to tell the user about the thread. The string is
38985displayed in @value{GDBN}'s @code{info threads} display. Some
38986examples of possible thread extra info strings are @samp{Runnable}, or
38987@samp{Blocked on Mutex}.
38988
38989Reply:
38990@table @samp
38991@item @var{XX}@dots{}
38992Where @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is a hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data,
38993comprising the printable string containing the extra information about
38994the thread's attributes.
38995@end table
38996
38997(Note that the @code{qThreadExtraInfo} packet's name is separated from
38998the command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
38999conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
39000packets.)
39001
39002@item QTNotes
39003@itemx qTP
39004@itemx QTSave
39005@itemx qTsP
39006@itemx qTsV
39007@itemx QTStart
39008@itemx QTStop
39009@itemx QTEnable
39010@itemx QTDisable
39011@itemx QTinit
39012@itemx QTro
39013@itemx qTStatus
39014@itemx qTV
39015@itemx qTfSTM
39016@itemx qTsSTM
39017@itemx qTSTMat
39018@xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
39019
39020@item qXfer:@var{object}:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
39021@cindex read special object, remote request
39022@cindex @samp{qXfer} packet
39023@anchor{qXfer read}
39024Read uninterpreted bytes from the target's special data area
39025identified by the keyword @var{object}. Request @var{length} bytes
39026starting at @var{offset} bytes into the data. The content and
39027encoding of @var{annex} is specific to @var{object}; it can supply
39028additional details about what data to access.
39029
39030Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
39031@samp{qXfer:@var{object}:read:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
39032formats, listed below.
39033
39034@table @samp
39035@item qXfer:auxv:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
39036@anchor{qXfer auxiliary vector read}
39037Access the target's @dfn{auxiliary vector}. @xref{OS Information,
39038auxiliary vector}. Note @var{annex} must be empty.
39039
39040This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39041by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39042
39043@item qXfer:btrace:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
39044@anchor{qXfer btrace read}
39045
39046Return a description of the current branch trace.
39047@xref{Branch Trace Format}. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer}
39048packet may have one of the following values:
39049
39050@table @code
39051@item all
39052Returns all available branch trace.
39053
39054@item new
39055Returns all available branch trace if the branch trace changed since
39056the last read request.
39057@end table
39058
39059This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it
39060by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39061
39062@item qXfer:features:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
39063@anchor{qXfer target description read}
39064Access the @dfn{target description}. @xref{Target Descriptions}. The
39065annex specifies which XML document to access. The main description is
39066always loaded from the @samp{target.xml} annex.
39067
39068This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39069by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39070
39071@item qXfer:libraries:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
39072@anchor{qXfer library list read}
39073Access the target's list of loaded libraries. @xref{Library List Format}.
39074The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
39075(@pxref{qXfer read}).
39076
39077Targets which maintain a list of libraries in the program's memory do
39078not need to implement this packet; it is designed for platforms where
39079the operating system manages the list of loaded libraries.
39080
39081This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39082by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39083
39084@item qXfer:libraries-svr4:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
39085@anchor{qXfer svr4 library list read}
39086Access the target's list of loaded libraries when the target is an SVR4
39087platform. @xref{Library List Format for SVR4 Targets}. The annex part
39088of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty unless the remote
39089stub indicated it supports the augmented form of this packet
39090by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
39091(@pxref{qXfer read}, @ref{qSupported}).
39092
39093This packet is optional for better performance on SVR4 targets.
39094@value{GDBN} uses memory read packets to read the SVR4 library list otherwise.
39095
39096This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39097by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39098
39099If the remote stub indicates it supports the augmented form of this
39100packet then the annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet may
39101contain a semicolon-separated list of @samp{@var{name}=@var{value}}
39102arguments. The currently supported arguments are:
39103
39104@table @code
39105@item start=@var{address}
39106A hexadecimal number specifying the address of the @samp{struct
39107link_map} to start reading the library list from. If unset or zero
39108then the first @samp{struct link_map} in the library list will be
39109chosen as the starting point.
39110
39111@item prev=@var{address}
39112A hexadecimal number specifying the address of the @samp{struct
39113link_map} immediately preceding the @samp{struct link_map}
39114specified by the @samp{start} argument. If unset or zero then
39115the remote stub will expect that no @samp{struct link_map}
39116exists prior to the starting point.
39117
39118@end table
39119
39120Arguments that are not understood by the remote stub will be silently
39121ignored.
39122
39123@item qXfer:memory-map:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
39124@anchor{qXfer memory map read}
39125Access the target's @dfn{memory-map}. @xref{Memory Map Format}. The
39126annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
39127(@pxref{qXfer read}).
39128
39129This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39130by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39131
39132@item qXfer:sdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
39133@anchor{qXfer sdata read}
39134
39135Read contents of the extra collected static tracepoint marker
39136information. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must
39137be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}). @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint
39138Action Lists}.
39139
39140This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39141by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
39142(@pxref{qSupported}).
39143
39144@item qXfer:siginfo:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
39145@anchor{qXfer siginfo read}
39146Read contents of the extra signal information on the target
39147system. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
39148empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
39149
39150This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39151by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
39152(@pxref{qSupported}).
39153
39154@item qXfer:spu:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
39155@anchor{qXfer spu read}
39156Read contents of an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
39157annex specifies which file to read; it must be of the form
39158@file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
39159in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
39160in that context to be accessed.
39161
39162This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39163by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
39164(@pxref{qSupported}).
39165
39166@item qXfer:threads:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
39167@anchor{qXfer threads read}
39168Access the list of threads on target. @xref{Thread List Format}. The
39169annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
39170(@pxref{qXfer read}).
39171
39172This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39173by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39174
39175@item qXfer:traceframe-info:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
39176@anchor{qXfer traceframe info read}
39177
39178Return a description of the current traceframe's contents.
39179@xref{Traceframe Info Format}. The annex part of the generic
39180@samp{qXfer} packet must be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
39181
39182This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39183by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39184
39185@item qXfer:uib:read:@var{pc}:@var{offset},@var{length}
39186@anchor{qXfer unwind info block}
39187
39188Return the unwind information block for @var{pc}. This packet is used
39189on OpenVMS/ia64 to ask the kernel unwind information.
39190
39191This packet is not probed by default.
39192
39193@item qXfer:fdpic:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
39194@anchor{qXfer fdpic loadmap read}
39195Read contents of @code{loadmap}s on the target system. The
39196annex, either @samp{exec} or @samp{interp}, specifies which @code{loadmap},
39197executable @code{loadmap} or interpreter @code{loadmap} to read.
39198
39199This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39200by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39201
39202@item qXfer:osdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
39203@anchor{qXfer osdata read}
39204Access the target's @dfn{operating system information}.
39205@xref{Operating System Information}.
39206
39207@end table
39208
39209Reply:
39210@table @samp
39211@item m @var{data}
39212Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the
39213target. There may be more data at a higher address (although
39214it is permitted to return @samp{m} even for the last valid
39215block of data, as long as at least one byte of data was read).
39216@var{data} may have fewer bytes than the @var{length} in the
39217request.
39218
39219@item l @var{data}
39220Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the target.
39221There is no more data to be read. @var{data} may have fewer bytes
39222than the @var{length} in the request.
39223
39224@item l
39225The @var{offset} in the request is at the end of the data.
39226There is no more data to be read.
39227
39228@item E00
39229The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
39230
39231@item E @var{nn}
39232The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered reading the data.
39233@var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
39234
39235@item @w{}
39236An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not recognized by
39237the stub, or that the object does not support reading.
39238@end table
39239
39240@item qXfer:@var{object}:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
39241@cindex write data into object, remote request
39242@anchor{qXfer write}
39243Write uninterpreted bytes into the target's special data area
39244identified by the keyword @var{object}, starting at @var{offset} bytes
39245into the data. @var{data}@dots{} is the binary-encoded data
39246(@pxref{Binary Data}) to be written. The content and encoding of @var{annex}
39247is specific to @var{object}; it can supply additional details about what data
39248to access.
39249
39250Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
39251@samp{qXfer:@var{object}:write:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
39252formats, listed below.
39253
39254@table @samp
39255@item qXfer:siginfo:write::@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
39256@anchor{qXfer siginfo write}
39257Write @var{data} to the extra signal information on the target system.
39258The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
39259empty (@pxref{qXfer write}).
39260
39261This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39262by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
39263(@pxref{qSupported}).
39264
39265@item qXfer:spu:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
39266@anchor{qXfer spu write}
39267Write @var{data} to an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
39268annex specifies which file to write; it must be of the form
39269@file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
39270in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
39271in that context to be accessed.
39272
39273This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39274by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39275@end table
39276
39277Reply:
39278@table @samp
39279@item @var{nn}
39280@var{nn} (hex encoded) is the number of bytes written.
39281This may be fewer bytes than supplied in the request.
39282
39283@item E00
39284The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
39285
39286@item E @var{nn}
39287The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered writing the data.
39288@var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
39289
39290@item @w{}
39291An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not
39292recognized by the stub, or that the object does not support writing.
39293@end table
39294
39295@item qXfer:@var{object}:@var{operation}:@dots{}
39296Requests of this form may be added in the future. When a stub does
39297not recognize the @var{object} keyword, or its support for
39298@var{object} does not recognize the @var{operation} keyword, the stub
39299must respond with an empty packet.
39300
39301@item qAttached:@var{pid}
39302@cindex query attached, remote request
39303@cindex @samp{qAttached} packet
39304Return an indication of whether the remote server attached to an
39305existing process or created a new process. When the multiprocess
39306protocol extensions are supported (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}),
39307@var{pid} is an integer in hexadecimal format identifying the target
39308process. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} will omit the @var{pid} field and
39309the query packet will be simplified as @samp{qAttached}.
39310
39311This query is used, for example, to know whether the remote process
39312should be detached or killed when a @value{GDBN} session is ended with
39313the @code{quit} command.
39314
39315Reply:
39316@table @samp
39317@item 1
39318The remote server attached to an existing process.
39319@item 0
39320The remote server created a new process.
39321@item E @var{NN}
39322A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
39323@end table
39324
39325@item Qbtrace:bts
39326Enable branch tracing for the current thread using bts tracing.
39327
39328Reply:
39329@table @samp
39330@item OK
39331Branch tracing has been enabled.
39332@item E.errtext
39333A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
39334@end table
39335
39336@item Qbtrace:off
39337Disable branch tracing for the current thread.
39338
39339Reply:
39340@table @samp
39341@item OK
39342Branch tracing has been disabled.
39343@item E.errtext
39344A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
39345@end table
39346
39347@end table
39348
39349@node Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
39350@section Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
39351
39352This section describes how the remote protocol is applied to specific
39353target architectures. Also see @ref{Standard Target Features}, for
39354details of XML target descriptions for each architecture.
39355
39356@menu
39357* ARM-Specific Protocol Details::
39358* MIPS-Specific Protocol Details::
39359@end menu
39360
39361@node ARM-Specific Protocol Details
39362@subsection @acronym{ARM}-specific Protocol Details
39363
39364@menu
39365* ARM Breakpoint Kinds::
39366@end menu
39367
39368@node ARM Breakpoint Kinds
39369@subsubsection @acronym{ARM} Breakpoint Kinds
39370@cindex breakpoint kinds, @acronym{ARM}
39371
39372These breakpoint kinds are defined for the @samp{Z0} and @samp{Z1} packets.
39373
39374@table @r
39375
39376@item 2
3937716-bit Thumb mode breakpoint.
39378
39379@item 3
3938032-bit Thumb mode (Thumb-2) breakpoint.
39381
39382@item 4
3938332-bit @acronym{ARM} mode breakpoint.
39384
39385@end table
39386
39387@node MIPS-Specific Protocol Details
39388@subsection @acronym{MIPS}-specific Protocol Details
39389
39390@menu
39391* MIPS Register packet Format::
39392* MIPS Breakpoint Kinds::
39393@end menu
39394
39395@node MIPS Register packet Format
39396@subsubsection @acronym{MIPS} Register Packet Format
39397@cindex register packet format, @acronym{MIPS}
39398
39399The following @code{g}/@code{G} packets have previously been defined.
39400In the below, some thirty-two bit registers are transferred as
39401sixty-four bits. Those registers should be zero/sign extended (which?)
39402to fill the space allocated. Register bytes are transferred in target
39403byte order. The two nibbles within a register byte are transferred
39404most-significant -- least-significant.
39405
39406@table @r
39407
39408@item MIPS32
39409All registers are transferred as thirty-two bit quantities in the order:
3941032 general-purpose; sr; lo; hi; bad; cause; pc; 32 floating-point
39411registers; fsr; fir; fp.
39412
39413@item MIPS64
39414All registers are transferred as sixty-four bit quantities (including
39415thirty-two bit registers such as @code{sr}). The ordering is the same
39416as @code{MIPS32}.
39417
39418@end table
39419
39420@node MIPS Breakpoint Kinds
39421@subsubsection @acronym{MIPS} Breakpoint Kinds
39422@cindex breakpoint kinds, @acronym{MIPS}
39423
39424These breakpoint kinds are defined for the @samp{Z0} and @samp{Z1} packets.
39425
39426@table @r
39427
39428@item 2
3942916-bit @acronym{MIPS16} mode breakpoint.
39430
39431@item 3
3943216-bit @acronym{microMIPS} mode breakpoint.
39433
39434@item 4
3943532-bit standard @acronym{MIPS} mode breakpoint.
39436
39437@item 5
3943832-bit @acronym{microMIPS} mode breakpoint.
39439
39440@end table
39441
39442@node Tracepoint Packets
39443@section Tracepoint Packets
39444@cindex tracepoint packets
39445@cindex packets, tracepoint
39446
39447Here we describe the packets @value{GDBN} uses to implement
39448tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoints}).
39449
39450@table @samp
39451
39452@item QTDP:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{ena}:@var{step}:@var{pass}[:F@var{flen}][:X@var{len},@var{bytes}]@r{[}-@r{]}
39453@cindex @samp{QTDP} packet
39454Create a new tracepoint, number @var{n}, at @var{addr}. If @var{ena}
39455is @samp{E}, then the tracepoint is enabled; if it is @samp{D}, then
39456the tracepoint is disabled. @var{step} is the tracepoint's step
39457count, and @var{pass} is its pass count. If an @samp{F} is present,
39458then the tracepoint is to be a fast tracepoint, and the @var{flen} is
39459the number of bytes that the target should copy elsewhere to make room
39460for the tracepoint. If an @samp{X} is present, it introduces a
39461tracepoint condition, which consists of a hexadecimal length, followed
39462by a comma and hex-encoded bytes, in a manner similar to action
39463encodings as described below. If the trailing @samp{-} is present,
39464further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow to specify this tracepoint's
39465actions.
39466
39467Replies:
39468@table @samp
39469@item OK
39470The packet was understood and carried out.
39471@item qRelocInsn
39472@xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
39473@item @w{}
39474The packet was not recognized.
39475@end table
39476
39477@item QTDP:-@var{n}:@var{addr}:@r{[}S@r{]}@var{action}@dots{}@r{[}-@r{]}
39478Define actions to be taken when a tracepoint is hit. @var{n} and
39479@var{addr} must be the same as in the initial @samp{QTDP} packet for
39480this tracepoint. This packet may only be sent immediately after
39481another @samp{QTDP} packet that ended with a @samp{-}. If the
39482trailing @samp{-} is present, further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow,
39483specifying more actions for this tracepoint.
39484
39485In the series of action packets for a given tracepoint, at most one
39486can have an @samp{S} before its first @var{action}. If such a packet
39487is sent, it and the following packets define ``while-stepping''
39488actions. Any prior packets define ordinary actions --- that is, those
39489taken when the tracepoint is first hit. If no action packet has an
39490@samp{S}, then all the packets in the series specify ordinary
39491tracepoint actions.
39492
39493The @samp{@var{action}@dots{}} portion of the packet is a series of
39494actions, concatenated without separators. Each action has one of the
39495following forms:
39496
39497@table @samp
39498
39499@item R @var{mask}
39500Collect the registers whose bits are set in @var{mask}. @var{mask} is
39501a hexadecimal number whose @var{i}'th bit is set if register number
39502@var{i} should be collected. (The least significant bit is numbered
39503zero.) Note that @var{mask} may be any number of digits long; it may
39504not fit in a 32-bit word.
39505
39506@item M @var{basereg},@var{offset},@var{len}
39507Collect @var{len} bytes of memory starting at the address in register
39508number @var{basereg}, plus @var{offset}. If @var{basereg} is
39509@samp{-1}, then the range has a fixed address: @var{offset} is the
39510address of the lowest byte to collect. The @var{basereg},
39511@var{offset}, and @var{len} parameters are all unsigned hexadecimal
39512values (the @samp{-1} value for @var{basereg} is a special case).
39513
39514@item X @var{len},@var{expr}
39515Evaluate @var{expr}, whose length is @var{len}, and collect memory as
39516it directs. @var{expr} is an agent expression, as described in
39517@ref{Agent Expressions}. Each byte of the expression is encoded as a
39518two-digit hex number in the packet; @var{len} is the number of bytes
39519in the expression (and thus one-half the number of hex digits in the
39520packet).
39521
39522@end table
39523
39524Any number of actions may be packed together in a single @samp{QTDP}
39525packet, as long as the packet does not exceed the maximum packet
39526length (400 bytes, for many stubs). There may be only one @samp{R}
39527action per tracepoint, and it must precede any @samp{M} or @samp{X}
39528actions. Any registers referred to by @samp{M} and @samp{X} actions
39529must be collected by a preceding @samp{R} action. (The
39530``while-stepping'' actions are treated as if they were attached to a
39531separate tracepoint, as far as these restrictions are concerned.)
39532
39533Replies:
39534@table @samp
39535@item OK
39536The packet was understood and carried out.
39537@item qRelocInsn
39538@xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
39539@item @w{}
39540The packet was not recognized.
39541@end table
39542
39543@item QTDPsrc:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{type}:@var{start}:@var{slen}:@var{bytes}
39544@cindex @samp{QTDPsrc} packet
39545Specify a source string of tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr}.
39546This is useful to get accurate reproduction of the tracepoints
39547originally downloaded at the beginning of the trace run. @var{type}
39548is the name of the tracepoint part, such as @samp{cond} for the
39549tracepoint's conditional expression (see below for a list of types), while
39550@var{bytes} is the string, encoded in hexadecimal.
39551
39552@var{start} is the offset of the @var{bytes} within the overall source
39553string, while @var{slen} is the total length of the source string.
39554This is intended for handling source strings that are longer than will
39555fit in a single packet.
39556@c Add detailed example when this info is moved into a dedicated
39557@c tracepoint descriptions section.
39558
39559The available string types are @samp{at} for the location,
39560@samp{cond} for the conditional, and @samp{cmd} for an action command.
39561@value{GDBN} sends a separate packet for each command in the action
39562list, in the same order in which the commands are stored in the list.
39563
39564The target does not need to do anything with source strings except
39565report them back as part of the replies to the @samp{qTfP}/@samp{qTsP}
39566query packets.
39567
39568Although this packet is optional, and @value{GDBN} will only send it
39569if the target replies with @samp{TracepointSource} @xref{General
39570Query Packets}, it makes both disconnected tracing and trace files
39571much easier to use. Otherwise the user must be careful that the
39572tracepoints in effect while looking at trace frames are identical to
39573the ones in effect during the trace run; even a small discrepancy
39574could cause @samp{tdump} not to work, or a particular trace frame not
39575be found.
39576
39577@item QTDV:@var{n}:@var{value}
39578@cindex define trace state variable, remote request
39579@cindex @samp{QTDV} packet
39580Create a new trace state variable, number @var{n}, with an initial
39581value of @var{value}, which is a 64-bit signed integer. Both @var{n}
39582and @var{value} are encoded as hexadecimal values. @value{GDBN} has
39583the option of not using this packet for initial values of zero; the
39584target should simply create the trace state variables as they are
39585mentioned in expressions.
39586
39587@item QTFrame:@var{n}
39588@cindex @samp{QTFrame} packet
39589Select the @var{n}'th tracepoint frame from the buffer, and use the
39590register and memory contents recorded there to answer subsequent
39591request packets from @value{GDBN}.
39592
39593A successful reply from the stub indicates that the stub has found the
39594requested frame. The response is a series of parts, concatenated
39595without separators, describing the frame we selected. Each part has
39596one of the following forms:
39597
39598@table @samp
39599@item F @var{f}
39600The selected frame is number @var{n} in the trace frame buffer;
39601@var{f} is a hexadecimal number. If @var{f} is @samp{-1}, then there
39602was no frame matching the criteria in the request packet.
39603
39604@item T @var{t}
39605The selected trace frame records a hit of tracepoint number @var{t};
39606@var{t} is a hexadecimal number.
39607
39608@end table
39609
39610@item QTFrame:pc:@var{addr}
39611Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
39612currently selected frame whose PC is @var{addr};
39613@var{addr} is a hexadecimal number.
39614
39615@item QTFrame:tdp:@var{t}
39616Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
39617currently selected frame that is a hit of tracepoint @var{t}; @var{t}
39618is a hexadecimal number.
39619
39620@item QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}
39621Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
39622currently selected frame whose PC is between @var{start} (inclusive)
39623and @var{end} (inclusive); @var{start} and @var{end} are hexadecimal
39624numbers.
39625
39626@item QTFrame:outside:@var{start}:@var{end}
39627Like @samp{QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}}, but select the first
39628frame @emph{outside} the given range of addresses (exclusive).
39629
39630@item qTMinFTPILen
39631@cindex @samp{qTMinFTPILen} packet
39632This packet requests the minimum length of instruction at which a fast
39633tracepoint (@pxref{Set Tracepoints}) may be placed. For instance, on
39634the 32-bit x86 architecture, it is possible to use a 4-byte jump, but
39635it depends on the target system being able to create trampolines in
39636the first 64K of memory, which might or might not be possible for that
39637system. So the reply to this packet will be 4 if it is able to
39638arrange for that.
39639
39640Replies:
39641
39642@table @samp
39643@item 0
39644The minimum instruction length is currently unknown.
39645@item @var{length}
39646The minimum instruction length is @var{length}, where @var{length} is greater
39647or equal to 1. @var{length} is a hexadecimal number. A reply of 1 means
39648that a fast tracepoint may be placed on any instruction regardless of size.
39649@item E
39650An error has occurred.
39651@item @w{}
39652An empty reply indicates that the request is not supported by the stub.
39653@end table
39654
39655@item QTStart
39656@cindex @samp{QTStart} packet
39657Begin the tracepoint experiment. Begin collecting data from
39658tracepoint hits in the trace frame buffer. This packet supports the
39659@samp{qRelocInsn} reply (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
39660instruction reply packet}).
39661
39662@item QTStop
39663@cindex @samp{QTStop} packet
39664End the tracepoint experiment. Stop collecting trace frames.
39665
39666@item QTEnable:@var{n}:@var{addr}
39667@anchor{QTEnable}
39668@cindex @samp{QTEnable} packet
39669Enable tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr} in a started tracepoint
39670experiment. If the tracepoint was previously disabled, then collection
39671of data from it will resume.
39672
39673@item QTDisable:@var{n}:@var{addr}
39674@anchor{QTDisable}
39675@cindex @samp{QTDisable} packet
39676Disable tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr} in a started tracepoint
39677experiment. No more data will be collected from the tracepoint unless
39678@samp{QTEnable:@var{n}:@var{addr}} is subsequently issued.
39679
39680@item QTinit
39681@cindex @samp{QTinit} packet
39682Clear the table of tracepoints, and empty the trace frame buffer.
39683
39684@item QTro:@var{start1},@var{end1}:@var{start2},@var{end2}:@dots{}
39685@cindex @samp{QTro} packet
39686Establish the given ranges of memory as ``transparent''. The stub
39687will answer requests for these ranges from memory's current contents,
39688if they were not collected as part of the tracepoint hit.
39689
39690@value{GDBN} uses this to mark read-only regions of memory, like those
39691containing program code. Since these areas never change, they should
39692still have the same contents they did when the tracepoint was hit, so
39693there's no reason for the stub to refuse to provide their contents.
39694
39695@item QTDisconnected:@var{value}
39696@cindex @samp{QTDisconnected} packet
39697Set the choice to what to do with the tracing run when @value{GDBN}
39698disconnects from the target. A @var{value} of 1 directs the target to
39699continue the tracing run, while 0 tells the target to stop tracing if
39700@value{GDBN} is no longer in the picture.
39701
39702@item qTStatus
39703@cindex @samp{qTStatus} packet
39704Ask the stub if there is a trace experiment running right now.
39705
39706The reply has the form:
39707
39708@table @samp
39709
39710@item T@var{running}@r{[};@var{field}@r{]}@dots{}
39711@var{running} is a single digit @code{1} if the trace is presently
39712running, or @code{0} if not. It is followed by semicolon-separated
39713optional fields that an agent may use to report additional status.
39714
39715@end table
39716
39717If the trace is not running, the agent may report any of several
39718explanations as one of the optional fields:
39719
39720@table @samp
39721
39722@item tnotrun:0
39723No trace has been run yet.
39724
39725@item tstop[:@var{text}]:0
39726The trace was stopped by a user-originated stop command. The optional
39727@var{text} field is a user-supplied string supplied as part of the
39728stop command (for instance, an explanation of why the trace was
39729stopped manually). It is hex-encoded.
39730
39731@item tfull:0
39732The trace stopped because the trace buffer filled up.
39733
39734@item tdisconnected:0
39735The trace stopped because @value{GDBN} disconnected from the target.
39736
39737@item tpasscount:@var{tpnum}
39738The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} exceeded its pass count.
39739
39740@item terror:@var{text}:@var{tpnum}
39741The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} had an error. The
39742string @var{text} is available to describe the nature of the error
39743(for instance, a divide by zero in the condition expression).
39744@var{text} is hex encoded.
39745
39746@item tunknown:0
39747The trace stopped for some other reason.
39748
39749@end table
39750
39751Additional optional fields supply statistical and other information.
39752Although not required, they are extremely useful for users monitoring
39753the progress of a trace run. If a trace has stopped, and these
39754numbers are reported, they must reflect the state of the just-stopped
39755trace.
39756
39757@table @samp
39758
39759@item tframes:@var{n}
39760The number of trace frames in the buffer.
39761
39762@item tcreated:@var{n}
39763The total number of trace frames created during the run. This may
39764be larger than the trace frame count, if the buffer is circular.
39765
39766@item tsize:@var{n}
39767The total size of the trace buffer, in bytes.
39768
39769@item tfree:@var{n}
39770The number of bytes still unused in the buffer.
39771
39772@item circular:@var{n}
39773The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
39774trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
39775necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
39776and may fill up.
39777
39778@item disconn:@var{n}
39779The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
39780tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
39781that the trace run will stop.
39782
39783@end table
39784
39785@item qTP:@var{tp}:@var{addr}
39786@cindex tracepoint status, remote request
39787@cindex @samp{qTP} packet
39788Ask the stub for the current state of tracepoint number @var{tp} at
39789address @var{addr}.
39790
39791Replies:
39792@table @samp
39793@item V@var{hits}:@var{usage}
39794The tracepoint has been hit @var{hits} times so far during the trace
39795run, and accounts for @var{usage} in the trace buffer. Note that
39796@code{while-stepping} steps are not counted as separate hits, but the
39797steps' space consumption is added into the usage number.
39798
39799@end table
39800
39801@item qTV:@var{var}
39802@cindex trace state variable value, remote request
39803@cindex @samp{qTV} packet
39804Ask the stub for the value of the trace state variable number @var{var}.
39805
39806Replies:
39807@table @samp
39808@item V@var{value}
39809The value of the variable is @var{value}. This will be the current
39810value of the variable if the user is examining a running target, or a
39811saved value if the variable was collected in the trace frame that the
39812user is looking at. Note that multiple requests may result in
39813different reply values, such as when requesting values while the
39814program is running.
39815
39816@item U
39817The value of the variable is unknown. This would occur, for example,
39818if the user is examining a trace frame in which the requested variable
39819was not collected.
39820@end table
39821
39822@item qTfP
39823@cindex @samp{qTfP} packet
39824@itemx qTsP
39825@cindex @samp{qTsP} packet
39826These packets request data about tracepoints that are being used by
39827the target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfP} to get the first piece
39828of data, and multiple @code{qTsP} to get additional pieces. Replies
39829to these packets generally take the form of the @code{QTDP} packets
39830that define tracepoints. (FIXME add detailed syntax)
39831
39832@item qTfV
39833@cindex @samp{qTfV} packet
39834@itemx qTsV
39835@cindex @samp{qTsV} packet
39836These packets request data about trace state variables that are on the
39837target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfV} to get the first vari of data,
39838and multiple @code{qTsV} to get additional variables. Replies to
39839these packets follow the syntax of the @code{QTDV} packets that define
39840trace state variables.
39841
39842@item qTfSTM
39843@itemx qTsSTM
39844@anchor{qTfSTM}
39845@anchor{qTsSTM}
39846@cindex @samp{qTfSTM} packet
39847@cindex @samp{qTsSTM} packet
39848These packets request data about static tracepoint markers that exist
39849in the target program. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfSTM} to get the
39850first piece of data, and multiple @code{qTsSTM} to get additional
39851pieces. Replies to these packets take the following form:
39852
39853Reply:
39854@table @samp
39855@item m @var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra}
39856A single marker
39857@item m @var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra},@var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra}@dots{}
39858a comma-separated list of markers
39859@item l
39860(lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
39861@item E @var{nn}
39862An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
39863@item @w{}
39864An empty reply indicates that the request is not supported by the
39865stub.
39866@end table
39867
39868@var{address} is encoded in hex.
39869@var{id} and @var{extra} are strings encoded in hex.
39870
39871In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
39872more markers, separated by commas. @value{GDBN} will respond to each
39873reply with a request for more markers (using the @samp{qs} form of the
39874query), until the target responds with @samp{l} (lower-case ell, for
39875@dfn{last}).
39876
39877@item qTSTMat:@var{address}
39878@anchor{qTSTMat}
39879@cindex @samp{qTSTMat} packet
39880This packets requests data about static tracepoint markers in the
39881target program at @var{address}. Replies to this packet follow the
39882syntax of the @samp{qTfSTM} and @code{qTsSTM} packets that list static
39883tracepoint markers.
39884
39885@item QTSave:@var{filename}
39886@cindex @samp{QTSave} packet
39887This packet directs the target to save trace data to the file name
39888@var{filename} in the target's filesystem. @var{filename} is encoded
39889as a hex string; the interpretation of the file name (relative vs
39890absolute, wild cards, etc) is up to the target.
39891
39892@item qTBuffer:@var{offset},@var{len}
39893@cindex @samp{qTBuffer} packet
39894Return up to @var{len} bytes of the current contents of trace buffer,
39895starting at @var{offset}. The trace buffer is treated as if it were
39896a contiguous collection of traceframes, as per the trace file format.
39897The reply consists as many hex-encoded bytes as the target can deliver
39898in a packet; it is not an error to return fewer than were asked for.
39899A reply consisting of just @code{l} indicates that no bytes are
39900available.
39901
39902@item QTBuffer:circular:@var{value}
39903This packet directs the target to use a circular trace buffer if
39904@var{value} is 1, or a linear buffer if the value is 0.
39905
39906@item QTBuffer:size:@var{size}
39907@anchor{QTBuffer-size}
39908@cindex @samp{QTBuffer size} packet
39909This packet directs the target to make the trace buffer be of size
39910@var{size} if possible. A value of @code{-1} tells the target to
39911use whatever size it prefers.
39912
39913@item QTNotes:@r{[}@var{type}:@var{text}@r{]}@r{[};@var{type}:@var{text}@r{]}@dots{}
39914@cindex @samp{QTNotes} packet
39915This packet adds optional textual notes to the trace run. Allowable
39916types include @code{user}, @code{notes}, and @code{tstop}, the
39917@var{text} fields are arbitrary strings, hex-encoded.
39918
39919@end table
39920
39921@subsection Relocate instruction reply packet
39922When installing fast tracepoints in memory, the target may need to
39923relocate the instruction currently at the tracepoint address to a
39924different address in memory. For most instructions, a simple copy is
39925enough, but, for example, call instructions that implicitly push the
39926return address on the stack, and relative branches or other
39927PC-relative instructions require offset adjustment, so that the effect
39928of executing the instruction at a different address is the same as if
39929it had executed in the original location.
39930
39931In response to several of the tracepoint packets, the target may also
39932respond with a number of intermediate @samp{qRelocInsn} request
39933packets before the final result packet, to have @value{GDBN} handle
39934this relocation operation. If a packet supports this mechanism, its
39935documentation will explicitly say so. See for example the above
39936descriptions for the @samp{QTStart} and @samp{QTDP} packets. The
39937format of the request is:
39938
39939@table @samp
39940@item qRelocInsn:@var{from};@var{to}
39941
39942This requests @value{GDBN} to copy instruction at address @var{from}
39943to address @var{to}, possibly adjusted so that executing the
39944instruction at @var{to} has the same effect as executing it at
39945@var{from}. @value{GDBN} writes the adjusted instruction to target
39946memory starting at @var{to}.
39947@end table
39948
39949Replies:
39950@table @samp
39951@item qRelocInsn:@var{adjusted_size}
39952Informs the stub the relocation is complete. @var{adjusted_size} is
39953the length in bytes of resulting relocated instruction sequence.
39954@item E @var{NN}
39955A badly formed request was detected, or an error was encountered while
39956relocating the instruction.
39957@end table
39958
39959@node Host I/O Packets
39960@section Host I/O Packets
39961@cindex Host I/O, remote protocol
39962@cindex file transfer, remote protocol
39963
39964The @dfn{Host I/O} packets allow @value{GDBN} to perform I/O
39965operations on the far side of a remote link. For example, Host I/O is
39966used to upload and download files to a remote target with its own
39967filesystem. Host I/O uses the same constant values and data structure
39968layout as the target-initiated File-I/O protocol. However, the
39969Host I/O packets are structured differently. The target-initiated
39970protocol relies on target memory to store parameters and buffers.
39971Host I/O requests are initiated by @value{GDBN}, and the
39972target's memory is not involved. @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol
39973Extension}, for more details on the target-initiated protocol.
39974
39975The Host I/O request packets all encode a single operation along with
39976its arguments. They have this format:
39977
39978@table @samp
39979
39980@item vFile:@var{operation}: @var{parameter}@dots{}
39981@var{operation} is the name of the particular request; the target
39982should compare the entire packet name up to the second colon when checking
39983for a supported operation. The format of @var{parameter} depends on
39984the operation. Numbers are always passed in hexadecimal. Negative
39985numbers have an explicit minus sign (i.e.@: two's complement is not
39986used). Strings (e.g.@: filenames) are encoded as a series of
39987hexadecimal bytes. The last argument to a system call may be a
39988buffer of escaped binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
39989
39990@end table
39991
39992The valid responses to Host I/O packets are:
39993
39994@table @samp
39995
39996@item F @var{result} [, @var{errno}] [; @var{attachment}]
39997@var{result} is the integer value returned by this operation, usually
39998non-negative for success and -1 for errors. If an error has occured,
39999@var{errno} will be included in the result. @var{errno} will have a
40000value defined by the File-I/O protocol (@pxref{Errno Values}). For
40001operations which return data, @var{attachment} supplies the data as a
40002binary buffer. Binary buffers in response packets are escaped in the
40003normal way (@pxref{Binary Data}). See the individual packet
40004documentation for the interpretation of @var{result} and
40005@var{attachment}.
40006
40007@item @w{}
40008An empty response indicates that this operation is not recognized.
40009
40010@end table
40011
40012These are the supported Host I/O operations:
40013
40014@table @samp
40015@item vFile:open: @var{pathname}, @var{flags}, @var{mode}
40016Open a file at @var{pathname} and return a file descriptor for it, or
40017return -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string,
40018@var{flags} is an integer indicating a mask of open flags
40019(@pxref{Open Flags}), and @var{mode} is an integer indicating a mask
40020of mode bits to use if the file is created (@pxref{mode_t Values}).
40021@xref{open}, for details of the open flags and mode values.
40022
40023@item vFile:close: @var{fd}
40024Close the open file corresponding to @var{fd} and return 0, or
40025-1 if an error occurs.
40026
40027@item vFile:pread: @var{fd}, @var{count}, @var{offset}
40028Read data from the open file corresponding to @var{fd}. Up to
40029@var{count} bytes will be read from the file, starting at @var{offset}
40030relative to the start of the file. The target may read fewer bytes;
40031common reasons include packet size limits and an end-of-file
40032condition. The number of bytes read is returned. Zero should only be
40033returned for a successful read at the end of the file, or if
40034@var{count} was zero.
40035
40036The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
40037If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
40038attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
40039number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
40040some characters were escaped.
40041
40042@item vFile:pwrite: @var{fd}, @var{offset}, @var{data}
40043Write @var{data} (a binary buffer) to the open file corresponding
40044to @var{fd}. Start the write at @var{offset} from the start of the
40045file. Unlike many @code{write} system calls, there is no
40046separate @var{count} argument; the length of @var{data} in the
40047packet is used. @samp{vFile:write} returns the number of bytes written,
40048which may be shorter than the length of @var{data}, or -1 if an
40049error occurred.
40050
40051@item vFile:unlink: @var{pathname}
40052Delete the file at @var{pathname} on the target. Return 0,
40053or -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string.
40054
40055@item vFile:readlink: @var{filename}
40056Read value of symbolic link @var{filename} on the target. Return
40057the number of bytes read, or -1 if an error occurs.
40058
40059The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
40060If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
40061attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
40062number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
40063some characters were escaped.
40064
40065@end table
40066
40067@node Interrupts
40068@section Interrupts
40069@cindex interrupts (remote protocol)
40070
40071When a program on the remote target is running, @value{GDBN} may
40072attempt to interrupt it by sending a @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or
40073a @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g},
40074control of which is specified via @value{GDBN}'s @samp{interrupt-sequence}.
40075
40076The precise meaning of @code{BREAK} is defined by the transport
40077mechanism and may, in fact, be undefined. @value{GDBN} does not
40078currently define a @code{BREAK} mechanism for any of the network
40079interfaces except for TCP, in which case @value{GDBN} sends the
40080@code{telnet} BREAK sequence.
40081
40082@samp{Ctrl-C}, on the other hand, is defined and implemented for all
40083transport mechanisms. It is represented by sending the single byte
40084@code{0x03} without any of the usual packet overhead described in
40085the Overview section (@pxref{Overview}). When a @code{0x03} byte is
40086transmitted as part of a packet, it is considered to be packet data
40087and does @emph{not} represent an interrupt. E.g., an @samp{X} packet
40088(@pxref{X packet}), used for binary downloads, may include an unescaped
40089@code{0x03} as part of its packet.
40090
40091@code{BREAK} followed by @code{g} is also known as Magic SysRq g.
40092When Linux kernel receives this sequence from serial port,
40093it stops execution and connects to gdb.
40094
40095Stubs are not required to recognize these interrupt mechanisms and the
40096precise meaning associated with receipt of the interrupt is
40097implementation defined. If the target supports debugging of multiple
40098threads and/or processes, it should attempt to interrupt all
40099currently-executing threads and processes.
40100If the stub is successful at interrupting the
40101running program, it should send one of the stop
40102reply packets (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}) to @value{GDBN} as a result
40103of successfully stopping the program in all-stop mode, and a stop reply
40104for each stopped thread in non-stop mode.
40105Interrupts received while the
40106program is stopped are discarded.
40107
40108@node Notification Packets
40109@section Notification Packets
40110@cindex notification packets
40111@cindex packets, notification
40112
40113The @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol includes @dfn{notifications},
40114packets that require no acknowledgment. Both the GDB and the stub
40115may send notifications (although the only notifications defined at
40116present are sent by the stub). Notifications carry information
40117without incurring the round-trip latency of an acknowledgment, and so
40118are useful for low-impact communications where occasional packet loss
40119is not a problem.
40120
40121A notification packet has the form @samp{% @var{data} #
40122@var{checksum}}, where @var{data} is the content of the notification,
40123and @var{checksum} is a checksum of @var{data}, computed and formatted
40124as for ordinary @value{GDBN} packets. A notification's @var{data}
40125never contains @samp{$}, @samp{%} or @samp{#} characters. Upon
40126receiving a notification, the recipient sends no @samp{+} or @samp{-}
40127to acknowledge the notification's receipt or to report its corruption.
40128
40129Every notification's @var{data} begins with a name, which contains no
40130colon characters, followed by a colon character.
40131
40132Recipients should silently ignore corrupted notifications and
40133notifications they do not understand. Recipients should restart
40134timeout periods on receipt of a well-formed notification, whether or
40135not they understand it.
40136
40137Senders should only send the notifications described here when this
40138protocol description specifies that they are permitted. In the
40139future, we may extend the protocol to permit existing notifications in
40140new contexts; this rule helps older senders avoid confusing newer
40141recipients.
40142
40143(Older versions of @value{GDBN} ignore bytes received until they see
40144the @samp{$} byte that begins an ordinary packet, so new stubs may
40145transmit notifications without fear of confusing older clients. There
40146are no notifications defined for @value{GDBN} to send at the moment, but we
40147assume that most older stubs would ignore them, as well.)
40148
40149Each notification is comprised of three parts:
40150@table @samp
40151@item @var{name}:@var{event}
40152The notification packet is sent by the side that initiates the
40153exchange (currently, only the stub does that), with @var{event}
40154carrying the specific information about the notification.
40155@var{name} is the name of the notification.
40156@item @var{ack}
40157The acknowledge sent by the other side, usually @value{GDBN}, to
40158acknowledge the exchange and request the event.
40159@end table
40160
40161The purpose of an asynchronous notification mechanism is to report to
40162@value{GDBN} that something interesting happened in the remote stub.
40163
40164The remote stub may send notification @var{name}:@var{event}
40165at any time, but @value{GDBN} acknowledges the notification when
40166appropriate. The notification event is pending before @value{GDBN}
40167acknowledges. Only one notification at a time may be pending; if
40168additional events occur before @value{GDBN} has acknowledged the
40169previous notification, they must be queued by the stub for later
40170synchronous transmission in response to @var{ack} packets from
40171@value{GDBN}. Because the notification mechanism is unreliable,
40172the stub is permitted to resend a notification if it believes
40173@value{GDBN} may not have received it.
40174
40175Specifically, notifications may appear when @value{GDBN} is not
40176otherwise reading input from the stub, or when @value{GDBN} is
40177expecting to read a normal synchronous response or a
40178@samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgment to a packet it has sent.
40179Notification packets are distinct from any other communication from
40180the stub so there is no ambiguity.
40181
40182After receiving a notification, @value{GDBN} shall acknowledge it by
40183sending a @var{ack} packet as a regular, synchronous request to the
40184stub. Such acknowledgment is not required to happen immediately, as
40185@value{GDBN} is permitted to send other, unrelated packets to the
40186stub first, which the stub should process normally.
40187
40188Upon receiving a @var{ack} packet, if the stub has other queued
40189events to report to @value{GDBN}, it shall respond by sending a
40190normal @var{event}. @value{GDBN} shall then send another @var{ack}
40191packet to solicit further responses; again, it is permitted to send
40192other, unrelated packets as well which the stub should process
40193normally.
40194
40195If the stub receives a @var{ack} packet and there are no additional
40196@var{event} to report, the stub shall return an @samp{OK} response.
40197At this point, @value{GDBN} has finished processing a notification
40198and the stub has completed sending any queued events. @value{GDBN}
40199won't accept any new notifications until the final @samp{OK} is
40200received . If further notification events occur, the stub shall send
40201a new notification, @value{GDBN} shall accept the notification, and
40202the process shall be repeated.
40203
40204The process of asynchronous notification can be illustrated by the
40205following example:
40206@smallexample
40207<- @code{%%Stop:T0505:98e7ffbf;04:4ce6ffbf;08:b1b6e54c;thread:p7526.7526;core:0;}
40208@code{...}
40209-> @code{vStopped}
40210<- @code{T0505:68f37db7;04:40f37db7;08:63850408;thread:p7526.7528;core:0;}
40211-> @code{vStopped}
40212<- @code{T0505:68e3fdb6;04:40e3fdb6;08:63850408;thread:p7526.7529;core:0;}
40213-> @code{vStopped}
40214<- @code{OK}
40215@end smallexample
40216
40217The following notifications are defined:
40218@multitable @columnfractions 0.12 0.12 0.38 0.38
40219
40220@item Notification
40221@tab Ack
40222@tab Event
40223@tab Description
40224
40225@item Stop
40226@tab vStopped
40227@tab @var{reply}. The @var{reply} has the form of a stop reply, as
40228described in @ref{Stop Reply Packets}. Refer to @ref{Remote Non-Stop},
40229for information on how these notifications are acknowledged by
40230@value{GDBN}.
40231@tab Report an asynchronous stop event in non-stop mode.
40232
40233@end multitable
40234
40235@node Remote Non-Stop
40236@section Remote Protocol Support for Non-Stop Mode
40237
40238@value{GDBN}'s remote protocol supports non-stop debugging of
40239multi-threaded programs, as described in @ref{Non-Stop Mode}. If the stub
40240supports non-stop mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN} by including
40241@samp{QNonStop+} in its @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
40242
40243@value{GDBN} typically sends a @samp{QNonStop} packet only when
40244establishing a new connection with the stub. Entering non-stop mode
40245does not alter the state of any currently-running threads, but targets
40246must stop all threads in any already-attached processes when entering
40247all-stop mode. @value{GDBN} uses the @samp{?} packet as necessary to
40248probe the target state after a mode change.
40249
40250In non-stop mode, when an attached process encounters an event that
40251would otherwise be reported with a stop reply, it uses the
40252asynchronous notification mechanism (@pxref{Notification Packets}) to
40253inform @value{GDBN}. In contrast to all-stop mode, where all threads
40254in all processes are stopped when a stop reply is sent, in non-stop
40255mode only the thread reporting the stop event is stopped. That is,
40256when reporting a @samp{S} or @samp{T} response to indicate completion
40257of a step operation, hitting a breakpoint, or a fault, only the
40258affected thread is stopped; any other still-running threads continue
40259to run. When reporting a @samp{W} or @samp{X} response, all running
40260threads belonging to other attached processes continue to run.
40261
40262In non-stop mode, the target shall respond to the @samp{?} packet as
40263follows. First, any incomplete stop reply notification/@samp{vStopped}
40264sequence in progress is abandoned. The target must begin a new
40265sequence reporting stop events for all stopped threads, whether or not
40266it has previously reported those events to @value{GDBN}. The first
40267stop reply is sent as a synchronous reply to the @samp{?} packet, and
40268subsequent stop replies are sent as responses to @samp{vStopped} packets
40269using the mechanism described above. The target must not send
40270asynchronous stop reply notifications until the sequence is complete.
40271If all threads are running when the target receives the @samp{?} packet,
40272or if the target is not attached to any process, it shall respond
40273@samp{OK}.
40274
40275@node Packet Acknowledgment
40276@section Packet Acknowledgment
40277
40278@cindex acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
40279@cindex packet acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
40280By default, when either the host or the target machine receives a packet,
40281the first response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
40282the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request retransmission).
40283This mechanism allows the @value{GDBN} remote protocol to operate over
40284unreliable transport mechanisms, such as a serial line.
40285
40286In cases where the transport mechanism is itself reliable (such as a pipe or
40287TCP connection), the @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are redundant.
40288It may be desirable to disable them in that case to reduce communication
40289overhead, or for other reasons. This can be accomplished by means of the
40290@samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet; @pxref{QStartNoAckMode}.
40291
40292When in no-acknowledgment mode, neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or
40293expect @samp{+}/@samp{-} protocol acknowledgments. The packet
40294and response format still includes the normal checksum, as described in
40295@ref{Overview}, but the checksum may be ignored by the receiver.
40296
40297If the stub supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and prefers to operate in
40298no-acknowledgment mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN}
40299by including @samp{QStartNoAckMode+} in its response to @samp{qSupported};
40300@pxref{qSupported}.
40301If @value{GDBN} also supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and it has not been
40302disabled via the @code{set remote noack-packet off} command
40303(@pxref{Remote Configuration}),
40304@value{GDBN} may then send a @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet to the stub.
40305Only then may the stub actually turn off packet acknowledgments.
40306@value{GDBN} sends a final @samp{+} acknowledgment of the stub's @samp{OK}
40307response, which can be safely ignored by the stub.
40308
40309Note that @code{set remote noack-packet} command only affects negotiation
40310between @value{GDBN} and the stub when subsequent connections are made;
40311it does not affect the protocol acknowledgment state for any current
40312connection.
40313Since @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are enabled by default when a
40314new connection is established,
40315there is also no protocol request to re-enable the acknowledgments
40316for the current connection, once disabled.
40317
40318@node Examples
40319@section Examples
40320
40321Example sequence of a target being re-started. Notice how the restart
40322does not get any direct output:
40323
40324@smallexample
40325-> @code{R00}
40326<- @code{+}
40327@emph{target restarts}
40328-> @code{?}
40329<- @code{+}
40330<- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
40331-> @code{+}
40332@end smallexample
40333
40334Example sequence of a target being stepped by a single instruction:
40335
40336@smallexample
40337-> @code{G1445@dots{}}
40338<- @code{+}
40339-> @code{s}
40340<- @code{+}
40341@emph{time passes}
40342<- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
40343-> @code{+}
40344-> @code{g}
40345<- @code{+}
40346<- @code{1455@dots{}}
40347-> @code{+}
40348@end smallexample
40349
40350@node File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
40351@section File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
40352@cindex File-I/O remote protocol extension
40353
40354@menu
40355* File-I/O Overview::
40356* Protocol Basics::
40357* The F Request Packet::
40358* The F Reply Packet::
40359* The Ctrl-C Message::
40360* Console I/O::
40361* List of Supported Calls::
40362* Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes::
40363* Constants::
40364* File-I/O Examples::
40365@end menu
40366
40367@node File-I/O Overview
40368@subsection File-I/O Overview
40369@cindex file-i/o overview
40370
40371The @dfn{File I/O remote protocol extension} (short: File-I/O) allows the
40372target to use the host's file system and console I/O to perform various
40373system calls. System calls on the target system are translated into a
40374remote protocol packet to the host system, which then performs the needed
40375actions and returns a response packet to the target system.
40376This simulates file system operations even on targets that lack file systems.
40377
40378The protocol is defined to be independent of both the host and target systems.
40379It uses its own internal representation of datatypes and values. Both
40380@value{GDBN} and the target's @value{GDBN} stub are responsible for
40381translating the system-dependent value representations into the internal
40382protocol representations when data is transmitted.
40383
40384The communication is synchronous. A system call is possible only when
40385@value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
40386or @samp{s} packets. While @value{GDBN} handles the request for a system call,
40387the target is stopped to allow deterministic access to the target's
40388memory. Therefore File-I/O is not interruptible by target signals. On
40389the other hand, it is possible to interrupt File-I/O by a user interrupt
40390(@samp{Ctrl-C}) within @value{GDBN}.
40391
40392The target's request to perform a host system call does not finish
40393the latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} action. That means,
40394after finishing the system call, the target returns to continuing the
40395previous activity (continue, step). No additional continue or step
40396request from @value{GDBN} is required.
40397
40398@smallexample
40399(@value{GDBP}) continue
40400 <- target requests 'system call X'
40401 target is stopped, @value{GDBN} executes system call
40402 -> @value{GDBN} returns result
40403 ... target continues, @value{GDBN} returns to wait for the target
40404 <- target hits breakpoint and sends a Txx packet
40405@end smallexample
40406
40407The protocol only supports I/O on the console and to regular files on
40408the host file system. Character or block special devices, pipes,
40409named pipes, sockets or any other communication method on the host
40410system are not supported by this protocol.
40411
40412File I/O is not supported in non-stop mode.
40413
40414@node Protocol Basics
40415@subsection Protocol Basics
40416@cindex protocol basics, file-i/o
40417
40418The File-I/O protocol uses the @code{F} packet as the request as well
40419as reply packet. Since a File-I/O system call can only occur when
40420@value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the continuing or stepping target,
40421the File-I/O request is a reply that @value{GDBN} has to expect as a result
40422of a previous @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} packet.
40423This @code{F} packet contains all information needed to allow @value{GDBN}
40424to call the appropriate host system call:
40425
40426@itemize @bullet
40427@item
40428A unique identifier for the requested system call.
40429
40430@item
40431All parameters to the system call. Pointers are given as addresses
40432in the target memory address space. Pointers to strings are given as
40433pointer/length pair. Numerical values are given as they are.
40434Numerical control flags are given in a protocol-specific representation.
40435
40436@end itemize
40437
40438At this point, @value{GDBN} has to perform the following actions.
40439
40440@itemize @bullet
40441@item
40442If the parameters include pointer values to data needed as input to a
40443system call, @value{GDBN} requests this data from the target with a
40444standard @code{m} packet request. This additional communication has to be
40445expected by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{m}
40446packet.
40447
40448@item
40449@value{GDBN} translates all value from protocol representation to host
40450representation as needed. Datatypes are coerced into the host types.
40451
40452@item
40453@value{GDBN} calls the system call.
40454
40455@item
40456It then coerces datatypes back to protocol representation.
40457
40458@item
40459If the system call is expected to return data in buffer space specified
40460by pointer parameters to the call, the data is transmitted to the
40461target using a @code{M} or @code{X} packet. This packet has to be expected
40462by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{M} or @code{X}
40463packet.
40464
40465@end itemize
40466
40467Eventually @value{GDBN} replies with another @code{F} packet which contains all
40468necessary information for the target to continue. This at least contains
40469
40470@itemize @bullet
40471@item
40472Return value.
40473
40474@item
40475@code{errno}, if has been changed by the system call.
40476
40477@item
40478``Ctrl-C'' flag.
40479
40480@end itemize
40481
40482After having done the needed type and value coercion, the target continues
40483the latest continue or step action.
40484
40485@node The F Request Packet
40486@subsection The @code{F} Request Packet
40487@cindex file-i/o request packet
40488@cindex @code{F} request packet
40489
40490The @code{F} request packet has the following format:
40491
40492@table @samp
40493@item F@var{call-id},@var{parameter@dots{}}
40494
40495@var{call-id} is the identifier to indicate the host system call to be called.
40496This is just the name of the function.
40497
40498@var{parameter@dots{}} are the parameters to the system call.
40499Parameters are hexadecimal integer values, either the actual values in case
40500of scalar datatypes, pointers to target buffer space in case of compound
40501datatypes and unspecified memory areas, or pointer/length pairs in case
40502of string parameters. These are appended to the @var{call-id} as a
40503comma-delimited list. All values are transmitted in ASCII
40504string representation, pointer/length pairs separated by a slash.
40505
40506@end table
40507
40508
40509
40510@node The F Reply Packet
40511@subsection The @code{F} Reply Packet
40512@cindex file-i/o reply packet
40513@cindex @code{F} reply packet
40514
40515The @code{F} reply packet has the following format:
40516
40517@table @samp
40518
40519@item F@var{retcode},@var{errno},@var{Ctrl-C flag};@var{call-specific attachment}
40520
40521@var{retcode} is the return code of the system call as hexadecimal value.
40522
40523@var{errno} is the @code{errno} set by the call, in protocol-specific
40524representation.
40525This parameter can be omitted if the call was successful.
40526
40527@var{Ctrl-C flag} is only sent if the user requested a break. In this
40528case, @var{errno} must be sent as well, even if the call was successful.
40529The @var{Ctrl-C flag} itself consists of the character @samp{C}:
40530
40531@smallexample
40532F0,0,C
40533@end smallexample
40534
40535@noindent
40536or, if the call was interrupted before the host call has been performed:
40537
40538@smallexample
40539F-1,4,C
40540@end smallexample
40541
40542@noindent
40543assuming 4 is the protocol-specific representation of @code{EINTR}.
40544
40545@end table
40546
40547
40548@node The Ctrl-C Message
40549@subsection The @samp{Ctrl-C} Message
40550@cindex ctrl-c message, in file-i/o protocol
40551
40552If the @samp{Ctrl-C} flag is set in the @value{GDBN}
40553reply packet (@pxref{The F Reply Packet}),
40554the target should behave as if it had
40555gotten a break message. The meaning for the target is ``system call
40556interrupted by @code{SIGINT}''. Consequentially, the target should actually stop
40557(as with a break message) and return to @value{GDBN} with a @code{T02}
40558packet.
40559
40560It's important for the target to know in which
40561state the system call was interrupted. There are two possible cases:
40562
40563@itemize @bullet
40564@item
40565The system call hasn't been performed on the host yet.
40566
40567@item
40568The system call on the host has been finished.
40569
40570@end itemize
40571
40572These two states can be distinguished by the target by the value of the
40573returned @code{errno}. If it's the protocol representation of @code{EINTR}, the system
40574call hasn't been performed. This is equivalent to the @code{EINTR} handling
40575on POSIX systems. In any other case, the target may presume that the
40576system call has been finished --- successfully or not --- and should behave
40577as if the break message arrived right after the system call.
40578
40579@value{GDBN} must behave reliably. If the system call has not been called
40580yet, @value{GDBN} may send the @code{F} reply immediately, setting @code{EINTR} as
40581@code{errno} in the packet. If the system call on the host has been finished
40582before the user requests a break, the full action must be finished by
40583@value{GDBN}. This requires sending @code{M} or @code{X} packets as necessary.
40584The @code{F} packet may only be sent when either nothing has happened
40585or the full action has been completed.
40586
40587@node Console I/O
40588@subsection Console I/O
40589@cindex console i/o as part of file-i/o
40590
40591By default and if not explicitly closed by the target system, the file
40592descriptors 0, 1 and 2 are connected to the @value{GDBN} console. Output
40593on the @value{GDBN} console is handled as any other file output operation
40594(@code{write(1, @dots{})} or @code{write(2, @dots{})}). Console input is handled
40595by @value{GDBN} so that after the target read request from file descriptor
405960 all following typing is buffered until either one of the following
40597conditions is met:
40598
40599@itemize @bullet
40600@item
40601The user types @kbd{Ctrl-c}. The behaviour is as explained above, and the
40602@code{read}
40603system call is treated as finished.
40604
40605@item
40606The user presses @key{RET}. This is treated as end of input with a trailing
40607newline.
40608
40609@item
40610The user types @kbd{Ctrl-d}. This is treated as end of input. No trailing
40611character (neither newline nor @samp{Ctrl-D}) is appended to the input.
40612
40613@end itemize
40614
40615If the user has typed more characters than fit in the buffer given to
40616the @code{read} call, the trailing characters are buffered in @value{GDBN} until
40617either another @code{read(0, @dots{})} is requested by the target, or debugging
40618is stopped at the user's request.
40619
40620
40621@node List of Supported Calls
40622@subsection List of Supported Calls
40623@cindex list of supported file-i/o calls
40624
40625@menu
40626* open::
40627* close::
40628* read::
40629* write::
40630* lseek::
40631* rename::
40632* unlink::
40633* stat/fstat::
40634* gettimeofday::
40635* isatty::
40636* system::
40637@end menu
40638
40639@node open
40640@unnumberedsubsubsec open
40641@cindex open, file-i/o system call
40642
40643@table @asis
40644@item Synopsis:
40645@smallexample
40646int open(const char *pathname, int flags);
40647int open(const char *pathname, int flags, mode_t mode);
40648@end smallexample
40649
40650@item Request:
40651@samp{Fopen,@var{pathptr}/@var{len},@var{flags},@var{mode}}
40652
40653@noindent
40654@var{flags} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
40655
40656@table @code
40657@item O_CREAT
40658If the file does not exist it will be created. The host
40659rules apply as far as file ownership and time stamps
40660are concerned.
40661
40662@item O_EXCL
40663When used with @code{O_CREAT}, if the file already exists it is
40664an error and open() fails.
40665
40666@item O_TRUNC
40667If the file already exists and the open mode allows
40668writing (@code{O_RDWR} or @code{O_WRONLY} is given) it will be
40669truncated to zero length.
40670
40671@item O_APPEND
40672The file is opened in append mode.
40673
40674@item O_RDONLY
40675The file is opened for reading only.
40676
40677@item O_WRONLY
40678The file is opened for writing only.
40679
40680@item O_RDWR
40681The file is opened for reading and writing.
40682@end table
40683
40684@noindent
40685Other bits are silently ignored.
40686
40687
40688@noindent
40689@var{mode} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
40690
40691@table @code
40692@item S_IRUSR
40693User has read permission.
40694
40695@item S_IWUSR
40696User has write permission.
40697
40698@item S_IRGRP
40699Group has read permission.
40700
40701@item S_IWGRP
40702Group has write permission.
40703
40704@item S_IROTH
40705Others have read permission.
40706
40707@item S_IWOTH
40708Others have write permission.
40709@end table
40710
40711@noindent
40712Other bits are silently ignored.
40713
40714
40715@item Return value:
40716@code{open} returns the new file descriptor or -1 if an error
40717occurred.
40718
40719@item Errors:
40720
40721@table @code
40722@item EEXIST
40723@var{pathname} already exists and @code{O_CREAT} and @code{O_EXCL} were used.
40724
40725@item EISDIR
40726@var{pathname} refers to a directory.
40727
40728@item EACCES
40729The requested access is not allowed.
40730
40731@item ENAMETOOLONG
40732@var{pathname} was too long.
40733
40734@item ENOENT
40735A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
40736
40737@item ENODEV
40738@var{pathname} refers to a device, pipe, named pipe or socket.
40739
40740@item EROFS
40741@var{pathname} refers to a file on a read-only filesystem and
40742write access was requested.
40743
40744@item EFAULT
40745@var{pathname} is an invalid pointer value.
40746
40747@item ENOSPC
40748No space on device to create the file.
40749
40750@item EMFILE
40751The process already has the maximum number of files open.
40752
40753@item ENFILE
40754The limit on the total number of files open on the system
40755has been reached.
40756
40757@item EINTR
40758The call was interrupted by the user.
40759@end table
40760
40761@end table
40762
40763@node close
40764@unnumberedsubsubsec close
40765@cindex close, file-i/o system call
40766
40767@table @asis
40768@item Synopsis:
40769@smallexample
40770int close(int fd);
40771@end smallexample
40772
40773@item Request:
40774@samp{Fclose,@var{fd}}
40775
40776@item Return value:
40777@code{close} returns zero on success, or -1 if an error occurred.
40778
40779@item Errors:
40780
40781@table @code
40782@item EBADF
40783@var{fd} isn't a valid open file descriptor.
40784
40785@item EINTR
40786The call was interrupted by the user.
40787@end table
40788
40789@end table
40790
40791@node read
40792@unnumberedsubsubsec read
40793@cindex read, file-i/o system call
40794
40795@table @asis
40796@item Synopsis:
40797@smallexample
40798int read(int fd, void *buf, unsigned int count);
40799@end smallexample
40800
40801@item Request:
40802@samp{Fread,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
40803
40804@item Return value:
40805On success, the number of bytes read is returned.
40806Zero indicates end of file. If count is zero, read
40807returns zero as well. On error, -1 is returned.
40808
40809@item Errors:
40810
40811@table @code
40812@item EBADF
40813@var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
40814reading.
40815
40816@item EFAULT
40817@var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
40818
40819@item EINTR
40820The call was interrupted by the user.
40821@end table
40822
40823@end table
40824
40825@node write
40826@unnumberedsubsubsec write
40827@cindex write, file-i/o system call
40828
40829@table @asis
40830@item Synopsis:
40831@smallexample
40832int write(int fd, const void *buf, unsigned int count);
40833@end smallexample
40834
40835@item Request:
40836@samp{Fwrite,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
40837
40838@item Return value:
40839On success, the number of bytes written are returned.
40840Zero indicates nothing was written. On error, -1
40841is returned.
40842
40843@item Errors:
40844
40845@table @code
40846@item EBADF
40847@var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
40848writing.
40849
40850@item EFAULT
40851@var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
40852
40853@item EFBIG
40854An attempt was made to write a file that exceeds the
40855host-specific maximum file size allowed.
40856
40857@item ENOSPC
40858No space on device to write the data.
40859
40860@item EINTR
40861The call was interrupted by the user.
40862@end table
40863
40864@end table
40865
40866@node lseek
40867@unnumberedsubsubsec lseek
40868@cindex lseek, file-i/o system call
40869
40870@table @asis
40871@item Synopsis:
40872@smallexample
40873long lseek (int fd, long offset, int flag);
40874@end smallexample
40875
40876@item Request:
40877@samp{Flseek,@var{fd},@var{offset},@var{flag}}
40878
40879@var{flag} is one of:
40880
40881@table @code
40882@item SEEK_SET
40883The offset is set to @var{offset} bytes.
40884
40885@item SEEK_CUR
40886The offset is set to its current location plus @var{offset}
40887bytes.
40888
40889@item SEEK_END
40890The offset is set to the size of the file plus @var{offset}
40891bytes.
40892@end table
40893
40894@item Return value:
40895On success, the resulting unsigned offset in bytes from
40896the beginning of the file is returned. Otherwise, a
40897value of -1 is returned.
40898
40899@item Errors:
40900
40901@table @code
40902@item EBADF
40903@var{fd} is not a valid open file descriptor.
40904
40905@item ESPIPE
40906@var{fd} is associated with the @value{GDBN} console.
40907
40908@item EINVAL
40909@var{flag} is not a proper value.
40910
40911@item EINTR
40912The call was interrupted by the user.
40913@end table
40914
40915@end table
40916
40917@node rename
40918@unnumberedsubsubsec rename
40919@cindex rename, file-i/o system call
40920
40921@table @asis
40922@item Synopsis:
40923@smallexample
40924int rename(const char *oldpath, const char *newpath);
40925@end smallexample
40926
40927@item Request:
40928@samp{Frename,@var{oldpathptr}/@var{len},@var{newpathptr}/@var{len}}
40929
40930@item Return value:
40931On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
40932
40933@item Errors:
40934
40935@table @code
40936@item EISDIR
40937@var{newpath} is an existing directory, but @var{oldpath} is not a
40938directory.
40939
40940@item EEXIST
40941@var{newpath} is a non-empty directory.
40942
40943@item EBUSY
40944@var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} is a directory that is in use by some
40945process.
40946
40947@item EINVAL
40948An attempt was made to make a directory a subdirectory
40949of itself.
40950
40951@item ENOTDIR
40952A component used as a directory in @var{oldpath} or new
40953path is not a directory. Or @var{oldpath} is a directory
40954and @var{newpath} exists but is not a directory.
40955
40956@item EFAULT
40957@var{oldpathptr} or @var{newpathptr} are invalid pointer values.
40958
40959@item EACCES
40960No access to the file or the path of the file.
40961
40962@item ENAMETOOLONG
40963
40964@var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} was too long.
40965
40966@item ENOENT
40967A directory component in @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} does not exist.
40968
40969@item EROFS
40970The file is on a read-only filesystem.
40971
40972@item ENOSPC
40973The device containing the file has no room for the new
40974directory entry.
40975
40976@item EINTR
40977The call was interrupted by the user.
40978@end table
40979
40980@end table
40981
40982@node unlink
40983@unnumberedsubsubsec unlink
40984@cindex unlink, file-i/o system call
40985
40986@table @asis
40987@item Synopsis:
40988@smallexample
40989int unlink(const char *pathname);
40990@end smallexample
40991
40992@item Request:
40993@samp{Funlink,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len}}
40994
40995@item Return value:
40996On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
40997
40998@item Errors:
40999
41000@table @code
41001@item EACCES
41002No access to the file or the path of the file.
41003
41004@item EPERM
41005The system does not allow unlinking of directories.
41006
41007@item EBUSY
41008The file @var{pathname} cannot be unlinked because it's
41009being used by another process.
41010
41011@item EFAULT
41012@var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
41013
41014@item ENAMETOOLONG
41015@var{pathname} was too long.
41016
41017@item ENOENT
41018A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
41019
41020@item ENOTDIR
41021A component of the path is not a directory.
41022
41023@item EROFS
41024The file is on a read-only filesystem.
41025
41026@item EINTR
41027The call was interrupted by the user.
41028@end table
41029
41030@end table
41031
41032@node stat/fstat
41033@unnumberedsubsubsec stat/fstat
41034@cindex fstat, file-i/o system call
41035@cindex stat, file-i/o system call
41036
41037@table @asis
41038@item Synopsis:
41039@smallexample
41040int stat(const char *pathname, struct stat *buf);
41041int fstat(int fd, struct stat *buf);
41042@end smallexample
41043
41044@item Request:
41045@samp{Fstat,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len},@var{bufptr}}@*
41046@samp{Ffstat,@var{fd},@var{bufptr}}
41047
41048@item Return value:
41049On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
41050
41051@item Errors:
41052
41053@table @code
41054@item EBADF
41055@var{fd} is not a valid open file.
41056
41057@item ENOENT
41058A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist or the
41059path is an empty string.
41060
41061@item ENOTDIR
41062A component of the path is not a directory.
41063
41064@item EFAULT
41065@var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
41066
41067@item EACCES
41068No access to the file or the path of the file.
41069
41070@item ENAMETOOLONG
41071@var{pathname} was too long.
41072
41073@item EINTR
41074The call was interrupted by the user.
41075@end table
41076
41077@end table
41078
41079@node gettimeofday
41080@unnumberedsubsubsec gettimeofday
41081@cindex gettimeofday, file-i/o system call
41082
41083@table @asis
41084@item Synopsis:
41085@smallexample
41086int gettimeofday(struct timeval *tv, void *tz);
41087@end smallexample
41088
41089@item Request:
41090@samp{Fgettimeofday,@var{tvptr},@var{tzptr}}
41091
41092@item Return value:
41093On success, 0 is returned, -1 otherwise.
41094
41095@item Errors:
41096
41097@table @code
41098@item EINVAL
41099@var{tz} is a non-NULL pointer.
41100
41101@item EFAULT
41102@var{tvptr} and/or @var{tzptr} is an invalid pointer value.
41103@end table
41104
41105@end table
41106
41107@node isatty
41108@unnumberedsubsubsec isatty
41109@cindex isatty, file-i/o system call
41110
41111@table @asis
41112@item Synopsis:
41113@smallexample
41114int isatty(int fd);
41115@end smallexample
41116
41117@item Request:
41118@samp{Fisatty,@var{fd}}
41119
41120@item Return value:
41121Returns 1 if @var{fd} refers to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise.
41122
41123@item Errors:
41124
41125@table @code
41126@item EINTR
41127The call was interrupted by the user.
41128@end table
41129
41130@end table
41131
41132Note that the @code{isatty} call is treated as a special case: it returns
411331 to the target if the file descriptor is attached
41134to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise. Implementing through system calls
41135would require implementing @code{ioctl} and would be more complex than
41136needed.
41137
41138
41139@node system
41140@unnumberedsubsubsec system
41141@cindex system, file-i/o system call
41142
41143@table @asis
41144@item Synopsis:
41145@smallexample
41146int system(const char *command);
41147@end smallexample
41148
41149@item Request:
41150@samp{Fsystem,@var{commandptr}/@var{len}}
41151
41152@item Return value:
41153If @var{len} is zero, the return value indicates whether a shell is
41154available. A zero return value indicates a shell is not available.
41155For non-zero @var{len}, the value returned is -1 on error and the
41156return status of the command otherwise. Only the exit status of the
41157command is returned, which is extracted from the host's @code{system}
41158return value by calling @code{WEXITSTATUS(retval)}. In case
41159@file{/bin/sh} could not be executed, 127 is returned.
41160
41161@item Errors:
41162
41163@table @code
41164@item EINTR
41165The call was interrupted by the user.
41166@end table
41167
41168@end table
41169
41170@value{GDBN} takes over the full task of calling the necessary host calls
41171to perform the @code{system} call. The return value of @code{system} on
41172the host is simplified before it's returned
41173to the target. Any termination signal information from the child process
41174is discarded, and the return value consists
41175entirely of the exit status of the called command.
41176
41177Due to security concerns, the @code{system} call is by default refused
41178by @value{GDBN}. The user has to allow this call explicitly with the
41179@code{set remote system-call-allowed 1} command.
41180
41181@table @code
41182@item set remote system-call-allowed
41183@kindex set remote system-call-allowed
41184Control whether to allow the @code{system} calls in the File I/O
41185protocol for the remote target. The default is zero (disabled).
41186
41187@item show remote system-call-allowed
41188@kindex show remote system-call-allowed
41189Show whether the @code{system} calls are allowed in the File I/O
41190protocol.
41191@end table
41192
41193@node Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
41194@subsection Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
41195@cindex protocol-specific representation of datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
41196
41197@menu
41198* Integral Datatypes::
41199* Pointer Values::
41200* Memory Transfer::
41201* struct stat::
41202* struct timeval::
41203@end menu
41204
41205@node Integral Datatypes
41206@unnumberedsubsubsec Integral Datatypes
41207@cindex integral datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
41208
41209The integral datatypes used in the system calls are @code{int},
41210@code{unsigned int}, @code{long}, @code{unsigned long},
41211@code{mode_t}, and @code{time_t}.
41212
41213@code{int}, @code{unsigned int}, @code{mode_t} and @code{time_t} are
41214implemented as 32 bit values in this protocol.
41215
41216@code{long} and @code{unsigned long} are implemented as 64 bit types.
41217
41218@xref{Limits}, for corresponding MIN and MAX values (similar to those
41219in @file{limits.h}) to allow range checking on host and target.
41220
41221@code{time_t} datatypes are defined as seconds since the Epoch.
41222
41223All integral datatypes transferred as part of a memory read or write of a
41224structured datatype e.g.@: a @code{struct stat} have to be given in big endian
41225byte order.
41226
41227@node Pointer Values
41228@unnumberedsubsubsec Pointer Values
41229@cindex pointer values, in file-i/o protocol
41230
41231Pointers to target data are transmitted as they are. An exception
41232is made for pointers to buffers for which the length isn't
41233transmitted as part of the function call, namely strings. Strings
41234are transmitted as a pointer/length pair, both as hex values, e.g.@:
41235
41236@smallexample
41237@code{1aaf/12}
41238@end smallexample
41239
41240@noindent
41241which is a pointer to data of length 18 bytes at position 0x1aaf.
41242The length is defined as the full string length in bytes, including
41243the trailing null byte. For example, the string @code{"hello world"}
41244at address 0x123456 is transmitted as
41245
41246@smallexample
41247@code{123456/d}
41248@end smallexample
41249
41250@node Memory Transfer
41251@unnumberedsubsubsec Memory Transfer
41252@cindex memory transfer, in file-i/o protocol
41253
41254Structured data which is transferred using a memory read or write (for
41255example, a @code{struct stat}) is expected to be in a protocol-specific format
41256with all scalar multibyte datatypes being big endian. Translation to
41257this representation needs to be done both by the target before the @code{F}
41258packet is sent, and by @value{GDBN} before
41259it transfers memory to the target. Transferred pointers to structured
41260data should point to the already-coerced data at any time.
41261
41262
41263@node struct stat
41264@unnumberedsubsubsec struct stat
41265@cindex struct stat, in file-i/o protocol
41266
41267The buffer of type @code{struct stat} used by the target and @value{GDBN}
41268is defined as follows:
41269
41270@smallexample
41271struct stat @{
41272 unsigned int st_dev; /* device */
41273 unsigned int st_ino; /* inode */
41274 mode_t st_mode; /* protection */
41275 unsigned int st_nlink; /* number of hard links */
41276 unsigned int st_uid; /* user ID of owner */
41277 unsigned int st_gid; /* group ID of owner */
41278 unsigned int st_rdev; /* device type (if inode device) */
41279 unsigned long st_size; /* total size, in bytes */
41280 unsigned long st_blksize; /* blocksize for filesystem I/O */
41281 unsigned long st_blocks; /* number of blocks allocated */
41282 time_t st_atime; /* time of last access */
41283 time_t st_mtime; /* time of last modification */
41284 time_t st_ctime; /* time of last change */
41285@};
41286@end smallexample
41287
41288The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
41289appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
41290structure is of size 64 bytes.
41291
41292The values of several fields have a restricted meaning and/or
41293range of values.
41294
41295@table @code
41296
41297@item st_dev
41298A value of 0 represents a file, 1 the console.
41299
41300@item st_ino
41301No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
41302
41303@item st_mode
41304Valid mode bits are described in @ref{Constants}. Any other
41305bits have currently no meaning for the target.
41306
41307@item st_uid
41308@itemx st_gid
41309@itemx st_rdev
41310No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
41311
41312@item st_atime
41313@itemx st_mtime
41314@itemx st_ctime
41315These values have a host and file system dependent
41316accuracy. Especially on Windows hosts, the file system may not
41317support exact timing values.
41318@end table
41319
41320The target gets a @code{struct stat} of the above representation and is
41321responsible for coercing it to the target representation before
41322continuing.
41323
41324Note that due to size differences between the host, target, and protocol
41325representations of @code{struct stat} members, these members could eventually
41326get truncated on the target.
41327
41328@node struct timeval
41329@unnumberedsubsubsec struct timeval
41330@cindex struct timeval, in file-i/o protocol
41331
41332The buffer of type @code{struct timeval} used by the File-I/O protocol
41333is defined as follows:
41334
41335@smallexample
41336struct timeval @{
41337 time_t tv_sec; /* second */
41338 long tv_usec; /* microsecond */
41339@};
41340@end smallexample
41341
41342The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
41343appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
41344structure is of size 8 bytes.
41345
41346@node Constants
41347@subsection Constants
41348@cindex constants, in file-i/o protocol
41349
41350The following values are used for the constants inside of the
41351protocol. @value{GDBN} and target are responsible for translating these
41352values before and after the call as needed.
41353
41354@menu
41355* Open Flags::
41356* mode_t Values::
41357* Errno Values::
41358* Lseek Flags::
41359* Limits::
41360@end menu
41361
41362@node Open Flags
41363@unnumberedsubsubsec Open Flags
41364@cindex open flags, in file-i/o protocol
41365
41366All values are given in hexadecimal representation.
41367
41368@smallexample
41369 O_RDONLY 0x0
41370 O_WRONLY 0x1
41371 O_RDWR 0x2
41372 O_APPEND 0x8
41373 O_CREAT 0x200
41374 O_TRUNC 0x400
41375 O_EXCL 0x800
41376@end smallexample
41377
41378@node mode_t Values
41379@unnumberedsubsubsec mode_t Values
41380@cindex mode_t values, in file-i/o protocol
41381
41382All values are given in octal representation.
41383
41384@smallexample
41385 S_IFREG 0100000
41386 S_IFDIR 040000
41387 S_IRUSR 0400
41388 S_IWUSR 0200
41389 S_IXUSR 0100
41390 S_IRGRP 040
41391 S_IWGRP 020
41392 S_IXGRP 010
41393 S_IROTH 04
41394 S_IWOTH 02
41395 S_IXOTH 01
41396@end smallexample
41397
41398@node Errno Values
41399@unnumberedsubsubsec Errno Values
41400@cindex errno values, in file-i/o protocol
41401
41402All values are given in decimal representation.
41403
41404@smallexample
41405 EPERM 1
41406 ENOENT 2
41407 EINTR 4
41408 EBADF 9
41409 EACCES 13
41410 EFAULT 14
41411 EBUSY 16
41412 EEXIST 17
41413 ENODEV 19
41414 ENOTDIR 20
41415 EISDIR 21
41416 EINVAL 22
41417 ENFILE 23
41418 EMFILE 24
41419 EFBIG 27
41420 ENOSPC 28
41421 ESPIPE 29
41422 EROFS 30
41423 ENAMETOOLONG 91
41424 EUNKNOWN 9999
41425@end smallexample
41426
41427 @code{EUNKNOWN} is used as a fallback error value if a host system returns
41428 any error value not in the list of supported error numbers.
41429
41430@node Lseek Flags
41431@unnumberedsubsubsec Lseek Flags
41432@cindex lseek flags, in file-i/o protocol
41433
41434@smallexample
41435 SEEK_SET 0
41436 SEEK_CUR 1
41437 SEEK_END 2
41438@end smallexample
41439
41440@node Limits
41441@unnumberedsubsubsec Limits
41442@cindex limits, in file-i/o protocol
41443
41444All values are given in decimal representation.
41445
41446@smallexample
41447 INT_MIN -2147483648
41448 INT_MAX 2147483647
41449 UINT_MAX 4294967295
41450 LONG_MIN -9223372036854775808
41451 LONG_MAX 9223372036854775807
41452 ULONG_MAX 18446744073709551615
41453@end smallexample
41454
41455@node File-I/O Examples
41456@subsection File-I/O Examples
41457@cindex file-i/o examples
41458
41459Example sequence of a write call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
41460address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be written:
41461
41462@smallexample
41463<- @code{Fwrite,3,1234,6}
41464@emph{request memory read from target}
41465-> @code{m1234,6}
41466<- XXXXXX
41467@emph{return "6 bytes written"}
41468-> @code{F6}
41469@end smallexample
41470
41471Example sequence of a read call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
41472address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be read:
41473
41474@smallexample
41475<- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
41476@emph{request memory write to target}
41477-> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
41478@emph{return "6 bytes read"}
41479-> @code{F6}
41480@end smallexample
41481
41482Example sequence of a read call, call fails on the host due to invalid
41483file descriptor (@code{EBADF}):
41484
41485@smallexample
41486<- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
41487-> @code{F-1,9}
41488@end smallexample
41489
41490Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} before syscall on
41491host is called:
41492
41493@smallexample
41494<- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
41495-> @code{F-1,4,C}
41496<- @code{T02}
41497@end smallexample
41498
41499Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} after syscall on
41500host is called:
41501
41502@smallexample
41503<- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
41504-> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
41505<- @code{T02}
41506@end smallexample
41507
41508@node Library List Format
41509@section Library List Format
41510@cindex library list format, remote protocol
41511
41512On some platforms, a dynamic loader (e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) runs in the
41513same process as your application to manage libraries. In this case,
41514@value{GDBN} can use the loader's symbol table and normal memory
41515operations to maintain a list of shared libraries. On other
41516platforms, the operating system manages loaded libraries.
41517@value{GDBN} can not retrieve the list of currently loaded libraries
41518through memory operations, so it uses the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
41519packet (@pxref{qXfer library list read}) instead. The remote stub
41520queries the target's operating system and reports which libraries
41521are loaded.
41522
41523The @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet returns an XML document which
41524lists loaded libraries and their offsets. Each library has an
41525associated name and one or more segment or section base addresses,
41526which report where the library was loaded in memory.
41527
41528For the common case of libraries that are fully linked binaries, the
41529library should have a list of segments. If the target supports
41530dynamic linking of a relocatable object file, its library XML element
41531should instead include a list of allocated sections. The segment or
41532section bases are start addresses, not relocation offsets; they do not
41533depend on the library's link-time base addresses.
41534
41535@value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
41536library lists. @xref{Expat}.
41537
41538A simple memory map, with one loaded library relocated by a single
41539offset, looks like this:
41540
41541@smallexample
41542<library-list>
41543 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6">
41544 <segment address="0x10000000"/>
41545 </library>
41546</library-list>
41547@end smallexample
41548
41549Another simple memory map, with one loaded library with three
41550allocated sections (.text, .data, .bss), looks like this:
41551
41552@smallexample
41553<library-list>
41554 <library name="sharedlib.o">
41555 <section address="0x10000000"/>
41556 <section address="0x20000000"/>
41557 <section address="0x30000000"/>
41558 </library>
41559</library-list>
41560@end smallexample
41561
41562The format of a library list is described by this DTD:
41563
41564@smallexample
41565<!-- library-list: Root element with versioning -->
41566<!ELEMENT library-list (library)*>
41567<!ATTLIST library-list version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
41568<!ELEMENT library (segment*, section*)>
41569<!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
41570<!ELEMENT segment EMPTY>
41571<!ATTLIST segment address CDATA #REQUIRED>
41572<!ELEMENT section EMPTY>
41573<!ATTLIST section address CDATA #REQUIRED>
41574@end smallexample
41575
41576In addition, segments and section descriptors cannot be mixed within a
41577single library element, and you must supply at least one segment or
41578section for each library.
41579
41580@node Library List Format for SVR4 Targets
41581@section Library List Format for SVR4 Targets
41582@cindex library list format, remote protocol
41583
41584On SVR4 platforms @value{GDBN} can use the symbol table of a dynamic loader
41585(e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) and normal memory operations to maintain a list of
41586shared libraries. Still a special library list provided by this packet is
41587more efficient for the @value{GDBN} remote protocol.
41588
41589The @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read} packet returns an XML document which lists
41590loaded libraries and their SVR4 linker parameters. For each library on SVR4
41591target, the following parameters are reported:
41592
41593@itemize @minus
41594@item
41595@code{name}, the absolute file name from the @code{l_name} field of
41596@code{struct link_map}.
41597@item
41598@code{lm} with address of @code{struct link_map} used for TLS
41599(Thread Local Storage) access.
41600@item
41601@code{l_addr}, the displacement as read from the field @code{l_addr} of
41602@code{struct link_map}. For prelinked libraries this is not an absolute
41603memory address. It is a displacement of absolute memory address against
41604address the file was prelinked to during the library load.
41605@item
41606@code{l_ld}, which is memory address of the @code{PT_DYNAMIC} segment
41607@end itemize
41608
41609Additionally the single @code{main-lm} attribute specifies address of
41610@code{struct link_map} used for the main executable. This parameter is used
41611for TLS access and its presence is optional.
41612
41613@value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
41614SVR4 library lists. @xref{Expat}.
41615
41616A simple memory map, with two loaded libraries (which do not use prelink),
41617looks like this:
41618
41619@smallexample
41620<library-list-svr4 version="1.0" main-lm="0xe4f8f8">
41621 <library name="/lib/ld-linux.so.2" lm="0xe4f51c" l_addr="0xe2d000"
41622 l_ld="0xe4eefc"/>
41623 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6" lm="0xe4fbe8" l_addr="0x154000"
41624 l_ld="0x152350"/>
41625</library-list-svr>
41626@end smallexample
41627
41628The format of an SVR4 library list is described by this DTD:
41629
41630@smallexample
41631<!-- library-list-svr4: Root element with versioning -->
41632<!ELEMENT library-list-svr4 (library)*>
41633<!ATTLIST library-list-svr4 version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
41634<!ATTLIST library-list-svr4 main-lm CDATA #IMPLIED>
41635<!ELEMENT library EMPTY>
41636<!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
41637<!ATTLIST library lm CDATA #REQUIRED>
41638<!ATTLIST library l_addr CDATA #REQUIRED>
41639<!ATTLIST library l_ld CDATA #REQUIRED>
41640@end smallexample
41641
41642@node Memory Map Format
41643@section Memory Map Format
41644@cindex memory map format
41645
41646To be able to write into flash memory, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain a
41647memory map from the target. This section describes the format of the
41648memory map.
41649
41650The memory map is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
41651(@pxref{qXfer memory map read}) packet and is an XML document that
41652lists memory regions.
41653
41654@value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
41655memory maps. @xref{Expat}.
41656
41657The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
41658
41659@smallexample
41660<?xml version="1.0"?>
41661<!DOCTYPE memory-map
41662 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
41663 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-memory-map.dtd">
41664<memory-map>
41665 region...
41666</memory-map>
41667@end smallexample
41668
41669Each region can be either:
41670
41671@itemize
41672
41673@item
41674A region of RAM starting at @var{addr} and extending for @var{length}
41675bytes from there:
41676
41677@smallexample
41678<memory type="ram" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
41679@end smallexample
41680
41681
41682@item
41683A region of read-only memory:
41684
41685@smallexample
41686<memory type="rom" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
41687@end smallexample
41688
41689
41690@item
41691A region of flash memory, with erasure blocks @var{blocksize}
41692bytes in length:
41693
41694@smallexample
41695<memory type="flash" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}">
41696 <property name="blocksize">@var{blocksize}</property>
41697</memory>
41698@end smallexample
41699
41700@end itemize
41701
41702Regions must not overlap. @value{GDBN} assumes that areas of memory not covered
41703by the memory map are RAM, and uses the ordinary @samp{M} and @samp{X}
41704packets to write to addresses in such ranges.
41705
41706The formal DTD for memory map format is given below:
41707
41708@smallexample
41709<!-- ................................................... -->
41710<!-- Memory Map XML DTD ................................ -->
41711<!-- File: memory-map.dtd .............................. -->
41712<!-- .................................... .............. -->
41713<!-- memory-map.dtd -->
41714<!-- memory-map: Root element with versioning -->
41715<!ELEMENT memory-map (memory | property)>
41716<!ATTLIST memory-map version CDATA #FIXED "1.0.0">
41717<!ELEMENT memory (property)>
41718<!-- memory: Specifies a memory region,
41719 and its type, or device. -->
41720<!ATTLIST memory type CDATA #REQUIRED
41721 start CDATA #REQUIRED
41722 length CDATA #REQUIRED
41723 device CDATA #IMPLIED>
41724<!-- property: Generic attribute tag -->
41725<!ELEMENT property (#PCDATA | property)*>
41726<!ATTLIST property name CDATA #REQUIRED>
41727@end smallexample
41728
41729@node Thread List Format
41730@section Thread List Format
41731@cindex thread list format
41732
41733To efficiently update the list of threads and their attributes,
41734@value{GDBN} issues the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
41735(@pxref{qXfer threads read}) and obtains the XML document with
41736the following structure:
41737
41738@smallexample
41739<?xml version="1.0"?>
41740<threads>
41741 <thread id="id" core="0">
41742 ... description ...
41743 </thread>
41744</threads>
41745@end smallexample
41746
41747Each @samp{thread} element must have the @samp{id} attribute that
41748identifies the thread (@pxref{thread-id syntax}). The
41749@samp{core} attribute, if present, specifies which processor core
41750the thread was last executing on. The content of the of @samp{thread}
41751element is interpreted as human-readable auxilliary information.
41752
41753@node Traceframe Info Format
41754@section Traceframe Info Format
41755@cindex traceframe info format
41756
41757To be able to know which objects in the inferior can be examined when
41758inspecting a tracepoint hit, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain the list of
41759memory ranges, registers and trace state variables that have been
41760collected in a traceframe.
41761
41762This list is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
41763(@pxref{qXfer traceframe info read}) packet and is an XML document.
41764
41765@value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
41766traceframe info discovery. @xref{Expat}.
41767
41768The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
41769
41770@smallexample
41771<?xml version="1.0"?>
41772<!DOCTYPE traceframe-info
41773 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
41774 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-traceframe-info.dtd">
41775<traceframe-info>
41776 block...
41777</traceframe-info>
41778@end smallexample
41779
41780Each traceframe block can be either:
41781
41782@itemize
41783
41784@item
41785A region of collected memory starting at @var{addr} and extending for
41786@var{length} bytes from there:
41787
41788@smallexample
41789<memory start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
41790@end smallexample
41791
41792@item
41793A block indicating trace state variable numbered @var{number} has been
41794collected:
41795
41796@smallexample
41797<tvar id="@var{number}"/>
41798@end smallexample
41799
41800@end itemize
41801
41802The formal DTD for the traceframe info format is given below:
41803
41804@smallexample
41805<!ELEMENT traceframe-info (memory | tvar)* >
41806<!ATTLIST traceframe-info version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
41807
41808<!ELEMENT memory EMPTY>
41809<!ATTLIST memory start CDATA #REQUIRED
41810 length CDATA #REQUIRED>
41811<!ELEMENT tvar>
41812<!ATTLIST tvar id CDATA #REQUIRED>
41813@end smallexample
41814
41815@node Branch Trace Format
41816@section Branch Trace Format
41817@cindex branch trace format
41818
41819In order to display the branch trace of an inferior thread,
41820@value{GDBN} needs to obtain the list of branches. This list is
41821represented as list of sequential code blocks that are connected via
41822branches. The code in each block has been executed sequentially.
41823
41824This list is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:btrace:read}
41825(@pxref{qXfer btrace read}) packet and is an XML document.
41826
41827@value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
41828traceframe info discovery. @xref{Expat}.
41829
41830The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
41831
41832@smallexample
41833<?xml version="1.0"?>
41834<!DOCTYPE btrace
41835 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Branch Trace V1.0//EN"
41836 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-btrace.dtd">
41837<btrace>
41838 block...
41839</btrace>
41840@end smallexample
41841
41842@itemize
41843
41844@item
41845A block of sequentially executed instructions starting at @var{begin}
41846and ending at @var{end}:
41847
41848@smallexample
41849<block begin="@var{begin}" end="@var{end}"/>
41850@end smallexample
41851
41852@end itemize
41853
41854The formal DTD for the branch trace format is given below:
41855
41856@smallexample
41857<!ELEMENT btrace (block)* >
41858<!ATTLIST btrace version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
41859
41860<!ELEMENT block EMPTY>
41861<!ATTLIST block begin CDATA #REQUIRED
41862 end CDATA #REQUIRED>
41863@end smallexample
41864
41865@include agentexpr.texi
41866
41867@node Target Descriptions
41868@appendix Target Descriptions
41869@cindex target descriptions
41870
41871One of the challenges of using @value{GDBN} to debug embedded systems
41872is that there are so many minor variants of each processor
41873architecture in use. It is common practice for vendors to start with
41874a standard processor core --- ARM, PowerPC, or @acronym{MIPS}, for example ---
41875and then make changes to adapt it to a particular market niche. Some
41876architectures have hundreds of variants, available from dozens of
41877vendors. This leads to a number of problems:
41878
41879@itemize @bullet
41880@item
41881With so many different customized processors, it is difficult for
41882the @value{GDBN} maintainers to keep up with the changes.
41883@item
41884Since individual variants may have short lifetimes or limited
41885audiences, it may not be worthwhile to carry information about every
41886variant in the @value{GDBN} source tree.
41887@item
41888When @value{GDBN} does support the architecture of the embedded system
41889at hand, the task of finding the correct architecture name to give the
41890@command{set architecture} command can be error-prone.
41891@end itemize
41892
41893To address these problems, the @value{GDBN} remote protocol allows a
41894target system to not only identify itself to @value{GDBN}, but to
41895actually describe its own features. This lets @value{GDBN} support
41896processor variants it has never seen before --- to the extent that the
41897descriptions are accurate, and that @value{GDBN} understands them.
41898
41899@value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
41900target descriptions. @xref{Expat}.
41901
41902@menu
41903* Retrieving Descriptions:: How descriptions are fetched from a target.
41904* Target Description Format:: The contents of a target description.
41905* Predefined Target Types:: Standard types available for target
41906 descriptions.
41907* Standard Target Features:: Features @value{GDBN} knows about.
41908@end menu
41909
41910@node Retrieving Descriptions
41911@section Retrieving Descriptions
41912
41913Target descriptions can be read from the target automatically, or
41914specified by the user manually. The default behavior is to read the
41915description from the target. @value{GDBN} retrieves it via the remote
41916protocol using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{General Query Packets,
41917qXfer}). The @var{annex} in the @samp{qXfer} packet will be
41918@samp{target.xml}. The contents of the @samp{target.xml} annex are an
41919XML document, of the form described in @ref{Target Description
41920Format}.
41921
41922Alternatively, you can specify a file to read for the target description.
41923If a file is set, the target will not be queried. The commands to
41924specify a file are:
41925
41926@table @code
41927@cindex set tdesc filename
41928@item set tdesc filename @var{path}
41929Read the target description from @var{path}.
41930
41931@cindex unset tdesc filename
41932@item unset tdesc filename
41933Do not read the XML target description from a file. @value{GDBN}
41934will use the description supplied by the current target.
41935
41936@cindex show tdesc filename
41937@item show tdesc filename
41938Show the filename to read for a target description, if any.
41939@end table
41940
41941
41942@node Target Description Format
41943@section Target Description Format
41944@cindex target descriptions, XML format
41945
41946A target description annex is an @uref{http://www.w3.org/XML/, XML}
41947document which complies with the Document Type Definition provided in
41948the @value{GDBN} sources in @file{gdb/features/gdb-target.dtd}. This
41949means you can use generally available tools like @command{xmllint} to
41950check that your feature descriptions are well-formed and valid.
41951However, to help people unfamiliar with XML write descriptions for
41952their targets, we also describe the grammar here.
41953
41954Target descriptions can identify the architecture of the remote target
41955and (for some architectures) provide information about custom register
41956sets. They can also identify the OS ABI of the remote target.
41957@value{GDBN} can use this information to autoconfigure for your
41958target, or to warn you if you connect to an unsupported target.
41959
41960Here is a simple target description:
41961
41962@smallexample
41963<target version="1.0">
41964 <architecture>i386:x86-64</architecture>
41965</target>
41966@end smallexample
41967
41968@noindent
41969This minimal description only says that the target uses
41970the x86-64 architecture.
41971
41972A target description has the following overall form, with [ ] marking
41973optional elements and @dots{} marking repeatable elements. The elements
41974are explained further below.
41975
41976@smallexample
41977<?xml version="1.0"?>
41978<!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "gdb-target.dtd">
41979<target version="1.0">
41980 @r{[}@var{architecture}@r{]}
41981 @r{[}@var{osabi}@r{]}
41982 @r{[}@var{compatible}@r{]}
41983 @r{[}@var{feature}@dots{}@r{]}
41984</target>
41985@end smallexample
41986
41987@noindent
41988The description is generally insensitive to whitespace and line
41989breaks, under the usual common-sense rules. The XML version
41990declaration and document type declaration can generally be omitted
41991(@value{GDBN} does not require them), but specifying them may be
41992useful for XML validation tools. The @samp{version} attribute for
41993@samp{<target>} may also be omitted, but we recommend
41994including it; if future versions of @value{GDBN} use an incompatible
41995revision of @file{gdb-target.dtd}, they will detect and report
41996the version mismatch.
41997
41998@subsection Inclusion
41999@cindex target descriptions, inclusion
42000@cindex XInclude
42001@ifnotinfo
42002@cindex <xi:include>
42003@end ifnotinfo
42004
42005It can sometimes be valuable to split a target description up into
42006several different annexes, either for organizational purposes, or to
42007share files between different possible target descriptions. You can
42008divide a description into multiple files by replacing any element of
42009the target description with an inclusion directive of the form:
42010
42011@smallexample
42012<xi:include href="@var{document}"/>
42013@end smallexample
42014
42015@noindent
42016When @value{GDBN} encounters an element of this form, it will retrieve
42017the named XML @var{document}, and replace the inclusion directive with
42018the contents of that document. If the current description was read
42019using @samp{qXfer}, then so will be the included document;
42020@var{document} will be interpreted as the name of an annex. If the
42021current description was read from a file, @value{GDBN} will look for
42022@var{document} as a file in the same directory where it found the
42023original description.
42024
42025@subsection Architecture
42026@cindex <architecture>
42027
42028An @samp{<architecture>} element has this form:
42029
42030@smallexample
42031 <architecture>@var{arch}</architecture>
42032@end smallexample
42033
42034@var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
42035@code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
42036
42037@subsection OS ABI
42038@cindex @code{<osabi>}
42039
42040This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
42041Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
42042
42043An @samp{<osabi>} element has this form:
42044
42045@smallexample
42046 <osabi>@var{abi-name}</osabi>
42047@end smallexample
42048
42049@var{abi-name} is an OS ABI name from the same selection accepted by
42050@w{@code{set osabi}} (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
42051
42052@subsection Compatible Architecture
42053@cindex @code{<compatible>}
42054
42055This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
42056Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
42057
42058A @samp{<compatible>} element has this form:
42059
42060@smallexample
42061 <compatible>@var{arch}</compatible>
42062@end smallexample
42063
42064@var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
42065@code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
42066
42067A @samp{<compatible>} element is used to specify that the target
42068is able to run binaries in some other than the main target architecture
42069given by the @samp{<architecture>} element. For example, on the
42070Cell Broadband Engine, the main architecture is @code{powerpc:common}
42071or @code{powerpc:common64}, but the system is able to run binaries
42072in the @code{spu} architecture as well. The way to describe this
42073capability with @samp{<compatible>} is as follows:
42074
42075@smallexample
42076 <architecture>powerpc:common</architecture>
42077 <compatible>spu</compatible>
42078@end smallexample
42079
42080@subsection Features
42081@cindex <feature>
42082
42083Each @samp{<feature>} describes some logical portion of the target
42084system. Features are currently used to describe available CPU
42085registers and the types of their contents. A @samp{<feature>} element
42086has this form:
42087
42088@smallexample
42089<feature name="@var{name}">
42090 @r{[}@var{type}@dots{}@r{]}
42091 @var{reg}@dots{}
42092</feature>
42093@end smallexample
42094
42095@noindent
42096Each feature's name should be unique within the description. The name
42097of a feature does not matter unless @value{GDBN} has some special
42098knowledge of the contents of that feature; if it does, the feature
42099should have its standard name. @xref{Standard Target Features}.
42100
42101@subsection Types
42102
42103Any register's value is a collection of bits which @value{GDBN} must
42104interpret. The default interpretation is a two's complement integer,
42105but other types can be requested by name in the register description.
42106Some predefined types are provided by @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Predefined
42107Target Types}), and the description can define additional composite types.
42108
42109Each type element must have an @samp{id} attribute, which gives
42110a unique (within the containing @samp{<feature>}) name to the type.
42111Types must be defined before they are used.
42112
42113@cindex <vector>
42114Some targets offer vector registers, which can be treated as arrays
42115of scalar elements. These types are written as @samp{<vector>} elements,
42116specifying the array element type, @var{type}, and the number of elements,
42117@var{count}:
42118
42119@smallexample
42120<vector id="@var{id}" type="@var{type}" count="@var{count}"/>
42121@end smallexample
42122
42123@cindex <union>
42124If a register's value is usefully viewed in multiple ways, define it
42125with a union type containing the useful representations. The
42126@samp{<union>} element contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements,
42127each of which has a @var{name} and a @var{type}:
42128
42129@smallexample
42130<union id="@var{id}">
42131 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
42132 @dots{}
42133</union>
42134@end smallexample
42135
42136@cindex <struct>
42137If a register's value is composed from several separate values, define
42138it with a structure type. There are two forms of the @samp{<struct>}
42139element; a @samp{<struct>} element must either contain only bitfields
42140or contain no bitfields. If the structure contains only bitfields,
42141its total size in bytes must be specified, each bitfield must have an
42142explicit start and end, and bitfields are automatically assigned an
42143integer type. The field's @var{start} should be less than or
42144equal to its @var{end}, and zero represents the least significant bit.
42145
42146@smallexample
42147<struct id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
42148 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
42149 @dots{}
42150</struct>
42151@end smallexample
42152
42153If the structure contains no bitfields, then each field has an
42154explicit type, and no implicit padding is added.
42155
42156@smallexample
42157<struct id="@var{id}">
42158 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
42159 @dots{}
42160</struct>
42161@end smallexample
42162
42163@cindex <flags>
42164If a register's value is a series of single-bit flags, define it with
42165a flags type. The @samp{<flags>} element has an explicit @var{size}
42166and contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements. Each field has a
42167@var{name}, a @var{start}, and an @var{end}. Only single-bit flags
42168are supported.
42169
42170@smallexample
42171<flags id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
42172 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
42173 @dots{}
42174</flags>
42175@end smallexample
42176
42177@subsection Registers
42178@cindex <reg>
42179
42180Each register is represented as an element with this form:
42181
42182@smallexample
42183<reg name="@var{name}"
42184 bitsize="@var{size}"
42185 @r{[}regnum="@var{num}"@r{]}
42186 @r{[}save-restore="@var{save-restore}"@r{]}
42187 @r{[}type="@var{type}"@r{]}
42188 @r{[}group="@var{group}"@r{]}/>
42189@end smallexample
42190
42191@noindent
42192The components are as follows:
42193
42194@table @var
42195
42196@item name
42197The register's name; it must be unique within the target description.
42198
42199@item bitsize
42200The register's size, in bits.
42201
42202@item regnum
42203The register's number. If omitted, a register's number is one greater
42204than that of the previous register (either in the current feature or in
42205a preceding feature); the first register in the target description
42206defaults to zero. This register number is used to read or write
42207the register; e.g.@: it is used in the remote @code{p} and @code{P}
42208packets, and registers appear in the @code{g} and @code{G} packets
42209in order of increasing register number.
42210
42211@item save-restore
42212Whether the register should be preserved across inferior function
42213calls; this must be either @code{yes} or @code{no}. The default is
42214@code{yes}, which is appropriate for most registers except for
42215some system control registers; this is not related to the target's
42216ABI.
42217
42218@item type
42219The type of the register. @var{type} may be a predefined type, a type
42220defined in the current feature, or one of the special types @code{int}
42221and @code{float}. @code{int} is an integer type of the correct size
42222for @var{bitsize}, and @code{float} is a floating point type (in the
42223architecture's normal floating point format) of the correct size for
42224@var{bitsize}. The default is @code{int}.
42225
42226@item group
42227The register group to which this register belongs. @var{group} must
42228be either @code{general}, @code{float}, or @code{vector}. If no
42229@var{group} is specified, @value{GDBN} will not display the register
42230in @code{info registers}.
42231
42232@end table
42233
42234@node Predefined Target Types
42235@section Predefined Target Types
42236@cindex target descriptions, predefined types
42237
42238Type definitions in the self-description can build up composite types
42239from basic building blocks, but can not define fundamental types. Instead,
42240standard identifiers are provided by @value{GDBN} for the fundamental
42241types. The currently supported types are:
42242
42243@table @code
42244
42245@item int8
42246@itemx int16
42247@itemx int32
42248@itemx int64
42249@itemx int128
42250Signed integer types holding the specified number of bits.
42251
42252@item uint8
42253@itemx uint16
42254@itemx uint32
42255@itemx uint64
42256@itemx uint128
42257Unsigned integer types holding the specified number of bits.
42258
42259@item code_ptr
42260@itemx data_ptr
42261Pointers to unspecified code and data. The program counter and
42262any dedicated return address register may be marked as code
42263pointers; printing a code pointer converts it into a symbolic
42264address. The stack pointer and any dedicated address registers
42265may be marked as data pointers.
42266
42267@item ieee_single
42268Single precision IEEE floating point.
42269
42270@item ieee_double
42271Double precision IEEE floating point.
42272
42273@item arm_fpa_ext
42274The 12-byte extended precision format used by ARM FPA registers.
42275
42276@item i387_ext
42277The 10-byte extended precision format used by x87 registers.
42278
42279@item i386_eflags
4228032bit @sc{eflags} register used by x86.
42281
42282@item i386_mxcsr
4228332bit @sc{mxcsr} register used by x86.
42284
42285@end table
42286
42287@node Standard Target Features
42288@section Standard Target Features
42289@cindex target descriptions, standard features
42290
42291A target description must contain either no registers or all the
42292target's registers. If the description contains no registers, then
42293@value{GDBN} will assume a default register layout, selected based on
42294the architecture. If the description contains any registers, the
42295default layout will not be used; the standard registers must be
42296described in the target description, in such a way that @value{GDBN}
42297can recognize them.
42298
42299This is accomplished by giving specific names to feature elements
42300which contain standard registers. @value{GDBN} will look for features
42301with those names and verify that they contain the expected registers;
42302if any known feature is missing required registers, or if any required
42303feature is missing, @value{GDBN} will reject the target
42304description. You can add additional registers to any of the
42305standard features --- @value{GDBN} will display them just as if
42306they were added to an unrecognized feature.
42307
42308This section lists the known features and their expected contents.
42309Sample XML documents for these features are included in the
42310@value{GDBN} source tree, in the directory @file{gdb/features}.
42311
42312Names recognized by @value{GDBN} should include the name of the
42313company or organization which selected the name, and the overall
42314architecture to which the feature applies; so e.g.@: the feature
42315containing ARM core registers is named @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}.
42316
42317The names of registers are not case sensitive for the purpose
42318of recognizing standard features, but @value{GDBN} will only display
42319registers using the capitalization used in the description.
42320
42321@menu
42322* AArch64 Features::
42323* ARM Features::
42324* i386 Features::
42325* MIPS Features::
42326* M68K Features::
42327* Nios II Features::
42328* PowerPC Features::
42329* TIC6x Features::
42330@end menu
42331
42332
42333@node AArch64 Features
42334@subsection AArch64 Features
42335@cindex target descriptions, AArch64 features
42336
42337The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.aarch64.core} feature is required for AArch64
42338targets. It should contain registers @samp{x0} through @samp{x30},
42339@samp{sp}, @samp{pc}, and @samp{cpsr}.
42340
42341The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.aarch64.fpu} feature is optional. If present,
42342it should contain registers @samp{v0} through @samp{v31}, @samp{fpsr},
42343and @samp{fpcr}.
42344
42345@node ARM Features
42346@subsection ARM Features
42347@cindex target descriptions, ARM features
42348
42349The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core} feature is required for non-M-profile
42350ARM targets.
42351It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp},
42352@samp{lr}, @samp{pc}, and @samp{cpsr}.
42353
42354For M-profile targets (e.g. Cortex-M3), the @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}
42355feature is replaced by @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.m-profile}. It should contain
42356registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp}, @samp{lr}, @samp{pc},
42357and @samp{xpsr}.
42358
42359The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.fpa} feature is optional. If present, it
42360should contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f7} and @samp{fps}.
42361
42362The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.xscale.iwmmxt} feature is optional. If present,
42363it should contain at least registers @samp{wR0} through @samp{wR15} and
42364@samp{wCGR0} through @samp{wCGR3}. The @samp{wCID}, @samp{wCon},
42365@samp{wCSSF}, and @samp{wCASF} registers are optional.
42366
42367The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} feature is optional. If present, it
42368should contain at least registers @samp{d0} through @samp{d15}. If
42369they are present, @samp{d16} through @samp{d31} should also be included.
42370@value{GDBN} will synthesize the single-precision registers from
42371halves of the double-precision registers.
42372
42373The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.neon} feature is optional. It does not
42374need to contain registers; it instructs @value{GDBN} to display the
42375VFP double-precision registers as vectors and to synthesize the
42376quad-precision registers from pairs of double-precision registers.
42377If this feature is present, @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} must also
42378be present and include 32 double-precision registers.
42379
42380@node i386 Features
42381@subsection i386 Features
42382@cindex target descriptions, i386 features
42383
42384The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.core} feature is required for i386/amd64
42385targets. It should describe the following registers:
42386
42387@itemize @minus
42388@item
42389@samp{eax} through @samp{edi} plus @samp{eip} for i386
42390@item
42391@samp{rax} through @samp{r15} plus @samp{rip} for amd64
42392@item
42393@samp{eflags}, @samp{cs}, @samp{ss}, @samp{ds}, @samp{es},
42394@samp{fs}, @samp{gs}
42395@item
42396@samp{st0} through @samp{st7}
42397@item
42398@samp{fctrl}, @samp{fstat}, @samp{ftag}, @samp{fiseg}, @samp{fioff},
42399@samp{foseg}, @samp{fooff} and @samp{fop}
42400@end itemize
42401
42402The register sets may be different, depending on the target.
42403
42404The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature is optional. It should
42405describe registers:
42406
42407@itemize @minus
42408@item
42409@samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm7} for i386
42410@item
42411@samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm15} for amd64
42412@item
42413@samp{mxcsr}
42414@end itemize
42415
42416The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.avx} feature is optional and requires the
42417@samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature. It should
42418describe the upper 128 bits of @sc{ymm} registers:
42419
42420@itemize @minus
42421@item
42422@samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm7h} for i386
42423@item
42424@samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm15h} for amd64
42425@end itemize
42426
42427The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.linux} feature is optional. It should
42428describe a single register, @samp{orig_eax}.
42429
42430@node MIPS Features
42431@subsection @acronym{MIPS} Features
42432@cindex target descriptions, @acronym{MIPS} features
42433
42434The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cpu} feature is required for @acronym{MIPS} targets.
42435It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31}, @samp{lo},
42436@samp{hi}, and @samp{pc}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending
42437on the target.
42438
42439The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cp0} feature is also required. It should
42440contain at least the @samp{status}, @samp{badvaddr}, and @samp{cause}
42441registers. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
42442
42443The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.fpu} feature is currently required, though
42444it may be optional in a future version of @value{GDBN}. It should
42445contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31}, @samp{fcsr}, and
42446@samp{fir}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
42447
42448The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.dsp} feature is optional. It should
42449contain registers @samp{hi1} through @samp{hi3}, @samp{lo1} through
42450@samp{lo3}, and @samp{dspctl}. The @samp{dspctl} register should
42451be 32-bit and the rest may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
42452
42453The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.linux} feature is optional. It should
42454contain a single register, @samp{restart}, which is used by the
42455Linux kernel to control restartable syscalls.
42456
42457@node M68K Features
42458@subsection M68K Features
42459@cindex target descriptions, M68K features
42460
42461@table @code
42462@item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.m68k.core}
42463@itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.core}
42464@itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.fido.core}
42465One of those features must be always present.
42466The feature that is present determines which flavor of m68k is
42467used. The feature that is present should contain registers
42468@samp{d0} through @samp{d7}, @samp{a0} through @samp{a5}, @samp{fp},
42469@samp{sp}, @samp{ps} and @samp{pc}.
42470
42471@item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.fp}
42472This feature is optional. If present, it should contain registers
42473@samp{fp0} through @samp{fp7}, @samp{fpcontrol}, @samp{fpstatus} and
42474@samp{fpiaddr}.
42475@end table
42476
42477@node Nios II Features
42478@subsection Nios II Features
42479@cindex target descriptions, Nios II features
42480
42481The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.nios2.cpu} feature is required for Nios II
42482targets. It should contain the 32 core registers (@samp{zero},
42483@samp{at}, @samp{r2} through @samp{r23}, @samp{et} through @samp{ra}),
42484@samp{pc}, and the 16 control registers (@samp{status} through
42485@samp{mpuacc}).
42486
42487@node PowerPC Features
42488@subsection PowerPC Features
42489@cindex target descriptions, PowerPC features
42490
42491The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} feature is required for PowerPC
42492targets. It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31},
42493@samp{pc}, @samp{msr}, @samp{cr}, @samp{lr}, @samp{ctr}, and
42494@samp{xer}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
42495
42496The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.fpu} feature is optional. It should
42497contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31} and @samp{fpscr}.
42498
42499The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.altivec} feature is optional. It should
42500contain registers @samp{vr0} through @samp{vr31}, @samp{vscr},
42501and @samp{vrsave}.
42502
42503The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.vsx} feature is optional. It should
42504contain registers @samp{vs0h} through @samp{vs31h}. @value{GDBN}
42505will combine these registers with the floating point registers
42506(@samp{f0} through @samp{f31}) and the altivec registers (@samp{vr0}
42507through @samp{vr31}) to present the 128-bit wide registers @samp{vs0}
42508through @samp{vs63}, the set of vector registers for POWER7.
42509
42510The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.spe} feature is optional. It should
42511contain registers @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}, @samp{acc}, and
42512@samp{spefscr}. SPE targets should provide 32-bit registers in
42513@samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} and provide the upper halves in
42514@samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}. @value{GDBN} will combine
42515these to present registers @samp{ev0} through @samp{ev31} to the
42516user.
42517
42518@node TIC6x Features
42519@subsection TMS320C6x Features
42520@cindex target descriptions, TIC6x features
42521@cindex target descriptions, TMS320C6x features
42522The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.core} feature is required for TMS320C6x
42523targets. It should contain registers @samp{A0} through @samp{A15},
42524registers @samp{B0} through @samp{B15}, @samp{CSR} and @samp{PC}.
42525
42526The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.gp} feature is optional. It should
42527contain registers @samp{A16} through @samp{A31} and @samp{B16}
42528through @samp{B31}.
42529
42530The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.c6xp} feature is optional. It should
42531contain registers @samp{TSR}, @samp{ILC} and @samp{RILC}.
42532
42533@node Operating System Information
42534@appendix Operating System Information
42535@cindex operating system information
42536
42537@menu
42538* Process list::
42539@end menu
42540
42541Users of @value{GDBN} often wish to obtain information about the state of
42542the operating system running on the target---for example the list of
42543processes, or the list of open files. This section describes the
42544mechanism that makes it possible. This mechanism is similar to the
42545target features mechanism (@pxref{Target Descriptions}), but focuses
42546on a different aspect of target.
42547
42548Operating system information is retrived from the target via the
42549remote protocol, using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{qXfer osdata
42550read}). The object name in the request should be @samp{osdata}, and
42551the @var{annex} identifies the data to be fetched.
42552
42553@node Process list
42554@appendixsection Process list
42555@cindex operating system information, process list
42556
42557When requesting the process list, the @var{annex} field in the
42558@samp{qXfer} request should be @samp{processes}. The returned data is
42559an XML document. The formal syntax of this document is defined in
42560@file{gdb/features/osdata.dtd}.
42561
42562An example document is:
42563
42564@smallexample
42565<?xml version="1.0"?>
42566<!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "osdata.dtd">
42567<osdata type="processes">
42568 <item>
42569 <column name="pid">1</column>
42570 <column name="user">root</column>
42571 <column name="command">/sbin/init</column>
42572 <column name="cores">1,2,3</column>
42573 </item>
42574</osdata>
42575@end smallexample
42576
42577Each item should include a column whose name is @samp{pid}. The value
42578of that column should identify the process on the target. The
42579@samp{user} and @samp{command} columns are optional, and will be
42580displayed by @value{GDBN}. The @samp{cores} column, if present,
42581should contain a comma-separated list of cores that this process
42582is running on. Target may provide additional columns,
42583which @value{GDBN} currently ignores.
42584
42585@node Trace File Format
42586@appendix Trace File Format
42587@cindex trace file format
42588
42589The trace file comes in three parts: a header, a textual description
42590section, and a trace frame section with binary data.
42591
42592The header has the form @code{\x7fTRACE0\n}. The first byte is
42593@code{0x7f} so as to indicate that the file contains binary data,
42594while the @code{0} is a version number that may have different values
42595in the future.
42596
42597The description section consists of multiple lines of @sc{ascii} text
42598separated by newline characters (@code{0xa}). The lines may include a
42599variety of optional descriptive or context-setting information, such
42600as tracepoint definitions or register set size. @value{GDBN} will
42601ignore any line that it does not recognize. An empty line marks the end
42602of this section.
42603
42604@c FIXME add some specific types of data
42605
42606The trace frame section consists of a number of consecutive frames.
42607Each frame begins with a two-byte tracepoint number, followed by a
42608four-byte size giving the amount of data in the frame. The data in
42609the frame consists of a number of blocks, each introduced by a
42610character indicating its type (at least register, memory, and trace
42611state variable). The data in this section is raw binary, not a
42612hexadecimal or other encoding; its endianness matches the target's
42613endianness.
42614
42615@c FIXME bi-arch may require endianness/arch info in description section
42616
42617@table @code
42618@item R @var{bytes}
42619Register block. The number and ordering of bytes matches that of a
42620@code{g} packet in the remote protocol. Note that these are the
42621actual bytes, in target order and @value{GDBN} register order, not a
42622hexadecimal encoding.
42623
42624@item M @var{address} @var{length} @var{bytes}...
42625Memory block. This is a contiguous block of memory, at the 8-byte
42626address @var{address}, with a 2-byte length @var{length}, followed by
42627@var{length} bytes.
42628
42629@item V @var{number} @var{value}
42630Trace state variable block. This records the 8-byte signed value
42631@var{value} of trace state variable numbered @var{number}.
42632
42633@end table
42634
42635Future enhancements of the trace file format may include additional types
42636of blocks.
42637
42638@node Index Section Format
42639@appendix @code{.gdb_index} section format
42640@cindex .gdb_index section format
42641@cindex index section format
42642
42643This section documents the index section that is created by @code{save
42644gdb-index} (@pxref{Index Files}). The index section is
42645DWARF-specific; some knowledge of DWARF is assumed in this
42646description.
42647
42648The mapped index file format is designed to be directly
42649@code{mmap}able on any architecture. In most cases, a datum is
42650represented using a little-endian 32-bit integer value, called an
42651@code{offset_type}. Big endian machines must byte-swap the values
42652before using them. Exceptions to this rule are noted. The data is
42653laid out such that alignment is always respected.
42654
42655A mapped index consists of several areas, laid out in order.
42656
42657@enumerate
42658@item
42659The file header. This is a sequence of values, of @code{offset_type}
42660unless otherwise noted:
42661
42662@enumerate
42663@item
42664The version number, currently 8. Versions 1, 2 and 3 are obsolete.
42665Version 4 uses a different hashing function from versions 5 and 6.
42666Version 6 includes symbols for inlined functions, whereas versions 4
42667and 5 do not. Version 7 adds attributes to the CU indices in the
42668symbol table. Version 8 specifies that symbols from DWARF type units
42669(@samp{DW_TAG_type_unit}) refer to the type unit's symbol table and not the
42670compilation unit (@samp{DW_TAG_comp_unit}) using the type.
42671
42672@value{GDBN} will only read version 4, 5, or 6 indices
42673by specifying @code{set use-deprecated-index-sections on}.
42674GDB has a workaround for potentially broken version 7 indices so it is
42675currently not flagged as deprecated.
42676
42677@item
42678The offset, from the start of the file, of the CU list.
42679
42680@item
42681The offset, from the start of the file, of the types CU list. Note
42682that this area can be empty, in which case this offset will be equal
42683to the next offset.
42684
42685@item
42686The offset, from the start of the file, of the address area.
42687
42688@item
42689The offset, from the start of the file, of the symbol table.
42690
42691@item
42692The offset, from the start of the file, of the constant pool.
42693@end enumerate
42694
42695@item
42696The CU list. This is a sequence of pairs of 64-bit little-endian
42697values, sorted by the CU offset. The first element in each pair is
42698the offset of a CU in the @code{.debug_info} section. The second
42699element in each pair is the length of that CU. References to a CU
42700elsewhere in the map are done using a CU index, which is just the
427010-based index into this table. Note that if there are type CUs, then
42702conceptually CUs and type CUs form a single list for the purposes of
42703CU indices.
42704
42705@item
42706The types CU list. This is a sequence of triplets of 64-bit
42707little-endian values. In a triplet, the first value is the CU offset,
42708the second value is the type offset in the CU, and the third value is
42709the type signature. The types CU list is not sorted.
42710
42711@item
42712The address area. The address area consists of a sequence of address
42713entries. Each address entry has three elements:
42714
42715@enumerate
42716@item
42717The low address. This is a 64-bit little-endian value.
42718
42719@item
42720The high address. This is a 64-bit little-endian value. Like
42721@code{DW_AT_high_pc}, the value is one byte beyond the end.
42722
42723@item
42724The CU index. This is an @code{offset_type} value.
42725@end enumerate
42726
42727@item
42728The symbol table. This is an open-addressed hash table. The size of
42729the hash table is always a power of 2.
42730
42731Each slot in the hash table consists of a pair of @code{offset_type}
42732values. The first value is the offset of the symbol's name in the
42733constant pool. The second value is the offset of the CU vector in the
42734constant pool.
42735
42736If both values are 0, then this slot in the hash table is empty. This
42737is ok because while 0 is a valid constant pool index, it cannot be a
42738valid index for both a string and a CU vector.
42739
42740The hash value for a table entry is computed by applying an
42741iterative hash function to the symbol's name. Starting with an
42742initial value of @code{r = 0}, each (unsigned) character @samp{c} in
42743the string is incorporated into the hash using the formula depending on the
42744index version:
42745
42746@table @asis
42747@item Version 4
42748The formula is @code{r = r * 67 + c - 113}.
42749
42750@item Versions 5 to 7
42751The formula is @code{r = r * 67 + tolower (c) - 113}.
42752@end table
42753
42754The terminating @samp{\0} is not incorporated into the hash.
42755
42756The step size used in the hash table is computed via
42757@code{((hash * 17) & (size - 1)) | 1}, where @samp{hash} is the hash
42758value, and @samp{size} is the size of the hash table. The step size
42759is used to find the next candidate slot when handling a hash
42760collision.
42761
42762The names of C@t{++} symbols in the hash table are canonicalized. We
42763don't currently have a simple description of the canonicalization
42764algorithm; if you intend to create new index sections, you must read
42765the code.
42766
42767@item
42768The constant pool. This is simply a bunch of bytes. It is organized
42769so that alignment is correct: CU vectors are stored first, followed by
42770strings.
42771
42772A CU vector in the constant pool is a sequence of @code{offset_type}
42773values. The first value is the number of CU indices in the vector.
42774Each subsequent value is the index and symbol attributes of a CU in
42775the CU list. This element in the hash table is used to indicate which
42776CUs define the symbol and how the symbol is used.
42777See below for the format of each CU index+attributes entry.
42778
42779A string in the constant pool is zero-terminated.
42780@end enumerate
42781
42782Attributes were added to CU index values in @code{.gdb_index} version 7.
42783If a symbol has multiple uses within a CU then there is one
42784CU index+attributes value for each use.
42785
42786The format of each CU index+attributes entry is as follows
42787(bit 0 = LSB):
42788
42789@table @asis
42790
42791@item Bits 0-23
42792This is the index of the CU in the CU list.
42793@item Bits 24-27
42794These bits are reserved for future purposes and must be zero.
42795@item Bits 28-30
42796The kind of the symbol in the CU.
42797
42798@table @asis
42799@item 0
42800This value is reserved and should not be used.
42801By reserving zero the full @code{offset_type} value is backwards compatible
42802with previous versions of the index.
42803@item 1
42804The symbol is a type.
42805@item 2
42806The symbol is a variable or an enum value.
42807@item 3
42808The symbol is a function.
42809@item 4
42810Any other kind of symbol.
42811@item 5,6,7
42812These values are reserved.
42813@end table
42814
42815@item Bit 31
42816This bit is zero if the value is global and one if it is static.
42817
42818The determination of whether a symbol is global or static is complicated.
42819The authorative reference is the file @file{dwarf2read.c} in
42820@value{GDBN} sources.
42821
42822@end table
42823
42824This pseudo-code describes the computation of a symbol's kind and
42825global/static attributes in the index.
42826
42827@smallexample
42828is_external = get_attribute (die, DW_AT_external);
42829language = get_attribute (cu_die, DW_AT_language);
42830switch (die->tag)
42831 @{
42832 case DW_TAG_typedef:
42833 case DW_TAG_base_type:
42834 case DW_TAG_subrange_type:
42835 kind = TYPE;
42836 is_static = 1;
42837 break;
42838 case DW_TAG_enumerator:
42839 kind = VARIABLE;
42840 is_static = (language != CPLUS && language != JAVA);
42841 break;
42842 case DW_TAG_subprogram:
42843 kind = FUNCTION;
42844 is_static = ! (is_external || language == ADA);
42845 break;
42846 case DW_TAG_constant:
42847 kind = VARIABLE;
42848 is_static = ! is_external;
42849 break;
42850 case DW_TAG_variable:
42851 kind = VARIABLE;
42852 is_static = ! is_external;
42853 break;
42854 case DW_TAG_namespace:
42855 kind = TYPE;
42856 is_static = 0;
42857 break;
42858 case DW_TAG_class_type:
42859 case DW_TAG_interface_type:
42860 case DW_TAG_structure_type:
42861 case DW_TAG_union_type:
42862 case DW_TAG_enumeration_type:
42863 kind = TYPE;
42864 is_static = (language != CPLUS && language != JAVA);
42865 break;
42866 default:
42867 assert (0);
42868 @}
42869@end smallexample
42870
42871@node Man Pages
42872@appendix Manual pages
42873@cindex Man pages
42874
42875@menu
42876* gdb man:: The GNU Debugger man page
42877* gdbserver man:: Remote Server for the GNU Debugger man page
42878* gcore man:: Generate a core file of a running program
42879* gdbinit man:: gdbinit scripts
42880@end menu
42881
42882@node gdb man
42883@heading gdb man
42884
42885@c man title gdb The GNU Debugger
42886
42887@c man begin SYNOPSIS gdb
42888gdb [@option{-help}] [@option{-nh}] [@option{-nx}] [@option{-q}]
42889[@option{-batch}] [@option{-cd=}@var{dir}] [@option{-f}]
42890[@option{-b}@w{ }@var{bps}]
42891 [@option{-tty=}@var{dev}] [@option{-s} @var{symfile}]
42892[@option{-e}@w{ }@var{prog}] [@option{-se}@w{ }@var{prog}]
42893[@option{-c}@w{ }@var{core}] [@option{-p}@w{ }@var{procID}]
42894 [@option{-x}@w{ }@var{cmds}] [@option{-d}@w{ }@var{dir}]
42895[@var{prog}|@var{prog} @var{procID}|@var{prog} @var{core}]
42896@c man end
42897
42898@c man begin DESCRIPTION gdb
42899The purpose of a debugger such as @value{GDBN} is to allow you to see what is
42900going on ``inside'' another program while it executes -- or what another
42901program was doing at the moment it crashed.
42902
42903@value{GDBN} can do four main kinds of things (plus other things in support of
42904these) to help you catch bugs in the act:
42905
42906@itemize @bullet
42907@item
42908Start your program, specifying anything that might affect its behavior.
42909
42910@item
42911Make your program stop on specified conditions.
42912
42913@item
42914Examine what has happened, when your program has stopped.
42915
42916@item
42917Change things in your program, so you can experiment with correcting the
42918effects of one bug and go on to learn about another.
42919@end itemize
42920
42921You can use @value{GDBN} to debug programs written in C, C@t{++}, Fortran and
42922Modula-2.
42923
42924@value{GDBN} is invoked with the shell command @code{gdb}. Once started, it reads
42925commands from the terminal until you tell it to exit with the @value{GDBN}
42926command @code{quit}. You can get online help from @value{GDBN} itself
42927by using the command @code{help}.
42928
42929You can run @code{gdb} with no arguments or options; but the most
42930usual way to start @value{GDBN} is with one argument or two, specifying an
42931executable program as the argument:
42932
42933@smallexample
42934gdb program
42935@end smallexample
42936
42937You can also start with both an executable program and a core file specified:
42938
42939@smallexample
42940gdb program core
42941@end smallexample
42942
42943You can, instead, specify a process ID as a second argument, if you want
42944to debug a running process:
42945
42946@smallexample
42947gdb program 1234
42948gdb -p 1234
42949@end smallexample
42950
42951@noindent
42952would attach @value{GDBN} to process @code{1234} (unless you also have a file
42953named @file{1234}; @value{GDBN} does check for a core file first).
42954With option @option{-p} you can omit the @var{program} filename.
42955
42956Here are some of the most frequently needed @value{GDBN} commands:
42957
42958@c pod2man highlights the right hand side of the @item lines.
42959@table @env
42960@item break [@var{file}:]@var{functiop}
42961Set a breakpoint at @var{function} (in @var{file}).
42962
42963@item run [@var{arglist}]
42964Start your program (with @var{arglist}, if specified).
42965
42966@item bt
42967Backtrace: display the program stack.
42968
42969@item print @var{expr}
42970Display the value of an expression.
42971
42972@item c
42973Continue running your program (after stopping, e.g. at a breakpoint).
42974
42975@item next
42976Execute next program line (after stopping); step @emph{over} any
42977function calls in the line.
42978
42979@item edit [@var{file}:]@var{function}
42980look at the program line where it is presently stopped.
42981
42982@item list [@var{file}:]@var{function}
42983type the text of the program in the vicinity of where it is presently stopped.
42984
42985@item step
42986Execute next program line (after stopping); step @emph{into} any
42987function calls in the line.
42988
42989@item help [@var{name}]
42990Show information about @value{GDBN} command @var{name}, or general information
42991about using @value{GDBN}.
42992
42993@item quit
42994Exit from @value{GDBN}.
42995@end table
42996
42997@ifset man
42998For full details on @value{GDBN},
42999see @cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
43000by Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch. The same text is available online
43001as the @code{gdb} entry in the @code{info} program.
43002@end ifset
43003@c man end
43004
43005@c man begin OPTIONS gdb
43006Any arguments other than options specify an executable
43007file and core file (or process ID); that is, the first argument
43008encountered with no
43009associated option flag is equivalent to a @option{-se} option, and the second,
43010if any, is equivalent to a @option{-c} option if it's the name of a file.
43011Many options have
43012both long and short forms; both are shown here. The long forms are also
43013recognized if you truncate them, so long as enough of the option is
43014present to be unambiguous. (If you prefer, you can flag option
43015arguments with @option{+} rather than @option{-}, though we illustrate the
43016more usual convention.)
43017
43018All the options and command line arguments you give are processed
43019in sequential order. The order makes a difference when the @option{-x}
43020option is used.
43021
43022@table @env
43023@item -help
43024@itemx -h
43025List all options, with brief explanations.
43026
43027@item -symbols=@var{file}
43028@itemx -s @var{file}
43029Read symbol table from file @var{file}.
43030
43031@item -write
43032Enable writing into executable and core files.
43033
43034@item -exec=@var{file}
43035@itemx -e @var{file}
43036Use file @var{file} as the executable file to execute when
43037appropriate, and for examining pure data in conjunction with a core
43038dump.
43039
43040@item -se=@var{file}
43041Read symbol table from file @var{file} and use it as the executable
43042file.
43043
43044@item -core=@var{file}
43045@itemx -c @var{file}
43046Use file @var{file} as a core dump to examine.
43047
43048@item -command=@var{file}
43049@itemx -x @var{file}
43050Execute @value{GDBN} commands from file @var{file}.
43051
43052@item -ex @var{command}
43053Execute given @value{GDBN} @var{command}.
43054
43055@item -directory=@var{directory}
43056@itemx -d @var{directory}
43057Add @var{directory} to the path to search for source files.
43058
43059@item -nh
43060Do not execute commands from @file{~/.gdbinit}.
43061
43062@item -nx
43063@itemx -n
43064Do not execute commands from any @file{.gdbinit} initialization files.
43065
43066@item -quiet
43067@itemx -q
43068``Quiet''. Do not print the introductory and copyright messages. These
43069messages are also suppressed in batch mode.
43070
43071@item -batch
43072Run in batch mode. Exit with status @code{0} after processing all the command
43073files specified with @option{-x} (and @file{.gdbinit}, if not inhibited).
43074Exit with nonzero status if an error occurs in executing the @value{GDBN}
43075commands in the command files.
43076
43077Batch mode may be useful for running @value{GDBN} as a filter, for example to
43078download and run a program on another computer; in order to make this
43079more useful, the message
43080
43081@smallexample
43082Program exited normally.
43083@end smallexample
43084
43085@noindent
43086(which is ordinarily issued whenever a program running under @value{GDBN} control
43087terminates) is not issued when running in batch mode.
43088
43089@item -cd=@var{directory}
43090Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its working directory,
43091instead of the current directory.
43092
43093@item -fullname
43094@itemx -f
43095Emacs sets this option when it runs @value{GDBN} as a subprocess. It tells
43096@value{GDBN} to output the full file name and line number in a standard,
43097recognizable fashion each time a stack frame is displayed (which
43098includes each time the program stops). This recognizable format looks
43099like two @samp{\032} characters, followed by the file name, line number
43100and character position separated by colons, and a newline. The
43101Emacs-to-@value{GDBN} interface program uses the two @samp{\032}
43102characters as a signal to display the source code for the frame.
43103
43104@item -b @var{bps}
43105Set the line speed (baud rate or bits per second) of any serial
43106interface used by @value{GDBN} for remote debugging.
43107
43108@item -tty=@var{device}
43109Run using @var{device} for your program's standard input and output.
43110@end table
43111@c man end
43112
43113@c man begin SEEALSO gdb
43114@ifset man
43115The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
43116If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
43117documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
43118
43119@smallexample
43120info gdb
43121@end smallexample
43122
43123@noindent
43124should give you access to the complete manual.
43125
43126@cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
43127Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
43128@end ifset
43129@c man end
43130
43131@node gdbserver man
43132@heading gdbserver man
43133
43134@c man title gdbserver Remote Server for the GNU Debugger
43135@format
43136@c man begin SYNOPSIS gdbserver
43137gdbserver @var{comm} @var{prog} [@var{args}@dots{}]
43138
43139gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
43140
43141gdbserver --multi @var{comm}
43142@c man end
43143@end format
43144
43145@c man begin DESCRIPTION gdbserver
43146@command{gdbserver} is a program that allows you to run @value{GDBN} on a different machine
43147than the one which is running the program being debugged.
43148
43149@ifclear man
43150@subheading Usage (server (target) side)
43151@end ifclear
43152@ifset man
43153Usage (server (target) side):
43154@end ifset
43155
43156First, you need to have a copy of the program you want to debug put onto
43157the target system. The program can be stripped to save space if needed, as
43158@command{gdbserver} doesn't care about symbols. All symbol handling is taken care of by
43159the @value{GDBN} running on the host system.
43160
43161To use the server, you log on to the target system, and run the @command{gdbserver}
43162program. You must tell it (a) how to communicate with @value{GDBN}, (b) the name of
43163your program, and (c) its arguments. The general syntax is:
43164
43165@smallexample
43166target> gdbserver @var{comm} @var{program} [@var{args} ...]
43167@end smallexample
43168
43169For example, using a serial port, you might say:
43170
43171@smallexample
43172@ifset man
43173@c @file would wrap it as F</dev/com1>.
43174target> gdbserver /dev/com1 emacs foo.txt
43175@end ifset
43176@ifclear man
43177target> gdbserver @file{/dev/com1} emacs foo.txt
43178@end ifclear
43179@end smallexample
43180
43181This tells @command{gdbserver} to debug emacs with an argument of foo.txt, and
43182to communicate with @value{GDBN} via @file{/dev/com1}. @command{gdbserver} now
43183waits patiently for the host @value{GDBN} to communicate with it.
43184
43185To use a TCP connection, you could say:
43186
43187@smallexample
43188target> gdbserver host:2345 emacs foo.txt
43189@end smallexample
43190
43191This says pretty much the same thing as the last example, except that we are
43192going to communicate with the @code{host} @value{GDBN} via TCP. The @code{host:2345} argument means
43193that we are expecting to see a TCP connection from @code{host} to local TCP port
431942345. (Currently, the @code{host} part is ignored.) You can choose any number you
43195want for the port number as long as it does not conflict with any existing TCP
43196ports on the target system. This same port number must be used in the host
43197@value{GDBN}s @code{target remote} command, which will be described shortly. Note that if
43198you chose a port number that conflicts with another service, @command{gdbserver} will
43199print an error message and exit.
43200
43201@command{gdbserver} can also attach to running programs.
43202This is accomplished via the @option{--attach} argument. The syntax is:
43203
43204@smallexample
43205target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
43206@end smallexample
43207
43208@var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't
43209necessary to point @command{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
43210
43211To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
43212or process ID to attach, use the @option{--multi} command line option.
43213In such case you should connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} to start
43214the program you want to debug.
43215
43216@smallexample
43217target> gdbserver --multi @var{comm}
43218@end smallexample
43219
43220@ifclear man
43221@subheading Usage (host side)
43222@end ifclear
43223@ifset man
43224Usage (host side):
43225@end ifset
43226
43227You need an unstripped copy of the target program on your host system, since
43228@value{GDBN} needs to examine it's symbol tables and such. Start up @value{GDBN} as you normally
43229would, with the target program as the first argument. (You may need to use the
43230@option{--baud} option if the serial line is running at anything except 9600 baud.)
43231That is @code{gdb TARGET-PROG}, or @code{gdb --baud BAUD TARGET-PROG}. After that, the only
43232new command you need to know about is @code{target remote}
43233(or @code{target extended-remote}). Its argument is either
43234a device name (usually a serial device, like @file{/dev/ttyb}), or a @code{HOST:PORT}
43235descriptor. For example:
43236
43237@smallexample
43238@ifset man
43239@c @file would wrap it as F</dev/ttyb>.
43240(gdb) target remote /dev/ttyb
43241@end ifset
43242@ifclear man
43243(gdb) target remote @file{/dev/ttyb}
43244@end ifclear
43245@end smallexample
43246
43247@noindent
43248communicates with the server via serial line @file{/dev/ttyb}, and:
43249
43250@smallexample
43251(gdb) target remote the-target:2345
43252@end smallexample
43253
43254@noindent
43255communicates via a TCP connection to port 2345 on host `the-target', where
43256you previously started up @command{gdbserver} with the same port number. Note that for
43257TCP connections, you must start up @command{gdbserver} prior to using the `target remote'
43258command, otherwise you may get an error that looks something like
43259`Connection refused'.
43260
43261@command{gdbserver} can also debug multiple inferiors at once,
43262described in
43263@ifset man
43264the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Inferiors and Programs}
43265-- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n 'Inferiors and Programs'}.
43266@end ifset
43267@ifclear man
43268@ref{Inferiors and Programs}.
43269@end ifclear
43270In such case use the @code{extended-remote} @value{GDBN} command variant:
43271
43272@smallexample
43273(gdb) target extended-remote the-target:2345
43274@end smallexample
43275
43276The @command{gdbserver} option @option{--multi} may or may not be used in such
43277case.
43278@c man end
43279
43280@c man begin OPTIONS gdbserver
43281There are three different modes for invoking @command{gdbserver}:
43282
43283@itemize @bullet
43284
43285@item
43286Debug a specific program specified by its program name:
43287
43288@smallexample
43289gdbserver @var{comm} @var{prog} [@var{args}@dots{}]
43290@end smallexample
43291
43292The @var{comm} parameter specifies how should the server communicate
43293with @value{GDBN}; it is either a device name (to use a serial line),
43294a TCP port number (@code{:1234}), or @code{-} or @code{stdio} to use
43295stdin/stdout of @code{gdbserver}. Specify the name of the program to
43296debug in @var{prog}. Any remaining arguments will be passed to the
43297program verbatim. When the program exits, @value{GDBN} will close the
43298connection, and @code{gdbserver} will exit.
43299
43300@item
43301Debug a specific program by specifying the process ID of a running
43302program:
43303
43304@smallexample
43305gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
43306@end smallexample
43307
43308The @var{comm} parameter is as described above. Supply the process ID
43309of a running program in @var{pid}; @value{GDBN} will do everything
43310else. Like with the previous mode, when the process @var{pid} exits,
43311@value{GDBN} will close the connection, and @code{gdbserver} will exit.
43312
43313@item
43314Multi-process mode -- debug more than one program/process:
43315
43316@smallexample
43317gdbserver --multi @var{comm}
43318@end smallexample
43319
43320In this mode, @value{GDBN} can instruct @command{gdbserver} which
43321command(s) to run. Unlike the other 2 modes, @value{GDBN} will not
43322close the connection when a process being debugged exits, so you can
43323debug several processes in the same session.
43324@end itemize
43325
43326In each of the modes you may specify these options:
43327
43328@table @env
43329
43330@item --help
43331List all options, with brief explanations.
43332
43333@item --version
43334This option causes @command{gdbserver} to print its version number and exit.
43335
43336@item --attach
43337@command{gdbserver} will attach to a running program. The syntax is:
43338
43339@smallexample
43340target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
43341@end smallexample
43342
43343@var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't
43344necessary to point @command{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
43345
43346@item --multi
43347To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
43348or process ID to attach, use this command line option.
43349Then you can connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} and start
43350the program you want to debug. The syntax is:
43351
43352@smallexample
43353target> gdbserver --multi @var{comm}
43354@end smallexample
43355
43356@item --debug
43357Instruct @code{gdbserver} to display extra status information about the debugging
43358process.
43359This option is intended for @code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to
43360the developers.
43361
43362@item --remote-debug
43363Instruct @code{gdbserver} to display remote protocol debug output.
43364This option is intended for @code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to
43365the developers.
43366
43367@item --wrapper
43368Specify a wrapper to launch programs
43369for debugging. The option should be followed by the name of the
43370wrapper, then any command-line arguments to pass to the wrapper, then
43371@kbd{--} indicating the end of the wrapper arguments.
43372
43373@item --once
43374By default, @command{gdbserver} keeps the listening TCP port open, so that
43375additional connections are possible. However, if you start @code{gdbserver}
43376with the @option{--once} option, it will stop listening for any further
43377connection attempts after connecting to the first @value{GDBN} session.
43378
43379@c --disable-packet is not documented for users.
43380
43381@c --disable-randomization and --no-disable-randomization are superseded by
43382@c QDisableRandomization.
43383
43384@end table
43385@c man end
43386
43387@c man begin SEEALSO gdbserver
43388@ifset man
43389The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
43390If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
43391documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
43392
43393@smallexample
43394info gdb
43395@end smallexample
43396
43397should give you access to the complete manual.
43398
43399@cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
43400Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
43401@end ifset
43402@c man end
43403
43404@node gcore man
43405@heading gcore
43406
43407@c man title gcore Generate a core file of a running program
43408
43409@format
43410@c man begin SYNOPSIS gcore
43411gcore [-o @var{filename}] @var{pid}
43412@c man end
43413@end format
43414
43415@c man begin DESCRIPTION gcore
43416Generate a core dump of a running program with process ID @var{pid}.
43417Produced file is equivalent to a kernel produced core file as if the process
43418crashed (and if @kbd{ulimit -c} were used to set up an appropriate core dump
43419limit). Unlike after a crash, after @command{gcore} the program remains
43420running without any change.
43421@c man end
43422
43423@c man begin OPTIONS gcore
43424@table @env
43425@item -o @var{filename}
43426The optional argument
43427@var{filename} specifies the file name where to put the core dump.
43428If not specified, the file name defaults to @file{core.@var{pid}},
43429where @var{pid} is the running program process ID.
43430@end table
43431@c man end
43432
43433@c man begin SEEALSO gcore
43434@ifset man
43435The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
43436If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
43437documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
43438
43439@smallexample
43440info gdb
43441@end smallexample
43442
43443@noindent
43444should give you access to the complete manual.
43445
43446@cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
43447Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
43448@end ifset
43449@c man end
43450
43451@node gdbinit man
43452@heading gdbinit
43453
43454@c man title gdbinit GDB initialization scripts
43455
43456@format
43457@c man begin SYNOPSIS gdbinit
43458@ifset SYSTEM_GDBINIT
43459@value{SYSTEM_GDBINIT}
43460@end ifset
43461
43462~/.gdbinit
43463
43464./.gdbinit
43465@c man end
43466@end format
43467
43468@c man begin DESCRIPTION gdbinit
43469These files contain @value{GDBN} commands to automatically execute during
43470@value{GDBN} startup. The lines of contents are canned sequences of commands,
43471described in
43472@ifset man
43473the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Sequences}
43474-- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n Sequences}.
43475@end ifset
43476@ifclear man
43477@ref{Sequences}.
43478@end ifclear
43479
43480Please read more in
43481@ifset man
43482the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Startup}
43483-- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n Startup}.
43484@end ifset
43485@ifclear man
43486@ref{Startup}.
43487@end ifclear
43488
43489@table @env
43490@ifset SYSTEM_GDBINIT
43491@item @value{SYSTEM_GDBINIT}
43492@end ifset
43493@ifclear SYSTEM_GDBINIT
43494@item (not enabled with @code{--with-system-gdbinit} during compilation)
43495@end ifclear
43496System-wide initialization file. It is executed unless user specified
43497@value{GDBN} option @code{-nx} or @code{-n}.
43498See more in
43499@ifset man
43500the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{System-wide configuration}
43501-- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n 'System-wide configuration'}.
43502@end ifset
43503@ifclear man
43504@ref{System-wide configuration}.
43505@end ifclear
43506
43507@item ~/.gdbinit
43508User initialization file. It is executed unless user specified
43509@value{GDBN} options @code{-nx}, @code{-n} or @code{-nh}.
43510
43511@item ./.gdbinit
43512Initialization file for current directory. It may need to be enabled with
43513@value{GDBN} security command @code{set auto-load local-gdbinit}.
43514See more in
43515@ifset man
43516the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Init File in the Current Directory}
43517-- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n 'Init File in the Current Directory'}.
43518@end ifset
43519@ifclear man
43520@ref{Init File in the Current Directory}.
43521@end ifclear
43522@end table
43523@c man end
43524
43525@c man begin SEEALSO gdbinit
43526@ifset man
43527gdb(1), @code{info -f gdb -n Startup}
43528
43529The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
43530If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
43531documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
43532
43533@smallexample
43534info gdb
43535@end smallexample
43536
43537should give you access to the complete manual.
43538
43539@cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
43540Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
43541@end ifset
43542@c man end
43543
43544@include gpl.texi
43545
43546@node GNU Free Documentation License
43547@appendix GNU Free Documentation License
43548@include fdl.texi
43549
43550@node Concept Index
43551@unnumbered Concept Index
43552
43553@printindex cp
43554
43555@node Command and Variable Index
43556@unnumbered Command, Variable, and Function Index
43557
43558@printindex fn
43559
43560@tex
43561% I think something like @@colophon should be in texinfo. In the
43562% meantime:
43563\long\def\colophon{\hbox to0pt{}\vfill
43564\centerline{The body of this manual is set in}
43565\centerline{\fontname\tenrm,}
43566\centerline{with headings in {\bf\fontname\tenbf}}
43567\centerline{and examples in {\tt\fontname\tentt}.}
43568\centerline{{\it\fontname\tenit\/},}
43569\centerline{{\bf\fontname\tenbf}, and}
43570\centerline{{\sl\fontname\tensl\/}}
43571\centerline{are used for emphasis.}\vfill}
43572\page\colophon
43573% Blame: doc@@cygnus.com, 1991.
43574@end tex
43575
43576@bye
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